After tasting the Transcendent State once, Tangmu craved a second, third time.
But his finances didn't allow it.
Since awakening the system over a month ago, he'd grinded daily, saving only a few hundred learning points. The Learning Space consumed three to six hours daily.
Recent spell training and minor achievements pushed his Achievement Points near 100. Learning points, however, grew slowly.
Seeing his Achievement Points, Tangmu considered summoning another teacher.
With 100 points, he could summon a "Hero of an Era." Andeluosuo was exceptional, but he lacked modern magical system knowledge. Tangmu often learned independently before Andeluosuo could teach effectively.
Andeluosuo's high-powered spells—ancient magic—required profound theory, ancient runes, Cretan, Mycenaean, Ionian dialects (like those in The Iliad and The Odyssey), all magical languages.
Besides the Patronus Charm and Shockwave spell used on Zhasini's trio, Tangmu's spells were basic textbook ones. Advanced spells were out of reach.
He considered the Restricted Section but dismissed it. His name, Muggle-born background, and Slymerin House made it a bad idea.
He wouldn't poke Dengbuliduo's sensitive nerve.
Tangmu realized why he was in Slymerin—Andeluosuo's influence.
The Sorting Hat said: "More ancient and purer than even Salai."
Andeluosuo's magical inheritance made Tangmu's magic purer than Salai's, practically an ancestor to Slymerin's blood-purity fanatics.
Still, Tangmu abandoned summoning another teacher. The gap between "Hero of an Era" and "King of a Century" was vast.
Hogwarts' four House Heads were Heroes. Dengbuliduo and Andeluosuo? Once-in-a-century.
Better to save for 1,000 points for a "King of a Century."
"Legend Eternal" was too distant. He'd consider it with better Achievement Points income.
This system set a high bar, raising his standards.
Tangmu didn't know when he fell asleep but was woken by noise.
Laisi Zhasini, Kasal Nuote, and Saiodo Luosiai were up, laughing loudly, disrupting his sleep.
Furious, Tangmu rose, whipped them with his belt, and kicked them out.
Peace restored, he slept again.
Outside, the trio fumed, itching to curse Tangmu's door. Then, Mafoi emerged from the neighboring dorm, sleepy-eyed, staring confusedly.
"What are you doing out here?"
Zhasini swallowed an insult. The others stayed quiet.
It wasn't just about privacy. Three pure-bloods beaten by a Mudblood? Humiliating gossip for months, especially with Mafoi's smugness from the feast, backed by his cronies.
"Nothing," Luosiai covered quickly. "First day at Hogwarts—too excited to sleep, so we're walking."
Mafoi didn't press, muttering about their lack of culture, heading to the bathroom.
"I hate him more than Lideer," Zhasini grumbled as Mafoi left.
He wanted to beat Mafoi like Tangmu beat them.
Mafoi acted superior, despite all being Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-bloods. His arrogance—his spineless father's legacy?
Nuote spat, "Both bastards. Lideer first."
The others nodded.
Their shared defeat forged odd camaraderie. They found a common room corner and plotted.
"Ambush him," Nuote suggested. "Hide in a classroom, strike from behind—sure win."
"Too risky," Luosiai vetoed. "If he casts a spell, we're done. His Transfigurations, attack spells—cast like he was born to it. He's more pure-blood than us."
"Fail again, and we get another beating."
"Magical items?" Zhasini said darkly. "My family has a cursed object. Touch it, get hexed."
"Don't be stupid!" Nuote paled. "This is Hogwarts. Dengbuliduo's turf!"
"If he notices, Lideer walks free—you're expelled."
Zhasini fell silent.
Most Slymerins respected Dengbuliduo but resented him, a sentiment from their parents.
None wanted to provoke a lose-lose with the Headmaster.
Their parents said Dengbuliduo's favoritism toward Muggle-borns and half-bloods meant only they'd lose.
"Tell Professor Sifu?" Luosiai said, rubbing his sore arm. "My parents were colleagues with him. He'll back me."
Zhasini frowned. "Snitching? Pathetic. What if he tells my mum…"
Luosiai was confident. "He won't. My parents are in Azkaban. Dementors aren't post owls."
Zhasini and Nuote: "…"
[^1]: In the Wizarding World, the Restricted Section holds advanced magical texts, accessible only with permission. The Sacred Twenty-Eight is a list of prominent pure-blood families.