Spellcasting Gods

Lord John Emeric Edward Dahlberg-Acton, a British historian of thought, once stated in his book "Liberty and Power" that "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Therefore, as human civilization progresses and develops at an accelerated pace, politicians in countless countries have taken this viewpoint into account when constructing new social systems, and have strictly constrained the power of various government departments to prevent people in certain important positions from having too much power, leading to serious corruption and abuse of power.

Power is like this, and so is strength.

Especially for powerful wizards, what can be used to restrain them?

The answer is simple: it's the moral bottom line they set for themselves.

Take Albus Dumbledore, for example. If he hadn't forced himself to obey the law, would there have been anyone else in the entire British wizarding world who could have restrained him?

Obviously!

No!

Similarly, Voldemort set no limits for himself, so he almost effortlessly destroyed the rule of the British Ministry of Magic and nearly established a new order.

The shrewd Lucius hadn't realized this before, but after Zhang Cheng's reminder, he immediately noticed the flaws in the entire plan. He frowned and probed, "So, how do you think we can really get rid of Dumbledore? He's been in the position of headmaster of Hogwarts for too long and has become a huge threat to us board members. To the point that many people think that Hogwarts belongs to Dumbledore."

"Hahahaha! Isn't that simple? What are Dumbledore's weaknesses? Or rather, what are the moral bottom lines he set for himself?" Zhang Cheng asked with a loud laugh.

"Weakness?" Lucius frowned and fell into deep thought.

Seeing this, Zhang Cheng immediately put down his teacup and explained softly, "That's right! Weakness! Haven't you realized what keeps Dumbledore respected? Aside from his power, it boils down to two things. First, he's the headmaster of Hogwarts, and all parents crave the protection of the most powerful white wizard for their children. Second, he's willing to abide by the law and order like an ordinary person. Simply put, Dumbledore can never challenge the established system, otherwise he'll lose public support and become a universally reviled dark wizard."

“That makes sense!” Lucius’s face lit up with sudden realization. “So, I should give up on taking action directly at the school and instead shift my focus to the Ministry of Magic.”

“Yes! Once you control the Ministry of Magic, you'll have control over the system and the law. Add to that the subtle influence of newspapers and public opinion, and even Dumbledore will be wary. At that point, you'll naturally have the right to negotiate with him face-to-face and reclaim the rights that rightfully belong to the Board of Directors,” Zhang Cheng said meaningfully.

As a veteran who had experienced countless conspiracies and struggles, his political intelligence far surpassed that of most politicians, making it effortless for him to dig a few traps for an old fox like Albus Dumbledore.

“I understand! Thank you for your guidance! Now I need to discuss with some friends whether to temporarily halt the original plan.” With that, Lucius stood up, intending to take a long trip.

Just as he raised his wand, about to use Apparition, Zhang Cheng suddenly spoke up to remind him, "Don't forget to deal with your house-elf Dobby. As far as I know, he's been leaving the manor without a trace lately, and I don't know what he's been up to."

"Dobby?!" Lucius was clearly taken aback.

After all, in the wizarding world, house-elves are symbols of loyalty and hard work, and they will do anything to win their master's favor, even if it means sacrificing their own lives.

Therefore, almost no wizard would suspect that a house-elves would betray them or their family.

“Yes! Dobby!” Zhang Cheng nodded slightly. “As far as I know, Harry Potter and his friend Ron took the flying car to school because someone had closed the entrance to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. And during that time, Dobby happened to leave the manor. I believe you understand what that means, right?”

"Damn it!" Lucius's face changed drastically, and he immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, "Dobby! You filthy little bastard! Get your ass out here right now!"

Snapped!

With a crisp sound, a small, ugly creature, about half a person's height, appeared out of thin air in the living room.

He looked extremely nervous and frightened, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, and he asked cautiously, "Master...Master, what are your orders for Dobby?"

boom!

Lucius suddenly raised his foot and kicked the other man away, cursing furiously, "Bastard! How dare you betray me? Betray the Malfoy family?"

“No…no…Dobby didn’t betray us…Dobby just wanted to protect Harry Potter…” the house-elf struggled to his feet and defended himself.

Unfortunately, Lucius didn't see it that way. He swung his cane and beat the little thing mercilessly, leaving it on the verge of death and coughing up mouthfuls of blood in the blink of an eye.

Suppressing the urge to stomp him to death, he took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, saying, "Very good! Very good! I really can't believe that my own family has produced such a shameful traitor. Don't worry, I won't execute you right now, but I'll let you taste something even more terrible than death."

The house-elf Dobby was so frightened that he huddled on the ground, curling up in a ball, not daring to make any defensive or retaliatory moves.

Over a thousand years of enslavement has completely stripped this race of its independence, leaving it only able to barely survive by relying on wizards.

“Sir, I’ve heard you’re conducting a series of interesting experiments. How about making Dobby your test subject?” Lucius’s eyes gleamed with malice.

"Thank you for your generous gift; I am more than happy to accept it. You know, house-elves are very interesting magical creatures, and dissecting and modifying them must be quite challenging."

After saying that, Zhang Cheng pursed his lips and stared at Dobby with an extremely abnormal look.

Nobody likes a traitor!

No matter how compelling the reasons given on the surface, or how noble the motives, betrayal is betrayal.

In most cases, betrayers meet a very tragic end, and this time will be no exception.

Before long, the poor house-elf was dragged into the secret underground laboratory. About half an hour later, screams of extreme pain and despair began to echo over the manor.

No one knows what happened inside. All that is known is that seventy-two hours later, when Dobby reappeared in front of everyone, half of his body had been replaced by various metals and plants. The clever look in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a terrifying coldness and brutality.

Chapter 0738 Everything is going according to plan

With Lucius Malfoy voluntarily halting the original plan, Zhang Cheng controlled Draco to retrieve the Horcrux containing the artifacts Voldemort had created in his youth.

Of course, Tom Riddle, who had already awakened, was not so willing to obediently return to his diary.

So he had no choice but to resort to some violence, which almost got him discovered by the curious Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore, who was hiding behind the scenes controlling everything.

Fortunately, at the crucial moment, Ginny Weasley stepped forward and took full responsibility; otherwise, things would have been quite difficult for him to handle.

However, the price was that at the end of the second semester, Severus Snape accompanied Draco to the Malfoy family's manor.

Gazing at this Potions Master, whose face was as somber as a bat's, yet whose heart was filled with love and guilt, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth slightly and greet him with a smile: "Good afternoon, Professor. I heard from Draco that you came here specifically to visit me?"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Zhang! Please forgive my abruptness, but you have truly piqued my interest. In particular, your teaching methods have enabled young Malfoy to master magical skills far beyond those of his peers in a very short time," Snape said with an elegant bow.

Even during conversation, his eyes were always secretly observing the other person's every move.

"Oh? Is it you personally who is interested, or the great Headmaster of Hogwarts?" Zhang Cheng probed casually.

Others might think that Severus Snape was merely forced to submit to Dumbledore, but he knew that the relationship between the two was extremely complex, with the former almost completely subservient to the latter's leadership, even though conflicts often erupted on the surface.

“We are all very interested. After all, teaching students to master more knowledge and magic has been Hogwarts’ mission since its founding. If possible, Headmaster Dumbledore would like to invite you to Hogwarts to exchange ideas and perhaps even serve as a professor of Practical Magic. We may not be able to offer the same generous salary as the Malfoy family, but we can offer you prestige.” Snape calmly extended the invitation.

It must be said that his mental fortitude was quite remarkable. Even when his purpose was exposed to his face, he did not show the slightest bit of nervousness. No wonder he was able to deceive Voldemort later on.

“My dear friend, it doesn’t seem right for you to be undermining the Malfoy family right in front of me, does it?” Lucius finally couldn’t stand it anymore and questioned him.

“Relax, don’t be so tense. I’m just extending an invitation on behalf of the school. Whether or not you go is not your or my choice, but the choice of the person involved.” Snape shrugged nonchalantly.

"Damn it! Not only did Dumbledore usurp the board's power, but he also tried to poach people from my house? Dream on! Zhang will not go to Hogwarts; he will stay here and teach the Malfoy family's descendants." Lucius seemed to be enraged, gripping his cane tightly and roaring loudly.

"Alright, alright, don't take it out on me. You should know I'm just a messenger. Also, Mr. Zhang, Headmaster Dumbledore's invitation is valid until the start of the next term. If you're interested, you can come to Hogwarts to report at any time."

After saying this, Snape bowed again, then waved his wand and Apparated, disappearing from the spot.

It wasn't until more than five minutes after he left that Lucius quickly calmed down. His pale face showed no sign of losing control, and he sneered sarcastically, "Just as you predicted, that old guy couldn't sit still anymore. So, are you going to accept the invitation to become a professor at Hogwarts? I believe that as long as we work together from the inside, it won't be long before we can get rid of him."

"Why not? You know, that's the place with the most complete collection of magic books and materials in all of Britain. Maybe I can find something that will inspire my research. As for collusion from within and without, forget it. I don't have much of a desire for power, and I won't waste my precious time fighting for power."

Zhang Cheng was perfectly aware of what the other party was expecting, and gave a straightforward negative answer.

Why go to such lengths to rule over a mere few hundred thousand modern wizards with low combat power?

Only someone with a mental illness would make such a stupid choice!

On the contrary, he had a much larger and more ambitious plan: to trigger a nuclear war on a global scale on the eve of his departure, wiping out more than 90 percent of the population.

This insane practice not only allows one to collect countless souls, but also to gain a deeper understanding of the power of the rules of death through a large number of deaths.

Unfortunately, so far no one has been able to see through the madness hidden beneath Zhang Cheng's calm exterior.

To be precise, no normal person could possibly imagine that a seemingly powerful, mature, and composed young wizard was, in his heart, a monster more dangerous and terrifying than Voldemort.

……

After making his decision, Zhang Cheng did not immediately set off to meet Dumbledore. Instead, he stayed at Malfoy Manor to continue his research. It wasn't until a few days before Hogwarts was about to start that he bid farewell to Lucius and his wife, and alone, pretending to carry a suitcase, he entered the historic magical castle.

As soon as he stepped into the headmaster's office, Albus Dumbledore, with his white beard, immediately stood up and laughed, saying, "Aha! I've been waiting for you, Mr. Zhang, or I may address you as Professor for now. You know, Eastern wizards are not common in the British magical world."

"Thank you! I am honored to receive your praise." Zhang Cheng placed one hand on his chest and bowed very humbly.

“No, no, no, I should say it’s an honor for me.” Dumbledore adjusted his glasses and waved his hand gently. “Improving the quality of teaching is every Hogwarts headmaster’s dream, especially after the multiple attacks last semester, and we still haven’t found the real culprit. So improving the students’ self-defense skills has become crucial. Can you tell me how you trained Mr. Malfoy to become so outstanding in such a short time?”

"It's very simple! It's about pushing the limits of real combat training! I can use magic to create an illusion, allowing Draco to gain more experience and proficiency by constantly fighting against it. I believe you've heard of the Eastern belief that strict teachers produce outstanding students, and that only through the most rigorous education can children grow into exceptional individuals."

"Combat training?" The old man frowned instinctively. "Won't they get hurt?"

"Of course there will be injuries! But I will strictly control the situation to ensure there are no serious injuries or deaths. Injuries, many times, are not necessarily a bad thing. Pain is sometimes the best teacher; it will make students remember how to avoid making the same mistakes next time..."

Zhang Cheng, posing as a devilish teacher, launched into a long and eloquent explanation of his Spartan teaching philosophy.

The students of Hogwarts were unaware that a disastrous new term was about to begin.

Chapter 0739 Becoming a Professor

Without a doubt, Zhang Cheng's proposed practical teaching method is completely at odds with Albus Dumbledore's philosophy.

But for reasons unknown, they ultimately agreed to this extremely unreliable plan and officially appointed the other party as the professor of the Magic Practice class.

Looking into the old man's deep eyes, Zhang Cheng smiled meaningfully, stood up, walked out of the headmaster's office, and disappeared into the intricate corridors of Hogwarts.

He had barely left when Snape burst in, his face serious, and asked, "Are you sure bringing this guy to school was the right choice?"

“Of course, Severus. I’m sure you’ve investigated; the timing of his appearance is too coincidental. First, a dozen or so Roars were killed on the streets of London, then the Chamber of Secrets was opened, and Ginny Weasley was controlled by a mysterious diary. I have every reason to suspect him, don’t I?” Dumbledore took off his glasses and stated his reasoning meaningfully.

"Damn it! That's not what I meant! It's that leaving him at the school is too dangerous for the students, especially Harry Potter! If he really is one of the Dark Lord's henchmen, the consequences are unimaginable!" Snape roared, slamming his fist on the table.

"Danger?" The old man gently shook his head. "No, the school is the safest place. Here, no matter what Mr. Zhang wants to do, we will have countless eyes watching him."

"Okay, I hope you're right, but I'll use my own methods to monitor him."

After saying those words, Snape turned and strode out of the headmaster's office. Even a fool could sense the anger in his heart.

Dumbledore ignored it, staring intently at a photograph in a newspaper, seemingly lost in thought.

……

However, none of this had much to do with Zhang Cheng. Since moving into Hogwarts, he had spent almost all his time in the huge library, basically living the life of a recluse who never left the house.

Although most of these books and materials are meaningless repetitions, a very small portion still records valuable information and knowledge.

Because of his professorial privileges, Zhang Cheng was not stopped from borrowing even the most dangerous and profound books. So, in just a few days, he got what he wanted and didn't even notice that the students had arrived at the school by express train.

Accompanying them was a large group of magical creatures known as Dementors.

“Professor Zhang, the opening ceremony and sorting ceremony will be held in about ten minutes. Aren’t you going to the auditorium?” Snape suddenly appeared next to the bookshelves in the library, with a forced smile on his face.

"Oh? Do I have to attend?" Zhang Cheng asked without turning his head, holding a thick ancient book.

“Yes! As a newly appointed professor, it’s necessary for you to make an appearance and let all the students get to know you.” Snape gave an affirmative answer without hesitation.

As a very suspicious person, he always felt that the young man in front of him was secretly planning something, so he was unwilling to let him out of his sight unless absolutely necessary.