Is this Salazar Slytherin? Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts?

Even if this green shadow was somehow trapped in the stone wall, even if Ens could only see half of his face when he looked at it, the strange magic mixed in that voice made Ens have no time to care about it.

He didn't even realize that the scene of half a face on the wall in front of him was inexplicably ridiculous, as if someone had built it into the wall with bricks.

"Although the token you hold awakens the image I have left behind, it is impossible for me to acknowledge your strength. Turn around and leave! Stupid successor ......"

When the last sentence gradually settled, the power that seemed to bind Enns's mind quietly faded. He looked at the pale green face on the wall, and his mind was a little more muddy as it slowly became clearer.

“…… What does it all mean? Ens blinked in confusion and looked left and right, "Even if I don't go back, where else can I go?" ”

The secret room was full of large and small stones, which had long been destroyed by people. And when he looked around, he naturally found nothing.

"Well......," he said, shaking his head, "maybe there was something before, but now it's gone." And what 'basilisk'? Power and gold? I guess I was taken away by some guy who took shit luck a long time ago......"

Ens muttered to himself on the side, turned around and walked back, as if he had been blind to his efforts! If you had known, you wouldn't have translated any ancient texts, wouldn't it be good to have time to practice spells?

However, he didn't notice that the green face on the wall, which had almost dissipated, suddenly became solid again as he turned and took the first step to leave.

Yes, every time he took a step, the green shadows that had turned into bits of dark green light particles and dispersed very close to each other converged. And as Ens walked step by step to the center of the secret room, that strange and inexplicable power suddenly entangled his heart!

Ens' feet shuddered, and he froze in place like a stone sculpture.

"If you are a fool inherited from Godric, you will choose to go on after hearing what I have just said; Only my successors, who are both shrewd and wise, can take into account the risks that lie with reckless advance......"

The Parseltongue hissed and reverberated again.

"However, I have never denied the need for courage, and moderate perseverance will give wizards the chance to get back up after falling on the magical journey. The ups and downs of the future are inevitable, and the courage to choose is also the foundation that sustains wizards like us to glory. ”

At this point, the Slytherin phantom in the wall paused slightly, and then whispered in his hoarse Parseltongue voice:

"Successor...... Now, back to it! ”

At Salazar Slytherin's seemingly irresistible words, Ens turned stiffly on his hands and feet, and he could even hear the rattling of his uncooperative joints.

"Then, show me your perseverance that Helga has recognized, and walk before me again."

Even Ns, who didn't know much about the various theories of magic, understood more or less that the power that made his body and mind feel as if they were rusty seemed to come from Salazar Slytherin's words.

It's just that he doesn't know that that power actually comes from "language", and only those who can understand the Parseltongue will deeply feel this treacherous and terrifying soul bondage.

"Hiss Hiss Hiss"

The sound continued, only this time it became some kind of meaningless parseltongue syllable, but there was a little more strange rhythm in it.

The burden is getting heavier and heavier.

"Looks like ...... I can't say yes if I don't say yes......"

Ens mumbled with difficulty, then gritted his teeth and took a step forward. But this was only one step, and it made him feel an incomparably powerful pain, which was not a heart-rending pain, but an indescribable burden, which made him afraid that he would never be able to forget this "unwarranted disaster" tonight for the rest of his life.

If Maca were here now, he might have been able to realize that Salazar's understanding and application of the rules of the soul had definitely reached an extremely high level.

Ens was still moving forward, pausing for a long time with each step. As Slytherin had put it, he was now barely able to sustain himself with his innate perseverance.

Maybe...... Maybe a fall would end it all, and Ens vaguely understood that. But at such a time, what man would choose to retreat? At least he would never admit that he had a cowardly part.

Think about it just now, how easy was the pace when you left? But now, he has experienced first-hand that sometimes walking a few steps can become a kind of torture that seems to be indefinite.

The sluggish muscles and every joint on the body seem to be disobedient, and only with full attention can you drag your legs, but you still have to be distracted to control the balance of your body.

How many steps are left? How far is it going?

His vision was blurring, his wand and broom had already fallen to the ground behind him, and darkness was constantly pouring into his vision, as if it were going to swallow his consciousness together.

Maybe half an hour...... Or a few hours? Of course, it's possible that only a few minutes have passed...... Ens didn't know very well, he only knew that suddenly a voice suddenly came into his head.

“…… Step into the secret room behind me! Successor ...... You'll know where your next destination is...... Take my basilisk with me, it will give you proper help...... Bury those who deserve to die, and then receive my gift to you. ”

"When you return from there, take my things to the tower of Rowena! Once there, what awaits you will be the last chance to give up. ”

"Remember, stick to your heart and don't be in power...... Lost ......"

The voice faded away, and the hiss pulled away from Ens's head. Immediately afterward, he finally couldn't resist the double exhaustion of body and mind, fell to the ground, and his eyes were black, and he fainted.

……

Almost at the same time that Ens fainted, the first batch of contestants were already in their seats in the arena of the International Alchemy Competition outside the castle.

In the center of the arena, which was surrounded by a large number of spectators, a circle of alchemy workbenches arranged in a circle had been placed at this moment. And above the arena, a giant hourglass of surprising size is gaining momentum.

The so-called alchemy, especially the research direction of material refining, focuses on the manufacture of all kinds of strange alchemical products.

Right now, Maca was sitting in the front row of the VIP seats, and beside him were Professor McGonagall and the Minister of Magic, Mr. Scrimgeour. Behind them, Sarah, who is the family member of the chief judge, and Noah, the fat man, also sit side by side here.

"Mr. McLean, what do you think?" Scrimgeour was still as serious as usual, but he spoke to Maca with a rare intimacy, "Is there a candidate you like in this first batch of players?" ”

Maca knew very well that what Scrimgeour wanted to ask was "is there an unknown candidate you like", and he just omitted the word "unknown".

Due to the amount of profit that can be obtained in the end, there are definitely many people in the VIP seats closest to the arena who are always paying attention, trying to tap the potential scattered alchemist one step ahead of the others.

And those scattered alchemists with strength and brains are probably also riveting their "future" with all their might, because they know very well that the ranking they finally obtain will definitely be a bargaining chip for free selection in the future.

"Well, actually, I'm not very familiar with alchemy, you can listen to it, don't take it too seriously......" Maca said casually, "In this competition, the two delegations from Africa and Mesopotamia should have a lot of outstanding performances, as for those scattered players...... The one who stood out in the first batch would probably be the man in the Muggle tuxedo......"

Scrimgeour followed Maca's line of sight and quickly found what Maca was talking about among the players who were still waiting for the bout to begin.

It was a handsome middle-aged wizard, and the old-fashioned black tuxedo and lined white shirt on him actually looked very pleasing to the eye.

However, being handsome doesn't mean being strong.

"That man...... How do you see that? Scrimgeour asked curiously.

"Oh, don't take it too seriously," Maka said with a smile, "I only met him briefly before the game, so how can I tell if he is strong or not...... I just think he's quite unhurried, don't you think? ”

"Uh," Scrimgeour raised an eyebrow and nodded a little helplessly, "yes......"

Maca didn't care about the Minister of Magic's distress, he thought about it, and suddenly turned his head to Sarah and the fat man behind him.

"What do you two think?"

When the fat man heard this, he immediately tilted his head.

"Huh? You ask me? He scratched his scalp with a depressed face, spread his hands and said, "Who will you ask me and I ask?" ”

Maca was unimpressed by the fat man's unreliability, even though he was also the heir to the Hohenheim family, and seemed to be the sole heir. But in terms of alchemy, I have never seen any signs of power.

He nodded, and looked back at Sarah's face

Maybe it's a little bit of apology for repeatedly refusing to participate, or maybe it's because it has nothing to do with her own interests, but Sarah didn't casually pass it this time. She glanced around the arena a few times before shaking her head slightly.

"Well," Sarah whispered, "Professor McLean, I think you're right. ”