Chapter Three: A New Path

"What kind of favor?" Gu Zhongyan asked.

"When the next Supreme Sorcerer is not yet able to protect the Three Great Sanctuaries, I ask you to become the Guardian of the London Sanctuary, until the Supreme Sorcerer possesses the power to guard all three," Ancient One replied.

Supreme Sorcerer? Doctor Strange? Is Ancient One already preparing for retirement?

Suddenly enlightened, Gu Zhongyan nodded. "If I am capable at that time, I will. I promise."

"Very well. Then our transaction is settled?"

"Wait," Gu Zhongyan said quickly.

"Hmm?" Ancient One tilted her head, gazing at him.

After a moment of hesitation, Gu Zhongyan spoke, "Master, since you know me, why didn't you..."

"How do you know I didn't?" Ancient One interrupted.

Her gaze, as Gu Zhongyan stared in surprise, seemed to pierce through time, deep and mysterious.

"Expelling entities from outer dimensions is the responsibility of the Supreme Sorcerer, but not all must be expelled."

"Time is the most enigmatic force in this world. Even the Supreme Sorcerer cannot control everything."

"In countless timelines, you and I have made endless choices, leading to endless consequences."

"Expulsion, execution, indulgence—everything I have done was, within my ability, the best choice."

"I do not know if these choices are right, but I hope they are. Do you have any other questions?"

Gu Zhongyan silently pondered, then nodded. "Thank you, Master. I understand. I have no further questions."

"Good. Wang will take you to the library and assist you as needed."

Ancient One smiled faintly. Behind her, a cluster of golden sparks burst forth, swirling like welding sparks to form a dazzling circular portal.

A stout sorcerer stepped out, dressed in the garb of antiquity—a rough linen tunic exposing two sturdy arms, with a cloth belt tied at the waist.

It was none other than Wang, the veteran of three generations at Kamar-Taj.

"Master!"

Wang crossed the portal and stood respectfully before Ancient One.

"Wang, I entrust this matter to you." Ancient One nodded, smiled at Gu Zhongyan, and turned to vanish into the portal.

Immediately, Wang fixed a stern expression on his face, staring coldly at Gu Zhongyan. He spoke stiffly, "Follow me."

With that, he opened a portal with the mystical ring in his hand and stepped through without another word.

Familiar with Wang’s awkward temperament, Gu Zhongyan was unperturbed and followed him directly.

On the other side of the portal lay the library of Kamar-Taj.

Compared to Hogwarts' grand library, Gu Zhongyan felt the Kamar-Taj library was better described as a reading room.

In the ever-expanding chamber, a few simple rows of bookshelves stood, each heavy tome bound by fine magical chains, emanating waves of mystical energy.

Soon, Wang retrieved several magic books from the shelves and handed them to Gu Zhongyan.

"These are the foundational tomes of Kamar-Taj's magical system. You should find what you need within. If you have any questions, ask me."

"Thank you."

Taking the books, Gu Zhongyan found a table and sat down to read them carefully.

Though merely basic texts, Gu Zhongyan was not at all complacent. Having become one of the top wizards in the Harry Potter world, he was keenly aware of the importance of fundamentals.

Before long, he finished reading the contents of the books and finally understood why Ancient One said Kamar-Taj’s magic was ill-suited for him.

In the Marvel world, magic exists, but it is clearly not the mainstream force of the universe's laws.

Here, magic belongs to the shadowed side of reality. If technology is the product of the material world, then magic is shaped by the mind.

Thus, magic does not belong to the current cosmic laws, but is a relic of previous epochs.

The laws of reality suppress magic to an extreme, almost rivaling the suppression found in Gu Zhongyan’s original world.

Yet, due to the presence of numerous mighty beings in the Marvel universe—such as the Trinity of Kamar-Taj, or the Great Demon Setorak—their powers continually influence the multiverse, preventing a complete division between the mystical and the real.

The Marvel magical system is built upon the powers of these magical entities.

At its core, Marvel magic is about borrowing power from powerful beings in various dimensions—through rituals, incantations, or magical artifacts—by means of exchange, and then using that power to cast spells.

Aside from a select few, most sorcerers in the Marvel world possess no power truly their own.

If Gu Zhongyan wished one day to return to his own world, borrowed power would never allow him to break through the walls between universes.

If he forced it, he might even bring unimaginable disaster.

Therefore, Ancient One said Kamar-Taj’s magic did not suit him.

As one of the foremost wizards in the Harry Potter world, Gu Zhongyan had researched the wizarding magical system.

According to his speculation, that system was closer to bloodline sorcery.

Their magical power was not learned, but inherited through blood. Learning magic was merely a way to unleash the latent power hidden in their bloodline.

Thus, there was a reverence for pure blood and an insistence on avoiding mingling with ordinary people; interbreeding would dilute the wizard bloodline.

As for Muggle-born wizards, it was likely that ordinary people also carried wizard blood, though so diluted it could not normally be awakened.

But just as human genes can revert or mutate, the thin wizard bloodline could, by coincidence, become potent again.

His failure to restore his magic might be due to having lost his wizard bloodline after crossing worlds, thus unable to reclaim the power hidden within it.

Clearly, neither Kamar-Taj nor the Harry Potter magical system suited the current Gu Zhongyan.

Yet, as Ancient One said, the stone from another mountain can sharpen the jade. Though unsuited to both systems, Gu Zhongyan found a possible path between them—the Mind Sorcerer.

The Mind Sorcerer was a new magical path Gu Zhongyan explored, based on the rules of Marvel magic and the Harry Potter system.

As the name suggests, it abandons the constraints of bloodline, using the power of the mind as the source of magic.