Sword is equal to Wand, Chapter 7 (Patreon)

With the much larger class sizes, we got split up into four separate blocks as the school still had us going to classes with at least one of the other houses of Hogwarts... Which made sense, as the shared classes was the major inter-house interaction we would have between us.

Still with the day's lessons being Essence Manipulation-[Ravenclaw/Charms] Weapon Infusion and Combat Arts-[DaDa Slytherin's] Body Transformation & Elemental Harmonization [Transfiguration Hufflepuff] We were actually slated to see students from all of the three other houses.

"Who has Essence Manipulation first period?" I asked curiously with Ron and Ginny raising their hands with Rose scowling.

"Shit, I got Weapon Infusion first, and then Essence Manipulation. You got Body Transformation last Jake?" Rose asked curiously.

I nodded and said easily. "Yeah, I do. Anyway... I am going to start looking for our lessons in this giant castle." 

Although our lesson plans did come with a very general map of the castle, that didn't we weren't going to have issues getting there... As the moving staircases and shifting hallways could easily render the map useless.

Ron waved and said with some humor and good nature. "I would come with dude... But I gotta eat seconds of my breakfast."

I just shook my head and said an easy smile. "Take it easy Ron. I am just looking to explore." 

With that, I left the Great Hall with my class supplies in hand as I expected the Essence Manipulation class to be more on the theoretical side of things. As it went over how magic allowed humans to cultivate their magical cores, as well as allowing supernatural creatures and even gods to exist.

However I didn't make it far, as I reached the third floor due to waiting for the damned moving staircase to head to the docket that would let me get to the fourth floor as my class was on the fifth floor. A voice spoke out.

"Hello Jake, it's good to see you so early." I blinked and saw another person from yesterday behind me coming up the stairs.

"Well, good morning to you Cho." I said with a nod towards the Chinese pureblood and my lips twitched at seeing the large cut in the tightly fitting wuxia style dress she had on that displayed her thighs and legs while she had a much more modest cut in the top that exposed a bit of cleavage.

"You are trying to find your class room early?" She asked as she came up to my stair and leaned on the bannister obviously waiting for the moving staircase to move as well. "Yup, trying to get to Essence Manipulation. Might go to the library on that floor as well if I have free time." I admitted

"How about you? Where you heading?" I asked with some curiosity making her smile for some reason and in the corner of my eye I saw her raise up a foot to cross her legs a bit as she leaned on the railing of the staircase.

"Oh? How fate shines upon us. For I also have Essence Manipulation for my first class. And I was also curious to see what cultivation manuals Hogwarts has so I was also planning to check the smaller library for some gems."

And that got my bullshit meter ringing so I asked with a small smile. "Doesn't Ravenclaw have its own private libraries with all the best 'hidden' knowledge that won't get the Headmaster in a tizzy?"

Cho giggled and said easily. "Oh Jake, yes that is true. But the books here are nothing compared to the great manuals that come from my homeland. You know where cultivation originated from." She said looking down at her nails as though it was not much to say.

"And yet you still want to check them out and read them," I said pointedly. 

To which Cho nodded and looked me in the eye and said more seriously. "That is true. China and Asia do have the history, foundation, and heritage of tens of millennia of cultivation and magical knowledge. But, not even the most proud of us would sneer at the likes of Nicholas Flamel, Dumbledore, and Lord Voldemort." 

She shrugged and said plainly. "I already have a cultivation manual that is tailored to my preferences, worth ethic, bloodline, and ritual plans. But nothing is saying I can't find a gem in the rough that I can take from to make my own manual better."

I raised an eyebrow at her proud tone but there wasn't anything wrong or false about what she had said. "Well, either way-" I drew off as a loud rumble rang out as the staircase moved finally allowing us to move to the next floor.

"So has Susan Bones talked to you more?" Cho asked casually as she kept pace with my longer steps despite her rather short height and her curvaceous form.

I shrugged and said calmly. "She did say hello this morning at breakfast. Aren't you and her friends?" 

Cho gave a measured hum before saying calmly. "Oh, we are friends. Though a good bit of our connection is built off the business deals our families have. Along with our fathers being close friends as they used to hunt monsters together before they died together."

I had... Zero fucking clue how to react to that bomb being dropped randomly so I just said blithely. "I am sorry for your loss."

And Cho just chuckled a bit awkwardly and said. "Yeah that came out poorly I admit. Ah ha! There is our classroom." She said and I saw she was right. Right in front of a set of double doors was a large metal plaque that read all too clearly. [Essence Manipulation Year 1-4 Classroom]

'That was easier to find.' I mused to myself and I opened up one of the doors for Cho to go in through first naturally.

And coming into the classroom I wasn't disappointed as the first class seemingly came with seats and tables in groups of five with all the seating groups being in front of a large human mannequin of sorts.

The human mannequin looked like it was sleeved in some high-grade silicon or something as each one looked like a copy of a rather mundane bald male in their late teens... Like myself in fact besides the bald bit anyway.

"Mr Flitwick." Cho spoke out and I blinked as I heard a soft chuckle before I saw the half goblin-half human 'charms' Essence Manipulation teacher hopping out of a fucking booster seat in his large leather chair. 

"Why hello Miss Chang, and you... Ah yes you are Mr. Bariss, Mavuika mentioned speaking to you before term started." Flitwitck said I took in his form... Before thinking. 'He doesn't look like some kind of deformed half goblin or something.'

Professor Flickwick looked literally just like a three foot tall human with normal proportions with his height, no green skin, snaggle tooth, or anything weird.

"Hello Proffessor Flitwick, I look forward to your class in... Like half an hour." I said with a small smile as I check my small wrist watch to check the time.

Flitwick gave a small smile and nodded before saying. "I understand young man, well I am happy you decided to be a go-getter and learn the path to the classroom."

I nodded in agreement alongside Cho who then gave my arm a slight pull. "Well Proffessor, I was going to show Jake over to the lesser library on this floor. Can we leave our stuff here to save a seat?"

And Flitwick raised an eyebrow before humming and saying calmly. "Oh go on ahead," Then jolted slightly. "Jake, do you mind if we speak alone for a second. I was curious about your Newblood status, Cho you can wait outside this will only take a minute."

I saw in the corner of my eye, Cho's easy smile turning tight before she said more easily as she dropped her bag and short jacket at a table. "Very well Proffessor. I will be just outside Jake." Cho finished with a sweet tone.

She then left the class room with Flitwick flicking a finger at the door which made a sucking noise as he seemingly sealed it close. "So Jake... I would be happy to speak with you more about this later, but being near you as a half goblin with a connection to the underground and treasure. I can sense a strong elemental connection with you that could be dangerous to yourself."

I blinked and hearing his words I coudn't help sink slightly inwardly in relief at this not being a warning about Cho's family being a group of spider youkai or monsters or something that would eat their husbands or something.

"Please tell me Professor, any knowledge to protect myself is priceless." I said respectfully as I stood up straighter.

Flitwick chuckled with him floating up to look me in the eyes casually with his hands going behind his back like some wuxia master... But it was really hard for a three foot tall midget with a receding hairline to give off that feeling.

"Well young man, you already bear a strong paint of the concepts of death, knowledge, and treasure upon your body and soul. So to say nothing of Underworld, Cthonic, Outer God's and gods of knowledge wanting to collect your soul and allegiance. You also have to worry about Monsters like Dhampires, Heretic Mummies, Arachne, Gumiho and several other races wanting to literally eat you Jake."

Flitwick explained making my face twist as I could gather what he meant.

Obviously the concept of death, was tied in how I had reincarnated, knowledge and treasure went hand in hand with how I had the Library of Heavens Path... I could already see Athena dropping her panties at the thought of reading in the library.

Though on the Athena topic, she was more likely to just talk me about some deep topic and having proved my intellectual knowledge she would just drop me off a baby she gave birth to through her forehead like she typically did.

"I see... So I should study up on how to avoid and protect myself from those threats?" I asked curiously.

And he nodded firmly before saying in warning. "That hint of death aura on you is why Miss Bones is also heavily attracted to you. And as you start cultivating, those concepts and new ones based on the cultivation manual you decide on will fill you as well as become much stronger." 

I brushed a hand across my chin and said slowly. "I imagine going against these concepts would also hamper my magical cultivation as well correct?" At Flitwicks wry smile I just smiled in turn and bowed my head to the half-goblin. 

"Thank you for the valuable advice Professor Flitwitck, I appreciate it greatly." I took a deep breath before adding on with my own wry smile. "Do you also have a warning about Cho Chang? Does she also have some kind of agenda?"

And Flitwick without raising a beat stated calmly. "Besides her being interested in a Newblood who has great potential who her family would approve of? Yes, you have a lesser concept of the moon and the Chang family being a descendant of the moon goddess Chang'e... So good luck young man." 

'I am boned.' I mused as I dropped my bag on the next table over from Cho's and I said respectfully. "Once again thank you for the advice, but I am going to go check on the library now." 

Flitwick just waved me off and I left the classroom easily as Flitwick unsealed the door allowing me to see Cho just leaning on the walls next to the door with her instantly pouting at me as I came out. 

"Jeez Jake, did he tell you the whole curriculum or something?" Cho said with a teasing smile as she closed in on me.

And just as I was about to reply, when instead I felt her pull my arm in between her chest as she gave me a pull towards the library with her saying. "I already found the library on this floor and its got some interesting books I already saw!"

'So both Susan and Cho both have some form of agenda with me.' I mused as I kept cool. It wouldn't do for me to flip the fuck out and throw Cho's arms off my own... And a bit of titty's against my arm was certainly doing a good job in keeping me calm.

Cho pulled me down the hallway and she only let go of me to allow herself to push the large thick door open leading into the fourth floor's library. "Here we go! The fourth-floor library has a focus on astrological subjects with how the fifth-floor library, the top floor of Hogwarts hold strictly year five and up materials." Cho explained.

And my face pursed as Cho all but bounced over to one of the bookcases and I noticed how the library was seemingly empty... Which to be fair it was the first day of Hogwarts and it was still breakfast hours.

"So Jake, have you given any consideration on the cultivation manual you will be considering?" Cho asked casually as she leaned slightly on the bookcase.

I raised an eyebrow at her question before I answered honestly. "I will be cultivating the best one for myself I can find."

That, and I planned to make my own super, mega, overpowered manual with the help of the Heaven's Path Library so I could get to work bending this universe over my knee.

Cho gave a slight hum with my expression twitching as she unbuttoned the top of her dress exposing some of her cleavage but then I refocused away from her smooth milky smooth cleavage as she pulled out a pendant that hung between her breasts. 

"This is a moongem taken... Literally from the moon itself haha." Cho laughed to herself as she quickly buttoned her top back up with one hand while holding the Moongem slightly towards me.

And while I noticed that while up against her chest and between her breasts it was a milky white opal gem, away from her chest it dimmed to a dull grey rock and then she held it closer to my own chest with her saying. 

"You have a very strong connection with the moon Jake, so I was thinking I could maybe help you find an appropriate lunar, ice or at least Yin-themed cultivation manual." Cho said with the gem when close to my chest becoming a duller white gem than when it was against her naked flesh.

I raised an eyebrow at all that... And I just asked bluntly as I wasn't going to be led around so easily by a couple flashes of cleavage. "Cho, we met literally yesterday. Why are you being so... Invested in the cultivation manual I decide to cultivate in. And Flitwick already told me that we share a lunar alignment but he also said I had a stronger, 'Astral' alignment that is a more expansive form of cultivation." 

Cho's face pinched slightly before she took a deep breath with her lips pursing and she said more calmly. "I- We could help one another out greatly if we both practiced a lunar art. And if you practiced an Astral cultivation style. Your style would be a predator to my own path at worst, and at best I would be horribly subordinated by your aura." 

I gave Cho a long hard look, before I said slowly and clearly. "Cho Chang, both you and Susan Bones seem to think I am some sort of stud or something for your families or whatever you have going on in your head. But I will say right now, I am not interested in being jerked around do you understand?" 

Cho was silent for a moment with her just staring into my eyes and she quietly nodded so I looked past her towards the lunar-themed cultivation arts before I said. "Now, I am a bit frustrated with all the games being played with me. So I will talk to you maybe in class. Excuse me as I will be doing my own research." 

With that, I walked into the next bookcase section and I began my 'holy work' As now was the best time while Cho was feeling awkward as fuck and no one else was here for me to begin scanning all these cultivation manuals, books, spells, martial arts, and all the other bullshit so I could break this universe in half.

I drew my finger across the spines of hundreds of books as I took moments to check a manual and flipping through it or a spell book as I pretended to be interested in it while the Heaven's Path Library filled with all the books, manuals etc.

And finally to myself at least. I found the motherlode, the astral, cosmic, and more reality based cultivation styles. Which were summarized as being... Stupidly fucking difficult to learn, cultivate in, and also dangerous to the user.

But those con's were traded in return for those styles of cultivation being... Quite frankly far stronger than the vast majority of other cultivation styles besides weird shit like cultivating concepts like 'Fate, Space, Time' Etc.

Basically, Astral/Cosmic cultivation styles was the peak of more material forms of cultivation besides the truly conceptual types like time and space.

'Hmm, I got a good few hundred books at this point after just scrolling through them as Cho left due to not knowing what to say.' I mused before I told myself that I also needed to check the main Hogwarts library to also pick up more manuals.

"I think a good... Thousand cultivation manuals will be enough before I make my own." I mused to myself as I stretched slightly and checked my watch.

I had to get to my first class of the day now.