[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-11":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Above the Mage!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2257015,4404,"Chapter 11: Fiel Potion Shop","above-the-mage-chapter-11",11,"\u003Cp>Genius, to Gao De, was not an unfamiliar praise—he had been called that since childhood by everyone around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his genius lay in mathematics, which seemed of little significance in the magical world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original body’s genius in alchemy was what truly mattered now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A set (three small vials) of Chujizhuduyaoji  could be purchased by Master Seda for two gold coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This price assumed Master Seda possessed sufficient skill and could consistently supply the product.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His own small-scale sales would not fetch this price, but it wouldn’t be much lower—and the advantage was pure profit, with zero cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a pity,” Gao De couldn’t help sighing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond his outstanding talent in alchemy, the original body was also far shrewder than most in strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this environment, those who remained Qingxing  were not only Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original body was one such person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Gao De, he refused to passively await his destined fate—he sought to change it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had long prepared to escape his predicament and, miraculously, leveraged his talent to find a breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—As long as he had money, there was at least a chance to find a way to break the tracking mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But sadly, he hadn’t saved enough before Master Seda selected him for drug testing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time waits for no one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If given more time, perhaps the original body could have truly forged his own miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since I’ve been given a second chance, this time I will succeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the original body’s savings, his newly won privilege to freely enter and exit the herb garden, and “Wind Spirit Moon Shadow,” the once-faint hope now shimmered faintly into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating the usual dinner of black bread and pea soup, before darkness fell, Gao De left the herb garden with Amy, carrying a fully packed bundle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the bundle were five sets of Chujizhuduyaoji —he was to deliver them to a potion shop in town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This task had originally belonged to Yilan; after Gao De stabbed him, it naturally passed to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the tracking mark, Master Seda wasn’t worried about apprentices fleeing—he generally imposed no restrictions on their movements, and for convenience, he had entrusted Yilan with delivering the potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the price had been negotiated by Master Seda himself; Yilan merely delivered the goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda’s herb garden lay on the outskirts of Hogen City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Establishing a herb garden required vast, fertile land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an alchemist, Master Seda had many ways to earn money, but his expenses were enormous—he couldn’t afford to be careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, even in Hogen City—a place equivalent to an obscure small county in his past life—he could only place the garden in the cheap outskirts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place Gao De was heading to was Hogen City’s commercial district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In most cases, a city’s commercial district occupied its best location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hogen City was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its commercial district sat at the city’s very center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Hogen City wasn’t large, the herb garden’s location was indeed remote.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking from the herb garden to the commercial district took about an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Round trip meant two hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his transmigration, Gao De had many transportation options for such distances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subway, bus, even taxis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would never consider walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But here, he had only one mode of transport—his own legs. Though carriages existed in this world, renting one cost at least two silver coins per hour, plus six copper coins for every five minutes beyond that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Master Seda could afford such prices; it had nothing to do with lowly apprentices like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hogen City’s first impression on Gao De was three words: too shabby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roads twisted and turned with no planning whatsoever, and most were extremely narrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to rain two days prior, puddles of filthy water flowed everywhere, and trash littered the sidewalks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of confinement and crowding overwhelmed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, most pedestrians hurried past, as if pressed by urgent matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De knew these people were mostly factory workers—they had to reach home before dark, finish chores quickly, and go to bed to save on kerosene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they entered the impoverished district on Hogen City’s edge, the stench grew stronger and more frequent; along the roadside were half-unemployed beggars in tattered clothes and homeless children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De and Amy came from here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was chaotic, poor, and densely populated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And full of thieves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De instinctively gripped the bundle’s strap, bent slightly, quickened his pace, and lowered his head as Amy led him through the chaotic streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he was technically a mage apprentice with two spells, both were non-lethal and purely functional, and his weak physique forced him to proceed with caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why he brought Amy—what the original body left him was only knowledge; he was now like a man with amnesia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, he didn’t know the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked on and the stench gradually faded, and the houses on either side grew brighter, Gao De straightened his back and looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now they were in Hogen City’s civilian residential district; beyond this lay the commercial district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After another twenty minutes of walking, just before dusk, Gao De finally reached the commercial district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hogen City’s commercial district was bustling; as night fell, streetlamps had already lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the streetlamps here were magic-crystal lamps, powered by a strange crystal called magic-crystal, far brighter than kerosene lamps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the same city, separated by only thirty to forty minutes’ walk, one side couldn’t afford to light kerosene lamps at night, while here, costlier magic-crystal lamps burned brightly all night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like two different worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The streets of the commercial district were wide and clean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From upscale restaurants lining the road, enticing aromas drifted out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing a bakery called “Pan De Bread,” the sweet scent of freshly baked pastries and cookies made Gao De and Amy, who had eaten nothing but black bread all day, instinctively swallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the price board outside the bakery forced them to walk past without glancing—cheapest maple cookies cost six copper coins per small portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pedestrians wore refined clothing; men’s attire was dull, mostly brown or black, while ladies’ dresses were vivid, varied in hue, and richly decorated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amy had again bent slightly, lowered his head, and quickened his pace, just as he had in the slums.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De, however, observed his surroundings with interest, studying this “foreign” scenery he’d never seen in his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the street numbers, Amy led Gao De to their destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fiel Potion Shop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A medium-sized shop occupying addresses 18, 19, and 20 on this street, with a large sign and a notice board outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fiel Potion Shop seeks diligent herb gatherers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thorngrass is nearing maturity; it grows on high mountains, has a very short harvest window, and is in high demand—we urgently need to hire five to ten temporary gatherers with good stamina and endurance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This job requires outdoor mountain expeditions, overnight camping, and obedience to our apothecary’s instructions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Payment based on quantity and quality collected; the shop will provide necessary camping gear and food.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interested parties should visit us in person as soon as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a job posting for laborers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thorngrass, a herb with small spines on its surface, restores stamina; dried thorngrass is commonly used as an auxiliary ingredient in stamina-restoring potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stamina-restoring potions are among the best-selling low-tier potions, so during harvest season, shops typically stockpile large quantities, dry them, and store them to ensure steady annual supply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowledge of thorngrass flashed through Gao De’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tore his gaze from the notice board and stepped boldly into Fiel Potion Shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the buyer Master Seda had negotiated with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since all details had long been settled and this wasn’t their first collaboration, and since Gao De was merely delivering goods, the transaction went smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He entered the shop, stated his identity and purpose, handed over the five sets of Chujizhuduyaoji  to the clerk, and received a “receipt” stamped with Fiel Potion Shop’s seal—his mission was complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Money never passed through Gao De’s hands; Master Seda would come periodically with the receipts to collect payment himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gao De?” After leaving Fiel Potion Shop, Amy noticed Gao De glancing around, as if searching for something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De snapped back to attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chujizhuduyaoji  belonging to Master Seda had been sold, but his own set still lay quietly in his bundle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De didn’t recall where the original body had sold these potions, but it didn’t matter—he could establish a new channel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Amy, I want to wander a bit more. Go back first.” He turned to Amy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amy blinked, then instinctively said: “It’s already so late—the slums don’t have magic-crystal lamps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De realized this made sense—this world was unlike his past life; safety couldn’t be guaranteed, especially in the slums. Traveling together was safer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled six copper coins from his pocket and pressed them into Amy’s hand. “Wait for me at the entrance of Pan De Bread. I’ll find you after I finish, and we’ll return together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gao De,” Amy didn’t seem surprised he had money, but urged: “Now that Master Seda’s potion has been sold successfully, we can live in peace. You’re the most talented among us—you’ll surely earn Master Seda’s favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you sure?” Gao De didn’t seem surprised Amy knew something—he merely asked back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, living under the same roof, it would be strange if Amy knew nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suppose,” Amy mumbled, sounding deeply uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, he understood Master Seda’s nature—he was just deceiving himself subconsciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I killed Yilan—I’ve already angered Master Seda. And no matter what, things can’t get worse, can they?” Gao De said, then turned and walked away. “I’ll be back soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1620,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c165873b065e347c15f593ae4e573545bf3f25337041a210d554cd7c0ae34349","above-the-mage-chapter-12","above-the-mage-chapter-10",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]