[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-113":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},2257117,4404,"Chapter 113: Level Four Vein","above-the-mage-chapter-113",113,"\u003Cp>A hearty dinner: a large turkey leg and boiled potatoes, served with light honey wine, worth 4 silver and 6 copper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten sets of basic mana potions, exactly enough for a month, 60 gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two sets of linen everyday clothes, 14 silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two bottles of finely packaged sparkling wine, 30 silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One bottle of peachwood oil bought from a perfume shop, 10 silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two wooden barrels, each with an 8-gallon capacity, 10 silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Total: 63 gold, 8 silver, 6 copper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this large expenditure, Gao De, who had just made a small profit from responding to the summons, saw his savings drop again to 222 gold, 10 silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It may seem like a lot, but if one continuously drinks the basic mana potions for cultivation, this money will last less than four months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After enjoying dinner and making a series of purchases, Gao De returned home, drank a bottle of basic mana potion, calmed his mind, and resumed the guiding technique, slipping once more into the smooth rhythm of cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve become addicted to pills, Gao De muttered to himself, then focused again on his cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the aid of the basic mana potions, though the guiding technique had only just achieved a minor breakthrough on Harvest Day 8, the next minor improvement was already within reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This visible progress in cultivation gave Gao De extra motivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harvest Day 25.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though eager, Gao De ultimately waited two days before visiting Ma Qieyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed Ma Qieyi would surely be interested in news about the Hogan Vein.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But considering Ma Qieyi, like them, had been away for half a month, and unlike Gao De who had no family, he would surely want to reunite with his wife and children upon returning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just returned to the city; he would need time to gather specific information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day was left for him to reunite with his family; one day was left for Ma Qieyi to gather information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, visiting two days later was just right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chose the time between afternoon and evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the usual time for social visits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Qieyi, as a 1st-Ring mage in the official enforcement squad, lived in the Siren District, the second-most prestigious area in Bremen City, after Shenliujie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The setting sun bathed the tidy streets of the Siren District in golden light, as if draping them in a gilded veil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De walked along the street and, following Ma Qieyi’s address, arrived before a finely decorated two-story detached house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He approached the gate and rang the bell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a box beside the door, resembling a mailbox, a mechanically grotesque yet endearing bird emerged, chirping “cuckoo, cuckoo” as it flew in and out repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder even the doorbells here in the rich district are so advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De remarked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later, the gate swung open from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman in a linen maid’s dress—clearly a servant—looked at Gao De, subtly sizing up his attire, then asked with cautious reserve: “May I ask what brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Gao De, here to visit Mr. Ma Qieyi. Could you please announce me?” Gao De smiled, holding up the two bottles of sparkling wine and the finely packaged oil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please wait a moment; I’ll inform him at once,” the maid replied politely, then dashed inside with light footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please come in; the master is waiting for you inside,” she returned shortly afterward and led Gao De in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Qieyi’s foyer was enormous—more than twice the size of Gao De’s entire floor—and carpeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid brought Gao De to the reception area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, the guest has arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Qieyi, already waiting in the reception area, rose at once, his face beaming with warmth, devoid of any aristocratic arrogance, and stepped forward quickly to greet Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome, my friend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Qieyi had always held a favorable impression of Gao De, the youngest but most strikingly combat-capable apprentice in their team. Gao De smiled in return: “I apologize for the sudden visit; I hope I haven’t disturbed you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he offered his gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A small token.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Qieyi accepted them without refusal, patted Gao De’s shoulder, and said: “Next time, just come as you are—no need to bring gifts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, sit down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He guided Gao De to a comfortably furnished seat in the elegant reception area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same maid had already placed two steaming cups of premium black tea on the table before them, then quietly withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the cups are so refined, Gao De noticed the classical, intricate patterns on the teacups and their pure white glaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this the standard of living for a 1st-Ring mage? He felt a pang of envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De lifted the teacup, took a sip, and found the aroma lingering long—far superior to the tea leaves he bought himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I came here primarily to inquire about the Hogan Vein.” He got straight to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking with a mage far older and more experienced than himself, Gao De didn’t believe his intentions could be hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, asking about the Hogan Vein wasn’t anything sensitive—it was better to speak plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve come at the perfect time—I just received the latest information about the Hogan Vein yesterday,” Ma Qieyi replied, equally straightforward, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level Four Vein,” he held up his right palm, pressed his thumb down, and showed Gao De a “4.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Confirmed: the Hogan Vein is a Level Four Vein, equal in rank to our existing spring vein in the Bremen region.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From now on, Bremen will be a region with two Level Four Veins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though the emergence of the Hogan Vein destroyed Hogan City and caused heavy casualties, the next dozen years will bring great activity to Bremen City because of this new vein.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortune and misfortune are hard to say,” Ma Qieyi mused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have the mana creatures from the Hogan Vein been suppressed?” Gao De asked, seeing Ma Qieyi’s demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Ma Qieyi spoke of the Hogan Vein with a smile, the situation couldn’t be dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not yet, but soon,” Ma Qieyi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The reinforcements from Shengxi City were led by Master Frey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Frey is an exceptionally powerful combat mage—his strength ranks among the top in the royal court’s mages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the very first day he arrived at the core of the Hogan Vein, Master Frey slew three 4th-Ring mana creatures entrenched in Hogan City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the following days, he led his team to sweep the area around the core repeatedly until not a single 4th-Ring mana creature remained.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That deterrent effect will likely last at least one or two years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if a few 4th-Ring creatures reappear after one or two years, they’ll be scattered—just one or two at a time—and Bremen City can handle them alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Frey’s mission was technically complete upon arriving here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But he plans to stay another week to clear out every last mana creature lingering in the core region, easing our burden before returning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After this purge, the Hogan Vein has been temporarily stabilized.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though mana creatures will still emerge continuously, they won’t be as violent or chaotic as during its initial outbreak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instead, their numbers will stabilize according to the region’s total mana capacity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For Hogan City, the emergence of the Hogan Vein was a catastrophe—but for many others, it’s a rare opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Ma Qieyi couldn’t help but sigh again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Gao De fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the naked truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1244,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8b028c6404ef581fd3654a67c5d109a5ddf6843db0509694efebdf3e5cd3fbeb","above-the-mage-chapter-114","above-the-mage-chapter-112",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]