[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-121":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},2257125,4404,"Chapter 121: Deal","above-the-mage-chapter-121",121,"\u003Cp>After Commissioner Rachel left, only Gao De and Fashi  Larr remained at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“ Fashi  Larr,” Gao De said respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Rachel was gone, Fashi  Larr seemed to have stepped onto his own ground, assuming an air of complete control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And indeed, that was the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not believe this raw Fashi , clearly from the countryside, could refuse someone of his standing as a College Commissioner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De quickly stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fashi  Larr walked into the room; without any visible motion, the door silently shut behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t beat around the bush,” Fashi  Larr said bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, why waste subtlety when speaking to someone vastly weaker in power, age, and status? Simply lowering himself to negotiate with this man was already more than enough courtesy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fashi  Larr carried immense arrogance toward Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commissioner Rachel didn’t mention this to you just now: according to college rules, a Fashi  admitted under the highest tier of Daiyu  is entitled to one bottle of ‘Soul-Ascending Water.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something Gao De had never known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recommendation letter made no mention of it, and even Lady Mi Su had not told him—whether she was unaware or deliberately withholding it, he could not tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Gao De knew—and he already guessed what Fashi  Larr had come for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see you’re only a Second-Class Fashi  Apprentice; you won’t need this bottle of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ for at least the next couple of years. So I’d like to borrow it from you for now—what do you say?” Fashi  Larr said coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course I don’t want to. Gao De thought inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he didn’t yet fully understand how difficult the Ascension was, he knew how precious ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least Fashi  Seda had spent half his life in Hogen City striving for just one bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured, as a College Committee member, I won’t take advantage of a newcomer like you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lend me the ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ for now; when you reach Third-Class Fashi  Apprentice and prepare to ascend to First-Rank Fashi , I’ll return an identical bottle to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This bottle of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ was originally meant for me, but because you appeared suddenly, our Dean honored Dean Gavin’s recommendation letter and assigned it to you instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fashi  Larr explained, subtly implying a reprimand—that Gao De had taken this bottle from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So even if I didn’t borrow it from you, by next year or the year after, I’d have received a replacement bottle anyway—you needn’t worry I won’t be able to return it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If my apprentice hadn’t missed next year’s golden window for ascension, I wouldn’t be asking a newcomer like you. I could have waited until next year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t borrow it for free—I can still afford to offer you a rare First-Rank Fashi  spell formula, or some small coin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Gao De felt slightly better—at least the man wasn’t trying to steal it outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though only slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he didn’t say it outright, Fashi  Larr’s tone carried unmistakable coercion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question was: did he have the right to refuse? This Fashi  Larr was a College Commissioner, a high-ranking official with real power. If he refused now, how would his life in the college be afterward? The situation forced him to bow—but even bowing had its art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know my Fashi  talent is mediocre, as Fashi  Larr you’ve said—I certainly won’t need the ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ anytime soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De spoke politely, but his face showed clear distress: “Yet precisely because my talent is mediocre, the ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ is even more vital to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand that well, but I’m only asking to borrow it, not to take it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, didn’t I already tell you? Had you not come, this year’s bottle would have been mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, though an unexpected turn occurred, it was only temporary—you hold it for now. My share hasn’t been revoked; in one or two years, when my share comes due, I’ll return it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“ Fashi  Larr, I naturally trust you, but who can guarantee anything? The college’s supply of ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ is limited. This year, because I gave up my share, next year another unforeseen event might arise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De spoke delicately, but his meaning was clear—yet his tone grew increasingly soft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hesitation was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gao De’s posture, Fashi  Larr knew he had a chance, and began reinforcing his promises from every angle, escalating his offers to weaken Gao De’s resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De believed not a word of Fashi  Larr’s assurances, yet his words grew ever weaker, giving Fashi  Larr the impression he was on the verge of surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here’s what I’ll do: if you lend me the ‘Soul-Ascending Water,’ I’ll give you a rare First-Rank Fashi  spell formula, complete with its corresponding potion—you can use it the moment you ascend. Additionally, before I return the bottle, I’ll pay you twenty gold coins annually.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gao De teetering on the edge of “agreeing, but not quite,” Fashi  Larr finally pressed the advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A First-Rank Fashi  formula averages twenty-five gold; its corresponding potion, forty gold,” Fashi  Larr explained, as if Gao De didn’t know the market, “and rare formulas can rise three to five times in price depending on scarcity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most importantly, many rare spell formulas aren’t for sale at any price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Gao De realized this was the limit of what Fashi  Larr could offer—if he pushed further, the man might grow resentful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put on a look of distress, then sighed and nodded reluctantly: “Since you’ve said so, to refuse you would be ungrateful. I’ll lend you the ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fashi  Larr’s face lit up at Gao De’s nod, and he immediately vowed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured, as a College Committee member, I won’t bully a newcomer. I’ll return the ‘Soul-Ascending Water’ without fail!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never doubted your integrity,” Gao De replied promptly, playing along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In good spirits, Fashi  Larr laughed heartily—satisfied not only with the deal, but with Gao De’s “wisdom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled from his robe a leather-bound book and a tiny vial of potion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly tiny—no larger than the “wind oil” Gao De had known in his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the transparent vial lay a thick, pale green liquid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here’s the rare First-Rank Fashi  formula and its corresponding potion,” Fashi  Larr said, handing both to Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1053,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7ec9aec99ba30b32d876e28f6363b33f394c76690580bd73a680f86c5f6f59aa","above-the-mage-chapter-122","above-the-mage-chapter-120",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]