[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-29":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},2257033,4404,"Chapter 29: Yinwu","above-the-mage-chapter-29",29,"\u003Cp>The bustling stalls instantly grew quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young vendor also seemed shaken; he hung his head in dejection for a long while before finally lifting it again—and suddenly realized someone was still standing before his stall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young boy, not yet mature, dressed plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young vendor had a decent memory; after a slight pause, he recognized Gao De as one of the onlookers from earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no more spectacle to watch—why are you still here?” the young vendor muttered, though he didn’t show any hostility toward Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De smiled at the young vendor and spoke:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t come to watch a spectacle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De pointed at the copper object that had sparked the earlier argument and said earnestly: “Four Xie coins—will you sell it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De was truly sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because his entire fortune amounted to four gold and fifteen silver coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young vendor fell silent for a moment, then didn’t answer immediately; instead, he stared at Gao De’s still-boyish face and asked: “Don’t you think I’m lying to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though the rune patterns are worn, I can still tell the original runes must have been extraordinary,” Gao De said, studying the copper object closely several more times before confirming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young vendor fell silent again, then picked up the copper object and handed it to Gao De: “Done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De didn’t hesitate; he swiftly pulled three Xie gold coins and twenty three-leaf silver coins from his pocket and handed them over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the scattered gold and silver coins in his hand, the young vendor hesitated, sighed, and spoke again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest with you, this copper object is called Yinwu’s Fang. When intact, it was a Level One magical alchemical artifact capable of casting the Level One spell, Yinwu Spell—but during a battle, its spell runes were accidentally worn away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So when I said earlier that if repaired, it could easily fetch sixty or seventy Xie gold coins, I wasn’t boasting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The average price for a Level One magical item is sixty-five gold coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De didn’t show excessive excitement, because if the vendor said so, there must be more to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But my father once took it to an enchanting repairer. After inspecting it, the repairer discovered the worn runes on Yinwu’s Fang were the core runes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To restore it would be nearly equivalent to re-engraving the entire spell rune pattern—beyond his ability. The matter was dropped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, repairing it isn’t simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see you’re not well-off—if you’ve changed your mind, let’s call off the deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young vendor’s expression was both helpless and regretful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine. If no way to repair it can be found, I’ll keep it as a collection,” Gao De said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young vendor froze, still not reacting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Gao De, having obtained the item he wanted and with his purse empty, had no interest in further wandering—he walked away leisurely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Herb Garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before a brown-black door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De, having just returned from the town square, lightly knocked on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough—come in,” came the familiar voice of Master Seda, laced with coughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De quickly pushed open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda sat at a solid wood table, facing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sight of Master Seda, Gao De was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a dozen days had passed, yet Master Seda’s condition had deteriorated as if he’d suffered a grave illness—his complexion was utterly lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Master Seda had been pale and drained, but never this bad; his face showed almost no trace of blood, as white as a corpse’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De suppressed his questions and rising unease, stepped forward, bowed respectfully, then offered the receipt from Phil’s Apothecary with both hands, his head bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, today I delivered the herb garden’s accumulated potions to the city. Here is the receipt I brought back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Put it on the table, cough...” Master Seda’s voice was weak and listless. But Gao De dared not show the slightest disrespect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carefully placed the receipt on the solid wood table, then stood respectfully beside it, waiting for Master Seda’s next words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda’s face was expressionless; his half-lidded eyes studied Gao De, as if pondering something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several breaths, he suddenly opened his eyes wide—a sharp gleam flashed in his cloudy gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lately, I’ve noticed you often leave the herb garden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De’s heart jolted; the next instant, he understood—and his face turned pale with panic, as if caught red-handed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clenched his fists, his face filled with fear and shame: “Master, I—I was wicked, seduced by the city’s luxuries, neglecting my daily cultivation...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda stared at Gao De’s repentant face, weighing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I swear I’ll return to the right path. Please forgive my foolishness and indulgence.” Gao De added several more flattering words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Master Seda didn’t care; he sneered, watching Gao De’s performance with mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care whether you cultivate diligently or not. I only care whether you interfere with my work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I swear I’ve never delayed any task! Please, Master, see this!” Gao De felt a surge of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Master Seda reached out and seized Gao De’s wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De knew it was bad—he instinctively wanted to resist or dodge—but instantly calmed himself, hesitated a moment, and ultimately took no action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t time to turn against him yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda’s hand clamped Gao De’s wrist like an iron vice; magical energy surged, sending pain deep into Gao De’s bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know how long I’ve studied the Spirit-Linking Elixir formula? Ten years—listen carefully, not ten days, not ten months, but ten years!” Master Seda hissed, his voice thick with malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that I’m finally close to success, I won’t tolerate any mishaps at this stage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a corrupt boy, running into town every other day, with no real talent—you’ll cause trouble sooner or later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I tell you, if it were anyone else, dying would be fine—just the life of a disciple. I know none of you truly see me as your master. It doesn’t matter—I never saw you as disciples either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you’re different. Even if you die, you must die by my potions,” Master Seda’s expression twisted into a snarl, nearly shouting at Gao De, “Do you understand?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Master Seda’s fury intensified, the pain in Gao De’s wrist grew excruciating; he gritted his teeth and answered in a trembling voice: “I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having confirmed through the [Interrogation] spell that Gao De hadn’t lied, Master Seda ended his spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De, meanwhile, was drenched in sweat from the agony, his clothes soaked through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clenched his lips tightly, no longer able to maintain inner calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soul from the modern world, confronted with someone who clearly intended to kill him yet still threatened him so cruelly—his mind couldn’t accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he understood: begging or raging would change nothing. He could only force himself to endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From today until the trial, you are not to leave the herb garden. No more potions need be delivered to the apothecary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda was satisfied with the immense pressure he’d imposed on Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand, Master,” Gao De gritted his teeth and submitted under Master Seda’s overwhelming power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Gao De’s submission, Master Seda exhaled deeply—the pent-up tension of recent days finally eased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this critical moment, his own anxiety and pressure were no less than Gao De’s, who was plotting “rebellion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave,” Master Seda waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De bowed once more, then withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew clearly: Master Seda no longer cared whether he showed proper respect or deference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Gao De still maintained a respectful demeanor, revealing not the slightest hint of his intent to rebel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew he must not let Master Seda grow wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their power gap was already vast; the only real chance of success in rebellion lay in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1307,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2a22e96c88484db479c015983f8ef5f71bc7d154f46700b9c765ba448a648d58","above-the-mage-chapter-30","above-the-mage-chapter-28",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]