[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-35":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},2257039,4404,"Chapter 35: The Chain of Deceptions","above-the-mage-chapter-35",35,"\u003Cp>Unsure whether it was jealousy or awe, Master Seda’s emotions were complex, yet he still held the upper hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your tactics have indeed surprised me, but judging by your magical energy alone, how many more spells can you cast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda was utterly confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This robe I wear carries a built-in spell shield—I can stand still and let you strike all you want; even if you drain every last bit of your magic, you won’t harm a single hair on my head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spell Shield,” Gao De silently committed the spell to memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda was not lying to Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The acid ball, as before, burst mere inches before Master Seda, its splashing acid blocked entirely by the spell barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda remained unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Surrender. Tell me where you learned these spells, and I might give you a quick death,” Master Seda said, shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, even if the path ahead held no hope, there was no turning back. Gao De ignored him, sweat beading on his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was both from the searing pain in his chest and from the exhaustion of draining too much magical energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Acid Spray+】 is stronger than 【Acid Spray】, but consumes even more magical energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for his month of consistent cultivation and slight growth in magical energy, he wouldn’t have been able to cast five cantrips at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another acid ball coalesced in Gao De’s palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final spell—still 【Acid Spray+】! Gao De said nothing, but his actions made his intent clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda’s expression darkened further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gao De defy him so repeatedly, he could no longer suppress his rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ungrateful brat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third acid ball was still blocked by Master Seda’s spell shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after continuously deflecting multiple cantrips, even a first-level spell shield had nearly exhausted its power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda refused to risk himself further—he struck decisively, aiming to crush Gao De before the shield’s power vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lunged forward, raising his right hand as a blinding light, bright enough to blind an ordinary person, erupted violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the same technique he had used against the wolf-rats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De had no time to close his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not something reaction could avoid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light was overwhelmingly intense, flooding into Gao De’s eyes in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a searing heat, then his eyeballs burned and ached, tears spilling uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision vanished in that instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De finally understood what it meant to be blinded by light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not bother wiping his tears, nor attempt to open his eyes, nor make any blind dodge—he reached decisively into his robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out a copper object shaped like a fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mist Veil Fang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De waved the Mist Veil Fang lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thick fog instantly surged forth and spread rapidly outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, a powerful energy circled the Mist Veil Fang, causing it to tremble as if alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy flowed into the Mist Veil Fang like molten lava.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It emitted a faint resonance, its surface glowing faintly, signaling it had been infused with supernatural power—capable of inflicting far deadlier harm upon enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enchant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This process was as smooth as mercury spilling to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, the fog spread in an instant, silently filling the room and plunging it into a hazy obscurity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once-clear sights blurred in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only objects within arm’s reach retained discernible outlines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any sight beyond five feet was obscured by the thick mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De had maintained a distance greater than five feet from Master Seda from the start—even at the cost of expending his limited magical energy to use 【Mage Hand】 to retrieve the potion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You make yourself invisible to me—I make myself invisible to you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now both were evenly matched, back to square one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the flash lasted only an instant; the Mist Veil spell would last a full minute. Advantage is mine!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time ahead belonged to Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda strained his eyes toward Gao De’s former position, but saw only a dark, indistinct haze—not a figure, not even a silhouette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was both startled and furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First-level spell: Mist Veil. Where did this brat get a first-level arcane item? Even I own only two first-level magical alchemical artifacts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His earlier contempt had vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This boy hides great secrets!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After witnessing so much, how could Master Seda not realize this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh! A sharp whistle cut through the air, accompanied by a chilling wind, striking from straight ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his vision was blocked, sound remained unaffected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda reacted instantly, sidestepping sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Plop! Two sounds followed in quick succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glass vial and a small bag of unknown substance exploded beside Master Seda!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With vision obscured, Gao De could not aim precisely—missing was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“More acid,” Master Seda realized at once from the pungent sulfur smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… flour?” But another scent left him baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alongside the acid in the vial, Gao De had thrown a small bag of flour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda could not fathom Gao De’s intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dusting with ash” only works the first time—it’s a trick with no second use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, flour that couldn’t be aimed accurately at his face couldn’t possibly affect him. Gao De gave him no time to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another glass vial and several small bags of flour flew out from deep within the mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they still missed Master Seda, some acid splashed from the shattered vials—fortunately, the shield’s power still held, protecting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda had no time to ponder why flour was thrown with the acid—he assumed it was merely a distraction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did this brat get so many acid vials?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cursed inwardly, shifting his stance quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next moment, he let out a piercing, agonized scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down at his right foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There lay a puddle of acid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda had stepped directly into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The acid instantly corroded his shoe sole, then ate through the skin and flesh of his sole, hissing as it burned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His foot’s skin dissolved the moment it touched the acid, leaving blackened, bubbling wounds and searing pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had Master Seda ever suffered such an injury?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where did this acid come from? From the vials I threw earlier!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the acid spilled from shattered vials, there was also the acid left behind by Gao De’s earlier 【Acid Spray+】—additional effect: acid may be retained for up to one day as needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three consecutive 【Acid Spray+】 spells had been blocked by Master Seda’s shield—but the acid had not vanished. Instead, it mixed with the spilled acid from the vials, forming a “landmine field” around Master Seda, restricting his movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, acid spilled on the ground posed no threat to Master Seda.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the Mist Veil spell blocked his vision, making every step feel treacherous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Move, and he might step on acid; stand still, and he became a stationary target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shield’s power was nearly gone—without it, he could no longer ignore Gao De’s thrown acid vials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now trapped in this dilemma, Master Seda recalled Gao De’s odd use of 【Mage Hand】 to retrieve the potion at the start—and suddenly understood: Gao De had already been setting up for the Mist Veil spell then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had somehow acquired so many acid vials—not for random attacks, but to lay this “landmine field.” He knew 【Acid Spray】 couldn’t pierce his shield, yet he kept casting it relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Seda had thought Gao De had no other options, merely forcing himself to keep trying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he saw it clearly: Gao De had been deliberately draining his shield’s power, so that now he could no longer ignore the acid vials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This chain of traps had finally ensnared even this “old hand,” leaving him trapped in a no-win situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1293,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","308c69f9d70570f9c49c36126a3ddbb18da9926e99614b063e540dd7c0473e2b","above-the-mage-chapter-36","above-the-mage-chapter-34",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]