[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-467":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},2257471,4404,"Chapter 467: Harvest Time","above-the-mage-chapter-467",467,"\u003Cp>The battle ended, and the sea surface gradually calmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the calm lasted only a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ripples rose again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drowned Aldrich floated up in a strange manner, drifting toward shore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body rose and fell with the waves, like a doll without a soul, drifting lifelessly across the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another branched lightning bolt split the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heaven and earth blazed as bright as day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intense light illuminated the entire sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly visible beneath Aldrich’s body was a dark silhouette, shadowing him closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Tuanzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunder shook the heavens and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash! Splash! Splash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain that had been building all night suddenly poured down in violent torrents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain fell in sheets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raindrops the size of beans struck the murky sea, sending out one ripple after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash, splash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two splashes echoed along the lagoon’s shore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Aldrich was pushed ashore by Tuanzi, his body slamming heavily onto the muddy bank, limbs limp and sprawled, utterly motionless and lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Gao De himself climbed out of the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he reached land, Gao De rolled over and lay flat on his back, gasping for breath, his chest heaving wildly as rain pelted his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>November’s autumn chill made the rain pierce the bone, but Gao De, who had already evolved the [Intermediate Ice-Resistant Body], was nearly immune to cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder he’s a second-ring mage—even the weakest one. I prepared so much, yet still found it hard to defeat him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had won, Gao De still felt profound awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had used nearly all his preparations, yet the battle had still been grueling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frowning, he first cast [Purify Food] to cleanse the filth and stench clinging to his body from rolling in the polluted water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain had finally come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he cleaned himself, Gao De winced, sucked in a sharp breath, and twisted his face in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—His abdomen was steadily oozing blood, washed away by the downpour, only to seep out again in thin streams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Aldrich had used [Cause Fear] to awaken Gao De’s deepest terror and immobilize him, he drove his dagger—infused with ice elements stored by [Absorb Element]—into Gao De’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this first strike was blocked by Gao De’s chest armor component, enchanted with First-Rank Fortification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aldrich reacted swiftly; failing to land the first blow, he didn’t pause to analyze, but instead dragged the dagger downward for a second strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To end the fight in one move, Gao De chose not to defend or dodge the second strike, but to endure the blade’s attack—its magical power now spent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This choice allowed him to defeat Aldrich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cost was this horrifying, long gash across his abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade had cleanly sliced open the skin and flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wound’s edges curled outward, blood continuously seeping out, quickly diluted by the heavy rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain pounded the wound with every impact, like a dull blade grinding against it, sending waves of excruciating pain through Gao De, making his body tremble involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had [Adaptation] not increased his pain tolerance by 100% and evolved the [Magical Endurance Body], he would have already been writhing and convulsing on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fucking hurts,” Gao De muttered, gently pressing his right hand against the wound on his abdomen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his mana flowed, a green light surged from his palm, like agile ribbons, seeping thread by thread into the wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the green light, potent vitality flowed, stitching and repairing Gao De’s wound like needle and thread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The curled, bloody flesh was gently smoothed out under the green glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Torn tissues slowly realigned and healed; the bleeding slowed and ceased under the green light’s embrace, forming a dark red scab over the wound’s surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Healing Spell+]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond mere wound closure, the spell awakened a fresh vitality deep within Gao De’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhausted from the fierce battle, Gao De suddenly felt renewed strength surge through him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this new energy, he pushed himself up with both hands, rising from the ground, then turned to look at Aldrich, lying unconscious beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aldrich was not dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his injuries were undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De’s right hand, which had unleashed [Primordial Savage Strike], had plunged directly into Aldrich’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood oozed steadily from the gruesome wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not stopped soon, he would die from blood loss within moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De stared at Aldrich, frowning slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought for a moment, then extended his right hand and placed it on Aldrich’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he cast [Healing Spell], but held back his full power, merely forming a thin scab to stop the bleeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Gao De switched spells, channeling another surge of vitality through his palm into Aldrich’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cantrip [Borrowed Benevolence].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It granted the target temporary life force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as this temporary vitality lasted, the target would not die, no matter how severe the wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aldrich could not die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, Gao De would have crushed his heart outright instead of holding back, and he wouldn’t have had Tuanzi drag him ashore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to avoid falling victim to the cliché of a villain surviving a half-hearted attack, Gao De had truly gone all out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So now Aldrich had only a thread of life left—if not for a mage’s superior vitality, he wouldn’t have lasted until Gao De’s [Borrowed Benevolence] kept him alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind howled, dark clouds piled thick, rain poured in torrents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast city of Lagos was swallowed by storm; beneath the curtain of rain, everything blurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lights still burned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danika couldn’t help glancing out the window again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why hasn’t he returned yet?” Her face showed worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De had been staying at Ronggu Garden; though he left early and returned late, he always came back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But tonight, it was so late, and the weather so terrible, that unease stirred in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Danika was about to look away, a flash of lightning illuminated the window, casting a shadow on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure stormed in, drenched in wind and rain, dragging a long, shapeless object behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that fleeting flash, Danika recognized the face—her expression changed instantly, and she hurried out to meet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rainwater dripped from Gao De’s body, pooling on the floor, spreading slowly along the cracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re injured,” Danika said, rushing him inside and studying his pale, rain-streaked face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minor wound. Bleeding’s stopped. No problem,” Gao De waved it off, his voice still hoarse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me heal you,” Danika said, concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. I already treated myself,” Gao De replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reality isn’t a game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In games, when a character is injured, a healer casts a few healing spells and the character returns to full health, strong and vigorous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, you often see a “tank” under the care of several healers, his health bar rising and falling like waves—plummeting to zero, then surging back to full, standing alone against a thousand foes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in a reality with supernatural power, such scenes are impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mages don’t have health bars; no amount of stacked healing spells can instantly restore full strength if the mage still lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, healing spells aren’t that powerful—they’re more like potent medicine or a precise surgery, halting deterioration and accelerating healing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, healing spells can only affect the same person once in a short time; repeated casting within that window is like drug resistance—no longer effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why Gao De politely declined Danika’s offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danika froze, a flicker of surprise and confusion in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She studied Gao De deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had given him the [Healing Spell] formula only ten days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now he had already mastered [Healing Spell]?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt both awe and curiosity—wondering how he had done it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at her age, she naturally respected boundaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is this?” Danika paused, glancing at the motionless human body wrapped in a trench coat, breathing faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My mission target tonight,” Gao De smiled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After another silence, Danika spoke again: “Let me bandage you. [Healing Spell] is powerful, but not all-powerful. Combined with conventional treatment, it speeds recovery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Danika’s firm insistence, Gao De dried off, dismissed [Winter’s Arrival], then went to Ronggu Garden’s infirmary, removed his top, and lay on a hard cot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danika cast [Dancing Lantern Spell], illuminating the small infirmary brightly, then carefully examined Gao De’s abdominal wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she took a large wooden box from a nearby cabinet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the box, bandages, herbs, and ointments were neatly arranged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These herbs and ointments were all collected and dried by her, and the ointments were mixed by her own hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dania took out a bottle; as soon as she unscrewed the cap, a fresh, herbal scent filled the air—the contents were yellow ointment, thin like yogurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She carefully applied the ointment to the skin around Gao De’s wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the ointment touched his skin, Gao De felt a faint chill, and the pain in the wound immediately lessened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Dania picked up the bandages and gently wrapped them around Gao De’s abdomen, layer after layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her movements were skilled and steady, and she occasionally looked up to observe Gao De’s expression, ensuring her actions caused him no discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It might feel a bit tight, but this helps the wound heal and the ointment absorb.” After finishing, Dania patted Gao De’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now you must rest well,” she added instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lasting all night, the rain finally stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden sunlight pierced through the clouds and poured down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the streets, puddles left by the rain shimmered under the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the effect of the [Comfortable Slumber+] spell, Gao De slept soundly, and his wound healed further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose, changed into his Sea Sentinel uniform, stepped out of the room, and ate a simple breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was halfway through his meal, Doctor Dania hurried over and reported to Gao De: “The man has woken up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Gao De perked up, shoved the last few bites of bread into his mouth, and rushed to a small room in the backyard of the Orphanage of Solitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had originally been a storage room, temporarily repurposed by Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the room, Aldrich, his face waxen yellow, was bound tightly to a long bench; though conscious, he remained extremely weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door was pushed open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De, clad in his Sea Sentinel uniform, strode in boldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So he’s awake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aldrich struggled to lift his eyelids—an effort that took considerable strength at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, his gaze moved upward from Gao De’s clothing, settling on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So young!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could such a young mage have reduced him to this state?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Gao De’s face, Aldrich’s eyes narrowed, his heart flooded with complex, conflicting emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had risen from nothing, struggled through decades of hardship, endured countless sufferings, committed countless evils, to achieve even this small measure of success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet here was someone so young already respected as a Sea Sentinel mage, and even defeating him as a first-rank mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dao is unjust!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aldrich felt profound bitterness, his heart heavy with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You unleashed water beasts to harm the poor of Marko District. Those people had no conflict with you, yet you did this—surely you were hired by someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De held a scroll of parchment and a pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spread the parchment on the table, picked up the pen, and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aldrich remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you some noble martyr who’d rather die than speak? Or are you still protecting your superiors?” Gao De didn’t grow angry at Aldrich’s silence; he set down the pen and regarded Aldrich with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord,” Aldrich croaked, struggling to speak, “could you tell me why you recovered so quickly? Did you have some extraordinary equipment that resists necromancy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What puzzled him most was why his [Cause Fear] had only worked for a moment against Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De smiled faintly and shook his head. “Sorry, I can’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple: his mental strength had broken its limit, reaching the second-rank mage level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aldrich had just ascended to second-rank; his mental strength was slightly stronger, but only marginally, so [Cause Fear]’s duration was reduced to near nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Gao De had no reason—and no intention—to tell Aldrich this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I tell you everything truthfully, can I live?” After another moment of silence, Aldrich stared at Gao De with bloodshot eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those born in obscurity always clung fiercely to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know,” Gao De shook his head. “That’s not up to me—it’s decided by my superiors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But,” he paused, then continued, “I know that if you refuse to cooperate, you will die for certain—and you’ll still be forced to confess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mages had too many methods; Gao De couldn’t force Aldrich to speak the truth, but higher-rank Sea Sentinel mages certainly could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing Gao De spoke the truth, Aldrich’s eyes lost their malice and rage, growing calmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve served as second-in-command of the Needle Stitch Gang for years and accumulated considerable wealth and treasures. Promise me one thing, and I’ll tell you where I’ve hidden them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Gao De. “These are all my personal possessions—no ledgers exist. As long as I keep quiet, you may take them all without reporting or registering them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2201,"2026-06-19T14:28:50.414Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5e48f6e13bbeb6ed056d4fed6a29fea82191553c37eef3d27345ac722d9fc07b","above-the-mage-chapter-468","above-the-mage-chapter-466",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]