[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-494":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},2257498,4404,"Chapter 494: The Matter is Settled","above-the-mage-chapter-494",494,"\u003Cp>Beneath the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The half-moon arc, after unleashing its immense destructive force, had already dissipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thick layer of frost had formed atop the black-winged scale serpent’s skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Extreme cold surged like a tidal wave from its head, rapidly devouring its life force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under this excruciating pain, the black-winged scale serpent’s will to survive erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its emerald vertical pupils flickered with a mix of madness and terror; instinctively, it whipped its tail—the part farthest from its head, still untouched by the freezing current—toward Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The serpent’s tail was long and powerful, its scales small and tightly packed, with two rows of sharp backward-pointing spines along both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spines curved like fishhooks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they struck an enemy, the spines would embed themselves into the flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a forceful pull and yank, the serpent could tear apart the enemy’s muscle and tissue, inflicting fatal wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of the black-winged scale serpent’s most effective attack methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, in its dying moment, the tail’s strike reached its peak power—like a steel whip, the water it displaced cut like blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep, thunderous sound echoed through the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Gao De’s previous strength had exhausted, and his new energy had not yet formed; he could not react in time to defend or dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only watch as the serpent’s tail struck him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faint shimmering shield created by [Shield Shu +] offered significantly greater protection than [Shield Shu ], but it was still a first-tier spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, under the serpent’s tail strike, the shimmering shield shattered like fragile glass, dissolving into countless sparkling specks that vanished into the lake water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tail, still carrying residual force, struck Gao De’s chest without obstruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of blue light vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chest was one of the protected zones of [Winter’s Arrival].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The level-one reinforcement runes offered insufficient defense against such a powerful second-tier monster attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fortunately, [Shield Shu +] had already greatly weakened the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the immense force of the tail sweep instantly sent Gao De flying backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he was submerged in water; its strong resistance acted like an invisible hand, slowing his recoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After retreating seven or eight meters, Gao De finally stabilized his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body trembled slightly in the water; intense pain throbbed in his chest, as if a fire burned there, searing and sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gao De had no time to heal himself—he gritted his teeth and immediately looked up at the black-winged scale serpent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew that geopower creatures possessed extraordinary vitality, but he believed the power within the Frost Rune Martial Art, North Wind, was even greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His close-range release of the Frost Rune Sword Qi must have inflicted unbearable damage upon the serpent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This final counterattack was merely its last flicker of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth proved him right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lashing out with its tail, the serpent’s emerald vertical pupils still trembled faintly, as if struggling to cling to its final thread of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But its body, save for occasional involuntary spasms, could no longer move at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Gao De did not relax—he feared the serpent was feigning death, and waited silently nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until its massive body could no longer maintain buoyancy and slowly sank into the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De activated his mind; within the still-smooth second-tier source of Wind Spirit Moon Shadow, the term “Black-Winged Scale Serpent” now appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matter was settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight’s moonlight was slightly brighter than yesterday’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Security Office’s dock, dozens of patrol boats were moored neatly together, swaying gently with the lake’s ripples, their hulls clinking softly against each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the dock, several lanterns hung overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orange glow of the lanterns reflected on the water’s surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night watchman sat in a small hut beside the dock, idly cracking open small nuts resembling peanuts, extracting the kernels, and crunching them between his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a local nut, and its taste was acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally, he would lift his gaze and sweep it across the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nearly dawn, deep into the night; the night watchman was already exhausted, his attention long gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes appeared to scan the lake, but in truth, they were unfocused—merely rolling mechanically, his thoughts far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it wasn’t until a small boat was nearly at shore that he suddenly snapped to attention, leaping up and nearly losing his balance from the abrupt motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night watchman didn’t wait to steady himself—he shouted toward the dark lake: “Who’s there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s me.” Gao De’s voice drifted across the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night watchman didn’t recognize the voice at first, but it sounded vaguely familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he was still thinking, Gao De had already rowed into the range of the lantern light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the dim orange glow, the night watchman clearly saw Gao De’s face and finally remembered his identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been present yesterday when Gao De borrowed a boat, and had formed a strong impression of this young Sea Sentinel mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night watchman quickly rose, left his hut, and hurried toward the dock to help Gao De dock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he helped, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Gao De’s patrol boat was sitting unusually low in the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hull sank far deeper than normal, as if carrying something extremely heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mage Lord, have you just finished tonight’s search?” The night watchman’s foggy, sleep-deprived mind couldn’t process details—he spoke while helping, half-dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Gao De tied the rope to a dock post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just leave the boat here. You can retrieve it when you need it tonight—I’ll inform the next shift. Or do you need a different boat?” the night watchman said respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need,” Gao De shook his head. “I won’t need the boat again tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? You have plans tonight?” The night watchman hadn’t caught on yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s resolved.” Gao De leapt onto the dock, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the night watchman notice the clear bloodstains on Gao De’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Resolved?” His mind was still sluggish—he didn’t understand what Gao De meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could you get some people to help? This thing is heavy.” Gao De tugged on another rope tied to the boat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night watchman followed the rope downward until he saw its end vanish beneath the lake—then his pupils dilated in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the water, a massive shadow drifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the light was dim and details unclear, the sheer size of the silhouette filled him with awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a long tail lashed out of the water, spraying a great splash that hit the night watchman’s face—he recoiled instinctively, his face twisted in terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—it’s dead. Just still twitching.” Gao De reassured him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long-bodied creatures like this often had such traits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like earthworms—cut off their heads, and their bodies still wriggled for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the serpent monster?!” the night watchman asked, voice trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll get people right away!” He felt both shock and joy, and hurried to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His footsteps clattered rapidly across the wooden dock, echoing sharply in the silent night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the once-quiet dock erupted into activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night watchman arrived with five or six others, some still half-asleep, clearly roused from sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They brought a winch and a mechanical lifting device made of alchemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone dove into the water, swam swiftly to the black-winged scale serpent, and wound ropes tightly around its massive body, securing the bindings firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they activated the alchemical device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ropes tightened slowly, lifting the serpent’s corpse from the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water streamed continuously from its body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the serpent’s body gradually emerged from the water, everyone’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had assumed this monster was merely a first-tier Thin-Winged Water Snake—but this enormous head, thick body, and the fleshy wings on its back—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was clearly a second-tier Black-Winged Scale Serpent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1303,"2026-06-19T14:28:50.414Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","327747d7d7a19ed56c7283687ec5d65f5bd0e8485e05c896f0a351cbd672db10","above-the-mage-chapter-495","above-the-mage-chapter-493",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]