[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-509":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},2257513,4404,"Chapter 509: Turning Point","above-the-mage-chapter-509",509,"\u003Cp>“Follow Master Theodore forward!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire high mage formation became a true arrow, smashing into the tide of wind elementals with overwhelming force, brutally carving through the wave-like army of wind elementals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dense blue figures shattered before them like paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The erupted elemental energy formed rising and falling micro-storms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Theodore led at the front of the formation, Duke Roland and other noble mages flanked the sides, while the rest guarded the rear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Theodore was already very old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But mages differ from traditional knights—knights weaken with age as their blood and muscles atrophy, their combat power naturally declining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mages, however, grow stronger with age, their experience and knowledge increasing, becoming ever more powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, as the chief mage of Oakland City, he demonstrated his immense strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The obsidian staff in his grip pulsed with wild, flowing light, its tip continuously spewing brilliant, colorful magical radiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Theodore alone broke through the wind elemental encirclement, never pausing for a moment, preventing the entire formation from being trapped within the wind elemental army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mage side recognized the danger and adjusted their strategy in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind dragon, as a wind elemental that had begun to solidify, also possessed high sentience and intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the sudden shift in the mage formation, it instantly understood their intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its eyes, formed from swirling hurricanes, looked downward, and its massive wings began to flap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind elemental energy in the secondary plane seemed stirred by an invisible giant hand; heavy, bellows-like winds roared to life with its motion, transmitted through the wind network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two towering tornadoes formed, howling through the wind network and sweeping toward the mage formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During their advance, the two tornadoes continued to grow; by the time they exited the wind network, they stretched from earth to sky, spectacular beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even wind elementals, with their exceptional control over air currents, were thrown off balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mage formation, as the direct target of the two tornadoes, faced pressure that needed no explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De looked up, watching the two terrifying tornadoes summoned by the wind dragon’s wingbeats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is a fifth-rank creature really this powerful?” he thought, both awed and fired with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth-rank, in this world’s supernatural power system, was only mid-to-high tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of inhuman power would sixth- and seventh-rank beings possess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dared not imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But honestly, though terrifying to behold, he felt little real fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the enhanced long-range vision of his Mandora Eye, Gao De clearly saw Master Theodore’s calm expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That very expression filled him with a sense of reassurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the colossal tornadoes, an individual seemed insignificant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet magic’s transcendence allowed an individual to stand against overwhelming might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green elemental energy around Master Theodore grew denser, forming a flowing light membrane over his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This increased his flight speed another notch—he shot forward at full speed, leaving a trail of green light behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, he had left the formation’s spearhead position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Theodore alone charged straight toward the two tornadoes blocking their path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swung his right hand, gripping the obsidian staff, with all his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flame erupted from the gem atop the staff, spreading rapidly, twisting and climbing like a living thing, and in an instant formed a blazing wall of fire across the tornadoes’ path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The raindrops falling from above evaporated into mist before even touching the wall of fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sizzling sound, like searing flesh, filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Wall of Fire].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth-rank evocation spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two tornadoes slammed into the wall of fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening roar erupted instantly, making everyone’s eardrums ache with sharp pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flame and gale clashed fiercely; the wall of fire twisted and deformed under the tornadoes’ tearing force, becoming countless burning serpents coiling through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tornadoes, scorched by the intense heat, emitted thick green smoke, their internal wind elements igniting in a series of miniature explosions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Theodore gritted his teeth; all runes on the obsidian staff flared to life, and he swung the staff downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wall of fire suddenly split and reformed into two great fire dragons that plunged into the tornadoes’ cores, unraveling them from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the tornadoes collapsed, visible shockwaves radiated outward, sweeping away the nearby clusters of wind elementals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief path opened ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, charge toward the wind network!” Master Theodore ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every mage in the formation activated a green light membrane over their bodies, accelerating rapidly forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They surged forward and finally reached the wind network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a massive spatial rift, like the gaping maw of a monstrous beast, its edges churning with chaotic energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A swirling stream of green energy poured continuously from its center, emitted by the wind dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This green vortex contained terrifying energy fluctuations, like blades slicing through the air—even a fourth-rank mage who dared face it directly would perish instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the spatial rift was large enough, and vast areas remained unaffected by the green vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the chaotic wind currents leaking from the rift’s edges still warped the air, creating shimmering halos everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Theodore glanced back at the fourth-rank mages behind him and saw they were already being pulled off course by the vortex’s suction, their formation shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack the wind dragon!” Master Theodore shouted, his voice clear even amid the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His movement was the fastest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Theodore gripped the obsidian staff tightly; its runes suddenly blazed with blinding golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire staff seemed infused with the power of the sun—a luminous column thirty feet in radius rose from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the column was a faint golden glow, but it exploded instantly into brilliance, like a newborn sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dazzling light dispelled the gloom of the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The column radiated a terrifying pressure, piercing the nearby wind network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spatial rift groaned under strain, its dark purple edges writhing wildly as if resisting this immense force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was precisely why Master Theodore had led them to the wind network’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the rift’s instinctive resistance, the column entered the secondary plane and struck the wind dragon hovering before the rift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind dragon’s pupils flickered with unusual light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it made no move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its focus was entirely on resisting the Oakland Crystal Cannon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the Oakland Crystal Cannon, Master Theodore’s spell was clearly something it could withstand better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that was only relatively speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant the column touched the wind dragon’s body, a thunderous explosion erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden energy surged like a tide, engulfing the wind dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green vortices surrounding the wind dragon shattered into countless tiny wind elemental particles under the golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Dawn].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth-rank evocation spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also Master Theodore’s first fifth-rank spell ever cast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First-rank mages might rely mostly on first-rank spells in battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But higher-rank mages rarely use spells matching their own rank—they primarily use spells below their level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One reason: high-rank spells demand immense casting time and energy, making frequent use impractical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another: the higher the rank, the fewer spells exist, and the greater the resources required to construct their models.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the higher a mage’s rank, the fewer high-rank spells they actually master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Theodore had always followed this principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether his flame shield or flight spell, neither was a fifth-rank spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, facing the wind dragon, he finally unleashed his most powerful fifth-rank spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect was visible at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The joy on Master Theodore’s face had barely begun to spread when it vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For inside the wind dragon’s translucent, glass-like head, the green core spun violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind elemental particles stripped from its body recombined with its form as the core rotated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though still somewhat ethereal, no longer as solid as before, it was undeniably “restored,” minimizing damage to the barest degree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assault on the wind network was critical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the main battlefield, the battle between low-rank mages and wind elementals was equally vital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every wind elemental destroyed reduced the secondary wind plane’s energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The war had lasted less than a quarter of an hour so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the wind elementals were countless, forcing everyone to cast nonstop, one after another—mana reserves were beginning to run dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a bad sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one side, mana reserves were nearly depleted; on the other, the number of wind elementals showed no sign of diminishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of all those on the battlefield, the only one who could truly rejoice was Gao De’s Storm Soul, just upgraded to Stage One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not an energy-based lifeform, the Storm Soul had undergone its transformation by absorbing pure wind element energy, and now contained no other elements within its body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, to the low-intelligence wind element creatures, the Storm Soul appeared as one of their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under this perception, the Storm Soul thrived, absorbing wind element energy with utter abandon and unbridled delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the wind element energy in this region was no longer sufficient for it, and it began tentatively drifting outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De hesitated for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the battlefield was chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the wind element creatures regarded the Storm Soul as an ally and would not attack it,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>spells were blind—its reckless movement across the battlefield made it highly likely to be caught in stray spells from other ships’ mages, potentially forcing it to be reborn from scratch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gao De thought: if he missed this chance, when would he ever find such an endless supply of wind element energy for the Storm Soul to absorb?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he gritted his teeth and decided to take the risk—granting the Storm Soul freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Freed from Gao De’s restraint, the Storm Soul exploded into wild motion, racing straight toward the fiercest part of the battlefield—the Thorn Crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fiercest fighting meant the most wind element creatures had been shattered, offering the richest reserves of wind element energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it had only just entered Stage One, a deep emerald-green point of light had already begun forming at its core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the sign of its energy core beginning to coalesce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the energy core fully formed, the Storm Soul would enter Stage Two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thereafter, it could draw ambient energy directly from the outside through its core to advance on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, a Stage Two Storm Soul would no longer be a gold-sucking beast requiring Gao De to “feed” it—it would become a self-sufficient “adult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, advancing to either Stage One or Stage Two required massive expenditures to purchase corresponding artifacts to strengthen the Wild Soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De’s Storm Soul had advanced not only at astonishing speed, but entirely without cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How profitable was that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Storm Soul moved with incredible speed; after Gao De lifted his restrictions, in mere blinks it reached the region of the Thorn Crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive beam fired by the Auckland Crystal Cannon soared skyward, still locked in fierce contention with the wind dragon’s emerald vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Aurok Crystal powering it had begun to whiten—its magical energy was nearly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The area surrounding the straight cylindrical connection between the golden beam and the emerald vortex swirled with the densest concentration of wind element energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Storm Soul, acting almost instinctively, climbed upward along the beam, steadily consuming the escaping wind element energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its core, the emerald-green point of light grew slowly but steadily stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the Wind Network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Theodore’s expression was grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, the wind dragon’s massive eyes held a faint, almost imperceptible gleam of triumph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Wind Network reduces the power of my spells too severely,” Theodore stated the root cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Roland sensed the dire situation: “Wizard Theodore, what do we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the Network’s reduction, even a fifth-rank spell could not directly annihilate the wind element energy forming the dragon’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This allowed it to reabsorb its scattered energy through the emerald crystal, minimizing damage to itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unless we can enter the secondary plane and face the wind dragon directly,” Theodore murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wind Network was still incomplete, permitting only third-rank wind element creatures to pass through—thus the wind dragon remained confined within the wind element secondary plane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this restriction worked both ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They, whose lowest rank was fourth-rank, could not enter the wind element secondary plane through the Network either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third-rank wizards were unaffected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what could a third-rank wizard do against a fifth-rank wind dragon, even if they could pass through?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any spell cast from outside, upon passing through the Wind Network, suffered drastic power reduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack! Attack! Even if the effect is greatly diminished, it’s not useless!” Frustration over an unchangeable situation was pointless—Theodore gritted his teeth and gave the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leveled his staff; light flared again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Dawn】!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth-rank wizards, upon receiving the order, unleashed their most potent fourth-rank spells, striking the wind dragon through the Wind Network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield was divided into three zones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One: the high-rank wizard formation launching assaults on the wind dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another: the wind dragon’s prolonged standoff with the Auckland Crystal Cannon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last: the fleet’s brutal battle against countless wind element creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this chaos, no one noticed a shadow, furtive and creeping, climbing upward along the connection between the emerald vortex and the golden beam, steadily approaching the Wind Network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2200,"2026-06-19T14:28:50.414Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9a87aabc74b8d89a71bd02204253cd8aa3b2c6bd6db8145e7723270a22c5f7f1","above-the-mage-chapter-510","above-the-mage-chapter-508",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]