[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-518":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},2257522,4404,"Chapter 518: Spirit Spring Dew Tree Seed and Ten Thousand Spirits Secret Medicine","above-the-mage-chapter-518",518,"\u003Cp>First-Class Merit Exchange List.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De looked at the thin new booklet in his hands, a faint ripple stirring in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sea Sentinel’s merit exchange list resembled the catalog system in certain games from his past life—corresponding entries only unlocked upon reaching a specific rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, only after acquiring a certain tier of merit could one unlock the corresponding tier of the exchange list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Gao De had already unlocked the Third-Class and Second-Class Merit exchange lists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he had obtained First-Class Merit, he finally unlocked the last remaining tier: the First-Class Merit exchange list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the Second-Class and Third-Class lists, the First-Class booklet was noticeably thinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense—only the finest items appeared on the First-Class list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine things were inevitably rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De opened the booklet and first scanned the spell formula section, his primary concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he had suspected, the spell formulas listed under First-Class Merit were all fourth- and fifth-ring rare spell formulas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his surprise, the list also included a few sixth-ring spell formulas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though only a handful, and all common spells, their presence alone revealed the Sea Sentinel’s profound depth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the fifth-ring rare spell formulas, Gao De also spotted the one he cared about most: Spell Stabilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Spell Stabilization [Rare]】 (Alteration, Fifth-Ring):\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This spell can render the duration of certain other spells permanent—you need only cast the desired spell, then immediately follow it with Spell Stabilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spell Stabilization can fix the spell not only on yourself, but also on other beings or objects; however, stabilizing on others requires meeting specific conditions and consuming certain materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit ×1】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Gao De’s mind, he longed to exchange for 【Spell Stabilization】 immediately and take it back to the Northern Frontier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this spell was one of his main reasons for leaving the Northern Frontier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for a first-ring mage to spend a precious First-Class Merit on a fifth-ring spell formula he wouldn’t use for a hundred years was absurd—and far too suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, no matter how urgently he desired it, Gao De could only suppress his impulse for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a cursory glance at the spells, he began carefully examining the other items available for exchange:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Wind Feather Clear Brew】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【A ring-advancing potion brewed from Wind Feather flowers; the liquid is clear and luminous, with a faint blue aura. Consuming it increases a second-ring mage’s success rate for advancing to third-ring by forty percent.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit ×1】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Silver Dragon Blood Extract】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【A ring-advancing potion brewed from the blood of silver dragon birds; consuming it increases a third-ring mage’s success rate for advancing to fourth-ring by forty percent.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit ×2】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the treasures on the First-Class list, the only category of potion was ring-advancing potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ring-advancing potions, as the name implies, are auxiliary potions aiding mages in advancing rings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For mage advancement, ring-advancing potions are not essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some mages have advanced without them; others have failed even after consuming them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for most mages, regardless of conditions, they spare no effort to obtain a ring-advancing potion—even a low-quality one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, advancement is inherently extremely difficult; attempting it without any external aid might yield less than a ten percent success rate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, if advancement fails, the backlash severely damages one’s vital energy, requiring long recovery; in the worst cases, permanent internal injuries may form, drastically shortening lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though ring-advancing potions cannot guarantee success, they minimize the backlash and injury from failure, allowing the mage to attempt advancement again without hindrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a sense, this is why potioncraft has remained one of the “Big Three” auxiliary professions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, for mages, ring-advancing potions are an absolute necessity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ring-advancing potions provided by the Sea Sentinels aren’t just the finest in the Jin Quehua Dynasty—they’re among the very best on the entire Nolande Continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A forty percent boost in success rate is nothing any inferior potion could ever match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a mage to use such a potion in advancement is nearly like having one foot already stepped into the next ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet such exceptional quality comes at an exorbitant price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the First-Class Merit list contained no potion for advancing from first-ring to second-ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was because second-ring advancement potions were too low-tier in value to qualify for the First-Class list—they could be exchanged with Second-Class Merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was because second-ring upgraded potions were relatively low-tier, their value insufficient to appear on the Class-One Merit exchange list—Class-Two Merit sufficed to obtain them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, right before his eyes, was the rune-armor customization he’d heard rumors about from Mei Liya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Rune Armor Customization】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Exchange for a set of rune armor custom-crafted by a third-ring or higher rune-armor artisan, tailored to your specifications.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit ×1 to unlimited (evaluated by the rune-armor artisan)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To other mages, this was an enticing option—but Gao De glanced at it once and looked away silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Self-reliance was the true path!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Anti-Magic Breastplate (Third-Ring–Fifth-Ring)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【A breastplate forged from anti-magic stone.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit ×1–5】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the most minimally described treasure he’d seen—and yet its price was steep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he wasn’t surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very words “anti-magic stone” explained everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anti-magic stone, the true symbol of the Jin Quehua Dynasty, more representative than the ever-blooming Jin Quehua flower, was the foundation of the dynasty and the only known mineral capable of blocking magical energy—also called the Spell Killer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the mage world, the weight of the term “anti-magic stone” needed no elaboration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Gao De was intrigued by this miraculous substance recorded in textbooks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since it wasn’t essential, and the price was truly exorbitant, he merely noted it mentally and moved on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further down, he reached the material category, and the most prominent item was 【Anti-Magic Stone (Third-Ring–Fifth-Ring)】.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, Gao De had little current need for materials—he merely skimmed and turned the page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next page changed color entirely, with a new heading in the top-left: Limited-Time Exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First-Class Merit list was exceptionally unique—the items available for permanent exchange were extremely limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the treasures were inherently scarce, usually only a few pieces existed; once claimed, they vanished from the list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only spell formulas and potions could be mass-produced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bulk of the First-Class list consisted of ever-changing, non-fixed items, with limited quantities—some even single items, available only to the swift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These non-fixed items were no longer categorized; instead, they were ranked by required merit, highest to lowest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ancient Sea Beast Blood Crystal】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【A crystal formed when an ancient sea beast, on the brink of death, condensed its immense magical energy; it contains pure, potent sea beast magic, along with fragments of the beast’s memories and instincts.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【By communing with and refining this blood crystal, one may raise their mage rank and potentially unlock the secrets of ancient sea beast spells.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Note: Refining a sea beast blood crystal carries extremely high risk.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit ×10】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first item on the list delivered a powerful shock to Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ancient sea beast spells—another new school of magic, somewhat akin to Frostglaze magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Frostglaze magic was a broad category; ancient sea beast spells were merely a niche path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was deeply tempted—but lacked the power. He could only regard it as a curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Rejuvenating Mandrake】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【A magical plant growing in the Song of Songs Forest; its flowers, boiled with spring water into a salve, when applied to the chest and maintained for three days and nights, extend the user’s lifespan by thirty years.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit ×5】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lifespan-extending magical plant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Gao De now, this was of little interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for mages nearing the end of their natural lives yet still hoping to break through, this was a gift from heaven—a chance to borrow thirty more years. They’d pay five First-Class Merits, or even their entire fortune, without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that had nothing to do with Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was young, with a long life ahead—he was a mage of the Greenwood Longevity Scripture, the least worried about lifespan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further down, he found all manner of extraordinary items: terrain creature eggs, ancient mage spell research manuals, and even a shop in the Kensington District—exchangeable for two First-Class Merits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how strange these items seemed, if they appeared on the First-Class Merit list, they were unquestionably of immense value and extreme rarity—unobtainable even with gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most items stirred his desire—but only as desire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only true necessity was 【Spell Stabilization】—yet he couldn’t exchange for it directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With limited First-Class Merit on hand, he chose to be a miser, lest he later encounter a treasure he truly wanted but had no merit left to claim it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he flipped to the final page of the First-Class Merit list, “miser” Gao De’s gaze suddenly brightened—he stopped turning the pages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning the Class-One Merit exchange list to its final page, “Skinflint” Gao De’s gaze suddenly brightened, halting his turning of the pages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【A fourth-ring magical tree seed; when the Spirit Spring Dew Tree matures, a spirit spring wells forth from its roots; drinking its water rapidly restores magical energy;】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【The spirit spring water possesses potent healing effects against common diseases and toxins;】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Additionally, watering other plants with this water accelerates their growth, improves their quality, and increases the likelihood of them becoming high-grade plants.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Note: This magical tree is extremely delicate and exceedingly difficult to cultivate.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit ×1】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military merit required for exchange: First-Class Merit ×1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Level-4 demon tree seed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it had no other effect, just being Level-4 would be enough for Gao De to spend one military merit to exchange for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because a single Level-4 demon tree can boost Yujiatexila’s growth progress by 2,797 months—that’s 233 years!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, this Spring Dew Tree is a demon tree with extremely potent abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The healing waters of the Spring Dew Tree are like heavenly rain for the Northern Frontier, where medical conditions are still inadequate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its ability to accelerate plant growth is an absolute necessity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Level-4 demon tree seed costs only one First-Class Merit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Gao De knew this was because the Spring Dew Tree seed was difficult to cultivate and demon trees had extremely long growth cycles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to other treasures that take effect immediately upon exchange, demon tree seeds required waiting a hundred years or more before they could even begin to function, making them far less attractive—and thus lower in value—but he still felt he’d scored a massive bargain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good steel must be used on the cutting edge; Gao De immediately selected the Spring Dew Tree seed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he opened the Second-Class Merit exchange list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike his cursory glance through the First-Class Merit list, he now had clear goals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First: Level-Two Ascension Elixirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two Level-Two Ascension Elixirs available for Gao De to choose from on the list: [Green Vine Spirit Dew] and [Sea Firefly Marrow Fluid].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former increased the success rate of ascension by forty percent; the latter only by twenty percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correspondingly, the former required five Second-Class Merits to exchange, while the latter needed only two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same principle applied: good steel must be used on the cutting edge; being stingy at this stage was extremely unwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De selected [Green Vine Spirit Dew]; the remaining five Second-Class Merits and ten Third-Class Merits he immediately targeted toward spell formulas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he selected three rare spells from the Second-Class Merit list:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Long-Range Shot [Rare]] (Transmutation, Level-One):\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This spell increases your ranged attack range by twenty feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Know Thyself, Know Thy Enemy [Rare]] (Divination, Level-One):\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling a creature you encountered within the past day, after casting, you gain some knowledge about that creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Elixir of All Beings [Rare]] (Transmutation, Level-One):\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You may choose one of several beneficial effects concerning health, happiness, or joy, and infuse a bottle of water to create a secret elixir with no side effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain Relief: For one hour, you ignore minor pains such as arthritis, colds, or hangovers. During this time, you gain additional resistance to pain-effect spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clarity: For one single attack or skill use within one minute, you perform better—you may choose when to trigger it, as long as it applies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Illusion: For one hour, you see various amusing illusions—floating lights, music, cute surreal little animals, and so on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can tell yourself they’re not real, but they will distract you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intoxication: You feel euphoric and light-headed for one hour, as if you’d consumed alcohol. (But it causes no hangover.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucid Dreaming: If you use this elixir within one hour before sleeping, you will have a fully controllable lucid dream lasting one hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resistance: You gain slight additional resistance to all types of spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sleep: You enter a pleasant, comfortable sleep lasting at least one hour, unless awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this is your usual sleep time, you will continue sleeping normally after the elixir’s effect ends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alertness: For one hour, you remain completely awake; your actions ignore all negative effects of intoxication, though magical and alchemical effects (such as detection potions) will still detect you as intoxicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elixir’s duration does not count toward the time needed to sober up (because it merely delays it).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resilience: You gain temporary enhanced Constitution for one minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Awakening: For two hours, you remain awake and free from drowsiness, with no side effects such as nervous exhaustion. You gain additional resistance to sleep effects like lullabies and sleep spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This elixir merely delays your need for sleep; it does not count toward your total rest or sleep duration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You may use this elixir multiple times, but each time its effect ends, you still become fatigued as if you had never used it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2292,"2026-06-19T14:28:50.414Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c896ee34864c8d526076530bebd2d320db310f9e42b40159329765d21bb3cb71","above-the-mage-chapter-519","above-the-mage-chapter-517",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]