[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-71":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},2257075,4404,"Chapter 71: Negotiation","above-the-mage-chapter-71",71,"\u003Cp>Hua Yan Yue, 16th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feiermoyaodian .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shop, large enough to accommodate over a dozen people without feeling crowded, was bustling with customers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the magic potion market had become extremely prosperous, entering its “peak sales season.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of this was due to the anomalies outside the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people saw the anomalies beyond the city as an opportunity, and many outsiders had even come specifically to “prosper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, in normal times, hunting geopulse creatures required venturing deep into dangerous primeval forests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geopulse creatures rarely appeared near the forest edges close to human cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, geopulse creatures were commonplace in the forests outside Hogan City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For many mages whose main source of income came from hunting geopulse creatures, this kind of hunting—safe, with an escape route—was nearly like picking up coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The increase in hunting activity had also caused an extraordinary boom in Hogan City’s magic potion market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were three or four clerks inside the shop, busy attending to customers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De waited a short while nearby, and as soon as one clerk became free, he immediately slipped over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to see Mr. Oliver. Please inform him for me,” Gao De said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk paused slightly upon hearing this, then recognized Gao De and immediately reacted, his smile turning earnest and eager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hurried up the stairs to the second floor, then came rushing back down a short while later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Oliver is waiting for you upstairs. Follow me.” He warmly ushered Gao De up to the second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the first floor, the upper level was much smaller, containing only a few rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clerk led Gao De to the innermost door. “This is Mr. Oliver’s VIP reception room. I’ve brought you here—you may enter yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, the clerk withdrew respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De knocked on the door with a calm expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come in,” Oliver’s steady voice came from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De opened the door and saw Oliver seated behind a grand rosewood desk, elaborately decorated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was bent over, writing with a quill pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering, Gao De said nothing, patiently waiting for Oliver to finish what he was doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was there truly something so urgent that he couldn’t pause to receive a guest? Clearly not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was merely to create psychological pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Gao De had lost patience and spoken first, he would have unconsciously felt guilty for interrupting, putting him at a disadvantage before the negotiation even began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De examined the VIP room with quiet interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room’s furnishings were clearly made of extremely valuable materials—even the ornamental plants were the rare and costly Golden Thread Lotus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what truly stunned Gao De was the large diamond-shaped geocrystal, weighing over five kilograms, resting on the rosewood desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Geocrystal was one of the most precious mineral resources in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It contained astonishing energy, and nearly all magical devices relied on it for power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a large, regular, natural geocrystal would likely cost over a hundred gold coins, yet it was displayed here merely as decoration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, a ten-thousand-coin ornament sat right before Gao De’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly extravagant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, miserly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hundred-gold-coin geocrystal displayed on the desk to show status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet only offering two hundred gold coins for the Seda Herb Garden, which had been operated for over a decade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after Gao De entered did Oliver, still bent over writing, finally set down his pen and look up—after two or three full minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What brings you here today? Have you changed your mind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De nodded. “I’ve thought it over carefully. Joining Feiermoyaodian  is indeed a rare opportunity—I’d be foolish to miss it. Even if Master Seda returns, he wouldn’t object.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I accept your proposal. I’m willing to transfer the Seda Herb Garden to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wise decision,” Oliver praised, seemingly pleased with Gao De’s compliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what?\" Oliver frowned, sizing up Gao De with a gaze that sent chills down the spine, exerting an invisible pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what?” Oliver frowned, studying Gao De with a gaze that sent chills down the spine, exerting invisible pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The price must be raised! Two hundred gold coins is far too low. Master Seda paid more than that when he bought the herb garden. If he finds out I sold it for this price, he’ll punish me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?” Oliver narrowed his eyes at Gao De and smiled, revealing a look of knowing but saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you say so, it does seem a bit low. If this causes you to be reprimanded by Master Seda, I’d feel guilty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Oliver rose from behind the rosewood desk, picked up the paper he had just written, and handed it to Gao De.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sign this contract,” he said, his face wrinkling like bark, “and I’ll add another hundred gold coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De’s heart stirred, but he took the contract without expression, scanning its contents swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terms were simple enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De was to join Feiermoyaodian  and brew potions for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feiermoyaodian  would provide certain resources to cultivate him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, the contract offered him a monthly base salary of ten gold coins, plus half a percent of the profit from every batch of potions he brewed and sold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assuming he brewed one batch of Chujizhuduyaoji  daily and sold them all, he’d earn roughly twelve and a half gold coins or more per month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though less than the herb garden’s monthly income, it was guaranteed, with no sales worries and no need to manage herbs himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this assessment was based on Gao De’s current level of potioncraft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his potioncraft improved, the gap between this “salary” and what he could earn running the herb garden himself would widen further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If  Feiermoyaodian  adjusted his compensation in line with his growing skill, the contract might be reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was—clearly, they wouldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the contract’s term was plainly written: “Twenty years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Gao De wished to terminate early, he could—but for every year he left early, he must pay one hundred Xien gold coins in penalty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten years early? That would be one thousand Xien gold coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De frowned, voicing his dissatisfaction outright. “This contract term is too long. And the penalty fee is far too high.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh…” Oliver smiled without warmth. “Twenty years? That’s not long. By then you’ll be in your thirties, still in your prime. Why worry about twenty years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, this contract isn’t set in stone. If your potioncraft improves quickly, I’ll raise your compensation and renegotiate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A merchant’s promise, without a written contract, is worth nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De knew this well—he silently sneered, believing none of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver continued speaking: “As for the penalty fee, once you become our potion master, we’ll invest considerable time and resources into your training.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we don’t set a high penalty, once you grow skilled and strong, you’ll simply pay the fee and leave for another potion shop. Wouldn’t we be fools, working for others’ gain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And regardless of the penalty, signing this contract puts three hundred gold coins directly into your pocket,” Oliver added, his tone heavy with implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De fell into long silence, his face showing visible conflict, as if deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oliver saw this and a flicker of self-satisfaction passed through his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was an old hand at business, having haggled countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew perfectly well: when a buyer wore this expression, the deal was essentially done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, after a moment, Gao De suddenly looked up. “Then what about the other apprentices in the herb garden? Why is there only a contract for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“ Feiermoyaodian  doesn’t sign contracts with everyone. Only those with talent, like you, receive a formal contract,” Oliver replied coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured—I’m paying a high price for the Seda Herb Garden, so I’ll naturally keep employing its staff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the final straw on the camel’s back, hearing Oliver’s assurance, Gao De seemed to make up his mind. “Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I don’t currently have the land or property deeds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1341,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f92528bceacc2bd2866bc934bcdf800b8c406421ce3b4bc0c161508ce65afb76","above-the-mage-chapter-72","above-the-mage-chapter-70",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]