[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-83":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},2257087,4404,"Chapter 83: Knowledge Monopoly","above-the-mage-chapter-83",83,"\u003Cp>The light pearl is merely a simple magical item imbued with the [Light Spell].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Light Spell] (Evocation, 0th-level):\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You touch an object no larger than 10 feet in any dimension. Until the spell ends, the object emits bright light within a 20-foot radius and dim light beyond that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The color of the light is chosen by you; when the object is completely covered by an opaque substance, its light is blocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spell ends if you cast it again, or if you use an action to dismiss it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 0th-level cantrip similar to [Flash], slightly modified by alchemists, was crafted into a magical item resembling a “charged desk lamp”—the light pearl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The damage was merely partial wear on some runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The damage was extremely minor; Gao De applied a [Repair+] and finished it in less than a few seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To conceal his methods, Gao De spent fifteen full minutes in the workshop, deliberately consuming some materials to simulate a normal repair process before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even so, it still seemed too fast. After all, Gao De had never witnessed a true repair artisan fixing magical items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments, Bas, dressed in a robe, strode over with bright eyes, his earlier suspicion completely gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did I pass the test?\" Gao De asked, pretending not to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!” Bas eagerly stepped forward, grasping Gao De’s hand: “Welcome to the Artisans’ Guild.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What should I call you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goo Ditu.” Gao De gave his usual loud pseudonym.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anna, register Mr. Goo as an artisan. Also, Mr. Goo is exempt from membership fees, and be sure to reserve the topmost spot on the notice board outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Gao De left the Artisans’ Guild, satisfied, his status had become that of a recognized repair artisan of the Bremen Artisans’ Guild.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would enjoy the Guild’s “legal and economic protection,” stable and discounted material sources, a vast client base, and access to regular Guild events—most importantly, all of it was free!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Bas, a Guild senior, waived his first-year membership fee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And starting tomorrow, the topmost spot on the notice board outside the Artisans’ Guild would display this notice, lasting one full week:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goo Ditu, newly registered repair artisan of this Guild, accepts repairs of 0th- and 1st-level magical items. Reasonable fees, exceptional skill. Resides at Kamengdejie 437. Working hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., two-hour lunch break.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De’s next destination was the Bremen Mage’s Association.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three of the city’s Mage’s Associations were located in Shenliujie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, he took the public carriage, again, the full fare was four copper coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly forty minutes later, Gao De disembarked and walked another five or six minutes to reach his destination:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No. 3 Shenliujie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him stood an ancient, solemn standalone building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the prime real estate of Shenliujie, the Bremen Mage’s Association possessed its own spacious three-story building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clear sign of its power and wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of Bremen’s three Mage’s Associations, the Bremen Mage’s Association was unquestionably the top, and the reason was simple: it was an official organization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The building’s main structure was built of dark stone, its walls carved with complex magical runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roof was tiled with blue glazed tiles, shimmering attractively in the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the ridge, several mechanical birds circled—magical constructs serving as “eyes in the sky.” The door was made of bronze and stood open; above the frame hung a prominent emblem:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bird with wings outstretched, ready to fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De stepped calmly through the entrance of the Bremen Mage’s Association.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he entered, a faint lavender scent greeted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first floor of the Bremen Mage’s Association was an expansive hall. Few people were inside; most sat quietly absorbed in their tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sound of footsteps, some glanced up briefly before returning to their work; others remained entirely immersed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De walked silently to the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young female attendant looked up, sized him up, and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, how may I assist you? Are you seeking to rent a magical array, or to hire a mage for consultation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you sell spell formulas here?” Gao De asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undoubtedly, as the official Mage’s Association, the Bremen Mage’s Association held legal rights to sell spell formulas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the convenience of a major city—unlike small towns where even money couldn’t secure a legitimate source for spell formulas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, I’m pointing at Hogen City!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Gao De’s question, the young woman with brownish-yellow hair opened a drawer beneath the counter, pulled out a small booklet, and pushed it across the counter toward him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, sir. All spell formulas we sell are listed here. Please take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De opened the booklet with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He found that the booklet listed only 0th- and 1st-level spell formulas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No formulas above 1st-level?” Gao De asked, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, there must be many 1st-level and higher mages in Bremen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So logically, they should sell 2nd-level and above spell formulas too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young woman did not grow impatient; she explained patiently: “By regulation, our authority to sell spell formulas externally is limited to 0th-level cantrips and 1st-level spells.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only the Shengxi Mage’s Association holds the authority to sell 2nd-level spell formulas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beyond that, they are non-sale items.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So 2nd-level mages could only buy spell formulas from the Shengxi Mage’s Association? That wasn’t surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowledge monopolization by the upper class was already extreme in this world—especially for the most precious knowledge: spell formulas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that Mage’s Associations sold spell formulas at all was already the result of negotiation and compromise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if official channels were completely shut, underground trading of spell formulas would explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, if someone had to profit from this, why shouldn’t the state control it? Thinking thus, Gao De began carefully scanning the booklet:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>0th-level cantrips: [Dancing Lights], [Detect Magic], [Mage Hand], [Repair], [Minor Illusion], [Read Magic], [Light], [Spark], [Detect Poison], [Open\u002FClose], [Message], [Blade Ward].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1st-level spells: [Endure Elements], [Grease], [Identify], [Comprehend Languages], [Sleep], [Water Jet], [Arcane Light], [Fear], [Dispel Magic].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s all?” Gao De looked up again, astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After successfully constructing the spell models of [Create Water], [Compass], and [Purify Food and Drink] gifted by Pierre, his spell library had expanded to fifteen spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of 0th-level spell formulas sold by a Mage’s Association was less than his own library? How was that possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, it was clear these spells were mostly utility spells—none were offensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young woman said calmly: “Our Mage’s Association offers the most complete selection of spell formulas in Bremen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you go to the Archivists’ Guild or the Emerald Alliance, you’ll find they sell even fewer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1101,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d624e3cffd6c3c298e02a1a9398d11ac2dd3b15f7319e524c81ccb7e60d012ea","above-the-mage-chapter-84","above-the-mage-chapter-82",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]