Above the mage!

Chapter 622 Returning to the City to Receive Rewards (Part 1)

Time passes minute by minute.

Loran's mana was rapidly depleting during the continuous defense, and his face grew increasingly pale.

He believed that as a third-ring mage, his total magical power was definitely far greater than that of Gao De, who was only a second-ring mage.

However, the current situation is that Gaode is constantly consuming his mana by simply casting one spell, namely [Frost Sword].

Loran tried to counterattack, but Gao De's rhythm was incredibly tight, giving him no chance to breathe, making it extremely difficult for him to even defend, let alone break the deadlock.
The only thing that could help him break the deadlock, the staff, was "disarmed" by Gao De's previous scheme.

Loran's breathing became increasingly rapid, and his movements became increasingly sluggish. The shield's light had dimmed to its lowest point and could collapse at any moment.

Gao De continued his offensive relentlessly, the chill emanating from his Frost Sword growing ever more intense, and his swordplay becoming increasingly fierce, clearly indicating that he still had some strength left to spare.

Finally, after a violent collision.

Click!

A crisp cracking sound rang out. Loran's magic power could no longer be connected, and the [Shield] spell in front of him could no longer hold on, completely shattering into countless golden light spots.

Without the protection of the shield, Loran was instantly exposed to God's sword.

A cold glint flashed in Gao De's eyes. Seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he suddenly lunged forward, his icy sword aimed directly at Loran's chest. His swordplay was ruthless and showed no mercy.

When the blade was only inches from Loran's heart, a look of despair flashed in Loran's eyes, and she had already given up resisting.

Just then, the guard badge worn on Loran's chest suddenly burst forth with a dazzling white light.

The white light, like the rising sun, instantly enveloped Loran's entire body, forming an insurmountable invisible barrier that forcefully blocked Gao De's unstoppable icy longsword.

The moment the blade touched the white light, it was as if it had hit cotton; all the force and coldness were instantly dissolved.

Gao De smoothly sheathed his sword, canceling the [Frost Sword] skill, and looked calmly at Loran, who was enveloped in white light.

The white light gradually faded, revealing Loran's pale face.

He looked at Gao De, his eyes swirling with complex emotions.

There was resentment, frustration, but more than anything, an overwhelming sense of shock.

As the guardian mage of the third level of the Forth Magic Academy, he was considered one of the best young mages in Forth County, but throughout the entire magical duel, he was completely powerless to fight back.

Gao De's tactics were too tightly coordinated. From the initial "deception" to the targeted freezing of the staff, to the use of geomagnetism to disarm, and then to the continuous pressure in melee, every step precisely hit his weaknesses, leaving him no chance to breathe.

At the edge of the fighting arena, Deacon Emmondi stood quietly, his eyes gleaming with amazement.

After learning about Gao De's achievement of winning two gym badges in a row, he had a premonition that he might not be able to keep his gym badge either.

But he never imagined that Gao De would win against Lorraine in this way.

Gao De's shrewdness in magical combat, his exquisite spell combos, and his rich practical experience far surpass those of his peers.

Here, the white light completely dissipated, and Loran's emotions gradually stabilized.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Gao De and solemnly said, "Master Gao De, I am completely convinced. Although I lost and lost my badge, I have benefited greatly from this experience."

Gao De nodded slightly and said calmly, "Thank you for your kind offer."

While the two mages on the fighting field remained calm, the other mages on the sidelines were in an uproar.

Some looked on with admiration, some whispered in amazement, and others repeatedly recalled the details of the battle, trying to grasp the essence of Gao De's tactics.
At this moment, Deacon Emondi stepped forward slowly. "Master Gaode, you are superior in skill. Congratulations on successfully completing the challenge of this monastery."

As he spoke, he took out a uniquely designed badge from his pocket and handed it to Gao De.

This is the emblem of the Fosse Art Museum.

As Gao De accepted the badge, a hint of admiration flashed in Deacon Emondi's eyes. "You've earned three gym badges in less than half a month. You're probably going to be on the other gyms' top alert list soon."

He paused, then asked curiously, "What are your plans next? Do you intend to continue challenging martial arts schools in other prefectures?"

Gao De smiled and said, "Of course, my goal is to collect all twelve gym badges and secure a spot as a substitute. However, I need to go back to Byro County first before heading to other counties."

"Oh, why is that?"

The schedule for the first three art museum challenges on Gaode Maps was clearly packed together.

"Because I'm about to break through, I plan to go back first to upgrade my ring, and then continue with the next challenge in the martial arts hall," Gao De said with a shy smile.

As I left the Foss Museum, the setting sun hung low in the sky, turning the dark gold exterior of the museum a warm orange.

Gao De rubbed his newly acquired badge, but his steps did not stop.

For him, winning the art gallery challenge only meant that his trip to Fort Worth was half over.

The other half is "shopping".

They continued to diligently collect and purchase tree species and saplings.

In order to collect as many different tree species as possible, Gaode is like the most persistent bargain hunter, visiting every store he can find.

He visited every single one of them, from large, exquisitely decorated shops with staff in uniform to small shops hidden deep in alleys with sacks piled up at the entrance and the smell of earth.

Soon, he had several bulging cloth bags on his back, filled with a wide variety of saplings and sealed seeds.

Even so, Gaode was well aware that this "Taobao" trip would inevitably have many omissions.

The magical tree species and magical tree seedlings are frequently updated; a new batch may arrive the very next day.

He simply can't dedicate so much time to "Taobao" every day.

Walmart's Magic Material Store was part of his strategy; it was a channel for collecting tree species.

However, there is no doubt that compared to actively searching on Taobao, this passive approach of waiting for opportunities is ultimately less efficient.

That makes sense, but unfortunately Gaode doesn't have the time or energy to do these things.

Therefore, the more this is the case, the more urgent Gaode's need for a chamber of commerce to serve him becomes.

As the county seat of County Forth and the largest city in the four counties of the South Coast, Goldwater City is extremely large in terms of both the number of shops and the city's area.

Plant shops and tree seed shops are scattered throughout the city, ranging from bustling central districts to humble alleyways on the outskirts.

So it took Gaode a whole day and a half to barely manage to visit all the magic plant shops and tree seed shops in the city.

With everything settled, Gao De didn't linger and headed straight for Eli's lodgings. This was the meeting place he had arranged with Eli and Jabir.

When he arrived at the two-story building with its exterior walls covered in withered vines and its windows tightly shut, he knocked on the door, and it opened in less than three seconds.

A face that deliberately maintained a calm demeanor was revealed behind the door.

It was Eli.

However, this feigned calm was completely ineffective against Gaode.

Because Gaode Maps' "Emotional Perception" function clearly captured all of Eli's emotions at that moment:

Anxiety churned within him like boiling water, mixed with a sense of relief and a barely perceptible unease.

“Master Gaode, I heard that someone successfully challenged the Fous Magic Hall two days ago and took the Fous Magic Hall badge. I think the timing is perfect, it must be you, right?” Eli’s voice carried a hint of deliberately suppressed excitement.

Gao De nodded slightly, his tone calm and even: "It's me."

"Master Gaode is truly remarkable!" Eli immediately showed a look of admiration.

This guy is indeed shrewd; he knows exactly how to flatter people. He doesn't exaggerate; instead, he expresses admiration based on facts, satisfying people's vanity without making them feel like he's deliberately ingratiating himself.

This made Gao De feel genuinely pleased, even though he was fully aware of Eli's ulterior motives.

After all, these three badges represent his solid strength and achievements.

"I'm preparing to leave Forthshire."

Gaode didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Before leaving, I'd like to ask you how your decision is going? You should have a result by now, after two days."

Eli's smile faded slightly, and he quickly stepped aside to make way, his tone earnest: "We've made up our minds! Venerable High Priest, please come in and talk. Jabil is here too."

Pushing open the door, the conspicuous gas stove still stood in the center of the hall.

Jaber was standing next to the gas furnace, looking down at a blueprint in his hand. Hearing the noise, he suddenly looked up and stared straight at Gao De.

Unlike Eli, Jaber was not one to hide his emotions.

Therefore, without any magic, Gao De could clearly sense his emotions from his expression: a determination after struggle, a longing for the future, and a hint of barely concealed unease.

"Master Gaode." Jaber bowed slightly to Gaode, his voice a little hoarse, but with more confidence than last time.

Gao De walked over to the gas stove and glanced at the two of them: "Tell me your decision."

Eli glanced at Jabir and spoke first, his tone steady: "I've thought it through, Master God. You're right. The idea of ​​making a comeback with the Breathing Furnace is indeed unrealistic. We should seize the opportunity before us."

"Although your business is just starting out, and although I don't know what your business is, your youth and strength make me believe that this is a rare opportunity. I am willing to manage and operate it for you even if it starts from scratch."

"Besides, if your industry is already very mature, why would it be my turn to start from scratch? Starting from scratch is also a good test of my abilities."

He paused, then added, "Although I don't have a particularly impressive resume right now, I've been learning the ways of business from my father since I was a child. I'm quite proficient in core matters such as networking, business operations, and cost control."

"If you are willing to give me this opportunity, I will definitely not let you down."

When he said this, his eyes were firm, clearly indicating that he had made up his mind to seize this opportunity.

The information that Gaode captured through [sensing emotions] is consistent with what Eli said on the surface.

So he nodded and then turned his gaze to Jaber.

Jaber took a deep breath, clenching his fists tightly as if he had made a tremendous decision: "I...I'm willing to go to the North."

His decision was indeed far more challenging and demanding than Eli's.

As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to have a huge weight lifted off his shoulders, let out a long sigh, and his eyes lit up: "You're right, I don't want to waste any more time in this small workshop."

"I want to perfect the breathing furnace, to make it truly recognized, to prove that my creation is not a frivolous approach, and to make my research valuable."

"If the North is, as you say, a land of new life, without so many rules and class prejudices, I believe it can provide me with the support I need."

"Aren't you afraid I'll lie to you?" Gao De joked.

“If such a young warrant officer military mage, an elite military mage who has just received the badge of the Fous Magic Institute, would try to deceive a down-on-his-luck alchemist like me, then I’ll accept it,” Jabil said, shrugging his shoulders and “giving up.”

Gao De laughed heartily: "You'll soon find out that this will be an absolutely correct decision."

“I think so too,” Jaber said, handing the blueprints he was holding to Gao De.

When Gaode took a look, he found it was an optimized sketch of the gas furnace, covered with dense annotations.

"I haven't been idle these past two days. I've marked out several defects in the breathing furnace and come up with a few improvement plans. As long as I get enough resources and support, I'm confident that I can make a more stable and efficient version within six months, no, three months."

When talking about his professional field, Jaber's awkwardness vanished, his eyes gleamed with fervor, and he came alive with a vibrant energy.

Eli added, "I've also spoken with Jabir. He's going to the North to focus on alchemy, while I'll stay by your side to manage the business. It's a good arrangement where we each do our part and contribute our talents, and we both have bright futures. I also thank you for giving us both this opportunity."

Gao De looked at the two of them and clearly captured their determination and aspirations through his [Emotion Perception] function.

Gone is the previous hesitation and uncertainty, replaced by anticipation for the future.

He felt a sense of relief; the two men's choices were both reasonable and in line with his expectations.

“Very good.” Gao De’s tone was calm, yet carried a convincing power. “Since you have made your decision, then do as I say from now on.”

He looked at Jabir: "You can organize the basic blueprints for the gas furnace. I will still pay you the corresponding gold coins for it."

Even after you reach the North, this will remain true; all your inventions and creations will be rewarded accordingly.

"In addition, I will give you some travel expenses. Pack your things as soon as possible and head to Auckland in County Barlow. There, someone will arrange a boat to take you to the North."

He paused, his gaze falling on the breathing furnace in the center of the hall: "And the prototype of this breathing furnace, I will find someone to transport it to the North."

“My lord, there’s no need.” Jabir quickly waved his hand, his tone urgent. “This breathing furnace has limited performance and is just a burden to carry around. I will definitely be able to build a better breathing furnace when I get to the North.”

“No, it is necessary.” Gao De said meaningfully, “The prototype of such an important thing has great value beyond its practical use.”

Then he turned to Eli: "My current businesses are mainly in Barrow County. You should also prepare to return to Barrow County with me. I will explain to you in detail my businesses and future plans and needs."

Upon hearing this, both of them showed delight on their faces and quickly nodded in agreement.

"That's all for now." Gao De said no more, returned the blueprints to Jabir, nodded slightly as a farewell, and turned to leave.

(End of this chapter)