Chapter Summaries

Pierre warned Gao De that Bremen might be facing a forming leyline and revealed he planned to leave the city. Before departing, Pierre showed Gao De three practical survival spell formulas and gave them to him outright.

• Pierre explained that Bremen's rising magic power and Leyline Creatures could signal leyline formation, and said he had decided to leave before it was too late.
• Gao De visited Pierre to sell potions, but Pierre urged him to consider the bargains in his shop instead.
• Pierre told Gao De about the Mage's Three Wilderness Survival Skills and recalled his own years hunting Leyline Creatures in the primeval forest.
• Pierre showed Gao De the formulas for Create Water, Find North, and Purify Food and Drink.
• After Gao De asked how much the formulas cost, Pierre laughed and said he was giving all three to him for free.

After accepting Pierre’s three spells and an invitation to visit him in Bremen City, Gao De realized that mana accumulation near the herb garden confirmed a Leyline Rebirth. He connected the city’s disappearances and Dark Mire Lurkers to a Leyline Creature hiding in Hogan City’s sewers.

• Pierre gave Gao De three spells and a note with his address in Bremen City, explaining that he wanted to help him.
• Ai Qi and Lei Meng told Gao De that mana concentration had recently risen, and he confirmed that the mana motes around him had increased by nearly fifty percent.
• Gao De recognized the rising mana concentration and increase in Leyline Creatures as signs that a leyline was forming near Hogan City.
• Gao De remembered the City Guard’s report that Dark Mire Lurkers in the sewers had surged two months earlier and recalled seeing deep crimson eyes there.
• Gao De concluded that a Leyline Creature had entered Hogan City through the sewers and was responsible for the disappearances and sewage-like slime found near the wealthy and commercial districts.

Gao De watched a swarm of rats bring unconscious people to a sewer, where a blood-red vine drained one victim and shared red mist with the rats. He confirmed the rats and vine were behind the disappearances, then attacked them with a Flame Arrow before fleeing as the City Guard approached.

• Gao De hid in a tree opposite a sewer entrance and watched a swarm of ordinary-looking rats emerge and disappear into the night.
• The rats returned carrying three unconscious people, and a blood-red vine emerged from the sewer and drained one victim of blood.
• Gao De saw the vine release red mist that turned the rats' eyes deep red, and the rats dragged the corpse into the sewer.
• As the vine moved toward another victim, Gao De struck the rats with a Flame Arrow, setting several on fire.
• The Red-Eyed Rats and vine retreated into the sewer as the City Guard approached, while Gao De jumped from the tree and fled.

After using Flame Arrow to save two people from Maso Rats in Hogan City, Gao De gained Origin and decided to plan his escape before the leyline fully formed. He spent the Origin enhancing Flame Arrow, which gained the ability to change its trajectory once after firing.

• Gao De fled the scene after killing Maso Rats with Flame Arrow and reasoned that the nearby City Guard would find the people he had saved.
• Gao De discovered that the dead Maso Rats had provided him with a third point of Origin.
• Gao De returned to the herb garden and decided he needed to leave Hogan City because Leyline Creatures would threaten the outskirts as the leyline formed.
• Gao De used his Origin to enhance Flame Arrow, gaining the ability to redirect its trajectory once after firing.

Gao De negotiated with Oliver over transferring Seda's Herb Garden to Phil's Herb Shop and reviewed a twenty-year elixir-making contract. He appeared to accept the deal but said he could not provide the land and house deeds yet.

• Gao De visited Phil's Herb Shop and met Oliver in his reception room.
• Gao De agreed in principle to transfer Seda's Herb Garden, then pressed Oliver to raise the offer above two hundred gold coins.
• Oliver offered another hundred gold coins and presented Gao De with a contract requiring him to make elixirs for Phil's Herb Shop for twenty years, with a steep early termination fee.
• Gao De questioned the contract's term and fee, and Oliver promised to keep employing the herb garden's other apprentices.
• Gao De said he would accept, but he could not produce the land deed or house deed yet.

Gao De negotiated the sale of Seda’s Herb Garden to Oliver despite lacking its deeds, using a locked wooden box to secure the full payment. Oliver believed the box contained valuable elixir research, while Gao De left with about ten days before Oliver could open it and began preparing for what came next.

• Gao De revealed that Seda’s deeds were in a wooden box protected by an Arcane Lock, but he did not know the unlocking incantation.
• Oliver offered to pay 200 gold first and the remaining 100 gold after opening the box, but Gao De insisted on full payment and offered to void the contract if the deeds were missing.
• Oliver agreed to sign the transfer contract the next day and privately decided the box likely held Seda’s incomplete 1st Tier Elixir formula and research records.
• After leaving Phil’s Herb Shop, Gao De admitted he had fooled Oliver and reasoned that finding someone who could cast Knock would take a round trip to Bremen City.
• Gao De concluded that the delay would give him about ten days and set off to prepare.

Gao De told the apprentices that Phil's Herb Shop was acquiring Seda's Herb Garden and reassured them that they would keep their jobs. The next day, he signed the transfer and employment contracts with Oliver, and Oliver placed the payment on the table.

• Gao De explained that Phil's Herb Shop had stopped buying the garden's potions and that he had agreed to sell the herb garden to keep it operating.
• Gao De assured the apprentices that Phil's Herb Shop would continue employing them, then hosted a celebratory meal.
• On the 18th day of Flameflower Month, Emil told Gao De that Oliver and the notary Bellamy had arrived.
• Gao De reviewed the transfer contract, including its condition about the house deed and land deed, and found no objections.
• Gao De signed and fingerprinted the transfer contract and the twenty-year employment contract.
• Oliver tossed a hand-sewn money pouch onto the table.

Gao De tricked Oliver with an Arcane Box full of worthless papers, left Emil money and a warning, and escaped Hogan City with a merchant caravan. Oliver discovered the deception and angrily called Gao De's name as Gao De traveled away from the city.

• Gao De accepted three hundred Sien Gold Coins from Oliver and handed over the Arcane Box, which contained papers describing Seda's Herb Garden rather than the deeds or elixir formula Oliver wanted.
• Oliver used a Knock Spell Scroll to open the Arcane Box and found only waste paper, then shouted Gao De's name in fury.
• Emil found Gao De's note and five Sien Gold Coins, realized Gao De had left, and wished him well before returning to the herb garden.
• Gao De paid fifteen silver coins to ride in a coal merchant caravan leaving Hogan City.
• As the caravan carried him away, Gao De watched Hogan City disappear and said goodbye to it in his thoughts.

Gao De traveled east from Hogan City toward Bremen City with a caravan, experiencing the discomforts and dangers of wilderness travel. After a restless first night, he learned from Gru that the journey would take about seven or eight days, with a stop near Karmond City to rest and resupply.

• The caravan left Hogan City and followed the official road through increasingly dense wilderness, while the driver warned Gao De not to stray from the road.
• At the noon rest, Gru introduced himself, explained that safe water could only be replenished in villages and towns, and shared salted beef with Gao De.
• The caravan made camp at dusk, but Gao De struggled to sleep because of the wilderness sounds, insects, and his feeling of insecurity.
• The caravan packed up at dawn, and Gao De asked Gru how long it would take to reach Bremen City.
• Gru said the outward journey took seven or eight days and included a stop near Karmond City to replenish supplies and rest.

After resting at a roadside inn, Gao De continued toward Bremen City with the caravan and practiced the Meditation Art during the bumpy ride. A Tunneling Grub attacked the caravan, and Gao De’s flames helped kill it, revealing him as the likely source of the spells.

• Gao De rested at the town’s inn before the caravan set off toward Bremen City the next morning.
• Gao De managed to enter a meditative state and practice the Meditation Art during the journey.
• A Tunneling Grub erupted from underground, overturned the lead carriage, and attacked the caravan.
• Gru identified the creature, and the caravan leader organized the men into a spear formation to hold it back.
• Gao De fired three streaks of flame at the Tunneling Grub’s eyes, allowing the caravan members to spear it to death.
• The caravan members realized the flames were spells and concluded that Gao De had cast them.

Gao De defeated a Tunneling Grub and sold its corpse to the caravan leader, Jose, for six gold coins before the caravan reached Bremen City. He parted from the group and waited to enter the city alone to avoid drawing attention.

• Gao De killed the Tunneling Grub, and Jose explained that its corpse was worth about twenty-two gold coins before shop fees.
• Gao De sold the corpse to Jose for six gold coins, earning six coins and a Tunneling Grub entry in his records.
• The caravan continued toward Bremen City, and its members recovered from the attack while two injured drivers needed time to heal.
• The caravan reached Bremen City beside Deepflow Lake, where the city gates drew cheers from the travelers.
• Gao De thanked Gru and left the caravan, choosing to enter the city alone after the others passed through the gates.

Gao De arrived in Bremen City and hired Leiman to guide him to an affordable rental in the Carmond District. He reached 267 Carmond Street and asked a wary woman at the door for Lady Misu.

• Gao De entered Bremen City through River Gate and hired Leiman as his guide for one silver coin.
• Leiman described the city's districts and rents, and Gao De chose to look for a house in the Carmond District.
• Gao De and Leiman rode a public carriage from River Gate to Carmond Street.
• Leiman led Gao De to 267 Carmond Street, where a woman opened the door.
• Gao De greeted the woman and asked to see Lady Misu.

Gao De used the false identity Google Ditu to rent a house from Lady Misu in Bremen City. After signing a six-month lease, he learned that Misu’s son Serl attended church school.

• Gao De praised Mr. Marcel to persuade Lady Misu to consider him as a tenant, while Leiman waited outside.
• Gao De introduced himself as Google Ditu and carefully avoided revealing details about Mr. Marcel.
• Lady Misu offered Gao De the vacant house at 437 Karmond Street for twenty gold a year and waived the furniture deposit.
• Lady Misu showed Gao De the furnished house, and he agreed to rent it for half a year.
• Gao De claimed to be a restoration craftsman, signed the lease, paid ten Sien Gold Coins, and received the key.
• Lady Misu advised Gao De to join the local Artisans' Guild and told him her son Serl studied at the church school.

After settling into Room 437, Gao De bought linen clothes and a pocket watch while learning about Bremen City’s guilds and Mage’s Associations. He ended the day with an expensive dinner and worried that his savings were nearing 300 gold.

• Gao De kept his money pouch with him and asked Leiman to guide him to a good-value clothing store while asking about the Artisans' Guild and Bremen City's three Mage's Associations.
• Leiman took Gao De to Old Hatton's shop, where Gao De bought two linen outfits and two pairs of leather shoes for 26 silver.
• Gao De bought a silver pocket watch made by Master Niede for 1 gold, then thanked Leiman and sent him away.
• Gao De ate a lavish dinner at a nearby restaurant, spending 1 silver and 2 copper before adding buttered bread for another copper.
• After paying, Gao De found he had four Shamrock Silver Coins and a handful of copper left in his pockets, and noted that his savings were close to dropping below 300 gold.

Gao De planned to investigate Mage Seda’s unused recommendation letter while settling in Bremen City and chose restoration work as a way to earn money. At the Artisans' Guild, he quickly repaired a Light Orb, leaving Anna astonished as she went to show Master Bas.

• Gao De decided to sell his medicinal garden, use Mage Seda’s recommendation letter to seek admission to Ceres Academy of Magic, and learn about the letter from Lady Misu.
• Gao De chose restoration craftsmanship for its income and access to Magic Items, then traveled to the Artisans' Guild in the Siren District.
• Gao De told receptionist Anna that he wanted to join the guild as a restoration craftsman, and she brought Master Bas to meet him.
• Bas tested Gao De by asking him to restore a Light Orb and directed him to a workroom with tools and materials.
• Gao De finished repairing the Light Orb in a quarter of an hour, and Anna hurried to show it to Bas.

Gao De became a registered repair craftsman at the Artisans' Guild and then visited Bremen's official Mage's Association to look for spell formulas. He learned that public sales were restricted to Zero Circle and 1st Circle spells, and that the association's offerings were surprisingly limited.

• Gao De repaired a Light Orb, concealed how quickly he did it, and passed the Artisans' Guild assessment.
• Bas welcomed Gao De into the guild as a repair craftsman named Google Ditu, waived his dues for a year, and arranged a notice advertising his services.
• Gao De traveled to the Bremen Mage's Association and asked its receptionist whether it sold spell formulas.
• The receptionist explained that the association could sell only Zero Circle and 1st Circle spell formulas, while the Saint Sien Mage's Association alone could sell 2nd Circle formulas.
• Gao De examined the listed spells and learned that the Bremen Mage's Association offered the most complete selection in the city.

Gao De bought four useful Zero Circle spell formulas from the Bremen Mage's Association and ran errands before returning to his house at No. 437. He ended the day with new spells to learn and supplies for his home and future visitors.

• Gao De learned that powerful spell formulas remained restricted and bought Detect Poison, Minor Illusion, Open/Close, and Message for twenty-four gold coins.
• Gao De filled out the Association's purchase documents, gave his fingerprint, and received the four spell formulas.
• Gao De considered how the cantrips could help him detect poison, create minor effects, open containers, and communicate secretly.
• Gao De ordered a banner on Workshop Street, bought three days of groceries and a tin of Sri Lanka Black Tea, then returned to his house at No. 437.

Gao De advanced his Guiding Method and Meditation Art, becoming a Second-Order Mage Apprentice. After spending the afternoon cultivating, he watched Lady Misu’s house from a restaurant to check whether anyone was still spying on it.

• Gao De used his last Basic Mana Potion and broke through to a level where he could cast seven cantrips in one breath.
• Gao De manifested his eighth lotus petal, met the requirements for a Second-Order Apprentice, and noticed his perception and mana cultivation had improved.
• Gao De considered his dwindling savings and set aside money for a possible journey to Saint Sien City.
• Gao De went to a restaurant across from Lady Misu’s residence and discreetly watched the house for Mage Seda’s former watchers.

Gao De checked for watchers, then traveled to Siren District to buy Basic Mana Potions at a lower price than in Hogan City. At the Artisans' Guild, Anna recommended the newly registered Google Ditu to a noble young lady seeking repairs for her cracked necklace, Lake Heart.

• Gao De saw Serl enter 237 Karmond Street and decided to return at different times to check for spies.
• Gao De collected his banner, went to Siren District, and bought ten sets of Basic Mana Potions for 60 gold.
• Anna recalled Master Bas's praise of Google Ditu's repair skills at the Artisans' Guild.
• A young lady showed Anna her mother's cracked magical necklace, Lake Heart, and asked for a skilled repair artisan.
• Anna recommended Google Ditu and gave the young lady his address at 437 Karmond Street.

Gao De met Jerica, a wealthy young woman seeking to repair a badly damaged first-circle magical necklace left to her by her mother. He guaranteed he could restore it and agreed to have it ready for her to collect in a week.

• Jerica arrived at Gao De’s workshop with her butler and asked to see Master Google, then discovered Gao De was the repair craftsman she sought.
• Jerica showed Gao De her cracked necklace, and he confirmed that no material was missing and that he could repair it.
• Gao De explained the usual fee for repairing a first-circle alchemical creation, but Jerica insisted on paying fifteen gold coins.
• Gao De promised to restore the necklace and told Jerica to return for it in a week.
• Jerica revealed that the necklace had belonged to her mother and entrusted it to Gao De.