Chapter Summaries

Maciej led the party into a fight with a flock of Earth Devil Bats and used Blessing Art to strengthen Gao De and another Mage Apprentice. Gao De’s enhanced spells brought down two bats as the battle continued against the 1st Circle leader and the remaining flock.

• Maciej explained that knowledge and mastered spells shaped the specialties awakened by 1st Circle Mages, while cultivation arts became more important after advancement.
• Maciej warned the party of an approaching flock of twelve Earth Devil Bats led by a 1st Circle Leyline Creature.
• Maciej cast Blessing Art on himself, Gao De, and a Mage Apprentice skilled in Lightning Cantrip before attacking the leader with Magic Missile.
• Gao De’s enhanced Flame Arrow pierced a bat’s gravel defense and set it ablaze, knocking it to the ground.
• Gao De cast Blade Ward+ and fired another Flame Arrow, which turned back after a bat dodged it and struck the creature down.

Maciej and Gao De’s group defeated the Earth Devil Bats, with Gao De helping Maciej kill the leader. After collecting materials and restoring his mana, Gao De used the completed Earth Devil Bat essence to upgrade Ray of Frost.

• Maciej blocked the Earth Devil Bat leader’s gravel barrage with Shield Spell and injured its right wing with a hidden Ice Crystal Shard.
• Gao De struck the leader’s left wing with Flame Arrow+, letting Maciej finish it with three Magic Missiles.
• Gao De and the other Mage Apprentices killed the remaining Earth Devil Bats, and the group collected valuable parts from the creatures.
• Maciej led the group back to the official road to rest while Gao De restored his mana.
• Gao De spent the completed Earth Devil Bat essence to upgrade Ray of Frost, gaining the ability to temporarily freeze a target that had taken enough cold damage.

Gao De reflected on the skills and experience he had gained during the wilderness-clearing operation and spent his remaining Source Points on three spells. As the operation neared its end, he prepared to return to studying at Ceres Academy of Magic.

• Gao De considered Ray of Frost’s strategic value and how spells could remain useful even when their damage was lower than other spells.
• Maciej led the team back into the forest after a rest, and the wilderness-clearing operation continued toward its end.
• A 1st Circle Leaf Poison Snake killed a Mage Apprentice despite Maciej killing it in time, while the team’s survival skills and combat experience improved.
• Gao De reviewed Wind Spirit Moon Shadow’s expanded Sources and the three Source Points he had saved.
• Gao De chose Detect Magic, Create Water, and Read Magic for his remaining points, then added points to all three spells.

After the frontier-clearing ended early, Gao De returned to Bremen City with his earnings and discovered that Create Water+ could produce a random liquid once a day. He planned to restock supplies and visit Maciej to ask about the Hogan Leyline, whose suppression was still ongoing.

• Gao De enhanced Detect Magic, Read Magic, and Create Water, and was intrigued by Create Water+'s chance to produce a random liquid each day.
• On Harvest Month 21, Bremen City's forces met the Karmond City force, bringing the frontier-clearing mission to an early end.
• Gao De returned to Bremen City with ninety-five gold coins and five points of Origin after a swift two-day journey; about four hundred and ten of the original Mage Apprentices remained.
• Maciej gave Gao De and the others his address and invited them to visit him after the mission.
• Gao De bathed, discarded his ruined clothes, and planned to buy supplies and gifts before visiting Maciej to learn about the Hogan Leyline.
• Gao De saw that the Saint Sien City airship was still in the city square, indicating that suppression of the Hogan Leyline had not ended.

Gao De visited Maciej to ask about the Hogan Leyline and learned that it was a Level 4 Leyline whose birth had destroyed Hogan City. Maciej explained that Mage Frey had suppressed the leyline’s strongest creatures, leaving Bremen with a dangerous but potentially manageable new source of opportunity.

• After spending 63 gold, 8 silver, and 6 copper, Gao De returned home and cultivated with a Basic Mana Potion, encouraged by his steady progress.
• On the 25th of Harvest Month, Gao De visited Maciej in Siren District and brought him sparkling wine and fragrant oil as gifts.
• Gao De asked Maciej for news about the Hogan Leyline, and Maciej confirmed it was a Level 4 Leyline, giving Bremen two such leylines.
• Maciej said Mage Frey had killed three 4th Circle Leyline Creatures and cleared the area around the leyline’s core, with plans to continue for another week.
• Maciej explained that the Hogan Leyline would keep producing creatures but should remain relatively stable after the suppression, and Gao De fell silent at the mixed consequences of its birth.

Gao De learned about Jerica’s magical talent and the Haynes family’s influence, then visited her at the Lord’s Manor. The chapter ended with Jerica asking whether trouble had brought him to her.

• Maciej told Gao De that Lord Haynes avoided accountability through powerful family connections and planned to send his three children to Ceres Academy of Magic.
• Gao De learned that Jerica was a gifted mage whose mother’s death and the Lord’s household rivalries had left her without a path to become Bremen City’s next lord.
• Gao De declined Maciej’s dinner invitation and spent the evening thinking about Jerica.
• The next morning, Gao De arrived at the Lord’s Manor and presented Jerica’s calling card to a guard.
• A maid escorted Gao De to Jerica, who welcomed him and asked if he had come because he was in trouble.

Gao De secured a place on Jerica’s airship to Saint Sien City and prepared to leave Bremen City. After several days of waiting and practicing Create Water+, he received word that the group would depart the next morning.

• Gao De asked Jerica to take him to Saint Sien City, and she offered him the place of one of her maids without charging a fee.
• Gao De returned to 237 Karmond Street and packed his belongings, then used Create Water+ to produce premium honey water.
• Gao De spent the following days eating, sleeping, cultivating, and waiting, and he told Pierre that he was leaving for Saint Sien City.
• Gao De noticed that Create Water+ usually produced honey water as its random liquid, suggesting it had a guaranteed minimum result.
• On Harvest Month 30th, Jerica sent word that Mage Frey had finished his mission and the group would leave for Saint Sien City at nine the next morning.

Gao De began his journey from Bremen City to Saint Sien City aboard the Ancient Capital Airship, but the flight came under attack from an adult Wind Elemental. The airship’s defenders fought back while Gao De watched helplessly from the lower deck as the vessel rocked violently.

• Gao De boarded the Ancient Capital Airship as Jerica’s servant and began cultivating in his small cabin during the journey to Saint Sien City.
• An alarm announced that a Leyline Creature had attacked the airship, and the crew rushed to their stations.
• Gao De saw an enormous Wind Elemental circling the airship and learned that it was called Iris.
• The airship’s crew told Iris that it had entered their flight route by mistake, but Iris answered angrily and fired a tornado arrow.
• The airship’s defensive magic shield repelled the arrow, and its defenders began battling Iris as the airship shook violently.

Gao De arrived safely in Saint Sien City after the airship survived an attack by a Wind Elemental, and he saw the city’s great Mage Towers for the first time. After disembarking, he met Jerica, who gave him a Silver Card for Haynes Inn before leaving for Ceres Academy of Magic.

• After the Wind Elemental attack ended, Gao De decided he needed to learn how to fly, and the airship continued east without further trouble.
• A crew member told Gao De that the airship had reached Saint Sien City, where he saw the Royal Mage Tower and Ceres Mage Tower from the porthole.
• The Ancient Capital Airship landed at the city’s airship base, and Gao De completed registration and inspection before leaving.
• Gao De met Jerica outside the airship base, and she gave him a Silver Card for Haynes Inn and explained that she would soon leave for Ceres Academy of Magic.
• Jerica wished Gao De well, then boarded her waiting carriage and departed.

Jerica left Bremen City to study at Ceres Academy of Magic, while Gao De settled into Haynes Inn and prepared to use his Exam-Exempt Recommendation Letter to seek admission before the regular assessments. At Ceres Mage Tower, headmaster Shell Ian faced a fierce dispute between two senior mages.

• Jerica told Butler Rob that her kindness toward Master Google was not based on profit and that repairing her mother's Lake Heart was enough.
• Gao De accepted Jerica's Silver Card, rented a room at Haynes Inn, and borrowed a map of Saint Sien City.
• Gao De focused on reaching Ceres Academy of Magic, planning to use his Exam-Exempt Recommendation Letter rather than wait for admissions day.
• The chapter described Ceres Academy of Magic's status, admissions practices, and central Mage Tower.
• Shell Ian sat through a small meeting at Ceres Mage Tower as two senior mages argued fiercely.

Committee members at Ceres Academy of Magic argued over whether Triv or a newly enrolled wild mage should receive a share of Spirit Ascension Water. Dean Sheer permitted Mage Lahr to borrow the newcomer’s share without coercion, then began arranging senior instructors for the academy’s new students.

• Mage Lahr objected when Mage Tiro said the rules required Triv’s Spirit Ascension Water share to go to the newcomer admitted with Dean Gavin’s Letter of Recommendation.
• Mage Tiro explained that Triv’s poor assessment results had kept him from qualifying and that all five extra portions had already been allocated.
• Mage Reid suggested that Mage Lahr borrow the newcomer’s share until next year, and Dean Sheer approved the arrangement only if it involved no coercion.
• Mage Lahr promised to handle the borrowing properly, and Dean Sheer moved on to assigning 3rd Circle senior instructors to the newcomer and Jerica.

Gao De received provisional admission to Ceres Academy of Magic with the highest treatment after the academy verified his recommendation letter. He learned that he must complete an enrollment task before becoming an official student, while Mage Lahr stayed behind to speak with him.

• Shell Ian assigned Jerica to Mage Tangde and told Councilor Quake to arrange the wild mage as he saw fit.
• Shell Ian ordered recruitment preparations and shifted more academy funding from the Department of Runes to the Department of Magical Potions.
• Gao De waited at the Guest Welcome Pavilion while the academy verified his recommendation letter and tested his age and mage rank.
• Councilor Rachel confirmed Gao De's admission with the highest treatment and gave him a map, rulebook, room key, and Identity Badge.
• Councilor Rachel told Gao De to report to Labor Cliff before eight the next morning to receive his enrollment task, which he had to complete before formal enrollment and mentor assignment.
• Councilor Rachel left Gao De with Mage Lahr, who said he had something to discuss with him.

Mage Lahr pressured Gao De to lend him the Spirit Ascension Water, promising compensation and its eventual return. Gao De agreed and received a rare 1st Circle Spell Formula and its potion.

• After Councilor Rachel left, Mage Lahr told Gao De that Academy rules entitled top-term recruits to a bottle of Spirit Ascension Water.
• Mage Lahr asked to borrow Gao De’s bottle for his apprentice, promising to return an equivalent bottle when Gao De was ready to advance.
• Gao De raised concerns about the risk of not getting the water back, while Mage Lahr offered assurances and increased his compensation.
• Mage Lahr offered a rare 1st Circle Spell Formula, its corresponding potion, and twenty gold coins per year until he returned the water.
• Gao De agreed to lend the Spirit Ascension Water, and Mage Lahr handed him the formula booklet and tiny bottle of potion.

Gao De accepted Mage Lahr’s spell formula and elixir in exchange for transferring his Spirit Ascension Water allocation, then accompanied him through Ceres Academy of Magic. At the Committee, Gao De signed the transfer agreement, making the deal official.

• Mage Lahr gave Gao De a spell formula and elixir, then asked him to present the Spirit Ascension Water as a transfer rather than a loan.
• Mage Lahr used the Longstrider spell to hurry Gao De through Ceres Academy and explained its facilities, credit system, and enrollment task.
• Mage Lahr brought Gao De to the Committee, where Vice-Chairman Martin asked whether Gao De agreed to transfer his allocation.
• Gao De said he agreed, and he and Mage Lahr signed the prepared transfer agreement.
• Martin confirmed the Spirit Ascension Water matter was settled, and Mage Lahr beamed with joy.

After Mage Lahr sent him to his new residence, Gao De explored his cottage at Ceres Academy of Magic and discovered mining tools with instructions to report to Labor Cliff. He examined the rare Summon Familiar spell formula and realized how valuable it was.

• Mage Lahr gave Gao De directions to his residence and the dining hall, then left him to settle in.
• Gao De found his lakeside cottage in District One, Number 30, and discovered academy uniforms and mining tools with a notice telling him to report to Labor Cliff the next day.
• Gao De inspected the furnished cottage and appreciated that it was far better than his former rental and free.
• Gao De opened Mage Lahr's Spell Formula and read the details of Summon Familiar.
• Gao De compared Summon Familiar with Veilmist Fang and recognized the formula's exceptional value.

Gao De studied the 1st Circle Spell Formula, then discovered that the academy cafeteria's pricey Charcoal-Grilled Bird Spider was surprisingly delicious. The next morning, he reported to Labor Cliff for his entrance task, where he reunited with Jerica and waited with the other new students.

• Gao De found that the Summon Familiar Spell Elixir formula listed its effects and ingredients but no preparation steps, and wondered what he still needed to learn about magic.
• Gao De tried the cafeteria's Charcoal-Grilled Bird Spider and enjoyed its flavor and qi-and-blood-replenishing effect.
• The next morning, Gao De arrived early at Labor Cliff carrying the tools issued by the academy.
• A burly mage and five other new students arrived, including Jerica, who was dressed for labor and tried to hide her surprise at seeing Gao De.

Instructor Shahu explained that the six freshmen had to mine and transport 3,000 kilograms of Aqua Gold Ore each as their mandatory admissions task at Ceres Academy of Magic. When Candice asked whether there was an alternative, Shahu pointed to another tool in their baskets.

• Shahu introduced himself and called roll for Luke, Kaplan, Royas, Candice, Gao De, and Jerica.
• Shahu explained that freshmen had to mine 3,000 kilograms of Aqua Gold Ore and deliver it to the Alchemy Department before officially entering the academy.
• Shahu laid out the rules against hiring help, using external tools, or stealing ore, and warned that delays would affect their coursework.
• The freshmen other than Gao De, including Jerica, frowned at the arduous task, while Gao De compared it to military training.
• Candice asked Shahu whether they could avoid mining 3,000 kilograms, and he hinted at an alternative by asking about the other tool in their baskets.

Instructor Shahu explained the mining and mussel-collecting routes for the enrollment task, then led the students to Labor Cliff. While the other students entered the mine, Gao De chose to dive into the river to search for Maiden Mussels.

• Instructor Shahu explained that Maiden Mussels could count as fifty kilograms of Aqua Gold Ore each, but warned that collecting them usually took longer than mining.
• Instructor Shahu told the students that completing the task within thirty days earned an extra credit, and that Gavin Hogg held the record at twenty-five days.
• Instructor Shahu led the students to the mine and explained the magical protections on the miners' helmets.
• Luke, Kaplan, Royas, Jerica, and Candice entered the mine one after another.
• Gao De told Instructor Shahu he did not want to mine, removed his outer clothes, and waded into the river to dive for mussels.

Gao De chose to search underwater for Maiden Mussels despite having no diving experience, while Luke, Kaplan, and Jerica mined Aqua Gold Ore. The chapter left Gao De using Detect Magic+ to locate mussels in the dark river.

• Luke emerged from the mine with about thirty kilograms of Aqua Gold Ore and learned that Gao De had spent the morning practicing diving instead of gathering mussels.
• Instructor Shahu explained that Gao De had needed to carry a rock underwater to learn how to dive and had not yet collected a single mussel.
• Kaplan and Jerica emerged from the mine with baskets of Aqua Gold Ore, carrying about thirty and twenty kilograms respectively.
• Gao De dove toward the deeper water, where Maiden Mussels were more likely to be found, despite the risks and his limited diving experience.
• Gao De cast Detect Magic+ underwater, using its ability to sense creatures and magical auras to locate Maiden Mussels.

Gao De used Detect Magic+ to search the river for a Maiden Mussel while the other students mined Aqua Gold Ore and mocked his approach. After helping Candice on the cliff path, he revealed that he had found a Maiden Mussel, worth as much as fifty kilograms of ore.

• Gao De surfaced without a mussel and ignored Luke and Kaplan's criticism before diving again.
• Luke and the other students carried their mined Aqua Gold Ore up the steep cliff path.
• Candice nearly fell on the steps, but Gao De caught and steadied her.
• Candice and Jerica spotted a Maiden Mussel in Gao De's basket, and Gao De confirmed he had collected it.