Above the mage

Chapter 423 Spirit Spring Dew Tree Seeds and the Myriad Elixir of Life

List of rewards for first-class merit.

Gao De looked at the newly acquired booklet in his hand, and his heart was slightly stirred.

The Sea Sentinel's merit redemption list is somewhat similar to the encyclopedia in some games from his previous life; the corresponding encyclopedia list is only unlocked when you reach the corresponding level.

For the Sea Sentinels, the corresponding level of military merit can only be unlocked after obtaining the corresponding level of military merit.

Previously, Gaode Maps had already unlocked the redemption lists for third-class and second-class merit awards.

With this first-class merit award in hand, he has finally unlocked the last first-class merit redemption list for the Sea Sentinel.

Compared to the lists for redeeming second-class and third-class merit awards, the booklet for redeeming first-class merit awards is significantly thinner.

That's reasonable; anything on the first-class merit redemption list is top-notch.

Good things are always rare.

Gao De opened the booklet and first looked at the section on spell recipes, which was of most interest to him.

Just as he had guessed, the spell recipes listed on the first-class merit exchange list were rare spell recipes of the fourth and fifth rings.

To my surprise, in addition to these fourth and fifth ring rare spell recipes, there were also sixth ring spell recipes listed.

Although there were only a few spells, and they were all ordinary spells, it was enough to demonstrate the profound strength of the Sea Sentinels.

Among the rare spell recipes in the fifth ring, Gao De also saw the spell "Permanent" that he was most interested in.

[Spell Persistence [Rare]] (Alteration, Fifth Ring):

This spell can make the duration of certain other spells permanent. You only need to cast the spell you want to choose, and then immediately cast the spell "Permanent".

The Spell Persistence spell can not only be cast on oneself, but also on other creatures or objects. However, casting Persistence on other creatures or objects requires meeting specific conditions and requirements, and consuming certain materials.

[Military Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit *1]

Gao De naturally wished he could exchange for the [Spell Persistence] spell right now and bring it back to the Northern Territory.

After all, this spell was one of his main objectives in leaving the North.

However, it is highly unreasonable and suspicious for a first-ring mage to exchange a precious first-class merit for a fifth-ring spell recipe, something that will not be needed for the next hundred years.

Therefore, even if they were eager to do so, Gaode could only say that they would put it aside for now.

After quickly glancing at the spells listed, Gao De began to carefully examine the other treasures available for exchange on the redemption list:

【Fengyu Qingniang】

This potion, made from Windfeather Flowers, is clear and translucent with a bluish glow. Drinking it increases the success rate (by 40%) of a second-circle mage advancing to the third circle.

[Military Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit *1]

Silver Dragon Blood Extract

[A potion for advancing to the fourth rank, made from the blood of a silver dragon bird... After consumption, it increases the success rate (by 40%) of a third-rank mage advancing to the fourth rank.]

[Military Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit *2]

Among the treasures in the potion category, the one that qualifies for the first-class merit reward is the Ring-Up Potion.

As the name suggests, Ring-Up Potions are auxiliary potions that help mages level up.

For a mage's general level increase, level-up potions are not essential.

There are definitely mages who succeeded in advancing to the next level without drinking the potion, and there are definitely mages who failed to advance even after drinking the potion.

However, for most mages, when upgrading their rings, regardless of the circumstances, they will try their best to obtain an upgrade potion, even if the quality is poor.

First, upgrading the ring is extremely difficult. Without any external aids, relying solely on one's own abilities, the success rate may be less than 10%.

Secondly, the process of upgrading the ring is a matter of great importance. Success will naturally lead to boundless possibilities, but failure will severely damage one's vitality, requiring a long period of rest to recover. If one is unlucky, it may even leave permanent hidden injuries and greatly shorten one's lifespan.

While the Ring-Up potion cannot guarantee a successful ring upgrade after consumption, it can protect the mage to the greatest extent possible.

This minimizes the backlash and injuries suffered by mages after a failed attempt to ascend to the next level, allowing them to attempt to ascend again without any hindrance in the future.

From a certain perspective, the existence of potions that raise rings is also a major reason why potion mastery has always been one of the "three starter" secondary professions.

After all, for mages, leveling potions are an absolute necessity.

The Ring-Up potions provided by the Sea Sentinels are not only the best in the Golden Flower Dynasty, but also among the top-tier in the entire Nolan Continent.

The 40% increase in the success rate of ring upgrades is something that other inferior ring upgrade potions cannot match.

If a mage can drink this quality of advancement potion to aid in advancement, it's practically like having one foot already in the next stage.

However, the excellent quality also means a high price.

However, the list of items that can be redeemed for first-class merit does not include any auxiliary magic potions that can upgrade a character from level one to level two.

This is because the level of the second-tier upgrade potion is relatively low, and its value is not enough to be included in the first-class merit exchange list. It can be obtained with second-class merit.

Look down again.

The rune-construct customization that Melia had mentioned in the rumors was now clearly visible.

【Custom Rune Construction】

[Exchange for a set of rune constructs tailored to your requirements by rune constructers of tier 3 or higher...]

[Military Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit *1 to No Limit (Assessed by Rune Constructor)]

This was a very tempting exchange option for other mages, but Gao De only glanced at it before silently looking away.

Self-reliance is the only way forward!

[Anti-Magic Breastplate (Tier 3-15)]

[Breastplate forged from anti-magic stones]

[Military Merit Required for Exchange: 1-5 First-Class Merits]

This is the most briefly described item that Gaode Maps has shown, yet it is quite expensive.

But he wasn't surprised at all.

The words "anti-magic stone" alone are enough to explain everything.

The Anti-Magic Stone, the true symbol of the Golden Flower Dynasty, is even more representative than the ever-blooming golden flower. It is the foundation of the dynasty and the only mineral discovered in the world that can isolate magic power. It is also known as the bane of magic.

In the world of mages, the significance of the words "anti-magic stone" needs no further explanation.

Gao De was naturally interested in this magical object recorded in the "textbook".

But since it wasn't a necessity and the price was really high, he just kept it in mind for now and continued to skip it.

Next, we come to the materials category, among which the most eye-catching is the [Anti-Magic Stone (Tier 3 to Tier 5)].

Similarly, Gaode Maps doesn't currently have a large demand for materials; it just scans the general area and then continues scrolling down.

The color scheme of the entire page changes on the next page, and a note appears in the upper left corner indicating a limited-time redemption offer.

The list of items available for redemption under the First-Class Merit Award is extremely special, and the number of treasures that can be supplied to the Sea Sentinel Mage for redemption on a long-term basis is extremely limited.

Because treasures are definitely scarce, there are usually only a few items, and once they are all redeemed, they will be removed from the list.

Only spell recipes and potions can be mass-produced.

The majority of the first-class merit redemption list consists of constantly changing, non-fixed items, and the quantity is limited, with some items even having only one available, so act fast or you'll miss out.

These non-fixed items were not further categorized, but rather arranged from highest to lowest according to the military merits required for exchange.

[Ancient Sea Monster Bloodline Crystal]

[This is a crystal formed by the ancient sea monster when it was on the verge of death, containing pure and powerful sea monster magic as well as some of the ancient sea monster's memories and instincts.]

By communicating with and refining this bloodline crystal, you can increase your mage level and have the opportunity to comprehend the mysteries of ancient siren magic.

**Note:** Refining the Siren's Bloodline Crystal carries an extremely high risk.

[Military Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit *10]

The first treasure that caught Gaode's eye was quite a shock.

Ancient Siren Spells: This is another new school of spells, and it should be somewhat similar to the True Ice Spells.

Of course, True Ice magic is a broad category, while Ancient Siren magic can only be considered a minor one.

I'm really tempted, but I don't have the means. I can only say it's a chance to broaden my horizons.

【Rejuvenating Mandala】

[A magical plant that grows in the Forest of Chants; its flowers, when boiled with spring water, can be made into an ointment. Applying this ointment to the chest and keeping it on for three days and three nights will increase the user's lifespan by thirty years.]

[Military Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit *5]

A magical plant that increases lifespan!

For Gaode Maps nowadays, they definitely wouldn't think much of this thing.

But for those mages who are nearing the end of their lifespan but still have hope of breaking through, this is a tool to defy fate and change their destiny. They would be willing to give up everything, let alone five first-class merits, to borrow another thirty years from heaven.

Of course, this has nothing to do with Gaode Maps.

He was both young and long-lived; as a practitioner of the "Green Wood Longevity Sutra," he was the least worried about his lifespan.

Scrolling further down, besides all sorts of extraordinary items, there were also strange things like ley line creature eggs, ancient mage spell research manuals, and even a shop in Kensington District, which could be exchanged for two first-class merits.

No matter how strange these items may seem, as long as they are on the list of items eligible for first-class merit awards, they undoubtedly possess extremely high value and are extremely rare, making them very difficult to buy even with money.

Gaode was very interested in most of the items, but that was all it was.

The only truly essential item is the [Spell Stabilization Spell], but it cannot be directly exchanged.

With limited merit points at his disposal, he chose to be a miser, lest he encounter a treasure he desired in the future but have no merit points to exchange for it.

As he turned to the last page of the list of first-class merit awards, "miser" Gao De's eyes suddenly lit up, and he stopped flipping through the booklet.

【Spiritual Spring Dew Tree Species】

[A fourth-tier magical tree species, the Spirit Spring Dew Tree, will produce a spiritual spring at its roots after it matures. Drinking the water from the spiritual spring can quickly restore mana in a short time.]

The water from the sacred spring has a powerful healing effect on common diseases and toxins;

Furthermore, watering other plants with the water from the sacred spring can make them grow faster and better, and more easily grow into high-quality plants.

[Note: This type of magical tree is extremely delicate and very difficult to cultivate.]

[Military Merit Required for Exchange: First-Class Merit *1]

A magic tree seed, specifically a fourth-tier magic tree seed.

Even if it has no other function, the fact that it's at level four is enough for Gao De to spend a military merit to exchange for it.

Because a single fourth-tier magic tree can extend the growth rate of Yugathira by a full 2797 months, or 233 years!

Not to mention, this Spirit Spring Dew Tree is also a magical tree with extremely powerful functions.

The spring water, capable of curing diseases and toxins, was like a godsend to the North, where medical conditions were still far from ideal.

The ability to accelerate plant growth is an essential need.

Such a fourth-tier magic tree seed only requires a first-class merit?

Although Gao De knew that this was because the Spirit Spring Dew Tree was difficult to cultivate and the Magic Tree had a very long growth period.

Compared to other treasures that can be used immediately upon exchange, the Magic Tree Seed takes at least a hundred or two hundred years to become effective, making it much less attractive and thus less valuable. However, I still feel like I got a great deal.

Not much to say.

Good steel should be used where it's needed most, so Gaode directly selected the Lingquan Ganlu tree species.

Then, he opened the list of second-class merit awards.

Compared to his cursory glance at the list of items for redeeming first-class merit awards, he now had a much clearer goal.

First up is the Ring-Up potion.

There are two types of second-level upgrade potions available for Gaode to choose from on the exchange list: [Green Vine Dew] and [Sea Firefly Marrow Liquid].

The former can increase the success rate of ring upgrade by 40%, while the latter only increases it by 20%.

Correspondingly, the former requires five second-class merits to redeem, while the latter only requires two. It's the same principle: use your best resources where they matter most. Being stingy in this area is unwise.

Gao De selected [Green Vine Dew], and with the remaining five second-class merits and ten third-class merits, he directly aimed at the spell recipe.

First, select three rare spells from the Second-Class Merit Exchange List:

[Long-Range Shooting [Rare]] (Change type, Ring 1):

This spell increases your range by 20 feet when you make ranged attacks.

【Know Yourself and Know Your Enemy [Rare]】(Prophecy System, First Ring):

If you recall a creature you encountered during the day, after casting the spell, you will gain some knowledge about that creature.

【Universal Elixir [Rare]】(Change type, Level 1):

You can choose a fun effect related to health, happiness, and joy for a bottle of water, creating a secret medicine with no side effects.

Pain Relief: You can ignore minor pain, such as arthritis, a cold, or a hangover, for one hour. During this time, you gain additional resistance to pain-effect spells: you perform better in a single attack or spell use within one minute, and you can choose when to trigger it, whenever it applies.

Hallucinations: You can see all sorts of interesting hallucinations within an hour, such as wandering lights, music, cute surreal animals, and more.

You can tell yourself that these things are not real, but they will distract you.

Ecstasy: Makes you feel lightheaded and euphoric for up to an hour, similar to having consumed some alcoholic beverages. (But it won't cause a hangover.)

Awakening Dream: If you take this secret medicine within an hour before going to sleep, you will have a waking dream that is completely under your control and will last for an hour.

Resistance: You gain a slight additional resistance to all types of spells. Sleep: You enter a pleasant and comfortable sleep that lasts for at least one hour unless you are awakened.

If this is your usual bedtime, you will continue to sleep normally after the effects of the secret medicine wear off.

Sober: You are fully sober for one hour, and your actions are immune to any negative effects of being drunk. However, magical and alchemical effects (such as detection potions) will still detect that you are drunk.

The duration of this remedy does not count towards the time it takes for you to sober up (because it only delays it).

Resilience: You gain temporary increased physical strength for 1 minute.

One Wake Up: You stay awake and undrowsy for up to 2 hours without side effects such as neurasthenia.

You gain additional resistance to saving throws against sleep effects, such as lullabies and sleep spells.

The use of this secret medicine only delays your sleep time and will not be counted towards your rest and sleep duration.

You can use this elixir multiple times, but each time its effects wear off, you will still feel fatigued as if you hadn't used it at all.