Above the mage

A subtle light flashed in Gao De's left eye, and a mysterious rune disappeared in a flash.

Mandora's Eyes were already open, scanning the misty area, attempting to pinpoint her opponent's location directly through the fog.

Strangely, when Mandora's magic eye swept across the entire foggy area, it did not detect anything unusual at first glance.

They couldn't even detect the slightest fluctuation of magic.

It was as if the opponent had truly merged completely into the mist, disappearing without a trace.

Gao De naturally didn't believe that the other party had the means to block out the Mandora's Eye's ability to see through things.

His expression shifted slightly, but he didn't panic. Instead, he slowly turned his gaze and swept it around the fog.

Sure enough, on the open ground that was not shrouded in mist, an extremely faint abnormal magical fluctuation was observed.

"You've got some skills," Gao De thought to himself, instantly understanding his opponent's tricks.

It turns out that this [Hidden Mist Technique] was entirely a smokescreen, serving two purposes:

First, it was to attract his attention, making him mistakenly believe that the opponent was hidden in the fog, thus wasting his fireball spell on an empty fog area. Second, it was to use the fog as cover to silently cast a second invisibility spell, truly achieving concealment.

Given that he was able to cast two spells in such a short time, Gao De immediately judged that the second invisibility spell was most likely pre-written on the staff he carried.

Choosing to store an invisibility spell on the staff's precious spell slot, instead of a more common attack or defense spell, is clearly a gamble on targeting Godzilla.

It must be said that the opponent's plan was very clever, and they certainly made the right bet.

The French bullfighting this morning has shown that directly confronting Gaode's fireball bombardment is definitely not a wise choice.

Therefore, the opponent decisively adjusted their tactics, choosing to use the invisibility effect to hide their figure and avoid the fireball bombardment, and then seize the opportunity to counterattack.

That's definitely a good idea.

Unfortunately, the opponent clearly did not expect Gao De's perception ability, which was even more outrageous than his fireball spell.

The fourth-tier Mandora's Eye has already surpassed Gaode's mage level, and is one of his methods of transcending levels.

Then, in the next moment, Gao De waved his right hand without pausing at all.

The fireball, accompanied by a whistling heatwave, shot out like a meteor.

Strangely, the fireball did not head towards the dense fog.

Instead, it blasted towards a seemingly empty and unremarkable open space on the right side of the field.

This unusual behavior immediately caused an uproar among the audience.

Doubtful discussions arose one after another.

"What are they doing? Ignoring the enemy shrouded in fog, they're bombing an empty field?"

"Yeah, yeah, could it be that his fireball missed?"

"How could that be? He's the national team's mage, how could he make such a basic mistake as missing a spell!"

Before the murmurs had subsided, a deafening explosion erupted.

The fireball struck the "empty space" precisely.

The crimson flames surged instantly, and scorching waves of fire swept wildly outwards from the point of impact.

In the instant the flames burst forth, a blurry figure was suddenly torn apart from the empty open space, revealing itself in a disheveled state. It was Gao De's opponent.

His clothes were already charred and tattered, his arms were covered with fine burns, his face was red from the sparks, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. The moment he realized that the Fireball spell was actually targeting his own true form, he didn't have time to be shocked. He immediately released another [Protective Energy: Fire] that he had prepared beforehand and engraved in his staff.

However, the spell penetration effect inherent in Gao De's [Fireball+] spell still caused him a great impact and injury.

A pale golden beam of light descended from the sky at just the right moment, enveloping him.

Battle over!

Surrounded by golden light, his face was as pale as paper, and his eyes appeared somewhat vacant.

He couldn't understand it at all, despite his meticulous planning and thorough preparation.

He thought he could at least put up a fight with Gao De, but in the end, the result was even worse than Suo Yan's in the morning.

The opponent managed to withstand two fireballs before finally succumbing.

My final score... was a fireball?!

How is that possible?

Why was Gaode Maps able to see through his scheme so easily and pinpoint his location so accurately?

Obviously, Gaode wouldn't be so kind as to answer his question.

After the referee declared Gao De the winner, he bowed respectfully to his still-stunned opponent and the referee before calmly leaving the stage. He was greeted by deafening shouts.

The noisy discussions in the audience vanished instantly when Gaode revealed his opponent's true form, turning into cheers.

"So that's why the opponent was hiding in the open area! Gaode Maps is amazing, they figured it out so quickly?"

"My God! Even faster than this morning! It was over with just one fireball?"

"A mage from a small country is just a mage from a small country. Even with meticulous preparation, they are no match for the mages of our Golden Flower Dynasty!"

In the contestants' area, the participants from various countries all looked more serious.

They watched the entire match between Gaode and others.

Most people only realize what's happening when the fireball hits and the opponent becomes visible.

They never realized that Gaode's opponent had already escaped the thick fog.

They didn't even realize that the [Hidden Mist Technique] was nothing more than a complete illusion.

Thinking about it that way makes it even more terrifying.

Such a brilliant tactical layout and such a subtle concealment were seen through by Gao De without breaking a sweat, and he accurately hit the real body with a fireball.

So how can Gaode's fireball technique be countered?

If I were to encounter Gao De, how many rounds of fireballs could I withstand?

"Gao De! How did you find out his real identity?! Also, you're being ridiculous! The official match time wasn't even as long as the time spent leaving the field, it was even faster than this morning!"

As soon as they returned to the Plantagenet Dynasty's player area, the most impatient Arya immediately rushed over, her eyes shining like stars, her tone full of admiration: "How are you so amazing!"

Not only Arya, but the others around her, though not as boisterous as her, all had somewhat strange expressions.

Fireball is a basic spell that everyone in the community possesses.

Or to be more precise, among the sixty-four participating teams, there should be no mage who doesn't know how to use the [Fireball] spell.

But Gao De is truly the first person to have developed a unique style of Fireball that has become his signature feature.

"Your turn is coming soon. Get ready for your match." Gao De glanced at Aria helplessly.

Just as everyone was whispering among themselves, in the coastal city area on the right side of the Golden Flower Dynasty.

A man dressed in a silver-gray mage's robe was silently observing Gao De's profile, a hint of doubt and seriousness flashing in his eyes. There were no matches in Linhai City today.

However, as the accompanying mage of the Linhai City team, he came to Mithril City to help the team win the championship.

Therefore, even if his own team is not playing, he still goes to watch the games and gather information on other teams' players.

The Golden Flower Dynasty tournament, in particular, is of paramount importance.

He watched the entire Gaode game.

The one-on-one duel in the morning ended so quickly that he didn't even have time to observe it carefully.

Therefore, his impression of Gao De was that the [Fireball] spell was incredibly powerful and extremely fast, and that was all.

It wasn't until after the morning match ended and he had some free time that he reviewed the morning's game.

For some reason, the more I think about it, the more a strange sense of familiarity arises in my heart.

It was as if he had seen this young mage named Gaode somewhere before.

He thought about it repeatedly, but he still couldn't find the source of this sense of familiarity.

He was certain that he had never seen Gaode in person before.

This was his first time visiting the Golden Flower Dynasty.

How could he, a sorcerer from Linhai City, possibly have any dealings with a genius sorcerer from the Golden Finch Flower Sect, who lived tens of thousands of kilometers away?

But that sense of familiarity lingered, making it impossible for him to ignore it.

However, due to his cautious nature, he did not ignore the inexplicable sense of familiarity that arose within him because of these reasons.

Instead, in the afternoon, they observed Gaode's every move more carefully and meticulously than in the morning.

Even now, his heart skipped a beat.

He understood where this strange sense of familiarity came from!

He stared at Gao De with increasingly serious eyes, confirming the information several times.

After confirming that everything was correct, he quietly took out the communication crystal he always carried with him, and with a faint magical power emanating from his fingertips, he quickly engraved a few lines of text on the crystal.

Aria was awakened by Gao De's words, took a deep breath, and went on stage excitedly.

In this match, her opponent was merely a mage in the early stages of the third ring, and a typical high-damage mage who excelled at frontal assaults. Against this type of mage, Arya's high mobility advantage was immediately on full display.

With the added advantage of being ranked higher, winning was significantly easier than in the morning.

Immediately following that is the 2v2 duel.

This one will be much easier.

Gaode's tactics weren't even complicated; it was just a simple division of labor:

Arya's task was to first entangle one of the opponents, constantly pulling and wearing him down, preventing him from having a chance to cast high-level spells.

Gao De stood still, without moving much, and with a wave of his hand, he unleashed a [Fireball+], accurately targeting another opponent.

Within moments, the opponent targeted by Gaode could no longer withstand the attack and was the first to leave the field.

The remaining opponent, who was entangled by Arya, panicked when he saw his teammate suffer a crushing defeat, and his spellcasting rhythm was completely disrupted.

Gao De unleashed another [Fireball+], giving his opponent no chance to retaliate.

It was another beautiful and decisive victory, clean and efficient, without any unnecessary delays.

On the first day of the group stage, the Golden Flower Mage team secured two victories, steadily accumulating two points and gaining a significant advantage in the group. However, because their opponents were not particularly strong, Gao De did not experience much psychological fluctuation.

There was neither the joy of victory nor the anxiety about the upcoming matches.

After the 2v2 match ended, he left the stage with everyone amidst cheers from the audience.

Their next group stage match will be held in two days.

The sea breeze from the Emerald Sea, carrying a salty and damp scent, swept across the port of Linhai City, where the sun never sets.

Above the vast port, brightly lit as day, the massive sea gate slowly opened and closed.

Ships at sea sounded their horns, and airships in the sky roared their propellers as they shuttled back and forth between the sea lock and the city.

These airships from all over the world continuously transported goods and wealth from the continents of Terra and Nolan into this extremely prosperous city.

The city streets are lined with magnificent buildings, each with its own unique style.

The magic crystal lamps on both sides of the street are arranged in an orderly manner.

Even in the dead of night, these magic crystal lamps emit a soft yet dazzling light, illuminating the entire city as if it were daytime. This is a city that never sleeps, a city nourished by magic and wealth.

As the most prosperous commercial and magical city in the entire mage plane.

The air in Linhai City was filled with the exotic scents of spices, silks, and jewels, as well as a rich and pure magical aura. It was the extraordinary energy emanating from countless mages practicing their arts and countless workshops crafting magical items.

The streets were bustling with merchants, monks, and artisans.

The tinkling sounds from the workshops, the low chanting of the monks, and the laughter and conversation of passersby intertwine to create a unique, vibrant rhythm in this city.

The mansions of the four major merchant families are scattered in four directions of the city.

Each building is magnificent, with a luxurious and unique architectural style and interior decorations that can be described as magical wonders. Every detail showcases the family's wealth and power.

The O'Kenley family mansion, even among them, is extremely prominent.

Two colossal statues made of magic crystal and refined steel stand in front of it, their imposing presence inspiring awe from afar.

The O'Kenley family is not only one of the four major merchant families in Linhai City, but also one of the four most prestigious merchant families in the entire Mage Plane. They possess the most advanced magical alchemy techniques in the entire plane and inherit ancient and mysterious alchemical secrets.

They have always been at the forefront of magical alchemy, creating countless amazing magical items that are sold far and wide, accumulating enormous wealth and unparalleled prestige for their family.

Any product from Oakenley is guaranteed to be of the highest quality.

Inside the O'Kenley family's council chamber.

The magic crystal lamp emitted a soft yet luxurious light.

The floor was paved with dark crystal, as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the figures of everyone in the hall.

The O'Kenley family firmly believed that a large family that does not constantly reflect on itself and plan ahead will eventually decline and perish.

Therefore, according to the tradition of the Oakenley family, the beginning of each year is the day of the family's annual clan meeting.

Core members of each clan gathered to review the family's development and shortcomings over the past year, allocate resources, and formulate development plans for the coming year. This year, Nolan calendar 9660, being a multiple of ten, this clan meeting was several times larger than in previous years, and was known as the Grand Clan Meeting. Important members of each clan, regardless of their location, were required to attend without special reason.

The meeting not only needs to comprehensively summarize the family's development over the past ten years, but also needs to set a development plan for the next ten years. It concerns the future direction of the entire family and cannot be taken lightly.

At this moment, this grand clan gathering is drawing to a close.

The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly heavy; beneath the calm and order lay an undercurrent that was difficult to detect but everyone was aware of.

Dunley O'Kenley sat in one of the main seats at the center of the hall.

He wore a deep purple mage's robe embroidered with the crest of the Oakenli family.

His expression was solemn.

Just then, a young man sitting a few seats to his left and below him suddenly stood up slowly.

The chair legs made a slight rustling sound as they rubbed against the crystal floor, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.

The man was dressed in a dark blue robe, with a handsome face, sharp eyes, and a calm demeanor.

His name was Shane O'Kenley, and he was the heir to another branch of the O'Kenley family.

He is exceptionally talented, highly capable, and extremely skilled in family management and business operations.

At a young age, he has already taken on power, managing several large alchemy workshops and merchant guild branches within the clan. He enjoys a very high reputation within the clan and is one of the most outstanding young people in the clan.

His branch, however, has a long-standing rivalry with Dunley O'Kenley's lineage within the family.

Whether it's the struggle for resources, the division of power, or the right to speak within the family, the two branches have always been unwilling to yield to each other, and the conflict has long been deeply rooted. "The Great Clan Assembly is a place for members of the clan to raise questions and exchange opinions; if there are faults, correct them; if not, strive to improve."

"In that case, I shall take the liberty of asking Elder Denglai a question that has been lingering in my mind for a long time."