Above the mage

Chapter 801 Imported Magic Potions

Sunafa paused for a moment, then said, "From a mechanistic point of view, this is indeed logical."

"Furthermore, advancing to the fifth ring only slightly loosens the shackles. If one advances to the sixth ring or even higher, the effect of breaking the shackles should be more obvious, but I'm still far from the sixth ring..."

"Therefore, to verify this specifically, we'll have to rely on you."

Sunafa blinked: "After all, you are the only person in the North besides me who possesses the Pure Ice bloodline."

""

"It is our duty to restore the glory of the Iceborn," Gao De said solemnly.

Because of the increase in bloodline power brought about by Sunafa's advancement to the fifth ring, the speed at which his "True Ice Secret Manual" improved further accelerated.

Based on the current pace, if not deliberately suppressed, they should be able to reach level four before leaving the Northern Territory this time.

Sunafa temporarily set aside this somewhat troublesome topic and spoke again, bringing Gaode some good news: "Within half a month, my 'True Ice Secret Manual' will be able to advance to the fifth ring."

The "Secret Transmission of Zhenbing" was the main cultivation method of Sunafa, and it had already reached the fourth level of perfection several years ago, possessing profound foundation.

Now that his bloodline power has broken through its limits, his advancement is a natural progression and not surprising.

"Perhaps, after advancing to the fifth ring in 'The Secret of the Ice Clan,' I will be able to learn more about the secrets of the Ice Clan and discover some of the events of that year."

Each time an Iceborn mage advances in rank, they receive a corresponding knowledge inheritance.

Gao De nodded slightly, a hint of anticipation rising in his heart.

With the bloodline of the Iceborn, how could he not care about the truth and secrets hidden behind the Iceborn clan?

"Congratulations on your advancement to the fifth ring," Gao De said, breaking the serious atmosphere with a smile. He opened a drawer next to him, took out several items, and placed them on the table. "Consider these my congratulatory gifts for your advancement."

Sunafa glanced lightly across the table.

On the outside is a well-preserved roll, and to the side is an exquisite box.

Gao De opened the box, inside which lay two extremely thin scrolls and two crystal bottles that were completely clear.

"What are these things?" Sunafa tilted her head slightly and asked softly.

"This is the spell recipe for the Spell Constantization Technique."

Gao De pointed to the scroll on his left and spread his hands, saying, "However, there are no matching spells or potions. You will need to collect the raw materials and mix them yourself."

Sunafa was shaken.

For a fifth-circle mage, "Spell Constantity" is equivalent to "Flight" for a third-circle mage—a huge upgrade in mechanics, and a spell recipe that is almost never passed on to outsiders by major mage factions.

"As for them..." Gao De turned to the box, a hint of solemnity in his eyes: "They are the Dragon Magic spell [Abyss Purification]."

The spell recipe and accompanying potions for [Stopping Waves].

"Dragon magic?!" Sunafa's eyes suddenly lit up, a clear ripple passing through her cold eyes.

Even for her, a "primitive person," the name of dragon magic was legendary.

"Yes." Gao De nodded.

This was specially left for Sunafa.

Mastering dragon magic requires strict conditions.

However, Sunafa happens to fit this requirement as well. All the spells she had mastered before were awakened through her bloodline power, and she had never independently constructed a spell model.

This means that Sunafal does not possess the "muscle memory" and mindset of mages, and naturally does not face any barriers to learning dragon magic.

As for spells and potions, Gao De had to forcefully pry them out of his mouth—

"The spell you used yesterday to limit the Voidlord's burst damage, was it a dragon spell?" Sunefa immediately recalled Goddard's amazing performance yesterday.

"Indeed, normal third-circle spells have no effect on sixth-order creatures, but with the help of dragon magic spells, my third-circle mage level is enough to restrain a sixth-order void creature for a moment," Gao De exclaimed.

"Truly worthy of being the oldest and highest-ranking spell," Sunefa praised sincerely.

She took out the two scrolls of spell formulas, unfolded them, and glanced at them briefly. Her eyes gleamed with an even stronger strangeness.

Such unconventional spell effects are indeed significantly different from ordinary spells.

Without further hesitation, Sunafa took out a bottle of magical potion, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

However, after taking the first bottle of magical potion, she did not immediately take the second bottle. Instead, she pursed her lips slightly and smacked her tongue.

He seemed to be savoring the taste and texture of the medicine as it entered his body, his brows and eyes showing a hint of contemplation and doubt.

"What's wrong?" Noticing her unusual behavior, Gao De asked instinctively, a subtle sense of guilt creeping into his heart.

"The taste and texture of this potion are completely different from any other potion I've ever taken..."

"6

Sunefa raised an eyebrow slightly, carefully savoring the feeling she had just experienced, searching for the most fitting description: "Regular potions, regardless of their grade, all carry, to varying degrees, the astringent, bitter, or burning sensation characteristic of potions, even that bottle of Siren's Salt Marsh Elixir."

"But this bottle is different."

"It has no off-flavors or strange tastes at all. Most importantly, the medicine dissolves instantly upon entering the body, so clean it's almost unreal, as if... all the excess impurities have been removed."

"It doesn't seem like a magic potion; it's more like a spiritual elixir nurtured by heaven and earth."

Upon hearing this, Gao De coughed lightly, forcing himself to remain composed, and said somewhat guiltily, "Perhaps it's because this is an imported potion, so the taste is better."

He did not lie to Sunefa.

These two bottles of potions are indeed imported potions.

However, this import is not the same as that import.

Sunefa, without suspicion, immediately drank the other bottle of potion in one gulp.

Jue~~~

At that moment, a long and stirring cry suddenly rang out from high above, carrying a unique penetrating power.

Sunafa's expression turned serious.

The next moment, a silver-white falcon appeared at the window and chirped softly a few times at Sunefa.

The distinct cries of eagles filled the air. Suna listened intently, then nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.

"What's wrong?" Gao De had a vague idea of ​​what was going on, but he still asked.

"Canglan has discovered the tracks of another group of foreign mages, who are most likely of the same origin as the Black Goblin Mercenary Group, and have crossed the border to gather intelligence on the Northern Territory," Sunafa said.

She is far more diligent and responsible than Gao De.

So after finishing my seclusion, I spent the whole night reading through the government reports I had accumulated during this period and the intelligence from various parties that Elsa had compiled.

This naturally includes the spying by the Black Goblin mercenary group.

Sunefa didn't shy away from using a sledgehammer to crack a nut and decided to do it herself.

"I'll go there first and take it down for them."

"Bierd told me that these mercenary mages are good at hard labor, so it's good to add some more people to their ranks," she said coolly.

The fourteen Black Goblin mercenary mages captured by Catherine's team were not immediately sentenced to death in the North.

Although these mercenaries crossed the border to spy and harbored ill intentions, they did not directly slaughter the people of the Northern Territory and had no real blood debt. Their crimes did not warrant death, but it was absolutely impossible to release them back, lest they attract the covetous eyes of the Empire.

He may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment.

So Elsa decided to make use of them and sent them all to the Ministry of Construction to do hard labor and work as punishment, instead of letting them eat for free.

Even with their magic powers sealed, these mercenary mages, with their superior physiques, were still first-rate at doing manual labor, performing it with great efficiency, which greatly pleased Pierre.

"Go ahead," Gao De nodded.

For the rapidly developing North, these skilled laborers who don't need to be paid are truly a boon.

Sunafa said no more, and with a flash, she and Canglan left quickly.

It didn't take much time, and there were no twists and turns at all.

With overwhelming combat power and guidance from Cang Lan, Sunafa easily captured the entire overseas spy team.

The dozen or so mages were all captured and quickly escorted back to Phoenix, where they were taken into custody and interrogated by Catherine's police department.

After questioning, the situation was as expected.

It was another mercenary group that had crossed the Erwin Laya Mountains to gather intelligence in the North, having received a commission.

This is exactly as Gaode had previously guessed.

However, nowadays, the Northern Territory has Azure Sky patrolling high in the sky, and the Security Bureau has also increased its patrol efforts.

With a combination of intention and cunning, none of these foreign mercenary mages should be able to escape.

Therefore, Gaode is not too worried about the present.

Sunefa's advancement to the fifth ring has brought about changes in the North in many ways.

Prior to this, due to a lack of high-level combat power, the Northern Territory remained very restrained in its foreign trade, despite possessing abundant resources and having established a shipping route with the Blue Flame Islands.

But now that Sunafa has reached the fifth ring, the situation is different again.

With this newfound confidence, the North can further expand its foreign trade.

While expansion is possible, it must be planned and not done blindly.

Sunefa, Elsa, and God held a private meeting to finalize the North's trade system with the outside world.

"Formally establish the Northern Trade Office as an official body to oversee all matters related to foreign trade. Under it, set up a separate entity to handle daily operations, which we'll call the Northern Global Trade Corporation, as the only official trading entity for the Northern Border."

"From now on, all cross-border trade, whether it's bulk or small-scale, will be managed by this system." Gaode still follows its previous approach: special matters should be handled by special agencies.

Elsa and Sunefa had no objections, but Elsa had one question: "What does 'Global' mean?"

What kind of sphere is it? Why go around the world? How does trade have to do with the sphere?

"It's just an alternate name, don't worry about it." The concept of a ball doesn't exist in the mage plane, so Gao De naturally couldn't explain it, but he maintained his composure and said calmly.

Elsa's lips moved, but she ultimately didn't press the matter further.

She has learned to exercise restraint regarding the strange and inexplicable words that Gaode often uses.

"Furthermore, as soon as possible, in the name of the Trade Administration, formulate the 'Export Ban on Strategic Materials in the Northern Territory,' which should detail the two categories of materials."

"One is the list of prohibited exports. All materials on this list, such as the previously mentioned magic crystal ore, are strictly prohibited from being exported. Not a single piece of material can be allowed to leave the country. Once discovered, it will be considered a violation of the law and will be severely punished."

"Secondly, there is a restricted export list, which includes major raw materials currently being exported, such as native ores from the North, wild magical plants, and basic magical materials. Export quotas will be gradually tightened and reduced month by month," he added.

"Restrict the export of raw materials?" Elsa frowned slightly upon hearing this, full of confusion.

She never expected that Gaode would not only ban magic crystal mining, but also restrict the export of raw materials.

Raw materials are currently the largest and most valuable commodity traded between the North and the rest of the country.

If this is restricted, trade revenue will inevitably be greatly affected.

But Gaode just clearly said it would expand foreign trade, and then it cut off its biggest source of revenue. Isn't that contradictory?

"That's right, we must reduce raw material exports," Gao De nodded affirmatively, his tone very firm.

"Selling raw resources is the lowest level of development and also the biggest trap."

"Firstly, the profit margin on raw materials is relatively low. We sell these things, and after they are processed, they can resell them back to us at a premium of ten or a hundred times." Gao De held up one finger.

"In the long run, we will always be the lowest-level resource supplier, completely reduced to a raw material vassal of foreign forces, and working for others' benefit."

Gao De raised his second finger and continued.

"Secondly, raw material prices fluctuate greatly with the market, are extremely unstable, and are easily subject to price suppression by collusion, thus losing trade bargaining power."

"It's like primary ore; the market price is basically driven by the buyers. If their demand is high this year, they'll raise the price a bit, but if their warehouses are full next year, they'll lower it. We have no room for negotiation."

"Third." Gao De then raised his third finger.

"Yijishan is the root of this place, but it has been left behind and entered, but it has not grown. Its technology has not grown, and its industry has not grown."

"We must focus on exporting refined finished products, which have stable value, fixed demand, and extremely high technical barriers. Once established, we will have complete control over trade and pricing power."

"Of course, it's not easy. After all, there are technical barriers to refining finished products, and our northern border is relatively backward, so it will inevitably be difficult to get started."

"But now, we actually have two trump cards in our hands, which is our greatest source of confidence in our transformation."

"Your Highness means mass-produced, weak-effect standard potions... and Moutai liquor?" Elsa pondered for a moment and guessed what the two trump cards God was referring to.

"Exactly. Weak potions are made using quantitative potion science. Their low cost, high production volume, and stable quality control are features that traditional potions completely lack."

"By competing in a different market segment, we will be able to quickly capture the general public market and the low-level mage market."

"The key to its technological barrier is quantitative potion science, which is something that outsiders cannot imitate and can only source from us."

"As for Moutai liquor, it has a good taste and special effects, making it a unique high-end trade product."

"7

"The barley from Northwest China needed to brew it is the technological barrier of Moutai liquor. It is a resource that is exclusive to our northern region and cannot be imitated by outsiders."

"More importantly, this transformation and layout can promote the rapid development of talents in the Northern Region's local alchemists, rune masters, plant magic masters and other extraordinary industries, help us build a complete extraordinary industry system and get rid of our dependence on finished products from outside the region."

Gao De's gaze was steady: "Therefore, we will gradually reduce the export of mined native ores and wild magical plants harvested from the wild, and instead replace wild resources with cultivated resources and native raw materials with refined finished products."

"In the short term, we will lose some revenue, but in the long run, this is the right path to preserve the foundation of the North, help the North rise, truly become self-sufficient, and export high-end value to the outside world. It is also an essential path for the North to rise."

"In the short term, there will be some loss of revenue, but in the long run, this is the right path to safeguard the foundation of the North, help the North rise, and move towards self-sufficiency and export of high-end value. It is also an essential path for the North to rise."

"After all, as long as we rely on external forces, we are always at risk of being held hostage."

This was verified in his previous life, so Gao De spoke with great conviction.

>

哄哄