Please support the novel with your power stones, it motivates me. Thank you! Every 10 power stones = an extra chapter!!
Spells were indeed wondrous, enough to stir endless awe and imagination.
But Gao De had no time to linger in shock.
The environment here was terrible—dark, decayed, poorly ventilated, and as silent as a grave. He had only been here a short while, yet already felt a heaviness settling over his mood.
This was clearly no place to remain for long.
More importantly, he had "died" while testing Seda Mage's potion, only to come back to life. There was no way that matter would simply be overlooked.
Without question, the most urgent thing now was to escape this herb garden.
But how?
Just as Aimi had said, every apprentice had been branded with a Tracking Mark on the very first day they were brought here by Seda Mage.
As long as that mark remained, there was no escaping Seda Mage's grasp.
Supporting himself, Gao De slowly sat up. But instead of getting out of bed, he leaned against the wall and seriously began to consider ways to free himself from Seda Mage's control.
With the knowledge he currently possessed, he could think of only two methods.
First: if a spell like the Tracking Mark existed, then there must also be a spell capable of removing it.
Second: if the problem could not be solved, then solve the one who created the problem—Seda Mage himself.
Simple to say.
Almost impossible to accomplish.
At least for the current him.
Spells were miraculous, and therefore incredibly precious.
He was nothing more than a backgroundless apprentice, treated like a lab rat. To this day, he only knew two cantrips, both learned from Seda Mage himself. Where was he supposed to find a spell that could remove the Tracking Mark?
And even if he somehow obtained such a spell, spellcasting was notoriously difficult to learn. There was no way he could master it in a short time.
As for killing Seda Mage…
That was even less realistic.
Seda Mage was a seasoned spellcaster. Who knew how many powerful spells he commanded?
And Gao De?
He knew only two cantrips, and neither possessed the slightest offensive power.
He turned the problem over in his mind again and again, but still could not find a way out of his current predicament.
After hesitating for a while, he was just about to ask Aimi—who had only recently quieted down—something else…
When movement sounded outside.
A rush of hurried footsteps approached, followed by a knock as an apprentice with a noticeably older, more mature face pushed the door open and entered.
Moving quickly, the apprentice scanned the cramped room, and his gaze soon locked onto Gao De, who was half-reclining on the bed.
"Gao De, Seda Mage heard that you've woken up. He wants to see you immediately."
At those words, Gao De's eyes narrowed slightly. His mind raced, but clearly he had no ability to defy Seda Mage's command right now.
So he simply nodded.
"Alright."
He wasted no time. Rising at once, he followed the apprentice out of the room.
Only after watching Gao De leave did Aimi suddenly realize something.
Gao De…
Since waking up, he seemed a little different from before.
But exactly how he was different, Aimi couldn't say.
Outside the room was a long, narrow corridor.
The corridor curved like a waning crescent moon. At regular intervals on either side stood doors, each flanked by a pair of candles whose faint glow and warmth pushed back the gloom and chill.
Although the former owner of this body had lived here for nearly two years, that section of memory had not been left behind for Gao De. So the place was completely unfamiliar to him, and he silently observed everything around him.
The apprentice delivering the message clearly didn't notice Gao De's quiet scrutiny.
In truth, in such a dangerous and oppressive place, how could any of the apprentices spare energy to pay attention to others?
At least for now, Gao De didn't need to worry about giving himself away.
He had only just arrived in this world and barely had time to catch his breath before being dragged into a confrontation with the mysterious Seda Mage. It was impossible for him not to feel pressure.
As he followed the older apprentice forward, he tried to imagine what his meeting with Seda Mage would be like.
At that moment—
a door on the left suddenly opened, and out stepped a young man with a gloomy expression.
Gao De didn't recognize him.
But the man clearly recognized Gao De. He planted himself directly in Gao De's path and, before Gao De could speak, looked at him with a smile that never reached his eyes.
"Gao De, looks like your life is pretty tough to snuff out. Even testing medicine couldn't kill you."
Gao De frowned slightly and glanced at him, but said nothing, turning to go around him.
It wasn't because he feared him.
The main issue was that he didn't know who this person was. If he responded carelessly, he might reveal too much.
Besides, it was obvious this man had come looking for trouble. Why indulge him?
But just as Gao De tried to pass him, the young man suddenly rammed his shoulder into Gao De's with malicious force.
The impact felt like slamming into a wall.
Gao De staggered backward several steps before managing to steady himself.
"What's this, Gao De? You've gotten so arrogant now that you can't even be bothered to talk to me?" the gloomy youth sneered.
"You wouldn't happen to think that just because you have a little talent—because you can brew a beginner spider venom potion—you've earned the mage's favor, would you?"
He stared coldly at Gao De, the pressure in his posture unmistakable.
"If the mage truly valued you, he wouldn't have sent you to test medicine. Haven't you realized your place yet?"
"Mage Seda has summoned me, and I'm on my way to see him," Gao De asked calmly. "Is your business more important than the mage's?"
"If not, then move."
The young man's face darkened instantly.
But just as quickly, he forced himself back under control. Turning slightly aside, he made room and said with a grin,
"Well, if the mage wants you, then go ahead, go ahead. Can't have you delaying the mage's business, can we?"
Gao De glanced at him, said nothing, and passed by with a cold expression.
As they brushed shoulders, the young man's low voice slid into Gao De's ear like a blade.
"You think just because the medicine test didn't kill you this time, I can't do anything to you?"
Creak—
After throwing out that threat, the young man returned to the room he had come from and shut the door.
"Let's hurry. We shouldn't keep the mage waiting," Gao De said to the older apprentice leading the way.
Faced with the threat, his expression had not changed in the slightest.
The older apprentice nodded and continued walking. After they had gone a little farther, he couldn't help speaking.
"Ah, Gao De… you survived testing medicine for the mage this time, which means fate hasn't abandoned you yet. But luck like that won't save you every time. Why did you have to provoke Yilan? Everyone knows he holds grudges worse than anyone."
Gao De's eyes flickered slightly.
So that was the young man's name.
"Yilan?" he asked, testing the waters.
"Yilan was Seda Mage's first apprentice. The mage treats him differently from the rest of us."
"He's the only one among us who can leave the herb garden freely. Sure, it's to help the mage deliver goods, but that alone is enough to show he isn't the same as the rest of us."
"And not just that—over the years, who knows how many batches of apprentices have come and gone in this garden? Yet he's always remained safe and sound. That says plenty."
"We can't afford to offend him."
"What, can he kill me?" Gao De asked.
"He doesn't dare kill you outright. But making your life miserable would be easy for him."
"Look—if you hadn't been lucky this time, wouldn't he have gotten you killed already?" the older apprentice said.
Gao De froze for a moment, then suddenly understood where Yilan's confidence came from.
"This time… I was chosen by Seda Mage to test the potion because of him?"
"If not, then why else would you have been chosen? You're the only one among us who can independently brew a beginner spider venom potion…"
I see.
Gao De turned his head and looked back at Yilan's tightly shut door, a glint flashing in his eyes.