Chapter 5

"Three warriors were brutally killed by a mage in a one-on-three PK in the wild, why did the warrior end up so tragically!" Gao Deng proudly posted on the forum, attaching a video recording.

Just now, in a forest encounter, as a 20th-level mage nearing legendary status, he single-handedly toyed with three hero warriors, killing them effortlessly and stealing the show. Although it seemed a bit unfair, in this version of *Ancient Epochs*, magic classes were simply overpowered. As the saying goes: "First-class mages, second-class priests, third-class druids, fourth-class warlocks; only warriors suffer, with tears and heartache on a path of no return."

"Those three warriors were so pitiful, why did they provoke the mage?"

"Yeah, yeah, physical classes are especially hard to play in this version, especially melee classes."

"One patch makes a god, don't get too cocky, the next patch will nerf you to a dog!"

"Ha ha ha, mages being powerful is part of the game's design; if you don't like it, don't play."

...

After reading the comments, Gao Deng closed his quantum computer with satisfaction. Among all the fantasy games, his favorite class was the mage. The feeling of turning the tide and defeating powerful enemies with superior intelligence and the proper use of spells was simply amazing!

*Ancient Epochs* was the hottest third-generation holographic virtual online game. When Gao Deng first entered the game, he naturally became a mage. In the current version, where mages were overpowered, he was doing exceptionally well in the game.

"Spending a bit more time to complete the destiny quest, I can level up to 21 and enter the legendary realm." Gao Deng lay in bed, considering his future game plans.

"Since you like mages so much, I'll make you a real mage." Suddenly, a vague voice echoed in Gao Deng's mind.

"Who? Am I hallucinating?" Gao Deng shook his head and gradually fell asleep.

...

"Reverend Ellador, how is my brother's condition?" a girl asked. Her voice was soft but a bit hoarse, filled with exhaustion.

"His injuries have stabilized. After today's treatment, he will be fine. He just needs to rest for a while and pay attention to his nutrition to recover."

"Thank you so much!"

"Then I will begin the spell."

A gentle and warm sensation suddenly enveloped Gao Deng's body, making him almost moan in comfort.

He opened his eyes and saw a middle-aged priest in a white robe holding up the holy symbol of the Platinum Dragon god Bahamut, muttering incantations.

The holy symbol emitted a white light with a metallic sheen, illuminating Gao Deng and healing his wounds, restoring life and vitality to his body.

Wait... Why do I know this middle-aged man in a white robe is a priest? Why do I recognize the holy symbol of the Platinum Dragon? Why did I wake up in this medieval-style bedroom? Where is my game pod? What about my apartment that I just bought for 500,000 federal coins?"

Gao Deng's heart suddenly tightened. He realized that his mind contained a block of memory that didn't belong to him.

He was no longer a citizen of the Earth Federation, a game enthusiast named Gao Deng, but a minor noble of the Platinum Empire of Ferelden, a mage named Gao Deng Freeman who had touched the first layer of the magic network.

Although a noble, Gao Deng's life was not comfortable, and one could even say it was quite impoverished.

A featherless phoenix is worse than a chicken, and a landless noble is worse than a dog.

Gao Deng was a noble who had lost his fief.

Two years ago, the previous head of the Freeman family, Gao Deng's father, Baron Ronald Freeman, and his mother both died in a terrifying orc invasion.

In that war, the empire lost all the land north of the Anduin Wall, including the Freeman family's fief.

The Freeman family had only lasted three generations, a newly ennobled family that had gained its title through military merit. Apart from land, they had almost no other assets. The inheritance from his parents was not much. Although he inherited his father's baronial title, without a stable income, the huge expenses for Gao Deng's magical studies quickly led to financial difficulties for him and his sister.

"Brother, you're awake?" His sister, Xiona, saw Gao Deng open his eyes and finally showed a hint of joy on her tired face. She had been taking care of him for four days.

Gao Deng did not answer. He was struggling with a severe headache.

The memories of the other soul were replaying in his mind like a long movie, overwhelming him with a flood of information and causing him excruciating pain.

A leisurely life in the countryside during his childhood...

Learning magic under his mother's guidance...

His first meditation, his first successful spell...

His first prank, using the Mage Hand to lift a girl's skirt...

His first noble hunt, where he met a girl he fell in love with. Ah, the bitter-sweet taste of love...

Until the final scene, the vast, green tide of the orc army, and his father who fought to the death, and the endless escape...

After a long time, the headache subsided, and Gao Deng took a deep breath, finally accepting the reality of his soul's transmigration.

He not only merged with the previous person's memories but also their loves, hates, pursuits, and obsessions, feeling them as his own.

Seeing Gao Deng awake, the priest put away the holy symbol and said kindly to Xiona, "Miss Xiona, the treatment is complete. This treatment lasted four days, using four third-level divine spells 'Heal Serious Wounds.' Please pay the treatment fee, a total of eighty gold coins."

"This..." Xiona was hesitant, "Reverend, in the name of the Platinum Dragon, can you, in your kindness, reduce the fee? Our family is currently..."

"Miss Xiona," the priest's expression changed slightly, "Lord Bahamut is kind, so he instructed us, his followers, to use divine power to heal the world and drive away pain. But Lord Bahamut is also just and strict, meticulous. I will not overcharge or undercharge by a single coin."

"I understand." The girl nodded with difficulty, "Please follow me, I will bring you the payment."

Finally, the priest left.

Gao Deng sat up in bed, got out, and walked a few steps in the bedroom. Although his body was still weak, he was no longer in danger. The terrible wounds on his chest had completely healed under the powerful healing of the divine spell, leaving only faint scars.

He remembered that desperate battle.

For a substantial reward, the previous Gao Deng joined an adventure team to explore a ruin deep in the Cold Mist Mountains. In the dark, cold depths, they encountered terrifying undead. A large group of skeleton warriors and archers, and a fearsome bodak.

Gao Deng did not die immediately from the bodak's death gaze, but he was hit by several negative energy arrows while fleeing. When the surviving adventurers brought him back, he was on the brink of death. His heart was still beating, but his soul had left his body. In modern medical terms, he was brain dead.

To save her brother's life, Xiona did everything she could. After struggling for four days between life and death, Gao Deng finally woke up, but she did not know that the old brother was gone, and a stranger's soul from Earth had taken over the familiar body.

"Brother, why are you out of bed?" Xiona returned to the room and saw Gao Deng moving around the bedroom, her tone tinged with mild reproach.

"I have recovered," Gao Deng said, "You should trust the divine spells of the Platinum priests and the power of gold."

He looked at the face that was both familiar and unfamiliar. Xiona, who had not rested for four days, had a tired but bright and sparkling look in her eyes, like black pearls. Her simple shirt and pants could not hide her youthful and graceful figure.

This is my sister, the only family I have in this world?

On one hand, as a transmigrator from Earth, Xiona was just a beautiful girl he had just met. On the other hand, inheriting the previous person's memories, she was his sister with whom he had lived for over a decade and had a deep bond.

Gao Deng needed to adapt to this contrast.

"Brother, wash your face and cheer up." Xiona considerately brought a basin of hot water.

Gao Deng, who had just woken up, felt a bit dizzy and needed the hot water to clear his head.

In the clear water, a face with black hair and black eyes was reflected. From the facial bones, it was not the East Asian race he belonged to on Earth, but at least the features were regular, inheriting some of the rugged and masculine traits from his knight father. Gao Deng was relieved not to have transmigrated into a deformed body.

The warm water refreshed Gao Deng.

First, he needed to familiarize himself with the environment.

Gao Deng, using the excuse of needing to move around to recover, had Xiona take him on a tour of the house.

Their residence was in the second-largest city of the Far Frost Province, the city of Blue Water. This mansion was purchased by Gao Deng's father when he was alive, and every year, the family would come here to spend two to three months, enduring the cold winter.

Although the two-story building looked decent on the outside, the interior was in disrepair. Many floors and walls were rotten and needed repair. Most of the rooms were empty, and the valuable furniture had been sold. The beautiful garden in front of the house was now overgrown with weeds, a desolate scene.

Golden on the outside, but rotten inside.

Gao Deng had a more direct understanding of the current plight of the Freeman family.

At some point, they came to a small study. This was where the previous Gao Deng spent most of his time. The desk was cluttered with various notebooks, manuscripts, and spell notes.

On the wall was a wondrous obsidian platform, covered with pale blue arcane patterns and complex magical runes. Various metal devices were placed on the platform. Gao Deng immediately recognized it as a magic workbench used for inscribing arrays and runes, crafting items, and enchanting. However, these tools were covered with a thin layer of dust, clearly unused for a long time.

The bookshelf was neatly lined with over a hundred books, ranging from humanities and geography to religious beliefs. There were even practical books on technology and language. Among these books, the few magic books left by his mother were his greatest treasure.

Gao Deng casually picked up a book from the shelf.

*Principles and Applications of Common First-Level Spells*.

Gao Deng opened the book, and a voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "Book Intelligence Requirement: 11. Intelligence check passed, can read. Current reading progress 63%. Final reading benefit: Arcane Knowledge +2, Experience +100."

"This is!" Gao Deng's mind was overwhelmed by a tidal wave of shock.

The page turned, and the AD began.

The page turned, and the AD ended.