Chapter 1166: Candidates for the Trip, A New Great Arcanist

Of course, to be precise, there was actually nothing much to prepare; Xia Duo simply reorganized a set of Daiwei's experimental records regarding Weave String Materialization, just in case.

Next was the selection of New Mages to bring to Seventon this time.

Considering that Seventon would be a mix of all sorts of people during the Snow Melting Competition and that having too many people would be inconvenient, Xia Duo only planned to bring two New Mages this time.

After consulting with Dien, Sami, and other veterans of the Progress Society, and comprehensively considering the performance evaluations of the Progress Society members over the past year, Xia Duo ultimately chose Jibusen and Halun.

Strictly speaking, these two could no longer be considered New Mages (it had been over a year since they became Official Mages), but they were the first batch of Official Mages born under the Tower of Time's new system.

Even without considering their evaluations, Xia Duo had intended to take one of them out to see the world; now that both had good evaluations, there was no need to consider anyone else.

As for why he didn't choose anyone outside the Progress Society, it was mainly because the Progress Society had become almost synonymous with the Tower of Time.

The Progress Society was the Tower of Time, but the Tower of Time was not necessarily the Progress Society; the Progress Society represented the Tower of Time under the new system, which was distinct from the past.

The vast majority of Progress Society members were apprentices from the last few years, though it had naturally absorbed some Official Mages who actively embraced the new system.

It could be said that nowadays, if one wanted to find New Mages of the Tower of Time, one could find them nowhere else but in the Progress Society!

Early the next morning.

Tower of Time, Teleportation Room.

When Xia Duo and Niya arrived here, Jibusen, Halun, and even Depake had already arrived. The three were chatting in low voices, only stopping when Xia Duo and Niya arrived.

"Lord, Mage Xia Duo." *3

"Morning, everyone!"

Niya did not speak, only nodding slightly in greeting, while Xia Duo greeted them with interest and asked, "What are you all chatting about?"

"We're talking about Seventon! Mage Depake is introducing us to some of the situation in Seventon." It was Halun who spoke.

When mentioning Seventon, the young man's eyes were shining; as a spellcaster, it would be too much of a failure not to have even been to Seventon, and the Seven Towers had always been his goal.

"No need to rush, you'll be able to see Seventon with your own eyes in a moment!"

Seeing the other party, Xia Duo recalled his own excitement the first time he went to Seventon—no, strictly speaking, he wasn't that excited when he went to Seventon; it should have been the feeling of going to Beijing for the first time before he transmigrated.

"Alright, get on the Teleportation Array. Aiboke has matters to attend to and cannot leave, so just us few will go."

After saying this, Xia Duo led Niya to step onto the Teleportation Array first. Because of a recent research project, Aiboke could not leave the Tower of Time for the time being; Xia Duo had received this reply from him yesterday.

However, this was also fine; leaving an Arcanist to guard the home base at least made people feel more at ease.

After Xia Duo, Depake quickly followed, while Halun and Jibusen exchanged a glance before almost jogging onto the Teleportation Array.

As the Teleportation Array activated, the anticipation and excitement in their eyes grew more intense, but in the near-violent Magic Net turbulence of a Teleportation Spell, their faces also turned somewhat pale.

In an instant, the teleportation ended.

The scene before them was no longer the Teleportation Room of the Tower of Time, but a more spacious Teleportation Room with two exits.

"We have arrived at the Arcane Union. Leave the Teleportation Room first, follow me!"

Xia Duo had been here many times and was already familiar with the path. He led everyone through the Teleportation Area and Trade District, during which he contacted Tom, the Union Deacon who had served him before.

When Xia Duo's group arrived at the entrance of the Library, Tom was already waiting there. He first bowed, then asked, "Lord Xia Duo, what are your instructions?"

Xia Duo pointed at Depake, Jibusen, and Halun, and said to Tom, "Help these three arrange lodging!"

As for Niya, after Xia Duo became a 5th-Level Member of the Arcane Union, he had a private Laboratory here, and there was certainly lodging as well; Niya would just stay with him.

"No problem, my Lord. Any other instructions?"

"Nothing else for now. I'll find you if I need anything."

After speaking, Xia Duo looked at Depake and the others and instructed, "Once your lodging is arranged, you are free to move about, but remember, try to act as a group of three. If you encounter trouble, contact Deacon Tom here first; if it cannot be resolved, then contact me."

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

After Depake and the others left with Tom, Xia Duo first took Niya to identify the path to their lodging, then they left the Arcane Union together.

With the Snow Melting Competition imminent, there weren't many people inside the Arcane Union yet, but outside, the crowd had increased; after all, the threshold for using the Teleportation Array was at least that of an Advanced Rank Mage.

Below Advanced Rank, if one wanted to come to Seventon without someone to teleport them, one could only travel by land or water.

Seventon was extremely lively at this time. From the Arcane Plaza in front of the Arcane Union Headquarters heading west, slightly toward the Trade District, the flow of people immediately increased.

It was just a pity that such liveliness did not belong to Xia Duo; he soon received a Sending from Iolum, inviting him to observe the Council of Great Arcanists.

His original plan was to go see this teacher in name only after the meeting ended, and the time before that was supposed to be for him and Niya.

But now, he had to stand Niya up. Fortunately, Niya could understand this kind of thing. Upon hearing it was an invitation from Iolum, Niya even urged Xia Duo to go:

"I'll go to the Arcane Union Library to take a look; I might be able to find some unique materials. You hurry over to Lord Iolum's side!"

"Mm."

After returning to the Arcane Union, the two separated in front of the Library. Niya went to read books, while Xia Duo went to the venue for the Council meeting.

Led by a Sorcerer Deacon, Xia Duo walked into the venue.

The meeting had not yet begun, but Iolum and Kangjienio had already arrived. Besides them, there were a few Sorcerer Deacon, seemingly organizing some materials.

"Master Kangjienio, Teacher Iolum!" Xia Duo hurriedly stepped forward to bow.

"Enough, there's no one else here, no need to be so formal. We were just talking about you!"

"Talking about me?" Xia Duo didn't quite understand what Iolum meant by this. What was there to talk about regarding him? Could it be the new model of the Tower of Time?

Xia Duo guessed wildly in his heart, but when he saw the content written on the page Iolum handed over, he was immediately shocked.

"It's actually him?!" Xia Duo looked up abruptly at Iolum, "Teacher, has this news been confirmed?"

"Naturally, it has been confirmed. Not long before you came to Seventon, Lord Hawk came to see me, requesting to attend this Council meeting. Both Teacher Aien and I have confirmed it."

"This—"