Chapter 1172: Meeting the Thunder Mage and Learning of Recent Developments

After leaving the venue, Xia Duo originally intended to go to the Library to find Niya and then continue the shopping routine that had been left unfinished, but he did not expect that someone had already been waiting outside the venue.

"Lord Xia Duo! Please stay!"

"Councilor Bulundesi, is something the matter?"

Although Xia Duo responded to Bulundesi's greeting, he turned his gaze toward another Spellcaster beside him; he had already noticed this person while inside the venue earlier.

"Lord Xia Duo, let me introduce you. This is Lord Maien Kelinsi of the Kelinsi Territory—a Thunder Mage and Senior Arcanist!"

Upon hearing the introduction, Xia Duo was startled; he was actually a Senior Arcanist, and this person even had a connection to him—this person was none other than Luodite's father!

Luodite and Xia Duo had participated in several magic exchange meetings together and had also participated in the Green Field Plane War led by the Seven Towers; not long ago, they had even explored the ruins of a Mage Tower together.

He had not expected to meet Luodite's father now, a renowned Senior Arcanist!

Just now in the venue, Xia Duo had observed the other observers and had made eye contact with many of them, but only a few had responded with friendly smiles and greetings.

These included Olong and Bulundesi, with whom Xia Duo was relatively familiar, as well as several Councilors he had chatted with at the previous Arcane Union welcome banquet.

But there was also someone Xia Duo was not familiar with at all, whom he had never even seen before, who had nodded to him; Xia Duo had been a bit confused at the time, but now he understood.

"Lord Kelinsi, nice to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you, Lord Xia Duo!"

Facing a Senior Arcanist who was much younger than himself—even younger than his own son—Kelinsi acted very appropriately, showing neither the arrogance of a senior nor any deliberate pandering.

After Xia Duo and Kelinsi exchanged brief greetings, Bulundesi suggested at the right moment: "The President might pass by here later, and it is not convenient to talk here. There is a Reception Room nearby; the two of you should go there to talk in detail!"

As he spoke, Bulundesi pointed to a tightly closed door not far away; the Magic Net was secretly manipulated, and an invisible force instantly caused the door of the Reception Room to swing open, revealing the slightly dim environment inside.

Xia Duo glanced at the Reception Room, which was gradually brightening as Bulundesi cast his spell, nodded to Lord Kelinsi, and then they walked toward the Reception Room in unison.

Arcane Union Headquarters, a certain Reception Room.

After Xia Duo and Kelinsi entered, Bulundesi stopped at the doorway, said, "Then I will not disturb the two of you," and then closed the door and left.

A strange and relatively enclosed environment was not a very good experience for any Spellcaster, so Xia Duo did not intend to beat around the bush and asked directly: "I wonder why Lord Kelinsi specifically stayed behind to wait for me?"

"First of all, thank you, Lord Xia Duo, for looking after Luodite in the Green Field Plane and at the ruins of the Inosen Mage Tower not long ago."

"That is unnecessary; I only did what I should have done! Besides, Luodite is also very hardworking; otherwise, no matter how much I did, it would have been to no avail," Xia Duo said casually.

He knew that Lord Kelinsi waiting specifically for him was certainly not just to thank him; what followed "first of all" was the real topic.

"Has Lord Xia Duo been paying attention to the news here in Seventon recently?" Kelinsi said pointedly.

"Lord Kelinsi, are you referring to—Yierlan participating in this year's Snow Melting Competition, or the heavy losses Comanthar suffered in the Drow War not long ago?"

Recently, these were the two hottest pieces of news in Seventon, especially the latter.

Xia Duo had been in Seventon for less than half a day this time, and most of that time had been spent in the venue just now, but in the short time when he first arrived and went out with Niya to go shopping, he had heard many people discussing these two things.

Regarding the matter of Yierlan participating in this year's Snow Melting Competition, there had been a relevant agenda item at the Council of Great Arcanists meeting just now, so this could be considered confirmed.

As for Comanthar suffering heavy losses in the Drow War, Xia Duo had not yet conducted too much investigation, but since Kelinsi deliberately mentioned the news here in Seventon, this news was likely true nine times out of ten.

And at this moment, Kelinsi also gave his answer: "It is the latter!"

Even though Xia Duo already had some mental preparation, he was still very shocked; if Comanthar suffered heavy losses, it would inevitably have a significant impact on the situation in the Northland!

One must know that the Elven Kingdom with the greatest hostility toward Netheril was Comanthar; even if Yierlan's relationship with Netheril had cooled due to the abandonment of Elven Magic, it had never shown the deep, almost undisguised malice that Comanthar had.

Instead, in recent years, Yierlan had shown a tendency to be led astray by Comanthar; if the balance of power between Comanthar and Yierlan, or even between them and Netheril, were to be reversed because of this heavy blow, it would definitely be good news for Netheril!

But is reality really like that?

Xia Duo could not help but confirm again with Lord Kelinsi: "Did Comanthar really suffer heavy losses in the war?"

"Yes!"

Kelinsi nodded with a grave expression and continued: "But the Drow were also all banished back to the underground!

"However, this matter is not as simple as it looks on the surface. I received news that Comanthar intends to promote the accelerated establishment of the Northland Alliance, and it is very likely to be a Northland Alliance led by Yierlan and Netheril! Why do you think that is?"

Why?

Xia Duo almost subconsciously thought of a possibility: "Could it be that the Drow crisis has not been completely resolved, and there is a possibility of facing an even greater disaster?"

If it were truly as Kelinsi said, that Comanthar intended to promote the accelerated establishment of the Northland Alliance, why would Comanthar, which had always been dragging out the progress of the Alliance's establishment, suddenly change its attitude if there were no crisis of national extinction?

Only an extremely terrifying crisis would make two countries and two races that were not of one mind become of one mind!

Regarding this question from Xia Duo, Kelinsi nodded seriously and said: "It is the Drow; a Drow has achieved Ascension to Godhood, just not long ago!"

"Was the new god who challenged the Lord of Radiance not long ago a Drow god?" Xia Duo asked immediately.

He had learned from Zhenna earlier that there was a new god, but it was not until he asked Iolum that he learned that the new god was so bold as to challenge the Lord of Radiance as soon as the Ascension to Godhood was successful!

If it were a Drow god, then that would not seem so incomprehensible.

The Drow were originally Elves, but they were banished to the underground by their peers on the Surface and alienated into Drow, suffering endless hardships during that time; their personalities were very extreme compared to humans, and if they happened to be stimulated by something, it would not be impossible for them to challenge the Lord of Radiance.