Chapter 1196: Inquiring into Secrets, Negative Energy Impact

"Lord Leisen, five days ago, when Mage Stern contacted me, I mentioned that the main purpose of my visit this time was to ask you about some matters."

"I didn't make it clear at the time because I was worried about being refused, but now that I have arrived at Leisen Territory and met you in person, Lord Leisen, this question must be stated clearly."

"What question does Lord Xia Duo wish to ask?" Lord Leisen asked with a calm expression, while Stern, standing to the side, became somewhat nervous, fearing that Xia Duo might ask something sensitive.

Xia Duo thought for a moment, knowing that this matter could not possibly be avoided by the parties involved, and after briefly organizing his words, he said in a deep voice:

"I would like to ask Lord Leisen for the details of that experimental accident, especially the details related to your loss of spellcasting ability!"

In fact, long ago, Xia Duo knew that Lord Leisen did not shy away from talking about that experimental accident; instead, he often brought it up to warn others, which was why he was able to know about such a thing.

But someone speaking of it voluntarily and someone being asked about it are two completely different things, not to mention that Xia Duo also wanted to ask for the details.

It was not only picking at someone's scars but also coveting someone else's secrets.

If it weren't for the fact that Xia Duo had now become a Senior Arcanist and his status was established, he truly would not have dared to ask so directly to his face!

If one were to encounter someone narrow-minded or hot-tempered, they might have taken action on the spot, and even if they didn't act immediately, it would be very likely to become an enemy later.

But a Senior Arcanist, to Lord Leisen and his son Stern, could barely be considered a superior.

When a superior is slightly impolite, as long as it is not too excessive, those below generally only have to endure it, or simply treat it as a way for the superior to express closeness, without having any overly intense reaction.

In fact, after Xia Duo finished asking his question, Lord Leisen's expression did not change in the slightest, as if he had long since stopped taking that matter to heart.

Of course, Xia Duo had no way of knowing Lord Leisen's true inner world, but judging others by himself, if it were him, he would absolutely not be this calm; even if he were calm on the surface, his heart would still be stirred.

"Lord Leisen?"

Hearing Xia Duo's repeated inquiry, the stiff expression on Telemen finally relaxed, and looking at this excessively young Senior Arcanist before him, a trace of anger inexplicably arose in his heart.

But this anger was not easy to vent, so he only said: "I had originally forgotten about that matter, but I did not expect to have to bring it up again."

"Father!" Stern walked to Lord Leisen's side again, holding his arm, seemingly intending to dissuade him.

"Do not stop me; this matter is not really a secret, and with Lord Xia Duo's status, it is not difficult to find out." Telemen comforted his son this way.

In fact, he suspected that Lord Xia Duo already understood the relevant situation very well before coming, so he did not hide much and said directly:

"Strictly speaking, that experiment back then was actually Teacher Kelifu's experiment, but I overestimated my own abilities, which led to that accident."

"As for which aspect of the experiment it was, I am not at liberty to disclose it without Teacher Kelifu's consent; the only thing I can say is the part related to me."

Upon hearing this, Xia Duo's heart skipped a beat, and he asked subconsciously: "What is it?"

"It is Negative Energy! Because the experiment went out of control, my body was subjected to a Negative Energy impact, and you probably know what happened after that—I lost my spellcasting ability!"

"Negative Energy?"

Xia Duo did not have much research on Negative Energy, but as far as he knew, Negative Energy and Positive Energy were similar, essentially a trend of elemental movement.

To use terms from Earth, that would be "Entropy Increase" and "Entropy Decrease."

But at the same time, there truly were concrete things called "Negative Energy"; in fact, the human body itself is a four-element aggregate that is able to exist normally under the balance of positive and negative energy.

Neither positive nor negative energy should be excessive, but by comparison, the human body's tolerance for Positive Energy is far higher than for Negative Energy; in a generally mild Positive Energy environment, the human body can even maintain long-term health and extend its lifespan slightly!

But Negative Energy is different; this existence that causes the human body's entropy to increase and gradually fade into demise, even if one gets just a tiny bit more on them, will result in that bit of extra damage.

And once subjected to a Negative Energy impact, the damage ranges from impaired bodily functions to death on the spot!

Xia Duo did not have much doubt about Lord Leisen's words, but the matter of Negative Energy degradation indeed needed to be carefully considered.

If one operation went wrong, the "Regret Pill" would immediately become a "Death Pill"!

After thinking for a moment, Xia Duo asked again: "If I want to know the specific details of that experiment, what price should I pay?"

In fact, the only thing he was truly interested in was what happened at the moment Lord Leisen was hit by the Negative Energy, but the flow of energy within it would surely involve the experiment itself, so it was better to get it all in one go.

Furthermore, he was also quite curious about the experiments of Great Arcanist Kelifu, who also served as a Priest of the Lord of Radiance.

Generally speaking, Priests of the Lord of Death would actively study Negative Energy, but Xia Duo had never heard of any Priest of the Lord of Radiance studying Negative Energy!

The title "Lord of Radiance" sounds very positive; although it is rumored that He and the Lord of Death have a pretty good relationship, just looking at the energy attributes, the Lord of Radiance is clearly naturally at odds with Negative Energy.

As a Priest of the Lord of Radiance, Kelifu insisted on conducting Negative Energy research, which made Xia Duo somewhat curious.

But this question involved Kelifu himself, and Lord Leisen could not promise anything on behalf of a Great Arcanist, even if this Great Arcanist was both his former teacher and his son's current teacher—that still wouldn't do.

"Lord Xia Duo, I need to ask my teacher before I can answer this question for you! If you are not in a hurry about this matter, my teacher will be free at dinner time, and I will have Stern go and ask on my behalf."

"I am not in a hurry!"

The degradation method was very important to Xia Duo, and even to Netheril, but on one hand, this was a relatively long-term need, and on the other hand, whether Lord Leisen's experience could be replicated and whether it was reversible were still uncertain.

Xia Duo was not about to stand here and demand that Lord Leisen contact Great Arcanist Kelifu, and as Lord Leisen said, Kelifu would only be free at dinner, so contacting him now might not necessarily work.

In fact, before the Green Field Plane War last year, Xia Duo had wanted to make a trip to Leisen Territory, but because of various matters, the travel plan was delayed again and again, and he had become somewhat numb to it.

Now, even if he were asked to wait a few more days, it would not cause the slightest ripple in his heart.

……

Small talk and serious business had already been discussed, and at this moment, there was still more than half a day until dinner time, so the three of them began to exchange knowledge about Magic.

Among the three, Xia Duo was a Senior Arcanist, and Stern was an Arcanist whose recorded Spellcasting Level was as high as 14.

As for Lord Leisen, he was also a gifted Arcanist before; although he had lost his spellcasting ability now, the knowledge he had already mastered had not disappeared, and his cognition and insight were still intact.