Chapter 1403: Sending Home, Realization

(The end of the previous chapter has been revised and supplemented.)

The reason Xia Duo wanted to do this, besides the fact that the Midsummer Festival truly required a holiday, was more importantly to let the residents of the two territories—especially the residents of Savile Territory—have a deeper understanding of the Tower of Time's new policies.

Previously, the Tower of Time's expansion had triggered a great response in Savile Territory, but the actual results were not very ideal; after all, there was no precedent, and training Mages was notoriously expensive.

Apart from a small number who volunteered to sign up to try something new, most were tasks forcibly assigned by Saier Town Mayor.

Coupled with the relocation of the Tower of Time, it was inconvenient for the New Apprentices from Savile Territory to travel back and forth, and many had not left the Tower of Time even once since they first entered!

For this Midsummer Festival, Xia Duo was determined to let this group go back for a visit, which could also be considered a warm-up for the Tower of Time's upcoming recruitment plan for New Apprentices!

……

The First Floor Hall of the Tower of Time.

After receiving the notification from the Academic Affairs Office, the Apprentices from Savile Territory took the Elevator from the Public Level and rushed here one after another.

Not having experienced the pressure of the old system, they were all very expressive, looking exactly like teenagers, either complaining about the Tower of Time suddenly kicking them out, or telling familiar companions about their homesickness.

More of them were discussing why the Tower of Time was forcing a holiday this time, guessing whether the courses and exams would be even more strenuous after the holiday!

Xia Duo stood in the center of the hall, looking at these energetic New Apprentices, and sighed in his heart: this is what students should look like!

When most of the people had arrived, Xia Duo reached out and pressed downward; the Spellcasting followed, and the hall instantly became unusually quiet.

Some Apprentices who were still talking just a moment ago discovered they had suddenly lost their voices, and they couldn't help but open their mouths even wider, seemingly wanting to shout, yet still unable to make any sound.

"All Apprentices, pay attention. In a moment, I will summon a Portal leading to the Savile Town Central Plaza. Everyone, line up, enter in order from both sides, and leave as quickly as possible after reaching the other side. Don't block others."

After speaking, Xia Duo summoned a medium-sized Portal about three meters high and five meters wide in the center of the hall. The mirror-like Portal clearly displayed the scene of the Central Plaza on the other side—

Saier Town Mayor was directing the territory guards to maintain order, and the outside was almost surrounded by onlookers, among whom were many family members of the Apprentices who had come to "pick them up" after receiving the news.

Following Xia Duo's order, the Apprentices in the First Floor Hall of the Tower of Time lined up in neat rows and entered from both sides of the Portal. Once they reached the other side, they immediately sprinted toward the crowd.

A total of three or four hundred Apprentices were all gone very quickly.

Afterward, Xia Duo walked into the Portal himself and arrived at the Central Plaza, using a small Spell to transmit his voice across the entire square:

"For this year's Midsummer Festival, the Tower of Time expects to recruit 200 age-appropriate Apprentices. Those interested may consult at the Town Hall."

After Xia Duo finished speaking, he nodded to Saier Town Mayor and walked back into the Portal, returning to the Tower of Time. As he dispelled the Portal Spell, he saw Saier Town Mayor dispersing the crowd.

Just as he was about to send a Sending to Saier to let him take advantage of such a good opportunity to promote, Niya, who had been observing from the top-floor Study, had already arrived here.

"After the Midsummer Festival, are you going to Savile Territory to pick them up again?"

"How could that be!"

Xia Duo said with a smile, "It's just that we returned quite late this time. If it had been earlier, I would have arranged boats for transport. Saier Town Mayor has already arranged how they will return the day after tomorrow; I don't need to worry about it."

In fact, Xia Duo wouldn't mind going to pick those Apprentices up again, but the situation in Seventon could not be missed; he needed to keep close to Iolum's experimental progress.

As for why he didn't use the Tower of Time's Portal, it was because for a semi-permanent Portal, the number of people who could pass through in a short time was limited. Besides, that Portal required a certain maintenance cost for every person who passed through it.

It was better to just cast a spell to send them over himself.

Even if there were more Archmages in the Tower of Time in the future, as long as Xia Duo encountered such things, he wouldn't mind doing it as a favor.

After all, Apprentices were the foundation of the Tower of Time's development; one still had to care for them!

……

The Apprentices from Savile Territory were on holiday, and the Apprentices from Daxia Territory naturally were no exception. However, since the Tower of Time was in Daxia Territory, they could use the main gate of the Tower of Time and did not need Xia Duo to open a portal.

Although the main gate of the Tower of Time also had the nature of a portal, its consumption was much lower than a regular Portal, so even keeping it open continuously had no major impact.

But because travel was convenient, not all Apprentices from Daxia Territory wanted to go home. Going home inevitably meant being pestered by relatives to perform Tricks, leaving absolutely no atmosphere for study.

If they played too much, they might fail the weekly tests and monthly exams after the holiday.

Therefore, many Apprentices from Daxia Territory just went home to eat, and after eating, they rushed back to the Tower of Time, only going out to relax on the day of the Midsummer Festival.

……

A day passed quickly, and the time arrived at the next day—the Midsummer Festival of the Netherese Calendar 837.

Early that morning, before dawn, Xia Duo and Niya arrived at Savile Town together to attend the Sun Rising Ceremony of the Midsummer Festival celebration and welcome the rising sun.

The moment the red, glowing sun leaped above the horizon, Xia Duo's mood seemed to be infected by something; his whole person became sunny, and he was full of hope for the future.

The worry about the Elves that had been hanging in his heart all along also vanished without a trace in an instant. At this moment, he really wanted to shout out loud—

"With many sacrifices, great ambitions arise; daring to command the sun and moon to bring forth a new heaven!"

However, he ultimately did not shout it out, but in his heart, he had already recited it countless times. A realization triggered by the thoughts of the Sage welled up at this moment—

The International will definitely be realized!

The sages of his hometown might not be able to see where the order they personally created was heading, but Xia Duo, who had already obtained preliminary immortality, could watch his own order grow, develop, and continue bit by bit.

How fortunate!

But an ideal always requires a group of like-minded people. Xia Duo thought of the Progress Society, full name "Progressive Learning Society," which were the like-minded people he had cultivated.

Technology and culture highly developed, and everyone fully developed.

Xia Duo wanted to see such a civilization so much. Although his current realization had not yet reached the level of the International, he also had such a pursuit!

This was not only derived from the inertia of his hometown experience, but also his most real expectation from the bottom of his heart.

In his view, perhaps this was one of the ultimate goals that every intelligent creature strove for; Heaven was nothing more than this.

……

After the Sun Rising Ceremony, Xia Duo took Niya to sit for a while in the Temple. It was already starting to get lively outside, but the Temple had a rare sense of detachment and tranquility.

Pouring a cup of tea, Xia Duo and Niya chatted about the issue of the Tower of Time's new recruitment.