Chapter 1437: Injecting the Core, Returning to Seventon

Once the echo feedback matching the model is detected, the detector will automatically provide a prompt, without the need for the user to make an empirical judgment.

Although the usage ceiling appears lower, the floor is much higher, and the results are very stable; if it's there, it's there, and if it's not, it's not.

At the same time, Niya also posted a new geological exploration task at the Task Management Office.

Of course, whether before or now, this type of task did not indicate its true intent, but was instead labeled under the name of an "investigation task."

With the experience from previously using the 【Xia Duo-style Ley Line Detector】, the Mages of the Tower of Time will not face any obstacles when using the same series of 【Mithral Ore Detectors】.

……

The next day.

Xia Duo, who had originally planned to stay for another day, received a Sending from Iolum at noon, saying that six laboratories had already been renovated, but that problems had been encountered while making the David String automatic preparation machine, and he hoped Xia Duo could return to Seventon early.

"It seems Master Iolum still doesn't quite trust me!" Xia Duo said self-deprecatingly in front of Niya.

However, there was no smile on Niya's face, because she knew that Xia Duo saying this meant he was leaving again. Although they could contact each other at any time, this feeling of being separated by distance was still indescribably painful.

Yet she could not selfishly use herself as a reason to stop Xia Duo, so she could only hold her husband's arm and say softly:

"Let me see you off; don't keep Master Iolum waiting too long."

"Mm."

Xia Duo nodded gently and added, "I'll teach you my hometown's language when we connect at night!"

"Really?!"

Niya, who had been a bit sentimental, instantly became full of vitality again. She had long known that Xia Duo's hometown had another language he was more familiar with, but Xia Duo had never told her much about it, only the occasional word or phrase, allowing her to catch a glimpse of her husband's hometown.

Now that Xia Duo was going to teach her his hometown's language, did this mean the two of them were finally becoming intimate without secrets?

Xia Duo didn't think too much about Niya's little thoughts. In fact, he had long wanted to teach Niya his hometown's language; after all, the Netherese language had many shortcomings, and there were many meanings that could not be accurately expressed.

This requires the deep cultural foundation of a language and a civilization.

For example, the "If two hearts are one, why must they be together day and night" that Xia Duo wanted to express at this moment—without understanding the poetry or the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, it is difficult to grasp the deep meaning within.

Xia Duo had previously been worried about his "Easterner" persona collapsing, so he hadn't taught Niya his hometown's language. Now that he had become a Great Arcanist, he didn't care whether he was an Easterner or not.

After all, he had transmigrated as an adult and didn't know any so-called "Eastern language," and he didn't understand the true Eastern Kingdom, so it would be easy to spot flaws. Although Niya hadn't said anything over the years, she must have noticed something.

It would be better to simply abandon the so-called Easterner persona and be more honest; this would also make communication more convenient.

"Of course it's true! But how long it takes to learn depends on your ability!"

"Don't worry, I'm not afraid of it being difficult!"

"Don't be so nervous. My hometown's language is no harder to learn than Elvish; to a certain extent, it's even easier to get started. I will teach you carefully!"

In fact, Xia Duo had an even more radical idea: to gradually replace the Netherese language with Chinese. The Netherese language had existed for a very short time, and Netheril itself did not possess a deep cultural foundation; the entire country was almost soaked in the influence of the Elves. Although there wouldn't be any problems in the short term.

But in the long run, it would either degenerate into a subspecies of Elven culture, similar to the pan-Confucian cultural circle around Xia Duo's hometown, or it would completely rebel and negate everything, manifesting more as arrogance, which would easily bring disaster upon itself.

Judging from the current development trend of Netheril, the latter possibility is greater.

If a neutral and peaceful spiritual and cultural core could be injected into Netheril, it could resist the invisible invasion of the Elves from the outside and prevent its own excessive expansion from the inside.

Wouldn't that be wonderful!

Although this also carried the suspicion of cultural invasion, or rather, it *was* cultural invasion, but who told him that this culture came from Xia Duo's hometown!

The scholars of his hometown had since ancient times held the ambition and tradition of "establishing a heart for heaven and earth, establishing a life for the people, continuing the lost teachings of past sages, and creating eternal peace for all generations."

Although Xia Duo's spiritual realm was still a distance away from the sages, what he was doing was not necessarily inferior to the sages who had passed away.

After all, he was still alive, and he had the opportunity to complete, or even surpass, all the ideals and pursuits that the sages had failed to finish.

In fact, he was already doing so—

The New Natural Philosophy, although still awaiting elaboration, could be considered "establishing a heart for heaven and earth";

Recruiting subjects, opening up new lands, and providing them with shelter and even planning their future could be considered "establishing a life for the people";

Then there was the spreading of writing, doctrines, thoughts, and concepts, which could be said to be "continuing the lost teachings of past sages";

And persisting in the Scientific Development View could be considered "creating eternal peace for all generations"!

Although the achievements made so far were still very limited, as long as Xia Duo was alive, the path to the future would continue.

……

Seventon.

Just after stepping out of the Arcane Union's Teleportation Room, Xia Duo immediately switched his mindset from vacation mode to work mode. However, before going to see Iolum, he still needed to see Lord Halan first.

Because he had returned to Nan Jing, there was no need to trouble Aiboke; Xia Duo brought the Demon-Slaying Amulets for the September order along the way.

At the entrance of the Library.

Xia Duo saw Lord Halan, who was looking around. He called out from afar, and the other party almost trotted over to him:

"Lord Xia Duo, are we handing them over here?"

"If you don't mind."

Xia Duo himself didn't care; he didn't mind these trivial details. As long as Lord Halan had no objections, he could even hand them over right there in the Teleportation Room he had just left.

"Lord Xia Duo, please come this way; there are still some things I would like to discuss with you."

When one is overly polite, one must have a request. Xia Duo wondered what the other party wanted to discuss, while following the other party's guidance to a Reception Room near the Library.

……

After sitting down, Xia Duo first took out the Demon-Slaying Amulets for the September order, then asked proactively:

"Lord Halan, what did you want to discuss with me? You can say it now!"

"It's like this, I wonder if Mage Aiboke has mentioned to you—"

"Aiboke?"

Seeing that Lord Halan didn't seem to be joking, Xia Duo even specifically traced his memory, confirming that Aiboke hadn't told him anything special about Lord Halan, other than urging orders and increasing orders.

"What did Lord Halan say to Aiboke? It's been too long, and I've been busy with experiments lately, so I might have forgotten. Lord Halan might as well remind me."

Xia Duo wasn't joking either, but Charles Halan hesitated—

"This—"

"Lord Halan?"

Seeing that Xia Duo's expression was unusual, Charles Halan gritted his teeth; regardless, he had already spoken to Aiboke, and whether Lord Xia Duo truly did not know or was only pretending not to know, he could only treat it as if the other party truly did not know, and then say it once more.