Chapter 1474: Territorial Integration and the Web of Fate

The three or four days Laidun mentioned did not actually include the time needed to build homes for all the new residents, but even so, such efficiency could be called "lightning fast" throughout all of Netheril, and even the entire Northland.

Considering that the Territory had paused its expansion, manpower was so abundant that the subsequent construction work would surely not take much time either.

Sure enough, after Xia Duo asked, Laidun gave another surprising deadline—

"At most one month, all new residents will be able to have their own houses!"

Although this time frame already seemed fast to Xia Duo, as it involved the housing issues of tens of thousands of people, which was no small matter, he still put forward higher expectations:

"This year's winter is arriving earlier than in previous years; I fear that in a month's time, winter will have already arrived. In the time remaining, I want you to focus on this and find a way to finish before the bitter winter descends!"

"Yes!"

Laidun hesitated for a moment, but still agreed.

Noticing the hidden worry on Laidun's face, Xia Duo offered him a strategy: "The New Homeland is being built for these new residents from the Grey Eagle Tribe. On the premise of not affecting the efficiency of the Development Department and the Logistics Department, organize more Working Groups composed mainly of Langasi."

"The Langasi are skilled at hunting, gathering, and even combat; their hands and minds are no worse than the Netherese. They just lack some experience. Tell the people in the Development Department and the Logistics Department to be patient. As long as they teach them earnestly, I believe they will soon harvest a group of shrewd and capable skilled workers!"

This was actually also to promote the integration of new and old residents. They were originally two peoples with vastly different cultural customs; if they were not made to communicate and integrate through the same work, Xia Duo worried that this sense of fragmentation would continue indefinitely.

And as for what followed, when the bitter winter arrived, Xia Duo had already prepared the relevant propositions, ideas, and instructions for the "New Life Movement" for Laidun's Executive team, ensuring that not a single season of winter would be wasted.

……

After handling the Territory's affairs, Xia Duo certainly could not forget that he would be setting off for Akaola in two days. Although the spell of Astral Projection was not too difficult for him, it still required some extra effort to learn and practice!

However, before returning to the Tower of Time, Xia Duo flew north again and cut through the part of the forest that had not yet been cleared for the Daxia-Savile Territory Passage, starting from the position close to the ground.

He couldn't just take the remaining Adamantine Particles back with him!

However, Xia Duo did not do the simple cutting of the trees over there again. On one hand, the Adamantine Particles he had prepared were used up; on the other hand, the work there was not that urgent. Helping out once was enough; he couldn't possibly do everything himself!

……

After returning to the Tower of Time, with no trivial matters to disturb him, Xia Duo devoted himself entirely to learning Astral Projection. A mere two days passed by as quickly as flowing water, never to return.

Plane Exploration Layer.

Xia Duo had suspended all exploration work here. Of course, there was never anyone here anyway; it was mainly the daily work routine of Dewan's Astral Mages.

At this time, a bed had already been placed in the Projection Hall in advance. Although it was a projection to the Astral Plane, it would eventually return to the Main Plane, so the whole process would not be completed in an instant, but would last for a considerable period of time.

Especially regarding Akaola, Xia Duo was not yet sure which method of Longevity the Akaola Crown King would choose. In fact, he had already prepared for a protracted battle.

While keeping his physical body in the Tower of Time certainly had no safety risks, if one could lie on a bed, who would want to lie on the floor!

"During the time I am away, no matter who comes looking for me, and no matter the reason, do not go anywhere. Take good care of my body and wait for me to return!"

Although Xia Duo trusted Iolum, after all, one cannot know what is in another's heart. If Saville were to trick Niya into leaving and then break into the Tower of Time to kill his physical body, then that way of dying would be truly stifling!

If he were to truly die in the safest place, Xia Duo would not be able to rest in peace even in death!

……

After giving instructions for his "after-death affairs," Xia Duo hugged Niya and then lay down on the bed, silently casting the spell.

The moment the spell was completed, his consciousness was rapidly pulled out of his body, rising quickly toward the infinite heights.

Like the scene of a spaceship Yaoyue in a science fiction movie, it appeared once again. After just a few moments, Xia Duo arrived once more in that silver void which was no longer unfamiliar to him.

Collecting his thoughts slightly and smoothing out the Astral Wind that already had a tendency to surge around him, Xia Duo quickly checked the Magic Items he was carrying.

Because he had prepared in advance, the items he carried this time all possessed the property of 【converting astral substance】, including a new Mage Robe, a new ring, and a new Scepter.

Of course, there was also the 【Ioun Stone】, which did not require extra preparation, was inherently very powerful, and was capable of converting astral substance.

These types of Magic Items that could convert astral substance could exert effects in the Astral Plane almost identical to those in the Main Plane. At the same time, when his Astral Body returned to the Main Plane, these Magic Items would be no different from their originals.

Truly essential items for home and travel!

After checking his personal items, Xia Duo began to cast a spell to search for the signal of the Akaola guidance Magic Array. He did this step quite easily.

Due to the special time characteristics of the Astral Plane, no matter how much time he spent here, it was meaningless to the Main Plane.

In fact, the signal he needed to search for was by no means a single signal, but a long signal extending from the moment he set off into the infinite future.

If Akaola could maintain the guidance Magic Array indefinitely!

This was very similar to the descent of the Eternal Holy Spirit; as long as Xia Duo was willing, he could completely stow away to a certain moment in the future.

It was just that for him, if he could not personally participate in the process of creating civilization, such stowaway behavior was meaningless.

What's more, without his Guidance and support, whether magical civilization could develop normally was still a question!

Perhaps the future he stowed away to would be a "new" world without any acquaintances and without any familiar traces!

That kind of future was not what Xia Duo wanted.

……

Not long after, Xia Duo searched for a guidance signal that had the characteristics of fulfilling a certain agreement, and this signal seemed to be different from what he had envisioned beforehand.

This signal did indeed have a specific endpoint, but the other end was not the infinite extension like a ray that he had expected; instead, it was like a fan, constantly expanding outward from the endpoint.

This meant that the future was not a determined line, but a web of fate woven from countless possibilities!

"It seems I still thought about it wrong!" Xia Duo muttered.

Although he could still descend to a certain moment in the future, the further it was from the time he set off, the more uncertain the future became, and the greater the difference from the space-time he had personally experienced.

Realizing that the future was infinite, Xia Duo was even less willing to descend into the future.

Who knows if the scene of gods destroying the world would appear if he descended into the past? Although the possibility was not high, it was indeed possible. It was better to honestly return to the time he came from.

In this way, at least psychologically, the future would still be completely in his own hands, rather than becoming unrecognizable due to some bizarre event.