Chapter 1481: Inner Self-Reflection, Agreeing to Conditions

"Xia Duo, we've been waiting for you. Please explain the blood substitution plan to Buluode and the others again."

"No problem."

While observing the layout of the Laboratory, Xia Duo explained to the group, "I once obtained a very magical Spell that can cause a portion of active blood to proliferate and differentiate into a living creature identical to its original body."

"Simply put, if I have your fresh blood, I can replicate another living version of you. Compared to your original bodies, the clones only lack a soul."

"Huh? This Spell—if the soul were projected into the clone, wouldn't that be a flesh-and-blood version of an astral projection?"

"Buluode, don't talk too much. Listen to Xia Duo finish first."

Xia Duo glanced at Buluode. The other's thoughts coincided with his own, but since none of his own clones had matured yet, there was naturally no point in talking about experiments.

"In other words, theoretically, blood alone contains all the information of a biological body. Using it to replace a heart, or even more tissues, is not a problem at all."

"Currently, this Swift Longevity plan using blood to replace the heart is only a shallow application. I believe we will be able to research it thoroughly very soon."

After finishing, Xia Duo took out the Clone Technique Learning Scroll he had prepared in advance and distributed a copy to everyone present.

"So this is the Clone Technique! If the people at Jilan Tower saw this, they would go crazy with joy!" After taking a brief look at the Spell Scroll, Buluode couldn't help but tease.

But Iolum reminded him, "This is Xia Duo's Spell. You know the rules: without his consent, you are not allowed to spread it."

"Yes, yes, we know." Buluode and the others replied one after another.

Although Xia Duo had prepared for the possibility of it leaking when he brought out the Clone Technique, he still felt a sense of relief that Iolum said that.

Moreover, he also believed that Buluode and the others would follow the rules of the game; otherwise, wouldn't they be slapping Iolum in the face?

The people in the Laboratory were all top-tier Netherese Mages. The Clone Technique itself was not complex, but there were some elements they might not have been exposed to before, so they needed to familiarize themselves with them.

In fact, even for Xia Duo, when obtaining a new Spell, even if he couldn't understand the Principles in the short term, there were no major obstacles to the Spellcasting itself.

As for understanding it, that could be done slowly during the process of experimentation.

In fact, Iolum's emphasis on this temporary research project was much higher than Xia Duo had imagined. Besides bringing over the original team from the Independent Arcane Fire Device project, he had also arranged the experimental materials in the short time before Xia Duo arrived.

Just as everyone indicated they had gained some understanding of the Clone Technique, the experimental materials were delivered right on time—

Four old, hunched Orcs, along with the blood of their corresponding kin!

Xia Duo had originally wanted to use his own blood to fill in first, but he hadn't expected Iolum's efficiency to be this high. As for using Orcs, that was something he hadn't anticipated either.

He had originally thought Iolum might choose more familiar humans to verify the substitution plan first; he hadn't expected to start with an alien race right away.

Xia Duo felt that if Elves weren't so hard to come by and so sensitive, Iolum would probably have preferred to use Elves for the experiment directly.

The four Orcs were all restrained by Spells, unable to move, and could only express the hatred and fear that could never be dissolved through their eyes.

When meeting the gazes of these four Orcs, Xia Duo couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy for their plight. It wasn't that he was putting himself in the Orcs' perspective.

Rather, he thought, if a more powerful race existed in the future that deemed the existence of humans unnecessary and then wantonly slaughtered humans and used them for various experiments—

How hard would that situation be to accept!

"Those who lag behind will be beaten" is an unshakeable truth no matter where it is applied!

Of course, no matter how deep Xia Duo's feelings were, these four Orcs could not escape their fate as experimental subjects.

Even if they ultimately survived all stages of the experiment and even recovered their Youth, Xia Duo believed that Iolum would not let them walk out of this Laboratory alive.

In fact, Xia Duo was still a bit too optimistic; these Orcs didn't even survive the first stage of the experiment, "Longevity Model Application."

Of course, the experiment itself was not dangerous, but these Orcs—or more accurately, Orc Shamans—somehow broke through the Spell's restraints and were then killed by the Protection measures within the Laboratory.

Although there were some setbacks in the beginning, under Iolum's arrangements, a steady stream of old Orcs was sent into the Laboratory thereafter.

In the end, Xia Duo even felt a bit numb; looking at these Orcs, who clearly had emotional reactions, was no different from looking at a piece of rotten wood.

After the evening review discussion, Xia Duo returned to his residence at the Arcane Union, lying quietly on his bed alone, carefully reflecting on the changes in his own state of mind throughout the day.

Besides increasingly realizing the preciousness of life, he also became vigilant against such experiments that treated life with indifference.

This time, he did not wait until the next morning; instead, before going to sleep, he re-examined his memories from the entire day, and even all his Subconscious activity.

He felt that the series of experiments today had a great impact on him, and he needed to re-examine everything that happened today, using his previously unaffected archived Personality to make judgments.

This Meditation Training lasted for a long time. It wasn't until dawn that Xia Duo finally finished the identification and archiving of all his memories and consciousness.

It was not that he did not allow his way of thinking or Personality composition to change, but he did not allow changes to happen outside of his own control.

Or, to put it more colloquially, Xia Duo wanted to possess a more Reality-based self and dared to face a more Reality-based self.

Now, he had pushed the "inner self-reflection" proposed by the sages of his hometown to the extreme. In this magical world where gods and demons dance, perhaps the self was the thing he could grasp the most.

The next day, the experiment continued.

Due to the overnight interval, the supply of experimental materials became much more abundant. Therefore, to speed up the research, Iolum had everyone conduct experiments separately and also increased the frequency of discussion meetings.

Of course, it was also on this day that the Seven Cities Council officially responded to the request of the Crown King of Akaola. In addition to agreeing to provide a milder Swift Longevity plan, they also proposed twelve reciprocal conditions.

These included acknowledging the territorial division plan supported by Netheril, further opening up magical and commercial exchanges between the two countries, and opening up parts of the Mythallar technology.

As the Special Envoy who had not yet stepped down, Xia Duo still had the right to know these contents, and he even learned of Akaola's reaction at the first opportunity—

Except for the content regarding opening up Mythallar technology, Akaola accepted almost all of the new conditions proposed by the Seven Towers.

As for the content related to the Mythallar, it was said to still be under negotiation, but this matter was basically settled, provided no major accidents occurred.