Chapter 1713: Gaining Spirit Quality Again, The Sun Rising Ceremony

Because the next day was the Midsummer Festival, and he might have to receive the Evereska delegation arriving early later on, Badijiaer did not converse with Xia Duo for long before leaving the Study.

Xia Duo and Iolum, who remained, did not continue to discuss the previous topic in depth; the situation was already gradually becoming clear, and what followed now depended on the reaction from Cormanthor.

"By the way, Teacher, I wonder how your progress is going regarding War Spells?"

"I have only done some theoretical designs. During this period, I am building a new 【Mythallar】 device. Once it is completed, I can begin the relevant experiments. If you are interested, come to my place after the Midsummer Festival."

Iolum's invitation was within Xia Duo's expectations, but he could not agree; there was such a huge mess at home that hadn't been sorted out yet, so how could he have time to stay in Seventon for a long time?

"Sorry, Teacher, I probably can't spare the time this year; let's see next year! Now that Evereska has been stirred to self-strengthening, Netheril will have much less pressure for quite some time to come. Taking advantage of this period, I must properly handle the various issues in my Territory."

"Do you need my help with the affairs in your Territory?" Iolum asked.

"Not for the time being. If there is a need, I will definitely tell you, Teacher."

Xia Duo did not actually resist Iolum's help in his heart, but he really didn't need any help recently; he had already found a solution for the materials for the Floating City.

As for the design, he had the confidence to complete it independently, and Iolum might not necessarily fully support his ideas; even regarding the Mythallar, Iolum might not be as good as him!

Furthermore, asking Iolum for help might affect the research progress of the War Spells.

Many things are linked together; Xia Duo would rather place more pressure on himself. After all, if one wants to realize an ideal, how can one let others do it all for them!

If it were really like that, would it still be his ideal?

"By the way, Teacher, have there been any new Twisted Phantom Cores harvested at the Ether Forward Base recently?"

"Why did you suddenly think of this?"

Iolum asked curiously, "I remember you should have quite a bit of Spirit Quality on your side, right? Could it be that you've used it all up?"

"Yes, I've used it all up."

Since he had brought it up, Xia Duo didn't feel embarrassed, "I want to study the effects of the Tower Spirit Cluster, and I happen to be short of some Spirit Quality."

"Tower Spirit Cluster?"

Iolum seemed to be hearing this description for the first time and couldn't help but ponder for a few seconds. Afterwards, as if he had thought of something, he looked at Xia Duo in surprise and said with no small amount of emotion:

"The Seven Towers also attempted what you call a Tower Spirit Cluster in the past, but the final effect was not ideal. I don't know how you came up with this idea, but I still want to remind you to pay attention to cutting your losses in time."

"As for Spirit Quality, I happen to have some here. Some time ago, Saville told me that you gave him a Mage Tower; this time, take his share back with you as well!"

As he spoke, Iolum took a bulging money bag from his Dimensional Bag and handed it to Xia Duo. Xia Duo grabbed the bag subconsciously.

Although he didn't open it directly, he could roughly feel from the weight in his hand that there were at least a dozen Twisted Phantom Cores inside.

If calculated according to the Seven Towers' price of fifty thousand per unit of Spirit Quality, this bag was worth at least several hundred thousand Gold Coins, and in reality, such a large amount of Spirit Quality is hard to buy even with money.

Iolum stuffed the Spirit Quality into Xia Duo's hand without a second word, which made Xia Duo feel a bit embarrassed to bring up the matter of the Ether Forward Base.

Seeming to see Xia Duo's hesitation, Iolum continued, "I will keep an eye on the Ether Forward Base for you, but you know that Twisted Phantoms are not that easy to hunt. I cannot give you a definite answer as to how much can be obtained in the end. Still, the same advice: pay attention to cutting your losses in time."

Xia Duo opened his mouth, but in the end, he couldn't say anything. This Spirit Quality was indeed what he needed, but he really couldn't come up with that much money to buy it for the time being, so he could only accept it first and repay it slowly in the future.

……

Next, Xia Duo chatted with Iolum for a while longer about the design ideas for the War Spells. It wasn't until the 【Magic Moment】 reminder that he hurriedly left Seventon.

When he returned to the Tower of Time, Niya had already gotten up, washed, and dressed, and was preparing to head to Savile Town to attend the Sun Rising Ceremony. The two met in the Teleportation Room.

As the most important festival of the year, the Lord undoubtedly could not be absent from the Midsummer Festival. The moment she saw Xia Duo, Niya was first pleasantly surprised, but then she deliberately put on a straight face and said angrily:

"I thought you weren't coming back!"

"How could that be? I was slightly delayed in Seventon, but didn't I make it back in time?" Xia Duo held Niya's hand and comforted her well.

"Go change into your formal attire quickly, I'll wait for you here!"

"No need, I'll change right here!"

They were an old married couple, so Xia Duo didn't mind Niya's gaze at all. He generously unfastened his Mage Robe and changed into a set of formal attire he took out from his Personal Space.

This formal attire could also be considered a Mage Robe, though its performance was slightly inferior to what he wore daily. But for Xia Duo, none of the Mage Robes he currently possessed were more protective than the Magic Resistance ability in his bloodline.

In other words, even if he were naked, his defensive capability would still be higher than that of an average Mage.

Currently, Xia Duo did not have the ability to craft, nor the time to research, boutique-level or better Mage Robes, and the Tower of Time did not have the relevant heritage, so he could only purchase them externally—strictly speaking, find someone to customize them.

And customizing a boutique-level Mage Robe would cost at least one hundred thousand Gold Coins to start. That was just for the functionality; if one also wanted to focus on style and aesthetics, the price might skyrocket.

It was not impossible to wear an entire Mage Tower on one's body.

Xia Duo did not want to spend this wasted money; after all, even a boutique Mage Robe might not be stronger than his Magic Resistance ability, and the marginal benefit was too low.

It would not be too late to consider it after he had more money on hand in the future.

……

Savile Town.

The Sun Rising Ceremony proceeded as scheduled in the Central Plaza. The surging crowd had already occupied their positions long before Xia Duo and the others arrived.

When Xia Duo and the others arrived, cheers immediately echoed through the plaza. Afterwards, the Priests of the Temple, led by Bishop Anbulier, began the first ceremony of the Midsummer Festival.

"The rising sun ascends, all things grow; the law is merciless, order is born!"

As the Priests faced east and chanted the Proverbs, the atmosphere in the plaza gradually became solemn. The people surrounding the Priests hardly dared to breathe, each of them watching the east with calm expressions.

At the same time, the wandering Holy Power spread from the bodies of the Priests like water-like radiance, rippling back and forth across the plaza.

It rendered the plaza, which was still slightly dark before dawn, like a holy realm, adding a sense of solemnity and reverence to the atmosphere at this moment.

It is unknown how much time had passed when the Holy Light in the plaza began to recede, but a faint ray of light appeared in the east. That light pierced through the buildings at the edge of the plaza and reached the eyes of everyone in the plaza.