Chapter 2069: The End of the Month Finally Arrives

Time spent in focus always passes quickly; as Xia Duo busied himself with the research and development of the Creation Machine, time arrived at the end of the month before he knew it.

During this period, Niya had already become familiar with the operation of the Floating City.

Although there was still room for improvement compared to Xia Duo, she was now able to skillfully operate the Floating City to dive and hover, and even at an altitude close to the Surface, she did not panic in the slightest.

In the past half-month, the First Farm had also successfully achieved two bumper harvests, and now the faces of the people in the Territory were almost always wearing happy smiles.

The only thing that was somewhat unpleasant was the recent weather; as the end of the month arrived, the temperature grew lower and lower, and at this moment, it did not feel like late autumn at all, freezing people until they shrank their hands away.

Fortunately, Xia Duo had already had Aiwa purchase winter clothing from Seventon in advance, and with the Territory's own production, the people should be able to safely pass through this winter, which might be longer than any year in the past.

Under these circumstances, Master Eriwen's Ascension Ritual appeared particularly eye-catching.

Because of the existence of the Azure Manor Portal, even Daxia Territory knew that a new god was about to be born in Netheril, and one who would govern the increasingly severe agricultural domain at that.

Therefore, even though they had no deep impression of that Master Eriwen, when the people of Daxia Territory gathered to chat, they still could not help but pray and offer blessings for that venerable existence.

After Xia Duo learned of this matter, he did not stop them; although he was very dissatisfied with the Seven Towers' attitude toward the Ascension Order, if Netheril were to have one more new god in the agricultural domain, he would still be happy to see it happen.

After all, no matter how bitter things get, one cannot make the broad masses of the working people suffer!

It was just that regarding the abnormal climate, producing a new agricultural god was merely treating the symptoms rather than the root cause; to completely eliminate the hidden danger, one still had to find a way from the source.

"Dragon Madness Mythallar? Or perhaps an Elf conspiracy?"

According to the current situation, the possibility of it being the Dragon Madness Mythallar was greater, and Xia Duo's upcoming "world tour" to find the Mythallar Control Center was also a major objective.

Even if the abnormal climate disappeared, there was no guarantee that one day he would wake up and find the King-Slaying Star crashing down on his head.

If one added a Demon Descendant to the mix, Xia Duo really wondered if he was the fated savior; how did he manage to run into all sorts of "good" things!

But complaining was just complaining; life still had to go on, and those true, behind-the-scenes savior tasks that were inconvenient to make public still had to continue—after all, if not for others, he had to do it for himself.

……

Linshui Village, Government Hall.

After Xia Duo listened to Laidun's arrangements for this year's Moon Festival, he gave some instructions as usual, and then returned to the Tower of Time with peace of mind.

Niya had been waiting for him here for a long time.

"Are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Will there be danger?"

"No, I'm taking the Floating City with me! As for you, now that the Floating City has entered the sights of the various Elf nations, you must be careful; it is best not to leave the Tower of Time before I return."

Once these words were spoken, Niya fell silent, and only after a long time did she say, "Then I will go to Seventon with you."

"If you follow, I will be even more worried. This involves an Ascension, and it is Netheril's second Ascension at that; I suspect the Elves might have some major moves."

When it came to offense, the Floating City was undoubtedly stronger, but when it came to protection, the Floating City was not necessarily stronger than the Tower of Time; it just used its incomparably fierce attacks to cover up its weak defense.

For the time being, Xia Duo had no good solution; after all, such a large target, in the absence of corresponding defensive War Spells, would always have moments where it fell short.

It was safer for Niya to stay in the Tower of Time; even if a strong enemy came with a Magic Artifact, she could hold out until the Floating City returned to support her.

Of course, the possibility of such a situation was extremely low; before they could effectively deal with the Floating City, the Elves would not be so unwise. If they really angered him, they would have no good fruit to eat.

After soothing Niya, Xia Duo returned to the Laboratory to continue testing the Creation Machine; in fact, he was not very worried about this trip to Seventon.

Even if the Elves might go there to cause trouble, the real protagonist was not him, but the Seven Towers; no matter what, it was not up to him to stand up for the Seven Towers, provided, of course, that the Elves did not come to provoke him.

……

The next day.

It was also the last day of November.

Xia Duo had long since let the Mages of the Tower of Time who were doing infrastructure work in the Research Zone and the people working in the Planting Area return to the ground; considering that the Floating City might also become a target, an empty city could save him from the vast majority of his worries.

First, he teleported above the Narrow Sea, and afterward, Xia Duo ordered the Floating City to enter the Ether Plane, locate Seventon from the Ether Plane, and slowly move toward it.

As early as the Drow War, Seventon had built a Mythallar, and later, after studying the Evereska Mythallar, the current Seventon Mythallar was much more perfect than the version Xia Duo had first seen.

Moreover, compared to the Elven Mythallar, the Seventon Mythallar built by the Seven Towers inherited the Netherese Mages' consistent emphasis on the Ether Plane.

Xia Duo had only just approached when he received a warning signal; only after identifying himself was he guided to pause above the Projection of Seventon.

Subsequently, Xia Duo returned to the Main Plane alone, while the Floating City remained in the Ether Plane to provide support. After arriving at Seventon on the Main Plane, he refused the reception of the Seven Towers and headed straight for the Arcane Union.

Hearing that Xia Duo had arrived and had matters to discuss, Iolum, who had originally been outside, rushed back with almost no delay.

In the Study.

A trace of haste still lingered on Iolum's face, and as soon as they met, he asked about Xia Duo's purpose, "What is so urgent?"

"Teacher, have you heard about the changes within Yierlan?"

"I have heard; it was within expectations."

"Then what about the Seven Towers? Do they also have thoughts of centralization?"

"Is that all you came to ask?"

Iolum sighed with a bit of helplessness, and then told Xia Duo, "I don't think so. The foundation of Netheril is different from that of the Elves. The reason why Elf nations can centralize power is because of the existence of the Mythallar; as long as the Mythallar is unified, all parties are unified.

"Netheril should be compared to Danzo; that place is a clan alliance, almost the same as our Lord Alliance here. As long as the Seven Towers or King Baside want to centralize power, the subordinates will immediately fall apart. Do you believe me?"

"I believe you!"

Of course Xia Duo believed him, because he himself thought the same, but the current situation in Netheril was not suitable for centralized reform; that did not mean the Seven Towers would not have such thoughts.

Anyone could see the advantages of a centralized system, and the Seven Towers, as the actual rulers of Netheril, should be able to see this even more.

If he were the Seven Towers, he would also have such thoughts; it was precisely because he could empathize that he was all the more worried.

In fact, Xia Duo coming to ask Iolum was not really wanting such an answer, but rather wanting to ask about Iolum's attitude:

"If the Seven Towers really have thoughts of centralization and are truly prepared to do so, will Teacher support them?"

Hearing this, Iolum suddenly smiled, "You! If it were in the past, I might have supported it, because it would be more beneficial to Netheril, and I have an absolute trump card.

"But on your side, I saw another possibility for the future, so I tell you now: I do not support the Seven Towers' centralized reform, and I am also extremely opposed to the Ascension Order!

"In fact, just a moment ago, I almost got into an argument with the people from the Seven Towers; fortunately, you came, otherwise both sides might have been unable to step down gracefully."

"What happened? Why would Teacher get into an argument with people from the Seven Towers?" Xia Duo asked hurriedly.

"It's because the Seven Towers is preparing to re-promote the Ascension Order, and they want to use this Ascension Ritual to completely solidify this future that is extremely dark. Do you think I should agree?"

"No, you cannot agree. What about the views of the others?"

The "others" Xia Duo mentioned referred to the other Great Arcanists at the time, but Iolum shook his head and said with a disappointed look in his eyes: "Except for Kelifu, who clearly expressed his opposition, the others are too wavering. Let's wait and see after the Ascension Ritual! It is estimated that this time will be quite lively!"

"Mm."