Chapter 2267: Gifts and a Lion's Share

After simple pleasantries, both sides began to enter the main topic. Prince Aben asked first: "Mage Asuosi, having traveled from afar from Xilu, I wonder what your thoughts are on Yimaska?"

"Yimaska is indeed a magical nation. What left the deepest impression on me was that Purple Star in the sky. Your country seems to have reconstructed the rules of a vast area with it as the center. Such a great achievement is truly breathtaking!"

"It is merely a small achievement in the Domain of Creation, not worth mentioning!"

Although he said that, the expression on Prince Aben's face was clearly very pleased by Xia Duo's praise. "By the way, I heard Jiamu mention before that you wish to obtain some basic data on the Domain of Creation. No problem! Yimaska welcomes any person of insight to participate in the research of the Domain of Creation. I will have someone hand the data to you later."

Prince Aben did not mention the issue of money. In fact, during these days in Yimaska, through observation and his own personal experience back home, Xia Duo was very clear about one point: the foundation of Yimaska's Creation Magic was not the key.

The key lay in those formulas and recipes painstakingly researched by countless craftsmen. Just like on Earth, the theories of science, or technology, are almost all public; anyone can look at them.

But when it comes to the details of a specific technology, even public patents do not necessarily disclose all the details. From theory to practice, there is a huge chasm.

This is different from Arcane Magic like Netheril Magic or Elven Magic. Xia Duo asserted that even if one knew all the theories of Creation Magic, one might not necessarily be able to replicate all of Yimaska's current creation achievements.

But Arcane Magic can. To a certain extent, theory is the concentrated representation of technology; there is no clear boundary between the two.

This is also a point for which Xia Duo thinks very highly of Arcane Magic. "Knowledge = Power" is not an empty phrase; it is far more convenient to convert than Creation Magic or the technology on Earth.

Therefore, Xia Duo did not feel very happy about Prince Aben's gift. It was just some basic data; one could perhaps find it by asking any craftsman.

And as for those formulas and recipes derived from the foundation, one could imagine that Yimaska would absolutely not let an outsider like him obtain them easily.

Of course, Xia Duo still expressed his gratitude to Prince Aben. After all, it was a gift that cost no money; having it was better than not having it.

……

With the gift serving to build the atmosphere, the two finally entered the real topic of the trade. After the two sides discussed Creation Magic further, Prince Aben suddenly sighed deeply and said to Xia Duo:

"Not long ago, I received a mission from the great Master of Craftsmen to develop a new material. Originally, I didn't have a clue."

"It just so happened that a few days ago, Commander Faerman of Meituo City sent over a type of Energy Gem that had never appeared in Yimaska before, which brought me brand-new inspiration."

"After testing throughout the night, I finally saw the dawn of completing the mission. But the problem now is that there are too few of those Energy Gems, far from enough for me to complete the entire research mission."

"Not to mention that I might need to prepare a batch of new materials later. Sigh—"

Upon hearing this, Xia Duo knew the meat of the matter had arrived. It turned out this Prince Aben not only wanted a large amount of Arcane Crystals, but perhaps he had also set his sights on the source of the Arcane Crystals!

"Is the Energy Gem Prince Aben mentioned the same as the Arcane Crystals I took out for trade earlier?"

"If it was taken out by Mage Asuosi, then it should be Arcane Crystals. At the time, Commander Faerman might have had an oversight and forgotten to record the name."

Prince Aben smiled somewhat awkwardly. Xia Duo returned a polite smile, but he knew very well in his heart that the truth was likely not that Commander Faerman had forgotten, but that at the time, only Jiamu had asked for the name of the Arcane Crystals.

Afterwards, it was never even confirmed again. The other party might not have cared at all what the name of this Energy Gem was, and might have even named it themselves with a name more in line with Yimaska's habits!

However, Xia Duo did not care, because the name "Arcane Crystal" itself had no special meaning; it came entirely from Arcane Energy. If changing the name could sell it for a good price, he would raise both hands in favor.

"Prince Aben, this type of gemstone is also very precious in Xilu. At present, only Netheril, where I am located, has a small output, and I don't have much either."

"Mage Asuosi is right. I have also inquired about this from Councilor Poche. It is said that this type of Energy Gem can only be artificially manufactured by the Arcanists of Netheril, with a very low yield, and it is very difficult for outsiders to obtain."

"Hehe!"

Xia Duo understood that the other party was likely saying that his previous claim about having a mine at home was fake. The other party had actually already asked the Elves for some basic information about Arcane Crystals.

At least they knew that Arcane Crystals came from artificial manufacturing by Arcanists.

It was unknown whether the principles of the Mythallar had not yet spread to Cormanthor, or if Poche and the others had not yet been able to come into contact with such secrets, but Poche did not mention the fact that Arcane Crystals could be produced in large quantities at a low cost.

Otherwise, Xia Duo would really have had a hard time bluffing them.

"I wonder how many Arcane Crystals Prince Aben needs?"

"This—" Prince Aben's tone was hesitant.

Xia Duo understood as soon as he saw this situation: what the other party needed was probably not a small number; it might be far more than he had expected!

"Please, Prince Aben, state a specific number. As long as it is within my capabilities, I am very willing to reach a deal with Your Highness."

In fact, at this moment, Xia Duo was already imagining what he wanted in return. More advanced magical devices? Perhaps that was possible, but in essence, they were just products. He wanted the "fish," but he wanted the "fishing method" even more!

Moreover, Yimaska was very skilled in spatial technology. In this domain, the "fish" became Sub-planes, and the "fishing method" was an efficient way to discover Sub-planes.

Since the Yimaskans could bring Mulan people back from Other Planes, they couldn't possibly be non-habitable planes! And if there was one, there could be two, three, or even more.

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So, giving him one or two wouldn't be too much, right!

……

"I need enough Arcane Crystals to fill this hall!" Arcane Crystals are extremely light, so Prince Aben used volume to measure them.

But hearing such an outrageous number, Xia Duo could hardly believe his ears. Let alone a foreign prince who knew nothing, even he, who possessed a Mythallar, could not produce so many Arcane Crystals in a short time.

This reception hall was at least a hundred square meters. If we count the height as five meters, that's several hundred cubic meters. What kind of concept is this? One must know that a Standard Arcane Crystal is only as big as the knuckle of a little finger, about one cubic centimeter.

Several hundred cubic meters is roughly hundreds of millions of Standard Arcane Crystals!

In the long run, this quantity is not an unimaginably large number. Even with only one Mythallar device, it would only take five or six years to accumulate.

The more Mythallars, the less time it takes.

For a moment, Xia Duo even had the illusion that Prince Aben already knew about the existence of the Mythallar, but he knew that if the other party knew about the existence of the Mythallar, they probably wouldn't have opened their mouth like this.