Chapter 244: Projection Plane

Very quickly, after arranging the various affairs of the Territory, Xia Duo returned to Savile Town with the "Lucky Owen".

Two days later, Xia Duo returned to the Tower of Time and saw Niya, still in the Lord's Study; the difference from last time was that Aiboke was also there.

However, thinking about going to Seventon this time, Xia Duo felt a bit of understanding. Going on a long journey, after all, one should have a "guardian" accompanying them.

"Mentor, Lord Aiboke."

Xia Duo greeted them one by one and said to Niya, "I have come to fulfill our previous agreement."

The first thing he chose to do upon returning was not to ask questions, nor to go to the Library to recharge; it was truly because he himself wanted to go to Seventon too much.

Niya's eyes shone with excitement as she looked at Aiboke, and Aiboke also nodded, "Let's leave it for today. Niya, you should get some good rest; reading the 【Nether Scroll】 is not a simple matter."

Afterwards, Aiboke looked at Xia Duo again, "And Xia Duo, you should also get some good rest. Niya had me apply for a Plane Exploration opportunity for you; don't waste this chance because of poor spirits."

"Plane Exploration?" Xia Duo had long been no stranger to this term.

Even on the way back to Savile Town last time, he had heard President Masa of the Silaiwen Chamber of Commerce mention that a Pioneer had hidden in an Other Plane under the guise of Plane Exploration, and had been stripped of their Pioneer title because of it.

It was just that what exactly was in an Other Plane was vaguely described in various materials, as if it were some kind of secret, only saying that Other Planes were also territory of the Empire.

Seeing Xia Duo's curious expression, Aiboke explained briefly:

"It is just a Projection Plane trip; true Sub-plane exploration is something even an Archmage might not be able to apply for. However, you must not take it lightly; in Netheril history, there are not a few people who have died in Projection Planes."

A warning that was neither light nor heavy; Xia Duo was thoughtful. It seemed that a Projection Plane should not be very dangerous, though of course, it was not completely without danger.

It might just be a tourism project, but it was a Magic world after all; the tourism projects here might differ from those on Earth and should have some kind of special function.

Otherwise, it wouldn't require an application to go. Xia Duo pondered, and in the blink of an eye, Aiboke had already disappeared.

Only Niya remained looking at him, "Xia Duo, Uncle Aiboke needs to prepare for tomorrow's trip. Let me explain the Projection Plane to you again."

"Oh, okay, thank you, Mentor," Xia Duo said hurriedly.

Then, as if telling a story, Niya explained to Xia Duo what a Projection Plane was, what a Sub-plane was, and the issues to pay attention to during Plane Exploration—

"The so-called Projection Plane is actually a plane projection located in the Astral Plane. To the creatures within a Projection Plane, these planes are real and true, but to us, they are actually virtual and unreal. Even if one enters with their true body, they cannot bring anything back, except for Knowledge."

"As for a Sub-plane, it is a real and true plane, just not comparable in scale to the plane we are in, hence it is called a Sub-plane. And if there were a plane larger in scale than the Faerun Plane, it could naturally call us a Sub-plane."

Regarding planes, Xia Duo actually didn't know much, only the big concepts like Inner Plane, Outer Planes, and the Astral Plane.

At the Tower of Time, he had taken courses on Plane Studies, but that had only taught how to link to the Inner Plane, and it was all very superficial content.

Thinking about it, it made sense; knowledge of planes related to the essence of the world, how could it be so easily taught to an Apprentice!

As Niya spoke, Xia Duo quickly searched his mind for the corresponding content he knew, distinguishing the differences between the real world and the game data from before he transmigrated.

And Niya continued, "I don't know much about Sub-planes either, but I have been to a Projection Plane twice. The first time, I was killed by a Spell just after projecting over."

"Killed?" Xia Duo exclaimed, "Does that mean one doesn't need to worry about death in a Projection Plane? Didn't Lord Aiboke just say—"

"Hmph, if I had been killed, could I still be standing here talking to you!" Niya rolled her eyes at Xia Duo and explained, "As long as you are not killed by Soul-type or Mind-type Spells, your true body will not die, though mental damage is certain."

Niya did not explain why it had to be Soul-type and Mind-type, but Xia Duo could roughly guess: when going, it was not the true physical body, but a Soul projection and consciousness.

Soul Spells attack the Soul, Mind Spells attack the consciousness; both are Spells capable of harming a person's essence.

Even in Xia Duo's view, Mind Magic was even more evil than Soul Magic.

If there really were a Soul, then in Xia Duo's view, the Soul was about the same as the body; a person's true essence should be the mind, the consciousness.

Using Spells to force or induce others to change their consciousness is truly the most evil thing under the sun. But in Netheril, it seems that anything related to the Soul is evil, while consciousness is not.

There was even a Mind School formed specifically to study Mind Magic.

Of course, these people who specialized in Mind Magic were not very popular in Netheril either, but they hadn't reached the point of being ostracized or suppressed.

Next, Niya talked about her second Projection Plane trip; this was the key point Xia Duo needed to focus on—the experience and essential points were all in it!

"The second time I entered a Projection Plane, I became an ordinary fisherman's daughter. Fortunately, there are also projections of the Magic Net in the Projection Plane, so I still possessed the ability for Spellcasting, but—"

Niya paused, "But, in a Projection Plane, you cannot do things inconsistent with your preset identity. An ordinary fisher girl obviously cannot know Magic; once I did that, that Projection Plane trip was considered over."

"Then what did you do at that time, Mentor?" Xia Duo asked.

"..."

Niya did not answer directly, but the expression on her face answered for her—

It was clearly that she couldn't help but use a Spell and was expelled by the Projection Plane!

Seeming not to want to lose face in front of Xia Duo, Niya warned him sternly: "If the identity you obtain is not a Spellcaster, remember not to cast any Spells. And there is one more thing you must remember—"

"You cannot become addicted to it. No matter how long you stay inside, the time outside hardly changes, but the time you have experienced will immediately reflect on your true body. Among those Uncle Aiboke mentioned who died in Projection Planes, many died in this way!"

In other words, if a person becomes too addicted, in the eyes of others, they just entered the Projection Plane and then died of old age the next instant.

This made Xia Duo's hair stand on end. Just think about it: a living person dying of old age instantly—perhaps it wasn't a loss for the person involved, but to outsiders, it was a bit terrifying.

And actually, what Niya didn't say was that among those who died this way, most were actually those who had no hope for reality and found a low-difficulty Projection Plane to enjoy a lifetime in.

After all, for the person involved, no matter the nature of the Projection Plane, they truly did enjoy a lifetime.

Xia Duo nodded solemnly.

Afterwards, Niya gave some more instructions before letting him go back to rest.