Chapter 302: New Badge, Concern

As long as it is confirmed that the Arcane Garden is a Semi-plane, that is enough. Xia Duo felt a secret joy in his heart and immediately turned the topic to the main point: "I want to organize a small circle for exchange. What do you think?"

Immediately after, Xia Duo gave Niya a brief introduction to the organization, focusing on its ideals and philosophy, and then watched Niya with some nervousness.

He did not know how Niya would view such a small organization; if Niya opposed it, for the time being, Xia Duo would have no way to deal with it.

After listening to Xia Duo's introduction, the expression on Niya's face was somewhat surprised, somewhat hesitant, and seemed somewhat pleased—it was very complex—before finally settling into seriousness. "How did you think of this?"

Niya's reaction exceeded Xia Duo's expectations; she was neither furious nor dismissive, but instead seemed to be considering it seriously before discussing it with him.

However, regarding Niya's question, Xia Duo only said one sentence: "Exchange makes people progress!"

"Exchange makes people progress, exchange makes people progress!" Niya repeated this sentence twice, then said, "I agree, but I have two requirements!"

"What requirements?"

"First, the number of people cannot be expanded without limit. Second, you cannot do this in the name of the Tower of Time, and even less can you promise anything in the name of the Tower of Time!"

"I agree!" Xia Duo said immediately.

The number of people indeed could not be expanded without limit; it had to be maintained at a level he could control, or at a level Niya could accept.

As for whose name to do it in, his hometown had long had the sayings "If the name is not correct, the words will not carry weight" and "Only names and vessels should not be lent to others." He naturally knew the importance of names and vessels.

Although the Tower of Time was half his, he still needed to have some power close to him.

Seeing Xia Duo agree without hesitation, Niya also seemed somewhat surprised. Regarding this man who had become her husband and would very likely accompany her for a lifetime, she could not help but say a few more words:

"Do you remember the Arcanist organizations I mentioned before? Many organizations have such open exchanges among their members, and even among unfamiliar Mages of the same rank, this sometimes happens. It is just that there are few like you, who have already become an Intermediate Mage, yet are still thinking about the Apprentices!"

"So that's how it is!" Xia Duo muttered.

Niya's words seemed to have opened the door to a new world for him. So the "academic" atmosphere of Netheril was like this—it was mostly exchanges between those of the same rank!

Thinking about it, it was actually normal. No one was a fool; exchange could make people progress, so who could truly refuse it!

However, he thought of something else and hurriedly asked: "Is there Spell exchange?"

"There is, but that kind of exchange might be more appropriately called 'Spell trading.' No one would be willing to contribute the Spells they have painstakingly researched for free!"

Speaking of this, Niya sighed with some emotion, "Perhaps only a Great Arcanist would have such an incomparably broad mind!"

Regarding Great Arcanists, Xia Duo felt infinite longing. He firmly believed that he would definitely become a Great Arcanist in the future, but one must eat a meal one bite at a time, and walk a path one step at a time.

Right now, successfully advancing to an Arcanist was his next goal!

"Niya, you will definitely become a Great Arcanist!" Praising one's own wife did not count as bootlicking; Xia Duo was very calm, and he also had some thoughts about the man who would become a Great Arcanist.

"Of course I will become a Great Arcanist!"

Although she had just experienced a failed advancement not long ago, facing Xia Duo, Niya still did not want to show any weakness. She took a Badge down from the bookshelf behind her, placed it on the desk, and pushed it toward Xia Duo:

"By the way, take this Badge! Even in the Mythallar Ruins, it will allow you to contact the Tower Spirit. You can teleport back once every day; do not use it casually!"

It was impossible for her to force Xia Duo to stay in the Mage Tower forever; there would eventually be times when he went out. To avoid any accidents, Niya took out a Time Tower Badge with very high Permission Level.

The current Tower of Time was located within the Mythallar Ruins. Teleporting anywhere required consuming ten or even dozens of times more energy than in the past, depending on the environment of the Magic Net at that time.

In reality, this Badge itself did not possess teleportation capabilities; it required guidance through the Tower of Time, and there was no limit to the number of times, but to save energy, Niya told a little lie.

"I understand."

Xia Duo picked up the Badge. The front had a pattern of the Tower of Time and a book, and the back had two lines of scrawled Elf text; he did not know what they meant.

Counting this one, he already had three Time Tower Badges!

One was the Orc War Memorial Badge given to him personally by Lord Aipusi; another was obtained when he became an Official Mage, officially joined the Tower of Time, and gained Ji Quanxian.

And the one before him was the most special; its material seemed different from the previous ones, and in Magic Vision, its aura was even more intense. It was clearly a quite Advanced Magic Item.

"Pretty good!" Xia Duo muttered in a low voice. Now he had more and more equipment on his person.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, I'm leaving first, you—" Hesitating for a moment, Xia Duo still expressed his concern, "You should pay more attention to rest; your eyes are all red."

It was more than just her eyes being red; Niya's eyes were full of bloodshot veins at this moment, her voice was hoarse, and her complexion was extremely pale, as if she had been ill for a long time.

But she was not like this yesterday; perhaps the departure of Lord Aipusi was too great a blow to her.

Although it was only a union in a certain form, in the foreseeable future, the two would live together and meet often; having feelings was better than having no feelings.

After saying this, Xia Duo did not look at Niya's reaction and turned to leave.

Behind him, Niya watched the man's exaggerated turning motion, the corners of her mouth curving, but then her eyes dimmed, and tears fell onto the paper, *plop, plop*. She whispered helplessly, "Father!"

……

On the other side, outside the Tower of Time, at the edge of the Mythallar Ruins.

The three Arcanists of the Hand of Secrecy who had just left the Tower of Time not long ago—Oulinsi, Jielepu, and Aigeberde—were standing on a large tree that had been knocked over by some unknown force, pointing at the direction of the Mythallar.

"According to our plan, as long as that Elemental Channel is successfully excavated, it will greatly alleviate the Magic Net riots in the Mythallar Ruins, and the area we looked at earlier will also become the easiest area to repair."

"But Master Oulinsi—" Aigeberde, who had previously acted as the representative for the three, raised a question, "Digging this Elemental Channel is no small project. Do you think the Tower of Time will be willing?"

"Let's hope so!" Oulinsi looked at the Tower of Time, which was vaguely visible in the distance, hidden amidst various Magic Net riot effects, and sighed, "The Mage Tower is right here. Even if they don't agree, do you still want to leave? Active Mythallar Ruins are not often seen!"

"No, Master Oulinsi, that is not what I meant, I mean—"

Aigeberde subconsciously looked left and right, then said, "I mean, should we wait for others to come and unite to put pressure on the Tower of Time!"

"And then?" Oulinsi suddenly withdrew his gaze from the distance and stared at Aigeberde, "Can you drive the Mage Tower away? Or can you restrict it? If you can't, then don't even think about it!"