Chapter 3185: Portraits of Ancient Cities

That afternoon, Xia Duo got off work early. He first turned his consciousness back to his main body to handle the official business that had piled up at the Tower of Time. With the Midsummer Festival approaching, things were a bit busier over at the Tower of Time.

On the contrary, in the Elf World, where the Faith in the Radiant is thin, there was not the slightest feeling of the festive, joyous atmosphere that had already begun to accumulate within Netheril.

By dusk, Xia Duo received a Sending from Laruian—it was time to set off for the Wuerban estate. The free time before the banquet began could be arranged for him and Ruigeante to have a private talk.

In fact, this was the true purpose of a private elf banquet. As long as the talk went reasonably well, the rest would be pure entertainment, which could last until midnight at the shortest, or go straight until noon the next day at the longest.

The reputation of elves for indulgence largely stemmed from this.

……

Yunding Mountain.

The Wuerban estate was not far from the Larian Family's Golden Maple Manor. In fact, most Upper Families in Evereska lived near Yunding Mountain, just at varying distances.

Upon arriving at the Wuerban Manor and seeing the slightly desolate entrance, Laruian explained, "The only guests tonight are you, me, and Ruigeante. Originally, Wuerban just wanted to invite Ruigeante to discuss urban planning and agricultural land issues, so we just put it all together. Don't mind it."

"It's fine, I like quiet. If you're talking about those particularly—uh—formal banquets of you elves, I'm not really able to enjoy them!"

Out of politeness, Xia Duo did not refuse, but just as he showed a hint of impatience, the butler apologized and quietly retreated.

"However, his butler is indeed very tactful and never makes guests angry. Actually, if you had waited a little longer, he would have introduced Sukanwei's proudest collection."

Somehow, Xia Duo suddenly understood what Wuerban meant. Having seen the glorious history created by his own ancestors, what elf wouldn't want to personally recreate that history in reality?

Moreover, because it was the first Projection Plane he had ever visited, the impression was very deep. Now, this painting depicting 【Ailiste】, while not a real projection, revealed a style that was exceptionally clear.

Wuerban continued with a smile, "Ruigeante probably won't be here as early as us, so let me introduce it to you!"

Compared to the grand and imposing nature of the Aryvandaar cities, which could even be called aggressive, the Larianta cities were relatively restrained, revealing a scholarly atmosphere everywhere, making them ideal places to live.

"It's no trouble, it's no trouble, I'm idle anyway."

Perhaps Wuerban also felt that introducing it like this was a bit boring, so he got to the main point—

But compared to the elf cities of the current era, the Larianta cities appeared magnificent, mysterious, and grand, forcing one to sigh at how prosperous that era ten thousand years ago was.

This painting actually used a method similar to a projection; the city scene looked different from every angle. He speculated that the medium the painter used might not have been a canvas, but space itself.

It instantly brought him back to that memory of 【Geantesa】.

"We make various decisions with caution yet without losing passion, always keeping in mind that development is the way to solve all problems. But after all, Evereska is small in scale, and there are always places we cannot attend to."

"This painting was originally discovered in some ruins. After verification, the era of its creation was determined to be about ten thousand years ago. This painting depicts a city in Larianta named 【Ailiste】."

He believed that this painting definitely depicted a Larianta city. Of course, whether it was a genuine work painted by a Larianta painter of that era, he did not know.

"Is that so?" Xia Duo was noncommittal.

And at this moment, Wuerban laughed out loud, "Don't blame Sukanwei; he just loves to show off his family's collection to visiting guests. Even I, an old friend of many years, go through this every time I come."

Only after finishing the painting did he use Magic to fix it onto the canvas, making it a painting rather than a three-dimensional projection.

He was more inclined to believe it was an imitation by later generations. After all, things from ten thousand years ago, even Magic Items, should have decayed long ago; it was impossible for them to be preserved so perfectly.

Wuerban repeatedly mentioned Sukanwei's collection, and only then did Xia Duo realize that the real intention was likely not the wine. Since he was already here, listening wouldn't hurt, so he said:

The only value of this painting to him was letting him recall his experience living in 【Geantesa】 back then; it had nothing else, as he was not a painter.

"Consultant Xia Duo, you can come closer and take a look!"

The display area showcased various collections of the Sukanwei family, and there was even a Moon Elf butler specifically there to explain and introduce them to Xia Duo.

"Then I will trouble Elder Wuerban!"

……

It was just as he thought!

When he was in the Projection Plane, he had lived in another city in Larianta named 【Geantesa】 for a period of time, where he had also received enlightenment training as a Sword Singer and dug up his first pot of gold in Magic.

"Hmm, it indeed has a very distinct Larianta style!" Xia Duo nodded, acknowledging Wuerban's judgment of the region depicted in the painting.

Perhaps this was also the beginning of the different fates of these two countries in the future.

Wuerban beckoned to Xia Duo. Xia Duo did not refuse and stood up to go over, but before he moved a step, he noticed that the distant view of the city in the painting nearby seemed to have changed its angle.

He immediately thought of something and did not approach immediately, but instead changed several angles near the Xiu Xi Shi before walking straight toward the painting bit by bit.

"It is indeed a very magnificent and gorgeous city!" Xia Duo exclaimed.

Next, Wuerban began to analyze the techniques, style, and even the author's thoughts revealed in the painting, but Xia Duo had little interest in those.

As he spoke, Wuerban walked to the side of the display area and pulled off the cloth covering a display rack, on which hung a painting, looking like a distant view of a city.

Of course, if one insisted that this painting, whose author was unknown, had been under proper protection since its birth and had not encountered any accidents for ten thousand years, then it might be in its current state.

Originally, Xia Duo wanted to say "particularly decadent," but considering he was facing an elf, describing the essence of elf culture that way was somewhat inappropriate, though that was indeed what he thought himself.

Entering the manor, servants immediately led the two to a Xiu Xi Shi. Calling it a Xiu Xi Shi, it was actually more like a display room with a seating area.

"Evereska has developed to this day, experiencing all kinds of hardships along the way, but now it has reached a crossroads in history. Moving forward, it might be able to create glory again, but it might also just go into decline."