Chapter 351: Astral Mage, Plane Scholar

"There is one more thing I need you to pay attention to?"

"What is it?" Xia Duo asked.

"It is about the Plane Exploration Array."

As she spoke, Niya turned to look at Xia Duo, "I learned from my teacher that if we want to search for new planes more efficiently, whether they are Projection Planes or real Sub-planes, we need professional search personnel."

"I understand, so what do I need to look out for?"

"Look out for people." As she spoke, Niya took two books out of her Dimensional Bag and handed them to Xia Duo, explaining at the same time, "A Projection Plane is essentially just a mental fragment of the Astral Plane; to search for them more efficiently, we need to cultivate professional Astral Mages, and similarly, searching for Sub-planes requires cultivating specialized Plane Scholars."

"Astral Mages? Plane Scholars?" Xia Duo repeated these two new terms. Understanding them merely from the literal meaning of the Netherese language, they were spellcasters proficient in the knowledge of the Astral Plane and planes.

Flipping through the two books, one was *Astral Exploration* and the other was *Introduction to Planes*. It was not convenient to check the specific contents at the moment, so Xia Duo put the books away and asked again:

"How should I look out for these two types of people?"

"Astral Mages need to have excellent mental talent; while Plane Scholars need to have excellent plane affinity." Niya rattled off a series of terms that were very unfamiliar to Xia Duo.

"Are there any specialized testing methods? Also, how are Astral Mages and Plane Scholars found in other places?"

To be honest, what Xia Duo hated most were those attributes that could not be quantified, like mental talent; there had never been an instrument or spell that could directly measure how many points of spirit one had.

This very vague concept made someone like Xia Duo, who came from a background in science and engineering, feel very uncomfortable.

And Niya's answer made Xia Duo feel even worse, "There are no testing methods. Even divination is rarely useful. The vast majority of Astral Mages at my teacher's place are Clerics proficient in Magic, while most Plane Scholars are Arcanists, and they must also have experience in plane travel. The more times they have traveled, the stronger their plane affinity, and Projection Planes do not count toward this."

Clerics proficient in Magic? Arcanists who have had plane travel experience?

This gave Xia Duo a headache. It left him wondering where he was supposed to find such people. However, he also understood that Niya was making long-term plans; if the Tower of Time wanted to develop, these personnel would all need to be equipped.

Of course, it was not to say that the Plane Exploration Array could not be used without Astral Mages or Plane Scholars, just that the efficiency would be lower.

Thinking of plane travel, Xia Duo remembered that he had been to the Shadow Plane not long ago, so he asked: "Does having been to the Shadow Plane count as having experience in plane travel?"

Niya naturally knew what Xia Duo was talking about, but she was not very sure either. After all, she had only just become a student of the Princess, and the information she had obtained was still very limited.

After thinking for a moment, Niya said, "I am not sure. I will send a Sending back after I return to Seventon and find out."

"Hmm."

Following this, seeing that Niya seemed to have nothing more to say, Xia Duo wanted to ask about the situation in Huo Ke Territory. After all, Aquilain was locked up in the Tower of Time, and it would be a lie to say Xia Duo was not worried at all.

Even though he now knew that Niya had truly become the Princess's student, there was no guarantee that everyone would be rational.

It is true that Mages lean toward rationality, but human nature is complex after all. Xia Duo did not believe that anyone could maintain absolute rationality; if that were the case, humans could not be called humans.

"Niya—"

"By the way—"

Almost simultaneously, Niya also spoke up, and both of them froze. Xia Duo looked at Niya calmly, "You go first!"

"You—" Niya hesitated, but still asked, "Is the situation in Daxia Territory going smoothly?"

"Very smoothly!" Xia Duo thought Niya wanted to ask about the Elemental Channel, so he continued, "Regarding the Elemental Channel, those three Arcanists from the Hand of Secrecy have already agreed to use spells to help dig the river, and they have also contacted four other Arcanists. If nothing goes wrong, it should be completed before the autumn harvest."

"Ah!" Niya was a little surprised and also a little happy. She had not expected that the Elemental Channel, which was just a plan not long ago, would be completed so soon.

However, that was not what she had just wanted to ask, "Xia Duo, what I wanted to ask about was the development of Daxia Territory!"

"The development of Daxia Territory?"

Although he found it a bit strange that Niya specifically asked about this, Xia Duo had nothing to hide, so he said, "The development is going quite smoothly. With the 200 households you transferred over, the speed has greatly increased. The first phase of Linshui Village has already been built, it is just that continuing to open up farmland is time-consuming. I estimate we won't make it in time for this year's autumn sowing."

"You need to put more effort into the development. At the end of the year, my teacher might come to inspect. If the performance is good, my teacher will likely have rewards."

Niya did not delve too deeply into this topic, just mentioning it briefly, and then brought up another matter, "In a while, my teacher will send someone to take away that Elf Mage."

"Elf Mage?"

Xia Duo immediately thought of the one imprisoned in the Tower of Time. Originally, he had been thinking about when he would have the ability to interrogate him and extract some secrets from that Elf Mage, but now—

"I understand, I will receive them personally when the time comes."

"Hmm." Seeing Xia Duo agree so readily, Niya's mood suddenly became a bit low; she actually did not want to hand over this Elf Mage.

This Elf Mage had a lot to do with her father's curse, and Niya had never thought of letting him go.

But some time ago, a group of Elf refugees came to Seventon to seek asylum from her teacher. Her teacher agreed, but what she did not expect was that those Elf refugees were actually related to this Elf Mage imprisoned in the Tower of Time.

And she could not refuse her teacher's request. At that moment, Niya deeply regretted not killing this Elf Mage directly.

Xia Duo sensed the subtle change in Niya's mood, so he thought about changing the subject, while also asking the question he had wanted to ask earlier.

"Niya, will there be any repercussions from Huo Ke Territory?"

Hearing Xia Duo's inquiry, Niya pulled herself together, "I'm not sure, but Archmage Olong has already been commissioned by the Arcane Union to lead an investigation team to Huo Ke Territory to investigate the assassination. This matter will not have a result in the short term. I will know as soon as there is any news, you don't need to worry too much."

"Hmm." Xia Duo nodded, feeling truly relieved in his heart.

Having had the experience of the raid on Aquilain, he was actually afraid that others would do the same to him, but hiding in the Mage Tower forever was not realistic. Now, Niya could be considered to have brought him good news.

However, no matter how good the news was, it could not absolutely guarantee safety; it just increased his sense of security a little. The vigilance and preparations that should be in place still could not be lacking.