Chapter 492: Elven Culture, Reincarnation Magic

After the encapsulation experiment, Xia Duo was temporarily at leisure. Every day, aside from his immovable half-day of Meditation in the morning, he planned to relax for the remaining time, doing only some simple Spell practice to avoid getting "rusty."

As for new research, such as Scrying and anti-Scrying, subsequent upgrades to Communication Magic Tools, mind Spells, organizing the Magic system, crafting Spellbooks, and so on, he prepared to put them off until after becoming an Advanced Arcanist.

By that time, it might be an entirely different world.

The preliminary preparations for advancement were roughly complete; he only needed to perceive his Soul and do a bit more practice before he could begin the advancement. Moreover, the increase in Focus brought about by reading the 【Nether Scroll】 had increased his original advancement progress by nearly one-third.

This was not one-third of the remaining portion before reading the 【Nether Scroll】, but one-third of the overall Focus Training for advancement—this had to be said to be a tremendous benefit.

If he were to read it again, he wondered if it would directly fill the progress bar.

Of course, wanting to read it again would have to wait until next year, but he would be able to advance to Arcanist without waiting until next year.

The time would be roughly in these next one or two months; perhaps he could even catch the Three Kingdoms Arcane Competition in the Melting Snow Month.

Naturally, Xia Duo did not plan to participate in the Melting Snow Competition, nor was he qualified to participate. After all, those who could compete were all veteran Arcanists, and behind every win or loss lay the game of interests between the three kingdoms.

But Niya had already invited him to watch the competition together. As a spectator, the gains obtained by an ordinary Mage versus an Arcanist were vastly different.

"The layman watches the excitement, the expert watches the technique"—this saying was also applicable to Spellcasters.

……

Seventon, New City District.

The embassy district in the New City District was a unique landscape of Seventon. Although only Yierlan and Cormanthor had built embassies here so far, the buildings here were not limited to just two.

Rather, it was a complex of buildings.

Perhaps to attract other Elf Kingdoms to move in, this place was entirely handed over to Elf designers to design and then to Elf architects to build; it was the most authentic Elven style.

Moreover, with the deep pockets of the Elves, the decorative style here always remained consistent with that of the two countries back home, standing at the forefront of the fashion wave. This point was also what most attracted the Netherese to watch.

One could not just go to the Elf Kingdom whenever one pleased. Seeing the architectural style, architectural decorations, and even the clothing, adornments, and every move of the occasionally appearing Elf Embassy personnel here could trigger a wave of imitation within Netheril; it could be considered keeping up with the trends.

And the human admiration and love for Elves went far beyond this.

Inside the Cormanthor Embassy.

Cormanthor Ambassador Atelan and Yierlan Ambassador Yi Fu Liya Si sat opposite each other, conversing unhurriedly with elegant manners, not at all as crude as they had been previously at the Netherese Lord's Conference.

Meanwhile, Lord Duolaisen on the side had to use drinking tea to cover up the anxiety in his heart while having to chime in from time to time; it was truly too difficult.

"Ambassador Yi Fu Liya Si, have you received your new appointment?"

"I have already received it. I will return to my country to report on my duties and take up the new post after the Melting Snow Competition." No sign of any unhappiness could be seen on Yi Fu Liya Si's face, but in reality, he was extremely dissatisfied with the decision from his home country.

It was very obvious that the rise of the Netherese was already unstoppable. Since there was no determination to fight a decisive battle with all their might, they should not play any petty tricks. Maintaining the intimate relationship of the past and letting Yierlan get a share of the benefits in the development of Netheril—that was what was truly substantial.

Those Gold Elf power-brokers in Cormanthor did not only have Netheril in their eyes; they wanted to integrate all Elf Kingdoms and complete the cause that Aryvandaar had failed to complete in the past.

And his own country was perhaps persuaded by the great cause of the so-called "Great Elf Empire," but in the eyes of the Gold Elf power-brokers, where would the "Great Elf Empire" be a paradise for other Elves?

Yi Fu Liya Si was very pessimistic about the future of Yierlan.

Although Cormanthor Ambassador Atelan could not understand the specific thoughts in the depths of Yi Fu Liya Si's heart, he could also hear some subtle emotions from his choice of words and phrasing.

This was perhaps the beauty of Elvish.

Atelan glanced at the human Duolaisen beside him. Although the other party spoke very fluent Elvish—even better than he himself spoke it—he had not even been able to detect the subtle emotions in Yi Fu Liya Si's words. It could only be said that no matter how well one learned it, one could not obtain the essence.

Elvish not only had standard pronunciation but also adjustments made according to individuals, families, and eras. Standard pronunciation was only used by Elf children; using such pronunciation after becoming an adult would only make others laugh.

This was a manifestation of having no foundation.

An Elf could often distinguish the other party's family level, historical origins, and even personal preferences from the other party's words. Outsiders who had not been immersed in this culture for a long time found it difficult to understand.

With the short lifespan of humans, even counting Life Extension Magic, they could not even compare to an ordinary Elf Commoner, so how could they possibly experience this true Elven culture?

Being in the same room with a human, even though the other party was a more powerful Mage than him and was also cautious toward him, Atelan not only felt no sense of superiority but instead produced a trace of pity. What a pitiful short-lived species!

Thinking of this, he felt it necessary to ask about the other party's purpose. "Mage Duolaisen, you came over this time to—"

Finally remembered me! Lord Duolaisen did not feel the slightest grievance in his heart; instead, he felt extremely honored, having a feeling of being flattered. He hurriedly stated his purpose, "Ambassador Atelan, the negotiations of the Arcane Union have been suspended. What should I do now?"

"Rest assured, I will put pressure on them. The negotiations will continue and will not affect you. What you need to do now is to interact more with other lords."

"By the way!" Atelan seemed to have suddenly remembered something and looked at the Yierlan Ambassador, "Ambassador Yi Fu Liya Si, have you received the mission from your country?"

"I have received it." Yi Fu Liya Si nodded; there was nothing to hide about this. It looked like Atelan had also received it.

Sure enough, Atelan then said, "Mage Duolaisen, I have a matter I would like to entrust you to do."

Although Atelan's wording was very polite, his pronunciation and tone indicated that his attitude at this moment was very casual, but Lord Duolaisen did not mind; whether he could even hear it was a question.

"Ambassador, please speak?"

"I would like to ask you to help investigate whether any abnormal events have occurred in Netheril recently."

"No problem!" Lord Duolaisen agreed immediately.

"This matter is very important; you must take it to heart!"

"I know, I know!"

"Since that is the case, go out!"

"Yes, yes!"

After Duolaisen left, the two Elf Ambassadors continued to chat; long lives had plenty of time.

On the other side, just as Duolaisen walked out of the Elf Embassy, the expression on his face instantly turned gloomy. However, realizing that people were coming and going here, the gloomy expression changed in turn, pretending to be a look of disappointment.

In fact, he was indeed quite disappointed. Although he could not understand the true thoughts of the Elf Ambassadors from their language, as the existence closest to a Great Arcanist in Netheril, Lord Duolaisen also had deep research into Elven Magic.

Relying on his profound Spells, he had secretly cast a mind Spell just now, peeking into a trace of the other party's thoughts without touching their Protection.

He had not obtained the other party's approval and was even somewhat despised by them, which made Duolaisen somewhat difficult to accept.

Being able to reach the level close to a Great Arcanist, leaning toward the Elves naturally could not just be for the so-called "admiration" and "love," but because he had seen the other party's power and that long lifespan.

Ever since he heard that the Elves had a kind of Reincarnation Magic that could reincarnate other races into Elves, the burning in his heart had not stopped for a moment. An ordinary Elf possessed a lifespan comparable to the history of Netheril; how could it not make people yearn for it!