Chapter 541: Papers, Invitations

The next day, the exchange meeting proceeded as scheduled. Inside a certain hall of the Magic Goddess's underground Temple, all thirteen participants had arrived; there was no instance of any Mage failing to show up.

Even those Mages who had already listened to others' presentations yesterday and had not yet given their own were all present, not one missing. Everyone placed great importance on this exchange meeting.

Comparing it to yesterday's timing, Xia Duo and Niya were actually among the last to arrive. Most people had come earlier than them, and while waiting, they had begun Projection Matches just like yesterday.

Today, Xia Duo did not play chess with Niya, but instead silently organized the content he was about to present. He was prepared to speak about Fixed-point Teleportation, or rather, the 【Teleportation Mark】, an extremely practical Spell.

This was a type of "Pre-teleportation" Spell that Xia Duo had researched based on the traditional 【Teleportation】. In essence, once the 【Teleportation Mark】 was cast, it was equivalent to having teleported, only the result was suppressed indefinitely, and it would only be triggered instantly when needed.

No matter what kind of Spell it is, it requires a certain amount of Spellcasting time, no matter how short it may appear, let alone a complex Spell like Teleportation. Unless it is a Spell stored in the Magic Net, it would not require Spellcasting time.

Xia Duo drew his inspiration from Magic Net stored Spells; that was also essentially a type of "Pre-spellcasting" Spell, only the result was stored within the Magic Net.

But Magic Net stored Spells are limited after all; wouldn't an additional "Pre-teleportation" Spell be even more convenient?

On Earth, Xia Duo had worked on projects, written papers, and coded. Wasn't the "presentation + Q&A" format of the exchange meeting similar to a graduation defense?

Even the projections were so similar; it is evident that intelligent life shares commonalities in the selection of certain forms.

— "The Application and Expansion of Pre-spellcasting Techniques in Spellcasting Practice — Taking the New Type of Teleportation 【Teleportation Mark】 as an Example"

This was the topic Xia Duo had selected. He had "grinded" it out in one night yesterday. This was also because his previous research records were all in his Personal Space, and they were well-organized, so he was basically confident.

After organizing it once more and replacing some self-defined simplified vocabulary with the common Magic terminology used by Netherese Mages, it was just about ready.

Before long, as the exchange meeting neared its start, quite a few Mages who were playing chess suddenly stopped. Everyone looked at each other and smiled, revealing a unanimous desire for it to begin immediately.

Naturally, no one would refuse this, so the exchange meeting continued in this relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

……

Near noon, the exchange meeting was temporarily suspended. Everyone prepared to have some light refreshments and take a break. Just in this gap, a Temple staff member wearing a blue Mage Robe suddenly opened the door and walked in.

"Eh, isn't it not yet evening?" As the organizer, Beilaila raised the question at the first opportunity. If the exchange meeting could be interrupted at will, she would never have chosen this place.

"Mage Beilaila, everyone, I am very sorry to disturb you." The Temple staff member was not flustered at all, and his tone was even somewhat relaxed. "Archmage Sandro of Morien Tower invites you to observe a ceremony. It is entirely voluntary; if you do not wish to go, you may leave now."

Having said this, he looked at Beilaila again, revealing an apologetic expression. "The Temple will refund the full cost of Mage Beilaila's rental of the Unicorn Hall. I am very sorry."

"Observe a ceremony? Observe what ceremony?" Beilaila was not at all embarrassed by being cleared out; instead, she was very curious about what ceremony that Archmage Sandro was inviting them to observe.

"Archmage Sandro will be performing the 【Longevity Ritual】."

"Longevity Ritual?"

Beilaila suddenly looked at one of the thirteen people participating in the exchange meeting. "Xi Ge Si, you also come from Morien Tower. Have you heard of Archmage Sandro performing a Longevity Ritual?"

"No." Xi Ge Si shook his head. "How could I know about the affairs of an Archmage? Why don't we just go over and see?"

Beilaila did not agree immediately, but instead sought the opinions of the others. "What does everyone think? Do you want to go see the Longevity Ritual?"

The Temple staff member was still waiting there; if a decision was to be made, it had to be quick. They were clearing the venue. Although Xia Duo was very curious about this so-called Longevity Ritual, he also harbored a sense of vigilance.

He quietly sent a Sending to Niya. "Have you heard of this Archmage Sandro? And what about that Longevity Ritual? Could it be a trap?"

Niya glanced at him and replied, "Archmage Sandro is indeed a real person. I don't know the details, but as for whether it's a trap, everyone here is a Seven Towers Mage. Who would dare set a trap to harm us?"

That might not be certain, but Xia Duo did not refute her. The probability of Seven Towers Mages being harmed in Seventon was indeed very low. So, should he go to observe the ceremony?

"I want to go and witness the legendary 【Longevity Ritual】." Besides Xi Ge Si, another Mage was the first to express a willingness to go observe the ceremony.

"I want to go too."

"Count me in!"

……

Beilaila swept her gaze across them; one by one, including her, all twelve were present, and she herself was also very interested in that Longevity Ritual. "Since that's the case, let's go observe the ceremony first. After the Longevity Ritual ends, we'll see the situation before deciding whether the exchange meeting will continue."

……

On the way to the ceremony site, the Temple staff member leading the way began to instruct everyone on some precautions for observing the ceremony. "During the ritual, do not be surprised by anything you see. You must remain quiet and must not cast Spells. If possible, you may offer a word of blessing to the Archmage before the ritual."

The group of Mages readily agreed.

Soon, led by this Temple staff member, the group bypassed several corridors and arrived at a bright ceremonial hall. The ceiling featured the Holy Emblem representing the Magic Goddess, and blue-white flames were lit all around.

But these flames were not the source of the brightness in the hall; in fact, it was patches of invisible Light spells that illuminated this underground ceremonial hall as if it were the bright day under a scorching sun, even to the point of being somewhat overly bright.

On one side of the hall was a stone platform about a palm's height. On the platform was a desk with some bottles and jars on it, and by the desk was a recliner.

When Xia Duo and the others arrived, they saw an old man with a tall but slightly hunched figure standing in front of the desk, seemingly preparing some kind of potion. He did not show the slightest intention of turning around upon hearing the group's footsteps.

On the other side of the hall were the seats for the observers. Besides the thirteen people who had just arrived with Xia Duo, quite a few people had already come before them. At this moment, they were sitting in their seats, waiting quietly without any whispering.

There were about twenty or thirty people. Although they were not necessarily all High Mages, they were undoubtedly Spellcasters. Xia Duo only glanced at them once before shifting his gaze away and sitting down with Niya.