Chapter 549: Patent Transfer, Behind Longevity

Of course, there was another problem here: he had not yet completely torn off the mask with Lord Huo Ke, so even if he harbored the intention to strike at the other party, he should try his best not to let them know that the Magic Net Background Communication scheme had anything to do with him.

Thus, Xia Duo made a small request to Archmage Greta: "Your Excellency Greta, if possible, please keep the matter of the Magic Net Background Communication confidential for me."

"Oh?" Greta stared at this young man with some surprise for a few seconds. She was skilled in mind spells, but even without casting any, she could tell that Xia Duo was speaking from the heart.

To still request anonymity after receiving her explicit security guarantee—such caution was not something an ordinary young man could achieve. Greta now thought even more highly of this young man's future.

"If you do not wish to come forward, you can have Giles Tower act on your behalf to register the Spell Patent with the Arcane Union, and then transfer the relevant proceeds to you later."

This was actually a disguised form of patent transfer. As a member of Giles Tower, Greta naturally hoped to keep this patent within Giles Tower, and she felt that the Princess thought the same.

Otherwise, she would not have promised the so-called Level 5 Excellent Patent standard.

Upon hearing this plan, Xia Duo did not hesitate at all and immediately agreed. Before submitting the communication scheme, although he knew there would certainly be a reward, he had not counted on it at all; his main goal was to strike at Lord Huo Ke.

Now, being able to have patent proceeds already exceeded his expectations by too much.

"Thank you, Your Excellency Archmage, thank you, Your Highness the Princess."

"Regarding the specific proceeds, Giles Tower will not let you suffer a loss, but you must also know that it is impossible for a patent applied for by you personally or the Tower of Time to be the same as one applied for by Giles Tower."

"I understand!"

It was just price suppression, wasn't it? However, these were all unexpected gains, and he didn't have much bargaining power, but getting anything at all was already quite good. Xia Duo was very open-minded about this.

Of course, on the other hand, Xia Duo also believed that it was unlikely for Giles Tower to do anything petty.

Greta was very satisfied with Xia Duo's attitude. Price suppression certainly had some meaning behind it, but the Princess had long ago set a minimum range, so no matter how much she suppressed it, it wouldn't go anywhere too low.

It was mainly to prevent the young man from developing unrealistic fantasies; fortunately, that was not the case.

"Lord Xia Duo, is there anything else? If not, I must leave; there are still matters to attend to at the Nether Palace."

Seeing the Archmage so amiable, Xia Duo suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Your Excellency Greta, I do have a matter I would like to ask about. Yesterday, Niya and I witnessed a special ritual at the Arcane Temple beneath the Great Temple, and afterwards, I received a warning from the Princess. Are there any taboos regarding this?"

Xia Duo did not directly state the names of the relevant figures or the ritual, but he believed Greta should know which matter and which person he was talking about.

It was impossible not to be curious about this matter, and the more it was forbidden to discuss above, the more curious he became.

Of course, it was also because the Princess had not strictly forbidden discussion, only saying it was best not to mention or discuss it, that he dared to ask Archmage Greta here.

"You were at the Arcane Temple yesterday and witnessed it with your own eyes? I only received the news today!" Greta was clearly somewhat surprised, but after the surprise, a complex expression that was hard to describe appeared on her face.

At the same time, she also roughly guessed what the Princess's warning was. "The Longevity Ritual can indeed grant longevity, but the success rate is extremely low. Once it fails, it doesn't matter if the Spellcaster dies, but the most terrifying thing is becoming an Undead. While retaining the spellcasting abilities from before death, they also harbor great malice toward the living. Such disasters have occurred in the past."

"Even if it succeeds and they inherit their previous emotions, they are no longer human. Although there seem to be no hidden dangers at present, no one can guarantee there won't be in the future."

"Do you think such a Longevity Ritual should be known to more people?"

Xia Duo shook his head. He had not expected the reality behind this so-called Longevity Ritual to be like this, but at the same time, he thought of another question. "Then, have any Great Arcanists succeeded before?"

A Great Arcanist is also a mortal, not immortal, and not even long-lived. If they do not cast Life Extension Magic, they may not necessarily live longer than ordinary people.

However, this question was indeed too sensitive. Greta did not answer directly, only saying, "Not everyone craves longevity. Additionally, I must remind you that those who obtain longevity through the Longevity Ritual can perceive who is calling their name. It is best not to discuss them casually."

"..."

After Archmage Greta finished her last sentence, she left directly. Xia Duo was somewhat dazed, but he could not stay long. Even after returning to his temporary residence here, he was still thinking about the last sentence Archmage Greta had just said.

In the game he played before transmigrating, 【Gods】 could indeed perceive those who called their names.

And in this world of real Magic, Xia Duo could not verify this kind of divine perception ability, but when he was extremely focused as an Advanced Arcanist, he had once perceived someone at the Progress Society saying his name.

That feeling was somewhat similar to hearing or sight, natural and instinctive. It was just that after advancing, he lost that powerful perception ability.

Now hearing that one could possess such perception ability through the Longevity Ritual, Xia Duo could not help but form some associations.

When advancing, one needs to perceive the Soul and will, and requires extreme focus. Perhaps at that instant, some unknown mutation occurred in the soul; otherwise, it would be impossible to perceive nothing before or after, yet be able to perceive it during the process.

Then, is the Longevity Ritual related to the soul? Or even, is the existence of gods related to the soul?

But this question is very difficult to verify. On one hand, Netherese Mages have very little understanding of the soul; on the other hand, the threshold for researching the soul is also very high.

For the time being, Xia Duo did not want to be distracted by this. At least from Arcanist to Great Arcanist, the process does not involve the soul level.

Recording some of his speculations about the soul in his notebook, he prepared to research this content after becoming a Great Arcanist. Now, while balancing his leveling, he should still focus his research direction on the Plane Domain, which is easier and more practical.

After finishing all this, Xia Duo remembered that there was still someone waiting for him outside!

Although he could completely ignore the other party now, doing so would be tantamount to intensifying the conflict. Before his communication scheme took effect, even if just to confuse the other party, some superficial gestures still had to be made.