It was most likely being absorbed by some mysterious entity inside his body that he remained unaware of. The culprit behind both occasions when the aurora had displayed the seals was probably that very thing.
To confirm his suspicion, Charlie wade wanted Grace Lowes and Song Rife to try the first set of seals. If their spiritual energy did not mysteriously disappear, his theory would be proven correct.
At the same time, to guard against being wrong and causing the two women to suffer massive spiritual-energy loss, Charlie wade had prepared two Origin-Nurturing Pills. If their energy was damaged, he could restore it immediately with the pills.
In short, he would not let them suffer any loss because of him.
Only then did he teach them the complete first set of hand seals.
To prevent himself from triggering the seals and having large amounts of spiritual energy siphoned off again, Charlie wade deliberately taught the sequence in the wrong order. Only after both women had memorised it did he reveal the correct one.
The first set consisted of eight seals. When demonstrating, Charlie wade deliberately used the order 1-2-3-4 then 8-7-6-5.
When he completed the first four seals, the golden pagoda in his sea of consciousness eagerly emerged, ready to absorb spiritual energy. To its surprise, the following seals deviated from the proper sequence. The golden pagoda’s light instantly winked out, and a moment later it plunged back into his consciousness, seemingly frustrated and aggrieved.
Charlie wade nervously finished demonstrating the eight seals in disordered sequence and found no change in his spiritual energy. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief before asking the two women, “Have you both memorised the eight seals I just showed?”
Both nodded simultaneously. “Yes, we have.”
Charlie wade nodded. “Now reverse the order of the last four seals while keeping the first four the same. Repeat them backwards.”
The two women were baffled, but because they trusted Charlie wade completely, they tacitly refrained from asking why. They quickly rearranged the sequence in their minds and then executed all eight seals in the correct order.
Charlie wade closely observed them. After they finished the eight seals, he saw no sign of massive spiritual-energy loss, so he asked, “Did you feel anything?”
Grace Lowes shook her head. “Replying to Mr Wade, this set of seals appears to have no effect whatsoever.”
Song Rife agreed. “Indeed, Mr Wade. I felt nothing either.”
Charlie wade pressed further. “Was there any subtle change in your spiritual energy?”
Grace Lowes answered, “None. It neither increased nor decreased.”
Charlie wade nodded, the answer now clear in his mind.
First, the root of everything lay within his own body.
Second, although he still did not know what it was, he could at least confirm it was definitely not the ring Lin Wan’er had given him.
As for why it had shown him the seals, Charlie wade’s doubts gradually crystallised into a reasonable conjecture.
The first display had clearly been to absorb his spiritual energy.
The second seemed more like reciprocation, a return gift for all the spiritual energy he had provided.
People say a drop of kindness should be repaid with a fountain, yet this thing had done the opposite. It drained his fountain dry and squeezed back just a few drops.
Of course, Charlie wade understood the principle of constant dripping wearing away stone. In the current dharma-ending age, this set of seals held immense significance.
If subsequent stages truly brought even greater benefits, it would genuinely be a blessing in disguise.
With that thought, much of Charlie wade’s unease toward the unknown entity eased. He smiled at the two women and said, “Since this set of seals has no effect on you, there is no need to bother with it. Focus instead on practising the second set you learnt last night.”
