Over the next few days, the aurora no longer appeared reliably every night.
Charlie wade waited a full week in the Arctic before seeing it twice more. To obtain additional Mahāvairocana hand seals, he spent a total of four Origin-Nurturing Pills across those two appearances, trading with the mysterious entity for another thirty-two seals.
The sixty-four-seal sequence increased spiritual-energy absorption efficiency by more than double once again.
Only six pills now remained, yet Charlie wade still hoped the aurora would return. Unfortunately, the warm North Atlantic current had begun rapidly raising temperatures in northern Europe, and the snow was starting to melt. Helena informed him that the arrival of the current marked the end of the long winter.
The end of winter also meant the aurora season in the northern hemisphere was over. To see it again, they would have to wait until winter returned at the end of the year.
With no more aurora, staying in northern Europe lost its purpose.
Yet Charlie wade believed that if the seals the entity was teaching him truly were the authentic Mahāvairocana seals, the sixty-four he had learned were probably just the tip of the iceberg.
An intense thirst for knowledge pushed him forward like an invisible hand.
For the moment, however, he could not think of any other medium besides the aurora that the entity might use.
The safest option, therefore, was to head to Antarctica. The southern hemisphere had already entered winter; aurora season there had begun.
Moreover, Lin Wan’er told him that every year in March and September, the angle between Earth’s magnetic field and the solar wind was optimal for aurora formation in Antarctica. During those months, solar particles more easily entered the atmosphere, making auroras both more active and brighter. Those were the best times for viewing.
It was currently mid-March.
Charlie wade immediately asked Helena, “Northern Europe has research stations in Antarctica, right?”
Helena nodded. “We have three stations inside the Antarctic Circle, but they are all summer stations. Personnel are only sent during the summer. When winter arrives, the stations are sealed and the scientists evacuated.”
“So right now all three are unmanned?”
“Most likely,” Helena replied. “I would need to check with the relevant department for exact details.”
She took out her phone. “One moment, Mr Wade. I’ll make a call.”
Charlie wade gave a small nod. Helena rang a cabinet member. After confirming, she turned back to him.
“Mr Wade, I just checked. Two of the three stations have already been seasonally shut down. The third is undergoing early-winter testing in preparation for becoming a year-round station next year. Four staff members are currently there. They will leave for home soon. Our research vessel is already being provisioned in an Argentine port. Supplies and new equipment need to be delivered. Once the team finishes installation and testing, they will sail back with the ship.”
Charlie wade asked, “Could you arrange for me to travel aboard that vessel? After your people leave, I would like to stay at the station for a while.”
Helena looked surprised. “Mr Wade, temperatures around the station have already dropped very low, minus forty degrees. During the deepest winter it can fall to minus seventy or lower. Staying there alone would be extremely dangerous.”
“Danger shouldn’t be an issue,” Charlie wade said. “The question is whether borrowing the station is feasible.”
Helena thought for a moment. “I’m not certain it can be done officially. The managing authorities would never approve it in principle. I could try to pull some strings informally.”
Lin Wan’er, standing nearby, spoke up. “Young Master, directly requesting to live in a national research station is something no official would ever agree to. It involves misuse of public assets and serious safety concerns. Normal channels will never allow it.”
