While Wu Paulo was probing the Antarctic ice sheet in the most primitive way, Charlie wade had already been in seclusion at the Nordic research station for twenty days.
During these twenty days, he had practised the Great Sun Tathagata Hand Seals almost without pause.
To his delight, as he grew more proficient, his execution speed increased rapidly, and the rate of spiritual energy accumulation was now much faster than before.
In the eyes of Grace Lowes and Song Rife, Charlie wade’s speed had surpassed theirs by more than one level. When he completed a full cycle of all eighty seals, Grace Lowes had only managed fewer than thirty, while Song Rife was even slower, perhaps not even reaching twenty.
For Charlie wade, once the seals became familiar, they seemed etched into his mind, transcending mere muscle memory. Often, as one seal formed, four or five more were already preparing subconsciously.
Gradually, Charlie wade discovered he possessed an inexplicable talent for these seals. Some mysterious energy within him seemed to help him go a little faster, then faster still.
In twenty days, the spiritual energy in his body had reached an unprecedented state of fullness.
When it had filled to the point of overflow, Charlie wade opened his eyes. Seeing Grace Lowes and Song Rife still seated in meditation performing the seals, he quietly rose and left the seclusion room.
With his spiritual energy at its limit, he considered another exchange with the mysterious entity.
He went to the window and looked outside. Beyond lay endless polar night, paired with fantastical aurora stretching to the horizon.
The Antarctic climate had grown colder, the aurora more frequent and widespread. Now it appeared almost around the clock and would continue for months without cease.
Thus, he decided to call Grace Lowes and Song Rife and take them beneath the aurora again, to see if new seals would appear.
Lin Wan’er saw him and approached joyfully. “Young Master, you have emerged from seclusion! How have these days been?”
Charlie wade smiled. “Very good. I seem to grow ever more proficient with the Great Sun Tathagata Hand Seals. I only wonder how long this seclusion lasted?”
Lin Wan’er replied crisply, “Young Master has been in seclusion for twenty days and three hours.”
“So long?”
Charlie wade was somewhat surprised.
A single seclusion felt like one long dream to him. He slept, dreamed, awoke, with little sense of how much time had passed.
Next moment, unable to hide his heartache, he asked Lin Wan’er, “Living alone in this polar night for twenty days must have been very lonely for you?”
Lin Wan’er’s expression showed surprise and bewilderment, tinged with faint emotion.
She had not expected that, upon learning so much time had passed, Charlie wade’s first thought would be concern for her.
Deeply moved, she pretended composure. “Thank you for your concern, Young Master. These twenty days have been fine for this servant. After living so many years, I am long accustomed to solitude.”
“That is not true.” Charlie wade refuted without hesitation, saying earnestly, “If you were truly accustomed to solitude, you would not adopt so many orphans or keep Old Zhang by your side.”
Lin Wan’er was suddenly struck at her softest spot. Her eyes reddened involuntarily, filling with tears.
Fearing she could hold them back no longer, she turned away, wiping her tears with her back to Charlie wade.
Charlie wade could not help stepping forward, gently placing hands on her shoulders. Gazing at the aurora outside, he asked, “Unable to cultivate yet granted longevity, such immortality must be very hard for you.”
Lin Wan’er’s delicate frame trembled lightly. Then she silently leaned her head against Charlie wade’s chest. The stunning aurora, refracted through tears, seemed even more dreamlike. Her lips parted softly as she said earnestly, “Young Master, longevity for this servant means never missing a day’s wonders. Four hundred years, over a hundred thousand sunrises and sunsets, skies brightening and darkening, I have not missed a single one. By comparison, most cultivators spend the majority of their long lives in seclusion. Even if they live thousands of years, the sunrises and sunsets they truly experience may be fewer than mine.”
Charlie wade was suddenly stunned.
He had thought his twenty-day seclusion was merely a long dream, while she endured twenty days of torment here.
He had not considered that Lin Wan’er might view it this way.
