Balin, certain his end was near, fell into utter despair.

He gathered what little energy he had left, forcing it into a final defensive barrier. But his reserves were already drained—far too depleted to withstand Charlie’s Thunder Order.

And this wasn’t the same Thunder Order as before.

Charlie’s cultivation had advanced significantly, and the Thunder Strike Wood from the Mother of Pu’er had amplified its power to a terrifying degree. For ordinary people—and even seasoned cultivators—a single bolt of heavenly lightning would be enough to annihilate them on the spot.

Balin endured only because of his formidable foundation and the desperate act of burning his own essence. Even so, he could barely survive the barrage, clinging to life by a thread.

His shattered limbs didn’t just weaken him—they broke the integrity of his entire defense. He was completely exposed.

Fear consumed him.