Chapter 6286
Balin’s sensitivity to reiki was significantly higher than Charlie’s. This was partly due to his advanced cultivation level, but he also felt a bit self-conscious. Unlike Charlie, who had ample elixirs to replenish his reiki at any time, Balin felt as if he were a beggar, starved for this energy, making him more attuned to its nuances than most people. The instant Charlie’s probing aura brushed against him, every hair on Balin’s body stood on end.
Hiding in such a secluded cave, in what felt like an uninhabited expanse of thousands of square kilometers, Balin had not bothered to conceal his reiki.
When Charlie’s energy made contact, it caught Charlie himself off guard. He quickly realized that the presence lurking in the depths of the cave was indeed a monk—one whose cultivation must surpass his own. To Charlie’s knowledge, there were only two monks on the Antarctic continent: himself and an elder from the Warriors Den, who had recently been deceived by him and subsequently hunted by the US military. Now, another monk was positioned beneath the cave, and Charlie instantly recognized who it was without further thought.
In that moment, Charlie felt a rush of anxiety mixed with exhilaration that urged him to flee. However, he couldn’t ignore the arrow still aimed towards the cave entrance. In frustration, he shouted, “You deceitful being! I’ve toiled hard to accumulate this reiki to pay tribute to you. But you? You only want to kill me, don’t you?”
With that, he turned on his heels and ran. There was no option for retreat; he understood he stood no chance against his opponent. Although he possessed a ring to teleport him to Maria in dire circumstances, using it felt like gambling with his life; the repercussions would be painfully significant. Hence, he preferred to avoid it unless absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, Balin refused to let Charlie escape. The wild terrain of the Antarctic was an embodiment of the dark forest principle: in such a land, encounters between opponents are akin to two cats meeting unexpectedly. The weaker of the two would flee, while the stronger would pursue with a lethal intent. Balin was no exception.
As soon as he sensed he was being watched, he unleashed his reiki and followed Charlie’s energy trail; it was like a breadcrumb trail leading him straight to his target. The reiki left behind offered no chance of evasion, allowing Balin to track Charlie effortlessly. Furthermore, it only took Balin a moment to gauge that his pursuer’s cultivation was far inferior to his own. Although neither had yet broken through to the Soul Palace, Balin recognized that he was perilously close to that breakthrough, while Charlie lagged far behind.
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