Chapter 3593: Journey to Antarctica

In the following days, the aurora no longer appeared punctually every night.

Ye Chen waited in the polar region for a week before seeing the aurora twice; to obtain more handprints of the Great Sun Tathagata, he used four Yuan-Nourishing Pills in total for the two occasions and traded for another thirty-two handprints from the mysterious entity.

The sixty-four handprints once again increased the efficiency of spiritual energy growth by more than double.

Although only six pills remained, Ye Chen still hoped for the aurora's appearance; unfortunately, the warm current from the North Atlantic caused temperatures in northern Europe to rise rapidly, snow began to melt, and Helena told Ye Chen that the arrival of the North Atlantic warm current signaled the end of the long winter.

The end of winter likewise signaled the end of the aurora's performance in the northern hemisphere; to see the northern hemisphere's aurora again, one must wait until winter returns at year's end.

With the aurora gone, staying in Europe lost its meaning.

But Ye Chen felt that if the mysterious entity within him had truly taught him the Great Sun Tathagata's handprints, then given the Great Sun Tathagata's divine powers, the sixty-four handprints he had learned were likely only the tip of the iceberg.

A strong thirst for knowledge, like an invisible great hand, pushed his body and mind to constantly move forward.

Yet for a time he did not know what other carriers besides the aurora could be controlled by the mysterious entity.

Therefore, the safest course was to shift operations to Antarctica, where the southern hemisphere had already entered winter and the aurora season had arrived.

Moreover, Lin Wan'er told Ye Chen that each March and September, for Antarctica, the angle between Earth's magnetic field and solar wind is optimal for aurora generation; during these two months, solar particles more easily enter Earth's atmosphere, so auroral activity and brightness peak, making it the best time for observation.

Now it is mid-March.

Thus Ye Chen immediately asked Helena: "Does Europe have research stations in Antarctica?"

Helena nodded and said: "Europe has three research stations in the Antarctic Circle, but they are summer stations only, staffed only in summer; in winter, the stations are sealed and personnel withdrawn."

Ye Chen asked: "So that means these stations are currently unmanned?"

"Probably." Helena said: "I still need to check with the relevant departments for specifics."

After speaking, she took out her phone and said: "Mr. Ye, please wait a moment while I make a call."

Ye Chen nodded slightly, and Helena dialed a cabinet member; after consulting, she told Ye Chen: "Mr. Ye, I just inquired about the details—two of the three research stations have been seasonally closed, and one is conducting early-winter tests in preparation to become a year-round station next year; currently four staff members are there, who will soon depart for home; our research vessel is already preparing in Argentina's port to deliver supplies and new equipment to the station; after installing and debugging the equipment, the staff will leave aboard the ship."

Ye Chen asked her: "Can you arrange for me to accompany the research vessel to Antarctica, and after your people withdraw, I will stay there for a while?"

Helena said in surprise: "Mr. Ye, temperatures in the Antarctic Circle are already very low; near the research stations it has reached minus forty degrees, and during extreme cold it can drop to minus seventy or even lower; would it not be too dangerous for you to stay there?"

Ye Chen said: "Danger is not necessarily an issue; the main question is whether it is feasible to stay temporarily at your research station."

Helena thought and said: "I am not currently certain whether it is feasible; in principle the supervising department would certainly not agree, but I can try to mediate."

Lin Wan'er said from the side: "Young Master, directly requesting to stay at a national research station would likely be refused by anyone in charge, as it involves the problem of using public resources for private gain and poses many safety hazards; normal channels would not open this door."

"That is true." Ye Chen sighed: "But Antarctica is now in winter, with harsh climate; having no place to stay would make survival difficult, and even if I could barely endure it, you and Miss Yun and Miss Song would probably not be able to either."

Lin Wan'er said: "Why not change approach and push forward—for example, have Helena make a call so we can first reach Argentina and catch up with the research vessel, saying we are just hitching a ride to Antarctica for a look, then return with the ship; I suspect opening this back door would still be easy; once in Antarctica, Young Master could use psychological suggestion to let them complete their work normally and withdraw, tacitly accepting our stay without publicizing it."

Ye Chen lightly nodded: "This is also a method; no matter what, we will go first and see."

Helena agreed: "Miss Lin's method is still feasible; after the research stations are sealed, they remain forgotten for a long time; as long as the involved personnel return without gossiping, domestic personnel will not know the specifics; moreover, when the station reopens next year, it will still be these frontline researchers who go, so if they keep the secret, no one will know."

Ye Chen snapped his fingers: "Let's do it this way—trouble Helena to communicate for us; we will go to Argentina to catch up with the research vessel."

Helena nodded and asked him: "Mr. Ye, if you plan to stay there after the research vessel departs, you may have to remain in Antarctica for several months; if you wish to return, there may be no ship to pick you up."

"No problem." Ye Chen said: "Mainly it is for closed-door cultivation; if immersed, a few months will feel like a blink."

After speaking, he looked at Lin Wan'er and said: "Miss Lin, the environment in Antarctica should be far harsher than here; entry is easy but exit difficult; would you consider returning to Jin Ling first?"

Lin Wan'er shook her head: "If I return to Jin Ling alone, I will surely miss Young Master constantly and be unable to calm my mind no matter what I do; it would be better to accompany Young Master, so that during his closed-door cultivation I can read books and practice writing, and manage in any case."

Helena listened with a start; she could hear that Lin Wan'er's words already revealed her feelings for Ye Chen without concealment, and she was astonished that someone so young could fall for a man nearly thirty, and could not understand why Ye Chen always kept her by his side.

Ye Chen himself could understand Lin Wan'er's reliance on him; for many years she has borne everything alone, not only that, but many adopted children depend on her, so she must be strong and press forward under burden.

Now she no longer needs to care for those adopted sons and daughters, nor bear responsibility for others; on the contrary, she is more like a young lady, and now that I can to some extent protect her safety, she can finally experience a relaxed state of life; in this situation, it is normal for her to rely on me a little more.

Moreover, I myself feel that if Lin Wan'er is willing to go to Antarctica with me, that would be the best outcome; I also secretly worry that if I am not by her side, she may encounter danger.

Thus he readily said to Lin Wan'er: "In that case, Miss Lin should prepare more daily and entertainment supplies to avoid boredom in polar life."

Helena said from the side: "After Antarctica enters winter, the closer to the South Pole, the shorter the daylight; by May, it basically enters polar night, which lasts over two months, with ice and snow and perpetual darkness; life should be very dull, so Miss Lin had better avoid suffering that."

Lin Wan'er did not mind, smiling and saying: "How could accompanying Young Master feel dull? If you were to go, would you be willing?"

Helena never expected the young lady to be so direct; a counter-question immediately made her blush deeply.

Yes, the Antarctic Circle is bitterly cold, often with long polar nights and months without sun; who would willingly stay there for months without reason?

But thinking of being able to stay with Ye Chen for several months, the dullness instantly vanished without a trace.

Yet she clearly knows in her heart that as a female emperor, disappearing for a few days before the people is no problem—just a vacation—but if she disappears for months, the people would surely go mad.

With this thought, Helena felt gloomy in her heart: "Perhaps I should abdicate; this broken emperorship—whoever wants it can have it; I do not want to be emperor for even a single day."