Chapter 1166
The distance that Anton’s senses could go beyond the northern border was significantly less than elsewhere, and far more transitory. Normally, focusing on a single strand was something he could keep up indefinitely, but when reaching into the upper realms his energy was constantly eaten away. Thus, he had to keep investing more energy into it.
At one point he’d barely been able to reach Alva just beyond the border. Now he could at the very least sense a few systems deeper, though it took enough energy that he might deplete his reserves even as a Unity cultivator. Eventually. Even the most strenuous sensing wouldn’t usually be that draining.
Technically, he could have done better if he was willing to let his senses be obvious. The distance and the corrosive effects of the upper realms on his energy combined together in such a way that he had to use more energy, and thus it was easier to sense. It took more to keep it hidden, dissolving into the surroundings without creating any noticeable effects.
He could sense the war. He could even affect it, if he had been willing. Given the distance he would have to settle for taking out Integration cultivators while merely being a thorn in the side of Augmentation cultivators. Even so, he could easily shift the flow of critical battles and make one side the victor, or draw them into an eternal stalemate. Neither one was actually that beneficial for the Alliance.
Instead, Anton’s efforts were focused on finding people- and carrying along with that far-reaching energy the efforts of others. Specifically, Aerona’s energy. At such a distance Anton could probably communicate a few words, but they wouldn’t be good words.
Aerona’s path was focused on interactions with people in a direct way. She could put more than a few words into her energy if it was necessary, or more efficiently transmit ideas and feelings. People could be led to specific areas with a feeling of safety instead of having to be convinced one by one.
The main targets were those on the near side of the war, directing them to a planet that would be relatively safe. For that, they’d have to go all the way to the border. Preferably, to the same planet. Anton picked out Bounty, scarred as it was. The upper realms had scoured the planet to eliminate any traces of void ants at the turn of the tides, just like many others.
However, Bounty had been more prosperous and fruitful than the others. Much of its plant life had survived and naturally spread over the planet. Enough that there were some fertile fields and some natural food available.
It was the closest planet over the border to the Alliance systems, so the more people they could get there the better. It would still be a difficult process to get people over the border, but even if those efforts fell through people should be safer than they would have otherwise been, as long as they weren’t actually targeted by any of the war efforts.