Chapter 1172
Cynbel was smart enough not to chase Timothy into Scarlet Alliance territory. Most likely the head of the Ponderous Turtle Clan hadn’t been intending anything more than posturing. Timothy thought he came out ahead, riding the momentum of his enemy’s attack out of the system before eventually heading across the border.
Instead of ending up directly around Xankeshan, however, he ended up near one of the new border planets. The planets and systems weren’t new, but they were newly inhabited. It was a mix of Scarlet Alliance members and various refugees from the war in the midfields.
Catarina was there waiting for him, presumably responsible for controlling the spatial distortion formations. “How was your first battle with a Domination cultivator on an equal playing field?”
“I wouldn’t really call it a battle,” Timothy said. “I can’t even say that Cynbel used his maximum power in the few attacks exchanged. But at least I determined I can repeatedly block casual attacks. I feel I successfully established myself as a real Domination cultivator.”
“I was planning to never fight anyone on the basis of cultivation again,” Catarina said. “So it’s good that one of us is.”
Timothy raised an eyebrow. That declaration could have been indicating she had become a pacifist, but he knew better. “I feel sorry for anyone who provokes your wrath.”
She had put together formations that could trap a Domination cultivator while she was merely in Augmentation. They didn’t keep Zaur forever, but they had been sufficient for Timothy to stand toe to toe with him for a few moments. Long enough for Chidi to familiarize himself with the man’s energy and thus prepare for a single moment of Negation. The injury from that had driven him away in fear, ending the second war.
“So,” Catarina began. “Did you figure out his anchor?”
Timothy shook his head. “The only thing I can say is that it’s not his turtle. However, he was able to channel his power through said turtle, presumably improving the versatility of his attacks.”