Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Chapter 100 Escaping the Snake's Mouth, Claw Skill Advancement

He no longer concealed his power.

With a thought, the dark gray bone claws on both hands fully appeared, their sharp edges gleaming with a deadly cold light.

He twisted his neck and, in the dim water, precisely spotted the deep wound Mark had left in the middle of the snake's body by attaching that black energy to the harpoon.

There, two purplish-blue fish scales had fallen off, revealing bright red flesh underneath.

This shows just how terrifying the power of Mark's attack was.

"A great opportunity!"

Xilun took a deep breath, his blood and qi surging through his body like a torrent.

His arms were bulging with muscles, and his five claws, imbued with the power of corruption, plunged relentlessly into the snake's most vulnerable interior through the gap where the scales had fallen off!

Without any obstruction, the claw sank in completely!

Then, with a thought, Xilun unleashed his long-accumulated claw energy.

The decaying claw energy within the bone claws, like venom finding an outlet, surged deep into the giant python's flesh and blood!

"Sizzle"

A dull tearing sound echoed through the water.

The python, in pain, thrashed and twisted wildly underwater, letting out a silent scream.

The putrid fumes spread along the wound, relentlessly destroying its muscle tissue and preventing it from healing.

A large chunk of snake meat, mixed with blood, was torn apart by Xilun.

Completely enraged, the giant python loosened its grip, turned its massive head, opened its fang-filled, blood-red jaws, and began to frantically tear at Xilun in the water.

Xilun nimbly rolled and dodged in the water, constantly using close-quarters combat skills to resist the giant python's attacks.

After exchanging blows for more than a dozen rounds, Xilun noticed that the snake's strength was beginning to weaken noticeably due to blood loss and the corrosive power.

He seized the opportunity, kicked off the snake's belly with both legs, and used the force to break free from the python's attack range. Like a swordfish, he quickly swam upwards.

"Splash!"

Xilun burst out of the water, grabbed the gunwale of the fishing boat with both hands, and climbed onto the deck.

"Start the boat! Quickly!" Mark shouted as soon as he saw Xilun come ashore alive.

The sailors frantically raised the sails and steered, the fishing boat leaving a trail on the river as it quickly sailed away from the dead waters stained with blood.

Xiren slumped onto the deck, letting out a deep breath.

He looked down at his arms and waist.

His skin, tempered by the master-level Iron Wall Breathing Technique and as strong as copper and iron, was still torn open by the giant python's terrifying strangulation and trembling, even with its black scale patterns. A few drops of scarlet blood fell out.

Mark walked to Xiren's side, his face extremely solemn as he gazed at the churning waters.

"This thing—it must be the demon that the sailors have been talking about so much in private."

Mark's voice carried a hint of lingering fear. "First, it devoured a district governor named An Huo upstream, and then it came here. That capsized boat just now was probably its doing; everyone on board became its prey. I heard that this beast's strength is already close to that of a mid-level alien species."

"9

After saying that, he turned his head and stared intently at Xilen, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

"But what I didn't expect was you."

Mark pointed to the tiny wounds on Siren's body, "You actually managed to escape unscathed after being entangled and dragged into the water by this level of mutant!"

Xilun wiped the water droplets from his face, exhaled a breath of stale air, and said calmly, "I also had to use some underhanded methods to barely escape."

Mark shook his head and said with a wry smile, "You don't need to be modest. If I were in your position just now, even if I used all my breathing techniques and unleashed all my trump cards, I might not have been able to escape unscathed like you."

At this point, Mark's eyes became incredibly complex, and he said, word by word, "You have now, without a word, stepped into the ranks of the first-tier extraordinary beings—you have successfully been baptized. It truly surprises me."

After he finished speaking, the deck fell into a deathly silence.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding sailors gasped in shock, as if waking from a dream.

At the same time, the doubt in their hearts was completely resolved.

No wonder Xilun could hold his breath underwater for so long, no wonder he could withstand the giant python's strangulation!

The gazes of everyone looking at Xilun instantly turned into one of utter awe, even disbelief.

This young man who ate coarse rice and did manual labor with them has now become one of those unapproachable big shots.

Facing the awe-inspiring gazes of the crowd, Xilun showed no trace of pride or arrogance.

He stood up, wrung out the water stains from his trench coat, looked at the river shrouded in mist ahead, and spoke in a calm and unwavering tone.

"We can catch up later. Let's get ashore quickly, lest we get stuck on that strange snake. It holds a grudge."

The dark blue grey river churned in the night wind, and a thick fog, mixed with the pungent smell of fish and coal smoke, weighed heavily on the decks of the fishing boats.

The old lantern at the bow of the boat swayed in the wind, its dim yellow light barely tearing through the surrounding darkness.

The fishing boats slowly entered the berths of White Crow Wharf amidst the roar of their old steam engines.

The heavy anchor crashed into the water, splashing up a cloud of murky spray.

The sailors deftly secured the ropes to the rusty iron stakes on the shore, their tense faces bearing the relief of surviving a disaster.

The fear instilled by the giant purplish-blue python underwater still lingered in their bones.

Xilun stood at the ship's railing, his black trench coat clinging tightly to his body, water droplets dripping down the hem.

He looked down at the long, narrow wound on his side. The flesh, torn open by the python's scales, had an unnatural grayish-white hue, a trace of residual foreign toxins. However, under the powerful flow of blood and qi after his baptism, the wound had stopped bleeding and was slowly healing at a visible pace.

Mark came out of the cabin, holding a dry towel, and handed it to Xilen.

The burly man glanced at Xilun's wound, a trace of shock still lingering in his eyes.

"Wipe yourself off. The water is very cold. Even though you've been baptized, you can't be careless," Mark said in a deep voice, his rough fingers rubbing gently in the night breeze.

Xilen took the towel and casually wiped the water from his hair. He turned his head and looked at Mark with a deep gaze.

"After we get ashore," Mark said in a low voice, his tone serious, "you're now a Tier 1 Extraordinary. Although those big shots may consider you relatively inexperienced, your performance tonight was truly outstanding. With this level of strength, it would be a waste for you to stay on this beat-up fishing boat as a handyman."

Xilun didn't speak, but just listened quietly.

Mark paused for a moment, then continued, "You can go to Lord Wall, who's in charge here, and ask him to assign you a more suitable position. With your abilities, you can definitely secure a place at White Raven Wharf."

"Lord Wall?" Siren narrowed his eyes slightly, the image of that withered, thin figure appearing in his mind.

"It's the old man you saw smoking and weaving nets in the dock pavilion," Mark explained softly, noticing Xilen's confusion.

Xilun nodded slightly.

He recalled the old man sitting in the dilapidated wooden pavilion when he first went to report for his new post.

At that time, I had not yet been baptized, and could only vaguely sense a deathly stillness emanating from the other person, a stillness born of the passage of time.

But now, looking back, he realized that although the old man looked like he was on his deathbed, his withered body definitely contained a terrifying power like a volcano.

That person certainly possessed a profound aura.

From the perspective of someone who has been baptized, that is definitely not a life magnetic field that an ordinary first-order extraordinary being could possess.

I'm afraid he was a second-tier extraordinary being.

This refers to the legendary "Ripper," who can unleash his power and tear steel apart with his bare hands.

Thinking of this, Xilun's eyes became somewhat intense, but he quickly hid them deep within.

He turned to look at Mark and said softly, "Your fork technique on the water just now was quite impressive. That black energy could easily pierce through even the scales of a giant python."

Upon hearing this, Mark forced a bitter smile onto his rough face. He leaned against the wet gunwale, pulled out the half-broken cigar from his pocket, put it in his mouth, but didn't light it.

"It's just a little trick," Mark sighed. "It's more about the breathing technique I practice. It's an unorthodox method that can make the internal energy viscous for a short time, even creating the illusion of liquefaction."

He stretched out his large, calloused hands and turned them over in the dim light.

"After the energy liquefies, its power increases exponentially. Only then can that black iron harpoon withstand this force and pierce through the alien's armor."

Mark's voice sounded weary. "Otherwise, with my current skill level, I probably wouldn't even be able to scratch it. But this method is harmful to my health; after using it once, I need to rest for a long time."

Xilun lowered his eyes thoughtfully.

The effect of this extraordinary breathing technique on strength and power is so significant.

Not only does he possess his own Iron Wall Breathing Technique, which emphasizes defense and endurance, but he also has Mark's unorthodox method of instantaneous bursts and altering the form of energy.

If his proficient Dorok Dark Claw technique could be combined with this viscous, liquefied energy, its power would definitely double again.

He needs to hone his martial arts skills to a higher level as soon as possible, and at the same time find an advanced breathing method suitable for a first-level baptismalist.

Stepping onto the slippery cobblestone dock, Xilun bid a brief farewell to Mark and disappeared alone into the cold, foggy night of the city.

The gaslights on the street cast a dim light, and occasionally a drunkard would mumble incoherently in the alley.

Back at the Golden Rooster Hotel, the wooden floorboards in the corridor creaked dully.

Xilun pushed open the door to room 302 and locked it from the inside.

There were no lights on in the room. He walked to the window, drew the heavy curtains, and then took off his soaking wet black trench coat and shirt.

The pale moonlight shone through the gaps in the curtains onto his strong, well-proportioned body.

Within the light copper color of the skin's surface, fine black scale patterns are faintly visible.

This is his greatest asset, and also his shield to survive in this cruel world.

He walked to the basin and quickly washed the wound on his waist with cold water. Then he rummaged through the drawer and found bandages and hemostatic powder.

The powder was sprinkled on the wound, causing a burning, stinging pain.

Xiren wrapped the bandages around his face expressionlessly, his movements so practiced it was heartbreaking. He sat down on the edge of the bed and exhaled a long, foul breath that smelled of blood.

In the quiet of the night, he began to carefully analyze the battle of the night.

The giant python's strength was terrifying. If it weren't for its swimming talent, which allowed it to maintain its breathing and balance underwater, it would probably have been strangled into mincemeat long ago.

While the destructive power of the Corruption Claws is astonishing, it is still not fatal enough for such large and resilient alien species.

He needs greater explosive power and the skill to instantly sever the enemy's lifeline.

Deep within the retina, a stream of deep red data slowly emerges.

Dorok's Dark Claw skill experience bar is slowly increasing. Tonight's life-or-death moment underwater gave him a profound understanding of the technique.

Xilun closed his eyes, his mind replaying the giant python's writhing movements, the airflow changes the moment Mark forked out, and the resistance feedback when his own bone claws pierced flesh.

Such in-depth review is extremely energy-consuming.

He didn't know when, but he heard a slight clicking sound, and a stream of pale red data flowed out of his pupils.

[Successfully completed one claw skill practice session. Dorok Dark Claw Skill Experience Points +1]

Current progress: 500/500

[Skill Advancement: Proficient Level -> Expert Level!]

After an unknown amount of time, a strong feeling of drowsiness washed over me.

Xilun did not resist the weariness. He habitually pressed his hand under the pillow, tilted his body, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day at dawn.

The morning in the foggy city was still shrouded in thick gray smog.

In the distance, factory chimneys began to spew out thick black smoke, and the faint roar of gears and steam engines could be heard.

Xilun suddenly opened his eyes.

There was no hangover headache, nor the usual aches and pains from overexertion. His eyes were crystal clear, and his entire body radiated an explosive power.

He rolled out of bed and glanced at the mechanical pocket watch on the table.

It was exactly six o'clock in the morning.

Xilun pondered that his sleep efficiency seemed to have improved significantly as well.

In the past, when working at the bottom of society, it took at least eight to ten hours of sleep a day to barely recover one's strength.

Now, it seems that only six hours are needed to completely replenish one's energy and depleted blood and qi.

This is the benefit of leaping to a higher level of life.

Those who have been baptized can no longer be considered purely mortal.

After washing up, he changed into a clean white shirt and gray vest, draped his coat over his shoulders, and walked out of the hotel.

The streets were sparsely populated in the early morning, and a newspaper boy weaved through the mist, calling out in a clear voice.

Xilun bought two steaming hot meat pies from a roadside stall and strode towards White Crow Wharf while chewing them.

He arrived at the pavilion at the dock early.

That is, the place where I first came to report.

Mist hung over the river, and the dilapidated wooden pavilion swayed slightly in the wind.

The old man was still wearing that faded gray robe, sitting quietly inside.

In his hand, he was holding a greasy rag, slowly wiping a rusty harpoon.

With each wipe, Xilun could keenly sense that the surrounding air seemed to be subtly distorted as the harpoon moved.

This demonstrates an unparalleled level of control over one's vital energy.

Hearing footsteps, the old man stopped what he was doing.

He raised his head, his cloudy yet sharp eyes glancing indifferently at Xilun.

Then, his gaze lingered on Xilen for a moment, taking another look.

A hint of surprise, hard to conceal, seemed to flash across the wrinkled old face.

The old man put down the harpoon and dusted off his hands.

"Come in."

A hoarse, deep voice slowly drifted through the mist.