Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Chapter 114 Planning the Decapitation Shot, Meeting with Wall

The large, armed ship rose and fell slightly on the waves, emitting a dull creaking sound as the wood rubbed against each other.

Xilun returned to his small room, which was filled with the salty smell of the sea. Instead of lighting the kerosene lamp, he lay down directly on the hard wooden bed.

The surrounding darkness seemed to help him concentrate better.

His brain was like a sophisticated gear machine, running at breakneck speed.

If he were to infiltrate the Siren's Anvil, how should he proceed? This was not a momentary impulse of passion, but a calm consideration based on his own trump cards.

He kept going over the details in his mind.

From the moment he entered the water, he listed out all the critical factors, including water pressure, water temperature, the direction of the undercurrent, the distribution density of the anti-submarine net chains, and the risk of injury from the barbs, and formulated contingency plans.

A ten-nautical-mile dive, even with a natural swimming talent, is an incredibly demanding physical and mental drain. He must ensure that every ounce of his energy is used effectively.

After a long while, Xilun finally exhaled a long breath of stale air in the darkness, and that breath instantly turned into a faint white mist in the cold cabin.

He sat up and pulled a moisture-proof brown paper package from a hidden compartment under the bed. Inside was a deep-sea mineral ointment specially prepared for practicing the "Great Sea Whale Guiding Technique".

Xilun removed his slightly damp clothes, revealing a sturdy torso covered in black scales.

He applied the icy-cold plaster evenly to the key acupoints on his chest, abdomen, and limbs.

The moment the ointment touched his skin, it brought a sharp, needle-like pain, but he didn't even flinch.

He sat cross-legged, his breathing becoming long and rhythmic, like a colossal whale slowly swallowing and exhaling ocean currents.

The blood and qi roared within the body, and the iron elements and deep-sea factors in the ointment were torn apart and devoured by the violent force, then merged into the skin, flesh and bones.

Each energy cycle is accompanied by the tearing and reorganization of muscle fibers. This pain is enough to drive an ordinary person to a mental breakdown, but Xilun is immersed in it, greedily feeling the accumulation of power.

Three or four hours passed, and the moon hung high above the thick fog, emitting a pale and cold halo.

It was late at night.

Xilun's chest jolted violently, ending the last cycle of energy.

He opened his eyes, and a flash of dark golden light seemed to appear in them.

He stood up, stretched his limbs, and the cracking of his bones produced a teeth-grinding sound.

He keenly sensed that practicing the "Great Ocean Whale Guiding Technique" in this water-rich marine environment allowed his blood and qi to condense faster than on land.

The ocean is the perfect breeding ground for this skill.

He pushed open the cabin door and went out onto the empty deck.

A cold sea breeze, carrying spray, swept over us. Outside, only a few people, bundled in heavy sailor suits, stood shivering on the watchtower atop the mast.

In the sheltered spot on the foredeck, veteran escort Ceci lay as always on a worn-out deck chair, comfortably enjoying the cold wind, seemingly unconcerned about the dire situation before him.

Hearing footsteps, Ceci turned around and saw it was Xilun. She then lazily yawned and sat up straight.

"What a coincidence, can't sleep? Come out for some fresh air together." Ceci casually pointed to the empty wooden box next to her.

Xiren walked over and sat down, his gaze sweeping across the ship's railing to the distant, fog-shrouded Sea of ​​Death. He asked calmly, "How is the situation now? Has Lord Vol calmed down?"

Sisi rubbed his frozen hands, shook his head with a wry smile.

"Haha, don't even mention it. Lord Wall was furious in the conference room just now. He even planned to apply directly to the General Council to bring in three heavy armed gunboats to bombard the outer seas without regard to cost."

He wanted to use sheer firepower and massive amounts of gold to forcibly destroy the underwater anti-submarine nets and heavy chains in that area, pushing the Siren's Anvil forward.

At this point, Ceci pulled a cigarette from his inner pocket, lit it on a windproof match, and took a deep drag.

"This is insane. Not to mention that the General Council would never approve such a costly war of attrition, even if it did, those reefs would be enough to sink most of the gunboats."

Ceci exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his eyes becoming deep and helpless. "It's a disaster to let these Grey Hemp Pirates occupy this natural stronghold. Unless we bring in even more powerful Scourge Knights from the Upper City to crush them with absolute force, it will be impossible to remove this fang."

Siren keenly caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar term. He turned to look at Cecily, his brow furrowing slightly: "A Scourge Knight? What level of being is that?"

Ceci was puffing on his cigarette, the flame flickering in the darkness, illuminating his weathered face.

"You haven't been in the extraordinary realm for long, so it's normal that you don't know."

Ceci's tone became serious. "First-tier, second-tier, and third-tier extraordinary individuals correspond to low-level, mid-level, and high-level knights, respectively."

In these three stages, because their destructive power is still limited and they can hardly contend with organized firearms armies, they still belong to the category of "Extraordinary Knights."

Ceci paused, a hint of awe for power flashing in his eyes.

"However, starting from the fourth-tier extraordinary beings, this is a huge watershed. The destructive power will increase by an extremely terrifying magnitude."

He looked at Xilun and asked with a testing tone, "Regarding the third-tier extraordinary individuals, do you still remember their common titles?"

""

Siren quickly searched his mind for the fragments of information he had previously gleaned from the club's library, and said uncertainly, "It seems to be—a mutant?"

Sisi nodded approvingly.

"Yes, a third-tier extraordinary being, whose physical attributes have broken the limits of ordinary creatures, extremely agile, and capable of scaling walls and rooftops."

They move effortlessly between skyscrapers tens of meters high. Their skeletal structure and muscle form have undergone varying degrees of mutation, making them look like deformed demons from a novel. Hence, they are called "mutants".

"

Ceci flicked the burnt-out cigarette butt into the dark, icy sea with his finger, and continued speaking with a faint hiss.

"Starting from the fourth-tier extraordinary individuals, their destructive power is no longer limited to the concept of one person taking on a hundred. With a simple gesture, they even possess the terrifying ability to destroy an entire reinforced concrete building with their bare hands."

This kind of power is tantamount to a moving natural disaster for ordinary people. Therefore, the fourth and fifth levels...

Sixth-tier extraordinary individuals are collectively known in the occult world as—Calamity Knights!

Xilun was deeply shaken; it was an absolute violence capable of shattering worldly rules.

"Among them, those of the fourth tier of Extraordinary Abilities are given the honorific title of 'Witcher'."

Ceci's voice carried an undisguised fervor and longing: "They tempered and honed their skin, flesh, tendons, and bones to an extreme and terrifying state."

Even when their flesh and blood are completely corroded by strong acid during battle, their skeletons, forged through countless trials, still shine brightly, supporting them to continue fighting.

Even after a witcher falls, his indestructible bones can be collected by mystical blacksmiths to forge extremely rare, high-level extraordinary items.

At this point, Sisi let out a long sigh, seemingly lost in distant memories.

"I was once fortunate enough to witness the magnificence of a Witcher from afar."

He simply pressed his palm against an extremely thick military-grade iron wall, and instantly released the immense power within him, slicing a smooth gash in the wall as easily as cutting tofu.

Sisi swallowed hard, still seemingly stunned by the scene.

"There once was a high-level alien species that dwelled in the Black Swamp, a highly poisonous swamp toad the size of a house."

The monster spewed out a deadly poison capable of melting steel, successfully ambushing the witcher.

The venom instantly corroded half of the Witcher's flesh, revealing the white bones that gleamed with a metallic sheen.

However, the demon hunter didn't even flinch. He simply stood there and rested for a few breaths. As his blood and qi surged, the corroded flesh all over his body grew back at a speed visible to the naked eye, perfectly restored.

Truly incredibly powerful, like an immortal god!

After hearing this description, Xilun was deeply moved.

He touched his body, which had just been baptized. He had thought he possessed superhuman strength, but compared to the Scourge Knights, he was as fragile as an infant.

"The extraordinary path truly has no end."

Xilun sighed softly, his eyes growing even deeper in the darkness, subtly revealing a strong longing for the splendor of higher realms.

That kind of power is the ultimate answer to truly taking control of one's destiny in this desperate world.

Ceci let out a sigh of relief and waved his hand, as if trying to dispel this unattainable fantasy.

"Let's not talk about that. Those big shots are too far removed from us. Right now, Lord Wall is still worried about the Sirens' Anvil, and the atmosphere in the entire fleet is frighteningly tense. If this continues, the Brotherhood will lose all face."

Xilun remained silent for a while, gazing wistfully at the rolling, dark sea in the distance. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was like some ancient war drum, pounding against his heart.

He finally made up his mind.

"I plan to give it a try." Xiren stood up, his tone calm yet conveying an undeniable firmness.

Ceci paused for a moment, but before he could ask a question, Celen had already turned and walked into the depths of the cabin.

Xiren arrived at the door of Wall's room, raised his hand, and gently knocked on the door with a light touch.

"Come in." A voice from inside the door came from Wall, sounding extremely tired and irritated.

Xilun pushed open the door and walked in; the room reeked of cheap tobacco. Wall lay back on a large leather sofa, his eyes bloodshot, his mind a jumbled mess of thoughts as he tried to find a way out of the predicament.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't even get up, but casually asked, "Who is it? I told you not to bother me tonight."

"Lord Wall, it is I," Siron replied respectfully from the shadows.

Wall recognized Xilun's voice, let out a long sigh, and rubbed his temples in annoyance.

"Sirlen, what brings you here? If you're here to persuade me to leave, then shut up and get out."

Xilun stepped forward, his posture ramrod straight, and said slowly, "I've heard that the current offensive plan has completely stalled, is that right?"

Wall sat up, picked up the now-cold strong tea on the table, and took a big gulp. The bitter taste made him a little more awake.

"Indeed." Wall's voice was filled with deep frustration. "Whether it's a concentrated frontal assault or sending elite troops in to infiltrate and decapitate, nothing works. That sea is a damned living coffin."

He rubbed his temples hard, clearly extremely worried about the matter.

Xilun raised his head, looking directly at the second-tier Ripper, and calmly asked, "Then, sir, where exactly is the absolute obstacle to the decapitation operation?"

Wall put down his teacup, his sharp gaze fixed on Xilen with a hint of displeasure.

"Since you participated in the afternoon's reconnaissance, you should know how treacherous the terrain is. Diving to a depth of twenty meters, the extreme water pressure is a great test for the physique of ordinary extraordinary individuals; if it goes on for too long, it will cause internal bleeding."

In addition, the infiltrators must maintain a high level of concentration and swim continuously for ten nautical miles in pitch-black water, without taking a breath midway, otherwise the bubbles on the surface will immediately attract patrol boats.

Wall stood up, walked to the porthole, and pointed to the darkness outside.

"Even more deadly is that the underwater world of Nagan Sea is covered with heavy iron chains and anti-submarine nets."

Even the slightest scratch, a mere scratch from the barbs that break the skin, would draw blood and immediately attract hordes of bloodthirsty monsters from that area! How could one possibly dive under such conditions?

Xilun took a deep breath, mentally comparing each of the deadly conditions listed by Volro with his own abilities, and then said, "In other words, if there were someone who could fully adapt to the high-pressure underwater environment and perform silent breathing underwater, thus sustaining a ten-nautical-mile voyage, then they could infiltrate the Siren's Anvil, right?"

Wall was clearly getting impatient; he turned around and rudely interrupted Xiren.

"What exactly are you trying to say? What are you planning to do coming here so late at night? If it's just to come up with these unrealistic assumptions, you can go back to your room."

Despite Wall's anger, Siren remained calm, his voice carrying weight in the small room.

"To be honest, although I grew up in the slums of the Lower City and had never been in deep water before, I have discovered that I am actually an excellent swimmer after my experience in the Greywater River."

Wall frowned, said nothing, and just stared at him coldly, listening quietly to this seemingly absurd statement.

Siren continued, "After completing my first-order baptism, and after careful consideration, I chose to use the 'Great Sea Whale Guidance Technique'..."

This is my core extraordinary breathing technique.

Although this technique progresses slowly, after completing the first level, it granted me extremely profound and enduring strength, as well as a robust physique capable of withstanding the pressure of deep water.

Seeing the gradual change in Wall's eyes, Xiren revealed his final trump card.

"In addition, I tried breathing exercises after entering the water. I found that I could breathe while moving slowly underwater and directly absorb free oxygen from the water through my skin."

Moreover, I possess far greater adaptability and sensory abilities underwater than on land.

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

Wall's eyes widened, and the light deep within his pupils grew brighter.

He stood there stunned for a long time, motionless as a statue.

Slowly, he stood up from the shadows and stared intently at Xilun.

His back, which had been hunched over in despair, straightened up once more.