Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

He could only maintain that violent double-cycle counter-current for fifteen breaths.

After fifteen breaths, his muscle fibers will begin to break down and his meridians will be damaged.

"In other words, whether I face Li An tomorrow or Ross the day after, I must completely resolve the battle within fifteen breaths of revealing my trump card."

Xilun secretly devised a strategy in his mind.

He lay on his back, closed his eyes, and prepared to practice breathing techniques to recover his strength.

Just then, his keen "far-sounding" talent suddenly caught the footsteps and voices coming from outside the door.

"But... does the young Mr. Xilun live in this room?" A middle-aged man's slightly arrogant voice rang out from outside the door.

Xilun opened his eyes and got up from the floor.

The door wasn't locked and was pushed open.

Two people walked in, one after the other.

Xilun recognized both of them.

The young man walking behind with a gloomy face and displeasure in his eyes is none other than Li An, his opponent in tomorrow's semi-final.

The middle-aged man walking ahead with a long stride and a powerful aura is Li Lei, the president of the Silver Hand Club!

Li Lei walked into the room, his gaze passing right past Lund standing to the side, as if he hadn't even seen the Iron Cross president.

He walked straight up to Xiren, looked down at him, and a faint smile appeared on his lips:

"I apologize for my intrusion and for disturbing Mr. Celen's rest."

I am Li Lei, the president of the Silver Hand Club.

I'm here today because there's something very important concerning your future that I'd like to discuss with Mr. Celen.

Xilun narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought.

Logically speaking, there are generally only two situations where the president of the opposing club personally visits you with his players on the eve of a major competition.

They either coerce or entice you to give up the match, or they spend a lot of money to make you throw the fight in the ring.

However, Xilun secretly sneered as he looked at Li Lei's arrogant and overbearing demeanor.

As the president of a long-established and experienced club like the Silver Hand, does he really believe that he, a nobody from a lower-level club, could possibly defeat his son, Li Anyao, who is hailed as a genius, in the ring?

Xilun stood up straight and looked up to meet Li Lei's gaze without fear.

He suddenly realized that Li Lei was truly arrogant to the core.

From the moment he entered until now, he hasn't said a single word to Lund, a third-tier expert, or even greeted him.

Those eyes were staring straight at him; clearly, in this room, he didn't care about anyone else except himself.

"So it's Chairman Li Lei." Xi Lun's tone was indifferent, showing no respect whatsoever. "May I ask what brings you here, sir?"

Li Lei chuckled, put his hands behind his back, and struck a pose of benefactor, saying:

"It's nothing major, I was just asking casually."

I see that you are now cultivating through extraordinary means, with abundant qi and blood, and you are already close to the threshold of the second baptism, right?

"I wonder if you've made any preparations regarding the second-tier breathing techniques and the resources needed for subsequent advancement?"

Xilun frowned, unsure of the other's intentions, and replied calmly:

"Speaking of this, I haven't really thought about it that much yet."

However, I believe my teacher, Lord Lund, will consider this matter carefully for me.

Lund, standing to the side, was unsure of what Li Lei meant when he heard this.

But he had a vague feeling that this old fox was definitely up to no good.

Lund narrowed his eyes slightly, like a fierce tiger protecting its cubs, coldly scrutinizing the father and son.

Li Lei remained completely unafraid despite Lund's warning gaze.

He didn't even turn his head, still staring at Xilun, and chuckled:

"I think, Mr. Celen, you may not know this."

Your teacher, Lund, although talented, was fortunate enough to be promoted to a high-ranking knight.

But at most, he can only privately teach you some basic, common breathing techniques and rudimentary fighting skills.

Li Lei's voice gradually rose, carrying a sense of superiority:

"The same applies to the Iron Cross Club. These grassroots clubs, which are at risk of going bankrupt at any time, simply do not have sufficient approval qualifications or official backing."

They cannot directly grant you advanced second-tier knowledge. Forcibly imparting it would require an extremely cumbersome process and application, and might even be deemed illegal by the church!

At this point, Li Lei finally glanced sideways at Lund, his eyes full of disdain, and continued speaking to Xilun:

"In terms of personal ability, Lord Lund may indeed be formidable."

However, in terms of foundation, resources, and connections, Iron Cross is far inferior to my Silver Hand.

I bet the Iron Cross Club only has two or three complete breathing techniques for second-tier extraordinary cultivators, and you definitely won't find any powerful or top-tier manuals there!

Li Lei took a step closer, his true intentions revealed:

"What I mean is, given the amazing performance you've shown in these two matches, it would be a real waste of your talent to continue staying at a mere Iron Cross Fight Club."

Why don't you switch sides and join my Silver Hand Club!

He offered what he thought was an irresistible lure: "As a seasoned club with a deep foundation, I can personally teach you more refined and lethal second-tier techniques."

In terms of resource allocation, the Silver Hand has numerous channels that even the Iron Cross wouldn't dare to dream of!

Li Lei's gaze swept over Xilun's faded trench coat, his tone carrying a hint of condescension:

"I heard that your current job is as a low-level escort at the Brotherhood at the Lower City docks?"

Although it sounds like an easy job, dealing with those dirty alien creatures all day long could be quite life-threatening, right?

He patted his chest and said confidently:

"If you join the Silver Hand, with my connections, I can easily place you in a safer and more respectable job!"

For example, you could go to Shangcheng District to do management work.

Alternatively, there are positions that, while somewhat dangerous, offer excellent career advancement opportunities, such as a recommendation to join the Metropolitan Police Department or a formal position within the church.

This is much better than being a thug at the docks, isn't it?

As he finished speaking, Li Lei's expression became extremely serious, as if he were bestowing some kind of favor:

"Mr. Sir, this is a golden opportunity to rise to the top in one step, something that countless ordinary people in the lower city would kill for."

I hope you will think about this seriously and carefully.

A brief, deathly silence fell over the room.

Lund's brow furrowed deeply, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, but he refrained from speaking.

To be fair, the conditions Li Lei offered were indeed extremely tempting.

For a young extraordinary person from a poor background who desperately needs resources, it is almost impossible to refuse.

But Li Lei's words were truly a constant, unintentional, malicious denigration of the Iron Cross Fighting Club and Lund.

His inherent arrogance was palpable, as if accepting Xilun was an immense favor to the Iron Cross.

Xilun stood still and listened quietly to Li Lei's long speech.

He turned his head and glanced at Lund, whose face was ashen but who was suppressing his anger. Suddenly, Xiren smiled.

It was a smile full of mockery and disdain.

"Thank you for your kindness, President Li Lei." Xi Lun's voice was soft, but unusually firm. "However, I have already become a disciple of Teacher Lund, and I have no plans to leave Iron Cross for the time being."

Seeing Li Lei's increasingly stiff expression, Xilun said, word by word:

"Therefore, I have no choice but to decline the president's kind invitation."

Li Lei's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his aloof demeanor.

He didn't believe a poor boy could resist such temptation.

"Don't you want to think about it again?" Li Lei continued to press, "Iron Cross Fight Club is nothing but a bottom-tier trash club in the downtown area."

There is no place there that can support your cultivation of extraordinary methods.

If it weren't for its reputation as a "people's club" and its reliance on tax exemptions to survive, it would have absolutely no fame whatsoever!

Li Lei's tone became somewhat impatient and sharp: "In terms of foundation, resources, and skills, Iron Cross is worlds apart from my Silver Hand Club!"

"You have such amazing talent, yet you insist on staying in this quagmire; it's incredibly foolish! What a waste!"

"Li Lei!"

Lund finally lost his temper. He took a sudden step forward, and the terrifying aura of a third-order aberrant exploded forth, roaring like an enraged lion:

"Watch your tone! This is Iron Cross territory; it's not your place to act like a liar!"

However, Li Lei was not afraid at all when faced with Lund's outburst.

He also unleashed a third-tier aura, standing shoulder to shoulder with Lund, and sneered:

"What? Lund, step back!"

"You can only interrupt after Xilen and I have finished speaking!"

Lund squinted, and his bones cracked and popped.

Li Lei looked at Lund and smiled mockingly:

Was there a single problem with what I just said?

Certainly, you are exceptionally talented and possess remarkable strength.

But why do you keep supporting a bottom-tier club that should have gone bankrupt long ago?

"Do you really think that by setting a pitifully cheap membership fee, you can actually recruit some extraordinary talents from the garbage in those slums?"

Your club finishes at the bottom every year, unable to even reach the quarterfinals. Isn't that enough to prove the problem?

Li Lei's voice echoed in the room, filled with a cruel sense of reality:

"Since ancient times, extraordinary cultivation methods have been the exclusive domain of the rich and nobles!"

Even if the poor manage to scrape together enough money to be allowed to practice, without a massive influx of resources, how many of them can truly succeed?!

Li Lei turned to look at Xilun again, his tone filled with absolute confidence:

"Given Xilun's potential, if I were to personally nurture him, I would be able to allocate resources from the Silver Hand."

I'm confident that within two years at most, I can give him the strength to challenge that monster, Ross!

Lund took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently.

He gritted his teeth, desperately suppressing the urge to immediately draw his gun and kill this arrogant bastard right there in front of him.

If it were when he had just become a high-ranking knight and was at his most hot-tempered, he would have definitely taken action without caring about the competition.

Speaking of which, his temper has improved so much for the sake of the club and his players.

Just when the atmosphere was tense and ready to explode.

Suddenly, Xilun took a step forward and blocked Lund's path.

He looked at Li Lei, his tone colder than ever before: "President Li Lei, there's no need to waste any more words. My mind is made up."

Li Lei narrowed his eyes, seemingly sensing something from Xilun's gaze.

He stopped smiling and asked in a deep voice, "Oh? I wonder, what's your real opinion?"

Xilun shook his head, a sneer playing on his lips: "I have no intention of joining your territory. Now that I've said my piece, please leave."

Li An, who had been standing behind Li Lei, raised his eyebrows when he heard Xi Lun's ruthless rejection.

As a chosen one of heaven, how could he have ever suffered such humiliation from people of the lower class? He was clearly already somewhat annoyed.

Li Lei didn't react immediately. He stared intently at Xilun and said coldly:

"What's the reason? I offered such generous terms, yet you rejected them so readily."

Let me hear just how noble and virtuous you truly are.

Xilun glanced at him, then at Li An beside him, whose face was contorted with anger, and said calmly:

"Since the president is so insistent on hearing this clearly, then I will explain it simply."

He took a deep breath, his voice calm, yet every word pierced the heart:

"With your arrogant and disrespectful behavior, Chairman Li Lei, and your son who is prone to fits of rage, you are of such a despicable character."

"A place led by people like you is a complete mess; I'd better not go there."

Xilun paused, a completely innocent expression on his face, and continued:

"After all, I have always been a kind and honest person. I dislike being competitive and aggressive, and I don't like fighting with others."

The Silver Hand isn't a place for me.

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire room froze.

Even Lund, who was standing behind Xilun, was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then felt an extreme sense of relief.

But then he became somewhat worried.

Xilun, a first-tier extraordinary being who had only been baptized a few months ago, dared to openly mock and point his finger at Li Lei, a third-tier big shot who was famous throughout the entire lower city!

That's incredibly audacious!

Li Lei's brows furrowed tightly. He felt as if a ball of fire had been stuffed into his chest, and his anger surged to the top of his head, making his breathing heavy.

Behind him, Li An placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his pupils blazing with tangible fury, as if he wanted to draw his sword and tear Xilun to pieces right now.

"Father! Let me kill him!" Li An roared.

Li Lei suddenly reached out and grabbed Li An's hand, which was about to draw his sword.

He laughed in fury, a laugh as piercing as an owl's: "Good! Very good!"

Li Lei pointed at Xilun, his finger trembling slightly, then turned to look at Lund and said through gritted teeth:

"A lowly trainee, a rat from the sewers! How dare you speak to me like that! Is this the so-called genius your Iron Cross Fighting Club produces?"

This is the disciple you, Lund, are so proud of having taught?!

Despite Li Lei's fury, Xilun remained calm and composed.

He met Li Lei's gaze without flinching and coldly retorted:

"You Silver Hand think too highly of yourself and look down on my Iron Cross."

"What a coincidence! I, the Iron Cross, also despise your filthy Silver Hand!"