Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

North District, the backyard of the Brotherhood's branch.

About half a month has passed since the rainy night when Diano died.

These days have been unusually calm.

There was no questioning from the Metropolitan Police Department, no trouble from the Iron Fist Gang, and even the rats hiding in the sewers seemed to sense the dangerous aura emanating from the new governor and all withdrew their claws.

The place is peaceful and serene, as if it were not the chaotic and dirty North District, but a tranquil manor secluded from the world.

Xilun sat on a recliner under the eaves, repeatedly reading the book on bone-forging and iron-clad ascetic practices.

The early winter wind was chilly and brushed against his face, but he was only wearing a thin white shirt.

Beneath the skin, dark blue fascia rose and fell slowly with each breath, keeping out all the cold.

His gaze was calm as he swept his eyes over the ancient Victorian script on the pages of the book, his mind as still as a deep well.

"Tap, tap."

There was a soft knocking at the door, the rhythm restrained and respectful.

"Come in." Xilun didn't look up, his voice flat.

As they were speaking, the heavy solid wood door was pushed open.

The butler walked in front, followed closely by Rod and Rena.

The three men walked very quietly, as if afraid of disturbing the young governor who was reading a book.

The butler bowed slightly and reported to the leader in a deep voice:

"Sir, in the past two weeks, no one of unknown origin has come to our door."

The brother's processing plant is also completely back on track. Diano's old subordinates have either been purged or reorganized; everything is under control.

Xilun nodded slightly, closed the scripture, and casually placed it on a small table to the side.

The shipment of contraband, classified as military equipment, was lost, and Deano himself vanished without a trace. Logically, either the buyer behind the Black Swan Pavilion or Dawson from the Iron Fist Gang, who was trying to use someone else to kill him, should have come knocking on their door demanding an explanation.

Whether they use a soft approach or a hard approach, someone has to step forward.

For a full two weeks, not a single lackey tried to probe the enemy; this was truly quite strange.

His gaze swept past the butler, landing on Rena and Rod standing behind them. Each of them held a thick stack of account books and files, their expressions thoughtful.

"Is there anything else important?" Xilun picked up the cold water on the table and took a sip.

The two stepped forward and carefully placed the item on the large desk. Rod pondered for a moment, then spoke:

"As the butler said, the processing plant is now stable, and output has returned to its previous levels. There are no major issues internally. However..."

Rhodes paused slightly, his tone becoming somewhat serious: "However, a thorny matter has recently occurred outside, causing widespread panic in the North District."

"explain."

"There's a serial killer who specifically targets women."

A hint of disgust flashed in Rhodes' eyes. "And among the dead, some were prostitutes from the back alleys."

The methods used in these crimes are extremely cruel; the perpetrators often disembowel the victims and remove some of their organs.

The Metropolitan Police Department dispatched numerous elite officers and even enlisted the assistance of extraordinary individuals from the church, but so far they haven't caught a single trace of them.

Xilun's eyes flickered slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table: "So rampant. This kind of behavior is no longer like ordinary murder, but more like some kind of evil and extraordinary ritual."

"If they come to our territory, arrest them if you can, and kill them if you should."

Silen paused for a moment, then added, "To avoid harming the families of factory workers and causing unnecessary panic."

What we need now is stability; any crawlers that disrupt the order must be crushed.

"Understood." Rhodes nodded in agreement, then added, "The Metropolitan Police Department gave him a catchy nickname: 'Jack the Ripper.'"

According to insider rumors, this person is an extreme psychopath.

He suffered severe domestic abuse as a child, which led to extreme psychological distortion, and he took pleasure in torturing and killing women his mother's age.

This person possesses exceptional counter-surveillance skills and is wanted throughout the city, yet he repeatedly escapes danger despite being surrounded. He's definitely a formidable opponent.

Xilun gave a noncommittal "hmm." As long as he didn't provoke this kind of lunatic, he had no time to clean up the mess for the Metropolitan Police Department.

"Is there anything else?" Xilun asked Reina.

Rena and Rhodes exchanged a glance, thought for a moment, and then shook their heads.

"Then leave the ledger behind." Xilun glanced down at the top of the file, picked up a red pen, and casually wrote a few scathing comments.

A moment later, he pushed the file aside and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, take it away."

Follow the instructions above. Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into Changqing Lake to feed the fish.

"Yes, sir."

After the two men left with the files, the butler also bowed and left the courtyard, closing the heavy gate behind him.

The entire backyard fell silent once more.

Xilun stood up from the recliner, took off his white shirt, revealing a body that was as perfect as if it had been cast in steel, forged through countless life-and-death battles.

Fine, dark red scabs were faintly visible between the muscle lines, marks left by the brutal blows of the "Bone Forging Iron Armor Ascetic Method" not long ago.

He took out an exquisite black iron box from his inner pocket and gently opened the hidden clasp.

Inside the box lay a dark red, viscous paste, emitting a strange, intoxicating fragrance.

This is a prohibited resource belonging to the military—Blood Elixir.

Siren expressionlessly scooped out a piece the size of a fingernail and applied it directly to her chest.

"hiss--"

A sharp pain, like a branding iron being burned onto his skin, exploded instantly, but Xilun didn't even flinch.

He closed his eyes, slowly sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state, his lungs began to pump like giant bellows.

The Great Ocean Whale Guiding Technique started working with a roar!

The dark red medicinal power, like tiny fiery snakes, frantically burrowed into his body through his pores.

Under the relentless grinding of his extreme physique and adaptive internal organs, this enormous energy was rapidly extracted and refined, transforming into pure strength that flowed into his already surging river of blood and qi.

With the aid of high-purity Blood Elixir and the previously undigested Red Heart Elixir, his progress in breathing techniques is rapid.

Those barriers that were once insurmountable are gradually loosening and collapsing under the forceful erosion of massive resources.

Xilun could clearly feel that his total strength was increasing at an incredible speed.

In as long as six months, or as short as three or four months, he will be able to completely overcome that hurdle and enter the fifth level of the breathing technique.

That is a threshold of qualitative change. Once you cross it, it means that you are truly within reach of the ultimate realm of the second-tier "Ripper".

For ordinary people who are extraordinary individuals without the support of a powerful family, such a cultivation speed is simply a pipe dream.

Even noble scions with access to top-tier resources would feel despair at this frantic, relentless rate of consumption.

This meditative state lasted for about an hour.

The medicinal effects were finally completely exhausted.

Xilun slowly exhaled a breath of scorching, foul air. The breath shot out several feet into the cold air like a sharp sword before slowly dissipating.

He opened his eyes, and a faint blue flash of lightning disappeared into the depths of his pupils. His deep eyes revealed undisguised coldness and sharpness.

Just then, his keen hearing caught the faintest footsteps outside the courtyard wall.

The newcomer's breath was deep and his blood was abundant. Every step he took on the bluestone slabs carried a peculiar rhythm, clearly indicating that he had controlled his body to an extremely exquisite degree.

"Who comes here?" Xilun remained calm, sitting in place without getting up, and simply grabbed the shirt next to him and draped it over his shoulders.

Immediately, a burst of boisterous laughter rang out from outside the wall.

"Hahaha, as expected of the newly crowned junior knight champion, Mr. Siren, your strength is truly remarkable!"

I had just approached, and before I could even knock, you noticed me.

As they were talking, the figure outside pushed open the gate without any hesitation, stepped into the courtyard in a few steps, and stared blatantly at Xilun.

Xilun squinted and observed for a moment.

The newcomer had an ordinary face, easily lost in a crowd, with deep wrinkles around his eyes, indicating that he was not young.

However, he was dressed in a set of exquisitely crafted silver chainmail armor, and held a heavy iron spear upside down in his hand, the tip of which dragged a shallow white mark on the ground.

The man's face was sharp, like an old knife that had been sharpened for many years, and his whole body exuded a violent aura unique to the first-level extreme realm.

Clearly, this is a formidable character who is not to be trifled with.

Xilun's mind raced through intelligence on the various factions in the North District. He slowly spoke, enunciating each word clearly: "Bonebreaker Gang, Third Iron Fist, Ymirs."

Upon hearing this, the man raised his sparse eyebrows and revealed a satisfied smile:

"Mr. Xilun has only been in the North District for a short time, yet he was able to recognize this old man at a glance, which really surprised me."

Xilun stood up, casually buttoned up his shirt, and spoke in a calm tone without any fluctuation.

"After all, the Shattered Bone Gang is a well-known and powerful force in the North District, and it is closely adjacent to our Brotherhood's territory. As their neighbor, if I didn't even do this much research, I would probably be lying dead in the street by now."

He looked into Yumis's eyes and spoke as if reciting a familiar story:

"Besides the gang leader who is rumored to have reached the second-tier Ripper level, the Shattered Bone Gang has three other extraordinary individuals at the extreme level, who are known as the three 'Iron Fists'."

Below them were seven more skilled individuals who reached the level of the Baptists, known as the "Black Gloves."

This lineup holds a respectable position even within the small confines of the North District.

With his hands behind his back, Xiren tilted his head slightly. "I just didn't expect that the Third Iron Fist would personally grace us with his presence today. What brings you here?"

Ymirs slammed her iron spear heavily onto the ground, producing a dull thud that instantly cracked the stone slab.

He laughed loudly, "Since Mr. Xilun is a sensible man, then I will not hide anything from him."

I'm here today because it concerns a matter of life and death, and I'd like to have a thorough discussion with the Governor.

His cloudy yet sharp eyes swept across the empty courtyard and the few guards peeking out in the distance, like a vulture's gaze.

Xilun understood what he meant.

"Everyone, step back. Close the courtyard gate."

Xiren raised his hand to the guards in the distance, "I need to speak with Mr. Yumis alone. No one is allowed to come within ten meters of this courtyard."

The guards bowed respectfully and withdrew, and the gate slammed shut again.

The two walked into the house one after the other.

"Please sit wherever you like." Xiren walked to the large leather chair at the head of the table, then sat down, staring coldly at the other person.

Ymir sat down in a guest seat with an air of authority, his iron spear still firmly in his hand.

He glanced at the empty desktop and suddenly grinned.

"Mr. Sir, I am a guest, how can you not even offer me a cup of hot tea? This is not the way to treat a guest."

Xilun shook his head, his gaze deep and unfathomable, showing no sign of being intimidated by the other party's aura.

"My temple is small and the rules are rough; it cannot afford to enshrine Mr. Eumis, such a great Buddha."

There's no hot tea; if you want cold water, please pour it yourself.

If you have anything to say, just say it. My time is valuable, and I don't like beating around the bush.

……

The room was dimly lit, with only the cold sunlight from outside the window barely illuminating the silhouettes of the two people.

Ymir murmured for a moment, then dropped her grinning expression, revealing deep, knife-carved wrinkles on her face.

He stared intently at Xilen, as if trying to find even the slightest flaw in this young body.

"In that case, I'll be frank."

He leaned forward slightly, his rough fingers gently stroking the shaft of the iron spear, his voice becoming extremely hoarse.

About two weeks ago, on that night when it was pouring rain.

I was ordered to inspect a stronghold in the south, and by sheer coincidence, I ran into your factory's former manager, Diano, on a secluded, muddy path.

Xilun remained expressionless, and even the frequency of his breathing did not change in the slightest.

Ymirs sneered and continued, "At the time, he was escorting several heavy trucks."

The truck had left deep ruts in the mud, and even a blind man could tell that it was carrying something far more than ordinary grain or cloth.

Even more coincidentally, your name, Mr. Xilun, was clearly displayed in red on that transit document.

He slowly leaned back in his chair, his eyes turning sinister:

"Later, I heard in the newspaper that the goods disappeared en route and their whereabouts were unknown."

Diano and his heavily armed guards also vanished without a trace, neither alive nor dead.

"That really piques my curiosity." Ymir spread her hands, as if telling a captivating mystery. "After all, the final destination of that shipment was the Black Swan Pavilion at the trading center."

That place is extremely close to the border of our northern district.

If something were to happen, there would only be a secluded path between the two places, which happens to lead to a dense wooded area.

"I'm naturally very curious, and since I had nothing better to do, I thought I'd go in and take a look. Guess what happened?"

Ymir put her hand into her slightly greasy pocket, and when she came out, she had a pinch of grayish-white powder between her fingers, which she gently sprinkled onto the marble tabletop.

"This is a leaf in the middle of the forest, which was instantly burned to ashes by extremely high temperatures."

Moreover, all the trees within a ten-meter radius showed signs of breakage and shattering.

There must have been an extremely fierce battle between extraordinary individuals at that moment!

Xilun looked at the ashes on the table, nodded slightly, and a perfectly timed sigh appeared on his face.

"I also deeply regret this matter."

Xilun said calmly, "Not only did we lose extremely valuable goods, but even a seasoned veteran like Factory Manager Dianno was caught in the crossfire."

This is a huge blow to my fraternity chapter.