Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Outside the window, the sound of rain gradually subsided.

Night falls.

Xilun sat in his study, the kerosene lamp on the table casting a dim yellow light.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Rena pushed open the door and entered, carrying a thick stack of documents.

She was wearing a dark long dress, her hair was simply tied back, and she looked tired.

"Young Master." She walked to the table and put down the documents. "These are the materials you requested."

Xilen gestured for her to sit down, while he picked up the top document and began to look through it.

This is a detailed investigation report on the "Black Sail" smuggling ring.

The gang leader was named Glenn, thirty-five years old, a second-tier extraordinary being.

He had twenty-three subordinates, six of whom were first-tier extraordinary individuals.

Their main area of ​​activity was the East Wharf area in the North District, where they had secret cooperative relationships with several major chambers of commerce.

In the past two weeks, they have seized three shipments of Brotherhood goods, with a total value of over two hundred gold pounds.

Xilun put down the report and picked up the second one.

The "Iron Anchor" gang.

The leaders were two brothers, the elder named Victor and the younger named Nicholas, both of whom were second-tier extraordinary beings.

Victor excels in close combat, is a body-enhancing expert, and possesses immense strength.

Nicholas was skilled at long-range sniping, and it was said that he could get a headshot from 300 meters away. Somehow, he managed to get his hands on a prohibited revolver musket.

This gang has more than 30 members, and they are the strongest and most difficult to deal with.

The third one is from the "Deep Water" gang.

The leader is named Monica, a woman, a second-tier extraordinary being, whose abilities are unknown.

However, according to informants, she seems to have connections with a mysterious cult, using bizarre methods and specializing in mental pollution and curses.

After reading the three reports, Xiren looked up at Reina.

"What do you think should be done?"

Reina was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"If it's just a regular smuggling gang, we can take direct action to take them down."

However, all three groups have powerful backers—'Black Sail' is backed by the Northern District Chamber of Commerce Alliance, 'Iron Anchor' appears to have military support, and 'Deep Water' is even more complex, possibly involving religious sectarian influence.

She paused, then added, "If we act rashly, it could trigger a chain reaction."

Xilun tapped the table.

Rena is right.

These three gangs appear to be smugglers, but in reality, each of them has a powerful background.

To take action against them is to take action against the people behind them.

"Then let's leave it alone for now," Siren said calmly. "Have your men continue to keep an eye on things and gather more intelligence. I need to know where their weaknesses are."

"clear."

Rena nodded and pulled out another piece of paper from the pile of documents, handing it to her.

"There's one more thing, young master."

"explain."

"Regarding Balk, whom you asked me to investigate, we have already obtained some preliminary information."

Xilun took the paper and quickly scanned its contents.

Balk, 42 ​​years old, a senior Tier 2 Extraordinary.

Born into a declining minor noble family, he awakened extraordinary abilities at the age of eighteen. After more than twenty years of hard work at the ocean docks, he gradually became a local tyrant.

He controlled most of the cargo operations at Piers 7 through 11, and had three smuggling gangs working for him, earning more than five hundred gold pounds illicitly each year.

To his surprise...

Balk had business dealings with Oin, the third elder of the Tusol family.

Xilun's finger lingered on that line for a long time.

Oin, it's him again?

"Anything else?" Xilun looked up.

"Yes," Rena whispered. "According to our informant, Balk has been secretly preparing for something big recently. We don't know exactly what it is, but he has been holding meetings with his confidants in a secret room at the dock for the past three nights."

"and--"

She paused, then continued, "The files related to that 'whale collision' maritime disaster were stolen from the port management office's archives six months ago."

Xilun narrowed his eyes and destroyed the evidence.

This is the most blatant example of trying to hide something obvious.

"Keep investigating." Xilun's voice was low. "I need to know what he's planning, I need to know every detail of that shipwreck, I need to know what time he gets up, what time he goes to bed, which route he takes, and who he meets every day."

"The more detailed the better."

Rena nodded. "I'll make the arrangements."

The two also discussed some other matters, mainly concerning the daily operations and cash flow of the fraternity branch.

After the outbreak of war, many businesses were affected, but some new opportunities also emerged.

Rena suggested taking advantage of soaring prices to stock up on essential goods and then sell them at the right time.

Xiren agreed to the proposal and approved a sum of money for her.

After finishing their business, Reina stood up to take her leave.

Just as she reached the door, Xilun suddenly spoke:

"Lena".

"Um?"

"Thanks for your hard work."

Rena paused for a moment, then smiled.

"It's what I should do, young master."

She pushed open the door and left, and the study returned to silence.

Xiren sat in his chair, his gaze fixed on the file about Balk on the table.

He reached for the pen and wrote a line on the blank page:

"Investigate a man at the ocean pier named Balk, and gather as much information as possible about his every move."

After he finished writing, he folded the paper and put it in the drawer.

Then he stood up and walked out of the study.

He needed to focus on his cultivation for the next few days.

Mysterious Yin Breathing Technique, Crimson Star Spear.

And then there's Natan's heavy gunnery.

No item can be missed.

The next morning.

Xilun came alone to the back of the mansion.

There is a small waterfall here, drawn down from the mountain stream. The water flow is not large, but it is enough to practice the Xuan Yin Breathing Technique.

He took off his shirt and stood shirtless under the waterfall.

The icy water poured down, splashing against his shoulders and back.

Xilun closed his eyes and began to practice the Xuan Yin Breathing Technique.

The cold energy within the body slowly circulates, traveling throughout the body along specific meridian pathways.

With each breath, one can feel the cold air becoming more condensed and pure.

This method of cultivation is extremely painful.

As the cold breath traveled through my body, it felt like countless ice needles piercing my bone marrow, causing every muscle and every nerve to tremble with intense pain.

But Xilun was already used to it.

He gritted his teeth and forced himself to maintain his breathing rhythm.

A quarter of an hour, half an hour, an hour.

When he finally opened his eyes, a thin layer of frost had already formed on the surface of the water around the waterfall.

Xilun raised his right hand, and a ball of sky-blue cold air condensed in his palm.

The chilling air spun slowly under his control, then suddenly lashed forward—

Snapped!

A rock ten meters ahead was instantly frozen, its surface covered with a thick layer of ice.

Xilun withdrew his hand, feeling the flow of cold energy within his body.

They're still a ways off from being experts, but they're good enough to handle most battles.

He pulled a small bottle from his pocket, which contained the Yin Spirit Source Water that the Tusol family had just sent.

This is his share for this month.

A whole box, enough to last a long time.

Xilun unscrewed the bottle cap, tilted his head back, and drank half the bottle.

The icy liquid slid down his throat and into his body, instantly transforming into a pure, cold breath that seeped into his meridians.

The progress of the Xuan Yin Breathing Technique has improved slightly.

Xilun put away the bottle, put on his clothes, and began the next exercise.

Red Star Spear!

He picked up the forty-pound iron spear from the ground, stood in the open space, and took a deep breath.

Two breathing techniques operate simultaneously within the body—Great Thunder Sound and Profound Yin.

Two opposing forces, one hot and one cold, collided violently within his body before gradually merging and converging in his right arm.

Xilun gripped the gun barrel tightly, his thoughts flowing like a thread through his entire body, finally converging at the tip of the gun.

next moment--

He thrust out suddenly!

boom!

The tip of the gun stirred up a visible shockwave, and a piercing explosion echoed through the air.

A deep crater appeared in the ground three meters ahead.

Xilun holstered his gun and looked at his right hand.

The progress of the gathering point has improved again.

Although there is still a long way to go before he can truly master the "Red Star Spear," he can feel that he is gradually approaching that level.

He repeated the action over and over again over the next period of time.

prick.

Close.

Stab again.

Collect again.

Each time, he adjusted the way he concentrated his energy, and each time he tried to compress more power into the tip of the spear.

Sweat dripped down his cheeks, soaking his collar.

But he didn't stop.

He didn't put his gun away until the sun was at noon.

"Young Master."

Rod came over with a simple lunch plate. "It's time to eat."

Xilun took the food and sat on a rock to eat it heartily.

Cultivation is extremely taxing, and he needs to replenish his energy.

After finishing his meal, he didn't rest, but instead asked Kusuo to come and spar with him.

Kuso was a taciturn middle-aged man who had served in the military and possessed considerable strength. Although he was only a first-tier extraordinary individual, he was very experienced.

The two practiced sparring in an open space.

Xilun, wielding an iron spear, displayed Natan's heavy spear technique.

Each shot was steady and powerful, with the mind focused and the gun perfectly integrated with the body.

Kuso held up a heavy wooden shield, barely managing to withstand Xilun's attacks.

Even so, the wooden shield was still cracked in less than half an hour.

"That's enough." Siren holstered his gun. "That's enough for today."

Kusso breathed a sigh of relief and put down the wooden shield that was almost falling apart.

"Young master, your marksmanship... has improved again."

Xilun did not respond, but simply wiped the sweat from his forehead.

It was evening.

Xiren returned to his study and began to look through the documents that Rhodes had prepared.

In addition to routine government affairs and intelligence work, there was also a special report.

About Balk.

Xilun opened the file and read it carefully, page by page.

This is a very detailed investigation report.

Starting from Balk's childhood—

He was born into a declining minor noble family. His father was an alcoholic, and his mother died of illness when he was ten years old.

At the age of fifteen, he ran away from home and came to work as a laborer at the ocean docks.

He cultivated extraordinary abilities at the age of eighteen, and from then on, he began his rise to power.

At the age of twenty-three, he killed a minor boss at the docks and took over his territory.

At the age of 28, he had become the de facto controller of Pier No. 7.

At thirty-five, his influence had expanded to Pier 11.

At the age of forty, he became one of the most powerful people in the entire ocean terminal.

Over the past two decades, his hands have been stained with blood.

Smuggling, trafficking contraband, assassinating competitors, extorting protection money—

He'll do anything as long as it makes money.

Scroll down to Xilun.

The latter part of the report records Balk's recent movements.

I get up at seven o'clock every morning.

I went to the office at the dock at 8 o'clock to handle some business.

We usually have lunch at one of the same few restaurants.

In the afternoon, I will meet with representatives from various parties to discuss business, collect debts, and resolve disputes.

He returned to his residence in the North District in the evening.

Occasionally, I would go to a few underground casinos or brothels for entertainment at night.

Every Wednesday and Saturday, he would go to a secret room at the ocean pier to hold meetings with his confidants.

Xilun stared at the words "secret room" for a long time.

What was Balk doing in the secret room?

What are they preparing for?

These questions remain unanswered.

But Siron wasn't in a hurry; he had plenty of time.

He will uncover all of Balk's secrets little by little, and then at the right time—

A knife was plunged into his heart.

Xilun closed the file, stood up, and walked to the window.

Night had completely fallen.

Scattered lights illuminated the streets of the northern district.

Xilun's gaze pierced through the night, landing on the distant, indistinct direction of the dock.

"Just you wait, Balk."

He muttered to himself.

"I will come to find you."

……

The morning sunlight squeezed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin strip of light on the floor.

Xiren sat by the window in his study, holding a letter with gold lettering in his hand.

The envelope was sealed with an exquisitely crafted emblem of a crescent moon and overlapping lake waves, outlined in silver powder, which reflected a faint, cool glow in the morning light.

He used his thumb to pry open the seal and pulled out the parchment inside.

The handwriting on the paper was neat and legible, written in an old-fashioned copperplate script.

Your Excellency:

On behalf of the Moon Lake Trade Fair, I extend a sincere invitation to you that the Extraordinary Traders Gathering, held twice a year, will be taken place on the 23rd of this month at Moon Lake.

At that time, extraordinary individuals from all walks of life will gather together, with rare and precious items on display and secret techniques circulating among them.

Entry is granted upon presentation of this letter; there are no restrictions on identity or origin.

There are only three rules to follow: Do not attack others; do not force others to buy or sell; do not look at others' faces.

Those who violate this rule will be expelled and never invited again.

Respectfully submitted to the Moon Lake Trade Fair.

At the end of the letter was a line of very small print—

"Golden Knight, I've long admired you."

Xilun's gaze lingered on those four words for a moment.

Golden Knight.

After the battle of Klein Lane, the name spread throughout the North End. The drunks in the taverns recounted the story of that rainy night with great relish, embellishing it and making it more and more outrageous.

Some say he wielded a golden spear and killed five second-tier extraordinary beings with a single thrust.

Some say he is shrouded in golden light, invulnerable to swords and spears, like a war god descended to earth.

Siren neither confirmed nor denied these rumors.

Reputation is a double-edged sword – it can intimidate enemies, but it can also bring more trouble.

But the Moon Lake Trade Fair...

He had heard Black Star mention this place before.

North of the North District, passing through the old industrial belt, in the low-lying area of ​​the suburban hills, lies a lake that is shrouded in mist all year round.

The lakeside is an abandoned resort estate, which was once the private property of an earl. It was mostly destroyed by artillery fire during the war, and the remaining ruins were taken over by a group of people of unknown origin and turned into a base for private transactions by extraordinary individuals.

Every six months, a large number of extraordinary individuals gather there.

There were vendors selling potions, fragments of cultivation manuals, materials for demons, and even artifacts unearthed from ancient sites.

This is a golden opportunity for Xiren.

He needs resources.

Although the Tusor family supplies one box of Yin Spirit Water every month, the deeper one goes into the cultivation of the Profound Yin Breathing Technique, the more terrifying the consumption becomes.

A box of raw water can last for one or two months, but since we rely on others, we still have some concerns.

In addition, training with the Crimson Star Spear requires extremely high-quality body-tempering medicine to strengthen the body's resilience.

There's also the Mind-Cleansing Incense, which he needs to consume every night during meditation, and his stock is almost depleted.

And if even one or two of the supplementary materials on the Life School written in the ancient religious texts could be found at Moon Lake, they would be of great help to his prayer for the Holy Sprout.

Xilun carefully put the letter away and tucked it into his inner pocket.