Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

The night sea outside Baiya Town looks like a piece of iron soaked in ink.

In the crevices of the reef, the tide ebbs and flows, carrying fragments of shells and seaweed, creating a soft, rustling sound.

Xilun carried the wooden box with one hand and dragged the unconscious second-tier guard with the other, stepping across the slippery reef.

The guard had several vital points sealed by the Soul-Suppressing Nails, white foam still hanging from the corners of his mouth, his chest and abdomen rising and falling weakly, and the remaining violent medicinal power in his body was suppressed deep in his flesh by the cold breath, like a lump of charcoal that could reignite at any moment.

Rena followed three steps behind, her short gun hanging from her sleeve, her gaze sweeping over the distant lighthouse and town entrance.

The gunfire stopped.

But the entire town of Baiya was not quiet.

There were barking dogs and hurried footsteps in the fog, and someone was calling out Tusol's surname in a low voice.

"Young master, there's been movement at the docks."

Rena tilted her head to look at the dark sea. "At least three small boats, and they're very fast. We've left the townspeople behind, but the news has already spread."

Xilun did not turn back.

He could hear the seawater.

Beneath the sound of the tide, there was the muffled thud of oars cutting through the water, and the low tremors of a steam engine further away.

The people of Tusol won't wait until dawn.

O'Indone would not.

That Third Elder could tolerate the plundering of the warehouse, could tolerate Gran being captured alive, and could also forcefully suppress Oro's anger when he had just seized power and the bloody stench of the family had not yet dissipated.

However, the lunar phase silver marrow is different.

This is the final piece of the puzzle for Xilun to move towards the third stage.

This is also Oin's last chance to break him before he dies.

"Go to the third escape route."

Siren stopped at the reef shore and whispered, "Is the narrow boat still there?"

"exist."

Reina answered quickly, "The informant has hidden the boat in a sea cave, painted the hull black, and replaced the sails with old fishing sails. But..."

She glanced at the prisoner in Xilun's hands. "Taking him along will slow things down."

"He knows who the employer is."

Xiren said calmly, "There are people who don't want me to be promoted, which is more troublesome than Tusol."

Rena stopped trying to persuade her.

She took out a copper whistle from her bosom and blew out two long and one short whistle.

A moment later, a faint yellow light appeared in the sea cave at the end of the reef, then immediately went out.

Xilun leaped off the reef carrying the prisoner.

The icy seawater reached over his boots, only to be quickly parted by an invisible force. The water flowed along his trouser legs, parting to the sides like a herd of black beasts submitting.

When Rena saw this, her eyelids twitched slightly.

Even though she already knew how terrible Xilun was in the water, and had seen the seawater avoid his body, she still felt an instinctive chill.

This ability shouldn't belong to the second order.

It shouldn't belong to anyone who hasn't yet advanced to the third tier.

Xilun walked into the sea cave.

The cave was cramped, and the damp stone walls were covered with dark green moss, with the sound of dripping water filling the air.

The narrow boat was hidden in the shadows, with two sealed oilcloth bags pressed under its stern, containing fresh water, dry food, medicine, and a set of spare clothes.

A boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old squatted by the side of the boat, his face white with cold.

Upon seeing Xilun enter, he hurriedly stood up, trembling, and said, "Sir, Tussor's men searched outside, but I told them the place had collapsed, and they didn't come in."

Xilun flicked a silver coin at him.

The boy hurriedly caught it, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"go home."

Xilun tossed the unconscious guard into the cabin. "No matter what you heard tonight, I haven't been here."

"Yes, sir!"

The boy nodded quickly, ducked into another crevice, and soon disappeared.

Rena untied the mooring rope and whispered, "Young Master, we'll head north along the nearshore, round White Cliff Reef, and enter a tributary of the Greywater River. It'll only take two hours to reach the old fishing net area. The waterways there are complicated; Tusol's boats won't be able to catch up."

Xilun placed the wooden box at his feet and pressed his palm against the lid.

The moon phase bell lies quietly inside.

Even through the wooden board, that cool, lingering pull remained, one beat after another, like the unseen moon breathing in the night sky.

"They might not let us into the tributaries."

Xilun looked up at the churning fog outside the sea cave.

Reina was taken aback.

Just then, a deep whistle sounded from the distant sea.

It's not a fishing boat.

The voice was deeper, more steady, and colder.

It was like some enormous iron beast opening its eyes behind the fog.

Reina's expression changed slightly. "A small military steamboat?"

"more than."

Xilun bent down and dipped his fingers into the seawater.

The cool water slid through my fingers, bringing back a faint vibration.

Three ordinary speedboats were searching the perimeter, moving at a relatively slow pace.

Further away, there was another ship with an even deeper draft, blocking their northward route.

There are heavy objects on the ship.

Metal structures, crossbows, winches, and some kind of dense net.

Xilun withdrew his hand, a layer of white frost forming on his fingertips.

"Water sealing network".

He had seen similar equipment on the Ironscale of Balk.

The difference is that the Ironscale set was used to hunt the little Azure Dragon, but this set is for hunting him.

Rena quickly suppressed her shock and whispered, "Shall we go back to town?"

"The townspeople have already surrounded us; if we retreat, we'll just get stuck in the streets."

Xilun tore open the collar of the unconscious guard, confirming the location of the Soul-Suppressing Nail was correct. "Get on the ship and follow the original route. Don't linger in battle."

Reina understood the implication in his words, and her eyes narrowed. "Young Master, you want to go into the water?"

"They are waiting for the ship."

"I'll watch the boat for them," Siren said calmly.

Rena opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't ask any more questions.

She knew that once Celen made a decision, he rarely changed it.

The narrow boat glided silently out of the sea cave.

The old fishing sails were not raised; the fishermen moved forward by clinging to the shadows of the reefs with only two short oars.

The sea fog, like a damp, cold cloth, descended layer by layer, swallowing the ship's hull until only a blurry outline remained.

Xilun sat at the bow of the ship, the hem of his black trench coat billowing in the wind, revealing a short gun and a thin blade at his waist.

He did not look at Baiya Town.

Torches had already gathered at the town entrance, and Tusol's steward was leading his men along the reef shore.

Those people didn't dare to approach rashly, but only searched from a distance with their guns raised, clearly waiting for an interception at sea.

Reina lowered her body and paddled.

The narrow boat, like a black fish, glided northward along the shadow of the reef.

Half an hour later, the fog on the sea suddenly thinned.

The sound of chains rattling came from ahead.

Clang, clang, clang.

A low-slung steamboat emerged from the fog, its bow covered with gray iron plates, and a short, stubby crossbow mounted on each side.

The crossbow arms were not made of wood, but of an alloy with a dark blue sheen. Instead of arrows, the crossbow slots contained black harpoons as thick as an arm.

The harpoon was attached to a steel cable at the tail, and a large, folded, silver-gray net trailed behind the cable.

A man was standing at the bow of the boat.

He wore a dark gray hunting outfit, with a waterproof cloak draped over his shoulders. His hair was neatly combed, and he had a thin face with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes, like a rock that had been sculpted by the sea winds for a long time.

He lacked the arrogance common among nobles, and he also lacked the outward display of anger like Oro.

He simply stood there quietly, his right hand, gloved in leather, resting on the crossbow handle, his gaze passing through the mist and landing on Xilun.

Rena's breathing became heavy.

That person did not release any pressure.

But his very presence made the surrounding air heavy, and even the sound of the tide seemed to be lowered.

Third tier!

Xilun looked up.

The man was also looking at him.

"Silon".

The man spoke, his voice muffled by the sea fog, "I am Clement, captain of the Third Hunting Squad of the Tusol Guards."

Xilun did not answer.

Clement didn't care. His gaze swept over the wooden crate and then fell on the unconscious guard in the cabin.

"Leave the box and the people behind."

He spoke calmly, as if not giving a command, but rather telling Xilun what time the tide would rise and fall that night: "You can jump into the sea and escape once. I'll give you ten seconds."

Rena gripped the pistol tightly, her knuckles turning white.

The two guards behind Clement had already turned the crossbow around, tightened the steel cable, and the tiny runes on the edge of the water-sealing net lit up one by one in the humid air.

Before the net was even unfurled, Xilun felt the surrounding water flow become sluggish.

It's like countless tiny needles piercing the sea, forcibly cutting off the flow of water.

A powerful weapon specifically designed to restrain those who control water.

The true nature of the Tusol family has finally been revealed in a chilling way.

"Oin's order to you is to kill me."

Xilun slowly stood up.

The narrow boat rocked gently, and the seawater lapped against its hull.

Clement's expression remained unchanged. "The Third Elder's order to me was to stop you from taking away what doesn't belong to you."

"The moon phase clock belongs to old Brandon."

"Brandon has complained to Tusol about the theft."

"Where is the person who was unconscious?"

"He attacked a nobleman's secondhand goods transaction, and is suspected of being a cult member. Tusol has the right to bring him back for questioning."

Xilun smiled.

It's very bland and has no temperature.

Rena, however, heard the sarcasm in the laughter.

The so-called aristocratic order always has a sufficiently beautiful justification on paper. Murder is law enforcement, robbery is recovery, and silencing witnesses is interrogation.

Clement remained calm.

He was not unaware of how hypocritical those words were.

But he stood on the Tussol ship, with his guards, his family, and that flag soaked in blood and soot behind him.

He used to hate such words when he was young.

Later, he witnessed firsthand how northern border towns were burned to the ground by pirates, how villages without the protection of noble armies were dragged into swamps by alien species, and how a group of thugs, shouting slogans for freedom, emptied the orphanage's food reserves after seizing the granary.

Order is filthy.

But without order, there will only be more corpses.

Oin is not a good person.

Clement knew very well.

Keoin could keep Tusor alive, ensure the guards continued to receive their pay, and prevent the towns dependent on the family from being crushed in the first wave of the war.

This is enough.

"I've heard about you."

Clement looked at Siron, "You killed the Black Death cultists in the North, saved the Corruptors, and made the Brotherhood behave itself a lot. I don't hate you."

"So, give me ten seconds?"

"That's why I came in person."

Clement raised his right hand, his fingertips falling gently.

"Set the net."

hum!

Both crossbows trembled simultaneously.

The black harpoon tore through the sea fog, dragging its steel cable as it shot towards both sides of the narrow boat.

Rena yanked her gun up, but only managed to deflect the tail of one of the harpoons.

The harpoon plunged into the seawater.

The next instant, the silver-gray water-sealing net suddenly unfolded underwater!

The sea surface seemed to be pressed down hard by an invisible giant hand, the water flow around the narrow boat suddenly stagnated, and even the hull was dragged downward by a heavy force.

Siron's pupils constricted slightly.

The water beneath his feet no longer obeyed.

The talent for water manipulation remains, but it's like being bound by heavy chains, requiring several times more effort to pull each time than usual.

Clement drew his rapier from his waist.

The sword is long and narrow, with a dark blue metallic luster.

He took a step forward, leaping from the bow of the steamboat and landing on the narrow vessel.

There was no roaring, no unnecessary movements.

As the rapier thrust out, a straight slit was cut through the sea fog.

Xilun raised his arm.

The short blade is drawn.

Ding!

The sound of metal clashing pierced the night sea.

Xilun felt an indescribable sharp force coming from the blade, passing through his wrist, and drilling straight into his shoulder blade along the gap between his forearm bones.

The wooden plank beneath his feet suddenly cracked open.

The entire narrow boat sank downwards.

Third-order aberration.

Even though Clement wasn't known for his brute strength, this sword strike still far surpassed any second-tier extreme realm.

Using the momentum, Xilun retreated, his left hand clenching into a fist, forcefully pulling up the seawater outside the ship, transforming it into three water ropes that wrapped around Clement's legs and sword-wielding wrist.

But just as the water rope took shape, the water-sealing net runes lit up.

The water flow immediately dispersed.

With a flick of his wrist, Clement's rapier unleashed three points of cold light, slicing the remaining waterline to shreds.

"Very strong water control."

He commented, "But this is not your territory."

Xilun did not answer.

He kicked the side of the cabin, sending the unconscious guard and the wooden crate hurtling towards Reina.

"take away."

Rena gritted her teeth, grabbed the wooden crate straps with one hand, and pulled the prisoner's collar with the other.

"Young Master!"

"Walk!"

Xilun's voice deepened.

A struggle flashed in Rena's eyes, and then she swiftly cut the hidden rope at the stern.

A small compressed airbag was hidden at the bottom of the narrow boat. The moment the rope snapped, a white wave suddenly shot out from the stern, dragging the half-broken hull towards the reef.

Clement took a step.

Xilun was already blocking his way.

The golden spear slid from the trench coat into his palm, its tip catching a hint of dark red in the night mist.

The Red Star has not yet been formed, but it has already gathered momentum.

Clement frowned slightly for the first time.

"You can't stop me."

"Give it a try."

Xilun uttered two words.

The next moment, the spear burst forth from the fog.

The dark red light, like a star suddenly illuminating in the dead of night, pierced straight into Clement's brow.

Clement held his sword horizontally.

Swords and guns clashed.

boom!

The narrow boat was completely destroyed.

Wood chips, waves, and sea fog swirled together.

Xilun felt a tightness in his chest, and was sent flying backward, his back smashing through half of the ship's hull before plunging into the icy sea.

Clement was also forced back half a step by the shot, his boots crushing the wooden planks, and a hint of seriousness finally appeared in his eyes.

It's impossible for a regular Tier 2 to thrust out a spear like that.

No wonder O'In was willing to send him out to sea when the situation was still unstable.

If such a person truly crosses the third level threshold, dealing with them will not be something that can be solved with a water-sealing net or a hunting boat.

Before Xilun fell into the water, he heard the sound of Reina's pistol in the distance.

Two shots.

A single shot severed the steel cable that was chasing the narrow boat.

A single shot shattered an old oil lamp on the reef.

The firelight fell into the tide, briefly illuminating the mist.

Lena dragged the wooden crate and the prisoners, and half of the narrow boat had already rushed into the shadow of the reef.

Several Tusol guards turned their crossbows, preparing to fire.

Xilun's eyes turned cold.

He did not struggle.

He let his body fall into the sea.

The icy seawater instantly swallowed my mouth and nose.

The pressure from the water-sealing network intensified, as if the entire sea was rejecting his will.

But in the next instant, the cold energy within Xilun's body sank into his lungs and internal organs, and his adaptive organs slowly expanded, forcibly squeezing out a long, deep breath from the depths of his chest.

Water is no longer just an obstacle.

It is also a passageway.

He opened his eyes.

In the dark sea, the silver-gray threads of the sealing net intertwine to form a cage.

Further away, Clement's figure stood on the broken deck, looking down at the sea.

Xilun raised his hand.

A wisp of lightning flickered at his fingertips.

The internal shock force accumulated over time from the Great Thunder Breathing Technique becomes exceptionally dangerous in the water.

He grabbed a silver thread from the water-sealing net.

A chilling breath pressed down.

Lightning flashed in.

In the depths of the sea, a blinding white light silently appeared.