Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

The water ahead suddenly widened.

Xilun burst out of the underground river and plunged into an underground icy lake.

The frozen lake is partially exposed to the wind and snow. The thick ice on the lake surface is broken, and towering ice walls surround it. Several waterfalls cascade down from the mountain crevices and freeze into white ice curtains.

He leaped out of the water and stood on the lake surface.

Fresh blood dripped down the hem of her clothes, instantly freezing into red ice beads.

Fowles fell from the distant ice wall.

He somehow made his way to the exit, and his clothes were still shockingly clean.

Xilun's eyes darkened slightly.

Fowles looked at the sagging fabric on his shoulders and back.

"Your body is stronger than I imagined."

Xilun raised his hand.

The lake surface trembled violently.

Hundreds of water lines rose from beneath the cracked ice, condensing into dense ice cones in mid-air.

Each ice cone exuded a chilling, yin aura, its tips shrouded in dark blue Styx mist.

"go."

The ice spikes shot out with a whooshing sound.

They weren't in a straight line, but kept changing direction in mid-air, like a reversed icy rain, piercing Fowles from all directions.

Fowles did not dodge.

He didn't even raise his hand to protect his vitals.

The ice spike struck him and shattered into large shards of ice.

A few sharp points pierced the fabric, but when they touched the skin, they made a harsh sound like metal scraping against metal, leaving only faint white marks.

The breath of the Styx attempted to erode, but it was shattered by the solidified, iron-like blood and qi on Fowles' body surface as soon as it penetrated halfway.

Fowles took a step forward.

The glacial lake trembled.

"Xilun, third-tier methods are too lenient for fourth-tier opponents."

He raised his fist from a distance of more than ten feet.

Xilun felt a chill run down his spine.

He immediately parted the water, the ice beneath his feet shattered, and he moved sideways.

But the force of his punch still caught up with him.

It felt like an invisible mountain had struck my chest.

Xilun was sent flying backward, smashing through an ice pillar before crashing heavily into the lake.

Iced water was poured into the mouth and nose.

Severe chest pain.

He could almost hear a faint cracking sound coming from his ribs.

Fourth order.

This is the fourth order.

He opened his eyes underwater and saw a brief black shadow floating in front of him.

Don't faint.

Once unconscious, Fowles could simply walk over and crush his throat.

Xilun bit the tip of his tongue, and the taste of blood exploded in his mouth.

He divided the water again.

The lake water swirled around him, condensing into three thick ice spears that pierced through the water towards Falls's ankles, knees, and heart.

Fowles finally chuckled.

It's not contempt.

It was more like an emotion beyond anger that was provoked by Xilun's tenacity.

"Still want to struggle?"

He shattered the ice spear with one foot and brought his right fist back to his waist.

Dark golden blood energy suddenly condensed on the fist.

Xilun surfaced, pale-faced, but still raised his hand to prepare to condense ice spikes again.

He had to make Fowles believe that all his resistance was still based on these methods.

The piece of Luohan paper in his sleeve was so light it was almost weightless.

Xilun dared not look at it.

They didn't dare show any expectation.

Fowles stepped forward.

The distance of several dozen feet seemed to disappear beneath his feet.

Xilun raised his hand, and the lake water exploded again, with ice cones densely gathering.

Fowles didn't even glance at it.

He wanted to break Xilun's spine with one punch, then bring him back to the dojo and slowly uncover the secret.

Just as his punch was about to be unleashed.

A thin, golden paper leaf drifted out from the wind and snow.

It's too light.

It was as light as a real fallen leaf.

Fowles' pupils contracted sharply.

At that moment, he finally sensed danger.

It wasn't a third-tier threat that could pose to him.

Instead, it was some ancient, solemn, and heavy force that suddenly opened its eyes from that piece of paper.

He wanted to quit.

It's too late.

The Luohan paper silently adhered to the paper.

A burst of golden light suddenly erupted.

It looked as if a small, blazing sun was rising over the frozen lake.

With his arms crossed in front of his chest, Fowles' dark golden blood and energy surged wildly on his body, and his black gauntlets groaned under the strain.

The next instant, golden light pierced through.

His body suddenly stiffened.

At his chest, his clothes, skin, flesh, and bones were pierced directly by a golden finger-like force.

Blood spurted from his back, splashing onto the snow-white ice.

Fowles staggered back half a step.

Then he knelt on one knee.

The entire frozen lake fell silent for a moment.

Xilun helped himself up from the broken ice, panting heavily.

He neither cheered nor relaxed.

He dared not gamble on how terrifying fourth-order life force was.

He quickly took out the medicine, bit off the stopper, and swallowed it.

The medicine slid down my throat and burned into my stomach like fire.

The pain in my chest eased slightly, and the split ribs were enveloped by a tingling, itchy sensation.

He stared at Fowles, who was kneeling in the distance.

"Did you survive...?"

The sound had barely faded when...

Fowles coughed softly.

Blood gushed from his mouth and dripped onto the ice.

But his chest was still heaving.

The golden light pierced his heart, but it didn't kill him completely.

Xilun's eyes turned cold, and he sank into the water without hesitation.

The lake water closed up.

Fowles slowly raised his head, his face frighteningly pale.

He looked at the spot where Xilun had disappeared, and for the first time, a genuine shock appeared in his eyes.

What is that?

What did that tree give him?

Fowles let out a heavy sigh.

The wound in his chest was still bleeding, with golden remnants of power lingering within, like a red-hot nail, firmly holding his flesh and blood together to help it heal.

He raised his hand to press on the wound, and blood gushed out between his fingers.

But he still stood up.

"Silon..."

His voice was hoarse.

The peace is gone.

He no longer resembles a dojo owner.

It's more like someone who has finally been driven to the brink of despair.

"You must leave the secret behind."

Beneath the frozen lake, Siron swam close to the shadows on the lakebed.

The water is very cold.

But he was even colder.

Every movement of the wound in his chest caused dark spots to appear on the edge of his vision.

Although he avoided the most fatal blow from Fowles's punch, the residual force still injured his lungs and internal organs. The cracked ribs felt like thin knives, constantly scraping his flesh with each breath.

The healing medicine spread throughout the body.

The medicine was potent, but far from enough.

He needs time.

Unfortunately, the thing we lack most is time.

Fowles did not die.

The golden light from the Luohan paper pierced his heart; any third-level cultivator would have died on the spot, but Fowles was still able to stand up.

A fourth-tier demon hunter's body is so strong it's almost unreasonable.

Xilun turned around underwater.

On the blurry ice, Fowles' figure moved slowly, his steps much heavier than before.

The injury did affect him.

This is the only chance.

Xilun did not rush to escape.

He raised his hand and pressed it against the bottom of the lake. A chilling aura spread from his palm, and tiny bubbles in the lake water condensed into ice crystals, silently gathering at Fowles' feet.

Just as Fowles took his third step, the ice suddenly collapsed.

Dozens of water ropes rushed out from the crack and wrapped around his ankles and calves.

Previously, these water ropes wouldn't have been able to slow things down even for half a breath.

However, the golden residual power in Fowles' chest has not yet dissipated, and every time his blood and qi circulate, it aggravates the wound.

When he stepped on and broke the first batch of water ropes, his movement visibly paused for a moment.

Xilun rose from underwater.

The golden spear thrust out.

The spear tip was aimed straight at Fowles' throat.

Fowles tilted his head, his black boxing gloves blocking the gun's tip.

clang!

The clang of metal on metal exploded on the frozen lake.

Xilun's hand was split open, and his entire arm was numb, but he did not retreat.

He slid close to the gun barrel, pressing his left palm against the wound in Fowles' chest.

The chilling aura condensed into a single point, attempting to penetrate deep into the flesh and blood along the golden wound.

Fowles' eyes sharpened.

He bent his elbow and slammed it down.

Xilun withdrew his palm in time, but was still grazed on the shoulder by the elbow wind, and flew sideways, smashing through the ice and falling into the lake.

The water surged.

Fowles groaned as the wound in his chest was torn open by the previous movement, and a large amount of blood gushed out again.

He raised his hand to his chest, his eyes a mixture of anger and pain.

Xilun was even more ruthless than he had imagined.

This young man was not terrified by the pressure from the fourth-level opponent.

After being hit by the Luohan paper, Xilun's first reaction was not to run away, but to check if he would die.

Once it was confirmed that he was not dead, they immediately used the water and his injuries to fight him, forcing him to bleed continuously.

This wasn't the kind of reckless bravery that comes from fighting on the streets of downtown.

This is an instinct developed through countless chases.

Fowles suddenly remembered Risa.

What would happen if Risa were still alive and met someone like Siron?

She'll probably be excited.

Will be dissatisfied.

They will face challenges time and time again.

He might also be killed without hesitation by this young man in a life-or-death moment.

Fowles closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had hardened once more.

He cannot let Xilen leave.

It's not just for Risa.

It is also a Buddhist temple.

A third-tier being who possesses the secrets of the wondrous realm, grows at an alarming rate, and is completely unbound by rules, will one day drag countless people into the storm if he continues to grow.

He has seen far too many young people like that.

At first, I just wanted to live.

Later, I wanted to protect the people around me.

Later, they began to feel that they were entitled to rewrite the rules.

Every time the rules collapse, someone dies.

Those who die the most are never nobles or the strong, but the children who have just learned to stand in the dojo, the poor people holding hot soup on the street, and ordinary people who have no other choice.

Fowles spat out a mouthful of blood and slowly assumed a boxing stance.

Beneath the surface of the icy lake, Xilun sensed the change in aura, and his heart sank.

Fowles is going to have to work really hard.

Without further hesitation, he turned and swam to the other side of the frozen lake.

There is a narrow waterway at the bottom of the lake that leads to the outer valley.

This waterway is very low, and the rock walls are covered with sharp icicles; for an ordinary person to go in would be tantamount to suicide.

Kesilon must leave.

He had just entered the waterway when the lake behind him suddenly collapsed.

Fowles then jumped directly into the lake.

The moment a fourth-tier demon hunter's body entered the water, it pressed down on the undercurrent like a heavy block of iron.

But he was fast; he used his fists to clear a path, smashing through the ice and rocks at the waterway entrance and chasing after us.

Xilun gritted his teeth and sped up.

The icicles cut through his clothes, leaving bloody streaks on his skin.

He doesn't care.

The blood had barely seeped out when it was sealed by the cold.

Fowles pursued from behind, his wounded chest bleeding under the water pressure. The golden residual energy mingled with the icy lake water, making his face grow even paler.

But he still wouldn't let go of Xilun.

The two clashed several times in the narrow waterway.

Xilun turned around using the water as a springboard, the butt of his gun sweeping towards Fowles' eye.

Fowles punched the gun barrel off course with one punch and then slammed his other fist into his abdomen.

While one cannot exert full force underwater, the power of a fourth-tier being is still terrifyingly strong.

Xilun took the blow head-on with his ice shield, which shattered, and the residual force sent his internal organs churning.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, which spread in the water, condensing into a red mist mixed with the chill, obscuring Fowles's vision.

Fowles closed his eyes and raised his fist by relying on his senses of qi and blood.

At that instant, Xilun approached from below, his five fingers forming claws, grabbing at the golden wound on the opponent's chest.

Fowles snorted angrily and delivered a knee strike to the head.

Xilun was hit in the abdomen, and his whole body curled up as he crashed into the rock wall, blood gushing from his mouth and nose.

But his fingertips also brushed against the edge of Fowles' wound.

A wisp of dark blue aura seeped in.

Very few.

So little that it was almost instantly crushed by fourth-tier Qi and Blood.

But Fowles still frowned slightly.

The aura was very sinister.

Unlike ordinary cold poison.

More like stagnant mud that has accumulated for thousands of years in the depths of still water, carrying the smell of disease, decay, and death, quietly clinging to flesh and blood.

Using the force of the impact, Xilun finally broke out of the waterway.

Ahead lay a snow-covered river valley.

The river was half-frozen, and the banks were covered with gray and white rocks. In the distance, the wind and snow were even stronger, the mountains rose and fell, and a withered, cold forest could be vaguely seen.

Xilun burst out of the water and staggered to the ground.

He didn't stop and continued rushing towards the cold forest.

Fowles followed closely behind, standing up from the water.

His chest was soaked in blood, and cracks appeared at the edge of his black boxing gloves.

That blow to the Arhat paper not only destroyed his flesh and blood, but also damaged his blood circulation, which he had cultivated over many years.

If he were outside, he would immediately go into seclusion to heal his injuries.

But now, Xilun is right in front of us.

The secret lies ahead.

He can't retreat.

Fowles lifted his foot and chased after him.

In the valley, two figures tore through the wind and snow, one after the other.

The speed of Xilun is getting slower and slower.

Every breath carried the stench of blood. The Breath of the Styx had not yet been mastered; forcibly using it would only make his lungs feel colder and more painful.

But he has to use it.

No need, there's absolutely no chance of hurting Fowles.

The cold forest is right in front of us.

The withered tree branches were encased in ice, resembling gray-white bone claws.

Xilun rushed into the forest, then suddenly stopped and turned to face his gun.

Fowles followed closely behind.

He saw that Xilun had stopped running, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"No way out?"

Xiren gasped for breath, blood dripping from his chin.

"I just wanted to give it a try."

"Try what?"

"How much of your life force do you have left?"

Fowles paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.

The laughter aggravated his wound, causing him to cough up blood again.

"You want to fight me head-on?"

Xilun did not answer.

The golden spear was slowly raised.

The snow that landed on the spearhead was immediately pulverized.

Akahoshi's stance.

But it's not entirely a red star.

The techniques Lund had taught him—half-step retreat, concealing one's strength, borrowing force, and deception—were now flashing through his mind.

One should not reveal one's murderous intent too early.

The more you want to kill, the more you should act as if you don't want to kill.

The more you want to advance, the more you need to take a half-step back.

Fowles noticed something amiss, and his eyes flickered slightly.

"Someone taught you how to use a gun."

Xilun said, "My teacher."

"The one targeted by the Black Death Cult?"

Xilun's eyes suddenly turned cold.

Fowles captured the emotion of that moment.

"I see. You were in such a hurry because of him."

He slowly raised his fist.

"Silon, everyone has something to protect."

Risa is my disciple, and the dojo is a place I have guarded for half my life.

You would kill, rob, and risk any danger for your teacher.

"Then what's right about me killing you for my disciple and my dojo?"

Xilun said in a deep voice, "There's nothing wrong with that."

Fowles was taken aback.

Xilun's spear tip was slightly lowered.

"So I won't ask you to stop."

The next moment, he took half a step forward.

It's not an attack.

It is a half-step forward in a retreat.

Fowles' eyes narrowed, and he threw out his right fist.

Xilun's figure, like an ice branch bent by the force of a punch, narrowly missed the fist's edge, and the golden spear was thrust out from an extremely awkward angle, aiming for the wound in Fowles' chest.

Fowles slapped the gun barrel open with his left hand.

Xilun loosened his grip slightly, the gun barrel sliding in his palm, the butt of the gun swinging back like a venomous snake, striking Fowles's Adam's apple.

Fowles braced himself against the wall.

boom!