Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Behind the correctional facility stands a gray-white spire overlooking the lake.

The spire is not tall, but it is extremely thick and heavy. Its base is made of black reef stone, and the cracks in the walls are covered with moss that has hardened from years of sea winds.

A bronze bell hangs atop the tower, its surface inscribed with the old precepts of the Holy Light Monastery and the names of the monks who died in battle over the years in the Punishment Division.

As the evening light slanted into the dean's study, the bronze bell did not ring, but a heavy cracking sound rang out first.

An ink bottle was smashed against the wall, and black ink slowly dripped down the gray-white wall, like an unsightly bloodstain.

"This is outrageous!"

Behind the desk stood a tall, middle-aged man, his chest rising and falling slightly.

His temples were already a little gray, and although he didn't have many wrinkles on his face, he had a kind of weariness that came from long-term suppression.

That wasn't the decay of an ordinary old man, but the heaviness worn into his bones from years of dealing with sea monsters, heretics, cultists, and out-of-control extraordinary individuals.

Dean of the Correctional Institution, Klein.

On Star Ring Island, he might not be considered the most important figure, but within the Holy Light Monastery, he was at least a powerful figure who truly understood the rules of the monastery.

When ordinary people see him, they even subconsciously lower their breathing.

But at this moment, there was an uncontrollable rage in his eyes.

A letter lay open on the desk.

The letter was written on the unique deep blue fish-scale paper of the Sea Demon Temple, with faint silver lines on the edges, and the sealing wax had been crushed.

The text above wasn't long, and the tone was even polite, but the meaning behind that politeness was far more severe than a slap in the face.

The son of a vice-temple master of the Sea Demon Temple is pursuing his daughter.

It's said to be a pursuit.

But a few days ago at a banquet, in front of half of the young nobles and monks of Star Ring Island, that young man drunkenly boasted that he would get his hands on the daughter of the Dean of the Disciplinary Academy sooner or later.

When these words reached Klein's ears, he almost crushed the back of his chair on the spot.

What's even more disgusting is that the next day, the Sea Demon Temple actually sent someone to deliver a so-called apology gift. However, there was not a trace of genuine apology in their words. Instead, they subtly reminded him that the deputy temple master's son had a noble bloodline and outstanding talent. They suggested that if the two families were to form a marriage alliance, it would be a good thing for the Disciplinary Academy.

good thing?

Klein stared at the letter, his eyes as somber as the sea before a storm.

Correctional institutions have indeed declined in recent years.

Although the Holy Light Monastery is still one of the major powers on Star Ring Island, it is ultimately inferior to the Sea Demon Temple in terms of foundation.

Especially in the last decade, the Sea Demon Temple has made great gains in the sea beast tides several times, and young geniuses have emerged one after another in the temple, even showing a trend of surpassing other forces.

And he himself is no longer young.

A Tier 4 Demon Hunter, placed in the lower city or on the outskirts of the island, is enough to keep the area in check.

However, in the core area of ​​Star Ring Island, the fourth rank is not the end, and even real power is not secure.

Klein knew very well that if he were still in his prime, and if the old headmaster of the Disciplinary Academy were still in charge, the people of the Sea Demon Temple would never dare to put such words on his desk.

But now, they dare.

That's what angered him the most.

The other party was not acting rashly; rather, they had taken advantage of the disciplinary institution's weakness and knew that he wouldn't dare to easily break off relations.

A soft knock came from the door.

"Father."

The woman's voice came in, clear and bright with a touch of natural charm, but not frivolous; instead, it had a sharp and heroic quality.

Klein took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open.

The woman who walked in was in her early twenties. She was tall with a straight back and long, dark blonde hair tied in a ponytail that hung down her shoulders.

She was wearing a dark, fitted correctional uniform, her coat tucked into her waist, and her leather boots made a crisp, steady sound as they stepped on the floor.

She wore a slender silver sword at her waist, the hilt wrapped in dark red leather, which was clearly not just for decoration.

The woman had extremely beautiful features, with slightly upturned eyes and light-colored lips. When she smiled, she had a radiant beauty that could make one's heart flutter.

But when she wasn't smiling, her eyes were calm to the point of being sharp.

Her name is Elena.

The only daughter of Klein, the head of the correctional facility.

As soon as Elena entered the room, she saw the ink stains on the wall and her father's stiff shoulders, and she understood what was going on.

She didn't mention the letter immediately, but instead placed the register in her hand on the corner of the table.

"In the evening, a third-tier extraordinary individual passed the entrance examination. Brother Allah sent over his information and suggested that he be assigned to our Disciplinary Institute."

Klein did not look at the register.

He remained staring at the fish-scale paper on the table, his voice deep: "Third tier?"

"Hmm." Elena opened the register. "Foreign monk, named Xilun, not very old, already at the third level."

However, the monk Allah wrote in his assessment that his strength was extremely mixed, his old injuries and traces of contamination were severe, his spiritual path was incomplete, and he needed to rebuild his foundation.

Proficient in water-based, cold-based, and spear techniques, as well as a certain extremely dangerous and sinister method.

Klein then raised his eyes.

Normally, if a third-tier outsider joined the Disciplinary Institute, he would at least personally ask them a few questions.

The Correctional Institution is different from the Holy Light Branch School; it deals more with dangerous matters on a daily basis.

A third-tier extraordinary individual is no ordinary disciple; if used properly, they can become a sharp blade.

If used improperly, it could cause trouble within the hospital.

But at this moment, Klein felt as if a red-hot stone was stuck in his chest, and he had no mind to look closely.

Elena looked at her father's expression, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly spoke: "Father, are you still angry about that person from the Sea Demon Temple?"

Klein's eyes darkened.

"This is none of your business."

"If it concerns me, I should know."

Elena spoke calmly, as if she were discussing a routine matter, "Since he dared to say those things outside, he wasn't just trying to humiliate me, but also you, and the disciplinary institution."

Klein clenched his fist.

The heavy wooden planks on the table groaned slightly.

Elena looked at him and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a poignant clarity that tugged at the heartstrings.

"Actually, if it really doesn't work out, I can marry him."

Klein suddenly looked up.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

"Only in name." Elena did not back down, but instead took half a step forward.

"I'll stay in the monastery. If he really wants to touch a finger of mine, let him come to the correctional facility."

"I'll chop off his hand myself then. If the Sea Demon Temple wants to punish me, let them ask."

Klein looked at his daughter.

Elena stood ramrod straight, her boots, sword, and uniform making her look like a silvery-white thorn growing in the sea breeze.

She spoke without a trace of weakness, as if she could truly kill that arrogant scoundrel in front of the courtyard gate.

But Klein felt no relief whatsoever.

He knew his daughter wasn't joking.

That's why he felt powerless.

This is not as simple as a young man's flippant remark.

This is the Sea Demon Temple reaching out to test the limits of the Disciplinary Academy.

Today she is his daughter, tomorrow she may be the resources and students of the correctional institution, or even the old authority of the Holy Light Monastery on Star Ring Island.

If he takes a step back, the other person will realize that he is old.

But if he doesn't back down, can the Disciplinary Hall withstand the wrath of the Sea Demon Temple?

Klein suddenly felt a dryness in his throat.

He had weathered many storms over the years, personally executing out-of-control third-tier cultivators and fighting through a night with half his body submerged in blood during a sea monster tide.

At that time, he never felt that he would get old.

until now.

He couldn't immediately draw his sword and kill anyone who dared to target his daughter.

Klein slowly exhaled, as if pressing all the burning heat in his chest back into his lungs.

"Don't say things like that again."

His voice was low and deep. "As long as I'm alive, it's not your place to gamble with yourself."

Elena lowered her eyelashes slightly and did not argue.

Klein crumpled the fish-scale paper on the table into a ball, a flash of white light appeared in his palm, and the paper silently turned into fine ash.

He looked at the register again, but only glanced at it before closing it again.

"New disciple, take a look at the information and assign duties."

Accommodation, clothing, name tags, and basic courses will be arranged according to regulations.

If he is indeed at the third tier, we can temporarily refrain from assigning him dangerous missions and observe him for a period of time.

Elena nodded: "I understand."

Klein got up and picked up his coat, which was hanging on the back of the chair.

"Father?"

"I'm going to see some old friends," Klein said coldly. "The Sea Demon Temple thinks the Disciplinary Academy is deserted, so I need to remind them of some old times."

After saying that, he didn't look at his daughter again and went straight out the door.

After the heavy wooden door closed, the study became quiet.

The lake outside the window shimmered with a pale gold hue in the twilight, and the wind rustled through the treetops, carrying a faint, damp scent of grass and trees.

Elena stood by the desk, gazing at the black ink mark on the wall. The sharpness in her eyes slowly faded, leaving only a faint trace of weariness.

She knew all too well how difficult things were for her father.

This monastery may seem peaceful, but in reality, the shadow of power looms beneath every roof.

The Sea Demon Temple, the Silver Shell Council, numerous merchant alliances, ancient families, and even high-ranking extraordinary individuals returning from the depths of the Chaotic Sea—none of them are truly clean and gentle.

To maintain order, correctional institutions must be tougher than others.

But even if it's hard for a long time, it will wear down.

Elena let out a soft breath and looked down to open Xiren's file.

The handwriting is very simple.

Name: Xilun.

Realm: Third Rank.

Source: A wandering cultivator from the outer seas, temporarily residing in Baichao Port.

Comments: Possesses mixed strength, excellent physical strength, superb water control, and combat capability.

The monk Allah wrote a final line of very small words.

"This person is calm and collected, but has a strong ruthless streak. However, there are no signs of him losing control. He can be sent to the correctional facility and should not be treated lightly."

Elena's gaze lingered on the words "not to be taken lightly."

The monks of Allah are very strict and rarely give such reminders to visiting monks.

She closed the documents, picked up the register, and turned to leave the study.

The front courtyard of the correctional facility was much quieter than that of the Holy Light Branch.

There are no vast flower fields here, nor are there young students in white robes reciting scriptures around the spring.

Rows of silent training stakes stood on both sides of the gray stone road, and in the distance were several semi-enclosed torture chambers and solitary confinement cells. The air was filled with the faint smell of metal, medicine and blood mixed together.

As the sun dipped low in the sky, a man stood beneath the pillars of the front courtyard.

He was dressed in a clean but inconspicuous dark coat, with a leather suitcase beside him and a cane resting on his palm.

The twilight shone from the side, clearly outlining his brow bone and the bridge of his nose.

That face was unexpectedly young, and unexpectedly handsome.

It's not the refined elegance of pampered life, but the cool and aloof quality forged through wind, rain, and the edge of a blade.

His face was slightly pale, and his lips were also pale, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness, but his shoulders and back were very steady.

Even standing in the unfamiliar courtyard of the correctional facility, he didn't feel awkward at all, but quietly observed every exit, shadow, and patrol route around him.

Elena paused almost imperceptibly.

She has met many extraordinary people.

There are many who are rude, arrogant, gloomy, covered in the smell of the sea, or transformed beyond recognition by sea monster materials.

But there aren't many people like the one in front of me who can blend exhaustion, vigilance, restraint, and an almost icy calmness together.

She quickly composed herself and stepped forward.

"Are you Xilun?"

The man looked up at her.

At that moment, Elena had a very strange feeling.

The other person's eyes weren't a special color, but they resembled deep water.

The surface is calm, but beneath it lies an undercurrent, and something that even light cannot penetrate.

"Yes." Siren nodded. "I just passed the test and was assigned to the correctional facility."

Elena nodded slightly.

"I am Elena, and I am temporarily handling your admission arrangements on behalf of the hospital director."

The monk Allah has already sent your information. Your father is away on business, so I will show you around the correctional facility from now on.

Xilun glanced at the sword at her waist.

"Thank you for your trouble."

His tone was polite, but not warm.

Elena didn't care.

She opened the thin book in her hand and said as she walked:

"You are a third-tier extraordinary individual. In principle, you don't need to learn the rules from scratch like ordinary new disciples."

However, the fundamental teachings of the Holy Light Monastery are different from those of other independent monastics. In particular, the fundamental teachings of our Disciplinary Academy focus on strengthening the body, unifying energy, and bearing external forces.

The monk Allah said your channel is incomplete; if you wish, you can practice the fundamental teachings again.

Xilun followed beside her, his steps very light.

"The fundamental method?"

"Overturning the Seas Technique".

When Elena uttered those three words, there was an unconscious solemnity in her tone.

"This technique is a fundamental breathing method summarized by generations of cultivators in the Disciplinary Academy during sea monster tides, deep-sea battlefields, and the extermination of heretics."

The first two stages are for tempering the skin and refining the flesh; the third stage is forging tendons and transforming qi; the fourth stage is forging bones; and after that, one can continue to ascend to higher levels.

In theory, cultivating to the complete stage can support the foundation of a fifth-tier extraordinary individual.

Xilun's eyes finally flickered slightly.

Fifth order.

The Suffering Traveler.

In downtown Victoria, this is a height that only exists in rumors.

Even on Star Ring Island, the fundamental method that leads directly to the fifth rank is by no means an ordinary thing.

Elena glanced at him sideways, seemingly understanding his thoughts.

"Of course, only in theory."

The Overturning Sea Technique is not easy, especially from the third level onwards, which requires a large number of diagrams, annotations, explanations from teachers, and sufficient places to gather demons.

Many people stop at the second level of mastery. If they misunderstand the third level, their energy will backfire, causing minor damage to their meridians or even immediate loss of control.

She paused, then said, "But you are already at the third level, and your physical strength is sufficient. If you can go back and make up for the first two levels, and then use the third level to regulate your energy channels, it will benefit you."