Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

She glanced at Xilun again, as if to make sure she hadn't misheard.

"You've been a student for six months, and apart from attending classes, practicing, and paying fees, you've done almost nothing. I thought you were planning to stay in the meditation room number three forever."

"That was the original plan," Siren said calmly.

"So what's happening now?"

"Cultivating the Overturning Sea Technique to the third level, the transformation of tendons and qi, would be very slow for me without the aid of materials, given my physical condition."

Xilun did not take a detour.

"The Azure Tide Vine Marrow, Silver-Patterned Tendon and Bone Fish Paste, and Thousand-Layer Jellyfish Tendon Fluid all require higher access levels. The drowned silver coins required for the Breath of the Styx can only be applied for by inner court disciples."

Elena frowned slightly when she heard the words "Breath of the Styx".

She clearly remembered the comments in the register of Allah's monks.

Dangerous, deathly silent, heavy with the atmosphere of killing.

"Are you still practicing that method?"

"It requires practice."

Xilun's answer was very simple.

Elena looked at him.

Xilun was also looking at her.

The two were separated by the evening lake breeze, and the laughter of disciples came from the end of the stone path in the distance, but was quickly swallowed up by the shadows of the trees.

Elena hesitated for a moment, then rolled up the document in her hand.

"This is not a simple matter."

She glanced at the sky.

"Let's go eat first. We can talk while we eat."

Xilun did not refuse.

The two walked along the stone path of Donghu Lake, crossed a meadow with small white flowers, and arrived at the monastery's refectory.

Xilun rarely comes here.

Most of the time, to save time and avoid contact, he only had servants bring ordinary food from outside to the quiet room.

Having cultivated to this point, he needs a lot of replenishment of qi and blood, but he relies more on medicine and sea beast ointment.

The monastery's refectory was larger than he had imagined.

The roof is high, and bright glass lamps hang between the wooden beams, casting a gentle, non-glaring light. In the center is a shallow pond with dozens of lotus flowers floating in it.

Those lotus flowers are not ordinary plants.

The petals are like jade, with a faint holy light emanating from their edges, and the flower centers support white porcelain plates.

Some plates contained golden-brown roasted sea animal meat, others held thick white soup, and still others featured sliced ​​medicinal roots, steamed clams, and steaming rye cakes.

The disciples would throw coins or vouchers into the copper box by the pool, and the corresponding lotus flowers would slowly float over.

"The food here is much more expensive than outside."

Elena put two meal tickets into the copper box and added a few silver coins.

"But it uses purified, extraordinary materials and low-level sea beast meat, which is beneficial for breathing exercises."

Especially for someone like you whose body is severely depleted, an occasional treat is better than forcing yourself to swallow ingredients full of impurities.

A lotus flower stopped in front of the two of them.

Two meals were placed on the center of the flower.

The dish included tender bluefin tuna, sea cucumber soup, grilled clams, and a small bowl of fragrant grain rice.

Elena picked up her plate and casually remarked, "Ten pounds a meal."

Xilun paused for a moment.

Elena noticed, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"What, even a Tier 3 Extraordinary is stingy with money?"

"I feel sorry for you."

Xilun picked up his plate, his tone serious.

"I'm not rich right now."

Elena chuckled.

This relieved a lot of the weariness that had been weighing on her face.

The two sat down by the window.

Outside the window is the small garden behind the cafeteria. As night falls, the white lights reflect on the grass, making it look like a layer of frost.

Xilun took a sip of soup first.

The heat entered my throat.

The soup didn't have the messy, fishy smell of ordinary sea creature ingredients; instead, it had a warm, mellow taste, as if purified by holy light.

The heat spread through his stomach and was slowly absorbed by the muscles refined by the Overturning Sea Technique. Even the cold, restless feeling deep in his right arm was temporarily suppressed.

It is indeed nourishing.

It is indeed expensive.

Elena ate slowly, but her movements were clean.

She took a few bites before speaking, "You rarely go out; it seems you're indeed diligently practicing your spiritual cultivation. The monk Allah said you have a calm and composed mind, which I initially doubted, but now I believe it."

Xilun said, "I'm not very good at socializing."

"I can tell."

Elena put down her spoon.

"But I have to tell you first that many things cannot be accomplished by one person alone."

Xilun looked up.

Elena held up one finger.

"The first step for inner court disciples to be promoted is not application, but qualification."

"Only those who are qualified are allowed to submit an application."

"After submission, it must pass an assessment. The assessment includes foundation, merits, disciplinary records, teacher evaluations, and whether the monastery is worth continuing to invest resources in."

Her tone was calm, and she wasn't trying to scare anyone.

"You are a third-tier extraordinary being, which is a great advantage, but you have only been in the academy for a short time and come from a background of independent cultivators in the outer sea. If you apply directly based solely on your cultivation level, the academy administration will not approve it easily."

Siren asked, "How is qualification obtained?"

"Many kinds."

Elena listed them off, saying, "Serving as a teaching assistant for a long time, completing disciplinary tasks, accumulating enough contributions, performing meritorious service in missions outside, or being jointly recommended by the dean and several deacons."

She looked at Xilen.

"You clearly don't belong to the first two categories."

Celen did not deny it.

He can't wait much longer.

Elena continued, "And you're not the only one who wants to become an inner court disciple. Inner court spots are limited, and they're related to qualifications for the Demon Gathering Room, Material Storage, Arcane Course, and high-level monastery missions. Every year, outer court disciples compete fiercely for just a few spots."

Xilun remained silent for a moment.

In other words, having strength alone is not enough.

"right."

Elena nodded.

"You need to let others know that you have a reason to be given a spot."

Xilun slowly chewed the fish in his mouth.

His mood didn't fluctuate much.

In Victoria, people in the lower town want to climb up the social ladder; isn't that true of everything?

Having the ability is not enough.

You need status, connections, people willing to speak for you, and the opportunity to wield your fist where everyone can see it.

Elena pondered for a moment and said, "There is indeed a mission coming up recently."

Xilun looked up.

Elena didn't speak immediately, but lowered her voice first.

"There are signs of pirates landing and buying things near Star Ring Island."

"pirate?"

"Um."

Elena's eyes were slightly cold.

"They are not ordinary smugglers. According to information from the patrol team and several trading companies, a group of pirates has recently been active in the outer harbor, purchasing medicines, gunpowder, iron materials and fresh food."

They deliberately avoided major ports and moved in a scattered manner, but some people recognized several faces, suggesting they were connected to a bounty-sent fleet.

Xilun recalled the wanted posters for the "Ten Demon Thieves of the Chaotic Sea" at the city gate.

"Very strong?"

"This group isn't at the level of the Ten Demon Thieves, otherwise they wouldn't have been handed over to the outer academy."

Elena said, "But there are definitely Tier 3 characters inside, maybe more than one."

Their voyage ashore to make purchases suggests that the fleet may have been damaged or that someone may have been injured.

If we can track them down, successfully encircle and annihilate them, and kill a few of the most powerful figures, we will gain the qualification to apply for admission to the Inner Academy.

She paused.

"But it's difficult if you're alone."

Siren asked, "The monastery doesn't send fourth-rank officials?"

Elena glanced at him.

"There are things happening on Star Ring Island every day. It's impossible for a fourth-level cultivator to run around for a group of mid-level pirates. Besides, this kind of mission is meant to give outer court disciples an opportunity to earn merit."

She gently tapped the rim of the glass.

"Of course, it's also an opportunity to weed out unqualified people."

The cafeteria wasn't noisy.

In the distance, several young disciples were laughing and talking about today's training, while others were annoyed because they had spent ten pounds on the wrong meal.

Lotus flowers floated gently in the shallow pond, carrying warmth and fragrance.

Sitting in such a clean and bright place, listening to words like "pirates," "encirclement," and "qualification," Xilun felt a familiar sense of peace.

Danger.

But the danger is at least clear.

Compared to the deep pits hidden behind charity, nobility, church and plague in Victoria, pirates were much more direct.

Elena considered for a moment, then continued, "I do have a team that I'm planning to give it a try."

Xilun did not interrupt.

She said, "The team is tentatively set at five people. Besides me, there are three other people who were introduced by others. I don't know them very well, but I know that they are all capable."

"If you want to qualify, you can join."

Xilun looked at her.

Elena met his gaze and said frankly, "But the problem is, I don't know anything about you."

"The register clearly states: third rank, skilled in water-based techniques, diverse martial arts methods, and decent spear skills."

"But a register is just a register. Once you're actually in a pirate stronghold, the strength, habits, courage, and whether the people around you will cause trouble will affect the life and death of the entire team."

Her tone became more serious.

"I can't just let you join because you're highly accomplished."

Xilun put down his cutlery.

"May I demonstrate?"

Elena raised an eyebrow.

"Now?"

"Now."

Looking at Xilen's calm, almost emotionless face, she suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

"You really don't beat around the bush."

Xilun said, "I need qualifications, and I need materials."

This statement is very straightforward.

Elena was so blunt that she couldn't say anything more.

After finishing the last bite of her meal, she stood up and said, "Let's go."

"Where to?"

"Drill Ground"

She picked up the silver sword at her waist, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"If we're going to do a demonstration, we can't just flip the table in the cafeteria."

Night was falling.

The disciplinary court's training ground is located on a flat stone ground on the east side of the lake, surrounded by several bronze lampposts.

The lampposts are inlaid with purifying stones, emitting a white light that makes every movement in the arena impossible to miss.

At this hour, several disciples were still practicing swordsmanship and martial arts.

Upon seeing Elena approaching with Siren, they all stopped what they were doing.

"Senior Sister Elena."

"Senior sister."

Elena waved her hand.

"Could I borrow this space?"

The disciples immediately retreated to the edge.

Someone recognized Xilun and whispered, "Is that the one from the meditation room in East Lake No. 3?"

"That third-tier rogue cultivator from the outer sea?"

"I heard you've been practicing the first two levels of the Overturning Sea Technique for the past six months, why are you out today?"

Xilun ignored these voices.

Elena walked to the center of the court, took off her outer robe, revealing a close-fitting white training uniform underneath.

Her shoulders and back were sharply defined, and the silver sword at her waist was still sheathed, making her look like a slender sword hidden in its scabbard.

"No weapons for now."

She flexed her wrists.

"Only test fists, kicks, and strength control."

Siren nodded and placed his cane on the sidelines.

The two stood five steps apart.

A lake breeze blew past the edge of the field, carrying the scents of aquatic plants and night dew.

Elena's eyes narrowed.

The next moment, she strode over.

Her speed was fast, but not violently fast; rather, it was like the tide rising on the shore. Before the first step was even five steps away, the second step had already pressed down on Xilun.

Strike out with your right palm.

The strength in his palms was deep and not scattered, faintly resembling the layered power after the body was refined by the Overturning Sea Technique.

Xilun raised his arm to block.

boom.

The two men's arms touched, the sound was not loud, but it caused a faint ripple to appear on the stone slab beneath their feet.

A hint of surprise flashed in Elena's eyes.

She could sense that Xilun hadn't used any strange methods; he was simply relying on the first two levels of the Overturning Sea Technique to bear the force.

Very stable.

He doesn't seem like someone who has only trained for half a year.

She turned her palm into a clasp, attempting to grab Xilen's wrist.

Xilun's arm sank slightly, her shoulder and back muscles rising and falling silently, like an underwater current gently turning before slipping through her fingers.

Then, he took a half-step closer and threw a punch straight at the center line.

Elena dodged to the side, then delivered a knee strike to the top.

Xilun raised his knees to greet him.

Another muffled sound.

The two of them took a half step back at the same time.

The disciples on the sidelines quieted down.

They had assumed that Elena would quickly subdue the silent foreign monk.

After all, Elena was already a third-tier extraordinary being, with a good reputation among her peers in the Disciplinary Academy. She was also the daughter of the Dean, and her foundation in the Overturning Sea Technique was solid.

But now, looking at it, Xilun's punches and kicks are not chaotic at all.

He doesn't use flashy moves or rush into attacks. Every time he raises his hand, turns his shoulder, or advances, it's very simple, as if he has gone through a lot of life-and-death battles and has cleaned up all the unnecessary movements.

Elena exhaled.

"good."

Before she could finish speaking, the moans inside her body suddenly intensified.

The power of the Overturning Sea Technique surged from her feet, running down her legs, waist, and shoulders to her palms. When she struck again, her attack had changed.

One palm strike after another, like a continuous tide.

Each palm strike wasn't extremely heavy, yet they were connected, forcing Xilun to constantly adjust his center of gravity.

This is the orthodox move of the Overturning Sea Skill.

Tide-like palms.

Xilun took three steps back.

In the fourth step, his eyes darkened slightly.

His breathing suddenly became slow and shallow.

A flash of lightning appeared in his palm.

He suppressed the Great Thunder Breathing Technique to an extremely low level, only taking the essence of its vibration, and then added his newly cultivated Thunder Spirit talent.

Silvery arcs of electricity danced between his fingers, like the light suppressed by clouds on the eve of a storm.

Elena felt a slight numbness in her arm as soon as her palm struck down.

She immediately changed tactics and retreated.

Xilun did not pursue, but instead opened his mouth and exhaled a wisp of dark blue cold mist.

Breath of the Styx.

The aura wasn't grand, but it was cold and deathly still; the moment it appeared, the temperature in the area plummeted.

The disciples on the edge of the path changed their expressions slightly and almost instinctively took two steps back.

Elena's pupils contracted.

She pressed down with her palm, and the power of the ocean transformed into a curtain of tides in front of her, blocking the wisp of cold mist.

However, after the cold mist adhered to the tide curtain, it did not dissipate immediately, but rather eroded slowly like some kind of rotten mud that had sunk to the bottom of the river.

Elena had to take another step back, and a thin layer of frost formed on her cuffs.

She finally understood why the monks of Allah had specifically written "Do not be negligent" in the register.

This method is very dangerous.

If someone of the same level is careless and lets this cold, deathly breath penetrate their lungs, the consequences will be dire.

Xilun withdrew the breath of the Styx.

Then, moisture gathered beneath his feet, and a chilling aura spread along the ground, transforming into several thin ice blades that approached Elena from different angles.

At the same time, he himself used the power of the Overturning Sea Technique to press down again.

Fists and feet, chilling aura, lightning, the breath of death.

Several distinct forces, surprisingly, did not completely spiral out of control in his hands, but were forcibly separated and used on different levels.