Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Xilun ignored the stares.

He checked his internal condition.

After the Breath of the Styx was enhanced, a stable cycle of death energy was formed in the lungs and internal organs.

Although it still erodes the body, it is no longer as uncontrollable as it used to be.

More importantly, at the proficient level, the Breath of the Styx can briefly adhere to the weapon and water mist after being exhaled.

No longer limited to close-range ambushes.

Xilun was satisfied.

However, when he tried to stand up, he felt a sharp pain between his eyebrows.

irritable.

numbness.

There is also a strong sense of deathly stillness.

The faces of the disciples in the distance turned ashen in his eyes, as if they had all died, leaving only their corpses sitting on the boat cultivating.

Allah's reminder came to mind.

Xilun rubbed his temples.

"It's reached its limit."

If we stay there, what we gain will no longer be power, but pollution.

He collected the drowned silver coins, which had exhausted their power, swept the remaining material scraps into a sealed box, picked up the golden spear, and walked towards the bow of the ship.

The mid-level ferry was just beginning its return journey.

The large ship changed direction and headed towards the shore.

Deep in the fog, the figure on the broken mast still gazed at him.

This time, Xilun vaguely saw it clearly.

It appeared to be a man dressed in an old captain's uniform, with a decaying face.

The other person slowly raised a hand and pointed to the deepest part of the bay.

Xilun withdrew his gaze.

"You'll be able to enter once a month from now on."

"A maximum of seven days at a time."

"Use the remaining time to cultivate the third level of the Overturning Sea Technique, and then start practicing spear techniques again."

The Red Star Spear is indeed powerful.

But it's more like a killing move that concentrates all the power into one point.

Once used, it will put a huge burden on the body.

His current basic marksmanship still comes from Lund's teachings and the honing of his skills in countless life-or-death battles, lacking a complete method for operating extraordinary power.

As the enemies encountered become stronger, this weakness has gradually become apparent.

"We need a spear technique suitable for third-level training."

As Xilun watched the shore draw ever closer, he quickly made a decision.

After the large ship docked, he picked up the boxes of materials and returned to the iron gate along the wooden pier.

The old monk in gray robes remained seated cross-legged in front of the door.

Hearing footsteps, he opened his cloudy eyes.

"Seven days."

"It took longer than I expected."

The old monk's nostrils twitched slightly as his gaze fell on Xilun's brow.

"You brought back quite a few sounds of the dead."

Xilun stopped in his tracks.

How do I remove it?

"Leave here and get a good night's sleep."

The old monk's withered fingers lightly touched the ground.

The white seals on the surface of the iron gate lit up one by one.

"Sunbathe, eat hot food, and talk to living people."

"If you still feel that the people around you are like corpses after seven days, go to the Holy Light Branch to find someone to purify you."

Xilun nodded.

The iron gate slowly opened.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the crack in the door.

The not-so-intense light fell on his face, but Xilun instinctively squinted.

In a daze, he felt as if he hadn't seen the real sky for a long time.

Only when the warm sea breeze blew in his face did the heavy sense of death in his heart dissipate slightly.

Xilun stepped over the iron gate.

The Sea of ​​the Dead behind them was sealed and isolated once again.

Before the iron gate closed completely, a faint sound still came from the depths of the gray fog.

"Silon..."

"You will come back..."

--------

After leaving the Sea of ​​the Dead, Xiren did not immediately return to the Quiet Room.

He went to the monastery's refectory first.

Following the old monk in gray robes' advice, he ordered a plate of roasted sea monster meat, a bowl of hot soup, and two pieces of white bread mixed with herbs.

It cost a total of six pounds.

In the past, Xilun would have inevitably felt it was somewhat wasteful.

But now, sitting by the window, watching the white steam rising from the food, the restlessness and stagnation in his heart were indeed gradually subsiding.

The surface of the roasted meat has a charred aroma.

Once you bite into it, the scalding juice bursts in your mouth.

There were people talking outside the window.

Some disciples complained that the course was too difficult, while others discussed the Star Ring Ranking Competition three months later.

Further away, two girls from the Pharmacy Department were arguing about how to handle a herb. In the end, neither could convince the other, so they agreed to go to their teacher for judgment in the afternoon.

They were all trivial matters.

Yet it carries a vibrant, lively feel.

Xilun finished his food quietly.

The occasional murmurs of the dead that echoed in my ears gradually faded away.

After returning to the No. 3 meditation room in Donghu, he slept for a full eight hours.

This is extremely rare for Siren, who is used to replacing sleep with meditation.

When I woke up, it was getting dark outside the window.

Xilun sat up and first checked his mental state.

There is no memory loss.

There were no extra scenes that didn't belong to me.

The unusual closeness to death had mostly disappeared, leaving only a slight throbbing pain between my eyebrows.

"The environment of the Sea of ​​the Dead is more dangerous than I imagined."

He took out paper and pen and recorded the entire process of his spiritual practice in detail.

For the next five or six hours, there was no significant impact on the surrounding area.

The middle-level patient experienced mild irritability on the third day.

On the fifth day, I began to feel the urge to go deeper into the shipwreck area.

After the breakthrough on the seventh day, a brief cognitive distortion occurred.

These records are not superfluous.

The most dangerous aspect of spiritual pollution is that monks are often unaware of their own changes.

Recording your state each time you enter the Sea of ​​the Dead and comparing the records can help you identify problems in advance.

Xilun finished writing the last line and put down his pen.

For the next two days, he did not cultivate the Breath of the Styx.

He only practices the Overturning Sea Technique and the Moon Memory Meditation Method every day, and spends several hours practicing the most basic spear techniques.

prick.

bar.

take.

扎。

The spear tip repeatedly pierced the black mark on the wall of the underground stone chamber.

Each shot was executed without using the Great Thunder Breathing Technique or activating the Crimson Star Spear; the power was generated solely through the Overturning Sea Technique, controlling the muscles and tendons.

After relearning the Overturning Sea Technique, Xilun's control over his body became much more refined.

But it was precisely because of this that he clearly discovered the shortcomings in his marksmanship.

His gun was too straight.

Too heavy.

They rely too much on strength.

When facing an enemy who is weaker and slower than oneself, one can naturally crush them quickly.

However, if one encounters an opponent like the Pure Prince, whose physical strength is formidable and who can withstand the spear's edge head-on, basic spear techniques will struggle to create a fatal opportunity.

The same problem existed when playing against Fisher.

Although Fisher's Thunder Prison Blade Technique was not very smooth and had obvious flaws, it had a complete energy flow route and a series of killing moves.

Besides the Crimson Star Spear, Xilun relied more on combat experience and accurate judgment.

"It must be supplemented."

On the morning of the third day, Xilun carried the golden spear and headed to the inner courtyard armory.

The monastery's armory is located on the other side of East Lake.

It was a gray-white stone hall without windows, and it did not look grand from the outside. The entrance was even a bit old.

As soon as Xilun approached, he sensed several powerful auras hidden inside the stone wall.

At least one fourth-tier extraordinary being is stationed there for an extended period.

Two armored stone statues stand in front of the gate.

The stone statue holds a sword and a warhammer in its hands, and a pale golden light flows in its eye sockets.

Every disciple who enters the armory is scanned by a beam of light to verify their waist tag and identity.

Xilun handed over the inner courtyard's waist token.

The golden light in the statue's eyes lingered on him for a moment before slowly fading away.

The heavy stone door opened by itself.

The interior of the hall appears more spacious than the exterior.

Rows of bookshelves stretched into the depths, the air filled with the mixed smells of old paper, ink, and preservatives.

Wooden signs were hung above different areas.

fencing.

Knife skills.

Gunmanship.

Fist and palm.

Body movement.

Special combat techniques.

Further inside are the Qi circulation methods and high-level secret techniques that only inner court disciples can access.

As Xilun was about to walk towards the registration desk, he suddenly stopped.

A familiar figure was lying behind the table.

Bright blonde hair fell across the table, obscuring half of her face.

Elena rested her chin on one hand, while unconsciously fiddling with her quill pen in the other, staring blankly out the window.

She had changed out of her disciplinary court uniform from her missions and was now wearing a loose-fitting white shirt, with her twin swords still hanging at her waist.

Perhaps he was too lost in thought, for when Xilen walked to the table, she still did not react.

"Elena".

Xilun opened his mouth.

Elena's shoulders trembled slightly as she snapped back to reality.

Upon seeing who it was, she was first taken aback, then frowned.

"When did you come out of the quiet room?"

"today."

"Have you recovered from your injuries?"

"almost."

Elena put down her quill and looked him up and down a few times.

Xilun's aura was calm, and although his face was paler than usual, there were no obvious injuries.

But those eyes were darker than before, as if they had lingered in some sunless place for a long time.

"Where did you go?"

"The Sea of ​​the Dead"

Elena's expression immediately turned strange.

"You just obtained your inner court status and went to the Sea of ​​the Dead?"

"That place is suitable for cultivating the Breath of the Styx."

"How long did you stay?"

"Seven days."

Elena stared at him for a while, then waved her hand in front of him.

"How many fingers are there?"

Two.

"Do you still recognize me?"

"Elena".

"Looks like his brain isn't completely broken yet."

She withdrew her hand and leaned back in her chair.

"Even many third-tier extreme realm cultivators are unwilling to stay in the middle level of the Sea of ​​the Dead for long. You just repaired your major tendons and then ran in for seven days. You really have no fear of death."

Xilun offered no explanation.

His attention fell on the duffel bag next to Elena.

The bag was covered in mud and dried salt stains, indicating that it had just been brought back from outside.

"You haven't left yet?"

"What, didn't leave?"

"Didn't you want to apply for a position as a resident extraordinary person and leave the monastery for a while?"

Elena was taken aback at first.

The next moment, as if she understood something, she couldn't help but raise her hand and press it against her forehead.

"Sirlen, I'm back."

"I was away for almost two weeks and just returned yesterday evening."

Xilun fell silent.

Elena looked at his expression, and a smile gradually appeared in her eyes.

"You didn't notice at all?"

"no."

"I sent you a letter before I left."

"I was taking the 'Boundless Oceans' medicine during those days and didn't pay attention to the outside world."

"And then?"

"Prepare the materials and enter the Sea of ​​the Dead."

Elena let out a soft breath and couldn't help but say:

"Your life is far too boring."

"Every day is spent either cultivating or preparing to cultivate."

Having finally become an inner disciple, he doesn't attend banquets, doesn't know his fellow disciples, and doesn't care what's been happening on Star Ring Island lately.

"Life is not just about becoming stronger."

She looked out the window.

Several disciples were rowing a boat on the lake, while young men and women sat on the shore talking quietly. The wind blew across the water, carrying the scents of grass, trees, and damp earth.

"Don't you think it's a waste to spend all that precious time in the Quiet Room and the Sea of ​​the Dead?"

Xilun followed her gaze.

After a moment, he calmly said:

"Any time is worth it as long as it can improve my strength."

"Rest is also part of spiritual practice."

"That applies to people who have time."

Elena turned her head.

Xilun showed no excitement, nor did he deliberately display any determination.

It was just calm.

It was as calm as stating something obvious.

"I need enough strength."

Elena frowned slightly.

She has seen many people who crave power.

Some people are after power.

Some people are after wealth.

Some people enjoy the awe of others and aspire to a higher position.

Samuel was like that.

The same applies to Tinos.

But Xilun is clearly not.

He disliked crowds, didn't care how his fellow disciples evaluated him, and didn't use his achievements in killing Hogger and the innocent prince to make friends with anyone.

He had absolutely no interest in the status and honor that came with being an inner court disciple.

For him, the authority over the inner court seemed to mean only materials, methods, and places of practice.

There must be a reason why someone is so persistent in their desire for power.

Elena suddenly recalled the conversation in the cave in the Black Abyss Forest.

At the time, Siron said that he was burdened with hatred and had no time to care about anything else.

And that fleeting glimpse of murderous intent in his eyes.

Heavy and cold.

This is no ordinary grudge.

"Revenge...?"

A guess flashed through Elena's mind.

She did not press the matter further.

Everyone has a past they'd rather not talk about.

When Xilun is willing to speak, he will naturally do so.

There's no point in forcibly reopening a wound if you're unwilling.

"never mind."

Elena picked up the quill pen again.

"What are you doing at the armory?"

"Find a marksmanship."

"marksmanship?"

She glanced at the golden spear behind Xilun.

"Your marksmanship is already very strong. That day at the training ground, you knocked my weapon away in just twenty moves."

That's just the basics.

Xilun said:

"The Crimson Star Spear is suitable for killing, but it cannot be used in a continuous manner to suppress opponents."

My marksmanship lacks a complete system of energy circulation, making it insufficient for dealing with opponents of similar strength.

A hint of surprise flashed in Elena's eyes.

It is extremely rare to be able to accurately recognize one's own shortcomings and not be complacent because of past victories.

Moreover, Xilun's basic marksmanship has reached a fairly high level.

If an ordinary person had such ability, they would have long considered it a source of pride.

"I'm an expert in this area."

Elena stood up and walked around the registration desk.

"My father practiced shooting when he was young, but he injured his right hand in a battle and then switched to using the juvenile delinquent's greatsword."

"He collected a lot of marksmanship techniques, and I was forced to practice them for a while when I was a child."

At this point, she seemed to recall an unpleasant experience.

"Although I ultimately felt that dual swords suited me better, judging the quality of marksmanship was not a problem."

The two walked toward the marksmanship area.

Compared to swordsmanship and knife skills, there are significantly fewer disciples who practice spear techniques.

The bookshelves were filled with quite a few classic books.

Elena started choosing from the first row.

"The Mountain and Sea Suppressing Spear emphasizes strength and defense. Its spear technique is steady and suitable for people with strong physiques."

She pulled out a thick, ancient book and handed it to Xilun.

"Upon reaching the second level, one can incorporate the tidal force of the Overturning Sea Technique into the spear. The third level is said to be able to topple mountains with a single spear thrust, but with your strength, you shouldn't need it to add weight."

Xilun glanced through a few pages and put the book back.

Elena pulled out another gun manual with a yellowed cover.

"The Thirteen Strikes of the White Tide is fast and has a smooth flow of moves, making it best suited for water combat. Its weaknesses are that it is slightly less lethal and requires a high level of footwork."

After looking at it, Xilun still shook his head.

This spear technique was indeed agile, but it didn't suit his fighting style.

"Take a look at this one too."

"The Deep Whale Wavebreaker Gun" originates from a hunting team that hunts large sea monsters. It is all offense and no defense, specializing in breaking through scales and armor, and its moves are very fierce.

Elena turned to the middle of the book.

"However, cultivators need to consume Deep Whale blood to gradually change the structure of their arm muscles. The power within your body is already mixed enough; it's best not to touch this kind of thing again."

Lun simply put it back on the bookshelf.

The two headed inwards.

After reviewing seven or eight marksmanship techniques, Xilun's gaze suddenly stopped at the bottom of the bookshelf.

There was a blue-black gun manual lying there.

The cover has no illustration, only four small silver characters.

"The Thunder Spear Technique"

Xilun took it out.

The gun manual felt slightly heavy in my hand, and I could faintly hear the sounds of tides and thunder coming from within the pages.

Elena leaned closer for a look.

"This marksmanship style suits you very well."

Tell me about it.

"The Azure Thunder Spear Technique combines the power of water and thunder."

Elena turned to the first page.

"The power of water is used to connect, deflect force, and trap the enemy, while the force of thunder is used for instantaneous bursts."

"The first level is called 'Tide Drawing,' which focuses on making the spear thrust continuous. The second level is called 'Thunderclap,' which allows you to conceal the thunderous energy within the water-based energy and unleash it the moment it contacts the enemy."

"The third level..."

She turned a few pages.

The paper depicts a monk holding a gun standing on the sea, surrounded by churning waves, with countless lightning snakes coiled around the gun.

There was a line of small print written next to it.

The spear flashes like a raging thunderbolt, its power surges like a torrent that engulfs a thousand mountains.

Elena couldn't help but chuckle.

"The idea of ​​'the water flooding the mountains' is a bit of an exaggeration."

"Third-tier extraordinary beings are far from being able to create true celestial phenomena. The so-called 'Dancing Thunder Serpents' is merely a few images produced after the release of their power."

"However, the power of the third level of this spear technique is indeed extremely strong. It can draw water vapor from a radius of tens of meters into the spear's momentum and then detonate it again with lightning force."

"Only those at the third-tier extreme level can barely use it."

Xiren carefully read the luck route.

The water-based variations of the Azure Thunder Spear Technique can be combined with his affinity for water.

The Thunder Force can be used to cultivate the Thunder Spirit and further explore the Storm Bloodline.

More importantly, this marksmanship does not conflict with the Crimson Star Spear.

The Red Star Spear aims to concentrate the body, strength, and will into a single strike.

The Azure Thunder Spear Technique can use water as a foundation to gradually accumulate thunderous energy.

If the two can be combined in the future, the burden of the Crimson Star Spear on the body may be reduced.

"That's it."

Xilun closed the gun manual.

Elena glanced at the price tag next to the bookshelf.

"Six hundred pounds, or one hundred and twenty contribution points."

Xilun paused slightly.

After purchasing the materials for the Breath of the Styx, he only had about 500 pounds left.

At least fifty pounds must be set aside to pay the monthly fee for the No. 3 Quiet Room in East Lake.

In addition, daily food, medicinal baths, and maintenance of the magic array also require money.

Six hundred pounds, I really can't come up with that.

Elena keenly noticed his pause.

"Not enough money?"

Xilun paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Not quite right."

"It seems you really like it."

Elena crossed her arms, a smile playing on her lips.

"I can lend it to you."

Xilun looked at her.

"You just returned from a job trip, how come you have so much money?"

"The pay for the posting is not low, and my father has also left me some money over the years."

Elena took out a checkbook from the small leather pouch at her waist.

"How much do you want to borrow?"

Five hundred pounds.

"You're only short 100 pounds, why borrow 500?"

"The next month of training will also require money."

Xilun answered matter-of-factly.

Elena paused her pen on the checkbook and glanced up at him.

"You're quite impolite."

You can refuse.

"I didn't say I wouldn't lend it."