Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

He did not speak to Elena.

As if drawn by some force, the body naturally moved toward the iron and stone spear post to the side.

The golden spear was drawn from his waist.

The heavy gun fell into his palm.

Xilun closed his eyes.

Everything I had just seen resurfaced in my mind.

He did not copy Elder Swain's actions.

With half a step forward, the power of the Overturning Sea Technique slowly flows along the skin, muscles, and tendons, surging from the waist and back to the right arm like a tide.

The surrounding moisture, drawn by the hydrophilic nature, adhered to the surface of the golden spear.

Deep within his chest, Lei Ling leaped lightly.

A wisp of bluish-white lightning disappeared into the water vapor.

The water flow precedes the movement.

Lei Jin hid behind.

But that alone is not enough.

Xiren recalled what Elder Swain had said.

The gun is a river.

The body is the source.

He relaxed his hands, no longer forcibly controlling every wisp of energy, but instead, following the natural rhythm of the Overturning Sea Technique, he thrust the golden spear forward.

In an instant, I seemed to hear the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

It was as if thunder was receiving a pardon deep within the dark clouds.

A bluish-white lightning bolt burst forth from the tip of the spear.

laugh!

There was no earth-shattering noise.

The golden spearhead pierced the iron stone spear post, leaving a hole about the thickness of a thumb on the gray-black surface.

There were no cracks around the hole.

Only a few charred marks extended inwards.

Xilun opened his eyes.

He looked at the holes in the gun post, his eyes showing no joy, but rather a thoughtful expression.

This iron stone is extremely hard.

Even if an ordinary Tier 3 Extraordinary being attacks with all their might, they can only leave shallow marks on the surface.

He did not use the Crimson Star Spear or the Breath of the Styx; he pierced several inches with a single spear thrust solely by relying on the Overturning Sea Technique, his affinity for water, and the Thunder Spirit.

Its power is indeed astonishing.

But he knew that this shot did not truly capture the essence of the Azure Thunder Spear Technique.

"tangible."

"Unintentionally."

He was able to mimic Elder Swain's method of exerting force.

It can also enable the combined force of naval mines.

However, it lacked that aura that drew people into the surrounding world and made them unconsciously quiet down.

It's like a painting that's been copied extremely closely.

The lines, colors, and layout are all the same, but it lacks the true spirit of the painting.

Siren did not fire another shot.

The blow just now seemed easy, but in reality, my tendons were already slightly sore and numb.

If you pursue a momentary insight and have a series of outbursts, you will only damage your body again, which has just been repaired.

He put the golden spear back into the black cloth.

Many people around had already begun to approach Elder Swain, ready to ask him questions.

Elena did not leave immediately.

"Aren't you going to ask?"

She came to Xilun's side.

Xilun shook his head.

"It's not fully digested yet."

"If you can't even explain what you don't understand, asking won't help."

Elena glanced at the holes in the gun post.

A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she didn't speak immediately.

"I'll go back first."

"That's what Xilun said."

What he needs now is not more answers.

Instead, he broke down what he had seen in that hour and incorporated it into his own marksmanship.

Elena nodded.

"I have a few more questions to ask the elder."

The two separated for the time being.

Xilun left Thunder Cliff along the stone steps and quickly disappeared into the mist on the mountainside.

Elder Swain remained at the front of the platform, answering questions from several disciples.

His answer remained brief.

Some questions can be answered in just one sentence.

Some questions even involve demonstrating a single action using only an iron spear.

Yet they always manage to pinpoint the key mistakes made by the person asking the question.

Half an hour later, the people who had been gathered nearby gradually dispersed.

Elder Swain handed the iron spear to Bruno and prepared to leave.

He suddenly stopped as he passed the row of iron and stone spear posts.

The old man turned his head and his gaze fell on one of the gun posts.

The edges of the thumb-sized hole are smooth.

The interior still contains extremely fine scorch marks from a lightning strike.

Elder Swain extended a finger and gently ran it along the edge of the hole.

"Who stabbed me?"

Elena, who was about to ask a question, paused for a moment.

She recognized that it was the spot where Xilun had just been standing.

"It's Xilun."

"Silon?"

Elder Swain had no recollection of the name.

"New disciples entering the inner academy."

Elena explained:

"He comes from overseas and has been practicing spear techniques for many years. He just bought the 'Cang Lei Spear Technique' from the armory yesterday."

"Yesterday?"

Elder Swain looked at the hole again.

After a moment, he nodded slightly.

"The first shot already resembles seven-tenths of the original."

"good."

The expressions of the disciples who had not yet left changed slightly.

Elder Swain was a strict teacher and rarely praised others.

Even though the third-tier disciple who was called up to demonstrate had been practicing the Azure Thunder Spear Technique for several years, he only received one comment: "You concealed the thunderous energy quite well."

Xilun had only received the gun manual one night and attended one lesson when he was able to say "not bad".

Elena's gaze fell on the hole, her feelings a mix of emotions.

She knew that Xilun was a skilled marksman.

Unexpectedly, he also possessed such amazing aptitude for this newly acquired marksmanship.

Elder Swain paid no attention to the reactions of the crowd.

He took the iron spear from Bruno and walked towards the stone gate.

"Let's go."

Bruno followed in silence.

The figures of the master and his apprentice quickly disappeared into the misty mountain path.

By the time they returned to the elders' courtyard behind Thunderclap Cliff, it was already completely bright outside.

The courtyard is not big.

Apart from a stone house, there were only a few rows of wooden racks for drying gun barrels.

Elder Swain placed the iron spear against the wall, sat down at the stone table, and poured himself a cup of cold tea.

"How many disciples haven't yet formally become disciples this year?"

Bruno stood to the side and thought for a while.

Six.

Elder Swain paused slightly.

The elders of the inner sanctuary of Holy Light Monastery are required to accept a certain number of disciples every so often.

This is both a rule of the monastery in educating the next generation and related to the allocation of resources among the various branches.

Elder Swain disliked this rule.

In his view, the master-disciple relationship cannot be determined simply by registering a name.

If you accept a disciple, you must teach them diligently.

If a disciple has a poor character or incompatible talents, forcibly adding more disciples will only hinder both parties.

Therefore, over the years, he has only truly accepted two disciples as his personal disciples.

Bruno was one of them.

However, it is clearly still far from meeting the standards set by the monastery.

"Let's take two more for now."

Elder Swain frowned.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip, as if he were pondering a very troublesome matter.

"Pass the message down."

"See which of those six men is willing to learn how to use a gun, pick two and bring them over."

"Yes."

Bruno nodded.

Elder Swain put down his teacup and suddenly remembered the gunshot wounds on Thunderclap Cliff.

"Oh, right."

"Investigate that disciple named Xilun."

"Check his background, what practices he has taken, and how he behaves after being admitted to the hospital."

Bruno showed a rare hint of surprise.

"Silon?"

"Do you know him?"

I saw him outside the cliff today.

Bruno answered truthfully:

"He came with his junior sister Elena."

Elder Swain nodded.

"That would be even more convenient."

"Send me the information before tomorrow."

Bruno looked at the old man's calm expression and then thought of the holes in the gun pegs.

Having followed Elder Swain for many years, he naturally understood that his teacher would never investigate a disciple without a reason.

It seems that the wandering cultivator from the outer sea who has just entered the inner courtyard has truly caught the teacher's attention.

After returning to the No. 3 quiet room in East Lake, Xilun did not immediately practice shooting.

He closed the doors and windows, placed the golden spear across his knees, and recalled every movement demonstrated by Elder Swain.

The Moon Memory Meditation Method slowly begins to operate.

The scene on Thunderclap Cliff reappeared in my consciousness.

The churning water mist.

The rushing water below the cliff.

Lightning flashed intermittently through the dark clouds.

And that mottled iron spear that was slowly being handed out.

Xilun, like a detached bystander, repeatedly broke down the one-hour lesson.

Judging from the movements, Elder Swain did not use anything beyond what was recorded in the "Cang Lei Spear Technique".

In fact, most of the time, he was just demonstrating the first level of tidal bore.

However, the same action can produce drastically different results when performed by different people.

The shot Xilun fired that morning was already seven-tenths similar in appearance.

What are the remaining three points?

It's not just about more precise control of force.

It's not that it's a stronger level of cultivation.

The real key is that aura that draws water vapor in and makes thunder echo.

"artistic conception."

"rule."

"Power and authority."

Xilun read out the three words in turn.

The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

There must be some kind of connection between them.

But he still couldn't explain exactly what it was.

It's like being able to see the tides on the sea, but not knowing how the moon moves the entire ocean from the distant sky.

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.

What can be fully recorded in words and accurately described in language often only has its most superficial shape left.

The true essence of Shen Yun can only be experienced in person.

After a long silence, Xilun finally grasped the golden spear.

He did not mobilize Lei Ling.

No water vapor condensed.

It starts with the most basic action of drawing the gun, slowly pushing it forward again and again.

The tip of the gun made no sound of wind cutting through it.

Every movement was as slow as an ordinary person practicing.

The ball of the foot lands.

Rotate your waist and back.

The surging energy flowed from the energy channel established by the Overturning Sea Technique, passing through the shoulders and arms, and finally entering the spear shaft.

The first shot caused a brief pause in the force at the elbow.

The second shot caused the water to disperse slightly as it passed over the wrist.

For the third shot, I pushed off too fast with my feet and my back didn't follow up in time.

Xilun continues to make corrections.

The habit he developed in life-or-death battles was to strike the enemy's vitals in the most direct way.

fast.

quasi.

weight.

As long as you can penetrate the enemy first, minor inconsistencies are insignificant.

The Red Star Spear takes this style to its extreme.

All power is concentrated in one strike.

After the gun is fired, either the enemy dies or the player is weakened.

But the Cang Lei spear technique is different.

It places greater emphasis on the flow of energy and the connection between moves.

If a shot misses, the water can recede.

If blocked, the lightning force can erupt from another point.

This doesn't mean the gunfire wasn't fierce enough; rather, it meant the killing intent was hidden in every rise and fall of the tide.

Half a morning had passed, and Xilun had only practiced less than three hundred shots.

His body was already soaked in sweat.

Of those three hundred shots, not a single one used true lightning power.

But as the final shot was fired forward, a very faint layer of moisture still appeared in the air around the golden spearhead.

The moisture comes from inside the house.

It also comes from the tiny amounts of moisture exhaled during Xilun's breathing.

Drawn by the force of the gun, they flowed forward naturally.

Xilun put away his gun and stood still.

[Skill: Thunder Spear Technique (Beginner)]

[Progress: 0/1000]

【Characteristics: Like clouds and rain, lightning and thunder, the spears are like a dense forest of thunderbolts, their power like a sea-sweeping dragon!】

The notification flashed by.

He was not surprised.

With Elder Swain personally demonstrating, and with his affinity for water and his lightning spirit as a foundation, mastering the Azure Thunder Spear Technique was a natural progression.

But this is far from enough.

Being at the beginner level only means that he can fully utilize the spear technique and will not easily injure his major tendons.

To truly use it against powerful third-tier enemies, it must at least be upgraded to the proficient level.

Xilun rinsed his body with cold water, changed out of his sweat-soaked clothes, and then sat down at the table, taking out paper and pen.

Cultivating the Overturning Sea Technique.

Continue to hone your skills with the Azure Thunder Spear Technique.

Nourish the thunder spirit.

The next stage of the search for materials for the Breath of the Styx.

None of these tasks can be stopped.

Besides that, there are two other things that must be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

First, make money.

Second, hunting sea monsters.

Xilun wrote two words on the paper.

Strictly speaking, these two things can be combined into one.

Make money by hunting sea monsters.

With his current strength, ordinary second-tier sea beasts can no longer pose a significant threat.

Even if it's a third-tier sea beast, as long as it doesn't have a special bloodline or appear in groups, he's confident he can kill it.

The carcasses of sea monsters are valuable in themselves.

Flesh, bones, scales, and internal organs can all become materials for medicines or equipment.

More importantly, after hunting down alien species, he has the opportunity to acquire their talents.

The Thunder Spirit was obtained from the corpse of the Thunderscale Sea Beast.

If we can find a sea beast with special water or lightning talents, we might be able to accelerate the training of the Azure Thunder Spear Technique.

But the real ocean is far more dangerous than a river bend.

The sea creatures surrounding Star Ring Island are enormous and numerous.

Some marine creatures are also contaminated by unknown forces in the deep sea, resulting in bizarre mutations.

Even fourth- or fifth-tier extraordinary individuals could disappear silently if they ventured deep into the sea.

Xilun would not rashly set sail alone just because he had hunted a few low-level sea beasts in the past.

That's not courage.

Instead, it's sending them to their deaths.

Are there any sea creatures inland?

His pen paused slightly.

Star Ring Island is vast in area.

The island has numerous rivers and lakes, and even a huge waterway connected to an underground sea.

If sea creatures were to travel along the river and enter the inland areas, the level of danger would undoubtedly be greatly reduced.

At least there won't be a situation where, after a ship is destroyed, one can only wait to die in the vast ocean.

This direction is worth investigating.

Over the next few days, Xilun spent most of his time practicing the Azure Thunder Spear Technique.

Every morning, he would go to a secluded open space by East Lake.

Practice the basic spear thrust 300 times first, then try to conceal water vapor and lightning energy into the spear.

Initially, the lightning could only stay at the tail of the spear.

Moving forward slightly will tear the water film and cause it to leak out from the middle of the gun.

On the third day, Xilun was finally able to push Lei Jin to the center of the gun.

On the fifth day, the blue-white lightning reached the tip of the spear completely for the first time.

But when he thrust at the stone stake used for practice, the lightning energy still erupted half a breath earlier, only leaving a scorch mark on the ground.

Xilun remained calm and composed.

He re-examined the energy flow and found that the problem lay in his shoulders and back.

The Red Star Spear's power generation habits are too domineering.

Each time the gun is fired, the shoulders and back instinctively tense up, trying to deliver all the power in one go. This subtle movement is usually imperceptible, but it can create a brief break in the flow of water.

It took Xilun two days to gradually suppress this habit.

On the morning of the seventh day.

A misty haze hangs over the surface of East Lake.

Xilun stood on the shore, his golden spear pointing diagonally at the ground.

He took a slow breath.

A thin stream of water rose from the lake and wrapped around the gun barrel.

The water flow did not completely cover the golden spear, but only formed a few faint, transparent lines on it.

Lei Ling awoke in his chest cavity.

The bluish-white lightning sank into the water.

Xilun took a step forward.

A shot was fired.

The water flowed silently over the gun.

The lightning energy hidden in the water suddenly exploded the moment the spear tip touched the stone pillar.

boom!

A charred crack appeared in the center of the stone pillar.

Small fragments of stone flew backward, but none landed on Xilun.

Lei Jin was completely bound to the front of the spear by the water's force, with no energy wasted.

Xilun's arm felt slightly numb.

A faint prompt appeared before my eyes.

[Skill: Thunder Spear Technique (Beginner)]

[Progress: 88/1000]

"We're on the right track."

Xilun retrieved the golden spear.

Compared to the first shot on Thunderclap Cliff, this one was not significantly more powerful.

The connection between the power of the mines and the water mines is more natural.

As long as you continue to practice in this direction, it's only a matter of time before you reach a proficient level.

That afternoon, there was a sudden knock on the door outside the quiet room.

Knock knock knock.

Xilun opened his eyes.

He was nurturing his tendons in the underground stone chamber when he heard the sound. He first withdrew the lightning within his body, then put on his outer robe and went to the door.

No warning came from the dark, chilling aura.

The people outside did not force their way in.

Xilun opened the door.

Four inner court disciples stood outside.

The leader was a dark-skinned middle-aged man with a broad-bladed harpoon hanging behind him.

The other three also carried weapons suitable for naval warfare, and their clothes had salt stains that were difficult to remove.

"Junior Brother Xilun?"

The middle-aged man looked him up and down.

"it's me."

"My name is Rupert, captain of the Inner Court Tidehunter Team."

The middle-aged man extended his right hand.

Xilen shook hands with him.

The other person's palms were rough, and there were thick calluses on the tiger's mouth and fingertips, which were indeed traces left by years of using long weapons at sea.

"What's up?"

"We are preparing to organize a deep-sea hunt."

Rupert got straight to the point.

"I heard that you killed a lot of Blue Ocean pirates in the Black Abyss Forest and have also cultivated water and lightning magic, so I would like to invite you to join us."

He took out a faded nautical chart from his pocket and unfolded a corner of it in front of the door.

"The target is located northeast of Star Ring Island, about 70 nautical miles from the coast."

"A few days ago, a merchant ship discovered a kingdom warship that sank a hundred years ago there. The ship may have contained a large number of extraordinary weapons, as well as a fourth-tier relic."

"However, a group of deep-sea bone sharks are lurking near the shipwreck. At least two of them have reached the third tier, and there may even be a third-tier extreme shark king."

A young disciple behind Rupert couldn't help but say:

"If we can get that fourth-tier relic, everyone can get at least a thousand pounds."

"Even if the relics don't exist, just hunting bone sharks is enough to recoup the cost of the trip."

Thousands of pounds.

It is indeed a considerable fortune.

Not only can it pay off Elena's debt, but it can also purchase a new batch of Styx Breath materials.

Xilun's gaze fell on the nautical chart.

Who discovered the shipwreck?

Rupert hesitated for a moment.

"The intelligence was bought from a black market dealer."

"Are there any other teams that know?"

"uncertain."

Have you ever seen a shipwreck?

"Not at the moment."

"Besides the bony shark, what else is in the area?"

"It wasn't marked on the nautical chart."