Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Chapter 561 With tendons like a dragon, he returns safely.

The sea dragon writhed wildly, its four claws reaching for Xilun's shoulders and back.

Xilun did not let up.

The chilling aura of darkness seeped into the wound along the gun barrel, rapidly freezing the surrounding flesh and blood.

The sea dragon's movements visibly stiffened.

"Boatball!"

Bourne on the main ship finally realized what was happening.

Both cargo ships simultaneously rotated their ballistae.

Three barbed iron spears came hurtling through the air.

Two of the needles pierced the sea dragon's back, and one pierced through its left short claw.

The thick rope suddenly tightened.

The sea dragon's body was forcibly held down.

Xilun planted his feet on the water and twisted his waist and abdomen.

All the power flows into the arms along the major tendons.

The black iron spear twisted violently inside the sea dragon's body.

Click!

Several abdominal scales broke off from the inside.

Large gushes of blood gushed out, turning the surrounding river water red.

The sea dragon let out its final, mournful cry.

It attempted to dive underwater but was simultaneously pulled back by three cargo ships.

Xilun drew his spear and waded up its back.

With each step, water splashed around my feet.

The sea dragon's neck is right in front of you.

Sensing death, it desperately turned and lunged to bite.

Xilun lowered his body slightly to avoid the sharp teeth.

Hold the gun with both hands at the same time.

The water flowed along the gun barrel.

The blue and white lightning energy was hidden within it.

The gunshots erupted at point-blank range.

puff!

The black iron spear pierced through the sea dragon's injured right eye, passed through the eye socket, and went straight for its brain.

Thunderous energy exploded.

The massive body suddenly stiffened.

Then, losing all its strength, it crashed heavily into the river.

boom!

Waves surged skyward.

As the waves receded, Siren's feet never sank into the water.

The sea dragon's corpse slowly floated to the surface.

The bluish-black scales gleamed with a cold luster in the morning light.

The entire river was completely silent.

The people on the boat stared at Xilun standing on the water, and for a moment no one spoke.

After several breaths, Bourne seemed to suddenly come to his senses.

"Pull him up!"

"Quickly, pull the body up!"

The guards erupted in deafening cheers.

Three cargo ships simultaneously turned their winches, slowly dragging the sea dragon's carcass toward the shallows.

Siren did not board the ship immediately.

He walked to the sea dragon's corpse and placed his palm on the scales covered with lightning patterns.

A strange warmth surged into my body through my palm.

The heat did not enter Lei Ling.

Instead, it disperses into countless fine lines, penetrating deep into the tendons of the limbs and bones.

Familiar words slowly appeared before my eyes.

[Talent: Big muscles like a dragon]

[Source: Thunder-Patterned Sea Dragon]

【Characteristics: Like a dragon, it harmonizes the whole body】

Big muscles like a dragon.

Xilun's eyes narrowed slightly.

The next moment, an indescribable soreness suddenly rose from the soles of my feet.

It felt as if countless hands were simultaneously stretching, kneading, and re-weaving the tendons in my legs.

This change quickly spread to the waist, abdomen, back, and arms.

The large tendons, which were of varying thickness due to old injuries, began to slowly adjust.

The slight discomfort that was originally present in different parts was gradually smoothed out.

The entire body seemed to be reconnected from countless scattered parts into a complete whole.

The water level dipped slightly beneath Xilun's feet.

He nearly lost his balance.

But in the instant the body tilted, the tendon in the left leg instinctively contracted, the waist and abdomen rotated accordingly, and the right foot gently touched the surface of the water.

There was no deliberate thought.

The body then regained its balance.

A strange light flashed in Xilun's eyes.

He took a step forward.

His body slid three zhang (approximately 10 meters) close to the water's surface.

Turn around.

Change direction.

Lateral movement.

There were almost no pauses between the movements.

The spot where my feet stepped left only a very shallow ripple.

Suddenly, Xilun raised his gun and thrust it at the water droplet falling beside him.

The spearhead changed direction three times in mid-air.

In the past, such a sudden change of direction would cause a noticeable pulling sensation in the shoulder and elbow tendons.

Now it flows as smoothly as if it were instinct.

The waist and abdomen form the dragon's body.

His arms were like dragon claws.

Its legs resemble a dragon's tail coiled around the water's surface.

The major tendons throughout the body resonate with each other, and every burst of power can travel from the soles of the feet to the tip of the spear.

Having large, sinewy tendons doesn't directly increase strength by much.

However, it led to a remarkable improvement in the body's coordination, flexibility, and agility.

This is precisely the capability that Xiren currently lacks most.

If he were to face that sea dragon again, he was confident he could pierce its eyes in the first round of combat.

If it were against Tinos—

Xilun lightly touched the water's surface with his feet, and his figure suddenly turned to the side.

The black iron spear traced a soft arc as it followed the movement of the body.

The spearhead was surrounded by water-like light.

A wisp of lightning energy lay silently hidden in the deepest part.

The next instant, the spear tip appeared three zhang behind him.

fast.

stable.

Moreover, it is difficult to predict.

Xilun slowly lowered his gun.

The mist over the White Stone River is dissipating.

In the distance, towards Shenwan Lake, a deep, long neigh suddenly echoed through the river.

The voice was even more powerful than that of the dead sea dragon.

The sea dragon corpse beside the merchant ship seemed to be drawn by some kind of energy, and the lightning patterns on its back lit up faintly again.

Xilun looked up at the end of the river.

The Thunder Spirit within his body trembled slightly.

That's not fear.

Rather, it is an almost instinctive desire when encountering a powerful being of the same origin.

That sea dragon was probably just a young beast that hadn't fully matured yet.

Deep within Shenwan Lake, there is something even bigger.

The wailing sound emanating from the depths of Shenwan Lake lingered for a long time.

A deep sound rolled across the water, causing the gunwale to tremble slightly.

The scattered fish had completely disappeared, and only the blood of the sea dragon spread across the river like a scarlet ribbon, slowly spreading downstream.

The cheers that had just erupted on the ship gradually subsided.

Byrne stood at the bow of the main ship, the joy on his face still lingering, but a hint of unease appeared in his eyes.

"Mr. Sir Lun————"

He instinctively wanted to ask a question.

"I'm not going in."

Xilun withdrew his gaze from Shenwan Lake, his tone calm.

Lei Ling's desire did not affect his judgment.

The teacher's admonition from last night is still ringing in my ears.

An ancient aura lingers in the center of Shenwan Lake. The sea dragon that had just emerged from the lake, not yet fully grown, was already a formidable expert among the third-tier creatures.

The thing in the lake that can trigger the lightning patterns on a corpse from such a distance must be even more dangerous.

At least not someone he can easily provoke right now.

"The route remains unchanged today, but all vessels are prohibited from approaching the deep waters of Shenwan Lake. We will detour via the northern tributary according to the original route."

Bourne visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

His biggest fear was that Xilun would be tempted by the Thunderous Sea Beast and, like the missing merchant patron before him, would disregard the contract and venture deep into the lake.

If Xilun insists on doing so, there's nothing they can do to stop him.

"We'll listen to Mr. Celen!"

Bourne immediately turned and ordered, "Move to the shallows, drag the sea monster carcass aboard, inspect the ship, treat the wounded as soon as possible, and continue on our way in half an hour!"

The creaking sound of the winch turning resumed.

The three cargo ships simultaneously tightened their ropes, and the dead sea dragon was slowly dragged onto the muddy shallows.

Its body was over twenty feet long, and it appeared even larger after leaving the water. Blood kept flowing out of the laceration on its abdomen, and the flesh under the broken scales still had charred lightning marks.

Several guards approached with long hooks, their expressions a mixture of excitement and fear.

Xilun waded back to the shore.

After acquiring the "Great Tendons Like Dragons" technique, his control over his body became several times more refined than before.

When the sole of the foot lands on the muddy ground from the water, the force flows naturally along the large tendons of the leg, leaving only a very shallow footprint on the ground.

There was not the slightest bit of sluggishness.

The black iron spear that Bruno lent him was covered in bloodstains, and there was even a barely noticeable crease on the tip.

Xilun washed the gun with river water and then carefully wiped it with an oilcloth.

Although this standard-issue Xuan Tie spear is heavy and sturdy, it is ultimately no match for a true Tier 3 weapon.

If the spear that was being forged had been used, the power of that Thunderclap Spear Technique would have been at least 30% stronger.

"Mr. Celen."

Mrs. Maeve stepped off the main ship, her dress hem covered in river mud, but she didn't bother to tidy it up.

She glanced at the sea dragon's corpse, a look of heartfelt gratitude on her face.

"If you hadn't noticed the underwater anomaly beforehand, the main ship would likely have capsized. There were over forty people in the cabin; if they had fallen into the water—"

She didn't continue speaking.

The Baishi River may not appear deep, but there are many hidden ditches in the middle of its riverbed.

If an ordinary person wearing heavy clothing falls into the water and is then attacked by a sea monster, it's hard to say how many would survive.

Matthew from Bluestone Trading Company also came over.

His left arm was grazed by lightning, and his cuff was charred black, but his face was extremely excited.

"I'm impressed by that skill."

Matthew's gaze toward Siren was completely different from that of the morning. "Before, I thought that offering a young third-tier servant for a hundred pounds was a bit too expensive. Now it seems that we've gotten a great deal."

"It's just what was agreed upon in the contract."

Xilun's tone remained unchanged.

Matthew paused for a moment, then laughed even more heartily.

"Okay, contracts are contracts, and personal feelings are personal feelings."

"We were able to complete this journey today entirely thanks to Mr. Xilun. If Bluestone Trading Company has any suitable assignments for you in the future, I will send someone to Drunken Flower Residence first."

The other extraordinary guards also stepped forward to express their gratitude.

The third-ranking elder, who had initially doubted Xilun's age, even personally brought him a cup of hot wine.

He was on duty at the port side of the main ship and saw the sea dragon burst out from underwater, and he also saw Xilun walk on the water to meet it alone.

The difference between the two is no longer simply a matter of strength.

Even among those at the same rank of three, some can only protect themselves on land, while others can hunt down alien species with dragon bloodlines head-on.

Siron did not refuse the hot wine.

His experience in the Sea of ​​the Dead taught him that after cultivating the power of Yin and Cold, a moderate amount of hot food and alcohol would help maintain his physical condition.

He took a sip, the burning sensation flowing down his throat and into his stomach, dispelling some of the chill accumulated from the previous battle.

Bourne arrived with his clerk.

"Mr. Siren, the sea dragon's corpse belongs to you; this is stated in the contract."

However, the body is too large, and it will be inconvenient for you to carry it alone.

The White Whale Trading Company is willing to handle this for you; the scales, bones, blood, and extraordinary organs will all be preserved separately.

"We'll discuss it after we get an estimate."

Xilun looked at the corpse. "Take three buckets of blood first. The heart, spine, and all the scales with lightning patterns must not be damaged. The rest of the flesh can be sold to the trading company at the market price on Star Ring Island."

"certainly."

Bourne nodded quickly.

The thought that he had initially harbored about using the disposal of the corpse to lower the price had now quietly dissipated.

The other party is not only strong, but also extremely clear-headed.

They knew exactly what materials were precious and what parts should not be damaged.

Trying to pull a fast one on this kind of person will not only fail to gain any advantage, but may also ruin future cooperation opportunities.

The guards began to dismember the sea dragon's corpse.

The scraping sound of the blade cutting through the scales was teeth-grinding, and the strong stench of blood permeated the shallows.

Several shop assistants collected the animal blood in large buckets, then pried off the scales with thunder patterns one by one and wrapped them in thick cloth soaked in preservative solution.

A bystander sighed, "It's a pity it's just a juvenile water dragon; it has flesh and blood, but no thunder crystals!"

"If we had a piece of lightning crystal, that would be a treasure, truly a top-tier auxiliary material for extraordinary lightning-type cultivators!"

Xilun watched for a while, making sure no one had damaged any critical parts, before returning to the main ship.

The fleet set sail again.

The steam engine emitted a deep, rumbling sound, and the chimney spewed out large plumes of white smoke.

The three cargo ships avoided the center of the river and proceeded along the shallower waters on the north side.

Although there were two underwater disturbances during the subsequent journey, they were just ordinary water beasts attracted by the smell of blood, which were driven away by the ship's cannons before they could get close.

As afternoon approached, the fleet arrived at the Yinsui Town Wharf.

The porters in the town had been waiting for a long time, and when they saw the huge sea dragon carcass being dragged next to the last ship, the entire dock erupted in excitement.

"What is this?"

"A dragon! It's a dragon from Shenwan Lake!"

"Did the White Whale Trading Company kill that man-eating monster?"

Discussions rose and fell.

Bourne did not take credit for the business, but explained in public that the sea monster was severely injured by the escort priest Xilun alone, and was finally killed with the help of ballistae.

All eyes immediately focused on Xilun.

Xilun ignored him and sat on a wooden crate by the dock, closing his eyes to examine the changes in the large tendons inside his body.

The transformation, which involves modifying the massive, sinewy structure, is still proceeding slowly.

The previously most severely damaged hamstrings have regained their balance, and several blockages between the waist, abdomen, shoulders, and back have been cleared.

As the Overturning Sea Technique was activated, the tidal energy flowed through the entire body, and the subtle sluggishness of the past could hardly be felt anymore.

This means he is one step closer to completing the Yi Jin Hua Qi transformation.

Moreover, once the major tendons are coordinated, the power exertion of the Great Thunder Breathing Technique, the Azure Thunder Spear Technique, and even the Crimson Star Spear can be significantly improved.

This talent is far more valuable than the corpse of a third-tier sea beast.

The handover of goods did not end until evening.

After the heads of Silver Harvest Pharmacy, Blue Stone Trading Company, and White Whale Trading Company checked the lists and confirmed that the goods had not suffered significant losses due to the attack, they all paid the extra thank-you gifts as agreed.

The fixed offerings would be settled in a month, but for today's hunt of the sea dragon, each of the three families contributed fifty pounds as a reward.

With the addition of the sea monster flesh and blood that are willing to be purchased, Siren can earn about 180 pounds from this voyage alone.

The truly precious Rai-mon scales and heart are not included in the calculation.

"The remaining ships will return in three days."

Byrne handed a leather bag containing gold pounds to Siron, "However, the three trading companies need to redistribute their goods in Silvershoe Town, and the next full escort will not be for at least five days. There will probably be five or six more round trips within a month."

Xilun weighed the leather bag in his hand.

One hundred and eighty pounds.

Even without any additional gains like the sea dragon, a single escort mission with various subsidies can easily yield a hundred or two hundred pounds.

Once everything is done, earning a thousand pounds a month shouldn't be a big problem.

This is equivalent to half a year's income for many ordinary Tier 3 Extraordinary individuals.

"Send the route and fleet list to Zuihuaju one day in advance."

"no problem."

Bourne hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice.

"There's one more thing. Today, we found the warning posts that had been cut down on the south side of the river."

The wound was clean and neat, unlike what a sea monster would do. Also, strange small boats had been seen near the location where the scout ship went missing.

Xilun raised his eyes.

"pirate?"

"It cannot be determined at this time."

Bourne's expression was solemn. "The White Stone River connects to the outer sea, and in the past, small groups of pirates have infiltrated it."

But the recent signs don't resemble those of ordinary pirates. Someone is secretly observing merchant ship routes and has even deliberately damaged warning signs on shore.

Xilun recalled the unnatural ashes of several campfires along the way.

At the time, he was focused on the underwater creatures and didn't investigate further. Now it seems that the ashes may not have come from the hunter.

"Next time we increase nighttime guard duty, when loading cargo, we must not tell the regular crew the complete route."

"That's exactly what I was thinking."

Bourne nodded solemnly.

Sea creatures attack based on instinct, while pirates know how to scout, ambush, and bribe insiders.

If both dangers were to occur simultaneously, this route would be even more troublesome than it is today.

Xilun did not terminate the contract as a result.

The risks have indeed increased, but the three banks are also quite strong in terms of security.

As long as a large force like the Blue Ocean Pirates in the Black Abyss Forest doesn't appear, he's confident he can escape unscathed.

Moreover, piracy itself implies bounties and spoils of war.

Before nightfall, Siren returned to the monastery in a carriage arranged by the merchant guild.

He didn't return to his cave on the north side of Minglei Cliff until the morning of the next day.

The morning mist had not completely dissipated, and the stone steps outside the cave were damp and cold.

A pale blue water curtain formed by the array enveloped the courtyard, with occasional wisps of lightning traveling along it.

As soon as Xilun entered the courtyard, he saw Swain sitting cross-legged on a blue rock overlooking the cliff.

The old man rested his hands naturally on his knees, his breathing barely audible.

The surrounding mist slowly rotated around him, sometimes condensing into water droplets, sometimes turning into white vapor, with extremely fine flashes of lightning within it.

Even though he hadn't exerted much force, the entire cliff top seemed to rise and fall with his breath.

Xilun did not disturb them.

He placed the black iron spear aside and stood several feet away, waiting quietly.

The sun rose from behind the clouds.

As the first rays of dawn passed over the cliff edge, the mist swirling around Swain quietly dissipated.

The old man opened his eyes.

"You're back?"

"Yes."

"Did you encounter something?"

"I killed a third-tier lightning-type sea beast with dragon blood, but there's an even stronger one deep within Shenwan Lake. I didn't approach it."

Swain glanced at him and nodded slightly.

"Being able to hold back means you're not too stupid."

Xilun was already used to his teacher's way of speaking.

After a moment's thought, he did not leave immediately, but instead bowed respectfully.

"Teacher, I have something I'd like to ask you."

"explain."

"What exactly is power and authority?"

Swain remained silent for a moment.

"You're not there yet."

"I know."

Siren remained calm. "I've only witnessed similar power a few times, and I've also heard my teacher mention it when talking about guns. I'm very curious."

"Have you seen him before?"

Swain's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't ask where he had seen Xilen before.

He raised his hand and pointed out the cliff.

The morning breeze swept across the mountain ridge, dispersing a cloud of mist.

In the distance, the river shimmered in the sunlight, the branches and leaves of the forest swayed in the wind, and several seabirds circled up from below the cliffs.

"What did you see?"

"Wind, water, mountains and forests, birds."

"Anything else?"

Xilun pondered for a few breaths.

"They are all changing."

Swain then nodded.