Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Xilun calmly explained:

"If Croves moves his base, it will be very difficult to find him again."

"After assessing the strength of the stronghold, I believe we can handle it."

"Can we handle this?"

Swain glanced at the wound on his shoulder that hadn't fully healed. "If that sea dragon hadn't been weakened by the torture, you would be its food by now."

Xilun did not refute.

This is a fact.

The power of a third-tier extreme-realm sea dragon at its peak is far more terrifying than that of the innocent prince.

The threat will continue to rise, especially in environments with water.

Swain withdrew his hand.

"However, you did a decent job by not letting that sea monster enter the White Stone River."

"Since you dared to take action, you should clean up the consequences."

Xilun took out the Sea Dragon Thunder Crystal and the book "Secret Formula for Forging Body with Dragon Blood".

"These are the things we obtained this time."

"My body has also undergone some changes."

Swain took the crystal, initially not paying much attention to it.

Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, his expression shifted slightly, and he reached out to press down on Xilun's wrist.

A wisp of energy entered the body.

Siren offered no resistance.

Swain's strength traveled up his arm and quickly approached his heart.

Boom!

The Thunder Dragon's heart beat instinctively.

A flash of blue-white lightning appeared in the blood.

Swain's fingers trembled slightly, and for the first time, obvious surprise appeared in his eyes.

"Bloodline awakening?"

He did not draw a conclusion immediately, but continued to examine Xilun's heart, bones, and tendons.

After a few breaths, Swain finally released his grip.

"Your heart is refining its own lightning blood."

"The Stormbloodline was also partially affected."

"It's as if I swallowed some extremely precious dragon-derived medicine, yet there are no drug residues."

Xilun had already prepared his explanation.

"After killing the sea dragon, I absorbed its remaining blood essence."

His stats and hunting talent are his biggest secrets.

Even when facing Swain, he wouldn't reveal everything.

"Blood essence?"

Swain frowned and looked at Lei Jing. "That sea dragon showed signs of reversion to its ancestral form, and it is indeed possible that it condensed a wisp of essence. However, the fact that you could absorb it directly indicates that there is some kind of compatibility between your Storm Bloodline and it."

He threw the Thunder Crystal back to Xilun.

"There are no downsides at the moment."

"But the power of bloodline is most likely to affect a person's temperament. Dragons are fierce and violent. If you find yourself becoming bloodthirsty and easily angered, immediately stop your lightning cultivation."

"Disciple understands."

Xilun remembered those words.

Swain opened the "Secret Formula for Forging the Body with Dragon Blood" again, and after reading only a few pages, he sneered.

"Incomplete things tested on living people."

"Eight out of ten sentences in it are wrong, and the remaining two can only be used as a reference."

"Do not cultivate."

"I just want to understand the changes in bloodline through this."

"That's what Xilun said."

"You can look at it."

Swain closed the secret formula. "The true scriptures concerning bloodlines are not in the ordinary library of the inner courtyard."

"There is a path to the fourth stage of cultivation, which is to excavate the bone marrow and further awaken the ancestral blood that lies dormant deep within the bone marrow and blood."

"You've only just touched the edge."

marrow.

Ancestral blood.

Xilun's eyes flickered slightly.

He experienced an anomaly due to his Storm Bloodline during his assessment at the Sea Demon Temple.

Later, he obtained the Thunder Spirit and absorbed the talents of two Thunder-Patterned Sea Dragons, making the Thunder-type power within his body increasingly complex.

Perhaps the sources of these forces are inherently connected.

What exactly is the bloodline of the Duke of Storms?

Xilun didn't know much about that man.

All he knew was that the other party possessed the name Storm, was one of the most powerful people in the Southern Continent colonies, and was also the root cause of his tragedy.

In the past, he only regarded the so-called bloodline as a stain from his father.

However, as his strength increased, this bloodline began to reveal aspects that were different from ordinary people.

Celen didn't like it.

But they won't refuse to use it.

Power itself is not sinful.

The ones who should truly pay the price are the people.

"Teacher, is there a specific method for the fourth stage of marrow extraction?"

"have."

Swain replied, "But that's not what you should be looking at right now."

"If the body is not fully developed, the bone marrow will not be strong enough to withstand the development of the bloodline. Forcing cultivation will only cause the blood to backfire on the internal organs."

"Once you have mastered the third level of the Overturning Sea Technique, I will personally lead you into the Library Tower."

Xilun nodded.

His work on overturning the sea is still progressing slowly.

The old injury to the major tendon has been completely repaired by the Great Tendon Dragon, and the skin, tendons, bones, and internal organs are also being continuously strengthened with the help of the Boundless Ocean Elixir.

At the current pace, it may only take one or two years to achieve true physical perfection.

Furthermore, by utilizing that boundless potion, the time can be shortened even further.

For the next ten days or so, Xilun rarely left Thunder Cliff.

Practicing shooting in the early morning.

The morning session involved practicing the "Overturning the Sea" technique.

In the afternoon, I read the ancient texts I obtained from Croves Village and studied the runes of the Sea Binding Chains.

At night, the Thunderbeard Herb Soup is used to assist the Great Thunder Sound Breathing Method, allowing the Thunder Dragon's Heart to slowly temper its blood.

Occasionally, he would also go to the inner courtyard's cultivation room.

The environment of Thunderclap Cliff is suitable for spear techniques and thunder magic, while the Tidal Array in the inner courtyard training room is more suitable for the Overturning Sea Technique.

Each entry consumes contribution points.

In the past, Siron was reluctant to use it for a long time, but now that he has enough money, he pays two hundred pounds at once and subscribes to a fixed period of half a month.

The progress of the "Overseas Expansion Project" is stable.

The internal energy within my body grows stronger day by day.

The residual medicinal power of the Boundless Ocean Elixir has not been fully digested. Whenever the energy flows through the tendons, it brings out a trace of pale blue medicinal properties, which then seeps into the bones and internal organs.

Xilun has made estimates.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, I will definitely be able to achieve the third-tier physical perfection within two years.

Time flew by in the repetitive and fulfilling practice.

The day before qualifying began, Xiren unusually did not enter the quiet room.

In the early morning, he ate two pieces of toast, a serving of smoked fish, and three fried eggs in the cafeteria.

The plump cook in charge of serving food recognized him and couldn't help but glance at his plate, which was piled high with food.

"Young man, has your appetite increased again lately?"

"Cultivation is very taxing."

Even a direct disciple of an elder shouldn't eat like this.

Despite complaining, the cook added another spoonful of stewed beans to his plate.

"The ranking competition is tomorrow. All the meat that was sent today has been eaten by the participating disciples. If you arrive half a quarter of an hour late, you'll only be able to eat black bread."

Thank you.

"What are you thanking me for? Put your plate back after you finish eating. Don't be like those young masters from the inner courtyard who just throw their food on the table."

Xilun carried his tray and found a seat by the window.

The cafeteria was much livelier than usual.

Ranked matches are being discussed everywhere.

Some speculate whether Allah, the senior disciple, can defeat Aldrich of the Sea Demon Temple, while others debate who will achieve a higher ranking between Tinos and Alvin.

Several young disciples who had just entered the inner courtyard even staked their contribution points on this.

"I bet Allah's eldest brother is number one!"

"You said the same thing last time, and you ended up losing to that monster from the Ascetic Order."

"This time is different; Senior Brother has already mastered the Water Mine Minor World."

"This isn't Aldrich from the Sea Demon Temple's first time participating. He's been hunting sea beasts in the open sea for the past few years, and I've heard he's already reached the fourth-tier extreme realm."

Xilun listened quietly without participating.

Elena has not returned yet.

But since she said she would participate in or watch the qualifying matches, she should appear today or tomorrow.

After breakfast, Xilun did not immediately return to Thunder Bluff.

He walked down the mountain along the stone steps outside the monastery.

The Star Ring City has a unique tranquil atmosphere in winter.

The gray stone roof was covered with a thin layer of frost, and wisps of white smoke rose from the chimney.

The coal-carrying wagons slowly made their way up the slope, the driver cracking his whip and complaining incessantly about the icy road.

The corner bakery had just opened.

The aroma of roasted wheat mixed with the scent of butter wafted out from the cracks in the glass window.

A group of children in old cotton-padded clothes surrounded a newsboy, eagerly looking at the latest ranking list of participants.

The newsboy, carrying a thick stack of newspapers, shouted at the top of his lungs:

"The Star Ring Ranking Tournament begins tomorrow!"

"Allah, the First, is fighting once again in the Inner Court of the Holy Light Monastery!"

"Aldrich, the genius of the Sea Demon Temple, boasts of winning the championship!"

"A mysterious and powerful member of the Ascetic Order has arrived at Star Ring Island!"

The streets were lined with the flags of the five major powers.

The Holy Light Monastery is marked with a silver cross.

The Sea Demon Temple features a deep blue sea beast pattern entwined with lightning and fire.

Shops took the opportunity to display various souvenirs, and even the hot soup stalls had signs that read "Special Soup for Ranked Matches," with prices two copper coins higher than usual.

Xilun stopped in front of the stall.

The stall owner was an old man with a bright red nose.

He recognized the monastery robes on Siron's body and immediately greeted him warmly.

"Sir, would you like a bowl?"

"Today's beef bones were simmered for six hours; drinking this will keep you warm all over."

Xilun was already full and wanted to refuse, but after smelling the aroma of pepper and butter in the soup, he sat down on the wooden stool anyway.

"bowl."

The old man ladled out the thick soup and added two pieces of chopped beef offal.

"Are you participating tomorrow too?"

"I will not participate."

"That's a pity."

The old man pushed the rough pottery bowl towards them, saying, "Your monastery must win this time. Last time, the people from the Sea Demon Temple took first place and bragged about it in the port for a whole six months."

The shoemaker next to him chimed in:

"What do you know? Last time, the winner was someone from the Ascetic Society."

"Anyway, it's not from our Star Ring City."

The old man spoke with conviction.

"The Holy Light Monastery is right in Star Ring City. If we win, we win."

The shoemaker, too lazy to argue, lowered his head and continued hammering the nails.

Xilun took a sip of the hot soup.

The flavor wasn't refined; there was too much pepper, and it had a noticeable spiciness in my throat.

But it's very heartwarming.

People were coming and going on the street.

Mercenaries discussed the odds, merchants busied themselves raising prices, and patrols sternly reprimanded drivers blocking the road.

The steam tower in the distance reported its time on time, white steam spewing from the copper pipes and startling a cloud of gray feathers on the eaves.

These everyday sounds, unrelated to spiritual practice, gradually relaxed Xilun's long-tense mind.

He suddenly remembered that when he was still in the Southern Continent, he had also sat at a similar street stall.

Back then, Lund always complained that there wasn't enough meat in the soup, so he would secretly take a piece from Xilun's bowl when the stall owner turned away.

The memory is not blurred.

But there was already too much blood between them.

Xilun put down two copper coins, got up and left.

In the afternoon, he went to the trading company to confirm that the bounty on Croves had been paid, and then bought food, sea salt, lamp oil, and a few ordinary winter clothes.

When they returned to Thunder Cliff, Bruno was chopping wood outside the cave with Genna.

Gna's nose was red from the cold. When he saw the large and small bags in Xilen's hands, he ran over and took a bag of food from her.

"Third senior brother, shall we go watch the ranked matches together tomorrow?"

"go."

"Are the teachers going too?"

"The teacher is one of the judges."

Bruno put down his axe and replied, "We need to set off early. The roads in the city will be closed tomorrow, and if we're late, we'll have to detour from the north."

Gna immediately became excited.

"I heard that more than a dozen fourth-tier experts have arrived from the five major powers."

"more than."

Bruno looked serious. "This ranking is related to the allocation of spirit mines and shipping routes for the next five years. All parties will reveal their true cards."

He looked at Xilun as he spoke.

"Miss Elena should have returned to the island today as well."

Xilun's eyes flickered slightly.

"Have you seen her?"

"No, the disciples from the mountain gate sent word that a ship stationed at the Disciplinary Academy entered the port at noon."

"You'll see it tomorrow."

Xilun carried the remaining items into the cave.

The sky was getting dark.

Star Ring City was brighter than ever before.

Gas lamps were lit one by one along the main street, and beams of light of different colors rose above the five major factions' strongholds.

The bells rang from the city center, striking nine times.

That night, Xiren performed a final check on himself.

The power of the Overturning Sea Technique is stable.

The large tendons resembling a dragon are not abnormal.

After more than ten days of nurturing, the Thunder Dragon's Heart has been able to naturally coordinate with the Great Thunder Sound Breathing Method.

The breath of the Styx remained at a proficient level, while the icy coldness of the dark yin quietly lingered deep within the internal organs.

The right arm, the remnant of the evil god, remained still.

The Thunder Spear lay horizontally beside the bed, its water and thunder properties flowing freely.

Xilun closed his eyes and fell asleep.

That night, many places in Star Ring City remained awake.

The participants are making their final preparations.

The gambling dens repeatedly adjusted the odds, the trading companies transported supplies overnight, and the patrol teams blocked the road leading to the central arena.

As dawn broke, a deep horn sounded throughout the island.

Immediately afterwards, a second and a third bugle call responded from different directions.

Xilun opened his eyes.

The morning light fell through the stone window onto the gun, illuminating a wisp of moving blue-white lightning patterns.

He got up, tied up his long hair, put on a dark robe from the inner courtyard, and coiled the Canglei Spear around his waist.

Bruno and Genna were already waiting outside the cave.

Swain stood on the edge of the cliff, his gray robe swaying slightly in the morning breeze.

In the distance, Star Ring City was teeming with people.

Five enormous airships, each flying a different flag, pierced through the clouds and slowly made their way to the circular arena in the center of the city, which could hold tens of thousands of people.

Above the arena, a silver-white light screen suddenly unfolded.

A powerful voice pierced the sky.

"Star Ring Ranking Tournament begins today!"

Before the powerful sound had faded, the silver-white light screen above the central arena had already spread out in all directions.

The light curtain was hundreds of feet wide, resembling a giant mirror suspended below the clouds.

Countless fine runes moved along the edge, magnifying the scene in the center of the arena. Even from a high point on the outskirts of Star Ring City, one could vaguely see the figures moving within.

The five airships slowly descended.

Steam gushed out of the thick copper pipes, emitting a long, low hum.

Different colored flags hung below the airship, each representing one of the five most powerful forces near Star Ring Island.

The crowd on the street erupted in deafening cheers. Gna stood on tiptoe, trying to get a better look at the airship by getting past the crowd in front of him.

"Is that dark blue ship the Sea Demon Temple?"

"Um."

Bruno looked in the direction he was pointing.

The deep blue airship's hull was inlaid with large pieces of black iron, and the flag, entwined with lightning and fire, depicting sea monsters, fluttered in the wind.

Whenever steam is emitted, a ring of eerie blue electric arcs lights up around the airship, clearly overshadowing the other ships.

"The people from the Sea Demon Temple arrived yesterday," Bruno said. "The airship should contain their elders and subsequent disciples who came to observe the ceremony."

Gna's eyes were full of longing.

"Is Aldridge in there too?"

"He is the most watched contestant this year, so naturally he is."

After Bruno finished speaking, he looked at Xiren, who was walking beside him.

Xilun remained calm, seemingly uninterested in the surrounding noise.

The three followed the crowd down Thunderclap Cliff and entered the main road of the monastery.

The Holy Light Monastery today is completely different from what it used to be.

The stone steps, which are usually only used by disciples of the inner and outer courtyards, are now crowded with cultivators and visitors from all over the country.

Three temporary passages were opened at the mountain gate, and the disciples in charge checked the identity documents one by one to maintain order.

Many people dragged suitcases, carried weapons, and even led sea monsters that carried goods.

The monastery temporarily opened more than ten courtyards on the west side to accommodate merchants, families, and small, extraordinary organizations that were on good terms with the monastery.

The once quiet corridor was now occasionally punctuated by figures dressed in various styles passing by.

Someone was selling healing potions.

Someone called out asking for accommodation near the Central Arena.

Several black market brokers were hiding behind the pillars, whispering and promoting detailed information about the contestants.

Before the qualifying rounds had even truly begun, Star Ring Island had already transformed into a massive trading arena.

Bruno and Gna prepared to head straight to the arena.

Xilun stopped at the fork in the road in the inner courtyard.

"You guys go first."

Bruno looked at him.

"The draw will be held shortly after the opening ceremony. There are limited seats in the front of the stands, so if you arrive late, you'll probably have to sit in the back."

"I'll go to the mission room first."

"There are still a few accounts to settle," Siren said.

Bruno didn't ask any further questions, he just nodded.

"The monastery's viewing area is on the east side of the arena; you can enter with your inner courtyard pass. The teacher will be the referee this afternoon, so we'll reserve a spot for you."

"it is good."

Xilun parted ways with the two and walked up the stone steps toward the inner courtyard mission hall.

The further into the sect they went, the denser the crowds became, rather than the smaller they were.

Many inner court disciples who were stationed on the outer islands year-round rushed back.

Some were travel-worn, their robes stained with sea salt and blood; others gathered in small groups, discussing the list of participants; and many deacons and attendants, rarely seen on ordinary days, appeared from the courtyard.

Dozens of temporary stalls have appeared on both sides of the road.

Weapons, medicines, marine materials, alchemical amulets—everything you could want was available.

The ranking competition brought together the most powerful young extraordinary individuals in the entire Star Ring Sea, and also attracted a large number of merchants.

Regardless of the outcome of the competition, the food, lodging, transactions, and bets generated by these people within a month alone constitute an unimaginable fortune.

Xilun slowed his pace slightly as he passed a stall selling medicinal herbs.

Several well-preserved *Cymbidium goeringii* vines were displayed on the stall.

The stall owner clearly knew there would be many people today, so he raised the price by nearly 20%.

They even dared to ask for twelve pounds for a mediocre piece of Qingchao vine marrow.

Xilun glanced at it twice and then looked away.

He did not buy it immediately.

These days, he has gradually finished processing the spoils he brought back from Blackwood Valley.

The White Whale Trading Company, Blue Stone Trading Company, and Silver Spike Pharmacy each compensated him with two hundred pounds. Adding to this the eight hundred pound bounty on Crovet, the money and notes looted from the village, the escort offerings, and the sea beast materials, he earned a total of about seventeen hundred pounds on this trip.

After deducting the cost of purchasing medicinal herbs, paying merchant commissions, and daily expenses, he still had more than 1,100 pounds left.

For an ordinary person, this amount of money would be enough to buy a nice courtyard in Star Ring City, run a small shop, and live a comfortable life for the rest of their days.

However, for a third-tier extraordinary cultivator, it can only sustain their cultivation for a period of time.

A good quality body-strengthening potion can weigh tens of pounds.

If it involves precious materials that represent perfect physical attributes, the price will double.

Some of the essences of sea creatures that can refine internal organs and bone marrow cannot be bought even with money.