Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

The man with the hooked nose raised his finger and tapped it lightly on the table.

"The woman is Elena, the daughter of the Dean of the Disciplinary Academy. She has some reputation in the inner academy; she wields dual swords and a silver rope, and is at the third tier of cultivation—she's quite powerful."

On the right side of the long table, a middle-aged man with a scar on his face said in a deep voice, "Does the Holy Light Monastery already know the secret?"

The room fell silent.

The Black King Palace deliberately spread the news that the cave contained a fourth-tier legacy, attracting a large number of extraordinary individuals to come and explore.

They hid in the shadows, recording every change in the formation and searching for a way to open the deeper altar.

If the monastery has realized its true purpose, its subsequent plans must be changed immediately.

The man with the hooked nose shook his head.

"Probably not."

"What's the basis for that?"

"If they had truly discovered the secret, they wouldn't have sent just two people."

He took a piece of paper filled with intelligence from his pocket and pushed it to the center of the long table.

"Although the Holy Light Monastery has declined, it is still one of the five major powers on Star Ring Island."

Faced with a suspected site of evil god worship, they would at least send elite troops from the Disciplinary Academy, or have a fourth-tier elder personally lead the team.

The scarred man picked up the paper and glanced at it.

The paper recorded Elena and Siron's names, ages, mission experiences, and approximate strengths.

Elena is at the very top.

The content about West London below is rather scattered.

"Twenty-three years old, less than a year after entering the inner academy, Swain's third personally taught disciple..."

The scarred man frowned slightly.

"To become Swain's protégé, he can't be too weak."

"His level of skill is just average."

The man with the hooked nose leaned back in his chair, a hint of coldness in his gray eyes.

"The one we really need to be wary of is Elena. She grew up in a convent and has a solid foundation. She participated in the siege of Blue Sword Hogg."

As for this Xilun, aside from being lucky and reaping some credit with the team a few times, he didn't have a particularly prominent reputation.

If they made a little inquiries within the inner courtyard of Star Ring Island, they would learn of Xilun's achievements in defeating Samuel and single-handedly breaching the Quarry Village.

However, the Starry Coast and Starring Island are far apart, and much of the news has not spread.

The people of the Black King's Palace have recently focused all their efforts on the cave dwelling, and the intelligence they have obtained is obviously outdated.

A short man said, "That severed holy limb reacted when it approached Siron. Should we capture him and interrogate him?"

The man with the hooked nose squinted.

Throughout the trade fair, Xilun remained calm.

But he was certain that the first time the wooden statue's arm in the suitcase stirred was because of Xilun.

What is the other person hiding in their right arm?

It could be an item of the same origin, flesh and blood contaminated by divine power, or even another sacred limb needed to open the altar.

The simplest solution is to just bring the person back.

Although this place is far from the Holy Light Monastery, it is still within the influence range of Star Ring Island.

The consequences of capturing Swain's personal disciple alive would be extremely troublesome if the news leaked.

"We can't take action in town."

The man with the hooked nose made the decision.

"Start monitoring their movements tomorrow, first ascertaining how much they know on this trip, and which route they plan to take to enter the cave."

"What if they don't have the secret?"

"Eliminate it."

The man with the hooked nose grinned, his smile appearing sinister.

"Our feud with the Holy Light Monastery is nothing new. Since they're blocking our way, there's no need for us to stay."

The scarred man looked up.

"Elena is, after all, the daughter of the head of the disciplinary abbey. If she dies here, the monastery will definitely investigate."

"Aren't there enough extraordinary beings dying in their caves every day?"

The man with the hooked nose reached out and pressed his hand on the nautical chart, his fingertips landing on a bay outside the black reef shoal.

"Don't leave any wounds, and don't do anything on land. Send your guards to lure them onto the water. Once the ship sinks, just throw the bodies to the bottom of the sea; who will find them?"

"clear."

"The right arm of the man named Siron was preserved as intact as possible."

The man with the hooked nose glanced at the black leather suitcase again.

The scratching sounds from inside the suitcase had stopped sometime earlier.

"I want to know what exactly caused the Holy Limbs to resonate."

The group quickly agreed on the details.

The torrential rain outside the window completely drowned out all sounds inside the workshop.

Meanwhile, Xilun sat cross-legged on the hotel bed, slowly practicing the Moon Memory Meditation Technique.

Only one copper lamp remained in the room.

Elena lay on her side on another bed, breathing evenly, with her two swords within easy reach.

Nothing happened that night.

The rain had stopped by the next morning.

The sky was washed into a slightly dull gray-blue, and a milky white mist rose from the sea.

The town's streets were riddled with puddles, and the damp flagstones reflected the silhouettes of the crooked houses on either side.

After a quick breakfast, Siron and Elena headed north of town to scout out the location.

Last night, the two drew a simple map based on the intelligence they had gathered.

The entrance to the cave is located in the middle of a large lake outside the Black Reef Shoal.

The large lake connects to the bay; its surface is wide, and it is surrounded by reefs and underwater trenches.

Even the most extraordinary person can easily lose their way if they are not familiar with waterways.

The two had barely stepped out of the hotel when Xilun paused slightly.

A very faint sense of being watched came from behind.

When he looked through the puddle, he saw only an old man carrying a fish basket slowly walking by the street corner.

Xilun remained unmoved.

His spirit, repeatedly tempered by the Moon Memory Meditation Method and the Sea of ​​the Dead, is far stronger than that of an ordinary third-tier extraordinary being.

The gaze of ordinary people would not trigger any reaction, but those who were secretly spying on them just now were at least extraordinary individuals of the second rank or above.

Elena noticed the change in his speed and looked at him questioningly.

Xilun didn't speak, but simply tapped his fingers lightly on the hem of his clothes twice.

This was a simple code that the two of them developed in the Dark Abyss Forest.

Someone is following them.

Elena's eyes flickered slightly, then she naturally looked away and continued discussing the cave map.

The two bypassed the market and crossed a street selling diving equipment, finally arriving at the north coast.

This place is much more remote than the town's dock.

Large black rocks covered the shore, and the tide lapped against the rocks, splashing up fine white foam.

Several small boats were moored to simple wooden stakes, most of which were damaged, with only one awning boat appearing to be still usable.

A boatman wearing a straw hat is squatting on the shore mending fishing nets.

As the two approached, he looked up, revealing a weathered, dark face.

"Are you two going out of the water?"

"Go to the lake where the cave is located."

Xilun looked at the distant, mist-shrouded waters.

"Could you lead the way?"

The boatman immediately laughed, revealing his yellowed teeth.

"No problem, no problem. Recently, eight out of ten visitors to town go there."

However, the cave dwelling is located in the middle of a large lake, requiring wading through a lot of water. The journey is long, and there are hidden reefs underwater, so the price is not cheap.

"How many?"

Thirty pounds.

Elena raised an eyebrow.

"Your boat might not even be worth thirty pounds."

"Miss, the boat isn't worth much, but your life is."

The boatman patted his chest.

"I've been navigating these waters for twenty years; I can avoid the reefs with my eyes closed."

"If someone else were leading you, and the boat ran aground halfway down the shore, not even 300 pounds could save your life, let alone 30 pounds."

Xilun took out the money ticket.

"Can."

The boatman's smile grew even more eager as he immediately untied the ropes for the two men.

Xilun approached the awning boat, but did not board it immediately.

The boat looked old, with black grease filling the gaps between the planks, and its hull was slightly deeper than that of a normal small boat.

The boatman's hands were rough, but there were no thick calluses on his thumbs and fingertips from years of pulling nets. Instead, there was a layer of fine, hard skin on the inside of his wrists.

Those were not the marks left by ordinary fishermen.

It's more like a characteristic formed from long-term underwater activities and the practice of some kind of naval warfare technique.

Xilun glanced again at the boatman's feet.

The other person's toes were slightly spread apart, and their center of gravity was extremely stable when walking.

Third-order extraordinary.

Xilun made a judgment in his mind.

It's unlikely that a third-tier extraordinary being acting as a boatman on a remote shore, and who also happens to be willing to take them to the cave, is only doing so for the thirty pounds of boat fare.

He stepped onto the deck without making a sound.

Just as Elena was about to follow, Celen suddenly reached out and grasped her hand.

Elena froze.

She was clearly taken aback by Xilen's actions at this moment, and a brief look of surprise crossed her eyes.

Xilun, however, seemed oblivious and pulled her onto the boat.

The boatman glanced at the two of them and chuckled, "It's good to be young."

Elena's ears felt slightly hot, and she was about to pull her hand back when she suddenly felt a slight itch in her palm.

Xilun's fingers moved rapidly across her palm.

There's a problem with the boat.

Elena immediately realized what was happening.

She suppressed her unease and, instead of withdrawing her hand, pretended to stumble and took half a step closer to Xilun.

"You're hurting me."

"Feel sorry."

Xilun apologized verbally, but his hand remained firmly in his grasp.

Elena glared at him, much like a typical playful scolding between lovers.

The boatman rowed, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He is indeed a young man who is just starting out in a high-level power.

Their skills may be good, but their experience is pitifully scarce.

They were about to enter dangerous waters, yet they were still preoccupied with flirting.

These kinds of people are the easiest to kill.

The covered boat slowly left the shore and sailed into the gray-white mist.

The figures on the shore quickly disappeared.

The boatman was skilled, and each stroke of the oar propelled the small boat far.

Black reefs hidden underwater passed by from time to time along the way, but the boat never collided with them.

Half an hour later, the land was completely out of sight.

The fog gradually dissipated, revealing the wide expanse of the lake.

The lake water is a deep, dark green, and occasionally a few explorer boats can be seen in the distance, but they are very far apart from each other.

Today, this waterway was even more remote, and we didn't encounter anyone else for a long time.

Siren sat at the bow of the boat, his fingers lightly tapping his knees.

The feeling of being spied on has disappeared.

This indicates that the people tracking them did not board the ship themselves.

Or perhaps, the boatman in front of you is the one responsible for taking action.

Elena sat beside her, her twin swords concealed by her cloak, while silver-gray ropes were already wrapped around her wrists.

When the boat reached the middle of the lake, the water suddenly began to churn.

A wave crashed in from the side, causing the small boat to rock violently.

The boatman glanced back at the two of them.

"The wind and waves are strong today, so please hold on tight."

"How much longer?" Xilun asked.

"Soon."

The boatman smiled.

The next moment, he stomped his foot and shattered the deck, leaping into the lake like a fish.

Pfft!

Almost at the same time, a muffled thud came from the bottom of the ship.

The wooden planks, which had already been mostly sawed off and were barely sealed with grease, completely shattered.

The icy lake water poured in frantically through the breach, and the boat sank at a visible speed.

Elena suddenly stood up.

"There was definitely something wrong!"

She drew her sword and was about to slash into the water.

Xilun raised his hand to stop her.

"Don't waste your energy on the ship."

Before he could finish speaking, the entire awning boat broke in half.

The lake water suddenly surged over the deck.

The two figures fell into the deep water at the same time.

A dozen or so feet away, the boatman poked half his head out of the water and sneered silently at the sight.

He is a senior Tier 3 Extraordinary, whose cultivation technique is extremely adept at naval warfare.

Holding his breath underwater for half an hour was easy for him, and his stamina was several times that of an ordinary third-level extraordinary person.

No matter how strong the disciples of the Holy Light Monastery are, they cannot unleash their full power once they fall into the middle of the great lake.

As long as you keep maneuvering and dragging things out until the opponent is exhausted and lacks oxygen, you can easily complete the mission.

The boatman took a deep breath and dived back into the water.

In the dim lake water, the silhouettes of Siren and Elena were slowly sinking.

The boatman gripped the short dagger hidden behind his waist, swung his legs suddenly, and charged forward like an arrow.

However, after swimming only a few meters, the smile on his face froze.

Xilun turned around in the water.

There was no panic, no struggle.

There wasn't even the slightest hesitation in his movements.

Those calm eyes pierced through the murky lake water and landed precisely on the boatman.

Immediately afterwards, Xilun gently swung his legs.

The surrounding water seemed to be actively supporting his body.

His speed increased dramatically in an instant, and he rushed towards the boatman at a faster pace.

The boatman's pupils suddenly contracted.

How is that possible?

The lake water was icy cold and murky.

Visibility was less than five zhang (approximately 10 meters).

The boatman had lived underwater for many years and was extremely sensitive to any changes in the water flow.

The moment Xilun accelerated, he immediately noticed an anomaly in the surrounding water.

Those undercurrents that had originally hindered the operation were suddenly parted as if by an invisible hand.

Siren skimmed across the water with almost no resistance.

Before the boatman could think, he thrust out his short blade.

The short blade is shaped like a fishbone, with a dark blue sheen on its surface, clearly indicating that it has been coated with a potent poison.

Xilun turned his body slightly to the side.

The fishbone dagger grazed the sea demon's blood-red cotton coat, but failed to even cut the fabric.

He closed his five fingers together and grabbed the boatman's wrist.

The boatman pulled his arm back, twisted his waist like a fish, and slid several feet to the side.

He then used the water flow as cover to circle around behind Xilun, and a thin steel spike appeared in his other hand.

You can't speak underwater, and there's not much sound.

The confrontation, however, was even more dangerous.

The boatman thrust out seven times in succession, each time aiming at Xilun's eyes, throat, and behind his ears—vital points not protected by the blood-soaked cotton coat.

No matter how he changed direction, Xilun always managed to avoid him one step ahead.

His affinity for water allows the surrounding lakes to become an extension of Xilun's perception.

Even the slightest movement will leave a trace in the water.

The boatman's attack, which he thought was covert, was as clear to Siron as a fire in the night.

During their eighth encounter, Xilun suddenly changed his tactics.

He didn't dodge anymore; he grabbed the steel spike aimed at his throat with his left hand.

The sharp tip cut into the palm, drawing out a trickle of blood.

A look of delight flashed in the boatman's eyes.

The steel spikes are coated with a poison that can paralyze third-tier sea beasts. Once they pierce the skin, the target will quickly lose the ability to move.

But the next moment, blue-white lightning appeared in Xilun's palm.

The thunderous force traveled along the steel spikes with a thunderous roar.

The boatman's entire right arm convulsed violently, and his five fingers involuntarily clenched open.

Xilun pressed closer, his shoulder slamming heavily into his chest.

boom!

Even across the lake, the muffled vibrations were still clearly perceptible.

The boatman's sternum caved in, and a string of bloody bubbles spewed from his mouth.

He used the momentum to retreat, and for the first time, horror appeared in his eyes.

He could sense that the young man in front of him was not only better at swimming than he was.

The other party moved through the water as if it were flat ground.

The lake water did not weaken Siron; on the contrary, it helped him.

The boatman, no longer wanting to continue, kicked hard with both legs and turned to swim into the deeper water.

As long as he creates distance, he still has a chance to maneuver using his familiar underwater environment. No matter how good the opponent is at swimming, they will eventually need to breathe.

But he had only swum less than ten zhang when the current behind him suddenly accelerated.

Xilun has caught up and is close behind.

The boatman gritted his teeth, turned around, and swung both arms at the same time.

Two fishbone short blades slashed out in a cross pattern, and dark blue energy transformed into crescent-shaped water blades, cutting through the surrounding lake water.

Celen's right arm was held horizontally in front of him.

Nine dragons cover the sea!

Seven layers of turbulent energy overlapped between the skin and the blood-soaked cotton clothing.

Two water blades slashed down in succession, only causing him to pause slightly.

The next moment, Xilun threw a punch.

The lake water suddenly burst open.

The boatman crossed his arms to block, but he was still blasted away by the force of the punch.

Before he could regain his balance, Xilun caught up again, grabbed his ankle, and yanked him back from the water.

In the third round, the boatman broke his ribs.

In the fifth round, his left arm was dislocated by Xilun.

In the seventh round, he tried to spit out the poison needle hidden in his mouth, but Xilun grabbed his chin in advance and knocked him unconscious with a knee strike.

In the tenth round, Xiren gripped the back of his neck with his five fingers and dragged him to the surface of the water.

Whoosh!

The two emerged from the water.

The boatman coughed violently and gasped for breath.

He originally intended to rely on breathing and stamina to wear down Xilun, but in the end, he became the first one who couldn't hold on any longer.

Xilun grabbed the boatman by the neck with one hand, using the current to keep them afloat on the lake.

Elena also emerged from the water not far away.

She was a decent swimmer and there was no immediate danger, but the lake water had seeped into her clothes, making her movements much slower than usual.

Xilun looked at the boatman.

"Who sent you?"

Blood trickled from the boatman's mouth, but a mocking smile appeared on his face.

"You...can't leave alive."

"The hook-nosed man at the trade fair?"

Upon hearing this, the boatman's pupils contracted slightly.

The change was subtle, but it did not escape Xilun's notice.

"It seems to be him."

Xiren continued, "Who is he? Why did he want to buy that wooden statue arm?"

The boatman kept his mouth shut and stopped responding.

Xilun slowly applied force to his hand.

"Tell me, and I might make your death easier."

The boatman's face gradually turned red, but he still stared intently at Xilun.

He moved his tongue, as if preparing to crush something hidden between his teeth.

Xilun was prepared and pressed his palm against his chin.

With a snap.

The boatman dislocated his jaw.

Xilun removed a black venom sac the size of a grain of rice from his molar.

"The Black King's Palace assassins?"

The boatman's eyes grew increasingly sinister.

Although he was unable to bite through the poison sac, his internal energy suddenly surged in the opposite direction towards his heart, and he was preparing to end his own life.

Xilun tried to suppress the opponent with the Breath of the Styx, but found that the opponent's blood and energy had begun to dissipate.

This person has clearly received special training.

Even if they were captured alive, they would not be able to reveal any information.

Xilun is no longer wasting time.

He took out a short gun from his waist and calmly plunged it into the boatman's heart.

Fresh blood slowly spread in the lake water.

The boatman twitched twice and quickly lost consciousness.

Xilun let go.

The body slowly sank to the bottom of the lake and soon disappeared into the dim water.