Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Inside the circular hall, a ghostly blue flame flickered silently.

Cold light poured down from the dome, illuminating the white bones scattered on the ground in a ghastly white light.

The skeletons were piled up haphazardly, some still in a fleeing posture, some with their hands gripping the necks of their companions, and several corpses entangled with each other.

The broken weapon was stuck between his ribs, as if it had been dead for many years but still refused to let go.

Even more strangely, near the five passages, the grayish-white mist was slowly billowing out like a living thing.

With each surge of mist outwards, the temperature inside the hall dropped a few degrees.

Xilun stood still, not in a hurry to choose a path.

The Moon Memory Meditation Technique slowly activated, and his spirit, like a cold moon sunk in darkness, illuminated the subtle changes in the surrounding atmosphere.

Deathly aura, resentment, and some indescribable bloody scent intertwined, forming a slow cycle.

Those white bones seem to be part of the cycle.

"Many people have died here."

Elena crouched beside a skeleton, the silver-gray disc in her hand trembling slightly.

The once clear markings on the disc's surface are now covered by a layer of grayish-black grime.

Instead of touching the bones directly, she used her longsword to pry open a piece of rotting clothing.

A rusty badge was visible below.

The design on the badge is blurred, and only a crescent moon can be barely discerned.

"They weren't someone who entered the cave recently," Elena frowned. "This badge style is at least ten years old."

Xilun looked around.

"There are even earlier ones."

He used the Thunder Spear to pry open a section of leg bone at his feet.

The leg bone was mostly petrified, but a very deep cut remained on its surface.

The cut was smooth, as if it had been severed by an extremely sharp weapon.

Several relatively new white bones were scattered nearby, with fascia that had not completely rotted remaining between the bones.

People from different eras all died in the same foyer.

Elena looked up at the five passages shrouded in mist.

"They might not have died outside."

Xilun nodded.

"They escaped from inside and eventually died here."

After those words were spoken, the hall seemed to grow even colder.

From deep within the fog came an extremely faint friction sound, like someone slowly crawling with a broken leg.

But when Xilun focused his attention, the sound disappeared, leaving only a deathly silence.

Elena stood up, her twin swords already drawn.

"Silon".

"Um?"

"Perhaps we don't need to continue exploring."

Her tone was more serious than usual.

Elena was not a coward; in the Dark Abyss Forest, she dared to confront Hogg head-on; neither necromancy nor pirate attacks ever made her lose her judgment.

But this cave dwelling gave her a different feeling.

The danger here does not come from a visible enemy.

They couldn't even be sure which of the fog in front of them, the reliefs on the wall, or the tongueless bell above their heads was truly deadly.

"The Hermann family asked us to find a statue."

Elena looked at the five passageways. "But the information in the mission files is clearly incomplete. Now all the extraordinary individuals in the town have been lured here, and the Black King's Palace is also making its moves in secret."

We have confirmed that the cave is related to the statue, and returning to the monastery with this information will also be considered part of completing our mission.

Xilen did not answer immediately.

The tongueless bell on the dome swayed slightly.

There was no wind, and there was no sound.

But in the instant the small clock swayed, Xilun vaguely heard the screams of hundreds or even thousands of people exploding in his ears.

Swords and blades sliced ​​through flesh and blood, bones were broken by heavy objects, some roared, some wept, and some chanted some strange prayers before dying.

The sound lasted only a moment.

Xilun blinked, but the foyer remained quiet.

He looked at Elena.

"Did you hear that?"

"I heard a bit," Elena said, pursing her lips. "It sounds like there's a war going on."

"It's not a hallucination."

Xilun looked down at the crisscrossing skeletons at his feet.

The spiritual energy remaining here is too complex to have come from just one or two people.

There may have been an extremely fierce battle here, with the number of participants possibly exceeding several hundred.

None of those who participated in the battle survived.

Elena put the silver-gray disc back into her pocket.

"The opportunity may be great, but the unknown is even greater."

Xilun looked at the mist: "Perhaps what we need is inside."

"It could also be some monster waiting for flesh and blood to approach."

Elena glanced at him.

"You are now only one step away from physical perfection. Your teacher has also promised that once you have completed the third level of the Overturning Sea Technique, he will take you into the Library Tower to find the path to the Ancestral Blood of Enlightenment."

You don't need to risk your life in a place like this for an uncertain opportunity.

Xilun fell silent.

From a rational perspective, Elena's judgment was correct.

They had already survived the shipwreck and assassination attempt, and now they discovered a level of mental pollution within the cave far exceeding their expectations.

The safest option now is to retreat to the lake and send the message back to the monastery.

However, just as Xilen was about to nod, a tremor suddenly came from deep within his right arm.

Boom!

Like a heart that has been dormant for a long time, it suddenly beat.

Wisps of black energy seeped out from under the skin and slowly moved along the meridians.

The severed limb of the evil god, now fused with his flesh and blood, suddenly became incredibly active, like a wild beast that had smelled blood.

It longs for something.

It wasn't just restlessness, but a near-mad hunger.

The black energy gathered along his arm towards his fingertips, faintly pointing towards the second passage on the left.

Xilun immediately mobilized the Xuan Yin Coldness, and the icy aura covered his right arm in layers.

The Thunder Dragon's heart throbbed, and blue-white lightning flickered deep within its flesh and blood, constantly colliding with the black energy.

A sharp pain came.

Xilun's right hand clenched uncontrollably, his fingernails almost digging into his palm.

Elena immediately noticed something was wrong.

What happened to your arm?

"It wants me to go in."

Xilun did not hide anything.

"Then you absolutely mustn't go in." Elena's expression darkened. "You still don't know what this arm really is. The more it wants what's inside, the more likely that what's inside is to affect you."

Xiren stared at his right arm, his gaze gradually turning cold.

This arm has saved his life several times.

Whether facing a fourth-tier powerful enemy or in a life-or-death situation, the power contained within is enough for him to overcome the gap in strength in a short period of time.

But Siren never truly controlled it.

Every time the dark energy is used, it is a transaction with an unknown entity.

Now that he has arrived at this cave, the limbs are reacting more strongly than ever before.

If we don't figure out its origin, and as the dark energy continues to grow, no one can guarantee that it won't one day turn around and devour our consciousness.

Xilun slowly exhaled.

"it is good."

Elena relaxed slightly.

"I'll take you out."

Xilun looked up, his tone calm.

Elena looked at him for a while, then suddenly asked, "And what about you?"

I'll stay here alone.

"Are you planning to delve deeper?"

I want to give it a try.

Xilun moved his right hand.

The black energy beneath the skin was still moving, but it had been temporarily suppressed back into the depths of the flesh by the Xuan Yin coldness and thunderous force.

"This arm is getting stronger and stronger. If we don't know where it comes from, it will become a threat sooner or later. There might be something in the cave that I can control it, or there might be a way to get rid of it completely."

Elena frowned even more.

"It could also cause it to spiral out of control."

"So you don't need to take the risk with me."

"You think I'm worried about myself?"

Elena coldly retorted.

Xilun thought for a moment.

"You really have no reason to go in."

Elena's breath hitched.

She stared at Xilen's calm, almost self-assured face, and suddenly felt an urge to draw her sword and stab two holes in him.

That bastard always finds a way to make a normal statement annoying.

But she also knew that Xilun had already made his decision.

Whether it was the Dark Abyss Forest, the Sea of ​​the Dead, or the Blackwood Valley, he was never someone who simply coveted treasures.

Once he is convinced that something is related to his spiritual practice or revenge, it is very difficult for him to be persuaded to give up.

Elena remained silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a cold snort.

"In that case, I'll stay with you a little longer."

Xilun looked at her.

"There's no need."

"Shut up."

Elena gripped her twin swords tightly, her ears turning slightly red with anger.

"I just don't want you to die here, so I won't be able to explain it to Elder Swain when I get back. Also, remember, you owe me a favor."

"Not just a meal?"

"You think you can repay this kind of favor with just one meal?"

"So what do you want?"

"I haven't decided yet."

Elena walked to the second passage on the left, turned around and glared at him.

"I'll tell you when I've thought it through."

Siren did not continue arguing.

He took a small amount of clean water from the deep-sea water bag to wash his palms, and then took out two pills to dispel mental pollution.

He handed one to Elena and swallowed the other himself.

As the medicine took effect, a refreshing sensation flooded my mind.

The two stood side by side in front of the gray-white mist.

Xilun held the Canglei Spear horizontally in front of him and whispered, "Stay close to me. No matter whose voice you hear, do not respond. If we are separated, use the aura of the Overturning Sea Technique to identify each other."

Elena nodded.

What if there were two of you?

Xilun recalled the exploration team that had an extra person at the trade fair.

"Don't believe any of them."

"Including the real ones?"

"Including the real ones."

Elena glanced at him and reached out to grab his sleeve.

"That way we won't get separated."

The two stepped into the mist.

The cold, wet, and sticky sensation immediately adhered to the skin, like countless invisible hands caressing the cheeks and neck.

My field of vision narrowed rapidly, and I could only see two or three steps ahead.

A faint shimmering light appeared on the surface of the Thunder Spear.

Moisture flowed along the gun barrel, sensing the changes in the nearby fog.

The passage was long, and broken bones and decaying weapons appeared underfoot from time to time.

The six-armed, faceless figures on the wall became increasingly dense, and their postures gradually changed.

Initially, they simply let their hands hang down.

After walking several dozen steps, all six arms of the relief sculpture had been raised.

Some held heads in their hands, some gripped swords, some cradled hearts, and one arm pointed towards the depths of the passage.

Xilun didn't stare at the relief closely.

The further you go, the clearer the whispers become.

"Leave……"

Give me back my hand...

"You were always me..."

Various voices overlapped.

There were voices from the elderly, children, and those he recognized.

"Silon".

Lund's voice came from behind him.

The force from the sleeve suddenly tightened.

Elena had obviously heard something, but she didn't turn around.

Xilun continued onward, the cold moon in his meditation becoming increasingly clear, shutting out those sounds from his consciousness.

Meanwhile, outside the stone gate at the bottom of the lake, a small boat equipped with a steam turbine slowly came to a stop.

The man with the hooked nose stood at the bow of the boat, staring at the water with a gloomy expression.

A moment later, a soaking wet guard emerged from the lake and climbed onto the deck.

"Sir, the ship has sunk."

"Where's the body?"

"Nothing was found."

The man with the hooked nose turned cold.

His assigned guard was a Tier 3 Extraordinary who was an expert in naval warfare. He had the guard damage the ship beforehand and then make his move in deep water.

Even when facing a strong opponent of the same level, I am extremely confident in completing the assassination.

But now, the guards have disappeared, and neither Siren nor his companion has been seen.

The outcome is not hard to guess.

"waste."

The man with the hooked nose muttered a curse under his breath.

The subordinates standing nearby dared not speak.

"The people at Holy Light Monastery are more troublesome than I imagined."

He touched the black leather suitcase, where a broken wooden arm inside was scratching itself gently. "Hopefully the monastery won't get too involved, otherwise the temple's plans will have to be delayed again."

"My lord, could they have already entered the cave?"

"They've most likely gone inside."

The man with the hooked nose gazed at the center of the lake, a hint of coldness appearing in his eyes.

"Get ready to go into the water, let the others go first."

Soon after, several other ships also approached the area.

The people on two of the ships were dressed in various leather armors, with curved swords at their waists, and their flags were embroidered with a black winged horse riding the waves.

Sky Rider Pirates

Further away, two figures shrouded in black robes silently entered the water.

They wore dark silver crown emblems on their chests, and wherever they went, the lake water was tinged with a very faint black.

They were from the Black King's Palace.

One group after another of extraordinary individuals followed the clues and approached the stone gate.

No one noticed that the severed hand covered in splinters outside the door suddenly bent its fingers.

The next moment, the ancient stone gate at the bottom of the lake emitted a deep rumble.

It was as if some being that had been dormant for a hundred years had finally caught a whiff of enough flesh and blood.

Meanwhile, deep within the stone corridor, the black energy in Xilun's right arm suddenly began to struggle at the same time.

It no longer points to a specific road.

But deeper still, in a darkness that even spiritual perception cannot penetrate.

Xilun suddenly stopped.

The black energy in his right arm resembled tiny venomous snakes, writhing wildly beneath his flesh. Just as the chilling aura of Xuan Yin suppressed it, the Thunder Dragon's Heart stirred again.

Both forces were simultaneously drawn by something deep within the cave.

This is not a good sign.

"What's wrong?"

Elena lowered her voice.

"Someone came in from behind."

Siren listened intently.

The grayish-white mist obscured visibility and reduced sound, but it could not completely block the vibrations transmitted by the water.

Footsteps landed in the distance.

More than one person.

After the stone gate was pushed open, the lake water briefly rushed in, but was quickly repelled by the invisible field.

The change in airflow that occurred in that instant was transmitted to Xilun through the moist air that filled the passage.

"Is it that hook-nosed man?" Elena asked.

"It might not just be him."

Xilun looked back the way he had come.

Continuing deeper means encountering enemies both in front and behind, while returning the way you came would only result in a direct confrontation.

Elena had clearly thought of this as well.

"Let's move forward first."

The two quickened their pace.

The passage in the fog is not straight, but slopes downwards continuously.

The walls gradually became rough, with fewer and fewer traces of human excavation, until they were completely transformed into a natural cave.

After walking several hundred steps, the fog suddenly dissipated by more than half.

The sound of dripping water came from ahead.

a drop.

Two drops.

It fell into the quiet cave, its clarity unsettling.

Xiren reached out to stop Elena and slowly squatted down.

There are several footprints on the ground.

The edges of the footprints were not completely dry, indicating that the owner had been away for no more than half a day.

Judging from the direction, the other party entered the right fork in the road but did not return.

"Those who entered the cave earlier."

Elena used the tip of her sword to brush away the rags next to the footprints.

"Judging from the fabric, they look like mercenaries from the town."

Xilun did not follow up.

The faint sound of panting could be heard from the fork in the road to the right, as if an exhausted person was sitting against the wall.

However, the moisture in the air did not reveal any outline of a living person.

The sound came from inside the wall.

Xilun withdrew his senses and continued moving in the direction indicated by the black mist.

On the way, Elena suddenly asked, "Just who is that boatman who tried to kill us?"

"People from the Black King's Palace."

"I know."

Elena looked ahead, her tone slightly cold.

"I mean, why would the Black King risk killing us? Just because your arm sensed something between itself and that wooden statue's arm?"

"He wanted to keep my right arm."

"That's what Xilun said calmly."

Elena paused for a moment.

While interrogating the boatman underwater, Siren was unable to hear the entire conversation, but she was able to deduce the mastermind from his reactions.

However, the detail of retaining the right arm was not mentioned by Siren before.

"It seems that person already knew you had something on you."

Elena thought for a moment.

"Although the Black King's Palace acts in secrecy, it rarely provokes the core disciples of the five major powers. The fact that they dared to make a move means that your arm is extremely important to their plans."

"They probably want to unlock something deep inside the cave."

Xiren recalled the broken arm of the wooden statue at the trade fair.

"That piece of wood might be part of the key, just like my right arm."

"No wonder they released news about the fourth-tier legacy, attracting so many people to explore the area."

A look of disgust flashed in Elena's eyes.

In order to open the so-called deep altar, they deliberately lured hundreds of extraordinary beings to their deaths, a tactic very much in line with the Black King's Palace's consistent style.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "But it's not necessarily only the Black King's Palace."

"What other forces are there?"

"If this was premeditated, and they dared to attack the monastery disciples on the Sunset Coast, while also aiming to unify the forces in this area..."

Elena recited several names, her voice trailing off at the end.

"The Sea Demon Palace is the most likely possibility."

"The Sea Demon Palace?"

"A force that split off from the Sea Demon Temple."

Elena parted the drooping gray-black vines.

"A rebellion occurred within the Sea Demon Temple decades ago."

A fifth-tier elder, along with a portion of his legacy and his subordinates, fled to the Prisoner Star Islands, where he established the Sea Demon Palace, attempting to unify the islands and the surrounding sea routes.

Later, the five major forces joined forces to suppress them, and they went underground.

"It wasn't wiped out?"

"It's not that easy."

Elena shook her head gently.

"The Prisoner Star Islands are numerous islands, and are dotted with reefs and trenches."

The people of the Sea Demon Palace are familiar with the waterways, and many pirates work for them.

The five major powers destroyed their visible strongholds, but they were unable to completely eliminate everyone.

She paused.

"Ordinary forces dare not easily offend the Holy Light Monastery. Even the Black King's Palace will not kill us directly unless there is sufficient benefit."

But the Sea Demon Palace is different; they originally wanted to weaken the five major powers.