Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Xilun did not compete with those people.

He first went to several familiar pharmacies in the inner courtyard to inquire about prices, and then walked around the old street on the north side of Xinghuan City.

The old street was still damp in the afternoon.

Steam pipes extend from both sides of the wall, and white mist continuously sprays out from the valve openings.

A worker wearing an oil-stained apron hurried past through the narrow street, pushing a wooden cart.

Several inconspicuous herbal medicine shops had faded signs hanging outside. The items they sold came from various sources, including herbs brought back from the sea by caravans and potions that inner disciples sold privately when they were in urgent need of money.

Xilun stopped at the third shop.

Behind the counter sat a middle-aged man whose left ear was missing a piece.

The man glanced at the Thunder Spear coiled around Xilun's waist, and his previously somewhat lazy expression immediately became more composed.

"What do you want?"

"Blue Soul Potion"

The middle-aged man reached out and tapped the table.

"One bottle weighs one hundred and sixty pounds."

Xilun did not answer, but simply turned to look out the door.

"etc."

The middle-aged man stopped him and said in a low voice, "If you really want it, I have four bottles here that someone else is consigning. They are sealed intact and the medicinal properties have only dissipated a little. They weigh a total of 580 pounds."

"Take it out and let us see."

The man crouched down and pulled out a wooden box wrapped in gray cloth from the deepest part of the counter.

The box was opened, and four dark blue medicine bottles were neatly arranged inside.

The medicine bottle was only as thick as a thumb, but the liquid inside was not still. Occasionally, a few specks of eerie blue light would rise from the bottom of the bottle, like tiny sparks of soul fire in a night sea.

Blue Soul Potion can simultaneously alleviate physical injuries and mental shock.

For a wondrous place like the Blackwater Abyss, teeming with demonic energy, these potions are far more useful than ordinary healing potions.

Xilun picked up a bottle, examined it carefully for a moment in the light from the window, and then used his mental perception to check the seal.

The medicinal properties have indeed been somewhat lost, but no more than half of them remain.

"Why the rush to sell?"

"The person who was originally preparing to participate in the hunting day injured his heart meridian while practicing martial arts last night."

The middle-aged man shrugged.

"You'll need at least six months to recover. Keeping this medicine is useless; you might as well exchange it for money and hire a Holy Light mage for treatment. If you don't believe me, I can show you the consignment receipt."

Xilun put down the medicine bottle.

Five hundred and fifty pounds.

"The minimum is 570."

Five hundred and sixty.

The middle-aged man stared at him for a few moments before finally nodding.

"make a deal."

Xilun took out the money and put the four bottles of Blue Soul Potion into the hidden compartment next to the Deep Sea Bag.

We were lucky this time.

A complete bottle of Blue Soul Potion now sells for at least two hundred pounds in the city.

Even if some of the medicinal properties are lost, four bottles would still weigh far more than 560 pounds.

However, his cash was also running out again.

Since joining the Holy Light Monastery, he has earned quite a bit of money.

Blackwood Valley, caravan escorts, and the Sinking Star Coast—each of these gains would be enough for an ordinary Tier 3 Extraordinary cultivator to cultivate peacefully for a year.

However, once you truly reach the third stage of perfection, your money is consumed even faster.

Medicinal herbs, weapons, and body-strengthening resources—none of them were cheap.

Xilun was not surprised by this.

Power is something that is built up from countless resources and time.

So-called talent is simply the ability to make the same resources work better.

After leaving the pharmacy, he bought two packets of antidote powder, three fire-resistant tinderboxes, and enough dried meat for seven days before returning to Minglei Cliff in the evening.

Bruno was sitting on the edge of the training ground, sharpening his spear.

When he saw Xilun return, his gaze swept over the medicine packet in Xilun's hand.

"Did you get the Blue Soul Potion?"

Four bottles.

"How much?"

Five hundred and sixty pounds.

Bruno paused for a moment while sharpening his spear.

"So cheap?"

"Someone was injured, so we had to sell off our shares temporarily."

"You're quite lucky."

Bruno threw the millstone into the basin, reached for a grilled fish next to him, and took a big bite.

"These past few days, people have been buying medicine everywhere. Even that kid Genna wants to take out his stockpile of hemostatic powder and sell it."

If I hadn't stopped him, he probably would have already been scammed by the pharmacy staff.

Xilun placed the medicine packet on the stone table.

"Has the teacher not returned yet?"

"At the back cliff."

Bruno lowered his voice.

"He said that if you encounter Tinos after entering the Blackwater Abyss, you don't need to back down."

Xilun raised his eyes.

"Anything else?"

"That's all."

Bruno grinned.

"The teacher's original words were, 'If someone becomes shameless because they have been cultivating for a long time, you don't need to save face for them.'"

That's exactly what Swain would say.

Xilun nodded slightly and did not ask any further questions.

The conflict between him and Tinos never truly disappeared; it was merely suppressed by Swain.

The Blackwater Abyss is isolated from the outside world, and the elders cannot intervene at any time.

If Tinos wanted to do something, that would undoubtedly be the most suitable place.

But Tinos is waiting for an opportunity, and so is Siren.

Six months ago, he needed Swain's help to suppress his opponent.

But things are different now.

The Golden Thunder Vortex has undergone its third transformation, resulting in a perfected third-tier physique, expert-level Styx Breath, and the remains of an evil god controlled by the Blood Lock.

Even if Tinos has cultivated to the third-tier extreme realm, Xilun is confident that he can fight him head-on.

"I will not practice the Golden Thunder Vortex Sutra tonight."

Xilun removed the Canglei Spear and placed it flat on the stone table.

"Before entering the wondrous realm tomorrow, I will only conserve my energy."

"You finally know how to rest."

Bruno looked up at the darkening sky.

"I thought you would try a fourth turn on the last night."

"The fourth transformation requires the condensation of thunderclouds within the body, which takes at least several months of preparation."

"Starting now is tantamount to suicide."

Bruno remained silent for a moment.

For some reason, hearing those words from Xilun's mouth gave him a strange sense of relief.

At least this junior brother knows what it means to court death.

That night, Xilun did not enter the lightning trap.

He first wiped the Thunder Spear clean from head to toe, and then placed the water pouch, Blue Soul Potion, Fire Blast, dried meat, and wound medicine in the most easily accessible locations.

After doing all this, he sat down cross-legged and began to practice the Overturning Sea Technique.

After achieving the perfection of the third-tier physique, his body no longer had any obvious defects.

However, the power of the Overturning Sea Technique is still not fully perfected.

The energy surged from the dantian, flowing smoothly through the waist, abdomen, and arms. However, once it entered the large tendons covered by the third lightning pattern, it became slightly sluggish.

This stagnation is extremely subtle, almost imperceptible in ordinary battles, but it will affect his future ability to condense the third-tier extreme realm.

Black crystal can solve this problem perfectly.

The night deepened.

Even from afar, the sounds of martial arts practice could still be heard from various parts of the inner courtyard. Some people were circulating their qi and blood in the courtyard, some were soaking their muscles and bones in medicinal soup, and some were temporarily seeking out strong opponents to spar with, hoping to increase their chances of winning before the hunting day.

Those who are able to enter the inner academy are geniuses selected from all over the country.

Among these people, many have been silent for many years.

Some people haven't taken on any missions for a whole year in order to hone their fighting skills.

Some people may appear to be ranked only outside the top 100, but their true strength has already reached the pinnacle of physical perfection.

They had been holding back, waiting for the Blackwater Abyss to open.

If enough black crystals are obtained and one's strength is rapidly honed to its peak, the rankings of the top fifty in the inner academy may be reshuffled.

Even a top-ten position might be overtaken by a dark horse.

Hunting Day is no ordinary trial.

It's more like a seven-day ranking competition.

There were no referees, no arena, and no elders who could step in to save people at any time.

How many black crystals can ultimately be brought back depends entirely on one's strength.

The next day, before dawn, the first bell rang in the Holy Light Monastery.

The long, drawn-out chimes pierced through the clouds and mist, awakening the entire inner courtyard.

Xilun opened his eyes.

The power of the Overturning Sea Technique slowly sank into the dantian, and the three golden lightning vortexes disappeared accordingly.

He stood up, put on the close-fitting Sea Demon Blood Cotton Robe, and then covered it with a short black outfit for easy movement. He then coiled the Thunder Spear around his waist.

When they stepped out of the quiet room, Bruno and Genna were already waiting outside.

Gna was holding a wooden box in his arms.

"Senior Brother Xilun, these are the meat patties I made last night."

He opened the box, revealing thick meat patties neatly arranged inside.

"Made with sea cucumber and silverfish meat, it won't spoil for seven days."

Xilun picked up a piece and tasted it.

There was a bit too much salt, but that's perfect for replenishing energy after physical exertion.

"good."

A smile immediately appeared on Gna's face.

Bruno then took a small brass whistle from his waist and tossed it to Xiren.

"The mist in the Blackwater Abyss blocks sound, but this thing, when infused with energy, can travel a great distance."

Xilun caught the bronze whistle.

"Did you make this yourself?"

"I used it when I went out to sea before."

Bruno patted Celen on the shoulder.

"Don't die in there. If you don't come back, the teacher will definitely double the number of shooting practice sessions I have to do in the future."

"I will come back early."

Xilun put away the bronze whistle and turned to walk down the mountain.

The stone steps were already full of people in the early morning.

Unlike in the past, everyone today has only one destination.

The central square of the inner courtyard.

As the second bell rang, a sliver of gray-white light had just appeared on the eastern horizon.

Xilun passed through the stone gate and arrived at the edge of the square.

The scene before him was even more lively than he had expected.

Hundreds of third-tier disciples had already gathered here, their blood and qi mingling with extraordinary aura, causing the air above the square to subtly distort.

The real hunt has yet to begin.

However, the competition hidden beneath the calm surface has already quietly emerged.

The central square occupies a very large area.

The ground is paved with gray-white stone slabs, each with fine silver patterns engraved on its edge.

Normally, this is where the inner courtyard holds large-scale ceremonies. Apart from the monthly sermons, it is rare to see so many disciples gathered at the same time.

But today is different.

The stone steps around the square were almost completely filled with people.

The outer disciples who were not qualified to enter the Wonderland, the deacons responsible for maintaining order, and the representatives of various merchant guilds who came specifically to observe the inner courtyard experts all arrived early.

The murmurs of the crowd were like a surging tide.

"That's Coulson, the thirty-sixth in the inner court. Didn't he go into seclusion for a year?"

"I heard that he has already reached the pinnacle of physical strength, and this time he came aiming for the third-tier extreme realm."

"Who is that woman in gray to the east?"

"Vera, four years ago she was 92nd in the inner court, and half a year ago she killed a third-tier perfect sea beast on her own. Now she probably has the strength of a top 50."

"Why are there so many dark horses this year?"

"The Blackwater Abyss only opens once every few years. Who would hide their strength at such a time?"

Xilun paid no attention to the stares of those around him.

He found an open space near the stone pillar, placed the Thunder Spear on his lap, and sat down cross-legged.

There's still some time before the wonderland opens.

Instead of wasting energy standing in a crowd, it's better to keep your body in its most stable state.

He closed his eyes, and his breathing gradually became long and deep.

The chaotic sounds around us gradually faded into the distance.

As the Great Thunder Breathing Technique was activated, three golden thunder vortexes slowly rotated deep within the flesh and blood, gradually eliminating the subtle fatigue within the body.

The eagle-shaped thunder spirit lies dormant deep within the spirit, with only occasional flashes of bluish-white lightning along the edges of its wings.

Not far away, several inner court disciples recognized him.

"Siren is here."

"The Exquisite Pagoda, number forty-seven."

"That was the ranking from six months ago. He is now in perfect physical condition and has even mastered the third stage of the Golden Thunder Vortex Scripture."

"Three promotions in six months, is that true?"

"The strange phenomenon at Thunderclap Cliff yesterday was witnessed by half of the inner courtyard."

The group subconsciously lowered their voices.

West London has risen too fast in the last year.

From an unknown new disciple to conquering Blackwood Valley single-handedly, defeating Samuel in the Sea of ​​the Dead, and entering the top fifty in the Linglong Tower, every achievement is enough to make people remember his name.

Now, he has mastered the third transformation of the Golden Thunder Vortex Sutra within half a year.

Even if some people still feel that he hasn't accumulated enough experience, no one will treat him as an ordinary new disciple anymore.

Xilun opened his eyes and looked at the other side of the square.

Two familiar figures were standing there.

Allah wore a clean white robe and carried a long sword on his back. He did not speak to anyone else, but stood quietly on the high place, occasionally speaking to remind a few disciples who were too close to the edge of the formation.

As the senior disciple of the inner court, he was not simply participating in the hunt today.

Suppressing the scene was also his duty before the abbot and elders arrived.

After losing the Star Ring rankings, Allah became much more silent than before.

But that sense of bewilderment and dejection had disappeared from him.

He remained calm, but a stubbornness he hadn't shown before appeared deep in his eyes, as if the crushing defeat hadn't shattered his will, but instead had hardened something within him.

Beside Allah, the angel was speaking with several disciples of the juvenile detention center.

She changed into a set of silver-gray soft armor that allowed for easy movement, tied her long hair back, and had two short blades hanging at her waist.

Noticing Xilun's gaze, Angel turned her head to look over.

She was slightly taken aback at first, then smiled and raised her hand to wave.

Xilun nodded in agreement.

In truth, the two did have some kind of destiny.

When Siron first arrived at the Holy Light Monastery, it was the angel who led him into the monastery.

If it weren't for that introduction, he might still have been able to enter the inner courtyard, but it might not have been so smooth.

Angel said a few words to the people around her, then walked through the crowd.

"It's been half a year, and the commotion you've caused in the inner courtyard has only gotten bigger and bigger each time."

"It's just cultivation."

"Others wouldn't be able to master the third stage of the Golden Thunder Vortex Scripture in half a year."

Angel's gaze fell on Xilun's brow.

No lightning patterns were visible there, yet a faint, sharp lightning intent lingered within.

"When my father told me about it yesterday, I thought the news had been misrepresented."

"I'm lucky, and my body is also quite suitable."

"That's what Xilun replied."

Angel shook her head and chuckled.

She knew very well that when Xilun said he was lucky, it often meant that he had already faced life and death several times.

"The Blackwater Abyss is more unstable this time than it was five years ago."

She suppressed her smile.

"My father told me to remind the disciplinary ward disciples not to enter the gray fog area casually. If you encounter black coral growing on the ground, you should also immediately avoid it."

"Black coral?"

"It wasn't in the records from previous years; it was only discovered yesterday when the formation was activated."

Angel lowered her voice.

"The dean suspects that the space inside the Wonderland has changed, but the specific reason is still unclear."

Xilun noted down the message.

Thank you.

"No need."

Angel glanced into the distance.

"Elena has arrived."

The crowd automatically parted to create a gap.

Elena wore silver-white body armor, covered by a dark gray cloak.

Two swords of different lengths were crossed and hung behind his back, while a silver-gray rope was wrapped around his left wrist, with a ring with small barbs hanging from the end.

She walked through the crowd and came to Xilun's side.

"They arrived earlier than me."

"We just arrived."

Xilun stood up.

Angel glanced at the two of them, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.

"You were indeed planning to act together."

"There are many dangers in the Blackwater Abyss. Having a reliable person is always better than exploring alone."

Elena spoke naturally.

Angel didn't expose her, but simply reminded her, "Black Coral, don't forget."

"My father also told me that."

Elena nodded.

"If there is any unusual activity, I will use the disciplinary hall's signal flare to notify the others."

Angel did not linger and quickly returned to Allah's side.

Siren and Elena stood side by side at the edge of the square.

On the other side, a figure with a chilling aura sat quietly cross-legged.

Tinos.

He was wearing a dark blue robe today, with his hands on his knees, and six faint golden lightning patterns could be seen flashing beneath his skin.

No one approached within three zhang of him; even his disciples, who were familiar with him, simply stood further away and waited.

Throughout the entire process, Tinos never looked at Siren.

Even though there had been conflicts between the two, he never truly regarded Xilen as his opponent.

It is indeed very fast to master the third stage of the Golden Thunder Vortex Sutra in half a year.

But speed does not equal strength.

Tinos spent nearly ten years cultivating the scripture to the sixth level. The tempering he endured with lightning and the foundation he accumulated were far beyond what three lightning patterns could compare to.

In his view, the only thing that Siren is truly noteworthy about is his status as Swain's direct disciple.

As for strength, it's not enough.

Tinos's gaze swept across the square and finally settled on Allah.

From the very first day he entered the inner courtyard, he had only one opponent.

Allah.

He needs to obtain enough black crystals from the Blackwater Abyss to completely integrate his strength and physical body before attempting to break through to the fourth tier.

Once promoted, a spot in the Star Ring Ranking Competition, the top position in the Inner Academy, and even a future elder's seat will be within easy reach.

As for Xilun, he was merely a stone that appeared by chance on the path of cultivation.

If it's in the way, just kick it away.

"Boss."

Beside Tinos, a young man with a narrow nose spoke in a low voice.

His name is Roy, ranked fifteenth in the inner court, and he is also a powerful individual with a perfect physique.

"Is that Xilun in the black clothes?"

Tinos did not turn around.

"Yes."

Roy looked at Xilun thoughtfully.

"I heard he had some conflicts with you."

"You don't need to worry about it."

"clear."

Roy agreed verbally, but he had already memorized Xilen's appearance in his mind.

Tinos was of high status and also had an elder teacher.

If you can help him solve some problems that are inconvenient for him to handle personally, you will naturally receive benefits.