Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Xilun looked at her.

Gray mist drifted slowly between the two of them. Elena still had bloodstains on her shoulder, but there was no sign of strain on her face.

A moment later, Xilun retrieved the black crystal.

"it is good."

"Next, I will try my best to improve my strength and explore this wonderland."

"If we gain anything, you will be the first to be compensated."

Elena's lips curled into a smile again.

"That's more like you."

The two found a sheltered stone platform in the canyon.

Xilun first checked the surroundings to confirm that there were no Black Soul Beasts or field mechanisms, and then placed the three complete black crystals in front of him one by one.

Elena sat cross-legged ten feet away, took a recovery potion, and began to repair her depleted strength.

Xilun picked up the first black crystal.

The power of the Overturning Sea Technique enveloped it.

Cracks quickly appeared on the surface of the crystal, and icy power surged into the body through the palm.

boom!

Countless chaotic images assaulted my mind.

In the pitch-black depths of the sea, hundreds of sea creatures tear each other apart, their flesh and blood sinking to the seabed and being devoured by some unseen force.

Then, a pair of pale eyes opened from the darkness, gazing at Xilun with a strong demonic aura.

The Moon Memory Meditation Method is in operation.

As the cold moon shone, the illusion shattered swiftly.

The Thunder Dragon's Heart pounded fiercely, tearing apart the chilling aura mixed with the black crystal power.

The power of the Overturning Sea Technique is like the tide, repeatedly washing away the remaining pure energy.

The first black crystal melted completely.

Without pausing, Xilun immediately picked up the second one.

As the black crystal entered my body, a warm sensation surged from deep within my limbs and bones.

He was physically complete, but there were still many tiny obstructions between his flesh, bones, and skin that were not visible to the naked eye.

At this moment, the power of the black crystal flowed through, and the stagnation, like ice melting in warm water, gradually disappeared.

The strength became more rounded.

After the second black crystal was refined, a thin layer of sweat had seeped from Xilun's body.

He picked up the third one.

This time, the demonic aura within the black crystal was even stronger.

The three-faced giant tortoise's cries and laughter echoed in his ears again, as countless unfamiliar figures tried to squeeze into his consciousness.

Xiren even saw the Duke of Storms.

The indistinct yet tall man stood in the thunderstorm, looking down at him with eyes that held no anger, only a suffocating indifference.

"You're not enough."

The sound was like thunder.

Xilun's expression remained unchanged.

A cold moon rose in my mind.

The phantom of the Storm Duke was pierced by a single shot, turning into countless fragments and dissipating.

The pure power of the third black crystal was completely integrated into the Qi.

Xilun's body gradually warmed up, and his heartbeat became strong and steady.

With each breath, a faint rumble of thunder echoed within my chest.

The three golden lightning patterns rotated on their own, and the slight obstruction that originally existed between the lightning patterns and the flesh was slowly smoothed out.

The power of the Overturning Sea Technique circulates along the meridians of the whole body, at a speed nearly 10% faster than before entering the wonderland.

After a long while, Xilun slowly opened his eyes.

Elena had finished her recovery and was sitting not far away watching him.

"how?"

Xilun clasped hands.

A slight popping sound came from the surrounding air.

"My strength has increased by about 10% compared to before entering the Wonderland."

A look of surprise flashed across Elena's eyes.

"Only three perfect black crystals, and it increased by ten percent?"

"In addition to the previous few damaged black crystals."

Xilun felt the increasingly rounded power within his body.

Even so, this improvement is still remarkable.

After achieving the third-tier physical perfection, it becomes extremely difficult to further improve one's strength.

Many inner court disciples spend years, yet can only gradually hone their skills.

He had only been in the Blackwater Abyss for less than half a day when his strength had already increased by 10%.

If one takes the state before entering the Wonderland as the benchmark, and strengthens one's strength to the fullest extent, reaching a truly perfect and flawless level, one can step into the third-tier extreme realm.

The effects of ordinary black crystals weaken over time, but as long as enough perfect black crystals can be found, seven days is enough to save him years of arduous cultivation.

Xilun closed his eyes and began to circulate the Overturning Sea Technique once more.

The power I just absorbed has not yet fully stabilized, so I must refine it as soon as possible and leave no hidden dangers.

Seeing this, Elena did not disturb them.

She sat down cross-legged again, recovering from the remaining damage while keeping watch on the canyon entrance.

Time passed slowly.

The dark red light overhead gradually faded, but the gray fog became thicker than before.

After an unknown amount of time, a very faint sound of a stone rolling suddenly came from outside the canyon.

Elena opened her eyes and gripped the hilt of her sword.

Xilun also stopped absorbing and purging.

The sensation of water spread out along with the gray fog.

One.

Two paths.

Then came even more unfamiliar atmosphere.

At least seven extraordinary beings are approaching the canyon.

The leader's aura was full and substantial, and he made no attempt to conceal it.

Xilun stood up and gripped the Canglei Spear in his hand.

From the edge of the gray fog, a familiar yet somber voice slowly drifted over.

"I thought someone had beaten me to it."

"So it was you, Siren."

From the depths of the gray fog, several figures slowly emerged.

The young man at the front wore a dark blue battle robe with black wrist guards wrapped around his sleeves. He was more muscular than he had been six months ago, but his face was still gloomy.

Samuel.

Beside him were six inner court disciples, all of whom possessed considerable strength. Two of them were even close to the perfection of the third-tier physique, which would place them in the 50th or 60th tier in the inner court.

These people did not approach immediately.

They stopped outside the canyon entrance, their gaze sweeping over the remaining traces of battle on the ground before settling on Siren and Elena.

Shattered bone spikes, collapsed stone walls, charred marks from being cleaved by lightning, and the lingering aura of the Black Soul Beast in the air.

Samuel's gaze sharpened slightly.

He arrived relatively quickly.

After entering the Blackwater Abyss, he avoided two dangerous areas and fought with several Black Soul Beasts for a long time before finally finding this nameless canyon based on the old map.

They originally thought they could defeat the three powerful Black Soul Beasts inside and obtain at least two complete Black Crystals.

Unexpectedly, it was still too late.

What's even more glaring is that the one who got there first was none other than Xilun.

Samuel's hand unconsciously tightened in his sleeve.

The chill of the Sea of ​​the Dead from six months ago felt like a venomous snake crawling out from the cracks in my bones again.

The black mist seeped into his lungs, his flesh and blood withered, and his consciousness sank into darkness. When he woke up in the shallow water, he was surrounded by mocking, suspicious, and pitying eyes.

After that day, he hardly slept a good night's sleep.

Elena's retreating figure, the inner disciples' discussions, the questions coming from the clan, and the face in the mirror that had been briefly ashen due to the erosion of death energy—all these felt like fine needles piercing his heart.

He is not afraid of losing.

At least that's what he kept telling himself.

But he cannot lose to Xilun.

We cannot lose to a rogue cultivator from a remote family who was struggling on the edge of the inner courtyard just six months ago.

I absolutely cannot lose again in front of Elena.

"Samuel".

Elena stood up, her brows slightly furrowed.

Her shoulder wound had stopped bleeding, and she gripped the silver-gray longsword again, her tone indifferent.

"Is there something you need?"

Samuel did not answer her immediately.

His gaze swept over the bloodstains on Elena's shoulder, then fell upon the Thunder Spear in Xilun's hand.

Xilun stood calmly at the edge of the stone platform, with no obvious injuries on his body and even breathing, as if he was not the one who had just hunted down the three perfect black soul beasts.

This calm made Samuel feel even colder.

He would rather see Xilun covered in blood and weak, at least that would prove that the other party was not invincible.

But the person in front of me is like a piece of iron sunk in the deep sea, no matter how the undercurrents wash over him, his surface remains completely untouched.

"I didn't expect you to arrive first."

Samuel suppressed the turmoil in his heart and forced a smile onto his face.

"Junior Brother Xilun has been making quite a splash lately. He's ranked forty-seventh in the Linglong Pagoda and four hundred feet in the Minglei Cliff. He even cleared this canyon right at the start of the hunting day. No wonder the teachers and elders value you so much."

He was being polite.

However, the expressions of the disciples around him were all different.

Some people secretly sized up Xilun, their eyes filled with apprehension.

Someone looked at the shattered mountainside, their Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

Others glanced at Elena before quickly looking away.

Xilun did not accept the compliment.

He simply gripped the Thunder Spear and said calmly, "What is it?"

Samuel's smile froze slightly.

He hated Siren's reaction.

There was no smugness, no sarcasm, and no anger. It was as if Samuel was merely a roadside stone, to be avoided if possible, and kicked aside if not.

Samuel took a deep breath and turned to look at the people beside him.

A gray-haired youth understood and took half a step forward.

"We discovered a Black Soul Beast's lair in the decaying stone forest to the north."

The gray-haired youth said in a deep voice, "There are at least twenty or thirty Black Soul Beasts inside, including a leader at the third-tier extreme realm, who is suspected to be a spider. We tested the area once, but there are too many Black Soul Beasts on the outer perimeter. If we were to charge in head-on, the energy expenditure would be enormous."

Xilun's eyes flickered slightly.

A Black Soul Beast leader at the third-tier extreme level.

If you can kill it, there is a very high chance that it will drop a perfect black crystal.

Elena had also thought of this, her gaze narrowed slightly, but she remained silent.

Samuel picked up the conversation.

"That spider is hiding deep inside the cave. Once we kill it, the Black Soul Beasts on the outside will immediately collapse."

"We outnumber them and can be responsible for keeping the Black Soul Beasts on the perimeter occupied."

"But someone must take advantage of the chaos to venture deep into the cave and kill the leader."

He looked at Xilun, his tone softening.

"Junior Brother Xilun, you are quite strong. Although we have some misunderstandings, this is the Blackwater Abyss, where resources are limited and dangers are even greater. Rather than wasting our time on the outer perimeter, we should join forces to take down this nest first."

A light gray mist drifted by.

The canyon fell silent for a moment.

Siren looked into Samuel's eyes.

Those eyes held restraint, calculation, and a deep-seated hatred.

But that Black Soul Beast's lair might not be fake.

If Samuel wanted to kill him, he wouldn't have needed to bring seven men and attack directly at the canyon entrance.

The terrain here is narrow, and Elena is right next to us; if it really comes down to a fight, neither of us will have the upper hand.

Better opportunities inevitably lie in more complex and dangerous places.

For example, deep within the Black Soul Beast's lair.

Xilun slowly asked, "How will we cooperate?"

When Samuel saw that he did not refuse, a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes.

"The outer Black Soul Beasts will be lured out by our two sides together."

"Elena and a few of my companions will hold off the beasts while we send our strongest men into the cave to behead them."

"As long as the leader dies, Black Crystal will be distributed according to contribution."

Elena's brow furrowed even more.

"The strongest person?"

Samuel nodded.

"I'll go in."

He turned to look at a silent, dark-haired young man beside him.

"And Luca."

The black-haired youth carried two short axes on his back. He had a long, narrow face and eyes that were like blades skimming the ground, cold and sharp.

Elena recognized the man.

Luca, ranked fifty-eighth in the inner court, once hunted a perfect third-tier sea beast along the coast of the North Sea. He is known for his close-range short axe and explosive power.

Samuel ranked 53rd, and Luca 58th.

If the two join forces, they are enough to threaten the top fifty in the inner court.

Xilun, however, only had one person.

"Two against one?"

Elena's tone turned colder.

Samuel said calmly, "Elena, you misunderstand. Killing a leader of the Extreme Realm is no child's play. Too few people aren't enough to be safe, and too many people are easily surrounded by the Black Soul Beasts on the outside. Three people are just right."

Luca also looked up at Xilen, his voice hoarse.

"If Junior Brother Xilun doesn't dare, we can have someone else."

A cold glint flashed in Elena's eyes, and she was about to speak when Siren raised his hand to stop her.

His movements were so gentle that Elena's words caught in her throat.

Xiren looked at Samuel, then at Luca.

After a moment, he smiled.

"Can."

Elena turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with worry.

It's not that she doesn't believe in Xilun.

However, the Blackwater Abyss is too strange, and the depths of the Black Soul Beast's lair are even less suitable for being sandwiched between two equally powerful individuals.

Moreover, the feud between Samuel and Siron could never be erased with just a few words.

Are you sure?

She lowered her voice.

Siren said calmly, "They want to kill me, it doesn't matter where they are."

Elena was taken aback.

Xilun's voice was very low, only she could hear it.

"You stay outside and be careful. If the herd is too large, don't try to fight them off; retreat first."

Elena looked at his profile.

The gray mist brushed past his eyebrows and eyes, and golden lightning patterns were faintly visible under his skin, carrying an indescribable composure.

She suddenly realized that Xilun had seen through the problem.

He simply chose to go in anyway.

Because a perfect black crystal is worth the risk.

Because the third-tier extreme realm is worth the risk.

Also, if Samuel really wanted to take action, he wouldn't run away.

Elena gripped the hilt of her sword and nodded slightly.

"You be careful too."

Xilun hummed in agreement.

Samuel watched the two talking in hushed tones, his smile unchanged, but his knuckles turned slightly white from the force he was using.

Elena used to stand beside him like this.

At least during the mission, they worked side by side.

She would remind him of the smell of the sea breeze, hand him medicine after a battle, and frown at him for being too reckless.

Those moments weren't ambiguous, but they were enough to make him think he would always have a chance.

Until Xilun appeared.

Some things are not taken away.

But when he reached out to grasp it, he realized it had never truly belonged to him.

This realization is more unbearable than failure itself.

"Now that we've reached an agreement, let's go."

Samuel turned around, his voice regaining its composure.

"Time is running out. There are only seven hunting days. People are already approaching the Rotten Stone Forest. If we're late, it might not be our turn."

The group left the nameless canyon and headed north into the depths of the gray fog.

There is no sun in the sky above the Blackwater Abyss.

The dark red light, like blood seeping from behind thick clouds, shone on the pale animal bones scattered on the ground, making it appear desolate and oppressive.

The further north you go, the wetter the ground becomes.

Black puddles are scattered among the rocks, the surface of the water is so calm as to be almost dead still, with tiny bubbles occasionally rising to the surface, releasing a putrid, fishy smell when they burst open.

Elena walked slightly behind Siren.

She didn't speak again, but kept testing the surrounding pollution with the silver-gray disc.

The gray lines appearing on the surface of the discs are becoming increasingly dense, indicating that they are approaching a deeper part of the Blackwater Abyss.

Samuel was very skilled at leading the way.

He clearly also had a map, and it wasn't a regular version.

Along the way, they avoided two sinkholes and circled around a shallow beach covered with black coral.

After walking for another half hour, the terrain ahead gradually began to sink.

A distorted stone forest appeared from the gray fog.

The stone pillars vary in height; some resemble decaying tree trunks, while others look like bones eroded by seawater, their surfaces covered with dark brown patterns.

The wind whistled through the cracks in the stone forest, making a low, mournful sound, as if someone was crying in the shadows.

A strong aura of black soul beasts emanated from the depths of the stone forest.

Samuel raised his hand to signal everyone to stop.

He pointed ahead.

"The nest is inside."

Xilun looked in the direction he was pointing.

At the end of the decaying stone forest, there is a half-collapsed black hill.

A huge hole opened at the bottom of the hill, and the area around the hole was covered with sticky black threads. Many animal bones were wrapped around the stone walls, and there was still some undried black liquid between the bones.

A dozen or so black soul beasts roamed outside the cave entrance.

There were sea serpents with bone wings, black-scaled dogs with half-rotten bodies, and several fish-man-like monsters with arms dragging on the ground and claws as sharp as hooks.

Deeper still, there seemed to be even more presences lingering.

Elena's breathing became slightly heavy.

"There are quite a few."

The gray-haired youth said in a low voice, "Last time we only got close to this place before we were chased three miles away. If it weren't for Senior Brother Samuel covering our retreat, at least two of us would have died."

Samuel didn't look at him; his gaze remained fixed on the cave entrance.

"Proceed according to plan."

He looked at Xilun.

"We'll lure out the Black Soul Beasts from the outer perimeter, and then you, me, and Luca can slip into the cave amidst the chaos."

Xilun nodded.

"Can."

The crowd began to disperse.

Elena came to Xiren's side and suddenly reached out to straighten the wrinkles on his collar that were damp with the gray mist.

This movement is very short.

It's so short it's almost like it was just something I did on a whim.

She whispered, "Don't believe them."

Xilun glanced at her.

"I know."

Elena looked up.

"It's not enough to just know."

"Get out alive."

Xilun gripped the Thunder Spear tightly.

"it is good."

Samuel stood not far away, watching this scene quietly.

It felt like a piece of red-hot iron was pressing down on my chest.

He suddenly remembered the preparations he had made for this day.

While healing, he endured the torment of the lingering breath of the Styx day and night, gritted his teeth and swallowed bitter medicine that made his stomach convulse, honed his strength again and again in the torrential rain, and even humbled himself to beg people he once looked down upon in exchange for information about the Black Soul Beast's lair.

He didn't come here for Elena's sake.

At least not now.

He wants to win.

He wanted everyone to remember that Samuel was still an inner court genius, still the person the family had high hopes for, and still qualified to stand in a higher position.

Instead of being mentioned only as "that guy who lost to Xilun" when people talk about him.

"Let's do it!"

Samuel gave a low shout.

The next moment, several bursts of energy erupted simultaneously.

The gray-haired youth charged out first, his long sword slashing out an arc of water, fiercely striking the fish-man Black Soul Beast outside the cave entrance.

The merman let out a piercing screech, and black mist surged, instantly attracting the attention of the surrounding monsters.

Elena darted out like a silver shadow, her silver-gray rope shooting out and wrapping around the neck of a bone-winged sea serpent, dragging it away from the cave entrance.

The other inner court disciples also joined the fray.

Flames, ice blades, water currents, and lightning exploded among the stone forest.