Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Swain once said that the fourth turn was a watershed moment.

The first three transformations only strengthen the skin, flesh, muscles, and bones; starting from the fourth transformation, the lightning power will truly penetrate deep into the internal organs and blood.

If left uncontrolled, it can cause anything from minor internal organ rupture to severe cardiac arrest.

Xilun originally did not intend to attempt the fourth transformation within the Blackwater Abyss.

The pollution here is complex and the environment is unstable, making it unsuitable for high-risk cultivation practices.

At this moment, the residual energy in the ore is mild, and there is also the feedback and pull from the absorption by the Thunder Eagle, making this a rare opportunity.

He did not force a breakthrough directly, but instead deduced the situation accordingly.

Lei Li slowly moved along his chest and abdomen.

a circle.

Two laps.

Three laps.

With each rotation, tiny golden lines flash beneath the skin.

Elena noticed that in addition to the three lightning patterns on Siron's chest, a fourth blurry pattern was faintly appearing, and her expression immediately turned serious.

She didn't know the specific details of the Golden Thunder Vortex Scripture, but she did know that the thunder technique Xilun practiced was extremely dangerous.

The fourth line is now faintly visible, clearly a sign that a breakthrough is imminent.

The air inside the cave became heavy.

Xilun's breathing became slower and slower.

The Great Thunder Breathing Technique is compressed to an extremely fine level; every rise and fall in the lungs is like thunder hidden beneath the deep sea.

The fourth line went from blurry to clear, and then dispersed again from clear.

Xilun was not in a hurry.

He kept adjusting the flow of lightning, trying to make the pattern truly connect end to end.

Half an hour later, the gold patterns on the surface of the ore had completely faded.

The fourth lightning pattern finally condensed into a faint mark between his chest and abdomen.

But just as it was about to close, Xilun's heart suddenly sank.

A strong sense of oppression came from the depths of my lungs.

Lei Li began to get impatient.

Xilun immediately stopped his forced advance, instead using the Xuan Yin Coldness to protect his internal organs, and then used the Thunder Dragon Heart to draw the remaining thunder power back to the three old patterns.

The fourth line flickered several times, but ultimately did not fully take shape, leaving only a faint, barely visible ring of trace.

Xilun slowly exhaled.

The breath carried tiny sparks of golden electricity, which landed on the ground and burned a few black spots.

pity.

It was a great opportunity, but ultimately it fell short.

If he had another piece of the same thunder ore, or if he returned to Thunder Cliff and borrowed heavenly thunder to combine with the ointment, he might be able to cultivate to the fourth stage in one fell swoop.

But forcing a breakthrough at this moment would be too risky.

Siren is never afraid of danger, but he never abandons caution either.

""

He let go.

The massive thunderstone mine had shrunk by a size; its surface was now gray, and the thunderclouds inside had almost dissipated, leaving only a few wisps of purple-gold electric arcs slowly moving in the deepest part.

Most of the energy was absorbed by the Thunder Eagle, while a portion was used to nourish itself, tempering its physique and lightning patterns.

The remaining ore still has material value and can be kept for research.

When Elena saw him open his eyes, she asked, "It didn't work out?"

"Still a little short."

You don't seem disappointed.

"Not being injured is already a good thing."

As he spoke, Xilun took out two complete black crystals.

"Next, we'll refine the black crystal."

Elena paused for a moment.

"You've just finished your lightning magic training."

"The energy is high, it's a good time to continue polishing."

"Silon".

"Um?"

"Have you ever thought that a normal person would take a nap at this time?"

Xilun thought about it carefully and said, "There isn't enough time."

Elena looked at his calm face and suddenly didn't know what to say.

She eventually just sat back down by the cave entrance and picked up her twin swords again.

"Fix it. I'll stay here."

"Hard."

Xilun did not delay any longer.

The intact black crystal was enveloped by the power of the Overturning Sea Technique and slowly shattered.

The illusion of a deep-sea battle surged forth once more.

Huge sea monsters writhed in the black water, extraordinary beings tore at each other, and decaying bells rang out from afar.

Countless resentments tried to penetrate his mind, but were all separated by the cool moonlight transformed by the Moon Memory Meditation Technique.

The heart of the Thunder Dragon trembled.

The Great Thunder Breathing Method uses a low, resonant sound.

The illusion was shattered, and the pure black crystal power merged into his strength.

The Fuhai Gong within Xilun's body circulated more and more smoothly.

The energy surged like a tide, washing over the entire body again and again, from the skin and muscles to the bones and muscles, from the lungs to the fingertips, making every part more refined and smooth.

The second one.

The third one.

By the time all three complete black crystals had been refined, the area outside the cave was already a pale, dreamlike morning.

Elena briefly meditated twice during the night, but spent most of her time keeping watch.

She watched as Xilen absorbed the thunder ore and refined it into black crystal, barely getting any real rest.

That almost ruthless self-discipline evoked a complex and indescribable feeling in her.

This is not simply a matter of coveting power.

It was more like some heavy goal was pressing down on him, making even stopping to catch his breath feel like a luxury.

Inside the cave, the aura of Xilun slowly subsided.

The three lightning patterns were concealed.

The fourth faint lightning mark was barely visible, like a seed of lightning buried deep in flesh and blood.

The power of the Overturning Sea Technique swirled within his body, accompanied by the long, drawn-out sound of the tides, and he was already close to the edge of the third level of perfection.

Elena looked at him and suddenly sighed softly.

"What a monster."

Xilun did not hear it.

He was still breathing.

From the gray fog outside the cave, a low, rumbling sound could be faintly heard in the distance, as if some enormous creature had turned over in the depths of the Black River.

The next morning, Elena awoke from a light sleep.

The incense sticks used to prevent pollution in the cave had burned out, leaving only a wisp of smoke drifting along the stone wall.

The gray fog outside was thinner than at night, and a damp, cold wind seeped in through the cracks in the cave entrance, carrying the distinctive fishy and chilly smell of the Blackwater Abyss.

Xilun remained seated not far away.

His hands rested naturally on his knees, and his breathing was very steady.

With each breath, the faintly visible fourth lightning mark on his chest would flash gently before sinking back into his skin.

Elena did not speak immediately.

She watched quietly for a moment.

Overnight, the changes in Xilun were more obvious than she had expected.

Besides the three golden lightning patterns, the fourth lightning pattern, though not yet fully formed, has already taken shape.

That wasn't a fleeting aura, but rather the tangible traces of lightning power embedded in flesh and blood.

What concerned her even more was the Overturning Sea Technique.

When Xilun's energy swirled around his body, it was no longer as outwardly powerful as it had been initially, but rather submerged within his body, like an undercurrent suppressed beneath the deep sea.

It may appear calm, but a huge wave could be unleashed at any moment.

This is a sign that the third level of the Overturning Sea Technique is nearing completion.

Elena came from a correctional institution, so her perspective was not limited.

She knew very well that the more advanced the body-strengthening techniques like the Overturning Sea Skill, the more important it was to proceed steadily and surely.

The so-called perfection is not just about having strong physical strength, but also about having one's physical body tempered to the point of being almost flawless, with no obvious stagnation in the flow of energy.

Xilun has now completed at least 50% of the extreme tempering.

Even higher.

All of this happened only a few days after he entered the Blackwater Abyss.

A silent feeling suddenly welled up in Elena's heart.

Even she had to admit that Xilun's will to asceticism was truly astonishing.

He was like a gun that was always being sharpened.

Fierce, sharp, and relentlessly moving forward.

I really don't know what goal is driving him.

Revenge?

Duke of Storms.

When that name was uttered by Xilun, his tone was as calm as if he were stating the weather.

But Elena knew that the more this was the case, the heavier the burden lay hidden within.

She looked away, her fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of the sword.

My thoughts, however, drifted uncontrollably away.

Soon, the wedding date that had been agreed upon with Aldridge would arrive.

The thought suddenly popped into her mind, causing the calm in her eyes to crack slightly.

She thought she had put the matter aside for the time being.

But when people are quiet, they are always caught up by troubles they don't want to face.

The family and power behind Aldrich cannot be easily shaken off with a simple refusal.

If she directly refuses, although her position as the head of the disciplinary court can shield her from a lot of pressure, it may still cause trouble for her father.

My father has made quite a few enemies over the years.

Correctional institutions are places where people are bound to offend others.

If Aldridge seizes this opportunity to launch an attack, it might not damage his father's foundation, but it would be enough to make the situation ugly.

She didn't want to be her father's weakness.

I don't want my life to be dictated by a piece of paper.

A hint of disappointment appeared in Elena's eyes.

She quickly shook her head, suppressing those thoughts.

It's still hunting day.

The Blackwater Abyss opens only once every seven days, making it a rare opportunity to improve one's strength.

If she can't even seize the opportunity right now, how will she face the troubles to come?

Did she rely on her father's protection?

She refused.

Elena looked at Xilen, her gaze complicated.

Perhaps it was because she saw people like Xilen that she found it increasingly difficult to accept staying in the same place.

Just then, Xilun opened his eyes.

His eyes remained clear and calm as always, without the bewilderment one might feel when waking from deep meditation.

"What's wrong?"

Elena paused for a moment, then realized she had been staring for too long.

She coughed lightly and said, "Congratulations, you've made another step forward in your extraordinary realm."

Xilun lowered his head to sense the energy within his body and nodded.

"That's only natural."

Elena raised an eyebrow.

"You're incredibly confident."

"Black crystals, perfect black crystals, thunder ore, and continuous battles to hone your skills," Xilun said earnestly. "It would be abnormal if there were no progress."

"I'm not asking for a reason," Elena said helplessly. "Never mind, your answer suits you perfectly."

Xilun put away the remaining ore and then checked the potion, black crystal, and Purple Thunder Bone Tempering Grass in the leather bag.

The movements were methodical and orderly.

Elena looked at him, and suddenly felt a strange sense of unease.

She recalled her earlier disappointment, and then remembered what Xilun had said: "We are partners."

partner.

That word is certainly correct.

They entered the Black Abyss Forest together, explored the Sunset Coast together, and fought side by side in the Blackwater Abyss. If they were partners, their bond would be strong enough.

But for some reason, when she heard that word, her chest felt a slight emptiness.

It's like expecting something more specific, yet not knowing exactly what you're expecting.

Xilun placed the Thunder Spear across his lap and looked up at her.

"You're not happy."

Elena's eyes flickered. "Really?"

"have."

"Are you so sure of your judgment?"

“We’re partners,” Celen said. “You seemed unsettled last night while on guard duty; your breathing was more erratic than usual. You were thinking about something just now too.”

Elena paused slightly.

Partner.

She silently repeated it to herself.

A little lost.

But this sense of loss came out of nowhere, and she herself couldn't explain why.

She had never experienced such a scene before, and she was never good at laying out her thoughts and feelings.

Especially in front of Xilun.

He's too direct.

He's so direct that if you asked him how the moonlight was, he would carefully analyze the thickness of the clouds and the angle of the light.

Elena's cheeks inexplicably felt hot.

She looked away and said, "It's nothing, I was just thinking about some things at home."

"Need any help?"

"Not for now."

"You can speak if needed."

Xilun's tone remained calm, but it was not perfunctory.

Elena could tell.

This only made the unease in her heart more pronounced.

She squeezed the hilt of the sword, and finally had to force the conversation back to the main topic.

"Let's keep hunting. If we don't move soon, someone else will beat us to the third gathering point."

Xilun glanced at her but didn't ask any further questions.

He unfolded the map, his fingertip landing on the mark outside the Blackwater Abyss.

"It's quite a distance to the third gathering point. Following the current route, we'll have to cross at least two broken valleys and a tributary of the Black River."

Elena immediately got into the zone and leaned closer to examine the picture.

"This tributary isn't wide, but it's likely more polluted. We'd better cross the upstream gravel area and avoid wading directly."

"Okay. If you encounter black coral along the way, go around it."

"And there's the sound of underwater bells."

"Retreat as soon as you hear that."

Elena nodded.

After cleaning up the traces inside the cave, extinguishing the remaining incense ash, and making sure that nothing was left behind, the two walked out of the cave.

A thick fog rolled in.

In the distance, the mountains are broken, and a black river flows silently in the valley, its surface as flat as a piece of dull iron.

Occasionally, a huge shadow would slide across the water, creating a faint ripple that would quickly disappear.

Xilun, carrying a leather bag and holding the Thunder Spear, walked ahead.

Elena followed half a step to his right rear.

The two maintained a distance sufficient to deal with a surprise attack, yet not so much that they were separated by the gray fog.

After leaving the rocky ridge, the terrain gradually descends.

The soil underfoot became soft, and black water seeped out when you stepped on it.

Scattered all around were numerous sea monster skeletons, some as thick as beams, with corroded edges, as if they had been soaked in some kind of acid for many years.

Along the way, they encountered several ordinary black soul beasts wandering around.

Xilun wasted no time.

After Lei Ying's transformation, his gun became faster and more accurate.

The first Black Soul Beast had barely emerged from behind the pile of bones when the spear tip pierced its chest.

A flash of golden lightning shook the broken black crystal out.

The second one lurked in the blackwater puddles, attempting to attack Elena's ankle.

Elena was prepared; the silver-gray rope suddenly slid down, pulling him out of the water. Siren fired a shot to the side, instantly shattering the black mist.

The third one was a bird-shaped black soul beast that swooped down from above the gray mist at an extremely fast speed.

Xilun's brow and his thunderous eyes lit up slightly, as if his body had sensed its trajectory in advance.

With a flick of the Azure Thunder Spear, the spear's tail shattered the bird's beak, while the spear tip followed up with a backflip, knocking off its core black crystal.

The entire process took less than ten breaths.

Elena put away the black crystal and couldn't help but say, "Your senses have become stronger too."

"The Thunder Eagle is more sensitive to air currents and lightning-like fluctuations in the air."

"It seems that the ore is indeed very useful to you."

"Um."

Xilun paused for a moment, then said, "If there is enough time, we can try the fourth initiation."

Elena immediately looked at him.

"In a wonderland?"

"Not now."

"I hope not." Her tone was slightly somber. "You almost lost control several times last night because of the laser pattern on your chest."

Xilun was slightly surprised. "You figured it out?"

"I'm not blind."

"I've stopped."

"That's why I didn't interrupt you."

The two continued walking while talking.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the first broken valley.

The valley is several tens of feet wide, with swirling gray mist below, obscuring the bottom.

Several natural stone beams are connected on both sides of the valley wall. The thickest of them is only half a person's width wide and its surface is covered with wet and slippery moss.

Siren first tested the waters with gravel.

The stone fell onto the stone beam without triggering any exceptions.

But as he threw the second stone into the valley, a jet-black tentacle suddenly emerged from the gray mist and silently snatched the stone away.

Elena's gaze sharpened slightly.

There's something down there.

"Taking the detour will add an extra hour to the journey."

"Cross the bridge?"

"I'll go first."

Xilun stepped onto the stone beam.

The stone beams were slippery, and next to them was a bottomless gray fog.

Even ordinary Tier 3 extraordinary individuals would slow down in such places to avoid missteps.

Xilun, however, progressed steadily.

The Canglang Step is adept at using momentum; the slippery ground beneath his feet is like water, allowing him to easily control the situation.

The lightning patterns on his legs glowed slightly, making each step he took almost mechanically precise.

When we reached the middle section, gray fog surged at the bottom of the valley.

Three jet-black tentacles suddenly shot out, wrapping around his waist, ankles, and spear respectively.

Xilun did not retreat.

With a jerk of the gun, the water surged and enveloped the first tentacle that approached, while golden lightning erupted in response.

The tentacles suddenly exploded, spilling black slime, which was then burned into charred smoke by the lightning.

The second tentacle wrapped around his ankle, but couldn't budge him an inch.

Three lightning patterns lit up Xilun's face, and he stomped his right foot heavily.

The stone beams trembled.

The tentacle was crushed underfoot.

Just as the third tentacle was about to wrap around the gun, Elena's silver-gray rope flew out from behind and tightened around it in mid-air.

"Hurry up," she said.

Xilun swung his spear and severed the tentacle.

The two quickly crossed the stone beam, one after the other.

An angry growl came from the valley behind them, and the gray mist churned for a long time before finally failing to catch up.

Elena let out a soft breath after landing.

"There are more and more monsters here."

"The closer you get to the Blackwater Abyss, the heavier the pollution becomes."

Xilun glanced back at Broken Valley.

He could sense that the thing at the bottom of the valley was not a Black Soul Beast; its aura was more chaotic, like some kind of aquatic creature mutated after being polluted by the strange realm.

Going deeper will only increase the danger.

But he did not waver.

After undergoing the transformation of the Thunder Eagle and the refinement of the Black Crystal, he was confident that he could put up a fight even against the top ten in the Inner Court.

If conventional methods are insufficient, there is also the Breath of the Styx.

If one is truly caught in a life-or-death situation, the dark red and black energy within the blood lock is not just for show.

Of course, he wouldn't easily reveal himself unless absolutely necessary.

The two crossed the broken valley and descended the scree slope.

More signs of battle gradually appeared in the gray fog.

Broken weapons, corroded shields, and bloodstains that were not yet completely dried.

Clearly, other inner court disciples had already passed through here.

Elena crouched down to examine a set of footprints and said, "At least two teams, heading in the same direction as us."

"Someone may have already arrived at the third gathering point."

"Should we speed things up?"

Xilun looked into the distance.

In the direction of the Blackwater Abyss, the gray mist seemed to be stirred by some force, slowly forming the outline of a huge vortex.

Even from a great distance, one could feel a sense of oppression emanating from there.

"Don't rush in."

He said, "First, we need to determine whether they are hunting or being hunted."

Elena looked up at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"That sounds a lot like you."

The two continued on their way.

The further you go, the colder the air gets.

The tributary of the Heihe River finally came into view.

The river was not wide, but it was so dark that it seemed to have no bottom.

Beneath the surface, a glimmer of dark purple light occasionally flashes, like some kind of enormous eye opening and closing in the depths.