Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Outside the Blackwater Abyss, the array suddenly lit up.

The light was not dazzling; instead, it had a cold, grayish-white hue, like fire burning from the eye sockets of a dead person.

Just as the light began to solidify, a disheveled figure tumbled out of it, crashing heavily onto the dark blue-green stone slabs paved in the central square.

"Bang!"

The dull thud echoed across the square.

Tinos's body slid several feet along the ground, his dark gold longsword flying out of his hand, the blade leaving a trail of ear-piercing sparks as it sliced ​​across the stone slab.

His entire body was stained dark black by the black water, his robes were torn, his shoulder bones were collapsed, and there was a bloody gash on his chest that almost ran through his body.

The blood did not flow down the wound.

As soon as the blood seeped out, it was tainted by the residual black water and death energy on his skin, turning into a viscous black liquid that dripped down his body drop by drop.

The entire square fell into a deathly silence in an instant.

The inner court disciples, who had just been discussing rankings and speculating about who would get the treasure, all froze in place.

Some people stood with their mouths agape, the medicine bottles in their hands frozen in mid-air; others had already taken a half-step, but because of the absurd scene before them, they abruptly pulled their feet back.

That's Tinos.

The second-ranked expert in the inner court, a third-tier extreme realm cultivator, who has mastered the sixth level of the "Golden Thunder Vortex Scripture".

Throughout the entire Inner Court, apart from Allah, who is ranked first, almost no one dares to say they can definitely defeat him.

Even when facing an attack from several opponents of the same level, Tinos has enough means to break through the encirclement.

But now, he was like a dead fish dragged ashore, rolling out of the wonderland covered in black blood.

"What's going on...?"

Someone whispered something.

The sound was very soft, yet it was like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, quickly causing a greater commotion.

"Tinos has been eliminated?"

"Wasn't he chasing Xilun? Could he have encountered a fourth-tier sea beast?"

"How could there possibly be a fourth-tier sea beast in the Blackwater Abyss? Even if there were, he wouldn't be in such a sorry state!"

"Judging from his injuries, he has at least three broken ribs and his shoulder is ruined. Who did this?"

"Could it be that Allah went in? No, Allah didn't register for the hunting days at all..."

A cacophony of noise surged in from all directions, engulfing the square like a tidal wave.

Several deacons of the Holy Light Monastery quickly stepped forward, their staffs emitting a soft white light.

The healing spell transformed into tiny specks of light, landing on Tinos and dispelling the black, deathly aura clinging to the wounds.

However, even the Holy Light could not immediately heal the severe damage he had suffered.

Tinos's chest heaved slightly, and a muffled groan, almost like that of a wild beast, escaped his throat.

His consciousness seemed to be sinking into a dark, cold seabed, with countless unseen hands pulling at his soul all around, and the heavy sound of water echoing in his ears.

Those streaks of gunfire still keep replaying in my mind.

The bluish-white lightning, mixed with a wisp of dazzling golden light, was like a cold eye suddenly opening in the ocean depths.

He tried to swing his knife to defend himself, but his arm felt as if it were bound by countless iron chains.

He tried to circulate his energy, but the lightning patterns within his body gradually dimmed under the erosion of the stagnant water.

""

When that final shot pierced the defenses, he clearly heard the sound of his shoulder bone shattering, and he also clearly saw Xilun's face, which was so calm it was hateful.

There was no anger, no pride, not even a trace of excitement after victory.

It's as if defeating oneself is just a trivial matter that can be done easily.

"wake up!"

A beam of holy light fell upon Tinos's brow.

Tinos suddenly opened his eyes, his body jerked reflexively, but this aggravated his chest injury, causing him to cough violently.

"Cough...cough cough!"

Black blood foam spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Several disciples hurriedly retreated, fearing that the residual death energy in the blood would contaminate them.

Tinos stared blankly at the gray sky above, then looked around at the familiar or unfamiliar faces.

His consciousness was still confused, and all the sounds around him seemed to be through a thick curtain of water.

"here it is……"

His voice was so hoarse it didn't sound like his own.

"Central Plaza," a deacon replied in a deep voice, "You've been teleported out."

Tinos was taken aback.

"Teleport...out?"

He subconsciously raised his hand, as if to touch his identity card.

However, the silver plaque that represented hunting qualifications had been shattered, leaving only a few sharp fragments embedded in the belt at the waist.

As he gazed at the fragments, Tinos's pupils contracted little by little.

"What's wrong?"

Someone couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"Could he... have been eliminated?"

"Judging from the appearance of the ID card, it was probably crushed intentionally."

"Wash it away willingly? Wouldn't that be admitting you can't continue fighting?"

"This is unbelievable! Tinos actually withdrew voluntarily?"

The surrounding chatter drilled into his ears like fine needles piercing Tinos's nerves.

He finally came to his senses.

That face, which always carried an air of arrogance, first showed disbelief, then gradually twisted into a distorted expression.

The pain caused by the black water's erosion was far less than the sudden collapse of the cavity deep within the chest.

They were eliminated.

He lost his eligibility for the hunting day.

He lost this opportunity that could have allowed him to advance to the fourth tier.

The Hunting Day only opens once every few years. The black crystals in the Blackwater Abyss can refine one's strength and smooth out the final stagnation of the third-tier extreme realm.

For these extraordinary individuals who have pushed their bodies and skills to their limits, this is not an ordinary opportunity, but a window to change their destiny.

Even obtaining just a few perfect black crystals would be enough to increase one's chances of breaking through to the fourth tier by several times.

But now he has nothing left.

Not only that, but he also left the Wonderland in such a humiliating manner in full view of everyone.

Tinos slowly lowered his head, his fingers gripping the ground tightly.

The fingernail dug into the crack in the stone, and fresh blood seeped out from between the fingers.

"He was actually eliminated..." a disciple murmured. "Having lost this hunting day opportunity, he'll probably have to wait another year or two before he can find another chance to break through to the fourth rank."

"One or two years? That's putting it optimistically. Every step in the third-tier extreme realm requires honing one's foundation. If he misses the Blackwater Abyss, it will take him at least another two or three years."

"Who exactly drove him to this point?"

"Could it be... Xilun?"

As soon as those three words were spoken, the surrounding sounds suddenly paused.

It's as if everyone is subconsciously avoiding it, yet unable to escape this name.

Six months ago, Xilun was just a newcomer ranked forty-seventh in the Linglong Tower.

After entering the Blackwater Abyss, he first defeated the triplets, then seized the complete Black Crystal of the Nameless Canyon, forced Samuel to retreat in the Rotten Stone Forest, and later killed the Extreme Beast King in the mine.

But these achievements are still not enough to convince people that he can defeat Tinos.

Even though Roy was defeated by Xilun just now, it only shocked everyone slightly; he was just another dark horse.

Until now.

Tinos, heavily injured, deliberately crushed his identity token to teleport out, while Siren remained in the Blackwater Abyss.

The answer is self-evident.

"Is it really Xilun?"

"How long has it been since he reached the peak of the third-tier physique?"

"Tinos is a sixth-rank lightning-patterned being, how could Xilun possibly..."

"The facts are there."

The whispers, like swarms of mosquitoes, buzzed around Tinos's ears.

He suddenly raised his head, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

A young disciple happened to meet his gaze, his face instantly turned pale, and he quickly shut his mouth.

However, Tinos did not continue to act.

It wasn't because he had calmed down, but because he knew he had no right to lash out.

He lost.

They were defeated by Xilun.

He was defeated by that guy he never really took seriously.

"Since we have lost, we should remain humble and learn from our defeat."

An old and calm voice came from behind the crowd.

The crowd quickly made way for them.

An elderly man in a gray robe walked slowly towards them.

His face was deeply wrinkled, but his eyes were clear to the point of being cold; he was an elder of a monastery who was in charge of maintaining order on the hunting day.

The old man stopped in front of Tinos and looked down at him.

"The most taboo thing for a cultivator is not failure, but being unable to accept defeat," the old man said. "You still have a chance, but the prerequisite is that you can remember today's shame to the bone, instead of holding it against others."

Tinos lowered his head and did not answer.

His shoulders trembled slightly, whether from the pain of his injury or from suppressing some emotion that was about to erupt, it was hard to tell.

The old man looked at him for a moment, then turned and instructed the steward to take the man away for treatment.

Only when the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed did Tinos slowly raise his eyes.

The confusion from before was gone from those eyes.

Resentment is like poison, slowly seeping along the veins.

Weston.

He silently repeated the name in his heart.

Even though Siren's strength has greatly increased, and even though Siren has demonstrated the power to defeat him, Tinos still does not believe that the other party can truly contend with him.

That was in the Blackwater Abyss.

Suppressed by the environment, his fire-type energy was difficult to exert, and he had to constantly resist the erosion of water pressure and death energy.

If they were outside, in a place where they could unleash their full power, Xilun would never be a match for him.

At least, that's what he firmly believed.

And as long as Siron emerges from the Wonderland...

A chilling glint flashed in Tinos's lowered eyes.

He will make Xilun understand what today's victory truly means.

Meanwhile, inside the Blackwater Abyss.

The pressure in the deep water was still as heavy as invisible mountains, and darkness pressed in from all sides.

Occasionally, a huge shadow would swim by in the distance, its massive body stirring up the stagnant water and creating silent undercurrents.

Siren hovers in the deep sea.

He did not continue to pursue Tinos, nor did he immediately dive down.

The prolonged battle left him with a dull ache in his chest, and an old wound on his left shoulder reopened, the blood spreading in the water before being swallowed by the black liquid.

The Thunder Dragon's Heart was slowly repairing its wounds, and the three golden lightning patterns within its body, like flames washed by a torrential rain, had dimmed a bit more than before.

But his eyes remained calm.

After Tinos was defeated, the surrounding auras that had been secretly observing him also retreated into the distance.

They may not have witnessed the entire battle, but they saw the final scene.

Xilun shattered Roy's identity token with a single shot and then chased Tinos underwater for two hours, forcing the second-ranked member of the Inner Court to voluntarily withdraw from the Wonderland.

In places like this, injuries speak louder than strength.

As long as Siron is still standing, no one will be willing to risk their life to test his limits.

Several third-tier extraordinary individuals stood at the edge of the water in the distance, looking at him with complicated expressions.

"He's injured."

"But do you dare go over there?"

"..."

No one answered.

Xilun slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over those people.

With just one glance, the figures in the darkness froze simultaneously.

The gaze wasn't sharp, but it carried a coldness that only comes from experiencing a true life-or-death struggle.

Like a knife that has just drunk blood, even before it is drawn, it is enough to make anyone who gets close feel a tightness in their skin.

Those people immediately retreated.

Only when I retreated into the deeper undercurrents did I dare to breathe again.

At this point, Xilun had become the most formidable force in this deep-water area.

Even the top five extraordinary individuals from the inner court must avoid his sharp edge here.

Xilun withdrew his gaze and let out a soft breath.

Bubbles slowly rose from the lips and burst in the black water.

He looked down to check his own condition.

His left shoulder was badly injured, but no bones were broken; his chest had been hit several times, and his internal organs had been slightly shaken; he had used up nearly 40% of his strength in the Overturning Sea Technique, but in this body of water, the endless black water around him was constantly providing him with water support.

The heart of the Thunder Dragon was still beating.

With each pulsation, a warm force spreads through the flesh and blood, keeping the black water and deathly aura at bay.

Xilun pondered for a moment before making his judgment.

"His condition is acceptable, but not enough."

The oppressive feeling from the abyss ahead grew stronger.

If we approach rashly, we may not be able to cope with the unknown dangers we encounter in our current state.

Instead of diving down immediately, he slowly swam toward a narrow crevice in the rock wall.

It was located even deeper in the deep water zone, surrounded by turbulent currents and dense death energy, making it impossible for ordinary third-tier extraordinary individuals to approach.

Even if someone wanted to spy, their view would be blocked by the chaotic undercurrents.

Xilun sat cross-legged beside the rock wall, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, and closed his eyes.

Deep meditation.

This action was witnessed by several extraordinary individuals in the distance, immediately causing a silent tremor.

"Is he going to meditate here?"

"Are you crazy? This is the Blackwater Abyss!"

"Isn't he afraid of being ambushed by sea monsters?"

"The water pressure in that area... even a third-tier extreme realm cultivator couldn't stay there for long. How could he possibly sit down there?"

No one can understand Celen's choice.

But Xilun didn't care.

Guided by the Moon Memory Meditation Method, his spirit gradually sank into his body.

He kept the black water, deathly aura, undercurrents, and those faint, elusive spying attempts outside his consciousness.

The Great Thunder Sound Breathing Technique was slowly activated.

There is no real thunder in the deep sea, but the heart of the Thunder Dragon is like a war drum buried deep in flesh and blood.

With each beat, a dull thud resounded within his body, and the thunderous energy flowed slowly along his meridians, repairing the damaged tendons and clearing away the stagnant power.

Using the surrounding water, Fu Hai Gong transformed into a series of fine, dark currents that entwined around his body.

Time passed little by little.

A quarter of an hour.

Half an hour.

One hour.

The two extraordinary individuals who were about to leave stopped without realizing it.

They stared at the motionless Siren beside the rock face, their surprise gradually turning into indescribable awe.

Two hours later, Xilun finally opened his eyes.

In the darkness, two golden lights flashed and disappeared.

He raised his hand and moved his left shoulder. The original torn wound had healed, leaving only a faint bloodstain.

His internal strength had recovered to 70%, and the three lightning patterns became bright again, like three golden lightning snakes lurking in his flesh and blood.

The prying gazes around them gradually dispersed.

They could no longer see any weakness in Siren.

It was even more dangerous than when he had just finished fighting.

Without pausing, Xilun turned and swam into the deeper waters.

As he continued to descend, the scenery around him began to change.

A faint blue glow gradually appeared in the originally dark and lifeless waters.

The glow came from slender seaweed growing on the rock face. Its leaves were as thin as cicada wings, yet tiny points of light flowed within them, like a fragmented starry sky reflected in the deep sea.

Schools of transparent fish swam past him.

They have no eyes, but tiny silver bones float inside their bodies.

Whenever Xilun approaches, the fish turn around in unison and swim towards the abyss, as if guiding some unseen being.

Further down, large patches of coral appeared on the rock face.

Some are deep blue, some are as red as blood, and some corals have fine human face outlines on their surface.

Those faces contorted slightly with the flow of water, their lips opening and closing silently, as if emitting groans that only the spirit could hear.

Xilun did not approach.

The blood lock on his right arm tightened slightly at this moment, preventing that familiar black aura from seeping out.

His gaze was fixed ahead.

There was no radiance, no relics, and no obvious signs of opportunity there.

Logically speaking, given the environment deep within the Blackwater Abyss, the treasures it produces should not be so scarce.

The more dangerous the place, the greater the reward that should be.

However, after diving down to this point, apart from a few types of aquatic plants whose purpose is uncertain, Xilun has seen almost no real treasures.

"strangeness."

He frowned.

If this place once nurtured a large amount of black crystals, then the black soul beasts on the outer perimeter shouldn't be so active; if this is some kind of natural secret realm, then all the treasures couldn't have disappeared.

unless……

Xilun's gaze slowly turned downwards.

"The treasure is not in the water, but in the deeper waters."

The moment this thought crossed my mind, the flow of water in front of me suddenly stopped.

Immediately afterwards, a muffled rumble came from the bottom of the abyss.

boom!

The sound wasn't loud, but it pierced through layers of black water and directly impacted Xilun's chest.

His Thunder Dragon Heart suddenly tightened.

The enormous vortex in the distance began to slowly rotate.

What was originally a slightly distorted flow of water was now stirred up as if by an invisible giant hand, instantly forming a deep black vortex hundreds of feet wide.

The center of the vortex was so dark that no end could be seen, and black water surged wildly in from all sides, even scraping the hard rock walls with a harsh, grating sound.

Xilun stood still, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

This is not an ordinary change in water flow.

Within the vortex, something seemed to be breathing.

once.

Again.

With each breath, the entire deep sea rises and falls in response.

Deep within the blood lock on the right arm, dark red and black energy also vibrated slightly at the same moment.

It was as if it had finally sensed a long-dormant, shared existence.

As Xilun watched the increasingly violent vortex, a question slowly surfaced in his mind.

What secrets are hidden in the deepest part of the Blackwater Abyss?

The abyssal vortex was spinning faster and faster.

At first, Xilun was able to stabilize his body using the Overturning Sea Technique.

However, as the water flow continued to converge, the surrounding black water was no longer a simple liquid, but rather like layers of heavy iron walls, squeezing in from all directions.

His clothes were pulled straight by the undercurrent, and the sea demon blood cotton coat made a slight tearing sound.