Breaking Through the First Shackles

In the underground small plaza, a cyan-blue light barrier released a chilling low temperature. Fierce, biting cold air churned around the barrier. Looking in from the outside, one could only vaguely make out the silhouette of a frail figure.

Hun Han's mind was currently in a state of unconscious, profound mystery. Even with his robust soul perception, he felt extremely fatigued. The exhaustion was so intense, it felt as if his soul was about to drift out of his body.

Meanwhile, that tiny wisp of cyan-blue ice crystal, seemingly uncontrolled, began circulating along his meridians. Since the Nine Nether Wind Ice had already been refined by Hun Han, it did not unleash its terrifying low temperature.

At the same time, within Hun Han's bloodline, something seemed to break free from the earth. Instantly, a warm power flowed out from his blood, finally nourishing the meridians that had been cracked by the cold.

Under the nourishment of that warm power, his internal meridians, like the earth after winter, were slowly releasing wisps of vitality. New meridians were being born where the frozen ones had cracked. These new meridians were peculiar, displaying a chilling ice-blue color.

As that energy continued its repair work, his skin, bones, and organs were all re-infused with vitality. Their resilience far surpassed the strength they possessed before he had absorbed the Exotic Water.

"Next, I'll gather the heartwater of the Nine Nether Wind Ice into the Nine Apertures Spirit Nurturing Stone. The Exotic Water will also completely become my source water seed!"

At a certain moment, Hun Han's consciousness could finally re-condense. He mentally controlled the tiny ice crystals roaming his meridians, drawing them into the Nine Apertures Spirit Nurturing Stone.

"Success!"

Hun Han rejoiced inwardly. With this, he had truly stepped into the ranks of the powerful.

Looking inward at his Qi vortex, it now had an ice-crystal appearance. At first glance, it resembled a vortex-shaped ice crystal cloud. It was quite beautiful.

"Little fellow, I must bid you farewell!"

The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader gazed at Hun Han, a hint of regret in his eyes. Sadly, he wouldn't live to see the day Hun Han completely refined the Exotic Water.

Suddenly, the cyan-blue light barrier, which had been silent, produced an energy ripple. Immediately after, a powerful aura diffused from within the barrier.

"Huh? Why has his aura grown stronger? Could refining the Exotic Water also increase one's level?"

The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader looked at Hun Han in astonishment. Then, something even more surprising occurred. Centered around Hun Han, it began to snow heavily. The surrounding temperature plummeted drastically.

In fact, it wasn't just this underground cavern; snow was falling within a ten-mile radius outside as well. Heavy snow in the height of summer! Those unaware would think someone had died unjustly!

"An anomaly?"

The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader was bewildered. He had consulted ancient texts, and none of them recorded that absorbing the Exotic Water would cause such a phenomenon.

Faintly, a sound like a breaking chain could be heard emanating from Hun Han.

The anomaly lasted for a full ten minutes. After ten minutes, Hun Han opened his eyes. Within his pupils, his irises had turned cyan-blue, giving him a unique charm.

"Are you... Master?"

Hun Han's first reaction wasn't to reveal the Exotic Water, but to examine the old man sitting before him. The old man's face was covered in wrinkles, and his beard and hair were crystallized with ice. From his facial features, it was clear this was the Exploding Heaven Gang Leader. However, he was completely different now. His snow-white hair was neatly tied with a hairpin, and he wasn't wearing his beggar's clothes but a moon-white robe.

"Mm."

The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader nodded, looking at Hun Han with satisfaction. "I see you've become much stronger. Unleash your aura and let me feel your current cultivation!"

"Alright."

Hun Han nodded slightly, his body tensing. Then, an aura many times stronger than before surged out from his body.

"Hmm?" The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader's brow twitched slightly, and he asked in surprise, "Your aura has actually reached the level of an eight-star Dou Master."

"Eight-star Dou Master?" Hun Han was slightly stunned, a look of joy spreading across his face.

After refining the Exotic Water, his cultivation had improved even more terrifyingly than Xiao Yan's. In the story's timeline, Xiao Yan had refined the Green Lotus Core Heart Flame, and his cultivation had risen from a two-star Dou Master to a four-star Dou Master. Hun Han, however, had gone from a one-star Dou Master to the realm of an eight-star Dou Master.

For a gifted Fighter, advancing from a one-star Dou Master to an eight-star Dou Master would typically take at least three to five years. Yet, Hun Han had accomplished it in just three days.

"Not only that, Master, my physical body has also been strengthened!" Hun Han said joyfully.

"Physical body?" The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader was slightly taken aback, then instructed, "Show me a couple of punches!"

"Yes, Master!"

Hun Han glanced around, spotting a corner of a high platform still remaining. He walked over, clenched his fist, and smashed it towards the broken platform.

Overlord Fist

The cavern shook as if the earth itself was moving. The broken platform instantly turned to dust from Hun Han's single punch. The friction with the air even created dazzling sparks.

Now, when wielded by him, the growth-type Overlord Fist possessed a power comparable to an Earth-tier Low-grade Fighting Skill.

"Dou Wang!" The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader muttered inwardly, astonished.

"Dou Wang? Master, do you mean my physical strength has reached the combat power of a Dou Wang?" Hun Han asked excitedly. Of course, he didn't know that his Primordial Sacred Body had already broken through its first seal.

The Primordial Sacred Body was the strongest battle physique for humans. In the Primordial Era, the Sacred Body was a favored constitution by heaven and earth, easy to cultivate, and upon reaching great accomplishment, one could contend with Supremes. After the Primordial Era, the laws of heaven and earth changed, and the Sacred Body was no longer suitable for cultivation. After the Primordial Era, the Sacred Body was cursed by heaven and earth, making it difficult to cultivate. To cultivate, one had to break nine seals. Currently, Hun Han had only broken the first seal.

"Mm. Cough, cough, cough!" The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader nodded, then coughed rapidly a few times.

"Master, what's wrong?" Hun Han asked with concern.

"Alright, try out your Exotic Water!" The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader didn't answer Hun Han's question but urged him on with curiosity.

"Mm." An undisguised excitement surfaced on Hun Han's face. He flipped his right hand open, a thought flashed through his mind, and he called out softly, "Nine Nether Wind Ice, appear!"

As Hun Han's voice fell, a cyan-blue transparent ice crystal hovered in his palm. The surrounding temperature dropped sharply.

"In my lifetime, I've finally waited for someone to refine this beast! Cough... cough... cough!" The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader coughed rapidly. Ice crystals began to form on his body at a visible speed.

"Master!" Hun Han cried out urgently, quickly retracting the Nine Nether Wind Ice.

"Little fellow, don't be sad. Everyone, one day, will face death!" the Exploding Heaven Gang Leader comforted him.

"Death?"

Hun Han frowned deeply and said gravely, "Master, who are you? Are you dying?"

The Exploding Heaven Gang Leader nodded slightly, his expression appearing strained.

Hun Han questioned, "How is that possible? You're a Dou Huang!"