"Did it really break through?"

"Such a strong physique!"

"Junior Brother, you're way too fast!"

"..."

Several senior brothers and sisters gathered around Han, pinching and poking him while expressing their amazement.

To achieve such a feat in seven days—this was beyond their expectations.

"Junior Brother didn’t just break through his cultivation; his body and internal energy are now comparable to a perfected Flesh Realm practitioner," Zhang Yuantao marveled.

"In other words, after only seven days, Junior Brother already has the strength of a perfected Flesh Realm practitioner?"

Yang Xing from the Tenglong Martial Arts Hall had spent four years to reach the same level.

Even in Heiyun Town, that was considered exceptional talent.

Comparing seven days to four years left Zhang Yuantao and the others utterly stunned.

"At this rate, Junior Brother's strength will probably catch up to ours very soon," He Feng chuckled.

"As senior brothers, we really have to step up our game."

"Even if we're eating spiritual plants every day, feasting on high-level monster meat, and training with secret techniques, there's no way we could break through in just seven days," Bai Ruoyue said, deeply shaken.

Bai Ruoyue was the most affected and clearly confused.

For Bai Ruoyue’s confusion, Han could only testify that it was indeed true.

He ate spiritual plants almost daily, but before he got the Nine Aperture Golden Dan, there was still some distance before he could break through.

Spiritual plants alone could not get him through in seven days.

But Han couldn't explain this to Bai Ruoyue, so he shrugged it off.

"Maybe it’s just my innate talent."

Bai Ruoyue shot him a look. "Are you implying that my talent is lacking?"

"I’m not saying that at all, Senior Sister. I was just making a casual remark," Han grinned, shaking his head.

Bai Ruoyue raised a fist. "You asking for a fight?"

Everyone burst into laughter, the atmosphere light and joyful.

It was certainly a good thing when their younger brother showed such remarkable talent. The bond between senior and junior brothers was strong, especially when they were still alive and kicking.

After finishing today’s martial arts training, Han set off with his sixth senior sister, Shen Yu, leaving Heiyun Town behind and heading toward the Yunjiang River.

"Junior Brother, you can really move freely underwater?" Shen Yu asked curiously.

"Of course. You'll see in a bit."

Han secretly equipped the Water Avoidance Gem fragment.

The Yunjiang River was vast, and its underwater resources were just as rich as the mountains, though the environment made them difficult to exploit.

But Han was different. With the Water Avoidance Gem fragment, he could walk on the riverbed as if on solid ground.

This rarely explored area beneath the river—unreachable by other martial artists—was an ideal spot for Han to explore.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Such an extraordinary advantage, Han certainly wouldn’t waste it. He planned to make a daily visit to the Yunjiang River, as long as it didn’t interfere with his training.

Shen Yu was intrigued and decided to follow Han, also to keep an eye on him.

What if he got robbed again…

It was a bit embarrassing, but Shen Yu was the youngest among their group of martial siblings—only sixteen years old. Yet, Han still needed this sixteen-year-old senior sister to look after him.

"Sixth Senior Sister, stay here and don’t move. I’ll be right back."

With that, Han jumped into the river with a splash, then surfaced to show Shen Yu that his clothes were completely dry.

"Dry as a bone!" Shen Yu stood frozen in astonishment.

However, when Han didn’t surface for a while, she began to worry.

She’d heard that those who could swim well were usually the ones who drowned. Was Junior Brother really that skilled? Would there be a problem?

Meanwhile, Han had already descended to a great depth, carefully scanning his surroundings to spot any potential spiritual plants.

At the same time, he remained vigilant, prepared for any aquatic beasts that might appear.

It was precisely the aquatic beasts that lived in the depths of Yunjiang that had prompted Han to venture further into the river after his breakthrough.

At his current level, venturing into the river was still risky. The last time he faced a Black Xuan Snake, it was only comparable to a beginner in the Flesh Realm.

His spiritual sense spread out, allowing him to see every detail within a hundred-meter radius, helping him to locate potential resources.

Even with the Water Avoidance Gem, Han's spiritual power was still somewhat suppressed in this environment.

The dark riverbed felt like a haunted pit, as if countless monsters were lying in wait.

Suddenly, Han’s spiritual sense detected an anomaly, a dense surge of elemental energy.

His focus sharpened, and he swam in that direction.

A coral-like plant glowing faintly appeared in front of him, but guarding it was a strange fish nearly a meter long, its mouth full of sharp teeth.

The fish was immediately alerted to Han’s presence and lunged at him without hesitation, trying to bite him.

Han’s spiritual sense made contact with the creature, and he could feel the energy and strength within its flesh.

This fish’s strength… was at the peak of the Flesh Realm!

Facing such a creature underwater, even someone at the Meridian Realm would likely be killed.

But with the Water Avoidance Gem fragment, Han now had the qualifications to fight this fish.

Fully armed, Han was ready. The fish was already charging at him, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement in his eyes.

A perfect test for his newfound strength!

He swam forward with agility, not dodging the fish’s charge but meeting it head-on. The two collided, sending a burst of water around them.

Han gripped the fish’s fin, throwing punch after punch at it. The fish went wild, thrashing and attacking furiously, but Han never let go.

Every punch felt exhilarating, as though a bull demon was awakening within him.

His blood boiled, and the Nine Aperture Golden Dan within his heart increased its output, making Han even more unstoppable.

He absorbed the medicinal power of the Dan, refining it into his flesh and internal energy, growing stronger with every hit.

Finally, the fish’s fin was torn off, and it began to bubble, turning to flee. Han pursued relentlessly, now wielding his Eagle Claw Spear. With an even stronger attack, the fish was struck dead before it could escape.

His body was ablaze with heat, his blood boiling. The medicinal power from the Golden Dan flowed through him, mending his wounds and enhancing his physical strength in the process.

Han discovered another use for the Nine Aperture Golden Dan—it not only aided his cultivation but also made him stronger in battle.

Dragging the fish’s body and plucking the glowing coral plant, Han swam back to the surface.

"Whoosh!"

Han emerged, and Shen Yu rushed over immediately. "Junior Brother, are you alright?"

Han placed the fish and the coral plant on the shore. "Sixth Senior Sister, I plan to dive again. You can hold onto these for me."

Without waiting for a reply, Han dived back into the water, leaving Shen Yu standing stunned on the shore.

Why does it feel like Junior Brother is at home in the water?

This time, Han didn’t find any spiritual plants, but halfway through, he encountered another aquatic beast. The beast had no intelligence and charged at him head-on.

Han had no choice but to deal with it, but the Water Avoidance Gem fragment was running out of energy. He had to leave, though not in time to avoid some minor injury.

He was now soaked.

On the shore, Shen Yu helped wring the water from his clothes, amazed.

"Broad daylight, and what exactly are you two doing?!"

A furious voice rang out.

Han froze. Could it be another robbery?

He turned around to see a burly man running toward Shen Yu, grabbing her hand and attempting to pull her away.

Han’s face darkened.

Is he trying to abduct her?!

The audacity!

Without hesitation, Han grabbed Shen Yu’s other hand and kicked the man away.

"Bro, you’re back!"

???

Looking at Shen Yu’s joyful expression, then at the burly man, and finally at his own hand holding Shen Yu’s, Han’s foot froze in midair.

Uh-oh, I’ve just become an accomplice in a kidnapping!