In the end, the savings in Han Li's hand could barely buy 2 Flame Burst Fruits and 2 Air Soft Berries even with discounts that a clan member receives. But with those in hand and Liyue on his back, he returned home. Without anyone waking her up and due to yesterday's tiredness, Yue Li was deep in her sleep. Han Li didn't wake her up, Leaving Liyue home, asking her to prepare breakfast, and taking something from his room, he left — the resources in his hands.

Liyue was curious but she didn't ask where he was headed. The snow outside was growing heavier and she was craving for something hot. She also wanted to tell her mom how she was now an Inner Circle Citizen of Starlight Zone.

Han Li might not have seen it as something grand but for her, it was grand. Something that herself a month ago couldn't even think of. Even now, she was reeling inside and even the disgusting taste of the Earth Berry couldn't make her think otherwise.

Although the pain and discomfort in all her movements due to the improved endurance did make her groan slightly. It was just hard to move, not really too painful or completely unbearable.

***

Heading deep into the forest surrounding the Southern Lust City, Han Li moved forward with a clear sense of direction. After about fifteen minutes of walking through the thick woods, he reached a small pond; its surface frosted over by the climate.

He took off his clothes and let out a satisfied sigh as he dipped his leg into the water. The ice gave way with a cracking sound as his leg touched it, and the intense cold made his body shiver involuntarily. Not minding that, he took a small, glass-like berry from his clothes and popped it into his mouth. It tasted like metal and was extremely disgusting, but he didn't mind that either.

As the flavor settled in and the berry went down his throat, he took another orange-colored fruit and bite by bite, devoured it too. It tasted like charcoal.

These were the Air Soft Berry and Fire Burst Fruit.

Both were Mortal level resources that can help a lifeform reach its top potential in a specific aspect of their bodies. Eating a single Air Soft Berry in their lifetime would make a human already stand out amongst his ordinary peers.

Han Li could feel his body growing lighter, and more agile. His reflexes became as sharp as a housefly. With his experience, he could tell his body had become as nimble as an ordinary cheetah. Just after that, he felt his body bursting with strength.

It was as if his blood was bursting after the Fire-type fruit got into his body. Each cell, each bone felt full and explosive with might, had gorillas fought him, he would have probably grounded them in battle.

A deep sigh escaped his mouth and transformed into snowy mist. All his body started violently spasming and black filth poured out of his pores in an excruciatingly painful manner. He didn't even groan and his eyes only grew sharper.

Only a minute or so did the torture last and smelling the disgusting scent oozing out of him, he jumped into the pond, to the cold harsh water. His dirty body was cleaned thoroughly and he washed himself in all areas for about an hour straight.

Floating above the pond, he then looked around at the wilderness. "Strength of an Elephant, agility of a housefly, flexibility of a cat, and the endurance of a bull," he muttered softly.

Those were the actual representations given by the sects at the top of this continent to confirm whether someone had a perfect mortal physique — he now fulfilled all the conditions. All the inherent potential of the three magical resources had now completely melded into his body and modified it for the better.

He was now among the Elites of the Awakened Stage even if he didn't use any of his future memories. If he fought in his current condition even without a weapon, he would be extremely dangerous — a beast among men.

"But still just a bigger ant in an Evolved's gaze."

He could only die willingly if an Evolved wanted to kill him. Of course, if he used all of his means, he might be able to endure one or two direct blows but that was about it.

As the coldness kept his overheating body calm, he swam to the edge of the pond and got out. He could now attempt Evolution any time he wanted and if someone in the world had a chance to succeed, that was him. But he had no plans to do that for now though, after all, his talent was still barely 'High' and not Sacred yet.

Smiling, he sat to a side and took something out of his robes that were put to the side again.

It was a mirror. Covered with a golden frame of archaic design. It reflected his slightly changed appearance and body that would make any normal girl swoon, but he didn't care for that, he looked at the mirror and with a deep breath, let his spark burn on it.

This was the Heart Reflecting Mirror — a miraculous object that was rarely ever seen. It was said that only a hundred thousand of them existed in the continent at any given time and once used, it will vanish. Only to reappear somewhere a century later.

Before having a breakthrough, it was always better to have a clear heart and this mirror was said to be one of the best things that helped people do it.

It had been a real stroke of good fortune for him to find it in the city in some random girl's hand. The mirror suddenly started cracking as a profound sensation of being gazed at spread through him. It was as if a pair of eyes roamed through his body. His heart clenched at the foreign sensation but he remained seated with a focused, red gaze.

With a resounding crack, the whole mirror cracked and a broken image of himself briefly reflected in his eyes before the mirror vanished from his grasp like smoke.

"You have disappointed me, Han Li." said a voice from behind him, filled with a profound loathing. Making Han Li's scalp tingle.