After returning to Stone Desert City, Xiao Tian did not rest. He immediately went to the dilapidated shop where Hai Bodong was staying.
The old man was sitting cross-legged in the basement, his face pale and his aura fluctuating unstably. The partial loosening of the Serpent's Seal Curse had only brought him temporary relief, not true freedom.
"Elder Hai," Xiao Tian called out as he descended the stairs, the Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin following quietly behind him.
Hai Bodong opened his eyes, a bitter smile on his face. "You're back so soon? Did you find what you needed?"
Xiao Tian did not answer directly. Instead, he took out a jade bottle from his storage ring and handed it over.
"Inside is the Breaking Barrier Pill — a sixth-grade medicinal pill. I refined it using the Strange Flame. Take it."
Hai Bodong's hands trembled as he accepted the bottle. He opened the lid and saw the pale purple pill inside, its medicinal fragrance immediately filling the basement. His eyes widened with undisguised excitement and longing.
Without hesitation, he swallowed the pill.
The moment the pill entered his stomach, a violent surge of energy erupted within his body. The long-suppressed Serpent's Seal Curse began to shake violently. Cracks appeared on the invisible seal that had bound him for decades.
Hai Bodong's aura fluctuated wildly. Dou Qi surged like a stormy sea, and the temperature in the basement dropped sharply as ice crystals formed on the walls.
The old man's face twisted in pain, but his eyes burned with hope.
"Break for me!"
He roared inwardly, pouring every ounce of his remaining strength into resisting the seal.
Crack… Crack…
Invisible chains shattered one after another. The oppressive aura that had weighed on Hai Bodong for over twenty years finally collapsed completely.
Boom!
A powerful wave of Dou Qi exploded outward. The entire basement trembled. Hai Bodong's aura soared rapidly, breaking through the Dou Spirit realm and climbing straight into the Dou Huang realm.
One-star… two-star… three-star… four-star… five-star Dou Huang!
The seal was completely broken.
Hai Bodong stood up slowly. His white hair fluttered without wind, and his eyes shone with a sharp, youthful light that had been missing for decades. The oppressive pressure of a five-star Dou Huang filled the basement, making the air feel heavy.
"I… I have returned to the Dou Emperor realm…" Hai Bodong murmured, his voice trembling with emotion. He clenched his fists, feeling the long-lost power surging through his meridians. Tears actually welled up in the corners of his eyes.
Xiao Tian watched quietly, a faint smile on his face.
"Congratulations, Elder Hai. The seal is finally gone."
Hai Bodong took a deep breath to calm himself, then looked at Xiao Tian with a complex expression — gratitude, admiration, and a trace of awe.
"You really did it… I thought it would take years, perhaps even decades. Yet you managed to refine such a pill in such a short time."
He cupped his hands deeply toward Xiao Tian.
"From today onward, I, Hai Bodong, will honor my promise. I will join your faction — Heaven Suppressing Hall."
Xiao Tian nodded, accepting the old man's pledge without arrogance.
"Welcome, Elder Hai. From now on, we are on the same side."
The Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin both smiled gently. They could feel the genuine relief and joy radiating from the old Dou Huang.
Hai Bodong laughed heartily, the sound echoing through the basement.
"I never imagined that after more than twenty years of living like a trapped beast, I would regain my freedom thanks to a young man like you. Good! Very good! Since I have joined Heaven Suppressing Hall, I will not hold back. Whatever you need me to do, just say the word."
Xiao Tian smiled. "For now, there is no rush. Rest and stabilize your realm. Once you have fully recovered, we will set off together. The Chu Yun Empire is our next destination, and having a five-star Dou Huang like you will make many things much easier."
Hai Bodong nodded solemnly. "I understand. I will not disappoint you, Hall Master."
He paused for a moment, then added with a wry smile, "I never thought I would one day call a youngster 'Hall Master.' The world truly is unpredictable."
Xiao Tian laughed lightly. "The world changes, and so do people. What matters is that we walk the same path now."
With the seal completely broken and Hai Bodong successfully joining Heaven Suppressing Hall, a new chapter quietly began for the group.
The old Ice Emperor, once trapped and powerless, had regained his former glory and found a new purpose.
And Xiao Tian's small but growing faction had just gained a powerful guardian.
"It's time for us to begin our journey as well."Before we depart, I'll take you to a place. Relax your minds and don't resist."Xiao Tian waved his hand.