"Even more agonizing than the Marrow Cleansing?" Li Yuan was stunned for a moment. That intense?
Some parts of Li Yuan's body were already aching faintly, and just the Marrow Cleansing had been terrifying enough.
"Marrow Cleansing is an external application, but this is taken internally. Although both are a form of cleansing, there will be slight differences," Dean Hai said indifferently. "I have prepared everything. Whether you use it or not is up to you."
"Think it over and let me know," Dean Hai said calmly.
He pondered for just three seconds.
"Dean, I am willing," Li Yuan gritted his teeth. It was just several times more painful, right?
He had already endured the Marrow Cleansing five times a month.
What was there to fear?
To enhance his strength faster, what gain comes without pain?
"Won't you consider it more carefully?"
Dean Hai smiled, "I know you have strong willpower, worthy of a Prime Warrior, but this kind of pain… is not that easy to withstand."
"I've made my decision; I'll do it," Li Yuan asserted through gritted teeth.
"Fine, the items will be delivered to President Li. You will administer it under his guidance each time," Dean Hai said indifferently. "Now, you can go."
"When your Physical Quality reaches Level 15, should you plan to seek trial by ordeal in the Star Realm, come to see me again."
"Yes," Li Yuan felt a surge of emotion.
To meet with Dean Hai before venturing into life-and-death trials?
After Li Yuan left and returned to his residence, Li Yang and Dean Xu entered the Martial Arts Room.
"Dean Hai," Li Yang and Dean Xu both greeted respectfully.
"I have prepared a total of twenty units of Hundred Marrow Spirit Desiccant for Li Yuan, enough for twenty months of cultivation," Dean Hai spoke indifferently. "Li Yang, it's in your hands. Supervise each session to prevent accidents."
"Hundred Marrow Spirit Desiccant?" Li Yang and Dean Xu were both astonished.
They doubted their own hearing.
This was for Li Yuan's use?
"Dean, is it really Hundred Marrow Spirit Desiccant?" Li Yang couldn't help but ask. "Can Li Yuan endure it?"
"Hundred Marrow Spirit Desiccant, when paired with High Origin Spirit Spring, has an incredibly astonishing effect," Dean Hai explained indifferently. "Even a treasure like the Stellar Earth Marrow Crystal can't match its short-term effects."
"The only downside is that it's somewhat painful."
"But I just tested it, and the kid does have impressive willpower; consider it a test of his resolve," Dean Hai said breezily.
"What, you were the ones who asked me to train him, and now you have reservations?" Dean Hai's expression was teasing.
Li Yang and Dean Xu felt a shiver in their hearts, and they quickly shook their heads.
To ordinary students, they were venerable vice deans with significant authority and mighty strength.
But in front of Dean Hai, they were like students.
"Additionally, upgrade Li Yuan's contract level to SS for now," Dean Hai continued indifferently. "Increase his free resource quota from 2 million to 4 million Blue Star Coins a month."
"If there is still a shortfall in cultivation resources, let him figure it out on his own."
"Yes," Li Yang nodded.
"Now, leave," Dean Hai instructed.
"Let me know before Li Yuan, at Level 15, goes to the Star Realm for life-and-death trials," Dean Hai closed his eyes.
Li Yang's eyes shone with understanding, realizing immediately.
Dean Hai evidently intended to give Li Yuan some life-saving items at that time.
Li Yang and Dean Xu left the office and descended the stairs.
"Is it necessary to be so harsh with the Hundred Marrow Spirit Desiccant?"
Dean Xu shook his head gently, "I've only seen it once, and that Prime Warrior almost resorted to suicide."
"I heard before that to torture some captured members of the Alien Race, Hundred Marrow Spirit Desiccant was used, driving them to seek death and spill any intelligence," Dean Xu said with a sigh. "Dean Hai is still as ruthless as before, perhaps too much."
"Without being ruthless, how can one establish oneself?"
"I was mentally prepared when I recommended Li Yuan to him," President Li said with a smile. "Sister, haven't you heard the rumors about Dean Hai chasing down that black dragon?"
"What rumors?" Dean Xu asked, puzzled.
"Back then, it was Dean Hai on the South Sea island, a carefully built villa was destroyed by a tsunami caused by the black dragon. It wasn't an assignment for Dean Hai originally; he applied for it himself... He chased it for days and nights, made his way into the deep sea, and slaughtered that black dragon, skinning and deboning it," President Li finished gossiping in one breath.
"That ruthless?" Dean Xu was somewhat shocked, as she had only been at the university for a few years.
She hadn't interacted much with Dean Hai.
She had not heard about it before.
"Of course, I've been following Dean Hai for nearly twenty years now, what don't I know?" Li Yang said with emotion. "I will keep a close eye on Li Yuan."
"If it becomes too much for him, we'll pause it," Li Yang added.
"Sure," Dean Xu nodded.
Having seen off Dean Xu, Li Yang was about to look for Li Yuan.
"Li Yang, you tell a good story," a detached voice suddenly echoed in Li Yang's mind. "Come here a moment, and repeat it to me."
"Dean Hai," Li Yang was instantly startled.
In the following days, Li Yuan continued his orderly cultivation.
Kunlun Martial University gradually returned to calm.
On August 8th, at ten in the morning.
Inside Li Yuan's villa, in the underground Martial Arts Room, all the lights were turned on.
Li Yang and Li Yuan stood there.
In Li Yang's hand, there was a small black bottle, its body completely black, revealing nothing of its contents from the outside.
"So much time has passed."
"The effects of your Marrow Cleansing medicine should be almost gone by now." Li Yang said seriously, "Today, let's have you try the Hundred Marrows Spiritual Elixir."
"Teacher, why do it in the underground Martial Arts Room?" Li Yuan couldn't help asking, "And have me move all my belongings out?"
"You'll understand in a bit," Li Yang said.
"I'll ask you one last time, are you sure you want to use it?" Li Yang asked.
"Teacher, let's give it a try," Li Yuan laughed, "If I can't endure it, I'll naturally give up later."
Li Yang stopped persuading and handed the black bottle to Li Yuan, "There are ten tiny pills in a unit."
"You can start by taking one to try," Li Yang suggested.
"If you can withstand it, consume the remaining nine within ten minutes," Li Yang instructed.
Li Yuan accepted it and opened the bottle, pouring it into his hand.
Black, resembling calcium tablets, they emitted a strange scent.
"Hundred Marrows Spiritual Elixir? I thought it was liquid," Li Yuan thought to himself.
Over these days, Li Yuan had already prepared himself mentally and didn't hesitate. He took one and put it directly into his mouth.
No particular sensation.
He drank some water handed to him by Li Yang, and finally swallowed it down.
For the first three seconds, Li Yuan felt nothing unusual.
As a Fourth Level high-rank expert, Li Yuan introspected his own body and could feel streams of strange power rapidly spreading from his chest and abdomen to every part of his body.
A tingling sensation.
It was somewhat itchy!
It was somewhat painful!
"Is this it?" Li Yuan's willpower was remarkably strong, and he easily withstood it, not giving it another thought and directly swallowing the remaining nine black pills.
Li Yang opened his mouth slightly but didn't dissuade him.
"Hmm?" Li Yuan gradually noticed something was amiss. The streams of strange power seemed endless, growing stronger and penetrating every part of his body.
"Such agony," Li Yuan clenched his fists tight, his whole body trembling slightly.
As if fire ants were gnawing at the flesh over his wounds.
As if blades were repeatedly scraping across his bones.
And then... a subtle sadness... much more intense than the pain of Marrow Cleansing.
As time passed, the pain Li Yuan endured escalated continuously.
His complexion completely changed.
"Ah!" Li Yuan finally began to lose his ability to cope, no longer caring about Li Yang's presence, he suddenly curled up on the ground.
Deep into the marrow pain!! Much more severe than the agony of five Marrow Cleansing sessions.
Li Yuan, as if he could hear the sound of marrow being extracted, his muscles twitching.
His entire body turned red as if on fire, sweat seeping out like plasma.
"Ahh!" Li Yuan's face was utterly contorted, he longed to endure.
But it was simply too painful.
The power contained in the Hundred Marrows Spiritual Elixir had completely erupted!!
It was thoroughly purging 'impurities' from the body, all hindrances to the absorption of Origin Power being cleansed.
This suffering seemed to seep into Li Yuan's soul.
"It hurts!" Li Yuan lay on the ground, wailing, his demeanour utterly collapsed, rolling madly about with veins on his neck fully exposed.
Li Yuan swung his arm, striking towards his own head.
Such unbearable agony! In that instant, Li Yuan wished only for death.
In his consciousness, there was only pain.
At this moment, he just wanted to end this suffering completely.
"Whoosh!" A pair of hands reached out like lightning, restraining Li Yuan's hands.
Preventing his action.
"Aaaah!" Li Yuan struggled fiercely, but to what avail against Li Yang's strength? He effortlessly suppressed Li Yuan.
Seeing Li Yuan's state, Li Yang's heart also ached.
Even with Li Yuan's formidable will, he was tormented to the point of wanting to take his own life.
One could imagine just how excruciating the pain from the Hundred Marrows Spiritual Elixir was.
For a full half-hour.
The effects of the Hundred Marrows Spiritual Elixir gradually faded, and Li Yuan's cries slowly subsided, with a thin layer of impurities emerging on the surface of his body.
But Li Yuan's spirit seemed nearly broken, as he lost consciousness completely.
Unclear whether he had fainted or fallen asleep.
"No wonder almost no one uses this stuff for cultivation," Li Yang finally released Li Yuan's hands and muttered to himself, "Dean Hai is really ruthless, having me supervise. Could it be that he envisioned Li Yuan might contemplate suicide?"