He had slept continuously until around two in the afternoon, when Li Yuan's consciousness gradually started to wake.
Eyelashes fluttering, his eyes opened slightly.
"Huff!" Li Yuan's consciousness quickly became clear, "Did I just endure the unbearable pain of the Hundred Marrow Spirit Withering and eventually lost consciousness?"
The recent experience surged into his mind.
That terrifying pain that seemed to penetrate deep into the marrow and soul was so intense that merely recalling it made Li Yuan's frown unconsciously.
It was truly too horrifying.
The pain of the five-time Marrow Cleansing overlaid on one another was child's play compared to it.
At the moment, the pain had completely passed, but subconsciously, Li Yuan was unwilling to remember it.
"Thump~" Li Yuan stretched out his hand, trying to get up, only to feel his whole body as if being pricked by needles, aching all over.
Nevertheless, this level of pain merely made him frown as he sat up without being affected.
Only then did Li Yuan notice a thin layer of gray-black dirt covering the surface of his skin.
A gentle wipe with his hand, and it was rubbed away like a snake shedding its skin, revealing the dirt-free, jade-like smooth skin of Li Yuan beneath.
Brimming with vitality.
"Awake?" A cheery voice sounded from not too far away, as Li Yang walked over.
"Teacher, you saw my disgrace," Li Yuan said as he slowly stood up.
He had already recalled the scene where he had nearly succumbed to thoughts of suicide because he couldn't bear the pain.
This showed that his willpower was still not strong enough.
"What's there to laugh about? You think it's shameful to feel pain so intense you want to kill yourself?" Li Yang chuckled, "You did quite well. At seventeen, to be able to endure ten minutes is frightening enough. I doubt there's a second one like you in the entire school."
"Though the Hundred Marrow Spirit Withering is a Heavenly Material Treasure and a marvelous Marrow Cleansing rarity, highly valuable... in reality, it's more often used as a means of torture."
Li Yang laughed, "Aimed at high-value captives, a single pill can cause unbearable pain to an ordinary Prime Warrior, driving them to desire death."
"After one pill, they would usually spill everything."
"You took a whole ten pills! That's an entire unit's worth. In terms of willpower, the majority of high-rank Prime Warriors wouldn't be stronger than you," Li Yang remarked with a sigh.
There were words Li Yang didn't say; even if it were him, he couldn't confidently claim he would perform better than Li Yuan.
Li Yuan listened silently, his face showing no joy.
He was more reflective, understanding that his inability to withstand the pain signaled his weakness, rather than it being strictly due to the overwhelming agony.
If he was weak, he needed more training.
"Don't be too hard on yourself," Li Yang said as he looked at Li Yuan, unable to refrain, "Willpower and spiritual power complement each other; as your spiritual power grows stronger..."
"For example, if you possessed a 29th-level spiritual power, with your willpower, you should be able to endure this kind of pain."
"If you had spiritual power comparable to a Flying Heaven Warrior, you could easily suppress such pain."
Li Yuan nodded slightly.
Spiritual power and willpower are like physical quality and martial arts skills.
Strong willpower can bring out the fullest extent of one's spiritual power.
But if spiritual power is too weak, even the strongest willpower cannot compensate for it.
"Moreover, no one is born with strong willpower," Li Yang shook his head, "Just like a person's comprehension. While there are innate factors, the numerous experiences and enlightenments one encounters can reshape one's comprehension, even leading to transformation—that's where the saying 'a late bloomer' comes from."
"The same goes for willpower."
"Most people, after going through various trials, will grow increasingly strong in will... while a few, after experiencing certain life upheavals and major setbacks, might find their will weakened..." Li Yang looked at Li Yuan, "You're so young, yet your will is so strong."
"In the future, it will undoubtedly grow stronger, you must believe in yourself," Li Yang encouraged.
He could see that Li Yuan had always been confident about his willpower.
And he didn't want the other to start doubting himself because of this.
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher," Li Yuan said respectfully.
"Do we still need the Hundred Marrow Spirit Withering pills?" Li Yang asked tentatively, "Or how about using them when your spiritual power is stronger?"
"Teacher," Li Yuan smiled faintly, a determined look in his eyes, "I want to rise up from where I fell. I aim to try again in one month's time."
To say that Li Yuan wasn't scared at all would naturally be untrue.
Who would willingly subject themselves to such hellish torment?
But Li Yuan understood better.
To temper one's will, the most important thing is to face one's weaknesses, pain, and mental shadows head-on.
If he gave up trying because of the pain from the Hundred Marrow Spirit Withering,
then as time passed, that issue could become a psychological weak spot and might even worsen into a heart demon.
It was something he had to overcome.
"Are you sure?" Li Yang asked again.
"Certain," Li Yuan affirmed assertively, "Next time, I will endeavor to avoid harboring any suicidal thoughts."
"Alright," Li Yang nodded, no longer dissuading him.
He recognized that for someone with such a formidable will at a young age like Li Yuan, the heart tends to be extremely resolute.
Once they have set their minds on something, it is not easily swayed.
"I have made a request to Dean Hai, and he has agreed," Li Yang grinned, "from now on, your monthly free resource quota will increase from 2 million to 4 million."
"What specific resources you apply for is up to you decide."
"And if it's still not enough, you'll have to find a way yourself," Li Yang added.
"Got it," Li Yuan nodded.
In the school, or rather, the national system, there is a cap on the 'resource quota' for students of different levels.
Ordinary students at Kunlun Martial University mainly rely on practicing High-Rank Cultivation Methods to enhance their physical quality, and their resource quota is mostly spent on Spirit Nourishing Potions and a few First-Rank blood essence potions, which is enough for them.
But what about Li Yuan? If he wanted to maintain a rapid advancement, a monthly resource of 4 million Blue Star Coins would still be far from enough.