Chapter 127: Painful to the Point of Suicide
"More painful than washing the marrow of the spirit?" Li Yuan was stunned. Could it be that harsh? He instinctively felt some parts of his body aching at the thought. Washing the marrow of the spirit was already terrifying enough.
"Washing the marrow of the spirit is an external application, while this one is taken internally. Although both cleanse the marrow, there will be some differences," Dean Hai said calmly. "I've prepared everything. Whether you use it or not is up to you."
"Think it over and let me know," Dean Hai said quietly.
Li Yuan thought for only three seconds. "Dean, I'm willing," he said through gritted teeth. What's a few times more pain? He had endured washing the marrow of the spirit five times a month. What was there to fear?
"If you want to improve quickly, you have to make sacrifices," he thought.
"Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?" Dean Hai smiled. "I know your willpower is strong, comparable to a source warrior, but this kind of pain... it's not easy to endure."
"No need to think it over. I'll do it," Li Yuan said firmly.
"Very well. I'll give the items to Dean Li. You'll use them under his supervision," Dean Hai said. "Alright, you can go now."
"When your physical fitness reaches level 15, if you plan to venture into the star realm for tempering, come see me again."
"Yes," Li Yuan replied, feeling a stir in his heart. Before facing life-and-death trials, he should see Dean Hai again?
...
After Li Yuan left, descending the stairs to his residence, Li Yang and Dean Xu entered the martial arts room.
"Dean Hai," both Li Yang and Dean Xu greeted respectfully.
"I've prepared 'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows' for Li Yuan, a total of twenty units, enough for twenty months of training," Dean Hai said calmly. "Li Yang, it's in your hands. Supervise him during each training session to prevent any accidents."
"'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows'?" Both Li Yang and Dean Xu were stunned. They couldn't believe what they heard.
"Dean, is it really 'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows'?" Li Yang couldn't help but ask. "Can Li Yuan handle it?"
"'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows,' paired with High Source Spirit Springs, has remarkable effects," Dean Hai said calmly. "Even treasures like 'Stellar Marrow Crystals' can't compare in the short term. The only downside is the pain."
"But I tested him just now. His willpower is indeed strong. Consider it a tempering of his will," Dean Hai said nonchalantly.
"What? You applied for his training with me, and now you have objections?" Dean Hai's smile had a hint of mockery.
Li Yang and Dean Xu shivered inwardly and quickly shook their heads. To ordinary students, they were high-ranking and powerful vice deans. But in front of Dean Hai, they were like students.
"Additionally, temporarily upgrade Li Yuan's contract level to SS. Increase his monthly free resource quota from 2 million to 4 million Blue Star Coins," Dean Hai said. "If there's a gap in training resources, let him figure it out himself."
"Understood," Li Yang nodded.
"Go now."
"Inform me when Li Yuan reaches level 15 and plans to venture into the astral realm," Dean Hai closed his eyes.
Li Yang's eyes brightened. He understood. Dean Hai would likely provide some life-saving items at that time.
...
Li Yang and Dean Xu exited the office and walked downstairs.
"Does it have to be so harsh with 'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows'?" Dean Xu shook her head gently. "I've only seen it used once, and the source warrior nearly committed suicide."
"I heard it's used to torture captured aliens, forcing them to reveal information by driving them to the point of seeking death," Dean Xu sighed. "Dean Hai is still the same, very harsh."
"Without being harsh, how can one stand firm?" Li Yang smiled. "I was mentally prepared when I recommended Li Yuan to him. Sis, haven't you heard about the rumors of Dean Hai hunting down that black dragon?"
"What rumors?" Dean Xu was puzzled.
"Well, it's said that years ago, Dean Hai had a villa on a small island in the South Sea. It was destroyed by a tsunami caused by the black dragon. Although Dean Hai wasn't assigned to that mission, he volunteered and hunted the black dragon for days and nights, eventually killing it and flaying its skin," Li Yang recounted.
"So fierce?" Dean Xu was surprised. She had only been at the academy for a few years and hadn't heard much about Dean Hai.
"Of course. I've followed Dean Hai for nearly twenty years. What don't I know?" Li Yang said with emotion. "I'll keep a close eye on Li Yuan."
"If he really can't take it, we'll have him stop," Li Yang said.
"Yes," Dean Xu nodded.
Shortly after seeing Dean Xu off, Li Yang was about to find Li Yuan.
"Li Yang, nice story," a cold voice suddenly echoed in Li Yang's mind. "Come see me and repeat it."
"Dean Hai," Li Yang was startled.
...
In the following days, Li Yuan continued his training as usual, while Kunlun Martial University gradually returned to normalcy.
On the morning of August 8th, at 10 a.m., in the underground martial arts room of Li Yuan's villa, all lights were on. Li Yang and Li Yuan stood there. Li Yang held a small black bottle, pitch black and revealing nothing from its exterior.
"After such a long time, the effects of washing the marrow of the spirit should have worn off," Li Yang said solemnly. "Today, you'll try 'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows.'"
"Teacher, why are we in the underground martial arts room? And why did you ask me to move everything out?" Li Yuan couldn't help but ask.
"You'll understand soon enough," Li Yang replied.
Li Yuan nodded.
"Last chance to reconsider—are you sure you want to do this?" Li Yang asked.
"Teacher, let's try it," Li Yuan smiled. "If I can't bear it, I'll stop."
"Alright."
Li Yang handed the small black bottle to Li Yuan. "Each unit contains ten small tablets."
"Start with one. If you can bear it, take the remaining nine within ten minutes," Li Yang instructed.
Li Yuan took the bottle, opened it, and poured the contents into his hand. The black tablets, resembling calcium tablets, emitted a strange odor.
"'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows'? I thought it would be a liquid," Li Yuan thought.
He had mentally prepared himself over the past few days. Without further hesitation, he took one tablet and put it in his mouth. There was no immediate sensation. He swallowed it with a sip of water that Li Yang handed him.
For the first three seconds, Li Yuan felt nothing. Gradually, as a fourth-stage high-level expert, he could sense a strange force spreading from his chest and abdomen to every part of his body.
It was tingly.
Itchy.
Painful.
"Is that it?" With his strong willpower, Li Yuan easily endured and, without further thought, swallowed the remaining nine tablets.
Li Yang opened his mouth slightly but did not stop him.
Quickly.
"Hmm?" Li Yuan noticed something was wrong. The strange force seemed endless, growing stronger and penetrating every part of his body.
"This pain." Li Yuan clenched his fists, his body trembling slightly. It felt like red fire ants biting his flesh. It felt like blades scraping his bones repeatedly. And then... a dull ache... far more intense than the pain of washing the marrow of the spirit.
Moreover, the pain intensified over time.
His face changed completely.
"Ah!" Li Yuan finally couldn't take it. He curled up on the ground, disregarding Li Yang's presence.
Pain!
Deep, bone-penetrating pain! Far worse than five times the pain of washing the marrow of the spirit.
Li Yuan felt as if he could hear his marrow being extracted, his muscles twitching.
His entire body turned red, as if on fire, sweat seeping out like blood.
"Ah!" Li Yuan's face twisted in agony. He desperately wanted to endure it but couldn't. The pain was too intense.
This was the full force of 'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows'!
It was washing away all 'impurities' in his body, all hindrances to source power absorption.
The pain seemed to penetrate his soul.
Pain!
"Pain!" Li Yuan lay on the ground, howling, completely losing control, rolling madly, veins bulging on his neck.
Suddenly, Li Yuan swung his arm, aiming to hit his own head.
The pain was too unbearable! In that moment, Li Yuan just wanted to end it all.
In his consciousness, only pain remained.
At that moment, he only wanted to end this suffering.
Just as he was about to strike.
"Whoosh!" A pair of hands flashed out, restraining Li Yuan's arms.
Stopping his action.
"Ah!" Li Yuan struggled wildly, but Li Yang's strength easily subdued him.
However, seeing Li Yuan's condition, Li Yang's heart ached.
Li Yuan's strong willpower had been pushed to the point of wanting to commit suicide.
It was unimaginable how painful 'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows' was.
...
After half an hour, the effects of 'The Withering of a Hundred Marrows' gradually subsided. Li Yuan's screams slowly eased, and a thin layer of impurities surfaced on his skin.
But Li Yuan's spirit seemed on the verge of collapse. He lost consciousness entirely,
"No wonder almost no one uses this thing for training." Li Yang finally released Li Yuan's hands and sighed inwardly. "Dean Hai is indeed ruthless, having me supervise—did he anticipate that Li Yuan might try to commit suicide?"