Li Jian’s blurred vision slightly focused.
’This... is a big harvest.’
But that thought only lasted for a brief moment before another wave of violent medicinal energy crashed through his meridians, nearly causing him to black out.
"Ughh!!!"
Li Jian’s body trembled uncontrollably.
Blood continued to seep from the corner of his lips as the scorching energy rampaged inside him without restraint.
His vision flickered, and for a moment, he genuinely felt as if he might die at any second.
His breathing became ragged and weak.
The pain was so intense that even remaining conscious was becoming difficult.
Zheng Qingyao, however, only observed him for a short while longer before withdrawing her spiritual sense with a satisfied expression.
She casually turned around and walked back to the table, picking up her jade slip as if nothing major had happened.
"The reaction is more intense than anticipated," she said indifferently while recording her observations.
"But the data is useful. As long as he doesn’t die immediately, the experiment can be considered a success."
Li Jian’s fingers dug into the floor hard enough that his knuckles turned white.
’This bitch...!’
Anger surged through his heart even as his body felt like it was being burned from the inside.
’She really doesn’t care whether I live or die at all...!’
’No wonder the Favor Debt points increased so much this time...’
’Because I really am on the verge of dying!’
Another sharp wave of pain tore through his meridians, forcing a muffled groan from his throat.
His vision darkened at the edges, and a strong sense of crisis rose in his heart.
’If this continues... I might actually not make it.’
The rampaging medicinal energy showed no sign of calming down.
Instead, it continued to tear through his meridians with increasing violence.
Li Jian’s face had already turned ashen, and more blood spilled from his lips as his body swayed unsteadily.
Zheng Qingyao continued writing on her jade slip with a calm expression, completely focused on recording the experimental data.
She only occasionally glanced over at him, as if checking whether her test subject was still breathing.
"Still conscious? Not bad," she commented lightly. "Your body’s tolerance is better than the previous ones."
Li Jian wanted nothing more than to curse her to death in that moment, but he could barely even maintain his consciousness, let alone speak properly.
Through the haze of pain, he forced himself to call out to the system in his mind.
’System... if I request a recovery pill now... can I still do it?’
[Affirmative.]
[Current Favor Debt from Zheng Qingya: 310]
[Estimated cost for a high-quality recovery pill capable of neutralizing the current medicinal backlash: 70 – 90 points.]
Li Jian’s dim eyes flickered with a last bit of clarity.
’Do it..! Request it now!’
He gritted his teeth and focused his will.
’Zheng Qingyao... give me a recovery pill that can fully suppress this medicinal backlash and treat my injuries!’
The system responded almost instantly.
[Request confirmed.]
[Favor Debt from Zheng Qingya: 310 → 220]
[Request has been successfully issued.]
Almost at the same time, Zheng Qingyao, who had been calmly recording data suddenly paused.
A faint look of realization appeared on her beautiful face, as if she had just remembered something perfectly reasonable.
She put down the jade slip, walked over to a nearby shelf, and took out a higher-grade jade bottle.
Without any change in expression, she turned and tossed it toward the heavily injured Li Jian.
"Take this," she said coldly. "The reaction is stronger than expected. It would be troublesome if you died here and contaminated the alchemy room."
Li Jian’s trembling hand barely managed to catch the bottle.
Even in his half-conscious state, a dark and ferocious light flashed deep within his eyes.
’You... Just wait!’
With trembling fingers, Li Jian forced the jade bottle open and poured the recovery pill into his mouth.
The moment it entered his throat, a pure and gentle medicinal energy burst forth, rapidly spreading through his ravaged meridians.
The violent, scorching energy from the experimental pill was quickly suppressed and neutralized.
The feeling of being burned alive from the inside gradually faded, replaced by a cool and soothing sensation that repaired the damaged pathways bit by bit.
"Haa... Haa..."
Li Jian’s ragged breathing slowly stabilized.
The blood that had been constantly rising in his throat finally settled, and the darkness at the edges of his vision began to recede.
He remained kneeling on the floor for a while longer, silently circulating what little strength he had left to cooperate with the recovery pill’s effects.
Zheng Qingyao watched him for a few moments.
Once she confirmed that his condition was no longer life-threatening, she lost interest and turned away once more.
"Hmph. At least you didn’t die," she said indifferently. "The data from this test is quite valuable. When you have fully recovered, come again. I will need more test results."
With that, she returned to her table and continued recording on the jade slip, as if the person who had nearly died in front of her moments ago was nothing more than a slightly useful experimental tool.
Li Jian wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and slowly raised his head.
His face was still pale, but the look in his eyes had completely changed.
The previous weakness and endurance were still there on the surface... but beneath them, a deep, cold, and patient darkness had settled.
He silently looked at the system panel.
[Current Favor Debt from Zheng Qingya: 220]
The number floated quietly in his mind, but it did nothing to extinguish the burning anger in his chest.
Nearly dying just to become someone else’s test subject... being treated like a disposable tool while that woman casually recorded data... the more he thought about it, the more the fury in his heart surged.
Li Jian’s fingers slowly tightened.
He needed to vent.
His gaze turned cold as he focused on the system and attempted to issue a request.
’Zheng Qingyao, come here and kneel in front of me!’