Director Huang strode after them into Swift Wind Pavilion, yet arrived first despite setting off later.
After giving Little Red Hair and Mobile Game Guy a death glare of warning, Huang Tiankai straightened his collar and immediately took a palm-sized metal box from his briefcase with a grave expression.
At that moment, his expression was like that of a pilgrim on a sacred journey.
Not long afterward, Zhou Zhe arrived before the people from the Supernatural Affairs Department with Zhang Miaoran and Chang Hanshan.
"Colonel Huang, we meet again."
Holding the absurdly large copy of "Elementary Planar Cryptography," Zhou Zhe looked like a bookworm so engrossed in reading that he could not pull himself free. He merely raised his head, smiled at Huang Tiankai and the others, then lowered it again and continued turning the pages.
Under normal circumstances, such behavior would have made people think he lacked social awareness and manners.
Yet Huang Tiankai did not feel the slightest bit of displeasure. He was a seasoned old hand who understood the ways of the world and did not care about superficialities.
"This book... should be a supernatural book exchanged with Gladiator Points, right?"
Huang Tiankai's heart stirred, and a trace of admiration appeared on his face.
He admired people like this, who studied and read no matter where they were or what time it was.
Never satisfied!
Never swollen with pride!
Only then could one keep improving forever!
With that thought, Huang Tiankai could not help glancing at the red-haired Dugu Xiu and Mobile Game Guy Jinuo beside him.
You two little brats, do you really think you are that amazing?
For heaven's sake, hurry up and learn from him!
Yet all he got in response was an annoyed eye roll and a sun-bright, confident smile.
His subordinates had seen too little of the world and loved getting carried away for no reason. This team was hard to lead...
With a headache coming on, Huang Tiankai shook his head and handed the metal box to Zhou Zhe.
"Do you remember Roxstar? That Super Horned Demon from the Sigma Civilization."
"The Academy of Sciences asked me to pass along their thanks."
"If every Cosmic Gladiator were like you, Master Zhou, China's supernatural system could be fully established in less than three years!"
Hearing that, Zhou Zhe nodded slightly, set down "Elementary Planar Cryptography," and opened the palm-sized metal box.
Inside lay two sealed vials.
One was black as ink, yet faint starlight drifted and swirled within it. At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary thing.
The other radiated a blood-red glow. It existed in both solid and liquid states, slowly writhing, and gave off the impression of a living creature.
Huang Tiankai explained, "Because the EX Gene has been locked, progress on gene medicine research is still at 0%. We have no clue where to begin."
"However, the colleagues at the Academy of Sciences took a different path and used the supernatural materials obtained earlier to create several rare items."
"The red vial is codenamed Gift of Bian Que."
"It can rapidly restore injuries without any side effects. It cannot regenerate severed limbs, but it can save your life at a critical moment."
"The black one is codenamed Power of Chiyou."
"It will bring tremendous pain to a supernatural being, but if they endure it, their overall strength can be slightly enhanced across the board! If the user cannot withstand the pain and falls unconscious midway, there will be no negative effects. It will simply lose its efficacy."
"Both take effect when consumed orally."
"Because they have undergone relevant testing, you may use them without worry."
"However..."
"The materials are rare, and these are extremely precious. Please use them carefully."
Hearing this, Zhou Zhe studied the two vials with great interest.
The mysterious notebook turned into a streak of light and appeared before his eyes.
Obtained Supernatural Items x2 Gift of Bian Que: Can immediately heal minor injuries. When there are no injuries or illnesses, it can permanently and slightly increase the strength of one's vitality and blood. (Note: The permanent enhancement effect of this medicine is almost zero for you.)
The effects of Gift of Bian Que were clearly not limited to Director Huang's understanding.
Power of Chiyou: If one can overcome the pain brought by this medicine, strength, agility, endurance, and defense can all be permanently increased by a small amount. (Note: Your current overall strength and pain tolerance allow this medicine to function at one hundred percent effectiveness.)
It was easy to understand. Whether Gift of Bian Que or Power of Chiyou, the supernatural materials used to create them came from Earth's gladiators, and Earth's gladiators were not very high-level at present.
If Silver- or even Gold-ranked Cosmic Gladiators used these two medicines, they probably would not have any effect at all.
As Zhou Zhe's thoughts turned, the mysterious notebook vanished without a trace.
He took out the black medicine named Power of Chiyou, slowly unscrewed its cap, and handed the metal box containing Gift of Bian Que to Zhang Miaoran.
Then Zhou Zhe tipped the pitch-black medicine into his mouth in one gulp!
If it had earned the mysterious notebook's recognition, then it was clearly trustworthy.
Director Huang wanted to stop Zhou Zhe, but he was half a beat too slow.
He failed to stop him!
The faces of the Supernatural Affairs Department personnel all showed expressions of eager anticipation.
Some were amused, some sympathetic, some worried, and some mocking.
Why did Power of Chiyou dare call itself by such a domineering name?
Because the pain caused by consuming it was more than even professionally trained agents could endure!
Strength of mind and strength of body—neither could be lacking!
People who met both conditions were truly hard to find!
To be precise, not a single person had yet managed to make it fully unleash its medicinal effects!
Zhou Zhe ignored their complicated expressions.
The medicine began to take effect.
A numb, prickling pain arose from every limb and bone.
This pain surged in like the tide, flowing through every strand of muscle and nerve fiber, raging through every cell!
The agony gradually seeped into his marrow. Like rising and falling waves, it grew fiercer and fiercer, never ceasing!
Pain!
More and more pain!
At first, it was only like needles stabbing him. Later, with every heartbeat, the blood pumped from his heart became like liquid blades, slicing through his vessels and corroding his blood.
With every breath, the flowing air became like scorching magma, as though it would burn his windpipe to ashes and cook his lungs.
The Heart of Heavenly Tribulation beat cheerfully, letting out wave after wave of jubilant cheers.
Zhou Zhe roughly estimated that there were at least three more waves of pain to come before the medicine wore off!
Each wave would be stronger than the last!
His heart pounded wildly like a broken drum, his breathing became as chaotic as the bellows in a blacksmith's shop, and sweat instantly soaked through his white shirt.
Zhou Zhe felt that with his physical strength and the boost from the Heart of Heavenly Tribulation, he should be able to grit his teeth and endure until the end.
But...
It would ruin his image!
Embarrassing himself in front of outsiders was nothing. Zhou Zhe had thick skin, after all.
The key was...
Zhang Miaoran was watching from the side!
Even if he could not take it, he had to take it!
A man had to be able to do it!
Self-Configuration—Freely adjust pain perception.
Although overcoming pain could effectively strengthen one's willpower, there would be plenty of opportunities and countless methods to temper one's will.
With so many people around him right now, did Zhou Zhe not care about his pride?
"First, set it to fifty percent."
In an instant!
The pain on Zhou Zhe's face rapidly faded, and he soon calmed down.
Although the muscles across his body were still twitching unnaturally and the veins on his forehead still bulged, he had clearly begun to adapt to the pain.
Feeling his physical attributes rapidly improving, Zhou Zhe's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Fuck! Is that for real?"
"No way!"
"Did Power of Chiyou fail?"
"No! Look carefully! The medicine is still working!"
"When pain strikes, there are four stages of human response: enduring pain, tolerating pain, overcoming pain, and enjoying pain! Only when the brain begins secreting dopamine and endorphins does one have the foundation to remain conscious!"
"You make it sound so real, but it's just armchair theory! If your body is not strong enough, no amount of willpower will help. You'll still go down when it's time to go down!"
"Holy shit! He's smiling! Has he entered the enjoyment stage?"
"This guy is badass as hell!"
"Teacher Zhou is so... so handsome!"
"He's obviously in unbearable pain, yet he can still smile so charmingly? I'm in love! I'm in love!"
"Did anyone record it? I want to study it a few more times when I have the chance..."
"I recorded it, but I'm not lending it to you. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Teacher Zhou is mine!"
"Promise me you won't be a lovesick fool, okay?"
The people of the Supernatural Affairs Department were nearly dumbfounded.
Even if they had never eaten pork, had they not at least seen pigs run?
During the clinical trials, those supernatural beings who took doses far lower than Zhou Zhe's had all been in so much pain that their faces twisted, their expressions blooming like chrysanthemums.
Peeing their pants was commonplace, and exposing every ugly side of themselves was even more common.
But Zhou Zhe's performance...
It was impossible to comprehend!
A few minutes later.
Zhou Zhe's breathing and heartbeat gradually returned to normal. Above the Black Sword Shield Brand on the back of his hand, the fifth star slowly emerged...
Before you continue