The Essence of Ice Marrow

As Bronk's hysterical shout echoed through the expansive core laboratory, a heavy silence fell over the room. It was as if everyone had been hit with a paralysis spell—bodies stiffened, and their faces simultaneously displayed identical expressions of shock.

However, this uncanny stillness lasted only a fraction of a second before the entire lab erupted into chaos. This piece of gossip was explosively juicy—Ye Fan, the illegitimate son of Professor Billy?

As the crowd digested this sensational rumor, they started connecting the dots, recalling Ye Fan's recent behavior and Professor Billy's unusually favorable treatment of him. Suddenly, the gossip seemed entirely plausible.

The group exchanged knowing glances, each wearing a meaningful, yet mutually understanding, smile. After a few low chuckles, they all returned to their tasks, acting as though they hadn't heard anything at all.

Throughout the entire episode, not a single person in the lab uttered a word about the scandal. This eerie scene was like a mirror to Bronk, reflecting the magnitude of the mistake he had just made.

Professor Billy was a highly esteemed scholar at Tianlan Academy, a figure of considerable standing. For someone of his stature, any connection to scandalous rumors, especially one involving an illegitimate child, was utterly unacceptable. Bronk's loud accusation that Ye Fan was Professor Billy's illegitimate son was tantamount to openly slandering the professor.

Ruining a man's reputation and insulting his family—these are the kinds of offenses that create unresolvable grudges. It was clear that if this explosive rumor spread, Professor Billy's reputation would undoubtedly suffer.

If that happened, Bronk would be in serious trouble. Professor Billy was a peak-level gene warrior, while Bronk was just a student who hadn't even completed his first blood transformation. The difference in status and strength between the two was insurmountable. If Professor Billy sought revenge, Bronk would have no way to defend himself.

"Bronk is done for."

This thought crossed everyone's mind simultaneously.

Bronk seemed to realize this as well. His eyes filled with terror as he stared at the advancing Steward Liu, panic overtaking him as he stammered, "I-I misspoke! No, I didn't say it—Ye Fan isn't Professor Billy's illegitimate son!"

Bronk's mind had clearly faltered at this moment, and he started babbling incoherently as he slumped to the floor. His attempts at a defense only made him seem more suspicious, like the proverbial man hiding silver in a place with no silver.

"Shut your filthy mouth!"

Steward Liu suddenly spun around, his cold eyes gleaming with a murderous intent as he shouted.

Bronk seemed like he wanted to say more, but Steward Liu was clearly not going to give him the chance. The next thing everyone saw was a blur as Steward Liu crossed the ten or so meters between them in an instant, appearing right in front of Bronk. With one swift motion, he struck Bronk, knocking him unconscious.

This startling display left everyone in the room tense. They had long suspected that Steward Liu might be a formidable martial artist, and today's scene confirmed their suspicions. That ghostly speed was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

"Today's events—if anyone dares to gossip about them, don't blame Professor Billy for being merciless!"

Steward Liu's icy gaze swept across the room as he issued his warning, his tone laced with a thinly veiled threat.

No one dared to speak. They all busied themselves with their work, pretending not to have heard anything. Seeing this, Steward Liu's stern expression finally softened slightly. He then lifted the unconscious Bronk and hurriedly left the core laboratory.

...

Tianlan Academy, Underground Water Prison.

This was a world of darkness, cold and devoid of life. Occasionally, a bone-chilling wind would sweep through, carrying the pungent smell of mildew that was strong enough to make one feel suffocated. The faint light streaming through small windows revealed rows of cells made of solid steel.

More than two-thirds of these cells were submerged in water, leaving only a third visible above the surface. In this exposed section, one could see heads bobbing in and out of the water—a sight that was both eerie and grand in its scope.

"Damn that Bronk! When I get out of here, I swear I'll make him pay!" Qiao Mingtian cursed loudly, shivering as he spoke.

"Boss, no wonder everyone's terrified of getting thrown in here. This water is freezing!" one of Qiao Mingtian's subordinates complained, his voice trembling as he hugged himself for warmth.

"Hang in there! It's just a couple of days," Qiao Mingtian said, patting his subordinate's shoulder in an attempt to keep their spirits up.

Ye Fan leaned against the steel bars of the cell, his face calm and unreadable. The water was indeed cold, but he could tolerate it for now. Within Tianlan Academy, there were several water prisons like this, each with varying levels of severity.

The one they were currently in was the lowest level, with the higher-level prisons being even colder. Only those who had committed serious infractions and were strong enough to endure could face the harsher conditions of the higher-level prisons.

In his previous life, Ye Fan had never attended Tianlan Academy, nor had he experienced its water prisons. However, he was aware of the secrets these prisons held. The water here was bone-chilling, enough to make even those who had undergone their first blood transformation struggle to endure it for long.

This was why Tianlan Academy used these water prisons to punish students who broke the rules, calling it "cooling them down." This was common knowledge for anyone familiar with the academy.

However, most people didn't know that the water in these prisons wasn't ordinary—it contained a small amount of the Essence of Ice Marrow.

The Essence of Ice Marrow is a rare and powerful substance known for its extreme coldness, capable of freezing anything. It's especially valuable to those nearing the end of their lives, as it can induce a state of hibernation, preserving the body and delaying death.

Moreover, the Essence of Ice Marrow can also strengthen the body. If one can endure its cold, immersing in it can gradually make the body stronger. Prolonged exposure can even grant resistance to cold.

The water in Tianlan Academy's water prisons was mixed with a small amount of this Essence. While the academy punished students, they also secretly provided them with some benefits. Most students, if they could endure two days in the water prison, would find their bodies strengthened when they were released.

This secret was known only to a few within the academy, so the water prison remained a place of fear. Ye Fan knew this secret from his previous life because of his elevated status.

"Heh, I never expected to end up in a water prison. Since I'm here, I might as well take advantage of the Essence of Ice Marrow," Ye Fan thought to himself, a slight grin forming as he made his plan. He then looked at Qiao Mingtian and his shivering followers and spoke quietly.

"Hey, Qiao, I know a way to reduce the cold you're feeling. If done right, it might even bring you some benefits. Interested?"

Qiao Mingtian paused, surprised by Ye Fan's offer. Although they had just met and weren't exactly close, they didn't know each other that well either. Ye Fan's sudden offer made him suspicious.

"Heh, what's the matter? Scared? If you don't want to, then forget it," Ye Fan said with a casual chuckle.

Provoked by Ye Fan's challenge, Qiao Mingtian felt his blood surge as he glared at him. "Who's scared? You may have been stronger earlier, but I'm not afraid of whatever you've got up your sleeve!"

Despite his bravado, Qiao Mingtian's confidence was slightly shaken. Though their earlier contest hadn't resulted in a clear winner, it was obvious to anyone watching that Qiao Mingtian had been at a slight disadvantage. He knew it too, but his pride wouldn't let him admit it.