It had to be said, in Chu Feng's view, Egg's words were far more reliable. Even though Egg was a Spirit World Master, she was an extraordinary one. She had once been very powerful, and even though she resided in the Spirit World, she still held some understanding of matters in this world. She possessed vast experience and knew many special methods others were unaware of.
Therefore, Chu Feng calmed his restless heart. He began to settle down, spending his time wandering the Nine Provinces Continent with Zi Ling. He no longer hunted down disciples from the six major powers indiscriminately. Instead, he focused on searching for the burial sites of unknown powerful experts, aiming to refine their origins and claim their resources.
Time flew by. Under such circumstances, several months passed in the blink of an eye. The youthful traces faded from both Chu Feng's and Zi Ling's faces.
Zi Ling became more womanly, more beautiful. Chu Feng became more robust, more masculine. This year, Chu Feng was already seventeen, and Zi Ling was sixteen.
During this period, Chu Feng and Zi Ling did not stay solely on the Nine Provinces Continent. They had visited other continents as well. They truly discovered the remnants of many powerful experts. Both Egg and Zi Ling's Spirit World Master gained tremendous benefits from this.
Zi Ling's Spirit World Master successfully broke through to the third level of Heaven Martial. Egg, astonishingly, stepped into the ninth level of Xuan Martial. Her cultivation had now surpassed Chu Feng's by three entire stages.
In truth, through their efforts during this time, Chu Feng had obtained quite a few cultivation resources he needed. However, for Chu Feng, those resources that others would consider vast were merely tiny scraps insufficient to fill the gaps between his teeth. Thus, his cultivation level had not risen; it still lingered at the sixth level of Xuan Martial.
Meanwhile, the two-year deadline to rescue Su Rou and Su Mei drew ever closer. With less than a year remaining, Chu Feng grew increasingly anxious.
On this particular day, after countless failed attempts, Zi Ling finally succeeded in breaking through to the Heaven Martial realm. During her breakthrough, she even triggered a celestial phenomenon. The once-clear sky was instantly shrouded by layers of purple auspicious light. Faintly, amidst the radiance, the silhouette of a purple copper bell capable of shattering all things could be seen in midair.
Fortunately, this celestial phenomenon was limited in scope. Furthermore, Chu Feng and Zi Ling had secluded themselves deep in remote mountains and wilderness, so it did not attract unnecessary trouble.
After Zi Ling successfully broke through, she also shared with Chu Feng a thought she had long harbored in her heart, one she hadn't told him before.
"Chu Feng, this can't go on forever. Let's go to the Fire God Gate again. Now that I've entered the Heaven Martial realm, my power has undergone a qualitative leap. I believe I can fight someone at the sixth level of Heaven Martial."
"I want to go seize the cultivation resources the Fire God Gate has accumulated over nearly a millennium. That should definitely be enough to help you break through to the seventh level of Xuan Martial," Zi Ling said, sitting beside Chu Feng with a serious expression.
"No." However, Chu Feng refused immediately, without even a moment's thought.
He knew that even if Zi Ling's strength had grown, even if she was a Heavenly Blessed Divine Body favored by the heavens, she had no absolute certainty against a sixth-level Heaven Martial expert. On the contrary, the risk was immense.
After spending so much time together, Chu Feng had long confirmed his feelings for Zi Ling. He had truly fallen for this young woman. His love came from the heart—the kind that makes one willing to risk death, preferring to be hurt oneself rather than let the other be harmed...
Because, while Zi Ling treated outsiders with cold indifference and could be ruthless and unscrupulous for gain, for Chu Feng, she was willing to throw caution to the wind, to disregard everything. She would even risk her own safety to help him secure resources.
Facing such a girl, Chu Feng could not help but give his true heart. He had genuinely fallen in love with Zi Ling and wished to spend the rest of his life with her.
"Chu Feng, trust me. I have a certain degree of confidence. I can retreat safely," Zi Ling assured him, her face full of certainty.
"Alright then, I'll go with you," Chu Feng said.
"No," Zi Ling refused immediately upon hearing this.