His consciousness was clearly fading — he couldn't hear sounds, couldn't recall thoughts, seemed to have forgotten everything.
But there was one thing he couldn't forget. If anything, it grew more vivid with each passing moment: pain.
This was the punishment for overdrawing his body.
Without Wen Xue's treatment, ordinary methods were practically useless.
And this punishment lasted no short while, as though reminding Chu Feng that the sin he had committed was grave.
If he dared do it again, he'd best think twice.
When Chu Feng finally managed to open his eyes, familiar faces and voices surfaced before him at once.
"Brother Chu Feng, how are you feeling?"
Zi Ling's stunningly beautiful face carried more than worry — there was exhaustion there too.
But once she confirmed Chu Feng had awakened, the corners of her lips curled upward involuntarily. That sweet arc instantly transformed her haggard face into something radiant, something even more beautiful.
Emotions were truly remarkable — they possessed a kind of magic.
Worry could make one haggard, and joy could make one beautiful.
But Chu Feng knew that the one who brought Zi Ling joy was himself, and the one who made her haggard was also himself.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
"I'm fine. Sorry for making you worry." Chu Feng immediately propped himself up, though he was still weak.
He wanted to appear unharmed as much as possible — he wanted Zi Ling's heart to settle even a little.
"Of course I'd worry, but I don't blame you."
"Whatever you do, I'll support you unconditionally." Zi Ling said with a sweet smile.
"I know." Chu Feng gently caressed Zi Ling's cheek, and the more tender she was, the more his heart ached.
"So, how did it go?" Zi Ling asked.
All they knew was that Chu Feng had challenged the Ancestral Martial Realm Sect's master city again, but they had no idea what the outcome was.
Chu Feng then told Zi Ling everything about his situation.
He also learned from Zi Ling about the Wo Long Sect Master and Wen Xue's condition.
Wen Xue had paid a considerable price to heal Chu Feng and would need some time to recover.
The Wo Long Sect Master was slightly better off, but not by much.
To help Chu Feng stand against Jie Tianran, their side had paid a steep price as well.
Then there was the matter of Jie Tianran himself.
Despite having set up multiple layers of grand formations, every one of his movements was being observed through the Wo Long Martial Sect's surveillance array.
Since Chu Feng's collapse, Jie Tianran had not appeared again.
The elders of the Seven Realms Sacred Mansion had been keeping their eyes on the Ancestral Martial Realm Sect's master city all along, but without the aid of their supplementary means, they wore deep frowns — they couldn't make heads or tails of anything.
"So it seems Jie Tianran's healing method isn't something he can use without limit."
"But that's actually normal." Chu Feng let out a silent sigh of relief.
The second contest had already pushed Chu Feng to his absolute limit.
If Jie Tianran could recover and re-enter the Ancestral Martial Realm Sect's formation world once more, there would be nothing Chu Feng could do.
"Zi Ling, how long was I unconscious?" Chu Feng asked.
"One month," Zi Ling replied.
"That's not bad."
One month was shorter than Chu Feng had expected.
"Where is the Sect Master? Is she available to see me?" Chu Feng asked.
"Master said that once you've recovered, I should take you to see her. But Brother Chu Feng, are you really okay?"
"Maybe you should rest a bit longer?" Zi Ling still wasn't at ease.
"I'm fine. Now that I'm awake, there's nothing wrong."
"But you." As he spoke, Chu Feng grasped Zi Ling's wrist and began diagnosing her injuries.
After all, Zi Ling had forced her way out of seclusion earlier, and her injuries hadn't fully healed.
"Don't worry about me. Like you, I just need time," Zi Ling said with a smile.
But Chu Feng's brows furrowed slightly. Despite how Zi Ling looked on the surface — far better than him — once Chu Feng woke, his body would recover rapidly.
Zi Ling, on the other hand, had sustained damage to her foundation.
And it was serious.
Setting aside his own abilities, the treasures Chu Feng currently possessed included many items capable of restoring one's foundation and cultivation.