C12 Returning to the School

"Hiss!" As consciousness snapped back into his body, Fei Liang's head throbbed as if it were about to burst, prompting him to sharply inhale. "Damn, Meier? What's happening?"

"Consciousness returning to the body halves the pain, but you're still affected by corpse poison. I recommend treatment, Mr. Fei," Meier responded.

"Treatment," Fei Liang commanded gravely.

"Right away, Mr. Fei," Meier acknowledged.

A soothing warmth surged, encircling Fei Liang's brain, bringing immediate relief. After expending six crystals, he was completely restored in just two seconds, though he still felt weary.

"Mr. Fei, this is to be expected. You overextended yourself in the Spirit Bead Space World, which translates to mental exhaustion here," Meier clarified, noting Fei Liang's confusion.

"I see. Thank you, Meier." Overcome by fatigue, Fei Liang succumbed to a deep sleep that lasted eight hours.

"Meier, pull up my profile!" were the first words from Fei Liang upon awakening after the long rest.

"Of course, Mr. Fei," Meier replied.

"Name: Fei Liang; Age: 20; Spirit: 452; Body Strength: 466; Reflexes: 458; Attack Power: 475; Defense Strength: 449; Combat Strength: 924; Explosive Strength: 87; Cultivation Level: Yellow Level Late Period; Realm Energy: 178 Crystals."

"Good, that's quite satisfactory," Fei Liang nodded, pleased with the data. "I just wonder how I stack up against Old Zhang?"

The data revealed a mere 14-point difference in combat strength between Lee Shanfeng and Fei Liang.

"In a hand-to-hand scenario, Lee Shanfeng is marginally stronger than you, Mr. Fei, with a slightly higher than fifty percent chance of victory. Overall, your chances against Lee Shanfeng are evenly matched at fifty-fifty."

"That's acceptable," Fei Liang nodded. He understood that Meier was referring to his potential once fully recuperated.

"Haha, little bro, how's it hanging? You dead yet?" Lee Shanfeng's boisterous voice echoed as he barged into the room, with Yuv Henn and Mao Yuntian trailing behind him.

"Wow, haven't seen you in three days and you're nearly back to normal," Lee Shanfeng remarked, standing beside Fei Liang's bed in amazement. "I bet you'll be out of here in a week. You're one strange dude."

"Absolutely, the guy's a total oddball!" Yuv Henn chuckled. To think that after such a severe injury, he'd be ready to leave the hospital in just about ten days. Even I, a Profound Level master, would struggle without healing meds, let alone an ordinary guy like Fei Liang.

Little did Yuv Henn know, Fei Liang had already advanced to the Yellow Level Late Period. His cultivation, coupled with the Spirit Bead's assistance, meant that unless Fei Liang showed his aura, only those at the Golden Core Great Perfection or higher could discern his true level.

"Third Bro, I was planning to surprise you, but it looks like there's no need now," Mao Yuntian said, producing a small porcelain bottle and then pretending to retract it.

"You little rascal!" Lee Shanfeng smacked Mao Yuntian on the shoulder. "Bringing out the Heavenly Dragon Pill makes my Strength Replenishing Pill look like child's play." He then pulled out a small box from his chest.

"Here, take this!" Yuv Henn, without any further ado, handed over another small porcelain bottle. "This Replenishing Pill should aid your recovery."

"Easy there, boss! That was a heavy hit; it really hurts!" Mao Yuntian winced as he passed the small porcelain bottle to Fei Liang.

"Thanks," Fei Liang said, accepting the healing pills from the three and promptly swallowing three Energy Recovery Pills.

"What the—" The trio's eyes bulged. Seriously, that works?

"Mr. Fei, you big dummy, who takes medicine like that? You're so clueless, it's infuriating! You're supposed to take one pill a day!" Meier fumed, stamping her foot in the Spirit Bead Space.

"Old Zhang, give me a few days to heal up, and then let's have a match!" Fei Liang said with a grin to Lee Shanfeng after downing the medicinal pill.

"You sure about that?" Lee Shanfeng eyed him skeptically. "I wouldn't want to hurt you."

"No worries, I've reached Yellow Level Late Period as well," Fei Liang said, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile.

"Meier, keep two of each kind and convert the rest into Realm Energy," Fei Liang instructed silently in his mind.

"Uh, I've actually advanced to the Profound Level," Lee Shanfeng claimed with feigned innocence.

"What the—when did that happen?" Fei Liang exclaimed in surprise, verifying Lee Shanfeng's level of cultivation. It was true; he had reached the Profound Level.

"Just a couple of days ago," Lee Shanfeng replied with a hint of smugness. He hadn't anticipated Fei Liang's Yellow Level Late Period cultivation, which caught him off guard.

"Pfft!" Fei Liang flipped him the bird and added, "Anyway, Old Zhang, leave Qin Qiang to me. You guys stay out of it."

"Old Three, I don't understand why you didn't retaliate when Qin Qiang attacked you, but I trust you had your reasons. You have my trust, so I'll stay out of the Qin Qiang issue," Lee Shanfeng said, extending his hand.

"We trust you too!" Two more hands joined in.

"Smack!" The four hands clasped together firmly.

Inside, Fei Liang couldn't help but wryly smile. Lee Shanfeng and the others believed he had his reasons for not fighting back, but the truth was, he simply hadn't been capable at the time. He couldn't disclose the secret of the Chaotic Spirit Bead to them; possessing a treasure could be a curse in itself. Although he trusted them not to spill the beans, it was still better left unsaid.

Nevertheless, the unwavering faith of Lee Shanfeng and the others was deeply moving to Fei Liang.

"Mr. Fei, after absorbing eight Heavenly Dragon Pills, each yielding thirty crystals, you've gained a total of two hundred and forty crystals. With eight Replenishing Pills, also at thirty crystals each, that's another two hundred and forty. And five Strength Replenishing Pills, at twenty crystals each, add up to one hundred. That brings your total to five hundred and eighty crystals, plus your previous tally. Mr. Fei, you now possess a grand total of seven hundred and fifty-nine Realm Energy crystals," Meier reported with a touch of excitement. This was the most Realm Energy Fei Liang had ever amassed.

"I never imagined the energy in the pill would be so immense," Fei Liang said, his excitement growing.

"Obviously. Did you really think refining it would be a walk in the park?" Meier quipped with an eye roll.

Of course, this entire exchange took place in Fei Liang's mind, unbeknownst to Lee Shanfeng and the others.

After some more conversation, Lee Shanfeng and his companions took their leave, while Fei Liang remained seated cross-legged on his bed, assimilating the pill's potency.

Three days later, Fei Liang was back to his old self. He and Lee Shanfeng, who had come to fetch him, completed the hospital discharge formalities. Then, the group hopped into Mao Yuntian's sports car and raced off toward Heavenly Sea University.

The discharge process wasn't without its complications. The doctor was initially reluctant to sign off on Fei Liang's release, given that his injuries, which should have taken two months to heal, had miraculously recovered in just half that time. After a thorough examination and some convincing, the hospital finally relented.

As Fei Liang departed, the medical staff marveled at his rapid recovery, calling it a medical miracle. They had never witnessed such a phenomenon in their many years of practice. This extraordinary event would eventually turn into a marketing boon for the First People's Hospital of Heavenly Sea City. Their patient admission and hospitalization rates skyrocketed by 30%, thanks to the ensuing publicity.

But those developments were yet to come.