Under the pretense of an intensive, self-guided cultivation retreat, Lin Feng quietly slipped out of Nuoding Academy. Xiao Wu, ever vigilant, insisted on accompanying him. Her bond with Lin Feng was so strong that she instinctively knew he was heading toward a major breakthrough, and she refused to be left behind.
Lin Feng, knowing he couldn't dissuade her without breaking her trust, allowed Xiao Wu to join, but kept the ultimate destination secret. He viewed her presence as an asset; her agility and soft-bone attacks would be excellent perimeter defense. The journey into the Sunset Forest was arduous, fraught with dangers from low-level Spirit Beasts.
Lin Feng used his Fusion Phoenix Flame—disguised as white light—to create unique methods of travel. He fused the Flame with 'Shadow Concealment', creating a technique that allowed them to move through dense undergrowth with supernatural speed and silence, bypassing Spirit Beasts easily. Xiao Wu was amazed by his techniques, confirming her belief that he possessed an unrivaled, secret power.
Their bond solidified during this time. Lin Feng, while calculating, ensured his care for her was genuine. He used small, fused consumables to ensure she never suffered from hunger or fatigue, reinforcing his image as her infallible, protective "Big Brother."
Using the Grandmaster's maps and his plot knowledge, Lin Feng navigated the deep forest. The spiritual energy grew thick and chaotic, signaling their proximity to the ultimate goal. Finally, they reached the legendary Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The scene was breathtaking: two pools of liquid—one blazing scarlet red, the other deep, frigid blue—perfectly separated by a thin, invisible boundary, steam rising from the contrast. The raw, extreme elemental energy was overwhelming, making the air almost unbreathable.
Lin Feng quickly activated his Elemental Shield Talisman (Chapter 12), fusing a layer of protection around both himself and Xiao Wu. The talisman provided just enough defense to allow them to withstand the energy while Lin Feng searched the surrounding area.
Lin Feng knew the true treasures were not the pools themselves, but the herbs that grew in perfect balance around them. The legendary Immortal-Grade Spirit Herbs were there, their auras radiating stability and immense spiritual power.
His specific targets for the fusion were the three core, balancing herbs:
The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass (Extreme Cold)
The Infernal Delicate Apricot (Extreme Heat)
The Ice and Fire Scarlet Dragon Fruit (The Ultimate Balance and Life Force)
Merely absorbing them would grant a huge power jump, but Lin Feng had a grander scheme. He needed something far greater than consumption. He needed to find a core energy source to combine with the herbs.
His Fusion Vision allowed him to see past the herbs and into the core of the well itself. He realized that the well was not just a fountain of liquid; it was a perfect, continuous fountain of Elemental Essence. If he could extract and fuse the chaotic, yet perfectly balanced, essence of the Ice and Fire energies, he could create a primordial, three hundred thousand-year energy core for his second ring. The risk of disturbing the well, and the potential attention it would draw, was massive, but the reward was a guaranteed God-Tier foundation.