Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the skies cleared after the snow.

Ling Feng got up early and practiced a set of punches in the courtyard.

After breaking through level thirty, he felt as though he had inexhaustible strength throughout his body. Even his punches carried a faint sound of tearing through the air.

"Good morning, Brother Ling Feng."

Dugu Yan emerged from the guest room, rubbing her eyes. Her little face was rosy, and her hair was still somewhat messy.

Ling Feng withdrew his stance and smiled. "Why are you up so early? You went to bed so late last night."

"Grandpa said he was taking Brother Ling Feng somewhere today and wanted me to come too."

Dugu Yan yawned. "It's been ages since I went out with Grandpa."

Ling Feng's heart stirred.

Was Dugu Bo planning to take me to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?

And he was bringing Yanyan along...

As he was thinking, Dugu Bo approached from behind with a bundle in hand. "Kid, are you ready?"

"Senior, I can leave at any time."

Dugu Bo nodded and looked at Dugu Yan. "Yanyan, go tell Aunt Yue that we'll be away for a few days."

"A few days?" Dugu Yan blinked. "Where are we going?"

"To a nice place." Dugu Bo rarely smiled. "Grandpa's taking you out to have some fun."

Dugu Yan cheered and ran off to find Tuoba Yue'er.

Ling Feng returned to his room to pack and explained the situation to his parents.

Qiangu Xiaoye pondered for a moment before saying, "Since Dugu Bo is willing to take you with him, it means he trusts you. Be careful on the road, and listen to Senior Dugu if anything happens."

"By the way, your eldest uncle will be protecting you closely on this trip as well."

"Yes, Father."

Tuoba Yue'er held his hand and reminded him of things for a long while, mostly telling him to wear more clothes, stay safe, and come back early.

Half an hour later, the three of them left Spirit City.

Dugu Bo walked ahead, with Dugu Yan sitting on his shoulders and looking around at the scenery. Ling Feng followed beside them, calculating what he might gain from this journey.

"Kid." Dugu Bo suddenly spoke. "Can that method you mentioned really evolve the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor?"

"In theory, it can." Ling Feng said, "But it requires an opportunity. That treasure ground you found may very well hold such an opportunity."

Dugu Bo was silent for a while before saying, "I've been to that place several times. Some of the herbs inside grow strangely, and there are places even I can't approach."

"If you can figure something out, this old man certainly won't treat you poorly."

"Rest assured, Senior." Ling Feng smiled faintly. "I won't disappoint you."

The three traveled south, crossing plains and mountains for two full days.

By the evening of the third day, they entered a dense forest: Sunset Forest.

Mist filled the woods. The farther they went, the higher the temperature rose, and the more humid the air became.

The poison barrier Dugu Bo had set up grew stronger and stronger. Fortunately, Ling Feng had antidote pills and remained unharmed.

"We're almost there," Dugu Bo said. "Stay close to me. Don't wander off."

Ling Feng understood.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was just ahead.

After another hour of walking, the view suddenly opened up.

It was a valley surrounded by mountains, with a small basin at its center.

In the middle of the basin lay two pools of spring water, one red and one white, nestled together. The red spring was blazing hot like flame, while the white spring was bone-chillingly cold. Mist swirled where the two springs met, creating a strange spectacle.

What drew Ling Feng's attention most, however, was the herb garden surrounding the springs.

All kinds of rare medicinal herbs filled the area. He recognized some, while others he had seen only in ancient texts.

Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot, Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew... they were all there!

"This is the place," Dugu Bo said. "This treasure ground was discovered by accident. These herbs grow in bizarre shapes, and I don't dare touch a single one."

Ling Feng took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart. "Senior, do you know what this place is?"

"You know?" Dugu Bo raised a brow.

"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well." Ling Feng enunciated each word. "One of the three greatest treasure basins in the world, where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathers—a heaven-blessed land that nurtures immortal-grade herbs."

Dugu Bo froze.

He had only known that there were many medicinal herbs here. He had never imagined the place had such an extraordinary origin.

"Immortal-grade herbs?" Dugu Yan asked curiously. "Brother Ling Feng, what are immortal-grade herbs?"

"They are things hundreds or even thousands of times more precious than ordinary medicinal herbs."

Ling Feng looked at the two pools. "For example, those two plants—Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot. If consumed, they can give a person a body immune to both ice and fire."

Dugu Bo's eyes lit up. "You can identify them?"

"I can." Ling Feng nodded. "But Senior, the herbs here cannot be picked carelessly. There are proper methods. Especially those two—if you touch them directly with your hands, you'll certainly die."

Dugu Bo sucked in a cold breath. He really had considered harvesting them before. Fortunately, he had not acted.

"Then..." He looked at Ling Feng. "Kid, do you have a way?"

Ling Feng smiled faintly. "If Senior trusts me, then I have a way."

Dugu Bo stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding. "Fine. This old man trusts you."

Ling Feng walked to the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and felt the two completely opposite auras, mentally calculating the steps.

According to the knowledge he had learned from Yue Guan, harvesting the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot required the method of Gold Retrieval, Jade Containment.

He did not possess Tang San's Mysterious Jade Hands, but he had Soul Power and spiritual power far beyond that of ordinary people.

"Senior, I need your help." He turned back.

"Speak."

"Later, I'll use Soul Power to envelop those two herbs and pull them out at the same time. The instant they are uprooted, they will attract each other. If they collide, their medicinal effects will be ruined."

"I need Senior to use Soul Power to separate them in the middle while I place them into the containers I prepared."

Dugu Bo nodded. "That can be done."

Ling Feng took two jade boxes from his bundle, which he had specially prepared before setting out.

He took a deep breath, circulated his Soul Power, and slowly approached the two herbs.

The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass was crystal clear and emitted a bone-piercing chill; the Infernal Delicate Apricot was fiery red, radiating waves of scorching heat.

They were less than three feet apart, yet they were like two extremes of ice and fire.

Ling Feng extended both hands at once. His Soul Power split into two streams, each wrapping around one of the herbs.

"Rise!"

He pulled sharply, and both herbs rose from the ground at the same time.

Almost instantly, as if sensing each other, they flew toward the center together.

"Senior!"

Dugu Bo had long been prepared. With a wave of both hands, dark green Soul Power rose between them as a barrier.

The two herbs struck the barrier and paused briefly.

Seizing the chance, Ling Feng took out the jade boxes. With a sweep of his left hand, he placed the Infernal Delicate Apricot into one box; with a grab of his right, he put the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass into the other.

The moment the lids snapped shut, the force drawing them toward each other vanished.

"Phew..." Ling Feng let out a long breath, sweat already beading on his forehead.

Dugu Bo clicked his tongue in amazement. "Kid, you've got some skill."

Ling Feng smiled, his gaze falling deeper into the herb garden.

There, a crystal-clear little plant with leaves like autumn water grew quietly.

Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.

It was an immortal-grade herb that could increase spiritual power and might even open a third eye.

"Senior, I want to keep that one for myself as well."

He pointed at the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew. "In exchange, I can help you find a herb suitable for evolving the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor."

Dugu Bo looked at the little plant, then at Ling Feng, and suddenly smiled.