After getting the correct method from Tang San on how to take the immortal herbs, Xiao Lin couldn't wait to begin.
As soon as he consumed the Fiery Apricot Delicate Fragrance and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, two overwhelming forces surged inside him.
Although Xiao Lin had spent quite a bit of time near the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well and his second dantian had stored a good amount of Ice-Fire spiritual energy…
This time was different.
Way too much!
Not only were the two herbs packed with explosive energy, but they also inherently clashed with each other due to their opposite natures—Extreme Ice and Extreme Fire.
Unless Xiao Lin could somehow resolve this internal conflict between them…
Suddenly, Xiao Lin's body trembled violently. A layer of ice-blue energy rose up from under his feet, immediately followed by blazing red flames.
One moment, he was a frozen blue popsicle.
The next, he looked like a steamed lobster.
In his spiritual consciousness space, Xiao Lin focused his mind on the towering Flood Dragon Staff (虬龙棍), and circulated his Indestructible Vajra Divine Art (金刚不坏神功).
He realized he'd been reckless. If he had taken the Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum first, things would've been much smoother.
He had grown too confident just because his soul power often protected him—mistakenly thinking his body was as unbreakable as his soul.
But in truth, he was far from invincible.
Silently, he summoned the external soul bone—the Mighty Bull Demon Horn—to activate its energy storage ability, hoping it could absorb some of the violent energy within.
In addition, he used the horn's power to boost his strength, which in turn enhanced his physical durability.
But in just a few seconds, the intense alternation of extreme heat and cold, along with the clashing auras, nearly tore Xiao Lin's body apart and shattered his spirit.
Fortunately, deep inside his consciousness, several bead-sized remnants of soul beast wills began to appear.
These were the leftover wills of soul beasts he had absorbed in the past.
The spirits of the Mighty Vajra Bull, Thunder Shadow Leopard, and Blazing Vajra Ape appeared around Xiao Lin's mind, guarding him.
Of course, these faint remnants weren't strong enough to directly protect Xiao Lin from the torrent of energy.
But their appearance gave Xiao Lin hope, and with hope came inner strength.
The pain was so intense that even a Titled Douluo might die if these twin extreme energies invaded their body.
Let alone Xiao Lin—just a Soul Elder.
"Brother Lin! Get into the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well! Use the spring's balance to stabilize the energies!"
In a blur, Xiao Lin vaguely heard Tang San's voice.
But as he tried to stand, he realized—his strength was completely gone.
Tang San couldn't help him either. He couldn't get close; he too couldn't withstand the clashing energies of extreme Ice and Fire.
"No choice... It's up to me now. Only I can help him."
Tang San looked anxiously at Xiao Lin's rapidly shifting appearance—ice-cold one moment, burning hot the next.
"Brother Lin, if you can hear me, use our Dual Soul Ring Fusion Technique!"
Somehow, through either a mental bond or sheer intuition, Xiao Lin heard Tang San's voice, even though all outside sound was drowned out.
"Got it!"
Responding inwardly, Xiao Lin focused on the soul remnants of the Thunder Shadow Leopard and Blazing Vajra Ape.
"I'm counting on you."
With that, two streams of silvery-white soul power surged from the Flood Dragon Staff, flowing into the two beast spirits.
Empowered by the Flood Dragon Staff, the spirits suddenly expanded, returning to their original soul beast forms.
At the same time, two purple soul rings appeared under Xiao Lin's feet.
Tang San responded by activating his one yellow, two purple soul rings.
Soon, the soul rings from both began to merge, twisting into Mobius-strip-shaped infinite loops.
Only Tang San's yellow ring turned into a streak of light and entered Xiao Lin's body.
"In the endless void, life and destruction entwine—Let the light of life illuminate the shadow of ruin.
Let the fire of destruction ignite the seed of existence.
Spirit of life, soul of death—merge as one!
Samsara of birth and annihilation—Echo with the heavens and earth!
Begin the Cycle of Rebirth!"
At that moment, Xiao Lin silently echoed the incantation in his heart. Though, to be fair, the last line was probably unnecessary.
Luckily, in this critical moment, the deep bond between Xiao Lin and Tang San resonated.
The destructive power of the Flood Dragon Staff instantly transformed into potent life energy.
A flicker of divine light floated up from Xiao Lin's body. In that instant, golden flames cloaked him like armor, and his staff became wreathed in icy-blue frost.
With hands clasped, the Flood Dragon Staff floated horizontally before him, as the silvery-white destruction aura merged with emerald life energy—all flowing back into Xiao Lin's body.
And in a flash, Xiao Lin opened his eyes.
Whoosh—!
Exhaling a scorching breath, he nodded at Tang San.
"Thanks to you, Little San."
With those words of gratitude, he turned without hesitation and leapt into the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well.
The moment he entered, the well began to bubble violently. One side boiled like scalding water, the other steamed like evaporating liquid nitrogen.
Deep within, Xiao Lin closed his eyes and felt himself sink into the spring, deeper and deeper—yet there was no bottom.
"Someone's here!?"
"How many years has it been?"
"I don't know... It's been so long."
"I don't care anymore. I'm getting out of here!"
"Wait! If you go alone, you'll kill him! I'll go too."
…
Faint voices echoed in the depths of Xiao Lin's mind.
His sea of consciousness transformed into an Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Ocean.
The very sky and earth within his spiritual realm changed—thick mists of ice and fire energy drifted across the horizon. Only the eternal Flood Dragon Staff stood unmoved, grounding his consciousness with absolute calm.
Soon, the three beast spirits drifted upward, turning into three brilliant stars.
As Xiao Lin followed their motion, he saw a golden flame sun and an icy blue moon form in the sky.
And when he finally regained awareness, he realized—
His second dantian had completely transformed into a miniature Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well.
It could still store various types of energy, just like before, but now Xiao Lin understood—he needed to add more Ice and Fire attribute soul rings to take full advantage of this.
To forge it into the ultimate force of destruction and annihilation!
"Damn it! I was planning to add lightning-type speed and gravity-type strength attributes too!"
He cursed inwardly.
Without ultimate speed and raw strength, how can I become the strongest!?
No. I must add lightning!
Ice. Fire. Thunder.
The three together—ultimate destruction, ultimate annihilation.
And yet, they could also evolve—into ultimate life.
Their fusion technique worked because lightning's destructive power carried a trace of life energy, which harmonized with Tang San's pure vitality.
That was true destruction. True power.
Xiao Lin affirmed this in his heart.
Moments later, he burst out of the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well and landed on the shore.
"Old rival, did you hear that? This little guy actually wants the power of the Dragon God?"
"Hah! But if our powers combine… and he adds powerful lightning… then maybe—just maybe…"
…
These were voices buried deep in Xiao Lin's soul sea—unknown to him.
Two mighty yet weakened dragon souls—once Ice and Fire Dragon Kings—remained imprisoned and sealed beneath the well by the Dragon Staff.
(End of Chapter)