Lin Feng sat in deep meditation, the perfect integration of his Void-Wood/Water Loop humming silently within his core. His focus was absolute, but the external pressure remained—the two-month deadline to stabilize their power before moving on to establish a rival power base. He was no longer just cultivating for himself; he was the anchor for two powerful, high-maintenance alliances:
the Ice Empress and the Phoenix Alchemist.
As planned, Yin Xiu returned from her reconnaissance run. She didn't announce her presence; she simply appeared, a ripple of shadow solidifying into her lithe, human form near the entrance, carrying a heavy pouch of materials.
"Your tracking spell is growing weak, Sovereign," Yin Xiu remarked, her golden eyes twinkling with subtle humor as she bowed with deceptive formality. "Luo Han is currently interrogating a merchant three hundred miles west. He's furious, but blinded by his own arrogance. Our scent is cold."
Lin Feng opened his eyes, a flicker of appreciation crossing his face. "Your skills are invaluable, Yin Xiu. You maintain the outer defense perfectly."
"I maintain the path to my own ascension," she countered coolly, placing the pouch of basic supplies on the table. She then glanced at Wanying, who was meditating with a faint sheen of ice surrounding her. "I heard the Ice Empress had a little... elemental tantrum."
Wanying stiffened slightly, but Lin Feng spoke first, his tone serious. "Wanying's power is lethal, but vulnerable to the impure Qi of this plane. She needs Pure Astral Essence—high-grade spiritual material that bypasses the Mortal Star Field's elemental impurities."
Yin Xiu studied Lin Feng's face, noting the shift from casual arrogance to sharp strategic focus. She recognized a true leader who prioritized his allies' survival over his own immediate needs. This cemented her respect more than any display of brute force.
"Pure Astral Essence is not sold in the Shifting Sands black market, Feng," Yin Xiu admitted, using his given name with grudging intimacy. "It's a treasure sought by ancient sects. However, during my intelligence run, I didn't just track Luo Han; I tracked a persistent rumor."
Yin Xiu pulled out a tattered, old map—not of the region, but a diagram of deep geological ley lines. "Before the Violet Flame Dynasty was established, this entire region was controlled by the Starlight Temple, a sect dedicated to purification and celestial alignment."
She pointed to a spot far north of their current location, near the boundary of the Dynasty's control. "I found records suggesting the Starlight Temple sourced their purification materials from an isolated area known as the Silent Star Crevice. It's supposed to house a small, deep Astral Jade Vein."
Xia Qingwu, who had been listening intently, pushed her alchemy supplies aside. Her eyes shone with scientific excitement. "Astral Jade! It's one of the few materials pure enough to bypass Wanying's Ice Empress rejection! It would stabilize her core for decades, allowing her to truly cultivate her Primordial Law without external threat!"
Lin Feng nodded, his mind already calculating the risk. "It's near the Dynasty border. That means high-level guards, or powerful beasts."
"No," Yin Xiu corrected, tapping the map. "The vein is too deep, the climate too unstable. The Dynasty doesn't guard it, but the local environment is lethal. The Crevice is constantly shifting due to residual spatial energy—a minor, natural version of the Labyrinth we faced, only more dangerous. It's guarded by formations that manipulate space and time. Even Origin Kings fear it."
She looked directly at Lin Feng, her golden eyes challenging him. "It is a trap designed for the powerful, yet the path requires someone who can see the flow of space and time. You are the only one."
Lin Feng smiled, a wide, confident, and slightly arrogant grin. "A trap designed for me. Perfect. My Void Law has stabilized; now I must learn to use it with absolute finesse. This is exactly the crucible I need before facing the Dynasty again."
During this preparation, Lin Feng found a moment to share a light, humorous exchange with Xia Qingwu, who was testing the efficacy of a new corrosive agent.
"Qingwu, your dedication to controlled destruction is admirable," Lin Feng teased, watching her melt a solid piece of granite with a single drop of acid. "I worry about our shared living space. If we argue, will you immediately dissolve the furniture?"
Xia Qingwu smirked, wiping ash from her cheek. "Only if you question the purity of my Phoenix Fire, Feng. But rest assured, I save the high-grade corrosive agents for the Imperial Commanders. We need the chairs."
The humor served as a release, a reminder of the human connection amidst the high-stakes cultivation.
After two weeks of intense, targeted preparation, they were ready. The Astral Jade Vein was not a battle for strength, but a test of their combined intelligence and control. The goal: secure the Astral Jade to stabilize Wanying, and use the complex spatial laws of the Crevice to further refine Lin Feng's Void Domain—all without attracting the Dynasty's notice.
"We go North. Yin Xiu, you are the guide and the trap specialist," Lin Feng commanded. "Qingwu, you are the time master and the defense. Wanying, you provide the absolute cold needed to cut the Jade. I will manage the spatial flow."