39: Reaching the Dragon Realm, one is rescued and receives a letter; in the Heavenly Path, one obtains a breakthrough clue.

The wind at the edge of the stone forest carried a faint, fishy scent of Origin. Lin Chen walked at the forefront, holding Nian Xue, his Divine Thought constantly locked onto their rear—the three eternal-grade pursuers were still searching a hundred miles away and hadn't caught up yet.

"Daddy, when will we get to the Dragon Clan's home?" Nian Xue rubbed her eyes, her small head resting on Lin Chen's shoulder. She hadn't slept well while refining the origin liquid earlier.

Lin Chen slowed his pace, a wisp of gentle Law of Light condensing at his fingertip as he gently swept it past her eyes. "Soon. We'll see the Dragon Clan's mountain peaks in another half an hour."

Clear Snow walked on the other side, her nine tails occasionally brushing against the roadside rocks. Sensing the mythical-grade Origin fluctuations coming from ahead, her tone eased slightly. "There's a Dragon Clan aura ahead. It's very pure, without hostility."

The group walked for another twenty minutes or so when a continuous range of azure mountain peaks suddenly appeared on the horizon ahead—the peaks were enveloped in a faint azure Origin Shield, and dragon-scale-like Dragon Clan structures could be seen on the mountainsides. That was the Dragon Clan habitat, the 'Azure Dragon Realm'.

But as soon as they approached within a hundred meters of the shield, two azure figures suddenly rushed out from within it. They were two Dragon Clan Guards, clad in dragon-scale armor and holding dragon-patterned spears, their auras reaching epic-grade Early Stage.

"Halt! The Azure Dragon Realm is a Forbidden Ground. Non-Dragon Clan members are not permitted to enter!" The guard on the left pointed his spear directly at Lin Chen, his tone wary, yet he didn't rashly attack—he sensed Lin Chen's diamond-level aura and didn't dare underestimate him.

Lin Chen stopped and took out the Dragon-Patterned Token the Dragon Clan guardian had given him when he rescued them in the diamond world. "I have ties with one of your clan's guardians. I once helped them escape a Heavenly Dao encirclement. I bear this token and request an audience with the Clan Chief."

The guard took the token. As he concentrated Dragon Clan Origin at his fingertip, the token instantly lit up with faint azure patterns. His expression changed slightly. He put away his spear and bowed. "So it's Lord Lin Chen. My apologies for the discourtesy. The Clan Chief is already waiting in the main hall."

The shield split open to form an entrance. The group followed the guard into the Azure Dragon Realm. The air inside was filled with a rich Life Origin. The plants along the roadside glimmered with azure light. Occasionally, Dragon Clan Cubs carrying small backpacks ran past. They stopped when they saw Nian Xue, staring at her curiously.

"Mommy, those horned big brothers are so cute," Nian Xue said, pointing at the Dragon Clan Cubs, a smile all over her little face.

Clear Snow smiled and nodded. She was just about to speak when a low, dull vibration suddenly came from the Dragon Clan Main Hall ahead. The faint azure Origin Shield rippled as if struck by something.

The Dragon Clan Guard's expression changed. "Not good! The Heavenly Dao's 'Origin Extraction Array' is attacking the shield again!"

Lin Chen's Divine Thought instantly swept towards the area behind the main hall—there, a valley shrouded in black mist. Dozens of Heavenly Dao auras moved within the mist, connecting to the shield with black chains and extracting the Dragon Clan's Origin.

"These Heavenly Dao people dare to chase us here?" The Metal Clan Leader tightened his grip on his laser sword, eyes full of anger.

The Dragon Clan Guard smiled bitterly. "They've been besieging us for three days, trying to drain our Origin and weaken the Azure Dragon Realm's defenses."

Lin Chen looked at Clear Snow, his gaze resolute. "Let's help the Dragon Clan break this array. Consider it repaying their kindness for taking us in."

Clear Snow nodded, the Ice and Snow Law condensing in her palm. "I'll use my Ice and Snow Domain to freeze the chains. You deal with those Heavenly Dao people."

Nian Xue tugged on the corner of Lin Chen's clothes. "Daddy, be careful. That black mist looks really scary."

Lin Chen rubbed her head and handed her to the Star Spirit Clan Leader. "Please watch Nian Xue for me. I'll be back soon."

He teleported to the edge of the valley. He saw twenty Heavenly Dao Cultivators busy around the extraction array. The leader was a Heavenly Dao Priest at eternal-grade Early Stage, using a staff to control the chains. They didn't rashly approach the shield's core—clearly aware the Dragon Clan had a hidden card.

"An outsider? You dare interfere in Heavenly Dao affairs?" Seeing Lin Chen, the priest's eyes flashed with killing intent. But he didn't act immediately, first waving for the Cultivators to reinforce the chains, wanting to complete the extraction first.

"Since you're hostile, there's no need to hold back." Lin Chen's tone was icy as he instantly activated the Space Law. The priest's staff suddenly froze, then was twisted into fragments by an invisible force.

Seeing this, the Cultivators all unleashed Heavenly Dao Spells, hurling black Origin orbs towards Lin Chen. Clear Snow arrived at that moment. Her Ice and Snow Domain erupted, freezing all the Origin orbs with faint purple cold air. Ice blades simultaneously shot towards the Cultivators, instantly piercing their cores.

Seeing the situation turn bad, the priest turned to flee but was pinned in place by Lin Chen's Ancient Gods Pressure. Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule condensed in Lin Chen's palm, and he lightly slapped it against the priest's chest. The priest's body instantly turned to ashes, leaving only an eternal-grade origin crystal.

"Quick, sever the chains!" Lin Chen shouted to the Repair Clan.

The Repair Clan Leader immediately stepped forward, concentrating Origin energy at his fingertips. He felt along the chains for a moment, found the energy nodes, and severed them one by one. The ripples on the shield gradually subsided, and the faint azure light regained its stability.

"Thank you, Lord Lin Chen, for your assistance!" A booming voice came from the direction of the main hall. A middle-aged man clad in golden dragon-scale armor walked over. It was the Dragon Race Chief, his aura reaching mythical-grade Early Stage.

Lin Chen cupped his hands in salute. "You're too courteous, Clan Chief. It was a mere trifle."

The Clan Chief smiled and nodded. His gaze fell on Nian Xue, and a flash of surprise passed through his eyes. "This child's Void Origin can actually slightly neutralize Heavenly Dao energy. Truly rare."

Nian Xue hid behind Lin Chen, peeking out with her little head. "Uncle Dragon, the light on you feels so warm."

The Clan Chief was amused. He took out a pale golden crystal from his robes. "This is 'Dragon Source Crystal'. It can increase Origin purity. I give it to you."

Lin Chen took the Dragon Source Crystal and activated his Sublimation Talent—the first time it reached Legendary Rank, the second time it reached mythical-grade. His Origin aura thickened threefold. He split the crystal core into three pieces, giving one each to Clear Snow and Nian Xue, keeping one for himself to absorb.

After absorption, Lin Chen's Origin concentration rose from 43% to 46%, and his Divine Thought range expanded to 275 kilometers; Clear Snow's rose from 27% to 30%, and the cold air of her Ice and Snow Law became more solid; Nian Xue's rose from 40% to 43%, and the purple-gold patterns of the demon god mark between her brows became clearer.

Watching this, the Clan Chief spoke gravely. "Lord Lin Chen, the Heavenly Dao plans to hold an 'Origin Aggregation' ritual at the Core of the Myriad Heavens in five days, requiring the sacrifice of the Origin of ten thousand races. Our Dragon Clan has a clue regarding a 'Mythical-grade Origin Crystal Core'. It's in the western 'Abyss of Fallen Gods'. If you can help us completely eradicate the Heavenly Dao Remnants, we are willing to offer you this clue."

Lin Chen's eyes lit up—a mythical-grade crystal core was precisely the key to breaking through to epic-grade. He nodded. "No problem. We'll go eliminate the Heavenly Dao Remnants now."

Nian Xue held the Dragon Clan Cub's hand and asked quietly, "Big brother, are there shiny stones in the Abyss of Fallen Gods?"

The Dragon Clan Cub nodded. "Yes, and there are flying Origin Fish too. They're just a bit fierce."

Watching the two children interact, Lin Chen felt slightly reassured. Clear Snow walked to his side and said softly, "The Abyss of Fallen Gods might be dangerous. We need to be prepared."

"Mm." Lin Chen held her hand. "With you and Nian Xue here, I'm not afraid of any danger."

The group followed the Dragon Clan Guards towards the Heavenly Dao Remnants' stronghold. The sunlight of the Azure Dragon Realm shone through the Origin Shield, falling upon everyone. It was warm, yet carried a sense of urgency—only five days remained until the Heavenly Dao's ritual.