19: Searching for treasure in the wilderness to protect his wife and children, clearly distinguishing between good and evil to slay the wicked.

Morning mist permeated the Desolate Plains. Lin Chen walked in front, carrying Nian Xue, with Clear Snow following closely behind, her eternal-grade ice crystal sword gleaming with a cold light.

The withered grass on the ground was covered in frost, emitting a faint cracking sound when stepped on. Nian Xue lay on Lin Chen's shoulder, her small hands tugging at his collar, curiously looking around.

"Daddy, there is something shiny ahead." She suddenly pointed to the east, her voice soft and sweet.

Lin Chen looked in the direction she pointed. His Divine Thought spread out instantly, and he discovered a treasure chest emitting an eternal luster hidden in a pile of rocks a hundred meters away.

[Task Time: 28 days remaining]

[Rest Limit: Not started]

"Let's go take a look." Lin Chen quickened his pace, and Clear Snow followed tacitly, her Ice Domain quietly unfolding to isolate the dangerous aura around them.

Arriving before the rock pile, a silver-white treasure chest engraved with star patterns came into view, surrounded by a faint eternal power.

[eternal treasure chest]

[Quality: Normal]

[Note: Contains eternal-grade items]

"Sublimation." Lin Chen touched the treasure chest with his fingertips. His conceptual-level Sublimation Talent activated. As the power of Law circulated, the light of the treasure chest changed abruptly.

[Ding — eternal treasure chest → heavenly dao treasure chest → Transcendence Level treasure chest]

The Transcendence Level treasure chest bloomed with purple-gold rays, its patterns turning into Heavenly Dao Runes. The aura was majestic and heavy, as if it could suppress a region of heaven and earth. Lin Chen opened the treasure chest, and inside lay a palm-sized jade pendant, emerald green all over, emitting a rich aura of life.

[Obtained: Transcendence Level · Life Jade Pendant]

[Effect: Wearer recovers 10% of maximum health per second, immune to all poison damage]

He didn't stop and performed Sublimation on the jade pendant again: "It's perfect for Nian Xue to wear."

[Ding — Transcendence Level Life Jade Pendant → origin level Life Jade Pendant → chaos rank Life Jade Pendant]

The jade pendant instantly became tinged with a chaotic color, and Grandmist Purple Qi appeared on its surface. The aura became gentle yet powerful, and when it lingered around Nian Xue, it automatically formed an invisible protective shield.

[chaos rank · Life Jade Pendant]

[Effect: Wearer recovers 50% of maximum health per second, immune to all negative states, reflects 300% damage when attacked]

Lin Chen tied the jade pendant around Nian Xue's neck and said softly: "This way, Nian Xue won't get hurt."

Nian Xue touched the jade pendant and smiled with her eyes curved: "Thank you, Daddy!"

Clear Snow looked at the father and daughter, her eyes full of tenderness. She lightly stroked her ice crystal sword, and the Ice and Snow Law on the blade became increasingly rich.

The three continued forward. At noon, they met a group of Survivors who were being besieged by monsters. Leading them was a blonde, blue-eyed female knight wearing silver-grade armor, holding a long sword, struggling to resist several Legendary Rank magic bears.

[Monster Name: Raging Magic Bear]

[Rank: 8 (Legendary Rank)]

[Attributes: Strength 1800, Agility 500, Physique 2500, Spirit 200]

Most of the companions around the female knight had fallen, leaving only two mages who were still barely casting magic, their auras weak.

"Husband, they can't hold on much longer." Clear Snow said softly, hesitation flashing in her eyes.

Lin Chen's Divine Thought swept over, and he sensed that the female knight and the others had no malice, just pure survival instinct: "Let's help them."

He invoked the Law of Thunder. Purple lightning, like a dragon, instantly pierced through the heads of all the magic bears. The magic bears crashed to the ground and dissipated into points of light.

[Ding — Lin Chen's Rank increased to 61!]

[Attributes Updated: Strength 801060, Agility 801060, Physique 801060, Spirit 801360]

The female knight and the others stood frozen in place. After a long while, they reacted and hurriedly stepped forward to thank him: "Thank you, Lord, for saving our lives! We are Survivors from the Holy Light race, and we are willing to serve you!"

Lin Chen waved his hand: "No need, take care of yourselves."

After speaking, he carried Nian Xue and took Clear Snow to turn and leave. The female knight looked at the backs of the three, her eyes full of gratitude, without any covetousness, and hurried away with her companions.

In the afternoon, the three came to an abandoned city. The city was dilapidated, overgrown with weeds among the broken walls, and the air was filled with a faint smell of blood.

"There are people here." Clear Snow stopped abruptly, her nine tails slightly tensed, "And they have hostility."

Lin Chen's Divine Thought spread out, discovering a dozen people hiding deep in the city. Their auras were mixed, including orcs, blood kin, and a few humans, all staring in their direction with greed in their eyes.

"The sword in that woman's hand is a good thing! And the jade pendant on that child, it doesn't look simple at all!"

"Although that man is strong, there are so many of us; a sneak attack will surely succeed!"

Messy discussions came, and several blood kin launched a sneak attack first, turning into a swarm of bats and rushing straight at Nian Xue.

Lin Chen's eyes turned cold. Law Affinity invoked the Law of Light. Dazzling light erupted instantly, and the bat swarm let out shrill screams, turning into ashes.

"Courting death."

His figure flashed, and he appeared in front of the group. Space Law was suddenly activated, and invisible pressure enveloped the whole scene, freezing everyone in place, unable to move.

"You, don't come over! We are people of the Abyss race, the Lord will not let you go!" The leading orc shouted, his tone fierce but weak.

Lin Chen couldn't be bothered to talk nonsense. He tapped his fingertip, and the space instantly contracted. The dozen or so people didn't even have time to scream before they were crushed into flesh, turning into fly ash.

Nian Xue hid in Lin Chen's arms and asked in a low voice: "Daddy, why did they want to grab our things?"

"Because they were too greedy." Lin Chen said softly, "In the future, when you see people like this, just stay far away."

Clear Snow walked forward and gently stroked Nian Xue's head: "With Daddy and Mommy here, no one can hurt you."

The three searched in the abandoned city and found a treasure chest emitting an Origin aura in a dilapidated palace.

[origin treasure chest]

[Quality: Rare]

[Note: Contains origin level rare items]

Lin Chen took out the treasure chest and performed two Sublimations without hesitation: "Let's see what good things are inside."

[Ding — origin treasure chest → Chaos treasure chest → Grandmist Treasure Chest]

The Grandmist Treasure Chest bloomed with Grandmist Purple Qi, and phantoms of the birth and death of the Universe appeared on the box. The aura was majestic and vast, as if it contained the mysteries of the Origin of all things.

Opening the treasure chest, inside lay an old, yellowed book. On the cover, the four ancient characters "Grandmist Ice Canon" were written, emitting a rich aura of the Ice and Snow Law.

[Obtained: grandmist rank · Grandmist Ice Canon]

[Effect: Contains the complete Primordial Ice and Snow Law. After Cultivation, one can control the Ice and Snow Origin.]

Lin Chen handed the ancient book to Clear Snow: "This is suitable for you."

Clear Snow took the ancient book and stroked the cover with her fingertips. The Ice and Snow Law instantly resonated with the ancient book, and her aura began to rise rapidly.

[Ding — Lin Qingxue comprehends the Primordial Ice and Snow Law, Rank increased to 61!]

[Attributes Updated: Strength 1250000, Agility 1690000, Physique 1250000, Spirit 2290000]

"Thank you, Husband!" Clear Snow's eyes were full of joy, and she couldn't wait to read the ancient book, her understanding of the Ice and Snow Law becoming deeper.

In the evening, the three found an intact house to rest. Lin Chen used the Law of Fire to light a bonfire and took out ingredients to start preparing dinner. Nian Xue sat on the gold-grade carpet, playing with the chaos rank Life Jade Pendant, occasionally looking up at the busy Lin Chen, or at Clear Snow reading the ancient book, her little face full of satisfaction.

"Daddy, Nian Xue wants to help too." She stood up, walked staggeringly to Lin Chen's side, and stretched out her small hands.

Lin Chen smiled and pinched her cheek: "Nian Xue is still young. How about you help Daddy when you grow up?"

"Okay!" Nian Xue nodded vigorously and ran back to the carpet to continue playing with the jade pendant.

Clear Snow put down the ancient book and walked to Lin Chen's side, helping him pass ingredients: "Husband, we gained so much today."

"As long as I can keep you and Nian Xue safe, no amount of hard work is worth it." Lin Chen said softly, his eyes full of doting.

During dinner, Nian Xue sat in a special small chair, eating with a small spoon by herself. Although she occasionally spilled some, she learned to eat properly. Lin Chen and Clear Snow patiently helped her wipe her mouth, occasionally putting food in her bowl, and a warm atmosphere permeated the room.

It was late at night. Nian Xue had fallen asleep, lying in the gold-grade crib, with a sweet smile still hanging on the corner of her mouth. Lin Chen and Clear Snow sat by the bed and talked softly.

[Name: Lin Chen] [Race: Perfect Ancient God (Tier 2)] [Rank: 61] [Talent: Sublimation (Unique-grade · Conceptual-level)] [Talent Effect: Can sublimate and advance everything touched/mentally perceived (Tier 1). After Sublimation, the target is permanently bound to the owner, cannot be plundered, no consumption.] [Talent Limit: A single item can be sublimated twice (current form limit, cannot be sublimated further)] [Attributes: Strength 801060, Agility 801060, Physique 801060, Spirit 801360] [Skills: Ancient Gods Body (Enhanced), Ancient Gods Pressure (Enhanced), Ancient Gods Divine Sense (125 km), Law of Thunder (Major Achievement), Space Law (Major Achievement), Law of Light (Major Achievement)] [Characteristic: Law Affinity (Perfection)]

[Name: Lin Qingxue] [Race: Ice and Snow Nine-Tailed White Fox (Transcendence Level)] [Rank: 61] [Talent: Heart of Ice and Snow (mythical-grade) — Increases control efficiency of Ice and Snow Law by 300%, immune to low-temperature damage; Grandmist Ice Soul (Newly Awakened) — Controls Primordial Ice and Snow Law, attacks carry Grandmist cold air] [Attributes: Strength 1250000, Agility 1690000, Physique 1250000, Spirit 2290000] [Skills: Ice and Snow Divine Power (Perfection), Nine-Tails Power (Perfection), Charm (Perfection), Shapeshifting (Perfection), Ice Arrow (Perfection), Ice Domain (Perfection), Grandmist Ice Blade (New Comprehension), Ice and Snow Origin Control (New Comprehension)]

[Name: Lin Nianxue] [Race: Ancient Demon God] [Rank: void-rank] [Rank: 1] [Talent: Void Immunity (void-rank) — Immune to all conceptual, rule-based, and Karma-based attacks] [Attributes: Strength 5000, Agility 5000, Physique 5000, Spirit 5000] [Skills: Not Awakened (comprehended with growth)] [Equipped Items: chaos rank · Life Jade Pendant] [Task Time: 28 days remaining]

"Husband, are we continuing to go deep into the plains tomorrow?" Clear Snow asked softly.

"Well, the depths may have more Opportunities, and we can upgrade faster." Lin Chen nodded, "But we will be careful and won't let you and Nian Xue fall into danger."

Clear Snow leaned into his arms and said softly: "With Husband here, I am not afraid of anything."

Lin Chen held her tighter, his eyes falling on Nian Xue in the crib, his eyes full of firmness. No matter how many dangers were ahead, no matter how many treacherous people he encountered, he would protect his family and let them feel warmth and safety in this cruel world of survival.

The night deepened, the bonfire in the room gradually weakened, and only the warm light enveloped the three, quiet and peaceful.