24: The core of the altar breaks through its origin, and the ancient god at the third level proves the Great Dao.

The cold wind of early morning swept across the Central Altar. The blood-colored energy shield cast an eerie red glow in the faint morning light. Lin Chen handed Nian Xue to Clear Snow. The void-rank sacrifice cannon and the Golden Dragon Guardian Token in his hands lit up simultaneously, their two void halos intertwining in the air to form a key shape.

"Prepare for the Breakthrough. Clear Snow, protect Nian Xue well. The Dragon Clan will contain the Puppets on the perimeter." Before Lin Chen's voice had faded, the key slammed hard into the energy shield.

"Crack—"

The energy shield split open a yard-wide gap. Instantly, ten chaos rank Heavenly Dao Puppets surged out from the gap, their spears wrapped in sacrificial flames, thrusting straight at Nian Xue.

[Monster Name: Heavenly Dao Core Puppet]

[Rank: 78 (chaos rank)]

[Trait: Immune to attacks below origin level, self-destructs upon death to create a sacrificial shockwave]

"Well timed." Lin Chen invoked Void Power, condensing a golden ball of light in his palm. The moment the ball was thrown, the Puppets stiffened completely, then crumbled into fly ash under the crushing force of the Void Power, not even having a chance to self-destruct.

[Ding — Killed 10 chaos rank Heavenly Dao Core Puppets, experience shared]

[Lin Chen Rank: 73]

[Lin Qingxue Rank: 73]

[Lin Nianxue Rank: 13]

Clear Snow held Nian Xue and followed closely behind, her void-rank Ice Crystal Dragon Scale Armor gleaming with a cold light, deflecting all the stray Puppet fragments. Three dragons hovered at the gap, spraying Dragon Breath, burning the incoming Puppets on the perimeter into charcoal.

Just as they stepped into the first level of the altar, a crisp sound of a bowstring came. Arrows carrying Grandmist cold air shot toward Nian Xue, but upon touching the Void Jade Pendant, they instantly rebounded, shooting back the way they came into the darkness.

"Who is it?" Lin Chen's Divine Thought swept over, discovering it was the Elf Clan they had saved earlier — ten elf archers were hiding behind stone pillars, their arrowheads aimed at Lin Chen's back.

[Status: Elf Clan controlled by Heavenly Dao curse, forced to attack void-rank targets]

"It's a curse!" Clear Snow drew her ice crystal sword, and a Grandmist Ice Blade severed the blood-colored threads wrapped around the elves. Lin Chen simultaneously activated the Law of Light, and golden light enveloped the elves; the curses within their bodies instantly dissipated.

"Many thanks, My Lord!" The elf captain knelt on the ground. "We were controlled by the Heavenly Dao curse and nearly made a grave mistake! We are willing to follow Your Lordship to destroy the Ultimate Sacrificial Array!"

Lin Chen nodded, and everyone continued to push forward. In the passage on the second level of the altar, the Heavenly Dao Priest had long since set up a chain sacrificial array — the ground was carved with blood-colored runes, and grandmist rank explosives hung from the ceiling. As long as someone stepped in, it would trigger a double trap.

"Trying to trick us?" Lin Chen sneered, and the Space Law instantly transferred the runes and explosives outside the passage. The five Heavenly Dao Priests who were lying in ambush at the entrance of the passage were blown to pieces by the explosives they had set themselves.

[Ding — Killed 5 chaos rank Heavenly Dao Priests, experience shared]

[Lin Chen Rank: 74]

[Lin Qingxue Rank: 74]

[Lin Nianxue Rank: 14]

Nian Xue poked her head out from Clear Snow's arms, looking at the fire outside the passage: "Daddy, they blew themselves up!"

Lin Chen walked back to his wife and child, wiping the dust from Nian Xue's face: "Evil things will always suffer the consequences of their own actions."

Passing through the second level, the altar's core area finally came into view — three hundred-meter-tall black stone platforms stood in the center. On each platform, a fist-sized blood-colored crystal was suspended; it was the origin pearl of the Heavenly Dao.

[Heavenly Dao origin pearl]

[Rank: 85 (grandmist rank)]

[Function: Supports the Ultimate Sacrificial Array, stores energy of all living beings]

"Finally found it." Just as Lin Chen was about to step forward, a blood-colored light wall suddenly rose around the stone platforms, and a cold consciousness resounded throughout the altar: "Lin Chen, you think you can destroy my plan? Today, both you and that child will become my nourishment!"

Before the words fell, the three origin pearls erupted with red light simultaneously. The stone walls around the altar exploded, and three hundred-foot-tall grandmist rank Heavenly Dao Puppets broke through the ground. The giant axes in the Puppets' hands carried an aura that tore through space, slashing straight at Lin Chen.

[Monster Name: Grandmist Heavenly Dao Puppet]

[Rank: 90 (grandmist rank)]

[Ability: Manipulate origin pearl energy, release sacrificial storm]

"Clear Snow, take Nian Xue and retreat!" Lin Chen leaped up, aiming the void-rank sacrifice cannon at the Puppet's head. A golden beam of light sprayed out, and the first Puppet's head was instantly blasted to pieces, the Grandmist energy within its body dissipating completely.

Clear Snow unfolded her Ice Domain, a void-rank Ice Blade slashing toward the second Puppet's joints, while the dragons simultaneously sprayed Dragon Breath, containing the third Puppet's movements. The jade pendant at Nian Xue's neck suddenly lit up, rebounding the blood-colored light beam shot by the origin pearl; the beam turned and hit the second Puppet's core.

"Chance!" Lin Chen teleported behind the second Puppet, his Ancient Gods Body erupting with golden light, and punched the Puppet in the chest. The Puppet collapsed with a bang, turning into fly ash.

The third Puppet saw that the situation was not good and turned to flee, but was trapped by the Space Law invoked by Lin Chen. The Law of Light and Void Power intertwined to form a golden cage. The Puppet struggled in the cage for a moment, eventually dissolving into points of light.

[Ding — Killed 3 grandmist rank Heavenly Dao Puppets, experience shared]

[Lin Chen Rank: 75]

[Lin Qingxue Rank: 75]

[Lin Nianxue Rank: 15]

The Heavenly Dao consciousness let out a shrill scream: "Impossible! I am not reconciled!" The three origin pearls simultaneously surged with red light, attempting to self-destruct and perish together.

"Want to self-destruct? Too late." Lin Chen activated his concept-level Sublimation Talent, his fingertips touching the three origin pearls simultaneously.

[Ding — grandmist rank Heavenly Dao origin pearl × 3 → void-rank Heavenly Dao origin pearl × 3 (cannot be sublimated further)]

[Attribute Reversal: From "sacrificial energy core" to "pure energy core", can be absorbed and converted into one's own power]

The self-destruct energy of the origin pearls instantly dissipated, turning into a soft golden halo. Lin Chen handed two of them to Clear Snow and Nian Xue: "Absorb this, it can improve your strength."

Clear Snow took the origin pearl, energy surging into her body, her nine tails instantly unfurling, and her Ice and Snow Law becoming even richer. Nian Xue's jade pendant automatically absorbed the origin pearl's energy, the void patterns on its surface becoming clearer.

Just then, at the location where the origin pearls had dissipated, a cluster of pale golden mist emerged — the mist contained pure Ancient Gods energy, which was the key to ascending to the Ancient Gods Rank.

[Ancient Gods Origin Mist]

[Rank: 80 (grandmist rank)]

[Effect: Ancient Gods Rank ascension material, can improve Ancient Gods Bloodline purity]

Lin Chen's heart stirred, and he activated his Sublimation Talent. The mist instantly bloomed with a void halo, condensing into a golden crystal.

[Ding — grandmist rank Ancient Gods Origin Mist → void-rank Ancient Gods origin crystal (cannot be sublimated further)]

[New Effect: 100% ascension to Ancient Gods Rank, no risk of ascension failure]

He gripped the crystal, and it instantly merged into his body. A majestic surge of energy swept through his entire body, his Ancient Gods Bloodline began to boil, golden divine patterns appeared on the surface of his skin, and three pairs of golden Ancient God Wings gradually condensed on his back.

[Ding — Lin Chen successfully ascended to Perfect Ancient God (Tier 3)!]

[Ancient Gods Pressure range increased to 200 kilometers, Law Affinity broke through to "Control" Realm]

The ascension complete, Lin Chen landed beside his wife and child. Clear Snow's eyes were full of surprise: "Husband, you broke through!"

Nian Xue reached out her little hand, touching the wings on Lin Chen's back: "Daddy's wings are so beautiful!"

Lin Chen picked up Nian Xue, his wings gently wrapping around his wife and child, his eyes full of tenderness. At this moment, the blood-colored energy in the altar's core area completely dissipated, the Ultimate Sacrificial Array was declared broken, and the last trace of the Heavenly Dao consciousness also turned into fly ash.

The Elf Clan and the Dragon Clan gathered around, kneeling on the ground one after another: "Congratulations to Your Lordship for breaking the Heavenly Dao conspiracy and saving all races!"

Lin Chen waved his hand: "Get up, this is everyone's joint credit."

In the evening, everyone left the Central Altar and found a safe valley to rest. Lin Chen called up the latest panels for the three of them, confirming their status:

[Name: Lin Chen]

[Race: Perfect Ancient God (Tier 3)]

[Rank: 75]

[Talent: Sublimation (Unique-grade · Concept-grade)]

[Attributes: Strength 1604320 (Level 70 1603520 → Level 71 1603720 → Level 72 1603820 → Level 73 1604020 → Level 74 1604120 → Level 75 1604320), Agility 1604320, Physique 1604320, Spirit 1604620]

[Skills: Ancient Gods Body (Perfection), Ancient Gods Pressure (Perfection), Ancient Gods Divine Sense (200 km), Thunder/Space/Law of Light (Control), Void Power Control (Major Achievement), Ancient God Wings (Newly comprehended, can fly at high speed, release Ancient Gods shockwaves)]

[Trait: Law Affinity (Control)]

[Items: void-rank Heavenly Dao Sacrifice Token, void-rank Golden Dragon Guardian Token, void-rank sacrifice cannon]

[Name: Lin Qingxue]

[Race: Ice and Snow Nine-Tailed White Fox (Transcendence Level)]

[Rank: 75]

[Talent: Heart of Ice and Snow (mythical-grade), Grandmist Ice Soul (origin level), Dragon Scale Guardian (void-rank)]

[Attributes: Strength 2700000 (Level 70 2620000 → Level 71 2630000 → Level 72 2650000 → Level 73 2660000 → Level 74 2680000 → Level 75 2700000), Agility 3550000, Physique 2700000, Spirit 4750000]

[Skills: Ice and Snow Divine Power / Nine-Tails Power / Ice Domain (Perfection), Grandmist Ice Blade / Ice and Snow Origin Control (Perfection), Void Ice Blade (Major Achievement), Ice and Snow Guardian (Newly comprehended, can form void-rank ice and snow barrier)]

[Items: void-rank ice crystal sword, void-rank Ice Crystal Dragon Scale Armor]

[Name: Lin Nianxue]

[Race: Ancient Demon God]

[Rank: void-rank]

[Level: 15]

[Talent: Void Immunity (void-rank)]

[Attributes: Strength 10024 (Level 10 10018 → Level 11 10019 → Level 12 10020 → Level 13 10021 → Level 14 10022 → Level 15 10024), Agility 10024, Physique 10024, Spirit 10024]

[Items: legendary-grade life jade pendant · Enhanced (After absorbing the origin pearl, added "Energy Sharing" effect, can share own energy with parents)]

[Task Time: 23 days remaining]

[Rest Limit: Not enabled]

"Although the Heavenly Dao conspiracy has been broken, there might still be other hidden dangers." Clear Snow leaned against Lin Chen, saying softly.

Lin Chen nodded, hugging his wife and child tightly: "No matter what other dangers there are, as long as our family of three is together, we can handle it."

Nian Xue leaned in Lin Chen's arms, playing with his wings: "Daddy, can we still meet the elf sisters and the big golden dragon in the future?"

"We will." Lin Chen said softly, his gaze looking into the distance — the sky of the Desolate Plains was gradually clearing up, the gray-purple clouds scattering, revealing the long-lost blue.

Breaking the Heavenly Dao conspiracy, ascending to the third tier of the Ancient God, this battle concerning the survival of all races finally came to an end. But Lin Chen knew that this was just the beginning; there were broader worlds waiting for them to explore, and more challenges waiting for them to face.

And he would take Clear Snow and Nian Xue, using the power in his hands and the warmth in his heart, to walk a path of their own in this cruel survival world.