30: Morning march encounters difficulties, aids provided to Shi Fu; reconnaissance of stronghold, foils artillery plot.

The morning light filtered through the crevices of the cavern, falling onto the ice stove condensed by Clear Snow, reflecting tiny specks of light.

Nian Xue was the first to wake. Rubbing her bleary eyes, her small body slid down from the ice chair and she shuffled over to Lin Chen's side.

Lin Chen happened to open his eyes, reaching out to pull her into his embrace, his fingertips gently brushing away the stray hairs on her cheek.

"Daddy, is it dawn?" Nian Xue's voice was still soft and sweet from sleep, her little head leaning against his shoulder and rubbing against it.

"Almost." Lin Chen's voice was very gentle. He turned his gaze to Clear Snow, who was also slowly opening her eyes, her nine tails stretching softly behind her.

Clear Snow stood up and walked to their side. Her fingertips gathered a trace of Ice and Snow Law as she helped straighten Nian Xue's slightly messy clothes.

The Emerald Clan members in the corner of the cavern also woke up one after another. Seeing Lin Chen's family of three, they hurried to stand and greet them, their eyes filled with gratitude and awe.

"My Lord, we discovered a water source outside the cavern last night. We can go there today to replenish some water," the leader of the Emerald Clan stepped forward, his tone respectful.

Lin Chen nodded. "Alright, we'll set off after eating."

Everyone ate some leftover spirit fruits. Nian Xue held a small piece of spirit fruit, nibbling it in tiny bites, occasionally holding it up to Lin Chen's mouth.

After packing their things, the group walked out of the cavern. The morning on the Diamond Floating Island carried a slight chill. Diamond fragments suspended in the air glowed with soft morning light, and the crystal shards on the ground crunched under their feet.

Nian Xue held Clear Snow's hand, stopping from time to time to squat down and look at the small glowing plants by the roadside. With a light touch of her finger, the plants would emit faint flickers of light.

Clear Snow patiently accompanied her, while Lin Chen walked at the front of the group, his Divine Thought quietly spreading out to stay alert for any potential dangers.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, faint sounds of fighting suddenly came from ahead, mixed with a few muffled groans.

Lin Chen paused, his Divine Thought instantly probing the source of the sound—a rocky area a hundred meters away, where three members of the Stone Skin Clan were being besieged by over a dozen members of the Shadow Clan. Cracks had already appeared on the skin of the Stone Skin Clan members; they were clearly about to reach their limit.

"There's a situation," Lin Chen said to those behind him, quickening his pace.

Upon getting closer, it became clear that the Shadow Clan was not charging recklessly. Instead, they were scattered around the rocks, condensing black Origin energy in their hands, occasionally firing energy blades while also quietly setting traps. They were clearly trying to wear down the Stone Skin Clan.

These Shadow Clan members were very cautious, maintaining a safe distance with every attack. As soon as the Stone Skin Clan tried to counterattack, they would immediately retreat, never fighting a battle they weren't sure of winning.

The Stone Skin Clan members leaned against a large rock. One of them had an arm already slashed by an energy blade, with pale gray blood flowing down his arm as his aura grew weaker.

"Daddy, they look so pitiful." Nian Xue pulled on Lin Chen's clothes, her small face full of worry.

Lin Chen stroked her head and said to Clear Snow, "Watch over Nian Xue, I'll handle it."

Clear Snow nodded. Her nine tails gently wrapped around Nian Xue, and the Ice and Snow Law condensed into a thin shield around them.

Lin Chen walked slowly toward the battlefield. The Shadow Clan quickly noticed him. The leader of the Shadow Clan raised a hand to signal his subordinates to stop, staring warily at Lin Chen without attacking immediately—they could feel the diamond-level aura emanating from Lin Chen and knew they were no match, so they wanted to observe first.

"Get lost." Lin Chen's voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable Divine Might.

The Shadow Clan leader's expression changed. He clearly hadn't expected Lin Chen to be so direct. He hesitated for a moment but did not retreat; instead, he gave his subordinates a look—they didn't want to give up the prey they had already caught and wanted to try a sneak attack with traps.

Several black vines suddenly burst from the ground, coiling toward Lin Chen's ankles. This was a hidden trap set by the Shadow Clan, designed to bind an enemy's movements.

Lin Chen's gaze remained unchanged. The Space Law was instantly activated, and the coiling vines were forcibly ripped from the ground, turning to shoot back at the Shadow Clan.

The Shadow Clan's expressions changed drastically. They wanted to dodge but it was too late; the vines instantly entangled their bodies, and black toxins seeped into them along the vines.

Lin Chen gave them no chance to struggle. Void Power spread along the vines, and the Shadow Clan members' bodies instantly froze before turning into pale black Origin crystals scattered on the ground.

Seeing this, the Stone Skin Clan members hurriedly walked out from behind the rock and bowed to Lin Chen. "Thank you, My Lord, for saving our lives!"

"Why were you attacked by the Shadow Clan?" Lin Chen asked, his gaze falling on their injured arms.

The Stone-Skin Clan Leader sighed. "We found an Origin Ore in a nearby mine and wanted to use it to increase our strength. We didn't expect to be targeted by the Shadow Clan. They chased us all the way here, saying they wanted to offer the Ore to the Lord Heavenly Dao."

As he spoke, he pulled a fist-sized Ore from his robes. The Ore glowed with a pale blue light, emitting a diamond-level Origin aura.

"This is the Origin Ore we found. If My Lord does not mind, please take it as our gift of gratitude," the Stone-Skin Clan Leader handed over the Ore.

Lin Chen took the Ore. Touching it lightly with his fingertips, he could feel the pure Origin energy inside. He didn't take it immediately but instead activated his Sublimation Talent.

With the first Sublimation, the Ore's glow changed from pale blue to deep blue. Its grade rose from diamond-level to epic-grade, and its Origin aura doubled in intensity.

With the second Sublimation, the glow turned purple. Its grade rose to Legendary Rank, and its Origin aura was three times stronger than the original—matching the rule of two Sublimations raising the grade by two levels.

The sublimated Ore emitted a soft purple light, and the surrounding air seemed to become denser because of its aura.

Lin Chen broke the Ore into four pieces. He handed one to Clear Snow, one to Nian Xue, one to the Stone-Skin Clan Leader, and kept the last for himself. "Let's share. You all need to increase your strength as well."

The Stone-Skin Clan Leader was stunned for a moment before hurriedly thanking him. After taking the Ore, he couldn't wait to start absorbing it.

Nian Xue held the Ore, her small face full of curiosity. The Ore's energy automatically merged into her body, and the demon god mark on her forehead flashed with a purple light as her Origin concentration slowly rose.

Clear Snow closed her eyes as the Ice and Snow Law merged with the Ore's Origin energy. Her Peak platinum aura became increasingly stable, bringing her one step closer to the diamond-level.

Lin Chen also closed his eyes. The energy of the Origin Ore circulated within his body, and his Early Stage diamond-level Origin concentration rose from 12% to 15%, while the range of his Divine Thought expanded slightly.

At this time, the strength status of the three was as follows:

[Name: Lin Chen]

[Race: Perfect Ancient God (Tier 3)]

[Strength Realm: Early Stage diamond-level (Origin 15%)]

[Talent: Sublimation (Unique Rank · Concept Level)]

[Mastered Abilities: Law of Thunder (Mastery), Space Law (Mastery), Law of Light (Mastery), Void Power (Perfection), Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule (Perfection)]

[Name: Lin Qingxue]

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

[Strength Realm: Peak platinum (Origin 95%)]

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

[Mastered Abilities: Ice and Snow Law (Mastery), Void Ice Blade (Perfection), Ice and Snow Guardian (Perfection)]

[Name: Lin Nianxue]

[Race: Ancient Demon God]

[Strength Realm: Early Stage diamond-level (Origin 14%)]

[Talents: Void Immunity (void-rank), Energy Sharing (void-rank)]

[Mastered Abilities: Void Power (Initial Success), Origin Shield (Initial Success)]

After absorbing the Ore, the Stone-Skin Clan Leader's aura was significantly better. He said to Lin Chen, "My Lord, we previously heard the Shadow Clan say that they have set up a stronghold in the valley ahead. They are collecting more Origin Ores, seemingly to build some 'Origin Core Cannon' to collect Origin energy for the Lord Heavenly Dao."

Lin Chen frowned, understanding dawned on him—the Heavenly Dao was accelerating its collection of Origin. It seemed the "Origin Aggregation" plan had entered a critical stage, and this cannon was likely a weapon used to absorb the Origin of the mission world on a large scale.

"Do you know the exact location of the stronghold?" Lin Chen asked.

The Stone-Skin Clan Leader nodded. "Yes, we secretly followed the Shadow Clan there once. It's in the valley ahead, about half an hour's journey from here."

"Good, take us there to have a look." Lin Chen's tone was firm. He had to destroy this cannon; he couldn't let the Heavenly Dao's plan proceed smoothly.

The group set off toward the valley. Nian Xue got tired after walking for a while, so Lin Chen bent down to pick her up. She naturally wrapped her arms around Lin Chen's neck, playing with a fragment of an Origin crystal in her small hand.

Clear Snow walked beside Lin Chen, her nine tails lightly sweeping the ground as she sensed the surroundings to prevent any sneak attacks from Shadow Clan ambushes.

The Emerald Clan and Stone Skin Clan followed behind, observing the surroundings from time to time and remaining alert—having experienced multiple attacks, they had developed a habit of caution.

After walking for about half an hour, a valley appeared ahead. There was a faint Origin barrier at the entrance of the valley, and a temporary stronghold could be seen inside.

Lin Chen stopped and sent his Divine Thought into the valley—there were fifteen Shadow Clan members busy around a pile of Origin Ores. In the center was a metal frame engraved with dense Heavenly Dao Runes; it was clearly the "Origin Core Cannon" the Stone Skin Clan had mentioned.

The Shadow Clan had a clear division of labor: some were polishing Ores, some were calibrating the cannon frame, and two were on guard at the entrance, completely unaware of the activity outside.

"I'll break the barrier first. You all stay here; don't rush in," Lin Chen said to the group, handing Nian Xue to Clear Snow.

Clear Snow took Nian Xue and softly cautioned, "Husband, be careful."

Lin Chen nodded and walked slowly toward the barrier at the valley entrance. The barrier glowed with a pale black light, with Heavenly Dao Runes flowing over it, clearly reinforced with Heavenly Dao energy.

He raised his hand, condensing Void Power in his palm, and struck the barrier hard.

"Crack—"

A crack instantly appeared in the barrier. The Shadow Clan inside immediately noticed the movement and looked up at the entrance.

The two Shadow Clan guards rushed over, condensing black Origin energy in their hands, trying to repair the barrier.

Lin Chen gave them no chance. The Space Law was instantly activated, and he teleported behind them, releasing his Ancient Gods Pressure.

The two Shadow Clan members' bodies instantly froze. Without even a chance to resist, they were instantly killed by the Void Power, turning into Origin crystals.

Seeing this, the other Shadow Clan members in the valley rushed over, but the moment they approached Lin Chen, they were suppressed by the Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule he released—the Heavenly Dao energy in their bodies instantly became chaotic, making them unable to mobilize their Origin power at all.

Lin Chen's figure flashed as he moved among the Shadow Clan. Every time he raised his hand, a Shadow Clan member turned into a crystal. In just a few moments, all fifteen Shadow Clan members were killed instantly.

Everyone walked into the valley. Seeing the Origin Ores on the ground and the cannon frame in the center, the Stone-Skin Clan Leader pointed at the frame and said, "My Lord, this is the Origin Core Cannon. As long as the Origin Ores are placed into the muzzle, it can absorb the surrounding Origin energy."

Lin Chen walked up to the cannon frame. Touching the Heavenly Dao Runes on it, he could feel the Heavenly Dao energy contained within—once this cannon was completed, the Origin of the entire Diamond Floating Island would likely be absorbed by it, and the Heavenly Dao's strength would increase significantly.

He did not hesitate. Void Power condensed in his palm, and he struck the cannon frame hard.

"Boom—"

The cannon frame instantly shattered, and the Heavenly Dao Runes on it dissipated, completely losing their function.

Lin Chen collected the Origin Ores on the ground—there were over twenty in total, all diamond-level. He activated his Sublimation Talent, raising all these Ores to Legendary Rank, and then distributed them among everyone.

After absorbing the Ores, Lin Chen's Origin concentration rose to 17%, Clear Snow's rose to 98%, and Nian Xue's rose to 16%, bringing them each one step closer to their next Realm.

The Stone-Skin Clan Leader looked at Lin Chen and said firmly, "My Lord, we want to follow you. Wherever you go, we will go. Even if it's against the Heavenly Dao, we are not afraid!"

Lin Chen looked at them and nodded. "Good, it's better to have more people to look out for each other."

The group packed their things and left the valley. By now, the sun had risen to the middle of the sky, and the light of the Diamond Floating Island grew even more dazzling. Lin Chen held Nian Xue, Clear Snow walked beside him, and the members of the Emerald Clan and Stone Skin Clan followed behind.

He knew that the road ahead would be even harder to travel, and the Heavenly Dao's conspiracy was still ongoing. But as long as he had his wife and daughter by his side, and these companions who trusted him, he had the confidence to go on, stop the Heavenly Dao's plan, and protect this world.