32: Stone Crystal leads the way to the secret passage; Dark Crystal ambushes and instantly turns everything to ashes.

The morning wind of Black Stone Valley blew past, carrying the characteristic cold and hard aura of black stone. Lin Chen held the newly awakened Nian Xue; she rubbed her eyes, her small head rubbing against the crook of his neck, still carrying some lingering sleepiness.

"Daddy, where are we going?" Nian Xue's voice was soft, her fingertips gently poking the lapel of Lin Chen's clothes.

"To get something that can make Mommy stronger." Lin Chen lowered his head, gently touching her forehead with his, his tone gentle.

Clear Snow walked by his side, her nine tails swaying gently behind her. She could clearly feel the overflowing Origin within her body—the 100% concentration at platinum Peak made her ready to Breakthrough at any moment; she was only missing that crucial breakthrough crystal.

The Wood Spirit Clan girl, Emerald Clan, and Stone Skin Clan followed steadily behind. The Wood Spirit Clan girl would occasionally touch the plants by the roadside with branches and leaves, sensing the surrounding flow of Origin to prevent any hidden dangers.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, several beings with a faint gray luster suddenly appeared on the road ahead. Their skin was as rough as rock, and they held stone daggers in their hands. Seeing Lin Chen's group, they didn't attack immediately but instead stopped, their eyes full of vigilance.

"It's the Stone Crystal Clan," the Wood Spirit Clan girl said softly. "They live in the nearby Stone Crystal Cave. They have a gentle temperament and generally won't attack unless there's hostility."

The Stone Crystal Clan Leader stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Lin Chen: "Are you all going to the Bone Clan's secret room? We just saw people from the Bone Clan heading that way, carrying quite a few origin crystals."

"Do you know the way to the secret room?" Lin Chen asked, his Divine Thought sweeping over the Stone Crystal Clan, sensing no hostility at all.

The Stone Crystal Clan Leader nodded: "Yes, we live adjacent to the Bone Clan. Their secret passage entrance is behind the black stone next to the Stone Crystal Cave, but there are traps set by the Bone Clan in the passage, making it difficult to pass."

"Could you lead the way for us?" Lin Chen's tone was peaceful, without the slightest sense of pressure.

The Stone Crystal Clan Leader immediately nodded: "Of course. The Bone Clan has been snatching our origin stones these days; we also want to take this chance for revenge."

The group followed the Stone Crystal Clan toward the Stone Crystal Cave. On the way, the Stone Crystal Clan Leader spoke of the Bone Clan's evil deeds—they not only snatched origin stones but also captured Stone Crystal Clan members to refine Origin. Many clansmen had already been killed.

Hearing this, Nian Xue's little brows furrowed, and her small hands tightly gripped Lin Chen's clothes: "The Bone Clan is so bad."

Lin Chen patted her back without speaking, but the coldness in his eyes deepened a bit.

As they neared the Stone Crystal Cave, Lin Chen's Divine Thought suddenly captured several hidden auras—behind the black stone near the secret passage entrance, five members of the Dark Crystal Clan were hidden. Their skin was deep black, and they held bows and arrows made of dark crystal, the arrowheads coated with black venom. They were clearly lying in ambush.

These members of the Dark Crystal Clan were very clever; they didn't reveal themselves, only aiming their bows at the secret passage entrance. They were obviously waiting for someone to approach before launching a surprise attack, refusing to fight a battle they weren't sure of winning.

"There's an ambush," Lin Chen stopped and said to those behind him. "Stay here; I'll handle it."

Clear Snow hurriedly took a step forward, her eyes full of worry: "Husband, be careful of the Dark Crystal Clan's venom. It's said that it will corrode the Origin upon contact."

"Don't worry." Lin Chen nodded, his figure flashing as he teleported behind the black stone.

Before the Dark Crystal Clan could even draw their bows, they were pinned in place by Lin Chen's Ancient Gods Pressure. Their eyes were filled with terror as they tried to mobilize their Origin to resist, only to find that the Origin in their bodies was deathly suppressed; they couldn't even move a finger.

Lin Chen condensed Void Power at his fingertip and gave a light tap. The five members of the Dark Crystal Clan instantly turned to ash, leaving behind only five deep black origin crystals. He bent down to pick up the origin crystals, and as his Divine Thought entered them, he actually sensed a trace of Heavenly Dao energy—these Dark Crystal Clan members were indeed the lackeys of the Heavenly Dao.

"The Dark Crystal Clan belongs to the Heavenly Dao." Lin Chen returned to the group and handed the origin crystals to the Stone Crystal Clan Leader. "Absorb these origin crystals; they can increase your strength a bit."

The Stone Crystal Clan Leader took the origin crystals, gratefully said "thank you," and immediately distributed them to his clansmen for absorption.

The group continued forward and soon reached the secret passage entrance—behind a man-high black stone, a gap only wide enough for one person to pass was hidden. Dense bone runes were carved around the gap, clearly a trap set by the Bone Clan.

The Stone Crystal Clan Leader pointed at the bone runes: "These bone runes will trigger a poison spike trap if touched. Some of our clansmen were injured here before."

Lin Chen stepped forward, condensing Space Law at his fingertip, and lightly swiped across the bone runes—the poison spikes beneath the bone runes were forcibly pulled out, suspended in mid-air, and then crushed by his Void Power, turning into ash.

The gap at the secret passage entrance was widened enough for two people to walk side-by-side. Lin Chen had Clear Snow hold Nian Xue and follow behind him, while the others kept watch outside to prevent any Bone Clan members from returning.

It was pitch black inside the secret passage. Lin Chen condensed a bit of the Law of Light at his fingertip, and a faint golden light illuminated the path ahead. The walls of the passage were covered in slippery moss, the ground beneath was uneven, and scattered bone fragments could occasionally be seen.

Nian Xue hugged Clear Snow's neck tightly, her small head resting on her shoulder, and whispered: "Mommy, it's so dark here."

"Don't be afraid, Daddy is here." Clear Snow gently patted her back, her voice tender.

After walking for about seven or eight minutes, a stone door suddenly appeared ahead. Huge bone runes were carved on the stone door, with a groove in the middle, clearly requiring a key to open.

Lin Chen's Divine Thought probed the stone door and found no traps behind it, only a dense aura of Origin—the breakthrough crystal should be inside. He didn't look for a key but instead pressed his palm directly against the stone door. Void Power flooded in, and the bone runes on the stone door instantly shattered. With a "rumble," the stone door slowly opened.

The secret room behind the door wasn't large. On a stone platform in the center sat a black box, and inside the box lay a fist-sized pale blue crystal. The crystal glowed with a soft light, emitting a diamond-level Origin aura—it was exactly the diamond breakthrough crystal they were looking for.

Lin Chen stepped forward, opened the box, and took the breakthrough crystal in his hand. He didn't immediately give it to Clear Snow but instead activated his Sublimation Talent—with the first touch, the breakthrough crystal's glow changed from pale blue to deep blue, its grade rising from diamond-level to epic-grade, and its Origin aura doubled in intensity.

With the second touch, the glow turned purple, and the grade rose to Legendary Rank. The Origin aura was three times stronger than the original—perfectly matching the rule of rising two ranks with two Sublimations.

The sublimated breakthrough crystal emitted a soft purple light, and the Origin aura in the secret room instantly became dense, even the air seeming to become moist and mild.

Lin Chen turned and handed the breakthrough crystal to Clear Snow: "Absorb it quickly and Breakthrough to the diamond-level."

Clear Snow took the breakthrough crystal, walked to a corner of the secret room, sat down, closed her eyes, and pressed the breakthrough crystal against her chest. The breakthrough crystal's energy slowly merged into her body, and a faint purple halo began to glow around her. Her nine tails slowly unfurled behind her, each tail hair surrounded by dense Origin.

Lin Chen held Nian Xue and stood guard by her side, vigilantly watching the secret room entrance to prevent any Bone Clan members from suddenly barging in. Nian Xue lay in Lin Chen's arms, her eyes wide as she watched the halo on Clear Snow, her little face full of curiosity.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the halo on Clear Snow suddenly surged. The purple light broke through the ceiling of the secret room, and the Origin aura within her body soared accordingly—the barrier of platinum Peak was instantly shattered, and a diamond-level aura spread out, carrying the characteristic chill and majesty of ice and snow.

Clear Snow slowly opened her eyes, a flash of joy in them. She stood up, walked to Lin Chen's side, and gently took his hand: "Husband, I've broken through."

Lin Chen looked at her, his eyes full of smiles: "That's wonderful."

The strength status of the three at this time was as follows:

[Name: Lin Chen]

[Race: Perfect Ancient God (Tier 3)]

[Strength Realm: diamond-level Early Stage (Origin 23%)]

[Talent: Sublimation (Unique Grade · Concept Grade)]

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

[Name: Lin Qingxue]

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

[Strength Realm: diamond-level Early Stage (Origin 5%)]

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

[Mastery Abilities: Ice and Snow Law (Mastered), Void Ice Blade (Perfection), Ice and Snow Guardian (Perfection), diamond-level Ice and Snow Domain (Newly Formed)]

[Name: Lin Nianxue]

[Race: Ancient Demon God]

[Strength Realm: diamond-level Early Stage (Origin 20%)]

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

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

Just then, footsteps suddenly came from the secret room entrance. The Stone Crystal Clan Leader rushed in, his face panicked: "My Lord, this is bad! A group of Bone Clan has come outside. They say they want to take back the breakthrough crystal and that it's something Lord Heavenly Dao wants; no one is allowed to snatch it!"

Lin Chen's eyes turned cold; the lackeys of the Heavenly Dao had indeed chased them again. He held Nian Xue and walked out of the secret room with Clear Snow. Outside, the Bone Clan was already fighting with the Emerald Clan and Stone Skin Clan.

These Bone Clan members were stronger than the previous ones. The leading Bone Clan Priest had already reached the diamond-level Early Stage. He held a bone staff, constantly releasing black Origin energy, and the Emerald Clan and Stone Skin Clan were gradually becoming unable to hold their ground.

"Seeking death." Lin Chen snorted coldly, teleported behind the Bone Clan Priest, and the Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule was instantly activated. The Heavenly Dao energy within the Bone Clan Priest's body instantly became chaotic, and with a miserable scream, his body began to collapse.

Lin Chen didn't give the other Bone Clan members a chance to react. Void Power spread out, and the Bone Clan members turned to ash one after another. In just a few moments, all the Bone Clan members were killed instantly.

The Stone Crystal Clan Leader looked at the ash all over the ground, his eyes full of awe: "My Lord's Divine Might!"

Lin Chen didn't speak, his gaze looking into the distance—the Heavenly Dao constantly sent people to snatch Origin items and breakthrough crystals, clearly accelerating its strength improvement. The "Origin Aggregation" plan was likely drawing closer and closer.

He held Nian Xue, Clear Snow walked by his side, and the people of the Stone Crystal Clan, Wood Spirit Clan, Emerald Clan, and Stone Skin Clan followed behind them. Sunlight bathed them; although the road ahead was still full of danger, everyone's heart held a bit more confidence to confront the Heavenly Dao.