49: On their journey to the Wood Spirit Realm, they encounter the Primal Tide and form an alliance with the Wood Spirit Realm to explore the ancient divine traces.

The wind on the Crystal Core Plain carried pale gold crystal dust as A Qing's dragon back moved steadily forward, and the crystal toy in Nian Xue's hand shimmered with tiny points of light.

"Daddy, are the Wood Spirit Clan's homes all trees?" She swung her short legs, her eyes full of anticipation for the new clan.

Lin Chen condensed a strand of life Origin at his fingertips and let it float gently before her: "Yes, the Wood Spirit Clan's trees can talk, and they can even grow spirit fruits."

Clear Snow walked by his side, her nine tails occasionally brushing the ground as she gathered scattered crystal cores into her Storage Pouch: "There are Origin fluctuations twenty miles ahead, it looks like an 'Origin Tide'."

The Star Spirit Clan Leader held up a crystal, its light flickering: "The tide is pale gold; it's not dangerous and can even replenish Origin."

As soon as he finished speaking, a pale gold halo suddenly rose from the ground ahead. Countless Origin light spots drilled out from the soil, converging like a stream into a wave that slowly surged toward the team.

"Everyone, don't hide, absorb the tide's energy!" Lin Chen shouted, being the first to unfold his Divine Thought to guide the light spots into his body.

The Origin Tide enveloped the team, and pale gold light spots entered everyone's bodies through their pores—Lin Chen's Origin concentration steadily rose from 98% to 99%, and his Divine Thought range expanded to 335 kilometers; Clear Snow went from 74% to 76%, her Ice and Snow Law carrying the breath of life as it circulated; Nian Xue went from 92% to 94%, the demon god mark on her forehead flashing with a soft purple-gold light.

Even the Little Dragon Breath A Qing spat out was tinged with pale gold. He wagged his tail excitedly: "Sister, this light is so comfortable! It's like soaking in warm water!"

The tide lasted for fifteen minutes before dissipating, leaving a thin layer of crystal powder on the ground. The Metal Clan members quickly squatted down to collect it—this was excellent Material for refining origin liquid.

"The Wood Spirit Clan's 'Life Forest' is just ahead!" The Star Spirit Clan Leader pointed forward, where the silhouettes of towering ancient trees were faintly visible, their canopies shimmering with emerald life light.

The team quickened their pace. As they approached the forest, several emerald figures suddenly emerged from behind the trees—they were Wood Spirit Clan patrols, similar in size to the Crystal Spirit Clan, wrapped in leaves, with a presence at the Legendary Rank Early Stage.

"Outsiders, stop! The Life Forest does not allow strangers to enter!" The leading Wood Spirit soldier raised a vine spear, his tone wary but not hostile.

Lin Chen pulled out the ally token given by the Crystal Spirit Clan and handed it over: "We are allies of the Crystal Spirit Clan, from the Diamond World, and we wish to visit the Wood Spirit Clan Chief."

The Wood Spirit soldier took the token and pressed his fingertip against it. The token glowed with a pale green light—it was the Crystal Spirit Clan's Origin mark. His expression softened, and he stowed his spear with a bow: "My apologies. The Clan Chief is waiting for you in the Tree Heart Hall."

Following the Wood Spirit soldier into the Life Forest, the branches and leaves of the surrounding ancient trees swayed gently, and gentle voices drifted out: "Welcome, friends from afar. Feel free to eat the spirit fruits here."

Nian Xue's eyes lit up. She ran to a tree bearing red fruit and reached out to pick one, but the branch proactively bent down, handing the fruit to her: "Little child, this one is sweet. Eat up."

"Thank you, Grandpa Tree!" Nian Xue took the fruit and took a big bite. Sweet juice ran down the corners of her mouth, and her Origin concentration rose by another 0.5%, reaching 94.5%.

Clear Snow also picked a spirit fruit and handed it to Lin Chen: "This is a 'life fruit.' It can repair Origin damage and is even more precious than the previous crystal fruits."

Lin Chen took a bite. The fruit was crisp and sweet, and the Origin consumed by his Sublimation was instantly replenished. His 99% Origin concentration became even more solid—he was only 1% away from the Diamond Mid-Stage.

After walking for about twenty minutes, they arrived at the Tree Heart Hall in the center of the forest—this hall was built on the trunk of a ten-thousand-foot-tall ancient tree. The trunk was covered in life runes, radiating thick vitality.

The Wood Spirit Clan Chief was already waiting outside the hall. He was an old man with green hair and a beard, wearing a leaf robe that shimmered with pale gold light. His aura was at the Legendary Rank Late Stage: "Welcome, Lord Lin Chen. The Crystal Spirit Clan already sent word that you would be coming."

Entering the Tree Heart Hall, the pillars inside were living trees, and the 'life lamps' at the top were formed from Origin light spots, illuminating the entire hall.

"We already know about your lordship helping the Crystal Spirit Clan sublimate their core crystal core." The Clan Chief handed over a cup of pale green liquid. "This is 'life dew,' which can enhance life Origin."

Lin Chen took it and drank. A warm current slid down his throat, and the life Origin in his body instantly boiled. Although the Origin concentration didn't rise, it became more stable than before.

Clear Snow and Nian Xue also drank a cup each. Clear Snow's Ice and Snow Law gained a hint of vitality, and Nian Xue's Void Power could slightly nourish plants—the table she touched actually sprouted tiny green buds.

"The young one's Void Origin can actually nourish life; it is truly rare." The Clan Chief stared at Nian Xue, his eyes full of surprise. "In the records of the Ancient God Clan, only the Void Clan could achieve this."

"Ancient God Clan?" Lin Chen caught the keyword. "They are in the center of the Legendary Level World, right?"

The Clan Chief nodded and took out a beast-skin map: "The Ancient God Clan is the oldest clan in the Legendary Level World. They possess the 'Origin Legacy' and can help people break through Realms. But they rarely see outsiders unless one has a 'Legacy Token'."

He pointed to the 'Ancient God Altar' in the center of the map: "That is the habitat of the Ancient God Clan. On the altar is an 'origin inheritance orb,' which is the key to breaking through the Legendary Rank."

Lin Chen took the map and noticed that the area near the Ancient God Altar was marked as a 'Dark Crystal Clan Remnant Gathering Point'—it seemed that to go to the Ancient God Clan, he would first have to clear out the remnants.

"We want to ally with the Wood Spirit Clan to fight the Dark Crystal Clan remnants together, and we also want to pass through to the Ancient God Altar," Lin Chen said solemnly.

The Clan Chief agreed immediately: "We couldn't ask for more! The Dark Crystal Clan often comes to steal our life fruits; we've wanted to deal with them for a long time!"

He summoned ten Wood Spirit Clan warriors, all at the Legendary Rank Early Stage: "They are familiar with the terrain. They will go with you and can also help you sense life Origin."

The team rested in the Tree Heart Hall for half an hour. The Wood Spirit Clan prepared a large number of life fruits and life dew, filling three Storage Pouches—these were important supplies for exploring the Ancient God Altar.

Nian Xue had a great time playing with the Wood Spirit children. She shared the crystal toys given by the Crystal Spirit Clan with them, and the Wood Spirit children gave her small baskets woven from leaves in return.

"Sister, this basket can hold spirit fruits and keep bugs away!" A little Wood Spirit handed her the basket, smiling to reveal green teeth.

Nian Xue took the basket and said happily, "Thank you! I'll use it to bring fruits for you to eat later!"

Before departure, the Clan Chief handed Lin Chen a green 'Life Talisman': "Crush it if you encounter danger; it can summon support from the Wood Spirit Clan within a range of a thousand miles."

Lin Chen took the talisman and put it in his Storage Pouch: "Thank you, Clan Chief. We will visit again after we clear the Dark Crystal Clan remnants."

As the team left the Life Forest, the branches and leaves of the ancient trees waved one after another, as if saying goodbye: "Be careful on the road, and remember to come back often to eat spirit fruits!"

Nian Xue sat on A Qing's dragon back, waving her little hand: "Goodbye, Grandpa Tree! Goodbye, Wood Spirit brothers!"

The team advanced toward the Ancient God Altar. The Star Spirit Clan Leader held up a crystal, its light pointing steadily toward the center: "The Dark Crystal Clan remnants are ten miles west of the Ancient God Altar. There are fifty of them, and the leader is at the Legendary Rank Middle Stage."

Lin Chen's Divine Thought swept over and indeed sensed a thick Dark Crystal aura—they were surrounding a Life Tree, seemingly absorbing the tree's Origin.

"These fellows are actually destroying life Origin!" Anger flashed in Clear Snow's eyes as the Ice and Snow Law condensed in her palm. "Let's go stop them!"

Lin Chen nodded and quickened his pace: "Metal Clan and Wood Spirit warriors, circle around to the rear. The Elf Clan and Dragon Guards will provide a frontal distraction. Clear Snow and I will deal with the leader!"

The team acted according to plan. The Metal Clan carried laser cannons and quietly circled behind the Dark Crystal Clan, while the Wood Spirit warriors protected the Life Tree with vines to prevent further Origin loss.

"Do it!" At Lin Chen's command, the Elf Clan fired a volley of arrows and the Dragon Guards spat Dragon Breath. The frontal attack instantly drew the Dark Crystal Clan's attention.

The Dark Crystal Clan leader raised his weapon to counterattack, but Lin Chen and Clear Snow had already teleported to his side—Lin Chen's Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule struck his core, while Clear Snow's Ice and Snow Blade pierced his limbs.

The leader screamed as his body turned into crystal fragments, leaving behind only a Legendary Rank Middle Stage crystal core. Seeing their leader killed, the other Dark Crystal Clan members tried to flee, but were blocked by the Metal Clan's laser nets and the Wood Spirit Clan's vines. In a few moments, they were all surrounded and killed, yielding fifty Legendary Rank crystal cores.

Lin Chen picked up the leader's crystal core and activated Sublimation—the first time turned it to Legendary Rank Late Stage, and the second time reached origin level, making the Origin aura ten times thicker. He broke the crystal core into small pieces and distributed them for everyone to absorb.

After absorbing it, Lin Chen's Origin concentration finally broke through from 99% to 100%. The aura of the Diamond Early Stage erupted and then steadily solidified, finally settling at the Diamond Mid-Stage! His Divine Thought range expanded to 340 kilometers, and he could clearly sense the aura of the origin inheritance orb on the Ancient God Altar.

Clear Snow went from 76% to 78%, her Ice and Snow Domain now capable of freezing Legendary Rank Middle Stage Origin attacks; Nian Xue went from 94.5% to 96.5%, her Void Power able to directly neutralize the Dark Crystal Clan's Origin; three of the Wood Spirit warriors also broke through from Legendary Rank Early Stage to Middle Stage.

"I've finally broken through to the Diamond Mid-Stage!" Lin Chen clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body. "Next, we go to the Ancient God Altar to find the origin inheritance orb!"

After a short rest, the team continued toward the Ancient God Altar. The direction of the Ancient God Altar drew closer, and the Origin aura there grew thicker. They could faintly see the silhouette of an altar shimmering with golden light—the Legendary Rank Origin inheritance was waiting for them just ahead.