62: On the island of Benyuan, allies gathered to prepare their forces, discussed tactics, and vowed to cross the Transcendental Gap.

The morning light on Origin Island was tinged with the golden hue of the divine fire. In the spirit fields outside the Stronghold, the sacred plant seeds had already sprouted, their tender shoots shimmering with a faint golden light.

"All members of the Crystal Spirit Clan are present! We have brought sixty bottles of origin liquid and thirty Legendary Rank warriors!" The Crystal Spirit Elder's voice echoed through the Stronghold, as his clansmen behind him carried crystal core weapons.

Lin Chen stepped forward to welcome the arriving allies: the Wood Spirit Clan brought fifty sacred plant seedlings, the Stone Spirit Clan pushed ten stone artillery platforms, the Dragon Clan Branch Dragon Guards spread their golden wings, and the Elf Clan Archers readied their light arrows.

"The Spirit Plant Clan has arrived! We bring twenty furnaces of origin pearl pills and ten Alchemists!" The Spirit Plant Clan Chief arrived pushing a Pill Furnace, from which the fragrance of medicine wafted.

The Transcendence Clan and Sea Spirit Clan followed closely behind—the Transcendence Clan carried purple crystal shields, and the Sea Spirit Clan drove three Deep Sea War Chariotss, their hulls embedded with origin pearls.

The Star Spirit Clan Leader held a crystal stone while counting the heads: "A total of two hundred and thirty people from all clans have gathered, including fifty-six Transcendence Level experts and one hundred and seventy-four Legendary Rank warriors!"

Standing on the high platform in the center of the Stronghold, Lin Chen condensed Origin Fire in his palm, his voice reaching everyone present: "We gather today as an alliance for one purpose—to brave the Transcendence Sea Trench and ascend the Transcendence Holy Temple!"

The crowd below responded in unison, their voices creating ripples on the sea surface. A Qing spread her dragon wings and flew into the air, breathing a golden Dragon Breath toward the sky, carving out a trail of light.

"Prepare the armaments first!" Lin Chen ordered, and the various clans immediately went into action:

- The Metal Clan forged Purple Crystal into laser cannons and mounted them on the Deep Sea War Chariotss;

- The Wood Spirit Clan planted sacred plant seedlings around the war chariots and used origin liquid to accelerate their growth;

- The Stone Spirit Clan reinforced the war chariots' armor and embedded anti-slip stone patterns on the bottom;

- The Spirit Plant Clan Alchemists set up Pill Furnaces to refine emergency healing pills on the spot;

- The Sea Spirit Clan warriors taught everyone how to use the "Deep-Sea Breathing Talisman," which allowed them to breathe underwater for six hours.

Nian Xue and the Little Sea Spirits helped distribute the breathing talismans. She stuck a talisman onto A Qing's dragon scales: "A Qing, with this, you can hold your breath in the sea!"

A Qing nodded and breathed a Little Dragon Breath to dry the talisman: "Now I can protect my little sister in the sea!"

Clear Snow and the various clan leaders gathered around the Origin Record Map to study the terrain of the Transcendence Sea Trench: "The trench is divided into three sections—the shallow trench has undercurrents, the middle trench has crystal cluster reefs, and the deep trench is the entrance to the Holy Temple, where the guardian beast resides."

The Sea Spirit Leader pointed to a red dot on the map: "The undercurrents in the shallow trench surge every half hour; we must pass through during the ebb tide. The crystal cluster reefs in the middle trench are very slippery, so the war chariots must be driven slowly."

"The guardian beast is the 'Transcendent Sea Jiao,' hundreds of feet long, capable of breathing black tides that can corrode anything. It fears divine fire and the life Origin of sacred plants." The Spirit Plant Clan Chief added, handing over a bag of sacred plant powder, "Sprinkling this on weapons can break its defense."

Lin Chen pointed his finger at the deep trench on the map: "We will act in three teams—"

1. vanguard team: Twenty members consisting of Dragon Clan Branch Dragon Guards and Transcendence Clan warriors. They will use two war chariots to scout the way. Clear Snow will lead the team and use her ice and snow to freeze the undercurrents;

2. main force team: One hundred members from the Metal Clan, Stone Spirit Clan, and Elf Clan. They will use five war chariots. I will lead the team, responsible for breaking through the crystal cluster reefs and confronting the guardian beast;

3. Support Team: One hundred and ten members from the Crystal Spirit Clan, Wood Spirit Clan, Spirit Plant Clan, and Sea Spirit Clan. They will use three war chariots. The Star Spirit Clan Leader will lead the team, responsible for supplies and healing.

The clan leaders took their orders. The vanguard team was the first to board the war chariots to calibrate their equipment. Clear Snow expanded her Ice and Snow Domain, freezing a layer of ice armor onto the war chariots' hulls: "This will prevent corrosion from the undercurrents."

The Metal Clan warriors of the main force team coated the laser cannons with sacred plant powder, making the muzzles glow with a faint green light. The Stone Spirit Clan fixed stone artillery platforms to the tops of the war chariots, ready to fire stone projectiles at any time. The Elf Clan Archers wrapped their arrow feathers with sacred plant vines, their tips sparkling with purifying light.

The Spirit Plant Clan Alchemists of the Support Team packed healing pills into small bags. The Sea Spirit Clan warriors checked the power cores of the Deep Sea War Chariotss to ensure they could travel in the trench for a long time.

During the break, Lin Chen distributed the purified Origin energy to the experts of each clan: "Only by achieving a Breakthrough in your Realm can you better face the guardian beast. Everyone, absorb this as quickly as possible."

He himself absorbed a mass of high-purity Origin; his concentration rose from 10% (after Late Diamond Stage) to 20%, and his Divine Thought range expanded to 410 kilometers, allowing him to clearly sense the guardian beast's aura in the direction of the trench. After Clear Snow absorbed it, her concentration went from 33% (after Late Diamond Stage) to 43%, and her Ice and Snow Domain could cover fifty feet. After Nian Xue absorbed it, hers went from 18.5% (early Late Diamond Stage) to 23.5%, and her Void Power could cover eighteen feet. A Qing reached 30% after her Breakthrough to the Early Stage of the Transcendence Level, her dragon wings shimmering with golden-purple light.

After the experts of each clan absorbed the Origin, their strength increased significantly: the Star Spirit Clan Leader went from Late Stage of the Transcendence Level to Late Stage 5%; the Dragon Guard Leader went from Late Stage of the Transcendence Level to Late Stage 8%; and five people each from the Wood Spirit Clan and Stone Spirit Clan broke through to the Early Stage of the Transcendence Level.

In the evening, a celebratory banquet was held at the Stronghold. The Spirit Plant Clan served freshly refined origin pearl pills, the Sea Spirit Clan offered roasted Origin Fish, and the Crystal Spirit Clan brought out crystal fruit wine. Everyone sat together in a lively atmosphere.

"We set out tomorrow morning!" Lin Chen raised his cup. "Once we break through the Transcendence Sea Trench, we will ascend the Holy Temple and break through to Transcendence together!"

"Ascend the Holy Temple! Break through to Transcendence!" Everyone raised their cups in response, their voices shaking Origin Island. The light of the divine fire flickered in the night sky like an eternal spark.

The next morning, the team finished gathering. Eight Deep Sea War Chariotss lined up in formation. The sacred plant seedlings had already grown to half a foot tall, their leaves shimmering with protective light.

"vanguard team, move out!" At Clear Snow's command, two war chariots started up and headed toward the depths of the Origin Sea, leaving faint blue water trails behind them.

Lin Chen led the main force team close behind. The laser cannons on the war chariots glowed with a faint golden light, and the Elf Clan Archers vigilantly watched the sea surface. The Support Team's war chariots were loaded with supplies, and the Spirit Plant Clan Alchemists were ready to refine pills at any time.

Nian Xue sat in a war chariot of the main force team, looking at the schools of fish outside through a coral window. A Little Sea Spirit stayed by her side and handed her a pearl jelly: "Eat this; it will make your Origin more stable."

A Qing lay on top of the war chariot, her dragon wings spread in a defensive posture. Suddenly, she shouted, "Undercurrent ahead! The tide is receding! Hurry through!"

Clear Snow immediately ordered, "Full power to the Ice and Snow Domain! Freeze the edges of the undercurrent!"

Faint purple cold air surged from the vanguard team's war chariots, instantly freezing an ice path on the sea surface. The war chariots of the main force and Support Teams moved quickly along the ice path, successfully passing through the shallow trench.

Upon reaching the middle trench, the crystal cluster reefs stood like a forest of stone, their surfaces shimmering with a greasy, watery light. A Sea Spirit Clan warrior shouted, "Drive the war chariots slowly! Use stone anchors to secure them!"

The Stone Spirit Clan warriors threw out stone anchors, their claws firmly gripping the reefs, allowing the war chariots to travel steadily through the forest of reefs. Suddenly, a crystal cluster fell from the top of a reef. A Qing immediately breathed a Dragon Breath, blasting the cluster into fragments: "Everyone, be careful!"

The main force team's laser cannons were on standby, ready to destroy any loose crystal clusters in advance to ensure the safe passage of the war chariots. Three hours later, the team finally reached the entrance of the deep trench—the seawater here was thick and black, and in the distance, the outline of a Holy Temple shimmering with golden light was faintly visible. The aura of the guardian beast hit them head-on.

Lin Chen ordered the convoy to stop, and the clan leaders gathered at the main war chariot: "The guardian beast is inside. Everyone, act according to the plan. The vanguard team will scout the way first, and the main force team will prepare to attack!"

Clear Snow led the vanguard team as they drove their war chariots slowly into the deep trench, her Ice and Snow Domain condensing into thick ice armor outside the vehicles. Lin Chen gripped the Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule, the Origin Fire in his palm burning fiercely. Nian Xue's Void Power condensed in her palm, ready to provide support at any moment.

The darkness within the deep trench grew thicker, with only the lights of the war chariots and the glow of the sacred plants illuminating the path ahead. The aura of the guardian beast drew closer—the final obstacle to the Transcendence Holy Temple was about to be breached by them.