7: Both reborn and ascended to higher ranks, their crimson makeup reflected in the icy realm.

The slaughter on the Shattered Battlefield continued. Lin Chen and Lin Qingxue moved like two streaks of light, weaving among the bones and broken walls.

[Remaining mission time: 120 hours]

Lin Chen's Divine Thought covered a range of 85 kilometers, leaving no trace of any bronze-grade monster hidden. His fists fell, precisely shattering the monsters' vital points. The power of the Ancient Gods Body grew more refined with each kill.

Lin Qingxue held the platinum-grade ice soul bow. Wherever her arrows struck, ice and snow spread. The penetration of the Ice Arrow, combined with the area control of the Ice and Snow Divine Power, allowed her to navigate the battlefield with ease, and her Rank rapidly approached 40.

That afternoon, the two eliminated the last group of Bronze Scale Beasts in a ruin. The System notification sounded simultaneously.

[Ding—Congratulations, host, your Rank has increased to 40!]

[Ding—Detected host has reached Rank 40. Perfect Ancient God Bloodline Awakening. Unlocked Trait: Law Affinity]

[Ding—Congratulations, pet Lin Qingxue, your Rank has increased to 40!]

[Ding—Detected Lin Qingxue has reached Rank 40. Ice and Snow Nine-Tailed White Fox Bloodline fully Awakened. Evolved to adult form. Unlocked Skill: Ice Domain]

Two beams of light burst forth simultaneously, enveloping them.

Lin Chen felt as if some shackle within him had shattered. A wondrous sensation of resonance with heaven and earth surged through his body. He did not gain a new skill, but he could clearly sense the flow of elements like wind, earth, water, and fire around him, as if with a single thought he could summon the power of heaven and earth.

[Name: Lin Chen]

[Race: Perfect Ancient God (Second Stage)]

[Rank: 40]

[Attributes: Strength 200150, Agility 200150, Physique 200150, Spirit 200225]

[Skills: Ancient Gods Body (Enhanced), Ancient Gods Pressure (Enhanced), Ancient Gods Divine Sense (Range expanded to 90 kilometers)]

[Trait: Law Affinity (Can resonate with the Laws of heaven and earth, evolving all things, including but not limited to abilities such as skills, flight, etc.)]

He attempted to mobilize Law Affinity. With a slight thought, a current of air rose beneath his feet, lifting him slowly into the air.

"So this is Law Affinity?" Lin Chen hovered in midair, feeling the support of the wind element, a smile curving at the corner of his mouth. "Indeed, it's more useful than any skill."

On the other side, Lin Qingxue's transformation was even more astonishing.

After the light dissipated, the little girl who had looked five or six years old had grown into a slender young woman. Her snow-white hair hung down to her waist, her fox ears were lively, her nine tails fluffed and stretched, and her sapphire-like eyes remained clear but now held a hint of maturity and Charm.

[Pet Name: Lin Qingxue]

[Race: Ice and Snow Nine-Tailed White Fox (mythical-grade)]

[Rank: 40]

[Attributes: Strength 220, Agility 330, Physique 200, Spirit 480]

[Skills: Ice and Snow Divine Power (Enhanced), Nine-Tails Power (Enhanced), Charm (Enhanced), Shapeshifting, Ice Arrow (Enhanced), Ice Domain (Active)]

[Ice Domain (Active): Deploy an Ice Domain with a diameter of 50 meters. Within the Domain, greatly increase the power of ice and snow skills, and reduce enemy movement speed and attack speed.]

"Lin Chen... brother..." Lin Qingxue looked at her transformed figure, then at Lin Chen floating in the air. Her cheeks flushed, her voice tinged with shyness yet also with anticipation.

Lin Chen landed, his gaze falling on her. He sighed inwardly. The timid little fox had finally grown up.

"Clear Snow, congratulations."

Lin Qingxue stepped forward, gently taking Lin Chen's hand. Her fingertips were icy, but her eyes burned with intensity. "Lin Chen brother, I've grown up."

She paused, gathered her courage, and her voice, though soft, was crystal clear: "You said that when I grew up, you would marry me."

Lin Chen looked at her earnest expression, recalling how she had clung to him when they first met, and the days of fighting side by side. In his heart, he had already accepted her.

He took her hand in return and nodded. "I said that."

Lin Qingxue's eyes lit up instantly, as if filled with starlight. She stood on tiptoe and gently kissed Lin Chen on the cheek. Her nine tails unconsciously wrapped around his waist.

"Lin Chen brother..." her voice trembled. "Tonight... can we stay together?"

The afterglow of the sunset spilled over the ruins, stretching their shadows long. Lin Chen looked at the redness at the corners of her eyes, his heart softening, and gently replied, "Okay."

Night fell. Lin Chen found a relatively intact stone house, cleaned it with the power of the Ancient God, and took out a gold-grade sofa to make a temporary bed.

Lin Qingxue sat on the edge of the bed, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. Her snow-white fox ears twitched slightly.

Lin Chen walked over, sat beside her, and said softly, "Don't be afraid."

He raised his hand and gently stroked her fox ears. The tips of his fingers felt a soft touch. Lin Qingxue squinted comfortably, leaned her head on his shoulder, and whispered, "Lin Chen brother, I'm not afraid. I'm just... very happy."

She lifted her head and kissed Lin Chen on the lips.

The kiss went from shy to passionate. Her nine tails unconsciously tightened, entwining them closely. Lin Chen could smell the faint fragrance of ice and snow on her, feel her slight trembling, and his heart was filled with tenderness and pity.

He picked her up and gently laid her on the sofa, his movements careful. Lin Qingxue closed her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering, her cheeks flushed. She let Lin Chen remove her furry little skirt, revealing skin as white as jade.

Moonlight streamed through the stone window, illuminating the delicate snow-colored down on her body and the preciousness in Lin Chen's eyes.

"Lin Chen brother..." she murmured softly, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck.

Lin Chen lowered his head, kissing away the shyness at the corners of her eyes, and whispered in her ear, "I'm here."

The night deepened. The temperature inside the stone house seemed to rise. The Ice Domain unconsciously expanded and retracted, carrying the maiden's shyness and emotion. Her nine tails sometimes tensed nervously, sometimes relaxed gently, reflecting the moonlight like flowing snow-colored silk.

Lin Chen felt the softness and dependence in his arms, his movements becoming even gentler. He could clearly feel her trust, and he responded with his own feelings.

After an unknown length of time, Lin Qingxue curled up in Lin Chen's arms, her cheeks flushed, her breath slightly rapid, her nine tails limply draped over his waist.

"Lin Chen brother..." she said softly, her voice lazy and husky.

"Hmm?"

"Will we... have a baby?"

Just then, the System notification sounded inopportunely:

[Ding—Detected cross-species union, conforming to life reproduction rules. Possibility of pregnancy exists.]

Lin Chen was taken aback, then laughed. Even the System had to butt in.

He stroked Lin Qingxue's long hair and said gently, "We will, just not sure when."

Lin Qingxue happily nuzzled his chest, her eyes sparkling. "Then we have to stay together forever, waiting for the baby to be born."

"Okay."

She yawned, growing drowsy, and soon fell fast asleep in Lin Chen's arms, a satisfied smile still on her lips.

Lin Chen held her, feeling the warmth in his arms, his heart at peace. He looked out the window at the night sky. Law Affinity allowed him to sense the movement of the stars.

Law Affinity at Rank 40, Ice Domain at Rank 40, and her in his arms...

[Remaining mission time: 119 hours]

Lin Chen lowered his head and gently kissed Lin Qingxue on the forehead.

"Sleep. Leave the rest of the mission to me."

He channeled the power of the Ancient God, setting up a layer of defense outside the stone house. His Ancient Gods Divine Sense spread out, alert to the surroundings.

The night wind blew through the ruins, carrying a faint smell of blood, but it could not blow away the warmth inside the stone house.

Lin Chen held the person in his arms, feeling her steady breathing, a smile lingering on his lips.

Perhaps this was the warmest haven in Survival in Ten Thousand Realms.

As for pregnancy...

He looked down at Lin Qingxue's serene sleeping face, anticipation in his heart.

Whether a boy or a girl, they would have clear blue eyes like hers.

Thinking this, he gradually closed his eyes and fell asleep with her.

The danger of the Shattered Battlefield remained, but as long as they had each other, they feared nothing.