71: Dig deep to extract the core of the origin realm, merge energy to break through the origin.

The golden light on the marsh island grew brighter. Lin Chen held the marsh core bead in his palm, his Divine Thought probing underground—the core was ten zhang deep, glowing with dense golden Origin light.

“Stone Spirit Clan, prepare! Use origin crystal pickaxes to dig. Be careful not to shatter the core!” Lin Chen ordered. The Stone Spirit Clan warriors immediately took out specially made crystal pickaxes.

The crystal pickaxes glowed with golden Origin light. The Stone Spirit Clan Leader shouted, “Apply even force! Stop every three feet and use Divine Thought to check the position!”

The warriors took turns digging. The crystal pickaxes emitted a faint light as they entered the soil, which automatically parted to the sides, revealing the Origin rock layer below.

“We've hit the rock layer!” shouted a Stone Spirit Clan warrior. Lin Chen immediately stepped forward, condensing Origin Realm energy in his palm and gently peeling away the rock layer.

Clear Snow expanded her Ice and Snow Domain, freezing the surrounding soil. “Don't let the soil collapse. Protect the Origin light around the core!”

Nian Xue squatted by the pit, her small hand clutching an origin pearl. “Daddy, is the core coming out soon? I think I see the light!”

A Qing lay by the pit, his Dragon Breath sweeping away the falling soil. “Don't worry, little sister. Lord Lin Chen will reach it very soon!”

Half an hour later, the pit reached ten zhang deep. A basketball-sized Origin Realm Core was finally revealed—it was solid golden crystal, emitting the aura of the Peak Origin Realm, three times purer than the energy of the three fused pearls!

“The core is out!” everyone cheered. Lin Chen carefully lifted the core. It automatically floated to his palm as runes lit up.

“Let's return to the camp to fuse the core first! It's not safe here; it's easy to attract Vicious Beasts!” Lin Chen ordered. The team took the core and headed back to the Origin Clan camp.

On the way, the core's golden light attracted many Origin Spirit butterflies. The swarm of spirit butterflies danced around the core, the light specks from their wings merging into it, making it even brighter.

Nian Xue reached out to touch the core. Its golden light gently rubbed against her hand. Her Origin concentration went from 98.5% (early stage late diamond) to 99.5%. Her small face was full of pleasant surprise.

Returning to the camp, the clans immediately gathered around. The Origin Clan Leader handed over a teleportation talisman for the Origin Altar. “Use the altar to fuse the core. It can stabilize the energy and prevent body explosion!”

Lin Chen activated the teleportation talisman, and everyone instantly arrived at the Origin Altar. The core in his palm resonated with the altar's runes, glowing with dense golden light.

“Strong experts of all clans, surround the altar! Inject your Origin to help me stabilize the energy!” Lin Chen sat cross-legged in the center of the altar, suspending the core above his head.

Clear Snow, the Star Spirit Clan Leader, the Dragon Clan Dragon Guard Leader, and others sat around it. They injected their Origin into the altar simultaneously, and a golden light shield enveloped the altar once more.

The core began to melt. Dense golden origin liquid flowed along the light shield into Lin Chen's body. His Origin concentration soared from 33% (Early Stage Origin Realm) to 40%.

“The energy is so pure! Everyone, keep it up, don't let the energy flow become chaotic!” Sweat beaded on Lin Chen's forehead. He operated the Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule with all his might to guide the energy flow.

Clear Snow's Ice and Snow Domain merged into the light shield, its cold air neutralizing some of the heat. “Hold on, husband! We'll help you control the energy!”

Nian Xue ran to the edge of the altar, her small hand condensing a Void Light Orb. “Daddy, I'll help you!” The light orb merged into the shield, stabilizing the fluctuations.

A Qing breathed out Golden Wing Dragon Breath, which circulated around the altar. “Lord Lin Chen, I'm coming too!” The Dragon Breath wrapped around the light shield, enhancing its stability.

The experts of all clans increased their Origin injection. The Star Spirit Clan Leader's crystal stone shot out golden light, precisely guiding the energy. The Wood Spirit Clan Chief's sacred plant vines wrapped around the altar, slowing the impact.

The core completely melted, and the origin liquid formed a golden stream that surged into Lin Chen's body—concentration 40% → 50% → 60%!

“Boom!” The aura of the Middle Stage Origin Realm erupted. Lin Chen's Divine Thought range instantly expanded to 720 kilometers. His Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule could now crush attacks from the Late Stage Origin Realm.

The light shield expanded, covering the entire team. Everyone's Origin surged simultaneously:

- Clear Snow's Origin concentration: 96% (mid-transcendence) → 99%. Her Ice and Snow Domain expanded to ninety-five zhang, capable of freezing Peak Late Stage Origin Realm attacks;

- Nian Xue: 99.5% (early stage late diamond) → 100%, breaking through directly to the Post-Diamond Middle Stage. Her Void Power covered forty-four zhang;

- A Qing: 60% (mid-transcendence) → 67%. His Dragon Breath became a golden light pillar, capable of penetrating the crystal armor of the Late Stage Origin Realm;

- Star Spirit Clan Leader: Late Transcendence 65% → 75%. His crystal stone light could penetrate the core of the Origin Realm's dense fog;

- Dragon Clan Dragon Guard Leader: 68% → 78%. His golden wings expanded to seven zhang, and his Dragon Breath range increased to ninety zhang;

- Origin Clan Leader: 80% (mid-transcendence) → 90%. His origin staff attacks could shatter the crystal armor of the Late Stage Origin Realm.

The light shield dissipated, and Lin Chen slowly stood up. A ball of dense golden Origin suspended in his palm—it was the “Peak Origin Liquid” after the core's Fusion, which could help people break through to the Middle Stage Origin Realm.

“Everyone, take turns absorbing the Peak Origin Liquid!” Lin Chen broke the Origin ball into small pieces and handed them to everyone:

- After absorbing it himself: 60% → 65% (Middle Stage Origin Realm);

- After Clear Snow absorbed it: 99% → 10% (Early Stage Origin Realm), finally breaking through to the Origin Realm;

- After Nian Xue absorbed it: 100% (Post-Diamond Middle Stage) → 5% (Post-Diamond Middle Stage);

- A Qing: 67% → 74% (mid-transcendence);

- Star Spirit Clan Leader: 75% → 85% (Late Transcendence);

- Dragon Clan Dragon Guard Leader: 78% → 88% (Late Transcendence);

- Origin Clan Leader: 90% → 100% (mid-transcendence), only one step away from the Origin Realm.

The team rested at the altar. The Metal Clan used the dregs of the Peak Origin Liquid to refine twelve bottles of origin realm medicinal liquid. The Spirit Plant Clan used the core fragments to refine four batches of Peak Pills. The Stone Spirit Clan reinforced the altar and carved defensive runes on it.

Nian Xue leaned against A Qing, touching the Origin runes on his dragon wings. “A Qing, your wings are even brighter. Can you take me higher?”

A Qing spread his wings and flew a circle, the runes lighting up. “I can! I'm stronger now. I can take you to the clouds of the Origin Realm!”

Clear Snow walked to Lin Chen's side, her eyes full of gratification. “Husband, we've all broken through. Where to next?”

Lin Chen looked toward the depths of the Origin Realm, his Divine Thought sensing an even denser aura. “To the ‘Origin Peak Platform,’ there is a Peak Origin Realm Legacy there that can help us break through to the Late Stage!”

The Origin Clan Leader stepped forward. “The Peak Platform has a ‘Peak Guardian Beast’ with an aura at the Peak Origin Realm. We'll need the combined strength of all our allies!”

“Let's return to the camp to rest for three days. Once everyone has stabilized their Realms, we'll head to the Peak Platform!” Lin Chen ordered. The team took the dregs of the Peak Origin Liquid and returned to the camp.

The golden light of the altar flickered behind them, and the residual warmth of the Origin Realm Core was still in his palm. The path to the Peak of the Origin Realm was waiting for them to conquer.