79: Merge the origin core to unlock the pinnacle realm, conquer three trials and battle beasts to seize the inheritance.

Crystal lamps in the base glowed with warm light. The Spirit Plant Clan's last batch of Energy-Replenishing Pills was out of the furnace, their medicinal fragrance wrapped in the aura of Origin.

Lin Chen held the Origin Core in his palm. Golden patterns flowed on the core's surface, resonating with the peak crystal and Supreme Crystal.

"Metal Clan, reinforce the realm gate! Embed crystal flakes in the door hinges to prevent cracking when it opens!" Lin Chen ordered, and the warriors melted crystals to embed them in the hinges.

Clear Snow expanded her Ice and Snow Domain, her cold Qi condensing into an ice shield. "I'll freeze the turbulent flow around the realm gate to stabilize the opening energy."

Nian Xue squatted beside A Qing the dragon, her small hand touching the core. "Daddy, will there be many powerful beasts after the gate opens?"

A Qing spat a Little Dragon Breath, his dragon scales shimmering with golden light. "Even if there are, I'm not afraid! I can burn them and protect my sister!"

The Star Spirit Clan Leader held up a crystal stone. "There are three gates within ten miles of the Peak Realm. The aura of the Guardian Beast at each gate is at the Late Stage of the Supreme Realm!"

Lin Chen nodded. "Divide into three teams to pass the gates! The vanguard team clears obstacles, the main force team attacks the beasts, and the Support Team replenishes energy!"

The clan leaders took their orders: the vanguard team (Wood Spirit, Sea Spirit, Supreme Clan) would clear the first gate; the main force team (Metal, stone spirit, Dragon Clan) would attack the second gate; the Support Team (Crystal Spirit, Elf, Star Spirit) would stay back to provide energy.

The Spirit Plant Clan handed out Peak Pills. "Taking this will increase combat power by forty percent for one hour. Everyone, keep them ready!"

Everyone swallowed the pills, and their Origin concentration rose slightly: Lin Chen 32% (Late Stage Origin Realm) → 32.5%; Clear Snow 75% → 75.5%.

Nian Xue 55% (Middle Stage Late Diamond) → 55.5%; A Qing 33% → 33.5%; Star Spirit Clan Leader 35% → 35.5%.

The Metal Clan set up laser cannons by the realm gate. "The cannon's power is increased by seventy percent. It can break the scales of Peak beasts. We're ready to support at any time!"

The Stone Spirit Clan stacked crystal shields into a formation, with beast-warding runes carved on the surfaces. "It increases resistance to beast collisions by thirty percent. We'll protect the team as they pass through!"

Lin Chen placed the three crystals on the realm gate in order: the Origin Core (center), peak crystal (left), and Supreme Crystal (right), and injected Origin.

"Everyone, inject energy simultaneously!" Lin Chen shouted. The Origin from each clan poured in, and the golden patterns on the realm gate brightened to the extreme as it slowly opened.

Pale golden light spilled from the crack in the door. The Origin aura of the Peak Realm rushed out, its concentration ten times higher than that of the Supreme Realm.

The vanguard team was the first to step into the realm gate. Clear Snow led the team, her Ice and Snow Domain open. "The first gate is three miles ahead. Move quickly!"

The main force team followed closely behind. Lin Chen brought up the rear, his Divine Thought expanding to 880 kilometers, detecting the Guardian Beast of the first gate—the Golden-Patterned Tiger, at the Late Stage of the Supreme Realm.

After traveling three miles, the first gate appeared: a stone gate carved with 'Golden Tiger Pass.' Behind the gate lay the Golden-Patterned Tiger, thirty zhang long, its claws shimmering with crystal light.

"vanguard team, go!" Clear Snow ordered. The Wood Spirit Clan shot vines to entangle the tiger's claws, and the Sea Spirit Clan sprayed Origin Water.

Supreme Clan warriors struck the tiger's core with their staves. The tiger roared, broke free from the vines, and pounced at Clear Snow. Clear Snow stabbed the tiger's leg with an ice spear. "Freeze!"

The tiger's leg froze, and its movements slowed abruptly. The Metal Clan's laser cannons provided support, firing beams into the tiger's eyes. Blinded, the tiger crashed around wildly.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the tiger collapsed and turned into spots of light, leaving behind a Late Stage Supreme Realm crystal core. The Support Team collected the crystal.

Clear Snow absorbed half of the crystal core, 75.5% → 76.5%; the Wood Spirit Clan Chief 3% (Early Stage Origin Realm) → 4%.

The team continued forward. The second gate was five miles away, guarded by the Silver-Patterned Lion, with an aura at the Peak of the Late Stage Supreme Realm.

"main force team, go!" Lin Chen teleported to the lion's side and struck its core with the Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule. "Bang!" Patterns appeared on the lion's core.

The Dragon Clan Dragon Guards struck the lion's head with their golden wings, and Dragon Breath burned its mane. The Stone Spirit Clan's crystal cannons hammered the lion's back, and the Metal Clan's cannons bombarded its core.

Nian Xue sat on A Qing's back and threw a Void Light Orb. "Take this to the head!" The orb exploded, numbing the lion's nose and causing its aura to drop.

A Qing circled behind the lion and shot Dragon Breath at its tail. "Burn!" The tail was scorched, and the lion, in pain, lashed its tail at A Qing, who blocked it with his wings.

Lin Chen took the opportunity to strike the lion's core. "Crack!" The core fractured. Clear Snow's ice spear pierced the crack, shattering the core, and the lion collapsed.

They obtained a Peak Late Stage Supreme Realm crystal core. Lin Chen absorbed half, 32.5% → 34% (Late Stage Origin Realm); A Qing 33.5% → 35%.

The third gate was seven miles away. The Guardian Beast was the Crystal-Patterned Dragon, fifty zhang long, its scales shimmering with crystal light, and its aura at the Peak Supreme Realm!

"Everyone, prepare for battle!" Lin Chen ordered. The Metal Clan's laser cannons were all set up, their muzzles coated with crystal powder;

The Wood Spirit Clan shot long vines to entangle the dragon pillars and secure the position; the Stone Spirit Clan linked their crystal shields into a formation;

Clear Snow expanded her Ice and Snow Domain to its maximum, her cold Qi condensing into ice spears;

Supreme Clan warriors gathered golden light on their staves;

The Dragon Clan Dragon Guards spread their golden wings, their Dragon Breath condensing into beams of light;

The Elf Clan Archers notched their arrows, the tips coated with sacred plant poison;

Nian Xue gripped a large light orb and squatted on A Qing's back. "Daddy, I'll hit its eyes so it can't see clearly!"

A Qing spat Dragon Breath, his dragon scales glowing intensely. "Sister, hold on tight! I'll circle behind and burn its scales!"

Lin Chen gathered the full power of the Late Stage Origin Realm in his palm. "Focus the attack on the dragon's core. Everyone coordinate, don't get disorganized!"

"Attack!" Lin Chen teleported to the dragon's side and struck its core with the rule. "Bang!" Patterns appeared on the dragon's core, and it roared.

Clear Snow shot an ice spear into the dragon's leg. "Freeze!" The spear entered, the leg froze, and its movements slowed abruptly.

Wood Spirit vines entangled the dragon's neck, and the Supreme Clan struck its eyes with staves; the Metal Clan bombarded the patterns on the dragon's core;

stone spirit crystal cannons hammered the dragon's back, and the Dragon Clan Dragon Guards struck its head with their golden wings; the Elf Clan Archers shot arrows at the dragon's joints;

Nian Xue threw a light orb, hitting the dragon's nose. "Dizzy!" The orb exploded, numbing the dragon's nose and causing its aura to drop by twenty percent.

A Qing circled behind the dragon and shot Dragon Breath at its belly. "Burn!" The Dragon Breath scorched the dragon's belly, and the dragon thrashed its tail in pain.

Lin Chen took the opportunity to teleport onto the dragon's back, gathering energy in his palm. "Supreme: Core Breaker!" The power of the rule smashed into the patterns on the dragon's core. "Crack!"

The dragon's core fractured. Lin Chen followed up with another palm strike. "Break!" The core shattered, and the Crystal-Patterned Dragon crashed to the ground, turning into spots of Origin light.

It left behind a Peak Supreme Realm crystal core and a Peak inheritance pearl, glowing with Peak Supreme light.

"We won!" the Allied Army cheered. Nian Xue ran to Lin Chen, raising her small fist. "Daddy is the best!"

Lin Chen picked up the crystal core and pearl, and distributed the crystal core. "Absorb the energy to stabilize your realms. Get ready to take the Peak Legacy!"

He absorbed 1/5 of the crystal core, 34% → 36% (Late Stage Origin Realm); Clear Snow 76.5% → 78.5%;

Nian Xue 55.5% → 57% (Middle Stage Late Diamond); A Qing 33.5% → 37%;

The Star Spirit Clan Leader 35.5% → 37.5%; the Dragon Clan Dragon Guard Leader 37% → 39%;

The Supreme Clan Leader 48% → 50%; the Spirit Plant Clan Chief 4% → 6%;

The Stone Spirit Clan Leader 94% → 95% (Middle Stage Transcendence); the Sea Spirit Clan Leader 89% → 90%.

Holding the inheritance pearl, Lin Chen walked toward the Peak Palace behind the third gate—the palace was a hundred zhang high, built of peak crystals, with an Inheritance Slot embedded in its roof.

The palace doors opened automatically, revealing a golden hall inside. In the center stood the Peak Inheritance Pillar, with inheritance crystals floating at its top.

Lin Chen embedded the inheritance pearl into the slot and injected Origin. The pillar's patterns lit up, and the inheritance crystals slowly descended, glowing with Peak light.

"Everyone, take turns absorbing the inheritance crystals!" Lin Chen distributed the crystals. His own was 36% → 38%; Clear Snow 78.5% → 80.5%;

Nian Xue 57% → 59%; A Qing 37% → 39%; Star Spirit Clan Leader 37.5% → 39.5%;

Dragon Clan Dragon Guard Leader 39% → 41%; Supreme Clan Leader 50% → 52%; Spirit Plant Clan Chief 6% → 8%.

Once the inheritance crystals were fully absorbed, the Peak Records appeared on the pillar: "The stage after the Peak Supreme is the 'Origin Ruler Realm.' One must enter the Ruler Realm to find the Ruler Core."

"Ruler Realm?" Lin Chen looked up. His Divine Thought swept toward the far south of the Peak Realm—there was an entrance to the Ruler Realm, with an aura at the Early Stage of the Ruler Realm.

The Supreme Clan Leader stepped forward. "The Ruler Realm has 'Ruler Guardian Beasts' that reach the Middle Stage of the Ruler Realm. We need to gather all our allies!"

"Return to the base first!" Lin Chen ordered. "After resting, we'll contact our allies and venture into the Ruler Realm together!"

The team packed their supplies and headed back to the base. The golden light of the Peak Palace faded behind them, and the path to the Ruler Realm had already unfolded.