94: On the return journey, we steadied ourselves amidst the chaos, prepared for the new clans' reorganization in the camp, and embarked on our first exploration of the Dao Source Realm.

The deep gray light of the Hong Meng Terrace gradually receded as the Allied Army returned along their original path. In Lin Chen's palm, the Hongmeng Record emitted a faint dao Origin light, and touching it felt like the flow of a great Dao.

Nian Xue rode on A Qing's back, her fingertips twirling a strand of primordial chaos qi: "A Qing, will there be glowing vines in the Dao Origin World? Like little lanterns hanging there."

A Qing flicked his dragon tail, his dragon scales shimmering with a faint gray: "Definitely! Maybe the vines will even weave into swings to take you for a ride."

Clear Snow walked at the front of the group, her Ice and Snow Primordial Chaos Formation sweeping away the residual mist. Small spatial rifts occasionally appeared in the mist, glowing with a silver-gray light.

Upon reaching the outskirts of Hongmeng Valley, the ground was covered with a layer of hong meng moss as thin as paper. The moss glowed pale blue and was surprisingly elastic to step on, not catching any dust.

Nian Xue jumped off A Qing's back and crouched down to touch the moss: "It's moving! It's like it's breathing, how magical!"

Lin Chen pulled her up: "This is hong meng moss; it can absorb turbulent flows. Don't touch it for long, or it will trigger the surrounding rifts."

Just as he finished speaking, a rift not far away suddenly expanded, and a surge of energy turbulence gushed out, blowing everyone's robes about.

Clear Snow immediately deployed her formation, ice and snow wrapping around primordial chaos qi to form a barrier in front of the rift: "Steady! Don't get swept away by the turbulence!"

Lin Chen teleported to the side of the rift, gathering the Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule in his palm and pressing it against the edge of the rift: "Rule: Seal!"

The rift gradually shrank, its silver-gray light dimming until it finally closed, leaving only a shallow mark. The hong meng moss quickly covered it, hiding the trace.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Nian Xue patted her chest: "That was close! I won't touch strange things randomly anymore."

A Qing nuzzled her face: "Don't be afraid. With me and Father here, we will protect you."

Continuing forward, beside the gray flowers of the Hongmeng Plain, some small blue-tinted fungi had appeared. Crystal-clear dew hung under the fungal caps, seemingly containing dao origin qi.

A Metal Clan warrior picked one: "This fungus can be used to refine Heart-Stabilizing Pills to prevent illusions in the Dao Origin World, but unfortunately, they are few in number."

Lin Chen nodded: "Gather some to take back. The Spirit Plant Clan can cultivate them. There will likely be illusory realms in the Dao Origin World, so they will come in handy."

The team reached the junction of the Yuan Chu Realm and the Hongmeng Realm. The eyes of the Hongmeng Stone Lions beside the black Golden Gate suddenly lit up, as if seeing everyone off.

After leaving the realm, sunlight poured down, and everyone immediately felt a sense of warmth. The heavy, condensed atmosphere of the Hongmeng Realm dissipated significantly.

By the time they returned to the Stronghold, it was nearly noon. The Spirit Plant Clan had prepared cold drinks with added hong meng fungus dew, which felt refreshing when drunk.

Nian Xue held her bowl and drank it all in one go: "This is even better than hot porridge! Sister, this fungi dew is really delicious."

The Spirit Plant Clan Alchemist smiled: "Once we've cultivated more, I'll fill a gourd for you to take to the Dao Origin World."

In the afternoon, Lin Chen summoned the leaders of each clan to the tent. Inside hung a new sketch of the Dao Origin World drawn by the Star Spirit Clan, marked with 'Dao Source Abyss' and 'Dao Origin Formation.'"

"The Dao Origin World might be the ultimate realm. The Guardian Beast could potentially reach the Dao Source Realm, and there are many illusory realms inside, so we need to prepare more anti-illusion supplies." Lin Chen pointed at the map.

The Dragon Clan Leader mused: "My clan will send messages to all branches. We can gather within seven days, with at least two hundred and fifty combatants."

The Metal Clan Chief said: "We will melt hong meng crystals to cast Dao Origin Cannons. We'll make a hundred of them, with dao origin seed fragments embedded in the barrels to break illusions and attack enemies."

The Stone Spirit Clan Leader added: "My clan will create Dao Origin Shields with anti-illusion runes carved on the surface to block the erosion of illusory realms in the Dao Origin World."

Clear Snow said: "I will practice the 'Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation,' mixing dao origin qi into the freezing power. It can also disperse illusory mists and provide better battlefield control."

After the meeting adjourned, the camp became busy. The Metal Clan's furnaces roared, and the sound of hammering was heavier than before, seemingly carrying a dao rhythm.

Stone Spirit Clan warriors carried hong meng crystals and carved runes on the shields. The runes resembled the trajectories of the great Dao and glowed pale blue. Once finished, the shields vibrated slightly.

Beside the Spirit Plant Clan's Pill Furnace, several pots of hong meng fungus had been added. The fungal caps grew larger, and dew dripped down, flowing into the Pill Furnace.

Nian Xue helped the Spirit Plant Clan water them, her small pot filled with hong meng fungus dew: "Sister, will the fungi grow faster this way?"

The Alchemist nodded: "That's right. The water you pour has Spiritual Qi, so the fungi will definitely grow well. I'll make you some candy later."

A Qing accompanied the Dragon Clan Dragon Guards to practice Dragon Breath. The Dragon Breath was mixed with dao origin qi and glowed pale blue. When it hit the targets, it left shallow marks in the center.

On the morning of the third day, the camp welcomed a new ally—the Dao Source Clan. Their people wore pale blue crystal armor and held Dao Origin Staffs, their auras flowing like the great Dao.

The Dao Source Clan Leader handed over a pale blue crystal core: "This is a dao origin seed. It is required to open the Dao Origin World. Our clan has also brought dao origin liquid."

The Star Spirit Clan Leader counted the numbers: "Including the Dao Source Clan, there are a total of one thousand eight hundred people. There are 2 in the Hongmeng Realm and 10 in the Primordial Realm."

On the fourth day, the Spirit Plant Clan refined the first batch of Dao Origin Pills. The pills glowed pale blue and felt refreshing to hold: "Taking them prevents illusions and increases Origin power by eighty percent."

Lin Chen took one. The dao origin qi flowed within his Dantian, and his Divine Thought became clear. The lingering sense of Chaos from the Hongmeng Realm dissipated.

After Clear Snow took the pill, the pale blue runes of the Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation became clearer. She tried dispersing the illusory mist, and the effect was better than expected.

Nian Xue took half a pill, her small face glowing pale blue. Even the Void Light Orb in her palm carried a hint of blue, seemingly able to break through illusions.

Over the next few days, each clan intensified their training: the vanguard team practiced the Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation, which could simultaneously freeze enemies and disperse illusions.

The main force team practiced the 'Dao Origin Combined Attack Formation,' gathering qi into pale blue light pillars. When they hit the targets, they could shake away the illusory mist surrounding them.

The Support Team practiced the 'Anti-Illusion Energy Supplement Technique,' putting dao origin liquid into runed crystal bottles to quickly provide replenishment when encountering illusions.

Nian Xue and A Qing practiced a new cooperation: A Qing would spray Dragon Breath mixed with dao origin qi to disperse small areas of illusory mist, and Nian Xue would throw her light orbs to destroy the enemy.

During one training session, a fake beast appeared in the illusory mist. A Qing's Dragon Breath cleared the mist, and Nian Xue's light orb accurately hit the fake beast core, drawing cheers.

Lin Chen said with a smile: "This is great cooperation! In the illusory realms of the Dao Origin World, you two will be the little anti-illusion vanguards."

On the morning of the tenth day, the team assembled. The Dao Source Clan Leader walked at the front holding the dao origin seed: "The entrance to the Dao Origin World is thirty li from here. We must be careful."