95: Explore the source of the Dao, break through illusions, cross the source of the Dao, encounter strange beasts, and seek the Great Dao Stele to unlock the ultimate truth.

The team advanced toward the Dao Source Abyss. The faint blue on the ground gradually deepened, and the grass leaves were like swords, their patterns changing with every step, resembling the trajectory of the Great Dao.

Nian Xue rode on A Qing's back, her fingertips touching a Dao Source Stone by the roadside: "A Qing, the patterns on this stone are moving, like it's writing!"

A Qing exhaled a Little Dragon Breath, and the stone patterns flickered: "The Great Dao must be speaking. Once we understand it, we'll become powerful."

Clear Snow walked at the front of the team, her Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation scanning the mist. Phantoms appeared in the mist, reflecting scenes from everyone's hearts, appearing both real and illusory.

After traveling three miles, a Dao Source Pond appeared. The pond water shimmered blue, but the reflection on the surface was not of people, but of winged Crystal Beasts.

Nian Xue leaned over to look at the pond: "That's the Crystal Beast I was thinking of! Why is it in the water? Is it real?"

The Dao Source Clan Leader smiled: "It's an illusion. The pond water reflects one's thoughts. Don't touch the water, or you'll be entangled by the illusion."

As soon as he finished speaking, the phantom in the pond moved. The Crystal Beast leaped out of the water but couldn't touch anyone, dissipating into mist upon landing.

Lin Chen gathered dao origin qi in his palm and pressed it against a stone by the pond: "Rules · Break Illusion!" The stone patterns lit up, the phantoms in the pond vanished, and the water returned to clarity.

Continuing forward, Illusion Beasts suddenly surged from the mist, shaped like the previous Grandmist Lions but without physical forms, dissipating upon impact.

"They are Illusion Beasts! You can only harm them by breaking the illusion!" The Dao Source Clan Leader raised his staff, the blue light at its tip glowing brightly as it swept over the Illusion Beasts, turning them into mist.

Clear Snow deployed her formation, wrapping ice and snow with dao origin qi and freezing the Illusion Beasts. The beasts solidified for a moment before being pierced by ice spears and turning into water marks.

Nian Xue threw a Void Light Orb, which carried a blue charm and struck the Illusion Beast's beast core: "Watch me! Smash all the fake ones!"

A Qing flew around the Illusion Beasts, his Dragon Breath carrying dao origin qi as it swept over them. The beast shadows flickered and were smashed apart by Nian Xue's orb.

After traveling five miles, the entrance to the Dao Source Abyss appeared. dao source crystals were embedded in the abyss walls, their light reflecting the layers within, seemingly three in total.

The Star Spirit Clan's crystal stone glowed: "The abyss is divided into three layers: the first is an illusion, the second is the Dao Source Current, and there's an anomaly in the third, with an aura at the Dao Source Realm."

"Cross the first layer first!" Lin Chen ordered. The Dao Source Clan Leader held his staff in front, the blue light at the tip illuminating the path and dispersing the surrounding illusory mist.

Everyone followed the staff's light into the abyss. The mist in the first layer was thicker, and the phantoms became clearer; there were even fake Allied Army soldiers charging with blades raised.

"Don't attack! It's an illusion!" Clear Snow shouted to stop them. Her Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation expanded, freezing the fake soldiers, who instantly turned into mist.

A Dao Source Clan warrior struck the ground with his staff, the sound echoing like a bell and causing the phantoms in the mist to waver: "The illusion is afraid of the Great Dao Sound. Follow the bell!"

Nian Xue covered her ears: "The bell is so loud, but the Illusion Beasts have all run away. That's amazing!"

A Qing swung his tail through the fake beasts, which dissipated upon contact: "My tail can also break illusions, even faster than the bell!"

Reaching the bottom of the abyss, at the boundary between the first and second layers, was the Dao Source Current. The water flowed blue with silk-like ripples, blocking the way.

The water of the Dao Source Current didn't flow downward but floated upward. Droplets turned into dao origin qi upon touching people, but entering the body made one feel flustered.

"To cross the source stream, one must step on Dao Source Stones. The stones move with the water; step wrong and you'll be swept away!" The Dao Source Clan Leader pointed to the floating stones in the water.

The floating stones glowed blue and drifted with the waves. Simple patterns were carved on them, resembling 'one,' 'two,' and 'three,' but in no apparent order.

Lin Chen teleported to the first stone, and its patterns lit up: "Follow the order of the patterns; they are the numbers of the Great Dao!"

He pointed to the second stone: "That one is 'two.' Follow my lead!"

Everyone stepped on the stones in order. The patterns lit up one by one, and the water flow slowed down as if making way. Stones stepped on incorrectly would sink, splashing up blue mist.

Nian Xue wobbled while stepping on a stone, and A Qing supported her with his tail: "Don't be afraid. Just follow Daddy's footprints, and you won't go wrong."

Reaching the center of the source stream, the current suddenly quickened and the floating stones drifted chaotically. The Dao Source Clan Leader's staff tip glowed blue: "Follow the staff's light!"

Whichever stone the light pointed to became stable. Everyone followed closely, and as they reached the second layer, the current slowed and the stones returned to order.

There was no mist in the second layer, but there were glowing dao source vines. The vines were like snakes, coiling around people without harming them, merely circling their bodies.

Nian Xue was wrapped in a vine: "It's hugging me! Does it like me?"

A Spirit Plant Clan warrior smiled: "It's a dao source vine. It recognizes those who are friendly. Wrapping around you means you have a Great Dao affinity."

The vine wrapped around Nian Xue for a moment, and when it released her, it left a blue leaf in her palm. The leaf's pattern was like a Crystal Beast, emitting a warm glow.

Reaching the depths of the second layer, a strange beast appeared. It looked like a deer but had four horns. The horns glowed blue, and its body had no scales, yet it could step through the air.

"It's a Dao Source Deer! It doesn't harm the virtuous and specifically leads those with affinity to find the great dao stele!" The Dao Source Clan Leader's eyes lit up.

The Dao Source Deer looked at Lin Chen, turned, and walked toward the third layer. Its steps were light, leaving blue marks where it trod, like road signs.

"Follow it!" Lin Chen ordered. Everyone followed the deer, and the dao source vines automatically moved aside, seemingly afraid of startling it.

Nian Xue whispered: "It's so gentle, even better behaved than A Qing. Can we take it with us?"

A Qing flicked his tail: "I'm well-behaved too! Once we find the great dao stele, I'll let it play with you for a while."

The Dao Source Deer seemed to understand, glancing back at Nian Xue as the blue light on its horns flickered in response.

Reaching the third layer, the bottom of the Dao Source Abyss appeared. The ground was paved with dao source crystals, covered in patterns like a star map, shimmering with blue light.

In the center of the abyss floor stood the great dao stele, a hundred zhang tall. There was no text on the tablet, only a crack, as if it had been split open by someone.

The Dao Source Deer walked to the tablet and touched the crack with its horns. The tablet's patterns lit up, and a blue liquid seeped from the crack, like Tears of the Great Dao.

"This is the great dao stele, which hides the ultimate secret. The crack was caused by someone trying to break the Great Dao!" The Dao Source Clan Leader's tone was solemn.

Lin Chen pressed his palm against the tablet and injected dao origin qi. The patterns on the tablet shifted as if transmitting information, but it was incomprehensible.

Clear Snow deployed the Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation, wrapping the tablet in icy Qi. The patterns became clearer: "The tablet says the ultimate isn't in the Guardian Beast, but within the crack."

As she spoke, the abyss floor vibrated. The dao source crystals cracked open, and a beast emerged from the fissure. It looked like a turtle but had wings, with tablet patterns carved on its back.

"It's a Dao Source Turtle! The beast that guards the tablet. It's not an enemy; it's a protector!" the Dao Source Clan Leader shouted, preventing everyone from attacking.

The Dao Source Turtle crawled toward the great dao stele, its wings covering the crack. The blue liquid gradually stopped, and the crack seemed to be healing.

Nian Xue crouched down to look at the patterns on the turtle's back: "Its back is just like the tablet. Did it transform from the tablet?"

Lin Chen nodded: "It's the spirit of the great dao stele, protecting it and preventing anyone from destroying the secret behind the crack."

The Dao Source Turtle looked up at Lin Chen, the blue light in its eyes shining as if scrutinizing him. After a moment, it retracted its wings and retreated to the side of the tablet, motionless.

Everyone stood around the tablet. Lin Chen gathered dao origin qi and Anti-Heavenly Dao Rules in his palm and pressed them against the crack: "I want to see what the ultimate is."

The rules entered the crack, and the tablet's patterns exploded with light. Blue light filled the abyss floor. Everyone closed their eyes, and when they opened them again, a phantom appeared before the tablet.

The phantom showed a patch of Chaos where light was gathering, resembling the scene of the birth of all things, but it lasted only a moment before dissipating.

"It's the origin of all things!" the Dao Source Clan Leader said excitedly. "The tablet is telling us that the root of the Great Dao is light born from Chaos."

Clear Snow's aura rose slightly, and the range of her Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation expanded by half a zhang: "I think I understand. Freezing power isn't ice; it's a rule."

The blue leaf in Nian Xue's palm glowed, and her Void Light Orb took on a hint of Chaos: "I understand too. The light orb can contain light."

The blue on A Qing's dragon wings deepened, and Chaos Qi was mixed into his Dragon Breath: "I can burn through Chaos now. I won't be afraid of powerful beasts anymore."

Lin Chen withdrew his hand. The tablet's patterns dimmed, and the crack stopped seeping liquid: "The ultimate isn't combat power; it's understanding the Great Dao and following its path."

The Dao Source Turtle nodded and crawled toward Lin Chen. The patterns on its shell lit up, reflecting the words: 'There is no Guardian Beast in the Dao Origin World; the heart is the ultimate.'

Everyone was stunned. Nian Xue smiled: "So we don't have to fight! As long as we understand, we win?"

The Dao Source Clan Leader sighed: "Yes, the ultimate of the Dao Origin World is understanding the Great Dao, not killing the Guardian Beast. We were all wrong."

Lin Chen looked toward the exit of the abyss: "So what do we do next? Can we go home now?"

The Dao Source Turtle shook its head, and the patterns on its shell changed to: 'There is Chaos in the Hongmeng Realm; you must return to stabilize it.'

"Something happened in the Hongmeng Realm?" Lin Chen sent his Divine Thought toward the Hongmeng Realm and felt turbulent currents surging, as if beasts were causing destruction.

Clear Snow deployed her formation, her aura condensing: "Let's go back first and help the Hongmeng Realm, then we can come back and accompany the great dao stele."

Nian Xue touched the Dao Source Deer's horns: "Will we come back? I want to bring Little Color to see you."

The Dao Source Deer rubbed against her hand, the blue light on its horns flickering as if in promise.

The team walked out of the abyss. The Dao Source Turtle and Dao Source Deer saw them to the entrance, standing in the blue glow as if saying goodbye.

As they exited the abyss, the mist dispersed. The phantoms in the Dao Source Pond turned into everyone's smiling faces, no longer an illusion but seemingly a blessing.

Nian Xue looked back: "They'll wait for us, right? Next time I come, I'll bring candy for them to eat."

A Qing nodded: "They will! Once we settle the Chaos in the Hongmeng Realm, we'll come back to hear the great dao stele tell stories."

The dao source record in Lin Chen's palm shimmered with blue light. The patterns on the record had changed; it was no longer the name of a world, but 'Follow the Dao, and all things are friends.'

The team walked toward the entrance of the Dao Origin World. The wind of the Dao Origin World carried a refreshing aura, blowing against their faces as if saying 'goodbye.'

The exploration of the Dao Origin World involved no slaughter, yet they understood the ultimate. The road ahead was one of protection, not conquest. Everyone's steps were steadier and more determined than before.