96: On the return journey, we witnessed the chaos of primordial chaos; by gathering the strength of the masses, we stabilized the rules and sought the origin to re-establish order.

The team headed back towards the entrance of the Dao Origin World. dao source vines swayed by the roadside, their leaves tinged blue, as if waving goodbye.

The blue leaf in Nian Xue's palm glowed faintly. She gently blew on the patterns on the leaf: "Little leaf, help us tell the deer and the turtle that we will return."

A Qing exhaled a puff of Dragon Breath infused with dao origin qi. The Dragon Breath, carrying the light of the blue leaf, drifted towards the direction of the Dao Source Abyss, as if sending a message.

Clear Snow walked at the front of the team. The Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation had been mostly retracted, leaving only a thin layer of ice shield to guard against lingering illusions along the way.

Upon reaching the Dao Source pond, the water no longer reflected illusions, but instead showed scenes from the Hongmeng Realm—spatial fissures crisscrossing everywhere.

"The chaos in the Hongmeng Realm is worse than imagined!" Lin Chen frowned, accelerating his Divine Thought to probe the Hongmeng Realm, sensing the fissures were expanding.

The Dao Source Clan Leader struck the ground with his staff: "It's a rule disorder. The Origin rules of the Hongmeng Realm are collapsing. We need to go and stabilize them as soon as possible."

Everyone quickened their pace. The blue mist of the Dao Origin World seemed to be assisting, making the team move much faster, their robes fluttering.

Upon exiting the Dao Origin World, the stone lion's eyes beside the blue-gold gate flashed, as if infused with dao origin qi, making them appear more spirited.

Stepping into the Hongmeng Realm, what greeted them was not the previous heavy, condensed Qi, but a violent torrent of chaotic rules, making it hard to stand steady.

In the direction of the distant Hongmeng Valley, space was like shattered glass, cracks shimmering silver-gray, with unknown shadows darting within the fissures.

"Those are Rule Shadows! Formed from disordered rules, they devour primordial chaos qi and accelerate the expansion of fissures!" The Dao Source Clan Leader pointed at the shadows.

The Rule Shadows resembled mist but had claws and fangs. Wherever they darted, the ground cracked deeper, and hong meng crystals shattered into powder.

Lin Chen teleported beside a fissure, gathering Dao Source and Anti-Heavenly Dao Rule in his palm: "Rules, merge!"

The silver-gray light at the edge of the fissure dimmed slightly, and the crack width shrank by half an inch, but was soon pushed open again by the Rule Shadows.

"One person alone can't stabilize it. We need to set up a 'Dao Source Order Formation' to gather everyone's strength and straighten out the rules!" Clear Snow suggested.

The Dao Source Clan Leader nodded: "My clan's staff can guide the rules and serve as the formation's eye. Each clan needs to stand in their designated positions."

Everyone quickly took their positions as directed by the Dao Source Clan. The Dao Source Clan Leader stood in the center holding his staff, its tip glowing blue like a small sun.

"Infuse dao origin qi!" At Lin Chen's command, warriors from each clan condensed Qi in their palms. The Qi, like blue threads, converged into the staff at the formation's eye.

Formation patterns spread across the ground like the tracks of the Great Dao. Where the blue patterns passed, the disordered rules seemed to be combed through, and the fissures gradually stabilized.

Seeing the formation activate, the Rule Shadows roared and charged, their shadowy claws grabbing at the formation patterns, only to be repelled by the blue light on the patterns, dissolving into mist.

"Defend the formation! Don't let the shadows get close!" The Dragon Clan Dragon Guards spread their dragon wings, their Dragon Breath infused with dao origin qi sweeping towards the shadow horde, forcing them back.

Nian Xue crouched on A Qing's back, throwing a Void Light Orb imbued with blue leaf light: "I'll drive them away! Don't let them touch the formation patterns!"

The light orb struck a Rule Shadow. The shadow's form wavered, and the blue leaf's light seemed to flow within it, causing the shadow to solidify momentarily.

"Wrap your attacks with dao origin qi! It can temporarily solidify the shadows, then disperse them!" Lin Chen shouted, wrapping Qi around rules in his palm and slapping at a nearby shadow.

The shadow solidified into a beast-like form of gray mist, which Lin Chen dispersed with a single palm strike. The scattered rule Qi was absorbed by the formation patterns, becoming part of the formation's power.

Clear Snow deployed the Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation, ice spears wrapped in blue Qi shooting towards the shadow horde. Each hit caused a shadow to solidify and then shatter, its Qi entering the formation.

A Qing circled the formation, its Dragon Breath wrapped in dao origin qi sweeping like blue pillars through the shadow horde. Shadows hit by it solidified, then were smashed apart by Nian Xue's orbs.

The formation patterns gradually brightened, covering an area of half a mile. The expansion speed of the fissures slowed, and the torrent of chaotic rules also eased.

Sweat beaded on the Dao Source Clan Leader's forehead: "It's not enough! We need to find the Hongmeng Realm's 'Origin Core' to completely establish order."

"Where is the Origin Core?" Lin Chen sent a message to the Star Spirit Clan. The Star Spirit Clan Leader raised a crystal stone, which shone dazzlingly bright.

"It's beneath the Hong Meng Terrace! We didn't detect it before. The core is in the crystal cavern under the terrace, currently surrounded by Rule Shadows!"

Everyone withdrew the formation and advanced towards the Hong Meng Terrace. The Dao Source Clan Leader led the way with his staff, its blue tip illuminating the path and dispersing shadows along the way.

Upon reaching the Hongmeng Plain, the previously gray flowers were bent over by the torrent of chaotic rules, the patterns on their petals twisted as if in pain.

Nian Xue heartachely straightened a flower stem: "Wait until we stabilize the rules, then you can stand tall again."

A Qing used its dragon wings to shield the flowers from above, blocking the chaotic torrent: "I'll protect them for now. Hurry and stabilize the rules."

The Hong Meng Terrace was now in sight. Its body was covered in cracks. Where the Guardian Beasts once stood was now crowded with Rule Shadows, crashing against the terrace.

"The core under the terrace is shaking! If we're any later, it will shatter!" Lin Chen teleported to the top of the terrace, gathering Qi in his palm and striking towards the base.

The crystal cavern under the terrace was revealed, glowing with a thick gray light. A fist-sized crystal core trembled amidst the shadow horde—it was the hong meng origin core.

The Rule Shadows, like starving wolves, continuously crashed against the core. The patterns on the core were fading, as if losing their luster.

"Split into two teams! One team defends the formation, the other retrieves the core!" At Lin Chen's command, Clear Snow led the vanguard team to deploy the Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation, blocking the shadow horde.

Lin Chen, the Dao Source Clan Leader, and the Dragon Clan Leader led the main force team charging down into the crystal cavern under the terrace. The blue light from the Dao Source Clan's staff illuminated the cavern.

hong meng crystals on the cavern walls were peeling off. The shadows around the core were the densest, their claws already touching the core, causing its light to dim further.

"Charge!" Lin Chen slapped away nearby shadows. The Dao Source Clan's staff swept towards the shadow horde. Shadows hit by the blue light retreated, clearing a path.

The Dragon Clan Leader's Dragon Breath shot like a blue pillar towards the center of the shadow horde, scattering them and exposing the core to everyone's sight.

Lin Chen teleported beside the core, placing his palm against it and infusing dao origin qi. The patterns on the core brightened slightly but still trembled.

"We need to take the core away from the crystal cavern to the center of the formation to nurture it!" The Dao Source Clan Leader shouted, wrapping the core in blue Qi from his staff tip to prevent shadows from touching it.

Everyone protected the core as they retreated towards the formation. The Rule Shadows chased frantically, their claws grabbing for the core, only to be blocked by Clear Snow's ice spears.

"The formation is ready! Quickly place the core at the eye!" Clear Snow's ice spears continuously shot towards the shadow horde, the formation patterns glowing behind her.

Lin Chen placed the core into the depression at the formation's eye. The core resonated with the Dao Source Clan's staff, emitting a brilliant blue light. The formation patterns expanded to cover a mile.

"Infuse all your dao origin qi!" As Lin Chen's voice fell, he was the first to pour all his Qi into it. The patterns on the core gradually became clearer.

Warriors from each clan followed suit. Qi converged like a blue tide into the formation. The core's light shifted from thick gray to pale blue, and the speed of the chaotic rule torrent drastically decreased.

Seeing the core stabilize, the Rule Shadows roared and crashed against the formation, only to be repelled by the patterns. Each crash turned them into mist, which was absorbed by the formation.

Half an hour later, the formation patterns covered most of the Hongmeng Realm. The fissures stopped expanding and began to slowly heal.

The Rule Shadows grew fewer and fewer. The last shadow was smashed apart by Nian Xue's light orb. The mist entered the formation, and the patterns dimmed slightly, as if their mission was complete.

The hong meng origin core glowed with a pale blue light at the formation's eye. The patterns on it flowed like the Great Dao, stabilizing the rules of the Hongmeng Realm.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Chen placed his palm against the core, sensing the rules within it smoothing out. The previous violent Qi had disappeared.

Clear Snow retracted the Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation, her breath slightly fluctuating: "Finally stabilized. One step later, and the Hongmeng Realm would have collapsed."

The Dao Source Clan Leader gently touched the core with his staff: "The core still needs three days of nurturing. After three days, the terrace patterns will resonate with the core, completely establishing order."

Nian Xue crouched beside the core, gently stroking its patterns with her small hand: "Little core, don't be afraid anymore. We will protect you."

A Qing lay beside the core, covering half of it with its dragon wing, as if shielding it from the wind: "I'll guard it. No one else can touch it."

For the next three days, everyone took turns guarding the core while the others rested. The Spirit Plant Clan refined dao source nurturing pills and fed them to the core, making its light brighter.

The Metal Clan repaired the previously damaged primordial chaos cannon. The patterns on the cannon resonated with the core, shimmering pale blue, as if more powerful.

The Stone Spirit Clan patched the cracks on the Hong Meng Terrace, embedding dao source crystals into the seams. The terrace body became sturdier, glowing with a blue radiance.

On the evening of the third day, the core resonated with the formation patterns. A brilliant blue light erupted, covering the entire Hongmeng Realm. The fissures completely healed, and the rules returned to order.

The Dao Source Clan Leader smiled: "Success! The rules of the Hongmeng Realm are stable. They won't be chaotic again."

Lin Chen gazed at the core. The dao source record in his palm glowed slightly, its patterns changing to reflect: 'Origin Core gathered, all realms return to order.'

"Where do we go next?" Nian Xue looked up and asked. Her blue leaf glowed again, as if pointing the way.

The Dao Source Clan Leader pointed his staff towards the sky, its blue tip pointing to an extremely distant place: "To the 'Origin Core'—not the Hongmeng core, but the root of all realms."

Lin Chen extended his Divine Thought towards that direction, sensing a purer aura than dao origin qi, seemingly containing the Origin of all realms.

"The Origin Core of all realms?" Clear Snow's eyes shone with light, "Is that the starting point of the Great Dao?"

The Dao Source Clan Leader nodded: "Yes, and also the end point. Only by going there will we truly understand the ultimate of the Great Dao."

Nian Xue jumped up: "Great! Let's go see the starting point of the Great Dao, and take the little core with us!"

A Qing also spread its wings: "I'll carry the little core. Flying fast, we'll definitely get there early!"

Lin Chen stroked the core. It seemed to sense him, glowing slightly, rising from the formation's eye, and floating before him as if willing to accompany them.

The team organized their supplies. The Metal Clan packed up the primordial chaos cannon, the Stone Spirit Clan their shields, and the Spirit Plant Clan bundled dao source pills and hong meng fungus.

Nian Xue pinned the blue leaf to her lapel, tugging at the tip of A Qing's wing: "A Qing, we're setting off again. This time to see the starting point!"

A Qing nodded, its dragon wings shimmering with a mix of pale blue and gray light, as if fusing dao source and primordial chaos qi, becoming even more powerful.

Lin Chen held the hong meng origin core in his palm. Its light reflected on his face as he gazed towards the direction of the Origin Core of all realms: "Let's go, to seek the root."

The team advanced towards the extremely distant direction. The wind in the Hongmeng Realm had returned to its previous heavy, condensed state, but now carried the clear moisture of dao origin qi.

The Hong Meng Terrace glowed pale blue behind them, as if blessing them. The blue leaf from the Dao Origin World flashed on Nian Xue's lapel, as if guiding the way.

The Origin Core of all realms, the starting point of the Great Dao, lay ahead. Everyone's steps were firm, carrying their longing for the ultimate, they continued forward.