170: Origin Crystal, Lu Chen's Background

The stone chamber deep within the altar was enveloped in a faint golden spiritual light, forming a sharp contrast with the Evil Energy outside. On the Mystic Ice Stone Platform in the center of the chamber, the Origin Crystal Stone floated in mid-air. The fist-sized crystal emitted a gentle yet majestic Origin Power, its surface carved with patterns identical to the origin imprint on Lu Chen's forehead, as if they shared the same source, humming softly in resonance. The inner walls of the chamber were covered in ancient runes—both the purification runes of the Holy Spirit Guards and the eerie totems of the Evil Clan—intertwined to tell a forgotten ancient secret.

Star Radiance knelt before the stone platform, the Evil Energy Restriction within her body flaring up violently. Black Evil Energy slithered through her Meridians like venomous snakes, causing her whole body to twitch. Fine beads of cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and her face turned as pale as paper. "Young Lord... quickly... the Evil Energy Restriction is about to consume my Divine Soul..." Her voice trembled, her eyes filled with pain and supplication.

Lu Chen stood before her, holding the Hybrid Evil Energy Technique, quickly scanning the methods to lift the Restriction. This secret technique was indeed profound, detailing how to utilize the common origin of the Holy Spirit and Evil Energy, using Origin Power to harmonize the two forces and thus break the Restriction placed by the Evil Clan. He took a deep breath and placed the holy spirit token and holy spirit sword on the stone platform. The golden-green spiritual light intertwined with the golden light of the Origin Crystal Stone, forming an energy barrier that enveloped Star Radiance.

"Star Radiance, bear with it, I'll help you lift the Restriction now!" Lu Chen said in a low voice, circulating the Hybrid Evil Energy Technique while pressing his palm against the top of Star Radiance's head. Holy Spirit Power surged into her body through his palm, clashing violently with the Evil Energy Restriction. Star Radiance let out a shrill scream, her body shaking violently as the Evil Energy in her Meridians fought back like a tide.

"Origin Crystal Stone, help me break the Restriction!" Lu Chen looked up at the floating Origin Crystal Stone. The origin imprint on his forehead suddenly erupted with dazzling golden light, resonating strongly with the crystal. The crystal instantly flew above Star Radiance's head, and golden Origin Power poured down like a waterfall, merging into her body and harmonizing the conflict between the Holy Spirit Power and the Evil Energy.

The Origin Power was truly miraculous; wherever it passed, the violent Evil Energy gradually calmed down, and the Evil Energy Restriction melted away rapidly like ice and snow. Star Radiance's pain gradually eased, and the evil markings on her face slowly faded, restoring her original clear and beautiful appearance. Half an hour later, as the last trace of the Evil Energy Restriction was purified, Star Radiance slowly opened her eyes. The confusion and pain in her eyes had vanished, replaced by clarity and gratitude.

"Young Lord, I... I'm free!" Star Radiance stood up and bowed deeply to Lu Chen, her tears falling once more. "Thank you for saving my life, Young Lord. Star Radiance is willing to go through fire and water for you in this life, without hesitation!"

Lu Chen was about to respond when his gaze was drawn to the Origin Crystal Stone on the stone platform. At this moment, the crystal's light grew even more intense, resonating more strongly with the origin imprint on his forehead. An invisible suction force pulled from the crystal, making him involuntarily reach out and touch it.

The moment his fingertip touched the Origin Crystal Stone, a majestic Origin Power surged into Lu Chen's body like a tide. Simultaneously, countless shattered memory fragments emerged in his mind:

On an Ancient Battlefield, a Holy Spirit Guard Commander fought a fierce battle against an Ancient Evil God. The two fought until the sky and earth turned dark, space shattered, and stars fell. At the end of the fierce battle, both fell at the same time. Their Origin Power intertwined and condensed into a golden crystal—the very Origin Crystal Stone before him. And his parents were actually the descendant of the Holy Spirit Guard Commander and a member of a collateral Bloodline of the Ancient Evil God. They fell in love but were marginalized due to the opposition between their races, eventually sacrificing themselves during the Evil Clan's internal strife. Before dying, they merged their Origin Power into his body, forming the origin imprint on his forehead...

"So... I am a hybrid descendant of the Holy Spirit Guards and the Ancient Evil God..." Lu Chen murmured to himself, his eyes filled with shock and realization. He had always been puzzled by the origin imprint on his forehead and confused as to why the Holy Spirit Myriad Manifestations Art could accommodate both Holy Spirit Power and Evil Energy at the same time. Now, the truth was finally revealed.

As the memory fragments merged, the Holy Spirit Power and Evil Energy within Lu Chen's body suddenly erupted. Under the guidance of the Origin Crystal Stone, the two forces no longer repelled each other but instead fused together, forming a majestic energy of intertwined gold and black. The Myriad Manifestations Art within his body circulated rapidly, and his Realm, which had been stagnant at the Peak of the Late Nascent Soul Stage, instantly broke through. His spiritual power surged, his Meridians widened, and the spiritual energy vortex within his Dantian transformed into a Taiji pattern of intertwined gold and black, emitting the terrifying aura of the Tribulation Crossing Stage!

"This is... the Tribulation Crossing Stage!" Chu Feng's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief. "The Alliance Leader actually broke through to the Tribulation Crossing Stage! Moreover, the power in his body... it has both Holy Spirit Power and Evil Energy, yet they can merge perfectly. This is unbelievable!"

Yu Lan, the Sea Cultivation Saintess, and the Ice Clan Saintess also showed shocked expressions, which then turned into relief and determination. They walked to Lu Chen's side, their eyes showing no fear, only heartache and trust for him.

"Lu Chen, no matter who you are—whether a descendant of the Holy Spirit Guards or a hybrid of the Evil God—you are still the Lu Chen we know, the Lu Chen who risks his life to protect the continent." Yu Lan gently took his hand and spoke softly, her eyes filled with sincere emotion.

The Sea Cultivation Saintess also nodded. "That's right! One's origins do not define a person. The kindness and justice in your heart are what's most precious. We will always be with you, no matter how many hardships and obstacles lie ahead."

Although the Ice Clan Saintess still spoke little, she walked to Lu Chen's side and said firmly, "Me too."

Looking at the three women who stood by him through thick and thin, Lu Chen's heart was filled with warmth and emotion. He had worried that his hybrid origin would lead to rejection, but he hadn't expected them to choose to believe in and support him so firmly. "Thank you all!" He squeezed the three women's hands, a flash of determination in his eyes. "No matter who I am, my resolve to protect the continent and eradicate the Evil Clan will never change! From now on, we will advance and retreat together, sharing life and death!"

"And me!" Star Radiance stepped forward and said firmly, "Young Lord, although I was once controlled by the Evil Clan, now that the Restriction is lifted, I am willing to fight the Evil Clan with you and make up for my past mistakes. Besides, my parents and yours were once close friends; we were meant to fight side by side!"

Chu Feng also patted his chest. "Brother, no matter what your identity is, I, Chu Feng, recognize you as my Alliance Leader! I'll follow you through fire and water!"

Just as everyone was working together in a heated atmosphere, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded across the entire Evil Clan Mother Star. Black Evil Energy gathered from all directions like a tide, the entire altar shook violently, and the runes in the stone chamber began to flicker, emitting a dangerous aura.

"Not good! It's the Evil Clan's alarm!" Star Radiance's face changed. "The remnant soul of the Evil Clan King must have sensed the disturbance in the Origin Crystal Stone and the lifting of the Restriction in my body. He has already locked onto our location!"

Lu Chen felt a majestic aura of Evil Energy coming from above the altar. That aura was dozens of times stronger than the previous Evil Star General—it was the remnant soul of the Evil Clan King! He gripped the holy spirit sword tightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Just in time! Since he's already found us, we'll take the opportunity to destroy the new evil god core and deal with him once and for all!"

As the alarm grew louder, the door to the stone chamber was blasted open by a powerful surge of Evil Energy. Countless Evil Clan warriors in black evil armor swarmed in, surrounding the stone chamber. Above the altar, a massive black evil shadow slowly condensed—it was the remnant soul of the Evil Clan King. His voice was like a great bell, carrying bone-chilling killing intent: "Lu Chen, I didn't expect you to be a hybrid descendant of the Holy Spirit Guards and the Evil God! Heaven truly helps me! As long as I devour you and absorb the power of the Origin Crystal Stone, I can be completely resurrected and rule the entire Star Domain!"

Holding the holy spirit sword, Lu Chen stood before the three women, Star Radiance, and Chu Feng. The intertwined gold and black spiritual power around him surged, and his Tribulation Crossing Stage aura intimidated the entire area. "Evil Clan King, don't even think about it! Today, I shall act on behalf of heaven and eradicate you completely!"

An ultimate showdown concerning his origins, the safety of the continent, and the peace of the Star Domain was about to erupt at the Evil Clan altar. With Lu Chen's hybrid origins revealed and the perfect Fusion of the Holy Spirit and Evil Energy, his strength had reached an unprecedented height. However, the remnant soul of the Evil Clan King had also accumulated enough power, and with the surrounding siege of a million-strong Evil Clan army, this battle was destined to be exceptionally tragic.

Lu Chen stood side-by-side with the three women, Star Radiance, and Chu Feng, their gazes firm and their auras merging. They knew that in this battle, it was either life or death—there was no turning back. But as long as they worked together, relying on the strength of the Tribulation Crossing Stage, the power of the three holy spirit artifacts, and various secret techniques, they would surely defeat the remnant soul of the Evil Clan King and completely end this battle between good and evil that had spanned ten thousand years.