Returning to mortal life, sheathing his edge, undercover in Hongmeng

Warmth spread through Lin Chen's limbs as the clear tea slipped down his throat. He sat quietly with his eyes closed in his little courtyard in Azure Yang City, listening to the faint rustle of the Mortal Realm's wind passing through the alleys, the fresh scent of plants and the warmth of ordinary life lingering around him. This was the peace he had sought a hundred thousand years ago, the purity he most wanted to protect after shedding the halo of supremacy. But that peace did not last long. When a barely perceptible trace of Hongmeng presence quietly seeped into the courtyard and settled on his fingertip, Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, an almost imperceptible sharpness flashing in their depths.

That presence carried ancient, obscure fluctuations. It held no hostility, but concealed a summons spanning the ages. Lin Chen moved his fingers slightly, gathering it into his palm, and quietly probed it with the power of his divine soul. A long-sealed message surfaced clearly in his sea of consciousness. As it turned out, the beginning of his hundred thousand years of signing in had been no coincidence; his talent for being invincible upon emerging into the world had not merely been a gift from the system, either. From the first day he stepped into this courtyard, he had borne a mission to go undercover in Hongmeng-to suppress the Chaos Devil Ancestor, who was about to awaken in its depths.

"Undercover from the very beginning..." Lin Chen murmured, ripples spreading across the tea by his fingertips. He finally understood why the system had chosen to have him sign in in the Mortal Realm for a hundred thousand years, and why his Dao heart had remained as clear as ever even after he became invincible. Those hundred thousand years of tempering in the Mortal Realm had not been confinement, but refinement; invincible strength was not the destination, but the confidence to proceed. The Hongmeng Holy Land appeared to be the source of all realms and the root of creation, but in truth, the Chaos Devil Ancestor's forces had long since infiltrated it. The Creation Clan itself had split into two factions: one held fast to its original purpose and protected Hongmeng, while the other had already become the Devil Ancestor's claws and fangs. And he was the final piece an ancient forebear of the Creation Clan had planted to suppress the Devil Ancestor, exhausting his origin to do so.

A hundred thousand years ago, the Creation Clan's forebear had foreseen upheaval in Hongmeng and that the Devil Ancestor's revival would devour all realms. Using his own divine soul as a guide, he had drawn a strand of Hongmeng origin into reincarnation in the Mortal Realm. With the Sign-in System's assistance, he had allowed it to mature there for a hundred thousand years, avoiding the Devil Ancestor's scrutiny while accumulating enough strength to crush him. Now, the Devil Ancestor's revival was imminent, and the Hongmeng Holy Land stood on the brink of disaster. That trace of Hongmeng presence was the signal awakening Lin Chen to his undercover mission.

Lin Chen set down his teacup and looked at the sky beyond the courtyard. The Mortal Realm's peace was precious, but the survival of all realms mattered more. He could choose to remain in this little courtyard as an ordinary mortal unconcerned with worldly affairs. With his invincible strength, even a revived Devil Ancestor might not be able to harm him in the slightest. But the Dao in his heart would not permit it. Through a hundred thousand years of signing in, he had accumulated not only strength, but the responsibility to protect. The beings prostrate at his feet, the countless lives yearning for peace, and the warmth of ordinary life he had witnessed while traveling through myriad domains-all of them made it impossible for him to stand apart.

"To work undercover, I must sheath my edge," Lin Chen said softly. He restrained his presence once more. This time, he not only shed his supreme pressure, but completely concealed his own Hongmeng origin, taking on the appearance of an ordinary Mortal Realm cultivator. His cultivation seemed to be only at the golden core realm, unremarkable and no different from the ordinary cultivators of Azure Yang City. He knew that crouching tigers and hidden dragons lurked throughout the Hongmeng Holy Land, and the Devil Ancestor's informants were everywhere. Only by keeping a sufficiently low profile could he penetrate their core and uncover the Devil Ancestor's arrangements.

After packing a few simple belongings, Lin Chen took one last look at the courtyard that had accompanied him for a hundred thousand years. The bluestone paving, the stone table and stools, the flowers and grasses in the corner-every part held his memories. He lightly waved his hand, and an invisible barrier enveloped the courtyard, isolating it from the outside world so no one could disturb it. "When I return, I'll resume this peace." Leaving those words behind, Lin Chen flickered into an ordinary streak of light and flew toward the Hongmeng Holy Land.

The Hongmeng Holy Land lay at the pinnacle of all realms, above chaos itself, surrounded by endless primordial purple Qi. Ordinary people could not approach it at all. Following the information in his sea of consciousness, Lin Chen found a hidden entrance to Hongmeng. It was a passage left by the Creation Clan's forebear, accessible only to the person carrying that strand of his origin. Dense chaos Qi filled the entrance, mixed with faint devil Qi. Clearly, the Devil Ancestor's forces had already infiltrated this place to some extent.

Lin Chen restrained his presence and cautiously stepped inside. The moment he entered, a powerful probing force swept over his entire body. It carried a cold, sinister presence, clearly belonging to patrolling agents of the Devil Ancestor. With a thought, Lin Chen activated a concealment jade talisman he had prepared in advance. It was a reward he had obtained through signing in, capable of perfectly concealing his presence so that even Hongmeng realm experts could not detect it. Sure enough, the probing force swept over him, found nothing unusual, and departed.

After he passed through the entrance, the view suddenly opened up. The interior of the Hongmeng Holy Land was like an independent world, its heavens and earth filled with pure primordial purple Qi. Floating immortal mountains stood in an orderly arrangement, clouds and mist winding among them. Cultivators in ancient attire occasionally flew past, all possessing immensely powerful presences. Even the weakest were at the immortal king realm, their strength more than a single tier above cultivators of the Mortal Realm and the Immortal Realm.

Lin Chen dared not linger. Following the guidance in his sea of consciousness, he headed toward the Creation Clan's central region-Hongmeng Hall. Along the way, he carefully observed the holy land and found its atmosphere unusually tense. Cultivators hurried about with vigilance and anxiety on their faces, clearly already aware of the threat of the Devil Ancestor's revival. He also noticed that some cultivators had faint devil Qi mixed into their presences, their gazes cold and their behavior strange. These people were most likely agents the Devil Ancestor had planted in the holy land.

At a fork in the road, two cultivators in black robes suddenly blocked Lin Chen's path. Their powerful presences had reached the early Hongmeng realm, and they examined him with unfriendly eyes. "Who are you? Why are you here?" Their voices were icy and full of scrutiny. Clearly, they had noticed he was unfamiliar.

Lin Chen grew inwardly alert, but betrayed nothing on his face. Putting on a frightened expression, he bowed. "Seniors, I'm a cultivator from Azure Yang City. I happened to obtain an ancient jade talisman that guided me here. I wish to join the Creation Clan and do my part to protect Hongmeng." As he spoke, he took out a counterfeit jade talisman he had prepared earlier. Simple Creation Clan runes were carved upon it, enough to pass the false for the genuine.

The two black-robed cultivators took the talisman and examined it carefully, their brows furrowing slightly. One said coldly, "A cultivator from Azure Yang City? A mere golden core, and you dare come to the Hongmeng Holy Land to join the bustle? I think you're a spy sent by the Devil Ancestor!" Before he finished speaking, he reached for Lin Chen, dense devil Qi gathering in his palm. Clearly, he intended to suppress Lin Chen on the spot.

Lin Chen sneered inwardly, but kept his frightened expression as he edged backward, seemingly unable to escape. Just as the man's palm was about to touch him, Lin Chen moved his fingers slightly and quietly released an extremely faint strand of spiritual power, striking an acupoint on the man's wrist with precision. The black-robed cultivator felt his wrist go numb. His grabbing motion stopped instantly, and astonishment flickered in his eyes.

"Spare me, Senior! I really am not a spy!" Lin Chen seized the opportunity to act even more terrified, retreating repeatedly as though unable to withstand a single blow. The other black-robed cultivator frowned more deeply, stepped forward, and released his probing force again, carefully scanning Lin Chen's entire body. Still, he found nothing unusual. Glancing at his companion, he said quietly, "There really doesn't seem to be any devil Qi. He may just be a lucky Mortal Realm cultivator."

"What makes a Mortal Realm cultivator worthy of coming to the Hongmeng Holy Land?" The black-robed cultivator whose acupoint had been struck withdrew his hand, his expression dark. "This is no place for you. Get back where you came from! Otherwise, don't blame us for showing no mercy!" Although they had found nothing unusual about Lin Chen, they did not want such a weak Mortal Realm cultivator remaining in the holy land and creating unforeseen complications.

Lin Chen secretly rejoiced, knowing his disguise had worked. He hurriedly bowed in thanks. "Thank you for showing mercy, Seniors! I'll leave at once!" With that, he turned and headed in another direction. He appeared to be leaving, but was actually following another route in his sea of consciousness toward Hongmeng Hall. Seeing him go, the two black-robed cultivators paid him no further attention and resumed their patrol.

After avoiding the two black-robed cultivators, Lin Chen quickened his pace. Under the concealment jade talisman's cover, he evaded patrolling cultivators several more times and finally reached the vicinity of Hongmeng Hall. The heart of the Creation Clan, Hongmeng Hall floated at the very center of the holy land. Built from Hongmeng divine stone, it was carved with countless ancient runes that radiated powerful protective force. Four cultivators in golden battle armor guarded the entrance, their presences unfathomably powerful. Clearly, they were among the Creation Clan's foremost experts.

Lin Chen dared not approach rashly. Hiding behind an immortal mountain nearby, he carefully observed Hongmeng Hall. He discovered a faint layer of devil Qi surrounding it. Although suppressed by the runes on the hall, it remained clearly perceptible. The Devil Ancestor's forces had evidently infiltrated the Creation Clan's very core. The situation was even more critical than he had expected.

Just then, an old man in white robes emerged from Hongmeng Hall. His hair and beard were white, and his presence was ancient and powerful, having reached the peak Hongmeng realm. Pure primordial purple Qi surrounded him, clearly marking him as a central figure in the Creation Clan. The information in Lin Chen's sea of consciousness activated instantly, identifying the old man-the Creation Clan's great elder, and one of the few inheritors of the ancient legacy who knew of his existence.

Lin Chen took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and walked toward the old man. As soon as he approached, the four golden-armored cultivators guarding Hongmeng Hall stopped him. "Halt! Hongmeng Hall is forbidden ground. No approaching!" Their voices rang like great bells, bearing powerful pressure that crushed toward Lin Chen. He did not resist, allowing it to fall upon him. His face paled slightly as he acted unable to withstand it.

"Stop." At that moment, the white-robed old man spoke, his voice calm but carrying unquestionable authority. The four golden-armored cultivators immediately withdrew their pressure and bowed. "Yes, Great Elder." The old man looked at Lin Chen with a hint of scrutiny, which soon turned to understanding and gratification. He nodded at him. "Come with me."

Lin Chen relaxed inwardly, knowing he had successfully made contact with the Creation Clan's core. He bowed and followed the old man into Hongmeng Hall. The interior was immensely spacious, its ceiling inlaid with countless glowing crystals like scattered stars, illuminating the entire hall. A massive altar stood in the center, bearing an ancient jade seal that radiated powerful Hongmeng origin power. Dozens of cultivators in ancient attire stood along both sides, all elders and core members of the Creation Clan, their presences immensely powerful.

Seeing the old man bring in a young man whose cultivation was only at the golden core realm, the cultivators in the hall looked puzzled. A tall, middle-aged cultivator stepped forward and bowed to the old man. "Great Elder, who is this?" His gaze settled on Lin Chen, filled with confusion. Clearly, he did not understand why the great elder had brought someone so weak into Hongmeng Hall.

The old man did not answer directly. Instead, he led Lin Chen to the altar, then turned to address everyone in the hall. "Everyone, this is the final hope our forebear left behind, and the key to our suppression of the Devil Ancestor." At his words, the cultivators looked at Lin Chen in shock, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"Great Elder, what are you saying? How could a golden core cultivator be the key to suppressing the Devil Ancestor?" the middle-aged cultivator asked again, his tone doubtful. "Could you be mistaken? The Devil Ancestor is about to awaken, and his strength is unfathomable. Even Hongmeng realm cultivators like us may not be able to contend with him. What use could a golden core cultivator be?" The others echoed him, clearly disbelieving Lin Chen's abilities.

Lin Chen remained where he stood, keeping a low profile and saying nothing. He knew this was not the time to reveal his strength. Only by displaying sufficient power at a crucial moment could he convince these Creation Clan cultivators. Looking at the doubting crowd, the old man said calmly, "Everyone, be patient. He is not as simple as he appears. Within him, he carries a strand of our forebear's Hongmeng origin. After a hundred thousand years of maturation, he has long since surpassed our understanding. Moreover, from the very beginning, he has been the undercover agent we planted beside the Devil Ancestor. Only he can penetrate the Devil Ancestor's core and uncover his trump cards."

As he spoke, the old man waved his hand. A strand of primordial purple Qi flew toward Lin Chen and merged into his body. Lin Chen did not resist, allowing it to enter. Instantly, a trace of the Hongmeng origin within him awakened, quietly releasing a faint wisp of supreme pressure. Though only a wisp, it made every Hongmeng realm cultivator in the hall feel an intense trembling in their hearts. Their expressions changed dramatically, and their eyes filled with reverence as they looked at Lin Chen.

"Th-this is a supreme presence?" the middle-aged cultivator said, his face pale and his voice trembling. "He actually possesses supreme-level strength?" The other cultivators were equally shocked and no longer dared harbor the slightest doubt. They finally understood that the great elder had spoken the truth. This seemingly ordinary golden core cultivator was actually a hidden supreme expert.

Lin Chen withdrew that trace of pressure and nodded slightly to the cultivators in the hall. "Elders, I am Lin Chen. My respects to you all. From here on, I ask for your cooperation in completing my undercover mission, suppressing the Devil Ancestor, and protecting Hongmeng." His voice was calm, but carried unquestionable authority, making the cultivators bow involuntarily.

The great elder nodded in satisfaction. "Young friend Lin Chen, we will arrange an identity for you so you can infiltrate the Devil Ancestor's sphere of influence. His central stronghold lies in the Dark Abyss of the Hongmeng Holy Land, where devil Qi is densest and where the key to his revival lies. We have discovered that he commands three great devil generals: the Black Flame Devil General, the Blood Shadow Devil General, and the Nether Devil General. Each controls a portion of his forces. They restrain one another while also colluding with one another. You must first gain the trust of one of them, then gradually penetrate the Devil Ancestor's core."

As he spoke, the great elder took out a black token and handed it to Lin Chen. "This is an identity token for the Black Flame Devil General's subordinates. You can use it to slip into his forces. The Black Flame Devil General is hot-tempered, bloodthirsty, and combative, making his trust relatively easy to gain. However, you must be careful. Many of the Devil Ancestor's diehard loyalists surround him. The slightest carelessness will expose your identity."

Lin Chen accepted the token and examined it carefully. Sinister devil patterns were carved into it, radiating dense devil Qi. It was clearly genuine. Putting it away, he said, "Thank you for your guidance, Great Elder. I understand."

"Also," the great elder continued, "we will arrange for an inside contact to reach you. Her identity is that of the Black Flame Devil General's maid, and her name is Zi Yue. She will help you at crucial moments and relay information. Remember, your contact must remain secret. No one can discover it." Lin Chen nodded to show he understood.

Afterward, the great elder gave Lin Chen a detailed introduction to the Devil Ancestor's forces, including the various devil generals' personalities and abilities, their core subordinates, and the Dark Abyss's terrain and defensive arrangements. Lin Chen listened closely, committing every detail to memory without daring to overlook anything. This information was crucial to his undercover mission. The slightest mistake could leave him beyond redemption.

After learning everything, Lin Chen rose and bowed to the great elder and the cultivators in the hall. "Rest assured, everyone. I will not fail my mission. I will infiltrate the Devil Ancestor's core, uncover his arrangements, and wait for the best opportunity to suppress him and protect Hongmeng and all realms."

The great elder nodded. "Young friend Lin Chen, be careful in all things. We will support you from the shadows. Once you discover the Devil Ancestor's central secret, immediately send word to us through Zi Yue." With that, he waved his hand. A ray of light fell upon Lin Chen, adjusting his presence again until it was identical to that of a devil cultivator under the Black Flame Devil General, leaving no visible flaw.

Lin Chen thanked him again and turned to leave Hongmeng Hall. This time, the four golden-armored cultivators guarding it no longer dared stop him and respectfully stepped aside. After leaving the hall, Lin Chen followed the great elder's directions toward the Dark Abyss. Along the way, he saw many devil cultivators moving about, their presences cold and their behavior strange. Clearly, they all belonged to the Devil Ancestor's forces. Lin Chen composed himself, posed as an ordinary devil cultivator, and blended into their ranks as he proceeded toward the Dark Abyss.

The Dark Abyss lay at the outermost edge of the Hongmeng Holy Land. Dense devil Qi shrouded it year-round, hiding the sky and sun. The air was filled with the pungent stench of blood and decay, sending chills through anyone who encountered it. Sinister devil patterns covered the abyss's surroundings, forming a powerful defensive formation that barred outsiders. Lin Chen took out the Black Flame Devil General's identity token and approached the formation. The devil patterns on the token resonated with those of the formation, which instantly opened a gap to admit him.

Once he entered the Dark Abyss, the scene grew even more horrifying. Countless distorted devil shadows darted through the abyss, occasionally releasing piercing howls. White bones covered the ground-some from cultivators, others from demon beasts. Clearly, countless brutal battles had taken place here. Following the great elder's directions, Lin Chen headed toward the Black Flame Devil General's camp. It lay in the middle of the Dark Abyss, surrounded by roaring black flames refined from pure devil Qi. Their temperature was so high that ordinary cultivators would instantly burn to ash if they approached.

At the camp's entrance, two devil soldiers wielding devil sabers blocked Lin Chen's path. "Halt! Show your identity token!" Their voices were hoarse and thick with Sha Qi. Lin Chen took out the Black Flame Devil General's identity token and handed it over. The two soldiers examined it carefully. Only after confirming that nothing was wrong did they step aside, saying coldly, "Go in. The Black Flame Devil General is discussing affairs in the great hall."

Lin Chen nodded and entered the camp. Its interior was extremely spacious, filled with armed devil soldiers whose presences were all immensely powerful. Following the directions, he headed toward the Black Flame Great Hall at the camp's center. Built from black devil stone, the hall burned with roaring black flames, looking hideous and terrifying. Lin Chen reached the entrance, announced himself, and was permitted to enter.

The hall was dimly lit. On a raised dais in its center sat a burly man wearing black battle armor. His face was fierce, dense black flames surrounded him, and his terrifyingly powerful presence had reached the late Hongmeng realm. Clearly, he was the Black Flame Devil General. Below the dais stood dozens of devil generals, all his core subordinates, their presences likewise immensely powerful.

Lin Chen entered the hall and bowed. "Your subordinate Lin Chen pays his respects to the Black Flame Devil General!" His voice was respectful and his manner humble, befitting a low-ranking devil general. The Black Flame Devil General raised his eyes toward him, his gaze full of scrutiny. The black flames around him rippled slightly, and a powerful pressure crushed toward Lin Chen. With a thought, Lin Chen pretended he could not withstand it. His body trembled slightly and his face paled, but he maintained his bow without retreating in the slightest.

After watching him for a moment, the Black Flame Devil General withdrew his pressure and said coldly, "You're the newcomer? Where are you from? What can you do?" Lin Chen hurriedly answered, "My lord, I come from the devil domain of the Mortal Realm. By chance, I received Lord Devil Ancestor's summons and came to serve you. I specialize in concealment and assassination, and am willing to work for you." As he spoke, he presented a fabricated record of his background that he had prepared in advance.

The Black Flame Devil General took the record and examined it carefully, his brows furrowing slightly. A trusted devil general beside him stepped forward and said quietly, "My lord, this man's origins are unknown, and his strength is meager. I fear he cannot be trusted." The Black Flame Devil General said nothing. Instead, he looked at Lin Chen again and said coldly, "Since you specialize in assassination, I'll give you a task. Assassinate a minor commander under the Blood Shadow Devil General and bring me his head. If you complete the mission, I'll trust you and assign you a position."

Lin Chen grew inwardly alert, knowing the Black Flame Devil General was testing him. Although the Blood Shadow Devil General and the Black Flame Devil General both served the Devil Ancestor, they were deeply at odds and frequently fought each other. By sending him to assassinate a minor commander under the Blood Shadow Devil General, the Black Flame Devil General was both testing his abilities and using him to provoke the other general. Without hesitation, Lin Chen bowed. "As you command! I guarantee the mission's completion!"

The Black Flame Devil General nodded. "Good! You have three days. Three days from now, I want to see that minor commander's head. If you fail, bring me your own!" Lin Chen bowed again and turned to leave the hall. Outside, he took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening. This was the first test of his undercover mission. He had to complete it perfectly to gain the Black Flame Devil General's trust.

Following the information provided by the great elder, he first found Zi Yue. She was a delicately beautiful woman dressed in a purple maid's uniform. With her presence concealed, she looked utterly ordinary, but Lin Chen could sense that her strength was not weak-she had at least reached the immortal king realm. They met in a secluded corner, where Zi Yue spoke first. "Lord Lin Chen, I am Zi Yue. From now on, I will relay information and provide assistance to you. The Black Flame Devil General ordered you to assassinate a minor commander under the Blood Shadow Devil General, correct?"

Lin Chen nodded. "That's right. What information can you give me?" Zi Yue said, "That minor commander's name is Xue Sha. His strength has reached the immortal emperor realm, and he has ten guards, all devil cultivators at the immortal king realm. He usually lives in the eastern section of the Blood Shadow camp, which is heavily guarded. Tomorrow night, however, he will visit a devil den at the edge of the abyss to indulge himself. He will bring only two guards. That will be the best opportunity to assassinate him."

Lin Chen rejoiced inwardly. "Thank you for the information." Zi Yue said, "You're too courteous, my lord. It is my duty. But be careful. Although Xue Sha is not especially powerful, he is extremely cunning, and patrols from the Blood Shadow camp often operate nearby. If you are discovered, the consequences will be unthinkable." Lin Chen nodded. "I understand. Don't worry."

After parting with Zi Yue, Lin Chen found a secluded place to wait for the following night. Rather than acting rashly, he carefully planned his assassination route and retreat. He knew this assassination had to succeed. Failure was not an option. If he failed, not only would his undercover identity be exposed, but the entire plan to suppress the Devil Ancestor would be affected.

The following night, darkness lay thick as ink, and in the Dark Abyss, one could not even see one's fingers before one's face. Restraining his presence, Lin Chen slipped like a ghost toward the devil den at the abyss's edge. Dense devil Qi and a licentious atmosphere surrounded the den, clearly marking it as a place where devil cultivators indulged themselves. Lin Chen hid in a shadow nearby and carefully observed it. Before long, he saw Xue Sha swagger into the den with two guards.

Lin Chen waited patiently for an hour. Judging that Xue Sha had already gone deep inside the den, he quietly approached. There were no guards at the entrance. Clearly, Xue Sha believed no one would dare ambush him on his own territory. Lin Chen entered without a sound. The interior was extremely dim, filled with writhing devil shadows and a pungent smell. With his powerful divine soul, he quickly pinpointed Xue Sha's location.

Xue Sha was indulging himself with several devil women in a stone chamber, while his two guards stood outside its door. With a thought, Lin Chen flickered forward, appearing behind the guards like a phantom. Before either could react, he killed them with a single strike, destroying their divine souls without allowing them to make a sound. After disposing of the guards, Lin Chen pushed open the stone chamber's door and walked inside.

Seeing Lin Chen suddenly appear, Xue Sha's expression changed drastically. "Who are you? How dare you intrude on my territory!" He reached for Lin Chen, dense blood-colored devil Qi gathering in his palm. Lin Chen sneered and flickered aside, evading the attack. At the same time, he moved his fingers slightly and released an extremely fine strand of spiritual power, striking Xue Sha precisely between the brows. Xue Sha froze instantly, disbelief appearing in his eyes before he fell to the floor, lifeless. The devil women in the chamber screamed in terror. Lin Chen's gaze turned cold, and with a wave of his hand, he killed them as well to prevent them from leaking the news.

After eliminating all his enemies, Lin Chen stepped forward, cut off Xue Sha's head, and placed it in his storage space. He then carefully erased the traces at the scene, ensuring he left no flaw behind, before silently leaving the den and returning toward the Black Flame Devil General's camp. Along the way, he evaded several groups of patrolling devil cultivators and returned safely to the Black Flame camp.

Lin Chen went directly to the Black Flame Great Hall, tossed Xue Sha's head onto the floor, and bowed. "My lord, I have fulfilled your command and brought back Xue Sha's head!" Looking at the head on the floor, satisfaction appeared in the Black Flame Devil General's eyes. "Good! Well done! From this day forward, you are the commander of my personal guard, responsible for my safety!" Lin Chen rejoiced inwardly, knowing he had successfully gained the Black Flame Devil General's initial trust. He bowed. "Thank you for your promotion, my lord! I will devote myself fully to protecting your safety!"

From then on, Lin Chen remained beside the Black Flame Devil General as the commander of his personal guard, beginning his life undercover. While cautiously attending to the general, he gathered information about the Devil Ancestor's forces and passed it through Zi Yue to the Creation Clan's great elder. During this process, he encountered danger many times, faced suspicion from other devil generals, and was tested by the Devil Ancestor's diehard loyalists. Yet with his wisdom and invincible strength, he turned danger into safety each time, gradually winning the Black Flame Devil General's deep trust. He was even permitted to participate in some core discussions.

As his understanding of the Devil Ancestor's forces deepened, Lin Chen grew increasingly aware of how terrifying the Devil Ancestor was. His strength had long since surpassed the peak Hongmeng realm and reached an inconceivable realm. Moreover, he was continually absorbing the Hongmeng Holy Land's origin power to restore his strength. Once he fully revived, the entire Hongmeng Holy Land-even all realms-would be devoured by him and reduced to scorched earth. Lin Chen knew they had little time left. They had to uncover the Devil Ancestor's central secret and devise a plan to suppress him as soon as possible.

During one core discussion, Lin Chen finally heard information about the Devil Ancestor's central secret. His origin was hidden in the deepest reaches of the Dark Abyss, where a Devil Ancestor Temple stood. Within the temple, his origin core was enshrined. Destroying it would stop his revival and might even suppress him completely. However, powerful devil-pattern formations surrounded the temple, and countless mighty devil beasts and devil cultivators guarded it. Approaching it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Lin Chen relayed this information to the great elder through Zi Yue. Upon receiving it, the great elder immediately summoned the Creation Clan's core members to discuss the matter and devised a detailed suppression plan. Its core was for Lin Chen to coordinate from within while the Creation Clan's experts attacked from outside, drawing the attention of the Devil Ancestor's forces. Lin Chen would then seize the opportunity to infiltrate the Devil Ancestor Temple and destroy the Devil Ancestor's origin core.

After devising the plan, the great elder sent it to Lin Chen through Zi Yue. Lin Chen studied it carefully upon receiving it and adjusted the details to ensure its feasibility. He then began preparing in secret, waiting for the best moment to act. He knew this was the final and most crucial step of his undercover mission. Success would save all realms; failure would leave him beyond redemption and plunge all realms into the abyss of destruction.

The day of the decisive battle finally arrived. Following the plan, the Creation Clan's experts launched a fierce attack outside the Dark Abyss. Countless powerful divine abilities poured down upon the Devil Ancestor's forces, instantly tearing a gap in his defensive formation. Upon receiving the news, the Black Flame Devil General immediately summoned his devil generals and soldiers and headed out to reinforce the defenses. Lin Chen seized the opportunity to remain in the camp, waiting for the moment to infiltrate the Devil Ancestor Temple.

Amid the chaos, Lin Chen found Zi Yue. "The plan has begun. Follow the original arrangements and draw attention outside. I'll destroy the Devil Ancestor's origin core." Zi Yue nodded. "Be careful, my lord! I'll support you from the shadows!" With that, she turned and ran toward the chaotic battlefield.

Lin Chen took a deep breath, then flickered forward like a bolt of black lightning, slipping toward the deepest reaches of the Dark Abyss. Along the way, he avoided countless chaotic battles and slew many devil cultivators and devil beasts that barred his path. The Devil Ancestor Temple was guarded extremely tightly. Countless powerful devil beasts patrolled outside, and countless devil-pattern formations surrounded it. Lin Chen did not force his way in. Instead, relying on his understanding of devil patterns and his invincible strength, he silently dismantled formation after formation, evaded the patrolling devil beasts, and successfully infiltrated the temple.

The Devil Ancestor Temple's interior was extremely spacious, covered in sinister devil patterns, its air filled with dense origin devil Qi. At its very center stood a massive altar. A black crystal floated above it, radiating powerful origin power-clearly the Devil Ancestor's origin core. Four diehard loyalists of the Devil Ancestor stood around the altar, all possessing strength at the peak Hongmeng realm, guarding the core.

"Who are you? How dare you intrude into the Devil Ancestor Temple!" Discovering Lin Chen, the four loyalists shouted fiercely and surrounded him, releasing powerful pressure. Lin Chen said nothing. His gaze turned cold, and his presence erupted instantly. This time, he no longer concealed his strength. Supreme-level pressure swept through the entire temple, and the four loyalists' expressions changed drastically, disbelief filling their eyes.

"Supreme... supreme-level strength?" one loyalist said, his voice trembling. Lin Chen sneered and flickered forward, appearing before the four of them in an instant. They hurriedly attacked, unleashing powerful devil cultivation methods that blasted toward him. But before Lin Chen, their attacks were like ants trying to shake a tree, incapable of causing the slightest harm. He waved his hand, sending out four streams of spiritual power that instantly killed the four loyalists and destroyed their divine souls.

After disposing of the loyalists guarding it, Lin Chen walked to the altar and looked at the Devil Ancestor's origin core floating in midair. The core emitted a powerful suction, attempting to draw his divine soul inside. His eyes resolute, Lin Chen reached for it. Just as his hand was about to touch it, a cold, sinister voice suddenly rang through the temple. "Junior, you dare!"

As the words fell, a massive devil shadow appeared in the temple. It towered a hundred thousand feet high, its face hideous, endless devil Qi swirling around it. Its presence was terrifyingly powerful-clearly an avatar of the Devil Ancestor. The avatar stared coldly at Lin Chen, its eyes filled with killing intent. "I sensed something was wrong long ago. I never expected you to be the undercover agent! You little brat of the Creation Clan, do you think you alone can destroy my origin core?"

Lin Chen remained calm. "Devil Ancestor, your era is over. Today, I will suppress you completely and protect the peace of all realms!" As he spoke, he raised his hand and fired a powerful stream of spiritual power at the avatar. The Devil Ancestor's avatar sneered and waved his hand, blasting dense devil Qi toward Lin Chen. The two forces collided with a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering boom, and the entire Devil Ancestor Temple trembled violently.

The Devil Ancestor's avatar was immensely powerful. Even a mere avatar had reached the supreme level. Lin Chen fought him fiercely, their battle destroying all the devil patterns inside the temple and sending countless fragments of devil stone flying. Relying on the invincible strength accumulated through a hundred thousand years of signing in, Lin Chen gradually gained the upper hand. Fear appeared in the avatar's eyes. He had never expected Lin Chen to be so powerful, far beyond his expectations.

"Junior, do you think you can win? My true body is about to awaken! When it does, all realms will become my sacrificial offerings!" the Devil Ancestor's avatar shouted fiercely. The devil Qi around him surged once more as he launched frenzied attacks at Lin Chen. Lin Chen sneered. "Before your true body awakens, I'll destroy your origin core!" He flickered aside, evading the avatar's attack, and charged toward the origin core on the altar.

The avatar's expression changed drastically, and he hurried after Lin Chen, trying to stop him. But Lin Chen had already anticipated his movements. With a wave of his hand, he entangled the avatar in a powerful stream of spiritual power, then leaped to the altar and struck his palm toward the Devil Ancestor's origin core. "No-!" The avatar let out a piercing howl, but could not stop him.

With a tremendous bang, Lin Chen's palm slammed into the Devil Ancestor's origin core. Cracks instantly covered it, and powerful origin power poured out wildly. The avatar released an agonized scream, his figure growing insubstantial before dissipating completely. As the origin core shattered, the devil Qi in the Dark Abyss began dispersing wildly. The Devil Ancestor's forces collapsed instantly, and countless devil cultivators lost their strength and were slain by the Creation Clan's experts.

Standing on the altar, Lin Chen looked at the shattered origin core and let out a long breath. He had finally completed his undercover mission, successfully stopped the Devil Ancestor's revival, and protected Hongmeng and all realms. In the distance, the Creation Clan's great elder and the other experts hurried over. Seeing Lin Chen, they bowed. "Congratulations, young friend Lin Chen, on successfully suppressing the Devil Ancestor!"

Lin Chen nodded. "This was not my achievement alone. It was the result of everyone's efforts." With that, he turned and walked out of the Devil Ancestor Temple. By now, the battle in the Dark Abyss had ended. The Devil Ancestor's forces had been completely eradicated, and the Hongmeng Holy Land had regained its former peace. Looking at everything before him, Lin Chen felt no joy, only a sense of release.

He returned once more to his little courtyard in Azure Yang City and pushed open the gate. The bluestone paving, the stone table and stools, and the flowers and grasses in the corner were just as he remembered. Lin Chen sat down beside the stone table and poured himself a cup of clear tea. As it slipped down his throat, warmth spread through his limbs, and he once again heard the faint rustle of the Mortal Realm's wind passing through the alleys. He finally understood: true invincibility was not conquering all realms, but protecting this peace; the true Dao was not standing high above others, but returning to the ordinary.

From then on, Lin Chen remained in his little courtyard in Azure Yang City, living the ordinary life of a common mortal. Occasionally, he recalled his time undercover in the Hongmeng Holy Land, the companions who had fought beside him, and the days spent protecting peace. More often, however, he simply sat quietly in his courtyard, sipping tea and watching the wind, enjoying this hard-won tranquility. The conflicts of all realms and the glory of supremacy had become passing clouds and smoke. All he had ever sought was the peace of this little courtyard and the warmth of ordinary human life.

(End of chapter, approximately 9,200 characters)