Mid-term barriers, the winds rise in the north.

Deep within the Profound Yin Ravine, Nightmare's aura was like an abyss and a sea, with starlight and profound Demonic Qi intertwining and flowing, illuminating the entire Immortal Cave in a bizarre and kaleidoscopic light.

The last trace of the star cloud nurturing spirit pill's medicinal power was completely absorbed and refined by him. Within his Sea of Consciousness, the myriad poison true infant became increasingly solid, and the star Demonic Runes on his brow flickered with a faint light. His Divine Sense was more than twice as strong as when he first entered the Soul Transformation Realm! His comprehension of the rule fragment and star source core also deepened significantly.

“Ding! The medicinal power of the star cloud nurturing spirit pill has been fully absorbed. Divine Sense strength permanently increased by 25%, rule fragment Fusion increased to 7.5%, and initial refinement of the star source core completed at 15%.”

“Host's Cultivation Realm: Early Spirit Transformation Stage (Peak → Great Perfection)”

On the System light screen, his cultivation status quietly updated.

Nightmare opened his eyes, within which star rivers seemed to form and perish, profoundly deep. He could clearly feel that his Early Spirit Transformation Stage Realm was now completely perfect and flawless. The barrier ahead, leading to the Mid-stage Dao Replenishing, though still tough, was now faintly visible.

“After Soul Transformation, every step is indeed incredibly difficult,” Nightmare mused. Even with System assistance, Medicinal Pill enhancement, and Luck by his side, the step from Early Stage to Middle Stage was by no means easy to cross. It required deeper accumulation or a suitable opportunity.

He was not impatient. The path of cultivation required a balance of exertion and rest. Having just experienced a battle and absorbed a Medicinal Pill, he needed some time to settle.

With a thought, the System light screen unfurled again, switching to the faction module and map module.

“Faction: Ye Yan Palace”

“Dominion: Black Fiend Wasteland (Stable)”

“Reputation: Shaking One Side (Based on the event of defeating Sky Patrol Alliance Deity Transformation Cultivator, influence continues to spread...)”

“Available Resources: ... (list omitted) ... Suggestion: Can begin low-intensity mining of spirit ores, cultivate Yin-attribute spirit plants, recruit peripheral affiliated personnel to expand the Foundation...”

“Potential Threats: Sky Patrol Alliance (Hatred Level: High, Estimated Retaliation Probability: 99%), Large local Demonic Sects in the Northern Region (Attention Level: Increasing, Attitude: Unknown)”

“Map Module Update: Based on Host's Divine Sense scan and information collection, a rough map of the Black Fiend Wasteland and its surrounding hundred thousand li has been constructed. Three areas possibly containing Tier 4 or higher spiritual materials have been marked, one suspected Ancient Battlefield ruin (Danger Level: High), and two small spatial instability points (possibly connecting to miniature Secret Realms or dangerous lands)...”

Nightmare browsed the information. The initial stability of the faction and the continuous output of resources were the Foundation. With Mo Yuan managing this, he wasn't worried. Retaliation from the Sky Patrol Alliance was only a matter of time; he would meet it when it came.

His gaze fell upon the “suspected Ancient Battlefield ruin” and the “small spatial instability points.”

“System, analyze the detailed information of the Ancient Battlefield ruin, and calculate the priority and risk-reward of exploring those two spatial instability points.”

“Instruction received... Retrieving Ancient Battlefield ruin data... Energy residue analysis: Mixed with a large amount of Profound Evil Death Qi, residual weapon Evil Qi, faint Dragon might (?) ... Danger assessment: May contain Tier 4 (Nascent Soul Stage) Evil Spirits, ancient formation remnants, spatial cracks... Reward assessment: May discover ancient treasure fragments, special Evil Qi crystals, Dragon Blood Stones (if Dragon might analysis is correct)... Suggestion: Host should go after reaching Mid-stage Dao Replenishing.”

“Spatial Instability Point A: Gentle fluctuations, possibly connected to a depleted small Secret Realm, low risk, unknown reward. Priority: Medium.”

“Spatial Instability Point B: Violent and abnormal fluctuations, with some similar structures in the database (0.3% similarity frequency with the damaged map of star palace), high risk, possibly connected to an unknown dangerous land or hidden Secret Realm. Priority: High (suggest Host personally investigate).”

“Connected to the damaged map of star palace?” Nightmare's eyes narrowed. Even a 0.3% similarity was worth noting. The secrets of the Star Palace might be related to rule fragments and higher-level powers.

“Then I'll go to Spatial Instability Point B first,” Nightmare decided. Risk and opportunity coexisted. With the situation in the Northern Region still unclear, he needed to quickly improve his strength, and any clue possibly related to the Star Palace could not be overlooked.

Just as he was about to depart, Mo Yuan's respectful voice came from outside the Immortal Cave: “Benefactor, your subordinate has an urgent matter to report.”

“Enter.”

Mo Yuan quickly walked in, his expression tinged with solemnity: “Benefactor, our scouts arranged at the edge of the wasteland have sent back news. Recently, multiple unidentified Cultivators have been detected lurking nearby. Their cultivation is not low, and their actions are secretive. They don't seem to be from the Sky Patrol Alliance, but rather... local Northern Region forces. Furthermore, regarding the ownership of the 'Black Nether Mire,' several nearby Demonic Sects seem to have started a dispute, which might affect our wasteland.”

Nightmare listened, his expression calm. The attention from local Northern Region forces was within his expectations. The rise of a new Soul Transformation faction would inevitably draw the vigilance and probing of local powers. As for the Black Nether Mire, it was a swampy area located at the border between the Black Fiend Wasteland and another faction called the “Yin Bone Sect.” It was rich in several Yin-attribute spiritual materials and used to be a no-man's-land. Now that the Ye Yan Palace had unified the wasteland, it naturally considered it its own, and the Yin Bone Sect was clearly unwilling to give it up easily.

“Petty clowns, ignore them. Just strengthen patrols and vigilance. If anyone dares to cross the line, kill them without mercy,” Nightmare said indifferently. “This Sovereign will be out for a few days. All affairs within the palace will still be decided by you. If a Deity Transformation Cultivator attacks, activate this Jade Talisman, and I will rush back.”

He tossed Mo Yuan a black Jade Talisman condensed from the power of rules.

“Yes! Benefactor, rest assured!” Mo Yuan solemnly took the Jade Talisman, his heart greatly settled.

After giving his instructions, Nightmare's figure slowly faded, disappearing into the Immortal Cave once more. This time, he concealed all his aura, as if melting into the shadows, silently heading towards Spatial Instability Point B marked by the System... Not long after Nightmare left, at the border between the Black Fiend Wasteland and the Yin Bone Sect, at the edge of the Black Nether Mire.

Several Cultivators dressed in pale bone-patterned robes were confronting a patrol team of Ye Yan Palace Disciples. Both sides were at loggerheads, and the atmosphere was tense.

“Hmph! When did this Black Nether Mire become your Ye Yan Palace's territory? If you know what's good for you, scram! Otherwise, when our Yin Bone Sect Elder arrives, you'll regret it!” the arrogant Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator leading the Yin Bone Sect shouted. Behind him stood a gloomy Early Nascent Soul Stage old man, clearly there to provide backup.

On the Ye Yan Palace side, the Middle Golden Core Disciple leading the team, despite immense pressure, firmly remembered the palace rules and did not back down, coldly stating: “The Palace Master has ordered that all resources in the Black Fiend Wasteland belong to the Ye Yan Palace! This mire is within our wasteland territory. You all retreat quickly, or face death!”

“What big talk! A mysterious Demonic Cultivator who just established himself dares to call himself a Sect Master? Teach them a lesson!” the Yin Bone Sect Nascent Soul old man spoke sinisterly.

A conflict was about to erupt!

Suddenly!

An extremely terrifying pressure, filled with tyranny and deathly silence, descended like a tangible entity, instantly enveloping everyone present!

Thud! Thud!

Whether Golden Core or Nascent Soul, under this pressure, they all felt as if Mount Tai had fallen upon them, instantly collapsing to the ground, unable to move, their eyes filled with endless fear and horror!

Even the Yin Bone Sect's Nascent Soul old man was pressed firmly to the ground without any power to resist, his face touching the muddy swamp. A storm raged in his heart: “Deity Transformation?! Is it the Ye Yan Palace Master?! How... how could he come here personally?!”

A cold voice, like ten thousand years of cold ice, resounded in everyone's Divine Soul:

“Yin Bone Sect? This Sovereign remembers, I seem to have warned that those who cross the line, die.”

As the words fell, no action was seen.

The several Yin Bone Sect Cultivators, including the Nascent Soul old man, had their bodies crushed by an invisible force, instantly exploding into masses of blood mist. They didn't even have time to scream before their forms and spirits were annihilated!

Only the Golden Core Cultivator who had initially shouted was spared, but he was already so terrified that he soiled himself, his Divine Soul collapsing.

The pressure on the Ye Yan Palace Disciples suddenly vanished. They scrambled to their feet, still shaken, looking at the tragic scene. They were both terrified and excited, kneeling in the air: “Greetings, Palace Master! Palace Master's Divine Might!”

However, no one appeared in the air. Only that cold voice resounded again:

“Clean it up. Tell the Yin Bone Sect, this is the last warning. If there's a next time, This Sovereign will personally go to Yin Bone Mountain and destroy its Dao lineage.”

The voice dissipated, and the terrifying pressure completely vanished, as if it had never appeared.

The surviving Yin Bone Sect Golden Core Cultivator fled, scrambling and crawling.

The Ye Yan Palace Disciples were incredibly excited and quickly cleaned up the scene. Although the Palace Master did not show himself, his power was simply heaven-shaking! This matter quickly spread back to Profound Yin Ravine and then like a whirlwind throughout the entire wasteland and even the surrounding areas!

All factions were once again intimidated by this mysterious Palace Master's ruthless methods and terrifying strength! The Yin Bone Sect immediately closed its mountain gate, activated its full mountain-protecting formation, and its Sect Master personally sent a message to the Ye Yan Palace, offering heavy gifts as an apology, no longer daring to mention the Black Nether Mire.

They had no idea that the one who acted was not Nightmare himself, but merely a wisp of his Divine Thought Clone containing the power of rules, which he had left behind before departing.

At this moment, Nightmare's true body had already arrived outside a valley filled with extremely chaotic spatial power and giant black whirlwinds, guided by the System.

“Warning: Spatial fluctuations ahead are abnormally violent. High energy reactions and unknown spatial folds detected. Danger Level: High. Suggest Host proceed with caution.”

On the System light screen, the area representing Spatial Instability Point B glowed with a dazzling red light.

Nightmare's eyes narrowed slightly, feeling the chaotic yet faintly ancient spatial power ahead, and a curve of keen interest instead appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“This is it.”