Chapter 128 The Demon Lord Returns to His Position, and the Northern Region is in Turmoil

Nightmare returned to the Profound Yin Ravine silently, not alarming anyone. He went directly into the depths of his Immortal Cave, first thoroughly refining and fusing the tiny rule fragment he had obtained from the ancient ruins.

Although it was just an insignificant small piece, the improvement it brought was comprehensive. The rule fragment's Fusion degree stabilized at 9.8%, enhancing his perception and ability to mobilize the Laws of Heaven and Earth, especially the Star Law, which he could now wield with perfect ease. His cultivation also thoroughly stabilized at Mid-stage Dao Replenishing, and he was steadily advancing towards the peak of the Middle Stage.

Subsequently, he began to process the other gains from his trip to the ancient ruins.

A large number of star core fragments were taken out, and an incomparably pure Power of the Stars immediately permeated the entire Immortal Cave. Nightmare circulated his Cultivation Technique, devouring and refining these star essences like a giant whale sucking water. The dark golden Texture on his Myriad Poison True Demonic Body became clearer, shimmering with a star-like luster, and his Physical Body strength and star affinity increased day by day. The Demonic Essence in his Dantian also became more boundless and pure, imbued with star characteristics.

[star source core Refinement: 22% → 35%]

[Cultivation Level Increase: Mid-stage Dao Replenishing (Early Stage) → Mid-stage Dao Replenishing (Middle Stage)]

The System's data directly reflected his progress.

Next, he took out the damaged "Myriad Skeleton Nether Banner" and some precious Materials from Ouyang Shuo's storage Magic Treasure. His innate infant fire rose again, and the power of the rule fragment merged into it, beginning to re-refine this demonic banner obtained from Old Ancestor Xuangu.

The process was even more effortless than before. The rule fragment's control over power reached its peak, and various Materials were perfectly fused. Under the mediation of the rule's power, the nether Qi and Power of the Stars strangely merged together.

Several days later, a brand new demonic banner was successfully refined. The banner body was still jet black, but on its surface, in addition to the interwoven patterns of stars and the netherworld, there were also dark golden rule patterns. Its aura was even more powerful and strange than the previous "Myriad Skeleton Star Banner," having already stepped halfway into the threshold of a Heaven-Reaching Demonic Treasure, only lacking an Opportunity to completely transform.

Nightmare named it the "Myriad Tribulation Star Banner" and stored it within his body for nurturing.

After dealing with all this, Nightmare slowly released his Divine Sense, covering the entire Ye Yan Palace and its surrounding areas.

Mo Yuan immediately sensed his aura and came to pay his respects.

"Welcome back, Benefactor!" Mo Yuan felt the increasingly unfathomable and vast aura, like the starry sky, emanating from Nightmare, and his reverence deepened.

"How have things been in the palace during This Sovereign's absence?" Nightmare asked indifferently.

Mo Yuan respectfully reported, "Reporting to Benefactor, everything in the palace is well, and the Disciples are diligent in their Cultivation. No one has dared to offend us. However..." He paused slightly, speaking with a hint of solemnity, "The probing of the surrounding areas has become increasingly frequent. Besides the Profound Yin Bone Mountain, it seems there are also people from the 'Blood Fiend Sect,' 'Seven Emotions Demonic Cult,' and even... possibly shadows of the 'Nirvana Cold Abyss.'"

"Oh? Nirvana Cold Abyss?" Nightmare's eyes flickered slightly. The Nirvana Cold Abyss, one of the four great demonic sects of the Northern Region? That was a truly top-tier force with a Late-Stage Transformation Spirit grand powerful expert overseeing it, entrenched in the core of the Northern Region for a long time. Had they also set their sights on this fringe area?

"Yes, although it's impossible to confirm, several Divine Senses were extremely subtle and powerful, far beyond ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivators, suspected to be Soul Transformation Cultivators," Mo Yuan said in a deep voice. "Additionally, there has been no movement from the Sky Patrol Alliance for now, but according to reports from our outside informants, the Northern Region Branch's personnel movements have been frequent recently, seemingly preparing for something."

Nightmare listened, his expression calm and unsurprised. His defeat of Ouyang Shuo, and the strength and potential he displayed, would undoubtedly attract the attention of the true giants of the Northern Region. Some would be wary, some might be curious, and some... perhaps greedy.

"It's fine. Mere clowns, no need to bother with them," Nightmare said indifferently. "If they're just watching, let them be. If anyone dares to extend their claws..."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes: "...Then chop off their claws."

"Yes!" Mo Yuan's heart tightened, and he quickly responded.

"This Sovereign will go into seclusion for a period to thoroughly consolidate his cultivation. Palace affairs will still be decided by you. If there's anything you cannot decide, or if a Deity Transformation Cultivator attacks, then summon This Sovereign," Nightmare instructed.

"I will obey Benefactor's command!" Mo Yuan bowed and withdrew.

Nightmare closed his eyes again, entering deep seclusion. He not only wanted to consolidate his Mid-stage Dao Replenishing cultivation but also to carefully comprehend the power of the newly fused rule fragment and star source core, deducing Divine Abilities, and preparing for the storm that might come... As Nightmare was in seclusion, rumors about him intensified, and Ye Yan Palace had seemingly become the most eye-catching and feared force in the Northern Region's fringe area.

Sect Master Xuan Ming of Profound Yin Bone Mountain indeed personally brought heavy gifts to visit, with a humble attitude, not mentioning Old Ancestor Xuangu at all, only stating that he came out of admiration and hoped to befriend Ye Yan Palace. Mo Yuan, on behalf of the palace master, received him neither obsequiously nor arrogantly, accepted the gifts, expressed goodwill, but also drew a clear line.

The scouts sent by forces such as the Blood Fiend Sect and Seven Emotions Demonic Cult were even more secretive, but deterred by Nightmare's fierce reputation, they only dared to probe the periphery and did not dare to cross the line.

What truly concerned the major forces in the Northern Region was the attitude of the Nirvana Cold Abyss and the Sky Patrol Alliance.

Deep within the Nirvana Cold Abyss, in the Myriad Year Ice Palace.

A woman dressed in an ice-blue palace dress, with a cold and beautiful face and an aura like ten thousand years of profound ice, was listening to her subordinate's report. She was the master of the Nirvana Cold Abyss—Ice Soul Fairy, a Late-Stage Transformation Spirit grand powerful expert.

"Severely injure Ouyang Shuo with one blow? Suspected of controlling the Power of the Stars Origin?" Ice Soul Fairy's slender fingers gently tapped the Ice Throne, and a hint of interest flashed in her beautiful eyes. "That's quite interesting. Continue to observe, but do not make contact for now. This Sovereign wants to see how those hypocrites from the Sky Patrol Alliance will respond next."

At the same time, in the Sky Patrol Alliance's Northern Region Branch.

Ouyang Shuo sat in the main seat with a gloomy expression, while several Elders, urgently transferred from headquarters, sat below him. Their auras were all strong, and among them was even a Middle Stage Formation Master.

"The headquarters' decree has been issued!" Ouyang Shuo said in a deep voice, "Commanding us to spare no expense in investigating the background of that Devil Head Nightmare and the secrets of his Cultivation Technique, especially the secret of his control over the Power of the Stars! If necessary, we can summon a projection of the 'Sky Patrol Mirror' to descend and cooperate with the 'Nine Heavens Star Locking Grand Array' to capture or suppress him!"

His eyes flickered with hatred and ruthlessness: "That Devil Head must have obtained an enormous Opportunity in the Fallen Star Ancient Ruins! Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to progress so rapidly! Such an Opportunity should belong to our Sky Patrol Alliance!"

"Patrol Envoy Ouyang, rest assured!" The Middle Stage Formation Master said confidently, "This old man has already surveyed the Black Fiend Wasteland's ley lines. In just three months, I can set up a prototype of the 'Nine Heavens Star Locking Grand Array.' Although its power is not even one-ten-thousandth of the headquarters' grand array, it is enough to suppress a Late-Stage Transformation Spirit Cultivator when combined with the Sacred Artifact projection! At that time, that Devil Head will have no escape!"

"Good! Thank you, Elder Wu!" A smile finally appeared on Ouyang Shuo's face. "Everyone, this operation concerns the Sky Patrol Alliance's prestige in the Northern Region. Success is the only option; failure is not permitted!"

"Yes!"

A massive conspiracy targeting Nightmare was quietly unfolding under the Sky Patrol Alliance's planning.

And all of this, Nightmare, who was in seclusion, was temporarily unaware of.

However, the immense Luck within his body, and the rule fragment's faint perception of danger, made him vaguely feel that a greater storm was constantly approaching.

He needed to increase his strength faster.

Inside the Immortal Cave, Nightmare slowly opened his eyes and took out the Jade Slip recording the Myriad Poison Demonic Scripture, as well as the copied Jade Slip of the ancient scripture of the star god obtained from Star Dust Mortal (Fairy Qing Li had taken the original, but Nightmare had already scanned and recorded it through the System).

"Perhaps, it's time to try to further fuse the two Cultivation Techniques..." His eyes flickered with the light of deduction.

The Dao of Myriad Poisons and the Star Law, seemingly disparate, both contain the profound truths of Heaven and Earth. With the rule fragment as a bridge, it might not be impossible to forge an unprecedented... Dao of Myriad Poison Stars!

And this Dao might directly lead to the Late-Stage Transformation Spirit, or even... a higher Realm!

In the Northern Region's sky, clouds gathered, and undercurrents surged.

Everyone's gaze, whether overtly or covertly, was focused on the remote Black Fiend Wasteland, awaiting the next move of that mysterious Demonic Lord.

And Nightmare, at the center of this storm, was diligently Cultivating, sharpening his claws, waiting for the moment when the world would be shaken.