Zhang Hanyuan's Dharma Assembly, Spying on the Demons

The news that the Sky Patrol Alliance's elites were completely annihilated and the Nine Heavens Star Locking Grand Array became nourishment instead, swept through the entire Northern Region like a destructive storm, several times more intense than before, even shaking the Xuntian Alliance Headquarters in Central State!

A Late-Stage Transformation Spirit Patrol Envoy, a Mid-stage Dao Replenishing Formation Great Master, two Early Spirit Transformation Stage Protectors, and dozens of Nascent Soul Cultivators... such a luxurious lineup, setting up a deadly Formation, yet ultimately met with complete annihilation!

And the opponent was merely a Demonic Cultivator who rose from a fringe area, with a cultivation base only at the Mid-stage Dao Replenishing!

This news was too shocking, so much so that at first no one believed it, thinking it was an absurd rumor. But when various forces used all sorts of methods to repeatedly confirm it, they had no choice but to accept this terrifying fact.

The name of Nightmare, the Palace Master of Ye Yan Palace, truly became a taboo existence in the Northern Region and even surrounding areas, spoken of with dread! His notorious reputation was unmatched for a time, even surpassing many veteran Late-Stage Transformation Spirit mighty figures.

The forces that had been secretly lurking around the Black Fiend Wasteland instantly scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing completely, fearing that this fiend would misunderstand and bring about their demise. The Profound Yin Bone Mountain immediately sent another generous gift, with even more humble and respectful words.

Several major top Sects in the core circle of the Northern Region also put away their last shred of disdain and testing, elevating the status of Ye Yan Palace to be on par with their own, or even more dreaded.

After this battle, within a thousand li radius around Ye Yan Palace, no one dared to offend. Nightmare's prestige was forged entirely with the corpses and blood of the Sky Patrol Alliance's elites.

Inside his Immortal Cave, Nightmare digested the gains from this counter-kill. The Myriad Tribulation Star Banner had devoured a massive amount of Power of the Star Chains, greatly increasing its spirituality. Although it had not officially undergone Tribulation, its power was no less than that of an ordinary Heaven-Reaching Spirit Treasure. His use of rule fragments and Power of the Stars also became more proficient.

It was time to attend the Cold Abyss Dharma Assembly.

He instructed Moyuan to look after the family business, and if a strong enemy attacked, he could be contacted at any time via Divine Thought Jade Talisman. Afterward, he left the Profound Yin Ravine alone and silently, heading towards the core of the Northern Region—the Nirvana Cold Abyss.

The Nirvana Cold Abyss is located in the extreme north of the Northern Region, a desolate land perpetually shrouded in extreme cold gales and ice and snow. The environment here is exceptionally harsh, yet it has nurtured countless ice-attribute Heaven And Earth Treasures, and it is also the location of the mountain gate of 'Nirvana Cold Abyss,' one of the four great Demonic Sects of the Northern Region.

The closer one got to the Cold Abyss region, the temperature plummeted. The sky no longer sprinkled snowflakes, but ice shards containing Yin Cold Evil Qi. The raging Nine Heavens Gale was enough to easily tear apart the protective spiritual light of a Golden Core Cultivator. On the ground, glaciers stood tall, and ice plains stretched for thousands of li, with few signs of life.

Nightmare circulated his Demonic Essence, forming a Domain around himself. The ice shards and gales melted and disintegrated within three feet of his body, unable to affect him in the slightest. He moved extremely fast, like a black meteor streaking across the frozen world.

Days later, an incredibly vast, terrifying abyss, as if leading directly to the netherworld, appeared at the end of the horizon.

That was the Nirvana Cold Abyss.

The mouth of the abyss was incredibly wide, with the opposite bank beyond sight. Inside, it was dark and deep, spewing out Nine Nether Cold Qi capable of freezing the Divine Soul and fierce Void Realm gales. Along the edge of the abyss, relying on the steep ice cliffs, a magnificent complex of ice crystal palaces was built. Jade towers and pavilions, adorned with paintings, all constructed from ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, reflected a dreamlike, hazy glow under the sparse heavenly light, forming a stark contrast with the abyss's dead silence.

This was the mountain gate of Nirvana Cold Abyss—the Cold Abyss Palace.

At this moment, the Cold Abyss Palace was clearly much livelier than usual. Streaks of powerful Escape Light arrived from all directions of the Northern Region, landing in the palace. The auras emanating from these Escape Light were at least Late Nascent Soul Stage, with no lack of Soul Transformation Stage old demons and magnates among them!

Evidently, the 'Cold Abyss Dharma Assembly' hosted by Ice Soul Fairy had attracted the attention of most of the top Demonic Cultivators in the Northern Region.

Nightmare concealed his aura, transforming into an ordinary black Escape Light, and landed before the huge palace gate plaza of the Cold Abyss Palace.

The plaza was paved with ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, smooth as a mirror and exuding biting cold. Many Cultivators had already gathered, conversing in low voices in groups of three or five. The atmosphere seemed lively, but in reality, undercurrents surged, and everyone maintained sufficient vigilance and distance from each other.

Nightmare's arrival did not attract much attention. His aura was restrained, making him appear to be only at the Mid-stage Dao Replenishing cultivation (a facade he deliberately maintained). While considered a master in the Northern Region, he wasn't particularly outstanding among the crowd present today.

However, as he stepped towards the palace gate, several extremely powerful Divine Senses swept over him almost simultaneously.

The owners of these Divine Senses were clearly of noble status and had not waited in the plaza like others, but had already entered the palace. Their Divine Senses were like invisible tentacles, scrutinizing Nightmare with curiosity, examination, and even a hint of imperceptible apprehension.

Nightmare's expression remained normal, as if he noticed nothing, but a cold sneer formed in his heart. He knew that although he had altered his apparent aura, his record of easily annihilating Ouyang Shuo and others was enough for these top existences in the Northern Region to recognize him and give him sufficient 'attention'.

He ignored these prying gazes and walked directly towards the palace gate. At the palace gate, Disciples of the Cold Abyss Palace, dressed in ice-blue robes, were receiving guests.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait. Please show your invitation card." A Late Nascent Soul Stage steward politely stopped him, though his eyes carried a hint of arrogance befitting a Nirvana Cold Abyss Disciple.

Nightmare calmly took out the ice crystal invitation card.

The steward took the invitation card, swept it with his Divine Sense, and his face subtly changed. The arrogance on his face instantly receded, replaced by immense respect and a hint of nervousness: "So... so it is Palace Master Nightmare! This Junior was blind, please forgive me, Palace Master! Palace Master, please follow me, the Sect Master has already arranged a seat of honor for you!"

Clearly, Nightmare's notorious reputation had already reached the Nirvana Cold Abyss.

Nightmare nodded slightly, and under the respectful guidance of the steward, he passed through the grand palace gate and entered the Cold Abyss Palace.

Inside the palace was another world entirely. The space seemed to have been expanded by a Formation, far more magnificent and vast than what was seen from the outside. Huge ice pillars supported the high ceiling, and the surrounding walls were inlaid with various glowing crystals and luminous pearls, illuminating the palace as if it were daytime, yet it felt no warmth, but rather added a few more shades of eerie coldness.

In the grand hall, dozens of ice jade tables had already been set up, and many figures were already seated behind them. Each of these figures exuded profound auras and chilling Demonic Qi, clearly prominent figures of the Demonic Path in the Northern Region.

Their gazes, following the steward's guidance and Nightmare's entry, all focused on him.

Curiosity, scrutiny, apprehension, indifference, malice... all sorts of gazes intertwined.

Nightmare acted as if he noticed nothing, and under the steward's guidance, he sat down behind an ice jade table on the front left side of the main hall. This position was clearly second only to the main seats at the very top, demonstrating the Nirvana Cold Abyss's recognition and respect for his strength.

As soon as he sat down, he felt an undisguised gaze, full of aggression and malice, cast from diagonally opposite him.

Nightmare looked up and saw a burly, bald man sitting opposite him, dressed in blood-red robes with a fierce countenance. The man's body exuded monstrous blood Qi, as if countless wronged souls were wailing. His cultivation had clearly reached the peak of Mid-stage Dao Replenishing, just one step away from entering the Late Stage.

Seeing Nightmare look over, the blood-robed man not only did not restrain himself but instead bared his teeth in a savage grin, licking his lips with a crimson tongue, his eyes like he was looking at a delicious blood meal.

"Blood Fiend Sect Sect Master, Blood Butcher." Someone nearby whispered, their voice tinged with awe.

The Sect Master of the Blood Fiend Sect, one of the four great Demonic Sects of the Northern Region, renowned for his bloodthirsty nature and cultivation of blood Demonic Technique, with a formidable reputation.

Nightmare withdrew his gaze, expressionless, and calmly picked up a cup of ice marrow wine from the table, taking a light sip, as if the other party were merely air.

Seeing this, Blood Butcher's eyes flashed with fierce light, and he snorted coldly, but did not immediately erupt.

Just then, in the main seat at the head of the grand hall, space subtly rippled, and a stunning figure quietly appeared, seated upon a throne of profound ice.

It was none other than the master of Nirvana Cold Abyss—Ice Soul Fairy.

The moment she appeared, all conversations in the grand hall instantly ceased, and everyone's gaze converged on her, filled with awe, admiration, and even greed.

"This Palace is deeply honored that all Fellow Daoists could grace this Dharma Assembly with your presence."

Ice Soul Fairy's clear and ethereal voice rang out, like ice pearls falling onto a jade plate, distinctly reaching everyone's ears.

The Cold Abyss Dharma Assembly officially began.

And Nightmare knew that beneath this seemingly harmonious Dharma Assembly, undercurrents were surely surging.

His gaze calmly swept over the figures in the grand hall, a cold sneer in his heart.

Let's see what tricks these demons of the Northern Region want to play.