Chapter 140 Ants Barking at the Sun, Suppressed with a Flip of the Palm

Nightmare's calm gaze fell upon Yang Yan. That look was utterly indifferent, as if he were looking not at a person, but at an inanimate object.

Yang Yan felt an inexplicable chill under that gaze, but his long-standing arrogance immediately suppressed this sliver of unease. Instead, he grew even angrier and shouted fiercely, "Nonsense! Anything This Young Lord sets his eyes on is naturally mine! Hurry up and present it with both hands!"

The guards behind him also stepped forward, powerful Spiritual Pressure mixed with Killing Intent surging toward Nightmare, attempting to force him to comply. The Perfection Nascent Soul Elder frowned slightly, seeming about to speak, but ultimately remained silent. He merely secretly raised his magic power, watching Nightmare warily. He always felt that there was something wrong with this black-robed youth, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what.

The surrounding Cultivators retreated one after another, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. Liu Jin's expression was grim. Just as he was about to brace himself and step forward to mediate, he was stopped again by a look from Nightmare.

Nightmare looked at the outwardly fierce but inwardly cowardly Yang Yan, and suddenly gave a soft laugh, though the sound held no trace of warmth.

"You want this Jade Slip?" He shook the Jade Slip in his hand. "Fine."

A hint of smug, sinister laughter had just appeared on Yang Yan's Face, believing the other party had backed down.

But then he heard Nightmare continue indifferently, "Trade your life for it."

The moment his voice fell, an invisible, intangible Killing Intent, cold and utterly brutal, instantly descended like a ten-thousand-year ice prison, precisely enveloping all the Cultivators of the Chi Yang Sect, led by Yang Yan!

This Killing Intent was not simple Aura pressure; it contained a sliver of will from the rule fragment, penetrating directly into the Divine Soul!

Plop! Plop!

Those guards, who were only at the Golden Core or Early Nascent Soul Stage, didn't even have time to grunt. The light in their eyes instantly extinguished, blood flowed from their seven orifices, and they collapsed limply as if their bones had been removed, completely lifeless! Their Divine Souls were directly annihilated under the impact of this terrifying Killing Intent!

The Protective Jade Pendant on Yang Yan's body suddenly burst forth with dazzling red light, forming a Light Shield to protect him. However, under the impact of the Killing Intent, this Light Shield violently rippled like paper paste, instantly becoming covered in cracks! Yang Yan himself felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow; his Face instantly turned ashen white, he spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, and his eyes were filled with endless terror and disbelief. His legs gave way, and he immediately collapsed kneeling on the ground!

Only the Perfection Nascent Soul Elder, who had the highest cultivation and reacted quickly, fiercely burned his essence blood the moment the Killing Intent descended, summoning a Small Crimson Shield to block in front of him. But he was also knocked back repeatedly by the impact of the terrifying Killing Intent, his Qi and blood churning, the shield's spiritual light dimming. His Face was filled with shock and terror!

Silence!

Deathly silence!

Inside the entire Ten Thousand Scrolls Tower, a pin drop could be heard!

All the surrounding Cultivators were dumbfounded, staring blankly at the horrifying scene before them, as if they had been hit by a Body-Fixing Technique!

A single glance! They didn't even see the opponent make a move! Just a wave of Killing Intent! All the Chi Yang Sect guards, except for the Young Lord and that Elder, were instantly wiped out! The Young Lord was severely injured and kneeling, and the Elder was in a wretched state!

What kind of terrifying strength was this?! A Soul Transformation Old Ancestor! Absolutely a Soul Transformation Old Ancestor!

Everyone felt a chill rush straight from the soles of their feet to the crown of their head. Their gaze toward the black-robed youth was filled with endless awe and fear!

Liu Jin also gasped sharply. Although he had guessed that Nightmare was a Deity Transformation Cultivator, he hadn't expected his methods to be so brutal and overbearing, and his killing so decisive!

Yang Yan was paralyzed, kneeling on the ground, trembling like chaff. A foul stench even emanated from his crotch; he had been so terrified that he lost control of his bladder! At this moment, he had lost all traces of arrogance, replaced only by boundless fear. He looked at Nightmare as if staring at a Nine Nether Demon God!

The Perfection Nascent Soul Elder forcefully suppressed the shock in his heart, quickly stepped forward, blocking in front of Yang Yan. He bowed deeply toward Nightmare and said with a trembling voice, "S-Senior, please calm your anger! It was my Young Lord who was blind and offended Senior! Please show mercy, Senior, and spare his life! My Chi Yang Sect will certainly offer a generous reward!"

He regretted it bitterly now. If he had known this person was such a terrifying existence, he would have stopped that idiot Young Lord no matter what!

Nightmare didn't even glance at the Elder, his gaze still fixed on Yang Yan. He said indifferently, "Now, do you still want the Jade Slip?"

Yang Yan was so terrified that his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. He shook his head frantically, his teeth chattering, unable to speak.

"Scram." Nightmare uttered a single word.

The Elder felt as if he had received a great pardon. He quickly grabbed the limp Yang Yan and scrambled out of the Ten Thousand Scrolls Tower, not even bothering with the corpses of the Disciples, terrified that if they delayed even a moment, the other party might change his mind.

After the Chi Yang Sect group fled in such a wretched state, the Ten Thousand Scrolls Tower remained deathly silent. No one dared to breathe heavily.

Nightmare showed no change in expression, as if he had merely swatted a few flies. He tossed the Jade Slip to the Shopkeeper, who was already terrified out of his wits. "How much?"

The Shopkeeper jolted, almost failing to catch the Jade Slip. He quickly said in a trembling voice, "N-no... I wouldn't dare... If Senior likes it, please take it. Consider it a tribute from this small shop to Senior..."

"This Sovereign never takes things for free." Nightmare flicked his finger, and a High-Grade Spirit Stone—which he had obtained from Ouyang Shuo's Storage Pouch but had no use for—landed on the counter. Its value far exceeded that of the Jade Slip.

Afterward, he didn't even look at the surrounding crowd. He nodded slightly to Liu Jin, then turned and walked out.

Liu Jin quickly followed, his attitude ten times more respectful than before.

It wasn't until Nightmare's figure disappeared through the doorway that the crowd inside the Ten Thousand Scrolls Tower collectively exhaled, as if the Body-Fixing Technique had been lifted. Many people immediately slumped onto the ground, their backs already soaked with cold sweat.

"My heavens... Who was that? Too terrifying!"

"A single gaze... killed so many people from the Chi Yang Sect..."

"A Soul Transformation Old Ancestor! Absolutely a Soul Transformation Old Ancestor! I never expected such a fierce person to arrive at the Sea Market!"

"The Chi Yang Sect really kicked an iron plate this time..."

"Hurry, hurry, this place is not suitable for staying long..."

The news spread like a whirlwind across the entire Sea Market. Suddenly, all Cultivators knew that a malevolent Soul Transformation Old Ancestor, whose methods were vicious and whose strength was unfathomable, had arrived at the Star Raft Sea Sub-Branch. Some forces that were originally arrogant in the Sea Market immediately tucked their tails between their legs and became extremely obedient.

Returning to the Sub-Branch's quiet room, Liu Jin respectfully said to Fellow Daoist Ye, "Fellow Daoist Ye, although the Chi Yang Sect is not a top-tier great sect, its Sect Master is an Early Spirit Transformation Stage Cultivator and quite protective of his own. Having lost Face and Disciples this time, he probably won't let the matter rest..."

"No matter." Nightmare said indifferently, "If they wish to come and court death, This Sovereign doesn't mind seeing them off."

Hearing this, Liu Jin's heart tightened. He dared not speak further and quickly excused himself.

Nightmare picked up the Jade Slip and immersed his Divine Sense into it. This Jade Slip indeed recorded many secret stories about dangerous places in the Void Realm Sea, which was somewhat useful to him. More importantly, when he was intimidating Yang Yan just now, the rule fragment moved slightly, and he sensed an extremely faint spatial fluctuation emanating from that fellow, which caught his attention. It seemed to be hidden deep within his Storage Magic Treasure.

"A little interesting..." A thoughtful light flashed in Nightmare's eyes. However, he did not immediately investigate. The urgent priority was still to recover his strength as quickly as possible.

He took a Medicinal Pill again, closed his eyes, and began meditating.

Sure enough, in less than half a day, a clamor erupted outside the quiet room, and the Spiritual Pressure of the Soul Transformation Stage descended upon the Sub-Branch without concealment!

"People of the Star Raft Sea, scramble out for This Sect! Hand over the fiend who injured my son!" A voice as violent as raging fire roared, causing the Formation Light Screen covering the entire Sub-Branch to ripple slightly.

Yang Dingtian, the Sect Master of the Chi Yang Sect, had actually come knocking personally!

Liu Jin's Face turned pale. He steeled himself and went out to meet him.

Above the Sub-Branch, a middle-aged man wearing crimson robes, whose appearance somewhat resembled Yang Yan, and whose body was engulfed in blazing flames, was angrily hovering there. The Spiritual Pressure of the Early Spirit Transformation Stage was being released without reservation—it was Yang Dingtian. Behind him were the Perfection Nascent Soul Elder and Yang Yan, whose Face was full of venomous hatred.

"Sect Master Yang, please calm your anger..." Liu Jin quickly cupped his hands.

"Liu Jin! Cut the nonsense! Immediately hand over that Devil Head who injured my son and killed my Disciples! Otherwise, don't blame This Sect for not giving the Star Raft Sea Face and tearing down this Sub-Branch of yours!" Yang Dingtian had a fiery temper. He interrupted Liu Jin directly and shouted sternly.

Liu Jin felt distressed and didn't know what to do.

A creak.

The door to the quiet room slowly opened. Nightmare walked out unhurriedly, raised his head to look at Yang Dingtian in the air, his eyes calm and waveless.

"You are the one who injured my son?!" Yang Dingtian's gaze instantly locked onto Nightmare. Sensing that the other party also possessed a Soul Transformation Stage Aura, his heart tightened slightly, but his rage intensified. "Kneel down before my son and confess your crime, then cripple your own cultivation! This Sect might spare your life!"

Nightmare smiled, but that smile was incredibly cold.

"It seems the lesson wasn't sufficient."

He simply raised his hand, and pressed down with a palm toward Yang Dingtian from afar.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, only an invisible, intangible, yet terrifying power containing the rules of Annihilation and Stars, which instantly crossed space and enveloped Yang Dingtian!

Yang Dingtian's expression changed drastically. He felt the space around him instantly solidify, and an Aura of great terror and great annihilation descended, causing the fire-attribute magic power within his body to nearly freeze and extinguish! He roared furiously, erupted with full power, and summoned a large, flame-burning Cauldron Magic Treasure to block in front of him!

Crack!

That Spirit Treasure Cauldron, which was of no low grade, instantly became covered in cracks like porcelain the moment it was struck by the Invisible Palm Force, and then exploded with a crash!

Poof!

Yang Dingtian was struck by a heavy blow, spitting blood as he flew backward, his eyes filled with endless shock and terror!

One palm! Just a casual palm strike! It destroyed his Lifebound Treasure and severely injured him!

How is this possible?! The other party was clearly only at the Soul Transformation Stage, so why was his level of power so terrifying?!

"Father!" Yang Yan screamed in terror.

The Nascent Soul Elder's Face was utterly drained of color.

Nightmare stood with his hands behind his back, looking coldly at the heavily injured Yang Dingtian. "Now, does This Sovereign still need to kneel and confess his crime?"

Yang Dingtian struggled to stabilize himself, his Face deathly pale. His gaze toward Nightmare was filled with terror and disbelief, utterly devoid of any arrogance. He trembled, "W-who exactly are you?!"

"Nightmare."

The two light words fell, yet they were like Nine Heavens thunder, fiercely striking the Divine Souls of Yang Dingtian, Yang Yan, and the Nascent Soul Elder!

Nightmare?!

Nightmare, the Peerless Fiend who killed the Sky Patrol Alliance Patrol Envoy and was wanted by the Xuntian Alliance Headquarters?!

Yang Dingtian was instantly scared to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, nearly tumbling out of the air! He finally understood what kind of existence he had provoked! This was simply carrying a lantern into the outhouse—courting death!

"O-originally it was Senior Nightmare who had arrived!" Yang Dingtian's expression instantly shifted. Forcibly suppressing his injuries and fear, he squeezed out a smile uglier than crying. He bowed deeply toward Nightmare. "Junior was blind and offended Senior, deserving ten thousand deaths! Ten thousand deaths! You may dispose of this rebellious son as you wish! I only beg Senior to spare the lives of my entire Chi Yang Sect!"

At this moment, he wished he could slap that father-betraying son to death!

Yang Yan was already paralyzed on the ground, his bowels and bladder released simultaneously.

Nightmare glanced at them indifferently, having lost interest.

"Take your people and scram out of the Sea Market. If This Sovereign sees you again, the Chi Yang Sect will have no reason to exist."

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Senior, for sparing our lives! We will scram immediately! Scram immediately!" Yang Dingtian felt as if he had received a great pardon. He grabbed his limp son, took the Elder, and fled wretchedly, transforming into a streak of light. Their speed was more than double what it had been upon arrival.

Following this incident, Nightmare's prestige in the Sea Market was thoroughly established, and no one dared to offend him in the slightest again.

Nightmare returned to the quiet room. With a flip of his hand, an object appeared in his palm.

It was a piece of Metal Debris, palm-sized, with irregular edges, completely black, yet emitting faint spatial fluctuations. This fragment was exactly what he had sensed emanating from Yang Yan earlier.

"This is..." Nightmare carefully sensed the Aura on the fragment, his gaze shifting slightly.

The material of this fragment and the few remaining patterns on it were surprisingly somewhat similar to the damaged map of star palace in his hand, and the Star Palace Stone Gate beneath the Cold Abyss!

Could this fragment also come from the Star Palace?