Chaos reigns in the Black Wind Domain, the Jiang family faces peril.

Northwest of the Central Province, the Black Wind Domain.

The terrain here is unique, with a strange black astral wind blowing year-round. This wind not only erodes the protective spiritual light of Cultivators but also interferes with Divine Sense perception, hence the name. Resources within the Domain are relatively scarce, Sect power is weak, and the area is dominated mainly by cultivation Families and Loose Cultivators.

The Tianji Jiang Family is a rather mysterious Hidden Family within the Black Wind Domain. Legend has it that their ancestors produced an eccentric capable of prying into the secrets of the heavens. Their Bloodline carries a faint Legacy of divination and foresight. Although they cannot fully comprehend the past, present, or future, they possess unique skills in seeking fortune, avoiding disaster, finding spiritual veins, and treasure hunting. The Family's base is located in the Latent Dragon Valley deep within the Black Wind Domain, protected by an ancestral Formation, making it difficult for ordinary people to find.

Recently, however, the atmosphere around the periphery of Latent Dragon Valley suddenly grew tense.

The black astral wind outside the Valley seemed fiercer than usual, faintly mixed with some unusual aura. Several hidden warning Formations set up by the Jiang Family outside the Valley lost contact one after another, as if silently erased by some power.

Inside the Jiang Family's deliberation hall, the atmosphere was heavy.

The Family Head, Jiang Yunshan, was a refined-looking middle-aged man whose eyes were as deep as a sea of stars. His cultivation had reached the Peak of the Early Spirit Transformation Stage. At this moment, his brows were tightly furrowed as he looked at a cracked tortoise shell in his hand, his expression extremely grim.

Seated below were several Jiang Family Elders, all possessing impressive auras, with cultivations ranging from Late Nascent Soul Stage to Great Perfection. They all wore worried expressions.

“What does the divination show?” a white-haired Grand Elder asked in a deep voice.

Jiang Yunshan slowly put down the tortoise shell, his voice hoarse: “A sign of great misfortune, dark clouds pressing down on the city, a disaster of blood... unavoidable. An extremely powerful force has locked onto our Jiang Family and is closing in step by step.”

Everyone's faces instantly grew paler.

“Who exactly are they? Why are they targeting our Jiang Family?” another Elder asked in shock and anger.

Jiang Yunshan shook his head: “The secrets of the heavens have been completely disturbed, making it impossible to ascertain their Origin. But the divination shows that their goal... is our Bloodline Origin.”

“Bloodline Origin?!” Everyone was horrified. Extracting the Bloodline Origin means, at best, the complete loss of cultivation, and at worst, instant death! They intend to sever the roots of the Jiang Family!

“Could it be... the Central Province Imperial Dynasty?” The Grand Elder suddenly recalled some recent rumors, his voice trembling. “I heard that the Imperial Dynasty has recently been secretly arresting Cultivators with special Bloodlines...”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked. If the Central Province Imperial Dynasty truly made a move, would the Jiang Family have any chance of survival?

“Immediately activate the 'Latent Dragon Returning to the Void Great Formation'! All clansmen retreat to the inner Valley and are forbidden to leave! Raise the highest alert!” Jiang Yunshan suddenly stood up and gave the order decisively, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes. “At the same time, send the most outstanding children of the clan away through the secret teleportation Formation! Preserve a spark of life for our Jiang Family!”

The entire Latent Dragon Valley instantly became busy, enveloped in an atmosphere of panic and tragedy. The ancient Formation light shield rose, firmly protecting the Valley, but under the increasing external pressure, the shield flickered erratically, appearing precarious.

Outside the Valley, on a cliff covered by the black astral wind.

Several figures stood silently. The leader was none other than the “Holy Envoy” who had previously appeared at the Ice Soul Immortal Palace. He was still shrouded in a wide black robe, his aura deep and abyssal.

Behind him stood four expressionless Cultivators wearing dark gold Imperial Dynasty Imperial Guard armor. The auras they emitted were clearly those of Mid-stage Dao Replenishing Cultivators! Further away, dozens of Nascent Soul Stage Imperial Dynasty Secret Guards were busy setting up some kind of massive Formation Flag, interfering with the secrets of the heavens and the Spiritual Qi of the area.

“Sir, the Jiang Family's tortoise shell Formation has been raised. It seems they intend to resist stubbornly,” an Imperial Guard Commander reported coldly.

The Holy Envoy let out a hoarse laugh: “Just a dying struggle. The Heaven's Secret Bloodline is one of the crucial components of the Master's plan. How could we allow them to escape? How is the 'Spirit Locking Vein Severing Great Formation' progressing?”

“Reporting, Sir, it is nearing completion. Once this Formation is activated, it can completely seal off the Latent Dragon Valley's earth vein Spiritual Qi and forcibly strip the Bloodline Origin from all Jiang Family members inside the Formation!” another Commander replied.

“Very good.” The Holy Envoy nodded in satisfaction. “Hurry up. Delays lead to complications. The Master's patience is limited.”

“Yes!”

However, just as the Imperial Dynasty Secret Guards were about to finish setting up the last few Formation Flags—

An unexpected change occurred!

A finger force, pitch black and desolate, seemingly capable of swallowing all light, shot out without warning from the violent black astral wind on the side, precisely striking a critical Formation Flag node!

Swoosh!

That incredibly sturdy Formation Flag, refined from special Materials, along with the two Nascent Soul Secret Guards busy nearby, instantly and silently vanished, annihilated like weathered sand, leaving no trace behind!

“Who?!”

The sudden attack shocked all the Imperial Dynasty Cultivators! The four Soul Transformation Commanders reacted swiftly, instantly summoning their Magic Treasures to protect the Holy Envoy, and their sharp Divine Sense swept fiercely toward the direction of the attack's source.

They saw a black-robed figure slowly stepping out from the fierce black astral wind. An invisible Domain seemed to envelop his body; when the black astral wind, strong enough to tear apart Nascent Soul Cultivators, approached him, it automatically calmed down and annihilated, unable to shake him in the slightest.

The newcomer was naturally Nightmare.

Following the address provided by Mo Cheng and the faint induction of the Rule Fragment, he tracked them all the way here, arriving just in time to witness the Imperial Dynasty personnel preparing to strike the Jiang Family.

His gaze bypassed the four Soul Transformation Commanders who were facing a formidable enemy and landed on the Holy Envoy protected in the center. The Rule Fragment sensed a dark aura emanating from this person—one that was utterly incompatible with this world and extremely repulsive.

It bore some resemblance to the power of the “Deep Space Demon” described by the Star Palace Tomb Keeper, yet it was slightly different, appearing more... mixed and bizarre.

“Who is Your Excellency? How dare you interfere with the Imperial Dynasty's affairs!” a Soul Transformation Commander shouted sternly, pointing his war halberd at Nightmare, radiating Killing Intent.

Nightmare couldn't be bothered to answer. His target was the Jiang Family, or rather, the divination ability the Jiang Family might possess. These Imperial Dynasty people were obstacles, and furthermore... objects that needed to be cleaned up.

He simply raised his hand and lightly pointed a finger at the Soul Transformation Commander who had shouted the question.

Annihilation Finger.

It was still that seemingly ordinary finger strike.

The Soul Transformation Commander's expression changed drastically. Sensing a fatal crisis, he roared and poured all his magical power into the war halberd in his hand, transforming it into the illusory image of a ferocious, roaring Golden Dragon that lunged toward Nightmare! At the same time, blinding protective divine light erupted from his armor!

However, all of this was futile before the Annihilation Finger Force.

Where the finger force passed, the Golden Dragon wailed and shattered, the war halberd's spiritual light dimmed and flew backward, and the protective divine light was pierced as if it were made of paper!

Pfft!

A tiny hole instantly appeared between the Soul Transformation Commander's eyebrows. The look of horror on his face froze, the light in his eyes quickly extinguished, and his body plummeted straight down from the air, as if all support had been lost.

His vitality was completely extinguished, and his Divine Soul was shattered!

One strike!

Instant kill of a Mid-stage Dao Replenishing Cultivator!

The remaining three Soul Transformation Commanders and the Nascent Soul Secret Guards were frightened out of their wits, barely able to believe their eyes!

The Holy Envoy's gaze under the black robe suddenly narrowed, and his hoarse voice carried a hint of shock and suspicion: “Law power?! Who are you?!”

Nightmare still did not answer, his icy gaze sweeping toward the other three Soul Transformation Commanders.

When those three were swept by his gaze, they felt as if they had been targeted by a Primordial Vicious Beast, and their bodies turned cold. They instinctively took a step back, fully activating their Magic Treasures to protect themselves, no longer daring to harbor any thought of initiating an attack.

“Trash!” The Holy Envoy snorted coldly, seemingly extremely dissatisfied with his subordinates' performance. He slowly stepped forward. The black robe billowed without wind, and a terrifying pressure, far surpassing the Soul Transformation Stage, suddenly erupted, pressing toward Nightmare as if it were substantial!

This pressure not only contained vast spiritual power but also mixed with a strange power that was chaotic, manic, and capable of eroding the mind!

Void Refining Stage!

This Holy Envoy was clearly a mighty expert at the Early Stage of Void Refining!

“No matter who you are or how much Law superficiality you grasp, it is all illusion before absolute strength!” The Holy Envoy's hoarse voice held a hint of a sinister laugh. “Your Soul and Physical Body seem quite special, too. I shall offer them both to the Master!”

He suddenly extended a withered, pitch-black hand with sharp nails, grabbing toward Nightmare through the air! The hand grew rapidly against the wind, instantly transforming into a giant black claw that blotted out the sky and sun. Dense black evil Qi coiled around the giant claw, and everywhere it passed, even space emitted sizzling sounds of corrosion!

The might of this claw was far beyond what the previous Soul Transformation Commander could muster, already imbued with the “Void Force” unique to Void Refining Cultivators and that strange evil energy!

Nightmare's eyes narrowed slightly, but he showed no fear.

The Void Refining Stage merely allows one to initially mobilize Void Force. However, the Nirvana Rule he controls is one of the fundamental Laws of the Universe, its rank far surpassing simple Void manipulation!

He no longer held back. The Rule Fragment hummed within his body, and the Nirvana Law operated at full power!

“Nirvana Field, open!”

Buzz!

Centered on him, a Domain of absolute “Nothingness” suddenly expanded! Its range was not large, covering only Ten Zhang around him, but the Law within it was incredibly condensed and powerful!

As soon as the massive black evil claw entered the range of the Nirvana Field, the terrifying evil energy coiling around it quickly dissolved and disintegrated, as if it had met its nemesis! The huge claw itself also began to become illusory and transparent at a visible speed, seemingly about to be completely erased from existence.

“What?!!” The Holy Envoy's face finally changed drastically, and he cried out in alarm: “Your Law... No! This isn't an ordinary Law! What exactly are you?!”

He felt that his Void Refining Stage power and control over the Void Realm were like child's play before that strange Domain! It was an absolute suppression of hierarchy!

Nightmare gave the opponent no time to react. He joined his fingers like a sword, highly condensing the power of the Rule Fragment and the Nirvana Law, and slashed out a sword strike through the air toward the Holy Envoy, whose face had changed drastically, right behind the rapidly dissipating giant claw!

“Annihilation: Severing Karma!”

A subtle, almost invisible black thread ignored the spatial distance, instantly crossing the gap between the two and slashing toward the Holy Envoy!

This slash was not aimed at the Physical Body, nor was it aimed at magical power, but directly targeted the “Root” and “Connection” of his existence!

The Holy Envoy felt a fierce chill coming from the depths of his Soul, as if his connection to this world and his connection to the source of his own power were being forcibly severed! The evil power within him began to wildly backlash, and his Divine Soul violently shook!

“No!!” He was utterly terrified, violently spitting out a mouthful of black blood. A life-saving Secret Treasure on his body automatically activated, erupting with dazzling dark light!

Crack!

The protective shield formed by the Secret Treasure shattered instantly under the black thread after only holding for a moment! But in the end, it blocked most of the attack's power.

The Holy Envoy screamed tragically. Half of his body became illusory, and his aura instantly plummeted to the extreme, clearly having suffered unimaginable severe injuries! He shot Nightmare a look filled with intense malice and violently crushed a black Jade Talisman!

Buzz!

A Spatial Rift instantly appeared behind him, swallowing him up, and he vanished immediately! He had actually fled directly!

The remaining three Soul Transformation Commanders and the Nascent Soul Secret Guards were already scared out of their wits. Seeing that even the Holy Envoy had fled in panic, how could they dare to stay? They let out a cry and scattered in all directions!

Nightmare snorted coldly. The Rule Fragment stirred slightly, and several streams of Annihilation Finger Force shot out in different directions.

Pfft, pfft, pfft!

The Nascent Soul Secret Guards had no power to resist whatsoever. They were instantly blasted into black ash scattered across the sky, their forms and spirits completely destroyed.

The three Soul Transformation Commanders only managed to hold on for a moment longer. Their protective Magic Treasures and spiritual light were useless against the Annihilation Finger Force. They were successively pierced through the brow or Dantian, following the fate of the previous Commander, and plummeted from the air.

In the blink of an eye, the elite squad sent by the Imperial Dynasty was completely wiped out, save for the Holy Envoy, who fled with severe injuries!

Nightmare slowly retracted the Nirvana Field, his expression as calm as usual, as if he had only performed a trivial task. His gaze turned toward the Latent Dragon Valley below, which was protected by the light shield.

The Rule Fragment could sense that the people inside the Valley were nervously observing everything outside through the Formation.

He slowly descended, arriving outside the Latent Dragon Valley Great Formation's light shield, and spoke lightly:

“This Sovereign, Nightmare, has resolved the matter here. Jiang Family leader, come out and meet me.”