The threshold of Zhang Lianxu, the message from the Star Pivot

On the desolate coastal reefs, Nightmare sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. The aura around him was like a deep pool, seemingly calm, yet undergoing earth-shattering changes within.

That trace of Origin Power of Annihilation obtained from the nine nether sword tip, though as fine as a hair, was as heavy as a thousand jun, containing the most ancient and purest Dao charm of termination. The rule fragment, like the most parched sponge, frantically absorbed, analyzed, and integrated this power. The patterns on its surface became more complex and profound, even subtly emitting a faint glow originating from the sword tip.

Nightmare's Divine Soul seemed to have been cast into the source of the Great Dao of Annihilation, personally experiencing the ultimate scenes of stars collapsing, worlds returning to ruin, and all things turning to nothingness. His understanding of Nirvana rapidly increased at an unprecedented speed, and many previously obscure points suddenly became clear.

Nirvana is not merely destruction; it is an order, an inevitability, an indispensable part of the cycle of all things. Within extreme Nirvana, there also lies a subtle Opportunity for Nirvana Rebirth.

His magic power circulated on its own driven by the rule fragment, becoming more condensed and pure. Every wisp of magic power took on a faint grey-black hue, containing a terrifying annihilation characteristic. In his Dantian Qi Sea, the Nascent Soul, identical to him, began to be entwined with wisps of Annihilation Dao patterns. In the center of its brows, an extremely tiny yet incredibly complex grey-black rune was slowly taking shape—that was the nascent form of a 'dao seed' that only Void Refining Stage Cultivators could initially condense!

Soul Transformation comprehends Law, Void Refining condenses a dao seed.

Only by condensing one's own dao seed can one truly enter the hall of the immortal Dao and possess a trace of qualification to pursue eternal life.

Nightmare's accumulation was already sufficiently profound: the Star Palace Legacy, rule fragment, several life-and-death battles, coupled with this current spark of Origin Power of Annihilation, the Breakthrough of the Void Refining Stage Bottleneck was now imminent!

But he did not rush to break through. The rule fragment, in any case, this was not an ideal place for a Breakthrough. The Void Refining Tribulation was no small matter; the Heaven and Earth phenomena and Heart Demon Tribulation it would trigger far surpassed those of Soul Transformation, requiring a perfectly safe and Spiritual Qi-rich location, with all preparations made.

He slowly withdrew his cultivation, temporarily suppressing the surging power, and the nascent dao seed also receded, awaiting its final eruption.

Opening his eyes, the depths of his pupils were filled with desolation, as if containing the ultimate mysteries of the Universe's creation and destruction. Su Wanqing, who was acting as his Protector, felt her Divine Soul tremble just by glancing at them, and she hastily lowered her head.

"Master, you've woken up," she said softly, sensing the increasingly unfathomable and awe-inspiring aura emanating from Nightmare.

"Mm." Nightmare stood up, feeling the surging power within him. Although his Realm had not yet broken through, his strength had qualitatively leaped compared to before entering the Nine Nether. Now, facing that 'Nether Skeleton' again, though he still wouldn't dare claim victory, he at least had the confidence to contend with it or even injure it again.

"This place is not suitable for prolonged stay. We need to find another hidden location for my Breakthrough." Nightmare's rule fragment subtly moved, sensing the flow of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and the distribution of spatial nodes.

Just as he was about to take Su Wanqing for another spatial leap, the vital soul talisman in his embrace, which connected him to Mo Cheng, fluctuated again.

Nightmare raised an eyebrow and activated the soul talisman.

Mo Cheng's hoarse voice immediately rang out, but this time it carried an unprecedented urgency and... excitement?

"Fellow Daoist Ye! Great news! A heaven-sent Opportunity!"

Nightmare's expression was calm: "Speak."

"Fellow Daoist, do you still remember the 'Star Pivot'?" Mo Cheng quickly asked.

Star Pivot? Relevant information immediately surfaced in Nightmare's rule fragment. The Star Pivot was not a Sect or a location, but an extremely mysterious transcendent organization spanning several great Star Domains. It was said that its members were all top Cultivators with heaven-reaching cultivation or special talents. They rarely intervened in worldly disputes, acting more as a platform for high-level Cultivators to exchange and explore, dedicated to uncovering ancient secrets, the mysteries of the starry sky, and even the path to Ascension. Its threshold was extremely high; ordinary Soul Transformation Cultivators didn't even qualify to hear its name.

"Continue."

"The Star Pivot recently scattered a batch of 'Guiding Star Talismans' to the outside world!" Mo Cheng's voice trembled with excitement. "According to the news I obtained at a great cost, one of these Star Talismans fell in the 'Fallen Star Wasteland' in southern Central Continent! Obtaining a Star Talisman grants you the qualification to participate in the Star Pivot's next 'Star Domain Trial'! It is said that the rewards for this trial involve a newly discovered, never-before-developed ancient 'Cave Heaven Secret Realm,' which might even contain... clues about 'Immortals'!"

Immortals!

This word possessed unparalleled magic in the Cultivation World! Countless Cultivators painstakingly pursued it their entire lives, wasn't it to glimpse a trace of immortal Opportunity and achieve eternal life?

Even Nightmare's heart couldn't help but ripple at this moment. The rule fragment also sent a clear tremor, pointing south, as if there was something extremely important to him within that 'Star Talisman' or the so-called 'Cave Heaven Secret Realm'.

"Is the news reliable?" Nightmare asked in a deep voice.

"Eighty percent reliable!" Mo Cheng affirmed. "This is news sent out by a desperately hidden informant I placed within the Imperial Family. The Imperial Family also seems to have caught wind of it and has secretly dispatched masters to the Fallen Star Wasteland! Moreover, it is said that this Star Pivot trial is related to dealing with the 'Great Tribulation' in the future..."

Great Tribulation? Nightmare immediately thought of the deep-space demons that destroyed the Star Palace, and the Imperial Family's bizarre plan.

"Specific location of the Fallen Star Wasteland." Nightmare made his decision. While Void Refining Breakthrough was important, the Star Pivot and the clues to 'Immortals' might be a fleeting Opportunity. Furthermore, the rule fragment's sensing couldn't be wrong.

Mo Cheng immediately reported a detailed coordinate and added, "Fellow Daoist, you must be careful! Those coveting the Star Talisman are by no means few. At that time, the wasteland will likely gather top-tier Soul Transformation powerhouses from all sides, and there might even be old Void Refining monsters hidden among them! The Imperial Family will certainly get involved!"

"This Sovereign knows." Nightmare replied indifferently, cutting off the communication.

"Master, are we going to the Fallen Star Wasteland?" Su Wanqing asked, a hint of worry in her eyes. It sounded like it was about to become the eye of a storm.

"Mm." Nightmare nodded. "The secret of the Star Pivot is worth exploring. Moreover, the Imperial Family might also join the fun."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Perfect, new grudges and old scores, perhaps some could be settled all at once.

Orienting himself, Nightmare's rule fragment locked onto the south. He once again tore through space, taking Su Wanqing across endless mountains and rivers, heading straight for that ancient wasteland in southern Central Continent.

Southern Central Continent, Fallen Star Wasteland.

Legend has it that this place was where extraterrestrial stars fell in ancient times. The earth was scorched black, covered with huge craters and vitrified crystalline landforms. Spiritual Qi was sparse and violent, making it difficult for ordinary creatures to survive. But precisely because of this, many peculiar stellar radiations and unknown minerals remained here, and occasionally Cultivators would come to try their luck.

When Nightmare and Su Wanqing arrived, the wasteland was no longer peaceful.

Visible streaks of various colored escape light came from all directions, like meteors drawn by an invisible force, descending into the depths of the wasteland. Powerful or subtle auras roamed and clashed across the wasteland, wary of each other yet full of greed.

In the rule fragment's perception, there were dozens of Soul Transformation Stage auras, and among them, several were obscure and profound, like deep abyssal seas, very likely old Void Refining Stage monsters who had hidden their cultivation!

A fierce struggle over the 'Guiding Star Talisman' had quietly begun.

Nightmare did not rush in but found a hidden crater in the peripheral area to land. The power of the rule fragment spread out silently like invisible mercury, carefully sensing the energy flow and anomalies of the entire wasteland.

Su Wanqing, meanwhile, took out her star fixing compass, attempting to sense the special fluctuations that the so-called 'Star Talisman' might emit.

Time passed, and the atmosphere in the wasteland grew increasingly tense. Occasionally, a few small-scale conflicts had already erupted, with flashes of light and rumbling sounds, all vying for areas that might contain the Star Talisman.

Suddenly, the rule fragment and the star fixing compass simultaneously registered a sensation!

At the bottom of a huge crater in the west-central part of the wasteland, an extremely subtle, yet exceptionally pure and powerful fluctuation of the Power of the Stars flashed and disappeared! Although brief, its quality was extremely high, far exceeding the stellar radiation in the surrounding environment!

"Found it!" A sharp glint flashed in Nightmare's eyes.

Almost simultaneously, at least four or five powerful Divine Senses abruptly swept towards that direction! Clearly, other powerhouses had also detected that momentary fluctuation!

"Go!"

Nightmare did not hesitate, pulling Su Wanqing along. His figure transformed into an almost transparent phantom, rushing towards that crater at an astonishing speed!

Their movements immediately attracted the attention of other powerhouses!

"Hmph! Trying to get ahead? Stay!"

"The Star Talisman is mine!"

Several cold shouts rang out from different directions. Immediately after, a sharp sword light, a giant Origin Qi palm, and an overwhelming expanse of blood-red poisonous sand simultaneously struck towards Nightmare and Su Wanqing from three directions, attempting to block their path!

The three attackers were all Late-Stage Soul Transformation grand Cultivators!

Nightmare's eyes turned cold, not bothering to entangle with these people.

"Scram!"

He let out a low growl, and his Annihilation Domain expanded slightly!

The incoming sword light, giant palm, and poisonous sand, the moment they entered the domain, silently melted, disintegrated, and annihilated like ice and snow under the sun! They couldn't even stir up half a ripple!

The three Late-Stage Soul Transformation Cultivators who attacked simultaneously grunted, their faces turning pale, and their eyes showing horror. They had clearly suffered a hidden loss, being backlashed by that strange Law power!

With this brief delay, Nightmare had already rushed into the bottom of that crater like a phantom with Su Wanqing.

The bottom of the mountain was dimly lit, covered with rugged strange rocks and vitrified crystals formed by star impacts. And in an inconspicuous crevice in the center, a palm-sized, entirely silver-white, peculiar token inscribed with patterns of the myriad stars lay quietly.

Upon the token, a pure and vast Power of the Stars emanated, subtly echoing with the rule fragment!

Guiding Star Talisman!

Nightmare reached out to grab the Star Talisman.

However, just as his fingertip was about to touch the Star Talisman—

Another anomaly occurred!

From a shadow beside him, a withered, bony hand with sharp fingernails unexpectedly reached out, silently grabbing towards the Star Talisman! Its speed was astonishing, and its timing was cunning, far surpassing the previous three!

Even more terrifying, this claw contained a faint but extremely pure trace of—Law of Space power!

Void Refining Stage!

An old Void Refining monster had been hiding nearby, waiting for this opportune moment to strike from behind!

Nightmare seemed to have anticipated this. The moment that hand reached out, his gesture towards the Star Talisman remained unchanged, but his other hand formed a sword-finger. The newly acquired Origin Power of Annihilation within the rule fragment surged slightly, and he pointed towards that shadow, striking first though acting later!

Annihilation · Void Break!

At his fingertip, space shattered inch by inch like fragile glass. That ultimate Annihilation Finger Force ignored the spatial obstruction, directly striking towards the hidden person's glabella in the shadow!

The hidden Void Refining old monster obviously didn't expect Nightmare's reaction to be so fast, and his counterattack so fierce and malicious! He let out a strange cry, no longer caring about snatching the Star Talisman. His extended hand violently retracted, and as his five fingers flexed, he activated spatial power, trying to twist and deflect the finger force!

Rip!

The spatial distortion power collided with the Annihilation Finger Force, emitting a grating tearing sound!

The old monster grunted and stumbled out of the shadow. He was a gaunt, ugly old man in a grey robe. He narrowly avoided the vital point on his glabella, but his shoulder blade was grazed by the aftershock of the finger force, instantly forming a transparent hole. The flesh at the wound withered, with no blood flowing out, as if all vitality had been completely stripped away!

"Junior! You seek death!" The grey-robed old man was both shocked and enraged. His Void Refining Stage pressure erupted, and he was about to attack recklessly.

But Nightmare had already seized the Opportunity to grab the Guiding Star Talisman!

The Star Talisman felt warm in his hand, and a massive information stream instantly flooded his mind, detailing the time, location, and some rules of the Star Pivot's next 'Star Domain Trial'!

At the same time, the rule fragment resonated with the Star Talisman, and a pure starlight erupted from the Star Talisman, enveloping Nightmare and Su Wanqing!

"Don't run!" The grey-robed old man and several other Soul Transformation Cultivators who had arrived were both shocked and furious. They all unleashed their full power, various Magic Treasures and Spells bombarding the starlight!

However, their attacks landed on the starlight like mud oxen entering the sea, easily dissolved and absorbed by the seemingly gentle starlight, which in reality contained some supreme Law of Space!

The next moment, the starlight abruptly converged, taking Nightmare and Su Wanqing, and instantly vanished from the spot, as if they had never appeared.

Only a group of dumbfounded, ashen-faced Cultivators remained at the bottom of the crater.

The grey-robed old man clutched the terrifying, unhealing wound on his shoulder, gazing in the direction Nightmare disappeared, his eyes filled with venom and a hint of dread.

"Nirvana... and the Star Pivot's Guiding Starlight... Kid, no matter who you are, this old man remembers you!"

He gritted his teeth but ultimately dared not linger. His figure flickered, merging into space and disappearing.

The other Cultivators also had no choice but to disperse disgruntledly, continuing their search for other elusive Star Talisman Opportunities that might exist.

Meanwhile, Nightmare and Su Wanqing were wrapped in warm starlight, undergoing an incredibly stable, super-long-distance spatial teleportation far beyond their own capabilities.

The information from the Star Talisman indicated that they were being directly sent to the Star Domain Trial's gathering point—an ancient teleportation star platform located in the boundless Void Realm.

A new adventure was about to begin.