Chapter 169 Earth Vein Alchemy, On the Eve of the Storm

Nightmare used the rule fragment to perceive heaven and earth, quickly locking onto a high-grade Earth Fire Spiritual Vein located deep within the "Lava Mountain Range" in the western part of Central Province. This area was volcanically active, filled with dense Fiery Malice Qi, and rarely visited, making it an excellent location for isolated Artifact Refining.

Taking Su Wanqing with him, he executed several Law of Space jumps, easily avoiding the fire-attributed Yao Beasts and scattered Cultivators inhabiting the mountains, and proceeded deep into the core region of the range.

Deep within the belly of a massive volcano that perpetually emitted black smoke and occasionally churned magma, Nightmare found an extremely pure, dark-red Earth Fire Spiritual Vein that was almost liquid. With a slight guidance from the rule fragment, he carved out a spacious Immortal Cave and set up multiple layers of concealment and defensive Restrictions to isolate the area.

In the center of the Immortal Cave, the earth fire was drawn out into a massive pool of flames. The scorching high temperature caused the space around it to subtly warp.

"Act as my Protector here," Nightmare instructed Su Wanqing, then sat cross-legged beside the fire pool.

What he first took out was not Alchemy Materials, but the rule fragment obtained from the Land of Nine Nether, which appeared even more profound after being completed. This time, after devouring the Nirvana Heavenly Tribulation, the rule fragment gained the most benefit; its internal structure seemed to have undergone subtle changes, and its connection with the nirvana dao seed had become even closer.

The rule fragment floated above his palm, slowly rotating and emitting a hazy, gray-black aura. Nightmare immersed his mind into it, carefully comprehending the massive amount of information fed back by the rule fragment after his advancement to the Void Refining Stage.

The first was the Law of Space. Having advanced to Void Refining, his perception and control over space reached new heights. With a slight thought, a tiny, perfectly stable spatial rift silently tore open in front of him. He could even vaguely perceive the spatial coordinates of several nearby Great Domains, and the consumption required for ultra-long-distance crossing was greatly reduced.

Next were the various Divine Abilities of the nirvana dao seed. In addition to the massive power increase of existing abilities like Annihilation Finger and Nirvana Field, he also comprehended several new applications. For example, the "Eye of Annihilation," where his gaze could trigger the internal annihilation mechanism of all things, accelerating their decay and demise; and the "Return of All Things to the Void," which could simulate the scene of the Universe's end within a small range, possessing immense power but also terrifying consumption.

Most importantly was the further Fusion with that trace of Origin Power of Annihilation. He could now slightly mobilize a sliver of its might. Although it was less than one ten-thousandth of the Tip of the Nine Nether Sword, it allowed his Nirvana Law to carry a trace of true "Origin" aura, placing it at a higher rank and giving it a natural suppressive force over other Laws.

Only after digesting the gains from the rule fragment did Nightmare begin to process the numerous Heaven And Earth Treasures obtained during this trip.

The first item he took out was the "Three-Life Resurrection Grass." This herb was crucial for consolidating Su Wanqing's Dao foundation and future potential, so failure was not an option. Supplementing it with the "Seven-Colored Immortal Marrow" obtained at the Ancient Yao Pool and several rare Spirit Medicines, Nightmare prepared to open his Pill Furnace and refine a batch of "Nine-Revolution Resurrection Pills."

He summoned the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace, which he had acquired from a fallen Void Refining Cultivator. Using pure Nirvana magical power to drive the earth fire, he skillfully tossed the Spirit Medicines into the furnace one by one. The rule fragment precisely controlled every subtle change in the heat and the Fusion of medicinal properties, achieving an efficiency far surpassing any Alchemy Grandmaster.

Forty-nine days later, the Pill Furnace violently shook, and the lid shot into the sky. Nine pills, the size of dragon eyes, wrapped in seven-colored radiant light and the rhythm of life and death Dao, flew out. A strange fragrance permeated the entire Immortal Cave; just smelling it made one's Divine Soul feel comfortable and their magical power surge with excitement.

The Nine-Revolution Resurrection Pills were complete! And they were Nine-Revolution Golden Cores of perfect quality!

Nightmare placed three of them into a jade bottle and handed it to Su Wanqing: "Take one every ten days and refine it with a calm mind. It can consolidate your foundation, strengthen your Divine Soul, and be of immense benefit for your future Breakthrough to Soul Transformation."

Su Wanqing accepted the jade bottle, feeling the vast and gentle medicinal power within. She was deeply moved: "Thank you, Master!" She knew well the value of such Immortal Pills; outside, they were enough to cause Void Refining mighty experts to fight over them frantically.

Afterward, Nightmare used the Immortal Materials and the egg of the "Deep Sea Gigantic Hornless Dragon," supplemented by a large collection seized from his enemies, to re-refine the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Furnace. He raised its quality to the Peak of Spirit Treasure status and even infused a trace of Nirvana Flame, greatly enhancing its power for both Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

He also re-refine Su Wanqing's star fixing compass, incorporating several pieces of Star Immortal Gold obtained from the Ancient Yao Pool, making its perception of Space and Star Power much more acute.

During this time, Nightmare himself continuously consumed and refined the Immortal Plants, Spirit Medicines, and Seven-Colored Immortal Marrow obtained from the Ancient Yao Pool. His cultivation steadily increased, completely stabilizing at the Peak of the Early Stage Void Refining, just a step away from the Middle Stage. The nirvana dao seed grew increasingly solid, and the rule fragment became more profound.

After consuming the first Nine-Revolution Resurrection Pill, Su Wanqing entered deep seclusion. The power of the Medicinal Pill cleansed her physical body and Divine Soul, repairing her previously damaged Dao foundation. Her cultivation soared all the way to the Peak of the Late Nascent Soul Stage, just a hair's breadth away from Soul Transformation.

Inside the Immortal Cave, time passed peacefully, and their strength rapidly increased.

Yet outside the Immortal Cave, the Central Province Cultivation World was stirring up monstrous waves due to the events at the Ancient Yao Pool.

First, the Cultivators who participated in the trial returned, bringing back news about the "immortal fate stele" and the earth-shattering "Nirvana Heavenly Tribulation"! The deeds of Nightmare—using his Late-Stage Transformation Spirit cultivation to counter-slay Void Refining experts, forcefully resist Dao Integration experts, and even swallow the Heavenly Tribulation to advance to Void Refining—spread like a whirlwind throughout all major forces!

The name "Nightmare, the Demonic Lord of the Northern Domain," resounded throughout Central Province at an unprecedented speed, becoming a legendary name that inspired awe, fear, and curiosity!

Next came the losses and reactions of the major powers.

A Dao Integration Elder (a woman in palace robes) from the Joyful Zen Sect returned severely injured and was utterly enraged. She had issued the "Joyful Pursuit Order," vowing to capture and kill Nightmare and refine his Primordial Spirit into a Medicinal Pill!

On the side of the Central Province Imperial Dynasty, although there were no major movements on the surface, according to secret messages Mo Cheng transmitted via a Soul Talisman, several old monsters in the Imperial Dynasty Consecrated Hall had been alerted and were secretly investigating Nightmare's background and whereabouts. The old score regarding the death of the Seventh Prince also seemed to have been reopened.

Furthermore, the Sects and Families behind the Void Refining Cultivators who were counter-slain by Nightmare at the Ancient Yao Pool were shocked and furious. Yet, intimidated by Nightmare's fierce reputation, they dared not retaliate openly, only secretly putting out bounties and gathering information.

For a time, Central Province was turbulent, with undercurrents surging. Countless eyes were secretly searching for the whereabouts of the newly advanced Void Refining Demonic Lord.

One day, as Nightmare was deducing a new application for the nirvana dao seed, the star pivot token in his possession suddenly transmitted a gentle fluctuation.

With a thought, he activated the token.

The phantom of Immortal Master Xuan Ji materialized out of thin air, still wearing that faint smile: "Little Friend Ye, I trust you are well."

"What is the matter, Immortal Master?" Nightmare asked indifferently.

"Two things," Immortal Master Xuan Ji said without preamble. "First, the 'Heavenly Secrets Jiang Family' you were looking for seems to have run into some trouble recently. Traces of the Imperial Dynasty Consecrated Hall's 'Shadow Guards' activity have appeared near the Black Wind Domain."

Nightmare's gaze sharpened. The Jiang Family had just finished deducing the Land of Nine Nether for him, and now the Imperial Dynasty's people were showing up? Was it a coincidence, or... "Second," Immortal Master Xuan Ji continued, "The Star Pivot recently discovered clues to a ruin, potentially related to the source of the Nirvana Law, during an ancient stellar exploration. Its spatial coordinates seem to be connected to the 'Nine Nether' you previously inquired about. The relevant information has been transmitted to you via the star pivot token; perhaps it will be of assistance."

Having finished speaking, the phantom of Immortal Master Xuan Ji slowly dissipated.

Nightmare immersed his Divine Sense into the star pivot token and indeed received a stream of information containing incomplete star charts and speculative records about an ancient Forbidden Ground, which partially matched the Nine Nether information he already possessed.

The rule fragment vibrated slightly, providing affirmative feedback.

"Imperial Dynasty... Shadow Guards... Jiang Family..." Cold light flickered in Nightmare's eyes. He owed the Jiang Family a favor. If the Imperial Dynasty was truly venting its anger on the Jiang Family because of him, he could not stand idly by.

Furthermore, the clue regarding the source of Nirvana provided by the Star Pivot was also extremely important.

He glanced at Su Wanqing, who was still in seclusion, and left behind a Divine Thought message and stronger protective Restrictions.

It was time to go out and move around.

Imperial Dynasty Consecrated Hall? Joyful Zen Sect? You'll be perfect for testing the power of the Void Refining Realm!

With a flash of his figure, Nightmare vanished from the Immortal Cave.

The next moment, he appeared outside the Lava Mountain Range. The rule fragment locked onto the direction of the Black Wind Domain, and with a single step, the Void Realm cracked open.

The storm began because of him, and it would only grow fiercer because of him.