The journey home took an unexpected turn, and Wanqing vanished without a trace.

Traveling through the Void Realm, a stream of Nirvana light tore through the endless darkness.

Nightmare's Divine Sense guided the return journey; every spatial jump was precise and distant. With his Mid-stage Void Refining cultivation, combined with a profound understanding of the Law of Space and the Origin of Nirvana, this long journey consumed far less for him.

As he traveled, he digested the massive gains from his trip to the ancient battlefield. The torrent of information brought about by his evolution required time to sort through, and the various applications of the true meaning of Nirvana needed careful contemplation. Although the "Annihilation Domain" was powerful, its consumption was immense and could not be used lightly.

Several days later, the remote island in the Endless Sea where the Jiang Family was settled came into view.

However, just as Nightmare was about to reach the island's perimeter, a trace of abnormal fluctuation suddenly arrived — the concealment and protective Restriction around the island seemed to have traces of being forcibly triggered!

Although the traces were extremely subtle and almost perfectly covered, how could they deceive his evolved Divine Sense?

Nightmare's eyes narrowed instantly, his figure accelerated suddenly, and the next moment, he appeared above the island.

The power of his Divine Sense scanned the entire island like spilled mercury.

The Jiang Family members were unharmed and still living peacefully deep within the island, seemingly unaware of any abnormalities. The main protective Restriction he had laid down was also intact.

But — the Restriction on the periphery of the Immortal Cave where Su Wanqing was in seclusion had been quietly broken using an extremely sophisticated method! Although it had been carefully restored to its original state afterward, the residual, extremely faint spatial fluctuation and a faint, exotic aura with a hint of sandalwood scent could not escape the perception of his Divine Sense!

Inside the Immortal Cave, there was no one! Su Wanqing was gone!

Nightmare's expression sank instantly, the aura around him became icy and bone-chilling, and the sea surface beneath his feet froze silently for several miles!

He stepped into the Immortal Cave.

The Immortal Cave was tidied up cleanly, with no signs of a struggle. The star fixing compass that Su Wanqing often used was also gone. Only a small white Talisman made of polished seashell was left on the prayer mat.

Nightmare picked up the seashell Talisman, and with a slight sweep of his Divine Sense, he triggered a message of Divine Thought left inside.

A gentle female voice with a hint of helplessness rang out; it was undoubtedly the Star Pivot guide, Immortal Master Xuan Ji:

"Young Friend Ye, seeing this letter is like seeing me. Forgive me for taking Miss Su without permission; it was truly unavoidable. Miss Su possesses the 'Pure World Lotus Heart' Physique. This Physique has a miraculous effect on suppressing the restless 'Olden Filth' deep within the 'Demon Abyss Sea'. It concerns the survival of the living beings in a region, and even the safety of the entire cultivation world. Several Elders of the Star Pivot reached a joint resolution to invite Miss Su to assist. With a three-year term, we guarantee her safe return. This matter is the highest secret of the Star Pivot, so please forgive this old one for not being able to elaborate. As compensation, the Star Pivot is willing to open the 'Sea of Laws' Secret Realm for you to contemplate for one month. The seashell Talisman can serve as a token and for teleportation. Whether we are friends or foes depends on your decision. Xuan Ji."

The Divine Thought message ended there.

Nightmare held the warm seashell Talisman, expressionless, but the chill radiating from him was enough to almost freeze the entire Immortal Cave.

Pure World Lotus Heart? Demon Abyss Sea? Olden Filth?

He had never heard of these terms, but his Divine Sense caught a trace of an extremely faint yet extremely repulsive aura from the words "Olden Filth," which was slightly similar to that "Deep Space Demon" but even more ancient and chaotic!

Star Pivot! They actually took Su Wanqing away while he was gone! They called it assistance, but how was it any different from coercion?

Three years? Who knew what would happen in three years? The so-called "Olden Filth" sounded like it was definitely not a good thing; in suppressing this, how could Su Wanqing not be at risk?

His Divine Sense frantically deduced the possible location of the "Demon Abyss Sea," but there was too little information; he could only roughly judge that it was located in some forbidden sea area extremely far away, near the edge of the world.

Anger surged in Nightmare's heart, but he forcibly suppressed it. The more critical the moment, the more he needed to be calm.

This move by the Star Pivot, while seemingly offering an explanation and compensation (the Sea of Laws Secret Realm), was actually extremely overbearing; it gave him no room to refuse at all. On one hand, it displayed their unfathomable power (being able to take someone away silently from the Restriction he had laid), and on the other hand, it seemed they were certain he would compromise for Su Wanqing's sake.

Whether friends or foes, all in a single thought? This was a warning to him that if he were to become enemies with the Star Pivot over this matter, it would not be a wise move.

Cold light flickered in Nightmare's eyes. He hated being threatened, and he hated even more for the people around him to be implicated because of him.

Su Wanqing, he had to go and bring her back. But the Star Pivot was powerful and mysterious; barging in was definitely not a good strategy.

The Sea of Laws Secret Realm? This might be an opportunity. It would allow him to improve his strength and also take the chance to gain a deeper understanding of the Star Pivot organization.

He looked at the seashell Talisman in his hand, his Divine Sense carefully analyzing the teleportation coordinates and encryption method on it. This seashell Talisman was not just a token, but a one-time teleportation key leading directly to a core Secret Realm of the Star Pivot.

After a moment of silence, Nightmare made his decision.

His figure flashed, appearing before Jiang Yunshan. He did not explain much, only leaving behind some cultivation resources and a few instructions, telling them to live here in seclusion with peace of mind. If a strong enemy were to attack, they could trigger the Nirvana Sword Seal he had left behind.

Subsequently, he returned to Su Wanqing's Immortal Cave, his Divine Sense running at full capacity, adjusting his state to its Peak.

Since the Star Pivot had extended an invitation, he would go and brave this so-called "Sea of Laws"!

He wanted to see what exactly the Star Pivot was up to! He also wanted to make them understand that his people were not to be trifled with!

Triggering the seashell Talisman, a soft yet stable starlight instantly enveloped him.

The sensation of spatial transformation arrived; this teleportation was more distant and profound than any previous one.

He did not know how much time had passed, but the starlight dissipated.

Nightmare found himself in a magical world composed entirely of light.

There was no sky, no earth; everywhere, above, below, and all around, were flowing, colorful ribbons of light representing Laws!

These ribbons of light were condensed from the purest Water Law, Fire Law, Lightning Law, Slaughter Law, Life Law... and countless other basic and profound powers of Laws. Like a vast ocean, they flowed slowly, colliding and merging, emitting a Dao aura that was intoxicating!

This was the Star Pivot's Sea of Laws Secret Realm!

An intensely rich aura of Laws rushed towards him; his Divine Sense instantly entered an extremely active state, conveying waves of incomparable excitement and hunger.

Contemplating here for one day was probably enough to equal several years of hard cultivation in the outside world!

Even Nightmare was slightly shocked by this grand gesture at this moment. The foundation of the Star Pivot was truly unfathomable.

His Divine Sense moved slightly, and he immediately perceived that deep within this sea of Laws, there were several extremely powerful auras sitting quietly in contemplation. Their strength was at least Late Stage Void Refining, and there might even be Dao Integration existences.

One of the gentle yet vast Divine Senses swept over Nightmare and paused slightly. It seemed to be the guardian of this place; after confirming the aura of the seashell Talisman, it withdrew without disturbing him.

Nightmare collected his focus, no longer hesitating. With his Divine Sense fully opened, his figure slowly sank into that vast and Endless Sea of Laws.

Immediately, the mysteries of countless Laws surged into his perception like a tide.

His Divine Sense acted like the most efficient filter and analyzer, frantically absorbing and parsing this Law information, especially those Laws that were mutually generative or destructive with the Nirvana Law, or those that could supplement and provide reference, such as Death, Destruction, Darkness, Devouring, Time (Decay), and so on...

His nirvana dao seed rejoiced, continuously growing and solidifying, and his understanding of Nirvana became increasingly profound and comprehensive. His cultivation was also steadily advancing toward Late Stage Void Refining.

At the same time, with the assistance of his Divine Sense, he split off a wisp of his mind to carefully perceive the spatial structure of this Secret Realm, attempting to find any clues that might be related to the "Demon Abyss Sea" or the core area of the Star Pivot.

Time seemed to have lost its meaning in this ocean of light.

He did not know how much time had passed; perhaps a month, perhaps shorter.

Nightmare's Divine Sense suddenly caught a trace of an extremely faint fluctuation that was completely out of place with this bright and brilliant Sea of Laws.

The fluctuation originated from the very depths of the sea of light—a faint, icy, and despair-filled, deathly... aura? It seemed to have a sense of being of the same Origin as the "Olden Filth" mentioned by Immortal Master Xuan Ji, yet it was even weaker.

His Divine Sense immediately locked onto that trace of fluctuation. Nightmare moved, diving like a fish toward the source of that abnormal fluctuation deep within the sea of light.

The deeper he went, the thicker and more brilliant the Law ribbons became, and the greater the pressure, but for the current Nightmare, it still posed no obstacle.

Finally, deep within an area intertwined with dense Darkness Law and Space Law, he discovered an extremely hidden, tiny spatial rift that was constantly opening and closing.

That trace of abnormal fluctuation was vaguely coming from the other side of this rift!

His Divine Sense carefully sensed it; the aura on the other side of the rift was clearer — it was a sense of endless cold, darkness, deathly silence, and an indescribable, ancient malice that seemed capable of eroding all vitality...

Demon Abyss Sea? Or a place related to it?

Nightmare's eyes flickered, his Divine Sense calculating the stability of the rift and the risks of passing through.

Just as he was preparing to investigate further —

"Young Friend, this is not a good place; it is better to stop here."

That gentle guardian Divine Sense came again, but this time, it carried a hint of clear warning.

Nightmare paused; his Divine Sense could feel that a powerful force of Law had already quietly locked onto this area. If he were to force an investigation, it would immediately bring down thunderous strikes.

He slowly withdrew his gaze, looked expressionlessly in the direction where the fluctuation came from, and turned to leave this area.

It seemed that the Star Pivot's guard here was tighter than he had imagined.

The one-month deadline was approaching; his gains were already huge, so it was time to leave.

But the Demon Abyss Sea, Olden Filth, Su Wanqing... he had already noted down this information.

Star Pivot, our business is not over yet.

Nightmare's figure floated upward, his Divine Sense triggering the return power reserved in the seashell Talisman.

Starlight spilled down again, enveloping him and disappearing into this ocean of Laws.

Not long after he left, the space in the dark area hiding the rift rippled slightly, and the figure of Immortal Master Xuan Ji slowly appeared.

He looked in the direction where Nightmare had disappeared, sighed softly, his eyes complex.

"The favored one of Nirvana... the variable of fate... I hope your choices will not bring the end of this starry sky prematurely..."

His figure slowly dissipated, and the Sea of Laws returned to its eternal peace and brilliance.

Only that trace of malicious fluctuation from the abyss continued to be transmitted imperceptibly, like an eternal curse.