Zhang Xing's Core Refinement Body, Realm of Dao Integration

Under the Void Ancient Tree, time seemed to lose its meaning.

The energy of the Indestructible Source Blood and the sap of the Void Ancient Tree fused perfectly, turning into the purest Origin power, washing and reshaping every inch of Nightmare's flesh, every Meridian, and even every thread of thought in his Soul.

The rule fragment greedily absorbed this majestic energy. The cracks on its surface had long since disappeared, and instead, it became deeper and more profound. Countless tiny new runes sprouted spontaneously, weaving together more complex Law patterns. It was no longer just a fragment but was evolving toward a more complete "Rule Core," and its connection with Nightmare's Divine Soul became even closer, merging as one.

The nirvana dao seed awakened like a slumbering giant beast. Every beat resonated with the Nirvana Laws of the Universe. Its size did not increase; instead, it became more condensed and restrained. However, the Nirvana Origin contained within it, in both quality and quantity, had undergone earth-shattering changes! A Concept of "the end of all things, only I am immortal" spread from the depths of the dao seed.

Nightmare's mind completely immersed itself in his body, guiding this vast energy. His experience and vision as a former Supreme played a huge role at this moment. The System only provided resources and plans, but how to use these resources most efficiently and perfectly to lay the most solid Foundation depended entirely on his own understanding of the Great Dao Laws.

He was in no hurry to pursue a Breakthrough in Realm. Instead, he used this rare Opportunity to temper his Physical Body, condense his Divine Soul, and solidify his dao foundation over and over again. He also threw in the Origins he had obtained from the Shadow Clan Hedao and the Bone Hedao, using the Nirvana Laws to completely refine and strip away the Impurities and alien wills within them, leaving only the purest energy and Law insights to integrate into himself.

[Ding! Host's Physical Body strength has broken through the limit, reaching the Elementary stage of the 'Immortal Golden Body'!]

[Ding! Divine Soul strength has increased, Divine Sense coverage has expanded to an entire Domain!]

[Ding! rule fragment repair complete. Deduction capability increased by 300%. New functions: Law Simulation, Energy Optimization.]

[Ding! nirvana dao seed has completed its first metamorphosis. Nirvana Origin purity increased by 500%. Comprehended Nirvana True Intent: Withering of All Things, Reincarnation and Rebirth, Void Devouring.]

[Warning: 30% energy remaining. It will soon be insufficient to support the next stage of the Breakthrough. It is recommended to guide the power of the 'nirvana star core'.]

The System's notification sounds rang out one after another.

Nightmare suddenly opened his eyes, and scenes of countless Universes being born and destroyed seemed to flash through his pupils. His injuries had long since been fully healed, and his state far exceeded what it was before he was injured! But he did not stop. Instead, following the System's prompt, he activated the rule fragment, creating a resonance with a silent star emitting faint Nirvana fluctuations deep in the Void Realm far from the ancient tree!

"Draw!"

He gave a low shout, and the rule fragment turned into an invisible bridge, crossing the Void Realm and directly connecting to that nirvana star core!

Buzz—!

A stream of energy that was extremely pure, cold, and deathly silent, yet contained majestic star Origin, surged forth like a heavenly river pouring down, instantly submerging Nightmare!

This was the true core of the System's Option Three! Use the Indestructible Source Blood and the ancient tree sap to lay a good Foundation, and finally draw upon the power of the nirvana star core to complete the final sprint!

"Hedao Realm, break for me!"

Nightmare let out a long cry, his voice shaking the entire Void Realm fragment! The nirvana dao seed in his body suddenly erupted with endless suction, crazily devouring the incoming Nirvana Star Power! The rule fragment operated frantically, converting the massive energy into the purest cultivation, pushing against his Realm barrier!

Peak of the Late stage Lianxu... Great Perfection of Void Refining... Half-step Hedao!

The Bottleneck was like paper, instantly crushed by the surging power!

Boom!

A vast aura, ten or a hundred times more terrifying than before, erupted from Nightmare's body! The Laws around him automatically condensed and manifested, and countless gray-black Nirvana runes rotated, lived, and died around him like stars! The branches and leaves of the Void Ancient Tree were slightly bent by the pressure of this aura!

Hedao Stage!

Moreover, it was not just the beginning of Hedao! Driven by the nirvana star core and the Indestructible Source Blood, his cultivation soared all the way, directly skipping the Dao Integration Initial Stage and stabilizing at the Peak of the Middle Stage Hedao! He was only one step away from the Late Stage Hedao!

This was not a simple accumulation of energy, but a leap in Origin! His Physical Body, Divine Soul, rule fragment, and nirvana dao seed—the four in one—simultaneously entered a brand new level of the Hedao Domain!

Power! An unprecedented sense of power filled his entire body! Nightmare slowly clenched his fists, feeling the terrifying power galloping and roaring inside him, enough to easily crush stars. When he swept out his Divine Sense, it was more than ten times stronger than before. Every tiny speck of dust, energy flow, and even some hidden void creatures within a radius of millions of miles were clearly reflected in his heart.

The deduction capability of the rule fragment had reached a monstrous level. With a slight thought, the Law structure of the surrounding space was instantly analyzed thoroughly. He even felt that he could slightly modify or even establish temporary Laws within a small range!

If the Annihilation Domain were to be deployed again, its power would be incomparable! He was confident that if he encountered the three Old Ancestors of the Zhao Family again, he wouldn't even need to use desperate Moves like "Nirvana Rebirth." With just his current Domain and Law comprehension, he could easily suppress them!

This was the Hedao Stage! And it was the Middle Stage of Hedao entered with the highest-level resources and the strongest Foundation! Not to mention his peers, even those old-school Hedao who had lived for thousands of years, or even ordinary Mahayana Cultivators, might not be able to compare with him in Law comprehension and Origin strength!

Having returned through Rebirth and experienced many hardships, he finally possessed the strength and capital to look down upon this world again!

"System, evaluate my current combat power," Nightmare muttered in his heart.

[Evaluating...]

[Host: Nightmare]

[Cultivation: Peak of the Middle Stage Hedao (Actual energy reserves and quality are comparable to Late Stage Hedao)]

[Physical Body: Immortal Golden Body (Initial Success)]

[Divine Soul: Late Stage Hedao strength]

[Core: rule fragment (Repaired and Enhanced Version), nirvana dao seed (First Metamorphosis)]

[Comprehensive Combat Power Evaluation: Can frontally kill ordinary Late Stage Hedao and contend with Peak Hedao. With the rule fragment and Nirvana characteristics, combat power is comparable to an Early Stage Mahayana Cultivator (Estimated based on the incomplete Laws of this world).]

[Note: Far ahead of your peers? Host, if your peers have not had great opportunities, they should be struggling in the Nascent Soul Stage or Soul Transformation Stage at this moment. You are no longer on the same level of existence as them.]

Seeing the System's evaluation, especially that last note, a cold arc curled at the corner of Nightmare's mouth.

Yes, having lived a second life through Rebirth, if he were still entangled at the same level as those so-called "Prodigies," it would be a huge joke! His opponents were already those old monsters standing at the Peak of this world and the Extraterrestrial Demons!

It's time to go out and settle some old scores.

Nightmare waved his hand, carefully putting away the unused drop of Void Ancient Tree sap, and nodded slightly to the Void Ancient Tree. Although this ancient tree had no intelligence, it had given him an Opportunity.

In the next moment, he took a step forward, and his figure disappeared from the spot, directly tearing through the deep Void Realm and rushing toward the Tianxuan Continent!

His speed was more than ten times faster than when he came!

The Imperial Dynasty, the Zhao Family, the Shadow Clan... and my Wan Qing.

I'm coming.

This time, I will set the rules of the game!

...A few days later, Tianxuan Continent, Central Continent border.

Above "Black Obsidian City," a large Cultivator city under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Dynasty, space was silently torn open like a curtain.

Clad in a black robe, with his aura restrained like an abyss, Nightmare stepped out.

He scanned the bustling city below with an indifferent gaze. With a slight movement of the rule fragment, he instantly locked onto the person with the highest cultivation in the city—the Imperial Prince stationed here, a Late-Stage Transformation Spirit Cultivator, who was also one of the people in charge of the Altar project here.

Nightmare did not hide his figure. He just stood quietly in the Void Realm, and the faint pressure of the Hedao Stage quietly enveloped the city like mercury spilling on the ground.

Instantly, the entire Black Obsidian City seemed to have been muted. All Cultivators, regardless of their cultivation level, felt a tremor from the depths of their Souls. They involuntarily looked up at the sky, their faces full of horror!

"Who... who is that? Such... such a terrifying aura!"

"A Hedao Old Ancestor? Which Old Ancestor has arrived?"

"No... this aura... cold and deathly silent... doesn't seem like an Old Ancestor of the Imperial Dynasty..."

Inside the City Lord's Mansion, that Late-Stage Transformation Spirit prince turned pale. He stood up abruptly, his figure flashing into the air. Stifling his fear, he cupped his hands and said, "I wonder which Senior has graced Black Obsidian City with your presence? Junior Zhao Pan was slow to welcome you, I hope Senior..."

His words came to a screeching halt.

Because Nightmare's gaze had already fallen on him.

With just a single look, Zhao Pan felt as if he were being stared at by a prehistoric beast. The blood in his body froze, his Primordial Spirit trembled, and he couldn't even Move a finger! Waves of shock surged in his heart: What kind of terrifying pressure is this? Even the Old Ancestors of the Imperial Dynasty don't seem to have such terrifying eyes!

Nightmare spoke slowly, his voice calm, yet it resounded like thunder in the ears of every Cultivator:

"Tell Zhao Wuji, the one who destroys the Altars is Nightmare."

"Hand over Su Wanqing within three days. Otherwise, within the territory of the Imperial Dynasty, not a single Altar shall remain."

Before his voice faded, Nightmare simply pointed a finger towards the city center.

In the next moment, a smaller-scale Altar hidden beneath the City Lord's Mansion, protected by layers of Formations, along with hundreds of guarding Cultivators, was instantly erased as if by an eraser, leaving only a bottomless smooth pit in its place!

Having done all this, Nightmare didn't even look at the paralyzed Prince Zhao Pan. His figure merged into the Void Realm again and disappeared.

Only a deathly silence remained in the city, along with countless gazes filled with extreme terror.

The news spread in all directions like a hurricane!

Nightmare has returned!

The Hedao Realm!

A powerful warning to the Imperial Dynasty!

Destroying an Altar with a wave of his hand!

The entire Tianxuan Continent was shaken! The eyes of all forces focused on the Imperial Dynasty once again!

The storm is coming!