Following the veins to explore the hidden depths, shadows accompany us.

Holding the warm array foundation node stone, the Dao Rhyme of Protection within Nightmare's rule fragment, which originated from the ancient Oathkeepers, became clearer. It faintly resonated with the obscure earth vein energy channel beneath his feet. This resonance acted like a compass, pointing him toward the direction the channel extended—straight into the deeper parts of the Forbidden Ground.

"It seems that following this energy channel will not only allow me to avoid some unnecessary dangers, but perhaps I can also find more remaining array foundation nodes." Nightmare quickly made this judgment within his rule fragment. The hope of repairing the Seal lay on this path.

He no longer hesitated. Within his rule fragment, he locked onto the direction guided by that resonance. His figure turned into a faint phantom, cautiously sneaking forward along the edge of the trench carved by the previous upheaval. His Chaos Dao Foundation fully restrained his aura, mimicking the Dao Rhyme of Protection emitted by that node stone, making him seem to merge with the surrounding environment and minimizing the possibility of being rejected by the will of the Forbidden Ground.

The deeper he went, the more bizarre the surrounding environment became. The gray-white mist began to be interspersed with wisps of dark red airflow, carrying the scent of scorching heat and sulfur—that was the poisonous miasma of the earth fire. The ground also became rugged and uneven, covered with sharp black rocks and bubbling swamps. The air was filled with decay and an unsettling silence.

Along the way, he perceived more traces of battle within his rule fragment. There were giant fungi torn by sharp claws, strange vines frozen into ice sculptures, and several places where faint, sinister Evil Qi similar to Han Li's remained, along with another type of energy residue that was more obscure but carried a cold sense of order—the Eshi Yue Organization!

"They have already entered, and there is more than one of them." Nightmare's thoughts sank within his rule fragment. Judging by the age of the traces, the Eshi Yue people might have entered the Forbidden Ground earlier than him and seemed to have clashed with the indigenous exotic beasts within the Forbidden Ground, and even perhaps with descendants of ancient demons (not of Han Li's lineage).

This meant that he not only had to face the dangers of the Forbidden Ground itself but also had to guard against these enemies hiding in the shadows.

He became even more cautious. With his perception opened to the maximum within his rule fragment, it was like the most precise radar, scanning every inch of land and every trace of energy fluctuation ahead.

Suddenly, he captured a faint energy fluctuation and suppressed panting coming from around the corner ahead within his rule fragment.

He approached silently, peering through a crack in the rock within his rule fragment.

He saw that in a relatively dry clearing, two people wearing uniform gray tight-fitting outfits and strange metal masks on their faces were engaged in a fierce battle with three "Human-Faced Demon Spiders" that looked like spiders but had a twisted human face growing on their abdomens! On the chest of the gray outfits was embroidered a pattern of a crescent moon being gnawed—Eshi Yue!

These two Eshi Yue members were not weak, roughly at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage to Peak. Their attacks were ruthless, their coordination was tacit, and they used a dark energy with cold corrosive properties, fighting to a standstill against the highly toxic spider webs and sharp limbs spat out by the Human-Faced Demon Spiders.

Nightmare observed calmly within his rule fragment. He did not act immediately; instead, like the most patient hunter, he analyzed the energy operation methods, combat habits, and the trace of aura on them that originated from the same source as the rule fragment within his rule fragment.

"Their energy seems to be converted through some external object, not obtained through their own Cultivation. Although fierce, it lacks a bit of harmony and agility, and... their defense against the Divine Soul seems to be a weakness." Nightmare quickly identified the key point within his rule fragment.

Just then, the situation of the battle changed. One Human-Faced Demon Spider suddenly spat out a large mass of sticky white spider web, covering one of the Eshi Yue members, while another launched a surprise attack from the side, its sharp limbs stabbing straight at his ribs! The Eshi Yue member could not dodge in time, and it looked like he was about to be severely injured!

The other companion could not rescue him in time and let out a low roar.

At this critical moment—Nightmare moved!

He invoked his Chaos Dao Foundation within his rule fragment. He did not attack directly, but instead simulated a trace of chaotic and majestic destructive aura that he had perceived during the previous earth vein upheaval. Mixed with the fierce Demonic Qi of the Human-Faced Demon Spiders, it swept across the battlefield like an invisible shockwave!

The appearance of this aura was extremely abrupt and carried the majesty of the Forbidden Ground itself!

Both sides of the battle paused simultaneously!

The Human-Faced Demon Spiders stiffened for an instant, instinctively feeling fear. The attacked Eshi Yue member was even more shaken, thinking he had triggered some hidden Restriction!

It was this momentary pause!

Nightmare locked onto the endangered Eshi Yue member within his rule fragment. Within his rule fragment, he invoked a trace of the Dao Rhyme of Annihilation, like an invisible thin needle, piercing through his hastily set up mental defense and stabbing straight into the core of his Sea of Consciousness!

"Ah!" The Eshi Yue member let out a short, miserable scream. His eyes instantly unfocused, his movements completely lost control, and he was easily pierced through the body by the demon spider limbs attacking from the side! He didn't even have time to activate his life-saving means!

"Third Brother!" The other Eshi Yue member's eyes were splitting with rage, but he saw that his companion was already dead, and that terrible destructive aura had also disappeared without a trace, as if it had never appeared. He was suspicious and uncertain, and still had to deal with the remaining two enraged Human-Faced Demon Spiders.

As for Nightmare, after sending out that simulated aura and Divine Soul attack, he had already invoked the spatial charm within his rule fragment, quietly retreating into the shadows further away, coldly observing the battle between the remaining Eshi Yue member and the demon spiders within his rule fragment.

He did not need to do it himself; just a well-timed "push" was enough to use the knife to kill, weaken the enemy, and obtain information.

Sure enough, after his companion died, the Eshi Yue member lost his composure. Although he finally managed to kill the remaining two Human-Faced Demon Spiders with ruthless means, he was also heavily injured, and his aura was withered. He looked around vigilantly, quickly fumbled on his companion's corpse, took a Storage Pouch and the metal mask on his face, and then, without hesitation, took a Medicinal Pill and fled in a panic in a direction slightly deviating from the energy channel.

He was obviously terrified by the strange "Restriction eruption" just now and the inexplicable death of his companion, and did not dare to continue along the original path.

Nightmare locked onto the direction of his escape within his rule fragment, but did not pursue immediately. His rule fragment swept across the battlefield, and within his rule fragment, he stirred, quietly collecting the residue of the dark energy with corrosive properties used by the two Eshi Yue members, as well as some Divine Soul fragments dissipated by the dead member.

"Eshi Yue's energy attributes, Divine Soul fluctuations... and this." Nightmare focused within his rule fragment on a subtle spiritual power mark that the survivor had not completely wiped away in his haste. It seemed to be a mark used by Eshi Yue members for tracking and communication.

"Perhaps, through this mark, I can conversely find their temporary stronghold, or... even more core figures."

A plan gradually formed within Nightmare's rule fragment. He was no longer just passively exploring, but was going to start actively hunting these "Eshi Yue" members lurking in the shadows, obtaining more information about this organization, their purpose, and about the rule fragment from them!

He glanced at the array foundation node stone in his hand that was still emitting a soft light, and then looked at the obscure energy channel ahead.

Repairing the Seal and eliminating Eshi Yue—perhaps these two things could be carried out simultaneously.