Fragmentary Secret Guide, Void Illusion

That wisp of aura, which shared the same Origin as the void stone yet was far more obscure and ancient, was like a faint firefly in the darkness, firmly capturing Nightmare's attention.

He calmly retracted the Essence Earth Crystal and said indifferently to the Eshi Yue Organization member, "If that is the case, then forget it."

After speaking, he turned around and walked seemingly casually toward the stall from which the aura originated.

It was a more inconspicuous corner. The stall owner was an old man curled up in a heavy black robe, his figure hunched. In front of him, only a dirty black cloth was spread out, on which a few items were scattered: a rusty metal fragment that had lost its original appearance, several dull-colored beast bones devoid of Spiritual Qi, a gray pebble covered in cracks, and... a fragment the size of half a palm, with a dull color like rotten wood, yet on its surface grew naturally extremely complex and profound silver patterns!

That strange aura, which triggered the primal cube's response, was exactly what was emanating from this half-fragment!

Nightmare's mind stirred. He walked close to the stall, his gaze sweeping over the items seemingly at random, finally landing on that half-fragment.

He carefully sensed it. The aura of this fragment was indeed of the same Origin as the void stone, but it was more restrained and ancient, even carrying a kind of... vicissitudinous Dao rhythm that remained undestroyed after experiencing catastrophes.

The information stream from the primal cube also confirmed this and added: [Detected a fragment of a high-level spatial Law creation, containing a "Void Imprint," suspected to be part of some spatial supreme treasure or the core of a large-scale Formation, with a value far exceeding that of an ordinary void stone.]

Void Imprint? A fragment of a spatial supreme treasure?

Nightmare instantly connected this with the actions of the Eshi Yue Organization! Was their massive search for void stones and Star Brilliance Sand for the purpose of repairing or activating such ancient fragments that contained a "Void Imprint"?

"What is the price for this item?" Nightmare pointed to the half-fragment, his voice indifferent, revealing no joy or anger.

The black-robed old man raised his head, revealing a face covered in wrinkles like old tree bark, yet his eyes were exceptionally clear and bright. He glanced at Nightmare and said hoarsely, "I do not sell for Yuan Crystals. I only trade for precious Medicinal Pills that can nourish the Divine Soul and extend Lifespan, or... unknown wonderous items of the same level."

His request was very peculiar; he did not want conventional currency (Yuan Crystals were also extremely rare in this realm), but only specific Medicinal Pills or wonderous items.

Nightmare's mind stirred. He did indeed have some precious Medicinal Pills that could nourish the Divine Soul and extend Lifespan in his space, but in this realm, they were considered Heaven-Defying and could not be easily revealed.

As for "unknown wonderous items of the same level"... He swept through his space, his gaze landing on those few energy cores with different attributes obtained from exotic beasts in the Forbidden Ground, and... that ancient protective fragment obtained from Medicine Old Man, which now had its power restrained.

He pondered for a moment, then activated his power to take out an energy core obtained from that "Corpse Puppet Leader" in the Yin Wind Ravine, which contained pure Yin-attribute Soul Power.

This core had a great nourishing effect for those who Cultivate Yin-attribute Cultivation Techniques or those whose Divine Soul had been injured, but it also carried a trace of cold Death Qi and needed to be refined carefully.

"Can this item be traded for it?" Nightmare placed the energy core, which emitted a faint cold gleam and seemed to have soul fire leaping inside, onto the black cloth.

When the black-robed old man saw this energy core, his murky eyes suddenly lit up with a sharp light! He stretched out a hand as withered as a chicken claw, carefully picked up the core, and probed it thoroughly, an expression of excitement and disbelief appearing on his face.

"What a pure Yin Soul Origin! Although it carries Death Qi, if it can be removed, its efficacy would be comparable to a five-hundred-year-old 'Soul-Nurturing Wood'!" The old man's voice trembled, then he looked at Nightmare vigilantly, "Your Excellency... where did you obtain this item?"

"Obtained by Opportunity." Nightmare's tone did not change, "Can it be traded?"

The old man gripped the energy core tightly, looked at the half-fragment again, a struggle flashing in his eyes, and finally gritted his teeth: "I'll trade! However, I must warn you, Your Excellency, this fragment was passed down by my ancestors. It is said to involve a massive secret, but it is also accompanied by misfortune; all previous owners have met a bad end... Are you sure you want to trade?"

Misfortune? A bad end?

Nightmare sneered. Having experienced Law suppression, Divine Soul tearing, and the backlash of Forbidden Grounds, he had long ceased to believe in so-called fate. This fragment was related to the Eshi Yue Organization's goal and even triggered the primal cube; even if there truly was a curse, he had to get to the bottom of it.

"I am sure." Nightmare reached out and picked up the half-fragment.

It was cold to the touch, and the texture was not metal or jade, but more like an unknown bone material or some kind of solidified Law. The silver patterns on it seemed to possess life, flowing slightly the moment they were touched.

The transaction was completed. As if afraid that Nightmare would change his mind, the black-robed old man quickly gathered the other items, wrapped his black robe tightly around himself, and as if merging into the shadows, disappeared into the depths of the Ghost Market in a few flickers.

Nightmare swept his gaze over the direction in which the old man had disappeared, his mind stirring. This old man was not weak, at least at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, and he carried a thick aura of twilight and death, clearly having little Lifespan left. No wonder he was so urgently in need of items to nourish the Divine Soul and extend Lifespan. The "misfortune" he spoke of might not be an empty lie.

Without thinking too much, Nightmare wrapped the half-fragment and studied it carefully. His Divine Thought probed in, and he immediately felt an extremely weak yet incredibly tough spatial barrier protecting the core inside the fragment. The complexity of this barrier far exceeded his current understanding of spatial Law.

"Does it require a specific method, or... sufficiently powerful spatial force to open it?" Nightmare speculated. Perhaps the Eshi Yue Organization was searching for void stones and Star Brilliance Sand to provide enough spatial energy to activate such fragments?

He tried to activate the wisp of divine charm from the void lotus seed, merging it into his Divine Thought, and slowly made contact with the spatial barrier.

Hum! The fragment vibrated gently, and the silver patterns on its surface lit up with an imperceptible light. The spatial barrier fluctuated, seemingly reacting, but then immediately fell silent again. The divine charm of the void lotus seed was still too weak to fully activate it.

But at the moment the barrier fluctuated, Nightmare captured a trace of extremely obscure "coordinate" information originating from inside the fragment! This information was incomplete but pointed to a clear location—not within Qingyang City, but somewhere to the northwest outside the city! At the same time, there was an extremely weak residue of intent, carrying a cold and summoning meaning, which faintly resembled the mental fluctuations of the Eshi Yue Organization members!

"As expected! This fragment is a token, or rather... a key! It points to some secret stronghold of the Eshi Yue Organization, or the location of the core of the Formation they are currently building!" Nightmare's mind suddenly cleared!

The Eshi Yue Organization was not only collecting Materials inside the city but also secretly carrying out a project outside the city! This fragment might be the key to opening or locating that place!

He quickly noted down the incomplete coordinate information; although it was not precise enough, the general area had already been determined.

Just as he was preparing to leave the Ghost Market to investigate the area indicated by the coordinates, an alarm suddenly warned him!

Several cold Divine Thoughts, carrying a scrutinizing meaning, locked onto him from different directions! It was the people from the Eshi Yue Organization! They had clearly noticed the weak spatial fluctuations when the fragment was activated just now, as well as the transaction between Nightmare and the black-robed old man!

"Your Excellency, please stay," a cold voice sounded behind Nightmare. Three Eshi Yue Organization members wearing gray tight-fitting suits and metal masks surrounded him in a triangular Formation, faintly enclosing him in the middle. The leader's aura had reached the Early Golden Core Stage!

The other stall owners and customers in the Ghost Market, seeing this situation, all changed color greatly and quickly moved away, fearing being caught in the crossfire.

Nightmare turned around slowly and looked calmly at the Eshi Yue Organization leader at the Early Golden Core Stage. He recognized this person; it was the one mentioned by the old man at the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion who was stationed in the Ghost Market to acquire Star Brilliance Sand.

"What is the matter?" Nightmare's voice remained indifferent.

"The fragment you just traded for is a precious treasure of our organization that has been lost outside. Please return it to its original owner." The Eshi Yue Organization leader's tone was unquestionable, carrying an air of superiority, locking onto Nightmare firmly with a sense of oppression.

"Oh?" Nightmare's mind stirred, and the corner of his mouth curved into a cold arc, "The rules of the Ghost Market are that money and goods are exchanged. When did it become a place for you, Eclipse Moon, to forcibly seize things?"

"Rules?" The Eshi Yue Organization leader sneered, "Here, my words, the Eclipse Moon's words, are the rules! Hand over the fragment, cut off one arm, and I can spare your life!"

Before the words had even finished, the two Eshi Yue Organization members at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage beside him had already made their move! Two dark energy chains carrying strong corrosive and binding power, like poisonous snakes, shot toward Nightmare from the left and right like lightning!