Crimson Sword and Ink Shadow, First Encounter in the Broken Realm

Under the dark red sky, the shattered earth stretched to the horizon.

The air was filled with ancient and chaotic energy, and a corrosive breeze kicked up black dust from the ground.

Nightmare vigilantly locked onto the crimson figure on the hill, his internal Chaos Seed slowly rotating, absorbing the small portions of the surrounding violent energy that could be converted.

This woman had been able to approach silently and kill a Foundation Establishment Peak monster with a single sword strike; her strength was at least at the Golden Core Stage, and she was extremely familiar with this region.

"Thanks for the help."

Nightmare's voice was flat, revealing no emotion, while he was rapidly analyzing the other party's aura, energy attributes, and possible intentions.

Her energy was not the dark, cold energy of the Eclipse Moon, but rather carried a scorching, explosive Sword Intent that both clashed with and strangely fused into the chaotic and destructive atmosphere of this place.

The woman in red leaped down from the hill and landed a few meters away from Nightmare.

Her flaming longsword was not sheathed, and her gaze was like a sharp sword blade, sizing up Nightmare from head to toe, lingering for a moment on the fragment in his hand and the mysterious Chaos aura surrounding him.

"No need. Killing those 'Bone-Eroding Lizards' is the duty of our kind."

The woman's tone was crisp and dashing.

"Did you come in through the chaotic rift from the 'outside'? Looking at you, you don't look like someone from the Sky Patrol Alliance, nor are you one of those rats from the Eclipse Moon."

Sky Patrol Alliance? Eclipse Moon?

Nightmare instantly captured two key names.

He already knew about the Eclipse Moon, but this Sky Patrol Alliance sounded like another faction opposing this place?

"I stumbled in here by accident."

Nightmare responded simply, not revealing too much information.

"Where is this place? What kind of existences are the Sky Patrol Alliance and the Eclipse Moon?"

The woman raised her eyebrows, seemingly surprised by Nightmare's "ignorance," but seeing his expression did not seem fake, she explained: "This is the 'Jiu You Remnant Realm'. Legend has it that it was formed from a corner of the world that shattered during an ancient war. The rules are broken, energy is turbulent, space is fragile, and it is full of murderous intent. It also hides secret treasures and Legacies left behind by the ancients."

She pointed to the dark red sky and the desolate earth: "As for the Sky Patrol Alliance, it is an Alliance composed of many Cultivators like you and me who were swept in from different 'outside' worlds or entered this realm for other reasons. Its goal is to resist the Eclipse Moon, explore the Remnant Realm, and find a way to return or survive. And the Eclipse Moon..."

The woman's face showed obvious disgust and murderous intent: "They are a group of hidden, treacherous lunatics! They seem to be plotting some shocking conspiracy in the depths of the Remnant Realm, constantly capturing the native species of the Remnant Realm, and even attacking lone members of the Sky Patrol Alliance, trying to control the entire Jiu You Remnant Realm!"

As expected, the Eshi Yue Organization had been operating here for a long time and was in a hostile state with the local forces.

Nightmare's mind stirred; this might be his opportunity.

"My name is 'Mo Li', a member of the Sky Patrol Alliance's 'Crimson Flame Squad'."

The woman gave her name, which counted as preliminary recognition.

"Seeing that you have extraordinary skills and can pass through the chaotic rift alone, would you like to come with me to the temporary stronghold of the Sky Patrol Alliance? It's better than being eaten by Bone-Eroding Lizards in this wilderness alone, or being caught by the patrol teams of the Eclipse Moon."

She extended an invitation, but the vigilance in her eyes did not completely dissipate.

In this perilous Jiu You Remnant Realm, trust was a luxury.

Nightmare quickly weighed the pros and cons.

He was a newcomer, knew nothing about this place, and acting alone was too risky.

Since the Sky Patrol Alliance was hostile to the Eclipse Moon, it might serve as a temporary place to stay, gather intelligence, and plan slowly.

As for the risks... He was confident that with his Chaos Seed and numerous trump cards, he could handle them.

"Nightmare."

He stated his name, accepting the invitation.

"I'll trouble you to lead the way."

Mo Li nodded, said no more, turned, and sped off in one direction.

Her movement technique was light, like crimson flowing fire.

Nightmare followed, not too fast and not too slow, always maintaining a safe distance.

Along the way, Mo Li seemed to be intentionally testing him.

Her speed fluctuated, and she occasionally unleashed a sword beam, slaying various strange monsters that suddenly drilled out from the ground or pounced from the shadows of rocks.

Most of these monsters resembled lizards, insects, or twisted shadows, and their strength ranged from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core.

They were all extremely ferocious and full of hatred for the living beings of this realm.

Nightmare observed Mo Li's fighting style.

Her Sword Intent was scorching and pure, carrying a determination to burn everything to ashes.

When confronting the chaotic energy of this place, it vaguely had the sense of using order to counter Chaos.

At the same time, he also sensed his surroundings.

This Remnant Realm was indeed full of dangers; the spatial structure was unstable, and occasionally there would be subtle spatial rifts, turbulent currents, and some energy traps.

He also tried to make a move a few times, using the Chaos Seed, either killing the monster's life core with the Annihilation Domain finger force, or deflecting and devouring attacks with the chaos qi flow.

His methods were concise and efficient, carrying a mysterious Concept that was completely different from Mo Li's, as if it could contain and resolve all dangers.

The look of surprise in Mo Li's eyes grew stronger, and her evaluation of Nightmare rose a few more notches.

After traveling about a hundred miles, passing through a pale hill piled with huge animal bones, a relatively complete ruin appeared in front of them.

It seemed to be the remains of an ancient city.

The broken city walls were dozens of meters high, built from some kind of pitch-black giant stone, and the surface was covered with traces of battles and the erosion of time.

Within the ruins, some active figures could be vaguely seen.

Their auras were mostly not weak, and they carried energy fluctuations of the order faction similar to Mo Li.

"We're here. Ahead is 'Blackstone Camp', the place where our squad is temporarily stationed."

Mo Li breathed a sigh of relief, and her tone eased a little.

However, just as the two were about to step into the camp area, a sudden change occurred!

Hum!

A powerful wave with a cold, restrictive force suddenly descended like an invisible large net from behind them!

At the same time, four figures wearing gray tight-fitting clothes and metal masks flashed out like ghosts from behind several huge animal bones, instantly surrounding Nightmare and Mo Li!

The Eclipse Moon patrol team!

And it was one Middle Golden Core and three Early Golden Core Stage!

They had clearly been lying in ambush here for a long time!

"Mo Li! Let's see where you can run this time! And you brought a newcomer? Just right to take you both down!"

The leader, a Middle Golden Core Cultivator, spoke with a hoarse voice, his gaze locking onto the two like a venomous snake.

The dark blue scimitar in his hand radiated a chill that could freeze the Soul.

Mo Li's face changed, and her flaming longsword instantly erupted with soaring flames, her nerves tensed: "Nightmare, be careful! It's the 'Ice Ghost' squad of the Eclipse Moon!"

The battle was on the verge of breaking out!