The Dao Seed of Return to the Void, the Will of the Stars

Boundless darkness, eternal silence.

This place seemed to be the end of time, the grave of space.

Nightmare’s consciousness floated in the void, unable to feel the existence of his Physical Body; only that "dao seed" rooted in the deepest part of his Divine Soul, after experiencing the annihilation of "Return to Ruins," was emitting a light that was unprecedented, simultaneously scorching and cold.

"Return to Ruins... is not the end, but... the beginning of Nirvana..."

In the darkness, an ancient realization, originating from a deeper level of the "All-Heaven Demonic Scripture," flashed through Nightmare's mind.

The dao seed's Return to Ruins was to completely shatter and settle the original Law and power, then gestate a brand-new power in the annihilation that was more compatible with oneself and of a higher level!

"Hum—!"

Suddenly, the darkness was ignited.

It was not the usual crimson Demonic Flame, but a flame as deep as the night sky, yet dotted with countless brilliant starlight, erupting vigorously from the core of his consciousness (which was also where the dao seed was located)!

The essence of the dark Demonic Flame had not changed, but it had fused with the majestic, ancient, and cold Power of the Stars.

The destructive nature of the Demonic Flame intertwined with the eternal vastness of the Star Power, forming a unique and heart-palpitating power—Starfall Demonic Flame.

With the birth of this brand-new power, Nightmare's perception returned and expanded like a tide.

He "saw" where he was—inside a star remnant so huge it was unimaginable.

This star had been dead for countless epochs; its shell was shattered, its interior hollow, leaving only the most refined stellar core with a faint light and an immortal will.

"Awaken... one who defies fate..."

A grand, weary fragment of will, as if spanning through eternity, sounded directly in his Divine Soul.

This will was not a living being, but the final "memory" and "obsession" remaining in this star remnant.

Nightmare’s heart trembled; his consciousness condensed completely, and the phantom of his Divine Soul appeared inside this star remnant.

He looked around and saw dots of starlight gathering, forming a blurry, towering phantom of a stellar giant; although it was dilapidated, it still exuded a majesty that could make the heavens and earth pale.

"Are you... the owner of this star remnant?" Nightmare asked in a deep voice, neither humble nor arrogant.

He felt that this will had no malice, only endless vicissitudes and a trace of unyielding spirit.

"One of the remains... of the Lord of the Stars." The voice of the star remnant's will was intermittent. "I... was once the co-ruler of the Universe's stars... A single thought could create galaxies, a single thought could destroy myriad worlds... However, the Heavenly Dao does not tolerate 'variables,' does not tolerate... power that exceeds its control... We... those who are Heaven-Defying... were all suppressed... and fell..."

Suppressed by the Heavenly Dao? A dark light flashed in Nightmare's eyes.

This vaguely confirmed his experience in his past life and the "fate" of Lin Hao, who was favored by the Heavenly Dao.

"So, the anomaly of my dao seed, which led me here, was your arrangement?" Nightmare asked.

"Not my arrangement... it was the aura of the 'dao seed' of Return to Ruins... that triggered my remaining 'stellar core resonance'... It craves the Power of the Stars... and you... carry the will to defy fate, you can inherit my Legacy..." The star remnant's will gazed at Nightmare. "However, the Legacy is not given easily... it requires... a test."

As the voice fell, the surrounding space of the star remnant suddenly changed!

The endless starry sky pressed down, and the vast might of the heavens descended, as if the will of the Heavenly Dao of the entire Universe was questioning and crushing him!

This was a trace of the after-effect of the pressure that the Lord of the Stars endured when resisting the Heavenly Dao back then, simulated by the star remnant's will!

Nightmare’s Divine Soul phantom was instantly pressed until it creaked, almost about to dissipate.

But blood-red light and starlight flashed simultaneously in his eyes!

"Heavenly Dao? Oppression? I have suffered enough in my past life!" Nightmare’s Divine Soul let out a silent roar. "Returning in this life, I am here to tear apart this fate, to trample these shackles! I am the Dominator of my own Dao! Walking against the heavens is my Dao!"

Boom—!

In his Divine Soul, the dao seed that was reborn after the Return to Ruins trembled violently; the newly born Starfall Demonic Flame burned fiercely, not only resisting the starry sky's might but also, in turn, carrying an overbearing will that devoured and refined everything, counter-infecting that simulated starry sky!

"Good..." The voice of the star remnant's will carried a trace of approval. "A Heaven-Defying will... as tough as a stellar core... You, have the qualifications..."

The simulated pressure receded like a tide.

The star remnant's will became clearer: "My core... the true 'Origin of the star remnant'... did not completely dissipate here... It fell into the deepest part of this 'ancient remnant world'... That place is also a corner of the final battlefield from back then... Find it... Refine it... Only then can you truly inherit the authority of the 'Stars'... and possess... the capital... to contend against the favor of the Heavenly Dao..."

A clear starlight coordinate pointing to the extreme depths of the remnant world was imprinted into Nightmare’s dao seed.

[Ding! Detected that the Host has triggered a hidden epic-level continuous quest: "The Last Wish of the star remnant"!]

[Current stage quest issued: Seize the star remnant Core.]

[Quest content: Go to the Core Zone of the ancient remnant world, find and refine the core Origin of the ancient Lord of the Stars' remains.]

[Quest rewards: Control part of the star authority, greatly strengthen the Starfall Demonic Flame and the dao seed, and passively weaken the Heavenly Dao's favor effect on the "son of destiny" Lin Hao (takes effect gradually).]

[Failure penalty: dao seed damaged, lose this Opportunity for the star Legacy.]

The System’s notification sound rang out at the right time, coinciding with the guidance of the star remnant's will.

Nightmare collected his thoughts and carefully sensed himself.

His cultivation had surprisingly Breakthrough to the Late Nascent Soul Stage!

Moreover, his Foundation was incomparably solid, and his spiritual power and the newly born Star Power were perfectly integrated.

More importantly, the dao seed was now completely inseparable from his Divine Soul, becoming the core of his power and the Origin of life; with every beat, it breathed out Demonic Flame and starlight.

"star remnant Core... deep in the remnant world..." Nightmare looked in the direction indicated by the coordinates, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth. "Lin Hao, it seems your favor from fate is not impregnable. I will accept this Legacy of the stars."

His figure moved; the Starfall Demonic Flame wrapped around his entire body, transforming into a dark meteor that rushed out of this star remnant cavity, speeding toward the more dangerous and more tempting Core Zone of the remnant world.