The magic flame burns the sun, the secret treasure cuts off the beard

Nightmare's active move to welcome Lin Hao's presence was nothing short of a naked provocation.

He did not deliberately conceal his figure; the Starfall Demonic Flame trailed behind him like a dark galaxy, appearing exceptionally conspicuous in this star-studded Core Zone.

Almost simultaneously, three streams of light approached rapidly from the opposite direction.

The man in the lead, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, exuded an imposing Aura, his body enveloped in a layer of pale golden mist, as if he were in perfect harmony with this world.

It was none other than the son of destiny—Lin Hao!

To his left was a sword-wielding woman dressed in a moon-white gown, her temperament as cold as a Fairy (Fairy Qing Xuan), and to his right was a young girl in a goose-yellow dress, lively and pretty, though her brows were currently filled with hostility (Junior Sister Su Wan).

The three of them saw the chaotic scene in the canyon at a glance—the remains of the Qingyang Sect Disciple, the Devilish Qi and bloodstains still lingering in the air, and... the black-robed figure standing in the void, the black meteorite jade pendant hanging at his waist, gazing over coldly.

Nightmare!

Lin Hao's gaze swept over the tragic scene below, ultimately locking onto Nightmare, especially the meteorite jade pendant at his waist that should have belonged to him.

The fury in his chest and the sense of justice bestowed by the Heavenly Dao ignited instantly, his eyes almost spitting fire, How dare you... how dare you slaughter fellow members of the Righteous Path like this! Stealing my Opportunity! You truly are a Devil Head who brings chaos to the world; acting against the Heavenly Dao, you will surely face divine retribution!

His voice echoed like thunder through the canyon, carrying the majestic pressure endowed by the Heavenly Dao, attempting to suppress Nightmare with his Aura.

Nightmare sneered, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching the other's ears, filled with endless mockery: Divine retribution? Lin Hao, put away that hypocritical face of yours. Opportunities and treasures, only the virtuous deserve them? No, it is the capable who seize them! Your Opportunity? It was merely something the Heavenly Dao temporarily stored with you. And I have come to take it away. As for these ants blocking the way, I killed them because I wanted to. What can you do about it?

He deliberately shook the meteorite jade pendant at his waist, full of provocation.

Arrogant!

Fairy Qing Xuan's eyebrows rose; she had a past connection with an Elder of the Qingyang Sect, and seeing this, she became even more indignant, Senior Brother Lin, this devil is obstinate and cruel by nature. It is useless to talk to him more; capture him quickly to avenge our fellow cultivators and take back the secret treasure!

Su Wan also shouted, Yes! Brother Lin Hao, this devil is too hateful! Let's attack together!

Lin Hao took a deep breath, suppressing his rage, knowing that words were useless.

A flash of light appeared in his hand, and an ancient longsword, entirely cyan-gold, with righteous energy and scorching solar fire flowing along the blade, appeared—it was one of his Lifebound Treasure, the qingyang sacred sword (a replica, but with immense power).

Once this sword appeared, the dense Star Power in the surroundings seemed to be dispersed slightly, and the Aura of the Heavenly Dao's favor became even stronger.

Nightmare, today I will act on behalf of the heavens and slay you, this Heaven-Defying devil! Junior Sister Qing Xuan, Junior Sister Su Wan, help me set up the Three Talents Sword Formation to trap and kill this beast!

Yes!

The two women responded, instantly forming a triangular formation with Lin Hao, their energies connected, and their Sword Intent rising.

Fairy Qing Xuan's sword turned into a river of ice, Su Wan's sword moved with agility and speed, while Lin Hao took the center as the main attacker, the qingyang sacred sword blooming with ten thousand rays of golden light, carrying the pressure of the Heavenly Dao and supreme Yang Sword Qi, slashing down at Nightmare first!

qingyang sacred sword, Heavenly Dao punishes evil!

The brilliant sword light was like divine punishment, supreme and righteous, having a strong restraining effect on the Cultivation Technique of the Demonic Path.

Ordinary Nascent Soul demonic cultivators would likely have their minds shaken and Devilish Qi dispersed under this single strike.

However, Nightmare simply raised his right hand.

The profound Starfall Demonic Flame rose again. This time, it was no longer a simple flame, but was rapidly rotating and compressing in his palm, forming a dark fireball the size of a fist, inside which micro-stars seemed to be birthing and dying!

On the surface of the fireball, starlight and demonic patterns intertwined, emitting an Aura where destruction and eternity coexisted.

A frog in a well, you dare to talk about the heavens? Watch me break your Heavenly Dao favor—Starfall Demonic Flame, descend!

Nightmare whispered, and pushed the dark fireball, compressed to the extreme, straight toward the brilliant sword light!

There was no earth-shattering explosion. The moment the two collided, time seemed to stand still for an instant. Immediately after, extreme darkness and extreme golden light erupted simultaneously, eroding each other!

Chi chi chi—!

The golden light of the qingyang sacred sword burned the darkness like a scorching sun, making a violent sound.

But the dark fireball formed by the Starfall Demonic Flame acted like a black hole, crazily devouring and converting that supreme Yang Sword Qi, while the power of stars birthing and dying inside erupted continuously, counter-attacking the golden light!

The stalemate lasted less than two breaths.

In the horrified eyes of Fairy Qing Xuan and Su Wan, the golden light of the qingyang sacred sword, which seemed capable of severing all evil, dimmed and dissipated at a speed visible to the naked eye! And that dark fireball, although it had shrunk by nearly half, still carried a heart-palpitating fluctuation, breaking through the remaining golden light and continuing to smash toward Lin Hao!

What?!

Lin Hao's pupils shrank, his heart filled with shock. His qingyang sacred sword, combined with the power of the Heavenly Dao's favor, had never been so powerless against an opponent of the same level! The opponent's bizarre flame could actually erode the power of the Heavenly Dao?!

Senior Brother, be careful!

Fairy Qing Xuan shouted, and she and Su Wan changed their tactics simultaneously. The river of ice and the agile sword light no longer attacked Nightmare, but instead intertwined into a huge shield of Sword Intent, blocking in front of Lin Hao.

Boom—!

The shrunken dark fireball hit the Sword Intent shield and finally exploded completely. The violent Demonic Flame and the shockwave mixed with Star Power scattered, instantly tearing the hastily set up sword shield of the two women to pieces!

Pfft! Pfft!

Fairy Qing Xuan and Su Wan groaned simultaneously, sent flying by the aftermath of the explosion, blood spilling from the corners of their mouths, their breathing chaotic. Their combined effort had not even been able to fully block the aftermath of Nightmare's strike!

Lin Hao was also forced to retreat several steps, his face pale, and the look he gave Nightmare was, for the first time, full of gravity and disbelief. The opponent's strength exceeded his estimation!

Nightmare did not stop. While repelling the two women, his figure vanished like a ghost, and the next moment he appeared behind Su Wan, who had just steadied herself. This seemingly pretty young girl had been the loudest to clamor before, and Nightmare could feel that her almost blind worship of Lin Hao's destiny halo made her one of the important nodes of Lin Hao's Luck.

I'll break one of your arms first.

A cold voice rang in Su Wan's ear. She turned her head in horror, only to see a palm wrapped in Starfall Demonic Flame pressing lightly toward her heart. If this palm landed, even if she didn't die, her Foundation would be completely destroyed!

Wan'er!

Lin Hao's eyes were bloodshot, and it was too late to rescue her.

How dare you, devil!

Fairy Qing Xuan was closer, and she forced her spiritual energy, ignoring her own injuries, as her longsword turned into a brilliant ice rainbow, stabbing directly at Nightmare's arm to save her companion.

A cruel arc hooked at the corner of Nightmare's mouth. He did not change the direction of his palm pressing toward Su Wan, but the Starfall Demonic Flame around his body surged, instantly condensing into a thick, dark shield covered with star patterns beside him.

Clang—!

Fairy Qing Xuan's ice rainbow Sword Qi stabbed the shield, making a sound like gold and iron clashing. The shield shook violently, appearing with cracks, but it did not shatter immediately. And in this split second of obstruction, Nightmare's palm had already pressed against Su Wan's back.

Ah—!

Su Wan let out a short scream, her protective spiritual light shattering like paper. A cold, domineering power carrying the Aura of star annihilation instantly invaded her Meridians and Dantian, destroying them crazily! Her face turned pale as paper instantly, blood sprayed wildly, her breath withered to the extreme, and she fell downwards like a kite with a broken string.

Wan'er!

Lin Hao finally arrived and caught Su Wan. Sensing the terrible situation in her body, he was both shocked and angry. He looked up at Nightmare, the killing intent in his eyes almost solidifying. Nightmare! I will kill you!

Nightmare withdrew his palm without a scratch, and the Starfall Demonic Flame shield beside him slowly dissipated. He looked at the furious Lin Hao and the pale-faced Fairy Qing Xuan who had barely steadied herself, and said lightly: Kill me? With just the state you are in now?

He looked relaxed, but in reality, he was calculating quickly. Seriously injuring one of Lin Hao's important confidantes had already severely damaged his morale and the combat power of his small team. Lin Hao's own strength was not weak, and with the protection of the Heavenly Dao, he was difficult to kill in a short time. And Fairy Qing Xuan still had the strength to fight.

More importantly...

Nightmare keenly sensed that because of the intense energy collision just now, especially the counter-clash between the Starfall Demonic Flame and the Heavenly Dao power of the qingyang sacred sword, the Core Zone of this already fragile remnant world began to shake violently.

In the distance, visible spatial rifts were constantly expanding, and chaotic Spatial Turbulence, carrying fragments of shattered stars, began to form an energy storm of astonishing scale, sweeping toward the direction they were in!

A remnant world storm! And it was a core storm ten times more violent than the outer ones!

It seems I can't kill you for now.

Nightmare glanced at the terrifying storm taking shape, then looked at Lin Hao, who was full of hatred but had to be distracted to take care of the seriously injured Su Wan, and sneered. However, I will gladly accept your Opportunity. See you next time, I hope you can still have such good Luck.

Before the words fell, Nightmare's figure flickered, and he suddenly split into three identical, powerful Demonic Flame Clone, rushing toward Lin Hao and Fairy Qing Xuan from different directions!

Devil, don't you dare run!

Lin Hao roared, waving his sword to slash one Clone. Fairy Qing Xuan also gritted her teeth and shattered another.

The third Clone rushed fearlessly toward the edge of the forming storm, then exploded with a bang! The violent Demonic Flame explosion further stirred the space, making the expansion speed of the storm suddenly accelerate, temporarily blocking Lin Hao's line of sight and path of pursuit.

Taking this Opportunity, Nightmare's true body had already activated the meteorite jade pendant at his waist, which emitted a soft starlight, resonating with the Starfall Demonic Flame on his body. His figure became illusory, as if merging into the surrounding Star Power and Spatial Turbulence, and he fled silently in the other direction, which was slightly angled from the storm and where the dao seed was faintly transmitting a weak attraction.

Nightmare—!!!

Lin Hao's roar was drowned out by the roar of the terrifying storm sweeping in from behind. He had to brace his protective spiritual light, hold the seriously injured Su Wan, and escape with Fairy Qing Xuan to a relatively safe area.

In the storm, Nightmare's figure disappeared completely.