Star Imprint, Verification of Heritage

The Dao-Eroding Maggots were extremely sensitive to energy fluctuations.

The Starfall Demonic Flame rising from Nightmare immediately attracted the attention of a large swarm of insects in the cave.

They stopped gnawing on the bones and the altar base, their gray-white bodies turning in unison toward Nightmare, their mouthpart-like heads opening to emit a silent screech that caused pain to the Divine Soul.

The next moment, like a tidal wave, countless Dao-Eroding Maggots sprang up, transforming into a gray-white torrent of filth that surged toward Nightmare!

Wherever they passed, even the thin Power of the Stars and Death Qi in the air were quickly gnawed into a blank void, fully revealing their characteristic of eroding all Dao.

Hmph, filthy things, you dare to approach me? Nightmare's eyes were cold; he did not dodge or avoid them, but instead took a step forward.

Starfall Demonic Flame, protect me!

Whoosh!

The dark flames that had originally only shrouded his body suddenly surged, transforming into a thick, constantly rotating tornado of fire, firmly protecting Nightmare in the center.

On the periphery of the fire tornado, countless tiny stars were born and destroyed, emitting an aura of annihilation and burning.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

The first batch of Dao-Eroding Maggots that rushed into the range of the fire tornado instantly emitted ear-piercing sounds as they were scorched.

Their gray-white bodies, which were capable of eroding ordinary spiritual energy, were like meeting their nemesis the moment they touched the Starfall Demonic Flame!

The Demonic Flame's overbearing destructive nature burned their bodies directly, while the Power of the Stars contained within had an additional purifying and suppressing effect on such evil things.

However, the number of Dao-Eroding Maggots was simply too great. They came one after another, fearless of death.

They seemed to have no intelligence, possessing only the instinct to devour Dao power.

To them, the Starfall Demonic Flame was both a fatal threat and seemingly the most tempting delicacy.

A large number of Dao-Eroding Maggots piled up and died on the periphery of the flames, turning into wisps of gray smoke, but more Dao-Eroding Maggots surged up, actually starting to try to gnaw on the flames themselves!

Nightmare immediately felt that the spiritual energy consumption to maintain the fire tornado was increasing rapidly!

These Dao-Eroding Maggots could actually slowly erode the Dao and power contained within the Starfall Demonic Flame!

No wonder the Bone Spirit Guardian said they were troublesome. Nightmare's thoughts raced. I cannot rely solely on defensive consumption; I need to exterminate them in a more efficient and suppressing manner.

With a thought, the shape of the protective fire tornado began to change, shifting from pure defense to a more aggressive form.

Starfall: Fire Rain!

The rotating fire tornado suddenly exploded outwards, transforming into countless fist-sized fireballs trailing dark starlight, shooting in all directions like a torrential rain!

Every fireball accurately smashed into the densest areas of the Dao-Eroding Maggots and then exploded with a boom!

The dark Demonic Flame, mixed with shockwaves like fragments of stars, instantly cleared a large area of the swarm.

The power of the explosion lay not only in burning but also in the vibration and purification of the Power of the Stars, which had a significant killing effect on the Dao-Eroding Maggots.

A gray-white rain of insect corpses suddenly fell in the cave, and a foul, scorched smell permeated the air.

However, the replenishment rate of the Dao-Eroding Maggots was also extremely fast, seemingly endless, as they poured out continuously from the cracks in the ground and the holes in the bones.

If this continues, the spiritual energy consumption will still be too great. Nightmare observed the source of the swarm and discovered that they primarily bred beneath those gnawed, spiritless piles of bones and in the shadows around the altar base.

I must find their source or a means for large-scale area clearance.

He thought of the dao seed. The dao seed's control over the Power of the Stars was Awakening, and although the Power of the Stars here was mixed with Death Qi, it still existed. Could it be utilized?

While maintaining the Fire Rain offensive, Nightmare sank part of his mind into the dao seed. He attempted to use the dao seed as a core to draw upon the relatively pure Power of the Stars remaining in the surrounding space.

Resonance... Convergence...

With his intention, the meteorite jade pendant at his waist shone brighter, and from the top of the cave, actually the gaps in the endless piles of bones above, wisps of faint starlight actually permeated down, drawn and converging toward Nightmare.

But this was not enough. Nightmare's gaze swept over the star dao fruit on the altar, then looked at the bones that had been hollowed out by the Dao-Eroding Maggots, which once contained the Power of the Stars. A thought flashed across his mind.

He suddenly changed his strategy, no longer attacking evenly, but controlling the majority of the Fire Rain to concentrate bombardment toward the surroundings of the altar base and several piles of bones where the Dao-Eroding Maggots were surging out most violently!

Boom, boom, boom!

The dense explosions temporarily cleared the Dao-Eroding Maggots in those areas and also blasted open the bones and dust on the surface.

Now is the time!

Nightmare seized the Opportunity, his figure like lightning, instantly rushing to a pile of bones that had been blasted open. He extended his right hand, palm down, and pressed it onto a huge, relatively intact rib bone that still had a trace of starlight lingering faintly.

dao seed... Devour! Transform!

He forcibly activated the dao seed, not to absorb the Power of the Stars, but to unleash one of its most essential abilities as the Return to Ruins dao seed—devouring and transformation!

The target: those bones that had been hollowed out by the Dao-Eroding Maggots, but whose skeletal material still contained faint star essence! And... beneath the bones, the source that emitted the aura of filthy erosion—a sticky, gray-white fungal mat that was constantly breeding new Dao-Eroding Maggots!

Hum!

The dao seed vibrated violently, and a powerful suction force erupted from Nightmare's palm. The last remaining star essence in that huge rib bone was forcibly extracted and flowed into the dao seed. At the same time, that suction force also enveloped the fungal mat below!

The fungal mat writhed violently, emitting a sharp screech, attempting to resist; the corrosive power it contained even flowed back along the suction force to erode the Meridians in Nightmare's arm.

But Nightmare was well-prepared; the Starfall Demonic Flame instantly wrapped around his arm, burning away and isolating the corrosive power. And the devouring power of the dao seed, incomparably overbearing, actually began to forcibly refine the filthy energy within the fungal mat—which could also be considered a kind of alternative Dao power!

Although the conversion efficiency was extremely low, and it was a burden on both the dao seed and Nightmare's Divine Soul, the effect was significant! The fungal mat withered and shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the rate at which new Dao-Eroding Maggots were born on it decreased greatly.

It's effective! Nightmare's spirits lifted. Although this method consumed a lot and was somewhat like drinking poison to quench thirst, it could strike directly at the source!

He followed the same procedure, relying on his swift movement technique and the Starfall Demonic Flame to clear the way, threading through the insect swarm, constantly searching for and destroying one source of the fungal mat breeding the Dao-Eroding Maggots after another. Every time one was destroyed, the replenishment rate of the swarm slowed down by a fraction.

This was a process that extremely consumed endurance and mental energy. Nightmare not only had to dodge and resist the swarms attacking from all sides but also had to accurately find the sources and endure the backlash and burden of devouring and refining the filthy energy. His spiritual energy was consuming rapidly, and his Divine Soul also felt waves of fatigue.

It took nearly two hours, but the gray-white fungal mats in the cave were finally completely cleared away. After the last piece of the fungal mat turned into fly ash under the devouring of the dao seed, the remaining Dao-Eroding Maggots in the air seemed to have lost their Foundation and instructions, becoming chaotic and disordered, and were soon burned to nothing by the large-scale Starfall Demonic Flame released by Nightmare.

When the last Dao-Eroding Maggot turned into green smoke, the cave finally returned to dead silence. The air was filled with a scorched stench, but that aura of filthy erosion had greatly weakened. Scorched marks, as well as a large amount of insect corpse ash, remained on the ground and the bones.

Nightmare stood before the altar, breathing slightly, his face somewhat pale, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. This clearing operation, though arduous, seemed to have given the dao seed some indescribable tempering in the process of devouring and refining those star bone residues and a small amount of the fungal mat's filthy energy, and its affinity with the Power of the Stars seemed to have improved by a fraction.

Good. The Bone Spirit Guardian's will fluctuated, carrying clear approval. Your methods are decisive and effective. The Dao-Eroding Maggots have been eliminated, and the altar and the Seal are temporarily worry-free.

Nightmare adjusted his breathing for a moment and looked at the altar.

Now, can I take them?

You may. The Bone Spirit Guardian said, The star dao fruit can be consumed and refined directly; the process may be somewhat painful, but given the Foundation of your dao seed and your performance just now, you should be able to withstand it. The memory orb can be read by touching it with your Divine Sense; the information is vast, so you must proceed step by step to avoid overloading your Divine Soul.

It paused, then continued, Before you accept the Legacy, there are some things that need to be told to you in advance.

Please speak. Nightmare was solemn.

Firstly, the star dao fruit is one of my master's core reliances in opposing the power of the Heavenly Dao. Once consumed, your existence will be completely marked by the Heavenly Dao as a source of chaos that must be eliminated, with a priority that may even exceed that of the son of destiny, Lin Hao. Henceforth, the Heavenly Tribulation will be more violent, and the Heavenly Dao's blessing on those it favors may also be specifically enhanced to deal with you. This path is doubly dangerous; do you understand?

Nightmare did not hesitate in the slightest: From the moment I decided to defy the heavens and seize my destiny, I have already been an enemy of the Heavenly Dao. One more mark or one less mark makes no difference. As for danger, I have long anticipated it.

Secondly, the Bone Spirit Guardian's soul fire seemed to flicker as it looked into the deeper darkness of the cave, The existence sealed at the bottom of the Bone Burial Abyss has power involving End and Annihilation, which is both in conflict with and complementary to my master's Stars, the aspect of creation and eternity. Your dao seed can warn of and faintly attract its power; perhaps... it is some kind of Opportunity, but also an even greater danger. After you refine the dao fruit, if you still have the energy and courage, you may attempt to communicate... but remember, act according to your ability; the state and will of that existence... are difficult to fathom.

Nightmare also cast his gaze toward the bottom of the abyss and nodded. Regarding that forbidden power, he indeed had thoughts, but he would not act rashly.

Thirdly, the memory orb contains records regarding the suppression methods of the Heavenly Dao, which may be helpful for you in the future when opposing Lin Hao and the Heavenly Dao will behind him. However, it also contains the tragic scenes of the ancient war, which can easily shake your Dao Heart, so you must guard your original heart when viewing it.

I have noted it. Nightmare bowed, considering it a thank you for the Bone Spirit Guardian's guidance.

He did not delay any longer, first walking to the altar and reaching out to touch the memory orb. The orb transformed into a cool stream of information that surged into his Sea of Consciousness, temporarily being absorbed and stored by the dao seed, waiting for him to slowly sort through and view it later.

Then, he solemnly picked up the star dao fruit.

The dao fruit felt warm and smooth in his hand; inside, a galactic vortex swirled, emitting a vast aura that was intoxicating. Just by being close to it, the dao seed sent out an irrepressible craving.

Nightmare sat cross-legged before the altar, took a deep breath, and placed the star dao fruit into his mouth.

The dao fruit melted the moment it entered his mouth, instantly transforming into an indescribable, torrential flow of pure Power of the Stars Origin, along with countless profound fragments of star Law, rushing into his limbs and bones, directly piercing into the depths of his Divine Soul!

Urgh—!

Nightmare let out a muffled groan; his body surface instantly erupted with dazzling silver-white light, and countless star phantoms appeared, circled, and were destroyed around him. The massive energy impacted his Meridians, Dantian, and Divine Soul, bringing a tearing, distending pain, but at the same time, it was also scouring, reforming, and sublimating everything about him in a violent yet efficient manner!

His cultivation began to launch an assault toward the Nascent Soul Peak, and even that higher level! The silver light at the core of the dao seed expanded and brightened at an unprecedented speed...

Deep within the Bone Burial Abyss, the Legacy officially began. And at the other end of the core of the broken realm, Lin Hao, who had just stabilized Su Wan's injuries, seemed to sense something; he felt an inexplicable heart palpitation, looked up toward the direction of the Bone Burial Abyss, and his expression turned gloomy.

Nightmare... what have you obtained again?! He clenched his fists, golden light swirling in his eyes, the power of the Heavenly Dao's favor fluctuating faintly, seemingly warning him that a huge threat was taking shape.

The true confrontation of destiny; the storm had only just begun to brew.