Magic Valley prepares for battle, Starry Sky issues warning.

Ten Thousand Demon Valley, top floor hall of the black bone tower.

The air was filled with the lingering scent of smoke and blood, mixed with a sense of excitement from surviving a disaster and a faint unease.

Inside the hall, dozens of core Cultivators of Ten Thousand Demon Valley were gathered; the lowest cultivation level was Late Golden Core Stage, and nearly half were Nascent Soul Cultivators.

Li Xiehe sat at the head of the lower seats, while Nightmare sat high on the grim throne carved from unknown black bones.

The atmosphere was subtle.

The joy after the great victory had not yet fully faded, but some keen-minded individuals had already sensed a deeper unease from Nightmare's cold expression and the invisible oppressive feeling in the air.

"Everyone," Nightmare spoke, his voice not loud, but it clearly drowned out all the whispers in the hall, like cold ice scraping against everyone's eardrums, "The first battle was a victory, we crushed the spirit of the Righteous Path, beheaded a Soul Transformation Cultivator, and raised our Demonic Path prestige. This is the result of everyone's efforts."

He paused, his cold gaze sweeping over those below.

Some people smiled and puffed out their chests.

But more people, especially several steady and experienced Nascent Soul Elders, had even more solemn expressions.

"However," Nightmare's tone changed, suddenly becoming icy, "If you think that after this battle you can sit back and relax, and become lazy and slack in fighting... that is a path to death!"

The last four words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer, instantly shattering the sense of arrogance that had just risen.

"Do you know why Lin Hao can command the masses and form the Anti-Demon Alliance?" Nightmare did not wait for an answer, answering his own question, "Not because he is virtuous and respected, not because his cultivation is Heaven-Defying, but only because he bears the title of 'son of destiny' on his head, and behind him stands the 'Heavenly Dao' that treats all living beings as straw dogs!"

"The Heavenly Dao will not give up on eliminating the 'anomaly' because of one failure. On the contrary, our victory will only anger it more, causing it to commit more power and be more determined to erase us!"

He stood up slowly, walked to the edge of the hall with his hands behind his back, and looked at the sky outside the valley, which was still covered with a faint golden light (remnants of the Demon-Suppression Light Curtain).

The warning from the Origin Demonic Star dao seed was becoming clearer; it was not a warning about ordinary enemies, but a repulsion and hostility toward a higher-level, purer power of "order."

"I have sensed it," Nightmare's voice carried an unquestionable penetrating power, "The Heavenly Dao has already sent down more direct power. Within three days, Lin Hao will surely return. Next time, they will no longer be testing us, but a real, extinction strike carrying the might of the Heavenly Dao!"

Whoosh—!

The hall was in an uproar!

More direct Heavenly Dao power?

An extinction strike?

Fear appeared on many people's faces.

They were not afraid of Righteous Path Cultivators, or even Soul Transformation experts, but they had an instinctive awe and fear for the "Heavenly Dao" that represented the will of heaven and earth.

Opposing the Heavenly Dao?

This was beyond the psychological endurance of many people.

"Lord Nightmare... is this true?" An old demonic Cultivator with gray hair and an Aura at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage asked with a trembling voice; he was one of the oldest Elders in the valley, known as "Elder Dry Bone."

Nightmare glanced at him coldly, his gaze like a tangible ice pick, making Elder Dry Bone tremble as if falling into an ice cellar.

"Do you think I need to alarm you?" Nightmare's voice was devoid of any emotion, "Or are you afraid?"

Elder Dry Bone's face flushed red, wanting to argue, but under Nightmare's cold gaze, he couldn't say a word.

"Fear is normal," Nightmare withdrew his gaze, his voice still calm but carrying a strange magic, "The Heavenly Dao is high above, manipulating destiny, treating us like ants. Submitting to it might allow you to survive, becoming an insignificant supporting role in its script, or... like Elder Qingyun, becoming a knife in its hand that is discarded after use."

"But," he suddenly raised his voice, the Demonic Star Flame in his eyes rising sharply, "Is that really what you want? To live forever under the rules it has set, without even the qualification to Breakthrough yourself or explore the Dao? If there is any slight deviation, you are labeled as 'rebellious,' attracting endless pursuit until your body and soul are destroyed?!"

"In my previous life, I was the 'stepping stone' set by the Heavenly Dao to set off Lin Hao! My Sect was destroyed, my path to the Dao was cut off, and I died by self-detonation! I know better than any of you what a miserable end it is to submit to the Heavenly Dao!"

Nightmare's words were like tearing open a bloody wound, exposing his tragic experience in his previous life and the cold ruthlessness of the Heavenly Dao before everyone.

Combined with the records in the notes of the Lord of the Stars, a chill and a sense of shared grief and indignation grew in the hearts of many demonic Cultivators.

"Now, I have returned in a Heaven-Defying manner, seizing its Opportunity, killing its minions, and I am already at odds with the Heavenly Dao! You have gathered in this valley to go against the current and seek a glimmer of transcendence. Now, there is no way back! Either you fight to the death with me, tear open this sky, and fight for a clear world and a free path to the Dao! Or..."

He swept his gaze over the crowd again, especially lingering for a moment on those who were flickering in their eyes and clearly wavering in their will.

"...You can leave Ten Thousand Demon Valley now and go join your 'Righteous Path', see if they will accept you 'Demonic Path remnants', and see if the Heavenly Dao will spare you because of your 'repentance'!"

As his voice fell, the Demonic Star Flame around Nightmare erupted, and the terrifying Aura of the Late-Stage Transformation Spirit, mixed with the domineering will to defy the stars, covered the entire hall like a mountain!

It felt as if stars were collapsing and Demonic Flame was roaring in the air!

Under this unmasked, aggressive, and deadly Aura, the faces of the few wavering Cultivators turned pale instantly, their legs went soft, and they almost fell to their knees.

They did not doubt that if they dared to say the word "retreat" at this moment, they would bleed on the spot!

Nightmare's decisiveness in killing had already been fully demonstrated in the previous battle.

Li Xiehe stood up at the right time, his voice hoarse but firm: "Elder Dry Bone, fellow Daoists! Everything Lord Nightmare said is true! The Heavenly Dao is unkind and treats all things as straw dogs! We Demonic Path Cultivators are already going against the heavens, so why cherish this body? Now that we have Lord Nightmare leading us, and the ancient Star Legacy to counter the Heavenly Dao, this is our only chance to break free from the shackles and seek the Dao! If we retreat now, not only will all previous efforts be wasted, but there will be no place for us in the world! Only by fighting to the death can we have a glimmer of hope!"

"Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"

Coward by Nightmare's Aura and instigated by Li Xiehe's words, most of the demonic Cultivators in the hall, especially those who were unruly and resentful of the Righteous Path and the Heavenly Dao, suddenly felt their blood boil and raised their arms to shout!

Fear was replaced by a stronger desire to survive and rebellious anger.

Elder Dry Bone looked at the indignant crowd, then at the figure like a demon god on the high platform, and finally sighed, lowered his head, and said nothing more.

He knew that the situation was gone, or rather, from the beginning, those of them who stepped into Ten Thousand Demon Valley had no other choice.

Seeing that the morale was initially stabilized, Nightmare restrained some of his Aura, but his eyes remained cold.

"Since there is no objection, then obey the orders."

"First, Valley Master Li, from now on, Ten Thousand Demon Valley enters the highest state of combat readiness. All Cultivators, according to the previous Formation, perform their respective duties, take turns on guard, and must not make any mistakes. Those who neglect their duties or shake the military morale—execute!"

The word "execute" was filled with Killing Intent.

"Second," Nightmare took out the "Starfall Notes" from his arms, turned to a few pages, which recorded several methods and Formation principles researched by the Lord of the Stars to specifically weaken and counter the infiltration of the Heavenly Dao's order power, "Distribute the basic chapters of the 'Anti-Heaven Method' and the simplified Formation diagram of the 'Star-Reversing Order-Disturbing Formation' recorded here to all Cultivators above Golden Core, and they must be initially mastered within three days! This is the key to saving lives and defeating the enemy. Those who are slack in their practice—abolish their cultivation and expel them from the valley!"

Another ruthless punitive measure.

"Third, reinforce the 'Ten Thousand Demon Star Formation'! I will personally adjust the core of the Formation, integrate the Origin of the star dao fruit, and improve its defense and backlash power. At the same time, within a three-mile radius outside the valley, set up three layers of traps: 'Demonic Erosion Pit', 'Illusion Demon Miasma', and 'Explosive Bone Spear Formation'! I want the Righteous Path Alliance to lose 30% of their strength before they even reach the valley entrance!"

"Fourth, take inventory of all storage, especially consumable combat supplies such as Demonic Flame crystals, filthy blood essence, and Yin soul evil jade, allocate them uniformly, and give priority to the Formation and the upcoming battle!"

One by one, the orders were spat out from Nightmare's mouth clearly, coldly, and efficiently, showing his command and planning ability matching his powerful strength.

The Cultivators in the hall listened respectfully, and there was no more noise.

After arranging these, Nightmare waved his hand: "Go down and prepare. Valley Master Li, stay."

Everyone felt as if they had been granted amnesty, saluted one after another, and exited the hall, walking hurriedly to get busy.

Only Nightmare and Li Xiehe remained in the hall.

"Lord Nightmare, what are your other instructions?" Li Xiehe asked respectfully.

Nightmare did not answer immediately, but closed his eyes again.

Between his eyebrows, a faint silver starlight lit up, resonating with the Origin Demonic Star dao seed in his Dantian and the star dao fruit that had been initially fused.

Through this resonance, his perception seemed to be infinitely magnified, penetrating the heavy Formations and demonic mist of Ten Thousand Demon Valley, and "looking" far toward the direction of the Anti-Demon Alliance camp.

This time, the perception was clearer.

He "saw" the center of the camp, the golden humanoid figure formed purely by the power of the Heavenly Dao Origin, which was more dazzling than the sun—the Heavenly Dao Envoy!

The level of power contained in its body made him feel terrified, definitely not comparable to the Soul Transformation Stage!

He also saw the brand-new "Heavenly Dao Sacred Seal" on Lin Hao's forehead, which emitted terrifying fluctuations, and the Aura of the Righteous Path Cultivators in the camp who were recovering rapidly and even becoming stronger and more fanatical.

A strong sense of crisis, as if being rejected and locked by the whole world, wrapped around his Divine Soul like a cold poisonous snake.

"System, evaluate the threat level." Nightmare thought silently in his heart.

[Ding! Detected a high-concentration Heavenly Dao Origin reaction unit (Heavenly Dao Envoy), combat power evaluation: beyond Peak Spirit Transformation, touching the barrier of this realm.]

[Detected a strong destiny Luck unit (Lin Hao) obtaining temporary blessing of the 'Heavenly Dao Sacred Seal', combat power evaluation: Late-Stage Transformation Spirit (temporary), mastering partial Heavenly Dao authority.]

[Detected large-scale Heavenly Dao order power (Ten Thousand Dao Demon-Slaying Array) is condensing, expected to be formed in three days, posing a very high threat to the Host and Ten Thousand Demon Valley.]

[Comprehensive threat level: Fatal (Red)! Please deal with it with all your strength!]

[Triggered emergency defense mission: Resist the second attack blessed by the Heavenly Dao Envoy, dismantle the power of the 'Heavenly Dao Sacred Seal'. Mission rewards: Depending on the degree of repulsion, reward a large amount of Destiny-Defying Value, Heavenly Dao Law fragments (can strengthen the resistance of the dao seed), random Star Divine Ability. Failure penalty: Eradication.]

The System's evaluation was cold and objective, confirming his premonition.

Nightmare slowly opened his eyes, the star flames burning in his pupils, but with a hint of solemnity.

"Li Xiehe, for the next three days, you are fully responsible for all affairs in the valley and execute them according to the plan. Unless it is a matter of life and death, do not disturb me."

Li Xiehe felt a jolt in his heart, knowing that Nightmare was going to make final preparations, so he bowed quickly: "Understood! I will not fail your trust!"

Nightmare nodded, his figure flickered, and he disappeared from the hall.

The next moment, he had appeared in the secret room in the deepest part of the black bone tower.

This place had long been set up with layers of Restrictions by him to isolate all breath and prying eyes.

Sitting cross-legged, Nightmare did not start cultivating immediately, but first sank his mind into his Dantian.

The Origin Demonic Star dao seed rotated slowly.

At the core, the silver light group transformed by the star dao fruit was already closely connected to the dao seed, pulsating like a heart, continuously emitting pure star Origin power.

"star dao fruit... since you have chosen me, you should help me break this dead end!" Nightmare thought silently, pouring all his consciousness into it, no longer passively absorbing its dissipated power, but actively, deeply, trying to communicate and dig into the deeper power and Legacy within it!

He knew that relying solely on the existing Demonic Star Flame and Formations to fight against the Righteous Path Alliance, which had the Heavenly Dao Envoy personally sitting in town and was blessed by the Heavenly Dao Sacred Seal and the Ten Thousand Dao Demon-Slaying Array, had little chance of winning.

He must squeeze out more powerful strength from the star dao fruit in the last three days and comprehend more star Divine Ability that restrains the Heavenly Dao!

In the secret room, there was absolute silence.

Only on Nightmare's body, dark Demonic Star Flame occasionally flickered, and bright star silver brilliance occasionally flowed.

The two forces intertwined, collided, and fused within his body, and his Aura began to make a difficult impact toward a higher limit on the Peak of the Late-Stage Transformation Spirit...

Inside and outside Ten Thousand Demon Valley, the atmosphere of preparing for war was tense to the extreme.

And the shadow of the Heavenly Dao's descent had, like a substance, shrouded the heart of everyone.