Inheriting the core principles, making a choice based on one's moral compass.

Dao Reversal Demonic Star Flame paved the way, and all obstacles turned to ash.

Nightmare did not know how many halls, corridors, and galaxy-like bridges he had crossed. The space inside the Star Core Palace seemed to be folded and expanded, far more vast than it appeared from the outside. The guardian Puppets along the way ranged from the initial Early Spirit Transformation Stage to the later Mid-stage Dao Replenishing, and even in one side hall filled with star killing Formations, he encountered a giant Puppet King whose aura faintly touched Late-Stage Transformation Spirit.

However, in front of Nightmare, who had already initially fused with the Dao Reversal Demonic Star Flame and whose cultivation was infinitely approaching the threshold of the Tribulation Crossing Stage, these obstacles that would have caused ordinary Peak Spirit Transformation Cultivators to fall were nothing more than slightly annoying pebbles underfoot.

A Puppet King? A condensed "Demonic Star Sky-Shattering" Fist Intent was blasted out from across the air, directly blowing its core and half of its body into stardust.

Star killing Formation? The Nidao Demonic Flame swept through, the Formation Foundation was forcibly reversed and devoured, and the killing Formation instead became nourishment.

His pace was firm, swift, and he did not stop. Behind him, there was only a "path" paved with Puppet remains, broken Formation lights, and ownerless Power of the Stars.

Finally, after passing through a gate made of two slowly rotating star shadows, the scene before him changed suddenly.

This was a hall that could not be measured by size. It seemed to exist independently outside the Star Core Palace, yet it was at its core "singularity."

There was no ground in the hall, no dome. Only endless, deep dark Void Realm. In the void, countless slowly operating galaxies, nebulae, and galaxy light shadows were suspended; they were not illusions, but the embodiment of highly condensed star Laws. Here, the concepts of time and space became blurred, and only the star Dao rhyme originating from the beginning of the Universe was so thick that it seemed to have weight, pressing down on every inch of existence.

And in the very center of this void hall, something was suspended.

It was a treasure bead about the size of a fist, presenting a "Chaos star sky" color throughout. It was not static, but slowly rotating and revolving, simulating the operation of the stars in the Universe. On the surface of the bead, countless tiny stars were born, collided, and annihilated, deducing destruction and Rebirth. Deeper inside, one could vaguely see extremely complex star runes containing supreme Dao flowing.

Just by staring at it, Nightmare felt the star dao fruit in his Sea of Consciousness trembling crazily, sending a longing and palpitation that was almost like worship. The Dao Reversal Demonic Star Flame flowing in his body also became abnormally active, as if it had encountered a force of the same origin but at a higher level.

The final Legacy of the Lord of the Stars—the Reverse Path Legacy Bead.

Nightmare stepped forward, treading on invisible stairs, walking towards the center of the void. The surrounding star light shadows automatically separated, making way for him.

When he came to a distance of about a zhang from the Legacy Bead, the Legacy Bead suddenly stopped rotating.

A grand, ancient, and indifferent will, as if gathered from the whispers of countless stars, sounded directly in his Sea of Consciousness. There was no language, only an incomparably clear stream of information:

[Latecomer.]

[You bear the star dao fruit, possess the Nidao Demonic Flame, have passed the tests outside and inside the hall, and are qualified to inherit My Dao.]

[My Dao has two paths.]

[The first is called: Star Protection. Fusing protection, purification, and counterattack into one, as long as the stars do not extinguish, the protection will not cease. Leaving room for maneuver, keeping benevolence in the heart, it can benefit all living beings, and can also suppress and kill demons. This Dao is upright, fits part of the Laws of Heavenly Dao operation, and the road ahead is relatively smooth.]

[Along with this information, a gentle, thick, and vibrant phantom of Power of the Stars appeared beside the Legacy Bead, evolving the scene of stars protecting all things, purifying darkness, and counterattacking while protecting.]

[The second is called: Reverse Path Ultimate Killing. Taking the ultimate true meaning of star destruction, it is born specifically for Heaven-Defying, slaughtering the Dao, and ultimate killing. Abandoning all benevolence, hesitation, and concession, only the heart of destruction and plunder remains. This Dao is extreme, specifically countering Heavenly Dao, every step is filled with thorns, and one may die and the Dao disappear at any moment, but its power is infinite. On the day of Major Achievement, it can shatter the shackles of Heavenly Dao.]

[Another completely different phantom of power appeared—that was a scene of star collapse, galaxy reversing, and all Daos wailing, full of a resolute, domineering, and terrifying aura that defied everything.]

[Choose one to inherit, it cannot be changed.]

[Which Dao do you choose?]

The grand will quietly waited for Nightmare's choice.

Nightmare stood in the void, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two completely different phantoms of power.

Star Protection? Leaving room for maneuver? Keeping benevolence in the heart?

In his mind, in an instant, flashed the tragic scenes of his previous life being besieged by the so-called "Righteous Path", betrayed by those he trusted, and self-destructing his dao fruit in despair; the hypocrisy, greed, and the Law of the jungle he had seen and heard since his Rebirth in this life; the face of Lin Hao who wore the "Heavenly Destiny" halo but acted in the reality of plunder and occupation; the ruthless suppression and scheming of the so-called Heavenly Dao of this world against Heaven-Defying ones.

Benevolence?

Heh.

In this cruel cultivation world, benevolence is an excuse for the weak, a shackle for the strong, and a foolish act of seeking one's own death!

He had long sworn that in this life, he would never repeat the same mistakes. Those who block the way, kill! Those who covet, kill! The hypocritical, kill! If the Heavenly Dao is unfair, then defy this Heaven!

Only absolute power, only extreme destruction, can sever all shackles and step out a Heaven-Defying bloody path of his own!

Without half a hesitation, not even wasting a breath of time.

Nightmare raised his head, staring directly at the Chaos-colored Legacy Bead, his voice cold and clear, echoing in this void hall:

"I choose, Reverse Path Ultimate Killing."

The moment the words fell, the gentle phantom representing "Star Protection" dissipated like a bubble. And the destruction phantom representing "Reverse Path Ultimate Killing" let out a silent roar, pounced on the Legacy Bead, and merged with it!

The Legacy Bead suddenly erupted with unprecedented brilliant light! The light was no longer the gentle color of stars, but turned into a deep, violent, and destructive color intertwined with dark purple and Chaos!

Boom—!!!

The Legacy Bead turned into a stream of light and submerged into the center of Nightmare's eyebrows!

An indescribable, massive force, like the big bang of the beginning of the Universe, exploded in his body!

This was not gentle infusion, but violent pouring and domineering Fusion!

Nightmare let out a muffled groan, his body trembled violently, and countless fine cracks appeared on the surface of his skin, through which terrifying dark purple starlight projected! His Meridians were expanding, his Dantian was churning, and his Sea of Consciousness was roaring! The vast Reverse Dao Power transformed by the Reverse Path Legacy Bead began the most direct and violent Fusion with his original Demonic Flame, star dao fruit, and even his own dao foundation and Divine Soul!

Pain!

Unimaginable pain! It felt like every inch of flesh, every segment of bone, and every wisp of Divine Soul was being crushed, reorganized, and tempered! The annihilation will contained in the Reverse Dao Power crazily impacted his Dao Heart, wanting to completely grind away the last trace of softness and hesitation that belonged to "human"!

"Urgh... Ah!!"

Nightmare roared, the veins on his forehead bulged, his eyes were instantly covered with bloodshots, but in the next moment, they were filled with more fierce dark purple Demonic Flame. He gritted his teeth tightly, relying on the tough Dao Heart honed over a thousand years in his previous life, and the killing determination already forged in this life, forcibly guiding this torrent of destruction!

Must not lose control! Must control it!

His consciousness was like a lonely boat in a raging sea, but it firmly controlled the direction. The star dao fruit served as a medium, crazily absorbing and transforming the Reverse Dao Power. The Dao Reversal Demonic Star Flame cheered and jumped, greedily devouring the power of the same origin but higher level, the color of the flame became deeper and deeper, gradually transforming into a pure, "pitch-black star" color that seemed to be able to devour light!

The aura began to climb at a terrifying speed!

The Bottleneck of Peak Spirit Transformation was easily broken through like paper!

His cultivation fiercely crossed into a brand new, mysterious Realm—Half-step Tribulation Crossing! Not the real Tribulation Crossing Stage, but he had already touched the threshold of that level, and the essence of his power had leaped!

Not just a quantitative change, but a qualitative change!

The information torrent in the Legacy Bead also poured in.

[Dao Reversal Ultimate Killing Array]: Based on the Dao Reversal Demonic Star Flame, it triggers the star destruction Law to set up an ultimate killing Domain. Within the Domain, all Daos are reversed, Spiritual Qi is backlashed, and all power that is not one's own is suppressed, worn down, and reversed! This is an indiscriminate ultimate killing array!

[Demonic Star Sky-Shattering]: Condenses the Dao Reversal Origin, simulating the scene of star annihilation in a punch, a finger, and a thought. Its power is unparalleled, specifically breaking all Laws and shattering the Heavenly Dao marks!

The Profound Truth of the two major killing moves were deeply imprinted in the depths of his Divine Soul.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe an instant, maybe ten thousand years.

In the void hall, the rampant dark purple and Chaos light gradually converged.

Nightmare floated quietly in place, eyes closed.

The cracks on his body had disappeared, and his skin had become like the finest star jade marrow, translucent with indescribable toughness. The dark purple Demonic Flame that originally lingered outside his body had now turned into a silent, deep pitch-black, with only a heart-palpitating destructive starlight occasionally flashing at the very core. This was—the complete form of the Dao Reversal Demonic Star Flame.

He slowly opened his eyes.

In his eyes, there was no trace of human emotion, only cold, deep darkness to the extreme, as if it contained two pitch-black stars heading towards destruction. Where his gaze fell, the surrounding star light shadows trembled slightly and dimmed.

Half-step Tribulation Crossing! Reverse Path Legacy Major Achievement!

At this moment, he was more than ten times stronger than before entering the Legacy Hall!

Just as he was feeling the vast, endless, and destructive power in his body—

Boom!!!!

A roar, far greater than all previous movements, came from outside the hall! The entire void hall shook with it!

Immediately following, was Lin Hao's roar full of unwillingness, anger, and a hint of suspicion, piercing through layers of obstacles, faintly coming:

"Nightmare! Get out! The Legacy does not belong to you, devil!"

"Grand Elder, join forces with me to blast open this door!"

Violent attack fluctuations kept coming, and the gate made of star shadows was enduring violent bombardment, its light flickering uncertainly.

They had finally broken through all the outer obstacles and arrived outside the gate of the Legacy Hall.

Nightmare slowly turned his head and looked at the direction of the vibration. In his pitch-black eyes, the light of destruction flickered slightly.

He raised his right hand, palm up, and a wisp of extremely condensed pitch-black flame rose quietly. In the center of the flame, a point of starlight extinguished and was reborn.

"Just in time."

The cold voice, containing no emotion, made the temperature of this void hall drop to below freezing point.

"Just right to use you... to test this newly acquired power."

He took a step, his figure disappeared in place, and the next moment, he appeared on the inside of the Legacy Hall gate that was being crazily bombarded.

Outside the hall gate were Lin Hao and his party, panting, eyes red, swearing to take back the "Opportunity that belongs to them".

Inside the hall gate was Nightmare, who had just completed his transformation, carried the Reverse Path Ultimate Killing Legacy, and had an aura like an abyss demon god.

Separated by a trembling light gate, the final showdown was on the verge of breaking out.