Caravan ambushes, identities exposed

Liuyun Canyon, a place in the interior of the Immortal Realm that was not particularly perilous but possessed quite beautiful scenery. Mountains stacked with green on both sides, immortal mist swirling, and a clear immortal spirit stream flowing through the valley floor, its misty vapor refracting colorful halos under the sunlight. Occasionally, immortal birds and Spirit Beasts would sweep past, emitting clear, melodious cries—a scene of peaceful and tranquil immortal atmosphere.

A caravan consisting of three medium-sized wooden flying ships was moving unhurriedly along the fixed route above the canyon. The flying ships were of an ancient style, with basic runes for wind resistance and speed enhancement carved on their surfaces, and the 'Liuyun Chamber of Commerce' mark imprinted on their hulls. This caravan was not large, mainly transporting some Immortal Plants, low-grade Ore, and daily supplies, traveling between edge market towns and small inland cities.

Nightmare, disguised as a 'surviving deacon of Yuanxian Pavilion,' was currently on the stern deck of the last flying ship, leaning against a pile of cargo crates, eyes closed in feigned sleep. He wore that nondescript grey robe, his aura maintained at the Early Spirit Transformation Stage, his face carrying a trace of lingering 'fear' and the exhaustion of a long journey, no different from other low-grade Cultivators in the caravan who were hitching a ride or doing odd jobs.

The caravan manager was a slick middle-aged Nascent Soul Cultivator. He wasn't particularly enthusiastic about Nightmare, the 'Yuanxian Pavilion orphan,' but didn't make things difficult for him either, simply instructing him to look after the cargo at the stern of the ship and do some cleaning chores on the side. Nightmare was happy for the peace and quiet, remaining taciturn and keeping a low profile throughout the journey.

The flying ships flew steadily, the canyon breeze brushing against their faces, bringing the fresh scent of grass and trees. The guards and handymen on the deck chatted in low voices, their topics nothing more than rumors of the Immortal Realm, cultivation insights, or plans for leisure after arriving at Liuyun Immortal City. Everything seemed so normal, so peaceful.

However, beneath Nightmare's seemingly relaxed and closed eyelids, a sliver of Divine Sense was constantly acting like the most sensitive radar, slowly scanning the surrounding space with the flying ship as the center. The two dao reversal key imprints lay dormant within his body, yet they allowed his perception of energy flow, of 'order,' and of 'observation' to reach an astonishing degree.

Suddenly, his Divine Sense filaments covering the corner of the canyon ahead transmitted a subtle but uniform energy fluctuation.

It was not the natural wind or a Spiritual Qi vortex.

It was an artificial, well-trained fluctuation of spiritual power that carried the distinct style of the immortal realm heavenly dao patrol, and it was approaching rapidly!

Nightmare's eyelids moved imperceptibly, but his breathing and heartbeat did not change in the slightest. He opened his eyes 'blankly,' rubbed his 'sleepy' eyes, like an ordinary low-grade Cultivator woken up by the flying ship's turbulence, and looked ahead with slight curiosity.

Almost at the same time he 'woke up,' at the bend of the canyon ahead, twelve brilliant silver lights shot over like meteors, instantly blocking the direct path of the caravan's flying ships!

The silver light dissipated, revealing twelve Cultivators dressed in standard bright silver immortal armor with sharp auras. The two leaders had more exquisite immortal armor, with flowing cloud patterns on their shoulder guards, and were surprisingly both at the Late Tribulation Crossing stage, their gazes like lightning, scanning the three flying ships. The ten people behind them were at the Early Tribulation Crossing Stage, holding unified silver halberds, expressionless, and an aura of slaughter permeated the air.

immortal realm heavenly dao patrol team! And judging by their armor style and shoulder badges, they should be regular troops belonging to the 'Liuyun Immortal City' patrol department, even more elite than the screening squad encountered in the wasteland before, and with higher authority!

The caravan's three flying ships immediately slowed down and finally hovered in the air. The manager hurriedly ran out from the cabin of the leading flying ship, a respectful smile plastered on his face, and bowed to the patrol team: 'This humble one is Qian Fu, manager of the Liuyun Chamber of Commerce, greeting the Immortals of the patrol department! I wonder what instructions the Immortals have for stopping our caravan?'

The cold-faced Late Tribulation Crossing stage patrol captain on the left scanned Manager Qian and the several flying ships, his voice devoid of any emotion: 'By order of the patrol department, we are strictly inspecting all personnel passing through Liuyun Canyon, especially those coming from the direction of 'Yuanxian Pass'. Where are you all coming from? Everyone on the ship, gather on the deck immediately to accept identity verification and aura inspection!'

Manager Qian's heart tightened, but the smile on his face remained unchanged. He hurriedly said: 'Replying to the Immortals, this humble one's caravan is indeed returning from 'Fengming Market' (an edge market town near Yuanxian Pass), transporting some medicinal herbs and Ore. Everyone on the ship is the chamber of commerce's own guards, staff, and a few friends who are hitching a ride...' As he spoke, he secretly signaled behind him, indicating for everyone to come out quickly.

Soon, the personnel from the three flying ships gathered on the deck, about thirty people, with cultivation levels ranging from Golden Core to Soul Transformation, most of them looking uneasy.

The Divine Sense of the two patrol captains, like cold searchlights, began to scan every person on the deck one by one. At the same time, each held a silver precious mirror, similar in shape to the copper mirrors of the previous screening squad but more exquisite, and the mirror light slowly swept across the crowd.

The inspection was very thorough. Not only did they need to verify identity tokens (the Immortal Realm has a unified identity jade token system, and the Yuanxian Pavilion token Nightmare used was one of them), but they also had to probe whether the Cultivation Technique aura within the body was 'pure' and if there were any hidden cultivation levels or strange energy fluctuations.

The line moved forward slowly. The caravan personnel stepped forward one by one, handed over their identity jade tokens, accepted the mirror light inspection, and were then signaled to stand aside.

Nightmare was near the back of the line, head lowered, looking cautious and uneasy. The Yuanxian Pavilion identity token in his hand was real (seized from the stronghold), and the original owner's aura remaining on it had long been simulated and covered by him using Reverse Dao Power. The Nidao Demonic Flame within his body lay dormant in the depths of the dao reversal key imprint, simulating the slightly yin-evil immortal yuan fluctuation of the Yuanxian Pavilion's basic Cultivation Technique. With his current cultivation and control over power, simulating the aura of a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator should have been flawless.

However, when it was his turn in line, and he handed the token to the cold-faced patrol captain, the captain's gaze lingered on his face for an instant, then he took the token, and the light from the silver precious mirror also fell on him.

The moment the mirror light swept over, Nightmare acutely felt that the silver precious mirror seemed to tremble slightly, and a faint, almost imperceptible dark red reflection flashed in the depths of the mirror surface!

It wasn't that his disguise had a problem. It was that this precious mirror had a higher level of inspection and seemed to have a keener sense for 'Reverse Path' or 'high-intensity energy concealment'! It might not have directly seen through Nightmare's disguise, but it 'felt' some kind of 'incoordination,' some kind of 'overly perfect concealment'!

The cold captain's brows furrowed imperceptibly. He looked at the flawless Yuanxian Pavilion token in his hand, then looked up to examine Nightmare carefully, his eyes adding a hint of scrutiny and suspicion.

'Yuanxian Pavilion deacon? Soul Transformation Stage?' the captain said, his voice flat. 'According to reports received by the patrol department, there have been abnormal energy fluctuations near Yuanxian Pass recently, and the situation at the Yuanxian Pavilion stronghold is unclear. Since you are from the Yuanxian Pavilion, why are you here? Explain in detail the time and reason you left the Yuanxian Pavilion, and what you saw along the way.'

The questions were routine, but the other party's gaze and the slightly trembling precious mirror let Nightmare know that his disguise had already aroused the other party's high suspicion. Perhaps in the next moment, the other party would demand a deeper Divine Soul exploration or use other more overbearing detection methods.

On the other party's turf, facing two patrol teams (there might be arrangements at both ends of the canyon), once completely exposed and trapped, although he didn't fear them, it would inevitably cause a huge commotion, alerting the guards in the direction of the Xianqiong Forbidden Land in advance, which was inconsistent with his plan to secretly obtain the dao reversal key.

Thoughts raced, only in an instant.

Nightmare's face appropriately showed an expression of mixed panic and sadness, and he lowered his head and said tremblingly: 'Replying... replying to the Immortal, this... this small one...' While he stuttered to organize his language, as if intimidated by the superior's might, inside his body, that dormant Nidao Demonic Flame was already like a fully drawn bowstring, ready to go!

Just as the words 'small one' left his mouth, his voice sounding the most cowardly, the attention of everyone (including the cold captain) was slightly attracted by this 'cowardice' and relaxed for a thousandth of a second—

Nightmare moved!

Not running away, not arguing.

It was a thunderous preemptive strike!

He lifted his lowered head abruptly; all the cowardice and panic in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a coldness and indifference that could freeze the Nine Netherworlds!

"Damn your ancestors!"

As his cold voice exploded, he thrust out the index and middle fingers of his right hand like lightning!

At his fingertips, a point of dark red cold light, condensed to the extreme and seemingly capable of swallowing even light itself, suddenly shone—Dao Reversal Demonic Star Pierce!

The target was aimed directly at the glabella of the grim captain, who was inches away!

Fast! Too fast! It was faster than Divine Sense could detect!

The grim captain only felt a blur before his eyes, and a boundless shadow of death had already enveloped him!

After all, he was a Late Tribulation Crossing stage Cultivator with astonishing combat instincts; his protective immortal light was instantly stimulated to the limit, and his head subconsciously jerked backward!

"Hiss—!"

The dark red cold light grazed past his forehead, taking with it a spray of blood droplets and a few strands of broken hair!

The sharp Reverse Dao Power invaded, causing his forehead to ache intensely and his Divine Soul to tremble!

Although he hadn't been directly stabbed in a vital point, this sudden sneak attack and the terrifying aura had already left him pale with shock!

"Reverse Path! He is a Reverse Dao Practitioner! Attack! Send the signal!!"

The grim captain roared hoarsely, and while retreating violently, a crimson emergency transmission talisman appeared in his hand!

However, Nightmare's target was not just him alone!

While launching the sneak attack on the captain, Nightmare's left hand had already made a grasping motion toward the slightly older Late Tribulation Crossing stage vice-captain on his right!

"Dao Reversal Ultimate Kill — Void Realm Grip!"

The air around the vice-captain suddenly solidified and compressed!

It was as if an invisible giant hand was gripping him tightly!

The protective immortal light on his body emitted an unbearable "creaking" sound, and the circulation of his immortal energy instantly stagnated!

He widened his eyes in terror, wanting to break free, but found that he couldn't even move a single finger!

And Nightmare's right foot stomped lightly on the deck.

"Hum—!"

The dark red Dao Reversal Ultimate Kill Domain exploded from him like a volcanic eruption!

It instantly covered the space within a radius of hundreds of zhang, enveloping all three flying ships, all the caravan members, and the ten patrolling Cultivators at the Early Tribulation Crossing Stage who had just reacted!

Inside the Domain, space was as viscous as glue, gravity was chaotic, and the ubiquitous dark red Demonic Flame, like living poisonous snakes, crazily lunged toward every target that was not Nightmare!

"Not good!" "Form up!" "Quickly activate the transmission—ah!"

Exclamations, roars, and screams rang out instantly!

The ten Early Tribulation Crossing Stage Cultivators bore the brunt of it; blades formed from dark red Demonic Flame attacked from all directions.

They hastily wielded long halberds to block and raised protective shields, but the gap in strength was too great. The Demonic Flame blades easily tore through their defenses and pierced their bodies!

In just one exchange, four or five of them were swallowed by the Demonic Flame, screaming as they turned into fireballs!

The caravan personnel were like lambs waiting to be slaughtered; under the terrifying Domain pressure and the raging Demonic Flame, they had no power to resist and suffered heavy casualties instantly.

The deck was in chaos, with cries and screams shaking the heavens.

"You monster! Die!" The grim captain, blood streaming down his forehead and eyes splitting with rage, had already activated the crimson transmission talisman in his hand (a red light shot into the sky), and simultaneously sacrificed a shimmering immortal sword, striking at Nightmare with monstrous fury and biting sword light!

He needed to buy time for his companions and hold back this terrifying Reverse Dao Practitioner!

Meanwhile, the vice-captain, imprisoned by the "Void Realm Grip," was frantically burning his essence blood, attempting to break through the restraint!

Facing this pincer attack, there was not the slightest ripple on Nightmare's face.

He didn't even look at the heaven-shaking sword light slashing toward him.

He just pointed from afar at the vice-captain, who had just broken free slightly and was flushed with red.

"Shatter."

"Boom!"

The vice-captain's body, along with the flickering protective immortal light on his body, exploded violently, like a watermelon hit by an invisible giant hammer!

Flesh, bones, and Divine Soul were completely crushed and annihilated in the same instant by the Reverse Dao Power that had invaded his body!

Only a mist of blood remained, permeating the air.

One-hit kill!

Immediately after, Nightmare's figure swayed slightly, as if shifting an inch, precisely avoiding the sharpest point of the immortal sword that the grim captain had slashed down in anger.

His left hand, covered in dark red Demonic Flame, like an iron pincer, accurately grasped the spine of the immortal sword!

"Crack!"

A teeth-grinding sound rang out!

Under the erosion of the Nidao Demonic Flame and Nightmare's terrifying strength, the sword body of that high-grade immortal sword actually developed fine cracks!

The grim captain's tiger's mouth split open, and the immortal sword almost flew out of his hand!

Finally, a look of horror and despair appeared in his eyes; the opponent's strength and strangeness far exceeded his imagination!

"You go down to accompany him as well." Nightmare's cold voice entered his ears.

He flicked his right index finger, and a spark of dark red fire shot out, arriving before the sword could be fully withdrawn, and sank into the grim captain's glabella amidst his terrified, dilated pupils.

Dark red Demonic Flame gushed out from his seven orifices, instantly swallowing him.

Two Late Tribulation Crossing stage patrol captains had fallen in succession within a mere two or three breaths!

At this time, the ten Early Tribulation Crossing Stage patrol Cultivators had also been wiped out under the ravages of the Dao Reversal Ultimate Kill Domain and the Demonic Flame; the last two barely managed to rush out of the Domain range and fled for their lives without looking back.

Nightmare didn't even look at the two fleeing (they were destined not to run far), and his cold gaze swept over the surviving, shivering caravan members on the deck.

Steward Qian sat slumped in a pool of blood, his crotch soaked, his face ashen.

The other guards, assistants, and hitchhiking Cultivators were all filled with despair, looking at Nightmare as if looking at a demon god who had descended into the world.

They had seen the whole process, seen Nightmare kill the patrol captains in one hit, and seen his identity as a Reverse Dao Practitioner.

There was not the slightest pity in Nightmare's eyes.

These people were innocent. But they were also a hidden danger.

Once he left, today's events would surely spread through their mouths throughout Liuyun Immortal City and even wider regions.

His appearance (though disguised), methods, and whereabouts would all be exposed.

For the sake of the immortal firmament path-reversal key, for the sake of the final Reverse Path... nothing could go wrong.

"If you want to blame someone, blame your bad luck for seeing things you shouldn't have."

Nightmare muttered to himself, as if stating a fact.

He raised his hand and waved it lightly at all the survivors on the deck.

"Whoosh—!"

Several condensed dark red fire lines, like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, swept through the air silently.

There was no resistance, no screaming.

Where the fire lines passed, lives were extinguished instantly, like candle flames blown out by the wind.

Steward Qian, guards, assistants, hitchhikers... everyone's eyes dimmed rapidly, their bodies went limp, and then dark red Demonic Flame ignited from the inside out, completely erasing all traces of their existence.

Together with those few flying ships, they turned into ashes in the Demonic Flame and fell toward the canyon stream below.

After doing all this, Nightmare stood in the air, and the Dao Reversal Ultimate Kill Domain was retracted.

He quickly cleared the battlefield, taking away the storage equipment and useful items left behind by the patrol members, and at the same time used Reverse Dao Power to disrupt all remaining energy auras and Karma lines in the area.

He looked up at the direction in the sky where the crimson transmission talisman had disappeared.

The message had been sent; the patrol department of Liuyun Immortal City and even higher levels would soon receive news of "Canyon ambush, Reverse Dao Practitioner discovered" and would send more powerful forces.

"This place cannot be stayed in for long."

Nightmare no longer maintained his disguise and returned to his original black-robed appearance.

He identified the direction, which was exactly the northwest where the Xianqiong Mountain Range was located.

"Disguised infiltration is meaningless now." A fierce glint flashed in Nightmare's eyes, "Then... just charge through!"

He no longer held back; dark red Demonic Flame erupted from his whole body, tearing through the air.

He performed Reverse Path spatial travel, turning into a dark red meteor tearing across the sky, shooting toward the direction of the Xianqiong Mountain Range at a speed a hundred times faster than a flying ship!

The breeze in Liuyun Canyon still blew gently, and the stream flowed murmuringly, but above the canyon, a faint, heart-palpitating aura of destruction remained, along with ashes slowly drifting down, unnoticed by anyone.

The hunt had escalated. The covert operation had turned into a forceful advance!

Xianqiong Forbidden Land, here I come!