The guardian pursued and killed him, but the demonic flames turned the tables.

After leaving the Blackstone Black Market, Nightmare did not head straight for the Abandoned Mine. He changed direction several times among the gray rocky mountains and deep valleys, took several large detours, and even deliberately passed through several areas of naturally chaotic energy to erase any possible lingering traces of his movements.

The rule suppression in the Hongmeng Universe was stronger than in the Lower Realm, and space was more stable. Even for a Dominator Realm Cultivator, the Origin consumption for long-distance teleportation far exceeded expectations. Nightmare chose a more economical method—low-altitude flight—while continuously scanning his surroundings with Divine Sense. Combined with the detailed faction distribution map, he avoided marked patrol routes and known Domain Lords Mansion outposts.

However, just as he was traversing an area covered in sharp stone forests, known as the 'Wind-Split Canyon,' a sharp killing intent, like an icy awl, suddenly locked onto him from behind!

"Boom—!"

Violent air currents exploded as a figure wrapped in gray-black wind vortices shot through the air at astonishing speed, instantly blocking Nightmare's path a hundred zhang ahead. The newcomer was tall, wearing black armor with gold trim, his features rugged, and his eyes sharp as blades. Powerful wind-attribute Origin energy surged around him—he was unmistakably at the Peak of the early-stage Hongmeng Dominator Realm! The solidity of his Aura was far beyond that of the sallow-faced Cultivator from the dark market, even faintly carrying an 'official' pressure that harmonized with the heavens and earth of this Black Rock Domain.

On the chest of his armor was engraved a dark-red rock emblem, similar to the one on the sleeves of the dark market patrol Cultivators but more complex and imposing—the insignia of a Domain Lords Mansion Protector.

"Finally, I've caught you!" the black-armored Protector's voice rumbled like thunder, his eyes blazing with fury. "Destroying my Blackrock Outpost, killing my Domain's guards, and still daring to commit murder in the dark market, slaughtering the patrol team! Do you truly think my Black Rock Domain has no one, that we'd allow a brute like you to run rampant?!"

Nightmare stopped and calmly looked at the other. From his words, Nightmare immediately understood that the destruction of the outpost had been exposed, the killings in the dark market had been traced back, and the Domain Lords Mansion had locked onto him through some means—likely the unique Reverse Path Aura left at the outpost or fragmented descriptions from eyewitnesses in the dark market—and had dispatched elite pursuers.

"Black Wind Protector?" Nightmare spoke faintly, based on the descriptions in the faction distribution map. The map noted that under the Domain Lord, there were three major Protectors, with Black Wind Protector excelling in wind-attribute Origin, having a fiery temper, and being responsible for hunting down major criminals within the Domain.

"That's right, it's me!" Black Wind Protector was slightly taken aback that Nightmare could name him, but his anger flared even hotter. "Since you know my reputation, kneel and accept your death! Hand over that sinister Origin of yours, and perhaps I'll leave your corpse intact!"

As he spoke, his Divine Thought completely sealed off the surroundings to prevent Nightmare from escaping. The Wind-Split Canyon was already howling with fierce winds, but now, under the influence of his power, all the air currents in the canyon seemed to come alive, emitting shrill whistles. Countless gray-black wind blades materialized out of thin air, densely suspended in the air, locking onto every possible inch of space Nightmare could move to.

"The Black Rock Domain has so many rules," Nightmare said, as if ignoring the heart-palpitating array of wind blades around him, his tone still flat. "Those who block the path are simply killed. Are you going to block the path too?"

"Arrogant!" Black Wind Protector flew into a rage, unable to restrain his killing intent any longer. "Die for me!"

He thrust both hands forward violently!

"Black Wind Devours the Heavens!"

Rumble—!

All the gray-black wind blades in the canyon instantly erupted, converging into a terrifying black tornado storm that connected heaven and earth. From the storm's center came a shriek that made Divine Souls tremble, carrying a violent will to devour and tear apart everything, descending directly onto Nightmare! Wherever it passed, the sharp stone forests, harder than refined iron, were ground into dust like tofu! This was Black Wind Protector's signature technique, with which he had slaughtered more than one peer-level enemy.

Before the storm even arrived, its terrifying tearing force and wind pressure made the space around Nightmare groan under the strain.

Nightmare's eyes narrowed slightly. This Black Wind Protector was indeed much stronger than all previous opponents, approaching the threshold of the mid-stage Dominator Realm, with profound Origin and a formidable Divine Ability.

But that was all.

"Dao Reversal Ultimate Kill Domain—activate!"

Hum!

A dark, profound Domain expanded violently from Nightmare as its center, instantly covering a radius of a thousand zhang! Within the Domain, Laws twisted, and all techniques reversed into chaos. The ferocious black tornado storm, charging in to devour, suddenly slowed upon entering the Domain's range, and its structure began to destabilize, as if torn and disrupted by countless invisible forces from within.

"What kind of Domain is this? It can interfere with my Black Wind Origin?!" Black Wind Protector's heart shook, but he didn't stop his hand seals, frantically urging his Origin in an attempt to crush the bizarre Domain by force.

Nightmare moved.

Not only did he not retreat, but he stepped forward, heading straight into the weakened black storm!

His figure was like a ghost, directly charging into the storm's core area! The Dao Reversal Ultimate Kill Domain tightly enveloped him, continuously eroding, reversing, and assimilating the surrounding violent wind blades. A thin yet extremely condensed layer of Hongmeng Reverse Dao Demonic Star Flame covered his body, and all wind blades that touched it rapidly dissolved under the Demonic Flame's scorching.

"Seeking death!" Black Wind Protector, seeing this, was not alarmed but pleased. The storm's core was where his power was strongest and most dangerous—the other daring to enter was exactly what he wanted! He exerted full force, and the tearing power at the storm's core instantly increased tenfold!

However, Nightmare's figure flickered within the storm, as if merging with the rampage wind and shadows.

In the next instant, he appeared as if teleporting, materializing right in front of Black Wind Protector—with only the violent storm he himself had summoned between them! Nightmare's right hand, burning with Demonic Flame condensed like black crystal, ignored the storm's obstruction and punched toward Black Wind Protector's chest!

This punch was simple and unadorned but incredibly fast, combining the suppression of the Reverse Path Domain, the destruction of the Demonic Flame, and Nightmare's own terrifying Physical Body strength!

Black Wind Protector's pupils contracted sharply, his hair standing on end! He never expected the other to pass through the storm's core so bizarrely and close in directly! In haste, he could only gather all his Origin into the armor on his chest, forming a solid black wind shield.

"Block it for me!"

"Thud—!!!"

The Demonic Flame fist smashed hard into the black wind shield.

There was no stalemate.

The shield held for less than a hundredth of an instant before its surface cracked like a spiderweb, then exploded with a roar! The burning fist continued unabated, landing squarely on the armor on Black Wind Protector's chest.

"Crack!"

That high-quality Protector's armor was actually dented by the punch, its plates shattering! A terrifying force penetrated his body. Black Wind Protector felt an indescribable, violent force of ultimate destruction and reversal rush into him, instantly disrupting his Origin flow, as if his internal organs had been shaken out of place!

"Pfft—!" He vomited a mouthful of blood mixed with organ fragments, his body thrown backward like a ragged sack, his Aura instantly withering.

"Impossible... What kind of power is this?!" Black Wind Protector's eyes were filled with shock and disbelief. He was a Peak early-stage Dominator, only half a step away from the mid-stage! How could he be breached and severely injured by a single punch?!"

Nightmare didn't pause for a moment. While punching the other away, his left hand was already raised, fingers spread, aimed at Black Wind Protector.

"Star Devouring Dao!"

A terrifying suction force, at least ten times stronger than when he absorbed the sallow-faced Cultivator, erupted! The Void seemed to twist into a vortex. Black Wind Protector's thrown body jerked to a halt, forcibly sucked back toward Nightmare's palm!

The profound Black Wind Origin within him now completely lost control, bursting through his own restraints like a breached flood, transforming into a gray-black torrent that surged violently into Nightmare's palm!

"Ah—! My Origin! No!!!" Black Wind Protector let out a shrill, despairing shriek. He could clearly feel the power he had cultivated over countless years rapidly draining away, his life fading along with it. This feeling of helplessly watching himself march toward death made him completely collapse.

"Domain Lord! Lord Domain Lord, save me!!!" With his last ounce of strength, he used Divine Thought to activate a blood-red communication Jade Slip hidden close to his body. The Jade Slip glowed faintly, and a subtle fluctuation was about to Escape the Void.

Nightmare's eyes turned cold.

"Hmph!"

A Demonic Flame black needle, thin as a gossamer thread but faster and more acute, shot out later but arrived first, precisely striking the The lights just came on blood-red Jade Slip.

With a light "pop," the Jade Slip, along with the SOS Divine Thought about to be sent, was annihilated by the Demonic Flame, turning to nothingness.

Black Wind Protector's last hope shattered, leaving only endless fear and gloom in his eyes.

Nightmare's hand was already pressed against the top of his head.

The suction force surged!

Black Wind Protector's body convulsed violently, rapidly withering, his skin losing luster, his hair turning gray, white, and brittle. In just a few breaths, a powerful Peak early-stage Dominator Protector turned into a lifeless, desiccated corpse.

Nightmare exhaled a burst of Demonic Flame from his palm, and the dried corpse turned to ashes, scattering with the wind.

On the spot, only a set of damaged armor, a Storage Ring, and a few scattered Magic Treasures remained.

Nightmare collected the spoils and stood quietly in place. Within him, a torrent of Origin far vaster and purer than any before was being rapidly refined and absorbed by "Star Devouring Dao," merging into his own Reverse Path Dominator Origin. He could clearly feel his Realm steadily rising, his originally somewhat unstable Foundation upon first entering the Hongmeng Universe quickly solidifying, his power climbing step by step, already approaching a certain Critical point—the threshold of the mid-stage Hongmeng Dominator Realm!

"Black Wind Origin is thick but lacks agility, perfect for solidifying the Foundation," Nightmare thought indifferently, sensing the changes within himself.

He took out the faction distribution map again, his gaze falling on the "Abandoned Mine" area.

"This place isn't safe to stay. Although Black Wind Protector is dead and the message wasn't sent, the Domain Lord will notice eventually. I'll go there first, digest everything, then make plans."

He identified the direction, his form transforming into a dim stream of light, more condensed and swift than before, silently leaving the Wind-Split Canyon and speeding toward the long-forgotten, desolate mine area at the edge of the Black Rock Domain.

In the canyon, only the gradually calming chaotic winds and the Remains of stone forests turned to dust by the battle remained, silently recounting the brief yet one-sided slaughter that had just occurred. One of the three major Protectors under the Blackrock Domain Lord, Black Wind Protector, was Removed from the list. And the conflict between Nightmare and the Blackrock Domain Lord had become irreconcilable, with the true climax rapidly brewing.