A surprise attack on Tianyan resulted in the annihilation of its branch.

Five days passed in the near-silent, tense preparations within Nidao Fortress.

The dark golden light at the heart of the fortress grew deeper and more restrained, like a Vicious Beast that had retracted its claws and was ready to strike. The newly formed "Nidao Vanguard Battalion," under the diligent training of Blood Fang and the strict supervision of the veteran Nidao Guards, barely managed to look like an army. Although their bandit-like nature was hard to erase, they were at least capable of following orders and were filled with Killing Intent.

Inside Nightmare's meditation room, the dark silver Tianyan Token and the decrypted star chart fragments hovered before him. His Divine Sense repeatedly swept over the coordinates of Tianyan Star, its defensive deployments, and those few secret jump routes, imprinting every detail into his mind. The opponent was a Branch Head at the Peak of the Middle-level Sovereign Realm, supported by five Late Stage Protectors and a hundred Early Stage elites, a force far superior to the previous vanguard troops. A frontal assault, even if successful, would inevitably result in heavy losses and make it difficult to prevent the enemy from sending a distress signal.

Therefore, the raid had to be fast, accurate, and ruthless, striking the vital point for a one-hit kill.

The route he selected was a hidden navigation path marked on the star chart used for emergency supply transport. Along the way, there were several preset temporary jump points that would allow them to avoid regular patrol routes and large detection Formations. The Tianyan Token could effectively mask the energy fluctuations of their group, blending them into the energy background surrounding Tianyan Star.

That day, in the core command room of Nidao Fortress.

Standing solemnly before Nightmare were thirty carefully selected elites of the Nidao Guards. Their cultivation was all at the Peak of the Elementary Dominator Realm, their auras condensed into one, and their gazes as sharp as eagles. They were veterans among veterans who had experienced bloody battles in the Elementary Universe Domain and the cleanup operations in the Desolate Star Sector. Stone Firm, Iron Edge, and Sand Shadow were not selected; they needed to remain behind to ensure that the Foundation of Nidao Fortress was not lost.

"Our target for this trip is the core of the Seventh Branch on Tianyan Star." Nightmare's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. "Mission: Destroy the branch's command hub, kill the Branch Head and the main Protectors, and plunder the resource vault. Rules of engagement: Stealth first, one-hit kill, show no mercy, and end the battle quickly. If the mission becomes impossible, preserving yourselves and transmitting intelligence is the top priority. Understood?"

"Understood!" the thirty people shouted in a low voice, their Killing Intent filling the room.

"Move out."

Without further ado, the thirty-one people boarded the "Shadow Shuttle," a specially modified assault ship that was matte-black and reflected almost no energy or light. The ship was long and narrow, with speed and stealth as its greatest features. Its internal space was compact, just enough to accommodate this elite squad.

The Shadow Shuttle slid silently out of the Nidao Fortress dock. The runes on its surface flashed slightly, and it completely blended into the dim background of the Desolate Star Sector, speeding toward the first hidden jump point indicated by the star chart.

The journey was long and tedious. Following that secret route, the Shadow Shuttle moved like a ghost in the Universe, performing short-distance jumps time and again, cleverly avoiding areas of energy turbulence or known patrol routes. The Tianyan Token was placed at the core of the bridge, continuously emitting a special energy field that perfectly hid the Shadow Shuttle.

Nightmare spent most of his time meditating with his eyes closed, adjusting his condition to the Peak, while repeatedly simulating every step to take after arriving at Tianyan Star. The thirty Nidao Guards took turns on duty and resting, maintaining their best combat condition.

About two days later.

"My Lord, we are about to reach the final preset jump point ahead. After the jump, we will enter the 'Silent Meteorite Belt' on the periphery of Tianyan Star, about thirty million miles from the planet itself," the Nidao Guard responsible for navigation reported in a low voice.

Nightmare opened his eyes and nodded. "As planned, after entering the meteorite belt, the entire ship will maintain silence, approaching at the lowest power."

Hum!

The final jump was completed.

The Shadow Shuttle appeared in a vast, banded region composed of countless tiny meteorites and cold dust. In the distance, a planet shrouded in a pale silver energy halo, far larger than an ordinary planet, with the outlines of magnificent building complexes vaguely visible on its surface, appeared like a silver diamond embedded in dark velvet.

Tianyan Star!

Even at such a distance, one could feel the unique and majestic Origin aura belonging to the Tianyan Alliance emanating from that planet. On the periphery of the planet, several patrol squads composed of small warships could be seen cruising regularly, and further away, there seemed to be several fixed outpost platforms.

The Shadow Shuttle immediately entered a state of complete silence, engines shut down, relying only on inertia to slowly glide through the meteorite belt. All detection equipment was turned off, leaving only the most basic optical observation and passive reception. The camouflage coating on the ship's surface combined perfectly with the energy field of the Tianyan Token, making it look like a slightly larger, cold meteorite.

Time passed bit by bit. The Shadow Shuttle, like the most patient hunter, used natural cover in the meteorite belt to approach Tianyan Star little by little. They avoided several passing patrol teams and bypassed the scanning range of two outposts.

Finally, at a distance of about one million miles from the atmosphere of Tianyan Star, in a relatively sparse meteorite area, the Shadow Shuttle stopped completely.

"This is it." Nightmare stood up. "Follow Plan A-3, infiltrate in groups. Remember, primary target: the branch main hall, 'Tianyan Palace'; secondary targets: energy hub, treasury, teleportation array hub. Once successful, rendezvous here and withdraw along the original route."

"Yes!"

The thirty Nidao Guards quickly divided into five groups of six, each checking their equipment and adjusting their state to the best. They all wore temporary shielding talismans made based on the Tianyan Token, with slightly weaker effects.

Nightmare stepped out of the Shadow Shuttle first, his black robes fluttering silently in the Void Realm. He took one last look at the planet with its flowing silver light, his eyes cold.

"Go."

Thirty-one figures, like water droplets merging into the night, left the Shadow Shuttle silently. Borrowing the cover of meteorites and dust, they crept toward the seemingly unbreakable silver shield of Tianyan Star.

Approaching the shield, one could feel the powerful energy it contained more clearly. This was the "Tianyan Star Protection Formation" constructed by the Tianyan Alliance using the star's Origin combined with a Formation. It was extremely difficult to break through with conventional means and would trigger an alarm.

But Nightmare and his team were not going to force their way in.

He arrived at an area of the shield where the energy flow was relatively gentle and close to an unmanned, abandoned observation tower. He formed seals with both hands, dark golden light flowing from his fingertips, outlining several distorted symbols that originated from the same source as the runes on the Tianyan Token.

"Reverse Path Simulation, Heavenly Derivation Resonance, Open."

In the low whisper, those dark golden symbols were gently imprinted on the silver shield.

A ripple, imperceptible to most, spread across the surface of the shield, like water accepting a raindrop of the same source. A "portal" that could only accommodate one person and existed for a short time appeared silently on the shield.

Nightmare entered first, followed closely by the thirty Nidao Guards, entering one after another. After they all entered, the portal closed rapidly, leaving no trace behind.

Successfully infiltrated!

Inside Tianyan Star, the scene was completely different from the desolation outside. The ground was not soil, but a kind of silver-gray metal texture, and mountains and rivers were all simulated by precise energy conduits and Formation arrays. Countless silver platforms and buildings of various sizes floated in the air, colorful and orderly. The rich and pure Heavenly Derivation Origin Spiritual Qi filled the world, but it carried a mechanical, cold feeling.

Nightmare and his team did not stop, following the route they had memorized, moving at high speed through the shadows of buildings and the gaps between energy conduits. They avoided several patrolling silver-armored guards, like five sharp arrows shooting toward the core area of the planet—the most towering palace complex, which looked like it was cast entirely of silver, with a huge "Derivation" character light image floating above it.

Tianyan Palace! The hub of the Seventh Branch!

The closer they got to the core, the stricter the guards were. Not only did the density of patrol teams increase, but there were also invisible energy scanning nets in the air. However, relying on the shielding of the Tianyan Token and Nightmare's keen perception of energy fluctuations, they always managed to avoid them by a hair's breadth.

Finally, the five squads arrived at the periphery of Tianyan Palace almost simultaneously. The huge silver palace walls were a thousand zhang high, with defensive runes flowing on their surfaces. The palace gates were tightly closed, and eight silver-armored guards, whose auras clearly reached the Early Stage of the Middle-level Sovereign Realm, stood in front of the gates.

"Attack!"

Nightmare transmitted the order with his Divine Thought, and at the same time, he himself appeared above the palace gate like a ghost!

"Who?!" The eight guards were startled and shouted sharply. At the same time, they activated their silver spears, and eight sharp spear beams shot into the sky, interweaving into a net!

However, Nightmare ignored this attack completely. He pressed his hands downward into the void.

"Reverse Path—Void Suppression!"

An invisible but vast suppression force, like a sea of stars, descended with a boom! The eight guards only felt the space around them solidify, the circulation of their Origin within their bodies instantly sluggish, and even their thinking seemed to slow down! The spear beams they thrust out twisted and disintegrated strangely in the air!

Taking advantage of this, the five Nidao Guard squads rose up from five different directions!

Six people in each group, the combined attack Formation they had practiced thoroughly was instantly activated! Dark golden Dao Reversal Origin condensed into sharp arrows, heavy war hammers, treacherous chains... attacking the eight guards from tricky angles!

Puff, puff, puff—!

The eight Early Stage Middle-level Sovereign guards, under Nightmare's absolute suppression and the exquisite combined attacks of the Nidao Guards, lasted less than three breaths before being completely slaughtered! Their Divine Souls were annihilated!

The disturbance at the palace gate finally alarmed those inside.

"Enemy attack!!" A shrill alarm resounded throughout the entire Heavenly Derivation Palace!

Countless powerful auras shot up into the sky from all parts of the palace!

"Follow the plan, disperse!" Nightmare shouted coldly.

His figure smashed through the palace gate, transforming into a dark golden streak of light, charging straight toward the core main hall deep within the palace complex, where the aura was most majestic and terrifying!

His target was the branch manager!

The five Nidao Guards squads did not engage in prolonged combat, instead charging madly toward their predetermined targets—the energy hub, the treasury, the teleportation Formation, and other key facilities!

Their mission was to destroy and plunder as quickly as possible while the enemy experts were distracted or tied down by Nightmare!

Nightmare was unstoppable along the way.

Wherever he passed, the silver-armored guards and Formation Restrictions attempting to block him were like paper before his Chaos Demonic Flame, crumbling one after another.

His speed was extreme; almost at the instant the alarm sounded, he had already broken through several halls and arrived before the core main hall—the Heavenly Derivation Hall!

The hall doors swung open with a boom!

A terrifying pressure, far exceeding that of the Golden Yan Protector and having already reached the Peak of the Middle-level Sovereign Realm, surged out from the hall like a tangible mountain!

At the same time, five equally powerful auras, having reached the Late Stage of the Middle-level Sovereign Realm, stood on both sides of the main hall!

In the center of the main hall, perched high on a silver throne, was an old man wearing a magnificent robe with silver base and gold patterns, his face gaunt, his eyes sharp as cold stars in the Universe.

He was toying with a silver orb that constantly shifted its form, his cold gaze locked onto Nightmare, who had broken in.

"What kind of rat dares to trespass in my Heavenly Derivation branch?" The old man's voice was not loud, but it carried a chill that penetrated the Divine Soul.

"Your concealment methods are quite remarkable to have snuck in here without a sound. Unfortunately, you are seeking your own death."

He was the manager of the Seventh Branch, Elder Silver Star, at the Peak of the Middle-level Sovereign Realm!

"Hand over the Heavenly Derivation Token and tell me your Origins, and this Elder might grant you a quick death."

Elder Silver Star stood up slowly, silver starlight flowing around him, his aura rising step by step, as if the entire hall had transformed into his Domain.

"Otherwise, I will surely make you taste the suffering of 'Star Derivation Soul Refining,' where you will wish for death but be unable to die!"

The five Silver Yan Protectors also stepped forward in unison, their auras merging into one, locking off all of Nightmare's escape routes.

Facing this incredibly strong lineup, there was not a trace of fear on Nightmare's face; instead, the corners of his mouth curled into a cold arc.

"Are you done talking?" He slowly raised his right hand. Above his palm, the dark golden Chaos Demonic Flame burned and leaped silently.

"If you're done, I'll send you down to keep Golden Yan company."

"Golden Yan? Did you kill him?!" A cold light flared in Elder Silver Star's eyes, and his Killing Intent boiled instantly.

"Good! Very good! Today, I will use your Divine Soul to sacrifice to the fallen heroes of our Alliance! Form up—Heavenly Derivation God-Slaying Formation!"

Boom!

The five Silver Yan Protectors instantly shifted their positions, connecting their Qi with Elder Silver Star.

The Origin power of the six surged out, instantly outlining an incredibly complex, massive Formation in the air of the hall, shimmering with destructive starlight!

Once the Formation was formed, it trapped Nightmare firmly in the center, and the terrifying Power of Annihilation began to crush his body and Divine Soul like a millstone!

This "Heavenly Derivation God-Slaying Formation" was a secret combined attack Formation used by the Tianyan Alliance against powerful enemies.

Hosted by a Peak Dominator and assisted by five Late Stage Protectors, its power was sufficient to threaten experts at the Early Stage of the High Sovereign Realm!

"Ant, feel the wrath of Heavenly Derivation!" Elder Silver Star shouted sharply.

The Formation's starlight flared, and countless light blades containing the Power of Annihilation of the stars twisted and killed toward Nightmare in the center!

Facing this terrifying Formation capable of slaying gods and destroying demons, Nightmare's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained calm.

He no longer suppressed his own aura.

The majestic pressure of the Early Stage of the High Hongmeng Lord Realm, mixed with the ultimate Dao rhymes of Chaos, disorder, and devouring, erupted with a boom!

"High Sovereign? How is that possible?!" The coldness and confidence on Elder Silver Star's face shattered instantly, turning into extreme horror!

How could a guy from an Elementary Universe Domain be a High Sovereign?!

"Nothing is impossible." Nightmare's voice was like a sigh from the Nine Netherworlds.

"Your Formation is not bad. Unfortunately, it is useless against me."

"Hongmeng Reverse Dao Demonic Star Flame—Chaos Return to Void!"

He pressed his palms together, then suddenly split them to the sides!

Boom!!!

With him as the center, a dark golden Chaos vortex, with a diameter of only ten zhang but seemingly capable of devouring all light, energy, and even Laws, suddenly formed!

The vortex spun crazily, emitting an indescribable, terrifying suction and power of disorder!

The starlight blades that were killing in from all over the sky, as soon as they approached the Chaos vortex, were brutally torn, twisted, and devoured, turning into nutrients for the vortex to grow!

The entire "Heavenly Derivation God-Slaying Formation" shook violently, the starlight dimmed rapidly, and the structure of the Formation began to disintegrate!

"No! What kind of flame is this?! It can actually devour Heavenly Derivation starlight?!" Elder Silver Star was terrified to the core; he finally understood why Golden Yan had fallen!

This was simply not something that conventional power could contend with!

"Break!"

With a low shout from Nightmare, the Chaos vortex expanded suddenly, slamming fiercely into the teetering God-Slaying Formation!

Crack—!

It sounded like glass shattering.

The famous Heavenly Derivation God-Slaying Formation collapsed with a bang under the impact of this Chaos Return to Void power!

The five Silver Yan Protectors hosting the Formation spat blood and flew backward, their auras withered!

Elder Silver Star bore the brunt of it, struck as if by lightning; his face turned deathly pale, he retreated repeatedly, his eyes filled with unbelievable despair.

Nightmare's figure had already passed through the broken Formation and the flying Protectors, appearing before Elder Silver Star.

"It's time to end this."

He punched out, Chaos Demonic Flame entwined, condensing the absolute power of a High Sovereign and the Law of disorder.

Elder Silver Star roared wildly, crushing the silver orb in his hand, which transformed into a brilliant star shield to block in front of him, while simultaneously burning his essence blood, attempting to escape.

However, in the face of an absolute gap in power and attribute suppression, all struggle was futile.

The Chaos Demonic Fist smashed the star shield like dry wood, slamming heavily into Elder Silver Star's chest!

Bang!

Elder Silver Star's protective silver light annihilated like bubbles, his chest collapsed, and blood mixed with visceral fragments sprayed out wildly!

The light in his eyes faded rapidly, and his thick Star Origin began to leak and dissipate uncontrollably.

Nightmare's palm was already pressed against his crown.

"Devour."

A terrifying suction erupted.

Elder Silver Star's final Divine Soul let out a silent wail, and along with his lifelong cultivation and Origin, were madly plundered and devoured by Nightmare!

A few breaths later, Nightmare withdrew his hand.

Elder Silver Star turned into ash and dissipated, leaving only a more exquisite silver token and a few Magic Treasures to fall.

Meanwhile, the other five severely injured Silver Yan Protectors were also surrounded and killed by the Nidao Guards elites who had finished off the peripheral minions and rushed over; all of them fell.

At this moment, the explosions and shouts of killing throughout the Heavenly Derivation Palace gradually subsided.

The Nidao Guards squads had successfully destroyed the energy hub (triggering a chain reaction of explosions), ransacked the treasury, and destroyed the teleportation Formation hub.

"My Lord, all objectives have been achieved! The treasury resources have been loaded! The energy hub is expected to collapse completely in half an incense stick of time, triggering a total energy runaway on the star!" Sand Shadow's voice (via a special communication talisman) came through.

"Retreat!" Nightmare did not linger, giving the order.

The thirty Nidao Guards quickly disengaged from the battle and sped toward the rendezvous point where they had come from.

Nightmare brought up the rear, waving his hand to scatter a patch of Chaos Demonic Flame, setting the Heavenly Derivation main hall and the surrounding important buildings on fire.

The dark golden Demonic Flame spread and devoured madly among the silver-white buildings of the Heavenly Derivation Palace, intertwining with the energy turbulence that had erupted everywhere due to the destruction of the energy hub, forming an ocean of destruction.

When Nightmare and the others passed through the shield gap and returned to the Shadow Shuttle, they looked back and saw that the dazzling silver halo of Tianyan Star had been stained with an ominous dark red and pitch black by the fire and chaotic energy erupting from within.

The shrill alarms and explosions were faintly audible even in the Void Realm.

"Let's go!"

The Shadow Shuttle's engines were fully engaged, transforming into a blur invisible to the naked eye, retreating at full speed along the secret route they had come from.

Behind them, the core base of the Seventh Branch of the Tianyan Alliance was sinking into unprecedented Chaos and destruction.

And this raid by Nightmare was like a red-hot blade, stabbing fiercely into the hinterland of the Tianyan Alliance on the edge of the Middle Universe Domain.

The plundered resources, the slaughtered powerful enemies, the destroyed strongholds... all of this would turn into resources for him to climb to a higher Realm, and would also completely ignite the endless war between him and the Tianyan Alliance.

The Shadow Shuttle sped through the Void Realm, toward the direction of Nidao Fortress, and also toward a more surging future.

Nightmare sat cross-legged on the bridge, digesting the Origin of Elder Silver Star he had just devoured.

His aura of the High Sovereign Realm became increasingly solid and profound.

This was just the beginning.

The Tianyan Alliance's retaliation would surely be even more violent.

But he had long been prepared.

Nurturing war through war, proving the Dao through killing.

This was his path.