The struggle for the Dao Palace, the purge by Tianyan

Stepping into the direction indicated by the token, the nebula before their eyes suddenly collapsed inward and rotated, forming a brief, bizarre vortex passageway.

After a slight sense of spacetime displacement, everyone found their feet on solid ground, and the surrounding scene had already changed drastically.

Behind them was the entrance light screen that was slowly closing and reverting into a rolling nebula.

In front of them, however, was a scene of grandeur and antiquity that defied description.

This place seemed to be a Secret Realm space opened up separately, independent of the outside Universe.

The sky was not the pitch-black void, but a pale purple color akin to the dawn of Chaos, within which flowed visible Grandmist Origin spiritual mist, condensed into liquid or gas, colorful and ever-changing.

The ground was not ordinary soil or rock, but composed of a certain kind of warm, jade-like, yet indestructible Chaos-colored crystal.

The outlines of mountains and rivers were vaguely discernible, yet all emitted a rich Dao Rhyme and spiritual light.

The concentration of Origin in the air was suffocatingly high; with every breath, it felt as if pure energy was pouring directly into the limbs and bones, nourishing the Origin core.

Even more profound was that a kind of ancient, vast "Dao Rhyme," seemingly from the beginning of the Universe's creation, remained in the space.

Just being in it made one's practiced Cultivation Technique and insights into the Grandmist Law show signs of loosening.

This was the first layer of the "Primordial Dao Palace"; even just the entrance area already displayed its extraordinary nature.

The ten Nidao Guards took a deep breath, their faces showing shock and greed.

Cultivating here for one day was probably worth months of bitter cultivation in the outside world!

No wonder existences like the Tianyan Alliance leader could never forget this place.

Nightmare's gaze, however, did not linger too long on these external scenes.

He held the access token, which was slightly heating up, continuously resonating with this space, guiding him in the direction while emitting a faint halo that enveloped everyone—this halo could, to a certain extent, resist the omnipresent, chaotic, yet powerful ancient Restriction pressure within the Dao Palace.

"Inside the Dao Palace, there are many Restrictions, and the spatial structure might also be abnormal. Follow me closely and do not touch anything that looks extraordinary," Nightmare ordered in a deep voice, while his Divine Sense spread out cautiously like the most precise radar.

Although the token's halo could resist most Restriction pressures, he still needed to be vigilant against those hidden killing formations or traps.

He led the way toward the direction indicated by the token, where the Dao Rhyme was relatively more concentrated and the Origin Spiritual Qi was becoming increasingly viscous.

From that direction, faint energy fluctuations were vaguely coming, which seemed... not naturally formed.

Everyone moved forward for about half an hour, passing through a "forest" composed of crystal-clear Chaos crystal clusters.

Ahead, it suddenly opened up, revealing a flat valley several miles in radius.

In the center of the valley was not a crystal ground, but a "pond" about a hundred feet in diameter.

However, what rippled in the pond was not clear water, but pure Grandmist Origin spiritual liquid completely in liquid form, presenting a seven-colored glazed luster!

As the spiritual liquid rolled, it emitted a rich vitality and Dao Rhyme that made even the Divine Soul feel comfortable; just a little bit of the Aura escaping made everyone feel that their cultivation Bottleneck had loosened.

"Ancient Origin Spring!" A knowledgeable Nidao Guard exclaimed, a burning light appearing in his eyes.

This kind of naturally formed, highly concentrated Origin spiritual liquid was a priceless treasure; whether it was directly absorbed for cultivation or used for Alchemy and Artifact Refining, it had miraculous effects!

However, at this moment, this Origin Spring was not empty.

Six figures dressed in the silver-bottomed, purple-patterned attire of the Tianyan Alliance were surrounding the edge of the spiritual spring.

Five of them, whose cultivation was at the Peak of the Middle-level Sovereign Realm, were holding specially made Jade Bottle Magic Treasures, carefully drawing the Origin spiritual liquid from the pool, with uncontrollable excitement on their faces.

The leader, whose Aura was significantly more powerful and had a faint purple hue flowing around him, was actually a Cultivator at the Early Stage of the High Hongmeng Lord Realm!

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze scanning the spiritual spring as if evaluating its value and the difficulty of extraction, with a hint of the reserve and indifference belonging to a superior in his brows.

This Tianyan Alliance exploration team had clearly entered the Dao Palace earlier than Nightmare and his group and had luckily found this treasure land.

The appearance of Nightmare's group did not deliberately hide their Aura (which was also difficult to completely hide in the special environment of the Dao Palace), immediately causing the other party's vigilance.

"Hmm?" The High Sovereign Realm Cultivator who was the leader turned his head first, his gaze like electricity, instantly locking onto Nightmare and the others who had walked out of the crystal cluster forest.

When he saw the access token emitting special fluctuations in Nightmare's hand, a flash of surprise first crossed his eyes, which then turned into cold sharpness and... a hint of imperceptible greed.

"Access token?" He muttered to himself, and then a cold arc curled up at the corner of his mouth, "I didn't expect that besides my Tianyan Alliance, there would be outsiders who could obtain this Opportunity. However... this is the end."

He clearly regarded Nightmare and the others as "lucky ones" or competitors who had accidentally obtained the token and broken into this place.

In such a Secret Realm, killing people and seizing treasures was normal.

Moreover, the token in the opponent's hand was itself an extremely valuable treasure.

"You guys, stop." He said lightly, his voice carrying the majesty of a High Sovereign, which reached the ears of the five subordinates who were drawing spiritual liquid.

The five Middle-level Sovereign Realm Peak Cultivators immediately stopped their actions and looked at Nightmare's group vigilantly.

When they sensed the obscure Aura on Nightmare that also belonged to a High Sovereign, their expressions changed, but seeing their own leader there, they quickly calmed down, and unkind light appeared in their eyes.

"Who are you? This place has already been discovered and occupied by our Tianyan Alliance first." The leading High Sovereign Cultivator stepped forward, seemingly polite, but actually aggressive in tone, "If you are sensible, leave the token in your hand, as well as all the storage Magic Treasures on your body, and perhaps we can spare your lives and you can leave the Dao Palace immediately. Otherwise..."

His gaze swept over the ten Nidao Guards behind Nightmare, and killing intent flashed in his eyes, "This place will be the place of your burial. It is just right to use your blood to water this Origin Spring."

Naked threats and plunder were the consistent style of the Tianyan Alliance, especially in this ancient Secret Realm with no supervision.

The ten Nidao Guards felt anger rising in their eyes upon hearing this, but they were well-disciplined and still held their weapons tightly, waiting for Nightmare's orders.

Nightmare watched the other party quietly, his face devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as if looking at a group of hyenas barking at a tiger.

His gaze swept over the six people, especially lingering for a moment on the face of the High Sovereign Cultivator.

"Tianyan Alliance?" Nightmare finally spoke, his voice so plain that it didn't carry a trace of emotion, "Really... everywhere I go, I can smell this disgusting stench."

"Presumptuous!" A Middle-level Sovereign Realm Peak Cultivator of the Tianyan Alliance shouted angrily, "How dare you be disrespectful to Protector Purple Scale! You are courting death!"

The High Sovereign Cultivator known as Protector Purple Scale also sank his face: "It seems that you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Very well, this Protector will personally send you on your way. Your High Sovereign Origin will surely add a bit of luster to my Origin Jade Bottle!"

He stopped talking nonsense, clearly believing that his side occupied an absolute advantage (one High Sovereign plus five Peak Middle-level Sovereigns, dealing with one High Sovereign plus ten Early Stage Peak, looked like a crush no matter how you looked at it).

His eyes sharpened, and he ordered sternly: "Kill! Leave no one alive! I want that token and the Origin!"

Before the voice fell, the purple Aura around him soared, and a majestic Aura belonging to a High Sovereign mixed with the unique star Aura of the Tianyan Alliance rolled toward Nightmare and the others like an angry wave!

At the same time, his right hand grabbed, and a long sword flashing with purple scale-like light appeared in his hand, pointing directly at Nightmare!

And those five Middle-level Sovereign Realm Peak Cultivators had also been ready to go; the moment they received the order, they erupted simultaneously!

They cooperated tacitly, clearly often joining forces to fight against enemies; the five people's Origins were faintly connected, turning into five sharp rays of light of different colors, attacking the Nidao Guards behind Nightmare from different angles, trying to first cut off the wings, and then join forces to besiege Nightmare!

Facing this sudden siege, cold light shone brightly in Nightmare's eyes.

"Stubborn."

He did not even look at the Purple Scaled Protector charging over with an aggressive Aura; he merely raised his left hand toward the five Peak Middle Sovereign Cultivators rushing at him, his fingers slightly spread.

"Hongmeng Reverse Dao Demonic Star Flame — Nebula Burial!"

As his mind moved, the Chaos Demonic Flame, which had long been ready, erupted from his palm! But this time, the Demonic Flame did not condense into a beam or a sea of fire; instead, it instantly split and spread, transforming into a slowly rotating dark golden nebula that covered a large area in front of him!

This nebula looked beautiful, yet it contained extreme destruction and devouring power! Within the nebula, countless tiny dark golden stardust vortexes spun crazily, emitting silent roars!

The five Peak Middle Sovereign Cultivators who rushed into the nebula's range had the ferocity on their faces instantly freeze, turning into endless terror! They felt as if they had crashed into a viscous cosmic swamp filled with chaotic, tearing forces! Their Protective Auras shattered like eggshells, and their famous Divine Abilities, once entering the nebula, were like clay oxen entering the sea, easily torn apart and devoured by countless stardust vortexes! Even more terrifyingly, their Origin began to leak uncontrollably, being crazily plundered by that eerie nebula!

"No—!" "Protector, save me!" "This flame... ah—!" The shrill screams sounded briefly and then stopped abruptly.

In just the time of a single breath.

The dark golden nebula slowly contracted, returning to Nightmare's palm. On the spot, those five Peak Middle Sovereign Tianyan Alliance Cultivators had vanished without a trace, not even leaving a speck of ash behind. Only five charred Storage Rings and a few Magical Artifacts that had lost their spiritual luster fell to the ground with a clatter.

Instant kill! Five Peak Middle Sovereigns, under Nightmare's casual strike, were completely wiped out, their Divine Souls destroyed!

The Purple Scaled Protector, who was just about to attack, felt the killing intent and arrogance on his face instantly freeze, turning into boundless shock and disbelief! He... he didn't even see how the other party attacked! Five elite subordinates, just like that, gone?!

A cold chill instantly shot from his tailbone to his crown!

"Who... who exactly are you?!" The Purple Scaled Protector's voice was slightly distorted. He stared fixedly at Nightmare, especially at the slowly extinguishing dark golden nebula in his palm, his eyes filled with fear. This kind of flame, this kind of power... he had never seen it, nor had he ever heard of it! To be able to so easily kill five Peak Middle Sovereigns in an instant? This was definitely not something an ordinary Early Stage High Sovereign could do!

Nightmare slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the Purple Scaled Protector, his eyes looking as if he were looking at a dead man.

"Now, it's your turn."

Before the words had even finished, Nightmare's figure had already vanished from where he stood.

The Purple Scaled Protector was terrified, his High Sovereign instinct making him crazily stimulate his Origin. A purple scale-like light armor instantly covered his entire body, and the long sword in his hand erupted with dazzling purple light, slashing wildly in front of him, attempting to block Nightmare's attack route!

However, Nightmare appeared eerily at his side, less than three feet away! His speed was so fast it exceeded the Purple Scaled Protector's Divine Sense perception!

"So fast!" the Purple Scaled Protector screamed in his heart, twisting his body in a rush, changing his sword move to a horizontal slash!

But Nightmare's movements were faster! His right index finger, burning with Chaos Demonic Flame, seemed to have traversed space, arriving first despite starting later, and lightly tapped on the pulse point of the Purple Scaled Protector's sword-holding wrist!

Ssh! A speck of dark golden spark sank in.

The Purple Scaled Protector only felt an indescribable, intense pain and numbness from his wrist, as if the vitality and Origin connection of his entire arm had been instantly severed! The purple long sword flew out of his hand!

"Ugh ah!" He screamed, his body retreating violently, his eyes filled with absolute horror. A single strike, and it crippled his sword-wielding hand?!

Nightmare followed like a shadow, his left hand forming a blade with his fingers, the dark golden Demonic Flame condensing into a foot-long sharp edge at his fingertips, stabbing directly at the Purple Scaled Protector's mouth, which was slightly agape from terror, targeting his Divine Soul core!

The shadow of death completely enveloped him!

The Purple Scaled Protector could no longer care about face or missions; he crazily burned his essence blood, the purple scale armor on his body shining brightly, attempting to hard-resist this strike. At the same time, he opened his mouth and spat out a condensed purple life-essence, which turned into a small shield blocking in front of him, while his body desperately fled backward!

"Want to escape?" Nightmare's eyes were cold, the sharp edge at his fingertips not slowing down, easily piercing through that small life-essence shield, his speed suddenly increasing by another thirty percent!

Puchi! The sharp edge stabbed in from the Purple Scaled Protector's wide-open mouth and pierced out from the back of his head!

The Purple Scaled Protector's body stiffened suddenly, his eyes bulging, filled with endless fear, regret, and confusion. He could feel a cold, dead, and chaotic force carrying the will to destroy everything rampaging and detonating wildly within his Sea of Consciousness and Origin core!

Nightmare's palm had already pressed onto the top of his head. "Devour."

The Chaos Demonic Flame surged in along his palm, the devouring power of a High Sovereign fully unleashed!

The Purple Scaled Protector's last Divine Soul emitted a silent wail, and his pure High-level Origin, carrying the characteristics of stars and scales, along with his life imprint that had not yet completely dissipated, surged crazily into Nightmare's body like a burst river!

After a few breaths, Nightmare withdrew his palm. The Purple Scaled Protector had fallen, turning into a cloud of purple crystal dust that drifted away in the rich Spiritual Qi of the Dao Palace.

The battle, from start to finish, lasted only a short dozen or so breaths. A Tianyan Alliance elite exploration team led by a High Sovereign and composed of five Peak Middle Sovereigns had been completely wiped out.

The ten Nidao Guards only exhaled slowly at this moment, their gazes toward Nightmare filled with fanaticism and awe. His Excellency's strength was simply unfathomable!

Nightmare casually collected the storage treasures left behind by the Purple Scaled Protector and the five Cultivators, his gaze falling on the ancient Origin Spring that was still rippling with seven-colored luster.

He walked to the edge of the pool and reached out to scoop up a handful of spiritual liquid. The incomparably pure Origin power, containing ancient Dao rhythms, surged into his body along his palm, causing his Chaos Return to Ruins Core, which had just devoured the Purple Scaled Protector's Origin, to tremble slightly, sending a feeling of comfort and satisfaction.

"It is indeed a good thing," Nightmare nodded. "You ten, Cultivate here by the pool, absorb the spiritual liquid, stabilize your cultivation, and strive for a Breakthrough. I will act as your Protector."

"Yes! Thank you, Your Excellency!" The ten Nidao Guards were overjoyed and quickly sat cross-legged by the pool, circulating their energy to absorb the pure spiritual liquid. Such an Opportunity was rare and hard to come by!

Nightmare walked to the side and began to count his spoils of war, especially the Storage Rings of the Purple Scaled Protector and the five Cultivators. A High Sovereign's collection should not disappoint him.

Very quickly, he discovered a Jade Slip in the ring that recorded exploration insights and a map of part of the Dao Palace—an Exploration Note. He submerged his Divine Sense into it.

The notes recorded that this team had entered the Dao Palace for several days, explored part of the first floor, discovered this Origin Spring, and were preparing to go deeper into the second floor to search for more precious "Ancient Dao Pattern Stones" and the potentially existing "Legacy Hall." The notes also mentioned that the Tianyan Alliance had sent more than one exploration team into the Dao Palace this time, led by a more powerful "Elder Jinyan." Currently, many teams were already scattered across various floors, and some teams might have even attempted to enter the deeper third floor.

"Elder Jinyan..." Nightmare noted this name. To be able to make the Purple Scaled Protector mention him with awe in the notes, he was likely at least at the Middle Stage of the High Sovereign Realm, or even the Late Stage.

He put away the notes and looked toward the deeper parts of the Dao Palace, where mist swirled and it seemed to have no end. His eyes were cold.

Tianyan Alliance... truly persistent like ghosts.

Very well. In this ancient Dao Palace, there are no rules, only strength and weakness. Then let's see who can survive to take away the Opportunity here, and who will become whose stepping stone to climb to higher Peaks.

He sat down cross-legged, acting as a Protector for his subordinates while digesting the newly obtained exploration information. At the same time, his perception spread silently toward the depths of the Dao Palace like invisible tentacles.

The hunt has only just begun. And the identities of prey and hunter, in this perilous ancient Dao Palace, can be swapped at any moment.