Three levels of competition, Dao Lord realm appears.

The Dao Palace third-layer access Jade Talisman glowed slightly in Nightmare's palm, resonating with the Void Realm before him.

Ripples like water waves appeared in the air, and the outline of a bronze gate, older and heavier than the second-layer stone gate, slowly emerged.

There were no extra patterns on the gate, only a giant 'Reverse' character carved into it, the strokes sharp and fierce, as if hacked out by blades.

Nightmare pressed the Jade Talisman against the center of the 'Reverse' character.

Hum—

The bronze giant gate opened silently inward, and a breath of Origin far richer and purer than the first and second layers rushed toward him.

It wasn't dispersed but condensed, like the breathing of a sleeping giant beast.

Nightmare stepped inside.

The third-layer space was smaller than expected, more like a huge circular hall.

There was no ground in the center of the hall, only a slowly rotating pitch-black nebula.

And directly above the nebula, a fist-sized dark gold crystal core floated quietly.

Liquid-like Reverse Path patterns flowed on the surface of the crystal core, each pattern seemingly containing the power to subvert Law.

With just one glance, the Hongmeng Reverse Dao Demonic Star Flame within Nightmare boiled autonomously, transmitting a strong desire.

'Dao Reversal Origin crystal core...' Nightmare's eyes narrowed slightly.

One of the core resources of the Dao Palace, a supreme treasure that could make a Reverse Path Cultivator's strength skyrocket.

Good stuff.

Just as he was about to step forward, an old yet cold voice sounded from beside the crystal core:

'A Reverse Path freak, you dare to covet the ancient Legacy?'

The space twisted, and an old man wearing dark Dao robes with white hair and beard appeared out of thin air.

The old man's face was withered, but his eyes were frighteningly bright, and the aura around him was restrained but made the air in the entire hall stagnate slightly.

Dao Master Realm.

Although it was only the Early Stage, that pressure of the 'Dao' which surpassed the Dominator Realm already weighed on Nightmare's shoulders like an invisible mountain.

'An Elder of the Tianyan Alliance?' Nightmare raised an eyebrow, his tone devoid of fluctuation.

'Since you know this seat's identity, why not kneel and accept death?'

The old man—the Tianyan Alliance Elder—locked his gaze like lightning onto Nightmare, 'Daring to kill my Tianyan Alliance's people and break into our alliance's must-have Legacy land, your crime deserves the punishment of eternal Divine Soul refinement!'

Before the words fell, he raised his right hand and pressed it forward in the void.

There was no grand momentum, no brilliant light, but an invisible and intangible 'Dao Master Realm Origin pressure' that seemed capable of crushing everything had already descended upon Nightmare like a collapsing sky!

Crack, crack, crack—

The ground under Nightmare's feet instantly cracked with spiderweb-like patterns.

An ordinary High Sovereign Realm Cultivator would likely have their Origin solidified and be unable to move under this pressure.

'Dao Master Realm... indeed a bit interesting.'

Nightmare laughed instead.

Within his body, the three keys of dao reversal—the Origin cores that had accompanied him since the beginning of his Transmigration—vibrated simultaneously!

Hum! Hum! Hum!

Three invisible Reverse Path ripples radiated from his body, blending with the Hongmeng Reverse Dao Demonic Star Flame.

The pitch-black flames surged violently, no longer just burning, but transforming into a sea of flames flowing against the current, actively colliding with the incoming Dao Master pressure!

Boom—!

The two forces collided, and the hall shook violently.

The pitch-black flames and the invisible pressure intertwined and tore at each other, actually holding a stalemate three zhang above Nightmare's head!

'What?!' The Tianyan Alliance Elder's pupils shrank.

A Dominator Realm Cultivator could actually confront Dao Master pressure head-on?

'The three keys of dao reversal resonating... You are indeed the remnant of the ancient Reverse Path!' The Elder's killing intent surged in his eyes, 'Then I can't leave you alive even more!'

He no longer held back, his withered hands forming a complex Dao seal, and his Dao Master Realm Origin surged madly, condensing into a giant palm that covered half the hall in front of him.

The palm lines were as clear as gullies, and phantom images of the sun, moon, and stars were born and destroyed in the palm, as if one palm could evolve the collapse of a Small World.

'Tianyan Dao Master Palm—Suppress!'

The giant palm pressed down, and the space wherever it passed shattered inch by inch, revealing the chaotic Void Realm turbulence behind it.

This palm had already touched the level of 'Dao' and was far from comparable to Dominator Realm Divine Ability.

Nightmare looked up, Demonic Flame dancing in his eyes.

He did not retreat but instead took a step forward.

His right fist clenched tightly, and all the Demonic Flame in his body surged, collapsed, and condensed into his fist, instantly forming a 'Reverse Path Demonic Star Core' the size of a fist, yet so pitch-black that it swallowed all light.

Without shouting or building momentum, he met the sky-covering giant palm and punched out.

Fist out, core explosion.

Boom—!!!!!!!

The pitch-black destructive ripples collided with the Dao Master palm force, and the entire hall was instantly submerged by dazzling energy turbulence.

The shockwave turned into tangible rings and swept across everything; the four walls of the hall lit up with countless ancient defense runes, barely managing to hold up without being blown away directly.

The nebula vibrated, and the Reverse Path Origin crystal core in the center shook slightly.

In the energy turbulence, the Tianyan Alliance Elder let out a muffled groan and took half a step back, disbelief flashing in his eyes.

His palm was actually... blocked head-on by a Dominator Realm brat?

Just as his mind was slightly shaken—

Nightmare's figure appeared behind him like a ghost.

'Old thing, are you done?'

The cold voice sounded right against his ear.

The Elder's hair stood on end, his Dao Master Realm instinct pushed to the limit, and his body-protecting Dao Origin instantly condensed into a golden Dao shield behind him.

Chi—!

Nightmare's right hand, wrapped in condensed Demonic Flame, had already pierced straight into the Dao shield like a red-hot knife.

The Demonic Flame and Dao Origin eroded each other fiercely, emitting a tooth-aching sizzling sound.

The Dao shield became thinner and dimmer at a speed visible to the naked eye.

'How is it possible... what kind of flame is this?!' The Elder turned his head in horror, only to meet a pair of cold, ruthless eyes.

'The thing that sends you on your way.'

Nightmare's left hand suddenly reached out, his five fingers like hooks, fiercely locking onto the Elder's back heart.

The Demonic Flame surged madly through his five fingers!

'Ugh, ahhh—!'

The Elder let out a shrill scream.

He felt his Dao Master Realm Origin, which he had cultivated for ten thousand years, being crazily devoured and plundered by that strange black flame!

A tearing pain came from his Origin core, and his cultivation plummeted madly like a flood breaking a dam.

'No... no!! I am a Dao Master... how could I...'

'Dao Master?' Nightmare leaned close to his ear, his voice as light as a whisper, 'You'll be a dead man soon.'

The Demonic Flame blade in his right hand twisted violently!

Puchi!

The golden Dao shield shattered completely.

The Demonic Flame blade pierced through the Elder's back heart and emerged from his chest, bringing out a spray of burning golden blood mist.

The Elder's body twitched violently, and the luster in his eyes faded rapidly.

He wanted to self-destruct his core, but found that his Origin had already been eroded by the Demonic Flame into tatters, making even self-destruction impossible.

Nightmare pulled out his hand, and the Elder's corpse fell softly to the ground.

A golden Divine Soul at the center of his eyebrows had just tried to escape when it was caught up by a wisp of Demonic Flame and instantly burned into nothingness.

Dao Master Realm Early Stage, Tianyan Alliance Elder—fallen.

Nightmare shook the blood flames off his hand and walked to the floating Reverse Path Origin crystal core, reaching out to grasp it.

The crystal core was warm to the touch, and the majestic Reverse Path Origin inside surged into his body along his arm, blending with the Hongmeng Reverse Dao Demonic Star Flame like water and milk.

[Ding! Detected Reverse Path Origin crystal core (complete). Can impact Dao Master Realm after absorption. Absorb?]

The System prompt sounded in his mind.

'No rush.' Nightmare put away the crystal core.

Now was not the time for a Breakthrough; there were more important things on the fourth layer of the Dao Palace.

He glanced at the Elder's corpse, and a storage ring and a Tianyan Alliance Elder token flew into his hand automatically.

Scanning with his Divine Thought, besides a large amount of resources, there were also several intelligence Jade Slips about the fourth layer and the top layer of the Dao Palace.

'Nidao Guards.'

'Present.' Several black shadows emerged from behind him.

'You stay here and clean up the traces.'

'Yes.'

Nightmare walked toward the depths of the hall.

There, a rotating staircase led to a higher place—the fourth layer of the Dao Palace, the core area of the Legacy.

As he walked, he absorbed a trace of the Origin leaking from the edge of the crystal core.

His cultivation within him solidified by a fraction, visible to the naked eye.

'Dao Master Realm... soon.'

Footsteps echoed on the empty staircase, gradually moving away.