The Celestial Venerable has fallen, and the Middle-Level Domain Lord...

"Cost?"

Nightmare wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his Chaos-colored pupils burning with near-mad flames. His body trembled slightly from burning his essence blood, his aura was somewhat disordered, but his spine remained ramrod straight, like an unyielding spear.

"Old fool, do you think... you're the only one injured?"

He lowered his head and glanced at his chest. Beneath the torn fabric of his violet-gold imperial robe, a hideous wound was slowly writhing and healing. It was left behind when he forcefully resisted the backlash of the "Grandmist Judgment" and the "Heavenly Derivation Body Protection Divine Ring." Wounds inflicted by the power of a Celestial Venerable were extremely difficult to eradicate; the edges of the wound were entwined with fine golden Law threads, constantly eroding his flesh, blood, and Origin.

But within his body, the Hongmeng Chaos Reverse Dao Demonic Star Flame was like the most loyal guard, surging forward wave after wave to pounce on those golden threads, incinerating, devouring, and transforming them. Although slow, it was unwaveringly repairing his wounded body.

More importantly—that slash just now, the slash that shattered the Celestial Venerable's Body Protection Divine Ring and wounded Ying Tiandao's true form, not only brought back his opponent's blood but also... a wisp of incredibly pure Celestial Venerable Origin aura!

Although faint, it was like the most efficient catalyst, instantly igniting the desire of all the power within him!

Reverse Path was, in its essence, the Dao of plundering, devouring, and overturning!

"Your blood... tastes good." Nightmare licked his chapped lips, his smile cold and sinister.

Ying Tiandao's expression completely darkened, like ten-thousand-year-old ice. He no longer spoke, for any words seemed pale at this moment. Only the most thorough, most violent destruction could wash away the humiliation he suffered today and uphold the inviolable dignity of a Celestial Venerable!

"Since you seek death..."

Ying Tiandao slowly spread his arms. The violet-gold Dao Origin around his body, which had been collapsing inward, suddenly expanded outward! This was no longer a simple energy outburst but a triggering of deeper Universal Laws!

"This Venerable shall grant your wish."

"Heavenly Derivation Unification·Cosmic Extinction!"

As he uttered the final word, the entire starry sky seemed to dim for an instant.

Centered on Ying Tiandao, the Void within a radius of hundreds of thousands of miles suddenly became "silent." It wasn't the disappearance of sound, but rather the forced "smoothing" and "quelling" of all energy flows, Law operations, and even the vibrations of microscopic particles by an invisible, absolute power!

This was the true embryonic form of a Celestial Venerable's Domain! Within this Domain, the caster was the absolute Dominator, capable of deciding the life and death of all things and severing the cycles of Laws!

Nightmare immediately felt his connection with the external Universe drastically weaken! The various energies and fragments of shattered Laws around him, which he could previously mobilize at will, now seemed to sink into mercury, stagnant and immobile. Even the circulation of his internal Origin became sluggish and difficult, as if shackled by invisible chains.

Even more terrifying, a "Nirvana" force originating from the Law level was quietly permeating from all directions, attempting to erase the "traces" of his existence bit by bit from the most fundamental level!

This was "Cosmic Extinction"—not a direct attack, but a higher-dimensional "Existence Erasure"!

Ying Tiandao's body began to grow illusory and transparent at the Domain's center, as if merging into the "Nirvana"-tinged cosmic background. Only those cold eyes remained clear, like judgmental eyes suspended high in the Void, coldly watching Nightmare, who was about to be "quelled" within the Domain.

"It's over, Reverse Dao Practitioner." Ying Tiandao's voice came from all directions, like a sigh from the Universe itself. "Return to eternal 'Extinction.'"

Fine cracks, like those on porcelain, began to appear on Nightmare's body surface. His aura visibly weakened under the erosion of the "Cosmic Extinction" Domain.

In the distance, the Nidao Alliance members watched with eyes wide in fury and despair. Blood Fang and others frantically charged at the Domain's edge, only to be violently repelled by the invisible "Nirvana" force, spewing blood from their mouths. They could only watch in despair as their Alliance Leader's figure grew fainter and fainter in that dead silent starry sky, as if on the verge of dissipating at any moment.

However, just as Nightmare's aura weakened to a certain critical point—

His lowered head suddenly snapped up!

Within those Chaos-colored pupils, there was no fear of impending erasure, but instead, an eruption of near-ferocious ecstasy!

"Found it..."

His hoarse voice was abnormally clear in the dead silent Domain.

"The core flaw... of your 'Nirvana' Domain!"

What?! Ying Tiandao's illusory figure suddenly solidified!

Impossible! Although his "Cosmic Extinction" Domain was only embryonic, its essence was extremely high. How could a Dao Master Realm Cultivator see through it?

Nightmare offered no explanation. Nor did he need to.

Because his actions already explained everything.

He no longer attempted to resist the omnipresent "Nirvana" erosion. Instead, he actively relaxed his body, allowing those cracks to spread across him.

Then, he compressed and condensed all the remaining power within him—his Mid-stage Dao Master Realm cultivation, the resonance power of the three keys of dao reversal, the Hongmeng Chaos Reverse Dao Demonic Star Flame, the miscellaneous energy he had just devoured and transformed, and even that wisp of Celestial Venerable Origin aura from Ying Tiandao's blood!

Not condensed into an attack, nor condensed into a defense.

But condensed into a... seed.

A "Reverse Dao Seed" as black as ink, its surface flowing with chaos qi flow and Reverse Dao runes!

This "seed" contained all of Nightmare's comprehension of the Reverse Dao path, embodying the ultimate truths of "overturning," "Chaos," "devouring," and "rebirth"!

"Cosmic Extinction? All things returning to the Void?" Nightmare's lips curled into a mad grin. "Then I'll... plant a little 'Chaos' in it!"

Before the words faded, he actively released all suppression on that "Reverse Dao Seed"!

Whoosh—!

The "seed" transformed into an almost imperceptible streak of black light, not shooting towards Ying Tiandao's illusory figure, but towards a node within this "Cosmic Extinction" Domain where the energy flow seemed most "calm," most "dead silent"!

That was precisely the "Law Anchor Point"—the point where this embryonic Domain maintained its last faint connection with the external Universe and also where its power operation was most exquisite and most fragile!

"NO—!!!"

Ying Tiandao finally realized Nightmare's intention. His illusory figure let out a terrified roar, wanting to stop it, but it was already too late!

That "seed," condensed from all of Nightmare's current power and Reverse Dao truth, accurately "nailed" itself into that Law Anchor Point!

The next moment—

Pfft!

Like a perfectly operating precision instrument having a grain of scorching sand thrown into it.

That "Reverse Dao Seed" violently "germinated" inside the Law Anchor Point!

Not the growth of life, but... the rampage of rules! The collapse of order! The reversal of dead silence!

BOOM—!!!

Centered on that anchor point, the originally absolutely "Nirvana," absolutely "ordered" Domain space, like a lake surface struck by a giant boulder, instantly erupted into raging turmoil! Countless chaotic, reverse-flowing, destructive energy currents materialized out of thin air! The previously smoothed spatial folds rebounded and twisted wildly! The motion of microscopic particles shifted from absolute stillness to Rampaging and disorderly collision!

The "Cosmic Extinction" Domain began to collapse and backlash from the very core of its Laws!

"ARGH—!!!"

At the Domain's core, Ying Tiandao's illusory figure trembled violently, letting out a shrill scream! The Domain was connected to his mind and spirit. Having the Domain destroyed from within in such an overbearing, subversive manner, the backlash force instantly assailed his Celestial Venerable Origin!

He could no longer maintain that lofty, Universe-merging posture. His figure rapidly solidified, his face as pale as paper, the Dao Origin around him in disorder, and even his violet-gold imperial robe showed damage caused by energy reverse flow!

The Domain... shattered.

The starry sky regained its "clamor," with energy currents running rampant everywhere.

As for Nightmare, although his aura had plummeted to its nadir and his body was covered in cracks as if about to shatter at any moment, he still stood. In his hand, he now held a fist-sized, slowly rotating black sphere.

Within the sphere, Chaos-colored demonic flames and wispy strands of golden Celestial Venerable Origin intertwined, emitting an extreme aura of "Nirvana" and "nothingness" that seemed capable of ending everything.

This was what he had forcibly captured and condensed in the chaotic instant of the Domain's shattering and backlash explosion, using himself as the medium—a core Law fragment of the "Cosmic Extinction" Domain, mixed with his own remaining Reverse Dao Power and the scattered Origin of Ying Tiandao, forming a—one-time-use, ultimate weapon of mass destruction!

"This move... I call it..."

Nightmare raised his head, looking at the weakened, furious, and alarmed Ying Tiandao ahead, and slowly lifted the dangerous black sphere in his hand.

"Grandmist Chaos Reverse Dao·Nirvana."

His five fingers, clenched violently.

The sphere, shattered soundlessly.

There was no light, no sound, no energy storm.

Only a single 'Annihilation Ray,' as fine as a strand of hair and so utterly black it seemed capable of swallowing the very concept of 'darkness' itself, shot forth from his palm.

The ray's speed was not fast; it even gave the illusion of slowness.

But wherever it passed, space, energy, matter, even the lingering traces of Laws... all existence was silently 'erased,' leaving behind an absolute, eternal trail of 'nothingness.'

This trail shot straight towards Ying Tiandao's brow.

Ying Tiandao's pupils contracted to the size of pinpricks! He felt it! That was a power of 'erasure' more pure, more overbearing, and more unreasonable than his own 'Universe's Silence'! It even contained a mixture of his own power and that damned, all-subverting intent of Reverse Path!

'Heavenly Derivation Indestructible Body! Ten Thousand Laws...' He roared madly, mustering the last of his Origin power to activate his strongest life-preserving Divine Ability. Countless layers of violet-gold Dao patterns surfaced on his body, attempting to block.

However, before that 'Annihilation Ray,' all defenses seemed utterly laughable.

The ray, weightlessly, pierced through all the violet-gold Dao patterns and sank into Ying Tiandao's brow.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

The expression on Ying Tiandao's face froze, the terror, rage, and unwillingness in his eyes also freezing solid.

His mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but no sound emerged.

The next moment.

His body, starting from that point on his brow, disintegrated and dissipated soundlessly, like a sand sculpture weathered by time.

Not an explosion, not combustion, but the most thorough... erasure of existence.

Flesh, blood, bones, Meridians, Divine Soul, Origin power, even all the life imprints and Karma traces he had left in this Universe... everything, under the power of that 'Annihilation Ray,' returned to the most primitive state of 'non-existence.'

Ying Tiandao, Alliance Leader of the Tianyan Alliance, Early Stage Celestial Venerable Realm—

Fallen.

Body and soul annihilated, not a trace remaining.

Only a dimly glowing violet-gold token (the Tianyan Alliance Leader's Token) and a few spiritless personal treasures drifted down from where he had dissipated.

The starry sky was deathly silent.

All those still alive, whether the surviving Cultivators of Tianyan Star or the followers of the Nidao Alliance, were as if petrified by a spell. They stared blankly at the spot where Ying Tiandao had vanished, their minds utterly blank.

A Celestial Venerable... is dead?

Killed head-on, completely erased, by a Mid-stage Dao Master Realm Cultivator?

This exceeded the scope of their understanding, overturning all their perceptions of power hierarchies!

*Thud!*

Nightmare knelt on one knee in the void, coughing violently. Large mouthfuls of dark golden blood mixed with fragments of internal organs gushed from his mouth. Executing that final strike had almost drained the last of his strength, and his body was on the verge of collapse. But he forced himself to remain upright, refusing to fall.

With a trembling hand, he summoned the drifting Tianyan Alliance Leader's Token and the few treasures into his grasp.

Then, he raised his head. His gaze, cold, exhausted, yet still containing boundless killing intent, swept towards the distant Tianyan Star, which had fallen into complete silence and panic due to its leader's demise, and further beyond, towards the other powers of the Middle Universe Domain who were secretly observing this decisive battle through hidden means.

His voice, weak yet resonating like a final death knell, boomed through this Star Domain via his remaining Divine Thought power, reaching the ears of every being observing this place:

'The Tianyan Alliance Leader is dead. The Tianyan Alliance... falls today.'

'From this moment forth, the Middle Universe Domain...'

'Shall be ruled by my 'Nidao Alliance.'

'Those who submit shall share in resources and Legacies.'

'Those who oppose...'

He paused, his gaze shifting towards the general directions of the starry sky where the Thunder Fire Domain, the Ice Seal Domain, and the Myriad Beast Domain lay. Word by word, his voice icy and piercing:

'Will be pursued and exterminated, no matter the distance.'

As the words fell, they struck the hearts of every faction leader who heard them like a hammer weighing billions of jun.

After a brief, deathly silence.

The first to react were the remnants of some fringe forces originally attached to the Tianyan Alliance, located closest. Almost without hesitation, they tore through space or piloted star vessels, fleeing in panic towards Nightmare's location. From afar, they knelt and prostrated in the void, expressing their submission in the most servile posture.

Immediately after, from the directions of the Thunder Fire Domain, the Ice Seal Domain, and the Myriad Beast Domain, communication rune lights representing the highest authority almost simultaneously lit up. Three powerful yet distinctly fearful and compromising Divine Thought fluctuations crossed the vast starry distance:

'The Thunder Fire Domain... is willing to honor the Nidao Alliance as its master! The Domain's resources are at the Alliance Leader's disposal!'

'The Ice Seal Domain... submits!'

'The Myriad Beast Domain... dares not oppose the Alliance Leader! We offer seventy percent of the Domain's treasures, begging only for the Alliance Leader's forgiveness for our previous offense!'

Having witnessed the fall of the Tianyan Alliance and the demise of a Celestial Venerable, the three major overlord forces had completely lost all courage to resist.

Nightmare did not respond to these submissive Divine Thoughts. Struggling to his feet, he spoke to Blood Fang and a few Nidao Guards in slightly better condition who had managed to fly over:

'Take people... and take over all core areas of Tianyan Star. Inventory the resources. Suppress any resistance.'

'Yes... Alliance Leader!' Blood Fang's voice trembled with extreme excitement as he hastily accepted the order, leading his troops like a tide towards the metal star that had lost its master.

Supported by two Nidao Guards, Nightmare slowly flew towards Tianyan Star. He did not enter the planet's interior but instead arrived at the very top of the former Tianyan Alliance headquarters complex—a violet-gold palace floating above the planet's energetic atmosphere.

He walked into the empty main hall and sat upon the Celestial Venerable's throne that had belonged to Ying Tiandao.

It felt cold to the touch.

He closed his eyes and began to fully operate the 'Grandmist Reverse Dao Scripture,' mobilizing the Hongmeng Chaos Reverse Dao Demonic Star Flame to repair the near-destructive injuries within his body while digesting the insights and gains from this battle.

Destroying the Tianyan Alliance, slaying a Celestial Venerable, unifying the Middle Universe Domain... all this brought not just a surge in power and resources, but also a convergence of 'momentum' and a confirmation of his 'Dao.' He felt the Bottleneck at his Mid-stage Dao Master Realm was already loosening.

An unknown amount of time later, when he opened his eyes again, the cracks on his body had mostly healed. His aura, though still weak, had stabilized and even seemed a fraction more refined than before the battle.

He stood up, walked to the edge of the palace, and looked down upon the metal star below, now fully under the Nidao Alliance's control and being reshaped according to his will.

'From today on, this place is no longer called Tianyan Star.'

He murmured softly to himself.

'It shall be called... Reverse Dao Star.'

'This is the headquarters from which the Grandmist Reverse Dao Alliance shall rule the Middle Universe Domain.'

As the words fell, with a slight thought, a ray of chaotic-colored light containing his will shot from his fingertip and sank into the planet's core control rune array.

Soon, the pale golden energetic atmosphere enveloping the entire 'Reverse Dao Star' began to slowly change color, gradually transforming into a deep hue of dark red and Chaos interwoven, as if capable of devouring starlight. The runes and structures on the planet's surface representing the Tianyan Alliance also began to crumble and reshape under an invisible force, engraved with the ferocious emblem of the Nidao Alliance.

Having done this, Nightmare's gaze turned towards the deeper reaches of the starry sky, towards the... High Universe Domain, vaster than the Middle Universe Domain, with higher energy levels, and where danger and opportunity grew exponentially.

The mark on the back of his hand, originating from the Ancient Reverse Dao Stele, suddenly grew slightly warm. A vague yet tantalizing piece of information emerged from the depths of the mark:

**'The Reverse Dao Legacy, the path is not ended... High Universe Domain, 'Origin Star Sea'... the source of Reverse Dao...'**

Nightmare clenched his fist, feeling the slowly recovering yet increasingly pure and powerful strength within him. The corner of his mouth slowly curved into a cold, expectant arc.

The Middle Universe Domain was now within his grasp.

But this was far from the end.

'Origin Star Sea... High Universe Domain...'

'Wait for me.'

He turned and walked back into the hall. In the time to come, he needed to fully consolidate the resources and forces of the Middle Universe Domain, forge the Nidao Alliance into a true war machine, and simultaneously... recover from his injuries as soon as possible, assault the Late Stage of the Dao Master Realm, and even... touch the threshold of the Celestial Venerable Realm.

Then, it would be time to advance onto a higher stage.

Reverse Dao Star, this newborn overlord star, rotated slowly in the cold starry void, emitting a chaotic and majestic light that illuminated this Star Domain, freshly baptized by blood and death, now poised to welcome a new order and the flames of war.