Establishing a foothold in the inland region, its influence is shaken.

Chixue City, Nidao Alliance main hall.

Nightmare sat in the main seat, with the core members of the Nidao Vanguard Army standing below.

Everyone's face was filled with irrepressible excitement—from slaughtering their way out of the Black Wind Desert to Chixue City, and then destroying the Zhennan Branch, in just half a month, they had laid down a foundation they once dared not even dream of.

"Master, this is the list of all resources brought back from the Zhennan Branch." The Deputy respectfully presented a Jade Slip.

Nightmare swept his Divine Sense across it.

127,000 high-level origin crystals.

300 bottles of Hunyuan Celestial Venerable Realm Medicinal Pill.

47 pieces of Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm Materials.

Countless Magic Treasures, Formation Flags, and Legacy Jade Slips.

"Distribute them according to merit." Nightmare threw the Jade Slip back. "The core members of the Vanguard Army come first, followed by the ordinary members. Within three days, I want to see the overall combat power rise by another level."

"Yes!"

As resources were distributed, the entire Chixue City boiled over.

Those old subordinates who had originally fought their way out of the Black Wind Desert now saw their cultivation levels soar.

More than twenty members at the Early Stage Hunyuan Celestial Venerable Realm broke through to the Middle Stage under the pile of resources.

Fifty members at the Peak Celestial Venerable Realm broke through their Bottleneck, stepping into the Hunyuan Celestial Venerable Realm.

Even the ordinary members broke through at least a small Realm.

The average combat power of the entire Nidao Vanguard Army officially entered the threshold of the Hunyuan Celestial Venerable Realm.

"Not enough." Nightmare looked at the training grounds outside the hall, where a dense crowd of Cultivators were practicing hard.

"Pass down the order: the Chixue Sect and the three small cities surrounding the Zhennan Branch are all to be placed under our jurisdiction. Establish the 'Inland Vanguard Prefecture' to coordinate all defense."

"Understood!"

The order was passed down, and three thousand-man troops set off immediately.

Those three small cities were originally dependencies of the Chixue Sect and the Zhennan Branch. Now that the main sect had been destroyed, most of the garrison had already fled.

The Nidao Vanguard Army took over the cities without shedding blood and planted the black flame flags.

Thus, with Chixue City as the center, an area of five hundred miles fell under the control of the Nidao Alliance.

Three days later, at noon.

Nightmare stood at the highest point of Chixue City—the top of the watchtower that originally belonged to the Chixue Sect.

He closed his eyes, and the power of his Divine Soul spread out like a tide.

A hundred miles, a thousand miles, three thousand miles...

When the coverage reached five thousand miles, he spoke.

His voice was not loud, but through Divine Soul sound transmission, it clearly entered the ears of every Cultivator in this area:

"The Zhennan Branch has been destroyed. The area around Chixue City is now under the jurisdiction of my Nidao Alliance."

The voice was calm but carried unquestionable majesty.

"Those who submit to me will share resources and seek the Dao together."

"Those who oppose me, even if they are far away, will be executed."

He paused for a breath, then the final sentence:

"If anyone dares to collude with the Hongmeng Divine Court, they will be punished with the same crime."

The transmission ended.

Throughout the inland edge, within a five-thousand-mile range, all forces and all Loose Cultivators heard it.

A deathly silence.

Then, it exploded.

"The Zhennan Branch... destroyed?!"

"Impossible! The Zhennan Branch has a Late Stage Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm venerable sitting in charge, and the Zhennan Divine Court formation, how could it be destroyed!"

"But the strength of that Divine Soul transmission just now... it is definitely above the Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm!"

"I recognize that voice! It's Nightmare! That fiend who slaughtered his way from the Black Wind Desert!"

Panic, shock, confusion, fear... various emotions spread among the various forces.

But some forces reacted quickly.

That evening, five teams arrived outside Chixue City almost simultaneously.

They came from five different directions, representing five different forces.

Each team had only three to five people, and the leaders were the Sect Masters or Elders of each force.

The highest cultivation level was the Middle Stage Hunyuan Celestial Venerable Realm, and the lowest was only the Early Stage Hunyuan Celestial Venerable Realm.

"City Lord of Xuefeng City, Feng Wuya, requests an audience with Master Nightmare!"

"Sect Leader of the Iron Bone Sect, Iron Frenzy, brings my disciples to submit!"

"Valley Master of Lingxi Valley, Fairy Stream Moon, is willing to lead the entire valley to submit to the Nidao Alliance!"

"Leader of the Black Sand Gang..."

"Sect Master of the Qingmu Sect..."

The five forces were all small to medium-sized, originally attached to the Zhennan Branch or the Chixue Sect.

Now that their backer had fallen, they made their choice immediately—submission.

Nightmare received them in the main hall.

The five people knelt in the hall, foreheads touching the ground, their posture humble.

"Raise your heads." Nightmare said faintly.

The five raised their heads cautiously. When they saw the figure on the main seat, faintly burning with black-gray flames, their hearts trembled.

That kind of coercion... was even more terrifying than the Zhennan Venerable!

"Speak," Nightmare leaned back in his chair, "Why choose to submit?"

Feng Wuya spoke first: "Replying to Master, we... just want to survive. The Nidao Alliance swept through the Chixue Sect and destroyed the Zhennan Branch; its strength is no longer something we can contend with. Rather than being destroyed, it is better to submit voluntarily, perhaps we can fight for a path to survival."

Very straightforward, and very realistic.

The other four echoed him.

Nightmare looked at them for a while, then suddenly laughed.

That smile made the five feel terrified.

"Very well." Nightmare said slowly, "I accept your submission. But there are three rules—"

"First, all forces will retain their original structure, but must regularly hand over 30% of their resources as tribute."

"Second, each force will station three Nidao Guards, responsible for supervising daily affairs. If any unusual activity is discovered, kill without mercy."

"Third, check all remnants within your respective forces related to the Hongmeng Divine Court. Once discovered, report immediately. Anyone who conceals it will be punished along with the entire sect."

The three rules were all filled with iron and blood.

But none of the five dared to object.

"We will strictly follow Master's orders!"

"Go." Nightmare waved his hand, "Within three days, I want to see the first tribute, and the list of all Divine Court remnants."

"Yes!"

The five bowed and retreated from the main hall, their backs already soaked with cold sweat.

After walking out of Chixue City, Fairy Stream Moon dared to speak in a low voice: "Everyone... is this move of ours right or wrong?"

Iron Frenzy smiled bitterly: "What is right or wrong? It's good enough to survive. Didn't you feel it? The coercion in the hall just now... I suspect that Master has already broken through to the Middle Stage or even Late Stage Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm!"

The five looked at each other, seeing the fear in each other's eyes.

Submitting to such a powerhouse, perhaps... it's not a bad thing?

Inside the main hall, Nightmare watched the direction the five left, his eyes deep.

"Master, do you really want to accept these people?" The Deputy asked in a low voice, "What if they pretend to submit and secretly collude with the Divine Court..."

"Then that would be perfect." Nightmare said faintly, "I am hoping for someone to jump out. To kill the chicken to warn the monkey, there must be a chicken."

The Deputy understood.

This was to lure the snake out of its hole.

"When sending the Nidao Guards, leave a few more secret sentries." Nightmare added, "Once any abnormality is discovered, no need to ask for instructions, clear them out directly."

"Yes!"

After dealing with these trivial matters, Nightmare was about to enter closed-door cultivation to stabilize his cultivation, but the Deputy hurried in again.

"Master, news just came from the intelligence network of the surrendered forces..." The Deputy's face was solemn, "There is movement from the Hongmeng Divine Court headquarters."

Nightmare raised his eyes: "Speak."

"The Divine Court headquarters has confirmed the news of the destruction of the Zhennan Branch, and in their rage... they have decided to send their core main force to suppress us."

"The lineup?"

"It is not specifically known, but it is said... the leader is a figure at the level of a Divine Court Grand Elder."

A Divine Court Grand Elder.

That is at least the Cosmic Supreme Realm.

A glimmer of light flashed in Nightmare's eyes.

Finally, a decent opponent has arrived.

"Pass down the order," he stood up slowly, "All troops enter a state of combat readiness. Reinforce the Chixue City defensive formation, integrate the elites of all surrendered forces, and unify them into the 'United Defense Army'."

"Also—"

He looked to the north, the direction of the inland core of the Hongmeng Divine Court.

"I will be in closed-door cultivation for a few days. During this time, you are fully responsible for all defense."

"Understood!"

The Deputy bowed and exited.

Nightmare stood in front of the hall window, looking at the city he had completely controlled.

Chixue City is just the beginning.

The inland edge is just a stepping stone.

Next...

He looked at the black-gray flames burning faintly in his hand.

It's time to collide with the real main force of the Divine Court.