Post-war integration and consolidation of power in the interior

Three days later, in the Nidao Alliance main hall in Chixue City.

The center of the main hall was piled high with Storage Pouches, Magic Treasures, Medicinal Pills, and origin crystals... All of these were spoils of war looted from the main force of Divine Court Cultivators, piled into three small hills.

Nightmare sat on the main seat, and standing below were the leaders of all the forces of the United Defense Army, thirty-seven in total.

The main hall was very quiet, with only the sound of slight breathing.

"This battle," Nightmare began, his voice calm, "we won."

Everyone's faces showed excitement, but no one dared to make a sound.

"We won because everyone fought with their lives on the line." Nightmare's gaze swept over the group. "Therefore, the spoils of war will be distributed according to merit."

He raised his hand, and a Jade Slip flew to his Deputy: "This is the list of merits; distribute them according to the list. The commanders of the Vanguard Army, the Decapitation Squad, and the Iron Wall Battalion get priority in selection."

"Yes!" The Deputy took the Jade Slip, his voice trembling slightly—the value of the spoils on that list was far beyond imagination.

"However," Nightmare changed the subject, "from today on, all subjugated forces must hand over thirty percent of their resources annually as a ruling tax."

The atmosphere in the main hall stalled slightly.

Thirty percent was not a small amount.

But no one dared to object.

"Anyone with objections," Nightmare said indifferently, "can raise them now."

Silence.

"Very well." Nightmare nodded. "Then it is decided. Additionally, forces that fought bravely in this battle will be awarded an extra ten percent of the spoils and have their taxes reduced by twenty percent next year."

A mix of grace and severity.

The faces of the leaders of the subjugated forces below looked a bit better. With both punishment and rewards, it at least showed that Nightmare was not just squeezing them dry; following him really had benefits.

"Thank you, My Lord!" everyone said in unison.

The distribution of resources went very smoothly.

The old subordinates of the Nidao Vanguard Army all returned fully loaded, and those subjugated forces also received quite a few benefits, especially several forces that performed prominently in the battle; the rewards they received made their eyes turn red.

"Following My Lord really pays off!" A leader of a subjugated force hugged the few bottles of Grandmist-grade Medicinal Pills he had just received, unable to stop smiling.

But there are always people who are never satisfied.

Late at night, in the western district of Chixue City, inside a mansion belonging to the subjugated force "Blood Wolf Gang."

The gang leader, Blood Wolf, and the Deputy gang leader, Grey Wolf, were having a secret discussion in a secret room.

"Big Brother, although the resources we received this time are not small, we have to hand over thirty percent every year... This is too much of a loss!" Grey Wolf lowered his voice, his face gloomy.

Blood Wolf narrowed his eyes, fiddling with a blood-colored jade pendant in his hand: "Do you think I want to? But that fiend Nightmare can even kill those in the Cosmic Supreme Realm; what can we do?"

"That was before!" Grey Wolf leaned in close. "Big Brother, think about it. Nightmare killed the Divine Court Grand Elder; will the Divine Court let it go? I heard that the Heavenly Emperor of the Divine Court is in the Late Stage of the Cosmic Supreme Realm, only one step away from that legendary Creation Realm! Once he takes action personally, Nightmare will definitely die!"

Blood Wolf's hand paused.

"You mean..."

"We can pretend to submit for now and secretly accumulate strength." A trace of cunning flashed in Grey Wolf's eyes. "When the main force of the Divine Court comes again, we will work from the inside out. Maybe we can even perform a great service, and by then... this Chixue City might just take the surname Blood!"

Blood Wolf's breathing became rapid.

Ambition, once ignited, is very hard to extinguish.

"Good!" He slapped the table. "Let's do it! You secretly contact the other forces that are dissatisfied with Nightmare. Remember, be discreet!"

"Understood!"

The two looked at each other and smiled, as if they had already seen the day when Nightmare was destroyed and they reigned supreme.

But they didn't know that from the moment they entered the secret room, there was someone standing in the shadows outside.

Nidao Guards, hidden sentry.

The next morning, in the main hall.

Nightmare was listening to his Deputy report on the progress of each force handing in their first ruling tax when, suddenly, a Nidao Guard appeared silently in the hall and knelt on one knee.

"My Lord, the leaders of three forces—the Blood Wolf Gang, the Black Sand Sect, and the Iron Bone Sect—plotted a rebellion last night, intending to collude with the Divine Court and work from the inside out."

The main hall instantly went quiet.

The Deputy's expression changed: "My Lord, I will take men to go now..."

"No need." Nightmare raised his hand. "Let them come."

"Huh?"

"Pass the order," Nightmare said slowly, "all force leaders are to come to the main hall immediately for a meeting. Just say... there is an important matter to announce."

"Yes!"

Half an hour later, the leaders of the thirty-seven forces gathered in the main hall.

Blood Wolf, Black Sand, and Iron Bone stood in the crowd, their expressions normal, but deep in their eyes was a hint of imperceptible panic.

"Everyone is here." Nightmare stood up from the main seat and walked to the center of the main hall.

His gaze swept over everyone and finally landed on the three of them—Blood Wolf, Black Sand, and Iron Bone.

"I said yesterday, those who submit to me will live, and those who oppose me will die."

Blood Wolf's heart skipped a beat, and he forced a smile: "My Lord is right, we naturally follow you loyally..."

Before he could finish speaking, Nightmare raised his hand.

Three black-grey flames shot out from his fingertips and instantly coiled around Blood Wolf, Black Sand, and Iron Bone.

"Ah—!"

The three screamed and tried to break free, but the flames coiled tighter and tighter like poisonous snakes.

"My Lord, spare us! We are innocent!" Blood Wolf shouted hoarsely.

"Innocent?" Nightmare sneered. "Last night in the secret room of the Blood Wolf Gang mansion in the western district, the three of you plotted a rebellion, intending to collude with the Divine Court and work from the inside out... Do you need me to repeat what you said, word for word?"

The faces of the three turned pale instantly.

How did he know?!

"We... we were just confused for a moment! My Lord, spare us! We are willing to hand over all our resources, just begging for a way to live!" Black Sand kowtowed desperately.

Nightmare shook his head.

"I gave you a chance."

He clenched his five fingers tightly.

Poof! Poof! Poof!

Three balls of flame exploded. The three of them, Blood Wolf, Black Sand, and Iron Bone, didn't even have time to scream before they turned into ashes in the flames, their Divine Souls completely destroyed.

The main hall was deathly silent.

Everyone lowered their heads, cold sweat soaking their backs.

"Those who submit to me will live, and those who oppose me will die." Nightmare turned and walked back to the main seat. "I mean what I say."

He sat down and looked at the remaining people.

"From today on, the ten cities surrounding Chixue City will all be incorporated into the jurisdiction of the Nidao Alliance. They are divided into five major inland war zones—"

"The Eastern Zone will be guarded by the commander of the Decapitation Squad."

"The Western Zone will be guarded by the commander of the Army-Breaking Group."

"The Southern Zone will be guarded by the general of the Iron Wall Battalion."

"The Northern Zone will be guarded by the commander-in-chief of the Nidao Guards."

"The Central Zone, Chixue City, will be temporarily managed by the Deputy."

"Each war zone will have three cities under it, and a branch of the Nidao Guards will be established in each city to supervise all subjugated forces. If there is any unusual movement, execute first and report later."

Each order was clear and ruthless.

This was to completely grasp this area firmly in his hands.

"Additionally," Nightmare continued, "effective immediately, a 'Divine Court Remnant Cleansing' operation will be launched across the entire region. All hidden Divine Court followers, spies, and informants, once discovered, are to be killed without exception. Informants will be rewarded, and those who conceal them will be punished the same."

"Understood!" everyone answered in unison, their voices even more awe-inspired than before.

Over the next few days, a thorough cleansing was launched in Chixue City and the ten surrounding cities.

With the Nidao Guards in command, plus those subjugated forces desperately performing to show their loyalty, one hidden Divine Court remnant after another was dug out and executed in public.

Was it bloody?

Very bloody.

But the effect was immediate.

All unstable factors were swept away, and the rule over the entire region became solid as a rock.

And those small and medium-sized forces that were originally still watching from the sidelines, after hearing the news of Nightmare killing a Cosmic Supreme Realm expert and using thunderous means to quell the internal rebellion, could no longer sit still.

"Quick! Prepare generous gifts! We are going to Chixue City!"

"Remember, the attitude must be respectful! That Lord is not someone easy to talk to!"

"Bring all our best treasures! As long as we can exchange them for protection, it's worth it!"

In just seven days, more than twenty small and medium-sized forces sent envoys with heavy gifts, requesting to submit.

Nightmare did not accept them all.

He screened the twelve that were stronger and more sincere, accepted their tributes, bestowed upon them black flame banners, and incorporated them into his ruling system.

As for the eight that were arrogant and only wanted to take advantage...

"Send troops to wipe them out." Nightmare only said four words.

Three days later, those eight forces were removed from the inland edge.

Thus, the sphere of influence of the Nidao Alliance expanded from a radius of five hundred miles to a radius of three thousand miles.

The ruled population exceeded one million, and the Cultivator army exceeded one hundred thousand.

On the edge of the high-level domain's inland, a new hegemon officially rose.

At the top of the main hall, Nightmare overlooked the city that now completely belonged to him.

The Deputy stood behind him and reported in a low voice: "My Lord, all war zones have been deployed, the Nidao Guards have fully infiltrated, and the rule is stable. Additionally... the core intelligence analyzed from the Suppressing Heaven Supreme Being's Storage Pouch has been organized."

Nightmare nodded.

"Prepare," he turned around, "I am going into seclusion for a few days."

"Yes."

Nightmare walked toward the quiet room, holding the Divine Court core troop deployment token in his hand.

The inland edge was just the starting point.

The real battlefield was in the Core Zone.

And there... was what he needed.