Chapter 413 Core Layer Activated, Resonance Against the Dao

At the end of the second layer, a stone wall so high its top was invisible stood in the way.

The surface of the stone wall was as smooth as a mirror, and one could vaguely see something flowing inside—not water, but an energy thicker and more ancient than water. In the center of the wall was a palm-sized indentation, its shape perfectly matching the supreme formation eye jade talisman.

"This is it." Nightmare took out the Jade Talisman from his robe.

As soon as the Jade Talisman approached the stone wall, it began to glow on its own. It wasn't a piercing light, but a soft, pulsing glow that seemed to breathe. The energy flow within the stone wall accelerated accordingly, emitting a low hum.

Nightmare didn't hesitate and pressed the Jade Talisman directly into the indentation.

It fit perfectly.

Buzz—!!!

The stone wall shook violently.

Countless fine lines began to emerge on the previously smooth surface. These lines were divided into two colors—one a deep black and the other a piercing gold. The black lines wound and twisted, carrying an ancient and violent aura, while the golden lines were straight and orderly, emitting holy and majestic fluctuations.

The two types of lines intertwined and collided on the stone wall, making a "sizzling" sound, like two natural enemies tearing at each other.

"Ancient Restriction..." The Deputy's expression was grave. "And it's not just one; two powers are counterbalancing each other."

Nightmare stared at the lines.

The black ones were Dao Reversal Restrictions, and the golden ones were Divine Court Restrictions. These two powers, which should have been like fire and water, had actually been forcibly fused together to form this barrier guarding the Core Layer.

"No wonder the supreme formation eye jade talisman is needed." Nightmare understood. "The Jade Talisman is the key; it can simultaneously balance the two powers and open the passage."

The light of the Jade Talisman grew brighter and brighter.

The lines on the stone wall began to rotate and separate. The black lines gathered to the left, and the golden lines retracted to the right, revealing an increasingly wide gap in the middle.

From deep within the gap, a Seven-Colored Divine Light shone through.

The aura of the Core Layer was leaking from the gap—it was an Origin fluctuation purer and more ancient than the first layer's Origin Liquid.

"Almost there." Nightmare could feel the Restriction rapidly disintegrating.

But just then—

Three golden figures appeared silently above the stone wall.

All three were at the Peak of the Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm, wearing Divine Court Standard-Issue Battle Armor, but there were no markings on the armor, clearly indicating they were a special force. They were hidden so well that Nightmare only sensed their presence when they launched a sneak attack.

"Watch out!" the Deputy cried out.

Three golden longswords turned into three bolts of golden lightning, piercing straight toward the back of Nightmare's heart.

The angle was tricky and the timing precise—it was the most critical moment of the Restriction's opening. Nightmare had to maintain the activated state of the Jade Talisman and could not be distracted.

"Seeking death." Nightmare didn't even look back.

Maintaining his left hand's position on the Jade Talisman, he raised his right hand and made a grasping motion toward his back.

Grandmist Chaos Void Annihilation Dao Reversal Demonic Star Flame surged from his palm, transforming into three black flaming hands that instantly grabbed the three golden longswords.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Three crisp sounds.

The longswords snapped.

The three flaming hands didn't stop, spreading up the broken swords and instantly wrapping around the arms of those three people.

"Ah—!"

The three screamed, wanting to sever their arms, but the flames had already invaded their bodies.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Three clumps of black-gray flames exploded in their chests, burning their hearts, Dantians, and Seas of Consciousness into nothingness simultaneously. The three corpses fell from the air, and before they even hit the ground, they were incinerated into ashes by the subsequent flames.

Their Divine Souls were utterly extinguished.

The entire process took less than two breaths.

Nightmare didn't even glance back at the three piles of ash; his attention was entirely on the stone wall.

"Lord, you..." The Deputy wanted to ask if he was alright, but the words died in his throat—what could possibly happen to the Lord? A sneak attack by three at the Peak of the Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm didn't even earn the right for him to turn his head.

"Focus on guarding," Nightmare said indifferently. "The Restriction is about to open."

"Yes!"

Everyone immediately sharpened their focus, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

Meanwhile, Nightmare began to actively guide the Dao Reversal Origin within his body and inject it into the Jade Talisman.

The black portion of the Jade Talisman shone with intense light.

Resonating with it were the black Dao Reversal Restrictions on the stone wall. Like ancient creatures being awakened, they began to frantically devour the neighboring golden Divine Court Restrictions.

It wasn't destruction; it was devouring.

Like black ink dripping into clear water, it rapidly spread, eroded, and assimilated.

The golden Restrictions retreated steadily, their light dimming rapidly.

"So that's how it is..." Nightmare understood. "In this Restriction, the Reverse Path part is the 'lock,' and the Divine Court part is the 'keyhole.' But my Dao Reversal Origin can directly turn the 'lock' into the 'key'."

He increased the Origin output.

Black-gray flames surged through his arm into the Jade Talisman, and then through the Jade Talisman into the stone wall.

Boom—!!!

The black Restrictions on the stone wall erupted completely, swallowing the last trace of the golden Restrictions.

The entire stone wall turned into a sheet of pure black.

Then, the black began to collapse inward.

It wasn't disappearing; it was condensing.

It condensed into a rotating black vortex.

From the center of the vortex, Seven-Colored Divine Light gushed out.

The Core Layer was open.

A vast, sea-of-stars-like Origin aura surged from the vortex. With just one breath, several Cultivators whose cultivation was stuck at a Bottleneck shuddered and achieved a Breakthrough on the spot!

"This... this is the Core Layer?!" Someone's voice trembled with excitement.

Nightmare retrieved the Jade Talisman and looked at the black vortex.

He sensed that deep within the vortex, a hundred miles away, floated a human-head-sized crystal emitting a brilliant golden light.

primordial supreme crystal core.

"Guard the perimeter," Nightmare ordered. "No one is to enter without my command."

"Yes!"

"You, you, and you..." Nightmare pointed out ten elites at the Late Stage Grandmist Heavenly Venerable Realm. "Follow me in."

"As you command!"

The eleven of them stepped into the black vortex.

The moment he passed through the vortex, Nightmare felt all the Dao Reversal Origin in his body cheering and jumping for joy.

This place was the true home of the Reverse Path power.