Chapter 415 All assassins wiped out, crystal core obtained.

The starry sky returned to silence.

The corpses of the three Supreme-level Death Soldiers had completely vanished, leaving not even ashes behind, utterly erased from existence by the Annihilation Flames. Only faint Origin ripples remained in the air, proving that a brief and intense battle had taken place here.

Nightmare stood in the starry sky, looking toward the ten elites.

The ten of them were all panting heavily now, more or less wounded—two had their armor shattered by the wind from the Death Soldiers' punches, leaving deep gashes on their chests that revealed bone; another had a twisted left arm, clearly broken.

But no one fell.

"Lord," the leading elite forced himself to stand straight, "we... held on."

Nightmare glanced at them and waved his hand.

Ten streaks of pure Origin power surged from his palm and poured into the ten men. Their wounds healed at a visible rate, broken bones regrew, and their depleted Origin was quickly restored.

"Thank you, Lord!" the ten shouted in unison.

"Meditate where you are and stay alert," Nightmare ordered. "I will handle the crystal core."

"Yes!"

Nightmare turned and walked toward the center of the starry sky.

The closer he got to the primordial supreme crystal core, the greater the surrounding pressure became. It wasn't a spiritual pressure, but a "force field" naturally formed by Origin power refined to the extreme. If an ordinary person approached, they would likely be crushed into meat paste.

But Nightmare's steps were steady.

The Annihilation Flames around him flowed automatically, forming a thin shield outside his body that completely blocked the pressure.

"Ten zhang, five zhang, three zhang... When he walked to within one zhang of the crystal core, he finally saw the details clearly."

Inside the crystal core was neither solid nor liquid, but a kind of "Origin Gel" that existed between the two. Countless tiny Golden Runes floated within the gel, each rotating slowly and emitting an ancient and vast aura.

Around the outside of the crystal core was a transparent barrier.

It wasn't a Formation or a Restriction, but a "protective layer" naturally formed by the crystal core's own energy.

Nightmare reached out and pressed his hand against the barrier.

The barrier rippled like water but did not break. It was like a soft membrane, gently supporting his hand.

"Interesting." Nightmare could feel that the barrier and the crystal core were one. Forcing it open might damage the internal structure of the crystal core and affect its efficacy.

"Then... I'll melt into it."

He closed his eyes and guided the Dao Reversal Origin within him, slowly injecting it into the barrier through his palm.

The Origin power seeped in like a trickle, not forcing its way through but merging bit by bit along the energy pathways of the barrier.

This required extremely high control; the slightest mistake would trigger the barrier's counterattack.

But Nightmare's control had long since reached the microscopic Realm.

Half an incense stick later.

The barrier trembled slightly, and a tiny crack appeared on the surface.

The crack expanded rapidly, eventually forming an opening large enough for an arm to pass through.

Nightmare's hand reached through the opening and grasped the crystal core.

It felt warm and smooth, like holding a piece of warm jade.

But in the next instant, a sea of energy surged frantically into his body through his palm.

That energy was so pure that it required no refinement, merging directly into his Meridians, Dantian, and Sea of Consciousness. Nightmare could feel his Bottleneck at the Early Stage of the Cosmic Supreme Realm beginning to loosen.

But he was in no hurry to absorb it.

Instead, he first removed the crystal core from the barrier and held it in his palm.

The moment the crystal core left the barrier, the entire starry sky dimmed slightly—as if it had lost its central light source.

"System notification," a cold, mechanical voice sounded in Nightmare's mind—this was the "Heavenly Fate Villain System" that had accompanied him since his Transmigration to this world, which rarely spoke of its own accord. "Detected 'primordial supreme crystal core' containing pure Supreme Origin. Absorption will allow a Breakthrough of the Cosmic Supreme Realm Bottleneck and significantly increase cultivation. Absorb now?"

"Not for now," Nightmare replied in his mind.

Now was not the time for a Breakthrough.

Although this was the core layer, the commotion from the earlier battle was significant, and the Divine Court had likely noticed. He had to clear the surroundings first to ensure safety before he could comfortably attempt the Breakthrough.

He put away the crystal core and looked around.

"Sweep the entire starry sky," he ordered. "Leave no survivors of the Divine Court."

"As you command!"

The ten elites immediately dispersed, their Divine Sense spreading out like a net to carefully probe every corner.

Soon, they made a discovery.

"Lord, three thousand miles to the northeast, there are hidden ripples!"

"There are some to the southwest as well!"

"Directly below, deep in the starry sky, five Hidden Outposts!"

Thirteen locations in total.

Nightmare's gaze turned cold.

The Heavenly Emperor was truly cautious, not only arranging three Supreme-level Death Soldiers but also stationing so many Hidden Outposts on the periphery. If they hadn't cleared them in advance, the consequences would have been unthinkable if these outposts had suddenly attacked when he began his Breakthrough.

"Leave none alive," he repeated.

"Yes!"

Ten figures turned into ten streaks of light, shooting off in different directions.

Nightmare himself flew toward the depths of the starry sky directly below.

There were five Hidden Outposts there, the closest and most concealed.

---

A cup of tea later.

Somewhere in the starry sky, five Divine Court Cultivators in black stealth armor were hiding behind a massive meteorite, monitoring the activity in the crystal core area through a special Magic Treasure.

"The Death Soldiers are all gone..." one person's voice trembled. "Just what kind of monster is that Nightmare?"

"Quiet!" the leader hissed. "Our mission is to monitor, not to join the battle. As long as we send the intelligence back to headquarters, it will be a great achievement."

"But... will he discover us?"

"Impossible," the leader said confidently. "We are using the 'Void Stealth Talisman' bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor himself. Unless a Late Stage Cosmic Supreme Realm expert personally investigates, it's absolutely..."

Before he could finish.

A hand reached out from the Void Realm and pressed onto his shoulder.

The leader's body froze, and he slowly turned his head.

Nightmare was standing behind him, his eyes indifferent.

"Otherwise what?" Nightmare asked.

"You... how did you..." The leader's pupils shrank. He tried to activate a communication Jade Talisman, but as soon as his fingers moved, he found that his body was completely unable to move.

It wasn't that he was imprisoned; it was that the surrounding "space" itself rejected his movements.

The Dao Reversal Cage expanded silently.

"In your next life," Nightmare said flatly, "remember to hide better."

Pfft.

Annihilation Flames surged from his palm, instantly engulfing the five of them.

The five didn't even let out a scream before they were turned into nothingness.

Nightmare withdrew his hand and looked in other directions.

In his Divine Sense, the other twelve Hidden Outposts had also been cleared.

The ten elites returned one by one.

"Lord, all have been dealt with."

"Good." Nightmare nodded. "Now, it's time to find a place for the Breakthrough."

He looked toward a certain part of the starry sky—there was a massive meteorite a hundred miles in diameter, its surface covered in natural energy pathways. It was a good place for secluded cultivation.

"Set up a defense around the meteorite," Nightmare ordered. "I am going to absorb the crystal core and Breakthrough to the next Realm. During this time, if anyone approaches, kill them without mercy."

"Yes!"

The eleven of them landed on the meteorite.

The ten elites quickly dispersed, laying down layers of Restrictions and warning Formations around the meteorite.

Meanwhile, Nightmare walked to the center of the meteorite and sat down cross-legged.

He took out the primordial supreme crystal core and held it in his palm.

The crystal core emitted a soft Nine-colored Radiance in the starry sky, illuminating a ten-mile radius.

"Let's begin."

Nightmare closed his eyes and guided the energy within the crystal core, slowly injecting it into his body.

This time, it wasn't passive acceptance, but active devouring.

Boom—!!!

The crystal core shook violently, and a sea-like Origin power surged toward Nightmare like a bursting dam.

The Breakthrough began.