System upgrade

Nightmare traveled south, completely leaving the conflict and clamor of the Black Mountain Region behind.

He no longer deliberately concealed his movements. With his Middle Golden Core Stage Peak cultivation fully unleashed and the Demonic Shadow Evasion Technique activated, his figure was like a black lightning bolt tearing through the night sky, moving at an astonishing speed. Ordinary Cultivators could not track him, and even when powerful Divine Sense occasionally swept past, upon sensing his unconcealed demonic might, which carried an icy, deathly aura, they mostly chose to retreat in doubt and unwillingness to provoke him easily.

Several days later, a completely different landscape gradually came into Nightmare's view.

The land beneath his feet shifted from the gray-black barrenness of the Black Mountain Region to a dark red, as if steeped in blood. The Spiritual Qi in the air also became increasingly sparse and chaotic, replaced by a more primitive and savage Demonic Qi. The trees grew taller and older, vines twisted together, and heart-pounding Yao Beast roars could often be heard in the distance. He could even see some massive, strangely shaped flying creatures soaring through the clouds.

The Southern Wasteland Demon Domain!

This was already the fringe area of the Human Race Cultivator forces. Further south lay the vast, boundless, and perilous territory of the Yao Race. It was rumored that deep within the Demon Domain, powerful Great Demons, no weaker than Human Race Nascent Soul or even Soul Transformation Stage experts, held sway, and even Human Race powerhouses dared not venture deep easily.

This place was chaotic and lawless, where the strong preyed on the weak. For Nightmare, who needed to conceal his identity and quietly Cultivate and recover, it was currently the most suitable destination.

In a desolate, Crimson Mountain Range permeated with a faint smell of sulfur, he found a long-abandoned Yao Beast cave. The cave's original owner seemed to have been a powerful Fire-attributed Yao Beast, but had left long ago, leaving behind only some dry bones and residual Demonic Qi.

Nightmare carefully investigated, and after confirming there were no other dangers, he set up several layers of concealment and protective Restrictions at the entrance, completely isolating his aura from the outside world.

Deep within the cave, Nightmare sat down cross-legged, finally having the opportunity to carefully tally the gains from his trip to the Black Mountain Region.

With a thought, the System interface unfolded in his mind.

[Host: Nightmare]

[Realm: Middle Golden Core Stage Peak]

[Cultivation Technique: Myriad Poison Demonic Scripture (Fourth Layer), The Azure Nether Life and Death Dao (Incomplete Scroll)]

[Divine Ability: Soul Shattering Finger, Demonic Shadow Evasion Technique, Vitality Plunder (Elementary)]

[Physique: Myriad Poison Demonic Body (Elementary)]

[Items: divine ability comprehension card*1, Special Physique Enhancement Opportunity (Elementary)*1, supreme grade demonic yuan pill*9, villain points: 15020]

[Special: demon heart essence blood (Residual energy sedimentation), Xiangliu Poison Origin]

His villain points surpassed fifteen thousand! This was the first time Nightmare had possessed such a “huge sum.”

“System, what items that offer the greatest increase to my current strength can I exchange for with these fifteen thousand villain points?” Nightmare inquired.

The light screen flowed, and the System Store interface refreshed, filtering out several items priced between ten thousand and twenty thousand villain points.

[Earth Fiend Demonic Soul Banner (Incomplete): Earth Rank Medium Grade Demonic Artifact (Growable). Requires refinement using living souls and Evil Qi; its power is boundless. Exchange requires 18,000 villain points.] (Slightly expensive, and refinement takes time and causes too much disturbance.)

[Ghostly Nether Steps Movement Technique: Earth Rank Low Grade Divine Ability. Evasion speed is incredibly fast; the body transforms into a ghost shadow, making it difficult to capture. Exchange requires 12,000 villain points.] (Already possess Demonic Shadow Evasion Technique, which can temporarily substitute.)

[Golden Core Stage Cultivation Advancement Card (Minor): Can directly advance the Golden Core Stage by one minor Realm (limited to Early Stage to Middle Stage). Exchange requires 15,000 villain points.] (While Realm advancement is tempting, relying on external force is ultimately less stable than self-Cultivation, and since he is already at Middle Stage Peak, this card is somewhat redundant.)

[Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Pill*3: Earth Rank Low Grade Medicinal Pill. Consumption instantly restores a large amount of Demonic Essence and vital Qi/blood, and stimulates potential for a short time, with massive side effects. Exchange requires 10,000 villain points.] (A life-saving item, worth considering.)

[Random Earth Rank Divine Ability Draw Opportunity*1: Exchange requires 20,000 villain points.] (Too much of a gamble, and he lacks the points.)

After reviewing the list, Nightmare felt slightly disappointed. Although these items were good, they were either too expensive or not what he needed most urgently right now.

“System, are there options that focus more on concealment, life-saving, or assisting Cultivation and strengthening the Foundation?” Nightmare changed his approach.

[Based on Host's needs, the following items are recommended:]

[void evasion talisman*1: Earth Rank Medium Grade Talisman. Once activated, it allows random escape for ten thousand miles, ignoring most spatial Restrictions. Exchange requires 8,000 villain points.] (An excellent life-saving trump card!)

[Ten Thousand Year Stone Milk*1 drop: Heaven And Earth Treasure. Can purify Demonic Essence, nourish Meridians, consolidate the Foundation, and slightly enhance Divine Sense. Exchange requires 10,000 villain points.] (This is exactly what he urgently needs to consolidate his rapidly increased cultivation!)

[Myriad Transformations Demonic Mask (Imitation): Earth Rank Low Grade Auxiliary Demonic Artifact. Can freely change appearance and Physique, and simulate aura (cannot simulate those exceeding the user's major Realm). Exchange requires 5,000 villain points.] (A Sharp Weapon for concealing identity and blending into crowds.)

The total price of these three items was exactly 23,000 points, exceeding his budget. But Nightmare was only interested in the first two.

“Exchange for the void evasion talisman and the Ten Thousand Year Stone Milk!” Nightmare decided. Life preservation and consolidating his Foundation were paramount. As for changing his appearance, with his current control over his Demonic Technique, simply altering his skeletal structure and muscles, and restraining his aura, was not difficult; it just couldn't perfectly mimic others, but it was sufficient for now.

[Exchange successful! Consumed 18,000 villain points, remaining villain points: -3,020.]

[Prompt: This is the first time the Host's villain points have become negative. They will be prioritized for deduction when subsequent villain points are acquired. During the negative period, some System functions may be restricted.]

A flash of light appeared in Nightmare's hand, and a Talisman of strange material, inscribed with complex silver spatial runes, and a small, warm white jade bottle appeared out of thin air. The Talisman emitted faint spatial fluctuations, while inside the jade bottle was a drop of milky white liquid, shrouded in rich vitality and pure energy.

After putting away the void evasion talisman, Nightmare uncorked the jade bottle and swallowed the drop of Ten Thousand Year Stone Milk without hesitation.

The stone milk passed his throat and instantly transformed into a warm, cool, yet immensely vast pure energy, rapidly flowing through his limbs and bones, penetrating his Meridians, Golden Core, and even his Divine Soul.

The subtle internal injuries left by forcibly refining the demon heart essence blood and successive battles, along with the slight agitation and Impurities in his Demonic Essence, were smoothed out and purified by this surge of pure energy at a visible speed. His Golden Core spun more smoothly and freely, and his Divine Sense felt as if it had been washed, becoming clearer and more condensed.

Although his cultivation did not directly increase, his Foundation was solidified to an unparalleled degree, laying a firm basis for him to charge toward the Late Golden Core Stage and even the Nascent Soul Realm in the future.

“Good stuff!” Nightmare nodded in satisfaction. These 18,000 villain points were well spent!

After adjusting his breathing for a moment and completely absorbing the medicinal effects of the Ten Thousand Year Stone Milk, Nightmare's gaze turned to the two cards.

“System, use the **divine ability comprehension card**!”

[Please select the Divine Ability to comprehend or enhance, Host.]

“Soul Shattering Finger!” Nightmare didn't hesitate. This was his primary offensive method currently, having accompanied him through the most difficult times. It was simple, direct, immensely powerful, and specifically targeted the Divine Soul, making it extremely threatening.

[Confirming use of divine ability comprehension card to enhance the Soul Shattering Finger...]

In an instant, countless profound insights regarding Divine Soul attacks, Finger Technique application, and Demonic Essence condensation flooded Nightmare's mind, verifying, fusing, and sublimating his own Cultivation experience!

His understanding of the Soul Shattering Finger instantly rose to a completely new level! It was no longer limited to simple tapping, stabbing, or annihilation, but derived more variations: area-of-effect Divine Soul impact, silent Internal Force penetration, and even the ability to briefly affect the opponent's mind!

If the previous Soul Shattering Finger was merely scratching the surface, now he had entered the inner chamber, and its power had doubled!

Nightmare slowly raised his finger. A wisp of grayish-black demonic glow, condensed to the extreme, flickered at his fingertip. The surrounding space slightly twisted, emitting a chill that made the Divine Soul tremble.

“Very good!” A hint of joy flashed in Nightmare's eyes.

Finally, it was time for the **Special Physique Enhancement Opportunity (Elementary)**.

“System, enhance the **Myriad Poison Demonic Body**!”

[Confirming use of Special Physique Enhancement Opportunity (Elementary) to enhance the Myriad Poison Demonic Body...]

A scorching, yet stinging energy instantly swept through his entire body, as if every cell was shattered and then reorganized! His Meridians, bones, internal organs, and skin were all undergoing a drastic transformation!

The pain slowly subsided after lasting for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Nightmare opened his eyes and felt the changes in his body. His Physical Body strength had clearly increased by a notch, and his resistance to various poisons, Death Qi, and Evil Qi, as well as his absorption and conversion efficiency, were greatly improved. More importantly, he felt that the wisp of Xiangliu Poison Origin within him seemed to have grown slightly, and its integration with his Physical Body was tighter.

With a thought, an extremely faint, almost invisible layer of grayish-black patterns appeared on the surface of his skin, emitting an ancient, deathly silent aura, enough to make ordinary poisons retreat three steps.

“If Elementary enhancement has such an effect, what if it could be raised to a higher level...” Nightmare became more expectant of the Myriad Poison Demonic Body's potential.

After fully digesting all his gains, Nightmare's state reached an unprecedented Peak. His strength was stable, his trump cards increased, and the path ahead was clearer.

He stood up, his gaze seeming to pierce through the mountain wall, looking toward the deeper, more vast, and dangerous regions of the Demon Domain to the south.

Although that place was fraught with danger, it also meant more opportunities, more powerful Yao Beasts, more ancient Heaven And Earth Treasure... and “prey” for earning large amounts of villain points.

“It's time to stretch my muscles.”

Nightmare removed the Restrictions at the cave entrance, and his figure transformed into a faint black smoke, silently merging into the dark red, barren mountains and forests of the Southern Wasteland Demon Domain.

The new hunt had begun.