Chapter 421 Commander Falls, Heavenly Army Annihilated

The moment Supreme Zhen Yu fell, the entire Meteorite Turbulence Zone plunged into an eerie, deathly silence.

Not a true silence—chaotic energy still swirled, meteorite fragments still collided, and void turbulence still roared.

But this 'deathly silence' came from all the still-living Divine Court Cultivators.

They saw their commander turn to flames, saw that wisp of pure Supreme Origin grasped in Nightmare's hand, saw that 'Heavenly Army Command Token' symbolizing the authority personally bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor fall into enemy hands.

Faith crumbled.

Battle Intent shattered.

"The Commander... is dead?"

"Even the Commander couldn't stop him... what about us..."

"Run! Run now!!!"

The surviving Divine Court Cultivators completely broke down, scattering and fleeing like startled birds and beasts.

But Nightmare would not give them the chance.

"Reverse Dao Allied Forces, hear my command—" his voice cut through the entire battlefield like a cold blade, "Annihilate all remaining enemies. Leave not a single one."

"We obey!!!"

The Cultivators of the Reverse Dao Allied Forces' eyes turned red.

Not from fear, but from excitement, from the thrill of slaughter.

They descended upon the Divine Court Cultivators who had lost their will to fight like wolves among sheep. Blade lights, sword shadows, flames, thunderbolts... various Divine Abilities and Magic Treasures intertwined in the void, each flash taking a life.

This was not a battle; it was a massacre.

A one-sided massacre.

"The Lord's orders! Leave none alive!"

"Kill!!!"

Blood Blade, drenched in blood, cleaved a fleeing Cultivator of the Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm with a single slash, turning to roar: "Iron Frenzy! The left flank is yours! Don't let a single one escape!"

"Don't worry!" Iron Frenzy's fists hammered like maces, each punch shattering a Cultivator's protective barrier, limbs and severed arms flying where his fist wind passed.

Stream Moon was even more ruthless. Her figure moved like a wraith, weaving through the fleeing crowd, each sword thrust precisely piercing an enemy's heart or neck—instant death.

In the short span of half an incense stick's time.

The final scream of the last Divine Court Cultivator was abruptly cut off in the void.

The entire battlefield quieted down.

On meteorite fragments, in the void, floated shattered corpses, broken Magic Treasures, and congealed blood. Fragments of the Divine Court's golden battle armor flickered with dim light in the darkness, like joss paper left after a grand funeral.

The Cultivators of the Reverse Dao Allied Forces began clearing the battlefield.

Looting Storage Pouches, collecting origin crystals, recovering usable Magic Treasures. Their movements were practiced, clearly not their first time doing this.

Nightmare hovered at the center of the battlefield, holding the 'Heavenly Army Command Token' in his hand.

The token was heavy, made entirely of dark gold. The front was engraved with 'Personally Bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor,' the back with 'Commander of the Heavenly Army.' Inside, it contained a faint but extremely pure trace of Imperial Might—a mark left by the Divine Court's Heavenly Emperor, a symbol of status and also a tool for surveillance and control.

Transparent Reincarnation flames surged from Nightmare's palm, enveloping the token.

*Sss—!*

The Imperial Might mark on the token's surface melted away like ice and snow, completely erased by the power of Reincarnation. The token itself transformed into pure energy, which he absorbed into his body to replenish his combat losses.

As for that wisp of Supreme Origin from Supreme Zhen Yu, at the Late Stage of the Supreme Realm, he did not absorb it immediately but temporarily sealed it within his Dantian—Origin of this level required a quiet place for gradual refinement.

"Lord!" The Deputy flew over, bearing several minor injuries but in high spirits, "The battlefield is cleared! A total of six hundred and thirty-one Storage Pouches confiscated, over twelve hundred various Magic Treasures, and countless origin crystals! Our forces suffered eighty-seven dead, one hundred and twenty severely wounded, and over three hundred with minor injuries."

The casualty ratio was almost one to ten.

Moreover, most of the dead were Cultivators from those three allied forces; the old core of the Nidao Alliance suffered minimal losses.

Nightmare nodded: "Distribute the spoils according to merit, provide compensation to the families of the fallen. Prioritize treatment for the severely wounded, use the best Medicinal Pills."

"Yes!"

Just as the Deputy was about to leave, Nightmare called him back.

"Additionally," Nightmare looked into the distance—towards the direction of the major forces in the Core Region, "Transmit my Divine Soul voice, covering all forces in the Core Region."

The Deputy was stunned: "Lord, what should I say?"

Nightmare closed his eyes, his Divine Soul power spreading out like a tide.

Not a hundred li, not a thousand li, but... covering the entire edge of the Core Region, spanning hundreds of thousands of li in radius.

All surviving Cultivators, whether in seclusion, trading, fighting, or fleeing, heard a cold voice directly resound in their minds at this moment:

"The Divine Court Heavenly Army has been annihilated."

Seven words, like seven thunderclaps, exploded in the hearts of all.

"The Nidao Alliance will fully purge the remaining forces of the Divine Court."

"Those who submit live, those who oppose die."

"Those who collude with the Divine Court will be exterminated."

The final three words carried a chill that seeped into the bones, making those who heard them involuntarily shiver.

The Divine Soul transmission ended.

The entire edge of the Core Region fell into a prolonged, deathly silence.

Then, it exploded.

"The Divine Court Heavenly Army... annihilated?! That was the Heavenly Emperor's direct main force!"

"Who annihilated them? Nightmare? That deadly star who fought his way from the inland edge?"

"Even Supreme Zhen Yu is dead? He was at the Late Stage of the Cosmic Supreme Realm!"

"The Nidao Alliance... are they declaring full-scale war on the Divine Court?"

"What should we do? Which side do we pledge to?"

Panic, shock, hesitation, scheming... various emotions spread among the different forces.

But one thing was certain—

From this day forth, the edge of the Core Region was no longer dominated solely by the Divine Court.

A new hegemon had risen.

---

Barren Star Domain Outpost.

Nightmare stood in the control room, looking at the densely packed force markers on the star chart.

The Deputy stood beside him, reporting in a low voice: "Lord, after the transmission, seventeen forces have already sent envoys, expressing their willingness to submit. Six are medium-sized forces that were previously observing, eleven are small forces."

"How were they handled?"

"As per your previous instructions, submission is acceptable, but they must hand over thirty percent of their resources as a 'pledge of allegiance,' and dispatch core members to join the Reverse Dao Allied Forces, accepting unified command."

"Did they agree?"

"Of the six medium-sized forces, four agreed on the spot, two said they needed to go back and discuss it. All eleven small forces agreed."

Nightmare nodded: "Keep an eye on those two who said they needed to discuss. If they don't give an answer within three days, consider it a refusal."

"Understood." The Deputy paused, "Also... three other forces not only did not submit but publicly declared they would 'unite to resist the Nidao Alliance' and uphold the Divine Court's legitimacy."

"Which three?"

"Profound Ice Valley, Golden Thunder Sect, and Crimson Flame Sect. These three are all long-time affiliates of the Divine Court, deeply intertwined with its interests."

Nightmare's eyes turned cold.

"Perfect," he said slowly, "To kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, we need a chicken."

"Lord, you mean..."

"Assemble the troops," Nightmare turned, looking outside the control room, "Tomorrow, annihilate Profound Ice Valley."

"We obey!"

A flicker of excitement flashed in the Deputy's eyes.

War was about to begin again.

And this time, they would no longer be on the defensive, but on the offensive, on... conquest.

---

Meanwhile, at the Divine Court headquarters, Heavenly Emperor Mountain.

Deep within a hall constructed entirely of white jade.

The Divine Court's Heavenly Emperor, clad in an imperial robe embroidered with nine dragons, slowly opened his eyes.

Before him floated a golden water mirror, reflecting the aftermath of the Meteorite Turbulence Zone battlefield—shattered battle armor, floating corpses, and Nightmare's cold Divine Soul transmission.

The Heavenly Emperor's expression was calm.

But the several Elders kneeling below him were pale-faced, their backs soaked in cold sweat.

They could feel the temperature in the hall dropping sharply.

"Zhen Yu is dead." The Heavenly Emperor spoke, his voice betraying no emotion.

"Y-Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" one Elder trembled as he spoke, "That Nightmare must have used some evil technique, otherwise, with Commander Zhen Yu's strength, it would have been impossible..."

"I did not ask for the reason." The Heavenly Emperor interrupted him, "I only ask for the result—the Heavenly Army annihilated, the Commander fallen, the Nidao Alliance establishing its authority at the edge of the Core Region. What do you say we should do?"

The several Elders looked at each other, none daring to speak.

"Since you have no ideas," the Heavenly Emperor slowly rose to his feet, "Then I will go myself."

"Your Majesty!" the Elders exclaimed in shock, "You will personally lead the campaign? But that Nightmare..."

"No matter how strong he is, he is only at the Middle Stage of the Supreme Realm." The Heavenly Emperor walked to the hall's window, looking towards the Barren Star Domain, "I have been at the Late Stage of the Supreme Realm for three thousand years, only half a step away from the legendary 'Creation Realm.' He... is not worthy enough."

He turned to look at the Elders.

"Issue the order. I will enter seclusion for three days. In three days, I will personally go to the Barren Star Domain."

"This time, I will personally... crush the Nidao Alliance."

The Elders prostrated themselves on the ground, speaking in unison:

"We respectfully obey Your Majesty's sacred decree!"

---

Barren Star Domain Outpost.

Nightmare suddenly raised his head, looking towards the direction of the Divine Court headquarters.

He could sense a terrifying, ultimate level of Imperial Might slowly awakening there.

Like an ancient slumbering Vicious Beast opening its eyes.

"So it's finally coming..." The corner of Nightmare's mouth curled into a cold arc.

He tightened his grip on the dao reversal reincarnation blade.

The blade was transparent, yet it reflected the Battle Intent burning in his eyes.

"Then come."

"Let me see just how strong the so-called Divine Court Heavenly Emperor... truly is."