Chapter 422 Post-War Integration, Heavenly Emperor Standoff

Barren Star Domain Stronghold, the seventh day after the battle.

The enormous central plaza was piled high with spoils of war seized from the Divine Court Heavenly Army. origin crystals were heaped into over a dozen small mountains, Magic Treasures and weapons were neatly arranged, and various Medicinal Pills, Materials, and ancient texts were too numerous to count.

Standing around the plaza were all the leaders of the Reverse Dao Allied Forces—the Deputy of the Nidao Alliance, Blood Blade, Iron Frenzy, Stream Moon, and representatives from the seventeen newly subjugated factions.

Nightmare stood on the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below.

"In this battle," he began, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority, "we have won."

"But victory is not the end."

He raised a hand, pointing towards the spoils.

"All spoils will be distributed according to military merit. The main force of the Nidao Alliance takes forty percent. The three allied factions that participated in the battle collectively take thirty percent. The seventeen newly subjugated factions will split the remaining thirty percent."

"Furthermore," he paused, "from today onward, all subjugated factions must submit twenty percent of their annual resources as 'tribute tax'."

A faint stir rippled through the crowd below.

A twenty percent tax was not low, but compared to the thirty or even forty percent during the Divine Court era, it could be considered "merciful."

The faces of Blood Blade, Iron Frenzy, and Stream Moon remained calm—they had long known this rule, and the share of spoils they received far exceeded the tribute tax, so naturally, they had no objections.

The representatives of the seventeen newly subjugated factions, though inwardly pained, did not dare to oppose.

"Anyone with objections," Nightmare said lightly, "may step forward now."

No one dared to move.

"Good." Nightmare nodded. "Then it's settled."

He turned, about to announce the end of the meeting.

Suddenly—

"Master! Your subordinate has urgent news to report!"

A Nidao Guard quickly emerged from the crowd and knelt on one knee.

Nightmare looked at him. "Speak."

"Your subordinate just intercepted a secret message," the Nidao Guard presented a black communication Jade Slip. "The Sect Master of the newly subjugated 'Qinglan Sect' has secretly contacted the Divine Court remnant force 'Profound Ice Valley', intending to rebel!"

Whoosh—!

The entire assembly erupted in an uproar.

The Qinglan Sect Master was a clean-shaven, pale-faced middle-aged scholar. His face instantly turned ashen, and he hurriedly knelt. "Master, please see clearly! This is slander! Your subordinate is utterly loyal to the Nidao Alliance, with no disloyal thoughts whatsoever!"

Nightmare ignored him, simply taking the Jade Slip and scanning it with his Divine Sense.

Inside the Jade Slip, the secret conversation between the Qinglan Sect Master and an Elder of Profound Ice Valley was clearly recorded—they agreed that three days later, while Nightmare was away, to attack the stronghold's core from within and without.

"Slander?" Nightmare looked at the Qinglan Sect Master, his eyes icy. "Then explain, where were you at midnight three days ago?"

"I... I was in seclusion!" the Qinglan Sect Master forced himself to appear composed.

"Seclusion?" Nightmare smiled. "Then is this something you left behind during your seclusion?"

He raised his hand, retrieving another Jade Slip from his robes—this one was seized from a captive of Profound Ice Valley. It contained not only the details of the secret talk but also the Qinglan Sect Master's own personal Divine Soul imprint.

The evidence was irrefutable.

The Qinglan Sect Master's face completely lost all color.

"Master, spare my life! Your subordinate was momentarily confused! Profound Ice Valley threatened me! I am willing to surrender all my resources, I only beg..."

His words were cut short.

Nightmare raised his hand. A transparent flame shot from his fingertip, instantly piercing the Qinglan Sect Master's brow.

Pfft.

The flame exploded. The Qinglan Sect Master's entire body vanished into nothingness, not even ashes remaining.

Divine Soul extinguished.

Dead silence filled the plaza.

The representatives of the newly subjugated factions trembled in fear, not daring to even breathe heavily.

"This is the fate of rebellion." Nightmare withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Those who submit shall live, those who oppose shall die. I mean what I say."

He paused, then continued, "From today, with the Barren Star Domain as the core, the surrounding fifteen cities will all be incorporated under the jurisdiction of the 'Core War Zone'."

"The Core War Zone will establish five major war divisions: The Eastern War Division will be commanded by Blood Blade. The Western War Division will be commanded by Iron Frenzy. The Southern War Division will be commanded by Stream Moon. The Northern War Division will be temporarily overseen by the Deputy. The Central War Division will be under my direct command."

"Each war division is responsible for purging Divine Court remnant forces within their jurisdiction. All resistance will be met with execution. Anyone found harboring them will be punished as an accomplice."

One clear, cold order after another.

This was to completely forge the periphery of the core region into an impenetrable fortress.

"Now," Nightmare said finally, "everyone return and prepare. In three days, I want to see the preliminary Formation of each war division."

"We obey!"

The crowd responded in unison before quickly dispersing.

Nightmare stood on the high platform, looking at the now-empty plaza.

He knew the real challenge had only just begun.

---

Over the next three days, the entire periphery of the core region was swept up in a bloody purge.

The five war divisions mobilized simultaneously, purging all Divine Court remnant forces according to Nightmare's orders.

Profound Ice Valley was the first to bear the brunt.

This former veteran affiliate of the Divine Court, with Nightmare personally leading the assault, held out for only half an hour. The Valley Master was beheaded by Nightmare with a single slash. Three Early Stage Supreme Realm Elders were incinerated into nothingness by Reincarnation flames. The Disciples scattered and fled, but not a single one escaped the war divisions' encirclement.

Annihilation.

Golden Thunder Sect and Crimson Flame Sect were also successively destroyed.

The annihilation of these three factions thoroughly intimidated all forces still on the fence. Within just three days, another twenty-three small and medium-sized factions actively came forward to submit, offering resources and tokens of allegiance.

The Nidao Alliance's sphere of influence rapidly expanded from fifteen cities around the Barren Star Domain to thirty-seven cities.

The ruled population exceeded ten million, with a Cultivator army of over fifty thousand.

A colossal entity was rising on the periphery of the core region.

---

Late on the fourth night.

Nightmare stood atop the highest watchtower of the stronghold, overlooking the brightly lit city below.

He could sense an intangible force gathering from these cities—the "momentum" brought by rulership. Though still faint, it was rapidly growing.

"Master." The Deputy appeared silently behind him. "The preliminary reorganization of the five war divisions is complete. The defenses of each city have been taken over. Also... from the newly subjugated forces, another three thousand elites have been selected and assigned to supplement the war divisions."

"Mmm." Nightmare nodded. "Well done."

The Deputy hesitated, then whispered, "Master, are we expanding... too quickly? Our Foundation is unstable. What if the Divine Court counterattacks..."

"They won't have the chance to counterattack." Nightmare interrupted him. "Because the Heavenly Emperor... has already come."

The Deputy's face changed. "What?!"

Nightmare didn't speak, merely looking up towards the direction of the Divine Court headquarters.

He could sense an aura of terrifying extremity rapidly approaching from that direction.

Not an army, but a single person.

Yet the oppressive force that person brought was more dreadful than the entire Divine Court Heavenly Army.

"Pass down the order," Nightmare said slowly. "All war divisions are to enter the highest state of alert. Without my command, no one is to leave the stronghold."

"Yes!" The Deputy gritted his teeth and turned to relay the order.

But at that moment—

BOOM!!!

An indescribable Imperial Might descended like a collapsing sky!

Throughout the entire Barren Star Domain, every Cultivator, regardless of cultivation level, felt their Divine Soul violently tremble at this moment, as if an invisible mountain was pressing on their hearts, making even breathing difficult.

The watchtower shook violently, the defensive Formation at its peak groaning under the strain.

Nightmare remained motionless, merely looking up into the depths of the Void Realm.

There, a figure slowly materialized.

Not a true physical arrival, but a "projection" spanning billions of miles.

Yet the pressure emitted by that projection made the entire Star Domain tremble.

The Divine Court Heavenly Emperor.

He wore a Nine-Dragon Imperial Robe and a crown with twelve tassels. His face was indistinct, only a pair of eyes as deep as the starry river could be seen. He stood there in the Void Realm, looking down at Nightmare below as if observing an ant.

"Reverse Path scum."

Four words, rolling like heavenly thunder, echoed throughout the Star Domain.

"You dare kill my Heavenly Army commander, seize my Supreme Crystal Core, and establish your authority in the core region..."

The Heavenly Emperor's voice was calm, but the killing intent hidden beneath that calmness chilled everyone who heard it to the bone.

"This Sovereign has come personally today only to tell you one thing—"

He raised his hand, pointing a finger towards Nightmare.

"In three days, this Sovereign's true body will arrive."

"At that time, not a single soul within the Nidao Alliance will be spared, down to the last chicken and dog."

As his words fell, the projection dissipated.

The Imperial Might receded like a tide.

But the chill that had penetrated to the marrow remained in everyone's heart.

The Deputy's face was deathly pale, his lips trembling. "Master... the Heavenly Emperor... is coming personally..."

Nightmare didn't speak.

He merely looked in the direction where the Heavenly Emperor's projection had vanished. In his eyes, there was no fear, no panic, only a kind of... icy Battle Intent.

After a long while, he slowly spoke.

"Then let him come."

"Just right—"

He tightened his grip on the dao reversal reincarnation blade in his hand. The blade edge reflected a transparent, cold light under the starlight.

"I also want to test just how hard this so-called Heavenly Emperor... really is."