Chapter 425 Dividing Forces for Encirclement, All Thirteen Strongholds Cleared

Zhenyue Camp, located atop a towering mountain range, was shrouded in clouds and mist, making it easy to defend but hard to attack.

The camp's commander, Wang Yue, had already received the emergency transmission about the destruction of Tianwei Camp; his face was ashen as he roared orders for his subordinates to set up the Formation.

"Quick! Activate the Zhenyue Sure-Kill Formation! Check every position three times! Hurry—!"

The entire camp was in a state of Chaos. A pale yellow barrier of light rose from deep within the mountain, connecting with the mountain range's earth Qi to form an indestructible defensive Formation. Outside the Formation, countless sharp shadows of earthen spikes flickered in and out of existence, emitting a dangerous aura.

"Commander, this Formation... can it really hold?" a lieutenant asked with a trembling voice.

Wang Yue gritted his teeth. "We have to hold even if we can't! Tianwei Camp was destroyed too quickly; the opponent is at least at the Supreme Realm Middle Stage, or even the Late Stage... We can only rely on the Formation's geographic advantage to hold out until the headquarters' reinforcements arrive!"

Just as he finished speaking.

"Buzz—"

The space ahead rippled like water, and fifty black-robed figures silently emerged.

Nightmare stood at the front, his gaze calmly sweeping over Zhenyue Camp. Then, he raised his hand and flipped it over, unfolding the "Detailed Map of Peripheral Defenses" in his palm.

"The Zhenyue Sure-Kill Formation's core is hidden three zhang deep in the mountainside, using the ley lines as its Foundation. The weakness is... the Northeast Kun Position, where the gap in the earth Qi's flow is half a breath."

He closed the Jade Slip and looked toward the northeast corner.

Wang Yue saw this clearly from within the Formation, and his heart sank. "He has the defense map?! How is that possible?! That thing was clearly..."

Nightmare didn't give him time to think.

He made a grasping motion with his right hand, and the Grandmist Chaos Void Annihilation Reincarnation Unity Dao Reversal Demonic Star Flame condensed into a pitch-black long spear, its shaft wrapped in chaotic patterns.

"Break."

The spear left his hand, turning into a bolt of black lightning that pierced directly toward the Formation's Northeast Kun Position.

"Stop it!!" Wang Yue roared.

The Formation's light intensified, and the earthen spike shadows surged frantically toward the spear—but just an instant before contact, the Formation's light flickered extremely faintly.

A half-breath gap.

"Squelch—!"

The spear accurately pierced that faintly flickering node. The Demonic Flame spread frantically along the Formation lines, and everywhere it passed, the Formation's structure crumbled inch by inch.

"Rumble—!!"

The entire Formation shattered like glass, and the backlash surged back. Dozens of Cultivators manning the Formation coughed up blood and collapsed on the spot. The mountain shook, and rocks tumbled down.

Wang Yue spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with despair.

Nightmare took a step forward and was already in front of him.

"Wait... Wait! I'm willing to surrender! I know the Divine Court's internal..." Wang Yue shouted urgently.

"No need."

The Dao Reversal Blade swept across his neck.

His head flew off, and before his Divine Soul could escape, it was swept up by the Demonic Flame and burned to nothingness.

Nightmare sheathed his blade and looked behind him. "Clear the field."

The fifty black-robed elites dispersed once more.

Zhenyue Camp, fallen.

---

Meanwhile, throughout the Hongmeng Universe.

Eleven squads of the Reverse Dao Allied Forces pounced on the remaining peripheral outposts simultaneously, following the routes and weaknesses marked on the detailed defense map.

**Eastern Region, Fenglei Camp.**

The squad commander waved his hand. "The Formation's weakness is at the third line of the Zhen Position. Break it with Thunder Talismans."

Three purple Thunder Talismans shot out, and the camp's defensive Formation cracked accordingly. Before the internal Cultivators could finish assembling, they were slaughtered by the surging black-robed Cultivators.

**Western Region, Xuanshui Camp.**

The camp's commander tried to activate a water-attribute Formation to trap the enemy, but the squad commander used a fire-attribute forbidden technique to reverse-evaporate the Formation's Foundation. The entire camp, along with its people and Formation, turned into steam.

**Southern Region, Lieyang Camp.**

The resistance here was slightly stronger. Three Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm Peak Cultivators joined forces to maintain a Formation, holding out for a hundred breaths. Eventually, five black-robed Cultivators used a combined attack technique to forcibly pierce the Formation's core, and the entire camp was wiped out.

The sounds of one Jade Talisman after another shattering echoed outside the Divine Court's headquarters.

Every crisp sound represented an outpost losing contact.

Inside the headquarters, the atmosphere was as heavy as iron.

---

A day and a night later.

Tianshu Camp, the last peripheral outpost of the Divine Court and also the one with the strongest defense.

This place was guarded by two Cosmic Supreme Realm Early Stage Cultivators, and the camp was built next to a natural Void Rift, allowing them to use the rift's power to augment the Formation.

When Nightmare led his troops there, the camp's Formation was already fully active. A pale silver light barrier intertwined with the Void Rift, forming a distorted defensive Domain.

The two commanders stood side by side within the Formation, their expressions solemn.

"Zhao Yan, Wang Yue... they're all dead." The Grey-Robed Elder on the left spoke in a raspy voice. "This person's methods are ruthless; he is definitely no ordinary Supreme Late Stage."

The middle-aged man on the right gripped the battle-axe in his hand. "We'll just fight to the death. The headquarters' reinforcements are already on the way. As long as we hold out for one hour..."

"You won't hold out."

Nightmare's voice actually transmitted directly into the Formation.

The two looked up in horror, only to see that Nightmare had at some point reached the edge of the Formation, his right hand lightly pressed against the light barrier.

"The power of a Void Rift... somewhat interesting." The corner of his mouth curled slightly. "Unfortunately, what you've borrowed is not enough."

As he finished speaking, the Demonic Flame in his palm erupted.

It wasn't burning, but—devouring!

The pitch-black Demonic Flame spread along the Formation lines like a living thing, starting to frantically devour the Void Rift power flowing within the Formation! The light barrier dimmed at a visible speed.

"Stop him!!" the Grey-Robed Elder roared, charging out of the Formation with the middle-aged man, attacking Nightmare from both sides.

Nightmare didn't even look at them and raised his left hand.

"Buzz—"

The Demonic Flame split into two, wrapping around them like black chains.

The Grey-Robed Elder summoned his Lifebound Treasure to block, but the chain passed directly through the Magic Treasure and wrapped around his arm. In the next second, the flesh essence and Origin of his entire arm were instantly drained dry!

"Ah—!!" The elder screamed and retreated violently.

The middle-aged man swung his battle-axe, but it hit nothing. Nightmare's figure appeared behind him like a ghost, and the Dao Reversal Blade pierced through his heart with effortless ease.

"Pfft."

The tip of the blade emerged from his chest.

The middle-aged man looked down at the black blade tip emerging from his chest, opened his mouth, and finally collapsed silently.

Seeing this, the Grey-Robed Elder turned and fled—straight for the Void Rift!

"Trying to use the rift to escape?" Nightmare flicked his finger.

A wisp of Demonic Flame arrived first, sinking into the elder's back.

The elder's body froze in mid-air, then cracked inch by inch like broken porcelain, turning into fly ash.

Nightmare turned and looked at the already crumbling Tianshu Camp Formation.

"Let it end."

He threw a punch.

"Boom—!!!"

The entire camp, along with the Formation, buildings, and remaining Cultivators, was reduced to dust under this single punch. The Void Rift shook violently and finally closed slowly.

The dust settled.

Nightmare withdrew his hand, and the black-robed elites silently assembled behind him.

"My Lord, all thirteen peripheral outposts have been cleared," a commander stepped forward to report. "A total of thirteen Cosmic Supreme Realm Early Stage Cultivators and three hundred and twenty-one Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm Cultivators were slain, with those below the Hunyuan Celestial Venerable Realm uncounted. We have seized seventy-three crates of Origin resources and nineteen Jade Slips of Divine Court internal intelligence."

Nightmare nodded and looked into the distance.

Thousands of miles away, the outline of the Divine Court's headquarters loomed in the clouds.

"Go to Grandmist Canyon to rest for the night."

He turned, his voice calm yet filled with chilling killing intent:

"Tomorrow, we shall trample the Divine Court Outer City."