Chapter 427 Standoff in the Inner City, Heavenly Emperor's Projection Appears

The scent of blood in the Outer City had not yet dissipated as Nightmare led his army toward the Inner City.

The Reverse Dao Allied Forces followed silently behind him, their black robes stained with wet blood, their Killing Intent condensing into substance. No one spoke; only the rhythmic sound of footsteps and the friction of armor echoed through the empty streets of the Outer City.

The walls of the Inner City were now right before their eyes.

Unlike the Grandmist Divine Stones of the Outer City, the Inner City walls were forged entirely from "Heavenly Emperor Gold Crystal." They stood over three thousand zhang high, with liquid-like golden formation patterns flowing across their surface. The pressure exuded by the entire wall made it difficult even for ordinary Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm Cultivators to breathe as they approached.

Atop the city walls, three figures stood side by side.

The one in the center wore golden armor and purple robes, his expression cold and stern. He was the commander of the Inner City guards—Xiao Jue, a Supreme Realm Middle Stage Cultivator.

The two to his left and right were also at the Middle Stage. Their auras were as steady as mountains, and their eyes showed no ripples of emotion, as if the destruction of the Outer City had nothing to do with them.

Behind the three of them, two hundred Hongmeng Celestial Venerable Realm Cultivators stood in formation. Each held a golden Formation Flag, its runes flowing and faintly resonating with the formation patterns on the city walls.

"The Heavenly Emperor Guardian Array," Xiao Jue said, his gaze falling on Nightmare, his voice flat. "For ten thousand years, no one has been able to break it."

He raised his hand and waved:

"Activate the array."

Two hundred Formation Flags were raised simultaneously, and golden light soared into the sky, merging with the city wall's formation patterns. A translucent golden light barrier rose from the walls, quickly enveloping the entire Inner City. Countless ancient runes appeared on the barrier's surface, each exuding the pressure of the Heavenly Emperor.

The air instantly became viscous, and the Laws seemed to be imprisoned.

Behind Nightmare, several Reverse Path Cultivators with weaker cultivation groaned, actually forced back half a step by this pressure.

Xiao Jue looked at Nightmare, his tone still flat:

"Retreat, or die."

As he spoke, the three commanders simultaneously released their Supreme Middle Stage pressure, crashing down like three invisible mountains!

The army behind Nightmare all changed color.

Just then—

*Buzz—*

In the sky, the clouds churned as a blurry golden phantom slowly coalesced.

The phantom was over a hundred zhang tall, dressed in imperial robes and wearing a crown. His face was blurred yet as majestic as the heavens. He simply stood there silently, and the Laws of the entire world began to submit and pay homage.

The Heavenly Emperor's Projection!

"Reverse Path scoundrel."

The Heavenly Emperor's voice emanated from the phantom, as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice. Every word was like a decree of the Heavenly Dao, striking at everyone's hearts:

"This deity acknowledges that your cultivation has not been easy. If you retreat now, I can spare your life."

The voice echoed, and heaven and earth fell silent.

All the Reverse Path Cultivators felt a fear originating from the depths of their Souls. It was the instinctive trembling of a lower life form facing a Supreme existence.

Nightmare, however, laughed.

He looked up at the boundlessly majestic golden phantom, a mocking curve tugging at the corner of his mouth:

"The Hongmeng Divine Court has committed countless evils. Today shall be the day of your destruction."

He paused, saying each word deliberately:

"A mere projection dares to try and intimidate me?"

As he finished speaking, the Demonic Flames around him erupted! Pitch-black fire soared into the sky, actually forcing back the golden light emitted by the Heavenly Emperor's Projection by three parts!

Xiao Jue's pupils shrank. "You... you dare show disrespect to the Heavenly Emperor!"

Nightmare didn't waste any more words.

He took a step forward, his figure like black lightning, lunging straight for the Inner City walls!

"Stop him!" Xiao Jue roared, attacking simultaneously with the two commanders beside him.

Three golden divine lights, like rainbows piercing the sun, carried an aura of destruction as they blasted toward Nightmare. Every strike was enough to heavily wound a Supreme Middle Stage Cultivator!

Nightmare didn't dodge. His right hand gripped the air, and the Dao Reversal Reincarnation Unity Blade materialized. Facing the three divine lights, he slashed down!

*Boom—!!!*

A terrifying energy shockwave exploded in mid-air as golden and black lights frantically intertwined and annihilated each other. The three divine lights were actually shattered by that single slash!

The aftershocks swept back, causing Xiao Jue and the others to groan in unison as they were forced back three steps.

"How is this possible?!" the commander on the left cried out in shock.

The three of them had joined forces, bolstered by the Heavenly Emperor Guardian Array, yet they were suppressed by a single person and a single blade?

Nightmare had reached the city wall, his gaze falling on the golden light barrier.

"The Formation Eye is in the center of the city gate, three zhang underground," he whispered to himself. Then, he raised his foot and stomped on the ground!

*Thump—!*

The entire earth shook violently. A black crack spread out from beneath his feet like a ferocious black Dragon, charging straight for the city gate!

Wherever the crack passed, the formation patterns on the ground shattered inch by inch!

"Not good! He's destroying the Formation Foundation!" Xiao Jue was horrified. The three of them lunged at Nightmare simultaneously, trying to stop him.

Nightmare didn't even look at them. He waved his left hand:

"Get lost."

Three giant black palms condensed from Demonic Flames appeared out of thin air and slammed into the three of them!

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Xiao Jue and the others felt as if they had been struck by a heavy blow. Their protective divine light shattered instantly, and they were sent flying back, coughing up blood and slamming heavily against the city wall!

By then, the black crack had already spread to the center of the city gate.

Nightmare raised his hand, his fingers clenching the air:

"Rise!"

*Rumble—!!*

The ground exploded, and a foundation stone, entirely golden and covered in dense inscriptions, was forcibly pulled from the earth!

The core Formation Eye of the Heavenly Emperor Guardian Array was exposed!

The golden light barrier flickered violently, its light dimming rapidly.

"No—!" Xiao Jue roared, struggling to get up and lunging toward the Formation Eye.

Nightmare flicked his finger.

A wisp of Demonic Flame shot out like an arrow and entered the space between Xiao Jue's brows.

Xiao Jue's body froze. The divine light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and he finally collapsed silently, his life force extinguished.

Seeing this, the two commanders on the left and right exchanged a glance and simultaneously tore through space, attempting to flee!

"Can you escape?"

Nightmare's voice was cold as he grasped the air with both hands.

*Chii! Chii!*

The space around the two of them instantly solidified, then shattered like glass! Their bodies were torn to pieces along with the space. Before their Divine Souls could even escape, they were swept up by Demonic Flames and incinerated.

Three Supreme Middle Stage experts, dead.

By now, the golden light barrier was as thin as a cicada's wing.

Nightmare looked at the Heavenly Emperor's Projection in the sky and sneered:

"I am waiting here. Come quickly and meet your death."

With that, he threw a punch at the Formation Eye!

*Crack—!!*

The Formation Eye stone exploded!

The golden light barrier enveloping the Inner City collapsed and dissipated, turning into countless spots of light that fell like a golden drizzle.

In the sky, the Heavenly Emperor's Projection vibrated slightly, and fury seemed to churn on his blurred face.

But in the end, he said nothing, only giving Nightmare a deep look.

The projection slowly dissipated.

Heaven and earth returned to silence.

Nightmare withdrew his fist and looked at the wide-open Inner City gate. His voice reached the entire army:

"Enter the city."

"Clear out all remnants. Leave none alive."