First Impression of the Secret Realm

The environment of the Southern Wasteland Demon Domain was far more harsh and wild than Nightmare had anticipated.

On the dark red land, vegetation was sparse but exceptionally tough, mostly thorny or poisonous. The Demonic Qi permeating the air was not only thin and chaotic but also mixed with various poisonous miasma and Evil Qi. Ordinary Human Race Cultivators would likely find it difficult to even maintain the circulation of their magical power here.

But for Nightmare, who possessed the Myriad Poison Demonic Scripture and the Myriad Poison Demonic Body, this environment, while not a blessed land, was like a fish in water. The chaotic Demonic Qi and sparse poisonous miasma could all be refined by the Demonic Scripture, becoming fuel for his power.

His goal was clear: hunt Yao Beasts, acquire Demonic Cores and Materials, exchange them for System villain points, and search for potential Spiritual Plants to further solidify and enhance his cultivation.

His Divine Sense spread out like an invisible radar. Although suppressed by the Demonic Qi environment here, significantly reducing its range, he could still clearly perceive energy fluctuations within several miles.

Soon, a prey entered Nightmare's Perception range.

It was a crimson Demonic Leopard, with a body comparable to a giant elephant and fur like burning flames, lurking behind a patch of red rocks. Its cold beast eyes were fixed on an Iron-Armored Rhinoceros nearby, which was gnawing on poisonous grass. Its aura was formidable, clearly reaching the Middle Stage of the Third Rank, equivalent to a Human Race Cultivator at the fourth or fifth layer of the Golden Core Stage!

"A Red Flame Demonic Leopard, extremely fast, skilled in controlling flames. The fire elemental energy contained in its Demonic Core is quite pure," Nightmare instantly identified the Yao Beast's species, his eyes showing no ripple of emotion.

If he had encountered this beast during his Foundation Establishment Stage, it would have required some effort, but now... just as the Red Flame Demonic Leopard was about to pounce on the Iron-Armored Rhinoceros!

A figure, like a ghost, appeared without warning in the shadows behind the Demonic Leopard.

Nightmare didn't even use his Soul Shattering Finger; he simply pointed his fingers like a blade. Pure Demonic Essence enveloped his palm, carrying a trace of the deathly aura of Xiangliu Poison, and swiftly, like lightning, plunged towards the Demonic Leopard's relatively vulnerable neck!

The Demonic Leopard's spiritual sense was extremely keen. The moment Nightmare appeared, its fur stood on end, and it let out an angry roar. Intense flames suddenly erupted around its body as it tried to turn and swipe with its claws!

But Nightmare was too fast! So fast that it exceeded its reaction limit!

Pfft!

The hand-blade, like cutting tofu, easily tore through its protective Demonic Fire and tough fur, precisely severing the Demonic Leopard's neck bone!

The Demonic Leopard's roar ceased abruptly. Its massive body convulsed violently before crashing to the ground, its crimson beast eyes still retaining an expression of incredible terror. The flames slowly extinguished, and all signs of life vanished.

Instant kill!

Nightmare expressionlessly cut open the Demonic Leopard's head, retrieved a pigeon-egg-sized, scorching red Demonic Core, and then took the most valuable leopard skin, sharp claws, fangs, and the tail that contained considerable fire elemental energy. Although Yao Beast flesh also contained energy, it was too miscellaneousand inconvenient to carry, so Nightmare only took a small portion of the most essential parts.

"Ding! You have killed a Middle Stage Third Rank Yao Beast, the Red Flame Demonic Leopard, and gained +350 villain points."

The System's notification sound rang out.

"Only 350 points?" Nightmare frowned slightly. The gains from killing Yao Beasts of the same rank were far less rapid than causing trouble and disrupting plotlines. It seemed that relying solely on hunting to accumulate villain points quickly was too inefficient.

Putting away the Materials, Nightmare continued his journey.

In the following days, Nightmare was like a highly efficient killing machine, roaming the outer regions of the Southern Wasteland Demon Domain. More than ten Third Rank Yao Beasts died by his hand, including even a Late Stage Third Rank "Earth-Splitting Demonic Bear" with thick skin and flesh and astonishing strength, which required Nightmare to exert some effort and use his enhanced Soul Shattering Finger to annihilate its Divine Soul.

He accumulated a considerable amount of Demonic Cores and Materials, and his villain points slowly grew to nearly 5000 (with about 2000 actually usable after deducting debts), but the Spiritual Plants, Ore, or other Opportunities Nightmare hoped for were not encountered. This land seemed to have had its essence extracted by some force, appearing exceptionally barren.

One day, Nightmare was tracking a Third Rank Poison Toad skilled in stealth when his Divine Sense suddenly caught intense spiritual energy clashes and Yao Beast roars from ahead, mixed with the shouts of Human Race Cultivators.

A conflict?

Nightmare immediately restrained his aura and approached silently.

He saw three Cultivators engaged in a fierce battle in a mountain valley filled with poisonous swamps. Their opponents were two Swamp-Scaled Crocodiles, entirely black with ferocious scales, constantly spitting venom from their mouths, both reaching the Middle Stage of the Third Rank!

The three Cultivators, two men and one woman, wore uniform gray Daoist robes, seemingly Disciples of a Sect. The highest cultivated was the leading young man, appearing to be at the fourth layer of the Golden Core Stage, while the other man and woman were both at the Early Golden Core Stage Stage. The three formed a simple Three-Talent Formation, sword light flying, Talismans exploding, barely fending off the frantic attacks of the two Swamp-Scaled Crocodiles, but they were clearly struggling and in grave danger. Especially the female Cultivator, whose face was pale, with a patch on her shoulder corroded by venom, and her movements were already somewhat sluggish.

"Senior Brother! What should we do? This beast's poison is too potent! The Clear Heart Talismans can barely suppress it anymore!" the younger male Cultivator anxiously shouted, parrying a Swamp-Scaled Crocodile's sharp claw with his sword, but was shaken, his Qi and blood churning.

"Hold on! I've already sent out a distress signal. If there are any Junior Martial Uncles or elders nearby, they will surely come to our rescue!" the leading young man gritted his teeth, his long sword weaving sword flowers to repel the other crocodile's pounce, but his eyes were also filled with anxiety. He had no idea how effective a distress signal would be deep in this Demon Domain.

Nightmare hid in the distant poisonous miasma, watching the battlefield indifferently. Saving people? He had no interest. He was evaluating the value of the two Swamp-Scaled Crocodiles, and... whether he could be The Fisherman who profited.

Just as the injured Swamp-Scaled Crocodile once again opened its gaping maw, brewing venom, and was about to spray it at the female Cultivator who was running low on magical power—

An unexpected change occurred!

Whoosh!

An extremely subtle, almost imperceptible grey-black finger wind, appeared without warning from the side and behind. It didn't shoot towards the Swamp-Scaled Crocodile, but precisely struck its lower jaw!

Soul Shattering Finger — Hidden Force Penetration!

The Swamp-Scaled Crocodile was about to spit venom when its lower jaw was suddenly struck. Although it didn't break its defense, the strange Divine Soul hidden force contained within instantly disrupted its control over its poison sac!

"Pfft—!"

A large glob of dark green venom, instead of spraying out far, violently exploded in its mouth!

"Awoo!!!" The Swamp-Scaled Crocodile immediately let out an incredibly shrill howl, its massive head thrashing wildly. The venom backfired, corroding its own mouth and throat with sizzling sounds, instantly suffering severe injuries!

This sudden turn of events stunned both the other Swamp-Scaled Crocodile and the three Cultivators.

The leading young man reacted first. Although he didn't know who had helped, a battle Opportunity was fleeting!

"Good chance! Junior Sister, Junior Brother, attack its eyes and wounds!" he shouted, his sword light blazing, aiming directly for the injured crocodile's eyes!

The other two were also greatly invigorated and immediately attacked with all their might.

The intact Swamp-Scaled Crocodile tried to rescue its companion but was firmly entangled by the young man.

In just a moment, the Swamp-Scaled Crocodile, severely injured by its own venom, wailed and fell dead under the combined assault of the three. The remaining one, unable to stand alone, was also quickly slain by their combined efforts.

The battle ended, and the three Cultivators were all panting, collapsing to the ground, their faces showing the relief of surviving a catastrophe.

"What... what just happened?" the younger male Cultivator asked, gasping for breath, looking at the crocodile's tragic demise, still feeling lingering fear.

The leading young man shook his head with a solemn expression, his gaze cautiously sweeping the surroundings. He cupped his hands and called out loudly, "May I ask which Fellow Daoist lent a helping hand? Cheng Yuan of Qinglin Sect thanks Your Excellency for saving our lives, please show yourself!"

Only the wailing of the wind through the poisonous swamp echoed in the valley; no one responded.

Nightmare had already quietly departed. He acted not to save people, but simply because he felt the Swamp-Scaled Crocodile's poison sac had some value, and to test the hidden force effect of his enhanced Soul Shattering Finger. As for showing himself? Completely unnecessary.

However, not long after he left, his Divine Sense caught the subsequent conversation of the three Cultivators.

"Senior Brother, since that person is unwilling to show himself, perhaps they've already left. We should leave this place quickly; the smell of blood will attract other Yao Beasts," the female Cultivator said worriedly, her complexion slightly better after taking a Medicinal Pill.

Cheng Yuan nodded, then shook his head: "Wait a moment longer. I must try to absorb the accompanying Evil Qi of the 'Earth Fiend Demonic Lotus,' otherwise this trip would be in vain, and I wouldn't be able to account to Revered Master."

"But Senior Brother, this place is too dangerous..."

"It's fine, that mysterious person might still be nearby, so Yao Beasts won't dare approach for a while. Moreover, the Earth Fiend Demonic Lotus is about to mature, and the Evil Qi it emits is crucial for my cultivation of the 'Azure Fiend Sword Body,' I absolutely cannot miss it!" Cheng Yuan's tone was firm as he walked towards a hidden poisonous pool deep in the valley.

Earth Fiend Demonic Lotus? Nightmare's departing footsteps paused slightly. This was a rather rare High Grade Profound Rank Spiritual Plant, typically growing in extremely yin and evil places. Its lotus root was the main Material for refining many Medicinal Pills, its lotus seeds could enhance Physical Body strength, and the accompanying Earth Fiend Qi had miraculous effects on cultivating certain special Cultivation Techniques or refining Magic Treasures.

That's somewhat interesting.

Nightmare changed direction, silently circling back to the other side of the valley, hiding and observing quietly.

He saw Cheng Yuan arrive at the edge of the poisonous pool. In the center of the pool, indeed, grew a lotus that was entirely black, with natural evil patterns on its petals, already budding and emitting pure yin Evil Qi. Cheng Yuan sat cross-legged, circulated his Cultivation Technique, and began to carefully guide the wisps of Evil Qi into his body for cultivation.

The other two Disciples nervously stood guard nearby.

Time passed bit by bit, and the bud of the Earth Fiend Demonic Lotus slowly bloomed, emitting increasingly rich and pure Evil Qi.

However, just as the Demonic Lotus was about to fully bloom!

Boom!

The entire valley suddenly shook violently! It wasn't from a Yao Beast, but originated from deep within the earth!

The sewage in the poisonous pool churned wildly, and the soil around the Earth Fiend Demonic Lotus suddenly cracked open. A more pure, yet a hundred times more violent, 'Earth Vein Evil Qi' mixed with some ancient and desolate aura, violently gushed out from the crack!

"Ah!" Cheng Yuan bore the brunt, sent flying by the violent Evil Qi, spitting blood, clearly suffering serious internal injuries.

The two Disciples were even more shaken, stumbling around.

However, the gushing Earth Vein Evil Qi did not last long, quickly diminishing, but within the cracked earth, a seven-colored glow faintly flickered, and a rich, almost tangible Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi mixed with a medicinal fragrance emanated!

"This... this is..." Cheng Yuan struggled to get up, looking at the crack in the earth, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief, "Earth veins shifting, spiritual energy gushing... could this be... an undiscovered Ancient Cultivator Secret Realm entrance?!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement.

In the distance, Nightmare's eyes finally showed a trace of genuine interest.

Ancient Cultivator Secret Realm?

An ancient Cultivator's Secret Realm?