Demonic Vine Begins to Become

Deep within the swamp, beneath the mud.

Nightmare was like a dormant Vicious Beast, lurking in absolute darkness and silence. The foul swamp gas and dense Demonic Qi became his best cover. The Myriad Poison Demonic Scripture slowly circulated, drawing energy bit by bit from the harsh external environment, painstakingly repairing his damaged Physical Body.

But this rate of recovery was too slow.

Gu Qingying's appearance was like a sword hanging over his head, reminding him of the urgency of time and the proximity of danger. Healing step by step would only cause the gap between them to widen.

His Divine Sense once again focused on the silent, Mysterious Black Stone within the System space.

This object was extremely dangerous, yet the trace of Origin power contained within it made both his Myriad Poison Demonic Power and Xiangliu Poison crave it. It was a higher-level power, surpassing the ordinary energy of this world!

Fortune is found in danger!

A trace of mad determination flashed in Nightmare's eyes.

Cautiously, he extended a faint wisp of Divine Sense, like a tentacle, slowly toward the black stone in the System space.

The moment his Divine Sense made contact!

Buzz!

The black stone seemed to be startled awake again. Although suppressed by the System's power and unable to burst forth and devour, it still emitted a contradictory fluctuation of attraction and repulsion that was extremely faint yet inherently high-level!

The attraction was directed at all energy and matter.

The repulsion was directed at any will attempting to probe or control it.

[Warning! Host is attempting to make contact with an unanalyzed high-dimensional item! Risk Level: Extremely High!]

[Suggestion: Stop immediately! Alternatively, consume 10,000 villain points for System assistance in preliminary Energy Guidance and Buffering.]

The System's warning sounded, but it offered an option.

"Consume 10,000 points! Guide it immediately!" Nightmare did not hesitate in the slightest. This was no time to be stingy!

[Command confirmed! Consuming 10,000 villain points, initiating "Energy Buffering Guidance" mode.]

[Warning: The guidance process will be extremely painful, and there is a risk of energy loss of control. Host must maintain mental fortitude!]

A strange System power intervened, like wrapping a layer of tough membrane around the most dangerous explosive. Immediately afterward, a pure black energy stream, ten million times thinner than a strand of hair, was carefully peeled away and guided by the System from the black stone, slowly passing into Nightmare's Meridians!

The moment this wisp of energy flowed into his body, Nightmare's entire body violently shook! It was as if every cell had been thrown into a Purgatory Furnace!

Pain! Indescribable agony!

It was not merely tearing or burning, but an extreme agony that seemed to utterly decompose, assimilate, and annihilate the very essence of his existence! His Meridians, flesh, bones, and even his Divine Soul were all crying out under the unbearable burden!

The level of this energy was too high! So high that even his Myriad Poison Demonic Body was almost unable to withstand it!

"Ugh, ahhh—!" Nightmare gritted his teeth tightly, veins throbbing on his forehead, emitting an uncontrollable, painful low roar from his throat, and his body convulsed violently in the mud!

But his powerful Demonic Venerable Will played its role at this moment, fiercely guarding the last trace of clarity in his Spiritual Platform. He frantically circulated the Myriad Poison Demonic Scripture, guiding the terrifying energy along the Cultivation Technique's route, while simultaneously pushing the devouring characteristic of the Myriad Poison Demonic Body to the extreme, attempting to refine and adapt to it!

This was an incomparably difficult and painful process. The wisp of black stone energy was extremely stubborn, frantically destroying everything in its path, yet while destroying, an extremely small portion was forcibly torn away by the Myriad Poison Demonic Scripture and the Myriad Poison Demonic Body, integrating into Nightmare's Origin.

His Meridians became increasingly resilient and wide through constant tearing and repairing, and his Demonic Essence became purer and more condensed through repeated confrontation and devouring. It even took on a trace of the black stone energy's characteristics, becoming deeper and more devouring!

Even the wisp of Xiangliu Poison seemed to become slightly more active under the stimulation of this high-level energy.

After an unknown amount of time, the wisp of black stone energy introduced into his body was finally completely refined and absorbed.

Nightmare looked as if he had been pulled out of the water, soaked in cold sweat and filthy blood, collapsing weakly into the mud, breathing heavily, yet his eyes shone with excitement.

Worth it! Absolutely worth it!

Although the process was as painful as being subjected to slow slicing, the gains were enormous! He could clearly feel that the quality of his Demonic Essence had increased by a small margin, his Physical Body strength had improved, and more importantly, his resistance and adaptability to the black stone energy had risen!

Moreover, he still had 6,000 villain points remaining.

"Continue!" After a brief rest, Nightmare communicated with the System again. "Guide another wisp!"

[Warning: Host's physical endurance is approaching the critical limit! Risk of subsequent guidance increases by 50%!]

[Suggestion: Wait for a period, or exchange for "ten thousand year stone milk" to assist in repair (requires 5,000 points).]

"Exchange! Continue the guidance!" Nightmare gritted his teeth. Time waits for no one!

[Exchange successful! Consuming 5,000 villain points.]

[Energy guidance commencing...]

Another round of Hellish torment!

With the gentle restorative power of the ten thousand year stone milk acting as a buffer, the pain this time was slightly reduced, but still unforgettable.

After the second wisp of black stone energy was refined, Nightmare's condition was actually better than before; his injuries had recovered significantly, and his Realm was completely stabilized at the Late Golden Core Stage, even taking a small step toward the Peak.

Only 1,000 villain points remained, making effective exchange and guidance impossible.

Nightmare temporarily halted this self-abusive Cultivation and turned his attention to the newly acquired Divine Ability—World Devouring Demonic Vine.

To Cultivate this Divine Ability, one must first condense a "demonic vine seed" within the body. The condensation of the seed requires massive amounts of pure energy and a trace of Origin power with the devouring attribute.

Nightmare's heart stirred. The black stone energy he had just refined possessed the ultimate devouring attribute! Wasn't it the perfect Materials for condensing the demonic vine seed?

He immediately followed the Divine Ability method, slowly gathering, compressing, and condensing the Demonic Essence containing a trace of the black stone characteristics, along with a portion of the Xiangliu Poison Origin, toward his Dantian... This process was much easier than refining the black stone energy, but it still required extremely high control.

Time slowly flowed by.

Inside Nightmare's Dantian, beneath the demonic gold core, an extremely subtle, ink-black seed phantom gradually emerged. The surface of the seed bore strange, naturally formed markings resembling the black stone's pores, emitting faint but heart-palpitating devouring fluctuations.

Success! The embryonic form of the demonic vine seed!

Although further nurturing and more energy were required before true condensation was complete, the most difficult step had been accomplished!

Nightmare slowly opened his eyes, feeling the nascent seed phantom and the stabilized power within his body, and slowly exhaled a mouthful of foul, fishy-smelling air.

His injuries had recovered by seventy percent, his Realm was stabilized at the Late Golden Core Stage, the demonic vine seed was initially formed, and he had gained a certain degree of adaptability to the black stone energy.

Although the cost was enormous, having nearly exhausted all his villain points, his strength had finally recovered significantly, and he now possessed a new trump card.

It was time to leave this swamp.

He cautiously rose from the mud, his Divine Sense spreading out like ripples, carefully probing his surroundings.

After confirming that there were no traces of powerful Yao Beasts or Cultivators within dozens of miles, Nightmare silently darted out of the swamp like a ghost, landing atop a massive dead tree.

Looking around, it was still an endless, vast primeval jungle, permeated with Demonic Qi, where ancient trees reached the sky.

Where should he go next?

Should he continue deeper into the Southern Wasteland Demon Domain? The risk would be greater, but the opportunities might also be more numerous.

Or should he turn toward the Human Race territories? It would be easier to gather information and acquire resources, but also easier to be exposed.

Just as Nightmare was pondering—

[Ding! System Version V2.0 new function "Area Scan" activated (Cooldown: 7 days).]

[Scanning... Based on Host's current location and energy fluctuation analysis...]

[Scan Result: An abnormal energy convergence point detected 3,700 li to the southeast, suspected to be an Ancient Cultivator Ruin or a large Yao Beast Lair. Energy Rank: Peak Golden Core Stage to Early Nascent Soul Stage. High risk, potential for high-value items.]

[10,000 li directly west, a faint Human Race city fluctuation detected. Scale: Small Cultivation Town.]

[Directly north... Warning! High-intensity Destiny Fluctuation residue detected! Suspected direction traveled by an "Old Acquaintance"! Evasion recommended!]

The System's scan results were clearly presented in Nightmare's mind.

Ruins? Town? Or... continue avoiding Gu Qingying?

Nightmare's gaze fell upon the southeast direction.

A small town held little attraction for him, and the direction Gu Qingying had traveled must naturally be avoided.

In that case, there was only one answer.

High risk, high reward. It was perfectly suited to his current state.

A glint of bloodlust and anticipation flashed in Nightmare's eyes. His figure moved, transforming into a faint wisp of black smoke, silently merging into the shadows of the forest, and rapidly sped toward the unknown perilous location in the southeast.

A new hunting ground awaited him.