All in one's pocket

Outside the Immortal Cave, battle cries shook the heavens, the light of Spells flashed wildly, and blood and severed limbs splattered everywhere. For the right to be the first to enter the Immortal Cave, the Xuanming Sect, Tiansha Sect, and those bloodthirsty Loose Cultivators had fallen into a complete chaotic battle, with people dying every moment.

However, inside the Immortal Cave, it was a different scene.

Nightmare was the first to step in, and the clamor behind him was instantly largely isolated by an invisible barrier, leaving only a muffled rumble. What greeted his eyes was a wide and deep passageway, its walls built from some kind of dark stone, carved with ancient ghost Dao runes that had long been lost. Although most of their spiritual light had faded, they still exuded a desolate aura that made one's heart tremble.

The Yin Spiritual Qi in the air was so dense it was almost substantial, more than ten times purer than outside, and mixed within it was a faint… medicinal fragrance?

Nightmare's Divine Sense had already spread out, and he instantly perceived that there were no dangerous Restrictions within this passageway. Presumably, all defensive power was concentrated at the entrance. He moved without stopping, transforming into an afterimage, and swiftly swept inward along the passageway.

At the end of the passageway was an extremely spacious stone hall.

In the center of the stone hall stood a statue of a three-headed, six-armed ghost Dao deity with a ferocious face. Although the stone was mottled, it still exuded an air of majesty. Around the stone hall were three side chambers.

The medicinal fragrance came from the first side chamber on the left.

Nightmare did not hesitate and was the first to rush into that side chamber.

The scene inside made his gaze slightly narrow. In the center of the side chamber was a small medicinal garden, its soil actually composed of dark Yin Evil Spiritual Soil. A faint, almost completely dissipated transparent light cover covered the medicinal garden. Inside the light cover, three peculiar plants grew.

A small grass, entirely dark blue, with leaves flickering like ghost flames—Netherworld Grass, at least five hundred years old!

A vine entwined with gray mist, bearing three black, longan-sized fruits—Soul Evil Fruit, already ripe!

The most striking was a lotus in the very center of the medicinal garden. The lotus had nine petals, which were an extreme dark purple, but in its heart burned a cluster of pale white flames, gently swaying and emitting strange fluctuations that nourished the Divine Soul—it was precisely the top-tier Spirit Medicine mentioned in the Jade Slip as potentially appearing alongside the nine nether soul-returning grass, the netherworld ghost lotus!

“There really is an unexpected pleasant surprise!” Even with Nightmare’s steady Heart-Nature, he couldn’t help but show a hint of joy at this moment.

The protective light cover was already on the verge of shattering; he casually pointed a finger and broke it. Instantly, an even richer, exotic fragrance assailed his nostrils, making his Divine Soul feel comfortable.

Without ceremony, he took out the pre-prepared jade boxes and jade shovel, carefully transplanting and collecting the three Spirit Medicines, along with the Yin Evil Spiritual Soil at their roots, intact. Especially the netherworld ghost lotus, which he sealed with a special Spell to ensure that none of its medicinal power leaked out.

After collecting the Spirit Medicines, he immediately turned to the second side chamber.

This side chamber resembled a study combined with a Cultivation Room. There was a stone table, a meditation cushion, and several weathered paintings with unidentifiable content hanging on the walls. On the stone table were several dark-colored Jade Slips, and a small banner, only about a foot long, entirely black, yet emitting an aura that made one's Divine Soul tremble.

Nightmare's gaze first fell upon that small banner. The aura of this small banner was more than ten times stronger than the nether banner he had just seized! Although its spiritual light was restrained, the Soul Power fluctuations, condensed to the extreme, clearly indicated it was a top-grade Spirit Treasure, or even… approaching the level of an Acquired Spirit Treasure!

“myriad soul soul-devouring banner?” Nightmare's heart stirred as he saw the ancient Seal script carved on the banner pole. This was the real good stuff!

He grabbed the small banner, and his Divine Sense forcibly invaded, instantly wiping away the last faint trace of the original owner's imprint and imprinting his own. The small banner trembled slightly, dark light flowing, signifying its initial recognition of him as its master.

Afterward, he quickly scanned the Jade Slips. One Jade Slip recorded an ancient ghost Cultivation Technique called the “Nether Prison Ghost Canon,” which was quite profound, but it was not the same path as his Myriad Poison Demonic Scripture, so its reference value was greater than its practical value. Another Jade Slip contained some secret techniques for cultivating Yin souls and refining ghost artifacts, which might be useful. The last Jade Slip seemed to be a casual record left by the Immortal Cave's owner, mentioning some information about “Soul Burying Valley” and “Yinming Stream,” and also noting that “there might be a passage to the Netherworld at the bottom of the stream,” which gave him a clearer direction for finding the nine nether soul-returning grass.

He put away the Jade Slips and the myriad soul soul-devouring banner together, then cast his gaze towards the last side chamber.

This side chamber resembled an Artifact Refining Room, with a ground fire vent in the center, but it had long been extinguished. Scattered nearby were some discarded Material residues from failed Artifact Refining. In the corner, several pieces of Ore shimmered with a faint glow—Yin Nether Iron, an excellent Material for refining Yin-attribute Magical Artifacts, which was also not bad.

Just as he was collecting the Yin Nether Iron, the rumbling sound at the Immortal Cave entrance suddenly grew louder, mixed with several shouts of wild joy!

“The Restriction is broken! Charge!”

“The treasure is mine!”

Clearly, the chaotic battle outside had temporarily yielded a result, and someone had rushed in!

The first to rush into the stone hall were Yan Li and two trusted subordinates from the Tiansha Sect. All three were injured and covered in blood, yet their faces were filled with wild joy and greed. Immediately after, Leng Juexin of the Xuanming Sect also rushed in with three or four Disciples, his face as dark as water. Following them were more than ten Loose Cultivators and Cultivators from other forces who had broken through the encirclement.

As soon as everyone entered the stone hall, their gazes were immediately drawn to the ghost Dao deity statue and the three open side chambers.

“Where are the treasures?!” Yan Li suddenly looked at the medicinal garden side chamber, found it empty with only a pit remaining, and his eyes instantly turned red.

Leng Juexin, on the other hand, immediately saw Nightmare collecting the last piece of Yin Nether Iron in the Artifact Refining Room, then glanced at the empty study side chamber, and instantly understood everything!

“It's you! You've monopolized all the treasures!” Leng Juexin shrieked, his voice filled with endless rage and killing intent!

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Nightmare!

Greed, jealousy, and killing intent enveloped him as if they were substantial!

Yan Li also reacted, roaring, “You bastard! How dare you snatch food from a tiger's mouth! Spit it out!” He violently swung a giant axe the size of a door panel, its Evil Qi soaring, and moved to pounce.

The other Cultivators also conjured their Magical Artifacts, blocking all of Nightmare's escape routes!

Facing enemies all around, Nightmare, however, merely unhurriedly put the last piece of Yin Nether Iron into his storage ring, then slowly turned around.

His face still held that sallow, calm expression, but his eyes, at this moment, were as deep as an abyssal cold pool, sweeping over everyone with a hint of indifferent mockery.

“Monopolize?” He chuckled softly, “The treasures here belong to the virtuous. Evidently, my virtue is… a little higher than all of yours.”

“Arrogant!”

“Kill him! Divide the treasures equally!”

Such naked provocation instantly ignited everyone's last shred of rationality!

Yan Li was the first to lose control, roaring, “I'll cleave you!” The giant axe, carrying terrifying, tearing Evil Qi, chopped down directly! Leng Juexin also attacked almost simultaneously, pointing a finger, and an extremely cold Profound Nether Finger Wind silently assailed Nightmare's back!

Two Perfected Golden Core Stage powerhouses, enraged, launched a fatal blow at the same time!

The other Cultivators also attacked one after another, various Spells and Magical Artifacts raining down on Nightmare like a storm! Instantly submerging his location completely!

Rumble—!

A tremendous roar echoed throughout the stone hall, and an energy storm raged wildly, making the walls creak.

Everyone stared intently at the center of the explosion, eager to see the arrogant fellow blasted into dust.

However, when the energy light dissipated slightly...

The ferocity and greed on everyone's faces instantly froze, turning into extreme shock and disbelief!

Nightmare was still standing in place, not even a corner of his clothes was damaged.

Around his body, countless black, grotesque vines, swirling with dark golden wind Evil Qi patterns, had appeared at some unknown point! These vines intertwined to form an impenetrable barrier, easily blocking all attacks—including Yan Li's giant axe and Leng Juexin's Profound Nether Finger Wind—outside!

Dark golden light flowed on the vines, exuding a terrifying aura that made even Golden Core Cultivators tremble!

The Peak Golden Core Stage Wind-Devouring Demonic Vine! After absorbing Yin Evil Qi and the feedback from Nightmare's Breakthrough, it was infinitely close to Perfection!

“Done fighting?” Nightmare's indifferent voice rang out, like the whisper of the grim reaper, “Then it's my turn.”

His mind stirred.

Buzz!

The newly acquired myriad soul soul-devouring banner was instantly conjured, growing with the wind, transforming into a ten-foot-long grand banner, suspended in the air!

In an instant, the temperature throughout the stone hall plummeted! The sharp wails of myriad souls rang out, countless twisted and suffering phantoms surged from the banner, among them even several powerful main souls whose aura was comparable to the Golden Core Stage! Terrifying Soul Power pressure swept out like a tsunami!

“myriad soul banner! And it's a top-grade Spirit Treasure!” Leng Juexin shrieked, his face pale!

Yan Li's scalp also tingled, and a huge sense of crisis arose in his heart!

“Suppress!”

Nightmare gently uttered a single word.

The myriad soul soul-devouring banner violently shook!

A monstrous black soul tide surged out like a tangible entity, instantly filling the entire stone hall! Those Cultivators who rushed in, whether Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, as long as their Cultivation was below the Late Stage, let out incomparably shrill screams the moment they were swept by this soul tide. Their eyes instantly became dull, and their Divine Souls were directly torn from their bodies and sucked into the banner!

Even Late Golden Core Stage Cultivators only felt excruciating pain in their Divine Souls, their heads splitting, unable to exert even fifty percent of their strength!

“No—!” Screams rose and fell.

In just one exchange, nearly half of the more than twenty Cultivators who had rushed in were instantly gone! Only Yan Li, Leng Juexin, and seven or eight other Cultivators above the Late Golden Core Stage were still struggling to hold on, but their faces were also pale, and their souls were shaking!

“Devil Head! You are a Devil Head!” A Loose Cultivator cried out in despair, turning to flee.

But a black demonic vine shot out like a venomous snake, instantly piercing him and sucking him dry into a mummy.

Nightmare was expressionless, ruthless as if harvesting straw.

He looked at Yan Li, whose eyes were about to burst, and Leng Juexin, who was utterly terrified, and slowly raised his hand.

The Myriad Poison Soul Devouring Finger condensed once again.

It was time to clear the stage completely.

The true treasures could only belong to the strongest. As for the others, they were merely ants contributing their living souls and nourishment.