Ye Fan first appeared

Nightmare's figure was hidden within the Void Realm, like a Sword of Damocles hanging high above the Flowing Cloud Sect.

His terrifying Divine Sense at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage was like an invisible net, shrouding every corner of the Sect. Every ripple of Spiritual Qi, every whispered word, was clearly reflected in his perception.

Absolute power brought absolute control.

Inside the Flowing Cloud Sect, the scene had completely descended into panic and chaos.

The sight of Sect Master Li Daoyuan being killed in an instant by a casual flick of a finger was like the most terrifying Nightmare, deeply branded into the hearts of all who witnessed it.

The majesty of a Nascent Soul expert, usually just a concept from legends, was presented before them today in such a bloody and direct manner; the impact was unparalleled.

The few Golden Core Elders on the high platform were pale, their backs soaked in cold sweat. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with struggle and fear.

Self-destruct their cultivation? For a Cultivator who had painstakingly cultivated for hundreds of years, this was more painful than death. But if they didn't do it? That terrifying Devil Head clearly followed through on his words; his threat to slaughter the Sect was no joke! Even the Sect Master, at the Perfected Golden Core, had been crushed like an ant—how could they possibly resist?

"Elder Wang... what should we..." A Middle Golden Core Elder looked at the leading Late Golden Core Stage old man, his voice trembling.

Elder Wang's face was ashen. Looking at Li Daoyuan's corpse on the ground and feeling that ubiquitous, cold, and tangible Spiritual Pressure, he finally let out a miserable laugh: "The might of a Nascent Soul is not something we can resist... For the sake of the Sect's survival... accept our fate..."

He gritted his teeth suddenly, a flash of determination and pain in his eyes. He raised his palm and smashed it fiercely against his own Dantian and Qi Sea!

"Pfft!" A mouthful of blood mixed with Golden Core fragments sprayed out wildly! Elder Wang's Aura instantly withered like a deflated ball, his face turning golden-paper pale, swaying unsteadily. He had actually destroyed his own Golden Core!

With a leader, the remaining despair spread like a plague. The other Elders who knew of or had participated in the events of that year looked deathly pale. Finally, they all let out miserable laughs or wails, choosing to destroy their own cultivation. For a time, Spiritual Qi dissipated on the high platform, and cries of grief filled the air.

The lower-level Disciples were even more terrified, especially those who had bullied Ye Li or participated in the hunt for Nightmare back then. At this moment, they were ghastly pale, collapsing to the ground, and a foul, pungent smell filled the air—some had actually lost control of their bladders in fear.

Soon, dozens of Disciples, in extreme terror, wailed as they shattered their own Meridians, destroying the cultivation they had painstakingly built for years, collapsing to the ground like cripples.

Within the Void Realm, Nightmare watched all of this coldly. To him, the pain, struggle, and despair of these people were meaningless; it was simply a matter of paying a debt, a natural principle of heaven and earth. His Divine Sense carefully scanned everyone who had destroyed their cultivation, confirming that they had truly destroyed it thoroughly, rather than using a secret technique to fake it.

"There are three more." Nightmare's cold voice descended again like the majesty of heaven, "Elder Liu of the Law Enforcement Hall, Elder Zhao of the Scripture Hall, and Inner Sect Disciple Zhang Yuan. Within ten breaths, if you do not destroy your cultivation, I will take it myself, and at that time, I will implicate your nine generations."

The three named individuals were struck as if by lightning, their livers and gallbladders shattered with fear. They had originally hoped to muddle through, but now that they were directly named, their last shred of wishful thinking was completely shattered.

Two of them screamed and chose to destroy their cultivation. Only Elder Liu of the Law Enforcement Hall, a look of madness flashing in his eyes, suddenly soared into the air, burning his essence blood as he fled madly toward the outside of the Sect gate! He would rather gamble with his life than become a cripple!

"Obstinate and unyielding."

Nightmare did not even appear; he simply reached out and gripped the air in the direction of the escaping light. Bang! In the sky several miles away, Elder Liu's light suddenly stalled. Along with him, as if he were a bug pinched by an invisible giant hand, he instantly exploded into a mist of blood, his body and soul utterly destroyed!

This bloody and cruel scene completely crushed the last line of psychological defense for everyone in the Flowing Cloud Sect. The reckoning, under absolute force, was completed efficiently and thoroughly.

Nightmare withdrew his gaze, feeling quite satisfied with the result. He was not a bloodthirsty person; every debt had its debtor, every grievance its source. The prime offenders had been executed, and the accomplices had been crippled—that was enough. There was no need to completely wipe out the Flowing Cloud Sect, this chess piece, for now.

However, just as he was preparing to withdraw his Divine Sense and leave this place, his brows furrowed slightly.

His Divine Sense perceived that one hundred miles outside the Flowing Cloud Sect's gate, an Aura as hot as fire, as brilliant as the sun, and carrying a scent that made him feel vaguely familiar and disgusted, was approaching at extreme speed!

The intensity of that Aura had reached the Perfected Golden Core! Moreover, the purity and condensation of its Spiritual Qi were far beyond what Li Daoyuan and his like could compare to. It also carried an irresistible Righteous Path Aura and... a strange power that caused his Demonic Essence to stir slightly.

"This nauseating Righteous Path Aura... and that faint feeling of being favored by the world..." Cold light flared in Nightmare's eyes, "Ye Fan?!"

He had come so fast! It seemed that this "child of destiny" was indeed closely connected with the Sky Patrol Alliance and even the Flowing Cloud Sect; the major events that had occurred here had already alarmed him in some way.

That was fine. A cold arc curved at the corner of Nightmare's mouth. He had intended to seek him out later, but since he had delivered himself to his doorstep, he would collect some interest first!

He did not reveal his figure, remaining hidden within the Void Realm. His Aura was perfectly restrained, like the most patient hunter waiting for the prey to step into the trap.

A few breaths later, a brilliant cyan stream of light tore through the sky, carrying a rapid sound of breaking air, and arrived instantly outside the Flowing Cloud Sect's gate!

The stream of light dissipated, revealing a youth dressed in cyan martial attire, with sword-like brows and star-like eyes, a handsome face, and surrounded by powerful Spiritual Pressure. His brows were tightly locked as he looked at the deathly silent and chaotic Flowing Cloud Sect, his eyes filled with suspicion and anger. It was none other than Ye Fan!

He had originally been executing a mission for the Sky Patrol Alliance nearby when he suddenly received an urgent message from the Flowing Cloud Sect, stating that a Nascent Soul Devil Head had attacked the Sect, and the Sect Master was in mortal danger! He had immediately rushed over at full speed, but it seemed he was still a step too late!

"Devil Head! Get out here and die!" Ye Fan's voice was like thunder, containing pure Yang mana, shaking the light screen of the Flowing Cloud Sect's protective formation into ripples. He scanned the Sect with his Divine Sense and immediately saw the tragic scene in the plaza and Li Daoyuan's corpse, his eyes instantly splitting in rage!

Li Daoyuan had a history with him and had once bestowed guidance upon him!

"You rat hiding your head and tail! Do you dare to do it but not admit it?" Ye Fan shouted sternly, a brilliant Spirit Treasure sword already appearing in his hand. The sword hummed with the sound of a Dragon, clearly of an extremely high grade.

Within the Void Realm, Nightmare watched the clamoring Ye Fan coldly. "Indeed, as favored by destiny, at the Perfected Golden Core, with a solid Foundation and extraordinary Magic Treasure... Unfortunately, he is still an ant."

He did not strike immediately, wanting to see what was so special about this so-called "child of destiny."

Seeing no response, Ye Fan's vigilance intensified. He bit his fingertip, forcing out a drop of essence blood, smeared it on his glabella, and chanted incantations! "Heavenly Eye, open!"

Hum! A vertical slit suddenly cracked open on his glabella, and a golden, shining vertical eye appeared! A pale golden beam of light shot out from the vertical eye, scanning the surrounding Void Realm!

This was one of his fortuitous encounters, an ancient Divine Ability, "Heavenly Eye," capable of seeing through illusions and perceiving hidden things!

The golden light swept across the area where Nightmare was hidden and paused slightly! "Found you! Devil Head!" Ye Fan's eyes exploded with sharp light, and he swung his Spirit Treasure sword fiercely. A majestic, scorching sword energy, containing the will to slay demons and eliminate devils, tore through the sky and struck with extreme precision at the location where Nightmare was!

"Oh? Interesting." Nightmare raised his brows slightly, not expecting the opponent to possess such a Divine Ability, capable of barely perceiving his existence.

Facing that pure Yang sword energy capable of severely wounding an ordinary Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, Nightmare simply reached out two fingers. He clamped them lightly. That majestic, terrifying sword energy, capable of splitting mountains and breaking rivers, was actually clamped between his fingertips by his two fingers, with an air of nonchalance!

The pure Yang mana contained within the sword energy erupted madly, attempting to burn his fingers, but it was easily neutralized by a thin layer of Demonic Essence, which flowed with three-colored luster of dark gold, gray, and white. It made a "hissing" sound but could not shake him in the slightest!

"What?!" The anger and confidence on Ye Fan's face instantly solidified, turning into extreme shock! His strongest attack, which he had unleashed by fully activating his Heavenly Eye and his life-bound Spirit Treasure sword, had actually been caught by the opponent... with two fingers?! How could this be possible?! Even an Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator would never dare to be so arrogant!

"The strength is acceptable, but unfortunately, the technique is far too lacking." Nightmare's indifferent voice sounded, and his fingertips exerted a slight force. Crack! The sword energy, comparable to a Low Grade Spirit Treasure, was actually crushed by his two fingers! It turned into dots of light filling the sky and dissipated!

His life-bound Magical Artifact was damaged, and Ye Fan let out a muffled groan, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief!

"You... who exactly are you?!" He stared fixedly at the Void Realm that was slowly twisting and revealing Nightmare's figure, his heart surging with stormy waves. The terror of this person's strength far exceeded his imagination! He was definitely not an ordinary Nascent Soul!

Nightmare's figure completely solidified. There was no expression on his sallow face; only those eyes stared coldly at Ye Fan. "Ye Fan, we have finally met." His voice was calm, yet carried a heart-palpitating chill, "Remember my name, Nightmare. This will be your eternal Nightmare."

Before the words had faded, he simply pointed a finger at Ye Fan. It was still that seemingly ordinary finger strike. But this time, Ye Fan felt his blood about to freeze! An unprecedented crisis of death instantly enveloped him! His Heavenly Eye warned him frantically, indicating that this finger strike was completely impossible to block!

"No!" Ye Fan let out a roar of unwillingness. Some hidden power within his body seemed to be triggered by the crisis of death. A hazy "cyan treasure light," containing the Aura of creation, suddenly surged out from his body, turning into a light shield to protect him! At the same time, a simple, ancient jade pendant hanging around his neck instantly exploded, turning into an even stronger protective barrier!

Boom! Nightmare's finger wind struck that cyan treasure light. The treasure light vibrated violently and was not immediately shattered, but tenaciously resisted most of the power of that finger strike! Only then did it crack with a sound, and the residual wind of the finger continued to strike the jade pendant barrier, finally shattering it and sending Ye Fan flying backward for hundreds of feet while vomiting blood!

"Hmm? Destiny's protection? And a life-substitute Magic Treasure?" A trace of surprise flashed in Nightmare's eyes, then he understood. Indeed, a child of destiny was not so easy to kill; there were always various trump cards for survival. However, that was all there was to it.

Ye Fan crashed heavily to the ground and rolled quite a distance. His clothes were torn, he was in a wretched state, and his eyes were filled with lingering fear and shock. That cyan treasure light was one of his greatest secrets, automatically protecting its master at critical moments, and that jade pendant was a life-saving item bestowed by his Sect Elders—yet they had both been shattered by the opponent with a single finger!

This person's strength had definitely reached the Middle Nascent Soul Stage! Or even stronger! He was simply no match for him! Escape! He must escape immediately!

Ye Fan did not hesitate, suddenly crushing a random ten-thousand-mile escape talisman! At the same time, he burned his essence blood, turning into a bloody light, about to flee far away!

"Want to leave?" Nightmare snorted coldly. How could he let him get his wish? He spread his five fingers and grabbed fiercely toward the bloody light that was about to dissipate! The space within a thousand feet instantly solidified! The light of the ten-thousand-mile escape talisman was forcibly interrupted and strangled! Ye Fan's escaping light stalled suddenly, and he fell from mid-air, a look of despair appearing on his face!

Just as Nightmare was preparing to capture or kill him, suddenly! The hazy cyan treasure light within Ye Fan's body surged again. Although dim, it suddenly erupted with a strange fluctuation, appearing to communicate with some kind of Heavenly Dao Law!

Boom! Above Nightmare's head, the Void Realm split open without warning! A "purple Heavenly Punishment Thunder," as thick as a water vat and composed purely of destructive thunder, disregarded spatial distance and struck down at him!

This was not a Cultivator's Spell, but a true "Heavenly Dao Law punishment"! It was as if, because he wanted to strangle the "child of destiny," he had invited the world's counterattack!

"Heh, Heavenly Dao interference?" A trace of mockery flashed in Nightmare's eyes, but he had to stop capturing Ye Fan and raised his hand to punch that Heavenly Punishment Thunder!

Boom! The thunder exploded, and electric snakes danced wildly! Nightmare's figure swayed slightly, and purple electric light swirled around his fist, rapidly dissipating.

And in the time of this delay, a teleportation light lit up on Ye Fan's body again—he actually had another, more precious, directional escape talisman! With a flash of light, his figure instantly disappeared, leaving behind only a roar filled with resentment: "Nightmare! I, Ye Fan, will definitely avenge this! Next time we meet, I will definitely take your life!"

Nightmare shook off the residual thunder on his arm with a punch, looking at the place where Ye Fan had disappeared, his eyes deep. "Quite a few trump cards for survival... Being favored by the Heavenly Dao is indeed troublesome."

He did not feel disappointed; on the contrary, his interest grew even stronger. Although he hadn't managed to keep Ye Fan this time, he had figured out some of his trump cards and approximate strength. Perfected Golden Core, possessing attack power that could threaten an Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, bearing the protection of the Heavenly Dao, and having multiple survival methods.

"Next time? There will be no next time." Nightmare muttered indifferently, "When I completely consolidate my Realm and finish refining that item, it will be your death day."

He did not linger, his figure swaying and disappearing. The trouble at the Flowing Cloud Sect had been resolved, and Ye Fan had been temporarily scared off. It was time to return, to completely refine the nine nether soul-returning grass for Ye Li, and help her awaken.

Meanwhile, ten thousand miles away, Ye Fan stumbled out from a teleportation array in a desolate mountain, vomiting another mouthful of blood. His face was pale, but his eyes were burning with raging anger and killing intent.

"Nightmare... Nascent Soul Devil Head... No matter who you are, I, Ye Fan, swear to the heavens, I will definitely tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes becoming incomparably firm, and sped toward the direction of the Xuntian Alliance Headquarters. He needed stronger power and more support from the Sect!

The first clash between the Devil Lord and the child of destiny ended with Nightmare's absolute crushing strength and Ye Fan's wretched escape. But everyone understood that this contest had only just begun.