Demon Lord Descends

The border between the Southern Region and the Western Wilderness, Black Water Town.

The town was named after the "Black Water River," a nearby river flowing with water as dark as ink. The town was small, and its residents were mostly low-level Loose Cultivators and Mortals who made a living collecting a special Yin-attribute herb called "Moling Grass" along the Black Water River banks. The environment was damp and gloomy, and Spiritual Qi was sparse.

Normally, the place was quiet, even somewhat Death Qi-ridden.

But today, that deathly silence was completely shattered!

On the outskirts of the town, dozens of Cultivators wearing Sky Patrol Alliance uniforms formed a tight encirclement. Powerful Spiritual power fluctuations linked together, forming a massive Sealing Light Barrier that enveloped the entire Black Water Town! Runes flowed across the barrier, emitting a powerful force field that sealed the space and isolated communication.

Leading them was Deputy Alliance Master Zhang of the Sky Patrol Alliance, an Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator! His expression was stern as he hovered in the air, his powerful Divine Sense sweeping over the town below like a comb, meticulously searching for the target. Beside him stood two trusted confidants at the Perfected Golden Core stage, along with several fierce-looking Late Golden Core Stage Deacons.

Such a lineup, just to capture one "Profound Yin Body" possibly hiding here, showed the Sky Patrol Alliance's level of seriousness regarding this matter!

Inside the town, every door was tightly shut. Ordinary residents and low-level Loose Cultivators trembled in fear, unsure when disaster would strike.

Outside a simple courtyard on the edge of the town, fierce fighting was erupting!

Mo Yuan and two other surviving Demonic Cultivators of the Netherworld Sect, backs against the courtyard wall, were covered in blood and surging with Devilish Qi, desperately resisting the siege of seven or eight Sky Patrol Alliance Golden Core Cultivators! They had clearly endured arduous escape and fighting; everyone was wounded and their auras were weak, sustained only by a fierce, death-defying tenacity!

The simple courtyard behind them was protected by a faint, pale blue Light Shield tinged with cold Qi. Inside the shield, a Mute Girl wearing coarse cloth clothing, with a delicate, pale face and unusually calm eyes, was forming hand seals, struggling to maintain the Light Shield. Blood leaked from the corner of her mouth, and her body trembled slightly; clearly, she had reached her limit.

She was the target of the Sky Patrol Alliance, the daughter of the Netherworld Sect Saintess, suspected to possess the "Profound Yin Body"—Su Wanqing!

Stubborn rebels! You still try to protect this Demoness?' A Sky Patrol Alliance Late Golden Core Stage Deacon sneered, activating a Flaming Flying Sword to continuously hack at the precarious pale blue Light Shield. 'Once we break this turtle shell, we will surely Extract Divine Souls and Refine Spirits!'

Mo Yuan violently swung a Pitch-black Demonic Claw, forcing back an enemy, and roared through a cough of blood, 'Don't even think about harming Young Miss! Not unless you step over our corpses!'

Then so be it!' Deputy Alliance Master Zhang coldly snorted in the air, seemingly having lost patience, and flicked his finger!

An incredibly condensed Pure Yang Finger Wind, like a golden bolt of lightning, shot down and instantly struck the pale blue Light Shield!

Crack!

The Light Shield could no longer hold up. It let out a crisp sound and completely shattered!

Su Wanqing, who was maintaining the Light Shield, felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow. She spat out a mouthful of blood and softly fell backward.

Young Miss!' Mo Yuan's eyes were splitting with rage. He wanted to turn back and rescue her, but he was tightly entangled by two Sky Patrol Alliance Cultivators, forcing him to watch helplessly as several other Cultivators sneered and lunged toward the powerless, fallen Su Wanqing!

Capture her! Be careful not to damage her Origin!' Deputy Alliance Master Zhang ordered from the air, a hint of fervor flashing in his eyes. Capturing this woman would be a great achievement, and Senior Brother Ye Fan would surely reward him handsomely!

Just as the hands of those Sky Patrol Alliance Cultivators were about to touch Su Wanqing!

A sudden change occurred!

Above the entire sealed Black Water Town, the originally stable Sealing Light Barrier suddenly twisted and warped violently, as if gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand!

Then—

BOOM!!!

A world-shaking explosion!

The entire Sealing Light Barrier, along with the space beneath it, was forcibly ripped open from the outside, leaving a huge gap, as if it were fragile glass, by a terrifying, indescribable force!

Violent Spatial Turbulence and heart-stopping Nascent Soul Stage pressure suddenly poured down from the gap like a bursting flood!

All the Sky Patrol Alliance Cultivators, including Deputy Alliance Master Zhang in the air, were shaken to their cores by this sudden change and terrifying pressure, and their movements abruptly froze!

Immediately afterward, a cold, indifferent voice, filled with endless killing intent, swept across the entire Black Water Town like the Nine Netherworld's Cold Wind:

Let me see who dares touch her.

Before the voice faded, a figure in green robes appeared silently in the courtyard like a ghost, standing in front of the fallen Su Wanqing.

The newcomer was not particularly tall, and his face was sallow and ordinary. But the moment he appeared, the entire world seemed to dim around him! His eyes, sweeping over them, were as cold as a Ten Thousand Year Cold Abyss, making all the Sky Patrol Alliance Cultivators who met his gaze feel as if they had plunged into an ice cave, their Divine Souls nearly freezing!

A Nascent Soul Mighty Figure! And an extremely terrifying Demonic Path Nascent Soul!

Deputy Alliance Master Zhang's face instantly changed. Alarm bells went off in his heart, and he shouted sternly, 'Who is Your Excellency? This is the Sky Patrol Alliance apprehending a major criminal. I ask Your Excellency not to bring trouble upon yourself!' He tried to use the Sky Patrol Alliance's name to intimidate the opponent.

However, Nightmare couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.

He lowered his head and glanced at Su Wanqing, who was lying on the ground, pale-faced but still looking at him with clear, calm eyes. He confirmed the hidden, extremely pure Profound Yin Qi within her body.

The target was correct.

Only then did he slowly raise his head, his gaze sweeping over Deputy Alliance Master Zhang, who was facing a formidable enemy in the air, and the surrounding Sky Patrol Alliance Cultivators whose faces had turned pale with fear, finally resting on the blood-soaked and incredibly excited Mo Yuan.

Well done.' He nodded slightly at Mo Yuan.

That simple sentence made Mo Yuan tremble with excitement, feeling that all their sacrifices and dangers had been worth it!

Now, it's your turn.' Nightmare's gaze refocused on Deputy Alliance Master Zhang and the others. His voice was flat, yet it pronounced their death sentence.

Form the array! Quickly form the Heaven and Earth Net Array!' Deputy Alliance Master Zhang felt the undisguised killing intent, his scalp tingling, and roared frantically!

The Sky Patrol Alliance Cultivators below woke up as if from a dream, hurriedly activating their Magical Power, attempting to form a Battle Array to resist.

But it was already too late.

Nightmare simply raised his hand toward the sky.

It was not some complicated Divine Ability; it was simply a downward press!

BOOM—!

Heaven and Earth lost their color! Demonic Essence surged to the sky!

A **Sky-Shrouding Demonic Palm**, entirely condensed from pure Demonic Essence, appeared out of thin air, covering the entire courtyard! Dark red Demonic Runes intertwined with grayish-white Qi streams on the palm, emitting a terrifying aura that suppressed all things and annihilated everything. It violently crushed downward, like the collapse of the heavens!

No!' Deputy Alliance Master Zhang screamed in terror, desperately summoning an Antique Bronze Shield Magic Treasure to resist, while rapidly retreating!

As for the Golden Core Cultivators under his command, they didn't even have time to scream. Under the terrifying pressure of the Demonic Palm, their Protective Spiritual Light instantly collapsed, and their Physical Bodies burst one after another into a bloody mist, like eggs crushed by a giant boulder! Their Golden Cores and Divine Souls were annihilated together!

Even the two Perfected Golden Core confidants only managed to hold on for half a breath before their Magic Treasures shattered, and they spat blood from severe injuries. They were caught by the residual force of the palm wind that immediately followed, smashing into the ground with broken tendons and fractured bones, their fates unknown!

Deputy Alliance Master Zhang's Antique Bronze Shield only lasted for an instant before cracking into several pieces with a sharp sound! The residual momentum of the Demonic Palm remained strong, slamming heavily onto his Protective Spiritual Light!

Pfft—!

Deputy Alliance Master Zhang was sent flying backward, spitting blood, as if he had been hit by a rapidly moving mountain Peak. Countless bones were broken throughout his body, his Nascent Soul was shaken, and his aura instantly became extremely weak, his eyes filled with boundless terror!

With a single palm strike!

Dozens of Golden Cores were either dead or wounded!

The Early Nascent Soul Stage Deputy Alliance Master was severely injured and near death!

What kind of terrifying strength was this?!

Nightmare retracted his palm, looking as if he had merely swatted a few flies. He didn't even glance at the gruesome scene, fixing his gaze instead on the heavily injured Deputy Alliance Master Zhang lying on the ground.

Sky Patrol Alliance... Ye Fan... very good.' He slowly walked over.

Deputy Alliance Master Zhang was so terrified his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, struggling to beg for mercy: 'S-Senior, spare my life... I...'

Nightmare had no interest in listening to his nonsense and simply stomped down!

Crack!

A bone-shattering sound, grating on the teeth, rang out! Deputy Alliance Master Zhang's head, along with the Nascent Soul inside, was directly crushed! Both Form and Spirit Destroyed!

Clean, decisive, ruthless, and cold-blooded!

Casually collecting the man's Storage Magic Treasure, Nightmare flicked out a wisp of Demonic Fire, burning all the Sky Patrol Alliance Cultivators' corpses and traces at the scene completely clean.

After finishing all this, he turned around, walked up to Mo Yuan and the others, and struck out several streams of pure Demonic Essence to stabilize their injuries.

Thank you, Benefactor, for saving our lives again!' Mo Yuan and the others struggled to bow.

No need for formalities.' Nightmare raised a hand to stop them, his gaze falling upon Su Wanqing, who slowly opened her eyes under the nourishment of the pure Demonic Essence.

Their eyes met.

Su Wanqing's eyes were very clear and very calm, devoid of fear or panic, as if she had long since disregarded life and death. She looked at Nightmare, nodded slightly as thanks, but was unable to speak.

Nightmare could sense the dormant yet incredibly pure Profound Yin Origin within her body, as well as... an extremely subtle aura originating from the same source as the Netherworld Sect's Cultivation Technique.

Are you willing to come with me?' Nightmare asked directly. 'I can save you and avenge your mother. But following me, the road ahead may be even more dangerous.'

Su Wanqing looked at him quietly for a few seconds, then glanced at Mo Yuan and the others nearby, who were filled with concern, and finally nodded gently, her eyes resolute.

She seemed to have long run out of choices.

Very well.' Nightmare said no more. What he needed was her Profound Yin Body to serve as the cauldron for the Secret Curse of Stealing Fate and Exchanging Heaven. As for her personal wishes, they were actually unimportant. Her cooperation simply made things easier.

He waved his hand, lifting Su Wanqing, Mo Yuan, and the others with Demonic Essence.

This place is not suitable for long stays. The Sky Patrol Alliance will soon have stronger people arriving.

He was about to tear open space and leave.

Suddenly, a feeling arose in his heart, and he violently looked up toward the southeast direction!

He saw an incredibly thick **golden pillar of light**, containing Majestic Heavenly Might and Pure Yang Dao Fire, tearing through the clouds like a Sword of Heavenly Punishment, crossing a vast distance, and violently smashing down toward his location!

From within the pillar of light, a faint, angry roar was heard:

Devil Head! How dare you kill my Sky Patrol Alliance Deputy Alliance Master! Stay right there for This Venerable!'

The power of this strike far exceeded that of the previous Deputy Alliance Master Zhang; it had clearly reached the Middle Nascent Soul Stage level! Moreover, its power was pure and immense, possessing a strong suppression effect against Devilish Qi!

Clearly, the Xuntian Alliance Headquarters had received a distress signal, and a stronger Elder was striking from afar!

A cold light flashed in Nightmare's eyes. Instead of retreating, he stepped into the Void Realm!

Facing the terrifying golden pillar of light, he simply raised his right fist.

Myriad Poison Demonic Essence surged on his fist, and dark red, pitch black, and grayish-white lights flowed, subtly forming a vortex that seemed to devour everything!

Shatter!

He punched out, directly confronting the Pillar of Heavenly Punishment!

BOOM—!!!

A world-shattering explosion echoed through the sky! A terrifying energy storm swept in all directions, directly tearing off and collapsing large numbers of houses in Black Water Town!

Golden light and Devilish Qi violently intertwined and annihilated each other!

In the end, the golden pillar of light was forcibly shattered by his single punch in mid-air! The dispersed energy illuminated the sky brilliantly!

Nightmare's figure swayed slightly, shedding all the impact. He stood proudly at the center of the energy storm, completely unharmed!

His cold gaze seemed to pierce through endless space, reaching the distant Xuntian Alliance Headquarters.

You think you can stop me by striking from this far away? Ridiculous.

He did not linger. Waving his hand, he swept up Su Wanqing, Mo Yuan, and the others, violently tore open the space in front of him, and stepped into it.

The Void Realm Rift instantly closed.

Only the ravaged Black Water Town below, and the energy residue still lingering in the sky, remained, proving that everything that had just occurred was not an illusion.

Far away, at the Xuntian Alliance Headquarters, atop a tall tower, an old man wearing Golden Robes, whose aura was vast as the sea, let out a muffled groan. The Golden Round Mirror in front of him dimmed, and a faint crack even appeared on its surface.

The old man's face was dark as water, and his eyes were filled with shock and killing intent.

What a terrifying Devil Head... his strength has definitely reached the Peak Middle Nascent Soul Stage! Perhaps... even stronger!

Pass on my Alliance Master's Order! All Branch Alliances in the Southern Region are to raise their vigilance! Issue the highest Rank 'Sky Patrol Demon Extermination Order'! Hunt down this devil!

Immediately notify Ye Fan, tell him he must be careful!