The ancient ruins of the underworld, the initial trap of killing is set.

Inside the temporary Immortal Cave, Nightmare slowly rose. After refining that thread of rule fragment, the aura around him became even deeper and more reserved, subtly carrying a sense of detachment that was incompatible with this world, as if he had transcended the rules.

His gaze swept over Mo Yuan and the others, whose injuries had stabilized considerably, as well as Su Wanqing, who stood quietly to the side, looking slightly better.

"Time is pressing; it is time to move." Nightmare's voice was calm but carried an unquestionable resolve. "Mo Yuan, how has the news spread?"

Mo Yuan immediately replied respectfully, "Replying to Benefactor, the news has been spread through the Sect's old hidden lines. Now, the Southern Region's Underground World should have all heard about the 'Netherworld Sect Saintess re-establishing the Sect Gate at the Old Ruins.' The Sky Patrol Alliance must have also received the information."

"Very good." Nightmare nodded. "Now, take me to the Netherworld Sect Old Site."

"Yes!" A mix of excitement and hatred flashed in Mo Yuan's eyes. The remaining few Netherworld Sect Disciples also showed signs of elation.

Nightmare flicked his sleeve, and a gentle stream of Demonic Essence lifted everyone, directly tearing open the Void Realm for long-distance travel.

After several traversals, they arrived at an extremely desolate mountain range. Spiritual Qi was scarce here, the rocks were scorched black, and the ground was covered in huge cracks and pits, remnants of fierce battles. The air was filled with a lingering dead silence and resentment.

This was the former location of the once-prominent great Sect of the Demonic Path—the Netherworld Sect. Now, only broken walls and remnants remained, speaking of the tragedy and defeat of that year.

Mo Yuan and the others looked at the ruins, their eyes red and their fists clenched, clearly recalling painful memories.

Nightmare spread out his Divine Sense, carefully scanning the vast ruins. The main Sect buildings had long been destroyed, but deep underground, some powerful Formation Foundations and special earth vein nodes still remained. Especially a valley behind the main hall, where the residual yin fiend qi and spatial fluctuations were most peculiar.

"What is that place?" Nightmare pointed toward the valley.

Mo Yuan followed the direction and replied, "Replying to Benefactor, that was once our Sect's Forbidden Ground, the entrance to the 'Nine Nether Cave.' Legend says the cave connects to an Extremely Yin Earth Vein, and can even faintly sense the aura of the Netherworld. It was where successive Sect Masters went into seclusion and where the Sect held major ceremonies. During the great war that year, the entrance was completely blasted and Sealed."

"Nine Nether Cave..." Nightmare nodded slightly. "This location is excellent. We shall set up the Absolute Killing Formation right here!"

He no longer hesitated and instructed, "Mo Yuan, you lead people to clear an area and gather usable Formation Materials from the ruins. Wan Qing," he looked at Su Wanqing, "you come with me. Your Profound Yin Body is the key to activating the residual Yin Fiend Earth Vein here."

Su Wanqing nodded calmly.

Nightmare brought her to the entrance of the valley. He pointed his fingers like a knife and abruptly cleaved out several fierce Demonic Blades, slicing open the collapsed boulders and Seals one by one, revealing a deep, dark cave entrance that emitted bone-chilling cold Qi.

Standing at the entrance, even with Nightmare's cultivation, he could feel a thread of extremely pure yin fiend qi and weak spatial fluctuations coming from the depths.

"It truly is a node of an Extremely Yin Earth Vein, perhaps even one that briefly connected to a small space affiliated with the Netherworld..." A sharp light flashed in Nightmare's eyes. "Setting up the Main Formation of the Secret Curse of Stealing Fate and Exchanging Heaven here is absolutely perfect!"

He sat cross-legged at the cave entrance, performing hand Seals, and began using his Nascent Soul Demonic Essence and the power of the newly refined rule fragment to connect with the Yin Fiend Earth Vein deep underground!

Su Wanqing, following his instructions, walked to the center of the cave entrance, relaxed her mind and body, and fully stimulated the Profound Yin Origin within her body.

Buzz!

As the Profound Yin Qi radiated outward, the residual Formation inscriptions across the entire valley seemed to be activated, faintly lighting up! Deep underground, the Extremely Yin Earth Vein, which had been dormant for countless years, was awakened like a sleeping Dragon and began to slowly surge! Pure yin fiend qi gushed out of the cave entrance like a tide!

"Now!" Nightmare roared softly, slamming his hands downward!

The Myriad Poison Demonic Scripture operated to its limit, mixed with the strange power of the rule fragment, forcibly guiding the massive yin fiend qi. Following the Secret Curse of Stealing Fate and Exchanging Heaven's Formation Diagram, it began inscribing countless infinitely complex Demonic Path Runes onto the ground and into the Void Realm—runes containing the power of fate stealing, shielding, and transformation!

This was an extremely vast and meticulous undertaking. Countless runes shimmering with dark light grew and spread like living things, connecting with each other, gradually forming the prototype of a massive Demonic Formation covering the entire valley! The center of the Formation was exactly where Su Wanqing stood, making her the core nexus connecting the earth vein and the Formation.

Nightmare then took out the annihilation nether spring he had obtained from the Soul Burying Valley, carefully injecting the spring water into several key nodes of the Formation. As soon as the grayish-white spring water merged into the Formation, the runes in that area immediately took on a terrifying aura of all things returning to silence, greatly increasing their power.

Following this, he took out the Remnant of Reincarnation Wood. The sprout on the reincarnation wood seemed to sense the surrounding environment, swaying slightly and emitting a soft green light. Nightmare placed it at the core center of the Formation, serving as a vital Formation Eye for stabilizing the Divine Soul and confounding Heavenly Secrets.

Finally, he summoned the myriad soul soul-devouring banner and suspended it above the great Formation. The banner surface unfurled, countless Vicious Souls flickering in and out of sight, emitting low roars, becoming an amplifier for the Formation's power and the ultimate means of killing.

As one rare Material after another was incorporated, the aura of the entire great Formation became increasingly terrifying and bizarre! Demonic light shot into the sky, yet it was constrained within the valley by an invisible barrier containing the power of the rule fragment, making it impossible to detect from the outside.

Mo Yuan and the others were already dumbfounded; they had never seen such a complex and terrifying Formation! Merely watching from afar made their Divine Souls tremble, as if their own fates were about to be sucked away by the Formation!

Nightmare was completely focused, constantly casting various magic Seals and adjusting the subtle details of the Formation. He did not rest for three days and three nights.

Finally, when the last rune fell, the entire great Formation violently shook!

All the light instantly retracted, and the terrifying fluctuations subsided. The valley seemed to have returned to its original state, but anyone with keen senses would realize that this place had transformed into an absolute dead zone, a meticulously woven death trap! The Formation had perfectly integrated into the environment, poised to strike, waiting only for the prey to step into the core area!

The Secret Curse of Stealing Fate and Exchanging Heaven's great Formation was complete!

Nightmare slowly exhaled a mouthful of stale air. His face looked slightly tired, but his eyes shone with confidence. With this Formation in place, even if Ye Fan had the protection of the Heavenly Dao and Nascent Soul Cultivators guarding his Dao, Nightmare had at least seventy percent certainty of keeping him here and stealing his Luck!

"Mo Yuan."

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Send people out to guard the periphery. Once Ye Fan or the main contingent of the Sky Patrol Alliance is spotted, immediately raise the alarm and lead them into the valley according to the plan."

"Yes!"

"Wan Qing, you shall preside over the Formation Eye and familiarize yourself with the Formation's operation. When the time comes, I will need you to fully stimulate your Profound Yin Origin to cooperate with me in operating the Secret Curse."

Su Wanqing nodded solemnly.

With all arrangements made, Nightmare flew to the highest point of the valley, stood with his hands behind his back, and gazed toward the direction of the Xuntian Alliance Headquarters.

"The bait has been cast, the net has been laid. Ye Fan... will you come?"

He believed that, given Ye Fan's personality and the push of the Heavenly Dao behind him, he definitely would come! This was not just to capture Su Wanqing, but also to completely extinguish any possibility of the Netherworld Sect rising from the ashes and sever this thread of Karma!

...Meanwhile, at the Xuntian Alliance Headquarters.

Inside an Immortal Cave brimming with Spiritual Qi, Ye Fan slowly opened his eyes. His pupils flashed with brilliance, and the aura around him surged. He had impressively reached the Peak of Perfected Golden Core, just one step away from the Nascent Soul stage!

In front of him, a communication Jade Talisman was faintly flashing.

Scanning the information in the Jade Talisman with his Divine Sense, Ye Fan's brow instantly furrowed, and a hint of severity flashed in his eyes.

"Netherworld Sect remnants? Re-establishing the Sect Gate? Saintess succession ceremony? Right at the Netherworld Sect Old Site?" He sneered. "They're truly seeking death! How dare they be so brazen!"

He stood up, and a powerful sense of confidence and killing intent permeated the air.

"Perfect! My cultivation has reached a Bottleneck, and I need a great battle to temper myself before I can condense the strongest Nascent Soul! I'll use you Demon Brats as a sacrifice! And incidentally... I'll capture that Profound Yin Body, strip away her Origin, and help my Divine Technique reach Major Achievement!"

He had no suspicion that this was a trap. In his mind, what major waves could those stray Demonic Cultivators possibly stir up? Moreover, deep down, he felt that this trip was extremely important to him, as if a great Opportunity awaited him (Heavenly Dao's hint).

"Someone!"

"What are Senior Brother Ye's instructions?" A Disciple immediately responded from outside the Immortal Cave.

"Gather a team of enforcement Disciples and follow me to the Netherworld Sect Old Site! We shall eliminate the demonic scourge!"

"Yes!"

Ye Fan was full of spirit and strode out of the Immortal Cave. He seemed to already see the scene of himself flattening the demonic lair, capturing the Profound Yin Body, and being the focus of all attention.

Little did he know that a death net—one that fused Demonic Technique, divine artifacts, and even rules from outside this world—had quietly been laid out specifically for him.

The gears of fate suddenly accelerated.

The second, and perhaps final, head-on collision between the child of destiny and the Heaven-Defying Demon Venerable was about to erupt in that desolate ruin!

Nightmare stood atop the valley, his robes billowing without wind, his eyes as cold as a million-year-old abyss.

"Come... Let me personally... sever this so-called destiny!"