Chapter 284 - The Last Step

Cain could only internally sigh. 

When this reaches the outside world, the trouble it will cause will not be minor at all. 

At this point, Cain could only invest all of his hopes into helping the Nightmare Lord. Perhaps he could obtain something incredibly useful from this. 

Cain was soon broken from his thoughts when three bright orange Soul's Core floated down to him. 

Nightmare Lord said, "Your first award. Quickly absorb it."

Stepping on corpses to jump ahead. Cain's Martial Heart had zero waves of emotions, entirely used to it at this point. 

Cain's Soul Sense quickly absorbed the Phoenix trio's Soul's Core into his Mental Psyche.

Three waves of massive Soul energy smoothly fused into his consciousness, engraving sensation onto his Mental Psyche and Soul Core. 

Seconds later, Cain felt his Soul's Core instinctively stir.

Cain suddenly felt far closer to Source Laws, feeling an extensive fog of mystery had been cleared up. Inspecting his Soul, he detected he reached Advanced level Peak Success!

The natural instinct he felt towards Source Law as a whole became stronger. His combat prowess was considerably elevated. 

But Cain couldn't prevent a trace of worry from crossing his expression.

…

Outside the Nightmare Realm. 

At the highest mountain terrain camp, the Ancient Phoenix Elders were calmly conversing. High hopes flashed in their visions as they pondered about their current talents.

The male Elder, Elder Feng, said, "If they push themselves, I am more than sure each of them could go beyond round 30. Their attainment level speed is a bit shocking." 

The female Elder, Elder Fui nodded. "Indeed. At this stage of the competition, they should begin to suppress those Huang Dragons." 

Elder Feng was just about reply when his expression froze. His mind suddenly heard three glass shatters that sounded like the sky cracking apart!

Elder Feng was wordless as he opened his palm, igniting his spatial ring. After a soft purple flash, what was left laying on his palm were three shattered life crystals.

At the same time, sudden memories emerged from his Soul, rapidly stirring his Spiritual Sea. 

Elder Feng closed his eyes, deeply immersing himself. Scenes replayed in his mind, and one handsome young figure continually appeared.

This young man carried a face of cold indifference, his presence regulating a superior aura as if it was the most natural thing in the world. 

This young man was very familiar to Elder Feng.

In fact, he engraved his appearance into the depths of his Spiritual Sea! 

"Those damn beast!" Elder Feng's eyes snapped open like lightning, his furiously shouting out.

A trace of his Divine aura subconsciously slipped, causing the air around him to slightly tremble. 

Elder Fui instantly stood to her feet, her Martial Heart gradually quivering. 

"What? What is it?" 

For a brief moment, Elder Feng didn't respond, instead of snapping his scorching gaze onto the Huang Dragon's terrain camp. His fury was increasing by the second.

He slowly pronounced each of his words, "Fu Kang, Xun Ki, and Ye Bai are all dead! That male Huang Dragon killed them!" 

"What?!" Shock with a mix of horror twisted Elder Fui's face.

Her eyes suddenly snapped to Elder Feng's, realizing what those shattered crystal remnants actually were. In this instance, her fury similarly burned to the skies!

"This far too outrageous! Do those Huang Dragons think they're invincible?!?" Elder Fui could barely restrain herself.

If not for her and Elder Feng's great control, their fiery Divine aura would've already washed over the entire mountain range. 

If that were to happen, the power from their mere aura would've caused great disaster to low-tier Holy Land forces.

Still, neither Phoenixes Elders were simply going to stand by and let their disciples' deaths go unwarranted! 

"Huang Dragons! You have such large guts!!" 

The Phoenix Elders shot forth their position, soaring straight to Elder Weilong.

Their loud voices infused into the air, practically blasting the eardrums of everyone weaker than them. 

"Ahh! Damn! The hell is going on?! What did the Huang Dragons do??"

"They're simply going crazy this time!" 

"Don't tell me, don't tell me…did those geniuses actually kill one of the Phoenixes' talents!" 

As rumors speculated, nearly all believed this was true.

After all, what else could call for dignified Divine Star experts to lash out like wild beast? 

That is, their own kin getting slaughtered! 

"Haah! Those Huang Dragons really do have immense guts?"

Many were sucking cold breaths. Before their very eyes, they hope a great show will unfold. 

Perhaps these two great tigers can luckily injure each other! 

As Elder Weilong heard all the commotion, he very briefly knit his brows.

'Just what is he doing?' 

Elder Weilong's thoughts instantly turned towards Cain. Only he has the prowess to so casually murder great talents. But why would he make such a foolish decision?

From what he showcased so far, Cain appeared as a budding astute genius who wouldn't be rash. 

Is he getting too arrogant, just not thinking about the consequences? 

Whatever the reason, Elder Weilong couldn't focus on it now. 

Elder Weilong calmly stood as the Phoenix Elders appeared before his vision. His posture radiated confidence as he asked, "Just what is it are you referring to? Did one of my own truly kill one of your talents?"

"You speak so causally but already know the truth. That's right, that boy in your group has the guts to kill one of our talents. Does he have any idea on how to repay such an immense loss like this? Elder Feng rapidly spoke. 

His and Elder Fui's Divine aura was subtly growing, causing formless pressure to spread throughout the mountain range. 

However, neither of them showed any intentions to attack. As in their minds, they are aware that actually seeking trouble with Huang Dragons over this matter isn't simple at all. 

Moreover, the Phoenix Elders sensed a clear amount of danger from Elder Weilong. 

They didn't think it would be beneficial to fight a person like this. 

Compared to the Phoenixes Elders' thoughts, Elder Weilong instantly found his. 

Elder Weiglongcame to a snap conclusion as a golden Spiritual aura flickered out of him. Golden lights shot out of him like mini rays of the sun. 

Simultaneously, Elder Weilong's prowess tremendously surged! It instantly suppressed the Phoenixes' momentum without any difficulties.

Elder Weilong coldly harrumphed, saying, "Are you seriously this upset over Cain killing them? If you are, you are more than welcome to try. If not, cease this foolish parade."

No matter what, it was impossible for Elder Weilong to back down from a challenge. His gaze contained the same heat as he matched the Phoxnies Elders. 

A brief silence engulfed the mountain terrain.

All eyes focused on two tension-filled meetings. There was a possibility for even a great Divine Star expert's battle to break out. 

But seconds later, Elder Feng and Fui retracted their presence.

However, their gazes were still fierce as Elder Fui spat out, "Do not believe you are invincible in this world. All actions will have consequences." 

After saying her piece, the Phoenix Elders' didn't linger. The duo rapidly shot right back up to their terrain camp.

Everyone watching was a bit dumbfounded. Eyes snapped between the Phoenix Elders and Elder Weilong, unsure on who to feel the most surprise on. 

"This Elder Huang Dragon is a Divine Star expert among experts! Even I felt a slight quiver in my Martial Heart."

"Mn, and he is also a World Spirit Master! The Huang Dragons aren't sparing any expense." 

"Still, this action was far too wild. Who knows just how the Phoenixes will retaliate."

Misfortune and drama were truly enlightening to witness on the outside. Especially when it concerns the high-tier Holy Land forces. 

The amount of jealousy and envy these weaker forces had gathered throughout the years could fill an ocean.

Seeing intense conflict happen puts a smile on numerous faces. 

At this time, Elder Weilong snorted, quickly assimilating back into a cultivation state. He was seemingly indifferent as if that encounter meant nothing to him.

But inwardly, he was grasping at straws. 'Oh why, just why did that boy kill that talent. Our relationship doesn't need to become even more strained. Haah…whatever. Just deal with the problems as they come.'

…

The Nightmare Realm. 

Silence engulfed Cain's scenery. 

For the last few minutes, he hasn't left his spot. He stood eerily calm and still, waiting for the Nightmare Lord's next instruction.

His words have claimed his plan is entering into its final steps. And, of course, he will be handsomely rewarded for all of his deeds. 

Cain naturally didn't understand anything. But he hoped it wasn't another troublesome matter.

Soon enough, a sensation course through Cain's mind. The tingles heavily jolted his body like thousands of lightning bolts. 

Only one person could so heavily affect him.

"Senior Nightmare Lord. Have you finally finished?" Cain bowed, keeping his tone even while asking. 

"Hahaha!" Nightmare Lord laughed in seemingly good spirits. "Indeed I have! Here, take this staff, boy."

Formless Heavenly energy gathered slightly above Cain. Cain opened his palm as Heavenly energy concentrated forming on his left palm. The amount of Heavenly energy increased to abundance size!

A considerable pressure began weighing down Cain's arm. He needed to revolve his Qi just to keep a stable footing. 

Seconds later, the Heavenly energy finally formulated into an object.

"This is?" Can was a bit entranced looking at his palm now. 

Extending in his grasp was a unique-looking long staff that was about eight inches tall, its designs carved with complex, intricate patterns.

No matter how much Cain focused his Spirit Sense, he wasn't able to identify any of these patterns. It was like they were made by someone mystical. 

Cain felt enthralled by the gradual faint sensations surfacing within his Mental Psyche.

Tearing his gaze off from the patterns, Cain locked eyes at the top of the staff. 

At there was a semi-large crystal orb. 

Rainbow colors lights continually flickered from the orb. Streams of rainbow essence flowed throughout it like waves of an ocean. 

The beauty of it was otherworldly. 

Cain had suddenly stopped moving and thinking all for a moment. His entire being plastered completely on this rainbow-colored Crystal orb. 

Beyond its beauty, there was a distinct unfathomable aura exuding from the orb. 

It felt mysterious, mystical, spiritual, sensational all at once. 

Cain peered into the skies of Origin energy, the Divine Essence of nature, and even the World Source Laws that govern the universe, giving nature itself life. These were all sensations Cain could perceive as parts of the Heavenly Dao.

But the rainbow Crystal orb stood at the absolute summit. 

Cain perceived it all. 

Mortal Origin energy, Divine Heaven and Earth Essence, and World Source Law essence, it all mixed into the rainbow crystal orb.

The combination created an unfathomable aura that was impossible to not feel entranced by. 

The longer Cain stared, the more the pupils in his eyes started to fade. He was nearly entirely absorbed into an entrance. 

At the same time, within his Soul's Core, Chaos green lights started to rapidly flicker. 

But before anything could occur, Nightmare Lord's voice blasted into Cain's mind. 

"Hmph! Entranced, are we? Typically, any other Divine Origin kid would have instantly crumbled to the ground in just one second under the Dao Crystal.. Your Soul and mind are quite special truly."