They were fighting—utter chaos from the very first strike.
A swarm of Nightmare Creatures clashed wildly, treating the black box as if it were their lifeline, fighting tooth and claw with reckless abandon. Logic and reason had long been thrown to the wind. To them, securing the box meant everything.
The top-tier powerhouses especially fought with terrifying ferocity.
The destruction unleashed by their battle was appalling, like a tornado tearing through everything. Even the earth seemed on the verge of collapse. Divine lights roared, terrifying auras pulsed across the battlefield, each wave of energy crashing down like a cataclysm.
Watching the carnage, Yi Tianxing couldn't help but feel a flicker of shock.
It was madness—absolute insanity.
"What in the world is that box? It's driving them to fight like lunatics. It can devour vast amounts of Nightmare Power. Just what's inside it?"
"It has to be a supreme treasure. One worth shedding blood for, even among apex beings."
Countless thoughts flashed through Yi Tianxing's mind.
The black box clearly held unimaginable fortune. But what it truly was could only be known by holding it directly. And therein lay the real issue—how to get his hands on it. Without that, all speculation was meaningless.
But snatching it wouldn't be easy.
The top-tier Nightmare elites had power that exceeded the Soul Realm. Each move they made was enough to shatter worlds. The box was their sole focus—none would let it out of their sight, much less allow it to be stolen in the chaos.
Opportunistic looting? Impossible.
With his current strength, taking the box from amidst that storm was far from guaranteed.
Even worse—what if someone stronger was still lurking in the shadows? If Yi Tianxing revealed his strength now, he might become prey to an even deadlier hunter. That was the sense he got—a vague but chilling intuition from the void.
"Direct confrontation is suicide. I'll need to outwit them."
His decision was made.
The box was his goal—but brute force wasn't the path. He didn't charge into the melee. Instead, he quietly positioned himself at a not-so-distant vantage point.
"Perfect angle. Can't resist… time for a little fishing."
With a soft whisper, Yi Tianxing gripped the Death God Fishing Rod, eyes locked onto the black box being tossed and contested mid-air. Then—
Swish!!
A jet-black gleam tore through the air. The Death Hook burst forth, faster than sight, coiling around the box with eerie precision. In the blink of an eye, it snapped tight and reeled in the treasure, yanking it through the void directly toward Yi Tianxing.
"HOW DARE YOU!!"
"ROOOAAR!!"
The moment the box was pulled away, the Nightmare elites collectively roared in rage. Their killing intent locked onto Yi Tianxing with terrifying intensity.
But the box was already in his hands.
And the instant he touched it, he felt space itself freeze. A crushing pressure descended upon him.
Without warning, a monstrous claw appeared above.
Wreathed in obsidian radiance, each talon was like a god-forged blade—shimmering, razor-edged. Even space trembled at its presence.
"This pressure… I can't win. If I take this head-on, I'll die!"
Yi Tianxing instinctively knew: facing this head-on meant death.
Swish!
A seven-colored butterfly emerged around him—wings stirring ripples in space. Behind those ripples lay a passage to another world: the exit from the Nightmare Realm, powered by the Dream Mirage Butterfly.
But—
Under the claw's pressure, Yi Tianxing was locked in place, unable to move a muscle.
The scent of death surged through his body.
That claw—whoever sent it—wanted him dead. No mercy. No hesitation.
"You want me dead? Fine. But if I die, you'll pay for it in blood. I will not be a helpless offering. Either I live—or I die standing. If you want my life, then DIE FIRST!"
Yi Tianxing let out a defiant roar.
A flash of light appeared in his hand—he now gripped a bronze battle spear. With a stomp, his figure launched upward like a mountain come to life, pressure roaring outward as his eyes lit with black-and-white divine light.
His target: the descending claw.
No fear, no hesitation.
He raised the spear and hurled it.
The moment it flew, all the Nightmare creatures nearby saw a horrifying sight—an ancient spear, blood-red like jade, covered in cracks, flying through the air. Around it, countless images of warriors dying fiercely in battle flickered in and out.
"Better shattered jade than unbroken tile!!"
A voice echoed in the void like a solemn chant.
This was the Bronze War Spear.The technique: Shattered Jade Spear Will — mastered to the peak of the first tribulation.
This was a spear forged from sheer will, from defiance. Even if it meant death, it would strike! A path of no retreat. That was the essence of the spear—its Dao.
The claw carried an overwhelming power, but Yi Tianxing didn't flinch. That one thrust carried his unyielding spirit—his faith that would never die.
And at that moment, the Shattered Jade Spear Will evolved.
CLANG!!
PUFF!!
With a thunderous crash, the spear collided with the claw. Blazing sparks erupted in all directions, as if divine weapons were clashing.
Space shattered, elemental forces exploded in every direction.
Though neither claw nor spear broke, both were knocked backward by the force.
Yi Tianxing's body shuddered violently—nearly losing grip of his weapon.
But—the lock on space was shattered.
He slipped into the spatial ripple created by the Dream Mirage Butterfly.
ROAR!!
A second claw slashed down—faster, fiercer.
But—
Too late.
It only touched the final ripple. Yi Tianxing's body had vanished.
Xuanhuang City – Imperial Palace – Empyrean Heart Hall
Yi Tianxing's eyes snapped open. His arm trembled slightly.
"Such power... what was that? Just one claw—and without the support of the Primal Chaos Heaven Emperor Pagoda, I would've been obliterated."
That was a true Nightmare Realm overlord—a being who could destroy a small world with a single strike.
If not for his escape…
"Husband, you're awake!"
Cai Yan's voice rang out—she had just returned from the Dream Butterfly World.
"How long have I been gone?" Yi Tianxing asked.
"I returned just moments ago. It's still night. About half an hour until dawn."
"So time flows much faster in the Nightmare Realm…"
Yi Tianxing silently calculated. He'd spent nearly a day inside—but only a few hours had passed here.
Swish!
A flash of light—he summoned the black box into his hand.
"A Nightmare Treasure Chest… So this is what they were fighting over."
His eyes gleamed brightly, blazing with a rare fervor.
Nightmare Treasure Chest: Possesses the ability to absorb vast amounts of Nightmare Power. Upon opening, it converts that power into a corresponding treasure. The more power stored, the higher the item grade. Additionally, the chest grants wish-based creation, capable of manifesting desired items—divine weapons, rare scriptures, healing elixirs, divine materials. Anything conceivable.A wish-fulfilling treasure.A tailor-made artifact for dreamers.
Just thinking about it made Yi Tianxing's heart race.
"What do I want? What… will it give me?"
His mind spun with possibility.