Judging by the amount of Nightmare Power devoured by the black box, it was evident that this treasure chest was capable of nurturing unimaginably rare treasures. According to the information gathered, if the wish made upon the Nightmare Treasure Chest didn't completely exhaust the Nightmare Power inside, the remaining energy would randomly materialize, manifesting into a variety of treasures. But now, the only question was... what exactly was he lacking?
Yes, what was he still missing?
Rare treasures and divine artifacts? He had already plundered the Divine-Demon Treasury, and the Star-Picking Tower was filled with an overwhelming array of wondrous treasures—so many that it left people dumbfounded, as if countless stars hung suspended above.
Unless it was something exceptionally unique, very little could stir his heart anymore.
As for cultivation methods, Yi Tianxing lacked none.
The Heavenly Emperor Dragon Taming Scripture (天帝御龙经) was undoubtedly the most suitable supreme scripture for him in all of heaven and earth. Peerless and unrivaled—so long as he followed it step by step, he would continue advancing, undergoing transformation after transformation. One must understand that for cultivation techniques, the most crucial stages are the initial ones: Divine Sea, Life Aperture, Life Chart, Dharmic Aspect, Nascent Soul (=primordial spirit).
After reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, further advancement no longer depended on cultivation methods but on comprehension of the Dao—realizing one's own Great Dao, condensing a Dao Fruit, and gradually transforming and elevating one's soul and life essence.
Therefore, past a certain point, cultivation techniques no longer held importance. The key was Dao comprehension, which was fundamental.
Upon reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, the process of Dao Validation begins. One must form a Dao Fruit and build a foundation that, once established, becomes nearly unchangeable. Naturally, no cultivation technique could shake him anymore—his Dao foundation was fixed.
No need for techniques, no need for artifacts. Should he wish for a peerless beauty instead? Glancing at Cai Yan by his side, he silently shook his head. What beauty could surpass Cai Yan, Serpent Empress, or Inviting Moon?
What mattered most to the Great Yi Dynasty?
"Talent. Only talent is what Great Yi needs the most—and not just any talent, but elite, top-tier talent."
Yi Tianxing contemplated silently.
In truth, the choices before him were few. The things that suited him weren't many. After all, he had to account for the entire Great Yi Dynasty—for the countless human citizens. The best choice would be to acquire a top-tier talent. Another option would be to obtain a supreme treasure capable of suppressing the fate of Great Yi, even if it were a one-time-use treasure—as long as it could reverse the tide at a critical moment, it would be invaluable.
For example, a one-time-use world-destroying relic—a terrifying force capable of annihilating everything. Such an item could become Great Yi's ultimate trump card.
"Should I wish for top-tier talent, or a supreme trump card?"
Even Yi Tianxing himself wavered in his mind.
Each had its pros and cons. The only unknown was the extent of Nightmare Power inside this treasure chest.
What did Great Yi truly lack?
If he chose talent, then which domain of talent should he select?
His thoughts battled fiercely in his mind, countless ideas flashing one after another.
In the end, Yi Tianxing placed his hand upon the black treasure chest and calmly spoke:
"I wish to obtain a heavenly treasure that allows for free travel between the Nightmare World and reality—granting safe passage in and out, with as much protection as possible."
Indeed, he didn't choose talent or any other treasure. What he wanted most was an artifact that could freely access the Nightmare World. Yes—unrestricted entry and exit.
The Nightmare World was, without exaggeration, an endless treasure trove. The treasures it contained were beyond calculation.
The only issue was how to enter it—and more importantly, how to leave once inside. While Yi Tianxing's Dream Butterfly World could connect to the Nightmare World, it only protected him alone, not others.
The Primal Chaos Heavenly Emperor Tower (鸿蒙天帝塔) was even less suitable to be revealed casually.
Allowing other cultivators to enter and exit freely through it was absolutely impossible.
But if they could obtain such a treasure and integrate it into Xuanhuang City, the Nightmare World would instantly become an inexhaustible source of wealth for Great Yi—not only as a training ground, but also as a means of acquiring countless wondrous treasures and cultivation resources.
"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime!"
Shua!!
The Nightmare Treasure Chest suddenly emitted a layer of pitch-black divine radiance. Within that light, countless mysterious Nightmare Runes interwove, forming the power to make dreams reality. Before anyone realized it, the treasure chest vanished—so did the divine light.
In its place appeared a heavenly treasure radiating with a strange brilliance.
A Gate!
It was a black ancient gate, covered in endlessly shifting runes. One could faintly make out a bizarre face on the surface—constantly transforming. Just one look and it could draw the viewer in, as if showing all phenomena of life, the flow of time, the fate of all beings.
All that immense Nightmare Power had been used up to forge this single treasure—nothing remained. That alone revealed how extraordinary this gate was.
Yi Tianxing immediately reached out and touched it.
A stream of information naturally flowed into his mind.
"Gate of Nightmare: This gate allows free traversal between the real world and the Nightmare World. Entry is possible with the true body or with a divided divine aspect. If the true body perishes inside, it is real death—body and soul erased. If a divine aspect is destroyed, the soul power, spiritual strength, and will used to form it will be completely obliterated, causing severe damage and requiring significant recovery time."
"Anyone entering through the Gate of Nightmare will receive a Nightmare Token. Crushing the token allows immediate escape from the Nightmare World, returning to the gate and then back to reality. All treasures obtained in the Nightmare World may be brought back."
Once he finished absorbing this information, a bright light flashed in Yi Tianxing's eyes. His body trembled slightly.
This was no ordinary item—this Gate of Nightmare would undoubtedly become the cornerstone of Great Yi's rise. If used correctly, it would grant the dynasty wings to soar.
Its ability to connect to the Nightmare World was already extraordinary—but its divine aspect traversal, which allowed cultivators to enter without risking their lives, made it priceless. As long as one was careful, they could gain rewards without risking their life.
Even if they "died" inside the Nightmare World, it wasn't a true death—they could return and try again.
However, every death in the Nightmare World would deal devastating damage to the soul, requiring long recovery. Dying too frequently could shatter the divine aspect and result in true death.
If one entered with their true body, death would be permanent.
Yi Tianxing would never allow Great Yi's cultivators to enter with their true bodies. The Nightmare World was too strange—what seemed harmless could become deadly in an instant. That uncertainty made it extremely dangerous.
"What is this?" Cai Yan asked curiously.
She had only seen Yi Tianxing open a black box, from which this eerie black gate emerged. She couldn't help but be intrigued.
"This is the Gate of Nightmare, a supreme treasure that allows Great Yi's cultivators to enter and exit the Nightmare World," Yi Tianxing said with a smile.
"Direct access to the Nightmare World? Husband, what exactly is this Nightmare World like?" she asked, intrigued.
After all, just one trip had led to the emergence of such a powerful artifact—who wouldn't be curious?
Yi Tianxing smiled and explained the basics of the Nightmare World. When Cai Yan heard about places like Fairy Tale Town, her eyes lit up with wonder.
"But husband, as you say, the Nightmare World is filled with unpredictable dangers. Isn't that too dangerous for our cultivators? Even if they don't enter with their true bodies, spiritual destruction still sounds terrifying."
Cai Yan voiced her concern.
"Fate is always in one's own hands. Only those who defy fate can bloom lotuses in fire. This gate is a chance—an opportunity to change one's destiny. Whether or not they seize it, that's up to them. I can only offer the opportunity. The outcome, whatever it is, no longer concerns me."
Yi Tianxing smiled.
He was no caretaker. He simply offered every citizen of Great Yi the chance to become dragons. Whether they could stand on their own—it was up to them.
At least he had done all he could.
Cai Yan listened quietly, lost in thought.
Before they knew it, morning had arrived.
After washing up, Yi Tianxing appeared—through sheer thought—at the core of the Cloud Sea of Fate, the Heavenly Pool of Fate.
Within the pool, Fate Energy flowed like water, emitting a deep azure glow.
"Xinghai, can you merge this Gate of Nightmare?" he asked.
Before him, a flash of light appeared, and Xinghai manifested.
She looked at him with joy—clearly displaying human-like emotions.
"This Gate of Nightmare can absolutely be merged into StarNet—it can become a part of it, enriching the StarNet World. It would also greatly assist in harvesting spiritual power from the masses."
Xinghai replied without hesitation, visibly excited.
With it, she could draw the attention of countless human cultivators and gather immense spiritual energy.
"Good. This is only the beginning. Xinghai, in time, you will become legendary," Yi Tianxing said with certainty.