Within the Nightmare Space, Witch Dan Xue trailed behind a man in black robes, a look of disdain on her face. "Do all you Dream Nightmare Cultivators like wearing black?"

The black-robed man said, "Junior Sister, my field is Nightmare Assistance, while Demon Cultivator Mo Yan’s is Nightmare Specialization. We’re different. Besides, clothes have nothing to do with one’s Cultivation path.

Many Demon Cultivators are fond of black clothes.

And another thing—if you have a problem with Demon Cultivator Mo Yan, don’t take it out on all Dream Nightmare Cultivators. It’s not like we’ve done anything to offend you."

Witch Dan Xue let out a dry laugh. "But it was a Dream Nightmare Cultivator who offended me."

The black-robed man: "..."

’It’s impossible to reason with this junior sister of mine.’

"Let’s just get a move on. I can’t believe we ran into Ghost Cultivators while sneaking in, and now they’re chasing us relentlessly. What terrible luck."

Witch Dan Xue sneered again. "You’re just incompetent. And to think I spent so much money to hire you."

The black-robed man: "...Junior Sister, your whole act is pathetic. Did you buy your fans or something?"

Witch Dan Xue instantly drew her sword, her killing intent flaring. That was a grave insult.

******

Meanwhile, Jiang Zuo faced a group of charging minor ghosts, completely unfazed.

"Get ’em, brothers! No hesitation, no fear! Let the carnage begin!"

"Charge!"

"Charge!"

A group of seven or eight minor ghosts charged excitedly toward Jiang Zuo.

As the minor ghosts drew near, Jiang Zuo casually flicked a finger. A long streak of fire shot into their midst, and a great blaze immediately erupted among them. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The minor ghosts were utterly dumbfounded.

’What’s going on? Wasn’t he supposed to be a pushover? What just happened?’

After tossing them a ball of fire, Jiang Zuo paid them no more mind.

They were merely products of the Nightmare Space—incredibly fragile.

"A Nightmare Space," Jiang Zuo mused aloud. "I’ll go check the core to see if it’s borne fruit yet."

The core of every Nightmare Space eventually bears a fruit, which is highly beneficial to those with a Nightmare Specialization.

As for Jiang Zuo, he could use it in Artifact Refining. There was a slim chance it could grant one of his Magical Treasures a Nightmare Space-type Skill.

For those who knew how to use it, this Nightmare Fruit was priceless. For those who didn’t, it was nothing more than a rare Spirit Fruit.

The Nightmare Fruit also had a hidden function: crippling one’s intellect, essentially turning the target into a simpleton. Unfortunately, this effect was extremely restrictive and could only be utilized by someone with a Nightmare Specialization.

Furthermore, the user’s timing, technique, and understanding of Nightmares all had to be absolutely perfect.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to succeed.

The Nightmare core was naturally located in the deepest part of the Nightmare Space, and getting there posed no difficulty whatsoever for Jiang Zuo.

All he had to do was go along with the Nightmare Space. The more one cooperated, the deeper one would sink, and the more easily one would be devoured.

Jiang Zuo then took a single step, and the entire space transformed, as if it had entered a state of rapid transit.

With each step Jiang Zuo took, this state of transit grew more pronounced and the speed increased, as though he were heading toward the very origin of the world.

Such a peculiar phenomenon instantly alerted the Black-robed Demon Cultivator. He naturally sensed someone was making their way to the core.

Heading toward the core wasn’t strange in itself, as several Ghost Cultivators were also on that path. However, Jiang Zuo’s progress left the Black-robed Demon Cultivator utterly stunned.

’How is this possible? My senses can’t be wrong—no one who entered is above Tier Four. Why is he moving so fast? Even if he had a Nightmare Specialization, it would be impossible to be this quick!’

Witch Dan Xue asked, "What’s wrong?"

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator said, "Someone is approaching the core... No, wait, he’s already reached it! This won’t do. I have to go see for myself."

Then, before Witch Dan Xue could react, the Black-robed Demon Cultivator pulled her along as he teleported toward the core.

On the way, they witnessed a rapid replay of Jiang Zuo’s journey to the core. Each of his steps seemed to cross an entire plane, like a warp through space.

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator’s brow twitched as he watched. ’A monster. This guy is a goddamn monster.’

’I see how Jiang Zuo got in, but what kind of person could possibly do it so effortlessly?’

He, at least, had never seen anything like it.

Witch Dan Xue, however, cried out, "It’s him."

"Him?"

"That Po Xiao."

"The Tier One Cultivator who thrashed you all like dogs?"

Witch Dan Xue shot the black-robed man a glare and nodded unwillingly.

"..." The Black-robed Cultivator was having an internal meltdown. ’Tier One? This has to be a goddamn Tier Seven, right? A Tier One who can treat this Nightmare Space like his own backyard?’

By the time they arrived at the core, Jiang Zuo was already there. To their astonishment, he had just plucked a fruit from it.

He hadn’t expected there to actually be a fruit here.

As soon as the Black-robed Demon Cultivator appeared, he called out to Jiang Zuo, "Fellow Daoist Po Xiao, how about doing me a favor?"

Witch Dan Xue shouted, "What favor? Let me cut him down first!"

’Before, I was restricted by the Array. Now, it’s a test of pure strength. I refuse to believe a mere Tier One can last more than a few rounds against me.’

However, she had barely left the Black-robed Demon Cultivator’s side when a roar echoed in her head. A flood of chaotic information assaulted her mind, nearly causing her to pass out on the spot.

Then, she felt a pulling force. By the time she came to her senses, she found herself back beside her senior brother.

"W-what just happened?" ’If my senior brother hadn’t been there, I might have been the one to die just now.’

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator said irritably, "Did you think my Nightmare core is a joke? Forget a Tier Two like you—even a Tier Four would have to show it some respect."

At this, Witch Dan Xue pointed at Jiang Zuo in shock. "But he..."

"That’s why I told him to do me a favor! He could at least pretend to be affected! He’s supposed to be Tier One! Hell, I wouldn’t even mind if he pretended to be a Tier Seven instead of feigning dizziness!" The Black-robed Demon Cultivator was completely exasperated.

’Now I know why my junior sister got thrashed like a dog. This guy is definitely no ordinary Tier One.’

Still, there was one thing he didn’t understand. No matter how extraordinary he was, this level of power was just too much. It defied all logic of Cultivation.

Witch Dan Xue cried out, "But-but you’re Tier Four! Can’t you just take him down?"

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator said, "Look at his body."

Only then did Witch Dan Xue notice that Jiang Zuo’s body had begun to turn transparent.

"He had already left before we even got here. What you see now is just a projection—a basic ability granted by obtaining the core’s fruit. He’s probably about to leave the Nightmare Space entirely. We can’t catch him."

Witch Dan Xue stomped her foot in frustration.

Jiang Zuo glanced at the black-robed man and said, "Don’t cause trouble in the Holy Land."

’People who command a Nightmare Space are a real pain.’

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator immediately replied, "Fellow Daoist, we didn’t come here to cause trouble. Do you know how we might obtain a legitimate entry permit?"

Jiang Zuo hesitated for a moment. "Find Chi Xue Child. Buy one with Spirit Stones."

’None of Chi Xue Child’s senior brothers came, so all the entry spots fell to him. He’s bound to have some to spare.’

As for why Jiang Zuo told the Black-robed Demon Cultivator this, he didn’t need a reason. He simply felt like it.

At that moment, Jiang Zuo’s figure vanished completely, signaling that he had finally left the Nightmare Space.

"Chi Xue Child? He’s part of Demon Cultivator Mo Yan’s group. Would he really sell to us?" Witch Dan Xue frowned.

The Black-robed Demon Cultivator sighed. "Junior Sister, do you know why you all lost to Mo Yan at the Four Directions Divine Mirror event?"

"Why?" Witch Dan Xue asked instinctively.

"The reason is very simple. It’s because Demon Cultivator Mo Yan brought a living cheat code with her. To put it plainly, during the Four Directions Divine Mirror event, Demon Cultivator Mo Yan was hacking. It’s no wonder you lost," the Black-robed Demon Cultivator said with a sigh, patting Witch Dan Xue on the head.

Witch Dan Xue slapped his hand away and snapped, "Demon Cultivator Mo Yan was hacking, and you say it’s no wonder I lost? Hacking is cheating! It’s against the rules!"

"Er..."