"Nightmare Crown Prince? You mean, the Nightmare Crown Prince has already confirmed he will take part in the Chaos Heavenly Ladder. How come I've never heard of this news?" Thousand Faces looked truly shocked. This was no trivial matter. The name Nightmare Crown Prince in the Nightmare World was like thunder in the ears—known to all, feared by all. To bear the title of Crown Prince in the Nightmare World, one's strength and talent had to be beyond extraordinary.
The Nightmare Crown Prince hailed from the Nightmare Clan. The Nightmare Clan were the darlings of the Nightmare World itself, innately attuned to the world's origin. Each of them was blessed and sheltered by the will of Heaven and Earth within that world, possessing top-tier talent without exception. The Nightmare Crown Prince was the most outstanding among them, with an incredibly pure Nightmare bloodline. At the moment of his birth, he triggered a world-shaking phenomenon—
Billions of dreamscapes fell at once.
That scene was indescribable. Countless living beings celebrated his arrival with radiant deaths. Numerous races and lifeforms merged into the Nightmare World because of him. Moreover, he was born with a companion treasure: the Nightmare Heavenly Tome. To this day, few could say what powers it truly held. The only certainty was that nearly everyone who had seen it was dead, never to appear again.
That alone was enough to show how terrifying the Nightmare Crown Prince was.
On the peak of Nightmare, who reigns supreme?
One glance at the Crown Prince, and all dreams vanish into emptiness!
In short, in the Nightmare World, the Nightmare Crown Prince was a chasm impossible to cross, a height impossible to surpass in this era. If he were to enter the Chaos Heavenly Ladder, he would not be inferior to the prodigies of Eternal Night or the Eternal World. On the contrary, he might well shine brilliantly in the great war, bringing glory to the Nightmare World and displaying the might of his clan.
Yi Tianxing tried to probe indirectly again and again, but he could not get much detailed information about the Nightmare Crown Prince. He remained a mysterious figure in the Nightmare World—spoken of often, but seen by only a handful. The reasons behind this secrecy were known to very few.
After several rounds of wine, the banquet came to an end.
Yi Tianxing and Thousand Faces bid farewell and left Altai's manor. Altai personally escorted them to the gate, his face never losing its smile. The benefits he had gained this time were simply too great; how could he not be overjoyed?
"Where does Fellow Daoist Yi plan to go next? I can lead the way." Thousand Faces asked.
Though they had spent quite some time at Altai's, since their real goal was the auction, naturally they wouldn't leave the Holy City just yet. Staying was inevitable. The Holy City was vast—wandering it normally, even ten days and nights wouldn't suffice to see it all. Many unique features could only be found here. It was up to Yi Tianxing what interested him most.
"Looking at the time, today's about over. Let's not visit anywhere else. I'll head straight to the Nightmare Heavenly Pool. It's been a long time since I've had the leisure. This time, I'll fish a bit and test my luck." Yi Tianxing said calmly with a faint smile.
After completing several large deals in succession today, he no longer had interest in anything else. The Nightmare Heavenly Pool, however, did stir his interest. Fishing had always been a superb way to relax—and this was no ordinary fishing. With good fortune, one might be in for incredible surprises.
"In that case, I wish Fellow Daoist Yi endless fortune at the Heavenly Pool, and may you fish up treasures." Thousand Faces, knowing his cue, took his leave, arranging to meet again tomorrow to continue exploring the city.
Yi Tianxing quickly made his way, familiar as ever, to the vast Heavenly Pool within the Holy City.
The Nightmare Heavenly Pool looked just as it had the first time he saw it—ancient, calm, unfathomable. Yet now, even more powerhouses were gathered around it. Its reputation had long spread far and wide. This place had become a sacred ground in the Holy City. Countless lucky ones had fished up top-tier immortal treasures here, rising overnight, undergoing dazzling transformations. Such stories of fortune happened here nearly every day, to the amazement of all.
Because of this, the pool's surroundings teemed with watchers. Whenever someone fished up a top-tier treasure, wealthy bidders would immediately offer sky-high prices. Whoever moved fastest got it; hesitation meant losing it. Competition was fierce.
"I heard not long ago, someone fished up a Purple Jade Casket. Inside was a crystal—the legendary Resurrection Crystal. Once it recognizes a master, even if that person is killed and their soul shattered, they can resurrect under its power, without flaw. As soon as it was brought out, the Treasure Pavilion bought it at a sky-high price."
"Indeed, such life-saving treasures, substitutes for death itself, can never be too many. Their value is beyond measure. A while ago, someone even pulled out a Rebirth Cross from the pool—same effect, a second life. Overnight riches, beyond imagination."
As Yi Tianxing approached, his ears filled with such discussions, all about the Heavenly Pool.
The pool contained boundless opportunities. One could fish up practically anything. The allure was irresistible. But the prerequisite was wealth—vast wealth. Some struck gold here; others lost everything.
Fishing at the Nightmare Heavenly Pool was costly. Each attempt required a price, depending on how far from the shore one cast.
Within ten li of shore: 1,000 Nightmare Coins per attempt.
From ten to one hundred li: 3,000 Nightmare Coins per attempt.
From one hundred to one thousand li: 10,000 Nightmare Coins per attempt.
From one thousand to three thousand li: 100,000 Nightmare Coins per attempt.
Beyond three thousand li: 1,000,000 Nightmare Coins per attempt.
On top of that, to move the fishing boat forward even a single meter cost one Nightmare Coin. The expenses added up quickly. Recklessness could reduce a man to poverty in moments—and even worse, one might come up empty-handed.
Thus, most people dared not venture too far out. The costs were crushing, and the chance of an empty hook was high.
Ding!
Yi Tianxing reached the poolside and casually tossed in a Nightmare Coin. Instantly, a fishing boat surfaced naturally from the waters. Casting a coin meant one was here to fish, and thus the boat was summoned. Stepping aboard, one could begin.
"Let's see how fortune treats me this time. Hopefully, something interesting comes up." A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Yi Tianxing's eyes.
At his level, few things could truly spark curiosity. The Heavenly Pool, however, was immune to outside interference. The anticipation of the unknown was a rare pleasure.
As he boarded, seven fishing rods appeared at the bow—
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.
The Seven-Colored Rods:
Red: Universal Rod. Could fish up anything—spiritual fruits, herbs, treasures, techniques, pills.
Orange: Spirit Rod. Drew spiritual herbs, fruits, and heavenly materials.
Yellow: Technique Rod. Fished up cultivation manuals and secret arts.
Green: Pill Rod. Drew out pills, medicines, and elixirs.
Blue: Treasure Rod. Drew weapons, artifacts, innate treasures.
Indigo: Life Rod. Fished living beings of all races.
Violet: Lifespan Rod. Fished up longevity itself—the years of life.
Each was wondrous beyond compare.
Coins clinked as Yi Tianxing tossed them, the boat surging forward. In a blink, he had passed the ten-li, then the hundred-li, then the thousand-li zone, heading straight for the waters beyond three thousand li—the very heart of the Heavenly Pool.
Here, the treasures fished up were far more numerous and valuable.
"Let's try the Red one first."
Smiling faintly, Yi Tianxing lifted the Red Rod and cast his line into the waters. Sitting calmly at the bow, he glanced around. Few boats had ventured this far; those that did were spaced far apart.
Suddenly—his rod trembled violently, an immense pulling force surging through it like some living thing struggling furiously.
"Interesting. Come up!"
Yi Tianxing's lips curved as his wrist flicked, pouring strength into the rod. The thrill of fishing lay in that instant when prey bit the hook—the joy of success and expectation of reward.
Splash!
With a flick, a golden creature the size of a grown man was hauled aboard—
A Golden White Jade Shrimp.
"A fine catch. Top-grade ingredient, its flesh no worse than gemstone. A delicacy. Fortune smiles on me—who'd expect such a legendary ingredient here? My luck is indeed good; these waters are richly blessed."
The delicacy was irresistible.
He cast the Red Rod again. Each time, the bait was formed from a million Nightmare Coins.
Empty.
Empty.
Empty again.
…
It seemed his luck had suddenly vanished.