I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

System notification: Congratulations! Your [Talisman Drawing] skill has been upgraded to Lv5!

[Spell Drawing Lv5 (0/1000)]: Can draw Tier 1 superior spells with a success rate of +15%, and has a tiny chance of drawing top-tier spells. Unlocks new ability [Spell Deduction]: Can simplify, strengthen, and combine known spells to create new spell structures (extremely low success rate).

Looking at the talisman he had just completed—a talisman shimmering with spiritual light, its runes perfectly rounded, and radiating a faint golden glow—Lu Zhao smiled slightly. This was a top-grade first-tier golden talisman, and its quality was close to that of a top-tier talisman. This was his first successful work after his [Talisman Drawing] skill was upgraded to Lv5.

A month has passed since Zhao Wuji last caused trouble. During this month, Lu Zhao has kept a low profile, spending most of his time in the Talisman Pavilion, diligently practicing talisman skills, while also secretly investigating. Under Elder Yun's protection and Deacon Zhou's care, Zhao Wuji has not openly caused trouble again, but Lu Zhao can sense that the covert surveillance and probing have never stopped.

In terms of cultivation, with the aid of numerous Qi Gathering Pills, his cultivation steadily improved to the mid-stage of the fourth level of Qi Refining (60/150). His cultivation of "Dragon's Sleep" and "Spirit Refining Technique" also progressed smoothly; although still far from Lv5, his spiritual power and true qi became increasingly refined. He also made a breakthrough in the Divine Splitting Technique, now able to barely manage to "multitask," maintaining the operation of a simple spell while drawing talismans. Although it couldn't be sustained for long, it was still a significant improvement.

What surprised Lu Zhao the most was the new ability unlocked after breaking through to Lv5 in [Talisman Drawing]—Talisman Deduction. This ability sounded unremarkable, but after trying it, Lu Zhao discovered its enormous potential. He tried to "simplify" the deduction of the most basic Fireball Talisman and actually obtained an "improved version of Fireball Talisman" that was faster to draw, consumed less energy, but had no reduction in power! Although the success rate of the deduction was extremely low, perhaps only once in ten attempts, and each deduction consumed a great deal of mental energy, it undoubtedly opened a new door for him.

"If we could deduce the Blood Fiend Sect's rune structure, find its weaknesses, or even devise a way to counter it..." Lu Zhao pondered. This would take time, and more "samples." The fragments of the Blood Fiend Banner and the jade slip containing the Blood Fiend Technique he obtained from the last mission had become important references for his deductions.

On this day, the Talisman Pavilion released a new announcement: Three months later, the sect will hold the "Outer Sect Disciple Talisman Grand Competition," open to all outer sect talisman disciples. The top three winners will receive generous rewards: First place will receive a Tier 1 Top-Grade Talisman Brush, 1000 contribution points, and will be promoted to a core disciple of the Talisman Pavilion; second place will receive a Tier 1 High-Grade Talisman Brush and 500 contribution points; third place will receive a Tier 1 Mid-Grade Talisman Brush and 300 contribution points. In addition, the top ten will be allowed to enter the "Talisman Secret Realm" for three days of comprehension.

The news sent shockwaves through the Talisman Pavilion. A core disciple! That was the coveted status of every Talisman Pavilion disciple, signifying more resources, better guidance, and higher standing. A top-grade first-tier talisman brush was an incredibly rare treasure, capable of significantly increasing the success rate of talisman creation. And the "Talisman Secret Realm" was said to be a naturally formed realm containing countless mysteries of talismans; studying within it was an immense opportunity for talisman masters.

"Junior Brother Lu, are you going to participate?" Wang Tie asked, leaning closer with anticipation in his eyes. He knew Lu Zhao's true skill level; although he had only recently started learning, his talisman-making skills were definitely among the best of the younger generation.

"Of course I'll participate," Lu Zhao nodded. This competition was an excellent opportunity for him to showcase his strength, acquire resources, and gain status. More importantly, if he could become a core disciple, he would have access to more information and resources, which would also benefit his investigation.

"Alright! We'll go together then and show those inner disciples that we outer disciples aren't bad either!" Wang Tie rubbed his hands together, eager to get started. He had been stuck at the peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining for many years, and his talisman skills had also reached a bottleneck, so he urgently needed to break through.

Lu Zhao smiled but said nothing. He knew the competition would be anything but peaceful. The Inner Sect's Talisman Pavilion would also send participants, and there might even be some hidden experts among them. Moreover, Zhao Wuji would definitely not allow him to participate and win smoothly.

"We must be fully prepared..."

From that day on, Lu Zhao studied even harder. Besides fulfilling his monthly quota, he devoted all his time to preparing for the competition. He focused on three types of talismans: the "Golden Light Talisman," the "Blazing Sun Talisman," and the "Earth Escape Talisman"—these were currently the first-tier high-grade talismans he was most proficient in and best suited for practical use. At the same time, he began experimenting with creating more complex "Chain Talismans"—combining multiple talismans to form a chain effect. This required extremely high control and talisman-connecting skills, making it incredibly difficult, but if successful, its power would be multiplied.

While cultivating, Lu Zhao didn't forget to investigate. Hou San would send news every few days, mostly useless information, but occasionally some valuable. For example, Zhao Wuji had been frequently contacting several inner sect deacons recently, seemingly plotting something; more items related to the Blood Fiend Sect had appeared on the black market; and in several villages outside the sect, cases of livestock having their life essence drained had occurred, and some villagers had gone missing...

Lu Zhao wrote down all this information, and at the end of the month, he went to Yunmengze again to report.

"You did a good job." Elder Yun praised him after listening to the report. "I have arrangements for Zhao Wuji. As for the Blood Fiend Sect... they have indeed become quite active recently. Before the competition, try not to go out and focus on your preparations. If there is any emergency, you can contact me using the communication talisman."

"Yes, disciple understands."

"Furthermore..." Elder Yun took out a jade slip, "This is the method for setting up the 'Minor Five Elements Talisman Array.' Although it's only the basics, if used properly, it can trap cultivators in the mid-to-late stages of Qi Refining for a moment. Take it and study it; it might come in handy during the Grand Competition."

"Thank you, Elder!" Lu Zhao was overjoyed. Rune arrays were a more profound application than chain runes. He had heard of them before, but had never had the chance to experience them.

After leaving Yunmeng Marsh, Lu Zhao returned to his cave and immediately began to study the "Minor Five Elements Talisman Array". This array requires one basic talisman of each of the five attributes of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Arranged in specific positions, it can form a small trapping array after activation. Its power depends on the quality of the talismans and the operator's control over the array.

"Perfect, I can try setting up the array using the talismans I drew myself..." Lu Zhao immediately got to work. Among the first-tier high-grade talismans he could currently draw, he had the Blazing Sun Talisman (Fire), Golden Light Talisman (Metal), Clear Water Talisman (Water), Vine Entangling Talisman (Wood), and Earth Wall Talisman (Earth), perfectly completing the five elements. He tried setting up the array, but failed several times; either the timing of the talisman activation was wrong, or the orientation was off. However, he remained calm and patient, trying again and again, summarizing his experiences.

System notification: You have successfully set up the [Small Five Elements Talisman Array (Simplified)], array level +1.

【Formation (Beginner): Lv1 (5/100)】

Finally, on his tenth attempt, he successfully activated the formation. Five beams of light rose from the five talismans, intertwining in the air to form a colorful light shield three zhang in diameter, enveloping Lu Zhao within it. The light shield swirled, faintly displaying the power of the five elements generating each other. Although it was only the most rudimentary version, it still delighted Lu Zhao.

"With this formation in hand, we have a better chance of winning the competition."

Time passed day by day, and there were still two months until the grand competition. Lu Zhao's life became even more regular: he cultivated and deduced runes in the morning; in the afternoon, he drew runes and practiced formations in the Rune Pavilion; and in the evening, he practiced the Divine Intervention Technique and organized intelligence. He was like a precise machine, operating efficiently, and his strength was increasing at a visible speed.

During this time, the atmosphere in the Talisman Pavilion was noticeably different. Everyone was eager to show their skills in the Grand Competition. There were many more exchanges, sparring, and consultations than usual. Lu Zhao also took this opportunity to get to know more of his senior brothers and sisters. He secretly remembered several of them who were skilled and upright, considering them as potential allies.

Wang Tie also made rapid progress. With Lu Zhao's "unintentional" guidance, he successfully drew his first first-grade high-quality talisman and was so excited that he couldn't sleep well for several days. He was even more grateful to Lu Zhao, and the two became closer.

However, peaceful days are always short-lived. A month before the competition, a sudden change shattered the surface tranquility.

That day, Lu Zhao was drawing an improved version of the Blazing Sun Talisman in the Talisman Pavilion. This was his latest derivation, and its power was 20% stronger than the ordinary Blazing Sun Talisman, but the difficulty of drawing it had also increased by 30%. He was completely focused, and the tip of his brush moved across the talisman paper, leaving behind streaks of crimson lines.

Suddenly, a series of urgent bell tolls came from the depths of the sect, ringing nine times in a row, deafeningly loud!

"Nine alarm bells! It's the highest level of alarm!" someone exclaimed.

All the disciples stopped what they were doing and looked at each other in bewilderment. Nine rings of the alarm bell meant that a major crisis had occurred, and all disciples had to immediately go on high alert.

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He immediately put away his talisman brush and rushed out of the Talisman Pavilion with the others. Several streaks of light flew out from the inner gate and sped towards the outside of the mountain gate. In the distance, a faint rumbling sound could be heard, accompanied by intense fluctuations of spiritual energy.

"What happened?" someone asked anxiously.

Soon, news arrived: Qingfeng Town, located fifty miles northeast of the sect's mountain gate, had been attacked by an unknown force. The entire town was shrouded in blood mist, with a large amount of evil energy and bloodlust leaking out, suspected to be the work of the Blood Fiend Sect! The Enforcement Hall has urgently dispatched personnel to provide rescue and investigation! All disciples are forbidden from leaving the mountain without authorization; violators will be severely punished!

Qingfeng Town! Lu Zhao's pupils contracted. It was one of the largest settlements of mortals near Yunmeng Marsh, with a population of tens of thousands, and the hometown of many outer sect disciples. The Blood Fiend Sect dared to directly attack a town protected by the sect—this was blatant provocation!

"Blood Fiend Cult...what are they planning to do?" Wang Tie's face turned pale.

Lu Zhao's mind raced. Qingfeng Town wasn't far from the "Secondary Sacrifice Site" discovered during the last mission. The Blood Fiend Cult's attack there wasn't just for slaughter; there must be a larger scheme. Was it a new blood sacrifice? Or was it to draw the sect's attention and cover up other actions? Or perhaps...

He suddenly remembered that during the last mission, when the bronze-masked man escaped, he had said, "Use your essence, blood, and souls to sacrifice to my lord, and the blood pool will surely be fuller, accelerating the loosening of the seal." Could it be that their goal was to loosen a certain seal? And the tens of thousands of lives in Qingfeng Town were their chosen "sacrifices"?

"We must inform Elder Yun as soon as possible!" Lu Zhao turned around and headed towards Yunmengze. But he had only taken a few steps when he was stopped by a disciple of the Enforcement Department.

"All disciples, return to your respective residences immediately and are not to wander about at will! Anyone who disobeys this order will be punished as a traitor!"

Left with no other choice, Lu Zhao returned to the Talisman Pavilion. Inside, chaos reigned; the crowd was in an uproar, filled with unease and fear. Steward Zhou, his face grave, was trying to calm the crowd while simultaneously arranging for stronger defenses within the pavilion.

Lu Zhao returned to his seat, feeling uneasy. He took out the communication talisman given to him by Elder Yun, hesitated for a moment, and still didn't use it. The situation was still unclear, and sending a message rashly might not be a good thing.

Just then, the jade pendant identifying him at his waist suddenly vibrated, and a message entered his mind:

"Urgent Mission: All disciples of the Talisman Pavilion, immediately assemble at the 'Ten Thousand Talisman Hall' to receive the task of crafting 'Exorcising Talisman' and 'Purifying Heart Talisman.' This mission is urgent and must not be delayed!"

Wanfu Hall was the place where the Talisman Pavilion handled large orders for talismans and urgent missions. Lu Zhao didn't dare to delay and rushed over immediately. When he arrived, he found that dozens of talisman disciples had already gathered in the hall, and Steward Zhou and several elders were assigning tasks.

"Urgent situation! Qingfeng Town is shrouded in blood mist, suspected to be caused by a powerful evil formation. The Enforcement Hall urgently needs a large number of exorcism talismans and mind-clearing talismans to dispel evil energy and stabilize minds. All disciples, immediately collect materials and draw them with all your might! Contribution points will be doubled, and the top three in terms of the number of talismans drawn will receive extra rewards!"

No one dared to say anything. They immediately took the materials and found their own spots to begin drawing. Lu Zhao also took the materials for twenty sets of exorcism talismans and twenty sets of mind-clearing talismans, found a corner, and began drawing.

Both the Exorcising Talisman and the Purifying Talisman are mid-grade Tier 1 talismans. While not particularly difficult to draw, they require precision. Lu Zhao calmly and skillfully wielded his brush, creating talismans one after another. Thanks to his Lv5 talisman drawing skill and the aid of his Divine Interference Technique, he drew them quickly and well, achieving a success rate of 90%, with most being mid-grade and occasionally high-grade.

Two hours later, Lu Zhao completed all the quotas and submitted thirty-eight finished products (two of which were unsuccessful). He was among the fastest to finish, and the quality was excellent, which caught the attention of Steward Zhou.

"Lu Zhao, go and collect thirty more sets of materials and continue drawing!"

"yes!"

Lu Zhao didn't rest and continued drawing. He knew that the front lines desperately needed these talismans; drawing one more might save one more life. More importantly, he had a vague feeling that this incident might be the opportunity for him to get closer to the core of the Black Fiend Cult.

He drew the talisman while secretly observing. The atmosphere inside the hall was tense but orderly. Besides the disciples of the Talisman Pavilion, there were also some inner disciples and law enforcement disciples coming and going, passing messages and collecting talismans. From their fragmented conversations, Lu Zhao pieced together some information:

The situation in Qingfeng Town is worse than expected. Blood mist has covered the entire town, with countless blood shadows and vengeful spirits wandering within. Ordinary cultivators who enter will immediately be corrupted by the bloodthirsty aura and lose their minds. The Enforcement Hall has already organized three groups of people to enter, all of whom have suffered heavy losses, only managing to rescue a small number of civilians on the outskirts. Preliminary assessment indicates that a large-scale blood sacrifice evil array is operating within the town, requiring a large number of exorcising items to gradually break it.

"A large-scale blood sacrifice evil formation... just as expected." Lu Zhao's heart sank. The Blood Fiend Sect had gone all in, actually setting up such a massive formation right under the sect's nose. What exactly did they want? Was it just for slaughter? Or...?

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. He remembered the map he had obtained earlier, marked with "Secondary Sacrifice Site, Blood Shadow Passage, Sealed Node." The location of Qingfeng Town seemed to overlap with a blurry mark on the map...

"Could it be that beneath Qingfeng Town lies one of those 'sealed nodes'? Is the Blood Fiend Sect trying to forcefully break the seal by sacrificing all the townspeople?!" Lu Zhao broke out in a cold sweat at his own thought. If that were true, the consequences would be unimaginable! A seal that the Black Fiend Sect values ​​so highly must contain an absolutely terrifying entity!

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and continued drawing talismans, but his mind was no longer on them. He had to tell Elder Yun about this guess as soon as possible!

Another hour passed, and Lu Zhao completed the second batch of quotas. Just as he was about to submit them, suddenly, the entire Wanfu Hall trembled violently! Immediately afterward, a massive, evil, and violent blood-fiend wave, like a tsunami, swept in from the northeast and instantly enveloped the entire sect!

"Pfft!" Some disciples with lower cultivation levels coughed up blood on the spot and collapsed to the ground. The others also staggered, their faces pale.

Protected by the Pure Heart Jade Pendant and having cultivated the Refining Spirit Technique, Lu Zhao managed to stabilize himself, though his blood and qi were still churning. He stared in horror towards the northeast, where the previously faintly visible crimson sky had now become an overwhelming, inverted crimson bowl, completely enveloping Qingfeng Town and the surrounding dozens of miles! Countless distorted faces appeared on the crimson curtain, emitting silent wails; even from a distance, the sight was enough to shake one's mind and drive one to the brink of madness!

"What is that?!" someone exclaimed in surprise.

"It's...it's the Blood Sacrifice Array fully activated!" A knowledgeable elder, his face deathly pale and his voice trembling, exclaimed. "Using tens of thousands of lives as sacrifices, drawing upon the earth's blood energy...this is...this is summoning some kind of being, or...breaking a seal!"

Before he finished speaking, a huge, pitch-black crack suddenly appeared in the center of the blood-red sky! From the depths of the crack, the faint sound of countless chains breaking could be heard, accompanied by a low, evil roar that seemed to come from the deepest hell!

"roar--!!!"

A roar swept across the heavens and earth, causing the entire Yunmengze Mountain Range to tremble! Countless birds and beasts fled in terror, and vegetation withered. All the Qi Refining stage disciples felt a fear that emanated from their very souls, as if they had encountered their natural enemy.

"Not good! The seal has loosened! Something is about to escape!" the elder roared hoarsely. "Quickly! Activate the mountain-protecting formation! All disciples, go to full combat readiness!"

The alarm bells rang again, this time a continuous twelve rings! The light curtain of the protective array lit up one after another throughout the sect, enveloping the entire Yunmeng Marsh. But everyone could feel that the evil aura coming from the northeast was constantly strengthening, as if some peerless ferocious beast was struggling to emerge from the crack!

"It's over... Qingfeng Town is finished..."

"What exactly is that thing?"

"The Blood Fiend Cult, have they gone mad?!"

"..."

Panic spread like wildfire. Even some inner disciples and deacons turned pale, their eyes filled with despair.

Lu Zhao stared intently at the crack, his fists clenched. He could feel the map fragment in his arms, and the black stone fragment he had obtained from the mysterious old man, both of them burning and vibrating violently! It was as if they had encountered something of the same origin, or as if they were issuing a warning!

"Ding! Extremely high concentration of evil god aura detected! Large spatial rift detected! Seal detected weakening!"

"Warning! Warning! Warning! An extremely dangerous zone is forming!"

"Conditions met, special module activating..."

"Resolving spatial coordinates... Resolution complete."

"Scanning regional energy fluctuations... Scan complete."

"Assessing danger level... Assessment complete: Hellish level (current survival rate less than 0.1%)"

"Conditions met, 'Copy Generation' module activated!"

"A special instance is being generated based on the 'Blood Sacrifice Site of Green Maple Town'..."

Dungeon Name: [Blood Sacrifice Abyss - The Tragedy of Qingfeng Town (Purgatory)]

"Instance Type: Team Survival/Exploration/Sealing"

"Dungeon Difficulty: Purgatory (Recommended Level: Late-stage Qi Refining or higher, Team Size ≥ 5)"

"Instance Objectives: 1. Survive in the Blood Sacrifice Abyss for 12 hours; 2. Explore the Blood Sacrifice Core and obtain intelligence; 3. Attempt to reinforce/destroy the seal nodes (optional). Complete the basic objectives to exit the instance."

"Dungeon rewards: Depend on completion level, including but not limited to: a large amount of experience points, contribution points, rare materials, cultivation techniques, special titles, etc."

"WARNING: This instance is a reality-reflected instance. Dying in this instance has a very high chance of resulting in simultaneous death in reality! Items and information obtained in this instance can be brought out into reality!"

"Your current strength is severely insufficient. We strongly recommend that you abandon this attempt. Enter the instance? (Yes/No)"

A series of cold, urgent notification sounds exploded in Lu Zhao's mind! He was stunned, never expecting the panel to do this to him at this time and in this way!

A dungeon? A hellish dungeon modeled after the real-world "Qingfeng Town Blood Sacrifice Ground"? And can the items and information obtained in the dungeon be brought into reality? And is dying in the dungeon also highly likely to result in dying in reality?

What... what is this? Turning a real-world disaster into a repeatable "game instance"? Although extremely dangerous, it also means opportunity! If we can obtain core information about the Blood Fiend Cult and the seal from the instance, or even obtain treasures or techniques to counteract evil, it will be of great help to our investigation and self-protection in the real world!

But... it's the Purgatory level! The recommended level is late-stage Qi Refining! He's only at level four! Going in is practically suicide! The survival rate is less than 0.1%!

Lu Zhao stared at the cold "Yes/No" option on the panel, his heart pounding. Around him was a chaotic crowd, a blood-red sky soaring into the heavens, and the increasingly clear, despairing, evil roars emanating from the cracks. In his mind, however, lay the seemingly "game-like" but actually cold and cruel prompt on the panel.

Going in would be a near-certain death, no, a certain death! But not going in meant watching the Blood Fiend Cult's plot succeed? Watching that terrifying being, possibly sealed away, be unleashed? Moreover, this instance is a reflection of reality; the information and items inside can be brought into the real world... This might be the only way to learn about, or even thwart, the Blood Fiend Cult's plot beforehand! It's also his only shortcut to quickly increase his strength and acquire rare resources!

Both risks and opportunities have been magnified to the extreme.

Lu Zhao took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He looked around; Deacon Zhou was organizing the disciples to reinforce the defenses of the Myriad Talisman Hall; Wang Tie's face was pale, but he was still diligently drawing talismans; the other disciples were either fearful, bewildered, or trying to appear calm...

He then looked northeast, at the blood-red curtain that blotted out the sky, the ever-widening crack, and the increasingly clear, soul-chilling aura of evil...

Finally, he looked at his palm, where the newly drawn talisman still held warmth.

"Throughout my journey, from Qingmu Town to Huaishan Village, from Broken Soul Cliff to Misty Swamp, every time I've faced death by the skin of my teeth, every time I've brushed shoulders with it. This time, it's just a little more dangerous..."

"But this instance is an opportunity! It's the only chance for me to overtake others, quickly become stronger, and uncover the truth! If I don't even dare to take this risk, how can I survive in this dog-eat-dog world of cultivation? How can I avenge the people of Qingmu Town, the people of Huaishan Village, and those innocent people who died at the hands of the Blood Fiend Sect? And how can I possibly uncover the secrets behind this panel on my body, this 'useless spiritual root'?"

"Cultivating immortality is inherently defying fate and challenging destiny! If you're timid and hesitant, you might as well go home and farm!"

A resolute glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. He wasn't being reckless; he simply understood that some opportunities, once missed, are gone forever. This blood sacrifice incident was a crisis, but it was also an opportunity for Lu Zhao! A unique opportunity bestowed upon him by the panel!

"Panel, entering the dungeon, what are the precautions? Is there any newbie protection, or... can I team up with others?" Lu Zhao asked in his mind. He didn't really want to go to his death alone.

"Note: This instance is available in solo/team mode. You can choose to enter solo or invite teammates who meet the requirements (Qi Refinement Level 3 or higher, and a friendship level ≥ 60) to form a team, with a maximum of 5 players. In team mode, quests are shared, and rewards are distributed according to contribution. After entering the instance, you have 10 breaths of absolute safety time to adapt to the environment. If you die in the instance, your body will enter a 'suspended state' in reality. If no one heals you within 12 hours, you will truly die."

"We can team up!" Lu Zhao's eyes lit up. Although those "qualified" teammates were probably not very strong, one more person meant one more source of strength and one more chance of survival. Moreover, dying in the dungeon didn't mean immediate death in reality; there was a chance of being revived? This was good news in a bad way.

"Senior Brother Wang!" Lu Zhao immediately turned to Wang Tie beside him, lowered his voice, and spoke very quickly, "I have a way that might allow us to enter Qingfeng Town, learn the truth, and even... achieve great merit! But it's extremely dangerous, a nine-out-of-ten chance of death! Are you willing to trust me and risk it with me?"

Wang Tie was stunned. Looking at Lu Zhao's solemn, resolute, yet strangely gleaming eyes, and then at the terrifying blood-red sky outside, he gritted his teeth: "What method? As long as it can save Qingfeng Town, I, Wang Tie, will risk my life!"

"Alright!" Lu Zhao glanced at Deacon Zhou not far away, but hesitated before speaking. Deacon Zhou's cultivation was at the sixth level of Qi Refining, meeting the requirements, but his favorability might not be high enough. Moreover, as a deacon, he bore heavy responsibilities and might not be willing to take the risk with him. Hou San was a possibility, but his cultivation was too low (late stage of the third level of Qi Refining), and his current whereabouts were unknown. Huang Ling'er... her cultivation was sufficient, but it was uncertain whether she would be willing to take the risk, and she couldn't be found at the moment.

"Is it just the two of us..." Lu Zhao frowned. The chances of survival were probably even lower if the two of them entered a Hell-level dungeon.

Just as he hesitated, a clear, cold voice suddenly rang in his mind:

"Lu Zhao, come to Yunmeng Marsh, immediately."

It was Elder Yun's voice transmission!

Lu Zhao's heart stirred, and he said to Wang Tie, "Senior Brother Wang, wait for me here, I'll be right back!" Without waiting for Wang Tie's reply, he used his Divine Speed ​​Technique to rush out of the Wanfu Hall and sped off towards the Yunmeng Marsh.

Along the way, he saw that the entire sect was on high alert, with the mountain-protecting formation fully activated, and stewards and elders stationed at each peak and hall. Disciples were organized to either reinforce defenses or await orders to attack. The atmosphere was extremely tense.

Lu Zhao had no time to look around and rushed to Yunmeng Marsh as quickly as possible. On the island in the middle of the lake, Elder Yun was already standing in front of the bamboo hut, dressed in white, which appeared particularly aloof against the blood-red sky. Beside her stood two other people—Lin Qingfeng, and a purple-robed youth whom Lu Zhao had never seen before, with a deep and unfathomable aura, a cold face, and carrying an ancient sword on his back. The purple-robed youth looked to be no more than twenty years old, but his aura was surprisingly strong, even slightly inferior to Elder Yun's! Moreover, he wore a golden sword-shaped token at his waist—the mark of a true disciple!

"Disciple Lu Zhao greets Elder Yun and Senior Brother Lin." Lu Zhao stepped forward and bowed, his gaze sweeping over the purple-robed youth.

"No need for formalities." Elder Yun's tone remained cold, but tinged with solemnity. "Lu Zhao, you are already aware of the events in Qingfeng Town. The Blood Fiend Sect sacrificed tens of thousands of lives to forcibly break through the seal of the 'Demon-Sealing Ancient Well.' Now the seal has cracked, and demons are about to be born. The Enforcement Hall and the Inner Sect have organized elites to suppress it, but the Blood Fiend Formation is already complete, containing countless Blood Fiend evil creatures, and Blood Fiend Sect experts are also stationed there. The situation is critical."

She paused, then looked at Lu Zhao: "I know you have secrets and special methods. Right now, I need you to infiltrate Qingfeng Town and do something."

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Elder Yun also knew about the "duplicate"? No, impossible. She must have other plans.

"Please give your instructions, Elder."

"I want you to infiltrate Qingfeng Town, find the exact location of the 'Demon-Sealing Ancient Well,' and drive this 'Demon-Suppressing Nail' into the 'Kan' position on the well's edge." Elder Yun took out a three-inch-long nail, completely black, engraved with silver runes, and exuding an ancient, heavy, and suppressive aura, and handed it to Lu Zhao.

"This nail is a secret treasure of our sect, capable of temporarily reinforcing the seal and delaying the emergence of demons, thus buying time for the sect. However, Qingfeng Town has become a dead end, with the Blood Fiend Array sealing off both inside and outside, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to enter. Even if they do enter, they will be corrupted by the Blood Fiend Qi and lose their minds. I observe that you possess the Pure Heart Treasure and cultivate a special mental technique, giving you a strong resistance to the Blood Fiend Qi. Perhaps there is a sliver of a chance for you to sneak in."

"Furthermore," Elder Yun looked at the purple-robed youth, "this is Jian Wuhen, a true disciple of the sect leader. He will accompany you, responsible for clearing away the evil spirits along the way and protecting you until you reach the vicinity of the ancient well. However, once you enter the core area, the Blood Fiend Array is too powerful; even he will find it difficult to maintain for long. You will need to complete the task of driving in the Demon-Suppressing Nails alone. Are you willing?"

Lu Zhao took the heavy Demon-Suppressing Nail and looked at the terrifying Jian Wuhen. A true disciple was escorting him? That was good news. But the mission was still dangerous; they needed to penetrate deep into the core of the blood sacrifice to drive the Demon-Suppressing Nail in...

Wait a minute! Doesn't this perfectly match his "optional objective" in the "dungeon"—"attempt to reinforce/destroy the seal node"? Moreover, with a powerful teammate like Jian Wuhen, the survival rate in the dungeon will be greatly increased! Although Jian Wuhen might not meet the "friendship level ≥ 60" requirement for a team, the panel only says "invite," not that the other party's consent is required, right? Perhaps it's worth a try...

"This disciple is willing!" Lu Zhao agreed without hesitation. This was practically a team-up opportunity that had fallen from the sky!

"Alright." Elder Yun nodded, then took out two more jade talismans, one for Lu Zhao and one for Jian Wuhen. "These are 'Boundary-Breaking Talismans,' which can temporarily open a gap in the Blood Fiend Array for you to enter. However, they can only last for three breaths and will immediately attract the attention of the array's creators. Be careful once inside. If things become unbearable, prioritize your safety."

"Yes!" Lu Zhao and Jian Wuhen responded in unison. Jian Wuhen remained expressionless throughout, never glancing at Lu Zhao, as if he were merely a tool for carrying out a mission.

"There's no time to lose, let's set off immediately." Elder Yun waved his hand, and a small silver flying boat appeared on the lakeside.

The three boarded the flying boat, transformed into silver light, and sped off towards the northeast, towards the blood-red sky that blotted out the sun.

On the flying boat, Lu Zhao's mind raced. He secretly brought up the control panel and tried to "invite" Jian Wuhen to join his team.

"Detecting target... Detection complete."

"Target: Sword Without a Trace"

Cultivation Level: Early Foundation Establishment Stage

"Friendliness towards you: 5 (Unfamiliar)"

"Warning: The target's cultivation level far exceeds the recommended level, and their friendliness towards you is extremely low. The probability of your invitation being rejected is very high. Force an invitation? (Yes/No)"

Early Foundation Establishment! Lu Zhao gasped. This Jian Wuhen looked young, yet he was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator! A true disciple, indeed terrifying. With a friendship level of only 5, practically a stranger, it's normal for the invitation to be rejected. Moreover, forcibly inviting him... would likely arouse suspicion and resentment.

"Forget it, it's fine not to team up. With him escorting us, our survival rate is already much higher. We'll see how things go once we enter the dungeon." Lu Zhao gave up on inviting Jian Wuhen.

He looked at the Demon-Suppressing Nail in his hand, then at the blood-red sky that was getting closer and closer, seemingly about to devour everything. The fear in his heart was gradually replaced by a strange excitement and fighting spirit.

"Hell-level dungeons... the Sealed Demon Well... the Blood Fiend Cult... let me see just how exciting this 'game' of the cultivation world really is!"

He gripped the Demon-Suppressing Nail tightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.