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

The silver airship tore through the air like a shooting star, hurtling towards the crimson sky that blotted out the sun and exuded an endless aura of evil and bloodshed. The closer it got, the more intense the suffocating, almost maddening sense of oppression became. The air was thick with the stench of blood and burnt flesh, as well as an indescribable chill and resentment that originated from the depths of the soul.

On the flying boat, Lu Zhao suppressed his churning blood and palpitations, fully activating the [Refining Spirit Technique] to construct layers of mental barriers within his sea of ​​consciousness, resisting the pervasive erosion of the bloodthirsty evil energy. The [Purifying Heart Jade Pendant] on his chest emitted a warm and cool aura, protecting his mind and allowing him to barely maintain clarity. Even so, he still felt as if he were in an ice cave, or as if he were being watched by countless pairs of malicious eyes, his hair standing on end.

Jian Wuhen stood at the forefront of the flying boat, his purple robes fluttering in the wind. His face was as cold as ice, seemingly oblivious to the terrifying scene around him. The ancient longsword at his waist, though unsheathed, faintly emanated a sharp, pure sword intent, seemingly capable of slicing through all evil spirits, repelling and shattering the bloodthirsty aura and wandering vengeful phantoms that approached the flying boat. His powerful Foundation Establishment stage cultivation was on full display.

"Ten miles ahead lies the edge of the Blood Fiend Array." Jian Wuhen's voice was icy, devoid of any emotion. "Be prepared; the Boundary-Breaking Talisman can only last for three breaths. Once inside, I will try my best to escort you to the vicinity of the ancient well, but the core area of ​​the array will undoubtedly be heavily guarded by the Blood Fiend Sect, and the array's power will be even stronger. I can only hold off the outer enemies for you. Whether you can reach the ancient well and drive the Demon-Suppressing Nail into place depends on your own abilities and fate."

"Disciple understands, thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother." Lu Zhao clasped his hands in a fist salute, his expression solemn. He checked his condition and equipment: the [Mysterious Iron Bracers] were on, the [Pure Heart Jade Pendant] was close to his body, the Demon-Suppressing Nail and the Boundary-Breaking Talisman were in his pocket, and in the [Human Skin Pouch] at his waist, he had prepared a sufficient amount of various talismans (especially the Evil-Exorcising Talisman, the Blazing Sun Talisman, and the Golden Light Talisman), pills, and the life-saving [Substitute Talisman] given to him by Elder Yun. Although these preparations seemed so insignificant in the face of the Purgatory-level dungeon and this terrifying blood sacrifice array, it was the limit of what he could do.

The airship slowed down, finally stopping about a hundred feet away from the writhing, lifelike, blood-red canopy. From here, the canopy looked like an inverted bowl, constantly flowing with viscous "blood," completely enveloping the entire Qingfeng Town and the surrounding mountains. On the surface of the canopy, countless twisted, wailing faces and beastly shadows, filled with pain and resentment, constantly appeared, struggled, and vanished—the souls and spirits devoured by the blood sacrifice! Deeper inside, thick, dark red veins, like blood vessels, could be vaguely seen spreading and pulsating on the "bowl's" walls, continuously drawing essence, souls, and resentment from the earth and the town, and transporting them to the core of the great formation.

"Now!" Jian Wuhen's eyes flashed, and the Boundary-Breaking Talisman in his hand was suddenly activated, transforming into a dazzling silver beam of light that shot fiercely towards the blood-red sky in front of him!

"laugh--!"

The silver beam of light, like a red-hot iron striking the snow, instantly "burned" a circular gap about ten feet in diameter into the sky, its edges constantly writhing as it tried to close! Inside the gap was an even deeper, more viscous, dark red that seemed capable of swallowing all light, and an overwhelming, ten times more concentrated, nauseating aura of blood and evil! Faintly, one could hear the shrieks of countless vengeful spirits, the roars of evil creatures, and a heavy, malevolent "thump, thump" sound, like a heartbeat, emanating from the depths of the gap!

"Go!" Jian Wuhen shouted, transforming into a sword light and rushing into the gap first! Lu Zhao dared not hesitate for a moment, instantly activating the [Superior Swiftness Talisman] under his feet, and followed closely behind, rushing into the gap that seemed like the entrance to hell!

"puff!"

It was like passing through a viscous, cold, highly corrosive liquid film. The scene before me instantly changed! It was no longer the sky and mountains of the outside world, but a bizarre, distorted world completely shrouded in dark red, filled with madness and death!

The sky was dark red, churning with thick, blood-red clouds, obscuring the sun and moon. The earth was also dark red; the soil, as if soaked in blood, was soft, sticky, and emitted a pungent, fishy stench. The air was thick with a blood-red aura and the power of vengeful spirits, almost tangible, along with a sinister fluctuation that drove people mad and fueled their bloodlust. Visibility was extremely low; a faint, dark red blood mist permeated the surroundings, making it impossible to see anything beyond ten feet.

Even more terrifying, in Lu Zhao's perception using the [Refining Spirit Technique], the "rules" of this world seemed to be distorted. The earth's spiritual energy was corrupted, filled with savage bloodlust; countless fragmented souls, brimming with malice, wandered in the space; and from the depths of the earth beneath his feet, a chilling tremor emanated, as if some colossal creature was slowly writhing. This place seemed like a small, independent purgatory, completely corrupted by bloodlust and evil power!

"This is... the inside of the Blood Sacrifice Array?" Lu Zhao's heart trembled. This environment was a hundred times worse than he had expected! Here, ordinary cultivators probably wouldn't last even an incense stick's time before being corrupted by the blood evil, turning into monsters that only knew how to kill, or being torn apart and devoured by vengeful spirits.

"Stay close to me, don't stray more than three zhang away!" Jian Wuhen's icy voice rang out from ahead. He had already drawn his sword, an ancient blade entirely silver-white, slender, its edge gleaming with a cool, moonlit light. Wherever the sword light passed, the surrounding dark red blood mist seemed to encounter its nemesis, retreating and being purified. Those indistinct blood shadows and vengeful spirits, formed from blood mist and resentful souls, that tried to pounce were pulverized by the sharp sword energy before they could even get close, letting out mournful howls before being completely annihilated.

Lu Zhao quickly followed, simultaneously activating the [Turtle Breath Stealth Technique] to conceal his aura, reduce his life force fluctuations and spiritual energy leakage, and avoid attracting more evil creatures. He warily scanned his surroundings, trying to memorize the environment, the types of evil creatures, and the structure of the great formation.

"Ding! You have entered the special area [Qingfeng Town Blood Sacrifice Site - Outer Zone]."

"Extremely high concentrations of [Bloodthirsty Aura], [Wraith Power], and [Evil God Aura] detected..."

"Warning! You are currently under the [Blood Erosion] status. Your health will continue to slowly deplete, your spiritual energy recovery rate will be reduced by 80%, and your mind will be constantly bombarded by [Wailing Vengeful Spirits]. Please leave immediately or take protective measures."

"The effect of the [Pure Heart Jade Pendant] is triggered, reducing the influence of [Wailing Souls] by 50%."

"【Refining Spirit Technique】is operating automatically, absorbing and refining trace amounts of impure soul power; mental energy is slowly recovering..."

The panel's notification confirmed the danger of this place. Lu Zhao could clearly feel a chilling, violent aura attempting to penetrate his protective spiritual light and erode his body and soul. Although it was temporarily blocked by the [Purifying Heart Jade Pendant] and [Refining Spirit Technique], the consumption was enormous. Moreover, spiritual energy recovery had become extremely difficult, meaning he had to be careful with his resources and couldn't squander talismans and spells recklessly.

"I must find the ancient well as soon as possible, drive in the demon-suppressing nails, and then... enter the dungeon!" Lu Zhao thought to himself. Where is the dungeon entrance? The interface doesn't provide any clues. Perhaps certain conditions need to be met, or... is it near that demon-suppressing ancient well?

The two moved swiftly through the blood mist. Jian Wuhen's swordsmanship was superb, and his cultivation profound. Wherever he passed, sword energy crisscrossed, slaying all the blood-shadowed vengeful spirits that pounced along the way, the occasional blood-fiend corpse puppets emerging from the ground, and the bloodthirsty demonic bats swooping in the air. He clearly had some understanding of the Blood Fiend Sect's methods; his sword light contained a peculiar sword intent with purifying and exorcising power, extremely effective against evil beings.

Lu Zhao followed closely behind, occasionally making a move, using [Evil-Breaking Talisman] or a modified [Fireball Talisman] to clear out any stragglers, or assisting Jian Wuhen by using [Golden Light Talisman] or [Earth Wall Talisman] to defend against sneak attacks from the flanks or blind spots. His talismans were quite powerful and specifically targeted evil beings, causing Jian Wuhen to glance at him slightly, but he still didn't say anything.

As they ventured deeper, the evil creatures they encountered grew stronger and more numerous. In addition to the lowest-level Blood Shadow Wraiths, larger and faster Blood Fiend War Puppets, clad in tattered armor or weapons, began to appear; there were Blood-Corroding Spiders that could spew poisonous blood and corrode spiritual power; and swarms of wailing banshees (formed from the vengeful spirits of tragically deceased women) that attacked in the air with piercing sonic waves... Even the ground began to churn with small pools of blood, constantly bubbling and emitting a strong suction force; once one fell into them, they would be corroded and devoured by the power of the Blood Fiends.

Jian Wuhen's pressure also increased significantly. His sword light was no longer as unstoppable as it had been at the beginning, requiring more time and mental focus to cope. His protective sword aura also began to fluctuate slightly under the constant erosion of the dense bloodthirsty energy.

"This won't do, we have to speed it up!" Jian Wuhen frowned slightly, then suddenly pointed his fingers like a sword and slashed at the blade. The cold sword light suddenly surged, transforming into a huge silver sword wheel that swept out in a fan-shaped area in front of him!

"Sword Wheel Slays Evil!"

"Sizzle—!"

Where the sword wheel passed, the blood mist and evil creatures within dozens of feet ahead melted and vanished instantly, like ice and snow under the blazing sun! A brief passage was forcibly carved out from the dense tide of evil creatures!

"Go!" Jian Wuhen shouted, his figure moving like lightning as he rushed along the passage. Lu Zhao quickly followed.

The two traveled for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, slaying countless evil creatures. Finally, the blood mist ahead thinned, revealing the faint outline of a dilapidated town shrouded in dark red. That must be the location of Qingfeng Town. At the center of the town, an even larger, more malevolent aura, seemingly connected to the deepest hell, emanated clearly like a beacon in the darkness, sending chills down one's spine! From the source of that aura, a thick, dark red pillar of blood-red light, shooting into the sky like a fountain, was faintly visible! Around the pillar, space distorted, and countless phantom chains could be seen breaking and dissipating.

"The Sealed Demon Well is right beneath that pillar of light!" Jian Wuhen said in a deep voice, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes. "But the bloodthirsty energy around the pillar of light is extremely concentrated, and even my sword aura can hardly withstand it for long. Moreover, there must be experts from the Blood Fiend Cult guarding that place. I can only escort you to the town entrance; the rest of the journey is up to you."

"That's enough, thank you, Senior Brother!" Lu Zhao cupped his hands in thanks. Being able to get this far was already an unexpected delight.

The two quickened their pace, rushing towards the town entrance. The closer they got to the town, the deeper the dark red of the ground became, almost solidifying into blood plasma that made a "splat" sound when stepped on. The town's gate had collapsed, and among the ruins, more and stronger evil creatures roamed. Lu Zhao even saw several corpse-turned-cultivators dressed in Qingyun Dao Sect robes, but completely corrupted by blood evil, their eyes bloodshot, radiating the aura of mid-stage Qi Refining! They were clearly disciples who had come to rescue them in life, but now they had become puppets of the evil array.

Sword Without Trace flashed again, slaying the zombie cultivators and evil creatures blocking their path, and escorting Lu Zhao into the town. The scene inside the town was even more gruesome. Houses collapsed, streets were littered with dried, blackened blood and mangled limbs, and the air was filled with a nauseating stench of burning and decay. Countless vengeful spirits of the unjustly killed wandered and wailed among the ruins, but they seemed to be bound by some force, unable to leave the town's boundaries, destined to suffer eternally and become nourishment for the great formation.

"Take a hundred meters ahead, turn right, and there's an alley leading to the town square. The ancient well is right there in the square." Jian Wuhen seemed to know the terrain of Qingfeng Town well and quickly said, "That's all I can do for you. Remember, the Demon-Suppressing Nail must be driven into the 'Kan' position on the edge of the well, which is the water element position and is responsible for sealing the area. If you drive it in the wrong place, it will not only be ineffective but may also cause a backlash. You have thirty breaths. After thirty breaths, regardless of success or failure, you must immediately crush this 'Escape Talisman.' It will randomly teleport you out of the array's range, but you only have one chance, and the distance is limited. After that, it's up to your luck."

As he spoke, he handed Lu Zhao a silver talisman.

"Senior brother, then you..."

"I'll stay here to hold off your pursuers. I'll leave in thirty breaths." Jian Wuhen's tone remained icy, but his gaze towards the towering pillar of blood-red light was filled with apprehension. "Go quickly!"

"Take care!" Lu Zhao said no more, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Jian Wuhen, turned around, used his Divine Speed ​​Technique, and rushed towards the alley Jian Wuhen pointed to! He knew that every breath was extremely precious!

The alley was narrow and dark, with collapsed walls on both sides and rubble piled on the ground. The thick blood mist here was almost tangible, and visibility was less than three zhang. Lu Zhao pushed the [Concealing Breath Technique] and [Turtle Breath Stealth Technique] to their limits, moving through the ruins like a ghost. At the same time, he activated the [Refining Spirit Technique] to its fullest extent, alerting himself to any potential dangers.

Sure enough, they hadn't gone far when several Blood Fiend War Puppets, radiating the aura of the fourth or fifth level of Refinement, blocked their path at the alleyway ahead. They were clad in tattered blood armor, wielded rusted weapons, and had crimson soul flames flickering in their eyes, clearly far superior to the miscellaneous soldiers outside.

"Don't get entangled!" Lu Zhao's eyes turned cold. With a flick of his wrist, three modified [Blazing Sun Talismans] shot out in a triangular formation, exploding amidst the horde of battle puppets! The scorching flames, mixed with golden light that warded off evil, sent the puppets tumbling about, their bloodthirsty auras surging violently. Taking advantage of the moment, he flashed through the gaps between the puppets, rushing headlong into the depths of the alley without looking back.

"Roar!" The battle puppet roared and turned to give chase, but Lu Zhao was extremely fast and, with the added boost of the [Swiftness Talisman], quickly left them behind.

Passing through the alley, the view suddenly opened up to a small square. In the center of the square stood an ancient well, constructed of bluestone and about ten feet in diameter. At this moment, the well was completely enveloped by a thick, dark red, almost tangible pillar of blood-red light, exceeding three zhang in diameter! The pillar shot skyward, disappearing into the blood-red clouds above. Inside the pillar, at the well's opening, countless thick, black, cracked phantom chains of runes could be vaguely seen, breaking and dissipating one by one! With each chain broken, the pillar grew thicker, and the evil aura emanating from it intensified! From the depths of the well, a low, malevolent roar, filled with endless savagery and hunger, grew clearer and clearer, as if it were about to burst forth at any moment!

Around the ancient well stood four figures.

Three of them wore the Blood Fiend Cult's signature black robes and possessed powerful auras. The lowest level was at least the sixth level of Qi Refining, while the highest level was obscure, probably at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refining! They sat cross-legged in a triangular formation at three points along the edge of the well, constantly casting spells with their hands, injecting streams of dark red Blood Fiend power into the array at the well's mouth, accelerating the collapse of the chains.

The last person stood on the north side of the well, with his back to Lu Zhao. He wore a dark red robe and a hideous ghost mask, and held a Blood Fiend Banner that was more complete and had a more malevolent aura than the one seen in the last mission. He was presiding over the final stage of the blood sacrifice ritual! This person's aura was clearly that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator! Although he seemed to have just broken through and his realm was unstable, the spiritual pressure of the Foundation Establishment stage still made Lu Zhao feel suffocated!

It's a Foundation Establishment stage elder of the Blood Fiend Cult! He's personally presiding over the blood sacrifice here, attempting to break through the seal!

Lu Zhao's heart sank. One Foundation Establishment cultivator and three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators... This lineup was impossible to penetrate, let alone get close to! Moreover, he could sense that the blood-fiend energy surrounding the plaza was so dense it was almost liquefied, forming a powerful force field that suppressed cultivators using non-blood-fiend techniques. The moment he stepped into the plaza's area, he felt a sudden heaviness around him, and even his spiritual energy circulation became sluggish!

"Thirty breaths...too late!" Sweat beaded on Lu Zhao's forehead. Jian Wuhen could only hold off the pursuers on the outer perimeter for thirty breaths, and now, he couldn't even get close to the ancient well!

What to do? Forcing his way in is certain death. Using a teleportation talisman to escape? That would mean mission failure, the seal breaking completely, the monster being unleashed, and unimaginable consequences. Moreover, he would lose the chance to enter the dungeon and obtain the opportunity...

Just as Lu Zhao was extremely anxious, the map fragment and the black stone fragment in his arms suddenly vibrated violently and became hot! It was as if they were strongly attracted by something of the same origin! At the same time, an urgent notification sound rang in his mind:

"Detected: [Demon-Sealing Ancient Well (Damaged)], [Blood Sacrifice Core], [Source of Evil God's Aura]!"

"Special space node detected!"

"The entrance to the [Blood Sacrifice Abyss - The Tragedy of Qingfeng Town (Purgatory)] dungeon has been located!"

"Entrance location: Directly above the Sealed Demon Well, at the core of the Blood Fiend Light Pillar!"

"Warning: The entrance is guarded by a powerful energy barrier and enemies. Forcing your way through will carry enormous risks."

"Note: The Demon-Suppressing Nail you possess contains ancient sealing power, which can strongly interfere with barriers and Blood Fiend Cult formations. If used properly, it may create an opportunity to enter."

"Demon-Suppressing Nail!" Lu Zhao's eyes lit up! That's it! The Demon-Suppressing Nail given by Elder Yun not only reinforces the seal, but its sealing power also has a restraining effect on the Blood Fiend Cult's evil array! If it could be...not driven into the Kan position, but...shot towards the core of the Blood Fiend Light Pillar, or the Foundation Establishment Elder presiding over the ceremony, perhaps it could create chaos, break the barrier, or even...injure the Foundation Establishment Elder?

Although this deviates from the original mission (reinforcing the seal), it might create an opportunity for him to enter the instance! Once inside the instance, he'll have room to maneuver! The instance mission has the optional objective of "attempting to reinforce/destroy the seal node," so perhaps there are other ways to influence reality within the instance?

In a flash, Lu Zhao made an extremely risky decision!

Instead of rushing towards the well's edge, he abruptly stopped, stood at the edge of the plaza, took a deep breath, and frantically poured all his mental and spiritual energy into the Demon-Suppressing Nail in his hand! At the same time, he gripped three improved [Blazing Sun Talismans] and two [Evil-Breaking Talismans (Superior)] with his left hand, while his right hand held the Escape Talisman, ready to activate it at any moment to escape.

"Who goes there?!" The Foundation Establishment stage Blood Fiend Elder who was presiding over the ceremony seemed to sense the abnormal fluctuations at the edge of the plaza. He turned his head sharply, and beneath the ghost mask, a pair of scarlet, icy eyes instantly locked onto Lu Zhao! A terrifying spiritual pressure, like a mountain, crashed down!

"A mere Qi Refining Level 4 insect? You're courting death!" The Foundation Establishment Elder sneered. Without even making a move himself, he simply conjured a gigantic, dark red blood-fiend aura from the plaza with a thought. The aura ripped through the air as it slammed down on Lu Zhao's head! This strike was enough to turn any mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator into mincemeat!

It's now!

A fierce glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced, pushing the [Superior Rank Swiftness Talisman] under his feet to its limit. His figure transformed into a blurry afterimage, narrowly grazing the edge of the giant blood-fiend hand! At the same time, he used all his strength in his right hand to hurl the Demon-Suppressing Nail, which was filled with spiritual and mental power, towards the core of the blood-fiend pillar of light above the ancient well!

"Demon-Suppressing Nails, break!"

"call out--!"

The Demon-Suppressing Nail transformed into a jet-black stream of light, carrying a heavy, ancient, and seemingly all-suppressing aura. It tore through the dense blood-fiend energy and shot towards the blood-fiend light pillar at an astonishing speed!

"Hmm? Demon-Suppressing Nails?!" The Foundation Establishment elder clearly recognized the item, a flash of shock and anger crossing his crimson eyes. "How dare you, junior!"

He swung the Blood Fiend Banner sharply, unleashing a dark red beam of light that struck first, attempting to intercept the Demon-Suppressing Nail. However, the Demon-Suppressing Nail seemed to have a natural resistance to the power of the Blood Fiend; upon touching the nail, the light emitted a "sizzling" sound and was quickly dissolved and purified! The Demon-Suppressing Nail's momentum slowed slightly, but it still stubbornly pierced the edge of the Blood Fiend pillar of light!

"Buzz—!"

The moment the Demon-Suppressing Nail pierced the pillar of light, the ancient silver runes on the nail suddenly lit up, bursting out with dazzling silver light! A sealing force, heavy, vast, and full of suppressive intent, completely opposite to the surrounding bloodthirsty aura, suddenly erupted, like a drop of cold water being poured into a boiling oil pan!

"Boom—!"

The entire pillar of blood-red light trembled violently! Inside the pillar, the illusory runic chains that were breaking seemed to receive some kind of blessing, and their breaking speed suddenly slowed down! In fact, several chains that had been dim and were about to break even lit up with a faint light again! Deep inside the well, the evil roar suddenly turned into a furious howl!

"Pfft!" The Foundation Establishment elder who was presiding over the ceremony, as well as the three Blood Fiend Cult members who were in the late stage of Qi Refining, all shuddered violently and spat out a mouthful of black blood! They were mentally connected to the Blood Sacrifice Array, and when the array was disturbed, they immediately suffered a backlash! Especially the Foundation Establishment elder, who was presiding over the ceremony with all his might, suffered the strongest backlash. His aura instantly became disordered, and even the Blood Fiend Banner above his head dimmed a bit.

"A perfect opportunity!" Lu Zhao's eyes lit up; this was the moment he had been waiting for! Taking advantage of the moment when the formation trembled, the enemy suffered a backlash, and their attention was drawn to the Demon-Suppressing Nails, he didn't hesitate to activate all three improved [Blazing Sun Talismans] and two [Exorcising Evil Talismans (Superior Grade)] he was holding in his left hand, blasting them towards the three Blood Fiend Cultists in the late stage of Qi Refining! He didn't seek to kill the enemies, but only to create greater chaos!

"Boom boom boom—!"

A blazing fireball and dazzling golden light exploded in the square, leaving the three already injured Blood Fiend Cult members tumbling and screaming as they were thrown out, unable to mount an effective interception for the time being.

Taking advantage of the explosion, Lu Zhao pushed his [Swiftness Talisman] and his own speed to the limit, transforming into an almost invisible phantom as he charged headlong into the core of the blood-fiend pillar of light, which had become unstable due to the array's tremors and was showing signs of distortion and cracking! His target was not the well's embankment, but rather the dungeon entrance indicated on the panel!

"You little beast! I will tear your soul out and refine it, so you will never be reincarnated!" The Foundation Establishment Elder roared with earth-shattering fury, utterly enraged. This mere fourth-level Qi Refining insect not only interfered with the crucial blood sacrifice with the Demon-Suppressing Nail, but also dared to act wildly in front of him! He suppressed the backlash, and the Blood Fiend Banner in his hand shone brightly, transforming into a gigantic blood-red skull. It opened its massive maw, howling like a ghost, and lunged at Lu Zhao! This attack, unleashed in fury, was far more powerful than before, and its speed was extreme, almost completely sealing off Lu Zhao's escape route!

A matter of life and death!

A glint of madness flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. Instead of slowing down, he increased his speed to the limit, and at the same time, he crushed the escape talisman that he had been holding in his left hand without hesitation! However, the direction he crushed it was not backward, not to the side, but... forward! Towards the gaping maw of the blood-red skull, towards the core of the blood-red pillar of light!

"escape!"

A silver light instantly enveloped Lu Zhao! This was a random teleportation; the direction and distance were uncertain. But at the moment the teleportation started, Lu Zhao used his last bit of mental energy to lock onto the spatial node at the core of the blood-fiend pillar of light, which had become relatively weak due to the interference of the Demon-Suppressing Nails and the vibrations of the array! That was the dungeon entrance indicated on the panel!

"Get in!"

"boom!"

The gaping maw of the blood-red skull, along with the silver teleportation light, almost simultaneously engulfed Lu Zhao's figure! Intense spatial fluctuations and energy shocks erupted in the center of the plaza, shattering and annihilating the surrounding ruins and bloody aura!

"Pfft!" The Foundation Establishment Elder spat out another mouthful of blood, staggering, his aura weakening further. He stared intently at the center of the explosion, his eyes filled with shock, anger, and disbelief. In his perception, the aura of that fourth-level Qi Refining insect vanished the instant the teleportation light collided with the Blood Fiend Skeleton! It wasn't blasted into dust, but... it seemed to have been devoured and transferred by some spatial force! The direction it disappeared from seemed to be... inside the Blood Fiend Light Pillar? Deep within the Sealed Demon Well? How could this be?!

"Elder! That kid..." A less injured late-stage Qi Refining Cultist asked with surprise and uncertainty.

"Shut up!" The Foundation Establishment Elder interrupted sharply, a hint of apprehension flashing in his crimson eyes. He vaguely sensed that things seemed to be spiraling out of control. The Demon-Suppressing Nail was still stuck at the edge of the pillar of light, constantly emitting disruptive sealing power. Although it wasn't enough to reverse the blood sacrifice, it greatly slowed down the process. And that strangely vanished little bug... cast a shadow over his heart.

"Accelerate the blood sacrifice! We must break the seal completely before the reinforcements from the Qingyun Dao Sect arrive!" The Foundation Establishment Elder suppressed his unease and reactivated the Blood Fiend Banner, injecting even more violent blood fiend power into the ancient well. The three cultists also quickly got up and continued casting spells despite the pain.

However, no one noticed that at the center of the explosion, where the blood-fiend pillar of light collided and annihilated with the teleportation beam, a tiny, almost imperceptible, pale blue, data-stream-like speck of light, completely out of place with the surrounding blood-fiend aura, flashed by and disappeared into the depths of the pillar of light, into that distorted spatial node.

......

Absolute darkness and silence.

I don't know how much time passed; it might have been a moment, or it might have been eternity.

Lu Zhao suddenly opened his eyes and found himself lying on a cold, hard, dusty bluestone floor. The suffocating, blood-red world around him was no longer there, but rather... a rather ancient, dilapidated, yet structurally intact stone hall?

The hall was spacious, spanning several tens of feet in diameter. The walls were rough, gray stone, adorned with some blurry, ancient murals that seemed to relate to sealing and demon-suppressing techniques, but most were now faded and peeling. The high dome was inlaid with several seemingly eternally glowing "moonstones," providing dim light. The hall was empty except for a massive, intricate, dark red array pattern carved across the central floor. This pattern resembled the Blood Fiend Cult's array outside, but was far more ancient and complex, subtly conveying a sense of decay eroded by time.

The air was filled with a faint, musty smell of blood and mildew, along with an indescribable aura of resentment, death, and madness accumulated over countless years. Although it was far less intense and violent than the blood sacrifice array outside, it penetrated deeper into the marrow, as if it could seep into the soul.

"Where...is this?" Lu Zhao struggled to sit up and checked himself. Fortunately, apart from being somewhat weak due to excessive consumption of mental and spiritual energy, and suffering some minor injuries from the shockwaves he sustained while enduring the spiritual pressure of the Foundation Establishment Elder and traversing space, he was otherwise unharmed. The Void Escape Talisman seemed to have played a part, offsetting most of the force of the explosion and spatial tearing, "sending" him here.

He immediately looked at the panel.

"Congratulations on successfully entering the special dungeon [Blood Sacrifice Abyss: The Tragedy of Qingfeng Town (Purgatory)]!"

"Copy loading... Loading complete."

Current location: Blood Sacrifice Abyss, Level 1, [Forgotten Corridor].

"This task has been updated:"

Basic Objective 1: Survive in the Blood Sacrifice Abyss for 12 hours. (Remaining time: 11 hours and 59 minutes)

Basic Objective 2: Investigate the Blood Sacrifice Core and obtain intelligence. (Progress: 0%)

"Optional objective: Attempt to reinforce/destroy the sealed node. (Not activated)"

"Warning: The time flow ratio within the instance is 10:1 compared to reality. 12 hours in the instance will be approximately 1.2 hours in reality."

"Notice: You have obtained the temporary status [Abyss Walker]: Within the dungeon, your resistance to attacks from Blood Fiends and Wraiths is increased by 10%, and you gain 20% more experience from killing evil creatures. This status will disappear upon leaving the dungeon."

"You have been detected to possess the special quest item [Demon-Suppressing Nail (Used)]. The activation conditions for the optional objective [Attempt to Reinforce/Destroy the Sealed Node] have changed. You can choose: 1. Find a replacement and complete the reinforcement; 2. Delve into the core and attempt to destroy the source of the blood sacrifice. Different choices will affect the subsequent quest progression and rewards."

He's in! He's really in! Moreover, the time flow inside the instance is ten times that of reality! This means he has relatively ample time to explore this hellish instance, grow stronger, and find a way to break through the current predicament!

Lu Zhao let out a long sigh, his tense nerves relaxing slightly, but his vigilance remained undiminished. He looked around; this "Forgotten Corridor" seemed to be the outer perimeter of an ancient underground palace or a sealed place. The murals and array patterns all bore the marks of time.

"Could this be... the true sealed place beneath the Ancient Well of Demon Sealing? Or perhaps a 'mirror space' generated by the dungeon based on the 'Blood Sacrifice Land,' independent of reality?" Lu Zhao wondered. The panel indicated that this was "the first level of the Blood Sacrifice Abyss." It seemed that this dungeon had more than one level, and the deeper one went, the closer one got to the core, and the more dangerous it would become.

"The most urgent task is to recover my strength, explore this first level, gather intelligence, and find opportunities to improve my power." Lu Zhao sat cross-legged, took out the [Jade Dew Rejuvenation Pill] and swallowed it, beginning to regulate his breathing and recover. In this perilous dungeon, maintaining peak condition is the first priority for survival.

Meanwhile, he was also considering alternative objectives. He had used the Demon-Suppressing Nails to create chaos and open the entrance, making the original task of reinforcing the seal impossible to complete. But the panel offered a new option: find a replacement, or destroy the source. Clearly, the latter was more difficult, but the rewards might be greater, and... perhaps it could fundamentally affect the blood sacrifices in reality?

"Let's explore first and see how things go." Lu Zhao didn't make a decision immediately.

After an incense stick's time, he had recovered most of his strength. Lu Zhao got up and began to carefully examine the hall. The hall had only one huge, tightly closed stone door, covered with sealing runes, which seemed to be the only exit. The stone door was heavy, made of some unknown metal, and was icy to the touch. Lu Zhao tried to push it, but it wouldn't budge. He poured spiritual energy into it, but there was no response.

"I need a key, or... to decipher the mechanism?" Lu Zhao's gaze fell on the array patterns on the central ground. Although the array was damaged, there seemed to be a faint flow of energy at its core. He cautiously approached, extending his [Refining Spirit Technique] to try and analyze the array's structure.

This formation appears to be a composite sealing and teleportation array, possessing functions of sealing, suppression, and... spatial transfer? However, it is currently lacking energy and has multiple damaged nodes, leaving it in a semi-paralyzed state. Lu Zhao attempted to inject a wisp of spiritual energy into an inconspicuous node of the formation that seemed to still be functioning.

"Buzz..."

The array patterns glowed faintly, but the light was extremely weak and flickering. At the same time, Lu Zhao felt that the spiritual energy he had injected was being rapidly drained by the array, and... it seemed to have triggered something.

"Click...click..."

Suddenly, the sound of machinery whirring came from one wall of the hall. Then, a stone slab in the wall caved in, revealing a dark hole. From within the hole, the faint sound of dripping water, and... the heavy, dragging sound of chains?

"Something has been released?" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He immediately took several steps back, gripped the talisman, and became fully alert.

"roar--!"

A low, hoarse roar, filled with pain and savagery, came from the cave entrance! Immediately afterward, a tall, twisted humanoid monster covered in dark red scales, its hands and feet bound by thick black chains, and its eyes gleaming with a crazed, blood-red light, staggered out of the cave entrance!

The monster was over ten feet tall, with bulging muscles, but in many places its skin was torn open, revealing dark red flesh and bones underneath. Foul-smelling saliva dripped from its mouth, and its chains dragged on the ground with a grating, ear-piercing clang. Its appearance instantly filled the entire hall with an aura of madness and savagery!

"Blood Demon Puppet (Elite) LV???"

"Status: Tormented by the seal, driven to madness, and greatly weakened in strength."

Danger Level: High

The panel provided basic information, but it couldn't even fully determine the level, only displaying "Elite" and "Danger Level: High." Clearly, this monster's strength far exceeded Lu Zhao's current level!

"Is this... the first test of the dungeon?" Lu Zhao's eyes were solemn, but there was no fear in them. He slowly drew his short sword and gripped the talisman tightly with his left hand.

Now that he's in, there's no turning back. Let him personally experience just how terrifying this Blood Fiend Abyss and this purgatory dungeon truly are!

"bring it on!"