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

Yes!

Without even thinking, the moment the panel notification sounded, Lu Zhao used his last remaining willpower to lock onto the "Yes" option! He had no choice; staying meant certain death, and escaping the instance was his only way to survive!

"Buzz—!"

Just as the giant dark hand was about to touch Lu Zhao's body, and the chilling aura of death was about to freeze his soul, a pale blue beam of light, incongruous with the surrounding blood-red, dark, and silver-white light, and with a strange data stream-like texture, appeared out of thin air without warning and precisely enveloped Lu Zhao's collapsed body!

The beam of light appeared extremely abruptly, as if it had directly "inserted" into this chaotic space, ignoring the surrounding raging demonic energy, bloodlust, sealing power, and spatial turbulence. The dark giant hand of the Demon Lord's divided soul, unleashing its furious attack, struck the pale blue beam of light, as if it had struck an absolutely smooth, absolutely hard barrier that did not exist in this dimension. The raging power was strangely deflected, slid away, and even partially absorbed and analyzed! The beam of light did not even ripple.

"???!"

The will of the Demon Lord's divided soul seemed once again shocked by this phenomenon, which was completely beyond its comprehension, emitting a fluctuation mixed with shock, anger, confusion, and a trace of indescribable apprehension. Its immense will locked onto the pale blue pillar of light, attempting to analyze and penetrate it, but the feedback it received was a cold, lifeless, and incomprehensible "nothingness".

At this moment, Lu Zhao, who was inside the pillar of light, experienced a completely different scene. He felt enveloped by a warm, gentle, yet absolutely "rule-bound" power. The intense pain, exhaustion, and injuries of his body and soul seemed to be temporarily "frozen" or "isolated" by this power. He felt as if he were in an independent, safe "bubble" free from any external interference.

"Starting from standby... Calculating rewards for the first level of the dungeon..."

The notification sound from the panel rang out in his consciousness within his "bubble," cold and orderly.

"First floor [Forgotten Corridor] exploration completion rate: 85%"

"Major Achievements Completed: [Defeat the Elite Guardian - Blood Fiend Puppet], [Defeat the Elite Guardian - Abyss Blood Eater], [Discover and Enter the Core of the Array Eye], [Activate the Sealing Magic Array (Weak/Temporary)], [Obtain Key Intelligence (Soul Split of the Soul Devouring Demon Lord/Truth of the Blood Sacrifice)], [Confront the Demon Lord's Will (Survival)]..."

"Task completion status is being evaluated..."

"Basic Objective 1: Survive in the Blood Sacrifice Abyss for 12 hours - Completed (Exceeded, survival time was insufficient but exploration progress met)."

"Basic Objective 2: Investigate the Blood Sacrifice Core and Obtain Intelligence - Completed (Evaluation: Excellent, obtained crucial core intelligence)."

"Optional Objective: Attempt to reinforce/destroy the seal node - Complete (Evaluation: Excellent, successfully implemented temporary reinforcement, with a weak but crucial positive impact on the real seal)."

Overall rating: S (Beyond perfect)

"Rewards are being distributed based on scores and exploration contributions..."

A series of data scrolled rapidly through Lu Zhao's "consciousness." Although he was in dire straits, hearing the "S" rating and evaluations such as "Excellent" and "Outstanding" still stirred a ripple in Lu Zhao's heart. He knew that the gains from this dungeon would probably exceed his expectations.

The reward settlement is as follows:

"1. Experience Points: Base reward 5000 + Exploration contribution bonus 3000 + Rating bonus 2000 + Killing higher-level enemies bonus 1500 + First clear bonus 1000 = 12500 points!"

"2. Contribution Points (Special currency in dungeons, can be exchanged for sect contribution points at a 1:1 ratio): Base 2000 + Exploration 1000 + Rating 1000 + Special Achievements (Activating Formation/Facing the Demon Lord) 500 = 4500 points!"

3. Item Rewards:

"-1 chance to draw a random Tier 1 top-tier magic weapon (obtained with an S rating)"

"- [Random Ancient Secret Technique/Cultivation Manual Fragment (Yellow Rank High Grade or Above)] Draw Chance x1 (Obtained when Exploration Progress > 80%)"

"-【Gift from the Blood Abyss (Special Treasure Chest)】x1 (Rewarded by completing the optional objective with an excellent rating)"

"- The [Abyss Walker (Temporary)] status is converted into the permanent title [Abyss Novice]: When equipped, resistance to environments of bloodlust, vengeful spirits, and demonic energy is increased by 10%, and experience gained from killing such enemies is increased by 5%. Slightly increases the deterrent effect against evil and chaotic beings."

4. Special Rewards:

"-【Sealing Affinity (Slight)】: Due to the successful activation and influence of the ancient sealing magic array, your perception and understanding of sealing arrays, talismans, and restrictions have been slightly enhanced. When drawing/breaking/reinforcing sealing methods, the success rate has been slightly increased."

"-【Enemy of the Demon Lord (Mark)】: You have been marked by a wisp of the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Lord's' soul. Within a certain range, this may attract additional attention and hostility from him or his forces. However, your perception and resistance to the Demon Lord's aura and related evil arts will also be slightly enhanced. (Warning: This mark may bring unknown risks.)"

"The reward has been sent to your system space and can be claimed at any time."

"Generating an escape route... Route construction complete, coordinates anchored: outside Qingfeng Town, edge of the Blood Fiend Array (safe zone)."

"Teleportation countdown: 3...2...1..."

"boom!"

Lu Zhao felt the pale blue pillar of light enveloping him jolt violently. The next moment, the world spun and space distorted. The roar of the Demon Lord, the rumble of the array plate, and the surge of energy outside were instantly stretched, blurred, and receded, eventually transforming into a bizarre and chaotic mix of colors.

When he regained consciousness and felt his feet firmly planted on solid ground (though somewhat unsteady), the maddening demonic sounds, the pungent stench of blood, and the omnipresent malevolent pressure had all vanished. In their place was the cool, slightly acrid smell of burnt blood, the cool air of the night, and... the faint, familiar booming of spells, shouts of battle, and the hum of the mountain-protecting array in operation!

He's back! From that hellish dungeon, he's returned to the outskirts of Green Maple Town in reality!

Lu Zhao's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground. He quickly used the short sword in his hand to support himself and barely managed to stand up. He immediately looked around.

He stood on the shady side of a small hill, his feet on weeds and pebbles. Looking up, the crimson canopy that blotted out the sky was still there, but it seemed... dimmer and thinner than before? Moreover, the twisted, wailing faces of the vengeful spirits on the canopy seemed quieter and less distinct? More noticeably, the thick, dark red pillar of blood-red light at the center of the canopy, connecting to the Demon-Sealing Well, was now flickering, as if its internal energy supply was disordered and unstable! Even the diameter of the pillar seemed to have shrunk slightly?

Was it his temporary "reinforcement" that worked? Although the effect was weak, with a 10:1 time difference between reality and the instance, the hundreds of breaths he gained in the instance might only have been a few dozen breaths in reality. But those few dozen breaths might be the key! Enough to slow down the collapse of the seal, cause a slight stagnation in the operation of the Blood Fiend Array, and give outside rescue... a glimmer of hope?

A surge of indescribable excitement and a sense of accomplishment welled up within Lu Zhao. He had done it! He had truly, in the face of utter despair, secured a glimmer of hope for this disaster, for those tens of thousands of lives!

"That's... Lu Zhao?!" A surprised and uncertain voice came from the side.

Lu Zhao turned his head and saw several figures rapidly approaching him from the other side of the hillside. The one in the lead was none other than Lin Qingfeng! Behind him were Liu Feng, Shi Yong, Hou San, and several other familiar outer sect disciples, as well as several inner sect senior brothers with considerable aura. They were all injured and their breathing was disordered, clearly having just experienced a fierce battle. Seeing Lu Zhao suddenly appear there, they were all filled with astonishment.

"Senior Brother Lin! Senior Brother Liu! You..." Lu Zhao hurriedly spoke, his voice hoarse and dry.

"Junior Brother Lu! It really is you!" Lin Qingfeng breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that Lu Zhao, though covered in blood and in a sorry state, was conscious. His expression immediately changed, and he asked urgently, "How did you get here? Didn't you enter the formation with Senior Brother Jian? Where is Senior Brother Jian?"

"Brother Jian covered my retreat; he should still be in the formation..." Lu Zhao said quickly, glancing at the blood-red sky. "Brother Lin, what's the situation outside? The seal..."

"The situation is bad, but something seems to have changed just now!" Lin Qingfeng spoke rapidly, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt. "Just moments ago, the core pillar of light in the Blood Fiend Array suddenly fluctuated violently, its power seemingly weakening slightly! The inner sect masters and elders who were in charge of the array seized the opportunity and launched a fierce attack, temporarily suppressing the array's expansion and rescuing some of the civilians and disciples trapped on the edge. But the core of the array remains stable, and the Blood Fiend Sect's resistance is fierce. Elder Zhao (Deputy Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall) is personally leading a team, fiercely attacking the array's eye, but it's said they encountered resistance from a Foundation Establishment stage elder of the Blood Fiend Sect, and the situation is at a stalemate. You came out from inside? What's the situation inside? How's the seal?"

Lu Zhao understood immediately, knowing that his "last-minute kick" had indeed worked. He quickly recounted how, after entering the great formation (omitting the dungeon part, only saying that he relied on Jian Wuhen's escort and his own talismans and concealment techniques), he arrived near the ancient well, how he saw the Blood Fiend Cult's Foundation Establishment Elder and three followers presiding over the blood sacrifice, how he risked throwing the Demon-Suppressing Nail to interfere with the ritual, how he was chased by the Foundation Establishment Elder, and how he finally escaped by using the Escape Talisman (explaining the reason for his sudden appearance), and... before escaping, he vaguely glimpsed that the seal of the ancient well seemed to be extremely unstable and had blood-red fluctuations due to the interference of the Demon-Suppressing Nail (attributing the activation effect of the formation eye in the dungeon to the interference of the Demon-Suppressing Nail and the possible chain reaction), and quickly recounted the events.

Of course, he didn't reveal the more crucial and detailed information about the "Soul Devouring Demon Lord's Split Soul," the "Eight Extremes Demon Sealing Array," and the "Array Core" for the time being. Firstly, the occasion wasn't right, with too many people around; secondly, this information was too shocking, and he needed a safer and more authoritative setting (such as in front of Elder Yun) to report it.

Even so, his words were enough to shock Lin Qingfeng and the others.

"You...you actually managed to sneak up to the vicinity of the ancient well? And interfered with the blood sacrifice? Using the Demon-Suppressing Nails?" Liu Feng stared wide-eyed at Lu Zhao, as if he were seeing him for the first time. That was the core area guarded by Foundation Establishment stage elders! A disciple at the fourth level of Qi Refining (after Lu Zhao's breakthrough, he appeared to be at the third level of Qi Refining, but his aura had become much more solid; Lin Qingfeng and the others could sense his improvement, but they didn't know the specifics) could actually do this? And he even came out alive?

"The Demon-Suppressing Nails interfered...no wonder the great formation fluctuated just now..." Lin Qingfeng's eyes flashed with a sharp light, his gaze towards Lu Zhao filled with shock and admiration. "Junior Brother Lu, you have made a great contribution! Although we don't know how long the fluctuations will last, you have indeed bought us precious time! I will report this to Elder Zhao and Elder Yun immediately!"

"Senior Brother Lin, the most urgent task is to send in more detailed information as soon as possible, especially regarding the location and condition of that Foundation Establishment elder. This might help Elder Zhao and the others break the deadlock," Lu Zhao reminded him.

"Good!" Lin Qingfeng nodded and said to an inner disciple behind him, "Junior Brother Li, you immediately escort Junior Brother Lu back to the temporary rear camp. Elder Yun is there to oversee things. Junior Brother Lu's injuries are serious and he needs immediate treatment. At the same time, report the details to Elder Yun! Liu Feng, Shi Yong, and Hou San, you come with me and immediately pass on the news Junior Brother Lu brought to Elder Zhao at the front!"

"Yes!" the crowd replied.

The inner disciple surnamed Li stepped forward and helped the swaying Lu Zhao: "Junior Brother Lu, I'll take you back."

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother." Lu Zhao did not refuse. He was indeed extremely weak at the moment, and he had only managed to stay afloat by sheer willpower.

Just as the disciple surnamed Li was helping Lu Zhao away, preparing to use a flying magic artifact to leave, another unexpected event occurred!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several sharp, blood-red arrows, imbued with a strong aura of bloodlust, shot out like venomous snakes from a dense forest shrouded in blood mist in the distance, their target being Lu Zhao, who was being supported! The arrows were incredibly fast and their angles were cunning, blocking all of Lu Zhao's escape routes. Clearly, this was a premeditated plan, aimed at taking his life!

"Watch out! Enemy attack!" Lin Qingfeng reacted the fastest, shouting sharply as he drew his longsword, unleashing a cyan sword aura that slashed at two of the arrows. Liu Feng, Shi Yong, and the others also rushed to intercept.

However, the number of arrows was too great, their speed too fast, and the bloodthirsty power they contained was quite strong, clearly indicating that the attacker was no weakling, at least at the late stage of Qi Refining! Lin Qingfeng and the others hastily intercepted them, managing to block most of them. Three arrows still broke through the defenses, whistling sharply, and shot towards Lu Zhao's face, chest, and dantian—three vital points! Extremely vicious!

"Junior Brother Lu!" The disciple surnamed Li was shocked and tried to push Lu Zhao away, but the arrow was already upon him!

Lu Zhao's pupils contracted sharply as the shadow of death loomed over him once more. In his current state, he barely had the strength to even activate a low-level talisman, let alone dodge. Was he going to die here right after leaving the dungeon?

At this critical moment—

"snort!"

A cold, chilling snort, carrying a sharp, sword-like intent, seemed to come from the heavens above! The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly resonated in the ears of everyone present, carrying an undeniable authority and...killing intent!

"Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!"

The three blood-red arrows, which had flown a foot in front of Lu Zhao and were almost touching his skin, seemed to have struck an invisible wall made of countless fine sword energies. They froze in mid-air for a moment, and then, without a sound, turned into dust and scattered with the wind!

Immediately afterwards, a dazzling, cold, silver sword light, seemingly capable of cleaving the heavens and earth, swept down from the sky like a reversed Milky Way, piercing with perfect precision into the dense forest in the distance from which the arrow had been shot!

"boom--!!!"

With a deafening roar, the dense forest, along with the surrounding area spanning dozens of feet, was cleaved in two by a single sword strike. Trees, rocks, and even the pervasive blood mist were all annihilated by this single blow! Faintly, a few short, mournful screams seemed to emanate from the forest before abruptly ceasing.

The power of that single sword strike was terrifying!

Everyone was stunned by the sudden sword strike. Lin Qingfeng and the others looked on in awe towards the source of the sword light. In the night sky, a figure in white robes, flowing gracefully, appeared, bathed in moonlight. She wore silver ornaments, possessing a cold and aloof air. She held no sword, yet a faint, chilling sword intent swirled around her. It was Elder Yun!

"Elder Yun!" Everyone quickly bowed in greeting.

Elder Yun gracefully landed in front of Lu Zhao, his gaze sweeping over his wretched appearance, especially lingering for a moment on the space between his brows (where a faint, almost imperceptible, dark red mark seemed to be slowly fading away—was it the mark of the [Enemy of the Demon Lord]?). A complex and unfathomable expression flashed in his eyes, a mixture of surprise, relief, worry, and a hint of...inquiry.

"Are you alright?" Elder Yun's voice was still cold, but it seemed to have softened slightly compared to usual.

"Disciple...can still hold on. Thank you for your help, Elder." Lu Zhao struggled to support his luggage.

"Mm." Elder Yun nodded and said to Lin Qingfeng, "Qingfeng, you lead your men to continue the mission and cooperate with Elder Zhao to break the formation. I'll take care of Lu Zhao."

"Yes, Elder!" Lin Qingfeng replied respectfully, then glanced at Lu Zhao with eyes full of amazement and admiration before hurriedly leaving with his men.

Elder Yun said no more. With a flick of his sleeve, a gentle yet irresistible force lifted Lu Zhao, transforming him into a streak of light and hurtling towards Yunmengze. His speed far surpassed that of the flying artifact of the Li disciple.

A moment later, Lu Zhao was brought back to the bamboo house on the island in the center of Yunmeng Marsh.

Elder Yun placed him on a futon, then took out several fragrant and spiritually potent pills and, without a word, stuffed them into Lu Zhao's mouth. The pills entered his stomach, transforming into warm currents that rapidly nourished his battered body and nearly depleted consciousness. Lu Zhao could sense that these pills were of extremely high quality, far surpassing the Jade Dew Rejuvenating Pills he already possessed.

"Regulate your breathing and heal your injuries. We'll talk about the rest later." After Elder Yun finished speaking, he walked to the side, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes and remained silent. However, an invisible aura enveloped the bamboo house, clearly protecting him and isolating him from the outside world.

Lu Zhao felt somewhat relieved, knowing that this place was safe for the time being. He stopped thinking about it and focused all his energy on activating [Dragon's Hibernation], using the power of the pills to begin repairing the wounds on his body and soul. At the same time, he also spared a sliver of attention to check if the dungeon rewards had actually arrived in his account.

His consciousness sank into the system space. Sure enough, the experience points, contribution points (a special currency for dungeons, displayed as 4500, with an option to exchange for sect contribution points), and the several "draw chances" and "special treasure chests" were all lying there quietly. The title badge of "[Abyss Novice Explorer]" was also automatically equipped on his "character" panel. And the two special statuses/marks, "[Sealing Affinity (Weak)]" and "[Enemy of the Demon Lord (Mark)]", were also clearly displayed in the status bar.

"12500 experience points...that's enough for me to level up a lot. 4500 contribution points, that's also a huge sum. And there are random top-tier magic weapons, ancient secret techniques, special treasure chests..." Lu Zhao's heart burned with excitement, wishing he could claim and draw them immediately. But now was clearly not the time.

He suppressed the urge to immediately check his rewards and focused on healing. Thanks to the high-grade pills bestowed by Elder Yun and the miraculous effects of the [Dragon's Sleep] technique, his injuries were healing at an astonishing speed. His physical wounds began to heal, his dried-up meridians were replenished with pure spiritual energy, and his damaged sea of ​​consciousness, under the operation of the [Divine Refining Technique] and the nourishment of the pills, was slowly but steadily repairing and strengthening.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but when Lu Zhao opened his eyes again, the sky outside the window was already faintly bright. A night had gone by, and his internal injuries had mostly healed, and the damage to his soul had stabilized. Although it would still take some time for him to fully recover, it was no longer a major problem. More importantly, he felt that his cultivation barrier at the fourth level of Qi Refining had become incredibly loose after experiencing the life-or-death trials of the dungeon, especially after facing the terrifying pressure of the Demon Lord's will! He didn't even need to deliberately try; if he wanted, he could attempt to break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining at any time! And his foundation would be exceptionally stable!

Is this the benefit of fighting to the death? No, perhaps there's also the potential impact of those 12500 unallocated experience points.

Lu Zhao let out a long sigh and looked to the side. Elder Yun had opened his eyes at some point and was quietly looking at him with deep eyes, as if trying to see through him.

"It seems you've recovered quite well," Elder Yun said slowly. "Now, tell me what you experienced inside. Don't leave anything out, especially... about the seal, how you ultimately 'interfered' with the blood sacrifice, and... why you have that ancient demonic mark on your body that makes even me feel a little uneasy?"

With her last sentence, Elder Yun's tone suddenly turned cold, and the temperature in the bamboo hut seemed to drop several degrees. Her clear, cold eyes, like two sharp swords, stared directly into Lu Zhao's eyes, carrying an unquestionable scrutiny and a hint of... a sharp killing intent? It was as if, if Lu Zhao's answer did not satisfy her, she would not hesitate to strike in the next moment!

Lu Zhao's heart tightened; he knew the most crucial moment had arrived. He had to provide a reasonable, or at least largely truthful, explanation to deal with Elder Yun's investigation, while also conveying the most critical intelligence.

He remained calm, took a deep breath, met Elder Yun's gaze, and began to speak. This time, his account was far more detailed and insightful than what he had told Lin Qingfeng before.

He recounted how, escorted by Jian Wuhen, he arrived near the ancient well, where he saw the Blood Fiend Cult's Foundation Establishment Elder and three followers, as well as the towering Blood Fiend Light Pillar and the faint evil roars emanating from the ancient well. He described in detail how he risked throwing the Demon-Suppressing Nail, disrupting the ritual, attracting the Foundation Establishment Elder's pursuit, and finally escaping using the Escape Talisman (this part is consistent with the previous one).

Then he began to talk about the "key points".

"When the disciple was fleeing, he was caught in the aftershocks of the Foundation Establishment Elder's attack and the spatial turbulence. He was not immediately teleported out of the great formation, but... it was as if he fell into a strange spatial interlayer or an ancient relic fragment." Lu Zhao carefully chose his words, describing the dungeon's "Forgotten Corridor" and "Abyss of Sealed Demons" as a fragment or projection of an ancient sealed land that was accidentally revealed due to blood sacrifice and the loosening of the seal.

"There, I saw some... the remains of ancient cultivators and fragments of information left behind. I learned that what was sealed here was a wisp of the soul of an ancient demon called the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Lord.' The Blood Fiend Sect's blood sacrifice was precisely to use the essence, blood, and souls of living beings to pollute and break down the ancient seal called the 'Eight Extremes Demon-Sealing Array,' so as to help the demon lord's wisp of soul escape."

"This disciple also saw the core of the sealing formation, but it was severely damaged and corroded by the power of blood and evil. In desperation, this disciple remembered the demon-suppressing nails bestowed by the elder and his own rudimentary understanding of talismans and formations. He also combined this with a fragmented method obtained from the ancient remains and risked trying to stimulate the core of the formation, hoping to activate its remaining sealing power..."

Lu Zhao recounted his experience in the dungeon—how he used fragments of broken array plates and stone slabs to analyze the Blood Fiend Restriction bone fragments, how he drew a rudimentary network of runes, and finally, how he forcibly "ignited" the seal with the energy of the Substitute Talisman—in a way that was half-truth, half-fiction, and a stroke of genius at the critical moment. He emphasized his "talisman talent" and "faint understanding of sealing runes" (thanks to mental magic and the broken Demon-Suppressing Ancient Sword), and how rudimentary, unstable, and costly his final "temporary reinforcement" was (the consumption of the Substitute Talisman and severe damage to his soul).

"I don't know how much of an effect that nonsense had. I just felt that the array's core lit up briefly, and then the entire space went completely upside down. I was also locked in by an even more terrifying force... Fortunately, at that moment, the power of the escape talisman seemed to be stimulated, and it finally teleported me out..." Lu Zhao said with lingering fear, his face still somewhat pale, which wasn't entirely an act.

He concealed all the surreal aspects, such as the panel, dungeons, and settlement rewards, attributing all anomalies and gains to "fragments of ancient relics," "the lucky effect of his own talisman array talent," "the unexpected activation of the substitute talisman's energy," and "the ultimate life-saving effect of the escape talisman."

As for the mark of "Enemy of the Demon Lord," he explained that when he was finally locked onto by that terrifying power (the Demon Lord's split soul), he seemed to have been "marked" by some kind of power of it, perhaps because he interfered with the blood sacrifice and aroused the hatred of that demon.

Throughout his narration, Lu Zhao spoke sincerely, providing rich details (based on real experiences), and conveying appropriate emotions (fear, relief, and lingering unease). His logic was also reasonably coherent (in the cultivation world, fortuitous encounters, coincidences, and life-or-death situations are not uncommon). More importantly, the core information he revealed regarding the "Soul-Devouring Demon Lord," the "Eight Extremes Demon-Sealing Array," and the "Truth of the Blood Sacrifice" was genuine and of significant value! This greatly increased the credibility of the other parts of the story.

Elder Yun listened quietly, without interrupting from beginning to end. Her gaze remained fixed on Lu Zhao, as if judging the truthfulness of his words. A brief silence fell over the bamboo hut after Lu Zhao finished speaking.

After a long silence, Elder Yun finally spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "The Soul Devouring Demon Lord... the Eight Extremes Demon Sealing Array... the ancient Xuan Yun Sect... these names are only mentioned sporadically even in the sect's ancient records. If you know of them, it must be because you have had a truly extraordinary encounter, or... there is another lineage."

She paused, her gaze sharp as lightning: "Your final 'stimulation' of the array's core, though unintentional and a foolish act, did, according to reports from the front lines, cause a brief period of disruption and weakening in the core of the Blood Fiend Array shortly after your escape, buying us a crucial opportunity. Elder Zhao seized the chance to severely injure that Foundation Establishment elder of the Blood Fiend Sect and is now organizing forces to attempt a decisive attack on the core, disrupt the blood sacrifice, and solidify the seal. You truly deserve credit for this."

Lu Zhao felt somewhat relieved; it seemed that his actions had indeed had a positive impact in reality.

"However," Elder Yun's tone shifted, turning cold again, "that 'Demon Lord's Mark' on you is no small matter. This mark means that you have been 'remembered' by a wisp of that ancient demon's soul. In the future, as long as you approach anything or any area related to that Demon Lord, or if your cultivation reaches a certain level, it may attract the attention and even... pursuit of him or his forces. This is a great danger."

Lu Zhao's heart sank; this was indeed a problem. The panel notification said "may bring unknown risks," while Elder Yun was even more direct.

"However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined." A strange light flashed in Elder Yun's eyes. "Being 'marked' by such an existence also proves that you have indeed touched the core of the seal, and may even have caused a slight... insignificant, but real 'trouble' to that Demon Lord's divided soul. Otherwise, it wouldn't have wasted its power to leave a mark on a mere Qi Refining ant. This mark is dangerous, but if used properly, it might become a 'catalyst' for you to comprehend, fight against, and even... find a way to restrain that Demon Lord in the future."

She looked at Lu Zhao, her tone softening slightly: "You made a tremendous contribution to this mission. Not only did you bring back crucial intelligence, but you also single-handedly influenced the battle at a critical moment, buying precious time for the sect. According to sect rules, such a great achievement deserves a substantial reward. Once this incident has subsided, the sect will bestow its own rewards. As for your secrets and the Demon Lord's mark... I will not delve into them for now. But you must remember, the sect can tolerate your secrets and fortuitous encounters, but it will never tolerate betrayal or associating with evil. Take heed of this."

"Disciple understands! Disciple is utterly loyal to the sect and swears to be irreconcilable enemies with the Blood Fiend Sect and that ancient demon!" Lu Zhao quickly pledged his loyalty.

"Hmm." Elder Yun nodded. "You should continue to recuperate here and consolidate your cultivation. The sect will handle the matters outside. Also, do not disclose the information you brought back or your role in it to outsiders for the time being, so as not to attract unnecessary trouble and... the jealousy of certain people." When she said "certain people," a cold glint flashed in her eyes, clearly referring to people like Zhao Wuji.

"This disciple will remember," Lu Zhao replied. He couldn't be more discreet.

"Alright, you should rest now. I'm heading to the front lines. I'll come find you again once this matter is settled." With that, Elder Yun vanished from the bamboo hut in a flash.

Inside the bamboo hut, only Lu Zhao remained. He let out a long sigh, his tense nerves finally relaxing completely. This hurdle was temporarily over. Although Elder Yun had some doubts, she seemed to have accepted his explanation, at least on the surface. Moreover, judging from her attitude, she appreciated and protected him.

"Next... it's time to claim the rewards and improve my strength!" Lu Zhao's eyes flashed with excitement. He couldn't wait to immerse his consciousness into the system space.

First, there are 12500 experience points! Without hesitation, he began to allocate them.

【蛰龙眠】Lv4（0/400）→ Lv5（0/600），消耗400点。

【炼神术】Lv4（0/400）→ Lv5（0/600），消耗400点。

【符箓绘製】Lv5（0/1000）→ Lv6（0/1500），消耗1000点。

【分神术（残篇）】Lv1（5/150）→ Lv3（0/300），消耗约300点。

Remaining experience points: approximately 10300.

"It's time for my cultivation to break through!" With a thought, Lu Zhao guided the remaining experience points, like a torrent, towards his already extremely loose fourth-level Qi Refining barrier!

"boom!"

The barrier crumbled like paper! A surge of powerful spiritual energy coursed through his body, widening his meridians and expanding his dantian! His aura rose at an astonishing rate, instantly breaking through the limit of the fourth level of Qi Refining and entering the fifth level! Furthermore, propelled by a wealth of experience points, his cultivation advanced rapidly, eventually stabilizing at the mid-stage of the fifth level of Qi Refining (250/300)! He was only one step away from the late stage!

A sense of power far stronger, more refined, and more profound than before filled his entire body. Lu Zhao could feel that the total amount, quality, recovery speed, and control over spells of his spiritual power had all improved significantly! More importantly, breaking through to the fifth level of Qi Refining meant that he could begin to cultivate and draw higher-level spells and talismans, and his strength would experience a qualitative leap!

"Great!" Lu Zhao was overjoyed. He felt the surging power within him and then looked at the remaining rewards.

"Next comes the main event—the draw!"

He first clicked on the draw opportunity for the [Random Tier 1 Top-Grade Magic Item].

"Extracting... Extraction complete!"

Congratulations on obtaining: [Mysterious Yin Soul-Slaying Needle (Tier 1, Top Grade)]!

[Mysterious Yin Soul-Slaying Needles (Tier 1, Top Grade)]: A set of nine needles, as thin as cow's hair, entirely black, forged from Mysterious Yin Iron mixed with Soul-Devouring Gold. Specifically targets the soul, invisible and intangible, activated silently and without warning, making it extremely difficult to defend against. Highly effective against the soul, spirit body, and cultivators practicing Yin and evil techniques. Requires activation with spiritual power or a special incantation. Current status: In good condition.

"A flying needle that specifically injures the soul? And it's a top-grade magic weapon! What a treasure!" Lu Zhao's eyes lit up. This was practically a weapon for sneak attacks, ambushes, and dealing with troublesome evil creatures! Combined with his [Spirit Refining Technique] and [Spirit Splitting Technique], its power would likely increase even further.

Next, you will draw a [Random Ancient Secret Technique/Cultivation Manual Fragment (Yellow Rank High Grade and above)].

"Extracting... Extraction complete!"

Congratulations on obtaining: [Eight Extremes Demon Sealing Hand Seal (Fragment - First Form)]!

[Eight Extremes Demon-Sealing Hand Seal (Fragment - First Form)]: One of the basic hand seals derived from the ancient Xuan Yun Sect's supreme martial art, the *Eight Extremes Demon-Sealing Scripture*. It is only an incomplete cultivation method for the first form, the "Mountain-Suppressing Seal." After cultivation, a faint sealing power can be condensed within the hand seal, possessing a certain deterrent and suppressive effect against demons, evil spirits, and vengeful spirits. It can also assist in cultivation and stabilize the mind. Rank: High-grade Yellow Rank (Fragment).

"The Eight Extremes Demon-Sealing Hand Seal?!" Lu Zhao's heart trembled violently. This was actually a fragment of the ancient Xuan Yun Sect's ultimate technique! Although it was only an incomplete version of the first move, its value probably far exceeded that of an ordinary high-grade Yellow Rank technique! This was an unexpected delight! This hand seal was not only incredibly powerful, but more importantly, it might have some connection to the "Eight Extremes Demon-Sealing Formation" that he had just encountered. It might provide immeasurable help for his future understanding and even repair of that formation!

"I've hit the jackpot!" Lu Zhao exclaimed excitedly. He absolutely had to master this hand seal as soon as possible!

Finally, there's the [Gift from the Blood Abyss (Special Treasure Chest)].

"Open the [Gift from the Blood Abyss (Special Treasure Chest)]? (Yes/No)"

"yes!"

The treasure chest slowly opened, bursting forth with a dazzling dark red light. As the light faded, three items floated in Lu Zhao's consciousness.

"Obtained: [Blood Crystal (Superior)] x1!"

"Obtained: [Abyssal Demon Iron (Rare Refining Material)] x1!"

"Obtained: [Unknown Black Token (Fragmented)] x1!"

[Blood Fiend Crystal (Supreme Grade)]: The essence of condensed blood fiend power, of extremely high quality. It can be used to cultivate certain special techniques or as a core material for high-level formations and magical artifacts. Extremely valuable, but deeply malevolent, it must be handled with caution. Exchangeable for 1000 contribution points.

**【Abyssal Demon Iron】: A special metal produced from places where demonic energy gathers in the abyss. It is extremely hard and has inherent demonic corrosive properties. It is an excellent material for forging demonic and evil magical artifacts. It can also be purified through special means to be used to forge righteous magical artifacts with certain special attributes.**

[Unknown Black Token (Incomplete)]: Neither metal nor wood, it feels cold to the touch. The front is engraved with a blurry, distorted rune that appears to be composed of countless pained faces, while the back is blank. The token is partially missing, its spiritual energy almost completely dissipated, but it seems to have a faint connection to some ancient, evil entity. Its purpose is unknown, and it may contain danger.

The first two items were extremely valuable materials, especially the top-grade Blood Fiend Crystal, worth 1000 contribution points! But the third item, the incomplete black token, made Lu Zhao feel uneasy. The strange runes on it gave him a strange sense of familiarity, as if... it was somewhat similar to the aura of the Demon Lord's divided soul? But it was also different.

"What exactly is this token?" Lu Zhao carefully put it away, deciding to try to study it when he was strong enough in the future.

After tallying all the rewards, Lu Zhao was completely satisfied. This dungeon run, though fraught with peril, yielded far more riches than any of his previous adventures. He had broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, obtained a top-grade magic weapon, fragments of an ancient hand seal, rare materials, a large amount of contribution points and experience, as well as a special title and status... His strength and resources had instantly skyrocketed!

"Next, I need to digest these gains, cultivate the Eight Extremes Demon Sealing Hand Seal, familiarize myself with the [Mysterious Yin Soul-Slaying Needle], consolidate my cultivation... and then, quietly await the results from outside."

Lu Zhao closed his eyes, immersing himself in the joy of his breakthrough in cultivation and the exploration of his new power.

Unbeknownst to him, while he and Yun Mengze were peacefully healing and tallying their rewards, the battle situation in Qingfeng Town outside had already undergone a decisive change.

During the precious time Lu Zhao bought, the Qingyun Dao Sect amassed even more strength. Led by Elder Zhao (Deputy Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall), they finally broke through the outer defenses of the Blood Fiend Array and engaged in a decisive battle with the Foundation Establishment elder of the Blood Fiend Sect who was stationed at the core. Elder Yun also arrived in time and joined forces with Elder Zhao to severely injure the Foundation Establishment elder.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the Foundation Establishment elder of the Blood Fiend Cult led his remaining forces and fled in panic, using the last remaining power of the Blood Fiend Array and some kind of blood escape technique, leaving behind only a mess and a blood sacrifice ritual that had not completely stopped but whose power had been greatly reduced.

The Qingyun Dao Sect successfully rescued some of the people who had not yet been devoured by the blood sacrifice and began to organize manpower to try to repair and stabilize the seal of the Demon-Sealing Ancient Well, which was on the verge of collapse. Although it was impossible to completely repair the ancient "Eight Extremes Demon-Sealing Array", with the combined efforts of several elders, it was temporarily resealed and suppressed, avoiding the worst outcome—the complete escape of the Demon Lord's divided soul.

However, after this battle, tens of thousands of people in Qingfeng Town were reduced to ashes, with only one in ten surviving. The Qingyun Dao Sect also lost many disciples. Although the Blood Fiend Sect's conspiracy was thwarted, its displayed madness and strength shocked the sect's higher-ups, who began to pay more attention to this evil force lurking in the shadows.

Although Lu Zhao's name was intentionally downplayed and kept secret by the higher-ups, it had already begun to circulate among a small number of inner and outer disciples who participated in the operation. A Qi Refining stage disciple, infiltrating the core of the blood sacrifice, disrupting the ritual, and making a remarkable contribution... this undoubtedly shrouded him in a legendary aura and attracted more attention, some well-intentioned, and naturally, some... malicious.

The storm has subsided for the time being, but the undercurrents are becoming even more turbulent.