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

Inside the "Shadow Tomb" stone chamber, time seemed to stand still. Lu Zhao sat cross-legged not far from the altar, surrounded by deathly darkness, with only his faint breathing and the slight ripples of spiritual energy flowing within him. He dared not linger here, but his severe injuries had not yet healed, and his condition was extremely poor; he needed to recover immediately. This place was temporarily safe, and having just received the inheritance and resources, it was the perfect place for seclusion to heal his wounds.

He first took out the bottle of Life and Death Elixir (diluted). The bottle was cold, but it had a strange, warm feel to the touch. He uncorked it, and a strange medicinal fragrance, a perfect balance of rich vitality and faint decay, wafted out. Just smelling it made him feel refreshed, and the hidden pain left in his body by the erosion and tempering of the annihilation energy seemed to have lessened a little.

"It can balance life and death, and repair wounds eroded by annihilation..." Lu Zhao recalled the description, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes. He carefully poured out a drop of grayish-green liquid and put it in his mouth.

The liquid entered his throat, bringing neither the expected coolness nor heat, but rather an extremely complex and indescribable sensation. It was as if two opposing yet fundamentally connected forces were simultaneously unfolding within him. One was a vast, gentle, and vibrant life essence, rapidly nourishing and repairing his riddled body and meridians, smoothing the subtle "wounds" and sense of decay left by the erosion of the annihilating energy. The other was a cold, silent, and slightly corrosive annihilating energy, but this energy did not destroy; rather, it precisely integrated with, replenished, and even "guided" the sealed and initially tamed annihilating energy within him, making it more condensed and stable, and forming a more harmonious and controllable "dynamic balance" with his life force.

Lu Zhao immediately activated the "Dragon's Sleep" technique, guiding the powerful medicinal energy to circulate throughout his body. At the same time, he attempted to actively guide, refine, and fuse that trace of annihilation medicinal energy according to the method in the "Foundation Building Chapter (Fragment)" of the "Nine Netherworld Annihilation Scripture," which he had just obtained, specifically the "Key Points for Initial Control and Refining of Annihilation Qi."

This was an extremely delicate and dangerous process. Fortunately, Lu Zhao had just undergone the tempering of the "Body Refinement Trial," and had developed a certain degree of adaptability and resistance to the Qi of Annihilation. His spiritual power had also become more refined due to the tempering of the "Heart-Piercing Trial." In addition, the "Hibernating Dragon" technique itself emphasized the control of Qi and blood and vitality, which subtly aligned with the meaning of life and death balance contained in the "Life and Death Liquid."

He focused his mind on his body, like a master craftsman carefully "sculpting" the "Yin-Yang millstone" within. The life-giving medicinal power was "Yang," repairing and nourishing; the extinguishing medicinal power was "Yin," condensing and guiding. Under his will and the control of his technique, the two flowed slowly, permeating each other, yet maintaining a delicate boundary, neither completely merging and annihilating nor violently clashing.

"Ding! Detected that you are refining [Life and Death Liquid (Diluted)], absorbing the life-and-death balance power within..."

"【Hibernating Dragon】Experience +20..."

"Slightly increased resistance to [Aura of Annihilation]..."

"The balance between the life force and the power of annihilation within the body has slightly improved..."

"The speed of injury recovery has been greatly improved..."

The panel's prompts confirmed that Lu Zhao's choice was correct. He could clearly feel that the wounds on his body, whether in his bones, internal organs, or meridians, were healing at an astonishing speed. More importantly, the nodes of annihilation energy sealed by the [Sealing and Refining Essence Technique] were becoming more stable under the infusion of the annihilation medicinal power of the "Life and Death Liquid" and the guidance of the technique. Moreover, the annihilation energy within seemed to have been "tamed" more, its corrosiveness further reduced, and the "separation" between it and his own spiritual power weakened slightly. He could even try to draw upon an extremely weak trace of annihilation energy, condensing it at his fingertips according to the preliminary method recorded in the "Nine Nether Annihilation Scripture." Although it was only as thick as a hair, hazy and inconspicuous, it did indeed contain a trace of the Daoist charm of "annihilation" and "decay."

"This is the true power of annihilation... though only a superficial understanding." Lu Zhao was overjoyed. This proved that he had initially found a way to control rather than be corrupted by the aura of annihilation. Although the road ahead was still fraught with danger, at least he had a starting point.

It took a full three hours to fully absorb the medicinal power of a single drop of "Life and Death Elixir." Lu Zhao's injuries were seventy percent healed! His body was brimming with vitality, and the aura of annihilation was now under control. He hesitated for a moment, not immediately taking a second drop. This kind of spiritual medicine was extremely potent, requiring a gradual approach, and its quantity was limited; it should be saved for crucial moments.

After his injuries stabilized, Lu Zhao did not immediately leave seclusion. He took out the fragment of the "Nine Netherworld Annihilation Scripture: Foundation Building Chapter (Fragment)" that was imprinted in his sea of ​​consciousness and began to comprehend it.

This fragment doesn't contain much content; it mainly consists of three parts.

Part One: [The Method of Condensing Annihilation Spiritual Power]. This is not an independent cultivation technique, but a secret method that purifies and transforms spiritual power based on existing techniques, imbuing it with a trace of "annihilation" attribute. It requires the cultivator to have a certain affinity or resistance to "annihilation," and necessitates the use of specific rare and precious materials (such as "Life and Death Elixir," spirit stones with annihilation attributes, or certain special environments). The condensed "annihilation spiritual power" is more powerful, especially against living beings and things with vitality, exhibiting additional corrosive and restraining effects, but it is also more prone to backlash and conflicts with certain yang-type, life-attribute techniques and spells. Lu Zhao attempted to operate according to the method and found that his current level of control over annihilation energy was far from meeting the requirements for condensing "annihilation spiritual power," and could only be considered a preliminary familiarization.

Part Two, [Three Basic Annihilation Techniques]. They are:

1. 【Nirvana Finger (Fragment)】: This is a simplified version of the finger technique used by the skeletal spirit. It condenses annihilation energy into a single point at the fingertip and shoots it out, specifically targeting protective auras and magical artifact defenses, eroding life force. It is extremely powerful, but requires extremely high levels of control and consumption of annihilation energy. Lu Zhao can currently only barely simulate its form, unable to unleash even a tenth of its power, and a single strike would drain the little controllable annihilation energy he had painstakingly accumulated.

2. [Touch of Deathly Silence]: Attaches the energy of annihilation to the palm or magical artifact. When attacking at close range, it can erode the opponent's spiritual power and blood, causing continuous decay damage. This move is relatively easy. Lu Zhao tried attaching that wisp of controllable annihilation energy to the tip of the [Azure Edge Sword]. The sword was immediately covered with an extremely thin layer of gray mist, and its aura became cold and eerie.

3. [Decaying Spirit Domain (Prototype)]: Centered on oneself, releases a tiny force field containing the aura of decay and annihilation, weakening the spiritual energy recovery and vitality of enemies within the domain, and slightly enhancing the power of one's own annihilation spells. This is a ranged support/weakening skill, with a higher difficulty of cultivation. Lu Zhao currently struggles to even maintain the prototype, only able to slightly affect an area of ​​about a foot around himself.

Part Three, [The Initial Mastery and Refinement Techniques of the Qi of Annihilation]. This is precisely what Lu Zhao needs most right now. It details how to gradually "tame" the Qi of Annihilation within his body using his own will and spiritual power, how to construct a more stable seal and guiding circuit, how to utilize items that maintain "life and death balance" to assist in cultivation, and... how to initially combine the Qi of Annihilation with his other attribute spiritual power and spells to forge a unique path. This provides a theoretical basis and feasible direction for his ideas of "using talismans instead of swords" and integrating the power of Annihilation into the "Five Elements Talisman Array."

Lu Zhao was overjoyed and devoted himself to studying it. Combining his personal experience of the "Body Refining Stage" and his understanding of the "Life and Death Liquid," his comprehension of the power of annihilation improved rapidly. Although he was still far from truly mastering the "Nine Netherworld Annihilation Scripture," he was no longer completely clueless and had a clearer approach to resolving the hidden dangers within his body, as well as greater confidence in his control.

Lu Zhao stayed in the stone chamber for another day. During this time, he consumed the second drop of the "Lip of Life and Death," completely healing his injuries and restoring him to his peak condition. He even benefited from this misfortune, his cultivation faintly touching the peak of the fifth level of Qi Refining, just one step away from breaking through to the sixth level. His control over the Qi of Annihilation also reached the point where he could "control a strand as thin as a hair, attaching it to a magical artifact or simple spell, and sustaining it for several breaths." Although still weak, it was a qualitative leap.

He also cleaned out the storage bags he had obtained from the assassin in black and the short, stout man, acquiring some spirit stones, ordinary pills, and the Blood Killing Tower token. He didn't care for the short, stout man's ghost-head broadsword, intending to sell it or dismantle it for materials after he left.

With everything ready, Lu Zhao finally turned his gaze to the ancient leather map.

The map, made of some kind of animal hide, has survived the passage of time without decaying. It is outlined with a simplified map of the terrain using dark red pigment (likely some kind of spiritual blood). At the center of the map is a large lake marked, next to which is labeled "Cloud Sea Core - Spirit Cloud Lake." Dozens of markers of varying sizes radiate outwards from Spirit Cloud Lake.

Next to some markers, there are simple text or graphic explanations:

"Hurricane Canyon (Danger, contains wind-attribute rare and precious materials)"

"Lava Cavern (Gathering of Fire-attribute Monsters)"

"Ancient cultivator's cave dwelling (explored, remnants of restrictions remain)"

"Suspected medicine garden (with protective formation)"

……

What Lu Zhao was most concerned about were the three markers related to the Nine Netherworld Path, similar to "Nether Tomb." Besides the "Nether Tomb" he was currently in (already explored?) (this marker on the map has a small cross, seemingly added later by the map artist), there were two other locations:

Located in the northwest of the map, on the edge of an area marked "Dead Wasteland," is labeled "Nine Nether Remnant Stele (suspected site of inheritance or sealing)."

Another location is in the due east direction on the map, near the northeast side of "Lingyun Lake", an area covered by a special gray-black shadow, marked "Nine Nether Altar (Core? Danger! Do not approach!)" and next to it is a small skull warning symbol.

"The Nine Netherworld Stele... the Nine Netherworld Altar..." Lu Zhao's eyes flickered. The Netherworld Tomb gave him the inheritance and the "Lip of Life and Death," but what would those two places hold? A more complete inheritance? More powerful treasures? Or... even greater danger? Especially that "Nine Netherworld Altar," marked "Core" and "Danger! Do Not Approach!", it was probably no ordinary place.

"My main goal is to find clues to resolve the hidden dangers of the Annihilation Qi and to fight against the Demon Lord. The inheritance of the Netherworld Tomb has initially solved the problem of direction, but it is not enough. The 'Nine Netherworld Altar' is marked as the core, and it may contain more crucial information or items. But it is also the most dangerous..." Lu Zhao weighed the pros and cons.

Ultimately, he decided to go to the "Nine Netherworld Remnant Stele" in the northwest first. It might be safer than the "Core Altar," and since it was also a relic of the Nine Netherworld Sect, he might be able to gain more insights into this mysterious sect and prepare for exploring the more dangerous "Altar."

"Moreover, the 'Dead Wasteland'... just from the name, it's related to annihilation and decay. Perhaps the environment will help me cultivate the 'Nine Nether Annihilation Scripture' and control the Qi of Annihilation." Lu Zhao made his plan.

He carefully put away the map, checked his own status and items again, and after confirming that everything was in order, he gave a final bow to the black skull on the altar.

"Senior, I take my leave. If I achieve something in the future, I will certainly live up to the name of the Nine Netherworld Path."

After saying that, he turned around, strode out of the "Hidden Tomb" stone chamber, and walked out of the cave along the way he came.

After passing through the gray-black misty canyon, we arrived once again at the edge of that black rocky land. The battles of the Five Elements Cloud Beasts outside continued, but seemed slightly calmer than before. Perhaps some powerful cloud beasts had settled their scores, or perhaps the battles had entered a lull.

Without disturbing any cloud beasts, Lu Zhao stayed close to the edge of the battlefield and quietly left in the northwest direction indicated on the map.

This time, his target was clear—the desolate wasteland and the broken stele of the Nine Netherworlds.