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

The "Jade Marrow Pill" truly lived up to its reputation as a precious elixir bestowed by Elder Yun. Its medicinal power was pure and potent, with excellent nourishing effects on spiritual energy and the soul. Lu Zhao sat cross-legged on the ground, fully activating the "Hibernating Dragon's Sleep" and "Refining the Spirit Technique." In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, his nearly depleted spiritual energy had recovered by 30-40%, and the fatigue and stinging in his soul had been greatly relieved. A little color returned to his pale face. However, forcibly activating, and even "overdrawing," the trace of dormant primordial dragon energy within the dragon-shaped mark between his brows had caused the mark itself to dim slightly, and the delicate balance with the "Demon Lord's Mark" was somewhat unstable. It would require a longer period of nurturing to recover.

He slowly opened his eyes. The battle in the camp was basically over. The Blood Pool Beast had been annihilated, and the remaining black-robed evil cultivators, under the all-out extermination efforts of the Qingyun Dao Sect cultivators, were either dead or captured, powerless to resist. The air was filled with a strange stench, a mixture of thick blood, burnt odor, and a faint, purified sandalwood scent. The disciples were methodically cleaning up the battlefield, treating the wounded, collecting spoils, and conducting preliminary interrogations of the captured evil cultivators.

Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing, along with several elite deacons at the Foundation Establishment stage, stood solemnly in front of the huge cave entrance, whose stone door had been smashed and was now constantly seeping out dark red, carrying a strong bloody and evil aura.

Lu Zhao stood up, stretched his still somewhat sore and weak limbs, and headed towards the cave entrance. Along the way, the Qingyun Dao Sect disciples he encountered, whether inner or outer sect members, all cast respectful and admiring glances at him, some even respectfully stepping aside to make way. Clearly, his feat of "pointing at the monstrous beast" had completely won over these fellow disciples.

Upon reaching the vicinity of the cave entrance, Lu Zhao immediately sensed an even more intense, purer, and more chilling aura of coldness, evil, and bloodlust, like tangible ice water emanating from the depths of the cave. This aura was identical to that emanating from the Blood Pool Beast, but it was more ancient, more profound, and carried a subtle, soul-stirring allure and oppression. The "Demon Lord's Mark" between his brows resonated faintly but clearly once more, as if something deep within the cave was calling to and drawing it in.

"As expected... this place is related to the 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord'!" Lu Zhao's heart tightened, and he became even more vigilant. He remained calm and activated the [Return to Nothingness Concealment Technique], suppressing his aura, especially the fluctuations of the two marks between his eyebrows, to the extreme.

"Lu Zhao, come here." Elder Yun noticed his approach, turned to look at him, his cold gaze lingering on him for a moment as if to confirm his condition, and then gestured for him to come forward.

"Yes, Elder." Lu Zhao stepped forward and stood beside Elder Yun.

"Your finger strike just now seemed to possess a special power that countered the evil aura of this place," Elder Yun said slowly, gazing into the bottomless dark cave. "Next, we will explore the depths of this blood pool. Are you still capable of fighting?"

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat, knowing that he was to be sent to the front lines, or perhaps to act as some kind of "detector"? But he did not hesitate, and clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This disciple's injuries are no longer a major concern, and I am willing to be the vanguard to explore the path ahead."

"You don't need to go first," Elder Tie Xing interrupted gruffly. Although he admired Lu Zhao, he wasn't about to send a Qi Refining stage disciple to explore this obviously extremely dangerous unknown place. "You stay by Elder Yun's side. If you sense any unusual aura that could suppress evil spirits, or if you discover any danger, immediately give a warning. Your senses seem to be more acute than most people's."

"Disciple obeys." Lu Zhao nodded. It seemed that the elders valued his "Nirvana Finger" for suppressing evil spirits and his own perception abilities.

"Let's go!" Elder Yun said no more, raising her hand to summon a soft yet bright silver moonlight orb that floated before her, illuminating the cave entrance. She and Elder Tie Xing stepped into the cave side by side. Lu Zhao followed closely behind, followed by several elite deacons in the mid-to-late stages of Foundation Establishment, and finally a group of late-stage Qi Refining disciples, forming a defensive formation as they slowly ventured deeper.

The cave entrance was narrow, but the interior was unusually spacious, clearly carved and widened by human hands. The cave walls were covered with twisted, dark red runes and grotesque murals, seemingly smeared with blood, depicting various bloody, terrifying scenes and the worship of evil gods. The further one went in, the stronger the stench of blood became, and the ground beneath one's feet became sticky and slippery, as if walking on congealed blood. From the cave ceiling, dark red, stalactite-like "blood crystals" occasionally hung down, dripping a foul-smelling viscous liquid.

After traveling about a hundred feet, the space ahead suddenly opened up, revealing an enormous, vast space that resembled an underground palace!

At the center of the space was a massive "blood pool," over thirty zhang in diameter and unfathomably deep, its interior churning with a dark red, viscous liquid, constantly bubbling and emanating a thick, bloody, and malevolent aura! The ground surrounding the blood pool was paved with white bones and black rocks, forming a circular altar. At each of the eight directions of the altar stood a thick, eerie "bone pillar," pieced together from human leg and vertebrae, its tops burning with ghostly green flames.

To the north of the altar, at the edge of the blood pool, stood a bizarre altar, three zhang tall, forged entirely from some dark red metal and black bone, its shape grotesque and twisted, as if entangled with countless tormented souls! On the altar, instead of a deity, was a suspended, constantly rotating ball of black light, radiating a profound, evil, and cold aura, seemingly capable of devouring all souls! Within the ball of light, a blurry, distorted phantom face, filled with endless greed and resentment, could be vaguely seen, silently "watching" the intruder!

It was this ball of light that resonated strongly with the pulsation of the "Demon Lord's Mark" between Lu Zhao's brows! Moreover, the intensity of its aura far surpassed that of the wisp of soul in the "Demon Sealing Well" of Qingfeng Town! Although it was still far inferior to the original body, it gave Lu Zhao the feeling that it had reached the terrifying level of the late Foundation Establishment stage or even the Pseudo-Core Formation stage! Furthermore, it was full of vitality and aggression!

"This is... another, even more powerful, fragment of the 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord's' soul imprint! It's enshrined here, nourished by the blood pool!" Elder Yun's expression changed drastically, her usually cold voice now tinged with solemnity. She clearly sensed that this fragment of the soul imprint wasn't completely dormant, but rather in a semi-awakened state, exchanging energy closely with the blood pool below! This blood pool altar was likely the core location used by the "Corrupting Poison Sect" to nourish, strengthen, and even attempt to awaken and control this fragment of the Demon Lord's soul!

"Such dense demonic energy! This thing is ten times more dangerous than that monstrous beast outside!" Elder Tie Xing's face also darkened as he gripped his giant sword tightly.

"Hahaha... As expected of a Golden Core Elder of the Qingyun Dao Sect, your eyesight is quite good." A hoarse, ancient laugh with a metallic, grating quality suddenly came from the shadows behind the altar on the opposite bank of the blood pool.

Everyone was startled and immediately went on alert. A shadowy figure crept out, slowly revealing an old man with a hunched back, draped in a tattered black robe trimmed with dark gold, his face covered in crisscrossing, centipede-like, hideous scars, and wielding a bizarre bone staff tipped with a pulsating black heart! The old man's eyes were cloudy, but occasionally a glint of eerie green light, filled with madness and wisdom, flashed within them. The aura emanating from him was unmistakably that of a Pseudo-Core Formation cultivator! Moreover, his aura was subtly connected to the Demon Lord's split soul mark on the altar, as if they were one!

"The leader of the Corruption Cult? Or... the high priest guarding this place?" Elder Yun asked coldly, a three-foot-long sword, pure silver-white with a blade as clear as autumn water and radiating a cool moonlight, now appearing in her hand. It was her natal magic weapon—"Moonlight Sword".

"I am the guardian deity of the 'Soul Devouring Holy Sect' here. You can call me... Ghost Bone." The scarred old man grinned, revealing jagged, yellowed, and blackened teeth. His voice was like the cry of an owl. "You managed to break in here and even destroyed the 'Blood Pool Sacred Beast' that I painstakingly nurtured. You do have some skill. Especially that kid..." His turbid gaze suddenly fell on Lu Zhao, and his eerie green pupils contracted sharply, as if he had discovered something extremely interesting and delicious.

"You... possess the aura of the 'Holy Lord'... yet something is different... more ancient... more... pure?" The Ghost Bone Venerable licked his chapped lips with his scarlet tongue, his eyes a mixture of greed and doubt. "Interesting... truly interesting! Offering you to the Holy Lord would surely be a great achievement!"

Locked onto by the gaze of the pseudo-Core Formation cultivator, Lu Zhao immediately felt a terrifying pressure like a mountain, and a chilling sense of being watched that pierced his very soul, as if all his secrets were about to be seen through. He immediately activated the [Return to Nothingness Concealment Technique] and the [Refining Spirit Technique] to the fullest extent, guarding his mind. At the same time, the annihilating spiritual power within his body flowed spontaneously, forming a very faint gray-black halo on his body surface to resist the evil gaze.

"Hmph, old ghost, you dare to boast even when you're about to die!" Elder Tie Xing roared, trying to distract the other party. At the same time, he secretly transmitted his voice to Elder Yun and the others, "This old ghost is a pseudo-Core Formation cultivator and is connected to that demonic soul's aura. He's not easy to deal with. Elder Yun, you focus your attack on the demonic soul. I'll hold off this old ghost. The rest of you, form a defensive formation and wait for an opportunity to attack the blood pool and altar, and destroy this hellhole!"

"You think you can do this?" Venerable Ghost Bone sneered, slamming his bone staff heavily on the ground. "Awaken, my children! Offer your blood offerings to the Holy Lord!"

"Boom—!"

As his words fell, the enormous blood pool suddenly boiled! The viscous, dark red blood within seemed to come alive, transforming into dozens of thick tentacles formed from filthy blood. Carrying a foul stench and a corrosive blood mist, these tentacles lashed and coiled wildly at the intruding Qingyun Dao Sect members, like a horde of demons! Simultaneously, a muffled roar echoed from the bottom of the blood pool, suggesting that even more monsters nourished by the pool were awakening!

"Attack!" Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing shouted simultaneously, their figures transforming into two streaks of light as they rushed towards the demonic soul orb and the Ghost Bone Venerable on the altar!

Elder Yun's "Moonlight Sword" emitted a clear, cold, and vast silver-white sword light, as boundless as the sea. With a single slash, it transformed into a massive sword aura, carrying the righteous energy to purify and annihilate all evil, and fiercely struck the dark demonic soul orb! Wherever the sword aura passed, the filthy blood tentacles disintegrated and evaporated!

The Ghost Bone Venerable chuckled eerily. The black heart at the tip of his bone staff pounded violently, erupting with dense black energy that transformed into a massive black shield, its surface contorted in agony, blocking Elder Tie Xing's ferocious, mountain-splitting blade aura! At the same time, he spewed out a foul-smelling, dark green poisonous smoke. Within the smoke, countless tiny, shimmering, venomous insects swarmed towards Elder Tie Xing and his disciples behind him!

A great battle erupted instantly! Moreover, it was an asymmetrical high-level battle between a Golden Core cultivator (Elder Yun) and a Demon Soul (above the level of a Pseudo-Core cultivator), and between a Pseudo-Core cultivator (Ghost Bone) and a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator (Iron Punishment)! In addition, with the bloody tentacles constantly gushing out from the blood pool and the monsters that were awakening, the entire underground space instantly transformed into a battlefield of carnage!

"Form the Azure Cloud Demon-Subduing Formation!" The Foundation Establishment deacons who remained behind roared, leading the Qi Refining disciples to form the formation once more to defend against the attacks of the tainted blood tentacles and attempt to attack the blood pool itself and the eight bone pillars burning with ghostly flames. However, the blood pool tentacles were too numerous, incredibly powerful, and highly corrosive, causing the formation's light barrier to vibrate violently and teeter on the brink of collapse. Even more terrifying, several blood pool monsters of various shapes, all possessing auras at the early Foundation Establishment stage, had begun to crawl out from the bottom of the blood pool and join the battle!

Lu Zhao was under immense pressure in the center of the formation. He not only had to defend against the tentacles' attacks, but also constantly guard against the aftershocks of Ghost Bone Venerable and the Demon Soul, and be wary of the awakened blood pool monsters. Yet, his eyes remained calm, and he fully activated the [Refining Spirit Technique], observing every detail of the battlefield.

He observed that while Elder Yun's sword aura was sharp and capable of continuously severing the black energy and blood-stained tentacles emanating from the demonic soul orb, it seemed unable to truly harm its core. The demonic soul orb continued to rotate, emitting layers upon layers of dark force fields that seemed capable of absorbing and annihilating all energy, greatly weakening the power of the sword aura. Moreover, as the blood pool boiled, streams of pure bloodthirsty resentment were continuously injected into the orb, slowly strengthening its aura!

"The blood pool is providing power to the demonic soul! We must sever this connection or destroy the blood pool!" Lu Zhao's mind raced. But the blood pool was too large, and it was guarded by the Ghost Bone Venerable and countless tentacles and monsters; destroying it was no easy task.

He then looked at Elder Tie Xing, who was locked in fierce combat with Venerable Ghost Bone. Elder Tie Xing's swordsmanship was fierce and his spiritual power was abundant, but Venerable Ghost Bone's methods were strange. Poisonous smoke, poisonous insects, and black energy from his bone staff appeared one after another, and his movements were elusive. It seemed that he was not using his full strength, but rather that he was stalling for time to buy time for the "awakening" or "strengthening" of his demonic soul.

"This can't go on! We must find the key to breaking this deadlock!" Lu Zhao's gaze swept rapidly, finally settling on the eight bone pillars around the altar, burning with eerie green flames. He noticed that whenever the blood pool channeled energy into the demonic soul orb, the flames on these eight bone pillars would simultaneously brighten, with faint energy threads connecting them, as if forming an array to guide, amplify, and stabilize the energy!

"Those eight bone pillars! They are the nodes for energy transmission and the operation of the array! If we can destroy a few of them, we might be able to interfere with or even cut off the blood pool's energy supply to the demon soul!" A flash of inspiration struck Lu Zhao. This discovery was remarkably similar to his experience of destroying the "soul pillars" at the "Nine Nether Altar"!

The problem is that those eight bone pillars are located at the core of the altar, not far from the demonic soul orb and the Ghost Bone Venerable, and are heavily guarded by tainted blood tentacles. In his current state, trying to approach and destroy them would be like snatching chestnuts from a fire or pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth!

"Someone must distract Ghost Bone and Demon Soul to create an opportunity for me..." Lu Zhao looked at Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing, who were fighting fiercely, and then at his fellow disciples struggling to hold on. He took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Elder Yun! Elder Tie Xing!" Lu Zhao suddenly transmitted his voice with spiritual power. His voice clearly reached the ears of the two elders amidst the roaring battle, "The eight bone pillars of the altar are energy nodes! This disciple is willing to attempt to destroy them. I need the elders to do their utmost to restrain the demonic soul and the old ghost, creating a glimmer of hope for this disciple!"

Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing were both shocked upon hearing this. They had naturally recognized the extraordinary nature of the eight bone pillars, but they were preoccupied with a powerful enemy and had no time to spare. Now, hearing Lu Zhao volunteer and speak with such conviction, it was clear that he was confident.

"Boy, are you sure? That place is dangerous!" Elder Tie Xing asked urgently while fending off the poisonous smoke from the ghost bones.

"I have a secret method that might be worth trying! But the right opportunity is needed!" Lu Zhao replied quickly.

Elder Yun gave Lu Zhao a deep look, seeing an unwavering determination and resolve in his eyes. Without further hesitation, her clear, cold voice resounded throughout the arena: "Everyone, listen to my command! At all costs, create an opportunity for Lu Zhao to get close to the bone pillar! Tie Xing, join me in a full-scale assault!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Elder Yun's body surged with silver-white sword light, and her aura suddenly soared to its peak! She no longer held back, and the "Moonlight Sword" in her hand emitted a clear and melodious dragon's roar. On the sword's body, a huge silver moon phantom, exuding a cold, vast, and all-purifying aura, slowly emerged!

"The moonlight tilts across the sky!"

With a sharp cry, the phantom of the silver moon, carrying world-destroying power, slowly pressed down on the demonic soul orb on the altar! This was her full-force attack at the Golden Core stage! Wherever it passed, space distorted, the filthy tentacles instantly vaporized, and even the dark force field emanating from the demonic soul orb emitted a cracking sound as it could not withstand the pressure!

At the same time, Elder Tie Xing roared, his muscles bulging, and his spiritual power surged wildly into the giant sword in his hand. On the blade, the azure wind and thunder power gathered wildly, transforming into a sky-reaching azure thunderous sword aura!

"Wind and Thunder Slash!"

The blade, carrying a violent aura capable of destroying everything, slashed fiercely at the Ghost Bone Venerable! Forcing him to withdraw some of his attention and focus all his strength on dealing with this terrifying attack.

The two elders' full-force outburst instantly drew almost all of the attention of the Demon Soul Orb and the Ghost Bone Venerable! A large portion of the blood-stained tentacles around the altar were also cleared away by Elder Yun's "Moonlight Sky Collapse"! A brief, extremely precious void appeared in the defenses surrounding the eight bone pillars!

"Now!"

Lu Zhao's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the remaining annihilation spiritual power within his body surged wildly. He pushed the [Flowing Cloud Step] and [Burning Blood Escape Technique] under his feet to their limits once again. His figure transformed into a blurry stream of light with a faint gray shadow, like a moth drawn to a flame, or a desperate assassin, rushing headlong towards the bone pillar on the southeast side, which was closest to him and located at the edge of Elder Yun's sword light's aftershocks, where its defenses were weakest!

He staked all his hopes on this sliver of hope!