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

A hundred miles away from where they were ambushed, the Qingyun Dao Sect's exploration team temporarily settled in a more secluded cave, protected by natural barriers. Elder Xuanjizi had set up several layers of concealment and defensive formations at the cave entrance to ensure their safety.

Inside the cave, the campfire flickered, illuminating the varied expressions on everyone's faces. The atmosphere remained heavy. Several injured disciples were receiving treatment, while the rest silently meditated and remained vigilant. Every now and then, intentionally or unintentionally, everyone's gaze would drift towards the depths of the cave, to that secluded corner shrouded in an array by Elder Xuanjizi.

That was where Lu Zhao was. Ever since Elder Yun and Elder Xuanjizi had jointly suppressed the turmoil within him, he had been in a deep, semi-comatose state of meditation. Elder Xuanjizi's sealing runes not only suppressed the boiling power within him, but also seemed to have provided some kind of protection and isolation for his soul, preventing him from being further eroded by the backlash of the demonic soul's residual power.

Hou San, Wang Tie, and Huang Ling'er stood guard outside the separated stone chamber, their faces filled with worry and unease. They had witnessed Lu Zhao's terrifying and bizarre attack firsthand, and their hearts were filled with both fear of Lu Zhao's power and concern for his safety. They couldn't be sure if their usually calm, resilient, and caring senior brother Lu was still the same person.

On the other side of the cave, Li Mu and his companions, along with several elite inner disciples unfamiliar with Lu Zhao, gathered together, whispering amongst themselves. Their gazes toward the stone chamber were filled with apprehension, rejection, and even a hint of schadenfreude. Lu Zhao's display of "demonic" methods clearly made them feel extremely uneasy and hostile.

"Devouring the power of others...this is absolutely a demonic act!"

Why are Elder Yun and Elder Xuanjizi still protecting him?

"This person must not be allowed to live, otherwise he will surely become a great threat to the sect!"

"Keep your voice down, the elders will make their own decision..."

Although the murmurs were low, they were still clearly audible in the silent cave. Hou San and Wang Tie turned pale, wanting to retort but unsure how to begin. Huang Ling'er merely glanced coldly at them without speaking, but a hint of worry lurked deep within her clear eyes.

Inside the stone chamber, Lu Zhao sat cross-legged, his eyes tightly closed. His internal condition was far worse than it appeared. Absorbing the power of that mid-Foundation Establishment stage evil cultivator was like drinking poison to quench thirst. The massive influx of spiritual and soul power, filled with yin, filth, and resentment, temporarily "strengthened" him, but also brought his already fragile internal balance to the brink of collapse. The remnants of demonic soul power, nourished, stirred restlessly, attempting to erode his divine soul. The power of annihilation and the dragon-shaped mark instinctively resisted and refined, yet also clashed fiercely with these external forces. His meridians and internal organs were under immense pressure, and his divine soul was like a small boat in a storm, teetering on the verge of capsizing.

If it weren't for Elder Xuanjizi's timely assistance with profound sealing and soul-suppressing runes, coupled with his own foundation in the "Refining God Technique" and his indomitable will to "control my own destiny," he would probably have already succumbed to his slumber and become a puppet of the demonic soul.

After an unknown amount of time, when Lu Zhao finally managed to suppress the most violent conflict within his body and regain some clarity of mind, he slowly opened his eyes.

Inside the stone chamber, only the light from the campfire flickered on the stone walls. Opposite him, Elder Xuanjizi sat quietly, his gaze serene yet seemingly able to see through everything, watching him intently.

"Awake?" Elder Xuanjizi's voice was still gentle, but Lu Zhao could clearly feel the scrutiny and solemnity contained within it.

"Disciple... greets Elder." Lu Zhao wanted to get up and bow, but felt sore and weak all over, and his spiritual energy was stagnant.

"No need for formalities. Your injuries are quite severe; please sit still." Elder Xuanji waved his hand, and a gentle stream of spiritual energy supported him. "How are you feeling?"

"Thank you for your help, Elder. I am now fine, but... the internal energy is in intense conflict, and I need time to recover," Lu Zhao said truthfully, his voice somewhat hoarse.

Elder Xuanjizi nodded, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Do you know where the 'devouring' power you used earlier originated?"

Lu Zhao's heart tightened. What was bound to happen had finally arrived. He knew his earlier unusual behavior couldn't possibly have escaped the notice of an expert like Elder Xuanjizi. He took a deep breath, not answering immediately, but instead asking, "Elder... have you heard of the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Lord'?"

Elder Xuanjizi's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he slowly said, "Ancient ferocious demons take pleasure in devouring the souls of living beings and polluting the world. Their remnants, such as the 'Blood Fiend Cult,' still wreak havoc in the region. The 'devouring' power on your body does indeed bear some resemblance to the aura of the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Lord' recorded in the ancient texts. However, it seems to be different as well, more... complex, and more ancient."

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat; Elder Xuanjizi was indeed knowledgeable and insightful. He no longer concealed anything and selectively and briefly recounted his experiences in Qingfeng Town: encountering the Soul-Devouring Demon Lord's split soul, being implanted with the Demon Lord's Mark, and in the Cloud Sea Secret Realm, his fortuitous encounter with a portion of the Nine Netherworld Evil Dragon's inheritance and the Netherworld Dragon's Reverse Scale, which caused a mutation in his internal power, resulting in a delicate balance between the Demon Lord's Mark and the Dragon-shaped Mark, and granting him a portion of the power of annihilation. He omitted the most crucial details, such as the Netherworld Tomb, the core of the Nine Netherworld Altar, and his own voluntary acceptance of the inheritance and bearing the karmic consequences, only stating that he "accidentally" obtained fragments of the inheritance and the Reverse Scale, leading to a conflict and fusion of powers.

"...Within my body, there are remnants of the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Lord's' mark and the inheritance of the 'Nine Netherworld Evil Dragon's' annihilating dragon energy. These two forces are conflicting and balancing within me. Before, when facing that Foundation Establishment evil cultivator, at the critical moment of life and death, I... I don't know why, but the 'devouring' instinct originating from the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Lord's' mark within me was triggered, mixed with the power of annihilation, which... that's why that happened." Lu Zhao lowered his head, his voice carrying a trace of weariness and lingering fear. "I did not intentionally cultivate demonic arts, and I am well aware of the danger of this power. I have been trying my best to suppress and refine it, but... it seems that my strength is insufficient."

A long silence fell over the stone chamber. The only sound was the crackling of the campfire.

Elder Xuanjizi's gaze was like two deep pools, quietly watching Lu Zhao, as if judging the truth of his words and weighing the astonishing information revealed in them.

"Nine Netherworld Evil Dragon... 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord'..." After a long silence, Elder Xuanjizi finally spoke, his voice filled with a sense of emotion and solemnity, "These two ancient ferocious creatures have actually intersected with you in such a way. No wonder... no wonder you sensed 'Dragon Roar Valley,' and no wonder you possess such contradictory and dangerous powers at the same time."

He stood up, paced a few steps, and pondered, "The mark of the 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord' is like a leech, constantly eroding your soul and tempting you towards the path of devouring and destruction. While the annihilating dragon energy of the 'Nine Netherworld Evil Dragon' can be countered, it is not auspicious in itself, but rather filled with destruction and savagery. It is fortunate that these two have achieved a fragile balance within your body, but your forceful absorption of external forces has broken this balance, causing the remnants of your demonic soul to backfire, and the power of annihilation has also been activated... If this continues, you may face the danger of your soul being eroded, your body being burst by the force, or even becoming a monster that only knows how to devour."

Lu Zhao's face turned even paler. How could he not know? It's just that he hadn't been able to find a solution before, so he could only take it one step at a time.

"Elder... what should this disciple do?" Lu Zhao looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Since Elder Xuanjizi had pointed out the problem, perhaps there was a solution?

Elder Xuanjizi stopped, his gaze falling once more on Lu Zhao, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "There are solutions, but they are all extremely dangerous."

"Firstly, find a powerful expert whose cultivation far surpasses yours and who is proficient in purification and soul suppression. With absolute strength, this expert can strip away and dissolve the two strange forces within your body, along with the two marks. However, this method places extremely high demands on the practitioner, and your soul and foundation will inevitably be damaged during the process, ruining your future and even risking your soul being scattered."

"Secondly, seek out a rare and precious object of nature, either of the utmost yang and strength, or of utmost purity and cleanliness, to neutralize and purify the yin and evil forces within your body, thus restoring balance. However, such objects are all extremely rare treasures, things that can only be encountered by chance."

"Thirdly..." Elder Xuanjizi paused, his gaze becoming profound, "turning crisis into opportunity, using oneself as a furnace to thoroughly refine and fuse these two dangerous forces, making them one's own. Forging an unprecedented path. This is the most difficult and dangerous path; success means soaring to the heavens, failure means utter annihilation."

Lu Zhao remained silent. Three paths, each more difficult and perilous than the last. Separation? He was unwilling, and he might not even be able to find such a powerful being. Searching for rare artifacts? That was even more unlikely. Refining and fusing? It sounded like the only way out, but... how easy was that?

"Elder, this disciple... wishes to choose a third path." Lu Zhao raised his head, his eyes regaining their resolve. "This disciple does not wish to entrust his fate to others or external things. Since this power is already within me, I will control it, refine it, and make it work for me."

Elder Xuanjizi looked at the indomitable flame in Lu Zhao's eyes, a barely perceptible hint of approval on his face, but more so, worry. "It's good that young people have courage, but you must avoid being overly ambitious and underestimating the dangers. The power within you involves ancient demons; its essence is extremely high, far beyond your current ability to fully control."

"Disciple understands. Therefore, disciple would like to ask Elder if there is a way to temporarily suppress or alleviate this? And... regarding 'Dragon's Roar Valley,' does Elder have any more clues? Disciple feels that it might be related to the 'Dragon' power within disciple, and could be a turning point." Lu Zhao asked earnestly.

Elder Xuanjizi pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "As for the method of suppression and relief, I can teach you a 'Heart-Cleansing and Soul-Suppressing Mantra,' which, combined with your spirit-gathering technique, may temporarily stabilize your soul and resist the erosion of demonic thoughts. As for the conflict of power, you can only rely on yourself to slowly guide and refine it; it cannot be rushed."

"As for 'Dragon's Roar Valley'..." Elder Xuanjizi's gaze pierced the darkness outside the cave, as if it could penetrate the rocks and reveal the mysterious valley. "Based on my previous deductions and the sensations I sensed in you, I have a bold hypothesis."

"Within 'Dragon's Roar Valley,' there may exist an extremely faint but highly essential remnant of an ancient dragon soul, or rather, a combination of 'Dao traces' and 'obsessions' left behind by a fallen dragon. Due to some reason (perhaps the passage of time, changes in the earth's veins, or external stimuli), it has recently become active, emitting 'dragon roars' and radiating unique dragon energy fluctuations."

"And you, possessing a portion of the inheritance and the reverse scale of the 'Nine Netherworld Evil Dragon,' and with the aura of annihilation within you, are both 'kindred spirits' and 'different' to this remnant dragon soul (the Nine Netherworld Evil Dragon is an annihilation dragon, unlike ordinary dragons). It may exert a strong attraction, resonance, or even... 'summon' you."

"Similarly, for the mark of the 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord,' even the faintest remnant of an ancient dragon soul is an excellent 'nourishment' and a target for 'corrosion.'"

Elder Xuanjizi looked at Lu Zhao, his gaze piercing: "Therefore, 'Dragon's Roar Valley' is both a crisis and an opportunity for you. If you can find a way to communicate with the remnant dragon soul within it, or even gain its approval or help, you might be able to use its power to further suppress and refine the remnant demonic soul power within your body, and even deepen your understanding of the Annihilation Dragon Qi. However, if you handle it improperly, or if the remnant demonic soul power takes advantage of your weakness and instead erodes and devours the remnant dragon soul power, then the demonic nature within you will greatly increase, with unimaginable consequences. Moreover, the valley itself is full of unknown dangers."

Lu Zhao's heart surged with emotion. So that's how it is! There might actually be a remnant of an ancient dragon soul in "Dragon's Roar Valley"! This was indeed an incredible opportunity for him, but also a deadly temptation.

"Elder...this disciple wishes to go to 'Dragon's Roar Valley'." Lu Zhao was silent for a moment, then raised his head, his eyes flashing with determination.

Elder Xuanjizi gazed intently at him, as if trying to see through him. After a long while, he slowly nodded: "I knew you would make this choice. Very well, the path of cultivation is inherently against the will of Heaven; timidity and hesitation will hinder your progress. However, before heading to 'Dragon's Roar Valley,' you must first quell the turbulent power within you and master the 'Heart-Cleansing and Soul-Suppressing Mantra.' Furthermore, you must not travel alone; you must have someone accompany you."

"Yun Yatou will go with you. Her use of the 'Moonlight' power can restrain the evil energy within you. In addition..." Elder Xuanjizi paused, "Tie Xing will also secretly follow, just in case. But unless you are in mortal danger or the situation is completely out of control, he will not easily show himself. Everything depends on yourself."

A warm feeling welled up in Lu Zhao's heart. Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing were actually willing to take this risk for him.

"Thank you, Elder! This disciple will certainly be careful and live up to your expectations!" Lu Zhao bowed solemnly.

"Alright, you should rest and recuperate. Tomorrow, I will teach you the 'Heart-Cleansing and Soul-Suppressing Mantra.' Three days later, if you are still in good condition, you and Yun will set off for 'Dragon's Roar Valley.' Remember, act according to your strength. If things become impossible, retreat immediately and prioritize your own safety," Elder Xuanjizi instructed in his final words.

"Your disciple will remember this."

After Elder Xuanjizi left, the stone chamber returned to silence. Lu Zhao sat cross-legged, but his heart remained unsettled for a long time.

"Dragon's Roar Valley... the remnant of an ancient dragon soul... refine and fuse it..." One thought after another swirled in his mind.

He knew that he was about to embark on a more perilous path, one that might also lead to a wider world. Success or failure, life or death, might hinge on this one move.

He had no way out, nor did he want to.