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

"Those of the same origin...help...to...liberate..."

Those intermittent, weak yet soul-piercing thoughts, like a flickering candle in the wind, swayed uncertainly, yet carried a weight and sorrow that transcended endless time. It was not language, but a most direct spiritual resonance and emotional transmission; the pain, resentment, and a trace of longing for "liberation" contained within it shook Lu Zhao's mind.

His gaze was fixed on the most conspicuous, massive, dark golden dragon spine deep within the valley. At this moment, in his perception, that spine no longer seemed inanimate, but rather radiated a faint yet tenacious life force, resonating deeply with the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale in his hand and the dragon-shaped imprint within his body.

"Elders..." Lu Zhao stopped and looked at Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing, his voice somewhat hoarse, "I... seem to have sensed the will of the remnant dragon soul in the valley. It is... asking me for help."

Upon hearing this, Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing's expressions both hardened. Although they couldn't directly receive that thought, they could sense the subtle changes in Lu Zhao's aura, as well as the faint dragon might emanating from that section of dark gold dragon spine, which was clearer than before.

"Just as I suspected." A knowing glint flashed in Elder Yun's beautiful eyes. "You can communicate with it?"

"It's blurry, intermittent, but it seems very weak, and... full of pain and a sense of constraint." Lu Zhao tried hard to discern the faint thought.

Elder Tie Xing frowned deeply: "The people from the 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord' have just retreated, and this remnant dragon soul has already contacted you... I'm afraid it's not that simple. Could it be a trap?"

Lu Zhao pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "This disciple feels...it doesn't seem like it. The pain and plea for help in that thought don't seem fake. Moreover, it calls me a 'fellow originator,' perhaps because of the 'Nine Netherworld' dragon energy within me. It might regard me as...one of its own kind, or someone who can help it."

"What do you want to do?" Elder Yun looked at Lu Zhao. She trusted Lu Zhao's judgment, but she was also aware of the risks involved.

"This disciple wishes to... attempt further communication with it. To see what kind of help it needs, and... what exactly are the schemes of the people of 'Dragon Roar Valley' and 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord'?" A resolute glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. This was an opportunity to understand the truth, and perhaps even gain a fortuitous chance; he didn't want to miss it. Moreover, the dragon soul's remnant's "plea for help" stirred a sense of shared suffering within him—he, too, was struggling with the conflict and crisis of power within his body, yearning for "liberation" and "control."

"It's too dangerous," Elder Tie Xing objected. "Even if that dragon soul is weak, it's still an ancient being. What if it harbors ill intentions, or your soul is impacted by its residual negative emotions during communication..."

"Elder Tie Xing is right." Elder Yun nodded, but then changed the subject, "However, this may be the only chance to quickly find out the truth about this place and possibly help Lu Zhao. We can stand guard and protect him from the sidelines. If things go wrong, we can immediately interrupt him."

She looked at Lu Zhao: "What do you need us to do?"

A warm feeling welled up in Lu Zhao's heart, and he said gratefully, "Please, Elders, protect me. If my soul experiences violent fluctuations or is corrupted by negative emotions, please use your spiritual power or the 'Heart-Cleansing and Soul-Suppressing Spell' to awaken me in time. Also... I might need to get closer to that section of the dragon's spine."

"Alright." Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing exchanged a glance and nodded.

The three arrived before the section of dark gold dragon spine. Upon closer inspection, its immense size and antiquity became even more apparent. The spine stretched over ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) long; even with most of it buried underground, the exposed portion was as thick as a water vat. Its entire body was dark gold, its surface covered with the marks of time and intricate, seemingly naturally formed, mysterious patterns. Standing beside it, the invisible dragon's might became even more pronounced, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.

Lu Zhao sat cross-legged about three zhang away from the dragon's spine, placing the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale in front of his knees. He formed a hand seal and silently chanted the "Heart-Cleansing and Soul-Suppressing Mantra." He first regulated his breathing for a moment to adjust his state to its best. Then, he slowly closed his eyes and combined all his spiritual power with his perception of the dragon-shaped mark in his body and the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale, transforming it into an invisible "tentacle" carrying a trace of annihilating dragon energy and friendly intentions. He carefully reached out towards the section of dark golden dragon spine in front of him.

The moment his spiritual "whiskers" touched the dragon's spine, it was as if a stone had been thrown into water, creating ripples.

The scene before them shifted once more, but this time, it was no longer the destructive and painful "Dragon's Lament Illusion," but a hazy, gray world of fragmented memories, seemingly shrouded in the dust of endless time.

He "saw" a colossal dragon, its entire body golden, its scales shimmering like the blazing sun, its form more majestic than mountains, soaring and resting amidst a world filled with auspicious clouds and celestial light. It was a true dragon race, entirely different from the "Nine Netherworld Evil Dragon," brimming with an aura of grandeur, majesty, and auspiciousness.

Then, the scene shifts abruptly. The world changes color, and calamity descends. Countless terrifying figures (including ferocious demons, winged alien races, and cultivators exuding an evil aura) invade this peaceful world. A fierce battle erupts. The golden dragon and its kin and companions fight valiantly, but the enemy is too strong and too numerous.

The final scene freezes on the golden dragon being severely injured by a group of powerful figures emanating dark demonic energy. The leader of these figures is none other than a familiar phantom of Lu Zhao, filled with greed and evil ("Soul Devouring Demon Lord!"). The dragon's soul is torn apart, its body shatters, and a portion of its soul and remaining will attaches itself to a section of its spine, falling into the valley where it is sealed and nourished by the earth and its unique ley lines, and also... imprisoned.

Endless years have passed. Pain, loneliness, resentment, longing for homeland and kin, and a deep-seated hatred for the "Soul-Devouring Demon Lord" and his minions have transformed into an unyielding obsession, merging with this valley to form the "Dragon's Lament Illusion." Its original consciousness, meanwhile, has grown increasingly weaker through repeated cycles of slumber and awakening.

Until recently, the forces of the "Soul Devouring Demon Lord" have become active again. They seem to be searching for and collecting the remnants and obsessions of powerful beings they killed or suppressed in ancient times, in order to perform some kind of terrifying ritual or refine evil artifacts. The unusual activity in "Dragon Roar Valley" was stimulated and triggered by them through special means, with the aim of better locating, and ultimately devouring and refining this remnant dragon soul!

"Fellow originator...you possess the aura of 'annihilation,' yet you are unlike those filthy demons..." That desolate thought echoed once more. "I can sense that you too are fighting against the 'shadow' within you (referring to the remnants of demonic soul power)...helping me is also helping yourself..."

"I am doubly bound by the residual power of the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Seal' and the seal of this place's ley lines, and cannot break free on my own. If those demonic offspring succeed, my power will become part of their evil plan, and will also exacerbate the harm to this world."

"I can pass on to you my last remaining trace of primordial dragon energy, along with fragments of memories about the 'True Dragon Body Forging Technique' and the 'Ancient Dragon Language Symbols,' to help you fight against the 'Shadow' within you and strengthen your 'Dragon' power. In exchange... please, with your 'Annihilation' power, combined with my guidance, destroy the last sealing node left by the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Seal' at the core of my spine, so that my lingering will may be released and return to heaven and earth, rather than be devoured by demons."

A series of messages, accompanied by intense emotions, flooded into Lu Zhao's consciousness. He understood. This was the lingering will of an ancient, orthodox dragon named "Jin Hui" (the self-proclaimed name transmitted through his mind). Its enemy was none other than the "Soul-Devouring Demon Lord." And the "Soul-Devouring Demon Lord's" forces were indeed carrying out a massive conspiracy to collect and refine the remnants of ancient powerful souls, with "Dragon's Roar Valley" being merely one link in the chain.

The deal proposed by "Golden Radiance" was undoubtedly incredibly attractive to Lu Zhao. The Primal Dragon Qi could further enhance his "Sleeping Dragon Qi" and "Extinction Dragon Qi"; the "True Dragon Body Forging Technique" and "Ancient Dragon Language Talismans" were priceless treasures, greatly benefiting his future body refinement and talismanic arts. Moreover, destroying the "Soul-Devouring Demon Seal" node would not only help "Golden Radiance" achieve liberation but also thwart the "Soul-Devouring Demon Lord's" conspiracy, representing both liberation and confrontation for Lu Zhao himself.

However, the risks are equally enormous. Destroying the "Soul-Devouring Demon Seal" node will inevitably trigger a powerful backlash, potentially alerting the "Soul-Devouring Demon Lord" or his forces. Furthermore, is the lingering resentment of "Golden Radiance" entirely trustworthy? Could it be concealing other methods during the transfer of power or the breaking of the seal?

"I swear by my remaining dragon soul essence, I have uttered no falsehoods or malice." Seemingly sensing Lu Zhao's hesitation, "Golden Radiance's" will resonated once more, tinged with bitterness. "I am already a scattering soul, my only obsession being to prevent my power from falling into the hands of my enemies and to return safely. The 'Annihilation' power within you is the key to breaking that demonic seal, and the only power that gives me hope."

Lu Zhao remained silent for a moment, then quickly communicated with Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing in his mind (briefly conveying his thoughts through divine sense). The two elders also felt that the matter was of great importance, but they also believed that this was an opportunity to understand the conspiracy of the "Soul Devouring Demon Lord" and possibly help Lu Zhao resolve the hidden dangers.

"This disciple is willing to give it a try." Lu Zhao finally made his decision, "But please fulfill part of your promise first, senior, and pass on to me the basics of the 'True Dragon Body Forging Technique' and a 'Dragon Language Ancient Talisman' as verification, and point out the exact location of the 'Soul Devouring Demon Seal' node and the key to breaking it."

"Okay." A hint of relief flickered in "Jin Hui's" mind.

The next moment, a gentle yet pure golden dragon energy, mixed with two streams of profound information, surged from the dragon's spine and slowly flowed into Lu Zhao's body and sea of ​​consciousness. Simultaneously, a clear image, marking an extremely hidden "node" at the core of the dragon's spine, entwined with jet-black demonic runes, along with key points on how to break it using the power of annihilation, was also transmitted.

Lu Zhao focused intently, receiving and digesting this information. He could feel the golden dragon energy having an excellent nourishing effect on his body, and the "Sleeping Dragon Technique" was automatically accelerating its operation. The basic chapters of the "True Dragon Body Forging Technique" and the ancient talisman-drawing method called "Dragon Scale Shield" particularly impressed him, confirming their extraordinary value.

"Senior, I'm ready." A moment later, Lu Zhao opened his eyes, his gaze becoming incredibly firm.

"Thank you." Jin Hui felt a sense of relief.

Lu Zhao stood up, walked to the section of dark gold dragon spine, extended his right hand, joined his index and middle fingers together, and gathered all the annihilation spiritual power that had just recovered in his body, along with the origin of the dragon-shaped mark, the aura of the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale, and the key points of deciphering taught by "Golden Radiance" at his fingertips.

"Nirvana Finger - Break Seal!"

He let out a low shout and pointed sharply at the marked "node" on the dragon's spine, which was entwined with dark magic patterns!