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

After leaving "Dragon's Roar Valley," the grayish-white mist seemed to have thinned considerably, and the chilling aura of "Dragon's Resentment" lingering in the air had almost dissipated. Lu Zhao, Elder Yun, and Elder Tie Xing dared not linger for a moment, and quickly headed towards the location of Elder Xuanjizi and the sect's main force, following the pre-arranged route.

Throughout the journey, all three remained highly vigilant. Although the remnant dragon soul of "Golden Radiance" had dissipated, the henchmen of the "Soul Devouring Demon Lord"—the withered old man and others—were injured and retreated, and it was possible they might return or be secretly monitoring them. Lu Zhao pushed his spiritual sense and perception to their limits, while simultaneously sorting through the vast amount of information "Golden Radiance" had bestowed upon him, especially regarding the surrounding environment of "Dragon Bone Canyon" and possible signs of activity from the "Soul Devouring Demon Lord's" forces.

Several hours later, the three arrived safely at Elder Xuanjizi's temporary camp. The camp was located in a secluded mountain valley, concealed by simple array formations. At this moment, no fewer than thirty Qingyun Sect disciples had gathered in the camp, their cultivation levels ranging from mid-Qi Refining to early Foundation Establishment, led by several inner sect deacons in the mid-to-late Foundation Establishment stages. Elder Xuanjizi sat cross-legged on a blue stone in the center of the camp, his expression calm, listening to a report from one of the deacons.

Upon seeing Lu Zhao and the other two return, and noting that their auras were completely different from when they left (Lu Zhao's cultivation had clearly improved, and Elder Yun and Elder Tie Xing also carried a hint of the sharpness that came with battle), Elder Xuanjizi's eyes flashed, and he raised his hand to signal the reporting steward to pause.

"So? What exactly happened in 'Dragon's Roar Valley'?" Elder Xuanji asked bluntly.

Elder Yun stepped forward and briefly recounted Lu Zhao's experiences in Dragon Roar Valley: the ambush by the Soul Devouring Demon Lord's henchmen, his entrapment in the Dragon's Lament Illusion, Lu Zhao's communication with the ancient dragon soul remnant "Golden Radiance" and his discovery of the "Ten Thousand Dragons Devouring the Heavens Formation" conspiracy, his eventual assistance to "Golden Radiance" in achieving liberation, receiving its gift, and breaking through his cultivation level. She only vaguely touched upon details such as the dragon-shaped mark within Lu Zhao's body and the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale, emphasizing instead the schemes of the Soul Devouring Demon Lord and the terror of the "Ten Thousand Dragons Devouring the Heavens Formation."

"...The dying words of the dragon soul 'Golden Radiance' were that once the 'Ten Thousand Dragons Devouring the Heavens Formation' is activated, it will be enough to devour the dragon vein energy and endless living souls of the entire Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, with unimaginable consequences. And the core of the formation is very likely deep within the 'Dragon Bone Canyon.' This information is of utmost importance!" Elder Yun concluded, his tone extremely solemn.

As soon as she finished speaking, the entire temporary camp fell into a deathly silence. All the disciples and stewards were shocked by this horrifying news. They might have heard of the "Soul-Devouring Demon Lord," but the "Ten Thousand Dragons Devouring the Heavens Formation," an evil formation that sacrificed an entire world, was far beyond their previous imagination in terms of scale and harm. Even Elder Xuanjizi frowned deeply, his knuckles tapping lightly on the bluestone as he fell into deep thought.

"Is the information reliable?" After a moment, Elder Xuanjizi looked at Lu Zhao with eyes as sharp as lightning, as if he could see through his soul.

Lu Zhao met Xuanjizi's gaze, neither humble nor arrogant, and said frankly, "Reporting to Elder Xuanjizi, I communicated with the dragon soul 'Golden Radiance' through my divine sense. The pain, resentment, and deep-seated hatred for the 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord' in its thoughts did not seem fake. The primordial dragon energy and memory fragments it bestowed also confirmed its identity as an ancient dragon. As for the information about the 'Ten Thousand Dragons Devouring the Heavens Formation,' it is the most profound obsession and warning in its lingering will, and should not be false. Moreover, when I broke the demonic seal here, I did indeed sense a trace of extremely distant but malicious demonic fluctuation, which seemed to be connected to some kind of vast and evil arrangement."

As he spoke, Lu Zhao took out a blank jade slip from his bosom (actually from the [human skin pocket]), and used his divine sense to imprint the fragmented description of the "Ten Thousand Dragons Devouring the Sky Array" given to him by "Golden Radiance", its characteristics, possible operation methods (extremely incomplete), as well as some terrain of "Dragon Bone Canyon", dangerous areas and possible activity characteristics of the "Soul Devouring Demon Lord" force, and respectfully handed it to Elder Xuanjizi.

Xuanjizi took the jade slip and immersed his divine sense in it, examining it carefully. The more he read, the more solemn his expression became. Although the information in the jade slip was fragmented, the principles of the formation, the characteristics of the required energy nodes, and the destructive aura it described all vaguely matched some ancient forbidden evil formations he knew. It was definitely not something a Qi Refining stage disciple could fabricate out of thin air. In particular, the characteristics mentioned about the combination of the "Soul Devouring Demon Seal" and the "Dragon Vein Resentment" made his heart sink.

"This matter... is of utmost importance." Elder Xuanjizi put down the jade slip and spoke slowly, his voice filled with unprecedented solemnity. "If what the 'Golden Radiance' dragon soul said is true, this is no longer a simple case of demonic remnants causing trouble, but a massive disaster that could affect the entire Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range and even several surrounding cultivation kingdoms. The 'Ten Thousand Dragons Devouring the Heavens Formation'... such an evil formation is only mentioned sporadically in the sect's ancient records. Every time it appears, it is accompanied by the devastation of life and the changing colors of the heavens and earth."

His gaze swept over everyone present: "Elder Yun, Elder Tie Xing, what do you think? And Lu Zhao, you had direct contact with that dragon soul, how did you feel?"

Elder Yun pondered for a moment and said, "This disciple believes that it's better to err on the side of caution than to dismiss this intelligence. We must immediately send this information back to the sect for the sect leader and the other elders to decide. At the same time, we should immediately organize a crack team to go to the outskirts of 'Dragon Bone Canyon' to conduct reconnaissance and confirmation. If the situation is true, we must stop the activation of the great formation at all costs!"

Elder Tie Xing also said in a gruff voice, "That's right! Sitting and waiting for death is not the solution. Now that we know where the array's core might be, we have to go and find out! However, 'Dragon Bone Canyon' is known as one of the three most dangerous places in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range. It is extremely perilous, and ordinary disciples would be sent to their deaths if they went in. The reconnaissance team must be composed of experts, and they must be fast!"

Lu Zhao also spoke up, "This disciple is willing to go. The memory fragments gifted by Senior 'Golden Radiance' contain paths and danger warnings for parts of 'Dragon Bone Canyon,' which may come in handy. Moreover, this disciple possesses the power of annihilation and is keenly aware of demonic energy, so perhaps I can detect the anomaly more quickly."

Elder Xuanjizi looked at Lu Zhao, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, but more so, consideration. Lu Zhao's performance had repeatedly exceeded his expectations, especially this time, his ability to communicate with the ancient dragon soul and gain its approval. This opportunity and temperament were extraordinary. However, the "Dragon Bone Canyon" was far too dangerous, and Lu Zhao was, after all, only at the seventh level of Qi Refining…

"This matter is of utmost importance and must be handled with utmost care." Xuanjizi finally made a decision. "Elder Tiexing, you immediately lead three Foundation Establishment disciples skilled in escape techniques to send the intelligence jade slip and my urgent communication talisman back to the sect as quickly as possible. Make sure to deliver them to the sect leader personally! Elder Yun, you and the other deacons immediately activate the 'Solidifying Vein and Sealing Spirit Array' (a temporary array to stabilize the earth's veins and prevent spiritual energy from leaking out) to seal off the area near 'Dragon Roar Valley' to prevent the demonic villains from using this place again, and be ready to provide support at any time."

"As for the reconnaissance of 'Dragon Bone Canyon'..." Xuanjizi's gaze fell on Lu Zhao, then looked at Elder Yun. "I will personally lead the team. Elder Yun, Lu Zhao, and two other disciples at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, skilled in concealment and formations, will form a five-person reconnaissance team. We will depart immediately to conduct preliminary confirmation of the outer perimeter of 'Dragon Bone Canyon.' Remember, our mission is reconnaissance and confirmation, to gather more intelligence. We must not engage the enemy unless absolutely necessary. Safety is paramount. If things become unbearable, we must retreat immediately!"

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison and immediately split up to take action. Elder Tie Xing selected three disciples, who transformed into four streaks of light and sped towards the Qingyun Sect. Elder Yun directed the other disciples to begin setting up the "Spirit Sealing and Meridian Strengthening Array." Elder Xuanjizi personally selected two seemingly calm and capable mid-Foundation Establishment disciples, a man and a woman. The man was named Zhao Ming, skilled in earth escape techniques and defensive formations; the woman was named Liu Qing, skilled in water and wood escape techniques and reconnaissance and concealment.

Soon, a five-person reconnaissance team consisting of Xuanjizi (mid-stage Golden Core), Elder Yun (early-stage Golden Core), Lu Zhao (seventh level of Qi Refining), Zhao Ming (mid-stage Foundation Establishment), and Liu Qing (mid-stage Foundation Establishment) quietly left the temporary camp and stealthily headed towards the "Dragon Bone Canyon".

"Dragon Bone Canyon" is located deeper in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, several days' journey from "Dragon Roar Valley". The deeper one goes, the more precipitous the mountains become, with ancient trees reaching for the sky, and the roars of monsters become more frequent and powerful. The savage atmosphere and faint smell of blood permeating the air make one's nerves tense.

Along the way, led by Elder Xuanjizi, the five of them tried their best to avoid powerful demonic beast groups and known dangerous areas. Relying on the fragmented information Lu Zhao obtained from "Golden Radiance's" memories, they chose a relatively "safe" path. Even so, they still encountered several attacks. There were swarms of poison dart frogs lurking in the swamp, man-eating demonic plants disguised as ancient vines, and the territories of several powerful demonic beasts that had reached the peak of the second tier, or even were comparable to the pseudo-core realm.

Fortunately, Elder Xuanjizi possessed profound cultivation, Elder Yun was experienced, and the two Foundation Establishment disciples, Zhao Ming and Liu Qing, cooperated tacitly. Although Lu Zhao's cultivation was the lowest, his strength greatly increased after breaking through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, especially his physical strength and blood energy. Combined with the [Flowing Cloud Step] and the increasingly refined [Annihilation Finger], he could play a significant role in restraining and finishing off enemies in battle. He even used the power of Annihilation to neutralize the demonic energy attacks spewed by monsters, which had corrosive or highly poisonous properties, several times.

Three days later, the five finally arrived at the outer edge of a massive mountain range shrouded in a thick, gray-black miasma. From afar, they could see the entrance to a terrifying, bottomless canyon, winding like the corpse of a dragon, nestled between two steep peaks that pierced the hazy sky like the fangs of a colossal beast. Even from a distance, a suffocating aura of desolation, death, and a mixture of intense resentment and the mingled might of dragons was palpable. At the canyon entrance, countless enormous, pale bones were scattered about—humanoid, animalistic, and some clearly belonging to dragon-like creatures—massive and twisted skeletal remains.

"That's the entrance to 'Dragon's Bone Canyon'." Elder Xuanjizi stopped, his face grave as he gazed at the dark canyon that seemed to devour everything. "It truly lives up to its reputation. The malevolent energy and death aura here far exceed those of 'Dragon's Roar Valley' by more than ten times. Everyone, be careful, conceal your presence, and let's approach slowly."

Just as the five were preparing to get closer and find a suitable observation and infiltration point, a sudden change occurred!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several jet-black, silent bone spikes shot out without warning from beneath a seemingly calm ground covered in pale bone fragments, heading straight for Lu Zhao and Liu Qing, who appeared to be the weakest in the group! These bone spikes were extremely fast, their tips flashing with a ghostly blue poisonous light, and they carried a chilling, necromantic aura!

"Watch out!" Elder Yun reacted the fastest, his Moonlight Sword flashing as he slashed at the bone spikes aimed at Lu Zhao. Elder Xuanjizi waved his sleeve, and an invisible force shattered all the bone spikes aimed at Liu Qing.

However, the attack did not stop. The ground, littered with bone fragments, suddenly bulged, and three skeletons, clad in tattered black robes with pale green soul flames flickering in their eye sockets, silently emerged, wielding bone swords. Even more terrifying, behind them, a massive bone dragon (not a real dragon, but the transformed form of some powerful lizard-like demon beast) slowly crawled out of the ground, its empty eye sockets fixedly "staring" at Lu Zhao and the others. Its jaws opened and closed, emitting a silent roar, and a terrifying undead pressure, reaching the third rank (equivalent to the early stage of the Golden Core realm), spread out unrestrainedly!

"Undead creatures! And a Tier 3 Bone Lizard Dragon!" Zhao Ming exclaimed, his expression changing. On the outskirts of this "Dragon Bone Canyon," they had actually encountered undead monsters equivalent to the Golden Core stage! Moreover, judging from the appearance of these skeletons and bone lizard dragons, it seemed... they weren't naturally formed; on their bones, one could vaguely see some dark, twisted demonic runes flickering!

"It's the work of the 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord'! They're using the death energy and dragon remains here to refine and control undead creatures!" Elder Xuanji's eyes flashed coldly as he instantly understood. This further confirmed "Golden Radiance's" intelligence; the "Soul Devouring Demon Lord's" influence had indeed infiltrated "Dragon Bone Canyon" and was carrying out some kind of evil scheme!

"Prepare for battle! A swift and decisive battle is needed to avoid alerting any potential enemies lurking deep within the canyon!" Elder Xuanjizi made a decisive move, unleashing the powerful aura of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator. A simple, ancient longsword radiating righteous energy appeared in his hand, its tip pointing directly at the third-tier bone lizard dragon!

Lu Zhao took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. Inside the [Human Skin Pocket], the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale trembled slightly, seemingly reacting in some peculiar way to the skeletal lizard dragon ahead and the aura permeating the deeper canyon.

A great battle is about to erupt! And this is only the beginning of the journey to "Dragonbone Canyon".