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

The deathly silence in the camp lasted for a few breaths, then erupted into cheers of relief! The gazes of everyone looking at Lu Zhao were filled with indescribable gratitude and awe. If it weren't for Lu Zhao tonight, this newly established "Wang An Ju" would likely have become a living hell.

Master Zhao strode forward, looking at the corpse of the heretical sorcerer on the ground and the stiff, refined corpse beside it. Still shaken, he bowed deeply to Lu Zhao: "Young friend Lu… no, brave warrior Lu! Tonight, it was entirely thanks to your heroic efforts that we were saved from dire straits! On behalf of all the villagers, I thank you for saving my life!"

Everyone gathered around and expressed their heartfelt gratitude.

Lu Zhao waved his hand, suppressing the surging blood and the dizziness from excessive exertion, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, there's no need for formalities. I'm just trying to save myself. The most urgent thing is to get rid of these filthy things, strengthen our defenses, and prevent any accomplices."

His words calmed everyone down. Under Lu Zhao's command, several brave young men wrapped their hands with branches and rags, dragged the sorcerer's corpse and the two reanimated corpses to a leeward spot away from the camp and the stream, dug a deep pit to bury them, and sprinkled lime (a small amount of minerals found in the cave) to disinfect them.

Lu Zhao carefully inspected the battlefield, collecting the fallen [damaged soul-summoning bell], the three [yin talismans] with strange runes, and the thin [“Records of Corpse Raising”].

[Damaged Soul-Summoning Bell (Quality: Rough)]

[Effect: Slightly amplifies the effects of mental spells (currently damaged, effects greatly reduced). Can attract and weakly control low-level spirits.]

[Status: Durability 3/15]

[Yin Fu (Quality: Rough)]

[Effect: Consumable. Can be activated by infusing mental energy, releasing a Yin-based attack or setting up a simple Yin-based trap.]

【The Corpse Raising Chronicles (Special Item)】

[Description: This text records rudimentary methods of corpse refining and soul control, containing some knowledge of the application of Yin energy. Reading requires a certain level of mental resistance; otherwise, one is easily susceptible to the corrosive influence of Yin energy. (Warning: These methods are mostly heretical and harmful to the natural order; use with caution!)]

Looking at the panel's prompts, especially the warning about "The Record of Corpse Raising," Lu Zhao understood. These items were spoils of war, but they also contained risks. He didn't plan to cultivate these evil arts for the time being, but perhaps he could learn some weaknesses of Yin spirits and corpse refining from them, or find a way to deal with [Soul Cores].

Back in his hut, Lu Zhao first used the [Turtle Breathing Technique] and [Refining Spirit Technique] to recover. The attribute boost from upgrading to level 4 significantly increased his recovery speed.

Name: Lu Zhao

[Level: 4 (20/400)]

[Attributes: Strength: 1.0, Constitution: 0.9, Agility: 1.1, Spirit: 2.7 (+0.2 per level)]

[Skills: Turtle Breathing Technique (Beginner) Lv2 (15/200); Spirit Refining Technique (Beginner) Lv2 (5/200)]

Strength and agility have finally broken through the 1-point barrier, resulting in a qualitative leap in overall physical attributes. Divine attribute has also increased to 2.7, and mental strength has become even more robust.

After recovering, he took out the book "Miscellaneous Records of Corpse Raising". He did not read the contents directly, but tried to protect his mind with the [Refining Spirit Technique], and then concentrated his mind to "perceive" the "information flow" contained in the book itself.

Sure enough, the panel reacted again:

[A vessel containing special knowledge, "The Record of Corpse Raising," has been discovered. Do you wish to spend 150 experience points to extract pure information regarding "the essence of Yin Sha Qi," "the weaknesses of low-level Yin Souls," and "the processing of basic materials"? (Note: This operation will not yield specific cultivation methods, only extracting basic cognitive principles.)]

Extracting only the principles, without learning the unorthodox methods? That's great!

Lu Zhao immediately confirmed. His experience points decreased by 150 points, becoming (20/400). At the same time, a surge of basic knowledge about the characteristics of Yin Sha Qi, the weaknesses of Yin Souls, and how to process materials containing Yin Qi (such as Soul Cores) using specific methods flooded into his mind like a sudden enlightenment.

Although it was only about the principle without specific steps, it had already given him a sudden insight!

"I see! The Yin energy within the soul core needs to be 'purified' or 'neutralized' with Yang energy or pure spiritual power to remove its violent impurities before it can be safely absorbed to nourish the soul or enhance cultivation! Direct absorption will only pollute one's own spiritual power!"

He immediately took out a broken soul core and, using the knowledge he had just acquired, activated the Refining Spirit Technique, slowly injecting a pure and peaceful spiritual energy into the soul core.

This time, it was no longer rejection! Mental energy, like a fine net, seeped in and began to carefully peel away and neutralize the chaotic and violent Yin energy within the soul core.

The process was slow, requiring a high degree of focus and control. A full quarter of an hour passed before Lu Zhao felt the aura within his soul core become much gentler and more peaceful, and the unsettling chill was greatly reduced.

[Successfully purified 'Broken Soul Core' x1!]

[Received: 1 Pure Soul Power Fragment]

[Pure Soul Power Fragments: Can be directly absorbed by spiritual power to enhance divine attributes or accelerate spiritual power recovery.]

Become!

Lu Zhao was overjoyed and immediately absorbed the purified fragment of soul power. A pure and cool energy flowed into his sea of ​​consciousness and was rapidly refined by the [Refining Spirit Technique].

[Absorbing pure soul power fragments, divine attributes receive a slight boost!]

[God: 2.7 → 2.75!]

[Refining Spirit Technique (Beginner) Experience +10!]

Although it only increased by 0.05, this means a stable path to improvement! As long as he has enough soul cores and purification abilities!

He followed the same method, purifying and absorbing the remaining two soul cores. His divine attribute increased to 2.8, and his [Divine Refinement Technique] experience rose to Lv2 (25/200).

Feeling a significant increase in his spiritual power, Lu Zhao's confidence soared. This crisis, though perilous, had brought him immense gains: a level increase, attribute growth, experience in dealing with malevolent spirits, and most importantly, the discovery of a method to utilize soul cores!

However, amidst the joy, a lingering worry arose in my heart.

Why would that evil sorcerer target this remote valley? What does he mean by "a place of spiritual beauty"? Is there something special about this "Wang Anju"? Was his mention of "accomplices" before his death just a bluff, or was there some truth to it?

This seemingly idyllic valley is probably not as peaceful as it appears.