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

Cold, deathly silent, and boundless darkness, mixed with an overwhelming, nauseating stench of blood, violence, and resentment, and a heavy sense of decay and nothingness. This was Lu Zhao's last perception before his consciousness sank after being swallowed by the dark rift.

He felt his body and soul being torn apart and crushed by an irresistible force, then thrown into a void passage filled with chaos and destruction. Time and space lost their meaning here; there was only endless falling and fragments of bizarre and terrifying scenes flashing by—rolling seas of blood, wailing vengeful spirits, hideous demonic shadows, and… the occasional fleeting silhouette of an enormous black shadow.

Throughout this terrifying journey, his consciousness oscillated between utter darkness (dominated by the demonic soul) and a faint gray flame (his own will and the dragon-shaped imprint). Within him, the loosened demonic soul seal, stimulated by the environment filled with the same demonic energy, became even more active, frantically assaulting his remaining defenses, attempting to completely assimilate and devour his self.

The dragon-shaped mark between his brows and the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale he clutched tightly in his hand emitted an increasingly intense gray-gold light, creating a peculiar resonance and conflict with the surrounding "Nine Nether" aura. The primordial dragon energy bestowed by "Golden Radiance" seemed to ignite in this environment, continuously nourishing and strengthening his crumbling body and soul.

"Is this... 'Nine Netherworlds'?" A thought flashed through the chaotic consciousness.

I don't know how much time passed—perhaps a moment, perhaps eternity. Suddenly, a different light appeared in the darkness ahead.

It was a vast, isolated island suspended in the boundless, blood-red void. The island possessed a deathly gray-black hue, devoid of any vegetation, only countless enormous, grotesque skeletons and fragments of broken, rusted weapons. At the island's center, a far larger, tomb-like structure constructed of black rock could be vaguely discerned.

The source of the intense tremors within Lu Zhao's dragon-shaped mark and reverse scale came from that "tomb"! Simultaneously, a dragon's might, entirely different from the "golden radiance," yet equally ancient, weathered, and filled with endless desolation and sorrow, permeated the entire isolated island.

"boom!"

Lu Zhao's body, like a shooting star, passed through a thin layer of gray light membrane around the island, which seemed to isolate the blood and evil from the outside world, and crashed heavily into a pile of huge bones at the edge of the island, stirring up a cloud of dust.

"Pfft!" The violent impact caused him to spit out another mouthful of blood mixed with black blood and golden light spots. Countless bones in his body were broken, and his internal organs were displaced. But strangely, although the air here was cold and deathly still, it did not have the dense bloodthirsty demonic energy of the outside world. Instead, there was an aura that made the annihilation power within him feel "comfortable".

He lay amidst the pile of shattered bones, unable to move for the time being. His consciousness, sharpened by the excruciating pain and the frenzied conflict between two forces within him, became clearer and more dangerous than ever before.

"Is this... a 'Dragon Tomb of Annihilation' in the 'Nine Netherworlds'?" A thought surfaced from the fragmented memories gifted by "Golden Radiance". Legend has it that after the fall of the "Nine Netherworld Evil Dragon" clan, their remaining power of annihilation and dragon soul would sometimes form something like a "Dragon Tomb" in certain special places in the "Nine Netherworlds", becoming their final resting place and final destination.

The aura here is the same as the annihilating dragon energy within him; perhaps... it offers a glimmer of hope?

However, the crisis within his body was not resolved. The demonic soul's will, stimulated by the spatial passage, had become even stronger and more frenzied. It seemed uneasy and disgusted by the aura of this "Silent Dragon Tomb," and was even more eager to completely possess this body and escape.

"Devoure...this body...leave..." A demonic thought, filled with greed and violence, relentlessly assaulted Lu Zhao's consciousness.

"No... I am Lu Zhao... my body... my life..." The weak but tenacious will of self struggled to resist under the protection of the gray flames emanating from the dragon-shaped mark.

Just then, the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale, which he had been tightly gripping, suddenly flew out of his hand and hovered before Lu Zhao's chest, emitting a soft and stable gray-gold light that enveloped him. Within the light, a clearer and more vast annihilating dragon's might spread out, and at the same time, a fragmented thought, filled with endless vicissitudes and sorrow, slowly flowed into Lu Zhao's sea of ​​consciousness.

"Those who come after... possess the very essence and resentment of our race... yet are tainted by the filth of 'Soul Devouring'..."

"This place is a pure land that I carved out with my last strength before my demise, which can temporarily isolate it from the blood and evil influences of the outside world. However, the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Seed' in your body has become deeply entangled with your soul. If it is not resolved, it will eventually assimilate into you, or... you will be devoured by it."

"My time is running out, my remaining spirit is about to dissipate. Two paths are now before you to choose from."

"Firstly, I will use my last strength to help you suppress the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Seed' and temporarily seal it. You can use the energy here to heal your wounds and find an opportunity to leave the 'Nine Netherworlds' after you have recovered. However, this method is only a temporary solution and does not address the root cause. The demon seed still exists and will surely become a scourge again in the future."

"Secondly..." The thought paused, becoming even more solemn, "I will pass on to you the last remaining wisp of primordial dragon energy of annihilation and the core mysteries of the *Nine Nether Annihilation Scripture* (the Foundation Establishment chapter complete, the Golden Core chapter introductory). Use these as a guide to actively direct the power of the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Seed' within your body, using your body as a furnace and my primordial annihilation as fire, to attempt to... refine and fuse it!"

"This method is extremely dangerous, with no chance of survival! The power of the 'Soul Devouring Demon Lord' is unpredictable and domineering. Even a wisp of demonic seed is beyond your current control. During the refining process, the slightest carelessness will result in your soul being completely devoured by the demonic thoughts, or being blasted to pieces by the conflict between the two forces. Even if you succeed, you will no longer be a pure human or a dragon, but an unprecedented existence filled with unknowns and dangers."

"However, if you succeed, you will not only be able to relieve the danger of the 'Soul-Devouring Demon Seed,' but also transform its power into your own, truly embarking on a path that is uniquely yours, a fusion of 'annihilation' and 'devouring.' The future... is limitless, and... unpredictable."

"Choose, you who come after. Time... is running out."

The heavy thoughts vanished, leaving only the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale hovering silently, awaiting Lu Zhao's decision.

Lu Zhao lay amidst shattered bones, his consciousness wavering between excruciating pain and two drastically different futures.

Option one offers temporary safety, but the hidden dangers remain. The future will still be shrouded in the shadow of the "Soul-Devouring Demon Lord," and he may never be able to leave this "Nine Netherworlds," or he may face even greater danger and pursuit after leaving.

Option two is a gamble with a slim chance of survival, or even certain death. But if successful, he will truly control his own destiny, possess the power to fight against the "Soul Devouring Demon Lord" and his forces, and have the possibility of exploring higher paths.

In my mind, flashes of helplessness in Qingfeng Town, struggle in the Cloud Sea Secret Realm, bloody battle in the Blackwater Swamp, desolation in "Dragon's Roar Valley," and the despair of being powerless and about to be devoured by demonic thoughts on the altar just now...

He didn't want to run anymore. He didn't want to be controlled by fate, by others, or by the dangerous force within him.

"My fate...my path..." With a struggle and the last vestiges of his will, he forced a hoarse voice, "I choose...the second path."

"Refine...fuse!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Nether Dragon's Reverse Scale suddenly shone brightly! A pure, extremely refined gray-gold dragon aura, filled with the most primal will of annihilation, surged forth from the Reverse Scale like a torrent, pouring into Lu Zhao's body! At the same time, an even more profound and mysterious passage from the *Nine Nether Annihilation Scripture*, along with its cultivation secrets, was directly imprinted into the depths of his soul!

"Roar!" The demonic soul within seemed to sense a deadly danger, letting out a furious roar and frantically attacking the seal, trying to stop it all.

"With my body as the furnace, with annihilation as the fire, I will refine all demons, and become the sole ruler!" The ancient dragon soul's will transformed into a final, low murmur before vanishing completely.

The next moment, Lu Zhao felt as if his body had transformed into a raging furnace! The primordial dragon energy of annihilation, as the most intense flame, rose from every corner of his dantian, meridians, and sea of ​​consciousness, frantically burning and refining everything within his body!

The first thing to be affected was the loosened demonic soul seal and the "Soul-Devouring Demon Seed" power contained within it! The pitch-black demonic energy hissed under the scorching flames of annihilation, constantly being refined and decomposed, and then forcibly guided by Lu Zhao's will to slowly merge with his own annihilation spiritual power, blood, and soul!

"Ah—!!" An indescribable pain erupted from every corner of his body and soul! It was a pain more terrifying than being slowly sliced ​​to death or having his soul extracted and refined! His body convulsed violently, and the blood vessels under his skin burst repeatedly, only to be barely healed by the powerful life force and dragon energy, before bursting again! In his sea of ​​consciousness, the mad roars and venomous curses of the demonic soul intertwined with the burning sound of the flames of annihilation, constantly assaulting his will, which was on the verge of collapse.

"I cannot give up... I am Lu Zhao... I must take control of... my power..."

"My fate...is in my own hands!"

On the edge of boundless pain and destruction, that core belief of "my fate is in my own hands" shines again like a lighthouse in a storm, becoming more steadfast and brilliant than ever before!

He deliberately released a portion of his suppression of the "Soul-Devouring Demon Seed," guiding the Annihilation Flame to refine it in a more frenzied and domineering way! At the same time, he began to circulate the introductory techniques of the Golden Core chapter of the "Nine Nether Annihilation Scripture," attempting to reshape the foundation of his cultivation technique in this process of destruction and rebirth, forcibly blending the mysteries of "annihilation" and "devouring" together!

This is a frenzied dance on the edge of life and death, an ultimate battle with oneself, with one's demonic soul, and with fate.

Success means rebirth from the ashes, opening up a completely new path.

Defeat means the soul will be scattered and become just another wisp of soul and withered bones in this "Silent Dragon Tomb".

Time lost its meaning here. Only the gray-gold light and the pitch-black demonic energy intertwined, collided, annihilated, and merged, along with Lu Zhao's life flame, which was about to be extinguished yet stubbornly burned.