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

Inside the cave, the sound of water still roared, and water mist filled the air.

Lu Zhao sat cross-legged on the dry sand, far from the pool, his eyes closed, his face still pale, but his breathing was no longer as erratic and desperate as before. The medicinal power of several healing pills dissolved within his body, working in conjunction with the circulation of the "Silent Annihilation Heavenly Art" to slowly and steadily repair his damaged meridians and internal organs. Although the Silent Dragon Qi was almost completely depleted, it was gradually regenerating and gathering under the stimulation of the technique.

The life-or-death struggle with the Azure-Eyed Mystic Water Lizard, though brief, was extremely perilous. Lu Zhao not only exhausted his spiritual energy but also suffered significant physical injuries, especially from the aftershock of the demonic beast's giant tail striking his back, breaking three ribs and causing internal organ turmoil. Had his physique not been tempered by the Annihilation Dragon Qi and the True Dragon Body Tempering Technique, far surpassing that of cultivators of the same level, that attack would likely have taken half his life.

However, crisis also presents opportunity. Under extreme pressure, his control over the Annihilation Dragon Qi seemed to have become even more adept. Especially the final finger strike, which gathered all his strength and pierced through the Azure Eye Xuan Shui scales, brought the "annihilation" and "erosion" characteristics of the Annihilation Dragon Qi to their extreme. Now, calmly reflecting, he seemed to have gained a slightly more vague understanding of the true meaning of the word "annihilation." The newly generated Annihilation Dragon Qi in his meridians also seemed to be slightly more condensed and purer than before.

The experience of forcibly squeezing out potential and nearly overdrawing it at the brink of death, though painful, also seemed to break through an invisible barrier. The feeling of loosening the bottleneck of the late Foundation Establishment stage became increasingly apparent, and one could even faintly touch the membrane leading to the peak of Foundation Establishment. However, with severe injuries and an unknown environment, it was by no means a good opportunity for a breakthrough.

After about an hour of recuperation, Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes. Although there was still fatigue in his eyes, they had regained their clarity and sharpness. He assessed his condition; his injuries had stabilized by about 30-40%, his broken bones were beginning to heal under the nourishment of spiritual energy, and the newly formed Annihilation Dragon Qi had recovered to about 20%. His combat strength had barely recovered to 30-40% of its previous level. He could still deal with ordinary Qi Refining cultivators or first-tier demonic beasts, but if he encountered a peak second-tier demonic beast like the Azure-Eyed Profound Water Lizard, he would only have the option of fleeing for his life.

"Senior, you're awake?" Chen Bai, who had been keeping watch by Lu Zhao's side, quickly whispered as he saw Lu Zhao open his eyes, handing him a simple water cup made of rolled-up large leaves filled with clear pool water. "Have some water. Everyone has had their injuries treated and is resting after drinking some water."

Lu Zhao took the water and drank it all in one gulp. The cool pool water, with a hint of sweetness, moistened his parched throat. His gaze swept across the sandy ground; seventy or eighty people were either sitting or lying down, most looking exhausted, but the utter despair they had shown before was gone, replaced by a sense of relief at surviving a disaster and gratitude and dependence on him. The most seriously injured had been given simple bandages and treatment by others, and their breathing had become much more stable.

"Well done." Lu Zhao nodded to Chen Bai, struggling to get up, but the movement aggravated his back injury, causing him to frown slightly.

"Senior, your injuries haven't healed yet, you should rest more..." Chen Bai quickly helped him up.

"It's alright, we shouldn't stay here any longer." Lu Zhao stood up with Chen Bai's help, his gaze falling on the roaring waterfall and the deep pool. "Although the Azure-Eyed Mystic Water Lizard was severely injured and escaped, it may not be dead. Monsters hold grudges, and this is its lair. It's hard to guarantee it won't return or attract other things. We must find a way out as soon as possible."

"Yes." Chen Bai's expression turned serious, and he quickly replied.

Supported by Chen Bai, Lu Zhao slowly walked through the cave, carefully observing it. Although the cave was spacious, apart from the passageway they had entered through and the outlet on the other side of the pool whose destination was unknown, there seemed to be no other obvious exits. The rock walls were steep, slippery, and covered with moss, making them difficult to climb.

His gaze finally settled on the roaring waterfall.

The waterfall is several meters wide, with rapid currents. It pours down from a crevice in a rock wall that is tens of meters high, crashing into a deep pool and splashing up a thick curtain of water, obscuring the rock wall behind the waterfall.

Lu Zhao's heart stirred, and he gestured for Chen Bai to help him get closer. He gathered a faint wisp of divine sense and carefully peered through the thick curtain of water, peering behind the waterfall.

The air was thick with moisture, interfering with his spiritual senses and making the investigation quite difficult. But after a moment, a glint of light flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes.

really!

Behind the waterfall, hidden by the curtain of water, on the rock wall about two or three zhang above the water, there was an inconspicuous, sloping natural fissure! The fissure was several feet wide and high enough for a person to bend over and pass through. Its interior was deep and dark, and its destination was unknown. Most importantly, Lu Zhao's divine sense detected that from the depths of that fissure, a faint, fragrant air carrying the scent of grass and trees was slowly flowing out, mixing with the water vapor from the waterfall.

"It's a passage! An upward passage!" Chen Bai followed Lu Zhao's gaze and vaguely saw the shadow behind the water curtain, his face showing joy.

Lu Zhao nodded, but his brow remained furrowed. The passage had been found, but new problems had arisen.

This passage was hidden behind the waterfall, extremely well-preserved; had he not possessed extraordinary divine sense and deliberately explored it, he would have been virtually impossible to discover. This meant it might be a little-known, or even unexplored, path. The passage was narrow, rugged, slippery, and completely unknown; whether it concealed other dangers was anyone's guess. Did the Azure-Eyed Water Lizard know of this passage? Could it use it as a flanking maneuver to attack?

However, if they abandoned this passage and returned the way they came... Lu Zhao recalled the violent teleportation, the bronze giant door beneath the "Dragon Bone Hill" that could be smashed open at any moment, the chaos caused by the "Nine Netherworld Summoning Array" on the surface, and the Blood Bone Old Demon who might still be searching for them... Returning the way they came would be equally risky, and almost certainly a dead end.

Weighing two evils...

Just as Lu Zhao was pondering and weighing the pros and cons of the two paths, the "Oath of the Reverse Scale" in his arms suddenly trembled slightly without warning.

No, it wasn't just the "Pact of Reverse Scales". The newly formed, barely recovered trace of the dormant dragon energy within him also seemed to be stirred by something, causing it to stir slightly.

Lu Zhao's expression suddenly hardened, and he abruptly turned his head, his gaze sharp as lightning, staring intently into the deep, calm pool where traces of the Azure-Eyed Black Water Lizard's blood still lingered.

Just now, as he was fully focused on regulating his breathing and immersing his mind in his body, he seemed to vaguely sense a very faint, fleeting, strange fluctuation emanating from the deepest part of the pool. That fluctuation seemed to resonate slightly with the "Pact of the Reverse Scale" and his own annihilating dragon energy!

This resonance was extremely subtle. If he hadn't just focused on regulating his breathing, and his mind, cultivation technique, and the "Reverse Scale Pact" weren't in their most intimate and sensitive state, coupled with the pervasive moisture and unique spiritual energy of this place, he probably wouldn't have been able to detect it at all.

"Is there something at the bottom of the pool?" Lu Zhao's eyes flickered, and countless thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.

The thing that can resonate with the "Pact of Reverse Scales" and the annihilation dragon energy must be related to the dragon race! Could it be that beneath this pool lies a place related to the ruins of the ancient dragon race? Or perhaps, what treasure related to the dragon race is hidden in the nest of this Azure-Eyed Mystic Water Lizard? Or maybe... this pool itself is some kind of ley line node, with a faint trace of dragon energy remaining?

Although the fluctuation was faint, the ancient and boundless aura it contained was undeniable. It bore a resemblance to the strange aura emanating from behind the bronze gate, yet it seemed even more…pure?

Should we risk diving into this icy pool, whose depths are unknown and may harbor injured monsters, or should we immediately lead everyone away through the passage behind the waterfall?

Lu Zhao's gaze swept back and forth between the deep pool and the roaring waterfall.