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

Before Lu Zhao finished speaking, more dark figures began to emerge in the churning demonic energy in the distance. They varied in size; some resembled the Iron Claw Eagle from before, some were like vultures, and some even looked like bizarre demonic beasts with rotting fleshy wings, corrupted by demonic energy. There were no fewer than dozens of them, and their eyes all gleamed with a crazed red light. Like flies that had smelled blood, they converged on the location of Lu Zhao's team.

"Walk!"

Without hesitation, Lu Zhao shouted and simultaneously unleashed several gray-gold finger strikes, blasting the two closest demonic birds into the air. Rotten blood and flesh splattered everywhere, temporarily halting the momentum of the demonic bird horde.

The squad members snapped out of their daze. The two captains reacted the fastest, flanking the Qi Refining stage scouts and turning to sprint towards Blackrock City. Lu Zhao stayed behind, retreating rapidly while continuously unleashing annihilation finger strikes, knocking down the demonic birds attempting to swoop down from the sky. His finger strikes were precise and deadly, containing annihilation power that had a strong restraining effect on demonic energy. Often, a single strike could severely injure or even kill a second-tier demonic bird, greatly slowing down the pursuit of the flock.

However, the demonic birds were numerous and fearless, relentlessly pursuing them like leeches. To make matters worse, the commotion seemed to have alerted the vanguard of the demonic tide on the ground; some of the faster demonic beasts had broken away from the main force and were flanking them.

"Retreat with all your might! Don't look back!" Lu Zhao urged again, while secretly activating the dark golden dragon energy within his body. A vast and heavy dragon might mixed with the intent of annihilation suddenly spread out from him.

Although this dragon's might wasn't as powerful as when it had intimidated the Yin Skeleton cultivators, it was surprisingly effective against these low-intelligence, instinct-driven demonized creatures. The leading demonic birds, struck by the dragon's might, froze, their eyes flashing red, revealing an instinctive fear, and their pursuit slowed. Some of the demonic birds behind were also affected, their formation becoming disordered.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the team pushed their speed to the limit, creating some distance between themselves and the flock of demonic birds.

As Lu Zhao fought and retreated, he pondered the "gaze" of the demonic figure. Had the demon sensed the dragon's might he was emitting? Or was it merely the fluctuations in spiritual energy from the battle that had caught its attention? If it was the former, then the demon's sensitivity to dragon's might was far beyond his expectations, which was definitely not a good thing.

Fortunately, the demonic shadow only seemed to glance at this side before making no further moves, continuing to drift very slowly toward Blackrock City, as if it had only glanced at it casually.

The group dared not linger for a moment, pushing their movement techniques to the limit as they fled desperately across the wilderness. Along the way, they encountered several small groups of scattered demonic creatures. They avoided them if possible, and if not, Lu Zhao or the two captains would swiftly deal with them without provocation.

Finally, as the sun was about to set, the majestic black walls of Blackrock City reappeared in view.

However, the scene before them plunged everyone's hearts into despair once again.

On the towering walls of Blackrock City, spiritual light now soared into the sky, countless runes swirling and flashing across the pale blue protective array. Behind the crenellations, countless fully armed cultivators stood, swords drawn, bows strung, their eyes fixed intently on the outside world. The city gates were already tightly shut, and the drawbridge hung high in the air.

Outside Blackrock City, about two or three miles from the city walls, scattered demonic beasts had already appeared! They roared and frantically charged at the city walls. Although temporarily blocked by the great array's light barrier, they continued their relentless attacks, creating ripples on the barrier. Further away, billowing smoke and dust indicated that even more demonic creatures were approaching.

The vanguard of the demonic tide has already arrived at the gates of Blackrock City! Faster than they anticipated!

"Open the formation! Let us in!" Captain Zhao took out a token, infused it with spiritual power, and shouted at the city wall.

The guards on the city wall clearly recognized them. Soon, the protective array's light barrier silently cracked open in front of them, allowing only one person to pass through. The group filed in, and the crack instantly closed, blocking a demonic wolf that was pouncing on from outside the light barrier.

Upon entering the city, a tense and ominous atmosphere immediately enveloped them. The streets were under control; ordinary people had long since been evacuated to the inner city or underground shelters. Only squads of fully armed city guards and cultivators patrolled back and forth, moving supplies and reinforcing defenses. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and tension.

As soon as Lu Zhao and his group entered the city, guards from the city lord's mansion immediately greeted them: "Senior Lu, Captain Zhao, the city lord has ordered that you all proceed to the council hall to report immediately!"

The group dared not delay and quickly headed to the city lord's mansion.

Inside the council hall, the atmosphere was even more somber than before. The Blackrock City Lord, several family heads, and the leaders of the merchant guild were all present, along with several imposing figures who were clearly independent cultivators or mercenary leaders from the city. Everyone wore a grim expression, and a sense of oppression permeated the air.

"How is the situation?" Lord Blackrock asked immediately upon seeing Lu Zhao and the others return.

Lieutenant Zhao stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and quickly and clearly reported the scale of the demonic tide, the movements of the demonic shadows, and the situation of being attacked by demonic birds and "watched" by demonic shadows. He concluded by saying, "...Fortunately, Senior Lu was brave enough to repel the demonic birds, allowing us to retreat unscathed. However, the vanguard of the demonic tide has already approached, and its speed is faster than expected!"

Upon hearing that the demonic tide numbered over ten thousand, mixed with a large number of demonized human corpses, and that the demonic shadows were indeed moving towards Blackrock City, the expressions on everyone's faces grew even more grim. When they heard that the demonic shadows seemed to be "watching" the location of Lu Zhao and the others, many people showed expressions of surprise and uncertainty, their eyes involuntarily glancing towards Lu Zhao.

The Blackrock City Lord frowned, pondered for a moment, and said to Lu Zhao, "Young friend Lu, you've worked hard. The reward will be paid later. What are your thoughts on the matter of that demonic shadow's 'gaze'?"

Lu Zhao had already prepared his explanation and calmly said, "This junior is not entirely sure either. Perhaps it was because our spiritual energy fluctuated greatly when we fought the demonic bird, attracting its attention. Or perhaps... it was because the cultivation technique I practiced had some restraint over demonic energy, thus causing it to sense something." He did not mention the dragon's might, only vaguely mentioning the special nature of his cultivation technique.

The crowd was skeptical, but with a formidable enemy at hand, they had no time to delve deeper. The Black Rock City Lord nodded and said in a deep voice, "The vanguard of the demonic tide has arrived; a great battle is imminent. Scouts report that the main force of the demonic tide will arrive at the city walls by tomorrow morning at the latest. Master Liu of the Xuantian Sword Sect and Fairy Bibo of the Yunmeng Sect will not arrive until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest. This means that Black Rock City will need to withstand the demonic tide's onslaught alone for at least half a day!"

"Gentlemen," he said, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, his voice resounding, "Blackrock City is our foundation, behind which lie tens of thousands of mortal compatriots and lower-level cultivators! The city stands, we stand; the city falls, we perish! I, the city lord, have decided to defend it with its walls and formations, depleting the demonic tide's strength while awaiting reinforcements! All cultivators, according to the previously assigned areas, shall perform their duties! Qi Refining cultivators will be responsible for operating the crossbows and catapults to attack mid- to long-range demons; Foundation Establishment cultivators will be divided into several teams, taking turns to scale the walls, clearing out powerful demons that break through the formations and approach the walls, and providing support to various locations as needed! Golden Core cultivators… I, the city lord, will personally oversee the central command, controlling the grand formation to deal with any unforeseen circumstances!"

He paused, then looked at Lu Zhao: "Young friend Lu, your cultivation is profound and your methods are extraordinary. Would you be willing to lead a team of Foundation Establishment cultivators to be responsible for the defense of a section of the western city wall? The western city wall is relatively flat, facing the desolate hills directly, where the pressure is greatest, and we urgently need experts to oversee it."

Lu Zhao thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "This junior will do his best." He had originally planned to stay in the city to observe the situation. The western city wall faced the demonic tide directly. Although it was dangerous, it was also the most likely place to get first-hand information, and even... if given the opportunity, he might be able to peek into the true nature of the demonic shadow.

"Good! With Young Friend Lu here, the western city wall is safe!" The Black Rock City Lord's spirits lifted, and he immediately ordered, "Immediately transfer the manpower and supplies Young Friend Lu needs to the western city! Everyone else, take your positions!"

The order was quickly relayed, and the entire Blackrock City sprang into action like a tightly wound machine.

Lu Zhao was led by a guard to the western section of the city wall. This section of the wall was about a hundred feet long, and more than two hundred cultivators were already stationed there. Among them were five Foundation Establishment cultivators, including himself, and the rest were all in the mid-to-late stages of Qi Refining. Crossbows, catapults, flaming oil, talismans, and other supplies were piled up behind the crenellations.

Lu Zhao briefly met the other four Foundation Establishment cultivators. Two of them were commanders of the Black Rock City Guard, both at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage; one was a weapon refiner from the "Hundred Weapons Pavilion" in the city, at the early Foundation Establishment stage, but skilled in wielding multiple magical artifacts; and the other was a lone cultivator at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, wielding a broadsword, with a deep and concentrated aura.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, the City Lord has ordered that you be fully responsible for the defense of this section of the city wall. We will certainly cooperate fully," said the guard commander surnamed Sun politely, but his eyes also held a scrutinizing look. After all, Lu Zhao looked too young. Although he was a disciple of the Earth Origin Sect and had high cultivation, whether he could win over the troops remained to be seen based on his actual performance.

Lu Zhao nodded without saying anything more, but walked to the city wall and looked out of the city.

At this moment, the last rays of the setting sun were being swallowed by darkness. In the distance, towards the desolate hills, the demonic energy grew even denser, almost dyeing half the sky in ink. The terrifying demonic shadows appeared and disappeared in the twilight, emitting an unsettling dark red glow. Beneath the city walls, scattered demonic beasts and demonic corpses tirelessly assaulted the array's protective barrier, producing muffled thuds. Further away, the deep rumbling grew closer, and the earth began to tremble slightly—the sound of thousands upon thousands of demonic creatures charging towards them.

The pungent, fishy stench and the chilling aura of demonic energy in the air grew stronger and stronger.

Lu Zhao could clearly feel that the hands of many Qi Refining stage cultivators around him were trembling slightly as they gripped their weapons, and their breathing had become heavy. Fear, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around everyone's heart.

He withdrew his gaze, looked at the tense and expectant cultivators around him, and slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears: "The demonic tide is approaching, are you all afraid?"

Everyone fell silent. Some people nodded subconsciously, then quickly lowered their heads again.

"Fear is normal," Lu Zhao said calmly. "I'm afraid too. I'm afraid of death, afraid of the city falling, afraid of my loved ones dying behind me."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "But fear won't solve the problem. The monsters won't stop because of your fear. Behind us are our homes, our families and friends, our last line of defense. Retreat means the entire city will perish; defend, and there's still a glimmer of hope."

"The formation is formidable, the city walls are high, and we are not fighting alone. Reinforcements from the Xuan Tian Sword Sect and the Yun Meng Sect are on their way and will arrive by tomorrow afternoon at the latest!" Lu Zhao's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable firmness. "Our mission is to hold this wall until the reinforcements arrive! To keep these filthy demons outside the city!"

"You may think I'm young, or you may not believe me," Lu Zhao's gaze sharpened, "but the disciples of the Earthly Origin Sect never fear battle! Today, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you all to defend this wall! If any demons dare to come, then—kill them!"

As soon as the word "kill" was uttered, a chilling killing intent mixed with a faint dragon's might rose from Lu Zhao's body. Although it was not domineering, it carried a resolute will to destroy everything and slay demons, instantly diluting the fear in the air.

Sensing this aura, the surrounding cultivators were all invigorated. The two guard commanders exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise and admiration flashing in their eyes. This Lu Zhao, so young, not only possessed profound cultivation, but his ability to boost morale and stabilize the army was also extraordinary.

"We are willing to follow Senior Lu and defend this wall together! Kill! Kill! Kill!" Someone shouted first, and then more and more voices joined in, forming a wave of resolute shouts, though not very orderly.

Lu Zhao said no more, turned around, and faced the approaching dark tide and terrifying demonic shadows outside the city, his eyes cold.

Night fell completely.

In the distance, the roars and surges of the demonic tide could be clearly heard, like a wave of death surging in.