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

That gaze was cold and viscous, filled with pure malice and destructive desire, yet also carrying a hint of cat-and-mouse playfulness and inquiry, as if examining a novel toy, or confirming some familiar yet strange aura.

Lu Zhao felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, his blood seemingly freezing in that instant. It wasn't just the terrifying pressure contained in that gaze, but also because… he seemed to sense a subtle yet undeniably real resonance within that gaze? Or perhaps, an attraction?

Yes, it's Dragon's Might! The dual dragon energy within him, though its nature is completely different from the demonic dragon aura of that shadowy figure—one being orthodox and vast (dark gold dragon energy), the other annihilation and destruction (annihilation dragon energy), and the other evil and chaotic—in essence, both belong to a higher level of "dragon" power! To that shadowy figure driven by the remnant soul of the "Nine Nether Demon Dragon," the dragon energy on his body is like a lighthouse in the night, a delicious and tempting lure, radiating an irresistible attraction!

"roar--!!!"

As if to confirm Lu Zhao's conjecture, the demonic shadow let out a roar completely different from before. This roar was no longer a meaningless howl, but carried a strange, commanding rhythm! The space rippled where the sound waves passed.

With that roar, the entire battlefield suddenly changed!

All the demons that had retreated and regrouped suddenly had a surge of chilling red light in their eyes! They no longer charged in a chaotic frenzy, but instead split into several distinct echelons. At the forefront were the thick-skinned, massive demonic beasts, like moving city walls, rhythmically and fearlessly ramming and tearing at the protective array's light barrier. Closely following were the swift demons capable of ranged attacks (such as spitting venom and releasing wind blades), concentrating their firepower on the array's weak points. Further back, the flying demonic birds, as if receiving a unified command, began to swarm, diving from the air, spewing demonic flames, hurling corrosive poison, or simply using their bodies as spears to crash into the light barrier!

The onslaught of the demonic tide instantly became organized and layered, its power increasing several times over! The protective array's light shield flickered violently at a speed visible to the naked eye, emitting a teeth-grinding "creaking" sound, as if it were about to shatter at any moment!

"The formation is about to collapse! Quick! Increase the spiritual energy input!" On the city wall, the formation master's roar was already tinged with sobs.

"All archers, aim at the aerial monsters! Prioritize eliminating flying units!"

"Foundation Establishment cultivators, move out of the formation! We must move out and clear out those massive entities that are ramming into the formation, relieving the pressure on it!"

On the city walls, shouts, screams, the clash of magical weapons, and the roars of demons filled the air, and the battle reached its climax.

The pressure on the western city wall where Lu Zhao was located was particularly immense! Under the "command" of the demonic shadow, more than 30% of the elite demons, including the lava demon rhinoceros that Lu Zhao had injured, as well as two other Foundation Establishment stage demonic beasts with auras no weaker than its own, and hundreds of other demons of various shapes, all turned around and launched a concentrated attack on Lu Zhao's location like a black torrent!

Clearly, the Shadow Demon not only noticed Lu Zhao, but also took "special care" of him!

"Senior Lu! Be careful!" Commander Sun and the others had just joined forces to kill a demonic tiger when they turned around and saw this terrifying scene. Their scalps tingled and they cried out in alarm.

Lu Zhao's eyes were icy, his mind racing. Being targeted by that demonic shadow was definitely not a good thing. But if they retreated now, this section of the city wall would undoubtedly fall, and the demonic tide would surge in unchecked, with unimaginable consequences. Moreover, the demonic shadow seemed to be limited by some reason (perhaps its initial fusion with the demonic body was not yet stable), unable to fight itself, and could only drive demons to attack. This might be an opportunity, at least an opportunity to figure out the demon's control methods and the weaknesses of the demonic tide!

"Form a circular formation! With me at the center, cover each other and retreat towards the gap in the formation while fighting!" Lu Zhao shouted, advancing instead of retreating, actively facing the surging tide of demonic energy! He could not retreat; if he did, the morale of the section of the city wall behind him would collapse instantly.

"Nirvana Domain, open!"

Lu Zhao roared, no longer holding back, and fully activated the Annihilation Dragon Qi. A strange, hazy force field, carrying the meaning of the end of all things and the annihilation of all laws, suddenly spread out from him, covering an area of ​​ten zhang in radius! This was the prototype of the domain that could be initially mastered in the Foundation Establishment stage, as recorded in the "Annihilation Heavenly Art"—the Annihilation Domain! Within this domain, all vitality, spiritual power, and even demonic energy would be suppressed and eroded by invisible forces, their operation would be sluggish, and their power would be greatly reduced.

The demons that rushed into the Domain of Annihilation slowed down instantly, the red light in their eyes dimmed, and their attacks became weak and ineffective. Lu Zhao, however, thrived within the domain, his speed and the power of his Annihilation Finger Technique increasing dramatically!

"kill!"

His figure moved like a ghost, weaving through the demonic tide. With each strike, a demon fell silently. The Lava Demon Rhino roared and charged, but its demonic flames were weakened by the Domain of Annihilation, slowing its movements slightly. Lu Zhao seized the opportunity, his figure flashing to avoid the horn's charge, and struck the crack in the horn where the fist's force had previously shattered it with a "Dragon Emperor of Annihilation Finger"!

"Crack!" A slight cracking sound rang out, and Lu Zhao actually snapped off the hard horn with a single finger! The Lava Demon Rhino let out a mournful howl, black blood gushing from the broken horn, and its aura plummeted.

Lu Zhao pressed his advantage relentlessly, lunging forward with all his might. He used his fists, palms, fingers, and legs in unison, his gray-gold and dark-gold lights intertwining. With the support of the Annihilation Domain, he unleashed the full power of the Annihilation Dragon Emperor Fist and Annihilation Finger, forcing the Lava Demon Rhino to retreat repeatedly. Its charred flesh exploded repeatedly, and demonic energy overflowed.

Commander Sun and his men were also in a frenzy of fighting. The four of them formed a battle formation, supporting each other, and moved along the edge of Lu Zhao's territory, desperately resisting the onslaught of other demons and relieving Lu Zhao of the pressure. The defenders on the city wall were also going all out, unleashing arrows, crossbow bolts, talismans, and flaming oil around Lu Zhao as if they were free, trying to clear out as many low-level demons as possible.

The battle was extremely fierce. Lu Zhao fought alone against three Foundation Establishment stage demonic beasts (including the heavily injured Lava Demon Rhino). With the aid of his Annihilation Domain, he gained a significant advantage, but his own consumption was also extremely high, and the Annihilation Dragon Qi was released like a flood. Commander Sun and the others were all injured. If Lu Zhao's domain had not weakened the demons, they probably would have already succumbed.

In just a quarter of an hour, more than a hundred demons had died at Lu Zhao's hands, and he had also severely injured two of the three Foundation Establishment stage demonic beasts and killed one. But the demonic tide continued to surge forward, seemingly endless. What was even more troublesome was that the demonic figure in the distance seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the "protracted attack" on this side. It turned its head slightly, and its two dark red eyes were "focused" even more intently on this side.

Lu Zhao felt immense pressure. He sensed that the demonic shadow's will was attempting to penetrate his domain of annihilation and directly affect his soul! If it weren't for his resilient soul and the protection of his dual dragon energy, he would have already lost his composure.

"We can't keep going like this!" Lu Zhao thought fiercely. He forcefully repelled another Foundation Establishment stage demonic leopard that pounced on him, retreating rapidly while shouting to Commander Sun and the others, "Retreat back into the formation! Quickly!"

Commander Sun and his men were already at their limit. Upon hearing this, they felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They fought their way through and retreated towards the gap in the formation.

Lu Zhao covered the rear, striking out with both palms to create two condensed gray-gold palm prints, temporarily forcing back the pursuers, and then flashed into the newly opened gap in the formation.

The breach closed, keeping the frenzied monsters outside. The group, their backs against the protective barrier, gasped for breath, all wounded and covered in blood.

Lu Zhao was also slightly out of breath, his face pale. The battle had taken a heavy toll. He looked up at the outside of the city. The demonic tide was still relentlessly assaulting the formation, and under his influence, the western wall was bearing far more pressure than the others; the light shield had dimmed to its lowest point and was on the verge of shattering.

"We must find a way to interrupt that demonic shadow's control, or... directly interfere with it!" Lu Zhao's mind raced. Passive defense, with Black Rock City's formation crumbling and the demonic tide launching an organized siege, was not a sustainable solution. Without reinforcements, the city walls would surely fall!

"Senior Lu is truly awe-inspiring!" "Thanks to Senior Lu, otherwise this section of the city wall would have been destroyed!" The surrounding guards looked at Lu Zhao with eyes full of admiration and gratitude. If Lu Zhao hadn't withstood most of the pressure just now, they would have been completely wiped out.

Lu Zhao waved his hand, indicating that it was alright. He took out a pill to restore his spiritual power and swallowed it, then said to Commander Sun, "Commander Sun, you take your men and guard this place. I'm going to see the city lord; I have important matters to discuss."

"Yes!" Commander Sun clasped his hands in a fist salute, completely convinced of Lu Zhao's abilities.

Without further delay, Lu Zhao flashed and sped towards the city's central council hall. Along the way, he saw fierce battles raging on the city walls, but the pressure was clearly less than on the west side. Obviously, the demonic figure had focused most of its "attention" and elite demonic creatures on his side.

A moment later, Lu Zhao returned to the council hall. The atmosphere inside was even more oppressive, with everyone wearing worried expressions. They had clearly all received news that the defenses were under strain, especially the western front, which had almost been breached.

"Young friend Lu, you've come at the perfect time!" The Black Rock City Lord's eyes lit up when he saw Lu Zhao enter, but noticing the demonic blood on his body and his slightly pale face, he said in a deep voice, "How is the situation in the west? I heard that you single-handedly fought three Foundation Establishment demons and turned the tide. You've worked hard!"

"We've held the western front for now, but the formation is on the verge of collapse, and the demonic tide's attacks are becoming increasingly organized, all thanks to that demonic shadow controlling things from behind." Lu Zhao stated succinctly, then offered a groundbreaking suggestion: "City Lord, in my humble opinion, passive defense is far from the best course of action. The demons are endless, while our spiritual power is limited, and the formation won't hold for long. The only way forward is to take the initiative, disrupting or even severely damaging that demonic shadow, to resolve this crisis!"

"A preemptive strike?" a family patriarch exclaimed. "Fellow Daoist Lu, that demonic shadow is terrifying beyond belief; even getting close is difficult. How can we launch an attack? It's practically suicide!"

"That's right, that demon is at least at the Golden Core level, or even higher. If we go there, it's like throwing an egg against a rock!" another person objected.

The Black Rock City Lord also frowned: "Young friend Lu, isn't this proposal too risky? That demonic figure is definitely heavily guarded, and its own power is unpredictable..."

Lu Zhao interrupted, "City Lord, esteemed seniors, I have observed it carefully. Although the demonic shadow is powerful, it seems to be limited by its fusion with the demonic body, making its movements extremely slow. Moreover, most of its power seems to be used to maintain its own existence and control the demonic tide. Its true form may not be as impregnable as we imagined. Furthermore, I suspect that it controls the demonic tide through some kind of mental connection or core magic array. If we can find a way to interfere with its mental connection or destroy its core, we might be able to throw the demonic tide into chaos, giving us a chance to catch our breath, or even hold out until reinforcements arrive."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said in a deep voice, "This junior is willing to be the vanguard, leading a few elite men in a night raid to strike at the heart of the enemy and attempt to disrupt that demonic figure. Even if we cannot severely injure it, as long as we can distract it and relieve the pressure on the city walls, it will be worth a try! It's better than sitting here waiting to die, watching helplessly as the formation is broken and the entire city is destroyed!"

The hall fell silent. Everyone was stunned by Lu Zhao's audacious, almost insane plan. To launch a surprise attack on that terrifying demonic shadow with only a Foundation Establishment stage cultivation?

"Young friend Lu... how confident are you?" After a long silence, the Black Rock City Lord asked slowly, his voice hoarse.

"I have no confidence, but I will do my best," Lu Zhao said frankly. "However, the cultivation technique I practice has a special ability to restrain demonic energy, so it may be worth a try. Moreover, I sense that the demonic shadow seems to have 'interest' in me. Going there may attract most of its attention and create an opportunity for a surprise attack."

He briefly revealed the "special attention" the demonic shadow paid to him, but omitted the matter of the dragon's might resonating with him.

The Black Rock City Lord's eyes flickered, clearly weighing the pros and cons rapidly. Holding firm, seemingly safe, was in reality a slow death. Attacking, though seemingly a death sentence, might offer a sliver of hope. And Lu Zhao, this young man from the Earthly Origin Sect, powerful, possessing unique techniques, and "targeted" by the Demon Shadow, might be the only one with the potential to create a miracle.

Finally, he gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Fine! I grant your request! How many men do you need? What kind of support?"

"Quality over quantity is key." Lu Zhao had already planned ahead. "We need three fellow cultivators with cultivation levels at least at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, skilled in concealment, escape techniques, or one-hit kills to accompany us. Also, please have the city lord gather all available 'Explosive Flame Talismans,' 'Thunderfire Pearls,' and other wide-range, high-burst talismanic artifacts from our inventory and give them to this junior. Furthermore, prepare a treasure that can temporarily conceal one's aura and block detection, as well as an escape talisman for a quick return to the city."

"Agreed!" The Black Rock City Lord didn't hesitate and immediately ordered, "Go and do it right away! Bring all the 'Heavenly Thunder Seeds' and 'Blazing Sun Talismans' from the treasury! Also, bring my 'Hidden Spirit Veil'!"

"Lord, although the Thunder God is very powerful, it is not easy to make. It is the most treasured item in Black Rock City. There are only a few..." someone said with heartache.

"If the city falls, what use are those inanimate objects?" the Black Rock City Lord roared. "Young friend Lu risked his life to fight for our survival; what are a few external possessions worth!"

Soon, three fist-sized black orbs crackling with dangerous lightning (Heavenly Thunder Pearls), a stack of dozens of golden talismans radiating spiritual energy (Blazing Sun Talismans), and a thin, almost transparent gauze robe (Hidden Spirit Veil) were presented to Lu Zhao. At the same time, three cultivators with composed auras and restrained glints in their eyes stood behind Lu Zhao. Two of these were assassins secretly trained by the City Lord's Mansion, mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators skilled in assassination and combined attacks; the other was a renowned lone wolf in the city, late-Foundation Establishment cultivator, adept at wind escape techniques, moving as swiftly as the wind.

"I entrust everything to young friend Lu!" The Black Rock City Lord solemnly clasped his hands and bowed deeply. Everyone in the hall, whether they had agreed before or not, now stood solemnly and clasped their hands in greeting to Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao put away the treasure, donned the Spirit Concealing Veil, and his aura instantly became almost imperceptible. He nodded to the Black Rock City Lord and the others, said nothing more, turned around, and led his three temporary teammates, once again disappearing into the thick darkness and shouts of battle outside.

Target—the terrifying demonic shadow deep within the demonic tide!