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

After leaving the Diyuan Sect, they headed southwest.

Lu Zhao did not rush at full speed, but instead practiced the newly acquired "Soaring Dragon Step" while flying. This movement technique was indeed agile and graceful, allowing for much faster long-distance runs than before, while consuming relatively less energy. He combined the "Soaring Dragon Step" with his existing "Soaring Dragon Step," emphasizing one technique for both long and short distances, making his movements even more refined.

The further southwest one goes, the sparser the population becomes, and the spiritual energy gradually becomes chaotic and thin. Several days later, a vast, desolate, and lifeless rift valley appears on the horizon.

Fallen into Dragon Abyss.

Even before approaching, a desolate, ancient wind, carrying a faint aura of oppression and chaos, swept over them. The sky was leaden gray, the low-hanging clouds seemingly within reach, with occasional, twisting flashes of lightning silently streaking across the sky. On the earth, a colossal rift, seemingly bottomless and hundreds of miles wide, stretched like a scar on the land, winding towards the horizon. On either side of the rift were steep, jagged cliffs, a dark red hue, as if stained with dragon's blood. Above the rift, space faintly rippled with instability, occasionally revealing tiny, fleeting black cracks—these were the dangerous spatial rifts.

What's even more unsettling is that the spiritual energy here is extremely chaotic, the five elements are reversed, and the geomagnetism is abnormal. Ordinary cultivators here will have their spiritual sense greatly disturbed, and flying with their artifacts will become extremely difficult. If they are not careful, they may be swept into the abyss by the chaotic spiritual energy turbulence, or torn apart by invisible spatial rifts.

When Lu Zhao was still a hundred miles from the edge of the Fallen Dragon Abyss, he dismounted and landed on a barren hillside. He did not approach immediately, but first sat down cross-legged, regulated his breathing for a moment, adjusted his condition to its best, and carefully sensed the environment ahead.

"As expected, it lives up to its reputation. The spiritual energy is chaotic, the space is unstable, and the geomagnetism is abnormal... No wonder it's listed as a forbidden area." Lu Zhao thought with a chill. He tried to use his divine sense to investigate, but found that his divine sense was greatly suppressed here. He could only extend it a few miles before feeling dizzy, and the information that came back was blurry and chaotic, making it difficult to understand. His flying magical artifact was even more dim in its spiritual light and difficult to control.

"It seems I can only advance by relying on my physical body and spiritual power, and I must be extremely careful, proceeding step by step." Lu Zhao sheathed his flying sword and instead used the "Soaring Dragon Step," propelled by his own spiritual power. His figure moved like a wisp of green smoke, skimming towards the edge of the Fallen Dragon Abyss. Although this technique consumes spiritual power, its advantage lies in its flexibility and greater adaptability to chaotic environments.

The closer one gets to the Dragon's Fall, the stronger the chaotic and oppressive feeling becomes. The air is filled with a faint smell of sulfur and an indescribable odor, as if rust and decay are mixed together. Strange, dark red rocks begin to appear on the ground, along with scattered, withered, and twisted plants, all of which also have an unhealthy dark red color.

Lu Zhao took out the sensing jade slip given to him by the disciple in charge of the Merit Hall and input a wisp of spiritual power. The jade slip became slightly warm and emitted a faint, unpredictable light, clearly indicating that the chaotic environment here greatly interfered with its sensing.

"I can only rely on luck. Let's explore the outer area first and hopefully find Dragon Blood Grass. As for the Earth Vein Dragon Crystal and Soul-Stabilizing Flower, we'll probably have to go deeper or be extremely lucky to encounter them on the outskirts." Lu Zhao pondered, chose a direction, and began to explore cautiously.

The outer area of ​​Dragonfall Abyss is equally vast and complex, filled with ravines, caves, and stone forests. Lu Zhao activated the Eye of Annihilation to its limit, turning his eyes into a gray and desolate state, which allowed him to see through many illusions and anomalies in the flow of spiritual energy. This was extremely useful in this place, helping him to discover some hidden spatial rifts or dangers in advance.

After traveling for about half a day, aside from a few dark red poisonous herbs of insufficient age and low value, and some strangely shaped low-level demonic beasts (these beasts had also mutated due to their environment, becoming more aggressive, but lacking intelligence), Lu Zhao gained nothing. He didn't even see a trace of Dragon Blood Grass or Earth Vein Dragon Crystal.

"No wonder the contribution points are so high. If an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator came here, just dealing with the harsh environment and lurking monsters would be enough to give them a hard time, let alone finding specific spiritual items." Lu Zhao thought to himself, becoming even more cautious.

Just as he was passing through a rocky forest, a sudden, violent surge of spiritual energy came from his left front, accompanied by the explosion of magic and the roar of monsters.

"Are people fighting?" Lu Zhao's heart stirred. He immediately concealed his aura, quietly sneaked over, and hid behind a huge dark red boulder, looking towards the source of the fluctuations.

On a relatively open, rocky beach ahead, three cultivators were engaged in a fierce battle with a lizard-like beast that was three zhang long, covered in dark red bone armor, had barbs on its back, and spewed poisonous smoke from its mouth.

The beast possessed a fierce aura, reaching the peak of the second tier, equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the Great Perfection stage. It also had thick skin and flesh, and its poisonous smoke was extremely corrosive, making it extremely difficult to deal with.

The three cultivators, two men and one woman, were not disciples of the Earth Origin Sect, judging from their attire. One of the men wielded a crimson flying sword, its blade swirling with light and flames, indicating he was a fire-attribute cultivator; the other commanded an earth-yellow shield, its defenses sturdy, suggesting he was an earth-attribute cultivator. Both were at the late Foundation Establishment stage and their coordination was fairly good, but facing the ferocious Bone-Armored Poison Lizard, they appeared overwhelmed and in grave danger.

The most eye-catching was the female cultivator. She wore a light blue magic dress, her figure slender and her face beautiful, though her expression was now fierce, her brows furrowed with anxiety. She didn't use any magical artifacts, but instead formed hand seals, her body surrounded by pale blue water light that condensed into sharp ice spikes and water arrows, attacking the bone-armored poisonous lizard. Her magic was exquisite, her control skillful; at crucial moments, she used ice walls and water curtains to block the lizard's attacks or poisonous smoke, buying the two male cultivators a chance to catch their breath. Her cultivation had also reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, and her spiritual energy was purer than the two male cultivators'.

However, the Bone-Armored Poison Lizard was truly formidable. Its hide was incredibly tough, its strength immense, and its breath emitted highly corrosive poison, forcing the three to retreat steadily. The male cultivator wielding the earthen-yellow shield was caught off guard; his shield was struck by the lizard's tail, its spiritual light dimmed, and he was sent flying backward, spitting out blood. The male cultivator wielding the crimson flying sword cried out in alarm, his sword light rushing back to reinforce, but the lizard seized the opportunity to strike the sword light with its claw. The flying sword let out a mournful cry, its spiritual energy greatly diminished.

The situation took a sharp turn for the worse! The female cultivator's expression changed, her teeth clenched, and her hands formed a new hand seal. A surge of water light erupted around her, transforming into a massive vortex that temporarily trapped the poisonous lizard. At the same time, she urgently called out to the two injured male cultivators, "Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Brother Li, you retreat first, I'll cover your retreat!"

"Junior Sister Ye, no! If we have to retreat, we retreat together!" Senior Brother Zhao, who wielded the crimson flying sword, said urgently.

"Stop talking nonsense! Go! I can't hold on much longer!" The female cultivator, known as Junior Sister Ye, spoke in a cold voice, yet with an undeniable resolve.

Lu Zhao, hidden behind the boulder, paused slightly, his gaze falling on the female cultivator in the blue dress. Her appearance, her demeanor, and even her azure spiritual energy... seemed strangely familiar to him. Upon closer inspection, especially at the unique, subtly rhythmic hand gestures she used when casting spells...

"Is it her? Ye Qingyi?" Lu Zhao's mind flashed back to the female cultivator from the "Azure Wave Pavilion" he had met years ago at a small exchange fair in Xuan Yuan City with Su Mo and Lin Xuan. She was a woman with a cool demeanor and skilled in water-based magic. Back then, she had even exchanged a "Mysterious Water Pearl" for one of his spiritual herbs. He never expected to meet her here, and judging from the situation, she and his two fellow disciples seemed to be in danger.

Lu Zhao had a good impression of Ye Qingyi. She had been quite straightforward during their initial transaction and came from Bibo Pavilion (a medium-sized sect specializing in water-based techniques, alchemy, and formations, with a decent reputation). Seeing her in danger and her fellow disciple injured, she actually took the initiative to cover their retreat, showing her loyalty and righteousness.

"Well, since we've encountered them, we might as well help them. This place is dangerous; having more friends is always better than having more enemies. Besides, they've been exploring here, so they might know something about the surrounding area." Lu Zhao's mind raced, and he made a decision in an instant.

Seeing the bone-armored venomous lizard break through the whirlpool, its blood-red maw wide open, spewing foul-smelling poisonous smoke, it lunged at the exhausted Ye Qingyi. The two male cultivators, unable to reach her in time, were filled with rage and their eyes widened in fury—

A hazy, inconspicuous sword light appeared out of thin air, striking the side of the Bone-Armored Poison Lizard's neck, which was covered in bone armor and had the strongest defense, without making a sound.

There was no earth-shattering noise, only a slight "hiss" sound, like rotten wood breaking.

The Bone-Armored Poison Lizard's forward lunge abruptly halted, its ferocious head frozen in mid-air, its gaping maw still open. On the side of its neck, the dark red bone armor, strong enough to withstand the slash of a mid-grade magic weapon, and the tough flesh beneath, were now slashed as if by the sharpest paper cutter, leaving a perfectly smooth, deep gash that revealed the bone! Dark red, foul-smelling blood belatedly gushed forth.

The venomous lizard's massive body crashed to the ground, twitched a few times, and then fell silent. One sword strike, and it was dead!

Ye Qingyi escaped death by a hair's breadth. She stared blankly at the huge monster corpse lying in front of her, then suddenly turned her head to look at the source of the sword light.

The two male cultivators, Zhao and Li, were also stunned. They quickly stood in front of Ye Qingyi, looking at her with a mixture of wariness and gratitude.

Lu Zhao slowly emerged from behind the boulder, holding a seemingly ordinary black longsword in his hand, its tip pointing diagonally at the ground, the blade spotless. He had concealed most of his aura, revealing only his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, but the stunningly beautiful sword strike he had just unleashed, brimming with the true meaning of annihilation, had made the three realize that this seemingly ordinary green-robed cultivator was far stronger than others of the same level.

"Thank you for saving us, senior (fellow Daoist)!" The three of them reacted and quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully. Ye Qingyi's gaze fell on Lu Zhao's face. She was puzzled at first, then seemed to remember something, and a hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes, but she quickly concealed it and also bowed.

"No need for formalities, it was nothing." Lu Zhao said calmly as he sheathed his sword. He did not deliberately conceal his appearance. Back at the Xuan Yuan City exchange meeting, his cultivation level was still low, and his appearance and temperament were not much different from now, so it was not surprising that Ye Qingyi could recognize him.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Lu! We parted ways in Xuan Yuan City back then, and I never expected to meet you here again. Fellow Daoist's demeanor is even more impressive than before. Qingyi thanks you for saving my life!" Ye Qingyi recognized Lu Zhao as expected and bowed solemnly again, her tone filled with surprise and lingering fear.

Upon seeing this, the two male cultivators, Zhao and Li, quickly thanked them again and introduced themselves. Senior Brother Zhao's name was Zhao Yan, and Senior Brother Li's name was Li Yue. Both were inner disciples of the Bibo Pavilion. They had come with Ye Qingyi to explore the outer perimeter of the Fallen Dragon Abyss in search of a spiritual herb called "Crimson Blood Vine." Unexpectedly, they encountered this peak second-tier Bone Armor Poison Lizard and nearly perished.

"So you're a fellow Daoist from the Azure Wave Pavilion. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Lu Zhao, a disciple of the Earth Origin Sect," Lu Zhao said, giving a brief self-introduction.

"The Earth Origin Sect?" Zhao Yan and Li Yue exchanged a glance, their respect deepening. The Earth Origin Sect was a top-tier sect in the Central Plains, far surpassing the Azure Wave Pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist Lu is incredibly powerful. You killed this beast with a single sword strike. I admire you!" Zhao Yan, being straightforward, exclaimed. "If it weren't for your timely intervention, my two fellow disciples and I would likely be in grave danger today."

"Senior Brother Zhao, you flatter me. This beast has thick hide and tough flesh; I was just lucky," Lu Zhao said modestly. Then, he changed the subject, "Did the three of you come here also to search for spiritual items such as Dragon Blood Grass and Earth Vein Dragon Crystals?"

Ye Qingyi nodded: "That's right. My Bibo Pavilion is famous for alchemy and formations. Our sect mission requires us to collect 'Crimson Blood Vine' as the main ingredient to refine a healing pill. Crimson Blood Vine occasionally grows on the outskirts of Fallen Dragon Abyss, but unfortunately, we were unlucky and encountered this powerful demon beast not long after we entered. Fellow Daoist Lu, you came here alone, also to collect spiritual items? Do you need any help? Although the three of us are not strong enough, we are quite familiar with this outer area and may be able to do our best to repay your life-saving grace."

Ye Qingyi, with her keen insight, discerned that Lu Zhao's strength was unfathomable, and that his solo arrival at Fallen Dragon Abyss must have a purpose. Traveling with him would ensure greater safety and also allow her to repay his life-saving debt.

Lu Zhao pondered for a moment. He did indeed need someone familiar with the area. Ye Qingyi and the other two seemed to be of good character and were disciples of the Bibo Pavilion, skilled in formations and pills; they might be useful. As for their possible ulterior motives? Lu Zhao was confident that with his current strength and spiritual perception, unless a Golden Core cultivator intervened, few at the Foundation Establishment stage could threaten him.

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you. I've accepted a mission from my sect to find Dragon Blood Grass and Earth Vein Dragon Crystal. If the three of you don't mind, we can travel together and look after each other. If you have any clues about Crimson Blood Vine, I can also help you." Lu Zhao nodded in agreement.

Ye Qingyi and the other two were overjoyed upon hearing this. With Lu Zhao as a powerful ally, their safety on this trip would be greatly enhanced.

After a brief rest, Zhao Yan and Li Yue took pills to heal their injuries, while Ye Qingyi skillfully disposed of the Bone-Armored Poison Lizard's corpse, removing valuable materials from its body (poison sacs, bone armor, demon core, etc.). She handed the demon core to Lu Zhao: "Fellow Daoist Lu, you killed this fiend, so the demon core rightfully belongs to you."

Lu Zhao declined, saying, "I only need to complete the mission. This item is useless to me. Since the three of you have encountered danger on this trip, you can dispose of this demon core as you see fit."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Ye Qingyi stopped refusing, put away the demon core, and felt even more favorably toward Lu Zhao.

Once Zhao and Li's injuries stabilized, the four of them continued their exploration of the outer perimeter of the Fallen Dragon Abyss. With Ye Qingyi and the other two leading the way, their efficiency was indeed much higher. They gained some knowledge of some dangerous areas (such as places with frequent spatial rifts and powerful monster lairs), thus avoiding a lot of trouble.

On the way, Lu Zhao also learned from Ye Qingyi that the relationship between Bibo Pavilion and Diyuan Sect was fairly good, and they often traded pills and formations. Ye Qingyi had accepted a mission from her sect this time, which required her to collect at least three 500-year-old Crimson Blood Vine, and the mission deadline was also quite long.

A few days later, guided by Ye Qingyi, they found a secluded valley covered with dark red vines and successfully collected two 500-year-old Crimson Blood Vines, as well as some other spiritual herbs of slightly younger age. Lu Zhao also collected a few rare poisonous herbs and minerals, which, although not required for the mission, were still of some value.

However, the Dragon Blood Grass and the Earth Vein Dragon Crystal remained nowhere to be found. The Sensing Jade Slip had little effect in this area; one could only rely on luck and eyesight to search.

On this day, the four arrived at an area with even more complex terrain and unusually pronounced spatial fluctuations. The place was filled with jagged rocks, like interlocking teeth, the sky hung low, and distorted flashes of lightning occasionally streaked through the clouds. A sense of oppressive unease permeated the air.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, we are approaching the boundary between the outer and inner perimeter of the Fallen Dragon Abyss. The space is extremely unstable, and invisible spatial rifts often appear. We must be extremely careful," Ye Qingyi warned solemnly. She took out a blue array plate and occasionally cast incantations into it. The array plate glowed, as if sensing the flow of spiritual energy and spatial fluctuations around it.

Lu Zhao also sensed the abnormality of this place. He activated his Eye of Annihilation at full power and vigilantly observed his surroundings. He could see that tiny, twisted black lines flashed by in the air from time to time. These were spatial rifts. Although they were small, if one accidentally bumped into one, even the protective spiritual light of a Foundation Establishment cultivator might not be able to block it.

The four of them proceeded with extreme caution, as if walking on thin ice. Suddenly, the array plate in Ye Qingyi's hand began to flash violently, emitting a rapid buzzing sound.

"Not good! There are violent spatial fluctuations approaching!" Ye Qingyi's expression changed.

Before the words were finished, a hundred feet ahead, beside a huge dark red rock, the space rippled violently like water. The next moment, a spatial rift about three feet long and no more than an inch wide, with unstable black light flickering at its edges, appeared silently! Around the rift, light distorted, and spiritual energy rushed in frantically, only to be pulverized.

"It's a spatial rift! Retreat quickly!" Zhao Yan exclaimed.

However, just as the four were preparing to retreat, the spatial rift seemed extremely unstable. It suddenly shrank inward as if it were about to close, but then it expanded violently, and an overwhelming suction force suddenly erupted from it!

This suction force wasn't directed at objects, but at the spiritual energy and space itself! The four of them felt their spiritual energy stagnate, and they even showed signs of losing control and being pulled towards the crack! What was even more terrifying was that the surrounding space seemed to have turned into a sticky swamp, making it difficult for them to move.

"It's a sign of a spatial vortex! Once sucked into the rift, death is certain!" Li Yue's face turned ashen.

Lu Zhao's heart sank. He felt his own annihilating dragon energy stirring, seemingly drawn by the spatial rift. He acted decisively, shouting, "Full defense! Move closer to me!"

As he spoke, he activated the "True Dragon Transformation," and the aura of the Dark Golden Dragon Emperor burst forth from his body, forming a layer of light golden protective energy. At the same time, the Annihilation Dragon Qi circulated, and an aura of returning all things to nothingness and establishing order in all directions spread out, slightly offsetting the strange suction force.

Ye Qingyi reacted swiftly, immediately forming a hand seal, and a thick, azure light barrier enveloped the four of them. Zhao Yan and Li Yue also activated their defensive magical artifacts and spells.

But the suction force was too strong, and the spatial rift was extremely unstable, threatening to expand or burst open at any moment. The azure light curtain fluctuated violently, on the verge of shattering.

Just then, Lu Zhao's gaze sharpened. Through his Eye of Annihilation, he saw a faint, strange dark golden light flash by deep within the spatial rift! That light carried an ancient and pure dragon energy fluctuation. Although it was extremely weak and concealed by the chaotic spatial power, Lu Zhao possessed dual dragon energy, especially the Dark Golden Dragon Emperor's energy, making him extremely sensitive to similar energies. He would never mistake it!

"Is that... a ley line dragon crystal? Or... some other treasure containing dragon energy?" Lu Zhao was shocked. There was something that looked like a ley line dragon crystal in this spatial rift? And judging from its location, it seemed to be not far inside the rift, only enveloped by the violent spatial turbulence.

Fortune favors the bold! Moreover, if they don't find a way to escape this suction force now, the four of them may be in mortal danger!

In a flash, Lu Zhao made his decision. He turned to Ye Qingyi and the other two and said quickly, "I have a method that might temporarily halt the suction force of this crack. You should take this opportunity to retreat quickly!"

Before the three could answer, Lu Zhao suddenly stepped forward, facing the suction force of the spatial rift. He formed hand seals, and his dual dragon energies circulated wildly within his body, especially the Dark Gold Dragon Emperor's energy, which he activated with all his might!

"The Emperor's Supreme Power governs the world, the Dragon's Aura settles the sky!"

With a low shout, Lu Zhao's body shone with a bright golden light, and a vast, majestic aura of a dragon emperor, seemingly capable of suppressing the four extremes and eight wastelands, suddenly erupted! This was not a spell, but a method he had temporarily created by combining the use of dragon energy in "True Dragon Transformation" with his own understanding of the dark gold dragon emperor's aura, intending to use his own imperial dragon energy to briefly intimidate and stabilize the chaotic spatial forces around him!

The pale golden dragon energy rippled outwards like water, and wherever it passed, the violent spatial suction force actually paused! The viscous space around it also seemed to be smoothed out by an invisible force.

Ye Qingyi and the other two felt a sudden lightness around them, as the terrifying suction force instantly weakened by several tens of percent!

"Go!" Ye Qingyi reacted quickly, knowing that the opportunity was not to be missed. She immediately activated the light blue screen to wrap around Zhao Yan and Li Yue, and flew backward with all her might.

The instant Lu Zhao unleashed "Dragon Qi Stabilizes the Void," his gaze was fixed on the dark golden light deep within the rift. The moment the suction weakened, the extinguishing dragon energy within him surged, and he unleashed the ultimate "Soaring Dragon Step," transforming into a blurry azure dragon shadow. Instead of retreating, he advanced, plunging headlong into the spatial rift!

"Fellow Daoist Lu!" Ye Qingyi and the other two turned around and saw this scene, and were shocked! That was an unstable spatial rift! Even Golden Core cultivators dared not easily set foot in it, yet Lu Zhao had actually rushed in on his own?

However, Lu Zhao's figure was instantly swallowed up by the distorted, dark spatial rift and vanished. The next moment, the spatial rift trembled violently a few times, then collapsed inward abruptly, turning into a black dot, before disappearing completely, as if it had never existed.

Only chaotic spiritual energy and the three of them—Ye Qingyi, Ye Qingyi, and Ye Qingyi—remained on the spot, dumbfounded and still shaken.

"Fellow Daoist Lu..." Li Yue's voice was hoarse.

"He... did this so that we could get away..." Zhao Yan's expression was complicated.

Ye Qingyi stared at the spot where the spatial rift had disappeared, her beautiful eyes filled with shock, worry, and a complex mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe. She knew that the vast dragon energy Lu Zhao had unleashed at the end was no ordinary thing; his rush into the rift was probably not just to save them, but also for that fleeting glimpse of dark golden light within it.

"Lu Zhao...who exactly are you?" Ye Qingyi murmured to herself, her heart filled with turmoil.

At this moment, the boundary between the outer and inner perimeters of Fallen Dragon Abyss returned to deathly silence, with only the howling wind sounding like the wailing of ghosts.