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

Three days later, at dusk, the glow of the sunset illuminated Lingxiu Peak, draping this already beautiful mountain in a golden-red veil. Lingxiu Peak was not the core main peak of the Diyuan Sect, but because of its superb scenery, abundant spiritual energy, and the fact that it was the place where many disciples with backgrounds and potential opened their cave dwellings, it was quite lively.

Chu Feng's cave dwelling was located on a spacious platform halfway up Lingxiu Peak. It occupied a considerable area, with pavilions, terraces, bridges, and flowing water, all arranged elegantly and exquisitely. At this moment, several jade tables had been set up in the courtyard in front of the cave dwelling, laden with spiritual fruits and tea, exuding a faint spiritual aura. Twenty or thirty cultivators had already arrived, gathering in small groups, conversing in hushed tones. The atmosphere seemed relaxed, but undercurrents were swirling beneath.

Lu Zhao landed on his escape light, immediately attracting everyone's attention. He wore an ordinary blue robe, had a handsome face, and a calm aura. His cultivation at the peak of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment was not top-tier here, but it was certainly not weak. More importantly, he was now a "prominent figure"—he had completed the top-tier mission, gained a huge amount of contribution points, was appreciated by the deputy hall master of the Law Enforcement Hall, and had even obtained the qualification to enter the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion. More importantly, he was suspected of being on good terms with Ye Qingyi of the Azure Wave Pavilion. Rumors about him had already been circulating among the inner disciples.

Various gazes converged upon him—curiosity, scrutiny, envy, and undisguised greed. Lu Zhao seemed oblivious, his expression calm as he scanned the courtyard. He saw several familiar faces, inner disciples he'd met a few times in the Hall of Merit or the sect's market. Most were unfamiliar faces, among them several possessing particularly powerful auras—clearly at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, and even two or three of them, their auras profound, their spiritual power restrained, faintly hinting at perfection, seemingly only a step away from the Pseudo-Core Formation realm.

"Junior Brother Lu, your presence is an honor to our humble abode!" A clear voice rang out. A young man dressed in a moon-white robe, with a handsome face, refined demeanor, and a smile on his lips, stepped forward to greet him. This was none other than the host of this place, Chu Feng.

Chu Feng's smile was warm and gentle, like a spring breeze, showing no sign of hostility, as if he genuinely welcomed Lu Zhao's arrival. Several cultivators with considerable auras accompanied him, clearly his confidants or friends.

"Senior Brother Chu, you're too kind. It's my honor to be invited by you," Lu Zhao replied with a cupped-hand salute, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Haha, Junior Brother Lu, why be so modest? Junior Brother, you single-handedly slew the demonic cultivator in the Fallen Dragon Abyss and brought back a mid-grade earth vein dragon crystal, which greatly enhanced the reputation of our Di Yuan Sect. I, your senior brother, am also full of admiration." Chu Feng patted Lu Zhao's shoulder with a smile, his posture friendly, and then lowered his voice to say, "That fool Zhou Tong overestimated himself and offended Junior Brother. He has already been severely punished by Elder Yan. Junior Brother, please don't take it to heart. Today, we are all fellow disciples, so please rest assured."

His words, seemingly an attempt to exonerate Zhou Tong, were actually a way of distancing himself from the matter, implying that it had nothing to do with him, while simultaneously reassuring Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm: "Senior Brother Chu, you flatter me. It's just a small matter, and I didn't take it to heart. On the contrary, Senior Brother Chu's hosting of this exchange meeting, where we can share our resources, is truly a blessing for our fellow disciples."

"It's good that you think this way, Junior Brother." Chu Feng's smile widened, and he led Lu Zhao inside. "Come, let me introduce you to some outstanding fellow disciples."

He led Lu Zhao to the center of the courtyard and said loudly, "Everyone, this is Junior Brother Lu Zhao, who recently completed the mission and made great contributions to the sect. Junior Brother Lu is young and promising, and his future is limitless. Let's all get to know each other better."

A chorus of greetings immediately filled the courtyard as many people stepped forward to greet Lu Zhao or introduce themselves. Lu Zhao returned their greetings one by one, his expression composed and his responses appropriate, neither appearing arrogant nor overly enthusiastic.

"Junior Brother Lu, I've long admired your name. My name is Wang Yan. I'm very curious about your experiences in the Fallen Dragon Abyss. Could you perhaps enlighten us?" A burly man with a rugged face spoke in a deep voice, his eyes fixed intently on Lu Zhao. This man possessed a powerful aura, clearly at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Senior Brother Wang, you're too kind. Falling Dragon Abyss was extremely dangerous, and I was just lucky to escape. It's nothing to mention," Lu Zhao replied calmly, without saying anything more.

"Luck? To be able to bring back a mid-grade earth vein dragon crystal and escape from the Netherworld Sect's demonic cultivators—this can't be explained by luck alone." A somewhat shrill voice rang out. The speaker was a blue-robed cultivator with a sinister face and gleaming eyes. His cultivation was also at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage. He was scrutinizing Lu Zhao with a critical gaze. "Junior Brother Lu, could it be that you've obtained some unknown opportunity, or... do you have some special methods? Tell us, so we can broaden our horizons."

These words were rather harsh, carrying a clear sense of probing and sarcasm.

Lu Zhao glanced at the man and calmly said, "It was just a coincidence. As for the methods, they were nothing more than small tricks for self-preservation, nothing to brag about, and nothing compared to the extraordinary abilities of my senior brothers."

"Hmph, Junior Brother Lu is quite modest." The sinister cultivator sneered, wanting to say something more, but was interrupted by Chu Feng.

"Alright, alright, today is an exchange meeting, let's keep things peaceful." Chu Feng smiled and smoothed things over. "Come, Junior Brother Lu, this way please. Junior Sister Ye just arrived too. You two are old acquaintances, so you can catch up."

Lu Zhao looked in the direction he pointed and saw Ye Qingyi sitting quietly by a jade table in a corner of the courtyard, toying with a jade cup in her hand. Today she was wearing a light blue dress, her figure slender and graceful, her temperament aloof, like a lotus emerging from the water, somewhat out of place in the noisy surroundings. Zhao Yan and Li Yue sat beside her, the three of them forming their own little circle.

Upon seeing Lu Zhao, Ye Qingyi's cool eyes lit up slightly, and she nodded gently to him. Zhao Yan and Li Yue also smiled and raised their glasses in a gesture of greeting.

Lu Zhao felt a warmth in his heart and said to Chu Feng, "Senior Brother Chu, please make yourself at home. I'll go and say hello to Senior Sister Ye."

"Please go ahead," Chu Feng said with a smile, a barely perceptible glint in his eyes.

Lu Zhao walked to Ye Qingyi's table, and Ye Qingyi poured him a cup of spiritual tea, saying softly, "Fellow Daoist Lu, are your injuries any better?"

"I'm much better now, thank you for your concern, Senior Sister Ye." Lu Zhao sat down and accepted the spiritual tea. "Has Senior Sister's injury healed yet?"

"Thanks to Fellow Daoist Lu's gift of spiritual medicine, most of the Yin energy has been dispelled. I will recover in a few more days. I haven't had a chance to formally thank you yet." Ye Qingyi's beautiful eyes were filled with gratitude.

"Senior Sister, you're too kind. It was nothing." Lu Zhao waved his hand, not wanting to dwell on the matter. He glanced across the courtyard and asked casually, "Senior Sister Ye, do you know anything special about today's exchange meeting? Senior Brother Chu Feng seemed to have mentioned that there might be news about the Golden Core stage?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingyi's beautiful eyes flashed with a hint of seriousness. She transmitted her voice, saying, "Fellow Daoist Lu, you've heard about it too? I've only heard a little about it myself. Chu Feng has a powerful background and a wide circle of friends. The exchange events he organizes often feature rare treasures that are hard to find on the market, and you can even find out some secret information. The Golden Core is of great importance, so it's normal for him to use this as an excuse to attract many fellow disciples. However... judging from the people present today, they are a mixed bag, and many seem to have designs on you, Fellow Daoist. You must be careful."

Lu Zhao nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. I understand."

As the two were conversing in hushed tones, a commotion suddenly arose at the courtyard entrance. Several streaks of light appeared in unison, landing in the courtyard. Leading them was a handsome young man in purple robes, but with an air of arrogance between his brows. His cultivation was clearly at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage; although his aura was slightly weak, indicating he had only recently broken through, his imposing presence far surpassed that of most others present. The others accompanying him were also at the eighth or ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, each possessing an extraordinary bearing.

"It's Senior Brother Qin Wuyai! He really came!"

"Senior Brother Qin went into seclusion a few days ago, and it's said he successfully broke through to the peak of Foundation Establishment. It seems it's true!"

"Those people next to him, are they all from the Qin family? And that one, doesn't he look like Senior Brother Liu, a true disciple?"

"Shh, keep your voice down..."

A low murmur arose in the courtyard, and many people looked at the young man in purple with awe, envy, and even flattery.

Lu Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly. Qin Wuyai? He had heard of this name before. One of the top ten inner disciples of the Diyuan Sect, with a distinguished background. The Qin family was a powerful cultivation family within the Diyuan Sect, rumored to have a Nascent Soul ancestor. This person possessed remarkable talent, but was arrogant and domineering, notoriously difficult to deal with within the inner sect. His breakthrough to the peak of Foundation Establishment seemed to indicate he was aiming for the Golden Core stage.

"Senior Brother Qin, it is an honor to have you here. Please forgive me for not greeting you sooner!" Chu Feng greeted Qin Wuyai with a beaming smile, his attitude even more enthusiastic than when he had greeted Lu Zhao earlier.

"Junior Brother Chu, you're too kind." Qin Wuyai nodded casually, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard with a condescending scrutiny. When his gaze landed on Ye Qingyi, he paused slightly, a flicker of fervor flashing in his eyes, but he quickly looked away and focused on Lu Zhao.

"Is this the rising star, Junior Brother Lu Zhao?" Qin Wuyai's lips curled into an enigmatic smile as he strode over. The group behind him followed closely, seemingly surrounding Lu Zhao.

Ye Qingyi frowned slightly, and Zhao Yan and Li Yue also stood up subconsciously, their expressions wary.

Lu Zhao put down his teacup, slowly rose, and looked calmly at Qin Wuyai: "It is indeed I, Lu. What guidance do you have, Senior Brother Qin?"

"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance." Qin Wuyai walked up to Lu Zhao, sizing him up with undisguised scrutiny and a hint of contempt in his eyes. "I heard that Junior Brother Lu gained quite a bit of benefit in the Fallen Dragon Abyss, even managing to acquire a mid-grade earth vein dragon crystal. Quite lucky, isn't he?"

"Just a fluke," Lu Zhao said calmly.

"Just luck?" Qin Wuyai scoffed. "A place like Dragonfall Abyss isn't a place where you can survive on luck alone. Junior Brother Lu, let's not beat around the bush. I'm very interested in your dragon vein crystal. I heard you handed it over to the sect and got 100,000 contribution points? How about this: you transfer those 100,000 contribution points, along with all the other treasures you obtained in Dragonfall Abyss, to me. In exchange, I, Qin Wuyai, can guarantee that no one in the sect will dare to mess with you. What do you say?"

The courtyard fell silent at these words. No one had expected Qin Wuyai to be so direct and domineering, demanding Lu Zhao hand over all his spoils in one fell swoop! This was blatant robbery! His so-called "guaranteeing no one will dare mess with you" was more like a threat—if you don't hand them over, someone will dare to provoke you!

Ye Qingyi's pretty face turned cold, and she said in a chilling voice, "Senior Brother Qin, what do you mean by that? Junior Brother Lu's gains were earned with his life on the line; how can we just hand them over to him?"

Qin Wuyai glanced at Ye Qingyi, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes, but he smiled and said, "Junior Sister Ye, you are mistaken. Treasures belong to those with virtue. Junior Brother Lu's cultivation is still shallow, and possessing such a treasure is a crime. I am doing this for his own good. Besides, I, Qin Wuyai, never take things for free. I will offer 150,000 spirit stones for 100,000 contribution points, plus my friendship and protection. Junior Brother Lu, you won't lose out."

150,000 spirit stones may sound like a lot, but compared to the actual value of 100,000 contribution points and the Earth Vein Dragon Crystal, it's worlds apart! Contribution points can be exchanged for sect secret techniques and core resources, which are hard to buy with spirit stones. As for the Earth Vein Dragon Crystal, it's practically priceless. Qin Wuyai's actions are tantamount to robbery.

All eyes were on Lu Zhao, watching to see how he would react. Would he succumb to Qin Wuyai's power, or...?

Lu Zhao's face remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, but his gaze gradually turned cold. He looked at Qin Wuyai and slowly said, "I appreciate Senior Brother Qin's kindness. However, my contribution points and gains were earned with my life, and I have no intention of transferring them. As for whether anyone dares to provoke me... that's none of Senior Brother Qin's concern."

He refused! He actually refused Qin Wuyai! Moreover, although his tone was calm, his words carried an undisguised firmness!

An uproar erupted in the courtyard. No one had expected that Lu Zhao would dare to be so defiant in front of Qin Wuyai, a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a powerful background! This was blatant disrespect to Qin Wuyai, even a slap in the face!

The smile on Qin Wuyai's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a layer of frost. The men behind him also looked hostile, their auras subtly locking onto Lu Zhao.

"Junior Brother Lu, youthful vigor is a good thing, but you must also know how to assess the situation." Qin Wuyai's voice turned cold. "Some things are not meant for you. Forcing yourself to keep them will only bring disaster upon yourself."

"Oh?" Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Is Senior Brother Qin threatening me?"

The atmosphere instantly became tense!

Seeing this, Chu Feng quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Oh dear, Senior Brother Qin, Junior Brother Lu, we're all fellow disciples, why ruin the harmony? Today is an exchange meeting, let's value harmony! Senior Brother Qin, what you're looking for might become clear at the exchange meeting later, why rush it? Junior Brother Lu, Senior Brother Qin is just eager to help people, he means no harm. Come, come, everyone sit down, the exchange meeting is about to begin."

As he spoke, he winked at Lu Zhao, signaling him not to push his luck.

Qin Wuyai glanced coldly at Lu Zhao, then at Ye Qingyi, before suddenly breaking into a smile, though the smile carried a hint of coldness: "Junior Brother Chu is right. Today is an exchange meeting; let's not talk about such unpleasant things. Junior Brother Lu, I hope you can always maintain this integrity. We... will have a long future ahead of us."

After saying that, he ignored Lu Zhao and led his men to sit down in the main seat on the other side.

The storm seemed to have been temporarily quelled. But everyone knew that Qin Wuyai would not let it go. Lu Zhao had thoroughly offended this influential figure in the inner sect.

Ye Qingyi walked to Lu Zhao's side and whispered, "Fellow Daoist Lu, Qin Wuyai is a vengeful person, you must be careful."

Lu Zhao nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

He felt little turmoil. Qin Wuyai's threat was something he had anticipated. Since he had chosen not to yield, he had no choice but to face it. He, Lu Zhao, had never been a pushover.

Seeing that the atmosphere had eased, Chu Feng clapped his hands and said loudly, "Fellow disciples, thank you all for gracing this exchange meeting. As usual, everyone is free to exchange items, share what they have, or purchase with spirit stones. If you have any special needs, please feel free to make them, and perhaps one of you here can meet them."

As he finished speaking, the exchange officially began. One after another, cultivators brought out materials, magical artifacts, pills, talismans, and other items they no longer needed, placing them on the jade table and indicating the price of the items or spirit stones they required. The courtyard gradually became lively, filled with the sounds of bargaining.

Lu Zhao wasn't interested in ordinary exchanges; he was now quite wealthy and didn't care for common things. He was more concerned about the "Golden Core" news that Chu Feng had mentioned earlier.

Ye Qingyi seemed to be paying attention as well. The two sat silently, occasionally scanning the displayed items with their divine sense.

An hour passed, and the exchange was halfway through, but there was still no news of the so-called "Golden Core." Several impressive treasures did appear, attracting fierce competition among the crowd.

Just as the exchange meeting was drawing to a close and many people were preparing to leave, Chu Feng suddenly stood up, walked to the center of the courtyard, cleared his throat, and said loudly, "Everyone, please be patient. I have some important news to share with you all. This news may concern the path of those of you present, especially those aspiring to form your core!"

Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone turned their gaze to Chu Feng, especially the cultivators at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment and those at the peak of their cultivation, who were greatly invigorated.

Qin Wuyai also put down his wine glass and looked intently at Chu Feng.

Lu Zhao and Ye Qingyi also sat up straight.

Chu Feng surveyed the crowd, satisfied with their reactions, and slowly said, "This matter was informed of by a senior from a sect. Three months from now, our Di Yuan Sect, Xuan Tian Sword Sect, Bi Bo Pavilion, and Tian Gang Sect will jointly open an ancient secret realm—the Yun Meng Ancient Marsh!"

"Yunmeng Ancient Marsh?!" A chorus of exclamations erupted in the courtyard. Many older cultivators wore expressions of shock, excitement, and even fanaticism.

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. Yunmeng Ancient Marsh? He seemed to have heard this name somewhere before. Ye Qingyi's beautiful eyes also lit up, clearly aware of this secret realm.

Chu Feng continued, "The Yunmeng Ancient Marsh is a fragment of a blessed land from ancient times. Its entrance opens automatically approximately every sixty years, but the entrance is extremely unstable and restricts entry to cultivators at the Golden Core stage and above. Previously, this secret realm was jointly controlled by several major sects, with only a few elite disciples allowed entry. However, this time, the four sects have decided to relax the restrictions, each sending twenty Foundation Establishment stage disciples to explore, train, and seek opportunities!"

"Within this secret realm, there are not only a large number of ancient spiritual herbs and rare minerals that have long been extinct in the outside world, but also cave dwellings and inheritances left behind by ancient cultivators! There are even rumors that it may contain rare and precious materials that can help with the formation of the Golden Core, or even... clues to the formula or main ingredient of the Golden Core!"

Clues to the formula or main ingredient of the Golden Condensation Pill! Even the previously calm cultivators found their breathing becoming heavy. The Golden Condensation Pill is precious not only because of its difficult refining process, but also because its main ingredient is extremely rare. If a formula or clue to the main ingredient could be found, its value might even exceed that of the finished Golden Condensation Pill!

Qin Wuyai's eyes flashed with a sharp light, clearly indicating that he was extremely tempted.

Chu Feng smiled slightly and said, "Our Di Yuan Sect will select twenty spots from its inner disciples. The selection method is tentatively set as a ring duel; only the winner will be qualified to enter the secret realm. This selection has no age limit or time limit for joining the sect; any Foundation Establishment stage inner disciple of our Di Yuan Sect can apply! Moreover, the sect promises that after submitting a portion to the sect, the remainder will belong to the individual who obtains anything within the secret realm!"

No age limit! No minimum years of membership required! Anyone can apply! This means that even newly recruited inner disciples like Lu Zhao have a chance! And the rewards in the secret realm are truly enviable!

The courtyard erupted in excitement! Everyone was discussing it excitedly. This was an incredible opportunity! If they could enter the Cloud Dream Ancient Swamp, find the opportunity to form their Golden Core, or even a clue to the main ingredient for condensing the Golden Core, their path to Golden Core would be smooth sailing!

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. Yunmeng Ancient Marsh! A clue to the formula or main ingredient for the Golden Condensation Pill! This might be his perfect opportunity to obtain the Golden Condensation Pill, or even advance further! Moreover, there's no age limit for entry into the sect; he's eligible to participate in the selection!

"However," Chu Feng's tone shifted, his expression turning serious, "While the Yunmeng Ancient Swamp offers countless opportunities, it is also exceptionally dangerous. Not only is it riddled with ancient restrictions and spatial rifts, but it is also inhabited by powerful ancient demonic beasts and malevolent spirits, and even... there may be other unknown dangers. Each time it opens, there are considerable casualties among those who enter. Therefore, those who intend to enter must assess their own capabilities and make thorough preparations."

"The selection battle is scheduled to take place in January at the main peak training ground. The specific rules will be officially announced by the sect later. I am revealing this information today so that all fellow disciples can prepare in advance and not miss this opportunity."

After Chu Feng finished speaking, the courtyard was silent for a moment, then erupted into an even louder commotion. Everyone was discussing the Yunmeng Ancient Marsh, the selection battle, and the clues to the Golden Core. The atmosphere instantly reached a climax.

Lu Zhao took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement. He knew that an even greater storm was about to break. The opening of the Yunmeng Ancient Swamp and the clues to the Golden Core would inevitably attract countless eyes and ignite an even fiercer struggle. And he, too, would be drawn into it.

"Yunmeng Ancient Marsh... Condensing Golden Pill..." Lu Zhao's gaze swept over the faces around him, some excited, some greedy, some calculating, before finally landing on Qin Wuyai's gloomy and determined face in the distance.

He knew that from this day forward, his life would no longer be peaceful. The turmoil within the inner sect would become even more turbulent with the opening of the Cloud Dream Ancient Swamp.

He must seize this opportunity and carve out his own path to Core Formation amidst the storm!