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

The news of the Xiong Clan's three villains—one dead and two crippled—blown like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, spreading throughout the inner sect. Initially, many disciples couldn't believe it. After all, Lu Zhao's merit in the Fallen Dragon Abyss was only "rumored," and his cultivation was merely at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment (they were unaware that Lu Zhao had already broken through). The Xiong Clan's three villains, on the other hand, were notorious veterans at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, and their combined strength was formidable. However, with numerous eyewitness accounts and detailed accounts, no one could deny the truth.

"One punch! Just one punch! Xiong Li, that big guy, flew out like a tattered sack, his chest caved in!"

"Hou San tried to run, but Senior Brother Lu caught up and punched him, breaking his spine!"

"Yin Jiu fared even worse; the ghostly shadow he released was instantly annihilated by a gray sword aura, leaving him with a hole between his eyebrows, and he died on the spot!"

"Too ruthless! Too strong! This is no ordinary Foundation Establishment Stage 8; I think even Foundation Establishment Stage 100 is no better!"

"What kind of cultivation technique does Senior Brother Lu practice? His physical strength is terrifying!"

"I heard he possesses a powerful treasure; could it be due to the power of a magical artifact?"

"What kind of magic weapon could send Xiong Li flying with a single punch? I think Senior Brother Lu is simply hiding his true power!"

"Qin Wuyai has probably bitten off more than he can chew this time. His three vicious henchmen were all wiped out in a single encounter."

"What did the Enforcement Hall say? Someone died, and it was even fratricide—this is a serious matter!"

"I heard that Senior Brother Lin Tian has temporarily confined Senior Brother Lu to his cave, pending the elders' decision."

"Hmph, the Qin family is powerful; they probably won't let this go so easily..."

In an instant, Lu Zhao's name once again became the focus of the inner sect. This time, however, he was no longer seen as a "lucky one" or a "fat sheep carrying a treasure," but rather as a "powerful and decisive killer." No one dared to easily speculate about his "luck" or "colluding with the demonic path"; instead, there was awe and fear. After all, in the cultivation world, strength was the only true measure. Lu Zhao used swift and decisive methods to prove who the "fat sheep" was and who the "hunter" was.

Upon learning the news, Qin Wuyai flew into a rage in his cave and smashed a set of his beloved jade cups on the spot.

"Useless! Three useless pieces of trash! They couldn't even take down Lu Zhao, and they got wiped out in one fell swoop!" Qin Wuyai's face was ashen, his eyes blazing with fury. He had thought that sending the three Xiong thugs would at least allow him to test Lu Zhao's strength, or force him to use his trump cards, or even severely injure him, preventing him from participating in the selection. He never expected the result to be so disastrous! Not only was Lu Zhao unharmed, but he also killed one and crippled two of the three, a slap in the face to Qin Wuyai!

"Young Master, please calm down." Yin Jiuyou, whose face was sinister, also looked grim. He said in a deep voice, "This matter is indeed unexpected. Lu Zhao's strength is probably far beyond our expectations. His cultivation technique and that strange gray sword energy are extraordinary. Xiong Li and the other two deserved their defeat."

"Not unjust? Does that mean my men died in vain?" Qin Wuyai roared. "Lu Zhao must pay the price!"

"Young Master, this matter requires careful consideration." A cold glint flashed in Yin Jiuyou's eyes. "Lu Zhao acted in self-defense this time and is in the right. Although he struck hard, he did not violate the bottom line of the sect rules—it was Xiong Li and the other two who initiated the attack on his cave, with malicious intent. The Enforcement Hall may find it difficult to punish him severely. Now that he is in the limelight, and with Ye Qingyi and Elder Yan seemingly on his side, it is not advisable for us to take action openly."

"Are we just going to let it go like this?" Qin Wuyai was unwilling.

"Of course not." Yin Jiuyou smiled sinisterly. "If open methods don't work, we can use covert ones. In the selection battle, it's a ring duel; swords have no eyes, and life and death are preordained. As long as it's arranged properly, we can 'accidentally' cripple him in the ring, or even... kill him, and no one can find fault with it. What do you say, young master?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Wuyai's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he slowly nodded: "That's right. The selection battle will be his death day! Go and make the arrangements, find several good fighters, and ensure everything goes smoothly! I want him to die a horrible death on the stage!"

"Rest assured, young master, I have already made a plan," Yin Jiuyou said, bowing, his eyes full of calculation.

While the outside world was in an uproar, Lu Zhao remained unusually calm inside Tingzhu Xiaozhu. He rearranged the destroyed restrictions, this time not only using the sect's standard protective formation, but also incorporating some of his own insights into the sealing of the Annihilation Sword Intent and some variations of the "Minor Five Elements Bewildering Formation," greatly enhancing its defensive power and deceptiveness.

He then continued his seclusion to consolidate his Foundation Establishment Level 9 cultivation, while also practicing the "Phantom Escape Technique" and refining the "Blood Fiend Shield" and "White Bone Banner" obtained from Envoy Li.

The "Phantom Escape Technique" was indeed exquisite. Not only was it extremely effective at concealing one's presence, but it could also create brief illusions to confuse the enemy. Combined with his powerful physique and speed, it greatly amplified his effectiveness in both ambushes and escapes. Lu Zhao had mastered it in just a few days.

The "Blood Fiend Shield" is a high-grade defensive magic weapon with considerable defensive power. It also contains blood fiend energy, which can corrupt the spiritual essence of an opponent's magic weapon, making it quite insidious. Lu Zhao carefully refined it with the energy of the Annihilation Dragon, erasing the mark of the envoy and imprinting his own mark. He could barely control it, but the blood fiend energy it contained was incompatible with his cultivation method, so he could not unleash its full power and could only use it as a backup.

The "White Bone Banner" is a demonic artifact, primarily made from the bones and souls of demonic beasts. Its crafting methods are cruel, which Lu Zhao dislikes. He attempted to forcibly erase the malevolent energy of the evil spirit within it using his Annihilation Sword Intent, but found that the evil spirit had been completely refined, leaving only its killing instinct, making it difficult to purify. While the banner is powerful, its malevolent backlash is also severe, and it clashes with the aura of righteous cultivators. Using it rashly might invite trouble. After a moment's thought, Lu Zhao decided to temporarily seal it away, saving it for a future use.

A few days later, someone from the Enforcement Hall arrived; it was Lin Tian again.

"Junior Brother Lu, the Enforcement Hall has determined that the three Xiong villains attacked a fellow disciple's cave without provocation, initiating the attack and violating sect rules—an act deserving of death. Your counterattack was understandable. However, your actions were excessive, resulting in one death and two injuries among our fellow disciples, which was also inappropriate." Lin Tian announced the Enforcement Hall's final ruling. "After deliberation by the Elders' Council, it has been decided that the three Xiong villains brought this upon themselves and deserve punishment. However, considering they have already been punished, further investigation will not be pursued. Lu Zhao's self-defense was excessive; he is fined 10,000 contribution points and confined to Tingzhu Xiaozhu for half a month to reflect on his mistakes. The confinement will be lifted after half a month, but he must remember that among fellow disciples, harmony is paramount; sparring should be limited to the point of injury."

This result was both expected and somewhat unexpected for Lu Zhao. A fine of 10,000 contribution points and a half-month confinement—this punishment wasn't particularly severe, nor was it particularly lenient. It was severe because he had, after all, killed someone and crippled their cultivation; according to sect rules, fratricide was a serious crime. It was lenient because the other party had provoked him first and was a repeat offender, giving him a moral high ground. Moreover, the mere fine of contribution points and confinement, without more severe penalties such as abolishing cultivation or expulsion from the sect, clearly indicated that the Enforcement Hall and even the sect's higher-ups were biased towards him. This might be due to his merit in the "Top-Tier Mission," perhaps due to Elder Yan's appreciation, or perhaps… due to the strength and potential he had demonstrated.

"This disciple accepts the punishment. Thank you, Senior Brother Lin, and thank you to all the elders of the Enforcement Hall for upholding justice." Lu Zhao calmly accepted the punishment order. Ten thousand contribution points were nothing to him; a half-month confinement would allow him to focus on preparing for the selection battle. He could accept this result.

Lin Tian looked at Lu Zhao's calm face and sighed inwardly. This young man was resolute, decisive, and knew how to assess situations; he was no ordinary person. This incident, seemingly a punishment for Lu Zhao, had actually been a successful demonstration of his authority, gaining the tacit approval and even some degree of recognition from the sect's higher-ups. Qin Wuyai, on the other hand, had likely suffered a silent loss.

"Junior Brother Lu, take care of yourself. The selection battle is imminent. I hope you will focus on your cultivation and avoid causing any more trouble," Lin Tian said meaningfully before turning and leaving.

Lu Zhao understood Lin Tian's meaning. The sect's higher-ups wanted to see competition among disciples, but it had to be within the rules. His counterattack this time, though ruthless, was on the edge of what was permissible by the rules, and the other party was in the wrong, so the higher-ups turned a blind eye. But if he continued to provoke them, or if his methods became too cruel, it would likely provoke a backlash.

"A half-month confinement... is fine." Lu Zhao closed his cave and entered a meditative state again. The storms outside were temporarily irrelevant to him. He would use this time to adjust his condition to its best.

However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. Although Lu Zhao was confined to his quarters, the discussions about him did not stop. In particular, some people who originally harbored hostility or covetousness towards Lu Zhao became even more active after learning of the Enforcement Hall's ruling.

"A mere 10,000 contribution points fine and a half-month ban? That's far too lenient!"

"It seems the sect values ​​Lu Zhao's potential and contributions."

"Hmph, so what? The selection battle will determine who's truly superior on the stage! We'll see how arrogant he is then!"

"Qin Wuyai will definitely not let this go easily. Let's wait and see what happens."

"I heard that several old monsters who have been in seclusion for many years have come out of seclusion for this selection, all for the sake of the spot in Yunmeng Ancient Marsh."

"This is going to be interesting. No matter how powerful Lu Zhao is, can he defeat those veteran disciples who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Various discussions and speculations swirled beneath the surface. Lu Zhao was completely unaware of this, and even if he had, he wouldn't have cared. He had only one goal—to secure a spot in the Cloud Dream Ancient Swamp and seek the opportunity to condense the Golden Core!

The days of confinement were peaceful and fulfilling. Lu Zhao diligently cultivated every day. The first level of the Nine Dragons Qi Control Technique, "Qi Induction and Body Tempering," had been stabilized, and his physical strength, defense, and spiritual energy purity had all significantly improved. He began to try cultivating the second level, "Qi Transformation into Dragons."

"Transforming Qi into Dragon" involves further integrating and refining the "dragon-shaped spiritual energy" introduced into the body with one's own dragon energy and spiritual power. This initial stage achieves "spiritual power taking form," simulating the shape and some of the power of a "dragon," making spiritual attacks more powerful and imbuing them with the characteristics of a "dragon," such as intimidation, penetration, and spell-breaking. If this stage is achieved, not only will the power of spiritual power greatly increase, but one can also begin to cast some "dragon" attribute spells, with power far exceeding ordinary five-element spells.

However, the second level of cultivation is far more difficult than the first, requiring extremely high purity of dragon energy, control over spiritual power, and strength of the soul. Although Lu Zhao had the foundation of dual dragon energy, his progress was still quite slow, but he was not discouraged and persisted in circulating his inner energy cultivation technique every day to refine his spiritual power.

At the same time, he did not relax his comprehension of the sword intent of annihilation. In his sea of ​​consciousness, the small gray sword became more solid, and the meaning of annihilation became more profound. He even tried to integrate a trace of the sword intent of annihilation into his newly cultivated "Phantom Escape Technique," making his movement technique more unpredictable and carrying the meaning of annihilating all things and returning to emptiness, thus doubling its power.

In his spare time, he would study the information about the inner sect masters in the jade slip given to him by Ye Qingyi, and ponder their techniques, fighting habits, and possible hidden trump cards, so that he would have a clear understanding of them.

Time flew by during the cultivation. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

That day, Lu Zhao was meditating in his quiet room when he suddenly sensed something and opened his eyes. The curfew had expired.

He stood up and walked out of the meditation room. After half a month of arduous cultivation, his aura had become more restrained and profound. A divine light flickered between the opening and closing of his eyes, and his skin seemed to glow with a precious luster. His overall temperament had lost some of its previous sharpness and gained a more serene and unpretentious quality. His cultivation at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment was now completely stable, and he had even faintly touched the threshold of the Pseudo-Core Formation realm.

"It's time to go out." Lu Zhao stretched his limbs, and a soft, dragon-like roar resonated within him. He pushed open the stone door of the meditation room and stepped out.

In the courtyard, the sunlight was just right, and the bamboo shadows swayed gently, as if the brief but fierce battle that had taken place half a month ago had never happened. But in the air, there seemed to be a faint, almost imperceptible smell of blood.

Lu Zhao looked up towards the main peak's martial arts arena. There, it must be packed with people, countless inner disciples eager to compete for the twenty spots to enter the Cloud Dream Ancient Swamp.

"The selection battle... is finally about to begin." A sharp glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. The half-month confinement had not diminished his sharpness; on the contrary, it had made his edge even more restrained and his killing intent even more concentrated.

He knew that the selection battle would be anything but peaceful. Qin Wuyai's revenge, the challenges from other opponents, and the scheming in the shadows... all would be revealed on the arena.

But he was fearless. Strength was the foundation for facing all challenges. In the past half month of arduous training, his strength had made significant progress compared to half a month ago. His Annihilation Sword Intent was more refined, the first level of the Nine Dragons Qi Control Technique was stable, and his physical body, spiritual power, and soul were all at their peak. He also had trump cards such as the "Phantom Escape Technique" and the refined "Blood Fiend Shield".

"Qin Wuyai... I hope you won't disappoint me." Lu Zhao muttered to himself, took a step out of the courtyard, mounted his escape light, and transformed into a streak of azure light, rushing towards the main peak's martial arts arena!

The inner sect's turmoil will be stirred up again by his move! The selection battle, a fierce competition, is about to begin!