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

Lu Zhao stepped onto the third arena.

Opposite him stood a burly, rugged man—Sun Hu. He wielded a heavy broadsword, its blade gleaming with a dark, blood-red hue, clearly indicating it had consumed much blood. Sun Hu's gaze towards Lu Zhao was filled with solemnity and apprehension. He had clearly witnessed the ferocity with which Lu Zhao had annihilated Yin Jiuyou with a single finger. Although he himself was at the peak of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, he was still inferior to Yin Jiuyou, let alone this monstrous figure before him.

"Senior Brother Lu, please enlighten me." Sun Hu took a deep breath, suppressing his unease, and clasped his hands in a deep voice. Although he knew the chances of winning were slim, he had his pride in having come this far and did not want to flee without a fight, thus becoming a laughingstock.

"Please." Lu Zhao returned the greeting, his expression calm. He showed basic respect to an opponent who harbored a fighting spirit.

"Excuse me!" Sun Hu roared, his body radiating an earthy-yellow spiritual light, his muscles bulging, clearly indicating he had cultivated some kind of body-refining technique. He gripped his sword with both hands, took a step forward, and the arena floor seemed to tremble slightly. The heavy sword, carrying the force to split mountains and shatter rocks, slashed down at Lu Zhao! The sword wind howled, its power immense, clearly following a fierce and domineering path.

With this strike, Sun Hu held nothing back, unleashing his full power from the very first blow. Facing Lu Zhao, he dared not be careless in the slightest.

Everyone below the stage, including the elders on the platform, turned their gazes towards him, wanting to see how Lu Zhao would handle the situation. Would he kill him with a single finger, like he did with Yin Jiuyou? Or…?

Faced with this powerful and heavy strike, Lu Zhao did not retreat but advanced!

He shifted his feet, his figure moving like a ghost, narrowly avoiding the blade and instantly cutting into Sun Hu's center. He didn't use the Annihilation Sword Intent, nor even much spiritual power; he simply unleashed a punch!

A simple, unadorned punch, yet it carried a suffocating sense of oppression! Wherever the fist passed, the air emitted a low, explosive sound!

Sun Hu's pupils shrank sharply. He hadn't expected Lu Zhao to be so fast and his movements so unpredictable! In his haste, he could only barely hold the blade horizontally in front of his chest while simultaneously maximizing his protective spiritual light.

"clang--!"

The fist slammed solidly into the heavy blade, producing a deafening clang of metal against metal! Sun Hu felt an overwhelming, terrifying force surge from the blade, instantly shattering his protective aura. The shock caused his arms to ache and ache, his tiger's mouth to split open, and blood to gush out! The heavy, blood-stained blade let out a mournful cry of despair, flew out of his hand, arced through the air, and crashed to the edge of the arena with a thud.

Sun Hu himself felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer. He groaned and staggered back seven or eight steps, each step leaving a deep footprint on the hard ring. Finally, he collapsed to the ground, his face pale, his chest heaving, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He looked up in horror at Lu Zhao, who remained standing still, seemingly having merely swung his fist casually. His eyes were filled with shock. The strength he was so proud of was utterly insignificant in the face of that seemingly effortless punch! He could even sense that his opponent had held back; otherwise, that punch would have been enough to break his bones and ligaments!

"Thank you for your kind offer," Lu Zhao said calmly, withdrawing his fist.

"I...I concede." Sun Hu gave a bitter laugh, struggled to his feet, picked up his broadsword, and walked off the stage, covered in dust. He knew his opponent had shown mercy. Otherwise, he wouldn't be sitting, but lying down.

One punch, and the enemy is defeated.

Although not as shocking as his previous single-finger annihilation of Yin Jiuyou, this seemingly effortless yet overwhelming punch still sent a chill down everyone's spines. This Lu Zhao was not only decisive in his killings, but his strength was also unfathomable! A body cultivator at the peak of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment couldn't even withstand a single move from him!

"Lu Zhao wins the third arena!" the referee announced loudly.

Lu Zhao walked calmly off the stage. He wasn't surprised by the result at all. After mastering the first level of the "Nine Dragons Controlling Qi Technique," "Qi-Inducing Body Tempering," his physical strength, power, and speed had reached a terrifying level. Combined with the ghostly movement technique granted by the "Phantom Escape Technique," dealing with body cultivators of the same level was a complete dimensional reduction attack. If it weren't for the sect rules and not wanting to reveal his full strength too early, that punch just now would have been enough to seriously injure Sun Hu.

"Junior Brother Lu, you're amazing!" Zhao Yan greeted him, giving him a thumbs up. "I know Sun Hu. His 'Mountain-Splitting Saber Technique' is incredibly powerful, and his strength is among the top in his level. I never expected that he couldn't even withstand a single punch from you."

Lu Zhao shook his head: "His technique has flaws. Although his strength is great, it is too forceful and lacks variation. When I got close, he was naturally defeated."

"You need to be able to get close to him first," Li Yue remarked. "Junior Brother Lu's movement techniques seem to have become much more refined than when he was in Dragon Abyss."

Ye Qingyi's beautiful eyes gleamed with admiration. Lu Zhao's performance had repeatedly exceeded her expectations. This wasn't just about strength, but a perfect combination of combat intelligence and skill. She knew that Lu Zhao must have even stronger methods yet to be used.

Lu Zhao said no more, sat down cross-legged, and continued to regulate his breathing. Although the battle just now hadn't taken a heavy toll, there were still tough battles ahead, and he needed to maintain his best condition.

The arena battles continued. Fierce combat unfolded across the ten arenas, with spells clashing, magical artifacts colliding, and roars and screams rising and falling. Victories were constantly being won, beaming with joy; others were constantly being defeated, leaving the arena in dejection.

Qin Wuyai's opponent was a sword cultivator at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Qin Wuyai clearly vented his anger on his opponent, wielding his golden lightning sword with unparalleled skill, the lightning crackling across the blade. In just ten moves, he knocked away his opponent's flying sword, pressing his sword against the opponent's throat, forcing him to admit defeat. His victory was clean and decisive, domineering and powerful, seemingly declaring his strength to everyone, especially Lu Zhao.

Lin Dong's opponent was a female cultivator at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, skilled in water-based magic. Lin Dong's spear strikes were like a dragon, powerful and heavy. No matter how his opponent's water dragons, ice spikes, or whirlpools changed, he shattered them all with a single spear thrust. After twenty moves, he destroyed her protective magic artifact with a single strike, forcing her off the stage. His victory was composed and dignified, demonstrating remarkable strength.

Su Wan'er's opponent was a body cultivator at the peak of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment. This body cultivator was incredibly powerful, his punches whistling through the air, yet Su Wan'er skillfully manipulated him with her exquisite illusion techniques, leaving him breathless and exhausted. Su Wan'er then lightly swept him off the stage with a pink streak of light. Her easy and comfortable victory made it clear that this seemingly delicate woman should not be underestimated.

On other arenas, numerous powerful figures emerged. A white-clad woman carrying an ancient zither, exuding an ethereal aura, captivated her opponent with her music, plunging him into an illusion, leaving him bewildered and easily defeated. A cultivator shrouded in black robes, radiating a chilling aura, commanded several Foundation Establishment stage corpses, his ferocious power overwhelming, tearing his opponent to shreds (though not fatal, his ruthless methods severely injured him). A burly man with crimson hair and eyes, surrounded by flames, was like a fire god descended to earth; every punch and kick carried the power to scorch the heavens and boil the seas, leaving his opponent charred and battered, forced to admit defeat in a sorry state…

One name after another, one victory after another, gradually outlined the profile of the strongest in this selection. Lu Zhao, Qin Wuyai, Lin Dong, Su Wan'er, Qin Xianzi (woman in white), Shi Daoren (black-robed cultivator), Huo Yunzi (red-haired strongman)... These people are undoubtedly strong contenders for the top twenty.

An hour later, the first round of arena battles ended. Of the one thousand disciples, half were eliminated, leaving five hundred.

"Take a half-hour break, then proceed with the second round of battles," Lei Wanjun's voice rang out.

Those who advanced seized the time to recover, while the losers left dejectedly, either to heal their wounds or to observe and learn. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense and chilling. Those who remained were no ordinary fighters. The battles to come would only become more brutal and intense.

Half an hour passed quickly.

The light screen scrolled again, pairing opponents.

Lu Zhao's opponent this time is a Foundation Establishment Level 9 disciple from the Spirit Beast Peak named Han Li. He is skilled in beast taming and is accompanied by a late Foundation Establishment level Ironback Wolf with sharp fangs and fierce eyes.

"Senior Brother Lu, please." Han Li's expression was solemn. He was extremely wary of Lu Zhao's strength and was on high alert from the start. The Ironback Wolf also lowered its body, let out a low roar, and assumed an attack posture.

"Please." Lu Zhao nodded.

The battle began. Han Li dared not be careless and immediately activated his spirit beast pouch, releasing two more Iron Feather Eagles at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, which hovered in the air, waiting for an opportunity to strike. At the same time, he made a series of hand seals, casting several streams of spiritual light on himself and the Iron-Backed Wolf, clearly determined to outnumber Lu Zhao and wear him down.

"Go!" Han Li commanded. The Ironbacked Wolf roared and transformed into a streak of gray lightning, lunging at Lu Zhao, its sharp claws gleaming coldly, aiming straight for his heart. At the same time, two Iron-Feathered Eagles swooped down from the sky with sharp cries, their iron beaks like hooks, pecking at Lu Zhao's eyes and the back of his head. Han Li himself retreated far away, a beast bone staff appearing in his hand, chanting incantations, preparing to cast some kind of spell.

The three beasts and one person worked in perfect harmony, launching a fierce attack that sealed off all of Lu Zhao's escape routes.

The crowd below held their breath. The disciples of the Spirit Beast Peak were notoriously difficult to deal with, and Han Li was among the best, able to simultaneously control three Foundation Establishment stage spirit beasts with perfect coordination. Even ordinary Foundation Establishment Ninth Level cultivators would find him troublesome. While Lu Zhao possessed strong movement techniques and close-combat abilities, how would he cope with an attack from all sides?

Lu Zhao remained calm. Just as the Iron-Backed Wolf pounced on him, he moved.

He neither dodged nor took the hit head-on. Instead, with a light step, his figure moved like a ghost, passing through the gap between the Ironback Wolf's claws and the Iron Feather Eagle's beak at an incredible angle! It was the "Phantom Escape Technique" combined with his precise grasp of the timing in battle!

In the instant the attack passed, Lu Zhao pointed his fingers like a sword, a flash of gray light appearing at the tip of his finger, and gently touched the waist and abdomen of the Ironback Wolf.

"Awooo—!" The Ironback Wolf let out a mournful howl. Its massive body collapsed to the ground as if all its strength had been drained. Its limbs twitched and it foamed at the mouth. It had been temporarily sealed by Lu Zhao's finger wind containing the sword intent of annihilation, which had rendered it unable to fight.

At the same time, Lu Zhao's figure did not stop. He soared into the air like a bird and faced the two iron-feathered eagles that were swooping down. He used both hands at the same time, like a butterfly flitting among flowers. Amid the two iron eagles' panicked screams, he accurately struck the junction of their wing roots and necks.

With two soft "hissing" sounds, the two Iron Feather Eagles, like kites with broken strings, crashed to the ground, flapping their wings but unable to fly again, their demonic power temporarily sealed.

In the blink of an eye, all three Foundation Establishment stage spirit beasts lost their fighting ability!

"What?!" Han Li's expression changed drastically. The spell he was preparing was abruptly cut short, the backlash causing him to groan and a trickle of blood to escape from the corner of his mouth. He stared at Lu Zhao in utter horror, as if he had seen a ghost. His three-headed spirit beast, the weapon of his fame, was utterly utterly vulnerable before Lu Zhao! He hadn't even seen how Lu Zhao had made his move!

"I surrender!" Han Li, ever the straightforward one, knew that continuing the fight would only bring further humiliation, so he quickly shouted, while also running over to check on his spirit beast with concern. Fortunately, its demonic power was only temporarily sealed, and its core hadn't been damaged; it would recover in a few days. This made him grateful to Lu Zhao for showing mercy.

"Thank you for your concession." Lu Zhao withdrew his hand, his expression remaining calm. When dealing with spirit beasts, especially those that are controlled, breaking the key connection between them and their master is more effective than directly killing them. He didn't want to cause unnecessary casualties, after all, these spirit beasts had a difficult time cultivating.

"Lu Zhao wins the third arena!" the referee announced loudly, his gaze towards Lu Zhao filled with a hint of amazement. This young man was not only incredibly strong, but his eyesight, technique, and control were also exquisitely refined!

A gasp of amazement erupted once more from the audience. Lu Zhao's fighting style was always refreshing, yet so powerful it was almost despair-inducing. It seemed that no matter who the opponent was or what methods they used, they couldn't withstand more than a few moves from him.

"Another one-hit kill... Although I didn't use my full strength, this demonstrates even more skill than a direct defeat!"

"Han Li's Iron-Backed Wolf and Iron-Feathered Eagle worked together seamlessly, combining offense and defense, yet Lu Zhao managed to break through their defenses in an instant... That's terrifying!"

"How many more tricks does he still have up his sleeve?"

"At this rate, it's almost a certainty that he'll break into the top twenty!"

"Qin Wuyai is probably getting restless..."

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Lu Zhao calmly stepped down from the stage. Qin Wuyai's gaze, like a venomous thorn, remained fixed on him, the killing intent and apprehension in his eyes growing ever stronger. The more powerful Lu Zhao appeared, the more intense Qin Wuyai's killing intent and unease became. This boy must not be allowed to live!

The second round of battles continued. Powerful figures like Qin Wuyai, Lin Dong, and Su Wan'er defeated their opponents and advanced decisively. The Fairy Qin, the Corpse Daoist, and Huo Yunzi also displayed their formidable strength, easily securing victories.

When the second round of matches ended, half of the 500 participants were eliminated, leaving 250.

"Take a one-hour break, then proceed with the third round of battles," Lei Wanjun announced.

The selection process has now lasted for more than half a day. As dusk approaches, the training grounds remain brightly lit, and the atmosphere grows increasingly intense. The 250 individuals who have survived to this point are almost all among the best of the inner sect's Foundation Establishment disciples; every battle to come will be a fierce and intense clash of titans!

Lu Zhao sat cross-legged, his Nine Dragons Qi Control Technique slowly circulating within him, restoring his depleted spiritual energy. The series of battles, though against weak opponents, had still required him to use some of his strength to end things quickly, resulting in considerable exhaustion. Moreover, he vaguely sensed several hidden yet powerful gazes watching him from the shadows. The owners of these gazes were no weaker than Qin Wuyai, perhaps even stronger.

"The real battle is about to begin," Lu Zhao thought to himself, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. Only by clashing with experts could he improve himself more quickly. This selection battle was not only a battlefield for vying for a spot, but also an excellent opportunity to hone his skills.

An hour passed quickly in a tense atmosphere.

The light screen scrolled again. Everyone's hearts were in their throats. The further they went, the greater the chance of encountering a powerful opponent.

Lu Zhao's name appeared. And when he saw his opponent's name, his eyes flickered slightly.

"Lu Zhao on the third arena versus Lin Dong on the sixth arena!"