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

As dawn broke, the inner training ground of the Qingyun Sect was already packed with people, and the noise was deafening.

After last night's events, news of Lu Zhao's rebellion against Qin Wuyai, Qin Tianfang's daring attack being suppressed, and Lu Zhao's serious injury yet continued fighting spread like wildfire throughout the entire Qingyun Sect, even reaching the outer sect and the miscellaneous servant peaks. Today, the number of people coming to watch the battle was several times greater than yesterday, completely surrounding the huge martial arts arena.

All eyes were drawn to the figure in blue robes sitting cross-legged in the Pill Hall area, eyes closed, meditating. There was admiration, curiosity, jealousy, schadenfreude, and even undisguised killing intent.

Lu Zhao seemed oblivious, remaining seated with his eyes closed, his breathing steady, his complexion rosy, showing no signs of the near-death state he had been in the previous day. This aroused suspicion in many people.

"Lu Zhao...recovered so quickly? He was so badly injured yesterday!"

"He must have taken high-grade healing pills! Su Yuanshan, the master of the Pill Hall, is a grandmaster of alchemy. It's not surprising that he took out a few earth-grade pills."

"Even so, to recover to this extent overnight is simply unbelievable! Could he have cultivated some kind of sacred healing technique?"

"Who cares! The Qin family will definitely not let this go today; they must have a backup plan! This Lu Zhao is probably in grave danger!"

"Hehe, this is going to be good! I wonder which unlucky fellow will run into Lu Zhao today?"

The discussions were lively and bustling. Everyone was eagerly anticipating the start of the draw, the next round of fierce competition, and especially... the appearance of Lu Zhao.

On the high platform, Lei Wanjun, Su Yuanshan, Elder Yan, the gray-robed elder, and others were already in place. Lei Wanjun remained expressionless, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the thirty-two disciples who had advanced below. He paused briefly on Lu Zhao, a barely perceptible hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Su Yuanshan looked worried, glancing frequently towards the Qin family. He saw Qin Lie and the others, their expressions calm, but the occasional flashes of cold light in their eyes betrayed their inner killing intent.

"The time has come!" Lei Wanjun's booming voice echoed throughout the training ground, silencing all the noise. "All disciples who have advanced, step forward and draw lots to determine the order of your sixth round of battles!"

Thirty-two disciples, each with a different expression, stepped forward in turn. Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance passing through them. He stood up, his steps steady, and walked towards the huge divination tube. His aura was restrained and profound, like a deep pool of water, its depths unfathomable.

Ye Qingyi, Zhao Yan, Li Yue, and the others followed closely, their hearts filled with tension and worry. They knew that today's battle was even more dangerous than yesterday's.

When it was Lu Zhao's turn, he remained calm and reached out to draw a jade slip. The jade slip was slightly cool to the touch, and two words appeared on it—Wen Ruoxu.

"The Ghost Scholar Wen Ruoxu?" Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. He had heard of this man before; a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the peak of his cultivation, proficient in formations and talismans, with unpredictable methods, a rogue cultivator, greedy and lecherous, with a bad reputation. He hadn't paid much attention to this man yesterday, but unexpectedly, he had run into him today.

Lu Zhao's gaze swept over a man not far away. A middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe, holding a folding fan, with a pale face and sinister eyes, was looking at him with a half-smile. It was Wen Ruoxu. Seeing Lu Zhao looking over, Wen Ruoxu lightly waved his folding fan, a meaningful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. Greed and murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

Lu Zhao sneered inwardly. This Wen Ruoxu was probably a pawn of the Qin family. However, being at the peak of Foundation Establishment and proficient in formations and talismans... that was rather interesting.

"Sixth round, third match, Lu Zhao on the third arena versus Wen Ruoxu on the fifth arena! Step onto the third arena!" the referee's voice rang out.

"Wen Ruoxu? It was him?"

"The Ghost Scholar Wen Ruoxu! This man is unpredictable, treacherous, and cunning. It's said he once used an array to trap and kill a cultivator of the same level! Lu Zhao is in trouble if he faces him!"

"Lu Zhao was seriously injured yesterday, and even if he recovers, his strength will be greatly diminished. Wen Ruoxu is well-rested and waiting for the opportune moment; this battle... looks ominous!"

"Heh heh, the Qin family really made a move! This Wen Ruoxu has probably been bought off by the Qin family!"

A gasp and murmur arose from the audience. Wen Ruoxu's reputation and methods made many people worry for Lu Zhao.

Ye Qingyi's pretty face changed slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with worry. She had heard of Wen Ruoxu; he was a ruthless man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, and extremely lecherous, having once coveted her. For Lu Zhao to face him would likely be no less dangerous than her battle against Qin Wuyai yesterday.

Zhao Yan and Li Yue also had solemn expressions. Wen Ruoxu's unpredictable nature was well-known.

"Junior Brother Lu, be careful of this person's formations and talismans. Don't let him get close," Ye Qingyi warned urgently via telepathy.

Lu Zhao nodded to Ye Qingyi, gave her a reassuring look, and then slowly stepped onto the third arena.

Across from him, Wen Ruoxu had been waiting for a long time. He gently waved his folding fan, a smile on his face, appearing refined and cultured, but the occasional flash of coldness in his eyes revealed that he was by no means a kind person.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, I have long admired your name." Wen Ruoxu cupped his hands and smiled, his voice high-pitched like a night owl. "Yesterday's battle, Fellow Daoist Lu's demeanor was truly impressive. It is my great honor to be able to spar with you today."

Lu Zhao looked at him calmly and indifferently, as if he were looking at a clown.

"Enough with the nonsense, let's make our move." Lu Zhao's voice was calm and undisturbed.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Lu is rather impatient." Wen Ruoxu's smile remained unchanged, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "In that case, I, Wen, will make a fool of myself."

Before he finished speaking, Wen Ruoxu closed his folding fan and retreated instantly. At the same time, he raised his right hand, and several streams of light shot out, growing larger in the wind and transforming into several palm-sized array flags, which were then planted around the arena with a few whooshing sounds!

"Initiate the formation!" Wen Ruoxu shouted in a low voice, his hands changing the hand seals.

"Buzz—!"

The array flags simultaneously lit up with a hazy white light, and invisible array patterns rapidly spread and intertwined across the arena, instantly forming a white light shield that enveloped the entire arena! Runes flowed across the light shield, emanating an aura of confinement and restraint!

"Trapped formation?!" someone in the audience exclaimed.

"Wen Ruoxu immediately used a formation! He's trying to trap Lu Zhao!"

"Within the formation, Lu Zhao's movements are restricted, while Wen Ruoxu can move freely. This imbalance means Lu Zhao is in danger!"

Once inside the formation, Lu Zhao immediately felt the surrounding air become viscous, as if he were in a swamp, greatly restricting his movements. At the same time, an invisible pressure squeezed in from all directions, as if trying to imprison him in place.

"A low-grade Earth-rank trapping formation—'Binding in the Mud'." Wen Ruoxu stood outside the formation, fanning himself with a folding fan, leisurely observing Lu Zhao within. A smug smile appeared on his face. "Fellow Daoist Lu, does this formation meet your standards? Within this formation, your movements are sluggish, your spiritual energy flow is obstructed, and you're lucky if you can unleash even half of your strength. As for me, I can come and go freely. Fellow Daoist Lu, you've already lost. Why not admit defeat to avoid serious injury and damage to your foundation?"

His voice was mocking and sarcastic, as if he had victory in his grasp.

"Admit defeat?" Lu Zhao's lips curled into a cold smile. "With this lousy formation?"

"A lousy formation?" Wen Ruoxu's smile froze, anger flashing in his eyes. "Lu Zhao, you're about to die, and you still dare to be stubborn! Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his right hand again, and dozens of yellow talismans shot out like locusts, disappearing into the formation!

"A rune array—!"

Wen Ruoxu changed his technique again, and shouted in a low voice: "Earth Spike Raging Tide!"

"Boom—!"

The arena floor shook violently! Thick spikes, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, sprouted wildly from the ground, densely packed and overwhelming, fiercely stabbing towards Lu Zhao in the center of the formation! The spikes shimmered with an earthy yellow light, carrying a heavy and sharp aura, as if they could pierce through anything!

At the same time, the white light on the array's protective shield intensified, and the force of confinement and restraint suddenly strengthened, locking onto Lu Zhao and making it impossible for him to move an inch!

A perfect combination of formations and talismans! Wen Ruoxu's first move was a killing blow, aiming to trap and kill Lu Zhao within the formation!

"Junior Brother Lu!" Ye Qingyi, Zhao Yan, Li Yue, and others below the stage exclaimed in shock, their hearts leaping into their throats! This earth spike storm was terrifyingly powerful, and coupled with the restrictions of the trapping formation, how could Lu Zhao possibly dodge it?!

On the high platform, Su Yuanshan, Elder Yan, and the others also wore solemn expressions. Wen Ruoxu's move was insidious and ruthless, clearly premeditated, aiming for a swift victory and giving Lu Zhao no chance!

Lei Wanjun's gaze was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, but his hands, clasped behind his back, clenched slightly.

In the midst of the formation, Lu Zhao faced the overwhelming barrage of earth spikes and the binding forces pressing in from all directions, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"A trivial skill."

He murmured something, and the Nine Dragons Controlling Qi Technique within his body suddenly began to operate! In his dantian, the dragon-shaped spiritual energy, interwoven with dark gold and grayish-white, raised its head and let out a silent roar, unleashing an incomparably domineering and all-annihilating dragon might!

"break!"

Lu Zhao raised his right foot and stomped down heavily!

"boom--!"

With a muffled thud, a gray-gold wave of energy erupted from Lu Zhao's right foot, spreading outwards like ripples! Wherever it passed, the densely packed ground spikes shattered like paper, turning into dust! The white light shield covering the arena shook violently, instantly becoming covered with spiderweb-like cracks!

"What?!" Wen Ruoxu's expression changed drastically outside the formation, his eyes filled with disbelief! His "Mud Binding" formation was a low-grade Earth-rank formation, enough to trap a Foundation Establishment cultivator for a short time. Coupled with the attack of the "Earth Spike Raging Tide" rune formation, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would perish! How could Lu Zhao, who was only at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, almost break his formation with a single kick?!

However, before he could think further, Lu Zhao made his move!

"Open it!"

Lu Zhao let out a long roar, clenched his right fist, and unleashed a torrent of annihilating dragon energy from his body, gathering it in his fist before punching out!

"Boom!"

A gray-gold fist imprint flew out of his hand, swelled in the wind, and transformed into a dragon fist several meters in size. With a terrifying will that could tear the sky apart and annihilate all things, it slammed into the cracked array light shield!

"Snap—!"

Like the sound of shattering glass, the white light shield shattered under Lu Zhao's domineering punch, turning into countless specks of light that dissipated into the air!

Break the formation!

"Pfft—!" The formation was forcibly broken, and Wen Ruoxu was mentally injured. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turned deathly pale, and his eyes were filled with shock and fear! His proud formation was so vulnerable in front of Lu Zhao!

"Impossible! You... how could you possibly..." Wen Ruoxu's voice trembled as he pointed at Lu Zhao, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Nothing is impossible." Lu Zhao took a step forward and instantly appeared in front of Wen Ruoxu, his gaze icy cold, like ice that had stood for millennia. "Your formation is too weak."

Before he finished speaking, Lu Zhao pointed his fingers like a sword, and a flash of gray-gold light appeared at his fingertips. A sword aura that had been condensed to the extreme silently pierced towards Wen Ruoxu's brow!

"No—!" Wen Ruoxu was terrified and frantically activated his spiritual power. He suddenly unfolded the folding fan in his hand, which transformed into a blue light shield in front of him. At the same time, he retreated rapidly, trying to create distance.

However, Lu Zhao's sword energy was too fast!

"laugh--!"

With a soft sound, Wen Ruoxu's high-grade magic weapon-level folding fan was easily pierced through like paper in front of Lu Zhao's sword energy! The sword energy continued its momentum and instantly pierced through Wen Ruoxu's brow!

Wen Ruoxu's body stiffened, the life in his eyes quickly fading, leaving only shock and resentment on his face. He never dreamed that his meticulously arranged formation would be so utterly vulnerable before Lu Zhao! Even more unexpected was the terrifying strength of Lu Zhao!

"Bang!"

Wen Ruoxu's body fell heavily to the ground, a bloody hole between his eyebrows from which red and white substances flowed. He died with his eyes wide open.

The arena was deathly silent.

Everyone stared blankly at the figure in blue robes standing calmly with his fingers tucked in on the arena, and at Wen Ruoxu, who lay dead with a hole pierced between his brows.

ended?

Wen Ruoxu, a scholar who had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and was proficient in array formations and talismans, was killed instantly by Lu Zhao without even lasting a single move.

Moreover, Lu Zhao directly and forcefully broke through Wen Ruoxu's low-grade earth-level trapping formation, and then killed him with a single sword strike!

How...how is this possible?!

"Instant kill?!"

"Wen Ruoxu's formation was actually shattered by Lu Zhao with a single punch?!"

"Lu Zhao's strength... seems to be even greater than yesterday?!"

"Wasn't he seriously injured yesterday? How come he not only recovered overnight, but his strength has also improved?!"

"Monster! This Lu Zhao is a monster!"

After a brief silence, a deafening roar of exclamations and murmurs erupted from the audience! Everyone was deeply shocked by Lu Zhao's thunderous and domineering attack! Wen Ruoxu was no ordinary person; he was a Foundation Establishment stage expert, proficient in formations and talismans, with unpredictable methods. Even Qin Wuyai would have to put up a fight against him. Yet Lu Zhao had so easily and effortlessly killed him! Didn't this mean that Lu Zhao's strength was even greater than when he fought Qin Wuyai yesterday?!

On the high platform, Su Yuanshan, Elder Yan, and the others also showed expressions of astonishment. They had not expected that Lu Zhao's strength had improved so much! Especially that punch that broke the formation, which was incredibly domineering and far superior to what it had been yesterday.

"This lad... is truly remarkable." The gray-robed elder stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming. "Overnight, not only have his injuries healed, but his strength has also improved. It seems yesterday's battle has brought him considerable gains."

"The Qin family has probably bitten off more than they can chew this time." Elder Yan chuckled, a gloating glint in his eyes.

A hint of surprise flashed in Lei Wanjun's eyes, but it vanished in an instant, and his expression remained indifferent. He looked in the direction of the Qin family and saw Qin Lie and the others with faces so gloomy they were almost dripping with water, and the killing intent in their eyes was almost tangible.

"Useless!" Qin Lie cursed inwardly. Wen Ruoxu, that piece of trash, not only failed to eliminate Lu Zhao but was also instantly killed—utterly disgraceful! However, the killing intent in his eyes intensified. Lu Zhao's displayed strength and potential made him even more wary, and his determination to kill him grew even stronger!

"This child must not be allowed to live!" Qin Lie vowed in his heart.

On the arena, Lu Zhao remained calm, as if his swift defeat of Wen Ruoxu was merely the casual swatting of a fly. His gaze swept across the crowd below, pausing briefly in the direction of the Qin family, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes. Then he turned and slowly walked off the arena.

"Sixth round, third match, Lu Zhao wins!" The referee's voice rang out at the opportune moment.

Ye Qingyi, Zhao Yan, Li Yue, and others rushed forward, their eyes filled with joy and worry.

"Junior Brother Lu, your...your injuries..." Ye Qingyi looked at Lu Zhao's completely healed appearance, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.

"She's fine now." Lu Zhao smiled slightly and gave her a reassuring look.

"Junior Brother Lu, that punch you just threw was so powerful! You broke Wen Ruoxu's formation with just one punch!" Zhao Yan exclaimed excitedly.

"Wen Ruoxu's formation is nothing but a facade," Lu Zhao said calmly, his gaze fixed on the drawing of lots. The battle to come would likely be far from simple. The Qin family certainly didn't only have Wen Ruoxu as a pawn.

Sure enough, the next draw was anything but calm.

"Sixth round, seventh match, Ye Qingyi on the second arena versus Li Jue on the fourth arena!"

The referee's voice, like a thunderclap, exploded in Ye Qingyi's ears.

Ye Qingyi's delicate body trembled, and her pretty face turned deathly pale instantly.

Blood Blade is ruthless! A Foundation Establishment cultivator at its peak, he is bloodthirsty by nature and possesses a vicious swordsmanship. He is one of the most infamous among the remaining thirty-two! Moreover, this man once owed the Qin family a favor!

The Qin family has indeed made their move! And it's aimed at Ye Qingyi!

Lu Zhao's eyes flashed with a cold light, his gaze like a knife, piercing towards the Qin family. Qin Lie met his gaze, a cold and cruel smile curving his lips, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.

"Senior Sister Ye..." Zhao Yan and Li Yue's expressions also changed. How could they not know that this was a conspiracy by the Qin family! They wanted to target Ye Qingyi and force Lu Zhao to submit!

Ye Qingyi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fear in her heart, a resolute glint flashing in her beautiful eyes. She looked at Lu Zhao, smiled sweetly, a smile that was both poignant and determined.

"Junior Brother Lu, don't worry, I... I'll be careful."

After speaking, she turned and walked resolutely towards the arena. She knew that this battle was likely to end badly. But she couldn't back down, and she wouldn't. She didn't want to become a burden to Lu Zhao.

Watching Ye Qingyi's resolute retreating figure, Lu Zhao felt a nameless rage burning within him. The Qin family, you're courting death!

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, yet he seemed oblivious. His gaze was icy, like ancient ice, fixed intently on the arena.

"Qin family... if Qingyi suffers even the slightest harm, I, Lu Zhao, swear I will exterminate your entire family!"