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

Lu Zhao moved swiftly through the towering ancient trees and gnarled vines, his figure like a wisp of smoke, blending into the ancient and dangerous forest. He avoided several areas emanating powerful demonic energy and evaded several groups of cultivators who were clearly traveling together with ulterior motives. Since killing Blood Shadow, he had become even more cautious, knowing that in this Heavenly Sword Secret Realm, the human heart was often more treacherous than the demonic beasts.

Three days later, Lu Zhao arrived at a peculiar region deep within the secret realm.

The sight before him made him stop in his tracks.

Gone are the dense forests and the rugged peaks. As far as the eye can see, there is only a boundless wasteland. The ground is cracked, riddled with fissures of all sizes, like a riverbed that has dried up for millions of years. The air is dry and scorching, filled with a strong smell of sulfur and metal.

What is most striking is that swords are stuck everywhere on this wasteland.

All kinds of swords.

Some were intact, stuck at an angle in the ground, their blades rusted but still radiating a chilling light and an indomitable sword intent. Others were broken, with only half a blade or a broken tip remaining, deeply embedded in the rock. Some were as huge as mountains, tens of meters long, like stone monuments standing in the center of the wasteland, covered with dark red rust, yet exuding a chilling, heavy pressure. Some were as small as needles, densely packed in an area, forming a shimmering patch of silver "sword grass."

Thousands, even hundreds of thousands, millions of swords, like an endless metal forest, stand silently on this desolate land. Sunlight shines on the swords, reflecting a cold and murderous light. The wind blows, and countless broken and fragmented swords emit a "whooshing" sound, as if millions of heroic souls are weeping, whispering, and telling the story of an ancient war that has been sealed away.

A desolate, tragic, and chilling aura swept over him, shaking Lu Zhao's soul.

"Is this... the outer perimeter of the 'Sword Tomb' recorded in the Blood Shadow Jade Slip?" Lu Zhao murmured to himself, shocked. Just standing on the edge, he could feel the soaring sword intent, as well as the tragic grandeur and deathly silence that had accumulated over countless years.

The annihilating dragon energy within him seemed to be drawn in some way, stirring slightly as if responding to the call of this graveyard of swords.

"Such a powerful residual sword intent..." Lu Zhao closed his eyes, cautiously extending his divine sense to perceive this world. He could "see" countless sword intents, some strong, some weak, some sharp, some heavy, some scorching, some icy, intertwining, entangled, and colliding above this wasteland, forming a chaotic and violent sword intent force field. Those with insufficient cultivation or weak will, who rashly entered, would likely have their souls torn apart by this chaotic sword intent in an instant.

"It seems that entering the depths of the Sword Tomb will not be easy." Lu Zhao opened his eyes, his expression solemn. He glanced across the wasteland and saw several places with fresh traces of battle, some dried bloodstains, and even a few corpses that were not yet fully decomposed. Judging from their clothes, they were the cultivators who had entered the secret realm earlier.

"Someone has already gone in," Lu Zhao thought to himself. He wasn't surprised. The legend of the Sword Tomb was probably no secret among the cultivators who entered the secret realm. Those with strength and ambition would naturally come to seek opportunities.

He didn't rush in. Instead, he found a relatively secluded boulder outside the Sword Tomb, set up a simple concealment spell, and sat down cross-legged. He needed to adjust his state and carefully observe the situation.

Half a day later, Lu Zhao had reached his peak condition. Just as he was about to get up and enter the Sword Tomb, a faint voice drifted over on the dry wind.

"...Is the news reliable? Is there really an ancient sword-wielding legacy emerging from the depths of the Sword Tomb?" a slightly hoarse male voice asked, his tone filled with suppressed excitement.

"Absolutely true!" another shrill voice rang out, confirming, "It's news from 'Listening Wind Pavilion.' Their information is always accurate. It's said that three days ago, a soaring sword light erupted in the core area of ​​the Sword Tomb, accompanied by an ancient sword cry, lasting for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn! Several cultivators nearby saw it at the time, but unfortunately, the sword intent in the area where the sword light was located was too violent, and they couldn't get close at all."

"Listening Wind Pavilion?" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He had heard of this organization when he was in the Qingyun Sect. It was a mysterious force that specialized in buying and selling information, with influence throughout various prefectures and provinces, and its information network was indeed very efficient.

"That's not all," another steady voice joined the conversation, "It's said that within that sword light, there's a faint, illusory figure, possibly the inherited sword seal left behind by that ancient sword master! Obtaining it might mean acquiring that master's mantle!"

"The Inherited Sword Seal!" The hoarse male voice quickened its breathing. "If it's true, that's an incredible opportunity! Enough to make a sect rise to prominence, and allow a cultivator to soar to the heavens!"

"Hmph, the opportunity is great, but you need to be alive to seize it." The shrill voice sneered, "You've all seen how dangerous the outer area of ​​this Sword Tomb is. The sword intent is chaotic, and broken swords stand everywhere. A slight mistake can result in injury from the sword intent, or even death from some residual sword energy. The core area is probably even more of a dragon's den and a tiger's lair. Moreover, once the news spread, countless people are rushing here. The Qingyun Sect, the Xuantian Sect, the Qin family, and those ruthless figures among the rogue cultivators... the competition will likely be exceptionally fierce."

"The Qin family?" a hoarse male voice asked. "They've come too?"

"Of course," the steady voice said, "Qin Wufeng of the Qin family is said to have arrived. He is one of the leading figures of the younger generation of the Qin family, with his cultivation already at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. His 'Mountain-Breaking Sword Technique' is extremely fierce, and his combat power is astonishing. Moreover, the Qin family seems determined to obtain this Sword Tomb inheritance and has sent many skilled individuals to participate."

Upon hearing "Qin Family" and "Qin Wufeng," a cold glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. The Qin Family had indeed come. Moreover, judging from their tone, the Qin Family seemed to place great importance on the Sword Tomb's inheritance. This further heightened Lu Zhao's vigilance.

"Besides the Qin family, Lin Jingyu of the Qingyun Sect and Zhao Wuji of the Xuantian Sect are also said to have arrived. And that rogue cultivator who has been making waves recently, 'The Deadly Scholar' Liu Suifeng, has also been seen in the vicinity." The shrill voice continued, with a hint of apprehension in its tone.

"Senior Brother Lin Jingyu is here too?" Lu Zhao's heart stirred slightly. Lin Jingyu was one of the best inner disciples of the Qingyun Sect, possessing profound cultivation, superb swordsmanship, and a rather upright character. Joining forces with him would be a great help. However, in this secret realm, people's hearts are unpredictable, and one cannot completely trust anyone.

"Who cares who comes? When opportunity knocks, it's all about skill!" the hoarse male voice said fiercely. "We, the 'Black Wind Three Fiends,' are not to be trifled with! Let's go in and take a look. Maybe we'll get lucky and find something."

The voices gradually faded away, clearly indicating that the three who called themselves the "Three Black Wind Fiends" were heading deeper into the Sword Tomb.

Lu Zhao emerged from behind the boulder, his gaze fixed intently on the depths of the Sword Tomb. Soaring sword light, inherited sword imprints… it seemed the information recorded in the Blood Shadow Jade Slip was not unfounded. Indeed, a great opportunity lay hidden deep within this Sword Tomb.

"The Qin family... Qin Wufeng..." Lu Zhao murmured, a cold glint in his eyes. "Perfect, old and new grudges can be settled at once. However, the most urgent task is to first enter the depths of the Sword Tomb and find the inherited sword seal."

He checked the direction again, then stepped into the wasteland strewn with broken swords.

"Buzz—!"

The moment Lu Zhao stepped into the Sword Tomb's area, a sudden change occurred!

The ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble slightly. The countless broken and fragmented swords around him seemed to be awakened, emitting a low, buzzing sword hum. The chaotic sword intent field in the air also seemed to be stirred, becoming more active, and an invisible pressure enveloped Lu Zhao.

This pressure was not simply gravity, but more like countless chaotic sword intents trying to invade his consciousness, disturb his mind, and tear at his will.

"Hmph!" Lu Zhao grunted, and the annihilating dragon energy within his body automatically circulated. A vast, domineering, and all-annihilating dragon might naturally emanated, blocking all the chaotic sword intent that tried to invade.

"It's indeed dangerous." Lu Zhao's expression was solemn. Even from the outer perimeter, the erosion of sword intent was so severe. If one's cultivation was slightly weak or one's will was not firm, one would probably lose one's mind after only a few steps and become a sword puppet that only knew how to kill.

He moved forward cautiously, avoiding broken swords with particularly sharp sword intent or those exuding an eerie aura. Around some of these broken swords, the space itself was slightly distorted, and the remaining sword energy, even after thousands of years, remained incredibly sharp, easily capable of cleaving metal and stone.

"Whoosh!"

A barely perceptible whooshing sound rang out. A sense of alarm surged through Lu Zhao's mind, and without a second thought, he abruptly shifted to the side.

"laugh--!"

A transparent, almost invisible sword aura grazed past his clothes, silently slicing a millstone-sized rock behind him in two, leaving a smooth, mirror-like cut.

"Such sharp residual sword energy!" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. This sword energy, left behind at some unknown time, had retained such power despite the passage of time. If he were struck, even with his Annihilation Dragon Body protecting him, he would likely be injured.

He became even more cautious, spreading his divine sense to its fullest extent, carefully sensing every subtle fluctuation in his surroundings. At the same time, he was also trying to comprehend the sword intent remaining on the broken swords around him.

These sword intents, though chaotic and violent, contained many profound and exquisite sword dao truths. Some were incomparably sharp and unstoppable; some were as solid as a mountain, immovable; some were unpredictable and unpredictable, impossible to defend against; some were as fiery as fire, incinerating all things; some were as cold as snow, freezing the soul…

Lu Zhao cultivates the Annihilation Sword Intent, following the path of destruction and annihilation. However, the path of the sword is vast and profound, with connections to many other sword intents. While comprehending these different sword intents cannot directly improve his cultivation level, it can broaden his horizons, deepen his understanding of the sword path, and even allow him to draw nourishment from them to perfect his own Annihilation Sword Intent.

He walked and stopped, sometimes pausing to carefully sense the sword intent emanating from a broken sword; other times he moved quickly, avoiding obviously dangerous areas. Gradually, he adapted much to the sword intent field of this sword mound, and his speed increased considerably.

Half a day later, Lu Zhao had ventured over a hundred miles into the Sword Tomb. The broken swords here were more numerous, seemed to be of higher quality, and possessed a more powerful and complete residual sword intent. He could even see faint, blurry runes flashing on some of the broken swords, radiating an ancient aura.

"Hmm?" Lu Zhao suddenly stopped and looked up at the road not far ahead.

There, stuck in the ground, was a broken sword, its body entirely black and its design ancient. Only half of the blade was visible; the hilt had long since decayed. But what caught Lu Zhao's attention was that there were no other swords around this broken sword, forming a blank area about three zhang in diameter. Moreover, the sword intent emanating from this broken sword was extremely restrained, almost imperceptible, completely different from the flamboyant and violent sword intents surrounding it.

But it was precisely this restraint that made Lu Zhao feel a strange sense of danger.

He pondered for a moment, then cautiously released a wisp of his divine sense, probing towards the black broken sword.

Just as his divine sense was about to touch the broken sword—

"Zheng—!"

A clear, melodious sword cry suddenly rang out! The seemingly ordinary, jet-black broken sword trembled violently! A jet-black sword aura, condensed to its extreme, shot out from the broken sword like a venomous snake that had been lurking for a long time, instantly tearing through the air and heading straight for Lu Zhao's brow!

Fast! Too fast! This sword energy is several times faster than any residual sword energy Lu Zhao has encountered before! Moreover, the sword energy contains a cold, deathly sword intent that seems capable of devouring all light!

"Not good!" Lu Zhao's pupils shrank sharply. Without thinking, he frantically circulated the Annihilation Dragon Qi within his body, and with his right hand fingers pointing like a sword, a gray-gold Annihilation Sword Qi shot out as well!

"bite--!"

A crisp collision rang out. The jet-black sword energy and the grey-gold sword energy clashed violently in mid-air! There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a sharp ringing sound. The next instant, the jet-black sword energy and the grey-gold sword energy simultaneously annihilated, dissipating into the air.

Lu Zhao's face paled, and he involuntarily took three steps back, his blood churning within him. His Annihilation Sword Qi had only managed to clash evenly with the remaining dark sword qi!

"What powerful residual sword intent!" Lu Zhao was shocked. The owner of this jet-black broken sword must have possessed unfathomable cultivation in his lifetime. The residual sword energy he left behind, after countless years, still possessed such power!

His gaze was fixed on the broken, black sword. At this moment, the broken sword seemed to have exhausted its last bit of strength, returning to stillness, embedded in the ground, motionless. But Lu Zhao could sense that a faint trace of spirituality still remained within the broken sword.

"This sword is no ordinary weapon." Lu Zhao's heart stirred, and he cautiously stepped forward. He could sense that this black, broken sword seemed to have a strange attraction to his cultivated sword intent of annihilation.

He stopped in front of the broken sword, reached out his hand, and slowly grasped the black hilt.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the hilt of the sword—

"Buzz—!"

The black broken sword emitted another low hum, and a cold, deathly sword intent surged into Lu Zhao's body through his fingers!

The scene before Lu Zhao's eyes suddenly changed!