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

On the stage, their eyes met in mid-air, sparking an invisible flame.

Zhao Wuji's eyes were icy cold, like ice that had stood for millennia. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of his sword at his waist, a habitual gesture when his killing intent surged.

"Huang Zhao..." Zhao Wuji spoke slowly, his voice carrying a chilling sense of oppression, "Your swordsmanship is quite unique."

V Zhao smiled slightly, a strange expression appearing on his sallow face: "Is that so? Thank you for the compliment, Senior Brother Zhao. However, I do find Senior Brother Zhao's swordsmanship even more special—especially familiar."

"Familiar?" Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, it's like..." V Zhao feigned a moment of hesitation, "like I've seen it in some kind of tomb."

"Boom—" Zhao Wuji's aura suddenly erupted, and the spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator pressed down on Lu Zhao like a tidal wave.

"Who exactly are you?" His voice was icy cold.

The surrounding disciples were forced to retreat by the sudden spiritual pressure, their faces showing fear. But Lu Zhao, standing on the arena, remained as still as a rock in a stormy sea.

"What is Senior Brother Zhao doing?" V Zhao's voice remained calm, even carrying a hint of mockery. "I'm just an ordinary disciple who wants to enter the inner sect."

"An ordinary disciple?" Zhao Wuji sneered. "This is the first time I've seen an 'ordinary' disciple who can remain unfazed under my spiritual pressure."

"That's because Senior Brother Zhao is inexperienced." V Zhao smiled.

"You!" A murderous glint flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. This was a public place; he couldn't attack a disciple undergoing assessment in front of everyone.

"Good, very good." Zhao Wuji withdrew his spiritual pressure, but the coldness in his eyes intensified. "Huang Zhao, you have passed the inner sect assessment. From today onwards, you are an inner sect disciple of the Qingyun Sect."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao." V Zhao cupped his hands in thanks, his smile unchanged.

"However..." Zhao Wuji changed the subject, "As an inner disciple, you need to abide by the sect's rules. If I discover any improper behavior from you, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Zhao, I will definitely abide by the law," V Zhao said with a smile.

"Hmph!" Zhao Wuji ignored him and turned to the disciple in charge, saying, "Continue."

The assessment continued, but the atmosphere had become noticeably more oppressive. Everyone could see that Huang Zhao, the newly promoted inner disciple, had already been targeted by Zhao Wuji.

"Huang Zhao is finished," someone whispered.

"He's offended Senior Brother Zhao; his days in the inner sect won't be easy."

"What a pity, such great skill..."

V Zhao ignored these discussions. He had already achieved his goal—successfully entering the inner sect, and had also planted a seed of doubt in Zhao Wuji's heart.

"Zhao Wuji, I'm right under your nose. Let's see if you can spot me." Zhao Wuji sneered inwardly.

Soon, all the competitions ended. In the end, thirty people passed the assessment and became the new batch of inner disciples.

"All disciples who have passed the assessment should report to the Internal Affairs Hall at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow to receive their inner disciple identity tokens and supplies," an elder announced.

"Disperse," Zhao Wuji said coldly, turning to leave. In that instant, he gave Lu Zhao a deep look, a flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes.

V Zhao ignored his gaze, blended into the crowd, and left the square.

...

Night, Tianji Peak, Zhao Wuji's cave dwelling.

"Have you found out?" Zhao Wuji asked coldly.

"Reporting to Young Master, we have found out." A man in black said respectfully, "Huang Zhao, his origins are unknown. He appeared in Qingyun Market three months ago, claiming to be a rogue cultivator. He had been renting a place in the market and there was nothing unusual about him."

"His origins are unknown..." Zhao Wuji tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "His swordsmanship... what did you discern?"

"Young Master, I have observed him carefully," the man in black said. "His swordsmanship seems ordinary, but his sword intent is strange, as if it can annihilate everything. This sword intent is very similar to that of the person in the Sword Tomb."

"Very similar?" Zhao Wuji's eyes narrowed.

"Yes. However, that person's sword intent is more domineering, while Huang Zhao's sword intent is gentler," the man in black said.

"Gentle?" Zhao Wuji sneered. "That's because he's hiding it."

"Young Master means..." the man in black exclaimed in surprise.

"This Huang Zhao is definitely related to Lu Zhao," Zhao Wuji said in a deep voice. "He might even be Lu Zhao himself!"

"But...Lu Zhao has already..." the man in black said in confusion.

"I want to see his body!" Zhao Wuji said coldly. "Since we haven't found his body, he might still be alive."

"So what should we do now?" the man in black asked.

"Keep an eye on him," Zhao Wuji said. "Regardless of whether he is Lu Zhao or not, since he has a connection with Lu Zhao, he is our enemy."

"Yes. However..." the man in black said hesitantly, "He is now an inner disciple, so it's not appropriate for us to deal with him openly."

"No need to be overt." A sinister smile crept across Zhao Wuji's lips. "The competition within the inner sect is fierce."

"Young Master means..." The man in black's eyes lit up.

"Find a few people to test his strength," Zhao Wuji said. "Remember, don't use any of our Zhao family members."

"Understood, sir." The man in black nodded.

"Also, intensify the suppression of the Lu family," Zhao Wuji said. "No matter who Huang Zhao is, as long as the Lu family collapses, he won't be able to cause any trouble."

"Yes!" the man in black replied and left.

Zhao Wuji walked to the window, looked at the bright moon in the night sky, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Lu Zhao, whether you're really dead or you're faking it, I will find you!"

...

The next day, at the Imperial Household Department.

V Zhao received an inner disciple's identity token, a set of inner disciple's robes, and some basic cultivation resources.

"Junior Brother Huang, this is your residence." A disciple in charge handed Lu Zhao a jade token. "It's in Cave Number Thirty-Six on Cloud Mist Peak in the outer sect."

"Outer sect?" V Zhao frowned.

"Yes," the disciple in charge explained, "All newly promoted inner disciples must live in the outer sect for a year, and then be assigned an inner sect cave dwelling based on their performance."

"I see." V Zhao nodded and accepted the jade token.

"However..." the disciple in charge said in a low voice, "Junior Brother Huang, you must be careful."

"Be careful of what?" V Zhao asked.

"What happened yesterday has already spread," the disciple said. "Senior Brother Zhao is very dissatisfied with you, and many people who want to curry favor with the Zhao family may cause you trouble."

"Thank you for the reminder, senior brother." V Zhao cupped his hands in greeting.

"You're welcome." The disciple in charge sighed. "I only did this because I see you as a talented person and don't want you to die young. In the inner sect, there are some people you can't afford to offend."

"I understand." V Zhao nodded and turned to leave the Internal Affairs Hall.

Yunxia Peak is where outer sect disciples reside. Although it's an outer sect location, the concentration of spiritual energy here is much higher than in other places.

Cave No. 36 is located halfway up Yunxia Peak. It is an independent courtyard with a rather nice environment.

As soon as V Zhao arrived at the entrance of the cave, he saw several people waiting there.

"You are Huang Zhao?" The leader was a tall, fierce-looking young man who exuded the aura of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Indeed," V Zhao said calmly. "And you are?"

"We're here to teach you the rules of the inner sect," the vicious young man sneered. "In the inner sect, newcomers must know how to respect their seniors."

"Oh?" V Zhao raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, how exactly do you show respect?"

"It's very simple." The vicious young man stretched out his hand. "Hand over your cultivation resources for this month, and we can guarantee your safety within the inner sect."

"So they were collecting protection money," V Zhao suddenly realized.

"Enough with the nonsense!" the thuggish youth said impatiently. "Hand it over, or you'll suffer!"

"What if I don't pay?" V Zhao asked.

"You won't pay?" A fierce glint flashed in the young man's eyes. "Then I'll show you what happens when you don't know the rules!"

As he spoke, he punched Lu Zhao in the chest.

A muffled "bang!"

The vicious youth's fist stopped three inches from Lu Zhao's chest, unable to advance any further.

"You..." The vicious young man's expression changed. He felt as if his fist had hit an invisible wall.

"With this little strength, you dare to come and collect protection money?" V Zhao shook his head and kicked out.

"Ah—" The vicious youth screamed and flew backward, crashing heavily to the ground, unable to get up for a moment.

"Big Brother!" The others were shocked and rushed forward.

"Get lost!" V Zhao shouted coldly, and a powerful aura erupted from his body.

"Late stage of Foundation Establishment?" The group's expression changed drastically, and they immediately stopped in their tracks.

"Aren't you going to get lost?" V Zhao looked at them coldly.

"Let's go!" The group helped the vicious young man up and fled in a sorry state.

"Useless thing." V Zhao shook his head, opened the restrictions on the cave, and went inside.

He knew this was just the beginning. Zhao Wuji would never let him off so easily.

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." A cold glint flashed in V Zhao's eyes. "Zhao Wuji, I'd like to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve."

He entered the cultivation room, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate.

Now that I've entered the inner sect, the next step is to gradually improve my strength, and then... seek revenge!

Meanwhile, in another cave on Yunxia Peak...

"Useless! All of you are useless!" A young man with a gloomy face slammed his hand on the table and smashed it.

"Senior Brother Zhou, please calm down," a disciple beside him quickly said. "That Huang Zhao's strength is indeed not simple."

"Not simple?" Senior Brother Zhou sneered. "How simple can a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator be? I, Zhou Long, want to see just how capable he really is!"

"What does Senior Brother mean...?" The disciple's eyes lit up.

"Tomorrow, I'll go and meet him in person." A cold glint flashed in Zhou Long's eyes.

He was a veteran disciple of the inner sect, with a cultivation level at the peak of Foundation Establishment, making him a prominent figure within the inner sect. Moreover, he was an vassal of the Zhao family.

"Huang Zhao, tomorrow I'll show you the consequences of offending the Zhao family!"

Night deepened. But beneath this peaceful night, a storm was quietly brewing against Lu Zhao.