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

Making money is the most pressing issue right now. Without cinnabar talismans, without rooster blood peach wood, relying solely on simple bark talismans and the few remaining talismans to challenge the evil spirit in that unknown graveyard is tantamount to suicide.

Lu Zhao didn't rush to claim the high-risk reward for the "missing child from Lijia Village." He needed a safer and faster way to accumulate initial funds and familiarize himself with the surrounding "game environment."

He went to the "bulletin board" in the town center again.

This time, his focus shifted from high-reward, high-risk "hunting demons" missions to carefully searching for missions with relatively lower rewards but more manageable risks. Soon, several targets came into his view:

* "I'm offering 500 coins for a pair of complete black-striped wild boar tusks."

* "Clear the giant bat swarm inside Black Wind Cave, three miles west of the town. You need to remove at least thirty bats. Once you confirm that the area is completely cleared, you will receive one tael of silver. Note: The giant bats are poisonous, so be careful."

* "We are a long-term buyer of all kinds of low-grade herbs, such as hemostatic herbs, snake saliva flowers, and ghost face mushrooms. We pay according to their quality and quantity."

"Black-striped wild boar... giant bats... herbs..." Lu Zhao quickly calculated. Wild boars have thick hides and tough flesh, making a direct confrontation difficult and unprofitable. Bat swarms are in enclosed caves, the risks are unknown, and a large number are required. Relatively speaking, gathering herbs seems the simplest option, but he is unfamiliar with herbs, making it too inefficient.

"Perhaps... I could try the bat cave?" Lu Zhao pondered. Clearing out bats meant combat, which meant experience and potential loot. Although giant bats were poisonous, their "giant" size meant they were larger targets and easier to hit. Moreover, bats lived in swarms, making it perfect for testing group combat and terrain utilization. The reward of one tael of silver was enough to buy some basic materials.

Having made up his mind, Lu Zhao went to the notice board next to the garrison headquarters. This place was specifically responsible for registering and verifying missions, as well as distributing reward money. He was greeted by the same advisor, Wang.

"Clearing out the bats in Black Wind Cave?" Master Wang glanced at Lu Zhao and saw that although he was young, his eyes were steady and he didn't seem to be joking. He said, "Those bats are not easy to deal with. Their fangs are sharp. If you get bitten, the wound will rot, and it will be painful and numb. Without an antidote, you'll be badly injured even if you don't die. Have you thought this through? This job is not easy. Many hunters and martial arts masters are unwilling to take it."

"Thank you for the reminder, Master. I will be careful," Lu Zhao said, bowing.

"Alright, then go and clean it up first. Once it's clean, take the receipt and come back to collect your payment." Master Wang made a note in the register and handed him a small, simple wooden plaque engraved with "Governor's Office." "This is your receipt. Don't lose it."

After accepting the mission, Lu Zhao didn't leave town immediately but went to the market again. He first checked out Liu's General Store, and sure enough, the prices were cheaper than at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, but the quality of the cinnabar talisman paper was much worse. He didn't buy any, but instead bought a small packet of cheap sulfur powder (which might be used to repel insects or create chaos), a sturdy bundle of hemp rope, and a few fire tumblers. He then went to the blacksmith's shop and spent a few dozen coins to sharpen his nicked woodcutter's knife, and also bought two rough throwing knives. This cost him nearly half a tael of silver.

"I still need to save some money for medicine." Lu Zhao felt a pang of regret, but he couldn't skimp on necessary expenses. He went to the pharmacy again and bought three doses of the cheapest "cooling powder," which was said to be able to counteract common snake and insect venom, as well as a small jar of low-quality hemostatic powder. At this point, he had less than three hundred coins left.

Back on South Street, Lu Zhao ate something simple, told Master Zhao that he would be away for two or three days, and then left the town again, heading west.

Black Wind Cave was located three miles west of the town, at the foot of a cliff. The entrance was small, and the interior was deep and dark, with a faint, fishy smell wafting through the air. Lu Zhao stood outside the cave, not daring to enter rashly. He picked up a dry branch, lit it at the entrance, and threw it inside. The burning branch rolled into the cave, illuminating an area near the entrance. He could see that the cave walls were slippery, the ground was covered with dried bat droppings, and the air was filled with a faint, nauseating, fishy stench.

He listened intently, activating the [Refining Spirit Technique] to enhance his hearing. Sure enough, deep within the cave, came a dense, teeth-grinding "squeaking" sound, as if countless tiny claws were scratching at the rock wall.

"Quite a few," Lu Zhao estimated in his mind, and untied the bundle of hemp rope from his back. He first found a sturdy tree not far from the cave entrance, tied one end of the rope firmly to the tree, and the other end to his waist, leaving enough length to enter the cave. This was just in case; if there were traps or forks in the road inside, he could use the rope to retreat.

Having prepared everything, Lu Zhao took a deep breath, held a burning torch in his left hand, gripped a wood-chopping knife in his right hand, and slung a throwing knife at his waist. He then carefully stepped into the cave.

The cave entrance was narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time. After going several meters deeper, it suddenly opened up, forming an irregular space about several meters in diameter. The cave ceiling was extremely high, and countless dark shadows hung upside down from it—giant bats! Each one was the size of a house cat, completely black, with exposed fangs, and eerie green eyes that reflected a ghostly light in the firelight.

[Giant Poison Bat, Level: 1~2]

Health Points: 100%/100%

[Status: Photophobia, Dormant (disturbed by firelight)]

"Afraid of light? Good!" Lu Zhao was delighted. The torch was made of ordinary pine resin, but it was enough to deal with these low-level monsters.

As soon as the torchlight shone into the cave, the swarm of bats hanging upside down from the ceiling immediately became agitated, emitting sharp screeches. But most of them seemed merely startled and did not immediately swoop down, but instead flapped their wings restlessly.

Lu Zhao didn't give them time to react. He aimed at the area closest to the cave entrance and the easiest to clear, and with a flick of his right hand, a throwing knife whistled through the air, shooting straight at a level 1 poisonous bat hanging upside down!

"squeak!"

The throwing knife struck the poisonous bat precisely in the chest! Although the knife was crude, it was quite powerful. The poisonous bat let out a mournful screech and fell from the cave ceiling, convulsing on the ground, its health bar instantly reduced to zero.

[Successfully defeated the 'Giant Poison Bat' (LV1)! Gained 15 experience points!]

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Two more flashes of cold light appeared. Lu Zhao didn't stop moving, throwing two knives at the other two poisonous bats. One bat had its wing pierced, and it fell down with a scream, while the other dodged the fatal blow, only suffering a scratch and letting out an angry shriek.

"Squeak squeak squeak—!"

This completely stirred up a hornet's nest! The disturbed swarm of bats was finally enraged, and at least twenty poisonous bats detached from the cave ceiling, swooping down on Lu Zhao under the torch like black arrows! They opened their mouths wide, revealing pale white fangs, their eyes flashing with a bloodthirsty green light!

Lu Zhao was prepared. He immediately stretched out the torch forward and dodged to the side to avoid the first few poisonous bats. At the same time, he lit the other torch and waved it in front of him with a torch in each hand!

"Hiss hiss hiss!"

The torch flames posed a significant threat to the light-sensitive poisonous bats! Several bats that charged the fastest were scorched by the flames, letting out screams as their fur was burned, black smoke billowed, and their health plummeted! More bats were blocked by the flames, circling in the air, too afraid to approach.

But there were simply too many bats, and the flames couldn't completely block them. Several level 2 poison bats, larger and faster, managed to bypass the torches and swoop down from the sides and overhead!

Lu Zhao's eyes narrowed, and he made a desperate dodge in the confined space. His wood-chopping knife turned into a cold light and slashed at a poisonous bat!

"Thud!" The machete struck, but the poisonous bat's skin was tough, causing only a minor injury. The bat, in pain, became even more ferocious, biting at Lu Zhao's arm!

Lu Zhao flicked his wrist, using the back of his knife to knock the poisonous bat away. With his other hand, he swept the torch across, forcing back another poisonous bat. But a third poisonous bat seized the opportunity to attack from behind. Lu Zhao didn't have time to turn around and could only slightly turn to the side, feeling a sharp pain in his left shoulder!

"Hiss!" The venomous fang pierced through, not deeply, but a numbing sensation instantly spread along the wound! Health dropped by 3%! [Status: Mild Poisoning (Attack Speed ​​and Movement Speed ​​slightly reduced)]

"Damn it!" Lu Zhao roared, swinging his elbow backhand and smashing it hard into the poisonous bat's head, sending it flying. He immediately activated the [Turtle Breathing Technique] to suppress the spread of the poison, while simultaneously wielding his woodcutter's knife even faster, creating a temporary defensive circle around himself in conjunction with the torch.

The bats swarmed in ever-growing numbers, advancing wave after wave. Lu Zhao knew he couldn't fight for long, so he fought and retreated, slowly moving towards the cave entrance. The entrance was narrow, only able to accommodate two or three bats attacking at a time, which greatly reduced the pressure.

"Almost at the cave entrance!" Lu Zhao was overjoyed. Just as he was about to leave the cave, an even sharper and higher-pitched shriek came from the depths of the cave!

A giant bat, as big as a hare, with a wingspan nearly half a human's, a dark red body, and even longer fangs, darted out of the darkness like lightning!

Giant Poison Bat (Elite), Level: 3

Health Points: 100%/100%

[Status: Frenzy, Enhanced Poison, Bloodlust]

An elite monster! And it's in a "bloodlust" state!

Lu Zhao's pupils contracted. Without hesitation, he threw a torch with his left hand at the onrushing elite poison bats, while simultaneously leaning his body backward, almost sliding out of the cave entrance!

"Boom!" The torch struck the elite poison bat, igniting a ball of flame. The elite poison bat hissed in pain and froze.

Seizing this brief opportunity, Lu Zhao retreated to the cave entrance, and the rope around his waist tightened instantly! He pulled the rope sharply, using the force to leap backward out of the cave. At the same time, he raised his right hand, and with all his strength and a little bit of mental energy, he shot the last throwing knife he had been holding in his palm toward the head of the elite poison bat!

"call out!"

The throwing knife sliced ​​through the air and precisely pierced one of the elite poison bats' eyes!

"Squeak—!" The elite poison bat let out a deafening scream, tumbling violently in the air, its health bar instantly dropping by nearly half! [Added Status: Blind (One Eye)]

"An opportunity!" A cold glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. Instead of running away immediately, he stood firm at the cave entrance, took out a stone wrapped in a strip of cloth with sulfur powder that he had prepared beforehand, lit the cloth, and threw it fiercely into the cave below the elite poison bats!

"Boom!" The sulfur powder ignited upon contact with the fire, bursting into a cloud of pungent smoke that instantly filled the area near the cave entrance! Ordinary poisonous bats were forced to retreat in disarray by the pungent smell of sulfur and the flames.

The elite poison bat, blind in one eye, was already enraged. The sulfur fumes made it even more ferocious, and it charged out of the fumes without regard for anything else, heading straight for Lu Zhao!

Lu Zhao had been waiting for this moment! The cave entrance was narrow, and the elite poisonous bats rushed out with almost no chance to dodge! Instead of retreating, Lu Zhao advanced, crouching to avoid the bats' attack. His wood-chopping knife, with a resolute and ruthless force, plunged into the soft spot of the elite poisonous bat's abdomen!

"Pfft!"

The blade pierced flesh, reaching the heart! The elite poison bat let out a final, mournful cry, its wings flapping weakly a few times before crashing to the ground, its health bar reduced to zero.

[Successfully defeated the 'Giant Poison Bat (Elite)' (LV3)! Gained 100 experience points!]

[Obtained: 2 Poison Bat Fangs, 1 Poison Gland, 1 Tough Bat Wing]

With the death of the elite poison bats, the remaining ordinary poison bats in the cave seemed to have lost their leader. Coupled with the stimulation of the sulfur fumes, they screamed and retreated back into the depths of the cave, not daring to come out again.

Lu Zhao, panting heavily, sat down against the cave entrance. The wound on his left shoulder still throbbed, and the poisoning effects were still lingering, but he had finally pulled through. He quickly checked his loot; his experience bar had increased significantly (215/500). The poisonous bat fangs, venom glands, and wings were all materials; they should be able to sell for some money.

"Clear thirty..." Lu Zhao endured the dizziness and looked into the cave. There were more than a dozen poisonous bat corpses on the ground. Including the elite ones, that should be enough. He didn't have the strength to go in anymore. He used a throwing knife to cut off the ears of a few ordinary poisonous bats (as proof), and carefully removed the most valuable venom glands and fangs from the elite poisonous bats. Only then did he drag his tired body back to the ground along the rope.

Back on the ground, it was already dusk. Lu Zhao found a stream to wash his wounds, applied antidote and hemostatic powder, and felt a little better. He took stock of his spoils and nodded in satisfaction.

"With a tael of silver in hand, I can sell some materials. Bat fangs and venom glands might also fetch some money, or... could they be used to refine something?" He looked at the venom gland in his hand, lost in thought.