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

It was late at night when Lu Zhao returned to Qingmu Town. Without disturbing anyone, he quietly sneaked back to the dilapidated house of "Wang Anju". He endured the tingling and stinging pain from his wound, sat cross-legged, and circulated the [Turtle Breathing Technique], guiding his weak true energy and, with the help of the antidote pill, gradually suppressing and expelling the ever-spreading gray-black lines around the wound.

The "Mild Plague Corrosion" status persists, causing him to lose 0.5% of his health points per minute, like a leech constantly eroding his life force. Antidotes can only slow the damage, not eradicate it. He took his last blood-replenishing pill, barely managing to keep his health above the dangerous 60% threshold.

"We must address the root cause as soon as possible, or find a stronger antidote." Lu Zhao's face was pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. This trip to Beiling Village was a hundred times more dangerous than anticipated, and the price paid was far greater.

As dawn broke, he mustered his strength, left Wang'an Residence, and headed straight for Qingyun Temple.

Master Qingxu was performing his morning prayers. When he saw Lu Zhao's ashen face and weak breath, and especially when he saw the ominous bluish-black blood seeping from the wound on his arm, the old Taoist's expression instantly became extremely solemn.

"Young friend Lu, you've... been infected by the plague of Beiling Village?!" Master Qingxu strode forward, placing his hand on Lu Zhao's pulse point, a gentle yet profound flow of true energy penetrating it. After a moment, he withdrew his hand, his brow furrowed: "As expected! This plague is exceptionally insidious, mixed with death energy, resentment, and some kind of active, exotic poisonous miasma. It cannot be cured by ordinary elixirs. If it weren't for your own robust qi and blood, and your cultivation of methods to strengthen your foundation and nourish your qi, you would likely already be terminally ill and your life force extinguished!"

"Master, is there a solution?" Lu Zhao asked the most crucial question.

Master Qingxu stroked his beard, paced a few steps in the quiet room, and said in a deep voice, "This plague is rooted in evil and filth, and to expel the poison, we must first cleanse the source. Ordinary decoctions and antidote powders are ineffective. In my temple, there is an ancestral 'Evil-Expelling and Plague-Clearing Pill,' which is quite effective in dispelling evil miasma and purifying plague toxins. However, this pill is not easy to make, and the required medicinal materials are precious, especially the main ingredient, 'a hundred-year-old jade lotus heart,' which is now nowhere to be found. There are only a few aged pills, and their effects are greatly reduced. They can only temporarily suppress the plague, not eradicate it."

"Temporarily suppressing it is also an option!" Lu Zhao's eyes lit up; there was hope! "Daoist Master, could you please provide some medicine? I have already located the source of this plague; it is not a natural disaster, but a man-made one! Inside the ancestral hall of Beiling Village, an evil entity is being conceived, shaped like a giant, fleshy egg. It can produce plague-infected walking corpses, spread poisonous miasma, and bewitch people's minds. Unless this entity is eliminated, the plague will not be eradicated!"

"Oh?!" Upon hearing this, Master Qingxu's expression changed drastically. "An evil entity? Able to produce plague-ridden corpses? Spread poisonous miasma? This matter... is indeed strange! In that case, this plague is not an ordinary epidemic, but rather caused by demonic forces! Tell me more, young friend!"

Lu Zhao briefly recounted what he had seen and heard in Beiling Village, the scene inside the ancestral hall, the form and attack methods of the evil creature, and his own speculations. He omitted the panel prompts and details of his own skills, only saying that he relied on his spiritual perception and keen awareness of evil energy. The more Master Qingxu listened, the more gloomy his face became.

"So that's how it is... It's the 'Plague Mother'! Ancient texts record that it was created by evil sorcerers using plague magic, combined with the flesh and blood of living beings for sacrifice. Once formed, it can continuously produce plague corpses, spreading the poison and wreaking havoc over vast distances. This thing has already become powerful; it cannot be eradicated without swift and decisive action!" Master Qingxu gasped, his gaze towards Lu Zhao filled with astonishment and lingering fear. "It's truly remarkable that you were able to return from its lair, young friend; it was far too dangerous!"

"Master, is there a way to subdue it? That evil creature seems to fear the power to break its evil, but it is powerless to do so," Lu Zhao asked.

"These evil creatures are indeed afraid of thunder and fire, of righteous energy, and of the power to dispel evil. However, their bodies are resilient, and they are protected by countless plague-ridden corpses, making them difficult to approach with ordinary spells. Unless…" Master Qingxu pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes, "unless we trap them with an array, use thunder and fire talismans, or incinerate their core with something of extreme yang and intensity, there is no hope!"

"Thunderfire Talisman Technique?" Lu Zhao's heart stirred.

"Indeed. My Qingyun Temple is skilled in the art of talismans, possessing the 'Thunderfire Talisman,' which can draw upon the power of thunder and fire from the heavens to vanquish evil and destroy demons. However, this talisman is extremely difficult to draw, requiring a cultivation level of at least mid-stage Qi Refining, and special 'Thunder Pattern Talisman Paper,' 'Vermilion Gold Powder,' and 'Heavenly Thunder Wood' as brushes, making it extremely costly. In our temple... we only have three 'Thunderfire Talismans' passed down from our ancestors, which are among our most prized treasures and cannot be used lightly." Master Qingxu sighed and looked at Lu Zhao, "Young friend, would you be willing to join forces with me to eliminate this great scourge? With the help of the Thunderfire Talisman and the aid of an array, we might have a better chance. However... this journey is extremely dangerous, with a ten-to-one chance of death. Young friend, you must think carefully."

Joining forces? Lu Zhao's mind raced. Master Qingxu's cultivation was at the third level of Qi Refining, higher than his own. He possessed a legitimate lineage, profound mastery of talismanic arts, and a powerful weapon like the "Thunderfire Talisman"—truly a formidable ally. However, his goal wasn't simply to eliminate demons and uphold justice; he also sought experience, soul cores, and any possible clues related to the evil path. Cooperating with Qingyun Temple would greatly increase the chances of success, but it would inevitably expose more of his own secrets, complicating the distribution of spoils and even the settlement of any subsequent "missions."

"Thank you for your kindness, Daoist Master. However, this matter is dangerous, and I dare not implicate the Daoist temple. Your bestowal of the elixir is already a great favor. As for that evil creature..." Lu Zhao hesitated, "I would like to investigate further, perhaps I can find a glimmer of hope. If I can find something to counteract it, I may give it a try. If I am truly no match for it, it is not too late to ask the Daoist Master for help." He neither refused nor agreed, leaving himself room for maneuver.

Master Qingxu looked at him for a moment, seemingly seeing that his mind was made up, and did not press him further. He sighed, "Very well. I admire your determination, young friend. Keep this bottle of 'Exorcising Plague Elixir' safe; it can suppress the plague for twelve hours. Be very careful on your journey. If things don't go well, return quickly and discuss it further. Also, take these [Heart-Cleansing Talismans], [Protective Talismans], and two [Evil-Breaking Talismans (Mid-Grade)] with you; they might come in handy."

Lu Zhao accepted the pills and talismans, expressing his gratitude. The mid-grade [Exorcising Talisman] was several times more powerful than the ordinary one, exactly what he needed. The Mind-Cleansing Talisman and the Body-Protecting Talisman could also increase mental resistance and defense.

After leaving Qingyun Temple, Lu Zhao went to the "Hundred Treasures Pavilion". When Manager Wang saw him, he remained calm, but when he saw the wound on Lu Zhao's arm, a glint flashed in his eyes.

"Young friend Lu, it seems you've been infected by the plague? It seems that the evil creature in Beiling Village is indeed extraordinary." Manager Wang gestured for him to sit down and handed him a cup of tea. "Do you need an antidote? Ordinary medicines are useless. I do have a 'Jade Toad Antidote Pill' here, which uses a hundred-year-old jade toad as its main ingredient. It can cure all poisons and may be effective against this plague. However, it is quite expensive, costing fifty taels of silver."

Fifty taels! Lu Zhao frowned. He only had a little over thirty taels left, and even with what he'd earned from selling materials, it wasn't enough. It seemed Manager Wang had seen through his predicament and was deliberately raising the price.

"Manager Wang, we can discuss the matter of the silver later. I have come to inquire whether you have any magical artifacts or talismans that can isolate or even purify the plague. The place where the evil spirit resides is filled with plague, and touching it will cause injury, making it difficult to continue going deeper." Lu Zhao stated his purpose directly.

"Isolate and purify the plague..." Shopkeeper Wang stroked his beard, pondering for a moment, "Ordinary magical artifacts are expensive and may not even be suitable. There is, however, a 'Miasma-Avoiding Talisman Array,' which can create a miasma-free area of ​​about ten feet in radius, isolating poisonous miasma and plague, and is effective against ordinary plague. But whether it can resist that evil poisonous miasma, I cannot guarantee. This talisman array is a one-time consumable item, and can be maintained for half an hour after activation, priced at... eighty taels."

Another exorbitant price! But Lu Zhao's eyes lit up; this "Miasma-Avoiding Talisman Array" sounded exactly what he needed. With it, he might be able to approach evil spirits without being corrupted by the plague! Moreover, its effect lasted for half an hour, enough for a battle.

"Eighty taels... I'm currently short of funds. However, I have something that I wonder if Manager Wang could appraise, perhaps it could be used to offset part of the silver." Lu Zhao took out the [damaged evil cultivator's soul core] from his storage bag and placed it on the table.

The moment the soul core appeared, the temperature in the quiet room seemed to drop several degrees. Manager Wang's gaze fell on the soul core, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. He picked up the black compass and examined the soul core carefully for a long time, his brows furrowing more and more tightly.

"Hiss... Such heavy resentment and evil aura, and the remnants of a demonic soul... This soul core, was it obtained from killing that snake demon? No, that's not right, the resentment is even stronger, and it contains even more mixed... plague, death aura... young friend, could it be that you..." Manager Wang looked at Lu Zhao, his eyes filled with shock.

"This item is indeed related to Beiling Village. It was obtained from an evil being. It is exceptionally ferocious, and ordinary people cannot approach it. I wonder if the shopkeeper would be willing to purchase it, or exchange it for the 'Miasma-Avoiding Talisman Array' and the 'Jade Toad Antidote Pill'?" Lu Zhao looked directly at Shopkeeper Wang and said in a deep voice. This was his last trump card.

Shopkeeper Wang remained silent for a long time, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, seemingly weighing his options. Finally, he raised his head, a decisive glint in his eyes, and said, "This soul core, though extremely malevolent, also contains immense soul power. If it could be purified using a secret method, it would be incredibly valuable. However, its contamination is too severe, making purification extremely costly and risky. At market price, a soul core of this quality would be worth no less than three hundred taels. But this item has been doubly contaminated by plague and death energy, drastically reducing its value and making it extremely difficult to sell. Therefore, I am willing to offer one hundred and fifty taels to purchase this item, along with a set of 'Miasma-Avoiding Talisman Array' and this 'Jade Toad Antidote Pill.' What do you say?"

One hundred and fifty taels, plus the talisman array and antidote pills, this price far exceeded Lu Zhao's expectations. It seems that this soul core has a special use for Manager Wang.

"Deal!" Lu Zhao said without hesitation. The soul core was a threat in his hands; it was better to exchange it for urgently needed resources.

The transaction was completed. Lu Zhao left the Treasure Pavilion with the Jade Toad Antidote Pill, the Miasma Avoidance Talisman Array, two mid-grade Evil-Slaying Talismans, and the seventy taels of silver he had received back.

Back at his lodgings, he immediately swallowed the Jade Toad Detoxification Pill. The pill entered his stomach, transforming into a cool current that instantly flowed throughout his body, especially converging at the wound. The stubborn, relentlessly corrosive plague, as if encountering its nemesis, was rapidly neutralized and purified. The bluish-black color around the wound faded visibly, and the tingling, itching, and stinging sensation disappeared as well.

[After taking the "Jade Toad Detoxification Pill," the mutated and corrosive state has been lifted! Health points have begun to slowly recover.]

Whew! Lu Zhao breathed a long sigh of relief; the biggest hidden danger had been eliminated. He immediately began to meditate and regulate his breathing, restoring himself to his peak condition.

Next, it's time to make talismans. His [Talisman Drawing (Basic)] skill has reached Lv2, and with the newly purchased talisman brush, cinnabar, and talisman paper, he is confident that he can draw talismans of even higher quality. He calms his mind, adjusts his state to its best, and begins to draw the [Exorcising Talisman].

With his spiritual energy flowing freely, the brush moved with fluid grace. Perhaps it was the experience of life and death that had strengthened his resolve, or perhaps it was the improvement in his divine attributes, but this time the drawing process went exceptionally smoothly. He drew ten in a row, succeeding in eight, three of which reached "good" quality and five were "ordinary" quality. The success rate far exceeded his previous successes!

[Spell Drawing (Basic) Lv2 (35/300) upgraded to Lv2 (80/300)!]

He carefully put away the eight talismans and then tried to draw two more "common" quality talismans. For now, he had enough talismans.

Then, he began to carefully study the [Miasma-Avoiding Talisman Array]. The array consisted of four talisman papers inscribed with intricate runes and a palm-sized jade stone engraved with an array plate. According to the instructions, the four talisman papers needed to be placed in the correct positions, and then the array plate needed to be activated with mental power to form a protective shield. He practiced repeatedly to ensure that he could activate it quickly.

As night fell, Lu Zhao took stock of all the items:

【Equipment】: Fine iron woodcutter's knife (newly purchased, durability 20/20), hardwood short crossbow (newly purchased, crossbow bolts x20), broken ghost bone shield (spare), amulet x1, miasma-avoiding talisman array x1.

[Talismans]: Exorcism Talisman (Medium Grade) x2, Exorcism Talisman (Good Grade) x3, Exorcism Talisman (Common Grade) x5, Tranquilizing Talisman (Common Grade) x3, Mind-Cleansing Talisman x2.

[Medicines]: Jade Toad Detoxification Pill (already used), Blood-Replenishing Pill x5, Qingfeng Talisman x1.

【Materials】: 3x Yin Sha Crystal (Medium Grade), 4x Black Snake Skin, 70 Taels of Silver.

[Status]: Health restored to 100%, Stamina 100%, Spirit full.

Preparations were more thorough than ever before. But Lu Zhao felt no ease. He was facing a monstrous entity, the "Mother," capable of controlling plagues, endlessly laying eggs, and launching mental attacks; its level was unknown, but it was definitely far superior to the snake demon. This would be the most difficult and dangerous battle he had ever faced.

"We must find its weakness, utilize the terrain, and absolutely avoid being surrounded by a horde of zombies. The Soul Core is key; it must be used at the most opportune moment..." Lu Zhao repeatedly simulated the battle scenario in his mind, considering all the possibilities.

Night deepened. Lu Zhao sat cross-legged on the bed, his breathing deep and rhythmic. The [Refining Spirit Technique] slowly circulated, his spiritual power condensing and refining in his sea of ​​consciousness, reaching an unprecedented level of solidity. He was waiting, waiting for dawn to arrive, waiting for the moment of the final battle.