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

The journey home has never felt so long.

Every step felt like walking on a knife's edge; my lungs gurgled like a broken bellows, each breath carrying the stench of blood and a sweet, pungent odor of plague. The bluish-black markings beneath my skin spread slowly, like living creatures, bringing a tingling, needle-like itch and a chill that seeped into my very bones. In my mind, the burning pain of my soul felt like a dull knife cutting into my flesh, constantly assaulting the defenses of my reason.

[Deep Plague Corrosion: -5% Health per minute, -20% to all attributes]

[Soul Burning: -1 point of mental energy per second, reduces mental perception, and has a chance to cause phantom pain or confusion]

The panel's prompts were chillingly cold. Lu Zhao barely managed to maintain his bodily functions, using only the instinctive power of his [Turtle Breathing Technique] and the remaining strength of his [Tranquilizing Talisman], to avoid collapsing halfway. He dared not take the main road, nor go to crowded places, and could only force himself to venture into the remote mountain forest, following the stream to discern directions, moving step by step towards Qingmu Town.

The effects of the blood-replenishing pills and detoxifying pills were so weak as to be negligible, barely enough to sustain his vital energy and slow the rate of erosion. He had to find a solution as soon as possible; otherwise, within half a day at most, he would collapse and die in this desolate wilderness due to exhaustion of his life force or mental breakdown.

The sun moved from the east to its zenith, then slowly sank in the west. As the last rays of light disappeared below the horizon, the low earthen walls of Qingmu Town finally came into view. With his last breath, Lu Zhao used all his strength to climb over the low wall outside the town, collapsing headfirst into the shadows of a quiet alley on the edge of town. His vision blurred, and his consciousness began to fade.

"I can't faint... I can't faint... I need to find Master Qingxu... I need to find..." He dug his nails into his palms, the pain bringing his scattered consciousness to a standstill. He struggled to his feet, made his bearings clear, and staggered toward Qingyun Temple.

He couldn't go to Master Zhao; the refugee camp couldn't handle such a terrifying plague. He also couldn't go to the garrison headquarters; it was crowded and intrusive, making explanations difficult and potentially attracting unnecessary questioning. Qingyun Temple was the only place that could save him and knew how to deal with the "evil."

"Bang!"

With his last ounce of strength, Lu Zhao smashed open the ancient wooden door of Qingyun Temple. His body went limp, and he rolled into the courtyard, collapsing to the ground, utterly exhausted. The young Taoist priest guarding the gate heard the noise and came out with a lantern to investigate. Upon seeing Lu Zhao's appearance, he screamed in fright and retreated hastily.

"Dao... Daoist Master... Help me..." Lu Zhao used his last strength to shout hoarsely, then could no longer hold on, his vision went black, and he completely fainted. Before he lost consciousness, he vaguely saw a corner of Daoist Master Qingxu's blue Daoist robe, walking quickly out of the inner room.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Zhao was awakened from the boundless darkness and pain by a cool, gentle current of air. The current, like a trickle, traveled along his meridians, slowly washing over his limbs and bones. Wherever it passed, the deep-seated coldness, burning pain, and tearing sensation in his mind were somewhat relieved.

He struggled to open his eyes and found himself lying in a clean, quiet room, on a soft futon, covered with a thin blanket. Master Qingxu sat cross-legged beside him, his palm hovering above his chest, a soft, faintly medicinal, blue light emanating from his palm, slowly flowing into his body. On a small table beside him, three sticks of calming incense burned, their smoke curling gently, soothing the soul.

"Awake?" Master Qingxu's voice was gentle, but his expression was grave, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. "Young friend Lu, your injuries... such a domineering plague! Such a dangerous soul-burning mark! What exactly did you do?"

Lu Zhao's throat was dry and itchy. He forced a bitter smile and his voice was hoarse: "Beiling Village... Ancestral Hall... Plague Mother... Killed... Evil spirit has been eliminated..." He recounted the core events in the shortest possible terms.

Upon hearing this, Master Qingxu's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with horror: "You...you actually found the source of the evil entity and...eliminated it?!" He stared at Lu Zhao in disbelief, as if looking at a monster. He had assumed Lu Zhao had been infected with the plague while conducting in-depth investigations, but he hadn't expected Lu Zhao to single-handedly slay that evil entity! This wasn't just boldness; it was utterly inconceivable!

"Taoist Master... plague... soul injury... is there any way to cure it?" Lu Zhao had no strength to explain, he was only concerned about his own injuries.

Master Qingxu took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "The plague you have been afflicted with is the source of evil, extremely difficult to deal with. It has penetrated deep into your internal organs and bone marrow, intertwined with your flesh, blood, and soul. The burn marks on your soul are caused by the resentment of the evil spirit and the backlash of its soul power. Ordinary medicines are ineffective. If it weren't for your relatively solid foundation and the protection of your calming and tranquilizing methods, I'm afraid you wouldn't have made it back."

He paused, then said, "I have a method that can save them. But it requires the 'Azure Jade Lotus Heart' as the main ingredient, combined with 'Centennial Salvia Miltiorrhiza,' 'Snow Lotus Seeds,' and 'Rootless Water' to refine the 'Plague-Clearing and Soul-Purifying Pill,' which can remove the plague toxin and repair the soul injury. However… the Azure Jade Lotus Heart is the main ingredient of the Plague-Clearing and Evil-Dispelling Pill, and the temple has already used it all up. Now, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find…"

Lu Zhaoxin's heart sank. Was he really going to die from these aftereffects after escaping with such difficulty? No! He refused to accept his fate! He struggled to retrieve the [Corrupted Heart (Core)] and the [Remains of the Plague Mother] from his storage bag. Perhaps these things could serve as a medicinal catalyst, or perhaps he could exchange them for the necessary medicinal materials?

Just then, a sudden thought flashed through his mind. The "Plague-Cleansing Soul Pill" that the Taoist priest had mentioned earlier seemed to have a "soul-cleansing" effect. Could it purify soul power? Then... could the impure soul power in that [damaged evil cultivator's soul core] be purified and absorbed using this pill? No, it's too early to think about that now. The most urgent matter is to save his life.

"Master... this item... may I... use it?" Lu Zhao raised his hand with difficulty, pointing to the storage bag at his waist.

Master Qingxu understood and carefully untied the storage bag, taking out the [Corrupted Heart (Core)] wrapped in layers of talisman paper and cloth strips. As soon as it was taken out, a thick, evil, and nauseating aura of plague spread out, even dimming the lit calming incense.

"This...this could be the core of that evil creature?!" Master Qingxu's expression changed drastically. He quickly took out several more talismans to reinforce the seal, and then sealed it in a jade box. His expression improved slightly, but his eyes still showed a look of surprise and uncertainty. "This thing...this thing contains a potent poison, but it also contains a trace of extremely pure plague poison essence. If handled properly, it can be refined into a miraculous medicine to counteract the plague poison. As for that 'Azure Jade Lotus Heart'..."

He frowned and pondered for a moment, then said, "Perhaps there is a way. Manager Chen of the Medicine King Pavilion in Zhenxi owes my Qingyun Temple a favor from many years ago. He travels far and wide, acquiring medicinal herbs, and may have some in his collection, or know where to find the Jade Lotus Heart. However, this man... has an eccentric personality; he is unmoved by anything but treasures. If you can offer something that will move him, perhaps you can exchange it for something else."

Lu Zhao understood immediately. He pointed to the storage bag and then laboriously gestured to indicate the [Unknown Evil God's Emblem (Fragment)] and the [Fragment of the Plague Corpse Refining Technique].

Master Qingxu examined it again, and when he saw the [Unknown Evil God Emblem (Fragment)] covered with strange patterns and exuding an ominous aura, as well as the page that recorded evil magic, his expression changed again, but a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes.

"This fragment of the emblem, though its origins are unknown, is of great significance and contains hidden secrets. It is of considerable value to certain cultivators who specialize in unorthodox practices or explore ancient mysteries. This incomplete page is even more forbidden, but it can also be used as a bargaining chip. It can be destroyed or sealed away, depending on the other party's wishes. With these two items, perhaps we can ask Manager Chen to help us find or exchange for the Azure Jade Lotus Heart."

"Thank you... Daoist Master..." Lu Zhao said weakly. He could barely move at the moment, and could only entrust everything to Daoist Master Qingxu.

"Rest here peacefully. I will use my true energy to suppress the poison and soul injury for you, slowing its progression. Now I will go to find Manager Chen; I hope it will be successful." Master Qingxu carefully put away the two items, then took out a jade-green pill and placed it in Lu Zhao's mouth. "This is the 'Heart-Protecting and Vitality-Preserving Pill,' which can protect your heart meridian for three days and slow the spread of the poison. Rest well and do not recklessly use your true energy."

The pill went down his throat, turning into a warm current that protected his heart, and the excruciating pain seemed to lessen somewhat. Lu Zhao nodded with difficulty, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep again. This time, it was a true coma.

Master Qingxu looked at the unconscious Lu Zhao, his eyes filled with complex emotions—astonishment, worry, and deep doubt. This young man, so young, possessed such courage, skill, and fortune to slay such an evil creature, yet he had also attracted such trouble. He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it, and hurriedly left.

During the time Lu Zhao was unconscious, he was not idle. Although his body was unable to move and his spirit was extremely weak due to the "Soul Burning," the [Spirit Refining Technique] was still slowly operating on its own, repairing his damaged spirit. His consciousness, on the other hand, was immersed in a strange panel interface that only he could see.

That's the new [Skill Fusion] feature unlocked after leveling up to level 8. The interface is simple, resembling a forging circle, with two empty skill slots and a small text prompt next to them: "You can input skills of the same origin and type, consuming experience points (free for the first time) and corresponding materials, with a chance to fuse and generate new, higher-level skills. The success rate of fusion is related to skill compatibility and material quality; failure will result in the loss of materials and the deduction of experience points."

"Same origin, same type..." Lu Zhao murmured to himself. He didn't have many skills at the moment. The [Turtle Breathing Technique] and [Refining Spirit Technique] both seemed to involve the cultivation of "internal breath" and "spirit," belonging to the "cultivation type" or "assistance type." Could they be fused together? The [Exorcising Talisman] and the [Soothing Talisman] were both talisman drawing, but one was for attack and the other for support, so they seemed to be different types.

"The [Turtle Breathing Technique] is for gathering one's breath, restoring physical strength, and enhancing endurance. The [Spirit Refining Technique] is for elevating the spirit, stabilizing the mind, and enhancing perception. Both are related to 'inner cultivation,' one governing the body and the other the spirit. If they could be fused together..." A bold idea emerged in his mind.

What he needs most right now is rapid recovery, improved survivability, and stronger mental resistance to combat "soul burning" and potential subsequent mental attacks. Perhaps, it's worth a try? The first fusion is free; even if it fails, the loss won't be significant—at most, he'll waste one opportunity.

"Merge the [Turtle Breathing Technique] and the [Spirit Refining Technique]!" Lu Zhao made the choice with his mind.

[Skills detected: Turtle Breathing Technique (Beginner) Lv2, Spirit Refining Technique (Beginner) Lv2.]

[Judgment: Both belong to basic cultivation methods; compatibility: moderate.]

[Confirm to consume 0 experience points for the first skill fusion?]

[Note: The fusion process will consume a large amount of mental energy, which may lead to a decrease in skill level or unknown changes. Please ensure that the host's current state is stable. Warning: The host is currently severely injured and mentally unstable, greatly increasing the risk of fusion failure! Force fusion?]

"Force the fusion!" Lu Zhao didn't hesitate. His life hung by a thread, and he couldn't afford to miss any chance to become stronger! Failure meant he could start over, but success might offer him a chance to survive!

[Merger confirmed! Merger initiation!]

[Note: Please remain conscious and guide the energy flow during the fusion process; otherwise, there is a risk of backlash!]

An indescribable feeling instantly gripped Lu Zhao. He felt as if he had been thrown into a giant furnace. The exhaustion of his body, the excruciating pain in his mind, and two completely different energy flows—one cool and serene, like a moonlit spring (Turtle Breathing Technique); the other warm and condensed, like the rising sun (Spirit Refining Technique)—began to collide, intertwine, and merge wildly under the pull of some mysterious force! Intense pain! A tearing sensation! It was as if his soul was being ripped apart and then reassembled!

He gritted his teeth, refusing to lose consciousness completely, and with his remaining willpower, guided the two energies, following some kind of instinctive intuition, trying to make them coexist harmoniously and complement each other.

I don't know how much time passed; it felt like a century, yet also like just a moment.

[Ding! Skill fusion successful!]

[Turtle Breathing Technique (Beginner) Lv2, Spirit Refining Technique (Beginner) Lv2 have disappeared.]

[Gained new skill: Hibernation Dragon (Beginner) Lv1 (0/100)]

[Dragon's Hibernation (Beginner): This technique combines the wonders of tortoise breathing and spirit refinement, allowing for a significant increase in the natural recovery speed of life, stamina, and mental energy in a deep state of tranquility, while reducing consumption. It also has a certain suppressive and slow purifying effect on negative states such as internal injuries, poisoning, and mental erosion. Actively activating this technique allows entry into a state of 'feigned death,' greatly reducing one's presence and shielding against low-level detection.]

[Due to fusion costs and the host's condition, the new skill's initial level is Lv1.]

It worked! And the effect far exceeded expectations! It not only increased the recovery speed, but also enhanced the suppression and purification of negative status effects! For him right now, this is like a godsend!

Almost instinctively, Lu Zhao immediately began circulating the new [Hibernating Dragon] technique. A cool, warm, and spring-rain-like strange energy arose from his dantian and quickly flowed throughout his body. Wherever it passed, the chilling plague that had penetrated to the bone marrow and the burning pain in his soul were slowly suppressed, neutralized, and stripped away, as if they had met their nemesis! Although the process was slow, it was truly effective!

The duration of the [Deep Plague Erosion] status is extended, and the rate of health loss per minute is reduced from 5% to 4%!

The [Soul Burning] status reduces mental energy loss per second from 1 point to 0.8 points!

Although it was only a slight change, it meant that he had the possibility of self-healing! As long as he persevered and with the help of the elixirs, he had hope!

With a sense of relief, Lu Zhao fully activated the [Dragon's Sleep] technique, immersing his consciousness once again in the cool energy flow to fight against the plague and soul injury within his body, while also awaiting the return of Daoist Qingxu.