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

When Lu Zhao woke up again, it was already evening of the next day. The afterglow of the setting sun slanted in through the window, casting dappled light and shadow on the floor of the quiet room. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling still weak and sore all over, but the bone-chilling cold, the tearing sensation, and the burning pain in his soul had lessened considerably.

[Status: Deeply infected (suppressed), life loss reduced to -0.5%/minute.]

[Status: Soul Burning (Suppressed), mental energy loss reduced to -0.3 points/second.]

[Status: Severely injured (slowly recovering).]

It was [Dragon's Hibernation]! This newly fused skill had worked wonders! Like spring rain nourishing all things, it continuously and steadily cleansed and suppressed the rampant plague and soul trauma within his body. Although slow, it was definitely improving. Coupled with the gentle true energy inputted by Master Qingxu and the medicinal power of the "Heart-Protecting and Vitality-Preserving Pill," he was finally pulled back from the brink of death.

"Phew..." Lu Zhao let out a long sigh of relief, struggling to sit up, but felt as if his whole body was filled with lead, weak and sore.

"Young friend Lu, you're awake? Don't move around!" The door to the quiet room was pushed open, and Master Qingxu walked in carrying a bowl of steaming medicinal soup. Seeing that he was about to get up, he quickly stepped forward to stop him, his face showing a hint of fatigue, but more so a relieved relief.

"Thank you so much for saving my life, Daoist Master," Lu Zhao said gratefully. He could feel the residual true energy in his body, which the Daoist Master had spared no effort to use to clear his meridians and stabilize his injuries by expending his own true energy.

"Saving lives and healing the wounded is our duty, there's no need for thanks." Master Qingxu handed the medicinal soup to Lu Zhao, gesturing for him to drink it slowly. "Besides, if it weren't for your desperate efforts to rid the plague-ridden mother of this region, the people of Qingmu Town and the surrounding area would have faced a great calamity. You have done a great service to the people, and I am merely doing my part."

The medicinal soup was bitter, but once it entered the stomach, a warm sensation rose up, slowly nourishing the internal organs. It complemented the energy of [Hibernating Dragon], and the speed of recovery seemed to have increased even further.

"Daoist Master, that jade lotus heart..." Lu Zhao asked immediately after drinking the medicinal soup, feeling somewhat better. This was the key to his complete recovery.

"I have fulfilled my mission." Master Qingxu stroked his beard, a complex look flashing in his eyes. "That old man Chen was indeed as I expected, the kind of person who won't act until he sees a benefit. When he saw the two things you brought, especially that fragment of the evil god's emblem, his eyes widened. However, he also recognized the danger involved and didn't dare to take them easily. In the end, I vouched for him, and he used a treasured 'Hundred-Year-Old Jade Lotus Heart' as the main ingredient, along with some auxiliary herbs, to refine this batch of 'Plague-Clearing Soul-Purifying Pill' for you. As for the fragment of the 'Plague-Poison Corpse Refining Technique,' he said it was too evil and dared not keep it, so I destroyed it. As for the fragment of the evil god's emblem... he took it, but promised to find a rare medicinal herb for me as compensation, and he also owes me a favor, promising to appraise or sell three items of equivalent value for you in the future, without charging any fees."

Master Qingxu took out an exquisite jade bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Zhao: "This is the 'Plague-Clearing and Soul-Purifying Pill,' three pills in total. Take one pill every three days with warm water and circulate your internal energy to neutralize the medicinal power. After three pills, the plague will be cleared and the soul injury will be stabilized, but the complete healing of the soul burns will take time and require quiet rest. Remember, do not be impatient, do not get angry, and do not come into contact with any evil spirits, otherwise all your previous efforts will be in vain."

Lu Zhao took the jade bottle, its surface cool to the touch. He opened the stopper, and a refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted out, carrying a faint lotus scent that soothed the mind. Inside lay three pills, each the size of a longan, entirely emerald green, with a subtle jade-like luster. A great weight lifted from his heart, and he solemnly put them away: "Thank you, Daoist Master. I will forever remember this kindness."

"No need to be so polite. Just stay here and recover from your injuries. Qingyun Temple may be small, but it's quiet and no one will bother you. You can make plans after you've fully recovered." After saying this, Master Qingxu got up to leave.

"Wait a moment, Daoist Master," Lu Zhao suddenly remembered something and asked, "If I may be so bold as to ask, is Manager Chen of the Medicine King Pavilion any ordinary person?"

Master Qingxu paused, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Since you asked, I may tell you. That Manager Chen was once an outer disciple of the 'Hundred Herbs Sect,' skilled in identifying rare and exotic herbs. He has extensive knowledge of medicinal materials, poisons, and even some obscure ingredients. Later, he left the sect for some reason and went into hiding here, opening this Medicine King Pavilion. Although he has some of the temperament of a businessman and is profit-driven, he is not a wicked person. He has a sharp eye, is well-informed, and has connections with both the legitimate and illegitimate worlds, and even some... shady cultivators. His shop is ostensibly just a medicinal herb shop, but in reality, he also engages in some shady activities such as appraisal, selling stolen goods, and trading intelligence. You should be somewhat wary of him in the future, but it's not necessarily impossible to do business with him."

"A cultivator who can't stand the light of day?" Lu Zhao's heart stirred.

"Indeed," Master Qingxu nodded, lowering his voice, "Qingmu Town, and even the entire Luoxia County, is not the only place of cultivation, Qingyun Temple. Where there is righteousness, there is evil; where there is light, there is darkness. Manager Chen's place is a mixed bag, and he is also the most well-informed. If you want to know some... unknown things, or deal with some illicitly obtained items, going to him is one way. But remember, it's better to be cautious than to deal with a tiger."

Lu Zhao understood: this Manager Chen was one of the intermediaries in Qingmu Town's underground intelligence and black market. This was an important channel for him.

"I understand now, thank you for your guidance, Daoist Master."

After Master Qingxu left, Lu Zhao did not take the medicine immediately. He first carefully checked his condition, confirming that his injuries were stabilizing under the suppression of [Hibernating Dragon], and then carefully studied the detailed description of [Hibernating Dragon] on the panel, as well as the information about the [Plague-Clearing Soul Pill].

[Clearing Plague and Cleansing Soul Pill (Mid-Grade Common)]: Made primarily with the heart of a century-old jade lotus, supplemented with various rare medicinal herbs, this pill possesses the effects of clearing plague, cleansing the soul, and strengthening the body's foundation. It can effectively expel low- to mid-level plague toxins and evil influences, stabilize the soul, and repair mental damage caused by evil and malevolent energies. Best results are achieved by taking three pills consecutively. Highly effective against deep-seated alienation and soul burns.

A mid-grade common pill! The description of its effects was also very suitable for his condition. Lu Zhao no longer hesitated, took out a pill, swallowed it with water, then sat cross-legged and began to fully circulate the [Hibernating Dragon] technique.

The pill entered his stomach and immediately transformed into a clear stream, then into a gentle yet powerful heat that spread throughout his body. Wherever this heat passed, it was like boiling water poured onto ice; the plague toxins and yin energy within his body immediately hissed and were forced out of his body as if encountering their nemesis. Lu Zhao's skin surface was covered with a large amount of foul-smelling, sticky black sweat, mixed with wisps of grayish-white mist, which was precisely the plague toxins and yin energy.

At the same time, a refreshing sensation rushed into his mind, soothing his scorched spirit, which felt like a parched, cracked valley. Like sweet rain nourishing cracked earth, the persistent burning sensation in his soul, like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun, quickly melted away, replaced by a feeling of peace, comfort, and nourishment. The emptiness and stinging pain caused by the depletion of his mental energy were also greatly relieved.

[After taking the "Qingwen Dihun Dan," the medicinal effects have taken hold!]

[The "Deep Plague Erosion" status is being dispelled... It is expected to be completely cleared in 12 hours.]

[The "Soul Burning" status is being dispelled... It is expected to be completely removed in 24 hours.]

[Health regeneration speed greatly increased! Mental energy regeneration speed greatly increased!]

[Slight improvement in physical and mental resistance.]

The panel's notification relieved Lu Zhao. It was effective, and extremely effective! This pill was indeed the right medicine! Combined with [Dragon's Hibernation], the recovery speed far exceeded expectations.

He stopped thinking and focused his mind, channeling the medicinal power with all his might. He combined this with the [Dragon Sleep] technique to repair every wound on his body and soothe every scar on his spirit.

Nothing was said that night. As the sun rose the next morning, Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes. His eyes held a restrained light, and although his face was still pale, it was no longer ashen. Although his body was still weak, the deep-seated coldness, numbness, and tingling pain had mostly disappeared, replaced by a long-lost sense of relief, like someone recovering from a serious illness.

The [Deep Alienation and Corrosion] status has disappeared. The [Soul Burning] status is also so weak as to be almost imperceptible, and is expected to be completely eliminated by this evening. His health has recovered to 35%, and his mental strength has also recovered by more than half. More importantly, having survived this life-or-death ordeal and taken the [Plague-Cleansing Soul Pill], he feels that both his body and mind have become more resilient and refined, like steel that has been forged through tempering.

"Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune," Lu Zhao murmured, a resolute glint in his eyes. This perilous experience had made him acutely aware of the cruelty of the world, and it had also strengthened his resolve to become stronger.

For the next two days, Lu Zhao stayed indoors, focusing on recovering from his injuries. He took one [Plague-Clearing Soul-Purifying Pill] daily, and combined with his [Dragon's Sleep] cultivation, his injuries improved at a visible speed. By the evening of the third day, after taking all three pills, the plague was completely gone, and his soul injury was essentially healed, leaving only slight weakness that required time to recuperate. His health and stamina, thanks to the powerful restorative effects of the pills and [Dragon's Sleep], had also recovered to over 80%.

Master Qingxu would come to check on him every day. Seeing how quickly he recovered, he was amazed and said that Lu Zhao had a solid foundation, a firm will, and the help of spiritual pills, which enabled him to do so.

That day, Lu Zhao felt that he had recovered most of his strength and prepared to bid farewell to Master Qingxu and return to "Wang Anju" for a visit. Master Qingxu knew that he missed his companions and did not insist that he stay. He only told him to rest well and not to take any more risks.

After leaving Qingyun Temple, Lu Zhao did not immediately return to South Street, but instead went to Wang'an Residence first. Master Zhao and the others were relieved and overjoyed to see him return safely and in excellent health. Lu Zhao briefly explained that he had "found the antidote and was no longer in serious danger," and told them that the evil spirits in Beiling Village had been eliminated and the plague had temporarily subsided. The group was deeply grateful and held him in even greater awe.

Lu Zhao left most of his remaining silver to Master Zhao for daily expenses and instructed them not to stray too far from Qingmu Town in the near future. Afterward, he did not linger at "Wang An Ju" but went directly to "Yao Wang Ge" in the west of the town.

The Medicine King Pavilion has a small facade, but the interior is surprisingly spacious, divided into inner and outer sections. The outer section is an ordinary herbal medicine shop, while the inner section is separated by heavy curtains, with a string of inconspicuous copper bells hanging at the entrance, clearly indicating that it is a hidden gem.

As Lu Zhao stepped into the inner room, a waiter greeted him. Without wasting words, Lu Zhao said directly, "Please inform Manager Chen that he was introduced by Abbot Qingxu of Qingyun Temple and is here for the matter entrusted to him the other day."

The waiter glanced at Lu Zhao and saw that he had a calm demeanor. Although his face was slightly pale, his eyes were sharp and he was not an ordinary person. The waiter did not dare to be negligent and turned to go inside to report.

A short while later, the curtain was lifted, and a thin, gaunt old man with a goatee walked out—it was Manager Chen. His gaze swept over Lu Zhao with lightning speed, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, especially when he saw that Lu Zhao was unharmed and breathing steadily. He had personally witnessed Lu Zhao's near-death state and the evil poison that plagued him when he was brought in a few days ago; he never expected him to recover so well in just a few days.

"Young friend Lu, please come inside." Manager Chen led Lu Zhao into the inner room and personally served him tea. The inner room was elegantly decorated, with antique shelves filled with all kinds of boxes, jars, jade bottles, and several strangely shaped antiques of unknown purpose. A faint, mixed medicinal fragrance permeated the air.

"Young friend, your recovery is astonishing. That Qingwen Dihun Pill was indeed the right treatment," Manager Chen said bluntly.

"Thank you for your trouble, Manager Chen. If it weren't for your generosity in bestowing this miraculous medicine, I fear I would have perished." Lu Zhao clasped his hands in thanks.

"It's just a transaction, nothing to be considered chivalrous." Manager Chen waved his hand, a shrewd glint in his eyes, typical of a merchant. "Young friend, you've come to inquire about the matter entrusted to you the other day, or is there something else?"

Lu Zhao put down his teacup and said, "Firstly, to thank the shopkeeper for the medicine. Secondly, I would like to ask the shopkeeper for some information."

"Oh? What news?" Manager Chen looked at him with great interest.

"Regarding that fragment of the emblem, have you noticed anything amiss, shopkeeper?" Lu Zhao asked. He wanted to know the origins of that evil god's emblem.

Shopkeeper Chen's expression hardened slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "This matter is a long story. The material of that emblem fragment is unknown, but the intent it contains is extremely ancient and evil. I have consulted ancient books and several fellow practitioners, and I roughly speculate that this item may be related to the 'Black Fiend Cult'."

"The Black Fiend Cult?" Lu Zhao's heart stirred, recalling the "Black Fiend Master" mentioned by the evil sorcerer's apprentice before his death.

"Indeed. The Black Fiend Cult is a secretive cult that has been active in the Luoxia County area in recent years. They act strangely and use ruthless methods, and are skilled in using evil arts such as plague, corpse poison, corpse refining, and soul control. Many of their members wear black robes, use the five poisonous creatures such as snakes, scorpions, and centipedes as totems, and worship an unknown evil god. The twisted runes on that emblem are somewhat similar to the Black Fiend Cult's symbol, but are more ancient and bizarre. I speculate that this item may be a fragment of a token belonging to a high-ranking member of the Black Fiend Cult, or an ancient evil god with ties to the Black Fiend Cult." Manager Chen said slowly, a hint of apprehension in his eyes.

"Black Fiend Cult...high-ranking...token..." Lu Zhao frowned deeply. The appearance of the Plague Mother in Beiling Village seemed no accident; it was very likely related to the Black Fiend Cult. That Plague Mother might very well be something created by some evil cultivator within the Black Fiend Cult!

"Young friend, this matter is of utmost importance. The Black Fiend Cult is deeply entrenched and ruthless. You took their things and disrupted their plans, so they've probably already set their sights on you. You must be extra careful in the future," Manager Chen solemnly warned.

"Thank you for informing me, shopkeeper." Lu Zhao noted it down and then asked, "Shopkeeper, you seem to have excellent connections. Have you ever heard of this 'Black Fiend Master'?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Chen's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Black Fiend Master?! Where did you hear this name from?"

"To be honest, in Li Family Village last time, I killed a heretical sorcerer apprentice who controlled walking corpses. Before he died, he mentioned his master, 'Black Fiend Master'." Lu Zhao did not hide anything.

Shopkeeper Chen gasped, his gaze towards Lu Zhao shifting again, filled with astonishment and uncertainty: "Young friend... you've actually confronted that evil Taoist? This... is a serious matter! That Black Fiend Master is one of the three great protectors of the Black Fiend Sect in Luoxia County. It's said that his cultivation has reached the late stage of Qi Refining, he's ruthless and vicious, skilled in driving corpses and concocting plague poisons, and has a notorious reputation throughout the county! He... he actually sent people to infiltrate the vicinity of Qingmu Town?!"

"Late stage of Qi Refining..." Lu Zhao's heart sank. This realm far surpassed his current level. Moreover, this was only a protector; what were the cultivation levels of the sect leader and elders above him?

"Young friend, you...you've gotten yourself into a terrible mess!" Shopkeeper Chen exclaimed urgently. "That Black Fiend Master is extremely protective of his own and vengeful. You killed his disciple and ruined his plans (referring to the Plague Mother). He will never let this go! I advise you to leave Qingmu Town as soon as possible, the farther the better!"

"If I leave, what will happen to the people of Qingmu Town? If that Black Fiend Master takes his anger out on this place, won't the town suffer?" Lu Zhao said in a deep voice.

Manager Chen was taken aback, not expecting Lu Zhao to say that. He sighed, "This matter... alas, we must report it to the garrison and take precautions as soon as possible. As for you... never mind, you can wait here for a while." As he spoke, he got up and went into the inner room. A moment later, he took out a palm-sized black token that was neither gold nor wood and was carved with strange cloud patterns, and handed it to Lu Zhao.

"This is the 'Random Cultivator Token,' a little gadget that a few of my fellow cultivators and I concocted in private. With this token, you can gain some conveniences in any place with a cloud-patterned symbol within Luoxia County, such as buying and selling information, exchanging goods, and even seeking protection. But remember, this token does not guarantee your life or death; it only means that you are our 'guest.' Do not be too ostentatious, especially do not reveal yourself in front of that Black Fiend Venerable."

"Thank you, shopkeeper." Lu Zhao took the token; it felt slightly heavy and cool to the touch. He knew that this was not only a convenience, but also meant that he had been initially accepted by the "freelance cultivator" circle behind Shopkeeper Chen.

"Also, if you're interested, there's a small exchange event three days from now at the 'Yunlai Inn,' about ten miles outside the West Gate. It's mostly attended by independent cultivators and disciples from small sects, where they exchange information and news often circulates. Perhaps you can find out more about the Black Fiend Sect there, or other things that might be beneficial to you, such as cultivation techniques, talismans, or elixirs. Of course, the place is also a mixed bag, so you need to be extra careful," Manager Chen added in conclusion.

An exchange fair? A market for independent cultivators?

A glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes; this was exactly what he needed right now! To acquire resources, gather information, and integrate into the world's cultivator circle! Moreover, he might even be able to learn more about "Black Fiend Master."

"Thank you for your guidance, shopkeeper. I will certainly pay attention." Lu Zhao put away the token and thanked him solemnly.

Leaving the Medicine King Pavilion, Lu Zhao walked back to "Wang An Residence," his mind filled with countless thoughts. The threat of the Black Fiend Sect was like a sword hanging over his head, but it also pointed him in the right direction. The Loose Cultivator Exchange Meeting, on the other hand, presented a new opportunity.

"Strength, strength is everything! I must improve my strength as soon as possible!" Lu Zhao clenched his fists. He currently possessed a large amount of experience points from killing the Plague Mother and the Plague-infected villagers, the title of "Plague Demon Slayer," the new skill [Sleeping Dragon], materials such as [Corrupted Heart] and [Plague Poison Crystal] obtained from the Plague Mother, and the three free appraisal opportunities for the emblem fragments promised by Manager Chen. These were all the resources he needed to become stronger in the future.

"Three days later, Yunlai Inn. Before then, I need to upgrade [Sleeping Dragon] as quickly as possible, at least to become familiar with its application in combat. And those materials, perhaps I can exchange them for something I urgently need at the trade fair..." Lu Zhao pondered, his pace quickening involuntarily. One crisis seemed to have just passed, but another, even greater storm might have just begun.

(A long chapter of 5,000 words, please urge me to update, please give good reviews, please give me your support)