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

The night was thick, and the stars and moon were nowhere to be seen. Lu Zhao walked through the night dew along the winding path towards the "Yunlai Inn," ten miles west of the gate. He had traveled this road before; it was the direction he had taken to Beiling Village last time, but it branched off to the northwest. Dark forests lined both sides of the road, rustling in the night wind, occasionally punctuated by the cries of owls, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Without lighting a lamp, he relied entirely on the extraordinary perception granted by the [Refining Spirit Technique] and the keen senses honed in the [Dragon's Hibernation] state to move through the darkness, his steps light and swift, his landings silent. His night-clothes allowed him to almost blend into the night. When he was about a mile from the "Cloud Comes Inn," he slowed his pace, maximizing his spiritual perception while simultaneously activating [Dragon's Hibernation] to completely conceal his aura, approaching slowly like a lifeless stone.

Ahead, at a bend in the mountain road, a solitary two-story inn appeared in the night. Two dim, yellow lanterns hung at the entrance, their flames flickering in the night wind, illuminating the four indistinct characters of the signboard: "Yunlai Inn." Inside, shadowy figures moved about, and faint sounds of noise drifted in, clashing with the surrounding silence of the wilderness. The air seemed to be filled with a faint, mixed scent of alcohol, medicine, and an indescribable, complex, and varying intensity of other aromas.

It's "qi"! Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. The people gathered in this inn weren't ordinary people. There were at least ten different auras of varying strengths—some sharp, some obscure, some cold, some peaceful—intertwining and roaming inside and outside the inn. Was this the aura of a "rogue cultivator"?

He stopped in the shade of a large tree outside the inn, not immediately approaching, but observing silently. He noticed that most of the people entering and leaving the inn were in a hurry, dressed in various ways: there were martial artists in tight-fitting clothes, Taoist priests in long robes, veiled women, and even strange people wearing cloaks whose faces were obscured. But before entering the inn, everyone would intentionally or unintentionally reveal something from their waist or sleeve—a token, a jade pendant, a talisman, or a special hand gesture.

It's a token. Without it, I'm afraid I won't be able to get in.

Lu Zhao took out the [Rogue Cultivator Token] that Manager Chen had given him from his pocket. The token felt slightly heavy in his hand; it was neither gold nor wood. Under the dim light, faint cloud patterns could be seen engraved on it, with a subtle shimmering light. He hesitated for a moment, not immediately revealing the token, but instead cautiously extending his spiritual power to touch the inn's door.

There was no response. But he could sense a faint energy fluctuation at the doorway, like a simple sensing array used to identify visitors and their tokens.

Without further hesitation, Lu Zhao took a deep breath, adjusted his breathing, and slightly released the effect of [Dragon's Hibernation], making himself look like an ordinary cultivator with a calm, reserved aura, who had just stepped into the threshold of cultivation and had a slightly cold and malevolent aura. This was thanks to the faint malevolent aura that had accumulated on his body from his recent frequent killing of evil creatures, which could just cover up his overly "clean" aura.

He stepped out of the shadows and walked towards the inn's entrance.

The moment he stepped into the light circle before the door, he clearly felt the loose cultivator's token warm slightly, as if it resonated with the array at the entrance. The curtain moved without wind, opening slightly to both sides.

"Please come in." A flat, emotionless voice came from inside the door.

Lu Zhao entered the inn. The scene in the lobby came into view. The place wasn't very large, with seven or eight square tables, and about a dozen people were sitting there, men, women, young and old. Some were talking in hushed tones, some were drinking silently, and some were cleaning their weapons. The lighting was dim, with only a few oil lamps illuminating the space. The air was filled with the smells of alcohol and medicine, as well as an indescribable mingled smell of sweat, blood, and various strange herbs and metals.

Lu Zhao's appearance didn't attract much attention. Only a few gazes lingered on him briefly, filled with scrutiny, wariness, and a hint of curiosity, but they quickly looked away. His aura was weak (a disguise), he was young, and dressed plainly. Apart from his relatively calm eyes, he was unremarkable; in this kind of place, he belonged to the most inconspicuous category.

"New here?" Behind the counter, an old shopkeeper with a hunched back, a wrinkled face, and one blind eye raised his eyelids and glanced at Lu Zhao, asking in a hoarse voice.

"Yes." Lu Zhao nodded and placed the loose cultivator token on the counter.

The old shopkeeper glanced at the token with his only remaining eye, confirmed it was correct, and then extended a withered finger to press a spot under the counter. Lu Zhao felt the [Rogue Cultivator Token] tremble slightly, as if it had been "registered".

"Do you understand the rules?" the old shopkeeper asked.

"Please enlighten me, senior." Lu Zhao clasped his hands in greeting.

"No fighting is allowed inside the inn. Settle your scores yourselves. Transactions are voluntary, and we will not acknowledge them once you leave. Staying at the inn costs extra. If you ask for information or check prices, you will be responsible for the consequences of breaking the rules." The old innkeeper said succinctly, "The second floor has guest rooms. If you want to rest, go there yourself; no one will serve you. If you want to make a transaction, look around yourself; no one will take care of you."

"Thank you." Lu Zhao put away the token, not going upstairs immediately, nor rushing to find someone to trade. He chose a corner seat against the wall where he could see most of the scene, ordered only the cheapest coarse tea, and silently observed.

The people in the hall possessed varying levels of aura. The strongest was a middle-aged man in black, sitting alone by the window, drinking by himself. His aura was deep and focused, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, and a faint red health bar appeared above his head, indicating he was at least level 10. The weakest was an elderly man in a corner, pale and thin, with a weak aura, likely only level 3 or 4. The others were mostly between levels 5 and 8, both men and women, dressed in different ways, and their auras varied as well. There were martial artists, Taoists, and a few with a cold, sinister aura, carrying a faint scent of blood.

Lu Zhao's gaze fell on a makeshift wooden table covered with a black cloth in the center of the hall. On the table were several items: a fist-sized piece of ore emitting a faint green glow, a herb with roots shaped like a human figure, contained in a jade box, several talismans of different colors, and a few broken metal fragments of unknown purpose. A lean man dressed in a gray cloth jacket and with a scar on his face stood behind the table, scanning the crowd, clearly waiting for a buyer.

"Red copper ore, fifty taels, or you can exchange it for healing pills and talismans of equal value," the scarred man said, pointing to the ore.

"Fifty-year-old Polygonatum, eighty taels, or exchange for a medicinal powder to enhance internal energy." He then pointed to the jade box.

Some people in the audience whispered among themselves, while others shook their heads. The ore and herbs weren't of much use to Lu Zhao. But he took a closer look at the talismans. One was a [Diamond Talisman], which could temporarily increase defense; another was a [Swiftness Talisman], which could slightly increase movement speed; and the third was a [Fireball Talisman], an offensive talisman that could launch a fireball. All were of ordinary quality, but their prices were high, ranging from thirty to fifty taels of silver.

"The Vajra Talisman, thirty taels, I'll take it," a burly man with a thick beard said in a deep voice, casually tossing over a silver ingot.

The scarred man checked the silver and handed over the talisman. The transaction was complete, swift and efficient.

"It seems this is indeed a place where independent cultivators exchange goods. The quality of the items varies greatly, and the prices fluctuate with the market, depending entirely on one's eye for quality and needs," Lu Zhao thought to himself. He didn't rush to make a move but continued to observe while listening to the conversations around him.

"...I heard that something happened in Beiling Village a few days ago. It was haunted by evil spirits, and many people died. The government has sealed off the area."

"Hey, it's more than just an evil creature. I heard that some demonic cultivator was causing trouble, practicing some kind of plague-inducing evil magic, and was killed by a young expert who happened to be passing by! That person even got a bounty from the garrison headquarters, what was his name... Lu Zhao?"

"Oh? Is that so? Who is that young man? From Qingyun Temple?"

"Doesn't seem like it. I heard he's a rogue cultivator from out of town, incredibly skilled, and a master of talismans!"

"Hmph, just taking down a few insignificant evil spirits, is that something to brag about? The Blood Wolves over at Black Wind Ridge recently snatched three oxen from Li Family Village, and there's a reward of one hundred taels of silver, but no one dares to take it yet! Those are the real tough guys!"

Lu Zhao's heart stirred slightly. It seemed that news of his killing the Plague Mother had already spread to a small circle, even becoming known as a "young master" and a "talisman expert," which saved him the trouble of introducing himself. However, it also attracted attention, with some eyes subtly sweeping over him.

"Blood Wolf? That's practically a demon! They say its fur is impervious to blades and spears, and it can spew poisonous mist. Even a mid-stage Qi Refining expert might not be able to take it down. The bounty is high, but you still need to be alive to catch it!"

"Things have been going on lately. I heard that some monsters have been lurking deep in the Sunset Mountains to the west, and have devoured several herb gatherers..."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, the topic gradually shifting to the dangers in the surrounding area, missions, bounties, and rumors circulating in the cultivation world. Lu Zhao listened silently, gathering useful information: the demons of Black Wind Ridge, Blood Wolves, and the Sunset Mountain Range, as well as the movements of the county town and nearby sects…

Just then, a woman dressed in black, wearing a half-silver mask that only revealed her chin and eyes, quietly entered the inn. Her arrival immediately attracted considerable attention. This was because, although her aura was only around level 5, a short sword hung at her waist, its scabbard engraved with intricate cloud patterns and faintly radiating spiritual energy—clearly not an ordinary weapon. More importantly, she possessed a subtle, incongruous aura, one that seemed out of place with her surroundings, exuding a sense of order and detachment.

Ignoring the stares of those around her, the woman walked straight to the counter and said to the old shopkeeper in a cool voice, "Room number three, for three days." She handed him a piece of silver.

The old shopkeeper took the silver and handed her a key. The woman took the key, didn't linger, and turned to walk towards the stairs. As she passed Lu Zhao's table, her gaze seemed to casually sweep over Lu Zhao, her steps faltered slightly, and then she continued upstairs as if nothing had happened.

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. The woman's glance at him, though brief, caught a hint of something unusual in it—not curiosity, not scrutiny, but rather... confirmation of something.

"Does she know me? Or is she the spy from last night?" Lu Zhao remained calm, continuing to sip his tea, but a sense of unease crept in. This woman seemed to be more than just a simple person.

Just as he was pondering this, an old Taoist priest, dressed in a greasy robe, with a bulbous nose and bleary eyes, swayed over to his table, plopped down, let out a burp reeking of cheap alcohol, and chuckled, "Young man, you look unfamiliar. First time here?"

Lu Zhao looked up and saw that the old Taoist's aura was only level 4, he reeked of alcohol, and his Taoist robe was tattered, making him look like he wasn't doing very well. But deep in his eyes, there was a hint of shrewdness that was hard to detect.

"Yes, I'm new here." Lu Zhao nodded.

"Hehe, young man, you have a full forehead, a square jaw, and extraordinary bone structure. There's even a hint of spiritual light between your brows. You're a fine candidate for cultivation! Would you like me to tell your fortune and give you some pointers on your future?" The old Taoist priest leaned closer and lowered his voice. "I'll only charge you ten taels of silver, fair and square!"

Lu Zhao: "..."

"Don't be so skeptical!" Seeing that he didn't react, the old Taoist priest leaned closer and whispered mysteriously, "Although my cultivation is lacking, I'm always good at judging people! Young brother, you have a bloody aura about you, but it's covered by pure energy. You must have recently gone through a life-or-death battle and gained quite a bit of benefit, right? Moreover, you've been targeted by 'trouble,' and this trouble is no small matter..."

Lu Zhao felt a chill run down his spine. This old Taoist priest, though seemingly drunk, possessed extraordinary insight! He could actually discern that Lu Zhao had recently experienced a life-or-death struggle and even gained something from it (the reward of killing the Plague Mother), and even sensed "trouble"? Was it the spy from last night, or... the Black Fiend Cult?

"Master, you have a good eye." Lu Zhao's expression remained unchanged as he put down his teacup. "I don't have ten taels of silver, but I wonder if this talisman will meet your standards?" As he spoke, he took out a common-quality [Tranquility Talisman] from his pocket and placed it on the table. This talisman wasn't of much value to him, but it was perfect for testing him.

The old Taoist priest's eyes lit up. He took the talisman, examined it closely under the oil lamp, and rubbed it between his fingers, clicking his tongue. "A calming talisman, the quality is acceptable, and the drawing technique is alright too. It's the work of that old Taoist priest from Qingyun Temple, isn't it? But this thing is useless to me. But you, young brother..." He changed the subject, narrowing his eyes, "Since you don't want fortune-telling, then... is there anything you want to sell, or any information you'd like to inquire about? I'm well-informed, my prices are fair, and I'm honest with everyone!"

Finally, we're getting to the point. Lu Zhao's mind raced. This old Taoist priest seemed like a "middleman" or an "information broker." Perhaps he could glean some information from him, and at the same time, see if he could get rid of some useless things.

"There are a few things I'd like to ask the Daoist priest to take a look and give me an estimate," Lu Zhao said, reaching into his robes and, using the table as cover, taking out a [Plague Poison Crystal (Mid-grade)] and a [Yin Sha Crystal (Mid-grade)] from his storage bag. He placed them on the table and pushed them in front of the old Daoist priest. "Also, I'd like to inquire about some other things."

Both of these items carry an aura of evil, but they are not valuable and are unlikely to attract envy, making them a good test.

Upon seeing the two items, the old Taoist priest seemed to sober up somewhat. He picked up the crystal, examined it carefully, and smelled it. He whispered, "Plague Poison Crystal, medium grade, contains plague poison. It can be used to make poison or as medicine. Market price... around ten taels. Yin Sha Crystal, medium grade, contains yin energy. It can be used for refining weapons, making talismans, or practicing certain unorthodox techniques. Market price... around twelve taels. Young brother, this stuff... its origins are questionable, aren't they? Hehe, but don't worry, I only look at the goods, not their origins. These two items together are twenty taels. I'll take them. How about it?"

The price is reasonable. Lu Zhao nodded: "Okay. Also, I'd like to ask two things. First, what is the background of that 'Blood Wolf' in Black Wind Ridge? How strong is it? Does it have any weaknesses? Second, have any unfamiliar faces been inquiring about me recently? Or rather, are they inquiring about someone named 'Lu Zhao'?"