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

Upon hearing Lu Zhao's two questions, especially the second one, a glint of shrewdness flashed in the old Taoist's seemingly cloudy eyes. He chuckled, put away the plague crystal and yin energy crystal on the table, took out two pieces of silver from his pocket, pushed them in front of Lu Zhao as payment, then slowly poured himself a cup of cheap wine, took a sip, smacked his lips, and then lowered his voice to say:

"The Blood Wolf of Black Wind Ridge... that's a notorious ferocious beast in the area. It dwells deep within Black Wind Ridge, and is said to have lived for over a decade, almost becoming a spirit. Its entire body is blood red, with thick, rough skin that is difficult to injure with ordinary swords and knives. It can spew poisonous mist, instantly paralyzing anyone hit, rendering them unable to move, and then dragging them into its den to be devoured. Even cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining cannot defeat it without specific methods to counter it. As for its weaknesses..." The old Taoist stroked his sparse beard, a sly glint in his eyes, "I've heard that the beast's eyes and abdomen are relatively vulnerable, and it's especially afraid of fire. Moreover, near its lair, there's a patch of 'Bone-Rotting Grass,' the roots of which are an excellent antidote to its poisonous mist, but few people know about it, and even fewer collect it. That place is extremely sinister, often haunted by ghosts."

Lu Zhao silently memorized it. It was afraid of fire, and its eyes and abdomen were its weak points. There was an antidote herb. This information was valuable, especially the antidote herb; it might save him a lot of trouble. He took out twenty copper coins and handed them over.

The old Taoist priest accepted the wine without batting an eye, took another sip, and continued, "As for the second question... hehe, young brother, you're quite the 'celebrity' in our circle now. You single-handedly took down that evil creature's lair in Li Family Village and escaped unscathed from the Plague Mother's clutches. With that kind of courage and skill, it's hard not to attract attention. There are quite a few people asking about you."

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details." Lu Zhao's heart tightened, but he remained outwardly calm.

"At the garrison headquarters, Master Wang sent someone to ask a few questions, probably to verify the bounty, but there was no ill intent. Chief Escort Li from the Changfeng Escort Agency also came to inquire about you, seemingly wanting to recruit you. And..." The old Taoist paused, looked around, and lowered his voice even further, "The other day, a stranger, wearing a bamboo hat that covered his face, with a very cold aura, wandered around here without saying a word, only inquiring about a 'young man using talismans, with lingering traces of plague poison on him. However, he only stayed for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before leaving without saying anything else."

"The young man using the talisman, the lingering scent of plague..." Lu Zhao's eyes narrowed. This was practically a search for him! Were they from the Black Fiend Cult? So fast? And they knew he used a talisman, and they knew about the plague... Either someone leaked the information, or they had some kind of special tracking method!

"What did that person look like? What was he dressed like?" Lu Zhao pressed.

"I couldn't see clearly. The bamboo hat covered his face completely, and he was dressed in ordinary black clothes, nothing special. But those eyes... were like those of a venomous snake, very sinister. I felt a chill run down my spine and didn't dare to look any longer." The old Taoist shook his head, a hint of fear on his face.

Lu Zhao frowned. Trouble had indeed come knocking. The other party was targeting him, and their objective was clear. Were they from the Black Fiend Cult, or some other force? It seemed he couldn't stay in Qingmu Town any longer. He had to quickly increase his strength, acquire enough resources, and then leave, or… find a place to lay low.

"Thank you for informing me, Daoist Master." Lu Zhao thanked him and added, "If you have a map of the Bone-Rotting Grass, or more detailed information about the Blood Wolves, I am willing to exchange this for it." He took out a [Tranquility Talisman], which was of "ordinary" quality. For someone like the old Daoist who was living at the bottom of society, it was a pretty good item.

The old Taoist priest's eyes lit up. He took the talisman, examined it carefully, and chuckled, "Young man, you're quick-witted! I don't have a map; that place is haunted, who would bother memorizing it? However, I can tell you that the Blood Wolf has a habit: every full moon, it will go to the top of 'Moon-Gazing Cliff,' the highest peak of Black Wind Ridge, and howl at the moon, absorbing its essence. That's when it's most alert, but also most easily angered and strongest. Normally, it hides in its cave, rarely venturing out. The cave entrance is often surrounded by poisonous miasma, making it difficult to approach."

On a night of full moon, at Moongazing Cliff, it howled at the moon, absorbing its essence… This blood wolf had indeed developed a hint of demonic nature. This information was equally crucial.

"Was the bounty for the Blood Wolf issued by the garrison headquarters?" Lu Zhao finally confirmed.

"Not bad, one hundred taels of silver, dead or alive, the wolf skin, wolf bones, wolf teeth, and even the venom glands are all yours. However, this bounty has been up for two months, and not many people have dared to accept it. The few who did accept it haven't returned; they've probably fed the wolves." The old Taoist priest said, carefully putting the talisman into his robes.

Lu Zhao nodded and didn't ask any more questions. This old Taoist priest was fairly well-informed, but that was about it. He cupped his hands in greeting, stood up, and prepared to leave. He had asked everything he needed to ask; the rest was up to him to judge and prepare.

"Young man, wait a moment." The old Taoist suddenly called out to him, his nonchalant expression vanishing. He said in a low voice, "You seem like a sensible man, so let me say a few words. That Blood Wolf is not to be trifled with. No matter how high the bounty, it's not worth as much as your life. Also... the person who's eyeing you is no ordinary person. Avoid them if you can. If you really can't avoid them, find a powerful backer, or... leave Qingmu Town and go as far away as possible."

"Thank you for the reminder, Daoist Master." Lu Zhao nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

He didn't immediately go to find the Blood Wolf's bounty. Instead, he wandered around the hall again, carefully listening to the conversations of the others, looking for any news about the man in the bamboo hat, or any rumors about the "Black Fiend Sect" or "Black Fiend Master." Unfortunately, he didn't hear any more valuable information. A few rogue cultivators were discussing the possibility of "Earth Fire Crystals" being produced deep within the Sunset Mountain Range, but that place was far more dangerous, teeming with demonic beasts, and only experts dared to venture deep inside.

After circling around, Lu Zhao returned to a corner and sat down, silently sorting through the information. The bounty on the Blood Wolf was extremely risky, but the rewards were also substantial: one hundred taels of silver, plus wolf hide, wolf bones, and other materials—a considerable sum. More importantly, killing such a near-monster-like creature would undoubtedly yield a generous experience reward, and might even trigger new titles or skills. However, the prerequisite was thorough preparation, especially the availability of the Bone-Rotting Grass and antidote to counteract the poisonous fog, as well as methods to address its weakness of thick hide and tough flesh.

"Fire attack... My [Exorcising Talisman] is incredibly effective against evil spirits, but its power against this kind of thick-skinned monster is probably limited. A stronger fire attack method is needed. As for talismans... perhaps I could ask that old Taoist priest, or find Manager Chen, if they have any methods for drawing [Fireball Talismans] or [Blazing Talismans], or just buy them directly. However, the quality of talisman paper and cinnabar is limited, and drawing high-level fire talismans is extremely costly and not guaranteed to succeed. Perhaps... a trap could be used?"

Lu Zhao quickly calculated in his mind. Just then, the burly, bearded man who had bought the [Vajra Talisman] earlier, carrying a wine cup, swayed over and plopped down opposite Lu Zhao, reeking of alcohol, saying, "Kid, new here? I heard you showed off your skills in Li Family Village a few days ago, taking down some evil spirit?"

Lu Zhao raised his eyes and looked at the burly man. The man was level 8, one level higher than him, with vigorous blood and strong muscles, clearly a martial artist who followed the external martial arts path. His eyes held a scrutinizing gaze and a hint of provocation. He nodded without saying a word.

"Hey, you've got some skills." The burly man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "But a few broken talismans won't get you anywhere. In this world, you need a strong fist! How about it, come work for me, and we'll take on some big jobs together. It'll be much better than you working alone!"

Was this an invitation or a test? Lu Zhao sneered inwardly and said indifferently, "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm used to working alone."

"Alone?" A hint of disdain flashed in the burly man's eyes. "Kid, don't be ungrateful. This place isn't for a little brat like you. I heard you have some money to your name. Show it to me, and if it's useful, I'll protect you and make sure you live the high life!"

Is this blatant robbery? Lu Zhao's eyes turned cold. Sure enough, in this chaotic place, without strength, you're just easy prey. He remained impassive, his hand under the table already reaching for a [Demon-Slaying Talisman]. Although the target wasn't an evil spirit, the [Demon-Slaying Talisman] itself was an energy attack, and its power was considerable even at close range.

"What, you're not happy?" The burly man's face twitched as he saw Lu Zhao remain silent, about to erupt in anger.

Just then, a cold voice came from not far away: "Liu Tiequan, bullying a newcomer, that's all you've got."

Hearing the voice, the burly man froze and turned to look. He saw the woman who had worn a half-silver mask and had a cloud-patterned short sword at her waist standing at the top of the stairs, coldly watching them. Her aura wasn't strong, but her gaze was like an ice pick, sending a chill down the burly man's spine.

"Miss Leng... Miss Leng," the burly man said with an embarrassed smile, seemingly quite wary of the woman. "It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. I was just joking with this young man, just joking." With that, he quickly picked up his wine glass and slunk back to his seat.

Lu Zhao glanced at the woman and nodded in thanks. This woman didn't seem to have any ill intentions towards him, but her two attempts to contact him suggested she had something to gain.

The woman didn't respond; she merely glanced at him before turning and going upstairs to her room.

The hall returned to its previous clamor, but far fewer eyes were fixed on Lu Zhao. It seemed this woman held some status here. Lu Zhao's curiosity about the power behind the "Yunlai Inn" and the woman's identity grew even stronger.

He didn't linger and got up to leave the inn. It was getting late; he needed to go back and make some plans. He had to accept the Blood Wolf bounty, but he needed to be fully prepared. The appearance of the man in the straw hat was a wake-up call; he had to improve his strength as soon as possible, or leave.

Leaving the inn, Lu Zhao hadn't gone far before entering a small grove of trees when he paused slightly. He sensed someone following him. It wasn't Liu Tiequan; the aura was more subtle, more sinister. Was it the man in the straw hat? Or someone else entirely?

He didn't turn back, nor did he accelerate. He simply activated [Dragon's Hibernation], concealing his aura to the extreme. At the same time, his mental energy extended backward like tentacles, carefully sensing his surroundings. The tracker was cautious, maintaining a considerable distance, seemingly only confirming his location.

Lu Zhao sneered inwardly, deliberately slowing his pace and turning into a secluded alley. He wanted to see who it was and what they wanted.

The path became increasingly secluded, with dense trees on both sides blocking the moonlight and creating a dim ambiance. Lu Zhao stopped at the edge of a precipice, his back to the path he had come from, as if gazing into the distance.

"Aren't you tired after following me for so long?" Lu Zhao asked calmly, his voice carrying far in the quiet night.

Behind me, all was silent. The only sound was the rustling of the wind through the leaves.

Lu Zhao slowly turned around, his gaze calmly fixed on the direction they had come from: "Come out, why be so sneaky?"

"Heh heh, kid, your senses are quite sharp." A hoarse, dry voice, like two pieces of rust scraping together, rang out from behind a large tree. A figure completely shrouded in a black cloak, wearing a bamboo hat that concealed his face, slowly emerged. It was the same bamboo-hatted man the old Taoist had described, with a chilling aura, like a venomous snake.

He stopped three zhang away from Lu Zhao. Under his bamboo hat, a pair of eyes that gleamed with a ghostly green light stared intently at Lu Zhao like a venomous snake.

"The aura of the Plague Mother... is on you." The man in the straw hat spoke slowly, his voice filled with undisguised greed and killing intent. "Hand over the Heart of the Plague Mother, and... all the talismans on your body and that soul core. Perhaps, I can grant you a quick death."

As expected, they are from the Black Fiend Cult! Moreover, they're after the [Corrupted Heart (Core)] and the Soul Core! Lu Zhao's heart sank. The other party not only knew about the Plague Mother, but also knew that he possessed a Soul Core! Either the Plague Mother's aura dissipated after her death and she was tracked down, or... when he dealt with the Plague Crystals earlier, some residual aura remained, and this person tracked him using some secret method!

"I don't understand what you're talking about." Lu Zhao remained calm, secretly activating the [Sleeping Dragon] technique to its maximum, the [Exorcising Talisman] clutched in his palm. This person's aura was obscure, but the pressure he exerted far exceeded that of Liu Tiequan, even surpassing the Plague Mother in her prime! His level was definitely not low, at least level 9, possibly even level 10!

"Don't understand?" The man in the straw hat let out a nasty sneer. "It doesn't matter, I'll kill you and take it myself."

Before he could finish speaking, his figure vanished instantly! The next moment, a pitch-black claw, carrying a stench of blood, appeared silently before Lu Zhao's throat! Its speed was unbelievable!

Lu Zhao's pupils contracted sharply. The amazing intuition granted by the [Sleeping Dragon] technique, which had been ready to strike, made him instinctively retreat. At the same time, he raised his right hand, and the [Exorcising Talisman] that had been held in his palm was activated, transforming into a blazing crimson-gold blade of light to meet the claw shadow!

"boom!"

The crimson-gold blade of light collided with the pitch-black claw shadow, producing a muffled thud. The shockwave exploded outwards, causing Lu Zhao's clothes to flutter wildly. The blade of light shattered instantly, and the claw shadow paused slightly, revealing the withered, dark-glowing fingers of the man in the bamboo hat!

"An exorcism talisman? That's somewhat interesting." The man in the straw hat smiled sinisterly, his other hand flashing out like lightning, his five fingers forming a claw, aimed straight at Lu Zhao's heart! Black energy swirled around his fingertips, carrying a strong, fishy stench, clearly indicating that it was highly poisonous!

Lu Zhao quickly stepped forward, using the [Turtle Breathing Technique] in conjunction with the evasive footwork he had just mastered from the [Sleeping Dragon] technique to narrowly avoid a fatal blow to his heart. However, his shoulder was still struck by the claw wind, causing a burning pain and reducing his health by 5%! Moreover, a chilling aura instantly invaded his body—it was corpse poison!

"So fast!" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. This man in the bamboo hat moved with strange movements, attacked ruthlessly, and was poisonous. He had no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation! Moreover, the other party was obviously prepared and knew something about him!

Without hesitation, he activated the remaining two [Exorcism Talismans] simultaneously, shooting them towards the man in the straw hat from the left and right, not aiming to injure him, but merely to hinder him! At the same time, he retreated rapidly, about to leap off the cliff! Below was a deep ravine; although dangerous, jumping down might offer a glimmer of hope!

"Trying to run?" The man in the straw hat seemed to have seen through his intentions. He sneered, neither dodging nor avoiding, and with a wave of his hands, two streams of black energy surged out, easily scattering the two talismans. At the same time, he stomped his foot, causing the ground to crack, and his entire body approached like a ghost, his five fingers like hooks, grabbing towards Lu Zhao's back! If this grab landed, Lu Zhao would be severely injured, if not killed!

In that critical moment, a fierce glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. Without hesitation, the last [Soothing Talisman] hidden in his left sleeve activated instantly, but its target wasn't the man in the bamboo hat; it was himself! A cool aura surged into his mind, instantly clearing his slightly dizzy head caused by poisoning! At the same time, he twisted his body sharply, advancing instead of retreating. His right hand drew his short sword, channeling all his strength and the concentrated spirit of the [Refining Spirit Technique], and thrust it diagonally at the man in the bamboo hat's abdomen at a tricky angle! This was a mutually destructive tactic! He was betting that his opponent would defend!

The man in the straw hat had not expected Lu Zhao to be so fierce, daring to exchange injury for injury! He had to withdraw his claws that were reaching for his back and instead slapped the short knife.

"clang!"

The dagger clashed against the black fingernails, producing a metallic clang! Lu Zhao felt an immense force, his hand split open, the dagger nearly slipping from his grasp, and he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into a large tree. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his health instantly dropping to 40%! The [Poisoned] status worsened!

The man in the straw hat wasn't faring much better. In his hasty retreat, he hadn't fully neutralized the force of the blow, and the spiritual power imbued with the [Refining Spirit Technique] attached to the short sword pierced his body. Although most of it was neutralized by the sword's sinister internal energy, his soul was still shaken, causing a slight slowing of his movements. What shocked and enraged him even more was that the tip of the short sword had actually torn his black robe, leaving a shallow bloodstain on his lower abdomen! Though not severe, it was a profound humiliation for him!

"You brat, you're asking for death!" The man in the straw hat roared in fury, about to pounce again and finish off Lu Zhao.

However, at that moment, something unexpected happened!

In the distance, from the direction of Yunlai Inn, a cold sword light, like a startled swan, pierced the night sky and shot towards this place at an astonishing speed! Before the sword light arrived, a sharp sword intent had already locked onto the man in the bamboo hat!

"Huh?!" The man in the straw hat suddenly turned around, looking towards the source of the sword light. A hint of apprehension and surprise flashed in his eyes. "Azure Cloud Sword Intent? People from Azure Cloud Temple? No, this aura..."

He glanced at Lu Zhao, who was staggering to his feet, then at the rapidly approaching sword light in the distance. A hint of resentment flashed in his eyes, but more so, fear. He sneered, "Consider yourself lucky! Kid, I'll leave the stuff with you for now. Next time, I'll take your life!"

Having said that, he flickered and transformed into a wisp of black smoke, disappearing into the night without a trace.

Lu Zhao, barely managing to stay upright, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked towards the source of the sword light. There, a white figure, riding a flying sword, her robes fluttering, descended from the night sky like a fairy descending to earth—it was the same aloof woman with the silver mask from the inn! But now, she held a gleaming longsword, its tip pointing sharply, radiating a fierce aura, a stark contrast to her cold and distant demeanor in the inn.

The woman landed a short distance in front of Lu Zhao, sheathed her sword, and looked at him calmly: "Are you alright?"

Lu Zhao shook his head, enduring the excruciating pain and dizziness, and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you for saving me, young lady."

The woman's gaze swept over him, especially noticing his pale face and the wound on his shoulder. She frowned slightly and said, "You've been poisoned by corpse poison, and you're badly injured. That man is 'Poison Claw' from the Black Fiend Sect. He's at the sixth level of Qi Refining and is skilled in using poison and ambushes. You actually managed to escape with your life from him and even injure him. You're quite remarkable."

Sixth level of Qi Refining! No wonder she's so powerful! Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. This woman can fly on a sword, and her aura surpasses even that of the Poison Claw; she's probably at least at the late stage of Qi Refining, or even higher! Who is she? Why did she save him?

"This place is not safe to stay long. Although the poisonous claws have retreated, they may not have gone far. Come with me." Before Lu Zhao could answer, the woman waved her hand, and a gentle burst of energy lifted Lu Zhao up. He stepped onto the flying sword again, transformed into a streak of light, and flew towards Qingmu Town.

(A long chapter of over 5,000 words, please give it a good review, send it your vote, and urge me to update!)