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

The night wind whistled past his ears, and the scenery rushed past beneath his feet. Supported by the woman's inner energy, Lu Zhao stood atop the flying sword. While initially shocked, he quickly regained his composure. Flying on a sword—this was the first time he had witnessed such "immortal techniques" since arriving in this world. This woman's cultivation was definitely not low; at least late-stage Qi Refining, perhaps even Foundation Establishment! Why was she in a place like the "Cloud Inn"? And why did she save him?

In the blink of an eye, the flying sword had covered dozens of miles, landing near a secluded grove of trees outside Qingmu Town. The woman sheathed her sword with fluid, graceful movements. She turned to look at Lu Zhao, her eyes beneath the silver mask as cold as the moon: "The corpse poison has entered your body; if it's not removed in time, the consequences will be dire. Come with me."

After saying that, she turned and walked into the woods. Lu Zhao didn't ask any questions and silently followed. If the other party wanted to harm him, she could have simply not saved him earlier. Right now, healing his wounds and detoxifying him were the most urgent tasks.

There was a simple wooden hut in the woods, seemingly a hunter's temporary resting place, and it was empty at the moment. The woman pushed open the door and entered, lighting the oil lamp inside. In the lamplight, the hut was simple but clean, containing only a wooden bed, a table, and two chairs.

"Sit down and take off your top." The woman's voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

Lu Zhao sat down as instructed, took off his tattered shirt, revealing his shoulder. The skin and flesh at the wound were torn and rolled back, turning an ominous blackish-purple, with wisps of black energy spreading along the meridians, a shocking sight. The poison was potent; if he hadn't previously taken the Jade Toad Detoxification Pill, possessed a constitution far exceeding that of ordinary people, and hadn't been continuously suppressed by the Hidden Dragon Sleep, he would probably have already died from the poison.

The woman glanced at the wound, then took out a jade bottle from a small pouch at her waist, poured out a small amount of white powder, and sprinkled it on the wound. The powder felt cool to the touch, and upon contact with the black blood, it hissed softly and emitted white smoke. A sharp pain shot through her, but this was quickly followed by a cooling sensation that neutralized the burning and numbness of the wound.

"This is 'Jade Skin Powder,' which can cure corpse poison and dispel yin energy. You're lucky; although the corpse poison from Poison Claw is potent, this medicine is just the right counter." The woman treated her wounds while speaking calmly. "What's your name? What grudge do you have with the Black Fiend Sect's 'Poison Claw'?"

"Junior Lu Zhao, thank you for saving my life, senior." Lu Zhao endured the pain and said in a deep voice, "As for the grudge, I don't know this person. It's just that in Beiling Village, in order to cure the plague, I destroyed a nest of evil spirits. Perhaps that evil spirit is related to the Black Fiend Sect, and this person came to seek revenge."

"Beiling Village? The Plague Mother?" The woman paused slightly, glanced at Lu Zhao, and a look of understanding flashed in her eyes. "So it's you. Recently, there have been rumors in town that a young rogue cultivator who used talismans single-handedly destroyed the Plague Mother's lair, saved Li Family Village, and received a reward from the town garrison. He does have some courage and skill."

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat; this woman was well-informed and indeed not simple. He lowered his head and remained silent, tacitly agreeing.

"That Plague Mother was indeed a tactic of the Black Fiend Cult. They use plague to refine corpses, gathering yin energy to form fiendish beings; their ambitions are far from small. Your ability to eliminate it ruined their plans, so it's no surprise that their poisonous claws have come after you." The woman treated your wounds and then handed you a jade-green pill. "Take this; it will help you recover your strength and stabilize your injuries."

"Thank you, senior." Lu Zhao accepted the pill, its fragrance filling the air and its spiritual energy overwhelming, clearly indicating it was no ordinary medicine. He swallowed it without hesitation. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, transforming into a warm current that flowed throughout his body. Not only was the numbness, itching, and pain at his wound greatly relieved, but his depleted qi, blood, and spirit were also rapidly recovering! The effects of this pill were far superior to the [Plague-Clearing and Soul-Purifying Pill]!

[Taking the "Jade Dew Rejuvenating Pill" restores 15% to health, 20% to spirit, and alleviates moderate internal injury and mild poisoning!]

"I will forever remember your great kindness, senior. May I ask how I should address you?" Lu Zhao asked respectfully, while his mind raced. The other party was powerful and had a mysterious background; there must be a reason why he was saved.

"The form of address is not important; you can just call me 'Miss Yun,'" the woman said calmly, sitting down on another chair and looking at Lu Zhao with a serene gaze. "I saved you for a reason. First, I have an old grudge against the Black Fiend Sect, and I will kill their henchmen if I can. Second, I am somewhat interested in you."

Lu Zhao's heart stirred, but his face remained calm: "Please enlighten me, senior."

"The cultivation method you practice seems rather unique. It's neither Buddhist nor Taoist, unlike common martial arts or spells, yet you can wield talismans, escape unscathed from such a perilous place, kill the Plague Mother, withstand the Poison Claw's attacks for a moment, and even injure him. With your mere early-stage Qi Refining cultivation, to achieve all this is truly remarkable," Miss Yun said slowly, her gaze piercing as if trying to see through Lu Zhao. "Furthermore, you bear no trace of a sect's inheritance, nor do you possess the spoiled air of a noble scion. You must have entered this path by chance. Am I right?"

Lu Zhao was taken aback; this woman had sharp eyes, able to see so much. He nodded frankly, "Senior has keen insight. I am indeed a rogue cultivator who only embarked on the path of cultivation by chance, and know very little about the cultivation world."

"A rogue cultivator... that's rare." Miss Yun nodded slightly. "Cultivation is not easy for rogue cultivators; resources are scarce, and dangers lurk everywhere. Your success today is due to a combination of opportunity, temperament, and methods—all are indispensable. I have something I might be willing to cooperate with you on."

"Cooperation?" Lu Zhao was taken aback.

"Indeed. That scoundrel Poison Claw is cunning, ruthless, and vengeful. He will not let this opportunity pass him by unsuccessfully. Although he fears me and dares not openly harm you, he will surely seek revenge in secret. You are alone and have offended the Black Fiend Sect, so your situation will be extremely dangerous," said Miss Yun.

Lu Zhao remained silent; this was precisely what he was worried about. With his current strength, he had no chance of winning against Poison Claw, who was at the sixth level of Qi Refining, let alone against the Black Fiend Sect behind him.

"I can offer you shelter, at least until I leave this place, ensuring your safety for the time being. But in exchange, I want you to do something for me," said Miss Yun.

"What is it? My cultivation is too low; I'm afraid I'm not up to the task," Lu Zhao said cautiously.

"Don't worry, I'm not asking you to fight powerful enemies," said Miss Yun. "I need you to help me find something. It's near Qingmu Town, or more precisely, in the Black Wind Ridge area."

"Black Wind Ridge?" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat; that was the place where the Blood Wolves roamed.

"Indeed. This item is called 'Crimson Flame Golden Crystal,' a ore containing supreme yang energy, which can be used to refine magical artifacts or set up certain formations. According to my investigation, there is an abandoned mine deep within Black Wind Ridge, where this item may remain. However, that mine is shrouded in a yin aura and infested with demonic beasts, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to venture deep inside. But you…" Miss Yun glanced at Lu Zhao, "You seem unafraid of yin aura and are skilled at dealing with such evil spirits, so perhaps you have a way to get in. In addition, you should also have some knowledge of the terrain of Black Wind Ridge."

Lu Zhao suddenly understood. So the other party had their eye on her ability to deal with the Plague Mother and her immunity to Yin Sha. Crimson Flame Golden Crystal—it sounded like a fire-attribute material, which might be very useful to her. Moreover, the other party had clearly investigated her, knowing she was inquiring about the Blood Wolves and anticipating her trip to Black Wind Ridge.

"Senior, to be honest, I am indeed inquiring about the Blood Wolf and do intend to go to Black Wind Ridge. However, venturing deep into the mine to search for the Crimson Flame Gold Crystal is extremely risky. Moreover, the Blood Wolf is entrenched in Black Wind Ridge, posing a significant threat," Lu Zhao frankly stated.

"I already know about the Blood Wolf. This fiend has been entrenched in Black Wind Ridge for many years and has developed a trace of demonic nature. Its strength is close to the seventh level of Qi Refining. It has thick skin and flesh, and its claws and teeth are poisonous, making it indeed troublesome. However, it is not invincible. I have pills to counteract its poison, as well as methods to deal with demonic beasts. If you can help me find the Crimson Flame Golden Crystal, I can help you kill this fiend and take its inner core and fur as a reward. The inner core can be used to refine medicine and improve cultivation, which will be beneficial to you. As for the threat of its poisonous claws, I can ensure your safety until the Crimson Flame Golden Crystal is found, and I can also teach you a method of concealing your presence and hiding your tracks, allowing you to temporarily avoid its notice," said Miss Yun, her tone calm, but the conditions she offered were extremely tempting.

Lu Zhao's mind raced. This deal seemed extremely advantageous to him. Not only would it resolve his immediate crisis (the pursuit by the Poison Claw), but it would also provide him with the assistance of killing the Blood Wolf, obtaining its inner core and other materials, and even allowing him to learn cultivation techniques from this highly skilled "Miss Yun." As for venturing deep into the mine to search for the Crimson Flame Gold Crystal, although risky, he possessed the [Dragon's Hibernation] and talismans, so there was a possibility of success. More importantly, through this cooperation, he might be able to strengthen his relationship with this mysterious expert and obtain more information about the cultivation world and the Black Fiend Sect.

"Is what you say true, senior? Can you guarantee my safety and teach me the method of concealing my breath?" Lu Zhao asked.

"I always keep my word," said Miss Yun, flipping her hand to reveal a cyan jade slip. "This is the 'Concealing Breath Technique,' which can conceal one's aura and hide one's form. It's difficult for anyone other than someone a whole realm higher than you to detect it easily. You can take this and study it first. Once you're ready, we'll meet here at dawn three days later and head to Black Wind Ridge together. How does that sound?"

Lu Zhao took the jade slip; it felt slightly cool to the touch, and faint shimmering light emanated from it, clearly indicating that it contained the method. He didn't examine it immediately, but instead asked, "Senior, why don't you personally go and find the Crimson Flame Golden Crystal? With your cultivation level, killing the Blood Wolf and exploring the mine shouldn't be difficult."

Miss Yun was silent for a moment, then said, "I have my own inconveniences. Deep within that mine, there are ancient remnants of restrictions that restrain my cultivation techniques. Forcibly entering might cause unforeseen circumstances. As for you, your cultivation is still shallow, so you won't be bothered by them. Moreover, you have quite a few methods for dealing with Yin Sha things, making you suitable for this trip. In addition, I also need to stay here and keep an eye on the Black Sha Sect's movements, so it's inconvenient for me to travel far."

This explanation is barely plausible. Lu Zhao didn't ask any more questions, put away the jade slip, clasped his hands and said, "In that case, this junior is willing to cooperate with senior. We shall meet here at dawn three days from now."

"Alright." Miss Yun nodded and stood up. "These three days, you should take good care of your injuries, study the Concealing Breath Technique, familiarize yourself with the terrain, and make all necessary preparations. Remember, do not alert the enemy. Also, the Black Fiend Sect must have spies in Qingmu Town, so after you return, act discreetly. If there is any emergency, you can come to this wooden house and carve a cloud pattern mark on the door, and I will know."

"I understand," Lu Zhao replied.

"Go ahead," Miss Yun waved her hand.

Lu Zhao thanked her again and turned to leave the cabin. Once he was out of the woods, he looked back, but the cabin had vanished into the night, leaving no trace. This "Miss Yun" was elusive and possessed profound cultivation, yet she seemed to have no ill intentions. This deal was, for him, the best option at the moment.

He hurried back to "Wang Anju," circulating the [Dragon's Hibernation Technique] and [Breath Concealment Technique] along the way. Sure enough, he felt his aura rapidly conceal itself, blending into the night. Even his breathing and heartbeat became extremely faint, almost imperceptible without close observation. This Breath Concealment Technique was astonishingly effective!

Back in the dilapidated house, Lu Zhao immediately sat down cross-legged and used the [Dragon Sleep] technique in conjunction with medicinal pills to heal his injuries, while simultaneously focusing his mind on the cyan jade slip.

He touched the jade slip to his forehead, and a cool stream of information flooded his mind. It was a technique called "Breath Concealment Technique," which included methods of breathing exercises, blood circulation, and mental focus. Although it was only a basic breath concealment technique, it was exquisite and practical, exactly the life-saving method he urgently needed. This Miss Yun was quite generous.

"A poisonous claw at the sixth level of Qi Refining... the Blood Wolf of Black Wind Ridge... and this mysterious Miss Yun..." A thousand thoughts raced through Lu Zhao's mind. The road ahead remained treacherous, but at least he was no longer alone and helpless. Moreover, with the [Concealing Breath Technique] and the [Dragon's Sleep], his survival ability would be greatly enhanced.

"The most urgent task is to recover from our injuries, familiarize ourselves with the Breath Concealment Technique, prepare to deal with the Blood Wolves, and find the Crimson Flame Golden Crystal. Three days later..." Lu Zhao's eyes flashed as he memorized the image of the Crimson Flame Golden Crystal and the approximate location of the mine. He then took out a piece of scrap paper and began to sketch the terrain of Black Wind Ridge, as well as the information about the Blood Wolves and the mine that he had learned from the old Taoist priest.

As night deepened, only the dim light of an oil lamp illuminated the focused and resolute profile of the young man in the small house. A new collaboration, full of unknowns and challenges, was about to begin.