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

The Earth-Piercing Talisman tore through the void, forcibly moving Lu Zhao and Miss Yun out of the underground cave that was about to be swallowed by lava and collapse. The price was intense spatial compression and a tearing sensation, as if they had been stuffed into a meat grinder and forcibly pulled out. The light and shadows distorted before their eyes, and the deafening roars of cracking rocks and flowing lava filled their ears, along with the angry and unwilling roars of the skeletons.

"puff!"

When their feet touched solid ground again, the two appeared several hundred feet away on a rocky beach halfway up the other side of Black Wind Ridge. The moment they appeared, Miss Yun could no longer hold on. Her body swayed, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. Her face instantly turned deathly pale, and her breath became extremely weak. Forcibly activating her sword technique with her essence blood and using the precious earth-遁符 (earth-遁符, a type of talisman used for earth-遁 is ...

Lu Zhao was in no better shape. His bones felt like they were falling apart, his internal organs were churning, blood kept gushing from his mouth, his life force had plummeted to a dangerously low 10%, and many of his wounds had reopened. He was in a state of [Severe Injury] plus [Weakness], and he barely had the strength to stand. But he forced himself to stay upright, immediately putting the scorching red flame gold crystal in his arms into his storage bag, and then quickly scanned his surroundings—fortunately, there was no danger nearby.

In the distance behind, a series of muffled thunderous roars echoed, shaking the earth and sending plumes of smoke and dust billowing into the sky—the direction of the abandoned mine. Crimson flames illuminated half the night sky, the air thick with the pungent smell of sulfur and burning. The subterranean fire had truly been ignited! That area was likely a desolate wasteland engulfed in flames.

"Cough cough..." Miss Yun coughed violently, coughing up several mouthfuls of bloody foam. She took out a jade bottle from her bosom, poured out two emerald green pills, swallowed one herself, and tossed the other to Lu Zhao.

"The Rejuvenation Pill... take it quickly." Her voice was extremely weak.

Lu Zhao reluctantly accepted the pill, which radiated a rich life force, clearly a miraculous healing elixir. Without hesitation, he swallowed it. The pill entered his stomach, transforming into a warm current that quickly spread throughout his body, like rain after a long drought, nourishing his parched meridians and internal organs. Although it couldn't instantly heal his severe injuries, his continuously draining life force was at least stabilized, and the excruciating pain was somewhat relieved.

The two sat down cross-legged, focusing all their energy on circulating their internal energy to absorb the medicinal properties and stabilize their injuries. A full incense stick's time passed before the distant tremors and flames gradually subsided, but the towering plumes of smoke remained clearly visible. The color had returned slightly to their faces, but their breathing remained weak.

"We shouldn't stay here any longer. The commotion we made just now might attract attention." Miss Yun struggled to her feet, took another Rejuvenation Pill, and her complexion improved slightly, but she was still pale. "That Bone Demon has been sealed for many years and has been devoured by the earth fire. It may not be able to escape, but this place is no longer safe. We need to leave immediately."

Lu Zhao nodded. He didn't even have the strength to speak, but his survival instincts compelled him to stand up. He glanced at Miss Yun, then at his own disheveled appearance, and said with a wry smile, "Senior, looking like this, I'm afraid we won't be able to return to Qingmu Town."

"Let's find a safe place to rest first." Miss Yun looked around and pointed to a relatively secluded mountain hollow in the distance. "Let's go there, set up a protective barrier, and recover some strength first."

Supporting each other, the two stumbled and fell to the ravine. Miss Yun took out several small flags from her bosom and waved her hand, setting up a simple concealment array to hide their presence and figures. Lu Zhao, disregarding everything else, rummaged through his storage bag for the few remaining wound medicines and blood-replenishing powders, haphazardly applying them to his wounds. He then swallowed a few qi-replenishing pills, finally feeling slightly better.

The two sat cross-legged, silently regulating their breathing. More than an hour passed, and dawn was breaking when Lu Zhao finally felt a slight return of strength. His life force slowly recovered to around 25%, bringing him out of danger, but he remained severely injured, the weakness ever-present. Miss Yun seemed to be more seriously injured. Although her cultivation was profound, forcibly burning her essence and blood had damaged her foundation, slowing her recovery; her complexion remained poor.

"What exactly are those bones?" Lu Zhao couldn't help but ask, his voice still hoarse.

"Bone Demon..." Miss Yun slowly opened her eyes, a trace of lingering fear flashing within them. "It's an extremely yin place, a gathering place for countless vengeful spirits, death energy, and corpses. Over countless years, through a series of coincidences, it gave birth to an extremely evil ghost. This creature is neither a corpse nor a ghost, but exists in between, possessing the characteristics of both. It is impervious to ordinary physical and magical attacks, and is especially adept at mental attacks and manipulating yin energy. Its strength is at least equivalent to a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, and it is extremely difficult to kill completely. That Bone Demon was sealed by both iron chains and earth fire, and was suppressed for who knows how many years, greatly diminishing its strength. Otherwise, you and I would have already been annihilated."

Lu Zhao gasped. Mid-Foundation Establishment! That skeleton was such a ferocious creature? No wonder its level was undetectable, its aura was terrifying! If it weren't for the seal suppressing it and the eruption of subterranean fire, they would have had no chance of survival.

"That underground fire..."

"The eruption of the subterranean fire is both a calamity and an opportunity. It might completely refine the Bone Demon, or it might help it escape. However, this place has become a forbidden zone, and no one can enter in the short term. That Crimson Flame Golden Crystal is a rare treasure formed by the collision and fusion of the subterranean fire and the Yin energy of the Bone Demon over millions of years. It contains a trace of the essence of the subterranean fire and the Yin energy, making it quite rare. The one you obtained is of good quality and quite valuable." As Miss Yun spoke, she took out the fist-sized Crimson Flame Golden Crystal she had obtained and handed it over. "This item is beneficial to my cultivation, but I only need a fist-sized one. The one you obtained is larger and of better quality. Consider this one your reward for this trip."

Lu Zhao accepted the Crimson Flame Gold Crystal without hesitation. It was warm to the touch, with golden and crimson halos flowing within, and a faint heat emanating from it—clearly an extraordinary item. More importantly, he vaguely sensed that the energy contained within it shared a similar origin with the [Dragon Scale Gold Fragment] he had previously obtained.

He took out the larger, higher-quality Crimson Flame Gold Crystal he had found. The two crystals, placed together, shimmered and seemed to resonate subtly. A thought struck him, and he took out the Dragon Scale Gold Fragment. The fragment didn't react, but its texture and patterns were somewhat similar to the Crimson Flame Gold Crystal, only more ancient and cold.

"This is..." A hint of surprise flashed in Miss Yun's eyes when she saw the dragon scale gold fragment. "A fragment of dragon scale gold? Where did you get it?"

Lu Zhao then briefly recounted how he found the item by the pool in the Blood Wolf's Den that day, and shared his guess.

"By the pool... Dragon Scale Gold... Bone Demon..." Miss Yun twirled the fragments, pondering for a moment, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "The Blood Wolf's lair isn't far from here. That pool is filled with heavy yin energy, perhaps connected to the depths of the mine by some hidden current. This item might be related to that Bone Demon, or perhaps... it was left behind by a senior who perished here years ago, fighting against that Bone Demon. To possess such a spiritual material as Dragon Scale Gold, that senior's cultivation must have been quite high in life. Unfortunately, so much time has passed, it's impossible to verify now."

Lu Zhao nodded and carefully put the two items away. Regardless of their origin, these two items were excellent materials for him and might be useful in the future.

"You were able to escape this time thanks to your unique method of fusing talismans and your decisive courage in detonating the inner core." Miss Yun looked at Lu Zhao, her eyes filled with seriousness and scrutiny. "Although your cultivation level is low, your adaptability and decisiveness in the face of the enemy far surpass your peers. The inner core of that blood wolf was mixed and could easily have backfired if forcibly detonated, yet you were able to withstand it and even use it to severely injure the horde of corpses. Not bad."

"Senior, you flatter me. If it weren't for your restraint, I would have already perished in the wolf's belly, let alone been able to contend with the Bone Demon," Lu Zhao said sincerely. If it weren't for Miss Yun's intervention, he would have already died under the poisonous claws or the blood wolf's claws.

"No need for modesty. From what I observe, the method you cultivate is neither Buddhist nor Taoist, yet it is unique, resilient and pure, and extremely effective against evil spirits and demons. Your talismanic arts are also quite unique. Would you... be willing to tell me about your master?" Miss Yun asked, her gaze calm yet filled with a hint of inquiry.

Lu Zhao remained silent for a moment before saying, "To be honest, senior, I have no master. The cultivation method I practice is a fragment I obtained by chance, and the art of talismans is something I learned on my own from an incomplete talisman book."

"A rogue cultivator... such good fortune?" Miss Yun raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised, but did not delve into it. She simply said, "The path of a rogue cultivator is a hundred times more difficult. Your foundation is decent, and your will is firm, but you lack a proper lineage, making you prone to going astray. When you return, you can go to Manager Chen at the 'Hundred Treasures Pavilion,' he might have some connections. Or you can go to the 'Heavenly Craft Workshop' in the county town, a gathering place for rogue cultivators, where you might find suitable cultivation techniques or skills to exchange. But remember, don't flaunt your wealth. 'A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.' You possess the Crimson Flame Gold Crystal, the Dragon Scale Gold Fragment, and even the Heart of the Plague Mother, all of which are coveted items. You must be extremely careful."

"Thank you for your guidance, senior. I will keep it in mind." Lu Zhao was grateful. Although this "Miss Yun" was aloof, she was open and honest in her actions and had no intention of killing or stealing treasure. Instead, she offered some advice.

"Furthermore," Miss Yun's tone shifted, becoming more serious, "the Black Fiend Sect's 'Poison Claw' has its eye on you and won't let this go easily. The emergence of the Bone Demon and the eruption of the Earth Fire are too big a commotion to be ignored, and the Black Fiend Sect might also take action. After you return to Qingmu Town, you must leave immediately and not linger. The Loose Cultivator Token given by Manager Chen might serve as an introduction. You could either go to the 'Heavenly Craft Workshop' to lay low for a while, or find a sect or family to rely on and focus on your cultivation. You can make further plans after things have calmed down."

Lu Zhao's heart sank. He had never forgotten the threat of the poisonous claws. Now, with the emergence of the Bone Demon and the eruption of the subterranean fire, it was indeed no longer advisable to stay in Qingmu Town. This Heavenly Craft Workshop seemed like a suitable place to go.

"May I ask, senior, what is Tiangongfang...?" Lu Zhao asked.

"Tiangongfang is a place in Luoxia County where independent cultivators, small sects, and craftsmen jointly established a trading, exchange, and quest posting center. It's a mixed bag, but it's well-informed and you can also obtain some cultivation resources. The rules within the fang are strict, and private fights are prohibited, making it a good place to stay temporarily. With your independent cultivator token, you can inquire at the 'Tiangong Pavilion' in the west of the county town after you arrive." Miss Yun explained briefly, then added, "As for me, I have other important matters to attend to and cannot accompany you. You can go on your own. Once this matter is settled, we're even. Farewell."

As she spoke, she stood up, seemingly preparing to leave.

"I will never forget your life-saving grace and guidance, senior. I will definitely repay you if I have the opportunity in the future." Lu Zhao also struggled to get up and bowed solemnly.

"No need. You helped me obtain the Crimson Flame Crystal, and I rescued you from danger. It's just a fair trade." Miss Yun waved her hand, her tone returning to its previous coldness. "Remember my words, and take care of yourself."

After saying that, she didn't linger. With a flicker, she turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared into the vast forest without a trace.

Lu Zhao stood gazing in the direction she had disappeared, for a long time. This mysterious and powerful "Senior Yun," who came and went like the wind, with clear goals and distinct grudges, had left a deep impression on him. If he hadn't met her this time, he would probably have already died under the claws of poisonous claws or blood wolves, let alone kill the blood wolf, find the golden crystal, or escape from the Bone Demon.

"Tiangong Workshop... County City..." Lu Zhao murmured to himself. He had no more attachment to Qingmu Town; the threats from Poison Claw and the Black Fiend Sect hung like a sword over his head. It was time to leave.

He turned and looked at the dissipating plume of smoke in the distance, then looked down at his tattered clothes and bloodstains, and gave a bitter smile. Right now, he needed to find a place to heal his wounds and regain his strength before figuring out how to leave this dangerous place.

He found a secluded cave, set up simple warning traps, then sat cross-legged, swallowed the remaining pills, and began the long process of healing and recovery by fully activating the [Dragon's Sleep] technique. This time, the gains were enormous, but the dangers were unprecedented. But the road ahead must continue.