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

Three days later, on the edge of Black Wind Ridge, in an inconspicuous cave.

Lu Zhao slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a breath of turbid air tinged with blood. The cave was dimly lit, but his eyes shone brightly, like cold stars in the dark night, sharp and calm. He looked down at himself; his freshly washed blue martial arts attire still had several tears, but his body was no longer seriously injured. Within his meridians, the flow of qi and blood was slow and gentle, carrying a sense of new life, far more condensed and profound than before. In his sea of ​​consciousness, his spirit was full, and his range of perception seemed to have expanded slightly.

【状态：重伤（恢复中），生命值：72%/100%，体力：80%/100%，精神力：85%/100%】

[Level: 9 (1520/2000)]

[Attributes: Strength: 1.3 → 1.4, Constitution: 1.1 → 1.2, Agility: 1.3 → 1.5, Spirit: 3.3 → 3.8]

【Hidden Dragon Sleep (Beginner) Lv1 (5/100) → Lv2 (0/300)】

【Spell Drawing (Basic) Lv2 (150/300) → Lv2 (200/300)】

His encounter with the Bone Demon and his escape from the fiery underworld, though a near-death experience, provided him with an extreme tempering. The pressure of life and death unleashed his potential, and with the restorative nourishment of the [Sleeping Dragon Technique], his attributes all significantly improved, with his mental power surging! While his [Refining Spirit Technique] hadn't leveled up, its operation became more fluid, showing signs of a breakthrough. His proficiency in talisman drawing had also increased considerably, and his control over his mental power became more refined. This gave him a glimmer of anticipation for drawing even more advanced talismans in the future.

More importantly, there was the breakthrough in [Dragon's Hibernation]. At Lv2, Dragon's Hibernation not only boasts stronger recovery capabilities and can more effectively suppress negative status effects, but its "quieting and concealing one's presence" characteristic has also been greatly enhanced. At full power, he felt as if he could blend into the mountains, rocks, and vegetation, becoming virtually undetectable. This undoubtedly greatly enhanced his survival and stealth abilities.

"It's time," Lu Zhao murmured to himself, a resolute glint in his eyes. His injuries hadn't fully healed, but they were no longer serious. This place was no longer safe to stay; the anomalies at Black Wind Ridge (the eruption of subterranean fire, the suspected escape of the Bone Demon) would eventually spread, attracting even more attention. He had to leave as soon as possible.

He got up and walked out of the cave. The morning sunlight filtered through the sparse branches and leaves, carrying a hint of warmth. In the distance, deep within Black Wind Ridge, the towering column of smoke had mostly dissipated, but a faint smell of sulfur and burnt lingered, a reminder of the harrowing events of the past few days.

Instead of returning to "Wang Anju," he chose to take a detour, avoiding any potential spies, and quietly returned to the vicinity of Qingmu Town from another side. He didn't go directly into the town, but stopped in a grove of trees outside the town, changed into a clean set of clothes he had prepared beforehand, buried his bloodstained clothes and broken dagger deeply, washed the blood off his face and hands with stream water, and tied his hair back up. Only then did he look like an ordinary hunter who had just returned from the mountains, and head towards the town.

The guards at the town gate were the same ones from a few days ago. They glanced at Lu Zhao lazily but didn't stop him. Once inside the town, the streets were still bustling with people, seemingly unaffected by the disturbances at Black Wind Ridge. It seemed the news hadn't spread, or perhaps it had been deliberately suppressed.

Lu Zhao first went to the garrison headquarters. When Master Wang saw him return safely, he seemed somewhat surprised but didn't ask many questions, only inquiring about the results of the investigation into Beiling Village in a purely official manner. Lu Zhao had already prepared his explanation, saying only that the investigation revealed an evil spirit causing the chaos, its core lair had been destroyed, and the source of the plague had been eliminated. However, before dying, the evil spirit detonated some kind of insidious substance, causing the back mountain to collapse and turn into a poisonous wasteland. He suggested that the garrison headquarters seal off the mountain. He didn't mention the Plague Mother or the Bone Demon, only saying that the evil spirit had been destroyed by a "mutual destruction" method. Master Wang was skeptical, but seeing that Lu Zhao produced some soil contaminated with the plague and broken bones (actually obtained from killing plague-infected villagers) as evidence, and noticing his pale complexion, which suggested he had received an internal reward and wasn't faking it, he believed him to some extent and readily paid the remaining 270 taels of reward silver (30 taels had already been prepaid). Thus, the plague incident in Lijia Village was considered "satisfactorily resolved" at the government level.

Carrying heavy silver notes and loose silver, Lu Zhao did not linger and went straight to "Wang Anju".

When Master Zhao saw Lu Zhao return, he was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He looked Lu Zhao up and down, and only when he saw that Lu Zhao was unharmed did he feel relieved. Lu Zhao handed over most of the silver he had on him (a total of two hundred taels), saying that he had earned some money from trading while he was away. He asked Master Zhao to take good care of the refugees' livelihood, fortify the camp, and buy some grain, cloth, and farm tools. If possible, he also suggested that the children be taught to read and write and learn some self-defense techniques. As for himself, he would be going on a long journey for some time, and his return date was uncertain.

Master Zhao knew he was no ordinary man, so he didn't ask any further questions. He simply held his hand tightly and repeatedly urged him to take good care of himself. Lu Zhao then bid farewell to several familiar refugees. They were all reluctant to part with him, but his mind was made up.

After leaving "Wang An Ju", Lu Zhao went to "Bai Bao Ge" for the last time.

Manager Chen was fiddling with his abacus behind the counter when he saw Lu Zhao enter. A glint flashed in his eyes, followed by his usual smile: "Young friend Lu, how have you been? Judging from your complexion, you seem to have made some progress, but there's a hint of weariness in your brows. Have you been through another fierce battle?"

"Manager Chen has a good eye." Lu Zhao sat down at the counter, skipped the pleasantries, and got straight to the point, "I am about to leave Qingmu Town, and before I go, I have two things I would like to ask you, Manager Chen."

"Oh? Please speak, young friend." Manager Chen put down his abacus and looked at him with great interest.

"First, what's the conclusion about that fragment of the evil god's emblem, shopkeeper?" Lu Zhao asked. This was a thorn in his side, concerning both the Black Fiend Sect and his own safety.

Shopkeeper Chen's expression grew more serious. He looked around and lowered his voice, saying, "I have already inquired about what you asked me to do, young friend. That fragment is no ordinary object. Its material and runes, after being examined by several fellow practitioners, are indeed related to the Black Fiend Cult, but it doesn't belong to an ordinary member. Rather, it seems to be... a fragment of some kind of token or ritual implement of the evil god they worship, the 'Black Fiend Lord.' The appearance of this item in Beiling Village is no accident. Young friend, the trouble you've gotten yourself into is quite serious. The Black Fiend Cult values ​​such sacred objects extremely highly and will not let this go easily. You'd better leave this place, the farther the better."

As expected! Lu Zhao's heart sank. This matched his previous guess. The Plague Mother of Beiling Village, and even the Black Fiend Cult that might exist behind her, had grand ambitions, and this fragment was a key token. Taking it would be like stirring up a hornet's nest.

"I understand. The second matter," Lu Zhao took a small package from his robes and gently placed it on the counter, "is that my journey ahead is uncertain, and I wish to exchange some items for things to protect my life, facilitate my travels, and enhance my strength. I wonder if the shopkeeper has any good goods here?"

Shopkeeper Chen opened the package, which contained several items: besides the Blood Wolf Inner Core (Inferior), Blood Wolf Fangs, Tough Wolf Hide, and Poison Glands obtained from killing the Blood Wolf, there were also several Plague Poison Crystals (Mid-Grade) and Yin Sha Crystals (Mid-Grade) obtained from the Plague Mother, as well as the Dragon Scale Gold Fragment he found by the pool. As for the largest piece, the Crimson Flame Gold Crystal, he did not take it out; this item was too conspicuous and extremely valuable, and it was not advisable to reveal it for the time being.

"Huh?" Shopkeeper Chen's gaze was first drawn to the [Dragon Scale Gold Fragment]. He held it in his hand, examining it closely, then looked at it for a long time with a magnifying glass. A look of surprise appeared on his face. "This item... seems to be quite old, and it contains a very faint trace of dragon energy, although it has almost completely dissipated. However, the material itself is extraordinary, making it an excellent auxiliary material for refining high-grade magic weapons. It's a pity that it's just a fragment, and the dragon energy has been lost, greatly reducing its value. However, for some cultivators who specialize in metal-attribute techniques or need to refine special magic weapons, it's still quite rare. The price... is eighty taels? How about it?"

Lu Zhao nodded. The price was fair, considering it was just a fragment.

"Blood wolf inner core, poor quality, mixed demonic power, priced at fifty taels. Wolf skin, fangs, and poison glands, thirty taels in total. Plague poison crystals and Yin Sha crystals, ten taels each, totaling... one hundred taels. The total is two hundred and sixty taels." Manager Chen quickly quoted the prices.

"Agreed." Lu Zhao did not haggle. With the 270 taels of silver offered by the garrison headquarters, he now had 530 taels of silver on hand, plus the few dozen taels he had left over, totaling nearly 600 taels! This was a huge sum of money! Enough to support his expenses for a long time.

"Young friend, you're very generous." Shopkeeper Chen smiled as he put away the items, then took out a wooden box from under the counter, opened it, and inside were several items neatly arranged.

"This is a 'Swiftness Talisman'. Once activated, it can increase your speed by 30% for 15 minutes. It can be used three times. It costs 30 taels each and you can have two talismans in total."

"The 'Golden Wound Medicine (Superior Grade)' can quickly stop bleeding and promote tissue regeneration. It also has a conditioning effect on internal injuries. Ten taels per bottle, three bottles in total."

"The 'Grain-Breaking Pill' can keep you from hunger for three days with just one pill. It costs 20 taels for a bottle (10 pills), and you can have two bottles."

"The 'Detoxification Pill (Superior Grade)' can cure all poisons, and is effective against common poisonous miasma, corpse poison, and insect poison. It costs thirty taels per bottle."

"The 'Pure Heart Jade Pendant (fragmented)' can be worn to calm the mind and spirit, and resist low-level illusions and mental disturbances. The effect is weak, but long-term wear is beneficial to the soul. Price: 100 taels."

"Also, here is this detailed map of 'Luoxia County' and its surrounding areas, marking major towns, roads, dangerous places, and the approximate locations of cultivation forces such as 'Tiangongfang' and 'Qingyun Temple,' ten taels."

Manager Chen explained everything in detail, clearly having anticipated Lu Zhao's needs.

Lu Zhao carefully selected his items. Swiftness Talismans were essential for traveling and escaping. Wound Medicine and Antidote Pills were always on hand. Fasting Pills would be very useful in the wild or during seclusion. The Mind-Cleansing Jade Pendant could resist mental attacks, which would be very helpful given his current high divine attribute but lack of corresponding defensive measures. A map was also a necessity. After considering his options, he said, "Two Swiftness Talismans, three bottles of Wound Medicine, two bottles of Fasting Pills, one bottle of Antidote Pill, the Mind-Cleansing Jade Pendant, and the map—I'll take them all. Also, are there any other suitable offensive talismans or defensive items?"

Shopkeeper Chen pondered for a moment, then took out two more items: "This 'Thunderfire Talisman (Inferior)' can release a bolt of thunderfire when activated. Its power is decent, and it deals extra damage to yin spirits and demonic beasts. However, it is not easy to draw and is quite expensive, costing one hundred taels each. This 'Protective Jade Pendant (Inferior)' can withstand one full-force attack from someone below the mid-stage of Qi Refining, but it can only be used once, costing fifty taels."

Lu Zhao glanced at the "Thunderfire Talisman (Inferior)". The talisman paper was of ordinary material, and the runes were somewhat rough, so its power was probably limited, but it was better than nothing. As for the "Protective Jade Pendant (Inferior)", it was a one-time use life-saving talisman that could save his life in a critical moment. He finally decided to buy the Thunderfire Talisman and the Protective Jade Pendant, and also bought some high-quality cinnabar, talisman paper, and a sharper and tougher fine steel short sword to replace his broken woodcutter's knife. After this purchase, he spent nearly four hundred taels of silver, leaving him with only two hundred taels of silver, but he gained a full set of "equipment".

"Furthermore," Lu Zhao put away his things, and finally asked, "Shopkeeper, do you know which road is safest to take to the county town? Is there anything I should be aware of?"

Shopkeeper Chen glanced at him meaningfully and said, "Young friend, you're going to the county town? Very well, the waters there are murky and deep, making it a better place to hide. There are two routes to the county town. One is the official road, which is flat but roundabout, with post stations along the way, making it relatively safe, but there are also many checkpoints. The other is a mountain path, which is shorter, but requires crossing 'Falling Eagle Gorge' and passing through 'Black Wind Gorge,' where wild beasts and even demonic beasts roam, making it quite dangerous. If you want to keep a low profile, you can choose the official road, but you need to be careful of government checks, especially given the recent unusual activity in Black Wind Ridge, where checks may be more stringent. If you want to be fast and are confident in your skills, you can take the path, but you need to be wary of highway robbers, and... the spies of the Black Fiend Sect."

"Thank you for your guidance, shopkeeper." Lu Zhao understood. It seemed that although taking the side path was dangerous, it was more concealed. Now that he had the Concealing Breath Technique and the Swiftness Talisman, if he was careful, he might be faster.

After leaving the "Treasure Pavilion", Lu Zhao made a final purchase of dry food, water, tinder, rope and other sundries in the town. He also went to the blacksmith shop to retrieve the hardwood short crossbow and twenty crossbow bolts that he had ordered earlier. Only then did he return to "Wang Anju" to say a final goodbye to Master Zhao and the others.

The next morning, as dawn broke, Lu Zhao changed into clean and neat clothes, slung his backpack over his shoulder, hung a short sword at his waist, and carried talismans and pills in his pocket. He took one last look at the simple shack of "Wang An Ju" and the refugees waving goodbye, then turned and strode towards the west gate of Qingmu Town.

He didn't take the official road, but instead chose the narrow mountain path. The morning mist hadn't yet dissipated, gradually swallowing his figure.

The story of Aoki Town has come to a temporary close. Here lay his initial foothold, the place of life-or-death battles, the companions he made, and the enemies he forged. But this place was ultimately just a starting point on his long journey. Ahead lay a wider world, unknown dangers, and endless opportunities.

Luoxia County, Tiangong Workshop, Black Fiend Sect, and the mysterious "Miss Yun"... a new chapter is slowly unfolding beneath his feet.