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

The night rain continued, its sound like weeping and lamenting. Lu Zhao stood before the eerie well in the center of Huai Shan Village, cold rain dripping from his raincoat and gathering into small puddles at his feet. The well was deep and dark, the darkness seemingly solidified, from which a cold, decaying aura mixed with a faint stench of blood constantly rose, like the breath of some slumbering beast.

He didn't act immediately, but first carefully circled the well, his spiritual perception heightened to its peak. At the southeast corner the old man pointed to, three feet below the well's edge, he could vaguely see that the soil was a slightly different color from the rest of the area—deeper, carrying an ominous darkness. That must be where the black-robed man had buried something, a malevolent restriction. He couldn't move it for now.

Then, he took out the [Pure Heart Jade Pendant] he had obtained from the Treasure Pavilion, wore it close to his body, and then took out a [Clearing Miasma Pill] and a [Dispelling Evil Pill] and swallowed them. The jade pendant emitted a cooling sensation, and the pills transformed into a warm current, forming a weak protective layer on his body to resist the yin energy and plague emanating from the well. Finally, he held a [Protective Talisman (Inferior)] in his palm, ready to activate it at any time, and took out several [Exorcising Talismans (Good)], wrapped them in oiled paper, and firmly bound them to the outside of his left arm for easy access.

Having done all this, he took a deep breath, slowly walked to the well, reached out and grabbed the rope suspending the wooden bucket. He tested its strength; it was sturdy enough. Instead of using the well rope, he took out a bundle of thicker, stronger hemp rope from his pocket—a spare he had bought from Liu's General Store, long enough. He tied one end firmly to the stone pillar beside the well, pulled it taut, and then tied the other end in a tight knot around his waist, wrapping it several times with a strip of cloth to ensure it wouldn't come loose.

"Go down the well." Lu Zhao no longer hesitated. He activated the [Turtle Breathing Technique] to its maximum, slowing his breathing and lowering his heart rate, as if he had entered a state of suspended animation, his aura so weak as to be almost imperceptible. At the same time, he fully activated [Dragon Hibernation] and [Breath Concealment Technique], maximizing the concealment of his yang energy and vital energy to reduce the possibility of being detected by the evil creature in the well.

He clung to the rope, braced his feet against the slippery well wall, and carefully slid down.

The well walls were cold, covered in slippery moss and water stains, and emitted a strong smell of rust and earth. The deeper one went, the dimmer the light became; the glowing pearl could only illuminate a few feet around one. The cold, decaying, and nauseating odor in the air grew stronger, like a viscous liquid enveloping the entire body. Even with the protection of the elixirs and jade pendant, one still felt a stinging sensation on the skin and difficulty breathing. In the distance, there was the rustling sound of ropes rubbing against the well walls, and eerie sounds coming from the depths of the well—faint and indistinct, like dripping water or the writhing of some creature.

Ten feet... twenty feet... thirty feet...

The well was very deep, and its walls weren't straight; starting in the middle, they began to slope slightly, seemingly a curve left from when it was first dug, or perhaps eroded and expanded by some force. The rope slowly descended, and Lu Zhao focused intently, his mental energy extending downwards like a spiderweb, probing every inch of space.

When he descended about forty feet, the well water's odor became stronger, and the sound of the water became clearer. But Lu Zhao's heart sank suddenly. Because when his spiritual energy touched the surface of the well water, the feedback he received was not cool and clean, but a viscous, turbid, dark red, stagnant water, like years of putrid blood! The water contained an extremely dense, malicious, and bloody aura! The well water had long been polluted, turning into a "blood pool"!

Moreover, there seemed to be something slowly wriggling in the well water, and there were... a lot of them!

Lu Zhao stopped descending, hovering about ten feet above the water's surface, holding his breath and concentrating intently. Beneath the surface, countless tiny, leech-like, grayish-black, translucent shadows swam slowly in the blood. They seemed to sense the presence of a living person and began to converge towards Lu Zhao, densely packed, a sight that sent chills down one's spine. These shadows emitted a faint but unsettling aura of malevolence, one of the sources of the cold, decaying aura he had sensed earlier.

[Discovery: Contaminated blood (containing potent yin energy, plague toxins, and resentment)]

[Discovery: Yin-filthy leech (a mutated creature corrupted by evil power, level: 1-2)]

【Characteristics: Social, incorporeal, feeds on life essence, resentment, and yin energy; extremely numerous; can pollute water sources and spread diseases; weak in attack, but inflicts mental erosion and life essence loss.】

It's this thing! Filthy leeches! No wonder the villagers contracted this bizarre, life-corroding, nightmare-inducing disease! The well water they drank was contaminated by this stuff; over time, it's no wonder they got sick! Moreover, the sheer number of these things suggests they were artificially "farmed" here, used as tools to drain the villagers' life essence and resentment!

"Clean up these things first!" Lu Zhao's eyes turned cold. Although these things were individually weak, there were too many of them, and once they got entangled, it would be troublesome. He raised his left hand, and a [Demon-Slaying Talisman (Good)] that had been held between his fingers was instantly activated, transforming into a beam of crimson-gold light that shot into the blood!

"Buzz—!"

The talismanic light penetrated the blood, like a scalding iron thrown into a pot of oil, instantly triggering a violent reaction! Crimson-gold light spread through the viscous blood, emitting a hissing sound, and large swathes of filthy leeches turned into black smoke within the talismanic light, instantly dissolving! But even more leeches were alarmed, surging wildly and gathering towards the direction of the talismanic light, attempting to devour and neutralize it!

"Effective, but not enough!" Lu Zhao's mind raced. A single talisman was merely a drop in the ocean against the leeches flooding the well. Moreover, the talisman's power was greatly weakened in the blood, and it was consumed extremely quickly.

Without further hesitation, he waved his right hand, and two more [Exorcism Talismans (Good)] shot out, one to the left and one to the right, crashing into the blood and forming two intersecting beams of talisman light!

"Hiss hiss hiss—!"

A thick plume of black smoke rose, purifying even more leeches. But the number of leeches was simply too great, an endless stream gushing forth from the bottom of the well and its walls. Moreover, Lu Zhao could sense that with the purification by the talismanic light, the dormant, even more powerful and malevolent will deep within the well seemed to be disturbed, slowly beginning to awaken!

"We can't afford to get bogged down, we must find the core!" Lu Zhao made a decisive move, no longer wasting talismans. He sank into the water and dived to the bottom! At the same time, [Dragon's Hibernation] was activated at full power, sealing all the pores of his body to prevent the blood from seeping in. [Protective Talisman (Inferior)] was activated, forming a thin, weak protective shield on his body surface to resist the erosion of the blood and the bites of the leeches.

The deeper he descended, the greater the water pressure and the dimmer the light became. The malevolent, viscous aura emanating from the water almost froze his soul. Leeches swarmed in frantically, crashing against and gnawing at the protective shield, making a sizzling sound. The shield dimmed at a visible speed. Lu Zhao felt waves of dizziness and nausea—the sensation of his spirit being eroded and his life force being drained! Panel notifications kept appearing:

[Attacked by swarms of filthy leeches, the durability of your (inferior) amulet has drastically decreased!]

[Affected by Yin energy, health points decrease by 1% per second!]

[Suffered a minor mental shock; mental strength -0.5% per second!]

"Hold on!" Lu Zhao gritted his teeth, his left hand continuously drawing [Exorcism Talismans] from his sleeve, infusing them with spiritual power, and hurling them towards the areas where the leeches were most concentrated and the evil energy was strongest, as if they were free! Crimson-gold light burst forth in the water, purifying small patches of space. At the same time, he continued to descend, his gaze fixed on the depths of the well, where the source of that evil will lay!

Ten feet... twenty feet...

Finally, after diving to a depth of about fifty feet, Lu Zhao saw the bottom of the well. The bottom wasn't silt, but a thick layer of grayish-black, viscous sediment, emitting a nauseating stench. Embedded in the center of this sediment was a fist-sized, jet-black egg-shaped object, its surface covered with dense, dark red vein-like patterns! This black egg, like a heart, beat slowly, each beat releasing a wave of intense malevolent energy and a bloody stench that seeped into the surrounding blood-red water, nourishing an endless stream of filthy leeches! Around the black egg, several thick, root-like, but dark red, vine-like tentacles coiled, covered with fine, constantly opening and closing suckers, greedily drawing in the resentment and essence from the water!

[Discovery: Yin Sha Blood Egg (Core of an Evil Item)]

【grade:???】

[Status: Sleeping (being awakened), continuously releasing Yin energy, plague toxins, and absorbing resentment and life essence.]

[Characteristics: It can differentiate and breed filthy leeches, which are the core of its evil power. It is interdependent with the well cover seal; destroying either one will trigger a violent backlash.]

Found it! The core of the evil entity! It's this black egg, nurturing and controlling the leeches in the well, and spreading plague and nightmares throughout the village through the well water! The snake-shaped rune seal on the well cover isn't a complete suppression, but rather a form of control and guidance, restraining and transforming the black egg's evil power before spreading it through the well! No wonder the man in black robes regularly "donated blood"—it was to feed and strengthen this black egg!

"It must be destroyed!" A cold glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. Without hesitation, he flung out two [Exorcism Talismans (Good)] with his left hand, aiming them directly at the slowly pulsating black egg! At the same time, he drew a short knife with his right hand and slashed at the entangled tentacles! He had to destroy it completely before it was fully awakened!

"Boom! Boom!"

Two [Exorcism Talismans] struck the surface of the black egg precisely, unleashing two bursts of crimson-gold light! The black egg trembled violently, emitting a sharp shriek like a baby's cry! The dark red veins on its surface suddenly lit up, and an even denser, more viscous black evil energy surged forth, instantly neutralizing most of the talisman light! However, the power of the talisman light still caused damage; the black egg's pulsation became erratic, and the speed at which it released evil energy decreased sharply! The tentacles wrapped around it danced wildly, lashing out at Lu Zhao with tremendous force!

"Pfft!" The short knife struck a tentacle, penetrating three-tenths of an inch into its flesh. However, the tentacle was slippery and tough, and it did not sever the tentacle. Instead, it secreted a viscous black liquid that spread along the blade, corroding it! At the same time, a chilling and piercing evil thought, like countless steel needles, pierced into Lu Zhao's sea of ​​consciousness!

"Ah—!" Lu Zhao groaned, his vision went black, and a sharp pain shot through his mind! It was a mental attack! This black egg could not only release plague poison, but also directly attack the soul! The [Refining God Technique] automatically protected him, and his mind shone brightly, desperately resisting the impact, but it still caused him a splitting headache, and his movements froze!

"No! We must finish this quickly!" Lu Zhao endured the excruciating pain, knowing that if this dragged on, he would definitely not be able to withstand the endless leeches and the eerie black eggs! A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. He abruptly released his short sword with his right hand, letting it be entangled by the tentacles, while his left hand swiftly pulled out the last two [Exorcism Talismans (Good)] from his robes. At the same time, he grabbed the fragment of the [Corrupted Heart (Core)] obtained from the Plague Mother, which contained a vast amount of mixed soul power and Yin energy, from his storage bag!

He wanted to emulate the method used to kill the Plague Mother, using a talisman to dispel evil and detonate the core!

"Explode!" Lu Zhao roared, pouring all his spiritual power into the two [Exorcism Talismans], and at the same time, he forcefully shoved the fragment of the [Corrupted Heart (Core)] along with the two [Exorcism Talismans] into the small crack on the surface of the black egg that had been blasted open by the talismans earlier!

"Buzz—!"

The crimson-gold light of the [Exorcising Talisman] and the massive, chaotic, and violent Yin energy within the fragment of the [Corrupted Heart] instantly came into contact, collided, and created a violent conflict! The two completely opposite yet equally powerful energies clashed, annihilated, and exploded wildly within the black egg!

"Boom—!!!"

A deafening, muffled roar exploded in the narrow well! The black egg, like a ignited powder keg, instantly expanded, its surface veins bulging and then bursting! Thick, dark red pus, shattered tissue, and a violent shockwave, a mixture of exorcising and malevolent energy, swept outwards like a raging tide!

"Pfft!" Lu Zhao was the first to be hit, slamming into his chest by the violent shockwave. The protective shield of his [Amulet (Inferior)] shattered instantly. He was struck as if by a heavy hammer, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His body was thrown uncontrollably backward, crashing heavily into the well wall! His health instantly plummeted to 30%! [Severe Injury], [Internal Organ Concussion], [Yin Sha Enters the Body]!

But he couldn't care less about that. He gripped the rope tightly, used the momentum to swing, and avoided the subsequent impact! At the same time, he desperately protected his sea of ​​consciousness with his mental energy, resisting the final, sharp mental shock released when the black egg exploded, like a dying scream!

"hiss--!!!"

The sharp mental impact was far more intense and venomous than before! Lu Zhao felt as if his head was about to explode, and blood seeped from his seven orifices! The [Refining Spirit Technique] was running wildly, and his sea of ​​consciousness was like a candle flame in a storm, flickering violently, almost going out! He bit his tongue, the excruciating pain keeping him sliver of consciousness and forcibly stabilizing his body!

The aftershocks of the explosion gradually subsided, and the well water became murky, but the thick, nauseating aura of evil quickly dissipated. The previously frenzied, filthy leeches, as if deprived of their source, stiffened, shriveled, and turned into black powder, merging into the filthy blood. The evil aura and bloody smell in the water also faded rapidly.

The grayish-black sediment at the bottom of the well was blasted open, revealing slippery rocks below. The [Yin Sha Blood Egg] had been completely shattered into fragments, leaving only a few wisps of black smoke slowly dissipating. Only the severed tentacles were still twitching slightly, but they quickly lost their activity.

[Successfully destroyed the 'Yin Sha Blood Egg'!]

[Delivered a fatal blow to the 'Yin Sha Blood Egg'!]

[Successfully killed a large number of 'Filthy Leeches'!]

[Experience points gained: 1500!]

[Level upgraded to Level 10!]

[Items obtained: 1 Broken Evil Egg Core Fragment, 3 Medium-grade Yin Sha Crystals, and several Filthy Leech Remains.]

"Cough cough..." Lu Zhao coughed up several mouthfuls of bloody, foul-smelling water, enduring the excruciating pain and dizziness as he checked himself. Severely injured, with Yin energy entering his body, his condition was extremely poor; he had to leave this filthy well water immediately! He dared not delay, grabbed the rope, and with all his might, began to climb upwards.

The climb was incredibly difficult; each step aggravated his internal injuries, and his vision blurred. He continuously circulated the [Dragon's Hibernation Technique] to barely stabilize his injuries and suppress the chaotic Yin energy surging within him. It took him the time it takes to brew a cup of tea to finally climb out of the well, landing soaking wet and bloodied on the damp ground beside it, gasping for breath, almost completely exhausted.

Inside the well, the murky, bloody water was visibly clearing, and the nauseating stench and chilling aura were rapidly dissipating. The serpentine runes on the well cover flickered a few times before completely dimming, losing their vitality and becoming ordinary markings. The oppressive, unsettling feeling around the well had also vanished.

Success! The core of the evil entity in the well has been destroyed! The source of the plague in Huai Mountain Village has been eradicated!

Lu Zhao struggled to sit up, took out a Rejuvenation Pill and the last Detoxification Pill from his storage bag, put them in his mouth, and swallowed a Blood Nourishing Pill. He then sat cross-legged and fully activated the Hidden Dragon Sleep Technique and the Spirit Refining Technique to recover from his injuries and expel the remaining Yin Qi from his body.

A full incense stick's time passed before a trace of color returned to his deathly pale face, and his violent heartbeat and chaotic breathing subsided slightly. Although his injuries were still severe, he had at least stabilized for the time being.

He slowly opened his eyes, looked at the now-silent well, and then at the place in the southeast corner where the restriction was buried, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"The evil egg has been removed, but the seal and restrictions at the bottom of the well, as well as the arrangements left by the man in black robes, still need to be thoroughly removed, just in case. Also, the black stone that the old man mentioned..." He stood up, enduring the pain, walked to the southeast corner of the well, took out a short knife, and carefully began to dig.

After digging about three feet deep, they indeed touched a hard, cold-to-the-touch black stone. The stone was about the size of a palm, entirely black, its surface covered with densely packed, twisted runes similar to those on the well cover, emanating a faint, unsettling aura. Embedded in the center of the runes was a small, fingernail-sized, dark red crystal, resembling a dried blood clot.

[Discovery: Sealed Evil Stone (Secondary)]

[Status: Energy depleted, seal broken, connected to the core of the evil egg.]

[Function: To imprison, guide, and transform the yin energy released by the evil eggs, thus polluting the well water.]

As expected, it was a matching set! Without hesitation, Lu Zhao slapped a [Demon-Slaying Talisman (Good)] onto the black stone! Crimson-gold flames erupted, instantly purifying and destroying the runes on it! The dark red crystal also shattered, turning into dust. The Demon-Sealing Stone lost all its light and became an ordinary black stone.

After doing all this, Lu Zhao went to the manhole cover and carefully inspected it. He confirmed that the runes on it had also become ineffective and there was no longer any energy fluctuation. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

The root of the problem in Huai Shan Village has been completely eliminated. The pollution in the wells will gradually dissipate, and the villagers' diseases should gradually improve with the elimination of the source of pollution and the administration of [Detoxification Pills] and [Malaria-Clearing Powder]. The nightmare will be over.

But Lu Zhao's heart was not completely at ease. Because the "man in black robes" would come to "collect blood" the night after tomorrow. How would he react when he discovered the well had been destroyed and the evil eggs exterminated?

Is it rage, or...?

Lu Zhao's eyes flickered, and he had already made up his mind. He looked up in the direction of the old man's wooden house, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

It's time to meet that "man in black robes".