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

The eastern sky was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn. The rain had stopped sometime earlier, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of damp earth after the rain, along with a faint, slowly dissipating stench. Huai Mountain Village remained deathly silent, but the oppressive, suffocating, and eerie atmosphere that had hung over the village had faded considerably.

Lu Zhao sat cross-legged by the well, his face pale and his breath weak. The battle with the Yin Sha Blood Egg, though brief, was extremely dangerous, especially the final detonation of the [Corrupted Heart (Core)] fragments, which was almost a life-or-death struggle. Although he had the support of [Dragon's Hibernation], [Refining Spirit Technique], and elixirs, the aftereffects of the internal organ tremors, the Yin Sha entering his body, and the mental shock were still severe. His health had recovered to about 40%, but he still suffered from [severe injuries], [internal organ tremors], and [mental exhaustion], leaving him with less than half his peak fighting strength.

"I must recover as quickly as possible. The black-robed man's strength is unknown; I cannot face him in this state." Lu Zhao forced himself to stay alert and took out the last [Jade Dew Rejuvenating Pill] from his pocket. This pill, a gift from Miss Yun, was of excellent quality and could quickly restore blood and qi, stabilizing his injuries. He swallowed it without hesitation, followed by several ordinary blood-replenishing pills and qi-restoring powders. The pills entered his stomach, transforming into warm currents that rapidly nourished his damaged organs and meridians. Combined with the powerful regenerative abilities of [Hibernating Dragon], his injuries stabilized at a visible speed. Although he couldn't be cured immediately, he was finally able to move freely again.

He inspected the equipment again. The short sword was corroded by the blood egg tentacles, its blade pitted and severely weakened, practically useless. The hardwood crossbow was intact, but less than ten bolts remained. The amulet (inferior) was completely destroyed. Only two exorcising talismans (good) remained, and only one calming talisman was left. The expenditure was enormous, but the results were significant.

He walked to the well that had been blasted open. The water was no longer dark red and murky, but it was still incredibly filthy, emitting a faint fishy smell. It would probably take some time for it to fully clear. The runes on the well cover had completely faded, resembling ordinary engravings. He also removed the [Sealed Evil Stone] from the southeast corner and used a [Broken Evil Talisman (Inferior)] to completely purify it, turning the dark red crystal embedded in it into ashes. With that, the entire arrangement of evil objects in the well was uprooted.

By the time he finished, it was already broad daylight. Lu Zhao put away his dagger and the fragments of the evil stone (which might have some research value), cleaned himself of the dirt, changed into his last set of clean clothes, and then turned and walked towards the old man's wooden hut.

He needs to know more information and prepare for the next "wait and see" scenario.

The door to the wooden cabin remained ajar. Lu Zhao pushed it open and entered, a strong smell of medicine mixed with sweat and decay hitting him. However, the three people inside seemed more stable and active than the night before. The old man was squatting in front of the stove, brewing medicine. The middle-aged man, "San'er," was able to sit up with difficulty, leaning against the wall. Although his face was still pale, the deathly light in his eyes had faded considerably. The boy in the corner had also opened his eyes, looking at him timidly.

Hearing the door open, the old man looked up sharply. Seeing Lu Zhao, an indescribable light flashed in his cloudy old eyes, and he said in a trembling voice, "Young...young brother, you...you're back?"

"I have successfully completed my mission; the evil spirit in the well has been eliminated." Lu Zhao walked into the house, his voice calm, but his exhaustion was undeniable.

"Really? Really?!" The old man's body trembled, and the medicine pot in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," shattering into pieces, scalding medicine splashing all over the ground. He was completely unaware, staring intently at Lu Zhao, as if trying to confirm the truth of his words.

"Dad! Jing... Jing really is..." The "San'er" on the kang also struggled excitedly to sit up, his face flushed with an abnormal redness.

"The well water is clearing up, and the runes on the well cover have stopped working. Your ailments should gradually subside." Lu Zhao nodded, sat down on the only stool in the room, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing, recovering his depleted energy.

The old man stood there stunned for a moment, then two streams of tears slid down his deeply lined face. He knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly to Lu Zhao, saying, "Benefactor! Benefactor! You are the greatest benefactor of our Huai Shan Village! On behalf of the entire village, I thank you for your immense kindness and virtue!"

"San'er" also struggled to roll off the kang (a heated brick bed) and kowtowed with his father, sobbing uncontrollably. The boy also kowtowed in a daze.

"Old man, there's no need for that. Please rise." Lu Zhao raised his hand to help them up. "Although the evil spirit has been eliminated, this matter is not yet over. That man in black robes will return the day after tomorrow. If we don't get rid of him, your village, and even this area within a hundred miles, will likely never have a peaceful day again."

Upon hearing the words "man in black robes," the joy on the old man's and "San'er's" faces instantly froze, replaced by deep fear and despair. "He...he'll come back? What...what are we going to do! That demon, he...he's not human! He knows sorcery, he can turn people into walking corpses! We...we..." The old man trembled all over, his words incoherent.

"San'er" was even paler, her lips trembling, unable to speak.

"It is precisely because he will come that I can eliminate him and prevent future troubles." Lu Zhao opened his eyes and looked calmly at the two of them. "I need your help."

"My benefactor! Tell me! If you can get rid of that demon, I'll risk my life to help you!" the old man said through gritted teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes. Either way, he was going to die, so he might as well fight!

"San'er" nodded vigorously, "Yes! Our benefactor, we'll listen to you!"

"Alright." Lu Zhao nodded. "First, until the day after tomorrow, the three of you should stay indoors as much as possible and not go out, especially not near the well. Take this medicine on time every day to help you recover your strength and resist the illness." He took out the remaining few [Antidote Pills] and [Clearing Miasma Powder] and distributed them to the three of them.

"Second, tell me the exact time each time the man in black comes, which road he takes into the village, where he stays, what his habits are, and what distinguishing features he has. The more details the better. When was the last time he came?"

The old man quickly recalled, "That demon... he always came precisely at midnight (between 11 pm and 1 am). He took the small path east of the village, coming from the Black Wind Forest. When he reached the village entrance, he would stand under the old locust tree for a while, and then... then he would go to the well, circle it three times, and mutter incantations. Then he would walk to my door, knock three times, and I... I would have to hand over the prepared blood jar. He would take the jar, check it, sometimes open it to look inside, and then... then he would turn and leave without saying a word. The last time he came was on the night of the fifteenth of last month."

Lu Zhao silently noted it down. Midnight, the middle of the moon, the old locust tree, circling the well three times, drawing blood, examining it, and leaving. This man in black robes acted cautiously, with a fixed sense of ritual; he was clearly no ordinary person.

"Every time he came, he wore a black robe and a hood, so you couldn't see his face. He had a strange smell about him, like...like burnt incense ash from a temple mixed with the smell of blood. The centipede-like scar on his right hand was very noticeable. Also...he seemed to walk with a limp, and his left leg seemed a little weak..." "San'er" added.

"After he gets the blood, will he leave the village immediately? Which direction will he go?" Lu Zhao pressed.

"They left the village and headed...headed west into the mountains. It seemed to be...the direction of Black Wind Ridge." The old man tried hard to recall.

"Black Wind Ridge..." Lu Zhao's eyes narrowed. Black Wind Ridge again! That was where he slew the Blood Wolf and encountered the Earthfire Bone Demon. Was this black-robed man heading in that direction as well? Could their stronghold be deep within Black Wind Ridge?

"Very good." Lu Zhao already had a plan in mind. The man in black robes came at midnight, following a fixed route and habit; this was his chance. "Third, the night after tomorrow, prepare the blood vials as usual. When he arrives, he will knock on the door, and you will open it, but do not give him the blood vials. Just stand at the doorway and block him. I will be in the shadows. Leave the rest to me."

"My benefactor, are you... are you sure? That demon..." the old man asked worriedly.

"I'm not 100% sure, but at least 70%," Lu Zhao said. The black-robed man's cultivation level shouldn't be high, otherwise he wouldn't have used such despicable means to control the villagers. He must also be wary of something, otherwise he would have already robbed them by force. Although he was seriously injured, his strength had recovered considerably, and he had the upper hand. With his strategy against the unsuspecting, his chances of winning were not small. Moreover, he had other preparations.

"Alright! Benefactor, we believe you!" the old man said through gritted teeth.

"In addition, other patients in the village also need care. Distribute some medicine to stabilize their conditions. During this time, absolutely no word must leak out, and outsiders must not be allowed into the village, especially..." Lu Zhao paused, "That man in black robes, does he have any accomplices? Or, do you know of anything else unusual nearby?"

"Accomplices? No... I haven't seen any. He came alone and left alone. Nearby... Oh, right, a few days ago, the Wang family boy who escaped from the village sent a message back saying that he seemed to have seen several people dressed in black robes, acting suspiciously, wandering around in the depths of Black Wind Ridge. He didn't know if they were a group. But after that, there was no more news, and the people disappeared..." Fear showed on the old man's face.

Black Wind Ridge, the man in black robes… This is getting more and more interesting. It seems that Huai Mountain Village is just a source of “blood” they control; their true lair is likely deep within Black Wind Ridge. This further strengthens Lu Zhao’s resolve to eliminate this man. If he can follow the clues and find his lair, he might be able to uncover more secrets of the Black Fiend Cult.

Lu Zhao didn't ask any more questions. He gave a few more instructions, asked the old man to find some clean old clothes, tore them into strips, and re-bandaged the wound. He also took some herbal medicine. After that, he left the wooden house and found an abandoned stone house on the edge of the village, near the old locust tree to the east. It was a place with a slightly higher elevation, a wide view, and good hiding place, which he used as a temporary shelter.

He needs time to heal, time to prepare, and a perfect ambush location.

The stone house had been abandoned for a long time, but it was still relatively dry, with a simple earthen bed and old tables and chairs. Lu Zhao blocked the doors and windows with stones, leaving only an observation hole. Then, he sat cross-legged, ate the last bit of dry food and water, and began to fully activate [Dragon's Hibernation].

This time, he didn't skimp on experience points. Killing Yin Sha Blood Eggs and a large number of Yin Filth Leeches earned him 1500 experience points, which, combined with his previous accumulation, propelled him to level 10, with even more. The warmth from leveling up washed over his body, repairing his hidden injuries and boosting his attributes. He primarily invested his experience points in [Refining Spirit Technique] and [Dragon's Sleep]. [Refining Spirit Technique] improved from Lv2 (120/300) to Lv2 (200/300), and [Dragon's Sleep] also improved from Lv2 (0/300) to Lv2 (50/300), significantly improving his control over mental power, recovery ability, and concealment effect. His attributes also improved across the board, with his Divine attribute reaching 4.0, and his mental perception and resistance further enhanced.

[Level: 10 (520/1200)]

[Force: 1.4 → 1.5]

【Body: 1.2 → 1.3】

[Agility: 1.5 → 1.6]

[God: 3.8 → 4.0!]

【Refining Spirit Technique (Beginner) Lv2 (200/300)】

【Hidden Dragon (Beginner) Lv2 (50/300)】

【Spell Drawing (Basic) Lv2 (150/300)】

"My divine attribute has broken through to 4.0, my mental perception range has increased, and my resistance to negative status effects is stronger. My mental control is more refined; perhaps I can try drawing higher-level talismans, or..." Lu Zhao's heart stirred, recalling the [Basic Corpse Control Technique (Fragment)] he had obtained from "Poison Claw." Previously, his divine attribute wasn't high enough to dare analyze it rashly, but now that his divine attribute had greatly increased, perhaps he could give it a try?

He took out the tattered page that exuded a chilling aura, concentrated his mind, and tried again to use his mental power to dispel the illusion. This time, the feedback was much clearer.

[Attempting to analyze a fragment of "Basic Corpse Control Techniques". Warning: This is an evil method containing dangerous knowledge. With a Divine Attribute of 4.0 and sufficient Mental Resilience, a limited and targeted analysis can be attempted to extract knowledge related to "Mental Power Utilization Techniques", "Simple Mental Impact/Interference", and "Low-Level Evil Power Identification". This does not involve specific corpse control or corpse refining methods. Experience points consumed: 500. Analyze?]

"500 points...not involving corpse control or refining, just extracting techniques and identification..." Lu Zhao pondered. He still had over a thousand experience points, which he could afford to spend. Moreover, dealing with the black-robed man and the Black Fiend Cult would allow him to understand the methods of evil, knowing himself and his enemy, ensuring victory in every battle. In particular, the techniques of mental impact and interference, as well as the ability to identify evil power, would likely be of great benefit to his upcoming battles and investigations.

"Analysis!"

[Consuming 500 experience points, beginning the analysis of "Basic Corpse Control Techniques" (fragment)...]

[Analysis in progress...extracting relevant knowledge...integrating and understanding...]

[Analysis complete!]

[Acquired: Mental Shock Technique (Fragment) Lv1 (0/100)!]

[Obtained: Simple Mental Interference (Residual) Lv1 (0/100)!]

[Gained: Evil Aura Identification (Passive) Lv1!]

[Gained: Basic insights into the application of Yin energy!]

[Warning: Exposure to heretical knowledge slightly increases mental resistance, but also slightly enhances the ability to identify and defend against attacks of the sinister and cursed nature. Simultaneously, it deepens the understanding and application of one's own mental power.]

A flood of information rushed into his mind, not specific cultivation methods, but rather insights into how to concentrate mental energy for attacks, how to use mental energy to interfere with the opponent's perception, and how to identify the characteristics of evil forces such as malevolent energy, baleful energy, and death energy through aura and energy fluctuations. These techniques, though rudimentary, were perfectly suited to Lu Zhao's current situation of possessing powerful mental energy but lacking effective means of application. Especially the [Mental Impact Technique (Incomplete)], although only superficial, might have a surprising effect in crucial moments. And the [Identification of Evil Aura (Passive)] would make it easier for him to detect hidden evil forces and demons, and even see through certain disguises.

"This experience was well worth it!" Lu Zhao was overjoyed and immediately began to practice. He condensed and compressed his mental energy in his sea of ​​consciousness, then simulated an impact... After several attempts, although he was still clumsy, he could barely manage to condense his mental energy into a single force, releasing a weak but concentrated shockwave. Although its power was limited and useless against experts, it might have surprising effects when used for interference, intimidation, or even in conjunction with attacks.

Having mastered the new technique, Lu Zhao felt even more confident. He checked his equipment again, placing the remaining two [Exorcism Talismans (Good)], one [Tranquility Talisman], [Heart-Cleansing Jade Pendant], short knife, crossbow, poison powder, and several steel needles in the most convenient positions. He then took out the [Plague Crystal (Medium Grade)] and [Yin Sha Crystal (Medium Grade)] from his storage bag, pondered for a moment, and carefully ground the Plague Crystal into powder, applying it to the arrowheads of several crossbow bolts. Although he didn't know how effective it would be against the black-robed man, it was still another option.

By the time he finished, dusk was approaching. Lu Zhao ate some dry rations, drank some water, and adjusted himself to his best condition. Then, he left the stone house and went to the old locust tree at the village entrance. This was an ancient locust tree, its branches and leaves abundant, its trunk thick and hollow, perfect for hiding a person. Lu Zhao carefully observed the surrounding terrain and buried several steel needles coated with plague powder in the grass and crevices of rocks along several nearby paths, marking them accordingly.

Finally, he returned to the stone house, sat cross-legged, and waited for night to fall and for midnight to arrive.

As night deepened, the dark clouds dispersed, and a waning moon hung high in the sky, casting a cold, pale light. Huai Mountain Village was deathly silent, save for the mournful whistling of the night wind through the dilapidated eaves. The lingering, chilling, and eerie atmosphere that had permeated the air had vanished completely, replaced by the long-lost tranquility and desolation characteristic of a mountain village.

Lu Zhao sat cross-legged in the shadow of the old locust tree, like a statue blending into the darkness. His [Sleeping Dragon Technique] was fully activated, his aura indistinguishable from the withered wood. He adjusted his breathing, his mind highly focused, and activated his newly acquired [Identification of Evil Aura (Passive)] at full power. His senses, like invisible tentacles, covered the village entrance, the path, and the area around the old locust tree. The [Exorcising Talisman] in his right hand was already in his palm, and the short crossbow in his left hand was cocked, its arrowhead gleaming with a ghostly blue poisonous light in the moonlight.

Time slipped away, bit by bit. The chirping of insects began, and a cool night breeze blew.

It's almost midnight.

From the distant mountains and forests, the cry of an owl broke the silence.

Lu Zhao's eyes snapped open in the darkness, a glint of light flashing within them. He sensed a cold, gloomy, and faintly bloody aura, a strange presence, slowly approaching Huai Shan Village from the direction of the path to the east of the village.

coming.