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

The night passed uneventfully, and the three spent the night peacefully in the valley. Lin Qingfeng circulated his internal energy to expel the remaining wolfsbane from his body. With the help of the Jade Dew Rejuvenating Pill, his injuries were almost completely healed, and his breathing returned to a steady rhythm, though his face was still slightly pale. Zhang Tie's external wounds, treated with wound medicine, had scabbed over, and he could move freely. Lu Zhao, meanwhile, used the rich blood energy emitted by the Crimson Blood Ginseng to nourish his meridians and repair his previous internal injuries. His cultivation showed faint signs of a breakthrough, and his blood and energy had become much more vigorous.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the three of them had already packed up, extinguished the campfire, cleaned up any traces, and set off again. With Lin Qingfeng, an inner disciple of the Qingyun Dao Sect, leading the way, and being quite familiar with the terrain of Black Wind Ridge, the three of them deliberately chose secluded paths that were rarely visited but relatively safe, avoiding several dangerous places inhabited by demonic beasts, and also bypassing areas where Black Fiend Sect sentries might be hiding.

"Brother Lin, how many more days until we reach Yunmeng Marsh?" Lu Zhao asked. Although he was not afraid of a long journey, the assessment date for the Qingyun Dao Sect was fixed and could not be delayed.

"We've already left the Black Wind Ridge area. Ahead lies the edge of the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range.' We need to cross a 'Misty Swamp,' then climb two more mountains to reach the outer market town of Yunmeng Marsh—'Qingyun Town.' If all goes smoothly, it will take about seven or eight days. However, the 'Misty Swamp' is quite dangerous. It's shrouded in poisonous fog year-round, infested with venomous insects and demonic crocodiles, and also contains natural illusion arrays, making it extremely easy to lose one's way. Even a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator needs to be careful. However, I once traveled this route with an elder from my sect and know a relatively safe path that should allow us to pass safely," Lin Qingfeng said, his tone grave, clearly quite wary of the swamp.

"Misty Swamp? A natural illusion array?" Lu Zhao frowned slightly. Although he wasn't afraid of poisonous insects or demonic beasts, illusion arrays were the most troublesome things. They couldn't be broken by brute force; one needed to be proficient in array formations or have a strong spirit to resist them. He had the [Refining Spirit Technique] by his side, making his spirit far superior to others of the same level, and he also had the [Purifying Heart Jade Pendant] protecting him, so he wasn't afraid of ordinary illusions. However, natural illusion arrays were often combined with ley lines, magnetic fields, and poisonous fog, making them unpredictable and not to be taken lightly.

"Senior brother, we almost got lost when we passed by there last time. If it weren't for the 'Malaria-Breaking Pill' and 'Mind-Stabilizing Talisman' given to us by our uncle, I'm afraid..." Zhang Tiexin said with lingering fear.

"It's alright, we've come prepared this time. Besides, Fellow Daoist Lu seems to have considerable expertise in illusions and poisons, which might be of assistance to us." Lin Qingfeng looked at Lu Zhao, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. Yesterday, Lu Zhao's elusive movements, precise control of talismans, and ruthless poison techniques had left a deep impression on him. With Lu Zhao accompanying them, their chances of navigating the Misty Swamp had increased considerably.

"I will do my best." Lu Zhao nodded without refusing. Since he was traveling with him, he should naturally lend a hand. Besides, he also wanted to see this natural illusion array and hone his mental strength.

The three quickened their pace, traversing the mountain forest. The further they went, the stronger the damp, sweet, and rotten smell in the air became. The surrounding trees also began to sparse and strange, their trunks twisted and covered with bluish-black moss, their leaves an unhealthy dark green, and a faint, grayish-white mist filled the air, obstructing their vision.

"Be careful, we've entered the outer edge of the Misty Swamp. This mist is poisonous; inhaling too much will cause hallucinations and even paralyze your nerves. This is the 'Mist-Breaking Pill,' which can resist the corrosive effects of the poisonous mist and will be effective for one hour. Take them all." Lin Qingfeng took out three emerald green pills and gave them to Lu Zhao and Zhang Tie.

Lu Zhao accepted the pill. It felt slightly cool to the touch and emitted a faint medicinal fragrance, indicating it was of high quality—a superior-grade Miasma-Breaking Pill. Without hesitation, he swallowed it. The pill transformed into a cool current of air, protecting his mouth, nose, and lungs, isolating and neutralizing the inhaled poisonous mist. At the same time, he circulated the [Dragon's Hibernation Technique], his internal energy becoming long and deep, his breath-holding ability far surpassing that of ordinary people, making him even more resistant to the poisonous mist.

Zhang Tie also took the pill, and the three continued on their way. The fog grew thicker, reducing visibility to less than ten zhang (approximately 33 meters). Beneath their feet lay soft, damp mud, covered with rotting leaves and withered branches, each step producing a "plop, plop" sound. Occasionally, bubbles would rise from the mud, burst, and release a pungent stench. The surroundings were deathly silent; even the chirping of insects and birds had vanished. Only the faint sounds of their footsteps and breathing seemed exceptionally clear and eerie.

"Stay close to me, follow where I've been, and don't step on anything recklessly. Beneath this swamp lies quicksand and mud pits, bottomless and difficult to escape once you're trapped." Lin Qingfeng walked at the front, holding a long wooden stick, probing the path as he whispered warnings. He walked slowly, each step cautious, seemingly familiar with the route, always managing to avoid those seemingly flat but actually soft and dangerous areas.

Lu Zhao followed closely behind, his perception, honed by the [Refining Spirit Technique], extending like invisible tentacles through the mist, probing the ground beneath his feet and the surrounding environment. He "saw" numerous poisonous insects and leeches lurking beneath the swamp, along with several brightly colored, chillingly cold venomous snakes. Deeper still, it seemed, a massive creature exuding a ferocious aura swam about. He quietly took out several poisoned steel needles, fastening them to his fingertips, ready to respond to any sudden attack.

"Watch out for the left!" Lin Qingfeng suddenly shouted, thrusting his wooden stick fiercely into the mud on the left!

"puff!"

A monstrous snake, as thick as a bowl, covered in black scales, and with a single horn on its head, suddenly leaped out of the mud, opened its blood-red maw, revealing its venomous fangs, and viciously bit at Lin Qingfeng's throat! Its speed was as fast as lightning!

"You beast!" Lin Qingfeng was prepared. With a flick of his wooden stick, he became a blur and accurately struck the snake's vital spot! At the same time, his longsword was drawn, and with a flash of light, it slashed towards the snake's head!

"Hiss!" The strange snake hissed as the wooden stick struck its vital point, its movements faltering, and it was about to be struck by the longsword. Suddenly, it lashed out with its tail, the thick snake tail like a steel whip, carrying a foul stench, and lashed fiercely at Lin Qingfeng's waist and abdomen! It was a fighting style that would cause mutual destruction!

"Be careful, senior brother!" Zhang Tie exclaimed, striking the snake's tail with his stick, but he was too far away to help in time.

Just as the snake's tail was about to strike Lin Qingfeng, Lu Zhao moved. The [Superior Swiftness Talisman] beneath his feet activated instantly, his figure moving like a ghost, arriving before the snake could react. His short knife, gleaming with a ghostly light, precisely pierced the snake's open mouth in the blink of an eye, twisting fiercely! Simultaneously, his left hand flicked out, and three poisoned steel needles shot into the snake's eyes and throat in a triangular formation!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

A short knife pierced the snake's mouth, emerging from the back of its head! The poisoned needle struck its vital point with pinpoint accuracy! The monstrous snake let out a shrill hiss, its body suddenly stiffening before collapsing limply into the mud, splashing up a large cloud of filth. Snake blood gushed forth, carrying a pungent, fishy stench.

"That was close! Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lu!" Lin Qing, having narrowly escaped death, broke out in a cold sweat and quickly expressed his gratitude. Although he could block the snake's tail attack, he would inevitably be injured, and in this swamp filled with poisonous mist and fraught with danger, injury was extremely risky. Lu Zhao's attack was swift, accurate, and ruthless, with perfect timing, instantly killing the strange snake and rescuing Lin Qing from his predicament.

"It was nothing. Brother Lin, what is this strange snake?" Lu Zhao sheathed his sword, looked at the snake's corpse on the ground, and asked. This snake's aura was not weak, comparable to a third-level Qi Refining demon beast, and it was also highly venomous. If it hadn't been attacked by surprise, it would have taken some effort to deal with it.

"It's a 'One-Horned Ink-Scaled Python,' a low-tier second-order demonic beast. It's highly venomous and adept at stealth and ambush. There are quite a few of these in this swamp, so we need to be extra careful," Lin Qingfeng explained, his admiration for Lu Zhao deepening. That strike just now—the timing, angle, and speed—was something no ordinary rogue cultivator could achieve. This Fellow Daoist Lu is indeed a master of disguise.

"We shouldn't stay here any longer; the smell of blood will attract more monsters. Let's go!" Lu Zhao warned.

Without further delay, the three bypassed the snake corpse and continued on their way. They then encountered several more attacks from venomous insects and poisonous miasma. At one point, they nearly stumbled into a seemingly flat but actually bottomless area of ​​quicksand, but fortunately, Lin Qingfeng's experience and Lu Zhao's keen senses allowed them to avoid it in time. Zhang Tie also displayed his ferocity, wielding an iron rod with impressive force, smashing several swarming venomous insects to pieces.

After traveling for about an hour, the fog ahead grew even thicker, almost to the point of complete darkness. The strange, dizzying, and unsettling fluctuations in the air intensified. The surrounding scenery began to distort and shift, as if one were in a bizarre and fantastical dream. The path beneath one's feet seemed to constantly change, sometimes appearing as solid ground, sometimes as soft mud, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.

"Be careful, we have entered the core area of ​​the natural illusion array. Guard your mind, do not be misled by the illusions, follow my steps, do not stop, do not look back!" Lin Qingfeng's voice sounded erratic in the thick fog, carrying a hint of solemnity. He took out an ancient bronze compass from his robes, the compass engraved with intricate runes. He infused it with spiritual power, and the pointer began to slowly rotate, pointing in a fixed direction.

"It's a 'star chart'! With this, we won't get lost!" Zhang Tiexi said.

"It's just an aid; the real danger is the illusion array itself. Fellow Daoist Lu, do you have a way to resist illusions? If so, you can use it to protect yourself. This illusion array can trigger inner demons, creating illusions that evoke the deepest fears and desires, making it impossible to defend against," Lin Qingfeng reminded Lu Zhao.

"It's alright, I have my own methods." Lu Zhao nodded, took a deep breath, and activated the [Refining Spirit Technique] to its limit. His powerful spiritual energy spread out like ripples on water, forming an invisible barrier around him to resist the erosion of the illusion array. At the same time, the [Pure Heart Jade Pendant] also emitted a warm and cool light, protecting his clear mind. His gaze was clear as he looked around. The distorted and changing illusions were like reflections in water or flowers in a mirror in his eyes. Although they were realistic, they could not shake his mind. He could even faintly perceive the trajectory of the illusion array and the faint spiritual energy of the earth veins contained within it.

"Such powerful mental cultivation!" Lin Qingfeng was once again startled by the refined, composed, and unmoved mental fluctuations emanating from Lu Zhao. This Lu Zhao was not only formidable in strength and methods, but his mental cultivation also far surpassed that of others at the same level! This person was no ordinary individual!

The three followed the guidance of the Star-Fixing Compass, struggling through the thick fog and illusions. The illusion array grew increasingly powerful; countless ghostly figures seemed to whisper and sneer in their ears, and bloody, terrifying images flashed before their eyes—sometimes mountains of corpses and seas of blood, sometimes the gruesome deaths of loved ones, sometimes moments of triumph and beauty… Various desires and fears surged through their minds like a tidal wave. Zhang Tie, the weakest in cultivation, despite the protection of the Mind-Stabilizing Talisman and the Miasma-Breaking Pill, still had sweat beading on his forehead, his face pale, and he gritted his teeth, staring intently at Lin Qingfeng's back, not daring to be distracted in the slightest. Lin Qingfeng was also completely focused, manipulating the Star-Fixing Compass while silently reciting the Heart-Cleansing Mantra to resist the illusions.

Only Lu Zhao remained calm. His heart was like an ancient well, undisturbed by any ripples. Despite the myriad illusions, his inner self remained steadfast. The powerful willpower and mental control granted by the [Refining Spirit Technique] made him almost unaffected by the illusion array. He could even spare a moment to observe the operation of the illusion array, silently noting some of its patterns of change, which inspired his [Refining Spirit Technique] and talisman drawing.

After another arduous half-hour journey, the thick fog ahead suddenly thinned, and visibility improved dramatically! The three of them broke free of the illusion array and arrived on dry, solid ground. Looking back, they saw the same boundless, churning gray fog behind them, as if their experience had been nothing more than a dream.

"Phew—! Finally out!" Zhang Tie plopped down on the ground, panting heavily, his body soaked with sweat, clearly exhausted.

"What a powerful illusion array! Without the Star-Fixing Plate and Fellow Daoist Lu's help, we would probably be trapped and die here." Lin Qingfeng also breathed a sigh of relief, put away the Star-Fixing Plate, and looked at Lu Zhao with gratitude and admiration in his eyes, "Fellow Daoist Lu's mental strength and composure are truly admirable!"

"Brother Dao, you flatter me. It was just a stroke of luck." Lu Zhao waved his hand and looked ahead. In the distance, between two towering, cloud-shrouded peaks, a wide valley could be vaguely seen. In the valley, there were scattered lights, like stars in the night sky. Further away, there seemed to be a wide, calm river, its surface shimmering in the setting sun.

"That's Qingyun Town, the outer market town of Yunmeng Marsh. After passing Qingyun Town and crossing the Yunmeng Marsh, you'll reach the location of the Yunmeng Marsh sect." Lin Qingfeng pointed to the lights, a relieved smile on his face.

"We've finally arrived!" A hint of anticipation flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. Qingyun Dao Sect, Yunmeng Marsh, a new journey is about to begin.

After a short rest to regain their strength, the three quickened their pace and headed towards Qingyun Town. They were now out of danger, and the road was much easier to travel. At sunset, they finally arrived outside Qingyun Town.

The town was small, but quite bustling. A main street paved with bluestone slabs ran east to west, lined with shops on both sides: restaurants, inns, pharmacies, blacksmith shops, talisman shops, and general stores—you name it. The street was teeming with pedestrians, mostly martial artists and cultivators dressed in martial attire, their auras varying in strength. They walked in twos and threes, some hurrying along, others stopping to chat, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The air was filled with a faint scent of smoke and medicine, along with a unique, indescribable aura characteristic of a gathering place for cultivators.

"Qingyun Town is a market town established by Yunmengze in the mortal world, and it's also a necessary stop on the way to Yunmengze. There are outer sect deacons of my Qingyun Dao Sect stationed in the town, responsible for maintaining order, receiving visitors, and handling the initial screening and registration for the sect's assessment. Fellow Daoist Lu, we need to go to 'Qingyun Tower' to register, receive our assessment tokens, and arrange accommodations. We'll discuss further tomorrow." Lin Qingfeng was clearly familiar with the place, explaining as they walked.

"Thank you for your arrangements, Brother Dao." Lu Zhao nodded, his gaze sweeping across both sides of the street, observing everything around him. This would be his first stop at the Qingyun Dao Sect.

"Senior brother, let's go get something to eat! I'm starving!" Zhang Tie exclaimed, rubbing his rumbling stomach.

"Alright, let's fill our stomachs first. Let's go to 'Drunken Immortal Pavilion'. Their spiritual food is quite famous; it can replenish our strength and is also beneficial for cultivation." Lin Qingfeng said with a smile, leading the two towards the largest and most magnificent three-story restaurant in town.

At the entrance of the restaurant, people came and went, business was booming. Above the door hung a black plaque with gold lettering, bearing the three large characters "Zui Xian Lou" (Drunken Immortal Pavilion), the strokes vigorous and powerful, faintly shimmering with spiritual light. As the three entered the lobby, a waiter immediately came to greet them.

"Gentlemen, please come in! Are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

"First, bring a table of fine spiritual food, then three superior rooms," Lin Qingfeng instructed. He then said to Lu Zhao, "Fellow Daoist Lu, let's rest here for today. Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to Qingyun Tower to register. The assessment won't begin for a few more days, so you can familiarize yourself with the environment and make some preparations here."

"Alright." Lu Zhao nodded, but his gaze inadvertently swept over a table in the corner of the hall. There sat several cultivators dressed in close-fitting clothes, exuding a fierce aura and sharp eyes. One of them was drinking with his head down, but Lu Zhao keenly sensed that the other's gaze seemed to linger on him for a moment. That gaze was cold, carrying a hint of scrutiny, and even... a subtle, chilling, and unsettling malice.

Is it just my imagination? Or... am I being watched?

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm, secretly raising his guard. His [Refining Spirit Technique] senses quietly spread out, locking onto those individuals. This Qingyun Town was a melting pot of all sorts of people; seemingly peaceful, it was likely not a safe place. He was new to the area and carried secrets, so he had to be cautious.