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

The Drunken Immortal Pavilion was bustling with business. The main hall was filled with the sounds of people talking and drinking, the air thick with the aromas of wine and meat, and a faint, mingled spiritual energy. Among the diners were wandering cultivators, well-dressed scions of noble families, and groups of mercenaries and bodyguards, their auras fierce and imposing. The sounds of conversation, discussion, and boasting mingled with the loud shouts of the waiters, creating a lively, noisy scene, imbued with a touch of the江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) spirit.

Lin Qingfeng was clearly quite familiar with this place. He led Lu Zhao and Zhang Tie to a table by the window and ordered several signature spiritual dishes: a pot of "Bamboo Leaf Green" spiritual wine, a plate of "Stir-fried Spiritual Mushrooms," a dish of "Braised Rabbit Meat," a pot of "Earth Dragon Soup," and a large bowl of spiritual rice. The dishes were served quickly, all of excellent color, aroma, and taste, shimmering with spiritual light. The aroma alone was enough to whet one's appetite; they were clearly not ordinary ingredients, containing spiritual energy that could nourish the body and benefit cultivation.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, Junior Brother Zhang, please. The spiritual food at Drunken Immortal Pavilion is considered one of the best in Qingyun Town. Although it is not as good as the sect's spiritual food hall, it is still very beneficial to cultivators in the Qi Refining stage. Please have a taste." Lin Qingfeng invited, pouring wine for Lu Zhao and Zhang Tie.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist." Lu Zhao thanked him, picked up his wine cup, and took a small sip. The wine was refreshingly cool on the palate, carrying a faint fragrance of bamboo leaves. A warm sensation spread through his throat and throughout his body; its spiritual energy was gentle and mild—truly a fine wine. As he savored it, he discreetly observed the movements inside and outside the hall. The malicious gaze from before seemed to have disappeared, but the group of people hadn't left. They remained seated in the corner, heads bowed, drinking and occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones, barely audible.

"Hey, senior brother, thanks to you and Lu Engong this time, otherwise I would have been doomed at Black Wind Ridge. Come on, senior brother, Lu Engong, let me toast you!" Zhang Tie said casually, picked up his wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and showed a comfortable expression on his face.

"Brother Zhang, you're too kind. We're in the same boat, so it's only right that we help each other." Lu Zhao raised his cup in acknowledgment, his gaze sweeping over the group in the corner. These men possessed a steady aura, at least at the fourth level of Qi Refining. The one in the lead, drinking with his head down, had a more subtle aura, seemingly at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining. They wore ordinary, close-fitting clothes without any obvious sect markings, but they exuded a palpable aura of menace, clearly not benevolent. Were they remnants of the Black Fiend Sect? Or other rogue cultivators coveting the "Crimson Blood Ginseng"? Or… some other force? Lu Zhao silently memorized their physical characteristics, becoming increasingly vigilant.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you're new here and may not know much about Qingyun Town. This place is a melting pot of people: sect disciples, rogue cultivators, mercenaries, merchants from all walks of life, and even some... forces that are best left unsaid. Although the Qingyun Dao Sect nominally governs this area, its reach is limited. As long as you don't cause too much trouble or provoke sect disciples, generally no one will bother you. There are rules here, but undercurrents are also present, so you need to be careful," Lin Qingfeng warned in a low voice.

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Dao. I will remember it." Lu Zhao nodded. Qingyun Town was the gateway to Yunmeng Marsh, a gathering place for all sorts of people, a hub for news, resources, and intelligence, but also a breeding ground for strife, vendettas, and conspiracies. He had to proceed with extreme caution.

"Senior brother, how are your injuries? Should we return to the sect to report and hand over the 'Crimson Blood Ginseng'?" Zhang Tie asked in a loud voice, which drew the attention of several people at the next table.

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Lin Qingfeng's expression changed slightly. He glared at Zhang Tie, signaling him to be quiet. The Crimson Blood Ginseng was a treasure, and publicizing it here might cause unnecessary trouble. He lowered his voice and said, "My injuries are mostly healed. Tomorrow, I will go to Qingyun Tower with Fellow Daoist Lu to register. As for the Crimson Blood Ginseng, I need to return to the sect and present it to my master for his decision. Remember, this matter must not be mentioned again."

"Oh, I see, Senior Brother." Zhang Tie realized his slip of the tongue and quickly covered his mouth, but a hint of excitement still flashed in his eyes. Escorting the Crimson Blood Ginseng back to the sect this time was a great achievement, and the reward would be substantial.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Lu, go to Qingyun Tower tomorrow to register. You need to register your background, cultivation level, and skills for the assessment. The assessment has three stages: 'Path of Inquiry,' 'Spiritual Testing Platform,' and 'Trial Peak.' The Path of Inquiry tests your character, perseverance, and devotion to the Dao. This stage is the most profound and dangerous; a single misstep can damage your Dao heart or even lead to demonic possession. However, with Fellow Daoist Lu's character, you should pass this stage without much trouble. The Spiritual Testing Platform tests your spiritual root aptitude and cultivation level. This stage has strict requirements; those with poor aptitude have virtually no chance. The Trial Peak tests your combat skills, adaptability, and teamwork. You need to go deep into the mountains to fight against demonic beasts and evil creatures to obtain tokens. This stage is the most brutal, and injuries and deaths are inevitable. Fellow Daoist, please be very careful." Lin Qingfeng explained the details of the assessment to Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao noted everything down, calculating in his mind. The Path of the Heart test assessed his character; with the [Refining Spirit Technique] protecting him and his resilient mind, plus the [Purifying Heart Jade Pendant] assisting him, he should be able to pass. The Spirit Testing Platform tested his aptitude. He possessed dozens of chaotic, unheard-of, even contradictory attributes: "Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Thunder, Wind, Ice, Darkness, Light, Time, Space, Chaos, Life, Death, Spirit, Soul…" Most of these attributes were extremely low, with incomprehensible values ​​like "None, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5…". What kind of spiritual root was this? Was the panel malfunctioning, or was his aptitude truly that bad? Or was it some kind of undiscovered, special constitution? He was uncertain. However, according to Lin Qingfeng, the assessment seemed to consider not only aptitude but also potential, character, and combat experience. As for the Trial Peak, he was not afraid. How many life-and-death battles had he experienced?

"By the way, when registering at Qingyun Tower, there will be a preliminary 'Heart-Questioning' test to determine if you are qualified to participate in the assessment. This test is extremely simple, just asking a few questions to check if you are lying, if your temperament is extreme, or if you have any evil cultivation techniques. Fellow Daoist Lu, you only need to answer truthfully and not hide anything to pass," Lin Qingfeng added.

"Understood, thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist." Lu Zhao bowed and expressed his gratitude. He now had a general understanding of the Qingyun Dao Sect's assessment.

After a satisfying meal, Lin Qingfeng paid the bill and booked three superior rooms at Zuixianlou before they all rested. Before parting, Lin Qingfeng handed Lu Zhao a communication talisman, saying, "Fellow Daoist Lu, if there is any emergency, you can crush this talisman, and I will sense it. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), I will wait for you downstairs, and we will go to Qingyunlou together."

"Thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoist." Lu Zhao accepted the gift, bid farewell to Lin Qingfeng and Zhang Tie, and returned to his room.

After closing the door, Lu Zhao didn't rest immediately. Instead, he carefully inspected the room, confirming there were no hidden compartments or pry holes. Then, he took out several [Concealment Talismans] and set up simple warning arrays in the four corners of the room, around the doors and windows, and under the bed. This was a simple array he had learned from the talisman basics given to him by Elder Chen after studying [Talisman Drawing] Lv4 for the past month. It could sense fluctuations in spiritual energy and would be triggered if someone infiltrated the room. Although it had no offensive power, it served as a warning.

After finishing these tasks, Lu Zhao sat cross-legged on the bed, not immediately entering meditation, but carefully recalling what he had seen and heard that day. The mysterious cultivators in the corner gave him an uneasy feeling; something seemed amiss. However, they hadn't made any further moves, so he couldn't be sure. Perhaps he was just being overly sensitive?

"When soldiers come, we'll meet them head-on; when water comes, we'll dam it. The most urgent thing is to register at Qingyun Tower tomorrow and obtain the qualification for the assessment. Everything else can wait." Lu Zhao composed himself and took out the Crimson Blood Ginseng. The jade box opened, and a rich, pure blood energy emanated, invigorating the spirit. The three-hundred-year-old Crimson Blood Ginseng was full of spiritual energy and contained a vast amount of blood energy; it was a precious medicine for body tempering, healing injuries, and breaking through bottlenecks.

"This item can help me break through the bottleneck of the fourth level of Qi Refining. However, the spiritual energy here is thin, making it unsuitable for a breakthrough. I need to find a safe place with abundant spiritual energy to maximize the absorption of its medicinal power and achieve a breakthrough in one fell swoop," Lu Zhao pondered. The Crimson Blood Ginseng was an unexpected delight, but consuming it now was not the right time. He carefully put it away and then took out some pills, medicinal herbs, and ores obtained from Huai Mountain Village, the Plague Mother's Nest, the Bitter Monk, Black Wind Ridge, and Soul-Severing Cliff. He sorted and organized them, preparing to go to the Qingyun Town market tomorrow to exchange them for some urgently needed supplies, such as materials for drawing high-level talismans, pills to aid cultivation, and magical artifacts for self-defense and escape.

"Qingyun Town, the market..." A glint of anticipation flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. This was a gathering place for cultivators, surely teeming with all sorts of rare and precious materials, cultivation techniques, secret arts, and exotic treasures. Perhaps, he could find some clues about his unique spiritual root here, or some wondrous items that could enhance his spiritual power and strengthen his talismans. After all, his greatest reliance was the [Refining Spirit Technique] and [Talisman Drawing]. If he could advance further in these areas, his strength would undoubtedly increase dramatically.

After adjusting his breathing for a while to reach his optimal state, Lu Zhao practiced the [Dragon's Hibernation] and [Spirit Refining Technique] for a while before lying down fully clothed and closing his eyes to rest. In unfamiliar surroundings, he wouldn't easily fall into a deep sleep, always maintaining a degree of vigilance.

Nothing happened that night.

The next day, at dawn, the sky brightened. Qingyun Town awoke in the morning light, and the streets gradually became lively. Lu Zhao came downstairs on time, where Lin Qingfeng and Zhang Tie were already waiting. After breakfast, the three left Zuixianlou and headed towards the center of town.

Qingyun Town is small, but well-organized, with three main streets radiating outwards from the town's central square. The widest of these is "Qingyun Avenue," leading to the Yunmengze ferry crossing. Qingyun Tower, a magnificent seven-story tower soaring into the clouds, sits on the east side of the square. Its eaves are adorned with intricate brackets, and its roof is covered in green tiles and red eaves. A plaque hangs above the entrance, bearing the three large golden characters "Qingyun Tower," written in bold, powerful strokes. Several cultivators in blue Daoist robes stand guard before the tower, their expressions solemn and their gazes sharp, scanning the passersby.

"This Qingyun Tower is the outpost of my Qingyun Dao Sect in the mortal world, responsible for reception, registration, task distribution, transactions, information dissemination, and many other matters. The first floor is the reception and registration hall, the second floor is where tasks are issued and accepted, the third floor is the transaction and exchange area, and the fourth floor and above are the resting and discussion areas for sect deacons, disciples, and distinguished guests. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter." Lin Qingfeng introduced as he walked, his words carrying a hint of pride.

As the three entered the gate, a solemn and dignified atmosphere, tinged with a faint blend of sandalwood, ink, and medicinal scents, enveloped them. The first-floor hall was extremely spacious, with a floor paved with gleaming bluestone. A high-hanging dome was adorned with murals depicting the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers. Several rows of counters surrounded the hall, behind which sat disciples handling various matters. People came and went in the hall, yet the atmosphere was orderly. Most were in a hurry, registering, inquiring, submitting tasks, or exchanging resources, conversing in hushed tones, and no one made a sound.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, please follow me to the 'Newcomer Registration Office'." Lin Qingfeng led Lu Zhao to a counter on the west side of the hall. Behind the counter sat a middle-aged cultivator wearing a blue Daoist robe, with a thin face, sharp eyes, and a steady aura, who appeared to be at the fifth level of Qi Refining. He was looking down and flipping through a booklet.

"This is Deacon Li, in charge of newcomer registration and assessment." Lin Qingfeng bowed to the middle-aged cultivator and said, "Uncle-Master Li, this is Fellow Daoist Lu Zhao, who wishes to participate in the sect's entrance assessment. Please register him."

Deacon Li raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Lu Zhao with lightning speed, scrutinizing and slightly surprised. His cultivation was two levels higher than Lu Zhao's, and he could tell at a glance that although Lu Zhao was young, his aura was steady and refined, his eyes calm yet sharp, and he possessed a hidden sharpness born of experience—clearly no ordinary person. Moreover, there seemed to be a faint, barely perceptible, yet unsettling aura emanating from him, concealed by a layer of gentle, refreshing spiritual energy, making it difficult to discern clearly.

"A rogue cultivator?" Deacon Li asked, his voice calm and authoritative, carrying an air of official business.

"Yes, I am Lu Zhao, a humble cultivator. I have long admired the reputation of the Qingyun Dao Sect and yearn for it. I have come here to participate in the assessment and humbly request that you accept me as a disciple." Lu Zhao said with a respectful but firm bow.

"Hmm. Name, place of origin, age, cultivation level, and do you know any special skills?" Deacon Li asked, taking out a jade book and a talisman pen.

"Lu Zhao, a native of Qingmu Town, Luoxia County, is seventeen years old and at the third level of Qi Refining. He has some knowledge of talismans and can draw first-tier talismans. He also has some medical skills." Lu Zhao answered one by one, these were all answers he had prepared beforehand. Qingmu Town did exist, but it had been destroyed by a plague, and no one could verify it. His age and cultivation level were also true, but he concealed secrets such as the [Refining Spirit Technique], [Dragon Sleep], and his interface.

"Seventeen years old, Qi Refining Level 3, aptitude... hmm, acceptable. Can draw first-tier talismans, hmm, not bad, it's a skill. Can you do alchemy, weapon crafting, or array formations?" Deacon Li asked casually as he took notes.

"This junior is dull-witted and only has a rudimentary understanding of talismans. My knowledge of alchemy, weapon crafting, and formations is not profound," Lu Zhao said.

"It's alright, the sect isn't demanding; having a skill is enough. However, the sect entrance exam doesn't look at skills, only temperament, aptitude, and combat experience. Talismans are merely an aid. Extend your hand, and I need to use the 'Heart-Questioning Talisman' to examine your temperament. If there are no problems, you can register and receive the examination token." As Deacon Li spoke, he took out a pale blue, palm-sized talisman. The talisman had intricate runes and emitted an aura that calmed the mind.

"Yes." Lu Zhao obeyed, extending his hand. Deacon Li placed the Heart-Questioning Talisman in his palm. The talisman transformed into a wisp of clear light, entering Lu Zhao's body. Lu Zhao felt a cool, gentle aura, seemingly able to illuminate his true inner self, circulating within him, probing his state of mind and soul. However, it seemed to be hindered by the power of the [Refining Spirit Technique] and the [Purifying Heart Jade Pendant], and did not penetrate deeply. The aura probed for a moment, then dissipated on its own, without revealing anything unusual.

"Hmm, his temperament is acceptable; he has no great evil, nor any extreme or wicked thoughts. However... he seems to have experienced much bloodshed, and his murderous aura is slightly heavy. But it's alright. My Qingyun Dao Sect is not a group of pedantic people. Decisiveness in killing is not necessarily a bad thing. Just remember that those who cultivate the Dao should have reverence in their hearts, and should not kill the innocent indiscriminately, nor fall into the demonic path." Deacon Li nodded, put away the Heart-Questioning Talisman, and said.

"I will keep your teachings in mind," Lu Zhao said.

"This is your assessment token. Once you bind it with your blood, you can use it. The token contains your basic information and assessment instructions. Three days later, at dawn, gather here. You will be led by a specialist to Yunmengze to participate in the assessment. Latecomers will not be waited for." Deacon Li took out a palm-sized, warm-to-the-touch, cyan token from under the counter and handed it to Lu Zhao. The front of the token was engraved with the two characters "Qingyun," and the back was decorated with a cloud pattern, upon which was the number "378."

"This is your number, 378. Gather here in three days with this token. Do not leave without it. During the assessment, this token must remain with you; it serves as your identification and is also used to record your assessment results. If lost or damaged, your assessment will be invalidated. Remember this," Deacon Li instructed.

"Yes, junior understands." Lu Zhao took the token, bit his fingertip, and dripped a drop of blood onto the token. The token flashed with a faint light, the blood seeped in and disappeared. The token seemed to have formed a faint connection with him, and he could clearly perceive the information within it: name, age, cultivation level, number, and the time and place of the assessment.

"Alright, registration complete. You can go to the third floor and take a look. That's the trading area. There's a 'trading market' set up by the sects, and also stalls set up by independent cultivators. You can exchange for what you need to prepare for the assessment. However, remember, you must not cause trouble in the building, and you must not force anyone to buy or sell. Otherwise, you will be disqualified from the assessment and will never be registered again." Deacon Li waved his hand, indicating that Lu Zhao could leave.

"Thank you, Uncle Li." Lin Qingfeng clasped his hands in thanks.

"This junior takes his leave." Lu Zhao also bowed and left the counter with Lin Qingfeng and Zhang Tie.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, registration is complete, you can rest assured. You have three more days to move around freely. Would you like to return to Zuixianlou first, or go check out the third floor?" Lin Qingfeng asked.

"Thank you for your hospitality, fellow Daoist. I'd like to visit the trading area on the third floor to purchase some talismans, cinnabar, and some pills to prepare for the assessment," Lu Zhao said.

"Very well. The trading area is a mixed bag, so be careful and don't flaunt your wealth easily. I need to return to my sect to present the Crimson Blood Ginseng, arrange for Junior Brother Zhang to recover from his injuries, and also to make some arrangements for Fellow Daoist Lu. I'll come to find you again in three days, during the assessment. Keep this communication talisman safe; contact me anytime if there's an emergency." Lin Qingfeng said, taking out another communication talisman and handing it to Lu Zhao. Unlike the previous one, this one seemed to be of a higher grade.

"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Dao. Brother Dao and Brother Zhang, take care." Lu Zhao accepted the gift and thanked him again. He knew that Lin Qingfeng, as an inner disciple, had his own matters to attend to and could not accompany him indefinitely. Guiding him was already a favor, and he could not trouble him any further.

"My benefactor Lu, take care! I'll be waiting for you at the sect!" Zhang Tie smiled憨厚ly and patted Lu Zhao's shoulder hard.

"Take care." Lu Zhao clasped his hands in a fist salute, watching Lin Qingfeng and Zhang Tie leave before turning and heading towards the stairs. He didn't go upstairs immediately, but stood there, his gaze sweeping across the lobby to make sure no one was following him, and that malicious gaze that had unsettled him yesterday was no longer there. But he didn't let his guard down.

After a moment's hesitation, Lu Zhao went up to the second floor. The second floor was where missions were posted and accepted; it was more crowded and noisier. On the huge jade wall, mission information scrolled, including hunting demonic beasts, gathering spiritual herbs, escorting caravans, gathering intelligence, and eliminating evil spirits, with varying rewards: spirit stones, pills, cultivation techniques, magic weapons, contribution points, and so on. Many cultivators gathered in front of the jade wall, pointing and discussing, searching for missions that suited them. Lu Zhao glanced at them, noting down a few missions involving hunting demonic beasts and gathering spiritual herbs—perhaps useful later—but he had no time for them now.

He went straight to the third floor. The third floor was also spacious, but it was divided into several areas: the "Qingyun Pavilion" run by sects, and the "Free Market" where independent cultivators set up their own stalls. The Qingyun Pavilion area had grandly decorated shops, with a dazzling array of goods: cultivation techniques, pills, magic weapons, talismans, materials, spirit beasts, puppets... everything was available, with clearly marked prices, but they were quite expensive. The Free Market was much noisier, with stalls set up along the street. Most of the stall owners were independent cultivators, selling all sorts of items: materials from demonic beasts, ores, herbs, broken magic weapons, fragments of cultivation techniques, strange tales, and so on. It was hard to tell whether they were genuine or fake, and the quality varied, but there were occasional pleasant surprises. The prices were relatively flexible, and bargaining was possible.

Lu Zhaoxian strolled around the Qingyun Pavilion area, getting a general idea of ​​the market prices. First-grade low-level talisman paper cost ten taels of silver per ream (one hundred sheets), mid-grade fifty taels, high-grade one hundred taels, and top-grade five hundred taels, or even more. The prices of auxiliary materials such as cinnabar, vermilion, beast blood, and spirit ink also varied greatly. First-grade pills, such as Qi-replenishing pills, Yuan-restoring pills, Lesser Rejuvenation pills, and detoxifying powders, ranged in price from tens to hundreds of taels of silver. Magical artifacts were even more expensive; low-grade common artifacts easily cost thousands of taels, while mid-grade and high-grade ones cost thousands or even tens of thousands of taels, beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. Cultivation manuals were astronomically expensive, often costing tens or hundreds of thousands of taels, and even then, they were rarely available.

Lu Zhao touched the three thousand taels of silver notes Su Qingqian had given him, the thousand-odd taels given to him by Elder Chen, and the silver and items he had scavenged from Monk Ku Wu and the others, totaling just over five thousand taels. This amount of money wouldn't buy much at Qingyun Pavilion. It seemed he would have to try his luck at the Free Market.

He arrived at the Free Market and slowly walked through the crowds, his eyes scanning each stall. He was mainly looking for materials to draw talismans, as well as medicinal herbs and minerals that could aid in mental cultivation or body tempering. As for cultivation techniques and magical artifacts, he dared not think about them for the time being.

"Top-quality, century-old Solomon's Seal, only 500 taels! Don't miss out!"

"My ancestral 'Sword Control Techniques (incomplete)' is on sale for a bargain price of only one thousand taels!"

"Newly unearthed 'Blood-Patterned Steel,' a top-quality material for forging magical artifacts, costs eight hundred taels per catty!"

"The hide of a second-tier demonic beast, the 'Fire Scale Python,' is an excellent material for making inner armor. One thousand taels!"

……

The sounds of hawking, haggling, and arguing filled the air. Lu Zhao's eyes shone brightly as he used the keen senses granted by his [Refining Spirit Technique] and the sharp eyesight he had accumulated over this period to search among the numerous stalls. He first spent one hundred taels of silver to buy two decent-quality first-grade mid-level talisman papers, and then another fifty taels to buy two ounces of high-grade cinnabar. Passing by a stall selling talisman pens, he saw that the stall owner was a middle-aged cultivator with a stubble beard and shrewd eyes. His stall displayed more than a dozen talisman pens of varying quality.

Lu Zhao picked up a talisman brush with a dark red handle and a silver-white tip. It felt slightly heavy in his hand and had a faint spiritual light within it. It seemed to be even better than the sandalwood wolf hair brush he had bought at Tiangongfang.

"Fellow Daoist, you have a discerning eye! This is crafted from the branches of a hundred-year-old 'Crimson Blood Wood' and the tail hair of a 'Silverback Wolf,' making it a superior-grade talisman brush among mid-level mortal-grade brushes! It can increase the success rate of drawing talismans by 30%, and the power of the talisman is also superior! Only three hundred taels, fellow Daoist, you can take it for three hundred taels!" the stall owner enthusiastically introduced.

"One hundred and fifty taels." Lu Zhao said calmly. He could tell that although the talisman brush was good, the silver-backed wolf hair at the tip was not pure, but mixed with ordinary wolf hair. Moreover, the refining method was rough, and the spiritual light was unstable. It was not a fine product and was not worth three hundred taels.

"Fellow Daoist, your bargaining is too ruthless! This is a hundred-year-old Crimson Bloodwood..."

"It's definitely Crimson Bloodwood, but this wolf hair is adulterated, the refining technique is rough, and the spiritual energy doesn't flow smoothly. It's worth at most one hundred and fifty taels. Are you selling it or not?" Lu Zhao interrupted him, his tone calm but unquestionable.

The stall owner's expression changed; he hadn't expected Lu Zhao to be so perceptive. He chuckled dryly and said, "Fellow Daoist is an expert. Alright, one hundred and fifty taels it is. Let's be friends!"

Lu Zhao paid and put away the talisman brush. This brush was indeed of much better quality than his previous one; it was more than capable of drawing first-tier talismans, and even second-tier talismans wouldn't be out of the question. Afterward, he spent another hundred taels to buy some medicinal herbs that could be used to refine "Heart-Clearing Powder" and "Spirit-Nourishing Ointment," which could assist in the cultivation of the [Spirit Refining Technique]. As for body-tempering herbs, the good quality ones were too expensive, and the cheap ones weren't effective enough, so he gave up on them for the time being.

Just as Lu Zhao was about to leave the market to explore other places, his gaze was suddenly drawn to an inconspicuous stall in a corner. The stall owner was an old man with gray hair, a withered face, and a weak breath, who looked like he was on his deathbed. He was wearing an old Taoist robe full of patches and squatted there, not calling out to customers. In front of him were only three things: a dark, palm-sized stone covered with cracks; a charred wooden stick that looked like a withered branch; and half a rusty, incomplete bronze mirror.

These three items looked utterly unremarkable, devoid of any spiritual energy fluctuations, seemingly just ordinary junk. But the moment Lu Zhao's [Refining Spirit Technique] senses swept over the dark stone, his heart skipped a beat! Within that stone, there seemed to be an extremely faint yet incredibly pure, ancient, and even slightly familiar spiritual fluctuation! This fluctuation resonated faintly with the panel in his sea of ​​consciousness! Furthermore, the stone's shape and texture bore a resemblance to the map fragments he had obtained from Huai Mountain Village, the Bitter Monk, and the Blood Fiend Hall! No, not just similar, it seemed to be… of the same origin!

Is this the third fragment of the map?!

Suppressing his excitement, Lu Zhaoqiang calmly walked to the stall, squatted down, picked up the charred wooden stick, pretended to examine it, and asked, "Senior, how much is this wooden stick?"

The old man raised his cloudy eyes, glanced at Lu Zhao, and said in a hoarse voice, "Not for sale."

Lu Zhao was taken aback. Not selling? He looked at the old man, but the old man closed his eyes to rest and ignored him.

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He put down the wooden stick, picked up the broken half of the bronze mirror, and asked, "Where is this bronze mirror?"

"Not for sale."

Lu Zhao picked up the dark stone again. It was cold to the touch, heavy, and rough—exactly the same as the two fragments he had obtained before! Suppressing his excitement, he asked, "Where's this stone?"

The old man didn't even lift his eyelids, repeating the same words: "Not for sale."

Lu Zhao frowned. This old man didn't seem genuinely interested in selling anything. He pondered for a moment and said, "Senior, these three items look quite ordinary. What's so special about them? Why aren't you selling them?"

"If I'm not selling, I'm not selling. Why ask so many questions?" The old man waved his hand impatiently, as if to shoo him away.

Lu Zhao's mind raced. The old man's behavior was strange; could it be a test? Or was there another hidden reason? He took out the half-finished map fragment he had obtained from Huai Shan Village and the monk Ku Wu, which had been supplemented at Broken Soul Cliff, and handed it to the old man, whispering, "Senior, do you think this thing has any connection with your stone?"

The old man's cloudy eyes suddenly snapped open, a sharp, lightning-like gaze instantly landing on the tattered map in Lu Zhao's hand. His body trembled almost imperceptibly. He stared intently at the map, then looked up at Lu Zhao, a flicker of surprise, scrutiny, and even a hint of...excitement? flashing in his eyes. But quickly, his expression returned to its usual calm.

"Where did you get this?" The old man's voice was still hoarse, but it carried a hint of urgency.

"By chance, I obtained it from a dangerous place," Lu Zhao said vaguely, without elaborating.

The old man remained silent for a long time, his gaze sweeping over Lu Zhao's face before returning to the stone, seemingly weighing his options. Finally, he sighed and said, "Very well, since you are destined to have this picture, I'll give you this stone. The other two are not for sale."

Lu Zhao was taken aback. A free gift? He had thought the old man would ask for an exorbitant price, but it turned out to be a free gift? This made him even more wary.

"Senior, one should not accept rewards without merit. This item..." Lu Zhao hesitated.

"I obtained this by chance; it's useless to keep it, but a pity to throw it away. Since you have this picture, perhaps you are destined to have this. Take it; there's no need for further words." The old man pushed the stone in front of Lu Zhao, then closed his eyes and said nothing more.

Lu Zhao looked at the stone, then at the old man, and finally reached out and picked it up. It was icy cold to the touch. He had a vague feeling that this stone might hold a great secret, perhaps even related to the Black Fiend Sect and that mysterious "Master." Moreover, it seemed to resonate with the panel in his sea of ​​consciousness, which was definitely not ordinary.

"Thank you for your gift, senior. I am Lu Zhao. If there is anything I need, I will do my best to help." Lu Zhao solemnly put away the stone and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

The old man waved his hand without saying a word.

Lu Zhao said no more and turned to leave. After taking a few steps, he looked back. The old man was still squatting in the same spot, resting with his eyes closed, as if nothing had happened. But the stone was now in his arms.

"This old man is no ordinary person. This stone is even more extraordinary." Lu Zhao thought to himself, quickening his pace and leaving the Free Market. He needed to find a quiet place to carefully study the stone and the increasingly complete map.

Instead of returning to Zuixianlou, he found a relatively secluded and clean inn in Qingyun Town, booked a superior room, and set up a warning array. After confirming it was safe, he took out the dark stone and compared it with the previous map fragments, piecing them together one by one.

When the last fragment was pieced together with the previous map fragments, a miracle occurred! The three fragments fit together perfectly, forming a complete map, roughly a foot square, made of a strange material, cold to the touch, with irregular edges! On the map, mountains, rivers, roads, and cities were clearly depicted with distinct lines and markings, although some characters had become blurred due to age. However, the general terrain was still discernible.

In the lower right corner of the map, several ancient characters are marked in dark red, blood-like ink: "Yunmeng Great Swamp, Broken Soul Cliff, Blood Pool Secret Realm." At the location of Broken Soul Cliff, there is a striking, twisted rune drawn in cinnabar, resembling a skull and snake entwined—exactly the same as the evil god emblem that appeared on the blood sacrifice altar of the Bitter Monk, the Plague Mother of Huai Mountain Village, and the Broken Soul Cliff! Deep within Broken Soul Cliff, there are several small characters marked with a red dot, written in tadpole script. Although Lu Zhao doesn't recognize them, the panel seems to sense them and automatically translates: "Main Sacrifice Ground, Blood Pool Entrance, Place Where the Evil God is Born." On another part of the map, at the other end of the Yunmeng Great Swamp, near the location of the "Yunmeng Swamp" sect, there is another location marked with a red dot, next to which are written in the same tadpole script: "Secondary Sacrifice Ground, Blood Shadow Passage, Sealed Node."

"Soul-Severing Cliff is the main sacrificial site, and the other one is the secondary sacrificial site, the sealing node? Could it be that the Black Fiend Sect's scheme extends beyond Soul-Severing Cliff to include other sacrificial sites? And this map marks these locations? Yunmeng Marsh... Yunmeng Marsh Sect... Blood Shadow Passage... Seal..." Lu Zhao's heart was filled with shock! This map was likely a secret map within the Black Fiend Sect, marking sacrificial, sealing, and summoning rituals! Moreover, the second location the map pointed to was in Yunmeng Marsh, near the Qingyun Dao Sect! Didn't this mean that right under the Qingyun Dao Sect's nose, the Black Fiend Sect was hiding a massive conspiracy?!

"Could it be that the Yunmeng Marshland is not a paradise after all? Has the Black Fiend Sect's tentacles already reached here? Perhaps... even hidden within the Qingyun Dao Sect?" Lu Zhao grew increasingly alarmed, a chill rising from the soles of his feet. He carefully put the map away, hiding it close to his body. This map was invaluable, but also extremely dangerous; it must never be revealed! What was the mysterious old man's intention in giving him this? Was it a coincidence, or... something deliberate?

"Qingyun Dao Sect... Yunmeng Marsh... Black Fiend Sect..." Lu Zhao frowned, feeling as if an invisible net was slowly unfolding, and he seemed to be caught in it. The future was probably more unpredictable and dangerous than he had imagined.

"Regardless, we must first pass the assessment, enter the Qingyun Dao Sect, improve our strength, and then make further plans. The secret of this map must never be mentioned to anyone, including Lin Qingfeng and Miss Yun. Otherwise, we risk our lives."

Lu Zhao steadied himself, clearing his mind of distractions. He took out his talisman brush, talisman paper, and cinnabar, preparing to draw several talismans for the assessment three days later. As for the stone, he couldn't study it for the time being; perhaps specific conditions or more clues would be needed to unlock its secrets.

Just as he was about to grind the cinnabar, a commotion and fighting suddenly came from outside the window, mixed with curses, shouts, and... the clanging of metal weapons clashing!

It's at the street corner! The direction seems to be... Qingyun Tower!

"Is someone causing trouble?" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He put down his talisman brush, walked to the window, opened a crack, and looked outside.

At the end of the street, towards Qingyun Tower, a group of people were gathered together, seemingly in the midst of a conflict. He vaguely recognized several familiar figures, one of whom was none other than Lin Qingfeng! He was holding a long sword, confronting several imposing cultivators dressed in black! The leader was none other than the Qi Refining Level 5 cultivator he'd seen in the corner of Zuixian Tower—the one with the head bowed, drinking, his aura concealed! Now, he wore a sinister grin, holding a ghost-headed saber, the tip pressed against someone's throat! That person was… Zhang Tie! His face was deathly pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth; he was clearly seriously injured!

It's that group! They actually came knocking on our door! And they're targeting Lin Qingfeng and Zhang Tie! No, perhaps they're after the "Crimson Blood Ginseng"!

Lu Zhao's eyes turned cold, and his hand was already on the short knife at his waist.