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

Outside the window, the clamor, curses, and clanging of metal reached Lu Zhao's ears clearly. At the end of the street, in the small square in front of Qingyun Tower, a crowd formed a circle. In the center were Lin Qingfeng and Zhang Tie, confronting several burly, menacing-looking men in black martial arts attire. Leading them was the man at the fifth level of Qi Refining, wielding a ghost-head saber with sinister eyes. He grinned maliciously, the tip of his blade pressed against Zhang Tie's throat. Zhang Tie's face was deathly pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his left arm hanging limply, clearly stopped, and possibly even internally injured.

Lin Qingfeng's face was ashen. His longsword pointed diagonally, its tip trembling slightly. His eyes blazed with fury, yet he forced himself to remain still, daring not to make a move. He shouted sternly, "Wang Biao! In broad daylight, in front of Qingyun Tower, you have brazenly kidnapped a disciple of my Qingyun Dao Sect! How dare you! Release Junior Brother Zhang immediately, or the sect's Enforcement Hall will ensure your annihilation!"

"Qingyun Dao Sect? Heh heh, what a prestigious name!" The man called Wang Biao sneered, glancing around. Seeing many onlookers but no one daring to step forward, he grew bolder. He slightly pressed down with his ghost-headed saber, and a bloody gash appeared on Zhang Tie's neck. Zhang Tie groaned, barely managing to suppress a cry. "Lin Qingfeng, stop trying to intimidate me with your sect! This is Qingyun Town, not your Yunmeng Marsh! Besides, I'm here to collect a debt. Debts must be repaid, it's only right! Your junior brother owes my Black Tiger Hall a gambling debt, it's all in black and white, signed as proof! If he doesn't pay today, I'll take his head to settle the debt!"

"Bullshit! My junior brother Zhang never gambles, how could he owe you gambling debts! It's clearly you who set a trap and robbed me!" Lin Qingfeng roared. He knew in his heart that this group belonged to the "Black Tiger Hall." The Black Tiger Hall was a local underground gang in Qingyun Town with considerable power. They specialized in shady dealings, extortion, loan sharking for gambling, forced buying and selling, and committed all sorts of evil deeds. They also had long-standing ties with certain forces within the outer sect of the Qingyun Dao Sect and were always arrogant. This time, they probably had their eyes on the Crimson Blood Ginseng, or perhaps they were acting on someone else's orders to deliberately provoke him.

"Hey, here's the IOU. It has your junior brother's signature, fingerprint, and the seal of my Black Tiger Hall. How could it be fake? Lin Qingfeng, if you know what's good for you, obediently pay off your junior brother's gambling debt of five thousand taels of silver, and I'll release him immediately. Otherwise, hmph, don't blame me for being ruthless and sending your junior brother to his death!" Wang Biao shook a crumpled, bloodstained piece of paper in his hand and said sternly.

"Five thousand taels?!" Lin Qingfeng gasped in shock. This was blatant extortion! Although he was an inner disciple, he didn't have much savings. The travel expenses given by the sect for this mission had already been used up, and he only had a few hundred taels of silver on him. Where would he get five thousand taels? Moreover, this was clearly extortion. Even if he gave them five thousand taels, the other party would not let it go.

"Senior brother, don't worry about me! You go! Go report to the authorities, no, go report to the sect! These bastards won't dare to do anything to me!" Zhang Tie roared. Although he was reckless, he could tell that the other party was after his senior brother and that he was just bait.

"Shut up!" Wang Biao swung the back of his knife and slammed it hard into the back of Zhang Tie's head. Zhang Tie's vision went black and he almost fainted. Blood flowed down his forehead.

"Stop!" Lin Qingfeng's eyes were bloodshot, and he was about to rush forward to fight, but he was blocked by two cultivators at the fourth level of Qi Refining behind Wang Biao. Their blades flashed, forcing him back.

"Lin Qingfeng, my patience is limited! I'll give you ten breaths. Either pay me back, or collect my corpse! Ten, nine, eight..." Wang Biao grinned maliciously and began to count down.

The onlookers, mostly independent cultivators and merchants, retreated in fear, none daring to intervene. The guards at the entrance of Qingyun Tower exchanged hesitant glances. The Black Tiger Hall was a local power, not to be trifled with, and this matter involved gambling debts, seemingly a personal grudge. Without a clear violation of the tower's rules, they couldn't directly intervene.

"Seven, six, five..."

Lin Qingfeng was frantic. He possessed the Crimson Blood Ginseng, worth far more than five thousand taels of silver, but this item was to be offered to the sect, and its exposure would have dire consequences. He couldn't bear to watch Zhang Tie die here! Was he truly going to fight to the death?

"Four, three..."

Just as Wang Biao counted to "three," his sinister grin widened, and he thrust the knife forward again—

"laugh!"

A faint, hissing sound, like a viper flicking its tongue, rang out without warning! A jet-black, hair-thin steel needle, moving with imperceptible speed, shot out like a ghost from the gaps in the crowd, aiming precisely at Wang Biao's wrist, the one holding the knife! The needle was coated with Lu Zhao's most powerful poison needle, primarily composed of [Plague Poison Crystal (Mid-Grade)] powder, mixed with several highly potent poisons that paralyze, corrode bones, and kill instantly upon contact with blood!

"Huh?!" Wang Biao was at the fifth level of Qi Refining, with keen spiritual senses. The moment the steel needle touched his body, he felt a deadly crisis! Warning signs were screaming in his heart. Without thinking, he abruptly withdrew his sword and retreated, while his body flashed away! But Lu Zhao's needle strike was perfectly timed, angled, and fast. It was also a sneak attack. How could he easily dodge it?

"puff!"

The steel needle grazed his wrist, missing its mark, but it sent a shiver through him, making him feel weak and powerless! It was poison! And a potent one at that! His face paled, and he roared, "Who?! You cowardly rat hiding in the shadows, show yourself!"

Before he finished speaking, three more identical poison needles, arranged in a triangular pattern, shot silently towards his face, throat, and chest from different angles! At the same time, a [Fireball Talisman (Good)] transformed into a blazing fireball, whistling as it hurtled towards a Qi Refining Level 4 cultivator behind him, wielding a short axe and about to pounce on Lin Qingfeng!

"Watch out for hidden weapons!"

"It's a talisman!"

The two cultivators behind Wang Biao cried out in alarm and hastily defended themselves. The cultivator hit by the fireball was caught off guard, struck in the chest, screamed in agony, and flew backward, his chest charred and his breath weak. The other cultivator barely managed to deflect two poison needles with his sword, but a third needle grazed his thigh, instantly causing a numbing sensation and making him stagger.

"How dare you! You dare to meddle in the affairs of my Black Tiger Hall!" Wang Biao was both shocked and furious. He never expected that someone in Qingyun Town would dare to attack the Black Tiger Hall, and with such vicious and cunning methods! He ignored Zhang Tie, brandished his ghost-head knife, and his eyes, like those of a hawk, swept towards the direction from which the poison needles had been shot. It was an inconspicuous young man in the crowd, dressed in a drab gray outfit and with a sallow complexion.

It was Lu Zhao! He had already stepped out of the crowd, his eyes calm, but a cold killing intent flickered deep within them. He slowly stepped forward, blocking Lin Qingfeng's path, his gaze falling on Wang Biao's face, and said indifferently, "In broad daylight, kidnapping and extortion, committing murder in the street. Does this Qingyun Town now belong to your Black Tiger Hall? You even dare to touch the disciples of the Qingyun Dao Sect?"

"Who do you think you are? How dare you interfere in my business?" Wang Biao stared intently at Lu Zhao. This young man's aura was only at the first level of Qi Refining, unremarkable, but the poison needle and talisman he had just used were definitely not something a first-level Qi Refining cultivator could do! The other party must have been hiding his cultivation level and was skilled in concealment, poison, and talismans. He was a tough opponent! But Wang Biao was not easily intimidated. With a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivation level, he was considered a master in Qingyun Town. With the Black Tiger Hall as his backer, how could he be scared by a cowardly fellow?

"Who I am is not important. What is important is that the person you captured is my friend. Release him, cut off your own arm, and get out of Qingyun Town, and I can pretend that today's events never happened." Lu Zhao's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Hahaha!" Wang Biao laughed wildly, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. "Cut off your own arm? Get out of Qingyun Town? Kid, have you lost your mind? Do you know who I am? I'm the third leader of the Black Tiger Gang! Fifth level of Qi Refining! You dare to talk so arrogantly? If you know what's good for you, get out of here, or I'll kill you too!"

"It seems you've chosen the path of death." Lu Zhao shook his head, saying no more. He moved swiftly, the [Superior Swiftness Talisman] beneath his feet instantly activating, transforming him into a wisp of green smoke, moving with ghostly speed, directly attacking Wang Biao! Simultaneously, he raised his left hand, two [Evil-Slaying Talismans (Good)] transforming into two golden beams, shooting towards Wang Biao and the other poisoned cultivator! His right hand drew his short sword, its cold light carrying a chilling aura, aiming straight for Wang Biao's throat! [Dragon's Hibernation] was activated at full power, his blood and qi surging, his strength exploding. This strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless, without any fancy moves, aimed directly at the vital point!

"You're courting death!" Wang Biao roared, brandishing his ghost-head saber with a sharp whistling sound as it met Lu Zhao's short sword! Although he was surprised by Lu Zhao's speed, he remained confident in his own cultivation and swordsmanship! What could a mere cowardly brat do to him?

"clang!"

Blades clashed, producing a piercing metallic clang! Sparks flew everywhere! Wang Biao felt an unimaginable force surge through him; his hand trembled violently, and his ghost-headed saber was actually deflected! He was horrified. His opponent's strength was so immense! This was definitely not the first level of Qi Refining, not even the middle level! This kid had been hiding his true power!

Before he could react, Lu Zhao swiftly slashed with his short dagger, like a viper striking, across Wang Biao's wrist! Wang Biao's wrist was already paralyzed by the poison, and now he had no way to avoid it!

"laugh!"

Blood splattered! Wang Biao's right hand, holding the knife, was severed at the wrist! The ghost-head knife and the severed hand fell to the ground together!

"Ah—! My hand!" Wang Biao let out a piercing scream. The excruciating pain and fear instantly overwhelmed him. He clutched his severed wrist, staggering backward, his eyes filled with disbelief and horror. He was a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator! How could a nobody have severed his wrist in a single move?!

Lu Zhao, having landed a successful blow, didn't hesitate. His figure moved like a shadow, and he thrust out his short sword again, aiming straight for Wang Biao's heart! Almost simultaneously, the golden light of the [Exorcising Talisman] struck Wang Biao's chest!

"puff!"

The dagger pierced Wang Biao's chest, but was blocked by a faint layer of black armor—Wang Biao's protective magic weapon! However, the golden light of the [Exorcising Talisman] was precisely the nemesis of such sinister protective techniques! The golden light collided with the black armor, producing a hissing sound, and the black armor fluctuated violently, instantly dimming! The tip of the dagger finally pierced through the black armor, sinking half an inch into Wang Biao's chest!

"puff!"

Wang Biao coughed up another mouthful of black blood, his eyes dimmed rapidly, and his aura weakened drastically. He stared at Lu Zhao in terror, hissing, "You...who exactly are you...?"

"Shut up." Lu Zhao flicked his wrist, the short sword trembled, and the force penetrated, shattering Wang Biao's heart meridian! Wang Biao's body stiffened, the light in his eyes went out completely, and he collapsed to the ground, dead! Even in death, he did not understand why he had died at the hands of a rogue cultivator at the "first level of Qi Refining".

"Third Master!"

"He killed the third leader!"

"Let's fight him!"

The remaining two Black Tiger Hall cultivators were shocked and enraged to see Wang Biao killed. They roared and were about to pounce. However, one of them was hit by a poisoned needle, causing half of his body to be paralyzed, while the other was stunned by Lu Zhao's ruthless methods and was a beat slower in his movements.

"You're courting death." Lu Zhao's eyes were icy cold. His figure flashed again, like a ghost. The short knife in his hand turned into two cold lights, accurately slicing through the throats of the two men! The look of horror in their eyes froze. They clutched their throats, making hoarse sounds, and fell to the ground dead.

The entire process was swift and decisive, taking only a few breaths. Three mid-stage Qi Refining experts and one fifth-stage Qi Refining expert from the Black Tiger Hall were all dead! Clean, efficient, ruthless, and decisive! The surrounding onlookers were completely silent, their gazes towards Lu Zhao filled with shock, fear, and disbelief. This seemingly ordinary young man had such ruthless moves and such formidable strength! Even the third leader of the Black Tiger Hall had been killed by him in a single move! Just who was this person?

Lin Qingfeng was also stunned. Although he knew Lu Zhao was quite strong, he hadn't expected him to be this powerful! That was Wang Biao, a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator, a top expert in the Black Tiger Hall, yet Lu Zhao had killed him so easily! Moreover, the timing, angle, speed, ruthlessness, and use of talismans and poisons by Lu Zhao were like those of a battle-hardened assassin—no, even more terrifying than an assassin! This was something no ordinary rogue cultivator could achieve! His evaluation of Lu Zhao rose even higher, even tinged with a hint of awe.

"Senior brother!" Zhang Tie broke free from his restraints and staggered to Lin Qingfeng's side. His eyes were filled with gratitude and lingering fear as he looked at Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao sheathed his sword, searched the corpses, and found some silver, pills, tokens, and the so-called "IOU." Without even glancing at it, he tore it to shreds. He walked up to Lin Qingfeng and said, "Brother Lin, this place is not safe to stay. The Black Tiger Hall will surely retaliate. You should return to your sect immediately and not delay."

"Fellow Daoist Lu... no, Brother Lu, thank you for saving me again! I will never forget this kindness!" Lin Qingfeng took a deep breath, solemnly clasped his hands, his eyes filled with gratitude and shame. If it weren't for Lu Zhao's intervention, he and Zhang Tie would probably be in grave danger today. He had previously been arrogant because of his status as an inner disciple, but now he realized that compared to Lu Zhao, he was like a child.

"It was no trouble at all. Brother Dao, your injuries haven't healed yet, and you're carrying the Crimson Blood Ginseng. This place is too dangerous. Please leave quickly." Lu Zhao waved his hand, signaling him to hurry up and leave.

"But Brother Lu, you killed the Black Tiger Gang members. They will never let this go. This place..." Lin Qingfeng said worriedly. The Black Tiger Gang is a local power with deeply entrenched influence. With their third leader dead, they will surely retaliate fiercely. It's too dangerous for Lu Zhao to stay here.

"It's alright, I can protect myself. Besides, I'm a participant in the assessment, protected by the rules of Qingyun Tower. Black Tiger Hall wouldn't dare to openly harm me. You should leave quickly, or things might change," Lu Zhao said. He wasn't being reckless; killing Wang Biao and the others was to establish his authority and show his stance. If Black Tiger Hall dared to make a move under Qingyun Tower's nose, Qingyun Dao Sect wouldn't stand idly by. Moreover, he also wanted to see just how strict the "rules" of Qingyun Town really were.

"Well... alright. Brother Lu, please be careful! If you encounter any danger, immediately crush the communication talisman, and I'll come right away!" Seeing Lu Zhao's determination, Lin Qingfeng didn't try to persuade him further. He took out a small jade bottle from his robes and placed it in Lu Zhao's hand. "This is a 'Minor Rejuvenation Pill.' In critical moments, it can replenish spiritual energy and heal internal injuries. Brother Lu, take care! We'll meet again in three days at the Yunmeng Marsh, on the assessment field!"

"Take care!" Lu Zhao took the jade bottle and nodded.

Lin Qingfeng said no more, helped the injured Zhang Tie up, and hurriedly left amidst the awe and complex gazes of the crowd, disappearing at the end of the street.

Lu Zhao watched them leave before turning back to look at the four corpses on the ground, then at the silent onlookers and the Qingyun Tower guards who seemed hesitant and unsure whether to step forward. He spoke slowly, his clear voice carrying throughout the area: "Gentlemen, Wang Biao of the Black Tiger Hall framed, kidnapped, and extorted, committing murder in the street with the intent to kill an inner disciple of the Qingyun Dao Sect. His crimes are heinous. I, Lu, saw injustice and killed him as a warning to others. Qingyun Town has its own rules. If anyone is dissatisfied, they may come to Qingyun Tower to confront me. If there are no objections, please disperse and refrain from gathering here and disturbing the peace of Qingyun Tower."

His words were logical and well-founded, solidifying Wang Biao's guilt while also invoking the Qingyun Dao Sect to demonstrate that he hadn't killed without cause, but rather was "acting on behalf of Heaven" to uphold the sect's dignity. At the same time, he shifted the blame to the Qingyun Tower. If the Qingyun Tower pursued the matter, it would be tantamount to acknowledging the Black Tiger Hall's actions as legitimate and opposing the Qingyun Dao Sect. If it didn't pursue the matter, it would be tacitly approving Lu Zhao's behavior.

As expected, the guards of Qingyun Tower exchanged glances. Finally, an older guard stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lu Zhao, and said, "Fellow Daoist, Wang Biao and the others committed heinous acts and disrupted order; they deserve to die. Fellow Daoist acted righteously to maintain the peace of Qingyun Town, and we will report this truthfully. We will handle this matter. Fellow Daoist, please make yourself at home." They weren't stupid. It was clear that the Black Tiger Hall was in the wrong, and since it involved inner disciples of the Qingyun Dao Sect, and Lu Zhao was powerful, ruthless, and had an unclear background, they naturally chose to avoid trouble and settle things peacefully.

"Thank you for your trouble." Lu Zhao nodded, said no more, turned around, and walked towards the inn where he was staying. As he passed, the crowd automatically parted to make way for him, casting gazes of awe, curiosity, and apprehension. After this incident, the name "Lu Zhao" would probably soon spread throughout Qingyun Town, becoming the focus of attention for various forces.

Lu Zhao's expression remained calm, but his heart was undisturbed. He had intended to keep a low profile, but the winds of change wouldn't stop. The Black Tiger Hall had come knocking, forcing him to retaliate. This move served three purposes: first, to rescue Lin Qingfeng and Zhang Tie; second, to establish his authority; and third, to test the waters of Qingyun Town. It seemed the results were satisfactory. At least for the time being, those petty thieves wouldn't dare to provoke him easily again. And the attitude of Qingyun Tower also indicated that the Qingyun Dao Sect still held absolute authority in this area.

Back in his inn room, Lu Zhao immediately activated the alert array, carefully checking to ensure no one was following or spying. He sat cross-legged, meditating for a moment to recover from the brief battle. Killing Wang Biao and the others, though seemingly easy, had actually consumed a significant amount of his mental and spiritual energy, especially the poison needles and talismans, which he had carefully prepared. However, there were gains. He had taken approximately a thousand taels of silver, several bottles of ordinary pills, a few Black Tiger Hall tokens, and a few incomplete cultivation manuals and martial arts techniques from Wang Biao and his companions. Although their quality was low, it was better than nothing. Most importantly, he had deterred the villains, gained Lin Qingfeng's deeper trust, and earned a small reputation for himself in Qingyun Town.

"Black Tiger Hall... It seems Qingyun Town isn't a safe haven after all. Is someone else behind Wang Biao? Is it targeting Lin Qingfeng, or all Qingyun Dao Sect disciples? Or... all the rogue cultivators participating in the assessment?" Lu Zhao pondered. For a local tyrant like Black Tiger Hall to so blatantly extort Qingyun Dao Sect inner disciples, they couldn't possibly be acting without powerful backers. Was someone within Qingyun Dao Sect colluding with them? Or were other forces using them as a pawn?

"No matter who it is, we'll deal with whatever comes our way. The most urgent task is to pass the assessment and enter the Qingyun Dao Sect. Only with the status of a sect disciple can we truly receive protection, obtain resources, improve our strength, explore the secrets of the Black Fiend Sect, and... protect ourselves."

He stopped thinking and took out his talisman brush, talisman paper, and cinnabar, beginning to draw talismans. The assessment was in three days, and he needed to prepare thoroughly. In particular, he needed to prepare more life-saving and offensive talismans such as the [Concealment Talisman], [Swiftness Talisman], [Diamond Talisman], and [Fireball Talisman]. In addition, he needed to consume the Crimson Blood Ginseng as soon as possible to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, so that his strength could be further improved.

However, a breakthrough requires an absolutely safe environment, and this place is clearly unsuitable. He needs to find a secluded and safe place before the assessment to take the Crimson Blood Ginseng and break through the bottleneck.

As night deepened, the lights of Qingyun Town flickered. In Lu Zhao's room, the lights shone brightly as he focused intently, his brushstrokes flowing like dragons, forming talismans one after another. Outside the window, the night watchman occasionally passed by, striking his clapper, the sound carrying far in the quiet night. In the distance, the faint barking of dogs added to the profound stillness of the night.

Under the tranquil night sky, Qingyun Town seemed to be rife with undercurrents. Lu Zhao, like a pebble thrown into a lake, had already stirred up the first ripples. Perhaps, even greater storms were yet to come.