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

The silver flying boat sliced ​​through the sky, flying steadily above the clouds at an incredible speed. Outside the portholes, a sea of ​​clouds rolled in, sunlight filtering through the gaps and casting beams of light—a magnificent sight. But the atmosphere inside the boat was somewhat somber and oppressive. In the main cabin, Zhao Wuji, Zhou Tong, and Wu Ming were discussing something in hushed tones, having set up a soundproof barrier so that their conversation was indistinct from the outside. The others were mostly meditating and adjusting their breathing in their own cabins, or checking their magical artifacts, talismans, and elixirs, preparing for the upcoming mission; no one spoke.

Lu Zhao sat cross-legged in his cramped cabin, closing his eyes to rest. In reality, he used part of his mind to circulate the [Dragon's Sleep] technique to recover his condition, while the other part of his mind, through the perception of the [Spirit Refining Technique], quietly observed the movements inside and outside the flying boat like invisible tentacles.

"The airship is very fast; it will take about an hour to reach our destination. The northeastern region, near the border of the Misty Swamp and Black Wind Ridge, is perpetually shrouded in miasma, teeming with poisonous insects and lurking with demonic beasts. It also contains numerous naturally formed mazes and traps, making the terrain complex and extremely dangerous. The 'Secondary Sacrifice Site' marked on the map is located deep within that area. According to the panel's prompts, the 'Sealed Node' has experienced 'anomalies,' which may be related to the Black Fiend Cult. This journey is definitely not simple," Lu Zhao pondered.

He brought up the panel and reviewed the details of the [Emergency Side Quest: Abnormal Activity at the Sealed Node] again. The quest requirement was to "participate in the investigation and obtain at least some accurate information about the 'abnormal activity'." The reward was generous, but the risk assessment was "medium to high," and there was a special warning that "the quest issuer, Zhao Wuji, has an unclear attitude and may be detrimental to you."

"Zhao Wuji..." Lu Zhao's gaze turned slightly cold. This man's hostility towards him was obvious, and he seemed to have connections with the Black Fiend Sect and Wang Hu. Moreover, he was leading the team, and the destination was the "Deputy Sacrificial Ground" related to the Black Fiend Sect. He didn't believe there wasn't something fishy going on. He had to be extremely careful, wary of attacks from behind. However, Hou San and Huang Ling'er were currently allies, and with his own talisman and poison techniques, his hidden Qi Refining Level 4 cultivation, and many other trump cards, he should be safe as long as he wasn't attacked simultaneously by Zhao Wuji, Zhou Tong, and Wu Ming. In fact, given the right opportunity, he might even...

Just as Lu Zhao was pondering, the flying boat suddenly shuddered slightly, slowing down. Outside the porthole, the once clear sky gradually darkened, the clouds growing lower and thicker, taking on an unnatural dark gray hue. A faint, unsettling scent, a mixture of decaying leaves, damp mud, and a certain fishy-sweet aroma, filled the air.

"We've arrived. Prepare to disembark!" Zhao Wuji's voice rang out through the sound transmission array inside the flying boat, cold and authoritative.

Lu Zhao opened his eyes, got up, and walked to the porthole, looking out. Below him stretched a vast, boundless swamp shrouded in a thick, greyish-white fog. Above the swamp were undulating, jagged, sparsely vegetated, dark brown mountains, exuding an ominous aura. The swirling fog obscured his vision; as far as the eye could see, it was only a few dozen feet, beyond which everything was shrouded in mist. Deep within the fog, distorted tree shadows were faintly visible, like ghostly apparitions. The unsettling atmosphere in the air grew even stronger. This was the border between the Misty Swamp and Black Wind Ridge—the edge of the Misty Swamp.

"Is this the mission location? The miasma and... Yin energy are so strong." Hou San's voice sounded behind Lu Zhao, tinged with a hint of solemnity. He also walked out of the cabin to the porthole, his face pale, clearly wary of the environment.

"The Misty Swamp is shrouded in mist and miasma year-round, teeming with poisonous insects, plants, and beasts. It also contains naturally formed mazes; a moment's carelessness can lead to getting lost, becoming a prey for beasts, or being consumed by the poisonous gas and reduced to bones. Black Wind Ridge is an even more treacherous place, frequented by ghosts, spirits, and demons. The border between these two areas is a notoriously dangerous spot in Yunmeng Marsh; even inner disciples dare not venture deep into it." Huang Ling'er stepped forward, her voice cool as she explained, but her eyes held a wary glint. Her maid remained inside the cabin.

Liu Feng, Shi Yong, Zhou Tong, and Wu Ming also emerged from their cabins and gathered on the deck, their expressions grave as they surveyed the swamp below. Liu Feng gripped his sword hilt, his gaze sharp as he scanned their surroundings. Shi Yong tightened his grip on the tower shield on his back, his expression wary. Zhou Tong and Wu Ming stood behind Zhao Wuji, their faces expressionless.

"Hmph, what's there to fear from a little miasma and malevolent energy? We cultivators are here to slay demons and monsters; how can we be hindered by such external things?" Zhao Wuji sneered, his gaze sweeping over everyone before lingering on Lu Zhao for a moment. He said coldly, "Listen up! This place is extremely dangerous. From now on, all actions will be under my command! Liu Feng, you're in charge of guarding the left flank; Shi Yong, you're in charge of the right flank; Zhou Tong, you're in charge of scouting ahead; Wu Ming, you're in charge of the rear; Hou San, you and Lu Zhao will provide support from the center, paying attention to the surrounding area, especially the poisonous insects and monsters lurking underground and in the mist! Huang Ling'er, you're in charge of healing and assisting; if there are any wounded, treat them immediately! Do you all understand?!"

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.

"Disembark!" Zhao Wuji was the first to leap over the ship's railing, landing on the ground. A faint golden light shone beneath his feet, pushing back the surrounding gray-white mist and dark red miasma by a foot. Zhou Tong and Wu Ming followed closely behind. Liu Feng, Shi Yong, Hou San, Huang Ling'er, and Lu Zhao also jumped down in turn. The flying boat remained in place, shrouded by a restriction, hovering low in the air, serving as a temporary base and escape route.

Stepping onto solid ground, a cold, damp air, thick with the stench of decay, rushed towards me. Beneath my feet lay soft, slippery mud, covered in dark green moss and wet, slick weeds, making a "plop, plop" sound as I walked. All around me was a thick, oppressive grayish-white fog, reducing visibility to less than twenty feet. From within the fog, the faint sounds of insects chirping, beasts roaring, and a low, eerie friction, seemingly emanating from the earth, could be heard. The air was extremely humid, so thick it made breathing difficult, carrying a faint, sweet, fishy smell; inhaling too much made one's head spin.

"It's poisonous miasma, with a slight hallucinogenic and corrosive effect. Take the [Miasma-Avoiding Pill], circulate your qi to protect your body, and do not inhale it for a long time," Zhao Wuji said in a deep voice. He took out several emerald green pills, distributed them to everyone, and took one himself first.

Following instructions, everyone took the miasma-repelling pills and circulated their spiritual energy to form a thin layer of protective aura around their bodies, isolating them from the poisonous miasma. Lu Zhao also took one; the pill entered his stomach and transformed into a cool, refreshing energy, protecting his lungs and clearing his mind. He secretly activated the [Turtle Breath Stealth Technique], making his breathing long and weak, almost completely avoiding inhaling the external poisonous miasma. At the same time, his [Refining Spirit Technique] expanded its perception to its fullest extent, spreading outwards like an invisible net. In his "perceptual vision," the surrounding scenery became much clearer.

The mist was no longer a mere obstacle, but rather took on a flowing form, imbued with faint energy fluctuations. He could "see" that the mist contained a mixture of dark green miasma, dark red poisonous gas, and a pale black, unsettling aura of malevolent energy. The swamp beneath his feet was not solid either; some parts were firm ground, some were bottomless quagmires, and in other places, faint, malevolent life fluctuations lurked—these were swamp insects and demonic beasts.

Panel notification: [Entering a special area: Misty Swamp (edge).]

"Environmental anomalies detected: [Misty miasma (mildly toxic)], [Yin evil aura (weak)]."

"Status Acquired: [Miasma Erosion (Weak)] - Continuous inhalation of miasma will cause a slow loss of vital energy and blood, sluggish spiritual energy circulation, and mild hallucinations. It can be countered by taking a miasma-repelling pill or using a mind-clearing spell."

"Status: [Yin Sha Invasion (Weak)] - Continuous exposure to Yin Sha energy will lead to the loss of Yang energy, restlessness, and susceptibility to evil spirits. Taking Yang-attribute pills or practicing pure Yang techniques can counteract this."

"WARNING: Unknown dangers exist in this area. Please explore with caution."

The panel's notification confirmed Lu Zhao's perception. While the poisonous miasma and yin energy here were mild, prolonged exposure would still harm the body. In particular, the yin energy had a natural restraint on cultivation techniques like [Hibernating Dragon], which emphasized health and balance. Fortunately, Lu Zhao had refined the Jade Rejuvenation Pill and the Earth Fire Yang Energy, ensuring ample yang energy within his body. Furthermore, the [Pure Heart Jade Pendant] provided protection, so he was temporarily safe.

"Zhou Tong, scout ahead! Watch your step, beware of swamp traps and poisonous insects! Liu Feng, Shi Yong, watch the flanks! Wu Ming, be vigilant at the rear! Hou San, Lu Zhao, observe the surroundings, especially any unusual activity in the fog!" Zhao Wuji gave the orders. The group of eight formed a simple cone formation, with Zhou Tong at the forefront, Zhao Wuji in the center directing the movement, Liu Feng and Shi Yong protecting the flanks, Wu Ming at the rear, Hou San and Lu Zhao in the center, and Huang Ling'er slightly behind the center, slowly advancing forward.

Zhou Tong walked at the front, wielding a long, narrow sword that gleamed with a ghostly blue light. The tip of the sword emitted a foot-long blade of light as he probed the ground and bushes ahead. His movements were unpredictable and nimble; he left only faint footprints in the mud, clearly demonstrating that he had mastered some advanced lightness technique. His eyes were like lightning, scanning his surroundings. He would stop occasionally, using his sword to part the grass and vines, investigating anything suspicious.

The team moved slowly and steadily through the thick fog. Everyone was on high alert, not daring to be careless in the slightest. As Lu Zhao walked, he extended the perception of his [Refining Spirit Technique] to its limit. Within a radius of fifty feet, nothing—not even the slightest rustle of wind, the movement of poisonous insects, or the circulation of miasma—escaped his notice. At the same time, he was also observing his teammates' status, movements, auras, and… the constantly changing status bars and health bars that appeared above their heads, visible only to him, and… faint, barely perceptible, pale red arrows pointing in a certain direction, visible only to him.

The arrow marker, from the panel's quest system, points northeast, deep into the Misty Swamp. It's the target guidance for the [Emergency Side Quest: Abnormal Movements at the Sealed Node]! It seems the source of that "abnormality" is in that direction. And Zhao Wuji's direction of travel also happens to be pointing there. Is it a coincidence, or does Zhao Wuji also know the approximate location? Or is it the optimal path guidance automatically generated by the panel based on the map and quest information?

"Watch out! There's a swarm of poisonous insects to the left!" Hou San suddenly shouted, his nose twitching as he pointed into the depths of the fog on the left. He possessed a special tracking and detection technique, and his sense of smell was extremely keen, especially adept at identifying the scents of poisonous creatures and demonic beasts.

Everyone immediately went on high alert. Sure enough, in the direction Hou San pointed, a dense, chilling rustling sound came from the thick fog. Immediately afterward, a swarm of black, fist-sized beetles with sharp mandibles, blood-red stripes on their backs, and a foul stench surged out of the fog like a tide, rushing towards the group!

"It's the Blood-Patterned Poison Beetle, a low-grade first-tier demonic beast. Individually, it's weak, but in large numbers, it travels in swarms. Its venom is potent and can corrode protective auras! Be careful not to get close!" Huang Ling'er warned urgently.

"Form ranks! Defend!" Zhao Wuji shouted, but did not attack immediately. Instead, he watched coldly, clearly observing everyone's reactions.

"I'll go!" Shi Yong roared, taking a step forward to block the left side of the group. He slammed his massive black tower shield into the ground! With a thunderous boom, the shield's base plunged deep into the mud, its surface instantly glowing with an earthy yellow light, transforming into a thick, semi-circular wall of light that blocked the swarming venomous beetles! Runes flowed across the light wall, emanating a steady and powerful aura. Shi Yong's [Earth Shield Technique], combined with his tower shield artifact, provided astonishing defensive power!

"Hiss hiss hiss!"

The venomous beetles crashed into the light wall, producing a sickeningly corrosive sound. The light wall rippled slightly but remained motionless. However, there were simply too many venomous beetles, one after another, relentlessly gnawing at and ramming into the light wall, causing its light to slowly dim.

"We can't let them keep attacking! Use fire!" Liu Feng said coldly, drawing his longsword. A blazing sword light, crackling with crimson flames, slashed into the swarm of insects like a bolt of lightning! Where the sword light passed, dozens of poisonous beetles were cut in two and burned to charcoal! But he only had one sword, and against the tidal wave of insects, its effectiveness was limited.

"Watch this!" Hou San chuckled, his figure flashed, and instead of retreating, he advanced, rushing out from the side of Shi Yong's shield wall. With a series of swift movements, several black, round iron balls, no bigger than soybeans, shot into the depths of the insect swarm like a celestial maiden scattering flowers!

"burst!"

"Boom boom boom!"

The iron pellets exploded within the swarm of insects, bursting forth in clouds of dark green poisonous mist! The mist rapidly spread, enveloping a large swathe of insects! The poisonous beetles, enveloped in the mist, emitted sharp screechs, their bodies quickly stiffening and turning black, collapsing to the ground in droves, motionless! It was poison against poison! Hou San was actually using poisonous smoke bombs against the poisonous beetles! The effect was surprisingly good!

Lu Zhao's eyes flashed; this Hou San was indeed quite skilled. Without hesitation, he flipped his hand, and several [Fireball Talismans (Good)] appeared in his palm. With a flick of his finger, the talismans transformed into several fireballs the size of human heads, whistling as they crashed into the swarm of insects! He deliberately controlled the direction and landing point of the fireballs, complementing Liu Feng's sword light and Hou San's poison smoke bombs, specifically targeting the areas where the insect swarm was densest and where Shi Yong's shield wall was under the greatest pressure.

"Boom boom boom!"

The fireball exploded, scattering flames and instantly incinerating swarms of poisonous beetles into ashes! Lu Zhao's fireball talisman was far more powerful than ordinary fireball talismans, and with the precise control of the [Refining Spirit Technique], it hit exactly where it was aimed, making it extremely efficient. In a short time, nearly half of the beetle swarm on the left side had been cleared.

"Hmph, they are somewhat useful." Zhao Wuji snorted coldly, seeing the team's excellent coordination, especially Lu Zhao's talismans, which were quite powerful and accurate. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but more so, displeasure. He had originally wanted to see Lu Zhao make a fool of himself, but unexpectedly, Lu Zhao's abilities were revealed instead.

"Zhou Tong, Wu Ming, deal with the right wing!" Zhao Wuji ordered.

From the mist on the right, a rustling sound also came, indicating that a swarm of insects was approaching. Zhou Tong and Wu Ming were already on guard and moved at the sound. Zhou Tong moved like a ghost, his thin sword flashing like rain, annihilating the swarming beetles. Wu Ming took out a pair of silver short forks carved with wolf heads, their shadows flying like two silver whirlwinds, shattering the beetles wherever they passed.

With Shi Yong at the forefront, and Liu Feng, Hou San, Lu Zhao, Zhou Tong, and Wu Ming coordinating on either side, the numerous poisonous beetles couldn't break through for the time being. Huang Ling'er, at the rear, took out a short jade flute, placed it to her lips, and began to play a soft, melodious tune. As soon as the flute music began, a cool, tranquil, and vibrant aura spread, dispelling the poisonous miasma and malevolent energy, calming the slightly agitated minds of the group, and even slowing the movements of the frenzied poisonous beetles. It was a supportive sonic spell!

"Good!" Shi Yong felt much less pressure and gave a thumbs up. The tower shield light wall suddenly shook, blasting away the remaining poisonous beetles. Then, he took a big step forward, and the tower shield slammed heavily into the ground!

"Seismic waves!"

A shockwave, yellowish-brown in color, spread forward in a fan shape from the tower shield! The ground undulated like waves, and large swarms of poisonous beetles were shaken and knocked over, disoriented and disoriented!

"Now's the time! Clear the area!" Liu Feng shouted, his sword light surging and transforming into a rain of swords that swept across the sky! Hou San, Lu Zhao, Zhou Tong, and Wu Ming also unleashed their power at the same time, talismans, poisonous smoke, sword light, and fork shadows pouring down like a storm!

"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Boom!"

In just a dozen breaths, the two surging swarms of insects were completely wiped out. The ground was covered with a thick layer of charred, broken beetle corpses, emitting a pungent, burnt stench and a fishy smell. Although the group's coordination was slightly clumsy, they each used their unique skills, and the incident was resolved without serious injury.

"Clean up the battlefield and collect insect materials. The carapace and venom sacs of the Blood-Veined Poison Beetle can be used in medicine and weapon crafting. They're not very valuable, but they're better than nothing. We need to move quickly; we shouldn't stay here long, as the smell of blood will attract more monsters." Zhao Wuji commanded, his gaze lingering on Lu Zhao for a moment. He seemed somewhat surprised by the accuracy and power of Lu Zhao's talisman, but he didn't say anything more.

Everyone quickly got to work, using specially made jade tongs and jade knives to collect valuable parts from the venomous beetles. Lu Zhao also casually collected some intact carapaces and venom sacs; although they weren't valuable, every little bit helps. What he was more interested in were the faint, pale white dots of light that occasionally appeared on the beetle corpses—picks up! This was the "Auto-Pickup" notification on the panel. He tried using his mental powers to "click" on those dots, and immediately, the panel notification sounded:

"Pick up [Broken Insect Shell (Common)] x1, which can be broken down into [Low-Tier Shell Material] x1."

"Pick up [Venom Sac (Inferior)] x1, which can be refined into [Low-Tier Venom] x1."

"Pick up 1 [Fragmented Demon Core (Common)], which contains a weak amount of demonic power and can be used to refine low-level pills or feed spirit pets."

Lu Zhao's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. It really was "trash," not even giving any experience points. But something was better than nothing. He silently calculated the "drop rate" as he "picked up" the items; about a dozen poisonous beetles would produce one loot spot, and the loot was mostly common or low-grade materials with extremely low value. Better than nothing, I suppose.

"It seems that the 'Monster Drops' section on this panel doesn't always drop good items. Just like in games, there's a probability involved, and the higher the monster's rank, the better the drops. These Tier 1 low-grade poisonous beetles only drop some junk materials." Lu Zhao understood.

After clearing the battlefield, the group continued onward. This encounter made everyone more vigilant. Zhao Wuji no longer allowed Zhou Tong to scout alone; instead, he had Liu Feng, Hou San, and Lu Zhao take turns scouting ahead, while Zhou Tong and Wu Ming were responsible for the flanks and rear. Shi Yong remained in the center to guard, and Huang Ling'er provided support from the rear.

Thus, they traveled for about an hour through the dense fog and poisonous miasma-filled swamp. Along the way, they encountered several more attacks from demonic beasts: the [Poisonous Swamp Crocodile] (Tier 1, Mid-grade) lurking in the mud, the [Ghost-Faced Demon Bat] (Tier 1, Low-grade) hidden in the treetops, and the [Rotting Bone Snake] (Tier 1, High-grade, highly venomous!) suddenly leaping out of the fog. However, they were all repelled by the combined efforts of the group. Lu Zhao's talismans and poison techniques played a significant role in the battle, especially the [Fireball Talisman], which was remarkably effective against demonic beasts that feared fire. The [Exorcising Talisman] also had a restraining effect on the sinister [Ghost-Faced Demon Bat] and [Rotting Bone Snake]. His precision, ruthlessness, and timing lessened Liu Feng, Shi Yong, and the others' initial contempt for him, but their vigilance remained. Hou San greatly admired Lu Zhao's "talisman and poison techniques," increasing his favorability by 5 points. Huang Ling'er's gaze towards Lu Zhao now held a hint of inquiry and appreciation.

Zhao Wuji remained aloof, rarely intervening. Only when encountering a high-grade first-tier demonic beast would he swiftly and decisively kill it, displaying strength far surpassing that of the others. He wielded a crimson longsword engulfed in raging flames, his swordsmanship domineering and unparalleled. With a single strike, a high-grade first-tier bone-rotting snake was sliced ​​in two, instantly reduced to charred remains. His cultivation level was at least at the seventh level of Qi Refining!

Finally, as he approached an area emanating an even stronger aura of malevolence and shrouded in an eerie dark red mist, Zhao Wuji stopped and gazed solemnly into the depths of the mist.

"Ahead lies the area with the strongest anomalies, the edge of what's marked on the map as the 'Blood Fiend Land.' This place is extremely yin and bloody, likely inhabited by powerful demonic beasts or evil spirits. Be alert and on high alert!" Zhao Wuji said in a deep voice, a hint of barely perceptible...excitement in his tone.

Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. His [Refining Spirit Technique] sensed an extremely dangerous, evil, and chaotic aura emanating from the dark red mist area ahead. There, countless vengeful spirits seemed to wail, and an endless stench of blood permeated the air. Within the earth's veins, a strange, faint, and more complex energy fluctuation, originating from the same source as the "Soul-Severing Cliff" blood pool and the "Evil God's Emblem," emanated! On the map panel, the pale red arrow marking the "Secondary Sacrifice Site" almost perfectly aligned with his location! This was it!

"Zhou Tong, Wu Ming, you two scout ahead a hundred feet ahead, one on the left and one on the right, be careful of traps and monsters. Liu Feng, Shi Yong, you two protect the flanks. Hou San, Lu Zhao, be vigilant about the surroundings, especially underground and in the fog. Huang Ling'er, you provide support from the center, and prepare antidotes and exorcising pills." Zhao Wuji quickly gave the orders.

"yes!"

The crowd responded and dispersed, forming a defensive formation as they slowly advanced. Lu Zhao and Hou San walked side by side, one on the left and one on the right, cautiously positioned about ten feet ahead of the group. Lu Zhao fully activated his [Refining Spirit Technique], sensing everything around him. The mud beneath his feet was soft, but he sensed something enormous lurking deep underground, emanating a cold, bloodthirsty aura. The dark red miasma in the mist possessed strong corrosive and hallucinogenic properties; even with miasma-repelling pills and protective spiritual light, it still caused waves of palpitations and unease. A faint, nauseating, rusty smell of blood permeated the air.

"Watch out! There's something ahead!" Hou San suddenly shouted, his nose twitching violently, his face turning extremely pale. "It's blood! A very strong, fresh smell of blood! And... the smell of rotting corpses! Lots of it!"

Everyone's hearts tightened, and they immediately stopped in their tracks, remaining on high alert. Lu Zhao scanned the area ahead with his senses, and sure enough, in the thick fog, he could vaguely make out several... human figures?

"Go check it out! Zhou Tong, Wu Ming, cover us!" Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice.

Zhou Tong and Wu Ming moved swiftly, one on the left and one on the right, protecting Zhao Wuji as they slowly moved forward. Liu Feng and Shi Yong followed closely behind. Lu Zhao, Hou San, and Huang Ling'er also slowly caught up.

After passing through a dense thicket of bushes that reeked of decay, the sight before them made everyone gasp in horror!

Ahead, on a relatively flat clearing shrouded in dark red miasma, lay seven or eight corpses scattered haphazardly! These bodies were dressed in the robes of outer disciples of the Qingyun Dao Sect, but now they were mangled beyond recognition, their flesh torn and mangled, as if they had been ripped and clawed by some ferocious beast. Their internal organs and bones were exposed, their deaths extremely gruesome! Blood soaked into the soil, staining the surrounding swamp a dark red. The air was thick with an overwhelming, nauseating stench of blood and decay.

"It's...it's someone from our sect! It's the team of scouts who went missing before!" Liu Feng said through gritted teeth, his face ashen. He recognized the identity jade pendant hanging from the waist of one of the corpses.

"Look! Their wounds..." Shi Yong pointed at the corpses, his voice trembling slightly, "They don't look like they were bitten by demonic beasts, but rather like... they were drained of their life essence! The skin is shriveled, the muscles are atrophied, but the blood at the wounds is unusually fresh!"

Everyone stared intently, and sure enough, although the corpses were mangled, their muscles and skin exhibited a strange, shriveled, and withered state, as if they had been drained of moisture and essence. However, the blood flowing from the wounds was bright red, as if it had just flowed out. Moreover, around those wounds lingered faint, dark red, smoke-like, constantly twisting and writhing eerie energy!

It's the aura of bloodlust! The same aura as the blood sacrifice at Broken Soul Cliff, the emblem of the evil god, and the Blood Fiend Hall! Only much weaker and more mixed!

"It's Blood Fiend! There are Blood Fiend Cult members here!" Zhao Wuji shouted sharply, a barely perceptible glint of certainty flashing in his eyes, but more than that, a cold glint, like a hunter spotting its prey! He commanded sharply, "Alert! Back to back! Defensive formation! There are Blood Fiend Cult remnants here! Prepare for battle!"

A chill ran through the crowd. They immediately stood back to back, forming a circle, each wielding their protective devices, fully alert, and warily scanning the dense, dark red mist around them. Lu Zhao also tightened his grip on the talisman, maximizing his perception with the [Refining Spirit Technique] and quietly activating the [Turtle Breath Stealth Technique], ready to respond to any sudden attack.

However, after waiting for a while, the surroundings were deathly silent, with only the rolling thick fog, the whistling of the wind through the bushes, and the faint roars of beasts in the distance. There was no one in sight, nor any monsters.

"Could it be... that they've already run away?" Hou San whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

"Something's not right!" Lu Zhao suddenly exclaimed. Through his [Refining Spirit Technique], he sensed that the residual, dark red, twisted, writhing blood-fiend energy around the corpses was slowly but clearly converging towards the center of the clearing—the area with the strongest blood stench and the darkest red soil! At the same time, beneath the ground, a faint but extremely evil, cold, and chaotic will was awakening! This will bore a slight resemblance to the aura of the Plague Mother of Huai Mountain Village and the Blood Pool of Broken Soul Cliff, but it was far more chaotic, frenzied, and filled with a savage bloodlust!

"Underground! Watch out, underground!" Lu Zhao shouted a warning without hesitation!

Almost the instant he finished speaking!

"Boom—!"

In the center of the open space, the dark red soil suddenly exploded! A massive, translucent, dark red pool of blood, three or four zhang in diameter, seemingly formed from congealed blood, writhed and flowed from the ground! Within the pool, countless twisted, wailing, and struggling faces emerged, emitting silent roars! At the edge of the pool, dozens of dark red, serpentine tentacles formed from viscous blood shot out like lightning, lashing out at the nearest people! Wherever the tentacles passed, the air was stained dark red, emitting a hissing, corrosive sound! An aura of evil, coldness, and savagery swept across the entire area like a tidal wave!

It's a Blood Pool! It's a Blood Shadow! It shares the same origin as the Blood Pool and Blood Fiend Aura of Broken Soul Cliff, but it's much smaller in scale and its aura is much more mixed. It seems... to be some kind of defective product, or... a child, extension, or... projection of the Blood Pool!

"It's the Blood Fiend Cult's evil formation! Watch out for the Blood Shadow Tentacles! Don't get entangled by them!" Zhao Wuji roared, his crimson longsword bursting with dazzling flames. With a single slash, fiery blade energy roared as it struck several Blood Shadow Tentacles! In his eyes, there was no panic, but rather a hint of barely suppressed excitement and greed!

"Kill!" Liu Feng, Zhou Tong, Wu Ming, and Shi Yong roared, each using their own methods to slash at the approaching blood shadow tentacles. Hou San let out a strange cry and retreated rapidly, simultaneously scattering a handful of poison powder in an attempt to corrode the blood shadow. Huang Ling'er's flute music rose again, transforming into pale green sound waves that impacted the blood shadow, attempting to purify and dispel it.

Lu Zhao's eyes were icy cold. Without the slightest hesitation, the two [Exorcising Talismans (Superior Grade)] he had already held in his hands were instantly activated, transforming into two dazzling golden light swords, one on the left and one on the right, slashing at the two blood shadow tentacles rushing towards him! At the same time, he retreated rapidly, creating distance between himself and the others. With a flick of his left hand, several [Fireball Talismans (Good Grade)] shot towards the center of the blood pool like a machine gun!

"Sizzle—!"

The golden light of the [Exorcising Talisman] seemed to have an extremely strong restraining effect on this bloodthirsty evil creature! Two beams of golden light struck the blood shadow tentacles, severing them instantly like a hot knife through butter! The severed tentacles sizzled and dissipated into black smoke! But even more blood shadow tentacles surged from the blood pool, endlessly!

"Fire attack works! Use fire attack!" Liu Feng shouted. The flames attached to his sword light could ignite and burn the tentacles when they struck them. Zhou Tong and Wu Ming's attacks, although able to sever the tentacles, seemed less effective than the masculine and exorcising powers of fire, lightning, and exorcising magic. Shi Yong's tower shield was strong, and the tentacles struck it with loud "bangs," but could not break through. Hou San's poison powder was not very effective against the Blood Shadow, only slightly slowing it down. Huang Ling'er's sound waves could purify and weaken the Blood Shadow, but the range was limited.

Lu Zhao's [Fireball Talisman] exploded one after another in the blood pool, flames scattering and causing the blood pool to churn and make a "bubbling" sound, as if it were boiling. But the blood pool seemed to have an inexhaustible supply; the flames could only burn away the surface blood, while tentacles continued to surge wildly from the depths.

"This blood pool is strange! It's absorbing the surrounding blood energy and yin energy! We must destroy the core of the blood pool!" Lu Zhao shouted, activating the [Refining Spirit Technique] at full power, trying to sense the blood pool's weakness. In his perception, beneath the blood pool, there seemed to be a faint, constantly pulsating "core" emanating a dense evil aura, frantically absorbing the surrounding blood, remnant souls, and yin energy to maintain the blood pool's existence! That was the "array eye"!

"Hmph! A mere trick! I'll break it!" Zhao Wuji roared, flames erupting from his longsword as he soared into the sky, gripping the sword with both hands and slashing fiercely down towards the center of the blood pool!

"Flame Slash!"

A fiery blade of energy, several meters long, tore through the air and, with the force to burn everything, slashed fiercely at the blood pool!

"boom--!"

The blood pool churned violently, a huge gap being cleaved open, blood splattering everywhere! The fiery blade aura continued its momentum, slashing deep into the blood pool, seemingly striking something! The blood pool emitted a shrill, silent shriek, the entire pool trembled violently, and the surging blood-shadow tentacles also paused!

"Now! Attack the gap! Destroy the array's core!" Liu Feng, Zhou Tong, Wu Ming, and Shi Yong seized the opportunity, unleashing a barrage of attacks like a torrential downpour onto the gap cleaved open by the blade's energy! Lu Zhao also acted without hesitation, simultaneously activating his last [Exorcising Talisman (Superior)] and two [Blazing Sun Talismans (Inferior)], their golden light and blazing sun slamming fiercely into the gap!

"Boom! Boom! Boom—!"

A series of explosions resounded deep within the blood pool! The blood pool seemed to have been detonated, violently exploding! Countless drops of blood, fragments of flesh, and remnants of souls scattered in all directions! The evil, chaotic will let out a defiant roar, rapidly weakening and dissipating! The blood pool, at a visible speed, dried up, withered, and transformed into a pool of dark red, foul-smelling blood! Those blood-red tentacles also vanished into black smoke.

In the center of the open space, only a large pit, several feet deep and several feet in diameter, covered with dark red stains, remained, along with several withered and pitiful corpses of disciples around it.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

Everyone was panting heavily, their faces showing lingering fear and exhaustion. The attack, though only a few dozen breaths long, had been incredibly dangerous and extremely taxing. Especially those blood-shadow tentacles; not only were they incredibly powerful, but they also carried a strong corrosive effect of bloodlust. Once entangled, one would be drained of their life essence and turned into a dried-up corpse! If Lu Zhao hadn't given a timely warning and if everyone hadn't cooperated so well, Zhao Wuji's final, earth-shattering strike that cleaved the blood pool would likely have resulted in injury or even death for some.

"Inspect the battlefield! See if any escaped. Also, check these disciples for any clues they may have left behind!" Zhao Wuji sheathed his sword and said in a deep voice, but his gaze was fixed on the depths of the dark red crater, as if... he was searching for something.

Liu Feng, Zhou Tong, Wu Ming, and Shi Yong immediately stepped forward, cautiously searching the battlefield and examining the disciples' corpses for belongings. Hou San and Huang Ling'er also came to help. Lu Zhao stood still, regulating his breathing while using the [Refining Spirit Technique] to sense his surroundings, preventing any attacks from underground or from the mist. At the same time, his gaze fell on the depths of the dark red crater.

Within his "perceptual vision," deep within the crater, remained a faint fragment of a twisted, living, dark red energy core—a core of the same origin as the "Blood Pool of Broken Soul Cliff" and the "Evil God's Emblem"! Although the energy had almost completely dissipated, the evil, chaotic fluctuations were still clearly discernible! Moreover, beside those fragments, there seemed to be several... faintly glowing specks of light that only he could see, points of light that could be picked up!

It's loot! And it dropped from the Blood Pool and Blood Shadow! Loot related to the Black Fiend Cult and the Evil God!

Lu Zhao's heart stirred, and he was about to step forward to "pick it up," but Zhao Wuji had already taken the lead, walking to the edge of the pit. He reached out and grabbed at the air, and a suction force surged out, pulling several items from the bottom of the pit—a palm-sized, dark red, cracked, and slightly beating crystal like a heart; several broken bone fragments stained with dark red blood; and a... black skull token that emitted a faint evil aura and was almost identical to the one in Lu Zhao's arms—the Blood Fiend Token!

It contains fragments of the Blood Pool core, a piece of the Evil Sacrifice bone, and a Blood Fiend Cult identity token! Moreover, this Blood Fiend token is almost identical to the one Lu Zhao obtained from Wang Biao!

Zhao Wuji looked at the items in his hand, especially the fragment of the Blood Pool's core. A flicker of barely suppressed elation flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, replacing it with a solemn and furious expression. He shouted, "As expected, these are remnants of the Blood Fiend Cult! They used the essence and souls of living people to set up the Blood Pool Evil Array, harming my sect's disciples! This is an irreconcilable enmity! This item is the core of the evil array; it must be brought back to the sect and handed over to the elders for their decision! Zhou Tong and Wu Ming, you two quickly record the scene and collect physical evidence! Liu Feng and Shi Yong, keep watch on the surroundings! Hou San, Lu Zhao, and Huang Ling'er, you examine the disciples' corpses to see if there are any survivors or clues left behind!"

"Yes!" the crowd responded and went about their tasks. But Lu Zhao keenly noticed that the instant Zhao Wuji put away those items, especially the fragment of the Blood Pool core, the map fragment from the Bitter Monk and the Plague Mother's Nest in Huai Mountain Village in his [Breath Concealment Bag], and the black stone fragment he kept close to his body, given to him by the mysterious old man and originating from the same source as the Broken Soul Cliff map, all vibrated and heated slightly! It was as if they had encountered something of the same origin and resonated with each other!

Yes! That blood pool core fragment, along with the map fragment and the black stone fragment, originates from the same source! They are all related to "evil gods," "blood sacrifices," and "sealing"! This "subsidiary sacrificial site" is indeed a node in the evil array laid down by the Black Fiend Cult! And Zhao Wuji's urgent and "coincidental" collection of "evidence" is definitely not simple! He probably already knew there was a blood pool and this core fragment here! His real purpose in issuing this mission might be... for this core fragment! And these people are just pawns and cannon fodder he uses to clear obstacles and test dangers!

"We must find a way to get our hands on that Blood Pool core fragment! At the very least, we need to figure out its purpose and Zhao Wuji's true intentions!" Lu Zhao's mind raced, but he remained outwardly calm as he followed Hou San and Huang Ling'er toward the disciples' corpses. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Zhao Wuji carefully putting away the core fragment, the Evil Sacrifice Bone Fragment, and the Blood Fiend Token, placing them in a jade box, and then hiding it close to his body, as if they were extremely important items.

"Senior Brother Lu, look here!" Hou San suddenly exclaimed, pointing to the front of a corpse's robe. The robe was torn, revealing a small, twisted, eye-like black rune embroidered in gold thread! It was extremely similar to the runes on the body of Monk Ku Wu, the Plague Mother's Nest in Huai Shan Village, and the evil god's emblem on Broken Soul Cliff! Moreover, this rune was slowly fading and dissipating, as if it had lost some kind of power supporting it.

It's the emblem of an evil god! Was it planted on these disciples who were sacrificed in the blood pool before they died? Or... were they pawns of the Blood Fiend Cult all along?

Lu Zhao's pupils contracted, and he quickly stepped forward, wanting to see more clearly. But at that moment, the rune completely dissipated, turning into a wisp of black smoke and disappearing without a trace.

"What is this?" Huang Ling'er asked, frowning as she saw it.

"It's the mark of the Blood Fiend Cult! These disciples were sacrificed by the Blood Fiend Cult using evil magic, their life essence and soul drained to nourish this evil blood pool array!" Zhao Wuji's voice came coldly, filled with suppressed rage. "These beasts! They don't even spare their own sect's disciples! This place is no place to stay any longer. Quickly gather evidence, we..."

Before Zhao Wuji could finish speaking, a sudden change occurred!

"Waaaaah—!"

A chilling, eerie sound, like the wailing of countless vengeful spirits or the howling of a ghostly wind from the depths of the earth, suddenly erupted from all directions, from the depths of the ground, and from the surrounding dark red mist! The sound was piercing and ear-piercing, penetrating straight to the soul, causing dizziness and a surge of blood! Immediately afterward, the surrounding mist seemed to come alive, churning and surging wildly, transforming into countless twisted, howling, blurry, human-faced ghostly figures made of mist, lunging towards the group! At the same time, the ground trembled violently, the mud churned, and dozens of dark red, even more solidified and thick, blood-tinged tentacles, once again burst forth from all directions, from the ground, and from the mist, frantically engulfing the group! Their numbers and power far surpassed what had happened before!

The destruction of the blood pool alerted beings deeper within! It was the true remnants of the Blood Fiend Cult who created this blood pool! They have arrived!

"Enemy attack! Form ranks! Defend!" Zhao Wuji roared, his crimson longsword unsheathed once more, flames shooting into the sky! But this time, his voice also carried a hint of surprise and... barely perceptible panic!

"Ding! Warning! High concentration of bloodthirsty aura detected! Multiple evil entities and evil cultivators detected approaching! Warning: Danger level increased! Recommendation: Evacuate immediately!"

The urgent warning sound from the panel rang in Lu Zhao's mind!

Lu Zhao's pupils contracted sharply, his hand already on the talisman bag. He looked at the endless blood-shadow tentacles and human-faced ghosts surging from all directions, as well as the few blurry black-robed figures slowly emerging from the depths of the mist, exuding a powerful, evil, and cold aura. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"The real battle is about to begin!"