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

"Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo!"

The wailing and howling of ghosts swept in like a tidal wave, sharp and piercing, penetrating straight to the soul, causing one's blood to surge and even the circulation of spiritual energy to stagnate for a moment. The surrounding dark red mist churned and twisted wildly, transforming into countless hideous, wailing, semi-transparent human-faced ghostly figures formed from the mist, baring their fangs and claws, carrying an intense aura of resentment, fear, and slaughter, surging towards the crowd like a tidal wave! There were probably no fewer than several hundred of them!

At the same time, the ground trembled and churned violently, like boiling water. Dozens, no, hundreds, of dark red, bowl-sized, thick, sticky blood-red tentacles, covered in a viscous bloody sheen and emitting a pungent stench, far more solid, thicker, and malevolent than the previous blood pool tentacles, burst forth from the ground, from all directions, and even from the mouths and eyes of those misty, human-faced ghostly figures. Like countless ferocious venomous pythons, they lashed out with shrill screams that tore through the air, frantically strangling, piercing, and coiling towards the crowd! Each blood-red tentacle contained a powerful corrosive force of blood evil. Once grazed or entangled by it, one would be like a leech, frantically devouring essence and blood, eroding spiritual power, and even corrupting the soul!

This attack came too suddenly and too fiercely! It was on a completely different level from the attack on the "unclaimed" blood pool earlier! Clearly, it was orchestrated by someone, a genuine ambush by the Blood Fiend Cult! Moreover, it was a meticulously planned deadly trap!

"Defense! Back to back! Circular formation!" Zhao Wuji, as expected of an inner sect deacon, possessed rich combat experience. Though startled, he remained calm, roaring fiercely. The crimson longsword in his hand flared up, transforming into a massive fire barrier that blocked the human-faced ghostly figures and blood-red tentacles that lunged at him, keeping them all three feet away! The flames collided with the bloodthirsty aura, producing hissing explosions and billowing black smoke! But his protective fire barrier was also dimming at a visible speed!

"Form ranks!"

Liu Feng, Zhou Tong, Wu Ming, Shi Yong, and the others reacted instantly, roaring and using their respective skills to form a simple yet extremely defensive circular battle formation back to back. Liu Feng's sword light wove together into a net of swords, protecting the front. Zhou Tong and Wu Ming drew their swords and sabers simultaneously, protecting their flanks. Shi Yong's tower shield slammed heavily into the ground, and a yellowish-brown light wall rose again, protecting his back. Hou San, Huang Ling'er, and Lu Zhao were protected within the formation.

"Clang! Clang! Boom! Boom!"

Countless human-faced ghostly figures and blood-red tentacles rained down on the battle formation's defenses! Sword nets, blade flashes, shield walls, and flame barriers trembled violently, flickering unpredictably! Liu Feng, Zhou Tong, Wu Ming, and Shi Yong, with their higher cultivation levels, could barely hold on, but their faces were flushed, clearly under immense pressure. Hou San, Huang Ling'er, and Lu Zhao faced slightly less pressure, but still needed to continuously cast spells, attack, assist in the defense, and eliminate any remaining enemies.

"These ghostly figures and tentacles are endless! Moreover, from the depths of the mist, an even stronger aura is approaching!" Hou San's face turned pale as he sprinkled poison powder to corrode and slow down the approaching ghostly figures and tentacles, crying out in terror. He was skilled in detection and tracking, and extremely sensitive to auras. At this moment, he could clearly sense several cold, evil, powerful auras, like venomous snakes, slowly approaching from the depths of the churning mist around them! Those were evil cultivators at the mid-stage or even late-stage of Qi Refining!

"We must break through! We can't be trapped here!" Liu Feng gritted his teeth, his sword light becoming increasingly fierce, but the ghostly shadows and tentacles he destroyed were quickly replaced by new ones, seemingly endless.

"Deacon Zhao! What do we do?!" Shi Yong roared, causing the tower shield light wall to shake violently. The veins on his arms bulged, clearly indicating that he had reached his limit.

Zhao Wuji's face was grim, his eyes flickering as he parried the attacks while seemingly weighing his options. His gaze swept over the group, lingering briefly on Lu Zhao, a cold, calculating glint in his eyes. He then commanded sharply, "This formation is dangerous; we cannot fight it head-on! Zhou Tong and Wu Ming, you two protect the left flank; Liu Feng and Shi Yong, protect the right flank; Hou San, Huang Ling'er, and Lu Zhao, provide support from the center! On my command, break through to the northeast! I will lead the way!"

"Northeast?" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. His [Refining Spirit Technique] indicated that the northeast was precisely where those powerful evil cultivators' auras resided, and also the core area marked on the map as the "Secondary Sacrifice Ground" and "Sealed Node"! Was Zhao Wuji's choice to break through there a desperate act, or... a deliberate one? Could it be that his goal wasn't just the "Blood Pool Core Fragment," but also a desire to penetrate deeper into the core of the "Secondary Sacrifice Ground"?

"Yes! Break through!" Liu Feng, Zhou Tong, and the others didn't hesitate. The situation was critical, and breaking through was their only way to survive. Their spirits lifted, and they unleashed even greater fighting power, preparing to follow Zhao Wuji and carve a bloody path through the enemy lines.

"Blazing Flames Clear the Way! Slash!" Zhao Wuji roared, the flames on his longsword surging once more, transforming into a massive, solidified fire blade several meters long, which slashed fiercely forward! Wherever it passed, the human-faced ghostly figures and blood-red tentacles melted away like ice and snow, disintegrating and burning! He forcefully cleaved a passage several meters wide through the dense sea of ​​ghostly figures and tentacles!

"Charge!" Zhao Wuji shouted, taking the lead and rushing into the passage! Zhou Tong and Wu Ming followed closely behind, protecting both sides. Liu Feng, Shi Yong, Hou San, Huang Ling'er, and Lu Zhao also quickly followed, rushing along the passage towards the northeast!

"Trying to run? Hehehe... Since you're here, stay! Use your blood and souls to add nourishment to my lord's blood sacrifice!" A cold, hoarse voice, like two pieces of iron rubbing together, came from the depths of the mist, carrying endless malice and killing intent.

Immediately afterwards, those powerful auras suddenly accelerated, shooting out from the mist and instantly blocking the way for everyone's escape! It was three figures!

The leader was tall and thin, draped in a tattered black cloak stained with dark red grime. His face wore a broken bronze mask carved with a pattern of skulls and intertwined snakes, revealing only two scarlet, crazed, and inhuman eyes. In his hand, he carried a long, jet-black banner topped with a fist-sized skull that continuously oozed dark red liquid—the Blood Fiend Banner! It was extremely similar to the one used by the Blood Fiend Hall Master of Broken Soul Cliff, but its grade and aura were much weaker. This man's aura was clearly at the peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining, infinitely close to the seventh level! Moreover, his entire body exuded a dense, nauseatingly bloody, chilling, and violent Blood Fiend aura, clearly indicating he had cultivated a profound Blood Fiend Technique! He was a leader of the Blood Fiend Sect, at the deacon level!

Behind him were two men, one tall and one short, both dressed in black robes, but with slightly weaker auras. One was at the mid-stage of the fifth level of Qi Refining, and the other at the early stage of the fifth level of Qi Refining. They held blood-red scimitars and bone whips, and their eyes were cruel and bloodthirsty. They were clearly elite members of the Blood Fiend Cult.

"Heh heh, one Qi Refining Level 7, four Qi Refining Level 4 and 5, and three Qi Refining Level 3 noobs... Not bad, not bad sacrifices! Kill them, use their blood, flesh, and souls to sacrifice to my lord, and the blood pool will be fuller, and the seal will loosen faster!" The bronze-masked man at the head of the group swept his scarlet eyes over the crowd and let out a piercing laugh, his voice filled with greed and madness.

"It's a deacon from the Blood Fiend Sect! Peak Qi Refining Level 6! And two more at Qi Refining Level 5!" Liu Feng's expression changed drastically, his voice trembling slightly. On their side, only Zhao Wuji was at Qi Refining Level 7, Zhou Tong and Wu Ming at Qi Refining Level 5, Liu Feng himself at the early stage of Qi Refining Level 5, Shi Yong at the peak of Qi Refining Level 4, Hou San at the late stage of Qi Refining Level 3, Huang Ling'er at the late stage of Qi Refining Level 4, and Lu Zhao… seemingly at Qi Refining Level 3. In terms of strength, the enemy had the advantage in both top-tier combat power and numbers! Moreover, they were surrounded by countless ghostly figures, tentacles, and the endless blood mist array! The situation instantly deteriorated to an extreme degree!

"Deacon Zhao! What should we do?!" Zhou Tong asked urgently, his face extremely grave.

"What's the panic! They're just a bunch of cowardly rats hiding in the shadows!" Zhao Wuji shouted, but a barely perceptible hint of seriousness and...hesitation flashed in his eyes. He hadn't expected that those lying in ambush here weren't just ordinary Blood Fiend Cult members, but also a deacon at the peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining! This was beyond his expectations. His original plan was to use Lu Zhao and the others to clear the outer obstacles, obtain the "Blood Pool Core Fragment," and then seize the opportunity to go deeper, find the secret of the "Sealing Node," and perhaps even...see if he could seize the legendary "Blood Sacrifice Power" for his own use. But now, facing a deacon of the same level, with strange cultivation techniques, advantageous terrain, and the aid of formations, he wasn't confident of victory. Moreover, these "pawns" behind him would likely suffer heavy casualties, or even be completely wiped out...

"Heh heh, you little brats from the Qingyun Dao Sect, obediently prepare to die! Blood Fiend Formation, activate!" The bronze-masked man chuckled and swung the Blood Fiend Banner in his hand!

"Waaaah—!"

The swirling blood mist around them suddenly became even thicker and heavier, as if it had solidified into a tangible sea of ​​blood! Countless human-faced ghostly figures and blood-red tentacles let out even more piercing roars, surging towards the crowd from all directions like a tidal wave! Moreover, this time, those ghostly figures and tentacles seemed to be infused with even greater power, moving faster, exerting more force, and launching more cunning and unpredictable attacks! Even more terrifying, countless twisted, tormented, and resentful remnant souls faintly emerged from within the blood mist, emitting silent shrieks that assaulted the souls of everyone present! This was the soul attack of the Blood Fiend Array!

"what!"

Hou San, being the weakest in cultivation, was the first to be hit. He was struck by the piercing shriek of the divine soul, letting out a muffled groan. His face instantly turned deathly pale, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He staggered, his movements slowed by a fraction, almost being struck by a blood-red tentacle! Huang Ling'er's flute music became urgent, transforming into streaks of emerald green sound waves to protect herself and Hou San from the divine soul attack, but her face also paled slightly. Liu Feng, Shi Yong, Zhou Tong, and Wu Ming also suffered varying degrees of impact; their spiritual energy circulation was disrupted, and their defenses showed weaknesses.

Only Lu Zhao, at the instant the shrieking soul attacked, felt the "Mirror of Clarity" condensed by the [Refining Spirit Technique] in his sea of ​​consciousness tremble slightly, easily blocking and dispelling the chaotic and evil soul power impact. Furthermore, in the perception of the [Refining Spirit Technique], the wails and resentments of those remnant souls seemed to transform into wisps of weak, mixed, but undeniably existing "spiritual energy," which he subconsciously, almost instinctively, captured, devoured, and refined through a special operating method of the [Refining Spirit Technique], transforming into nourishment for his own spiritual power! Although extremely weak, almost negligible, it was indeed devoured! This gave him a jolt of energy, and his depleted spiritual power actually recovered a trace!

"【Refining Spirit Technique】...it can actually devour and refine these evil souls and resentments?" Lu Zhao was startled, but then understood. Yes, the 【Refining Spirit Technique】is primarily for tempering and strengthening one's spiritual power and soul, possessing extremely strong resistance and even counter-ability against spiritual attacks and soul power erosion. Being able to devour and refine these ownerless, chaotic, and low-level soul power fragments...it seems...to make sense? After all, soul power is also a form of energy. However, this ability seems somewhat...evil? No, this is the application of spiritual power, a technique, a supernatural ability; used for good, it is good; used for evil, it is evil. For him, Lu Zhao, to use it to kill enemies, protect himself, and improve himself—what's wrong with that?

"Ding! Absorbable [Fragmented Wraith Power (Weak/Impuric)] has been detected. [Refining Spirit Technique] is automatically activating and absorbing... Absorption successful! Mental Power +0.01, [Refining Spirit Technique] Experience +1."

"Ding! Absorbable [Fragmented Wraith Power (Weak/Impuric)] detected..."

"..."

The panel notification sounds rang out continuously. Although the increase was minuscule each time, the sheer number of them was overwhelming! The surrounding blood mist array was filled with the resentful souls of countless innocent victims and cultivators harmed and refined by the Blood Fiend Sect. Now, driven by the array, these souls transformed into attacks, which, for Lu Zhao, were like free experience packs delivered to his doorstep! While defending against the physical attacks, he "frantically," like a glutton, devoured and refined the power of the onrushing resentful souls! The experience bar for the [Refining Spirit Technique] was slowly and steadily increasing at a visible rate! His mental strength was also gradually increasing! Although it only added 0.01 or 0.02 each time, it added up little by little!

"This..." Lu Zhao was somewhat bewildered. What was this? While others were resisting a soul attack and suffering terribly, he was... "eating"? Or was it a "buffet"?

However, now was not the time to dwell on that. He suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and scanned the battlefield. Zhao Wuji was already entangled with the bronze-masked man; the two clashed, swords flashing and banners flying, flames and blood mingling, the sounds of battle echoing endlessly, neither gaining the upper hand. Zhou Tong and Wu Ming were facing off against the two Blood Fiend Cult members at the fifth level of Qi Refining, while Liu Feng and Shi Yong were desperately resisting the endless blood-shadow tentacles and human-faced ghosts surrounding them, protecting Hou San, Huang Ling'er, and Lu Zhao in the center. But clearly, they were in dire straits, their defensive perimeter constantly being compressed, their situation fraught with danger.

"This won't do! We have to find a way to break the deadlock!" A cold glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. He knew he couldn't hide his strength any longer! At least, he couldn't hide it completely. He could continue to conceal his Qi Refining Level 4 cultivation, but his talismans, poison techniques, and... some special "operations" could be appropriately displayed! Otherwise, if his teammates all died, he would be left to fend for himself.

"Senior Brother Hou, Senior Sister Huang, cover me! I'm going to help Senior Brother Liu and the others!" Lu Zhao shouted to Hou San and Huang Ling'er. With a swift movement, the [Superior Rank Divine Speed ​​Talisman] under his feet was instantly activated. He transformed into a wisp of green smoke and rushed out from the gap in Shi Yong's shield wall, actively facing a dense swarm of dozens of blood shadow tentacles surging from the left!

"Junior Brother Lu! Danger!" Shi Yong was shocked and tried to stop him, but he was entangled by several tentacles and could not spare the time.

"Senior Brother Lu!" Hou San exclaimed in surprise.

Huang Ling'er's beautiful eyes flashed, and the flute music suddenly became high-pitched and rapid, transforming into several emerald green sonic arrows that shot towards the tentacles behind Lu Zhao, providing him with cover.

Lu Zhao seemed oblivious, his eyes icy. Facing the surging, menacing tentacles of blood-red shadows, he not only didn't dodge, but increased his speed even further! At the same time, he raised both hands simultaneously, like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, dozens of talismans pouring out from his hands like a torrential rain! Not an attack, but—dozens of [Vajra Talismans (High-Grade Common)]!

"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!..."

Dozens of pale golden light shields instantly lit up around Lu Zhao's body, in front of him, and even above and below him! One layer, two layers, three layers... a full twenty layers of Vajra Talisman light shields were stacked! Enveloping his entire body into a shimmering, thick, golden sphere of light, like a tortoise shell! Moreover, these light shields were not static, but constantly changed positions as Lu Zhao moved, connecting and complementing each other to form a dynamic, near-perfect, multi-layered moving shield!

"Boom boom boom boom—!"

Dozens of blood-red tentacles slammed, whipped, stabbed, and entangled against the layers of Vajra rune light shields! A dense, rain-like roar erupted! Layer upon layer of light shields, like soap bubbles, violently vibrated and rippled under the attack of the blood-red tentacles, and then—shattered!

First layer, shattered!

The second layer shattered!

The third layer shattered!

……

The Blood Shadow Tentacles were incredibly powerful, imbued with the corrosive power of bloodlust. The protective aura of an ordinary Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator would crumble instantly. Even a [Vajra Talisman (High-Grade Mortal)] could only withstand the simultaneous attacks of two or three tentacles at most. But Lu Zhao stacked twenty layers in one go! Moreover, he wasn't just standing there blindly taking the hits; as the talismans were activated, his movements became like a ghost, constantly dodging and shifting between the tentacles' attacks, minimizing the number of times he took damage to the same spot! At the same time, his hands moved incessantly, continuously taking out new [Vajra Talismans] from his pocket (a human skin pouch) to replenish the shattered protective shield!

"Snap! Snap! Snap!"

The sound of the light shield shattering was incessant, but the golden light on Lu Zhao's body never completely went out! Like an unbreakable golden hedgehog, he withstood the relentless bombardment of dozens of blood shadow tentacles, going against the current and quickly approaching the area on the left where the tentacles were most concentrated! That was the place where Liu Feng and Shi Yong were under the greatest defensive pressure and were already in grave danger!

"What...what is he doing?" Liu Feng severed two tentacles with his sword, glancing over in between glances. He saw Lu Zhao, like a "golden hedgehog," relentlessly enduring the onslaught of dozens of tentacles, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets! What the hell was that?! Using talismans to create a shield and tank the attacks? How much resources did he have? How...reckless was his fighting style?! No, it wasn't just recklessness. The speed at which the talismans activated, replenished, the timing, and the use of movement techniques...it was simply unbelievable! Was this really a third-level Qi Refining cultivator, or a useless spiritual root?!

Shi Yong was dumbfounded, even his shield swing was a beat slow. Hou San's mouth gaped open, forgetting to throw the poison. Huang Ling'er's flute playing paused for a moment, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

Even Zhao Wuji, who was engaged in fierce combat with the bronze-masked man, caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of his eye, and his pupils contracted, his heart filled with surprise and uncertainty. This Lu Zhao is indeed extraordinary! This reserve of talismans, this grasp of the battle opportunity, this... fearless (or rather, reckless with the abundance of talismans) fighting style, is something that an ordinary rogue cultivator with a useless spiritual root could not achieve! He definitely possesses a great secret! He must obtain it! However, now is not the time...

In the instant everyone was shocked and distracted, Lu Zhao, braving the barrage of attacks, rushed to the edge of the area with the densest concentration of tentacles! Only the last three layers of his Vajra Talisman shield remained! But a cold, sharp glint, like that of a hunter, flashed in his eyes!

"Now!"

He abruptly stopped, ceasing both his advance and replenishment of the Vajra Talisman. Instead, he clasped his hands together, forcefully drawing in and condensing the spiritual power of the last three layers of the light shield! The three layers of pale golden light shield instantly compressed and merged, transforming into a golden cone of light, no bigger than a palm but extremely condensed, radiating dazzling golden light, which hovered in front of his chest!

"go!"

Lu Zhao gave a low shout and flicked his finger! The golden light cone shot out like an arrow, with a sharp whooshing sound, not towards the blood shadow tentacles, but towards... the dark red, constantly writhing ground below the roots of the tentacles, exuding a dense aura of bloodlust!

That place is the "source" of the Blood Shadow Tentacles, one of the earth vein nodes of the Blood Fiend Array! Lu Zhao's [Refining Spirit Technique] had already sensed that it was the key point where the blood fiend energy and Yin spirit power of this area converged and transformed, where the energy fluctuations were the most intense, and also... the most unstable! Like a "balloon" constantly being pressurized and filled with violent energy! And what he had to do was to prick this "balloon" with a needle!

"laugh--!"

The golden light cone shot into the dark red ground with perfect precision, disappearing into it!

"Buzz—!"

The ground trembled violently! A violent, chaotic, and destructive blood-fiend energy erupted from the "node" like a volcanic eruption! Dark red light shot into the sky, engulfing the dozens of blood-shadow tentacles that were attacking frantically in that area, along with the surrounding mist and ghostly figures!

"Boom boom boom—!"

The violent explosion, like a chain reaction, rapidly spread outwards from that point! Dark red light, like fireworks, bloomed one after another in the blood mist! Thick, blood-red tentacles, impacted by the blood light, exploded and shattered like lit firecrackers, turning into a rain of blood and black smoke! Even the blood mist within a radius of several hundred feet around it churned violently and thinned considerably! The irritating and spiritually suppressive Blood Fiend Array seemed to be violently shaken and its power drastically reduced as a result!

"puff!"

In the distance, the bronze-masked man who was controlling the Blood Fiend Array and fighting fiercely with Zhao Wuji suddenly swayed, let out a muffled groan, and the Blood Fiend Banner in his hand dimmed! Clearly, Lu Zhao's move not only destroyed dozens of tentacles, but also directly damaged a key node of the Blood Fiend Array, causing backlash and interference to the entire array and even to him, the controller!

"What?! How could he possibly find the key node of the array?!" The bronze-masked man's crimson eyes were filled with disbelief and rage! His Blood Fiend Array was a secret technique passed down within the sect, its nodes extremely well hidden, further concealed by blood mist and ghostly shadows. Even he, without careful examination, might not be able to find it accurately. How could this kid, who looked to be only at the third level of Qi Refining, possibly hit him with a single strike?!

"A golden opportunity!" Zhao Wuji, with his seasoned experience, would never let such a once-in-a-lifetime chance slip by. His eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the flames on his crimson longsword intensified. Seizing the moment when the bronze-masked man was distracted and the great formation trembled, he slashed out with a fierce strike! The fiery blade energy, like a fire dragon emerging from the sea, fiercely slashed towards the bronze-masked man's face!

"Damn it!" The bronze-masked man hastily defended himself, waving the Blood Fiend Banner to create a blood-red light barrier in front of him.

"boom!"

The fiery blade struck the crimson light barrier, unleashing a deafening roar! The light barrier trembled violently; though it didn't shatter, the bronze-masked man was forced back, his aura becoming disordered. A flicker of fear crossed his eyes; he knew he was unlikely to prevail today. That seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator was already troublesome, and now the great formation was destroyed, not to mention that strange kid who could use talismans to withstand tentacles and accurately locate the array's key nodes… If the fight continued, he might be caught off guard and suffer a crushing defeat!

"Retreat! Activate Blood Shadow Escape!" The bronze-masked man made a decisive decision, roaring fiercely. He slammed the Blood Fiend Banner in his hand into the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence onto the banner! The banner's surface shone with a bright blood-red light, instantly transforming into a huge blood-red vortex that swept him, the two Qi Refining Level 5 cultists behind him, and the remaining blood mist and ghostly figures around them into it!

"Trying to leave? Stay!" Zhao Wuji roared, unleashing another slash. The fiery blade energy pierced the blood-red vortex, but it was like a mud ox entering the sea, only causing a violent ripple. The vortex suddenly contracted, transforming into a streak of bloody light that instantly disappeared into the ground! Leaving behind only a scene of utter devastation, tattered bloodstains, and the lingering, nauseating stench of blood and evil in the air.

As the bronze-masked man fled, the remaining, much thinner blood mist, as if losing its support, slowly dissipated. The surrounding human-faced ghostly figures and blood-red tentacles also vanished. The sky returned to its gray hue, but no longer the chilling dark red. Only the deep craters blasted into the ground, the scattered limbs and severed bodies, the shriveled insect corpses, and the thick stench of blood in the air testified to the ferocity of the battle that had just taken place.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

Everyone gasped for breath, a mixture of relief at escaping death and exhaustion from the battle. Liu Feng, Shi Yong, Zhou Tong, and Wu Ming were all seriously injured, their energy waning, and their bodies stained with varying degrees of bloodthirsty aura, which they were trying to expel. Hou San, pale-faced, collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Huang Ling'er, though slightly better, was still sweating; she stopped playing her flute, took out some pills, and distributed them to the others.

Lu Zhao stood rooted to the spot, slightly out of breath, his face pale. That "Golden Hedgehog + Fixed-Point Explosion" maneuver, while seemingly impressive, had actually been incredibly taxing. Not only had it used dozens of [Diamond Talismans], but condensing and detonating the "Golden Light Cone" had also consumed nearly 30% of his spiritual power and a significant amount of mental energy. But the effect was undeniable. It not only extricated him from the predicament, destroyed the array nodes, and forced back the powerful enemy, but it also allowed him to… reap a huge windfall!

Just moments ago, the instant the crimson vortex vanished, Lu Zhao's [Refining Spirit Technique] clearly "saw" several brighter, deeper-colored, pale gold, even slightly dark red, specks of light—signifying "pickupable"—emerged at the location where the bronze-masked man had fled, and at the instant the two Qi Refining Level 5 cultists were swept into the vortex! These were drops from elite monsters and mini-bosses! Moreover, they were drops from Blood Fiend Cult deacons and elite cultists! Their quality far surpassed that of the poisonous beetles, and even the previous blood pool!

More importantly, when the bronze-masked man fled, perhaps due to the haste or the interference from Zhao Wuji's slash, a small section of the banner pole and a corner of the banner surface seemed to have broken off from the Blood Fiend Banner in his hand. They were not completely taken away, but left behind, turning into two brightest dark red dots of light!

"I'm rich!" Lu Zhao was overjoyed, but he remained calm on the surface. He even deliberately staggered, pretending to be exhausted and overworked, and slowly walked towards the battlefield ruins, seemingly to check the situation. In reality, he silently used his mental power to "click" on the few points of light.

"Ding! Picked up [Broken Blood Fiend Banner Pole (Tier 1, High Grade)] x1, containing pure blood fiend energy, which can be used to refine certain special magical artifacts and talismans, or offered as a sacrifice to a specific being. Can be broken down into [High-Tier Blood Fiend Materials] x3."

"Ding! Picked up [Blood Banner Fragment (Tier 1, High Grade)] x1, containing some Blood Fiend runes, which can be used to study and comprehend Blood Fiend-type spells and formations, or for sacrifice. Can be broken down into [High-Tier Talisman/Formation Material] x2."

"Ding! Picked up [Blood Fiend Cult Deacon Storage Bag (Damaged)] x1. The internal space is partially damaged. Remaining items: Low-grade spirit stones x50, [Blood Fiend Pill (Tier 1, Mid-grade)] x3, [Blood Coagulation Grass (Tier 1, High-grade)] x2, [Damaged Blood Fiend Technique Jade Slip (Partial)] x1."

"Ding! Picked up [Blood Fiend Cultist Storage Bag] x2, Total: 80 low-grade spirit stones, 6 [Blood Fiend Pill (Tier 1 Low-grade)], 2 packs of [Bone-Rotting Poison Powder], and a number of [Low-grade Monster Materials]."

"..."

A series of notification sounds rang in Lu Zhao's mind, making his heart race! A huge harvest! This was definitely the biggest gain since entering the Qingyun Dao Sect! First-grade high-quality materials, first-grade mid-quality Blood Fiend Pills, and a jade slip fragment of the Blood Fiend Technique! Although damaged, the information contained within might give him a deeper understanding of the Black Fiend Sect and the Blood Fiend Technique! Moreover, the Blood Fiend Banner pole and fragments were directly related to "Evil Gods" and "Blood Sacrifice," their value immeasurable! Not to mention the 130 low-grade spirit stones, and the other pills and materials! This adventure was worth it!

Without making a sound, he put all the "drops" into his [human skin pouch], leaving only a few inconspicuous pieces of low-grade ore and herbs stained with blood outside as spoils of his "battlefield inspection." Then, he pretended to be exhausted, sat down on the ground, took out a [Jade Dew Rejuvenation Pill], swallowed it, and began to regulate his breathing to recover.

"Junior Brother Lu... are you... are you alright?" Liu Feng walked to Lu Zhao's side, looking at his "pale" and "weak" appearance, his eyes filled with complex emotions—gratitude, admiration, shock, and a hint of... disbelief. Lu Zhao's miraculous, godlike performance just now had completely overturned his understanding of "useless spiritual roots" and "newcomers." This wasn't just a useless spiritual root; this was clearly a talisman prodigy, a combat genius! No, a monster!

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Liu. I'm fine, just a bit exhausted. I'll be alright after a short rest." Lu Zhao smiled weakly, secretly pleased. It seemed that showing off his skills a little could not only solve the problem but also boost his teammates' favorability and... awe? Not bad.

"Junior Brother Lu, just now... it was all thanks to you! If you hadn't broken through the array node and forced back that evil cultivator, we probably would have..." Shi Yong also came over, speaking in a deep voice, his eyes full of gratitude and lingering fear. He was an honest man; whoever saved him, he would remember their kindness.

"Yeah, Senior Brother Lu, you're amazing! That golden, glittering look made you look like a golden-armored god! And that last one, bang! It sent those tentacles flying everywhere! Cool!" Hou San also came over, his eyes shining, looking at Lu Zhao as if he were an idol, his friendliness level increased by 20!

Huang Ling'er also came over, handing Lu Zhao a bottle of pills and saying softly, "This is the 'Heart-Clearing Pill,' which can help you dispel any remaining blood-fiend energy in your body and stabilize your mind. Junior Brother Lu, you... are very good." Her tone remained calm, but her gaze towards Lu Zhao was now filled with seriousness and inquiry. This junior brother with the "wasteful spiritual root" seemed to be shrouded in a veil of mystery. The precise destruction of the array's core just now was no coincidence.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Huang." Lu Zhao accepted the pill and expressed his gratitude.

At this moment, Zhao Wuji also approached, his face still grim, but his gaze towards Lu Zhao was no longer filled with undisguised disgust and killing intent. Instead, it had transformed into scrutiny, apprehension, and a barely suppressed, even more intense greed! He had witnessed Lu Zhao's performance firsthand; it was something no ordinary talisman or method could accomplish! This young man must possess a secret! Perhaps it was some powerful talisman inheritance, or… some treasure that could enhance the power and perception of talismans! Perhaps, like the "Blood Pool Core Fragment," it was some kind of "rare object"! He had to obtain it! However, this young man was quite strong, his methods were unpredictable, and he had Elder Yun backing him up; he couldn't act rashly. He needed to plan carefully…

"Hmph, consider yourself lucky. You stumbled upon the array's core by accident." Zhao Wuji sneered, his tone still unfriendly, but he no longer used the word "trash." "However, you have rendered meritorious service in repelling the evil cultivator this time. I will remember it, and you will be rewarded when we return. Now, immediately inspect the battlefield and collect all evidence, especially the traces and items left behind by the evil cultivator when he fled! Then, we will leave this place immediately and return to the sect to report!"

"Yes!" the crowd responded. Although they were dissatisfied with Zhao Wuji's attitude, they were still shaken from the recent battle and dared not say anything. They began to clean up the battlefield, collecting the relics of the outer disciples, the remaining evil objects, and the traces of the battle.

Lu Zhao also stood up, pretending to help, but actually observing secretly. He noticed that when Zhao Wuji was inspecting the battlefield, he seemed to pay special attention to the place where the bronze-masked man had escaped, searching carefully. When he discovered that the broken banner pole and banner fragments were missing, his expression became noticeably more gloomy. His gaze swept over everyone, especially lingering on Lu Zhao for a moment, but in the end he said nothing, only his eyes became more fierce.

"It seems he's also looking for the fragment of the Blood Fiend Banner... Too bad, it's already in my pocket." Lu Zhao sneered inwardly. He was increasingly certain that Zhao Wuji's purpose for this trip was far from simple. It was probably inextricably linked to the secrets of the "Blood Pool Core Fragment," the Blood Fiend Banner fragment, and even the "Sealing Node."

The group quickly cleaned up the battlefield and carefully collected the remains and belongings of the outer disciples. Then, led by Zhao Wuji, they swiftly left the area filled with blood and evil, retreating rapidly towards the direction they had come from—the direction where the sect's flying boat had docked.

The group remained silent throughout the journey, the only sounds being their hurried footsteps and heavy breathing. The harrowing, near-death experience they had just endured left everyone shaken, filling them with awe and fear towards this "Secondary Sacrifice Ground." Only Lu Zhao, while hurrying on his way, silently processed his recent gains and pondered his next plan.

"The mission requires 'at least obtaining true information about the anomalies,' and I have obtained it—the Blood Fiend Cult has set up a Blood Pool Evil Array here, attempting to sacrifice living beings to loosen the seal, and there are evil cultivators of the deacon level overseeing it. This information is enough to complete the mission. Contribution points, experience, and magic weapon rewards should be secured. However, Zhao Wuji's side will probably not let this go easily. After returning, I need to report the intelligence as soon as possible, especially the clues about Zhao Wuji's suspicious behavior, and it would be best to present them directly to Elder Yun. In addition, those dropped items, especially the Blood Fiend Technique jade slip and the fragments of the Blood Fiend Banner, must be studied as soon as possible to see if we can find more clues about the Black Fiend Cult, the 'Secondary Sacrifice Site,' and the 'Evil God.'"

"Also, Zhao Wuji took that 'Blood Pool Core Fragment.' We must find out what it is, what its purpose is, and... what Zhao Wuji intends to do with it."

A cold glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes. This mission, though dangerous, was incredibly rewarding, giving him a clearer understanding of the Black Fiend Sect, Zhao Wuji, and the undercurrents within the Qingyun Dao Sect. The road ahead was still fraught with thorns, but at least he now held more leverage.

"The game has only just begun."