Despite Buhuo’s doubled efforts in training, his limited aptitude kept him from breaking through the bottleneck. Just then, news spread throughout the sect: the decennial opening of the Bloodline Forbidden Zone was at hand.

The Forbidden Zone is of utmost importance to the major sects, as it harbors rare herbs essential for refining Foundation Establishment Pills, such as Jade Marrow Grass, Purple Monkey Flowers, and Heavenly Spirit Fruit. However, the zone is protected by restrictions that only allow Qi Condensation cultivators to enter. It is exceptionally perilous; in previous years, seventy percent of the disciples failed to return alive.

During the selection trials, Buhuo employed a brilliant strategy:

• Feigning Weakness: He deliberately acted clumsy and mediocre, maintaining his image as a "Pseudo-Root waste" to lull his opponents into a false sense of security.

• Observing from the Sidelines: He hid in corners, observing the magical tools, techniques, and personality flaws of potential rivals.

• The Snipe and the Clam Fight: Utilizing the Breath-Restraining Technique and Smoke-Stepping Footwork, he avoided direct confrontations. When two powerful foes fought to a stalemate, he struck like a ghost, using a sudden burst of talismans to seize the key command flag, ultimately winning a spot through perfect timing.

Before departing, Buhuo paid a special visit to Senior Martial Uncle Xiang, a survivor of the zone, to map out the exact locations of the herbs. To compensate for his resource consumption, he spent days and nights studying the Encyclopedia of Talismans and could now craft low-grade talismans himself.

On the day of the opening, the sky was a heavy, oppressive black. Buhuo arrived at the entrance of the Forbidden Zone aboard a massive Golden Flood Dragon with his Martial Uncle, Li Huayuan. A colossal blood-red mist floated in the air, and experts from the Seven Great Sects gathered in a staggering display of power.

Li Huayuan warned his disciples with a grave expression: "The interior is extraordinarily dangerous. Beware of disciples from other sects. Your life is the priority."

Buhuo calmly observed the crowd, formulating strategies for each sect:

As the long toll of the bell echoed, the gates of the Forbidden Zone officially opened. Disciples scrambled to surge inside, while Buhuo, after observing the situation, chose to enter low-key at the very last moment.