I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 122 The Great Building is About to Collapse, Unleashing the Power of the Aristocratic Families!

hum!
Deconstructing objects other than himself caused Chen Mo a wave of dizziness and sharp pain in his head. He gritted his teeth and endured it for a while before recovering.

Lines of subtitles then appeared.

【Name: Aristocratic Bloodline】

[Type: Associated Blood]

[Note: "Companionship" refers to a relationship where a secondary element depends on and coexists with a primary element, such as gold found alongside a copper mine, or a companion tree protecting the growth of the primary tree. The same principle applies to "companionate blood."]

[Composition: The host organism to which the accompanying blood resides is currently unknown, but the host organism provides this accompanying blood with some detoxification ability.]

[Qualitative Analysis: This blood contains a small amount of transcendental power, possessing the potential to break through to transcendence.]

[Note: "Transcending the dust" means shedding worldly attachments and entering another level of life.]

[Note: This blood is of relatively poor quality. If you become compatible with it, it will be extremely difficult for you to cultivate to the Transcendental level.]

[Note: Consuming 20000 Original Essence allows you to modify your bloodline to make it compatible.]

[Should we make changes?]

Chen Mo didn't rush to make changes, but instead carefully looked at the information on the panel.

"Companion blood... but we don't know what the main entity associated with it is. Could it be Lord Black God? The bloodline of the Tang Family Fortress is associated with Lord Black God? Protecting Lord Black God? And then Lord Black God gave some of the transcendent power to the bloodline... and the two have reached some kind of close cooperative relationship?"

Chen Mo didn't know if the accompanying entity was the Black God Lord, and even if it wasn't the Black God Lord... it was probably something else entirely.

In other words... the aristocratic families are not as glamorous as they appear on the surface.

At best, aristocratic families are merely a byproduct of society.

Although slightly disappointed, Chen Mo knew very well that... a noble family bloodline was still the best solution for him at present.

"What exactly is 'transcending the dust'? Is it a specific state of being?"

"The next realm after a ninth-level martial artist is transcendence? Shedding the mortal body... that's quite fitting. I just don't know if it's really true."

He had been stuck at the peak of the ninth level for quite some time, unable to find a way to break through, or even touch any barrier. He figured that for mortals, the ninth level of martial arts mastery was the pinnacle, and there were no real barriers.

"Guo Ziyu's bloodline contains only a small portion of the power of transcendence, which the Deconstruction Device seems to disdain..."

Chen Mo was speechless.

The problem is... Honghe County is so small, with only a few prominent families like Tang Lao and Guo Ziyu. Guo Ziyu has the purest bloodline among them.

Chen Mo also longed for a better lineage of aristocratic scions.

The problem is that we can't find the answer.

This is currently the optimal solution.

"Fine, if it's difficult, it's difficult."

"Revise!"

Chen Mo had just made the thought when he saw the original 34000 points of Original Essence on the panel instantly decrease to 14000.

Immediately following was a sharp, intense pain, like being slowly sliced ​​to death. It was as if a scalpel was being cut into my veins...

Even with Chen Mo's current temperament, he found it unbearable. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure it.

In a daze, a long time passed before the excruciating pain finally subsided.

The subtitles on the panel have also changed.

[Edited successfully]

Your bloodline is now completely compatible with this bloodline.

[Note: Your bloodline has been modified several times; please be careful.]

Chen Mo: "..."

What should I pay attention to even after making several revisions?
Not saying anything at all... isn't that just messing with people's mentality?

Chen Mo took a breath, then took a broadsword and made a cut on his arm, slowly pouring half a bowl of blood into the wound. To Chen Mo's surprise…

The bloodline of this noble family flowed smoothly into the wound and into the body. There was no discomfort or rejection throughout the entire process.

Immediately afterward, this bloodline flowed through Chen Mo's body along with his own bloodline. Although Chen Mo had not yet cultivated a supernatural ability similar to "inner vision," he could still sense through the flow of his true energy that... the aristocratic bloodline was gradually merging with his own blood.

His own bloodline, the blood of the cursed ghost, the bloodline of his noble family… the three kinds of blood fused together, eventually pooling together and spreading throughout his entire body. This caused Chen Mo to feel somewhat fluctuating.

The feeling of demonic blood is chilling; one's own bloodline has warmth, but it is suppressed by the demonic blood. The feeling of noble blood, on the other hand, is quite different.

This caused Chen Mo's senses to become erratic, and for a moment he felt somewhat disoriented... as if he didn't know who he was.

Chen Mo vaguely understood the meaning of that hint.

"I need to be careful when modifying my own organs, bones, and blood vessels. I don't want to end up with a complete mess and not even know who I am... But there's no need to worry too much, I feel good for now."

"The bloodline of aristocratic families possesses the power to transcend the mundane. I want to let more of this blood flow through the spine of the dragon and into the bone marrow to accelerate the fusion of the two."

The whole process was slow and wondrous, causing Chen Mo's body to alternate between hot and cold... indescribable.

"Huh? This is the first time my body has felt heat? Could this be the effect of the aristocratic bloodline?"

This discovery brought joy to Chen Mo, who had been living in a cold environment for a long time, and gave him a glimmer of hope to restore the balance between the half-ghost and the half-demon.

With hope, Chen Mo was no longer in a hurry. Instead, he showed great patience, guiding the blood to wash over the spinal dragon again and again.

He had previously modified his own bloodline to make it compatible with the Tang family bloodline.

Now, it's gradually being put into practice.

After more than two hours, Chen Mo's blood finally became compatible with the Tang family's symbiotic blood.

call!
Chen Mo let out a long sigh and stopped circulating his internal energy. After a brief examination, he found that the side effects of transforming into a ghost did not seem to have diminished significantly. Images of ghosts still flashed through his mind from time to time, he occasionally experienced hallucinations, and his hands and feet would sometimes tremble and feel numb.

"Logically speaking, my bloodline should already be compatible with the Tang family's symbiotic bloodline. Compatibility means that my bloodline basically possesses the abilities of a noble family's bloodline. It's surprising that it couldn't alleviate the side effects of becoming a ghost. The erosion brought by ghosts is truly formidable."

Having personally experienced the horror of being corrupted by ghosts, one understands the need to have reverence in one's heart.

But reverence is not fear or cowardice.

Furthermore, Chen Mo understood that the compatibility of his own bloodline with that of aristocratic families did not mean that his bloodline had completely become that of the aristocratic families. It simply meant that they were compatible, allowing him to use the power of the aristocratic family's bloodline.

Compatibility does not mean complete sameness.

Chen Mo adjusted his mindset, recalled the incantation of the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique in his mind, and finally brought up the panel information.

【Name: Demon Bone Fusion Technique】

[Level: Above Inner Strength]

[Type: Yin-type magic]

[Note: Only those with noble family bloodlines can cultivate this technique.]

[Introduction: This technique allows powerful aristocratic bloodlines to generate true blood fire, which in turn suppresses the power of ghosts. It has the effect of paralyzing the six senses and can dull the erosion of sensory power, delaying its onset.]

[Characteristics: Bloodline True Fire has the effect of dulling the senses, and can also be used in combat. It is very effective against ghosts.]

[Hint: Your bloodline is now compatible with that of your noble family; you may begin cultivation.]

Chen Mo clasped his hands together and began to circulate his energy according to the incantation of the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique...

……

The next morning.

As the sun rose in the east, the bright morning light crossed the Dayin Mountain and poured down on the county town of Honghe, illuminating rows of closely packed buildings. Finally, it fell on Qingfu Residence, and through the doors and windows of the side rooms, it landed on Chen Mo's face.

Chen Mo, dressed in a gray running suit, sat cross-legged on the ground.

Despite working tirelessly all night, I still haven't mastered the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique.

This family's unique skill was completely new to Chen Mo. With no predecessors to teach him, he had to learn entirely by trial and error, making it extremely difficult to master. He hadn't even touched the threshold of entry.

"This technique is a bit difficult to master..."

Chen Mo had previously mastered countless techniques and martial arts, all of which he had mastered quickly thanks to his cheat-like abilities. But today, he was experiencing the difficulties.

"However, my body doesn't seem so cold anymore; it's starting to warm up again. That should be a good start. I'll work out for another day and see."

"As long as I don't activate the power of the ghosts, my side effects shouldn't worsen rapidly in the short term. There's still time."

When Chen Mo was cultivating until the sun was high in the sky, Guo Ziyu came to call him for dinner.

Chen Mo politely declined and continued to work overtime in the room.

Left with no other choice, Guo Ziyu didn't press the matter. She then invited Tang Tongshan and Tang Qi to dinner.

During a break from eating, Tang Qi couldn't help but ask curiously, "Miss, what is Young Master Mo busy with?"

Guo Ziyu didn't hide anything and recounted what happened last night.

Tang Qi glanced back at the direction of Chen Mo's room, secretly marveling, "No wonder Young Master Mo's martial arts have improved so drastically; it turns out he obtained a miraculous herb in his early years. But even the most miraculous herb cannot fuse with and absorb the bloodline of a noble family. The gap between the mortal and heavenly realms cannot be bridged by a mere herb..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tang Qi saw Guo Ziyu and Tang Tongshan glaring at him. Tang Qi quickly smiled and said, "Don't misunderstand me. I sincerely hope that Young Master Mo's herbs will work. But we are all from the Tang family, and we should know how precious the bloodline of aristocratic families is. For many years, no mortal has been able to break through this barrier. I'm worried that the higher Young Master Mo's expectations are, the greater his disappointment will be."

Upon hearing this, both Guo Ziyu and Tang Tongshan sighed.

Gulu.

Tang Tongshan swallowed a large mouthful of meat and said, "Although I haven't spent much time with Young Master Mo and haven't spoken much, Xiaoyu likes him. He's the last person she sees. Last night, Young Master Mo helped me kill the ghost. Although he might not be the one who killed Xiaoyu, I still think highly of him. I truly hope that Young Master Mo can master the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique and not be corrupted by the ghost, ultimately ending up like Xiaoyu."

Guo Ziyu said, "Whether it succeeds or not depends on Young Master Mo's good fortune and efforts. Let's not say any more."

Although she said that, Guo Ziyu sighed repeatedly in her heart. She didn't believe that Chen Mo could fuse the bloodlines of aristocratic families and master the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique. She had thought so when she gave Chen Mo her blood last night, but since Chen Mo had asked, she didn't want to disappoint him, and she didn't want him to think she was stingy.

After the meal, Guo Ziyu spoke up: "I was busy yesterday and neglected Xiaoyu's affairs. Today, let's find a place to bury Xiaoyu properly."

Tang Tongshan said listlessly, "Aren't we waiting for Master?"

Guo Ziyu shook her head: "Old Tang has been serving the goddess at the altar of the Red Lantern Temple these past two days and is currently very busy. He can't worry about that now."

Tang Tongshan lowered his head and didn't say anything more.

Tang Qi spoke up, "Shall we invite Young Master Mo along?"

Guo Ziyu looked at the room where Chen Mo was and said, "Young Master Mo suffered a backlash from the ghost bone last night, and he is probably too busy to take care of himself right now. Let's give him some time to practice alone. After we bury Xiaoyu, we'll have Young Master Mo go to the grave to offer incense for Xiaoyu."

Tang Qi and Tang Tongshan both thought it was fine and agreed.

The three of them quickly finished their meal, washed the dishes, and then took paper money, offerings, and some paper figures, among other things. They then carried the little fish's body out the door…

……

The sun didn't stay shining for long before it was covered by dark clouds.

Then, it started to rain.

The rain in March was still quite cold. There were far fewer peddlers on the streets, and merchants and residents alike hurried along, each carrying their own umbrellas.

A slender woman in a red dress, carrying a gray oil-paper umbrella, slowly walked through the red-light district.

We settled down at a shop diagonally opposite the incense hall.

"Shopkeeper, a pot of peach blossom wine and a bowl of hot wontons, please."

"Okay~"

The woman in red closed her umbrella and sat in an empty seat. When the waiter brought her steaming hot wontons and peach blossom wine, she sipped the wontons and wine alternately, her eyes occasionally glancing at the entrance of the incense hall diagonally opposite.

This woman was Hongwu.

She entered the city last night and learned that the dead men were wearing the robes of the head of the Red Lantern Temple's incense hall. This meant they came from the incense hall. The runaway lackey, naturally, also came from the incense hall, and was likely a high-ranking official.

After all, only beings of this level could run that fast.

Hongwu ate very slowly, as if passing the time, her eyes full of smiles.

"I'll see how long you plan to hide, you lackey. Hehe~"

……

It was late afternoon, around 3 PM.

Chen Mo finally completed a cycle, let out a long sigh of relief, and his eyes shone with a fervent light.

"I've finally managed to barely get the hang of the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique."

Chen Mo slowly stood up, his body radiating a different, more superior aura than usual. At least, the violent and fierce aura around him seemed to have diminished considerably, thanks to the neutralizing effect of his aristocratic bloodline.

However, only a portion of it was removed; Chen Mo still exuded a very sinister and fierce aura.

"The Ghost Bone Fusion Technique is not only for fusing ghost bones, but also for unleashing the power of the aristocratic bloodline—blood energy. In addition to greatly enhancing the strength and speed of the physical body, blood energy itself has a great restraining effect on ghosts and is capable of killing low-level ghosts."

"Based on my understanding of the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique, the bloodline power of aristocratic families is divided into three levels depending on the degree of activation: Blood Energy, Blood Fire, and True Fire. I have initially opened the first level of power of aristocratic family bloodline, Blood Energy. There is still a considerable distance to go before reaching True Fire. I wonder if there are higher levels of power that can be activated after True Fire."

After undergoing initial training, Chen Mo finally gained a basic understanding of the sources of ability for scions of aristocratic families.

There is no such thing as spiritual energy in this world. To break through the ninth level of Martial Master and step into the higher fifth level, one must rely on the innate blood of a noble family, constantly stimulating the power of their bloodline and gradually advancing step by step. Only then can one finally step into the fifth level.

Clearly, the fifth level of ascension is far above true fire.

"I really don't know what the Fifth Ascension Realm is... But I have now broken through the limits of mortals and started to move towards the Fifth Ascension Realm."

"As my blood energy is activated, the side effects of my transformation into a demon are beginning to subside. I should gradually return to the state of a half-demon."

Chen Mo felt much better and breathed a sigh of relief. Remembering the many things still to be done, he left the room. After searching around and not finding Guo Ziyu and the others, he hurriedly left Qingfu Residence and returned to Shuiyun Residence.

Ma Tie opened the door.

Upon seeing Chen Mo again, Ma Tie noticed that Chen Mo's symptoms were much better than the previous night, and smiled, "Young Master looks much better. Are you hungry? I'll have Qiu Lan prepare some food."

Chen Mo hurried inside. "No rush to eat. By the way, where's He Miao?"

Ma Tie pointed to a small room in the front row and said softly, "Lord He Miao woke up a long time ago, but he seems to have been frightened and has been hiding in his room, refusing to come out. Qiu Lan and I went to deliver food to him, but he wouldn't eat. He kept calling for us to go find the young master to see him."

"I understand, go and do your work."

Chen Mo waved Ma Tie away and then went to the back room.

The door was ajar.

Through the crack in the door, one could vaguely see He Miao, her clothes disheveled, huddled at the head of the bed, looking quite frightened.

Chen Mo vaguely recalled He Miao's imposing and domineering appearance when he first went to the Incense Hall to take up his post. He hadn't expected He Miao to be all bark and no bite, getting so terrified after being chased by ghosts all the way.

Hey ~
Chen Mo shook his head, then knocked on the door and went in. "Right Envoy He, are you alright?"

Hearing the familiar voice, He Miao felt less scared. She looked up and saw Chen Mo, then ran over to him. "Left Envoy Chen, was it you who saved me last night?"

Chen Mo nodded: "Yes, when I came out of the Chen residence, I saw you being knocked unconscious by a woman dressed in white and wearing a white tall hat, and a man dressed in black and wearing a black tall hat. The two of them were saying they were going to take you to complete some kind of adult's crossing-the-bridge ceremony. So I killed them."

He Miao exclaimed, "Yes, yes, yes, those are the two ghosts! They kept chasing me, it was terrifying, so terrifying!! Thank goodness Chen Zuoshi arrived in time to save my life. Thank goodness for Chen Zuoshi!"

Chen Mo remained expressionless: "I heard from Lu Chengzhuang that you also took Xie Beichuan and Zhou Bei, the two incense masters, along with six other disciples to Qinghe Town to check on them. How are the others?"

He Miao wanted to find an excuse to get away with it, but when she saw Chen Mo's cold, beast-like gaze, she couldn't help but feel terrified. In the end, she didn't dare to lie and suddenly knelt down on the ground, crying and snot streaming down her face.

"It's all my fault for being too selfish, only caring about my own survival..."

He recounted everything he had seen and heard along the way, including how Xie Beichuan and Zhou Bei were made to die in his place in order to save his own life.

After listening attentively, Chen Mo recalled the complete scene from that time in his mind.

A stage, the Black and White Impermanence, a red-clad dancer performing. A white sedan chair descends the mountain, carried by two burly men, each three meters tall, led by an old woman. And then there are the words spoken by the woman called Red Dancer:
—Yinshan has existed for so many years, a peaceful and secluded paradise, why would anyone want to dig it up, disrupting our feng shui? And that person visiting relatives, truly doesn't treat adults like gods. Today, a hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye, the evil infant jade pendant is useless, deceiving adults and the master, it deserves to die without a body…

—And that Red Lantern Ghost, he came to Yinshan but didn't worship the Lord, only caring about enjoying the incense offerings himself. There's no trust here, it's all about transactions and interests.

Today, the villagers gather by the Qinghe River, burning incense and bowing in worship while listening to the opera. We must pave the way and build bridges for our lord. Together, we will welcome our lord, descend the mountain, cross the Red Bridge, and shatter this boundary of the Qinghe River. From now on, the Red River... belongs to our lord.

Chen Mo said in a deep voice, "Have you misremembered these words?"

He Miao said firmly, "Absolutely not, not a single word. The scene was so horrifying, I remember it clearly, it left a very deep impression on me. I'll never forget it." Chen Mo hummed in agreement, then pondered these words.

Digging up mountains, disrupting feng shui, a hundred years pass in the blink of an eye; the evil infant jade pendant is useless, it deceived the adults and the master...

Piecing together countless fragmented pieces of information, Chen Mo vaguely realized that Jiang Hongyue, Su Yuqing, ghost stories, filial piety, Shen Yujun, the Red Lantern Goddess... everything seemed to point to that Great Yin Mountain.

However, the clues were very confusing and the information was scarce, so Chen Mo was unable to piece together a complete logical story.

What is certain is that the sudden outbreak of the ghost curse within Tang Xiaoyu's body is likely related to the adult in the white sedan chair descending the mountain.

"Did you see what the adult inside that white sedan chair looked like?"

He Miao shook her head in alarm: "No. That person never showed up, but through the shadows in the light, I could vaguely see that the person sitting in the sedan chair was not tall, and she was wearing a lot of hairpins in her hair, so she must be a short woman."

girl?

Chen Mo frowned.

He Miao said, "Left Envoy Chen, we suffered heavy losses in Wuqiao Town this time, with several incense masters killed. If Shao Siming finds out, I'm afraid we'll all be in deep trouble. What should we do?"

He Miao had served as the Right Envoy of the Incense Hall for many years and knew Shao Siming's character very well.

If you are useful, Shao Siming will nurture you greatly and tolerate your many bad tempers. But if you become useless...

Chen Mo pondered for a moment and said, "This matter is of great importance, and there's no way to avoid it. We must find a way to report it. You come with me to the incense hall first."

He Miao answered cautiously, "Yes."

Chen Mo asked Ma Tie to bring He Miao a new set of clothes to change into, and then took He Miao to the incense hall.

The entire incense hall was under martial law. Lu Chengzhuang, however, had been anxiously waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Chen Mo, he breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly greeted him, "Left Envoy Chen, you're finally back."

Chen Mo asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

"I have ordered that the bodies of the incense master and his men be kept under guard, and that the news be strictly prevented from leaking out. Everything will be decided when Left Envoy Chen returns."

"You did a good job." Chen Mo hurriedly entered the house, but as he stepped over the threshold, he suddenly seemed to realize something and abruptly turned back to look across the street.

Just now, Chen Mo felt a pair of cold eyes staring at him.

Looking back, however, all I saw was a bustling street, with people hurrying about, and several restaurants across the street were packed with customers, full of lively atmosphere. I didn't notice anything unusual.

He Miao was shocked: "Left Envoy Chen, what's wrong with you?"

Chen Mo stared for a while before turning back inside: "It's nothing, let's go check on the body first."

Led by Lu Chengzhuang, Chen Mo arrived at a secluded room, where Liu Changchun was personally guarding the outside.

Chen Mo examined the body, then turned to He Miao and said, "I'm going to the Red Lantern Temple to explain the situation to Shao Siming. You all stay here and wait for news. Also, the Black and White Impermanence killed you, He Miao, to complete that person's crossing-the-bridge ritual. But you've managed to escape."

He Miao was taken aback. "Does Left Envoy Chen mean... they will kill me?"

Chen Mo nodded: "Although this place is a temple of worship and a place of great importance for the Red Lanterns, we cannot rule out this possibility. Before I return, do not go out; just stay in your room."

He Miao couldn't help but feel a wave of fear, but after looking at the familiar surroundings, she felt relieved: "Left Envoy Chen is overthinking it. This place is an important place that oversees the incense offerings of the Goddess, and there is a killing formation personally set up by the Lesser Master of Fate in the ancestral hall in the backyard. Even ghosts cannot get close to the ancestral hall. I will wait for Left Envoy Chen to return in the ancestral hall."

Chen Mo was still a little worried. "Take me to the ancestral hall to see that killing formation."

"Left Envoy Chen, come with me."

Chen Mo followed He Miao to the ancestral hall in the backyard.

Inside the ancestral hall was a colossal statue of the goddess, surrounded by twenty-four enormous incense burners, each holding a thick incense stick, its flames burning brightly. Chen Mo, an expert in magical formations, also discerned that someone had used the incense from the twenty-four burners to set up an extremely powerful killing formation.

Once the killing formation is activated, even if Chen Mo were to transform into a ghost... it would be very difficult to break through.

It seems that Shao Siming is quite powerful; in order to protect the incense offerings of the goddess, she specially set up such a powerful killing formation here.

He Miao smiled and said, "This is a killing formation personally set up by Shao Siming, so that even if we encounter an extreme situation in the incense hall, it won't ruin the Empress's incense offerings. I'll stay here and wait for Left Envoy Chen to return. Left Envoy Chen can go without worry."

Chen Mo didn't think there was any possibility of anything going wrong, so he instructed Liu Changchun and Lu Chengzhuang: "You two stay outside the ancestral hall. Continue to block the news until I see Shao Siming."

"Yes."

……

Chen Mo went to the Red Lantern Temple again.

Last time I came here to see Shao Siming, I had to go through Cao Kun's report. Now that Chen Mo has become the Left Incense Master, practically the fourth most important person in the Red Lantern Clan, he naturally doesn't need to go through anyone else. He went directly to the red gate of the ancient pagoda and knocked on the door to request an audience with Shao Siming.

Not long after, the red gate opened with a loud rumble.

When Shao Siming, dressed in a red robe, came out, her red hairpin and golden bell on her head were still as eye-catching as ever.

When Shao Siming saw Chen Mo, she was no longer as cold as before; a gentle smile appeared between her brows. "What do you want with me?"

Chen Mo recounted in detail what happened in Wuqiao Town last night.

Upon hearing this, Shao Siming frowned deeply, her expression becoming extremely solemn.

However, Chen Mo noticed that Shao Siming didn't seem too surprised. Clearly, Shao Siming knew something.

Chen Mo cupped his hands in a gesture of respect: "This matter is of great importance, and I dare not make a decision on my own."

call!
Shao Siming breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I will have Wuqiao Town and Qinghe Town both designated as forbidden areas. As for Black Mountain Village... it's gone, so be it, there's no need to rebuild it. Also, you should avoid going to those two towns recently. Try to stay in the city as much as possible."

Chen Mo hadn't expected such a big thing to happen. Was it really going to end so hastily?
Surprisingly, neither Shao Siming nor the Red Lantern Goddess flew into a rage or said anything about getting revenge...

It's really weird.

Chen Mo couldn't resist asking tentatively, "Young Master Ming, hundreds of thousands of villagers in Honghe County worship the Goddess, regarding her as an omnipotent deity. Now that two towns have fallen, if the Goddess doesn't do something, I'm afraid it will damage her prestige among the villagers."

Ah.

Shao Siming snorted coldly and glared at Chen Mo: "How could I not know the importance of getting revenge? The problem is... who's going to get revenge? You?"

Chen Mo was naturally unwilling to risk his life for the Empress, so he looked at Shao Siming.

Shao Siming smiled helplessly: "Rely on me? I've been serving Lady Hong all the time lately, so I haven't had a moment to spare."

Chen Mo: "..."

Shao Siming waved her hand. "I will discuss this matter with Da Siming. You may go back now. By the way, tell your family not to leave the city unnecessarily these days. Also, don't be reckless and do anything foolish. Honghe County is not as simple as you think. Do you understand?"

"know."

Shao Siming nodded and then hurriedly entered the red gate.

Watching the red gate close again, Chen Mo felt a surge of curiosity, thinking to himself: Normally, any villager who didn't worship the Goddess would be silenced. Now, having lost Wuqiao Town, the Goddess has chosen to remain silent. It just doesn't feel like… the Goddess is afraid of that young woman who descended the mountain.

The Red Lantern Lady was terrified!

This means... Honghe County is likely to be in great chaos.

Chen Mo had a vague feeling that the Red Lantern Police were about to fall apart.

If the red light is taken down, the entire Honghe County... who knows what kind of chaos it will descend into.

Although Chen Mo guessed that the Red Lantern Goddess was definitely a ghost, this ghost had, after all, maintained the peace and stability of Honghe County for decades. Once the Goddess fell, Honghe County... would cease to exist.

As Chen Mo walked down the stone steps, he felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.

Previously, everyone in Honghe County clung to the big tree of the Red Lantern Goddess, seeking shade under its branches.

Chen Mo... was no exception. He was able to develop thanks to the Empress.

Now that the building is about to collapse... how can I protect myself?

Although Chen Mo's strength has reached the Blood Energy level, and he is also blessed by ghosts, it may not be enough to protect himself in this chaotic world.

Far from enough.

After all, Chen Mo has the Chen family behind him.

When the Empress was well, Chen Mo never thought about these things.

"Go to the incense hall first and inform Lu Chengzhuang and the others, then go home and tell Father to make preparations as soon as possible..."

Chen Mo hurriedly returned to the incense hall and went straight to the ancestral hall in the backyard.

The ancestral hall was closed. Liu Changchun and Lu Chengzhuang were sitting on the steps by the door, each holding a knife and chatting. They seemed to be talking about girls or something. The two were in high spirits, laughing and talking.

Upon seeing Chen Mo arrive, the two stood up, their smiles vanished, and they addressed him as "Left Envoy Chen" repeatedly.

Chen Mo nodded and asked, "Is there any movement inside the ancestral hall?"

Liu Changchun patted his chest and assured, "Not even a fly got in."

Chen Mo then looked at Lu Chengzhuang, who said seriously, "Liu Xiangzhu and I have been guarding this place the whole time, and there has indeed been no one coming in or out. I originally asked Right Envoy He to leave the door open, but Right Envoy He wouldn't allow it, saying he wanted to sleep and that he couldn't sleep if we were watching him. By the way, what did Shao Siming say? Are they going to hold us accountable?"

Chen Mo shook his head: "There was no accountability, they just ordered Wuqiao Town to be designated as a forbidden area, and told us not to approach Wuqiao Town in the near future. Open the gate and let He Miao out."

After leaving a message, Chen Mo turned and left, intending to go home.

But before he had taken two steps, he heard Liu Changchun scream from behind.

"Ah!! Right Envoy He is dead!?"

Ok?
Chen Mo immediately turned around and rushed into the ancestral hall.

To their horror, they saw Right Envoy He kneeling in the very center of the ancestral hall, his abdomen hollowed out, a human lamp lit above his head. He was now a desiccated corpse, his eyeballs and tongue also removed.

Liu Changchun was so frightened that he fell to the ground, his face deathly pale. "How could this be! I've been guarding outside the whole time, and I didn't hear a thing... How could this be..."

Lu Chengzhuang was bolder; he drew his sword and cautiously looked around.

Chen Mo looked around but didn't see anything unusual.

He was secretly shocked: This was the shrine of the Red Lantern Goddess! And the Lesser Master of Fate had set up a killing formation. Even he, as a ghost, would have a hard time breaking such a formation. Yet the opponent had managed to silently bypass Lu Chengzhuang and Liu Changchun, two seventh-level martial masters, and kill He Miao directly.

Such methods are truly terrifying.

Was she a dancer? Or the old woman? Or perhaps an adult?

Chen Mo had no idea.

But one thing is certain: killing He Miao means the ceremony for that person's emergence from seclusion is complete. It means that person will soon emerge from seclusion.

"Left Envoy Chen, have you noticed anything amiss?"

Faced with Lu Chengzhuang's question, Chen Mo shook his head: "I can only sense a faint trace of ghostly energy left here. How the other party got past you and how they got past the killing formation... I don't know."

Lu Chengzhuang shrank back: "Should we report this to the Junior Master of Fate?"

Chen Mo, recalling Shao Siming's words, shook his head: "No need to report. Just dispose of the body directly. Also, none of you should leave the city without permission recently."

Leaving behind a single sentence, Chen Mo hurriedly departed, pondering: The ghosts of Da Yin Mountain are indeed formidable, and they seem unafraid of the Red Lantern Goddess. To ensure the ritual's perfection, even the incense offerings were brought into the ancestral hall. Thankfully, no one knows about my killing of the Black and White Impermanence. Otherwise, it would have been a real problem.

As soon as we left the incense hall, the rain intensified.

Chen Mo didn't use an umbrella and hurried down the street toward the Chen residence.

Ok?
Chen Mo felt that stare again, and turned around abruptly, but saw nothing.

But intuition is never wrong.

Chen Mo walked to a quiet alley with few people and suddenly turned around.

Sure enough, a woman in red holding a gray oil-paper umbrella stood at the entrance of the alley. She was quite pretty, and her eyes were smiling as she looked at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo stared intently at the other woman. "Why have you been following me, young lady?"

The woman in red toyed with the umbrella handle in both hands, smiling as she said, "I stayed in the city for a while and heard a lot of the incense hall staff talking about Young Master Mo. They all say that although Young Master Mo is young, he is exceptionally strong. He once punched Right Envoy He Miao so hard that he vomited blood. The incense hall values ​​the left as the highest position. It is clear that Left Envoy Chen is the one in charge of the incense hall."

Chen Mo's expression was indifferent: "What is it, young lady? Please speak frankly and don't be sarcastic."

"Hee hee~"

The woman in red smiled. "It's nothing. I was just curious about Young Master Mo's extraordinary martial arts skills. I wonder if Young Master Mo has the ability to kill ghosts?"

Chen Mo was startled.

Test me?
Could it be that He Miao was killed by this woman?
This woman is the head of the Black and White Impermanence and the White Cloth Baby. She discovered that the Black and White Impermanence had been killed, so she came to find the murderer behind it.

Then they became suspicious of me. But because I had modified my bloodline and bones and concealed my ghostly aura, they were unsure and came to test me?

If that's the case, then my current situation is quite dangerous.

Thinking of this, Chen Mo said, "I have been practicing martial arts diligently and worship the Red Lantern Goddess. I have never seen any ghosts. Miss, you must be joking. With the Red Lantern Goddess protecting us in Honghe County, where would ghosts come from?"

The woman stared intently at Chen Mo, smiling as she said, "Young Master Mo, are you saying you've never seen a ghost?"

Chen Mo shook his head: "Never."

"Hee hee~"

The woman suddenly laughed, holding her oil-paper umbrella as she walked step by step towards Chen Mo, seemingly poised to attack. Just then, she abruptly stopped, glanced at the street behind her, and then relented: "Fine. I'm in a hurry to go back and report. I'll come find you again a month from today. Hehe~"

After saying that, the woman walked towards a wall in the alley, then passed right through it and disappeared.

Ghostly figures passing through walls?

But that woman clearly had a physical body.

Could it be that... she used such methods to sneak into the ancestral hall silently and kill He Miao?
If the other party possesses the ability of ghosts, then it makes sense.

But... why did they suddenly stop when they were clearly planning to make a move?
Chen Mo realized something and rushed out of the alley. He saw a familiar figure walking towards him on the street. It was Shao Siming.

I see……

"Chen Mo, what are you doing here?"

Shao Siming was slightly surprised to see Chen Mo emerge from the box.

Chen Mo made up an excuse: "Nothing, just taking a walk. By the way, what brings Shao Siming here?"

Shao Siming said, "I forgot something just now, so I came to remind you."

Shao Siming, who was holding an umbrella, took a few steps and pulled Chen Mo under it, walking side by side. "You said He Miao was chased by a ghost the whole way, and He Miao even said that the ghost was chasing him to complete a bridge-crossing ritual. I thought that the ghost probably wouldn't give up easily and might come into the city to kill He Miao. You need to keep your distance from He Miao..."

Chen Mo felt something was off.

Isn't Shao Siming's concern for me a bit excessive?
There was only official business between them. They had no personal relationship.

Chen Mo suppressed his curiosity and said, "He Miao is already dead."

Shao Siming suddenly stopped in her tracks. "How did you die?"

Chen Mo told him everything in detail.

Upon hearing this, Shao Siming frowned deeply. "They've truly rebelled! These ghosts are so audacious, daring to enter the Empress's ancestral hall and kill the Right Envoy of Incense Offerings. They show absolutely no respect for the Empress. Have you discovered anyone suspicious?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment and said, "When I went out just now, I saw a woman in red carrying an umbrella. Could it be that woman's doing? Does Shao Siming know this person?"

Shao Siming wasn't too surprised, she just sighed: "It's Hongwu. Since Hongwu has made a move, then... that young lady will also be going down the mountain."

"Who is that young lady? How dare she ignore our Lady?"

Shao Siming handed the umbrella to Chen Mo, saying, "Don't ask any more questions. Go home and have your family pack their bags. Prepare to leave Honghe County and find a way to make a living elsewhere. If anything happens, I will come to the Chen residence to find you."

After leaving behind a single sentence, Shao Siming hurriedly departed.

As Chen Mo watched Shao Siming's departing figure, he suddenly felt a sense of inexplicable surprise.

This woman cares about me too much...

Excessive concern made Chen Mo feel uncomfortable.

"I suppose Shao Siming knows the empire is about to collapse, but... can I really make a living outside Honghe County by taking the Chen family with me? Where in this world are there no evil spirits? Where can we hide? Also, that woman just now was Hong Wu, the one He Miao mentioned who performed with the Black and White Impermanence. She'll be coming to find me again in a month..."

"I'm still too weak. I need to become much stronger! In this chaotic world, it's hard to survive anywhere; only your own fists will do!"

"This damn world is so hopeless, I, Chen Mo, am determined to smash my way to a peaceful world."

(End of this chapter)