I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 134 The Red Lantern Lady Has Arrived!!!

Although Chen Mo had never fought a zombie, he still couldn't forget the extremely chilling and terrifying feeling that was deeply ingrained in his soul from the Red Lantern Lady he had seen in Jiangkou Town.

Zombies are far more terrifying than ghosts; a zombie of the same level can instantly kill a ghost!

Even though Chen Mo's strength has increased dramatically recently, he still feels an inexplicable fear of the Empress.

During his month with the Green Wolf Gang, Chen Mo searched everywhere for notes, but found no information about zombies.

Unexpectedly... Tang Binghu has a way to deal with zombies.

This filled Chen Mo with immense anticipation.

There's no other reason than that the oppressive feeling emanating from the Red Lantern Lady was simply too suffocating!

They followed Tang Binghu all the way to a secluded room in the back hall.

This is a study, not large, but decorated very elegantly. Bookshelves line both walls, densely packed with books. On the long table are writing brushes and ink, and a brush holder shaped like a mountain. The entire room is filled with a faint scent of ink.

It is evident that although Tang Binghu was born fierce and imposing, he was also quite particular about calligraphy and books.

Tang Binghu walked to the long table, opened a drawer, and took out a black leather-bound book. He carefully brushed off the dust. "Zombies are extremely rare and terrifying beings. In the entire Tang Family Fortress, apart from the patriarch, only I have ever seen a zombie. I have recorded all the details of my encounter with the zombie in this book."

Zombies are a fearsome existence even among powerful families, a closely guarded secret. Now, you've done a favor for Ziyu's niece and are a rare talent within the gang. Plus, you yourself are involved, so we have no choice but to show it to you.”

After saying that, Tang Binghu handed the booklet to Chen Mo.

"Thank you, Chief." Chen Mo thanked him, took the booklet, and flipped through it with anticipation. Then... then he was dumbfounded.

The handwriting on the pages was cursive script, a kind of scribbles.

The writing system in this world is largely similar to that of his previous life. If it were written in a proper style… Chen Mo would naturally recognize it. After all, he had been here for almost a year.

But the calligraphy is too sloppy.

Chen Mo also studied cursive script, but his style differed from that shown on this page.

Could it be that this Tang Binghu... created some kind of calligraphy?
This was quite awkward.

"Boss, this..."

Seeing Chen Mo's embarrassed look, Tang Binghu suddenly remembered something and took the booklet away. "I forgot to tell you, although I, Tang, am a rough and uncouth man, I also enjoy literature. In my spare time, I created a kind of cursive script. You haven't been with me for long, so it's normal that you don't recognize the characters. I don't blame you."

Chen Mo: "..."

I really don't know if you genuinely forgot to mention it, or if you're deliberately showing off your self-created calligraphy.

Soon, Chen Mo's suspicions were confirmed.

Tang Binghu took the album, flipped through it, and asked casually, "What do you think of my cursive script?"

OK OK...

He's definitely here to show off.

It's said that people only care about what they lack. Tang Binghu's lack of display of martial arts skills shows his extreme confidence in them. However, it reveals a lack of confidence in his calligraphy and literary skills.

Chen Mo never disappoints. He immediately said, "Although I don't recognize the leader's handwriting, I feel that the leader's brushstrokes are vigorous, powerful, and unrestrained. They are like the strokes of a master, blending various brush techniques into a unique style."

After speaking, Chen Mo added, to solidify his words and avoid sounding too exaggerated, "I have been literate since childhood and have seen many famous calligraphic works. Although each school of calligraphy has its own merits, I have never seen such a grand and powerful style as the gang leader's. I suppose most famous calligraphers are from the ranks of scholars and literati, with enough scholarly air, but lacking a bit of the chivalrous spirit of the martial world."

Upon hearing these words, Tang Binghu felt his bones and blood flow much more smoothly, and he beamed with joy. "Young Master Mo's judgment on calligraphy is insightful and profound. It's rare to find such insight. It's truly remarkable."

Tang Peng, standing to the side, looked at Chen Mo with a puzzled expression, as if to say, "Are you serious?"

In Tang Peng's eyes, what his father did was hardly calligraphy.
It's clearly just scribbles, how can it be as good as you say?
In Tang Peng's memory, Chen Mo was always decisive and didn't seem like the type to flatter...

Could it be that there's something wrong with my aesthetic sense, Tang Peng?

This inevitably made Tang Peng question the meaning of life.

Tang Binghu opened the album, examined his own calligraphy for a while, smiled, and then put the album away. "Since that's the case, I'll tell you about how I encountered the zombie."

Tang Binghu reminisced about his past as he began to speak:
"Seventy miles away from our Feilai Mountain, there is a town called Daze Township. Daze Township is adjacent to the Huai River, and most of the people in the township make a living by fishing. About twenty years ago, the Huai River suffered a rare once-in-a-century flood, which destroyed many houses in Daze Township. The flood lasted for more than a month, and the villagers suffered greatly and could not make a living. A fisherman who was good at swimming took advantage of the breaks in the flood to sail his boat out of the dock and go to the Huai River to fish."

At this point, Tang Binghu paused for a moment, and his voice became much heavier.

"I still remember the young fisherman named Chen Ashui. He went to a bend in the river where the current was gentler and cast his net. When he pulled it in, he found it was very heavy and thought he had caught a big fish. After all, the Huai River originates from the Dayin Mountains and flows from east to west. During floods, big fish are often seen, and it is common to catch rare big fish. Chen Ashui happily called his younger brother and parents to help pull the net. In the end, they pulled out a decaying coffin."

Chen Mo was startled, vaguely realizing something, and listened even more attentively.

Tang Peng thoughtfully brewed tea for the two of them. Tang Binghu sat down at the long table, gripping the book pages tightly in his hands. He took a sip of tea before continuing:

"The Chen family was terrified at the time. But they were kind-hearted and thought that the flood had washed away some graves and brought out the coffin. They felt sorry for the deceased, so they transported the coffin back home and asked the local elders to choose an auspicious day to rebury the coffin."

According to the custom of Dazexiang, when relocating a grave, the coffin must be kept at home for seven days before being reburied. So, the coffin was kept at Chen Ashui's house for seven days. For the first six days, everything was normal. But on the night of the seventh day, something was wrong with the coffin…”

Chen Mo's heart tightened. Tang Peng, who was also hearing this story for the first time, asked anxiously, "So the coffin contained a zombie?"

Tang Binghu glared at Tang Peng: "Don't interrupt me."

Tang Peng quickly lowered his head: "I was in a hurry, Father, please tell me."

Ok.

Tang Binghu nodded, his thoughts drifting back to twenty years ago. He slowly began to speak, "It all started when Chen Ashui's younger brother, Amu, got up in the middle of the night to go to the outhouse. As he passed the backyard, he heard strange noises and ran to investigate. He found movement inside the coffin and was terrified. Amu quickly ran to tell his parents, who initially thought he was just making things up and didn't take it seriously. But seeing how frightened Amu looked, they got up, lit a lamp, and went to check the backyard, half-believing him..."

Tang Binghu stopped again when he got to the crucial point.

Chen Mo and Tang Peng stared wide-eyed, their hearts pounding with anticipation.

Tang Peng grew impatient. "Dad, please continue."

Tang Binghu tapped the teacup with his finger.

Tang Peng gave a speechless "Oh," and then refilled Tang Binghu's teacup.

Tang Binghu took a sip of tea, as if he had achieved some kind of satisfaction from his hobby, before continuing his story.

"Amu led his parents to the backyard, only to be horrified to find the coffin already open. His parents assumed Amu was playing a prank and scolded him severely. However, Amu's father, being kind-hearted, helped Amu close the coffin lid. There are rules for closing the coffin lid; one cannot look back at the deceased inside. Otherwise, it is considered unlucky, as it indicates lingering thoughts of the deceased. After closing the coffin lid, the family left the backyard and returned to their room to sleep."

Amu returned to his room and had just lain down when he felt someone on the bed. Amu was immediately startled, as he slept alone; his brother Ashui had gone out that night. Amu quickly turned on the light and discovered an old man lying next to him, his skin ashen and his face covered in white hair. The old man reeked of a pungent, decaying stench. Amu screamed in terror, but the old man bit him.

At this point, Tang Binghu sighed deeply.

Tang Peng couldn't help but ask, "Where are Amu's parents?"

"Amu's parents rushed over and saw the old man gnawing on Amu's corpse. The parents were fishermen all their lives and had never seen such a horrific scene. They were so frightened that their legs went weak. Before they could run away, they were also bitten by the old man... and in the end, he ate them all."

After hearing the story, Chen Mo realized that the old man was a zombie. "Since the old man ate Amu's whole family of three, how did the gang leader know so much about it?"

Tang Binghu said, "Because Chen Ashui, who was out at the time, happened to return, he hid outside the door and quietly watched everything. Fortunately, Ashui remained calm and didn't make a sound. When he saw the old man eating his parents, Chen Ashui ran to the Green Wolf Gang to ask for help. At that time, I was still a young gang leader, young and impetuous. I didn't know that the other party was a zombie. I thought it was some small ghost, so I took twelve of the best people in the clan and followed Chen Ashui to his home in Dazexiang overnight..."

At this point, Tang Binghu's expression changed, and fear appeared in his eyes.

Tang Peng poured more tea for his father. "And then what happened?"

Tang Peng, as the son, had something to say: Why didn't you tell me this story before? Now that Young Master Mo is here, you're telling it... This favoritism is too obvious.

Eh.

Tang Binghu sighed deeply, "Back then, I thought I was something special because I had become the young leader of the gang and mastered the True Flame of the Aristocratic Family. I thought I could easily deal with a few ordinary scoundrels. In the end, I paid the price for my youthful arrogance."

I arrived at Ah Shui's house, and then... all twelve family members I brought were bitten to death by that old man. I fought back with the True Fire of my clan, but found that the old man's body was neither dead nor decayed, and he was completely immune to the True Fire of my clan. Fortunately, I had brought a magical artifact from Tang Family Fortress with me, and I used it to slightly injure the old man. I also escaped severely injured.

It was far too dangerous. If I hadn't brought my magical artifact, I probably wouldn't have even had a chance to escape.

From Tang Binghu's slightly trembling voice, Chen Mo could sense that... the leader of the Green Wolf Gang was still very afraid when he recalled what happened twenty years ago.

Tang Binghu took a sip of tea and continued, "Later, I went to find my father, and from him I learned that the old man was an extremely rare zombie. He possessed an immortal body and was impervious to true fire. Even the magical artifacts of powerful families had difficulty killing him. Later, my father personally took me to Dazexiang, but we found that the old man had disappeared. We stayed in Dazexiang for a month, but we still couldn't find him. Later, the flood receded, and the villagers settled down. Dazexiang returned to its former bustling state. My father then buried the empty coffin by the Huai River, and twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, I have also been studying zombies and have finally made some progress."

Chen Mo listened and sighed for a while.

He recalled what Tang Binghu had just said: "I don't care about dealing with a few newly formed zombies."

It now seems that Tang Binghu is also quite afraid of zombies, and he wasn't as relaxed as he initially claimed.

Click.

Tang Binghu put the leather booklet back in the drawer, then took out another booklet from the drawer. Just as he was about to hand it to Chen Mo, he suddenly remembered something and said, "This is my research on zombies over the years. I'll dictate it to you..."

After listening to Tang Binghu's account, Chen Mo gained a more comprehensive understanding of zombies.

The real ghosts begin with the Yellow Page Ghost. From the lowest level of cultivation, one incense stick's worth, to nine incense sticks' worth, and above that are the even more terrifying Silver Life Aura Shadow Ghosts. These shadows are incredibly monstrous, rarely seen even in the entire prefecture.

In contrast, there are zombies, with true zombies starting as white zombies. They range from one to nine zombie markings. Above the white zombies are black zombies with silver life energy.

Chen Mo knew these things.

But Tang Binghu discovered the secrets of the stiff pattern.

Why can zombies instantly kill ghosts of the same level?

The reason lies in the stiffness and wrinkles.

Chen Mo asked, "Where did the stiffness marks come from?"

Tang Binghu said, "You should ask how zombies came to be."

Chen Mo adjusted his questioning style, "How did you get here?"

"You have refined the True Fire of the Aristocratic Family, so you should know the difference between True Fire and Blood Fire. The difference lies in the fact that True Fire extracts the innate essence that a person brings from the womb at birth. This innate essence is the source of life's evolutionary power, possessing infinite life potential."

Chen Mo deeply agreed, and suddenly thought of an explanation from his previous life.

A fertilized egg has the ability to divide indefinitely, just like a cancer cell. From this perspective, these two things are immortal.

In this world, people call this ability... life essence?
Tang Binghu said, "It is said that Buddhas fight for a stick of incense, and people fight for a breath. The reason why people lose control, go astray, and become corrupt is due to various reasons, but in the end it is because people are not strong enough. The reason why zombies become zombies, and why they are beyond the Three Realms and outside the Five Elements, is because zombies take in an extra breath."

Chen Mo was very curious, "A breath? Where did this breath come from?"

In his previous life, Chen Mo was a fan of Uncle Ying. He remembered Uncle Ying saying something like: "The reason why a corpse can become a zombie is because a person holds their breath before they die, and when the breath doesn't dissipate, they become a zombie."

But that's just Uncle Ying's perspective.

The zombies of this world clearly have a more complex and far-reaching origin.

After all, the Yellow Pages Ghost was already quite overpowered, but the zombie could instantly kill it. Even the Yellow Pages Ghost's innate power of awakening didn't faze the zombie at all.

Tang Binghu shook his head: "I don't know where this breath came from. But it was this breath that turned it into a zombie and gave it immortality. It was also this breath that caused it to condense lines of zombie energy, allowing it to continuously evolve and become stronger. This breath is like the life essence that a human receives from the womb, capable of creating human life. It also created the life of a zombie."

Chen Mo fell into deep thought.

So... the Empress hid in the coffin for forty years just to hold her breath?

Finally, it burst forth and transformed into a zombie!?
The question is... where did this anger come from?
Eh.

Tang Binghu sighed: "I have already investigated the origin of the zombies, but unfortunately I haven't seen one in all these years. I really wanted to catch one to study. I never expected... that the Red Lantern Goddess of Honghe County would turn into a zombie. If she dares to come looking for you this time, I will definitely catch her to study."

Chen Mo asked, "Chief, you've just talked so much about the origins of zombies. But how can we deal with them?"

Tang Binghu said, "Zombies are immortal and are not afraid of true fire or ghostly energy. They are not even afraid of the magic weapons of my Tang Family Fortress. Ordinary scions of noble families at the True Fire Realm are naturally helpless against them. But there is one thing that is useful against zombies."

Chen Mo's eyes lit up. "What?"

"Power! Pure power, terrifying power. Zombies are said to be immune to all poisons, unafraid of ghostly energy, and impervious to real fire. But as long as the power is strong enough, it can be shattered."

Chen Mo was taken aback, then thought to himself: Returning to simplicity is indeed a solution.

"Even if a ghost's head is smashed, it won't die immediately. A zombie's immortality probably means its regenerative abilities are even more abnormal, right?"

Tang Binghu said, "So what? As long as the power is strong enough, you can shatter it again and again. There will eventually be a critical point that prevents its immortality from recovering. Once you pass this critical point, you can disperse the extra breath that the zombie has absorbed. Once you disperse this breath, the zombie's immortality will be broken. If you can expel this breath from the zombie's body, the zombie will be nothing special."

Chen Mo pondered for a long time and felt that this method was feasible.

But it's too difficult to do in practice.

To completely defeat an immortal zombie, one would need overwhelming power. It's like using fifty times the strength to achieve only one unit of effect.

The efficiency is really terrible.

But it works.

"I've heard that there are four supreme masters in Nanyang Prefecture. The one at the head is the Prefectural Chief. Could it be that even the Prefectural Chief is helpless against zombies?"

Tang Binghu shook his head, "My father and I specifically asked Yun Fusi. Although Yun Fusi was sent down by the Southern Prefecture Demon Suppression Division, he has only seen zombies a few times and doesn't know how to deal with them. As for whether this Yun Fusi is hiding anything, I don't know."

Snapped.

Tang Binghu took a sip of tea, placed the teacup on the table, and suddenly stood up: "Over the years, besides stimulating the bloodline power of my aristocratic family, I have also been frantically practicing secret techniques for external strength. All for the sake of one day encountering a zombie and being able to avenge my previous humiliation. Ordinary ghosts can hardly excite me anymore. Only zombies... are worth my all-out battle."

Chen Mo looked up at the imposing and powerful gang leader and felt the intense fighting spirit emanating from his brows.

This is a ruthless man who has spent his entire life fighting zombies.

After a moment's thought, Chen Mo felt he also needed to make some preparations, so he asked, "May I ask, Chief, which external martial arts technique are you learning?"

Tang Binghu laughed, "The external martial arts I practiced before were quite complex. I've devoted myself to it all these years, integrating various external martial arts methods. For this, I even left the prefectural city to seek out masters everywhere. Finally, I found a master in Nanzhou and obtained a top-tier external martial arts secret technique: the Dragon Elephant Skill. This technique is not an ordinary internal martial art, but an external martial arts specifically designed for aristocratic families. Its focus is on transforming all the bloodlines of aristocratic families into pure power. In the entire Nanyang Prefecture, if I say I'm second in external martial arts, no one dares to claim to be first."

Is it so fierce?
Chen Mo stood up and cupped his hands: "The leader is incredibly brave and skilled. Despite his high position, he is willing to humble himself and travel around to learn martial arts. This Dragon Elephant Skill must be quite extraordinary."

Tang Binghu laughed and said, "That's for sure. The Dragon Elephant Skill is the number one external martial arts method in Nanyang Prefecture. Many external martial arts masters have come to me to learn this skill, but I look down on those guys. How could I easily pass on the fist that I have spent twenty years honing to outsiders?"

Chen Mo tentatively asked, "I wonder if the leader would be willing to part with this treasure and pass it on to me?"

Tang Binghu was taken aback; he was just showing off. "You know how to climb the bamboo pole, don't you?"

It's worth noting that even though Tang Peng repeatedly asked to learn this unique skill, Tang Binghu refused to teach it to him.

Tang Peng: "..."

That's going too far, Brother Mo.

My own son is still alive.

Is it really appropriate for you to rush up like this in front of me?

Tang Binghu sized up Chen Mo for a long time, "I know that Young Master Mo is exceptionally talented. Among the younger generation of my Green Wolf Gang, there is no one else who can compare to you. But this Dragon Elephant Skill is a secret technique that my master does not pass on to outsiders. It's not that I'm being stingy..."

Chen Mo cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Master, I am here."

hiss!
Tang Binghu and Tang Peng both gasped in shock, staring at Chen Mo in disbelief.

This guy... your thought process is just too fast.

Tang Binghu carefully examined Chen Mo, becoming more and more satisfied, and a thought began to form in his mind.

Although Tang Binghu and Chen Mo had only just met, after their conversation, Tang Binghu felt that Chen Mo was very sensible. As for his character, Elder Ziyu Tang and Tang Peng had already tested him and he had a good reputation.

There's nothing to complain about.

Tang Peng had wanted to learn the Dragon Elephant Skill many times before, not because Tang Binghu refused to teach him, but because Tang Peng couldn't withstand its demands. However, Tang Peng couldn't even last a single round against Chen Mo, demonstrating that Chen Mo was a rare and promising talent.

Such a prodigy is extremely rare, even for Tang Binghu.

Only Shen Zishan's two sons were somewhat comparable in their youth. As for the son-in-law that Shen Zishan recruited, he was naturally even more outstanding.

At least that's what Tang Binghu thought.

If we could recruit such a prodigy for Tangjiabao, we would have more hope in the face of the Shen family's suppression in the future.

"Are you truly interested in becoming my disciple?"

Seeing his father speak, Tang Peng felt nervous: Brother Mo hadn't even become an apprentice yet, and his father was already favoring outsiders, showing considerable bias. If he became an apprentice, what chance would he, as his son, have?

However, Tang Peng truly possessed the demeanor of a young gang leader and understood his father's plans. He then chimed in from the side, "My father is the second-best expert in Tang Family Fortress, second only to the patriarch. When the patriarch grows old and retires, the position of fortress master of Tang Family Fortress will surely belong to my father. Brother Mo is the only young man I, Tang Peng, admire. If we could become master and disciple, it would truly be a wonderful story."

Hearing Tang Peng's words, Chen Mo became even more resolute and said, "I was chased for two thousand miles by that scoundrel, the Red Lantern Lady, living in constant fear and loneliness. Only recently, thanks to the protection of the gang leader, have I been able to enjoy a few days of peace. The gang leader has a heart as vast as the sea, not holding my beating of Brother Peng against me, and even valuing me highly. He is truly a hero of his generation, and I admire him greatly. I am willing to become the gang leader's disciple and learn from his high level of skill and virtue."

Of course, Chen Mo had two other reasons he didn't mention... Aside from the immense pressure from the Red Lantern Lady, Tang Binghu was simply too promising. He needed a master like Tang Binghu to provide him with more resources and martial arts skills so he could quickly rise to a higher level.

Secondly, he killed Shen Qi and Ling He. He even built temples for himself in Dayu County and Ningdu County, both of which belong to the Shen family. The Shen family will come knocking on his door sooner or later.

With Tang Binghu as his powerful ally, Chen Mo was no longer afraid. Only then could he establish a firm foothold in Nanyang Prefecture.

"Good, good, good indeed." Tang Binghu stepped forward to help Chen Mo up and warmly grasped Chen Mo's hand. "My son is right. Our becoming master and disciple today will surely be a celebrated story in Nanyang Prefecture. Come with me."

Chen Mo followed Tang Binghu out of the study and into a small room in the backyard.

The room was small, and the furnishings were very simple.

A prayer cushion was placed on the ground, and in front of it was a mahogany incense table with an incense burner on it. Behind the incense burner was a portrait of an old man. The old man in the portrait had white hair and beard, but his face was full of kindness.

Tang Binghu bowed to the portrait and then introduced, "This is my master, whom I apprenticed under in Nanzhou when I was young. His name is Sun Luhai. The Dragon Elephant Kung Fu was passed down to me by my master."

Logically, as the future heir of Tang Family Fort, I shouldn't have another master. However, my father, having governed Tang Family Fort for many years, is now old and, knowing my desire to learn the external martial arts to combat zombies, he agreed. But this is a secret; few in Tang Family Fort know about it.

Tang Peng, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but ask, "Is this Sun Luhai a master of external martial arts?"

Tang Binghu said, "That's for sure. My master was originally from a noble family, but he was trapped at the peak of his bloodline and couldn't enter the fifth level. So he took a different path and practiced martial arts horizontally. In the end, with his extraordinary Dragon Elephant Skill, he stepped into the fifth level. He is a first-class scholar in the Southern State. However, my master is low-key and likes to live in seclusion in the mountains and travel around. Not many people know about my master. Young Master Mo, after you join the sect, remember not to spread my master's name everywhere, so as not to disturb the old man's peace."

Chen Mo nodded in agreement, but was secretly astonished: I never expected my master to be a super strong expert at the fifth level of cultivation. That's impressive.

Even though Chen Mo had long been a ninth-level Martial Master and had cultivated his aristocratic bloodline to the True Fire level, he still didn't know what the Fifth Ascension was. It must be an absolute peak realm.

Now things are better...

After becoming an apprentice, he would ask his master about the Five Ascensions. If all else failed, he could go back to Nanzhou to ask his grandmaster. Chen Mo firmly believed that with his own special abilities, he too could one day reach the extraordinary Five Ascensions.

"Then let's begin the apprenticeship ceremony. Offer three sticks of incense to your grandmaster... Xiao Peng, bring incense to your brother Mo. And while you're at it, go make some tea."

In this way, Chen Mo offered three sticks of incense to Master Sun Luhai, then took the teacup handed to him by Tang Peng, and knelt down in front of Tang Binghu to offer him tea.

In this world, the relationship between masters and disciples is like that of father and son.

The so-called filial piety is not only a son's love for his parents, but also a disciple's love for his master.

The formalities were completed, and the official status was established.

Chen Mo was the only direct disciple of the leader of the Green Wolf Gang, and also the direct disciple of the future lord of Tang Family Fortress. This banner was extremely important to Chen Mo. Offering tea was just a formality; Chen Mo wouldn't care too much about it.

After offering incense and serving tea,

Thus, the master-disciple relationship was established.

Tang Binghu chuckled and helped Chen Mo up. "I, Tang Binghu, have only ever taken you as my disciple in this lifetime. From now on, we will address each other as master and disciple. If anyone bullies you, just mention my name. If mentioning my name doesn't work, I'll come in person."

"Disciple will remember Master's teachings." This master's temperament is very comforting.

Tang Binghu laughed loudly: "Hahaha, no need to be so reserved. I'm a martial arts fanatic, and I don't usually handle ordinary gang affairs. All mundane matters are handled by the four elders. If you need anything, just ask Xiaopeng."

Tang Peng stood to the side, chuckling happily, clearly looking eager to help.

"Thank you for your help, Brother Peng."

"It should."

"Xiao Peng, go out and tell the four elders, and also tell all the members of the gang, that I have accepted Chen Mo as my disciple." Tang Binghu dismissed Tang Peng, and then took out a yellowed book from behind Sun Luhai's portrait.

Wow.

Tang Binghu brushed away the dust, cherishing it dearly. "This is the unique skill my master passed down to me, the Dragon Elephant Skill. Back then, my master relied on this skill to break through the gate of the Fifth Step. From then on, he transcended the ordinary and entered the next level. I have studied it for many years, but I still cannot reach that level. Xiao Mo, now you are my only disciple. So I will pass this unique skill on to you. Remember, you must not pass it on to anyone else."

Chen Mo accepted the booklet with both hands. "Master, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

Tang Binghu continued, "The Dragon Elephant Skill is a top-tier external martial arts technique. It primarily relies on the bloodline of aristocratic families to temper one's strength. If one cultivates it to its full potential, it can rival the power of a dragon and an elephant, capable of breaking through all defenses with a single punch. This skill is divided into six levels of Giant Elephant Strength and six levels of Coiling Dragon Strength. It is extremely difficult to master. It took me five years to even reach the Giant Elephant Strength level. Don't be impatient. You still need to solidify your foundation and proceed step by step. If you encounter anything you don't understand, stop immediately and come find me."

"Yes."

Tang Binghu then took out a box from behind the portrait. Inside was a pill, which he handed to Chen Mo: "This is the essential Xiangyuan Pill for beginners. Take it carefully; it can help you speed up your progress."

"Thank you, Master."

Chen Mo accepted the gift with both hands. After listening to Tang Binghu explain the essentials of the cultivation method in detail, he then bowed and left.

As they reached the door, Tang Binghu called out to Chen Mo again.

"Master, is there anything else you need?"

Tang Binghu earnestly instructed, "This Dragon Elephant Skill is a method that Master created after witnessing a battle between demons and monsters and gaining insights from it. Remember not to be careless. If there is any mistake, it is easy to suffer from qi deviation and become possessed by evil spirits."

what?
Did Sun Luhai ever see demons?
Was it created by taking traces of the demon-demon battle?

demon……

This is someone Chen Mo has never encountered before.

It seems this master is quite remarkable.

"Don't worry, Master, I understand."

"Go ahead, go ahead. It's unrealistic for you to think you can master it all at once, there's no point in me saying more. Come find me when you encounter problems. I'll be waiting for you."

"Yes."

Chen Mo nodded, took the booklet, and went out. He first went to the Martial Arts Pavilion to return the True Fire Force, and then hurriedly returned to his own courtyard.

Upon arriving at the main room, Chen Mo closed the door, excitedly sat down cross-legged, and began to read the book.

The contents of the booklet do not explicitly state that they are taken from demons.

However, the opening sentence piqued Chen Mo's interest.

—My grandson, Lu Hai, through this method, broke through the mortal realm, transcended worldly concerns, and ascended to a higher level. The Dragon Elephant Skill is a method not to be passed down to outsiders; it can only be passed down from generation to generation by the direct disciples of our sect.

"Interesting. No wonder it's a method for dealing with zombies. Perfect for me."

Chen Mo frowned after flipping through the book.

The cultivation is extremely difficult.

Simply put, it's about building upon the foundation of aristocratic families, gradually activating the power of their bloodline until it transforms into the Giant Elephant Force and the Coiled Dragon Force. It imitates the traces of ancient giant elephants and coiled dragons. Once mastered, the power will erupt like a tidal wave, like a giant elephant charging and shattering mountains and rivers.

It is truly fierce and domineering.

Chen Mo had honed many martial arts techniques along the way, but he had never seen such a monstrous skill.

No wonder he was able to break through the fifth level.

Chen Mo tried it a couple of times and found that it was really too difficult to get started.

"Deconstructor".

Bring up the panel.

[Deconstructable material detected]

[Should we deconstruct it?]

"Deconstruction!"

hum!
A sharp pain shot through his head. This pain was unprecedented, and it took Chen Mo quite a while to bear it.

As the pain subsided, lines of subtitles appeared one by one.

【Name: Dragon Elephant Skill】

[Type: External Training Technique]

[Level: Half-Step Ascension]

Upon seeing the words "half a step up the stairs," Chen Mo felt a chill run down his spine.

Here it comes...

Having been around for so long, I never knew what the Fifth Step Ascension was. It seemed that there were very few people in Nanyang Prefecture who had reached this level. Now, I have finally obtained the method for the Half-Step Ascension.

Put aside your excitement and keep reading.

[Note: The Dragon Elephant Technique is a half-step ascension method created by observing the battle between demons. It is divided into six levels of Giant Elephant Strength and six levels of Coiling Dragon Strength. If one reaches the sixth level of Coiling Dragon Strength, one can use extraordinary and violent power to push open the gate to ascension.]

[Introduction: This technique is a culmination of the power of aristocratic bloodlines and external martial arts. One must refine the aristocratic family's true fire before beginning its practice, transforming the true fire into the Giant Elephant Force.]

[Characteristic: The Dragon Elephant Technique is a rare method for those with weaker innate blood to break through and advance to higher levels. Once one enters the Transcendent Realm, they possess the potential to break free from the constraints of their innate blood. However, if the innate blood is too powerful, they will be unable to break free.]

[Note: The power of the giant elephant is extremely strong, and ordinary physical bodies cannot withstand it.]

[Consuming 40000 original essences can modify one's physique to a Dragon-Elephant Physique, allowing for rapid advancement in cultivation. Because this modification is instantaneous, a large amount of essence is required.]

[Should we make changes?]

At first, Chen Mo seemed to be in a good mood, but by the end... his mood wasn't so good anymore.

"Forty thousand essences? That's robbery! I traveled two thousand miles, braving wind and rain, risking my life to kill countless evil gods, just to gather forty thousand essences. And you want to take it all at once? Can't you offer a smaller amount? There should be some room for negotiation, right?"

Chen Mo originally planned to gather 50,000 essences to evolve the deconstructor into a deduction device...

result……

Plans can't keep up with changes.

"How about less, 20,000?"

The panel is not responding at all...

Chen Mo: "..."

We'll have to deal with deconstructing and deducing evolution later; for now, we're being chased and attacked by the Red Lantern Lady... Let's focus on having the ability to protect ourselves first.

"Okay, okay, forty thousand it is. Please revise it for me, thank you!"

boom!
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Chen Mo's entire body trembled violently, and his muscles and bones ached terribly. It felt as if a knife was cutting through his body, performing a major surgery on him.

The whole process was extremely painful; every second felt like an eternity.

Chen Mo gritted his teeth and endured it.

After a while, the pain gradually subsided.

[Modification successful. Your physique has been changed to the Dragon-Elephant Physique. You are naturally suited to the Dragon-Elephant Technique. It's as if the Dragon-Elephant Technique was written specifically for you. There will be no more obstacles during cultivation.]

"This is alright, the 40,000 essences weren't wasted... I'll give it a try."

Chen Mo adjusted his mind, sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state, then activated his true fire and circulated the Dragon Elephant Technique.

A surge of heat and flames immediately enveloped Chen Mo, burning fiercely.

The next moment, these heat currents gradually transformed into incredibly fierce and violent energy.

"This is...this is terrifying! I feel like I've turned into an elephant."

Raise your hand and gently press it on the ground.

Boom!

The ground instantly collapsed several meters. The roof beams even swayed, almost causing a complete collapse.

Chen Mo was dumbfounded.

"As expected of a half-step ascension method, it's too abnormal. No wonder Tang Binghu held on so tightly, this master... was definitely worth the effort."

……

A month passed in a flash.

It was dusk that day.

“Not bad~”

Inside a secluded courtyard, Chen Mo, still bald, darted around, occasionally causing the ground to tremble.

Compared to a month ago, Chen Mo has grown considerably taller, reaching approximately 1.87 meters.

Actually, he reached this height about two weeks ago, and hasn't grown any taller since. It seems his development is pretty much complete.

But he gained muscle.

His skin was bronze, and his body was covered with streamlined muscles. With the slightest exertion, his muscles would quickly taut like steel bars, releasing explosive power.

"Who would have thought that I, with my True Fire Realm strength, would have mastered the first level of the Giant Elephant Force? This power is truly astounding. If I were to fight Brother Peng again, I wouldn't even need to throw a punch; a single finger would be enough. Even against Lady Bell, I could easily shatter her. I just wonder if I could handle Lady Red Lantern?"

Perhaps it was because the Red Lantern Lady was a zombie that she exuded such a chilling and terrifying aura. Chen Mo dared not be careless in the slightest when facing this old woman.

"Let's go see our master first."

Chen Mo washed up, changed into a new set of clothes, and hurriedly went out.

……

Feilai Mountain is very large.

Even late at night, there are disciples patrolling with knives.

The nearby villages, towns, and county seats are all occupied and patrolled by members of the Green Wolf Gang.

This is an agreement reached between the Blue Wolf Gang and everyone else.

Every year, the villagers in the surrounding area would offer tribute to the Green Wolf Gang, in return for the gang's responsibility to pacify the area of ​​evil spirits and bandits, ensuring peace and tranquility. For many years, both sides had lived in this way, coexisting peacefully and harmoniously.

Two disciples, carrying torches and carrying broadswords, patrolled near Dazexiang.

One of the taller disciples said, "A couple of days ago, Awei went missing while patrolling Dazexiang and hasn't returned yet. Let's be careful."

Another shorter man said, "That Ah Wei is no good. He smokes opium every day and frequents gambling dens and brothels. He even occasionally robs orphaned girls. He's a real scoundrel. I bet he's off gallivanting somewhere again."

The tall man said, "Fat Tiger, keep your voice down. Ah Wei's cousin is an inner disciple of the Green Wolf Gang. Don't let his cousin hear you."

The short man said, "Brother Shu is right. Hey, Chen Ashui's house is just ahead. Let's go over and say hello."

The tall tree-like man said, "Uncle Ashui has lived a lonely life all these years, but he's been quite good to us. Let's go see him."

The two arrived at Chen Ashui's house one after the other.

The gate was ajar. Lights were on inside.

Seeing Chen Ashui sitting in the courtyard weaving bamboo fish baskets, he went over to greet him.

"Uncle Ashui, you're still busy so late."

"Uncle Ashui, has anything strange happened during the day?"

Chen Ashui sat in the chair with his back to the two of them, and did not say anything.

Fat Tiger then stepped forward, "Uncle Shui, why aren't you answering? We're here on patrol to protect you. If you need anything, just let us know..."

Before he could finish speaking, Fatty Tiger saw a decaying coffin in the living room, emitting a strong stench of death. The coffin was making a thumping sound. Beside the coffin stood a woman in red, her sinister eyes staring at Fatty Tiger.

An indescribable, extremely chilling feeling spread throughout my body.

"Uncle Ah Shui, who is this woman?" Fatty Tiger was terrified and hurriedly tried to push Chen Ah Shui away. But Chen Ah Shui raised her head, revealing only the whites of her eyes, opened her mouth wide, and exposed two rows of densely packed, sharp fangs. She then bit down directly at Fatty Tiger's neck.

"Ah!!" Fat Tiger screamed in agony, then lost consciousness.

Upon seeing this scene, Brother Shu turned and ran. Just as he ran out of the yard, he suddenly saw the decaying coffin from the living room standing in front of him, seemingly out of nowhere.

Brother Tree was so frightened that he trembled and could barely stand.

suddenly--

bump.

The coffin lid suddenly opened, revealing an old man dressed in black, his face covered in black wrinkles, almost like a mummified corpse.

The next moment, the old man in black suddenly opened his eyes, opened his blood-red mouth, revealing two rows of dense fangs, and suddenly bit down on Brother Tree's neck.

"what!!!"

(End of this chapter)