I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 137 Outbreak: Showdown with the Red Lantern Lady!
A spacious stone cave with an underground river flowing through it.

Between Chen Mo and the Red Lantern Goddess lay a ten-meter-wide underground pool. Gusts of cold wind howled through the cave, stirring up gusts of bone-chilling cold.

The Red Lantern Goddess sat quietly on the decaying coffin, her hands supporting her chin, staring blankly at the rushing underground current. She seemed oblivious to the arrival of Chen Mo and his companions.

Chen Mo narrowed his pupils, staring intently at the woman in red opposite him.

Even though Chen Mo's strength has increased significantly over the past few months.

When I saw this Red Lantern Lady again, the extremely chilling feeling was not lessened, but became even stronger.

Logically, this shouldn't be the case, so there's only one possibility...

I became stronger, but the Red Lantern Lady became even stronger.

That's scary enough.

You should know that Chen Mo has a cheat code...

However, this goddess has been operating in Honghe County for decades, absorbing incense offerings for just as long. And she's been eating people everywhere... so it's hard to judge her by common sense.

Tang Lei, who followed behind, saw the woman in red sitting on the coffin. His gaze sharpened, and he asked Chen Mo, "Is this woman the zombie?"

Chen Mo nodded: "She is the Red Lantern Goddess who ran away from Honghe County."

Clang!

Tang Lei suddenly drew his sword, his eyes blazing with fury: "Very well, so this is the Red Lantern Lady! Our Tang Zhengyang and Miss Ziyu's ten-year scheme in Honghe County has failed, all thanks to this scoundrel. Chen Ashui bit the young gang leader to death, also thanks to him. Today, I, Tang Lei, will meet this dog zombie. I want to see if this zombie is really as terrifying as outsiders say. Elder Chen, take your men and retreat. Don't come any closer!"

Chen Mo had a bad feeling. "Elder Tang, please be careful. If you are no match for him, do not force yourself."

"Don't be afraid before the battle even begins!" Tang Lei shouted, then stomped his foot on the ground, his huge body immediately bulging muscles, transforming into a steel beast, and rushed towards the Red Lantern Lady opposite him.

"You zombie dog, prepare to die!"

Bang bang bang!
Tang Lei was covered in true fire, transforming into a ball of flame. He stepped on the Nebula Step, and in a few leaps, he crossed the underground pool. Suddenly, he leaped high into the air, gripped his five-foot-long broadsword tightly, and slashed fiercely at the Red Lantern Goddess on the coffin.

Chen Mo stared intently at the scene before him, expecting it to be a closely contested duel.

After all, Tang Lei was a top expert who had cultivated to the fifth level of the aristocratic bloodline, the Blood Rift.

however……

The Red Lantern Lady didn't even glance at Tang Lei; she simply raised her right hand and directly grasped the broadsword that Tang Lei was wielding.

Catching a blade barehanded.

boom!
The terrifying blade strikes were all caught by the Red Lantern Lady with a single hand. The resulting shockwave caused the underground pool to explode, turning into countless streams of water that rushed in all directions.

what?
Tang Lei was taken aback, not expecting the zombie to have such great strength.

After all, he had never seen a zombie before, only knowing about them from Tang Binghu's stories. That one strike just now had already used all the power of his true fire.

actually……

Wow!

Tang Lei suddenly drew his sword back, shouting, "So what if you're strong? Blood mist, you'll only hurt yourself!"

Boom!

The true fire on Tang Lei's body suddenly transformed into countless layers of blood mist, and his blood began to turn into layers of blood mist. Each layer of blood mist that appeared unleashed terrifyingly high power.

As his power increased layer by layer, Tang Lei was also under tremendous strain, and blood began to flow from the corner of his mouth.

Once his power had reached its peak, Tang Lei struck again.

"Come again!"

"Thunder Blade!"

Boom!

Tang Lei charged towards the Red Lantern Lady like a cannonball, his two broadswords infused with crackling lightning, and he slashed down fiercely once more.

The Red Lantern Goddess didn't even glance at him; she simply raised her hand and waved it away.

when!
As if brushing a fly away with a sleeve, Tang Lei clearly felt that his attack had hit a mountain. Not only did it not damage the mountain at all, but the mountain's slightest force sent him flying.

puff!

Tang Lei spat out a mouthful of blood, then flew backwards like a kite with a broken string for more than ten meters, landing heavily on the stone wall. He then slid down the stone wall to the ground, continuously vomiting blood.

Just as Chen Mo was about to speak, Tang Lei suddenly stood up.

A terrifying energy surged from Tang Lei's body, causing his robes to billow even without wind.

Blood began to flow from his seven orifices, and countless spiderweb-like cracks appeared on his skin, making a "crackling" sound, accompanied by a crazy surge of power.

Chen Mo knew that this was because Tang Lei had activated the fifth layer of power in the aristocratic family bloodline: Blood Rift.

Blood Mist is already a self-harming fighting style.

The same applies to blood lacerations.

"Hahaha, interesting, very interesting. A little ghost from Honghe County has turned into a zombie! It's one thing for you to run rampant in Honghe County. But how dare you act so arrogantly in my Green Wolf Gang? You killed the young gang leader, so you'll have to pay the price!"

"Blood Rift, Battle Spirit!"

Click!

Tang Lei, who was already seven feet tall, suddenly grew to nine feet tall. His muscles bulged and ripped through his clothes, transforming him into a three-meter-tall monster. His power level had increased to another level.

"Die!"

Boom boom boom!

Tang Lei transformed into a roaring, monstrous beast, charging fiercely towards the Red Lantern Goddess opposite him. His five-foot-long, peerless broadsword, carrying unprecedented sharpness and power, slashed down fiercely.

The Red Lantern Lady still didn't glance at Tang Lei. She simply raised her right hand and gripped the broadsword tightly, preventing Tang Lei from cutting it down no matter how hard he tried.

With another wave of her hand, the Red Lantern Goddess lifted Tang Lei, who was three meters tall, into the air by gripping the blade.

"Hey, I just wanted to hide here. Why did you have to disturb my peace? With your insignificant strength... it's like an ant trying to shake a tree."

The Red Lantern Lady finally spoke, then turned to look at Tang Lei.

hiss!
When Tang Lei first saw the eyes of the Red Lantern Goddess, he immediately felt an indescribable chill, a coldness creeping down his spine. A sense of fear arose within him.

"Lie down!"

The Red Lantern Goddess gripped the blade, swung it twice in the air, and then released it. Tang Lei, like a meteor hammer released from its grasp, slammed heavily into the stone wall, causing half of the wall to collapse and burying his body under countless stones.

Their fate remains unknown.

brush!
The Red Lantern Lady turned to look at Chen Mo, a rare hint of excitement flashing across her usually cold face. She said in a sinister tone, "I've been looking for you for a very, very long time. Hehe~"

The voice was icy, carrying an extremely chilling feeling.

Chen Mo watched quietly.

When he saw Tang Lei being sent flying by the Red Lantern Lady for the first time, he knew that Tang Lei was no match for her.

Because Chen Mo had used the panel to see the Red Lantern Lady.

Eight stiff lines!

It has one more wrinkle than when I last saw it in Jiangkou Town.

Chen Mo didn't run away either.

He knew that from the moment he stepped down from the cave and saw that the zombie was the Red Lantern Lady, he had no chance of escaping. He figured he might as well take advantage of Tang Lei's duel with the Red Lantern Lady to observe her weaknesses and attack patterns.

But Tang Lei wasn't up to par... he didn't force the Red Lantern Lady to use any of her tricks.

Then there's no way.

Bang, bang, bang!
Chen Mo slowly drew the broadsword from his back, pointed it at the Red Lantern Lady, and a fierce look appeared in his eyes. "You really are a persistent ghost. I can run into you everywhere."

"Xiaoye, run! Run as far as you can!"

She couldn't escape on her own, but Xiaoye didn't need to stay here.

Xiao Ye didn't run away. Instead, she stood next to Chen Mo and said stubbornly, "I'm not leaving."

Chen Mo was furious. He suddenly turned around and yelled at Xiao Ye, "Don't try to act like a spoiled princess in front of me! Get out! Get the hell out of here! Go as far away as you can!"

After saying that, Chen Mo kicked Xiao Ye hard.

Xiao Ye was taken aback by Chen Mo's attitude, but in the end she didn't say anything and left silently.

Watching Xiao Ye's departing figure, Chen Mo felt all alone again.

However, Chen Mo was never a sentimental person, and he quickly adjusted himself, turning back to look at the Red Lantern Lady.

Originally, Chen Mo found the chilling aura emanating from the Red Lantern Lady terrifying, but now that he was cornered, he no longer felt anything, and even let out a chilling laugh.

"Jie Jie Jie~"

"Hehe, hahaha!"

As Chen Mo's laughter grew increasingly unrestrained, blood-red curse patterns resembling flower buds appeared on his body.

His entire skin tone turned brown.

Terrifying ghostly energy was released from Chen Mo's body.

Chen Mo, who originally appeared to be a human being, immediately became eerily ghostly. The terrifying ghostly energy transformed into storms that swept outwards from Chen Mo's center.

"Jie Jie Jie~"

"Red Lantern Lady, since you won't give me a way out, then let me see... just how capable you are!"

"True Fire, Heavenly Dipper!"

boom!
The man descended like a tiger from the mountain, leaping across the water in a few bounds to reach the Red Lantern Goddess, and fiercely slashed down with his sword.

The Red Lantern Lady raised her hand and grasped the knife in Chen Mo's hand: "Oh? Shen Liang's Guan Dao from back then. You modified it into a broadsword... Not bad. It's a pity that this thing can subdue ghosts, but it's useless against zombies..."

Before she could finish speaking, the Red Lantern Lady's expression suddenly changed drastically.

An extremely terrifying force suddenly erupted, flowing along the blade and empowering the Red Lantern Goddess. Suddenly, with a loud "boom," the Red Lantern Goddess was cleaved away by the greatsword, crashing heavily into the stone wall, scattering countless fragments of stone.

How can it be?

Why does this person possess such terrifying power?

It was even more terrifying than Tang Lei's Blood Rift.

Hey!
Chen Mo strode towards the Red Lantern Goddess, his body emitting the roar of an ancient giant elephant.

What I just used wasn't some True Fire Heavenly Gang, it was clearly the Dragon Elephant Skill.

The first level of the Giant Elephant Force is the unparalleled power of an ancient giant elephant.

When Chen Mo saw Tang Lei being sent flying by the Empress, he realized... the so-called power of aristocratic bloodlines was utterly useless against a zombie like the Empress. Perhaps his master was right after all.

The only way to deal with zombies is through sheer brute force.

Now that I've tested it, it's true.

While he was pondering, Chen Mo rushed to the Red Lantern Goddess again and slashed down fiercely once more.

boom!
The knife fell, and the stone shattered.

The Red Lantern Lady was once again forced back by the large sword, and her gaze towards Chen Mo changed. "Very well, I underestimated you. This is probably the Dragon Elephant Skill, the top-tier external martial arts technique of Southern Continent."

"So what if you know? Die!!" Chen Mo, wielding his sword in both hands, strode forward, slashing so hard that the Red Lantern Goddess's body crashed through stone pillars, causing a series of collapses.

The Red Lantern Lady's face grew increasingly excited. "You can simultaneously control the power of ghosts and aristocratic families. You must have a ghost bone within you. Since you obtained the great halberd from that vile woman Shen Yujun, you must have also obtained the ghost bone from that baby of hers."

"You know too much, you must die today!"

boom!
Chen Mo slashed repeatedly with his broadsword, his giant elephant energy constantly erupting from his body, forcing the empress to retreat wildly, her clothes tattered and her hair disheveled.

"Hehe... Good, good, good indeed. I've always wanted to find that ghost bone to bring back to my master. I never imagined I'd find it all on you today. My spirit, my master's ghost bone... Kill you, and I'll have them all!"

The Red Lantern Lady roared, suddenly halting her retreat. She gripped the knife in Chen Mo's hand, her cold eyes gleaming with insatiable greed and desire: "If I hadn't successfully transformed into a zombie, I truly would have died by your hand. You are indeed strong, but you don't understand the power of zombies. Hehe!"

Boom!

The moment she finished speaking, a white light suddenly emanated from the Red Lantern Goddess's body. Eight white, stiff lines appeared on her face, and then the Red Lantern Goddess let out a long sigh. This sigh was so long... it seemed to have sucked in all the air in the entire cave.

The next moment, the Red Lantern Goddess seemed to have changed completely. White, stiff lines of light emanated from her skin, and she became incredibly strong. Bare-handed, she directly confronted Chen Mo's magical broadsword, forcing Chen Mo to retreat step by step, his blood churning.

That's so perverted!!

Chen Mo felt a strain.

Chen Mo knew all too well how terrifying the power of the giant elephant in the first level of the Dragon Elephant Technique was. This was a top-tier method for those on the verge of advancement; even someone as talented as Tang Binghu had spent five years just to master the first level.

Now, he has even used the power of the clan's true fire, combining the power of ghosts and ghost bones. Combined with the power of the giant elephant, the resulting attack has reached an unimaginably monstrous level. Yet, he is still being suppressed by the Red Lantern Lady.

It's really outrageous.

No wonder powerful families are afraid of zombies; there's a reason for it.

Fortunately, Chen Mo himself is also an abnormal character, with an extremely fast rate of health and mana regeneration, so he doesn't have any downtime and can barely hold his own against the Empress. Moreover, Chen Mo's hopes don't lie in this.

He was relying on the power of the blood curse and the mirror on his back.

You must get close to the Red Lantern Goddess and take her blood.

But this guy is too fast and too strong, and his defense is flawless. I need to find an opportunity.

Boom boom boom!
The two clashed and collided wildly within the stone chamber, like two streaks of light, constantly colliding and attacking each other.

With each attack from the Empress, Chen Mo felt his bones go numb, as if his whole body was falling apart. He soon coughed up blood. Even so, Chen Mo stubbornly held on.

In the blink of an eye, the two sides had gone through dozens of rounds.

At first, the Red Lantern Lady didn't take it seriously. But as the fight went on, she became increasingly terrified.

This person has mastered the Dragon Elephant Skill, which is one thing, but how can he maintain his peak condition indefinitely? The speed of his rebound is too fast... How can one person be so abnormal? He doesn't seem to be weak at all.

Although her own zombie markings provided excellent enhancement, there was a peak period. Once that peak passed, she would begin to weaken. After all, she was only an eight-marked white zombie.

The fact that Chen Mo was so abnormal made the Red Lantern Lady feel somewhat uneasy.

'Let's stall for another fifty rounds and see; I don't believe he can maintain his peak performance indefinitely.'

Fifty rounds passed quickly.

Even though the Empress still held the upper hand, she was already feeling a little uneasy.

This guy is practically a human beast, showing no signs of weakening at all; he's absolutely insane.

'This is the territory of the Green Wolf Gang. Once the old monster from Tang Family Fortress arrives, it will be difficult to deal with him. I need to finish this quickly. Since I can't take him down without injury, I'll have to settle for second best.' With this thought in mind, the Red Lantern Lady's eyes hardened.

“Chen Mo, little guy, I do admire your strength. But it’s useless. You have no idea what a zombie is. You’re just a cornered beast fighting for survival. I only need to retrieve the spirit in your sea of ​​consciousness and dig out that ghost bone of yours. We have no hatred for each other, so there’s no need for us to fight to the death like this.”

bump!
Chen Mo suddenly slashed out with his sword, "I don't believe you for a second. You know too much, you must die today!"

"Since you're so stubborn, then die!" For the first time, the Red Lantern Lady didn't dodge Chen Mo's slashing blade. Instead, she took the blow head-on with her abdomen.

puff!

The broadsword pierced the Red Lantern Lady's abdomen for the first time, and blood trickled down, staining the blade. This was zombie blood, carrying an extremely powerful corrosive effect. Even though the broadsword was a magical artifact of the Shen family, it was corrupted and immediately became dull and lifeless, shattering in no time.

Taking the opportunity, Chen Mo wiped the zombie blood of the Red Lantern Lady with his hand.

Almost simultaneously, the Red Lantern Lady's body moved close to Chen Mo, revealing two rows of fine fangs, and she bit down hard on Chen Mo's neck.

Click!

The fangs bit into Chen Mo's neck, and a large amount of corpse poison was injected into Chen Mo's body through the fangs.

Boom!

The two of them fell to the ground at the same time, smashing several large rocks.

The next moment, the Red Lantern Goddess felt it was about time, and used her sharp, knife-like fingernails to pierce Chen Mo's abdomen. She viciously slashed open a conspicuous wound before withdrawing her hand and taking a few steps back, staring at the huge gash in her abdomen.

Gulu gulu~
Activating the zombie pattern, the wound on his abdomen began to heal at a visible speed.

The Red Lantern Lady gasped for breath, coldly staring at Chen Mo: "I told you not to fight to the death. Now that you've been poisoned by my corpse poison, you have no chance of survival..."

Before he could finish speaking—

Click, click, click!

Chen Mo immediately reached out and tore off a large chunk of flesh from his neck. He then ripped off two pieces of flesh from his abdomen as well.

A large chunk of flesh was missing from his neck, so deep that the bone was visible. Two large chunks of flesh were missing from his abdomen, revealing his internal organs. Similarly, Chen Mo's wounds were healing at a visible speed.

The Red Lantern Lady probably hadn't expected Chen Mo to be so ruthless, "You..."

"Jie Jie Jie~"

Chen Mo slowly stood up, revealing an extremely ferocious smile. "Brother Peng died because of this, how could I follow in his footsteps? I know killing you is not easy, and I myself might even die. But... Lady Red Lantern, perhaps... you have already lost."

After saying that, Chen Mo picked up his right hand, which was stained with the blood of the Red Lantern Goddess, and used his left hand to draw a magic seal on the palm of his right hand.

The next moment, Chen Mo let out a furious roar.

"Bloodline, curse to kill!"

"Die!!!" Chen Mo had tested the power of the blood curse before.

Blood curses are effective not only on living things but also on inanimate objects.

Zombies are said to be immortal, but at best they are just inanimate objects.

Bloodline curse might be useful.

The moment the words fell—

boom!
Suddenly, the Red Lantern Goddess trembled violently; the zombie blood within her body... became uncontrollable. Blood curses appeared throughout her bloodstream, spreading like a spiderweb across her limbs and bones. For the first time, the Red Lantern Goddess, who possessed an immortal body, felt her life force rapidly ebbing away.

"This is impossible... Nothing can kill a zombie! Nothing..."

For the first time, the Red Lantern Lady lost her composure and became panicked.

She immediately slashed her wrist and saw small flower buds appearing in the flowing blood.

hiss!
The Red Lantern Lady seemed to have seen something extremely terrifying. "This is... Master's flower bud. You, you actually... completely fused with the ghost bone that Master cultivated with all his life's effort, and even awakened the Other Shore Curse Flower within it."

The Cursed Flower of the Other Shore?

Your owner?

Although Chen Mo was curious, he dared not relax for a moment. This was because the Red Lantern Lady was far too terrifying; even a second longer of her life was dangerous. He continued to activate his Bloodline Curse Killing technique, wanting the Red Lantern Lady to die immediately.

"Die to me!!"

The Red Lantern Lady suddenly laughed: "Hahaha, what my master cultivated actually works! Hahaha, my master has hope! Chen Mo, your blood curse is indeed powerful, but you still can't kill me, because I'm a zombie! An eight-patterned white zombie, I still have an unfinished mission. I cannot die!"

Next, Chen Mo saw something he never dared to imagine in his two lifetimes:
The Red Lantern Lady clasped her hands together and exclaimed, "Zombie Secret Technique: Shedding Flesh and Blood!"

The eight zombie-like markings that were originally visible on his face suddenly burrowed into his flesh.

Then, the Red Lantern Goddess used her sharp, knife-like fingernails to peel away all the flesh and blood from her body.

In the blink of an eye, the Red Lantern Goddess turned into a skeleton.

Without flesh and blood.

The Blood Curse...it didn't work on her.

But the Red Lantern Lady was still alive.

Eight stiff lines were even branded on the white bones.

Looking at the horrific scene before him, Chen Mo felt a sense of horror for the first time.

terrible!
These are zombies!?

Without flesh and blood, how can it possibly survive?
Then, a crazy idea popped into Chen Mo's mind: Damn it, I want to turn myself into a zombie too!!!
"Jie Jie Jie~"

The Red Lantern Goddess, now reduced to bones, gave a sinister smile, "Chen Mo, you're very good, very, very good."

Chen Mo thought she was going to attack him, but unexpectedly she turned and ran away at an alarming speed. She rushed to the side of the decaying coffin, lifted it up, and ran wildly towards the underground river.

"The Red Spider Lily Curse actually works. Hehe, I'm going to tell my master. My master will come looking for you. Hehe, Chen Mo, you're doomed for life. Prepare to live in fear forever. Hehehe."

"Don't even think about running!" Chen Mo immediately strode out after him.

In fact, Chen Mo had caught up immediately, but his body was exhausted from the exertion he had just suffered. Moreover, although the Red Lantern Lady was weaker after losing her flesh and blood, she was faster.

How could Chen Mo let her get away?
Bang bang bang!
Chen Mo disregarded his injuries and unleashed the power of his true fire and the ghost, unleashing the power of the giant elephant to chase after them relentlessly.

The Red Lantern Goddess knows too much; we absolutely cannot let her escape.

……

Not long after Chen Mo left.

Tang Lei had just crawled out of the pile of rubble when he started coughing up blood.

He struggled to adjust his position, leaned against the stone wall, coughed up blood, and his eyes were filled with shock.

He had seen the final battle between Chen Mo and the Red Lantern Lady through the gaps in the pile of rubble.

This is absolutely mind-blowing.

"I was really...blind. The gang leader has a discerning eye. He found such a freakish elder for our Green Wolf Gang."

Tang Lei felt extremely ashamed when he thought about what he had said to Tang Mei at the entrance of the Azure Wolf Palace.

"They said it was troublesome to bring a newcomer along, and that he was useless. I never expected... that I would be the clown in the end. Chen Mo is really too powerful. He must have used the power of a ghost. But to force the Red Lantern Lady to abandon her physical body and escape is just too exaggerated. I need to report to the gang leader immediately and find help for Chen Mo."

puff!

Tang Lei coughed up another mouthful of blood, then struggled to his feet. Enduring the pain, he quickly left the cave and went to the backyard of Chen Ashui's house. There, he saw countless disciples of the Green Wolf Gang guarding the area, each wielding a large knife, vigilant and on guard.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that it was Tang Lei who came out.

Zhang Kuang approached and asked, "Third Elder, are you alright?"

Seeing Tang Lei covered in blood, Zhang Kuang was utterly shocked. In his mind, the Third Elder was an invincible and unparalleled tough guy; he never expected... that he would be injured like this.

Could it be that there really are zombies down there?

Are zombies really that scary?
puff.

Tang Lei spat out a mouthful of blood. "I'm fine. Immediately send someone to the Green Wolf Gang to report that a terrifying zombie has appeared here. I, Tang Lei, am no match for that zombie. However, Fifth Elder Chen Mo is brave and powerful, and is chasing after the zombie. Also, have all the disciples sound all the signal flares and mobilize all the gang members in the vicinity. We absolutely cannot let that dog zombie escape."

Zhang Kuang immediately replied, "Yes."

……

drive!
drive! !

In the city, a large group of people rode out of Tangjiabao, rushed out of the city gate, and sped towards the direction of Dazexiang.

No one dared to stop them along the way. The soldiers at the city gate opened the gates to make way for them, and even bowed their heads.

Without him.

This is the top leadership of Tangjiabao stepping in.

The leader was an elderly man with white hair, wearing a brown robe and a purple crown. Although he was over ninety years old, he possessed an exceptionally strong aura that made people afraid to look him in the eye. He was none other than Tang Xianhe, the lord of Tang Family Fort.

This lord of Tangjiabao has been in charge of Tangjiabao for over forty years and is the true pillar of Tangjiabao.

It is also one of the four most outstanding peaks in the entire Nanyang Prefecture.

A truly exceptional figure.

Following behind Tang Xianhe were Tang Binghe, the fifth leader of Tang Family Fortress; Tang Feifei, the third leader; and Tang Bingdao, the second leader. Also present were Tang Mei, the fourth elder of the Green Wolf Gang, and Tang Binghu, the future heir of Tang Family Fortress.

Behind him followed dozens of high-ranking officials from Tangjiabao, all of whom were important figures.

It is extremely rare for so many important figures to come out together, even for the people of Nanyang Prefecture.

Many elderly people were discussing it.

"Could something big have happened at Tang Family Fortress? Even Fortress Master Tang Xianhe has been mobilized. The three chieftains have been mobilized, and the future fortress master has also been mobilized. Such a lineup is a bit too frightening."

"I haven't seen such a grand spectacle in many years. I've heard that Tang Xianhe is nearing the end of his life and has been in seclusion for years. It's quite unusual that he's personally come out today."

"Say less, or you'll be in big trouble."

"Yes, yes, yes."

"..."

The commotion at Tangjiabao spread like wildfire throughout the entire prefectural city, giving the impression that a storm was brewing.

The family most concerned about the movements of Tangjiabao were none other than Tangjiabao's mortal enemy... the Shen family.

Upon seeing the commotion at Tangjiabao, the members of the Shen family immediately returned to report to their family.

Tangjiabao is in the west of the city, and Shenjiabao is in the east.

A mansion even more magnificent and imposing than Tang Family Fortress. Compared to Tang Family Fortress's low-key style, the Shen family's style was much more high-profile. Their gates were always bustling with visitors, countless martial arts masters came to seek their skills, willing even to serve as the Shen family's foot soldiers.

The reason is simple: Tang Xianhe's lifespan has been approaching in recent years, and his decline is evident. Meanwhile, the Shen family is thriving, having produced two individuals at the pinnacle of the Four Great Masters, naturally enjoying great success. Consequently, their actions have become more arrogant and high-profile, which is unavoidable.

In a separate courtyard of the Shen family mansion.

Wearing a long red robe, Shen Zishan sat at the head of the table, receiving birthday wishes from his family and relatives.

Today is Shen Zishan's 70th birthday, and the celebration is grand.

Shen Zishan accepted countless toasts and birthday wishes with a beaming smile, basking in his success. Even the prefect of the city had come. This demonstrated the immense power and influence of the Shen family.

After exchanging pleasantries, Shen Zishan said with a smile, "Thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday today. I would also like to take this opportunity to announce something. I'm getting old and can no longer bear to see fighting and killing. In two years, I will retire. From now on, the affairs of the Shen family will be managed by my son-in-law, Shen Wudao."

A man in his forties, dressed in a dark green robe, stood up next to Shen Zishan, raised his wine cup to everyone, and said, "I, Shen Wudao, was born into a poor family. It is thanks to my adoptive father's favor that I have achieved some success today. From now on, I will rely on your cooperation in many matters concerning the Shen family."

"Respectfully, Master Dao."

"Congratulations, Daoist Master!"

Shen Zishan was satisfied with this and sat down, handing the stage over to Shen Wudao. Watching Shen Wudao clink glasses with everyone, a long-lost smile appeared on his face. The other two men sitting beside him, however, were slightly displeased.

One was the tall Shen Qianshui, and the other was the shorter, stout Shen Baishan. Both were Shen Zishan's biological sons, one tall and one short. Both were exceptionally talented, but now they watched as their father entrusted the future of the Shen family to an outsider son-in-law, naturally making them unhappy. However, considering Shen Wudao's extraordinary methods, they endured it.

Rationally, they all knew that handing the Shen family over to Shen Wudao was the best choice; they just couldn't accept it emotionally.

After a lively birthday banquet, Shen Zishan took his two sons and sons-in-law to his study for tea.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Zishan said, "Qianshui, Baishan, you are both my good sons. But Wudao is not an outsider either. The future of our Shen family should be entrusted to Wudao, as that is the most hopeful thing. You two should not harbor any resentment towards each other, and should assist Wudao well."

Shen Qianshui smiled and said, "I know what Father is saying. The reason our Shen family has been able to prosper for a hundred years is not because of nepotism, but because of truly talented people. I am not as good as Wudao in this respect, so I am completely convinced that Wudao will take over the Shen family."

Shen Baishan chuckled and said, "Me too."

Shen Wudao also expressed his stance: "Godfather, rest assured, I, Shen Wudao, will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to the cause of our family's prosperity. I will certainly lead the Shen family to even greater heights."

Although Shen Wudao married into the Shen family, he still habitually called Shen Zishan his godfather.

The main reason is that before Shen Wudao married into the Shen family, he had already become Shen Zishan's godfather. It was from that time that Shen Wudao began to rise to prominence, making rapid progress all the way, and eventually married Shen Zishan's daughter, reaching where he is today.

Seeing how well-behaved the three children were, Shen Zishan's face was full of smiles. "Seeing you all so harmonious and supportive of each other puts my mind at ease. Tangjiabao is declining more and more, and Tang Xianhe doesn't have many years left to live. Sooner or later, Tangjiabao will be handed over to Tang Binghu. Although Tang Binghu is capable, he is far inferior to Wudao. The decline of Tangjiabao is only a matter of time. Once Tang Xianhe is dead, we will directly wipe out the Tang family. After that, the prefectural city will be dominated by my Shen family. However, my health is not good, and I don't know if I will be able to see the day when the Shen family reaches the top."

Shen Wudao said, "Father, rest assured, I will expedite the Shen family's entry into the city. Once I break through the ascent, even if Tang Xianhe is still alive, we can still sweep through Tang Family Fortress. I want you to witness the day when the Shen family reaches the top."

Shen Zishan was very satisfied upon hearing this. "Good, very good. Wudao is promising. Since the beginning of recorded history, our Nanyang Prefecture has never produced a transcendent being who has reached the fifth level. Our Wudao will surely be the first to reach such a level. When that time comes, we will certainly not have to wait for Tang Xianhe to die of old age."

Everyone envisioned a bright future for the Shen family.

Shen Qianshui suddenly spoke up: "Although our Shen family is thriving in all aspects, there are still hidden dangers. A 'Golden Light Master' has emerged in Dayu County and Ningdu County. The two people I sent to investigate, Shen Qi and Ling He, have not returned yet. They can't even be found. They have most likely fallen victim to that Golden Light Master's evil deeds."

Shen Baishan said, "That Master Jin Guang is truly hateful. Why don't we send a master to wipe out this scoundrel?"

Shen Wudao said, "This matter is ultimately a minor one, there's no rush. Right now, our Shen family's greatest enemy is still Tangjiabao. I've heard that Tangjiabao has been setting up camp in Honghe County for ten years, trying to reclaim the incense offerings there. They ended up suffering the consequences. It seems that the Red Lantern Goddess of Honghe County has escaped. Could this sudden appearance of the Golden Light Master be related to the escape of the Red Lantern Goddess?"

Shen Zishan said, "Dayu and Ningdu counties are two thousand miles away from here, making it really inconvenient to transmit information. But this matter still needs to be taken into account, and we must keep it in mind."

Shen Wudao said, "What my godfather says is right. I will send people to investigate in Dayu and Ningdu counties again. We must find out where that Master Jin Guang came from."

Just then, a disciple rushed in.

"Report! Patriarch, Daoist, Eldest Master, Second Master, something terrible has happened at Tang Family Fortress. Just now, Tang Xianhe led Tang Bingdao, Tang Feifei, Tang Binghe, Tang Binghu, and dozens of other high-ranking officials out of the city."

Shen Wudao immediately stood up: "Tang Xianhe is nearing the end of his life and has been hiding in Tang Family Fortress to recuperate. Why has he come out in person now? Has something happened at Tang Family Fortress?"

The disciple said, "I had someone ask our informant who was lurking in Tangjiabao. It is said that... Tang Peng, the young leader of the Green Wolf Gang, died in Dazexiang. That's why Tang Xianhe was furious and led his men to Dazexiang."

"Died in Dazexiang? That must have been an encounter with a ghost." Shen Qianshui suddenly burst into laughter: "Good riddance. Tang Peng was the most outstanding among the third generation of Tangjiabao. Now that Tang Peng is dead, the future of Tangjiabao is gone. Tang Xianhe was already in poor health, wouldn't he be so angry that he vomited blood? He could have lived a few more years, but now he won't live much longer. Heaven is helping my Shen family."

Ok.

Shen Zishan sat at the head of the table, a satisfied look on his face. He sighed slightly, "I fought with Tang Xianhe my whole life, and we still couldn't determine who was superior. I never thought the Tang family would be so unlucky, with no successor. I never imagined... that Tang Family Fort would end like this. Let's continue to inquire and see what kind of ghosts have appeared."

The disciple replied, "Yes."

Shen Zishan was in high spirits: "Today is truly a double celebration! Come on, let's have a couple more drinks to celebrate."

……

Meanwhile, Tang Xianhe and his men quickly arrived at Chen Ashui's home in Daze Township.

Tang Lei, covered in blood, was even more surprised to see Tang Xianhe arrive. He hurriedly stumbled forward and kowtowed to the ground: "Tang Lei greets the Lord of the Fortress."

Tang Xianhe dismounted and asked softly, "How did you get injured like this?"

Tang Lei didn't dare to get up and recounted the whole story in detail.

The Tang family leaders around him were all shocked when they heard Tang Lei's account.

Tang Binghu stepped forward to help Tang Lei up: "You said... that zombie was the Red Lantern Goddess. Even you were powerless against her, yet my disciple Chen Mo beat the Red Lantern Goddess to a pulp? And even forced her to abandon her flesh and blood to escape?"

Tang Lei: "Yes! I underestimated Young Master Mo before, and even spoke rudely in the Azure Wolf Hall, causing trouble for the gang leader. I, Tang Lei, was insignificant. I will personally apologize to Young Master Mo later."

Tang Feifei and Tang Bingdao were both extremely surprised.

They remembered that when Tang Binghe sent their men to find Chen Mo, they openly went to his door to stop them, and their words showed that they didn't take Chen Mo seriously at all.

I never imagined that Chen Mo... had reached such a terrifying level.

That's absolutely terrifying.

Looking back, I feel nothing but shame.

Tang Feifei said to Tang Binghe, "Fifth brother, what happened before was my fault as the older sister. I almost ruined a good thing for our Tang family."

Tang Bingdao also spoke with shame: "If I, as the elder brother, have done anything wrong, please don't take it to heart, Fifth Brother."

"Hahaha~"

Suddenly, a burst of hearty laughter erupted from the scene.

Everyone turned to look, and saw that the one laughing loudly was Tang Xianhe, whose hair and beard were completely white.

"Hahaha……"

Tang Xianhe roared to the sky: "I, Tang Xianhe, have devoted my whole life to the Tang family, and I was worried that I would only have a few days left to live. I was even thinking that after I was gone... Tang Family Fort would be suppressed by Shen Zishan. It's truly a miracle that Heaven didn't abandon Tang Family Fort. When I, Tang Xianhe, was at my most desperate, Heaven sent Tang Family Fort a prodigy. Send down the order to immediately search along the underground river and make sure that Chen Mo is safe and sound."

No one dared to object, and they all cupped their hands in greeting, saying, "Yes."

Tang Binghu personally led his men through the cellar gate. Several foremen followed.

In the vast backyard, only Tang Xianhe, an old man, remained, standing alone, gazing at the sky.

"Shen Zishan, with such a prodigy in my Tang family, we may not necessarily lose to your Shen family. Hahaha."

……

Meanwhile, Chen Mo chased after him relentlessly.

"That raven is running way too fast! We absolutely cannot let her get away!"

Chen Mo unleashed all his power, pushing his speed to the limit. He ran all the way out of the underground river and finally arrived at the dock on the banks of the Huai River. There he saw the White Bone Red Lantern Goddess jump onto a sampan, place the coffin at the bow, and immediately use the power of a zombie to propel the sampan wildly across the vast river.

At this moment, the moon climbed out from behind the dark clouds, illuminating the Huai River with shimmering light.

"Don't run!"

Chen Mo jumped onto another sampan and used his true fire to propel it in a frantic chase. But he couldn't catch up no matter what he did. As he rounded a bend in the river, a bamboo raft suddenly appeared ahead, and a woman in purple stood on it.

Her skirt fluttered in the wind, its ribbons dancing wildly. In her hand she held a two-foot-long bamboo flute, gently playing a melodious tune.

Under the moon, a bamboo raft, a beautiful woman, and the sound of a jade flute.

The end has a rather artistic conception.

Chen Mo had no time to admire the scene, and shouted at the man, "Xiao Ye, what's wrong with you? Get out of the way! Those skeletons are zombies; if they touch you, you'll die! Run!!!"

Just in time.

The flute music stopped.

Xiao Ye accepted the flute and smiled at Chen Mo, saying, "You bald guy are usually so fierce and never take me seriously. You don't know how to care for people, and you even kicked me just now. It still hurts. You're really annoying. But I'm magnanimous, and I'll let it go since you were just concerned about me."

Chen Mo was speechless. While urging the sampan to speed up with his true fire, he said, "Are you crazy? Didn't you hear me tell you to get out of the way?"

Xiao Ye said from afar, "You bald guy have helped me many times, so it would be impolite not to reciprocate. Today, I'll help you out this time too."

After saying that, Xiaoye raised the jade flute in her hand and gently waved it in front of the White Bone Red Lantern Goddess's ship. "I came from the other side of the mountains and seas, and left in a hurry. I didn't even have time to put on my sword. Today, I will use the bamboo flute as my sword and cut the river in one stroke!"

The moment the words fell, a terrifying sword aura surged forth, stretching ten meters, twenty meters, thirty meters, one hundred meters, three hundred meters... finally spanning the entire banks of the Huai River.

boom!
The once calm Huai River suddenly surged with a ten-zhang-high wave, cutting across the upper and lower reaches of the river.

"I……"

The Red Lantern Lady clearly felt that her small boat was as insignificant as an ant or a firefly in the face of this huge wave. Her face showed disbelief, and she hurriedly stopped the sampan, feeling an unprecedented fear.

Chen Mo was also stunned.

Is this Xiaoye... or a human?

Under the moonlight, it seemed as if only the woman in purple on the bamboo raft remained, like a lotus emerging from the green waves.

The woman smiled and said, "Red Lantern Lady, now that you're here, why leave?"

(End of this chapter)