I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 152: Strength Surges, Return to the Tang Family!
According to the information recorded in the book, Lord Blood Tiger was originally a mysterious tiger from Tiger Head Mountain outside Wucheng.

Other tigers have yellow fur, but this Blood Tiger, born on the banks of the Huai River, was born with red fur, making it an anomaly among tigers. Later, its experience fighting in the mountains and forests showed that red fur was indeed more powerful than yellow fur.

Soon, the red-haired blood tiger became the king of the forest, dominating the mountains and enjoying unparalleled power.

Later, on one occasion, Red Hair saw a hunter from Wucheng go into the mountains to hunt, and he ate the hunter whole. He discovered that human flesh was extremely delicious, far more so than the wild beasts in the forest.

From that time on, Blood Tiger began to enjoy eating people.

Initially, it only preyed on hunters and herb gatherers who went into the mountains to collect herbs. Later, strange events occurred frequently, and the villagers of Wucheng learned that there was a man-eating monster in the mountains, so they dared not go into the mountains.

Blood Tiger hadn't eaten a human for a while and was starving, so he led a pack of tigers and left the mountains for the first time to attack a village near the mountains: Wu Village.

Wu Village has a total of one hundred people.

That night... they were all eaten by the Blood Tiger.

That same night, Blood Tiger discovered that he had become even more different from the other tigers.

Not only is it incredibly strong and fast, but it also possesses many other unique qualities.

Blood Tiger was indulging in the pleasure of devouring people.

Later, it attacked several more villages, devouring many people. The Blood Tiger gained sentience, acquiring human-like thinking abilities and the capacity to absorb knowledge.

In this way, Blood Tiger became addicted to eating people. It attacked villages near Tiger Head Mountain one after another, and even devoured all the wild animals on Tiger Head Mountain.

The Blood Tiger's appetite grew, and it began attacking large villages.

Blood Tiger encountered resistance during the attack on Hong Village.

This was because the people of Hong Village were known for their fierce and valiant nature, and many of them were martial artists, even martial arts masters. Although Blood Tiger eventually devoured all the people of Hong Village, he was also surrounded and injured by the village's martial arts masters.

In its rage, Blood Tiger desecrated Hong Village's ancestral graves and devoured all the remains of Hong Village's ancestors, leaving not even a bone fragment.

That night, the Blood Tiger mutated.

Perhaps because it ate the old corpse, it transformed into a ghost with a physical form.

Thus, the first physical ghost in Wucheng was born.

Later, Blood Tiger discovered a new way to play: the natal incense.

Yes.

Blood Tiger discovered that cannibalism had limited effects, not as good as offerings of incense. So he forced several wealthy gentry and the county magistrate of Wucheng to set up a temple for Blood Tiger in Wucheng.

Lord Blood Tiger also resided in the Wucheng Temple, receiving incense offerings from the villagers of Wucheng, thereby enhancing his Taoist cultivation.

Many years passed, and Blood Tiger's strength reached the level of a Seven-Choice Yellow Page Ghost.

About a hundred years ago, an old man from the Shen family, Shen Wuhua, came to Wucheng Temple and sought out Lord Blood Tiger.

The two made a deal.

The details of the transaction were not mentioned in the booklet. It was probably a huge secret, one that even the Black Mountain Tower had been unable to uncover.

Later, Master Blood Tiger left Wucheng and followed Shen Wuhua to the Shen family, where he became Master Blood Tiger.

There is less information available after that.

However, Black Mountain Tower still uncovered one thing: ninety years ago, the Zhou family's patriarch went mad and slaughtered the entire Zhou family. At that time, the Blood Tiger Patriarch appeared once, appearing as a blood tiger covered in scales.

Black Mountain Tower described Blood Tiger's appearance as a combination of a cicada and a tiger.

"A combination of a lizard and a tiger... It seems that the Blood Tiger used the Shen family's Four Souls Jade and also underwent a mutation. It's similar to how Zhong Xu used the Four Souls Jade for beard and hair, turning his beard into hair."

"If that's the case, the pattern on the Shikon Jewel from the Shen family is very likely a serpent."

蜧！
Chen Mo knew: Legend has it that it was a giant black serpent capable of summoning rain and clouds. It was far more powerful than a python.

Ultimately, it's still a snake...

Zhong Jiaxu, Shen Jiazhe...

They are all related to snakes.

I seem to be a snake-type ghoul too...

"I wonder what the Four Soul Jade of the Zhou and Tang families is... Now that I'm back in Tang Family Fortress, I'll have to ask my master about it. I have a feeling that all of this is related to Jiang Hongyue. I wonder what that Jiang Hongyue is up to."

"And Black Mountain Tower... how could it be such a coincidence that it appeared in a small place like Wucheng?"

The more Chen Mo learned, the more uneasy he felt.

Wow.

Chen Mo closed the book and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Once we return to the prefectural city, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. However, I am currently too weak and need Shaoqiu and Shaoyun to build several shrines for me as soon as possible..."

Building a shrine in his honor could certainly solve Chen Mo's lack of spirit.

But there are also disadvantages.

That means the target is too big.

They are easily targeted by jealous people.

Not to mention the Shen family, there's also the Demon Suppression Bureau... I've been setting up shrines and temples in Nanyang Prefecture, and I'm afraid that just wiping out the Shen family won't be enough; I'll also need the Demon Suppression Bureau's approval.

It would be quite necessary to smooth things over with the Demon Suppression Bureau.

However, this wasn't entirely impossible for Chen Mo. After all, his master was the future heir of Tang Family Fort, and Tang Family Fort had been operating in Nanyang Prefecture for over a hundred years, so its relationship with the Demon Suppression Bureau should be quite good.

With a little effort, the Demon Suppression Bureau might just allow him to take over the Shen family's lineage.

"It seems I still have a lot to do..."

Chen Mo rubbed his temples, leaned back on the bed, and felt the incense constantly flowing into his natal ghost incense, which made him feel very comfortable. Before long, he fell into a comfortable sleep.

When I woke up again, it was already the next morning.

Although I'm still a bit listless, at least I don't have a strong urge to sleep anymore.

This made Chen Mo realize that the closer one is to a temple, the better the absorption of incense offerings.

Ancestral halls and temples... these must be the places where ghosts most like to cultivate and live.

Da da da.

As footsteps approached, Juan'er, having heard Chen Mo get up, ran in and asked, "Young Master, are you feeling better than yesterday?"

Chen Mo rolled off the ground. "Yes, living in one's own temple is much more effective."

Upon hearing this, Juan'er breathed a sigh of relief: "Then are we still in a hurry to go back to the prefectural city?"

These days, following Chen Mo all over the country, Juan'er has become very dependent on him and has come to understand that her life and death are closely tied to his. If anything happens to Chen Mo, she will be doomed too.

In this way, Juan'er came to regard Chen Mo as her closest older brother in the world.

Chen Mo thought for a moment and said, "This place is very popular, and I will benefit greatly from staying here. I will recuperate for a few days and fully recover my mental state before making any further decisions. In addition, I have given Shao Qiu and Shao Yun official titles, but their strength is too low. They are still unable to do things for me. I need to find a way."

Shaoqiu had only reached the Great Perfection of the Four Pillars of Daoist Cultivation, and Shaoyun had barely reached the same level. Neither of them could enter a temple, and when they went out to set up a shrine for themselves, they would easily encounter obstacles.

He was, after all, a servant of Master Jin Guang.

We can't be this undignified.

If Shaoqiu and her brother can't control the situation, their lineage as the Golden Lord will be in jeopardy, and wouldn't that make them a laughingstock?

Juan'er ran to the living room to fuss over the shadow puppets, while Chen Mo got up and washed up. As soon as he stepped out of the living room, he saw Shao Qiu and Shao Yun standing at the front door, their eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

They looked as if they were waiting for Master Jin Guang's instructions.

Chen Mo invited them in and they had a simple breakfast.

After the meal, Chen Mo asked, "Shaoqiu, do all the villagers in Dayu County worship me?"

Shao Qiu said with a hint of shame, "I am incompetent and have failed to get everyone to worship Lord Jin Guang. After several months of effort, about one-third of the people worship Lord Jin Guang. After all, Lord Jin Guang's image was only recently established, and many villagers do not yet know his name. This is especially true for residents in the towns and villages outside the city."

Chen Mo asked, "Is there any way to quickly promote this?"

Shaoqiu said, "That depends on what approach Master takes."

"What's the point?"

"If you, sir, take the domineering path, with your supernatural powers, you can gather several Jianghu gangs and bring them under your wing, then send their members to the countryside to protect the incense offerings. You can force the villagers to worship you. If you take the gentle path, then spread your kindness far and wide, waive the incense offering fees for a year, and also help some suffering villagers. Once the news spreads, everyone will naturally come to worship you, sir."

Chen Mo agreed, "The best strategy is to do both. Go and bring the leaders of several powerful gangs in Dayu County to see me. I will intimidate them and bring them under my control. I will have them protect my incense offerings. When you go to the countryside, it is necessary to intimidate the villagers, but you must not harm the innocent. In addition, spread kindness and help the villagers, and waive their incense offering fees for a year."

Shaoqiu was overjoyed: "Lord Jinguang is kind and benevolent. I will go and take care of it right away. In this way, within three days, the whole county will be able to offer incense to the lord."

……

Shaoqiu was efficient; he summoned the heads of the three major martial arts schools and the leaders of the four major gangs in Dayu County that very day.

After witnessing Chen Mo's abilities, the seven leaders exclaimed in awe, calling him a divine being, and prostrated themselves on the ground, shouting "Master Jin Guang!" Then, each led their men to the countryside to protect the incense offerings.

In just one day, Chen Mo felt that the incense in the temple was much stronger.

The effects of mental lethargy have been significantly improved.

Three more days passed. Jin Guang Temples were set up in more than ten neighboring county towns.

With the further promotion of incense offerings, Chen Mo's mental state improved significantly.

call!
Chen Mo lived in the Jin Guang Temple in Dayu, constantly absorbing the pleasure brought by the incense offerings. His spirit grew stronger day by day, and he was already barely able to control the body of the corpse demon.

"No wonder ghosts fight each other over incense offerings, no wonder the Shen and Tang families have been fighting for decades. In the end... it's all because these incense offerings are just too wonderful. And the Imperial Demon Suppression Division knows this well, so it uses the sale of land to win over the powerful families all over the country. It has created a delicate balance."

By now, Chen Mo had gained a basic understanding of the logic behind how the imperial court operated.

The imperial court was weak and unable to directly control the vast land, nor could it maintain order throughout the land.

Therefore, they came up with the idea of ​​selling land and jointly ruling the world with various demon-suppressing families.

wrong……

Behind most powerful families are ghosts and monsters.

In other words... the world of Daqian is shared by the imperial court and the ghosts.

Such a court is terrifying.

"However, Nanyang Prefecture is, after all, a border region of the imperial court, belonging to the local area. I wonder if the core areas of the Great Qian are in the same situation. This Great Qian is quite interesting."

Chen Mo sighed, realizing he had developed a certain interest in the imperial court.

"I'm determined to secure the ancestral worship of the Shen family in the twenty-four counties of Nanyang Prefecture. This is the foundation of my livelihood. At least until I find another solution to the spiritual problem, this path cannot be abandoned."

"The Shen family, Master Blood Tiger... we can't delay any longer."

Thanks to his mental recovery, Chen Mo was finally able to cultivate the power of the Corpse Demon without restraint.

After half a day of training, Chen Mo had a more precise control over the power of the black zombie and the shadow ghost.

The family bloodline has also entered the double era.

As dusk fell—

Boom!

Suddenly, a faint hissing sound of a large snake came from the backyard of the Golden Light Temple.

"I've finally mastered the first level of the Panlong Force."

Looking at the aristocratic power swirling around his fist, and then at the huge crater he had created in front of him, Chen Mo finally managed a faint smile.

"Although I am only a silver-level cultivator with one mark and one incense stick, the combat power I can unleash with the Panlong Force and the eeriness of snake-like zombies is enough to contend with ordinary two-mark black zombies. If I add the Other Shore Flower Curse, I can even put up a fight against three-mark black zombies."

Chen Mo withdrew his hands, stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, looked up at the sky above, and murmured, "It has been almost three months since I left my master to go into seclusion. During this time, I was homeless, a wandering ghost, hiding everywhere. I suffered a lot with Juan'er, but now... all of this has become the foundation for my advancement, helping me to step into a higher level. Once I enter the Transcendent Realm, the balance between half-human and half-corpse ghost will be completely stable. At that time, there will be no rivals in Nanyang Prefecture."

At this moment, Chen Mo's eyes shone with a sharp and intense light.

It hasn't been an easy journey.

While he benefited from the help of a cheat code, his own hard work also played a crucial role.

But Chen Mo couldn't be happy.

The matter of the Shikon Jewel, the snake-like zombies, and that ghost story... Jiang Hongyue weighed heavily on Chen Mo's heart like a mountain, making it hard for him to breathe.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

But Shaoqiu rushed over and said, "Lord Jinguang. In the fourteen counties where the gods were killed by you, you have erected temples dedicated to Jinguang. The incense offerings are gradually spreading."

Chen Mo snapped out of his thoughts and turned to look at Shao Qiu. "Well done, Shao Qiu. You've had a tough time these past few days."

Shaoqiu's eyes were fervent: "I am the master's chief attendant, and it is my duty to protect the incense and set up temples for the master. It is no trouble at all."

Chen Mo smiled and asked, "Has Shao Yun returned?"

"You're back. You've been busy out there."

Chen Mo said, "Have Shao Yun prepare a dinner so we can all have a proper meal. Also, I have something to tell you all."

"okay."

……

For the first time in several days, the four of them sat down to eat together.

Juan'er didn't have much of an appetite and wasn't used to cooked food. She quickly ate a couple of bites and then ran off to work on her puppets.

Shaoqiu and Shaoyun were already used to Juan'er's strange temper and didn't think much of it. Shaoyun, on the other hand, excitedly recounted the recent grand occasion of setting up Golden Light Temples in various places.

His excitement was just like that of Shao Yun when he checked into the Golden Light Temple.

Shaoqiu interjected from time to time, "After the Jianghu gangs in various counties learned that Master Jinguang had killed Shen Wudao, they didn't dare to stop us. They gave us the green light all the way. It made things much easier. The fact that things went so smoothly is all thanks to Master Jinguang's divine power. However, I'm worried that the Shen family will take action soon."

Chen Mo said, "It's alright. Once I return to the prefectural city, the Shen family will be too busy to come."

Shaoqiu said worriedly, "But the Shen family has many experts after all..."

Chen Mo pointed to Juan'er, who was arranging the shadow puppets not far away, and said, "I will leave Juan'er here temporarily to help you maintain the incense offerings."

Shaoqiu looked at Juan'er, quite puzzled, "Can Juan'er withstand the experts from the Shen family...?"

Chen Mo laughed and said, "Juan'er is a Yellow Page Ghost at the Nine Great Perfection stage. Even if Shen Zishan came in person, he wouldn't be able to withstand a few blows from Juan'er. However, I won't give Shen Zishan the chance to come."

hiss!
Shao Yun and Shao Qiu gasped, their eyes widening in disbelief as they stared at Juan'er, who looked only twelve or thirteen years old.

Nine sticks of incense have reached the Great Perfection!
sky……

Is this the true essence of Master Jin Guang?

It's really amazing.

Shaoqiu was the first to recover his senses. "May I ask what level of cultivation Master Jinguang possesses? If you find this offensive, then please pretend I didn't ask..."

Chen Mo knew he needed to reassure them: "I've already surpassed the Yellow Pages Ghost's level. Even the Blood Tiger Master of the Shen family might not be my match."

Click!

Shaoqiu and Shaoyun were so shocked that they stood up from their chairs, their eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Chen Mo waved his hand gently: "Don't be like that. I dare to set up my shrine and temple on the Shen family's territory because I have the confidence. I told you two servants today so that you wouldn't have too many concerns. Just focus on doing my job."

Only then did the siblings dare to sit down, secretly thinking: the future of Nanyang Prefecture will probably belong to their Master Jinguang.

Chen Mo took out a booklet and handed it to Shao Qiu: "This is the Golden Light Preservation Method, which I modified based on the Red Lantern Goddess's Red Lantern Preservation Method. By visualizing my image, you can preserve my divine essence. From then on, you can also receive the blessing of incense offerings, which can quickly accelerate your cultivation."

Shaoqiu trembled as he took the booklet. "Thank you so much, Master Jinguang."

Chen Mo nodded: "You are all four-pillar yellow page ghosts, and ordinary ninth-level martial artists are no match for you. You should be able to enter the sect quickly. Once you enter the inner realm, you can communicate with me anytime, anywhere. If you encounter danger, you can use the inner realm divine power. My spirit will descend here to you."

Shaoqiu asked, "Is Master leaving?"

Chen Mo said, "Yes. We need to head to the prefectural city immediately. I've painstakingly established incense offerings in over a dozen counties; I can't let the Shen family destroy them. I need to return to the prefectural city to stop the Shen family's advance."

Shaoqiu felt ashamed. "It's all because Shaoqiu is incompetent and has little ability. I can't help Master."

Chen Mo said, "Don't think like that. You've protected the incense offerings in these fourteen counties for me, which means you've protected my foundation. By the way, this place is quite far from the prefectural city. Is there any way to set up an inconspicuous temple in the prefectural city so that I can better enjoy the incense offerings?"

Shaoqiu, as expected of an expert in this field, said, “An inconspicuous temple… that must be an ancestral hall. That’s easy to handle. I’ll go to the prefectural city and buy an inconspicuous house for the master, and set up a Golden Light Ancestral Hall. Although the effect can’t compare to a grand temple, the image of the Golden Light Lord can be shared with the incense offerings, so it will still be useful.”

Chen Mo was overjoyed: "Then there's no time to lose. I'll go to the prefectural city first. Once you've settled things here, go to the prefectural city and set up an ancestral hall for me. After everything is settled, come to Tangjiabao or the Green Wolf Gang and find a man named Chen Mo."

"Yes."

"Put your hands here."

Shaoqiu and Shaoyun didn't know what Master Jinguang was going to do, so they reached out their hands.

puff.

Chen Mo used a dagger to cut a wound on their palms, then cut open his own palm and dripped his blood into their wounds.

“My blood has the ability to conceal the aura of ghosts. If you obtain my blood, you will be able to conceal your ghostly aura. Unless you encounter someone whose strength far surpasses mine, they will not be able to tell that you are ghosts. This will make your actions easier.”

The two were taken aback by such miraculous abilities and thanked him profusely. Chen Mo gave them some more instructions before leaving Shao Qiu behind alone. "Shao Qiu, I see you know quite a bit about ghosts. I have something to ask you."

After spending several days together, Shaoqiu had a very good impression of this Master Jinguang and didn't hide anything from him. "Master, you don't need to be so polite to me. Just tell me what you need to say."

Chen Mo said, "I've heard that your father was a fox spirit who used to enjoy the offerings of the gods in Dayu County. Do you know how your father became a ghost?"

Shaoqiu said, "My father was born on the banks of the Huai River and was originally a fisherman. Later, he was bitten by a fox on the banks of the Huai River and became a ghost... After Shaoyun and I were born, we were also ghosts."

Chen Mo understood: "The Huai River...the ghosts in the dozen or so counties near it, most of them are related to the Huai River?"

Shaoqiu said, "Yes. It is said that Lord Blood Tiger is the same."

"Understood. I'll be going now. Take care, Shaoqiu. If you encounter an insurmountable monster, prioritize your own safety. Don't risk your life for a few offerings. As long as you have the strength, you can get offerings anywhere. If you lose your life, you lose everything."

Touched by Master Jin Guang's concern, Shao Qiu replied, "Thank you for your concern, Master Jin Guang. I understand."

Chen Mo said no more. He went to the living room, gave Juan'er a few instructions, and then left Jin Guang Temple alone. He mounted his horse and headed towards the prefectural city.

drive!!!
……

The provincial capital.

Shen family.

The once-prosperous Shen family mansion, which had recently hosted a birthday celebration for Shen Zishan, was now draped in white cloth and banners. A mourning hall had been set up.

Countless high-ranking members of the Shen family gathered in the mourning hall, lying beside Shen Wudao's coffin, weeping bitterly.

"My dear husband!!"

"How will you live if you leave Yu'er all alone!"

A middle-aged woman in her early forties, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt beside the coffin, wailing uncontrollably. The Shen family members around her, seeing this, felt even more grief and indignation, and their cries grew even louder.

This middle-aged beauty was Shen Wudao's wife and Shen Zishan's daughter, Shen Yu.

To be born into the Shen family and to be chosen by Shen Wudao, one must naturally possess an extraordinary status, ruthless methods, and profound cultivation that cannot be concealed.

Compared to Shen Qianshui and Shen Baishan, Shen Yu's cultivation was actually far superior. However, being a woman, she lacked the potential to inherit the family business. This is why Shen Zishan betrothed Shen Yu to the exceptionally talented Shen Wudao.

Since Shen Wudao inherited the family business, Shen Yu has rarely left the house, spending her time at home taking care of mundane tasks. Now that Shen Wudao is dead, Shen Yu has finally come out.

"Sister, don't cry and hurt yourself. It's all my fault. I failed to protect my brother-in-law." Shen Baishan crawled on the ground to Shen Yu's side, pleading with tears streaming down his face.

"Stop pretending, get out of my way!"

Shen Yu was utterly devastated. She kicked Shen Baishan away and pointed at his nose, yelling, "Wu Dao was killed, but you survived! Why? You all went to Wucheng together. Why are you the only one who came back alive?!"

Shen Baishan had long anticipated facing his sister's wrath, so he didn't show any temper. Instead, he prostrated himself and admitted his mistake: "It's all my fault. Please, sister, punch me to death. Let me go down and apologize to my brother-in-law."

"Fine, fine. You said it yourself!" Shen Yu roared in anger, then unleashed a punch, about to smash it towards Shen Baishan.

brush!
Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed Shen Yu's arm.

"Nonsense!"

But Shen Zishan stepped forward. “Our Shen family has suffered one misfortune after another. Song’er and Qianshui passed away early, and now Wudao has also met with misfortune. With such a family in such dire straits, how can we allow internal strife to break out again?”

Shen Yu angrily said, "Father, something's wrong with Shen Baishan. The ghost killed Wudao, so why didn't it kill him?"

Shen Zishan gave Shen Baishan a deep look and said, "Baishan has already given us a detailed account of what happened. There were no problems with the process. Moreover, Baishan was seriously injured. After all, Baishan is your younger brother. Our Shen family cannot afford any more internal strife."

Shen Yu was about to explode, but seeing how much Shen Zishan had aged in the past two days, she couldn't bear it and finally gave up. "Alright, I can let this matter drop. But Tang Family Fort cannot be allowed to remain. That Master Jin Guang is Chen Mo. The one who killed Wu Dao and Qian Shui is that Chen Mo."

Shen Zishan felt extremely tired. "How could I not know about this? I went to see the Prefectural Magistrate, but he couldn't produce any concrete evidence. Chen Mo went into seclusion and hasn't returned yet. There's no way to identify him. Without solid evidence, the Prefectural Magistrate can't speak up for us."

"Father, you're confused!"

Shen Yu exclaimed, "Our Shen family has always been self-reliant. When have we ever relied on the Prefectural Governor? All he did was allocate incense offerings to twenty-four counties for us. What else has he helped us? Now Tang Family Fortress has bullied us to this extent. If we still rely on the Prefectural Governor, we will be gradually devoured by Tang Family Fortress sooner or later. At this moment, we must rely on ourselves and go to Tang Family Fortress immediately to demand the release of Tang Xianhe. If they refuse, then we will kill Tang Xianhe directly!"

Shen Zishan remained silent for a long time before saying, "Let's put this matter aside for now. I'll go see Master Blood Tiger first. We still need to give Master Blood Tiger an explanation. We'll make a decision when I return."

After leaving behind a single sentence, Shen Zishan hurriedly departed.

In the huge mourning hall, everyone stared at Shen Yu, not daring to speak.

This Miss Shen exudes an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Click!

Shen Yu appeared in front of Shen Baishan in one step, and said coldly, "Fine. Didn't you say you were fine? Then come with me to Tangjiabao immediately to demand the person."

Shen Baishan was taken aback: "Father has said that we must hold off on making a decision."

Shen Yu said coldly, "Father is old. He has lost his courage and drive, and always wants to handle things cautiously. He insists on waiting for Tang Xianhe to die before taking action. Now Chen Mo is rising rapidly. If we continue to wait, Tang Xianhe will be dead, but... an even more terrifying monster will have taken shape. What Father dares not do, I will do. You, lead the way!"

Shen Baishan was caught in a dilemma.

Not leading the way is a problem; leading the way is detrimental to the owner.

brush.

Shen Yu's eyes widened: "Huh!?"

Shen Baishan trembled with fright. "Okay, I'll lead the way for you."

Shen Yu waved his hand and said, "All of you Shen family disciples here have the blood of the Shen family flowing through your veins. If the Shen family is gone, you will be gone too. Every single one of you, take your weapons and come with me to Tang Family Fort to demand our people back."

No one dared to resist. They all took their weapons, put on mourning clothes, and followed Shen Yu out.

Shen Baishan also grabbed a knife and followed, saying, "Sister, I know you're powerful, but the Shen family still has Tang Xianhe. What if..."

Shen Yu's eyes blazed with fury: "What's there to be afraid of? Tang Xianhe has the Blood Illumination Divine Power, and so do I. He uses Blood Illumination on the Black God, and I use Blood Illumination on the Blood Tiger. The Black God couldn't beat the Blood Tiger before, but now he can?"

……

After leaving the mourning hall, Shen Zishan went to one of the most secluded courtyards of the Shen family.

The courtyard was quiet and there was no one guarding it.

The walls of the courtyard were covered with ivy and vines, looking as if it had been abandoned for a long time. The trees inside the courtyard were lush and verdant, and the view inside was completely obscured from the outside.

Upon arriving at this place again, Shen Zishan couldn't help but shrug his shoulders, compose himself, and then push open the door to enter.

The courtyard was very large, measuring a hundred feet in both directions, and was overgrown with weeds and trees. In the middle, there was only a narrow path paved with cobblestones, winding forward to the main hall at the front.

Shen Zishan followed the path all the way to the entrance of the main hall.

Above the main hall hung a plaque that read: Blood Tiger Shrine.

The handwriting is vigorous and powerful, exuding a sense of authority.

The ancestral hall's main gate was tightly closed, with an incense table set up at the entrance, upon which were placed offerings, incense burners, and other items.

Shen Zishan respectfully walked to the incense table, knelt down, kowtowed nine times, then picked up the incense sticks and tinderbox next to him, lit the incense, and inserted three sticks of incense into the incense burner.

I bowed and kowtowed three times and nine times again.

Only then did he speak: "Master Blood Tiger, a great tragedy has befallen our Shen family. Wudao is dead, and we have lost the incense offerings of fourteen counties. It is all because I, Shen Zishan, am incompetent and failed to protect your family's incense offerings. Please punish me, Master."

Bang.

He bumped his head on the ground.

There was no response from inside the ancestral hall, only a faint shadow flickered and then emitted a sinister laugh.

"Jie Jie Jie~"

Upon hearing this voice, Shen Zishan felt a chill run down his spine, yet he still spoke respectfully, "We all suspect that the Golden Light Master who killed Wudao and seized the incense offerings from fourteen counties is none other than Chen Mo of Tangjiabao. I have been preparing to deal with Tangjiabao for decades, and Tang Xianhe's time is drawing near. I originally intended to wait until Tang Xianhe died before making my move. However, with the Shen family experiencing a series of incidents, Xiaoyu suggests that we act sooner rather than later."

I know that once this begins, it won't just be the Shen family and the Tang family fighting, but also Lord Blood Tiger and that dog knight of the Tang family. For now, I'm unsure what to do, and I humbly request Lord Blood Tiger's guidance.

After speaking, Shen Zishan kowtowed again, quietly awaiting Lord Blood Tiger's response.

However, a long time passed without any response.

Shen Zishan sensed something was wrong.

In the past, when he came to consult with Master Blood Tiger, Master Blood Tiger would give him instructions immediately.

But today, a long time has passed and there's still no sign of anything happening.

He immediately looked up and gazed into the room.

All that could be seen was a dark shadow flickering inside, constantly emitting "hehehe" sounds, which grew louder and more violent.

Shen Zishan's eyes widened.

what happened?

This has never happened before.

"Lord Blood Tiger? What's wrong?"

"Jie Jie Jie..."

……

The Green Wolf Gang.

main entrance.

The strong wind danced and howled past.

Yet there is always a solitary figure who stands on the mountain path every day, gazing into the distance. His eyes, filled with earnestness and hope, are also filled with deep expectation and profound worry.

Wow.

The strong wind tousled Tang Binghu's hair.

Tang Binghu, however, remained oblivious, continuing to gaze in the direction of Dazexiang ahead.

He vaguely remembered that three months ago, Chen Mo had ridden away alone in that direction. Tang Binghu had come out to see him off then, and stood here watching his disciple gradually disappear into the distance until he vanished on the mountain path.

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

"Boss, it's windy. Let's go back soon."

Tang Mei walked over at this moment and saw the expectation in Tang Binghu's eyes, feeling quite reluctant to let him go.

For the past few months, Tang Mei had mobilized all her trusted confidants, searching everywhere for Chen Mo's whereabouts. But she just couldn't find him. She was truly at her wit's end.

She knew she had disappointed the gang leader.

However, the leader did not blame him.

Whenever she thinks of this, Tang Mei feels extremely guilty.

Tang Binghu said calmly, "There's nothing much going on in the gang. I missed Xiao Mo today, so I'll stay here by myself for a while. You should go back soon."

Tang Mei said, "I'll stay here with the gang leader. By the way, I went to Tang Family Fort a couple of days ago and heard from Tang Feifei that the old fort master's health is getting worse and worse, and he probably doesn't have much time left. The gang leader should prepare himself mentally in advance."

Tang Binghu said calmly, "I know. You can't fight city hall. If Father leaves, my Tang family will have no choice but to abandon this century-old family business and leave Nanyang Prefecture with my disciples to make a living elsewhere in order to survive."

Tang Mei felt a pang of sadness as she looked around at the familiar land where she had grown up. "Was this the gang leader's idea, or the old lord's?"

Tang Binghu said, “Father is old and his longing for his homeland far surpasses mine. Father may not be willing to give up this legacy, but I cannot help but think long-term for the Tang family. Sooner or later, we will have to give it all up. Besides, abandoning one's family and property is ultimately a betrayal of one's ancestors and will be condemned by future generations. Father has devoted his whole life to the Tang family, and as his son, I cannot let him bear this burden. I will take on the responsibility of being condemned by future generations.”

Tang Mei felt a pang of sadness. Looking at Tang Binghu, whose temples were turning gray beside her, her eyes suddenly reddened. She wanted to offer some words of comfort, but didn't know how to begin. Tang Mei also wanted to take the blame for the gang leader, but her status wasn't high enough; she didn't have the influence in Tang Family Fortress, so she naturally couldn't bear the responsibility.

Eh.

Tang Binghu sighed: "I've already asked Tang Lei to prepare for the move. You should also start preparing as soon as possible. Do anything you haven't done or any unfulfilled wishes. Once you leave your homeland, it will be difficult to come back and make up for it."

Tang Mei said, "I have no worries. Is there anything you haven't finished thinking about, Chief?"

Tang Binghu said, "With Xiaopeng gone, I have nothing to worry about. The only thing I can't let go of is my disciple. He's been away in seclusion for three months, and I don't know how he is. Is he being chased? Has he eaten enough? Is he wearing warm clothes and covered with a thick blanket? ...And has he suffered any injustice or been bullied outside...?"

Tang Mei's eyes reddened even more. "Chief, please don't worry. Xiao Mo is highly skilled. It's good enough that he doesn't bully others outside; he won't be bullied by anyone."

Hahaha.

Tang Binghu suddenly laughed, "Yeah. I'm just grateful that this kid doesn't bully others. But I can't stop worrying about him."

Tang Mei's tears, which she had been holding back, finally slipped down her cheeks.

She could tell that Tang Binghu came here every day to look into the distance, and that he had grown old.

The world says that a master and disciple are like father and son, and this is indeed true.

Just then, a small dark figure appeared at the entrance to the mountain road ahead.

It looks like someone is coming on horseback.

Tang Binghu shook his head: "Another young man returning from patrol. Every time I see a young man riding back, I always mistake him for Xiao Mo... After too many disappointments, there's no hope left. Let's go back."

Tang Binghu turned around, about to leave.

Suddenly, a shout came from afar.

"Master."

Tang Binghu thought it was a hallucination, so he took a few steps. Suddenly, he heard the voice again.

"Master!!"

brush!
Tang Binghu suddenly turned around and stared intently at the mountain path in the distance.

under the setting sun,
A young man with a buzz cut, carrying an oval-shaped object on his back, galloped towards them on horseback.

As the horse drew closer.

Tang Binghu finally saw the man's appearance clearly.

It was Xiao Mo.

"Is it Xiao Mo?"

Tang Binghu had been disappointed too many times, and fearing that this was also an illusion, he wiped his eyes and hurried forward.

Ouch!
Law! Law!
The short-haired youth reined in his horse, immediately dismounted, and galloped towards Tang Binghu, shouting loudly.

"Master, it's me, Chen Mo."

"Xiao Mo".

The master and his apprentice ran towards each other along the mountain path as the sun set, finally embracing tightly.

"Master. Your disciple has been traveling far and wide, unable to serve you by your side, causing you to worry." Chen Mo felt that broad chest and strong embrace. It truly felt like returning to his homeland.

After wandering around for three months, I've finally returned home.

"Hahaha, my little Mo is back! Wow, you've gotten quite a bit stronger. Let your teacher take a look."

……

Tangjiabao.

dusk.

Jingsi Garden.

Tang Xianhe lay on the Drunken Old Man's Chair, rocking back and forth while staring blankly at the setting sun in the west.

He looked unwell, and his expression was somewhat muddy.

He was already old, and as his life drew to a close, his vital energy and blood began to decline, causing his muscles in his hands and feet to wither. His six senses and six consciousnesses also began to blur.

Their combat effectiveness has actually decreased significantly.

Since dealing with that zombie in the ancient village, Tang Xianhe has expended a great deal of energy and has yet to recover from his depleted health.

He knew that he was truly exhausted and his days were numbered.

“I visited Lord Black God a few days ago, and for some reason… he hasn’t been speaking. Moreover, he’s becoming increasingly irritable, which is something that has never happened before. I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s definitely a bad omen.”

Tang Xianhe muttered to himself, "Although the Shen family lost Shen Qianshui and Shen Song, it was just a minor ailment that couldn't shake their foundation. After I leave, Tang Family Fort will inevitably be suppressed and destroyed by the Shen family. My Tang family has been established in Nanyang Prefecture for a hundred years, and it was not easy to build up our current foundation. We can't just abandon this foundation and run away, can we?"

“My father, tell me, what else can I do for the Shen family?”

"I don't have many days left, not many days at all."

Tang Xianhe felt despair and utterly powerless.

Thinking of the fate of Tangjiabao after his death, Tang Xianhe felt a wave of suffocation and couldn't help but cough violently.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

But Tang Feifei rushed in, "Father, something has happened."

Tang Xianhe didn't want his children to see his deteriorating body, so he stopped coughing, mustered his strength to make himself look better, and even showed a calm and serene smile.

"What's the matter?"

Tang Fei rushed over: "Shen Wudao was beaten to death by Master Jinguang in Wucheng. Shen Wudao's wife, Shen Yu, led a large group of Shen family members to block the gate of our Tang Family Fortress, demanding that we hand over Chen Mo. At the very least, they want us to admit that Chen Mo is Master Jinguang. Otherwise, they will storm the gate and fight us to the death. The leader, Shen Yu, is almost insane and can't hear anything. They're coming on strong, and I'm afraid they really are going to attack our Tang Family Fortress. What should we do?"

(End of this chapter)