I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 161 The Dragon Body of the Clone, Nangong Ye!
While the idea is appealing, Chen Mo is not blindly optimistic.

He stared into the vast darkness inside the cracked stone door and made a decision in his mind.

The one that spoke just now must have been the strange snake.

Although the Four Souls Jade obtained by the strange serpent is the first step in the journey to becoming a dragon, ... judging from the current situation, this strange serpent is actually the most terrifying of the four great families.

The mysteries of the Water Serpent alone are already quite remarkable.

If Chen Mo hadn't possessed a cheat-like ability, he really wouldn't have discovered the problem with the Water Serpent.

But Chen Mo didn't think he was afraid of the guy inside.

The combined power of the three Shikon Jewels had brought Chen Mo's physical attributes to an extremely terrifying level. In addition, there was the mirror on his back and the Spider Lily Mantra.

It's probably true.

Keep in mind, Su Yuqing is at least a Great Perfection level Shadow Ghost. At worst, she could just slap the mirror on the snake's face and send it off to live with the ghost bride.

Surely there couldn't be anything in Nanyang Prefecture that surpasses the Silver Life Qi?

Besides, they're one player short... Chen Mo should at least go check on them.

"Jie Jie Jie~"

"Weren't you so bold, daring to claim you wanted to see the Water Serpent Mother? Now that your master has appeared and even opened the door for you, are you going to chicken out?"

Just then, the black snake coiled on the snake bones suddenly let out a sinister sound, then darted down the snake bones and rushed into the stone door, disappearing completely into the pitch-black darkness in no time.

Da da da.

Chen Mo released the ghostly shadow while secretly providing support from the side. At the same time, he took a few steps and slowly walked into the stone chamber.

Perhaps because Chen Mo himself was a snake-type zombie, and had also fused with the other three Shikon Jewels, he didn't feel that the atmosphere here was particularly eerie.

Upon entering the stone gate, the inner stone walls were also red, but the space was much larger. In the very center was a much larger sacrificial altar, and coiled in the middle of the altar was a black python. It was a full ten zhang long, and its coiled body looked terrifying. Its raised head reached five or six meters into the air, looking down at Chen Mo.

The ground was wet, damp, and cold, and it also had a strong fishy smell.

There were countless snake eggs around the python. Some of the eggs had hatched, and baby snakes were crawling out of them.

The surrounding stone walls, the stone wall overhead... everywhere was covered with densely packed pythons.

Only Chen Mo, this snake-like zombie, didn't feel uncomfortable with this scene. If it were anyone else, they would probably feel a chill down their spine just looking at it.

Chen Mo walked forward step by step with his hands behind his back.

When he was only a few dozen meters away from the giant python, Chen Mo slowed down and opened the control panel.

[Deconstructable material detected]

[Should we deconstruct it?]

Chen Mo had an idea:

Deconstruction.

hum!
As Chen Mo felt a sharp pain in his head, lines of subtitles appeared one after another.

Name: Water Spirit Mother Serpent

[Type: Water-type Soul Snake]

[Note 1: The Water Serpent originates from a split in the body of the Water Mother Serpent, and its ability to adapt to any situation also comes from the Water Mother Serpent.]

[Note 2: This is the only female water snake.]

[Note 3: While the Water Serpent Mother's lifespan is limited under normal circumstances, she can continue to exist by splitting her physical body before death, or she can transform into other species. However, the Water Serpent Mother is not immortal.]

[Note 4: The Water Serpent's special abilities come from the Shikon Jewel.]

[Ingredients: The Water Serpent Mother originates from the Soul Serpent pattern on the Shikon Jewel. Originally an ordinary python, it belonged to the same species as the Soul Serpent. After initially using the Soul Serpent Shikon Jewel, it underwent a transformation, gradually evolving into a Soul Serpent. Later, it went out of control and devoured the Zhou family members. Incidentally, it also swallowed the Shikon Jewel, and after years of development and change, finally metamorphosed into the Water Serpent.]

[Qualification: It is the only one of the four Shikon Jewel pieces that has not been deformed.]

[Hint: The Red Spider Lily Mantra is effective against it.]

After looking at the information on the panel, Chen Mo understood.

It really is the Water Spirit Mother Serpent.

This guy is the monster that Zhou Ru created back then. Unfortunately, Zhou Ru was unlucky. Not long after leading the Zhou family to rise to power, the Water Spirit Mother Serpent went out of control and devoured the Zhou family members.

Moreover, this Water Spirit Mother Serpent... is very special.

Because… whether it's the Blood Tiger Lord of the Shen family or the Black God Lord of the Tang family, they were merely using the power of the Shikon Jewel. For the past hundred years, the Shikon Jewel of these two families has been controlled by their respective patriarchs. The two evil god lords are not truly independent and know very little. They only learned about the dragon-walking incident recently because of the unusual activity of the Shikon Jewel.

But this Water Serpent Mother is different.

It has been over ninety years since it devoured the Shikon Jewel. Its knowledge, abilities in all aspects... far surpass those of the Blood Tiger and Lord Black God.

Just then, Chen Mo stopped, looked up at the giant python, and said, "You let me in, and I'm already in. Shall we have a proper talk?"

"Jie Jie Jie~"

The Water Serpent Mother smiled, looking quite relaxed. "Did my appearance frighten you?"

Chen Mo shrugged dismissively: "What else could you possibly look like?"

"Hehe~" The Water Serpent Mother chuckled, then shrank back, mimicking Li Qing'er's appearance, and smiled smugly: "How about I chat with you in this form?"

"Whatever." Chen Mo appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, he was also very shocked by the Water Serpent's abilities.

The first step in becoming a dragon is to transform any living being into a snake.

Jiang Hongyue is truly resourceful.

But... hehe... this ability will soon be mine.

Chen Mo was thinking to himself...

"Never mind, I'm not used to this body. I still prefer to exist as Zhou Ru." The Water Serpent Mother frowned unhappily, and then transformed into an old man with white hair.

This was the first time Chen Mo had met Zhou Ru.

As his name suggests, he possesses the demeanor of a great Confucian scholar.

"Children, step back, lest you disgust our guests," Zhou Ru called out, and the surrounding snakes retreated into the darkness.

Zhou Ru stood on the sacrificial altar, scrutinizing Chen Mo outside the altar with great interest. The more he looked, the more satisfied he became. "Not bad at all. As expected of someone who has gathered three pieces of the Four Souls Jade. And he's human. I thought I was the one who had this opportunity, but you beat me to it."

Chen Mo didn't mince words and went straight to the point, asking about what interested him: "Back then, Zhou Ru used the Four Souls Jade to invite you from here into the shrine. But you turned around and ate Zhou Ru's entire family. Now you've even changed into Zhou Ru's appearance. Aren't you afraid of retribution?"

Zhou Ru laughed, "Retribution? If there were retribution in this world, would I still be alive today? Humans and ghosts alike are all insatiable. Now that I know the benefits of the Shikon Jewel, I naturally want to hold onto such a wonderful thing. It's just that Zhou Ru lacks the ability. You took three Shikon Jewels, don't you feel greedy?"

Chen Mo said, "You seem to know quite a lot. It seems the Four Souls Jade has greatly enhanced your intelligence. Let's not waste any more words. You went to great lengths to bring everyone here, simply to obtain the remaining Four Souls Jade. If that's the case, why didn't you go to the prefectural city to find the masters of the Shen and Tang families over the past few decades?"

Zhou Ru sighed, "I've been in this place for ninety years, and it's been so lonely. There's not even anyone to talk to. Today I've finally met someone I can chat with, so it won't hurt to say a few more words to you."

It's not that I don't want to go to the capital, but after I went mad ninety years ago, although I survived thanks to the Water Serpent's ability to regenerate, my body was extremely weak and I simply couldn't leave. Perhaps I was originally a python monster, and during the process of evolving into a Water Serpent using the Shikon Jewel, a mutation occurred, and I couldn't adapt.

"It wasn't until recently, when the Shikon Jewel within me began to stir, that it completely transformed into the Water Serpent. I've only recently recovered, and my cultivation hasn't fully returned. I had no choice but to use some methods to lure you here."

Chen Mo said, "You've only recently recovered, and your disturbances to the nearby villagers will certainly attract the attention of the government. But how could you so precisely lure us here?"

This captivating approach is almost too precise.

"Jie Jie Jie~"

Zhou Ru chuckled and said, "I didn't know before. But recently a little girl came looking for me. It was all that girl's doing."

Chen Mo was taken aback. "A girl?"

"Yes, I met the girl once."

Where did you meet him?

"In my dreams."

In the dream...

girl.

Chen Mo immediately thought of the Red Lantern Lady.

The Red Lantern Goddess communicated with her master in a dream. She said her master could enter her dream and gave her a red lantern in the dream.

When the Red Lantern Goddess woke up, she found a red lantern beside her, containing a wisp of red moonlight.

After absorbing the red moonlight, the Red Lantern Lady slowly transformed into a zombie.

And this Water Serpent Mother Snake actually... received similar treatment.

So, the recent unusual activity of the four Shikon Jewels is all related to the little girl in the dream?

What did the girl say to you?

"Hehehe~" Zhou Ru chuckled as he sized up Chen Mo: "I shouldn't tell you such a secret. But considering you brought me three Four Soul Jade pieces, I'm in a good mood today. So I'll tell you. The girl said I can start walking the dragon."

Hehe, I've said everything I needed to say. Consider it as you helping me relieve decades of loneliness.

"...Boy, bring me the Shikon Jewel!"

The moment he finished speaking, Zhou Ru transformed into a giant python, opening his blood-red maw to bite Chen Mo viciously.

boom!
The zombie power within Chen Mo erupted, his fist flying like a dragon, slamming violently towards the giant python. A violent explosion erupted, and Chen Mo stumbled back several steps. Each step he took left a crack in the ground.

"Oh ho, not bad at all. All your friends have suffered. You might as well go join them!" The giant python suddenly leaped up, swinging its massive tail like a giant axe, and lashed down at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo dodged to the side and saw the enormous snake tail slash down at his face with overwhelming force, tearing a huge crack more than ten meters long into the ground.

As the saying goes, "straight to the point," and after only one exchange, Chen Mo realized that this giant python's cultivation far surpassed that of Lord Blood Tiger and Lord Black God. He immediately unleashed a torrent of power, his figure flashing like lightning within the cave.

"Hehehe, you can't escape!"

As the giant python unleashed its power of awakening, it swung its massive body, stirring up the wind and clouds, and fiercely lashed out at Chen Mo, tearing and biting him.

Within ten rounds, Chen Mo realized that while he was a numerical monster, this guy was also a numerical monster. After all, it was a giant serpent that had grown for ninety years after consuming the Shikon Jewel.

It should have the cultivation of four black shadow ghosts.

There are three main attack methods: the power of awareness, the extreme eeriness of snakes, speed, and explosive power.

If it were anyone else, any of these methods would have been fatal.

But coincidentally... Chen Mo happens to be a snake-type zombie, which is a perfect counter to this numerical monster.

Having roughly figured out the other party's methods and tactics, Chen Mo no longer held back.

"You have no idea what a true numerical monster is!"

boom!
His fingernails grew rapidly, snake fangs appeared, and two fleshy whiskers sprouted on his forehead. Chen Mo's body instantly grew larger, his muscles bulging and surging like steel bars. Terrifying power transformed into gusts of wind, emanating from Chen Mo and surging in all directions.

Click!

Facing the python's next tail lash, Chen Mo didn't dodge but instead raised his hand to grab it. He forcefully caught the snake's powerful tail strike with one hand. Suddenly, a loud "boom" resounded, and the ground beneath Chen Mo's feet sank more than a meter.

Even so, Chen Mo still held onto the snake's tail tightly.

The python sensed something was wrong for the first time, "You..."

"Let me show you what a numerical monster really is!" Chen Mo sneered, then suddenly exerted his strength. He grabbed the snake's tail and began to swing it through the air.

"Ow!"

The giant python let out a shrill scream, horrified to find that its body had completely lost its support and was being dragged around and smashed by Chen Mo like a sledgehammer.

It slammed the ground hard on the left, and before the python could recover, it slammed it hard on the ground on the right.

boom! boom! boom!
The entire cave immediately began to shake violently.

The ground collapsed in many places.

"Fuck you... fuck!"

The python was completely gripped by terror and despair.

This giant python, which had been developing for a hundred years, boasted that it had no rivals in strength and speed. However... today it encountered a true monster.

This kid is absolutely terrifying.

terrible! !
After being smashed countless times, the python lost consciousness and was finally thrown to the ground like trash. The python instinctively tried to escape, but Chen Mo stomped its head hard on the ground.

He couldn't move at all.

puff!

The python immediately coughed up blood.

"Hehehe... You can't kill me. I can split into countless small snakes. I am the Water Serpent, a power bestowed upon me by the Shikon Jewel. Any demon possessed by the Water Serpent, even one far more powerful than me, will transform into a snake. You will be no exception..."

The python felt it still had a trump card up its sleeve.

But soon...

"Damn it, why can't I split?"

Chen Mo clapped his hands. "Sorry, you've been cursed by my blood curse. I won't let you split, so you can't."

At the very beginning of the battle, Chen Mo feigned weakness to secretly inject a blood curse into the giant python, hoping to completely control it. After all, the Water Serpent's abilities were simply too astonishing.

Defeating it is easy; killing it completely is difficult.

Fortunately, the cheat code had indicated that the Red Spider Lily Spell was effective against it.

Knowing Chen Mo's shrewdness, he had long since moved beyond simply showing off. Since he was going to make a move, he wanted complete control and to kill Chen Mo.

What's the point otherwise?
"Ahhh!" the python screamed, almost going mad.

Chen Mo felt that the blood curse had flowed through every part of the Water Spirit Mother Serpent's body, and that the other party had no chance of struggling. Only then did he jump from the snake's head to the ground and pat the dust off his body.

"Alright. Now let's talk. I have a few questions for you."

"No, I can't answer your question... Pfft!" The python struggled twice and then spat out blood.

His body was controlled by a terrifying power, and he could not resist.

It tried to resist a few more times, but all its attempts ended with it vomiting blood.

Finally, she became obedient: "You, you ask."

“That’s right, why struggle in vain? Let me ask you, why did I get separated from my companions when I entered the cave?” Chen Mo asked the first question.

This cave is very eerie.

My own power of perception is already extremely strong. The possibility of me being affected by an illusion is slim.

Upon entering the cave, they encountered a fake Li Qing'er, which was truly terrifying.

The python truthfully explained, "This place wasn't originally like this. It was that girl who appeared in my dream and told me about a magic array. I set up the array according to that, and this is how it is."

It's that girl again...

Chen Mo continued, "Why did you set up this way? To separate everyone?"

"Hehe~" The giant python chuckled, looking quite smug. "That's naturally to find the person who possesses the Shikon Jewel. I made a few fake Shikon Jewels and fake altars. As long as someone with the Shikon Jewel goes up and takes the Shikon Jewel, they will sense it. I will know. If someone without the Shikon Jewel goes up, they will be possessed by the Water Serpent and eventually turn into a snake for me to eat."

Chen Mo asked, "Besides telling you that you can walk on a dragon, what else did that girl say in your dream?"

"The girl only said that by walking the dragon path, one can transform into a dragon. She bestowed upon me a predestined connection. After I transform into a dragon, the girl will come to find me again. There are other arrangements. That's all."

Chen Mo pondered for a while, then felt there was nothing more to ask. "You can go die now."

The python cried out, "No, no... no! Ah!"

With a piercing scream, the python unleashed a torrent of blood curses, abruptly severing its life force. It coughed up blood, convulsed, and died.

[Original Solution Essence +55000]

[Currently available original solution essence: 100000]

[Consuming 50000 original essences, it can modify one's physique and compatibility with the Water Serpent Mother.]

[Hint: This Water Serpent Mother contains a Shikon Jewel that has not yet been fully fused. After you and the Water Serpent Mother fuse, you can obtain the Shikon Jewel.]

[Should we make changes?]

Chen Mo had been waiting for this moment for a long time, so he didn't hesitate.

"Revise!"

hum!
A wave of dizziness washed over me, followed by an unbearable, intense pain throughout my body. It felt as if a scalpel had performed a full-body surgery on me.

Even with Chen Mo's tough-guy nature, he couldn't help but bite his arm to endure it.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Mo finally felt his dazed state ease and the pain in his body gradually dissipate.

call!
Chen Mo let out a long sigh and wiped his forehead. "It really hurts. Much more than the previous times I modified the Four Souls Jade. The first step of the Dragon Path... it's really extraordinary."

[Successfully modified]

Your constitution is perfectly compatible with the Water Serpent Mother, and you are compatible with her.

[Hint: The three pieces of the Four Soul Jade within you correspond to the second, third, and fourth steps of the Dragon-Walking Ceremony. Their nature is not yet determined. Once they are compatible with the first step of the Dragon-Walking Ceremony, it means your Dragon-Walking pattern is complete, and you have begun the Dragon-Walking Ceremony. From this point on, the process is irreversible. You will become a true snake.]

"Once we merge, I'll become a real snake? Damn, that's unacceptable!"

Although Chen Mo had expected this result, he still found it hard to accept when he actually saw the information.

Whether it's a zombie or a ghost, they still maintain a balance between being half-human and half-ghoul; outwardly, they're still human, aren't they?
Suddenly turned into a snake...

Where the hell am I supposed to live? Surrounded by snakes all day? Like a giant python?
What's the point of those days?
What a load of crap!

and many more……

"As the Golden Finger previously stated: If you obtain the mother body of the Water Serpent, you can use the mother body as your clone, or you can absorb the mother body to gain the ability to disguise yourself."

"What's the deal with this clone?"

Chen Mo opened the control panel.

The panel was detected and displayed subtitle information.

[By consuming 50000 Original Essence, you can create an external avatar for yourself, utilizing the characteristics of the Water Serpent Mother.]

[Hint 1: The Avatar is essentially an enhanced version of the Ghost. The Ghost evolves from your shadow. The Avatar evolves from the Water Serpent.]

[Note 2: Creating an external avatar is not currently within the Deconstructor's capabilities; it's equivalent to overdrawing your lifespan. It will cost you ten years of your lifespan. If the external avatar dies, you will also lose those ten years of your lifespan.] [Create an external avatar?]

Chen Mo read the subtitles, pondered for a long time, and finally made up his mind.

"It's alright, I'm still young. Let's make it!"

boom!
An extremely terrible pain suddenly swept over Chen Mo's entire body.

Chen Mo collapsed to the ground, trembling.

That hurts so much!

It feels like something is sucking my blood and eating my flesh.

"what!!"

The next moment, the subtitles appeared.

Cut off a piece of meat and place it on the corpse of the Water Serpent Mother.

Chen Mo didn't do it immediately; it was just too painful. He took several deep breaths and waited until the pain subsided before slowly standing up.

The pain that comes from having a cheat code is far greater than the pain of cutting off a piece of flesh.

Click.

Chen Mo tore off a piece of flesh and placed it on the water snake mother.

The next moment, something magical happened.

The piece of flesh began to merge into the water snake mother's body. The originally enormous water snake mother began to shrink rapidly, eventually becoming a tiny loach, suspended in mid-air.

It is extremely mysterious.

"This is my avatar?"

Chen Mo was also completely confused. Why didn't he feel anything? There was no sense of communication.

Just then——

hum!
Chen Mo immediately felt a connection established between himself and the loach, and then his natal incense and zombie patterns appeared on the loach.

Shared consciousness.

Shared power.

It felt like the loach had become my hands and feet.

Before long, the same natal incense and zombie pattern as Chen Mo appeared in the mudfish's sea of ​​consciousness. The zombie patterns in both seas of consciousness changed simultaneously: the Four Souls Jade pattern was perfectly engraved into the zombie pattern.

Boom!

A violent explosion resounded from his sea of ​​consciousness. Chen Mo clearly felt the appearance of a fourth incense stick and a fourth stiff mark within it. His cultivation and strength were undergoing rapid transformation.

A terrifying surge of energy coursed through Chen Mo and the mudfish simultaneously.

At the same time, the image of the Shikon Jewel appeared in both of their seas of consciousness.

A ring.

The first design is a water python, symbolizing a python emerging from its den.

The second image is a python, which symbolizes a python swallowing an elephant.

The third pattern is a snake, which symbolizes the bringing of rain and clouds.

The fourth pattern is the whiskers of a dragon, signifying that the dragon-like creature with long whiskers is a harbinger of its transformation into a dragon.

Even more astonishingly, the loach appearing in the first pattern was alive. There were vague signs that it was about to emerge from its hole like a python, constantly absorbing the energy of the Shikon Jewel.

Indeed, a complete Shikon Jewel contains extremely terrifying energy.

It resembled a halo around the moon.

"In other words, my path to becoming a dragon is now clear. Is the loach starting to become a dragon? Currently, it's still in the stage of the python emerging from its cave. Once the python emerges, it can swallow the elephant?"

"What an amazing Shikon Jewel! This little mudskipper hasn't even left its burrow yet, and my cultivation has already increased by the amount of an incense stick. If it were to leave the burrow... what would become of it?"

Chen Mo observed the loach in his sea of ​​consciousness for a long time before gradually getting used to it.

"interesting."

"This loach is currently being nourished by the Shikon Jewel, so it's estimated that it will be a while before the python emerges from its hole. Let me see what special abilities the avatar has."

Chen Mo pulled his mind out of his sea of ​​consciousness and observed the loach floating in mid-air.

Chen Mo beckoned to the loach with his finger: "Second brother, come here."

Ouch.

The loach let out a soft cry and floated into Chen Mo's palm.

Slippery.

It looks pretty good, doesn't it?

"Transform into Zhou Ru and show me."

Click.

With a sudden movement, the loach instantly transformed into Zhou Ru, exactly the same as before.

Even though Chen Mo was mentally prepared, he was still overjoyed when he actually saw Zhou Ru appear.

"There's nothing to see in the old man, so transform into Li Qing'er."

The loach shook its head and began to transmit its message to Chen Mo, roughly meaning: You can only transform if you have been in contact with someone whose water snake ability you have, and then infused with the Water Soul Serpent. Otherwise, you cannot transform.

It turned out to be the case.

"It seems that this Water Serpent has a special kind of body, similar to the cloning technology of my previous life. It requires taking the cell genes of the other party to clone an exact copy. The Water Serpent is the same; I need to come into contact with the other party. That's how it works. I didn't have the Water Serpent's abilities before, so my contact with it doesn't count. After that, the person I came into contact with can become... Interesting."

"Transform into a giant python to see."

boom!
With a soft cry, the loach instantly transformed into a ten-zhang-long giant python, majestic and ferocious, extremely frightening.

"Okay. Let's go back to loach mode."

brush!
The giant snake immediately reverted to its loach form, residing in Chen Mo's palm.

After several tests, Chen Mo roughly understood some of the characteristics and usage of this external avatar.

Finally, only one question remains:
Why should I carry this loach with me?
We can't exactly keep it in that jar, can we?
That's so inconvenient.

The loach seemed to understand Chen Mo's meaning and began to send a message: "I was originally your clone, but now I have an independent consciousness and body, and I cannot be completely compatible with you. However, I can become a tattoo mark on your skin."

"You can do it like this...?"

The little loach immediately crawled onto Chen Mo's arm and gradually turned into a loach tattoo.

Chen Mo couldn't help but laugh: "That's really interesting. But this loach tattoo is a bit ugly. How about a dragon tattoo?"

The loach relayed: No. This is the only way I can do it now.

Chen Mo had no choice but to compromise: "Mudfish it is. From now on, you'll be my second brother. Focus on your cultivation within the Four Souls Jade. Strive to emerge as a python as soon as possible. Help me grow my power. Understand?"

The loach relayed: I understand. Don't worry, elder brother. I know what I'm doing.

"Hmm, that's a good attitude." Chen Mo praised the little mudskipper, then pondered in his heart:

The ability of the cheat system to create avatars is just too overpowered!

This is not the ability of the Water Serpent at all.

It's important to understand that while the Water Serpent can transform into other people's appearances, it's merely a form. However, the Golden Finger, by expending 50,000 units of Original Essence, actually inscribed his entire cultivation, natal incense, and zombie patterns.

It's even more advanced than cloning technology!

This should be a unique ability of mine.

"Although I don't know what Jiang Hongyue's purpose is in using the Four Souls Jade to move the dragon, and she might end up targeting me, having this external avatar provides an extra layer of protection. If I really have nowhere else to turn, I'll have the little mudfish take my place."

"However, this is a last resort. This little mudfish is no less powerful than me. It might even become a dragon in the future and transform into a giant snake, whose combat power might surpass my original form. I still like my second brother very much."

"I wonder if that girl will appear in my dreams next... I still feel very insecure."

"And that sleepwalking shaman, I wonder if, now that I have an avatar, my second brother could perform the shamanic ritual in my place?"

"Forget it, there's no point in overthinking. The most urgent thing is to get another 50,000 original solution essences so that I can upgrade my deconstructor to a deduction tool. That will give me more leverage."

“I remember seeing countless snake dens on the way here. These snake dens are inhabited by monsters, and they contain the essence of the original essence. I’ll go check if those giant snakes are still there.”

Chen Mo cleared his mind of distractions and slowly walked to the stone doorway.

He raised his hand and slammed a heavy punch into the stone gate.

boom!
The heavy stone door was immediately smashed open, creating a large hole. Then, it calmly walked out and returned to its previous cave location. Perhaps because the Water Serpent Mother had died, the surrounding magic array had also stopped working.

Chen Mo walked out of the cave without any trouble and arrived at the canyon.

The sky was pitch black, the moon was obscured by dark clouds, and visibility was poor. Chen Mo had to strain his eyes to see his surroundings clearly.

They did not find Li Qing'er and the others.

"Let's go check out the snake pit."

Chen Mo, carrying a burlap bundle, ran frantically back the way he had come. He was shocked to discover that all the snakes in the caves on either side had fled.

"Not a single one left? Just because the mother snake died?"

"grass."

Chen Mo felt extremely disappointed.

They ran wildly out of the valley, but didn't see a single large snake.

"Now that I have four pieces of the Four Soul Jade, my avatar has begun to walk like a dragon. That girl might just appear in my dreams. And the shamanistic practices are getting worse. I need to gather enough Original Essence as soon as possible to advance my cheat ability. Never mind, I'll go back to camp first."

Chen Mo retraced his steps, and when he passed an intersection, he suddenly stopped.

Chen Mo, who possessed extraordinary six senses, smelled a faint scent of blood.

"Ok?"

Chen Mo immediately left the mountain path and followed the direction of the bloody smell. After walking several hundred meters, he was shocked to see the corpses of Yun Zhongyue and Yun Yi.

"Yun Zhongyue was beaten to death!?"

"This doesn't make sense. Isn't the mother snake in the cave? Who could kill Yun Zhongyue, a master of the Transcendent Realm? Li Qing'er has been with me the whole time..."

After thinking for a moment, Chen Mo immediately thought of someone:

Shen Zishan.

When Chen Mo saw Shen Zishan last time, he felt that there was a very strong power of awareness lingering in his body.

Logically speaking, Shen Zishan shouldn't possess the level of perception power of a shadow ghost.

"Could it be that Lord Blood Tiger has possessed him?"

"Alright, alright. I was just worried about where to find the original essence. I hope you, Shen Zishan, don't die in the cave."

After thinking for a moment, Chen Mo picked up the body and quickly went to the camp.

The camp remained unchanged. The disciples of the Demon Suppression Bureau were patrolling, and the disciples of the Black Mountain Tower were also providing assistance. Everyone was even more startled when they saw Chen Mo carrying the corpses of Yun Zhongyue and his son.

"Ah! How could Yunfu Si be dead!?"

Chen Mo said, "I found it on my way back. Make sure the Prefect's body is properly taken care of. By the way, has anyone come back?"

One of the disciples said, "Miss Bai Ye has returned and is currently in the commander's tent."

Chen Mo rushed into the commander's tent and was shocked to see Bai Ye curled up, trembling with fear.

"Miss Baiye, what's wrong?"

Bai Ye heard the familiar voice, turned around and saw that it was Chen Mo. He calmed down a bit, then rushed forward and grabbed Chen Mo's arm, almost pleading, "Young Master Mo, there's a terrible thing in the cave. Something terrible has happened."

Chen Mo comforted him, "Take your time and tell me."

Bai Ye recounted what he had seen and heard in detail, finally saying with a trembling voice, "That Shen Zishan wasn't Shen Zishan at all; he had merged with Lord Blood Tiger. Even so, Lord Blood Tiger took the fake Four Souls Jade and immediately turned into a giant snake. Then he devoured Shen Baishan alive. I ran for my life like a madman, and at first I couldn't get out no matter what I did. Later, I don't know how, I managed to escape."

Chen Mo understood:

It was indeed Shen Zishan who killed Yun Zhongyue. It's just that some conflict arose between the two. Even if it was about stealing the Four Soul Jade, shouldn't they have waited until inside the cave to make their move?
How did they end up fighting halfway through?

Could it be... that Yun Zhongyue believes Shen Zishan still possesses the Shen family's Shikon Jewel?

Furthermore, Yun Zhongyue thought Shen Zishan was just Shen Zishan, someone easy to manipulate. But he ended up kicking a hornet's nest?

If that's the case, then this prefectural official died a truly pathetic death.

Furthermore, the reason Bai Ye was able to suddenly escape was because Chen Mo killed the giant python, causing the magic array to dissipate.

"Has Little Qing returned?"

Bai Ye shook his head: "No. Young Master Mo, what should we do now? I'm worried something might have happened to Sister Qing?"

Chen Mo said, "There is indeed great terror in the cave. Let's wait here until dawn before making a decision."

Bai Ye gritted his teeth: "Could I ask Young Master Mo to go to the cave to find Sister Qing now?"

Chen Mo shook his head: "No, I barely escaped with my life on my hands. I'm exhausted right now and need to rest. Besides, the Serpent's Lair is even more terrifying at night. Let's talk about it tomorrow morning."

Chen Mo was indeed exhausted.

Since creating this external avatar, I've clearly felt extremely lethargic. I need to recuperate.

Moreover, Chen Mo felt that Li Qing'er might not actually die.

Besides, since Shen Zishan is the Blood Tiger Lord, he might come looking for me to take the Four Soul Jade... then, well, that's when things will get interesting.

Most importantly, Chen Mo felt his time for his shamanistic ritual was almost up. He needed to find a secluded spot...

It's not that Chen Mo is heartless or ungrateful.

Bai Ye ultimately did not press the matter: "I was rash. Thank you, Young Master Mo. Please rest well, Young Master Mo, and we will talk again tomorrow."

Chen Mo nodded: "Miss Bai Ye, please rest well as well."

……

Da Yin Mountain.

at the foot of the mountain.

tea kiosk.

Chen Kun stood outside the tea pavilion waiting.

He knew the ghost story was scary. Although he was curious, he didn't listen. Since Nangong Ye wouldn't let him listen, he could only wait outside.

However, Chen Kun never expected that... this vigil would last for several months.

During this time, Nangong Ye sat in the tea pavilion without moving.

The old shopkeeper remained motionless.

Even the big bell didn't move.

"What's going on? It takes months to hear a ghost story?" Chen Kun looked at Nangong Ye in the tea pavilion from afar, very worried. "Will the head monk be alright?"

This morning.

The blood moon disappeared.

The sun is coming out.

The old Taoist priest in the tea pavilion suddenly stood up, muttering to himself, "So there really are people who can survive after hearing ghost stories, so there really are..."

"Big Bell, it's time for us to go."

The old shopkeeper went into the room, took Da Lingdang's hand, and then they walked out of the tea pavilion together.

"We should go..."

"We should go now."

As they walked, the old shopkeeper suddenly turned into a skeleton, then shattered into dust. Immediately afterward, the large bell also turned into a skeleton, then into ashes. A gust of wind blew them away...scattering them in all directions.

"Your Excellency!"

Chen Kun rushed into the tea pavilion, "Is the master alright?"

puff!

Nangong Ye suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, the crimson blood staining his fair skin, and his voice became somewhat weak: "I'm fine."

Slowly, Nangong Ye stood up. He looked up at the mountains in front of him, his brows furrowed.

Chen Kun also looked up at the majestic Dayin Mountain ahead and murmured, "Chief, shall we continue forward?"

Nangong Ye shook his head: "There's no point in continuing forward."

Chen Kun was very puzzled: "Why is that?"

Nangong Ye said, "When the Red Moon revives, the world will be in chaos. We need to go to Nanyang Prefecture to find a person or monster that can walk on dragons. Only by bringing this dragon-walking monster to Dayin Mountain can we make a difference."

Chen Kun was even more surprised: "Walking a dragon? Isn't that just a legendary story? Is there really such a thing as walking a dragon and transforming into a dragon in this world?"

Nangong Ye said, "Originally, it wasn't possible, but because of Jiang Hongyue's existence, it became possible. Jiang Hongyue knew what would happen before entering the Dayin Mountain. So she left a contingency plan in Nanyang Prefecture. This contingency plan is the Transformation of a Flood Dragon and a Four Soul Jade."

After saying that, Nangong Ye turned and walked down the mountain.

Chen Kun followed behind, and as they walked, Chen Kun's eyes widened: "Chief, your hair... why is it turning white?"

With each step Nangong Ye took forward, a few more strands of white hair appeared on his head.

After walking several dozen steps, he suddenly had a full head of white hair.

Nangong Ye, however, didn't take it seriously. "To resist the corrosive influence of these ghost stories, I lost sixty years of cultivation. Turning my black hair white is nothing. So this is the Great Qian Dynasty... So this is Empress Xiao. This world is about to descend into complete chaos..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: I had writer's block today, and I was thinking of posting one less chapter, but I gritted my teeth and wrote it anyway. Thank you for your support, readers. Sorry for the lateness~
(End of this chapter)