I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 163 Reunion, the True Demon!!!

Captivity?

Upon hearing this, Li Qing'er was startled.

Previously, Li Qing'er's intention in treating Chen Mo as an older sister was simply to have him keep an eye on him. This is completely different from confinement!
"Lord Governor, Lord Jin Guang is now the only deity in Nanyang Prefecture. All twenty-six counties worship Lord Jin Guang. If we rashly confine him... I'm afraid Nanyang Prefecture will be thrown into chaos." Li Qing'er felt immense pressure facing Hua Yunfeng, yet she still gritted her teeth and expressed her stance, "Now that the Yunfu Division has just died, the Zhenmo Division is leaderless, and the situation is already unstable. It is not advisable to deal with Lord Jin Guang at this time."

Hua Yunfeng sat at the head of the table, took a sip of tea, and said indifferently, "Master Jin Guang is involved in a major secret, which is the most crucial part of my trip south that I cannot afford to make a mistake. I must keep Master Jin Guang under my watchful eye to feel at ease. Besides, it's just keeping him under my watchful eye, not taking his life, so there won't be any problems with the incense offerings. As for the death of Yun Zhongyue, the head of the Demon Suppression Bureau, I've had Xiong'er take over the position. There can't be any trouble."

Li Qing'er clearly wanted to say something more, but Li Huabai interrupted her: "The governor's arrangement is very appropriate. I wonder who will be sent to arrest the person?"

Hua Yunfeng said, "I'll have Xiong'er take over the position of the head of the Demon Suppression Bureau first, and then we can make arrests without any qualms. This will prevent any chaos in the prefecture city. As for the other matters, I'll make a decision after I've met with Chen Mo and questioned him."

After saying that, Hua Yunfeng got up and left.

Li Huabai bowed slightly, "Respectfully seeing off the Prefectural Governor."

After seeing Hua Yunfeng off, Li Huabai began to carefully examine Li Qing'er's injuries.

Bai Ye watched from the side, her eyes already red-rimmed. "Master, is it still possible for Sister Qing to recover?"

Li Huabai did not answer, but instead carefully examined Li Qing'er's body and asked, "Did you use an isolation talisman?"

Li Qing'er nodded slightly: "Yes. The situation was urgent at the time. If I hadn't done that, I would have turned into a snake. I had no choice but to use the isolation talisman to sever the physical connection between my upper and lower body."

Eh.

Li Huabai sighed, "I never expected to encounter such a terrifying serpent in this mere Nanyang Prefecture. That serpent possesses the special ability to transform other people's bodies. This is beyond the scope of summoning power. Fortunately, you used it in time, otherwise you would have turned into a snake."

puff.

Bai Ye knelt on the ground, pleading, "Please, Lord, help Sister Qing."

Li Huabai glanced at Bai Ye and sighed, "It's admirable that you're so loyal to Xiaoqing. Xiaoqing is my own sister. If there were a way, you wouldn't need to say anything. I would do my best. But right now, there's no way."

Li Qing'er was more composed. "Sister Bai, what will happen to me next?"

Li Huabai bit her lip, her face turning pale. Her fingernails dug into her skin as she gripped her palms. Her voice was filled with desolation and helplessness. "Your lower body is beyond saving. It will gradually die, and eventually, half of your body will have to be amputated. Unless you find that strange snake. That strange snake might have a way to help you recover."

Li Qing'er lowered her head, looking listless. It was as if all her strength had been drained away. She was almost about to cry.

Li Qing'er wasn't actually that old, and her journey to her current level of cultivation had been incredibly difficult. She was still a beautiful young woman. At the prime of her life, an accident caused half of her body to decay, necessitating the amputation of half her body…

How could Li Qing'er possibly accept this?
Upon hearing this, Bai Ye collapsed to the ground, sobbing silently.

brush!
Li Huabai waved his hand, "Alright, stop crying. Take me to where the accident happened. Xiaoqing, you go too. I'll go to the scene and see if we can find the snake's corpse or shed skin. If we can find even a tiny bit, we might be able to make some pills, and maybe that will save us."

Bai Ye was overjoyed and immediately stood up, wiping away his tears: "I will lead the way for you, Master."

The three of them boarded a carriage and left the city. They immediately headed for Snake Mountain near Zhou Town. Then they walked into the mountains, retracing their original path.

Li Qing'er walked at the front, describing to Li Huabai what she had seen when she first arrived.

Crossing the Grand Canyon, one sees countless empty snake dens.

Finally, they entered the cave.

I saw the sacrificial altar and snake bones.

We also saw a dilapidated stone door, and inside the stone door, we saw an even larger stone chamber.

There were also signs of a battle.

After examining the area, Li Huabai asked Bai Ye, "Back then, were you the only one who survived, and only Chen Mo?"

Bai Ye nodded in agreement and recounted what she had seen and heard, especially the details of her conversation with Chen Mo. She concluded, "That Young Master Mo is kind-hearted; he even brought me here the next day to look for Sister Qing. But we couldn't find her."

Li Huabai discovered the key issue: "You said you couldn't escape at first, but then suddenly you were able to?"

Bai Ye said, "Yes. I was very panicked at the time, and then I don't know what happened... so I ran out."

Li Huabai: "Did you hear anything at the time?"

"I was so panicked at the time that I didn't notice."

Li Huabai didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he walked into the deep pit on the ground, then slowly squatted down and measured the length, width, and shape of the pit.

After a long while, Li Huabai stood up. "The strange snake was here before. And it fought with someone. Judging from the marks, it was probably smashed to death. If I'm not mistaken, it was Chen Mo who killed it. Bai Ye, the reason you were able to run away suddenly was because... Chen Mo killed the strange snake. The magic array set up by the strange snake also disappeared. Many of the large snakes that were originally in the snake pits on both sides outside also left because of the death of the strange snake."

Bai Ye was shocked: "What? Such a powerful and strange snake was actually killed by Young Master Mo?"

Li Qing'er remained silent. Although she was shocked by the matter, the various analyses and supporting details provided by Li Huabai all matched up.

It's Chen Mo...

Li Huabai said, "Since the strange snake was killed by Chen Mo, why is its corpse missing... that's strange. If we find the snake's corpse, we might be able to find a way to cure Xiao Qing. Also, according to Xiao Qing, this strange snake should have had a piece of the Zhou family's Four Soul Jade, but it has also disappeared. It seems we need to go and see that Chen Mo."

……

Demon Suppression Office.

The morale of the Demon Suppression Bureau was low for quite some time after the departure of Yun Zhongyue and his son. The official in charge of the bureau was a fifth-rank official named Han Qing.

Although Han Qing came from out of town, he had worked as a constable in the prefectural office for twenty years and had long considered himself a local.

After handling Yun Zhongyue's burial arrangements, Han Qing led his men back to the side courtyard of the yamen.

Before I could even rest, I heard a subordinate come down to report.

"Lord Han, a young man in silver armor has arrived at the Demon Suppression Hall, carrying a letter and a token. He says he's from the Demon Suppression Division of the capital. He wants to take over our Demon Suppression Division."

Upon hearing this, Han Qing immediately became cautious and rushed towards the Demon Suppression Hall without even changing his clothes. "Gangzi, you really are something. Why didn't you tell me earlier that the Demon Suppression Division had come from the capital? You're going to make me lose face."

The subordinate named Gangzi said aggrievedly, "I've been looking for you, sir, all morning, but I haven't found you."

"Enough talk, take me to greet them. By the way, have you verified their letter and token? Don't let an imposter show up. Our prefecture has always been under the direct jurisdiction of the state. Why are people from the capital interfering?"

"I don't know either. The letter and the token should be genuine. However, I am of lowly status and have only seen the documents and seals of the state government, not the documents, tokens, and seals of the Jingcheng Demon Suppression Division. I would like to ask you to verify them in person, sir."

Han Qing hurriedly led Gangzi to the Demon Suppression Hall.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance, they saw a silver-clad young man with a long sword slung over his back sitting in the chief seat of the Demon Suppression Hall. He was imposing and extraordinary.

"This humble servant is Han Qing, a constable of the prefectural office. I have just met you, sir. May I ask how you are addressed?" Although Han Qing's attitude was very respectful, his words clearly revealed his doubts about the man's identity.

The silver-clad youth took out a letter and a token and tossed them directly to Han Qing, saying, "Take a look. This is a letter and a token from the Jingzhen Demon Suppression Headquarters. From now on, I will begin to take over the Nanyang Prefecture Headquarters."

Han Qing took the letter and saw that it was a letter of appointment, stamped at the end, along with a special token.

After carefully checking, Han Qing took a deep breath.

He had worked as a constable for over twenty years and was quite knowledgeable. Having served several prefectural officials, he had naturally seen the seals and tokens of the capital.

He respectfully returned the letter and token, bowing and saying, "Yes. From now on, my Demon Suppression Bureau will be under the command of Prefect Chen. Strange things are happening frequently in Nanyang Prefecture, and Prefect Yun has just passed away. It is thanks to Lord Chen's timely arrival to take charge of the situation that I am able to manage. Otherwise, I really would not know how to handle this."

The young man in silver was none other than Chen Kun, who had rushed over.

Chen Kun spoke up, "I had someone investigate you and learned that you've been a constable here for twenty years and are very familiar with the local customs and conditions. Now, let me ask you, do you know anything about the Shikon Jewel?"

"I know some..." Han Qing recounted in detail how the Zhou, Zhong, Shen, and Tang families obtained the Four Souls Jade.

Chen Kun then asked, "Who has these four pieces of the Four Soul Jewel now?"

"A new 'Golden Light Master' has emerged in the Tang family, so it seems the Four Soul Jade of Tang Family Fortress is in his hands. As for the Four Soul Jade of the other three families, we don't know who has it. By the way, the Yunfu Division recently organized a group to go to Snake Mountain..."

Chen Kun immediately focused his attention on Master Jin Guang: "Where is Master Jin Guang now?"

Han Qing answered truthfully: "I am currently the deputy leader of the Green Wolf Gang on Flying Mountain outside the city. If you wish to go there, I can guide you."

"No need, I'll go to the Green Wolf Gang myself." Chen Kun left those words and turned to leave.

Watching Chen Kun leave, Han Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He thought to himself: Chen Kun's cultivation is truly profound, far surpassing Yun Zhongyue's. Just a simple question had already left him feeling overwhelmed.

On the other hand, Gangzi's clothes were already soaked through.

Gangzi said, "Lord Han, this Prefect Chen's skills are too high. I feel like I'm suffocating just standing here."

Han Qing said, "People from the capital are naturally extraordinary. I suppose the Chief of the Demon Suppression Division of the capital also knows that something happened in Nanyang Prefecture, which is why he came to provide support. In that case... I feel relieved. Go and prepare some wine and dishes, I need to have a good drink to calm my nerves. I haven't slept well for days."

"Alright. Lord Han, please wait in the side courtyard. I'll be right there."

After a busy morning, Han Qing took a shower and changed clothes in a remote area. Enjoying the food and drinks prepared by Gangzi, she felt a rare sense of contentment.

"The Tang and Shen families have both met with misfortune, and even the Prefect of Yunfu has died. This Nanyang Prefecture is truly bizarre. Fortunately, people from the capital have arrived, and I can finally have a peaceful meal."

With a relaxed smile on his lips, Han Qing took two big gulps of wine.

Just then, Gangzi rushed over to report.

Because he was running too fast, he tripped over the threshold and almost fell flat on his face. Even so, Gangzi still rushed over: "Lord Han, something terrible has happened."

Han Qing felt that with the Prefect Chen from the capital in charge, there was nothing serious about it. "Why are you being so reckless? If everyone acted like you, what kind of order would that be?"

Gangzi rushed over, breathless, and said, "The governor of the Southern Prefecture's Demon Suppression Division has arrived with his son. He says he wants to take over our Demon Suppression Division."

Click!

Han Qing couldn't help but drop his chopsticks to the ground, his face full of shock: "Are you sure it's Lord Zhou?"

Gangzi said, "That's what the man said, and he also gave us a token and a letter. Didn't Lord Han go to Nanzhou in his early years and meet the governor?"

"Take me to see it quickly."

Han Qing immediately lost his appetite, put down his chopsticks, and hurriedly left through the door. He ran all the way to the Demon Suppression Hall and saw an old man with white hair and beard sitting high in the chief seat, wearing a dark green Taoist robe, looking exceptionally extraordinary.

"Huazhou Division!"

Han Qing had visited the Zhenmo Prefecture Division in his early years and had met this person. He bowed respectfully without saying much.

Hua Yunfeng sat in his seat, his hands clasped around his teacup, saying nothing. It was Hua Xiong beside him who spoke coldly, "Han Qing, you were trained by the state government in your early years. How can you be so muddle-headed?"

The reprimand immediately followed, which greatly alarmed Han Qing: "I don't know what I did wrong, please enlighten me, sir."

Hua Xiong's voice grew increasingly cold, "The Nanyang Demon Suppression Office is a subordinate agency established by our Demon Suppression Prefecture Office. It has always been directly under the jurisdiction of our Prefecture Office. Where did this person from the capital come from? There are many swindlers these days, yet you can't even distinguish between truth and falsehood. I think you're getting senile."

Hua Yunfeng then added, "If someone from the capital were to come to oversee the prefectural government, they would certainly inform our prefecture. They wouldn't rashly overstep their authority. No matter how realistic the seal and letter are, they are still fake."

Han Qing, who had originally wanted to retort, immediately realized that he could not, and could only admit his mistake: "What the Prefectural Governor says is true, it was my oversight. All of us in the Prefectural Governor's office will follow his lead."

Hua Yunfeng nodded: "That's very good. From now on, my son will temporarily serve as the Prefectural Magistrate."

Han Qing bowed and said, "Yes."

Hua Yunfeng asked, "Do you know where Master Jin Guang, Chen Mo, is now?"

Han Qing said, "He is the deputy leader of the Green Wolf Gang at Feilai Mountain outside the city."

Hua Yunfeng said, "I have appointed men to accompany me to Feilai Mountain to capture that Master Jin Guang."

Han Qing took a deep breath and thought to himself: Is he going to see Master Jin Guang again?
He dared not disobey verbally: "Yes. This subordinate will go and take stock of the troops immediately."

……

Meanwhile, Chen Mo stayed at Feilai Mountain and spent a few days in leisure.

With Ouyang Lu and Ouyang Yu moving into a residence near Chen Mo, the area became much livelier. The siblings could often be heard practicing their martial arts early in the morning, and even late at night, their movements could still be heard.

Very diligent.

Besides practicing his martial arts, performing shamanistic rituals, Chen Mo spent his time walking on dragons and examining the pages left behind by Ouyang Lu. He also went to look for Ouyang Lu a few times, but was unable to obtain any further information.

The investigation stalled at one point.

Fortunately, Chen Mo is not a lazy person.

He spent all his time running to the Martial Arts Pavilion and even sent Lu Chengzhuang to the black market to collect martial arts techniques, elixirs, and so on.

Chen Mo always felt that his cultivation level as a half-human was far too low.

The key is to break through to the Transcendent Realm as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, without the blessing of shamanic rituals, the improvement of this aspect of human strength is very slow.

Nanyang Prefecture has no cultivation techniques or martial arts skills for the Transcendent Realm. The only thing that can help Chen Mo is... the Dragon Elephant Skill.

Fortunately, Chen Mo has already modified his physique to the Dragon Elephant Physique, so there has been some progress.

Perhaps because he felt so insecure, Chen Mo wished he could split every day in half.

That morning, Chen Mo woke up again on the rocks after spending the night performing shamanistic rituals on the riverbank near Feilai Mountain.

"My body hurts so much."

Having learned from his previous experience, Chen Mo decided to stop rushing and simply lay quietly on the rocks, admiring the rushing river and watching the rising sun. With the help of the Tranquility Mantra, Chen Mo felt a long-lost sense of peace.

"Although I've been feeling uneasy lately, I've still been able to get through it with a very calm mind, which is inseparable from this meditation technique."

This is a true statement.

As Chen Mo deepened his practice of the Tranquility Technique, he increasingly felt the power of this mental cultivation method.

The Tranquility Technique doesn't directly enhance cultivation, and it can even seem a bit tedious and boring. However, with prolonged practice, one will discover the value of this mental technique: it allows one to maintain a calm state of mind at any time.

Over time, its power will be unleashed.

Otherwise, Chen Mo estimated that he would be tortured half to death by the shamanic ritual. The balance between the half-human, half-dead beings would also be easily disrupted.

"Xiaoye still has many good things on her. I wonder when we'll meet again... Next time we meet, I can't be too polite; I'll have to ask for some good things directly?"

As he thought about it, Chen Mo recalled all the moments he had spent with Xiao Ye.

Because Chen Mo's life had never been peaceful, he found the tranquility he shared with Xiao Ye all the more precious and captivating.

"Hey, I've recovered."

Chen Mo examined his body and found that he was more energetic and vigorous than before.

He stood up and stretched his limbs, feeling the powerful strength that came with every movement.

"My Dragon Elephant Technique has reached the second level of Coiling Dragon Strength, and Blood Illumination has reached the ninth level. I vaguely feel that I am about to break through the barrier of the Transcendent Realm. If the Coiling Dragon Strength can break through the third level, I should be able to step into the Transcendent Realm."

Chen Mo sat down cross-legged and began practicing the Mind-Calming Mantra to achieve a state of maximum focus. Then he began practicing the Dragon Elephant Technique.

Hey!
A sudden, distinct cry, like that of a serpent, appeared.

A force emanated from Chen Mo and surged in all directions, causing the surrounding river water to surge and splash wildly.

Chen Mo recalled what Xiao Ye had once said:

The principles of human martial arts are similar to those of a zombie taking an extra breath. Pure, innate blood possesses a vital essence far surpassing that of ordinary beings. By refining this essence and using it to reshape the physical body, one can transcend the mundane. After transcending the mundane, a human can possess power exceeding that of their innate blood, enabling them to contend with zombies and ghosts of equal strength.

With the death of Lord Black God, the ancestral bloodline of all the people in Tang Family Fort has degenerated and disappeared.

Perhaps for this reason, Tang Binghu was no longer as spirited as before. He also lacked his former ambition and courage, handing over all the affairs of the Green Wolf Gang to Chen Mo. He himself hid in Tang Family Fortress to work on martial arts matters.

However… the Tang Family Fortress’s innate bloodline originally came from the Four Soul Jade, but Chen Mo had gathered four Four Soul Jade pieces, making it his primary bloodline. His aristocratic bloodline had not only not degenerated, but had become even more concentrated.

However, Chen Mo didn't sense any contract within the Shikon Jewel, nor did he know how to operate it. Therefore, he couldn't regenerate the symbiotic bloodline for the people of Tang Family Fortress.

Another reason is that the Four Souls Orb is likely related to Jiang Hongyue's revival, and at this moment, the Four Souls Orb is more of a curse than a blessing. Even if there were a way to make the people of Tang Family Fortress generate their symbiotic blood, Chen Mo would not want to do so.

Tangjiabao treated Chen Mo very well, and Chen Mo didn't want to drag everyone into this unnecessarily.

God knows what terrible things will happen after the shamanic ritual ends.

boom!
Chen Mo activated his Panlong Force and charged madly toward the invisible barrier.

"I possess the physique of a five-patterned zombie, the cultivation of five ghosts, and the spiritual support of the incense offerings from most of Nanyang Prefecture. I can fully withstand all the impact of breaking through to the Transcendent Realm. I can make great strides in breaking through the barriers."

After the first impact, minor cracks appeared in the barrier.

It hurts a little.

If it were anyone else, they would have been in excruciating pain by now.

Chen Mo's physical body was simply too monstrous. "Again!"

Without further hesitation, Chen Mo launched a second attack.

boom! boom!
The body experienced turmoil.

The third level of Panlong Jin also showed unusual activity.

"Come again!!"

Chen Mo sensed that momentum was building. His physical body, spirit, and the power of his aristocratic bloodline had all reached a harmonious and intense state, somewhat like oil being cooked over a raging fire.

"That's the feeling, that's right. Continue!"

Boom boom boom!

Next, Chen Mo stopped holding back and, like a mad cheetah, kept attacking the barrier of the Transcendent Realm.

If it were anyone else, they would never have been able to go so far. Their bodies would have given out long ago.

But Chen Mo is fine.

Chen Mo himself didn't know how many times he had tried, until finally there was a "crack".

That invisible barrier shattered with a deafening roar.

His body extracted an unprecedented breath of energy, which was injected into Chen Mo's body and began to reshape his physical body... inch by inch, his muscles began to transform.

The physical body begins to be able to sense the situation inside and outside the body.

The level of bloodline has clearly risen a notch. Even without using the power of zombies and ghosts, it has already reached an extraordinary level.

The internal and external injuries caused by the impact are healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Click!

Chen Mo clasped his hands together and closed his eyes.

Internal vision activated!
It's a very amazing ability.

It was as if an invisible pair of eyes had entered my body, seeing my flesh and bones. Every muscle cell was clearly visible. At first, it felt a little nauseous... but after a while, it felt incredibly strange.

"This is the inner vision technique of the Transcendent Realm? Truly amazing."

"I've heard that if I continue cultivating, I can unlock the supernatural power of external vision. That is... I won't need to see things with my eyes anymore. It's much more amazing than identifying objects by sound. But I can't do external vision yet."

"Moreover, my power transcends my symbiotic blood, allowing me to do many things that I couldn't do before. This power of my bloodline can be unleashed and remain on other things!"

Chen Mo immediately stood up and took a moment to adjust.

He casually picked up a stone and carved a simple talisman on it. The stone retained Chen Mo's bloodline power, activating the talisman's effect. It immediately exploded with a "boom".

Although martial artists specializing in true qi can draw talismans after practicing methods of storing and projecting their spirit, the power of those talismans is too weak. Ultimately, it's still just a way of projecting true qi, and no matter how powerful the talisman is, it can't surpass the true qi itself.

That level of talisman is merely an auxiliary means; it doesn't have much practical effect.

However, entering the Transcendent Realm is different.

It is possible to inscribe talismans using the power of bloodline, unleashing tremendous power.

This is a technique that neither ghosts nor zombies possess.

After adjusting for a while, Chen Mo stopped: "Entering the Transcendent Realm, using bloodline power as a guide to inscribe talismans and magic arrays, the effects are extremely powerful. It seems I can cultivate properly in the future. It's just a pity that there are too few Transcendent Realm experts in Nanyang Prefecture, and there are no related talismans and magic arrays. The stage in Nanyang Prefecture is still a bit too small."

"After breaking through to the Transcendent Realm, my balance between half-human and half-corpse ghost has become more stable, allowing me to unleash the power of both without restraint. If I encounter a corpse ghost with six patterns and six incense sticks, I can kill it directly."

Perhaps because of his recent breakthrough, Chen Mo was in high spirits. He stepped onto the water and strode about with abandon.

Just then, a melodious flute sound came from upstream on the river.

Chen Mo stopped on the river and looked back.

Close your eyes and feel it.

A gentle breeze, tomorrow, the sound of a flute, and the cries of monkeys on both banks.

It's truly like a poem or a painting.

It's refreshing.

"I wonder who played such a beautiful flute?"

Before long, a covered boat appeared at a bend in the upstream river, drifting downstream.

As the awning boat drew closer, Chen Mo spoke up: "Whose boatwoman is playing such beautiful flute music? May I ride with her for a while?"

There was no reply from the awning boat, so Chen Mo smiled and said, "If the young lady doesn't say anything, then I'll take it as her agreement."

After saying that, Chen Mo rushed onto the awning boat. Walking along the awning, past it, and reaching the stern, he was surprised to see a woman in a purple fitted dress standing upright on the deck at the stern. She had white hair, her back to him, and was holding a flute, gently playing a beautiful melody.

Chen Mo felt the figure looked familiar, but the hair was off, so he didn't disturb her. Instead, he sat on the edge of the boat, listening quietly and watching the woman's flowing robes and cloud-like hair. How fitting for the scene.

When the music ended, Chen Mo seemed to wake from a dream, "Why was the girl's flute playing filled with sorrow?"

"Life is like a journey against the current, a long and winding road, and there will always be times when things don't go your way," the woman said, turning around.

Then, Chen Mo was dumbfounded.

With her delicate and beautiful face, graceful figure, and skin as smooth as jade, she possessed an otherworldly elegance... Wasn't this Xiaoye?
Chen Mo suddenly stood up: "Xiao Ye! What happened to your hair?"

Looking at Chen Mo's long hair, Xiao Ye laughed and said, "Young Master Mo's bald head has grown hair, but my hair has turned white."

"If this were my past life, I could have evened out some of my hair for you..." Chen Mo thought to himself, then asked, "Could it be due to some kind of cultivation technique you practiced?"

Xiaoye put away her flute and walked towards the awning: "I just heard a story."

A story?
Can it turn someone's hair white overnight?
What story could be so eerie?
Chen Mo didn't think much of it for a moment and followed Xiao Ye into the awning. Xiao Ye was as calm and collected as ever, sitting down by the small tea table, brewing tea and saying, "My first stop after leaving the mountain, I didn't expect to meet Young Master Mo here. It's fate. Sit down and have some tea."

Upon seeing Xiao Ye, Chen Mo was in a much better mood and asked, "Should I go and catch a couple of rockfish?"

Xiao Ye shook her head: "Young master remembers clearly. Forget it, I'm on a fast recently. Let's spare that stone spot."

Chen Mo didn't waste any words. After taking his seat, he took Xiao Ye's teacup, took a sip, and said, "I thought you had returned to the capital, Xiao Ye. That we would never see each other again. Where have you been these past few days?"

Xiao Ye said calmly, "I went to Dayin Mountain and was delayed for a few months."

Da Yin Mountain?
Does Xiaoye dare to go to the Great Yin Mountain?
Listen to the story...

Chen Mo suddenly realized something, "Did you hear some ghost story in the Great Yin Mountain? And then your hair turned white?"

Xiaoye was taken aback. "You know ghost stories?"

Chen Mo said, "I know. When I was in Honghe County, I had a friend named Tang Xiaoyu. He heard a ghost story at Chunfeng Tower and died a few days later."

Xiao Ye raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of light appearing in her dark eyes: "Go on."

Chen Mo felt there was no need to hide it, as many people already knew about it, so he told them the ghost story.

Of course, Chen Mo didn't mention Su Yuqing's matter, nor did he mention that he was being targeted by Jiang Hongyue.

After hearing this, Xiao Ye's eyes dimmed again. "So Young Master Mo also has this experience. That's quite remarkable."

Seeing Xiao Ye's calm demeanor, Chen Mo's heart was in turmoil: Su Yuqing had said that anyone who had heard ghost stories would die. Even zombies weren't safe. It would be best for Chen Mo to wait until he had cultivated the power of induction before listening to ghost stories.

Surprisingly, Xiaoye was unharmed after listening to the ghost story.

This Xiaoye is truly remarkable.

Poof.

The stove boiled the water, and the water in the kettle was steaming and making a gurgling sound.

Chen Mo then took down the kettle and added tea to the teapot. "I've heard that this ghost story contains a powerful appeal. Is that true?"

Xiaoye shook her head: "The power of these ghost stories far exceeds the power of inspiration. If you think that you can listen to those ghost stories just because you have the power of inspiration, you will probably die instantly."

What?
It far surpasses the power of inspiration.

For Chen Mo now, the power of inspiration is an extraordinary existence.

After all, Chen Mo had reached the level of five patterns and five incense sticks, yet he still hadn't awakened the power of divine summoning. This power of summoning must be extremely rare, requiring a stroke of luck. Su Yuqing had previously stated that even a Black Shadow Ghost at the Great Perfection of cultivation might not be able to awaken this power.

Only a very small number of Shadow Ghosts are likely to awaken the power of summoning.

It is clear that there is no necessary correspondence between the power of invocation and the shadow ghost.

That Li Qing'er must have been using a ghostly power with the ability to summon spirits within her.

Xiaoye said that the power of ghost stories to intimidate far exceeds their power to inspire.

It's really amazing.

Just then, Xiao Ye spoke up, "I won't hide it from you, young master. The reason I came here from the capital is to find out about the Great Yin Mountain. I initially thought the problem lay with the Red Lantern Goddess, and I only decided to go to the Great Yin Mountain after consulting with her. But I discovered... that I need to find a dragon walker to unlock the secrets of the Great Yin Mountain."

The Dragon Walker?
Isn't that describing me?

"Young master works for the Green Wolf Gang in Nanyang Prefecture, so you know a lot of information. Do you know anything about the Dragon Walker and the Four Soul Jade?"

Chen Mo remained silent in the face of Xiao Ye's question.

Xiao Ye is indeed a good person, but Chen Mo naturally had some reservations about revealing such a big secret.

As for lying outright, Chen Mo felt there was no need.

Xiao Ye is the daughter of a powerful family in the capital, a truly influential and respected figure. She should be given a hug if possible; there's no need to let trivial matters create rifts between them.

So Chen Mo gave a suitable explanation: "I have heard a little about this matter. I will have someone investigate it later, and if there is any news, I will inform Xiao Ye as soon as possible."

Xiaoye hummed in agreement.

"By the way, Xiao Ye, you've come all the way to Nanyang Prefecture, and I'm afraid you don't have a place to stay. Luckily, my Green Wolf Gang has plenty of space, so why don't you come with me to stay at the Green Wolf Gang for the time being? I can take good care of you."

"Would this cause any trouble for the young master?"

"I'm the deputy leader now, my word is law, no trouble at all."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Young Master Mo."

"It's nothing." Having done Xiao Ye a favor, Chen Mo then spoke up, "By the way, I have a question for you, Xiao Ye. You come from the capital and are the daughter of a prominent family. Have you ever heard of human-dragon sacrifice?"

Click.

Xiaoye's hand, which was holding the teacup, suddenly stopped. She looked up at Chen Mo: "Human dragon sacrifice? How come you've heard of that?"

Chen Mo didn't expect Xiao Ye to react so strongly; it seems Xiao Ye knew about it.

To get Xiaoye to get to the point, Chen Mo had no choice but to bite the bullet and find an excuse: "I have a friend who has been sleepwalking lately. When he sleepwalks, he performs shamanistic rituals and chants incantations. My friend asked me for help, and after observing his sleepwalking shamanistic rituals for a while, I found them strange. After some investigation, I learned that my friend's shamanistic gestures were actually human-dragon sacrifices."

Xiaoye remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Would it be convenient for you to take me to meet your friend?"

Chen Mo shook his head: "My friend is shy and doesn't feel comfortable meeting strangers."

Xiaoye said, "Your friend is dying."

Chen Mo's pupils contracted, and his hands and feet felt cold. "What do you mean?"

Xiaoye said, "I originally thought this was just a story from a mythological picture book. But since you have such a friend, it means that the things in the mythological picture book have become reality. First, there was the story of the dragon transforming into a human, and then the human-dragon sacrifice."

Chen Mo: "Human dragon sacrifice, wasn't it said... to be offered as sacrifices to the emperor and princes?"

Xiaoye: "That was just a rudimentary human-dragon sacrifice. After all, the emperor is not a real dragon. A true human-dragon sacrifice is to offer sacrifices to dragons that have transformed from dragons, or at least dragons that have transformed from dragons."

Chen Mo: "Are there really dragons in this world?"

Xiaoye: "Have you ever heard of demons?"

Chen Mo shook his head: "I know about zombies and ghosts. I've never heard of demons."

Xiao Ye said, "Why are zombies and ghosts relatively common? Because these are minor disturbances. What's truly terrifying... are real demons. It's incredibly difficult for zombies and ghosts to grow to the level of demons. It's a once-in-a-century, one-in-ten-thousand chance. But demons... are born to bring calamity to this world. They transform into dragons, but they don't become dragons; they become dragons. Dragons... are demons. Great demons with five hundred years of cultivation."

The human-dragon sacrifice was actually intended to kill a great demon alive. Tell me... what exactly is Jiang Hongyue doing?

Chen Mo secretly gasped.

Now, Chen Mo's understanding of Jiang Hongyue's actions is becoming increasingly clear: she is looking for a dragon-walker, and once that person transforms into a great dragon demon, she will sacrifice the demon.

But what does this have to do with that ghost story?
What exactly is Jiang Hongyue up to?
A guy who's been dead for over a hundred years is actually going to sacrifice a giant demon alive!

That's quite an appetite!

Just then, Xiao Ye suddenly leaned closer to Chen Mo, looking him up and down: "Is your friend yourself?"

Chen Mo was taken aback, and could no longer hide it. "How did Xiao Ye figure it out?"

Xiao Ye smiled faintly, "I've been traveling the world for quite some time now and have seen many extraordinary people. But I've never seen anyone like you before. You can fuse with ghosts and zombies. Others can tame dragons... what a coincidence!"

Chen Mo looked slightly embarrassed.

Xiao Ye proactively came to Chen Mo's rescue: "I know you're cautious, young master. That's quite normal. When someone's strength isn't enough, they need to hide their abilities at all times, for fear of being framed or targeted. Otherwise, even a genius will die young. If you're strong enough, you don't need to hide anything. Why don't we do something together?"

Chen Mo: "What are you doing?"

Xiao Ye suddenly laughed, feeling a sense of relief: "I heard that ghost story. You're a dragon walker. You're someone Jiang Hongyue wants, an inescapable fate. Once you've completed your dragon walk, why don't we go to the Great Yin Mountain together and see what's really going on?"

Having said that, Xiaoye slowly extended her slender and long right hand.

Chen Mo stared at the woman before him, a memory flashing through his mind: His older brother has arrived…

Without hesitation, he extended his hand and firmly grasped Xiaoye's hand: "That's wonderful. Xiaoye is truly my lucky star. When we arrive at the Green Wolf Gang, I'll personally cook for you. I'll treat Xiaoye to a good meal."

Xiaoye chuckled and said, "It's good that you have the intention, but there's no need for you to cook yourself. I think you're a rough person, not the type to make anything delicious."

Chen Mo: "..."

That's incredibly disrespectful.

Before long, the two approached Feilai Mountain and brought the awning boat ashore.

Adhering to etiquette, Chen Mo jumped off the boat, tied the rope to a tree on the shore, and then reached out to help Xiao Ye off the boat: "Once we get to the mountain ahead, we'll reach Feilai Mountain. I'll have my disciples watch over the awning boats later..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Mo was dumbfounded.

With a wave of her hand, Xiaoye saw the awning boat shrink rapidly into a ping-pong ball-sized puppet, which then flew into Xiaoye's palm.

I go……

What method is this?
This Xiaoye has quite a few secrets.

"What are you daydreaming about? Let's go."

"..."

The two climbed the mountain path and arrived at the entrance of the Green Wolf Gang. They found Tang Wan and Lu Chengzhuang guarding the entrance, looking extremely anxious. Upon seeing Chen Mo, the two rushed over.

Lu Chengzhuang said, "Young Master, something terrible has happened."

Chen Mo: "What's wrong?"

Lu Chengzhuang said, "Two groups of people have arrived. They both claim to be the newly appointed governor of the Demon Suppression Bureau, and there is also an old man who claims to be the governor of the Southern Prefecture Demon Suppression Bureau. They threatened to kidnap the young master and keep him in captivity."

Chen Mo felt a chill run down his spine.

The governor of the Zhenmo Prefecture.

That must be an exceptional person.

Come and get me?
Just then, Xiaoye spoke up: "These small fry are getting more and more lawless. They dare to keep someone I've chosen as a pet. Lead the way!"

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've seen some readers comment that the leveling up is too fast, so I'd like to explain my writing approach here. I hope the focus of this book isn't on leveling up, but rather on the transformation into demons, the series of bizarre stories, and the development of the world-building. Therefore, leveling up will only describe the key details of breakthroughs; everything else will be omitted.

(End of this chapter)