I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 107 The Special Abilities of Ghosts, Ghost Stories of Chunfeng Tower!

Ghost Bone Fusion Technique!
Upon hearing these five words, Chen Mo felt a slight curiosity.

He also modified his own skeleton by modifying the function, achieving a state of compatibility with the ghost bones.

I wonder what the difference is between the compatibility of the cheat system and the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique of the Demon Suppression Family?
Old Tang patiently explained, "Almost none of the disciples of noble families who use the power of ghosts have a good end. Even if they don't suffer the effects in their prime, they will inevitably suffer the effects and die in their old age."

The so-called Ghost Bone Fusion Technique uses the bloodline of a demon-suppressing family as its foundation, supplemented by a special secret method, to cultivate a true bloodline fire, which is then used to smelt ghost bones. On one hand, it allows one to absorb the power of the ghost bones and make it one's own.

However, as the ghost bones are refined step by step, the power released increases, and the body suffers greater erosion from the ghost bones. But the true fire of the bloodline can suppress this erosion and delay its onset.

After listening to what was said, Chen Mo felt there was nothing unusual about it, and even felt somewhat disappointed.

This Ghost Bone Fusion Technique seems to be even less effective than the modification function of my cheat system?
He clearly remembered the words his cheat system reminded him of when he modified the compatibility between his bloodline and demon blood:
[You can modify your bloodline to be compatible with the blood of the cursed ghost. This will prevent the ghost blood from devouring your life force and soul, preventing you from being sucked dry. You can also absorb the blood of the cursed ghost and use it for your own benefit, gaining a drop of its power. The modification process is irreversible. Once modified, you may slowly become demonized, but your mental state is controllable.]

The cheat ability not only directly prevents the ghost blood from devouring one's own life force and soul, but also prevents one from being sucked dry into a corpse.

Isn't this equivalent to the True Bloodline Fire of the Demon-Suppressing Clan?
and many more……

Chen Mo suddenly realized a problem he had overlooked: since his cheat ability modified his bloodline, preventing the ghost blood from devouring his life force and soul, why was he still slowly turning into a demon?
This is unreasonable.

Could it be that there is a difference between the words "erosion" and "devouring"?

Chen Mo immediately asked, "May I ask Elder Tang, is the devouring and erosion of ghost blood the same thing?"

Old Tang was puzzled as to why Chen Mo suddenly asked this question. After a moment's thought, he replied, "It can be understood as the same thing."

Chen Mo was even more puzzled, "Since the Bloodline True Fire can suppress the erosion of the Ghost Bone, why can't it completely avoid the fate of death?"

Chen Mo vaguely realized that there might be a logic behind this that he was unaware of.

really……

Old Tang began to explain, "Whether it's ghost blood or ghost bones, they inherently possess the power to backfire on everything. However, disciples of the Demon-Suppressing Families can suppress this backfire with their bloodlines. But there is one thing that even the scions of these families cannot suppress."

"what?"

"The reason why ghosts are ghosts, and can reach a level that wandering spirits and remnant souls cannot, is because ghosts possess a special power called Awakening. Ghost bones with the power of Awakening are very difficult to kill. If a noble family scion uses a ghost, he will be affected by the power of Awakening, and his life will certainly not end well."

Chen Mo was slightly startled.

No wonder... even though the cheat system had blocked the demon blood from devouring his life force and soul, he still turned into a demon. It turns out the problem lay in this power of awakening.

This was a completely new concept for Chen Mo, and his first encounter with the level of ghosts.

What is the power of awareness?

Old Tang explained in detail: "To give you an example, people are afraid of ghosts for two reasons. First, ghosts are terrifying in themselves. Second, it stems from the fear that people consciously feel towards ghosts. When people experience fear or anxiety, their brains release an energy field. This energy field is harmful to oneself. If this energy field is too strong, a person will scare themselves to death."

Ghosts can create feelings of panic, anxiety, and fear in people through a tangible form, thereby amplifying the ghost's inner self. This ability of ghosts is called the power of perception.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo felt a chill run down his spine.

He had seen the film in his previous life and was deeply moved by it.

After watching the video, I was so scared that I dared not go out at night.

After watching Master Lin's films and seeing so many old people turn into zombies, I became afraid to sleep in the same room as my elderly grandmother, fearing that she might suddenly turn into a zombie and bite me.

After watching a certain film when I was older, I was afraid to watch TV for a long time...

That terrifying shadow truly seeped into my bones.

It is said that some people developed severe childhood trauma from watching too many of these films, which eventually distorted their personalities.

So... did ghosts really exist in past lives?
It's hard to explain.

If it was like this in the past life, then this life, where ghosts truly exist, must be even more terrifying.

Chen Mo quickly thought of something and asked, "I know that the way madness is transmitted is through what one sees and hears. Could it be that this is caused by the power of perception?"

Old Master Tang nodded slightly: "Young Master Mo has extremely high comprehension; he understands things immediately. That's right! The transmission pathway of madness is caused by the power of awareness."

Chen Mo vaguely sensed that the source of this madness was not so simple. "What exactly is that power of awakening?"

Old Master Tang said, "The path of seeing and hearing is merely a means of the power of awareness. So-called awareness refers to the six senses and six consciousnesses, which includes hearing, sight, touch, and illusion. We see this world through the six senses and six consciousnesses, but our awareness is passive, isn't it?"
We only feel pain when pricked by a needle, heat when burned, and danger when an enemy approaches. All our six senses and six consciousnesses are given to us by the external world. But the power of awareness is exactly the opposite. This is precisely what makes ghosts terrifying.

Chen Mo became even more interested: "Interesting. Could you elaborate, Elder Tang?"

Faced with Chen Mo's thirst for knowledge, Old Tang felt a sense of pleasure in teaching, so he patiently asked, "How do you determine if someone is dead? No heartbeat, head dislodged? Body cold? No breath? Or what?"

Chen Mo suddenly understood: "It's about judging by feeling and experience."

Old Tang nodded slightly. "That's right. The power of ghosts lies in their ability to actively control the power of perception and modify what you sense. For you, ghosts will always be an unknown entity. Their specific forms are varied and complex, and I cannot describe them in detail. If Young Master Mo wants to know the specifics, he will have to experience it for himself. Alas, I hope you never encounter a ghost in your life."

Chen Mo secretly made a note of it.

The power of awareness.

The main point is something that's hard to explain.

Even an old man like Tang Lao, or a mere attendant from Tang Family Fortress, couldn't quite explain it. Let alone others.

This also gave Chen Mo a deeper understanding of ghosts.

Elder Tang returned to the main topic, saying, "The power of the bloodline true fire cultivated by the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique lies in its ability to slow down the erosion of the power of awakening. Although it cannot completely isolate the power of awakening, it is currently the best method for disciples of all generations to survive."

Chen nodded secretly.

The power of enlightenment can modify people's six senses and six consciousnesses; it is all-pervasive and cannot be suppressed at all.

However, the true fire of the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique can slow down the invasion and corrosion of the power of awakening. This is indeed a remarkable method.

No wonder my demonization process has been accelerating lately.

It frequently and involuntarily emits a "hehehe" laugh, even its voice has changed, and its body is growing increasingly cold. It also begins to reject cooked food and craves fresh blood and cannibalism…

It wasn't that the cheat system failed to prevent the ghost bones and blood from devouring it, but rather that it couldn't prevent the power of awakening within the ghost bones.

It seems that this Ghost Bone Fusion Technique is of great use to me.

Thinking of this, Chen Mo stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Please, Elder Tang, teach me the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique."

Old Master Tang's expression was serious. "Before I pass on this method to you, I must make things clear from the start. Only disciples of the Demon-Suppressing Clan can master this method, because they possess a special bloodline. Although you can circulate the Ghost Bone, you are still a mortal with mortal blood. I cannot guarantee whether you can successfully cultivate it, or what side effects might occur after cultivation."

Without a second thought, Chen Mo agreed, "I know what I'm doing."

Old Tang then explained the details and key points of the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique to Chen Mo, and finally took out a copybook, saying, "This method has a lot of words, and you probably won't be able to remember it all just by me describing it. To avoid missing anything, you can use this copybook to refer to it. Remember not to rush it..."

Old Tang gave a long list of instructions and asked Chen Mo to repeat them before handing the booklet to Chen Mo.

Before long, Tang Qi brought up steaming hot food and wine.

The four of them sat together for dinner, and Old Tang even asked Tang Qi to bring peach blossom wine so that everyone could enjoy themselves.

During the meal, Chen Mo was quite averse to cooked food, but he still forced himself to swallow quite a bit. Old Tang noticed this and smiled, "People who have used ghost bones will experience this. If Young Master Mo can master the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique, his symptoms will improve considerably."

Chen Mo hadn't expected the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique to have this function, and a sense of anticipation rose in his heart. He planned to return to the Chen residence after dinner and then begin practicing the Ghost Bone Fusion Technique to test its effects.

The atmosphere at the table was excellent. Tang Qi kept pouring out his bitterness, always complaining about how difficult things were in Qingwu County, looking pitiful. In the end, Old Tang hit him on the head with his chopsticks.

"Shen Yujun has already done so much for you, and you still want more benefits?"

Tang Qi chuckled and ate the meat heartily.

Seeing that the atmosphere was good, Chen Mo drank a couple more cups and asked Guo Ziyu about her purpose in hiding in Black Mountain Village.

Now that Chen Mo has joined Tangjiabao, he is considered one of their own. Guo Ziyu did not hide anything, saying, "This matter is of great importance, so please tell us, Elder Tang."

Old Tang spoke up, "Honghe County... under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Demon Suppression Division, is actually under the same jurisdiction as Qingwu County, belonging to my Tang Family Fortress. However, a Red Lantern Goddess emerged in Honghe County, enjoying the incense offerings of hundreds of thousands of villagers. These offerings... originally belonged to the Black God of my Tang Family Fortress, but were cut off midway by the Red Lantern Goddess. Initially, the Tang Family Fortress headquarters in the prefectural city didn't take it too seriously, thinking it was just an ordinary remnant spirit from the countryside causing trouble, so they sent two inner sect experts down to deal with it. Unexpectedly... they were all dead."

Later, Tangjiabao sent two more disciples from prominent families to investigate, hoping to stop the incense offerings. Unexpectedly, they both died. Finally, Tangjiabao realized something was wrong and sent me with a few men to handle the situation. At first, I didn't take it too seriously, but the more I learned, the more I realized this Red Lantern Lady was no ordinary person.

At this point, Old Tang suddenly looked serious. "After my initial investigation, I realized that this matter couldn't be rushed, so I made long-term plans. That's why I sent Miss to infiltrate Black Mountain Village. In addition, Tongshan and Xiaoyu are also hiding in Honghe County. Our group consists of just a few people. We came here with a mission from Tangjiabao, and more than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye."

Chen Mo clicked his tongue slightly upon hearing this.

No wonder...

To put it bluntly, it's all about competing for the continuation of the family line.

"Mr. Tang, is the offering of incense really that important?"

Old Tang nodded: "It's not very important to us humans, but it's extremely important to the Black God. I'm not entirely sure what the incense's specific function is. I only know that the more incense there is, the more powerful the Black God becomes. The survival pressure on our Tang Family Fort is also immense. Therefore, the incense offerings in Honghe County are especially crucial. Before we came to Honghe County, we made a solemn pledge before the family head that if we couldn't bring back the incense offerings for Honghe County, we would die here."

I'm old, and I have no ambition in this life. Dying of old age doesn't really matter. It's just that the young ladies have suffered here with this old man."

Guo Ziyu comforted him, saying, "Old Tang, what are you saying? We're all family. We share both honor and disgrace, and we can't be apart. Don't be so formal."

After the meal, Mr. Tang, slightly tipsy, went to the backyard to rest.

Tang Qi... was in charge of washing the dishes.

Tang Qi had initially said, "Who's the last to finish eating and wash the dishes?" but after being glared at by Guo Ziyu, she changed her mind and said, "I was just joking. When have I ever not cleaned up the dishes?"

Guo Ziyu didn't return to Black Mountain Stronghold, but instead settled in a side room in the central courtyard. She even called Chen Mo over and took out a brocade box, saying, "Before you joined Tang Family Fortress, I couldn't give you any benefits. Now that you're one of my people, you can take this True Essence Pill."

Chen Mo took the box and opened it. Inside was a blue pill, about the size of a thumb, crystal clear, with a unique fragrance wafting from it. Just one sniff made him feel refreshed.

When I reached out to take it, I could feel that it contained extremely powerful true energy, which made it look like an extremely precious elixir.

“I saw you fighting the evil infant at the Li residence that day. I know that your cultivation has reached the seventh level of Martial Master, and you are only one step away from opening up your Ren and Du meridians. This True Essence Pill can help you.”

Chen Mo accepted it without hesitation, saying, "Then I won't be polite."

Guo Ziyu said, "Mingyu Gong is already a top-notch internal martial art, not much worse than the one in my Tang Family Fortress. Since you have achieved success in your cultivation, do not change your method halfway. It would be safest to cultivate to the ninth level of martial arts master as soon as possible."

Although Guo Ziyu said that, Chen Mo was curious and asked, "I wonder what the internal martial arts of Tang Family Fort are?"

Guo Ziyu had long anticipated Chen Mo's question. "My Tang Family Fortress has several internal martial arts techniques, the best of which is the Thunderclap Force."

"How does it compare to the Mingyu Skill?"

"That's naturally several times better. Looking at the entire Nanyang Prefecture, it's all top-notch internal martial arts."

"Could you pass this on?"

Guo Ziyu wasn't reluctant to part with it, but rather worried, "If you switch to practicing other internal martial arts midway, it's easy for them to conflict and cause you to suffer a qi deviation. I think it would be better for Young Master Mo to be more cautious."

How could Chen Mo let such a fine internal martial arts skill slip by? "I have my own plans. I would appreciate it if Miss Ziyu could pass it on to me."

Eh.

Guo Ziyu shook her head helplessly, "Fine."

As he spoke, he took out a booklet from a drawer in the side room and handed it to Chen Mo: "You are also a seventh-level martial artist now, so I don't have much to tell you. If you feel any discomfort during cultivation, you need to stop immediately. Otherwise, you will damage your meridians, and the clash of the two true energies will easily lead to qi deviation."

Chen Mo nodded in agreement, then said, "I'd like to go home for a bit. As for Juan'er... I'll trouble Miss Ziyu to look after her. I'll come back tomorrow morning."

Guo Ziyu glanced at Juan'er, who was all alone outside the door, and agreed, "Go ahead. I'll stay here tonight. Anyway, there's nothing to do in the village; the new village leaders haven't come yet."

Chen Mo thanked her, took the two secret manuals and the True Essence Pill, told Juan'er to be obedient, and then left Qingfu Residence.

As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Tang Qi, with shifty eyes, sneak out with him. Tang Qi was wearing a mask and mysteriously pulled Chen Mo aside. "Young Master Mo, tonight it's my treat. I'll take you to Chunfeng Tower. The girls there are all amazing. Especially the courtesan Su Mei, she's absolutely stunning. Countless rich young men have fallen at her feet."

Chen Mo was taken aback, then remembered that there was a letter Xie Dong had left for Ru Hua at home.

It was less a letter and more a will.

Chen Mo pondered that Xie Dongren was a good person, and he should deliver the suicide note to Ruhua of Chunfeng Tower.

Thinking of this, Chen Mo looked up at the Spring Breeze Pavilion in the distance.

The night was deep, but the five-story Chunfeng Tower was covered with rows of red lanterns, which stood out brightly in the night.

Although the shape and style of this red lantern are different from those of the red lantern, it is also scarlet.

Since the Red Lantern Gang arrived in Honghe County, few shops have dared to hang red lanterns anymore, to avoid suspicion and offending the Red Lantern Gang. Although Chunfeng Tower is a brothel, is it inappropriate for it to openly hang so many red lanterns?
Moreover, my elder brother and I often went there to see the courtesan Su Mei, and after hearing a ghost story, we both went mad. It seems this ghost story possesses some kind of power.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt that this Spring Breeze Pavilion was not simple.

"I'm busy today; I haven't been home in a long time. Let's do it another day."

Tang Qi was slightly disappointed, but still agreed, "Then it's settled. I'll go find Miss Su Mei first. Tsk tsk tsk, I heard Miss Su Mei has a costume performance tonight, I'm so looking forward to it."

Changing clothes?

Su Mei knows how to play the game.

Chen Mo shook his head, clearing his mind of distractions, and turned to leave. As he passed the entrance of Chunfeng Tower, he saw young masters and noblemen from various families with their arms around the waists of beautiful girls, chatting and laughing, in a decadent and extremely indecent manner.

Yet it is also very touching.

Chen Mo hurriedly left, and just then, a woman rushed up to him, "Young Master Mo."

Chen Mo turned around and saw a woman wearing a pink silk dress that revealed her shoulders. Underneath, she wore a tight-fitting strapless top that showed off her ample bosom. She had a slender figure and was quite attractive.

However, the woman did not display much alluring charm; instead, she looked terrified.

Chen Mo had no memories of his past life, so he didn't recognize the woman. He simply asked, "What is it?"

The woman looked around, and seeing that no one was paying attention, she stepped forward and asked, "Young Master Mo, do you still remember that ghost story?"

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.: Bonus chapter! This chapter enters Volume 3, "Red Light Heist." I'm posting this first to give you a heads-up. 26,000 words today, asking for monthly votes isn't too much to ask, right?
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