I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 242 The Mirror of the Setting Sun, The Zombie Immortal!
Chen Mo and Bai Yujing have spent so many years together that they have developed an extraordinary tacit understanding.

A glance, a word of reminder.

You probably understand what that means now.

The moment Chen Mo saw this training ground, he sensed that something was amiss.

But the Empress had been here before and was now leading the way. Chen Mo and Bai Yujing didn't say much and followed closely behind Bai Yujing into the cultivation ground.

The monks guarding the gate greeted the Empress respectfully, indicating that they were quite familiar with each other.

The three entered the gate of the monastery without any trouble. Inside was a large courtyard, in the center of which stood a large statue of a Bodhisattva. In front of the statue was an altar and an incense burner. A high-ranking monk sat in front of the altar, and dozens of monks sat in the snow around them, listening devoutly to the high-ranking monk's sermon.

Waiting under the eaves of the Empress's courtyard, the monk who had led the way went to the altar to report to the high monk.

Upon hearing the monks' report, the high monk immediately stood up, hurriedly walked to the eaves, and clasped his hands together in prayer to the Empress: "Your Majesty."

The Empress bowed with one hand, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Abbot. I will take my two friends to our rooms first. Please come over after the Abbot finishes his sermon."

The abbot nodded in agreement and then instructed the monks who were leading the way to take good care of the empress and her entourage.

"Three benefactors, please follow me." The abbot respectfully led the three to a meditation room in the backyard of the monastery.

The meditation room isn't big, but it has a small courtyard, so it offers a decent level of privacy.

The Empress went directly to the main room to stay, while Chen Mo and Bai Yujing went to the east wing.

The furnishings in the side room were simple and unpretentious, but it had all the necessary daily necessities.

Bai Yujing sat down at the octagonal table, opened two teacups, poured tea into them, and pushed one of the cups towards Chen Mo. "Did you notice that abbot just now, my husband?"

Chen Mo took the teacup, took a small sip, and said, "I noticed. This abbot doesn't seem to be human."

Bai Yujing nodded: "Yes. The abbot is no longer human, he is a zombie that cannot be dissolved. And not just any ordinary zombie."

Chen Mo also noticed this, "It's several times stronger than ordinary Undying Bones. It's not much different from an Ascended Immortal."

Bai Yujing said, "Hmm. I've never seen this kind of uncorrupted bone in either Daqian or Beiliang. It's a very rare breed. I think it's mostly related to the deity they worship in Guiyuan City."

Chen Mo was taken aback. "You mean... the deity of Guiyuan City is a zombie?"

Bai Yujing asked, "Do you think that's possible?"

Chen Mo said, "If this abbot is a believer or servant of a god, then the god's level... is probably that of an ascended immortal. Can a zombie become an immortal?"

Bai Yujing was also in a dilemma.

Based on her previous understanding of the Empress, zombies and ghosts in this world can only reach the level of the Corpse Ancestor Undying Bone and the Ghost Emperor at most. They cannot ascend to immortality.

Only demons... possess the ability to ascend to immortality.

Without him.

Demons possess extremely powerful physical and spiritual bodies, and are capable of transcending the Three Realms and Five Elements.

Only beings of this level can ascend to immortality.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to withstand it.

It was because of this that Chen Mo had to abandon the cultivation and power of the Corpse Ancestor's Undying Bones and the Ghost Emperor, pouring them all into the Twin Demons. Only then did he complete the Corpse Liberation and Ascension to Immortality.

If zombies could ascend to immortality, that would be a bit illogical.

Bai Yujing shook her head: "I don't know. We need to ask the Empress."

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

dong dong dong.

Bai Yujing opened the door and saw the Empress standing there.

"Your Majesty, please come in quickly." Bai Yujing welcomed the Empress inside and poured her tea.

The Empress took the teacup, took a sip, and said, "Have you also noticed that there's something wrong with this abbot?"

Chen Mo nodded and voiced his previous doubts.

The Empress nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, I had similar doubts before. Logically speaking, zombies in this world can only cultivate to the level of the Undying Corpse Ancestor. It is impossible to go further and achieve Corpse Liberation and Ascension. The strength of Undying Corpse is not enough to support it, nor can it break through the shackles of the laws of this world. But according to Abbot Pu Hong, the god he worships is called Jiang Chen, who is indeed an ascended zombie."

General?

This is indeed a titled corpse ancestor.

Chen Mo never expected that the concept of a general or minister would exist in this world.

Bai Yujing asked, "Then how did Jiang Chen manage to ascend to immortality?"

The Empress said, "At first I was also curious, but after investigating for a while, I discovered a possibility. The key to the problem may still lie in the Residual Sun Mirror."

Chen Mo was taken aback: "The Mirror of the Setting Sun? It can help the Corpse Ancestor ascend to immortality?"

The Empress said, "Well, ordinary zombies and ghosts rely on absorbing moonlight to strengthen their cultivation. But moonlight cannot support the Corpse Ancestor Ghost Emperor to advance further. However, the Remnant Sun Mirror can absorb the essence of the sun, allowing zombies to manifest in broad daylight. Over time, they may be able to transform and ascend to immortality. This is just a rough guess of mine; we will need to go to Guiyuan City to find out the specifics."

Bai Yujing became interested, "Does Abbot Pu Hong also not know how his spirit ascended to immortality?" The Empress shook her head: "Pu Hong doesn't know either. If I'm not mistaken, this Remnant Sun Mirror is probably in the hands of the spirit behind the Abbot. When the Abbot arrives, we'll have him lead the way to Guiyuan City to find that spirit, Jiang Chen."

Chen Mo understood the Empress's plan and thought, "That's perfect."

The Empress nodded.

Before long, Abbot Pu Hong hurried over. He was even more respectful to the Empress, exchanging pleasantries before finally asking, "Your Majesty, are you on your way to Guiyuan City to see Lord Jiang Chen?"

The Empress cut to the chase, asking, "Where is Jiang Chen in Guiyuan City?"

Abbot Pu Hong said, "It's in an abandoned temple in Guiyuan City."

The Empress asked, "Is he still alive?"

Abbot Pu Hong said, "I haven't seen Lord Jiang Chen for many years. I don't know if he's alive or dead, but he should still be alive."

The Empress said, "Then let's set off."

……

Guiyuan City.

A vast, ruined city-state.

Abbot Pu Hong led everyone into Guiyuan City, through countless abandoned streets, and finally arrived at a deserted temple.

Because it was winter, the temple buildings were covered with a thick layer of snow, and the air was bitterly cold.

The temple is very large and has a long history.

Abbot Pu Hong carefully led the way, passing through several courtyards before arriving at the main hall.

The palace was indeed magnificent and imposing, but it was covered with a thick layer of dust, clearly indicating that no one had cleaned it for many years.

In the center stands a three-meter-tall statue, its entire body painted red, its face ferocious, seemingly resembling a demon.

After a simple introduction, Chen Mo and the other two learned that the evil spirit's appearance was drawn based on Jiang Chen's likeness.

Pu Hong searched the main hall for a while, then looked embarrassed. "It seems that Lord Jiang Chen has been gone from here for many years."

The Empress nodded. "I understand. You may go back now."

"Yes." Pu Hong respectfully clasped his hands together, then turned and left.

In the vast Mahavira Hall, only Chen Mo and his two companions remained.

The Empress suggested, "Let's split up and search the entire temple to see if we can find any living people."

Chen Mo and Bai Yujing nodded in agreement, and then went their separate ways to search.

Chen Mo was an ascended immortal. He opened up his domain and quickly searched the southeast region, but found nothing. It was obviously a temple that had been abandoned for many years.

Finally, the three returned to the main hall.

They exchanged a glance, both showing a helpless expression.

The Empress said, "It seems there are no living people left in this temple. But I have a feeling that Jiang Chen has not left Guiyuan City. Perhaps he will return later."

Chen Mo said, "Does Your Majesty mean... that we should stay here and wait?"

The Empress said, "Alright."

And so, the three of them set up a meditation room in the backyard of the abandoned temple and settled down temporarily.

Chen Mo's days became more leisurely. He would occasionally stroll through temples and visit Guiyuan City, but he didn't see a single living person. The rest of his time was spent in seclusion in his room, cultivating his Daoist practice.

Although at the level of an ascended immortal, cultivation no longer helps to improve one's cultivation level, it can improve some techniques. Consider it a way to pass the time.

Every evening, Chen Mo would go for a stroll in the main hall.

As for the Empress, she was elusive, appearing and disappearing without a trace. No one knew what she did all day long, and she was rarely seen.

That evening, Bai Yujing and Chen Mo ate some simple dry rations in their room and began to discuss things.

Bai Yujing: "The Empress has been really focused lately, searching the whole city for Jiang Chen. I have a feeling something is off. With the Empress's abilities, finding Jiang Chen shouldn't be a problem. But the Empress says Jiang Chen is in Guiyuan City. How could Jiang Chen escape the Empress's watchful eye?"

Chen Mo was also curious: "Could it be that Jiang Chen's cultivation has reached a level comparable to that of the Empress? That's too exaggerated."

Bai Yujing said, "The owner of the Residual Sun Mirror is indeed not to be underestimated. Don't you have the Crimson Moon Mirror? You can try to sense the presence of the Residual Sun Mirror."

"Okay, let me try."

Chen Mo didn't hesitate and immediately released the Crimson Moon Mirror.

The next moment, Chen Mo gasped.

"I sense something. This General Jiang is... in this temple!?"

(End of this chapter)