Volume One: The Soul-Summoning Gourd, The Soul-Burning Lamp Chapter 30: Driven to Madness

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The night was as cool and clear as water.

Around the jade-green pool, black mist spread thickly, filling the air with a chilling, ghostly aura. Where once the water had been crystal clear to the bottom, it was now swallowed by a sea of blood, the stench so strong it was suffocating.

Gu Mo clung desperately to a tree trunk, his blood surging with terror, his body trembling like a leaf in the wind.

If he were facing zombies or female ghosts, Gu Mo would not have been quite so afraid. After all, that was his area of expertise; he already had some combat experience with such things. But just now, he’d had a bloody “spa,” and who in their right mind could endure such a thing? Not to mention, what he now faced were over a dozen skeleton soldiers, armed to the teeth. Who knew how powerful they might be!

Looking closely, each skeleton soldier was fully equipped, their armor and weapons dull and without luster, and aside from the exposed bones outside the armor, not a scrap of flesh remained.

This sight filled Gu Mo with confusion.

Because, peculiarly, the weapons wielded by these skeleton soldiers were not all the same. Besides shields and daggers, there were even long spears and halberds among them!

For a moment, the ghostly atmosphere was unbearably intimidating—who could withstand such terror?

Suppressing his fear as best he could, Gu Mo gritted his teeth and shouted angrily at the Gluttonous Ghost, “What the hell is this? You little black ball, are you cheating me?”

The Gluttonous Ghost responded with a sinister grin, its mouth gaping wide, then extended a long, blood-red tongue and pointed straight at Gu Mo.

In an instant, the skeleton soldiers, as if receiving a command, had red flames ignite in their deep, hollow eye sockets, their intent to kill unmistakable.

A chilling air of menace instantly filled the entire forest.

With the sound of joints cracking, the skeleton soldiers raised their shields in unison, tapping their daggers against them with a dull thud, while those wielding long weapons followed close behind, splashing through the blood underfoot as they advanced.

Click—click!

Gu Mo straightened and roared in the direction of Xiao Yulou, “You mangy priest, if you don’t help now, I’ll be in deep trouble!”

Not far away, Xiao Yulou, wrapped in a golden glow, stroked his chin in deep thought. With the golden light protecting him, this eccentric Daoist seemed as untouchable as a butterfly in a flower garden, not a single drop of blood staining him. As for Lady Yama, she floated effortlessly in midair, utterly unaffected.

In a flash, Lady Yama opened her black bundle and tossed the iron staff called “Heaven-Measuring Ruler” toward Gu Mo. (At critical moments, a wife is the most reliable!)

Gu Mo snatched the flying staff out of the air.

With a thunderous boom, ghostly green flames erupted from head to toe, an icy chill seeping into every pore. Now was no time to wonder why the Heaven-Measuring Ruler was emitting ghost fire.

The Gluttonous Ghost, who had been inwardly gloating, saw the green, translucent flames and was instantly furious, its roots itching with rage. After all, all its fur had been singed and curled by that damned fire. In the moonlight, the Gluttonous Ghost now resembled nothing so much as a black poodle.

No wonder this shadowy little creature hated Gu Mo so much!

Gripping the Heaven-Measuring Ruler with one hand, Gu Mo swung it before him, gritting his teeth and glaring fiercely at the approaching skeleton soldiers.

Just then, Xiao Yulou suddenly called out in a sonorous voice, “Brother Gu, don’t underestimate these bony fellows. They’re likely ghost soldiers!”

At these words, Lady Yama immediately frowned in deep thought. Though she’d lived more than three thousand years, she was a notorious homebody, and the only time she’d ever gone out was in a sedan chair with her face covered. She’d never seen ghost soldiers herself!

Click, click, click!

The joints of the skeleton soldiers crackled as a red glow burst forth across their bodies. Their previously dull armor suddenly shone anew! The gloomy forest was instantly illuminated by swathes of eerie red light.

Gu Mo was so shocked that his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“What the—? I’m not the only one who can glow, after all!”

No sooner had he spoken than there was a sharp sound as something sliced through the air—a red-glowing arrow shot straight for Gu Mo’s brow!

Before he could react, the arrow was already before his eyes.

With a blast, the ghostly flames erupting from Gu Mo’s body knocked the arrow off course.

Crack!

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The deflected arrow pierced straight through a tree so thick it would take two men to encircle it, and buried itself deep in the earth.

Snapping back to his senses, Gu Mo breathed a sigh of relief. “Damn! If not for the ghost fire, I’d be a goner!”

Just then, the sound of bowstrings being drawn echoed from deep within the woods. In the nick of time, a volley of red arrows came flying toward him.

At this, Gu Mo clenched in terror, his body shuddering. He frantically swung the Heaven-Measuring Ruler to block them.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Arrows rained down like a storm, and the advancing skeleton soldiers raised their weapons, ready to hack Gu Mo to pieces.

Seeing this, Gu Mo could only leap backward.

With a heavy thud, the ground where he’d just stood was smashed into a large pit, now bristling with arrows.

Staring at the scene, Gu Mo gasped in horror.

This was no joke—one careless move and he’d be crippled for life!

As he retreated while fighting, Gu Mo’s mind spun, his anxiety mounting. Yet the closer to death he came, the calmer his head grew.

‘Hmm... this is just like a video game!’

There were heavily armored, high-health warriors in front, and difficult, high-damage archers in the rear.

Since the archers lurking at the back were firing sneak attacks, they must be fragile!

The shame of Jingkang still unavenged, the ministers’ hatred—when will it end? You have to pick the softest target!

With a plan in mind, Gu Mo gritted his teeth, determined to fight as he retreated, looking for a chance to take out the archers in the rear first.

He darted and dodged through the forest, swinging the ghost-fire-wreathed Heaven-Measuring Ruler. The skeleton soldiers wielding short weapons straightened up and gaped their jawbones in a soundless roar. (After all, skeleton soldiers had no vocal cords, so their open jaws lost much of their intimidation.)

Then the vanguard skeletons gave chase, weapons raised.

Gu Mo sprinted in wide circles, leading the monsters in a loop, but inside he was suffering—this was worse than eating bitter herbs!

‘Damn it! What did I do to deserve this? My luck is rotten!’

The first day, he’d been hunted by Black-and-White Impermanence.

The second day, chased by zombies.

The third day, targeted by a red-dressed ghost woman.

And now he had to fight ghost soldiers?

Wait—ghost soldiers!

The thought naturally led him to the Netherworld.

‘No matter what, Lady Yama is the supreme commander of the underworld—but why isn’t she helping?’

Glancing aside, Gu Mo was instantly exasperated.

That lecherous Daoist was sitting cross-legged, munching popcorn as if on a picnic. Even worse, he had two 2.5-liter bottles of Pepsi in front of him, while Lady Yama gazed at him with shining eyes, watching him feast.

As they say: “Up front, it’s a crisis; behind, it’s a banquet.” Such scenes are common throughout history.

Gu Mo’s anger flared just as a cold gleam split the air.

Startled, he raised the Heaven-Measuring Ruler to parry.

With a clang, sparks flew from the ghostly staff, sending a jolt of pain through his hands.

With a thud, the force drove Gu Mo to his knees in a pool of dark blood. Immediately, seven or eight arrows whistled toward him. He stared, dumbfounded, as a stream of orange-yellow liquid finally burst forth.

‘I’m doomed! If I don’t die this time, it’s a miracle!’

At the last possible moment, a fireball the size of a well exploded before him.

The scorching wave blasted everything within five meters away. Charred skeletons shattered into scattered limbs.

A wave of burned flesh hit his nose.

From the distance, the leering Daoist coughed lightly and said, “Brother Gu, your footwork is full of flaws. This is the last time I’ll intervene.”

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Lying in a pool of blood, Gu Mo flipped to his feet in a carp’s leap, his black tracksuit burned away by the fire. Only a pair of little yellow-chick underwear remained visible...

Seeing this cute detail, Lady Yama covered her eyes, peeking shyly through her fingers.

Gu Mo wasted not a second, dashing off to the right. From a clearing nearby came the clatter of bones.

A sidelong glance revealed a sight that made Gu Mo explode with indignation.

The skeleton soldiers scattered by the “Three Pure Ones’ Fire” were now gathering up bones and reassembling themselves. In a blink, several three-headed, six-armed giant skeletons were formed, their bodies radiating an eerie red glow, each wielding a different weapon.

The terror was unspeakable!

But this sight ignited a blaze of fury in Gu Mo’s heart. The only way out was to shatter these skeleton soldiers completely!

Taking a deep breath, Gu Mo charged toward the skeletal archers in the woods.

Red-glowing arrows whistled past his face, and he swung the Heaven-Measuring Ruler desperately to block them, but several pierced straight through his shoulder.

The sensation of blood pouring out was excruciating, and the biting cold only grew worse.

But Gu Mo was now within reach of the skeletal archers!

With a snarl, he raised the Heaven-Measuring Ruler and smashed it down.

With a crack, a skeleton archer was shattered to pieces—a rush of ecstasy surged through him.

Drunk on bloodlust, Gu Mo kept pounding the remains, not noticing the strange red sigil glowing on his chest.

Click, click, click!

A wicked grin curled Gu Mo’s lips. The more he fought, the more frenzied he became. His increasing ferocity stunned the surrounding skeleton soldiers.

The weak fear the strong, the strong fear the reckless, and the reckless fear those who throw away their lives!

Just then, a breeze blew by, and with a rush, the drunkenness rose in Gu Mo again. He was a lunatic with nothing to lose!

Clad only in his little yellow-duck briefs, with blood-red eyes, a savage expression, blood-soaked hair, and ghostly flames billowing from his body, his bare chest gleamed with an incomprehensible sigil.

Who could call him a living man? He was like a fiend from the underworld!

Seeing this, Xiao Yulou’s easy composure vanished, his heart tightening. But no matter how he pondered, the lecherous Daoist could not decipher the red sigil on Gu Mo’s chest.

Lady Yama, meanwhile, cared only for Gu Mo’s safety. If he were fully consumed by this evil power, he would become nothing but a soulless killing machine.

Gu Mo, feeling triumphant, dashed at the next skeleton soldier and smashed it just as ruthlessly.

Click—click—click—click!

One... two... three...

Bathed in moonlight, Gu Mo’s blood-red eyes moved mechanically as he swung the Heaven-Measuring Ruler, the green ghost fire roaring around him.

He lost all count of how many bones he’d shattered.

In that horrifying scene, Gu Mo stood atop a mountain of bones, the blood-soaked Heaven-Measuring Ruler in hand, laughing wildly. The red sigil on his chest grew ever more sinister.

“Hahaha—Kill! Kill! Kill! All who stand in my way will die, gods and Buddhas alike!”

With a blood-curdling roar, the tide of battle shifted. But Gu Mo’s mind seemed on the verge of collapse.

The Gluttonous Ghost, powerless to resist, tried to sneak away quietly.

But in the next instant, Lady Yama waved her hand. The fleeing Gluttonous Ghost floated helplessly in midair, its round body writhing.

Behind it loomed the blood-red eyes of a killer god.

Gu Mo stood with his back to the moon, his figure a blur of blood. Then, he split his lips in a ghastly grin.

With hands wreathed in ghostly flames, he seized the Gluttonous Ghost in a bone-crushing grip.

Glug, glug, glug—

The ghost’s wailing grew fainter, its star-like eyes bulging, about to burst.

Seeing the situation at its climax, Xiao Yulou flashed to Gu Mo’s side.

With a crisp slap, a yellow talisman was firmly pressed to Gu Mo’s forehead...