Chapter 182: Silver-armored Zombie

Deep in the night, within Camel Bell Town, stood an unassuming small courtyard.

The night sky hung low, dotted with scattered starlight.

Inside the courtyard, several Six Doors constables, clad in dark robes and armed with weapons, patrolled vigilantly. Nearby, disciples from the Qiongshan Sect, in their fitted martial attire and carrying long swords, stood ready for combat, their eyes sharp, missing no sign of movement.

Meanwhile, outside the courtyard, seven shadowy figures, like bats emerging from the night, silently appeared on the rooftops flanking the premises.

The dim moonlight silhouetted their forms, making them appear as dark as ink.

The masked figure in the center subtly raised a hand, signaling a command.

Immediately, the other six launched themselves into the courtyard like arrows, striking fiercely and without warning at the Six Doors constables and Qiongshan Sect disciples.

“Enemy attack!”

A quick-witted Six Doors constable instantly drew his saber, its blade glinting as a shout ripped through the silent night.

In a flash, the other constables drew their glinting blades, and the Qiongshan Sect disciples swiftly unsheathed their clanging swords, forming a defensive array. Instantly, the small courtyard was filled with murderous intent.

Yet, the six masked figures, like wild beasts, charged fearlessly forward despite the glinting sabers and swords.

Saber slashes and sword thrusts against them produced metallic *clanging* sounds. Their clothes were shredded, yet their skin remained unharmed, each figure radiating a faint bluish-bronze glow, revealing them to be invulnerable to blades and spears.

In the blink of an eye, the carefully arranged defense of the Six Doors constables and Qiongshan Sect disciples was shattered and scattered. However, the six masked intruders clearly had no interest in prolonged combat; they ignored the constables and disciples, quickly broke through the main hall door, and stormed inside.

However, the moment the six masked figures burst into the hall, they abruptly froze.

Inside the grand hall, Yin Jiuniang, who had lost both arms, huddled helplessly on the floor, unable to move or speak, her eyes reflecting utter despair.

Gu Mo sat serenely in the center of the hall, leisurely sipping fragrant tea from a delicate cup, as if the turmoil outside held no bearing on him. Gu Chudong stood close by his side, the Gouchen Demonic Saber in her hand subtly glowing with a blood-red hue, its blade seemingly imbued with a living aura. Zhuo Qingfeng and Lin Duanyun stood on opposite sides of the hall, their long swords already drawn, their sharp, cold blades poised for action, clearly having been ready for some time.

“It’s a trap, retreat!”

A hunchbacked, white-haired masked figure uttered a frantic, aged cry.

Almost simultaneously, all six masked figures swiftly produced smoke bombs and hurled them forcefully to the ground.

In that instant, Gu Mo, still sipping his tea, lightly tapped his toe. A surge of powerful internal energy, like a roaring tide, erupted from the ground. This immense energy was incredibly precise, deflecting the smoke bombs mid-air, sending them flying over the courtyard wall to land uselessly outside.

At the same instant, Gu Chudong, Zhuo Qingfeng, and Lin Duanyun struck simultaneously.

Gu Chudong powerfully swung the Gouchen Demonic Saber, unleashing a strange yet immense force. A blood-red flame, eerie and fierce, emanated from the blade.

Zhuo Qingfeng’s swordplay was unorthodox, his moves cunning and ruthless, each thrust aimed directly at vital points. Lin Duanyun, in contrast, wielded his sword with a steady and measured approach, yet his strikes were relentless and seamlessly connected.

Saber light and sword shadows flashed incessantly, as sharp sword energy and scorching blade flames clashed, churning the air into a chaotic vortex.

The hall instantly erupted into pandemonium.

Outside the courtyard, Six Doors constables seized the moment to fire a signal flare. With a *whoosh*, the flare streaked across the night sky and exploded, its vibrant colors illuminating half the town.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop adjacent to the courtyard, the last masked figure's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness. After a brief hesitation, he began to quietly retreat, preparing to descend.

However, as he turned his head, he saw a young man with his eyes covered by a black cloth had appeared behind him. It was Gu Mo.

The masked figure's eyes instantly narrowed, a fleeting look of panic, like a streaking meteor, flashing deep within his pupils.

In a flash, he roared and unleashed a powerful palm strike, sending waves of energy rippling outwards. It lifted sections of roof tiles from beneath his feet, which, carried by a fierce wind, rained down overwhelmingly upon Gu Mo. Simultaneously, his five fingers transformed into hooks, extending half an inch and sharpening into blade-like claws that glinted coldly, aiming straight for Gu Mo's throat with a whistling claw wind that seemed to tear through the very air.

Upon seeing this, Gu Mo merely let out a low snort, a sound like a great bell that vibrated the air. At his cold snort, the flurry of tiles suspended mid-air abruptly froze, then with continuous *crackling* sounds, they crumbled into dust and drifted silently to the ground.

Without haste, he raised his hand, his aura suddenly escalating, like a profound abyss or a towering peak, or a furious dragon surging from the sea. He unleashed a powerful strike from the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms; from his palm, a fiery, dragon-shaped energy roared forth, fierce and magnificent, instantly igniting the air and sending heat waves rolling in its wake.

“Boom!”

The dragon-shaped energy violently collided with the masked figure's claws. In that instant, sparks flew and energy waves surged. A massive impact force erupted, shaking the very ground.

Unable to withstand such immense power, the masked figure was sent flying backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily into the courtyard.

“Rumble!”

A deafening *boom* echoed as the masked figure was sent flying several yards like a snapped kite. His back ploughed through the courtyard wall, sending a shower of debris, before he finally slammed into a deep pit, embedding himself within. The impact was like a meteor striking the earth: blue bricks shattered in a spiderweb pattern, a wave of dust billowed ten feet high like a yellow dragon, stone bricks cracked, dirt splattered, and thick smoke filled the air.

Meanwhile, inside the courtyard, the battle raged with equal intensity.

The six masked figures faced a concerted assault primarily led by Gu Chudong, Zhuo Qingfeng, and Lin Duanyun, supported by numerous other Six Doors constables and Qiongshan Sect disciples. Gu Chudong, in particular, was performing exceptionally.

Strictly speaking, Gu Chudong's martial arts skills were not on par with Zhuo Qingfeng's or Lin Duanyun's; their swordsmanship was considered top-tier in the martial arts world, while hers was a tier below. However, she wielded the Gouchen Demonic Saber, an unparalleled treasure. Even though the six masked figures were invulnerable to ordinary blades and spears, they were as vulnerable as tofu before the Gouchen Demonic Saber. Crucially, the saber's characteristic of surging fiery power proved to be a formidable counter to the frigid Yin energy of their Zombie Art.

Thus, in the courtyard, Gu Chudong alone bore half the pressure of the battle. Growing increasingly excited with each strike, empowered by the Gouchen Demonic Saber and the ceaseless internal energy from her Mingyu Art, she utterly overwhelmed the masked figures.

Meanwhile, as Gu Mo struck the leading masked figure into the ground with a single palm, the other six masked figures were instantly thrown into disarray.

“Roar…”

The very next moment, a beast-like roar erupted from the pit in the courtyard. The masked figure, whom Gu Mo had struck into the ground, stood up, his clothes shredded and his entire body radiating waves of silver light.

His face mask had fallen, revealing his true identity.

Lin Duanyun recognized him instantly, stating gravely, “Ke Wenshui, it’s you!”

Immediately, the other masked figures quickly converged on Ke Wenshui, though their condition was dire; three had severed arms, and the hateful glares they cast at Gu Chudong clearly indicated her involvement.

Ke Wenshui slightly twisted his head, his neck emitting metallic *clanging* sounds. Blood mist clouded his eyes, and two long fangs extended from the corners of his mouth. He looked at Lin Duanyun with disdain and sneered, “Lin Duanyun, if not for your master, that old bastard, killing my father all those years ago, what right would you have to be mentioned in the same breath as me?”

Lin Duanyun gasped, “You’re He Changqing’s son?”

Ke Wenshui scoffed, “You never imagined my father still had a surviving child, did you? Those hypocrites, after slaughtering the Huajian Sect back then, then completely annihilated my He family. They believed destroying the Zombie Art manual would solve everything, but they never considered that my father had secretly entrusted me with the manual when I was just a few years old. I found it once I came of age. Hahaha, I’ll tell you, your master, that hypocrite Bai Qiliao, couldn't even believe the Zombie Art still existed when I captured him, hahaha…”

Lin Duanyun’s face paled, and he roared, “What did you do to my master?”

Ke Wenshui stated coldly, “He died a horrific death. I cut his flesh off piece by piece, stewed it, and ate it. I made him watch me cook his own meat. That old dog was tenacious, enduring a day and a night before finally dying…”

“I’ll kill you!”

Consumed by rage, Lin Duanyun lunged at Ke Wenshui with his sword.

His sword was swift, striking Ke Wenshui’s chest in an instant, but it failed to penetrate, bending and snapping instead.

Ke Wenshui snorted disdainfully and struck out with a palm towards Lin Duanyun.

Lin Duanyun blocked with both hands, resulting in a metallic *clang*.

The impact produced a metallic clang, as if two pieces of iron had collided. Lin Duanyun was sent flying back several yards, his feet gouging two deep furrows into the ground.

Ke Wenshui stated coldly, “You’ve certainly mastered that old dog Bai Qiliao’s Diamond Iron Cloth Shirt, but it’s still not enough. Today, all of you will die, and all of you will atone for what you did to my father!”

He abruptly turned to face Gu Mo and roared, “Especially you, meddler! You deserve to die the most!”

Rolling black mist surged from Ke Wenshui's body, followed by an earth-shattering roar. The sound wave, like a powerful hammer, vibrated the surrounding air, making roof tiles within yards tremble and leaves fall from nearby trees.

Immediately, his body rapidly shriveled, muscles and bones atrophying until only skin and bone remained, his facial features vanishing. Then, silver light erupted from within him, solidifying into an indestructible silver armor, transforming him into a silver-armored zombie. A dense, frigid, and putrid corpse aura permeated the air. With a single stomp that cracked the earth, it surged toward Gu Mo like lightning, tearing through the air with a chilling, banshee-like wail.

Having just witnessed Ke Wenshui’s invulnerability, and seeing him now employ even more potent abilities, Lin Duanyun exclaimed, “Hero Gu, don’t face him alone! Let us join you…”

But even as he spoke, Gu Mo had already charged forward. His aura surged, unleashing immense internal energy. Activating the Blazing Sun Marvelous Art to its peak, he unleashed the most powerful strike from the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms: “Six Dragons Soaring Through Time.”

In that instant, six dragon-shaped energy constructs, each radiating terrifying heat, roared forth as if from the Nine Nether Purgatory. Enveloped in blazing flames and emitting deafening roars, they lunged at the silver-armored zombie.

The energy constructs violently collided with the zombie, creating a tremendous explosion. The silver-armored zombie was instantly sent flying backward like a snapped kite, crashing heavily into the house behind it. With a deafening *rumble*, the building could not withstand the impact and instantly collapsed, sending bricks and debris scattering.

“Roar——”

From the ruins, the silver-armored zombie struggled out, letting out a roar to the sky. However, this cry lacked its former power, containing only anguish and defiance.

Blazing flames engulfed its body, and cracks, spreading like a spiderweb, appeared in its silver armor, widening with each movement. After only a few steps, with a muffled *thud*, the silver-armored zombie's body exploded. Its internal organs were utterly incinerated by the scorching flames, vanishing into thin air.