Chapter 405 — A Visitor from Afar

"That is to say, the you of seven years ago and the you of now are completely two different men. Have the thoughts of the you of seven years ago, your way of thinking, not changed from those of the you of today? You think you are still yourself, never knowing that over these seven years, imperceptibly, you have become another you."

Xing An laughed. "That being so, why not change of my own will? Attach another's body to my own? Of my own accord exchange my weaker body for the body of another master, how is that different from the transformation that comes once every seven years? So I tried it. I wish to metamorphose into a god!"

A fervent look came into his Sacred Pupil, wildly fanatical. "I began to study the method of exchanging bodies, and soon achieved some small success. My master was a peak existence in his day. While he was off guard I cut off his head and attached my own head to his body. I succeeded. But my master was still too weak, and could not satisfy me. So I began to seek out other masters, and over these years..."

He set down the great box he carried on his back and opened it. Shen Mu, Yan Jingjing, Ling Yuxiu and the others knew perfectly well what was in that box, and yet could not keep themselves from looking inside.

The girls went pale at once, turned away, and vomited. Xue Hu'er, hiding in the tree to watch, was now throwing up as well.

That box was built of Taotie bone and covered outside with Taotie hide, and the space within it was vast, a hundred zhang broad and a hundred zhang long. Within the box stood rack upon rack, and on the racks were enshrined human body parts, one after another!

Arms alone numbered more than a dozen!

There were also hearts, eyes, bones, legs and feet, and even heads, one after another!

Besides these there were all manner of bloods, human skins, and the countless odds and ends of organs from human bodies. Even hair, of how many kinds he had collected, no one could guess!

Gazing at the box, Xing An wore a look of fanatical infatuation. "You see how many exquisite works of art I have collected? I treat my own body as a work of art that can be replaced, its parts swapped at will, creating all manner of different selves. I have even replaced my brain. But..."

A puzzled look came over him. "I still find that these bodies are sometimes incompatible, and even reject one another. My medical skill can no longer solve this problem. The Sword God believes my aim is the Tathagata's divine fist, not knowing I have no need of it at all; I have several arms here no whit inferior to the Tathagata's divine fist. All I need is someone who can help me resolve the rejection between bodies. And that man is Cult Master Shen. That I spread word I sought the Tathagata was only to draw away the masters at your side."

He snapped the box shut with a clap, still carrying it on his back, turned, and looked down the mountain, smiling. "The human body is renewed every seven years, and the mind and consciousness differ greatly from seven years before. So why cling to finding your own Sacred Pupil, Spear God?"

Shen Mu hurriedly looked that way, and saw the Blind Elder standing there, a great black dragon skeleton coiling and wheeling around him, giving out low moans.

"No other reason."

The Blind Elder spoke lightly. "When a friend comes from afar, however far, he must be slain. Xing An, I have sought you a long while."

Xing An, smiling, walked down the mountain. "Cult Master Shen, wait a moment. I shall go meet an old friend."

Shen Mu's eyes flickered. He threw a look at Ling Yuxiu and the others, signaling them to follow, while he himself stirred the Dragon Riding Formula and roused those dozen or more flood-dragons.

At the same time, inside the hall, the Deaf Elder, who was nursing his spirit, drew a long breath, spread sheet after sheet of white paper with a swish, and took up his brush to paint!

In the hall beside, the Lame Elder pushed his wheelchair out toward the hall door. In another hall, Granny Zhu's face was stern as she said coldly, "Husband, it is time for you to take the field!"

Master after master walked out of the halls, waiting in strict array.

Suddenly a resonant voice rang out. "Our beloved minister Shen, We have come! Where is Our precious daughter? Minister, hurry and roll out here, We shall have your head!"