It's a hell game, who can still be a human being?

Chapter 675 Si Xue: This bald monk wants to steal my person too?

Chapter 675 Si Xue: This bald monk wants to steal my person too?
First, there's the flavor of mala tang (a spicy hot pot dish), followed by a subtle fragrance.

It smelled like some kind of fruit, but it wasn't any of the kinds Liu Zheng was familiar with.

He let out a long breath, then took a light inhale.

The smell of freshness mixed with decay made his scalp tingle again, and then his body began to riot once more.

Each cell in Liu Zheng's body formed its own army, launching a war called survival against the surrounding cells.

Cells are killed one by one, and then they are transformed into nutrients that are absorbed by the cells that killed them.

Because the intensity of the war was too great, and his body was too rich in nutrients, his body surface was covered with sudden depressions and bulges.

Under unknown influences, the raised flesh and blood would automatically coalesce and grow into bizarre shapes, including animals, plants, humanoids, and non-humanoids.

This change occurs not only on the surface of his body, but also inside his body.

Liu Zheng seemed to have become a humanoid ecosystem, or a miniature wonder created by some creator.

If it were just a physical mutation, it wouldn't be so bad, but soon his consciousness also began to mutate.

He seemed to transform into various creatures, experiencing their birth, growth, maturity, and then being slaughtered, bled, dismembered, pickled, and cooked, finally falling into a gaping maw of blood.

And he will soon become the owner of that gaping maw again, starting the next cycle.

There is great terror between life and death, but Liu Zheng doesn't even know if he is alive or dead. This complete loss of control over his body and soul is an even greater terror.

But soon, he could no longer even feel that terror.

That endless cycle of eating and being eaten chewed everything he had into sticky crumbs, which slid into his never-satisfied stomach.

“Bodhisattvas, relying on Prajnaparamita, have no hindrance in their minds. Because they have no hindrance, they have no fear, and are far removed from distorted views and dreams, and ultimately attain Nirvana.”

"Therefore, we know that Prajnaparamita is the great divine mantra, the great bright mantra, the supreme mantra, the unequaled mantra, which can remove all suffering, and is true and not false."

“Then the mantra is recited: Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha.”

In the darkness, the sound of the nameless monk chanting sutras rang out once more.

The mantra is then recited: Gate, Gate, Paragate.

At this moment, Liu Zheng had completely lost his will and began reciting scriptures along with the monk like a broken record.

"Ok?"

Si Xue frowned and looked at the back of his head, where a halo of Buddha's light could be faintly seen.

"He attained enlightenment just by listening to me recite a few lines of scripture, and even the Buddha's light and precious wheel appeared. Is his Buddha-nature that strong?"

She couldn't believe it.

Liu Zheng may have talent in cultivation, but he is definitely not destined for Buddhism.

"Others are one thing, but this bald monk wants to steal my people? No way!"

Si Xue gave a cold laugh.

Although the peacock has separated from Buddhism, her ancestor was a genuine Buddha Mother, holding a lofty position.

"Here comes the sword!"

With a clear shout from Si Xue, a sheathed longsword immediately flew out of the lake.

The scabbard is made of pure silver, with dragon and phoenix reliefs on the top, rubies and sapphires in the middle to represent the sun and moon, and amber, turquoise and other precious stones at the bottom to represent the stars.

Si Xue grabbed the sword, gripping the hilt and trying to draw it, but felt an immense repulsive force.

"You've absorbed so much spiritual energy over the years, and now you don't want to exert any effort at all? I'll give you one more chance. If you're not satisfied, go to the kitchen and be a fire poker."

she said calmly.

"Clang!"

With another exertion, the longsword shot out.

The sword's blade was like raw bronze, and its hilt had five interlocking sections engraved with runes and the sun, moon, and stars. It was clearly not a weapon for swordsmen to fight or for battlefield combat.

"Three or five strikes to slay evil, I'd like to see if you can slay his evil."

Si Xue casually waved her hand, and the sword energy, like purple aura rising from the east, enveloped Liu Zheng, only to be absorbed into his body like a mud ox entering water.

"The Tao is formless, yet it gives birth to heaven and earth; the Great Tao is without emotion, yet it governs the sun and moon; the Great Tao is nameless, yet it nourishes all things; I do not know its name, so I call it the Tao."

"The Dao is this: it has purity and turbidity, movement and stillness; heaven is pure, earth is turbid, heaven moves, earth is still; man is pure, woman is turbid, man moves, woman is still; descending from the root to the branches, all things are born. Purity is the source of turbidity, movement is the foundation of stillness; if man can always be pure and still, heaven and earth will all return to their source."

In the darkness, the sound of a Taoist chanting sutras arose again, clear and distant, as if from the horizon.

The mantra is then recited: Gate, Gate, Paragate.

The monk paused for a moment, then began chanting even louder.

"Noisy!"

Liu Zheng was already in a bad mood, and being sandwiched between the chanting of sutras from both sides made it even more torturous.

"Recite, recite, recite your mother's head!"

His anger rose from his heart, and evil thoughts arose in his mind.

With a swift movement, a horizontal sword over ten meters long appeared in his hand, its blade ablaze with furious flames.

"Shut up, everyone!"

Liu Zheng shouted and, wielding his broadsword, slashed wildly in all directions without regard for anything else.

The mantra is then recited: Gate, Gate, Paragate.

Seeing his ferocity, the chanting on both sides became even clearer, and the rhythm of his massive swallowing grew faster.

"Ugh, so annoying! Just die, all of you!"

Liu Zheng's anger reached its peak. He raised his sword high, as if he were wielding a giant axe that could split the heavens.

"drink!"

With a single horizontal slash, the entire world was split in two.

An inextinguishable rage began to burn along the cleaved edge, burning everything to ashes as a painting.

"yue!"

Liu Zheng opened his eyes and lay on the ground vomiting repeatedly.

He spat out pieces of charred meat, each with its own shape and features.

With each bit he vomited, his body shrank a little.

When he stopped vomiting, he was only the size of a mongoose.

"When did you start hanging out with those bald monks?"

Si Xue asked.

"Huh? What bald monk?"

Liu Zheng was completely bewildered.

For him, everything that happened in his spiritual world was like a fleeting dream, leaving no trace.

"You just had a halo of Buddha light emanating from the back of your head. You can't possibly have become a Buddha just by hearing one of my scriptures, can you?"

Si Xue said.

"Ah, it's probably because I was cut by the Seven Treasures Wisdom Sword."

Liu Zheng told her about the Seven Treasures Wisdom Sword.

"Pity."

Si Xue looked at him and shook her head.

"What's a pity?"

"If you could truly pass through this tribulation in enlightenment, you would at least become an Arhat in the future. Unfortunately, I have destroyed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Si Xue brandished the longsword in her hand and said.

"Let them be destroyed. Forget about Arhats, I'd even have to think twice about giving them a Bodhisattva."

Liu Zheng shook his head, then looked at the long sword in Si Xue's hand.

"What a handsome sword!"

His eyes lit up.

"Didn't you use a knife? How come you've taken a liking to a sword now?"

Si Xue asked.

"Because all I have is a knife."

Liu Zheng said innocently.

His weapons were mostly obtained from the white-feathered chickens, and they were all knives.
He did covet Beethoven's Moonsword, but the problem was that the leader of Atlantis had no sense of martial ethics and had simply kicked him out of the city. What could he do?
"Besides, since I know neither swordsmanship nor knife skills, it's easier to use a knife."

Liu Zheng said.

Actually, he preferred swords to knives.

From an aesthetic point of view, a symmetrical weapon like a sword is more visually appealing than an asymmetrical weapon like a knife.

From a cultural perspective, the word "swordsman" sounds more sophisticated than "knife-wielder."

For example, names like Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, Drunken Sword Immortal, and Lone Sword Saint sound incredibly prestigious and destined for lasting fame.

If you change it to Azure Lotus Blade Immortal, Wine Blade Immortal, or Lone Blade Immortal, it sounds like a mid-stage boss from a third-rate martial arts novel.

"This sword is called the Three-Five Evil-Slaying Male and Female Swords. This is the male sword, the treasure of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect."

Si Xue explained.

Back then, the Celestial Master Zhang Daoling founded the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, which was the predecessor of Taoism. Laozi bestowed three magical treasures upon him to help him slay demons, destroy mountains and temples, and command all the ghosts and gods in the world.

These three magical treasures are the Three-Five Demon-Slaying Male and Female Swords, the Yangping Governing Capital Merit Seal, and the Zhengyi Alliance Power Talisman.

The Three-Five Demon-Slaying Swords, specifically the male and female swords, are the most lethal of these three magical treasures, possessing immense power.

Having read many cultivation novels, Liu Zheng knew the origin of this sword, and his eyes lit up when he heard about it.

"Do you want it?" Si Xue asked deliberately.

"want to."

He said honestly.

"Then keep thinking about it."

Si Xue sheathed her sword and said calmly.

"This sword is tainted and will require a lot of spiritual energy to maintain. It's already a favor that we're not charging you for repairs."

she sneered.

"Boss, I'm willing to take responsibility and get this sword repaired."

Liu Zheng rolled his eyes and said.

"You can also repair swords?"

"I don't know how, but I know someone who does. The Seven Treasures Wisdom Sword that cut me down is his. Since he can repair the Seven Treasures Wisdom Sword, he should also be able to repair the Three-Five Evil-Slaying Sword."

he replied.

What benefits can you get from this?

Si Xue asked bluntly.

Based on her understanding of Liu Zheng, there must be something wrong with this guy being so proactive.

"If that person really wants to use the flesh and blood of his subordinates to forge weapons, handing over the Three-Five Evil-Slaying Sword to him for repair might give him inspiration to forge a divine weapon that is no less than this sword and even more suitable for his subordinates."

Liu Zheng said, half-jokingly.

"anything else?"

Si Xue asked calmly.

"Also, the boss's kindness is too precious for me to waste."

He said, somewhat embarrassed.

Other people's favors can only help a little, but Si Xue's favor could truly save his sheep's life.

Putting everything else aside, if Liu Zheng were given another day off, he could get so much more done.

"Heh. Since you're the one who wants to take on this job, then it's yours. If you can't fix it, just wait and see."

Si Xue tossed him the Three-Five Evil-Slaying Sword.

"Thank you for your trust, boss."

Liu Zheng caught the magic sword, and unsurprisingly, no item description popped up.

"What about takeout?"

Si Xue reached out her hand.

"it's here."

He quickly took the takeout order out of the legendary delivery box.

Name: Braised Peacock Meat (Single Dish)

Type: Item

Quality: Average

"Effect: Restores a small amount of stamina after use."

"Note: It doesn't satisfy my craving, but it does make me feel better."

"Can it be taken out of the instance: Yes"

"That's just enough for another meal. Would you like some?"

Si Xue asked politely.

"No need, boss, you can enjoy it yourself. I'm already full."

Liu Zheng shook his head like a grotesque toy.

He must have lost his mind to eat peacock meat, and he didn't even intend to eat the copy made from the legendary takeout box.

Who knows if the peacock could smell the other's ability to eat its own kind.

I had offended her many times before, but it was all business-related, so theoretically there was still room for reconciliation.

But if he were to eat peacock meat, then public enmity would turn into personal hatred.

Although Liu Zheng has no immediate plans to befriend the peacock, anything is possible, and it's always good to have a backup plan.

"Then get lost."

Si Xue glanced at him, then kicked him across the river.

"Thank goodness I didn't land face down."

Liu Zheng rubbed his buttocks and stepped into the elevator that opened automatically.

Back in the lounge, the cattle and horses were already asleep.

"Boss?"

He called out tentatively, but the cattle and horses did not respond.

Seeing this, Liu Zheng simply made a makeshift bed on the floor with newspapers and lay down.

He was exhausted after a whole day of running around, from the city to the mountains and back again.

He soon fell into a deep sleep.

Liu Zheng slept soundly through the night, and when he woke up it was already the next day.

That is, his eleventh day in the Metropolis.

"Wake up, wake up, it's time for breakfast."

The oxen and horses brought their big heads closer.

"Hey bro, could you move a little further away? It's kind of scary."

Liu said expressionlessly.

Given the size difference between the two, a cow or a horse could swallow him whole in one gulp.

"Who told you to shrink so much? Is it my fault?"

Despite their words, the oxen and horses still kept their heads a little further away.

"Hurry up and get your breakfast out."

The oxen and horses urged on.

"I need to be able to reach it too."

Liu Zheng stretched out his hand and said.

He could jump up and reach the keyhole, but he also had to perform the difficult action of inserting and turning the key at the same time. It was possible, but unnecessary.

"This is troublesome. Hurry up and get on."

The ox or horse stretched out one hoof, and after Liu Zheng stood on it, it led him to the locker.

Liu Zheng opened the locker and took out his breakfast.

A large plate was laden with roasted tomatoes, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, tomato-braised soybeans, toast, oatmeal, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and a glass of milk—a truly lavish spread.

"Boss, can you leave some for me this time?"

He swallowed hard and said.

"Dream on. If you want to eat, go out and eat yourself. You have so much money, how are you going to boost the metropolis's GDP if you don't go out and spend it?"

The ox and horse refused without hesitation.

"Wow, impressive, you even know about GDP."

Liu Zheng was filled with respect.

"You're a big shot, I have a lot of knowledge in my belly, I just don't usually show it easily. I wrote all the lyrics for the band back then, they were so touching, every word was a gem."

"I'm so proud of myself," Niu Ma said smugly.

“Every word is a gem.”

he corrected.

"You talk too much, here you go!"

The cattle and horses snatched the food tray and went back to the haystack to eat.

As for its own portion, it had obviously finished eating long ago.

"Sigh, it's bad enough that I'm risking my life to work, but even my meals are being taken away by my boss. This is truly a miserable existence."

Liu Zheng sighed and jumped from the locker onto the floor.

"Sumiko, prepare a big meal for me."

He held his phone and called Jinzi.

"Okay. When is Masashi-chan coming?"

"I asked," Jinzi.