Chapter 13: He Wants to Occupy Your Body
The old monk’s face was benevolent, his eyes filled with compassion. He held a string of prayer beads in his right hand, his thumb slowly moving them.
The more one looked, the more sacred and inviolable he seemed.
Mingyan knew of Buddhism. It was said to have originated in the Western Continent. A monk had once come from there and spread the teachings of boundless Buddhism. There were Buddhists in the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Continents, but the Southern Continent had the most believers and the richest Buddhist heritage.
Buddhism seemed to have several Great Emperors. Besides the Immeasurable Tathagata and the Amitabha Buddha these monks often spoke of, there was also a supreme Buddha named Shakyamuni. These two seemed to be the founders of Buddhism in the Western Continent. It was said there were some factional disputes. Besides, after Buddhism spread from the Western Continent, the Southern Continent had also produced a supreme Buddha named Duobao Tathagata.
Buddhists referred to a Great Emperor not as “Great Emperor,” but as “Tathagata.”
That was all Mingyan knew.
“Tap… tap… tap…”
The sound of the old monk moving his prayer beads was clear and pleasant, as if imbued with the power of the Dharma. Mingyan’s consciousness grew heavy, his eyelids drooping uncontrollably, his mind slowly dissipating.
Gu Hanshuang, on the other side, noticed the situation and said anxiously, “Don’t be bewitched by him! This demon monk wants to drive your consciousness out of your body. He wants to occupy your body!”
The other statues of Buddha in the temple had stern expressions, and they began to chant arcane Buddhist scriptures, blocking out her voice. Mingyan didn’t hear her.
He saw a Buddha, an incomparably huge Buddha. Majestic Buddhist scriptures echoed in his ears. He seemed to gradually understand them, to grasp their meaning. He should leave his body and go to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
He felt his body grow numb, his consciousness about to leave… to embark on the path of truth, to follow the footsteps of the Tathagata, to serve by his side.
Strange, if he was a Human King Physique, destined to become a Human King, why would he follow someone else’s footsteps? Why would he serve by someone else’s side?
During his time with Wang Qingchu, she had told him:
“Yan’er, if you must fight against the dark era, you must remember that a Human King Physique is never inferior to anyone. You must walk the path of invincibility. Only then can you fully utilize the power of the Human King Physique, and…”
He hadn’t heard the last four words. He had seen her lips move, but no sound came out, as if it had been blocked. He had meant to ask her later, but other things had come up.
It was as if something was interfering.
But the path of invincibility, he remembered it well.
Someone who aspired to be invincible, why would he serve by someone else’s side?
That was a humiliation.
His eyes gradually cleared, and his consciousness returned to his body. He looked at the old monk who was still moving his prayer beads. The old monk’s movements stopped, and he sighed. “Benefactor, why are you so stubborn? I see that your worldly affairs are over. Why not take refuge in my Buddha?”
Mingyan glared at him. “To be old and not die is to be a thief. There’s no need to pretend. I know you’re the filth that was suppressed here by one of my brothers or sisters.”
The person who had followed him earlier was likely this demon monk.
The old monk sighed again. “Benefactor…”
The sun phenomenon behind Mingyan rotated, and Taiyang power rained down, trying to envelop the old monk. The old monk’s face was calm, and he vanished in a flash of golden light.
Mingyan didn’t want to waste any more time with him. He took out the Netherworld Dragon Tendon Bow, created an arrow from spiritual energy, and aimed at the statue of Buddha that was fighting Gu Hanshuang. The arrow, imbued with the intent of the Moon Shadow, shot out, all its power concentrated at its tip, its speed so fast it became a blur, and it pierced the statue’s head, shattering it into pieces!
The pressure on Gu Hanshuang was immediately relieved. She stepped forward, raised her sword, and all the sword shadows converged into a single blade! She brought it down, splitting the statue in half!
The statue collapsed, and she fell to the ground, exhausted.
Mingyan rushed over with her scabbard and helped her up. “Are you alright?”
Gu Hanshuang’s face was flushed with a sickly red. She was gasping for breath. “I’m fine…”
She didn’t look fine. Was she injured? Her aura was much weaker than before. Was she being suppressed?
“We need to leave this place as soon as possible. Don’t linger.”
“Benefactors, do you still think you can leave?” The old monk’s voice came from all directions. Mingyan looked up but couldn’t find him.
Gu Hanshuang struggled out of his arms and, taking a few deep breaths, took the scabbard from him and put it on her back. She used her sword to support herself and stood up. “As if you can do anything to us.”
“Let this old monk deliver you from suffering. The flesh is weak. I will take your souls to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.” The old monk’s voice seemed to come from all directions. Mingyan frowned.
“He interfered with the spatial tunnel before. He must have been restricted in some way… or perhaps attacking the spatial tunnel has temporarily drained his power. Otherwise, we would both be dead already.” She looked at him. “Regardless, we need to leave this place quickly. If he recovers, we’ll both likely die here.”
“You can’t escape,” the old monk said calmly.
Mingyan ignored him and left the temple with her.
“The mountain is covered by a dead forest. I feel that if we go in, we’ll likely get lost.”
“This isn’t a normal world.” She looked at him. “If we enter the dead forest, we will indeed get lost here. This should be a place where some ancient being suppressed this demon monk…”
“…That senior had the same constitution as me. I think the attack on the spatial tunnel was likely because of me. I’m sorry for implicating you.” Mingyan’s voice was filled with apology.
Gu Hanshuang was slightly surprised. “So, being with you has put me in danger.”
“I’m sorry.” He sighed. Gu Hanshuang was fine for now, but he didn’t know about the others who had been with him…
“…There’s no need to apologize. This was my choice.” She shook her head. “And finding a way to leave this place is the most important thing.”
He nodded. “Do you know anything about this demon monk?”
“He’s definitely not a proper monk. Although Buddhism is mysterious, I’ve seen many monks in the Southern Continent. This person is definitely an evil monk.” She frowned. “We fell into the spatial tunnel and appeared here. He must have interfered. If he wanted to kill you because of your constitution, he would have done it in the spatial tunnel when he still had the power. He brought you here, likely because he wants something from you.”
Mingyan thought of his earlier experience, his mind racing. “He seemed to be pulling my consciousness out… Could it be…”
“He wants to occupy your body.” She looked at him. “Your constitution is very special, isn’t it?”
