Tang Zixian had arrived. She had a haversack on her shoulder, and it seemed heavy.

The door opened a small crack.

Tang Zixian's eyes saw it and she walked over. She did not even inquire, immediately pus.h.i.+ng the door open and walking in. She saw Ning Tao standing in the small living room. There was an affectionate smile on his face.

Neither of them greeted the other.

Ning Tao pa.s.sed Tang Zixian the envelope in his hands. “What you need are all here. Take a look at them first.”

Tang Zixian took the envelope and pa.s.sed the haversack on her shoulder to Ning Tao.

Ning Tao took her haversack. It was heavy and his nose detected a familiar odor. By its smell and weight, he could tell it contained the Demon-slaying Bowl. But he pretended to be curious. “What's in it?”

Tang Zixian answered, “Master Fakong's Demon-slaying Bowl.”

“Why give it to me?”

Tang Zixian stared at Ning Tao with a strange look in her eyes. “Do you want me to bring the Demon-slaying Bowl for the interview? Just pa.s.s it to me when we strike.”

Ning Tao nodded.

“Where's the restroom?” Tang Zixian asked.

Ning Tao directed her to it. “Study this photo carefully and change yourself into this woman. Bai Sheng is a very crafty and cautious man. Even a small flaw might mean the failure of our operation.”

Tang Zixian did not say anything. She headed straight for the restroom.

Ning Tao was very curious about how she would use the Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman, and how she would transform her joint, tendon and muscular structures into another woman's. But he did not have X-ray vision and could not see what Tang Zixian was doing in the restroom.

From the restroom came crisp sounds of bones and joints cracking. They only stopped after some time. The door to the restroom opened and an Asian woman in her thirties emerged. It was a strange face but with a familiar scent. Although Ning Tao was certain the person before him was Tang Zixian, it was entirely because he had identified her odor. Otherwise, he could not find any similarity between Tang Zixian and this woman.

“Um, is there a version of this paper talisman for men?” For some strange reason, Ning Tao blurted out this question.

Tang Zixian stared at him. “If there was, what would you do with it?”

“If there was.” In other words, there was no such version.

Ning Tao felt quite disappointed but his face showed a smile instead. “Your Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman is so miraculous. I was wondering if guys could use it, that was why I asked.”

Tang Zixian said, “This Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman is a secret talisman art that isn't imparted to outsiders or men. Only women are taught it. So do you think men can use it?”

Ning Tao smiled again. “So this talisman distinguishes between men and women. How interesting.”

Tang Zixian said, “Interesting? The magic ancient age was a great era for cultivators. There were countless such paper talismans. The mythical Body-fixing Talisman could freeze anyone and the Mountain-s.h.i.+fting Talisman could move a mountain. The Wind-riding Talisman could carry you on a breeze ten thousand kilometers in one day. They were what I would call miraculous talismans. Although this Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman of our Tang Sect can do none of these, it has its own wondrous power. And you only find it 'interesting'. Find me some other interesting paper talisman instead.”

Ning Tao shook his head.

He had more than one “interesting” paper talisman. His real plucking talisman and its erroneous version were both interesting in themselves. One of them could augment a woman's b.r.e.a.s.t.s and make her lose weight. The other could strip a person naked. But of course, he would not share these secrets with his enemy.

“That house in the alley must be your clinic?” Tang Zixian changed the topic.

Ning Tao nodded. “Yes.”

“Show me how it looks,” Tang Zixian said.

Ning Tao spoke softly and slowly. “I have my own set of rules for the clinic. You have to pay an entrance fee. Do you have spiritual materials? If you don't, you can also pay me with a Yingu Soul-suppressing Talisman.”

Tang Zixian merely eyed Ning Tao. She did not move for at least a minute, nor did she speak. If one's expression could clobber another person, Ning Tao's face would have been bruised and battered.

At the same moment, on the uppermost floor of the New World Technology headquarters.

The office was quiet and empty. But there was another scene behind the wall.

Under the leaden sky on the bloodstained earth, a bevy of girls dressed in white were walking to the stone sacrificial altar. On that altar stood Bai Sheng beneath the Soul-devouring Urn. His entire person was radiating a pure, holy light.

Bai Sheng watched these girls at the prime of their youth, his face showing tender affection. “I am your G.o.d. Dedicate everything to me and I will give you boundless happiness and eternal life. In my world, you will not suffer from worries. All sufferings will depart from you. And you will meet with the man of your dreams and live happily with him ever after.”

This voice in the bizarre s.p.a.ce was resonant like a G.o.d's.

The girls all chanted in unison, “I will dedicate my eyes, nose, lips, ears, body, heart and soul to you. I am your most devout believer…”

Bai Sheng gave the Soul-devouring Urn a gentle pat.

Buzz!

The urn gave a hum and a green, profound ghost fire surged up on the sacrificial altar.

The flickering ghost fire and Bai Sheng emanating the pure, holy light. The scene was extremely bizarre.

“Come, my devout believers. Dedicate your all to me. I will grant you eternal life.” Bai Sheng's voice was resonant and booming.

The girls climbed up the sacrificial altar and all knelt down at Bai Sheng's feet.

Bai Sheng pulled up a girl by her hand and kissed her forehead. Then he pushed her into the ghost fire. A living girl was soon consumed like a flammable matchstick.

The Soul-devouring Urn emitted a resonant tone. It sounded like a wizened old woman gnawing on bones.

Bai Sheng opened his mouth to suck. A white stream of energy instantly soared out from the urn mouth, creeping into his. In that instant, his expression was like a drug addict's on drugs. He seemed to be deriving endless enjoyment and contentment.

One after another, Bai Sheng grasped the hand of every girl and pushed them into the ghost fire…

This was not the sacrifice of a religious ceremony, but a cannibalistic ritual.

When the last girl had been shoved into the ghost fire, Bai Sheng opened his mouth and drew in the last remaining whiff of energy. Again, his face showed an expression of boundless enjoyment and contentment.

The ghost fire died away and there was nothing left on the sacrificial altar. No bodies, not even a speck of bone ash.

Bai Sheng leaped and soared into the air. He seemed to be riding the air weightlessly. He landed before that technological magic tool which resembled a crystal ball. He intoned an incantation and then spoke to that star under his control. “Choose 20 young girls for me.”

The holographic projection of the star showed his glazed eyes. He beckoned to his a.s.sistant. “Pick 20 young girls from my friendly society and bring them here.”

His a.s.sistant answered, “Yes, I will do it right away.”

Bai Sheng laughed. “I am now in control of hundreds of billions in a.s.sets. And I have devout believers. It's time to start my 'way of money' project. Soon, I will become the most powerful presence on earth! I will be the true G.o.d in control of this earth!”

His voice reverberated in the bizarre s.p.a.ce. It gave one the impression that they were in the urn.

After pa.s.sing out through the wall, Bai Sheng returned to his office.

Liu Xian'er was already waiting. She said respectfully, “Master, a reporter by the name of Tang Li wants to interview you.”

Bai Sheng furrowed his brows. “It must be another Tom, d.i.c.k or Harry pestering me. In the future, reject them directly when you see them. Don't report them to me.”

Liu Xian'er said, “Master, if she were an ordinary reporter, I would not have disturbed you. But I saw her permit. She is a very famous reporter from Time Magazine.”

“A reporter from Time Magazine?”

“Yes, Master. She's waiting at the guest waiting room right now.”

“Did you check her ident.i.ty?” Bai Sheng asked.

Liu Xian'er replied, “Our people have already contacted Time Magazine. We've checked on her and all her data are correct.”

The flicker of a smile appeared on Bai Sheng's lips. “Show her in.”

“Yes, Master.” Liu Xian'er gave a bow, turned and left.

Bai Sheng moved towards a mirror, tidying the white robe he was wearing. He seemed to find it inappropriate. “I am being interviewed by Time Magazine, so how can I don a divine robe? I should be in a Western suit.”

Bai Sheng went into his waiting room and came back out in a white Western suit. He stood before the mirror. The reflection showed a peerlessly handsome man. The white Western suit gave him a vibrant, confident air. There seemed to be no masculinity in his person, although the Western suit did make him a little more manly.

Liu Xian'er's voice rang out from the door. “Master, Madam Tang Li is here.”

Bai Sheng turned to face the door. “Please come in.”

An ordinary-looking woman in her 30s followed Liu Xian'er in.

It was Tang Zixian.

After bringing her in, Liu Xian'er went out, shutting the office door conveniently as she left.

“Good morning, Mr. Bai. I am a reporter from Time Magazine, Tang Li. Very pleased to meet you,” Tang Zixian said politely.

Bai Sheng was wearing a smile. He said blandly, “Please sit down.”

Tang Zixian sat on the sofa, studying Bai Sheng. She gushed. “Although we have seen your photo on the internet, you are even more handsome in person. You're undoubtedly the most handsome man I have ever met. Heaven has bestowed you so many enviable gifts.”

“Madam Tang, what would you like to drink?” Bai Sheng asked.

Tang Zixian answered, “Anything. Let me prepare too. Then we can start. I have a premonition. Mr. Bai, you will surely be our Time Man of the Year.”

Bai Sheng also gave a faint smile. This female reporter had been rattling away the moment she came, but this was the only thing she had said which pleased him. He went to his bar counter and poured out two gla.s.ses of whiskey. Then he added two cubes of ice to them.

Tang Zixian opened her bag and took out a digital recorder pen and a laptop. She put both the pen and the laptop on the tea table. There seemed to be something clipped within the laptop. One of its sides appeared to be bulging.

Bai Sheng walked with the two gla.s.ses of whiskey to her. After pa.s.sing by the large French window, he halted his steps and stared out.

The formerly fair sky had suddenly darkened. A dark cloud was covering the sun.