Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years

Chapter 342 - 336: Chang E Runs to the Sand【Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets】_1

Sha Chen’s cheeks twitched. He pushed the Three Holy Mother away; this woman was becoming increasingly unrestrained. Having spent too much time with Seventh Mother, she appeared to have lost all sense of shame.After the Three Holy Mother got up, she glanced at her palm, as if it still held warmth, and then shot Sha Chen a resentful look. Only then did she turn and enter the Eight-Treasure Water Tower to rest and wash away her fatigue.

Although she was reluctant to leave, she knew that once her Second Brother arrived, Sha Chen would not hesitate to surrender her. Seventh Mother had said that Sha Chen always kept his word.

After the Three Holy Mother left, Sha Chen gazed at the Treasured Lotus Lantern floating in the air, his eyes shining.

"It is said that only those with a pure heart and good nature can wield the Treasured Lotus Lantern," he mused. "Both Yang Jian and the future Chenxiang could use it. Especially Yang Jian, who is ruthless and unscrupulous in pursuing his goals. Whether his mind is pure, I don’t know, but he’s definitely not good enough to be considered truly kind-hearted."

Sha Chen stroked his chin, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. He was deliberating whether to use the Treasured Lotus Lantern. After a moment, he decided to try activating the legendary Magical Tool himself.

When Sha Chen picked up the Treasured Lotus Lantern, he realized that without the incantation and mental technique, he couldn’t activate it. He sent a mental message to the Three Holy Mother, asking her for the technique and incantation so he could test the Treasured Lotus Lantern.

Without any hesitation, the Three Holy Mother conveyed the information to him.

Once he learned it, Sha Chen silently recited the incantation and mental technique. The Treasured Lotus Lantern before him immediately blazed with a brilliant, warm light.

Looking himself over, Sha Chen found no abnormalities; the Treasured Lotus Lantern felt like a part of his body, responding effortlessly to his will.

Sha Chen exclaimed joyfully, "Indeed, I am quite kind-hearted!"

He excitedly activated the Treasured Lotus Lantern, and it responded to his every whim.

Then, he continued to use the Treasured Lotus Lantern to refine his Primordial Spirit, causing it to grow rapidly. Since he was activating it himself, he could unleash the Treasured Lotus Lantern’s power to a far greater extent than the Three Holy Mother could. Sha Chen’s Primordial Spirit flourished, quickly matching his physical body in strength and then gradually surpassing it, becoming exceptionally prominent.

In contrast, Sha Chen’s cultivation realm was the weakest aspect, lagging behind his physical body and Primordial Spirit.

However, Sha Chen didn’t mind. The Treasured Lotus Lantern was a rare opportunity, not one to be taken for granted. With the Three Holy Mother still present, he was keen to seize the chance to cultivate diligently. Why not use it if it’s available? Once the Three Holy Mother leaves, opportunities to boost my Primordial Spirit so swiftly will be scarce.

Inside the Eight-Treasure Water Tower, the Three Holy Mother looked down, watching Sha Chen use the Treasured Lotus Lantern for his cultivation, a smile gracing her lips.

"Big brother truly is a person with a pure heart and a kind soul," she thought. "He doesn’t harbor ill intentions towards others, so the Treasured Lotus Lantern doesn’t reject him. I really wasn’t wrong about him."

Satisfied, the Three Holy Mother went to take a bath and refresh her spirits. In the pool, she realized that compared to the seven spider spirit sisters, not only was her face purer and more beautiful, and her demeanor more elegant and graceful, but her figure also held distinct advantages. More undulating than the mountains of the Flowing Sand River Cave; clearer than the pools of the cave.

In the cave, days and months were imperceptible, and time slipped by unnoticed.

「About half a month passed.」

Outside the Flowing Sand River, loud shouts were heard.

"Sha Chen, Lord of the Flowing Sand River! I am Erlang God Yang Jian from Guanjiangkou! Please return my sister to me!"

Erlang God had arrived.

The Three Holy Mother stepped out of the Eight-Treasure Water Platform, looking reluctantly at Sha Chen. Sha Chen, having finished his cultivation, picked up the Treasured Lotus Lantern. He was even more reluctant to part with it.

But the Three Holy Mother had to leave. She had already attended several of Sha Chen’s Dao lectures and grasped the key insights. It was time for her to accelerate her cultivation and strengthen her abilities. Sha Chen was reluctant to part with his resources, so naturally, he wouldn’t give her anything from his already scarce supply. And since she needed to advance, leaving was her only option. This wasn’t to say that after leaving, the Three Holy Mother would surely gain access to more and better resources. The main point was that, for Sha Chen, out of sight meant out of mind. He wouldn’t have to worry about Seventh Mother and the others secretly giving resources to the Three Holy Mother, or about her sneaking into his fields to steal and damage his Immortal Elixirs.

Sha Chen reluctantly handed the Treasured Lotus Lantern back to the Three Holy Mother. "San Niang," he said, "after you leave and return home, remember to cultivate diligently. Only by becoming stronger can you obtain more resources."

The Three Holy Mother replied, "Brother, I know. I’ll obtain more resources and then give them to you. If I do that, will you spare me an extra glance?"

Sha Chen awkwardly scratched his face. "Don’t talk nonsense. I’m not that kind of person."

"I know, brother," the Three Holy Mother said. "You’re thrifty and have so many followers to support. It’s a heavy burden."

She threw herself into Sha Chen’s arms, crying, "Brother, I will miss you! I’ll cultivate even harder, and I’ll prepare enough resources for you. When the time comes, you must accept them. They won’t be for you, but for your followers."

Although she said this, she actually meant them for Sha Chen. In her eyes, Sha Chen was truly too good. He knew Seventh Mother and the others had secretly given her resources but hadn’t exposed them. He also knew she had secretly picked Immortal Elixirs from his fields and had turned a blind eye. Although the loss of resources pained him, he felt more sympathy for her.

The Three Holy Mother’s heart warmed as she recalled what Seventh Mother and the others had said, and she became increasingly convinced that Sha Chen was genuinely a good brother. Sacrificing himself for others, acting entirely for their benefit, without any selfishness. Such charisma is truly magnificent!

The Three Holy Mother had already unwittingly fallen for him. Besides, over the past half-year, Seventh Mother and the others had taken turns subjecting her to relentless persuasion. It was difficult for the Three Holy Mother not to be swayed.

Next, Sha Chen and Yang Jian staged a confrontation, allowing Sha Chen to release the Three Holy Mother under plausible circumstances. Yang Jian also took the opportunity to inform Sha Chen that he had become a renegade general of the Heavenly Court. The Jade Emperor could not tolerate him and had dispatched forces to attack Guanjiangkou repeatedly. However, thanks to his vast Divine Powers, Yang Jian had repelled the Heavenly Court’s immortals several times, causing the Heavenly Court to lose considerable face. Now, on Li Changgeng’s advice, the Jade Emperor had adopted a more conciliatory policy, offering him amnesty. Yang Jian had neither agreed nor refused, and was currently stalling. The Heavenly Court, though furious, was also somewhat content to see the situation de-escalate. As long as the matter dragged on and its impact diminished, they weren’t overly concerned with the final outcome. The rıghtful source is novel_fіre.net

This was because, although the Jade Emperor offered amnesty, he demanded that Yang Jian admit his guilt and be imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison for three years. After three years, his divine title of Erlang Zhenjun would be restored, and they would build him an Erlang Zhenjun Mansion and a Temple of the Manifested Holy True Monarch. In reality, while the Heavenly Court offered amnesty, they hadn’t promised substantial high-ranking positions or lavish rewards. They merely tried to persuade Yang Jian that opposing the Heavenly Court was fruitless.

Yang Jian told Sha Chen that the Heavenly Court offered nothing tangible yet expected him to confess his crimes, accept punishment, and spend three years in the Heavenly Prison. They say three years, but once you’re in, who knows how many years it will really be before you get out.

During this period, representatives from Buddhism had also contacted Yang Jian, including Maitreya Buddha and Kashyapa Buddha. The influential figures in Buddhism all had their eyes on him. However, because they hadn’t made a direct offer of recruitment but merely expressed goodwill and sought to establish a connection, Yang Jian had simply reciprocated with a smile and hadn’t formed any closer ties with Buddhism.

Yang Jian departed. He intended to take the Three Holy Mother back to Guanjiangkou, after which he planned to find Shen Gongbao and seize the Mountain-driving Whip.

Sha Chen returned to the Flowing Sand River.

No sooner had he stepped inside than Chang E arrived.

She had been calling from outside for a long time. Sha Chen really did not want to let her in, as this ’cheap’ sister of his had visited two or three times without bringing any gifts. Instead, she had taken many benefits from him. If she weren’t Sha Chen’s informant in the Heavenly Court, he wouldn’t even want to acknowledge her. But Chang E persisted in calling out, and if he didn’t let her in, it would soon draw the attention of others.

After repeated questioning to confirm her identity, Sha Chen finally let Chang E in.

Chang E was as beautiful as ever, her figure even more graceful, and she naturally exuded an air of maturity and aloofness. Compared to the Three Holy Mother, she had a slight edge, possessing a subtly heartbreaking charm. The Three Holy Mother had not yet become a mother; otherwise, she might have exhibited a similar charm, perhaps with an even stronger maternal aura. However, the Three Holy Mother possessed something Chang E lacked: a vibrant, youthful energy. After all, the Three Holy Mother was still young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. While she understood much in theory, she hadn’t experienced it herself. She possessed a youthful energy combined with sanctity, and was beautiful and dignified.

Chang E, on the other hand, was older, like a young matron, except she possessed an even better figure, superior looks, and a bewitching allure. If the two were to stand together, Chang E would seem like a beautifully preserved, married elder sister, while the Three Holy Mother would appear like an innocent, recently graduated young girl.

Each had her own merits, but also her own bothersome traits. Of course, they also had something in common that annoyed Sha Chen—they were stingy!

Sha Chen had never met anyone more miserly than himself. They would visit without gifts and then freeload meals and drinks. Is this reasonable? Is there no law, no fairness left in the world?

Sha Chen was wondering how to tactfully express his utter exasperation to Chang E.

But Chang E had already rushed over and hugged Sha Chen tightly.

"Brother," Chang E said excitedly, "it’s been so long! I’m finally able to see you. I’ve missed you so much. Did you miss me?"

Sha Chen said, "If you don’t let go soon, I might suffocate."

Chang E then released him, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Sha Chen’s face twitched. "Why are you here? Didn’t we agree not to contact each other unless absolutely necessary, and even then, sparingly?" He frowned. "If the Heavenly Court finds out you’re in frequent contact with me, how will you gather information from them for me?"

Chang E smiled. "Brother, rest assured, I am very smart. Before coming, I made sure to travel extensively, visiting many places. It took about half a year before I arrived here."

Sha Chen nodded. She does have some sense, after all.

However, he still felt uneasy, sensing that things weren’t that simple. He worried that Chang E’s visit couldn’t be easily concealed. He didn’t know if they had been exposed. If they were, he feared he could no longer easily use Chang E as his contact. The information she gathered might also be compromised. It wouldn’t necessarily be her fault; others might intentionally feed her false information.

These thoughts displeased Sha Chen. A message via spirit disc would have sufficed. There was no need for her to come in person, making such a spectacle. It was like announcing her arrival to everyone.

Chang E, oblivious to Sha Chen’s displeasure, was already taking out a large assortment of gifts she had prepared in advance. One pile after another.

She said cheerfully, "Brother, I didn’t prepare any gifts the last two times we met. This time, you’re not allowed to refuse, or I’ll be upset."