Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years

Chapter 337 - 331: Daoist, Please Stay【Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets】_1

Sha Chen was truly troubled. He never expected that despite being on guard day and night, he still couldn’t prevent Shen Gongbao from inviting him to a meal. If he had known beforehand, he would not have agreed. Sha Chen’s expression was somewhat somber; he truly didn’t want to get involved with Shen Gongbao, given how notoriously unlucky the man was. Everyone who had ever associated with him had been sent to the God-Sealing Platform. Appointing him as the Eastern Sea Divider General was, frankly, a misdirected favor; he should have been dubbed the god of misfortune or even death instead.Shen Gongbao had been calling out from above for quite some time, but Sha Chen didn’t respond at all.

Three Holy Mother said, "Brother, why don’t you answer him? Just tell him to leave, or refuse him outright."

Sha Chen replied, "Shen Gongbao is a man of strong obsessions and is exceedingly competitive. I don’t like to associate closely with such people."

Three Holy Mother nodded. Sha Chen was indeed someone who didn’t strive or contend for things; otherwise, he wouldn’t be living here so cautiously, unwilling to venture out. It was precisely because Shen Gongbao had been trying to outdo Jiang Ziya that he had descended the mountain to oppose Jiang Ziya at every turn. He was indeed a petty and fiercely competitive individual. Close association with him would undoubtedly lead to negative influences.

In fact, Sha Chen didn’t particularly care whether Shen Gongbao was competitive or not; if anything, a competitive nature made someone easier to control and manipulate. However, what Sha Chen disliked was Shen Gongbao’s inherent aura of misfortune—those who associated with him never fared well.

Three Holy Mother then asked, "Brother, should I go out and explain to them that Seventh Mother and the others aren’t here, and tell them to leave quickly?"

Sha Chen countered, "And do you think they’d believe you?"

Three Holy Mother frowned. "I am a disciple of a Saint. Why wouldn’t they believe me?"

Sha Chen chuckled. "Outside, Xiao Sheng, Cao Bao, and the other two are all third-generation disciples of a Saint. Shen Gongbao is a former disciple of Lord Yuan Shi, also once a disciple of a Saint. Do you really think your status carries any weight with them?"

Three Holy Mother fell silent, speechless. She hadn’t realized that her once-exalted status was not only useless before Sha Chen but also meant little to others.

Sha Chen patted her shoulder. "Three Sister, remember one thing: personal strength is paramount. No status can withstand truly overwhelming external power. If people give you face, your status is useful; if they don’t, it’s worthless."

Feeling the warmth from Sha Chen’s palm, Three Holy Mother blushed, lowered her head, and nodded slightly.

Brother is concerned about me; he’s teaching me life’s principles. He’s also worried that I might be blinded by my status, urging me to be self-reliant and strong.

Three Holy Mother looked up again and nodded firmly.

Only then was Sha Chen satisfied. He continued, "Remember, only strength is truly powerful. A respected status, when you are alone and unsupported, is like a toothless tiger. True strength earns respect anywhere."

Three Holy Mother nodded. "Brother, I understand. So, how do you plan to deal with this?"

Sha Chen thought for a moment. "Didn’t I mention wanting to send the Mountain-driving Whip away? Well, hasn’t someone now come to help me deliver it?"

As he said this, a faint smile touched his lips, and his eyes gleamed.

Three Holy Mother, being exceptionally intelligent, understood immediately and smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons. She beamed, "Brother, you are truly astute to devise such a plan."

Sha Chen smiled back. "We’ll wait until they grow impatient. Then I’ll open the cave. You stay hidden further back to avoid being seen."

Three Holy Mother said, "But surely someone knows I’ve already been inside?"

Sha Chen replied, "Yes, your arrival did attract some attention. However, no one outside knows what transpired within. Therefore, I’ll need you to cooperate with me in staging a little play." The rıghtful source is novel(ꜰ)ire.net

Puzzled, Three Holy Mother looked at Sha Chen, awaiting his explanation.

Sha Chen continued, "Just wait. I expect Second Brother will arrive very soon. Once he’s here, he can help us complete this performance."

Three Holy Mother furrowed her brow. "Second Brother is coming? But how will he know what to do?"

Sha Chen laughed heartily. "During the Divine Enthronement, the Erlang God Yang Jian was incomparably clever. His strategies were unmatched, and many old, cunning schemers met their end at his hands. You, little sister, have only ever seen your Second Brother’s smiles and gentleness; he’s never let you see his fangs or his truly imposing side."

Three Holy Mother was stunned. She could tell Sha Chen was praising Yang Jian. But she truly didn’t know—was Yang Jian really that formidable?

My Second Brother is indeed formidable, but is he genuinely as incredible as Brother describes? Three Holy Mother murmured to herself, still somewhat incredulous. Sha Chen is right in front of me, yet I don’t even know what kind of play he wants me to help perform. Yang Jian isn’t even here; how could he know Sha Chen’s intentions, let alone cooperate properly with him? What if something goes wrong? Thinking this, Three Holy Mother began to worry.

However, she soon forgot those worries because despite Shen Gongbao calling out several times, Sha Chen made no response, leaving Shen Gongbao feeling rather embarrassed. He had already ordered the members of The Mysterious Altar Department to prepare to attack Flowing Sand River.

Shen Gongbao took out a bead. "I possess a Heaven Opening Bead of immense power. Once I use my Divine Power to part the Flowing Sand River, I’ll use this bead to smash a hole in the Black Tortoise Cave, and you all will seize the opportunity to storm inside."

"Remember," he added, "Sha Chen’s life or death is inconsequential, but nothing inside must be destroyed."

Xiao Sheng and the others nodded in agreement. They knew that the secrets within Flowing Sand River were always the most crucial—the secret of how Sha Chen had become so powerful. This was a secret everyone yearned to uncover, yet it remained tantalizingly out of reach.

Although the people from The Mysterious Altar Department claimed they were trying to capture the spider spirit, everyone knew their true purpose was to find evidence related to Sha Chen. Then, they would hand it over to the Heavenly Court for judgment and Sha Chen’s conviction. Now that their pursuit had led them here and the spider spirit had vanished, they decided to confront Sha Chen directly. After all, the outcome would be the same.

It was just unfortunate that Zhao Gongming had not come in person this time, apparently delayed by other matters. However, Shen Gongbao had arrived. He was one of the major figures from the Divine Enthronement and also a discarded disciple of a second-generation Saint; in reality, his cultivation and Mana were very strong. Having assimilated the karmic repercussions from the Divine Enthronement in the East Sea, his Mana had grown even stronger, and he had long since reached the High Order of Daluo Golden Immortal! With his strength, he could indeed swagger across the world. This was also why the Jade Emperor had thought of him and had him accompany The Mysterious Altar Department in capturing monsters like the spider spirit and the black bear spirit.

In reality, Shen Gongbao’s strength even surpassed that of Jiang Ziya, but Jiang Ziya was favored by destiny, possessed the Beat God Whip, and had the backing of Lord Yuan Shi. Thus, Shen Gongbao was reduced to a mere foil. In a true one-on-one confrontation, Shen Gongbao could have dispatched the Jiang Ziya of that time with a mere flick of his finger.

Shen Gongbao held the Heaven Opening Bead in one hand. With the other, he formed a hand seal and pointed towards the Flowing Sand River. Instantly, the river cleaved open, revealing a crack that reached its very bottom. One could even see the silt at the riverbed and the Black Tortoise Cave lying dormant beneath the ground, like a colossal, ancient beast.

Shen Gongbao’s eyes gleamed. Once I capture the Black Tortoise Cave, I can reclaim my fame and make the world look upon me with new respect! His eyes shone brightly as he chanted incantations and hurled the Heaven Opening Bead straight down.

At the same time, he bellowed, "My Heaven Opening Bead is an Innate Spirit Treasure of infinite power, possessing the divine might to split heaven and earth! Just one blow is needed to punch a hole through the Black Tortoise Cave. Prepare yourselves to storm in!"

The assembled immortals were ready, each gripping their Magical Tools, poised to charge.

BOOM.

The Heaven Opening Bead smashed onto the Black Tortoise Cave, but the cave merely trembled. Waves of golden lotuses appeared, vanished, and then reappeared. Still, it was not breached.

Shen Gongbao’s face twitched. "As expected of the Flowing Sand River and the Black Tortoise Armor, they truly possess some capability! I’ll just have to apply more force. A couple more tries should break it."

Then, he struck two more times. Still, it did not break.

Shen Gongbao’s expression grew unsightly. The assembled immortals exchanged uneasy glances. What happened to smashing a hole for us to charge into? Not even a dent has been made!

Inside the cave, Sha Chen and Three Holy Mother were having tea. Shen Gongbao’s three attempts hadn’t even managed to shake the dwelling. Though it appeared to tremble from the outside, it remained perfectly still within.

Sha Chen said, "I originally thought Shen Gongbao had some skill, and that the Heaven Opening Bead, being an Innate Spirit Treasure, could at least make my cave tremble. That would have given me an excuse to go out."

"I didn’t expect him to be so weak, and the Heaven Opening Bead to be so useless. Enough. If we wait any longer, his Heaven Opening Bead might actually shatter from the impacts."

Sha Chen immediately rose and opened the cave’s main entrance.

Upon appearing, he invoked the Law of Heaven and Earth. He stood immensely tall, as if connecting the heavens and the earth, with the sky above his head and the ground beneath his feet. Half his body extended out of the Flowing Sand River, the entire cave now behind and below him. The great door closed again.

Sha Chen’s body, muscles like great coiling dragons, glowed with flowing light, as if entire worlds were evolving upon his skin. Illusory projections of insects, fish, birds, and beasts—all sorts of wondrous phenomena—materialized around him. Gazing at Sha Chen, he resembled the primordial giant who separated heaven and earth, standing proudly in the world with a wild, untamed demeanor, looking down on all creation. He had three heads and six arms, exuding an air of wild abandon. He stood indomitably, towering over the world.

His arms held various Magical Tools. Lightning crackled and entwined around his body. Behind him, the Wind Fire Thunder God Wings unfurled, covering the sky and cloaking the entire Flowing Sand River. An area spanning ten thousand li was plunged into shadow.

In one hand, Sha Chen held the Samadhi True Fire; in another, he grasped the Imperial Gods’ Thunder. A third hand seized the Yuanfeng True Fire, and a fourth gripped the piercing Gang Wind. The silt beneath his feet transformed into flowing sand, relentlessly encroaching upon the riverbanks and turning them to desert. The waters of the Flowing Sand River surged back to life; the parted sections rejoined and calmed, once again concealing the lower half of Sha Chen’s body.

Such an awe-inspiring, peerless presence left Shen Gongbao and the gathered immortals utterly aghast. This was their first time seeing Sha Chen, and the encounter shook them to their core. The rumors were true: Sha Chen was incredibly powerful, indeed possessing the strength to contend with Yang Jian. They could only wonder if he had grown even stronger in the time that had passed. At that moment, Shen Gongbao felt a tremor of fear.

Sha Chen noticed this and felt a pang of regret. I’ve already tried to be as low-key as possible, not flaunting my strength, yet I still scared Shen Gongbao. He won’t be intimidated into fleeing, will he? If so, who will help me get this Mountain-driving Whip taken away legitimately?