Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 210 - 204 Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad arrives at Flowing Sand River [Subscription and Monthly Tickets Requested]_1
Lady Di Yong was still being affectatious, but she found that Sha Chen remained unmoved.
She felt a bit stunned.
What is my master doing? I’ve been so coquettish; any other man would’ve already been unable to resist comforting me by now. So why did he ask just one question and then become indifferent? Am I not seductive enough, or am I not grand enough?
Lady Di Yong stole a glance at Sha Chen and noticed that he was still unmoved, but he was staring straight at her with a flickering look in his eyes.
Her heart leapt with joy. Master still cares about me, but why does his gaze make me feel so uneasy?
As she was lost in her thoughts, Sha Chen said, "Sweet, I want to ask you, how have you been doing all these years outside? Tell me in detail about any dangers you’ve faced and about your hardships and comforts."
Tears streamed from Lady Di Yong’s eyes, overcome with emotion. She clenched her legs together and said, "Master, these years, your servant has endured hardships outside."
Then she began to talk non-stop about the events, big and small, that had occurred outside. Some were trivial matters, but she spoke of them as if they were life-and-death struggles.
If it were someone else, they might have already rushed up to embrace her and comfort her tenderly. But Sha Chen just listened calmly, very seriously.
Lady Di Yong thought to herself, I am pouring my heart out to you. You should be coming to hold me and comfort me, not just listening earnestly. I’m not telling you stories for entertainment; I’m talking about life.
But Sha Chen remained unmoved, only lifting his head in surprise when Lady Di Yong began to feel an unusual emotion stirring in her heart.
In fact, Sha Chen was just listening to the journey of her thoughts while casually checking if Lady Di Yong’s words were sincere and whether she had acquired any treasures during that time. After all, his ability to listen to people’s thoughts was only instantaneous. If Lady Di Yong didn’t recall past events during that time, Sha Chen wouldn’t know if those things were true or false. His was a mind-reading skill, not memory searching.
Soul searching is quite cruel. It involves stripping the soul out and then searching it. After it’s done, the person’s soul is also ruined. Although Sha Chen wanted to know about the resources Lady Di Yong had gathered, he didn’t want to destroy her in the process.
Listening along the way, Sha Chen indeed learned quite a lot. From the endless chatter of unimportant things, he gleaned that Lady Di Yong had indeed amassed quite a lot of resources.
「Several hours later.」
Sha Chen got Lady Di Yong drunk, but he could see that while she was mostly intoxicated, she retained a degree of lucidity. She was pretending to be completely drunk and burrowed into Sha Chen’s embrace.
Sha Chen coughed and said, "Sweet, I ask you, over these years, did you really gain nothing at all, not even some resources?"
Lady Di Yong said, "I did, I got some."
Then, with drunken eyes, she took out several Qiankun Bags and handed them to Sha Chen, saying, "Master, when your servant went out, it was all for the sake of helping you conquer the world. How could I not bring back enough resources for you?"
Sha Chen opened them and saw that, although there were many resources, more than before, it was probably just one-tenth of what Lady Di Yong had collected. This woman was crafty; she still had ninety percent hidden away.
Sha Chen calmly asked, "Is this all?"
Lady Di Yong said, "Master, is this not enough? It took an enormous effort for me and Sister Bai Huaxiu to find these. Please don’t blame your servant."
Sha Chen chuckled, neither confirming nor denying.
She was playing mind games with him.
Lady Di Yong didn’t want to continue on this topic, and instead, she shifted the conversation, saying, "Master, why did you decide to give away Sister Bai Huaxiu? She loves you, and it would have been wonderful for the two of us to serve you together, wouldn’t it?"
Sha Chen said, "She is a fairy and also the Jade Emperor’s trusted maid. Even if she truly loves me, there’s no guarantee that she won’t be beguiled by the Jade Emperor and betray me."
Actually, what I also wanted to say is that Pixiang Jade Maiden was tied by a red thread from the Matchmaker. If that thread were cut, it’s uncertain if she would still be devoted to me.
In short, Sha Chen did not want to keep a confidant of the Jade Emperor nearby.
Lady Di Yong said, "Actually, Sister Xiangning has done a lot for you over these years. She also brought back many resources with her, all prepared as her dowry for you."
Sha Chen was taken aback. I was too hasty. If I had known, I would have drained her dry before letting her go. Turns out she was a rich woman! Still, did she really think she could offer a mere pittance of resources as a dowry to marry me? Dream on!
Sha Chen said, "Let’s not talk about her. Tell me, is this all the resources you have? Don’t try to lie to me, or else I might have to punish you."
Lady Di Yong paused, her face turning red as if it were dripping with water. She immediately prostrated on the ground, saying, "Master, punish me quickly."
Sha Chen’s face twitched and he slapped her, but the slap seemed to excite Lady Di Yong. He was so angered that he sent down an Imperial Gods’ Thunder, which charred her on the outside and left her tender on the inside, weak and limp on the ground.
Forlornly she said, "Master, I’ve experienced the lash, and even skinning before, but this lightning is a novelty, though I must say, your servant can’t endure it."
Sha Chen said, "Can you be serious for once? I know exactly how many resources you’ve acquired over these years, don’t think you can deceive me."
Then, he methodically laid bare all the secrets Lady Di Yong had hidden in her heart.
Frightened, Lady Di Yong sat stunned, filled with terror.
How could Master know everything? That’s impossible! Has he been watching me for over a decade?!
Lady Di Yong shook her head; it seemed impossible. Sha Chen couldn’t possibly have been watching me; I went too far away. Aside from a Saint, no one could know everything I did. But how did Sha Chen know?
Lady Di Yong was dumbfounded, completely unable to understand.
Sha Chen saw her shock and bellowed, "I’ve only mentioned a part of it, do you want me to say everything? Don’t forget, I imparted Divine Powers and Cultivation Techniques to you and gave you a chance to live, allowing you to go out and gather resources, so you could atone for your sins. Don’t hide anything from me, bring it all out."
Lady Di Yong immediately prostrated herself on the ground, no longer daring to act recklessly. She hastily said, "Master, as I went my way, I also expended much, and there isn’t much left."
Then she took out a few more Qiankun Bags. Sha Chen opened them and saw that they contained several times more than what she had previously brought out. He was about to nod in satisfaction, but then he heard Lady Di Yong’s innermost thoughts; she had hidden two more Qiankun Bags with even greater contents.
Sha Chen then coughed, "You’ve hidden two more Qiankun Bags. Bring them out. Don’t try to deceive me."
Lady Di Yong inhaled sharply, looking at Sha Chen with a dumbfounded expression before reluctantly taking out two more Qiankun Bags from her chest.
With a feeble voice, Lady Di Yong said, "Master, how did you know? I hid them very well."
Naturally, Sha Chen couldn’t say that he had read her mind. He just grunted, "Your chest wasn’t that large before. Don’t think you can fool me."
Lady Di Yong sighed inwardly, I was careless. Still, to think Master even pays attention to... these things about me. How embarrassing!
Sha Chen thought Lady Di Yong might still be hiding something and continued to read her mind. As it turned out, she was having wild thoughts, all revolving around her desire to push Sha Chen down. This frightened him so much that he immediately stopped reading her mind. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Shameless hussy! Don’t even think about disturbing my Daoist heart!
Having finally scavenged everything from Lady Di Yong, Sha Chen counted his loot, and it was extremely substantial. There were many resources that could allow him to directly cultivate, and the rest could be used for alchemy or to exchange for other resources.
After handing over the resources, Lady Di Yong had the audacity to ask, "Master, I’ve suffered too much abroad these years. Now that I’ve given all my resources to Master and my cultivation is limited, can you teach me more Divine Powers and spells?"
Sha Chen said, "You already know the 72 Polymorphic Transformations and Eight-Nine Profound Art, which are enough for you to make your mark. New Divine Powers and spells are not necessary."
Just as Lady Di Yong felt disappointed, Sha Chen added, "How about this: I’ll impart to you the Da Luo Method to aid your cultivation and enlightenment; that’s more useful than any Divine Power."
Lady Di Yong was immediately overcome with joy and repeatedly expressed her gratitude. She had already benefited greatly from Sha Chen’s previous talk on the Da Luo Method, only regretting that Sha Chen hadn’t spoken enough about it. Now that Sha Chen was going to specially instruct her, she would certainly reap a lot.
Sha Chen had now grasped the Da Luo insights from the Three Pure Ones, which was as if the Daoist Ancestor himself had preached to him, so he had a thorough understanding of the Da Luo Method. Probably even the Saints’ disciples were not as familiar with the Da Luo Method as he was. Now that Sha Chen was about to instruct Lady Di Yong in the Da Luo Method, it would be easy for him.
「Three months later, Sha Chen finished preaching the method.」
Lady Di Yong found a secluded spot and began her cultivation and enlightenment.
Sha Chen, too, was voraciously consuming resources to enhance himself. Although he had achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation, it was not stable; he was voraciously consuming resources now to solidify his current realm.
「Another three years passed.」
In that time, Jin Chanzi was reincarnated yet again. This time, however, Jin Chanzi was reincarnated with his memories, but the Buddhists were unaware. They continued to nurture Jin Chanzi as before, planning out his life’s path for him. The young Jin Chanzi had yet to awaken his memories from his past life, behaving like a naïve child, accepting Buddhism’s arrangements.
Hanshan, Sha Chen’s other self, had already condensed a lotus body and transformed into the guise of a Daoist. After parting ways with the White Bone Demon, he went alone to enlighten the reincarnated Jin Chanzi and accomplish the task Sha Chen had entrusted to him.
As for Jinzha, he had abandoned the pursuit against Sha Chen and devoted himself entirely to instructing the reincarnated Jin Chanzi.
As for the other self, Li Bai, ever since Sun Wukong broke through to become a Daluo Golden Immortal and was punished more severely by Buddhism, he hadn’t appeared again.
Chen Chen, his other self overseas, after fleeing from Luanshi Island, planned to run away for good, only to be captured by Sister Xianhe and brought back. After returning to Jinao Island, he cultivated nervously the whole time, always worried that the Golden Spirit Holy Mother would take him to see Tongtian Hierarch.
The affairs of his other selves were well-ordered, and Sha Chen was aware of them all. However, he had lost track of followers such as the Black Bear Demon. He thought to use his Divine Power of Listening to find them, but the vast ocean made it difficult to locate the distinct voices of the Black Bear Demon, White Bone Demon, Spider Demon, and others.
During a break in his cultivation, Sha Chen planned to listen in on the situation in the Heavenly Court. Chang E hadn’t come, nor Kui Mulang, leaving him unaware of the current situation in the Heavenly Court. He was quite concerned. After all, when the Bull Demon King had arrived, the Heavenly Court had deployed significant forces but then held back, making no overt move.
What exactly is the Heavenly Court’s intention? I must find out.
But just then, he heard that outside the Flowing Sand River, a Daoist was smiling and looking at him.
Through the cave, when Sha Chen saw that Daoist, he felt a chill over his scalp.
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad!! Why has he come here?!
The Daoist outside was none other than Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, standing outside the cave with a smile, unaffected by the river’s water.
Before Sha Chen could react, Lord Lao Zi spoke with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, no need to be nervous. I mean no harm. I merely seek your assistance to clear up some doubts."
Sha Chen felt a chill spreading over his scalp but kept silent.
Lord Lao Zi said, "May I come into your cave to discuss this?"
He remained silent still.
Lord Lao Zi then cheerfully said, "If you remain silent, I’ll take the liberty of entering."
As soon as he finished speaking, he directly opened the doors of the Black Tortoise Cave and strolled in.
Sha Chen felt a prickling on his back. Damn it, is this an avatar of Lord Lao Zi, or has Lord Lao Zi himself come in person?! He can enter the cave directly?!
