Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 235 - 229 Choosing Dragon Piling and Dragon-seeking Ruler [Second Update Request Subscription]_1

Chapter 235: Chapter 229 Choosing Dragon Piling and Dragon-seeking Ruler [Second Update Request Subscription]_1

"It has been discovered that the host has been cursed by Bodhisattva Manjushri with the Nail Seven-Arrow Book. You have the following choices."

"Option One: Ignore it and receive the reward [Nail Seven-Arrow Book]. Nail Seven-Arrow Book: An amazing book with chants written on it. Write down the name of the person to be hexed, stick it on a straw man, perform the ritual for forty-nine consecutive days, and the cursed person’s five viscera will burn, leading to death and the dissipation of their path."

"Option Two: Resist forcefully, destroy the Nail Seven-Arrow Book’s sorcery, and receive the reward: the Magical Tool [Dragon Piling]. Dragon Piling: A Magical Tool of Jinzha with boundless power, bearing thirty-six fire dragons on it that can incinerate and suppress a person."

Upon seeing these two options, Sha Chen’s expression became somewhat solemn.

If he ignored it, he didn’t know if he could withstand it. The spell had previously been incomplete, and he had the Taiqing Colored Glaze Cup to fend off the calamity.

Now that it was complete, he also didn’t know whether the Taiqing Colored Glaze Cup could still hold up.

If it could not, he might die an obscure and meaningless death.

Sha Chen didn’t want to risk waiting for death. He had to fight desperately.

But to resist forcefully and destroy the Nail Seven-Arrow Book’s sorcery was easier said than done.

All this time, the immortals and Buddhas had been attacking the Flowing Sand River, and he hadn’t shown himself, nor had he offered any response.

This was so that afterward, he could pretend to be unaware of the matter, providing both sides an excuse to step back and no longer bother him.

However, destroying the sorcery would mean he would have to admit that he knew about it and that others were using this evil sorcery against him.

His relationship with the Heavenly Court and even with Lingjiu Mountain would then be completely beyond redemption, and all pretense of civility would be gone.

At that time, the Heavenly Court and Lingjiu Mountain would fully unleash their efforts and use all means to deal with him.

It was very likely they would use the same approach as they had with Sun Wukong, for once they had openly turned hostile, reconciliation would not come easily.

Never mind, it’s time to teach them a lesson, to let them know that my lack of response doesn’t mean I can’t beat them. It’s purely because I don’t want to stoop to their level.

Sha Chen decided to make a response, to let the immortals and Buddhas know that he was not to be trifled with.

His caution didn’t mean he was a pushover.

Inside the Buddhist Pagoda, Manjushri and Samantabhadra performed the cursing ritual on Sha Chen once again, using the Nail Seven-Arrow Book to write down Sha Chen’s name and affix it to a straw man.

They stabbed a flying knife into the straw man and began to chant the incantations day and night without rest.

The immortals knew that Manjushri and Samantabhadra had been so low-profile during this time because they had gone to borrow Magical Tools.

Now that they had borrowed the Magical Tools, it was time to cast the spell.

At this moment, with Manjushri performing the sorcery, he was openly and very high-profile about it.

Since they had already attacked the Flowing Sand River before, they had fully offended Sha Chen already and had started to fight openly and above board.

Manjushri intended to publicly subdue Sha Chen, to kill him and regain the face they lost before.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva did not appear alongside Manjushri but stayed inside the Buddhist Pagoda.

Because they needed one person to play the villain and another to play the good guy.

Manjushri was responsible for dealing with Sha Chen and killing him.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva would be the one to save Sha Chen at the right time and act as the good guy, drawing Sha Chen into Buddhism.

Li Jing and others watched all of this from outside the Buddhist Pagoda.

Li Jing voiced his concern, "With Bodhisattva Manjushri acting like this, Sha Chen is doomed. When the time comes, won’t Sha Chen leave an indelible mark?"

Jinzha said, "Father, don’t worry. Sha Chen will die, but he will also reincarnate. Just wait for him at his birthplace when that time comes, and directly guide him to conversion."

He then laughed, "By then, the Flowing Sand River will become ownerless. Father must seize control quickly."

"The secret behind Sha Chen’s rapid increase in strength will also become public with his death and subsequent reincarnation."

The immortals’ eyes gleamed fervently. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

In this period, Sha Chen had made rapid progress, which they all envied.

A mere Great General for Folding the Curtain, just a True Immortal, was able to step into the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm in just over a hundred years.

The secret behind this was definitely enticing.

Wang Lingguan said, "I was against this action. His Majesty’s decree hasn’t arrived, and killing Sha Chen on our own is inappropriate."

Li Jing smiled and responded, "He’s a man of Buddhism, so whatever they do, we in the Heavenly Court can’t interfere."

Wang Lingguan snorted coldly, furrowed his brows, and said no more.

Li Jing also didn’t say much more, and just watched, looking forward to his son’s words about taking over the Flowing Sand River after Sha Chen’s death.

Whether it’s the Black Tortoise Armor or the Apricot Yellow Flag of Wuji, both are top-notch defensive Magical Tools.

If he could obtain them, his strength would surely advance further. And if he could acquire the method for Sha Chen’s rapid progression, he too could quickly step into the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm.

Instead of his current awkward position, having high status but low strength.

To meet Nezha, he had to wield the Linglong Tower, worrying that this son might kill him.

Just as Li Jing and Jinzha were fantasizing that Sha Chen would die under the Nail Seven-Arrow Book.

And while other immortals also thought that Sha Chen was truly about to die.

The waters of the Flowing Sand River started to boil.

The immortals hurriedly looked down to see the Black Tortoise Cave within.

Li Jing saw it and chuckled, "I thought he was going to continue playing dead. Now that danger is imminent, he knows fear."

Jinzha was seething with resentment, "The cowardly turtle has finally shown up. If he dares to face me, I’ll surely exact revenge."

The immortals were stroking their beards and laughing, having surrounded the Flowing Sand River for a long time with nothing else to do but swat mosquitoes.

Now, Sha Chen was finally about to show his face.

Muzha had even finished healing and came beside Li Jing, asking, "Father, will Sha Chen come out and beg for mercy?"

Li Jing replied, "He probably will, otherwise why would he cause such a commotion now?"

Jinzha added, "Even if he begs for mercy, I won’t spare him unless he offers three kowtows and nine bows, and burns a hundred sticks of incense."

Seeing this, the other immortals also breathed a sigh of relief and looked relaxed.

Sha Chen was a major trouble, and with him dealt with, they could return to the Heavenly Court to continue their blissful lives.

Bodhisattva Manjushri also noticed the commotion at the Flowing Sand River and wore a hint of a smug smile on his lips.

If Sha Chen were to come out and beg for mercy now, I could stop the sorcery and spare his life.

He had come to subdue Sha Chen, and achieving his goal without killing would befit his status.

The Flowing Sand River parted, revealing the Black Tortoise Cave within.

But the doors of the Black Tortoise Cave did not open. Instead, a spectral image of Sha Chen materialized, towering as if connecting Heaven and earth.

Seeing this, the immortals were all amazed.

With such a commanding presence, how could the Jade Emperor bear to hand him over to Buddhism? Wang Lingguan mused, feeling pity on behalf of the Jade Emperor.

The other immortals shared the same thought; even the Buddhist adherents like Bodhisattva Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva felt shocked and incredulous.

The Jade Emperor was truly willing to pay a hefty price.

Bodhisattva Manjushri did not cease his actions. He was waiting for Sha Chen to beg for mercy on his own initiative.

Just a specter wishing to speak with him was something he deemed beneath his notice.

After Sha Chen appeared, he clasped his fists in salute to all directions, and said in a clear voice, "I was in closed-door Cultivation previously and did not realize that such distinguished guests had arrived."

"I don’t know what offense I have committed to warrant such an assembly and armed confrontation!"

Jinzha said, "Sha Chen, don’t play dumb. You injured my brother and me, killed four Arhats of Buddhism, and conspired with demons. Any one of these reasons is enough to bring you to your knees for execution."

Li Jing bellowed, "Sha Chen, your crimes have already been pronounced. By the Jade Emperor’s decree, we are here to arrest you and take you to the Heavenly Court. Reveal your true form at once and follow me to accept your punishment."

At this moment, the system’s voice unexpectedly rang inside Sha Chen’s body again.

"The host has been demanded by Li Jing to reveal his true form and ascend to receive punishment. You have the following choices."

"Choice one: Reveal your true form and follow Li Jing to the Heavenly Court. Reward received: [Linglong Tower]. Linglong Tower: a Magical Tool of the Pagoda-carrying Heavenly King Li Jing, known as the number one defensive Magical Tool in the Three Realms."

"Choice two: Refuse to reveal your true form and resist being captured to ascend. Reward received: the Magical Tool [Dragon-seeking Ruler]. Dragon-seeking Ruler: a ruler made from the spine of a true dragon, containing boundless power, able to actively locate things with Spiritual Power."

Seeing this reward, Sha Chen was so excited that he almost jumped up.

What a pity that to obtain the Linglong Tower, I would have to ascend to Heaven.

Ascending to Heaven is out of the question. It’s so comfortable here; just engaging in closed-door Cultivation daily is enough. Why would I go to Heaven to be punished? I’m not a fool.

I’ll miss out on the Linglong Tower, but I’ll still obtain the Dragon-seeking Ruler.

With this Magical Tool, finding auspicious feng shui locations or other items imbued with Divine Power will be incredibly simple.

This device is akin to a radar in the world of immortals, specifically for seeking out Magical Tools and heaven-and-earth treasures.

With it in my possession, acquiring more Magical Tools and heaven-and-earth treasures will be easier than ever.

However, since I can’t leave, I can only entrust it to a trustworthy and capable person, or to one of my avatars, to seek out these treasures in my place.

In time, they will surely bring back a wealth of resources.

After Li Jing’s loud command, he waited for Sha Chen to kneel and beg for mercy.

He was convinced that Sha Chen would surely beg for mercy. Otherwise, why would he reveal himself at the very moment they were set to confront him?

Clearly, he’s here to beg for mercy!

But Sha Chen furrowed his brow and said, "King Li, your sons conspired with demons, disgracefully colluding with them and turning a blind eye to death. How can you instead accuse me wrongly?"

Jinzha and Muzha were furious. "Sha Chen, you spout nonsense and fabricate lies!" they said.

Sha Chen chuckled, "Whether it’s true or not, you know in your heart, and everyone present here is no fool, so stop pretending."

The faces of Jinzha and his brother turned ugly; they were indeed at a loss for words, unable to defend themselves convincingly.

But Li Jing insisted, "Sha Chen, if you wish to falsely accuse my sons, you must present evidence. Regardless of whether you are innocent, accompany us to the Heavenly Court to clarify the situation."

Sha Chen chuckled, "King Li, can your sons really explain themselves clearly to you?"

Li Jing’s face darkened.

Sha Chen dared to challenge me publicly! Li Jing was very displeased.

Since the pretense had already been discarded, Sha Chen no longer intended to show weakness.

I am kind to others, but that does not mean I can be bullied by anyone—certainly not by any Tom, Dick, or Harry.

I would admit defeat to those with greater strength, like Bodhisattva Manjushri, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Wang Lingguan, conceding to their superiority and cautiously hiding myself away.

But you, Li Jing, not even a Daluo Golden Immortal, dare to pull conspiracies on me?

Sha Chen said, "King Li, we are all discerning people. Must you really force me to present evidence?"

Then, he took out the Wanli Soul Chasing Mirror and played back the footage of the Li brothers’ secret conversation in the Guanyin Zen Temple, as well as the incident at the Flowing Sand River, replaying it for all to see.

Everybody watched.

The faces of the immortals grew awkward. Li Jing and his sons’ countenances turned particularly ugly.

Lo and behold, Sha Chen had been wronged.

Jinzha roared, "Sha Chen, this is fake, a scene fabricated by you. You won’t fool anyone!"

Muzha also shouted angrily, "Exactly, it’s just an illusion you’ve created!"

Then they hurriedly clasped their fists towards Bodhisattva Manjushri, saying, "Honorable Manjushri, please take down Sha Chen and cast a spell on him."

Bodhisattva Manjushri sat cross-legged, picked up the flying knife, and stabbed it into a straw figure.

Sha Chen shouted, "Bodhisattva Manjushri, do you really intend to shield a murderer and wantonly kill the innocent?"

Bodhisattva Manjushri remained silent.

Sha Chen laughed, nodded his head, and said, "Bodhisattva, if you leave me no way out, I’ll have no choice but to fight you to the death."

Bodhisattva Manjushri smiled contemptuously, his gaze sweeping down as if to say, You think you can take me on?

「Inside the Black Tortoise Cave.」

Without another word, Sha Chen grabbed the Sky Shaking Bow, snatched the sun-shooting arrow, and aimed it at Bodhisattva Manjushri.