Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 241 - 235: Take the Initiative, Slap the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals into the Air【Third Update, Please Subscribe】_1

Chapter 241: Chapter 235: Take the Initiative, Slap the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals into the Air【Third Update, Please Subscribe】_1

The Black Bear Spirit was on the verge of tears. He truly did not want to go. But Sha Chen had already devoted so much effort to cultivating him, lending and even giving him Magical Tools. If he refused, Sha Chen would probably add a bearskin coat to his wardrobe this winter.

The Black Bear Spirit was also well aware that he had no chance of haggling with Sha Chen. If he were to refuse, he should have brought it up earlier. To think of refusing now would be like playing games with Sha Chen; a bearskin coat might not even be enough of a consequence.

After hesitating for a moment, the Black Bear Spirit decided to go.

Seeing his demeanor, Sha Chen said, "How about this: I’ll give you a hand to make your success more likely."

Overjoyed, the Black Bear Spirit quickly asked Sha Chen for guidance.

Sha Chen then whispered a few sentences, explaining what the Black Bear Spirit should do and how he, Sha Chen, would coordinate when the time came.

After hearing this, the Black Bear Spirit looked skeptical. "Master, are you sure this will work?" he asked. "Can they be fooled so easily?"

Sha Chen replied indifferently, "Do you doubt my wisdom?"

The Black Bear Spirit said, "But you’re asking me to go out and directly attack and kill some of the Heavenly Court’s troops to draw their attention. This is really asking me to pull chestnuts out of the fire."

"After drawing their attention, I’m to leave first, then come back pretending to be Jinzha to scout the arsenal. Can this really succeed?"

Sha Chen said, "I’ve taught you Qingyun Zong. Even if you’ve only mastered the basics, it should be enough for you to escape once you leave the Flowing Sand River."

"The reason I want you to return later is that Jinzha spends all day cultivating in the Buddhist Pagoda, and no one knows when he’ll emerge."

Half-believing, half-doubting, the Black Bear Spirit asked, "But how do I get out? Opening the cave will certainly attract the Heavenly Court’s attention, and with their inescapable nets cast in all directions, there’s simply no escape."

The Heavenly Court, to prevent Sha Chen from escaping, had already encircled the Flowing Sand River region with inescapable nets. While they hadn’t deployed a Formation of that immense scale, they had thoroughly surrounded the Flowing Sand River Cave and its immediate vicinity.

Sha Chen laughed. "That’s easy," he said. "The next time they send someone to persuade me to surrender, I’ll show myself and open the cave. That would be perfectly reasonable."

"As for how you leave, I can only give you one chance. You must sneak out without letting anyone discover you left my cave."

The Black Bear Spirit nodded; he knew Sha Chen couldn’t afford any incriminating evidence against him.

Although Li Jing and others suspected Sha Chen might be conspiring with the Spider Spirit and even with him, the Black Bear Spirit, this was merely speculation. Coupled with the conduct of the Li Family’s sons, everyone felt Li Jing’s suspicions were mostly born from a desire for retaliation. Therefore, many still regarded Sha Chen as an innocent general maligned by the machinations of various forces, even feeling pity for him.

No matter what, Sha Chen could not afford to be caught red-handed, having subdued the Black Bear Spirit and dealing with demons. That would give people a handle against him.

Afterward, Sha Chen and the Black Bear Spirit waited another half-month, until the Heavenly Court once again sent envoys to issue a challenge.

It was the Mighty Miracle God, the Generals of Heng and Ha, and others, who came to provoke a fight.

Although orders had been given not to act against Sha Chen until his relationship with Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad was clarified, and subordinates were restrained from provoking him, their prolonged inaction while stationed there was causing the soldiers’ morale to wane. So, sending vanguard members like the Mighty Miracle God and others to issue a challenge every ten days or half a month to boost troop morale had become a routine operation for the Heavenly Court.

They also knew Sha Chen wouldn’t appear. Thus, for the Mighty Miracle God and the others, coming here was merely an exercise for their vocal cords—shouting a few times to liven things up before returning to collect their pay and continue their Cultivation.

This time was supposed to be no exception.

The Mighty Miracle God, accompanied by the Generals of Heng and Ha, as well as the Liuding, the Liujia, and personnel from various units, came to issue the challenge.

He gestured and said, "Generals Zheng Lun and Chen Qi, go and issue the challenge. Summon Sha Chen to come out and surrender."

The Generals of Heng and Ha immediately stepped forward, leading their troops on clouds into the airspace above the Flowing Sand River. Both possessed booming voices and wielded the Divine Power of Heng and Ha, capable of ensnaring souls and seizing spirits—an immensely formidable ability. During the era of Divine Enthronement, they were mountain and forest spirits; a great "Heng!" from them could snag souls, and a mighty "Ha!" could snatch spirits away. This was a deadly Divine Power targeting the Primordial Spirit, quite formidable indeed.

It was just that their own Mana Cultivation was quite ordinary; to this day, they were only at the Golden Immortal level. They were nowhere near the level of Greater Primordial Golden Immortals. Thus, while their Divine Power could cause some damage if it hit an enemy head-on, it would be ineffective if someone was on guard.

If Sha Chen were to confront them directly, they wouldn’t dare issue a challenge, even if it meant death. They were only so brazen because they were certain Sha Chen would not appear.

However, they hadn’t expected that this time, though Sha Chen usually ignored them, the Flowing Sand River would open up after they had shouted only a few times.

Sha Chen’s phantasmal image appeared, gazing down upon the Generals of Heng and Ha, the Mighty Miracle God, and the others with an aura that seemed to span heaven and earth.

The immortals’ faces changed dramatically in fright.

Li Jing and the others were also alarmed and quickly prepared their forces, ready to deal with any contingency Sha Chen’s actions might cause.

Sha Chen’s apparition spoke, "Your daily challenges are truly disruptive. Although I may seem easy to bully, I will not tolerate your constant humiliation."

The Generals of Heng and Ha were so scared their legs went weak, and the Mighty Miracle God was too frightened to run. Under the intense scrutiny of Sha Chen’s powerful gaze, they all felt a chill course through their bodies, daring not to move. At the same time, they felt aggrieved, puzzled, and horrified.

We’ve taunted you before, and you ignored us, didn’t you? Why have you appeared now? Why are we so unlucky?

The Mighty Miracle God, the Generals of Heng and Ha, and the others felt like crying. They dared not issue any more challenges, resorting only to persuasion.

The two master-disciple brothers, the Generals of Heng and Ha, hurriedly said, "Great General for Folding the Curtain, we are here on orders to persuade you to surrender."

Sha Chen bellowed, "I am not an enemy of the Heavenly Court! Why use the term ’persuade to surrender’ for me?"

"I have been banished here as punishment. I have done no wrong. The decree of the Heavenly Emperor Jade Emperor contains no chastisement for me. You are merely claiming that the Jade Emperor wishes to see me and will decide after an investigation."

"Yes, yes, that is what we mean," the Generals of Heng and Ha quickly replied. "Please, General for Folding the Curtain, accompany us back to Heaven. Your name will be cleared after a thorough investigation."

"Is this how you invite someone?" Sha Chen snorted coldly. "Who would go with you under these circumstances?!"

The Generals of Heng and Ha instantly felt like crying.

The Mighty Miracle God also hurriedly said, "General for Folding the Curtain, we are only following orders. Please don’t make this difficult for us."

Sha Chen roared, "My case has yet to be decided, yet you treat me as if I were a criminal! How can I return to Heaven with you?"

"Li Jing and his son have neglected their duties and sought personal vendettas. This matter is far from over between us. Once my punishment ends, I will surely ascend to Heaven and accuse them of abusing their power for personal grudges!"

Then he shouted loudly, "Before that happens, I will not leave the Flowing Sand River! Go back and tell the Jade Emperor that!"

The Mighty Miracle God and the Generals of Heng and Ha pleaded, "General for Folding the Curtain, please don’t make our task harder."

The great gates of the Flowing Sand River Cave flung open, and a vast, celestial hand stretched out, swatting the Mighty Miracle God, the Generals of Heng and Ha, and their celestial troops and soldiers away like flies, sending them tumbling backward through the air.

Flying out along with them was a streak of light, unnoticed by the assembled immortals. It was the Black Bear Spirit, disguised as a celestial soldier, sent flying far into the distance by Sha Chen’s slap.

At this moment, Li Jing had already arrived with his men. He threw out the Linglong Tower, which radiated a brilliant light, intending to suppress Sha Chen’s gigantic handprint.

Simultaneously, he shouted, "Sha Chen, cease your wanton aggression!"

Sha Chen snorted coldly. "Li Jing, I call you Sky King as a courtesy. You abuse your power for personal grudges; do you really think I, Sha Chen, am so easily bullied?"

"Today, you sent these lackeys to challenge me, and I’ve spared them this once. Should you disturb my peace again, I will certainly make you regret it."

Li Jing raged, "Sha Chen, you are too arrogant!"

"It’s you who have forced me!" Sha Chen shouted back. "Your Li Family’s power is immense, overshadowing the sovereign and blanketing the heavens! Everyone in the Three Realms knows the Li Family has the final say in the mortal world; the Jade Emperor himself counts for little in such matters! If I am to be convicted, it will be solely by your decree, Li Jing!"

"I will not dispute this with you, since you claim to have the Jade Emperor’s support. Heh. The Jade Emperor sits while you, King Li, stand, yet your powers are nearly the same."

Having said this, Sha Chen slammed the gates of the Flowing Sand River Cave shut. The Linglong Tower descended, but it could not damage his Black Tortoise Cave.

Li Jing was left roaring in rage in midair, his eyes red with fury.

Sha Chen’s public outburst was devastating, aimed at destroying his adversary’s spirit and reputation. He had dared to claim that Li Jing’s status in the mortal realm surpassed the Jade Emperor’s, and that his words carried more weight. Moreover, he pointed out that while the Jade Emperor sat and King Li stood, their authority was comparable.

A heart-piercing accusation indeed.

Li Jing didn’t even need to look to know how astonished and skeptical the surrounding immortals’ gazes were. Others might be alright. However, the Fire God Luo Xuan, the Water God Lu Xiong, and Wang Lingguan—court favorites and influential ministers of the Heavenly Court—could all speak directly to the Jade Emperor. If they were to relay even a fraction of Sha Chen’s words, it could sow doubt about the Li Family in the Jade Emperor’s mind.

The Jade Emperor most feared vassals whose achievements overshadowed the throne, and Li Jing himself had dealt with countless such formidable figures over the years. At the time, Li Jing had thought the Jade Emperor shared such information because he considered him a confidant. But now, he wondered if the Jade Emperor was also using it as a subtle warning to him.

Combined with Sha Chen’s remarks, even if the Li Family were truly just and law-abiding, the Jade Emperor would rather err on the side of caution. Even if he wouldn’t immediately act against their Li Family, he would take precautions. Li Jing would no longer be as favored.

This was why Li Jing was so furious, roaring incessantly. Sha Chen’s words were truly devastating, aimed to destroy his spirit and reputation, harming him grievously.

He bellowed, "Sha Chen, get out here and make yourself clear! You are slandering this marshal!"

Inside the Flowing Sand River Cave, Sha Chen smiled indifferently. He didn’t speak publicly but sent a voice transmission to Li Jing: "Li Jing, when it comes to slander, aren’t you the expert?"

Li Jing roared, "Sha Chen, don’t use voice transmissions! If you have the guts, come out and speak openly! Clarify how you have slandered this marshal!"

Sha Chen remained silent, a cold smile playing on his lips. He was simply giving them a taste of their own medicine, nothing more. Just as the Li father and son had slandered him, only Sha Chen knew the extent to which Li Jing now felt wronged.

However, in reality, neither Sha Chen nor Li Jing was truly wronged. Sha Chen had indeed consorted with demons, injured the Li brothers, and killed a Buddhist Arhat. Li Jing, too, was not truly wronged. He indeed held power great enough to alarm the sovereign, harbored personal grudges, and had even manipulated the Jade Emperor to some extent.

In short, neither man was innocent; their misdeeds were simply clandestine, known only to themselves. When others brought these matters to light, that was when the feeling of being "wronged" emerged.

Just as Li Jing was about to order an all-out assault on the Flowing Sand River, a subordinate arrived to report.

General Fish Spear said, "Reporting to the Great Marshal, I have two pieces of news."

Li Jing grunted, "Speak."

General Fish Spear said, "One concerns the Jade Emperor’s envoys, who are waiting for news from the Saint, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad. The other is about the Black Bear Spirit. Which would the Great Marshal like to hear first?"