Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 263 - 257 Jin Chanzi Meets Sun Wukong Again【Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets】_1

Chapter 263: Chapter 257 Jin Chanzi Meets Sun Wukong Again【Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets】_1

In the cave, cultivation knew no years.

Sha Chen’s cultivation journey lasted another three years.

He had advanced his cultivation level somewhat, but he still hadn’t reached the Peak of Daluo Golden Immortal. It wasn’t even a close call, but rather a far cry. It wasn’t that he wasn’t trying hard enough, but rather that his accumulation of time was too meager, coupled with his talents that, while not mediocre, could only be considered that of a genius.

Another issue was that his resources were running out—seriously running out, to the point of scarcity. If it weren’t for the sporadic maturing of some Elixirs that barely supported his cultivation, he would have had no choice but to endure the hardship of time. His understanding of Dao Techniques had deepened, which was some consolation.

But that was it. Although the Three Pure Ones Taoism he practiced was profound, Sha Chen’s grasp on it had barely reached Great Accomplishment, which was merely adequate for the time being. Far from Great Perfection, he naturally couldn’t rely solely on Dao Techniques to elevate his cultivation. However, his comprehension abilities did strengthen. His sensitivity to Divine Powers and Magical Tools deepened, as did his combat readiness.

Lacking sufficient resources to cultivate Mana, Sha Chen took the time to cultivate his physical body and Primordial Spirit.

His physical body was bolstered by the dim-witted willow tree. By combining the Yuanfeng True Secret with the True Dragon Body Forging Technique and using the Imperial Gods’ Thunder, he could rapidly improve his physique. Even without the absorption of resources, he could grow rapidly. In this aspect, he was faring better than in the cultivation of Mana.

As for his Primordial Spirit, Sha Chen had the Taiqing Colored Glaze Cup, the Tai Chi Diagram, and the Phoenix Tree to help his Primordial Spirit flourish. In that respect, he also saved himself a good deal of resources.

Sha Chen continued his tireless cultivation, totally indifferent to worldly affairs.

During these three years, there were disturbances from outsiders, but he coldly dealt with all of them, and they scurried away ineffectually.

For example, Maitreya Buddha’s ally, Bodhisattva Pilanpo of Qianhua Cave, actually colluded with Guanyin. However, they naturally chose sides as convenience dictated; where there was mutual benefit, they would cooperate. Bodhisattva Pilanpo naturally could also cooperate with Maitreya Buddha. When Maitreya Buddha approached her, Bodhisattva Pilanpo decisively sent her son to lobby Sha Chen to emerge. But she was too naive. After the Pleiades Star Official arrived, he didn’t even catch a glimpse of Sha Chen before scurrying away. After a few such attempts, the Pleiades Star Official stopped coming altogether. Bodhisattva Pilanpo also abandoned this strategy, planning to seek other opportunities.

Besides Bodhisattva Pilanpo, Maitreya Buddha also co-opted many others and devised plots involving many people, all meticulously prepared for Sha Chen. But all failed. Sha Chen remained unchanged in the face of all changes. When those goblins and demons came, they couldn’t even see Sha Chen’s face before being rebuffed and leaving dejectedly. Maitreya Buddha was also slightly vexed by this, even suspecting that Sha Chen was aware of his existence and deliberately avoiding any appearances.

In fact, Sha Chen indeed knew of his presence but didn’t pay any heed, purely because he had no desire to entertain them and sought to continue his cultivation. If he were to meet every Tom, Dick, and Harry, how could he cultivate in isolation? He had no intention of getting entangled with this riff-raff.

However, the appearance of some figures did trigger the system’s choices, granting Sha Chen some fine items. For him at present, they were of little use—at best, something to reward his followers. For instance, some Post-Natal Spiritual Treasures were treated like toys by the three Phoenix sisters.

「In such circumstances, a momentous event occurred in the Three Realms.」

It was that Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, after being coached by Guanyin, embarked once again on the Journey to the West. It was said that Guanyin Bodhisattva had enlisted the help of immortals to oversee his journey, and she would also provide guidance along the way. The Heavenly Court was astir, unsure of Guanyin’s intentions with this venture. Was she initiating the Journey to the West outright, or allowing Jin Chanzi to accumulate more merits?

However, they all felt that Jin Chanzi abandoning Buddhism for Daoism, and then renouncing Daoism for Buddhism again, could not be as simple and straightforward as it seemed. Would Jin Chanzi truly agree? Outsiders were clueless, but they knew that Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation had indeed begun the quest for scriptures, marching westward.

Moreover, unlike before, this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi had undergone cultivation and had specifically cultivated the Dao. However, it seemed his cultivation had been nullified by Guanyin, leaving him without Mana, retaining only a pure physical body and Primordial Spirit. His physique was still impressive, comparable to a Golden Immortal, more than enough to deal with the demons and monsters along the way. His Primordial Spirit was even more formidable, reaching the Peak of Golden Immortal—exceptionally extraordinary. As such, this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi moved swiftly; he didn’t even need a horse to travel rapidly, making his way toward the West on the quest for scriptures.

But some immortals noticed that this Jin Chanzi seemed like an animated corpse, a puppet without a spark of life. They all knew that this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi harbored a fatalistic resolve and was filled with utter despair.

Soon, Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation breezed past the Ten Thousand Mile Mountains and reached a place known in this era as the forbidden ground of immortals and Buddhas—Five Finger Mountain.

Sun Wukong, ferocious and wanton in his bloodlust, intimidated the monitoring deities from even coming close. Fulfilling Tathagata’s decision, they were to confine him for five hundred years; as long as Sun Wukong didn’t break out during this period, they would ignore him, no matter how much he raged. For this reason, the region gradually became a forbidden zone.

Mountain Gods and Earth Gods dared not approach. The seasons at Five Finger Mountain were starkly distinct and severe, and the environment was extreme to the utmost degree. Ordinary people couldn’t last a minute there, and average deities would probably go mad in three to five days. But Sun Wukong had already been trapped here for two hundred years.

He was, naturally, close to madness—not because his will was not strong enough, but because he was a monkey who loved activity and play. Trapped here, he could not even turn over. Tathagata had also intensified the suppression, making it impossible for him to even burrow into a cave. One can imagine just how furious and helpless he felt. If it weren’t for the promise Li Bai had given him, he probably would have fallen into despair.

Currently, his strength appeared to be at the Early Stage of Daluo Golden Immortal, but in reality, he had already advanced to the High Order of Daluo Golden Immortal and was even on the verge of reaching the Peak. However, suppressed as he was, he could not unleash his full power. Once the seal broke, his progress would skyrocket, and he would go berserk on the spot.

In such a situation, naturally, no one dared to set foot in Five Finger Mountain’s domain. Yet, there was one person who dared to pass by this place at such a time: Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation. He passed by, his Daoist name Daoist Jin Chan, his Buddhist name Siguo—both given by Guanyin. The purpose was for this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi to reflect on his past mistakes, realize his wrongdoing, and contemplate it throughout his journey.

Yet Jin Chanzi always referred to himself as Daoist Jin Chan. He was only silent and reticent whenever Guanyin or her informants were present. Accompanying him on this journey to this place was one person: Muzha, a disciple of Guanyin.

With Guanyin’s help, Muzha’s injuries had healed, but his cultivation had stagnated. Dispatched by Guanyin, he was to accompany Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation on the Journey to the West, ensuring he was supervised properly and did not stray from the path again. Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation could die, but his death had to be meaningful.

However, Muzha never imagined that Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, upon encountering Five Finger Mountain, would decide not to take a detour. Muzha repeatedly advised him that an unrivaled great demon resided here, one not to be provoked, insisting on a detour, but Jin Chanzi persistently refused. Feeling utterly helpless, Muzha had no choice but to brace himself and follow Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, leading a white horse, as they entered.

「Three days later, they arrived at the foot of Five Finger Mountain.」

By then, the white horse had already become much thinner, for the journey had been fraught with dangers and hardships; had it not been for Muzha’s protection, the horse would likely have perished.

"HEH HEH, who is it that’s come?"

Sun Wukong’s voice emanated from the base of Five Finger Mountain, out from the darkness.

At this time, Muzha appeared as a young man with hair, having assumed the identity of a lay disciple accompanying Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation. Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation was unaware of his true identity, only knowing that Guanyin had sent him to monitor him. Like a walking corpse, Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation reached the foot of Five Finger Mountain and was about to approach Sun Wukong.

Muzha urgently said, "Holy Monk, don’t get any closer! That’s the renowned The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, who’s been suppressed here as punishment. He’s extremely fierce, and I fear for your life!"

The darkness lifted, revealing Sun Wukong’s emaciated body. He looked up, his appearance unkempt. A fierce grin spread across his lips as he cackled, "HEH HEH, so it’s Li Jing’s little boy. Who is this man? Did you bring him here as a meal for Old Sun?"

Then he bared his teeth, trying to scare Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation.

But Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation merely gazed at him calmly, unmoved and utterly unafraid.

Sun Wukong, finding no amusement, cursed, "Is this fellow a block of wood? Are you trying to fool Old Sun?"

Muzha quickly explained, "Great Saint, allow me to explain. This is a Holy Monk from Buddhism, whose Buddhist name is Siguo. He’s on his way to the West to obtain the True Scripture and then return to enlighten all beings.

"We were just passing by this sacred place and, having heard of the Great Saint’s renown, came especially to pay our respects. We will leave now, right away. Please do not be troubled, Great Saint."

He then moved to lead Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation away.

Sun Wukong listened, paused, then said in bewilderment, "This is the scripture seeker?"

He recalled something from a few years ago, news from the direction of Yingchou Stream, and blinked in astonishment.

He quickly said, "No hurry, no hurry! Since you are the scripture seeker, then you are Old Sun’s guest. A distinguished guest has arrived, and Old Sun cannot rise to offer hospitality. This is truly impolite."

Then he smiled and said, "Scripture seeker, Holy Monk, could you do me a favor? Do you see that Buddha Verse on the mountaintop? If you peel it off, Old Sun will get up and properly receive you."

Muzha’s face turned pale with shock. He hurriedly stood between Sun Wukong and Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, but Sun Wukong’s baleful aura forced him to retreat a few steps.

He was shaken to the core; the rumors were indeed true! Sun Wukong was already a Daluo Golden Immortal, and his ferocious energy had intensified even further!

Muzha hurriedly said, "Great Saint, you must be joking. That is a Buddha Verse left by the Buddha himself. How could the Holy Monk dare to peel it off without authorization?"

He then urged Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, "Holy Monk, we should get on our way quickly. Once you obtain the True Scripture, you too will be freed."

All along the journey, he had constantly told Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation that after the Journey to the West, he would plead with Guanyin Bodhisattva to grant him freedom. Whether Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation believed it or not, Muzha continued to use this to persuade him.

But Jin Chanzi remained unmoved. Instead, he looked at Sun Wukong, stepped forward, and squatted down just three feet away—so close that if he were to relieve himself, it would land on Sun Wukong’s head. Even squatting, he still had to look down at Sun Wukong.

Muzha’s face turned deathly pale. What on earth did Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation intend to do?!

But Muzha dared not approach.

Sun Wukong was also taken aback. Still hoping Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation would peel off the Buddha Verse for him, he feigned a friendly demeanor, chuckled, and said, "Holy Monk, do me a favor. I’m an honest fellow. You help me, and I’ll help you, alright?"

Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation asked, "You are The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong?"

Sun Wukong nodded. "An empty title, all just an empty title."

Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation continued, "You caused upheaval in the Heavenly Palace, defeating a hundred thousand celestial soldiers and generals so they couldn’t even fight back?"

Sun Wukong chuckled. "A hero doesn’t brag about past glories. That’s all in the past, all in the past."

Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation said, "I heard that while here, you devoured several Bodhisattvas and Arhats, and your cultivation has reached the Daluo Golden Immortal realm?"

Sun Wukong chuckled nervously. "Sigh, youthful indiscretions, youthful indiscretions. Holy Monk, actually, Old Sun is truly an honest fellow."

He assumed Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation was testing him, so naturally, he put on an act of being simple and honest.

But Jin Chanzi suddenly asked, "You’re so powerful. Can you kill me?"