Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 297 - 291: The Return of the Split Personality, San Xiao All Arrives【Seeking Subscription and Monthly Tickets】_1
「Outside the Flowing Sand River.」
There were five people: four women and one man.
The women were no strangers; they were the three sisters Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao, accompanied by Fairy Yunyao, a Xianhe.
The man was none other than Chen Sha, an incarnation of Sha Chen.
At this moment, Incarnation Chen Sha stood outside, his eyes darting around, his expression a mixture of complexity, urgency, and helplessness. After more than twenty years of scheming and detours, he still hadn’t managed to effectively stall Empress San Xiao.
Their will was exceptionally firm. Despite Incarnation Chen Sha taking them on various excursions, they persisted in their desire to visit the Flowing Sand River.
In fact, if not for Fairy Yunxiao’s delaying tactics, they might have arrived much sooner—perhaps within a month of their departure. Arriving now was already significantly late.
Empress San Xiao stood outside the Flowing Sand River, surveying its entire expanse and nodding repeatedly.
Fairy Yunyao also nodded. "Junior Brother, so this is the Flowing Sand River? It truly is magnificent—as vast and boundless as the sea."
"I fear even the Milky Way in the Ninth Heaven might not rival its breadth. Is Sha Chen, the master of this river, truly as heroic as you’ve described?"
The San Xiao sisters also turned to Incarnation Chen Sha. For years, his descriptions had been their sole source of information about the Flowing Sand River region.
Incarnation Chen Sha had proven somewhat useful. Over the years, he had constantly drilled into them the idea that Sha Chen, Master of the Flowing Sand River, was an exceptional hero.
Sha Chen was portrayed as a recluse who avoided worldly conflicts, troubled no one, and was known for his benevolence. However, if any demonic cultivators dared to cause trouble, he would step in to suppress them without hesitation. Anyone audacious enough to trespass the Flowing Sand River would be subdued by him. He was said to be at odds with both the gods of the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist monks of the Western Sect.
As members of the Sect of Interpretation, the San Xiao sisters naturally held no goodwill towards the Buddhist monks of the Western Sect or the self-proclaimed orthodox deities of the Heavenly Court. Although many deities in the Heavenly Court hailed from the Sect of Interpretation, the key departments were controlled by members of the Chan Sect and the Human Religion. Thus, members of their sect were largely marginalized. As the defeated faction, their positions in the Heavenly Court felt like mere consolation prizes, while the victors held their posts by right of conquest.
Furthermore, despite its numerous adherents, the Sect of Interpretation lacked unity. After the collapse of the Sword Array of Immortality and their subsequent enshrinement on the Investiture of the Gods, they were effectively disowned by the Sect. In essence, the Sect of Interpretation existed in name only.
Even the San Xiao sisters themselves held divine ranks in the Heavenly Court, where they were known as the "Pitiful Immortals." These ranks, however, were far beneath their actual power. Consequently, after a brief stint as deities, they resigned and returned to the Sect of Interpretation, once again becoming disciples of Tongtian Hierarch. Tongtian Hierarch even helped them reconstruct their physical forms, yet the karmic ties of the Investiture of the Gods were not easily severed. In truth, they remained bound by its constraints.
In short, they despised the Chan Sect, the Human Religion, and the Western Sect. In their eyes, anyone who caused trouble for these three major sects was a hero.
Clearly, in the tales spun by Incarnation Chen Sha, Sha Chen, Master of the Flowing Sand River, was precisely such a hero. This wasn’t mere flattery, however. During their journey, the San Xiao sisters had genuinely heard numerous tales of Sha Chen’s exploits. Aside from a few closely guarded secrets, his clashes with Buddhism and the Heavenly Court had been recounted in countless versions, becoming common knowledge.
Seeing both the San Xiao sisters and Yunyao looking at him, Incarnation Chen Sha smiled and nodded. "Indeed, Sha Chen, Master of the Flowing Sand River, is a truly exceptional hero. We should respect such valorous individuals."
The San Xiao sisters and Yunyao all nodded in agreement. Anyone who stood against the Heavenly Court and Buddhism deserved their respect.
The San Xiao sisters glanced at Yunyao, their meaning clear: she was to announce their arrival.
Yunyao, however, looked to Incarnation Chen Sha, her gaze conveying the same message—he should do it.
However, Incarnation Chen Sha said, "Senior Sister, don’t tease. You came out with me, so you should listen to me."
Yunyao replied, "I’ll listen to you."
Incarnation Chen Sha said, "Good. Since you’ll listen to me, go and announce us."
Yunyao gritted her teeth in frustration, secretly vowing to find a chance to beat up Incarnation Chen Sha and vent her anger. Nevertheless, she obediently went to announce their presence. Bullying Incarnation Chen Sha wasn’t so easy anymore. Over the past twenty-odd years, Incarnation Chen Sha had earned the approval of the San Xiao sisters; they even considered him a reliable person and valued him greatly. If Yunyao dared to bully Incarnation Chen Sha, the San Xiao sisters would not let her off easily.
Hovering above the Flowing Sand River, Yunyao called out, "Sha Chen, Master of the Flowing Sand River, listen up! We are disciples of the Sect of Interpretation and have come to see you on urgent business. Open your cave residence at once and welcome us in!"
Incarnation Chen Sha slapped his forehead in exasperation. All his talk of showing proper respect had clearly been in vain.
The San Xiao sisters, however, remained unfazed. As proud members of the Sect of Interpretation, they had come specifically to cause trouble for Sha Chen. Before even setting out, they had resolved to take Sha Chen’s head. The fact that they hadn’t struck yet already showed considerable restraint on their part. Opposing Buddhism and the Heavenly Court was indeed worthy of respect, but when it came time to act, there was no room for pleasantries.
「Within the Flowing Sand River.」
Sha Chen watched Yunyao outside, listening to her clamor, his expression complex and troubled.
Sigh, I really didn’t want to see them. I’d almost forgotten about them, but now they’re here. I remember when they first set out, they were just like the Golden Spirit Holy Mother—bent on finding trouble with me.
Sha Chen felt a headache coming on. It was clear the San Xiao sisters and their companion meant no good. For the moment, he had no idea how to handle the situation. Therefore, he decided to bide his time and observe for now.
However, while Sha Chen wanted to wait and see, the San Xiao sisters and the others outside clearly weren’t going to give him that chance.
When Yunyao received no response after shouting several times, she grew irritated.
"Junior Brother, is this the hero you spoke of? He’s acting as if he’s deaf and blind! How dare he be so rude as to ignore my calls!"
Incarnation Chen Sha said awkwardly, "Perhaps he’s deep in cultivation and unaware of what’s happening outside. After all, rumor has it he’s a cultivation maniac who pays no mind to external affairs."
Yunyao nodded. "I’ve heard that rumor. Speaking of which, he sounds a bit like you—always seizing any chance to go into secluded cultivation. Hmm, his name is Sha Chen, and yours is Chen Sha. Your names are quite similar, aren’t they?"
Incarnation Chen Sha’s heart leaped into his throat.
Careless! I never should have chosen the name Chen Sha. Even ’Silly Sand’ would have been better; less likely to give away my origins.
However, he was clearly overthinking things. Yunyao had just made a casual remark and paid it no real mind; she would never suspect that her junior brother had any connection to Sha Chen of the Flowing Sand River. After all, their circumstances were vastly different. Besides, rumor had it that Sha Chen, Master of the Flowing Sand River, was a hulking, coarse brute—dark-skinned, rough, and utterly boorish. Her Junior Brother Chen Sha, in contrast, was so handsome and dashing, with his sword-sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes. They couldn’t possibly be the same person.
The youngest of the San Xiao sisters, Bixiao, had a fiery temper. Seeing Sha Chen ignore them, she scoffed.
"To think the mere Master of the Flowing Sand River would dare to ignore us! Eldest Sister, Second Sister, I’ll go flatten the Flowing Sand River right now!"
Qiongxiao, the second sister, was a woman of immense pride. As if her words were precious gold, she merely gave a slight nod, saying nothing further.
The eldest sister, Yunxiao, however, was more rational, kind, and gentle, and held considerable authority among the three. She frowned. "Third Sister, don’t be so hasty. Our Nephew Chen Sha is right; we should proceed with courtesy before resorting to force. To punish without warning would reflect badly on us."
Incarnation Chen Sha immediately chimed in, "Senior Aunt Yunxiao is right! That would sound terrible. It would make people think our Sect of Interpretation bullies the weak and throws its weight around. That would damage the Sect Hierarch’s reputation."
The others nodded in agreement. Even the hot-tempered Bixiao said no more about attacking by force.
Eldest Sister Yunxiao said, "It seems Sha Chen is indeed cultivating inside. Our arrival was sudden, so he might not be aware. Besides, he’s known to be cautious. With so many of us here, and with such imposing force, he’s likely a little intimidated."
Fairy Yunyao pursed her lips. "More like a coward."
Incarnation Chen Sha mentally rolled his eyes. You wouldn’t be scared? Three renowned Quasi-Saints and a newly ascended Daluo Golden Immortal showing up aggressively—anyone would be terrified! But he wouldn’t say that out loud.
Yunxiao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Third Sister, you try calling out. Let’s see how he reacts."
Bixiao asked, "If he still doesn’t respond, can I attack the Flowing Sand River then?"
Yunxiao replied, "We’ll see. We are to extend courtesy before resorting to force. We haven’t even offered our courtesies yet, so how can we initiate an attack?"
Bixiao nodded and then personally stepped forward to call out.
"Sha Chen of the Flowing Sand River! I am Bixiao of Sanxian Island! We are disciples of Tongtian Hierarch of the Sect of Interpretation, here to discuss a matter with you! Come out and answer at once!"
「Within the Flowing Sand River.」
Sha Chen heard Bixiao’s words, a headache throbbing.
"Detected that the Grand Destiny Carrier Bixiao requires you to come out and respond. You have the following choices:
"Option One: Go out personally to respond. Reward: [Nine Twists Yellow River Formation]. Description: The Nine-Curve Yellow River Array is a powerful ancient killing formation devised by Empress San Xiao using the Primeval Chaos Gold Funnel.
"Option Two: Refuse to go out and respond. Reward: [Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation]. Description: The Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation is one of the ancient and formidable formations, primarily used for defense. Those who enter will become trapped, with each of its eight gates leading to a different outcome."
Sha Chen’s eyes lit up as he looked at the options. The Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation seemed excellent, as it was primarily defensive, and he was currently lacking in defensive measures. He possessed Magical Tools and divine artifacts, but they weren’t quite enough. Now, with a formation, his defenses would likely be much stronger. However, formations differed from divine artifacts. They consumed resources, and activating them often came at an exorbitant cost. Still, it was better than nothing.
After weighing his options, Sha Chen decided to ignore the San Xiao sisters.
Going out is out of the question. I’m not even willing to answer from within the Flowing Sand River, let alone go out in person. That would be suicide!
So, Sha Chen paid them no heed.
When Bixiao had called out several times without any response from Sha Chen, she was practically seething with rage.
"The audacity! How dare he ignore my summons! Sisters, I can’t take it anymore! Let me attack the Flowing Sand River!"
