Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 310 - 304: The Sage Laozi【Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets】_1
HISS.
Li Er!?
Sha Chen was instantly baffled. That old man with the white beard was actually the Saint Li Er!? Why had he come!?
At this moment, Sha Chen was confused and extremely fearful. Moreover, he wondered, why Li Er, of all times, would come now. What did it mean!?
Does the Tongtian Hierarch know what’s happening here?
Li Er wasn’t here to cause trouble, was he? After all, he knew he had been spreading the Tao Te Ching everywhere. If Li Er were to blame him for it, he would have no excuse.
If Li Er had come to settle old scores, then he would be in deep trouble.
Sha Chen felt a pang of guilt and quickly shielded the Phoenix Sisters behind him.
After entering, Li Er looked around and strolled leisurely through the entirety of Flowing Sand River. Sha Chen even witnessed Li Er walk right past the various Formations arranged by San Xiao; for Li Er, the Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation and the Primeval Chaos Eight Formations were utterly useless.
Li Er, looking around, said, "Not bad, very well arranged."
"Such a small Flowing Sand River, yet it’s set up with eighty-one Formations, primarily the Primeval Chaos Eight Formations and the Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation. Even a Quasi-Saint might not be able to leave unscathed."
Sha Chen’s face twitched. Having the entire Flowing Sand River’s secrets laid bare left him feeling extremely vulnerable.
He hurriedly said, "Junior Sha Chen, greets the Saint."
He clasped his fists in a salute, deactivating all the illusory Formations of Flowing Sand River, revealing its true appearance.
Two patches of immortal fields lay there, the scent of Spiritual Root Divine Medicine wafting on the breeze. Pavilions and towers dotted the landscape amidst overlapping peaks and sheer cliffs, some of which even bore Tai Chi Diagrams.
When the Formations weren’t activated, Flowing Sand River didn’t seem much different from before.
In reality, Sha Chen lacked the ability to keep the Formations active at all times. They were only engaged when the main gate was opened. This was to guard against anyone sneaking in. However, in front of the sage Laozi, activating these Formations would just be a waste of resources.
Li Er made himself at home, taking a seat at the table. Sha Chen hurried over to pour tea, then brought out Pan Peaches and Osmanthus Cakes, along with other refreshments.
The Phoenix Sisters watched from the side, not as wary as Sha Chen. They didn’t know who this old man was, but they could tell Sha Chen highly respected him. Moreover, they didn’t sense any malice from him; in fact, they thought he was just an ordinary old man. Consequently, they approached the table, sat down, and began to observe Li Er.
Bai Luan asked, "Old sir, how did you get into our home?"
Qing Luan added, "Aunties San Xiao just helped us perfect the Formations. They said no one could get in."
Hong Luan chimed in, "Daddy always said that uninvited guests are bad people. But Daddy respects you a lot, so you can’t be a bad person, right!?"
Li Er laughed heartily. "I am no villain, merely passing by and thought I’d drop in for a cup of tea."
Sha Chen quickly said, "Saint, please have some tea. Don’t say a cup—an entire vat is at your disposal!"
Li Er took a sip of the Dao-enlightening tea. "Dao-enlightening tea made from the tender leaves of the parasol tree. You’ve really put thought into this."
"Moreover, you’ve taken in three phoenixes as daughters. You’re quite bold. Aren’t you afraid The Phoenix Clan will come looking for trouble?" Li Er remarked casually, sipping his tea.
Cold sweat trickled down Sha Chen’s back. Saints truly know everything!
He hurriedly explained, "I simply saw they were alone and helpless. If they ventured out into the world, they would only suffer, so I took them in. If The Phoenix Clan truly wishes to blame me, then there’s nothing I can do."
Li Er chuckled. "You had Jade Rabbit snatch back the parasol trees and even took over their home, yet you still have the audacity to claim they are alone and helpless?"
His words were clearly meant to inform the Phoenix Sisters that they had taken a thief as their father. However, the sisters immediately turned hostile.
They shot up from their seats, pointing at Li Er, and angrily rebuked him, "You meddling old priest! You’re truly ungrateful! You came uninvited, and Daddy treated you to the best food and drink, yet you dare to criticize him! What’s more, you’re trying to drive a wedge between us and our father! That’s going too far! Apologize immediately, or we’ll burn you to a crisp!"
HISS!
Li Er was stunned.
Sha Chen, meanwhile, gasped, feeling as if he might need an oxygen tank just to get through the day.
He quickly restrained the sisters, urging them not to act rashly.
"Xiaobai, don’t talk such nonsense! You’re usually so level-headed. How can you say such things?" Sha Chen hissed. "Apologize quickly! Apologize to the Saint! What have I taught you about respecting your elders?"
Bai Luan and her sisters also realized—this was a Saint! Still, they felt deeply wronged. They glared at Li Er, unwilling to apologize for a long moment, but under Sha Chen’s stern insistence, they eventually lowered their heads.
"We’re sorry," they mumbled.
"More sincerely!" Sha Chen urged.
"We are sorry, Saint."
Seeing the utterly unconvinced, "I-did-nothing-wrong-but-I’m-still-apologizing" expressions on the sisters’ faces, Sha Chen grew even more anxious.
Li Er chuckled. "Enough. What they said wasn’t entirely wrong. I was indeed trying to drive a wedge between you and your father just now."
Sha Chen managed an embarrassed smile. "A Saint is truly a Saint, always so candid in word and deed."
Li Er asked, "Are you being sarcastic?"
Sha Chen hurriedly protested, "A grave misunderstanding, Saint! I mean that you openly admit your actions—that is the very definition of being forthright!"
Li Er said, "Enough with the act. You pretend to make them apologize, but you’re actually protecting them."
He glanced at Sha Chen. "Truly unexpected. Back when you were in the Heavenly Court, you were so honest and unassuming. And you’ve been secluded here, never going out. How did you become so adept in the ways of the world!?"
So, there are things even a Saint doesn’t know! Sha Chen thought, though he didn’t admit to being worldly-wise. Instead, feigning injury, he said, "Saint, you truly misunderstand this junior. Every word I speak comes from the depths of my heart."
Li Er said, "Alright, I’ll ask you, do you welcome me?"
Without a moment’s hesitation, Sha Chen replied, "Welcome, of course, you are most welcome! Had I known the Saint himself was gracing me with his presence, I would have rushed out to greet you, even if my shoes were on the wrong feet!"
Li Er reached out, patted Sha Chen’s head, and said, "Now *that* wasn’t from the heart."
Sha Chen felt awkward. The Saint is truly formidable to see through that!
What on earth does Li Er intend by coming here? he wondered. If he came to call me to account, his attitude doesn’t seem right. But if not that, then what is his purpose?
I have nothing that could possibly attract Li Er’s attention. If it were to take me as a disciple, that’s out of the question; I already declined Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, Li Er’s External Incarnation. A Saint of his stature wouldn’t press the issue just to save face. So, is he really just passing by? Sha Chen felt this was unlikely. It’s highly probable Li Er has a specific reason for being here, one I just don’t know yet.
After a moment’s hesitation, Sha Chen, though initially holding back, couldn’t resist asking, "Dare I ask the Saint, what is the purpose of your visit?"
Li Er replied, "As I said, I was merely passing by and dropped in for tea. You don’t believe me?"
Sha Chen quickly stammered, "I believe you, I believe you! Of course, I believe you! Look at my terrible memory, I’d forgotten." You’re a Saint, he scoffed internally, if you said you ate shit, I’d have to believe that too!
Sha Chen quickly poured more tea for Li Er, then instructed the Phoenix Sisters to return to the parasol tree and continue their cultivation, warning them not to loiter. He was afraid that if Li Er spent more time with them, he’d want to take them away. After all, they were pure-blooded phoenixes, and three appearing at once had already caused a frenzy in the outside world. There was no guarantee Li Er wouldn’t be tempted.
However, Li Er said, "There’s no need for them to rush off. I find them quite agreeable. It would be nice to share a meal and some tea with them."
Sha Chen’s heart lurched. Has this meddling old priest really taken a liking to the phoenixes? Does he intend to abduct them by force!? Should I just submit, or should I try to resist!?
Panicked, Sha Chen said, "They were impudent towards the Saint earlier. They don’t understand etiquette. If they stay and speak carelessly, I fear the Saint might hold it against them."
Li Er stated indifferently, "Whether they are to be blamed or not is my decision, not yours."
Sha Chen was rendered speechless and helpless. He then told the three sisters to stay and keep them company, but secretly warned them again to watch what they said.
Clearly, however, Sha Chen merely warning the sisters not to speak carelessly wasn’t going to be enough.
Li Er was genuinely interested in them, immediately spotting the flaws in their cultivation. He casually offered a few pointers, saying, "Although you cultivate using the Yuanfeng True Secret, without proper guidance, you’re bound to make missteps."
"Your cultivation is too rushed," he said to one. "Yours is too forceful," to another. "And yours," he said to the third, "is steady, but the Yuanfeng True Secret has specific emphases. You are better suited to swift, aggressive progress; being overly stable is actually detrimental."
Li Er instantly pinpointed the sisters’ shortcomings and then casually imparted some Dao Techniques, instructing them to practice on the spot to test the effects. Sure enough, when the sisters cultivated according to Li Er’s guidance, they found their progress was several times faster than usual.
They were overjoyed. Li Er stroked his beard with a knowing smile, anticipating the sisters would rush over to thank him profusely and beg for more guidance. Instead, the sisters clustered around Sha Chen, exclaiming, "Daddy, this Saint really knows his stuff! Our cultivation speed has increased so much!"
Sha Chen smiled and patted their heads, telling them to thank the Saint. His heart, however, grew heavy. All of Li Er’s actions seem to point to one thing: his true purpose here is the Phoenix Sisters! Their phoenix lineage has clearly attracted a Saint’s attention.
The idea that Li Er was merely being generous, or that he had some compulsion to correct every flaw he saw? Sha Chen wouldn’t believe that for a second.
While drinking tea, Saint Li Er chatted with the sisters, getting to know them better. Afterward, he smiled. "Actually, I have some acquaintance with your ancestors. If I’m not mistaken, your birth parents were second-generation descendants of Yuanfeng, making you third-generation members of The Phoenix Clan. Although you are young in appearance, your actual lineage isn’t shallow. You remained within your phoenix eggs for hundreds of thousands of years."
The sisters were stunned.
Li Er continued, "Do you wish to know about your true origins?"
He waited, expecting them to plead with him to reveal their heritage. But who would have thought? The sisters clapped their hands over their ears, retreated to Sha Chen’s side, and chorused, "Not listening, not listening! It’s like a toad chanting scriptures! We don’t want to know at all!"
