Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 350 - 344: Rewards of Beat God Whip and Mystic Artifact of The Nine Orifices [Subscription Requested]_1
Jiang Ziya got straight to the point, making his intentions clear. ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐.๐ฌ๐ค๐ถ
Sha Chen replied, "All I know is that I shattered the Liuli Lamp and was subsequently banished here. Beyond that, I know nothing."
Jiang Ziya shook his head. He knew Sha Chen was feigning ignorance. Aware of the Journey to the West yet pretending otherwise, he was simply trying to escape reality.
Jiang Ziya said, "River Lordโno, I should call you the Great General for Folding the Curtain. Having served in the Heavenly Court for so long, you should understand that breaking a Liuli Lamp would never warrant such severe punishment as exile to suffer the agony of a Thousand Swords Piercing the Heart."
Sha Chen retorted, "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. Taigong, you are not the Jade Emperor. What makes you think the Jade Emperor wouldnโt do such a thing?"
Upon hearing this, the arguments Jiang Ziya had prepared suddenly seemed inexpressible. Normally eloquent and persuasive, he now found himself at a loss against Sha Chen; it was somewhat unbelievable.
Jiang Ziya said, "Thereโs no one else here, River Lord. Why persist with this charade?"
Sha Chen replied, "Taigong, you truly misunderstand me. Whether anyone is present or not, I hold this view and will say as much. After all, I am a man whose actions align with his beliefs."
Jiang Ziya felt extremely frustrated, as if suffocating. Sha Chen was so incredibly articulate that he felt somewhat overwhelmed. He, too, had once silenced a million troops with his silver tongue and even made people vomit blood with his words, yet never before had he been rendered speechless like this. Sha Chen was mocking him for inconsistency, for being like one serving Caoโs Camp while his heart was with Hanโloyal in appearance but disloyal in spirit.
Jiang Ziya took a deep breath and said, "River Lord, I too am a man whose actions align with his beliefs. Very well, since you claim ignorance about the Journey to the West, allow me to explain it clearly."
Sha Chen interjected, "Thereโs no need. Iโm not interested. I am here to serve my punishment. Once my sentence is complete, I will be free."
Jiang Ziya said, "General for Folding the Curtain, what are you trying to escape? You know full well that you cannot, for everything is already preordained."
Sha Chen looked at him, his gaze piercing, and said, "If it has indeed been preordained, then why has Taigong come here?"
Jiang Ziya took another deep breath. "Because I have realized you are resisting fate. Although I believe you cannot defy destiny, I must persuade you to return to the correct path to prevent you from making a grave mistake."
Sha Chen laughed. "Taigong, you truly love to meddle in othersโ affairs. Who do you think you are? Do you actually believe you can change anotherโs mind and decisions?"
After speaking, he stared directly at Jiang Ziya, his eyes filled with contempt and coldnessโa demeanor that showed utter disregard for Jiang Ziyaโs dignity.
Jiang Ziya, however, remained fearless. His Dao Heart was firm, and he would not be frightened by Sha Chenโs words.
He looked calmly at Sha Chen and said, "The will of Heaven cannot be defied. I am but one among myriad beings; I dare not defy fate, nor do I enjoy meddling. I only wish to align with Heavenโs will."
Sha Chen countered, "This โHeavenโs willโ you speak ofโwhat exactly is it? Is it truly the supposed original trajectory?"
He added coldly, "What you believe is merely what others have led you to believe."
Jiang Ziyaโs expression changed drastically. He then said sternly, "Everything has been preordained. It is decided by the Heavenly Dao, a set trajectory. That is Heavenโs willโunchangeable."
Sha Chen laughed. "Do you possess the ability to see the future? What you perceive, is it truly the trajectory set by the Heavenly Dao? Do you genuinely know Heavenโs will, or could it be a path delineated by someone far more powerful than you, someone beyond your comprehension?"
Jiang Ziya stated, "I can assure you that what I see is indeed the intangible will of Heaven."
Sha Chen shook his head. "Hypocritical. Ignorant."
Jiang Ziyaโs expression changed drastically. No one had ever dared to speak to him this way. No one had ever dared to judge him so harshly. Yet, Sha Chen had accused and humiliated him to his face, leaving him speechless.
Sha Chen sneered, "You are merely a minor Daluo Golden Immortal, as insignificant as an ant. Can you see the future? Do you know this so-called will of Heaven? Do you truly believe that with the Beat God Whip in hand, you can strike down all deities?"
He stood up and tore off his upper garments, revealing a physique with muscles as mighty as coiling dragons.
Then he declared, "Use your Beat God Whip on me. If you can bring me down, I will believe in the trajectory you speak of."
"If your Beat God Whip cannot harm me, then you must accept that what you have seen is merely a false future, shown to you by beings far stronger than yourself."
Jiang Ziya snorted. "Your physical body is formidable, your Mana boundless. Even though I possess the Beat God Whip, I cannot harm you."
Sha Chen retorted, "You lack even the courage to strike me, nor do you have the confidence to injure me. From where, then, do you derive the courage and conviction to believe that what you see is the true future and the so-called will of Heaven?"
Provoked, Jiang Ziya stood up, stroked his beard, and flung his sleeves. "Sha Chen, you will regret this! My Beat God Whip can strike deities above and rebellious subjects below. You have committed a great act of defiance, going against Heavenโs will. As you are a deity, striking you is most appropriate."
Sha Chen spread his arms wide, looking down upon Jiang Ziya, and sneered, "Come then! Use that flimsy Beat God Whip of yours on me. If it fails to harm me, then you are nothing but a deluded fool, and what you have seen is a sham!"
"You do not represent Heavenโs will. You are incapable of knowing the Heavenly Mandate, much less standing in for the Heavenly Dao or acting on its behalf. You are merely doing what others have manipulated you into doing, ever since you were a mortal."
Jiang Ziyaโs Dao Heart trembled. His resolve, once seemingly unbreakable, was now shaken by Sha Chenโs denunciation. At this moment, it actually began to waver.
Overcome with a mixture of shock and fury, he angrily raised the Beat God Whip and struck out at Sha Chen, roaring, "Presumptuous! Taigong is here! All gods, stand down!"
With a great shout, the Beat God Whip in Jiang Ziyaโs hand radiated divine light as it lashed directly towards Sha Chen.
BANG.
The Beat God Whip landed on Sha Chenโs body, divine light clashing.
Jiang Ziya felt as if he had struck the hardest substance in the worldโutterly unbreakableโand an irresistible rebounding force surged back at him. His arm was fractured, the flesh between his thumb and forefinger split open, and the Beat God Whip was torn from his grasp, flying off into the distance.
His entire arm was nearly crippled, and half his body went numb, losing all sensation. He staggered backward several steps. Then, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face a mask of horrified disbelief.
In contrast, Sha Chen stood proudly, not having retreated even half a step, his body enveloped in divine light, his aura majestic.
Sha Chen retracted his divine manifestation and looked down at Jiang Ziya. He patted the spot where he had been struck as if brushing off insignificant dust.
He calmly returned to his seat and poured himself a cup of wine.
Then, he poured another cup for Jiang Ziya, tapped the table, and said, "Taigong, your Beat God Whip cannot harm me."
"The very Beat God Whip that allows you to command all deities, to make them stand down, that enables you to traverse the world unhindered, where no one dares to provoke you and all gods heed your commandโit is useless against me."
"So tell me, am I a god or a mortal? Have I transcended godhood, or are you simply too weak?"
Jiang Ziya gritted his teeth. "You are indeed exceedingly strong. The Beat God Whip is, after all, a Magical Tool. It is understandable that it cannot harm your formidable physique."
Sha Chen said, "So now you call the Beat God Whip merely a Magical Tool, rather than the key that allows you to command the world, make deities stand down, and act for the Heavenly Dao?"
Jiang Ziya retorted, "Sha Chen, that is mere sophistry! Your ability to withstand the Beat God Whip only proves your immense physical prowess; it does not prove me wrong in the slightest."
Sha Chen stepped forward. "And can you prove that you are right?"
Jiang Ziya was momentarily stunned.
Then, furrowing his brow, he declared, "The Journey to the West cannot be altered. The one fated for it cannot be changed. This is Heavenโs Mandate."
Sha Chen asked, "And how do you prove that?"
Jiang Ziya replied, "It needs no proof."
Sha Chen scoffed, "I never expected the world-renowned Taigong to indulge in such baseless arguments and irrational petulance. Your attitude is more shrewish than your own wife!"
With that, he burst into loud laughter.
Then, he waved his hand dismissively. "Enough, Taigong. I do not welcome unreasonable old fools here. You may leave."
Jiang Ziya stated firmly, "Sha Chen, if you refuse to embark on the Journey to the West, I will not leave. By defying Heavenโs Mandate, you will cause countless lives to be lost, their souls descending to the Netherworld. You are committing a monstrous transgression!"
"Please, for the sake of all beings, for the stability of the world, and for the peace of the Three Realms, embark on the Journey to the West. It is your Heavenโs Mandate, and it will benefit you as well."
Sha Chen looked at him, then lightly patted Jiang Ziyaโs cheek. "Look at you, with your self-righteous air, as if the entire world is wrong and only you are correct."
Jiang Ziya had never endured such humiliation, yet he refused to yield.
He grabbed Sha Chenโs hand and said earnestly, "For the sake of all living beings, for the stability and peace of the Three Realms, I am willing to endure your humiliation again today if I must."
"Sha Chen, I, Jiang Ziya, implore you! For the common folk, for all people, for the myriad beings of the Three Realms, please, undertake the Journey to the West!"
A system notification appeared before Sha Chen:
"The Host has been earnestly requested by the Grand Destiny Carrier Jiang Ziya to undertake the Journey to the West. You have the following options:"
"Option One: Agree to Jiang Ziyaโs request and embark on the Journey to the West. Reward: [Beat God Whip]. (Beat God Whip: An Innate Spirit Treasure capable of striking deities above and immortals below. It possesses infinite power and can also unlock many restricted Magical Tools.)"
"Option Two: Refuse Jiang Ziyaโs request and decline the Journey to the West. Reward: [Mystic Artifact of The Nine Orifices]. (Mystic Artifact of The Nine Orifices: A lamp used by Taoist Ancestor Hongjun for illumination while preaching to all beings. It contains a golden flame known as the Ancient Spirit Flame, which can scrutinize all living creatures. Preaching under its light further clarifies principles. It was later bestowed upon Lord Yuan Shi and was shattered by Tongtian Hierarch during the Great War of Divine Enthronement.)"
Sha Chen smiled faintly. As expected, a choice had appeared. Jiang Ziyaโs plea for him to join the Journey to the West and submit to fate had triggered a system reward task. And the reward was quite generous. To think that a divine artifact like the Mystic Artifact of The Nine Orifices would be offered!
It was rumored that preaching under the Mystic Artifact of The Nine Orifices made principles more transparent and comprehensible. Presumably, cultivating and gaining Dao enlightenment under its light would also be a clearer, more illuminating process.
Furthermore, its ability to scrutinize all living beings under Heaven made it even more useful than the Demon-revealing Mirror. With it, he would no longer need to worry about anyone sneaking into the Flowing Sand River Cave, alleviating many future worries.
