Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 363 - 357 Sweet Dew Jade Liquid【Seeking Subscription for Monthly Tickets】_1
Qing Feng and Mingyue were disputing; neither wanted to go knock on the door.
Mingyue said, "Senior Brother, you should go. I really can’t afford to lose face over this."
I don’t know what Master was thinking, he grumbled inwardly, actually asking us to bring a ginseng fruit for a mere demoted general, even sending a formal invitation, and choosing a date for Master to personally pay a visit.
He shook his head, truly unable to comprehend.
Qing Feng said, "Stop the nonsense. Just do as Master arranged."
"The person is already here; even if we try to avoid it now, it’s too late. Hurry up and go. If you don’t call the person out, just wait and see how I’ll deal with you when we get back."
Mingyue immediately glared, but Qing Feng didn’t back down, staring right back, ready to strike.
Mingyue felt he had no other choice. It couldn’t be helped; he was, after all, Master’s youngest disciple. Qing Feng had entered the sect at the same time as him, but having pledged his apprenticeship earlier, Qing Feng was his Senior Brother. Not listening to his Senior Brother would mean a beating, and it would be a beating for nothing.
Mingyue frowned and looked around, relieved to see that no one else was present. Then, he wrapped himself in divine light and blew gently downwards, attempting to part the Flowing Sand River in two.
But his usually infallible divine power failed him this time. He could not part the Flowing Sand River; all he created was a whirlpool, which proved useless.
Mingyue felt he was losing face. With a tight expression, he said, "I didn’t expect this Flowing Sand River to have some substance to it, heavy as mysterious iron, solid as hardened sand—I actually couldn’t blow it apart."
He then waved his hand and cast out a flash of divine light, trying to cleave the Flowing Sand River apart. This time, he succeeded. With a wave of his hand, the Flowing Sand River was split asunder, but before he could revel in his triumph, the river restored itself to its original state.
Mingyue grew angry. "Merely the Flowing Sand River, and yet it is so troublesome! It must be that Sha Chen causing mischief."
Then, he immediately performed the water avoidance art and descended to the bottom of the Flowing Sand River, only to find that once inside, his body began to feel uncontrollable. Fortunately, with his profound mana, he could expend some of his Primordial Spirit to maintain control and avoid losing composure.
Yet, I am somewhat shocked inwardly, he thought. In such a place, where even gods and ghosts would struggle, that Sha Chen cultivates—unimaginable, inconceivable.
For the first time, Mingyue took Sha Chen seriously. This person has some ability, he acknowledged. He had heard of Sha Chen’s name before, but only in passing; he knew nothing of Sha Chen’s actual strength or other details. As the youngest disciple of the lofty Ancestor of Earth Immortals, doted upon by countless beings, he was used to looking down on others from his high station. How could I spare any attention for a mere demoted general of the Flowing Sand River? Besides, I’ve only recently come out of seclusion. Before that, I was focused on my cultivation. So many major events have occurred over the years that I haven’t even had time to catch up on, let alone concern myself with a mere Sha Chen! Now, I have a slight understanding. This Sha Chen is probably not simple.
Mingyue dove deep and arrived at the bottom of the Flowing Sand River, only to see a cave dwelling like an ancient behemoth lying in wait in the depths. His gaze focused, and he felt a surge of shock.
Such a cave dwelling... truly a paradise! A single glance is enough to extinguish any desire to attack. It’s simply too terrifying. I fear that even if Senior Brother and I were to join forces, we would struggle to breach such a cave dwelling, Mingyue pondered silently, then approached the entrance of the cave.
He called out, "I am Daoist Mingyue, a junior disciple of Saint Zhenyuanzi from Wuzhuang Temple. I have come today under orders to request an audience. I beseech the Master of the Flowing Sand River, Sha Chen, to grant this."
He shouted, but Sha Chen made no response whatsoever.
In fact, Sha Chen was right at the entrance of the cave dwelling watching him, his brows furrowed. Not just Sha Chen, but Chang E and the spider spirits were all watching. The spider spirits were rubbing Sha Chen’s feet, massaging his shoulders, and feeding him grapes. Chang E was pouring wine for Sha Chen, bringing it to his lips for him to drink. Sha Chen looked like a depraved landlord, reveling in the servitude of his dependents.
Ordinarily, an ascetic figure like Sha Chen would not have indulged in such decadence. However, seeing that they were about to leave again, and they were crying and begging to take care of him for a while—threatening to smash their heads against his bedside if he refused—Sha Chen, utterly helpless, had no choice but to play the part of a depraved member of the landlord class for once.
And I must say, Seventh Mother, serving as a backrest, is truly soft. Not to mention, the buns on the tray feel quite nice in hand—and they’re really large. Those grapes, a tribute from the Western Regions, are also plentiful and so juicy.
Sha Chen savored the lavish service, watching Daoist Mingyue outside the east gate with them.
Chang E said, "Big Brother, I also know of Qing Feng and Mingyue. They are the two youngest disciples of Saint Zhenyuanzi. Though they are several thousand years old, their cultivation is quite remarkable. I estimate they both possess peak Greater Primordial Golden Immortal cultivation."
Sha Chen chuckled. "Mere peak Greater Primordial Golden Immortals. Anyone who follows me, even a pig, would have become a Daluo Golden Immortal by now."
Seventh Mother patted Sha Chen’s shoulder and said coquettishly, "Big Brother, what are you saying? Are you calling us pigs?"
Sha Chen laughed. "How could you be pigs? You are spiders, of course."
The spider spirits all giggled.
Chang E rolled her eyes. She really couldn’t see what was so amusing about that remark. To her ears, it still sounded as if Sha Chen was calling them ’just pigs’.
Sha Chen said, "They do have decent talent, better than all of you had before. That’s also why Zhenyuanzi took them as disciples. If their talent were inferior, why would Zhenyuanzi waste his time cultivating them?"
Chang E and the others nodded. Although they were now Daluo Golden Immortals, they had achieved it thanks to several transformations and support from Sha Chen. Our previous talent was truly very ordinary. In any case, compared to disciples of the Ancestor of Earth Immortals like them, we truly can’t compare.
Mingyue had been calling out for a long time outside, but Sha Chen had not responded at all.
He was furious. Then, using his divine power, he tried to attack the cave’s entrance, but his attack was repelled by the door itself. His water avoidance art was broken, and the Flowing Sand River pressed in, nearly drowning him.
Frightened, he hastened to form another seal with his hands and soared into the sky.
Upon meeting Qing Feng, he recounted the dangers of the Flowing Sand River and slandered Sha Chen.
"Senior Brother, that Sha Chen is truly treacherous and rude! I called out below for ages, and he completely ignored me. When I went to knock on the gate, he actually had the cave dwelling’s gate break my defenses and nearly drowned me!"
At this point, he could no longer contain his anger. Then he said, "Senior Brother, why don’t we join forces to drain the Flowing Sand River dry and then summon our fellow martial brothers to break open the Flowing Sand River Cave? No matter how powerful Sha Chen is, or how sturdy his cave dwelling, can they truly withstand the divine powers of all our martial brothers?"
Qing Feng rolled his eyes. If it were that simple, would Master Zhenyuanzi have bothered sending us to deliver a ginseng fruit? He probably would have just stormed in directly himself.
However, if what Mingyue said was true—that Sha Chen was indeed inside the cave, had broken Mingyue’s water avoidance art, and nearly drowned him with the Flowing Sand River—then... That would be unforgivable.
Although Saint Zhenyuanzi had sent them to deliver a gift, and had even deigned to send a formal invitation, that didn’t mean they had to let Sha Chen bully and humiliate them.
The reputation of the disciples of the Ancestor of Earth Immortals cannot be sullied! Though we aren’t disciples of Saints, we are practically no different. This is because Saint Zhenyuanzi’s status was simply too high; he had associated with those Saints as an equal even before they achieved sainthood. He even addressed Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, an External Incarnation of a Saint, as a brother and maintained frequent contact. What qualifications does a mere demoted general of the Flowing Sand River like Sha Chen have to humiliate or slight us? So unappreciative of goodwill! We must let Sha Chen know how formidable we are, and that Wuzhuang Temple is not to be trifled with!
Qing Feng frowned slightly and said, "Junior Brother, you make some sense. Although we were sent on a mission, we can’t let others shame us like this."
"However, we’ll observe courtesy before resorting to force. We will directly state our purpose. If Sha Chen still insults us, then we won’t be polite with him any longer. We’ll summon our senior martial brothers and flatten the Flowing Sand River!"
Mingyue’s eyes shone with excitement, and he nodded fervently. Then he said, "To be honest, I’m really reluctant to give him this ginseng fruit."
Qing Feng chuckled. "We have followed Master for so long, and neither of us has ever tasted a ginseng fruit. Giving it to this outsider makes me, your Senior Brother, quite jealous. But it can’t be helped, Master is just too kind-hearted. Since Master wishes to give it, then let’s give it. However, if he doesn’t want it, then he can’t blame us."
They exchanged a look and both chuckled.
Subsequently, they recited the water avoidance art together and descended to the entrance of the Flowing Sand River Cave. Positioning themselves one to the left and the other to the right of the entrance, they then proclaimed loudly, "We are Qing Feng and Mingyue, disciples of Saint Zhenyuanzi from Wuzhuang Temple, here to seek an audience with Sha Chen, the Master of the Flowing Sand River."
After calling out three times, they waited for Sha Chen’s response.
「Inside the Flowing Sand River Cave.」
Sha Chen was still enjoying the service of Chang E and the others, but at this moment, he sat up straight.
"Detected that the Host is being sought by the minor destiny-favored individuals, the disciple brothers Qing Feng and Mingyue. You have the following choices."
"Choice One: Agree to their request for an audience and meet them. Reward: One pool of [Ganlin Jade Liquid]. Sweet Dew Jade Liquid: Among the many divine waters between Heaven and Earth, Sweet Dew Jade Liquid can revive the dead, regrow flesh on bones, and bring all beings and things back to life. Guanyin’s Vase of Mutton-Fat Jade contains a pool of Sweet Dew Jade Liquid."
"Choice Two: Refuse to meet them and ignore them completely. Reward: [Ginseng Fruit Tree]. Ginseng Fruit Tree: An Innate Spiritual Root. The tree bears ginseng fruits, which can prolong life, increase cultivation and talent, and alter one’s innate potential."
Upon seeing the choices, Sha Chen was completely stunned.
I originally didn’t want to meet Qing Feng and Mingyue. I’d rather let them waste their efforts, hit a wall, and go back. Nor am I worried that they’ll call their martial brothers and be able to affect me in any way. Even Zhenyuanzi can’t breach my cave dwelling; what damn use could his disciples be? But the reward for refusing is a Ginseng Fruit Tree. Since I already have one, this reward isn’t very useful. After all, eating ginseng fruit provides little help to me at this stage. However, Sweet Dew Jade Liquid is an incredibly precious divine water, something one can only hope to encounter by chance. This is divine water capable of reviving the dead and regrowing flesh on white bones! It’s divine water that can also rejuvenate all things and increase boundless life force! I reckon this option was suddenly activated because Qing Feng and Mingyue are connected to that calamity at Wuzhuang Temple. That’s why this choice suddenly appeared. I really didn’t want to see them, but alas, the reward is too generous.
Sha Chen decided to grant an audience.
However, naturally, I won’t be dragging them into the cave dwelling to meet. Instead, I’ll go out and meet them in the river, complete the objective, and then we’ll see. I’m not afraid that Qing Feng and Mingyue can defeat me.
