Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 367 - 361: Ruthless Quarrel 【Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets】_1
Sha Chen’s cheeks twitched.
Zhenyuanzi, this old fellow, is the type who won’t shed a tear until he sees the coffin, and won’t release the hawk until he spots the hare.
He simply refused to leave.
So he said, "Didn’t Senior say he was just passing by this place? How is it you have so much time to linger here?"
Zhenyuanzi was also taken aback, not expecting Sha Chen to catch his slip of the tongue.
Then, after a moment of silence, he said, "Although I am passing by, I am not in a hurry. It so happens that I know of you, Fellow Daoist. I even specially sent a Disciple to deliver ginseng fruit and a visiting card, as well as an invitation."
"But it seems you are not very appreciative, Fellow Daoist, refusing both the invitation and the visiting card, and not wanting the ginseng fruit either. Do you think so little of me?"
At this point, he once again took the upper hand.
Moreover, his eyes became sharp.
He planned to use his status and reputation to pressure Sha Chen, letting him know he was very angry and should quickly come out to admit his mistake and make amends.
But Sha Chen countered, "Saint Zhenyuanzi truly misunderstands. I have long admired you and hold you in high esteem. However, I am suffering and enduring hardships here and cannot leave."
"I also do not dare to curry favor with you, Saint Zhenyuanzi, to avoid the slander of clinging to the powerful, and to prevent you from gaining a bad reputation for associating with a demoted general."
Saint Zhenyuanzi said, "I do not care."
Yet Sha Chen replied, "But I care. I do not possess your broad-mindedness, Saint Zhenyuanzi, and cannot withstand the mockery and finger-pointing of others. Therefore, I dare not seek your favor."
Saint Zhenyuanzi said, "If anyone dares to say such things, I will stand up for you."
Then he said, "Well then, I have already sent my visiting card, and it doesn’t matter if you don’t accept it. I have come personally now, so I don’t need any visiting card. Whenever you end your seclusion, that’s when I will enter."
"I have come here to discuss the Dao with you directly, Fellow Daoist. There’s no need to go to Wuzhuang Temple, and you do not need to leave. If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain."
Sha Chen was very troubled. This old fellow is truly persistent.
He actually wanted to stay longer, and having said so much, it was clear he did not intend to leave easily.
Sha Chen frowned and said, "Why must you be so insistent, Saint Zhenyuanzi? Moreover, with your Dao Techniques, I am utterly unqualified to discuss the Dao with you. I ask that you please do not humiliate me any further."
Saint Zhenyuanzi was also troubled. He had not expected Sha Chen to be so slippery and completely disregard him.
Sha Chen wouldn’t comply just because Saint Zhenyuanzi was pressuring him with his status.
This is a man with strong convictions, Zhenyuanzi thought.
He was puzzled too. Could it be that Sha Chen sensed my malicious intentions? That I intend to seize his cave dwelling and opportunities? Otherwise, why wouldn’t he open the door and meet me, no matter what I said?
He knew that Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad had once entered the cave dwelling. Although Sha Chen had resisted, he still welcomed him with open arms. Furthermore, Jiang Ziya, a Disciple of Lord Yuan Shi, had also been inside, and Sha Chen had safely let him out.
How come they could all enter, yet I can’t? Could it be... Does Sha Chen really have some preternatural sense? Does he know I harbor ill intentions, and so he doesn’t want to meet me? But... I feel it’s impossible. Given my strength and status, Sha Chen shouldn’t have been able to detect anything. And Sha Chen isn’t likely to be so suspicious. After all, as the Ancestor of Earthly Immortals, I’ve seen countless treasures. Sha Chen would never think of me as someone who would seize another’s cave dwelling.
But Sha Chen’s actions clearly indicated he was being kept at arm’s length.
Without being able to enter, he could not see the king of the ginseng fruit trees, nor understand the real reason for Sha Chen’s breakthrough.
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad had told him that inside Sha Chen’s place, there was a flat peach tree, many Immortal Elixirs, and Post-Heaven Earth. That was what Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad saw. Later, rumor had it that after Jiang Ziya went inside, he came out saying there were several Innate Spiritual Roots in the Black Tortoise Cave, along with Innate Earth.
All these things were valuable treasures.
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad had not seen them during his visit, implying they were acquired later.
Saint Zhenyuanzi wanted to know how Sha Chen had acquired so many treasures. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
If I could replicate it, or take this opportunity to obtain them, that would be best. At the very least, I must take away the king of the ginseng fruit trees, as well as both the Innate Earth and the Post-Heaven Earth, he mused.
His own cave dwelling had a heaven-and-earth fruit garden planted with ginseng fruit trees on a vast expanse of Post-Heaven Earth. At its center was a square foot of Innate Earth where his ginseng fruit tree grew. Jiang Ziya had mentioned that Sha Chen’s Innate Earth was quite large. Although he didn’t specify the exact size, it was definitely larger than a square foot.
Just for the Innate Earth alone, Saint Zhenyuanzi would not give up. I have to enter.
With a flickering gaze, he continued, "Let’s settle it then, Fellow Daoist. I’ve come here and cannot leave without accomplishing anything. If I can’t see you and discuss the Dao with you, it truly would be a transgression and a great pity."
He was determined not to leave; he *must* enter.
Qing Feng and Mingyue were also shocked. They did not know why Saint Zhenyuanzi was so insistent on meeting Sha Chen. If they didn’t know Saint Zhenyuanzi was a man of integrity, they might have thought Sha Chen was his illegitimate son.
The surrounding Mountain Gods and Earth Gods were also astonished. They dared not approach, but they knew what was happening here. Thus, they were surprised and disbelieving.
"Why does the Ancestor insist on seeing Sha Chen? And why does he insist on entering? What’s the reason for this?"
"Although Sha Chen is remarkable and has some talent, Saint Zhenyuanzi has seen countless prodigies. Why would he care to meet him?"
"What I find most incomprehensible is that Saint Zhenyuanzi insists on discussing the Dao with Sha Chen. Is Sha Chen even worthy?"
Many Mountain Gods and Earth Gods were discussing amongst themselves, whispering to one another. However, they dared not speak openly, feeling that the circumstances were somewhat unbelievable.
「Elsewhere」
At this time, both the Heavenly Court and Buddhism had noticed what was happening here and chose to remain silent. They all had some understanding of Saint Zhenyuanzi’s actions; they knew he was the type who wouldn’t act without a motive. But because Saint Zhenyuanzi was of high seniority and great power, they would not intervene.
Buddhism knew that Saint Zhenyuanzi had good relations with them, and his interaction with Sha Chen was seen as a positive development. If Saint Zhenyuanzi could pressure Sha Chen into joining the great calamity of the Journey to the West, it would be the best outcome.
The Heavenly Court did not pay too much attention because they knew that Saint Zhenyuanzi had already sided with Buddhism. If told that becoming a Buddha could lead to achieving sainthood, he might join Buddhism without hesitation. Moreover, the Heavenly Court also hoped that Sha Chen would join Buddhism, thereby fulfilling their trade agreement with them. Even if Sha Chen could not become the Heavenly Court’s informant within Buddhism, the deal could still be completed, allowing them to derive more benefits from Buddhism. After all, the current Sha Chen was too valuable; if he joined Buddhism, the Heavenly Court’s part in facilitating this would be seen as an immense contribution. This was completely different from merely handing over a random True Immortal as before. Buddhism would have to offer significant benefits in exchange and as a show of gratitude to the Heavenly Court.
If there was anyone in the Heavenly Court who was happy about this, it would probably be Matchmaker.
The Chan Sect had already reached a consensus to help Sha Chen resist Buddhism, ensuring he wouldn’t join them, and instead to foster a good relationship with him. However, Matchmaker had already offended Sha Chen to the point of no return, so it was impossible for him to act on this consensus, let alone allow Sha Chen to join the Chan Sect. If Saint Zhenyuanzi could truly overcome Sha Chen or make him join Buddhism, Matchmaker would wholeheartedly approve.
The Chan Sect was quite displeased. However, with Saint Zhenyuanzi taking personal action, they had no choice but to suppress their dissatisfaction and dared not make any moves.
The Sect of Interpretation was more composed. Only San Xiao, upon hearing the news, set out again from Penglai Island and rushed to the Flowing Sand River. They were sworn siblings with Sha Chen. So, upon hearing that he was being cornered by Saint Zhenyuanzi, they wasted no time and set off immediately to support him. Members of the Sect of Interpretation should have stopped them, as their actions could trigger a conflict between the Sect of Interpretation and Wuzhuang Temple. However, the Sect of Interpretation was united and extremely protective of its own. They would not oppose whatever San Xiao decided to do; in fact, they were very supportive. Golden Spirit Holy Mother even declared that if San Xiao could not win, they should call her to assist.
Tongtian Hierarch made no statement regarding the matter.
「At the Flowing Sand River」
Sha Chen and Saint Zhenyuanzi were at an impasse, neither yielding nor backing down.
One was determined to enter the Flowing Sand River Cave or to wait outside indefinitely, unwilling to leave. The other simply did not want the former to wait, only wishing to persuade the visitor to leave.
Sha Chen felt very troubled.
However, Saint Zhenyuanzi felt even more troubled. Sha Chen could leave him waiting outside, but if he truly waited outside for a long time, it would be too damaging to his dignity. Of course, it was neither feasible nor realistic for him to truly wait outside for Sha Chen for thousands or tens of thousands of years. His threat was merely intended to pressure Sha Chen.
After all, if he really stayed that long, although it would cut off Sha Chen’s external resources, who knew if Sha Chen had resources inside his cave dwelling? If so, then his waiting would have been in vain. Even if not, if Sha Chen continued his seclusion and refused to come out, there would be nothing he could do. Furthermore, continuing to wait would obviously make him a laughingstock to onlookers.
Although he could forsake everything to attain sainthood, he had not yet achieved it. Therefore, outright discarding his dignity was impossible. But since Sha Chen refused to give in, he too was helpless.
Must it really come down to a forceful attack? Zhenyuanzi wondered.
Sha Chen spoke again, "Saint Zhenyuanzi, please return. I truly am not worth your wait."
Saint Zhenyuanzi, thinking he saw an opportunity, immediately turned hostile, bellowing, "Sha Chen, you have gone too far! I have traveled a long distance to discuss the Dao with you. Not only do you look down on me, but you also rejected my ginseng fruit, visiting card, and invitation! You’re trampling on my dignity!"
"Do you think that because I am old, I am feeble and easily bullied?!"
All the immortals present were stunned. They had not expected Saint Zhenyuanzi, who was speaking reasonably just moments before, to suddenly turn hostile, leaving them utterly shocked.
However, Qing Feng and Mingyue were overjoyed. This is our Master! How could Saint Zhenyuanzi humble himself so? We are exalted beings! What is Sha Chen in comparison?
Saint Zhenyuanzi roared, "Sha Chen, your insolence is outrageous! My good intentions have been utterly scorned by you! If you do not come out and apologize today, I shall break into your cave dwelling and teach you some manners, show you what it means to respect the elderly and cherish the young!"
Sha Chen was troubled. This old fellow only knows about respecting the elderly; doesn’t he know anything about cherishing the young?
"The Grand Destiny Carrier, Saint Zhenyuanzi, demands you come out and apologize. You have the following options:" the system announced.
