Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 371 - 365: Strict on the Outside, Soft on the Inside, Siblings’ Daily Life【Need Subscription and Monthly Tickets】_1
Forty-nine thunder dragons descended.
They struck a single point on the Chaos Chicken Cover, attempting to shatter it.
Sha Chen watched with a grave expression. However, it wasn’t long before he sighed in relief, completely relaxing. The attack was ineffective.
Although the water of the Flowing Sand River outside had been turned into a web of electricity, transforming a thousand-mile radius into scorched earth, it did not affect his cave dwelling; the electric arcs could not penetrate the Chaos Chicken Cover. Therefore, they couldn’t be harmed.
If Zhenyuanzi’s tactic couldn’t break through, then Sha Chen could truly put his heart at ease. Even if Zhenyuanzi used flames next, it wouldn’t work either, because the destructive power of lightning was much stronger than that of flames.
Sha Chen felt a bit envious. If he could use that lightning for his own Refining, it would certainly make his Primeval Chaos Law Body stronger. The Thunderbolt Aperture he’d cultivated would be broader, and the lightning force within it even more potent. His Cultivation of the Primeval Chaos Law Body required opening large apertures, within which elemental forces could be housed. Sha Chen’s lightning power was already strong, but it was far inferior to the lightning power in Zhenyuanzi’s hands. If he could have directly captured one of those thunder dragons for Refining and to temper his physique, it would have made his lightning power even stronger.
It was just a pity he couldn’t do so. Moreover, he didn’t possess the Heavenly Earth Mirror, so he had no way of capturing such a massive and powerful thunder dragon.
Sha Chen inwardly lamented. If Zhenyuanzi knew I was regretting this, he would probably want to devour me.
Since Zhenyuanzi couldn’t break through the Flowing Sand River defenses, he tried intensifying the lightning power next, but it was still futile.
Sha Chen, on the other hand, went to cook, preparing several of his signature dishes. He then opened two jars of wine and began to drink and be merry with the Spider Spirits and Chang E. The Spider Spirits and Chang E had also been nervous, but seeing that Zhenyuanzi could not breach the cave dwelling and that Sha Chen had calmed down, they too relaxed and joined Sha Chen in a hearty drink.
While Zhenyuanzi continued his assault on the Flowing Sand River outside, the interior remained as immovable as a mountain, exceedingly sturdy, without a single issue. In fact, Sha Chen and his companions even pointed and gesticulated at the scene outside, laughing and joking amongst themselves.
Seventh Mother said, "Big Brother, when we get out, I’ll find those immortals and kill them to vent your anger."
The other Spider Spirits nodded in agreement, each naming specific targets; San Niang even had her eyes on the Barefoot Immortal. They discussed how, if they managed to get out, they would seek out these Disciples of Zhenyuanzi and eliminate them.
Sha Chen glanced at them but didn’t intervene. If they’re enemies, it doesn’t matter whether they’re immortals or buddhas; killing them is the solution. It was only because he couldn’t go out; otherwise, he would have killed all those people outside and even had the capability to eliminate Zhenyuanzi as well. After all, they wanted him dead. If he still entertained thoughts of reconciliation, wouldn’t that make him an utter fool?
Sha Chen wasn’t foolish; in fact, he was very cautious. He nodded, permitting the Spider Spirits’ planned action, but still reminded them, "Just don’t go too far. If it proves unfeasible, then run away. After all, they are immortals. If you kill them, you mustn’t expose your identities. Otherwise, The Mysterious Altar Department and Zhenyuanzi will hunt you down, and I won’t be able to help you."
The Spider Spirits all patted their chests reassuringly, saying, "Big Brother, don’t you have confidence in us? If you don’t believe us, feel our hearts; they are definitely steady." They reached out to grab Sha Chen’s hand, urging him to feel their hearts for himself.
Sha Chen’s face twitched.
Chang E also intervened, swatting away the Spider Spirits’ hands, and then said, "Brother, Zhenyuanzi has already shown his true colors with this act. From now on, we must be more careful here, and they need to be even more cautious when moving about outside to avoid implicating you." After saying this, she glared at the Spider Spirits and huffed, "Do you realize there are already rumors outside that you’re with Brother? If Zhenyuanzi decides to use you to threaten Brother, what will you do?"
Without hesitation, the Spider Spirits said, "We would take our own lives; we won’t give him that chance."
Sha Chen was touched. "That’s not necessary," he said.
The Spider Spirits were also moved, thinking Sha Chen was so worried about them that he couldn’t bear the thought of them taking their own lives.
Suicide really isn’t necessary, Sha Chen thought privately. Let Zhenyuanzi use them as a threat if he wants; I simply won’t pay any attention.
Outside, Zhenyuanzi started using fire. Indeed, as Sha Chen had predicted, Zhenyuanzi’s fire was formidable, but it still couldn’t breach the Flowing Sand River Cave. The only effect was that the temperature inside the cave dwelling rose slightly, and that was all.
But then, Seventh Mother suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my, it’s so hot! I want to cool down a bit." Then, she began to shed her Luoshang, casually tossing it to the ground, and started drinking shirtless like a man. The other Spider Spirits followed suit, and when the mood struck them, they began to dance.
Sha Chen looked on, his face twitching. These women are at it again.
When Chang E saw this, she felt a surge of crisis. She approached Sha Chen and said, "Brother, these sisters of yours are truly behaving indecently, so shameless it’s unbearable to watch. Why don’t we go somewhere to avoid this?"
Sha Chen thought her suggestion made sense. But where could they hide here?
Chang E said, "How about we go back to your room? Then we won’t have to see them."
Sha Chen regarded Chang E with a questioning look. "What are you trying to do?"
Chang E blushed, lowered her head, and shyly nodded. "Mhm."
Mhm? Sha Chen was baffled. What the hell is that ’mhm’ supposed to mean!?
Afterward, Chang E whispered something in Sha Chen’s ear.
Sha Chen pushed her away. "That fawning puppy act of yours is useless! I knew you were just after my body, you hussy!" His cheek twitched. And you have the nerve to call the Spider Spirits shameless? You’re all cut from the same cloth!
Chang E looked at him with a reproachful gaze. "Brother, I’ve given you my true heart. Can’t you feel it?"
Sha Chen said, "Enough nonsense. We are like brother and sister; this is inappropriate. It’s truly a sin."
Chang E replied, "But we aren’t blood siblings. Besides, you know how to shoot the suns."
Sha Chen said, "What does my shooting the suns have to do with you?"
Chang E said, "There are no suns right now, so let’s try a different method."
Sha Chen quipped, "Shoot the moon?"
Chang E replied, "Perhaps another day."
Sha Chen remained silent. He felt that on his path of Cultivation, the greatest enemy might not be Zhenyuanzi out there, nor those malevolent spirits. Rather, it was these female demons and immortal ladies. The trial they posed to his Dao heart was immense!!
Sha Chen was silent for a long time. Chang E and the Spider Spirits, thinking he was angry, finally became much more subdued.
Meanwhile, Zhenyuanzi had been scorching the Flowing Sand River with heavenly fire for nearly half an hour, but still to no effect. It had only managed to evaporate a good amount of the Flowing Sand River. The sky above was filled with dense dark clouds, lightning snaking through them, and flames reaching for the heavens. Below, the ground was a sea of fire. Living creatures thousands of miles away could feel the sweltering heat.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH.
Above the dark clouds, immortals parted the clouds and descended, though none dared to approach too closely. They shone with a brilliant golden light. Looking closely, they turned out to be the numerous celestial soldiers and generals guarding the Ninth Heaven Southern Heaven Gate, including the Mighty Miracle God, Generals Heng and Ha, Thousand-mile Eye, Downwind Ear, and the Four Great Sky Kings. The one leading them was none other than the Pagoda-carrying Heavenly King Li Jing, with his son Nezha by his side. Additionally, the Twenty-Eight Constellations were present, and Kui Mulang was surprisingly among them. At this moment, Kui Mulang, seeing the sea of fire below, had a flickering gaze, his thoughts unreadable.
Li Jing said, "Saint Zhenyuanzi, your heavenly fire is causing immense suffering to countless living beings. His Majesty the Jade Emperor has issued a decree, asking you to withdraw your rage and show a merciful heart for the sake of all beings in the world."
Clearly, the Jade Emperor was furious. However, those who came to deliver the decree dared not speak plainly, instead conveying the Jade Emperor’s intentions euphemistically. They were preserving Zhenyuanzi’s dignity, hoping Zhenyuanzi would stop.
Zhenyuanzi furrowed his brow, halted his actions, and looked up at the numerous celestial soldiers and generals in the sky, then at the countless dirt-covered Mountain Gods and Earth Gods on the ground. He then looked back at the cave dwelling; it remained indestructible, impossible to breach. His Heavenly Earth Mirror had already been exerted to its full strength; neither heavenly lightning nor heavenly fire could break through the Flowing Sand River Cave. Further attempts seemed pointless.
As for the Spatial Divine Skill that Sha Chen worried about, if it had been possible, Zhenyuanzi would have already used it. In reality, he could not. It wasn’t that the Heavenly Earth Mirror lacked spatial capabilities—it inherently possessed them, allowing Zhenyuanzi to directly pass through the Heavenly Earth Mirror to reach his desired destinations. This was also how Zhenyuanzi, upon learning Sha Chen had opened his cave dwelling, was able to arrive in the shortest possible time. What would have normally taken about seven and a half minutes to arrive, he managed in merely the span of two breaths, drastically shortening both time and distance.
However, as formidable as the Heavenly Earth Mirror was, the Chaos Chicken Cover was even more so. In ancient times, even powerful gods and demons with great spatial abilities could not breach its defenses; one can only imagine its terrifying nature. Zhenyuanzi was even less capable of breaching it.
Zhenyuanzi realized that his efforts were futile and wanted to stop. But having already taken action without achieving full success, a sudden withdrawal would only make him a laughingstock. Therefore, he was waiting for a graceful way out. Ideally, Sha Chen would beg for mercy; even if it was through the barrier of the cave dwelling, Zhenyuanzi could use it as an opportunity to withdraw.
But Sha Chen showed no sign of response. He could even see, through the Heavenly Earth Mirror, Sha Chen feasting and reveling inside the cave dwelling. Indeed, he saw Sha Chen making merry with the Spider Spirits and Chang E. Though he seethed with resentment, he was helpless. He knew about the relationships between the Spider Spirits, Chang E, and Sha Chen, but there was nothing he could do about it, at least not right now.
Using them as a threat would be a joke. He and Sha Chen had already effectively torn away all pretense; only the thinnest veil remained. Whatever he did or said would be seen by outsiders as mere retaliation against Sha Chen; no one would believe otherwise. Moreover, the relationship between the Spider Spirits and Sha Chen was an open secret, tacitly understood by all. If he wanted revenge, he would have to target the Spider Spirits later. But he could see that someone like Sha Chen wouldn’t be swayed by his threats involving the Spider Spirits. It would only deepen the enmity between him and Sha Chen.
Concerning Chang E, he had no good solution either. After all, she was the widow of a Great Witch of the ancient Witch Clan, now the mistress of Guanghan Palace in the Heavenly Court, with many female immortals under her command. Most importantly, Chang E was a named Disciple of the Queen of the West of Kunlun Mountain. He couldn’t easily make a move against her.
Zhenyuanzi felt he had never been so stifled and helpless. He was waiting for a way out, but none appeared, and now the Jade Emperor had sent people to tell him to stop. This made it even more difficult for him to step down gracefully.
