Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 416 - 410: The Heavenly Court Awards the Divine Might Heavenly Monarch [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Chapter 416: Chapter 410: The Heavenly Court Awards the Divine Might Heavenly Monarch [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Li Changgeng was on the verge of tears. Sha Chen’s claims were utterly preposterous! To think he’d actually say he himself was of low status and his words carried no weight, that his dignity had been trampled, and he had been bullied!

Who was bullying whom, exactly!?

Originally, a million Heavenly soldiers and generals arrived, along with powerful figures like Emperor Zhenwu and Wang Lingguan. In the end, you single-handedly defeated them all. And that didn’t even include the Buddhist faction, yet the Heavenly Court’s losses were already extremely heavy.

And yet you still say you were bullied, your dignity trampled?

So then...

Where did that leave the Heavenly Court?

Li Changgeng really wanted to argue, but he also knew that it was pointless to say so much to Sha Chen. Therefore, he decided to change the subject.

He went straight to the point and said, "General for Folding the Curtain, regarding the past events, His Majesty has already investigated and cleared your name, as well as exonerated the Jinghe Dragon King. It was all Dou Rong’s own doing. Let’s put this matter to rest."

Sha Chen, however, was unrelenting. "Let it go? The grievances I suffered, just let them go like that?"

Li Changgeng felt a headache coming on. "General for Folding the Curtain, it seems that the Heavenly Court has suffered a greater injustice, hasn’t it?"

Sha Chen snorted, "So, you mean to say that the Heavenly Court wronged me but now feels aggrieved? How can you spout such nonsense, turning black into white and wrong into right?"

Li Changgeng frowned. As he looked at Sha Chen’s ethereal figure, anger gradually welled up inside him. Even though he was already no match for Sha Chen, and his instincts told him to exercise restraint. Yet, he felt Sha Chen was trampling on his dignity, challenging his patience.

Li Changgeng took a deep breath and said, "General for Folding the Curtain, the Heavenly Court suffered severe casualties precisely because you refused to cooperate."

Sha Chen laughed mockingly, "So, are you saying that back then I should have cooperated with the Heavenly Court, opened my cave residence’s doors, and let your men do as they pleased, or even let you beat and capture me!?"

Li Changgeng said, "Why speak so unpleasantly? It was a misunderstanding. Once you proved you had nothing to do with the Jinghe Dragon King, wasn’t the misunderstanding cleared?"

Sha Chen sneered, "I told you, but did you believe me? Did I have to open the gates of my cave residence and let you search every corner to prove it?"

"And then, would you claim that I’ve hidden the Jinghe Dragon King within my body and need to cut open every piece of my flesh to check!?"

Li Changgeng was infuriated by Sha Chen’s words; this was simply preposterous.

However, before he could get angry, Sha Chen’s gaze had already turned icy and menacing.

Scared, Li Changgeng felt a jolt in his heart and suddenly realized, thinking, I’ve lost my temper again. If I continue to argue with him, his temper will flare up and he’ll surely find an excuse to kill me.

He has already slain Wang Lingguan and Emperor Zhenwu, becoming lawless. If he kills me too, he won’t care in the least.

Li Changgeng was startled, his scalp tingling as if thorns were pressed against his back. He hurriedly reined in his temper and quickly said, "General for Folding the Curtain, this matter has been concluded. The Heavenly Court was indeed wrong in the first place. However, since you’ve killed so many from the Heavenly Court, this matter can be considered settled—perhaps even with the Heavenly Court having suffered the greater loss."

Sha Chen said, "They wanted to lay hands on me; killing them was self-defense. It’s a matter of universal justice. Sir Li, if you won’t be reasonable, and neither will the Heavenly Court, then don’t bother to announce your decree."

Only then did Li Changgeng remember that he had come with a decree. Upon hearing this, he hastily said, "No, no, no, General for Folding the Curtain, you’re right. The Heavenly Court indeed made a mistake. I am here on behalf of the Heavenly Court to offer you an apology and ask for your forbearance."

"If you have any other grievances, you can go to Heaven and speak directly with His Majesty."

Sha Chen sneered, "The Heavenly Court is numerous and powerful, filled with experts. A small fry like me, having been wronged, where would I find the courage to go to Heaven? Wouldn’t I just be afraid of being killed by you all?"

Li Changgeng was so angry he almost spat blood.

You still consider yourself a small fry? You’re still afraid of being killed!?

He suppressed the rage in his heart and forcefully read the decree, "General for Folding the Curtain, His Majesty has issued this decree precisely because of this matter, hoping to resolve the hostilities between you and the Heavenly Court."

"By His Majesty’s decree, you were wronged in the matter of the Jinghe Dragon King. Furthermore, His Majesty feels the matter of you breaking the Liuli Lamp was trivial and his punishment was too severe. Effective immediately, your confinement is lifted, and you are restored to your original post."

He smiled, seemingly delighted for Sha Chen, and added, "Moreover, His Majesty is prepared to promote you, appointing you as the Taoist Master Shenwei of the Heavenly Court. From now on, you will be His Majesty’s closest confidant, commanding all of His Majesty’s personal guards in the Heavenly Court, holding a position of great power and authority!"

Li Changgeng cupped his hands and smiled, "General for Folding the Curtain, this is indeed wonderful news! Congratulations! Would I be able to drop by the Flowing Sand River for a celebratory drink?"

He believed that the Jade Emperor’s reward was indeed generous and full of sincerity; Sha Chen had no reason to refuse. Moreover, he had an even better part of the decree yet to announce.

But Sha Chen remained unmoved, responding indifferently, "Is there anything else? If not, you may go."

Li Changgeng, taken aback, smiled and said, "General for Folding the Curtain, you’re really astute. Indeed, there is more. His Majesty the Jade Emperor has also specially bestowed upon you a title, appointing you as the True Lord Shenwei, ranking above the Sky King."

The title of True Lord is equivalent to Great Saint in the Demon World, meaning Sha Chen was receiving a title comparable to The Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

However, when compared to The Great Sage Equal to Heaven, True Lord Shenwei seemed a bit petty.

True Lord Shenwei and Erlang Zhenjun are both considered Saints of Heaven. They don’t control actual power. It’s merely a title.

After finishing, Li Changgeng laughed heartily. "General for Folding the Curtain—no, no, True Lord Shenwei, congratulations! Now that you have been ennobled as True Lord Shenwei, from this moment on, you will hold great power and high status. Even I will have to greet you with a bow."

But Sha Chen’s expression was calm, completely unmoved. In fact, his heart was somewhat shaken.

Sha Chen inwardly snorted, utterly disdainful. The Jade Emperor really is willing to go all out, but these are all empty titles. I’m not like Sun Wukong; these sugar-coated bullets are useless against me. Let alone True Lord Shenwei, even if I were offered the position of Heavenly Emperor, I wouldn’t care. If one lacks the strength, one shouldn’t covet such a position. I know the Jade Emperor is being so generous entirely because he’s eyeing my strength and the secrets he presumes I hold! Ill intentions—this is all just sugar-coated artillery. His resolve was unbreakable; he had already made his calculations.

Seeing Sha Chen remain silent, Li Changgeng assumed he was overjoyed and thus reminded him with a smile, "General for Folding the Curtain, please accept the decree quickly. Once you do, from this moment, you will be free, regaining both your freedom and reputation. Then you may ascend to Heaven to serve as the Taoist Master Shenwei and True Lord Shenwei, wielding power and enjoying high status."

「Notice from the Host: You have been rewarded by the Heavenly Court. You have the following options.」