Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 418 - 412: Is Sha Chen Going to Rebel?【Ask for Subscription Ask for Monthly Ticket】_1

Chapter 418: Chapter 412: Is Sha Chen Going to Rebel?【Ask for Subscription Ask for Monthly Ticket】_1

Li Changgeng stared blankly at Sha Chen, remaining silent for a long while.

Then, his brow furrowed and his face expressionless, he said, "General for Folding the Curtain, have you truly considered this thoroughly and are determined not to change your mind?"

Sha Chen replied, "Indeed."

Li Changgeng said, "I still feel it necessary to advise you once more: the Jade Emperor’s reward can be refused repeatedly—that’s a mark of integrity—but ultimately, you must accept it."

Sha Chen said, "I can refuse it repeatedly, but ultimately, I will not accept it."

Li Changgeng nodded. "So that’s how it is. If you refuse with such an attitude, do you realize that henceforth, you will not only have no goodwill from the Heavenly Court but only its enmity?"

Sha Chen glanced at Li Changgeng and chuckled.

He laughed and said, "Sir Li, does refusing the Heavenly Court’s reward make me an enemy of the Heavenly Court? If that’s the case, then so be it."

Li Changgeng was shocked.

He hadn’t expected Sha Chen to actually take him at his word.

He believed Sha Chen wouldn’t dare. Someone as cautious and careful as Sha Chen, holing up here and refusing to emerge, must surely be terrified of death and clinging to life. Although Sha Chen’s strength had increased, he also had many enemies, some of whom were still stronger than him. The Heavenly Court wasn’t entirely toothless; there were still individuals capable of suppressing Sha Chen. The Heavenly Court’s desire to recruit Sha Chen stemmed purely from their appreciation of his potential, strength, and the secrets he held. It wasn’t as if Sha Chen was irreplaceable. He believed Sha Chen understood this too.

But... Sha Chen understood. And yet... Sha Chen didn’t care. To dare confront the Heavenly Court with such an attitude—this made Li Changgeng realize one thing: Sha Chen’s wings had fully grown!

Indeed. Sha Chen’s wings had fully grown.

Previously, Sha Chen would never have dared to confront the Heavenly Court like this. Even if he were in the right, he would have responded tactfully or simply declined politely.

This time, however, Sha Chen refused bluntly. He even resisted Li Changgeng’s overt and covert threats, making it clear he neither accepted Li Changgeng’s intimidation nor cared for the Heavenly Court’s majesty.

Sha Chen’s attitude could only mean one thing: he had become powerful; his wings had fully grown!

After a long silence, Li Changgeng said, "General for Folding the Curtain, do you realize that by doing this, you are only pushing yourself further and further from the Heavenly Court?"

Sha Chen nodded. "I offered my heart to the bright moon, yet the moon shines on the ditch. If Sir Li perceives it that way, then let it be so."

Li Changgeng was furious. He had never seen Sha Chen so unyielding.

Yet, he also knew Sha Chen had the confidence to be so resolute because his strength and capabilities were now sufficient. Moreover, his safety here was guaranteed. Indeed, there was no need for Sha Chen to cater to their wishes or take the Heavenly Court seriously. As long as Sha Chen remained within the Flowing Sand River, the Heavenly Court truly couldn’t touch him. But that didn’t mean they were completely without options.

Li Changgeng said evenly, "General for Folding the Curtain, I’ve heard you have close ties with the spider demons of The Cave of the Silken Web, the black bear demon of Black Wind Cave, Lady Di Yong of the Bottomless Cave, and Red Boy of Fire Cloud Cave. Even if you don’t strive for your own renown, you should at least establish a foundation for them."

Sha Chen’s brows furrowed as he looked at Li Changgeng, his gaze growing increasingly icy.

Although he knew these connections couldn’t remain hidden forever, he hadn’t expected them to be exposed so quickly. His ties to the spider demons and the black bear demon had been exposed before, but now even Lady Di Yong and Red Boy were known! This was truly beyond his expectations. Moreover, considering his understanding of the Heavenly Court... for Li Changgeng to use such words as a threat, it must be at the Jade Emperor’s behest. And the Jade Emperor certainly wouldn’t reveal all his cards at once. Perhaps the Jade Emperor knew even more of his secrets. It wasn’t just the people Li Changgeng mentioned; Tianpeng, Dragon Girl, White Bone Demon, and others might also be known to the Jade Emperor. Sha Chen himself wasn’t sure exactly how much the Jade Emperor knew.

This was indeed troublesome.

Sha Chen frowned deeply, genuinely worried now.

He wasn’t worried about Tianpeng and the others being killed by the Jade Emperor. If they were killed, so be it; it wouldn’t threaten him directly. But if the Jade Emperor managed to turn them against him, that would be truly problematic. Even if they hadn’t been turned, who knew if the Heavenly Court might use them? They could encounter people or events that subtly altered their loyalties. Or worse, they might be tricked into revealing some secrets of his Flowing Sand River!

In short, things were no longer secure.

Sha Chen felt an urgent need to reinforce the leadership and loyalty among his followers. They could no longer be like a heap of scattered sand, as they had been. He had always allowed his followers a great deal of autonomy, ensuring that if anything went wrong, he wouldn’t be implicated. However, this excessive looseness meant resources weren’t fully centralized, and it created vulnerabilities for others to exploit.

After a moment of silence, Sha Chen said, "I know the people Sir Li mentioned, but what have they to do with me?"

Li Changgeng snorted. "If they have nothing to do with you, then the Heavenly Court hunting them down shouldn’t be a problem, should it?"

Sha Chen looked at him. "Naturally, no problem. But I would advise the Heavenly Court to be cautious. Don’t push people too far. A cornered dog will leap over a wall, and even a desperate rabbit will bite."

Li Changgeng became enraged.

He shouted, "Sha Chen, how audacious! Are you trying to rebel?"

He was livid. Sha Chen’s words were utterly insolent, daring to threaten both him and the Heavenly Court! Was this a death wish? Was he actually planning a rebellion?!

Sha Chen, however, just looked at him and calmly said, "Sir Li, if I were truly rebelling, you would already be dead."

Li Changgeng froze, a chill seeping into his hands and feet.

He felt as if a great mountain pressed down on him, terrifying him to his core, his body threatening to sink into the mire. He was utterly terrified, aghast.

Only then did it fully dawn on him: he was in Sha Chen’s territory, facing a Sha Chen who had become immensely powerful. To accuse Sha Chen of rebellion here was truly courting death. He had no doubt Sha Chen would dare to kill him. Anyone who had doubted it before was already dead. Even the Jade Emperor’s trusted aide, Wang Lingguan, and the exalted Emperor Zhenwu had perished here. He, Li Changgeng, was insignificant in comparison.

Li Changgeng was terrified. For a moment, he was speechless, unsure how to respond.

Sha Chen looked at him and sneered, "Sir Li, you’ve grown old. Go back. As for what you said today, I consider it mere bluster."

Then, his avatar vanished.

Li Changgeng’s face twitched. Sha Chen had utterly trampled his dignity into the dust.

Normally, with his fiery temper, he would have exploded in rage by now.

But now, he didn’t dare show his anger. Instead, he had to be cautious, his body trembling slightly, a cold sweat breaking out. After hesitating for a long while, he finally turned and left.

He truly didn’t want to stay a moment longer. Sha Chen held all the cards now; more words were useless. This was no longer a place he could enter and leave at will, nor one where he could act unscrupulously. Sha Chen was no longer the Great General for Folding the Curtain of old, whom he could easily manipulate. He was now an exalted Quasi-Saint who had slain Emperor Zhenwu himself! His own status as the Great White Planet seemed utterly insignificant in comparison.

Li Changgeng departed, having arrived in high spirits only to leave dejected.

「He returned to the Heavenly Court.」

He reported the incident in full, recounting every word and action of Sha Chen.

Within Lingxiao Palace, the assembled celestials listened to Li Changgeng’s report.

When Li Changgeng finished speaking, a hush fell over Lingxiao Palace.

The celestials were silent for a moment. Then, they erupted in fury. Roars of anger echoed through Yunxiao, their outraged cries shaking the cosmos. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The Jade Emperor’s face was as dark as old, murky clay, thoroughly unsightly. His gaze was like that of a thousand-year-old soft-shelled turtle, cold and dreadful.

Calls to battle rose incessantly. The clamor for retribution hung heavy in the air.

"’Everyone, please wait a moment,’"

However, just then, a calm voice interjected, seemingly at odds with the furious celestials.