Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 433 - 427: Pointing the Way Forward [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Chapter 433: Chapter 427: Pointing the Way Forward [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

All three were willing to put aside their hatred. Sha Chen was very satisfied. Actually, he also knew that the matter of Ao Bing had long since passed. Ao Lie and his sister had previously encountered Nezha but had said little, let alone brought up the incident, because they were no match for him. Now that their strength had increased and Nezha was right before them, they saw an opportunity for revenge and naturally chose to strike. Their attack was earth-shattering, launched with all their might. After Sha Chen stopped them, they had already calmed down, realizing that taking revenge was impossible. Then, with Sha Chen’s persuasion, they naturally took the offered way out.

The Three Holy Mother was relieved to see them all stop, as she did not wish to see the two sides fight. It was a case of foes becoming friends through conflict, so Sha Chen decided to prepare a meal to entertain them.

After the meal was prepared, everyone took their seats. Ao Lie and Dragon Girl were still somewhat reserved. They offered endless compliments to Sha Chen, but when they saw Nezha, they would avert their eyes. Nezha acted similarly. The Three Holy Mother, caught in the middle, also looked uncomfortable, feeling very awkward and unsure of what to do.

After several rounds of wine and courses had been served, Sha Chen looked directly at them and said, "I don’t care whether your grudges have been completely resolved or not. But remember, from now on, you must serve me wholeheartedly."

The three of them immediately looked embarrassed.

Sha Chen continued, "Another thing: your strength has improved and met my current expectations, so you are free to leave now."

"The world outside is vast; you can go out and make your own way. Besides, my resources are dwindling, and I need you to go out and gather more for me."

The three of them were suddenly anxious.

Ao Lie hurriedly said, "Brother, are you sending us away because of what happened with us?"

"If so, we are willing to completely let go of our grudges. Just please don’t be angry anymore, and don’t send us away."

Dragon Girl also pulled on Sha Chen’s hand and said, "Yes, General Brother, please! Don’t be angry. I was wrong. I don’t blame Nezha anymore. Actually, my third brother and I weren’t even that close; he used to look down on me and bully me when we were young."

Sha Chen shook his head. "This has nothing to do with that. I already told you before: if you refused to leave, I would have to engage you in real combat."

At the thought of "real combat," Ao Lie and Dragon Girl shuddered. During their previous combat training with Sha Chen, he had been utterly merciless, his attacks brutal. They had been beaten black and blue. It was a humiliating and painful experience. This filled them with fear, and they naturally didn’t dare to stay.

Nezha also trembled, but his situation was different from Ao Lie and Dragon Girl’s. He was dependent on Sha Chen and felt himself to be of a lower standing. Therefore, if Sha Chen truly wanted him to leave, he lacked any standing to plead or bargain; he could only comply with the arrangements. Moreover, he had to obey Sha Chen’s commands, doing whatever was asked of him. He had prepared himself for this even before seeking refuge with Sha Chen. Before coming here, his master, Immortal Taiyi, had instructed him to obey all of Sha Chen’s orders without fail. Although Sha Chen had not taken him as a disciple, Nezha knew he must treat Sha Chen with the respect due to a master. He naturally took this to heart.

Sha Chen looked at them, his expression indifferent. "Your cultivation is sufficient, and your strength is adequate. Staying here now, aside from arduous cultivation, offers no other path for you."

"Moreover, your paths differ from mine. I obtain opportunities through cultivation and seek advancement during secluded cultivation. But for you, if you cultivate in seclusion, you’ll only stagnate."

Although his words seemed disdainful, he was not wrong. He had a system that allowed him to make choices and gain benefits after cultivating to a certain realm in seclusion, and he could even continue to grow stronger this way. However, Nezha and the others were different. If they emulated his secluded cultivation, they would only hold themselves back. Moreover, without resources, it was impossible for them to advance so rapidly. Sha Chen could provide them with some resources, but the ones that could truly enhance their strength and cultivation base were those they had secretly hoarded themselves.

Their hidden stashes of resources were long gone. They had only managed to reach the peak of Daluo Golden Immortal by pilfering some of Sha Chen’s Elixirs from his garden. Sha Chen was furious about this. However, he really couldn’t do anything to them. After all, he couldn’t truly allow them to remain stuck at this realm, unable to break through for a long time. Allowing them to pilfer some Elixirs and use the opportunity to break through made them feel even more indebted, and thus more subservient to him.

Nezha said, "This disciple will obey all the River Lord’s commands. I just don’t know where I should go once I leave the Flowing Sand River."

Sha Chen looked at him. "Your strength is already formidable. You’re being hunted by both the Heavenly Court and the Nether World, and the Chan Sect can no longer shelter you. You could try your luck in the Demon Realm."

The Demon Realm!? Nezha frowned. "What can be done in the Demon Realm?" he asked.

Sha Chen replied, "Many things, depending on what you’re capable of. Just remember one thing: you are going there to gain experience and strive to enter the Quasi-Saint Realm as soon as possible. In the meantime, you need to collect enough resources for me."

He added matter-of-factly, "I am in secluded cultivation here, and apart from those Elixirs in the garden, I’ve gained nothing else. And you’ve pilfered a good deal of the Elixirs from the garden. The days ahead will be even more difficult."

Nezha’s face instantly turned red with embarrassment, and he bowed his head. He was the first one to set his sights on the Elixirs in Sha Chen’s garden. After bringing resources to Sha Chen, he had handed them all over, keeping hardly anything for himself. He had also used up all the resources Sha Chen had given him. As he was about to break through and Sha Chen was in seclusion, he had no choice but to resort to theft, already prepared to face the consequences from Sha Chen after his breakthrough. But who would have thought Sha Chen would gloss over it so lightly? Although Sha Chen had mentioned it, Nezha could feel that Sha Chen didn’t truly care. Therefore, he felt deeply moved.

Sha Chen actually did care, a lot. But what could he do? He couldn’t exactly light Nezha up like a celestial lantern, could he? So, all he could do was make Nezha feel more guilty, prompting him to work even harder at collecting resources without slacking off!

Ao Lie and Dragon Girl also bowed their heads, equally guilt-ridden. They too had stolen some, and had even plucked a few first-class Immortal Elixirs. They felt very guilty and self-reproachful. After all, it had been a long time since they brought resources, yet Sha Chen had shared some with them and guided their cultivation. His guidance in their cultivation alone was worth more than the resources they had brought; in fact, they had profited immensely. They had also hidden some for themselves, which already made them feel guilty. Now that they had also stolen some of Sha Chen’s resources, they naturally felt even more remorseful and ashamed. Sha Chen did not punish them and even brushed it off lightly, which only deepened their guilt.

This guilt was precisely what Sha Chen wanted. Damn it, spending decades, if not centuries, out there collecting resources. The larder at home is bare, and still they don’t return. If they don’t feel guilty, how will they work harder? How will they return sooner!? Sha Chen was also considering whether he should set up some Formations in the garden next time to prevent such ’inside jobs.’ As the saying goes, one can guard against dangers day and night, but it’s hard to guard against a thief within one’s own household.

THUD, THUD, THUD.

Nezha knelt directly on the ground and kowtowed to Sha Chen, repeatedly promising that he would do his utmost to bring back ample resources.

Sha Chen then said, "Oh, and one more thing. Red Boy, Black Bear Spirit, Tianpeng, as well as White Bone Demon and Spider Spirit, are all my people. If you encounter them and they are in danger, help them if you can."

Sha Chen decided to inform them about his followers. After all, their strength had reached a level where they were bound to meet sooner or later. It would be disastrous if they ended up fighting to the death over some trivial matter.