Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 437 - 431: Elixir [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Kassapa and Ananda came again. This time, they were even more respectful and polite than before. They displayed respectful attitudes and smiling faces, remaining extremely courteous as they waited quietly at the entrance of the cave.

Inside the cave, Sha Chen put down the Six-Eared Macaque. The macaque, still terror-stricken, dared not look around and remained prostrate on the ground. He wanted to beg for mercy, but Sha Chen said indifferently, "Don’t speak." Although he did not know what had happened, he did not dare to make a sound and just lay trembling on the ground.

Sha Chen is too strong. The moment Sha Chen had reached out to grab him, the monkey felt a sense of despair, as if he was constantly facing it. There is simply no way to resist.

Sha Chen just looked at Kassapa and Ananda outside the door but did not respond.

Outside, Kassapa and Ananda once again requested an audience. "Master of the River," they said, "we know you are aware of our arrival. Though we cannot fathom the situation at the Flowing Sand River, the gates of the Flowing Sand River Cave opened for a moment, so we specifically came to see you."

Sha Chen furrowed his brows. They’ve actually been surveilling the Flowing Sand River all along. This is something I hadn’t noticed. Even though he had already been quite careful, he still had not noticed that Kassapa and Ananda were monitoring him nearby. Even if Kassapa and Ananda did not know the specific situation of the Flowing Sand River Cave, the fact they could arrive in such a short amount of time had somewhat taken Sha Chen by surprise. If their strength had been a bit greater, arriving even faster, Sha Chen presumed he wouldn’t have had time to close the door.

They must possess something I am unaware of—either a Magical Tool or a special Great Divine Power. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to remain unnoticed by Sha Chen; he had only detected the danger and become aware of their arrival at the very last moment. Sha Chen was certain that they had not been within tens of thousands of miles of the Flowing Sand River; otherwise, no matter how well they hid, they could not have escaped his notice. After all, they were too powerful; even if Sha Chen intentionally wanted to ignore them, it would have been impossible. This meant that they were likely monitoring the area and, upon noticing something amiss, had quickly made their way here.

So fast! Could it be they traversed through space? Sha Chen’s eyes flickered, his gaze growing profound. He too possessed spatial abilities, which he had already moderately developed. With the Illusion-Breaking Divine Eye combined with his understanding of space, Sha Chen carefully probed the spatial fluctuations around the Flowing Sand River.

An hour later, he indeed discovered an abnormality. In a cave thousands of miles away from the Flowing Sand River, he found a spatial anomaly, as if the space within that cave was somewhat shattered. Clearly, Kassapa and Ananda had emerged from that cave, and the space inside was connected to a spatial passage, leading directly to where they had been hiding before.

HISS!

Sha Chen’s expression grew solemn. This is troublesome. Do they actually have Spatial Divine Skills? No, they wouldn’t be capable of that. It’s very likely that they have a Space Magical Treasure, or a Magical Power Holder helped them open that spatial passage in advance.

After some calculations, Sha Chen’s face changed slightly. He did indeed figure out a few things: Kassapa and Ananda truly emerged from that spatial passage and indeed had a Space Magical Treasure. But that spatial passage had indeed been established by a powerful spatial ability holder in advance. Yet, when Sha Chen tried to discern the appearance of this powerful individual, he found he couldn’t.

That person’s strength is far beyond my own, beyond my means to calculate.

This is trouble. Sha Chen felt a heavy weight in his heart; he had provoked a spatial ability holder whose strength far exceeded his own. If that person were to take action personally, wouldn’t I be in even greater danger? With terrifying spatial abilities and formidable cultivation strength, if that person were to go all out, Sha Chen would certainly be rendered immobile. Sha Chen didn’t know whether the next time he opened the doors to his dwelling, that person could directly enter. If so, I would truly be in great danger. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Looking at Kassapa and Ananda outside his dwelling, Sha Chen still didn’t know who was aiding them, but it at least proved that he was in great danger.

After a moment of silence, Sha Chen finally spoke, "What brings you here, and for what purpose?"

Kassapa and Ananda finally heard Sha Chen’s voice. They had been considering retreating but sighed in relief at this moment. It was good that Sha Chen responded; otherwise, they really would have had to turn back. After all, if they couldn’t enter and continued lingering here, it would be of no use. Moreover, their swift arrival this time might have alarmed Sha Chen; coming again so well-prepared would not be so easy. Therefore, it was best for them to communicate with Sha Chen and then reach a consensus. Sha Chen’s response was a good start.

Kassapa and Ananda exchanged glances, and the elder brother, Kassapa, said, "Master Sha Chen, a day without seeing you is like three autumns. I would never have imagined that in a mere three or four hundred years, you would grow to this extent."

Sha Chen said, "If you have come here to say just this, then please leave."

Kassapa said, "Naturally, it is not to flatter the Master of the River, just stating the truth. However, the Master has always been low-profile and does not like to be overpraised, so I will refrain from saying more." He then continued, "The reason for our visit is because not long ago, I noticed a beast braved many dangers to reach the Flowing Sand River and then fell into it, disappearing without a trace."

Sha Chen glanced at the Six-Eared Macaque, who lay prostrate on the ground, his eyes full of terror and shock. Someone had been monitoring me!

Sha Chen said, "And then?"

Kassapa said, "That beast is none other than the Auspicious Beast of Buddhism raised by us at Jizu Mountain’s Royal Palace Temple, which we have come to retrieve."

The Six-Eared Macaque suddenly lifted his head to look at Sha Chen, wanting to defend himself. But remembering Sha Chen’s instruction not to speak, he just shook his head. His eyes were filled with fear and fury; he wished to rush out to prove his innocence, yet he dared not act recklessly.

Sha Chen glanced at him and then looked outside again. He then said, "You’ve lost an Auspicious Beast; you should search for it yourself. Why come to the front gates of my dwelling?"

Kassapa said, "I have searched the entire Flowing Sand River to no avail. Thus, I trouble the Master of the River: have you seen it?"

Sha Chen said, "I practice with arduous devotion. Unless disturbed, I would not even notice the heavens shattering, let alone the passing of birds and beasts."

Kassapa and Ananda exchanged glances, then both smiled slightly, looking confident.

Ananda then took over the conversation, "You truly haven’t noticed, Master of the River? If so, it seems we indeed have disturbed you."

Sha Chen said, "If it is for this matter, you may leave."

Kassapa continued, "Not so fast, Master of the River. Retrieving the Auspicious Beast is indeed important, but our visit here is not solely for that reason."

Then, the two of them jointly took out a golden invitation and presented it with both hands.

Kassapa said, "Our master, Tathagata Buddha, will soon convene the Ullambana Buddhist Gathering. He has invited friends from all over, Buddhist and Daoist alike. If the Master of the River is available, you may go to Lingjiu Mountain in the West to observe the ceremony. There will surely be vegetarian dishes and fruits served."

So they were inviting Sha Chen to the Ullambana Buddhist Gathering. Sha Chen pinched his fingers, making some calculations. The five-hundred-year Journey to the West calamity was now only about one hundred years away. It seemed Tathagata’s Ullambana Buddhist Gathering was about to begin, apparently earlier this time. They’re actually inviting me!

"The audience of the Ullambana Buddhist Gathering can strengthen their Primordial Spirits and enhance their spirits. The spiritual cleansing there has supreme effects. We await the Master of the River’s honored presence at Lingjiu Mountain in the West," the two of them proclaimed in unison.

"Notification: Host has been invited by Lingjiu Mountain in the West to attend the Ullambana Buddhist Gathering. You have the following choices."

"Option one: Accept the invitation from Lingjiu Mountain in the West and receive the reward [True Scripture of Great Sun Tathagata]. True Scripture of Great Sun Tathagata: Supreme Buddhist Law of Buddhism that surpasses even the Mahayana teachings."

"Option two: Decline the invitation from Lingjiu Mountain in the West and receive the reward [Elixir: Nine Nether Purple Orchid]. Nine Nether Purple Orchid: A violet orchid that blooms in the Nine Nethers, containing infinite Divine Power. Consumption of which can grant ceaseless longevity and greatly enhance the Primordial Spirit."