Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 441 - 435: Unexpected Guest [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Looking at the Chaos Iron Staff, the Six-Eared Macaque’s eyes widened, and he was momentarily stunned.

Sha Chen said indifferently, "The Magic Cudgel from the West Sea that follows one’s will. As a monkey, a staff is more suitable for you. I’m giving it to you."

Overjoyed, the Six-Eared Macaque accepted it. It felt incredibly heavy, but after Refining it, he found it perfectly suited to him. His delight only grew after performing a set of staff techniques. He knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly to Sha Chen to express his gratitude.

Sha Chen said, "Get up. I’ve given you this iron staff. I hope you won’t disappoint my expectations."

"One more thing: your current strength is too weak. Until you are powerful enough, do not attempt things beyond your capabilities."

The Six-Eared Macaque quickly responded, "Disciple will heed Master’s command."

Then, Sha Chen allowed him to rise and continue eating and drinking.

The Six-Eared Macaque put away the iron staff but couldn’t contain his elation. He finally possessed a Magical Tool of his own, and it was such a perfect match for him!

What makes me most curious is why Master Sha Chen has this iron staff, he wondered. It’s a treasure of the West Sea. How did it end up in Master Sha Chen’s hands?

Sensing his thoughts, Sha Chen said nonchalantly, "I’m not sure why. Perhaps I have a certain affinity, and many Magical Tools are willing to follow me."

The Six-Eared Macaque smiled awkwardly.

If Master Sha Chen had said this at the beginning, I would have thought this master wasn’t serious and liked to boast, he mused. But having witnessed this scene with his own eyes, and seeing Magical Tools scattered everywhere, used by Sha Chen for everyday purposes without a second thought, he now believed him.

Comparisons truly are odious, he thought. Since leaving The Stone of Three Lives, I’ve been like a rat scurrying through the streets, hiding here and there, secretly learning Dao Techniques. I was often bullied by the powerful. Forget acquiring a good Magical Tool; I was lucky not to be killed. Yet here, with Master Sha Chen, Magical Tools are abundant, and he can recite Divine Powers and Dao Techniques with ease. It’s truly enviable. If you can’t beat them, join them.

The Six-Eared Macaque had already made up his mind. He had become Sha Chen’s Disciple, and from this moment on, he would serve him with all his heart. At least, that’s what I’m thinking right now. Although Master Sha Chen is also dangerous, having offended Buddhism, following him means I’ll have plenty to eat. Fortune favors the bold. Even if there are dangers, I’m willing to accept them.

After several rounds of wine and numerous dishes, the Six-Eared Macaque found the food exquisite. What I’ve eaten before was mere chaff and weeds compared to this! he thought. Simultaneously, a worry began to surface. If I leave this place, how will I ever cope without such wonderful food?

What surprised him even more was that after consuming this feast and the fine wine, he felt as if his potential had been unlocked. Not only that, but his Cultivation level seemed to loosen, as if he were on the verge of becoming stronger. Incredible! Unimaginable! Yet, it was undeniably happening. His Cultivation was truly strengthening, and his potential was being developed.

If the Six-Eared Macaque had followed his original trajectory, he probably wouldn’t have even reached the higher echelons of the Greater Primordial Golden Immortal realm by now. But after eavesdropping on Sha Chen’s Cultivation for fifty years—in just those fifty short years—he had attained enlightenment and cultivated himself to the Early Stage of Daluo Golden Immortal. His Cultivation had broken through not long ago, which intensified his eagerness to become Sha Chen’s Disciple, an act that had activated Sha Chen’s system notification. It was only then that Sha Chen realized his lectures had been consistently overheard by the Six-Eared Macaque, and the thought of accepting him as a Disciple had arisen.

Merely by eavesdropping, his Cultivation had advanced so rapidly, and his strength had increased so significantly. Naturally, the Six-Eared Macaque yearned to become a Disciple.

But talent is limited, and so is potential, he reflected. Now, simply by having a meal, his potential had been considerably developed, and his Cultivation had even improved.

The Six-Eared Macaque danced with excitement.

Sha Chen saw this and said with a nonchalant smile, "There’s nothing to be so excited about. The Peach of Immortality Wine and Osmanthus Wine you drank, as well as the Immortal Elixirs you consumed, all serve to unlock your potential and can increase either your physical strength or your Cultivation."

"Since you’ve never had them before, the effects are particularly remarkable. It’s different for me. Even if I were to consume a hundred times what I just had, it wouldn’t produce an effect as noticeable as it has on you right now."

He sighed deeply and continued, "Consequently, for me, Peach of Immortality Wine and Osmanthus Wine are just ordinary wines. Apart from satisfying a craving, they have no other effects."

The Six-Eared Macaque felt like crying. Please, stop showing off! What you disdain is precisely what I’ve always dreamed of!

But then, a renewed excitement surged within the Six-Eared Macaque. Following Sha Chen means enjoying endless glory and wealth!

Next, Sha Chen addressed the main purpose and began to instruct the Six-Eared Macaque. Before doing so, however, he inquired about the Six-Eared Macaque’s current progress in learning the Dao, as well as his Cultivation level, spiritual state, and physical condition. He discovered that the Six-Eared Macaque was indeed an uncut jade, truly peerless and exceptionally talented.

He possessed impressive innate talent and potential from the very beginning. The fact that he could learn so much merely by stealthily observing was a testament to his abilities. If Sha Chen’s arrival hadn’t triggered a butterfly effect, he probably would have progressed at a pace comparable to Sun Wukong.

In the original narrative, the Six-Eared Macaque was Sun Wukong’s equal in combat and was eventually subdued by Tathagata Buddha, after which he was killed. He had never formally apprenticed himself to a master but had learned Taoist magical powers through stealth, using his Divine Power to eavesdrop across the myriad worlds. This alone allowed him to rival Sun Wukong—his talent was undeniable. He had just been unlucky.

Now, his fortune had turned. By becoming Sha Chen’s second Disciple, he had the opportunity to formally learn Taoist magical powers, an opportunity he cherished deeply.

Sha Chen held nothing back. The Six-Eared Macaque had essentially begun learning around the time Nezha had become a Disciple, some fifty years prior. Although Nezha consistently considered himself Sha Chen’s Disciple, he wasn’t officially recognized as such yet. Sha Chen found that the Six-Eared Macaque’s talent surpassed even Nezha’s.

Thus, he began to instruct the Six-Eared Macaque once more, formally imparting the Dao to him. The Six-Eared Macaque had heard these teachings before, but listening now, there was a distinct difference. Previously, he had listened in secret and had to comprehend everything on his own. If he encountered something he didn’t understand, there was no one to ask; he had to puzzle it out himself. But now, if he had any questions, he could ask them on the spot, and Sha Chen could provide immediate answers.

Furthermore, his current enlightenment was aided by Daoist Tea and by meditating beneath the Taiqing Colored Glaze Cup and the Parasol Tree, which significantly enhanced his comprehension, making the process far easier. After only a short period of contemplation, the Six-Eared Macaque realized that half a year of learning the Dao now was equivalent to fifty years of his past efforts.

A pang of regret struck him. If I had become a Disciple earlier and not wasted those fifty years, perhaps I would be even more formidable than Nezha by now!

Sha Chen perceived the Six-Eared Macaque’s thoughts and said calmly, "Do not indulge in wild and fanciful thoughts. Remember, maintain a pure heart. Only by focusing with a single mind can you achieve positive progress."

"If you allow your thoughts to wander, you will invite calamity. Once that occurs, even I, as your master, will be unable to save you."

The Six-Eared Macaque promptly focused his mind, no longer daring to let his thoughts stray, and felt boundless gratitude towards Sha Chen.

This is the benefit of having a master—to be constantly reminded and receive direct guidance, thus reducing the likelihood of errors. If I had been left to my own devices, succumbing to jealousy and wild thoughts that led to a cultivation deviation, I would likely have just been awaiting death.

Sha Chen formally transmitted the teachings of the Tao Te Ching and the Imperial Dao Techniques of the Jade Purity to the Six-Eared Macaque. However, as the Six-Eared Macaque was only at the Daluo level, Sha Chen imparted only the sections pertinent to that stage. He then officially taught him the Eight-Nine Profound Art, Imperial Gods’ Thunder, the Heavenly Splitting Palm, and other Great Divine Powers. Furthermore, he gave him a Ginseng Fruit and a Peach of Immortality to help unlock and activate his latent potential.

「Three years passed.」

The Six-Eared Macaque continued his devoted Cultivation in seclusion, while monumental changes unfolded in the outside world. With only a hundred years remaining until the calamity of the Journey to the West, the chosen candidates had still not all been finalized. The situation grew increasingly chaotic, leaving both the Heavenly Court and Buddhism perplexed and deeply concerned that the calamity might develop in an unforeseen direction. They worried that if it slipped beyond their control, it would lead to a disastrous turn of events.

At this critical juncture, the Flowing Sand River received an uninvited guest—Zhao Gongming, the Chief Deity of The Mysterious Altar Department! Riding a black tiger, Zhao Gongming appeared above the Flowing Sand River; he had come alone this time. He patted the black tiger’s head, then plunged into the Flowing Sand River, arriving at the entrance of the cave dwelling. The waters of the Flowing Sand River could not come close enough to touch him.

Zhao Gongming chuckled and said, "Master Sha Chen, I am Zhao Gongming. I have long heard of your great name. Today, I have come specially to witness your prowess."