Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 450 - 444: Everyone Related to Sha Chen has Risen [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Passes]_1

Chapter 450: Chapter 444: Everyone Related to Sha Chen has Risen [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Passes]_1

Zhao Gongming had been pondering how Liuer and the others planned to escape. The most likely scenario was a coordinated escape from within and without. However, he felt he had managed things very well, making betrayal by those around him impossible.

If it was someone from outside, would they dare to show up at such a critical moment?

Inside the Heavenly Prison, Liuer, Red Boy, and the others were like several ruffians, fighting over underlings and territory. They showed no signs of recognizing each other, even fighting to the death.

Zhao Gongming watched them from outside, frowning. They probably know we’re watching, so they haven’t made any moves.

"Lower our guard a bit," Zhao Gongming said. "No need to be so vigilant. Give them some space and see what they do."

Xiao Sheng hurriedly responded, "Yes, I will arrange it right away," and then went to make preparations.

Zhao Gongming watched Xiao Sheng’s departing figure, his frown deepening. In fact, he felt that the person most likely to collude with the prisoners was Xiao Sheng. Xiao Sheng was the second-in-command. Although under Zhao Gongming’s jurisdiction, they had been adversaries during the Investiture of the Gods. Zhao Gongming had even killed Xiao Sheng, which led to Xiao Sheng being listed on the Investiture of the Gods. If Xiao Sheng bore no grudges against him, he wouldn’t believe it. If Xiao Sheng were to betray him, he felt it was highly probable. Moreover, Xiao Sheng was the most likely one to coordinate with the prisoners and release them. Others weren’t qualified enough.

After Xiao Sheng went down to give orders, he turned around, his expression completely changed. His adjutant whispered, "Great General, why do you look so displeased?"

Xiao Sheng snorted. "Zhao Gongming is too tyrannical! He has always doubted my loyalty, even suspecting I would betray the Heavenly Court and secretly release the prisoners. This time, he will definitely use his office to settle a personal score. Even if I don’t release anyone, he’ll find an excuse to come after me. I must be meticulous, even more so than usual."

He then added, "Watch everything closely. Don’t give Zhao Gongming any excuse to act. We must be absolutely flawless to prevent him from using his position for personal revenge."

The adjutant broke out in a cold sweat. So it’s true! They say the commander and his second-in-command never get along. It seems they only maintain a facade of harmony. He dared not delay and hurried to carry out his tasks.

Zhao Gongming then summoned his two disciples, Yao Shaosi and Chen Jiugong, who were also two of the Four Great Divine Generals. The two bowed. "Heavenly Lord, what has occurred?"

Zhao Gongming said, "I suspect Xiao Sheng might defect. Monitor his actions. If you notice anything unusual, don’t alert him immediately. I will settle accounts with him later."

The two quickly clasped their fists in agreement, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads. They suspected that uncovering Sha Chen’s secrets might be secondary for Zhao Gongming. His primary goal was likely to use this opportunity to eliminate political rivals.

At this point, Zhao Gongming was consumed by suspicion. He felt anyone could be a traitor, and only these two disciples were even remotely trustworthy. Consequently, he failed to realize how terrible his image had become in everyone else’s eyes. His sole focus was to extract the secrets of Liuer and Red Boy, thereby implicating Sha Chen and unearthing even greater conspiracies.

「Three more days passed.」

Still, there were no anomalies. Zhao Gongming couldn’t possibly stay at the Heavenly Prison watching all the time. Moreover, the Jade Emperor summoned him to report on the situation. Zhao Gongming reported on the daily affairs of the Heavenly Prison, during which the Jade Emperor also urged him to apprehend Yang Jian and the others quickly.

The Jade Emperor said, "Initially, I heeded the counsel of Li Changgeng and others, set aside My pride, and dispatched envoys to offer Yang Jian a chance to surrender. Yet, that traitor refused. Now he resides comfortably in Guanjiangkou, while the mere thought of it displeases Me. Arrange for his capture swiftly. He once entered the Flowing Sand River Cave, so he must know a great deal about what’s inside. He undoubtedly lied to Me back then. Capture him and extract his secrets."

Zhao Gongming said, "Yang Jian possesses impressive mana and profound cultivation. Capturing him will likely not be easy."

The Jade Emperor replied indifferently, "If you don’t apprehend him soon, it will truly become difficult. Yang Jian has already grown so powerful. If you don’t act now, when will you?"

Zhao Gongming furrowed his brows, his expression grim. After a moment of silence, he nodded and said, "Your servant understands. Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

Zhao Gongming’s attitude wasn’t particularly warm, but that was his usual demeanor, and the Jade Emperor didn’t fault him for it.

He simply said, "The calamity of the Journey to the West is about to begin, but everything is still unstable. Though I have reclaimed the powers of the Jinghe Dragon King, the calamity of the Journey to the West without a proper beginning is doomed to be imperfect. Furthermore, as long as the Jinghe Dragon King lives, his children will continue to defer to him, and My authority will not be fully established there." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Zhao Gongming nodded; he understood the Jade Emperor’s meaning. He then asked, "So, what does Your Majesty plan to do?"

The Jade Emperor said, "The Jinghe Dragon King must die. However, he did contribute by surrendering his authority. To execute him without a proper pretext would invite ridicule from others. Find a way to implicate him in this matter, or arrange for him to descend to the mortal realm. In short, I do not wish to see him again."

Zhao Gongming’s heart tightened. Although he knew the Jade Emperor was ruthless, he hadn’t expected such cruelty. Such is an emperor, always most wary of powerful officials. He, too, was a powerful official. But he was confident, possessing sufficient strength—unlike the Jinghe Dragon King. Therefore, with his power, the Jade Emperor wouldn’t dare to act against him and, in fact, still had to rely on him!

A detached smile played on Zhao Gongming’s lips. Eliminating the Jinghe Dragon King was necessary, of course, but he had no intention of doing it personally. When the Jade Emperor discussed such matters with him, it wasn’t truly to have him take action. It was merely to show that the Jade Emperor could confide anything in him, that Zhao Gongming was his trusted subordinate.

Suddenly, Zhao Gongming asked, "Your Majesty, what is the situation with Buddhism?"

The Jade Emperor answered calmly, "They refuse to yield. They are fixated on acquiring Sha Chen and are unwilling to relinquish their claims on the others either."

Zhao Gongming snorted. "So avaricious! They want all the benefits for themselves. The calamity of the Journey to the West has already seen unexpected developments, yet they still expect everything to proceed unchanged."

The Jade Emperor chuckled. "That is so, but it’s not entirely unreasonable. No matter. While I also desire the individuals they seek, they are not irreplaceable to Me."

Zhao Gongming countered, "Your Majesty, that might not be true. Actually, the individuals Buddhism desires have all undergone transformations. It seems they’ve all become powerful beyond anyone’s imagination."

The Jade Emperor, who was reviewing memorials, glanced at Zhao Gongming and then said, "I understand your meaning. Indeed, it is so. Buddhism desires Sun Wukong, Jin Chanzi, Tianpeng, Sha Chen, Ao Lie, and numerous other demons. Sun Wukong, trapped under Five Finger Mountain, seems to have undergone little change, but when he was suppressed, he himself was merely a Too One Sanxian. Now, it is said that even a Da Luo Buddha who approaches him gets devoured. He is both fierce and powerful, and has certainly become unpredictable. Jin Chanzi is another case. Although his past three incarnations haven’t shown anything particularly special, rumor has it he is neither pedantic nor a pushover. Ultimately, he has changed. As for Sha Chen, it goes without saying that he has changed the most."

He continued, "Only Tianpeng and Ao Lie haven’t shown significant changes, though their abilities also seem far greater than initially thought."

Zhao Gongming shook his head. "Not just much greater—vastly greater. Tianpeng was fated to reach the Da Luo realm only after the calamity concluded. However, he achieved it over two hundred years ago. As for Ao Lie, information about him is scarce. However, during his last reported appearance, it’s rumored he devoured a Middle Level of Da Luo Golden Immortal beast in a single gulp. He also went to Luanshi Island and single-handedly eliminated both the Nine-headed Dragon and Princess Wan Sheng."

The Jade Emperor was taken aback. "Such reports exist? Why am I unaware of them?" he asked in astonishment.

Nearby, Heavenly Official Pang stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, these reports are all in the memorials, placed on your desk."

The Jade Emperor glanced at the desk, piled high with memorials. The specific reports Heavenly Official Pang mentioned were buried at the very bottom; he hadn’t seen them at all!!