Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 469 - 463: Duobao Tathagata [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

HISS.

Sha Chen’s words were a deadly strike to the heart.

Tathagata’s face changed dramatically, his eyes sharp as knives, his expression dark as the deep waters.

In a heavy voice, he said, "Are you implying that I am so easily bullied that you dare to compare me to a tyrannical rogue who bullies both men and women!?"

Yet Sha Chen retorted, "Buddha, you have broken your precepts."

Tathagata was taken aback.

Sha Chen continued, "Buddha, you have violated the precepts of greed, hatred, and delusion. This is very unbecoming, especially since you are the Buddha, setting a bad example by breaking precepts."

Tathagata suddenly laughed and said, "You claim to not understand Buddhist Law, but it seems you understand it better than the average monk."

But Sha Chen replied, "Buddha jests. I do not comprehend the profound mysteries of Buddhism, but I am aware of a few Buddha Verses that wandering monks chant in their daily lives. I speak without deep understanding. So, if I speak out of turn, you must excuse me, Buddha."

"However, from what the Buddha has just said, it seems I was correct. Buddha truly has broken his precepts, so what should the Buddha do now?"

Tathagata thought to himself, I didn’t expect him to be so astute and impeccable in action, with a sharp tongue that’s not easy to deal with.

Although Tathagata held a lofty position and possessed great wisdom and eloquence, it wasn’t possible to justify everything, especially when his actions and teachings were inconsistent, leading to untenable arguments. To insist on arguing would only lower his standing.

Tathagata said, "You really have a sharp tongue. In fact, you would be quite suited to join Buddhism. Should you join, you could definitely bring your strengths to their fullest potential."

Sha Chen laughed as well and said, "What Buddha says is no different from what tyrannical rogues who bully men and women say. They claim the girl deserves to be ravaged, that she is perfectly suited for the rogue’s bed, and if she goes with him, her life will certainly improve."

He chuckled, "Listen carefully, Buddha, doesn’t that sound familiar?"

Tathagata’s frown deepened, his expression as dark as the waters, and he said, "Are you mocking me? I am the Tathagata, supreme over the nine heavens and ten earths. Have you considered the consequences of speaking to me in this manner?"

Tathagata was enraged.

He had intended to engage Sha Chen with a benevolent and friendly demeanor, hoping to draw him into Buddhism. But unexpectedly, his overtures were met with estrangement and ridicule, leaving him feeling deeply uncomfortable and aware that such an approach would be fruitless.

The Jade Emperor had shown Sha Chen kindness, repeatedly offering him wondrous gifts, but Sha Chen left just the same. What must come, will come. If Sha Chen did not wish to join Buddhism, then persuasion was futile; force was the only option left. Although it would mar his reputation, no other method seemed to be available. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

With Tathagata enraged, his assault intensified. Sha Chen almost couldn’t hold his ground.

Fortunately, Sha Chen had long been prepared for a complete fallout with Tathagata. Clenching his teeth, he managed to withstand Tathagata’s fierce attacks, keeping him outside the gates of the Flowing Sand River Cave.

Tathagata, unable to breach the defenses, grew even more furious, but despite his desire to explode with rage and vent his anger, he was helpless to do so. Sha Chen was too strong, beyond his expectations, leaving him momentarily unable to break through. And he had a feeling that if this continued, it would only become harder to overcome.

He could only threaten Sha Chen, hoping to coerce him into submission. However, he was mistaken; Sha Chen might be timid, but he feared that admitting defeat at this moment would result in his death. Thus, his only choice was to resist to the death. As long as he lived, he would resist to the death.

Sha Chen shouted, "You are the Tathagata, supreme over the nine heavens and ten earths, but what’s that to me!?"

"You may be strong, and you may be honored, but stay away from my Flowing Sand River and stop posturing. You want to harm me, kill me, and conspire for wealth and murder, but even in death, I will resist!!"

Tathagata’s reaction was fierce, unlike anything he had anticipated. According to Tathagata’s estimation, when he became angry, when he showed his wrath, when he changed his demeanor, Sha Chen should have backed down, admitted his mistake, and apologized!

After all, he was the Tathagata Buddha, supreme over the nine heavens and ten earths, the sole ruler of the entire Buddhist order. And he orchestrated the calamity of the Journey to the West, personally suppressing countless powerful beings. The experts he single-handedly buried were as numerous as ox hairs. Such a dominating, heaven-defying figure when angered, the likes of Sha Chen—weak as ants, insignificant as dust—ought to cower and apologize, ought to prostrate and beg for forgiveness.

The once unruly and wild Sun Wukong, who sought to rebel, wasn’t he suppressed, meeting him with cries of ’Lord Buddha’ and begging for mercy all day long?

However, it had been a long time since Tathagata had inquired about Sun Wukong’s situation, and he was unaware of his current state. Nevertheless, Sha Chen’s situation was completely different than what he had anticipated, and Sha Chen did not apologize nor show subservience. On the contrary, he dared to roar back, causing Tathagata to lose face utterly, showing him not the slightest respect.

Tathagata was very angry. No one had ever dared to speak to him like this, and it was a grave loss of face for him. But he realized that if he were to roar back in anger, wouldn’t he lose even more face? A toothless tiger, only a source of laughter.

Moreover, his original intent was to convert Sha Chen, a task against Sha Chen’s very nature. Since both parties were irreconcilable and had already torn all pretenses, why should he give him any face?

Tathagata looked deeply at Sha Chen, realizing that Sha Chen truly would not change his attitude. He had truly made up his mind, determined not to let him enter.

Tathagata was aware that for this visit to the Flowing Sand River Cave, intimidation and temptation would be futile, and he could only rely on raw strength to break in! If from the beginning he hadn’t cared about intimidation or temptation, and had just gone in directly, Sha Chen wouldn’t have been able to stop him. But now, Sha Chen had stopped him. He could not enter.

Tathagata also understood that if this continued, his desire to exhaust Sha Chen to death would be unattainable. His mana was as vast as the abyss, endless and perennial, but this was Sha Chen’s home ground, where his mana too was incessant, and he had inexhaustible resources available at any time.

Tathagata felt that he could only seek assistance to forcefully attack the Flowing Sand River. But under the full sky, where could he ask for such help, and how could he possibly break through?

The assistance had to be strong, at the very least at the Quasi-Sage Peak; even a high-rank Quasi Saint might not be able to keep up with his pace. In that case, they would also not be able to enter here and might even be suppressed by the Sky Shielding Talisman. The Chaos Chicken Cover and Sky Shielding Talisman at Sha Chen’s disposal were infinitely powerful; without a certain level of cultivation, arriving would be seeking one’s own disgrace.

Zhenyuanzi fell to them, absent for over a century, becoming a laughingstock of the Three Realms, never to appear again since.

If Tathagata were to seek help, he too might become a laughingstock, and it was unlikely that anyone would come to his aid immediately. Of course, if he found help within Buddhism, there would be no problem, but he felt that doing so would severely challenge his position within Buddhism. That would play right into the hands of Maitreya Buddha and Ran Deng Buddha, with their treacherous hearts always ready to seize the opportunity to suppress his authority.

Just as Tathagata pondered how to enter the Flowing Sand River Cave, he suddenly looked behind him. Tathagata sensed a powerful presence rushing towards him, a person whose strength was not inferior to his, possessing remarkable abilities and outstanding talent.

Sha Chen felt it too, his face showing some displeasure. He hadn’t expected someone of that strength, not inferior to Tathagata, to come at this time. If that person also attacked the Flowing Sand River, then all his efforts would have been in vain.

At that moment, Sha Chen even considered abandoning everything at the Flowing Sand River and finding another place to continue lying low. If I do that, could the system give me another chance? Could it make the reward for leaving here more generous? But Sha Chen knew that was impossible.

And the presence of the newcomer was already there, hovering above the Flowing Sand River.

"HEH HEH HEH. How interesting, a mere junior has made you, the greatly renowned Duobao Tathagata, exert so much effort. Tathagata lad, do you need this old man to lend you a hand?"