Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 477 - 471: Requesting the Sub-Sage to Take Action [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1
Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad gazed into the distance.
He mumbled to himself, "Logically speaking, the ninth incarnation should return to the right path. He should take the normal route of the journey to obtain scriptures, which would also lead him past the Flowing Sand River."
"However, I feel that Sha Chen and Jin Chanzi share some connection, and it may be unsuitable to let him go that way again. Yet, the path for obtaining the scriptures has long been set. If we were to change it, the entire cataclysm of the Journey to the West would become utterly perplexing."
Lord Lao Zi furrowed his brows, saying, "What I fear most now is uncertainty. The hardest part is ensuring the eighty-one trials don’t become uncontrollable."
He then continued, "The cataclysm of the Journey to the West already has unknowns. If it becomes even less controllable, it will certainly plunge the Three Realms into greater chaos. I only wish to conclude this karma and do not desire to see the Three Realms fall into disarray because of it."
"If chaos arises because of this, I would become a sinner for all eternity. The merits I have amassed would vanish, leaving me unable to face my true self."
Pursing his lips, Lord Lao Zi’s eyes flickered. "I suppose even if Sha Chen has some connection with the pilgrim, it shouldn’t be a significant problem. If it comes to it, I can have Buffalo personally escort Jin Chanzi on his quest for scriptures."
「Lingxiao Palace.」
The Jade Emperor was reviewing memorials when some Immortals reported the news that Tathagata’s attack on the Flowing Sand River had failed.
They also spoke of Tathagata’s display of divine power, which had caused innumerable deaths and widespread suffering among the living beings in the Flowing Sand River region.
They then asked how to respond. The Immortals fell silent.
They naturally did not care about the suffering of those beings.
What they cared about at this moment was that even Tathagata had failed to conquer the Flowing Sand River. Under all of heaven, was there really no one who could deal with Sha Chen?
From now on, the Flowing Sand River would become a lawless land. The Heavenly Court’s decrees would no longer reach it, and the Jade Emperor’s commands would prove ineffectual against Sha Chen.
Although this was already somewhat the case, Sha Chen still afforded him a degree of respect.
Some commands from the Heavenly Court that reached the Flowing Sand River were, in fact, outwardly observed by Sha Chen. For example, he remained hidden there, supposedly enduring hardships and tribulations, without venturing out.
Of course, whether Sha Chen was truly suffering or simply enjoying a leisurely retreat was something no one really knew.
They just knew that the Flowing Sand River was impregnable; even Tathagata could not breach it. It seemed that, aside from Saints, no one else under heaven could pose a threat to Sha Chen.
And Sha Chen would surely become even more arrogant, more overbearing, and more dismissive of the Heavenly Court.
The Great White Planet said, "Your Majesty, the Flowing Sand River is impregnable. Even Tathagata Buddha could not enter. Henceforth, the Flowing Sand River will be a forbidden area for the Heavenly Court, off-limits even to us."
The Immortals looked at one another, none of them looking pleased.
Sha Chen, whom they had once looked down upon, had grown to such stature. And the Flowing Sand River, a place they had once disdained to tread, had now become forbidden ground they could not approach.
It was truly detestable and unbearably frustrating.
The Immortals discussed passionately, proposing strategies. Some suggested increasing pressure on Sha Chen. Others recommended a conciliatory approach. And there were those who suggested paying no more attention to Sha Chen at all, since he was just a demoted general, no longer one of the Heavenly Court’s own.
The Jade Emperor listened, feeling a splitting headache develop. His heart was unable to calm its troubled emotions.
He had only recently demoted Zhao Gongming and others, intending to suppress Zhao Gongming’s arrogance and also hoping to use this opportunity to draw closer to Sha Chen.
But considerable time had passed since then with no sign from Sha Chen, making the Jade Emperor feel his earlier gestures had been a case of unrequited effort.
Listening to the Immortals’ suggestions of conciliatory policies, the Jade Emperor’s heart grew even more conflicted.
He wanted to conciliate too. In fact, he had always been trying to, but all his attempts had failed. Sha Chen was a scoundrel who neither softened under kindness nor yielded to force. He accepted any gifts sent his way and acknowledged all commands issued, but never actually carried them out. He was just perfunctorily going through the motions with him. Beyond that, taking a hard stand was also pointless. Previously, it might have held some sway, but now the Heavenly Court no longer had many individuals who could threaten Sha Chen. Especially after Tathagata had also failed in his assault on the Flowing Sand River, it seemed likely that absolutely no one in the Heavenly Court could threaten Sha Chen anymore. At least, as long as Sha Chen simply hid within his Flowing Sand River Cave, all they could do was sigh in helpless frustration.
After the Immortals exchanged glances, the Barefoot Immortal said, "Your Majesty, Sha Chen is truly arrogant! He shows no regard for the Heavenly Court or Buddhism. We cannot sit idly by and watch him grow even stronger."
"We must find a way to drag him out of the Flowing Sand River or subdue him directly. In any case, we cannot allow him to continue developing like this."
The Immortals all nodded in agreement, deeply convinced.
Li Changgeng said, "The Barefoot Immortal speaks wisely, but alas, we have no means to deal with Sha Chen. Under the heavens, there probably isn’t anyone left who can handle him, right?"
But the Barefoot Immortal replied, "Not so. It’s merely that the Flowing Sand River is impregnable, not that Sha Chen himself is invincible. There are still plenty of people who can deal with him."
"Of course, the prerequisite is that we can either enter the Flowing Sand River or lure him out. Only then can we capture him."
The Barefoot Immortal had developed a bone-deep hatred for Sha Chen ever since suffering heavy losses in the incident where he joined forces with the Eight Immortals and others, coordinating with Zhao Gongming and the Fuhu Arhat to confront Sha Chen. He was always devising ways to get revenge, yet he had always been powerless.
Now that such an opportunity had arisen, he naturally wanted to drag everyone else into it, to have them all brainstorm ways to deal with Sha Chen.
Li Changgeng shook his head. A smile played on his lips, but his eyes were filled with disdain.
Clearly, he thought the Barefoot Immortal was being presumptuous.
The Jade Emperor also said, "My dear minister, since you are so confident, do you have a way to lure Sha Chen out of the Flowing Sand River, or to send a powerful expert inside?"
He thought it was impossible. If even Tathagata Buddha couldn’t do it, what could the Barefoot Immortal possibly achieve?
The Barefoot Immortal was indeed stumped, his face flushing slightly as he stammered, unable to respond for a long moment.
He just felt that all they had to do was lure Sha Chen out or break in to confront him. But as for *how* to lure the man out or get inside, he hadn’t given it much thought. Only now did he realize that these two aspects were the most challenging.
Everyone knew they just needed to draw Sha Chen out or get into the Flowing Sand River—but how was it to be done!?
After stammering for a long while, the Barefoot Immortal clenched his teeth and said, "Tathagata Buddha might be incapable, but there are beings in the world even more formidable than him!"
The assembled Immortals were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Li Changgeng also laughed, saying, "Is the Barefoot Immortal suggesting a Saint? However, who under the heavens could possibly persuade a Saint to intervene?"
"Not just Saints! Have you all forgotten? Besides Saints, there are also beings of great merit and virtue in the world!"
At these words from the Barefoot Immortal, everyone was taken aback and exchanged puzzled glances.
A flicker of astonishment passed through the Jade Emperor’s eyes as he stroked his chin, lost in deep thought.
Li Changgeng was also startled, then said, "Is the Barefoot Immortal referring to Sub-Sages? But even the combat prowess of a Sub-Sage might not surpass that of Tathagata. They possess great merit and virtue, and their cultivation is higher, but Tathagata is already not inferior to a Sub-Sage."
The Barefoot Immortal said, "Ultimately, Tathagata is still beneath a Sub-Sage. Even if it’s by the slightest margin, it still counts as being lesser."
The Immortals fell silent, and Li Changgeng found himself unable to rebut.
Then Li Changgeng asked, "But how could one possibly persuade a Sub-Sage to take action?"
The Barefoot Immortal said, "I am willing to go overseas personally to invite Taoist Lu Ya." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
The Jade Emperor was pleased and said, "If that’s the case, then I shall trouble you, my dear minister."
The Barefoot Immortal continued, "However, there’s no guarantee I can persuade him. To be safest, we should also hope someone can go to the Netherworld to invite Empress Hou Tu, and to the Tushita Palace to request Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad. Furthermore, we should send envoys to the Fire Cloud Palace to invite the three Emperor Lords."
His words caused an immediate uproar among the assembled Immortals.
One Immortal exclaimed, "To deal with a mere Sha Chen, is it necessary to go to such great lengths? This is practically calling upon all the Sub-Sages under heaven!"
"Indeed, it seems unnecessary! Is Sha Chen even worthy of so many Sub-Sages taking action against him?"
The Barefoot Immortal said, "It’s not about having all of them take action. It’s about ensuring that at least *one* Sub-Sage will agree to act."
"After all, it’s not as if these Sub-Sage Lords will intervene just because we ask. They are quite aloof and might not deign to lift a finger."
