Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 487 - 481: Firm Attitude [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1
"Sha Chen, you have gone too far."
Princess Longji was furious; she would not allow anyone to insult her mother. Even if it was the muscle-bound Sha Chen, even if the sight of him made her entire body grow moist, she would not permit him to insult the Heavenly Queen Mother. That was her mother, and also her savior. Without the Heavenly Queen Mother, she would not exist today.
She said angrily, "Sha Chen, you have gone too far! What right do you have to speak of the Heavenly Queen Mother in such a way?"
"She is the leader of female immortals and the master of all immortals. Countless immortals have received her kindness and been graced by her benevolence. How can you bear to shame such a kind-hearted female immortal?"
She roared, "Even if you have some grudge against her, or if she did something wrong, that is no reason for you to insult her!"
"How can you bring shame upon such an elder, upon such a kind person? What on earth has so thoroughly addled your wits!?"
Sha Chen snorted coldly, and in an instant, he suppressed Princess Longji, leaving her sprawled in the mud, unable to move.
Frightened, Princess Longji was shocked, but she refused to submit. Yet, she also felt a bit of despair, fearing that this time, the odds were stacked against her.
In her heart, there were also doubts. It was said that Sha Chen was someone who did not concern himself with worldly affairs, someone who disliked stirring up trouble. She represented the Heavenly Queen Mother, and even if Sha Chen was powerful, he should have had no reason to provoke Kunlun Mountain without cause. Especially since Sha Chen was known to be an exceptionally cautious person.
Could it be that the rumors were false?
Another possibility crossed Princess Longji’s mind: Sha Chen’s strength had improved, and his mentality had consequently changed. It was said that more than four hundred years ago, Sha Chen was only a True Immortal, with mediocre abilities, hardly worth mentioning. Facing a powerful adversary, he would naturally have to hide and avoid confrontation, not daring to even speak to others. Now that his strength had increased, he had naturally become arrogant and aloof.
In her mind, Princess Longji’s opinion of Sha Chen lessened somewhat; she thought he was nothing special after all.
But she didn’t dare to say it out loud, fearing to further provoke Sha Chen, worried that he might completely lose his temper and kill her on the spot. She also wanted to know why Sha Chen had attacked her and why he had insulted the Heavenly Queen Mother; it was utterly unreasonable.
Princess Longji said, "Sha Chen, why do you insult the Heavenly Queen Mother in this way? What wrong has she done that you would say such things!?"
Sha Chen replied indifferently, "I am merely speaking the plain truth. All three phoenixes are my foster daughters; they are my people. If you wish to take them as your daughters, I disagree."
Princess Longji’s eyes widened in shock, her face blank. She had pondered many issues and considered many reasons, but she never imagined that Sha Chen was the foster father of the three phoenixes.
Impossible.
Inconceivable.
How utterly terrifying!
It was just not possible. How could it be?
Stunned, Princess Longji said in amazement, "How can that be? They are phoenixes, born of heaven and earth, whose bloodlines have reverted to their ancestral state. How could they possibly acknowledge you as their father?"
Sha Chen snorted. "After capturing them, didn’t you inquire about their origins? And didn’t they tell you that I am the one backing them!?"
Princess Longji shook her head firmly. "We did ask, but they refused to speak."
Sha Chen considered this for a moment and felt it was indeed quite likely. He had always cautioned the three phoenix sisters not to reveal their origins, much less their connection to him. Perhaps they had always remembered his warning and, even in danger, refused to disclose it. And so, this misunderstanding had arisen.
The Queen of the West must have believed them to be helpless phoenixes, born of heaven and earth, and thus planned to take them as foster daughters to bolster Kunlun Mountain’s influence. But she never expected that they were actually Sha Chen’s foster daughters.
Sha Chen said, "Just because they haven’t said so doesn’t mean it’s not true. Go back and tell the Queen of the West to release my daughters obediently, and we’ll call it even."
"I won’t hold it against her for capturing my daughters. However, if she refuses, Kunlun Mountain will become an enemy of my Flowing Sand River."
Sha Chen spoke with unwavering firmness at this moment. He could have been less unyielding, but he had to project a certain attitude, or the Queen of the West might not comply. She was, after all, the Queen of the West of Kunlun Mountain. If she released the phoenixes merely due to a few words from Sha Chen, where would her dignity be? She might even use this matter as leverage and negotiate with Sha Chen, forcing him to pay a heavy price. Sha Chen clearly had no intention of paying such a price; he refused to make any disadvantageous deals with the Queen of the West. Therefore, by adopting a tougher stance and compelling her to release the phoenixes, the matter could be concluded.
Moreover, he had long possessed the qualifications to be hard-nosed; his strength and capability were enough for everyone in the world to stop underestimating him. Princess Longji’s attitude upon arrival was a clear indication of the respect Sha Chen commanded, even within Kunlun Mountain.
However, Sha Chen had underestimated the dignity of these long-famed magnates and the extent to which they valued their honor and face above life itself.
Princess Longji immediately became furious and said, "Sha Chen, you are going too far! Even if you have immense strength and boundless Mana, that doesn’t give you the right to humiliate people like this!"
"Are you threatening Kunlun Mountain? Let me tell you, firstly, those three phoenixes never disclosed their origins, so how can you just claim them as yours without proof? Secondly, even if they are yours, they have the right to choose for themselves. Now that the Heavenly Queen Mother wishes to adopt them, it is their good fortune!"
Sha Chen frowned and said, "What do you mean by that? Are you saying you don’t intend to convey my stance to the Heavenly Queen Mother!?"
Princess Longji snorted. "With the attitude you’re showing, I won’t convey it."
Sha Chen snorted back. "If you refuse to convey my message, and Kunlun Mountain faces annihilation as a result, would you be happy to see that?"
Princess Longji gnashed her teeth, her brow furrowed as she said, "Your power is indeed immense. But to claim you could bring a calamity capable of wiping out Kunlun Mountain is to overestimate yourself and vastly underestimate Kunlun Mountain."
Sha Chen answered indifferently, "The Heavenly Queen Mother should have informed you whether I possess such power before you came."
Princess Longji’s body trembled, and she furrowed her brow again.
Indeed, before she came, the Heavenly Queen Mother had told her not to conflict with Sha Chen and that it was alright if she couldn’t persuade him. The purpose of this visit wasn’t to make an enemy of Sha Chen; the primary goal was to befriend him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to deliver the invitation. The Heavenly Queen Mother also wished to gain from the Tribulation of the Journey to the West, to reap its benefits. More importantly, she hoped to befriend Sha Chen, whose fame and power had recently skyrocketed.
In other words, Princess Longji’s purpose for this visit was not to make enemies but rather to make friends. The Heavenly Queen Mother had also told Princess Longji that Sha Chen was a very frightening and unique presence; even if friendship was not possible, he must not be offended. Someone capable of disdaining both the Heavenly Court and Buddhism, someone who had even turned away the Tathagata Buddha himself, was not a person Kunlun Mountain could afford to offend.
Princess Longji found herself in a difficult position, unable to easily back down.
After a long hesitation, she clenched her jaw and said, "Regardless, it’s impossible for you to make my mother give up on adopting them as her daughters."
"Moreover, just because you say they’re your adopted daughters, does that make it true? Who knows if you’re merely spouting nonsense!?"
BANG.
A ball of fiery light appeared in Sha Chen’s hand—it was the Yuanfeng True Fire.
Princess Longji, possessing a dragon’s constitution herself, was very familiar with that flame; she had seen it on the three Phoenix sisters as well.
She was momentarily stunned. Then, understanding dawned. Sha Chen hadn’t lied. Since he could wield the Yuanfeng True Fire, identical to that of the three sisters, it was impossible for them to be unrelated.
Sha Chen said calmly, "There’s no need to doubt our relationship. In fact, I helped them develop their Yuanfeng True Fire and their bloodlines."
"Their progress to this day is entirely due to my proper guidance. It’s fortunate I didn’t invest too much effort in them, nor were they particularly diligent in their cultivation. Otherwise, their bloodlines would have fully reverted to their ancestral state long ago, and they would be even more mischievous."
Princess Longji was shocked and, at the same time, deeply frustrated. The Phoenix sisters were already incredibly powerful, their abilities certainly no less than her own. And they had reached this level even without Sha Chen’s serious tutelage and their own lack of earnest effort!?
To compare oneself to others is truly infuriating.
For a moment, Princess Longji was utterly speechless.
