Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 501 - 495: Not Inferior to Zhenyuanzi [Seeking Subscriptions, Seeking Monthly Pass]_1
Sha Chen’s strength at this time was long past comparable to his former self. His powerful physique, potent mana cultivation, and terrifying Primordial Spirit force had already rendered him invincible within his realm. Even if pitted against a Peak Quasi-Saint, he might not win, but he certainly wouldn’t be defeated. With his current Great Accomplishment in spatial power, as well as his Great Accomplishment in strength, even a Quasi-Sage Peak expert could not kill him. If he ever found himself outmatched, Sha Chen could depart whenever he wished.
However, Sha Chen didn’t believe he could be truly safe even at the Quasi-Sage Peak level. Everyone who reached this stage was an extraordinary individual, capable of commanding heaven and earth. They possessed as many tricks as hairs on an ox, and some might well have methods to counter him. Therefore, Sha Chen did not go out directly. Even though he believed that in a one-on-one fight with Zhenyuanzi, he might not win, but Zhenyuanzi wouldn’t be able to kill him either, he still did not go out. This was because there was no need to.
Zhenyuanzi was still outside, bellowing in anger. Inside the Flowing Sand River Cave, Sha Chen leisurely sipped wine. The White Bone Demon, now possessing flesh and blood, was no less beautiful than Chang E. Her newly grown skin looked incredibly delicate and felt much tenderer than Chang E’s. With her attending to him, Sha Chen felt exceedingly comfortable. If not for the immense external pressure, he might have allowed himself to grow decadent.
The White Bone Demon was now wholeheartedly devoted to Sha Chen. If one had to say she harbored any ulterior motives, it was simply that she wanted to make him hers. But she was too weak; she couldn’t overpower Sha Chen. She could only serve and attend to Sha Chen meticulously, hoping that one day, perhaps in a drunken stupor, he might take her—that would bring her contentment.
"Master," the White Bone Demon said, "that old fellow is making such a ruckus outside. It’s not a solution for us to simply ignore him and let him carry on." She couldn’t stand seeing Zhenyuanzi yelling and raging outside and was quite upset. Now that her heart belonged entirely to Sha Chen, although Zhenyuanzi was still formidable, after witnessing Sha Chen’s apparent omnipotence, she believed Sha Chen was superior. Sha Chen shouldn’t be so cautious, so she ventured, "Master, your strength has already become transcendent; Zhenyuanzi might not be able to defeat you anymore. Why fear him?"
Sha Chen replied indifferently, "My strength has indeed become remarkable, and Zhenyuanzi certainly cannot do anything to me. But why should I fight him? If I go out to fight him, he can’t harm me, and I can’t harm him. Fighting back and forth will only reveal more of my trump cards."
Yet, the White Bone Demon argued, "Master, you might not be able to do anything to him, but you could at least vent your anger! Otherwise, that old fool will think he’s invincible, daring to shout out there like that."
Sha Chen chuckled. "You must remember, it’s unnecessary to contend over temporary gains and losses. Living a long life is the true, hard principle. Zhenyuanzi has lived for so long; he must have his methods. I don’t believe his bag of tricks is that shallow. Maybe if I go out, he’ll trap me with his Universe in the Sleeve or the Heavenly Earth Mirror. Never underestimate him." He continued calmly, "Besides, if I went out, I couldn’t defeat him anyway. It would only bring me more trouble, so why bother? I wouldn’t even be able to vent my frustration." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
The White Bone Demon nodded, seemingly understanding, but in her demonic mindset, victory was paramount. Whoever wins gets the last laugh. The loser willingly becomes a servant or a slave. If there’s a chance for revenge in the future, then take it; if not, just suffer and toil honestly. She herself had been defeated by Sha Chen, hence becoming his servant. But now, even if she were defeated by someone else, she would no longer serve them. A woman who has known an eagle will not settle for a sparrow. Besides, the White Bone Demon had received Sha Chen’s grace, not only through the miraculous regeneration of her flesh from bone but also her current cultivation and achievements were all due to Sha Chen’s guidance. This was no longer the simple master-servant relationship born from her surrender after defeat.
While Sha Chen was instructing the White Bone Demon, Zhenyuanzi, seething with anger outside, was also straining to hear what was happening inside. But he discovered he could no longer hear what was happening inside the cave dwelling. He could before, but not anymore. This proved the defenses of Sha Chen’s Flowing Sand River Cave had grown even stronger; likely, only Saints could now hear anything from within. In fact, even ordinary Saints, trying to divine from afar, would glean nothing. Let alone the entire Flowing Sand River domain; even Saints would find it difficult to make accurate divinations about it. This place had long been one of celestial disarray, where the Heavenly Dao was chaotic, making it indecipherable for Saints, to say nothing of the inside of the cave dwelling itself. Unless a Saint was right outside the cave dwelling, only then could they perhaps hear sounds from within the Flowing Sand River Cave at close range. But even then, they couldn’t see clearly—at most, a vague shadow, and that was all.
As for Zhenyuanzi, he lacked the qualifications to listen in, unless he possessed a special auditory Divine Power, like that of the Six-Eared Macaque. Alternatively, he would need an invincible ocular Divine Power capable of discerning vague images, like Yang Jian’s. He had neither, possessing only a powerful cultivation base and a long life, along with some command of spatial power.
Unfortunately, compared to Sha Chen, Zhenyuanzi’s command of spatial power was truly lacking. Sha Chen had achieved Space Greatness, while Zhenyuanzi was merely at a minor level of accomplishment. It wasn’t that Zhenyuanzi’s perceptiveness was inferior to Sha Chen’s, nor was his cultivation insufficient; it was purely that Zhenyuanzi’s fortuitous encounters paled in comparison to Sha Chen’s. Sha Chen had been rewarded with a Spatial Divine Skill, which laid the foundation for him to improve and strengthen his power of space. Afterward, he acquired Pangu’s Heart Blood—a substance that, given enough time to gain sentience, could have become a top-tier Ancestral Witch. Once refined by Sha Chen, it was entirely reasonable for his spatial power to advance to Great Accomplishment. Zhenyuanzi had no such luck. Relying solely on cultivation without the proper methods, it was natural that his countless years of practice had effectively gone to waste.
Moreover, the path of immortality is like rowing a boat upstream: if you don’t advance, you fall back. At his level, Zhenyuanzi periodically entered seclusion to cultivate, not to become stronger—he knew that was beyond him now. Unless he encountered a heaven-sent opportunity or achieved Sainthood through merit, there was no longer any point in continuing to cultivate to enhance his cultivation base. He cultivated purely to prevent his cultivation base from regressing; after all, in this endeavor, not advancing meant falling back. Zhenyuanzi’s cultivation was all about maintaining his current realm, a common practice among many top-tier experts. Once past their prime, they cultivated incessantly, striving to maintain their peak condition, lest they regress.
Take the Nine-winged mosquito, for instance. After being hampered by his injuries for all these years, he was likely now the weakest among the Peak Quasi-Saints. He was injured, and having neglected his cultivation for so many years, it was already heaven-defying that he hadn’t fallen from the Quasi-Sage Peak realm.
As for Sha Chen, he was in his ascendancy. Each period of his cultivation was not aimed at maintaining his current state but at advancing further. He and Zhenyuanzi were in entirely different states: Sha Chen was ascending, and rapidly at that, while Zhenyuanzi was merely maintaining his level, or perhaps even gradually declining.
Because of this, Zhenyuanzi was anxious. Aware of his own situation, he was desperately plotting and scheming with all his might, eager to get into the Flowing Sand River Cave to uncover Sha Chen’s secrets. Whether it was to alter his innate talent, extend his lifespan, or cultivate a batch of powerful individuals, Zhenyuanzi was madly desperate to enter the Flowing Sand River Cave.
However, holding Tianpeng hostage had been his best opportunity, but that chance was now lost, and he could no longer get in. After shouting for a long time to no avail, Zhenyuanzi resorted to threats. He called from outside, "Sha Chen, I know you’re in there. I won’t try to enter. Just tell me, how did you cultivate so many powerful experts? You understand what I mean. I also know you have many followers, such as the Black Bear Spirit, White Bone Demon, Spider Spirit, Red Boy, Lady Di Yong, even Nezha and that long-vanished Daoist Hanshan. They are all your adherents. How did they reach the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm? Given their innate fortune and talent, they should never have been able to reach Da Luo in their entire lifetimes. Yet, after following you, they all succeeded. Tell me, and I guarantee I will never bother you again."
