Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 657 - 651: Buddha, Save Me [Seeking Subscriptions]_1

It seemed that Tathagata and his companion sensed hostility.

Sha Chen's lips curled into a scornful smile. "So you've finally shown your true colors? You wouldn't leave when I gave you the chance, and now you want to fight?"

The Ancient Buddha said, "We reasoned with you and offered you opportunities, but you did not cherish them. Instead, you have repeatedly insulted Buddhism, which is intolerable. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"If that's the case, naturally we won't be polite with you either. We'll settle both new and old grievances together. You destroyed the trials Buddhism had set for the Journey to the West, took the chosen one for the scriptures that we had arranged, and disrupted our plans for the trials."

His expression gradually turned icy. "Any one of these would be enough for you to die a thousand deaths. Had you cooperated with Buddhism and worked together to construct the cosmic catastrophe of the Journey to the West, we all could have maintained our dignity and benefitted from it."

Sha Chen said, "What if I don't do that?"

The Ancient Buddha replied, "If you don't do that, then we have no choice but to be civil before we resort to force and settle all our past grievances once and for all."

Sha Chen burst into loud laughter. "It seems even you are fickle. You just said, 'Let bygones be bygones with a smile, and turn hostility into friendship,' yet you turn around, break your promises, and forget your own words."

The Ancient Buddha replied, "Why would we speak of faithlessness with a person like you?"

He scoffed, "Although Buddhism is understanding and accommodating, we are not to be bullied. You took advantage of the kindness and naiveté of Buddhists and assassinated Honorable Xianglong and Honorable Maitreya Buddha.

"They are still trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. How could such a debt be easily forgotten with a smile? You also intend to control Jin Chanzi to undermine our Journey to the West arrangements. That account is not so easily settled either."

Tathagata listened quietly by the side without uttering a word. His role was to act, not to engage in pleasantries. The Ancient Buddha was merely playing the role of someone with a just cause, while the two of them acted as the good cop and the bad cop.

Sha Chen had realized their two-pronged approach: if words failed, they'd resort to force. He had never expected that a few words would persuade them to leave; if so, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to confront him.

Sha Chen said, "If you want to fight, then just bring it on. Why all this idle prattle?"

The Ancient Buddha said, "Your strength is merely at the Peak Quasi-Saint level, and I am of the same realm.

"However, the Buddha has recently been blessed by two Saints and the blessings of Buddhist merit, and he has successfully attained sainthood through merit."

As he spoke, he seemed genuinely convinced, willing to be Tathagata's lackey.

Tathagata said, "Ancient Buddha flatters me too much. I've only attained the Sub-Sage realm through merit, not yet a Saint. Moreover, the two Saints have already said that after the cosmic catastrophe of the Journey to the West, they will help Ancient Buddha become a Sub-Sage too."

Joy flashed across the Ancient Buddha's face as he took these words to heart.

Tathagata then turned to look at Sha Chen. I wonder what his reaction will be when he learns I've stepped into the Sub-Sage realm. Will he be surprised, fearful, panic-stricken, bewildered?

But Tathagata was disappointed. He didn't see any of the emotions he was looking for on Sha Chen's face; instead, he saw mockery and disdain in Sha Chen's eyes.

Tathagata grew angry. He considered himself impassive and thought his resolve and mental fortitude were solid. However, at that moment, upon seeing Sha Chen's gaze, he couldn't contain his rage.

How could a mere defeated foe act so arrogantly? How dare he look at me with such disdain? Doesn't he know the gap between us has widened?

With a stern face, Tathagata said, "Sha Chen, I'll give you one more chance. Cooperation or death?"

Sha Chen replied, "Tathagata, don't assume that my politeness in speaking to you means I have a good temper.

"Nor should you assume that just because you can stand before me unperturbed, you're better than me. And don't keep boasting about past honors for your entire life. Just because you've beaten me once doesn't mean you can beat me forever."

With a disdainful smile, he added, "What's more, you never defeated me before. When I was in my cave, you could do nothing to me."

Tathagata said, "Now you are not in your cave, but within this small world."

Sha Chen replied, "I have only one purpose for doing this: to show you that facing you again, I don't need to hide in my cave to defeat you."

Tathagata, completely enraged, struck with Tathagata's Palm. The palm imprint descended, carrying a momentum that could destroy heaven and earth.

In the past, Sha Chen had suffered greatly under this Tathagata's Palm; he had to hide in his cave to withstand it.

But now, faced with the oncoming Tathagata's Palm, Sha Chen showed no inclination to retreat, his face even bearing a casual smile.

He, too, struck out with a palm.

Heavenly Splitting Palm!

BOOM!

The Heavenly Splitting Palm met Tathagata's Palm, and the imprints exploded upon contact. Just from this simple exchange, Tathagata's expression instantly changed.

The Tathagata's Palm he had just used hadn't contained much of his strength, roughly sixty to seventy percent of his power. Even so, it was far stronger than when he had attacked Flowing Sand River. Yet, it was effortlessly broken by Sha Chen's casual palm strike. Observing Sha Chen's demeanor, it seemed he had exerted even less effort.

Tathagata did not know that Sha Chen had only used a mere third of his strength to unleash that Heavenly Splitting Palm. But Tathagata could feel how effortlessly Sha Chen had struck. This made him apprehensive, and his eyes grew sharp. Sha Chen's strength was beyond expectation, seemingly far greater than before.

Ran Deng Buddha had also noticed this. A sense of gravity settled in his heart, yet he still went all out, charging forward.

Ran Deng Buddha made the first strike, employing Tathagata's Palm, the Demon Subduing Divine Fist, and various Great Divine Powers of Buddhism. At the same time, he threw out his Magical Tool, the Cleansing Lamp. It immediately released a sky-full of Divine Fire, as if it had the power to melt mountains and boil seas.

Such overwhelming Great Divine Power attacks, combined with the powerful Innate Spirit Treasure and the supreme divine fire of Buddhism, would require any Peak Quasi-Saint to expend their full strength to defend against. Some might not even be able to withstand it and would only be able to dodge to dissipate the assault.

But Sha Chen, faced with the barrage of attacks, remained unmoved. He casually summoned the waters of the Flowing Sand River to extinguish the supreme divine fire.

At the same time, he opened his mouth to emit the Samadhi True Fire. His eyes glowed with firelight: one eye shot out the Yuanfeng True Fire, while the other sprayed the World Extinguishing Divine Fire.

The convergence of these three fearsome flames created a searing heat that seemed capable of reducing the small world to ashes. Wherever it passed, space collapsed and the void dissipated.

Ran Deng Buddha's Great Divine Powers were burned to nothingness in the inferno, and the relentless flames seemed intent on engulfing him.

"Buddha, save me!"

In just a moment of confrontation, Ran Deng Buddha was already crying for help.