Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 659 - 653: Pincer Attack【Subscribe】_1
Tathagata and Ran Deng Buddha joined forces, one attacking from the front and the other from the rear in a pincer movement.
Although they had previously engaged in endless overt and covert struggles, even to the point of being adversaries, their current cooperation was surprisingly synergistic and exceedingly tacit.
Unfortunately for them, their opponent was Sha Chen.
In an instant, Sha Chen manifested three heads and six arms, embodying the Law of Heaven and Earth.
Going all out, an incomparably terrifying aura erupted from his entire being.
Behind him, the Wind Fire Thunder God Wings unfurled, while his eyes blazed with a frightening divine light—one was the Illusion-Breaking Divine Eye, the other the Eye of Past and Future.
His arms were wreathed in lightning and flames, accompanied by violent whirlwinds and pelting sandstones. In his grasp, he held a variety of incredibly fearsome and exceedingly rare Magical Tools.
This was Ran Deng Buddha's first time witnessing Sha Chen at full power. He had never had the chance to exchange blows with him before and was oblivious to Sha Chen's dreadful strength.
Now, having witnessed it firsthand, a pressing sense of oppression overtook me, weighing heavily on my heart.
If Tathagata Buddha weren't leading the attack, I might have already turned tail and fled, wanting no part in this battle.
In truth, Tathagata also felt immense pressure; Sha Chen's aura seemed even more potent than his own.
Although the difference is slight, it still proves that Sha Chen's strength surpasses mine—something I find hard to accept, fueling a great anger within me! But indeed, Sha Chen is stronger than me. Although his Cultivation level is inferior, Sha Chen's total Mana exceeds my own and has already reached the level of Saint Zhunti. Moreover, the Great Divine Powers Sha Chen possesses are mighty and formidable, all of which he has cultivated to the Great Perfection Realm.
Tathagata's own Divine Powers were also very intricate, encompassing a comprehensive range, and were of no low grade.
But compared to Sha Chen, I am still lacking. First, Sha Chen possesses more Divine Powers, and they are of a higher grade. Second, I have not cultivated many of my own to the Great Perfection Realm—most are only at Great Accomplishment.
It was not due to a lack of talent or comprehension on Tathagata's part.
It purely came down to Tathagata prioritizing his cultivation; with numerous Divine Powers available, he naturally chose to practice the more formidable ones with greater growth potential.
Not everyone could be like Sha Chen, who, upon acquiring a Divine Power, could directly cultivate it to the Mahayana Realm and, with just a little effort, reach the Great Perfection Realm.
Others needed to expend countless amounts of time and energy to develop a single Divine Power.
For instance, it took Tathagata 30,000 years just to cultivate Tathagata's Palm to the Great Perfection Realm. This process occupied a vast amount of his time and energy and consumed countless cultivation resources to achieve his current level of accomplishment.
If I had spent those same 30,000 years solely on improving my Cultivation level, perhaps my foundation would be stronger, and my realm could have progressed faster.
However, cultivators never solely focus on increasing their Cultivation level; holistic development is essential. Not only does one's Primordial Spirit need to advance, but one must also hone mastery over various Divine Powers and Apprentice Treasure the Magical Tools one can control.
Therefore, Apprentice Treasuring Magical Tools and improving Divine Powers consumes a significant amount of time, energy, and cultivation resources, inevitably causing one's Cultivation level to lag.
Those capable of efficiently planning their cultivation time and maintaining consistency for hundreds of thousands of years were exceedingly rare, perhaps one in ten thousand.
This was because myriad situations arise along the path of cultivation. Not everyone could be like Sha Chen, secluded in a cave dwelling, dedicating themselves to uninterrupted cultivation.
They needed to acquire resources, navigate social intricacies, gain worldly experience, and maintain a stable Taoist heart.
All these situations could occur, leading to numerous variables on the path of cultivation. Some could not progress methodically; some might perish midway, while others might abandon their efforts upon encountering difficulties.
Therefore, age did not necessarily correlate with strength.
Tathagata's ability to rise above others was due to his superior natural talent, comprehension, potential, resources, perseverance, and a stronger Taoist heart.
Tathagata had endured poverty and solitude, maintained an unwavering Taoist heart, and continued his practice to this day. Yet, facing the current Sha Chen, his Taoist heart nearly collapsed.
It was not that Sha Chen was significantly more formidable—though, by going all out, Sha Chen did exert immense pressure on Tathagata.
But I do not feel I will lose. I even believe that together, we stand a chance of victory against Sha Chen.
What nearly shatters my Taoist heart is the revelation that Sha Chen has cultivated various Divine Powers to the Great Perfection Realm without his Cultivation level falling behind; in fact, it's advancing rapidly! Furthermore, Sha Chen manages to use the Magical Tools in his possession as if they are mere extensions of his body, operating in perfect harmony, as if they have Apprentice Treasured for countless years, precisely striking wherever he points. This seems inconceivable, absolutely unimaginable! After all, attaining this integration requires endless time and effort! Tathagata, as someone who had gone through the process, knew this best and thus had the most authority to speak on the matter.
Even if Sha Chen has abundant energy, the brief span of his emergence means that, aside from the time required for the natural growth of his Cultivation level, Sha Chen shouldn't have had time to develop Divine Powers or to Apprentice Treasure his Magical Tools. Yet, the reality is that Sha Chen has cultivated his Divine Powers to the Great Perfection Realm, with each being intricate and challenging to master!
Take the 72 Polymorphic Transformations and the 36 Transformations, for instance. It took Sun Wukong three years just to get started with the 72 Polymorphic Transformations, and a hundred years to reach the Small Achievement Realm. To fully master the 72 Polymorphic Transformations to the Great Accomplishment Realm, he would probably need 500 years. I am certain that Sun Wukong has yet to master the 72 Polymorphic Transformations to the Great Perfection Realm.
But from when Sha Chen was trapped in the Flowing Sand River until now, only 500 years have passed! He not only raised his Cultivation from a mere True Immortal to the pinnacle of his current realm but has also mastered dozens of Divine Powers to the Great Perfection Realm. Just the 72 Polymorphic Transformations alone couldn't possibly be cultivated to the Great Perfection Realm in such a short time span, let alone Sha Chen also having the 36 Transformations, Samadhi True Fire, Imperial Gods' Thunder, and various other complex and difficult-to-master Great Divine Powers! Not to mention that the Heavenly Splitting Palm, comparable to my Tathagata's Palm, is also at the Great Perfection Realm!
That Tathagata's mentality had not completely collapsed was a testament to the strength of his Taoist heart.
And in the realm of Magical Tools, to say nothing of others, take the Three Holy Mother's Treasured Lotus Lantern. Since acquiring it, not even two to three hundred years have passed, and the Three Holy Mother has not fully Apprentice Treasured the Treasured Lotus Lantern. But every one of Sha Chen's Magical Tools—the Plantain Fan, Dragon Ball, Dragon Binding Rope, the Undefined Flying Rings, Nine-dragon Divine Fire Cover, and so on—are all fully Apprentice Treasured! Where did he find the time and energy to accomplish all this? Could it be that there's a time wormhole in Sha Chen's cave dwelling, where a year of cultivation inside only amounts to a day passing by on the outside?
