Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 665 - 659: Ran Deng’s Nirvana【Seeking Subscription】_1

"Hahaha." Sha Chen burst into loud laughter. "Supreme Buddhism, your memory seems to be failing you. I have always been at odds with your Buddhism, as incompatible as fire and water. Releasing you would be like freeing a tiger back into the mountains."

Ran Deng Buddha was terrified. In the torrent of time, his physical body was gradually crumbling.

He pleaded desperately, "If you release me, I can act as a mediator and guarantee a resolution to the enmity between you and Buddhism."

"When will the cycle of vengeance end? Lay down the butcher's knife, and you will instantly become a Buddha. River Lord, we have no direct grudge; it's merely a matter of stance. If you release me now, our conflict will surely transform into peace."

Sha Chen laughed again. "Not long ago, you two told me that a smile could erase all grudges, but that was only to get me to agree to your conditions. Once I refused, you turned your backs on me."

"To be honest, your credibility with me is zero, so I can't trust a single word you say."

Ran Deng Buddha said, "I am a Supreme of Buddhism. I won't lie to you. If you release me, we genuinely can erase our grudges with a smile."

Sha Chen asked, "And what if I don't release you?"

Ran Deng Buddha replied, "If you don't release me, all of Buddhism will be at odds with you. You've already killed Maitreya Buddha. If you kill me too, how can Buddhism maintain its dignity?"

"Then, even if they truly intended to erase grudges with a smile, it would become impossible. I still command some authority within Buddhism and hold a certain sway in the eyes of the Two Saints of the West. If you release me, I can put in a good word for you before them."

"They could personally decree that all of Buddhism stop troubling you. How does that sound?"

At that moment, Yang Jian and the Three Holy Mother, who were in the cave dwelling, also manifested their avatars. They all tried to persuade Sha Chen not to commit further slaughter.

The Three Holy Mother said, "Big Brother, killing him won't do any good. Moreover, it would truly set you irreconcilably against Buddhism, which is not worth the cost. It's better to trust him this once. Let him return to Buddhism and act as a mediator between you and them."

Ran Deng Buddha quickly added, "Yang Chan is right, River Lord. If you release me, I can also gift you my Ancient Qingming Lamp."

Sha Chen sneered, "A broken lamp? What use is it to me?"

Yang Jian chimed in from the side, "Brother Sha Chen, he does have status within Buddhism. Killing him like this would make it difficult for Buddhism to save face.

"It would be better to set him free. With his status and position, he certainly wouldn't deceive you. If he returns to Buddhism, there could be a buffer between you."

Everyone was urging him, not wanting Sha Chen to completely fall out with Buddhism, and even hoping this could be an opportunity for reconciliation.

Only Sha Chen's gaze remained resolute. He shook his head slightly. "You simply don't understand. My grudge with Buddhism is beyond reconciliation."

"It's not that Buddhism won't spare me; it's that I cannot spare Buddhism." He snorted coldly. "Buddhism has provoked me multiple times, constantly sending people to disturb my rest, even attempting to take my life and seize my cave dwelling."

He looked around at Yang Jian and the others and said, "As long as I remain here, Buddhism has no intention of letting go. They want my cave dwelling; they want the secret to my increasing strength."

"Since they are unwilling to let things be and have repeatedly provoked me, why should I humor them with false kindness?"

Yang Jian and the others fell silent for a moment. Upon exchanging glances, they all found Sha Chen's words quite reasonable.

Suddenly, Yang Jian said, "Brother Sha Chen makes sense. The rift between you and Buddhism is even deeper and more irreconcilable than the grudge between me and the Heavenly Court."

"If I were to surrender, the Heavenly Court might spare my life. But if you compromise with Buddhism, they would demand even more. Even if they don't take your life, they'll covet your wealth and secrets."

The Three Holy Mother's heart was completely with Sha Chen. Hearing this, she immediately said, "Then kill him. Keeping him alive is just inviting trouble; you can't let the tiger return to the mountain."

The Spider Spirit and the Six-Eared Macaque also agreed with executing Ran Deng Buddha. This sent Ran Deng's heart plummeting into an abyss; his face became unspeakably grim, and his eyes filled with terror.

But Ran Deng knew pleading for mercy was useless now. If Sha Chen were so easily swayed, his power wouldn't have increased so rapidly.

At their level of cultivation, everything was a matter of pros and cons. One would not let others' pleas or curses affect their emotions or Dao-heart.

Sha Chen's determination to kill him was unbreakable and unshakable. Therefore, even if Ran Deng kowtowed until his head broke or pleaded to the heavens, it would be pointless.

Ran Deng, knowing he couldn't escape, threatened, "Even if I don't live, I won't let you live either!"

"I offer my blood to Xuanyuan! With my body brimming with Buddhist power, I shall transform into this green lamp and burn down your entire Flowing Sand River!"

He then infused all his Buddhist Law, vital essence, and spirit into the green lamp. Instantly, a multitude of fiery sparks shot forth from it, powerful enough to scorch mountains and boil seas.

Ran Deng Buddha declared, "Even in death, I can enter the cycle of reincarnation and be reborn as a Shariputra! Since I cannot live, I will not let you live either!"

Then, he actually chose to self-destruct! An overwhelmingly powerful force unfurled, causing Sha Chen's expression to change.

Sha Chen quickly threw out the Chaos Bell, enveloping his entire cave dwelling within it. Simultaneously, he opened his mouth and astonishingly swallowed the torrent of flames.

However, an immensely destructive force accompanied it, instantly annihilating the Shiva World he had conjured. Before this overwhelming power, the spatial torrents were rendered utterly useless.

Sha Chen also, in that same instant, tore through space and retreated into his cave dwelling.

He then quickly formed hand seals, unleashing immense spatial power. From within his cave dwelling, he tore open numerous rifts in the fabric of space outside, attempting to channel the destructive force into the void currents.

「High above the Flowing Sand River」

Tathagata brought his palms together, chanted a Buddha's name, and sighed, "Why did it have to come to this?"

"Amitabha!"

Then, his eyes filled with a fervent gleam. Such a powerful destructive force... Sha Chen's cave dwelling surely cannot withstand it! If I were to return now, I might be able to capture a grievously injured Sha Chen.

However, after careful consideration, he abandoned this reckless idea.

Clenching his teeth, he chose to turn and depart, heading back to Lingjiu Mountain.

Now that Ran Deng Buddha had perished, all of Buddhism would be united against Sha Chen, set to confront him collectively.

Moreover, without Ran Deng Buddha to share the worship and merit, Tathagata could gain even more, further increasing his strength.

Tathagata had not come away empty-handed from his clash with Sha Chen.

The defiance and unyielding spirit he had felt during the battle affected his state of mind, causing subtle changes to his usual composure, which typically remained unshaken even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him.

His temperament had become somewhat volatile, yet Tathagata discovered that his strength seemed to have grown. The merit and faith within his body were burning brightly.

For some unknown reason, Tathagata had a strong feeling that he was gaining the approval of the Heavenly Dao.