Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Don’t make the same mistake as the sage Laozi [Seeking votes]_1
On the riverbank, a fight to the death was underway. The Jade Rabbit was on the verge of being killed, her four monstrous assailants’ momentum overwhelming. The only reason a victor had not yet emerged was purely because they wanted to coerce the location of the Nine-leaf Ganoderma Lucidum from her. But the Jade Rabbit refused to speak, much to their annoyance. They planned to cripple her first and then continue their interrogation.
In her heart, the Jade Rabbit despaired, believing she could not escape her fate and was ready to take her own life. "You’ll never find out where the Nine-leaf Ganoderma Lucidum is! Even in death, I won’t reveal it!"
Tears fell from her eyes as she prepared to end her life. Suddenly, Sha Chen’s voice reached her ears, "Xiaoyu, lead them to the Flowing Sand River. I will handle them."
The Jade Rabbit was overjoyed. Weeping with happiness, she thought, The general must have been delayed. After sharing vegetarian meals with me for so long, he surely just had a bout of constipation.
So she fought while retreating, once again arriving near the Flowing Sand River.
The four great demons were all proud and arrogant, having long heard of Sha Chen. His reputation had spread from overseas, so when they had previously tracked their quarry to the vicinity, they hadn’t dared cause trouble immediately. After making inquiries, they learned he was merely a demoted general whose bark was worse than his bite. They had wanted to storm in and kill him, but then they heard that this demoted general was a coward, hiding within a Formation that couldn’t be broken. Worried about alerting the enemy by acting rashly, they had decided to lie in wait outside.
And now, their prey had truly come to them. Returning to the Flowing Sand River, they were no longer concerned about any hidden threats. They were Flood Dragons who soared through the nine heavens; what was a mere demoted general to them?
"Heh, little wench, you want to seek help from that demoted general?" the Ice Dragon Demon burst into laughter. "He’s struggling to save himself! What can he possibly do to save you?" The other three great demons joined in the derisive laughter.
The Jade Rabbit snorted coldly, though her heart was also somewhat worried. Sha Chen is only an early-stage Greater Primordial Golden Immortal, on par with the Ice Dragon Demon. Can he really save me?
At that moment, a colossal hand that blotted out the sun emerged from the Flowing Sand River. In one swift motion, it snatched all four great demons into its grasp.
The great demons paled with fright. The Ice Dragon Demon, though still shaken, snorted dismissively, "A mere demoted general from the Heavenly Court dares to be so presumptuous? Watch as I shatter your palm-print Divine Power!"
He struggled and roared in fury, trying to force Sha Chen’s palm open. He strained once, twice, thrice...
The Ice Dragon Demon sneered, "You’ve got some skill, but your strength is mediocre at best." Then, opening its mouth, it sprayed icy dragon breath, intent on freezing Sha Chen’s arm solid before breaking free.
Ice shards covered the giant hand that blotted out the sun. However, before the Ice Dragon Demon could celebrate, the arm vibrated, shattering the ice. Then, the hand clenched tightly, holding the demon as if it were a repulsive insect.
The other three great demons had already been crushed to death. Their three round Golden Cores flew out, attempting to flee. Another hand emerged from the water, capturing them.
Simultaneously, a finger extended from the first hand, poking towards the Ice Dragon Demon’s head, about to crush it.
In terror, the Ice Dragon Demon begged for mercy, "Spare my life, Exalted God, spare my life! This lowly demon realizes its mistake! Please forgive my offense!"
However, the finger continued its descent.
In a rage, the demon shrieked, "You puny god! I am a subordinate of the Nine-headed Saint! If you kill me, the Nine-headed Saint will not let you off! He is a king from overseas!"
Sha Chen indeed paused his hand. His voice boomed out, "If I spare you, can we consider this matter concluded?"
Thinking Sha Chen was scared, the Ice Dragon Demon snorted, "Wishful thinking! Not unless you kneel and beg for mercy, then personally go overseas to make a humble apology and accept punishment!"
SPLAT!
Sha Chen’s finger jabbed down, directly crushing the Ice Dragon Demon. His cold voice echoed, "Then I’d rather just kill you."
I had intended to reconcile,
Sha Chen thought, but to have me go overseas to make a humble apology and accept punishment? With the outside world so dangerous, how could I possibly agree? Since that’s the case, I might as well see this through to the end. Killing them resolves the issue. Hidden within the Formation, even the Nine-headed Saint can’t get in.Sha Chen snatched the Ice Dragon Demon’s Golden Core and drew it back into the Formation, ecstatically erasing their consciousnesses. These demons, having achieved a certain level of cultivation, all possessed an internal Golden Core, the source of their Mana. Although the power of a Golden Core rapidly dissipates once separated from the body, if devoured swiftly, its essence can be absorbed.
After erasing the consciousnesses of the four great demons, Sha Chen immediately activated his devouring Divine Power and consumed them. The Mana within his body surged rapidly, filling him with elation. He became deeply immersed in cultivation, not even having time to refine the Nine-dragon Divine Fire Cover.
Outside the Formation, the Jade Rabbit, having narrowly escaped death, was still in shock. She looked at the tranquil Flowing Sand River with a dazed gaze. The general saved me! I’m so moved, I want to bear him a litter of bunnies!
The Jade Rabbit offered her thanks three times. Receiving no response, she was even more moved. The general saved me and thought nothing of it, yet his kindness to me is as weighty as a mountain. I should leave quickly to avoid bringing him trouble.
And so, she departed.
「In the heavens.」
Great White Planet rushed anxiously to the Bright Palace. "Your Majesty, what matter is so pressing that you summoned this old servant?" Li Changgeng asked with a bow.
The Jade Emperor, his face expressionless, stated, "Thousand-mile Eye has reported that Juanlian, in the Flowing Sand River, has killed four overseas demon dragons. Three of them were at the peak of the Golden Immortal rank. Their leader was the Ice Soul Demon, who has the cultivation of a Greater Primordial Golden Immortal."
Li Changgeng gasped sharply. "HISS!"
"How can this be!" he exclaimed in shock. "How is this possible? Since when did Sha Chen become so powerful that he can kill a Greater Primordial Golden Immortal?!"
The Jade Emperor slammed his hand on the table in anger. "I should be asking you! How did you handle matters? How is he getting stronger and stronger?"
Li Changgeng hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, please do not worry. Even if he has reached the Greater Primordial Golden Immortal realm, it doesn’t matter. Kui Mulang and the other twenty-eight constellations all see him as a thorn in their side. He will soon be suppressed."
The Jade Emperor snorted coldly. "That matter has been pending for quite some time. Haven’t they made a move yet?"
Li Changgeng said awkwardly, "Soon, Your Majesty, soon. This old servant also didn’t expect Sha Chen to refuse the Jade Maiden and even tell her he’d rather she just die."
The Jade Emperor’s cheek twitched. "The Jade Maiden is one of the foremost, peerlessly beautiful fairies under my command, and he simply disregards her?"
Li Changgeng nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."
The Jade Emperor sighed deeply. Could there be something unusual about Sha Chen’s preferences? he wondered.
"What about Tianpeng?" the Jade Emperor asked casually.
Li Changgeng replied, "Soon, Your Majesty, soon."
BANG!
The Jade Emperor slammed the table and stood up. "Soon again? Are you trying to placate me?!"
Li Changgeng wiped sweat from his brow. "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. For some reason, Tianpeng’s cultivation has been progressing by leaps and bounds lately, and there’s hardly anything that can easily tempt him now."
The Jade Emperor said, "He is known for his lust and fondness for drink."
Li Changgeng explained, "Previously, we schemed using several demonesses, even having the White Bone Saint’s favored female disciple, the White Bone Demon, attempt to seduce him, but he saw through those plots as well."
The Jade Emperor frowned. "What’s the matter with this fellow? Find a time and enlighten him directly."
Li Changgeng sighed. "This old servant has tried, Your Majesty, but he is prejudiced against me. As soon as I bring up serious matters, he complains about this old servant and even dismisses me."
The Jade Emperor sneered. "So, he’s blaming me." His eyes flickered. "Increase the pressure, but don’t burn bridges. They are my link for communication with Buddhism."
He sighed deeply. "We cannot allow them to harbor resentment against me and the Heavenly Court."
Li Changgeng suggested, "Perhaps this old servant could visit them in person another day and present them with some fine gifts?"
The Jade Emperor considered this for a moment and then nodded. He also felt a bit stifled. The candidates for the pilgrimage were his gift to Buddhism, but they were also his bridge for communication with them. For this reason, he had to suppress Juanlian and Tianpeng on one hand, while playing the benevolent figure on the other. They couldn’t be allowed to completely sever ties. Otherwise, if they fully sided with Buddhism, he would have made the same mistake as the sage Laozi.