Chapter 144: Chapter 138: Life is a Play, All Depends on Acting Skills【Seeking Subscription and Monthly Tickets】_1
The resources Chang E gave were absurdly abundant. Sha Chen only glanced at them briefly and realized that this rich lady had three times more than the entire fortune of the Dragon Girl. And these were just what she carried with her; there must be even more back in her Guanghan Palace. Sha Chen’s eyes went wide with astonishment.
However, it was a pity that not many of these resources were suitable for cultivation, and not all the cultivation resources were a good fit for Sha Chen. Some were tailored to specific constitutions. For example, many of these cultivation resources were suitable for those with cold and yin constitutions, whereas Sha Chen cultivated both water and fire, lacking any cultivation in the Cold Ice System. Therefore, they weren’t very useful to him. The only thing he could do was convert them into elixirs and then sell them to others.
But still, Chang E gave him so much that he simply couldn’t accept it all. After all, knowing when you’ve had enough is key, and he was clear on that. Giving him resources this time might mean Chang E would take a long time before she gave him more in the future. By refusing some now, to Chang E, it would seem that Sha Chen was always struggling just to get by. What difference is there between a man with many Magical Tools but no way to use them to increase his cultivation and a beggar living in a house of gold but with nothing to eat?
Sha Chen coughed and frowned, then said, "Girl, what are you implying? Are you looking down on me?"
It wouldn’t hurt to play a trick, he thought.
Chang E panicked and hurriedly said, "Brother, you’ve misunderstood, I didn’t mean to look down on you."
She was genuinely flustered. Giving Sha Chen resources out of the blue could be taken as looking down on him. A man’s pride is a serious matter. It was just a fleeting thought; she felt sorry for Sha Chen, who seemed poor and neglected in his cultivation here, surrounded by Magical Tools but devoid of other cultivation resources. Since she had wealth, it was natural for her to want to support him.
But she forgot that Sha Chen was a man, and not just any man but one who was indifferent to fame and fortune, aspiring to live a quiet and peaceful life—a truly great man. Such a person, seemingly indifferent, was in fact incredibly proud and self-assured on the inside. How could someone like that accept resources from a woman? Wouldn’t that be a slap in his face?
Chang E instantly felt like she had done something wrong and became anxious. I might ruin my place in his heart and cause a misunderstanding! That would be dreadful, she worried.
"Brother, you’ve really got me wrong," she blurted out in her agitation. "I just felt that you’re working so hard here in such poverty, and I couldn’t bear it."
Sha Chen said, "Are you implying I can’t support myself?"
Feigning anger, he pointed to the fields of Immortal Rice and the immature flowers and plants which, though plentiful, weren’t good examples. Then he pointed towards his storage cellar but stopped, remembering there were still quite a few resources inside. So he circled his hand and then patted his chest, saying, "Can’t I, a grown man, support myself?"
"Even though I live in poverty and painfully lack cultivation resources, I still haven’t fallen so low as to rely on a woman to keep me alive."
Chang E became frantic, realizing that Sha Chen was genuinely upset!
She rushed to say, "Brother, I, I, I really didn’t mean that, these are just welcome gifts for you. We’re siblings after all, and a welcome gift is still necessary, otherwise, I’d be too ashamed to see you again."
She feigned anger as well but actually wanted to force Sha Chen to accept the gifts.
Sha Chen frowned, but inwardly, he was delighted. His expression changed, and to Chang E, it appeared that he was struggling—torn between his own dignity and his sister’s happiness and anger. He was weighing his options.
Eventually, Sha Chen felt that was enough; the act was complete, any more would be overdoing it. He then sighed and said, "Girl, I know you mean well. I’ll accept your welcome gift, but don’t give so much in the future, or else I won’t welcome you."
He didn’t dare say not to give anything at all, he thought. Otherwise, Chang E, being the straightforward girl she was, might really stop bringing gifts, and then he might as well drown himself in the Flowing Sand River.
Chang E nodded again and again, overjoyed in her heart. In the end, Sha Chen chose to make her happy and took the items, setting aside some of his pride. She was thrilled because Sha Chen had considered her feelings.
Sha Chen endured the pain in his heart as he took the Qiankun Bag and pulled out most of the resources he couldn’t use, wrapping them up in another bag. He kept a portion that he could use and the precious Elixir ingredients that could be made into expensive Immortal Pills. The rest, he handed back to Chang E with ’tears’ in his eyes, saying sternly, "Take these back. They suit your cultivation better. Don’t give them all to me."
Chang E said, "Brother, but I want to give them to you."
Sha Chen glared and said, "Take them back."
His tone was unmistakable. If Chang E doesn’t take these back now, I won’t be able to stop myself from keeping them all! he thought, panicking slightly. If she feels she gave too much this time and refuses to give more later, I’ll have nowhere to cry!
Chang E didn’t want to upset him and knew that Sha Chen’s pride was getting in the way; after all, he was a man uninterested in wealth or fame. So she took them back, but in her heart, she resolved to bring Sha Chen even more resources next time.
Sha Chen was happy to receive the resources but also worried that the straightforward Chang E might skip the gift-giving part in the future. Therefore, he decided to turn it into a tradition—not a welcome gift, but a parting gift instead. Every time she visits, she should bring something. Isn’t that just proper? he mused. But how do I establish this meaningful tradition? Sha Chen pondered, a slight headache forming. Normally, such things involved an exchange of equally valued gifts to be considered proper.
But I just can’t bear to part with my own treasures, he thought. Upon second thought, he decided to take out the wholesale goods again.
Sha Chen said, "Girl, may your brother inquire about your cultivation progress?"
Chang E replied, "I’m far less skillful than my brother, what’s there to inquire about?"
Sha Chen smiled and said, "Just let me take a look, it’s all right."
Chang E’s face turned red and she said, "You can look, but you mustn’t touch."
Something’s amiss, Sha Chen thought, stunned for a moment.
Chang E took a few steps back and began to demonstrate her cultivation, which was at the peak of Greater Primordial Golden Immortal. At the same time, she displayed various Divine Powers and spells, all of which were common and repetitive, specializing in the Cold Ice System and Swordsmanship. She had deficiencies in speed, strength, defense, and agility. Actually, quite a few areas were lacking, but these were the main ones relatively speaking.
Sha Chen said, "Girl, your brother can’t just take so much from you for nothing. Although your cultivation is high, I’m afraid it will be difficult for you to step into the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm."
Chang E actually had quite some confidence in herself, but Sha Chen could tell at a glance that she wasn’t up to par. If it were anyone else, she would have turned against them by now. But if Sha Chen thought she wasn’t up to par, then she wasn’t. Even if she was, she wasn’t.
Chang E said, "Brother, indeed, the Daluo Golden Immortal is not easy to achieve. It requires a profound accumulation of Divine Power, a transcendental realization, as well as talent and opportunity, and a high-grade Cultivation Technique." She shook her head with a bitter smile and continued, "Although I’ve been around the Heavenly Court for many years, I’m without a sect, like a rootless duckweed. My Cultivation Technique is nothing out of the ordinary. I’m afraid for a million years to come, my cultivation will remain the same."
After all, she was somewhat confident in her own talents, but she lacked the opportunity, ascendant techniques, and the understanding of the Daluo Golden Immortal. However, achieving these would require the guidance of a sect. Ever since her husband died, she had lost her support. In the Heavenly Court, without any backing, she could only rely on herself. Carving out a life there was already difficult enough; advancing further was even more so.
She also wished to use her connections and relationships to ask the Jade Emperor or some other bigwigs for a Cultivation Method or insights into the Da Luo Method. But it all came to nothing; such things were invaluable, so how could they possibly be easily given to her? Even if the Jade Emperor harbored ulterior motives toward her, often inviting her to dance, it was still impossible for him to impart a Cultivation Method to her or tutor her in the secrets of the Da Luo. At most, he would give her some trivial resources, like most of the things she gave to Sha Chen, which were bestowed upon her. As for Cultivation Techniques, insights, methods, and mental cultivation approaches that could improve her own powers, she had none of them.
Chang E was distressed by this, and she knew that the Heavenly Court also didn’t want her to become a Daluo Golden Immortal; otherwise, she would be even harder to control. Once her status multiplied, the Jade Emperor would not be able to invite her to dance so easily anymore. And the immortals would not dare to come to her doorstep. Thus, without any backing, Chang E, in Guanghan Palace, would probably find it difficult to advance any further in her lifetime. That was her fate, unchangeable. Nor would anyone truly take a woman like Chang E—who had abandoned her husband and son to ascend to the heavens—into their fold. She had resigned herself to it.
When Sha Chen brought it up, she felt somewhat disappointed, as well as a mix of panic and insecurity. Sha Chen himself was also at the peak of the Greater Primordial Golden Immortal. Just over a hundred years ago, he was merely a True Immortal, yet now he had reached his current state. He had a limitless future; stepping into the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm was within immediate reach.
When that happens, he’ll undoubtedly distance himself from me. Could I still be of any help to him then? she wondered. Would he still value me?
Chang E felt a flutter of panic, but Sha Chen just smiled and asked, "Do you wish to step into the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm?"
Chang E froze for a moment, thinking she had heard wrong. Confused, she asked, "Brother, what do you mean?"
Sha Chen said, "I’m asking you if you wish to step into the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm."
Without hesitation, Chang E replied, "I dream of it."
Sha Chen said, "I’ll help you."
Chang E exclaimed in astonishment, "Brother, how will you teach me?"
I don’t believe it! He isn’t even a Daluo Golden Immortal himself, yet he claims he’ll help me? she thought. But I don’t want to show it. I’ll just wait until he can’t help me, then say it’s my own problem. After all, if he’s going to help me, we’ll surely have many opportunities to be alone together. I’m quite looking forward to that! she thought, a hint of anticipation in her heart.
Yet Sha Chen simply smiled and said, "You lack the Cultivation Technique to ascend to Daluo Golden Immortal. You also lack the guidance of a high-level Daluo Golden Immortal and don’t know the secrets of stepping into the Da Luo realm. As for your accumulation of power, it has long been sufficient."
Chang E nodded; these were indeed her shortcomings, but they were impossible to change.
Sha Chen smiled and said, "I will pass on to you the Eight-Nine Profound Art, one of the Three Thousand Taoist Methods, and its end is far beyond that of a Daluo Golden Immortal."
Chang E was overjoyed and said, "Brother, really?"
"Of course," Sha Chen nodded with a smile. "Moreover, I will also teach you the secrets of entering the Da Luo Golden Immortal Realm, as well as the methods for cultivating within it."
Chang E was stunned. The fact that Sha Chen possessed the Eight-Nine Profound Art was enough to shock and make her suspicious. And now he’s going to impart the Da Luo Method to me? How could he possibly know that?!