Chapter 146: Chapter 140: Hatred for Wife-Snatching, Irreconcilable Differences【Seeking Subscription, Monthly Tickets】_1
Kui Mulang was still causing a ruckus over the Flowing Sand River. His demonic aura shot up to the skies. Even though he was also at the peak realm of a Greater Primordial Golden Immortal, his momentum was much more formidable than that of Immortal Ruyi earlier. But no matter how much he fussed, Sha Chen simply ignored him.
"Damned demoted general, come out! In the Heavenly Court, you weren’t even qualified to wipe my shoes or lead my horse, and you dare to meddle with my woman?"
"The hatred of stealing a wife is unbearable! If you don’t come out today, I, your lord, will drain your Flowing Sand River, destroy your cave dwelling, and flay and debone you!"
Kui Mulang howled and roared, unable to contain his fury.
Within the formation, Chang E furrowed her brows, glared at Sha Chen, and said with full jealousy, "Brother, you’ve taken someone else’s wife?"
Yet in her heart, she was thinking, with me right here—available, more beautiful than Bai Huaxiu, and posing no risk of an adulterous scandal—why would you reject me and go chasing after someone else?
She looked down at her own "assets." Am I not good enough?
A grudge over a stolen wife?
Sha Chen’s face darkened as he said, "How could I possibly do such an outrageous and unreasonable thing?"
Chang E breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Then what is going on?"
Sha Chen then recounted the incident when Bai Huaxiu had come here to confess her feelings, and how he had expelled her.
Chang E’s expression became strange as she said, "Brother, I have also seen the Pixiang Jade Maiden. She is indeed a tall and elegant beauty. She threw herself into your arms and had feelings for you, yet you rejected her?"
Sha Chen said matter-of-factly, "Just a pretty skeleton. Who knows if she was only after the comfort of this place?"
Chang E was bewildered.
At the same time, her feelings were complex and joyful. Sha Chen was a straight man, not tempted by other seductive vixens, which made her happy. But it also made things more difficult for her.
Chang E said, "Since brother is innocent, then we shouldn’t let Li Xiong tarnish your reputation. Let me go and make things clear."
Sha Chen said, "If you go out now, you’ll really be harming me. I don’t want outsiders to know about our relationship."
Chang E paused for a moment before saying, "Brother, if outsiders knew of our relationship, perhaps they would consider my feelings and not target you so much."
Sha Chen shook his head, smiling. "It’s not that I look down upon you, sister, but if outsiders knew of our relationship, they would surely add fuel to the fire, and even misunderstand us."
Seeing that Chang E still wanted to argue, Sha Chen could only say, "If others knew about our relationship, wouldn’t they know I passed the Eight-Nine Profound Art to you? And I don’t want others to know that."
Chang E, stunned, asked, "But why?"
Sha Chen said, "I like to keep a low profile, unknown to others; it would be best if everyone thought I were dead."
Chang E was shocked for a moment, unable to recover her senses for a long time.
After a moment of silence, she said, "Brother, you really are extraordinary, detached from fame and fortune to such an extent; I fear even Buddhism couldn’t compare."
Sha Chen chuckled. "Buddhism is not detached from fame and fortune."
He said no more; those who understood would understand.
Chang E thought for a moment, then nodded. "So we just let him bully you and tarnish your reputation like this?"
Sha Chen said, "A good reputation won’t fill my stomach. If he enjoys slandering me, let him."
Chang E was indignant, as she cared the most about her reputation. Even if many in the Heavenly Realm gossiped about her, they did not dare to do so to her face, nor did they dare let her know they were discussing her behind her back. However, since Sha Chen didn’t care, she was powerless to help.
Sha Chen continued to watch Kui Mulang curse and swear outside, while he remained indifferent and unperturbed. He even asked Chang E with interest, "How is your cultivation coming along?"
Chang E said, "I’ve already switched to cultivating the Eight-Nine Profound Art. Brother, when will you pass the latter part to me?"
Sha Chen said, "Right now."
He then leaned close to Chang E’s ear, whispering in a low voice, passing the latter part of the Eight-Nine Profound Art to her. Chang E listened with revived energy, her eyes brightening, her ears reddening, and her body invigorated.
After memorizing it, Sha Chen let her go to find a place and continue her cultivation and understanding.
Before leaving, Chang E said, "Brother, are you sure you don’t want my help?"
She was genuinely upset by Kui Mulang’s curses from above; it was as if the insults pained her more than if she herself had been the one insulted.
Sha Chen, smiling cheerfully, told her not to worry about it.
Only then did Chang E withdraw. To shield herself from the insults, she chose a palace, closed the doors, and set up a soundproof barrier.
Seeing this, Sha Chen shook his head slightly.
Still so young, lacking even this bit of composure.
Sha Chen chuckled. Instead of continuing his cultivation, he took out some medicinal materials and started refining Immortal Pills.
Outside, Kui Mulang continued to hurl insults, demanding that Sha Chen come out and face his death. He even tried to split open the Flowing Sand River. But he focused on killing; with his sharp sword techniques, powerful mana, and vast divine powers, he couldn’t completely level the Flowing Sand River. Every time he split the Flowing Sand River, it quickly restored itself.
Furious, he broke through the Flowing Sand River, found the location of Sha Chen’s formation, and started to fiercely attack it. Sha Chen glanced at it and continued to ignore it.
"It has been discovered that the host is being attacked at his cave dwelling by the Lucky Person, Kui Mulang. You have the following choices."
"Option one: Immediately counterattack, defeat or even kill Kui Mulang, and obtain [Muyi Essence Qi]. Muyi Essence Qi: Contains the essence of the wood element. Refining it can increase the body’s affinity for wood properties, which is greatly beneficial for cultivating wood element divine powers and cultivation techniques."
"Option two: Do nothing and wait for Kui Mulang to leave on his own, and obtain [Earth Element Qi]. Earth Element Qi: Contains the essence of the earth element. Refining it can increase the body’s affinity for earth properties, which is greatly beneficial for cultivating earth element divine powers and cultivation techniques."
Upon seeing the options, Sha Chen, who was engaged in alchemy, couldn’t help but smile knowingly. His constitution was originally a combination of earth and water elements. Previously, he had obtained Gong Gong Essence Blood, which had greatly enhanced his constitution and increased his affinity for the water element. The entire Flowing Sand River could be at his command. Now, if he could obtain the Earth Element Qi, his physical body would become even more perfect, making the cultivation techniques and divine powers he practiced even more powerful.
Sha Chen felt that if he completely refined the Earth Element Qi, his physical body could undergo a world-shattering transformation.
He made his choice without hesitation: to do nothing. This was his original plan anyway.
Kui Mulang rampaged outside for three days and three nights, turning the Flowing Sand River into a mess. But no matter how much he raged, the Flowing Sand River quickly returned to normal. Kui Mulang understood that all of this must be Sha Chen’s doing. Sha Chen knew he had come but simply refused to emerge. This made him even more enraged.
"You coward, only hiding inside the formation! If you have the guts, come out and fight me one-on-one! I’ll even give you a handicap!"
"You dared to seduce my woman! The hatred of having one’s wife stolen is irreconcilable. I won’t let you off. You had the nerve to do it, why not come out and face the consequences?"
Kui Mulang was roaring, continuing to assault the formation. However, Sha Chen still did nothing, just waiting for him to leave in order to receive his reward.
The Immortals also seemed to know what was happening here but all turned a blind eye.
At this time, Li Changgeng arrived at the abode of Wen Zhong, the chief god of the Thunder Department.
Li Changgeng said, "Taoist Master Wen, are you aware of His Majesty’s concerns regarding Sha Chen?"
Wen Zhong replied, "I know."
Li Changgeng laughed. "Knowing that, does Master Wen have anything to say, or anything you wish to do?"
Wen Zhong replied, "Fully cooperate with His Majesty’s wishes, and make the Great General for Folding the Curtain willingly give up his cave dwelling and endure the suffering."
Li Changgeng nodded and laughed. "That is His Majesty’s intention, but he doesn’t wish for Sha Chen to know. You understand my meaning, right?"
Wen Zhong frowned slightly, then nodded. "I understand."
Li Changgeng asked, "So, what do you plan to do, Master Wen?"
Wen Zhong replied, "Use the Nine Heaven Divine Thunder. Bombard Flowing Sand River day and night without rest, so that he endures the Punishment of Five Thunders every single day."
Li Changgeng laughed. "Isn’t that a bit too cruel?"
The Punishment of Five Thunders was a divine retribution, no less severe than Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart. If Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart tormented the viscera and spirit more intensely, then the Punishment of Five Thunders was a torment to the physical body. Li Changgeng had realized that Sha Chen was no longer affected by Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart and decided to find a new approach by involving the Thunder God to apply the Punishment of Five Thunders. He didn’t believe that Sha Chen, who could withstand Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart, could also withstand the Punishment of Five Thunders. After all, Immortals focused on cultivating the Primordial Spirit and Mana; those with powerful physical bodies were mostly demons and monsters.
The only one who had ever withstood the Punishment of Five Thunders was Sun Wukong. And Sun Wukong merely endured it for three days and nights on the Heavenly Thunder Platform; the Heavenly Court did not continue the thundering afterward. If it had continued, perhaps even Sun Wukong of that time would have been unable to bear it.
Li Changgeng, however, was not quite satisfied and said, "Master Wen, although your Five Thunders are formidable, they couldn’t even hurt the Stable Minister back then. Sha Chen’s current strength surpasses that of the Stable Minister at that time. Will it work?"
Master Wen said, "At that time, the Five Thunders were invoked with the Thunder Chisel, and Lei Zhenzi’s mana was low, so it was natural that they couldn’t harm Sun Wukong, who had a strong physical body. But now, if His Majesty requires it, I can use the Thunder Chisel, Thunder God Hammer, Electrum Drum, and the Thunder Attracting Needle. These four divine artifacts can create the Nine Heaven Divine Thunder Formation. I will have the eight thunder gods under me take turns to drive it, summoning divine thunder throughout the day and night without rest."
He stroked his beard, saying, "By then, the power will be a hundred times that of the Punishment of Five Thunders Sun Wukong endured. I’m afraid he will be turned to ashes in an instant, ruining His Majesty’s plan."
Li Changgeng’s eyes shone. "That is the best plan."
Then he worriedly added, "But I’m also afraid that he won’t be able to withstand it all at once and would be struck to death by the thunder, which would be problematic. Let’s start with the original power and see. If it doesn’t work, we’ll increase it tenfold. If that’s still not enough, then a hundredfold."
Wen Zhong nodded in agreement, then summoned his generals and gave orders regarding the matter.
「In the outer area.」
Someone came in—it was Lei Zhenzi—who said, "Master Wen, demonic qi is soaring into the sky from the Flowing Sand River. We investigated and found Kui Mulang. He has become a demon in the mortal realm and is causing extensive damage. Should we capture him?"
Wen Zhong was stunned momentarily, then looked to Li Changgeng.
At this time, Li Changgeng’s expression turned peculiar. "Pay no attention to it. It seems the plan I offered to His Majesty back then is taking effect. After so many years without seeing any action from him, I almost thought he was a eunuch."
He then stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
Lei Zhenzi looked at Wen Zhong, puzzled.
Wen Zhong, who had been the advisor to King Zhou during the era of Divine Enthronement, naturally understood conspiracies and tricks very well. With a bit of deduction, and based on his understanding of Li Changgeng, the Jade Emperor, and the current situation, he realized that Kui Mulang’s behavior was undoubtedly instigated by Li Changgeng.
At the same time, he silently mourned for Sha Chen. With Kui Mulang personally taking action, how could Sha Chen possibly survive?