Chapter 159: Chapter 153: Guanyin Tests Jin Chanzi’s Zen Heart【Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets】_1
What Sha Chen despised was precisely what Chang E found repulsive.
She could feel Sha Chen’s murderous intent and naturally bore no goodwill towards Taoist Master Gou either.
Impatient, she said, "I will return to the heavens right away, find a few beautiful maidservants to falsely accuse him of indecency, and let him taste the consequences of being framed."
Sha Chen said, "There’s no rush. Just remember this incident."
He still had tasks for Chang E. Striking at Taoist Master Gou was merely convenient.
Chang E asked, "Brother, do you have other matters?"
Sha Chen replied, "Have you forgotten? I am to teach you the Da Luo Method, and you still don’t even know the basics. Are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Chang E’s face turned slightly red. She didn’t want to leave at all. If possible, she wished to stay here and accompany Sha Chen forever.
When Sha Chen was imparting the Da Luo Method to Chang E, he also held back, needing to impart it bit by bit to ensure Chang E would visit often. Then she would continue to serve him loyally for a long time.
During this period, Sha Chen also dug out the Thousands of green jade lotus roots from the pond and used the Panlong Alchemy Furnace to refine them. He planned to refine them into a physical body, which he would later have Chang E take to his incarnation. His incarnation, Hanshan, was still in the state of a Primordial Spirit, constantly practicing the Sutra of Immortality and the Spirit Summoning Decree to strengthen its Primordial Spirit.
However, without a physical body, something was ultimately lacking, he mused. With the Biyu Lotus Root body, its achievements would also be greater. Moreover, this body could prevent the incarnation’s spirit from being forcibly extracted, thus keeping many secrets safe. It was known that in the later stages of the Journey to the West, Wutian couldn’t even extract Nezha’s spirit precisely because of Nezha’s Biyu Lotus Root body. Sha Chen also wanted to create such a body for his incarnation so it could serve him better and, in the next life, continue to stay by the side of the pilgrim.
As for the pilgrim, Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, he had already left the Flowing Sand River and continued towards the West on his Journey to the West.
However, just as Sha Chen had predicted, Buddhism was indeed not at ease. They dispatched various demons to test him, and some Buddhist followers even personally intervened to probe the pilgrim’s reality. They wanted to know what, ultimately, the pilgrim had experienced in the Flowing Sand River.
But they were unable to find out. Eventually, they even startled Guanyin Bodhisattva. She took matters into her own hands and, on the way, tried to test Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation by challenging his Zen heart.
Upon seeing Guanyin Bodhisattva appear personally, the reincarnated Jin Chanzi was somewhat excited, yet his resolve grew even firmer. Everything was as Sha Chen had said, and he wasn’t foolish. Guanyin had come straight to the point, inquiring about the Flowing Sand River. All of this corroborated Sha Chen’s words, which made him trust Sha Chen even more and naturally left him with no better impression of Buddhism. He was also grateful that he had heeded Sha Chen’s advice and not chosen to cultivate Dao techniques in this life.
His heart also harbored some sorrow, for in this life he was ultimately fated to die. Fortunately, he could reincarnate with his memories intact. In the next life, he would still have the memories of this life, tantamount to reliving a lifetime.
The reincarnated Jin Chanzi disclosed everything he knew from his memories, holding nothing back. This too was in accordance with Sha Chen’s instructions because the reincarnated Jin Chanzi could not lie in front of Guanyin. Thus, he could only spill everything.
But he could not reveal the memories sealed by Sha Chen; in fact, the reincarnated Jin Chanzi did not remember them at all. Only when he reincarnated and reached a certain age would the seal naturally break. At that time, he would regain all his memories.
Guanyin looked at Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation and concluded that the information he provided was insignificant. She only learned that there were many palaces in the Flowing Sand River, that Sha Chen was very afraid of death, possessed an immortal field containing many Elixirs and Immortal Herbs, some Magical Tools, and other cultivation resources. Sha Chen knew many spells and Divine Powers, which he practiced there.
Guanyin saw that the reincarnated Jin Chanzi was telling the truth, without a single lie. She could not be deceived by lies.
Then, she smiled.
As expected, he hid within the Flowing Sand River because he is terrified of death. No wonder he could remain hidden; it turned out he had an immortal field and ample cultivation resources, she thought.
She understood. No wonder Sha Chen’s cultivation improved by leaps and bounds. It was because he had the backing of resources, allowing him to be self-sufficient.
But, according to Jin Chanzi, it seemed that the Elixirs and Immortal Herbs in the immortal field hadn’t yet matured, so Sha Chen could only continue his daily cultivation and wait for them to ripen.
She smiled. After his cultivation breakthrough, his previous resources are clearly insufficient. He won’t be able to resist coming out eventually. Moreover, this time, he decisively captured the pilgrim. This obviously caused him great internal struggle; his heart is wavering.
Because Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation also mentioned that Sha Chen had looked at him with a strange glint in his eyes several times, a murderous light that suggested he wanted to kill him. This too was deliberately orchestrated by Sha Chen. Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation was merely playing along, all part of the act to make Guanyin Bodhisattva misunderstand and think Sha Chen was hesitating about whether or not to consume him.
In the end, Sha Chen didn’t dare to eat him and let him go.
However, Guanyin thought that if there was a first time, there would be a second. If Sha Chen didn’t dare this time, he surely would the next time he faced a cultivation bottleneck.
At last, there was some breakthrough, Guanyin mused.
Then, she stopped concerning herself with the life or death of Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation. She simply admonished him to remain firm in his Buddhist faith and continue his Journey to the West. The consequences for Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation were quite apparent.
The events at the Flowing Sand River alarmed many. For the first time, Sha Chen made a spectacular appearance above the Flowing Sand River, crushing celestial soldiers and generals. He sent the Mighty Miracle God and others flying with a single palm strike, a scene even more shocking than when Sun Wukong had wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace. It stunned quite a few people.
The Heavenly Emperor Jade Emperor met with Li Changgeng once again. Both of them had very solemn expressions; especially the Jade Emperor, whose gaze was unfathomably changeable.
"Who would have thought he would grow to such an extent! I truly misjudged him back then," the Jade Emperor said gravely.
Li Changgeng naturally understood what the Jade Emperor meant; he seemed reluctant about having sent Sha Chen to Buddhism. But what was given could not be taken back.
He said, "Your Majesty, the more extraordinary Sha Chen is, the greater the return on Your Majesty’s investment will be. There’s no need to be displeased."
The Jade Emperor seemed to come to terms with it, nodded, and said, "That’s true. Right now, I’m worried that he will no longer be willing to serve the Heavenly Court."
This concern was not without reason. Now that Sha Chen had become strong enough, would he still remember the Heavenly Court’s grace? Moreover, if he joined Buddhism with such strength, much like Sun Wukong, he was bound to be highly valued. If Sha Chen then held a grudge against the Heavenly Court, they would face difficult times. Not to mention the prospect of him becoming their covert operative, serving their cause.
Li Changgeng said, "Your Majesty need not worry. As long as we subdue him before the Journey to the West begins and assign him sufficient culpability, that will suffice."
He grinned. "When he goes on the Journey to the West, it will be to atone for his crimes by performing meritorious deeds. He will surely appreciate Your Majesty’s magnanimity and dare not forget even the slightest bit of it."
The Jade Emperor nodded, then added, "He is very cautious and meticulous in the Flowing Sand River. It won’t be easy for me to incriminate him."
Li Changgeng also stroked his beard, worried about this matter. He wasn’t afraid of Sha Chen causing trouble, but rather that he *wouldn’t* cause any trouble. Sha Chen’s caution and willingness to accept punishment left him speechless.
Just at that moment, Wang Lingguan came in from outside and reported, "Your Majesty, grave news! Red Boy and Jinmaohou fought. Red Boy was beaten half to death by Jinmaohou, which enraged the Bull Demon King. He personally took action and severely injured Jinmaohou."
The Jade Emperor was slightly startled. "They’re only severely injured. Separate them and have them go back to heal."
Wang Lingguan gave a bitter smile. "If only it were that simple. After the Bull Demon King injured Jinmaohou, Red Boy waited until Jinmaohou was recuperating, then sneaked in and killed him."
HISS!!
The Jade Emperor was stunned. "Wasn’t Red Boy half-dead? How did he recover so quickly?"
Wang Lingguan said bitterly, "He was pretending."