CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 100 LI CHANGGENG RETURNS TO THE FLOWING SAND RIVER [SEEKING RECOMMENDATION TICKETS]_1

Fairy Yunlou was in a rage beyond compare.

It was her first time feeling so stifled.

After she had finished venting her anger, she left in dejection.

Returning to Yunlou Palace, she grew angrier as she saw the maids coming and going. Why can they move freely in and out of my place while I was barred from that dump of his? she wondered.

After deep contemplation, she thought to herself, He did say he’d make amends. Maybe I should bring something over to apologize myself someday. After all, my apology, Li Zhenying’s apology, must be acknowledged!

「Flowing Sand River.」

After Sha Chen had sent Fairy Yunlou away, he began to frown.

The actions of Li Zhenying this time, I am unsure if they are her individual thoughts or if they represent the Li Family’s intentions.

It seems I must be even more low-key and gather more shields to avoid their piercing gaze concentrated on me.

Sha Chen thought deeply and pondered over his strategies.

He certainly did not want to be constantly watched and calculated against behind his back.

Regardless of whether Yunlou’s actions represented the Li Family or not, one thing had become clear: Sha Chen was now well-known, drawing much attention.

Even such a naive child dared to trouble him.

No matter what the Li Family’s intentions are, I can’t allow them to monitor me all the time. I have to give them some trouble.

Sha Chen was a cautious and low-profile person who disliked disturbances.

The appearance of Li Zhenying made him realize the crisis at hand.

He had to create crises and troubles for Li Jing and others to divert their focus so they wouldn’t have time to watch him.

But no matter how much he thought about it, Sha Chen couldn’t figure out what to do.

He could only set it aside momentarily.

First, he would claim his reward and cultivate his Downwind Ear ability.

The Downwind Ear ability Sha Chen was cultivating was different from the Thousand-mile Eye and Downwind Ear abilities of the Gao Family brothers in Heavenly Court.

The brothers’ abilities were innate divine powers, while his were granted by the system.

It was certain that he could cultivate it, and once cultivated to the extreme, he could even discern people’s thoughts face to face.

However, the caster must possess significantly more mental strength than the target to probe into their thoughts.

Right now, I’m not considering discerning thoughts but merely cultivating it to listen to the surroundings preemptively. This way, I’ll know if there are any enemies lurking nearby.

Sha Chen’s concerns were always about his safety.

With the Downwind Ear ability, he could better anticipate and preempt his enemies.

No one would be able to ambush him easily.

With any sign of trouble, he could take the first step away.

Cultivating the Downwind Ear was simple, and Sha Chen picked it up quickly. However, mastering it proved quite difficult.

It took him one year to make small progress and another three to achieve great accomplishment.

Having reached great accomplishment with his Downwind Ear, Sha Chen could now listen to the faintest movements within a hundred thousand li from Flowing Sand River.

If it were before, he speculated this would have caused a splitting headache.

Because he did not have such vast amounts of energy and could have been driven to distraction by the noise.

But having cultivated the [Undying Scripture], [Duowen Formula], and [Hero Spirit Formula], his vital energy had been greatly enhanced.

Moreover, capable of multitasking, listening to the whispers of the wind and grass movement was no problem at all.

This way, if anyone thinks of ambushing me from the shadows like Muzha did last time, that will no longer be possible.

Having acquired another life-saving skill, Sha Chen rejoiced within.

He then considered continuing his cultivation.

However, suddenly his ears twitched, and he lifted his eyes to use his divine sight, peering beyond the formation.

Why has he come again?

Sha Chen furrowed his brow; one of the last people he wished to see—Li Changgeng—was approaching.

Li Changgeng descended from the sky and came straight to the perimeter of the formation, his face perpetually smiling.

"General for Folding the Curtain, I’ve come to visit you. Open the formation and invite me in for a couple of drinks," he said.

"I’ve brought half a bottle of osmanthus wine from Guanghan Palace, a truly fine item you probably have never even smelled."

Li Changgeng stood outside the formation, laughing heartily.

He seemed quite hearty.

However, Sha Chen remained silent, frowning, actually keeping his ears tuned to every rustle and whisper within a hundred thousand li.

At the same time, his gaze swept the outside, especially the sky.

He was vigilant toward every living creature. If there was even the slightest issue, he would check it hundreds of times.

Because he was afraid that Li Changgeng might have ambushed some celestial soldiers and generals outside, ready to smash a cup as a signal and overwhelm him as soon as he stepped out.

Li Changgeng had been shouting outside for quite a while, but Sha Chen remained unmoved, seemingly taking it as only natural.

Li Changgeng then made his intentions clear, saying, "General for Folding the Curtain, I am truly here to drink with you, to discuss your future, and also to convey His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s special favor toward you on his behalf."

Sha Chen instantly felt a chill go down his spine, his eyes filled with vigilance.

What kind of great favor did the Jade Emperor have for him?

Could it be that the Jade Emperor wanted to pardon his misdeeds and then summon him back to the heavens?

He would rather die than go; his current situation wasn’t a result of trying to be subservient to others.

Yet, after Li Changgeng had been shouting for quite a long time, Sha Chen still didn’t respond, hoping this would drive him away.

However, he had underestimated Li Changgeng’s patience, as well as his pride.

What status did Li Changgeng have? He was one of the top-ranking officers in the Heavenly Court. To visit a demoted junior and still be left standing outside the door?

He immediately drew his sword, and the sword energy crisscrossed three thousand li, slicing the Flowing Sand River into countless sections and assaulting the formation.

The formation immediately began to waver.

The innermost Apricot Yellow Flag of Wuji shone with bursts of light; golden lotuses vanished and then new ones materialized.

Seeing this from outside, Li Changgeng furrowed his brow. How does this formation resemble the Apricot Yellow Flag so much?

Because the Apricot Yellow Flag was inside the formation, and with various other formations concealing and masking it, he couldn’t make out anything unusual all at once.

It just felt familiar, yet he couldn’t believe it would be possible.

A mere demoted officer, how could he be entitled to such a magical tool?

He continued to assault the formation, wanting to break through it and step inside.

Seeing this, Sha Chen couldn’t pretend to be dead any longer.

He hastily manifested a phantom outside the formation and saluted with clasped hands, "Sir Li, I was tormented by the Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart Formation and passed out. For any neglect of duty, I ask for your understanding."

Li Changgeng measured him up and down, and after confirming it was a phantom, he managed to hold back his urge to capture him.

He sneered internally. This fellow truly won’t speak unless pressured. He’s becoming more and more unruly.

As for Sha Chen claiming to be tormented until he passed out, Li Changgeng didn’t believe it. The Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart Formation couldn’t even deal with the previous version of Sha Chen, let alone affect him now.

This fellow was becoming more cunning.

Li Changgeng, however, switched to a smile and said, "I see. I thought something had befallen you. I was in such a hurry to break in and rescue you."

"Come, come, open the gate of the formation. I’ve brought along half a bottle of osmanthus wine to visit you, and we shall drink until we’re completely inebriated."

Fearing that Sha Chen would not realize the value, he added, "Osmanthus wine is a precious thing. I myself only get a bottle once a year, and this half-bottle leftover is a favor to you."

He made as if to enter the formation.

Sha Chen quickly stopped him, "Such a good thing should be kept to yourself, Sir. I’m not worthy of it."

Li Changgeng said, "You’re always like this, ungrateful. I’ve come to see you, is there any reason to bar me from entering?"

Sha Chen said, "This is just a broken place, unfit for someone of your status to grace."

Li Changgeng said, "If that’s the case, come out in your real body. We’ll drink on the shore. With a wave of my hand, I can create a palace for us."

Sha Chen said, "I examine my behavior three times a day, and I’m still a man of sin. I dare not step half a step out of the Flowing Sand River, please forgive me, Sir."

Li Changgeng became increasingly annoyed.

He was fully submissive to the Jade Emperor, but to Sha Chen, whose status was so much lower than his, he swung his heavy fists.

His original intention was to win him over, but he didn’t expect Sha Chen to be so unappreciative.

He immediately became angry, wanting to smash the osmanthus wine in his hand, turn his face away to show Sha Chen his anger, to make him submit and beg for mercy.

But, he couldn’t bear to do it.

He could only speak coldly, "This isn’t acceptable, that isn’t acceptable, who do you think I am? Someone you can summon or dismiss with a wave of the hand?"

Sha Chen said, "Sir, I didn’t call for you to come."