CHAPTER 101: CHAPTER 101 LI CHANGGENG’S FURTHER INVITATION [SEEKING RECOMMENDATION VOTES]_1

Chapter 101

Li Changgeng was instantly enraged.

"What, an old man like myself isn’t allowed to come here?"

Sha Chen was momentarily stunned.

All old ruffians should be slain.

For a moment, he didn’t know what this old ruffian was up to by coming here. Was he possibly seeking a confrontation? But that didn’t quite seem likely.

As for holding half a bottle of wine and seeking to have a drinking bout with him.

It seemed more like this old man wanted to pick a quarrel instead; half a bottle of wine wasn’t even enough for a mouthwash, yet he wanted to get drunk!

He had dozens of urns buried in his cellar, enough to mix into several hundred bottles of osmanthus brew.

And he hadn’t even finished the superior flat peach wine.

To share a drink with you using the remaining half bottle of osmanthus brew?

You wish.

Sha Chen felt contempt in his heart and only wanted to get rid of Li Changgeng as quickly as possible. With this old thing around, he felt uncomfortable.

At this time, Li Changgeng was even more furious. He had come on a task from the Jade Emperor to win over Sha Chen. After all, Sha Chen’s performance was getting better and better, and his strength seemed to have reached the Greater Primordial Golden Immortal realm, with a limitless future ahead. If he were to enter Buddhism, his position would be one of high authority. The Jade Emperor wanted to maintain good relations with Buddhism, and Sha Chen was a very important bridge. That is to say, the higher Sha Chen’s position in Buddhism, the more weight he held in the Jade Emperor’s eyes.

He came to win him over, but adequate suppression was still necessary. Give a slap and then a couple of dates; the Heavenly Court is clear on how to play the game.

Li Changgeng, however, didn’t know why, but whenever he saw Sha Chen, anger flared uncontrollably. This fellow had more than once left him out in the cold. When had he ever been ignored like this by such a humbled, demoted general!?

Nevertheless, he still endured. He couldn’t forget the task given by the Jade Emperor, especially recently when the Jade Emperor was increasingly disappointed in him. This task had to be accomplished elegantly.

Seeing Li Changgeng’s wavering gaze, Sha Chen instantly became alert.

What was this old ruffian scheming?

Within the Formation, his true form activated Downwind Ear and the Illusion-Breaking Divine Eye, looking all around, seeking traces and clues.

Thinking of coming in and tricking me into going out, with a sly face too—this old ruffian is no good person.

Sha Chen already had a plan in mind: he would rather die than go out or let anyone in.

Going out meant risking ambush, while letting someone in meant he was no match for Li Changgeng.

Letting him walk away would be the most appropriate action.

Li Changgeng took a deep breath and once again managed a smile, saying, "Juanlian, you are His Majesty’s personal guard. His Majesty is always concerned about you, and so he sent me to visit you!"

Sha Chen bowed and said, "I thank the lord and His Majesty for their concerns. I am deeply grateful."

Li Changgeng appealed to his emotions and reasoned with him. He said a lot of high-sounding words, hoping to move Sha Chen, to get him inside or to come out personally. As long as he could get them to sit down and share a meal at the same table, Li Changgeng was confident that Sha Chen would be deeply touched and willingly submit. After all, he was the esteemed Great White Plane, a prominent figure in front of the Jade Emperor.

To dine with Sha Chen would be to lift him up; how could he not be grateful?

Sha Chen, however, flat out refused, his words perfectly chosen: "I’m not worthy."

Li Changgeng couldn’t even get angry. He kept talking until his teeth nearly bled and his tongue was almost broken, but Sha Chen still wouldn’t budge. He was also angry but still had to keep smiling.

"Enough, enough, since you refuse to come out and won’t allow me in, then so be it."

Sha Chen was immediately overjoyed and was about to bow and take his leave.

But Li Changgeng was feeling quite displeased and immediately took out a sacred edict, saying, "I hold in my hand an order from His Majesty. You’d best receive the decree."

Sha Chen bowed with his fists clasped and said, "Subject Sha Chen is here to receive the decree."

Li Changgeng nodded and said, "By the decree of His Majesty, you have been punished for over a hundred years. I presume you have realized your mistakes. Recalling your previous hard work and toil without any notable contribution, His Majesty has specially rewarded you with some Elixirs, fine wine, and Spiritual Medicines."

After speaking, he took out a Qiankun Bag and tossed it over.

Sha Chen was momentarily stunned. He took one look.

What the fuck, so stingy?

Li Changgeng had been paying close attention to Sha Chen’s demeanor and felt smug, thinking to himself, "He’s probably never seen so many good things. He must be moved to tears and will surely remember the Heavenly Court’s generosity."

Then, he awaited Sha Chen’s prostration in gratitude.

However, Sha Chen looked it over and over, almost dumping out everything in the Qiankun Bag to examine them, eventually confirming that this was all there was.

He silently sneered, "Truly stingy, not even one-tenth as good as what Tianpeng secretly brought back. And they have the nerve to reward this?"

Still, he pretended to be very happy, exuberantly thanking with clasped fists, "Many thanks for His Majesty’s magnificent grace, I am extremely grateful."

Li Changgeng finally nodded in satisfaction, thinking, He’s probably never seen so many fine items. He must be profoundly moved, remembering the goodness of the Heavenly Court.

But after waiting for quite a while and seeing Sha Chen not prostrating himself, he found it uninteresting.

For a time, the two men faced each other speechlessly. Sha Chen was waiting for Li Changgeng to finish gifting so he could leave and continue his Cultivation in seclusion. Li Changgeng, on the other hand, was waiting for Sha Chen to prostrate himself, speak a few words of New Year’s greetings, and express his loyalty.

But neither happened. They could only stare blankly at each other, a silent impasse.

Li Changgeng felt a surge of irritation. He realized that those gifts were like throwing a meat bun to a dog.

A meat bun thrown to a dog would at least earn you a couple of barks.

This guy, not even a fart.

Li Changgeng said, "Juanlian, have you heard about the Journey to the West?"

Sha Chen was on guard internally, feigning ignorance and continuously shaking his head.

Li Changgeng said, "It’s an endeavor organized by Buddhism, selecting fated individuals to go to the West to worship the Buddha and seek the scriptures. The two Monks you encountered earlier, who nearly died in your hands, they were among those on the quest for the scriptures."

Sha Chen cautiously replied, "I had no knowledge of this."

Li Changgeng said, "Now you do. Rumor has it that the one who undertakes this journey will gain immeasurable merit. Eating them could double one’s Mana and rapidly increase one’s cultivation. Becoming a Daluo Golden Immortal is even possible."

As he said this, he observed Sha Chen’s reaction intently, expecting to see greed and surprise.

However, neither was present.

Sha Chen was only vigilant, saying, "This matter is unrelated to me. I only wish to reflect on myself."

Li Changgeng said with a chuckle, "I am just informing you of a fact. Don’t spread the word, but consuming those journeying to seek the scriptures can endow one with boundless Mana, leading to the attainment of Da Luo. They are weak and can easily be bullied. Countless demons on their path are eyeing them, and if they die, no one would even know. The question is, which demon will benefit from their death."

Sha Chen scoffed in his heart.

Li Changgeng’s words were essentially an overt suggestion for him to go eat those seeking the scriptures.

Sha Chen laughed and said, "Indeed, it’s hard to tell which demon will benefit."

Li Changgeng said, "Because of this, Buddhism is very troubled. They plan to select some individuals to protect the scripture seekers. If they successfully obtain the True Scripture, those protectors will also achieve complete merit." He pretended to ponder, then suddenly added, "It is said that at least one can secure the rank of a Bodhisattva, and if they do well, they could even achieve Buddhahood."

Sha Chen said, "That’s a good thing, as it should be."

Li Changgeng sat upright and said with a smile, "Why don’t you escort the scripture seekers to the West to seek the scriptures?"

The system’s voice resonated.

"Li Changgeng has invited the host to journey to the West for the scriptures. You have the following choices."

"Choice one: Agree to Li Changgeng and head to the West to seek the scriptures, and receive a reward of three thousand volumes of [Mahayana Buddhism]. Mahayana Buddhism: a supreme collection of Buddhist teachings from Lingjiu Mountain, focused on the enlightenment of all beings."

"Choice two: Refuse Li Changgeng and not go to the West to seek the scriptures, and receive a reward of the Magical Tool [Dragon Binding Rope]. Dragon Binding Rope: a rope-like magical tool, made from the sinews of a true dragon, designed to entrap and overcome enemies. Bijian immortal-binding cord, it can bind anyone below Da Luo."