CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 102: ALTERATION OF DOPPELGANGER, HYSTERICAL【LOOKING FOR RECOMMENDATION VOTES】_1

Sha Chen’s entire being became instantly alert. Li Changgeng hadn’t expected someone to come openly and suggest that he escort those on the Journey to the West.

He promptly said, "No, no. As someone bearing the weight of my crimes, my strength is too insignificant to protect the pilgrims, and even less do I dare aspire to a position in Buddhism."

Li Changgeng’s expression was complex. Sha Chen had refused again, and this time, it was clear that he was filled with vigilance and caution. He felt troubled, wondering what exactly Sha Chen was being so wary of.

He then earnestly said, "The Journey to the West is a great opportunity. You could become a Buddha in the future, or at the very least, a Bodhisattva."

Sha Chen remained unmoved, still seeing himself as a sinner, unwilling to leave.

Li Changgeng said, "Everyone has forgiven you. If only you would go on the Journey to the West, I would plead on your behalf with His Majesty the Jade Emperor, and he would surely be delighted to restore your freedom."

Sha Chen replied, "There’s no need. I have yet to forgive myself."

Li Changgeng grew irritated. He didn’t know why, but talking to Sha Chen was infuriating; not three sentences in, and he was already on the verge of being angered to death. This fellow was too aggravating.

Sha Chen said, "Sir Li, you need not persuade me further. I reflect on myself thrice daily, and I still find myself lacking."

Li Changgeng was furious, but there were many days ahead, and it wasn’t convenient to completely fall out with Sha Chen just yet. So, he laughed and said, "That’s sensible. Wait until you’re exceptional enough, then going on the Journey to the West won’t be too late, haha."

Sha Chen furrowed his brows; Li Changgeng hadn’t given up.

Li Changgeng chuckled and said, "Since you are intent on introspection, then reflect well. Remember, the scripture-seeker is delicate and unprotected; should a demon eat him, that demon might achieve Da Luo."

Sha Chen asked, "What do you mean by that, Sir?"

Li Changgeng said, "Nothing, just a heads-up. I don’t wish to see more Da Luo demons in the world. If you would deign to come out of seclusion to protect the scripture-seeker, that would be ideal."

Having said that, he turned and left.

After Li Changgeng had gone far, Sha Chen confirmed repeatedly for an hour that there were no dangers nearby before he finally took the Qiankun Bag.

However, he immediately emptied the contents of the Qiankun Bag onto the ground, full of disdain. Such meager offerings to buy loyalty?

Nonetheless, even a mosquito’s leg is still flesh. These items were sufficient for half a month’s worth of his Cultivation needs, so he grudgingly accepted them.

Still, Sha Chen inspected these Cultivation resources multiple times to confirm they were not poisoned or mixed with anything that could cause food poisoning before he began Refining.

After a cycle of Cultivation, Sha Chen felt uneasy. This time, Li Changgeng’s visit was another test. The next time, it’s likely to be more aggressive, perhaps even a complete falling out. I must think of a way to deal with it; otherwise, after a confrontation, I will have no choice but to move. Yet I know nothing about the outside world, and venturing out might lead to ambushes. I must come up with a plan.

Sha Chen then had several avatars scout for suitable locations outside—places that were remote, easily defensible yet hard to attack, and unclaimed.

Yet, it was destined to be an exceedingly long search. What Sha Chen most hoped for was to obtain a sanctuary so secure that even Saints could not enter at will; without it, he felt unsafe. And with his every move under the scrutiny of Saints, he still felt somewhat uneasy. If one day a Saint took a whim, or the Tongtian Hierarch lost patience and forced me to come out and work to support the Sect of Interpretation, what then?

Sha Chen felt that, by then, he would have no control over his fate. Therefore, acquiring a much stronger sanctuary, or fortifying his current one, was of utmost urgency. But he also knew that getting something that could influence a Saint would likely require a monumental event.

The most crucial thing is to improve my strength as quickly as possible, Sha Chen thought. Once I am powerful, all evil spirits will vanish like smoke.

With that thought, he began to seclude himself for Cultivation.

「About two years later.」

Sha Chen opened his eyes from his seclusion, his gaze complex. So ruthless, he thought.

The clone he had placed by the side of the scripture-seeker, Chen Hanshan, had just reached his teenage years and was almost an adult.

But then, the Monks from the temple conspired together and killed him, only because his existence affected the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi.

After more than a decade of effort, his clone, Hanshan, had almost managed to change the reincarnated Jin Chanzi’s way of thinking, cultivating him into an ordinary person, even someone with a slight aversion to Buddhism.

As a result, the Monks in the temple couldn’t sit still. They started scheming to remove Hanshan and then to sway Jin Chanzi’s thoughts before he came of age.

Finally, after resorting to all sorts of underhanded tactics and battling wits with the clone for several years, they succeeded in framing Hanshan.

While Sha Chen’s clone was asleep, they drugged several female pilgrims who had come to worship. Then, the women stealthily entered the clone’s residence. Exhausting all their wiles, they confronted Sha Chen’s clone.

Sha Chen’s clone initially sensed someone entering the room and tried to get up. However, for some reason, someone cast a spell, releasing a sleep-inducing insect, and he passed out again. In the end, his Mana was too weak, and he fell into their trap.

「The next day.」

Sha Chen’s clone was caught in the act by the Monks of the temple. Then, the pilgrims’ relatives arrived, tying him up and preparing to drown him in a pig cage.

The reincarnated Jin Chanzi went to the Monks, pleading for mercy, but the Monks were unyieldingly impartial and repeatedly stated they were helpless.

Afterward, the reincarnated Jin Chanzi went to the pilgrims’ relatives, asking them to spare Hanshan. But shockingly, these people were even more unyielding; they drowned Sha Chen’s clone in front of the reincarnated Jin Chanzi.

At first, Sha Chen’s clone struggled. But then he saw a strange Monk in the group with a Buddhist halo behind him. Despite using his Heavenly Vision, he couldn’t discern the Monk’s true nature. He realized that his own appearance and the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi had alarmed Lingjiu Mountain. This Monk was from Lingjiu Mountain. I guess the trap last night was also due to that Monk’s spellcasting, he thought.

Then, among the weeping relatives, he saw individuals who also had Buddhist halos. He was also unable to discern their true forms and understood they were all practitioners of Buddhism stronger than him.

He couldn’t help but smile wryly. "Indeed, it’s not so easy after all."

He knew he couldn’t escape his fate and could only hope to influence Jin Chanzi’s Dao heart at the last moment. If not in this life, then perhaps I can leave an impression for the next. I will come again, he resolved.

"Liuer," he called out, "remember, I was killed by the Monks, it has nothing to do with the common folk! You must believe in your own heart and never become a Buddha!"

The Monks were furious, and the pilgrims’ families were outraged. They hastened his drowning.

The reincarnated Jin Chanzi watched helplessly as Sha Chen’s clone died in the river. No longer wishing to live, he jumped into the river, wanting to die with him.

However, under the watchful eyes of the assembled Buddhas, how could he possibly die?

The reincarnated Jin Chanzi’s heart turned to ash. He kept cursing and declaring he no longer wanted to live. The Monks counseled him for half a month.

Later, a young, radiant Monk came to the temple, his brilliant Buddha light illuminating everything. He said only one sentence to Jin Chanzi, "If you wish to guide his soul to salvation, to save all sentient beings, and to ensure there is no more killing in the world, then go to Lingjiu Mountain in the Western Heavens and seek the scriptures through Buddhist rites."

The reincarnated Jin Chanzi pondered for half a month and decided to set off.