CHAPTER 11: CHAPTER 11: TEN LIVES OF GOOD PEOPLE CAN ACHIEVE BUDDHAHOOD [PLEASE SAVE AND RECOMMEND]_1

After expelling the impurities from his body, Sha Chen took an enjoyable bath.

Just as he was about to check his potential, he was shocked to find his cultivation had begun to loosen.

SNAP.

His cultivation, which he had thought would require a thousand years of arduous effort to advance, had unexpectedly broken through at this moment, as naturally as water carving a channel.

High-tier Immortal Taiyi realm.

Sha Chen was overjoyed and hurriedly sat cross-legged to consolidate his cultivation.

At the same time, comparing it to his usual practice, he realized his cultivation speed had increased more than tenfold.

If his talent was mediocre before, he could now be considered a minor prodigy.

Although this was nothing compared to the prodigious talents of the post-Apocalypse Epoch and the early Journey to the West, it was more than satisfactory for him.

It would allow him to lie low and survive longer.

"Host’s cultivation breakthrough detected. You have the following choices:"

"Option one: You have made minor achievements in your cultivation breakthrough. Emerge from the water as a demon, claim a mountain as your kingdom, and secure a place in the upcoming Journey to the West calamity. Reward: The Magical Tool [Flame-Tipped Spear]. The Flame-Tipped Spear is the extremely powerful weapon of the Great God Nezha of the Three Altars of the Sea Society."

"Option two: Your cultivation breakthrough is negligible. Continue your secluded cultivation in hopes of achieving greater breakthroughs. Reward: The Divine Power [Fiery Golden Eyes]. The Fiery Golden Eyes are Sun Wukong’s divine eyes, forged in the Alchemy Furnace. They can penetrate falsehoods and possess a degree of offensive power."

Without hesitation, Sha Chen chose to continue his seclusion. He was still far too weak to be roaming freely.

He then obtained the Fiery Golden Eyes. Normally, his eyes appeared no different, but they would passively activate in the presence of illusions.

He could also actively use them to see through all falsehoods, and they possessed some offensive capability.

Sha Chen tested them and found their offensive capability to be negligible. He didn’t mind, as their main advantage was seeing through illusions and deceptions.

With an additional Divine Power and enhanced talent, Sha Chen continued his secluded cultivation.

His cultivation steadily improved, his strength gradually increasing, and Sha Chen could clearly feel his power growing.

This gave him a greater sense of security and reinforced his determination to continue his secluded cultivation.

「Zhu Zi Country.」

Jinmaohou frowned. "Brother Bi Chen has been gone for so long. Why hasn’t he returned yet?"

His eldest brother, Bi Han, chuckled. "That brute is indeed a bit difficult to handle. However, our third brother is resourceful and will surely succeed."

Jinmaohou said, "I hope so."

As they were speaking, Xiaojingling came in to report, "King Bi Chen has returned."

Eldest brother Bi Han laughed. "We were just talking about him, and here he is! He wouldn’t come back empty-handed, would he?"

Xiaojingling’s eyes lit up. "King Bi Han is right! King Bi Chen didn’t come back empty-handed!"

Bi Han and Jinmaohou leaped up joyfully, laughing heartily as they went to greet him personally.

When they saw King Bi Chen outside, carrying a bundle of firewood on his back and holding a thorny vine in his hand, he approached Bi Han and the others, knelt on one knee, and presented the vine with cupped hands.

"Brothers, I have failed you. I’ve come to offer this thorn switch and beg for punishment."

Bi Han’s cheeks twitched, and Jinmaohou’s eyes bulged.

Xiaojingling quickly stepped forward to help King Bi Chen up.

But Jinmaohou snatched the thorn switch from Bi Chen’s hand and whipped Xiaojingling to the ground with it.

"Damn it! Is this what you meant by not returning empty-handed?"

Xiaojingling felt aggrieved. Indeed, he hadn’t returned empty-handed—he had returned with a thorn switch!

He dared not talk back, however. After being whipped a few times, he yowled and scrambled away.

King Bi Han felt he had lost face, so he had Bi Chen get up and recount what happened.

He exclaimed, "Who could have imagined the Flowing Sand River was so formidable! You almost drowned in it."

Even if Bi Chen was slightly weaker, he shouldn’t have nearly drowned, right? No wonder he was astonished; after all, the three brothers were all adept swimmers, and their water-related Divine Powers were remarkable.

King Bi Chen looked embarrassed and defended himself, "I carelessly stepped into an empty space. I fell in unprepared and nearly drowned."

Jinmaohou said, "I’ve been to the Flowing Sand River. It’s true that nothing floats in it. After its corrosiveness was increased tenfold, I’m afraid even a Golden Immortal would struggle to cross. However, with the right water-repelling techniques, it can still be managed."

King Bi Chen said, "Eldest Brother, the General for Folding the Curtain saved me. I’m truly too ashamed to face him again."

King Bi Chen and King Bi Shu exchanged glances. They then turned to Jinmaohou, cupped their fists, and said, "Brother Taisui, our youngest brother is truly in no position to use force now. Since we’ve accepted your request, we will ensure this matter is handled impeccably for you."

"Next, we two brothers plan to take action personally. We will definitely make that General for Folding the Curtain obediently emerge from the water as a demon."

Jinmaohou held Bi Chen and his brothers in high regard, knowing they were resourceful and cunning, so he patted their hands reassuringly.

He said firmly, "I’m counting on you."

Bi Chen said, "Eldest Brother, I should still go with you both."

He was worried his two elder brothers, in their anger and shame, might kill Sha Chen, an outcome he couldn’t bear.

「The Bamboo Forest of the Purple Bamboo.」

The Goddess of Mercy was instructing Muzha on Buddhist principles.

She suddenly sighed, prompting a puzzled Muzha to ask, "Master, why do you sigh?"

The Goddess of Mercy said, "Those three scoundrels have failed. One of them even owes Juanlian a favor. I no longer hold out much hope for them."

Then, she smiled faintly. "However, I suddenly feel they might have some sense after all."

Muzha asked, "Oh?"

Guanyin said, "Just now, they suddenly spread a rumor: there’s an immortal in the Flowing Sand River who despises demons. He supposedly declared he’d rather die than become a demon and even listed many of demons’ misdeeds."

Muzha was startled, then chuckled. "Those three scoundrels certainly are cunning. That’s a truly vicious move, designed to break his spirit."

Guanyin added, "Now we’ll see how far their rumors spread and whether they can attract more demons, all eager to force Juanlian to become one of them."

Then she almost smiled as she continued, "Before that, it seems Juanlian must endure the first minor tribulation from the enhanced Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart."

Muzha calculated for a moment. "Given the ultimate number of ninety-nine, three days from now will mark the first eighty-first day after the Formation’s enhancement. Indeed, it is a minor tribulation."

Guanyin said, "Such a minor tribulation cannot be withstood merely through profound cultivation, my disciple. If it were you, could you endure it?"

Muzha shook his head. "I probably couldn’t."

Guanyin nodded. "If even you cannot, then he likely cannot either."

They both smiled.

「Three days later.」

Guanyin and Muzha waited with great anticipation, yet the Flowing Sand River remained as calm as ever.

Several more days passed. The minor tribulation was long over, but Sha Chen still showed no reaction.

Guanyin was shocked by Sha Chen’s willpower and also felt a touch of helplessness.

Muzha was completely at a loss. "Master, what should we do now?"

Guanyin said, "Those three scoundrels seem to be scheming something, but we can’t rely on them. Jin Chanzi has already been reincarnated. You should go and guide him to begin his journey to the West."

Muzha asked, "It’s only his first life, and you want him to begin the journey to the West already?"

Guanyin explained, "The Buddha decreed that one can attain Buddhahood after ten lifetimes as a virtuous person. Jin Chanzi must be reincarnated ten times to achieve true Great Perfection."

"However, before that, we must strengthen Jin Chanzi’s devotion to Buddhism, so you need to guide him. Also, spread this word: eating Jin Chanzi’s flesh grants immortality and greatly boosts one’s mana."

Muzha exclaimed, "Then he’ll never make it to Lingjiu Mountain alive!"

Guanyin replied, "It’s enough if he makes it to the Flowing Sand River."

Muzha’s eyes lit up. "I understand and will follow your divine instructions, Master!"

He now understood Guanyin’s true intention. Sha Chen was cultivating so arduously, surely to become stronger. If he learned of a shortcut, he would undoubtedly be tempted.

When the time came, Sha Chen would surely consume the reincarnated Gold Cicada. By eating the scripture seeker, he would irrevocably become a demon, with no path to redemption.