Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 511 - 505: Head-on [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Sha Chen was stunned. The system had presented him with three choices, which were not unfamiliar.

However, the third option was actually to drive Maitreya Buddha away. This was, to say the least, an overestimation of his capabilities.

Nevertheless, Sha Chen did indeed prefer the Bodhi Tree, as it was an innate Spiritual Root. If he could acquire it, cultivating enlightenment beneath it would surely yield twice the results with half the effort, and he might even be able to refine it into a Magical Tool for combat. Legend held that Saint Zhunti was transformed from the Bodhi Tree. While that was a Yang Tree, this one was a Yin Tree; naturally, there shouldn’t be a difference in rank between them. That the Bodhi Tree could transform and become a Saint with such fortune meant that, if this Yin Tree was suitable, it might also be able to transform, and its destiny would surely not be weak. Even if it could not become a Saint, at least becoming a Quasi-Saint would still mean that Sha Chen had gained an additional helper.

With this thought, Sha Chen’s heart blazed with excitement.

However, this choice was somewhat difficult to realize because it required him to confront Maitreya Buddha and drive him away. According to his estimate, driving him away wasn’t difficult. If they fought, he could feign defeat and then guard this place. Maitreya Buddha, unable to endure, would eventually leave, and it would count as being indirectly driven away by him.

But, the difficulty lay in the fact that Sha Chen did not wish to confront Maitreya Buddha. After all, Maitreya Buddha bore ill intentions, and it seemed he had that very Realm Breaking Hammer the system planned to reward Sha Chen with. If Maitreya Buddha found an opportunity to break into the Flowing Sand River Cave, wouldn’t Sha Chen lose more than he gained!?

Moreover, who knows what other tricks Maitreya Buddha might have up his sleeve? Sha Chen did not want to pick sesame seeds and lose the watermelon over it.

After hesitating for a moment, Sha Chen did some calculations and checked his surroundings. He confirmed that aside from Maitreya Buddha, there were no other strong presences nearby. He already had a strategy in mind.

「Outside.」

Maitreya Buddha was shouting angrily, which even woke Tianpeng from his meditation. Tianpeng came to Sha Chen’s side.

He exclaimed in shock, "Old Sha, what outrageous act have you committed to anger even the Buddha known for his laughter?"

Sha Chen said indifferently, "I haven’t done anything to incur heaven’s wrath or people’s resentment. You know as well that I’m kind to others and don’t like to quarrel."

"But some people just like to provoke me, such as that Maitreya Buddha outside. He can’t stand to see me do well and always wants to scheme against and harm me."

Tianpeng naturally believed him. Since Sha Chen had never left Flowing Sand River, he couldn’t possibly have offended anyone.

Then furrowing his brows, he said, "What to do then? That old Monk is causing trouble outside, and that can’t be good."

Sha Chen replied, "Indeed, it’s not good. If he continues to make a fuss, we won’t be able to cultivate properly."

"He has the Realm Breaking Hammer, and I must keep an eye on him. Otherwise, if he finds a weakness and compromises my defenses, that would be troublesome."

Sha Chen wasn’t worried that Maitreya Buddha could break in, but with the Realm Breaking Hammer, there was a possibility that his Flowing Sand River Cave might suffer some damage. Then, even if Maitreya couldn’t enter, he might use it to destroy some of the facilities inside the cave. If that happened during deep cultivation, it could very well lead to disturbances. In a minor case, one might suffer cultivation deviation; in a severe case, one might perish on the spot. Moreover, with Maitreya Buddha’s arrival, who knew if Tathagata Buddha might also come? If Sha Chen chose not to respond, he could certainly do so; all he needed to do was watch Maitreya Buddha and wait for him to leave. But if Maitreya Buddha stubbornly refused to go, Sha Chen could only watch helplessly as Maitreya Buddha caused trouble outside, preventing him from continuing his cultivation. With nothing pressing at the moment and having improved in strength, Sha Chen also wanted to verify the extent of his abilities.

Tianpeng said, "Old Sha, it might be better not to engage him. That old Monk is quite formidable, being one of the top three in Buddhism, with immense power and limitless Mana."

Knowing Sha Chen well, he believed that Sha Chen surely did not wish to confront Maitreya Buddha, which is why he said this to give Sha Chen a way out.

But, he had not expected that this time would be different. Sha Chen actually did not agree, and instead, considered accepting the challenge.

Sha Chen grinned and said, "That old Monk is bullying me too much. I’ve been slaying demons and eliminating evil in the name of heaven, yet he blames me, accusing me of killing the innocent. What kind of person does that!?"

"And now he’s bullying his way to my doorstep, shouting and making a scene outside. If someone hears that, they might think I’ve wronged him."

He huffed, "I must teach him a lesson; otherwise, he’ll really think I, Sha Chen, am easy to bully."

Tianpeng was stunned for a moment and asked in disbelief, "Old Sha, what do you mean by that? Are you actually thinking about going head-to-head with him?"

He was genuinely baffled, a bit dumbfounded and incredulous. He thought he had misheard.

But Sha Chen said, "You got it right. I’ve been cultivating for a long time now, and I’ve reached a certain realm of strength. I want to test it against someone."

"His power is just right, neither too strong nor too weak."

Tianpeng rolled his eyes; it was the first time he’d heard someone say Maitreya Buddha’s power was neither strong nor too weak—what confidence. Maitreya Buddha’s power was that of a High-Level Quasi-Saint, possibly even a Peak Quasi-Saint. However, knowing Sha Chen’s temperament, if he dared to challenge Maitreya Buddha, he must have already ascertained that Maitreya’s strength was ’only’ that of a High-Level Quasi-Saint. Even so, Maitreya Buddha was incredibly powerful. With such strength, even Peak Quasi-Saints wouldn’t dare to look down upon him or lightly provoke him. After all, once someone attained that realm, their methods were heaven-reaching, and their strength and combat power were extraordinarily formidable. Perhaps they possessed certain techniques that could trouble Peak Quasi-Saints or even make Sub-Sages suffer. It could be said that at this level of strength, there wasn’t much difference from a Peak Quasi-Saint. Moreover, Maitreya Buddha was one of the three key figures in Buddhism; his methods were surely heaven-reaching, and his capabilities undoubtedly exceptional. If Sha Chen really provoked him, it would likely end badly for Sha Chen. That’s why he felt the need to urge caution; he didn’t want Maitreya Buddha to come barging in and drag him into it as well.

He hurriedly said, "Old Sha, please reconsider carefully! Don’t act recklessly. Maitreya Buddha’s strength penetrates heaven and earth, his abilities are unmatched; fighting him, you have no chance of winning."

"And moreover, who knows if there are others lying in ambush outside? You must be extremely careful."

Sha Chen laughed heartily and said, "So, I was the careful one before, and now you’re the cautious one?"

Tianpeng couldn’t help but laugh too—as it turned out, it seemed to be true. But still, he hoped that Sha Chen wouldn’t make a move; otherwise, it really would be a perilous situation for him.

However, once Sha Chen made up his mind, Tianpeng really couldn’t change it, so he could only watch as Sha Chen raised his state to its peak.

In his hand appeared a sword—it was the Xuanyuan Sword.

Tianpeng exclaimed in shock, "Old Sha, how do you have the Saint lord’s Xuanyuan Sword? You... you... you didn’t steal it from Fire Cloud Palace, did you?" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Sha Chen chuckled and said, "No. What if I told you it came to me on its own, would you believe that?"

Tianpeng wanted to say he didn’t believe it, but recalling that Sha Chen’s Magical Tools always seemed to come to him in this way, he found he couldn’t say it. He hemmed and hawed, not knowing what to say.

Sha Chen chuckled, already displaying Three Heads and Six Arms, embodying the Law of Heaven and Earth, and wielding various divine weapons.

He was fully prepared to go all in for the battle.

However, before taking action, he had to ensure the safety of his surroundings.

「Outside.」

Maitreya Buddha, unaware that Sha Chen was ready to face him, thought Sha Chen still intended to play the shrinking turtle. Thus, he was extremely arrogant and angry, mocking Sha Chen in various ways.