Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 512 - 506: Still Have Choices [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Chapter 512: Chapter 506: Still Have Choices [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

"Sha Chen, if you don’t come out now, I am going to force my way in."

"You are completely lawless, wantonly slaughtering the innocent. It’s fortunate that I was passing by overseas; otherwise, I wouldn’t have witnessed your acts of violence."

Maitreya Buddha shouted loudly from a layer of void outside the Flowing Sand River. His position was roughly the same as where Tathagata had stood before.

Both were denied entry, yet managed to get through the Black Tortoise Armor and the Apricot Yellow Flag of Wuji.

After all, Tathagata had achieved Space Greatness, while Maitreya wielded the Realm Breaking Hammer, a Space Magical Treasure.

He also arrived following a corridor of void, fortuitously ending up at this spot. Otherwise, he might have only breached a single layer of defense.

However, at this stage, if Sha Chen didn’t take precautions, Maitreya, with the Realm Breaking Hammer, could indeed cause significant interference.

Just as with Tathagata outside the Flowing Sand River, Sha Chen wouldn’t dare to practice cultivation carelessly.

He feared that Tathagata might suddenly break through one or two layers of defense and then bombard him recklessly, affecting his cultivation.

Sha Chen possessed good things like the Pure World Eye and the Sky Covering Umbrella, which could keep him from becoming deranged through cultivation mishaps.

But not going mad didn’t mean he wouldn’t be affected. If someone interfered with his cultivation, ordinary people could easily become deranged, and in severe cases, it could even threaten their lives.

Sha Chen would neither be at risk of losing his life nor becoming deranged, but it would affect his cultivation progress and greatly waste his cultivation resources.

Thus, he wouldn’t allow any threatening presence outside the Flowing Sand River.

If Tathagata had come today, Sha Chen wouldn’t say a word. He would just play dead and ignore him outright.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t beat him, but he just felt it was unnecessary.

Of course, he couldn’t beat him either.

However, today it was Maitreya who had come, and Sha Chen felt there was no need for concern. He also wanted to test his own strength and see how it measured up against Maitreya.

After all, candidates as fitting as Maitreya were rare—neither too strong nor too weak, just right.

Maitreya was still outside, shouting his head off without a clue, not taking Sha Chen seriously at all. In his view, Sha Chen should be scolded by him.

If Sha Chen didn’t respond, he was ready to launch a strong attack on the Flowing Sand River to show Sha Chen just how formidable Maitreya Buddha was.

But this time, Sha Chen responded.

The grand gate of the Flowing Sand River Cave didn’t open, but a crack appeared instead.

Maitreya was taken aback and sneered, "Sha Chen, you think you can escape? Heh, impossible. You won’t get away."

Seeing the crack, he immediately struck it with the Realm Breaking Hammer, blocking the opening and prying it wider to prevent Sha Chen from closing it.

But with his understanding of space, he truly couldn’t stop Sha Chen.

As Sha Chen emerged through the opening and stood in this space, the opening naturally sealed itself shut again.

Sha Chen stood proudly in the void, locking eyes with Maitreya.

Maitreya was stunned.

He hadn’t anticipated that Sha Chen would dare to face him head-on; he had thought Sha Chen wanted to flee.

But Sha Chen hadn’t fled. Instead, he confronted him directly.

Maitreya said in disbelief, "Sha Chen, you actually dared to come out and confront me? Is this a clone?"

He felt it was unlikely. If it were truly a clone, then Sha Chen’s understanding of the Clone Technique must be at the level of a Saint.

Sha Chen chuckled. "No need to scrutinize further. This is my true self."

However, Maitreya did not show excitement. Instead, he frowned and said, "You have quite the nerve to show yourself."

Before Sha Chen came out, Maitreya had hoped he would. But when Sha Chen actually appeared, he started having doubts. Such is human nature.

Sha Chen calmly said, "To say that I’ve truly ’come out’ isn’t entirely accurate. This is the Mustard Space, situated between my Flowing Sand River Cave abode and the Black Tortoise Armor."

He stroked his chin and said with a straight face, "Strictly speaking, it’s like the entry courtyard of a house."

Maitreya scoffed, "Nonsense."

His aura then swept forth majestically, Buddha Light illuminating the surroundings. He said with a cold laugh, "Since you’re willing to come out and meet your death, all the better. Heh, you’ve witnessed the prowess of the Realm Breaking Hammer, so you should know that escaping back into your sanctuary is impossible."

"If you admit defeat now, kneel, and beg for my forgiveness, I might give you a chance. Follow me devoutly on the Journey to the West from now on, and I will forgive you."

"The host has been issued an ultimatum by Maitreya Buddha to follow him. You have the following options:"

"Option one: Agree to Maitreya Buddha’s request, follow by his side, and receive the reward [Realm Breaking Hammer]. Realm Breaking Hammer: A copper hammer condensed from the willpower of Buddhism, capable of shattering the void."

"Option two: Refuse Maitreya Buddha’s request and insult him to receive the reward [Blissful Fruit]. Blissful Fruit: A fruit condensed from the faith of Buddhism, overflowing with infinite Divine Power. It’s rumored that one such Blissful Fruit from Buddhism can create a Great Buddha."

GASP.

A Blissful Fruit?!

Sha Chen was also shocked when he saw the reward. This fruit was legendary, and it was said to be more than just a concoction of Buddhist faith. It was also believed to grow only in the blissful Pure Lands of Buddhism, and nowhere else. Even within Buddhism, these fruits were few, and their appearance could always stir up storms of bloodshed in the religious hierarchy. After all, consuming one could augment the Divine Power of a Great Buddha, creating a Daluo Golden Immortal in an instant. This fruit was essentially a means to cultivate a Daluo Golden Immortal; one could only imagine the tremendous Divine Power contained within. Despite having consumed many Immortal Elixirs and Elixirs, Sha Chen had never encountered an elixir that contained such terrifying Divine Power, capable of nurturing a Daluo Golden Immortal in a single step. Perhaps only Elixirs that purely increased one’s power could achieve this feat, but such Elixirs were rare and sought after; even a Quasi-Saint would risk their life for merely a one percent chance of obtaining one. An Elixir that a Quasi-Saint might not obtain even if they risked their life—nine deaths and still no guarantee—could be matched by the effect of a single Blissful Fruit. In reality, to ordinary people, an Elixir that purely increased one’s power was much more useful than other special Elixirs. For example, many believe a Blissful Fruit to be superior to an Immortality Elixir, although this sentiment is not shared by those who have reached the level of a Daluo Golden Immortal. To Sha Chen, a Blissful Fruit able to cultivate a Daluo Golden Immortal was powerful indeed, but asking him to trade his own Elixirs for it was out of the question. Such a fruit could cultivate a Daluo Golden Immortal, but the Divine Power it contained, for someone of his current level, would only be equivalent to the cultivation of an additional hundred thousand years or so. However, for Sha Chen at his present realm, an extra hundred thousand years of cultivation might enable him to step directly into the Peak Quasi-Saint Realm. Sha Chen’s eyes began to burn with passion, flickering with excitement. Come what may, he would choose the Blissful Fruit. Refusing Maitreya Buddha was a given, and to insult him was exactly what he desired.

Sha Chen bared a grin.

Seeing the smile, Maitreya thought Sha Chen had come to a decision and chuckled. "So, you are indeed smart. One who understands the times is a true hero. Kneel now and acknowledge your allegiance, or take me as your master, and I can offer you a chance to follow."

But Sha Chen suddenly erupted into loud laughter. "Maitreya Buddha," he said, "who do you think you are? You wish to be my master? Or even my teacher?"

His eyes shone with mockery as he continued, "Use that bald head of yours to think carefully: do you even deserve it?"

Maitreya shouted fiercely, "Sha Chen, how dare you! You show such disrespect to me!"

Sha Chen repeated, "Alright, I ’respect’ you. So, do you deserve it?!"