Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 546 - 540: Subhuti Persuades Wukong to Become a Buddha [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

Chapter 546: Chapter 540: Subhuti Persuades Wukong to Become a Buddha [Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1

But Subhuti was wrong this time.

Sun Wukong watched Ancestor Subhuti turn to leave, first stunned, then frowning. He pursed his lips and remained silent.

Sun Wukong valued loyalty and knew gratitude. But he was also one who detested evil and would pursue vengeance relentlessly. His hatred for the Heavenly Court and Buddhism was something he could never let go of, a thorn in his heart.

If he had truly been properly suppressed for five hundred years, he naturally would have changed his attitude. He would have feared Buddhism and the Heavenly Court, would have become docile, like a tamed monkey, ready to perform for people.

But the five hundred years of suppression were merely superficial. Having had time to recuperate over these five hundred years, Sun Wukong’s hatred for Buddhism and the Heavenly Court only deepened.

While some people are blinded by hatred, losing sight of kinship, Sun Wukong was not quite at that stage, though he wasn’t far off. At the very least, he still held Ancestor Subhuti in awe and respect, but at this moment, disappointment outweighed reverence.

Ancestor Subhuti had, time and again, told him he was wrong, yet still refused to release him. He had struck Sun Wukong multiple times, and each blow chilled Sun Wukong’s heart a little more. The physical pain was insignificant; it was the pain in his heart that felt like a knife twisting.

This time, Sun Wukong did not call out to stop Ancestor Subhuti, nor did he plead for him to let him go. This was because he himself could feel that Wuxing Mountain could no longer hold him down. Having broken through to the Quasi-Saint Realm, he only needed some time to integrate his physical body and mana cultivation. Then, breaking free from the suppression of Wuxing Mountain would not be an issue.

Moreover, Sha Chen had said that he would release him after a few more days. Sha Chen had always been true to his word, and Sun Wukong trusted him deeply. His previous pleas to Ancestor Subhuti to release him were only because he wanted to get out sooner. But even if he wasn’t released, he could still leave. He just had to wait a few more days.

Sun Wukong said, "Master!"

Ancestor Subhuti stopped, his back to Sun Wukong, a faint, indifferent smile playing on his lips. He was confident that Sun Wukong would admit his mistake and beg him not to be angry.

Sun Wukong said, "Master, please take care. This disciple cannot serve you closely and has even angered you. It was this disciple’s fault. If this disciple leaves Wuxing Mountain and one day exacts my revenge, I will certainly kowtow, admit my mistake, and then repay the grace of your teachings."

A light flashed in Ancestor Subhuti’s eyes, and a look of shock spread across his face. He truly couldn’t believe Sun Wukong would say such words. He admitted his fault, but he would not repent, nor did he think that wreaking havoc in the Heavenly Palace and opposing Buddhism were mistakes. Sun Wukong admitted his mistake because he had angered Ancestor Subhuti. But Sun Wukong also believed that what was done was done. He might change in the future, but not now!

In this moment, Ancestor Subhuti faced away from Sun Wukong, just as he had when Sun Wukong left Fangcun Mountain five hundred years prior. He had turned his back on Sun Wukong then, and Sun Wukong had left after kowtowing. But in the past, Sun Wukong had held reverence for him in his heart and was filled with gratitude.

At this moment, however, Ancestor Subhuti felt a new barrier had formed between him and Sun Wukong. The master and disciple truly seemed to be diverging, destined to walk separate paths.

"Sun Wukong, take care of yourself," Ancestor Subhuti said, still without turning around. "I won’t harm you; I only hope you will succeed!"

Then, as clouds formed beneath his feet, he prepared to depart.

Suddenly, Sun Wukong asked, "Master, do you hope this disciple becomes a Buddha!?"

Ancestor Subhuti’s body trembled. He stood rooted to the spot, and after a long moment of silence, he wordlessly rose on a cloud and departed.

When he was nine zhang in the air, Ancestor Subhuti, still not looking back, asked, "Do you want to become a Buddha?"

"This disciple does not," Sun Wukong replied without hesitation.

Ancestor Subhuti asked, "And if I, your master, wanted you to become a Buddha, what then?"

This time, it was Sun Wukong who fell silent. The two remained in a deadlock for a long moment, neither uttering a word.

At last, Ancestor Subhuti left.

Sun Wukong lowered his head, his gaze flickering; no one knew what he was truly thinking. But one could feel the power within him steadily growing stronger!

「Flowing Sand River.」

Sha Chen was still resisting Zhunti’s onslaught; he couldn’t possibly let Zhunti break into the Flowing Sand River Cave.

By this time, Zhunti had also learned the outcome of Ancestor Subhuti’s third meeting with Sun Wukong, and his expression was grim. However, he remained impassive.

"Sha Chen, all the effort and resources you’ve invested in Sun Wukong have been in vain," Zhunti said. "You know Subhuti’s identity, so you must understand how important Subhuti is to Sun Wukong. Subhuti has met with Sun Wukong several times, and Sun Wukong has been very obedient. The Journey to the West cannot proceed without him, and he is quite willing to participate." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Sha Chen said nothing.

He could actually ascertain the situation at Five Finger Mountain, but currently preoccupied with confronting Zhunti, he had no spare energy to investigate. Therefore, he also didn’t know how the discussion between Subhuti and Sun Wukong had truly gone. However, based on his understanding of Sun Wukong, he felt that much of what Zhunti said was likely true. Sun Wukong was indeed very reverent towards Subhuti, so it would be normal for him to be obedient.

But he noticed that after Zhunti finished speaking, there wasn’t much change in his expression. Although Zhunti was smiling smugly, it didn’t seem to be a genuinely pleased smile. Saints had long shown their joys and sorrows openly, and Zhunti had long since forgotten how to conceal his inner thoughts. The plan involving Five Finger Mountain could, in fact, be considered a failure. His inner rage was somewhat uncontainable, and Sha Chen could see a hint of it.

However, Sha Chen wasn’t entirely certain. Regardless of whether Sun Wukong returned to the Journey to the West, it wouldn’t have much impact on him; at most, it would be a loss of some effort and resources, which were ultimately dispensable.

Zhunti said, "As long as I merge with Subhuti, my strength will advance further, and you will have no hope of stopping my advance!"

Sha Chen replied, "If you really could do it, you would have done it already."

Zhunti’s face turned ugly. He hadn’t expected Sha Chen to be utterly unfazed by his threat, which made him feel extremely embarrassed and displeased.

However, Sha Chen had indeed spoken the truth. Although refining Subhuti would make Zhunti a bit stronger, it wouldn’t make him significantly stronger. Perhaps it would give him more assurance in breaching the Flowing Sand River Cave, but it would still not be a sure thing. The most important thing was that Subhuti had another use; he still needed to appear at critical moments to keep Sun Wukong in check. Zhunti had thought that this time he could make Sun Wukong completely obedient, allowing him to refine Subhuti. Who knew Sun Wukong would prove disobedient? Thus, Subhuti still had a role to play.

Zhunti had been attacking the Flowing Sand River Cave for several hours, but Sha Chen was still holding strong, even seemingly gaining greater mastery over the Chaos Bell. Moreover, Zhunti saw that Sha Chen’s mana cultivation was still at its peak, showing no signs of depletion.

He knew then that he had failed this time. Sha Chen was simply too powerful, exceeding the typical Quasi-Sage Peak. Sha Chen seemed to possess inexhaustible strength, immense power, and boundless mana.

The Chaos Bell, one of the ancient divine artifacts, required an immensely powerful physique to wield; otherwise, it was fundamentally impossible to even ring it. And to activate the Chaos Bell, one also needed immeasurably vast and profound mana cultivation. Both were indispensable.

In ancient times, Donghuang Taiyi possessed the body of a great yao beast; the might of his physical body was naturally beyond question. And as he was at the Quasi-Sage Peak, the power of his mana cultivation was self-evident.

Who would have thought that after all these years, the world would see another who cultivated both physique and mana, and whose cultivation in both aspects surpassed even that of Donghuang Taiyi.

Zhunti’s face looked somewhat ugly, realizing that the attack on the Flowing Sand River Cave had completely failed.