Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 609 - 603: Taking Liberties when Shown Respect [seeking subscriptions and monthly tickets]_1

Lord Yuan Shi became angry.

Sha Chen grew even angrier.

"What?" Lord Yuan Shi thought he had misheard, furrowed his brow, and inclined his ear to listen. "What did you just say?"

Sha Chen snorted coldly. "I said, am I supposed to show you deference?"

He repeated the sentence once more.

Yao Yue, Siti, and the Phoenix sisters behind him were all stunned. They were shocked and disbelieving, unable to fathom that Sha Chen would dare to openly and directly retaliate.

Lord Yuan Shi was even more dumbfounded. He had not expected Sha Chen to dare speak to him like this.

Once he recovered from the shock, he was beside himself with rage.

"Sha Chen, do you realize who you are speaking to? I am a Saint. You are but a mere junior, a disgraced divine general relegated here. Even the Jade Emperor would show me deference," he said.

"And yet you dare to be so disrespectful and insolent toward me?"

Sha Chen smiled faintly and said, "You're truly shameless. I call you a Saint only out of respect for the Heavenly Dao. But if you, leveraging your status as a Saint, bully your juniors, oppress the weak, and abuse your power to openly extort from me, do you expect me to just endure your bullying and obediently hand over what you want?"

Lord Yuan Shi's expression grew darker and darker. He had considered the possibility that Sha Chen might reject his request, but he had not expected such a vehement response. Normally, after he made a request, Sha Chen could have tried to negotiate. But ultimately, the amount to be given would be his decision, and Sha Chen would have no choice but to comply, lest he offend his Saintly prestige. But what he had not anticipated was that Sha Chen didn't negotiate at all but outright refused.

Even when he attempted to suppress Sha Chen with his Saintly authority, Sha Chen openly mocked him and threw the insults right back.

In this case, what was left of his Saintly dignity? It was utterly shattered.

Yet, dignity is a Saint's currency. If others fear a Saint, they will show deference and have no choice but to obey. But if others are unafraid and act recklessly, then such deference can be granted or withheld.

Sha Chen, within his dwelling by the Flowing Sand River, was at ease. Though he couldn't claim his dwelling could completely block Lord Yuan Shi, handing over what was demanded without any resistance was absolutely not Sha Chen's style. Moreover, Sha Chen had never intended to give in. If he could make Lord Yuan Shi leave, that would be for the best. Since Lord Yuan Shi refused to leave and even had the audacity to make exorbitant demands, Sha Chen naturally wouldn't be polite, retorting as necessary. After all, they were already enemies. Sha Chen could choose whether or not to give Lord Yuan Shi any face. If Lord Yuan Shi didn't appreciate the courtesy, then Sha Chen would metaphorically slap him in the face.

Sha Chen dropped all pretense of politeness with Lord Yuan Shi, as their relationship had thoroughly soured.

Lord Yuan Shi's expression grew increasingly grim; he was truly astonished that Sha Chen could so blatantly disrespect him. Even though there was no one else around and everyone in the cave sided with Sha Chen, Lord Yuan Shi still felt his dignity being trampled and his authority diminished. This made him very angry. Sha Chen had denied him time and again. Not only was he barred from entering the dwelling, but even the small trinkets he desired were refused. It was excessive.

Lord Yuan Shi roared, "Sha Chen, you're the one who's truly shameless when shown respect! When I, a Saint, ask for something of yours, it is your honor! If you give it, you will be under my protection for life. You could even use my name, and no one would dare provoke you."

"Is it only you making sacrifices? Under my name, you could live freely and no longer need to hide away in this corner."

Sha Chen laughed loudly. "Do you think your name is so impressive? Do you think you are so formidable that everyone must show deference to you?"

Lord Yuan Shi said, "Is it not so?"

Sha Chen burst into laughter again until Lord Yuan Shi's expression turned as dark as the bottom of a shoe. Only then did Sha Chen let out a defiant laugh.

"Both Tongtian Hierarch and Li Er once offered to take me as a disciple, but I refused them," he declared.

"Are you more renowned than they are? Is your reputation greater than theirs?"

Lord Yuan Shi was utterly shocked. "It turns out they have met you before, and they wanted to take you as a disciple. It is your honor for a Saint to take you as a disciple, especially one willing to protect you when you were weak. Why did you refuse?"

Sha Chen replied, "Because a man should rely on his own strength. I don't need anyone's protection; just don't disturb me."

"Sometimes, your very presence is the greatest danger to me. You Saints are the biggest threat I face."

Lord Yuan Shi fell silent for a long time.

Sha Chen continued, "I haven't even accepted them as masters. Not only did they not ask me for anything, but they actually wanted to give me things."

"Yet here you are, demanding things without offering anything in return—such entitlement, such audacity!"

Even Lord Yuan Shi, whose hide was thicker than a city wall, couldn't help but flush with embarrassment at this point. Although he considered himself no less than Tongtian Hierarch and Li Er, they had both wanted to take Sha Chen as a disciple, made promises, and even offered him gifts. He, however, wanted to take without giving anything in return—conduct utterly unworthy of a teacher.

Sha Chen then said, "Even Saint Zhunti, who is as despicable and shameless as you, didn't dare to be as greedy as you when he first arrived. He asked for nothing."

"He also wanted to take me as a disciple, but I refused him too. How much better are you than him? Do your actions even befit the title of Saint?"

Lord Yuan Shi shouted, "Enough!"

His face darkened as he said, "It's your business whether you accept them as masters or not. I, however, have no wish to take you as my disciple. You don't even have the opportunity or qualifications to be apprenticed to me."

He knew Sha Chen would never take a Saint as a master and thus naturally wouldn't value his offer. So, he made these blunt remarks to save some face.

Sha Chen let out a chuckle. "You aren't even qualified to take me as a disciple. That's why your demanding my possessions is nothing but greedy extortion. As a Saint, don't you feel ashamed? Or do you actually consider this an exercise of your authority?"

"Do you still believe your name can protect me? That I need to rely on you to make my way in the world?"

Lord Yuan Shi's face grew increasingly dark; Sha Chen had belittled his dignity to nothing.

However, Sha Chen didn't intend to let him off the hook and continued, "During the Apocalypse Epoch, count how many of a Saint's disciples managed to achieve a good end?"

"Even your own direct disciples couldn't ensure their own safety, so what damn good would your name do for an outsider like me?"

The corner of his mouth curled in a scornful sneer. "A Saint? What a joke!"

Lord Yuan Shi furiously roared, "Aren't you afraid I'll barge in, grind your bones to dust, and ensure you never reincarnate?"

"HAHAHAHA!"

Sha Chen laughed unrestrainedly, seemingly unfazed by the Saint's towering rage.

He laughed wildly. "And if I groveled before you, would you refrain from doing so?"