Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Illusion-Breaking Divine Eye [Seeking Collection and Recommendations]_1
"Elder, what’s the situation?"
The dark-skinned burly man immediately leaned in close, asking in an all-too-familiar manner.
Elder Jin Chi recounted everything that had transpired at the Flowing Sand River, growing more incensed as he spoke.
The dark-skinned burly man and the other two Daoists all furrowed their brows, evidently feeling the matter was somewhat tricky.
"Who would have thought that a mere demoted deity would be so arrogant, daring to reject Buddhism?"
The gaze of the dark-skinned burly man was incredibly complex. He was none other than Brother Black Bear.
In fact, not only did Guanyin Bodhisattva take an interest in him, but he also had his sights set on her—both harboring mutual affection.
That was why Brother Black Bear chose to fraternize with Jin Chi, an elder from the Guanyin Zen Temple, seeking an opportunity to become a disciple under Guanyin.
He had heard that Elder Jin Chi was instructed by Guanyin in a dream to subdue Sha Chen of the Flowing Sand River, a task that would be a meritorious deed. He was overjoyed at the prospect. However, he never anticipated that what he thought of as an easily attainable accolade would prove so tough to crack.
A mere exiled general proved impenetrable.
"To achieve enlightenment and ascend above all, is that really worse than suffering in the Flowing Sand River?"
Brother Black Bear shook his head with a sigh. "I truly do not understand what that exiled general is thinking."
Elder Jin Chi also said, "Indeed, this monk does not understand either."
"Brother Black Bear, your power is immense, having already reached the high ranks of Golden Immortals. Why don’t we lure him out and you can overpower him?"
"Once we bring him here and expose him day and night to the influence of Buddhist Law, I refuse to believe that he won’t submit."
Brother Black Bear asked, "Won’t this provoke the Bodhisattva?"
Elder Jin Chi said, "The Bodhisattva conveyed in the dream that any method would suffice."
Brother Black Bear exchanged glances with the other two Daoists, Ling Xuzi and Daoist White Flower Snake, all seeing the delight in each other’s eyes.
Any method would suffice. As long as they completed the task, it would be a great merit.
Brother Black Bear immediately said, "Alright, let’s do that. Elder, I’ll trouble you to wait at the Guanyin Zen Temple for our good news."
Elder Jin Chi grew anxious, saying, "This monk will also come along. He has seen this monk before, and if I go again, it could enrage him and draw him out."
But Brother Black Bear laughed. "The Elder has already worked hard, why bother again? When we bring the man back, we will need to trouble the Elder to chant day and night."
Having said that, along with Ling Xuzi and Daoist White Flower Snake, they breathed out clouds and soared away on them.
Leaving Elder Jin Chi stomping in anger at the Guanyin Zen Temple.
Once they were out of sight, he cursed, "Damn beast, clearly wanting to monopolize the merit. This was a dream given to me by Guanyin Bodhisattva; you all better not think of stealing the accomplishment for yourselves."
「Meanwhile.」
After Elder Jin Chi left, Sha Chen received the Eight Diagrams Immortal Clothes and tried them out to find that they truly could conceal his presence.
They could also hide some of his aura. Unless one had special divine eyes and potent Divine Consciousness, it would be difficult to detect him.
Even his Fiery Golden Eyes almost failed to notice, making him sigh once again that the level of his Fiery Golden Eyes was still too low.
However, after scaring Elder Jin Chi away, Sha Chen planned to continue his closed-door cultivation.
Although he wanted to help his clone with its problems, he currently lacked better methods and could only leave it up to fate.
After all, he had created quite a few clones; if one died, he would simply cultivate another.
It was troublesome, but safe.
As for King Guangling, he could wait to take revenge later.
However, his wish to enter closed-door cultivation wouldn’t be so easily fulfilled.
As he sat on the Fengshui Futon, intending to meditate, he again heard calls coming from atop the river.
"General for Folding the Curtain, we sincerely invite you to participate in the Buddha assembly. It is a rare opportunity. If you attend, you might meet the Bodhisattva. You could even ask her to plead with the Heavenly Court on your behalf to set you free."
Sha Chen furrowed his brows, once again consolidating an illusory shadow to project above the Flowing Sand River.
Then he saw three people approaching this time.
The one in the middle was the young Elder Jin Chi, the one on the left a dark-skinned, burly man, and the one on the right, a Daoist.
Sha Chen’s Fiery Golden Eyes activated involuntarily, and he immediately saw that the ’Elder Jin Chi’ in the middle was a fake, transformed from a White Flower Snake demon.
He sneered. "I didn’t expect Elder Jin Chi to be so eager to get me to join Buddhism that after his own failure, he called these three guys over."
Sha Chen spoke, "Didn’t I say I just want to practice cultivation in seclusion? Don’t bother me anymore. Leave quickly."
The ’Elder Jin Chi’ said with a smile, "Benefactor, this poor monk has your best interests at heart. Why not let this poor monk visit your place of cultivation and teach you about Buddhism to increase our understanding of each other?"
Then he took a few steps closer, arriving above the river surface, intending to approach Sha Chen’s projection.
A cold smile hung on the corner of Sha Chen’s mouth; he had already seen through their intentions.
They were planning to resort to force if persuasion failed.
This was truly the behavior of demons.
Sha Chen smiled coldly, and the next moment, ’Elder Jin Chi’ transformed into a large White Flower Snake, lunging forward with its huge gaping maw, attempting to bite him.
But it bit into nothingness, its attack hitting only an illusion.
Easily missing its mark, the White Flower Snake paused in confusion, then saw a shadow beneath the Flowing Sand River and dove in right after it.
Ling Xuzi and Brother Black Bear glanced at each other, both seeing frustration in the other’s eyes.
They hadn’t expected to come up empty-handed.
Nevertheless, the White Flower Snake was adept at swimming, and upon entering the Flowing Sand River, it figured it could drag that scoundrel out.
「Below the Flowing Sand River.」
The White Flower Snake, upon descending, found the water of the Flowing Sand River disagreeable, making it feel uncomfortable all over.
It hastily performed the water avoidance art and approached the Formation, probing a few times before starting to bombard it ferociously.
"Coward, if you’re so capable, come out and fight me for three hundred rounds! What kind of hero hides in a Formation like a shrinking turtle?"
"Come out, get out here! Why do you get the Bodhisattva’s favor and an invitation to the Buddhist conference, and you don’t go, while I can’t even get an invite?"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The White Flower Snake continued its frantic assault on the Formation, roaring in rage.
Meanwhile, inside the Formation, Sha Chen looked on with an impassive expression at the White Flower Snake attacking from outside, unmoving as a mountain.
"Host detected being targeted and attacked by the three great demons of Black Wind Cave, you have the following choices."
"Choice one: Turn hostility into friendship, apologize to the three great demons, explain yourself, accompany them to the Buddhist conference, reward: Magical Tool [Golden Hoop]. Golden Hoop: A magical tool of the Tathagata Buddha, worn on the head, reciting a spell will tighten it, causing a splitting headache, can be adjusted in size."
"Choice two: Never bow your head, refuse to participate in the Buddhist conference, fight against the three great demons to the end, reward an eye skill [Eye of Dispelling Delusion]. Eye of Dispelling Delusion: One of the top divine eyes, capable of seeing through falsehood, piercing all that is fabricated, containing a certain offensive ability."
Sha Chen was stunned for a moment, and then a surge of ecstasy overwhelmed him.
Just as he was worried that his Fiery Golden Eyes couldn’t even see through the water surface of the Flowing Sand River, the Eye of Dispelling Delusion was offered to him.
He chose the second option without hesitation, refusing to attend the Buddhist conference.
But that was not enough; there was also a requirement to battle the three great demons to the end.
He knitted his brows, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.
It just so happens that after reaching the peak of the Golden Immortal stage, I’ve not had a proper fight. Since they’re coming my way, I’ll show no mercy.
Although Guanyin would originally recruit Brother Black Bear as a guardian deity, that’s still hundreds of years away. It’s not certain that Guanyin has taken a liking to him yet.
Moreover, Brother Black Bear is just a demon right now. Killing him would be ridding the people of a hazard, not an offense against Guanyin.
Coldness filled Sha Chen’s eyes.
But if he were to act, he couldn’t leave the Flowing Sand River; who knows how many were lying in wait outside!