Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Ao Lie vs Sha Chen [Seeking Collection and Recommendations]_1
Sha Chen glanced at the Spirit Peach tree in the field. His eyes were full of longing, but he still restrained himself. The Spirit Peaches weren’t fully ripe yet. Now was not the time to eat them; he had to wait a little longer.
Sha Chen pursed his lips. For now, I can only slow down the absorption rate a bit. Once my talent improves, I’ll consume them in large quantities.
Sha Chen began to search for the most suitable absorption rate. He found that while he could absorb five times faster than his previous rate, the optimal approach was to operate at half of this new, accelerated speed.
Under these circumstances, Sha Chen’s cultivation level rose rapidly, and his Mana gathered in abundance. However, the resources sent by the Spider Spirit, the Immortal Herbs and Elixirs in the fields, and the Immortal Rice, were all being consumed in large amounts. That Lower Grade God Source Stone Mine Mountain was also depleting at a visibly fast rate, and it wouldn’t be long before it was exhausted.
「Ten years later.」
During these ten years, Sha Chen had been in closed-door cultivation, and the Spider Spirit and the others had not returned. Apart from some inconspicuous minor demons passing by or specifically coming to cause trouble, hardly anyone bothered Sha Chen. He didn’t even have the opportunity to make a choice. Sha Chen had also consumed crop after crop of Immortal Herbs and Elixirs from the fields, and that Lower Grade God Source Stone Mine Mountain had likewise been nearly used up by him. Yet, Sha Chen had not entered the realm of Greater Primordial Golden Immortal, which made him somewhat anxious.
It wasn’t that he felt his cultivation was improving too slowly, but rather that he was running out of resources again. The ones provided by the Spider Spirit had already been exhausted, there were only seedlings left in the fields, and the God Source Stone Mine Mountain was almost depleted. Sha Chen felt like he might have to start consuming himself. His body was immense, and his Mana as deep as the sea, but there was still something lacking before he could step into the realm of Greater Primordial Golden Immortal.
Why haven’t the Seventh Sister and the others returned yet? I also don’t know how Tianpeng and the Black Bear Spirit are doing. Didn’t the Jade Rabbit say he would bring me a message? Why is there no word?
Sha Chen frowned deeply. Besides feeling his talent was insufficient, he felt like a blind man with his eyes open here, completely unaware of what was happening outside.
As for his clone, ever since following the Golden Spirit Holy Mother, he had been enduring hardship in cultivation for more than a decade. He had hardly seen the Tower Guardian, and he had never even met the Golden Spirit Holy Mother. Any hope for a meeting gift was out of the question. Counting on his clone, Chen Sha, was utterly futile.
Sha Chen furrowed his brows; he decided to create several more clones, casting a wide net to catch more fish.
While he was lost in these thoughts, a powerful presence approached from outside the Flowing Sand River, and then a white dragon dived into the water. It was looking for him everywhere.
"Great General for Folding the Curtain, I know you’ve always been here in the Flowing Sand River! Come out, I need to talk to you!" the voice boomed.
"Come out now, stop hiding! Even though your place is big, if I drain the water, there will be nowhere for you to hide!"
Sha Chen frowned; he knew who the visitor was—it was Bai Yulong, Ao Lie. Ao Lie roamed throughout the Flowing Sand River, trying to find the location of Sha Chen Cave Manor, but he couldn’t find it. After all, it had been decades since his last visit, and the Flowing Sand River had expanded countless times, resembling an ocean now. Finding Sha Chen Cave Manor was indeed no simple task.
Sha Chen muttered to himself, Is this guy here for revenge? But it’s been decades since the incident at the Wash Dirt Spring. This gentleman’s revenge has come awfully late, hasn’t it?
Apparently aware of Sha Chen’s thoughts, Ao Lie shouted from outside, "I’m not here to trouble you; I’m here to ask for something!"
Sha Chen became even more puzzled.
His image was projected onto the Formation, but he did not venture out. Ao Lie immediately noticed him and charged over, only to slam into the Formation, nearly smashing his head open. He was both angry and frustrated, exclaiming, "Hiding in that Formation, aren’t you being too sly?!"
Sha Chen replied, "Is this the attitude you should have when asking someone for a favor, Crown Prince?"
The Third Crown Prince, Ao Lie, reddened before snorting, "You owe me."
Sha Chen asked, "How so?"
Ao Lie said, "Let me in first, then we can talk."
Sha Chen replied, "If you don’t tell me why you’re here, you won’t see me again."
Ao Lie was furious. How dare this minor deity speak to him like this?
However, he was the one in need, so he had to humble himself. Swallowing his anger, he said, "I need a favor from you. You used to be the Great General for Folding the Curtain in the Heavenly Court, so you must know where the liuli Dragon Pearl is, right?"
Liuli Dragon Pearl!?
Sha Chen asked, "The Dragon Pearl that the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea presented to the Jade Emperor as tribute? Why are you asking about that?"
Ao Lie replied, "Never mind why. Just tell me where it is."
Sha Chen frowned. "Why should I tell you?"
Ao Lie said, "You owe me. For the incident at the Wash Dirt Spring, you played me, and I haven’t settled the score with you. Tell me now, and we’ll call it even."
Sha Chen’s frown deepened; something about Ao Lie’s words and actions seemed off.
"Notice: Bai Yulong Ao Lie requests the Host to reveal the whereabouts of the liuli Dragon Pearl. You have the following choices:"
"Option One: Tell him and devise a strategy for him, earning a reward of one drop of Zulong Essence Blood. Zulong Essence Blood: Blood containing the essence of Zulong, a single drop powerful enough to shatter mountains and rivers and change one’s bloodline and physique."
"Option Two: Refuse him and ignore his request, earning a reward of ten Spirit Peaches. Spirit Peach: A preternatural spirit fruit that can increase lifespan and change one’s physique."
Sha Chen was stunned. Aren’t these rewards a bit too generous? It’s just a request from Ao Lie; is there really a need for such lavish rewards?
He was somewhat bewildered. Upon further thought, he sensed that this matter was not simple and likely had significant implications. The system’s rewards were always proportional to the difficulty and importance of the situation; Ao Lie’s request must be far from simple.
Given his nature, he would typically want to refuse, but receiving Spirit Peaches he already possessed would be wasteful. He coveted the incredibly rare Zulong Essence Blood even more. But this matter had far-reaching implications, and he had to get to the bottom of it.
Sha Chen spoke sternly, "Crown Prince, I won’t help you unless you tell me the reason."
"And forget about the Wash Dirt Spring incident; that was a matter of cause and effect. You were the one who caused trouble first; I merely retaliated in kind."
Ao Lie was enraged. "What do you mean by that, huh? What kind of attitude is this? If you have the guts, come out and fight me!"
His spoiled, impetuous nature couldn’t bear Sha Chen’s repeated rejections, especially since Sha Chen also sought to dismiss the Wash Dirt Spring incident, which infuriated him.
Sha Chen replied, "How about this: if I win, you tell me the reason, and then I’ll consider whether or not I’ll help you. If you win, I’ll consider myself indebted to you for the Wash Dirt Spring incident."
Ao Lie sneered, "How ridiculous! Do you really think you can defeat me?"
Sha Chen challenged, "Is the Crown Prince afraid to accept?"
Being the impetuous person he was, Ao Lie couldn’t withstand Sha Chen’s provocation. In a rage, he agreed to the duel.
Crown Prince Ao Lie arrogantly said, "Shall I come in, or will you come out?"
Sha Chen replied, "No need for either."
Ao Lie, furious, said, "What kind of joke is this? How can I fight you if you’re behind the Formation?"
"Although my Cultivation has reached the high-tier Golden Immortal realm and my Mana is powerful, your Formation has some substance; I cannot break it for the time being."
Sha Chen laughed. "That won’t be necessary; you won’t even get a chance to make a move."
With that, a massive aura burst from Sha Chen. Then, a colossal hand reached out from within the Formation, immense beyond compare. Ao Lie himself was a white jade dragon, his body as large as a mountain range, but in front of this giant hand, he was like a tiny insect. He was effortlessly snatched up, his bones cracking loudly as they were squeezed, and his dragon scales showed signs of fracturing.
Ao Lie screamed in agony, begging for mercy, "I was wrong! I’ve lost! Let me go! Please, it hurts! I’m going to be crippled!"