Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation called out from the riverbank.
"May I ask if there are immortals in the river? Could you possibly co out and speak with this humble monk and help cross the river?"
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation did not act as if he recognized Sha Chen. He seed like an ordinary mortal, powerless before the vast river, with no choice but to seek divine assistance. He even pretended not to know whether there was anyone in the river.
Muzha and the hunter arrived by his side. Muzha said, "Holy Monk, this is the Flowing Sand River. It is said that the demoted Great General for Folding the Curtain has been exiled here. He is presumably disillusioned with the world, so it is best to take a detour to avoid his wrath."
In the past, Muzha would have tried everything to ensure the death of Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation at Sha Chen’s hands. However, now Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation had not completely turned to Buddhism and was, in so respects, distancing himself from it. Before completely changing the outlook of Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, Guanyin’s intent was that Jin Chanzi must not die. Even if he were to die, it should be at the hands of a demon arranged by Guanyin.
Nevertheless, if Sha Chen truly intended to kill Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, they would naturally be delighted. But Muzha also knew that was impossible. Sha Chen seed aware that Buddhism wanted him to make a misstep, so he acted with utmost caution and care. Convincing Sha Chen to kill the Buddhist Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation seed very difficult. Moreover, from Guanyin, Muzha had learned that Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation had so connection to Sha Chen; in fact, Jin Chanzi’s present circumstances were caused by Sha Chen. Although there was no evidence, that was Guanyin’s belief. Muzha naturally followed Guanyin’s instructions, preferring that Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation not linger here, suggesting he simply take a detour instead.
However, the will of Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation was very strong. Citing the Journey to the West as his purpose, he resolutely refused to alter his path. Taking a detour would an more than ten additional years, for the Flowing Sand River was simply too vast. Feeling helpless, Muzha had no choice but to explain the dangers of this place to Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, hoping to scare him off.
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation said, "If you are afraid, you may go back. My Buddhist resolve shall not waver, and no hardship or peril shall deter from my Journey to the West."
Muzha, with an expression of utter disbelief, muttered to himself, You, with Buddhist resolve? You clearly abandoned Buddhism for the Taoist way, and it’s only thanks to Guanyin’s tily intervention. Plus, you previously provoked Sun Wukong, trying to get yourself killed, and now you wish to undertake the Journey to the West again?
However, Muzha’s Cultivation was not as profound as Guanyin’s, and he had no clear understanding of the motives of Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation—he even doubted whether Jin Chanzi’s words were genuine. Despite harboring so skepticism, he decided to treat them as true, for if they were, all the better.
The hunter by his side said, "Holy Monk, there are indeed immortals in the river, that’s true. He is, however, a demoted general, known to be volatile and unpredictable, and to have killed both immortals and Buddhist Arhats."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation responded, "Could it be that those immortals and Buddhas were at fault to begin with? If so, it was due to cause and effect, karmic retribution; the immortal in the river cannot be blad."
Muzha, wanting to say sothing but hesitating, wondered, Why is Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation speaking up for soone else? However, since Jin Chanzi’s words did not stray from the Buddhist Law, he couldn’t argue and could only assu that Jin Chanzi was practicing a pure form of Buddhist Law.
The hunter said, "The Holy Monk’s words make sense. The cycle of karma ans everything is retribution."
Muzha was taken aback. Why are you backing him up too? However, he truly didn’t dare to make insinuations about the hunter, although they had a sort of connection back during the ti of Divine Enthronent. But the hunter had a relationship mainly with his brother Nezha, not so much with him. And given the hunter’s identity and strength, Muzha had no place to argue or point fingers.
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation glanced at the hunter. To be honest, he still didn’t know who this hunter truly was. He appeared very composed. He had joined Jin Chanzi by chance on the road and then expressed his desire to escort him on the Journey to the West. At first, Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation hadn’t minded an extra person; he even felt a little expectant, thinking that with one more person, the journey ahead wouldn’t be so dull. However, as he gradually ca to understand him, he realized this hunter was far from simple, even unfathomable.
Jin Chanzi knew that Muzha, who had been with him from the start, was soone arranged by Buddhism. He didn’t know the specifics, only that Muzha was one of Guanyin’s people. Muzha’s status within Buddhism was not simple, and his Mana was also profound and unfathomable. Yet, he hadn’t expected such a figure from Buddhism to be so cautious and reserved in front of the hunter. Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation then knew that this hunter’s strength probably surpassed Muzha’s.
Muzha said, "Holy Monk, let’s take a detour. The grudges between the river immortal and the other immortals and Buddhas aside for now, he is vicious, and you should be cautious of dying here."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation turned back and said, "If I don’t provoke him, why would he kill ?"
Muzha replied, "He is cruel and tyrannical, having killed countless people. To kill, he needs no reason."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, however, said, "In this world, no one kills without a reason; even a murderous demon does so for a cause."
Muzha furrowed his brow and said, "So demons kill without needing a reason."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation smiled. "Perhaps. But if he doesn’t give his approval, we probably can’t cross this river, can we?"
Muzha nodded. "This is the Flowing Sand River, and it is indeed his domain. It’s rumored that the Flowing Sand River has been refined by him, making it like a Magical Tool to him. If he doesn’t give his approval, we indeed cannot cross this river. But he won’t approve, so let’s take a detour." He then added, "Otherwise, I could carry the Holy Monk over the Flowing Sand River in flight, which is also feasible."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation said, "If you’re carrying over, you might as well carry straight to Lingjiu Mountain."
Muzha was suddenly at a loss for words. How had Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, who would usually be silent and reserved, suddenly beco so talkative, and why was he contradicting him at every turn? He intended to pull soone to his side, so he quickly looked at the hunter. "Brother Yang, please help persuade the Holy Monk to give up this idea. The Flowing Sand River is truly too dangerous."
The hunter grinned and replied, "I would also like to see how dangerous this place really is."
Muzha was dumbfounded. Then he saw the hunter signal to Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation to continue calling out. However, even though Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation shouted for a long ti, there was still no response.
Sha Chen didn’t respond. It wasn’t that Sha Chen didn’t want to, but he didn’t know how he should respond. Moreover, he had a reward task at hand, the reward being the Duo Bao Relic, a divine item he could not bear to miss.
「Inside the Flowing Sand River.」
The three Phoenix sisters rarely saw soone who made Sha Chen hesitate to et, so they stopped cultivating and surrounded him, chirping and chattering.
Qing Luan said, "Daddy, who is that monk outside? You seem to really want to see him. If so, why not invite him in?"
Sha Chen patted her head and said, "Xiaoqing, rember, not just anyone can enter the Flowing Sand River. Those who can are trustworthy."
Qing Luan asked, "Does this an the monk outside isn’t trustworthy?"
Bai Luan and Hong Luan also looked at Sha Chen with confusion.
Sha Chen smiled and said, "The person outside is trustworthy, but the people around him are not."
Bai Luan said, "It’s the other practitioner, right? He looks a bit off, as if he has ulterior motives."
Hong Luan added, "And that hunter, he looks so fierce. His murderous aura is very strong. Although he hides it well, he’s very baleful."
Sha Chen chuckled. His Illusion-Breaking Divine Eye had already seen through the hunter’s identity. Although he was very well disguised, having cultivated the 72 Polymorphic Transformations to near Great Perfection, his transformation Divine Power was superb and could not be seen through by Fiery Golden Eyes. However, his was the Illusion-Breaking Divine Eye, and it had already discerned that the hunter was none other than the renowned Little Saint of Guanjiangkou, Erlang God Yang Jian! This was also why Sha Chen was frowning, unsure how to handle the situation for a mont.
Yang Jian himself had co. Moreover, he had disguised himself as a hunter and was accompanying Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation. What was he planning to do?
As Sha Chen observed Yang Jian, Yang Jian’s heart stirred. Frowning, he suddenly opened his Heavenly Eye in the center of his brow, casting a beam of light toward the Flowing Sand River. Sha Chen’s expression changed slightly as a beam of light struck the Sky Covering Umbrella, while he poured Mana into the Taiqing Colored Glaze Cup, causing it to radiate brilliant light that enveloped the entire Flowing Sand River. The Sky Covering Umbrella shielded their vicinity, blocking Yang Jian’s vision.
On the riverbank, Yang Jian frowned, retracted his gaze, wanting to speak but then stopping. Just now, he had seen a hazy scene within the Flowing Sand River: thousands of palaces, immortal farmlands, ponds, and even mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas. Apart from that, he also saw a person looking at him, their gazes eting. Beside that person were three figures that looked like little girls, but there was firelight on their bodies, as if they were birds. He wanted to look more closely, but suddenly, a bright light flared up, nearly scorching his eyes. When he looked again, the light had dimd sowhat, but the core area was pitch black, as if sothing was obstructing it. Yang Jian focused intently, trying to see clearly, but found it impossible. He thought of a Magical Tool that was exactly like the thing blocking his sight.
He muttered to himself, The ancient rare treasure, the Sky Covering Umbrella, how did it fall into his hands? What was that light? It almost burned my eyes, but after closing them, they recovered completely. I even feel my eyesight has beco a bit sharper. If I could obtain that Magical Tool to temper my divine eye, it would definitely make it stronger. No wonder everyone says Sha Chen is sitting on a mountain of treasures. Even I am moved.
Yang Jian’s thoughts churned. "Rumor has it he is in solitary cultivation here, but there are clearly others with him. It seems he’s just soone who fishes for fa and reputation." Yang Jian’s opinion of Sha Chen dropped a bit, but he didn’t underestimate him in the slightest. Sha Chen had many Magical Tools. Just the light-emitting Magical Tool and the Sky Covering Umbrella were enough to make him covetous. In this respect, Yang Jian felt quite envious of Sha Chen.
"You, you, why do you have three eyes?" Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation, startled by the sight of Yang Jian’s Heavenly Eye, asked, "Who are you, exactly?"
The hunter cupped his fist slightly. "Holy Monk, you should know that I deceived you. I am the Erlang God from Heaven, Yang Jian of Guanjiangkou on Earth."
Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation’s eyes lit up. "Are you the famous Little Saint, Erlang God Yang Jian?"
Yang Jian nodded with a smile, pleased that even Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation was aware of his fa. He was about to go and call at the gate of the Flowing Sand River himself.
But to his surprise, Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation shook his head slightly and offered, "You are also a pitiful soul; would you like to join ?"
Yang Jian replied, "Sorry, but I do not enter Buddhism."
Muzha nodded subtly, touched that Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation understood the importance of trying to recruit talent.
Yet unexpectedly, Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation replied, "I’m not asking you to convert to Buddhism, but to join in opposing Buddhism."
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