Chapter 170: Chapter 170

Ran Deng Buddha spoke again, threatening, "Master Sha Chen, if you will not come out, this old monk will enter on his own." He wore a smile, calm and composed, as though preparing to go in. Instantly, Sha Chen became alert and began to step back incessantly, hiding behind the palace while fully on guard.

With his three heads and six arms, he wielded various magical tools, while secretly forming hand seals, ready to use Qingyun Zong and flee should anything go wrong. Fighting was out of the question. He couldn’t defeat Ran Deng Buddha; he could only create chaos and seize the chance to escape.

However, doing so meant he would have to abandon many things, like his immortal fields and various immortal elixirs in them, the Spirit Gathering Array he had built over so many years, the Mysterious Heavenly Water Pool, and the cellared immortal wines. Though he possessed a Qiankun Bag capable of taking many things with him, inevitably, some could not be taken in time. Moreover, Sha Chen couldn’t take them either.

He resolved to leave these things behind as bait, to halt Ran Deng Buddha’s pursuit, even if the chance was slim, he had to try. He was fully concentrated, warily watching Ran Deng Buddha outside the Black Tortoise Armor.

Ran Deng Buddha pretended as if to enter but did not actually do so. Instead, he stopped and smiled faintly. He said with a smile, "Master, why be so afraid of this old monk, taking such careful precautions? It does chill my heart."

Tianpeng next to him was already scared witless, worried Ran Deng Buddha would come in. But whatever he wanted to say was stopped by Sha Chen’s gaze.

Ran Deng Buddha said, "Hurry and open your cave dwelling, or come out yourself. Otherwise, if this old monk comes in, things will not end well."

Sha Chen frowned, his face filled with confusion and suspicion. He was extremely cautious, worried about Ran Deng Buddha charging in.

However, Ran Deng Buddha’s threat was all bark and no bite—he shouted threats without making a move, just trying to intimidate. Sha Chen felt that Ran Deng Buddha probably couldn’t get in.

Just then, Ran Deng Buddha continued, "I give you one last chance lasting three breaths time. If you do not open your cave dwelling, this old monk will get angry. When this old monk gets angry, the consequences will be severe." Ran Deng Buddha then pressed his hands together and said, "Amitabha, this old monk cannot guarantee what precepts might be broken then."

Then, he entered meditation, no longer moving or speaking further.

Upon hearing this and seeing the situation, Tianpeng was already at his wits’ end, frantic. He quickly got up and said, "Old Sha, we are in big trouble, a disaster of great magnitude! Hurry and open the cave dwelling so we can go out and beg for mercy!

"Hand over the Sky Shaking Bow to the Ancient Buddha. With my former status as Marshal Tianpeng, it should be possible to beg the Ancient Buddha to spare our lives. Don’t try to be brave!"

Sha Chen said, "Shut up. Looking for a beating again?"

Tianpeng grumbled, "Relying on your strength being above mine, you always bully me. If it were the past, a reverse rake from me would have floored you."

Sha Chen ignored Tianpeng’s nonsense; meanwhile, the system’s voice had already sounded.

"It has been detected that the host is being asked by the Lucky Person Ran Deng Buddha to open the cave dwelling. You have the following options:"

"Option one: Open the cave dwelling, beg for Ran Deng Buddha’s forgiveness, and receive the reward of the magical tool ’Universial Ruler.’ Universial Ruler: Ran Deng Buddha’s magical tool, can strike the firmament, can smack down monstrous beasts of myths, immensely powerful, and supremely heavy."

"Option two: Refuse to open the cave dwelling, ignore Ran Deng Buddha’s demand, and once he departs, receive the reward of three ’Shooting Sun Divine Arrows.’ Shooting Sun Divine Arrow: A magical tool obtained by the Great Witch Hou Yi, can shoot the Golden Crow, immensely powerful, can break through anything."

Without any hesitation, Sha Chen chose to refuse opening the cave dwelling. As for opening the cave dwelling and begging for mercy, those were impossibilities among impossibilities. He also did not believe Ran Deng Buddha would let him go just because he pleaded for mercy. The current standoff was merely Ran Deng’s attempt to scare him out.

Three breaths had passed. Tianpeng, still caught in his panicked pleading with Sha Chen, kept on even after being punched several times.

Ran Deng Buddha, who was outside, frowned slightly and opened his eyes as if he could see Sha Chen, and said, "Master Sha Chen, it seems you wish for this old monk to enter personally."

Sha Chen said, "I dare not invite the Honorable Buddha in."

Ran Deng Buddha said, "Then why, when this old monk gives you a chance, do you not cherish it?"

Sha Chen said, "I dare not fail to cherish it, but I also dare not go out."

Ran Deng Buddha asked, "Why do you not dare to come out?"

Sha Chen pondered for a moment and replied, "I fear the Honorable Buddha’s anger might burn me to death."

Ran Deng Buddha was momentarily taken aback. He did not expect Sha Chen to be so bold in his speech, and for a moment, he was at a loss for a reaction. Afterward, he said, "Are you suggesting this old monk would kill indiscriminately?"

Sha Chen replied, "If the Honorable Buddha would not, nothing could be better and I would be at ease."

Ran Deng Buddha said with a furrowed brow, "If you come out, this old monk will treat you courteously. If you do not come out, this old monk may truly have to embark on a killing spree."

HISS! Tianpeng was terrified to the core.

"Old Sha, quickly go out! Otherwise, in an instant, both of us will be gone from this world!" Then he tried to drag Sha Chen out, but Sha Chen pressed him to the ground with one hand and glared at him.

Ran Deng Buddha said, "Master Sha Chen, why stop Marshal Tianpeng? He is the wise one. You took something you should not have. This old monk gave you a chance to return it, but you did not cherish it, so do not blame this old monk for not being courteous." Then, with his hands pressed together, he chanted a Buddha’s name, "Amitabha, the Buddhist Law is boundless." Enveloped in Buddha’s light, he was about to force his way in.

Sha Chen was on high alert, eyes fixed on Ran Deng Buddha, his back adorned with wings of wind and thunder, and his feet standing atop the Qingyun Zong, ready to make a run for it at any moment. He was also holding down Tianpeng. This fellow, fear of death incarnate, would have to be left behind to cover the retreat should Ran Deng Buddha actually charge in.

However, it seemed that after Ran Deng Buddha’s Buddhist Law illuminated the area, he hesitated for three seconds and did not start a fight. He appeared to frown, deep in thought.

Tianpeng’s heart, filled with terror, had nearly stopped beating, his eyes wide open with fear. He couldn’t help but plead, "Honorable Buddha, please don’t force your way in! Old Sha is confused, I’ll talk to him. You go back first, and we’ll visit Yuanjue Cave on Lingjiu Mountain another day to apologize." His plea was nothing more than clutching at straws—in desperation.

But then, all of a sudden, Ran Deng Buddha retracted his Buddha’s light, pressed his palms together, and said with a smile, "Amitabha. Since Marshal Tianpeng has spoken, this old monk will grant him this favor. I hope to see both of you at Lingjiu Mountain one day, especially Master Sha Chen." Having said that, he turned and left without hesitation.

Tianpeng was dumbfounded. Only after confirming that Ran Deng Buddha was gone and that there were no ambushes outside did Tianpeng break into tears of joy.

Then, with triumph, he said, "Old Sha, let go of me! Did you see that? I saved your life! How will you repay me?" He strutted over to Sha Chen, winking and goofing around, his fear replaced by a lively and refreshed demeanor.

As if. He truly had saved Sha Chen’s life. It was because of his pleading that Ran Deng Buddha left, allowing both of them to survive.

Sha Chen snorted coldly. "Shut up, you idiot. Haven’t you thought that Ran Deng Buddha would really leave just because of your ’face’?"

Tianpeng said, "Old Sha, you’re just jealous that my ’face’ carries more weight than yours! Let me tell you, in the Heavenly Court, I am the Marshal of the Milky Way Water Department, commanding eighty thousand celestial soldiers, guarding the Milky Way, the boundary river between the Demonic Realm and the Heavenly Realm."

Puffing out his chest, he added proudly, "I won’t hide it from you – I’ve got both ’face’ and substance!" Thɪs chapter is updated by novel[f]ire.net

Sha Chen shook his head and said disdainfully, "Use that pig brain of yours and think. You’re no longer the Marshal of the Milky Way Water Department. Even Kui Mulang doesn’t give you ’face’, so why would Ran Deng Buddha, who abandoned his sect, give you ’face’?"

He patted Tianpeng’s cheek and pinched his chubby face. "Think about it. What ’face’ do you possess that would make a former Vice Master of the Chan Sect, now the number two figure on Lingjiu Mountain, show you such respect?"

Tianpeng paused for a moment, pondering. It seemed he, too, realized he didn’t have such clout. But then, Ran Deng Buddha had indeed left, and even said it was out of respect for him. Could it be false? Could it be that Ran Deng Buddha was still lurking outside!?

Tianpeng said, "Old Sha, you’re starting to get jealous that my ’face’ carries more weight than yours."

Sha Chen sighed heavily, worried about this pigheaded fool’s intelligence. "Kui Mulang dares to kill you, and Muzha can trick you. Do you really think Ran Deng Buddha respects you? The fact he even recognizes you is already giving you ’face’. Why would he respect a demoted marshal from the Heavenly Court who pathetically begs for mercy?"

Tianpeng felt that it indeed seemed unlikely. But Sha Chen’s disagreement made him lose face. Stubbornly, he said, "Then you tell me, why would he leave? Or are you saying he hasn’t left at all and is laying an ambush for us outside?"

Sha Chen replied indifferently, "Him laying an ambush outside isn’t out of the question."

Tianpeng curled his lip, clearly not convinced.

However, Sha Chen was absolutely certain. He had not yet received the system reward, meaning the mission wasn’t complete. His task was to keep the cave dwelling closed until Ran Deng Buddha had left; only then would he receive the three Shooting Sun Divine Arrows. Since he hadn’t received the reward, it was clear Ran Deng Buddha was still waiting in ambush outside.

Sha Chen sneered internally. ’That old bald donkey is quite sly. He always loved skulking in the dark for sneak attacks during the Apocalypse Epoch. Now he’s resorting to the same old tricks, even using such despicable methods against juniors like us.’ Indeed, Buddhist Law might change one’s appearance, but not their inherent nature. Ran Deng Buddha still possesses the same mentality he had before becoming a monk, even stooping to ambush a junior like me.

Too bad for him. Not only did Sha Chen have the system to confirm Ran Deng Buddha hadn’t left, but even without it, he wouldn’t have gone out. Want to lay an ambush? When it came to a battle of patience, Sha Chen had never feared anyone.

Tianpeng was still rambling on, insisting he had saved Sha Chen’s life, until Sha Chen beat him into submission and he finally quieted down. In reality, he also knew Sha Chen was right. Ran Deng Buddha indeed wouldn’t give him ’face’, yet he had left—which was truly suspicious. Even Tianpeng knew what kind of person the former Taoist Ran Deng was, and deep down, he suspected Ran Deng Buddha was hiding nearby, ready for an ambush.

Sha Chen said, "If you feel safe, then leave. I’ll see you out."

How could Tianpeng dare to go out? He quickly smiled apologetically. "Old Sha, I was just joking! That old monk’s behavior is untrustworthy, and he has a shady past. I’m afraid he’s lurking outside!"

Sha Chen said, "As long as you know. Stay here with me, lying low for a thousand, or even ten thousand years."

Sitting atop a rock in a deep, ancient forest west of the Flowing Sand River was an old monk—none other than Ran Deng Buddha. He was constantly monitoring the situation at the Flowing Sand River, also listening to the conversation inside.

Hearing the dialogue between the two, he was so irritated his teeth itched, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. "It seems that if this old monk doesn’t teach them a lesson, they won’t learn what respect means."