Chapter 199: Chapter 199

Everyone inhaled sharply, their eyes wide and mouths agape.

Kui Mulang was defeated!

His defeat was so thorough, leaving him without the slightest ability to fight back. That he couldn’t withstand even a single move from Sha Chen... how was this possible? It was utterly inconceivable.

All the demons were stunned.

Lady Di Yong was dizzy, and Bai Huaxiu gasped in astonishment.

The attendants in the sky were also dumbfounded. "No way! Kui Mulang couldn’t even withstand one of his moves?" they exclaimed.

Matchmaker’s face turned grim. This is not good. He dived, intending to intervene.

Sha Chen had already knocked Kui Mulang unconscious, but he hadn’t destroyed his legal body. Instead, Sha Chen had merely tied him up. Kui Mulang was, after all, a disciple of Tongtian Hierarch and also served the Jade Emperor. Killing him outright would be improper. It was impossible that Tongtian Hierarch didn’t care about Kui Mulang. Otherwise, Tongtian Hierarch wouldn’t have gifted Tianpeng tens of thousands of years of Golden Immortal cultivation as compensation after Kui Mulang burned down Tianpeng’s immortal cave. This showed that Kui Mulang held a significant position in Tongtian Hierarch’s estimation.

Sha Chen subdued him, bound him, opened the Panlong Alchemy Furnace, placed him inside, then slipped the furnace into his sleeve. Only after finishing this was Sha Chen ready to rescue the others.

Suddenly, a powerful aura descended from the sky. "General for Folding the Curtain, spare him!"

Matchmaker had made his move.

Sha Chen’s expression changed slightly. With a thought, his avatar in the cave abode drew its bow taut, aiming at Matchmaker.

Matchmaker was shocked. A chill ran down his spine, causing him to halt mid-air.

He furrowed his brow. Why do I feel a prickling on my back, as if a powerful expert is watching me? Still unsettled, Matchmaker looked around before his gaze settled on Sha Chen. He frowned and shook his head internally. It’s not him. He isn’t capable of giving me such a feeling.

However, he didn’t press forward. Instead, he looked down at Sha Chen from the sky, managing a forced smile. "General for Folding the Curtain, Kui Mulang is one of the Twenty-Eight Constellations of the Heavenly Court. Defeating him is one thing, but detaining him is truly improper."

Sha Chen merely frowned and took several steps back, simultaneously unleashing the Undefined Flying Rings, which crackled with thunder and fire.

The demons that had trapped Lady Di Yong and Bai Huaxiu were struck down in succession.

Subsequently, the Giant Que Sword also flew out. It severed the ropes binding the two women, landed at their feet, and carried them back to the Flowing Sand River.

With a wave of his hand, Sha Chen brought them to his side.

This all seemed complex, but in reality, it was completed in an instant.

Although Kui Mulang, the Demon King, had brought many demons, their strength was mediocre. Without Kui Mulang’s command, they were like headless dragons, easily slaughtered.

Rescuing them also took but an instant.

Matchmaker’s face darkened. He chided, "General for Folding the Curtain, kidnapping Kui Mulang is one thing, but why did you also abduct the Jade Emperor’s maidservant?"

Bai Huaxiu was the Jade Emperor’s maidservant, and Sha Chen taking her away naturally gave Matchmaker an excuse.

Sha Chen glanced at Bai Huaxiu, nodded, lifted her, and tossed her towards Matchmaker.

He laughed. "You have a point. The Jade Emperor’s maidservant should be returned to the Jade Emperor. Please, True Lord Matchmaker, take her back."

Matchmaker was stunned.

He hadn’t expected Sha Chen to actually hand over Bai Huaxiu.

Wasn’t Sha Chen trying to save her? How could he hand her over so easily? Then what was the point of all his efforts?!

Matchmaker couldn’t figure it out. Chapters fırst released on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱

Bai Huaxiu, however, was heartbroken. She cried out, "General for Folding the Curtain, please don’t abandon me! This servant is willing to have her heart torn to pieces for you! Please, don’t leave me!"

Sha Chen said, "Fairy, we may have a destined encounter, but we are not fated to be together. It’s better for you to return to the Heavenly Court and resume your duties as a maidservant."

Tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain, Bai Huaxiu collapsed beside Matchmaker, fainting from grief.

Matchmaker was helpless. This was a hot potato he had to handle, so he could only have the attendants come over to support her.

After handing her over, Sha Chen prepared to head back.

How could Matchmaker let him return so easily? He said, "General for Folding the Curtain, there is one more demoness. Since I’ve encountered her, please hand her over to me for disposal."

Sha Chen laughed. "True Lord Matchmaker, you jest. You are in charge of mortal destinies and marriages; since when did you take up the mantle of eliminating demons and defending the righteous path?"

"I captured this demoness, so I will deal with her. She stole many things from me previously. I’ll take her back for interrogation. If she proves useless, I will kill her then. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself, True Lord."

Matchmaker’s cheek twitched.

He felt a sense of powerlessness.

It seems Li Changgeng was right. This fellow is truly impervious to reason, completely irrational. His words leave no room for rebuttal; it’s infuriating! I don’t even know what to do. Why haven’t the other Constellations arrived yet? Li Xiong’s rapport with them must be terrible.

Matchmaker grew anxious and even hesitated, wondering if he should intervene personally.

However, this thought lasted only a moment before he discarded it.

If I kill Sha Chen myself, it would only give Buddhism an excuse to act against me and would displease the Heavenly Court. In the end, I would be the one to suffer. It’s not worth it.

His only option was to try and detain Sha Chen, keep him outside, and wait for the Twenty-Eight Constellations to arrive and besiege him.

However, Sha Chen wouldn’t give him the chance. After killing the demons and rescuing the captives, his objective had been achieved.

He shot Matchmaker a wary glance before opening his cave abode and retreating inside.

Seeing this, Matchmaker dived, intending to follow him inside.

"General for Folding the Curtain, I’ve long heard your cave abode is a blessed land. Since I am here today, might I enter as a guest?"

Sha Chen’s expression changed drastically. He turned around abruptly, spewing Samadhi True Fire and simultaneously striking out with a palm, condensing the Imperial Gods’ Thunder.

Matchmaker laughed heartily, extinguishing the Samadhi True Fire with a palm strike. However, his expression changed drastically upon seeing the Imperial Gods’ Thunder.

"HISS! How do you know my Master’s Imperial Gods’ Thunder?"

Matchmaker was stunned. In his moment of distraction, the Imperial Gods’ Thunder struck him, leaving him scorched and blackened, nearly causing him to fall into the Flowing Sand River.

He forcefully stabilized his form and tried to enter the cave abode once more, only to discover the doors were tightly shut.

After three forceful attacks, he realized the cave abode merely trembled, showing no signs of breaking, so he abandoned the assault.

He then bellowed, "Sha Chen, come out and explain! Why do you possess my Master’s Imperial Gods’ Thunder? Did you learn it illicitly? Come out and explain yourself at once! If you don’t make this clear, I will not let this matter rest!"

Inside the cave abode, Sha Chen’s expression was grave.

This is trouble. I got carried away and used the Imperial Gods’ Thunder right in front of Lord Yuan Shi’s disciple, and now he’s questioning its origin. But let him ask. I’ll just ignore him. The Eight-Nine Profound Art is practically common knowledge; what’s so special about the Imperial Gods’ Thunder?

Sha Chen tossed Lady Di Yong onto the ground and paid her no further heed.

Lady Di Yong, seeing Sha Chen’s fierce and menacing expression, knew he was in a difficult situation. She dared not speak and obediently retreated to one side.

Sha Chen didn’t release Kui Mulang, as he hadn’t yet decided how to deal with him.

However, he did take the Sky Shaking Bow and Shooting Sun Divine Arrow from his avatar. Last time, he had used them to scare away Guanyin, and this time he intended to do the same.

He aimed them straight at Matchmaker.

As expected, Matchmaker retreated several steps in fright, returning to the sky. Standing on a cloud, he looked down at the Flowing Sand River, his heart still pounding with terror.

Why... why do I feel as if I’m on the brink of death?

Matchmaker, his soul still reeling, thought, It’s not his own strength. Sha Chen must possess some strange magical tool, one capable of threatening me.

His eyes flashed, and he huffed, "Sha Chen, since you refuse to reveal the origin of the Imperial Gods’ Thunder, don’t blame me for informing my Master and letting him question you personally!"

The expression on Sha Chen’s face within the cave abode changed instantly.

This is what I feared most. If Lord Yuan Shi finds out and comes personally, seeing all my treasures, who knows what he might do? This is truly troublesome.

"[System Notification: The host is being pressed by the Lucky Person, Matchmaker, to explain the origin of the Imperial Gods’ Thunder. You have the following choices:]"

"[Option One: Agree to Matchmaker’s request and explain the origin of the Imperial Gods’ Thunder. Reward: Marriage Red Line. (Description: Matchmaker’s magical tool, imbued with the power of karmic marital bonds. When used, the targets’ emotions will align. Effective only on those with cultivation lower than the user’s.)]"

"[Option Two: Refuse Matchmaker’s request and ignore him. Reward: Imperial Gods’ Scripture - Da Luo Chapter. (Description: Insights of Daluo Golden Immortals, authored by Lord Yuan Shi after achieving sainthood.)]"

Seeing the options, Sha Chen smiled bitterly. Do I even have a choice? I certainly can’t tell Matchmaker the origin; that would expose the system’s existence. That would be digging my own grave. But if I refuse to answer, how can I avoid this catastrophe? If Matchmaker really goes back and tells Lord Yuan Shi, and a Saint comes, then I’ll be in massive trouble. To secretly learn a Saint’s ultimate technique... one could very well be annihilated by that Saint for it. And now the reward is the Imperial Gods’ Scripture - Da Luo Chapter? Isn’t this practically handing the Saint a reason to strike me down? But, despite that, I want it. If someone at the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm could gain insights from the Three Purities, it would be like receiving personal teachings from a Daoist Ancestor—achieving twice the results with half the effort. With such a promising path ahead, how could I refuse?

Sha Chen didn’t respond to Matchmaker’s interrogation, but he did use the Wanli Soul Chasing Mirror to watch Matchmaker’s movements.

Matchmaker shouted for a long time, but Sha Chen still offered no response.

By this time, the Twenty-Eight Constellations had arrived. They saw only a field of demon corpses and no sign of Kui Mulang.

They noticed Matchmaker and began to question him.

Matchmaker embellished the events considerably, finally pointing towards the Flowing Sand River. "General Li Xiong was captured by Sha Chen and dragged into the Flowing Sand River!"

The Twenty-Eight Constellations were immediately enraged. They dived, shouting abuses, and then assaulted the cave abode.

However, the cave abode was incredibly sturdy. It was impregnable not only to them but even to Matchmaker. Naturally, their efforts were fruitless.

Sha Chen had a major headache. He was now being harassed by the Twenty-Eight Constellations and targeted by Matchmaker.

He was certain Buddhism would be very happy to see this unfold. Buddhism would surely be delighted to see this. Only when I’m cornered can they find an opportunity to strike.

Now, it seemed his only option was to ask Tongtian Hierarch for aid.

But if I really ask for help, I’ll truly be considered a member of the Sect of Interpretation, and the associated karma will entangle me.

Sha Chen’s expression was grim. He could already imagine Tongtian Hierarch’s reaction upon learning of his predicament—the Sect Hierarch would probably be grinning from ear to ear.

In fact, at Zi Zhi Cliff, Tongtian Hierarch indeed knew of the situation and was laughing heartily.

He announced grandly, "Sha Chen, I am watching to see how you handle this!"