CHAPTER 3: CHAPTER 3: FORCING HIM OUT【SEEKING COLLECTION】_1

The demons made a ruckus for days, but Sha Chen remained unmoved, leaving them with no choice but to stare helplessly from the shore.

The Iron-Backed Bear Demon was furious. "It turns out he’s a cowardly turtle after all! It seems we need to find someone to help. Once we sneak into the water, we’ll drag him out and kill him!"

The other demons nodded in agreement. The Blue-Eyed Wolf Demon said, "I’ll go and find out exactly which Immortal is in this Flowing Sand River."

His eyes were filled with shrewdness. "Those Immortals all think they’re so noble. The muddy waters of this insignificant Flowing Sand River shouldn’t catch their lofty eyes. Yet, an Immortal has established a cave dwelling here. There must be another reason."

The demons left in silent resentment.

Sha Chen was in the Flowing Sand River, diligently practicing his cultivation and studying the Eight-Nine Profound Art. He had also swallowed a Purple Gold Immortal Pill.

He chose to ignore what was happening outside.

Days later, the demons returned and continued to curse from outside the Flowing Sand River.

"So, it’s a sinful general banished to the mortal realm! A petty deity suffering hardships here, yet he dares to raze our caves!"

"That fellow must have had some connection to you, razing the caves on your behalf. But he’s already gone, and now you’re the one in trouble!"

"Petty deity, hurry up and come out to meet your death! Let us grandfathers see what an Immortal looks like!"

The demons shouted and cursed above the Flowing Sand River. After several days and nights of insults, they sulkily departed again.

"Who would’ve thought this petty deity would be such a coward? No matter how we insult him, he doesn’t dare come out. It looks like we’ll have to wait for Brother Bear to invite his godfather over!"

While the demons outside were in disarray, Sha Chen, in the Flowing Sand River, calmly pursued his cultivation.

Finally, he not only mastered the Eight-Nine Profound Art, causing his cultivation speed to advance by leaps and bounds, but after swallowing two Immortal Pills, his cultivation also reached the Peak True Immortal realm!

"Host has made a breakthrough in cultivation. You have the following choices."

"Choice one: Now that your cultivation has broken through, go forth and be free. Subdue the demons within a ten-thousand-mile radius of the Flowing Sand River and become a carefree Demon King. Reward: Post-Heaven Human Seed Bag. Description: A Magical Tool of Maitreya Buddha, capable of containing all things and trapping living beings within."

"Choice two: Rather than becoming a demon, continue your arduous cultivation. Reward: Taiyi Creation Pill. Description: An Immortal Pill containing the essence of Taiyi, essential for increasing cultivation and breaking through to the Immortal Taiyi realm."

Sha Chen had already reached the Peak True Immortal realm, and the next realm was the Immortal Taiyi realm.

He unhesitatingly chose to continue his secluded cultivation and received the Taiyi Creation Pill.

He swallowed the round, golden Elixir, and his aura began to climb steadily.

「Half a month later.」

Sha Chen’s cultivation advanced to the Initial Stage of Immortal Taiyi. His aura became mighty and primeval. He then received another prompt from the system, presenting him with a new choice.

He obtained three Taiyi Creation Pills as a reward. He planned to continue enduring the Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart and remain in seclusion.

On the murky riverbank, a throng of demons had gathered. The previously vociferous Blue-Eyed Wolf Demon and Iron-Backed Bear Demon flanked an old demon carrying a turtle shell on its back.

Sha Chen furrowed his brow. His Divine Consciousness swept over the scene, and he felt a surge of annoyance.

He frowned. These demons never learn, still buzzing about up there. It seems Jinmaohou caused them considerable losses.

That Jinmaohou... Sha Chen’s face contorted with displeasure at the thought of him. That beast truly stopped at nothing to make me become a demon! But I will not submit!

The demons shouted and screamed on the riverbank, merely trying to lure him out. If he were to leave now, it would give Buddhism an excuse to force him into demonhood, leading to his inevitable fall! Therefore, he absolutely could not go out.

However, he was not someone to be trifled with. Not going out didn’t mean he couldn’t fight back if these demons came down!

Sha Chen sneered and muttered to himself beneath the Flowing Sand River, "You’d better not come down, otherwise I’ll make you regret it!"

He didn’t show his face and continued to remain silent, waiting for the demons to tire of their curses and leave.

「However, on the riverbank.」

The Blue-Eyed Wolf Demon was fawning over the Old Turtle Demon, saying, "Godfather, we’ve investigated thoroughly. The one in the Flowing Sand River is the Great General for Folding the Curtain from the Heavenly Court. His cultivation is merely at the Initial Stage of True Immortal. With your Peak True Immortal realm, Godfather, you could easily drag him out!"

"Our cultivation levels are all True Immortal High Stage. We’ve been shouting on the bank for ages, but he doesn’t dare to show himself; he must be scared. But if we go down, we’re afraid of walking into a trap. Godfather, you’re skilled in water and possess profound cultivation. You’re the perfect one to capture him!"

The Old Turtle Demon, beaming with pride, nodded. "My children, don’t fret. That petty deity is nothing! I’ll capture him for you!"

Then, he began to channel his Divine Power. Standing atop the river, he churned the waters of the Flowing Sand River!

At the same time, he bellowed, "Petty deity in the river, listen up! I am your Grandpa Turtle! Some time ago, you sent someone to destroy my children’s cave dwellings. That was a heinous crime! Come out now and face your death, and I might grant you an intact corpse. If you dare refuse, I’ll enter the water myself and ensure you die without a burial place!"

「Simultaneously.」

The Duty Immortal Official from the Heavenly Court, tasked with monitoring the Flowing Sand River, had been witnessing everything unfold.

The Duty Jia Lan were under orders from the Jade Emperor: Sha Chen was to endure suffering, then be driven to cannibalism and become a demon, and finally be enlightened by Guanyin to accompany the scripture pilgrim on the Journey to the West. As Duty Jia Lan, their role was to ensure these events transpired as the Jade Emperor had decreed.

But now, they saw demons stirring up trouble. They knew Sha Chen’s cultivation was only at the Initial Stage of True Immortal, making him no match for these demons.

One of the Duty Jia Lan chuckled. "Heh, that Sha Chen knows he’s no match for the demons, so he’s hiding in the Flowing Sand River. But with this Old Turtle showing up, his peace is about to be shattered!"

God Riyou said, "If the Old Turtle goes down into the Flowing Sand River and kills Juanlian, it will ruin His Majesty’s plans. Let’s wait until Juanlian has suffered a bit and cries for help. Then we’ll intervene."

All the Duty Jia Lan nodded, appearing relaxed and nonchalant.

It was as if they already envisioned the scene of Sha Chen being humiliated by the demons, crying and begging for help.

「Flowing Sand River.」

The Blue-Eyed Wolf Demon and Iron-Backed Bear Demon led the rabble-rousing. Watching their godfather, the Old Turtle, stand majestically upon the Flowing Sand River’s surface, swaggering about, they cheered with even greater excitement.

The Old Turtle was at the Peak True Immortal realm; no demon within a ten-thousand-mile radius could match him!

That disgraced general in the Flowing Sand River, rumored to be merely at the Initial Stage of True Immortal, isn’t he just a plaything for us to toy with as we please?!

After the Old Turtle had swaggered on the river’s surface to his heart’s content, he unleashed his Divine Power, parting the waters of the Flowing Sand River to create an opening, and prepared to dive in.