CHAPTER 6: CHAPTER 6 SELF-EXAMINATION THREE TIMES DAILY【SEEKING FAVORITES, SEEKING RECOMMENDATIONS】_1

"I am waiting for your madness," the Jade Emperor said with a smile on his face as he continued to review the petitions.

After all, it was he who had banished Sha Chen to the mortal realm, and it had been done with purpose. The more monstrous Sha Chen became, the more the Jade Emperor felt he had lost. Therefore, he did not wish for Sha Chen to possess great abilities. The sooner Sha Chen turned into a demon, the more it would prove the uniqueness of his vision—Sha Chen was trash.

「The mortal realm.」

In Zhu Zi Country, on Qilin Mountain, Sai Tai Sui was renovating his cave dwelling in Xie Zhi Cave. He had decided to settle down as a demon for a while before returning to claim his rewards and recognition. In just a few days, he had gathered a band of demons to serve under him.

He was seated on a tiger skin stool, resting and reveling in wine and pleasure, when he suddenly burst into laughter.

A demon underling named Xiaojingling, his eyes lighting up, said, "Great King, why do you laugh? Could it be that some good fortune has come our way?"

Jinmaohou Sai Tai Sui laughed and said, "I was just thinking how free and unrestrained one can be as a demon, wielding power—yet there are those who find no joy in it."

Xiaojingling asked, "Who is the Great King referring to?"

Jinmaohou replied, "There’s a minor deity at the Flowing Sand River who was once the Great General for Folding the Curtain under the Jade Emperor. Cast down to the mortal realm, he endures the agony of the Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart. But with immense willpower, he still hasn’t gone mad and become a demon. Of course, I couldn’t stand by and watch. What’s the good in being an immortal when being a demon is so much more comfortable? Hence, I concocted a little plan to force him into demonhood. This and that..."

He recounted his scheme of how he had killed the demons in the Flowing Sand River region and incited the Blue-Eyed Wolf Demon and others to besiege Sha Chen!

"That minor deity has weak strength. He’ll definitely not withstand the assault of those demons. And I have already dispatched my Left and Right Guardians. As soon as the minor deity falters, they will step in to help and rescue him. He will be so grateful that he’ll make a blood oath and instantly turn into a demon!"

As he spoke, he erupted into laughter, exceedingly pleased with himself.

The little demons, though not understanding their king’s peculiar sense of humor, nonetheless joined in with loud laughter!

However, after waiting for several days, Jinmaohou grew impatient. "Why have the Left and Right Guardians been gone so long without any news? Could it be that those demons didn’t go to trouble that fur-god?"

He then sent a few little demons to gather information. After two days, they all returned, but the looks on their faces were ones of terror and unease.

Jinmaohou said, "Out with it. Did the Left and Right Guardians fall asleep during the mission?"

Trembling with fear, the small demon hurriedly reported, "The Left and Right Guardians have died in battle."

Jinmaohou was shocked. "I didn’t think those demons were so fierce as to kill even my guardians?"

I just hope that fur-god isn’t dead; otherwise, it would be difficult to explain to my master.

The small demon said, "Great King, those demons have also perished. Nearly all the demons within ten thousand li of the Flowing Sand River have been wiped out."

Then he relayed all the information he had gathered.

Frightened, Jinmaohou’s eyes bulged as he howled, "My goodness, I didn’t expect that fur-god to have some skills! He turns out to be an Immortal Taiyi—I’ve been careless! I employed a cunning plan, yet he managed to foil it and even annihilated my Left and Right Guardians. That fur-god has quite the nerve."

Xiaojingling quickly suggested, "Great King, why not employ another cunning plan to force him to become a demon?"

With a kick, Jinmaohou retorted, "Where would I come up with so many cunning plans? Forget about him! I will personally go there and force him out of the water to become a demon. I refuse to believe he can turn the heavens upside down."

Then he went straight out the door and rode the clouds away.

「Flowing Sand River.」

After wiping out the demons within ten thousand li, Sha Chen finally enjoyed some peace and could focus on his cultivation. Moreover, because of the Taiyi Creation Pills he had accumulated earlier, he temporarily didn’t lack elixirs for cultivation. Additionally, each day he could still transform a portion of divine power from the Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart Formation into cultivation progress.

However, what dissatisfied Sha Chen was that as his cultivation improved, he felt the Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart Formation seemed to lose its effectiveness. It was unable to keep up with the energy he needed for cultivation.

He often lamented, Why can’t the Jade Emperor’s punishment on me be a bit harsher? This leniency is exasperating.

「That day.」

Like always, after enduring the Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart, and feeling unsatisfied, Sha Chen intended to sit down and cultivate.

Suddenly, outside the Flowing Sand River, an overpowering aura pressed down.

Sha Chen was startled; the aura was strong, and it made him anxious.

As Sha Chen pondered what was happening, that aura was already attacking the rudimentary formation he had set up.

Sha Chen gripped the crescent shovel in one hand and the paired parent-child sword in the other. He watched warily at the figure outside the formation—fiery red all over, resembling a Qilin or a lion, baring its teeth and claws.

Sha Chen said, "Who are you, and what is your business here?"

The beast outside responded, "I am Sai Tai Sui from Qilin Mountain. Hearing that you’re a deity banished to the mortal realm, I’m discontent with the Heavenly Court’s injustice towards you. I’ve specifically come here to rescue you. We could claim a mountain as our own, live on humans, and enjoy a carefree life."

Sha Chen was shocked. It was Jinmaohou.

However, he immediately became alert. Although Jinmaohou’s words seemed to be for his benefit, in reality, he was trying to turn him into a demon!

At that moment, a notification appeared.

"Jinmaohou has been detected attacking the host’s formation and tempting the host to become a demon. You have the following choices."

"Option one: Agree with Jinmaohou, emerge as a demon, and join forces with him to create a wonderful demonic life. Reward: the Purple Gold Bell. (Purple Gold Bell: A magical tool given by Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad to Guanyin, stolen and used by Jinmaohou. Shake it once to bring the wind, twice to lift the sand, thrice to move rocks.)"

"Option two: Refuse Jinmaohou and persuade him to retreat. Continue discreet cultivation. Reward: the innate defensive formation, the Black Tortoise Divine Array. (Black Tortoise Divine Array: A defensive type formation that, once set up, is hard to break for anyone below Daluo Golden Immortal.)"

Sha Chen looked at the rewards and was wildly excited. It was like a pillow had appeared just as he yearned for sleep. He had been troubled by his rudimentary formation, vulnerable to disruption by anyone, and now he had the chance to obtain the Black Tortoise Divine Array. Jinmaohou’s abilities were probably that of a Golden Immortal, at most a Greater Primordial Golden Immortal, certainly not a Daluo Golden Immortal. Even Sun Wukong was not a Daluo Golden Immortal yet. If Sha Chen were to set up this formation, it would surely hold him off! However, to obtain the formation, he must first persuade the visitor to leave. For the sake of the Black Tortoise Divine Array, for the sake of peaceful cultivation, he decided to take a gamble!

Sha Chen, steeling his nerves, hurriedly said, "King Sai Tai Sui, stop attacking the formation! I don’t wish to become a demon."

Jinmaohou continued attacking the formation, feeling that he was close to breaking through. At the same time, he said, "You just don’t know the joy of being a demon yet. Don’t carry a psychological burden. You’re no longer an immortal; release your true nature."

"You are loyal to the Heavenly Court, yet they have abandoned you and forced you to endure the Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart day and night. Don’t you despise them?"

"Become a demon with me, and I’ll make you my second-in-command. I’d even relinquish my cave dwelling to you; I can find another without any issue. Such is my willingness to help others."

Sha Chen was at a loss for words, yet he still said, "King, you misunderstand. I don’t resent the Heavenly Court. Although the Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart is painful, I can bear it. I don’t wish to become a demon. I’d prefer to stay here and quietly endure hardship, to reflect on my own conduct daily."

Jinmaohou stopped his attack, feeling perplexed. Was this kid a blockhead?! So foolishly loyal!

Annoyed, he shattered Sha Chen’s formation and sneered, "Out of the kindness of my heart, I wanted to help you! I even offered you my dwelling to aid you in becoming a Demon King, yet you spurn my offer. You’re looking down on me, and those who look down on me fare poorly!!"