This strike was powerful and heavy; if it hit Lin Fang and his companion, they would definitely lose their lives to the Underworld.
Lin Fang thought to himself how dangerous the situation was and quickly drew his Treasured Sword to face the enemy.
With a loud bang, the figure of Lin Fang was sent flying back. He quickly stabbed the Treasured Sword into the ground to ease the massive impact, but a trickle of fresh blood had already started to flow from the corner of his mouth.
Gently wiping the blood from his corner, Lin Fang inwardly sighed, realizing that there was still a significant gap in strength between him and these people. Even Monk Sha from the Journey to the West party was far beyond his ability to contend with, which swept away any pride he had built up due to his previous string of successes.
However, there was no time for regrets, as Monk Sha's attacks came one after another. The gigantic Treasure Staff, carrying immense force, bore down on him. This time, Lin Fang did not dare to meet the attack head-on and quickly dodged to the side.
But as he had just steadied himself, another Treasure Staff came hurtling towards him.
Monk Sha, watching Lin Fang being hit by his attack, had a glint of pleasure flash through his eyes. The long-standing pain of a Flying Sword piercing his heart had made his soul unstable, causing him to fall into this irritable mood from time to time, needing a massacre to settle his fury.
Lin Fang was unlucky to have encountered Monk Sha in such a state; otherwise, the former Curtain-Lifting General would have just captured them to search for Colored Glaze Fragments, rather than trying to kill them right away.
Even if taken to search for fragments, the outlook would be grim.
The Little Fox, watching everything unfold before his eyes, covered them in fear. He couldn't bear to see Lin Fang meet a terrible end. Throughout their journey together, he had come to regard this man as family.
Having lost his parents at a young age, he found a sense of warmth in Lin Fang that he dearly clung to. However, the overwhelming power of Monk Sha left him without the will to resist, at this moment hating his own weakness profoundly.
Unexpectedly, when Monk Sha's Treasure Staff struck Lin Fang, the anticipated gruesome scene did not unfold. Instead, a paper figure slowly floated down from the air.
At the critical moment, Lin Fang had deployed a Paper Figures Substitute, taking the fatal blow in his stead.
Meanwhile, his figure had already appeared in a different direction, panting heavily.
Although he had narrowly escaped death, the mana inside him had been significantly drained. However, the brush with mortality made the flow of Spiritual Energy within him more agile, turning his misfortune into a blessing.
The whistling of the wind reached his ears, a sound brought about by Monk Sha's Treasure Staff flying through the air.
"Wait, I have information about the Scripture Seeker!" Lin Fang hastily shouted.
As soon as he finished speaking, Monk Sha's attacking movements came to an abrupt halt, and the red light in his eyes began to fade, as he regained his senses.
His voice, hoarse with a hint of urgency, asked, "Tell me, where is the Scripture Seeker?"
Now, Monk Sha no longer had the malevolent aura from before. Instead, his face showed an eager expression. He had been waiting for this day for too long, almost to the point of giving up.
Desperate to return to the Heavenly Court, he had been forcing the little demons to dredge Colored Glaze Fragments from the Liusha River, all to repair the treasure that would allow him to redeem himself and return to the Heavenly Court.
He had not expected to hear information regarding the Scripture Seeker from Lin Fang, and his excitement was obvious.
According to what the Bodhisattva had said, as long as he could retrieve the True Sutra, he would be able to achieve enlightenment and rejoin the ranks of the Immortal beings—a fervent desire for Monk Sha.
"If you spare us, I will tell you the information I have about the Scripture Seeker," Lin Fang said cautiously, giving him a solemn look.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Monk Sha; it was just that the world's version of Monk Sha was too ferocious. The vicious scene of their encounter, where he tried to kill them right from the start, was still echoing in his mind.
It made him reflect on how terrifying the Journey to the West truly was.
If Monk Sha, who was this fierce, saw lives as worthless, the other monstrous creatures could only be imagined.
"As long as your information is true, I agree to these terms. Speak quickly," urged Monk Sha, his voice filled with impatience.
Seeing Monk Sha in such a state, Lin Fang did not dare delay any longer. If the man were to lose control again, Lin Fang might end up dying here.
"Previously, near Gao Lao Village, I saw a monk with handsome features, accompanied by a Monkey, riding a white horse. He claimed to come from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land, on his way to the Western Heaven to worship and retrieve the sutras," said Lin Fang, deliberately slowing his speech while covertly observing Monk Sha's expression.
Seeing his eyes brighten without any intent to kill, Lin Fang silently let out a sigh of relief. The information seemed to have put Monk Sha in a good mood, securing his own and Little Fox's lives.
"It's him, it must be him. What the Bodhisattva said must refer to him. Heaven has shown mercy, allowing me, Sha Wujing, to wait here by the riverside of Liusha River day after day, and finally, he has come," said Monk Sha as he knelt by the Riverside of Liusha River after hearing Lin Fang's words. Tears streamed from his eyes as he shouted, filled with the hope of a promising life.
If he could return to the Heavenly Court, achieve enlightenment, and no longer live a ghostly existence, all his suffering would have been worth it.
At that moment, Monk Sha's irritation and murderous intent dissipated, his face beaming with a warm smile, a stark contrast to his former self.
Standing up, he said with a smile, "Thank you, young friend, for bringing this news; please forgive any offense from earlier."
Lin Fang expressed his modesty, but inwardly marveled at Monk Sha's deep longing to return to the Heavenly Court.