Chapter 110 Help Me Out

"Fellow Daoist Su, please restrain yourself."

A strange light flickered in Su Baiwei's eyes; she had just sensed that Jiang Chen's aura did not seem as powerful as she had imagined.

Although the clash just now was brief and neither side had gained the upper hand,

she could tell that even if Jiang Chen was stronger than her, the difference was limited.

Could it be that he also used some method with a heavy price to live until now?

Su Baiwei didn't know, but for the moment, Jiang Chen's strength was sufficient to join forces with her to accomplish that matter.

"There is a matter for which I would like to request Daoist Priest Jiang's assistance."

"Back then, Abe Seimei sealed me, and he also sealed a portion of my divinity in a certain place. I have only just awakened, and on my own, I fear I lack the strength to retrieve it. However, if I have Daoist Priest Jiang's help, there is a significant chance of success."

"Fellow Daoist Su, although we are old acquaintances, we are not close, and I have no obligation to help you," Jiang Chen said coldly.

Just now, while Su Baiwei was testing him, he was also testing her.

In that strike, he had utilized the combined power of the Golden Light Incantation and the true intent of the Shangqing Image-Aspect Sword.

It could be said that this was his strongest technique thus far. Although he only used seventy percent of its power, it was enough to deal with an ordinary practitioner at the seventh or eighth level of the Life Wheel Realm.

Yet, having just struck, he had not been able to gauge Su Baiwei's true depth.

Of course, Su Baiwei might not necessarily know his limits either.

Both had traded blows, and they could be considered evenly matched.

"Don't be in such a rush to refuse. That place might just contain the remains of one of Daoist Priest Jiang's old friends."

"Remains?" Jiang Chen precisely grasped this keyword, his brows furrowing.

"That's right, if you consider him a friend."

"Who is this 'he' you speak of?"

Jiang Chen had actually already vaguely guessed who it was. After all, if Su Baiwei considered someone his friend who had also come to Japan, it should only be that one person.

The next second, Su Baiwei's answer verified Jiang Chen's conjecture.

"Of course, it is the monk Jianzhen."

Jiang Chen's brows furrowed even tighter.

"What do you mean by 'remains,' and where exactly is that place?"

"In this Wa nation, besides Takamagahara, what other place could there be that I am unsure about?"

Takamagahara?

Jiang Chen had once heard the legends of Takamagahara, which claimed it was the Domain ruled by the island nation's Amaterasu and the dwelling place of the gods.

In the past, Jiang Chen had always treated it as just a story; he hadn't expected that such a place truly existed.

But what connection could Jianzhen have had with Takamagahara when he traveled east to the island nation?

Seeming to sense Jiang Chen's confusion, Su Baiwei smiled slightly and explained.

"After the monk Jianzhen arrived in the Wa nation back then, he believed that the local Grass God was enslaving the common people and harming the heavens. So, he intended to 'reason' with the Grass God of Takamagahara."

At this point, Su Baiwei's expression was slightly strange—a complex look that seemed to be a mix of confusion and admiration.

As for Jiang Chen, he didn't even need to think to know what happened afterward.

"Those gods who are accustomed to being high and mighty, how could they possibly listen to him?"

"Later on, he fought his way into Takamagahara and never appeared again. However, ever since then, the gods of Takamagahara have rarely manifested in the Wa nation."

Even after she finished speaking, Jiang Chen's expression remained calm, his eyes deep as the stars, revealing nothing to Su Baiwei.

"So, what is this 'remains' of an old friend that you speak of?"

Su Baiwei said matter-of-factly, "Of course, it's his corpse. Hmm, it could also be sarira; isn't the Buddhist sect fond of forming sarira?"

She then deliberately muttered, "It's also possible that he was ground to dust by the gods of Takamagahara, who knows."

Jiang Chen admitted that he was tempted.

Jianzhen was one of the few people in the Great Tang, besides those from his own sect, whom he felt a kinship with.

If Jianzhen's corpse or sarira remained in Takamagahara, Jiang Chen was unwilling to leave them in a foreign land.

However, the situation in Takamagahara was unclear, and the state of his relationship with Su Baiwei—whether as friend or foe—remained to be determined.

She was once a demon fox of the Great Tang, but now she was one of the gods of the island nation.

If they ascended to Takamagahara and she turned against him, he would likely be in great danger.

"I will consider this matter when I return and give you an answer then."

"Very well." Su Baiwei smiled brightly and radiantly, as if what Jiang Chen had just said was not a consideration, but an agreement.

"Farewell."

Having said that, Jiang Chen turned and walked out of the main hall.

Su Baiwei watched Jiang Chen leave. Only after his figure disappeared from her field of vision did the smile on her face immediately vanish.

"Come in."

The group led by Abe Kusuku, who had been waiting obediently outside the torii gate, suddenly heard Su Baiwei's voice in their ears.

They looked at each other, but none dared to disobey, so they obediently walked over.

"Starting tomorrow, propagate my name. In all shrines, regardless of size, erect my statue and worship it nationwide."

Abe Kusuku and the others did not dare to disobey and all agreed.

"Furthermore, the portal to Takamagahara within Ise Grand Shrine can now be opened."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of Abe Kusuku and the others changed drastically.

...

...

Jiang Chen walked slowly out of Fushimi Inari Taisha, with Jia He following behind him, looking completely confused.

Halfway along the path, Jiang Chen suddenly stopped. Jia He, not paying attention, continued walking forward and accidentally bumped into a utility pole.

"Ouch!" He grimaced and rubbed his forehead.

Jiang Chen looked at his distracted state and said, "If you have anything you want to ask, ask now. After tonight, put this attitude away."

Jia He wanted to speak but hesitated, not knowing where to start, and his face flushed red for a moment.

After a moment, he finally asked, "Master... Mr. Jiang, you... do you know that fox demon?"

"Isn't it obvious enough?"

"But, but, she has clearly lived for hundreds or thousands of years and has been asleep until today. How did you get to know her?"

Jia He actually already had an answer in his heart, but that answer was too bizarre, making him unable to believe it for a moment.

"Be bolder; it is exactly the answer in your heart," Jiang Chen said indifferently.

"So, you really are just like her, an old monster who has lived for thousands of years—a Senior?!"

Jiang Chen did not know how to explain it, because his situation was not quite the same as Su Baiwei's.

But he certainly couldn't tell others about things like dreams.

"My situation previously was somewhat similar to hers; just treat me as a modern person."

Jia He was emotionally stirred, his face flushed red.

How could he treat him as an ordinary person? Was there any ordinary person who had lived for thousands of years and was an old acquaintance of the gods?

Jia He remembered the great demon of Baijun Mountain; that great demon had also lived for thousands of years.

But beasts are ignorant, so after attaining sentience, their lifespans are longer than those of ordinary practitioners.

Furthermore, since Jiang Bai had the status of a Mountain Lord, living for a thousand years seemed plausible.

But a practitioner...

Wait, Jiang Bai, Jiang Chen...

Jiang Bai, Jiang Chen!

Jia He widened his eyes in an instant.

It couldn't be what he was thinking, right?

...

(Burned out once more)