Water and Land Assembly

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and before anyone knew it, the world had changed.

Swallows came and went, grass withered and flourished. After several turns of the years, the mortal world had become the Li Tang Dynasty.

A handsome young monk with red lips and white teeth sat beneath the statue of the Tathagata Buddha in the Great Hero Hall of Golden Mountain Temple, expounding the scriptures to the crowd.

The monk looked quite young, yet he wore a golden-purple kasaya and could lecture many monks who were obviously far older than he was. His status was clearly highly esteemed.

The monks sat below and listened to his sermon, utterly enraptured.

The teachings of the scriptures were profound, yet from his lips, the ultimate principles of the Great Dao became simple and easy to understand, allowing the monks to comprehend and accept them.

Wreaths of sandalwood incense drifted through the Great Hero Hall. Brahma sounds flowed endlessly from the monk's mouth, and the Buddha's teachings struck like thunder.

Had this monk possessed cultivation, by the time he finished this scripture, these monks might have attained fruition on the spot.

When he finished the scripture, the monks rose reluctantly and pressed their palms together in salute to the young monk.

"Many thanks, Master Xuanzang."

The young monk named Xuanzang also rose and returned the salute.

Having completed their morning lessons, the monks dispersed to attend to their own duties.

An elderly monk in a kasaya, his beard and hair both white, approached the Great Hero Hall.

"Xuanzang, I was right about you. Ever since I appointed you to preach to them, Golden Mountain Temple's devotion to the Buddha has clearly increased greatly."

"Amitabha Buddha. This is the merit of the Buddha's teachings; this disciple dare not claim the