An Yang followed up with another heavy blow: "If my guess is right, the reason Buddha sent his disciple to reincarnate in the mortal world was to give him a chance to spread his teachings among ordinary people! If he succeeds, Buddhism will surely replace Taoism in the future!"
Sun Wukong froze. "You know that too?"
"I merely understand the power of doctrine." An Yang shook his head. "The world has endured centuries of chaos, and miracles have grown increasingly rare. Whether it's Heaven or the Buddhist sect, their authority and faith among mortals have fallen to rock bottom. Whoever can win people's hearts with a new doctrine will stand undefeated in the struggles of the next thousand years!"
Sun Wukong tilted his head and thought it over. In an instant, he understood. "Tathagata released me and protected me from Heaven so that I could help him spread his teachings?"
"That must be it!"
"Damn it!" Sun Wukong scratched his ears and cheeks. "Then I absolutely can't let him succeed. I'll go kill that brat right now!"
"Great Sage, don't panic!" An Yang hurriedly pulled him back. "It's enough that you've realized the power of doctrine. As for Xuanzang, I've already spoken with him. Even if he still takes the path of preaching, what he spreads definitely won't be Tathagata's doctrine!"
"Oh? Then what doctrine will it be?"
"It should still be a form of Buddhism, but it definitely won't be the Buddhism of the past. Great Sage, rest assured."
"Will that affect that old bastard Tathagata?"
"Tathagata's beliefs differ from the ancient Divine Path I practice, and faith is extremely important to him. Once the people of the world stop practicing his doctrine and stop chanting his name, he'll be not far from falling off his altar. At the