Five-Colored Stone

As Little White Dragon passed by, trees crackled and fell.

He charged straight into the big trees.

Tang Yu stared, dumbfounded. Was the medicine this potent?

Judging by Little White Dragon's appearance, he had clearly lost all reason.

He was howling and roaring.

His blood and qi surged, looking rather terrifying.

Guanyin Bodhisattva was also utterly bewildered. What was going on?

She quickly performed a divination, and her face immediately turned green.

"What's happening?" Sun Wukong scratched his head, looking confused. "Horse madness? But I've only ever heard of epilepsy."

Tang Yu's mouth twitched slightly. Suppressing a smile, he said, "Bodhisattva, this horse seems to be... well, in heat. Ahem, perhaps we should find a mare for it to breed with?"

Even breeding wouldn't be a quick fix.

The system had said the effects of the medicine would last three months.

If it were an ordinary person, they'd likely kick the bucket within a few days.

However, Little White Dragon was a dragon, so he should be fine.

Amitabha, sin, sin.

Tang Yu recited a Buddhist chant in his heart, feeling no remorse.

Breeding?

But Little White Dragon was a dragon, not a horse!

Guanyin Bodhisattva's face darkened. She waved her hand, attempting to make Little White Dragon revert to his true form, but under the influence of the medicine, it seemed reverting wasn't possible.

With no other option, she cast a immobilization spell, freezing Little White Dragon in place.

"Amitabha," Guanyin Bodhisattva chanted. "You all wait here a moment. I shall return to Spirit Mountain to inform the Buddha."

In truth, she didn't need to inform him, as Tathagata Buddha already knew what had happened.

However, he was unable to deduce the cause.

It was as if the heavenly secrets were being obscured by some unseen force.

"Is this the work of another variable again?" the Buddha murmured. "Is it a variable, or has a Saint intervened?"

Regardless of the answer, he needed to report to the Saint behind him.

A situation detrimental to the Journey to the West Tribulation had arisen, and it must be stopped in time.

"Buddha," Guanyin Bodhisattva returned.

Tathagata Buddha said, "No need to say more. I already know everything."

After a moment of thought, the Buddha continued, "Venerable Guanyin, I must trouble you to go to the Heavenly Court and borrow Zhang Guolao's donkey for the time being. We absolutely cannot delay the great undertaking of the pilgrimage."

Things were becoming increasingly unpredictable.

The Journey to the West Tribulation, which should have proceeded smoothly, seemed to be under unseen interference.

Guanyin Bodhisattva traveled to the Heavenly Court, while Tathagata went to a location in the Primordial Era.

"Greetings, Saint."

"No need to say more. I already know everything," Zhunti said. "A variable has appeared in the Journey to the West; you will need to pay close attention to it."

"May I ask, Saint, is this variable a person, or a variable of karma?"

"I don't know." Zhunti continued to perform calculations. "We cannot deduce it, but it is very likely man-made."

On the Thirty-third Heaven.

Taishang Laojun stared at the Heavenly Dao Stone before him, continuously performing calculations.

After a moment, he murmured, "Another variable?" He gazed intently at the Heavenly Dao Stone.

He couldn't calculate it; it was impossible to figure out.

Everything seemed to be shrouded in mystery.

Looking up at Tang Yu and his companions, Taishang Laojun hesitated slightly before stepping forward.

At this moment, only Tang Yu remained, along with a white horse that had been immobilized.

As for Sun Wukong, he had gone out to find more wild game.

Having eaten well and lived comfortably with Tang Yu during this period, the monkey had gained a few pounds.

Hmm?

As if sensing something, Tang Yu looked to the side and saw an old man in green robes who had appeared at some unknown time.

His gaze was profound, as if carrying the flow of chaos, and at this moment, he was looking directly at Tang Yu.

Taishang Laojun!

"Tang Sanzang pays his respects to the Sage," Tang Yu said, quickly bowing.

At this moment, he couldn't help but worry. Had he been exposed?

If that were the case, it would truly be troublesome.

Actually, when he thought about it carefully, he had indeed gone a bit too far. Anyone would have had reason to suspect him.

However, the reason he dared to be so reckless was because he knew those useless disciples of Buddhism wouldn't dare do anything to him.

But the appearance of Taishang Laojun gave him a bad feeling.

After a moment of thought, Tang Yu gritted his teeth and spoke directly, "May I ask, Sage, is the grand trend of the Journey to the West unchangeable?"

Taishang Laojun's eyes immediately narrowed, and then he chuckled, "The grand trend is unchangeable."

"And the minor trends?"

"They can be changed." Taishang Laojun stared at Tang Yu and said, "It truly is you. You, the predetermined factor, have actually become a variable."

He suddenly burst into laughter, "Interesting, very interesting. As the most crucial link in Buddhism, even if they discover you are a variable one day, they will still be helpless. Interesting..."

"If I could, I wouldn't want this either. It's just that I'm caught in the game and can't help myself."

Tang Yu gave a bitter smile. Who would want to journey to the West and become a monk, traveling through mountains and wading through rivers?

If it were to benefit the world, he could endure it.

But this was merely a tactic, a means of contention between Buddhism and Taoism. He had been drawn into it and couldn't get out.

"Sanzang, since you are already in the game, to break free, you still need yourself," Taishang Laojun said with a hint of pity, one hand behind his back. "You, Sun Wukong, Marshal Tianpeng, Curtain Rolling General, who among you is not a person caught in this game?"

He glanced at the immobilized Little White Dragon beside them, "He was originally too, but now, it seems he has jumped out."

"At first, I thought Sun Wukong had the best chance of breaking free, but now you have appeared."

Taishang Laojun said faintly, his green robes fluttering.

Hearing this, Tang Yu was slightly stunned. Back then, Sun Wukong had wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Court and had been refined in Taishang Laojun's Eight Trigrams Furnace for forty-nine days.

Instead of dying, he had even forged the Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze.

Now, Tang Yu seemed to understand something. It was highly possible that Taishang Laojun had done it intentionally.

Even though Sun Wukong was a born stone monkey, he was still like an ant beneath a Sage. How could he not be killed?

In this Journey to the West Tribulation, it seemed some Sages had already made their plans behind the scenes.

Swish.

Taishang Laojun waved his hand, and a glowing Five-Colored Stone appeared in Tang Yu's hand.

"What is this?" Tang Yu asked, confused.

"The Five-Colored Stone."

"But didn't Nuwa Mending the Heavens only leave behind one Five-Colored Stone back then?" Tang Yu asked.

This was common knowledge. When Nuwa mended the heavens, one Five-Colored Stone was left behind.

That was Sun Wukong!

Taishang Laojun smiled, "There were quite a few fragments left behind, but Sun Wukong became the anomaly. Keep this stone well; it will be of great use to you and Sun Wukong in the future."

From Taishang's words, it seemed many Five-Colored Stones had been left behind, but only Sun Wukong had cultivated into a monkey.

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask something.

He heard Taishang say, "This happened a long time ago. It's not worth mentioning. Perhaps you will know in the future."