Before the great hall, the golden light abruptly vanished.
The Buddhist light that had covered the long white-jade staircase swiftly gathered inward, layer after layer, sinking into the Wheel Center behind Xuanzang's head.
Most of the staircase instantly darkened.
In midair, the Wind and Moon Demon briefly faltered.
She stared at Xuanzang for a moment, then slowly spread her lips into a grin again.
"What?"
"Nothing left to say?"
The trident turned lightly in her palm, its tips cutting through the gray mist.
"Even your Buddhist light..."
Before she could finish.
Xuanzang had already closed his eyes.
He slowly raised his right hand before his chest, touching his thumb to his index finger while the other three fingers extended naturally upward.
Lotus-Bearing Seal.
"Dīṃ Tī Tū Su Tā."
His voice was soft, like a strand of evening breeze drifting through a summer night.
Yet as the first syllable fell, a point of white light suddenly lit up at the center of the darkened Buddhist wheel behind Xuanzang's head.
A slender line, like a curved bronze crescent.
The sneer on the Wind and Moon Demon's lips froze.
"A Ruo Mi Di Wu Du Tā."
White light slowly spread outward from the Wheel Center.
"Dīṃ Qí Tā."
One inch.
"Bo Lai Di."
Two inches.
With every revolution of the Buddhist wheel, another layer of the remaining gold sank toward its center.
"Ye Mi Ruo Tā Wu Du Tā."
Clear silver radiance gradually covered the wheel's rim.
It fell beneath the stone steps.
It fell on Sha Wujing's shoulders.
And it fell on the women's faces.
It held no scorching heat, nor did it dazzle the eyes.
"Ju Luo Di Tā Qi Mo Tā."
The last trace of golden light slowly sank into the Wheel Center.
"Svāhā."
Humm-
The White Silver Buddha Wheel