A single strike!
The Origin of Fate before them immediately erupted with a dazzling, misty radiance, causing the entire Heavenly Mandate Ruins of Return to tremble.
However, an invisible Power of Variables had already concealed this space-time, and with the interference of the Journey to the West Calamity, no one was aware of the commotion here.
The golden causal thread burst forth with a burst of golden light, and a phantom image of Golden Cicada flickered out from within, carrying a faint aura of Primordial World.
Its two golden eyes were fixed on Xu Xiao. Its abdomen bulged and its elytra flapped, ready to roar loudly.
Six-Winged Golden Cicada! A ferocious beast from the Primordial World!!
This is also a trace of karmic imprint left behind by Xuanzang's predecessor, Jin Chanzi. In the darkness, it serves as Xuanzang's origin and protects him in this initial karmic arena.
Xu Xiao broke into the Heavenly Mandate Ruins of Return and attacked Xuanzang's Origin of Fate. The Six-Winged Golden Cicada sensed the danger and naturally wouldn't sit idly by and wait for its death.
"You beast, shut your mouth!!"
Xu Xiao raised his hand with a cold expression, and a three-foot-long sword appeared in his hand— the Acquired Numinous Treasure Tribulation Cause Sword!
The magic weapon, personally crafted for Xu Xiao by Taishang Laojun, may not be as famous as those renowned magic weapons, but it is exceptionally well-suited to Xu Xiao's Great Dao of Variables.
Since acquiring the treasure, Xu Xiao has yet to truly test the sword's sharpness.
The moment this sword was drawn, the surrounding Power of Variables surged instantly, further concealing the Heavenly Mandate Ruins of Return.
Mysterious Dao traces lit up one after another on the sword's body, and the surrounding golden lines of cause and effect trembled as if they had encountered a natural enemy.
Variables are the most terrifying thing about established cause and effect!
Even the phantom of the Golden Cicada cicada, poised to sing, was startled by this imposing aura and paused in its movements.
Xu Xiao didn't wait for Golden Cicada to react. He made a hand seal with his left hand and gripped the Tribulation Cause Sword tightly with his right hand, then swung it fiercely at Golden Cicada!
"Sever destiny, extinguish cause and effect! Tribulation Cause Sword, cause and effect are in my hands!"
There was no dazzling sword light or magnificent aura, only a mysterious gray light flashed from the Tribulation Cause Sword.
An invisible aura of the Great Dao swept across the Golden Cicada cicada phantom in an instant, causing even the golden Origin of Fate to tremble.
As if something invisible had been severed, the Golden Cicada, which was about to sing, suddenly fell silent.
Then, the Power of Variables swept up rapidly, and the causal threads and the Golden Cicada cicada phantom were gradually tinged with a faint gray light.
Finally, even the radiant Origin of Fate was completely enveloped, turning into a dim gray sphere.
The Power of Variables can turn the impossible into the possible, and it is the best way to overcome a predetermined fate, giving rise to infinite possibilities.
Of course, Xu Xiao's move was not without its price; the Great Dao behind him also showed signs of stagnation.
Moreover, the Heavenly Mandate Ruins of Return, which was originally obscured by the Power of Variables, was no longer silent and began to emit a faint glow, resisting Xu Xiao's actions.
"At most one breath! Any longer and we'll be in big trouble!"
A thought flashed through Xu Xiao's mind, and his hands began to move faster.
The Power of Variables emanating from the Tribulation Cause Sword poured out, tearing a gash in the already corrupted source, from which a strand of golden thread was pulled out.
That was a causal thread, belonging to the causal relationship of different worlds within the concept of Xuanzang.
In a daze, one can see a tall, thin, and handsome monk in white robes, meditating with eyes closed, compassionate and merciful.
However, this thread of cause and effect is not at the center of the Origin of Fate. Although it is bright, it is slightly weaker in both light and thickness, and obviously cannot occupy a dominant position.
However, Xu Xiao didn't care. His eyes lit up, and he found his target without any effort at all.
It's you!!!
The Dao of Variables behind Xu Xiao continued to exert its power, causing the Great Dao to tremble incessantly. A massive amount of Power of Variables swept in, forcefully clinging to it, and then suddenly injected into this causal thread.
In an instant, the golden causal lines suddenly surged, radiating a fantastical light, pushing aside the tangled causal lines around them and heading towards the center of the Origin of Fate.
Seeing this, Xu Xiao smiled, stretched out his five fingers and made a hand seal, then grabbed hard at the Origin of Fate that had undergone the change.
The causal threads that were busy squeezing into the Origin of Fate suddenly stopped, and then the phantom of a white-robed monk was pulled out from them.
In the blink of an eye, the illusory image flew into Xu Xiao's palm and transformed into a golden Buddha seed.
The causal thread, however, was not significantly affected. With the help of the Power of Variables, it burrowed straight into the Origin of Fate, instantly pushing aside one of the somewhat dim golden threads.
With the support of the Power of Variables, this golden thread has become the central point of Origin of Fate.
The Power of Variables quietly disappeared, and the Origin of Fate regained its golden light. Then, the wound that had been cut by the Tribulation Cause Sword quickly healed and became tangled up again.
Seeing this, Xu Xiao finally smiled, "My actions in offending your Buddhist heart are one cause, and my wish for your liberation from the Buddhist Sect scheming is another effect. I wonder if you will hold a grudge against me or be grateful to me in the future."
The Power of Variables had been obscuring the Heavenly Mandate Ruins of Return receded like a tide, and Xu Xiao's figure gradually faded away, returning the place to tranquility once more.
In the darkness, a being that had been secretly watching this place also withdrew its gaze.
Reality
The bored monkey sat cross-legged on the ground, scratching its ears and cheeks, Divine Staff of Battle leaned against its shoulder, clearly protecting Xu Xiao.
Xu Xiao used his own Great Dao to lead his primordial spirit to invade Xuanzang's Origin of Fate, while his physical body needed someone to take care of it.
The karmic connection between the monkey and Xu Xiao destined him to be the best protector.
Suddenly, the monkey felt a tremor, and then Xu Xiao's physical body in front of it gained a trace of Daoist aura.
"Big brother, you're back!"
The monkey flipped itself up and instantly squatted down in front of Xu Xiao, obedient and clever.
"Thank you for your hard work, Wukong."
With his spirit re-entering his body, Xu Xiao regained his vitality.
While one could travel to the Heavenly Mandate Ruins of Return in their physical body, that would be too conspicuous. Xu Xiao chose to travel with his primordial spirit, which would damage some of his essence, but its advantage lay in its speed and concealment.
Only seven breaths had passed since Xu Xiao brought Xuanzang back from the Underworld.
At this moment, the immortals and Buddhas monitoring from the sky had not yet noticed the commotion below, and even the farce in the Underworld had not yet reached their ears.
This is also the advantage that Xu Xiao gained by acting swiftly and decisively.
Having just met the monkey, Xu Xiao waved and flicked his hand at Xuanzang.
The golden Buddha seed drifted over and instantly disappeared into the dazed Xuanzang's brow, filling the shattered Buddha heart.
Xuanzang, who had been expressionless and blank, suddenly had a glint in his eyes, and he seemed to come alive.
"This is...? You guys..."
Xuanzang tried to speak, his eyes different from Xuanzang, with a different kind of charm.
"Brother, is this... possession?" The monkey was completely bewildered. He had a feeling that something was wrong with the monk, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"How could that be? I am a righteous god of Heavenly Court, how could I possibly use those evil and heretical methods? He is Xuanzang, Tang Xuanzang!"
Xu Xiao answered decisively.
But before he could say anything more, the Power of Variables enveloping the area was suddenly torn apart, followed by a fierce roar:
"How dare Xu Xiao!! He actually attacked the Pilgrim!!!"