" Amitabha Buddha!"
Xuanzang opened his eyes, put his hands together in a Buddhist gesture of respect, and his mind was somewhat hazy.
Wasn't I on my journey to the Journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures? How did I end up here?
This place looks so familiar. The one in the sky seems to be Arhat Nadietuo (one of the Five Hundred Arhats ), and the hairy-faced, thunder-mouthed one next to him...
" Wukong! I see you again! Amitabha Buddha, are you alright?"
Xuanzang looked at the monkey with great anticipation, his whole being radiating excitement, and he got up and went towards the monkey.
"You... Yamato, are you still half asleep? What are you doing?" The monkey nimbly dodged Xuanzang's approach and stood a short distance away to observe.
Although it hadn't been tempered by the Eight Trigrams Furnace, the monkey, being a naturally intelligent creature, still possessed extraordinary eyes, constantly scrutinizing Xuanzang before it.
Xuanzang was still the same handsome Yamato, with nothing amiss, but he gave the monkey an uncomfortable sense of unfamiliarity.
Didn't my brother say he didn't possess him? He seems like a completely different person!
Wukong scratched his head and remained silent, his two bright eyes blinking incessantly, somewhat confused about Xuanzang's situation.
" Wukong, it's your master, your master..."
"Nonsense! I've never acknowledged you as my master, and you're not worthy to be my master! I'm merely acting on the Jade Emperor's orders to send you to the Journey to the West. Don't try to claim any connection with me."
The monkey shouted sternly. Although he didn't know what had happened to the Yamato, he would never randomly claim someone as his master.
Aside from his eldest brother, his master had shown him the greatest kindness; no one else could try to curry favor with him.
When Xuanzang uttered the word " Wukong," which was filled with complex emotions, the scene fell silent for a moment. Apart from Xu Xiao, who looked as if he had known it all along, the other immortals and gods were completely bewildered.
This is not the original Journey to the West. Xu Xiao and the Monkey King are protectors specially appointed by the Heavenly Court, but there is no master-disciple relationship between them. The title of Xuanzang left all the gods dumbfounded.
The most difficult one was the Arhat Nadietuo in the sky, whose brows were furrowed and whose fingers were constantly moving as he deduced something.
Unfortunately, due to the arrival of the Great Tribulation of the Westward Journey, even Sage could no longer glimpse the secrets of heaven. As an Arhat was not proficient in the Dao of Cause and Effect, he was unable to detect any abnormalities at all.
'This is strange! The message from Spirit Mountain clearly states that the Pilgrim's Buddhist heart is broken, rendering him practically a cripple, and this was done by Xu Xiao!'
But the monk before me, though his face was somewhat pale, had clear and profound eyes, carrying a compassionate look born of experience and a genuine joy at seeing an old friend. There was not a trace of a broken Buddhist heart in him.
" Master Xuanzang, are you... alright?" Arhat Nadietuo couldn't help but ask in a deep voice, his eyes gleaming with Buddhist light as he tried to see through Xuanzang's true nature.
However, within that body, the Buddha-nature flowed harmoniously, and the golden light of merit was hidden yet deeply rooted, perfectly matching the destiny and aura of the "reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, a virtuous monk for ten lifetimes" that he knew. There was no trace of it being forcibly distorted or possessed by external forces!
Upon hearing this, Xuanzang looked up at the Arhat, clasped his hands together, and said, " Amitabha Buddha. This humble monk... this humble monk is well. It's just... it feels like I've had a long dream, and only upon waking do I realize I'm still on the road. I'm grateful for the Arhat's concern."
Xuanzang spoke gently, and after he finished speaking, his gaze remained fixed on Sun Wukong with deep affection.
Although he didn't know what had happened, his concern for his eldest apprentice was genuine.
Perhaps this is just another test on the journey to the West?
Xuanzang smiled with relief; that peace and composure was the serenity that only a seasoned monk possessed.
Sun Wukong felt uneasy under Xuanzang's gaze, so he moved closer to Xu Xiao and whispered, "Brother, this monk... he really wasn't switched? Why does he seem like a completely different person? He's so enthusiastic towards Old Sun, it's really creepy!"
Although he hadn't known Xuanzang for long, he had already seen through the stubbornness and pedantry in the other's bones along the way. He didn't dislike him, but he wasn't particularly close to him either.
Xu Xiao's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile as he calmly transmitted his voice, "Don't worry, he is indeed Tang Xuanzang, the real deal. It's just... different experiences naturally lead to different perspectives."
"Then he..." The monkey was about to ask again, but Xu Xiao stopped him with a look.
"I will explain things to you after this is over; now is not the time."
After calming the monkey down, Xu Xiao looked up at the Arhat Nadietuo in the sky. " Arhat, have you seen clearly? The Pilgrim is safe and sound, and in good spirits. You just accused me of harming the Pilgrim and even allowed your demonic subordinates to bark at me. Shouldn't you give me an explanation for this?"
Xu Xiao isn't the kind of person to be trifled with. Since you can't find my weakness, then you'll have to bear the consequences of slandering yourself.
Xu Xiao was bound to turn against the Western Sect sooner or later, and now that he had the chance, he didn't mind teaching them a lesson.
Arhat Nadietuo's face turned pale as he looked at the remaining embers of the guardian deity on the ground.
Xu Xiao's supernatural powers were too bizarre and domineering, instantly annihilating three guardian deities. He couldn't even fathom the method, let alone defend himself. Now that Xuanzang appeared perfectly fine, if he continued to argue, not only would he lose the upper hand, but Xu Xiao would likely seize upon it as an excuse to use his cruelty again...
The decree of Spirit Mountain is important, but my own life and the attainment of Arhat are even more important.
"... Amitabha Buddha." Nadietuo forcibly suppressed the resentment in her heart, uttered a Buddhist chant, and her tone softened.
"It was in my haste that I was misled, and my words were somewhat offensive. I beg the Immortal Official Cao's forgiveness. Since the Pilgrim unharmed, I will take my leave and return to Spirit Mountain."
As he spoke, Nadietuo's feet; he only wanted to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible.
"Hmph, you think you can just walk away with a flimsy lie?" Xu Xiao sneered, and swiftly made his move.
"Take this move first, then apologize honestly before you leave!"
Supernatural Power - Cause and Effect Tribulation Sword
The invisible supernatural power instantly caught up with Nadietuo's cloud and crashed hard into his protective Buddhist light.
The Buddha's light surged, and one could vaguely see the figures of countless Arhat, Buddhas, and all living beings chanting scriptures. This is the first protective method of the Western Sect — the Buddha Light of All Beings.
With the faith of believers from all realms as its blessing, it can proactively defend against attacks in the first instance, making it one of the most basic and useful protective spells in the Western Sect.
Unfortunately, this time he encountered Xu Xiao's Cause and Effect Tribulation Sword. The Buddha's light of the Arhat and the Buddha's light of the Dharma Protector were almost no different from this powerful killing move of the Karmic Divine Power.
In an instant, the golden light of the Arhat was dissolved, and the domineering power of cause and effect descended upon him.
The faith of believers from all realms was reversed by cause and effect, turning into cries of lamentation and curses. Not only did it lose its protective function, it also corrupted the Arhat Nadietuo.
Without damaging the Arhat's golden body or attacking his spiritual center, it rapidly Arhat Nadietuo's spiritual cultivation and even eroded and reversed the causal relationship of his most core spiritual essence!
The Cause and Effect Tribulation Sword! Using one's own karma as a sword, it severs the karmic foundations of others and annihilates the lives of all beings!
At best, it weakens one's cultivation and damages one's destiny; at worst, it erases cause and effect, fundamentally eliminating the other party.
It is an exceptionally domineering and ruthless killing technique within the Dao of Cause and Effect!
"You..." This was the first time Nadietuo had felt such real fear. This was not ordinary Daoist magic, but a great supernatural power that was really going to reduce him from a high and mighty Arhat to an ordinary person!
If you try to be the first to cause trouble, then don't blame Xu Xiao for being ruthless once he gets his way with you.
In the blink of an eye, Arhat Nadietuo lost more than two thousand years of spiritual cultivation, and could not even maintain his golden Arhat body.
Although both are Golden Immortal, his combat strength is completely different from Xu Xiao's. He can barely protect himself, let alone fight back.