With a surge of Power of Variables, Xuanzang's spirit was instantly pulled into a strange world.
This is a world without light, without sound, without warmth, a world of complete darkness!
He was initially flustered, but when he thought that Xu Xiao was a celestial official of the Heavenly Court and would certainly not harm him, he calmed down.
He began to observe the world with utter boredom, where time seemed to have no concept.
Perhaps a long time passed, or perhaps only a moment, and suddenly a faint light appeared in this strange world.
Xuanzang reached out curiously, wanting to see what it was, but found that he was just passing through in vain, seemingly unable to touch anything.
"No need to touch it anymore, just be a good observer. This is what you've always wanted to know, and I'll tell you the truth from the beginning."
Xu Xiao's voice rang out from all directions. Xuanzang nodded and quietly awaited the changes in the world.
To be precise, it was a slight change in the light.
At first, the light was just a faint Fire Fly, but gradually it began to pulse like a gentle breath.
Gradually, the Fire Fly grew larger and larger, eventually vaguely forming a shape similar to a fetus, and began to have a sense of life.
'This is...'
"This is the birth of the monkey, that is, your good disciple Sun Wukong." Xu Xiao's voice rang out again, as if he knew Xuanzang's question.
Upon hearing this, Xuanzang paused for a moment, then watched even more intently.
Soon, as time went by, the life that resembled a fetus began to be influenced by external forces, transforming into the shape of a monkey. One day, it suddenly awoke, breaking the entire dark world as if Pangu had created the world.
Xuanzang's perspective also began to change with the birth of the monkey. He first lived a carefree life as a monkey in the Yamanaka for a few years, and later became the king of the monkey troop on Flower-Fruit Mountain.
The joy and carefree spirit they experienced was something even Xuanzang, a practitioner of Buddhism, couldn't help but yearn for.
Then, the old monkey in the group was taken away by the underworld officials because he had reached the end of his lifespan, which made the monkeys want to live forever.
Then, a Stone Monkey and a wrecked raft began his legendary life.
Xuanzang's gaze followed the monkey across oceans and continents, until he finally became a disciple of Subhuti and began to study the Dao.
At this moment, Xuanzang was still gratified.
But as the monkey returned from his apprenticeship, mingled with demons and monsters, and even went to the Dragon Palace to steal treasures and wreak havoc in the Underworld, Xuanzang's eyes began to show worry.
The scene shifts, and instead of following the monkey, they travel to the Heavenly Court high above the nine heavens. After discussion, the immortals decide to send someone to recruit this rare Stone Monkey from the mortal realm. Xuanzang is also fortunate enough to see the so-called Heavenly Court.
'It's no different from the mortal realm; appeasement is still the best approach. This time, Wukong should be able to achieve enlightenment, right?'
Xuanzang's gaze once again followed the monkey as he ascended to heaven to serve as an official. Seeing his disciple being ridiculed and mocked by the immortals, and ultimately appointed as the Bimawen, Xuanzang was somewhat displeased.
But he didn't say much, and instead quietly watched how things unfolded.
Soon the monkey was looked down upon, rebelled against the Heavenly Court, and was pursued by the Heavenly Court.
Then came the widely circulated Stone Monkey from the lower realm being bestowed the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and the legendary havoc at the Peach Banquet and the havoc in the Havoc in Heaven that spread Three Realms and Nine Provinces.
Xuanzang felt deeply pained as he watched the monkey, due to others' contempt and his own pride, escalate small mistakes into bigger ones, ultimately being suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain.
Then came his familiar memories, his familiar self, his mission to the Journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures, and the several capable disciples arranged by Guanyin Bodhisattva, the first of whom was Sun Wukong.
Monkeys are equally agile, lively, and unruly.
Xuanzang went from initial disgust to later understanding, and through deception, he got the other person to wear the Golden Fillet. The repeated Headband Tightening Mantra and the other person's selfless rescues caused Xuanzang inner torment.
Finally, the four of them arrived at Spirit Mountain, having achieved their goal of perfect merit. They finally removed the Golden Fillet from their heads and appeared to be in a different kind of harmony.
However, when Xuanzang looked into the eyes of the monkey who clearly couldn't see him, he could always see the helplessness of freedom being suppressed in the monkey's eyes.
"Well? Did you see it clearly?" Xu Xiao's voice rang out again.
"This... May I ask, celestial official, is this perhaps Wukong's original karmic experience?" Xuanzang asked wearily.
"Of course, this is Wukong's original experience, but it's only from the past," Xu Xiao answered confidently, then changed the subject:
"After reading all this, does the eminent monk Xuanzang still feel that your disciple truly needs to repent and reform, and truly needs to achieve perfect merit?"
" The Western Sect and the Heavenly Court planned everything long ago for this so-called calamity of the Journey to the West. Whether it's you or the monkey, your lives were all predetermined."
"If you're unruly, we'll break your bones, subdue your temper, and then give you a chance to willingly risk your life for us. Is this what they call making amends for past mistakes?"
Xuanzang remained silent; he could not offer an answer.
Only by observing the life of a monkey can one understand how tragic it is to live a life manipulated by humans.
The so-called destiny is nothing more than a script predetermined by the high and mighty gods and Buddhas.
"Take a look at this one too."
The scene shifts, and we are now in the place after the four travelers have obtained the Buddhist scriptures.
The scriptures that Xuanzang brought back were printed in various temples throughout the Great Tang, and were copied, interpreted, and revered as classics by countless monks.
Initially, using this as the foundation of temples, Buddhist Sect temples sprang up everywhere like mushrooms after rain. Monks engaged in large-scale construction and squandered the wealth of believers, while Buddhas and Bodhisattvas ruthlessly reaped the faith of mortals on these temples.
The scenes of enlightening sentient beings and saving the world that Xuanzang had anticipated did not occur. The so-called enlightenment, and the so-called greed, anger and ignorance that could be converted by the true scriptures, did not disappear. Instead, with his return from his pilgrimage, Buddhism was given a sacred cloak.
Beneath this veneer, endless evils began to occur; the world did not become better because of a few volumes of sacred scriptures.
The only change before and after the journey to the West was the great flourishing of Buddhism. Whether it was mortal beings or Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the West, there were now ways to exploit believers.
This made Xuanzang increasingly alarmed, and he clutched his chest, crying out, "No... it's impossible! This is an illusion! Celestial official, you are slandering Buddha!"
"Right and wrong are clear to everyone. Master Xuanzang, some things may deceive me, but can you deceive yourself?"
Xu Xiao's figure appeared, his eyes fixed on Xuanzang, and he spoke, word by word:
"This world will never change because of a single sutra, just as there are no completely benevolent Buddhas or Bodhisattvas who would save all sentient beings for the sake of others."
"You still don't understand? This is a deal, a game, a conspiracy."
"A story whose ending was already predetermined!"
"Now, tell me."
Are you willing to continue down this path?