Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

"It's definitely not for the 50,000 basic merits and possible extra rewards!"

He silently added another sentence in his mind, trying to convince himself.

"Perhaps... I am also offering my humble blessing to this 'performance' that brings together the essence of Eastern and Western cultures."

Moreover, he touched his storage space and a strange smile appeared on his face.

"Besides, didn't I already send out my 'congratulatory gift'?"
That Venerable Master Xuanzang must have already 'signed for' it, right?

He was referring, of course, to the [Mortal Berserk Pill] with unknown effects that he had previously mischievously implanted into Chen Xuanzang's brow and sea of ​​consciousness.

"Come on, Jiufeng, let me take you to see what's going on!"

A sinister smile of triumph crept across Lin Zhu's lips. Without further delay, a flash of golden light enveloped his body as he unleashed the unparalleled Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique!

Space seemed to lose its meaning before him. In the blink of an eye, he carried Jiufeng across endless mountains and rivers and appeared directly above Chang'an City, the most prosperous and thriving human capital in the Southern Continent!
At this moment, Chang'an City was bustling with people, and all eyes were on the city.

The area inside and outside Huasheng Temple was already packed with people, with countless people eagerly awaiting the official opening of the "Water and Land Assembly," which was personally ordered and solemnly organized by His Majesty the Tang Emperor.

It is said that this conference is presided over by a great master named Chen Xuanzang, and brings together 1,200 eminent monks to expound various wonderful sutras at Huasheng Temple and propagate the supreme Buddhism.

……

The backyard of Huasheng Temple, the preparation area for the Water and Land Assembly.

The atmosphere was not as solemn and dignified as outsiders had imagined; instead, it was filled with an eerie sense of oppression and tension.

"Useless! You're all a bunch of useless trash! You can't even do this little thing right? Is the altar clean? Are the incense and candles ready? The chanting will be synchronized for me later! If anyone dares to make a mistake in front of His Majesty and the people, and embarrass me, I'll skin you alive!"

Each sharp, piercing rebuke struck the hearts of the monks like a whip. The one who uttered these rebukes was none other than the designated protagonist of this year's Water and Land Ritual, the Venerable Master Chen Xuanzang, hailed as the "Great Master of the Buddhist Order of the World"!
But at this moment, he was completely different from the solemn and compassionate person he usually presented in public!

He glared angrily, his face filled with undisguised hostility and impatience, as he unleashed his fury on dozens of trembling monks.

The monks who were being scolded all lowered their heads, daring not to speak out, their faces filled with humiliation and resentment.

Since being "appointed" as the presiding monk of this Water and Land Assembly, this monk Xuanzang has been running rampant and arrogant in the temple!
Apart from a few respected elders in the temple who were skilled in martial arts, he still gave them some "face." Almost every monk in Huasheng Temple had been beaten and scolded by him!

At best, they verbally insult others; at worst, they physically assault them—they're even more ruthless than street thugs!

What made these monks, who were devoted to Buddhism, feel even more disgusted and desperate was that this "Buddhist disciple" was not only of bad character, but also extremely bad in his practice!

He never puts in any real effort when meditating or practicing Zen; instead, he's adept at cheating, slyness, and opportunism!

They were even discovered on several occasions to be disrespectful to heaven and Buddha, secretly hiding away to eat meat and drink alcohol! It was only thanks to the timely discovery and earnest persuasion of the temple elders that these shameful deeds were not spread and caused a serious mistake.

How could such a person, who had no spiritual cultivation, was ignorant and incompetent, and was violent and tyrannical, be chosen as the "Great Buddhist Master of the Land" to represent the Tang Dynasty Buddhism in presiding over such a grand Water and Land Dharma Assembly?!

This must have been incredibly humiliating and infuriating for the monks who uphold orthodox Buddhism, have practiced diligently for decades, and strictly adhere to the rules and regulations!

They seemed to have already foreseen that if all monks in the world took Chen Xuanzang as their role model, the pure and serene Buddhist temples would probably truly become places of filth, vandalism, and disturbance!
However, Chen Xuanzang was completely unaware of the public outrage he had provoked, or rather, he simply disregarded it.

He had an extremely high opinion of himself, convinced that he was the chosen one, destined to shine brightly at this grand water and land assembly and achieve unparalleled merit! To the angry but daring looks of his monks, he would only respond with an even more contemptuous sneer.

"What are you all standing there for?! A bunch of useless trash!"

Seeing that everyone was moving a little too slowly, Chen Xuanzang's anger flared up again. He grinned and stepped forward, aiming for the buttocks of the little monk closest to him, and kicked him hard!
"Get moving, all of you! Get ready to start! Can you afford to miss the auspicious time?!"

The little monk was kicked and staggered, wincing in pain, but dared not resist in the slightest. He could only run off to work with tears in his eyes.

After venting his anger, Chen Xuanzang finally felt a little better.

He took a deep breath, walked to the bronze mirror, and carefully adjusted the magnificent brocade kasaya he was wearing. The fierceness and ferocity on his face quickly disappeared, replaced by a deliberately created, dignified and peaceful aura, as if he had instantly become a different person.

"Hmm, that's more like it."

He nodded in satisfaction, preparing to step onto the stage and receive the worship and attention of the masses.

However, just as he was about to step out of the backstage area, he seemed to suddenly remember something extremely important, and his steps abruptly stopped.

A flicker of hesitation and wariness crossed his face. He looked around, and seeing that no one was paying attention, he quickly turned around and returned to an extremely secluded corner backstage.

He carefully took out a palm-sized, exquisitely crafted brocade box from a hidden compartment.

Upon opening the brocade box, he found not some Buddhist ritual implement, but a pill the size of a longan, with strange patterns flowing across its surface and emitting a faint fragrance—the very same [Mortal Berserk Pill] that Lin Zhu had mischievously "bestowed" upon him earlier!
Chen Xuanzang looked at the elixir with an expression of near-obsession and dependence.

He didn't know the specific effects of the elixir, only that the "mysterious Buddha" had said that it could grant him supreme power when his life was in danger.

Deep down, this elixir had become his greatest source of confidence and security!
He carefully took the pill out of the brocade box and tucked it into the most hidden pocket in his bosom. He even gently pressed it with his hand to confirm that it was safe before his face regained that confident and composed air of "destiny's will".

"With the elixir protecting me, what do I have to fear?"

He muttered something to himself, then straightened his back and strode towards the brightly lit and bustling altar.

……

Meanwhile, the city of Chang'an was already deserted.

The streets, pavilions, and even rooftops surrounding Huasheng Temple were packed with onlookers. People whispered among themselves, discussing the scene, their faces mostly showing curiosity and confusion.

"Strange, very strange! Why is His Majesty suddenly promoting Buddhism so extensively?" "Yes, since the founding of our Great Tang Dynasty, there have been constant conflicts with the Buddhist kingdom of India. The border has never been truly peaceful, and the hatred runs deep!"

"And hasn't His Majesty always claimed to be a descendant of Lao Tzu and the most devoted to Taoism?"

This sudden shift to praising Buddhism is truly baffling!

"Perhaps His Majesty has other intentions? After all, His Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and his thoughts are beyond the comprehension of us commoners."

Most people felt that the Tang emperor's move was extremely abrupt and illogical.

However, a minority chose to believe that His Majesty had his own intentions.

In any case, this sudden Water and Land Assembly, as well as the legendary "Great Buddhist Master Chen Xuanzang," successfully attracted everyone's attention. Everyone wanted to see for themselves what kind of demeanor this eminent monk had and what the secrets of Buddhism were.

……

Amidst the city's clamor, no one noticed that a woman holding a willow branch and a jade bottle, dressed in simple white robes, with a compassionate and dignified appearance, quietly appeared in the sky above Chang'an and disappeared from sight.

It was Guanyin Bodhisattva of Mount Putuo in the South China Sea who came to Chang'an City to visit the virtuous people who were seeking scriptures, having received the Buddha's decree.

The Bodhisattva looked down at the bustling Huasheng Temple below, his brows furrowed slightly.

She had been lingering and investigating in this place for some time, but had yet to encounter a true seeker of scriptures who possessed the right aptitude, virtue, and opportunity, and couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

However, when she saw the monk Jiang Liuer on the altar of Huasheng Temple, dressed in a brocade kasaya, with a "peaceful" face, preparing to start his sermon, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Fortunately, this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi has not yet officially appeared on stage and has not been tainted by that anomaly...

What she was most worried about was that the lawless law enforcement god of the Three Realms, Lin Zhu, would come and cause trouble. Fortunately, as far as she knew, Lin Zhu had been busy fighting with the forces of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the underworld for the past two days, and was probably too preoccupied to deal with anything else.

Since that's the case, let's proceed according to the original plan.

The Bodhisattva had a plan in mind.

She heard that Emperor Taizong of Tang was promoting good deeds and was selecting eminent monks to hold a grand assembly. The chosen one was none other than Jin Chanzi, a Buddhist disciple who had descended from the Pure Land. The time was ripe.

Without further hesitation, she decided to reveal herself and enlighten others, thus taking this crucial step in the eastward transmission of Buddhism.

The Bodhisattva descended from the clouds, but instead of appearing in a solemn and majestic form, he acted according to plan, transforming himself into a ragged, disheveled, and staggering mad beggar.

In her hands she held two objects, their brilliance understated yet subtly exuding an extraordinary aura—the brocade bat-patterned cassock and the nine-ringed staff, bestowed by the Buddha himself, symbolizing the weighty mission of the Journey to the West!
Normally, this kind of errand-running and demonstration work should have been done by her attendant, the Wooden Fork Walker.

But the thought of Moksha brought a pang of pain and frustration to the Bodhisattva's heart!

That unlucky kid, sometime earlier, was found by that evil star Lin Zhu on some pretext and directly imprisoned in the Nine Heavens Prison. It is said that he was sentenced to a very heavy sentence and would not be able to get out for at least ten or eight kalpas!

Now, this kind of job, which requires her to show her face in public and may even involve some grievances, can only be done by her, the Bodhisattva, rolling up her sleeves herself.

Holding the two treasures, she deliberately staggered along the most bustling street in Chang'an, hoping to attract the attention of some "destined person" in Huasheng Temple.

Sure enough, she hadn't gone far when several monks who were strolling along the street with their eyes wandering were immediately attracted by the two seemingly broken but actually radiant treasures in her hands.

The brocade robe with bat motifs shimmered and spun in the dim light, and the nine-ringed staff, though covered in grime, produced a clear and resonant sound as the rings clasped together, clearly indicating it was no ordinary object!
Greed instantly took root in the minds of several monks.

One of the monks, the most burly with a face full of scars, gleamed with a lewd light in his eyes, chuckled, and strode forward, blocking the path of the mad beggar who was actually a bodhisattva, like a wall. He reached out his rough hand to grab the robe.

"Hey! Old beggar! What kind of junk are you holding? It looks pretty fancy, though. Let me see it!"

The Bodhisattva was angry, but he suppressed it and deliberately spoke in a hoarse voice.

"This is the supreme precious robe, the brocade bat kasaya, worth five thousand taels of silver; this staff is also a Buddhist treasure, worth two thousand taels."

Upon hearing the "sky-high price," the burly monk's face twitched, he spat on the ground, and cursed.

"Bah! Five thousand taels? Two thousand taels? Why don't you just rob someone? You old beggar, all your possessions combined aren't even worth a tael of silver. You dare to try and fool me with this junk? I think you've gone crazy for money!"

As he spoke, a glob of phlegm almost splashed onto the Bodhisattva's worn-out shoes.

How could a Bodhisattva have ever suffered such humiliation? He felt an inexplicable anger surge to the top of his head, and his fist, clenched in his sleeve, cracked instantly, his knuckles turned white, and he became as hard as an iron block!
She almost couldn't resist showing off her divine powers on the spot and giving this blind fool a lesson he would never forget!

Just as her anger was about to erupt, a familiar voice, one she least wanted to hear at that moment, tinged with mockery and cynicism, floated down like a ghost from the roof of a nearby restaurant.

"Tsk tsk, in broad daylight, under the clear sky, Master, there are gods watching from above! Isn't it a bit inappropriate to bully an old man like this?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap, striking Guanyin Bodhisattva's ears with pinpoint accuracy!

She looked up abruptly, following the sound—and saw a figure dressed in pure white, lounging lazily on the upturned eaves of a restaurant not far away. He was casually munching on a handful of fragrant spirit melon seeds, his face bearing that signature, infuriating smile. Who else could it be but Lin Zhu, the number one evil star of the Three Realms, the troublemaker, the anomaly?!

"Lin Zhu?!"

How...how could he be here?!

Guanyin Bodhisattva felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, so frightened that her soul almost flew out of her body!
My heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, almost stopping!

Her clenched fist was as stiff as ancient iron, rock hard!

impossible!
"This is impossible!" she screamed inwardly. Shouldn't he still be in the underworld, locked in a fierce battle with the forces of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?!
Even if he's incredibly powerful, he's only a Great Luo Golden Immortal; how could he possibly escape in such a short time? (End of Chapter)