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

Seeing Lin Zhu deep in thought, the Tang King asked cautiously.

"My lord, what do you think about... this attack on the Buddhist kingdom of India..."

Lin Zhu snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Tang Wang's expectant yet somewhat "naive" and cunning expression. A meaningful smirk slowly appeared on her face.

"Fight! Why don't you fight?"

He patted the Tang Emperor on the shoulder, his tone encouraging.

"They've come to bully you right at your doorstep, are you just going to swallow your anger? But... you have to choose the right time, find the right reason, and it's best to stand on the moral high ground, like... condemning them for sending evil monks to bewitch your Tang Dynasty people and disrupt your royal harmony, etc. In short, you have to fight with momentum and style!"

Upon hearing this, the Tang Emperor's eyes instantly shone with an astonishing light, as if he had found his pillar of support, and he nodded repeatedly.

"Understood! Your Excellency is wise! I will certainly handle things perfectly and will not let you down!"

With Lin Zhu's almost tacit approval, the Tang King felt more confident than ever before!
He immediately extended a warm invitation.

"Your Excellency, the Water and Land Assembly is approaching a crucial moment. Why don't you come with me to take a look? Well... uh, to supervise the work?"

Lin Zhu was looking for something to do, and since watching a play could earn him merit, he naturally had no reason to refuse and casually nodded.

Upon seeing this, the Tang King was even more excited. With this formidable figure standing beside him, he felt that even if the Buddha himself descended, he would dare to challenge him! The two immediately set off, surrounded by a group of guards and palace servants, and headed to the Huasheng Temple for the Water and Land Assembly.

……

The altar is built high in Huasheng Temple Square.

Wearing a magnificent monk's robe, Chen Xuanzang sat upright at the highest point of the altar, eloquently expounding on the Buddhist teachings of the Western Paradise.

He recited the "Sutra on Rebirth and Salvation of the Dead," explaining the merits of liberating the souls of the deceased; he also explained the "Heavenly Treasure Seal for Peace and Tranquility," implying that Buddhism could protect the peace and tranquility of the country; and he further promoted the "Scroll of Encouraging Cultivation," encouraging everyone to devote themselves to Buddhism and accumulate merit.

His voice was loud and clear, and his demeanor appeared dignified. He quoted scriptures and classics, which made him seem quite like a high-ranking monk.

It must be said that although he was once influenced by Gu Yang's demonic energy and harbored violence and many unpleasant thoughts in his heart, he was not stupid.

He knew that going out to eat, drink, gamble, and have fun with his "good brothers" at Jinshan Temple was one thing, but if he wanted to truly stand out and gain supreme status and honor, learning and mastering these Buddhist teachings was an essential stepping stone and a stepping stone to advancement.

His arduous practice of Buddhism was not for the purpose of saving all sentient beings, but for the supreme position of "the chief monk of the Great Buddhist Temple," just like now, high above, under the spotlight of all people, even the emperor had to come in person!

Everything happened as he had expected.

However, many monks and laypeople in the audience, including some truly virtuous old monks, felt that something was amiss after listening to him speak for so many days.

This Master Chen Xuanzang, while seemingly proper in his sermons and quotations from orthodox Buddhist scriptures, occasionally, when he was animated or speaking of certain key phrases, would uncontrollably let out a fleeting, yet clearly visible, ferocious look.

The ferocity and greed in his eyes were completely at odds with the compassionate Buddhist teachings he spoke of; it was as if he were possessed by a demon!
However, since he was a high-ranking monk personally appointed by His Majesty the Tang Emperor, everyone had countless doubts and discomforts in their hearts, but they could only suppress them and wait and see.

……

When the Tang emperor's entourage arrived at the site of the Water and Land Ceremony, it caused a huge sensation. The common people knelt down, and the monks paid their respects.

Hidden in the shadows, Guanyin Bodhisattva, who had been closely observing the situation, was so excited upon seeing the Tang Emperor finally arrive that she almost burst into tears! He's here! He's finally here! The plot is finally getting back on track!
She could almost see the Tang Emperor presenting the brocade bat-patterned cassock and the nine-ringed staff to the public, and then taking the opportunity to appear and expound the wonders of the Mahayana Buddhist Tripitaka of the Western Paradise, enlightening Chen Xuanzang and embarking on the great journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures!

Although she also saw Lin Zhu, dressed in white and yawning idly beside the Tang King, her heart tightened instinctively, but she quickly reassured herself.

Don't be afraid!
He had promised Buddha that he would not directly interfere in the Journey to the West!

Moreover, with this Bodhisattva here, who will manifest his power at the crucial moment, he would not dare to openly break his promise and become an enemy of the entire Western Paradise!
She was so engrossed in the fantasy of perfectly completing her mission and receiving Buddha's reward that she ignored the faint unease deep within her heart.

Sure enough, on the high platform, the Tang Emperor, following the "script," announced to the public that because the Buddhist monk Chen Xuanzang was of profound virtue and proficient in Buddhism, he was specially bestowed with a Buddhist brocade robe and a nine-ringed staff to help him spread Buddhism!

A palace attendant respectfully presented the two treasures to the altar.

Looking at the radiant robe and staff before him, Chen Xuanzang's heart pounded with excitement, and his face was instantly filled with overwhelming joy and surprise!
He immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly in the direction of the Tang Emperor, his voice trembling.

"This humble monk...this humble monk is unworthy of such a precious treasure bestowed upon me by Your Majesty! Your Majesty's grace is as boundless as the heavens! This humble monk will certainly do his utmost to propagate Buddhism in order to repay Your Majesty's kindness! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"

He accepted this supreme glory in front of everyone in the world, feeling as if he had reached the pinnacle of life, highly respected, and enjoying boundless glory!

He stood up impatiently, and with the help of the eunuch, carefully and with a touch of ostentation, unfolded the brocade robe adorned with bats and draped it over his shoulders! At the same time, he grasped the nine-ringed tin staff in his hand!

Donning the cassock, holding the precious staff!
Chen Xuanzang was born with rosy lips and white teeth, and a fair and handsome face. At this moment, he was wearing a brocade robe with shimmering colors and holding an ancient and solemn nine-ringed staff. Standing high on the altar, he looked handsome and extraordinary under the light of Buddha, just like a Buddhist disciple who stepped out of a painting!

Upon seeing this, everyone in the audience was immediately impressed and expressed their sincere admiration.

"What a handsome holy monk!"

"His appearance is dignified and solemn; he is truly a living Buddha reborn!"

"This robe and staff are a perfect match for Master Xuanzang! He is like a disciple of the Buddha descended to earth!"

Hearing the overwhelming praise, Chen Xuanzang's vanity was greatly satisfied. He slightly raised his chin, trying to maintain his dignity, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly as he enjoyed the moment when he was the center of attention.

Even Guanyin Bodhisattva, hidden in the shadows, nodded in approval, thinking that this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, adorned with Buddhist jewels, did indeed look quite presentable, finally resembling a pilgrim on his journey to the West. However—

Just when everyone thought this would be a perfect coronation ceremony and the journey to the West was about to begin smoothly!

A sudden change occurs!
The brocade robe draped over Chen Xuanzang, which had been radiating a peaceful and precious light, suddenly seemed to be stimulated by something, becoming disordered and dazzling!
Just as the brocade cassock was completely draped over Chen Xuanzang's body and he gripped the nine-ringed staff tightly, a strange change occurred!

"Uhh—!!"

A bloodcurdling scream, utterly inhuman and piercingly mournful, suddenly erupted from deep within Chen Xuanzang's throat!
His originally dignified, handsome, and fair face was twisted into a terrifying and hideous appearance in the blink of an eye!

It was as if countless invisible hands were tearing at his skin, causing his facial features to shift, his muscles to spasm, and dark blue veins to bulge out like earthworms on his forehead and neck!

He felt as if he had been thrown into a red-hot bronze bull. The seemingly magnificent and sacred kasaya was now nothing more than a scorching hot iron cage to him, with every thread radiating a soul-burning pain!
The pain did not only affect his physical body, but also penetrated his soul and spirit, as if it wanted to completely burn away all traces of his existence!

"Roar--!!"

Another inhuman roar exploded, this time not just pain, but also mixed with a frenzied and violent will to destroy! A visible dark red sound wave spread outwards from Chen Xuanzang!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Some of the people who were closer to the altar had no time to react. Like fallen leaves swept up by a gale, they were directly thrown away by the sound wave containing chaotic power, screaming and falling to the ground. In an instant, cries and screams filled the air!
Even more horrifying was that Chen Xuanzang's once clear eyes had now turned blood red, filled with madness and murderous intent!
Beneath his exposed skin, strange and twisted dark purple demonic patterns, seemingly originating from the primordial era, emerged and crawled out like living things!

At the same time, a pure, ancient, and incompatible with the Buddha's light, pure demonic energy rose uncontrollably from the pores of his body, black with purple, enveloping his entire body in a hazy demonic mist!

This scene is just like a peerless demon who was frozen in the demon-revealing mirror and had nowhere to hide under the dazzling Buddha light, finally revealing its true face!
"Demonic...demonic energy! It's demonic energy!!"

"Heavens! Master Chen Xuanzang... how could he... how could he possess such pure and terrifying demonic energy?!"

"The Grand Master of the Buddhist Order of the World... is actually a hidden demon?!"

"If this gets out, won't all the monks in the world follow suit and go mad with demonic possession? Will the pure land of Buddhism become a den of demons?!"

After a brief silence came a commotion and uproar, like a volcanic eruption!

Countless commoners, monks, and high-ranking officials below the stage were all terrified, their faces pale with fear. They retreated in panic, pushing and shoving each other in chaos, fearing that Chen Xuanzang, who seemed to have completely lost his mind and was like a demon descended to earth, would suddenly attack and tear them to pieces!

From his vantage point atop the high platform, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, witnessed the entire scene. His pupils constricted slightly at first, but then an indescribable surge of joy welled up within him! The God of Hell has protected us! Just as I predicted! The Great One must have made arrangements!

This was all part of his plan!
He subconsciously turned his gaze to Lin Zhu, who was leisurely sitting beside him, hoping to find a trace of composure or instruction on the face of this "big boss".

However, what he saw was an undisguised, pure... bewilderment on Lin Zhu's handsome face.

Yes, Lin Zhu was also a little confused at this moment.

While frantically rummaging through his storage space for spirit melon seeds, a small stool, and even a bottle of mineral water labeled "Special Supply to Heaven," he muttered to himself.

I rely on!

What's going on? This scene wasn't in the script!

Isn't this cassock and staff a treasure given by the Buddha? How come it has the function of exorcising demons? Wait... could it be that the demonic energy left in his body by that unlucky guy Gu Yang more than 20 years ago has been activated?
He quickly sorted out his thoughts, and his eyes lit up! Interesting! Very interesting! The pilgrim chosen by Buddhism to retrieve the scriptures, in front of Bodhisattvas and all the gods and Buddhas, suddenly unleashed demonic energy?

This melon is guaranteed to be ripe! Amazing! I have to be in the front row to see it!
So he decisively set out his three essentials for enjoying a good melon and plopped down on a small stool.

With a "crack," he cracked open the first sunflower seed and completely switched into spectator mode.

Just then, he noticed the questioning and slightly dependent look in the King of Tang's eyes, and couldn't help but frown and transmit his voice in an annoyed tone.

"What are you looking at? Watch the show! Focus!"

The Tang Emperor was momentarily taken aback by this blunt telepathic message, but then a glint of understanding flashed in his eyes! That's it! What kind of status does the Prison God have? Why would he explain everything to me?

His behavior must be a way of implying to me that everything is under his control and that I can do as I please! Yes! That must be it!
With this in mind, the Tang King felt much more at ease and even began to make his own plans.

Excellent! Heaven is truly helping me!
Chen Xuanzang's madness and demonic possession have given me the perfect reason to get rid of the blame for the Water and Land Assembly!
Anyway, with the God of Hell here, he'll hold up the sky if it falls! Besides, how can this mad demonic monk still be the head of the Buddhist order? We can take this opportunity to remove this thorn that Buddhism has forced its way into our hands!
In the blink of an eye, the slight doubt that had appeared on the Tang King's face when he saw Lin Zhu vanished instantly, replaced by a gloomy and furious imperial expression!
He slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, stood up, and his voice, like thunder, resounded throughout the entire hall.

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!!"

The Tang emperor pointed at Chen Xuanzang, who was still roaring in pain and surging with demonic energy on the altar, his voice filled with anger at being fooled.

"This is the virtuous and eminent monk that Buddhism has chosen for me and for all living beings?!"
Is this the so-called Great Buddhist Monk of the World?! In broad daylight, under the clear sky, he dares to reveal such a hideous demonic form before me, and even dares to harm my people! He is utterly lawless!
This grand Buddhist and Taoist assembly was a complete joke! It was utterly ruined by that demonic monk!

His angry rebuke was righteous and forceful, instantly pointing all the blame and criticism at Buddhism and Chen Xuanzang himself.

"All officers and men obey orders!"

The Tang emperor waved his hand and issued a command with great authority.

"Immediately protect the civilians and evacuate them, maintain order, and prevent the riots from escalating! If any monsters harm people, kill them without mercy!"

"As for this matter of exorcising demons and monsters..."

The Tang Emperor paused, his cold gaze sweeping over the Jinshan Temple monks below, whose faces were ashen with fear, and the extraordinary "special figures" hidden among them. His tone carried an undeniable mockery. (End of Chapter)