Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

Then, Grand Master Xuandu looked directly at Li Shimin and said, "Li Shimin, the current King of Man, receives the decree of the Holy Mother of Man and the leader of the Human Sect."

Li Shimin immediately knelt down with Empress Zhangsun, and other civil and military officials, as well as common people, also knelt down on the spot.

Li Shimin then spoke, saying, "Li Shimin, a descendant of the human race, kneels to receive the decree of the Holy Mother."

Then the Grand Master Xuandu spoke up: "Chen Xuanzang is the one destined by Heaven to obtain the scriptures. Now, I hereby order the contemporary King Li Shimin to become sworn brothers with Chen Xuanzang and to issue him a travel permit."

"Let Chen Xuanzang go to the Great Thunder Temple on Mount Ling in the Western Paradise in place of Emperor Li Shimin as an envoy of the Tang Dynasty to retrieve the Tripitaka scriptures."

Then a streak of light flew out from the hand of Grand Master Xuandu and landed directly in front of Li Shimin.

Li Shimin hurriedly reached out and took the decree from the Goddess Nuwa. He then respectfully said, "Li Shimin, a descendant of the human race, obeys the decree of the Holy Mother."

He then stood up and said to Chen Xuanzang, "Since our Holy Mother of Humanity has issued a decree, let us swear an oath of brotherhood in front of Grand Master Xuandu today."

After saying this, he reached out and pulled Tang Xuanzang to kneel down in the direction of Huoyun Cave, and then announced to the human race that from this day forward, Chen Xuanzang would be the younger brother of the Tang Emperor.

Furthermore, he was granted permission to use Tang as his surname and was given the Buddhist name Sanzang. He was tasked with going to the Great Thunder Temple on Mount Ling in the west to retrieve the Tripitaka scriptures in place of Li Shimin.

That's right, it's not about going to Buddha to retrieve scriptures, but about taking them back directly. The difference between the two is self-evident.

As Li Shimin and Chen Xuanzang—no, it should be Tang Sanzang—became sworn brothers, the Great Master Xuandu also raised the Kunlun Mirror in his hand.

In an instant, the Kunlun Mirror merged into the space, displaying the process of Li Shimin and Tang Sanzang's sworn brotherhood, along with their sounds, in the sky.

In short, in today's prehistoric world, any sentient being can clearly see the process of Li Shimin and Tang Sanzang becoming sworn brothers.

Immediately afterwards, Grand Master Xuandu spoke again to Guanyin Bodhisattva, saying, "Fellow Daoist Guanyin, the journey to the West to obtain scriptures and the eastward transmission of Buddhism is the will of Heaven. Surely there is nothing shameful about it?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded and said, "Of course, how could there be anything unclean in the pure land of Buddhism, and how could it be unfit for public display?"

Grand Master Xuandu smiled and nodded, "Then the Buddhist sect should have no objection to our Human Sect using the Kunlun Mirror so that our human race can clearly see the process of Buddhism spreading eastward?"

Although Guanyin Bodhisattva sensed that something was amiss, given the circumstances, she could not refuse from any angle.

He nodded directly to Grand Master Xuandu and said, "Of course, Fellow Daoist Xuandu, please do as you please."

With Guanyin Bodhisattva's agreement, Grand Master Xuandu pointed directly into the void. The scene instantly switched to Tang Sanzang.

Then he bid farewell to Guanyin Bodhisattva and Li Shimin, transformed into a stream of light, and returned to the Fire Cloud Cave.

Finally, Guanyin Bodhisattva gave Tang Sanzang a few more instructions, and then, stepping on a lotus flower, left Chang'an City and returned to the Great Thunder Temple on Mount Ling in the West to report to the Buddha.

……

In the Ganlu Hall of the Tang Dynasty Imperial Palace, Li Shimin finally understood Nuwa's true intention. He spoke with a look of shock.

"Guanyinbi, it is the Holy Mother who is more considerate. I almost made a mistake and committed a grave error."

At this moment, Changsun Wugou had also figured everything out. She smiled and said, "Yes, now the entire prehistoric world knows Tang Sanzang's identity."

“He represents you, Second Brother, and the entire Tang Dynasty. If he suffers difficulties anywhere, Second Brother will naturally have a reason to take care of him.”

Li Shimin smiled and nodded, saying, "That's exactly right. I've already informed Qin Qiong and the others to come to Ganlu Hall." Just as Li Shimin finished speaking, someone outside Ganlu Hall announced, "Your Majesty, the three dukes have arrived."

Li Shimin laughed and said, "They came quite quickly. I guess the three of them are even more anxious than I am. They've been itching to come for a long time."

Empress Zhangsun covered her mouth and chuckled. After all, these three killing gods on the battlefield wanted to conquer the world the most. They had been bored out of their minds in Chang'an City all these years.

With Li Shimin's command, Qin Qiong, Yuchi Gong, and Cheng Yaojin stepped into the Ganlu Hall.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects to Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress," the three men said simultaneously, bowing to Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun.

"Rise, my three brothers. Please take a seat."

The three thanked him and then knelt down beside Li Shimin.

After the three were seated, Li Shimin spoke up, "Did all three of you witness what happened at Huasheng Temple just now?"

"What I want my three elder brothers to do is not to reject Buddhism from the country. Rather, it is to expand the territory of the Tang Dynasty directly to the Western Vulture Peak."

"When Tang Sanzang leaves Chang'an, your elite troops and generals shall follow closely behind. Wherever Tang Sanzang suffers, you shall seize the land and its people with thunderous force and raise the dragon flag of our Great Tang."

Li Shimin's words stirred the blood of Qin Qiong and the other two. They rose simultaneously, performed a military salute to Li Shimin, and said "Yes, sir!"

Li Shimin turned around abruptly, staring intently at the three dukes, and said, "Remember, this is not plunder. It is the price they should pay for failing to protect my imperial brother."

"Your Majesty, take the order."

Yuchi Gong, Cheng Yaojin, and Qin Qiong were so excited that they trembled all over and knelt down with a thud, their voices making the palace beams vibrate.

Immediately afterwards, Li Shimin pointed directly to the jade bottle on the dragon table, "There are three Nine-Turn Golden Pills in here, blessed by the luck of humanity."

"Each of you should take one pill, which will raise your cultivation to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. This will help you deal with cultivators from all sides on your journey to the West."

"Take these three jade talismans with you. As long as you crush the talismans, disciples will come to your rescue."

"In addition, Her Majesty has prepared three sets of armor and weapons for you. This is a privilege that even I and the Empress do not receive."

The Grand Master Xuandu brought more than just Nuwa's decree. He also brought gifts specially prepared for the three of them.

In addition to the three Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs and the communication jade talisman, three sets of acquired supreme treasure-level weapons and armor were also custom-made for the three of them.

All of this was naturally prepared by Chen Xuan, who had discerned Li Shimin's thoughts, and ordered the Three Pure Ones to work through the night. The goal was to make the Journey to the West even more exciting.

Even after the three of them left the borders of the Tang Dynasty, there were still mounts prepared by Chen Xuan waiting for them at Liangjie Mountain.

Qin Qiong and the other two were naturally overjoyed, since their contributions to the human race were not enough to qualify them for cultivation in the Fire Cloud Cave.

Even if one can enter the Holy Court of the Human Race, one is nothing more than a minor god, such as a door god.

But now, inexplicably, he has become a Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivator. The difference between these two is worlds apart. (End of Chapter)