Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 255 Tang Sanzang

Wanzishan Mountain, Boyue Cave.

"What?! You want me to make things difficult for the pilgrim, and his eldest disciple is none other than Sun Wukong!!!"

Upon hearing this, the Yellow-Robed Monster, clad in golden armor and a yellow robe, showed fear in his eyes and shook his head repeatedly, saying:

"No, no, this is absolutely impossible! You know how capable the Great Sage Equaling Heaven was back then, Venus Star Lord. How can I possibly oppose him!"

Venus looked at Kui Mulang, one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and shook his head, saying:

“Your descent to the mortal realm this time, seeking the reincarnation of the Jade Maiden who serves incense in the Fragrant Palace, shows that you have already made a mistake.”

"If you can contribute to the eastward transmission of Buddhism this time and atone for your sins, then I will be able to plead with His Majesty the Jade Emperor for your sake."

"This"

Upon hearing this, the Yellow-Robed Monster hesitated, while Venus's feet created mist that gathered into clouds and slowly floated up.

“Kui Mulang, you should think this over carefully. But that Jade Maiden has already been reincarnated as Princess Baihuaxiu and has long lost her memories of her past life. Why are you so fixated on it?”

The yellow-robed monster's expression changed slightly, and he couldn't help but say:

"Lord Taibai, you do not know the depth of our love. Even in reincarnation, I will still love her, and she will still love me."

Venus shook his head. Seeing Kui Mulang's persistence, he rode the clouds and returned to heaven.

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, the grand water and land ceremony ordered by Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty was held as scheduled, and Chen Xuanzang was recommended by many court officials and monks to be the master of the ceremony and meet the emperor.

Li Shimin still had some recollection of what happened to Chen Xuanzang back then.

Upon investigating this person, it was found that he had a good background, high moral character, and was well-versed in all the classics and scriptures. He was also proficient in Buddhist chants and celestial music. The emperor was overjoyed and immediately approved the matter, bestowing upon Chen Xuanzang the position of Grand Master of Buddhist Order.

However, the Tang emperor did not expect that during the construction of the Water and Land Assembly, he saw a bald-headed monk selling brocade cassocks and nine-ringed staffs. The Tang emperor saw that the cassock and staff were excellent treasures and immediately wanted to buy them and give them to Chen Xuanzang.

Seeing that Chen Xuanzang was a dignified and enlightened monk, the bald-headed monk offered him his robe and staff without accepting a penny. However, no one expected that this monk was actually Guanyin Bodhisattva in disguise.

The Bodhisattva spoke to everyone present about the profound mysteries of Mahayana Buddhism in the Western Paradise, which aroused the longing of both the Tang Emperor and Chen Xuanzang.

Chen Xuanzang made a great vow to travel to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek Buddhist scriptures, and to bring back the Mahayana Buddhist canon to the East.

Inside the Temple of the Divine Physician Daojun in Chang'an.

Yin Wenjiao is here with her husband Chen Guangrui and her mother-in-law to pray for blessings at Daojun Temple.

Back then, his family had all received the kindness of Daojun and his disciples. Since escaping from suffering that year, they had become believers of the divine healer Daojun and Guanyin Bodhisattva, worshipping them every year.

In this grand hall filled with the fragrance of incense, the statue of the Divine Physician Daojun sits at the head of the hall, flanked by his seven guardian generals.

"Daojun, my child is now fortunate enough to be appointed as the Imperial Brother by the Emperor of my Great Tang Dynasty. He is about to travel west to seek the Mahayana Buddhist teachings and has made a great vow that he will not return until he obtains the true scriptures."

"However, the journey to the Western Paradise is long and fraught with demons. I pray that you will bless him so that he may reach the Western Paradise safely, obtain the true scriptures, and return safely."

After Yin Wenjiao finished speaking, the family of three knelt down devoutly and bowed three times to the statue above.

Meanwhile, outside Chang'an, the Tang emperor, accompanied by numerous civil officials, generals, and monks who had come to present gifts, watched as Xuanzang mounted his white horse and, with two attendants, headed west.

At this time, Chen Xuanzang had been made the Emperor's younger brother by the Tang Emperor and had taken the surname Tang. Also, because the Bodhisattva had appeared at the Water and Land Assembly and said that there was a Tripitaka in the Western Paradise, and Xuanzang was going to the Western Paradise to obtain this Tripitaka, he was given the elegant name Tang Sanzang. The Tang Emperor bestowed upon him a purple-gold alms bowl for his journey to beg for alms, and also gave him a white horse and two attendants.

Afterwards, the Tang emperor presented him with a cup of plain wine, tinged with the dust of Chang'an, and sent him westward.

"This person does resemble the temperament of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva somewhat."

Daojun looked at Chen Xuanzang as he set off. This man had fair skin and delicate flesh. He had been practicing Zen and worshipping Buddha for many years, and his body looked rather weak. Moreover, his posture while riding a horse was somewhat awkward.

For some reason, Daojun suddenly remembered what his second senior brother had once said: Buddhists are most fond of making grand vows and aspirations.

The Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha did the same thing back then, entering hell to deliver the souls of the dead, vowing not to become a Buddha until hell was empty.

That person was just as persistent as Chen Xuanzang at this moment, but that person should be even more persistent.

In Daojun's view, although Tang Sanzang was extremely insightful in Buddhism, he did not actually like him much, as it did not suit his own temperament, and some of the Buddhist precepts were difficult for him to accept.

This is also why he chose Taoism over Buddhism.

However, Daojun had to admit that Tang Sanzang had an excellent quality: perseverance.

The journey to the West was fraught with hardship and difficulty. If it weren't for his three disciples protecting him, Tang Sanzang would have been eaten countless times long ago.

But he was a delicate, mortal monk who spent his years meditating in temples. He had experienced many hardships and frights, but he was never intimidated and never had the slightest thought of retreating. This was truly remarkable.

From this perspective, Tang Sanzang might indeed have been an excellent master to those three.

"Master Dao."

Niu Yi turned his head and saw Guanyin Bodhisattva and Huian Xingzhe flying over together.

"If Daoist Lord is curious about this Tang Sanzang, why not go and meet him in person, so that we can test his determination to travel to the West?"

Daojun smiled and shook his head, saying:
"There's no rush. Before Tang Sanzang leaves this Tang territory, he will surely be in high spirits, and it's only natural that monks from various temples and government officials will line the road to welcome him."

"Only when he leaves the Tang Dynasty territory, loses much of his support, and encounters hardships will we be able to see his determination."

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with the matter.

Lion Camel Kingdom.

At this time, the demon kingdom on earth had developed for five hundred years and had become quite large. It was inhabited by demons, and a constant cacophony of noises emanated from it.

Inside the Lion Camel Kingdom's palace, the Golden-Winged Roc looked down at the demon who had come to report and slowly said:
"Oh? A monk on his way to the Western Paradise to retrieve Buddhist scriptures? A monk from the Tang Dynasty in Jambudvipa? Tang Sanzang?"

The beautiful leopard demon below quickly said:

"That's right, that's the message I received. Legend has it that Tang Sanzang was a good man who had cultivated for ten lifetimes. If you could eat a piece of his flesh, you could live forever and receive great benefits."

As the leopard demon spoke, it flicked its tail, a greedy glint in its eyes.

"Hmph~ A good person who has cultivated for ten lifetimes, huh? Interesting~"

The Golden-Winged Roc stroked his chin, a hint of ferocity flashing in his eyes.

His natal feather has yet to be restored; it's unknown whether consuming Tang Sanzang will allow him to regain it, and also the ten lifetimes of good deeds...
What will it taste like this?
(End of this chapter)