Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

Xuanzang's heart tightened.

He gripped his tin staff tightly and did not run.

You can't outrun them.

You can't run away either.

He took a deep breath and clasped his hands together:

"Amitabha."

"This humble monk is Tang Xuanzang, who comes from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, and is on his way to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures."

"Passing by Baoshan, I had no intention of disturbing it."

"If Your Majesty would be willing to make way, this humble monk would be eternally grateful."

"If you refuse..."

He paused:

"I will give my life to Your Majesty."

The tiger stared at him, motionless.

Xuanzang did not move.

A man and a tiger stand facing each other in the mountains and forests.

In the void.

Sun Wukong, concealing his presence, watched, scratching his head in disbelief.

"Is this monk truly foolish or just pretending?"

"Trying to reason with a tiger?"

"That beast wouldn't understand a word!"

He was just about to show himself.

Suddenly stopped.

Because of that tiger...

Moved.

It leaped down from the bluestone and slowly walked up to Xuanzang.

I circled around him once.

Then, he lay down.

She lay down at his feet and yawned.

Xuanzang was stunned.

He looked down at the tiger, at its half-closed eyes.

A strange feeling welled up inside me.

This tiger...

There was no malicious intent.

He tentatively reached out and gently placed his hand on the tiger's head.

The tiger rubbed against his hand, letting out a low growl.

Xuanzang smiled.

He withdrew his hand and clasped his hands together in prayer:

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After saying that, he walked around the tiger and continued on his way.

Behind him, the tiger lay still, watching him go.

In the void.

Sun Wukong's eyes widened:

"What...what's going on?"

"Did that tiger take the wrong medicine?"

A faint voice came from behind him:

"That's no ordinary tiger."

Sun Wukong turned around.

Kong Xuan arrived without anyone noticing, standing with his hands behind his back in the void.

Sun Wukong scratched his head:

"Senior? What's that if not a tiger?"

Kong Xuan looked at the tiger:

"It possesses a trace of Buddhist nature."

"Perhaps they have heard scriptures, or perhaps they have received enlightenment."

"His intelligence has been awakened, and he understands human nature."

"Seeing the Buddha's aura emanating from this monk, one knows he is a virtuous person."

"How could I possibly hurt him?"

Sun Wukong was stunned:

"Buddha's light? This monk has Buddha's light?"

Kong Xuan nodded slightly:

"A person who has cultivated virtue for ten lifetimes will naturally have golden light of merit on their body."

"Mortals cannot see it, but those animals that have gained sentience can."

"So he won't die in the mouths of wild beasts along the way."

Sun Wukong grinned:

"Then wouldn't I, Old Sun, have followed you for nothing?"

Kong Xuan shook his head:

"Wild beasts won't harm him, but monsters will."

"Beasts only care about being full, monsters..."

He paused:

"Everyone has their own plans."

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up:

"So, does that mean I, Old Sun, will have a chance to prove myself?"

Kong Xuan did not answer.

He simply gazed at the distant mountains.

There, a faint demonic aura rose.

Beyond Liangjie Mountain lies the Tatar territory.

This mountain range is called Snake Coil Mountain.

In the Snake Coil Mountain, there is a stream called Eagle Sorrow Stream.

In the ravine, there is a white dragon.

As Xuanzang walked, he suddenly heard the sound of water ahead.

He followed the sound, passed through a dense forest, and suddenly the view opened up before him.

A mountain stream stretched out before us.

The stream was crystal clear, yet its depth was unfathomable. The banks were lined with jagged rocks and vines hanging upside down.

Xuanzang looked around.

There is no bridge across the ravine; one must take a detour to cross it.

But this detour might add dozens of miles of mountain road to our journey.

He was hesitating.

suddenly.

A ripple spread across the surface of the stream.

The ripples grew larger and faster.

Immediately afterwards—

Whoosh!

A white figure burst out of the water!

Xuanzang's pupils suddenly contracted.

That was a horse.

A horse that is pure white, without a single stray hair.

It stood on the water, its four hooves treading the waves, its body enveloped in a faint white light.

He was looking at Xuanzang.

Xuanzang was stunned.

This horse...

Where did it come from?

How can you stand on water?

The white horse looked at him and suddenly let out a long neigh.

With its four hooves treading the water, it slowly made its way to the shore.

It stopped in front of Xuanzang.

She lowered her head and nuzzled his shoulder.

Xuanzang was startled.

this......

What does this mean?

He tentatively reached out and touched the horse's head.

The white horse nuzzled against his palm gently, its eyes full of affection.

A feeling that was hard to describe welled up in Xuanzang's heart.

Although he didn't know where the horse came from, he could sense that it meant him no harm.

instead......

It's as if they've known me for a long time.

In the void.

Sun Wukong's eyes widened:

"What... what's going on here?"

"How come another horse has appeared?"

Kong Xuan gazed at the white horse, his eyes flickering slightly:

"That's the third prince of the West Sea Dragon King."

Sun Wukong was taken aback:

"The Dragon King's third son? Why turn into a horse?"

Kong Xuan said calmly:

"He was accused of disobedience by his father for setting fire to the palace's pearl."

"The Jade Emperor was hung in the air and beaten three hundred times; he will be executed soon."

"Guanyin Bodhisattva intervened and saved him, allowing him to wait here for the pilgrims."

"Be his mount, carry him to the Western Paradise."

Sun Wukong's eyes widened:

"Leg load? Use a dragon as leg load?"

"That Guanyin Bodhisattva, what a grand gesture!"

Kong Xuan's lips curled slightly:

"It's not just about physical strength."

"He was already on the verge of death, and the Bodhisattva saved him, which is a great blessing for him."

"Follow the pilgrim on his journey to the West, and upon success, you will attain enlightenment."

"It's much better than dying at the Dragon-Slaying Platform."

Sun Wukong scratched his head:

"Then what is he doing out here now?"

Kong Xuan looked towards the stream:

"He's waiting."

"Wait for the monk to speak."

Beside the stream.

Xuanzang gazed at the white horse, his mind racing.

His journey westward relied entirely on his own two feet.

Along the way, my feet were covered in blisters, and I went through several pairs of monk's shoes.

If a horse is available for transportation...

But the horse's arrival was suspicious, and he dared not accept it rashly.

He put his hands together in prayer position:

"Amitabha."

"This humble monk is Tang Xuanzang, who comes from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, and is on his way to the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures."

"May I ask, benefactor, where do you come from?"

The white horse looked at him and let out a long neigh.

shook his head.

Xuanzang was taken aback:

"Can't you speak properly, benefactor?"

The white horse nodded.

Xuanzang remained silent.

A horse that nods and shakes its head.

A horse standing on the water.

This is... anything but ordinary.

He thought for a moment, then asked:

"Are you waiting for me here, benefactor?"

The white horse nodded vigorously.

Xuanzang took a deep breath:

"Does this humble monk know where I am headed, benefactor?"

The white horse raised its front hooves and pointed west.

A glint flashed in Xuanzang's eyes.

He gazed at the white horse, at those clear, watery eyes.

A thought suddenly came to mind.

Could it be...

Was this sent by Buddha?

He clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to the west:

"Amitabha."

"What virtue or ability do I possess to receive such favor from the Buddha?"

After bowing, he looked at the white horse:

"Would the benefactor be willing to carry this poor monk to the Western Paradise?"

The white horse nodded.

Xuanzang's eyes were slightly red.

He stepped forward and gently embraced the horse's head:

"Thank you, benefactor."

"I'll trouble you with my journey, benefactor."

The white horse nudged him and neighed softly.

In the void.

Sun Wukong looked at this scene and scratched his head:

"This monk is quite easily moved."

"A horse moved him to such an extent."

Kong Xuan gazed at that figure:

"You don't understand."

"He walked alone for so long, his feet were blistered, he ran out of dry food, and he encountered jackals, tigers, leopards, demons and monsters along the way."

"But he never stopped."

"Now I finally have a companion, even though it's a horse, it's still a companion."

"He was naturally delighted."

Sun Wukong was stunned.

He gazed at the figure holding the horse's head from behind.

Suddenly I realized that being a monk really has it tough.