Primordial Era: A brick knocks Hongyun unconscious, and he seizes the throne at the start.

Lingshan, Daleiyin Temple.

The Buddha sits high on a lotus throne, bathed in divine light. Below him stand numerous Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Vajras, their chanting filling the air with solemnity.

"Jin Chanzi has been incarnated ten times in the East. The time has come for his journey to the West to obtain the scriptures." Buddha spoke slowly. "Venerable Guanyin, I command you to go to the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, find the person who is going to obtain the scriptures, enlighten him to go west, and set up trials along the way to make up the eighty-one tribulations."

"Disciple receives the decree." Guanyin Bodhisattva clasped her hands and bowed.

"This journey concerns the great prosperity of Buddhism, so we must proceed with caution," the Buddha instructed. "The East is the foundation of the Xuanmen (Taoist) sect, the Tang Dynasty is currently flourishing, and the Taoist sect has a strong influence. You may take Huian Xingzhe (Muzha) with you to show the sincerity of Buddhism."

"I will follow the teachings of Buddhism." Guanyin bowed again, took the wooden scepter, rode on auspicious clouds, left Mount Ling, and headed east.

The journey from the Western Paradise to the Eastern Land was long and arduous. Guanyin and Muzha proceeded at a leisurely pace, observing the terrain and landscape of the four continents along the way, pondering how to set up calamities and how to guide the pilgrims.

However, as soon as they entered Jambudvipa, Guanyin sensed something was wrong.

The air was thick with the scent of incense, and seventy percent of it came from Taoist temples; Buddhist temples were few and far between, and most were deserted. What troubled her even more was that along the way, in towns and villages, she often heard children singing strange rhymes:

"Buddhism in the West, Taoism in the East, who knows which is more efficacious?"

"Praying to Buddha for a better afterlife, cultivating Taoism for a better present life—which one do you think is true?"

"Don't believe a bald monk's words, lest you be converted and disown your ancestors!"

The lyrics are vulgar, yet blunt and jarring; it is clear that someone deliberately spread them to damage the reputation of Buddhism.

"Bodhisattva, this..." Muzha's face turned pale.

Guanyin's face was ashen: "It must be the work of the Taoist sect. The Eastern Land is the territory of the Xuanmen (Taoist sect), and they do not want to see our Buddhist sect spread eastward, so they have set up this obstacle."

She tried to figure out who was behind it all by counting on her fingers, but the secrets of the heavens were shrouded in mystery, as if there was an invisible barrier covering them.

"Let's go to Chang'an first and meet the pilgrims before we talk," Guanyin said, suppressing her anger and speeding up her cloud journey.

Several days later, Chang'an City came into view in the distance.

The human capital city was ablaze with auspicious energy, its dragon aura swirling within. Taoist temples lined the city, their incense burning brightly, while Buddhist temples were mostly deserted. What alarmed Guanyin even more was that a mystical array was faintly shrouding Chang'an in the sky; though it didn't impede the entry and exit of immortals and Buddhas, it did subtly repel any external Buddhist power.

"What a fine example of the Tang Dynasty, and what a fine example of Taoism!" Guanyin's eyes turned cold. She descended from the clouds and, together with Muzha, transformed into two wandering monks, one old and one young, and blended into the city.

Just inside the city gate, I saw a tea stall by the roadside, where several young men who looked like scholars were engaged in lively conversation:

"I've heard there's a Buddha in the Western Paradise who wants to spread his teachings to the East, talking about saving all sentient beings. I think he's just here to steal our offerings!"

"Indeed! Our Great Tang has the protection of the Taoist Ancestor, why do we need foreign religions? His Majesty is wise and has issued an edict that Buddhism and Taoism should be examined together. All foreign missionaries must first pass the examination of the Taoist sect to prove that their Buddhist teachings will not harm the country before they can preach."

"Haha! I've heard that the Buddhist sect is most skilled at 'conversion,' able to turn people into fools, making them only know how to chant Buddha's name. How can such evil arts be tolerated in China?"

His words were extremely derogatory towards Buddhism.

Guanyin was furious, but she couldn't show it. She and Muzha found an inn to stay in, planning to enter the palace that night, appear in the Tang Emperor's dream, and enlighten him on the matter of the pilgrimage.

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were few.

Guanyin and Muzha concealed themselves and floated into the palace, arriving at Emperor Taizong's sleeping quarters. Li Shimin was fast asleep, his brows furrowed, as if he were dreaming.

Just as Guanyin was about to use her magic to enter the dream, she suddenly sensed the faint fluctuations of Taoist talismans around the bedchamber! With a thought, she carefully examined the area and discovered that there was a pale yellow talisman pasted on each of the four corners of the dragon bed, with the eight characters "Suppressing the soul and calming the mind, preventing all evil from invading" written on it, emanating pure Taoist energy.

"The work of Yuan Tiangang!" Guanyin recognized the aura of the talisman; it was indeed made by Yuan Tiangang, the Grand Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty and a highly respected Taoist master. This talisman had no offensive capabilities, but it could stabilize the soul and prevent external evils from invading and controlling it in dreams.

If she were to force her way into the dream, she would surely trigger the talisman, alarm Yuan Tiangang, and possibly even invite an attack from the entire Taoist sect of Chang'an!

"That Yuan Tiangang! He actually went to this extent to defend against it!" Guanyin gritted her teeth and had no choice but to stop.

The next day, she sought an audience with the Tang Emperor as a wandering monk, but was stopped by the palace guards: "His Majesty has decreed that monks and Taoists will not be seen recently. If you have any profound insights, you may go to the Hongwen Hall to participate in the 'Buddhist and Taoist Debates.' If you can convince the Taoists, His Majesty will summon you."

Guanyin was so angry she laughed. How dare she, a dignified Bodhisattva, "discuss the Dharma" with a Taoist priest from the mortal realm?

But circumstances dictate otherwise. The Eastern Lands are the domain of the Xuanmen (Taoist sects), and if she were to forcefully cast a spell, she risked giving others a handle against her, thus ruining the Buddhist sect's grand plan.

"Very well, let's go and have a discussion," Guanyin said to Muzha. "I want to see what this Eastern Taoist sect is capable of!"

Hongwen Academy, the highest institution of learning in Chang'an, was packed with people today. It was said that a high-ranking monk from the Western Paradise was going to discuss the Dharma with the Imperial Preceptor Yuan Tiangang, and scholars and commoners from all over the city came to watch.

On the high platform, Yuan Tiangang, dressed in a Taoist robe, stood with an air of otherworldly elegance and a smile. Below the platform, high-ranking Taoist masters from various sects gathered, their imposing presence overwhelming.

Guanyin and Muzha walked onto the high platform, and the people below immediately began to discuss among themselves:

"This old monk does have a rather dignified appearance."

"That young novice monk beside me, does he seem to be a Dharma protector?"

Yuan Tiangang cupped his hands in greeting: "Master, you are a guest from afar, please come in."

Guanyin clasped her hands in return and was about to expound the essence of Buddhism when Yuan Tiangang interrupted, saying, "I have heard that the Buddhist teachings of the Western Paradise emphasize 'cause and effect, reincarnation.' May I ask, Master, if someone does good in this life and receives blessings in the next, and does evil in this life and suffers in the next, this saying certainly encourages people to do good, but—how can the suffering of this life be relieved?"

Right off the bat, it directly addresses the weakness of Buddhism: "emphasizing the next life and downplaying this life!"

Guanyin felt a chill run down her spine, realizing she had met a formidable opponent. She composed herself and slowly said, "The suffering in this life is the result of your past life. If you can endure hardship and cultivate yourself, accumulating good karma, you will naturally receive blessings in your next life..."

Before he could finish speaking, the audience erupted in uproar.

"Endure suffering? We who cultivate the Tao seek freedom in this life and longevity! How can we endure suffering for the next life?"

"Exactly! The Tao follows nature; we should live in harmony with life and find joy in death. Why endure suffering?"

The Taoists refuted her, citing scriptures and using sharp words. Although Guanyin's Buddhist teachings were profound, she was no match for their superior numbers and the fact that every sentence focused on the word "this life," leaving her unable to defend herself.

The debate lasted for half a day, and Guanyin gradually lost ground!

She was anxious, thinking to herself, "This Yuan Tiangang must have received guidance from a master, specifically targeting the weaknesses of our Buddhist sect! If we continue this argument, I fear I will lose all face..."

Just then, a clear, cheerful voice suddenly entered her ears:

"Bodhisattva, are you in a difficult situation?"

Guanyin shuddered – she remembered that voice!

It's Lu Chen, the one who repeatedly ruins Buddhist temples' good deeds!