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

With the Two Realms Mountain in sight, Xuanzang and his party were getting closer and closer.

Lu Chen (Qingfeng Daoren) walked at the front of the group, the Chaos World Brick in his sleeve slightly warming up—that was Sun Wukong sensing his master's approach and excitedly stirring inside the brick.

"Don't worry, it'll be soon," Lu Chen reassured him with his divine sense. "Once we meet Tang Sanzang, we'll proceed according to plan."

Suppressed chuckles came from inside the brick.

Just then, a black wind suddenly rose from the mountains ahead, whipping up sand and stones! A rough, booming voice boomed like thunder:

"This road is mine, these trees are mine! If you want to pass, leave your toll—bah! Leave that pale-faced monk behind!"

A giant bear leaped out from the black wind, standing upright, towering over three zhang tall. Its body was covered in black fur like steel needles, its eyes like copper bells, and it held a black-tasseled spear, menacingly blocking the road.

It is the bear monster from Black Wind Cave in Black Wind Mountain!

Xuanzang was so frightened that he fell to the ground, and the hands of his two servants, who had drawn their swords, trembled. The white horse (Ao Lie) also trotted its hooves and neighed uneasily.

Lu Chen's eyes lit up—perfect timing!

This bear-like monster is no ordinary creature. In the original story, this fellow stole Tang Sanzang's brocade cassock, fought Sun Wukong to a standstill, and was eventually taken in by Guanyin as a guardian deity of the mountain, becoming a protector of Buddhism. Although this monster is a demon, he is quite literate and fond of Buddhist principles, making him a "refined demon" with considerable potential.

Guanyin was watching from the clouds, a slight smile playing on her lips—this was a proper tribulation! She had foreseen the bear monster's presence and deliberately refrained from interfering, intending to give the pilgrimage team a warning and, incidentally… gain another capable protector.

"You monster, cease your arrogance!" Lu Chen stepped forward, blocking Xuanzang's path, and shouted, seemingly fierce but actually weak, "I am Qingfeng Daoren, the Protector and Inspector of the Great Tang! This is a holy monk who has been ordered to travel west. If you dare to harm him, neither the Heavenly Court nor the Buddhist sect will forgive you!"

The bear monster laughed loudly: "What Heavenly Court or Buddhist sect! In this Black Wind Mountain, I, Old Bear, am the ruler!"

Having said that, he thrust his spear forward!

Lu Chen "hurriedly" dodged, but a wisp of chaotic energy quietly emerged from his sleeve and silently entered the bear monster's brow.

The bear-like monster was halfway through its attack when it suddenly felt a jolt in its soul, and the scene before its eyes abruptly changed—

No longer was it a mountain road, but rather a chaotic void! Ahead stood a colossal phantom of a chaotic god, towering to the heavens, carrying gray bricks on his shoulders, his gaze like lightning:

"Bear, do you understand why you're blocking our path?"

The bear monster was horrified: "You...who are you?!"

"The one who will help you find liberation," Lu Chen's voice boomed, "is it not Guanyin who commanded you to become a demon here, to steal the brocade cassock, and then she came to subdue you, granting you the position of the mountain guardian deity?"

The bear-like monster trembled violently. This matter was secretly revealed by Guanyin; she had never spoken of it to anyone. How could this Taoist priest know?!

"How...how did you know...?"

"Not only do I know, but I also know the position of the Mountain Guardian God. It sounds prestigious, but in reality, he's just a gatekeeper for the sacred mountain, deprived of his freedom." Lu Chen sneered. "You are a wild mountain spirit, free and unrestrained. Why should you be driven by others? Let me ask you—what is it that you secretly study Buddhist scriptures and meditate to attain enlightenment for?"

The bear-like monster stood there for a long time, then said in a hoarse voice, "I...I just found those scriptures interesting and wanted to understand the principles of heaven and earth..."

"If you seek the truth, why should you become a disciple of someone else?" Lu Chen waved his hand, and countless lights and shadows appeared in the void, all of them secrets of the primordial world and true explanations of the Great Dao. "Here I possess the myriad laws of chaos, pointing directly to the origin. If you are willing to follow me, you can receive the true teachings, roam freely throughout the world, and prove the Great Dao for yourself. Isn't that a thousand times better than being a gatekeeper for someone else?"

The profound Taoist principles manifested in the light and shadow were incredibly deep. The bear monster felt enlightened after only a few glances, and many of the confusions he had encountered when studying Buddhism were vaguely resolved!

His breathing became rapid.

Lu Chen added fuel to the fire: "Guanyin is watching from the clouds right now. She'll appear and reap the benefits once we've both fought to the death. If you don't believe me—"

He flicked his finger, and a cloud formation appeared in the void: Guanyin stood on a lotus platform, holding a jade vase, quietly observing.

When the bear demon saw Guanyin's indifferent gaze, the last trace of hesitation in his heart vanished instantly!

"Master!" He knelt down with a thud. "I, Old Xiong, am willing to follow you! Please, Master, guide me!"

"Alright." Lu Chen nodded. "You should continue with the original plan and fight this clone of mine for a few rounds, putting on a good show. Before Guanyin appears, I will take your real body away, leaving an avatar here. From now on, you can focus on your cultivation in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, and your destiny will come in the future."

"I will obey the Taoist priest's instructions!"

The illusion vanished, and the outside world was but a fleeting moment.

The bear-like monster roared and thrust its spear again. Lu Chen hurriedly waved his whisk to parry, and the fight was evenly matched, with sand and stones flying everywhere, making for quite a lively scene.

Xuanzang and his companions were terrified.

After fighting for about thirty rounds, Lu Chen "gradually showed signs of exhaustion," his whisk was knocked away by the black-tasseled spear, and he cried out in alarm as he retreated.

The bear monster pressed its advantage and thrust its spear at Xuanzang!

At the critical moment, a beam of Buddha's light shone from the sky, and the voice of Guanyin came:

"You beast! How dare you harm people!"

The willow branches sprinkled down sweet dew, which transformed into a protective shield for Xuanzang. The bear monster was "greatly alarmed" and turned to flee.

"Where do you think you're going!" Guanyin threw out the golden headband, intending to put it around the bear monster's neck.

Just as the golden headband was about to fall—

The bear monster swayed slightly, its true form already taken away by the Chaos Passage, leaving only a clone formed from chaotic energy in its original location.

The golden headband fell, binding the clone. The clone "struggled" for a moment, then "subdued" itself and knelt on the ground.

Guanyin nodded in satisfaction and said to Xuanzang, "This monster is destined to be with me. I can take it in as a guardian deity to protect the Purple Bamboo Forest. Holy monk, you have been frightened."

Xuanzang clasped his hands in thanks.

Guanyin, along with the "Bear Demon" (an avatar), rode away on a cloud, feeling relieved—she had gained another powerful protector!

Unbeknownst to her, the real bear monster was already inside the Chaos World Brick, bowing repeatedly to Lu Chen's true form.

"I will never forget the Daoist Master's life-saving grace!"

Lu Chen helped him up and said with a smile, "Let's go to the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons. There are already a few of your 'old acquaintances' there."

The bear monster entered the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons within the brick wall, where he saw General Yin, Lord Xiongshan, and Master Te, three demons, drinking and discussing the Dao. Upon his arrival, they all greeted him:

"Brother Bear! You've come too!"

"The Taoist priest has extraordinary abilities. Following him is far better than being a dog of Buddhism!"

The four demons were overjoyed to see each other. Looking at the spiritually rich and unrestrained world, and recalling Guanyin's indifferent gaze, the last bit of resentment in the bear-like monster's heart dissipated.

Outside the brick walls, the pilgrimage team continued their journey.

Lu Chen glanced back at the direction of Mount Ling, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"The mountain guardian deity? Gone."

"Guanyin, Guanyin, you will gradually realize—why are there fewer and fewer 'chess pieces' you've scattered along the way?"

The Chaos Brick in his sleeve trembled slightly, carrying the impatient divine thought of Sun Wukong:

"Master! We've arrived at Two Realms Mountain! Shouldn't it be my turn to make an appearance?!"

Lu Chen looked towards the majestic mountain peak not far away.

Golden Buddhist calligraphy scrolls gleam on the mountaintop, while monkey shadows struggle and roar at the foot of the mountain.

"Don't rush," he transmitted his voice. "When Tang Sanzang reaches the foot of the mountain, say the words I taught you."

"We'd better put on a good show of 'rescuing the Great Sage from the Five Elements Mountain'."

"After all, this is the first climax of Journey to the West."