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

After leaving Wuzhuang Temple, we traveled west for several more days and gradually entered the territory of Baihu Ridge.

The mountain range was treacherous, with jagged rocks and a constant, foul stench emanating from the forest. Xuanzang, on horseback, worriedly remarked, "There may be demons in this place."

Sun Wukong leaped onto the cloud and scanned the area with his golden eyes. He saw that the demonic aura in the mountains was thin, except for a tomb with a sinister atmosphere. Inside was a skeleton that had become a spirit, but its cultivation level was only that of a celestial immortal, not worth mentioning.

He reported, "Master, there are a couple of skeleton demons. I, Old Sun, will take care of them."

Xuanzang, however, said, "Wukong, monks are compassionate. Since that demon hasn't harmed anyone, why must we exterminate him? We can simply take a detour."

These words startled Sun Wukong—why was his master so clear-headed today?

Lu Chen (Qingfeng Daoren) chuckled inwardly: The enlightenment mark in Jin Chanzi's soul was beginning to take effect. Fragments of his past life memories, combined with rational thinking, had made him no longer blindly compassionate.

However, the wind would not cease even if the tree wished to remain still. Just as the group of master and disciples circled around to the side of the ridge, a village woman carrying a bamboo basket appeared in front of them. She was dressed in simple clothes and had a sorrowful expression on her face.

"Elders, please have mercy..." the village woman cried out. "My husband was killed by a tiger, and I am all alone. Today I went up the mountain to pay my respects, but I got lost..."

Xuanzang dismounted, put his palms together, and said, "Female benefactor, do not panic. My disciple knows the way and can take you down the mountain."

The village woman looked up, revealing a face streaked with tears—it was the White Bone Demon in disguise! She secretly activated her bewitching magic, a glint of ghostly light flashing in her eyes.

If it were the original Tang Sanzang, he would surely feel pity and lower his guard at this moment. But Xuanzang only felt a slight tremor in his soul, and fragments of memories from his past life surged in his mind—that gaze...it seemed familiar! It was as if he had seen it somewhere before…

"Master, be careful!" Sun Wukong, with his fiery eyes, saw through the disguise and shouted sharply, "She's a demon!"

The White Bone Demon's expression changed, but she still wept, "Elder, why do you say such things? I am just a weak woman..."

Xuanzang took a step back and asked in a deep voice, "Female benefactor, what is in your basket?"

The White Bone Demon lifted the veil, revealing several white steamed buns: "They are...the offerings."

"Why are the offerings still steaming?" Xuanzang pressed. "And there are no villages in these mountains, so where did you come from?"

The White Bone Demon was speechless. She hadn't expected the monk to be so serious.

Sun Wukong, already impatient, drew his golden cudgel: "Monster! Prepare to die!"

With a single blow, the White Bone Demon vanished in a panic, turning into a wisp of green smoke and leaving behind only a fake corpse—a substitute puppet she had prepared long ago.

Xuanzang frowned as he looked at the "corpse": "Wukong, the one you killed... doesn't seem to be the real body?"

Sun Wukong scratched his head: "Master has sharp eyes! That monster used a substitution technique!"

Pigsy leaned closer and said, "Brother Monkey, you were too hasty. What if she really is a village woman?"

"Idiot! What do you know!" Sun Wukong glared.

Lu Chen observed from the side, nodding in approval: Not bad, Tang Sanzang has begun to think independently, and Sun Wukong has also toned down his temper somewhat. These are all good signs.

Before long, an old woman appeared, leaning on a cane, crying out, "My poor daughter! You died so tragically..."

The White Bone Demon underwent a second transformation, becoming even more convincing in her disguise.

Xuanzang wouldn't let her get close, and asked from afar, "Old lady, when was your daughter killed? Where is she buried? You are old and frail, how did you manage to climb these treacherous mountains?"

The three questions hit the nail on the head.

The old woman stammered, unable to answer. Sun Wukong sneered and stepped forward, striking again with his staff! The White Bone Demon escaped once more, leaving behind a fake corpse.

The third time, an old man came, claiming to be the father and husband of the village woman and the old woman, crying and wailing, demanding revenge.

This time, Xuanzang didn't ask any questions, but only said to Sun Wukong, "Wukong, this demon has changed her appearance several times; she must have something in mind. Be careful, and don't let her get away again."

Sun Wukong's spirits lifted: "Master, don't worry!"

His golden eyes locked on the golden cudgel, and the chaotic energy of the cudgel was faintly visible—Lu Chen had already passed on some of the chaotic divine wind power to him. When he swung the cudgel, wind and thunder accompanied it!

Seeing the situation was dire, the White Bone Demon fled in her true form! But how swift was the Chaos Divine Wind? Wherever the wind passed, space froze, and she was unable to move!

"Great Sage, spare my life!" The White Bone Demon revealed her true form—a skeleton as white as jade—and knelt down, begging for mercy. "This lowly demon has cultivated for a thousand years and has never harmed anyone! Today... today I was forced into this situation!"

"Who forced you?" Xuanzang asked in a deep voice.

"Yes...yes..." The White Bone Demon dared not say.

Lu Chen suddenly spoke up: "Could it be that a Bodhisattva of Buddhism has ordered you to set up this challenge to test the pilgrims?"

The White Bone Demon looked up in horror: "How did you know, Taoist priest?!"

Xuanzang and his disciples were all shocked.

Lu Chen strode forward, looking at the White Bone Demon: "You were originally a withered skeleton in the mountains, transformed into a spirit by the essence of the sun and moon. Though you have a demonic body, you have not committed any murders. What benefits did the Bodhisattva promise you that would send you here to die?"

The White Bone Demon smiled bitterly: "The Bodhisattva said... if I can cause a rift between the holy monk and his disciples, then I can be guided into Buddhism and attain the Arhatship. If I am exposed and killed... that will be my fate."

"What a calamity!" Sun Wukong roared. "Using your life as a pawn, is that considered mercy?"

Pigsy and Sandy also showed angry expressions.

Xuanzang remained silent for a long time, then sighed, "Since you have not harmed anyone, then go. I hope you will take good care of yourself and not be driven by others again."

The White Bone Demon kowtowed in gratitude, but did not rise: "Holy Monk... this lowly demon has nowhere to go. Since that Bodhisattva has already laid a trap, if he sees that this lowly demon is not dead, he will certainly not spare me."

She looked at Lu Chen, and suddenly a thought struck her. She kowtowed deeply, pleading, "Please, Daoist Master, take me in! This lowly demon is willing to be your slave, I only ask for a sliver of hope!"

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. This White Bone Demon is quite clever.

"Do you know that following me is not necessarily easier than entering the Buddhist order?" he asked.

"I would rather die than be a pawn again!" the White Bone Demon declared resolutely.

Lu Chen nodded, and the Chaos Brick in his sleeve trembled slightly, taking her into the Ten Thousand Demon Valley inside the brick—a place that had become its own demon realm, where General Yin, Lord Xiongshan, and other demons were drinking and discussing the Dao.

"Don't make this public," Lu Chen said to Xuanzang and his disciples. "The Buddhist sect's scheme was intended as a test. Now that we've broken through their trap, let's pretend we don't know anything and continue our journey westward."

Xuanzang clasped his hands in prayer: "What you say is true, Daoist. However... there is one thing I do not understand."

"Holy Monk, please speak."

"Since the Bodhisattva knew our whereabouts and set up a test, why resort to such... despicable means?" Xuanzang's eyes flashed with confusion. "To test our Zen mind, must he allow demons to harm us?"

That's a sharp question.

Lu Chen remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Holy Monk, the great flourishing of Buddhism requires a great eon to propel it. And within that great eon, all sentient beings are merely pawns. Some things... are not simply black and white. You only need to remember: the journey to the West to obtain the scriptures is real, but what you see and hear along the way may not all be true."

Xuanzang seemed to be deep in thought.

Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Master, who cares if it's real or fake! Anyway, with me here, I'll beat up anyone who tries to cause trouble!"

Pigsy chimed in, "Exactly! Let them scheme against us while we go on our journey to retrieve the scriptures!"

Sha Wujing nodded silently.

The group continued westward.

From the clouds, Guanyin Bodhisattva watched everything that was happening on White Tiger Ridge, her face grim.

The White Bone Demon disappeared—not by being killed, but by vanishing into thin air, without even her being able to sense it!

Tang Sanzang's response was even more unexpected: calm, rational, and methodical, without a trace of pedantry or confusion.

And then there's Qingfeng Daoist... Even she couldn't see through the method he used to finally take away the White Bone Demon!

"This pilgrimage team... is getting more and more out of control," Guanyin murmured. "The next stop should be Baoxiang Kingdom... Kui Mulang's place. We can't afford any more mishaps."

She used a hand seal to send a message, instructing Kui Mulang to proceed according to plan.

Meanwhile, inside the Chaos World brick.

The White Bone Demon transformed into a girl in white, curiously observing the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons. General Yin and the others gathered around.

"New here? What kind of leg does he have?"

"A skeleton transformed into a spirit? How strange! Come, come, let's drink!"

"From now on, you'll follow us. The Taoist priest has only one rule: don't harm anyone, everything else is up to you!"

The White Bone Demon accepted the wine bowl, her eyes slightly warm—in her thousand years of cultivation, she had never received such treatment.

Outside the valley, Lu Chen walked westward while keeping an eye on the inside of the bricks.

"The White Bone Demon... though a minor demon, has a special origin, being a combination of resentment and moonlight, which may have special uses."

He looked westward, where the Kingdom of Baoxiang was already at the edge of his sight.

"Kui Mulang... one of the Twenty-Eight Constellations descended to earth, a pawn of the Heavenly Court."

"This time, it's Heaven's turn to test them."

The wind swept across White Tiger Ridge, leaving no trace.

The original story of "Three Battles with the White Bone Demon" was completely rewritten.

Meanwhile, the seed of doubt in the hearts of those on the pilgrimage had quietly sprouted.