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

Lion Camel Ridge, where a demonic aura soars for eight hundred miles.

Before even entering the mountain, Xuanzang felt a chill all over his body, and his white horse (Ao Lie) was weak in the knees and kept neighing.

"Master, something's wrong ahead!" Sun Wukong leaped into the air, his golden eyes scanning the area. As he landed, his expression turned grave. "Such a dense demonic aura! More ferocious than anywhere I've ever seen! In those mountains, corpses are piled up like mountains, and blood flows like rivers—it's practically hell on earth!"

Pigsy shrank back: "Brother Monkey, how about... we take a detour?"

"There's no way around it." Lu Chen shook his head. "Lion Camel Ridge stretches for eight hundred miles and is an essential route for those traveling west. There are three monsters in the ridge—the Green Lion, the White Elephant, and the Roc. The Green Lion is the mount of Manjushri Bodhisattva, the White Elephant is the mount of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and the Roc…"

He paused for a moment: "The Roc was born of the Phoenix and is the Buddha's uncle."

Everyone gasped.

Buddha's uncle?!

Xuanzang's face turned pale: "This... how can we possibly get through this?"

Lu Chen gazed into the depths of Lion Camel Ridge, his eyes profound: "This tribulation cannot be overcome by fighting and killing. The Green Lion and White Elephant are merely acting under orders; the truly troublesome one is the Roc. This demon is arrogant and haughty, not even putting Buddha in his eyes, let alone obeying any Buddhist commands."

Sun Wukong scratched his head: "What should we do? We can't fight, and we can't go around."

Lu Chen pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Since forcing our way in won't work, then... let's talk."

"Talk?" Everyone was stunned.

Lu Chen nodded: "I'll talk to the Green Lion and White Elephant. As for the Roc... Wukong, you come with me."

The master and his disciples arrived at Lion Camel Ridge, where a patrolling demon had already informed them of the situation. A moment later, the cave door opened wide, and three demons led their entourage out—in the center was a giant with a blue face and fangs, the Green Lion Demon; to the left was a fat man with a white face and a long nose, the White Elephant Demon; and to the right was a middle-aged man with a golden-winged bird's head and sharp eyes, the Roc Demon.

"Heh heh, these pilgrims really dare to come on their journey to the West!" the Green Lion Demon laughed heartily. "Brothers, get ready to eat!"

"Wait a moment." Lu Chen stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesties, I, Qingfeng, have a few words I wish to speak with you privately."

The roc spirit narrowed its eyes, stared at Lu Chen for a few moments, and suddenly said, "Come in."

Deep within the cave, the three demons sat facing Lu Chen and Sun Wukong.

Lu Chen cut to the chase: "Green Lion, has Manjushri Bodhisattva ever told you what your purpose is in descending to the mortal realm as a demon?"

The green lion demon was taken aback, then stiffened his neck and said, "The Bodhisattva instructed me to set up this challenge to test the pilgrims!"

"A test?" Lu Chen laughed. "And what happens after the test? You go back to Mount Wutai and continue being someone's mount? Being ridden around every day, just for this one 'descend to the mortal realm for a change of scenery'?"

The Green Lion Spirit's expression changed.

Lu Chen then looked at the white elephant spirit: "What benefits will Samantabhadra Bodhisattva grant you? Will he reward you with a golden pill after you complete your merits? Or will he simply say 'Thank you for your hard work'?"

The white elephant spirit lowered its head and remained silent.

Lu Chen finally looked at the Roc spirit, his eyes deep: "As for you, Roc. You were born of the Phoenix, raised by nature, free and unrestrained. Why did you become a demon in Lion Camel Ridge, devouring countless people?"

The Roc Demon sneered, "Because I want to."

"Willing?" Lu Chen shook his head. "You're not willing, you hate. You hate that Buddha trapped you on Mount Ling, you hate that Buddhism used you as a henchman, you hate that although this world is vast, there is no place for you to belong."

The roc spirit's eyes suddenly sharpened, and with a flap of its golden wings, a fierce wind arose: "You're courting death!"

Sun Wukong leaped up, his golden cudgel in hand, and stood protectively in front of Lu Chen.

Lu Chen remained calm and raised his hand to stop Sun Wukong, saying to the Great Roc, "Great Roc, I can give you a place to go. There, the sky is high and the land is vast, no one will control you, and there is no Buddha watching over you. You can be yourself, instead of being anyone's 'uncle'."

The roc spirit was stunned.

Lu Chen continued, "The Valley of Ten Thousand Demons is a world I created in the chaos. There are tiger spirits and bear monsters, skeletons that have become spirits, the Bull Demon King's family, and countless demons who refuse to be manipulated by gods and Buddhas. If you wish to go, I will personally guide you."

A complex look flashed in the eyes of the roc spirit.

The green lion spirit suddenly asked, "Daoist Master, what you... what you're saying is all true?"

Lu Chen nodded: "Of course."

The white elephant spirit was also moved: "We...we can go too?"

Lu Chen smiled: "Anyone can go as long as they are willing to give up their cannibalistic habits and cultivate diligently in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons."

The three demons exchanged a glance, then suddenly stood up and knelt before Lu Chen: "Daoist Master! We are willing to go!"

The roc spirit was the last to kneel, head bowed, voice hoarse: "Daoist Master, I... I've eaten too many people, can I still go?"

Lu Chen helped him up and said seriously, "Yes, you can. But once you get to the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, you must abide by the rules—you must not kill the innocent, you must not bully the weak, and you must not eat people again. Can you do that?"

Dapeng nodded emphatically: "Yes!"

Lu Chen raised his hand, and the Chaos Brick flew out, releasing chaotic energy that enveloped the three demons. A moment later, the three demons transformed into three streams of light and disappeared into the brick.

Three new guests have joined the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons.

Seeing this, Sun Wukong scratched his head and said, "Master, you're just going to subdue them like that? What about the eight hundred miles of corpses and blood sea at Lion Camel Ridge...?"

Lu Chen sighed: "The karma of those who died tragically will be attributed to Buddhism. Dapeng and the others are merely the blades. The one wielding the blade is the true culprit."

When the master and his disciples emerged from the cave, they saw that the demonic aura on Lion Camel Ridge was gradually dissipating, and the illusion of mountains of corpses and seas of blood was beginning to collapse—it turned out that most of those tragic scenes were illusions conjured by the Great Roc's supernatural powers, and the number of people who actually died at their hands was far less than it appeared.

Xuanzang clasped his hands together and chanted the Buddha's name: "Amitabha, we have finally overcome this difficulty."

Lu Chen looked westward, a look of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

"Next stop, Lingyun Ferry."