Chapter 615: Tang Xuanzang

Tang Xuanzang: "If this were before the Great Uprising in Tiangong, Lingshan would have had not the slightest chance. After all, something as valuable as the Celestial Pillar—how could the Buddha even lay claim to it?"

Tang Xuanzang: "But now, with Tiangong's cosmic fortune in decline, the Celestial Pillar has become a curse. The Jade Emperor had no choice but to grit his teeth and accept it! As long as they can get rid of the Celestial Pillar, everything else is negotiable. If anyone can restore Tiangong's cosmic fortune, they'd welcome it with open arms."

Tang Xuanzang: "That's why you see it now—Sun Wukong ravaged Tiangong with no one daring to face him, until finally the Buddha stepped in to subdue him. Heh, does Tiangong have no experts? No, the generals of the Thunder Department held Sun Wukong back easily. Tiangong wasn't short of people at all. The other stellar deities and divine officials? There were plenty—they didn't die!"

Tang Xuanzang: "They just didn't want to dirty their hands, afraid of damaging their own cosmic fortune. With the Buddha taking the lead, who'd risk their fortune by stepping forward?"

Hu Yifei: "No wonder Tiangong didn't suppress Sun Wukong themselves—they had to summon the Buddha. It was because they feared further loss of cosmic fortune."

Su Xiao: "This also explains why, on the Western Journey, Monkey kept calling for reinforcements. His power seemed vastly weaker than during the Great Uprising—but the truth was, Tiangong's experts all avoided him entirely. They never even fought him."

Xiao Mai: "Then why isn't Tiangong afraid the Buddha will actually subdue the Celestial Pillar?"

Tang Xuanzang: "Subduing the Celestial Pillar isn't that easy. Even Tiangong's countless experts were left battered and bruised. The Buddha is merely one of the Five Great Elders—he shouldn't even have a chance to subdue the Celestial Pillar."

Yue Buqun: "But in the story, Sun Wukong did become the Battle Victory Buddha!"

Tang Xuanzang: "That's precisely the Buddha's cleverness. In the distant west, his status is only that of one of the Five Great Elders—not even top-tier. But long ago, during the previous cosmic cycle, the Buddha had already been scheming. Slowly accumulating cosmic fortune, gradually reversing it, until he gained a chance to turn the tide."

Bai Suzhen: "Long ago?"

Tang Xuanzang: "It began the moment I was converted. When the time comes, heaven and earth unite in strength—you understand that principle, don't you?"

Xiao Mai: "I know. Is this also a struggle over cosmic fortune?"

Tang Xuanzang: "Exactly. The Buddha's conversion of me was also about cosmic fortune."

Su Xiao: "Do the Heavenly Fiend Insects also possess great cosmic fortune?"

Tang Xuanzang: "Heh, of course they do. Though human cosmic fortune is strongest, the demon races and Heavenly Fiend Insects naturally have their own. As the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, my name carries weight—I naturally possess considerable cosmic fortune. In Lingshan and Tiangong, Bodhisattvas and immortals all favor converting demon races—not just for guardians or mounts, but to gather cosmic fortune."

Tang Xuanzang: "I don't know how many non-humans the Buddha has converted. Sand grains pile into a tower—Lingshan's cosmic fortune slowly accumulates. Once he converts Sun Wukong, born from the Celestial Pillar, he'll have a chance to surpass Tiangong. Such subtle shifts are hard to notice. By the time the Celestial Pillar shifts, the cosmic fortune is already set—and Tiangong will be powerless to reverse it."

Xiao Mai: "So devious!"

Su Xiao: "It's all calculations. Tiangong never imagined that one of the Five Great Elders could turn Lingshan into the center of heaven and earth."

Hu Yifei: "Who could have foreseen it? Tiangong is the sovereign of the Three Realms, towering above all—surely they never thought the Buddha could ever realize his ambition."

Ye Hei: "I didn't realize the background of your world is this brutal."

Xiao Mai: "Then is the Moonlight Treasure Box still a treasure?"

Tang Xuanzang: "You even know about the Moonlight Treasure Box? Then you truly understand the stories of my world. That thing is just an ordinary object. The one truly manipulating time is the Buddha! With the Moonlight Treasure Box, you can only travel to the time points the Buddha arranges—you can never reach the time you want."

Hu Yifei: "No wonder Zhu Zhi Bao traveled countless times but never reached the time he wanted. It was all pre-set."

Thor: "What are you even talking about?"

Su Xiao: "Thor looks confused—we're talking about the story of A Chinese Odyssey. You'll understand after watching it."

Thor: "The story of Tang Xuanzang? I just looked it up—my world has legends of Tang Xuanzang too. I didn't know he was such a famous figure."

Tang Xuanzang: "Wrong!"

Tang Xuanzang: "This story is wrong!"

Ye Hei: "Wrong? What's missing? Or what's extra?"

Tang Sanzang: "Another reincarnation—the five hundred and first time. This time, the story matches! Zi Xia, Bai Gujing, and the Spider Demon have appeared. In previous cycles, these people never showed up. Is it because of the chat group? Or did the Buddha sense something and insert them?"

Su Xiao: "They weren't here before?"

Zhang Taixuan: "Normal! When Fomen converts others, they wouldn't start by offering sensual temptations—what if Sun Wukong gets addicted? Would the Buddha have to restart the cycle dozens of times just to reverse the Celestial Pillar's intent?"

Zhang Taixuan: "Every new variable causes countless changes—and leads to failure. Tiangong's precedent is still fresh. The Buddha dares not be careless. Now, introducing Zi Xia, Bai Gujing, and others? It's probably his last resort!"

Tang Xuanzang: "Hah… yes. At this critical moment of conversion, success or death. If he succeeds, everyone rejoices—Lingshan advances another step. If he fails… heh, Lingshan's cosmic fortune will plummet too. With Tiangong and Lingshan's past failures as warnings, no one will dare touch this hot potato again!"

Su Xiao: "Your tone sounds cheerful, Master. Do you plan to cause trouble?"

Tang Xuanzang: "Amitabha, good, good. Female layperson, you're mistaken—it's not causing trouble. It's rescuing a great hero from the Buddha's clutches."

Fa Hai: "This…"

Tang Xuanzang: "If not I, who will descend into hell? I've decided—I will destroy the Buddha's plan. Heh… he'll never expect that I've awakened my past-life memories! When the time comes, I'll strike him from the shadows, turn heaven and earth upside down, and shatter his damn Lingshan!"

Xiao Mai: "【Terrifyingly Powerful】"

Su Xiao: "Master, aren't you afraid of a Buddha-sized smackdown? With your strength, the Buddha could easily obliterate you!"

Tang Xuanzang: "Afraid? Don't forget who I am. Six-Winged Golden Cicada—the most unruly Heavenly Fiend Insect in heaven and earth. If I can destroy Lingshan and avenge myself, death is nothing!"

Zhang Taixuan: "You told us all this because you want us to sabotage Lingshan's plan, right?"

Tang Xuanzang: "Exactly. Even if you're not from our world, even if you don't seek cosmic fortune or transcendence from this realm—still, the Celestial Pillar itself is a celestial treasure of incalculable value. Don't you want to claim it?"

Yue Buqun: "This… if I had sufficient strength, I'd truly be tempted. But now? Forget it—I can't withstand a Buddha-sized smackdown."

Zhang Sanfeng: "+1"

Xiong Ba: "I don't want to die—that's the Buddha!"

Bai Suzhen: "Dare not. Dare not."