Chapter 173

Watching the Four-Unlike beast fly backward, Sun Wukong still felt no relief; he rushed forward, wanting to strike again, but the Four-Unlike had already vanished from where it stood.

"He has gone out!" Yang Jian said after sensing the spatial fluctuation.

Upon hearing Yang Jian's words, Sun Wukong rushed directly out of the cave dwelling.

"These things will have to be handled by us." Ao Mo'ang looked at the unconscious crowd and said with a bitter smile.

By the time Ao Mo'ang and the others brought the unconscious people outside the cave, Sun Wukong had already been fighting the Four-Unlike for a while. Although the Four-Unlike's dharma treasure was powerful, it lacked combat experience, so it had been suppressed by Sun Wukong the entire time.

"It really isn't that we look down on him; he truly cannot compare to the Single-Horned Rhinoceros!" Yang Jian remarked while watching the Four-Unlike being suppressed by Sun Wukong.

He did not deliberately lower his voice, and the Four-Unlike, currently locked in a great battle with Sun Wukong, heard Yang Jian's words. Its expression instantly turned gloomy, and a dangerous glint flickered in its eyes.

"Since you say this King is inferior to that green ox, then this King will let you witness this King's methods." The Four-Unlike traded a palm strike with Sun Wukong and quickly disengaged from the battle circle.

Subsequently, the Four-Unlike took out the bell from before. After taking out this bell, a touch of madness appeared on its face.

"This King will let you see whether that green ox is more formidable, or if this King is!"

After speaking, the Four-Unlike poured the magic power within its body into the bell. Upon receiving the magic power, the bell emitted a massive amount of white light. When the white light was at its brightest, a crazed smile appeared on the Four-Unlike's face.

"Hahaha, prepare yourselves well to welcome the grand gift this King has for you!"

Ding-ling-ling—

A crisp ringing of the bell sounded, and waves of sound appeared in the air. Upon seeing these sound waves, an extremely dangerous feeling immediately arose in the hearts of Yang Jian and the others. They hurriedly moved the unconscious people to a safe place, thereby avoiding being caught in the sound waves.

"This bell is strange." Upon seeing the power of the bell, a very serious expression appeared on Dapeng's face.

"It seems this Four-Unlike is not as incompetent as imagined; Yuanshi Tianzun is still very good to it, giving it such a treasure." Yang Jian remarked.

"Can you escape?" The Four-Unlike let out a cold snort, and that rope instantly divided into countless strands, heading straight for the group.

This rope actually could not affect Yang Jian and the others at all, but they had to look after the unconscious people, so this defense was somewhat stretched thin.

After a dozen breaths, the rope vanished, and Yang Jian and the others breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"A top-grade acquired spiritual treasure; this Four-Unlike's family fortune is quite rich." Ao Mo'ang remarked.

"And now? Compared to that green ox, who is more formidable?" The Four-Unlike looked at Yang Jian and the others and asked coldly.

"My assessment is that you are still inferior to that Single-Horned Rhinoceros. Your capacity is too small; truly, like master, like mount!" Ao Mo'ang said with a look of mockery.

"Kill you, this King will kill you!" Upon hearing Ao Mo'ang's words, the Four-Unlike's eyes turned blood-red; clearly, it did not accept Ao Mo'ang's words.

"Hmph!" Yang Jian and the others let out a cold snort. Master Xuanzang and the unconscious people had already been moved to a safe place, so they no longer needed to be held back.

"You go protect Master Xuanzang and the unconscious people; leave this Four-Unlike to us. I don't believe that we four Da Luo Golden Immortals cannot take down one measly Four-Unlike." Dapeng looked at the Black Bear Spirit and said.

"Alright!" The Black Bear Spirit nodded.

It could not block that bell of the Four-Unlike's, and going up now would only be a hindrance, so it was better to go take care of Xuanzang and the others.

"Hmph, to be besieged by four Da Luo Golden Immortals, you can be proud." Sun Wukong looked at the Four-Unlike and said with a cold laugh.

"Hahaha, is that so? Then that truly is this King's honor!" The Four-Unlike laughed loudly.

After laughing, it charged directly at Dapeng and the others, but under the siege of the four, the Four-Unlike fell into a disadvantage after just a few breaths.

"Very well, you have pleased this King, so this King will give you a grand gift!" The Four-Unlike laughed loudly.

Hearing the Four-Unlike's words, Yang Jian and the others looked on with disdain. Aside from the status of being a Saint's mount, it really had nothing else worth showing off.

After the Four-Unlike finished speaking, it vanished from where it stood. Yang Jian and the others narrowed their eyes instantly, then hurriedly flashed over to Xuanzang's side. The Four-Unlike's only chance for a comeback now lay with Xuanzang; as long as it controlled Xuanzang, it could force Yang Jian and the others to be cautious, so Yang Jian and the others went to Xuanzang's side without a second word.

Sure enough, the Four-Unlike's target was Xuanzang, but it was intercepted by Yang Jian and the others.

"As expected of Ren Sect disciples, you have figured out this King's intentions clearly." After being intercepted, the Four-Unlike was not angry, but instead wore a look of amusement, which made Yang Jian and the others frown.

"Something is wrong, this Four-Unlike is not right!" Dapeng sent a sound transmission to the others.

"Never mind that, let's subdue it first. If that doesn't work, we'll kill it; Master will help us block Yuanshi Tianzun." Sun Wukong said at this moment.

"Alright!" The group nodded, then they unleashed their full power and charged directly at the Four-Unlike.

In just an instant, the Four-Unlike was severely wounded by the four of them, yet the Four-Unlike laughed loudly.

"In the end, this King won. This King is the strongest among the Saint's mounts. Master, I am the strongest!" The Four-Unlike spat out a mouthful of blood and shouted loudly.

"Master! Master!" While Yang Jian and the others were still wondering why the Four-Unlike said that, the Black Bear Spirit's anxious voice rang out.

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian and the others hurriedly arrived at Xuanzang's side. One look was all it took for their eyes to widen instantly.

Because Xuanzang was actually dead. That's right, he was dead, because they could not sense any fluctuation of the primordial spirit from Xuanzang, and at the same time, the life force on Xuanzang's body was gradually fading away.

"Hahaha! Since you want to leave, this King refuses to let you go!" The Four-Unlike spoke up again at this moment.

"How—" The Black Bear Spirit looked at Yang Jian and the others, but after saying only two words, its eyes rolled back in the next second, and it fainted directly. The Four-Unlike's laughter also came to an abrupt end after the Black Bear Spirit fainted, because it also passed out.

Subsequently, Pan Huang's figure appeared beside Yang Jian and the others.

"Master, what do we do now?" Upon seeing Pan Huang, Sun Wukong hurriedly asked.

After Sun Wukong's voice fell, the pressure of the Heavenly Dao appeared in the sky; this was the Heavenly Dao sensing Xuanzang's death.

At Lingshan's Great Thunder Sound Temple, after Xuanzang's death, the entire Lingshan was suddenly covered in a layer of gray mist. This gray mist came strangely, without any warning at all. At the same time, an inexplicable restlessness and fear appeared in everyone's hearts, making them realize that something had likely happened to Xuanzang.

However, just when Tathagata wanted to do something, that eerie gray mist vanished, and the restlessness and fear shrouding the hearts of the people at Lingshan also disappeared.

"Go investigate! See what is going on, mainly regarding the scripture seeker's side." Tathagata said loudly.

"Yes, Buddha!"

On Xuanzang's side, the moment Pan Huang felt the pressure of the Heavenly Dao, he did not hesitate to sever a wisp of his own primordial spirit, which he then sent into Xuanzang's sea of consciousness.

Pan Huang was now a Saint; after that wisp of his primordial spirit entered Xuanzang's sea of consciousness, it almost instantly established a connection with it, and then a brand-new primordial spirit appeared within Xuanzang's sea of consciousness.

After the primordial spirit appeared, the life force on Xuanzang's body began to revive, and after a few breaths, he opened his eyes.

"Amitabha!" Xuanzang recited a Buddhist chant, then looked toward Pan Huang.

"Alright, since things have already turned out this way, then you might as well reluctantly walk this scripture-seeking path." Pan Huang looked at the Xuanzang before him and said with a smile.

"What about the Women's Kingdom?" Xuanzang looked at Pan Huang and asked with a smile.

"That is up to you. Although you are my clone, you are also an independent individual. I will not interfere with your decisions, just like the others." Pan Huang said with a smile.

"Alright." Xuanzang nodded.

"Continue on your way. Lingshan should be coming to investigate. As for how to reply to Lingshan, you should know, right?" Pan Huang looked at Yang Jian and the others and asked.

"We know!"

"Then I am leaving." After Pan Huang finished speaking, he vanished from where he stood.

"That Four-Unlike is not dead yet, let's go take a look at it." After Pan Huang left, Xuanzang said with a smile.

"Alright!" Yang Jian and the others looked at Xuanzang and nodded. Their attitude toward Xuanzang now was simply a different concept from before.

After all, the current Xuanzang was no longer the Xuanzang of before. If they still treated the current Xuanzang with the previous attitude, it would always be unjustifiable.

After arriving beside the Four-Unlike, Xuanzang directly slapped it awake with two heavy blows.

"How is this possible? My Soul-Absorbing Bell clearly..." Seeing the unscathed Xuanzang, a look of disbelief flickered in the Four-Unlike's eyes.

"Amitabha, Benefactor, this is the gap between you and Benefactor Single-Horned Rhinoceros." Xuanzang looked at the Four-Unlike with a smile.

"This poor monk is the scripture seeker, the one destined to face the calamity of the Journey to the West. As long as the Journey to the West calamity has not ended, this poor monk cannot be killed." Xuanzang looked at the Four-Unlike and said.

"Mas—Master Xuanzang, how should we deal with this Four-Unlike?" Dapeng said to Xuanzang, almost calling out "Grandmaster."

"Send it back to Mount Kunlun, and then tell Mount Kunlun that it almost killed me." Xuanzang said with a smile.

After speaking, Xuanzang's complexion worsened at a speed visible to the naked eye, the life force on his body began to fade, and his primordial spirit fluctuations became minimal.

"Master Xuanzang, what is this?" Yang Jian and the others were startled when they felt the aura on Xuanzang.

"It's nothing, I did this on purpose. Otherwise, how could I deceive the people of Lingshan? How could I deceive the people of Mount Kunlun? I still want to see Lingshan and Mount Kunlun go to war." Xuanzang said with a smile.

After saying this, he rolled his eyes and fainted directly, and Ao Mo'ang hurriedly supported him.

It was precisely at this moment that Juliusun Buddha arrived here with people.

Upon arriving, his gaze was immediately drawn to Xuanzang, which caused Juliusun Buddha's expression to change drastically.

"What is going on?" Juliusun Buddha arrived at Xuanzang's side, and after sensing Xuanzang's state, he was full of rage.

Yang Jian was not good at lying, Dapeng wasn't either, and Sun Wukong was even less so, so at this moment, Ao Mo'ang stood out.

"The matter is like this..."

Ao Mo'ang slightly altered the events that happened after Juliusun Buddha left and told him.

"Because Master Xuanzang had no cultivation, he could not block the attack of that so-called Soul-Absorbing Bell. We also spent great effort to stabilize Master Xuanzang's condition; otherwise, Master Xuanzang would have already perished." When Ao Mo'ang said this, there was some anger and some lingering fear in his eyes.

It must be said that Ao Mo'ang was a born actor; Dapeng and the others secretly gave him a thumbs-up in the dark.

"Damn Chan Sect, my Lingshan will not let them off." Upon hearing Ao Mo'ang's words, Juliusun Buddha broke out in a cold sweat on his back.

Fortunately, Yang Jian and the others intervened at the critical moment; otherwise, Lingshan should not exist by now. The source of that gray mist should be here at Xuanzang's. If Xuanzang did not complete the Journey to the West calamity, then Lingshan would not flourish. If Lingshan did not flourish, it would be unable to repay the merit of the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao would naturally descend with punishment.

"You wait here for a moment, this poor monk will return shortly." Juliusun Buddha said to Yang Jian and the others and the people he brought, then vanished from where he stood.

By the time he appeared again, he had already returned to Lingshan.

"What is going on?" Upon seeing Juliusun Buddha, Tathagata asked.

Juliusun Buddha recounted Xuanzang's situation, and cold sweat immediately appeared on Tathagata's forehead: "Fortunately, fortunately, Xuanzang is still alive; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Buddha, Xuanzang's situation is very dangerous now. This poor monk needs the lotus seeds of the Merit Golden Lotus to heal his wounds." Juliusun Buddha looked at Tathagata and said.

"Alright! Is one enough? The Merit Golden Lotus has four lotus seeds, take two and go." Tathagata agreed to Juliusun Buddha without a second word.

"Alright!" Juliusun Buddha nodded.

After obtaining the lotus seeds of the Merit Golden Lotus, Juliusun Buddha also took some water from the Eight-Treasure Merit Pond. After doing all this, he left Lingshan.

"Come here!" After Juliusun Buddha left, Tathagata's expression turned gloomy instantly.

"Buddha!"

"Assemble the Buddhist soldiers of Lingshan. If Mount Kunlun does not give my Lingshan an explanation, my Lingshan will fight them to the death." Tathagata's cold voice rang out in the Great Heroic Treasure Hall.

"Yes!" The little novice monk nodded and then retreated.

Before long, a group of Buddhist soldiers gathered at the foot of Lingshan.

"Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha, you lead the team this time." Tathagata looked at Burning Lamp and said.

Burning Lamp was actually unwilling to lead the team; after all, he was previously the Deputy Sect Leader of the Chan Sect, but since Tathagata had already spoken, he could only bite the bullet and accept it.

He understood Tathagata's meaning. Tathagata wanted to expose the Chan Sect's old wounds; he not only wanted to expose them but also wanted to sprinkle salt on these wounds. Only in this way could Tathagata's anger be dissipated.

In fact, Burning Lamp was also very angry in his heart. He was now the Past Buddha of Lingshan. If Xuanzang died and the Journey to the West was not completed, he would be buried along with Lingshan. Since the Chan Sect did not want him to live, he would not give the Chan Sect a good face either.

(End of chapter)