The people in the collapsing iron gave the immortal ship a small shock from the Holy Lord.

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"The Two Realms Mountain is just ahead, Elder. Once we pass this point, we will be outside the territory of the Great Tang Dynasty. Please forgive me for not being able to see you off any further."

The burly man pointed to the mountains in front of him and said.

"Warrior, please wait! This humble monk takes his leave."

Take good care of yourself!

The burly man bowed.

Tang Sanzang nodded and rode his horse forward.

Not long after, he stopped his horse, for in front of him stood a small pavilion, where a girl with two horns on her head was leisurely drinking tea.

"It's Elder Tang from the Tang Dynasty, right?"

"Amitabha Buddha, may I ask which deity you are?"

Upon seeing this, Tang Sanzang immediately dismounted, performed a Buddhist salute, and respectfully inquired.

"Is Elder Tang so sure I'm a deity? Maybe I'm a monster."

Bai Zhi looked at Tang Seng with amusement. She didn't know how to evaluate this guy. She could tell at first glance that she wasn't human, but Tang Seng was someone she trusted from the first meeting.

If she remembered correctly, it was also the first time Tang Sanzang had seen the monkey, that he easily believed what the mischievous monkey said without any doubt.

This kind of personality is good, especially for those who trust you.

But if you're someone close to this guy, it'll be very difficult.

Because he would easily trust a monkey he had just met, he was also destined to trust the White Bone Demon and the Rat Demon he had just met.

Such people are better suited to living in a modern world with a sound legal system, rather than in this world.

"You possess an extraordinary aura; how could you possibly be a monster?"

"If this is a disguise, Elder Tang, aren't you afraid? Elder Tang, you are indeed a bit naive."

"Faith is the source of the Way and the mother of merit. We should have faith in everyone with a sincere heart. All beings have the seed of Buddha-nature. True purity is found in trust."

Tang Sanzang performed a Buddhist salute and retorted.

In his view, trust is the source of spiritual practice and the foundation for increasing merit. One should trust others with a sincere heart, because all beings have the seed of Buddhahood. In trusting others, one can reveal the purest and kindest side of human nature.

"Elder Tang is indeed a great monk."

Bai Zhi didn't argue anymore. She could understand Tang Seng's philosophy, but she didn't agree with it. The prerequisite for doing this was having enough strength or having enough violent institutions around to maintain goodwill.

During the Tang Dynasty, Tang Sanzang, as a high-ranking monk, had many powerful people who could help him. Everyone treated others with kindness, which is probably the source of why Tang Sanzang was able to say such things.

But after he came out, if it weren't for Sun Wukong's violence and the protection of the immortals, he wouldn't have survived a single episode with this idea.

"Elder Tang must be tired after such a long journey. Come and have something to drink first."

Bai Zhi didn't offer Tang Seng tea, mainly because the tea of ​​this era was different from that of later times. It contained salt and various other ingredients, so it was more like soup than tea. She couldn't get used to it, so she hadn't prepared anything like that.

"This is?"

Tang Sanzang stared at the orange glass bottle, lost in confusion.

He had never seen an orange drink before.

And this glass bottle looks quite valuable.

"Sulda is a great drink to replenish your energy for someone like you who has traveled a long distance."

Bai Zhi snapped her fingers lightly, and the bottle cap popped off. "Drink it."

Tang Sanzang hesitated for a moment, but he knew that he was indeed a little tired and needed to drink some water, so he said, "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

After saying that, he picked up the Sulphuric Acid and took a small sip.

In an instant, a feeling I had never experienced before swept over me.

The sensation of the bubbles bursting in his mouth almost made him spit it out, but considering the presence of an immortal, it would be too unseemly, so he could only endure it.

But after enduring it for a few seconds, the thrill turned into a sweet sensation, nourishing his body as he trekked along the way.

My body, which had been feeling a bit sleepy, regained some energy.

The more I drank, the more I wanted to drink, and before I knew it, I had finished the whole bottle.

Looking at the empty bottle, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but blush, realizing that he had been somewhat presumptuous in front of the immortal.

"How does it feel?"

"I am grateful for the divine nectar and the immortal's gift of water."

Tang Sanzang was still somewhat unsatisfied, but he immediately shut up.

Perhaps this beverage is commonplace in the interstellar age, but in ancient times, this syrup drink, designed to target primal human instincts, would be unforgettable once tasted.

Upon realizing this, Tang Sanzang immediately began reciting scriptures silently in his heart.

How can a monk indulge in the desires of the palate?

"No need to be so polite, Elder Tang. Do you know why I'm here?"

"Please speak, Immortal."

"Elder Tang, do you know that on the Five Fingers Mountain behind me, there is a divine monkey imprisoned? That divine monkey is my best friend. He was imprisoned down there because he caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago. Now he is waiting for you to rescue him."

"He also received a decree from Guanyin Bodhisattva, in exchange for saving him, to protect you on your journey to the Western Paradise."

“In that case, I will go immediately. As for protecting me, there is no need. I am just a monk. If I am sincere, I will naturally reach the Western Paradise. If I do not reach it, then it is the Buddha’s will, and I will have no regrets.”

Tang Sanzang bowed and made a gesture to rescue the monkey.

Seeing this, Bai Zhi quickly waved her hand and said:

"Elder Tang, that's not what I wanted to talk about. The monkey's promise is something he can't possibly change. But I wanted to say that Elder Tang, with your mortal eyes, might have some difficulty distinguishing demons."

“If that monkey follows you, I hope you will listen to him. He was once known as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven in the Heavenly Court, and most monsters had nowhere to hide in front of him.”

"This……"

Tang Sanzang hesitated, "That Great Sage Equaling Heaven must have broken the rules to be imprisoned under the mountain. Can we really just let him do as he pleases?"

"If he mistakes a good person for a villain and kills him, this poor monk is afraid..."

"Elder, this is your problem. You said before that you should trust everyone with a sincere heart, that all beings have the seed of Buddhahood, and that true purity is found in trust. How come you are contradicting yourself now?"

Tang Sanzang was speechless for a moment, realizing that it was indeed true.

"Alright, I won't make things difficult for you. There's a family near Five Finger Mountain. After you rescue the monkey, you can rest there. I'll accompany you there and prove some of your ideas wrong, how about that?"

When Bai Zhi first read Journey to the West, what she disliked most was the monk's inability to distinguish right from wrong. Today, she was determined to defend him.

Chapter 688 Bai Zhi: Am I that famous?

"The Five Finger Mountain is just ahead. The monkey is trapped under the mountain. Elder, please follow me."

Following Bai Zhi, Tang Seng led the horse forward, stumbling along. Occasionally, they encountered some golden tabby kittens, which Bai Zhi easily dismissed.

"May I ask your name, sir?"

After walking for a while, Tang Sanzang couldn't help but feel curious.

So far, the only deity he has ever seen is Guanyin Bodhisattva.

"Bai Zhi, if you're asking about the title, it should be True Lord of Saving from Suffering and Delivering from Calamity, Abundant Harvest and Vast Land."

"Ah? You are that immortal being?!"

Tang Sanzang exclaimed in surprise.

"What, am I that famous in the Tang Dynasty?"

Bai Zhi was somewhat puzzled. In this world, her fame was mainly concentrated in the celestial realm, and there shouldn't be any legends about her in the mortal world.

"The legend of the immortal defying fate and resurrecting the mother of Erlang Shen has been circulating in our Tang Dynasty for a long time, and there are statues of the immortal in many temples."

"Even the imperial family makes many sacrifices to the immortals. It is truly inappropriate that I failed to recognize the immortal just now."

"Huh? Who leaked that information?"

Bai Zhi wasn't surprised that others knew about it, since the commotion from that heavenly tribulation was so great that many immortals must have paid attention to it.

But she didn't expect that this story would spread to the mortal world.

I just don't know which deity did it.

"So, when you worship me, what do you usually ask for?"

As they walked, Bai Zhi asked curiously.

"It is said that the immortal was a disciple of Taiqing, with unparalleled medical skills, and wished to benefit all living beings. Therefore, most doctors have an image of the immortal in their homes, which is worshipped every day. Some people with illnesses will also go to temples to worship him, hoping to get better."

After thinking for a moment, Tang Sanzang spoke in detail.

"Oh I got it."

Bai Zhi narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing the expectations within those vows, which seemed to be exactly as Tang Seng had said.

After thinking about it, it seems like it wouldn't be right to waste these expectations.

After all, for the people of this world, a useless god is practically worthless.

Moreover, after reaching level three of the Sheep Talisman, her soul strength was no longer comparable to before, and these wishes would not cause the headaches she used to experience.

Of course, more importantly, the population of the Journey to the West world is not large. Even though it is completely different from normal Earth, its population is not even in the same league as that of interstellar civilizations.

Even with supernatural powers like gods and monsters, the human productivity here can't support many people.

"Then let's give back all these wishes!"

With Bai Zhi's thoughts, her statues began to glow, just like in the Great Ming World, carrying a slight healing effect.

The gods and immortals of this world are not incapable of such actions; the so-called divine manifestations are similar practices.

For example, blessings from the God of Wealth to bring wealth, or blessings bestowed by other deities under their authority.

But generally speaking, gods wouldn't do that, because incense offerings are very precious to them. The amount people make offerings to or that the heavenly court allocates is so small that if they gave it all back to believers, what kind of gods would they be?

In other words, they occasionally manifest their powers to maintain their faith in the human world.

Only a person like Bai Zhi, with an absurdly large and inexhaustible supply of spiritual energy, could afford such extravagance.

"what?"

After doing this, Bai Zhi was stunned for a moment and found that even more of the power of her vows had returned.

After thinking for a moment, Bai Zhi realized that if she were an ordinary person, she would indeed become more devout when she saw the statue of a deity shining.

"Heh, interesting..."

Bai Zhi suddenly had a sense of déjà vu, as if she were running an internet company, starting by taking out a lot of money to subsidize users, letting users benefit first, and then users would naturally like the platform and stay here.

The usual way for deities to operate is to make empty promises and buy lottery tickets. If you believe in a deity, it's like buying a lottery ticket, and maybe one day you'll win.

The gods occasionally appear to grant their wishes, but this is just empty promises; they are simply trying to obtain as much incense offering as possible at a very low cost.

Meanwhile, back in the Tang Dynasty, a patient was excitedly shouting, "My tuberculosis feels so much better!!"

"My cold feels completely cured!!"

Another patient exclaimed in surprise.

"You all saw it, didn't you? The idol just started shining."

"I saw it! After that flash of light, I felt much better. My tuberculosis had gotten to the point where I was coughing up blood and coughing every time I spoke. Now, although I'm not completely cured, I feel much better than before!"

"It must be the Great Immortal of Abundance protecting us!!"

“Yes, yes, I will go home today and ask for a statue of the great immortal.”

Sensing the emotions of those people, Bai Zhi smiled and brought her attention back.

"Elder, the monkey is just ahead."

Leading Tang Sanzang to the monkey, who was now buried in a pile of fallen leaves, it would be hard to imagine that there was a monkey hiding inside if it weren't for the even breathing sounds coming from it.

"Hey, wake up."

With a wave of her hand, Bai Zhi blew the pile of fallen leaves aside, revealing the still-sleeping monkey.

Was I still half asleep?