The road west is paved with bones. The holy monk Xuanzang was ordered to fetch the scriptures, yet secretly plotted to destroy Buddhism and slay the heavens!
Bearing the bones of nine generations of humanity’s resentment, he pretended to be a timid mortal monk. Amid the eighty-one trials, he secretly planted [Nails of the Mortal World], using the blood of demons as bait and the baleful energy of heaven and earth as his formation. He swore to shatter Spirit Mountain and bury the Heavenly Court!
Rebellion lurked beneath Wukong’s golden hoop; Bajie yearned for the warmth of mortal life; and shackles rusted deep into Sha Seng’s soul. When the tightening spell became a secret mantra of awakening, when Gao Village turned into a blazing spark, when the colored-glass lamp shattered into fragments of a rebel banner... these pawns manipulated by gods and Buddhas would become daggers aimed at the Three Realms!
At the summit of Spirit Mountain, the scripture without words became a proclamation of defiance against Heaven. At Lingyun Crossing, mortal flesh was reforged into the Heavenly Dao of the mortal world. Suiren burned the Investiture of the Gods; Fuxi severed the roots of immortality; Shennong strangled the Pan Tao! As the immortals and Buddhas fled into the sea of stars, Xuanzang smiled and merged with the Dao. “This body is the Law, and it shall forever guard the mortal world!”
When the new sun rose, a scholar melted the golden hoop into a plow and carved the first furrow into the ashes of the Investiture of the Gods.
A very novel theme, breaking away from the clichés of current online novels and presenting a different kind of story. In fact, many later commentators on Journey to the West say that the true master isn't Sun Wukong, but rather the seemingly incompetent Tang Sanzang, who only knows how to chant scriptures and call his disciples. Looking forward to the author bringing us a completely new Tang Sanzang! 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Everyone is familiar with Journey to the West, but the author's analysis of it to this extent is truly remarkable! 👍👍👍👍👍👍 A very worthwhile book to read! 👍👍👍👍👍👍