A luxurious and exquisite carriage flies across the pitch-black night sky as if treading on flat ground.

Daji pulls back the curtain to look at the twelve Heavenly Horses treading on air ahead, then shifts her gaze northward, towards the vast land beyond, blossoming with light like a dream or illusion.

The light has endured for days now, with not a hint of dimming.

"What exactly is Pure Land?"

Daji lowers the curtains and asks, "When will that light go out?"

"Never to be extinguished."

Sun Wukong closes the Heavenly Book in his hands and answers, "Pure Land, from the ground below to the void above, wherein all things emanate light."

This statement leaves Daji dumbstruck and bewildered.

For the past few days, she had heard numerous discussions about Pure Land, every person speaking of it with heartfelt astonishment.

"I heard that Pure Land is boundlessly vast, that even if the beings of the Four Great Continents all took rebirth there, it would not become crowded. Is that true?" Daji inquires again.

Sun Wukong nods: "That is the principle of the Sleeve Universe."

"Moreover, there are no seasons, heat or cold, rain or cloudiness there; everyone chants scriptures and it's perpetually cool and comfortable."

Sun Wukong, with a smile, proposes to Daji, "Would you like to go and see it?"

"No, I won't!"

Daji hastily waves her hands, "How terrifying, what are the people there like now?"

"For the time being, no harm done."

Sun Wukong elaborates.

Pure Land is presently only in its early stages of form. Transforming the entire Northern Continent into Pure Land could possibly require hundreds of years.

Daji lets out a sigh of relief, "So you're saying, the people there are still alive?"

"Yes."

Sun Wukong nods, "It's merely a matter of a generation's time."

In such a wonderful world, it would take but a single generation's time for indoctrination.

The carriage, having crossed from the Western Continent through the Southern Continent, arrives at the border of the Western Continent.

"We've reached this point; there's no need for me to send you any further."

Feeling the breath of the Spiritual Network, Sun Wukong stands up, "You should head back on your own."

"Understood."

Daji watches as Sun Wukong disappears from the carriage.

The carriage enters the Western Continent and begins heading towards Wanling City.

With the Immortal Sect established and the Immortals persuaded, Sun Wukong no longer needs Daji.

Daji wishes to return to Wanling Country, and he does not stop her.

After watching the carriage fade into the distance, Sun Wukong surveys the land below.

Beneath his feet lies the convergence of two continents, a city ablaze with lights stands firm.

It is the starting point of the Golden Path, and a Border Fortress for the Western Continent.

Looking westward from the city, it is bustling with activity, with Dragon Cars streaking through the night like comets across the dark earth.

Gazing eastward, a road twinkles with starlight, crowded with numerous craftsmen and laborers ceaselessly working night and day to carve out the great thoroughfare leading to the Eastern Continent.

Sun Wukong observes these busy humans and demons with a sense of joy, yet also a touch of melancholy.

Whether in the Heavenly Book or in reality, once the potential of mortals is stirred, they will transform the world swiftly like a colony of ants.

It is a time full of passion and struggle.

Regrettably, Sun Wukong's hibernation was too long, and he missed the most thrilling part of the process.

Sun Wukong feels a sense of loneliness, as well as envy for Ao Luan and the others of Wanling Country.

They witnessed and experienced all the changes.

That night, Sun Wukong sits among the clouds, doing nothing but watching the mortals bustling all through the night.

When dawn arises, he too turns into a beam of golden light, soaring towards Chang'an.

Ever since the last meeting, Sun Wukong has been visiting every half a year.

Human King Liu Che entertains him with morning tea and pastries.

"In my youth, I had a good friend named Dongfang Shuo."

Liu Che suddenly speaks.

Sun Wukong instantly falls silent.

"Back then, I was full of youthful ardor, determined to drive all the demons from the Southern Continent away, yet he constantly berated and mocked me, saying that devils lie within the human heart."

As Liu Che speaks, he can't help shaking his head.

With age, he grows to understand Dongfang Shuo more and more.

That was a person who defied norms with a playful and witty mind, only such a person could become his friend.

Liu Che looked at Sun Wukong: "Great Saint, is Dongfang Shuo one of your followers?"

"Yes."

Sun Wukong nodded.

Liu Che sighed and said, "I have my suspicions and dared not trust him with important tasks, but he never took anything from me. Why did you send him here?"

"He can help Your Majesty gain clarity."

Sun Wukong answered.

Dongfang Shuo was a chess piece, but his primary function wasn't to gain anything but to offer straightforward and critical advice, so that the Human King would not be confused by the Heavenly Palace.

Liu Che understood.

He took a sip of his tea, and felt it was somewhat bitter.

"Great Saint."

Liu Che suddenly asked again: "If I grow old and pass away, can I also go to Huaguo Mountain like the two previous kings?"

Sun Wukong was a little surprised; Liu Che's words today were unexpectedly many.

"If Your Majesty so desires, naturally it is possible."

Sun Wukong replied.

"Ha..."

Liu Che laughed: "Now I understand why the former kings had such faith in the Great Saint."

He was always suspicious and never gave in easily, but after so many changes, he too had begun to change.

"Starting from Yao, Shun, Tang, Xia, all the way to Qin, Han, the changing dynasties of the Southern Continent formed the history of the Human Clan."

Liu Che set down his teacup and said, "A hundred years ago, when Emperor Wen came to the throne, he left a secret edict hoping that future Human Kings could interrupt reincarnation."

Sun Wukong's brows tightened slightly.

Liu Che then stood up and gave Sun Wukong a bow with folded hands.

"Great Saint, I will erect a statue of the Great Saint to guard over the destiny of our Human Clan."

Sun Wukong calculated silently and immediately realized the significance of this matter.

This was not a simple matter of erecting a statue, but one of establishing a faith.

He also stood up: "Why me?"

"It has always been you."

Liu Che answered.

Since Emperor Wen, several generations of Human Kings have recognized Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong was the only Immortal who hoped to change the Mortal World. It was only after Wukong made a uproar in Heaven and divided the realm, and established the Wanling Country in the Western Continent, that Liu Che began to fear he would enslave the Human Clan, and hence had taken a dislike to him from his youth.

But now, he was no longer afraid.

"Is this a good idea?"

Sun Wukong asked again: "After finally being free from the control of Immortals, are you willing to give it up?"

"I believe in the Great Saint."

Liu Che replied, then sighed, "There's no room for hesitation now."

Sun Wukong looked at him.

"These days, I have been having a dream."

Liu Che continued.

He dreamt of a strange place with countless palaces and pavilions.

These palaces and pavilions were very peculiar; large or small, on the ground or floating in the sky, more resplendent than Chang'an by a thousandfold, with Bodhisattvas teaching scriptures within.

"It is a place of purity and equality, where everyone's six senses are purified, devoid of attachment and desire."

Liu Che said.

Sun Wukong realized: "Pure Land."

Liu Che sighed: "That place is incomparably beautiful but it disgusts me."

Does absolute happiness really exist?

"If a person loses love and desire, are they still a person?"

Liu Che asked.

Sun Wukong shook his head.

The Human King having such dreams was definitely not a coincidence.

Does even Buddha not want to let go of the Southern Continent?

Sun Wukong thought to himself and then gave an answer.

"If that's the case, I will protect the Human Clan."

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