Chapter 608: Chapter 545, Self-defense Mode.
Guanyin Bodhisattva walked in from outside, pressing her palms together and bowing deeply, respectfully saying, "Reporting back to The Buddha, your disciple has returned to report in!"
The Buddha smiled and nodded, his grand voice echoing through the Great Leiyin Temple, "You’ve worked hard on your travels, Guanyin Bodhisattva. Please, take your seat."
Guanyin Bodhisattva floated up and stood on the foremost lotus throne on her left, her white robes pure and unstained, holding the Suet Jade Flask in her hand, with a willow branch inserted into the flask.
The Buddha spoke, "Nan Zhanbu Continent is billions of miles away from Great Tang, how can Xuanzang, a mere mortal, make the journey? The path to obtaining the scriptures is truly the Heart Realm’s path; completing the ten thousand and eight hundred miles will suffice."
All Arhat Bodhisattvas reverently praised in unison, "Namo Amitabha Buddha~ Our Buddha is merciful!"
The Great Leiyin Temple radiated Jing Guang, a vast Buddha Light stretched toward the Eastern direction, forming a Buddhist path across the Primordial Land, reaching directly to Great Tang, the path to obtain the scriptures was established.
...
Tang Sanzang hurried along, traveling from Great Tang Chang’an, it took him half a month just to reach the border between Nan Zhanbu Continent and Western Continent; of course, a significant amount of time was spent tending to his stomach, at Hangu Pass.
Outside Hangu Pass, the Great Tang Commander inspected the passport, scrutinized Tang Sanzang for a moment, handed the passport back to him, and said, "Ahead is the Double-forked Ridge, infested with tigers and leopards, with eagles striking and monkeys howling, a place where no living man can pass through, do you really intend to go?"
Tang Sanzang took the passport, spoke in a gentle tone yet with determination, "This humble monk is ordered by His Majesty to journey to Western Heaven to obtain the True Scripture. How could I fear the danger and turn back mid-way?"
The Commander saluted with clenched fists, seriously saying, "I’ve always disliked those from Buddhism, but you are an exception. Please, pass through! If it’s unmanageable, retreat back into the Pass before nightfall to ensure your safety."
"Many thanks, General!"
Tang Sanzang sat back in the Mechanical Car, bumpily driving ahead.
A Deputy General walked to the Commander’s side, whispering, "General, do you think he will come back?"
The Commander watched the departing Mechanical Car and said heavily, "No! He is a monk with faith, just like us. Our belief as soldiers is to protect Great Tang, while his is to seek the True Scripture. He will only die on his path forward."
The Deputy General lamented, "What a pity, he’s certain to perish at Double-forked Ridge."
The Commander laughed out loud, "I think not! Double-forked Ridge won’t stop him."
"Oh? Does he have some extraordinary ability?" the Deputy General asked curiously.
"He has no extraordinary ability, but that Mechanical Car of his is no ordinary vehicle. It should have a combat mode. It should be enough to safeguard him through Double-forked Ridge. However, the road ahead won’t be easy. Rumors have it that beyond Great Tang, there are many Demons, and the Mechanical Car can’t deal with them."
The Deputy General sighed, "Heard from the traders from the Western direction, the further west you go, the more numerous the Demons. Is this so-called Buddhist Scripture really reliable?"
"The Heavenly Court is reliable!" The Commander turned and walked towards the Pass, shouting, "Close the gate!"
With a thunderous noise, the city gates slowly closed, with a final thud, sealing completely, standing like a mountain at the border of Great Tang, keeping all evil spirits out.
Tang Sanzang, driving his car, bounced unevenly along, the mountain roads were rugged and rough, barely covering ten miles before coming to a halt in front of towering rocks and thick forests.
Inside the car, Tang Sanzang opened a box, revealing the buttons inside, muttering to himself, "According to the coach’s instructions, it should be this one."
He pressed a button, and with a series of clicks, the entire car began to shake, the front of the car lifting upward, the world spinning around.
"Ah~" Tang Sanzang let out an involuntary cry of alarm. Moments later, a four-meter-tall steel automaton stood erect among the mountain rocks. Around its chest were several transparent mirrors, forming a space, and Tang Sanzang was seated right in front of this reduced space, with a joystick-like control panel before him.
"Amitabha Buddha~"
"Amitabha Buddha~"
Tang Sanzang chanted the Buddha’s name, still unsettled. The mechanical car he had trained with before hadn’t transformed so big, and its movements weren’t so grand!
Tang Sanzang grabbed the control joystick in front of him and pushed forward fiercely. Rumble rumble rumble~ the steel automaton slowly began walking forward, then started to run, charging into the mountain woods. At first, it stumbled here and there, nearly falling several times, but gradually Tang Sanzang found the rhythm.
Bang~
Bang~
Bang~
The automaton rampaged through the forest, startling the beasts into flight, sending birds soaring into the sky, sowing chaos all around.
Darkness came quickly to the mountains; even before the glow of the setting sun had faded, darkness enveloped the Double-forked Ridge.
Two large lamps shined within the forest, and behind them, Tang Sanzang controlled the steel automaton as it crashed relentlessly forward. In the pitch-black forest, the narrow space within the mechanical vehicle instilled him with a strong sense of security, devoid of any fear.
Within the forest, a mottled giant tiger lay prostrate on the ground, its eyes flickering with ferocity as they fixed on the approaching giant.
"Ao~" A tiger’s roar that shook the forest.
A massive mountain tiger, over ten meters long, leaped out of the bushes, descending on the automaton like a dark cloud.
Tang Sanzang’s mind went blank from fright, and the automaton came to a halt on the spot.
Boom~ The giant tiger’s paws struck the chest of the automaton, and the great force instantly pushed the automaton backwards, crashing into the forest with a thunderous noise.
"Ah~" Inside the cockpit, Tang Sanzang also let out a cry of terror instinctively, hugging his head and swaying from side to side, the impacts causing him pain all over.
"Roar~" Outside, the giant tiger roared and bit down on the automaton’s head with a crunch, sending sparks flying.
Tang Sanzang yelled in panic inside the cockpit, forcefully pushing the control stick.
Outside, the automaton struggled to get up, but each time it tried, the giant tiger viciously smacked it down with great force, slamming it heavily to the ground. The tiger pinned down the automaton, either slapping or fiercely growling and biting.
"Ding ding ding~" A series of alarm sounds resonated in the cockpit, and a sudden voice announced: "Your Majesty’s royal transportation is under attack, sending distress signal. Distress signal failed, no guardian automaton nearby.
Please authorize, initiate self-defense mode."
Tang Sanzang was sweating profusely, frantically trying to figure things out. Self-defense mode, it had been mentioned, the trainer had spoken of it, certain special vehicle types had this mode, but where was it? How to activate it? I... I don’t know!
"Ding ding~ Please authorize the initiation of self-defense mode; otherwise, I cannot ensure Your Majesty’s safety."
"Ding ding~ Please authorize the initiation of self-defense mode."
"Ding~ It has been confirmed that Your Majesty has forgotten how to activate self-defense mode; self-defense mode auto-activation engaged!"
Suddenly in the cockpit, the joystick popped open, revealing a red button inside. The button automatically lowered, and projections of military generals appeared in front of him—Wei Chi, Qu Tutong, Chai Shao, Hou Junji, Cheng Zhijie, Qin Qiong, Li Xiaogong, and others.