171: Want to see my face? How many children do you have?

The Bat Demon once again unleashed his Blood Bats.

The blood-colored bat swarm blotted out the sky and sun, completely engulfing Xuanzang's figure.

Every single blood bat frantically gnawed at the protective Buddha light on his body.

Xuanzang's face grew increasingly pale.

The magic power within him was being consumed at an astonishing rate.

He couldn't drag this out any longer!

If this continued, he would eventually be drained to death by this Yao Beast.

He'd risk it all!

Xuanzang directly abandoned all defenses, allowing the blood-colored bat swarm to tear open his protective Buddha light and gnaw at his Physical Body.

Excruciating pain instantly spread throughout his entire body.

Yet, Xuanzang gritted his teeth, gathering all the magic power within him.

He wanted to… Breakthrough!

"Hahahahaha! Little bald donkey, have you given up resisting?!"

The Bat Demon in the distance, seeing Xuanzang seemingly giving up resistance as he was submerged by the blood bats, let out an extremely triumphant roar of laughter.

He seemed to have already seen the tragic end of this young monk being gnawed until not even bone dregs remained.

Just as he was lost in his triumph.

Rumble—!

Above the Nine Heavens, the wind and clouds changed color.

Large swathes of dark clouds gathered from all directions, a dense, oppressive mass, as if the sky itself was about to collapse.

Deep within the clouds, countless thick purple lightning snakes, like Dragons, furiously weaved and roared, and that world-destroying pressure made this Desert tremble.

"This… what is this?"

The triumphant laughter on the Bat Demon's face froze.

Looking at the apocalyptic scene, his Soul couldn't help but begin to fear.

"Boom!"

A loud bang!

The blood-colored bat swarm that had tightly surrounded Xuanzang was instantly dispersed.

Xuanzang was bleeding all over; at this moment, he looked utterly disheveled.

A playful smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Prodigy."

"This monk has said, today shall be your death day!"

As soon as his voice fell.

"Boom!"

A Lightning Dragon, thick as a water bucket and shimmering with terrifying purple light, tore through the night, bringing with it a world-destroying might as it struck towards him.

The Lightning Tribulation of the Purple Mansion Realm had arrived.

Xuanzang neither dodged nor retreated; with a surge of magic power under his feet, his figure charged directly towards the Bat Demon, who was already scared stiff.

He wanted to… drag this Yao Beast to Undergoing Tribulation with him!

"What do you want to do?!"

The Bat Demon was startled by this sight; he wanted to flee, he wanted to hide.

But how could his speed be faster than the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning?!

Rumble—!

The first Lightning Tribulation struck down.

The purple lightning light engulfed Xuanzang and the Bat Demon's figures.

"Ah!"

A shrill scream rang out.

Xuanzang's Physical Body, having Cultivated two great Buddhist Dharma, was incredibly formidable and had a natural resistance to this Lightning Tribulation.

However, the Bat Demon was a Yao Beast, inherently restrained by thunder.

With this single Lightning Tribulation, he felt as if his Soul was about to be shattered on the spot.

"Little bald donkey! I'll fight you to the death!"

The Bat Demon was completely enraged; he no longer fled, but frantically charged towards Xuanzang.

He wanted to tear this damned young monk to shreds before the Heavenly Tribulation killed him.

Xuanzang was also fearless.

He engaged in the most primitive and savage close combat with the Yao Beast!

One claw from him, one punch from me.

Blood and lightning intertwined.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The second strike!

The third strike!

The fourth strike!

…

The Heavenly Tribulation grew more terrifying with each strike!

Xuanzang's Physical Body, under the tempering of the Lightning Tribulation, became increasingly powerful.

However, the Bat Demon was already at the end of his rope, his entire body charred black.

"Spare… spare my life!"

He was finally afraid.

"Great Master! Buddha! I was wrong! I was truly wrong! Please… please be merciful and spare me this once! I am willing… I am willing to serve you as a beast of burden, even if it means ten thousand deaths!"

"Too late."

"Boom!"

The last, and most terrifying, Lightning Tribulation had arrived.

The purple lightning light cast an apocalyptic scene over the entire world.

"No!"

The Bat Demon let out his last cry of life.

After Xuanzang endured this final Lightning Tribulation.

His whole body trembled, and a mouthful of vital blood spurted out.

But a genuine smile appeared on his face.

Purple Mansion Realm!

Behind him, a wrathful Vajra phantom, woven from endless Buddha light and towering rage, condensed.

Purple Mansion Anomaly—Wrathful Vajra.

The morning sun slowly rose from the horizon.

Sunlight shone upon his seemingly reborn figure.

A seven-colored Buddha light surrounded him.

On the other side, in Shi Nan Continent, within an unknown prosperous city.

East of the city, inside a theater called "Phoenix Pavilion," gongs and drums were clashing, and voices were bustling.

On the high stage, a graceful woman, her face veiled by a light gauze, was lightly dancing her water sleeves, singing a melodious tune.

Below the stage were the spectators.

In a corner, a "little beggar" with hair like a bird's nest was casually crossing his legs, cracking melon seeds while watching the stage.

It was Lu Yuchen, who was bored to death and had come out to experience life.

Just at this moment.

"Refund! Refund!"

A rude shout broke the harmonious atmosphere.

A burly man with a full, meaty face below the stage suddenly stood up, violently smashing the teacup in his hand to the ground, pointing at the woman on stage, and cursing loudly.

"Damn it! I spent nine hundred and sixty-eight copper coins to watch a play, not to see your veiled ghost-like appearance!

"Either take off that rag now! Or give me my money back!"

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately drew widespread agreement.

"Exactly! We paid money, but we can't even see a face, what kind of nonsense is that!"

"Take it off! Take it off!"

The woman on stage heard this, and her captivating singing came to an abrupt halt.

She suddenly turned her head, and from within the eyes hidden beneath the light gauze, two bursts of anger erupted!

She actually threw her water sleeves directly onto the ground, put her hands on her hips, and like a shrew, unceremoniously cursed back!

"Refund your mother's money!"

"A bunch of paupers! You've watched plays for so long, and haven't even given a few coins as a tip! All together, you don't even have a million copper coins, and you want to see this old lady's face? Are you giving yourselves too much credit?!"

"I'm telling you! My admirers can line up from the east of this city all the way to the west! Believe it or not, with one command from me, I'll have them all beat you refund-shouting lot out!"

These words were spoken with righteous indignation.

It directly stunned the crowd of jeering spectators below the stage.

They didn't recover for a long time.

In the corner, Lu Yuchen almost spat out the melon seed shells in his mouth.

"Damn it…"

He was dumbfounded.

This… what kind of divine logic was this?!

In this world, there was actually such a shameless person?!

He had originally intended to secretly make a move and teach this woman, who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, a lesson.

Just at this moment.

In his mind, the System's prompt sounded.

[Ding! Detected that Host's Buddhist Vest Disciple Xuanzang has successfully Undergone Tribulation of the Purple Mansion, condensing the 'Wrathful Vajra' Anomaly!]

[Triggering a hundredfold critical return!]

[Congratulations to Host for obtaining: Hundredfold Cultivation return! Nascent Soul Fourth Stage Cultivation has slightly improved!]

[Congratulations to Host for obtaining: Xuanzang's Purple Mansion Anomaly 'Wrathful Vajra' hundredfold return! Host has obtained Buddhist Anomaly—'Great Sun Tathagata'!]

Boom!

Behind him, a faint phantom flashed.

"Awesome!"

Lu Yuchen was ecstatic, and that bit of Qi instantly dissipated a lot.

To get angry with a mortal woman?

It was beneath him.

However, a small punishment could still be given.

He smiled slightly, flexed a finger, and lightly flicked it at the woman who was still standing on stage, hands on hips, spitting as she cursed.

"Clap."

A soft sound.

The light gauze on the woman's face fell in response.

A face covered in pockmarks, a flat nose, thick lips, and truly ugly, was instantly exposed to everyone's view.

One could hear every breath in the venue.

Suddenly, someone reacted.

"Damn it! My eyes!"

"Liar! Refund! Must refund!"

"Kill this ugly monster!"

The spectators below the stage completely exploded!

The woman, seeing this, also turned pale with fright, scrambling to pick up the veil from the ground, and rushed backstage without looking back.

Behind her, followed a group of angry pursuers, holding benches and teapots.

Lu Yuchen watched this scene, laughing so hard he couldn't close his mouth.

He finished cracking his last handful of melon seeds and disappeared from his spot, continuing his journey of "experiencing the myriad aspects of human life."

…

Western Regions, Desert.

Xuanzang slowly reined in his Qi, feeling the Wrathful Vajra Anomaly behind him, filled with supreme majesty, and his heart swelled with pride.

He knew that from this moment on, he finally had the confidence to directly contend with the Little Thunderclap Temple!

It was time to show the common people of the Western Regions what true Buddhist orthodoxy was!

It was time to spread the prestige of his Revered Master, Arhat Fahai, and the glory of the Great Thunderclap Temple throughout this world!

Only…

How should he propagate it?