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Bajie led the way, followed closely by the resurrected king. Monk Sha helped the Master mount his horse, while the Monkey King brought up the rear.
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Meanwhile, the monster had risen high into the air and thus saved its life. The Pilgrim’s blow did not harm it in the least, for as already mentioned, it used magic to send its spirit soaring just in time.
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Time flew like an arrow. Over five centuries passed, and the mortal realm entered the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong decreed the selection of a eminent monk to expound Buddhist teachings. After careful deliberation, the court chose Master Xuanzang—a monk of profound virtue and unmatched mastery of scripture since childhood.