Chapter Summaries

After reuniting with Xuanzang, Sun Wukong and his companions reached Bikshu Kingdom, where they learned that the king’s decree ordered children collected for a heart-based medicine. When the king summoned Xuanzang, Sun Wukong disguised himself as his master and went to the palace in his place.

• Manjushri and Samantabhadra reclaimed the Azure Lion and White Elephant, and Sun Wukong’s group later reunited with Xuanzang after he left Peacock Mountain.
• Xuanzang and his disciples entered Bikshu Kingdom and found bamboo cages hanging outside the homes.
• A guesthouse official told Xuanzang that the king had ordered children’s hearts used as medicine for the Royal Consort, and the official took the rescued child away for safety.
• Sun Wukong agreed to investigate the Royal Consort and the Imperial Preceptor, but the king summoned Xuanzang before he could set out.
• Sun Wukong used Zhu Bajie’s wet mud to disguise Xuanzang as himself, transformed into Xuanzang, and followed the palace official to meet the king.

Sun Wukong entered the Bikshu Royal Palace disguised as Tang Xuanzang to obtain a royal stamp for the Travel Permit, but the National Teacher and Queen tried to trick him into providing a monk’s heart. Sun Wukong pursued them to their hidden Peach Blossom paradise, killed the White Fox and spotted deer demons, and returned to the king with the Queen’s corpse.

• Sun Wukong, disguised as Xuanzang, told the King of Bikh Kingdom about Great Tang and requested a royal stamp for the Travel Permit.
• The National Teacher demanded a compassionate monk’s heart as a medicinal catalyst for the Queen, and Sun Wukong spat several hearts onto a tray, prompting the National Teacher to flee with her.
• Sun Wukong followed their trail to a hidden gateway beneath a willow tree and entered a Peach Blossom paradise.
• Sun Wukong killed the White Fox demon and chased down and killed the spotted deer demon before returning to the inn with the White Fox’s corpse.
• Sun Wukong restored Xuanzang’s appearance, and the master and disciples returned to the palace to retrieve the Travel Permit.
• When the King asked about his Queen, Sun Wukong threw the White Fox corpse before him and said it was his beloved Queen.

After exposing the White Fox and ending Bikshu Kingdom’s child-collection decree, Xuanzang’s group continued west and stayed at Zhenhai Chanling Temple, where a demon began killing monks before abducting Xuanzang. Sun Wukong found Xuanzang in Bottomless Cave and discovered a tablet to Li Jing, then left for the Heavenly Court while Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk guarded the entrance.

• The ruler of Bikshu Kingdom learned that the White Fox had been killed, thanked Xuanzang’s group, and revoked the decree to collect children.
• Xuanzang’s group reached Zhenhai Chanling Temple, where a demon repeatedly killed monks by appearing to seduce them.
• The demon abducted Xuanzang, and Sun Wukong woke Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk before tracking the kidnapper to Bottomless Cave.
• Sun Wukong entered the cave disguised as a bee and found Xuanzang, whom the demon intended to marry.
• Sun Wukong discovered a memorial tablet to Li Jing in the cave, then told Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk to guard the entrance while he went to the Heavenly Court.

Sun Wukong and Nezha captured the White-haired Rat demon after she abducted Xuanzang, and the pilgrims resumed their journey west. After reaching Tianzhuguo, Xuanzang was abducted by a Yellow Lion demon, who ordered his minions to prepare him for a feast.

• Sun Wukong confronted Li Jing in the Hall of High Heavens, and Li Jing explained that the White-haired Rat demon had set up an altar to honor him after he once saved her.
• Nezha bound the White-haired Rat demon and took her to the Heavenly Court while Sun Wukong rescued Xuanzang, killed the cave demons, and collapsed the Bottomless Cave.
• After resting at a monastery, Xuanzang and his disciples traveled for over a month and entered Tianzhuguo.
• A strange wind swept through a forest, and a Yellow Lion sucked Xuanzang into its mouth and carried him away.
• Sun Wukong summoned the local Mountain God, learned where the Yellow Lion lived, and flew with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to Yellow Lion Cave Residence.
• The Yellow Lion Great King ordered his lackeys to skin and debone Xuanzang.

Sun Wukong rescued Xuanzang from Yellow Lion Cave, then traveled with his companions to a royal city in Tianzhuguo, where three princes became his disciples. The Nine Spirits Primordial Saint abducted Xuanzang and took the group’s weapons to avenge Yellow Lion, leaving Sun Wukong with the Great Yi Saving Suffering Heaven Venerable as they confronted him.

• Sun Wukong and his companions defeated and killed Yellow Lion, then rescued Xuanzang and continued westward.
• At a royal city, three princes took Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sand Monk as their masters and borrowed their weapons.
• The three weapons vanished overnight, and the Nine Spirits Primordial Saint appeared, claiming he had abducted Xuanzang and taken the weapons in revenge for Yellow Lion.
• Sun Wukong went to Tathagata for help, and Tathagata directed him to the Great Yi Saving Suffering Heaven Venerable.
• The Great Yi Saving Suffering Heaven Venerable accompanied Sun Wukong to the Nine Spirits Primordial Saint’s training ground, where the saint respectfully greeted him and said he sought justice for his child.

Sun Wukong rescued Xuanzang from Nine Spirits Primordial Saint’s abode and reunited Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk with their weapons before the pilgrims resumed their journey. In Jinping Prefecture, Xuanzang fell for the Three Compatriot Demon Kings’ trick and was captured while Sun Wukong was away.

• Great Yi Saving Suffering Heaven Venerable persuaded Nine Spirits Primordial Saint to leave with him, and Sun Wukong found Xuanzang imprisoned in a remote hall.
• Sun Wukong freed Xuanzang and recovered the Nine-Toothed Rake and Crescent Moon Shovel, then teased Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk before returning their weapons.
• After several months of travel, the pilgrims reached a Stone Forest in Jinping Prefecture, where Sun Wukong drew a protective circle around Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sand Monk before seeking alms and water.
• The Three Compatriot Demon Kings spotted the pilgrims and sent demons disguised as a wounded young man and pursuing bandits to lure Xuanzang out of the circle.
• Xuanzang left the circle to help the supposed victim, was enveloped in poisonous mist, and was captured by the demons.
• Sun Wukong returned with food and water, learned from Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk that Xuanzang had been captured, and heard that they had failed to find the demons’ cave.

Sun Wukong and his companions defeated three rhinoceros demons with help from the Four Wood Star Lords and Crown Prince Moang, then continued west to the Sravasti Kingdom. There, a demon impersonating the Princess abducted Xuanzang and pressured him to marry her, leaving him captive with the real Princess.

• Sun Wukong sought help from the Jade Emperor, the Four Wood Star Lords, and Crown Prince Moang after the three demons froze his companions and heavenly forces; the Star Lords used magical treasures to reveal and capture the rhinoceros demons.
• Sun Wukong freed the captives, and Xuanzang and his disciples resumed their westward journey to the Sravasti Kingdom.
• The Princess of Sravasti invited Xuanzang and his disciples to the palace, where Zhu Bajie noticed her resemblance to Heng'e.
• On the fifth day, a demon disguised as the Princess abducted Xuanzang while he slept; Sun Wukong sensed demon aura around the Princess and followed her to an estate outside the city.
• Xuanzang discovered that the real Princess was also being held captive, and the false Princess demanded that he marry her; Xuanzang refused and remained imprisoned.

Sun Wukong and the others rescued Xuanzang from the Jade Rabbit, then resumed their journey after leaving Sravasti Kingdom. In Diling County, constables arrested them as alleged bandits, and a constable urged the County Magistrate to make them confess as fake monks.

• Sun Wukong learned from an Old Man how the Jade Rabbit vanished into the manor, and Guanyin revealed where Heng'e was in seclusion.
• Sun Wukong brought Heng'e to the manor, where she made the Jade Rabbit confess and returned her to her original form.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie rescued Xuanzang and the real Princess, and the group left Sravasti Kingdom after a royal banquet and the Travel Permit was stamped.
• In Diling County, constables accused Xuanzang and his disciples of being highway bandits and jailed them.
• The County Magistrate questioned Xuanzang, while a constable called the group fake monks and ordered them to sign and affix their handprints; Sun Wukong watched the constables suspiciously.

Xuanzang's group was cleared of robbery charges after Sun Wukong exposed the corrupt officers and set out again. At a luxurious manor, Sun Wukong discovered that the deceased old man had been poisoned by his descendants, returned his soul to his body, and then watched as the manor's old woman demanded an outrageous payment from Xuanzang's group.

• Sun Wukong discovered that the officers had stolen the gold and silver, then used spells to expose them as the real bandits and secure Xuanzang's group's release.
• The County Magistrate apologized, hosted Xuanzang's group, and later convicted the corrupt officers before the group resumed its journey.
• At a luxurious manor, Sun Wukong found that the old man's descendants were arguing over his inheritance while the old man's Spirit Soul mourned nearby.
• Sun Wukong followed the old man's Spirit Soul to the Underworld, learned that his descendants had poisoned him, and took his soul back to his corpse so he could revive.
• Xuanzang's group accepted the old woman's invitation to eat and stay, but she demanded a hundred taels of gold for their meal and lodging.

Sun Wukong helped Old Master expose his greedy family’s poisoning and their false accusations against his honest youngest son. After the relatives were arrested and the son restored as heir, Xuanzang’s group left the estate and continued toward Spirit Mountain.

• Sun Wukong gave the noblewoman gold he had made from stones, then observed the estate’s family members arguing over Old Master’s fortune while neglecting his funeral.
• Sun Wukong followed Old Master’s youngest son to a cottage and learned that the family had falsely accused and driven him away.
• Sun Wukong brought Old Master to his son, where they cleared up the misunderstanding, and revealed that relatives had poisoned Old Master with a slow-acting toxin.
• Old Master returned to his coffin while his son reported the poisoning, and constables arrested the family during the funeral.
• Old Master appeared in court, prompting the relatives to confess, and he restored his youngest son as heir before hosting a banquet for Sun Wukong.
• Xuanzang’s group stayed at the estate overnight, then departed toward Spirit Mountain.

Xuanzang and his companions reached Spirit Mountain, received scriptures and titles, then set out for Great Tang. After Old Turtle’s anger caused them to lose and damage the scriptures, they finally arrived outside Chang’an, where Li Shimin came to welcome Xuanzang.

• Xuanzang and his companions crossed Jie Yin's Ferry, shed their mortal bodies, and met Tathagata at Spirit Mountain.
• Mahākāśyapa demanded a gift before transmitting the scriptures, so Xuanzang offered the Purple Gold Alms Bowl; Tathagata then bestowed titles on Xuanzang, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sand Monk, and White Dragon.
• After the group discovered their first scriptures were blank, Tathagata ordered Mahākāśyapa to give them the true scriptures, and they departed for Great Tang.
• Guanyin told Tathagata that one tribulation remained, and Old Turtle sank beneath the Connecting Heaven River after Xuanzang admitted he had forgotten to ask about Old Turtle's attainment.
• Xuanzang's group recovered their water-damaged scriptures, dried them, and accidentally left a torn page stuck to a boulder when Zhu Bajie tore it.
• Xuanzang and his companions arrived outside Chang'an, and Li Shimin left the palace to welcome Xuanzang.

After Xuanzang completed the scripture-seeking journey, Parallel Chi Yu began advancing the Primordial World, and Wu Tian took control of Spirit Mountain. Wu Tian revealed the Six-Eared Macaque’s identity and offered him the Heavenly Court in exchange for submission.

• Xuanzang preached the scriptures in Chang'an before leaving with his companions for Great Thunderclap Temple, and Parallel Chi Yu began transforming the Primordial World.
• Chaos Gods who entered the Thirty-Three Heavens were destroyed and their Origin Essence nourished the advancing Primordial World, bringing about the Immeasurable Kalpa.
• A Black Lotus entered Jinnaluo, who became Wu Tian; Wu Tian defeated the Buddhas, took control of Spirit Mountain, and imprisoned those who resisted him.
• Wu Tian visited Sun Wukong at Water Curtain Cave and asked him to seize the Heavenly Court, but Sun Wukong challenged him as an impostor.
• Wu Tian revealed himself and told the Six-Eared Macaque that Tathagata’s memories had exposed his replacement of Sun Wukong, then offered to make him lord of the Heavenly Court if he submitted.

Sun Wukong was freed from imprisonment in the Asura Realm and told the Buddhas that Tathagata had tortured him and arranged his death. After escaping with the Buddhas, he went to Flower Fruit Mountain, while Six-Eared Macaque conquered the Heavenly Court for Wu Tian.

• Xuanzang, Guanyin, and the Buddhas found Sun Wukong chained in the Asura Realm, and a beam of golden light broke his chains.
• Sun Wukong accused Tathagata of binding and tormenting him after a demon impersonating him killed him, leaving the Buddhas shaken and doubtful.
• Sun Wukong broke through the prison barrier with the Ocean Stabilizing Divine Needle, and another beam of golden light opened the array blocking the way out of the Asura Realm.
• Sun Wukong and the Buddhas reached Flower Fruit Mountain and used their remaining Merit Power to clear the Demonic Qi and restore the monkeys.
• Six-Eared Macaque defeated the Heavenly Court's defenders, seized control, and sent the captured Immortals and Divine beings to the Asura Realm.

Six-Eared Macaque reported the Buddhas’ escape to Wu Tian, who deduced that Sun Wukong had rescued them and sent Six-Eared Macaque to recruit him against Tathagata. Sun Wukong agreed to investigate a newborn’s auspicious omen in Xingzhou City, while Wu Tian secretly sent Giant Scorpion there too.

• Six-Eared Macaque found Wu Tian’s prison in the Asura Realm empty and reported that the Buddhas of Spirit Mountain had escaped.
• Wu Tian realized Sun Wukong was alive and had rescued the Buddhas, then ordered Six-Eared Macaque to bring him into their camp and use him against Tathagata.
• Six-Eared Macaque told Sun Wukong that Tathagata had reincarnated and offered him a share of the Three Realms if he helped find him.
• After Xuanzang and the other Buddhas reported a newborn’s auspicious omen in Xingzhou City, Sun Wukong agreed to investigate, and Wu Tian sent Giant Scorpion there.
• Sun Wukong and the Buddhas reached Xingzhou City, traced the omen to the Lin family, and headed to Lin Residence.

After the Lin family’s Qilin Child was rescued, Guanyin secretly passed him off as Tathagata’s reincarnation while the true reincarnation, Qiao Ling, grew up unnoticed. Eighteen years later, Wu Tian captured Lin Fu, but a streak of Golden Light whisked him away before Wu Tian could devour him.

• Black-robed figures led by the Giant Scorpion massacred the Lin family and abducted their newborn, but Sun Wukong, Xuanzang, and Guanyin rescued him.
• Guanyin discovered that the Lin child was ordinary and concealed this from the others, intending to use him as a decoy while protecting Tathagata’s true reincarnation.
• Bodhi joined the group on their way to Penglai, recognized that the Lin child was not Tathagata’s reincarnation, and agreed with Guanyin’s plan.
• In Yunzhou, a golden-robed man cast spells on the newborn Qiao Ling, who grew up kindhearted and unaware of his identity as the true reincarnation.
• Guanyin raised the Lin child as Lin Fu in Penglai, and he trained in magic for eight years before secretly leaving and being captured by black-robed figures.
• Wu Tian tried to devour Lin Fu, but a streak of Golden Light emerged from the Void, enveloped him, and vanished.

Chi Yu revealed Lin Fu’s origins, unlocked his power, and transformed him into Fotu, who returned to Penglai as a Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal. As Wu Tian attacked Penglai in search of Lin Fu, the island’s Great Array shattered and his Demon Soldiers poured inside.

• Wu Tian searched the Primordial World for the vanished Lin Fu, unaware that Lin Fu was not Tathagata’s reincarnation.
• Chi Yu told Lin Fu that he had created him and showed him memories of the massacre of the Lin Residence.
• Chi Yu unsealed Lin Fu’s Dead Buddha Source Origin Essence, raising his cultivation to Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal Early Stage and giving him the name Fotu and authority over Spirit Mountain.
• Fotu returned to Penglai, healed Sun Wukong’s eyes, and removed Wu Tian’s black lotus from him; Guanyin then explained that Lin Fu was not Tathagata’s reincarnation.
• Wu Tian led the Four Great Dharma Protectors and Demon Soldiers to Penglai, broke its Great Array, and sent his forces rushing inside.

Fotu revealed that he was not Tathagata’s reincarnation and killed Wu Tian and the Four Great Protectors, but the Buddha-Demon Tribulation continued as the Great Black Lotus took control of imprisoned immortals. Qiao Ling recovered memories of his past as Tathagata and sent Golden Winged Great Peng to find Bodhi, who reported the request to Fotu.

• Fotu denied being Tathagata’s reincarnation and confronted Wu Tian over the Lin Residence’s destruction.
• Fotu’s Golden Light exposed Wu Tian and the Four Great Protectors; Sun Wukong killed Six-Eared Macaque, the other Protectors died, and Wu Tian perished.
• The scattered Black Lotuses reformed into a bewitching man, who controlled the imprisoned immortals and led them toward the Heavenly Court.
• Qiao Ling recovered memories of his life as Tathagata and sent Golden Winged Great Peng to find Bodhi and urge him to guide Sun Wukong to the Sixteen Sarira.
• Bodhi reported Qiao Ling’s request to Fotu, who said Sun Wukong could search for the Sixteen Sarira.

Bodhi sent Sun Wukong to search for the Sixteen Sarira, and taught him a skill that restored his cultivation and raised him to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Early Stage. As Wukong and his fellow disciples found six sarira, Fotu set out from Penglai to claim Spirit Mountain.

• Bodhi told Fotu that Qiao Ling wanted Sun Wukong to find the Sixteen Sarira, and Fotu agreed, certain that Tathagata's return would not change Buddhism's fate.
• Bodhi persuaded Sun Wukong to search for the sarira and taught him the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Skill, restoring his damaged foundation and raising his cultivation to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Early Stage.
• Bodhi revealed that Sun Wukong was secretly the sixteenth sarira, planted in his soul by Tathagata as a pawn for the Buddha-Demon Tribulation.
• Sun Wukong searched alongside Zhu Bajie, Sand Monk, and White Dragon, and the four found six sarira while avoiding the Black Lotus Lifeforms also hunting for them.
• Qiao Ling sent the Golden Winged Great Peng to urge Bodhi onward, and Fotu then led Wandering Immortals and Buddhas from Penglai toward Spirit Mountain to claim it.

Fotu destroyed the Great Black Lotus controlling Spirit Mountain’s Buddhas and took control of Buddhism, while Sun Wukong’s group gathered fifteen sarira. Qiao Ling took the sarira, turned Sun Wukong into the sixteenth, and left Zhu Bajie, Sand Monk, and White Dragon confronting her.

• Fotu freed the Buddhas at Spirit Mountain by destroying the Great Black Lotus and declared himself Supreme Buddha.
• The Great Black Lotus learned that Fotu had destroyed its avatar and left the Heavenly Court to investigate him.
• Sun Wukong and his group obtained the tenth sarira from Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, found three more among Black Lotus fighters, then collected two from the Sun Star and the Yin Moon Star.
• Qiao Ling sent the Golden Winged Great Peng to find Sun Wukong and summon him to Qiao Residence.
• Qiao Ling took the fifteen sarira from Sun Wukong, struck him with a swastika, and transformed him into the sixteenth sarira.
• The Golden Winged Great Peng knocked Zhu Bajie, Sand Monk, and White Dragon into a wall as they tried to defend Sun Wukong, and they vowed to fight Qiao Ling.

Tathagata returned to Spirit Mountain after absorbing Sun Wukong as a relic, but Fotu separated Sun Wukong from him and sent them to the Asura Realm, where Sun Wukong began repaying Tathagata for his suffering. Sun Wukong freed the imprisoned Immortals and Gods, who found the Heavenly Court controlled by the Great Black Lotus, while Fotu planned to wait for a breakthrough before reclaiming Spirit Mountain.

• Qiao Ling sealed Sun Wukong and absorbed him as the sixteenth relic, then transformed into Tathagata and left Qiao Residence with the Golden Winged Great Peng.
• At Spirit Mountain, Tathagata discovered Fotu ruling in place of Wu Tian, and Fotu separated Sun Wukong from Tathagata before killing the Golden Winged Great Peng.
• Fotu sent Sun Wukong and Tathagata to the Asura Realm, where Sun Wukong chained Tathagata to a pillar and began torturing him in revenge.
• Sun Wukong freed the imprisoned Immortals and Gods by smashing open the prison, but the Great Black Lotus's forces blocked their return to the Heavenly Court.
• The Great Black Lotus revealed that he had survived as a clone, while Fotu planned to hide until reaching the Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal Realm before reclaiming Spirit Mountain.