Recaps

Eastern Sovereign Taiyi returned with the Eastern Sovereign Bell and fought Ancestor Minghe to prove his identity. He pursued Demon Master Kunpeng, who fled toward the Heavenly Court, leaving Ancestor Minghe wounded and convinced that Taiyi was real.

• The Eastern Sovereign Bell destroyed a great power who approached it, then flew to Eastern Sovereign Taiyi as he appeared before Zhenyuanzi, Ancestor Minghe, and the others.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi reclaimed the bell and challenged Ancestor Minghe, who refused to believe that Taiyi had survived the Witch-Demon War.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi attacked Ancestor Minghe with True Sun Fire, and the two fought as the heavens and earth shook.
• Demon Master Kunpeng crawled from the ruins and tried to escape to the Heavenly Court, fearing Taiyi would kill him for betraying the Demon Court.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi drove Ancestor Minghe back and sent the Eastern Sovereign Bell after Demon Master Kunpeng, who broke free and fled as a great roc.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi transformed into a Three-legged Golden Crow and pursued Demon Master Kunpeng, while Ancestor Minghe spat blood and recognized Taiyi.

Eastern Sovereign Taiyi and Mahavairocana Tathagata cornered Demon Master Kunpeng, and Taiyi confronted him over his betrayal during the Witch-Demon War. Kunpeng submitted the Demon Master Palace to Haotian in hopes of protection, but Taiyi declared that no one could stop him from killing Kunpeng.

• Ancestor Minghe stayed to watch as Eastern Sovereign Taiyi pursued Demon Master Kunpeng.
• Mahavairocana Tathagata struck Kunpeng down, then reunited with his uncle, Eastern Sovereign Taiyi.
• Taiyi confronted Kunpeng about fleeing with the River Chart and Luo Book during the Witch-Demon War, and Kunpeng admitted he would make the same choice again.
• Kunpeng warned Taiyi that the times had changed and invoked Haotian's authority, then knelt and submitted the Demon Master Palace to the Heavenly Court.
• Taiyi dismissed Kunpeng's appeal to Haotian and declared that he would kill him.

Hun Xiu rescued Demon Master Kunpeng from Eastern Sovereign Taiyi and defeated Taiyi in battle, leaving the former ruler battered and weakened. Kunpeng then considered whether to take advantage of Taiyi’s helpless state and strike a finishing blow.

• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi attacked the kneeling Demon Master Kunpeng, who begged Hun Xiu and the Heavenly Court to save him.
• Hun Xiu appeared before Kunpeng and dispelled Taiyi’s flaming palm, declaring Kunpeng under his protection.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi transformed into his Three-legged Golden Crow form and attacked Hun Xiu.
• Hun Xiu struck Taiyi repeatedly with a mana whip until Taiyi’s True Sun Fire faded and he fell, badly wounded, to the ground.
• Demon Master Kunpeng sneered at the defeated Taiyi and wondered whether to deliver a finishing blow.

Hun Xiu stopped Kunpeng from killing the badly injured Eastern Sovereign Taiyi and forced Kunpeng to accept his place in the Heavenly Court. After the others left, Guanyin put a Golden Fillet on Zhu Bajie and used its spell to wake him with pain.

• Kunpeng tried to kill Eastern Sovereign Taiyi as he fell, but Hun Xiu struck Kunpeng and warned him not to interfere with his prey.
• Hun Xiu spared Kunpeng and reminded him that he was a member of the Heavenly Court; Kunpeng obeyed and flew north.
• Great Sun Tathagata carried the injured Eastern Sovereign Taiyi away, while the other Great Powers departed.
• Guanyin placed a Golden Fillet on the unconscious Zhu Bajie and chanted its spell, waking him and making him writhe in pain.
• Sun Wukong awoke, recognized Zhu Bajie's suffering from his own experience with a Tightening Hoop, and watched as Guanyin finally stopped chanting.

Guanyin forced Zhu Bajie to accept his role protecting Tang Sanzang, then secretly punished him and Sun Wukong when they prepared to fight. She ignored their pleas as they begged her to stop.

• Guanyin used the Golden Fillet Spell to make Zhu Bajie admit his mistake and agree to protect Tang Sanzang.
• Guanyin told Zhu Bajie to join Sun Wukong, then remained hidden to follow the Journey to the West.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie argued and drew their weapons, preparing to fight.
• Guanyin summoned two Daoists, who used the Golden Fillet Spell and Immobilization Spell to make Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie writhe in pain.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie admitted their mistakes and begged Guanyin to spare them, but she ignored them.

Guanyin stopped Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie from fighting by punishing them, then sent them back to traveling together. Zhu Bajie searched the ruins for Gao Cuilan but found no trace of her, while his return to Gao Family Village terrified Old Master Gao, who had just asked to eat Pig Demon meat.

• Guanyin ended her punishment only after Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie were nearly at death's door, and warned them not to fight again.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie agreed to get along peacefully, and Sun Wukong returned to Gao Family Village while Zhu Bajie searched the ruins for Gao Cuilan.
• Zhu Bajie found no trace of Gao Cuilan and left Fuling Mountain, believing she had died in the battle.
• Sun Wukong told Tang Xuanzang and Old Master Gao about what had happened, and Old Master Gao asked whether the village could eat Pig Demon meat.
• Zhu Bajie entered the hall, frightening Old Master Gao, who pleaded with Sun Wukong and Tang Xuanzang to subdue him.

Tang Xuanzang accepted Zhu Bajie as his disciple after Sun Wukong explained that Guanyin Bodhisattva had appointed him to join the Journey to the West. Old Master Gao kept asking to eat Zhu Bajie's meat, leaving Tang Xuanzang speechless as Zhu Bajie joined the group.

• Sun Wukong told Tang Xuanzang that Guanyin Bodhisattva had designated Zhu Bajie as his disciple, so he would not fight him even for extra payment.
• Old Master Gao begged Tang Xuanzang to protect him from Zhu Bajie, then asked whether he could still eat the Pig Demon’s meat.
• Zhu Bajie knelt before Tang Xuanzang, introduced himself as the disciple Guanyin had sent to protect him, and asked to be accepted.
• Tang Xuanzang accepted Zhu Bajie as his disciple and renamed him Zhu Wuneng, which Sun Wukong privately mocked.
• Old Master Gao tugged at Tang Xuanzang’s sleeve and asked when they could slaughter Zhu Bajie for his meat.

After Tang Xuanzang and his disciples left Gao Family Village, Old Master Gao realized they had taken Gao Cuilan with them. At Spirit Mountain, Eastern Sovereign Taiyi recovered with Mahavairocana Tathagata’s help, announced that he would rebuild the Demon Court, and urged his nephew to leave the Buddhist Sect before departing.

• Zhu Bajie frightened Old Master Gao into promising not to eat pork again, then Tang Xuanzang, Sun Wukong, and Zhu Bajie continued their Journey to the West.
• After the group left, Gao Fu reminded Old Master Gao that Gao Cuilan had gone with them, and Old Master Gao tried to chase after them but could not catch up.
• Mahavairocana Tathagata used supreme merit to heal the injured Eastern Sovereign Taiyi.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi rejected Mahavairocana Tathagata’s offer to join the Buddhist Sect and said he planned to rebuild the Demon Court with him.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi warned Mahavairocana Tathagata to leave the Buddhist Sect, then departed Spirit Mountain.

Eastern Sovereign Taiyi left Spirit Mountain after refusing to join the Buddhist Sect and headed for Beiju Luzhou. There, Demon Master Kunpeng clashed with Nine Infants over his alliance with the Heavenly Court, and their fight threatened to destroy the Demon Master Palace.

• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi rejected the Buddhist Sect’s offer, relieving Tathagata and frustrating Randeng and Maitreya, then departed for Beiju Luzhou.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi traveled to Beiju Luzhou, where Kunpeng and former Demon Court generals Nine Infants and Ghost Chariot had gathered the demons in the Demon Master Palace.
• Ghost Chariot challenged Kunpeng over submitting to the Heavenly Court, and Nine Infants called him Haotian’s dog and said he was unfit to lead the Demon Master Palace.
• Kunpeng and Nine Infants exchanged threats, unleashed their auras, and destroyed the hall as the other demons fled.
• Nine Infants refused to apologize to Kunpeng and demanded that he repent and cut ties with the Heavenly Court.

Demon Master Kunpeng confronted Nine Infants and Ghost Chariot, then fled rather than fight the two peak quasi-saints. As he congratulated himself on escaping, Eastern Sovereign Taiyi caught up with him and attacked while Haotian was absent.

• Demon Master Kunpeng declared that Nine Infants had to die for opposing Haotian, and Nine Infants condemned him for becoming Haotian’s lapdog.
• Ghost Chariot joined Nine Infants against Demon Master Kunpeng, who arrogantly claimed he could defeat them both.
• Demon Master Kunpeng transformed into a Great Peng and fled, while Nine Infants and Ghost Chariot watched in disbelief.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi appeared above the fleeing Demon Master Kunpeng and reminded him that Haotian was not there to protect him.
• Demon Master Kunpeng begged Eastern Sovereign Taiyi to wait, but Eastern Sovereign Taiyi struck him with a palm and sent him flying.

Kunpeng crashed into the ruins of Demon Master Palace after Eastern Sovereign Taiyi defeated him, then mocked Taiyi and the demons for planning to restore the Demon Court. Taiyi ordered Kunpeng’s execution, but Kunpeng remained defiant and challenged Ghost Chariot despite his injuries.

• Kunpeng was hurled back into Demon Master Palace, destroying it, and Ghost Chariot and Nine Infants wondered who had injured him.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi appeared and reunited with his former generals, Ghost Chariot and Nine Infants, who urged him to rebuild the Demon Court.
• The demons cheered for Taiyi, while Kunpeng dismissed their hopes as ignorant because he feared Haotian’s power.
• Taiyi announced that rebuilding the Demon Court could wait and declared that Kunpeng would be killed.
• Kunpeng taunted Taiyi by invoking Haotian, and Ghost Chariot attacked him, sending the injured Kunpeng flying.
• Kunpeng laughed and claimed Ghost Chariot could not have touched him if he had not already been injured.

The True Martial Great Emperor rescued the injured Kunpeng from Ghost Chariot and took him back to the Heavenly Court. After the Great Emperor warned Kunpeng to behave himself, Kunpeng headed to the High Cloud Palace, confident he would soon be made a Great Emperor.

• Ghost Chariot prepared to kill the injured Kunpeng, but Kunpeng called on his true Majesty for help.
• The True Martial Great Emperor struck down Ghost Chariot's attack and declared that Kunpeng's fate belonged to the Heavenly Court.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi allowed the True Martial Great Emperor to take Kunpeng away, choosing to focus on gathering demons and establishing the Demon Court.
• The True Martial Great Emperor brought Kunpeng through the South Heaven Gate and released him, then warned him to behave himself in the Heavenly Court.
• Kunpeng set off for the High Cloud Palace, privately expecting to receive the title of Great Emperor.

Hun Xiu appointed Kunpeng, the ancient Demon Master, to guard the South Heaven Gate as a Gate-keeping Divine Beast, forcing him to swallow his humiliation. Meanwhile, Sun Wukong arrived at the gate seeking help against the Yellow Wind Monster and was startled by Kunpeng’s Great Peng form.

• Hun Xiu made Kunpeng the South Heaven Gate’s Gate-keeping Divine Beast instead of appointing him a Great Emperor.
• Kunpeng suppressed his anger, accepted the post, and left to guard the South Heaven Gate as a Great Peng.
• Tang Xuanzang’s group continued west after receiving the Heart Sutra from Monk Wuchao at Futu Mountain.
• At Yellow Wind Ridge, the Yellow Wind Monster captured Tang Xuanzang, and Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie sought reinforcements from the Heavenly Court.
• Sun Wukong arrived at the South Heaven Gate and exclaimed at the sight of the enormous Great Peng.

Sun Wukong went to the Heavenly Court for help with the Yellow Wind Monster and met Kunpeng at the South Heaven Gate. He returned to Yellow Wind Ridge with Great Master Lingbao, who revealed that Zhu Bajie was his martial nephew and confronted the Yellow Wind Monster.

• Sun Wukong mistook Kunpeng for a huge bird at the South Heaven Gate, and Mo Liqing explained who Kunpeng was before directing him toward a Daoist who could subdue the Yellow Wind Monster.
• Sun Wukong met Great Master Lingbao, who said the Yellow Haired Rat had escaped from his home and caused trouble at Yellow Wind Ridge.
• Sun Wukong brought Great Master Lingbao to Yellow Wind Ridge, where Lingbao recognized Zhu Bajie as his martial nephew and Zhu Bajie paid his respects.
• Guanyin wondered why Lingji had resumed the identity of Lingbao, while the Yellow Wind Monster recognized the voice outside Yellow Wind Cave as his teacher’s.

Great Master Lingbao subdued Yellow Wind Monster and took the merit for the Yellow Wind Ridge trial, while Bodhisattva Lingji waited in vain on Mount Sumeru. When Lingji arrived to confront the supposed impostor, Lingbao declared his own identity and rebuked Lingji for abandoning his place among Chanjiao’s Twelve Golden Immortals.

• Great Master Lingbao subdued Yellow Wind Monster, and Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie rescued Tang Xuanzang from Yellow Wind Cave.
• Great Master Lingbao confronted Guanyin, who sensed that something about him was strange.
• Bodhisattva Lingji calculated that the Yellow Wind Ridge trial had already passed and rushed there, furious that someone had taken his merit.
• Lingji demanded answers from Guanyin, then turned to face Great Master Lingbao and accused him of impersonation.
• Lingbao claimed he was the original Great Master Lingbao and criticized Lingji for leaving the Twelve Golden Immortals to become a Buddhist bodhisattva.

Lingji confronted the impostor Great Master Lingbao, who escaped after accusing him of betraying Chanjiao. At the Flowing Sand River, the Red-Haired Monster captured Tang Xuanzang and recognized Zhu Bajie's Nine-Toothed Rake, asking if he was his brother.

• Great Master Lingbao fought off Lingji's Flying Dragon Treasure Staff and vanished after threatening to kill him for betraying Chanjiao.
• Lingji left in a rage, while Guanyin worried over the next trial and her share of its merit.
• Sun Wukong sent Zhu Bajie underwater to rescue Tang Xuanzang after the Red-Haired Monster captured him.
• The Red-Haired Monster spared Tang Xuanzang because he believed the pilgrim's tenth incarnation would free him from the Flowing Sand River.
• Zhu Bajie confronted the Red-Haired Monster, who recognized his Nine-Toothed Rake and asked, "Brother, is that you?"

The Red-Haired Monster and Zhu Bajie recognized each other as former Heavenly Court comrades and explained how they had ended up in their current forms. The Red-Haired Monster revealed that Guanyin had ordered him to capture Tang Xuanzang to create an obstacle, and he planned to release him when help arrived so he could escape the Flowing Sand River.

• The Red-Haired Monster recognized Zhu Bajie as the former Marshal Tian Peng, and they identified each other by the Crescent Shovel and Nine-Toothed Rake before embracing.
• The Red-Haired Monster explained that Zhang Bairen had punished him over a Glazed Lamp, while Zhu Bajie explained that he had entered the wrong pig womb after being banished.
• The Red-Haired Monster revealed that the nine skulls on his necklace belonged to Tang Xuanzang's previous incarnations, whom he had eaten under Guanyin's orders.
• Zhu Bajie asked to taste Tang Xuanzang, but the Red-Haired Monster said Tang Xuanzang could not be eaten because he was destined to complete his merits.
• The Red-Haired Monster explained that he had captured Tang Xuanzang to cause trouble for Zhu Bajie and would release him when Guanyin sent someone, freeing himself from the Flowing Sand River's restraints.

Sun Wukong discovered Zhu Bajie feasting with the Red-Haired Monster, who revealed he had once been the Curtain-Raising General and was meant to join the Journey to the West. Guanyin freed Sha Wujing from his red-haired form, but Hun Xiu arrived and claimed that no one from his Heavenly Court could join the Buddhist Sect without his permission.

• Worried about Zhu Bajie, Sun Wukong transformed into a fish, entered the Red-Haired Monster's cave, and found Tang Xuanzang unconscious while Zhu Bajie feasted with the monster.
• Zhu Bajie introduced the Red-Haired Monster as a former Curtain-Raising General assigned to protect Tang Xuanzang, and Sun Wukong joined their feast.
• Guanyin arrived at the Flowing Sand River, discovered the group was eating and drinking below, and summoned them before restoring Sha Wujing to his normal form.
• Guanyin told Sha Wujing to protect Tang Xuanzang, but Hun Xiu appeared and challenged the transfer of anyone from his Heavenly Court to the Buddhist Sect.
• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing recognized Hun Xiu and knelt in fear, leaving Sun Wukong confused by their reaction.

Sun Wukong arrogantly challenged Hun Xiu, mistaking him for the weak Jade Emperor he had once humiliated. Hun Xiu spared him but ordered Guanyin to tell Tathagata to come to the Heavenly Court with a satisfactory offering, leaving the Buddhist Sect facing trouble because of Sun Wukong’s insolence.

• Sun Wukong called Hun Xiu the old Jade Emperor, demanded to be addressed as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and raised his Golden Cudgel.
• Guanyin apologized for Sun Wukong’s behavior, but Sun Wukong continued to boast that he could defeat Hun Xiu.
• Guanyin shouted at Sun Wukong, knocking him from the clouds, then tightened his hoop until he screamed and fainted.
• Hun Xiu told Guanyin he would not bicker with a monkey, but ordered her to summon Tathagata to the Heavenly Court after the matter was settled.
• Hun Xiu warned that Tathagata must bring something satisfactory or might not be allowed to leave, and Guanyin agreed to relay his demand.

Hun Xiu assigned Sha Wujing to help Tang Xuanzang complete the Journey to the West before returning to the Heavenly Court, while Tathagata decided to replace the troublesome Sun Wukong and cancel the Four Saints Test. Months later, the Ginseng Fruit Tree vanished, prompting Guanyin to seek Tathagata’s help and Zhenyuanzi to leave Primeval Lord of Heaven’s sermon to find it.

• Hun Xiu arranged for Sha Wujing to accompany Tang Xuanzang on the Journey to the West and return to the Heavenly Court after the pilgrimage.
• Sha Wujing joined Tang Xuanzang’s party, and the group crossed the Flowing Sand River after Sun Wukong awoke.
• Guanyin told Tathagata about Hun Xiu’s summons, and Tathagata resolved to replace Sun Wukong and cancel the Four Saints Test the Zen Mind.
• Months later, Guanyin discovered that the Ginseng Fruit Tree had disappeared and hurried to Spirit Mountain to consult Tathagata.
• Zhenyuanzi sensed that his connection to the Ginseng Fruit Tree had been severed, divined that it was gone, and left Primeval Lord of Heaven’s sermon to search for it.

After the Ginseng Fruit Tree vanished, Zhenyuanzi blamed Sun Wukong and the Buddhist Sect and tracked the fleeing pilgrims. Sun Wukong warned Zhenyuanzi that catching up could cost him his life, leaving the two facing one another in a sudden, absolute silence.

• Primeval Lord of Heaven failed to divine why the Ginseng Fruit Tree had vanished and sensed that an unseen force was throwing the Three Realms into chaos.
• Zhenyuanzi returned, found his Ginseng Fruit Tree gone, blamed Sun Wukong and the Buddhist Sect, and used the Book of Earth to locate the pilgrims.
• Sun Wukong fled with Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, but Zhenyuanzi caught up with them after they stopped to rest.
• Sun Wukong admitted he was Zhenyuanzi and warned him that he should not have caught up, because he might die there.
• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing realized Sun Wukong had deeply offended Zhenyuanzi as silence fell over heaven and earth.

Zhenyuanzi overwhelmed Sun Wukong, captured the scripture-seeking party, and imprisoned them at Five Elements Temple to force the Buddhist Sect to answer for the Ginseng Fruit Tree’s disappearance. He prepared a boiling-oil cauldron for the captives while Sun Wukong continued to defy him.

• Sun Wukong challenged Zhenyuanzi, who repeatedly sent him flying with effortless waves of his hand.
• Zhenyuanzi trapped Sun Wukong in the Sleeve of the Universe and swept Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing inside as well.
• Zhenyuanzi returned to Five Elements Temple and ordered Qingfeng and Mingyue to prepare a cauldron of boiling oil.
• Zhenyuanzi had the party bound to Stone Pillars and pierced the Pipa Bones of Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing to seal their magical power.
• Sun Wukong kept cursing Zhenyuanzi, who slapped him and warned that he would soon be unable to shout.

Tathagata and Guanyin arrived at Five Elements Temple after learning that the Ginseng Fruit Tree had vanished, hoping to prevent Zhenyuanzi from killing Sun Wukong and the others. Sun Wukong's repeated demands that they kill Zhenyuanzi enraged him, leaving Tathagata and Guanyin to face his demand for an explanation.

• Zhenyuanzi taunted Sun Wukong and claimed his Oil Cauldron could break even Tathagata's golden body.
• Guanyin reported the Ginseng Fruit Tree's disappearance to Tathagata, who could not divine its whereabouts and hurried with her to Five Elements Temple.
• Tathagata and Guanyin arrived as Sun Wukong insulted Zhenyuanzi while praising Tathagata.
• Sun Wukong begged Tathagata and Guanyin to kill Zhenyuanzi, prompting Zhenyuanzi to demand an explanation from them.
• Sun Wukong interrupted Tathagata's attempt to respond and urged him to help beat Zhenyuanzi, who threatened the pair with a fight.

Zhenyuanzi trapped Tathagata and Guanyin inside Five Elements Temple and demanded compensation for the missing Ginseng Fruit Tree and punishment for Sun Wukong. Tathagata agreed to let Zhenyuanzi throw Sun Wukong into the Oil Cauldron to appease him, while intending to save or heal the monkey afterward.

• Zhenyuanzi activated Five Elements Temple's formation, trapping Tathagata and Guanyin, and demanded an explanation for the lost Ginseng Fruit Tree and Sun Wukong's insults.
• Guanyin rebuked Sun Wukong and warned him that he had brought about a monstrous calamity.
• Tathagata apologized on behalf of the Buddhist Sect and offered compensation, but Zhenyuanzi insisted Sun Wukong be punished first.
• Tathagata proposed throwing Sun Wukong into Zhenyuanzi's Oil Cauldron, accepting the danger to calm Zhenyuanzi and continue negotiations.

Zhenyuanzi punished Sun Wukong for the destruction of his Ginseng Fruit Tree, then demanded that the Buddhist Sect resolve the matter before he released Tang Xuanzang and his group. Unable to discover what happened, the Two Western Saints offered Zhenyuanzi additional merit or threatened war.

• Zhenyuanzi threw Sun Wukong into the Oil Cauldron and amplified his senses so he experienced the frying as prolonged torment, while keeping his soul intact.
• After Tathagata asked whether Zhenyuanzi had vented his anger, Zhenyuanzi agreed to discuss the Ginseng Fruit Tree with Tathagata and Guanyin.
• Tathagata went to the Pure Land of Bliss and told Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin that the Ginseng Fruit Tree had vanished without a trace.
• Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin failed to deduce what had happened, even after joining forces.
• Daoist Zhunti ordered Tathagata to offer Zhenyuanzi an additional share of Journey to the West's merit if he released Tang Xuanzang and his group, or threaten war if he refused.