Chapter Summaries

After Randeng and Maitreya returned from the Heavenly Court, Tathagata learned that Subhuti had likely perished and was left to handle Hun Xiu’s demands. As Tathagata considered compromising, a projection appeared, and he recognized the World Honored One.

• Randeng and Maitreya returned to Spirit Mountain badly injured, while Tathagata asked what had happened to Subhuti.
• Randeng and Maitreya’s grief led Tathagata to realize Subhuti might have perished in the Heavenly Court.
• Randeng and Maitreya said they would enter seclusion and leave the Buddhist Sect’s affairs to Tathagata.
• Tathagata weighed Hun Xiu’s excessive demands and considered compromising, since the Scripture Pilgrim was in Hun Xiu’s hands.
• A projection appeared in Tathagata’s secret chamber, and Tathagata bowed, greeting the World Honored One.

Daoist Zhunti sent a projection to the Heavenly Court to demand the release of the Scripture Pilgrim, but Hun Xiu rejected his claims and dismissed the projection. Chi Yao warned Hun Xiu that the Buddhist Sect would not let the matter go and urged him to release the prisoner, but he refused.

• Daoist Zhunti's projection questioned Tathagata about the death of his incarnation and then headed to the Heavenly Court.
• Tathagata recounted what had happened and hoped Daoist Zhunti could retrieve the Scripture Pilgrim from Hun Xiu.
• Daoist Zhunti's projection confronted Hun Xiu in the Jade Pool, claiming the Journey to the West was ordained by the Heavenly Dao.
• Hun Xiu challenged Daoist Zhunti's authority and accused him of defying the Dao Ancestor's decree, then erased his projection with a wave of his hand.
• Daoist Zhunti complained to Daoist Jieyin that Hun Xiu had berated him, while Chi Yao warned Hun Xiu the Buddhist Sect would not let the matter rest.
• Chi Yao urged Hun Xiu to release the Scripture Pilgrim, but he refused.

Hun Xiu accepted the Buddhist Sect’s magical treasures in exchange for agreeing to continue Journey to the West and releasing Tang Sanzang. After Tathagata departed with the pilgrim, Hun Xiu resolved to claim the journey’s merit as the Three Realms approached chaos.

• Chi Yao urged Hun Xiu to return Tang Sanzang, but he assured her he could handle the Buddhist Sect.
• Daoist Zhunti nearly descended into the Three Realms in anger after Hun Xiu dispersed his projection, but Daoist Jieyin stopped him.
• Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin suspected an unseen powerful being had manipulated Zhunti’s anger, though neither could divine who it was.
• Daoist Jieyin instructed Tathagata to offer Hun Xiu three top-grade, ten high-grade, and fifteen mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures to secure the journey’s continuation and Tang Sanzang’s release.
• Tathagata brought the treasures to Hun Xiu, who accepted them, agreed to Journey to the West, and returned the unharmed Tang Sanzang.
• Tathagata left with Tang Sanzang, while Hun Xiu privately resolved to take all the journey’s merit and anticipated chaos in the Three Realms.

After Tang Sanzang reached Two Realms Mountain, he found Sun Wukong trapped beneath an unusually enormous Five Elements Mountain and removed its talisman with Guanyin Bodhisattva’s help. The mountain grew impossibly heavy instead of releasing Sun Wukong, and Guanyin tried to break through the disruption with her magic.

• Tathagata Buddha returned Tang Sanzang to Spirit Mountain, checked him for tampering, erased some of his memories, and sent him onward with Taibai Jinxing’s rescue story intact.
• Tang Sanzang reached Two Realms Mountain, where Sun Wukong had waited for three years after Guanyin Bodhisattva promised a Scripture Pilgrim would free him.
• Tang Sanzang hesitated to climb the unnaturally tall Five Elements Mountain, so Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared and used a spell to send him to its summit.
• Tang Sanzang removed the talisman, but the mountain became far heavier and crushed Sun Wukong deeper into the earth instead of freeing him.
• Guanyin Bodhisattva reassured Tang Sanzang and struck the mountain with her magical power as Sun Wukong pleaded for help.

Guanyin discovered that Mount Buzhou had replaced the Five Elements Mountain suppressing Sun Wukong, while a Green-Robed Daoist she recognized as Tathagata took Tang Sanzang away. Guanyin, Samantabhadra, and Manjusri failed to destroy Mount Buzhou, prompting Tathagata and the Buddhas to head for Two Realms Mountain as Hun Xiu watched his plan unfold.

• Guanyin recognized the mountain crushing Sun Wukong as the supposedly destroyed Mount Buzhou and summoned Tathagata for help.
• The Green-Robed Daoist appeared, addressed Guanyin as Cihang, and departed with Tang Sanzang, leaving Sun Wukong trapped.
• Guanyin and Samantabhadra attacked Mount Buzhou together, but their first strike failed and increased the pressure on Sun Wukong.
• Guanyin and Samantabhadra attacked again, damaging Mount Buzhou without destroying it, and Manjusri joined their effort.
• Tathagata learned that the Five Elements Mountain had become Mount Buzhou and led the Buddhas toward Two Realms Mountain.
• The Heavenly Court observed the upheaval, while Hun Xiu declared that no one could refuse his decision.

Tathagata and the Buddhist Sect destroyed the apparent Mount Buzhou and rescued Sun Wukong, but the mountain’s remains vanished and Tang Sanzang was missing. At Spirit Mountain, Tathagata confronted a green-robed figure who claimed to be Duobao, and their battle left Tathagata at a disadvantage.

• Tathagata arrived at Two Realms Mountain, learned that someone impersonating him had taken Tang Sanzang, and discovered through divination that the abductor shared his origin.
• Tathagata and the Buddhist Sect destroyed Mount Buzhou, but its fragments disappeared as the Arhats tried to collect them.
• Tathagata healed Sun Wukong and placed a Tightening Hoop on his head before ordering him to wait for the Scripture Pilgrim.
• Sun Wukong tried to leave for Flower and Fruit Mountain, but the Tightening Hoop constricted and forced him to plead for mercy.
• Hun Xiu showed the events to the gods in High Cloud Palace, while a green-robed Daoist waited for Tathagata at Spirit Mountain.
• The green-robed Daoist identified himself as Duobao, and he fought Tathagata, whose weakened cultivation left him faintly suppressed.

Duobao escaped Tathagata and the Buddhist Sect’s Quasi-Saints with help from Hun Xiu, who brought Duobao’s disciple Golden Cicada from the past to replace Tang Xuanzang on the Journey to the West. Tathagata sought guidance from Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti, who discovered that Duobao was both the apparent impostor and the genuine figure, while Tang Xuanzang had reappeared at Two Realms Mountain.

• Duobao fought Tathagata at Spirit Mountain but could not defeat him while the Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus protected him.
• When the Buddhist Sect’s Quasi-Saints surrounded Duobao, Hun Xiu pulled him into the Void Space and saved him.
• Hun Xiu brought Golden Cicada from the past and asked him to replace Tang Xuanzang and undertake the Journey to the West; Golden Cicada agreed.
• Hun Xiu sent Golden Cicada away after preparing him, while the Buddhist Sect gathered at Spirit Mountain over Tang Xuanzang’s disappearance.
• Tathagata went to the Pure Land of Bliss in Chaos and told Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti that Tang Xuanzang had been abducted.
• Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti calculated that Duobao was the genuine figure, found Tang Xuanzang at Two Realms Mountain, and could not locate Duobao; Daoist Zhunti then gave Tathagata a Bodhi Seed.

Tathagata restored his strength and sent Sun Wukong and Tang Xuanzang westward, while Hun Xiu brought the Ancestral Dragon into the Three Realms to revive the Dragon Clan. At Eagle Sorrow Gorge, the Ancestral Dragon confronted Little White Dragon and demanded to be called Old Ancestor.

• Daoist Zhunti gave Tathagata a Bodhi Seed and ordered him to investigate Tang Xuanzang’s reappearance and protect the Journey to the West.
• Tathagata confirmed Tang Xuanzang’s identity, assigned Sun Wukong to protect him, and taught Tang Xuanzang the Golden Fillet Spell.
• Tang Xuanzang used the spell to subdue Sun Wukong, and the pair set off westward on a white horse.
• Hun Xiu summoned the Ancestral Dragon, showed him the Dragon Clan’s future decline, and asked him to restore its former might.
• The Ancestral Dragon’s dragon might reached Eagle Sorrow Gorge, where Little White Dragon emerged and was told to address him as Old Ancestor.

Ancestral Dragon Ao Zhan transformed Little White Dragon into a five-clawed true dragon and raised his cultivation to the Grand Unity Mystic Immortal realm. Little White Dragon swallowed Tang Xuanzang and the white horse, and as Guanyin attacked him, he warned her that she might not leave Eagle Sorrow Gorge alive.

• Ancestral Dragon Ao Zhan revealed himself to Little White Dragon, suppressed him, and infused him with golden aura that transformed him into a five-clawed true dragon at the Grand Unity Mystic Immortal realm.
• Little White Dragon thanked Ancestral Dragon Ao Zhan and questioned whether he should still serve as Tang Xuanzang’s mount, but Ancestral Dragon Ao Zhan challenged him about serving the Buddhist Sect.
• Little White Dragon swallowed Tang Xuanzang and the white horse when they arrived at Eagle Sorrow Gorge, then repelled Sun Wukong with his roar.
• Guanyin attacked Little White Dragon, but he resisted her and refused to spit out Tang Xuanzang.
• Little White Dragon warned Guanyin that if she attacked him again, she might not leave Eagle Sorrow Gorge alive.

Ancestral Dragon appeared in time to save Little White Dragon and defeated Guanyin with a single attack. After Tathagata Buddha arrived with three thousand Arhats, Ancestral Dragon challenged him, and their battle was about to begin.

• Ancestral Dragon appeared before Guanyin’s attack could hit Little White Dragon and nullified it.
• Ancestral Dragon repelled Guanyin’s attack and crushed Eagle Sorrow Gorge with a dragon claw, leaving Guanyin severely wounded.
• Sun Wukong watched in disbelief as Guanyin was defeated, while Little White Dragon rejoiced at his ancestor’s strength.
• Tathagata Buddha arrived with three thousand Arhats, and Sun Wukong regained confidence that the Buddha would defeat Ancestral Dragon.
• Ancestral Dragon confirmed that Tathagata was the Buddhist Sect’s leader and challenged him to test who was strongest in the Three Realms.
• Tathagata summoned the Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus and moved to meet Ancestral Dragon as their battle was about to erupt.

Ancestral Dragon Ao Zhan defeated Tathagata in battle, shocking the Three Realms and revealing his identity to the Heavenly Court. After Ao Zhan sensed Hun Xiu’s overwhelming power, Tathagata rose from the ruins and asked who his opponent was; Ao Zhan identified himself as the long-dead Ancestral Dragon.

• The Saints, Dao Ancestor Hongjun, and the gods of the High Cloud Palace sensed or witnessed the dragon’s roar and were shocked by the Ancestral Dragon’s return.
• Ao Zhan stopped testing Tathagata, tore through the Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus’s defenses with a claw strike, and sent Tathagata crashing into a mountain.
• Sun Wukong and the onlookers were stunned by Tathagata’s defeat, while Hun Xiu told the Heavenly Court that the golden-robed fighter was Ancestral Dragon Ao Zhan.
• Ao Zhan met Hun Xiu’s gaze from afar and felt the immense difference in their power.
• Tathagata crawled from the ruins, asked Ao Zhan who he was, and heard him declare himself Ancestral Dragon Ao Zhan.

Ancestral Dragon returned and strengthened the Dragon Clan, then confronted Tathagata after recognizing his attempt to redirect trouble toward the Heavenly Court. As Ancestral Dragon attacked with killing intent, Tathagata called for a Bodhisattva to save him.

• Tathagata and the hidden experts of the Three Realms were shocked when Ancestral Dragon appeared.
• The Dragon Clan gathered at Eagle Sorrow Gorge, knelt before Ancestral Dragon, and received a great enhancement to their bloodlines.
• Ancestral Dragon asked Tathagata whether he objected to restoring the Dragon Clan's former Saint's Might, and Tathagata redirected the matter toward Hun Xiu.
• The East Sea Dragon King claimed the Jade Emperor could not rival Ancestral Dragon, but Ancestral Dragon's glare frightened him into kneeling.
• Ancestral Dragon accused Tathagata of diverting trouble and prepared to kill him, so Tathagata shouted, "Bodhisattva, save me!"

Kong Xuan appeared to save Tathagata from Ancestral Dragon and revealed that he was Yuan Feng’s son, the first peacock between heaven and earth. He refused to let Ancestral Dragon kill Tathagata and transformed to face him in battle.

• Ancestral Dragon shattered Tathagata’s Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus barrier and sent him crashing into the ruins, prompting Tathagata to plead for help again.
• Kong Xuan appeared, dissolved Ancestral Dragon’s attack, and told Tathagata to beg with the proper attitude.
• Kong Xuan identified himself as Yuan Feng’s son and the first peacock between heaven and earth, while Ancestral Dragon recognized Yuan Feng’s aura in him.
• Kong Xuan declared that Tathagata was his son and refused to step aside when Ancestral Dragon threatened to kill him.
• Kong Xuan challenged Ancestral Dragon and transformed into a massive peacock covered in Five-Colored Divine Light.

Ancestral Dragon defeated Kong Xuan in their duel, but Kong Xuan called on Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra to help suppress him. Ancestral Dragon unleashed his dragon might, injuring the Buddhist forces, and Kong Xuan borrowed Tathagata’s Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus before attacking again.

• Ancestral Dragon defeated Kong Xuan in a duel, leaving Kong Xuan injured, but acknowledged his potential to surpass Yuan Feng.
• Kong Xuan declared he would surpass Ancestral Dragon, and Ancestral Dragon promised to give him the chance to chase after him.
• Kong Xuan summoned Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, intending to join forces and send Ancestral Dragon away from the Three Realms.
• Ancestral Dragon transformed into a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon and unleashed a roar that injured the three Buddhist quasi-Saints, the Arhats, and watching experts.
• Kong Xuan transformed into a giant peacock, borrowed Tathagata’s Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus, and prepared to attack Ancestral Dragon again.

Hun Xiu intervened in the Ancestral Dragon’s battle against the Buddhist Sect, claiming he had come to uphold justice and prevent the Three Realms from being damaged. When Kong Xuan challenged him, Hun Xiu struck him down with one blow, leaving the Three Realms stunned.

• Ancestor Minghe watched the Ancestral Dragon fight Kong Xuan and three other quasi-saints, then wondered whether he could challenge the Ancestral Dragon within the Blood Sea.
• Great Sun Tathagata Buddha ambushed the Ancestral Dragon from behind, wounding him and joining Kong Xuan, Guanyin, Samantabhadra, and Manjushri in surrounding him.
• Hun Xiu appeared and urged the fighters to stop for the sake of the Three Realms, but Kong Xuan challenged him to prove his strength.
• Hun Xiu vanished and struck Kong Xuan in the abdomen, sending him crashing into the ruins of Eagle Sorrow Gorge and shocking everyone watching.

Hun Xiu defeated Kong Xuan in one move and forced the Buddhist Sect to give up its claim on Ancestral Dragon, who released Tang Xuanzang and led the Dragon Clan away. As the Journey to the West resumed under Guanyin’s watch, Ancestral Dragon summoned an ancient Dragon Gate above the East Sea.

• Hun Xiu defeated Kong Xuan with a single strike, and Kong Xuan agreed to let Ancestral Dragon go if he returned the Scripture Pilgrim.
• Ao Lie released the unconscious Tang Xuanzang, and Ancestral Dragon thanked Hun Xiu before leaving with the Dragon Clan.
• Tathagata restored Eagle Sorrow Gorge, checked Tang Xuanzang, and sent Sun Wukong and Tang Xuanzang west while Guanyin followed them in secret.
• Ancestral Dragon returned to the Crystal Palace and summoned an ancient Dragon Gate above the East Sea.

Ancestral Dragon announced the Dragon Gate and privately sent Little White Dragon Ao Lie on a task. Ao Lie then joined Tang Xuanzang’s journey by becoming his white horse, leaving Sun Wukong injured after he tried to touch him.

• Ancestral Dragon announced that aquatic creatures who crossed the Dragon Gate could join the Dragon Clan and gave Ao Lie a private task.
• Ao Lie appeared on the Scripture Pilgrim’s route, put Tang Xuanzang to sleep, and reassured Sun Wukong that he meant no harm.
• Guanyin emerged to protect Sun Wukong, and Ao Lie said he had come to carry out earlier arrangements.
• Ao Lie swallowed Tang Xuanzang’s white horse and transformed into a white horse himself, after which Guanyin cast a spell that made changing back difficult.
• Sun Wukong tried to touch Ao Lie’s rump, but Ao Lie kicked him into the ground and seriously injured him.

Tang Xuanzang’s party reached Guanyin Zen Monastery, where the Brocade Kasaya vanished despite Guanyin’s arrangements. Guanyin pursued the appearing kasaya into a void beyond the Three Realms, where a figure appeared with it.

• Sun Wukong rode with Tang Xuanzang and explained that the transformed White Dragon Horse made the journey more comfortable.
• Guanyin inspected Guanyin Zen Monastery and found the Black Bear Demon, the abbot, and the monastery unchanged.
• Hun Xiu revealed himself behind Guanyin alongside Daoist Cihang, whom he had brought back to the Three Realms.
• Sun Wukong and Guanyin subdued the Black Bear Demon, but he denied taking the missing Brocade Kasaya.
• Guanyin failed to locate the kasaya through calculation, then vanished from Sun Wukong and the Black Bear Demon’s sight when it appeared.
• Guanyin found herself in a void beyond the Three Realms, where the Brocade Kasaya appeared alongside a figure.

Guanyin confronted a mysterious woman who had taken the Brocade Kasaya and demanded that she identify her in exchange for its return. The woman revealed that she was Daoist Cihang, Guanyin’s former identity, leaving Guanyin stunned.

• A woman in the Brocade Kasaya appeared before Guanyin without warning, and Guanyin demanded that she return it.
• The woman refused to return the kasaya unless Guanyin named her identity, while Guanyin struggled to recognize her familiar back and voice.
• Guanyin asked the woman to turn around, and the woman revealed a face, aura, bloodline, and Karma identical to Guanyin’s.
• Guanyin demanded to know who she was, and the woman identified herself as Daoist Cihang, Guanyin’s former identity.

Hun Xiu captured Eastern Sovereign Taiyi and forced him to submit, then sent him to recruit Zhu Bajie for his plans. As Sun Wukong’s group approached Gao Family Village, Zhu Bajie’s disguise failed and his family rejected him, while the Scripture Pilgrim remained unaware of the forces gathering around him.

• Guanyin confronted Daoist Cihang, who returned the Brocade Kasaya and vanished after threatening to punish Guanyin for betraying Chanjiao.
• Hun Xiu summoned Eastern Sovereign Taiyi, compelled him to submit, and sent him a beam of light before dispatching him to Zhu Bajie’s cave.
• Eastern Sovereign Taiyi appeared before Zhu Bajie, frightened him into submission, and revealed his intention to recruit him and announce his return to the Three Realms.
• At Gao Family Village, Zhu Bajie’s transformation failed and Old Master Gao, Gao Cuilan, and the rest of the Gao Family saw his pig-headed form.
• Gao Cuilan called Zhu Bajie a Pig Demon and ordered him to leave the Gao Family.