Chapter Summaries

Sun Wukong persuaded Tang Sanzang to stay in the Western Liang Women's Country while he sought a solution to the country's need for men. The Bodhisattva confronted Sun Wukong, then remained conflicted about whether to follow him or watch Tang Sanzang.

• Sun Wukong asked the Queen whether she sought Tang Sanzang for love or to solve the Women's Country's predicament, and she confessed she sincerely wanted to stay with him.
• Sun Wukong convinced Tang Sanzang to help the Women's Country, then flew toward the Heavenly Court while Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing accompanied Tang Sanzang and the Queen back to the imperial carriage.
• The Bodhisattva intercepted Sun Wukong and demanded to know why he had let the Queen take Tang Sanzang back.
• Sun Wukong said he was going to ask the God of Wealth for help and urged the Bodhisattva to think of a solution too.
• After Sun Wukong flew away, the Bodhisattva hesitated between following him and keeping watch over Tang Sanzang.

The Bodhisattva intervened when the Queen of the Women's Country tried to consummate her union with Tang Sanzang, leaving the Queen asleep and Tang Sanzang waiting for dawn. Meanwhile, Sun Wukong learned that Tang Sanzang’s essence blood could balance the Mother-Child River, then returned to the Women's Country with Bixiao to tell him.

• The Bodhisattva reached the Women's Country and saw the Queen take Tang Sanzang to her bedchamber while Zhu Bajie dismissed Sha Wujing’s concern.
• The Queen tried to seduce Tang Sanzang, but the Bodhisattva put her into a deep sleep before he lost control.
• Tang Sanzang covered the sleeping Queen and moved to a chair, where he waited for dawn.
• Zhao Gongming told Sun Wukong that Tang Sanzang’s essence blood could balance the Mother-Child River, though doing so would deplete his foundation.
• Sun Wukong decided to tell Tang Sanzang about the solution and brought Bixiao back to the Women's Country.
• Bixiao saw the Bodhisattva watching Tang Sanzang and asked Cihang whether she had come to tease the newlyweds.

Bixiao and the Bodhisattva arrived in the Queen’s chamber as Sun Wukong explained a way to solve the Western Liang Women's Country’s problem, though it would cost Tang Sanzang his accumulated merit. Tang Sanzang chose compassion over preserving his cultivation, and his resolve left his Dao heart clear.

• Bixiao, the Bodhisattva, and Sun Wukong descended into the Queen’s chamber, where Bixiao woke the Queen from her sleep.
• Sun Wukong introduced Bixiao and explained Zhao Gongming’s proposed solution to the Women's Country’s problem, including its costs.
• The Bodhisattva objected to the plan and urged Tang Sanzang to wait for the Buddha Ancestor to resolve the matter.
• Bixiao rejected the Bodhisattva’s appeal to protect the Buddha Ancestor’s path to Primordial Origin.
• Tang Sanzang chose to help the Women's Country despite the cost to his cultivation, saying that ignoring its suffering would flaw his Buddhist heart.

Bixiao teased Tang Sanzang and the Queen about marrying, but the Bodhisattva stopped her from disrupting the pilgrimage. Sun Wukong helped Tang Sanzang transform the Mother-Child River, and after the Queen asked to join him, Bixiao offered to take her as a disciple, leaving Tang Sanzang alarmed.

• Bixiao urged Tang Sanzang to marry the Queen and even offered to ask Tathagata Buddha Ancestor to let her join the scripture journey, until the Bodhisattva told Bixiao to stop causing trouble.
• Sun Wukong took Tang Sanzang and the others to the Mother-Child River, where Tang Sanzang used his essence blood to change its yin and yang and restore normal births in the Women's Country.
• Sun Wukong and the Bodhisattva saw merit and destiny pour into Tang Sanzang, increasing his merit as the river became peaceful and ordinary.
• The Queen tested the river's change, then later offered to give up her throne and follow Tang Sanzang, but he refused to take her along.
• Bixiao offered to take the Queen as her disciple and teach her cultivation so she could pursue immortality and wait for Tang Sanzang, alarming him.

Bixiao took the Queen away to become her disciple, leaving Tang Sanzang and his companions to continue their journey after resolving the affairs of Women's Country. On the road, the Scorpion Demon attacked Tang Sanzang, but he struck her with a powerful golden-dragon punch.

• The Queen settled her country's affairs, became Bixiao's disciple, and left with her to cultivate.
• Bodhisattva departed to report the events to Tathagata, while Tang Sanzang and his disciples left Women's Country amid the citizens' gratitude.
• Zhu Bajie teased Tang Sanzang about the Queen, and Tang Sanzang denied having a sweetheart.
• The Scorpion Demon attacked Tang Sanzang with a tornado and her tail, but Tang Sanzang resisted the wind and saw the karmic force above her.
• Tang Sanzang shouted "Great Vajra Dragon" and sent the Scorpion Demon flying with a punch that formed two golden dragons.

After the Scorpion Demon was killed, Tathagata realized that the Journey to the West Tribulation was changing and considered restraining Sun Wukong, but a wisp of demonic energy entered him unnoticed. Wu Tian met Taiqing Dao Ancestor on Mount Shouyang and explained that the Faith Demon God and Demon Ancestor Luohu’s lingering soul were behind the turmoil.

• Tang Sanzang ordered Sun Wukong to track down the wounded Scorpion Demon, and Sun Wukong killed her before Star Lord of the Mao Mansion could intervene.
• Sun Wukong and the others cleared out the lesser demons, burned the cave, and Tang Sanzang chanted scriptures outside it.
• Tathagata traced the changes in the Tribulation back to Sun Wukong and considered finding a way to restrain him, but a wisp of demonic energy slipped into his body.
• Taiqing Dao Ancestor sensed that the Great Momentum of the Heavenly Dao had become impossible to foresee and was surprised when Wu Tian appeared before him.
• Wu Tian told Taiqing Dao Ancestor that the Faith Demon God had not truly died and was seeking to return through the Primordial World, with Demon Ancestor Luohu’s lingering soul involved.

Wu Tian informed Taiqing Dao Ancestor that the coming tribulation might overlap with Journey to the West and proposed using its fortune to make Chi You and Duobao saints. Meanwhile, Tathagata sealed a Demonic Realm beneath Mount Ling but found its demonic energy rooted in him, then considered trapping Sun Wukong to keep the tribulation on course.

• Wu Tian told Taiqing that he intended to seize Luohu's Demon Ancestor position and use the fortune of the coming tribulations to help Chi You and Duobao attain sainthood.
• Taiqing asked about Sun Wukong, and Wu Tian replied that Wukong had his own opportunity.
• Tathagata sensed demonic energy beneath Mount Ling and discovered that a Demonic Realm was connected to the Western World's earth veins.
• Tathagata sealed the Demonic Realm and dissolved the escaped demonic energy, but could only suppress what had already taken root inside him with a treasure.
• Tathagata returned to the Great Hero Hall, concealed what had happened, and considered trapping Sun Wukong so the Journey to the West Tribulation could proceed.

Tang Sanzang’s group encountered highway robbers, and Tang Sanzang and Zhu Bajie dealt with them without driving Sun Wukong away. When Sun Wukong returned with food, he found another Sun Wukong among the group, and the two fought before the impostor proved he knew the Tight-Fillet Spell.

• Zhu Bajie rushed to fight the highway robbers, but Tang Sanzang killed nearly all of them and reminded Bajie to keep compassion in his heart.
• Tang Sanzang’s group continued traveling together, and Sun Wukong went to beg for food after Zhu Bajie urged him to help their master.
• Sun Wukong returned and saw another Sun Wukong holding Zhu Bajie by the ear, so the two claimed the other was an impostor and battled to a standstill.
• Zhu Bajie tried to identify the real Sun Wukong by asking each to reveal a secret, but both knew private details about their companions.
• Sun Wukong challenged the impostor to recite the Tight-Fillet Spell, but the other Sun Wukong recited it and made Tang Sanzang collapse in pain.

Sun Wukong and his lookalike agreed to travel to Mount Ling and ask Tathagata Buddha Ancestor to identify the real one. Meanwhile, Kong Xuan sent Nezha to retrieve Wu Zhiqi’s origin for Wukong, but Nezha found the Red-Haired Horse Monkey missing from the Huai River.

• Both Sun Wukongs recited the Tight-Fillet Spell, leaving Tang Sanzang and the others unable to distinguish the real one from the impostor.
• Sun Wukong challenged his double to go directly to Mount Ling, and they flew west while fighting and bickering.
• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing speculated about having two Monkey Brothers, while Tang Sanzang insisted Tathagata Buddha Ancestor would identify the demon.
• Kong Xuan told Nezha to retrieve Wu Zhiqi’s origin for Wukong and warned him to act discreetly.
• Nezha quietly traveled to the Huai River, but he could not find the Red-Haired Horse Monkey there.

Nezha discovered evidence that someone had stolen Sun Wukong’s opportunity, while Wu Tian learned that Di Jun and the others had been trapped beyond the domain and set out to rescue them. At Mount Ling, Tathagata identified one of the two Sun Wukongs as the Six-Eared Macaque and sent a golden alms bowl to suppress him.

• Nezha uncovered a hidden ruin and a bloodstained chain, then realized someone had stolen Wukong’s opportunity.
• Wu Tian learned that Chaos Demon Gods had trapped Di Jun and the others, entrusted the Primordial Wilderness to Taiqing Dao Ancestor, and departed to help.
• Taiqing offered Wu Tian the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda, but Wu Tian declined it.
• The two Sun Wukongs fought their way to Mount Ling, where Tathagata stopped them with his power.
• Tathagata identified the impostor as the Six-Eared Macaque and sent a golden alms bowl toward him; the targeted Sun Wukong suddenly understood what had happened.

Sun Wukong exposed the false Tathagata as a host for the returning Demon Ancestor Luohu, who called himself Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian. Duobao chose nirvana, extracted the Six-Eared Macaque’s origin and sent Sun Wukong away, leaving the fate of Mount Ling and the Western World uncertain.

• Sun Wukong used his Golden Eyes of Truth and saw black flames eroding Tathagata’s Golden Body Avatar, then declared that he was not the Buddha Ancestor.
• The Six-Eared Macaque attacked Sun Wukong while Tathagata’s golden light suppressed him, but Zhen Yuanzi’s Book of Earth aura repelled the macaque and struck Tathagata.
• The Book of Earth’s blow revealed that Demon Ancestor Luohu had borrowed Tathagata’s body and announced that he would be called Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian.
• Duobao regained control, declared his intent to enter nirvana and attain the Primordial Origin Dao, then used his remaining Buddha Light to extract the Six-Eared Macaque’s origin and send it into Sun Wukong.
• Duobao carried Sun Wukong beyond Mount Ling and vanished with him through a rift in the Western World.

Wu Tian took control of Mount Ling, recruited Ran Deng, and ordered an assault on the Heavenly Court as the Tribulation worsened. In the Heavenly Court, Kong Xuan chose to flee with Nezha to the Origin Realm, while Haotian rushed to join them.

• Wu Tian revived the Six-Eared Macaque with Demonic Qi, won his allegiance, and declared himself Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian.
• Wu Tian broke Ran Deng’s connection to the Investiture of the Gods, and Ran Deng and the rest of Mount Ling submitted to him.
• Wu Tian fused Buddha Light with Demonic Qi, then sent Ran Deng to attack the Heavenly Court and tasked the Six-Eared Macaque with stopping Sun Wukong’s group.
• Kong Xuan and Nezha learned that the Western World was shrouded in Demonic Qi and that Tathagata faced extinction as the Tribulation changed.
• Kong Xuan decided to avoid the conflict and return to the Origin Realm with Nezha, and Haotian begged them to take him along.

Haotian and Kong Xuan arranged to evacuate the Heavenly Court to the Origin Realm as the Tribulation grew more dangerous. Taishang Laojun put Sun Wukong in the alchemy furnace to refine the origins of the Four Primordial Monkeys, then sealed Tushita Palace until the Tribulation ended.

• Haotian said he would leave for the Origin Realm rather than confront Wu Tian, and Kong Xuan agreed to arrange the Heavenly Court’s evacuation.
• Tathagata’s remaining divine power carried Sun Wukong to Tushita Palace, where Taishang Laojun placed him in the alchemy furnace.
• Taishang Laojun explained that Sun Wukong would refine the origins of the Six-Eared Macaque, the Red-Haired Horse Monkey, and the other Primordial Monkeys to strengthen his body.
• Taishang Laojun retrieved the Long-Armed Ape’s origin from the void and sent it into the furnace with Sun Wukong.
• Yang Jian arrived to recover the origin, but Taishang Laojun told him to join Kong Xuan and Haotian in retreating to the Origin Realm.
• Taishang Laojun entered Tushita Palace, and Golden Horn and Silver Horn sealed its gates until the Tribulation ended.

After the Heavenly Court’s gods withdrew into the Origin Realm, Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian met Taiqing Dao Ancestor and agreed to let Tang Sanzang’s scripture journey determine who claimed the Tribulation’s fortune. Wu Tian then took control of Mount Ling, appointed Ran Deng Heavenly Emperor, and offered rewards to anyone who killed Tang Sanzang and his disciples.

• Kong Xuan organized the Heavenly Court’s gods to relocate into the Origin Realm, while Yang Jian and Nezha agreed to return later to help Wukong.
• Ran Deng arrived with the Western Sect at an empty Heavenly Court and found its people gone.
• Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian visited Taiqing Dao Ancestor, who agreed to let the Tribulation unfold as long as Wu Tian did not slaughter excessively.
• Wu Tian told Taiqing that Tang Sanzang’s success in obtaining the True Sutra would mean his defeat, while failure would give him the Tribulation’s fortune.
• Wu Tian appointed Ran Deng Heavenly Emperor and announced that he would preach the Dao and teach people to condense divine sparks with Belief Power.
• Wu Tian ordered that anyone who killed Tang Sanzang and his disciples would receive Western Sect true fruition, incense offerings, fortune, and the status of a direct disciple.

Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian spread his god-making method across the Primordial World, drawing Belief Power to himself while the new gods fought and corrupted the Human Clan. The Bodhisattva urged Tang Sanzang’s group to continue their journey, and Sun Wukong returned from Tushita Palace with his strength greatly increased.

• Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian used Belief Power to empower himself and suppressed the restless remnant soul of the Faith Demon God.
• The Bodhisattva explained the upheaval in the Primordial World to Tang Sanzang and his disciples, then told them the Journey to the West had to continue.
• Zhu Bajie proposed abandoning the pilgrimage, but Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing accepted his departure rather than persuade him to stay.
• Sun Wukong returned, seized Zhu Bajie by the ear, and teased him for trying to leave again.
• Sun Wukong questioned the Bodhisattva about resisting Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian, and she asked how quickly he had refined his origin and what Laojun had told him.

Sun Wukong recalled his transformation in Taishang Laojun’s furnace and obtained a talisman to remove Tang Sanzang’s Tight-Fillet. After freeing his master, he asked the Bodhisattva whether she would continue with them to Western Spirit Mountain.

• Sun Wukong’s four monkey origins fused in the Eight Trigrams Furnace, transforming him as Taishang Laojun explained the changed Tribulation and the need to continue the pilgrimage.
• Sun Wukong persuaded Taishang Laojun to give him a talisman that could undo Tang Sanzang’s Tight-Fillet Spell, then secretly took a gourd of pills when Laojun sent him away.
• Sun Wukong returned to Tang Sanzang and the others, presented the talisman, and used it to lift the Tight-Fillet from his master’s head.
• Sun Wukong snatched the freed Tight-Fillet and asked the Bodhisattva whether she would accompany them to Western Spirit Mountain.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples continued toward Mount Ling and reached Flaming Mountain, where Sun Wukong discovered Princess Iron Fan was worshipped as a fire deity. He went to borrow her Banana Leaf Fan, but their quarrel turned violent when he questioned how Red Boy had inherited Samadhi True Fire.

• The Bodhisattva gave Tang Sanzang, his disciples, and the White Dragon Horse willow leaves for protection before leaving.
• Tang Sanzang urged the group to set out for Mount Ling, and Sun Wukong recognized that they had reached Flaming Mountain.
• Sun Wukong saw that local people worshipped Princess Iron Fan as the Fire God, and he noticed their Belief Power flowing toward Flaming Mountain.
• Sun Wukong went to Princess Iron Fan's cave to borrow her Banana Leaf Fan, but she recognized him and refused, citing their grudge over Red Boy and Wu Tian's decree.
• Sun Wukong argued that his actions had helped Princess Iron Fan and Red Boy, then wondered aloud how Red Boy had acquired Samadhi True Fire.
• Princess Iron Fan blushed in anger, called Sun Wukong a dead monkey, and attacked him with the Banana Leaf Fan.

Sun Wukong fought Princess Iron Fan to study the divine power Wu Tian had taught her, while taunting her about Red Boy’s parentage. The Bull Demon King arrived with a far stronger aura, but Tang Sanzang suddenly knocked him back and declared that he was there to protect Wukong.

• Princess Iron Fan attacked Sun Wukong with the Banana Leaf Fan, but his strength kept him unharmed.
• Princess Iron Fan activated the divine spark in her primordial spirit and attacked with two swords, while Sun Wukong fought back to study her divine power.
• Sun Wukong teased Princess Iron Fan about Red Boy’s parentage, enraging her and making her divine power surge.
• The Bull Demon King arrived with a powerful aura, and Sun Wukong taunted him about his Jade-Faced Fox and neglect of Princess Iron Fan.
• Tang Sanzang struck the Bull Demon King’s phantom with two golden dragons, then announced that he had come to help Sun Wukong.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples fought the Bull Demon King while Sun Wukong overwhelmed Princess Iron Fan. Old Ancestor Minghe intervened to save her, and Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian appeared to confront him.

• Tang Sanzang struck the Bull Demon King with overwhelming physical strength, then joined Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the Little White Dragon in battle against him.
• Sun Wukong defeated Princess Iron Fan’s attack and sent her crashing into Flaming Mountain, then prepared to strike her again with his Golden Cudgel.
• The Bull Demon King tried to rush to his wife’s aid but was struck by Tang Sanzang’s punches.
• Old Ancestor Minghe blocked Sun Wukong’s attack with inexhaustible blood-red light and asked him to spare Princess Iron Fan.
• Old Ancestor Minghe rebuked Princess Iron Fan for siding with the Bull Demon King, while Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian manifested and addressed Minghe as a fellow cultivator.

Old Ancestor Minghe arrived and destroyed Princess Iron Fan and Bull Demon King’s godhood, then took Princess Iron Fan away and returned the Banana Leaf Fan to Sun Wukong. Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian said he had returned to join the Primordial World, then addressed a wary Sun Wukong.

• Old Ancestor Minghe confronted Buddha Ancestor Wu Tian, who claimed he had come only to see an old acquaintance and would not stop Minghe from taking Princess Iron Fan.
• Princess Iron Fan pleaded with Minghe to take Bull Demon King too, but Minghe decided Bull Demon King must stay behind to atone for blocking Tang Sanzang and the others.
• Minghe used Yuantu and Abi to destroy the godhoods of Princess Iron Fan and Bull Demon King, stripping away their divine power.
• Minghe returned the Banana Leaf Fan to Sun Wukong, warned Wu Tian not to throw the Primordial World into chaos, and left with Princess Iron Fan.
• Wu Tian absorbed the scattered divine power and said he had returned to join the Primordial World, then turned to Sun Wukong, who demanded to know what he wanted.