Chapter Summaries

Grand White Golden Star brought Sun Wukong to the Heavenly Court, where Heavenly Emperor Hao Tian appointed him as Bi Ma Wen despite Grand White Golden Star’s protest. Sun Wukong accepted the post, eager to conduct experiments at the Imperial Horse Bureau, while Grand White Golden Star left furious at Hao Tian’s decision.

• Grand White Golden Star tested Sun Wukong’s escape art on the journey to the South Heaven Gate and was impressed by his speed and cultivation.
• Grand White Golden Star reported Sun Wukong’s arrival to Hao Tian, who summoned him to Lingxiao Palace.
• Sun Wukong greeted Hao Tian with a slight bow, and Hao Tian pardoned his unfamiliarity with Heavenly Court etiquette after Star Lord Wuqu rebuked him.
• Star Lord Wuqu recommended the vacant chief steward position at the Imperial Horse Bureau, and Hao Tian appointed Sun Wukong as Bi Ma Wen.
• Sun Wukong accepted the appointment, thinking he could carry out experiments there, while Grand White Golden Star protested and condemned Hao Tian as muddleheaded.

Sun Wukong accepted his appointment as Bi Ma Wen and used the Imperial Horse Bureau to conduct biological experiments on heavenly horses. While Hao Tian revealed Sun Wukong’s role in the coming Buddhist tribulation and plotted to make him leave, Sun Wukong stayed focused on his work until he emerged from seclusion three years later.

• Sun Wukong reassured Grand White Golden Star that he was pleased with the post of Bi Ma Wen and followed Wood Virtue Star Official to the Imperial Horse Bureau.
• Sun Wukong had his subordinates clear a room and began biological experiments on heavenly horses using instruments brought from Flower Fruit Mountain.
• Grand White Golden Star complained to Hao Tian that Sun Wukong’s talents were wasted in such a low-ranking post, and Hao Tian revealed that Sun Wukong was destined to answer the coming tribulation and join the Spread of Buddhism to the East.
• Hao Tian ordered a hidden Heavenly Official to make Sun Wukong feel dissatisfied with his rank and abandon his post.
• Sun Wukong spent three years quietly conducting experiments and tending the horse pastures before finally emerging from seclusion.

After Ying Zheng regained memories of his identity as Hong Yun’s incarnation, he resented Hong Yun and Di Xin for having kept them sealed. When Hong Yun returned from Chaos, Nuwa, Houtu, Xuan Ming, the Western Queen Mother, Xi He, and Chang Xi confronted him over marriage contracts and his incarnations’ past actions, then made him take them to Floating Island.

• Ying Zheng regained his memories after unifying the six states and blamed Hong Yun and Di Xin for sealing them.
• Ying Zheng vented his frustration by kicking Zhao Gao, then recalled the marriage contracts with three goddesses and took satisfaction in Hong Yun’s coming trouble.
• Hong Yun remembered that Ying Zheng’s incarnation had burdened him with marriage contracts and tried to flee back into Chaos, but Nuwa, Houtu, and Xuan Ming restrained him.
• Hong Yun claimed he had only returned to visit Hongjun, but Hongjun heard him and grew furious at being used as an excuse.
• The Western Queen Mother, Xi He, and Chang Xi arrived with their marriage contract and confronted Hong Yun about their incarnations’ past with his.
• Nuwa suggested they return to Floating Island to discuss the matter, and Houtu ordered Hong Yun to lead the three newcomers there.

Sun Wukong saw through the Imperial Horse Bureau officials’ attempt to provoke him into rejecting his post, then went to inspect the Heavenly Horses. Their sudden transformation drew the attention of Hao Tian and the immortals across the Heavenly Court.

• Imperial Horse Bureau officials tried to provoke Sun Wukong by telling him Bi Ma Wen had no rank, but he said an office’s worth lay in serving the Three Realms and its living beings.
• Sun Wukong refused to keep drinking, warned the officials that their intentions were not in the wine, and left to inspect the horses by the Heavenly River.
• Hao Tian summoned Grand White Golden Star, who described Sun Wukong’s ideas and his experience in Flower Fruit City.
• Hao Tian asked whether Sun Wukong would soon abandon Bi Ma Wen, but Grand White Golden Star argued that he might earn great merit and be promoted.
• Hundreds of thousands of Heavenly Horses galloped across the grassland, each bearing a thread of Law Power, astonishing the Heavenly Court’s immortals and gods.

After Sun Wukong presented one hundred thousand Heavenly Horses infused with Five Elements Law Power, the Heavenly Court recognized his value and Hao Tian sought to reward and recruit him. At the court audience, powerful immortals defended Sun Wukong against Star Lord Wude and competed to befriend him before Hao Tian called for silence.

• The Heavenly Court's immortals were astonished that Sun Wukong had bred one hundred thousand Heavenly Horses carrying traces of Five Elements laws, each powerful enough to contend with a peak Mysterious Immortal.
• Hao Tian regretted that Sun Wukong was destined to join the Buddhist Sect and asked Grand White Golden Star whether he could return to serve the Heavenly Court after the Spread of Buddhism to the East.
• Grand White Golden Star advised Hao Tian to summon Sun Wukong and reward him, so Hao Tian convened a court assembly to recognize his achievements.
• When Star Lord Wude accused Sun Wukong of failing to kneel, Li Jing, Marshal Tianpeng, Wen Zhong, and other immortals defended Sun Wukong and rebuked Star Lord Wude.
• Li Jing, Marshal Tianpeng, and Wen Zhong invited Sun Wukong to visit their residences and discuss his Law-infused Heavenly Horses, while Hao Tian finally ordered the court to be quiet.

Sun Wukong explained how he increased the Heavenly Court’s warhorse population and infused the horses with Law Power, then began a lecture on genetic engineering for Hao Tian and the assembled officials. After three days and nights of technical explanation, the immortals were exhausted and Hao Tian privately regretted asking.

• Hao Tian forgave the ministers for their noisy reaction and asked Sun Wukong how he had multiplied the Heavenly Horses and given them Law Power.
• Sun Wukong explained that he used spiritual herbs to stimulate reproduction and synthesized a hormone to accelerate the horses’ growth.
• Hao Tian rebuked the ministers for clinging to old ways and failing to improve the Heavenly Court, then asked Sun Wukong about the horses’ Law Power.
• Sun Wukong named genetic engineering as his method, while Li Jing, Wen Zhong, and Hao Tian pretended they already understood the term.
• Sun Wukong lectured the hall on genetic engineering for three days and nights, leaving the immortals drowsy and Hao Tian privately overwhelmed.

After Sun Wukong’s lecture on genetic engineering, Hao Tian rewarded him for breeding Law Heavenly Horses by naming him Great Sage Equal to Heaven and granting him treasures and a mansion beside the Flat Peach Garden. The chapter ended with the immortals stunned by the mansion’s location.

• Hao Tian ended Sun Wukong’s four-day lecture, then asked the immortals to propose a reward for his work at the Imperial Horse Bureau.
• Marshal Tianpeng, Li Jing, and Wen Zhong competed to recruit Sun Wukong into their military departments, but Hao Tian stopped their argument.
• Hao Tian conferred the title Great Sage Equal to Heaven on Sun Wukong, giving him exceptional status in the Heavenly Court.
• Hao Tian ordered the Lotus Silk Cloud-Walking Boots, Chain-Link Golden Armor, and Phoenix-Wing Purple Gold Crown brought from the treasury for Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong appeared in his new attire, drew the Ruyi Jingu Bang, and thanked Hao Tian.
• Hao Tian granted Sun Wukong a Great Sage Mansion on the west side of the Flat Peach Garden, astonishing the immortals.

Hao Tian told Sun Wukong that he was the crucial Child of Tribulation in the coming Great Tribulation and revealed the plans surrounding his fate and the Buddhist Sect's eastern transmission. Sun Wukong accepted Hao Tian's candor, and Hao Tian proposed staging a play for the Buddhist Sect over the matter of Rebellion Against Heaven.

• Hao Tian summoned Sun Wukong and Grand White Golden Star to a side hall and raised the charge of Rebellion Against Heaven.
• Grand White Golden Star anxiously defended Sun Wukong, while Sun Wukong reasoned that Hao Tian did not truly suspect him.
• Hao Tian revealed that Sun Wukong was the most crucial Child of Tribulation in the next Great Tribulation.
• Sun Wukong asked to hear the truth, and Hao Tian explained the Buddhist Sect's plans, Sun Wukong's ordained role, and his own attempt to gain merit through him.
• Sun Wukong thanked Hao Tian for revealing the truth and asked why he had done so; Hao Tian said he wanted to form a good karmic bond with him.
• Hao Tian proposed that he and Sun Wukong put on a play for the Buddhist Sect about Rebellion Against Heaven.

Zhunti and Jieyin celebrated Sun Wukong’s potential as a future Buddhist Buddha, while Maitreya asked to take part in the Buddhist eastward journey to gain merit. Meanwhile, Hong Yun tried to escape his six wives’ exhausting attention, but Chang Xi caught him and pulled him back into her room.

• Zhunti laughed at the thought of Sun Wukong becoming the Victorious Fighting Buddha, and Jieyin joined her in celebrating.
• Maitreya came to Mount Sumeru and asked Zhunti and Jieyin whether the eighty-one tribulations had been agreed upon.
• Maitreya requested a role among the tribulations to earn merit and break through to the mid-stage Quasi-Saint realm.
• Zhunti promised to arrange a tribulation for Maitreya, and he thanked her.
• Hong Yun, exhausted after returning from Chaos and enduring life with his six wives, tried to leave while Nuwa slept.
• Chang Xi caught Hong Yun, dismissed his pleas for mercy, and pulled him into her boudoir to cultivate with him.

After Sun Wukong caused chaos at the Flat Peach Banquet and stole Taishang Laojun’s immortal pills, Hao Tian sent an army of one hundred thousand to capture him. At Flower Fruit Mountain, Sun Wukong broke through to Daluo Golden Immortal and charged alone at the Heavenly Court’s forces.

• Sun Wukong moved into the Great Sage Mansion and took charge of the Flat Peach Garden.
• Sun Wukong plucked the flat peaches, drank the Jade Nectar, and stole and ate Taishang Laojun’s immortal pills before rebelling from heaven.
• Hao Tian ordered the Four Heavenly Kings, Li Jing, and one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers to capture Sun Wukong, secretly hoping his plan would succeed.
• The Heavenly Court’s forces surrounded Flower Fruit Mountain while Flower Fruit City’s defensive formation held them back.
• Sun Wukong confronted Giant Spirit God, broke through to Daluo Golden Immortal, and charged alone toward the heavenly army.

Sun Wukong broke free of his shackles and overwhelmed the Heavenly Court army, revealing that his strength and battle instincts far exceeded the assumptions of his opponents. As Li Jing’s formation collapsed and the Heavenly Court watched, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva arrived at Lingxiao Palace.

• Sun Wukong shattered his shackles, released his Daluo Golden Immortal aura, and sent Giant Spirit God flying after three staff strikes.
• Sun Wukong struck down another Heavenly Court general, while Li Jing ordered the hundred thousand soldiers to form a battle array.
• Sun Wukong praised Li Jing’s command and charged into the formation, battering through its ranks as Li Jing directed the troops.
• Sun Wukong used Truth-Seeing to find the formation’s flaws and broke through its weak points, leaving nearly half the Heavenly Court army defeated.
• The immortals watching through the Hao Tian Mirror grew grave, and a guard announced that Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva of the South Sea had arrived.

Guanyin visited the Heavenly Court and recommended Yang Jian to capture Sun Wukong, whose rebellion had defeated the Heavenly Court’s forces. After Hao Tian accepted the recommendation, Yang Jian prepared to go to Flower Fruit Mountain, eager to make his name known throughout the Primordial Wilderness.

• Guanyin entered the Heavenly Court, where she reflected on her guilt over having to scheme against her teacher, Sun Wukong.
• Ju Liusun recognized Guanyin as his former Senior Brother Cihang and mourned how their paths had changed.
• Hao Tian described Sun Wukong’s thefts and rebellion, then asked Guanyin to help capture him.
• Guanyin declined to act herself and recommended Yang Jian, the younger brother of Yang Jiao of Floating Island.
• The Heavenly Court approved Yang Jian after hearing his connection to Yang Jiao, and Hao Tian sent a messenger to Guanjiang Mouth.
• Yang Jian dismissed the messenger, summoned the Six Brothers of Meishan and Xiaotian Dog, and announced he would capture Sun Wukong and make his name known.

Sun Wukong defeated the Heavenly Court army at Flower Fruit Mountain, but Yang Jian’s surprise arrival accidentally injured Li Jing and challenged the monkey. Sun Wukong and Yang Jian began a fierce clash, leaving the outcome undecided.

• Sun Wukong and Li Jing secretly agreed that Sun Wukong would take five blows before defeating him, so Li Jing could save face.
• As Li Jing prepared to attack, Yang Jian launched a surprise strike at Sun Wukong, and the clash’s shockwave sent Li Jing crashing to the ground.
• Li Jing angrily accused Yang Jian of injuring him, while Yang Jian awkwardly explained that he had come under the Heavenly Emperor’s decree to capture Sun Wukong.
• Yang Jian challenged Sun Wukong, and the two charged into battle with their weapons.
• Yang Jian restrained his cultivation to the early stage of Daluo Golden Immortal, but his three eyes widened when their attacks met.

Sun Wukong and Yang Jian fought a devastating contest of strength above Flower Fruit Mountain, astonishing the Heavenly Court as Haotian wondered who had secretly taught Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong sent Yang Jian crashing into a distant mountain, but Yang Jian refused to yield and charged back for another round.

• Sun Wukong and Yang Jian poured their Mana and Law of Battle into their weapons, cracking space as neither could overpower the other.
• The Heavenly Court immortals marveled at their strength, while Haotian questioned Guanyin about Sun Wukong's mysterious master and privately guessed at possible identities.
• Sun Wukong praised Yang Jian as the strongest mid-stage Daluo Golden Immortal he had seen, angering him and briefly breaking his concentration.
• Sun Wukong seized the opening and struck Yang Jian ten million li into a snowy mountain, while Giant Spirit God hid and Li Jing cheered for Sun Wukong.
• Yang Jian emerged from the wreckage demanding another fight, and Sun Wukong raised his Golden Cudgel to strike him again.

Sun Wukong and Yang Jian fought for more than three months, each revealing extraordinary battle skill and divine sight. Sun Wukong eventually disarmed Yang Jian, who flew into a rage and invoked the Law of Heaven and Earth.

• Sun Wukong and Yang Jian traded blows as their mastery of the Law of Battle grew during their duel.
• Yang Jian opened his Heavenly Eye and began targeting weaknesses in Sun Wukong’s staff techniques, but Sun Wukong answered with his innate Truth-Seeing ability.
• On the East Sea Floating Island, Houtu recognized Hong Yun’s plan to use Sun Wukong against the Buddhist Sect, and Hong Yun confirmed he meant to punish Zhunti and Jieyin.
• After fighting for more than three months, Sun Wukong smashed Yang Jian’s halberd away, while the Heavenly Eye’s heavy mana cost left Yang Jian at a disadvantage.
• Sun Wukong put away his staff and invited Yang Jian to continue bare-handed, enraging Yang Jian, who transformed using the Law of Heaven and Earth.

Sun Wukong and Yang Jian fought at Flower Fruit Mountain, but Yang Jian conceded defeat while Sun Wukong tried to deny that he had won because he was supposed to lose and be captured. In Lingxiao Palace, an unfamiliar sage-like Daoist arrived and asked the Jade Emperor, Guanyin, and the other immortals what was happening in the Hao Tian Mirror.

• Yang Jian used Law of Heaven and Earth, but Sun Wukong matched and surpassed his giant form, prompting Yang Jian and the watching Primordial Wilderness powers to wonder who Sun Wukong's master was.
• Zhunti suspected Laozi, Tongtian, or Hong Yun had intervened in Sun Wukong's fate, and Jieyin calmed him by claiming Hong Yun was too occupied with his marriages to interfere.
• Sun Wukong outmaneuvered Yang Jian in their barehanded fight and threw him into the ground, flattening a small hill.
• Yang Jian declared that he had lost, but Sun Wukong panicked because he had agreed with Haotian to pretend to lose and be captured, and insisted that Yang Jian had not lost.
• A sage-like Daoist entered Lingxiao Palace, watched the fight in the Hao Tian Mirror, and asked what was happening.

Taishang Laojun sent his Diamond Snare to help Yang Jian capture Sun Wukong, who was trying to arrange a convincing defeat. Sun Wukong used the incoming attack to feign defeat and left Yang Jian bewildered.

• Taishang Laojun arrived at the Heavenly Court and sent his Diamond Snare toward Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong urged Yang Jian to keep fighting, and their argument turned into a contest of strength.
• Sun Wukong punched Yang Jian, who got up and resumed the battle with renewed fury.
• Sun Wukong sensed the Diamond Snare approaching and decided to use it to fake a loss.
• Xiaotian Dog bit Sun Wukong's leg as the Diamond Snare struck his forehead, and Sun Wukong pretended to faint.

Yang Jian mistook Sun Wukong’s staged defeat for a selfless attempt to restore his confidence, while Li Jing encouraged the misunderstanding. As Sun Wukong pretended to wake, Hong Yun and his wives watched and discussed their disciples’ relationships and cultivation.

• Yang Jian demanded that Sun Wukong get up and fight again, but Sun Wukong continued pretending to be unconscious.
• Li Jing told Yang Jian that Sun Wukong had deliberately lost to repair his confidence, and Yang Jian began to believe him.
• Sun Wukong secretly overheard Li Jing’s explanation and praised him for understanding his supposed righteous intentions.
• Yang Jian used his Heavenly Eye to discover that Sun Wukong was faking, but he still concluded that Sun Wukong had praised him sincerely and felt guilty.
• Hong Yun discussed Sun Wukong, Ao Guang, and his other disciples’ romances with Nuwa, Houtu, and his wives, then returned to watching Sun Wukong wake up.

Sun Wukong allowed Li Jing and Yang Jian to escort him back to the Heavenly Court, assuring Li Jing he could escape later. There, Hao Tian sentenced him to the Execution Stage on Star Lord Wude’s recommendation, though Wen Zhong suspected hidden circumstances behind the havoc.

• Sun Wukong pretended to be defeated and persuaded Li Jing and Yang Jian to bind and escort him to the Heavenly Court.
• Black Third reassured the worried monkeys at Flower Fruit City that Monkey Doctor would return someday.
• Yao Chi asked the immortals for their opinions on Sun Wukong’s punishment, and Star Lord Wude demanded he be sent to the Execution Stage.
• Marshal Tianpeng and Wen Zhong argued that Sun Wukong’s past merits meant his crimes did not warrant death, and other allies joined their plea.
• Hao Tian ordered Sun Wukong punished according to Star Lord Wude’s proposal, while Wen Zhong suspected the havoc concealed other circumstances.

After Sun Wukong was sentenced to the Execution Stage, Hao Tian handed him over to Taishang Laojun, who secretly tried to destroy his source in the Eight-Trigrams Furnace. Sun Wukong instead used a mysterious secret art to absorb the furnace’s Samadhi True Fire, and Taishang Laojun’s furious roar signaled that the furnace had gone wrong.

• Li Jing and Yang Jian brought Sun Wukong to Lingxiao Palace, where Hao Tian sentenced him to the Execution Stage despite Yang Jian’s plea for a fair investigation.
• The Heavenly Court’s blades, fire, and thunder failed to harm Sun Wukong, so Taishang Laojun proposed refining him in the Eight-Trigrams Furnace, and Hao Tian agreed.
• Li Jing revealed the Heavenly Court’s hidden plan to Yang Jian, while Taishang Laojun took Sun Wukong to Tushita Palace and cast him into the furnace.
• Taishang Laojun intensified the flames to destroy Sun Wukong’s source, but Sun Wukong received a secret art and began absorbing the Samadhi True Fire.
• After forty-nine days, the furnace fire went out, and Taishang Laojun roared in fury about his Eight-Trigrams Furnace.