Chapter Summaries

Tu Xingsun disobeyed Julongsun and infiltrated the Shang camp, where his spying and false intelligence led Julongsun into an ambush. Xuan Wazi arranged for Tu Xingsun to appear dead and challenged Julongsun to break the Myriad Immortals Formation the next day to save him.

• Julongsun ordered Tu Xingsun to stay in Flying Cloud Cave, but Tu Xingsun went to the Shang camp to spy on Deng Chanyu and was struck in the face by her Five-Colored Stone.
• Yang Jian recognized Tu Xingsun, and Wen Zhong, Zhao Gongming, and Sanxiao prepared a trap for him and Julongsun.
• Tu Xingsun convinced Julongsun that the Shang camp was vulnerable, so Julongsun agreed to infiltrate it with him three days later.
• Wen Zhong's forces ambushed Julongsun and Tu Xingsun; Yun Xiao's Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation trapped them, and Zhao Gongming shattered Julongsun's Luopo Bell and Immortal Binding Rope.
• Xuan Wazi recovered the Immortal Binding Rope and ordered Wen Zhong to make Tu Xingsun appear dead, then challenged Julongsun to break the formation at the eastern gate the next day to save his disciple.
• Julongsun accepted the challenge, and Xuan Wazi and Nuwa expected him to enter their trap.

Julongsun gathered fellow disciples to scout the Myriad Immortals Formation, but True Man Huanglong charged into its defenses and was killed. Primordial Heavenly Venerate summoned the survivors, punished Julongsun and Taiyi, and grew increasingly fearful for the Exposition Sect as Xuan Wazi planned his next move.

• Julongsun asked Taiyi, Huanglong, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang to investigate the Myriad Immortals Formation, and Huanglong argued with the others over their caution.
• Huanglong attacked the western gate guarded by Golden Light Holy Mother and Sun Tianjun, broke through its defenses, and was killed by golden beams and poisonous sand before the others could rescue him.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate learned of Huanglong's death and ordered the Exposition Sect Golden Immortals to Jade Void Palace, where he questioned them and sentenced Julongsun and Taiyi to face the wall for three months.
• Xuan Wazi received a Mount Buzhou Essence Fragment as a reward for Huanglong's death and said Julongsun would be his next target.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate worried that the Exposition Sect might perish and hoped Hongjun would soon merge with the Dao and defeat Xuan Wazi.

Zhao Gongming defeated Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Cihang, and Julongsun with the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, but spared them when Jieyin and Zhunti intervened. Julongsun later fell for a trap to rescue Tu Xingsun and was captured, while Primordial Heavenly Venerate sought an alliance with the West and Xuan Wazi planned to use the conflict to draw in the remaining Exposition Sect immortals.

• Zhao Gongming destroyed the four Exposition Sect immortals’ treasures and badly wounded them, but stopped short of killing them when Jieyin and Zhunti arrived and Tongtian ordered him to let them go.
• Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Cihang, and Julongsun questioned Primordial Heavenly Venerate’s protection of them, while Xuan Wazi arranged for Tu Xingsun to lure Julongsun into another trap.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate, fearing the West would win over his disciples, sent White Crane Boy to offer Jieyin and Zhunti an alliance against the Interception Sect.
• Julongsun rushed to rescue Tu Xingsun, but Zhao Gongming defeated him, sealed his cultivation, and imprisoned him alongside his disciple.
• Xuan Wazi decided to leave Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang for the West to rescue, intending to make them indebted to him.

Cihang persuaded Manjushri and Samantabhadra to consider defecting to the West, while Xuan Wazi’s scheme pushed all three to join. As the West prepared for a greater conflict, the system named True Man Taiyi as the next target, and Xuan Wazi set out with Nuwa for Qian Yuan Mountain to see Nezha.

• Cihang showed Manjushri and Samantabhadra Maitreya’s Rebirth Talismans and urged them to seek refuge in the West.
• Wen Zhong persuaded the captured Julongsun to reveal Yuanshi’s plan to ally with the West and use the three Golden Immortals as liaisons.
• Tongtian ordered Zhao Gongming to let the three defect, while Xuan Wazi directed Shen Gongbao to frighten them into acting quickly.
• Shen Gongbao warned Manjushri that Yuanshi planned to purge suspected traitors, and Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang crushed their talismans and joined the West.
• Jiang Ziya reported their defection to Primordial Heavenly Venerate, while Tongtian ordered Zhao Gongming to keep guarding the Myriad Immortals Formation.
• The system named True Man Taiyi as the next target, and Xuan Wazi and Nuwa left for Qian Yuan Mountain to visit Nezha.

Huiming rescued Julongsun and Tu Xingsun from the Shang camp and converted them into Buddhist disciples, while Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang received Bodhisattva titles in the West. Xuan Wazi revealed that he intended for the newly converted figures to eventually die and join the Investiture of the Gods List.

• Huiming visited Tu Xingsun and Julongsun in prison and persuaded both to accept conversion to the Buddhist Sect.
• Huiming restored Julongsun's cultivation with a Buddha seal, converted Tu Xingsun, and led them out through a gap Xuan Wazi opened in the camp's barrier.
• Xuan Wazi received a partial system reward for Julongsun's departure and flew with Nuwa toward the Western Pure Land to observe the conversion ceremony.
• Jieyin and Zhunti granted Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang Bodhisattva titles, then named Julongsun an Arhat and Tu Xingsun his attendant.
• Xuan Wazi told Nuwa that he planned for the four new Buddhist figures to eventually die and have their true spirits enter the Investiture of the Gods List.

True Man Taiyi was sent to attack the Myriad Immortals Formation and was killed by Zhao Gongming and the Sanxiao. Nezha and Li Jing left Chentang Pass to join the Shang, while Xuan Wazi prepared for the remaining Exposition Sect Golden Immortals to enter the formation.

• Primordial Heavenly Venerate ordered True Man Taiyi to descend the mountain and help Jiang Ziya break the Myriad Immortals Formation, and Shen Gongbao secretly passed Taiyi's plan to Zhao Gongming.
• Zhao Gongming and the Sanxiao defeated Taiyi and killed him before Nezha could save him.
• Nezha refused Zhao Gongming's offer to spare him at first, then fled to Chentang Pass after Wen Zhong reminded him that Lady Yin was waiting for him.
• Nezha told Li Jing that Taiyi had died, and father and son decided to leave Chentang Pass and join the Shang camp.
• Tongtian ordered Zhao Gongming to keep guarding the formation, while Xuan Wazi learned that Grand Master Lingbao, Dao Xing Tianzun, and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun would soon enter it.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate sent Grand Master Lingbao to probe the Myriad Immortals Formation, where Zhao Gongming and Golden Light Holy Mother crippled him and killed his disciple Wei Hu. The West rescued Lingbao, and Xuan Wazi received a reward before setting out with Nuwa to watch Dao Xing Tianzun’s next attempt.

• Primordial Heavenly Venerate ordered Grand Master Lingbao, Dao Xing Tianzun, and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun to enter the formation, and Lingbao asked his disciple Wei Hu to accompany him.
• Grand Master Lingbao led Wei Hu and several dozen disciples into the Myriad Immortals Formation, where Zhao Gongming’s Sea-Calming Divine Pearls and Golden Light Holy Mother’s mirrors overwhelmed them.
• Wei Hu shielded Lingbao and was killed, with his true spirit sent onto the Investiture of the Gods List; Zhao Gongming then struck Lingbao and crippled him.
• Jieyin and Zhunti rescued Lingbao for the West after Sect Master Tongtian told Zhao Gongming to let him go.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate ordered Dao Xing Tianzun and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun to prepare to enter the formation, while Xuan Wazi received a system reward for the scheme.
• Xuan Wazi told Nuwa they would visit Golden Ao Island to see Dao Xing Tianzun’s plan, and the two departed.

Dao Xing Tianzun fought Zhao Gongming rather than surrender to Shang or let Jieyin and Zhunti convert him, but Xuan Wazi stopped him from taking his own life and imprisoned him. After the system rewarded Xuan Wazi, he and Nuwa set out to confront Qingxu Daode Zhenjun, who was preparing to enter the formation.

• Dao Xing Tianzun entered the Myriad Immortals Formation with Han Dulong and Xue Ehu, despite urging his disciples to stay behind.
• Zhao Gongming overwhelmed Dao Xing with the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls; Han Dulong was severely wounded, and Xue Ehu fled but was struck down and listed on the Investiture of the Gods List.
• Jieyin and Zhunti intercepted Dao Xing's escape and tried to convert him, so Dao Xing chose to pierce his own brow with the Demon-Subduing Pestle rather than surrender.
• Xuan Wazi stopped Dao Xing, took the Demon-Subduing Pestle, and ordered Wen Zhong to imprison him until the great tribulation ended.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate ordered Qingxu Daode Zhenjun to enter the formation, while the system rewarded Xuan Wazi and advised him to turn Qingxu's Heart-Piercing Nail against him.
• Xuan Wazi and Nuwa left for Green Peak Mountain to confront Qingxu Daode Zhenjun.

Qingxu Daode Zhenjun entered the Myriad Immortals Formation, where his Heart-Piercing Nail backfired and killed him, while Yang Ren defected to Shang. Yang Jian visited True Man Yuding at Golden Cloud Cave to say farewell, leaving Yuding as the last surviving member of the Exposition Sect’s Twelve Golden Immortals.

• Qingxu Daode Zhenjun brought Yang Ren and several dozen disciples to the Myriad Immortals Formation and battled Zhao Gongming with the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan.
• Yang Ren attacked Zhao Gongming but was struck down, and Qingxu’s Heart-Piercing Nail then backfired, piercing Qingxu’s heart and Primordial Spirit.
• Yang Ren chose to surrender to Shang, while Zhao Gongming explained that Qingxu’s karmic debt had caused the nail’s backlash.
• Primordial Heavenly Venerate learned of Qingxu’s death and ordered White Crane Boy to summon True Man Yuding from seclusion.
• Xuan Wazi revealed that he had added tribulation Killing Intent to the Heart-Piercing Nail and received rewards from the system.
• Yang Jian visited True Man Yuding, who accepted the Exposition Sect’s defeat and urged Yang Jian to continue serving Shang and pursue the rescue of his mother.

True Man Yuding rejected Primordial Heavenly Venerate’s orders, left the Exposition Sect, and became Shi Lei’s disciple. With Yuding’s allegiance changed, Xuan Wazi received a system reward and began planning the Myriad Immortals Formation’s final battle with Tongtian.

• True Man Yuding refused Primordial Heavenly Venerate’s command to enter the Myriad Immortals Formation, and Primordial struck him from the Exposition Sect’s rolls.
• After Yang Jian told Yuding he was safe in Zhaoge and asked him to witness the rescue of his mother, Yuding went to Golden Ao Island and asked to become Shi Lei’s disciple.
• Shi Lei accepted Yuding as his disciple and gave him Hunyuan Dao Rhyme to stabilize his Dao foundation and cleanse his Karmic Debt.
• Yuding told Yang Jian he had changed sects, then left Golden Cloud Cave with the Immortal-Slaying Sword and a portrait, leaving his Exposition Sect belongings behind.
• Xuan Wazi received the Primordial Creation Furnace, the complete Chaos Origin Dao-Attainment Method, and a cultivation increase after the Exposition Sect Golden Immortals storyline concluded.
• Xuan Wazi, Nuwa, and Tongtian discussed the coming battle, and Xuan Wazi proposed arranging for the West’s former Exposition Sect disciples to end up on the Investiture of the Gods List.

Tongtian defeated the Four Saints and protected the Interception Sect as the Shang Army and the Interception Sect won their battles, bringing the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation to an end. Xuan Wazi and Nuwa then watched a Stone Monkey emerge on Flower-Fruit Mountain, hinting at the next stage of the story.

• Tongtian activated the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation and repelled the Four Saints while shielding the Interception Sect disciples.
• Zhao Gongming and the Sanxiao defeated the Buddhist attackers; Manjushri and Samantabhadra were placed on the Investiture of the Gods List, Guanyin surrendered, and the remaining Buddhist soldiers fled.
• Di Xin and Wen Zhong led the Shang Army to defeat the Zhou forces, while Yang Jian, Nezha, and Li Jing fought alongside them.
• Tongtian grievously wounded the Four Saints, and Laozi persuaded them to withdraw after the Investiture of the Gods List was filled.
• Jiang Ziya invested the gods, Di Xin declared that humanity would no longer be ruled by immortals and gods, and Xuan Wazi and Nuwa watched a Stone Monkey emerge on Flower-Fruit Mountain.

After the stone monkey was born, Xuan Wazi took him as a disciple and helped him attain Late-stage Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal. The monkey returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain prepared to follow the Journey to the West while concealing his strength, as Hongjun and Haotian positioned the Heavenly Court to let Tathagata lead the coming game.

• After three kalpas of peace, Xuan Wazi and Nuwa went to Flower-Fruit Mountain as the immortal stone neared its birth, while Hongjun instructed Haotian to let Tathagata handle the scripture-pilgrimage game.
• The stone monkey emerged from the immortal stone, joined the monkeys, discovered Water Curtain Cave, and became their king.
• When an old monkey died, the Handsome Monkey King resolved to seek immortality, sailed away, and fell asleep while searching for immortals.
• In a dream, Xuan Wazi and Nuwa appeared; Xuan Wazi accepted the Handsome Monkey King as his disciple, taught him the World Dao Method, and raised his cultivation to Late-stage Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
• Xuan Wazi gave the Handsome Monkey King the Primordial Unity Staff and instructions to conceal his strength and follow the Journey to the West, then the monkey awoke and returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
• The Handsome Monkey King announced his new powers, gathered demon kings under his rule, and waited for the Heavenly Court's offer of amnesty while Haotian chose to let him make trouble.

The Handsome Monkey King rebelled against the Heavenly Court after being given a lowly post, then stole peaches, wine, and golden elixirs before battling his way back to Heaven. He let Tathagata seal him beneath Five Elements Mountain, where he began cultivating as five hundred years passed.

• Taibai Jinxing invited the Handsome Monkey King to serve as Horse Supervisor, but the Monkey King rebelled and proclaimed himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
• After Li Jing's forces were defeated, the Jade Emperor granted the Monkey King an empty title and later assigned him to guard the Peach Garden.
• The Monkey King ate the garden's ripe peaches, raided the Peach Banquet, and swallowed Supreme Lord Lao's Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs.
• The Monkey King fought the Heavenly Court's forces, concealed his true cultivation, and allowed Supreme Lord Lao to capture him and cast him into the Eight Trigrams Furnace.
• The Monkey King emerged unharmed, fought toward Lingxiao Palace, and let Tathagata trap him beneath Five Elements Mountain.
• The Monkey King cultivated beneath the mountain as his inner world flourished, and five hundred years passed.

Marshal Tianpeng was framed at the Peach Banquet, punished, and reincarnated as the pig demon Zhu Ganglie on Blessed Mound Mountain. After Xuan Wazi revealed the West’s plot and empowered him with a new cultivation art and weapon, Zhu Ganglie agreed to join the scripture pilgrimage while secretly concealing his strength.

• Tianpeng drank tampered wine at the Peach Banquet, trespassed into the Moon Palace, and was punished with two thousand hammer blows before being cast into the Animal Path.
• Tianpeng reincarnated as Zhu Ganglie, struggled to cultivate in his damaged pig body, and became a feared demon at Cloud-Stack Cave.
• Zhu Ganglie realized the wine had been tampered with and suspected that someone had arranged his downfall.
• Xuan Wazi revealed that the West had framed Zhu Ganglie to recruit him for the scripture pilgrimage, then accepted him as a disciple and restored his cultivation.
• Xuan Wazi gave Zhu Ganglie the Nine Revolutions Primordial Profound Art and the Origin Star Rake, then told him to hide his strength and await Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
• Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva gave Zhu Ganglie the Dharma name Wuneng and invited him to escort the scripture pilgrim westward, and he agreed while privately anticipating his future post.

Zhu Wuneng maintained his cover as a demon while secretly cultivating and waiting for the scripture seeker. Empress Nuwa visited with Xuan Wazi’s message, and Zhu Wuneng returned to training, determined not to fall behind Sun Wukong.

• Zhu Wuneng continued cultivating at Cloud-Stack Cave while pretending to rule as a vicious demon.
• Zhu Wuneng captured a wandering monk but released him after realizing he was not the scripture seeker.
• Zhu Wuneng recalled his past as Marshal Tianpeng and vowed to become a player rather than a chess piece.
• Empress Nuwa visited Zhu Wuneng on Xuan Wazi’s behalf and told him to cultivate patiently because the scripture seeker would not depart for a long time.
• Empress Nuwa warned Zhu Wuneng that Sun Wukong’s world was advancing rapidly, and Zhu Wuneng resolved to keep pace with his senior brother.

Sha Wujing learned that the West had framed him to make him a disciple on the scripture journey, then accepted Xuan Wazi as his master and gained the Dao of the Origin. After suppressing his cultivation and waiting at the Flowing Sand River, he agreed to join Avalokitesvara’s pilgrimage and received the Dharma name Wujing.

• Sha Wujing recalled how he was falsely blamed for breaking the Glazed Lamp, cast into the Flowing Sand River, and made to suffer flying swords every seven days for eight hundred years.
• Xuan Wazi revealed that the West had cursed the lamp to engineer Sha Wujing’s punishment and intended for him to become the scripture pilgrim’s third disciple.
• Sha Wujing accepted Xuan Wazi as his master, recovered from his wounds, and rose to the Early-stage Daluo Golden Immortal of the Origin.
• Xuan Wazi gave Sha Wujing the Origin Crescent Spade and told him to suppress his cultivation while awaiting Avalokitesvara.
• Avalokitesvara invited Sha Wujing to protect the scripture pilgrim, and Sha Wujing accepted the mission and received the Dharma name Wujing.

Sha Wujing cultivated for centuries at the Flowing Sand River, received treasures and instructions from Nuwa and Xuan Wazi, and prepared to join the scripture pilgrimage. The chapter ended with Zhu Wuneng informing him that Tang Sanzang had set out west, leaving Sha Wujing to await his arrival.

• Xuan Wazi told Sha Wujing to keep the nine skulls and retrieve an imitation Water-Settling Pearl hidden beneath the Flowing Sand River.
• Nuwa gave Sha Wujing the true Water-Settling Pearl and the Water Element True Explanation, strengthening his control over weak water.
• Sha Wujing absorbed the pearl into his dantian world, cultivated steadily, and exchanged messages with Zhu Wuneng.
• Xuan Wazi explained that the nine skulls belonged to Jin Chanzi's previous incarnations, instructed Sha Wujing to protect Tang Sanzang without revealing his true strength, and gave him a Void-Escape Talisman.
• After five hundred years of cultivation, Sha Wujing learned from Zhu Wuneng that Tang Sanzang had begun his journey west and that Sun Wukong's seal was loosening.
• Sha Wujing prepared to welcome Tang Sanzang at the Flowing Sand River and escort him west with his senior brothers.

Jin Chanzi challenged Tathagata over whether Buddhist practice truly saved all living beings, and Tathagata sent him through ten mortal lives to find his answer. Across his first nine lives, Jin Chanzi repeatedly sought a more compassionate form of Buddhadharma, but the chapter leaves him still searching.

• Jin Chanzi questioned whether Buddhist cultivation served only self-liberation, and Tathagata ordered him to undergo ten reincarnations before asking again.
• As Jin Chanzi entered the reincarnation passage, an unknown voice affirmed his doubts and promised to show him the true Buddha Dharma after ten lives.
• In his first life, Zhang Huairen became an official and then a wandering monk who cared for plague victims before dying of illness.
• In his second and third lives, Li Yutang became a charitable merchant who drowned at sea, while Stone became a disabled beggar who died after being beaten by thugs.
• In his fourth and fifth lives, Yang Tieyi died as a general burdened by killing, and Zhu Hai died after urging his son to abandon butchering.
• In his sixth life, Xuanzang denounced the scriptures as false and set out in search of true Buddhadharma, but robbers killed him; his seventh, eighth, and ninth lives continued his search.

Xuan Wazi restored Xuanzang’s memories of being Jin Chanzi, gave him powerful cultivation, treasures, and the Mahayana Buddhist Scriptures, and sent him west to seek scriptures. Xuanzang freed Sun Wukong from Five Elements Mountain, and the two began their journey together.

• Xuan Wazi revealed Xuanzang’s past as Jin Chanzi and restored his memories of ten lifetimes.
• Xuan Wazi taught Xuanzang the Nine Revolutions Primordial Profound Art, raised his cultivation to the great perfection of the Golden Immortal of the Origin, and gave him a staff, cassock, and Mahayana Buddhist Scriptures.
• Xuanzang asked Tang Taizong for leave to travel west, vowed not to return without the true scriptures, and departed Chang’an.
• At Two Realms Mountain, Xuanzang found Sun Wukong pinned beneath Five Elements Mountain and removed the talisman sealing the mountain.
• Sun Wukong escaped, bowed to Xuanzang, and joined him on the journey west.

Tang Monk and Sun Wukong reached Gao Village, where Sun Wukong fought and recognized Zhu Wuneng, who joined the pilgrimage as Tang Monk’s second disciple, Eight Precepts. The group left Gao Village and camped in a mountain cave, where Zhu Bajie reflected on his past in the Heavenly Court before they continued west the next morning.

• Sun Wukong sensed demon aura near Gao Village, and Tang Monk and his disciple found Zhu Wuneng threatening the Gao family over their daughter.
• Sun Wukong fought Zhu Wuneng to a standstill, then revealed he was escorting Tang Monk west; Zhu Wuneng surrendered and asked to join them.
• Tang Monk accepted Zhu Wuneng as a disciple, tonsured him, and gave him the Dharma name Eight Precepts after warning him to abandon his past misdeeds.
• The Gao family thanked the pilgrims, and Zhu Eight Precepts apologized to the young woman before departing with Tang Monk and his disciples.
• The group camped in a mountain cave, where Zhu Bajie told Sha Wujing he was remembering his former life as a Heavenly Court marshal.
• At dawn, Tang Monk and his three disciples continued westward.