Chapter Summaries

Sun Wukong realized the illusory steel fork was controlled by the parallel world's Heavenly Dao, which was using Violet Fairy to exhaust him. He entered the state of Sun Xingzhe and declared that the world itself was at fault, leaving Zhou Qingqing amused by his judgment.

• Sun Wukong struggled to fight the steel fork while holding Violet Fairy and suffered from the loss of his life-saving hairs.
• Sun Wukong recognized through their clash that the parallel world's Heavenly Dao was his true opponent and was trying to wear him down.
• Violet Fairy tried to join Sun Wukong in the fight but sensed his aura change as he entered the state of Sun Xingzhe.
• Sun Wukong declared that the world was at fault and that he would deny it.
• Zhou Qingqing watched Sun Wukong's declaration and realized he had identified the Heavenly Dao from A Chinese Odyssey.

Sun Wukong tried to draw on the power of his master, Zhou Qingqing, hidden in his heart to withstand the attacks and reshape his Dao Fruit. His plea awakened that power, and a green lotus appeared atop the As-You-Will Gold-Banded Staff.

• Sun Wukong threw the As-You-Will Gold-Banded Staff into the void to block the attacks coming from nothingness.
• Sun Wukong declared himself guilty and begged the master in his heart to punish him.
• Sun Wukong said his sin lay in his heart, setting the place of his punishment there.
• A green lotus appeared atop the floating As-You-Will Gold-Banded Staff.

After reuniting with Sun Wukong and Violet Fairy, Tang Sanzang and Little White Dragon Ao Lie returned to White Tiger Ridge and witnessed the Enlightened Beast and Lu Wu fuse into a Primordial Chaos Saint Beast. The story left them stunned by the newly evolved White Tiger Star Lords.

• Sun Wukong appeared in the Inner World holding Violet Fairy, and Tang Sanzang and Little White Dragon Ao Lie realized the group had escaped their peril.
• Tang Sanzang and Little White Dragon Ao Lie left the Inner World with Sun Wukong and returned to White Tiger Ridge.
• They found the Zhu-Sha Duo trampled beneath the Enlightened Beast and Lu Wu.
• The Enlightened Beast and Lu Wu merged their bodies and powers to become the White Tiger Saint Beast.
• Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and Little White Dragon Ao Lie watched the colossal beast and recognized it as a true Primordial Chaos Saint Beast.

After the Preaching Squad survived the trial at White Tiger Ridge, Zhou Qingqing’s fluffies blessed them, and Amitabha Buddha accepted the change while reflecting on what he had learned about the squad. Sun Wukong remained on the ridge studying the White Tiger’s stellar power when the star of punishment turned blood-red.

• The fluffies became Primordial Chaos sacred beasts and bestowed blessings on the Preaching Squad, including a useful blessing from the White Tiger.
• Amitabha Buddha accepted that the West’s fortune had empowered the fluffies and considered how the trial had revealed the Preaching Squad’s abilities.
• The Preaching Squad thanked the White Tiger Star Lord and the others for their blessings.
• Zhou Qingqing privately mocked the squad for overlooking that her Ranking System had not yet settled.
• Sun Wukong studied the White Tiger’s stellar power, then felt a chill as the star representing punishment turned blood-red.

The Preaching Squad entered Black Pine Forest and triggered a barrier that swallowed sound and light, leaving them in absolute darkness. Their attempts to investigate with eye techniques and divine sense backfired, forcing them to face the tribulation blind.

• The Preaching Squad used their divine abilities to locate Moon-Wave Cave and headed toward it, intending to ask for lodging and spread their teachings.
• The Heavenly Venerates of the Three Pure Ones Hall suspected Amitabha Buddha had transformed Black Pine Forest into a light- and sense-absorbing barrier, a task suited to Lu Ya.
• Lu Ya felt that someone had thought of him, but reassured himself that he had acted carefully and chose not to badmouth Zhou Qingqing.
• As the Preaching Squad entered Black Pine Forest, a divine palm descended and the forest abruptly lost its sound and light.
• Sun Wukong and Sha Wujin activated their eye techniques and suffered painful injuries, while the other three members were also hurt when they investigated with divine sense.
• The Preaching Squad realized they would have to endure the tribulation in darkness and drew their Lingbao as they sensed hostile eyes around them.

In Black Pine Forest, an inexplicable force destroyed the Preaching Squad’s strongest members in moments. Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin were left to face the unknown danger after Sun Xingzhe, Tang Sanzang, and Ao Lie were wiped out.

• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin suppressed their breathing and mana, sensing danger around them in the dark forest.
• Sun Xingzhe attacked, but despair extinguished his strength, disintegrated his Golden-Hooped Staff, and left him kneeling helplessly.
• Tang Sanzang tried to recite scripture, but his scriptures, body, and Buddhist robe crumbled away.
• Ao Lie transformed into a dragon, but a force struck him and reduced him to painted skin.
• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin realized the other members of the Preaching Squad had been wiped out before they could react.

Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and Little White Dragon Ao Lie rushed to Moon-Wave Cave after discovering the Zhu-Sha Duo had entered the trial ahead of them. They attacked Yellow-Robed Monster, but Sun Wukong recognized him as one of the White Tiger's Seven Mansions, and the three stopped before killing him.

• Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and Little White Dragon Ao Lie realized the Zhu-Sha Duo had entered the trial before them and hurried toward the tower in Black Pine Forest.
• The three reached Moon-Wave Cave and charged inside, worried the Zhu-Sha Duo might overtake them.
• Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and Little White Dragon attacked Yellow-Robed Monster with funeral rites, punishment, and dragon qi.
• Sun Wukong used his Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils to identify Yellow-Robed Monster as one of the White Tiger's Seven Mansions, so the three halted their attack.

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin overcame the Dark Forest’s lightless barrier by manifesting beacons from their inner realms. Their light revealed the Black Pine Forest as a grotesque killing field filled with corrupted trees, bones, and creatures.

• Zhu Bajie realized Marshal Heavenly Canopy’s spiritual office could provide light and created a beacon within his inner realm using the Celestial River’s divine waters.
• Sha Wujin fashioned a beacon from the Glazed World between his brows, creating a radiant Glazed Illusory Realm.
• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin manifested their inner realms in the Black Pine Forest, combining the Celestial River’s light with the glazed mirrors to shatter the darkness.
• The beacons restored their sight and divine sense and revealed the forest’s fleshy pines, tangled roots, embedded bones, black slime, and light-sensitive beetle-like creatures.

The King of the Treasure Elephant Kingdom asked Tang Sanzang and his companions to rescue Bai Huaxiu from the Yellow-Robed Monster, offering to become sworn brothers and share his wealth and throne. Tang Sanzang accepted the mission, setting the group on course to return to Moon-Wave Cave.

• The King of the Treasure Elephant Kingdom received Bai Huaxiu’s letter and accused his ministers of failing to rescue her during her thirteen years away.
• Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and Little White Dragon Ao Lie explained that the Yellow-Robed Monster was a Heavenly Court Star Lord and that Bai Huaxiu was being treated well, but the king dismissed their account.
• The King of the Treasure Elephant Kingdom asked Tang Sanzang to rescue Bai Huaxiu and promised to become his sworn brother and share the dragon bed, wealth, and realm.
• Tang Sanzang initially prepared to refuse, but changed his mind after hearing Sun Wukong’s remark about returning to Moon-Wave Cave and accepted the mission.

Tang Sanzang and Little White Dragon, Ao Lie, set out to rescue Princess Baihuaxiu while Sun Wukong rested. In the Dark Forest, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin watched each other’s backs and prepared to face the Cleaners without risking both their lives at once.

• Tang Sanzang accepted the king’s promise and chose to return to Moon-Wave Cave with Little White Dragon, Ao Lie, to rescue Princess Baihuaxiu.
• Tang Sanzang told Sun Wukong to rest, explaining that he and Ao Lie could handle the Yellow-Robed Monster without him.
• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin remained in the Dark Forest, knowing that the Cleaners could attack them with a dimensional reduction strike.
• Sha Wujin sensed Zhu Bajie’s warning prick and understood that Zhu Bajie intended to strike first and test the Cleaners.

Zhu Bajie pushed his Heavenly Stellar Thirty-Six Transformations to the limit to evade the Cleaners in the Black Pine Forest. As a gray beam threatened to erase him, he attempted another transformation, leaving its result unknown.

• Zhu Bajie watched the Cleaners overwhelm his lighthouse’s light and realized brute force would not save him.
• Zhu Bajie transformed himself into dead wood, but the Cleaners detected his soul and attacked.
• Zhu Bajie changed into a black pine and then black water, dispersing his soul into tiny droplets to escape through the forest floor.
• The Cleaners gathered a black pillar of light capable of erasing Zhu Bajie’s body and concept.
• Zhu Bajie spat essence blood onto his Nine-Toothed Rake, formed seals, and shouted “Transform!” as the gray beam descended.

Zhu Bajie endured the Cleaners’ attacks in the Black Pine Forest while Sha Wujin prepared their counterattack. The Glazed Lamp Tower finally erupted as black talons threatened Zhu Bajie’s heart.

• Zhu Bajie used the Nine-Toothed Rake transformed into his likeness to survive a Cleaner’s attack and further develop his transformations.
• Zhu Bajie recognized that he could not withstand the Cleaners head-on and that his chances to use the rake as a substitute were running out.
• Zhu Bajie held his ground despite severe injuries, buying time for Sha Wujin to prepare their final killing move at the Glazed Lamp Tower.
• Black talons rushed toward Zhu Bajie’s heart, and Sha Wujin shouted for him to fall back as the Glazed Lamp Tower erupted.

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin launched their counterattack after the Cleaners revealed their true forms, combining Zhu Bajie’s growing slaughter path with Sha Wujin’s White Tiger-inspired killing technique. Sha Wujin empowered Zhu Bajie with his divine ability, leaving the duo ready to face the three Cleaners together.

• Zhu Bajie infused his Nine-Toothed Rake with an inky-black radiance that showed his path of slaughter was developing correctly.
• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin exchanged a wordless understanding and prepared to fight the three Cleaners as a team.
• Sha Wujin gathered his extracted insights and the White Tiger’s blessing into his Moonlight Shovel, summoning a white tiger phantom with blood-moon eyes.
• Sha Wujin unleashed his divine ability, Cruel Moonlight, sending a net of killing intent between Zhu Bajie and the Cleaners.
• Zhu Bajie’s speed, strength, perception, and reactions surged under Sha Wujin’s enhancement.

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin used their combination techniques to wound the three Cleaners, but could not destroy them before their auras recovered. Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang and Little White Dragon Ao Lie reached Moon-Wave Cave and urged the Yellow-Robed Monster to let his wife visit her family.

• Zhu Bajie used Cruel Moonlight: Eight Realms Slay Together to smash the three Cleaners’ bodies, but they reformed as torrents of Chaos.
• Sha Wujin took the lead and combined his killing intent with Zhu Bajie’s empowerment, weakening the Cleaners again without defeating them.
• Tang Sanzang and Little White Dragon Ao Lie reached Moon-Wave Cave and staged a confrontation with the Yellow-Robed Monster.
• Tang Sanzang explained that the Yellow-Robed Monster’s wife longed to see her parents and asked him to let her return to the Treasure Elephant Kingdom for a visit.

Ao Lie drew rewards that transformed him into a dancing girl and granted him the Fish-Dragon Dance, then used the dance and Dragon Abyss Sword to defeat Yellow-Robed Monster and his demons. He remained in the transformed form after the battle, leaving Tang Sanzang and the others stunned.

• Yellow-Robed Monster mistook Tang Sanzang's group for enemies and summoned his demons to surround them.
• Ao Lie spent his emotion points and received Dragon Abyss, the Fish-Dragon Dance, and a Fish-Dragon Dragon Pearl.
• The rewards transformed Ao Lie into a dancing girl, and he chose to keep the form after realizing fate demanded it.
• Yellow-Robed Monster mocked Ao Lie's appearance, so Ao Lie used the Fish-Dragon Dance to captivate him and attack the demons.
• Ao Lie's swordplay incapacitated the demons and defeated Yellow-Robed Monster, leaving Tang Sanzang and the others astonished.

Little White Dragon defeated the Yellow-Robed Monster, and Tang Sanzang persuaded him to return with Bai Huaxiu and their children to the Treasure Elephant Kingdom. When ministers questioned the prince consort’s identity, the Yellow-Robed Monster transformed Tang Sanzang into a tiger, but Tang Sanzang quickly returned to normal.

• Little White Dragon dispelled his transformed state and returned to human form, while Tang Sanzang agreed to keep the transformation secret.
• Tang Sanzang told the defeated Yellow-Robed Monster to honor his promise and accompany Bai Huaxiu and their children to the Treasure Elephant Kingdom.
• The Yellow-Robed Monster agreed to go with them for his family’s sake.
• At the Treasure Elephant Kingdom, the king welcomed Bai Huaxiu while the prime minister and other officials questioned the prince consort’s identity and the swift campaign.
• The Yellow-Robed Monster transformed Tang Sanzang into a tiger to prove that he was a demon, frightening the court.
• Tang Sanzang used the Eternal Heaven Scripture’s Constancy to return to his original body.

After Tang Sanzang exposed the Yellow-Robed Monster in the Treasure Elephant Kingdom’s court, the king rewarded the Preaching Squad with power and titles. Tang Sanzang secured positions for the members who were present and for Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin, who were still away in Black Pine Forest.

• The ministers changed their attitude toward Tang Sanzang and the Preaching Squad after the Yellow-Robed Monster’s disguise was exposed.
• The King of the Treasure Elephant Kingdom offered to share his realm with the Daoists and named Tang Sanzang Regent.
• Tang Sanzang pressed the king to reward Sun Wukong, who intimidated the Yellow-Robed Monster with his As-You-Will Gold-Banded Staff.
• The king named Sun Wukong a Shoulder-to-Shoulder Prince and Protector of the Nation, and appointed Ao Lie Grand Marshal of the Imperial Armies.
• Tang Sanzang requested titles for Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujin, and the king appointed them Great General Who Guards the Nation and Chief Instructor of the Imperial Guard.

Tang Sanzang proposed giving half the Treasure Elephant Kingdom to the Yellow-Robed Monster in exchange for Princess Bai Huaxiu’s lifetime of beauty, resolving the thirteen-year conflict. The Yellow-Robed Monster and Bai Huaxiu accepted, but the king refused to agree because he could not forgive the suffering inflicted on his daughter.

• The king asked Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and Little White Dragon Ao Lie to settle the conflict between Bai Huaxiu and the Yellow-Robed Monster.
• Tang Sanzang offered half the kingdom to the Yellow-Robed Monster and asked whether he would exchange it for Bai Huaxiu’s lifetime of beauty.
• The court erupted in shock, then recognized Tang Sanzang’s proposal as a way to resolve the conflict and ease the king’s dilemma.
• The Yellow-Robed Monster agreed to the exchange, and Bai Huaxiu nodded her approval.
• The king rejected the proposal, saying that as Bai Huaxiu’s father he could not tolerate the suffering the Yellow-Robed Monster had caused her.

Tang Sanzang invoked the Funeral Great Dao to bury the tangled karma between the Yellow-Robed Monster, Bai Huaxiu, and their children. He began showing the court visions that restored each of them to a cherished past, but the chapter ended before revealing what would happen to the family.

• Tang Sanzang said he would bury the Yellow-Robed Monster, the two children, and Bai Huaxiu after the king refused to compromise.
• The Yellow-Robed Monster gathered his children, and Bai Huaxiu joined them as Tang Sanzang prepared to use his Funeral Great Dao.
• Tang Sanzang saw the family as embodiments of all beings entangled in karma and resolved to use them to deepen his understanding of the Great Dao.
• Tang Sanzang pointed at the Yellow-Robed Monster, and the court saw a vision of his former life in the Heavenly Court.
• Tang Sanzang showed Bai Huaxiu as the carefree Third Princess and the children as joyful halos of light in a warm, welcoming home.

Tang Sanzang used the Funeral Great Dao to make the Yellow-Robed Monster's family and the court believe they had been erased from existence, forcing them to confront the horror of his punishment. The king pleaded for mercy, and Tang Sanzang ended the demonstration, leaving the family alive and the Yellow-Robed Monster newly aware of his wrongdoing.

• Tang Sanzang showed the court the Yellow-Robed Monster's family vanishing under the Funeral Great Dao, terrifying the king and ministers with the apparent erasure of their lives and ties.
• Bai Huaxiu broke free of the illusion and begged her father to save her and her children from becoming nothing.
• The Yellow-Robed Monster awoke from his false dream, admitted his mistakes, and kowtowed to the king for mercy.
• The king of the Treasure Elephant Kingdom pleaded with Tang Sanzang to withdraw his divine ability and offered to follow the previous method; the court officials joined his appeal.
• Zhou Qingqing recognized that Tang Sanzang's demonstration had persuaded the kingdom and helped the Yellow-Robed Monster understand his wrongdoing.
• Tang Sanzang stopped the Funeral Great Dao, and the four members of the family remained alive as the court breathed a sigh of relief.