Chapter Summaries

Ruthless Great Emperor forced the Western Buddhist army and the other gathered experts to withdraw from Qingshan City, while Su Yang's group returned to the inn. The immediate disturbance ended, but powerful observers continued watching Tongtian and the treasures in Su Yang's custody, as Zhunti and Jieyin returned to the West badly battered and empty-handed.

• Ruthless Great Emperor drove Great Sun Tathagata and the Buddhist experts away, and Ancient Buddha Dipamkara decided to avoid the East until he had rebuilt his Dao foundation.
• Ancestor Minghe fled Qingshan City after the Two Sages of the West withdrew, fearing Su Yang's group would retaliate for his attack on Footprint Emperor.
• Su Yang warned the remaining experts to leave, and they withdrew while hidden watchers continued observing the inn and Sect Master Tongtian in seclusion.
• Su Yang reunited with Ruthless Great Emperor inside the inn, while Black Emperor said he had no attachments left after seeing Great Emperor Wushi again.
• Zhunti and Jieyin returned to their dojo with damaged treasures and diminished strength, regretting that Empress Houtu had turned the battle against them.

Zhunti and Jieyin realized Empress Houtu had reached a level beyond the Heavenly Dao Sages, while Grand Pure Laozi reflected on Su Yang’s hidden influence and warned Haotian against provoking him. At the inn, Su Yang prepared to travel with Zhenyuanzi, Ruthless Great Emperor, and Empress Houtu to Five Finger Mountain, leaving Empress Nuwa to guard the secluding Sect Master Tongtian.

• Zhunti deduced that Empress Houtu had used Foreign Domain methods to attain Saint-equivalent power and that Sect Master Tongtian might have become unfathomably strong.
• Grand Pure Laozi told Grand Supreme Elder that Su Yang’s presence would keep Sect Master Tongtian from facing danger alone, then warned Haotian not to provoke Su Yang.
• Haotian lamented that the Sages’ influence left him feeling like a puppet despite his title as Co-Lord of the Three Realms.
• Su Yang invited Zhenyuanzi to accompany him east to Five Finger Mountain, and Ruthless Great Emperor and Empress Houtu joined them.
• Empress Houtu warned that Five Finger Mountain held the West’s arrangements and Saint power, while Su Yang asked Empress Nuwa to guard the inn during Sect Master Tongtian’s seclusion.

Su Yang and his companions traveled to Five Finger Mountain, where Sun Wukong had endured fifty years of imprisonment under a Buddhist seal. Their arrival left Sun Wukong wary as he recognized Su Yang from High Heaven Hall.

• Nuwa stayed behind while Su Yang and Ruthless Great Emperor set out to visit Sun Wukong, and Empress Houtu followed them in disguise.
• In Chaos, Ancestor Yang Mei spoke with his disciple, a Three Corpses Sage who longed to see the Primordial World but was advised to stabilize his power first.
• The chapter revealed that time passed more than twenty times faster beneath Five Finger Mountain, leaving Sun Wukong imprisoned there for fifty years while only a little over a month passed outside.
• Sun Wukong remained unable to escape the Buddhist mantra despite retaining his strength, and he cursed Tathagata as villagers occasionally brought him fruit.
• Su Yang and two companions arrived at the foot of Five Finger Mountain, where Sun Wukong recognized Su Yang from High Heaven Hall and asked why he had come.

Su Yang visited Sun Wukong beneath Five Finger Mountain and told him that his life had been arranged by higher powers, not shaped solely by his own choices. He named the Western Saints Zhunti and Jieyin as the architects of Sun Wukong’s fate, then claimed even Old Ancestor Bodhi had appeared as part of their plan.

• Su Yang called Sun Wukong a pawn and described him as pitiful while pulling weeds beside the mountain.
• Su Yang argued that Sun Wukong’s life, from his birth to his suppression beneath Five Finger Mountain, had followed someone else’s plan.
• Sun Wukong recounted his own choices and deeds, insisting that he had acted to protect himself and his brethren.
• Su Yang explained the Six Saints of the Heavenly Dao and said Zhunti and Jieyin had plotted Sun Wukong’s fate.
• Sun Wukong rejected Su Yang’s claims, but reacted angrily when Su Yang said Old Ancestor Bodhi had appeared as part of the plan.

Su Yang revealed Sun Wukong’s hidden origins, explaining that he was born from the unused Five-Colored Divine Stone left after Nuwa repaired the heavens and that the Two Sages of the West had schemed to make him bring prosperity to the Western World. He left Sun Wukong questioning whether his quest for immortality had truly been his own choice.

• Sun Wukong demanded to know how Su Yang knew that he had studied under Old Ancestor Bodhi at the Three Stars Cave of the Slanting Moon on Mount Fangcun.
• Su Yang told Sun Wukong that the Two Sages of the West had planned his life and that his birth and experiences were part of a larger scheme.
• Su Yang recounted the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, the battle that shattered the Primordial World, and Nuwa’s use of Five-Colored Divine Stones to mend the heavens.
• Su Yang revealed that Sun Wukong had been born from the unused Five-Colored Divine Stone left on Flower-Fruit Mountain and identified him as the Spiritual Stone Monkey, one of the Four Great Monkeys.
• Su Yang explained that Sun Wukong was meant to help bring prosperity to the Western World and told him that a Saint had guided his journey to seek the Dao.

Su Yang challenged Sun Wukong’s belief that he had freely chosen the path of cultivation and revealed that Old Ancestor Bodhi was Daoist Zhunti’s Good Corpse. He explained the cultivation realms, leaving Sun Wukong stunned to learn that the Heavenly Court held more than ten Quasi-Sages.

• Su Yang and Empress Houtu unsettled Sun Wukong’s memories and questioned whether his desire to seek immortality had truly been his own.
• Su Yang revealed that Old Ancestor Bodhi was Daoist Zhunti’s Good Corpse and claimed Sun Wukong’s past exploits had served a Saint’s plans.
• Empress Houtu identified Sun Wukong’s cultivation as seventh-grade Grand Unity Golden Immortal, contradicting his belief that he had transcended the Three Realms and Five Elements.
• Su Yang explained the mortal, immortal, Golden Immortal, Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and Quasi-Sage realms to Sun Wukong.
• Su Yang said the Heavenly Court alone contained at least a dozen Quasi-Sages, and Sun Wukong reacted with disbelief.

Su Yang revealed to Sun Wukong that Heaven’s Court could easily have subdued him and explained how the westward scripture journey would turn him and his companions into servants of the Buddhist Teachings. After Su Yang urged him to defy Heaven and Spirit Mountain, Sun Wukong resolved to fight for his freedom rather than accept that fate.

• Su Yang told Sun Wukong that Nezha and the powerful figures who watched his havoc in Heaven could have defeated him with ease.
• Su Yang explained that Sun Wukong was destined to remain beneath Five Finger Mountain until Tang Sanzang arrived to lead him west in search of scriptures.
• Su Yang described how the journey would benefit the Buddhist Teachings and leave Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and the former Curtain-Rolling General serving Spirit Mountain.
• Su Yang warned that the White Dragon would lose his freedom and speech as one of the Eight Heavenly Dragons.
• Su Yang urged Sun Wukong to smash Heaven’s gates and halls and attack Spirit Mountain before departing.
• Sun Wukong vowed to rebel against Heaven and the Buddhist Teachings rather than become their puppet, and thanked Su Yang for revealing the truth.

Su Yang warned Zhenyuanzi about the Western Sages’ plan to make him sworn brothers with Sun Wukong, then returned to Qingshan City, where Ji Ziyue revealed she had reached the Great Emperor Realm. When Sect Master Tongtian entered the Realm of Sacrificing the Dao, Su Yang concealed the aura and planned to use the Western Sages’ reaction to help Empress Houtu avenge her past humiliation.

• Su Yang told Zhenyuanzi that the Western Sages planned to use Guanyin to revive his Ginseng Fruit Tree and persuade him to become sworn brothers with Sun Wukong, but urged him to wait and observe the Great Western Journey Endeavor.
• Su Yang and his companions returned to Qingshan City, where Ji Ziyue announced that she had fully refined the Golden Crow Great Emperor’s Dao Fruit and achieved the Great Emperor Realm.
• Xiao Jiu and Su Yang warned Ji Ziyue not to become complacent, and she went to cultivate in seclusion.
• Empress Nuwa asked Su Yang about his trip, but an earth-shaking aura from Sect Master Tongtian’s breakthrough interrupted them.
• Su Yang and Empress Houtu concealed Tongtian’s aura, and Su Yang explained that the Two Sages of the West might reveal their intentions if they believed Tongtian had failed to reach the Realm of Sacrificing the Dao.

Sect Master Tongtian entered the Realm of Sacrificing the Dao and pledged himself to Su Yang, who returned Tongtian’s treasures and planned to use his new strength against the Two Sages of the West. The chapter left Su Yang with Tongtian as a powerful ally and his other forces ready to face future threats.

• Su Yang and Empress Houtu agreed to conceal Tongtian’s new aura and use his power to make the Two Sages of the West suffer for their past schemes.
• Sect Master Tongtian emerged from the second floor after reaching the Realm of Sacrificing the Dao and realized the Heavenly Dao could no longer restrain him.
• Su Yang explained Tongtian’s new realm and returned the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and his other treasures.
• Sect Master Tongtian pledged to serve Su Yang and strike wherever Su Yang directed.
• Su Yang considered his plan to cultivate the Three Corpses path, Dao Proving by Force, and the Sacrificing Dao Method in parallel, while assessing the powerful allies at his command.

Su Yang sent Sect Master Tongtian to the Western Ox Continent to retrieve the Three Sanxiao Maidens and search for the God-Slaying Spear, while concealing his true cultivation. The chapter ended by describing the demon-infested Western territory and the human stronghold guarding the border with the North Continent of Julu.

• Su Yang assigned Sect Master Tongtian to bring back the Three Sanxiao Maidens and look for the God-Slaying Spear, which Su Yang believed was hidden in the West.
• Su Yang told Sect Master Tongtian to conceal his Realm of Sacrificing the Dao cultivation unless Daoist Jieyin or Daoist Zhunti appeared.
• Sect Master Tongtian left for the West, intending to find the spear, retrieve the Three Sanxiao Maidens, and secretly scheme against the two Western Sages.
• The chapter described how demons ravaged the Western Ox Continent, forcing humans to flee toward safer lands.
• A giant city stood at the border between the North Continent of Julu and the Western Ox Continent to defend humans from demon invasions.

Sect Master Tongtian entered the Western Ox Continent and found it overrun by demons, with humans suffering despite the region being Buddhism’s foundation. He left the demons alone and focused on finding San Xiao and helping Su Yang locate the God-Slaying Spear.

• Sect Master Tongtian entered the Western Ox Continent with his cultivation suppressed to the Quasi-Sage Peak and sensed a dense baleful aura.
• He saw demons thriving and humans slaughtered across the land, and questioned why the Western Buddhist sect and the Two Sages of the West had allowed it.
• Sect Master Tongtian condemned Buddhism’s neglect but decided not to interfere in the West’s affairs.
• He focused on finding San Xiao before Western powers could capture her as the Western plan unfolded.
• He also resolved to help Su Yang search for the God-Slaying Spear and reflected on its power compared with the Four Swords of Zhu Xian.

Sect Master Tongtian traveled through the Western Ox Continent in disguise to draw out Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin, while seeking the God-Slaying Spear for Su Yang. As he witnessed demons terrorizing mortals and the Western Buddhist Teachings’ indifference, his anger toward the Two Sages of the West grew.

• Sect Master Tongtian set out to find the God-Slaying Spear and lure Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin into underestimating his cultivation.
• Tongtian saw a demon slaughtering people in a city whose citizens worshiped the Western Buddhist Teachings, then killed the demon with one strike of the Qingping Sword.
• Tongtian traveled farther west, slaying demons and evil spirits while witnessing them infiltrate kingdoms and prey on their people.
• Tongtian resolved that if the Two Sages of the West appeared, he would confront them over their failure to protect the Western Ox Continent.
• Tongtian heard mortals praise an eastern powerhouse and three Fairy Maidens for protecting them, while some planned to move their descendants to the Eastern Divine Continent.

Sect Master Tongtian searched for San Xiao while they traveled through the Western Ox Continent, determined to protect them from the Western Buddhist Sect. After choosing to investigate Shituo Ridge, San Xiao discovered a vast mountain of human bones near Spirit Mountain, where three powerful demons had slaughtered and devoured an entire kingdom.

• A city dweller refused to reveal San Xiao’s whereabouts until Sect Master Tongtian said they were his disciples, but the man did not believe him and left.
• Sect Master Tongtian continued west, relying on his ability to trace San Xiao’s concealed aura before the Western Sages could find them.
• Yunxiao proposed going to Spirit Mountain to confront the Buddhist Sect, but Qiongxiao warned that the sisters could become hostages used against their master.
• Bixiao suggested that San Xiao attack the demons at nearby Shituo Ridge and withdraw before the Buddhist Sect reacted, and Yunxiao and Qiongxiao agreed.
• San Xiao arrived at Shituo Ridge and saw an eight-hundred-li mountain of human bones near Spirit Mountain, the remains of a kingdom destroyed by three demons.
• The chapter identified two of the demons as the peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal White Elephant Spirit and Green Lion Spirit, and revealed that the third was a Golden Winged Great Roc.

Yunxiao, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao learned that the Buddhist Sect had tolerated the three demons’ atrocities at Shituo Ridge, hoping to cultivate the Golden Winged Great Roc and draw Kong Xuan back. Enraged, Yunxiao charged into the demon lair and attacked the Green Lion Spirit and White Elephant Spirit.

• Yunxiao explained that the three demons’ origins were tied to powerful Buddhist figures, and the sisters learned of the Buddhist Sect’s connection to them.
• Yunxiao reasoned that the Buddhist Sect had ignored Shituo Ridge’s slaughter while waiting for the Golden Winged Great Roc to grow stronger and Kong Xuan to return.
• Bixiao asked what they should do, and Yunxiao declared they would exterminate the three demons.
• Yunxiao appeared over Shituo Ridge, where the Green Lion Spirit and White Elephant Spirit confronted her.
• The White Elephant Spirit threatened Yunxiao, and she drew an immortal sword and slashed at both demons.

Yunxiao fought Green Lion Spirit and White Elephant Spirit at Shituo Ridge, then faced Golden Winged Great Roc when he arrived. Bixiao and Qiongxiao joined her, but the roc transformed into his true form and charged at the San Xiao as Qiongxiao warned them to retreat.

• Yunxiao overwhelmed Green Lion Spirit and White Elephant Spirit with her sword until Golden Winged Great Roc arrived and injured her in a direct clash.
• Golden Winged Great Roc mocked Yunxiao and proposed she become his Dao Companion, prompting her to attack him in anger.
• Bixiao and Qiongxiao appeared, and the San Xiao joined forces against Golden Winged Great Roc.
• Golden Winged Great Roc dismissed the San Xiao’s ability to escape and transformed into a ten-thousand-zhang golden roc to attack them.
• Yunxiao struck at the charging roc, and Qiongxiao urgently shouted for her elder sister to retreat.

Sect Master Tongtian arrived at Shituo Ridge as Great Sun Tathagata attacked the Three Sanxiao Maidens, and he fought the Buddhist leader despite having suppressed his cultivation to Quasi-Sage Peak. Their clash drew powerful figures across the Primordial World, while Grand Pure Laozi wondered why Tongtian had not used Su Yang’s Foreign Domain cultivation method to advance further.

• Great Sun Tathagata appeared above Shituo Ridge and blocked Yunxiao, Bixiao, and Qiongxiao from leaving.
• Sect Master Tongtian sensed the Sanxiao Maidens’ aura and hurried to Shituo Ridge, where he found the Golden Winged Great Roc besieging them.
• Sect Master Tongtian confronted Great Sun Tathagata, who attacked him after mistaking his suppressed Quasi-Sage Peak aura for weakness.
• Sect Master Tongtian countered with the Qingping Sword and accused Great Sun Tathagata, formerly Daoist Duobao, of attacking his disciples.
• Their battle alarmed powerful figures throughout the Primordial World, and Grand Pure Laozi watched the clash from Eight Views Palace.
• Grand Pure Laozi wondered why Sect Master Tongtian had not used Su Yang’s Foreign Domain cultivation method to reach a realm like Empress Houtu’s.

Grand Pure Laozi and the Two Sages of the West learned that Tongtian was in the Western Ox Continent with his cultivation suppressed, and the western sages set out to confront him. At the inn, Su Yang’s mahjong game was interrupted by signs of a clash involving Tongtian, so he and the others headed west to investigate and search for the God-Slaying Spear.

• Grand Pure Laozi suspected the Two Sages of the West would target Tongtian and left to support him, while a mysterious figure watched and spoke of an approaching plan to overturn Pangu’s world.
• Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin sensed Tongtian at Shituo Ridge and set out to seize the chance to take his treasures while his cultivation remained at Quasi-Sage Peak.
• Su Yang played mahjong with Ruthless Great Emperor, Empress Houtu, and Empress Nuwa, while Duan De’s joke drew their intimidating auras and forced him to apologize.
• Su Yang sensed a clash between Tongtian and Great Sun Tathagata, and Ruthless Great Emperor recognized familiar fluctuations that might belong to San Xiao.
• Su Yang decided to travel west with Ruthless Great Emperor, Empress Houtu, and Empress Nuwa to investigate the battle and search for the God-Slaying Spear.

Sect Master Tongtian fought Great Sun Tathagata at Shituo Ridge while concealing his true power, as Great Sun Tathagata coveted his treasures and Primordial Violet Qi. Their clash drew powerful figures toward the West, who realized Tongtian had stopped at Quasi-Sage Peak and saw a chance to seize his treasures.

• Duan De lamented that another Saint-level battle meant he could not go and decided to improve his cultivation.
• Sect Master Tongtian restrained his cultivation and battled Great Sun Tathagata at Shituo Ridge, wary that the Two Sages of the West might come for his treasures.
• Great Sun Tathagata attacked Tongtian, coveting his spiritual treasures and Primordial Violet Qi as a path to sainthood.
• Great Sun Tathagata's palm destroyed Shituo Ridge and reduced Green Lion Spirit, White Elephant Spirit, and Golden Winged Great Roc to ashes.
• Tongtian answered with sword light that tore through the firmament, alarming powerful beings across the three realms.
• Quasi-Sage experts and Ancient Beings rushed toward the West after realizing Tongtian had stopped at Quasi-Sage Peak and seeing an opportunity.

Sect Master Tongtian faced Great Sun Tathagata at Shituo Ridge while hiding his true Sacrificial Path realm behind the appearance of a Quasi-Sage Peak. Great Sun Tathagata believed Tongtian remained weakened and unleashed Buddhism’s supreme arts to suppress him.

• Sect Master Tongtian told Great Sun Tathagata that he could not take what he coveted, then attacked him with the Qingping Sword.
• Great Sun Tathagata blocked Tongtian’s sword qi with his Ten Thousand Foot Golden Body and pushed its force back toward him.
• Great Sun Tathagata declared that he was no longer Daoist Duobao, then rushed Tongtian and struck at him with a golden punch.
• Sect Master Tongtian secretly maintained his true strength but pretended to struggle, causing Great Sun Tathagata to believe he had not recovered his cultivation.
• Great Sun Tathagata poured out his strength and invoked the Six-Character Great Bright Mantra as Buddhist light and sound filled the heavens.

Sect Master Tongtian shattered the Great Sun Tathagata’s Buddhist mantra with Zhu Xian Sword Qi unleashed through the Qingping Sword. As powerful Quasi-Sages gathered around them, the Great Sun Tathagata summoned the sun’s power rather than abandon his attempt to seize the opportunity.

• The Great Sun Tathagata cast the Six-Character Great Bright Mantra at Sect Master Tongtian, who broke it with Zhu Xian Sword Qi from the Qingping Sword.
• The Great Sun Tathagata countered with his Ten Thousand Foot Golden Body and Buddhist mantras, while Sect Master Tongtian questioned their power to convert minds.
• The Demon Master Kunpeng, Ancestor Minghe, Empress Xi He, Empress Changxi, Queen Mother of the West, Gouchen the Great, Nine Spirits Yuansheng, Kong Xuan, Daoist Lu Ya, and Buddhist Quasi-Sages arrived in the Western Ox Continent.
• The Great Sun Tathagata recognized that the gathered Quasi-Sages could prevent him from monopolizing the opportunity, but he refused to give up.
• The Great Sun Tathagata unleashed his pressure and made the sun in the Deep Chaos tremble, shocking the assembled powerhouses.