Recaps

Jieyin and Zhunti visited Pangu Hall to offer the Witch Clan the final Protector position for the Western Journey, but Zhou Ming refused. When Zhunti hinted that their chosen candidate was connected to Zhou Ming, he agreed to hear who it was, leaving the matter unresolved.

• Jieyin and Zhunti traveled to Pangu Hall to settle the final Protector position for the Western Journey.
• Jieyin offered the Witch Clan a Protector slot, but Zhou Ming said the Witch Clan had no interest in it.
• Dijiang impatiently told Jieyin and Zhunti to leave after Zhou Ming rejected their offer.
• Zhunti decided to choose the final Protector himself and hinted that the candidate had a connection to Zhou Ming.
• Zhou Ming agreed to hear the candidate's identity and asked what connection the person had to him.

Zhou Ming agreed that Jieyin and Zhunti could make the Spiritual Stone Monkey a Dao Protector, in exchange for merit for the Witch Clan. He let them teach the monkey but required them to develop his abilities properly, leaving the monkey’s upbringing in their hands.

• Jieyin and Zhunti told Zhou Ming that the Spiritual Stone Monkey nurtured in his Treasure Distribution Rock would be their final Dao Protector for the westward Scripture Seeking journey.
• Zhou Ming agreed, considering the monkey’s potential to become a second Chaos Demon Ape, and Jieyin and Zhunti offered the Witch Clan the merit earned on the journey plus an equal share as payment.
• Jieyin asked whether an Ancestral Witch would teach the monkey, but Zhurong, Gonggong, Dijiang, Zhujiuyin, and the others refused to take on a disciple.
• Zhou Ming left the teaching to Jieyin and Zhunti, but warned them not to ruin the monkey’s aptitude and demanded that they teach him well.
• Jieyin and Zhunti promised to teach the monkey everything they knew, and Zhou Ming sent them away.

Zhunti and Jieyin asked Zhou Ming to help stage a Buddhist spectacle in which the Stone Monkey would cause havoc in the Underworld and Heavenly Court. Zhou Ming forbade any scheme involving the Underworld, and the two fled Pangu Hall before turning their plan toward Haotian and the Heavenly Court.

• Zhunti proposed that the Stone Monkey rampage through the Underworld and then the Heavenly Court so Tathagata could suppress him and raise Buddhism’s prestige.
• Zhurong, Gonggong, and the other Ancestor Witches erupted in anger because the Underworld belonged to the Witch Clan, and they threatened Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Zhou Ming stopped the Ancestor Witches and warned Jieyin and Zhunti never to scheme against the Underworld again.
• Jieyin and Zhunti fled Pangu Hall, and Jieyin berated Zhunti for provoking the Witch Clan.
• Zhunti admitted his mistake and proposed promising Haotian benefits so the Stone Monkey’s spectacle could proceed in the Heavenly Court instead.

After Zhou Ming forced Jieyin and Zhunti to abandon their plans in the Underworld, they sent Tathagata to negotiate with Haotian about staging a Buddhist victory in the Heavenly Court. Tathagata offered Haotian a share of the merits from the Scripture Seeking journey and arrived at the Lingxiao Treasure Hall to meet him.

• Jieyin warned Zhunti not to provoke the Witch Clan again after their escape from Pangu Hall.
• Jieyin and Zhunti decided to stage a Buddhist triumph in the Heavenly Court and sent Tathagata to negotiate with Haotian.
• Jieyin and Zhunti authorized Tathagata to offer the Heavenly Court the journey’s merit and Haotian an additional thirty percent of General Rolling Curtain’s merit personally.
• Tathagata accepted the task and flew to the Heavenly Court.
• Haotian and Yaochi received Tathagata in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Tathagata negotiated with Haotian to have the Heavenly Court participate in Buddhism’s planned Havoc in Heaven, promising Haotian an additional thirty percent of General Rolling Curtain’s merit. Haotian agreed on the condition that the Heavenly Court suffer no real damage, and Tathagata returned to Spirit Mountain as the Buddhist Sages prepared to await the Stone Monkey’s birth.

• Tathagata explained Buddhism’s Havoc in Heaven plan to Haotian and offered a share of merit for the Heavenly Court’s cooperation.
• Haotian objected that the plan would make the Heavenly Court a stepping stone for Buddhism and cost it dignity.
• Tathagata offered Haotian an additional thirty percent of the merit General Rolling Curtain would earn, and Haotian agreed to the plan.
• Haotian required that the commotion be known throughout the Three Realms but cause no substantive damage to the Heavenly Court, and Tathagata promised to restore everything afterward.
• Haotian told Yaochi that the merit outweighed the Heavenly Court’s reputation, while Tathagata returned to Spirit Mountain and reported the agreement to Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Jieyin and Zhunti praised the outcome and turned their attention to awaiting the Stone Monkey’s birth in Dongsheng Divine Continent.

Zhen Yuanzi emerged from seclusion after attaining Hunyuan, and Pingxin kept him as Great Emperor Fengdu while releasing Minghe from his duties. Pingxin then sent Minghe to Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain, where an opportunity awaited to help him attain the Dao.

• Minghe sensed Zhen Yuanzi nearing attainment and hurried to Pingxin Palace to confirm it with Pingxin.
• Zhen Yuanzi emerged and thanked Pingxin for helping him attain Hunyuan, while Minghe congratulated him and described the coming Journey to the West.
• Minghe offered to return his temporary duties, but Pingxin told Zhen Yuanzi to continue as Great Emperor Fengdu and instructed Minghe to prepare for Hunyuan attainment.
• Pingxin directed Minghe to visit Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain, saying an opportunity there would benefit his attainment and that she had spoken with her brother.
• Minghe accepted the instruction and raced toward Buzhou Mountain, while Zhen Yuanzi congratulated him on finally having hope of attaining the Great Dao.

Ancestor Minghe visited Pangu Hall at Empress Pingxin’s request, and Zhou Ming gave him a jade slip containing the Method of Shattering Three Corpses. Convinced by the method and pledging himself to the Witch Clan, Minghe went into seclusion while Zhou Ming’s group prepared for the coming conflict with Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao.

• Minghe arrived at Pangu Hall and respectfully greeted Zhou Ming and the Ancestral Witches.
• Zhou Ming gave Minghe a jade slip explaining the Method of Shattering Three Corpses and told him to cultivate in a quiet chamber.
• Minghe realized the method could overturn the established path of severing Three Corpses, then pledged to follow the Witch Clan and entered seclusion.
• Dijiang, Houtu, and Zhujiuyin discussed Minghe’s prospects for attaining Hunyuan, with Pingxin set to assist him.
• Zhou Ming said he hoped Minghe would emerge before Hongjun fully Unified with Dao and warned that the Heavenly Dao might be plotting against the Witch Clan.

Zhou Ming persuaded the Ancestral Witches to preserve Pangu’s fading will by placing it in the Pangu Axe rather than moving Buzhou Mountain. After assigning Houtu to guard Pangu Hall, he led the others to the Pangu Realm to begin the work.

• Zhou Ming explained that the Primordial Wilderness could no longer sustain Pangu’s will and said it must be moved to the Pangu Realm.
• Houtu asked whether they should move Buzhou Mountain to serve as a vessel, but Zhou Ming refused because its removal could damage the Primordial Wilderness and bring boundless Karma.
• Zhou Ming revealed that the Three Treasures of Heaven-Opening, including the Pangu Axe, were in the Witch Clan’s possession and proposed using the axe to bear Pangu’s will.
• Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches enthusiastically agreed to the plan despite the time and effort it would require.
• Zhou Ming left Houtu to guard Pangu Hall and led Dijiang, Zhujiuyin, Zhurong, and the others to the Pangu Realm.

Zhou Ming and the Ancestral Witches prepared to bring Pangu's Will from the Primordial Wilderness into the Pangu Realm without moving Buzhou Mountain. After the Ancestral Witches stabilized the Pangu Axe, Zhou Ming connected with the will sleeping within Buzhou Mountain and called for Father God to return.

• Wang Shu warned Zhou Ming that moving Buzhou Mountain would destabilize the Primordial Wilderness, and Zhou Ming assured her he would not move it.
• Zhou Ming combined the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Banner, and the Chaos Bell to form the Pangu Axe.
• Dijiang, Zhujiuyin, Zhurong, Gonggong, and the other Ancestral Witches poured their laws into the axe to keep it from splitting apart.
• Zhou Ming connected his Primordial Spirit to the will sleeping within Buzhou Mountain and called, "May Father God return to his position!"

Zhou Ming guided Pangu’s Will from the Primordial Wilderness into the Pangu Axe, while the Ancestral Witches struggled to keep the unstable weapon from splitting apart. The migration began to proceed on its own, and the group settled in for a long process as an ancient rune appeared on the axe.

• Zhou Ming opened a passage to Buzhou Mountain and drew the first wisp of Pangu’s Will toward the Pangu Realm.
• Pangu’s Will struck the Pangu Axe, causing it to shake and threaten to split back into the Three Treasures of World Creation.
• Dijiang, Zhurong, Gonggong, and the other Ancestral Witches used their laws to hold the axe together as Di Jun, Taiyi, and the other onlookers sensed Pangu’s presence.
• As more of Pangu’s Will flowed into the axe, Zhou Ming added his power of Hunyuan Grand Unity and helped stabilize it.
• Zhou Ming told the Ancestral Witches to endure the long migration and comprehend Pangu’s Dao Rhythm, while an ancient rune began to appear on the axe.

A Stone Monkey was born on Flower-Fruit Mountain, and the Three Realms’ powerful figures recognized that the Journey to the West had begun. The Heavenly Court publicly dismissed the birth as insignificant while Haotian privately regarded the monkey as essential to his plans.

• An immortal stone on Flower-Fruit Mountain cracked and burst, revealing a golden-furred Stone Monkey whose eyes sent beams of light toward Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
• Jieyin and Zhunti celebrated the monkey’s birth and instructed Tathagata to begin the Journey to the West plan.
• Taiqing, Yuanshi, Nuwa, Hongyun, and Fuxi watched the disturbance and considered what the unfolding events could bring.
• Haotian pretended to be puzzled by the disturbance and ordered Taibai Jinxing to summon Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear.
• Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear reported that the light came from a Stone Monkey born on Flower-Fruit Mountain.
• Haotian ordered the immortals to ignore the monkey, concealing his private hopes for the merit he expected to gain.

Guang Chengzi met with the Chan Sect disciples serving in the Heavenly Court and explained their limited role in the Journey to the West. He advised them to accept their rescue assignments and wait for Haotian’s task allocations.

• After the court assembly, Guang Chengzi entered the Chan Sect’s assigned side hall with Yun Zhongzi, True Lord Taiyi, and other disciples.
• True Lord Taiyi asked what share of merit the Chan Sect would receive in the One Hundred and Eight Tribulations, and Guang Chengzi said they had been assigned rescue missions.
• Guang Chengzi explained that the Chan Sect had no demons to set up tribulations and could only relieve the scripture seekers when they faced calamities.
• The disciples asked whether Haotian would also assign them Heavenly Court tasks, and Guang Chengzi said they might receive some but should expect no major benefits.
• Guang Chengzi urged the Chan Sect disciples to carry out their assigned work and wait for Haotian’s arrangements, a position Yun Zhongzi supported.

Saint Mother Jin Ling’s Jie Sect disciples discussed their likely share in the Journey to the West arrangements, and she told them to accept whatever merit the Heavenly Court assigned without scheming for more. Taibai Jinxing delivered Haotian’s decree giving Eastern Extreme Palace several rescue missions and placing the Chan Sect’s few missions under Jin Ling’s scheduling.

• Zhao Gongming asked how much benefit the Jie Sect could gain from the Journey to the West arrangements, and Jiang Ziya estimated that the Heavenly Court would assign them some duties.
• Saint Mother Jin Ling told the Jie Sect members not to fight or scheme for assignments and to carry out their duties as instructed.
• Taibai Jinxing brought Haotian’s decree assigning Eastern Extreme Palace several rescue missions and their corresponding merit.
• Taibai Jinxing said Jin Ling’s palace would also coordinate the Chan Sect’s three or four rescue duties, so Guang Chengzi and the others would report to her for orders.

Tathagata convened Spirit Mountain after the Spirit Monkey was born and put Guanyin in charge of coordinating the One Hundred and Eight Tribulations and overseeing the monkey’s safety. The Buddhas pledged their support as preparations for the Journey to the West began.

• Tathagata announced that the Spirit Monkey had descended into the world and that the Journey to the West plan had entered its preparation stage.
• Tathagata assigned Guanyin to verify the tribulation candidates, coordinate with other factions, and record each side’s contributions and merit.
• Tathagata tasked Guanyin with sending reliable Buddhas to watch over the Spirit Monkey on Flower-Fruit Mountain without interfering with his growth.
• Tathagata declared the scripture-seeking plan Spirit Mountain’s foremost priority, and the Buddhas pledged to support Guanyin and fulfill their duties.
• Tathagata dismissed the assembly, and the Buddhas departed.

The Five Directions Jiedi watched the Spirit Monkey live carefree on Flower-Fruit Mountain and marveled at his extraordinary natural strength. Mohe Jiedi said Spirit Mountain planned to guide him out to sea to seek the Dao, but the Jiedi had to keep watch until that happened.

• Gold-Headed Jiedi and Silver-Headed Jiedi complained about watching the Spirit Monkey for hundreds of years while Mohe Jiedi reminded them the Bodhisattva had entrusted them with an important duty.
• Bolo Jiedi and Gold-Headed Jiedi noticed the Spirit Monkey split a massive boulder with one slap despite never having cultivated.
• The Jiedi envied the Spirit Monkey’s exceptional roots, and Mohe Jiedi warned them to focus on earning merit by carrying out their assignment properly.
• Mohe Jiedi reported that Spirit Mountain planned to guide the Spirit Monkey out to sea to seek and inquire after the Dao, though the timing was not yet set.
• Mohe Jiedi said the Spirit Monkey sometimes sat alone on a mountain peak, staring at the sea, and Silver-Headed Jiedi mocked Gold-Headed Jiedi for failing to notice.

After an old monkey died, the Spirit Monkey learned that even he could eventually perish and decided to cross the sea in search of immortality. The Five Directions Jiedi realized the death had been arranged by the Bodhisattva to spur him toward the Dao, and sent the news to Spirit Mountain.

• The Five Directions Jiedi investigated a commotion in Water Curtain Cave and learned that an old monkey had died of old age.
• The Spirit Monkey asked what death meant and learned that he too might die unless he cultivated to true attainment.
• An old monkey told the Spirit Monkey to seek immortality from Buddhas, immortals, or divinities beyond the sea.
• The Spirit Monkey ordered the monkeys to gather spirit fruit and prepare a raft so he could leave and find a master.
• The Five Directions Jiedi recognized the old monkey's golden light as the Bodhisattva's handiwork, and Mohe Jiedi told them to send word to Spirit Mountain.

Spirit Monkey left Flower-Fruit Mountain to seek immortality and drifted across the sea, watched over by the Five Directions Jiedi and secretly guided by the Dragon Clan. After months at sea, he reached the Southern Continent and set off toward the mountains in search of immortals.

• Spirit Monkey said farewell to the monkeys of Flower-Fruit Mountain and set sail on a bamboo raft loaded with supplies.
• The Five Directions Jiedi followed him, ensuring he stayed safe while he struggled to find his way across the sea.
• After a storm battered his raft, Spirit Monkey endured and continued his journey, rationing the spirit fruits.
• The Jiedi discovered the Dragon Clan was guiding Spirit Monkey with an undercurrent that carried his raft in the right direction.
• Months later, Spirit Monkey reached the Southern Continent, stepped onto the shore, and headed inland to find immortals.

The Spirit Monkey spent more than a decade searching for immortals until he reached Lingtai Square-Inch Mountain and entered its grounds. The Five Directions Jiedi were stopped by a powerful barrier, then Buddha Tathagata told them their mission was complete and ordered them back to Spirit Mountain.

• The Spirit Monkey landed on the Southern Continent, searched for immortals, and endured years of ridicule and hardship while the Five Directions Jiedi followed him.
• After an old man directed him toward the Western Continent, the Spirit Monkey crossed the sea and found Lingtai Square-Inch Mountain.
• The Spirit Monkey climbed into the mountain, while the Five Directions Jiedi were blocked by an invisible barrier at its boundary.
• Buddha Tathagata told the Five Directions Jiedi their task was complete and ordered them to return to Spirit Mountain.
• The Five Directions Jiedi concluded that the Spirit Monkey had found the place where he would take a master and departed for Spirit Mountain.

After more than ten years searching for immortals, the Spirit Monkey found Patriarch Bodhi at Slanted Moon and Three Stars Cave and became his disciple. Bodhi named him Sun Wukong and ordered an attendant to arrange his lodging and begin his cultivation the next day.

• The Spirit Monkey met a woodcutter, who told him that Patriarch Bodhi lived at Slanted Moon and Three Stars Cave on Lingtai Square-Inch Mountain.
• The Spirit Monkey reached the cave, where a young acolyte said Bodhi had foreseen his arrival and led him inside.
• The Spirit Monkey told Patriarch Bodhi about his origins and his search for immortality.
• Patriarch Bodhi gave the Spirit Monkey the surname Sun and the name Wukong, making him Sun Wukong.
• Patriarch Bodhi ordered an attendant to find Sun Wukong a place to stay and have him cultivate and sweep with the disciples starting the next day.

Zhunti and Jieyin discussed Sun Wukong’s apprenticeship under Bodhi and whether Buddhism could eventually persuade him to stay. They agreed to prioritize his training and the Journey to the West, leaving the decision about his future until after the pilgrimage.

• Zhunti told Jieyin that Sun Wukong had become Bodhi’s disciple and could leave his master within a few years.
• Jieyin questioned the short timetable, but Zhunti explained that Sun Wukong’s vast accumulated power gave him an unusually strong foundation.
• Zhunti proposed keeping Sun Wukong in Buddhism, and Jieyin agreed it might be possible if they avoided offending Zhou Ming.
• Jieyin warned that Sun Wukong might not want to remain in Buddhism and said they should first ensure the Journey to the West succeeded and their karma was repaid.
• Zhunti accepted Jieyin’s plan to have Bodhi teach Sun Wukong fully and postpone deciding whether to keep him until the pilgrimage was over.

After seven years of patient labor and study, Sun Wukong was finally offered cultivation lessons by Patriarch Bodhi, but rejected each art because it could not grant longevity. Bodhi struck him three times and left, and Sun Wukong hurried toward his quarters, puzzling over the meaning of the blows.

• Patriarch Bodhi judged that Sun Wukong's temperament and dormant power had matured enough for cultivation lessons.
• Patriarch Bodhi asked Sun Wukong what he had learned and what he sought, and Sun Wukong reaffirmed that he wanted longevity.
• Patriarch Bodhi described four categories of arts, but Sun Wukong refused each one after learning it could not grant immortality.
• Patriarch Bodhi struck Sun Wukong three times with a ruler, scolded him, and left through the rear hall.
• Sun Wukong endured his fellow disciples' rebukes, then sprang up and ran toward his quarters.

Sun Wukong understood Patriarch Bodhi’s hint and secretly came to his room to seek the true method of longevity. Bodhi taught him the Great Dao of cultivation and transmitted the formulas for the Thirty-six Heavenly Transformations and Seventy-two Earthly Transformations, then told him to return for further instruction each night.

• Sun Wukong entered Patriarch Bodhi’s room at the third watch and explained that he had understood Bodhi’s daytime hints.
• Patriarch Bodhi said the four paths he had taught were side doors and agreed to teach Sun Wukong the true Great Dao of longevity.
• Sun Wukong learned the fundamental cultivation method through the night, quickly awakening his powerful innate foundation.
• Patriarch Bodhi transmitted the formulas for the Thirty-six Heavenly Transformations and Seventy-two Earthly Transformations into Sun Wukong’s mind.
• Patriarch Bodhi told Sun Wukong to keep cultivating and sweeping by day and return at the third watch for lessons in all one hundred and eight transformations.

After Sun Wukong mastered the transformations and reached Daluo Golden Immortal, Patriarch Bodhi sent him away from Fangcun Mountain to keep his strength within the limits of the Journey to the West plan. The chapter leaves the plan underway, as Zhunti and Jieyin alert Tathagata, who summons the other forces to take their positions.

• Patriarch Bodhi watched Sun Wukong display the transformations he had mastered and decided it was time for him to leave Fangcun Mountain.
• Patriarch Bodhi told Sun Wukong to descend the mountain, forbade him from claiming to be his disciple, and threatened to destroy his cultivation if he revealed Bodhi's name.
• Sun Wukong reluctantly obeyed, paid his respects to Patriarch Bodhi, and flew east from Fangcun Mountain.
• Zhunti and Jieyin discussed Sun Wukong's Daluo Golden Immortal cultivation and agreed that the Journey to the West ordeals could still restrain him.
• Zhunti sent word to Tathagata, who alerted the Heavenly Court, Shouyang Mountain, Kunlun Mountain, Wa Huang Palace, and Huoyun Cave to begin the plan.

Zhou Ming and the Ancestral Witches completed the migration of Pangu’s Will into the Pangu Axe, leaving Zhujiuyin to guard it while it stabilized. Back at Pangu Hall, they learned Minghe had shattered his corpse and discussed the coming Havoc in Heaven, deciding to watch the planned spectacle.

• Zhou Ming and the Ancestral Witches finished transferring Pangu’s Will into the Pangu Axe, leaving only a trace at Buzhou Mountain to mislead the Heavenly Dao.
• Zhou Ming assigned Zhujiuyin to guard the axe while Pangu’s Will stabilized and returned to Pangu Hall with the others.
• Houtu told Zhou Ming that Minghe had shattered his corpse and was stabilizing his cultivation before seeking Hunyuan with the Earth Dao’s power.
• Houtu reported that Sun Wukong had eaten the immortal peaches and Taishang Laojun’s golden pills, bringing the planned Havoc in Heaven close.
• Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches discussed how Haotian, Tathagata, and the immortals were playing their assigned roles while Sun Wukong remained unaware.
• Zhou Ming decided that his group had arrived in time to watch the spectacle, while leaving Sun Wukong’s fate to himself.

After Sun Wukong disrupted the Peach Banquet and ate Taishang Laojun’s Golden Elixirs, Haotian sent Yang Jian to capture him, presenting the mission as a way to strengthen ties with Huoyun Cave. Yang Jian accepted the assignment and flew toward Flower-Fruit Mountain while Yang Chan stayed behind.

• Haotian ordered Sun Wukong captured, and Taibai Jinxing suggested sending a skilled fighter after the Heavenly Court’s earlier forces had failed.
• Haotian chose Yang Jian, and Taibai Jinxing framed the mission as a chance to deepen relations between the Heavenly Court and Huoyun Cave.
• Taibai Jinxing told Yang Jian that the fight could make a bigger commotion, and Yang Jian accepted the decree.
• Yang Chan asked to accompany Yang Jian, but he refused and told her to stay with Princess Yao Ji.
• Yang Jian left Yun Hua Palace and flew toward Flower-Fruit Mountain, while Yang Jiao said he did not need to help.