Chapter Summaries

Duobao wandered through the West, refusing Long Ear Dingguang Immortal’s pleas and threats to leave, while debates with Buddhist disciples deepened his understanding of the Dharma. As his reputation grew and he began to envision a new Buddhist teaching, Burning Lamp gave Shen Gongbao one final chance to stop him by meeting him in person.

• Long Ear Dingguang Immortal urged Duobao to leave the West, then attacked him when he refused, but his Buddhist pressure vanished before reaching Duobao.
• Duobao continued his journey despite former fellow disciples’ pleas, Buddhist debates, and threats, and developed doubts about the West’s emphasis on personal liberation.
• Burning Lamp rebuked Shen Gongbao because Duobao’s encounters with Jie Sect disciples had strengthened his reputation and unsettled their Dao hearts.
• Shen Gongbao admitted his plan had failed and asked to meet Duobao personally for one final attempt.
• Burning Lamp agreed to give Shen Gongbao another chance and warned him not to disappoint him again.

Shen Gongbao confronted Duobao in the western lands and learned that Duobao intended to establish a Buddhism devoted to delivering all beings. He warned Ancient Buddha Randeng that Duobao’s teachings could split Buddhism, yet might bring greater prosperity to the West while threatening Randeng’s authority.

• Shen Gongbao revealed himself to Duobao after secretly observing him for years and challenged him about the Western Teachings’ doctrine of self-liberation.
• Duobao said he wanted to establish a true Buddha in the West who could deliver all living beings, rather than seek only personal liberation.
• Shen Gongbao returned to Mount Sumeru and told Ancient Buddha Randeng that Duobao could not be driven away because he intended to join the Buddhist gate.
• Shen Gongbao argued that Duobao had broken free of Taiqing’s control and was pursuing Western Prosperity for himself.
• Shen Gongbao warned Ancient Buddha Randeng that Duobao’s teachings were gaining followers and could split Buddhism, though they might spread the Dharma more widely and bring greater Fortune to the West.
• Ancient Buddha Randeng rose in alarm as Shen Gongbao warned that Duobao’s path might better achieve Western Prosperity, but could threaten Randeng himself.

Burning Lamp’s fear of losing his standing made him resolve to confront Duobao, but Sage Zhunti summoned him and Shen Gongbao before he could act. The Two Sages questioned Shen Gongbao about Duobao’s motives and whether his new Buddhist path could coexist with their teachings, leaving Burning Lamp’s future position hanging on the answer.

• Burning Lamp decided to destroy or appropriate Duobao’s method of Universal Salvation, but Sage Zhunti ordered him to bring Shen Gongbao to the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.
• Burning Lamp and Shen Gongbao arrived at the pool and paid respects to Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Zhunti asked Shen Gongbao how certain he was that Duobao had broken free of Taiqing’s control, and Shen Gongbao said he was eighty percent certain.
• Jieyin and Zhunti concluded that Duobao’s path might benefit Western Prosperity, but Zhunti warned that it could cause Buddhism to split and asked Shen Gongbao how to handle the conflict.
• Burning Lamp realized Shen Gongbao’s answer could determine both Duobao’s fate and his own future standing.

Zhunti told Burning Lamp that Duobao’s Universal Salvation path would be adopted for the sake of Western Prosperity, but promised him a fair Debate Dharma to retain Buddhism’s leadership. After Burning Lamp and Shen Gongbao left, Jieyin and Zhunti planned to merge the old and new paths by establishing the Buddhas of the Three Times.

• Shen Gongbao declined to advise the Sages on the Buddhist dispute and left the decision to Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Zhunti told Burning Lamp that the Sages would use Duobao’s path and offered him a chance to defend his leadership in a future Debate Dharma.
• Burning Lamp accepted the offer and thanked the Sages for giving him a chance to compete.
• After Burning Lamp and Shen Gongbao withdrew, Zhunti and Jieyin agreed to merge the two Buddhist paths when Duobao became a Buddha.
• Zhunti proposed appointing Burning Lamp as Buddha of the Past, Duobao as Buddha of the Present, and Maitreya as Buddha of the Future.

Duobao traveled through The West preaching that all beings could become Buddhas, then defeated Ancient Buddha Randeng in a forty-nine-day Debate Dharma beneath the Bodhi Tree. After meditating for five hundred years, he established Mahayana Buddhism, became Buddha of the Present and lord of the ten thousand Buddhas, renamed Mount Sumeru Spirit Mountain, and declared himself Tathagata.

• Duobao preached his teachings across The West, attracting monks and beings he had helped.
• Duobao met Ancient Buddha Randeng at Mount Sumeru and debated the nature of Buddhist liberation and precepts beneath the Bodhi Tree.
• After forty-nine days, Randeng lost the debate, and Duobao entered a state of enlightenment that lasted five hundred years.
• Duobao awakened, established Mahayana Buddhism, and declared that all whose hearts turned toward goodness could enter his path.
• Jieyin and Zhunti appointed Duobao Buddha of the Present, Randeng Buddha of the Past, and Maitreya Buddha of the Future.
• Duobao renamed Mount Sumeru Spirit Mountain, took the name Tathagata, and received the obeisance of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats.

After Duobao became Tathagata, the saints and powers across the Primordial Wilderness assessed how Jieyin and Zhunti had turned Taiqing’s scheme into a means of strengthening Buddhism. Taiqing accepted the setback and waited for the Western sages to seek a new bargain, as the larger struggle over Western Prosperity began.

• Venerable Lord Yuanshi recognized that Duobao’s rise had thwarted his scheme and considered how to claim a share of Western Prosperity’s merit.
• Nuwa laughed at Taiqing’s failed plan and decided to watch events unfold while expecting her due merit.
• At Huoyun Cave, Shennong, Xuanyuan, Fuxi, and Hongyun concluded that Duobao’s Mahayana Buddhism and the West’s prosperity had become bound together, and Hongyun urged them to guard the Human Race.
• Saint Taiqing accepted that Duobao had chosen his own path and resolved to pursue another strategy to secure a share of Western Prosperity.
• The saints turned their attention away from Spirit Mountain as its transformation ended, while the larger upheaval across the Three Realms remained ahead.

Zhou Ming fused the three Sky-Opening Marks and broke through to Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal, gaining the power to perceive and eventually sever the Primordial Brand on the Witch Clan. After reuniting with the others in Pangu Hall, he began preaching the Dao to help the Ancestral Witches and Tongtian cross their cultivation bottlenecks.

• Zhou Ming comprehended the Dao of Strength through the fused Sky-Opening Marks and broke through to Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal as Dijiang, Houtu, and Zhujiuyin stood guard.
• Zhou Ming said that after stabilizing his realm, he would sever the Primordial Brand on the sons of the Witch Clan.
• Zhou Ming found Tongtian rebuilding his foundation while Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuanming, and the other Ancestral Witches struggled at the threshold of becoming Daluo Golden Immortals of the Origin.
• Zhou Ming revealed his breakthrough to the gathered Ancestral Witches and Tongtian, then offered to lecture on the Dao to help them advance.
• Zhou Ming began explaining the laws of the Great Dao, and Zhurong, Gonggong, and Tongtian each gained new insights into their respective paths.

Zhou Ming's Dao lecture helped Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuanming, Qiangliang, and the others enter enlightenment, while Sect Master Tongtian began rebuilding toward Hunyuan. He then told Dijiang, Houtu, and Zhujiuyin that the Witch Clan would move into the Pangu Realm, and prepared to sever its karmic ties to the Primordial Wilderness.

• Zhou Ming's lecture on the Great Dao led Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuanming, Qiangliang, and the others into deep enlightenment.
• Dijiang, Houtu, and Zhujiuyin celebrated their brothers' progress, and Zhou Ming said they could all attain Hunyuan within ten thousand years.
• Zhou Ming praised Sect Master Tongtian for rebuilding after giving up his Saint position and said he had touched the Hunyuan threshold.
• Zhou Ming moved the enlightened witches to their quiet rooms, then announced that the Witch Clan must sever its karmic ties to the Primordial Wilderness and relocate to the Pangu Realm.
• Dijiang, Houtu, and Zhujiuyin agreed that moving the clansmen would free the Witch Clan from Hongjun's leverage and give them a secure retreat.
• Zhou Ming declared he would use his Hunyuan Grand Unity power to sever the ancient shackle, then pressed his palm into the empty space before him.

Zhou Ming used Pangu Hall’s will to sever the Witch Clan’s karmic ties to the Primordial Wilderness despite Hongjun’s attempt to stop him with the Heavenly Dao. With the Witch Clan free of that bond, Zhou Ming ordered its clansmen to return to Buzhou Mountain and prepare to migrate.

• Zhou Ming revealed the Witch Clan’s karmic web and tried to sever it, but Hongjun reinforced it with the Heavenly Dao’s power.
• Zhou Ming explained that the Witch Clan could draw on Father God’s legacy and awakened Pangu Hall’s will.
• Zhou Ming wielded the phantom giant axe to shatter every karmic thread binding the Witch Clan to the Primordial Wilderness.
• Hongjun recognized that he could no longer use the Heavenly Dao to control the Witch Clan and vowed to deal with Zhou Ming after fully merging with it.
• Jieyin, Zhunti, Venerable Lord Yuanshi, Taiqing, Nuwa, Hongyun, and others sensed the severing and reacted with shock or approval.
• Zhou Ming ordered the Witch Clan clansmen outside to return to Buzhou Mountain and prepare to migrate.

Zhou Ming moved the Witch Clan into the Pangu Realm, giving them a new home beyond the Primordial Wilderness. Ten thousand years later, the remaining eight Ancestral Witches attained the Dao of Origin, and Zhou Ming said they would wait until Western Prosperity before confronting Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao.

• Zhou Ming gathered the Witch Clan youths and transported them from Buzhou Mountain to the Pangu Realm, where they celebrated their new home.
• Dijiang, Houtu, and Zhujiuyin began assigning the Witch Clan tribes their territories while Zhou Ming returned to Pangu Hall to stabilize his realm.
• After ten thousand years, Zhurong, Gonggong, Xuanming, Qiangliang, Shebishi, Tianwu, Xizi, and Rushou emerged from seclusion as Daluo Golden Immortals of the Origin.
• The newly ascended Ancestral Witches urged Zhou Ming to confront Hongjun, but he told them to stabilize their realms and wait for Western Prosperity.
• Zhou Ming explained that Western Prosperity would complete Hongjun’s plan while exposing the Heavenly Dao’s flaw, making it the time to settle everything.

Zhunti and Jieyin decided Buddhism was ready to begin Western Prosperity but recognized that they needed the major powers’ agreement. They set out for Pangu Hall to seek Zhou Ming’s support, seeing his approval as essential to the plan.

• Zhunti and Jieyin praised Tathagata for reorganizing Buddhism and uniting the Greater Vehicle and Lesser Vehicle teachings.
• Zhunti warned that Buddhism’s Fortune had reached a bottleneck because the West was barren and its converts had already been gathered.
• Jieyin agreed that Western Prosperity had to begin, and the two decided to negotiate its rules with the Heavenly Court, the Human Race, and the Witch Clan.
• Zhunti and Jieyin concluded that Zhou Ming’s agreement was crucial because of the Witch Clan’s influence and his ties to Hongyun.
• Jieyin and Zhunti left Spirit Mountain and traveled to Pangu Hall to visit Zhou Ming.

Jieyin and Zhunti visited Zhou Ming at Buzhou Mountain to discuss Western Prosperity and were stunned to discover that all twelve Ancestral Witches had attained the Origin Daluo Golden Immortal realm. Zhou Ming promised the Witch Clan would not interfere with their plans, then asked Zhunti what the West could possibly offer him.

• Jieyin and Zhunti arrived at Pangu Hall and felt the overwhelming pressure of Zhou Ming's Hunyuan Taiji realm.
• They entered and saw Zhou Ming seated with all twelve Ancestral Witches, each having attained the Origin Daluo Golden Immortal realm.
• Zhunti congratulated Zhou Ming and the Ancestral Witches, while he and Jieyin privately resolved to repay their Heavenly Dao karma and cut away their Saint positions.
• Zhunti explained that he and Jieyin had come to seek guidance about Buddhism's plans for Western Prosperity and spreading its teachings in the eastern lands.
• Zhou Ming said the Witch Clan would not interfere with the West's plans as long as they did not involve the Witch Clan.
• Zhunti offered to help Zhou Ming in return, and Zhou Ming asked whether the West had anything that could catch his eye.

Zhou Ming let Zhunti and Jieyin proceed without demanding payment, intending for the Western pair to owe the Witch Clan a favor. Zhunti and Jieyin recognized the debt’s weight and went on to seek the Human Race’s support for Western Prosperity at Huoyun Cave.

• Zhou Ming refused Zhunti and Jieyin’s offer of payment and told them to negotiate separately with the Heavenly Court, Human Race, and others.
• Zhou Ming explained to the Witch Clan that he wanted the Western pair to owe them a favor, and Houtu understood that the unpaid debt could grow over time.
• Outside Pangu Hall, Jieyin warned Zhunti that Zhou Ming’s favor could be harder to repay than a debt to the Heavenly Dao.
• Jieyin decided they should later share some merit with the Witch Clan to show they understood their obligation.
• Jieyin and Zhunti headed to Huoyun Cave to seek Hongyun’s approval for spreading the Dao among the Human Race.

Jieyin and Zhunti visited Huoyun Cave to seek the Human Race’s cooperation in Buddhism’s eastward spread. Hongyun agreed to help but refused to allow any methods that harmed Human lives, leaving the negotiations at an impasse.

• Hongyun sensed Jieyin and Zhunti arriving and welcomed them to Huoyun Cave with Fuxi.
• Jieyin and Zhunti asked the Human Race to support Western Prosperity and said Zhou Ming had agreed the Witch Clan would not interfere.
• Hongyun agreed that the Human Race would cooperate with Buddhism’s eastward spread.
• Hongyun prohibited bloodshed and substantial harm to the Human Race during the spread of Buddhist teachings.
• Zhunti asked for leeway to use special methods against resistance, but Hongyun firmly refused to let Human lives become stepping stones to Buddhism’s prosperity.

Hongyun insisted that the Human Race be protected and receive its fair share in the West’s prosperity, then demanded ten percent of the merit from Jieyin and Zhunti. Zhunti listed their debts and prior commitments, but Hongyun asked what labor, responsibilities, and future karma the Human Race would bear, leaving the two Sages speechless.

• Hongyun demanded that Jieyin and Zhunti restrain their disciples and never harm the Human Race, and they agreed.
• Hongyun proposed that the Human Race receive ten percent of the merit from Western Prosperity.
• Zhunti protested that the West had already promised merit to the Witch Clan and Nuwa, owed shares to other contributors, and needed the rest to repay the Heavenly Dao.
• Hongyun acknowledged the West’s debts but asked how much work, responsibility, and future karma the Human Race would take on.
• Jieyin and Zhunti could not answer Hongyun’s questions.

Hongyun and the Western Sages agreed to negotiate Western Prosperity’s merit by each party’s contribution, so Jieyin and Zhunti summoned the other Sages and Haotian to the Heavenly Court. The gathering ended with Jieyin proposing a Journey to the West for scriptures, with everyone sharing the trials and receiving merit according to their efforts.

• Hongyun argued that the Human Race deserved a share of the merit for supporting Buddhism’s eastward spread, and Jieyin and Zhunti proposed dividing merit according to each party’s contribution.
• Hongyun agreed to negotiate the details with the other powers, and Jieyin sent invitations to Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Nuwa.
• Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Nuwa each decided to attend the Heavenly Court gathering to claim a share in Western Prosperity.
• Jieyin, Zhunti, Hongyun, Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Nuwa arrived at the Heavenly Court, where Haotian agreed to support Western Prosperity while insisting that the Heavenly Court’s interests be protected.
• Taiqing asked how labor and merit would be measured, and Jieyin proposed a Journey to the West for scriptures, with all present sharing the trials and receiving merit according to their contributions.

The sages finalized the scripture-seeking party and divided its positions among Buddhism, Taiqing, the Heavenly Court, and the Witch Clan, while the Human Race and Nuwa arranged a Dragon Clan mount. Haotian and Yaochi then chose Juanlian to retrieve the scriptures, leaving the Three Realms poised for the journey west.

• Jieyin and Zhunti proposed dividing the scripture-seeking tribulations among the factions, and Taiqing secured a place by volunteering Bian Zhuang as a protector.
• Haotian claimed a Heavenly Court place for General Rolling Curtain, while Yuanshi argued that Chan Sect deserved a slot.
• Zhunti invoked Yuanshi's old debt from the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, forcing Yuanshi to yield his claim.
• Zhunti assigned the final protector position to the Witch Clan, and Hongyun and Nuwa arranged for the Dragon Clan to provide the mount.
• The sages agreed that Buddha Tathagata would draft the detailed plan for the remaining tribulations and rescue roles.
• After the sages departed, Haotian chose Juanlian to retrieve the scriptures, and Yaochi approved his selection.

At Spirit Mountain, Zhunti persuaded Jieyin to raise the Scripture Seeking tribulations from eighty-one to one hundred and eight so the resulting merit might repay their debt to the Heavenly Dao. They agreed to have Tathagata sound out the other factions, while avoiding direct involvement that could draw the Dao Ancestor’s attention.

• Zhunti argued that eighty-one Scripture Seeking tribulations would not produce enough merit to repay the eighty-one Great Vows he and Jieyin had made.
• Jieyin worried that increasing the tribulations would violate Heaven’s Will and risk punishment from the Dao Ancestor.
• Zhunti proposed one hundred and eight tribulations, and Jieyin agreed after weighing the chance to repay their debt against the danger.
• Jieyin warned that Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Haotian might oppose the change, so Zhunti suggested testing their attitudes first.
• Zhunti proposed that Tathagata coordinate with the other factions and verify the tribulations, keeping himself and Jieyin from directly proposing the change.

Jieyin and Zhunti summoned Tathagata to organize the Western Journey after the major powers agreed to let Buddhism spread the Dharma east. They ordered him to increase the journey from Eighty-One Tribulations to One Hundred and Eight, leaving him to coordinate the arrangements despite his fear of heavenly consequences.

• Jieyin summoned Tathagata to the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, where Zhunti told him that the major powers had agreed to Buddhism's eastern journey.
• Zhunti tasked Tathagata with choosing the scripture-seeker and protectors, arranging the tribulations, and coordinating with the other factions.
• Zhunti and Jieyin decided to increase the journey from Eighty-One Tribulations to One Hundred and Eight to generate more merit and repay their vows.
• Tathagata warned that changing the heavenly number could bring punishment, but Zhunti told him to proceed and negotiate with the other factions.
• Jieyin wondered whether the One Hundred and Eight Tribulations could repay their karmic debts, and Zhunti insisted that they could.

Tathagata proposed increasing the Western Journey’s tribulations from eighty-one to one hundred and eight, and the representatives of the major factions secured their Sages’ approval. After months of negotiation, they finalized a detailed charter, and Jieyin and Zhunti rejoiced that the plan had been accepted without signs of heavenly opposition.

• Tathagata proposed adding twenty-seven tribulations, arguing that the extra ordeals would create more merit for every participating faction.
• True Person Ziyang, Taibai Jinxing, Yang Jiao, Jin Feng, and Guang Chengzi consulted their respective leaders, who all agreed to the increase.
• The representatives negotiated for months and finalized the One Hundred and Eight Tribulations charter, including each faction’s roles and merit shares.
• Tathagata reported the agreement to Jieyin and Zhunti at the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.
• Jieyin and Zhunti saw no sign of opposition from the Heavenly Dao or Dao Ancestor and ordered Tathagata to begin preparations.