Chapter Summaries

Cihang the Great Bodhisattva tried to push Sun Wukong toward the Journey to the West by disguising himself as Hou Yinyin, but Sun Wukong rejected her and chose to cultivate in seclusion for fifty years. Cihang and the Dragon King of the East Sea then plotted to force him into action, while Cihang also planned to enlist Demon Kings.

• Cihang the Great Bodhisattva disguised himself as Hou Yinyin and tried to seduce Sun Wukong, but Sun Wukong rejected her and had the monkeys carry her away.
• After revealing himself, Cihang went to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea and urged the Dragon King of the East Sea to lure Sun Wukong into a scheme involving treasures and Heaven.
• The Dragon King sent the Turtle Prime Minister to invite Sun Wukong to a banquet, but Sun Wukong declined and announced he would cultivate in seclusion for fifty years.
• Cihang proposed flooding Flower-Fruit Mountain, but the Dragon King rejected the idea and the Turtle Prime Minister suggested planting evidence there instead.
• Cihang agreed to act separately by recruiting Demon Kings to cause trouble, while the Dragon King and Turtle Prime Minister prepared their own scheme.

Sun Wukong rejected the Sea-Calming Divine Needle, but the Dragon King kept sending it back, while six demon kings tried to seize Flower-Fruit Mountain. After Sun Wukong deterred them with his treasures and array, Cihang the Great Bodhisattva reported the situation to Tathagata, who ordered her to enlist the underworld against him.

• Sun Wukong received the Sea-Calming Divine Needle outside Water Curtain Cave and threw it back to the East Sea, but the Dragon King kept sending it back despite the damage it caused.
• Bull Demon King and the other five demon kings demanded Flower-Fruit Mountain, so Sun Wukong left the Ruyi Jingu Bang behind and withdrew to Water Curtain Cave with the monkeys.
• Sun Wukong placed the Heaven-shattering Staff at the cave entrance and deployed the Inverting Yin Yang Five Elements Great Array, frightening the six demon kings away from attacking.
• The system rewarded Sun Wukong for keeping a low profile with a Three Realms Cloud-Piercing Shuttle, while Cihang the Great Bodhisattva worried that he was growing too powerful.
• Cihang reported Sun Wukong’s situation to Tathagata at Spirit Mountain, and Buddha Ancestor Randeng proposed asking the underworld to bring him down.
• Tathagata accepted Venerable Wen Jing’s agreement and ordered Cihang to go to the underworld, and she reluctantly agreed.

Hongjun clashed with Fate, Karma, Samsara, and Five Elements after they arrived with Great Immortal Yang Mei, but was forced to retreat into the Primordial World. The visitors then revealed they had found a mysterious region in Chaos where cultivation was suppressed and invited Hongjun to explore it with them.

• Hongjun met Great Immortal Yang Mei and the Fate, Karma, Samsara, and Five Elements Demon Gods outside Purple Firmament Palace.
• The Demon Gods mocked Hongjun for taking the Great Dao of the nation and challenged him to fight in Chaos.
• Hongjun wielded the Jade Plate of Creation, Hongjun Tower, and Purple Firmament Palace, but the Demon Gods overwhelmed him and drove him back into the Primordial World.
• Great Immortal Yang Mei intervened, and the group shared tea made from the Primordial Tree while Hongjun waited for them to explain their purpose.
• The Fate Demon God said they had discovered a mysterious region in Chaos that suppressed cultivation, and Hongjun learned they wanted him to accompany them inside.

Hongjun and the Chaos Demon Gods investigated a strange sea that swallowed their combined power, then returned to Purple Cloud Palace to discuss the Journey to the West calamity. Meanwhile, Marshal Tianpeng and General Juan Lian visited Sun Wukong at Flower-Fruit Mountain, where Tianpeng recognized him through a shared slogan.

• Yang Mei and the other Chaos Demon Gods swore not to deceive Hongjun, then led him through Chaos to a sea that consumed their combined attack.
• Hongjun refused to investigate the sea further until the Primordial World passed through its current calamity cycle.
• At Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun identified Sun Wukong, Tianpeng, and General Juan Lian as chosen figures whose strange behavior suggested hidden interference by Nuwa, Houtu, Chen Xuan, Tongtian, and others.
• Marshal Tianpeng and General Juan Lian arrived at Water Curtain Cave, and Sun Wukong cautiously asked who they were.
• Tianpeng asked Sun Wukong who Wu Cheng'en was, and Sun Wukong recognized him as someone in the know.
• Tianpeng and Sun Wukong exchanged slogans, ending with Tianpeng angrily calling Sun Wukong Bimawen.

Sun Wukong went willingly to the Underworld, where the Cowardly System rewarded him with Mahayana Buddhism and made him a Buddha. He chose the name Traveler and decided to remain in the Underworld, leaving Cihang the Great Bodhisattva and Buddhism’s plans for the Journey to the West in disarray.

• Sun Wukong told Marshal Tianpeng and General Juan Lian to leave Flower-Fruit Mountain and keep their contact discreet.
• Ox-Head and Horse-Face took Sun Wukong’s soul to the Hall of Yama, where he calmly agreed to reincarnate instead of causing trouble.
• Cihang the Great Bodhisattva watched as Sun Wukong crossed the Bridge of Helplessness and received Mahayana Buddhism from the Cowardly System.
• Sun Wukong drank Meng Po Soup, comprehended its lesson, and became a Buddha, purifying evil spirits and wronged souls throughout the Underworld.
• Sun Wukong named himself Traveler and declared that he would stay in the Underworld to help its souls, while Cihang warned him and left for Spirit Mountain.
• Daoist Zhunti told Daoist Jieyin that Buddhism could not handle the situation and worried that delaying the Journey to the West Calamity would bring disaster.

Daoist Jieyin urged Tathagata to set the Journey to the West in motion, and the Buddhist and Heavenly Court factions arranged to summon Sun Wukong. When Sun Wukong saw a little girl fated to freeze to death, he tore off his kasaya and chose to defy Heaven to save her.

• Daoist Jieyin told Tathagata to accelerate the Journey to the West, and Tathagata asked the Jade Emperor to summon Sun Wukong and provoke him into causing trouble.
• Tathagata sent Venerable Wen Jing and Cihang the Great Bodhisattva to the netherworld with Taibai Jinxing and the Jade Emperor's imperial decree.
• Sun Wukong helped an old woman reunite with her three-year-old granddaughter, who was freezing in a mountain village.
• Taibai Jinxing explained that the girl's death was her destined calamity, and Sun Wukong asked what would happen if he defied Heaven.
• Sun Wukong tore off his kasaya and prepared to save the girl despite Taibai Jinxing's warning that it violated the Heavenly Rules.

Sun Wukong saved the dying Little Nannan, took her as his disciple, and defied Heaven, prompting the Jade Emperor to send an army against him. When the heavenly forces finally arrived, Sun Wukong effortlessly defeated the Giant Spirit God and turned his attention to the stunned soldiers and generals.

• Sun Wukong revived Little Nannan long enough for her to reunite with her grandmother, then took her as his disciple after the grandmother vanished.
• Cihang the Great Bodhisattva tried to attack Sun Wukong, but Venerable Wen Jing stopped her, while Taibai Jinxing reported Sun Wukong’s actions to the Jade Emperor.
• The Jade Emperor ordered Li Jing and Nezha to lead One Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to capture Sun Wukong for defying Heaven.
• Three years later, the heavenly army descended, and the soldiers and generals mocked Sun Wukong as weak; Nezha slipped away to the lower realm after receiving a system notification.
• Li Jing sent the Giant Spirit God to capture Sun Wukong, but Sun Wukong sent him flying with a few punches and then turned toward the heavenly army.

Sun Wukong defeated the Four Heavenly Kings and broke free of Li Jing’s pagoda before fighting Li Nezha. After the pair secretly became friends, drank together, and fought again, Li Nezha conceded and Li Jing led the defeated Heavenly host back to Heaven.

• The Four Heavenly Kings attacked Sun Wukong together, but he shattered their attacks and sent them flying with his staff.
• Li Jing trapped Sun Wukong in his Golden Exquisite Pagoda, but Sun Wukong smashed his way out and turned to strike Li Jing.
• Li Nezha intercepted Sun Wukong with his Fire Dragon Spear, and the two fought until their clones continued the battle while their true bodies met in secret.
• Sun Wukong and Li Nezha competed over wine in a shabby room and spoke with Little Nannan about strength, her master, and resisting Heaven.
• After drinking for a day and night, Sun Wukong and Li Nezha fought again; Li Nezha conceded, and Li Jing led the Heavenly Soldiers back to Heaven in defeat.

After Heaven’s forces failed to defeat Sun Wukong, the Jade Emperor agreed to invite him to serve as an official rather than send another opponent. Sun Wukong brought Little Nannan home to Flower-Fruit Mountain, where Taibai Jinxing arrived with the offer and Sun Wukong asked whether his monkeys could ascend with him.

• Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li reported that his Golden Exquisite Pagoda had failed to suppress Sun Wukong, and the Jade Emperor’s court agreed to invite Sun Wukong to Heaven.
• General Juan Lian and Marshal Tianpeng avoided taking part in the matter, citing their work and Ruoshui.
• Sun Wukong returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain with Little Nannan, and she happily asked whether Water Curtain Cave would be her home.
• Taibai Jinxing arrived at Water Curtain Cave with Cihang the Great Bodhisattva and Venerable Wen Jing, who discussed Sun Wukong’s ability to see through the Three Realms.
• Taibai Jinxing invited Sun Wukong to Heaven to serve as an official, and Sun Wukong asked why he could not bring his monkeys along.

Sun Wukong refused the Heavenly court’s offer of the Bimawen position and fought his way out of Heaven. He returned to the lower realms and raised the banner of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, openly challenging the Jade Emperor.

• Taibai Jinxing escorted Sun Wukong from Flower-Fruit Mountain to Heaven after Cihang the Great Bodhisattva and Venerable Wen Jing pressured him to go.
• The Jade Emperor summoned Sun Wukong to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall and offered to appoint him to an official position.
• Wugu Star Lord proposed making Sun Wukong steward of the Imperial Horse Stable, but Sun Wukong recognized it as the lowly position of Bimawen and refused.
• After the gods rebuked him, Sun Wukong declared that he would return to the lower realms and rebel against Heaven.
• Sun Wukong repelled the gods’ attacks with his Heaven-shattering Staff, escaped through the South Heavenly Gate, and raised the banner of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
• Taibai Jinxing warned the Jade Emperor that Sun Wukong was establishing a lesser Heaven and claiming equality with him.

The Jade Emperor sent Yang Jian and a vast heavenly army to subdue Sun Wukong, but Flower-Fruit Mountain’s formations repelled their attack. Tathagata sent his brother-in-law, the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird, to deal with the monkey, and the bird eagerly set out.

• The Jade Emperor ordered Li Jing, Yang Jian, General Juan Lian, and Marshal Tianpeng to lead heavenly forces against Flower-Fruit Mountain.
• Little Nannan taunted the heavenly army as the monkeys hurled stones that could not reach the soldiers above.
• Giant Spirit God led One Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals in an attack, but Flower-Fruit Mountain’s powerful formations sent them flying.
• The Jade Emperor suspected someone had helped Sun Wukong and decided to make Tathagata handle the problem at extra cost.
• Tathagata assigned the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird to capture Sun Wukong, and the bird celebrated his release from the Buddhist Sect.

Little Nannan used Sun Wukong’s Five-Dragon Formation to defeat the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird and repel Heaven’s army from Flower-Fruit Mountain. As the Three Realms speculated about the coming calamity, Sun Wukong emerged from three years of lying low and wondered how Tang Sanzang was doing.

• The Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird attacked Flower-Fruit Mountain, but Little Nannan trapped him in the Five-Dragon Formation and beat him until he vomited blood.
• The Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird called Heaven’s army to attack, but Little Nannan used the formation to send the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals flying.
• Ancestor Minghe and Kunpeng reflected on the new calamity, while Lu Ya told Kunpeng that the Buddhist Sect would eventually fall and asked him to protect the demon race; Kunpeng agreed.
• Sun Wukong received one hundred thousand years of cultivation experience, a Water-Fire Dragon Pearl, and a Sun-Moon Seal for lying low for three years.
• Little Nannan returned to Sun Wukong and proudly told him she had driven away another group of immortals, while he wondered how Tang Sanzang was doing.

Sun Wukong named his young disciple Sun Qingxian and worried that stronger enemies would come for Flower-Fruit Mountain as the Havoc in Heaven approached. Meanwhile, Chen Xuan planned to enter Chaos to train, while Great God Nuwa warned him of its dangers and foresaw the coming calamity.

• Sun Wukong gave the little girl the name Sun Qingxian, and she asked whether an even stronger enemy would come after the bird he had driven away.
• Chen Xuan complained as Great God Nuwa, Empress Ping Xin, and Xuanming turned cooking into a chaotic, playful affair.
• Chen Xuan told Great God Nuwa that he planned to enter Chaos to absorb chaotic energy and temper himself, and she warned him that powerful surviving demons and gods might threaten him.
• Chen Xuan said he could return at any time and believed he could fight ordinary Saints, so Great God Nuwa let him go.
• Great God Nuwa observed that tribulation energy was engulfing the world and said the Havoc in Heaven was near, while Chen Xuan declared that the true calamity was about to begin.

Chen Xuan entered the chaos to cultivate the Great Dao and drew the attention of Hongjun and several Chaos Demon Gods. He fled from the demon gods as they pursued him, with Hongjun trying to persuade him to stop.

• Chen Xuan told Great God Nuwa, Empress Ping Xin, and Xuanming to watch the Journey to the West Calamity while he entered the chaos.
• Chen Xuan withstood the chaotic astral winds and began cultivating his body and Martial Dao with chaotic qi.
• Chen Xuan's cultivation stirred ancient power in the chaos and caught the attention of Hongjun and the Fate Demon God.
• Hongjun and the Fate, Karma, Reincarnation, and Five Elements Demon Gods, along with Great Immortal Yang Mei, set out to capture Chen Xuan.
• Chen Xuan fled from the demon gods, and Hongjun tried to convince him to stop so they could talk.

Chen Xuan was caught between the Chaos Demon Gods when the Chaos Bead appeared, and it eventually recognized him as its master and carried him into the depths of Chaos. Nearly forty-nine years passed in the Primordial World, where Sun Wukong sensed the Buddhist and Daoist factions’ killing intent growing fiercer as calamity energy continued to build.

• Chen Xuan fought off Hongjun, the Fate Demon God, the Karma Demon God, and the others as they pursued him through Chaos.
• The Chaos Bead appeared, and Hongjun proposed that the Demon Gods kill Chen Xuan before competing for it.
• Hongjun tried to seize the Chaos Bead with Heavenly Dao Power, but Great Immortal Yang Mei cut off his attack.
• The Chaos Bead unleashed its power against the Demon Gods, then appeared before Chen Xuan and carried him away after recognizing him as its master.
• Nearly forty-nine years later, Sun Wukong sensed that the Buddhist and Daoist factions were preparing for conflict as calamity energy surged.

The Heavenly Court and Buddhist faction joined forces to attack Flower-Fruit Mountain, hoping to force Sun Wukong to rebel against Heaven. After they destroyed the mountain’s layered formation and charged at its defenders, Sun Wukong emerged as a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

• The Jade Emperor, Taishang Laojun, Tathagata, and other powers agreed to break Flower-Fruit Mountain’s formation and capture Sun Wukong.
• After forty-nine days of planning, the Heavenly Court and Buddhist faction assembled an army and descended on Flower-Fruit Mountain.
• Sun Qingxian rallied the monkeys, who prepared to fight the invading immortals and Buddhas.
• The Three Great Bodhisattvas attacked the mountain’s layered formations but could not break through them.
• The Great Sun Tathagata and Taishang Laojun struck together and shattered the formations, leaving Sun Qingxian calling for her master’s help as the army charged.
• Sun Wukong emerged after the system announced that his fifty years of cultivation had made him a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

Sun Wukong used his Mending the Heavens merit to advance to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm and fought the Three Great Bodhisattvas when Heaven and the Buddhists challenged him. A hidden Half-Saint struck him down, Yang Jian carried him away, and Giant Spirit God devastated Flower-Fruit Mountain.

• Sun Wukong announced that anyone who harmed Flower-Fruit Mountain would die, then confronted the heavenly and Buddhist forces gathered above it.
• Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li and the Great Sun Tathagata accused Sun Wukong of defying Heaven, and Sun Wukong mocked the Great Sun Tathagata's past.
• The Three Great Bodhisattvas attacked Sun Wukong, but he overwhelmed them with his Heaven-shattering Staff and sent them flying.
• A King Kong's Ring struck Sun Wukong, and Yang Jian carried him toward the highest heavens while Sun Qingxian tried to intervene.
• Giant Spirit God struck Flower-Fruit Mountain, killing many monkeys and leaving the mountain in ruins with its Spiritual Vein nearly severed.

Jieyin celebrated the Buddhist Sect’s growing destiny, but Jinnara’s failed mission and Axiu’s death shattered his faith. Cast out and stripped of his cultivation, Jinnara encountered a mysterious black figure.

• Jieyin celebrated the Buddhist Sect’s gains from the demon monkey’s capture and ordered preparations for its expansion.
• Jieyin discovered that Jinnara had traded with a prostitute while preaching, and Randeng was told to deal with the scandal.
• Jinnara rescued Axiu after she sacrificed herself to free him, but she died after helping him reach the king.
• Jinnara begged the Buddhas to save Axiu, but they expelled him and abolished his Buddhist cultivation.
• Jinnara left Spirit Mountain carrying Axiu, and a mysterious black figure appeared and asked whether he had lost faith in the Buddhist Sect.

Luohu tried to recruit Jinnara by revealing his demonic nature and accusing the Buddhist Sect of abandoning him, but Jinnara rejected Luohu’s view of good and evil. Jinnara renamed himself Wutian and vowed to create a new Buddhist Sect, while the upheaval on Spirit Mountain left the Buddhist assembly seeking answers.

• Luohu argued that good and evil depended on who won and urged Jinnara to join him, but Jinnara condemned both Luohu and Hongjun for pursuing their own goals at the expense of living beings.
• Luohu revealed demonic energy within Jinnara and told him that he was the reincarnation of the World-Ending Black Lotus, destined to become either a great Buddha or a great demon.
• Jinnara accepted that Buddha and demon were one but refused to serve Luohu, declaring that he would create a new Buddhist Sect as Wutian.
• Wutian summoned the Chaos Black Lotus, placed Axiu inside the World-Ending Black Lotus to nourish her, and vowed to return to Spirit Mountain as Buddha Ancestor Wutian.
• A bolt of lightning struck inside the Great Thunderclap Monastery as demonic energy stirred and the Buddhist Sect’s destiny trembled, prompting its members to question Ancient Buddha Randeng.

The Buddhist leadership prepared for an impending tribulation and discussed the Journey to the West, Sun Wukong, and the Six-Eared Macaque. In the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor staged Sun Wukong’s execution, but the attacks failed, and Laojun proposed refining him in the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

• Ancient Buddha Randeng warned the Buddhist sect that a great change and tribulation were coming and urged everyone to cooperate with the Journey to the West.
• Tathagata told Cihang Daoren to proceed with the plan for Sun Wukong and make arrangements for the Six-Eared Macaque, whom he expected to emerge soon.
• Ancient Buddha Randeng worried that Jinnara’s tribulation had tainted him and hoped to survive the Journey to the West Calamity.
• The Jade Emperor sent Sun Wukong to the Demon-Slaying Platform, but its blade, thunder, lightning, and elemental attacks failed to harm him.
• Laojun offered to refine Sun Wukong in his Eight Trigrams Furnace.