Chapter Summaries

Manjushri Bodhisattva stalled for time by explaining Buzhou Mountain and the Witch and Demon clans while the Six-eared Macaque suffered beneath the mountain. After Tang Sanzang woke, he concluded Wukong and the Six-eared Macaque could not be rescued, leaving Manjushri facing failure and punishment from Maitreya Buddha.

• Manjushri Bodhisattva dragged out his explanation while the Six-eared Macaque begged for help beneath Buzhou Mountain.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva pretended to order the Eighteen Arhats to ram the mountain, then gave the Six-eared Macaque a powerful Pill when he refused.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva continued telling stories through the night as Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang fell asleep.
• Tang Sanzang woke and apologized to Manjushri Bodhisattva, then said Wukong and the Six-eared Macaque could not be rescued.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva realized his mission had failed and that Maitreya Buddha would punish him, while the remaining Arhats regretted being unable to act.

Venerable Kashyapa arrived at Buzhou Mountain to rescue Sun Wukong and learned that only part of the mountain was pressing down on him and Six-eared Macaque. He considered how to bring down the smaller section without risking his life.

• Venerable Kashyapa arrived after visiting Golden Ao Island and securing Daoist Duobao's promise to let him join the Interception Sect if his mission failed.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and the Arhats greeted Venerable Kashyapa, who asked why Six-eared Macaque was trapped with Sun Wukong.
• Venerable Kashyapa mistook the others' silence for ignorance and concluded that Sun Wukong was the chosen scripture pilgrim.
• Tang Sanzang rejoiced at Venerable Kashyapa's arrival, while Venerable Kashyapa recognized Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang as Golden Cicada and the Goddess of Mercy.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva said they could rescue Sun Wukong only by knocking down Buzhou Mountain, and Venerable Kashyapa realized that the section above them was only part of the mountain.

Venerable Kashyapa tried to free Sun Wukong and Six-eared Macaque by striking Buzhou Mountain, unaware that a talisman at its summit could dissolve the seal. His first blow split the mountain but injured Sun Wukong and knocked Six-eared Macaque unconscious; Sun Wukong told him to continue.

• Venerable Kashyapa assured Tang Sanzang and the trapped Sun Wukong and Six-eared Macaque that he would move Buzhou Mountain.
• Wu Feng's General Store's talisman at the mountain's summit remained undiscovered, though removing it would have made the mountain ordinary.
• Venerable Kashyapa struck Buzhou Mountain with seventy percent of his strength and opened a wide crack.
• Sun Wukong spat blood, Six-eared Macaque lost consciousness, and Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang fell from the shock.
• Venerable Kashyapa saw the crack and asked Sun Wukong if he could endure more; Sun Wukong said he could hold on and urged him to continue.

Venerable Kashyapa enlisted Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva to join him in breaking Buzhou Mountain and freeing Sun Wukong. As they prepared their combined attack, he ordered the fourteen Arhats to protect Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang.

• Venerable Kashyapa held back part of his power to protect Sun Wukong and the Six-eared Macaque before summoning Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva to help destroy Buzhou Mountain.
• Venerable Kashyapa accused the Eighteen Arhats of shirking and warned the two Bodhisattvas that he would report them to Maitreya Buddha if they failed to give their all.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva agreed to attack with Venerable Kashyapa, hoping to free Sun Wukong and earn Maitreya Buddha's reward.
• Venerable Kashyapa ordered the fourteen Arhats to shield Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang from the force of the attack.
• The fourteen Arhats formed an Arhat Formation around Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang as Venerable Kashyapa, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva unleashed their full strength.

Venerable Kashyapa, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva destroyed Buzhou Mountain and freed Sun Wukong, while Maitreya Buddha expected the rescue to bind Tang Sanzang to the Western Buddhist sect. After the group departed, Sun Wukong sensed the karmic entanglement and rejected their plan to bind him and Tang Sanzang to the sect.

• Venerable Kashyapa, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva attacked with full force and brought down Buzhou Mountain.
• Falling boulders injured the fourteen Arhats, who shielded Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang, while Sun Wukong emerged from the rubble after his seal vanished.
• Sun Wukong reunited with Tang Sanzang, who welcomed him without recognizing him as Golden Cicada.
• Venerable Kashyapa left with Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, the Arhats, and Six-eared Macaque, believing his rescue would earn him relief from his punishment.
• Sun Wukong sensed that the rescue had entangled him and Tang Sanzang in karma with the Western Buddhist sect and declared that the karma would not bind them.

Sun Wukong chose to preserve the karmic tie with the Western Buddhist Sect so he could benefit from its help during the pilgrimage. After fetching a meal for Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang, he revealed that the Great Tang imperial kitchen had eagerly served them because Master Xuanzang’s fame had spread across the empire.

• Sun Wukong decided not to spend Exchange Points to sever his karmic connection with the Western Buddhist Sect, intending to use it to gain their assistance.
• Tang Sanzang warned Sun Wukong not to trust the Western Buddhist Sect, then asked him to seek alms for himself and Monk Cihang.
• Sun Wukong flew to the Great Tang imperial palace and returned with a vegetarian meal prepared by its chefs.
• Tang Sanzang worried that Sun Wukong might have bullied the mortal chefs, but Sun Wukong said they had gladly cooked after learning he was Master Xuanzang’s disciple.
• Sun Wukong explained that Emperor Tang Li Shimin had spread Master Xuanzang’s prestige throughout the Great Tang.

Tang Sanzang learned why his reputation had spread faster than he could hear about it, then continued west with Monk Cihang and Sun Wukong. After a quiet night and an uneventful stretch of road, the three encountered six bandits demanding a toll.

• Sun Wukong explained that Tang Sanzang’s name had spread through the Great Tang while he and Monk Cihang traveled west, leaving Tang Sanzang unaware of his fame.
• Tang Sanzang, Monk Cihang, and Sun Wukong ate food from the Great Tang palace, and Sun Wukong praised the imperial cooks and mentioned Emperor Tang Li Shimin’s order to provide meals.
• Tang Sanzang interpreted the emperor’s generosity as kindness and resolved to repay him by spreading Mahayana Buddhism at Spirit Vulture Mountain.
• The next morning, Monk Cihang led the horse and Sun Wukong carried the luggage as they continued west without encountering any people or creatures.
• After crossing a mountain ridge, Tang Sanzang, Monk Cihang, and Sun Wukong met six bandits who demanded a road toll.

Sun Wukong stopped a band of robbers, but Tang Sanzang urged him to spare their lives and give them a chance to reform. Sun Wukong immobilized the bandits, stripped them, and tied them together beneath a tree, leaving Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang eager to depart.

• Sun Wukong encountered bandits demanding the travelers' horses and baggage as payment.
• Tang Sanzang stopped Sun Wukong from killing the bandits and told him to teach them a lesson so they could reform.
• Sun Wukong agreed, put away the Golden Cudgel, and immobilized the bandits with his Immobilization Technique.
• Sun Wukong blew away the bandits' clothes and tied them naked beneath a tree, chest to back.
• Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang shut their eyes and chanted the Buddha's name, while Tang Sanzang urged Sun Wukong to hurry away.

Sun Wukong brought Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang to Shepan Mountain Eagle Grief Stream, where he expected Senior Wu Feng’s influence to bring the Little White Dragon, Ao Lie, into the pilgrimage party. As a storm darkened the area, Tang Sanzang agreed to rest there for the night, and Sun Wukong went to fetch his horse.

• Sun Wukong led Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang away from the bandits, who later died after he left.
• Sun Wukong brought Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang to Shepan Mountain Eagle Grief Stream and searched the water for Ao Lie, but Senior Wu Feng’s methods hid him from Sun Wukong’s Fiery Golden Eyes.
• Thunder and dark clouds transformed the area around Eagle Worry Stream, frightening Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang as they washed their eyes.
• Tang Sanzang asked to leave, but Sun Wukong argued that the dangerous roads were unsafe in the dark and persuaded him to rest there.
• Tang Sanzang agreed to stay until morning, and Sun Wukong went to bring over the thousand-li horse.

Little White Dragon ate Tang Sanzang’s horse at Eagle Worry Stream, and Maitreya Buddha learned that Ao Lie was involved in the Western Buddhist Sect’s Eastern Journey plan. Maitreya considered whether the dragon race or the Heavenly Court had arranged it, and Venerable Kashyapa concluded that it was the Heavenly Court probing the situation.

• Sun Wukong pretended to be shocked by Little White Dragon’s appearance and led Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang away from Eagle Worry Stream.
• Little White Dragon ignored them, swallowed Tang Sanzang’s Blood-Sweating Horse, and returned beneath the stream.
• Tang Sanzang saw the horse being eaten and mourned its loss, unaware that Little White Dragon would later become his mount.
• Maitreya Buddha saw Ao Lie at Eagle Worry Stream and angrily questioned whether the dragon race or the Heavenly Court had interfered with the Western Buddhist Sect’s plan.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva blamed the dragon race, while Venerable Kashyapa argued that the Heavenly Court had arranged the change as a probe.

Venerable Kashyapa warned Maitreya Buddha that the Heavenly Court and the Interception Sect were conspiring against Western Buddhism, but Maitreya ordered him to eliminate Little White Dragon Ao Lie while concealing his own past actions. At Eagle Worry Stream, Ao Lie ate Tang Sanzang’s horse, leaving Tang Sanzang doubting himself.

• Venerable Kashyapa speculated that the Heavenly Court planned to target Lingshan and had allied with the Interception Sect to ruin Western Buddhism’s Journey to the West plan.
• Maitreya Buddha discouraged informing Jieyin and Zhunti, then ordered Venerable Kashyapa to eliminate Ao Lie during a future tribulation.
• Maitreya left to conceal the hidden troubles he had caused, while Haotian and the Master of the Heavens remained unaware of Kashyapa’s accusations.
• At Eagle Worry Stream, Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang, and Monk Cihang watched Ao Lie eat Tang Sanzang’s imperial horse, and Tang Sanzang fell into self-doubt.

Sun Wukong searched Eagle Worry Stream for Little White Dragon Ao Lie after he swallowed Tang Sanzang’s thousand-mile horse, then tried to lure him out by shouting insults. Beneath the water, Ao Lie discovered an enormous force within his body and began trying to control it.

• Tang Sanzang urged Sun Wukong to deal with the white dragon that had eaten their thousand-mile horse, fearing it would target their group.
• Sun Wukong searched underwater with his Fiery Golden Eyes but could not find Little White Dragon Ao Lie.
• Sun Wukong told Tang Sanzang the dragon was likely hiding underwater, and Tang Sanzang refused to cross the stream while it remained there.
• Tang Sanzang suggested Sun Wukong lure the dragon out while he and Monk Cihang stayed back.
• Sun Wukong returned to Eagle Worry Stream and loudly insulted the white dragon, demanding the horse back.
• Little White Dragon Ao Lie tried to control the enormous force that had suddenly appeared within his body.

Little White Dragon Ao Lie used the power Senior Wu Feng had given him to challenge Sun Wukong at Eagle Worry Stream. After Ao Lie struck Sun Wukong and sent him flying, Sun Wukong returned to attack him.

• Ao Lie realized he could not absorb Wu Feng’s power, but could release it to wield strength comparable to a Quasi-Saint until it was spent.
• Sun Wukong and Ao Lie agreed to put on a show before Tang Sanzang, but Ao Lie’s anger over Sun Wukong’s insults led him to challenge him for real.
• Ao Lie drew the Innate Spiritual Treasure Bloodthirsty Spear and used his temporary power to strike Sun Wukong, sending him flying into Eagle Worry Stream.
• Tang Sanzang watched Sun Wukong fly away and responded with an Amitabha.
• Sun Wukong returned on his Somersault Cloud and raised the Golden Cudgel to attack Ao Lie.

Little White Dragon Ao Lie gained the upper hand against Sun Wukong as he gradually comprehended the power of laws, while observers struggled to understand his strength. The Heavenly Emperor Haotian agreed with Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li that Ao Lie’s power might be comparable to a Quasi-Saint.

• Sun Wukong and Little White Dragon Ao Lie fought to a standstill, but Ao Lie gradually comprehended a trace of the power of laws and began suppressing Sun Wukong.
• The Four Sea Dragon Kings watched Ao Lie overpower Sun Wukong and marveled at the ancient dragon bloodline they believed was behind his strength.
• Taibai Jinxing mistook Ao Lie for an ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal, while the Heavenly Emperor Haotian recognized that his strength concealed an unknown secret.
• Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li suggested that Ao Lie’s current strength might rival a Quasi-Saint, and the Heavenly Emperor Haotian nodded in agreement.

Little White Dragon Ao Lie's power shocked the Heavenly Court and Spirit Mountain, while Venerable Kashyapa mistakenly believed it came at the cost of Ao Lie's talent or lifespan. Ao Lie continued advancing with Wu Feng's support but could not yet break through to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

• Heavenly Emperor Haotian attributed Ao Lie's strength to Senior Wu Feng's intervention and sent Juling Shen to replace Nezha as the Eastern Journey's scripture guardian.
• Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li feared Nezha's return would ruin his chance to grow stronger and looked resentfully at Juling Shen.
• Venerable Kashyapa and the Western Buddhist Sect were shocked that Ao Lie could overpower Sun Wukong, whom they knew had defeated one of Jieyin's Three Corpses.
• Venerable Kashyapa claimed Ao Lie's power must have cost him his talent or lifespan, unaware that Wu Feng's support had helped Ao Lie convert his talent into strength.
• Ao Lie comprehended the power of laws and neared a bottleneck, but he could not break through to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

Little White Dragon Ao Lie defeated Sun Wukong at Eagle Worry Stream, then returned to cultivate using what he had learned from their fight. His plan to grow stronger depended on completing the mission set by Wu Feng’s General Store.

• At Western Spirit Mountain, Venerable Kashyapa sent Manjushri Bodhisattva to Eagle Worry Stream to help Sun Wukong and protect the Journey to the West plan.
• Little White Dragon Ao Lie defeated Sun Wukong, who complained that Wu Feng’s enhancement had made the fight unfair.
• Ao Lie declared that they would fight again tomorrow and returned beneath Eagle Worry Stream to enter seclusion.
• Ao Lie planned to use repeated battles with Sun Wukong to comprehend the laws, but he first had to complete Wu Feng’s General Store mission.

Wu Feng's General Store forced a surge of violent power into Little White Dragon Ao Lie, driving him into a murderous frenzy and letting him overpower Sun Wukong and seize him, Tang Sanzang, and Monk Cihang. At Western Spirit Mountain, Venerable Kashyapa realized Ao Lie had become powerful enough to threaten the Western Buddhist School's plan to make him Tang Sanzang's mount, though he believed the power would not last.

• Wu Feng's General Store transferred violent power into Little White Dragon Ao Lie, taking control of his body and filling him with murderous aura.
• Little White Dragon Ao Lie transformed into a gigantic winged dragon and unleashed a roar that terrified living creatures across the area.
• Sun Wukong tried to flee with Tang Sanzang and Monk Cihang, but Little White Dragon Ao Lie caught all three in his claws.
• Venerable Kashyapa and the Western Buddhist School's assembly watched Ao Lie's strength rise to the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm and suspected his ancient dragon bloodline had awakened.
• Venerable Kashyapa admitted the Western Buddhist School might struggle to subdue Ao Lie and make him Tang Sanzang's mount, but he expected Ao Lie's immense power to fade quickly.

Manjushri Bodhisattva warned Venerable Kashyapa that Little White Dragon Ao Lie was heading for Western Lingshan Mountain, and Kashyapa sent the Eighteen Arhats and Joyful Buddha to stall him. Manjushri suggested summoning Dipankara Buddha, but the others still had to face Ao Lie while they waited.

• Manjushri Bodhisattva fled to Western Lingshan Mountain after Little White Dragon Ao Lie attacked him at Eagle Worry Stream.
• Manjushri told Venerable Kashyapa that Ao Lie was following his aura toward Lingshan Mountain, alarming the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
• Venerable Kashyapa ordered the Eighteen Arhats and Joyful Buddha to hold Ao Lie back until Maitreya Buddha or Dipankara Buddha arrived.
• Manjushri urged Kashyapa to summon Dipankara Buddha and put him in charge of the Journey to the West plan.
• Kashyapa agreed to notify Dipankara Buddha but sent the Eighteen Arhats and Joyful Buddha to stop Ao Lie, using the chance to retaliate against the Arhats.

Little White Dragon Ao Lie attacked the Buddhist defenders outside Western Spirit Mountain despite Joyful Buddha's warning about the Western Saints. The Eighteen Arhats restrained Ao Lie while Joyful Buddha used Buddhist scripture to draw him into an illusory realm where he was the strongest being in the Primordial World.

• Joyful Buddha warned Little White Dragon Ao Lie that forcing his way into Western Spirit Mountain would anger Jieyin and Zhunti, but Ao Lie attacked him with dragon flame.
• Joyful Buddha summoned his magic treasure, and Arhat Dragon Subduing led the Eighteen Arhats in forming a formation that trapped Ao Lie.
• Ao Lie struck at Joyful Buddha with a Divine Dragon Tail Sweep, forcing Joyful Buddha to evade while the Arhats tightened their restraint.
• Joyful Buddha chanted Buddhist scripture, calming Ao Lie and guiding him into an illusory realm where all the Saints bowed to him.

Little White Dragon Ao Lie broke free of Joyful Buddha’s illusion, defeated the Eighteen Arhats Formation, and charged into Western Spirit Mountain, where he began destroying the Buddhist sect’s grounds. Jieyin and Zhunti did not appear because Yuanshi Tianzun was holding them up.

• Little White Dragon Ao Lie escaped Joyful Buddha’s illusion and broke the Eighteen Arhats Formation with a Divine Dragon’s Tail Sweep.
• Little White Dragon Ao Lie struck Joyful Buddha with another tail sweep, severely injuring him.
• Little White Dragon Ao Lie smashed through the Western Buddhist sect’s mountain-protecting formation despite his dragon body shrinking after the initial collision.
• Little White Dragon Ao Lie rampaged through Western Spirit Mountain, destroying its property while the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas kept out of his way.
• Jieyin and Zhunti did not intervene because Yuanshi Tianzun was holding them up.