Chapter Summaries

Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang’s group reached a standoff with Marshal Tian Peng and his Hundred Thousand Heavenly River Navy at Gao Village, until Venerable Kashyapa arrived to enforce the Buddhist Sect’s agreement with the Heavenly Court. Marshal Tian Peng pretended to refuse joining the pilgrimage, leaving Venerable Kashyapa unsure how to proceed; the story then shifted back to Maitreya Buddha arriving at the Heavenly Court to learn its position.

• Marshal Tian Peng angered Sun Wukong by insulting him, but Sun Wukong restrained himself because he knew he could not defeat Marshal Tian Peng and the Hundred Thousand Heavenly River Navy.
• Little White Dragon Ao Lie hoped for reinforcements, and Venerable Kashyapa arrived at Gao Village, citing the agreement between the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect.
• Marshal Tian Peng questioned the agreement and declared that he would not become Tang Sanzang’s disciple, while his soldiers shouted their support.
• Venerable Kashyapa hesitated to use force because he feared causing casualties among the Heavenly River Navy and damaging the Heavenly Court’s agreement.
• The story flashed back to Maitreya Buddha arriving at the South Heavenly Gate to ask what stance the Heavenly Court would take.

Maitreya Buddha came to the Heavenly Court to negotiate over the Western Buddhist Sect’s Journey to the West plan. Heavenly Emperor Haotian agreed to have the Heavenly Court fill in omitted tribulations, protect Tang Sanzang, and give Buddhist disciples positions in the Netherworld.

• Grand Supreme Elder Lao deduced that Maitreya Buddha wanted to cooperate after mistaking the Hundred Thousand Heavenly River Navy’s appearance at Gao Village for Heavenly Court interference.
• Heavenly Emperor Haotian summoned Maitreya Buddha to the Hall of Lingxiao and asked why he had come.
• Maitreya Buddha asked the Heavenly Court to fill in omitted tribulations and guarantee Tang Sanzang’s safety, and Heavenly Emperor Haotian agreed.
• Maitreya Buddha also requested positions for Buddhist disciples in the Netherworld, and Heavenly Emperor Haotian agreed after considering the potential benefits.

The Heavenly Emperor Haotian and Maitreya Buddha arranged to subdue Marshal Tian Peng after he defied Heaven and refused to escort Tang Sanzang. At Gao Village, Tian Peng rejected Venerable Kashyapa’s attempt to bring him to Heaven, and Kashyapa threatened him with the wrath of the Western Buddhist Sect’s Saints.

• Maitreya Buddha explained that Marshal Tian Peng was destined to join Tang Sanzang’s journey, so the Heavenly Emperor Haotian agreed that Heaven should subdue him rather than replace him.
• The Heavenly Emperor Haotian ordered Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li to capture Marshal Tian Peng and his Hundred Thousand Heavenly River Navy, with Venerable Kashyapa’s help.
• At Gao Village, Venerable Kashyapa asked Marshal Tian Peng to go to Heaven and discuss the matter with the Heavenly Emperor Haotian.
• Marshal Tian Peng refused, saying he would not return to Heaven after descending to the mortal world.
• Venerable Kashyapa warned Marshal Tian Peng that the Western Buddhist Sect and its Saints would punish him if he ruined the Journey to the West plan, frightening him.

Marshal Tian Peng refused Venerable Kashyapa’s demands and relied on the Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Array to hold him off. Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li arrived with an army to break the formation, and Marshal Tian Peng still refused to surrender.

• Marshal Tian Peng rejected Venerable Kashyapa’s ultimatum and ordered his troops to establish the Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Array.
• Marshal Tian Peng hid at the formation’s eye and warned Venerable Kashyapa that forcing his way in would cause heavy losses.
• Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, and their companions watched the standoff from Gao Village as Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li arrived with a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.
• Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li announced that he had come to capture Marshal Tian Peng and the Heavenly River Navy, and Venerable Kashyapa welcomed his help in breaking the formation.
• Marshal Tian Peng declared that Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li would have to defeat him before he would become Tang Sanzang’s disciple, and Li accepted the challenge.

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li and the Heavenly Court forces formed a stronger Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Array against Marshal Tian Peng, while Venerable Kashyapa waited to capture him. On the ground, Tang Sanzang urged Master Gao to serve the feast despite the danger, and Marshal Tian Peng began to waver as the combined threat overwhelmed him.

• Marshal Tian Peng rejected Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li’s ultimatum, and Venerable Kashyapa agreed to wait until the array was broken before capturing him.
• Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li ordered his soldiers to deploy their own Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Array, plunging Gao Village into darkness.
• Tang Sanzang told Master Gao to light lamps and serve the birthday feast, while Master Gao worried that his family had offended Marshal Tian Peng.
• Master Gao ordered the feast served, and the guests followed his and Tang Sanzang’s example by eating and drinking despite the battle overhead.
• Marshal Tian Peng realized that the Heavenly Court and Western Buddhist Sect had joined forces, and Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li recognized that he was considering retreating.

Yang Jian offered Marshal Tian Peng a one-on-one duel to end the standoff without risking their soldiers’ lives. Tian Peng’s resolve wavered, and he accepted the proposal after Yang Jian swore to let him go if he won.

• Marshal Tian Peng refused Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li’s offer to surrender and leave the Heavenly Net and Earthly Net Array.
• Yang Jian and Nezha challenged Tian Peng, but he saw through their plan to draw him out and leave his array vulnerable.
• Yang Jian warned Tian Peng that Grand Supreme Elder Lao or the Heavenly Venerate could overpower him, weakening his resolve.
• Yang Jian proposed a duel: Tian Peng would go free if he won, or return to Heaven if Yang Jian won, while their soldiers stayed out of the fight.
• Tian Peng asked whether Yang Jian would honor the deal, and Yang Jian swore by his divine position; Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li approved the proposal.

Yang Jian fought Marshal Tian Peng while the Heavenly King Li and Venerable Kashyapa watched, confident that Grand Supreme Elder Lao’s lent treasure would prevent Yang Jian from losing. As the battle began above Gao Village, Sun Wukong told Tang Sanzang about it, and Tang Sanzang asked him to describe the fight.

• Yang Jian and Marshal Tian Peng faced off, with Yang Jian intending to test himself before resorting to the Vajra Ring lent by Grand Supreme Elder Lao.
• Marshal Tian Peng attacked first, and Yang Jian met him head-on with his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear.
• The Heavenly King Li assured Venerable Kashyapa that Yang Jian would not lose because Grand Supreme Elder Lao had lent him a treasure.
• Sun Wukong told Tang Sanzang that Yang Jian and Marshal Tian Peng had begun fighting, and Tang Sanzang relied on Sun Wukong to describe the battle.

Yang Jian used the Vajra Ring given to him by Grand Supreme Elder Lao as his trump card against Marshal Tian Peng after his magical power ran out. The Nine-Tooth Rake was drawn into the ring, but Marshal Tian Peng still believed he could win if he broke through its power.

• Sun Wukong told Tang Sanzang that Yang Jian might lose once his magical power ran out, but could have a trump card backed by the Heavenly Court.
• Yang Jian and Marshal Tian Peng fought for more than a hundred rounds, with Yang Jian’s Grand Unity Golden Immortal-level physical body keeping him in the battle.
• Marshal Tian Peng realized Yang Jian had exhausted his magical power and charged to finish the fight.
• Yang Jian threw out Grand Supreme Elder Lao’s Vajra Ring, which drew the Nine-Tooth Rake from Marshal Tian Peng’s control.
• Marshal Tian Peng recognized the Vajra Ring and accused Yang Jian of relying on a treasure, while Yang Jian warned him not to underestimate it.

Yang Jian used the Vajra Ring to defeat Marshal Tian Peng, whose mind began to recover from its influence and who agreed to return to the Heavenly Court. As Tang Sanzang prepared to continue west, Sun Wukong tried to persuade him to keep Marshal Tian Peng as a disciple.

• Yang Jian struck Marshal Tian Peng with the Vajra Ring and offered him a chance to surrender.
• Yang Jian told Marshal Tian Peng that Grand Supreme Elder Lao had lent him the ring to bring him to justice.
• Marshal Tian Peng regained his senses, stopped fighting, and agreed to return to the Heavenly Court with Yang Jian.
• Marshal Tian Peng ordered the Heavenly Net Array withdrawn, while Venerable Kashyapa silently worried about relations between the Heavenly Court and the Western Buddhist Sect.
• Sun Wukong told Tang Sanzang that Marshal Tian Peng had lost and was being taken back to the Heavenly Court for punishment.
• Sun Wukong urged Tang Sanzang to keep Marshal Tian Peng as a disciple, arguing that he would become obedient after the Heavenly Court taught him a lesson.

Marshal Tian Peng refused to admit guilt before the Heavenly Emperor Haotian, claiming the Hundred Thousand Heavenly River Navy had come to Gao Village out of sympathy for his three years as a live-in son-in-law. His explanation enraged Heaven’s officials, who attacked him, and the chapter ended as Heaven descended into a brawl.

• The Heavenly Emperor Haotian accused Marshal Tian Peng of mobilizing troops without authorization and defying Heaven's decree.
• Marshal Tian Peng denied the charges and said he had never ordered the Hundred Thousand Heavenly River Navy to Gao Village.
• Marshal Tian Peng claimed the navy had come to help him after he endured three years as a live-in son-in-law.
• The Heavenly Emperor Haotian ordered Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li and Yang Jian to deal with Marshal Tian Peng.
• Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li and the others beat Marshal Tian Peng, while Grand Supreme Elder Lao's Vajra Ring struck his mouth.
• Heaven's officials broke into a brawl.

Heavenly Emperor Haotian made Marshal Tian Peng take the blame for the Gao Village affair, then spared him and assigned him to protect Tang Sanzang. Tang Sanzang had already left Gao Village, but Sun Wukong slowed their journey, and Venerable Kashyapa and Marshal Tian Peng caught up with them.

• Marshal Tian Peng confessed that he had acted out of selfish desire and stolen the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill from Grand Supreme Elder Lao.
• Heavenly Emperor Haotian announced that Marshal Tian Peng would lose his immortal registry and immortal bones, but Maitreya Buddha pleaded for a lenient punishment and asked him to protect Tang Sanzang.
• Heavenly Emperor Haotian spared Marshal Tian Peng, and Venerable Kashyapa took him from the Hall of Lingxiao to join Tang Sanzang’s journey.
• Tang Sanzang left Gao Village with Sun Wukong, Monk Cihang, and the White Dragon Horse without waiting for Marshal Tian Peng.
• Sun Wukong slowed their progress, then spotted Venerable Kashyapa and Marshal Tian Peng approaching and was delighted.

Venerable Kashyapa brought the injured Marshal Tian Peng to Tang Sanzang and urged him to accept Marshal Tian Peng as a disciple, but Tang Sanzang rejected the proposal. After Venerable Kashyapa appealed to his compassion, Tang Sanzang remained silent and chanted, leaving the group unsure whether he would change his mind.

• Venerable Kashyapa asked Tang Sanzang to accept Marshal Tian Peng as a disciple and protect the scripture-seeking journey, but Tang Sanzang refused.
• Tang Sanzang noticed Marshal Tian Peng's severe injuries and asked what had happened in Heaven, while Venerable Kashyapa stayed silent and Sun Wukong recalled Marshal Tian Peng's near exposure of Wu Feng and the General Store.
• Venerable Kashyapa healed Marshal Tian Peng enough for him to kneel and beg Tang Sanzang to accept him as Zhu Ganglie, but Tang Sanzang ignored him.
• Venerable Kashyapa urged Tang Sanzang to show compassion and consider the protection Marshal Tian Peng could provide, and Tang Sanzang closed his eyes to chant the Heart-Clearing Mantra.
• Venerable Kashyapa and Marshal Tian Peng were stunned by Tang Sanzang's response, while Sun Wukong prepared to persuade his master.

Tang Sanzang used his lingering heart injury over Marshal Tian Peng’s insult to demand compensation before accepting him as a disciple. Venerable Kashyapa left the matter to the Heavenly Court, and Marshal Tian Peng asked Sun Wukong for help obtaining an Immortal Peach.

• Tang Sanzang signaled Sun Wukong to use Marshal Tian Peng’s past insult as leverage, and Sun Wukong told Venerable Kashyapa that it had injured his master’s heart.
• Venerable Kashyapa offered to have Marshal Tian Peng apologize, but Sun Wukong explained that Tang Sanzang wanted treasures that could extend his life, such as Immortal Peaches or Ginseng Fruits.
• Venerable Kashyapa said Tang Sanzang could not shed his mortal status during the journey west and directed Marshal Tian Peng to seek an Immortal Peach from the Heavenly Court.
• Venerable Kashyapa left, and Marshal Tian Peng revealed that he could not provide an Immortal Peach and asked Sun Wukong to put in a good word for him.

Marshal Tian Peng returned to Heaven to obtain an Immortal Peach and paid Heavenly Emperor Haotian five thousand Exchange Points for it. He caught up with Tang Sanzang, apologized for his earlier offense, and was accepted as a disciple under the names Zhu Bajie and Zhu Wuneng.

• Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang left Marshal Tian Peng behind when he failed to offer a sincere apology and an Immortal Peach.
• Marshal Tian Peng went to Heavenly Emperor Haotian and asked for an Immortal Peach to give Tang Sanzang.
• Heavenly Emperor Haotian demanded five thousand Exchange Points for the peach, and Marshal Tian Peng agreed to pay.
• Marshal Tian Peng caught up with Tang Sanzang and offered him the Immortal Peach as an apology.
• Marshal Tian Peng apologized, and Tang Sanzang accepted him as a disciple, naming him Zhu Bajie and giving him the Dharma name Zhu Wuneng.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached Yellow Wind Ridge, where a strange celestial disturbance signaled the arrival of an invader. They chose to cross the ridge, and the chapter ended by introducing Great King Yellow Wind, who had been placed there to test Tang Sanzang.

• Tang Sanzang accepted Marshal Tian Peng as his disciple and ate the Immortal Peach he offered.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples visited Chan Master Wuchao at Futuo Mountain, discussed Buddhist teachings, and received a cryptic warning before departing.
• At Yellow Wind Ridge, lightning and thunder appeared, but Sun Wukong could not see through the phenomenon with his Fiery Golden Eyes.
• Tang Sanzang considered taking a detour, but Marshal Tian Peng reassured him that he and Sun Wukong could handle any danger, so Tang Sanzang agreed to cross the ridge.
• Two rays of light descended into Yellow Wind Ridge, and the chapter revealed that Great King Yellow Wind had been placed there to ensure Tang Sanzang underwent a tribulation.

Tang Sanzang and his companions crossed Yellow Wind Ridge, where a resident told them he had fled there to escape years of forced conscription. After Tang Sanzang promised to deal with the local demon, the group was ambushed by a tiger demon wielding the Samadhi Divine Wind.

• Nezha the Third Prince joined the Journey to the West mission and descended to the mortal realm to help Tang Sanzang and his companions.
• Sun Wukong led Tang Sanzang and the others into Yellow Wind Ridge, where they found a household to stay in for the night.
• The household's owner explained that he had fled to Yellow Wind Ridge because his country's rulers forcibly conscripted men for a war with few survivors.
• Tang Sanzang thanked the owner for his hospitality and promised to rid Yellow Wind Ridge of its demon before continuing on at dawn.
• A tiger demon who had been tracking the group attacked with a fierce sandstorm, and Ao Lie transformed into a dragon to shield Tang Sanzang.

Sun Wukong swapped appearances with Tang Sanzang and let the Striped Fierce Tiger carry him to Yellow Wind Cave, intending to eliminate the demons there. Marshal Tian Peng thought Tang Sanzang had been captured, while the real Tang Sanzang remained with Little White Dragon Ao Lie and became confused by Bajie’s accusations.

• Marshal Tian Peng repeatedly shattered the Striped Fierce Tiger, but it regenerated through the Samadhi Divine Wind and fled to lure him away.
• The Striped Fierce Tiger returned and unleashed the Samadhi Divine Wind, blinding and injuring Sun Wukong, Little White Dragon Ao Lie, and Tang Sanzang.
• Sun Wukong exchanged appearances with Tang Sanzang and allowed the Striped Fierce Tiger to seize him in disguise.
• The Striped Fierce Tiger escaped with Sun Wukong disguised as Tang Sanzang, and Marshal Tian Peng blamed the apparent Sun Wukong for failing to protect his master.
• The real Tang Sanzang asked Bajie what he meant, and Bajie recognized Tang Sanzang’s voice.

Sun Wukong, disguised as Tang Sanzang, was taken to Yellow Wind Cave while Great King Yellow Wind and the Striped Fierce Tiger gained power from treasures sent by the Main God Space. Great King Yellow Wind ordered his monsters to prepare Sun Wukong for a meal, and the chapter ended as one swung a cleaver at his thigh.

• Tang Sanzang and Marshal Tian Peng realized Sun Wukong had been captured and set out to rescue him.
• The Striped Fierce Tiger brought Sun Wukong, disguised as Tang Sanzang, to Yellow Wind Cave.
• Great King Yellow Wind swallowed a treasure, reached the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, and became obsessed with eating Tang Sanzang.
• Great King Yellow Wind promised the Striped Fierce Tiger a body part, and the tiger chose Tang Sanzang's thigh.
• The monsters scrubbed Sun Wukong and carried him away to prepare him for cooking.
• A little monster brought a cleaver down on Sun Wukong's thigh.

Sun Wukong, disguised as Tang Sanzang, survived a demon's attempt to cut him with a great saber and was slated to be boiled instead. Maitreya Buddha grew furious at Great King Yellow Wind's reckless handling of the pilgrimage, while Great King Yellow Wind began investigating Tang Sanzang's strange durability.

• A little demon's Hundred-Refined Steel Treasure Blade broke against Sun Wukong's thigh without leaving a mark, so the demons decided to put Tang Sanzang in a steamer.
• Sun Wukong stayed disguised, waiting for Nezha the Third Prince to arrive and distract Great King Yellow Wind so he could escape.
• At Western Spirit Mountain, Arhat Dragon Subduing and Arhat Tiger Subduing noted that Sun Wukong's switcheroo had saved Tang Sanzang and the journey-to-the-West plan.
• Maitreya Buddha became enraged at Great King Yellow Wind and agreed with Venerable Kashyapa that the Buddhist Sect should handle the matter itself.
• Great King Yellow Wind questioned the little demons about Tang Sanzang's resistance, but learned they had stripped and washed him, leaving no treasure to explain it.

Great King Yellow Wind prepared to eat Tang Sanzang and welcomed the challenge from Marshal Tian Peng and Nezha the Third Prince, unaware that Sun Wukong was disguised as Tang Sanzang in the steamer. Tian Peng tried to provoke the demon king while concealing the deception, but Great King Yellow Wind’s taunts about Tian Peng’s past enraged him as battle loomed outside Yellow Wind Cave.

• A little demon reported that Marshal Tian Peng and Nezha the Third Prince had arrived to challenge Great King Yellow Wind.
• Tiger Vanguard urged Great King Yellow Wind to attack, and Yellow Wind agreed, confident in his enhanced power and Samadhi Divine Wind.
• Sun Wukong, disguised as Tang Sanzang, lay unharmed in the steamer while mortal flames burned beneath it.
• Marshal Tian Peng threatened to flatten Yellow Wind Cave and kept Sun Wukong’s disguise secret so Great King Yellow Wind would believe he held the real Tang Sanzang.
• Great King Yellow Wind claimed Tang Sanzang had already been cooked and mocked Tian Peng about his past as a pig-monster son-in-law, making Tian Peng furious.