Chapter Summaries

Sun Wukong fought Yang Erlang over his intervention in the human world, while Ye Feng tried to stop their clash. Taishang Laojun captured Sun Wukong and took him to Doushuai Palace, where he placed him in the Bagua Furnace to refine his nature.

• Sun Wukong prepared to face the Heavenly Court’s army and defended his efforts to help the poor against Yang Erlang and Ye Feng’s warnings.
• Yang Erlang and Sun Wukong exchanged powerful blows, and Sun Wukong called Yang Erlang his junior because his father, Yang Tianyou, was his Second Senior Brother.
• Yang Erlang took Sun Wukong’s words as an insult to his late father and attacked him with his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear.
• As Yang Erlang and Sun Wukong fought at full strength, Taishang Laojun stopped their weapons, struck Sun Wukong with a Diamond Snare, and carried him away.
• Taishang Laojun placed the unconscious Sun Wukong in the Bagua Furnace at Doushuai Palace, where Samadhi True Fire began to burn.

Sun Wukong endured the Bagua Furnace’s refining and emerged with Fiery Golden Eyes and perfected Primordial Unity Golden Immortal cultivation. After kicking open the furnace and sending its fires pouring toward the Lower Realm, he thanked Taishang Laojun and flew toward Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

• Sun Wukong endured the Samadhi True Fire as it burned away his demonic aura and karmic obsessions, while his Fiery Golden Eyes began to form.
• Wang Mang prepared to attack Kunyang with 420,000 troops and had warlocks calculate whether a meteor would fall; they assured him the skies would remain clear.
• After forty-nine days, Sun Wukong opened his newly formed Fiery Golden Eyes and kicked the Bagua Furnace’s lid into the sky.
• The tilted furnace spilled a wave of purple-gold fire toward the Lower Realm, and Taishang Laojun chose not to intervene.
• Sun Wukong reached perfected Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, thanked Taishang Laojun, and flew toward Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Sun Wukong admitted his mistake to Zhang Bairen and sought guidance from Jin Huang, who explained that his interference in the mortal realm had caused grave Karma. Zhang Bairen sentenced him to five hundred years beneath Five Elements Mountain, where his magic power would nourish the human dynasties as he repaid his debt.

• A heavenly fire meteor struck Wang Mang's army at Kunyang, destroying its central forces and causing the Xin dynasty army to collapse.
• Sun Wukong asked Zhang Bairen for an answer to how the world could be made more peaceful, and Jin Huang explained the Buddhist path of understanding one's own nature.
• Jin Huang told Sun Wukong that his actions had disrupted the mortal order and caused the disaster at Kunyang, leaving him burdened with Karma.
• Zhang Bairen sentenced Sun Wukong to five hundred years beneath Five Elements Mountain and ordered his magic power to be dispersed into the dragon veins and earthly qi of human dynasties.
• Jin Huang sent Sun Wukong to the Lower Realm, where Five Elements Mountain formed around him and began drawing his power into the surrounding land.

After the Xin Dynasty fell, Wang Mang discovered that he had been living in the world of Journey to the West when he encountered Sun Wukong beneath the Five Finger Mountain. Sun Wukong directed him toward Fangcun Mountain, and Wang Mang set off hoping to find a new opportunity.

• After the defeat at Kunyang, Wang Mang fled Chang'an in disguise as the Xin Dynasty collapsed and wandered into the mountains.
• Wang Mang found Sun Wukong pinned beneath a five-fingered peak and recognized him as the Great Sage Equaling Heaven.
• Sun Wukong told Wang Mang that he had never heard of Tang Sanzang, while Wang Mang realized he had transmigrated into a mythological world.
• Wang Mang gave Sun Wukong a wild peach and asked how to reach Fangcun Mountain and Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave.
• Sun Wukong pointed Wang Mang southwest and warned him of the dangers ahead, and Wang Mang set off to seek Patriarch Bodhi.

After five years of quiet labor on Fangcun Mountain, Wang Mang received arts of transformation and concealment from Li Shou and set out to study the mortal world. Meanwhile, Zhang Hao saw the human way growing out of balance with Heaven and Earth and sent a wisp of Heavenly Dao origin into the Eastern Han Southern Continent.

• After wandering for years, Wang Mang reached the Outer-Heaven Immortal Sect, where Hu Fangyuan brought him inside and cared for him.
• Wang Mang spent five years doing menial work on Fangcun Mountain as his ambitions and resentment gradually faded.
• Li Shou taught Wang Mang the arts of Embryonic Transformation and False Form, then sent him down the mountain to observe living beings.
• Zhang Hao sensed the human way overwhelming the Heavenly and Earthly Daos, spawning disorder and destabilizing the balance of the world.
• Zhang Hao detached a wisp of Heavenly Dao origin and sent it to the Southern Continent during the Eastern Han period.

Zhang Ling met Sun Wukong beneath Five Elements Mountain and discussed the human heart with him, while Wang Mang visited under the alias Zuo Ci. Years later, Zhang Ling ascended to the Heavenly Court, and Zhang Jiao was born as Sun Wukong remained imprisoned.

• Zhang Ling encountered Sun Wukong beneath Five Elements Mountain and explained that improving the world began with cultivating an upright heart.
• Wang Mang arrived to visit Sun Wukong and introduced himself to Zhang Ling as Zuo Ci, hiding his identity.
• Zhang Ling and Wang Mang discussed the Dao with Sun Wukong before leaving, and Wang Mang promised he might someday help free him.
• Years later, Zhang Ling entrusted his teachings to his followers and ascended to the Heavenly Court.
• Zhang Jiao was born in Julu Commandery as Sun Wukong sensed the changing heavens and continued waiting beneath Five Elements Mountain.

Zhang Hao, disguised as Immortal Nanhua, gave Zhang Jiao three heavenly books to help the people, and Zhang Jiao began treating the poor alongside his brothers. After the authorities arrested his family and neighbors, Zhang Jiao turned against the court and founded the Way of Peace, setting a rebellion in motion.

• Zhang Jiao told Zhang Hao about the oppression and suffering in his village, and Zhang Hao warned him of a coming calamity before giving him three heavenly books.
• Zhang Jiao shared his mission with Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, and the three brothers swore to follow the books and help the people.
• When plague struck Ji Province, Zhang Jiao used herbs and talisman water to treat villagers, while the brothers secretly gave food to the destitute.
• A local gentry clan accused Zhang Jiao of treason, and the commandery governor ordered his arrest and the detention of his family and neighbors.
• After seeing his father taken away and the family home burned, Zhang Jiao proclaimed that the Blue Heaven was dead and the Yellow Heaven would rise, then rallied followers to the Way of Peace.
• Zhang Hao withdrew his incarnation as Zhang Jiao's rebellion began to gather momentum.

Zhang Jiao’s Taiping Army rose across eight provinces before the Han Court’s forces besieged it at Guangzong. After affirming that he did not regret his rebellion, Zhang Jiao died defending the city, and his True Spirit was enshrined in the Heavenly Court as the Central Yellow Pole Yellow Horn Immortal.

• Zhang Jiao led the Taiping Army as it spread through eight provinces, attacking officials and distributing grain.
• The Han Court rallied its forces and local clans, driving the Taiping Army into a desperate siege at Guangzong.
• Zhang Hao asked Zhang Jiao if his uprising had been worth the cost, and Zhang Jiao declared that he did not regret making the people question the old order.
• Zhang Jiao refused to flee when the government army attacked and burned his final magical power to strike the enemy as Guangzong fell.
• Zhang Jiao’s True Spirit rose to the Heavenly Court, where it was appointed the Central Yellow Pole Yellow Horn Immortal.

At the Great Tang’s Water and Land Dharma Assembly, four transmigrators tried to stop Xuanzang from taking Buddhism west, but Guanyin persuaded them to leave. Xuanzang awakened with a new system and set out for the Western Heaven, seeming subtly changed.

• Guanyin appeared at the assembly, and Li Shimin appointed Xuanzang to travel west in search of scriptures.
• Four transmigrators attacked Xuanzang and knocked him unconscious, intending to prevent Buddhism from spreading east.
• The leader accused Guanyin of betraying Daoism, but Guanyin explained that Buddhism followed another path of the Dao in this world.
• The transmigrators accepted Guanyin’s reasoning, helped Xuanzang back onto his horse, and fled.
• Xuanzang’s Strongest Pilgrim System activated and granted him the Physical Deliverance talent and the quest to reach Great Leiyin Temple.
• Xuanzang woke, told Li Shimin he was unharmed, and urged the group to begin the journey west.

Tang Sanzang accepted General Yin, a tiger spirit who knew the Journey to the West story, as his disciple and led him along a direct route toward the West. After half a month, they reached Five Elements Mountain, where Sun Wukong noticed the approaching monk and his fawning demon companion.

• General Yin recognized Tang Sanzang as the scripture pilgrim, revealed that he knew the story and feared its dangers, and begged to become his disciple.
• Tang Sanzang accepted General Yin, who sent Li Shimin’s two attendants back to Chang’an and began leading the way.
• General Yin told Tang Sanzang about future companions and events, while Tang Sanzang chose a straight route through the mountains instead of the usual road.
• General Yin smashed and forced a path through the forest as Tang Sanzang followed, and lesser demons fled when they felt Tang Sanzang’s pressure.
• After half a month, Tang Sanzang and General Yin arrived at Five Elements Mountain, where Sun Wukong woke and saw them approaching.

Tang Sanzang freed Sun Wukong from Five Elements Mountain after failing to break it with a punch and removing its Seal Talisman. Sun Wukong doubted Tang Sanzang was fit to be his master, while Tang Sanzang defended himself and General Yin enthusiastically praised him.

• Tang Sanzang told the imprisoned Sun Wukong to follow him west or be sent there by force, then punched Five Elements Mountain and broke his wrist.
• Tang Sanzang found the Seal Talisman behind a stone tablet and removed it, causing the mountain to shake and release Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong burst free and said he should protect Tang Sanzang, but questioned his character and judgment.
• Tang Sanzang claimed his failed punch was a lesson about courage and described his compassionate virtues.
• General Yin praised Tang Sanzang and urged Sun Wukong to follow him.

Tang Sanzang took Sun Wukong and General Yin back to Chang'an for food and medical care, where he discovered that the city was crowded with fellow transmigrators posing as famous historical figures. He ended by wondering whether Sun Wukong had also transmigrated, leaving the monkey confused.

• Sun Wukong formally became Tang Sanzang's second disciple and led him and General Yin to shelter after Tang Sanzang injured his wrist.
• Tang Sanzang persuaded Sun Wukong to fly them back to Chang'an so he could eat and have his wrist treated.
• At a restaurant, Tang Sanzang recognized the shopkeeper as a fellow transmigrator through their shared coded phrases, and the shopkeeper eagerly welcomed him.
• Tang Sanzang found calligraphy and businesses in Chang'an linked to figures including Li Bai, Lu You, and Hua Tuo, and realized the city was full of transmigrators.
• Tang Sanzang asked Sun Wukong whether he had transmigrated too, leaving Sun Wukong puzzled.

Tang Sanzang sought weapons and learned that firearms were ineffective against powerful beings in the Journey to the West world, so he asked about hiring a proxy fighter. Qin Feng offered him a more affordable fighter, though he had not yet revealed the fighter’s identity or price.

• Tang Sanzang convinced Sun Wukong that he was not a transmigrator, then decided to find equipment for the journey west.
• Tang Sanzang returned to the restaurant and asked the shopkeeper about buying firearms and weapons.
• The shopkeeper explained that firearms were useless against powerful cultivators and warned that advanced weapons could draw the Heavenly Dao’s attention.
• The shopkeeper introduced Tang Sanzang to Qin Feng, who offered proxy fighters for payment in merit or valuable treasures.
• Qin Feng quoted a steep price for a strong fighter, then offered to introduce a newer fighter with a more affordable fee.

Tang Sanzang hired Sea God Tang Wei as a bodyguard, and Tang Wei immediately broke through to Supreme God-King after arriving in the Prehistoric World. The scripture-seeking party left Chang'an the next morning with Tang Wei as a new disciple, continuing west toward Spirit Mountain.

• Qin Feng showed Tang Sanzang an image of Sea God Tang Wei and offered to hire him for a month at a reduced price.
• Tang Sanzang accepted the price, and Qin Feng summoned Tang Wei, who arrived and broke through to Supreme God-King.
• Tang Sanzang made Tang Wei his third disciple and explained that he should handle minor threats on the journey west.
• Tang Wei complained about Qin Feng's fee, but Qin Feng glanced at him and knocked him unconscious.
• After spending the night at the inn, Tang Sanzang, Tang Wei, Sun Wukong, and General Yin left Chang'an and resumed their journey west.

At Eagle Sorrow Stream, Tang Wei tried to gather its innate water-spirit energy before Ao Lie emerged to attack the white horse. Tang Sanzang struck the immobilized dragon with a flurry of punches, leaving Ao Lie unconscious in the stream.

• Tang Wei drew a fist-sized clump of innate water-spirit energy from Eagle Sorrow Stream, and Tang Sanzang teased him about collecting so little.
• Ao Lie burst from the stream and lunged at Tang Sanzang's white horse, expecting to follow the plan that would make him the monk's mount.
• Tang Wei used Unfixed Wind and Waves to freeze Ao Lie in midair and warned Tang Sanzang that the restraint would last only one breath.
• Tang Sanzang rushed beside Ao Lie and unleashed a rapid flurry of Jeet Kune Do punches before the immobilization ended.
• Ao Lie lost consciousness and fell into Eagle Sorrow Stream, his dragon body floating with a sunken fist print on its head.

Tang Sanzang knocked Ao Lie unconscious, then persuaded him to join the scripture-fetching journey as their dragon-horse mount. With Ao Lie transformed into Little White Dragon and Sun Wukong returning the old horse to Chang'an, the group set off west toward the Western Heaven.

• Tang Sanzang struck Ao Lie unconscious with his bare fists, but Ao Lie woke and unleashed a powerful dragon breath at the group.
• Tang Wei shielded Tang Sanzang, Sun Wukong, General Yin, and the horses with his Sea Invincible Golden Body, and Ao Lie collapsed after exhausting his strength.
• Tang Sanzang treated Ao Lie's head wound and persuaded him that joining the scripture-fetching mission would bring merit and a place among the Eight Classes of Heavenly Dragons.
• Ao Lie agreed to serve as a mount and transformed into a white divine steed, which Tang Sanzang named Little White.
• Sun Wukong returned the original horse to Chang'an, then the group set out west with Tang Sanzang riding Little White.

Ming He sensed Devil Ancestor Luo Hou reviving with help from surviving Chaos Demon Gods and attacked him at the boundary of the Chaos Bead and the Prehistoric World. He left Luo Hou badly wounded, but the revival remained unresolved.

• Ming He sensed Luo Hou’s demonic spirit reviving inside the World-Destroying Black Lotus and learned that Chaos Demon Gods were aiding him.
• Ming He left Mosquito Daoist and Xiong Tie to guard the house and confronted Luo Hou at the boundary of the Chaos Bead and the Prehistoric World.
• Ming He summoned his Blood God Children and used the blood sea formation to block the Chaos Demon Gods’ support.
• Ming He fought Luo Hou, who was weakened and still reviving, and destabilized the World-Destroying Black Lotus.
• Ming He sacrificed part of the blood sea’s origin and many Blood God Children to strike Luo Hou’s demonic shadow and hack away a large portion of it.

Nether River reported Luo Hou’s escape to the human realm to Chen Tian, who recognized the danger to the Journey to the West and resolved to watch events unfold. Luo Hou hid on Penglai and corrupted Chen Xuan, but Zhang Hao discovered him and chose not to destroy him outright, leaving the struggle between Buddha and demon to play out during the westward journey.

• Luo Hou fled Nether River’s attack toward the human realm, and Nether River informed Chen Tian that Luo Hou had returned and might threaten reincarnation.
• Chen Tian explained that Luo Hou sought to exploit the Journey to the West and said he would alert others while keeping watch over the scripture-seeking journey.
• Luo Hou hid in an abandoned formation on Penglai and targeted the secluded Chen Xuan, tempting him with promises of power and the chance to become the true Tongtian Cult Master.
• Chen Xuan succumbed to Luo Hou’s demonic influence, and his Dao Heart fell as Shangqing Immortal Light mingled with Demonic Qi.
• Zhang Hao seized Luo Hou with a hand formed from Heavenly Dao laws, but Luo Hou’s demonic thought reappeared and claimed he could not die while the Demonic Dao endured.
• Zhang Hao withdrew rather than risk a greater backlash and left the conflict to unfold amid Buddhism’s eastward transmission.

Luo Hou ordered the demonic Chen Xuan, who believed himself to be Tongtian Cult Master, to kill Tang Sanzang and disrupt Buddhism’s westward journey. Chen Xuan ambushed the pilgrimage party, but Tang Sanzang’s system teleported them to Chang'an City, and Chen Xuan pursued them.

• Luo Hou contacted Chen Xuan and commanded him to kill Tang Sanzang to disrupt Buddhism’s fortune.
• After General Yin reported that the party was approaching Gao Village, Chen Xuan appeared and declared himself Tongtian Cult Master.
• Chen Xuan’s attack blasted Sun Wukong away and shattered Tang Wei’s invincible shield, leaving Tang Wei gravely injured.
• Tang Sanzang used his system to teleport the pilgrimage party to Chang'an City by spending all his merit points.
• Chen Xuan erased the mountains below, incurred heavy Karma, and followed the trace of the teleportation after the party.

Tang Sanzang and his injured companions fled to Chang'an and asked Qin Feng for protection from Chen Xuan, who had been corrupted by demonic thoughts. Qin Feng summoned the city’s Transmigrator Association, whose members drove Chen Xuan away, and Tang Sanzang continued west with his debt charged to Qin Feng’s account.

• Tang Sanzang ordered General Yin to get Qin Feng’s help as Chen Xuan pursued them and struck Chang'an with a demonic palm.
• Chang'an’s layered defensive formations blocked Chen Xuan’s attack, and Tang Sanzang reached Qin Feng’s restaurant with his companions.
• Qin Feng agreed to call for backup in exchange for General Yin as collateral and twenty percent of Tang Sanzang’s future merit.
• Qin Feng summoned the Transmigrator Association, and its powerful members gathered above Chang'an to confront Chen Xuan.
• Chen Xuan fled when the transmigrators surrounded him, and Tang Sanzang was told to charge their payment to Qin Feng’s account.