Chapter Summaries

Lu Yuan absorbed the creation and Dao fragments of the Other Shore, advancing to Hunyuan Seventh Heaven and deciding to use the Other Shore as a source of power while guarding against the Fate Faction. As the Primordial World's Sages reacted to his breakthrough, his attention turned to the warring kingdoms of Southern Jambudvipa, where a transfer of power and rising conflicts threatened Northern Zhou, Northern Qi, and Southern Liang.

• Lu Yuan absorbed the Other Shore's creation, prayers, and tribulation-fortune fragments, strengthening his Dao Fruit and breaking through to Hunyuan Seventh Heaven.
• Lu Yuan judged the Fate Faction a potential enemy of the Primordial World and planned to use the Dao Xuan World to gather the Other Shore's creation for his pursuit of Hunyuan Limitless.
• Sage Taiqing, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, Sect Master Tongtian, Daoist Jieyin, Daoist Zhunti, Empress Nuwa, and Empress Houtu sensed Lu Yuan's breakthrough and reacted with differing degrees of awe, concern, and wariness.
• Lu Yuan surveyed Southern Jambudvipa and found Northern Zhou ruler Yuwen Tai dying, with Yuwen Jue, Yuwen Hu, and Yu Jin gathered at his bedside.
• In Northern Qi, Gao Yang killed a monk who urged him to protect his realm through Buddhist scripture, then ordered the others to continue chanting.
• In Southern Liang, Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, remained absorbed in Buddhist rites while Hou Jing watched and plotted to seize the kingdom.

Lu Yuan foresaw the Buddhist rise during the Journey to the West Tribulation, Rahu’s possible return, and ancient powers awakening from the Land of Eternal Tribulation. He discovered that the coming age could offer a chance to attain Limitless Creation and welcomed the Hunyuan struggle ahead.

• Lu Yuan foresaw the collapse of Southern Liang, the rise and fall of the Sui dynasty, and the founding of Great Tang.
• Lu Yuan divined that the Journey to the West would bring Buddhist fortune to its height while awakening demonic power at Mount Sumeru and paving the way for Rahu’s return.
• Ancient rulers and great divine beings, including Cangli, Zu Long, Dijun, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches, began awakening in the Land of Eternal Tribulation.
• Lu Yuan realized that the returning powers and clashing Daos could create an opportunity to transcend the Heavenly Dao and attain the Limitless Dao Fruit.
• Lu Yuan welcomed the coming Hunyuan struggle and declared that he, Qingxuan, would await the returning giants as they entered the game.

After Lu Yuan’s Heavenly Dao deduction stirred the Saints into making plans, the Great Sui prospered under Yang Jian while Buddhist forces quietly drained Human Race destiny. The Stone Monkey was born on Flower Fruit Mountain, sought immortality, and became Bodhi Patriarch’s disciple Sun Wukong, marking the start of the Journey to the West Tribulation.

• The Saints reacted to Lu Yuan’s vision of the future Tribulation, with each weighing how to protect or advance their sect and interests.
• Yang Jian founded Great Sui, unified the mortal world, and ushered in the Kaihuang Prosperous Age, while Lu Yuan saw Buddhist light secretly siphoning Human Race destiny.
• An Immortal Stone on Flower Fruit Mountain burst open, and the Stone Monkey was born; the Jade Emperor ordered the Heavenly Court to watch him.
• After witnessing an old monkey die, the Stone Monkey set out across the seas to seek the art of immortality.
• The Stone Monkey reached Slanted Moon Three Stars Cave, where Bodhi Patriarch accepted him as a disciple and named him Sun Wukong.
• Lu Yuan recognized Sun Wukong’s apprenticeship as the beginning of the Journey to the West Tribulation and identified Bodhi Patriarch as one of Saint Zhunti’s Three Corpses.

Sun Wukong was expelled from Bodhi Patriarch’s tutelage, while the Sages and Lu Yuan negotiated terms for the coming Journey to the West Tribulation. As the Primordial World braced for calamity, Haotian and Queen Mother planned to use the Flat Peach Banquet to draw the Buddhist Sect into the Heavenly Court’s struggle against the Interception Sect.

• Sun Wukong showed off his transformations, prompting Bodhi Patriarch to expel him and warn him never to reveal their teacher-disciple relationship.
• Daoist Zhunti negotiated with Sage Taiqing and Primordial Heavenly Venerate, securing approval for the Buddhist Sect to transmit scriptures eastward in exchange for settling old karma and obeying Heavenly Dao Rules.
• Daoist Jieyin asked Lu Yuan not to interfere in the Journey to the West, and Lu Yuan agreed in exchange for the opportunities and resources from nine of its eighty-one tribulations.
• Lu Yuan and the other Mysterious Gate Sages tacitly approved the scripture-seeking plan, leaving the Primordial World’s ancient powers wary as a new tribulation approached.
• Haotian and Queen Mother discussed the Heavenly Court’s weakening authority, and Haotian proposed reviving the Flat Peach Banquet to win over the Buddhist Sect and counter the Interception Sect.

Haotian and Yaochi revived the Flat Peach Banquet to draw the Buddhist Sect into the Heavenly Court and counter the Interception Sect. As the gathering began, the Interception Sect arrived in overwhelming strength, revealing that it had recovered beyond its former peak and leaving Haotian alarmed.

• Yaochi warned Haotian that the Buddhist Sect would exploit the Heavenly Court, but Haotian argued that inviting it was their only chance to reclaim authority, and Yaochi agreed to his plan.
• Haotian sent invitations across the Three Realms, and Lu Yuan assigned Daoist Honglu, Daoist Beiyuan, and Daoist Yuanchu to attend in his stead with twelve Fruits of Life as a gift for Yaochi.
• The Flat Peach Banquet began, and Shakyamuni, Tathagata Duobao, and the Buddhist Sect arrived in force, followed by Immortal Elder Nanji and the Chan Sect immortals, who worried about the West's rising power.
• Haotian and Yaochi welcomed the Buddhist and Chan Sect guests, while Haotian hoped the rival sects would restrain one another and let him regain control of the Heavenly Court.
• Saint Mother Jin Ling, Saint Mother Wudang, and the Interception Sect arrived with Daoist Honglu, Daoist Beiyuan, and Daoist Yuanchu; their vast numbers and strength stunned the gathering and deepened Haotian's apprehension.

At the Flat Peach Banquet, the Chan and Jie Sects clashed while other factions maneuvered to advance their interests, and Lu Yuan watched from Profound Yellow Heaven. A thousand years later, Tathagata expelled Golden Cicada from Spirit Mountain and sent him to endure ten lifetimes of reincarnation, setting the final piece of the Journey to the West Tribulation in motion.

• Chijingzi and Saint Mother Jin Ling traded accusations over whether Jie Sect disciples who joined the Buddhist Sect had betrayed the Mysterious Gate, until Zhenyuanzi and Queen Mother of the West stopped the confrontation.
• The factions discussed the Dao at the Flat Peach Banquet while the Chan Sect, Buddhist Sect, Haotian Shangdi, and other powers secretly sought allies and plotted against rivals.
• Lu Yuan observed the banquet’s conflicts and schemes from Profound Yellow Heaven through his Saintly Thought.
• At Spirit Mountain’s Ullambana Assembly, Golden Cicada struggled to listen to Tathagata’s sermon as his innate killing nature rebelled against Buddhist teachings.
• Tathagata stripped Golden Cicada of his Buddhist status and cultivation, then sent his true spirit into the mortal world to undergo ten lifetimes of reincarnation.

Sun Wukong seized the As-You-Wish Golden-Banded Staff and other treasures from the East Sea Dragon Palace, then stormed the Netherworld and erased his name and those of Flower Fruit Mountain’s forty-seven thousand monkeys from the Book of Life and Death. Haotian chose to recruit the troublesome monkey rather than attack him, and Sun Wukong happily followed Tai Bai Jin Xing to Heaven, unaware of the humiliation awaiting him.

• The old long-armed ape told Sun Wukong that the East Sea Dragon Palace might hold a divine weapon, so Sun Wukong went there to claim one.
• Ao Guang presented the Sea Calming Divine Needle, which became the As-You-Wish Golden-Banded Staff in Sun Wukong’s hands; Sun Wukong also demanded armor, a crown, and boots before leaving.
• When underworld soul reapers tried to seize him, Sun Wukong defeated them, stormed the Netherworld, and erased his own name and those of all forty-seven thousand Flower Fruit Mountain monkeys from the Book of Life and Death.
• The Dragon Kings and Ten Palace Yama Kings petitioned Haotian to punish Sun Wukong, but Haotian rejected their demand and ordered Tai Bai Jin Xing to recruit him.
• Tai Bai Jin Xing persuaded Sun Wukong to go to Heaven, and Sun Wukong followed him eagerly.

Sun Wukong discovered that the Heavenly Court had appointed him to the unranked, lowly post of Bimawen and rebelled, proclaiming himself Great Sage Equal to Heaven. The six other demon sages joined him at Flower-Fruit Mountain, while Lu Yuan watched the Seven Great Sages’ alliance become a prelude to the Journey to the West Tribulation.

• Martial Virtue Star Lord insulted Sun Wukong and attacked him, but Sun Wukong broke his whip and lashed him with it.
• Martial Virtue Star Lord and the Imperial Horse Office’s Immortal Clerks revealed that Bimawen had no rank or grade, enraging Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong left the Heavenly Court, returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain, and raised a banner proclaiming himself Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
• Bull Devil King, Flood Dragon Demon King, Roc Demon King, Lion Camel King, Macaque King, and Gibbon King joined Sun Wukong at Flower-Fruit Mountain and swore brotherhood as the Seven Great Sages.
• The Seven Great Sages rallied demon forces and openly defied the Heavenly Court, prompting Haotian and powers across the Three Realms to react to the rebellion.
• Lu Yuan saw the Seven Great Sages’ hidden lineages and watched the upheaval as the prelude to the Nine Tribulations of Journey to the West.

Lu Yuan watched the Seven Great Sages’ uprising as a minor part of the Journey to the West Tribulation while preparing for the greater upheavals ahead. Haotian sent Li Jing and Nezha to subdue Flower Fruit Mountain, but the Heavenly Court’s army was defeated and forced to withdraw, leaving Sun Wukong celebrating with his brothers.

• Lu Yuan reflected on the coming return of ancient Hunyuan powers and focused on refining his resources for the nine tribulations he expected to claim.
• Haotian ordered Li Jing and Nezha to lead one hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals against Flower Fruit Mountain.
• Sun Wukong defeated Juli Shen, then fought Nezha, who deliberately held back because he feared becoming entangled in the Tribulation.
• Li Jing ordered a full assault, but the Six Great Sages overwhelmed the Heavenly Court’s forces and shattered their formation.
• Nezha urged Li Jing to withdraw, and Li Jing led the defeated army back toward the Thirty-Three Heavens while the Great Sages stopped Sun Wukong from pursuing.
• Sun Wukong celebrated the victory at Water Curtain Cave, unaware that his six elder brothers exchanged meaningful glances as they praised him.

After Li Jing’s defeat, Haotian accepted Tai Bai Jin Xing’s plan to recruit Sun Wukong with the title Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and Sun Wukong returned to the Heavenly Court unaware that the title carried no real authority. In Profound Yellow Heaven, Lu Yuan explained that the Journey to the West Tribulation was a contest of hidden factions and said his lineage would wait for the coming Great Age of Myriad Dao Contention to act.

• Li Jing reported the Heavenly Court’s defeat to Haotian, and Tai Bai Jin Xing proposed recruiting Sun Wukong with the title Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
• Haotian approved the plan, and Tai Bai Jin Xing returned to Flower Fruit Mountain to offer Sun Wukong the title.
• Sun Wukong accepted and followed Tai Bai Jin Xing back to the Heavenly Court while the six great sages watched him leave.
• Lu Yuan showed his disciples Sun Wukong’s history and explained that his apparent rise and the Seven Great Sages’ alliance were shaped by competing factions.
• Lu Yuan explained that the Buddhist Sect intended to use the Journey to the West Tribulation to expand its influence and clear or absorb rival forces.
• Lu Yuan said his Profound Yellow Heaven lineage would wait for the Great Age of Myriad Dao Contention rather than confront the Buddhist Sect directly.

Sun Wukong discovered that the Heavenly Court had not invited him to the Flat Peach Banquet, and his fury triggered the Mandate of Heaven Power within him. As the aura of the Journey to the West Tribulation shook the Three Realms, Haotian, Yaochi, Taishang Laojun, and Lu Yuan’s Ziwei Great Emperor avatar seized the chance to study its mysteries.

• Tai Bai Jin Xing escorted Sun Wukong to his grand Great Sage Equal to Heaven Residence, where Sun Wukong accepted his title and enjoyed the gifts sent by the Jade Emperor.
• Sun Wukong mingled with the Heavenly Court’s immortals for decades, but their contempt and mockery gradually made him resent his empty title.
• Sun Wukong learned that Queen Mother was holding a Flat Peach Banquet, but no invitation arrived for him, so he went to the Peach Garden to investigate.
• The Seven Fairies told Sun Wukong that they had not heard his name on the guest list, and his humiliation and rage erupted.
• Sun Wukong’s fury stirred the Mandate of Heaven Power, which shook the Three Realms as Haotian, Yaochi, Taishang Laojun, and Lu Yuan’s Ziwei Great Emperor avatar studied it.

Sun Wukong stole the Flat Peaches, Yaochi’s banquet wine, and Taishang Laojun’s golden pills, then returned to Flower Fruit Mountain and openly defied the Heavenly Court. Haotian sent a 200,000-strong army against him, but the campaign ended in defeat, leaving the Heavenly Court’s prestige badly damaged.

• Sun Wukong immobilized the Seven Fairies, ate and stole the Flat Peaches, raided the Yaochi banquet, and took all the golden pills from Doushuai Palace before returning to Flower Fruit Mountain.
• Lu Yuan watched Sun Wukong’s rampage and recognized it as part of the bargain among Haotian, the Buddhist Sect, and other powers to prepare for the Journey to the West Tribulation.
• Sun Wukong gave the stolen food and pills to the monkeys, told the Six Great Sages he would rule Flower Fruit Mountain, and stirred the tribulation fate qi.
• The Queen Mother of Yaochi showed the Heavenly Court the destruction, and Haotian ordered Li Jing, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, and the Nine Luminaries Star Officials to lead 200,000 soldiers against Flower Fruit Mountain.
• Sun Wukong fought the army and advanced to peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal while the Heavenly Court’s gods and the Six Great Sages held back their strength.
• After several days of battle, the Heavenly Court’s army retreated in defeat, and the Three Realms heard of the Heavenly Court’s lost prestige.

Yang Jian and Taishang Laojun helped capture Sun Wukong, but heavenly punishments failed to harm him, and refining him in the Eight Trigrams Furnace made him a Daluo Golden Immortal. After Tathagata trapped him beneath Five Elements Mountain, Lu Yuan’s incarnation as the Ziwei Great Emperor appeared and told him that his life had followed someone else’s plan.

• Haotian sent Yang Jian to capture Sun Wukong, and the two fought until Taishang Laojun struck Sun Wukong with the Diamond Bracelet.
• Heavenly punishments could not injure Sun Wukong, so Taishang Laojun took him to the Eight Trigrams Furnace, where he refined the elixirs within him and formed a Daluo dao fruit.
• Sun Wukong shattered the furnace and stormed the Heavenly Court, gaining Quasi-Sage strength when his declaration triggered a backlash from the Heavenly Dao.
• Tathagata wagered that Sun Wukong could not escape his palm, then suppressed him beneath Five Elements Mountain and sealed him for five hundred years.
• After Sun Wukong had been trapped for a time, Lu Yuan’s incarnation as the Ziwei Great Emperor eased the seal briefly and told him that his rebellion had been part of a Buddhist scheme.

Lu Yuan explained how Sun Wukong’s five hundred years beneath Five Elements Mountain would yield tribulation fortune for him, while the Journey to the West served the Buddhist Sect’s rise. He then warned his disciples that ancient powers sealed in the Returning Ruins would eventually return and spark a far greater contest.

• Lu Yuan told Sun Wukong that a Buddhist pilgrim would free him in five hundred years and revealed that his sworn brothers had abandoned his monkeys, leaving Sun Wukong in tears.
• Haotian Shangdi and the Queen Mother of Yaochi discussed the Heavenly Court’s lack of control and Lu Yuan’s ability to profit from the Journey to the West without joining the struggle.
• Taishang Laojun explained to Grand Master Xuandu how his furnace tempered Sun Wukong and how the scripture pilgrimage would help the Western Buddhist Sect repay its karmic debt.
• Lu Yuan told Daoist Honglu, Daoist Beiyuan, and Daoist Yuanchu that Sun Wukong’s years beneath the mountain would produce the first tribulation bounty he collected.
• Lu Yuan revealed that ancient figures sealed in the Returning Ruins would eventually break free, rebuild their Dao lineages, and compete with the present powers of the Primordial World.

Tathagata and the factions of the Three Realms prepared for the Journey to the West by placing candidates and allies along the scripture pilgrim’s path. Guanyin accepted the mission to find a pilgrim and set out from Spirit Mountain with Mu Zha.

• Tathagata explained that Sun Wukong’s punishment had helped him refine his pills into a Daluo Dao Fruit, while Golden Cicada’s reincarnations continued toward the pilgrimage.
• Lu Yuan showed his disciples how Haotian banished Juanlian General, Marshal Tianpeng was sent to the mortal world, and Little White Dragon was expelled from the West Sea as each became a piece on the pilgrimage’s board.
• Lu Yuan explained that the Three Realms’ factions were placing people in the pilgrimage, then turned his attention to Spirit Mountain.
• Tathagata announced that he wanted to send Buddhist scriptures east and asked who would find a scripture pilgrim; Guanyin volunteered.
• Tathagata gave Guanyin a Brocade Kasaya, a Nine-Ringed Monk’s Staff, and three constricting fillets for the journey.
• Guanyin descended from Spirit Mountain with Mu Zha.

Guanyin recruited Sha Wujing, Zhu Wuneng, Ao Lie, and Sun Wukong to accompany the scripture pilgrim west, while Lu Yuan observed the Buddhist Sect placing its pieces. Sun Wukong agreed but questioned whether the pilgrim’s path was already arranged, and Lu Yuan said his concealed defiance would serve the journey’s trials.

• Guanyin converted the Flowing Sand River monster, formerly General Juanlian, into Sha Wujing and ordered him to await and protect the scripture pilgrim.
• Guanyin persuaded the pig monster, formerly Marshal Tianpeng, to become Zhu Wuneng and join the journey west.
• Guanyin told Ao Lie that his father had banished him to give him a chance at merit, and Ao Lie agreed to become the White Dragon Horse.
• Guanyin offered Sun Wukong release from his suffering in exchange for protecting the scripture pilgrim, and Sun Wukong agreed while asking whether the pilgrim was also a pawn.
• Guanyin told Mu Zha that Sun Wukong could no longer take back his move, while Lu Yuan identified a concealed edge in the monkey’s willingness.
• Lu Yuan told his disciples that many powers were watching the journey west and instructed them to remain in Profound Yellow Heaven and observe.

Guanyin arranged for the gods of Chang'an to watch over Xuanzang as he set out west, beginning the Journey to the West Tribulation. In Profound Yellow Heaven, Lu Yuan explained the hidden powers and stakes surrounding the pilgrimage, then revealed that ancient beings sealed in the Returning Ruins were stirring and would bring a contest among ten thousand Daos.

• Guanyin and Mu Zha entered Chang'an in disguise, and Guanyin ordered the city's deities to secretly assist with the scripture pilgrim.
• Guanyin observed Xuanzang, Golden Cicada's tenth reincarnation, as he studied at Baoguo Temple and prepared to journey west.
• Emperor Li Shimin bestowed titles and sacred travel gifts on Xuanzang, who departed Chang'an with two attendants and vowed to return with the true scriptures.
• As Xuanzang passed beyond Chang'an, the Journey to the West Tribulation began, and mighty beings across the heavens sensed the disturbance.
• Lu Yuan told Daoist Honglu, Daoist Beiyuan, and Daoist Yuanchu that the Buddhist rise involved schemes by many powers and that Profound Yellow Heaven would receive nine ordeals.
• Lu Yuan revealed that ancient beings sealed in the Returning Ruins were beginning to stir, and said the returning powers would usher in a contest among ten thousand Daos.

Lu Yuan watched Tang Monk’s journey west and explained how the Buddhist Sect secretly protected him while arranging trials to temper him. Tang Monk freed Sun Wukong from Five Elements Mountain, and after the white dragon swallowed their horse, Sun Wukong exposed the hidden guardians and Guanyin transformed Ao Lie into a new mount; the scripture-fetching party continued with Sun Wukong wary of the Buddhist Sect’s plans.

• Lu Yuan explained that Buddhist guardians secretly cleared Tang Monk’s path while ensuring he still faced trials.
• Tang Monk removed the Six-Character True Words seal from Five Elements Mountain, freeing Sun Wukong, who became his disciple.
• At Eagle Sorrow Ravine, a white dragon swallowed Tang Monk’s horse, and Sun Wukong deliberately provoked the hidden guardians into revealing themselves.
• Sun Wukong fought the white dragon until it retreated into the ravine, then Guanyin appeared and transformed Ao Lie into a white horse for Tang Monk.
• Lu Yuan observed that Sun Wukong understood the journey was staged and was using the Buddhist Sect’s arrangements to his advantage.