Ch. 221Refining the Earth Veins, You Must Be Careful
Chapter Summary
Key Plot Points and Events
- In a hidden chamber on Lesser Buddha Mountain, a gloomy black-robed man suffers a backlash after Su Mu destroys one of his incarnations. The incarnation’s primordial spirit is completely annihilated, preventing it from returning and exposing the group’s hiding place.
- Fearing that Su Mu may discover them, the black-robed man orders his subordinate to inform Great Sun Tathagata Buddha Ancestor to refine Lesser Buddha Mountain’s Primordial Era earth vein immediately.
- He gives the subordinate the Grudge Bead, an Innate Supreme Treasure formed from resentment that can conceal the mountain’s heavenly secrets.
- Tathagata initially panics, knowing that refining a Primordial Era earth vein violates the natural order and could provoke the Primordial Era Saints. However, after seeing the Grudge Bead, he becomes eager to proceed and uses it to hide Lesser Buddha Mountain from the Heavenly Dao before beginning the refinement.
- At Wuzhuang Temple, Tang Sanzang and his disciples refine the Ginseng Fruit:
- Sun Wukong reaches the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
- Zhu Bajie advances to the late stage of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
- With Su Mu and Zhenyuanzi protecting him, Sha Wujing successfully condenses Seventh-Grade Grand Unity Three Flowers and reaches the early Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
- After the banquet, Tang Sanzang and his disciples, the Three Stars, and Guanyin depart from Wuzhuang Temple.
- Zhenyuanzi senses a brief disturbance in the Primordial Era earth veins. Su Mu detects nothing through Spiritual Sense but becomes increasingly suspicious because Zhenyuanzi, as an Earth Dao Saint possessing the Book of Earth, is unusually sensitive to such changes.
- Su Mu begins personally inspecting major earth veins, starting with Shouyang Mountain, Flower Fruit Mountain, and Spiritual Terrace Square Inch Mountain. He finds no damage, though he leaves a protective formation over Flower Fruit Mountain to monitor it.
- At Spiritual Terrace Square Inch Mountain, Su Mu warns his junior disciple Subhuti about the mysterious Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal enemy who nearly killed Zhenyuanzi and may still be active.
Character Developments
- Su Mu is established as far more powerful and dangerous than the hidden enemy expected. His destruction of the incarnation causes serious injury to the enemy’s primordial spirit. He also shows increasing caution and responsibility by investigating the earth veins personally rather than dismissing Zhenyuanzi’s warning.
- The black-robed enemy becomes more cautious after suffering defeat. Although enraged and vengeful toward Su Mu, he retreats into secluded cultivation and adopts an urgent strategy to conceal and strengthen his faction.
- Great Sun Tathagata Buddha Ancestor shifts from fear to excitement when shown the Grudge Bead. His desire for the treasure and the opportunity to refine an earth vein overcomes his concern about provoking the Saints.
- Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing all gain major cultivation breakthroughs through the Ginseng Fruit, bringing the entire group to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm and greatly improving Tang Sanzang’s protection.
- Zhenyuanzi acts as a generous host and protector, while his sensitivity to the earth veins reveals a potentially serious threat that others cannot yet detect.
- Subhuti recognizes the danger posed by the earth-vein disturbance and the unknown enemy, becoming more alert after Su Mu’s warning.
Significant Themes
- Hidden danger and escalating conflict: The enemy’s covert actions suggest that the struggle is expanding beyond direct combat into attacks on the foundations of the Primordial World.
- The importance of the earth veins: The earth veins are portrayed as the spiritual and structural foundation of the Primordial Era. Damaging or refining them could destabilize the entire world.
- Power versus caution: Although Su Mu possesses tremendous strength, he does not rely solely on it; he investigates carefully, establishes safeguards, and takes Zhenyuanzi’s concerns seriously.
- Growth through opportunity and protection: The Ginseng Fruit allows Tang Sanzang’s disciples to make dramatic advances, but Sha Wujing’s breakthrough also shows that powerful allies and careful protection are essential.
- Ambition against the natural order: The black-robed faction’s decision to refine an ancient earth vein demonstrates their willingness to violate heavenly laws for survival and power.
Character Interactions
- The black-robed man commands the golden-robed subordinate to contact Tathagata, revealing the faction’s hierarchy and urgency.
- The subordinate presents the Grudge Bead to Tathagata, transforming Tathagata’s fear into enthusiasm and enabling the earth-vein refinement.
- Tang Sanzang and his disciples respectfully thank Zhenyuanzi for the Ginseng Fruit, while Zhenyuanzi credits their achievements to their own effort and fortune.
- Guanyin bids farewell to Su Mu and Zhenyuanzi after the banquet, while the Three Stars depart happily for Three Stars Island.
- Zhenyuanzi warns Su Mu about the abnormal earth veins, prompting Su Mu’s investigation.
- Su Mu meets Subhuti at Spiritual Terrace Square Inch Mountain, explains the danger, checks the mountain’s earth veins, and warns Subhuti to remain vigilant against the unknown enemy.