Chapter Summaries

Saint Zhunti challenged the Mystic Gate to three contests of magic in Chechi Kingdom, but Shen Gongbao’s words triggered Zhunti’s accumulated karma and left him badly wounded. The contest’s representatives assembled, and the three Imperial Advisors accepted Shen Gongbao’s offer to join the Mystic Gate after the trials.

• Saint Zhunti declared that the Western Teachings and Mystic Gate would stake their fortunes on three contests of magic in Chechi Kingdom and demanded that the Mystic Gate disciples show him respect.
• Guiguzi threatened Zhunti with the Sky-Turning Seal and Tiger Soul Blade, while Shen Gongbao invoked karma and fate, causing Zhunti to cough blood as his accumulated retribution erupted.
• Saint Zhunti suppressed the retribution and declared himself invincible unless Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared; Grand Master Xuandu, Guiguzi, and Shen Gongbao then took their places for the contests.
• Shen Gongbao welcomed Great Immortal Huli, Great Immortal Luli, and Great Immortal Yangli into the Mystic Gate and offered to make them his disciples after the matter in Chechi Kingdom was settled.
• Future Buddha Bai Ze explained that the three contests would pit the Western Teachings against the Mystic Gate, with their sects’ fortunes at stake.

The first contest between the Mystic Gate and Western Teachings began in Chechi Kingdom, with Great Immortal Huli and Sun Wukong summoning wind and rain. Guiguzi boosted Huli with an astonishing amount of Heavenly Dao Merit, leaving Saint Zhunti shocked and punished by Heaven’s lightning.

• Shen Gongbao asked Saint Zhunti to let the Mystic Gate choose the first contest, and Zhunti agreed arrogantly.
• Great Immortal Huli proposed that each side summon wind and rain using its own merit, destiny, and connection to Heaven and Earth.
• Guiguzi warned that Zhunti’s Heavenly Dao Merit might be in debt, and Guanyin ordered Sun Wukong to use his full strength.
• Great Immortal Huli and Sun Wukong both summoned clouds, thunder, wind, and rain, appearing evenly matched.
• Guiguzi manifested a Merit Golden Wheel above Huli, revealing Heavenly Dao Merit twice that of Primordial Heavenly Venerate’s when he became a Saint.
• Saint Zhunti accused the Heavenly Dao and Dao Ancestor Hongjun of favoring the Mystic Gate, and lightning struck his head.

Saint Zhunti used his accumulated Heavenly Dao Merit to empower Sun Wukong in the first magic contest, but Primordial Heavenly Venerate invoked the Heavenly Authority to reclaim the merit Zhunti owed. Zhunti lost much of his cultivation, and Jieyin stopped him from attacking as the Western Teachings faced the consequences.

• Saint Zhunti sent his Heavenly Dao Merit to Sun Wukong, whose storm overwhelmed Great Immortal Huli and seemed to secure the Western Teachings' victory.
• Shen Gongbao explained that Zhunti's merit came from vows made when he became a Saint and that he would have to repay it after severing his ties with Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
• Grand Master Xuandu revealed that he had alerted Primordial Heavenly Venerate, who appeared and demanded that Zhunti repay his debt in merit.
• Zhunti refused, and Primordial Heavenly Venerate used the Heavenly Dao Rules to strip away his accumulated merit, reducing his cultivation from the late to the early stage of the Heavenly Dao Saint realm.
• Zhunti prepared to attack Primordial Heavenly Venerate, but Jieyin urged him to stand down because the merit had been reclaimed in the Heavenly Dao's name.

Shen Gongbao trapped the Two Sages of the West in a prison of karma until Old Ancestor Kunpeng could claim their debt, and Demon Lord Hong Yun arrived with him. Hong Yun burned away Saint Zhunti’s Heavenly Dao Merit, settling his own karmic debt with the Western sages while Zhunti barely retained his cultivation.

• Great Immortal Huli won the first contest, and Saint Zhunti surrendered one stream of the Western Teachings’ fortune to the Mystic Gate.
• Shen Gongbao used karma and destiny to imprison the Two Sages of the West until Old Ancestor Kunpeng could settle their debt.
• Future Buddha Bai Ze asked Guanyin Buddha to seek help from Demon Lord Chonglou and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, but Guanyin worried that Demon Lord Hong Yun might also appear.
• Old Ancestor Kunpeng and Demon Lord Hong Yun arrived at the central plaza and entered the prison to confront the Two Sages.
• Demon Lord Hong Yun burned away Saint Zhunti’s Heavenly Dao Merit, declared his karmic debt settled, and left Zhunti near a collapse in cultivation.

Old Ancestor Kunpeng stripped Saint Zhunti of his Primordial Violet Qi and used it with Heavenly Dao Merit to become a Heavenly Dao Saint. The Western Teachings conceded the remaining duels and lost more of their fortune.

• Demon Lord Hong Yun warned Old Ancestor Kunpeng that he was next, while Saint Jieyin pleaded for more time to repay their karmic debt.
• Old Ancestor Kunpeng began extracting Saint Zhunti's Primordial Violet Qi, and Saint Jieyin offered his own to save his junior brother.
• Saint Zhunti woke, surrendered his Primordial Violet Qi, and fell from sainthood to Quasi-Saint Peak.
• Guiguzi gave his Heavenly Dao Merit Golden Wheel to Old Ancestor Kunpeng, who merged his Three Corpses and became a Mid Heavenly Dao Saint.
• Shen Gongbao offered Saint Jieyin the choice of opponents for the final duels, but Saint Jieyin conceded them and the Western Teachings' fortune fell to forty percent.

After Saint Jieyin withdrew from Chechi Kingdom with the gravely wounded Zhunti, Tang Sanzang’s party worried that Zhunti might target Wutian, but Shen Gongbao reassured them that the Wu Race would protect him. Dong Wanggong revealed he had engineered the conflict to seize Zhunti’s Primordial Violet Qi, then gave the Jade Disk of Creation to the Primordial Heavenly Venerate and warned the others to prepare for future threats.

• Saint Jieyin carried the unconscious Zhunti away from Chechi Kingdom after warning that the Mystic Gate would fall when the Journey to the West Tribulation ended.
• Huanglong warned that Zhunti might devour Wutian to recover, and Shen Gongbao assured Tang Sanzang that Wutian would be safe in the underworld among the Wu Race.
• Tang Sanzang’s party received the king of Chechi Kingdom’s seal on their Travel Document, bade farewell to the assembled figures, and continued west.
• Dong Wanggong told the gathered leaders that he had altered the Primordial World’s fortune and arranged the Chechi Kingdom conflict to obtain Zhunti’s Primordial Violet Qi.
• Dong Wanggong entrusted the Jade Disk of Creation to the Primordial Heavenly Venerate and warned that the Demon Sect, Chaos Demon Gods, and Reincarnation Alliance threatened the Primordial World.
• The Primordial Heavenly Venerate took Grand Master Xuandu to Shouyang Mountain to provoke Old Master Taiqing, while Old Ancestor Kunpeng and the others went to Kunlun Mountain.

Dong Wanggong and Hundred Flowers Fairy visited the Western Liang Women's Country, where the Queen of West Liang eagerly accepted Dong Wanggong’s proposal to become his Dao Companion. The three entered the Heavenly Dao Nirvana Pool together, leaving what followed unspoken.

• Hundred Flowers Fairy told Dong Wanggong that Primordial Heavenly Venerate had angered Old Master Taiqing, and Dong Wanggong discussed his plans to establish the Hongmeng Immortal Court.
• Dong Wanggong and Hundred Flowers Fairy arrived at the royal city of the Women's Country and sent word to the Queen.
• The Queen of West Liang recognized Dong Wanggong and hurried to welcome him, then led him and Hundred Flowers Fairy into the great hall.
• Dong Wanggong asked the Queen of West Liang to become his Dao Companion, and she agreed.
• Dong Wanggong, Hundred Flowers Fairy, and the Queen entered the Heavenly Dao Nirvana Pool together.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples drank from the Mother-Child River in Western Liang Women's Country and learned that they had become pregnant. Sun Wukong went to seek water from Abortion Spring while the others waited anxiously at the post station, where Huanglong sensed demonic energy nearby.

• Zhu Bajie, Tang Sanzang, Sha Heshang, and Huanglong drank from the Mother-Child River while Sun Wukong abstained.
• The Grand Preceptor of Western Liang Women's Country explained that the river made women pregnant and directed the pilgrims to True Immortal Ruyi at Abortion Spring for a cure.
• Tang Sanzang and the others panicked over their pregnancies, and Sun Wukong promised to fetch Abortion Spring water before flying off on the Somersault Cloud.
• At the post station, Zhu Bajie worried about his swollen belly while Huanglong sensed demonic energy somewhere in Western Liang Women's Country.

Dong Wanggong rescued the Scorpion Spirit from her role in the Journey to the West tribulation and made her his Dao Companion, naming her the Donghua Goddess. Bodhisattva Lingji was left to handle the tribulation in Western Liang Women's Country and disguised himself as a female immortal to approach Tang Sanzang.

• Dong Wanggong teased the Queen of West Liang and Hundred Flowers Fairy before setting out to find the Scorpion Spirit.
• Dong Wanggong met the Scorpion Spirit, gave her the title Donghua Goddess, and asked her to become his Dao Companion; she accepted.
• Dong Wanggong brought the Donghua Goddess back to the palace, where he resumed dual cultivation with her and his other companions.
• Bodhisattva Lingji found Pipa Cave destroyed and learned from Ancient Buddha Burning Lamp that he had to handle the Western Liang tribulation himself.
• Bodhisattva Lingji rebuilt his dojo, disguised himself as a female immortal, and headed to the inn where Tang Sanzang and the other Pilgrims were staying.

Bodhisattva Lingji disguised himself as a seductive woman, lured Tang Sanzang to the palace, and captured him. After Zhu Bajie recognized Lingji from the feel of his chest, Sun Wukong learned who had taken his master and began planning revenge.

• Bodhisattva Lingji disguised himself as a woman and persuaded Tang Sanzang to go to the palace, then struck Zhu Bajie aside and vanished with Tang Sanzang.
• Huanglong advised the others to wait for Sun Wukong, and several shichen later Sun Wukong returned with True Immortal Ruyi.
• Sun Wukong told Zhu Bajie and the others to drink water from the Abortion Spring before searching for Tang Sanzang, and they all did so.
• True Immortal Ruyi said there were no powerful demons in Western Liang Women's Country, and Zhu Bajie identified the captor as Bodhisattva Lingji by recalling his encounter with the disguised woman.
• Sun Wukong confirmed that the Abortion Spring's water could counteract the Mother-Child River and resolved to make Bodhisattva Lingji suffer.

Bodhisattva Lingji captured Tang Sanzang on Poison Enemy Mountain, but Sun Wukong and the others arrived and beat him down. They forced Lingji to drink from the Mother-Child River, leaving him about to give birth without access to the Abortion Spring.

• Bodhisattva Lingji bound Tang Sanzang in his cave and tried to seduce him, while Tang Sanzang secretly enjoyed the attention despite protesting.
• Sun Wukong, True Immortal Ruyi, Huanglong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Heshang broke into the cave and attacked Bodhisattva Lingji when he brought Tang Sanzang to Poison Enemy Mountain's summit.
• Huanglong sealed Bodhisattva Lingji's mouth and consciousness before he could reveal his true identity, while Zhu Bajie forced him to kneel and beat him.
• True Immortal Ruyi received most of the Heavenly Dao Merit and broke through to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm; Tang Sanzang thanked him for using the Abortion Spring to end his pregnancy.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie poured Mother-Child River water down Bodhisattva Lingji's throat, causing his belly to swell as the group waited for him to give birth.
• Bodhisattva Lingji broke free of the seal and pleaded for Abortion Spring water, but Sun Wukong told him True Immortal Ruyi was gone and urged him to give birth.

Bodhisattva Lingji cut the fetus from his belly, ending the Western Liang tribulation, while Dong Wanggong took his companions to Penglai and changed the Mother-Child River. At Western Spirit Mountain, Demon Ancestor Luohu offered to save Zhunti Buddha Mother in exchange for merging the Western Teachings with the Demon Sect.

• Zhu Bajie gave Bodhisattva Lingji the Shang Bao Qin Jin Pa, and Lingji cut open his belly and removed the fetus, suffering injuries and karmic retribution.
• Bodhisattva Lingji declared the Western Liang tribulation over, and Tang Sanzang and his disciples left after bowing to him.
• Dong Wanggong invited Hundred Flowers Fairy, the Queen of West Liang, and Donghua Goddess to Penglai, and the Queen said she had handed the throne to the Imperial Advisor.
• Dong Wanggong declared that True Immortal Ruyi had fulfilled his destiny and that the Mother-Child River would no longer produce living beings.
• Saint Jieyin used his accumulated Heavenly Dao Merit to repair Zhunti Buddha Mother's Three Corpses Incarnations, but Zhunti remained a Quasi-Saint Peak.
• Demon Ancestor Luohu offered to save Zhunti Buddha Mother if the Western Teachings merged with the Demon Sect, with Jieyin becoming a Demon Sect Saint and Zhunti becoming the Demon Buddha.

Demon Ancestor Luohu persuaded Saint Jieyin and Zhunti Buddha Mother to merge the Western Teachings into the Demon Sect, promising to share its fortune and power. After they took their oaths and Demon Buddha Zhunti was transformed, Journey to the West tribulation karma descended, and Luohu sent the Heaven Suppressing Coffin into the Heavenly Dao to free Supreme Being Shanggu to intervene.

• Demon Ancestor Luohu offered Saint Jieyin and Zhunti Buddha Mother places in the Demon Sect and argued that the pilgrimage could continue under their shared fate.
• Saint Jieyin accepted the merger, and Zhunti Buddha Mother awoke and urged him to act decisively.
• Saint Jieyin vowed to join the Demon Sect, and the remaining Western Teachings' fortune flowed into Mount Sumeri while the Demonic Path rose to rival the Immortal Path.
• Zhunti Buddha Mother became Demon Buddha Zhunti as Demon Ancestor Luohu infused him with Demonic Path power.
• Journey to the West tribulation karma descended on Spirit Mountain, and Luohu revealed Guanyin Buddha was Supreme Being Shanggu's Personal Great Disciple.
• Demon Ancestor Luohu sent the Heaven Suppressing Coffin into the Heavenly Dao to free the still-restricted Supreme Being Shanggu.

Supreme Being Shanggu joined forces with Demon Ancestor Luohu to prepare for the Immeasurable Dharma-Ending Tribulation, while Demon Buddha Zhunti transformed fully to the Devil Dao and reached the peak of the Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Saint Jieyin ended his reservations toward the Monster Race and proposed establishing a Western Heavenly Court.

• Supreme Being Shanggu devoured the inauspicious Tribulation karma and told Demon Ancestor Luohu that more than a dozen Chaos Demon Gods were waiting outside the World Barrier for the Immeasurable Dharma-Ending Tribulation.
• Demon Ancestor Luohu promised to let Supreme Being Shanggu command the Demon Sect during the tribulation, and Supreme Being Shanggu released the restrictions on the Mahayana Buddhist Dharma golden lotus.
• Demon Ancestor Luohu guided Demon Buddha Zhunti to refine his Buddhist and Immortal Dao into the Primordial True Demonic Great Dao, and Zhunti reached the peak Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
• Demon Ancestor Luohu said his disciple Demon Lord Chonglou was also nearing that realm and credited Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the Hongmeng Immortal Palace with turning the Primordial World into a half-step Chaos World.
• Saint Jieyin told Future Buddha Bai Ze and Great Sun Supreme Bright Buddha Lu Ya that they no longer needed to suppress their Monster Race identities and proposed establishing a Western Heavenly Court.

Demon Ancestor Luohu established plans for a Western Demon Court and assigned the Mahayana Buddhist Dharma and new training paths to several followers. He sent Future Buddha Bai Ze to learn from the Destiny Chaos Demon God, who revealed the Reincarnation Alliance’s strength and warned that Luohu’s old Immortal Dao enemy was nearby.

• Demon Ancestor Luohu declared that Eastern Emperor Taiyi would rule the Western Demon Court and that it would have six Demon Saints.
• Saint Jieyin removed the indoctrination restrictions on Future Buddha Bai Ze and Great Sun Supreme Bright Buddha Lu Ya, and Demon Ancestor Luohu assigned the Mahayana Buddhist Dharma to Ancient Buddha Burning Lamp.
• Demon Ancestor Luohu sent Future Buddha Bai Ze beyond the Heavenly Dao Barrier to learn the Great Dao of Fate from the Destiny Chaos Demon God, while Great Sun Supreme Bright Buddha Lu Ya was told to cultivate on the Sun Star.
• The Destiny Chaos Demon God described the Reincarnation Alliance and its five powerful Reincarnation Masters, and agreed to train Bai Ze.
• Demon Ancestor Luohu asked whether the Immortal Dao Chaos Demon God had also arrived, and the Destiny Chaos Demon God confirmed that he had.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples resisted continuing their Journey to the West after Buddhism joined the Demon Sect, but Manjushri Bodhisattva ordered them onward. At Penglai Immortal Island, Dong Wanggong planned to use the journey to strengthen the pilgrims and sent Six-Eared Macaque and Wuzhiqi to save Vast-Arm Ape Monkey.

• Tang Sanzang suggested that the pilgrims divide their luggage and abandon the journey because seeking the Devil Dao scriptures could get them killed.
• Zhu Bajie and the other pilgrims complained about their prospects until Manjushri Bodhisattva arrived and ordered them to continue west.
• Sun Wukong, Tang Sanzang, and the others mocked Manjushri Bodhisattva's appearance, and he left after repeating his command.
• Dong Wanggong discussed the Reincarnation Alliance and the Journey to the West Tribulation with Dao Ancestor Hongjun, Heavenly Burial Demon Emperor, and Beast Emperor Shen Ni.
• Dong Wanggong ordered Six-Eared Macaque and Wuzhiqi to save Vast-Arm Ape Monkey from the Demon Sect during the next tribulation.

The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey was forced by Manjushri Bodhisattva to wear an illusory golden crown and impersonate Sun Wukong for the journey to Western Spirit Mountain. After Manjushri left, the Myriad Demon Queen appeared and urged him to seek protection on Penglai Immortal Island.

• The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey confronted Manjushri Bodhisattva, refusing to join the Demon Sect despite threats against the people he protected.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva revealed that Guanyin Buddha's illusory golden crown could make the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey indistinguishable from Sun Wukong, then pressured him to wear it.
• The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey put on the crown, transforming his appearance and aura to match Sun Wukong's, and Manjushri Bodhisattva departed.
• The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey mourned his loss of status, concealed Flying-Coming Peak and its statue, and wondered why protecting the people had become so difficult.
• The Myriad Demon Queen appeared and advised the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey to leave for Penglai Immortal Island and seek the Hongmeng Immortal Palace's protection.
• The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey teased the Myriad Demon Queen about her feelings for the Immortal Emperor.

The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey, disguised as Sun Wukong, met Tang Sanzang and his disciples in the Myriad Demon Kingdom and fought the real Sun Wukong. The impostor joined the group, leaving them unable to tell which monkey was genuine.

• The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey urged the Myriad Demon Queen to consider remaking her kingdom by removing demons who preyed on humans, then left her to think over her responsibilities and her wish to become the Immortal Emperor's Dao Companion.
• Sun Wukong and his companions entered the Myriad Demon Kingdom, where Sha Heshang explained that the Early-stage Quasi-Saint Myriad Demon Queen had taken control from the former Myriad Demon Ancestor.
• The disciples encountered the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey, who wore an Illusory Crown and looked exactly like Sun Wukong, and the two fought without either gaining the advantage.
• The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey claimed Sun Wukong's identity and background, then used his disguise to return to Tang Sanzang and the others.
• The real Sun Wukong called for his master and fellow disciples to identify him, while the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey insisted he could not yet defeat the other monkey.

Sun Wukong and the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey secretly recognized their shared bond but pretended to be enemies as Manjushri Bodhisattva led them toward Great Thunderclap Monastery. The Six-Eared Macaque and Wuzhiqi set out to rescue the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey and make trouble at the Western Spirit Mountain.

• Tang Sanzang and his companions failed to distinguish Sun Wukong from the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey, so Tang Sanzang asked Manjushri Bodhisattva to identify his true disciple.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva ordered Sun Wukong and the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey to accompany him to the Western Spirit Mountain, while the others stayed to protect Tang Sanzang.
• Sun Wukong and the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey secretly exchanged their stories and realized they were connected through the Four Mixed Monkeys.
• The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey refused to flee and vowed to fight at Great Thunderclap Monastery, while Sun Wukong promised to stand with him.
• Sun Wukong and the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey pretended to fight as they traveled west with Manjushri Bodhisattva.
• The Six-Eared Macaque and Wuzhiqi learned that the two monkeys had recognized each other and flew toward the Western Spirit Mountain to rescue the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey.

At Great Thunderclap Monastery, the Buddhas debated whether to kill the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey or turn him into a replacement for Sun Wukong, while Dao Ancestor Hongjun secretly made the two indistinguishable. The chapter ended with the Buddhas unable to identify the real Sun Wukong, even after Guanyin Buddha tried to reveal the Illusory Crown.

• Sun Wukong and the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey fought their way into Great Thunderclap Monastery, where Manjushri Bodhisattva tried to stop them.
• Sun Wukong and the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey each asked the Buddhas to judge which one was the real Sun Wukong.
• Ancient Buddha Burning Lamp and the other Buddhas decided to spare Sun Wukong and convert the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey into a Demon Sect ally.
• Dao Ancestor Hongjun used Heavenly Dao Rules and the order of the Great Dao to make Sun Wukong and the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey identical in the River of Life and the cycle of karma and reincarnation.
• Ancient Buddha Burning Lamp could not distinguish the two, and Guanyin Buddha was stunned when activating the Illusory Crown failed to expose the Vast-Arm Ape Monkey.