Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ming studied the strange corruption and learned more about his own connection to it while the Corpse Immortal Emperor trained a group of Quasi-Immortal Emperors. After several broke through, Shi Hao prepared to venture into Above the Firmament, and Jiang Ming began arranging for his family to leave for safety.

• Jiang Ming realized he might be the mysterious corpse who had corrupted the ten Strange Ancestors, then continued studying the dark blood in seclusion.
• The Corpse Immortal Emperor agreed to serve as a sparring partner for one hundred thousand years, and Shi Hao became the first to break through to Immortal Emperor after fifty thousand years.
• The Mysterious Maiden Emperor, Dugu Baitian, Chen Zhan, his son, and Willow God successively reached the Immortal Emperor realm, while Chicken-Raiser Mu Mu and Taisu remained Quasi-Immortal Emperors.
• After another two hundred thousand years of study, Jiang Ming advanced his understanding of the corruption and his fate pattern, while Shi Hao and the others found the entrance to Above the Firmament.
• Jiang Ming told Shi Hao, Chen Nan, Chen Zhan, and Dugu Baitian that sacrificial dao lay above Immortal Emperor and urged them to seek its secrets in Above the Firmament.
• Jiang Ming concluded that he might be the source of the world's strange corruption and prepared to send his wives and children to the safer Primordial Wilderness Parallel World.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Ming decisively relocates his children and hundreds of billions of living beings from his Inner Heaven and Earth to the world where Zhu Bajie resides. He does this to protect them from the possible catastrophic backlash caused by his Fate Pattern.
• He spends ten thousand years with his women and confidantes, helping them adapt to their new home. His powerful family connections—including Taishang Laojun, Taibai Jinxing, Hou Yi, and Son Goku—ensure their safety as long as they do not threaten Heaven and Earth.
• Jiang Ming then travels toward the Sacred Ruins Era, curious about the Path to the Firmament undertaken by Shi Hao, Chen Zhan, Chen Nan, and Dugu Baitian.
• Still trapped at the Sacrificial Dao realm, which is comparable to the Primordial Wilderness’s Quasi-Saint realm, Jiang Ming recognizes that he lacks the accumulation necessary to break through. He therefore prioritizes solving the danger posed by his Fate Pattern.
• While traveling through the River of Time above the Firmament, Jiang Ming senses a tragic history connected to him. He discovers that his former disciple, Qiong Rui—later known as the Flower Powder Empress—had become an Immortal Emperor, encountered the Strange Plateau, and was ultimately suppressed by the Strange Ancestor and gradually erased from history.
• Determined to save her, Jiang Ming resolves to find Qiong Rui before she reaches the Strange Plateau. Following her karma and fate, he arrives in the Taisu Ancestral Realm, the domain of Dao Ancestor Taisu, during the Dao Ancestor’s once-every-ten-thousand-years sermon.

Character Development

• Jiang Ming demonstrates decisiveness, responsibility, and emotional depth. Although he is pursuing greater power, he first secures the safety of his family and innocent beings before risking a dangerous journey.
• His realization that he cannot yet surpass the Sacrificial Dao realm shows humility and strategic judgment; rather than forcing a breakthrough, he focuses on resolving the Fate Pattern threatening him.
• His memories of Qiong Rui awaken buried affection and guilt. What begins as a search for truth becomes a personal mission to rescue a disciple whose existence has nearly been erased.
• Qiong Rui is established as an exceptionally powerful figure: a natural spirit born from a Heaven and Earth Dao Flower who eventually becomes the Flower Powder Empress and reaches the Immortal Emperor realm.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and sacrifice: Jiang Ming removes his descendants and dependents from danger rather than allowing them to suffer because of his own cultivation.
• Limits of power: Despite his immense strength, Jiang Ming remains unable to break beyond Sacrificial Dao and cannot simply restore Qiong Rui after history has erased her.
• Fate, memory, and erasure: The River of Time can destroy even the identity of an Immortal Emperor, leaving only faint traces. Jiang Ming’s memories and karmic connection preserve Qiong Rui’s existence.
• Teacher-disciple bonds: Jiang Ming’s relationship with Qiong Rui remains emotionally powerful despite the passage of time and her transformation into a rebellious disciple and legendary empress.
• The pursuit of truth: The journey toward the Firmament and the Strange Plateau reflects the characters’ desire to uncover the deeper structure and secrets of existence.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Ming explains his dangerous situation to his wives and confidantes, who are anxious but unable to stop his decision.
• He relies on his brothers and allies—Taishang Laojun, Taibai Jinxing, Hou Yi, and Son Goku—to protect his family in the new world.
• His memories recall the tender naming of the young Yaya as Qiong Rui, emphasizing their close teacher-disciple relationship.
• The chapter ends with Jiang Ming entering the Taisu Ancestral Realm while the mysterious Dao Ancestor delivers a grand sermon proclaiming the flourishing of the Dao.

Chapter Summary: Above the Firmament

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Ming returns to the Taisu Daoist Temple after an absence of eight million years, bringing with him Yaya, a five-year-old-looking girl dressed like Little Nezha.
• He remembers Yaya’s tragic future: she will eventually become the Flower Powder Empress, travel to the Strange Plateau seeking him, and die there. To prevent her resurrection, her enemies will erase everyone connected to her, nearly removing her from history.
• Jiang Ming observes the extraordinary disciples gathered at the temple. Most are descendants of Human Dao Supremes, Great Emperors, True Immortals, or Immortal Kings, while others are naturally born prodigies and Innate Deities.
• The chapter emphasizes the temple’s immense scale and high standards: even ordinary disciples may possess Supreme or True Immortal cultivation, while Immortal Kings behave cautiously in the presence of Dao Ancestor Taisu.
• Dao Ancestor Taisu begins lecturing on the Dao. Her words manifest heavenly phenomena, including golden lotuses, spiritual rain, and living Dao-law creatures. Disciples fight to defeat these manifestations and gain enlightenment.
• Jiang Ming sends Yaya to participate. Though she appears to be a small child, she was born with Saint-level cultivation and has already recovered to the Supreme realm under his guidance.
• Yaya impresses the disciples by defeating older and stronger competitors and claiming several Dao spirits, including a white rabbit, black crow, and bull.
• The disciples recognize Jiang Ming as the mysterious Elder Jiang Ming Tai Shang, though their belief that he has spent countless years cultivating is actually an instinctive false memory created by Jiang Ming’s return.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ming: Reveals a tender, protective side toward Yaya. He regrets her tragic future and is determined to guide and protect her in this timeline. His mysterious status and immense power are reinforced by the awe of the temple’s disciples.
• Yaya: Demonstrates remarkable talent, combat ability, and obedience. Despite her childish appearance, she possesses immense potential as a child of the Great Dao and quickly stands out among elite disciples.
• Dao Ancestor Taisu: Establishes her authority and profound mastery by turning her Dao lecture into a living manifestation of cosmic laws and enlightenment.
• The disciples: Their reactions to Yaya and Jiang Ming show both the temple’s competitive environment and the deep respect commanded by powerful elders.

Significant Themes

• Changing fate and second chances: Jiang Ming’s return gives Yaya a chance to avoid the tragic destiny he remembers.
• The cost of immortality: Even powerful beings can be erased from history if no one remembers them, showing that existence depends not only on cultivation but also on memory and legacy.
• Innate talent versus effort: Bloodline and birth are highly important in the temple, but the narrative stresses that perseverance and personal ability remain essential.
• The vastness of the cultivation world: The Taisu Daoist Temple contains countless rare races, divine beings, Saint Spirits, and naturally formed Dao entities, demonstrating the extraordinary scale of Above the Firmament.
• The innocence of childhood amid immense power: Yaya’s adorable appearance and childlike behavior contrast humorously with her overwhelming strength and destiny as a future Immortal Emperor.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Ming explains the temple and immortals to Yaya in a gentle, teacher-like manner.
• He encourages her to join the Dao lecture and compete for Dao-law manifestations.
• Yaya obediently follows his instructions but overwhelms the older disciples, amusing and surprising those watching.
• Jiang Ming affectionately outfits Yaya with a complete set of powerful treasures, reinforcing their close master-disciple relationship.
• The surrounding disciples identify Jiang Ming and speculate about his history, while Jiang Ming silently observes the scene and takes pride in Yaya’s performance.

After Yaya emerged from seclusion, Jiang Ming gave her a system that assigned her a task to make friends, while he investigated Above the Firmament’s laws and the calamity that would destroy it. He concluded that most of the six Dao Ancestors had died fighting the Strange Ancestors, though Tai Yi might have survived.

• Yaya claimed first place by seizing seventy-nine law creatures, then captured twenty-three more while competing with higher-level experts.
• After two years in seclusion, Yaya returned and Jiang Ming urged her to relax and explore the Taisu Daoist Temple.
• Jiang Ming created an Immortal King-level task system for Yaya and assigned her to make two friends, explaining that she needed life experiences to develop her state of mind.
• Yaya flew off to other peaks to seek friends, while Jiang Ming studied the world’s Dao laws and considered how fate patterns might oppose one another.
• Jiang Ming reflected that Above the Firmament would be destroyed by a sudden calamity and that most Immortal Emperors and Dao Ancestors had likely fallen or submitted to the Strange Ancestors.
• Jiang Ming suspected that Taisu, Tai Shi, Taichu, Taiji, and Tai Ping had died in battle, while Tai Yi might have survived by defecting to the Strange Ancestors.

Jiang Ming watched Yaya grow stronger over ten years while she repeatedly beat Hun Yi, who kept confessing his love. When the Scarlet Moon Emperor proposed that Yaya and Hun Yi become Dao companions, Jiang Ming turned her argument back on her and declared that she should become his Dao companion instead.

• Over ten years, Yaya reached the True Immortal realm, while Jiang Ming gathered fragments of the Great Dao and prepared for the future.
• Yaya repeatedly beat Hun Yi after he confessed his love, and he continued pursuing her despite losing to her seventeen times.
• The Scarlet Moon Emperor visited Jiang Ming and proposed that Yaya and Hun Yi become Dao companions, claiming their union would help them become Immortal Emperors.
• Jiang Ming reminded the Scarlet Moon Emperor that Yaya had rejected Hun Yi, then grabbed her and insisted that she become his Dao companion.

Jiang Ming effortlessly resisted Scarlet Moon Emperor’s attacks and teased her about becoming his wife while Qiong Rui fought Hun Yi at Little Qiong Peak. Scarlet Moon Emperor’s feelings began to shift as Jiang Ming decided to ask Dao Ancestor Taisu for her hand, and a Red Cord bound her to him.

• Scarlet Moon Emperor attacked Jiang Ming with her Supreme Yin, Supreme Yang, and time powers, but he absorbed or endured them without harm.
• Qiong Rui returned to Little Qiong Peak and struck Hun Yi with the Heaven-Earth Ring, breaking through his Five-Elements Battle Garment.
• Jiang Ming swept Scarlet Moon Emperor into a bridal carry and declared that he would ask Dao Ancestor Taisu for her hand.
• Scarlet Moon Emperor protested, then found herself attracted to Jiang Ming as she wondered whether he was secretly an Immortal Emperor.
• A Red Cord appeared around Scarlet Moon Emperor’s ankle and began binding her to Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming took on the identity of Tang Sanzang in a Primordial Wilderness Parallel Universe and reached Gao Family Village, where he encountered Zhu Bajie and the Little White Dragon entangled in a wedding. After Yu'er rejected Zhu Bajie's true appearance, Jiang Ming urged him to join the pilgrimage, leaving Zhu Bajie to reconsider his mission.

• Jiang Ming left his previous realm with Qiong Rui stored in his Inner Heaven and Earth and appeared in another Primordial Wilderness Parallel Universe as Tang Sanzang.
• Jiang Ming arrived near Gao Family Village with Son Goku and Sha Wujing, and told Son Goku to cripple monsters rather than kill them when possible.
• Master Gao welcomed Jiang Ming and invited him to stay for his daughter's wedding, where Jiang Ming discovered that Zhu Bajie was the groom's second uncle and the Little White Dragon was the groom.
• Son Goku beat Zhu Bajie and the Little White Dragon, after which the Little White Dragon agreed to join the scripture-seeking party while Zhu Bajie refused to leave Yu'er.
• Jiang Ming told Zhu Bajie to reveal his true form to Yu'er, who recoiled and called him a monster, ending their wedding plans.
• Jiang Ming reminded Zhu Bajie that he was Marshal Tianpeng and urged him to join the pilgrimage to the Western Heaven.

Chapter Summary: Entering the Demon Den by Playing Along

Key Plot Points and Events

• After spending the night together, marriage between Zhu Bajie and Yu’er remains impossible, but Yu’er has genuinely fallen in love with him.
• Jiang Ming proposes that Yu’er begin cultivating immortality. This would compensate her for Zhu Bajie’s actions and allow Zhu Bajie to continue the scripture-seeking journey without worrying about her future. He leaves the decision and responsibility to Zhu Bajie.
• The group resumes its journey and soon encounters seven spider demons bathing near a river in the territory of Pansi Cave.
• Jiang Ming deliberately sends Zhu Bajie to fetch water to test his loyalty and character. Zhu Bajie resists the spider demons’ temptation and even returns to take Yu’er home before completing his task, proving his devotion.
• One spider demon, Xiao Qi, is vegetarian and relatively kind, while the other six—including their old leader—are flesh-eating demons who have harmed humans.
• Xiao Qi pretends to be an injured girl and leads the scripture-seeking party to Pansi Cave, hoping to lure them into the demons’ lair. Jiang Ming sees through the trap but deliberately accepts it so he can eliminate the demons and gain Merit.
• The spider demons disguise themselves with the skins of people they have killed and pretend to be an ordinary family. They serve the travelers “vegetarian” food that is actually transformed human bones.
• Son Goku exposes the demons and attacks them. Jiang Ming initially restrains him publicly, demanding proof before allowing the demons to be killed, preserving his image as a compassionate and rational monk.
• Once the food is revealed to be human remains, Jiang Ming permits Son Goku to punish the evil demons. Most of them escape, but the old spider demon is driven from her disguise and killed or defeated.
• Son Goku spares Xiao Qi after recognizing that she does not eat humans and carries little demonic or murderous aura.
• Jiang Ming invites Xiao Qi to abandon the demons, guide them to the remaining spider demons, and accumulate Merit by choosing the righteous path.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ming: Demonstrates strategic thinking and moral flexibility. He tests his companions, manipulates events to expose the demons, and balances compassion with the need to destroy genuine evil. His ultimate aim is also connected to acquiring Merit to repair his Merit Golden Lotus.
• Zhu Bajie: Reveals that, unlike the stereotypical lustful version of himself, he is loyal and deeply committed to Yu’er. He resists the spider demons’ seduction and takes responsibility for Yu’er’s well-being.
• Yu’er: Her attachment to Zhu Bajie is shown to be sincere. She is given the possibility of cultivating immortality, allowing her to overcome the social consequences of her encounter with demons and gain a future independent of him.
• Son Goku: Remains impulsive and intolerant of demonic deception, but Jiang Ming teaches him to distinguish between good and evil demons instead of killing indiscriminately. He also demonstrates perceptiveness by recognizing the spider demons’ disguises.
• Xiao Qi: Although part of the spider-demon group, she is portrayed as comparatively innocent because she is vegetarian and does not prey on humans. She becomes a possible convert to Jiang Ming’s cause.

Significant Themes

• Redemption and responsibility: Zhu Bajie is encouraged to take responsibility for Yu’er rather than abandoning her after their encounter.
• Moral judgment beyond appearances: The chapter emphasizes that demons are not automatically evil and humans are not automatically good. Individual actions matter more than species or outward identity.
• Compassion balanced with justice: Jiang Ming insists on evidence before punishment, but he also supports eliminating demons proven to have murdered and preyed upon humans.
• Manipulation and performance: Both the spider demons and Jiang Ming use disguises, deception, and staged behavior. Jiang Ming pretends to be naïve and merciful while deliberately allowing the trap to unfold.
• Cultivation and Merit: Immortality is presented as both compensation and redemption, while good deeds and righteous choices can help characters transform their destinies.
• Loyalty versus temptation: Zhu Bajie’s refusal to be seduced by the spider demons confirms the sincerity of his feelings for Yu’er.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Ming and Zhu Bajie discuss Yu’er’s future, with Jiang Ming placing responsibility for her welfare on Zhu Bajie.
• Zhu Bajie and Yu’er share a quiet demonstration of mutual affection when he returns her home before continuing his journey.
• Son Goku repeatedly clashes with Jiang Ming’s more cautious approach: Goku wants to kill the demons immediately, while Jiang Ming demands proof and teaches restraint.
• Jiang Ming confronts the disguised spider demons by allowing their deception to continue until their crimes are exposed.
• Jiang Ming and Xiao Qi establish the possibility of a new alliance when he offers her a chance to betray the evil demons and pursue righteousness.

Jiang Ming’s scripture-seeking party crossed the West Liang Women’s Kingdom and continued through several tribulations, with Jiang Ming secretly collecting the Child-Mother River’s origins and recruiting the Nine-Tailed Scorpion Spirit. The party reached a fortified city threatened by three demons, and after his disciples killed them, the fearful residents let the travelers inside.

• Jiang Ming sent Xiao Qi to join Qiong Rui in his Inner Heaven and Earth after the party dealt with the spider spirits.
• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing drank from the Child-Mother River, and Jiang Ming secretly collected water from it and the Abortion Spring before Son Goku cured them.
• Jiang Ming encountered the West Liang queen and the Nine-Tailed Scorpion Spirit, then persuaded the Scorpion Spirit to join him.
• Three months later, Jiang Ming’s party reached a fortified city, where a woman agreed to admit them if they killed the Three-Headed Ferocious Wolf, the Deepwater Venomous Jiao, and the Ice-Flame Bird.
• Son Goku, Sha Wujing, and Little White Dragon killed the three demons and returned with their corpses, after which the city residents welcomed the party and served them a meal.

Jiang Ming learned how the three Demon Kings had devastated Lion-Camel Ridge and agreed to help the remaining humans. After Taibai Jinxing sought help from the pilgrims, Jiang Ming prepared to confront the demons and told Son Goku he would back him without restraint.

• A girl told Jiang Ming that demons had reduced Lion-Camel Ridge's human population from more than eight hundred thousand to fewer than forty thousand, and Son Goku learned the names and powers of the three Demon Kings.
• Taibai Jinxing revealed himself and warned Son Goku that the Heavenly Court had failed to defeat the demons, so he advised the pilgrims to take a detour.
• Son Goku, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing refused to intervene, but Jiang Ming offered to fight the three Demon Kings if the Heavenly Court sent a hundred thousand soldiers.
• Taibai Jinxing left to report Jiang Ming's offer, and Jiang Ming assured the girl that he would help the people and told his disciples to kill the demons.
• Jiang Ming privately told Son Goku that he could stop holding back because his master would take action and even support him against Five-Finger Mountain.

Jiang Ming and his disciples destroyed the demons of Lion-Camel Ridge, then continued west and reached Flame Mountain. There, Jiang Ming recruited Yan Ling'er as his new disciple and left Son Goku to handle matters while he waited to see how the Bull Demon King would affect their journey.

• Jiang Ming told Son Goku to help rescue the captives at Lion-Camel Ridge and explained that the Golden Hoop was an Innate Spirit Treasure, but Son Goku refused to have it removed.
• Son Goku and Zhu Bajie went with the little girl to Lion-Camel Ridge while the Nine-Tailed Scorpion Spirit ambushed the Green-Maned Lion Spirit and Yellow-Tusked White Elephant Spirit.
• Jiang Ming defeated and killed the Golden-Winged Roc Eagle, then killed the two captured spirits and used all three demons to nourish his Inner Heaven and Earth.
• Taibai Jinxing arrived with Nezha, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li, and a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, and they leveled Lion-Camel Ridge as the group continued west to Flame Mountain.
• At Flame Mountain, Jiang Ming's group encountered Yan Ling'er and a demon arriving in black wind; Jiang Ming killed the demon and accepted Yan Ling'er as his disciple, teaching her the Limitless True Fire Scripture.

Jiang Ming and his companions settled the Flame Mountain affair by helping Yan Ling'er absorb its flames, while Son Goku captured Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan. The pilgrimage party continued to White Tiger Ridge, where Jiang Ming sensed that the White Bone Demon was a powerful Daluo Golden Immortal.

• Jiang Ming sent Son Goku and Yan Ling'er to cultivate at Flame Mountain, and Yan Ling'er quickly advanced to Taiyi Golden Immortal.
• Son Goku fought Bull Demon King for three days while Yan Ling'er absorbed Flame Mountain's flames and defeated Princess Iron Fan, taking her Plantain Fan.
• Yan Ling'er absorbed all of Flame Mountain's remaining power and reached Daluo Golden Immortal, while Son Goku captured Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan.
• Jiang Ming had Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan bound and carried along, joking that they could atone by taking his place as food for demons.
• The scripture-seeking party reached White Tiger Ridge, where Jiang Ming sensed that the White Bone Demon was a Daluo Golden Immortal.

Jiang Ming’s party arrived in the deserted White Tiger City, where Yan Ling'er protected an innkeeper’s daughter from human cultivators posing as Lady White Bone’s followers. After Yan Ling'er crippled the impostors, real demons appeared and fled when Son Goku attacked, leaving the party wary of the danger ahead.

• Jiang Ming’s party entered the seemingly lifeless White Tiger City and checked into an inn for the night.
• Yan Ling'er stepped between the innkeeper’s daughter and a group in black who demanded to take the child in Lady White Bone’s name.
• Yan Ling'er exposed the attackers as human cultivators and burned away their dantians and meridians after Jiang Ming ordered them spared but crippled.
• Zhu Bajie swept the injured men outside, where a bat demon, a giant python, and a hedgehog demon attacked them.
• Son Goku struck at the demons, but a white silhouette blocked him before the demons vanished; he identified a bone-dust creature and the three other demons with his Fiery Golden Eyes.

Jiang Ming outmaneuvered White Bone Demon and the corrupt king of White Tiger City, arranging for their schemes to be exposed and their crimes punished. After Son Goku killed White Bone Demon and the people dealt with the king, the scripture-seeking party continued its journey.

• White Bone Demon separated Jiang Ming’s disciples with her schemes, but Jiang Ming and Yan Ling'er resisted her while Son Goku killed her three underlings and she escaped.
• At White Tiger City, the king asked Jiang Ming to subdue White Bone Demon, while Jiang Ming recognized that the king himself was behind the abductions of children.
• Jiang Ming ordered Zhu Bajie and Little White Dragon to expose the king, while Son Goku and Sha Wujing attacked White Bone Demon’s lair.
• The king seized Little White Dragon during the night, and Jiang Ming exposed the king and royal preceptor, leaving the people to kill them.
• Son Goku slew White Bone Demon, and the scripture-seeking party departed after a new king took the throne.

Jiang Ming restored his Twelfth-Rank Innate Merit Golden Lotus by collecting golden lotuses from several parallel universes, then entered the Post-Journey to the West world to plan how to seize its Black Lotus while preventing demons from ruling the Three Realms. He infiltrated the Great Thunderclap Temple as Tathagata Buddha began conferring titles on the scripture-fetching party.

• Jiang Ming suppressed Tathagata Buddha in the true-and-fake Monkey King world, stole its Ninth-Rank Innate Merit Golden Lotus, and merged it into his own.
• Jiang Ming collected more Merit Golden Lotuses from parallel universes, including the worlds of Fairy Zixia and Zhi Zunbao and Lotus Lantern, until his lotus reached the Twelfth Rank.
• Jiang Ming entered the Post-Journey to the West world and planned to capture the reincarnated Tathagata, take the world's Black Lotus, and keep demons from ruling the Three Realms.
• Jiang Ming infiltrated the Great Thunderclap Temple while Tathagata Buddha named Tang Sanzang Zhanchan Merit Buddha and Son Goku Fighting Victorious Buddha.
• Tathagata Buddha appointed Zhu Bajie Pure Altar Envoy Bodhisattva, Sha Wujing Golden-Body Arhat Bodhisattva, and Ao Lie Eightfold Heavenly Dragon Guangli Bodhisattva.

After the investitures, Jiang Ming reflected on his past as Kinnara Bodhisattva and Demon Ancestor Wutian, then watched the Buddhist banquet while considering his path toward the Saint Realm. He noticed Son Goku’s transformation into Fighting Victorious Buddha, and Son Goku sensed Jiang Ming watching him.

• Tathagata Buddha declared that three hundred years of peace would follow the investitures, and Jiang Ming understood that a calamity was still coming.
• Jiang Ming recalled how Kinnara Bodhisattva had been driven into darkness after A Xiu’s death and how the World-Destroying Black Lotus had awakened within him.
• Jiang Ming resolved to pursue the Saint Realm and reflected on how the Buddhist School and Heavenly Court included many former disciples of the Interception Sect and Chan Sect.
• At the Buddhist banquet, Jiang Ming observed Son Goku, whose completed pilgrimage had brought him vast merit and brought him to the brink of Quasi-Saint.
• Son Goku noticed Jiang Ming, a young monk with Golden Immortal cultivation and Ba Snake blood, watching him from a corner.

At the Buddhist banquet, Son Goku asked Tathagata Buddha to investigate the Jing River Dragon King's execution and found that the dragon had been wronged. Son Goku and his companions pressed the Buddhist School to seek justice from the Heavenly Court, while Kasyapa and Ananda opposed intervening.

• Jiang Ming greeted Son Goku at the banquet and considered using his three hundred years at the Buddhist School to study Wutian Buddha's memories.
• Son Goku brought Little White Dragon before Tathagata Buddha and asked him to investigate the Jing River Dragon King's execution.
• Tathagata Buddha used Destiny Passage and confirmed that the Jing River Dragon King had been unjustly executed.
• Son Goku urged Tathagata Buddha to meet the Jade Emperor and clear the dragon king's name, while Kasyapa and Ananda warned against straining ties with the Heavenly Court.
• Son Goku and his companions knelt and demanded justice, and Guanyin Bodhisattva defended Son Goku's honesty as Kasyapa and Ananda accused him of acting from private motives.

Son Goku left the Buddhist School after Tathagata Buddha confiscated his Ruyi Jingu Bang and expelled him, then went to the Heavenly Court to challenge its handling of the Jing River Dragon King’s case. Nezha directed him to the Netherworld, where Jiang Ming suspected the events were part of a great calamity and a plan to uncover the Demon Sect.

• Kasyapa and Ananda accused Son Goku of being unfit for the Buddhist School, and Son Goku beat them after they defended Tathagata Buddha.
• Tathagata Buddha drove Son Goku back, confiscated his Ruyi Jingu Bang, and expelled him from the Buddhist School.
• Son Goku went to the Heavenly Court and accused the Jade Emperor of failing to uphold justice, but the Jade Emperor ordered him driven out.
• Nezha led Son Goku beyond the Southern Heavenly Gate and told him that the wronged soul of the Jing River Dragon King had not reincarnated.
• Son Goku headed to the Netherworld while Jiang Ming concealed himself among Son Goku’s hairs and suspected Tathagata Buddha was guiding him toward the Demon Sect.

Jiang Ming watched Wutian’s plan unfold as Wutian gained Tathagata’s fortune and prepared to seize Spirit Mountain, creating a Karmic Tribulation that could lead to Sainthood. Jiang Ming intended to use the upheaval for his own cultivation, but rejected the prospect of letting Wutian rule heaven and earth through demons, monsters, and ghosts.

• Jiang Ming found Tathagata Buddha dueling Wutian’s Evil Corpse in the Abyss of Darkness and watched Kong Xuan use Five-Colored Divine Light to carry them away.
• Tathagata Buddha discovered the Black Lotus had taken root in Kong Xuan’s inner world and brought him back to Spirit Mountain, where Kong Xuan was titled Mother of Buddhas.
• Tathagata Buddha ordered Ayinava to extract the Black Lotus, but Wutian had already severed his true-self corpse and approached the Saint Realm.
• Ayinava delivered the extracted Black Lotus to Tathagata Buddha, allowing Wutian to trap Ayinava and the Peacock Wisdom King Bodhisattva and prepare to occupy the Buddha’s seat.
• Wutian planned to rule as Buddha for thirty-three years and use the Karmic Tribulation to become a Saint, while Jiang Ming resolved not to let his former incarnation’s demonic rule prevail.

Wutian returned to Spirit Mountain and began his Three Realms Calamity, while Jiang Ming watched his past incarnation’s plans unfold and chose not to merge with him yet. Wutian overpowered the Jade Emperor, and Jiang Ming decided that targeting Tathagata remained the better opportunity.

• Wutian met Dipankara Buddha and asked for his support, but Dipankara chose Final Nirvana and left behind a Sarira as a way to return.
• Wutian’s black lotus appeared in the Heavenly Court, while demonic qi overwhelmed Tusita Palace and Taishang Laojun declined to intervene.
• Xuandu City fractured, unleashing Heavenly Demons into the Heavenly Court, where Nezha led the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals against them.
• Wutian appeared before the Jade Emperor and sealed him inside a black lotus.
• Jiang Ming decided against merging with Wutian and judged that attacking Tathagata, whose Ninth-Rank Innate Merit Golden Lotus he countered, was the better move.