Chapter Summaries

Lin Tian’s stone shop drew mighty deities into a high-stakes gamble, where the Queen Mother of the West won a treasure while Tathagata suffered heavy losses. Great Master Xuandu uncovered a damaged Chaos Spirit Treasure, and Lin Tian announced an auction five hundred years later.

• The Queen Mother of the West asked Lin Tian why he disliked Guanyin, and Lin Tian said he instinctively felt she was a bad person.
• Tathagata opened a thirty-million-Spirit-Stone beast-shaped stone and found only a tuft of god-devil hair, which Yun Zhongzi bought for two and a half million.
• Great Master Xuandu opened a fifty-million-Spirit-Stone Taiji stone and uncovered the damaged supreme-grade Chaos Spirit Treasure Taiyi Horsetail Whisk.
• Tathagata opened another stone and found a severed claw, while Yun Zhongzi bought it for five million; Buddhism recovered only seven and a half million from its sixty-million-spirit-stone gamble.
• Lin Tian announced that he would hold an auction at the stone shop in five hundred years, and Yun Zhongzi asked why it would take that long.

Lin Tian used Spirit Vine City’s prosperity and a future auction timed with the Journey to the West to bind powerful factions to the city, while the Buddhist Sect debated how to respond. Buddhism decided to proceed with the pilgrimage as planned, and Spirit Vine City continued growing into the Three Realms’ economic center.

• Lin Tian explained that holding the auction five hundred years later would let the Three Realms accumulate Spirit Stones and raise profits, while tying powerful figures’ interests to Spirit Vine City.
• Lin Tian counted five hundred million Spirit Stones in first-day turnover and planned to use a large store of Spirit Stones to obtain merit from the Heavenly Dao.
• Tathagata and Guanyin returned to Spirit Mountain, where Guanyin warned that Lin Tian’s ties to numerous factions could make the Journey to the West impossible to carry out safely.
• Guanyin offered to visit the allied factions, while Randeng urged Buddhism to proceed with the pilgrimage and overcome problems as they arose; Tathagata agreed.
• As Spirit Vine City expanded, the Three Realms accumulated Spirit Stones, and cultivators sought them to exchange for Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs.

After five centuries of Spirit Stone prosperity, Tang Monk and Sun Wukong began their Journey to the West and stopped at Guanyin Monastery. Sun Wukong found a strange blood-filled stone at Black Wind Mountain, killed two of the Black Bear Monster’s companions, and rushed back after seeing the monastery on fire.

• Tang Monk and Sun Wukong stayed at Guanyin Monastery, where the monks drugged Tang Monk and prepared to kill him for his flesh.
• Sun Wukong flew to Black Wind Mountain and discovered the Black Bear Monster, a white-robed snake spirit, and Lingkongzi discussing a blood-filled stone they planned to sell in Spirit Vine City.
• Sun Wukong examined the stone’s crimson blood, felt its murderous influence, and decided to take it.
• Sun Wukong revealed himself and killed the white-robed scholar and Lingkongzi, prompting the enraged Black Bear Monster to attack him.
• Sun Wukong saw that Guanyin Monastery was burning, grabbed the Gods-and-Devils Blood, and vanished to save Tang Monk.

Sun Wukong returned to Guanyin Monastery and rescued Tang Monk, but the monks were killed and the monastery burned; meanwhile, a black-clad figure stole the Gods-and-Devils Blood from the Five-Direction Guardians. The Black Bear Monster vowed revenge for his brothers, as Spirit Vine City’s Rough Stone gambling continued to shape the Journey to the West Road.

• The Five-Direction Guardians took the Gods-and-Devils Blood from Sun Wukong, but a black-clad figure controlled Gold-Head Guardian and took the blood, leaving the Guardians injured.
• Sun Wukong found Tang Monk being cooked in a steamer, killed the monks, burned Guanyin Monastery, and rescued his master.
• Tang Monk blamed Sun Wukong for the deaths and fire, then insisted that he bury the monks before they continued on their journey.
• The Five-Direction Guardians told Sun Wukong that the black-clad figure had stolen the blood, and Sun Wukong believed their account after they swore they had not taken it.
• The Black Bear Monster buried his two younger brothers and vowed to avenge them.
• Spirit Vine City remained a thriving center for trade and Rough Stone gambling across the Three Realms.

Lin Tian encountered the grieving Black Bear Monster and learned that Sun Wukong had killed his two brothers on the Journey to the West. The Black Bear Monster vowed revenge, while Lin Tian realized that fate had preserved this tragedy despite the world’s many changes.

• Lin Tian worried that Buddhism would target his family during the Journey to the West as he walked through Spirit Vine City.
• Lin Tian collided with the Black Bear Monster and learned that the demon had come from Black Wind Mountain, where his two younger brothers had been killed.
• The Black Bear Monster was stunned when Lin Tian guessed that a monkey had killed his brothers.
• Lin Tian identified Sun Wukong as the culprit and explained that he was escorting Tang Monk along a route that passed Black Wind Mountain.
• The Black Bear Monster vowed to avenge his brothers, despite being gravely wounded and having lost a valuable blood-containing Spirit Stone.

Lin Tian confirmed that Black Bear Monster’s stone contained Luo Hou’s essence blood and the complete Slaughter Law, then investigated what had happened to it at Guanyin Monastery. He learned that a mysterious black-robed man had taken the stone, leaving its fate uncertain.

• Lin Tian learned from Black Bear Monster that the stone held blood threaded with laws, and suspected it contained Luo Hou’s essence blood and slaughter origin.
• Lin Tian stopped Black Bear Monster from attacking Sun Wukong and followed him to the Boundless Abyss, where he confirmed through the Spirit Vine True Self that the stone contained the complete Slaughter Law.
• Lin Tian and Black Bear Monster went to the burned Guanyin Monastery, where Lin Tian forced the Earth God to recount the events.
• The Earth God said Sun Wukong had handed the blue-green stone to the Five-Direction Guardians while saving Tang Monk, but a black-robed man with overwhelming killing intent appeared and took it, claiming it was his essence blood.

Lin Tian recruited the Black Bear Monster into Spirit Vine City and spread word that Sun Wukong had stolen a complete Great Dao Law, drawing the attention of powerful figures across the Three Realms. Meanwhile, Tang Monk used the Tight-Fillet Spell to subdue Sun Wukong, and the pair continued west to Eagle Sorrow Ravine.

• Lin Tian told the Black Bear Monster that Wutian had taken his treasure, then advised him to spread rumors and offered him a position as Spirit Vine City's Bear General.
• The Black Bear Monster accepted Lin Tian's offer, and Lin Tian erased the nearby Earth Gods' memories before returning with him to Spirit Vine City.
• Lin Tian publicized the Black Bear Monster's story, and rumors that Sun Wukong had stolen a complete Great Dao Law spread across the Three Realms.
• Sun Wukong killed bandits on the road, angering Tang Monk, who then lied about the cap Guanyin had given him.
• Tang Monk put the cap on Sun Wukong and tested the Tight-Fillet Spell, forcing the monkey to obey and continue west with him.
• Sun Wukong and Tang Monk reached Eagle Sorrow Ravine.

Sun Wukong failed to defeat Ji Meng, who captured Tang Monk at Eagle Sorrow Ravine, and sought Guanyin’s help. Guanyin identified Ji Meng as an ancient demon sage and met him at the ravine, where he acknowledged her arrival.

• Ao Lie emerged from Eagle Sorrow Ravine, fought Sun Wukong, and then accepted Tang Monk as his master after Pilgrim Huian arrived.
• Ji Meng shattered the stone bridge, defeated Sun Wukong’s attacks, and captured Tang Monk atop a mountain.
• Sun Wukong went to Mount Luojia and asked Guanyin to help rescue Tang Monk.
• Guanyin told Sun Wukong that Ji Meng was an Elder Demon Sage from the Ancient Era and might be beyond even her power to defeat.
• Guanyin and Sun Wukong returned to Eagle Sorrow Ravine, where Ji Meng acknowledged Guanyin as Fellow Daoist Cihang.

Ji Meng confronted Guanyin at Eagle Sorrow Ravine, demanding the Demon Race treasure he believed Sun Wukong had stolen. Guanyin fought him but fell behind, and after Sun Wukong was badly struck by a water dragon, she prepared to use a stronger Divine Ability.

• Ji Meng accused Sun Wukong of stealing a treasure from two demons and blocked the party from crossing Eagle Sorrow Ravine until it was returned.
• Guanyin could not divine what had happened, and Sun Wukong denied taking the treasure, leaving her unable to settle the dispute peacefully.
• Guanyin and Ji Meng fought, but Ji Meng's battle experience and fierce attacks gradually overwhelmed her defenses.
• Ji Meng summoned water dragons to attack Guanyin, and Sun Wukong rushed in to help despite her warning.
• A water dragon's roar stunned Sun Wukong and its tail hurled him into a mountain, prompting Guanyin to prepare another Divine Ability against Ji Meng.

Lin Tian planted rumors that Buddhism possessed a complete Great Dao Law, drawing powerful factions toward Spirit Vine City. After Ji Meng defeated Sun Wukong but was driven off by Guanyin, Guanyin reported the growing crisis to Tathagata, who had no answers about the mysterious man in black or the stone.

• Ji Meng used the Three Lights Divine Water to defeat Ji Meng's water dragon, then left Eagle Sorrow Ravine after warning Guanyin that others would come seeking the treasure.
• Lin Tian told Black Bear Monster that the rumor about Buddhism holding a complete Great Dao Law would bring trouble, and arranged for him to reveal where the stone had been found.
• Black Bear Monster's drunken disclosure sent factions searching the site, where they unearthed many dangerous rough stones and strengthened rumors that Buddhism had obtained a Great Dao Law.
• Guanyin rescued the Tang Monk and pulled Sun Wukong from the mountain, then restored the shattered stone bridge and encouraged Sun Wukong to continue the journey.
• Guanyin went to Spirit Mountain and told Tathagata what had happened; Tathagata admitted he could not identify the man in black, leaving Buddhism uncertain how to face the coming challengers.

After Sun Wukong’s actions made Buddhism appear to have stolen the Great Dao Laws, Tathagata realized that a hidden power had erased witnesses and framed his sect. Lin Tian celebrated the trap in Spirit Vine City, expecting ancient mighty beings to join the search for the laws and turn the Journey to the West into a far more dangerous conflict.

• Tathagata ordered Buddhism to search for the man in black and the Great Dao Laws, while Guanyin lamented that Wukong’s actions had brought disaster upon the sect.
• Randeng suspected Lin Tian and Spirit Vine City had arranged the theft to frame Buddhism, and Tathagata agreed that Wukong’s killing of the monsters had made the accusation harder to refute.
• A Vajra brought earth gods whose memories had been erased, leaving Buddhism without witnesses and unable to clear its name while the Heavenly Secrets remained concealed.
• Tathagata sensed that the man in black was an unfamiliar mighty being who had completed Slaying the Three Corpses, and he ordered Buddhism to investigate.
• Lin Tian rejoiced in Spirit Vine City, believing Buddhism would be blamed until Wutian appeared and predicting that Kunpeng, Minghe, and Zhen Yuanzi would pursue the Great Dao Laws.

Lin Tian watched the Journey to the West grow more dangerous as Zhu Ganglie joined Tang Monk and Sun Wukong, while factions prepared further interceptions. He resolved to keep stirring up trouble for his own gain, and Bai Suzhen arrived at Spirit Vine City.

• Lin Tian learned that making his scheme to stir up the Three Realms succeed would earn him five hundred billion experience, and he looked forward to gaining the Heavenly Dao’s protection and merit.
• Tang Monk and Sun Wukong accepted Zhu Ganglie into their party after he explained his past and praised Sun Wukong; Tang Monk gave him the Dharma name Bajie.
• Zhu Bajie told Squire Gao that Gao Cuilan was carrying his child and promised to return for her after the scripture pilgrimage.
• Black Bear Monster reported that Ji Meng’s defeat by Guanyin had become known, and Lin Tian expected more powerful figures to target the pilgrimage in secret.
• Lin Tian decided to monitor the travelers’ next stop at Yellow Wind Ridge and fan the flames as the Journey to the West slipped beyond his and Buddhism’s control.
• Bai Suzhen entered Spirit Vine City at the age of ten.

Lin Tian watched a changed Journey to the West unfold at Yellow Wind Ridge, where Qin Yuan captured Tang Monk and challenged Sun Wukong over his killing of demons. The chapter left Sun Wukong facing Qin Yuan’s demand that he return the treasures he had stolen from the Demon Race.

• Lin Tian visited Yellow Wind Ridge with Black Bear and found no sign of the yellow rat or lesser demons.
• Qin Yuan used a Dao art to drag Tang Monk, Zhu Bajie, and the White Dragon Horse underground while Sun Wukong was away seeking water.
• Qin Yuan warned Sun Wukong to get help, so he summoned the Great Emperor Zhenwu to the ridge.
• Qin Yuan appeared before Zhenwu and explained that she had captured Tang Monk because Sun Wukong had killed members of the Demon Race.
• Qin Yuan offered to release Tang Monk and let the pilgrimage continue if Sun Wukong returned the treasures he had stolen from the Demon Race.

Lin Tian used the Black Bear Monster’s grievances against Sun Wukong to persuade Great Emperor Zhenwu to withdraw from the fight. With Zhenwu gone, Sun Wukong realized he was in danger and fled on his Somersault Cloud.

• Lin Tian descended with the Black Bear Monster and told Qin Yuan that Sun Wukong had killed the bear’s brothers and stolen his treasure.
• The Black Bear Monster attacked Sun Wukong, and the two fought evenly while Lin Tian explained the bear’s grievances to Zhenwu.
• Lin Tian convinced Zhenwu that Sun Wukong was at fault, and Zhenwu left rather than help him.
• Sun Wukong recognized Lin Tian as strangely familiar, feinted against the Black Bear Monster, and escaped on his Somersault Cloud.

Lin Tian and Qin Yuan discussed obtaining a treasure held by Buddhism and agreed to make trouble during the Journey to the West until Buddhism might yield it. After Sun Wukong fled Yellow Wind Ridge, he sought help from the Jade Emperor to rescue Tang Sanzang.

• Lin Tian hosted Qin Yuan with lavish food and wine, and she said Buddhism might give up the treasure if the journey became too troublesome.
• Lin Tian agreed to help Qin Yuan obtain it for the Empress and shared a flat peach with the Black Bear Monster.
• Qin Yuan kissed Lin Tian, and he playfully kissed her back while she still regarded him as a child.
• Sun Wukong, unwilling to seek Guanyin again, decided to ask the Jade Emperor for reinforcements.
• Sun Wukong arrived at Lingxiao Hall and told Haotian that a monster at Yellow Wind Ridge had abducted his master and defeated him.

Sun Wukong sought the Jade Emperor’s help against Qin Yuan, prompting Haotian to send Immortal Elder Antarctic with the Heaven-Overturning Seal. Antarctic fought Qin Yuan at Yellow Wind Ridge while Sun Wukong battled Black Bear Monster, and Antarctic began to lose ground.

• Sun Wukong told Haotian that Qin Yuan had captured Tang Monk and that even the Great Emperor Zhenwu had withdrawn.
• After Venus Star explained the dispute over the Great Dao Laws, Haotian ordered Immortal Elder Antarctic to confront Qin Yuan.
• Immortal Elder Antarctic went to the Jade Void Palace, borrowed the Heaven-Overturning Seal from Guang Chengzi, and headed to Yellow Wind Ridge with Sun Wukong.
• Lin Tian teased Immortal Elder Antarctic, then watched from a cloud as Qin Yuan fought him and Sun Wukong fought Black Bear Monster.
• Qin Yuan gained the advantage over Immortal Elder Antarctic, who brought out the Heaven-Overturning Seal.

Qin Yuan and Lin Tian withdrew after Immortal Elder Antarctic used the Heaven-Overturning Seal to overwhelm their defenses, allowing Sun Wukong to rescue Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie. The Heavenly Court and Chan Sect grew determined to make Tathagata surrender the Great Dao Laws, while Lin Tian and Qin Yuan continued toward Five Villages Temple, anticipating Zhen Yuanzi’s move.

• Immortal Elder Antarctic struck Qin Yuan with the Heaven-Overturning Seal, but she blocked it with the Black Origin Water-Control Banner before Lin Tian, Qin Yuan, and Black Bear Monster retreated.
• Sun Wukong thanked Immortal Elder Antarctic, rescued Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie from underground, and continued the Journey to the West with them.
• Guang Chengzi and Immortal Elder Antarctic agreed that the Chan Sect should stop shielding Buddhism from repeated ordeals and might force Tathagata to surrender the Great Dao Laws.
• Lin Tian and Qin Yuan discussed whether Zhen Yuanzi would act near Five Villages Temple, and Lin Tian declared that he would one day lead the Three Realms.

Lin Tian told Qin Yuan that he planned to spend Spirit Stones to restore spiritual energy to the Three Realms and gain merit from the Heavenly Dao. Qin Yuan agreed to contribute her wealth, and Lin Tian left her with his plan to raise enough money through the upcoming auction.

• Lin Tian asked Qin Yuan where Great Sage Bai Ze and Great Sage Shang Yang had gone, and she said Shang Yang was heading to White Tiger Mountain while Bai Ze was going to Chechi Kingdom.
• Lin Tian told Qin Yuan that the auction would take place in three years and explained that he planned to release the spiritual energy stored in his Spirit Stones into the Three Realms.
• Lin Tian argued that restoring spiritual energy would benefit the world and earn merit, potentially helping Qin Yuan reach sainthood if she accumulated enough wealth.
• Qin Yuan offered to contribute her hundred billion Spirit Stones and asked why Lin Tian would not involve other wealthy factions.
• Lin Tian said he wanted to earn their money at the auction rather than share the merit, then asked Qin Yuan to carry him on her back and return his Flag.

After returning to Spirit Vine City, Lin Tian planned to disrupt the wealthy merchants and help resources flow back to the Three Realms. While strolling Vermilion Bird Avenue, he met the timid Bai Jingjing and took her to an extravagant restaurant, where he ordered the finest food and flat peach wine.

• Lin Tian discussed the scarcity and rising prices of spirit treasures and cultivation resources, then planned to take wealth from Spirit Vine City's tycoons and put it to use for the Three Realms.
• The pilgrims took Sandy into their company, passed Guanyin's Four Saints Testing Their Resolve, and continued their journey west as a year went by without incident.
• Lin Tian met Bai Jingjing, a low-cultivation white-bone demon from White Tiger Mountain, wandering nervously along Vermilion Bird Avenue.
• Lin Tian took Bai Jingjing by the hand and led her into the Ninefold Immortal Palace restaurant despite her alarm.
• Lin Tian asked for the ninth heavenly palace floor, the finest dishes, and wine made from nine-thousand-year flat peaches.

Lin Tian took Bai Jingjing to the Ninefold Heavenly Tower, where his lavish spending stunned her and impressed a palace-robed fairy. He urged Bai Jingjing to set aside her pride and serve him, but she refused the wine and only began serving his food.

• Lin Tian berated the palace-robed fairy for not recognizing him, and she escorted him and Bai Jingjing to the Ninefold Heavenly Tower.
• The fairy quoted a bill of thirty-five million Spirit Stones, and Lin Tian offered forty million to have her attend him while he dined.
• Lin Tian ordered an extravagant feast and told Bai Jingjing to sit beside him, then used her legs as a pillow.
• Lin Tian gave Bai Jingjing and the palace-robed fairy wine and asked the fairy to dance while Bai Jingjing attended him.
• The palace-robed fairy drank and danced, while Bai Jingjing refused her cup and began serving Lin Tian food.