Chapter Summaries

After learning that Xuan Yuan and the Five Emperors were secretly plotting against the Demon Race, Lin Tian considered how to prepare for another war and discussed marrying Nuwa and Bai Suzhen. The chapter ended with Buddhism ordered to compensate the victims of Sun Wukong’s destruction in Spirit Vine City, while Randeng struggled to find the money.

• Nuwa told Lin Tian that Fuxi had agreed they could marry, and Lin Tian proposed that Bai Suzhen join them in a joint wedding.
• Nuwa reported that Xuan Yuan and the Five Emperors were meeting in secret after Xuan Yuan’s defeat, and Lin Tian warned that another human–demon conflict might be coming.
• Lin Tian decided he needed to strengthen his cultivation and consider how to shift control of the Human Race from Xuan Yuan to Shen Nong or Fuxi.
• Lin Tian attended Spirit Vine City’s Arbitration Hall, where fifty-two Purple Heaven Guests awaited compensation for damage caused by Sun Wukong.
• The Arbitration Hall Master confirmed Buddhism was responsible for the verified losses, and Randeng and Guanyin accepted the ruling before Randeng struggled to pay.

Randeng borrowed sixty billion Spirit Stones from Lin Tian so Buddhism could pay its debts, then he and Guanyin sought Sun Wukong’s release. They paid the required bail and received a document to collect him from the West City Mine.

• Lin Tian offered Randeng and Guanyin a loan at one percent annual interest, and Randeng agreed to borrow sixty billion on Buddhism’s behalf.
• Randeng signed the loan contract and used fifty-eight billion to compensate the Purple Heaven Guests, who then left.
• Randeng asked Lin Tian to bail out Wukong, and Lin Tian directed him and Guanyin to the Law Enforcement Hall.
• The Hall Master of Law Enforcement set Sun Wukong’s bail at one hundred and sixty-eight million, explaining that compensation did not erase his criminal punishment.
• Randeng and Guanyin paid the bail and received a stamped document ordering them to collect Sun Wukong from the West City Mine.

After Tang Monk's travel document was endorsed, Randeng and Guanyin went to the West City Mine to collect Sun Wukong. In the prison, Sun Wukong was mocked and beaten by fellow inmates, and the chapter ended with a Prison Warden telling him someone had come to bail him out.

• Lin Tian told Tang Monk that the Buddha had paid nearly sixty billion to settle the matter, endorsed Tang Monk's travel document, and sent him to join Randeng and Guanyin.
• Randeng gave the gold paper to a West City Mine guard, who went underground to fetch Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong struggled to meet his mining quota without his sealed Magic Power, but a Bear Demon stole the Spirit Stone he had mined.
• The Bear Demon mocked Sun Wukong's claim to be the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and the other prisoners joined in ridiculing him.
• Sun Wukong attacked the crowd with his pickaxe, but the prisoners beat him until a Prison Warden stopped them.
• The Prison Warden told Sun Wukong that someone had come to bail him out and ordered him to come along.

Sun Wukong’s Dao heart collapsed after the Prison Warden exposed the truth about the havoc in the Heavenly Palace, so Randeng and Guanyin erased his memories and sent him back to the pilgrimage. Tang Monk and his disciples resumed their journey, unaware of the dangers ahead as the Three Realms changed.

• Sun Wukong lay broken after learning that his greatest achievement had been staged, and the Prison Warden carried him out of the prison.
• Guanyin learned what had happened, but Randeng took her back to the Journey to the West Road and decided they had to alter Sun Wukong’s memories again.
• Randeng and Guanyin erased Sun Wukong’s memories of Spirit Vine City, then told Tang Monk to keep him under control and use the Tight-Fillet Spell if necessary.
• Zhu Bajie realized Sun Wukong had been brainwashed again and thought the monkey would keep making a fool of himself throughout the journey.
• Sun Wukong awoke with no memory of the ordeal, accepted Zhu Bajie’s explanation that he had suffered cultivation deviation, and set off with Tang Monk and the others.
• As Tang Monk and his disciples continued west, the changed Heavenly Dao and rising powers left their road full of uncertainty.

Randeng and Guanyin met Tathagata in Chaos, where he revealed a plan to ease Buddhism’s debt and warned that its internal divisions threatened to tear it apart. After Jieyin and Zhunti arrived, Tathagata proposed eventually joining forces against Spirit Vine City to seize the Demon Race’s wealth.

• Randeng and Guanyin traveled into Chaos to meet Tathagata after Buddhism’s debt reached seven billion spirit stones.
• Tathagata said the Man in Black had likely funded Yellow Springs and tasked Randeng with guarding against him and obtaining Star Banners of the Ancient Demon Race.
• Tathagata explained that he planned to use the Demon Race’s Celestial Star Dou Formation to convert Chaos energy and produce one million spirit stones daily.
• Tathagata prepared to suppress Buddhism’s internal unrest, which had grown as the religion’s competing factions weakened.
• Jieyin gave Tathagata the Blessing Golden Scepter, and Zhunti asked how he would handle the Three Realms’ uncertain situation.
• Tathagata proposed waiting for circumstances to shift, then working with the Human Race and Chan Sect to defeat Spirit Vine City and claim the Demon Race’s wealth.

Buddhism decided to wait for Spirit Vine City to show weakness rather than risk attacking while Lin Tian’s rumored connection to Saint Laozi kept the Three Realms uncertain. In secret, Lin Tian revealed that he planned to keep pressuring Buddhism until it could not recover for three hundred years, when Luo Hou would return.

• Zhunti, Jieyin, Guanyin, Tathagata, and Randeng discussed Buddhism’s losses and how rumors about Lin Tian’s identity had deterred the Human Sovereign and Chan Sect from attacking Spirit Vine City.
• Tathagata advised Buddhism to stay quiet, stabilize its ranks, and wait for Spirit Vine City to expose a weakness before striking with full force.
• Lin Tian told the four Demon Sages that he would not confirm or deny the rumor that he was Saint Laozi’s illegitimate son, since the uncertainty helped protect Spirit Vine City.
• Lin Tian said he intended to weaken Buddhism until it could not recover for three hundred years, then revealed that Luo Hou would return in that time.
• The four Demon Sages reacted with shock, recalling Luo Hou’s slaughter in the Primordial Era and the disappearance of his God-Slaying Spear and World-Destroying Black Lotus.

Lin Tian revealed that Luo Hou would return in three hundred years and planned to use that time to strengthen the Demon Race and protect Spirit Vine City. He offered three hundred years of tax exemptions to anyone who would defend the city, and hundreds of Quasi-Saints signed on.

• Lin Tian told Bai Ze, Shang Yang, and Qin Yuan that Luo Hou would return in three hundred years and would target Buddhism and the Chan Sect.
• Lin Tian argued that the Demon Race needed to prepare for threats from Xuan Yuan and proposed using benefits to secure help from the Purple Heaven Guests.
• Lin Tian announced three hundred years of tax exemptions for those who pledged to defend Spirit Vine City from attack.
• The Purple Heaven Guests discussed the offer and nearly all signed contracts, jointly promising to defend Spirit Vine City for three hundred years.

Xuan Yuan rallied the Five Emperors to attack Spirit Vine City, claiming the rising Demon Race threatened humanity. Fuxi and Shen Nong revealed that hundreds of Purple Heaven Guests had pledged to defend the city for three hundred years, forcing Xuan Yuan to postpone the campaign.

• Xuan Yuan convened the Five Emperors and argued that the Human Race had to stop the Demon Race from growing stronger.
• Yu the Great questioned the plan, but Xuan Yuan and the other emperors dismissed his objections and prepared for war with the Kongtong Seal and Xuan Yuan Sword.
• Fuxi and Shen Nong arrived and told Xuan Yuan that Lin Tian had secured a three-hundred-year defense pact with hundreds of Purple Heaven Guests.
• Xuan Yuan realized the coalition could not breach Spirit Vine City and called off the campaign for three hundred years.
• Fuxi and Shen Nong drank together and discussed Xuan Yuan's ambitions, Lin Tian's preparations, and why suppressing the Demon Race would not guarantee the Human Race's future.

Zhulong emerged from the Dragon Abyss and planned to challenge Buddhism and reclaim the Four Seas as the Dragon Clan sought merit through Spirit Stones. He arrived at the Black Water River, where the Alligator Dragon lived, to begin his move against Buddhism.

• Shen Nong accepted the marriage between Nuwa and Lin Tian, and the agreement postponed a major war for three hundred years.
• Zhulong learned that the westbound pilgrims were nearing the Black Water River and declared that the Dragon Clan would emerge from seclusion to restore its standing.
• Yinglong told Zhulong that Lin Tian's Spirit Stone exchange could help the Dragon Clan earn merit and settle its ancient karma.
• Zhulong ordered the Dragon Clan to challenge Buddhism over the Eight Legions of Heavenly Dragons and the use of a dragon as a horse, then set out for the Western Lands.
• Zhulong reached the Black Water River, home of the Alligator Dragon Tuo Jie, whose father had been the Jing River Dragon King.

Zhulong seized Little Alligator Dragon and took control of the Black Water River trial, ordering him to capture Tang Monk. After the pilgrims reached the river, Little Alligator Dragon sank Tang Monk’s boat, and Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie found their master bound beside a sleeping Zhulong.

• Zhulong captured Little Alligator Dragon and forced him to admit that the Dragon King of the Western Sea had sent him to add a tribulation for Tang Monk.
• Zhulong revealed his immense dragon form and ordered Little Alligator Dragon to bring Tang Monk to him.
• Tang Monk and his disciples reached the Black Water River, where Little Alligator Dragon disguised as a boatman offered to ferry Tang Monk across.
• Little Alligator Dragon capsized the boat in midriver and captured Tang Monk while the others flew to the bank.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie entered the river and found Tang Monk bound inside a water-free barrier beside Little Alligator Dragon and the sleeping Zhulong.

Sun Wukong confronted the nine-clawed Zhulong at the Black Water River, but Zhulong effortlessly sent him flying. After Zhu Bajie identified the dragon as a formidable elder, Sun Wukong went to the Eastern Sea Dragon King to learn who had captured his master.

• Sun Wukong attacked Alligator Dragon, but Zhulong awoke and pinned him with his gaze.
• Zhulong knocked Sun Wukong out of the Black Water River with a single syllable, while Zhu Bajie fled and later helped Sandy find him.
• After Zhu Bajie explained the significance of Zhulong’s nine claws, Sun Wukong decided to ask the Eastern Sea Dragon King about the dragon who had captured his master.
• Sun Wukong seized the Eastern Sea Dragon King by the collar and demanded to know the dragon’s identity, and the king offered to summon his three brothers.

Sun Wukong sought the Four Seas Dragon Kings’ help to rescue his master from the Black Water River, but they discovered the dragon there was the ancient Zhulong. Zhulong devoured the Four Seas Dragon Kings, then struck Lingxiao Hall with his gaze, leaving the Jade Emperor demanding an explanation.

• Sun Wukong told the Four Seas Dragon Kings that a powerful second dragon at the Black Water River had captured his master, and the Dragon King of the Western Sea identified the other dragon as his nephew, Tuo Jie.
• The Four Seas Dragon Kings accompanied Sun Wukong to the Black Water River, where Zhulong emerged and overwhelmed them with his draconic might.
• Zhulong forced the Four Seas Dragon Kings into their true forms, condemned them for disgracing the Dragon Clan, and devoured them.
• Sun Wukong trembled in fear as Zhulong’s gaze blasted a hole through Lingxiao Hall and shook it.
• The Jade Emperor summoned Thousand-Mile Eye and Wind-Following Ear, who arrived stammering that a grave crisis had occurred.

Zhulong killed the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas and declared the Dragon Clan’s return, prompting the Jade Emperor to confront him at the Black Water River. After Zhulong destroyed the Heavenly Court’s army, Sun Wukong went to Spirit Mountain for help, where he found Randeng overseeing affairs.

• The Jade Emperor learned that Zhulong had eaten the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas and used the Haotian Mirror to confirm Zhulong’s appearance at the Black Water River.
• Zhulong prepared to kill the Little White Dragon, but the Jade Emperor arrived with heavenly forces and challenged him over the Four Seas.
• Zhulong froze and shattered the Jade Emperor’s One Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers, then refused to explain himself or yield the Dragon Clan’s claim to the Four Seas.
• The Jade Emperor admitted he could not defeat Zhulong and sent Sun Wukong to Spirit Mountain to summon the Buddhas for help.
• Sun Wukong reached Spirit Mountain, entered the Great Hero Hall, and found Randeng in charge, who asked why he had left his master.

Sun Wukong told Randeng that Zhulong had captured Tang Monk and overwhelmed the Jade Emperor at the Black Water River. Randeng joined the battle, but Zhulong revealed that Randeng’s Sea-Calming Divine Pearls had once belonged to him, and the chapter left Randeng attacking Zhulong with murderous intent while Zhulong remained in control.

• Sun Wukong told Randeng that Zhulong had killed the Four Sea Dragon Kings, frozen the Jade Emperor’s forces, and captured Tang Monk at the Black Water River.
• Randeng explained that Zhulong was the Dragon Clan’s Grand Elder, a primordial master comparable to the long-dead Ancestral Dragon, and hurried to the Black Water River with Sun Wukong.
• Zhulong attacked the Jade Emperor, turned the Black Water River into a water dragon, and swept away Haotian’s soldiers and generals.
• Randeng arrived and attacked Zhulong with the Twenty-Four Heavens, but Zhulong revealed that the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls had once been his treasure.
• Randeng resolved to kill Zhulong over their karmic tie and struck again, while Zhulong used the Nine Dragon Seal to block the attack and kept the advantage over Randeng and the Jade Emperor.

Zhulong and the emerging Dragon Clan overwhelmed Randeng, the Jade Emperor, and the Three Great Bodhisattvas, then demanded ten billion spirit stones to spare the injured Bodhisattvas. As Randeng struggled to pay, a lender arrived offering him a loan.

• Zhulong fought the Jade Emperor and Randeng, and Yinglong and the Seven-Colored Coiling Dragon arrived to reinforce him against the Buddhist fighters.
• Randeng tried to justify the attack by saying Zhulong had captured Tang Monk, but Zhulong blamed the Alligator Dragon and said Sun Wukong had threatened him.
• Yinglong tore off Manjushri's arm, and the Coiling Dragon wounded Guanyin, so Randeng agreed to Zhulong's terms.
• Zhulong demanded ten billion spirit stones or the return of Randeng's Sea-Calming Divine Pearl, and the Jade Emperor refused to lend Buddhism the money.
• A newcomer offered Randeng a loan and said he could sign the contract immediately.

Lin Tian brokered a Spirit Vine City storefront for Zhulong and secured the Dragon Clan’s claim to the Four Seas, then pressured Randeng into borrowing money for Buddhism. The chapter left Buddhism with eighty billion in debt and annual interest it could barely afford.

• Lin Tian mocked Randeng and the Jade Emperor for Buddhism’s poverty, then praised Zhulong and proposed that the Dragon Clan open a Spirit Vine City shop to earn merit and Spirit Stones.
• Zhulong agreed to take Lin Tian’s storefront on credit and declared that the Four Seas belonged to the Dragon Clan; the assembled spectators accepted his claim.
• Lin Tian accused Randeng of valuing Buddhism’s interests above the Three Great Bodhisattvas and demanded that he accept a loan or let them die.
• Randeng signed the loan agreement for Buddhism, bringing its total debt to eighty billion and leaving it facing annual interest of one hundred and twenty million.

Zhulong’s emergence forced Buddhism to pay another ten billion, while the Dragon Clan returned to claim the Four Seas and its place in the Three Realms. Lin Tian used the settlement to deepen Buddhism’s financial and internal troubles, and Sun Wukong rescued Tang Monk so their journey west could continue.

• Zhulong accepted ten billion from Randeng and left with Yinglong and Coiling Dragon to inspect Spirit Vine City as the Dragon Clan emerged from seclusion.
• Randeng reassured Sun Wukong that the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas had died because they had misused the Dragon Clan’s name, and Wukong rescued his master before continuing west.
• Haotian returned after losing One Hundred Thousand Heavenly Soldiers, while Zhulong and Seven-Colored Coiling Dragon went to take control of the Four Seas Dragon Palace’s assets.
• Lin Tian gave the Dragon Clan a plot in Spirit Vine City to build ties with it.
• Lin Tian viewed Buddhism’s mounting debts and its members’ growing focus on private assets as signs that the Buddhist Sect was beginning to weaken.

Sun Wukong reached the Chechi Kingdom, learned that its Daoist state preceptors had driven Buddhist monks into hard labor, and discovered that Minghe was secretly preparing a trap for Tang Monk. Sun Wukong entered the Three Pure Ones’ hall with Zhu Bajie and Sandy and began eating the offerings, leaving the confrontation to come.

• Sun Wukong rescued the abused Buddhist monks, disguised himself as a Daoist, and learned from a gate guard how the state preceptors had risen to power and suppressed Buddhism.
• Sun Wukong reported what he learned to Tang Monk, and the group decided to enter the city and meet the king.
• Minghe told Tiger Power Great Immortal, Sheep Power Great Immortal, and Deer Power Great Immortal that Tang Monk’s arrival would bring their fatal tribulation, and ordered them to help set a trap.
• Sun Wukong visited the Great Hall of the Three Pure Ones, judged the state preceptors’ devotion genuine, and decided to play a prank on them.
• Sun Wukong brought Zhu Bajie and Sandy to the hall and ate the offerings; Zhu Bajie prayed for forgiveness before joining him.

Sun Wukong and his companions impersonated the Three Pure Ones and tried to pass urine off as holy water, but Minghe exposed them and captured them. Minghe sent Zhu Bajie to Spirit Mountain for help while Tathagata discussed Buddhism’s new income and mounting debt.

• Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sandy moved the Three Pure Ones’ statues, with Sun Wukong throwing Yuqing’s statue into the latrine, then disguised themselves as the deities.
• Sun Wukong promised the three state preceptors holy water and filled jars with urine, but Minghe arrived and warned them not to drink it.
• Minghe exposed Sun Wukong, captured him, Zhu Bajie, and Sandy, and ordered the three state preceptors to capture Tang Monk.
• Minghe let Zhu Bajie go and sent him to Spirit Mountain to summon someone, while Tang Monk arrived and saw his companions captured.
• Tathagata told Randeng that Buddhism could now earn a million Spirit Stones a day, and Randeng admitted he had incurred another ten-billion-Spirit-Stone debt.

Tathagata confronted Buddhism’s mounting debt just as Zhu Bajie revealed that Sun Wukong had desecrated a statue of Saint Yuanshi. With Minghe among the witnesses, Tathagata planned to lure and kill him, while preparing the Six-Eared Macaque to replace Wukong if necessary.

• Tathagata learned that Buddhism owed eighty billion in loans and considered selling the Blessing Golden Scepter to cover its debts.
• A Vajra brought Zhu Bajie to the Great Hero Hall, where he reported that Sun Wukong had eaten Saint Yuanshi’s offerings, replaced them with urine, and thrown the statue into a latrine.
• Zhu Bajie said the Chechi Kingdom’s three state preceptors and Minghe knew what Wukong had done, and Tathagata suspected Minghe was setting a trap for Buddhism.
• Tathagata proposed that Randeng lure Minghe into the Myriad Heavens so they could kill him and take his three spiritual treasures.
• Tathagata said Buddhism would protect Wukong if possible, but could use the Six-Eared Macaque as his replacement if they could obtain Wukong’s corpse.