Recaps

Ancient Buddha Randeng’s chanting revealed Li Xuantong’s incense-offering merit body, giving South Dipper Star Lord a chance to accuse Chen Wei. Sun Wukong arrived, sealed Li Xuantong’s mouth, and confronted Big Dipper Star Lord as he threatened to appeal to the Great Heavenly Venerable.

• Chen Wei declined Ancient Buddha Randeng’s invitation to join the Western Paradise, and South Dipper Star Lord asked Randeng to chant for Li Xuantong.
• Randeng’s scriptures revealed a merit golden body formed from Li Xuantong’s incense offerings, and Li Xuantong begged Randeng for help before accusing Chen Wei.
• Sun Wukong arrived and sealed Li Xuantong’s mouth with a flash of golden light before he could state his grievance.
• Sun Wukong pretended not to know why Li Xuantong could not speak, while Chen Wei suggested Li was challenging the Great Heavenly Venerable’s decree.
• Big Dipper Star Lord threatened to take the matter to Lingxiao Palace, and Sun Wukong appeared before him and asked, “Discuss what?”

Sun Wukong invoked his title as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven to take control of the confrontation and free Li Xuantong from his seal. Li Xuantong named Lian Zhen Star, whom Sun Wukong seized and brought face-to-face with him as Chen Wei prepared to record their meeting.

• The Big Dipper Star Lord and South Dipper Star Lord backed away from confronting Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong shed his kasaya and asserted his authority as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, prompting the officials to salute him.
• Sun Wukong broke the seal on Li Xuantong’s golden body and asked him to name the source of his grievance.
• Li Xuantong named Lian Zhen Star, and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions called for him to come out.
• Sun Wukong seized Lian Zhen Star and brought him before Li Xuantong while Chen Wei told Ma Muzhi to prepare to record.

Li Xuantong accused Lian Zhen Star Lord of framing Ma Muzhi and hiding a three-hundred-thousand-year merit shortfall, but Lian Zhen Star Lord defended the funds as public expenses. Chen Wei challenged him to prove his innocence, leaving the Star Lords demanding an investigation.

• Sun Wukong urged Li Xuantong to explain how he had been wronged, and Li accused Lian Zhen Star Lord of ordering false testimony and concealing a three-hundred-thousand-year merit shortfall.
• Lian Zhen Star Lord denied the accusations and claimed the merit had paid for the stars’ operating wastage.
• Chen Wei prompted Ma Muzhi to explain that the supposed operating-wastage funds came from levies on Southern Jambudvipa, though Ma did not know where the merit actually went.
• Sun Wukong concluded that Lian Zhen Star Lord had collected merit under the guise of public business, while Li Xuantong agreed.
• Lian Zhen Star Lord challenged Li Xuantong to dissolve his merit-forged golden body to prove his innocence, and Ancient Buddha Randeng denied knowing where Li’s merit came from.
• Chen Wei challenged Lian Zhen Star Lord to prove his own innocence, and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions called for a soul search or an inspection of his treasury.

Chen Wei cornered Lian Zhen Star over the missing merit, but the Lunar Mansions officials and Ancient Buddha Randeng refused to protect him. After Lian Zhen admitted taking the merit and began to expose where the rest went, the Big Dipper Star Lord silenced him, while the South Dipper Star Lord and other officials pressured him to die before he could reveal more.

• Chen Wei demanded that Lian Zhen Star prove his innocence, while the Big Dipper Star Lord and South Dipper Star Lord withheld their support and Ancient Buddha Randeng declined to intervene.
• Lian Zhen Star confessed to taking one hundred thousand years of merit and began to say who received the remaining two hundred thousand.
• The Big Dipper Star Lord slapped Lian Zhen Star and accused him of embezzling the merit, cutting off his confession.
• The South Dipper Star Lord blamed himself for failing to discipline Lian Zhen Star while presenting him as a disgraced subordinate who had conspired against Lord Li.
• The Star of Literary Excellence and other civil-official Star Lords urged Lian Zhen Star to take his own life so the investigation would end without further disclosures.

Chen Wei watched the Southern Dipper and Big Dipper force Lian Zhen Star to confess to a string of crimes before they killed him, while Li Xuantong destroyed his own golden body to prove his innocence. The officials declared Li a loyal martyr, and Chen Wei sensed that the Star of Literary Excellence might soon face misfortune.

• Chen Wei realized the Southern Dipper and Big Dipper were trying to pin the Lunar Mansions Government Office's unresolved crimes on Lian Zhen Star, but the South Dipper Star Lord claimed the matter was an internal affair.
• The Southern Dipper and Big Dipper seized control of Lian Zhen Star's Dao Fruit and divine soul, coercing him into accepting every accusation.
• Lian Zhen Star offered to destroy his Dao Fruit, and the Southern Dipper and Big Dipper helped him turn to ash while Ancient Buddha Randeng blocked Sun Wukong from intervening.
• The Star of Literary Excellence challenged Li Xuantong to prove he had not embezzled incense offerings, and Li dispersed his golden body of merit to demonstrate his innocence.
• Chen Wei gathered Li Xuantong's scattered merit and called him an innocent loyal martyr, while the Star of Literary Excellence apologized and Chen Wei suspected misfortune awaited him.

After Lian Zhen Star’s death, the Lunar Mansions Government Office covered the missing merit and won approval to close the case. Its Star Lords gathered to perform the ordered self-reflection, using Lian Zhen Star’s memorial tablet to claim his possessions and property.

• Chen Wei called the Star of Literary Excellence as sly as a snake, provoking him into an angry defense of his scholarly dignity.
• The South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord submitted a case file saying Lian Zhen Star had embezzled merit and died from shame, while the office had covered the shortfall.
• The Six Imperial Sovereigns approved the case file and ordered the Lunar Mansions Government Office to conduct self-examination, self-reflection, and self-study.
• The South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord organized a solemn meeting where each registered Star Lord had to speak before Lian Zhen Star’s memorial tablet.
• The Star of Literary Excellence, Wuqu Star Lord, Greedy Wolf Star, Giant Gate Star, Prosperity Star, and Army-Breaking Star each used the ceremony to claim something belonging to Lian Zhen Star.

After Lian Zhen Star's death, South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord praised Star of Literary Excellence and gave him authority over Lian Zhen's duties and incense-offering territories. They subtly pushed him to confront Chen Wei, and Star of Literary Excellence eagerly accepted the challenge.

• South Dipper Star Lord asked Star of Literary Excellence to remain after the assembly, drawing envy from the other Star Lords and concern from Wu Qu Star.
• In the Inner Hall, South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord flattered Star of Literary Excellence and praised his actions against Lian Zhen Star.
• South Dipper Star Lord transferred authority over Lian Zhen's document allocation and incense-offering territories to Star of Literary Excellence.
• South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord warned Star of Literary Excellence not to provoke Chen Wei while hinting that someone should deal with him.
• Star of Literary Excellence dismissed their warnings, vowed to restore the office's dignity, and claimed he had a foolproof plan against Chen Wei.

The Star of Literary Excellence celebrated his new assignment while ignoring Wu Qu Star’s warning that Chen Wei’s situation was dangerous. Meanwhile, the Great Heavenly Venerable took Chen Wei, Yang Chan, Chen Xiang, and Chen Xiaochan on a walk, where the children debated the heavenly laws and family rules.

• The Star of Literary Excellence told Wu Qu Star that the Star Lord had entrusted him with overseeing matters and dismissed Wu Qu Star’s warnings about Chen Wei.
• The Star of Literary Excellence spoke of rising to the top of the Heavenly Court, while Wu Qu Star noticed tribulation aura above his friend.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable led Chen Wei, Yang Chan, Chen Xiang, Chen Xiaochan, and Taibai Jinxing along the Cloud Road.
• Chen Xiang stepped on an immortal crane, then argued that the heavenly laws were his maternal great-uncle’s rules and could be treated as family rules.
• Chen Xiaochan rebuked Chen Xiang for making light of the laws, and the Great Heavenly Venerable explained that family could relax behind closed doors but had to set an example outside.

Chen Wei brought Chen Xiang and Chen Xiaochan to the end of the Cloud Road, where the Great Heavenly Venerable asked them who was strongest in the Three Realms. Chen Xiaochan named the Great Heavenly Venerable, leaving him amused and Chen Wei and his wife impressed by their daughter’s tact.

• Chen Wei reflected on Chen Xiang’s mischievous nature and Chen Xiaochan’s cautious, diplomatic temperament as they reached the end of the Cloud Road.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable asked Chen Xiang who had the strongest spells, cultivation, and martial arts, and Chen Xiang named Yang Jian and Sun Wukong.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable asked Chen Xiang to choose between Yang Jian and Sun Wukong, but Chen Xiang could not decide.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable asked Chen Xiaochan who was strongest, and she declared that he was the strongest in the Three Realms.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable laughed at Chen Xiaochan’s answer, while Chen Wei and his wife recognized her tact and Chen Xiang doubted her claim.
• Chen Xiang ran after the immortal cranes, and Chen Wei called him back to the residence.

The Star of Literary Excellence enjoyed his new power but worried that the seventy-two territories could not meet the tripled merit quotas he had promised Southern Dipper and Big Dipper. Li Zhenji offered to solve the problem within ten days and received full authority to act.

• The Star of Literary Excellence basked in praise from the Lunar Mansions Government Office officials and appointed Li Zhenji to attend him.
• After dismissing the officials, the Star of Literary Excellence revealed that the struggling territories could not meet their increased merit quotas.
• Li Zhenji recognized the Star of Literary Excellence’s worry and proposed that the Heavenly Court cared about the merit collected, not how it was obtained.
• Li Zhenji promised to bring good news within ten days, and the Star of Literary Excellence entrusted the matter to him.

Chen Xiaochan received lavish praise for her painting at the Discipline Inspection Court, then Xiao Yan and Lu Beiwang revealed evidence of abuse and suffering in the Star of Literary Excellence Domain. Chen Wei ordered them to report the matter to the Lunar Mansions Government Office before taking action.

• Chen Xiaochan displayed her painting of a child playing with a crane, and the Immortal Officials praised her skill.
• Chen Xiaochan asked the officials not to favor her because of her powerful relatives, leaving them uncertain how to respond.
• Xiao Yan and Lu Beiwang arrived with troubled expressions after patrolling the Mortal Realm.
• Lu Beiwang showed a Recording Stone depicting neglected temples, ruined crops, famine, and immortals causing disasters to exploit mortals.
• Xiao Yan asked to lead Heavenly Soldiers and Generals against the abusers, but Chen Wei told him to submit a written report to the Lunar Mansions Government Office first.

Chen Wei secretly investigated the Lunar Mansions Government Office’s excessive incense quotas while waiting for the Star of Literary Excellence to expose himself. Ten days later, the Star of Literary Excellence fabricated a Merit Golden Lotus and decided to present it to the Great Heavenly Venerable, leaving Li Zhenji terrified of the consequences.

• Chen Wei ordered Old Ma to request a self-examination from the Lunar Mansions Government Office and sent Xiao Yan and Lu Beiwang to gather secret evidence in the Mortal Realm.
• Chen Xiaochan correctly guessed that Chen Wei was letting the Star of Literary Excellence make a bigger mistake so he could build a stronger case against him.
• Chen Wei took Chen Xiaochan home after Yang Chan summoned them for tangyuan, and Chen Xiaochan revealed that Yang Chan’s Voice Transmission Jade Talisman had been open the whole time.
• Ten days later, Li Zhenji completed the Star of Literary Excellence’s eightfold incense quota, and the Star of Literary Excellence had Immortal Officials forge a Merit Golden Lotus from the offerings.
• The Star of Literary Excellence announced that he would present the golden lotus to the Great Heavenly Venerable and ordered Li Zhenji to accompany him to Lingxiao Palace, leaving Li Zhenji convinced disaster awaited.

The Star of Literary Excellence prepared to present a Merit Golden Lotus tainted with resentment, while Chen Wei ordered the Discipline Inspection Court to publicize it and amplify the spectacle. As the Star of Literary Excellence headed toward Lingxiao Palace, Chen Wei ate tangyuan prepared by Yang Chan and reflected on how they had saved his life.

• The Star of Literary Excellence ignored Li Zhenji’s warning about resentment inside the Merit Golden Lotus and set out to show it off to the Southern Dipper and Big Dipper Star Lords.
• The Star of Literary Excellence bowed to Doumu Yuanjun as she passed, then envied the respect she commanded among the Heavenly Court’s immortals.
• Ma Muzhi told Chen Wei that the Southern Dipper and Big Dipper Star Lords had praised the lotus and approved its presentation to Lingxiao Palace.
• Chen Wei ordered Ma Muzhi to have the Discipline Inspection Court’s informants publicize and lavish praise on the Merit Golden Lotus without leaving traces of their involvement.
• Yang Chan brought Chen Wei tangyuan, and he ate them enthusiastically while thinking that they had saved his life.

The Star of Literary Excellence presented a fabricated Merit Golden Lotus from Southern Jambudvipa, and the Great Heavenly Venerable and other emperors praised it. When Empress Houtu held it, it turned black with resentment, and the Great Heavenly Venerable ordered Chen Wei to clean up the matter.

• The Great Heavenly Venerable praised the Star of Literary Excellence for bringing a Merit Golden Lotus from Southern Jambudvipa and credited him with governing the region well.
• The Star of Literary Excellence attributed the lotus to the Great Heavenly Venerable's virtue, and the Great Heavenly Venerable passed it to Great Emperor Ziwei for inspection.
• Great Emperor Ziwei saw that the lotus was fabricated but praised it, and the other emperors followed suit as it passed through their hands.
• When Empress Houtu received the lotus, its golden aura turned black, revealing the resentment of Southern Jambudvipa's living beings.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable called the Star of Literary Excellence forward, then ordered Chen Wei to sweep away the sullied lotus and clean up the Heavenly Court's murky atmosphere.

After the Merit Golden Lotus emitted black fumes, the Heavenly Court turned against the Star of Literary Excellence while the Discipline Inspection Court interrogated Li Zhenji. Li Zhenji confessed that they had deceived mortals into giving up ten years of merit in advance, and Chen Wei learned they had never fulfilled their promise to protect them.

• The Heavenly Court’s immortals mocked the Star of Literary Excellence, while Southern Dipper and Big Dipper closed their Star Palaces and denied any connection to him.
• The Star of Literary Excellence remained under house arrest as Chen Wei took Li Zhenji to the Discipline Inspection Court for questioning.
• Li Zhenji refused to confess until Xiao Yan and Ma Muzhi described the brutal fate of a former prisoner who had resisted interrogation.
• Li Zhenji admitted that the Star of Literary Excellence ordered him to triple the merit and that he arranged for earth gods and City Gods to trick mortals into paying ten years of merit in advance.
• Chen Wei emerged from the shadows and confirmed that Li Zhenji and the others had taken the merit without fulfilling their duty to protect the Mortal Realm.

At the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chen Wei tried to keep Yang Chan’s dangerously potent mooncakes away from the immortals, but several of them ate the treats anyway. The story ended with the family and immortals celebrating beneath the moon while Chen Wei reassured Yang Chan that her cooking was wonderful.

• Yang Chan prepared powerful mooncakes, and Chen Wei persuaded her to share them with the Heavenly Court rather than let him eat them alone.
• Chen Xiang offered the mooncakes to Yang Jian and Sun Wukong at South Heaven Gate, and Yang Jian ate one while Chen Xiang also took a bite.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable accepted Chen Xiaochan’s flatbread, then ate one of Yang Chan’s mooncakes, which Chen Wei and Taibai Jinxing were also urged to eat.
• The immortals gathered beneath the osmanthus tree after the banquet, while Yang Jian meditated to absorb the mooncake’s potency and Sun Wukong played with Chen Xiang.
• Yang Chan worried that her mooncakes had tasted bad, and Chen Wei reassured her as they admired the full moon together.

Chen Wei questioned Li Zhenji about the Star of Literary Excellence’s scheme and uncovered how they divided the stolen merit. He refused to let Li bargain for leniency and arranged a dangerous assignment for him, while leaving the Star of Literary Excellence’s fate unresolved.

• Li Zhenji confessed that the Star of Literary Excellence took seventy percent of the surplus merit while he and the other workers split the rest.
• Chen Wei and Ma Muzhi mocked Li Zhenji’s scheme, and Chen Wei rejected Li’s offer to serve in exchange for a lighter sentence.
• Chen Wei ordered Xiao Yan to teach Li the Censorate’s rules.
• Chen Wei sentenced Li to serve the Thunder Department as a Magical Treasure Close-Range Observation Envoy.

Chen Wei brought Ma Muzhi, Xiao Yan, and Chen Xiaochan to Clear Pool to report that the Merit Golden Lotus matter was nearly settled and involved the Star of Literary Excellence. Taibai Jinxing asked what should be done, and Chen Xiaochan said they should follow the Heavenly Laws.

• Chen Wei decided to seek Taibai Jinxing's approval before proceeding with his plan involving the Star of Literary Excellence.
• Chen Wei brought Ma Muzhi, Xiao Yan, and Chen Xiaochan to Clear Pool, where Ma Muzhi and Xiao Yan planted immortal seedlings by hand.
• Taibai Jinxing invited Ma Muzhi and Xiao Yan to sit, and they waited for Chen Wei's permission before taking their seats.
• Chen Wei reported that Li Zhenji had confessed and the Merit Golden Lotus matter was nearly settled, adding that it involved the Star of Literary Excellence.
• Taibai Jinxing asked Chen Xiaochan what they should do, and she said they should follow her Maternal Great-Uncle's Heavenly Laws.

Taibai Jinxing accompanied Chen Wei and his officers to the Star Palace, where the Star of Literary Excellence sought help from his former patrons. The South Dipper and Big Dipper Star Lords welcomed Taibai Jinxing and ignored Wenqu, leaving him isolated as Chen Wei prepared to question him.

• Taibai Jinxing agreed to accompany Chen Wei to the Star Palace while Ma Muzhi and Xiao Yan arranged three Discipline Inspection Court Flying Boats.
• The Star of Literary Excellence waited outside the closed Star Palace gates, but the Immortal Attendant refused his plea and rejected his bribe.
• Chen Wei arrived with Taibai Jinxing and told Wenqu that Li Zhenji had shared information and had been assigned to the Thunder Department as a Magical Treasure Close-Range Observer.
• The South Dipper and Big Dipper Star Lords opened the gates when Taibai Jinxing arrived and warmly welcomed him and Chen Xiaochan.
• The two Star Lords ushered Taibai Jinxing into the palace without acknowledging the Star of Literary Excellence.

Chen Wei confronted the Star of Literary Excellence over the missing merit stolen from the Mortal Realm and offered to spare him if he repaid it. The Star of Literary Excellence had no way to cover the deficit, and Chen Wei ended by warning that he might need to experience life in the Mortal Realm himself.

• Chen Wei visited the Star of Literary Excellence's mansion with Ma Muzhi and Xiao Yan and said Li Zhenji had confessed everything.
• Chen Wei offered to write an excuse protecting the Star of Literary Excellence from punishment if he returned the missing merit in full.
• The Star of Literary Excellence said he had little wealth and could not recover the lion's share given to the two senior Star Lords.
• Chen Wei explained that the Star of Literary Excellence was the only one left to repay the deficit, while Ma Muzhi warned that failure could mean death.
• The Star of Literary Excellence accused Chen Wei of forcing him toward death, and Chen Wei said the suffering of Mortal Realm beings made the matter more than a political dispute.

Chen Wei sentenced the Star of Literary Excellence to descend into the Mortal Realm and endure tribulations, while the Star Lord warned that Chen Wei’s sharp methods could bring about his downfall. Elsewhere, Doumu Yuanjun sent a blessing toward a newly arrived child, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva asked Fahai whether humans and demons could marry.

• Chen Wei questioned the Star of Literary Excellence about the meaning behind his calligraphy and presented a prepared decree sentencing him to the Mortal Realm.
• The Star of Literary Excellence accepted his punishment and warned Chen Wei that his methods had earned him many enemies.
• Doumu Yuanjun sensed that someone had come into the world and sent a ray of starlight as a blessing, deciding to grant him a fine son.
• Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva asked Fahai whether humans and demons could marry, and Fahai admitted he knew nothing about romance.
• Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva asked what Fahai would do if he met a wicked demon, and Fahai declared that he would destroy it.

The Heavenly Court sent Star of Literary Excellence to the Mortal Realm to undergo tribulations after the Merit Golden Lotus scandal. At the Netherworld, he met the muscle-bound monk Fahai, whose hostility toward monsters clashed with Star of Literary Excellence’s belief in teaching them.

• The Heavenly Court approved Star of Literary Excellence’s reassignment to the Mortal Realm as a tribulation, and Great Emperor Ziwei endorsed the decision.
• South Dipper Star Lord and Big Dipper Star Lord completed the handover documents, and Star of Literary Excellence rebuffed South Dipper Star Lord’s false show of sympathy.
• Chen Wei escorted Star of Literary Excellence to the Netherworld, where Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, King Yama, Judge Lu, and Fahai awaited them.
• Star of Literary Excellence and Fahai felt an inexplicable connection when they met eyes.
• Fahai declared that evil monsters should be killed without discussion, while Ksitigarbha criticized his hostility and Star of Literary Excellence was left speechless.
• Chen Wei grew interested in Fahai’s reckless manner.

After Chen Wei returned to Heaven, Fahai escorted the sleeping Star of Literary Excellence to the Reincarnation Pool and visited the Nether Hound he had brought back. An Underworld Official accidentally fed the Star Lord wild dog milk instead of the Reincarnation Elixir, then sent him into the pool.

• Chen Wei hurried back to Heaven after Yang Chan summoned him to deal with Chen Xiang's mischief.
• King Yama and Judge Lu avoided escorting the Star of Literary Excellence, leaving Fahai to carry him to the Reincarnation Pool.
• Fahai discovered that the Nether Hound was female and nursing a litter of puppies.
• An Underworld Official collected the Nether Hound's milk and later mistook it for the Star Lord's Reincarnation Elixir.
• The Underworld Official poured the remaining wild dog milk into the Star of Literary Excellence and threw him into the Reincarnation Pool.

Chen Wei returned home to discipline Chen Xiang, but he and his son secretly staged a fake punishment to appease Yang Chan. Yang Chan saw through their act and confronted Chen Wei with jealous complaints, leaving him frozen in place.

• Chen Wei hurried home after Yang Chan summoned him and caught Chen Xiang trying to sneak out of the courtyard.
• Chen Wei secretly promised Chen Xiang a trip to Yaochi, and they agreed to put on their usual show for Yang Chan.
• Chen Wei pretended to beat Chen Xiang while praising Yang Chan, and Chen Xiaochan helped her brother escape the scolding.
• Yang Chan sent Chen Xiaochan after Chen Xiang, then accused Chen Wei of repeatedly conspiring with their son to fool her.
• Yang Chan complained that Chen Wei no longer found her pleasing and compared herself unfavorably to Dragon Maidens and fairies.

Chen Wei placated Yang Chan after she questioned him about tea served by Ao Rui, then the two were alone together. In the Netherworld, Ksitigarbha sent Fahai to the Heavenly Court to find Chen Wei and deal with troublesome demons.

• Chen Wei sweet-talked Yang Chan, who tested him about the tea Ao Rui had served him at the Censorate.
• Chen Wei realized Ao Rui was reporting to Yang Chan, then teased Yang Chan until she invited him to join her while their children studied.
• Fahai argued with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva that killing vicious ghosts was a form of compassion.
• Ksitigarbha told Fahai to leave the Netherworld and gave him a bodhi leaf to take to Chen Wei in the Heavenly Court.
• Fahai grew excited when Ksitigarbha said Chen Wei had the Three Realms' most troublesome great demons.