Recaps

The Elder of Chaos used the Taisu True Exposition to repel Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu, while Gu Changqing watched and then left to search for Lord Taisu. As Hongjun’s disciples prepared the Journey to the West, Gu Changqing found no trace of Lord Taisu and resolved to use the Great Summoning Art.

• Zhunti tested the Elder of Chaos’s power and agreed to follow his instructions after the Elder dissolved his Great Sun Tathagata Palm with the Taisu True Exposition.
• Hongjun gave Sun Wukong the Chaos Ape’s black staff and set the Journey to the West in motion, while the Elder of Chaos left to challenge Gu Changqing and the Interception Sect.
• The Elder of Chaos defeated Tongtian’s attacks with the Taisu True Exposition, then dispelled the combined assaults of Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu.
• Gu Changqing refused the Elder of Chaos’s challenge and returned to his cave, leaving the Elder to mock him before the gathered cultivators.
• Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu visited Gu Changqing, who explained that he had only glimpsed the Taisu True Exposition and decided to seek Lord Taisu for answers.
• Gu Changqing entered the Outer Chaos Region and searched for Lord Taisu, while the Elder of Chaos told Hongjun and the Saints that Lord Taisu had personally given him the technique.
• Hongjun directed the Saints to cooperate on the Journey to the West, and Jieyin and Zhunti reported that Golden Cicada had entered the mortal world with Dharma Protectors and eighty-one trials arranged.
• After finding no further trace of Lord Taisu, Gu Changqing drank from the Wine God Gourd and announced that he would use the Great Summoning Art.

Gu Changqing found Lord Taisu’s Chaos Secret Realm and forced him to share its control and teach him the Dao of Taisu. Meanwhile, the Interception Sect killed Sanzang and disrupted the Buddhist pilgrimage, prompting Hongjun to send an edict to the Heavenly Court as Gu Changqing’s absence continued.

• Gu Changqing tracked Lord Taisu to a Chaos Secret Realm, attacked its barrier, and forced Lord Taisu to agree to share control, explain the Dao of Taisu, and help him once in the future.
• As Gu Changqing studied the Dao of Taisu, Zhunti sent Sanzang west to spread Buddhist Dharma, and the Interception Sect’s disciples decided to confront the pilgrimage themselves.
• Duobao and the Interception Sect disciples confronted Sanzang and Sun Wukong, and Zhao Gongming defeated and bound Sun Wukong while Bixiao struck Sanzang into a distant desert.
• Zhunti’s avatar arrived to defend the pilgrimage, but Houtu backed Duobao and promised to manage Sanzang’s soul through reincarnation.
• Duobao killed Sanzang with a finger strike, and Zhunti escaped with Sanzang’s remnant soul and Sun Wukong after Houtu blocked further interference.
• Tongtian approved of the Interception Sect’s actions, while the Buddhist School mourned Sanzang and Hongjun recognized that his death had disrupted the plans for Buddhist fortune.
• The Elder of Chaos feared Gu Changqing had uncovered Lord Taisu’s weakness, and Hongjun sent a golden Heavenly Dao edict toward the Heavenly Court.

Gu Changqing returned from Chaos with the Taisu True Exposition and secretly prepared to counter Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos. After the Elder suppressed him and seized the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, Gu Changqing remained silent as Hongjun and the Elder departed, leaving his plan unclear.

• Gu Changqing absorbed the Way of Taisu into his Great Dao of Hunyuan, promised Lord Taisu he might help him escape, and returned to the Primordial World.
• Gu Changqing reunited with the Interception Sect and revealed to Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu that he had found Lord Taisu, obtained the Taisu True Exposition, and secured half the control of the Chaos Secret Realm.
• Gu Changqing explained that he had feigned failure to lure Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos into acting, while the second Journey to the West began to take shape with Sanzang, Sun Wukong, Tianpeng, and Juanlian.
• Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos descended on Golden Ao Island, where Gu Changqing revealed the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe and struck at the Elder of Chaos.
• The Elder of Chaos used the Taisu True Exposition to dissolve Gu Changqing’s axe strike and then formed a Taisu Dao Seal that suppressed Gu Changqing’s cultivation.
• The Elder of Chaos seized the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe while Gu Changqing did not resist, alarming the Interception Sect disciples and puzzling Tongtian, Nuwa, and Houtu.
• The Elder of Chaos secured the axe and left for Zixiao Palace with Hongjun, while Gu Changqing quietly drank from his Wine God Gourd.

Gu Changqing secretly empowered Luohu with the Great Heart-Demon Art while Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos tried to refine the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe. Luohu returned to Vulture Peak, slaughtered Buddhist School disciples, and demanded that Jieyin and Zhunti bow and confess their wrongdoing.

• The Elder of Chaos took the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe to Zixiao Palace, where Hongjun joined him in refining it, unaware that Gu Changqing’s hidden intent was absorbing their power through the axe.
• Jieyin and Zhunti tracked Luohu to his sanctuary, and Zhunti attacked him, and Gu Changqing sent Luohu a streak of divine radiance that restored his confidence and helped him fake his death.
• Luohu appeared at Vulture Peak after Zhunti believed he had destroyed him, then survived Jieyin’s attacks through the Great Heart-Demon Art that Gu Changqing had taught him.
• Luohu filled the sky with countless incarnations and revealed the Great Heart-Demon Art to Jieyin, Zhunti, and the Buddhist School disciples.
• Luohu manifested the God-Slaying Spear and killed Buddhist School disciples across Vulture Peak, returning through his incarnations whenever Jieyin and Zhunti struck him down.
• Jieyin demanded that Luohu stop the slaughter, and Luohu ordered Jieyin and Zhunti to bow and admit their wrongs before everyone.