Chapter Summaries

Gu Changqing proposed asking Lord Taisu how to counter the Taisu True Exposition, and the three Sages realized he might be able to find him. He then gazed beyond the Primordial World and departed for the Outer Chaos Region.

• Tongtian asked Gu Changqing whether he had found a way to counter the Taisu True Exposition, and Gu Changqing said they should ask Lord Taisu.
• Tongtian and Houtu explained that Lord Taisu was nearly impossible to locate, but Houtu suspected Gu Changqing had a way.
• Tongtian and Nuwa recalled Gu Changqing’s past promises and began to believe he could reach Lord Taisu.
• Gu Changqing gazed beyond the Primordial World, quietly suggested he might find Lord Taisu, and flew toward the Outer Chaos Region.

Gu Changqing entered the Outer Chaos Region to find Lord Taisu by tracking the faint aura of the Dao of Taisu left on the Elder of Chaos. After searching the boundless Chaos for an unknown span of time, he sensed something.

• Houtu worried that Gu Changqing would not be able to find Lord Taisu, while Tongtian expressed hope and concern for his disciple.
• Gu Changqing passed through the Thirty-Three Heavens and entered the Outer Chaos Region, where chaos storms and disordered laws yielded to his Hunyuan Limitless Daluo Golden Immortal power.
• Gu Changqing spread his divine sense across the Outer Chaos Region and searched for the Dao of Taisu aura he had perceived on the Elder of Chaos during the earlier battle.
• After an unknown span of time searching, Gu Changqing's brow twitched as he sensed something.

Gu Changqing sensed a brief resonance from Lord Taisu’s aura in the depths of Chaos, but could not find its source and continued searching. At Zixiao Palace, Laozi and the others discussed his quest, while the Elder of Chaos dismissed it as futile.

• Gu Changqing sensed a faint resonance with Lord Taisu’s aura, but his search of the silent region found nothing.
• Gu Changqing accepted that finding one of the Five Pre-Heavenly Ultimates would be difficult and ventured deeper into Chaos.
• At Zixiao Palace, Laozi told Hongjun, the Elder of Chaos, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti that Gu Changqing had entered Chaos to seek Lord Taisu and counter the Taisu True Exposition.
• Yuanshi mocked Gu Changqing’s plan and said the Five Pre-Heavenly Ultimates were not easy to find.
• The Elder of Chaos sneered and declared that Gu Changqing’s search would be a futile effort.

In Zixiao Palace, the Elder of Chaos explained why he believed Gu Changqing could not find Lord Taisu or obtain the Taisu True Exposition. Hongjun then asked about the Journey to the West, and Jieyin and Zhunti described sending Golden Cicada into the mortal world and preparing his trials.

• The Elder of Chaos told Laozi and the other Saints that Lord Taisu had sought him out in Chaos and bestowed the Taisu True Exposition upon him.
• The Elder of Chaos argued that Gu Changqing could not find Lord Taisu through cultivation alone, and the Four Saints and Hongjun appeared reassured.
• Hongjun asked Jieyin and Zhunti how preparations for the Journey to the West were progressing.
• Jieyin said he had sent Golden Cicada into the mortal world to seek the Dao and obtain scriptures while spreading Buddhist Dharma.
• Zhunti said they had arranged Dharma Protectors and eighty-one trials for Golden Cicada, and Hongjun urged all the Sages to cooperate without selfish motives.

Hongjun ordered Laozi and Yuanshi to put the Buddhist School first and support the Journey to the West, and both reluctantly obeyed. Meanwhile, Gu Changqing searched the depths of Chaos for Lord Taisu, then prepared to use the Great Summoning Art.

• Hongjun warned Laozi and Yuanshi not to let sectarian disputes obstruct the Buddhist School's rise and the Journey to the West.
• Laozi and Yuanshi bowed to Hongjun and agreed to follow his instructions, while Jieyin and Zhunti departed for Western Spirit Mountain in triumph.
• The Elder of Chaos watched silently as the others left Zixiao Palace.
• Gu Changqing searched the Outer Chaos Region for traces of Lord Taisu but found no further signs of him.
• Gu Changqing drank from the Wine God Gourd and announced that he would use the Great Summoning Art.

Gu Changqing used the Great Summoning Technique to draw on the chaos origin power around him, commanding its storms, space-time turbulence, and Great Dao laws. As Chaos settled beneath his control, a Divine Stele began to emerge between his hands.

• Gu Changqing invoked the Great Summoning Technique while standing within Chaos.
• Gu Changqing performed a drunken dance that made chaos storms, space-time turbulence, and Great Dao laws converge on him.
• Gu Changqing brought the gathered chaotic power under control, and the surrounding Chaos grew calm.
• A brilliant light formed between Gu Changqing's hands, and a Divine Stele slowly emerged.

Gu Changqing used a Divine Stele formed by the Great Summoning Technique to trace Lord Taisu’s aura through Chaos and found a Chaos Secret Realm. He called for Lord Taisu, who remained hidden and was astonished that Gu Changqing had found him.

• Gu Changqing formed a Divine Stele that carried the aura Lord Taisu had left in the Elder of Chaos's origin.
• Gu Changqing sent the stele through Chaos, sensing the path it revealed as it searched for Lord Taisu.
• The Divine Stele led Gu Changqing to a region of absolute nothingness, which he identified as a Chaos Secret Realm.
• Gu Changqing called out to Lord Taisu and asked him to meet, but received no answer.
• Lord Taisu wondered how Gu Changqing had found his location.

Lord Taisu realized that Gu Changqing had tracked the Taisu True Exposition to the hidden Chaos Secret Realm, and he grew wary because he could not discern the drunk's true power. When Lord Taisu did not welcome him, Gu Changqing threatened to force his way in and unleashed a vast aura.

• Lord Taisu watched Gu Changqing through an ancient mirror and could not see through his wine-hazed eyes.
• Lord Taisu recalled that Gu Changqing had studied the Taisu True Exposition during the Elder of Chaos's battle with the Three Sages, then followed its karmic thread to the Secret Realm.
• Lord Taisu blamed the Elder of Chaos for drawing Gu Changqing's attention and admitted that the visitor made him wary.
• Lord Taisu considered whether Gu Changqing's Dao might be higher than the five pre-heavenly ultimates, but dismissed the possibility that it was Taiyi.
• Gu Changqing complained that Lord Taisu showed him no hospitality, threatened to dispense with courtesy, and released a vast aura outside the Secret Realm.

Gu Changqing exposed the Chaos Secret Realm as a great Dao cage trapping Lord Taisu, then struck it with a power of origin that overwhelmed its defenses. Lord Taisu failed to stop the attack as cracks spread through the Secret Realm.

• Gu Changqing called the Chaos Secret Realm a great Dao cage, startling Lord Taisu by exposing his hidden imprisonment and his use of the Elder of Chaos as a pawn.
• Lord Taisu denied Gu Changqing's claim and tried to conceal his unease with bluster.
• Gu Changqing raised his hand, making the Outer Chaos Region tremble as its storms scattered and its space-time turbulence shattered.
• Gu Changqing pressed his palm toward the Chaos Secret Realm, and his primal power tore through its barrier and shook its origin.
• Lord Taisu tried to counter with the Taisu True Exposition, but its power of return to ruins could not affect Gu Changqing's attack.

Gu Changqing confirmed that Lord Taisu was trapped in the Chaos Secret Realm, a great dao cage that left him unable to fight back against attacks from outside. When Lord Taisu insisted Gu Changqing could not break the realm, Gu Changqing drew a longsword and struck again.

• Lord Taisu discovered that his powers could not affect the origin power attacking the Chaos Secret Realm and could only endure the assault.
• Lord Taisu abandoned his futile resistance and waited for Gu Changqing to stop attacking or destroy the cage.
• Gu Changqing sensed Lord Taisu had stopped resisting and declared that the Chaos Secret Realm was a great dao cage.
• Lord Taisu admitted nothing but claimed the cage could not be broken by Gu Changqing.
• Gu Changqing drew a longsword and slashed at the realm, startling Lord Taisu.

Gu Changqing unleashed a sword strike against the Great Dao Cage holding Lord Taisu, but the barrier survived and began to heal. As Lord Taisu celebrated, Gu Changqing stepped forward and suggested making the cage sturdier instead.

• Gu Changqing gathered his insights into a powerful sword strike and attacked the secret realm's barrier.
• The strike tore a deep, spreading crack in the barrier but failed to break the Great Dao Cage, which began healing.
• Lord Taisu mocked Gu Changqing and declared that the intact cage kept him safe and able to continue his plans.
• Gu Changqing stepped toward the secret realm and said he might make the Great Dao Cage even sturdier.

Gu Changqing prepared to use the Great Dao’s origin power to reinforce the cage imprisoning Lord Taisu, dismissing his warning that this would make an enemy of the Great Dao. As Gu Changqing was about to act, Lord Taisu cried out for him to wait.

• Gu Changqing decided to reinforce the Great Dao Cage after learning it could not be cut open.
• Lord Taisu realized the reinforcement could erase his hopes of escaping and desperately urged Gu Changqing to stop.
• Gu Changqing gathered the Great Dao’s primal power and ignored Lord Taisu’s warnings about making an enemy of the Great Dao.
• Gu Changqing answered that he did not care, while Lord Taisu watched helplessly as the power grew stronger.
• Just as Gu Changqing was about to send the power into the cage, Lord Taisu cried, “Wait!”

Gu Changqing made Lord Taisu agree to three conditions in exchange for withdrawing his pressure: revealing how to unravel the Elder of Chaos's Taisu True Exposition, sharing control of the Chaos Secret Realm, and promising to act for Gu Changqing once in the future. Gu Changqing then entered the realm and asked Lord Taisu to explain the Dao of Taisu.

• Lord Taisu yielded after realizing Gu Changqing could keep him trapped in the Chaos Secret Realm forever.
• Gu Changqing demanded the method for unraveling the Elder of Chaos's Taisu True Exposition, and Lord Taisu agreed.
• Gu Changqing demanded a share of the Chaos Secret Realm, and Lord Taisu reluctantly agreed to share control.
• Gu Changqing demanded Lord Taisu's unconditional help once in the future, and Lord Taisu agreed, binding them by karma.
• Gu Changqing entered the Chaos Secret Realm and asked Lord Taisu to explain the Dao of Taisu.

Gu Changqing forced Lord Taisu to teach him the way of Taisu in the Chaos Secret Realm. Meanwhile, Zhunti sent Sanzang from the Western World to seek scriptures in the Eastern World, prompting uproar as people recognized the journey as a Buddhist mission to spread its influence.

• Gu Changqing demanded instruction from Lord Taisu, who finally agreed and began expounding the way of Taisu.
• Gu Changqing listened more seriously as primordial mist and patterns appeared in the Chaos Secret Realm.
• At Vulture Peak, Zhunti charged Sanzang with traveling from the Eastern World to the Western World to seek scriptures and spread Buddhist Dharma.
• Sanzang accepted the mission and departed Vulture Peak amid the Buddhist disciples’ chants.
• News of Sanzang’s journey spread, and people across the Primordial World debated the Buddhist School’s plan to extend its influence.

As the Buddhist School launched its journey west to spread its influence, Daoist Duobao gathered the Interception Sect’s disciples on Golden Ao Island and resolved that they could no longer rely solely on Gu Changqing. He called on them to curb the Buddhist School’s momentum while Gu Changqing remained in Chaos.

• Cultivators across the Primordial World debated the Buddhist School’s journey west and worried that its growing faith and fortune could threaten the Interception Sect.
• On Golden Ao Island, Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Wudang Holy Mother, and Turtle Spirit Holy Mother condemned the Buddhist School for exploiting Gu Changqing’s absence.
• Daoist Duobao silenced the gathered disciples and reminded them that Gu Changqing had carried much of the Interception Sect’s burden.
• Daoist Duobao declared that the disciples must stop relying on Gu Changqing and take action against the Buddhist School.

Duobao rallied the Interception Sect’s Personal Disciples to set out against Sanzang’s Journey to the West while Gu Changqing was away. Meanwhile, Sanzang and Sun Wukong traveled toward an immortal mountain, where Sanzang planned to use the pilgrimage to gain status and a higher Dao Fruit.

• Duobao urged the Interception Sect’s disciples to stop relying on Gu Changqing and confront Sanzang themselves.
• Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Wudang Holy Mother, and Turtle Spirit Holy Mother agreed with Duobao and voiced their determination to act.
• Duobao led the Personal Disciples as they departed Golden Ao Island for the Eastern World.
• Sanzang asked Sun Wukong to visit an immortal mountain and spread Buddhist Dharma.
• Sanzang privately revealed that he sought Buddhist fortune, merit, and a higher Dao Fruit rather than true scriptures or the welfare of mortals.

Sanzang’s concealed motives were exposed when Daoist Duobao and the Interception Sect disciples confronted him in the Eastern World for spreading Buddhist Dharma and taking its followers’ faith. As the disciples prepared to kill him, Sanzang called on Sun Wukong for protection.

• Sanzang privately dismissed compassion as a pretense and admitted he sought status and a Dao fruit, then resumed his gentle appearance.
• Daoist Duobao, Wudang Holy Mother, Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Zhao Gongming, Qiongxiao, Bixiao, and other Interception Sect disciples appeared before Sanzang and Sun Wukong.
• Daoist Duobao accused Sanzang of preaching in Interception Sect territory, while Zhao Gongming, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao condemned him for trying to steal the Eastern World’s faith and incense offerings.
• Sanzang realized the Interception Sect disciples had come to kill him and, overwhelmed by their power, shouted for Wukong to protect him.
• Sun Wukong’s face darkened with exasperation.

Sun Wukong tried to persuade the Interception Sect cultivators to leave Sanzang alone, but fear of Jieyin and Zhunti forced him to fight Zhao Gongming. Zhao Gongming effortlessly blocked Sun Wukong’s powerful Chaos Spirit Treasure strike and declared it was not enough.

• Sanzang called for Sun Wukong’s help as the Interception Sect cultivators confronted them.
• Sun Wukong asked Duobao, Zhao Gongming, Wudang Holy Mother, and the others to leave them alone, but Zhao Gongming rejected his plea.
• Wudang Holy Mother offered to spare Sun Wukong if he stepped aside, but he believed retreat would bring the wrath of Jieyin and Zhunti.
• Sun Wukong chose to fight and swung his Chaos Spirit Treasure staff at Zhao Gongming.
• Zhao Gongming blocked the blow with his Golden Whip without moving and said Sun Wukong’s weapon was still not enough.

Zhao Gongming overwhelmed Sun Wukong with a single blow and warned him against serving the Buddhist School. Sun Wukong insisted he was no lapdog, while the faint stirring of his Chaos Ape origin hinted at a change within him.

• Zhao Gongming struck Sun Wukong with the Golden Whip, sending him crashing into a mountain and leaving him badly injured.
• Zhao Gongming mocked Sun Wukong's inability to use his chaos spirit treasure effectively, and Sun Wukong realized the vast gap between their strength.
• Sanzang watched in terror as Sun Wukong fell, and his faith in the Buddhist School's westward journey began to crumble.
• Daoist Duobao considered stopping the fight before Sun Wukong's foundation was damaged, but Zhao Gongming warned Sun Wukong against becoming the Buddhist School's lapdog.
• Sun Wukong denied being a lapdog as his Chaos Ape origin stirred faintly, and Zhao Gongming showed a hint of appreciation.

Zhao Gongming recognized Sun Wukong’s conflict over being bound to the Buddhist School and chose to subdue him with the Dragon Binding Rope. The chapter left Sun Wukong restrained, realizing Zhao Gongming understood his predicament.

• Zhao Gongming admired Sun Wukong’s refusal to give up despite his defeat.
• Zhao Gongming explained that Sun Wukong was trapped between obeying Zhunti’s Imperial Edict and facing an enemy he could not defeat.
• Zhao Gongming declared he would help Sun Wukong and summoned the Dragon Binding Rope.
• The Dragon Binding Rope bound Sun Wukong and suppressed his physical strength, magic power, and origin.
• Sun Wukong stopped struggling and recognized Zhao Gongming’s understanding, responding with a complex, relieved smile.