Chapter Summaries

Luohu demanded that Jieyin and Zhunti bow and admit the Buddhist School had wronged him, threatening to continue killing if they refused. Zhunti rejected the demand, but Jieyin ultimately submitted and asked Luohu for forgiveness before the watching Primordial World.

• Luohu demanded that Jieyin and Zhunti admit fault before everyone, and they recognized the humiliation and damage it would bring the Buddhist School.
• Zhunti refused Luohu's demand and told him not to think he would agree.
• Luohu unleashed the God-Slaying Spear's killing radiance over Vulture Peak and threatened to keep killing the Buddhist School's disciples.
• Jieyin bowed to Luohu, admitted that the Buddhist School had plotted against him, and asked for forgiveness.
• Countless spectators reacted in shock as Jieyin's public admission marked the Buddhist School's darkest hour.

Luohu devastated the Buddhist School at Vulture Peak, warned that he would destroy it if it opposed him again, and departed after Jieyin and Zhunti could not stop him. In Zixiao Palace, Hongjun watched what happened and rebuked them as fools.

• Luohu surveyed the terrified Buddhist School Disciples and warned that no one in the school would survive if they harbored intentions against him again.
• Jieyin and Zhunti stayed silent, recognizing they could not defeat Luohu, while Luohu turned and left Vulture Peak.
• Witnesses blamed Gu Changqing and the Wine Sword Immortal for Luohu's arrogance as they discussed the Buddhist School's humiliation.
• Hongjun withdrew his gaze in Zixiao Palace and angrily called them fools.

Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos chose to ignore Luohu’s attack on the Buddhist School and focused on refining the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe. Luohu left the Western World triumphant, while Hongjun’s plans remained centered on completing the weapon.

• Hongjun learned that Jieyin and Zhunti’s attempt to kill Luohu had failed and that Luohu had threatened to destroy the Buddhist School.
• The Elder of Chaos asked Hongjun how he would handle the Buddhist School’s troubles.
• Hongjun decided not to intervene, choosing to prioritize refining the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe.
• Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos poured their power into refining the axe, which showed signs of nearing completion.
• Luohu drifted across the Western World as living beings recognized his fearsome reputation.

After humiliating Jieyin and Zhunti at Vulture Peak, Luohu left the Primordial World in awe of his power and returned to Golden Ao Island. His actions also shifted many Interception Sect disciples’ wary view of him toward acceptance and admiration.

• Luohu’s clash with Jieyin and Zhunti convinced all living beings that the Demon Ancestor had never truly fallen.
• As Luohu traveled toward Golden Ao Island, he heard the whispers of awe and understood that he had restored his reputation.
• Interception Sect disciples discussed Luohu’s defeat of the Buddhist School and began to see him as an ally against their common enemy.
• Luohu arrived at Golden Ao Island as the Interception Sect disciples continued discussing his exploits.

Luohu visited Gu Changqing to thank him for teaching him the heart-demon path, which had opened a new possibility of realizing the Dao. After explaining what the teaching meant to him, Luohu began to voice a concern, leaving his thought unfinished.

• Luohu descended onto Golden Ao Island and walked solemnly to Gu Changqing's cave abode.
• Luohu bowed outside the cave and thanked Gu Changqing for imparting the Dao.
• Gu Changqing invited Luohu inside to drink, and the stone door opened.
• Luohu explained that Gu Changqing's heart-demon path had shown him a new way to pursue the Dao.
• Luohu hesitated, then began to say, "It's just that..."

Luohu asked Gu Changqing to explain the Great Heart-Demon Art, but Gu Changqing told him to drink, then offered him wine infused with the art’s Dao rhythm. Luohu realized the wine was a chance to comprehend the Great Heart-Demon Art, bowed to the sleeping Gu Changqing, and left to study it.

• Luohu humbly asked Gu Changqing to clarify the mysteries of the Great Heart-Demon Art.
• Gu Changqing drunkenly told Luohu to drink until his thoughts flowed freely.
• Gu Changqing produced a jar of wine whose Dao rhythm was connected to the Great Heart-Demon Art and handed it to Luohu.
• Luohu realized the wine carried the essence of Gu Changqing’s Dao and accepted it as a rare opportunity for comprehension.
• Luohu bowed to the sleeping Gu Changqing and left to study the wine, while Gu Changqing mumbled that the devil knew what was what.

Gu Changqing revealed that he had deliberately given Luohu wine containing insight into the Great Heart-Demon Art to secure him as a loyal ally of the Interception Sect. He also watched Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos unknowingly refine the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, using their efforts to strengthen his Great Artifact-Command Art.

• Luohu left Gu Changqing's cave abode with the jar of fine wine, while Gu Changqing feigned drunkenness and judged him to be a trustworthy ally with no path back to the Profound Gate.
• Gu Changqing explained that he had given Luohu the wine to help him advance the Heart-Demon Path and become a pillar of support for the Interception Sect.
• Gu Changqing spread his divine sense into Chaos to observe Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos refining the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe.
• Gu Changqing revealed that he had deliberately handed over the axe after imprinting his Great Artifact-Command Art Dao rhythm within it.
• As Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos refined the axe, their efforts strengthened Gu Changqing's Great Artifact-Command Art instead of giving them true control over the treasure.

As Gu Changqing slept, he secretly absorbed the power Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos poured into the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, intending to reclaim it once they had strengthened it. Meanwhile, his Great Artifact-Command Art evolved on its own and spread across heaven and earth, leaving countless treasures trembling and subdued.

• Gu Changqing watched Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos refine the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, secretly using its hidden imprint to absorb their power and strengthen his own foundations.
• As Gu Changqing slept, the Great Artifact-Command Art circulated and evolved, its aura spreading beyond his cave abode.
• The treasures of the Jie Sect Disciples on Golden Ao Island trembled, and their spiritual power was suppressed by Gu Changqing's aura.
• The aura swept beyond Golden Ao Island, causing treasures held or stored by cultivators throughout the worlds to tremble in submission.

An aura from Gu Changqing’s cave on Golden Ao Island suppressed every spiritual treasure, revealing a power above the Great Dao of artifacts. As living beings struggled to reconcile this display with the Interception Sect’s loss of the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi and Laozi regarded Gu Changqing with unease.

• An aura spread from Gu Changqing’s cave on Golden Ao Island and forced the spirituality of every innate and acquired treasure into submission.
• Living beings wondered why Gu Changqing had allowed Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos to seize the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe despite the Interception Sect’s apparent hidden power.
• Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi sensed that Gu Changqing’s aura surpassed the Great Dao of artifacts and privately remarked that Gu Changqing had hidden himself deeply.
• Guangchengzi and the other Twelve Golden Immortals fell silent as Yuanshi’s anger chilled the Jade Void Palace.
• Laozi watched Golden Ao Island and felt an inexplicable unease.

Laozi questioned whether Gu Changqing had deliberately allowed the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe to be taken, while Yuanshi dismissed the suspicion. After the Great Artifact-Command Art’s influence faded, Gu Changqing woke on Golden Ao Island and drank contentedly, leaving his true intentions unclear.

• Laozi considered whether Gu Changqing’s command of the Artifact-Wielding Dao meant he had deliberately surrendered the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe.
• Laozi told Yuanshi that the axe’s transfer seemed strange, but Yuanshi argued that Gu Changqing might only recently have gained his artifact mastery.
• Laozi remained uneasy but set aside his suspicions, reasoning that Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos now held the axe.
• The Great Artifact-Command Art’s fluctuations faded, and artifacts across heaven and earth returned to normal.
• Gu Changqing woke in his cave abode on Golden Ao Island, drank from the Wine God Gourd, and smiled with satisfaction.

Gu Changqing discovered that the Great Artifact-Command Art could let him command treasures and considered using it to restore the shattered World-Destroying Mill. After sensing a faint disturbance, he turned his attention toward Longevity Mountain's Wuzhuang Temple.

• Gu Changqing realized the Great Artifact-Command Art could eventually help him reclaim the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe and command artifacts throughout Heaven and Earth.
• Gu Changqing summoned the World-Destroying Mill Fragment he had taken from the Buddhist School and examined its destructive power.
• Gu Changqing considered using the Great Artifact-Command Art to gather the scattered fragments and restore the World-Destroying Mill.
• Gu Changqing sensed a faint fluctuation from afar and directed his gaze toward Longevity Mountain, Wuzhuang Temple.

Gu Changqing watched Sanzang and his companions approach Wuzhuang Temple, anticipating how the temple’s estrangement from the Buddhist School would shape their trial. At Longevity Mountain, Sanzang proposed that the group visit Zhen Yuanzi, leaving Sun Wukong and the others taken aback.

• Gu Changqing observed the westbound party and wondered how the Wuzhuang Temple trial would unfold, since Zhen Yuanzi had bad blood with the Buddhist School.
• Gu Changqing vanished from his cave abode as Sanzang and his three disciples reached Longevity Mountain.
• Sanzang sensed the mountain’s rich spiritual qi and the aura of the Ginseng Fruit, then identified Wuzhuang Temple as Zhen Yuanzi’s cultivation ground.
• Sanzang proposed that the party pay Zhen Yuanzi a visit, and Sun Wukong, Tianpeng, and their companion reacted with surprise at his boldness.

Sanzang and his companions reached Wuzhuang Temple, knowing the Buddhist School hoped to use Zhen Yuanzi’s response to bolster the Journey to the West. A young attendant refused them entry, but Sanzang calmly asked him to announce their arrival to Zhen Yuanzi.

• Sun Wukong, Marshal Tianpeng, and General Juanlian recognized that the Buddhist School wanted Zhen Yuanzi’s apparent approval to support its Journey to the West plans.
• Sanzang led his companions to Wuzhuang Temple and respectfully asked to pay his respects to Zhen Yuanzi.
• A young attendant came to the gate and said his master was in secluded cultivation, ordering the visitors to leave.
• Sanzang remained composed and asked the attendant to announce them, explaining they traveled at the command of the two Sages of the Western World.

At Wuzhuang Temple, Sanzang invoked the orders of the two Sages of the Western World after Qingfeng refused to grant him an audience. Qingfeng revealed his killing intent and struck at Sanzang, leaving Sun Wukong, Marshal Tianpeng, and General Juanlian reacting to the unexpected danger.

• Loose cultivators gathered nearby and speculated that Sanzang was visiting Zhen Yuanzi to lend Wuzhuang Temple's reputation to the Buddhist School's Journey to the West.
• Sun Wukong sensed killing intent in Qingfeng's eyes as Qingfeng responded to Sanzang's refusal to leave.
• Qingfeng angrily rejected being called a little attendant and struck at Sanzang with a palm.
• Sun Wukong, Marshal Tianpeng, and General Juanlian recognized that Qingfeng's restrained palm carried extraordinary power.

Qingfeng struck Sanzang with a single palm, sending him tumbling more than a thousand li and leaving him gravely injured. The onlooking Loose Cultivators realized that Zhen Yuanzi’s attendant was a formidable expert, while Sanzang lay helpless in a crater.

• Sun Wukong, Marshal Tianpeng, and General Juanlian tried to intervene as Qingfeng’s palm raced toward Sanzang, but they were too late.
• Qingfeng struck Sanzang and sent him crashing through mountains and across the earth for more than a thousand li.
• Sanzang landed in a deep crater, bleeding dark blood and too injured to stand.
• The watching Loose Cultivators stared in shock and discussed Qingfeng’s strength and long service under Zhen Yuanzi.
• The Loose Cultivators mocked Sanzang for calling Qingfeng a boy and underestimating him.

Gu Changqing watched Qingfeng drive Sanzang away from Wuzhuang Temple and predicted that the Buddhist School would retaliate. After surviving the blow, Sanzang ordered Sun Wukong, Marshal Tianpeng, and General Juanlian to storm the temple.

• Gu Changqing observed Qingfeng’s attack and reasoned that Zhen Yuanzi had used his attendant to humiliate Sanzang without openly provoking the Buddhist School.
• Sanzang lay gravely wounded in a crater, while Sun Wukong, Marshal Tianpeng, and General Juanlian confirmed that he was still alive.
• Qingfeng told the three companions that Zhen Yuanzi was in secluded cultivation and demanded that they leave.
• Sanzang climbed from the crater and ordered his companions to slaughter their way into Wuzhuang Temple.

After Qingfeng struck Sanzang down, Sanzang ordered the Buddhist School's hidden protectors to storm Wuzhuang Temple. Zhunti commanded them to obey, and the four set out just as Sun Wukong sensed their arrival.

• Sanzang sent Maitreya, Ksitigarbha, Mahasthamaprapta, and Medicine Tathagata a divine sense command to slaughter their way into Wuzhuang Temple.
• The four Buddhist experts debated whether to obey, fearing Zhen Yuanzi and the powerful allies behind him.
• Zhunti sent an imperial edict ordering the four to do as Sanzang said.
• Maitreya and Ksitigarbha accepted Zhunti's order, and all four vanished from the Void Rift.
• Sun Wukong sensed four powerful auras tearing out of the void near Wuzhuang Temple.

Maitreya Buddha, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, and Medicine Tathagata arrived at Wuzhuang Temple after Qingfeng struck down Sanzang. Sanzang called on them to avenge the Buddhist School’s humiliation, and Ksitigarbha challenged Zhen Yuanzi to answer for his attendant’s violence.

• Maitreya Buddha, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, and Medicine Tathagata appeared before Wuzhuang Temple.
• Sanzang celebrated their arrival and accused Qingfeng of attacking him, urging the Buddhist School to demand justice.
• Loose Cultivators and Mighty Experts debated whether Zhen Yuanzi and his allies would withstand the Buddhist School’s four Personal Disciples.
• Ksitigarbha addressed Zhen Yuanzi and accused Qingfeng of gravely injuring Sanzang without cause.
• Ksitigarbha asked whether Zhen Yuanzi believed the Buddhist School had no one to stand up for it.

Ksitigarbha and the other Buddhist School disciples confronted Qingfeng at Wuzhuang Temple, but Zhen Yuanzi remained silent inside. After Qingfeng refused to yield, the four Buddhist figures advanced to force their way in, while Gu Changqing watched from above, anticipating a major spectacle.

• Ksitigarbha demanded that Wuzhuang Temple explain Qingfeng’s attack, but Zhen Yuanzi gave no response from behind the gates.
• Qingfeng defended his actions, saying the Buddhist disciples had breached propriety and that Sanzang was fortunate his palm strike had not killed him.
• Ksitigarbha declared that the Buddhist monks would no longer be courteous, and Maitreya, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, and Medicine Tathagata joined him in advancing on Wuzhuang Temple.
• Gu Changqing watched from the clouds with his Wine God Gourd and said a fine show was about to unfold.

The Buddhist School’s four great Personal Disciples forced their way into Wuzhuang Temple and found Zhen Yuanzi absent. As Qingfeng and the onlookers wondered where Zhen Yuanzi had gone, Gu Changqing watched from the sky with a knowing smile.

• Ksitigarbha, Maitreya, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, and Medicine Tathagata attacked Wuzhuang Temple, prompting onlookers to suspect the Buddhist School’s Sages had ordered the confrontation.
• Qingfeng tried to defend the temple gates, but the four disciples’ combined power broke through his barriers and injured him.
• Ksitigarbha warned Qingfeng to stand aside, and the four disciples entered Wuzhuang Temple despite his resistance.
• The disciples found the courtyard empty and realized Zhen Yuanzi was not there.
• Gu Changqing watched from high in the sky, drinking wine and smiling as everyone wondered where Zhen Yuanzi had gone.