Earlier, Wukong had plunged headfirst into the Congenital Eight Trigrams Ao Tu had laid out.
The Congenital Eight Trigrams were the foundation of all arts: Qian in the south, Kun in the north, Li in the east, and Kan in the west, corresponding to the order of heaven and earth and reflecting the Laws of the Great Dao.
Once someone fell within them, unless they could suddenly cleave heaven and earth open, they could not escape.
Sha Monk had exhausted all his magical power within them, yet had still lost his strength and his way-a glimpse of their power.
When Wukong first landed inside, he did not know he had entered a formation. He somersaulted away, found a city, and came to a rice-and-congee shop, where he assumed the appearance of a little monk and held out an Alms Bowl to beg for alms.
The shopkeeper had no kindness in his heart and gave him nothing.
Wukong slipped into the shop, gathered some leftover rice, congee, and cakes, then returned to Thorn Ridge.
He rode a cloud all the way back to the ridge, only to find no trace of Tang Sanzang or his two companions.
Wukong hurried to search for them, but still found nothing.
He summoned the Local Earth God, yet still could not find them.
Wukong thought it must be the work of a monster, so he hurried to the Heavenly Court, intending to ask the Jade Emperor to send troops.
But after Wukong reached the Heavenly Court, he discovered that the Jade Emperor was nowhere to be seen.
Only then did Wukong realize something was wrong. He examined his surroundings closely with his Golden Eyes and saw through the truth. The palaces of the Heavenly Court before him dissolved into mist, and he was back on