Arc 12The Flaming Mountain Ordeal
Wukong and the pilgrims became entangled in Ao Tu’s conflict with Mahamayuri Bodhisattva, then resumed their journey and found Flaming Mountain blocking the western road. Their efforts to obtain Princess Iron Fan’s fan failed, and the arc ended with Tang Sanzang missing and the group searching for him.
- Ao Tu transformed into a Golden Crow and fought Mahamayuri Bodhisattva, but a mysterious woman stopped him from detonating himself and helped him escape with Six-Eared Macaque.
- Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Wukong rescued Tang Sanzang from the Prison Cave and took him to the stonecutter’s family, where Tang Sanzang apologized for the bandits’ attack and gave the stonecutter an elixir that healed his leg.
- After Tang Sanzang recovered, the pilgrims resumed their journey, while Ao Tu visited the Bull Demon King and received the Plantain Fan to study.
- Wukong and Bajie asked Princess Iron Fan to lend them the fan so they could cross Flaming Mountain, but she refused because of her grudge against the pilgrims.
- Wukong stole what he thought was the Treasure Fan, but the fake fan intensified Flaming Mountain’s flames, and the Local God told him that Wukong had caused the mountain’s fire.
- Wukong sought the Bull Demon King’s help, but Six-Eared Macaque and the Bull Demon King fought him, captured Bajie and Sha Wujing, and ultimately let the pilgrims leave without the fan.
- Tang Sanzang went to a mountain temple after seeing Buddha-Light and began planting bodhi trees to hold back Flaming Mountain’s flames, while Wukong and the others searched for the Bull Demon King.
- Wukong returned to Flaming Mountain and discovered Tang Sanzang was missing, then led the group to Plantain Cave, where Princess Iron Fan and Red Boy attacked them and sent them fleeing toward Blazing Thunder Mountain.