Recaps

Ao Tu defeated Silver Horn King and tried to enlist the Lotus Cave brothers to help capture Tang Sanzang, but Silver Horn King rejected his offer. After receiving ancestral dragon essence blood, Ao Tu transformed into a colossal Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, drawing the Nine-Tailed Fox and her followers from Dragon-Pressing Cave to seek his favor.

• Ao Tu defeated Silver Horn King with his treasures and captured him after Silver Horn tried to retreat for his own magic treasures.
• Golden Horn King came out of Lotus Cave, apologized for the misunderstanding, and hosted Ao Tu and Silver Horn at a banquet.
• Ao Tu offered to lead the plan to capture Tang Sanzang, but Silver Horn King distrusted him and insisted the brothers could succeed alone.
• Ao Tu and Tiger Vanguard settled on a deserted mountain, where Ao Tu received and refined ancestral dragon essence blood from his rewards.
• Ao Tu's power surged and he grew into a colossal Five-Clawed Golden Dragon before shrinking back to human form and meditating.
• An Old Granny brought nine female fox demons from Dragon-Pressing Cave to pay respects to Ao Tu, who ordered Tiger Vanguard to let them in.

Ao Tu settled in Dragon-Pressing Cave, where the foxes renamed it Welcoming Dragon Cave, while Golden Horn King and Silver Horn King reacted to his arrival in different ways. Months later, Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached Pingding Mountain, where Silver Horn King failed to trick them and fled from Wukong carrying Mount Tai.

• Nine Tails Old Fox brought Ao Tu rare treasures, renamed Dragon-Pressing Cave Welcoming Dragon Cave, and invited him to stay with her family.
• Golden Horn King sent Ao Tu a proper congratulatory gift despite Silver Horn King's attempt to make it insulting, and White Bone Spirit later arrived and recovered after Ao Tu gave her a Three-Turn Golden Elixir.
• The Duty Officer of Merit warned Wukong that two demons in Lotus Cave possessed five treasures, and Ao Tu waited at Dragon-Pressing Cave for Tang Sanzang and his disciples to arrive.
• Silver Horn King tried to lure Tang Sanzang with a false injury, but Tang Sanzang questioned his story until Silver Horn King revealed himself and fought Wukong.
• Wukong struck Silver Horn King twice as he summoned Mount Sumeru and Mount Emei, then Silver Horn King fled back to Lotus Cave carrying Mount Tai.
• Bajie found no Lotus Monastery where Silver Horn King had claimed it was and instead discovered Lotus Cave.

Bajie was captured at Lotus Cave, and Wukong infiltrated the demons’ lair to rescue him and learn of their treasures. Wukong took the Purple-Gold Red Gourd from Silver Horn King, but Silver Horn King wounded him with the Banana Leaf Fan and returned to the cave, asking Golden Horn King to invite the King of Spirit Mountain.

• Bajie went to Lotus Cave, was recognized as a monk, and was captured by the lesser demons after Silver Horn King returned carrying Mount Tai.
• Silver Horn King told Golden Horn King how Wukong had injured him, refused to abandon their plan to eat Tang Sanzang’s Flesh, and insisted that their treasures could defeat Wukong.
• Wukong searched Lotus Cave after Bajie failed to return, overheard Silver Horn King’s plan to use the Purple-Gold Red Gourd, and freed Bajie.
• Wukong and Bajie tried to escape, but Yihailong raised the alarm, so Silver Horn King recaptured Bajie and went out to face Wukong with his treasures.
• Wukong dodged the Purple-Gold Red Gourd, transformed into Golden Horn King, and tricked Silver Horn King into handing it over.
• Silver Horn King struck Wukong with the Banana Leaf Fan’s divine fire, then swallowed Golden Horn King’s pills and asked him to invite the King of Spirit Mountain.

After Sun Wukong defeated Silver Horn King and stole Lotus Cave’s treasures, Golden Horn King sought Ao Tu’s help. Ao Tu healed Silver Horn King with Three-Lights Divine Water, and both demon kings offered to honor him as their elder brother.

• Silver Horn King urged Golden Horn King to go personally to Welcoming Dragon Cave and invite Ao Tu for help.
• While cultivating, Ao Tu considered abandoning the usual path to Primordial Unity Golden Immortal and attempting to attain the Dao as the ancient innate beings had.
• Golden Horn King told Ao Tu that Sun Wukong had defeated Silver Horn King twice and stolen their cave’s treasures, and Ao Tu agreed to help.
• Ao Tu asked Nine Tails Old Fox for the Immortal-Binding Rope and went with Golden Horn King to Lotus Cave.
• Ao Tu healed Silver Horn King’s grievous injuries with a drop of Three-Lights Divine Water.
• Silver Horn King and Golden Horn King each offered to honor Ao Tu as their elder brother.

Ao Tu joined the Golden Horn King and Silver Horn King as a sworn brother, then used a peach grove and the Golden Rope to capture Sun Wukong. He took Wukong’s Purple-Gold Red Gourd and considered studying its innate laws.

• Ao Tu agreed to become sworn brothers with the Golden Horn King and Silver Horn King, and they celebrated at Lotus Cave.
• Ao Tu stopped the demons from roasting Zhu Bajie, but imprisoned him after Bajie refused to capture Tang Sanzang.
• Tang Sanzang mended Wukong’s burned clothes while Wukong promised to rescue Bajie the next day.
• Ao Tu created a peach grove as a trap, and the Silver Horn King lured Wukong there after fighting him for a dozen exchanges.
• Wukong ate peaches in the grove, picked up the Golden Rope, and was bound when Ao Tu cast its spell.
• Ao Tu searched the captive Wukong and took the Purple-Gold Red Gourd, thinking he could study its innate laws.

Ao Tu captured Sun Wukong’s companions, then studied the Purple-Gold Red Gourd and discovered its primordial laws before collapsing and recovering. Wukong freed Tang Sanzang and the others, but Ao Tu caught up with them, and their battle ended with both sides readying treasures.

• The Golden Horn King captured Sha Wujing and Tang Sanzang, while Ao Tu and the Silver Horn King celebrated with the captive Sun Wukong.
• Ao Tu studied the Purple-Gold Red Gourd, mastered eleven of its laws, and collapsed after probing its most mysterious laws; the gourd revived him.
• The demons imprisoned Wukong, Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing and prepared to stew them, but Wukong had Sha Wujing file through the Golden Rope’s connecting ring and led everyone out.
• Tiger Vanguard discovered the sleeping guards, and Ao Tu, the Golden Horn King, and the Silver Horn King pursued the escaping group.
• Wukong fought Ao Tu for hundreds of exchanges until Ao Tu briefly manifested a devastating axe-like attack and stopped himself.
• Wukong brought out the Golden Rope while Ao Tu raised the Purple-Gold Red Gourd, and the two prepared to use their treasures against each other.

Ao Tu captured Guanyin Bodhisattva with the Purple-Gold Red Gourd and claimed her Lotus Throne after defeating her ambush. Wukong sought Tathagata’s help to rescue Tang Sanzang, but Tathagata sent him to ask Guanyin for assistance.

• Ao Tu captured Wukong’s Golden Rope and drew Zhu Bajie and Sha Monk into the gourd before returning them to prison with Tang Sanzang.
• Wukong asked Guanyin Bodhisattva to help capture Ao Tu, and they disguised themselves to carry a transformed Lotus Throne into Lotus Cave.
• Ao Tu recognized Guanyin and captured her in the Purple-Gold Red Gourd during their fight, while Wukong battled the two horned kings and fled.
• Ao Tu took Guanyin’s Jewel and Lotus Throne, discovering that the Jewel held Buddhist power and the throne aided his cultivation.
• Wukong went to Spirit Mountain and asked Tathagata to rescue Tang Sanzang, but Tathagata told him to seek Guanyin’s help at the Southern Sea.

Ao Tu kept Guanyin Bodhisattva captive until she agreed to owe him a favor, then continued cultivating while she explained that his body and soul were incomplete. Wukong searched Heaven for the demons’ owner and recruited Nezha to identify the treasure, leaving their investigation unresolved.

• Tathagata learned that the Golden Horn King and Silver Horn King were Taishang Laojun's attendants and sent Wukong to seek help in Heaven after hearing Guanyin Bodhisattva had been trapped.
• Ao Tu ignored Guanyin Bodhisattva's pleas, then released her after she swore an oath and promised him a favor.
• Ao Tu attempted to use ancestral dragon essence blood to transform his body, repeatedly bursting apart his right index finger, while Guanyin Bodhisattva watched.
• Guanyin Bodhisattva told Ao Tu that his physical body and soul needed to be made complete, but Ao Tu refused to become her disciple.
• Wukong reported the events to the Jade Emperor, who ordered an investigation that found no Divine Generals or Star Lodges had descended.
• Wukong asked Nezha to accompany him and identify the demon's treasure while Wukong challenged the demon.

Wukong and Nezha challenged Ao Tu, but Ao Tu captured Nezha and kept him with Tang Sanzang and the others in Lotus Cave. The Jade Emperor sent a large force to Pingding Mountain, but its attacks failed against Ao Tu, leaving Heavenly King Li and Heavenly Lord Qin arguing over who had failed to act.

• Wukong and Nezha fought Ao Tu, whose Lotus Throne and pearl drove them back, and Ao Tu captured Nezha with the Purple-Gold Gourd.
• Ao Tu bound Nezha, took his treasures, and imprisoned him with Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing in the Prison Cave.
• Wukong returned to Heaven, and the Jade Emperor ordered Heavenly King Li to lead divine forces against Ao Tu.
• Heavenly King Li's forces arrived late and quarreled over their duties before surrounding Pingding Mountain and attacking it with thunder.
• Ao Tu shattered the heavenly net, injured many heavenly soldiers with his dragon's roar, and withstood the divine thunder.
• Heavenly King Li and Heavenly Lord Qin blamed each other for the failed attack.

Ao Tu captured several heavenly gods, learned that the stars of Heaven had gathered to study his Formation Diagram, and cured Lotus Cave’s inhabitants of the Plague Department’s miasma. After the failed Plague Formation was exposed, the gods attacked Ao Tu as he pursued Giant Spirit God, and Heavenly King Li finally sent down his Pagoda.

• Ao Tu used the Purple-Gold Red Gourd to capture the Four Heavenly Kings and five Fire Department gods, then learned that the Formation Diagram was being studied by the stars of Heaven and offered it to them as a gift.
• Zhou Xin and Li Qi spread plague miasma over Lotus Cave, but Ao Tu used Guanyin Bodhisattva’s Willow Branch to cure the demons, Golden Horn King, Silver Horn King, and Zhu Bajie.
• After seven days, Giant Spirit God entered Lotus Cave, found the demons alive, and fled back to the heavenly camp as Ao Tu pursued him.
• The gods joined forces against Ao Tu with lightning, plague, divine starlight, and Wukong’s spells, while Heavenly King Li sent down his Pagoda.

Ao Tu used the Purple-Gold Red Gourd to capture the gods sent against him, while Wukong searched the Heavenly Court for the treasure’s origin and learned the demons were Taishang Laojun’s attendants. Ao Tu left Lotus Cave and later met Taishang Laojun in the Ninth Heaven, thanking him for saving him.

• Ao Tu repelled the gods’ attacks with the Nine-Grade Treasure Lotus Throne, then used the Purple-Gold Red Gourd to capture Heavenly King Li’s forces and lock the divine generals in Lotus Cave.
• Wukong returned to the Heavenly Court with Heavenly King Li and sought Taishang Laojun’s help identifying the gourd, but his visits to the Medicine Buddha and Goddess Nüwa failed to identify it.
• Wukong returned to Pingding Mountain with Heavenly King Li and slipped into Lotus Cave, where Guanyin Bodhisattva told him to investigate Taishang Laojun’s Golden Furnace and Silver Furnace attendants.
• Ao Tu returned Guanyin Bodhisattva’s treasures and departed Lotus Cave, while Guanyin warned that his actions would bring Heaven’s punishment upon those around him.
• Wukong entered Tushita Palace and confronted Taishang Laojun, who admitted that Guanyin had asked him to send Golden Horn and Silver Horn down as demons to test the scripture pilgrims.
• Taishang Laojun reclaimed his attendants and their treasures at Pingding Mountain, then met Ao Tu in the Ninth Heaven, where Ao Tu thanked him for saving him.

Ao Tu received the Purple-Gold Red Gourd from Taishang Laojun, then began the Wuji Kingdom quest by disguising himself as a Buddha and hearing the dead king’s account of the Demon Daoist’s betrayal. Ao Tu uncovered the king’s preserved body and promised to restore him, but the king’s soul could not reenter it.

• Ao Tu thanked Taishang Laojun, who explained that the Purple-Gold Red Gourd had saved him on its own and gave it to him as a protective treasure.
• Wukong rescued Tang Sanzang and the others, while Guanyin persuaded Heavenly King Li to spare the lesser demons; a little fox waited for Ao Tu and found an immortal peach he had left for her.
• Ao Tu received his quest rewards and entered the Wuji Kingdom region, where he disguised himself as a Buddha and stayed at Baolin Zen Temple with Tiger Vanguard and White Bone Spirit.
• Tiger Vanguard used his foul wind to bring the Wuji Kingdom’s vengeful king to Ao Tu, and the king described how the Demon Daoist had murdered him and taken his throne.
• Ao Tu found the concealed well, summoned the Well Dragon King, and recovered the king’s preserved corpse, but the king’s soul could not enter his dead body.

Ao Tu revived the King of Wuji Kingdom and helped him and the crown prince expose and defeat the azure-maned lion who had usurped the throne. After the Daoists were forced to build a Buddhist pagoda, Ao Tu secretly taught them to cultivate and told them to wait for the Great Sage Equal to Heaven to free them.

• Ao Tu demanded that the crown prince sign an agreement to build a ninety-nine-story Buddhist pagoda in exchange for reviving the king, and the crown prince agreed after Ao Tu promised the people would not be forced to build it.
• Ao Tu used the Seven-Leaf Ganoderma Herb to revive the King of Wuji Kingdom and advised him and the crown prince to expose the false king at court.
• The queen identified the true king, and Ao Tu defeated the azure-maned lion after it revealed itself and attacked the crown prince and guards.
• The king ordered Daoists across the kingdom arrested and made them build the pagoda, while Ao Tu used a spell to protect them from physical harm.
• After three months, Ao Tu disguised himself as a Daoist and taught the suffering workers a cultivation technique, telling them to await the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

Ao Tu compelled the Daoists to build a grand Buddhist pagoda and taught the King of the Wuji Kingdom that serving the people could lead to Buddhahood. Tang Sanzang and his disciples entered the kingdom, where Wukong discovered Daoists being whipped as they mined gold and began investigating.

• Ao Tu taught the Daoists a cultivation method, then gave the Baolin Temple monks Buddhist Dharma and enchanted whips to control them while they built the pagoda.
• The Daoists completed the ninety-nine-story pagoda, and Ao Tu told the King of the Wuji Kingdom that protecting the people's peace and livelihood was the path to Buddhahood.
• Ao Tu refused the King's offer of gold for the pagoda, saying royal wealth should benefit the people, and showed him the demon Daoist bound atop the tower.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples entered the Wuji Kingdom, where the people welcomed them, then heard clanging and smoke coming from a mountain.
• Wukong found Daoists mining and refining gold under the monks' whips; after witnessing their brutal treatment, he disguised himself as a young Daoist to learn what was happening.

Wukong learned that a demon had impersonated the King of the Wuji Kingdom, leaving local Daoists unjustly punished, and heard a mysterious cultivation formula linked to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached the capital and appeared before the restored king, while Wukong prepared to help clear the Daoists’ names.

• Wukong disguised himself as a young Daoist, entered the mine, and learned that a demon had impersonated the king for five years before a Buddha subdued it, after which the king punished the Daoists.
• A working Daoist taught Wukong a profound cultivation formula from Vozhu Zhenshi Heavenly Venerable and said the Daoists had been told to await the Great Sage Equal to Heaven; Wukong vanished before hearing more.
• Wukong told Tang Sanzang about the Daoists’ plight and promised to help clear their names once they met the king.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples stayed at Baolin Temple, where the abbot confirmed the story and explained that the Buddha had protected the Daoists while they built the pagoda; that night, Wukong tempered his body.
• The disciples entered the capital and learned that the demon had been paraded through the streets with its shoulder blades pierced; Wukong confirmed that the king was genuine, and Tang Sanzang was received at court.

Tang Sanzang and Wukong investigated the Wuji Kingdom’s imprisoned Daoist while sweeping the ninety-nine-story pagoda, where Wukong discovered the rest of a powerful cultivation method. At the summit, they encountered Ao Tu disguised as the Spirit Mountain King Buddha, who explained his role in the king’s return and the Daoists’ plight, then challenged Wukong to refuse to help if he was afraid.

• Tang Sanzang questioned the King of the Wuji Kingdom about the laboring Daoists, and Wukong offered to help him bring the true culprit to justice.
• Tang Sanzang and Wukong began sweeping the pagoda while Bajie and Sha Wujing stayed behind; Wukong recognized that the Buddha statues depicted the cultivation method taught to the Daoists.
• As they swept higher, Wukong discovered the method’s later teachings and realized it could complement his Seventy-Two Transformations and strengthen his body.
• At the ninety-ninth story, Tang Sanzang bowed to Ao Tu, who was disguised as the Spirit Mountain King Buddha and praised Tang Sanzang’s insight.
• Wukong confronted Ao Tu about the wronged Daoists, and Ao Tu denied deliberately implicating them before telling Wukong to refuse to help if he feared the demon’s connections.

Wukong tortured the Green-Haired Lion Demon but could not make him reveal his master, so he took Ao Tu to Heaven to investigate. With Nezha’s help, they traced a possible lead to Taiyi Heavenly Lord of Great Mercy’s palace, where Wukong found a broken chain in the lion’s quarters.

• Wukong used spells and transformations to torture the Green-Haired Lion Demon, who endured the pain without confessing.
• Wukong brought Ao Tu to Heaven and persuaded Nezha to help investigate the demon’s connections.
• Nezha identified Taiyi Heavenly Lord of Great Mercy as a possible lead because he kept a lion mount, though it was a nine-headed lion.
• Wukong, Ao Tu, and Nezha went to Taiyi Heavenly Lord of Great Mercy’s palace and learned that he was visiting the Queen Mother of the West.
• Wukong entered the lion’s quarters despite the immortal boy’s objections and found a chain lying on the ground.

Wukong, Nezha, and Ao Tu confronted Taiyi Heavenly Lord of Great Mercy at the Flower Festival over the demon’s crimes in Wuji Kingdom. After a clash before the gathered gods, Taiyi Heavenly Lord denied that his mount was responsible and called for his Lion Beast to face Wukong.

• Wukong persuaded Nezha to speak privately with Taiyi Heavenly Lord of Great Mercy, while he and Ao Tu followed into Yaochi as butterflies.
• Taiyi Heavenly Lord denied that the demon was his Lion Beast and used a spell to send Nezha outside.
• Wukong scattered written complaints through Yaochi, provoking Taiyi Heavenly Lord to attack him with a sword and trap Wukong, Nezha, and Ao Tu inside a Treasure Banner.
• Ao Tu broke free from the banner with his Six-Zhang Golden Body and identified himself as a Spirit Mountain disciple accompanying Wukong to investigate Wuji Kingdom.
• Wukong recounted the wronged king’s case before the gods and challenged Taiyi Heavenly Lord over the missing lion from his palace.
• Taiyi Heavenly Lord called for his Lion Beast to confront Wukong.

After Taiyi Heavenly Lord of Great Mercy helped Wukong search Heaven for the Azure Lion’s master, Ao Tu advised Wukong to use a Jade Emperor’s decree to draw out whoever backed the Demon Daoist. The Jade Emperor ordered Heavenly King Li to arrest him, and Heavenly King Li reached the Wuji Kingdom’s palace, where the king said the Demon Daoist was atop the Pagoda.

• Wukong apologized to Taiyi Heavenly Lord of Great Mercy for accusing him of releasing the Azure Lion, and Taiyi agreed to help investigate.
• Taiyi used his precious mirror to inspect the Azure Lion but concealed what he learned and sent Wukong to search Kunlun Mountain.
• White Crane Boy told Wukong, Nezha, and Ao Tu that the ancestral master said to search elsewhere, so Wukong questioned immortals about their lions without finding the culprit.
• Ao Tu advised Wukong to ask the Jade Emperor to order the Demon Daoist’s execution, which would force his backer to intervene.
• The Jade Emperor ordered Heavenly King Li to bring the Demon Daoist to Heaven, and Heavenly King Li arrived above the Wuji Kingdom’s palace with three thousand heavenly soldiers.
• The King of the Wuji Kingdom told Heavenly King Li that the Demon Daoist was atop the Pagoda.

Heavenly King Li brought the Green-Haired Lion Demon to the Heavenly Court, where Wukong and Nezha helped Ao Tu fight Asuras who came to rescue him. Bodhisattva Manjushri claimed the lion’s crimes had been ordered by Tathagata, while Nezha revealed that an Asura had gravely wounded Ao Tu and asked the Jade Emperor for justice.

• Heavenly King Li delivered the Green-Haired Lion Demon to the Heavenly Court, and the Jade Emperor ordered his execution at the hour of the Rabbit.
• Wukong told Tang Sanzang and the King of Wuji Kingdom that the execution would be delayed, then shared the Queen Mother’s pastries and fruit with them.
• Ao Tu, Nezha, and Wukong ambushed four Asuras at the Demon-Slaying Platform as they tried to rescue the Green-Haired Lion Demon.
• The Asuras fought back, and one pierced Ao Tu’s chest with a blood-red sword before Ao Tu escaped using the Rainbow-Transformation Technique.
• Bodhisattva Manjushri arrived with the Green Lion and said the king’s punishment had been ordered by Tathagata; Wukong challenged his account and questioned the lion’s false claims of being a Daoist.
• Nezha entered Lingxiao Hall with a sword wound through his body and asked the Jade Emperor to arrest the fiend who had injured him.

Nezha falsely accused Manjushri’s Asuras to protect Ao Tu, while Manjushri settled matters in the Wuji Kingdom and Tang Sanzang’s group endured the locals’ hatred of monks. After recovering enough to move, Ao Tu received his mission rewards and refined a mysterious drop of ancestral shaman essence blood.

• Nezha wounded himself and blamed the Thousand-Eyed Asura, prompting the Jade Emperor to punish the Asuras while Manjushri remained silent.
• Manjushri returned to the Wuji Kingdom, explained the Green Lion’s actions, established a pagoda and temple, and restored the people’s memories except for the royal family.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples found that the people in the western cities despised monks because they had been conscripted to build the temple, so they disguised themselves and traveled through the wilderness to leave the kingdom.
• Ao Tu endured weeks of pain as he used the Five-Colored Divine Light to wear away the sword laws in his wound until he could move again.
• The system awarded Ao Tu several treasures and abilities, including ancestral shaman essence blood, and he refined the essence blood after sensing its affinity with his own lineage.

Ao Tu absorbed Ancestral Shaman essence blood, gaining twelve Primordial Laws and innate abilities before a pill from the Purple-Gold Red Gourd stabilized them. He reached Withered Pine Ravine to confront Red Boy, but stayed hidden as Red Boy began a staged battle with the Pilgrim, leaving Tiger Vanguard to follow him.

• Ao Tu's body transformed under the Ancestral Shaman essence blood, and a black-and-white pill suppressed the clashing laws within him.
• Tiger Vanguard learned that Withered Pine Ravine lay within Red Boy's territory, and Ao Tu led Tiger Vanguard and White Bone Spirit there.
• Ao Tu received a quest to keep the Pilgrim within the region and considered the rewards, including the Great Formation of Stars of the Celestial Cycle.
• At Fire Cloud Cave, Ao Tu found Jingxi Gui and Lingli Chong dressing Red Boy's demons as figures from a staged battle with the Pilgrim.
• Ao Tu chose to remain hidden because of his injury and ordered Tiger Vanguard to follow Red Boy.

Ao Tu defeated Red Boy after revealing that he had taken the Blood Sea King’s identity, then captured and punished him. Ao Tu told Red Boy that he had come to save him from the danger of challenging Tang Sanzang and the Heavenly Court.

• Ao Tu created three incarnations and assigned Tiger Vanguard and White Bone Spirit to follow the Blood Sea King.
• Red Boy fought Heavenly Court generals in a staged battle, then declared that he would capture Tang Sanzang and claim the title King of the Heavenly Court.
• Ao Tu arrived with Tiger Vanguard and White Bone Spirit, announced that the King of Spirit Mountain had died, and challenged Red Boy.
• Red Boy’s spear and Samadhi True Fire failed to harm Ao Tu, who sealed Red Boy beneath a black lotus and defeated the demons who tried to rescue him.
• Ao Tu had Tiger Vanguard beat Red Boy, then released him; Red Boy pleaded for his life and Ao Tu warned him that his ambitions would bring danger.

Ao Tu frightened Red Boy into becoming his subordinate and coached him on how to approach Tang Sanzang and his disciples. Red Boy secretly planned to exploit the coming visit to learn Sun Wukong’s cultivation technique and take revenge, while Ao Tu settled into Red Boy’s cave and kept ordering him around.

• Ao Tu convinced Red Boy that his crimes put him in danger and offered him a way to survive by serving as Ao Tu’s subordinate.
• Ao Tu told Red Boy that Sun Wukong was his father’s sworn brother and instructed him to welcome Tang Sanzang’s party, flatter Sun Wukong, and entertain Zhu Wuneng.
• Ao Tu ordered Red Boy to wheedle Sun Wukong’s cultivation technique out of him and hand it over, while Red Boy privately resolved to learn it for himself and later retaliate.
• Ao Tu ate at Red Boy’s expense, ordered him to find a new cave abode, and caught him creeping closer while he slept.
• Red Boy claimed he had come to fan Ao Tu, then massaged his shoulders and asked about Ao Tu’s Black Lotus.

Ao Tu persuaded Red Boy to keep the secret of his Third-Grade Black Lotus, then visited his younger brother Little Alligator Dragon at the Black Water River. He tried to arrange a heavenly post for his brother so he could leave the dangerous river, but Little Alligator Dragon refused.

• Ao Tu told Red Boy that his Third-Grade Black Lotus came from the Netherworld Blood Sea and warned him not to reveal how he had obtained it.
• Ao Tu arrived at the Black Water River Divine Mansion, where Mingniang initially objected to Little Alligator Dragon welcoming him inside.
• Ao Tu learned that Little Alligator Dragon had driven out Mingniang’s father and hoped to marry Mingniang, though Ao Tu saw that she had no interest in him.
• Ao Tu resolved to get Little Alligator Dragon out of the Black Water River, fearing he could be killed by the dangers surrounding the Journey to the West.
• During a meal with Mingniang, Ao Tu offered to find Little Alligator Dragon a post at Tushita Palace, the Dipper Department, Yaochi, or Wuzhuang Temple, but Little Alligator Dragon rejected the idea.