Chapter Summaries

Wukong caught Bajie hiding treasures in the Treasure Pavilion and bargained with him to keep a few, but their discussion was interrupted by Immortal Maiden Jiangzhu. The chapter then shifted to Yaochi, where Ao Tu had awakened after abandoning Buddhahood and recalled that the Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner had settled over his shoulders as he prepared to attain the Dao.

• Bajie hid pearls, thumb rings, coral, and gold bricks on his body, but Wukong exposed each hiding place and made him return the treasures.
• Bajie refused to continue the journey until Wukong offered to let him keep some valuables, and they negotiated how many he could take.
• Immortal Maiden Jiangzhu descended, and Wukong identified her as a servant of Perfected Lord Taixi, making Bajie restrain himself.
• Ao Tu returned to Yaochi, where Zi'er and Qing'er awakened and Hong'er recovered in his arms.
• Ao Tu asked about the Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner, and Hong'er pointed out that it was already draped over his shoulders.
• Ao Tu remembered that the banner had settled over his shoulders while he stood atop the Great Dao preparing to attain the Dao.

Ao Tu realized that an unnamed senior had influenced him to seek Buddhahood, and he became more wary of hidden schemes in the Dao Contention. He sent Jiangzhu to Thorn Ridge to help Wukong, where she arrived just as the pilgrims faced trouble crossing the ridge.

• Ao Tu realized the unnamed senior had influenced his desire to attain Buddhahood, while the Plain-Colored Cloud-Realm Banner had dispelled the influence.
• Ao Tu reflected on hidden dangers in the Dao Contention and grew suspicious of Mahamayuri Bodhisattva, though he acknowledged the benefits she had given him.
• Ao Tu embraced Hong'er and then ordered Jiangzhu to descend to Thorn Ridge and subdue its monsters.
• Heavenly King Guangmu let Jiangzhu pass through the South Heaven Gate and explained to the Heavenly Soldiers why helping Perfected Lord Taixi could benefit them later.
• Jiangzhu met Wukong and Bajie at Thorn Ridge and said Ao Tu had sent her to help them cross the ridge.

Jiangzhu cleared Thorn Ridge so Tang Sanzang and his disciples could continue west, while preparations for the Peach Banquet continued in Yaochi. Ao Tu received rewards and entered the Lesser Thunderclap mission, whose Remnant Willow Branch reward might help him forge an escape treasure.

• Jiangzhu used the Alchemy Furnace to remove Thorn Ridge's demons, tree monsters, and thorns, then spared the captured spirits at Wukong's request for the True Lord's sake.
• Wukong stopped Bajie from keeping any treasures, and Tang Sanzang thanked Perfected Lord Taixi before the group resumed its journey west.
• Jiangzhu returned to Yaochi, where the Queen Mother of the West gave Hong'er a new Immortal Gathering Banner and ordered her to safeguard the old one.
• Ao Tu settled the Thorn Ridge mission's rewards and began the Lesser Thunderclap mission with 173 days of progress.
• Ao Tu considered forging a treasure to help him escape danger and wondered whether the Lesser Thunderclap mission's Remnant Willow Branch could serve his purpose.

Ao Tu examined his rewards, gained insight from Amitabha Buddha’s path to Buddhahood, and chose not to join the Buddhist Sect. After Jiangzhu brought in the captured Apricot Spirit, the spirit killed herself, but Ao Tu revived her with a pill.

• Ao Tu received the Demon-Gathering Banner, Heavenly Eye, and Ancient Buddha Lineage, and witnessed memories of Amitabha Buddha’s life and a battle between sages.
• Ao Tu’s understanding of Buddhist Dharma deepened, but he rejected the chance to attain Buddhahood and reflected on his repeated failures to attain the Dao.
• Ao Tu met Jiangzhu as she returned with Mingniang and the captured Apricot Spirit, whose clothes were torn from the struggle.
• Ao Tu rewarded Mingniang with a Golden Elixir, a Jade Pill, and a deputy position in the Xiali Bureau, despite her protests that she wanted no reward.
• The Apricot Spirit severed her heart meridian and died after Mingniang released her hold, and Ao Tu revived her with a pill.

Ao Tu restored the Apricot Immortal and brought her into his service before his Incarnation lured the Yellow-Browed Old Demon into Little Thunderclap Temple. He left the demon startled by his claim that a New Buddha had appeared in the east.

• Ao Tu revived the Apricot Immortal with an Immortal Elixir, proved his identity with his blood essence, and told her she could stay with him.
• Jiangzhu helped the Apricot Immortal choose an Immortal Garment, then confided in Ao Tu about her worries.
• Ao Tu's Incarnation deliberately flew past Little Western Heaven, prompting the Yellow-Browed Old Demon to invite him to Little Thunderclap Temple.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon ordered his demons to capture a man and prepared a feast of human flesh for Ao Tu.
• Ao Tu declined the meal, claiming that a New Buddha had preached in the east, and the Yellow-Browed Old Demon was shocked.

Ao Tu recited part of the New Buddha’s scripture to the Yellow-Browed Old Demon, who later prepared to capture Tang Sanzang and his disciples at Lesser Thunderclap Temple. When the pilgrims turned away from the temple, the Yellow-Browed Old Demon disguised himself as a Daoist priest to lure them back.

• Ao Tu recited ten lines of the New Buddha’s scripture for the Yellow-Browed Old Demon, then claimed he could not remember the rest.
• After the seasons passed, Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached a towering mountain, where Wukong smashed a boulder and frightened away the beasts.
• The pilgrims spotted a temple that Wukong suspected was dangerous, and Sha Wujing persuaded Tang Sanzang to view it with the group rather than send Wukong ahead alone.
• Tang Sanzang saw the name Thunderclap Monastery and turned back, while Wukong pointed out that it was Lesser Thunderclap Temple.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon learned the pilgrims were retreating, then disguised himself as the Golden-Crowned Great Immortal of Jade Truth Temple and rode ahead to deceive them.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples fled the Yellow-Browed Old Demon's trap, but the demon pursued them and tried to stop them with a new disguise. The chapter leaves him claiming to be an injured monk after grabbing Bajie's leg.

• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon disguised himself as a Daoist and tried to lead Tang Sanzang into Lesser Thunderclap Temple, but Tang pretended to rest and then fled with his disciples.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon waited in the temple disguised as the Buddha, while Ao Tu revealed that Tang Sanzang had escaped.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon discovered Tang and his disciples traveling through the night and resolved to deceive them again.
• Tang and his disciples ignored the demon when he first posed as an injured monk beside the road.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon grabbed Bajie's leg, then claimed he was a monk from Lesser Thunderclap Temple with a broken leg.

The Yellow-Browed Old Demon tried several disguises to recapture Tang Sanzang, but the pilgrims saw through his tricks. He fought Wukong and used his pouch to capture Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing, while Wukong escaped.

• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon pretended to be an injured monk, but Tang Sanzang and his disciples left him behind and fled.
• Ao Tu told the Yellow-Browed Old Demon that Tang Sanzang had escaped, so the demon chased them and disguised himself as an old granny.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples ignored the disguised demon until he exposed himself by accusing Tang Sanzang of striking him.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon resumed his true form and fought Wukong for fifty or sixty exchanges.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon opened his pouch and sucked Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing inside, while Wukong fled.

The Yellow-Browed Old Demon captured Tang Sanzang and his disciples, but Wukong sneaked into the temple and freed them. Their escape was short-lived: the demon caught up with them and challenged Wukong to fight.

• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon bound Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing, took their sacred belongings, and celebrated with the demons.
• Wukong entered the sleeping temple disguised as a bat, failed to untie the sack, then found and freed Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing.
• Wukong and his companions escaped with the White Dragon Horse and fled west while the demons slept.
• A little demon discovered the prisoners were gone, and the Yellow-Browed Old Demon led his followers in pursuit.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon caught up with the group, claimed to be the Yellow-Browed Old Buddha, and challenged Wukong, who drew his staff to fight.

After the Yellow-Browed Old Demon captured Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing, Wukong escaped and devised a plan to exploit the demon’s desire to attain Buddhahood. Disguised as a monk carrying Tathagata’s sarira, Wukong approached the demon and drew him into a trade for the Buddha Treasure.

• Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing fought the Yellow-Browed Old Demon, but little demons seized Tang Sanzang and captured Bajie and Sha Wujing while Wukong fought on.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon reopened his pouch, forcing Wukong to escape as he carried Tang Sanzang and the others back to his temple.
• Wukong recalled the demon’s longing for Buddhahood, transformed into a bhikshu, and used the Demon Dragon’s scripture and Tathagata’s sarira to create a convincing display of Buddha-light.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon mistook Wukong for a messenger from Buddha, and Wukong claimed the sarira was meant to help Sun Wukong attain Buddhahood first.
• Wukong pretended Tang Sanzang and his disciples had died and offered to sell the sarira; the Yellow-Browed Old Demon offered his Wolf-Tooth Club, but Wukong rejected it and demanded another treasure.

Wukong bargained with the Yellow-Browed Old Demon for the Holy Buddha Sarira, refusing successive offers until the demon considered trading his Postnatal Sack. The demon became convinced that exchanging his treasures for the Sarira could make him a Buddha, leaving the deal poised to proceed.

• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon offered Tang Sanzang's Brocade Kasaya for Wukong's Sarira, and Wukong accepted it but refused to trade.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon added Tang Sanzang's Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff, but Wukong still demanded more and claimed to be a disciple of Venerable Ananda.
• When Wukong pretended to leave, the Yellow-Browed Old Demon called him back and added the Golden Cymbals, which Wukong dismissed as an unsuitable extra.
• Wukong let the Yellow-Browed Old Demon smell the Sarira, then pointed out the Postnatal Sack at his waist as the treasure he really wanted.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon refused to trade the sack at first, but Wukong threatened to find another buyer or eat the Sarira himself.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon reasoned that trading the sack would leave it within the Buddhist fold and that becoming a Buddha would protect him from punishment, and he reconsidered the exchange.

Wukong tricked Yellow-Brow into trading four treasures for the Holy Buddha Śarīra, then trapped him in the Golden Cymbals and freed Tang Sanzang and the others. After the pilgrims left, Yellow-Brow’s demons sought help from Ao Tu, who agreed to rescue him.

• Wukong persuaded Yellow-Brow to sign a contract trading his four treasures for the Holy Buddha Śarīra.
• After taking the treasures, Wukong revealed himself, reclaimed the Śarīra, trapped Yellow-Brow in the Golden Cymbals, and defeated the demons who attacked him.
• Wukong freed Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and the others, then left Yellow-Brow trapped as the pilgrims continued west.
• The next day, Yellow-Brow’s demons failed to break the Golden Cymbals and went to ask Ao Tu for help.
• Ao Tu heard that Yellow-Brow was in trouble and set out with the demons to rescue him.

Ao Tu reached the Golden Cymbals and used the Yellow-Browed Old Demon’s imprisonment to demand that he acknowledge Ao Tu as his leader. After the demon gave in, Ao Tu tried to free him but could not open the cymbals, and his proposed solution threatened to melt the prisoner along with them.

• Ao Tu ate several Little Demons who fled from him, and the rest called him Greater King.
• Ao Tu argued that his service under Tathagata Buddha made him senior to the Yellow-Browed Old Demon, who was trapped inside the Golden Cymbals.
• Ao Tu reminded the demon that he had previously insulted him and eaten his fragrant oil, then demanded that the demon follow his commands in exchange for rescue.
• When Ao Tu pretended to leave, the Yellow-Browed Old Demon apologized and agreed to follow him as senior brother.
• Ao Tu tried to pry apart the Golden Cymbals but failed, then suggested using Six Ding Divine Fire to melt them.
• The Yellow-Browed Old Demon warned Ao Tu that the fire would melt him along with the Golden Cymbals.

Ao Tu freed the Yellow-Browed Old Demon from the Golden Cymbals and devised a plan to recover his pouch by luring Tang Sanzang and his disciples into an ambush. Disguised as a melon seller, Ao Tu baited Bajie into stealing watermelons and then targeted Wukong, leaving the confrontation underway.

• Ao Tu used Buddhist True Words to open the Golden Cymbals, freed the Yellow-Browed Old Demon, and claimed the cymbals for himself.
• Ao Tu and the Yellow-Browed Old Demon planned to trick the travelers and ambush them if the deception failed.
• Ao Tu conjured a melon field and disguised himself as a Melon Elder while Tang Sanzang and his disciples traveled past.
• Bajie sneaked back to eat the melons, and Ao Tu beat him so that he fled with half a watermelon.
• Wukong and Sha Wujing ate the stolen watermelon while Tang Sanzang refused it, and Ao Tu emerged to accuse Wukong of stealing.

Wukong and the other pilgrims argued with Ao Tu after he caught Wukong eating a watermelon, and Ao Tu demanded payment for ten stolen melons. Wukong agreed to compensate him with ten watermelons from Flower-Fruit Mountain and prepared to fetch them.

• Ao Tu chased Wukong with a Wooden Staff and accused him of stealing watermelons, while Tang Sanzang tried to mediate.
• Tang Sanzang admitted Wukong had taken the melons and offered to pay, but Ao Tu demanded twenty taels of silver for ten watermelons.
• Bajie and Sha Wujing objected to the price, and Wukong defended Tang Sanzang while pointing out Bajie as the likely thief.
• Ao Tu said Wukong had to pay because he had eaten a watermelon, and Wukong agreed to provide ten watermelons instead of silver.
• Wukong said he would bring melons from Flower-Fruit Mountain, and Ao Tu stopped him as he prepared to leave.

Wukong tried to secure melons from Flower-Fruit Mountain to repay Ao Tu, but Ao Tu tricked him into surrendering his clothes and Bundle, capturing Tang Monk and the others. Wukong later returned to the Lesser Thunderclap Temple to rescue them, where Ao Tu and the Yellow-Browed Old Demon ambushed him and the gods.

• Ao Tu demanded security before Wukong could leave for Flower-Fruit Mountain and tricked him into handing over his clothes along with the Bundle.
• Ao Tu used the Bundle to capture Tang Monk, Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the white horse while Wukong escaped.
• Ao Tu told the Yellow-Browed Old Demon that Wukong had learned to be slippery after Tathagata Buddha trapped him beneath Five-Finger Mountain.
• Wukong returned to the Lesser Thunderclap Temple at midnight and learned from the gods that his companions were locked in the Buddha Hall.
• Ao Tu and the Yellow-Browed Old Demon ambushed Wukong and the gods, and Ao Tu tossed up the Bundle as Wukong turned to flee.

After Ao Tu and the Yellow-Browed Old Demon captured Tang Sanzang and the gods, Wukong sought help from Guanyin but discovered the demon was not her disciple. Suspecting Ao Tu had once served as the Buddha’s Bell Keeper, Wukong headed to Yaochi to investigate while the Peach Banquet guests gathered.

• Ao Tu kept the Yellow-Browed Old Demon's Bundle, returning only the Golden Cymbals while they planned to capture Wukong.
• The Little Western Heaven Earth God told Wukong that Tang Sanzang and the gods were bound, so Wukong left to seek Guanyin at Mount Putuo.
• Wukong brought Mucha to challenge the Yellow-Browed Old Demon, but Ao Tu's Bundle captured Mucha and Wukong fled.
• Wukong concluded that the Yellow-Browed Old Demon was not Guanyin's disciple and suspected Ao Tu had ties to the Buddha's followers.
• Wukong went to Yaochi, where immortals had begun gathering for the Peach Banquet.

At the Yaochi Peach Banquet, Ao Tu obtained a section of Guanyin Bodhisattva’s Willow Branch and her artifact-refining notes, while learning that she sensed an unclear opportunity tied to him. As Tathagata Buddha prepared to attend the banquet, he arranged for Maitreya Buddha to extend King Tang Li Shimin’s lifespan by ten years, setting the stage for Buddhist plans in the east.

• Ao Tu greeted the Barefoot Immortal and other immortals at Yaochi, then joined them in welcoming Guanyin Bodhisattva.
• Ao Tu followed Guanyin Bodhisattva to the lotus pond and traded pleasantries before asking her for a Willow Branch to refine a treasure.
• Guanyin Bodhisattva gave Ao Tu a finger-length section of Willow Branch and a book of artifact-refining methods, then revealed that she sensed an obscure opportunity concerning her path and Ao Tu.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva arrived, so Ao Tu concealed himself while Guanyin Bodhisattva joined them.
• At Spirit Mountain, Tathagata Buddha asked Maitreya Buddha to extend King Tang Li Shimin’s lifespan by ten years because Buddha Randeng was injured.
• Tathagata Buddha departed for the Yaochi banquet, while Maitreya Buddha stayed behind to watch the lower realm and plan the lifespan extension.

Wukong went to Yaochi seeking Tathagata Buddha, while Ao Tu watched the banquet and wagered with Nezha about Wukong’s arrival and his latest encounter. The chapter ended with Wukong returning to Yaochi as Ao Tu and Nezha began another wager over whom he would speak to first.

• Wukong arrived at Yaochi naked and told the immortals that a Demon Dragon had stolen his treasures and clothes, spreading the story throughout the Three Realms.
• Ao Tu returned to Yaochi and gave Wukong clothes, but Wukong left for Spirit Mountain before Tathagata Buddha arrived.
• Tathagata Buddha arrived after Wukong had departed, and the Queen Mother of the West opened the banquet.
• Ao Tu watched Venerable Kasyapa collect Golden Elixirs from the Eighteen Arhats, including a Three-Turn Golden Elixir Ao Tu had refined.
• Ao Tu wagered with Nezha that Wukong would return within a quarter-hour, won, and declined to take Nezha’s Peach of Immortality; he then told Nezha the truth about Little Western Heaven.
• Nezha lost another wager and drank three more cups, then wagered that Wukong would speak to him first when Wukong returned to Yaochi.

Wukong learned from Tathagata Buddha that the Yellow-Browed Old Demon was not from Taishang Laojun’s palace, then received a talisman to counter the demon’s Acquired Bag. He infiltrated Lesser Thunderclap Temple disguised as a patrol demon and seized the Golden Cymbals, revealing himself to the Yellow-Browed Old Demon.

• Tathagata Buddha told Wukong that the Yellow-Browed Old Demon and the Demon Dragon were fellow disciples but that the demon did not come from his school, and promised to explain more after the assembly.
• Wukong asked Taishang Laojun for help, and Laojun denied sending the demon before teaching Wukong a Taiji Talisman to anchor the Acquired Bag in the present.
• Wukong disguised himself as a lesser demon, learned the patrol demons’ names and orders, immobilized them, took their waist tokens, and entered Lesser Thunderclap Temple in disguise.
• Wukong tricked the Yellow-Browed Old Demon into showing him the Golden Cymbals and learned that the other treasure was not with the demon.
• Wukong snatched the Golden Cymbals, returned to his true form, and revealed himself to the Yellow-Browed Old Demon.