Chapter Summaries

Ao Tu prepared to practice a great formation with the Host of Stars and received a strand of Ziwei Dragon Qi from Great Emperor Ziwei. Afterward, he set out with Taibai Jinxing to pay his respects to the Jade Emperor, leaving Many-Eyed Monster behind in terror.

• Ao Tu told the gods to wait while he discussed the formation with Great Emperor Ziwei, and Many-Eyed Monster trembled at the prospect.
• Taibai Jinxing brought Great Emperor Ziwei to Ao Tu, who explained that he wanted the Host of Stars to study and practice a formation he had found.
• Great Emperor Ziwei gave Ao Tu Ziwei Stellar Qi transformed into dragon-shaped qi, and Ao Tu accepted it after deciding to claim he had obtained it from Ananda if questioned.
• Ao Tu asked Taibai Jinxing to accompany him to pay respects to the Jade Emperor, then told Many-Eyed Monster to remain with the Host of Stars until he returned.
• Many-Eyed Monster agreed and watched fearfully as Ao Tu departed with Taibai Jinxing.

Ao Tu arranged with the Jade Emperor to use the Great Formation of Stars of the Celestial Cycle to draw Wukong and the heavenly gods into a trial. He set up accommodations for the gods at Yellow Flower Temple and went to Green Cloud Mountain to meet Blood Sea, leaving the outcome of the ox spirit’s dispute unresolved.

• Ao Tu and Taibai Jinxing met the Jade Emperor, who explained that the formation’s sun-and-moon foundation would have to be broken at the sun and agreed to help draw the gods into the mortal realm.
• The Jade Emperor advised Ao Tu to use powers on Wukong that would make him seek help in Heaven without sending him straight to Tathagata Buddha.
• Ao Tu brought Many-Eyed Monster to meet the Thunder Department’s Heavenly Lords; the Celestial Worthy of Universal Transformation agreed only to have them respond as circumstances dictated.
• Ao Tu asked Many-Eyed Monster to expand Yellow Flower Temple as lodging for the gods, while demons would stay at Pansi Ridge, and then set off to summon demons from Blood Sea.
• Ao Tu entered Blood Sea’s demon city, heard how an ox spirit was being threatened over a tavern bill because of the proprietor’s powerful connections, and went unseen into Blood Sea’s residence.

Ao Tu planned to use the Soul-Scattering Gourd and Purple-Gold Red Gourd to open realms for punishing the wicked and rewarding the good, while preparing demons for the Great Formation of Stars of the Celestial Cycle. After inspecting his rewards from Zhu Zi Kingdom, he laid out plans for three successive formations and a future assault on Spirit Mountain, setting up a clash with Patriarch Styx and the Buddhist Sect.

• Ao Tu realized that vicious demons trapped in the Soul-Scattering Gourd could serve as officials in a realm that punished the wicked, while kindhearted demons could be rewarded in a realm opened with the Purple-Gold Red Gourd.
• Ao Tu sent his Blood Sea Incarnation to summon the White Bone Spirit, check the demon register, and gather the greater demons, demon generals, and demon kings for the Great Formation of Stars of the Celestial Cycle.
• Ao Tu examined his Zhu Zi Kingdom rewards, including the Soul-Falling Formation, Shifting Stars and Changing Dippers, Primordial Heaven Heavy Water, the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation Diagram, and the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree.
• Ao Tu planned to deploy the Great Formation of Stars of the Celestial Cycle at Pansi Ridge, the Twelve Divine Fiends Formation at Lion Camel Ridge, and the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation in Bhikshu Kingdom to prolong Tang Sanzang's journey.
• Ao Tu planned to fight Patriarch Styx over opening a realm in the Netherworld Blood Sea and to attack Spirit Mountain to establish a realm rewarding the good, with Tathagata Buddha deciding whether he had to retreat or could claim the mountain.

Ao Tu reviewed his rewards, gathered information about the demons under his command, and planned to lure Spirit Mountain’s forces into a battle at Pansi Ridge. He left his followers preparing an army and expecting to seize Spirit Mountain and receive divine titles.

• Ao Tu examined his rewards, and the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree acknowledged him as its master.
• Scorpion Demon offered to serve as Ao Tu’s mount, but he refused and received White Bone Spirit’s register of the demons’ past conduct.
• Ao Tu met the demon kings who had returned at Blood Sea’s summons and counted seventeen Golden Immortals among them.
• Ao Tu told the assembled demons he planned to capture Tang Sanzang at Pansi Ridge and use a formation to ambush the forces Spirit Mountain sent to rescue him.
• Ao Tu assigned Blood Sea to oppose Tathagata, Great Sun to oppose Randeng, and the other demons to fight Spirit Mountain’s remaining forces.
• Ao Tu ordered the demons to select thirty thousand capable lesser demons as soldiers, and they agreed.

Ao Tu assembled thirty thousand lesser demons for the march on Spirit Mountain, while the Spider Demons returned to Pansi Ridge and discussed their new rules and Little Spider Demon's feelings. As the army prepared to depart, Red Boy volunteered to guard the city because he feared fighting his father, and Ao Tu reassured him before Red Boy asked about Heavenly King Li.

• Ao Tu promised the lesser demons that loyal service and battle merit would earn them godhood and eternal life, then completed the selection of thirty thousand demon soldiers.
• The Spider Demons left Yellow Flower Temple for Pansi Ridge, where Eldest Sister told them to stop eating people at whim and warned Little Spider Demon that the Demon Dragon might never return her feelings.
• The Spider Demons feasted on meat, and Little Spider Demon avoided the preserved human flesh before retreating to digest her meal.
• Red Boy asked Ao Tu to let him stay behind because he feared meeting his father in battle and being forced to choose between fighting and filial duty.
• Ao Tu told Red Boy that the battle would be against monks, not Heavenly Realm immortals, and Red Boy asked whether they would also avoid fighting Heavenly King Li.

Ao Tu returned to Pansi Ridge and prepared to hold Tang Sanzang and his disciples there, arranging a vast complex and a plan to capture them. Tang Sanzang and his disciples finally arrived at the ridge and set out to beg for food.

• Ao Tu told Red Boy not to beat Heavenly King Li to death and said he would soon see Uncle Sun, while Six-Eared Macaque stayed behind to guard the city.
• Ao Tu reached Pansi Ridge and saw a quest offering increasingly valuable rewards for obstructing the Pilgrim, including the Six-Soul Banner after three years.
• Ao Tu told the Spider Demons to build accommodations for a hundred thousand demon soldiers and prison caves for two hundred thousand monks, and to help him capture Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
• Ao Tu rejected the eldest Spider Demon sister's plan to lure travelers with transformed beauties and proposed baiting Tang Sanzang's disciples into stealing three treasures instead.
• Ao Tu summoned the Mountain Gods, Earth Gods, Yin Soldiers, and ghosts to help the Spider Demons build the complex, which was completed in just over two months.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached Pansi Ridge, saw the houses and cooking smoke, and decided to beg for vegetarian food.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached Pansi Ridge, where Wukong warned them about demons and learned that seven female demons were seeking live-in husbands. He hid that detail from Bajie, but when Bajie went to ask Ao Tu for directions, the old man prepared to draw him in.

• Tang Sanzang proposed begging for food at the houses on Pansi Ridge, but Wukong spotted demonic aura and warned the group away.
• Bajie resisted Wukong’s suggestion that he clear the mountain, and an old man appeared to warn them about the demons.
• Wukong inspected Ao Tu and learned that seven female demons on the ridge were stopping men to seek live-in husbands.
• Wukong concealed the demons’ purpose from Tang Sanzang and exaggerated the danger, convincing him to take a detour.
• Bajie went to ask Ao Tu for directions, and Ao Tu welcomed the chance to meet him.

Bajie persuaded Tang Sanzang to take the easy route through Pansi Ridge, then followed a dragonfly demon into the compound where seven female demons were seeking husbands. Wukong saw him go inside and set off to check on him.

• Ao Tu told Bajie that the seven female demons on Pansi Ridge were recruiting live-in husbands and did not eat people.
• Bajie argued against taking a detour, and Wukong exposed his interest in the demons before Bajie volunteered to clear the way ahead.
• Tang Sanzang agreed to let Bajie go ahead, and the group climbed Pansi Ridge toward the compound.
• A dragonfly demon invited Bajie to inspect the estate, and Bajie followed it inside despite claiming he was only clearing the road.
• Wukong told Tang Sanzang that Bajie had entered the compound, then agreed to go after him when Sha Wujing urged him to check on their companion.

Bajie visited the spider sisters’ mountain residence and eagerly agreed to marry into their household, leaving his Rake as a betrothal token while Wukong secretly watched. Wukong returned to Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing with the news, and Bajie then came running back to them.

• Bajie followed the dragonfly spirit to the Zhu Residence and met the spider sisters, who said they were seeking a strong live-in husband.
• Bajie became eager to marry the sisters, and Wukong secretly observed their conversation while clinging to Bajie’s ear as a louse.
• The eldest sister asked Bajie to show his treasure, and after the sisters displayed three heirlooms, Bajie revealed his Rake.
• Bajie agreed to leave his Rake with the sisters as a betrothal token and returned without telling them that he had a master waiting outside.
• Wukong returned to Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing, reported that Bajie was marrying into the household, and said Bajie had given them his Rake.
• Bajie came running back to Tang Sanzang, shouting that he had good news.

Bajie brought Tang Sanzang and the others to the Zhu Residence, where Tang Sanzang discovered it was inhabited by demons. Wukong exposed Bajie’s secret agreement to marry one of the female demons, leaving Tang Sanzang angry and demanding that he break off the marriage.

• Bajie led Tang Sanzang, Wukong, and Sha Wujing to the Zhu Residence, claiming it was a charitable household offering lodging and vegetarian food.
• Tang Sanzang was frightened by the Wasp Spirit and the many strange spirits inside, while Wukong reassured him and Bajie urged him to stay.
• Bajie claimed he had subdued the demons and secured their hospitality, but Wukong revealed that Bajie had agreed to marry into their household.
• Wukong told Tang Sanzang that Bajie had pledged his Rake as a betrothal gift, and Bajie lied that he had sent it away to be sharpened.
• Tang Sanzang realized Bajie had deceived him and ordered him to break off the marriage, but Bajie asked to wait until the next day.

Tang Sanzang refused to eat because Bajie had tried to marry into the Spider Demons’ family, but Wukong cleverly fed him a disguised meal. Bajie sought a definite answer about the marriage and was later found collapsed near the main hall, claiming he had fallen ill.

• Tang Sanzang rejected Bajie’s help and food, but Wukong mixed rice and vegetables with crumbled cake and persuaded him to eat.
• Ao Tu summoned the seven Spider Demons and taught them a cultivation method.
• The next morning, Tang Sanzang prepared to leave with Wukong and Sha Wujing, but agreed to wait while Bajie asked the eldest Spider Demon about the marriage.
• The eldest Spider Demon said the sisters needed their elder brother’s approval, and hinted that Bajie would have to suffer a little while they waited.
• When Bajie did not return, Tang Sanzang sent Wukong to find him, and Wukong discovered him lying beside a pillar, saying he had fallen ill.

Bajie feigned a month-long illness as part of a scheme with the Spider Demons, while Wukong helped keep Tang Sanzang from discovering the truth. Wukong finally confronted Bajie, who confessed and begged him not to tell Tang Sanzang.

• Wukong carried Bajie back, and Bajie claimed an evil influence had made him sick.
• Wukong arranged for the Reed Bee Demon to bring venom disguised as medicine, and Wukong stopped Tang Sanzang from tasting it.
• Bajie kept pretending to be ill for a month while the Spider Demon sisters delayed his request to see their senior brother.
• Wukong bluffed that he would seek a healing pill from Perfected Lord Taixi, prompting Bajie to worry about wasting Wukong's favors.
• Wukong dragged Bajie from bed and revealed he knew about the ruse, and Bajie confessed the scheme and begged him to keep it from Tang Sanzang.

Bajie explained that he wanted to stay with the seven demon women, while Wukong agreed to investigate why they had delayed making him their husband. After the Lord of the Land could not confirm the women’s Elder Brother, Wukong gave Bajie two ways to test their sincerity, and Bajie went to question the eldest Spider Demon.

• Bajie confessed that he had feigned illness and told Wukong he preferred staying on the ridge to completing the pilgrimage.
• Wukong summoned the Lord of the Land, who said the seven demon women had occupied Zhuogou Spring and sought a husband to guard their property, but knew nothing about their Elder Brother.
• Bajie and Wukong waited another ten or twenty days, but the eldest Spider Demon continued to put off Bajie.
• Wukong told Bajie to ask for his Rake back and to request the Elder Brother’s address so Wukong could go invite him.
• Bajie went to find the eldest Spider Demon to test whether the women were sincere.

Bajie followed Wukong’s advice and tried to get his Rake back from the eldest Spider Demon sister, but she rebuked him and refused. Wukong realized the sisters were scheming to keep the weapon, so he sent Bajie to recover it that night while he prepared to leave with Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing.

• Bajie asked the eldest sister to reveal her Elder Brother’s whereabouts or return his Rake, but she accused him of breaking his promise and shamed him into silence.
• Ao Tu rewarded the eldest sister with an elixir pill and told her to keep watch with him for Bajie’s expected attempt to steal back the Rake.
• Bajie told Wukong what had happened, and Wukong concluded that the Spider Demons were trying to cheat Bajie out of his treasure.
• Wukong instructed Bajie to retrieve the Rake at night while he gathered Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing to leave secretly.
• The Spider Demon sisters teased Little Spider Demon about the eldest sister being with Ao Tu, then told her they were waiting to catch Bajie.

Bajie failed to steal the Rake and was caught and injured, so Wukong led him and Sha Wujing back to the hall the next night. They recovered the Rake and decided to take the demons’ other treasures as well.

• Eldest Sister Spider Demon struck Bajie with the Mani Pearl as he tried to steal the Rake, and he fled from the lesser demons.
• Wukong hid Bajie from the searching demons, and Bajie confessed his deception to Tang Sanzang, who postponed his punishment until his injury healed.
• Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing returned to the hall, where Wukong put the guards to sleep and Bajie recovered the Rake.
• Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Wukong decided to take the Precious Whip, Precious Sword, and Jewel along with the Rake.

Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing stole three treasures from Pansi Ridge and escaped with Tang Sanzang, while Ao Tu and the Spider Demons prepared to ambush them at Yellow Flower Temple. The travelers unknowingly approached the temple, hoping to ask its wealthy Daoist for lodging and food.

• Bajie took the Mani Pearl, Sha Wujing claimed the Precious Sword despite its cutting his hand, and Wukong took the Precious Whip.
• Wukong put the guards to sleep with Sleepy Bugs, and the four travelers escaped before the demons discovered them at daybreak.
• Ao Tu told the Spider Demons he had watched the theft and led them to Yellow Flower Temple to wait for Tang Sanzang's party.
• The Many-Eyed Monster promised to defeat Wukong with his Golden Light, while Ao Tu taught the eldest and fourth sisters incantations to use the Saintly Whip and Saintly Sword.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples rested after traveling through the night, then continued west and spotted Yellow Flower Temple in the mountains.
• Bajie suggested asking the wealthy Daoist for lodging and vegetarian food, and Tang Sanzang agreed to approach the temple.

The Many-Eyed Monster poisoned Tang Sanzang and his disciples with tea, then fought Wukong and captured the group with help from the Spider Demon sisters. In the dungeon, Bajie revealed the Mani Pearl as a way to neutralize the poison, leaving Wukong with a possible means to save his master and Sha Wujing.

• The Many-Eyed Monster prepared poisoned tea and gave it to Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing, but Wukong detected the poison after tasting it.
• Wukong fought the Many-Eyed Monster, escaped his Thousand Eyes attack, then knocked him down and demanded the antidote.
• The Spider Demon sisters seized Wukong's Saintly Whip and Sha Wujing's Saintly Sword, captured the disciples, and tortured Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing.
• The sisters locked all four disciples in the dungeon, where Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing remained gravely ill while Wukong recovered.
• Bajie revealed the Mani Pearl to Wukong and told him it could dispel calamity and neutralize poison.

After Ao Tu's Mani Pearl helped cure Tang Sanzang and reduce Sha Wujing's injuries, the demons recaptured the pilgrims and tortured them. Unable to travel, Wukong sent Bajie to Heaven for help, where Bajie asked the Jade Emperor to dispatch troops and explain the demons' powerful weapons.

• Bajie used the Mani Pearl to dispel the poison in Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing, and Wukong led the group out of Yellow Flower Temple.
• The spider demons pursued them, wounded Sha Wujing with the Saintly Sword, and captured all four pilgrims after the eldest sister whipped Tang Sanzang and Wukong.
• The Many-Eyed Monster ordered the pilgrims tortured, and the demons beat Sha Wujing before returning them to the cell.
• Bajie used the Mani Pearl to stop Sha Wujing's bleeding, while Wukong said he was too hurt to travel and told Bajie to seek help in Heaven.
• Bajie feigned plague, and the Daoist boys buried him on the Back Mountain; after they left, he escaped and flew to Heaven.
• Bajie gained an audience with the Jade Emperor and requested troops to rescue the pilgrims, describing the demons' Precious Sword and strange whip.

Bajie learned from Taishang Laojun that the Precious Whip punished the guilty and those who fled, then brought Heavenly King Li and Nezha to rescue Wukong and the others. Many-Eyed Monster trapped Wukong and Nezha in his Golden Light and yellow mist, captured them, and the eldest Spider Demon struck the fleeing Heavenly King Li with the Saintly Whip.

• Bajie asked Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor for troops, and Taishang Laojun explained the Precious Whip’s origins and how it punished the guilty and those who fled.
• Celestial Worthy Jade Emperor sent Heavenly King Li and Nezha to Yellow Flower Temple, while Bajie slipped inside and freed Tang Sanzang and Wukong from their cells.
• Wukong joined Nezha’s fight against Many-Eyed Monster, but the demon’s Golden Light and yellow mist trapped them and blocked Wukong’s attempt to dig their way out.
• Many-Eyed Monster captured Wukong and Nezha, and Heavenly King Li sounded the retreat and fled.
• The eldest Spider Demon lashed Heavenly King Li with the Saintly Whip, sending him tumbling from his cloud in pain.

The Many-Eyed Monster had Heavenly King Li and Sha Wujing beaten, but thunder frightened him into sending the captives back to their cell. Wukong escaped with the others and took Heavenly King Li to Heaven to request help, but Li stopped at Cloud Tower Palace before they could report to the Jade Emperor.

• The Many-Eyed Monster ordered Heavenly King Li beaten with a wolf-tooth club, then had Sha Wujing beaten before thunder drove the demons to return everyone to the cell.
• Wukong noticed the Many-Eyed Monster feared thunder and later distracted the guards with fake gold, knocked them unconscious, and led the prisoners out.
• Bajie carried Sha Wujing and Nezha carried Heavenly King Li as the group escaped without the horse or luggage.
• Wukong took Heavenly King Li to Heaven to request help from the Thunder Department, while Nezha stayed behind to protect Tang Sanzang.
• Heavenly King Li asked Wukong to wait outside Lingxiao Hall, then staggered back to Cloud Tower Palace to attend to family affairs.