Chapter Summaries

Ao Tu spread his reputation along the Luo River by granting children to deserving families, while Nezha and Red Boy helped him preach. After Ao Tu gave Nezha a seal to ease the strain of receiving worshippers’ faith, Nezha fell asleep, and someone called for Ao Tu from outside the temple.

• A peddler in Chang'an sold pictures of Guanyin holding children, claiming the image came from Wu Daozi after the Bodhisattva granted him offspring.
• Ao Tu led Nezha and Red Boy in spreading their teachings along the Luo River and granting children to kindhearted families.
• Nezha complained about the exhausting work, while Red Boy fell asleep from the strain of the accumulated faith.
• Ao Tu inscribed a Lotus Flower Precious Seal on Nezha with his divine blood, easing the burden of the worshippers’ faith.
• Ao Tu recited scriptures until Nezha fell asleep, then continued meditating as someone called out for him, saying Old Sun needed to see him.

Wukong found Ao Tu and urged him to take a prince of Jade Flower Prefecture as a disciple, but Ao Tu waited with the sleeping Red Boy and Nezha before deciding what to do. After granting a child to a couple who prayed at the temple, Ao Tu marked Red Boy with a hidden flame-shaped brand that glowed when he touched it.

• Wukong found Ao Tu at a temple by the Luo River, where Ao Tu was sitting with Red Boy and Nezha asleep against him.
• Wukong asked Ao Tu to take a prince of Jade Flower Prefecture as his disciple and help spread the Great Sect, but Ao Tu told him to hide when visitors approached.
• Ao Tu disguised himself as Guanyin Bodhisattva and granted a child to a couple who came to pray, explaining that the man's childhood illness had left him unable to father children.
• After the couple left, Wukong questioned Ao Tu about the karmic consequences of the man's work castrating pigs, and Ao Tu said he saw no wrongdoing in an honest livelihood.
• The next day, Ao Tu drew a flame-shaped mark on Red Boy's chest; it disappeared, then glowed when Ao Tu touched it.

Ao Tu arrived in Jade Flower Prefecture with Nezha, Wukong, and Red Boy, presenting himself as the lord of the Great Sect of the Western Heaven. He agreed to help the third prince resolve his family’s succession dispute and offered to take him as a disciple, leaving the prince uncertain because Wukong had not consulted Sha Wujing.

• Nezha woke in Ao Tu’s arms, embarrassed when he realized Wukong and Red Boy had seen him, then joined them on the journey to meet a prince.
• Ao Tu insisted the prince come out to greet him and displayed his Golden Lotus throne and treasures as the third prince arrived with a Processional Guard.
• The third prince explained that his gravely ill father feared his sons would fight over the throne and asked Ao Tu to restore harmony among the brothers.
• Ao Tu declined the offer of national incense worship and offered to take the third prince as his eldest disciple, promising he could inherit his mantle.
• The third prince asked whether Wukong had consulted Sha Wujing, and Wukong urged him to accept first and explain the matter to his former master later.

Ao Tu revealed that the immortal masters who tested the princes were all his incarnations, selected the Third Prince as the worthy successor, and settled the princes’ debts and powers. After Tang Sanzang and his disciples left Jade Flower Prefecture, Ao Tu took Nezha and Red Boy to the Heavenly Realm and told Nezha he was going to Yaochi, leaving Nezha flustered by his explanation.

• The Third Prince resisted Ao Tu’s offer to become his disciple but agreed to honor Ao Tu’s sect while continuing to follow the Buddhist Sect.
• Ao Tu revealed that Taiqian Taoist, Baoshan Taoist, and his other forms were all his incarnations, and explained that he had tested the princes to find the true king.
• Ao Tu healed the Old King, and Bajie rebuked the Eldest Prince and Second Prince for neglecting their ailing father.
• Ao Tu reversed the divine strength and jewel light he had given the two elder princes, restoring them to ordinary mortals, then departed with Nezha, Red Boy, and Bai Ze.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples left Jade Flower Prefecture, while Ao Tu sent Red Boy to the Golden Ox Star Palace and headed toward Yaochi with Nezha.
• Ao Tu whispered an explanation about his visit to Yaochi, and Nezha blushed and pulled away.

Ao Tu secretly reunited with Hong'er, and they spent a month together in the lower realm before she returned to Yaochi with lychees for her sisters. Qing'er teased Hong'er about her absence and thanked Ao Tu as her brother-in-law, while Zi'er remained unaware of their relationship.

• Ao Tu brought Immortal Lychees to Yaochi and secretly met Hong'er outside the Eastern Side Hall.
• Ao Tu and Hong'er went to Zhuogou Spring on Pansi Ridge, where they shared an intimate reunion and stayed together for a month.
• When Hong'er said she had to return to Heaven, Ao Tu offered her an Immortal Lychee Tree, but she took only several jin of lychees for her sisters.
• Hong'er returned to Yaochi after being delayed for several days, and Qing'er teased her about her absence and thanked Ao Tu as her brother-in-law.
• Zi'er asked why Qing'er called Ao Tu their brother-in-law, unaware that he and Hong'er were together.

Kasyapa and Alu dismantled the Eight Treasures Art and stored its pieces in the Treasure Pavilion while discussing Ananda’s return. In the Flower Realm, Ao Tu examined his new rewards, suspected the Eight Treasures Art remnant came from a future battle, and decided to leave troop training to Minghe while his avatar obstructed the Journey to the West.

• Kasyapa prepared the Bodhi Tree for relocation, and Tathagata Buddha ordered it moved to China after the Pilgrim obtained the scriptures, with Golden-Winged Great Peng carrying it.
• Kasyapa and Alu arranged to dismantle the Eight Treasures Art, and Sage Zhunti recorded the pool water as twenty vats and the broken materials as a hundred baskets.
• Alu learned from Kasyapa that Ananda’s reincarnation was already on Spirit Mountain as Demon Dragon and would return after earning merit by lifting Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
• Ao Tu examined his rewards, gave the Nine-Petaled Golden Hammer to Bai Ze, and fitted the Sun Essence Needle onto his sundial.
• Ao Tu suspected the Eight Treasures Art remnant came from a future fight on Spirit Mountain and decided to let Minghe train the troops while his avatar obstructed the Journey to the West.

Ao Tu sent his Incarnation toward Jinping Prefecture after noticing new rewards for delaying Tang Sanzang, while Tang Sanzang and his disciples arrived in the city and stayed for the Lantern Festival. On Golden Lamp Bridge, Wukong questioned the story behind the costly fragrant-oil lamps and suspected a dragon was involved.

• Ao Tu noticed two additional rewards in the mission and sent his Incarnation toward Jinping Prefecture, resolving to abstain from tea for a year.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples entered Ciyun Temple, where the monks welcomed the pilgrim from China and explained they were in Jinping Prefecture.
• The monks persuaded Tang Sanzang and his disciples to stay for the Lantern Festival, and the group admired the city's lanterns and festivities.
• On Golden Lamp Bridge, the monks explained that Mintian County households supplied costly Suhe Fragrant Oil for three giant lamps, which Buddhas supposedly collected each year.
• Wukong used his Golden Eyes to inspect a monk, then called out to Dragon Brother and asked him to reveal himself.

Three demons disguised as Buddhas captured Tang Sanzang during the lantern viewing in Jinping Prefecture, and Wukong pursued them to Azure Dragon Mountain. After Tang Sanzang tried to secure his release by promising ransom money, Wukong confronted the demons’ messenger and demanded that they return his master.

• Three demons swept up the oil vat, seized Tang Sanzang, and escaped in a blinding gust while Wukong and his companions were at the lantern display.
• Wukong sent Bajie and Sha Wujing back to guard the horse and luggage, then followed the demons to Azure Dragon Mountain.
• The Four Duty Gods told Wukong that Great King Bihan, Great King Bishu, and Great King Bichen lived in Xuanying Cave and planned to fry Tang Sanzang in fragrant oil.
• Tang Sanzang offered the demons a large ransom and described Wukong so they could send for him.
• A little ox spirit met Wukong on the mountain, and Wukong admitted he was the disciple the demons sought.
• Wukong enlarged his Golden Cudgel, shook the mountain, and warned the little ox spirit to demand Tang Sanzang’s release.

Wukong fought the three rhinoceros yaoguai who had captured Tang Sanzang and used his Alms Bowl to trap Bihan and Bishu. After capturing all three, he demanded to know whose mounts they were, but they insisted they served no Buddha or Bodhisattva.

• The three rhinoceros yaoguai emerged from Xuanying Cave and fought Wukong for hundreds of rounds before their followers joined the battle.
• Wukong trapped Bihan and Bishu beneath his Alms Bowl, while Bichen escaped and tried unsuccessfully to free them.
• Bichen turned into a rhinoceros and tried to pry up the bowl, but Wukong returned, broke his hind leg, and captured him and the fleeing ox spirits.
• Wukong bound the three yaoguai and questioned them about their origins and why they had captured Tang Sanzang.
• The three yaoguai said they were mountain rhinoceros spirits who had mistaken Tang Sanzang for food and denied being anyone's mounts or disciples, so Wukong broke their hind legs.

Wukong captured and killed the three rhinoceros demons in Jinping Prefecture, ending their extortion of fragrant oil and presenting a pair of their horns to Ao Tu. After Ao Tu persuaded him to deliver another pair to the Jade Emperor in person, Wukong got Tang Sanzang’s approval and flew to heaven.

• Wukong interrogated the three rhinoceros demons, rescued Tang Sanzang, gathered the cave’s valuables, and returned to Jinping Prefecture.
• Wukong revealed the demons to the people, and Bajie killed them while Wukong removed their six horns and arranged for their meat and hides to be distributed.
• Ao Tu arrived, learned that Wukong had already defeated the demons, and accepted a pair of horns; he also took the surviving little ox spirits to plow fields.
• Ao Tu urged Wukong to present the Jade Emperor’s pair of horns in person, and Wukong agreed after informing Tang Sanzang.
• Wukong took the horns and flew to heaven to deliver them to the Jade Emperor.

Wukong presented the rhinoceros horns to the Jade Emperor and Tathagata Buddha, who asked him to invite Ao Tu to Spirit Mountain as the Western Heaven Savior Celestial Worthy. Ao Tu accepted the invitation and joined Tathagata’s banquet, where he rejected the Journey to the West route for Buddhism’s eastward migration and suggested Ananda escort Tathagata instead.

• Wukong brought the rhinoceros horns to the Heavenly Realm, where Taibai Jinxing identified them as treasures from celestial-marked rhinoceroses, and the Jade Emperor rewarded Wukong with four Golden Elixirs.
• Wukong presented the horns to Tathagata Buddha, who praised his service, returned the treasure, and asked him to invite Ao Tu to Spirit Mountain.
• Sage Zhunti resolved to obstruct Tathagata’s eastward migration and prompted Alu to investigate Kasyapa’s remark about Tang Sanzang reaching Spirit Mountain.
• Wukong found Tang Sanzang dining in Mintian County, reported Tathagata’s request, and then went to the Flower Realm to find Ao Tu.
• Ao Tu agreed to visit Spirit Mountain, prepared a Ten-Thousand-Year Tridacna as a return gift, and accompanied Wukong to Tathagata’s welcoming banquet.
• Ao Tu rejected the Journey to the West as the route for Buddhism’s migration east and proposed that Ananda escort Tathagata instead.

Ao Tu pressed Tathagata Buddha about Ananda’s unknown reincarnation while discussing Buddhism’s migration east, and refused the gifts offered to him. Kasyapa finally revealed Ananda’s whereabouts at Lingyun Crossing, where Ananda could earn merit by bearing Tang Sanzang or one of his disciples across the bridge.

• Ao Tu told Tathagata Buddha that Ananda’s whereabouts were the only remaining obstacle to his plans, and Tathagata said Ananda had fallen into reincarnation and could not be located.
• Tathagata Buddha offered Ao Tu Immortal Fruits and a Ten-Buddha Kasaya, but Ao Tu refused the kasaya and continued asking about Ananda.
• After Ao Tu ignored the banquet’s entertainers and spoke only of Ananda, Tathagata sent Wukong to persuade him, but Ao Tu sent Wukong back.
• At the hour of the Rat, Kasyapa brought the kasaya to Ao Tu and offered to reveal Ananda’s whereabouts in exchange for a gift.
• Ao Tu gave Kasyapa a Dharma Wheel of mixed gold, and Kasyapa told him Ananda was at Lingyun Crossing beneath Spirit Mountain, where he could earn merit by helping one of Tang Sanzang’s party cross the narrow bridge.

Ao Tu secured the Eastern Migration at Spirit Mountain, while Alu’s attempt to help two monks from Fengxian County lodge a complaint was thwarted. As Tang Sanzang and his disciples resumed their journey west, Ao Tu reached Tianzhu Kingdom, where the little red bird was born as a six-year-old girl.

• Kasyapa accepted Ao Tu’s Great Treasure Kasaya and revealed where Ananda had reincarnated, and Ao Tu later questioned Alu about what Dharani had told him.
• Alu instructed two monks from Fengxian County to wait while he arranged for their complaint to reach the Buddha, but the temple guards turned them away when they tried to enter Spirit Mountain.
• Wukong returned to Jinping Prefecture and told Tang Sanzang, Bajie, and Sha Wujing that Tathagata planned to move to the Eastern Land, after which the group set out west again.
• Ao Tu traveled to Tianzhu Kingdom and fled to Centipede Mountain when the little red bird’s birth set off a blaze of Li Fire that destroyed the Centipede Demons.
• The Jade Rabbit Spirit came to investigate and watched the little red bird absorb the Li Fire, become a six-year-old girl, and ask Ao Tu to ride on her back; Ao Tu gave her a Feather Plain Garment.

Ao Tu captured the Jade Rabbit Spirit and ordered her to test Tang Sanzang’s resolve, then settled her grievance with the former princess of Tianzhu and restored the princess to immortality. After the princess ascended and her aged parents died, Ao Tu took their souls to his Good Realm and assumed the emperor’s identity, leaving the Jade Rabbit Spirit as his daughter while they awaited Tang Sanzang.

• Ao Tu named his newly born Vermilion Bird Zhu Li, who chased the fleeing Jade Rabbit Spirit until Ao Tu captured her with Universe in the Sleeve.
• Ao Tu spared the Jade Rabbit Spirit and instructed her to lure Tang Sanzang into the palace and try to unsettle his resolve with her words.
• The former princess of Tianzhu accused the Jade Rabbit Spirit of stealing her identity, and Ao Tu confirmed their past-life grievance with the Hetu Luoshu before giving the princess a Three-Turn Golden Elixir.
• The princess and Jade Rabbit Spirit visited the Tianzhu palace, where the Jade Rabbit Spirit revived the dying emperor and explained the truth about the two women.
• The emperor and empress died after reconciling their daughters, and Ao Tu sent their souls to his Good Realm while giving Black and White Impermanence Immortal Elixirs.
• The princess ascended to the Moon Palace, while Ao Tu impersonated the emperor and promised the Jade Rabbit Spirit he would choose a husband for her when Tang Sanzang arrived.

Ao Tu settled into the Tianzhu palace and arranged for the Jade Rabbit Spirit to choose a husband when Tang Sanzang arrived. After collecting rewards from his previous interception, he entered the Tianzhu side quest with 138 days of progress, while Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached the region; the chapter ended with an author’s request for side-story suggestions.

• Ao Tu told the crown prince to announce that the princess would choose a husband in half a month, offering the wealth of the kingdom as her dowry.
• Ao Tu lived in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, while the Jade Rabbit Spirit served him and drew suitors with her reputation for filial devotion.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples passed beyond Jinping Prefecture, and Ao Tu’s rewards were settled before he entered the Tianzhu side quest with 138 days of progress.
• Ao Tu spoke with Guanyin Bodhisattva, then gave his Self Corpse the Plague-Subduing Seal despite its plan to use the treasure against followers.
• Ao Tu let Zhu Li, White Chi, and the Jade Rabbit Spirit bathe in the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, and the Jade Rabbit Spirit emerged more radiant.
• The author invited readers to suggest side stories about Ao Tu’s companions, friends, teacher, and three corpses.

Ao Tu exposed the Jade Rabbit Spirit’s attempt to seduce him and turned her into a rabbit, while Tang Sanzang’s party continued toward the Tianzhu Kingdom. At the Gold-Scattering Zen Temple, they learned that the Princess was choosing a husband, and Bajie eagerly urged the group to go see her.

• Ao Tu gave the Jade Rabbit Spirit an Immortal Fruit, then exposed her false illness and transformed her into her rabbit form.
• Tang Sanzang warned Wukong not to assume the mountains near Spirit Mountain were free of demons, and Wukong scouted ahead.
• Wukong found centipede demons burned to ash and reported that a divine being had likely destroyed them.
• At the Gold-Scattering Zen Temple, the abbot confirmed its connection to Anathapindika and said the Princess had burned the demons with heavenly fire.
• The abbot explained that the Princess had returned from heaven to care for her dying father and was choosing a husband, prompting Bajie to ask the group to go see her.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached the Tianzhu Kingdom and sought to have their travel papers endorsed. While Tang Sanzang was summoned to the palace, the Jade Rabbit Spirit prepared to take part in the princess’s husband selection, and Bajie decided he wanted to see the event.

• Tang Sanzang rebuked Bajie for getting excited about the princess choosing an imperial son-in-law, and the abbot explained that many young monks were joining the selection.
• The next day, Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached the Tianzhu Kingdom, confirmed their destination, and went to the courier station to request an audience with the emperor.
• Ao Tu learned that Tang Sanzang had arrived and used his magic to conceal the Jade Rabbit Spirit’s identity before she changed into princess’s attire.
• An official summoned Tang Sanzang to the palace, and Tang Sanzang warned Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing not to cause trouble while he was gone.
• After hearing that the crowd was gathering for the princess’s husband selection, Bajie urged Wukong to go and watch.

Bajie, Wukong, and Sha Wujing joined the Princess’s husband-selection banquet, where they passed the tests while Tang Sanzang waited for his travel papers. As Ao Tu took the finalists to the rear garden and the Jade Rabbit Spirit retired, Tang Sanzang was left alone in a palace corridor and chose the left passage when maids approached.

• Bajie persuaded Wukong and Sha Wujing to attend the husband selection, and the three gained entry by displaying their strength.
• Ao Tu arrived with the Jade Rabbit Spirit, and Tang Sanzang clarified that he had come only to have his travel papers endorsed.
• Ao Tu served a feast and tested the candidates; Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing passed while more than two hundred others were eliminated.
• Ao Tu postponed endorsing Tang Sanzang’s papers, sent him to rest, and led the remaining candidates to the rear garden as the Jade Rabbit Spirit retired.
• A palace official left Tang Sanzang alone in a corridor, and Tang Sanzang turned left to avoid two approaching palace maids.

Tang Sanzang was framed by the Jade Rabbit Spirit after wandering into her bedchamber, while Ao Tu urged Bajie to remain in Tianzhu as a candidate to marry the Princess. The Princess then appeared before Ao Tu in tears, leaving the reason for her distress unresolved.

• Tang Sanzang entered the Jade Rabbit Spirit’s bedchamber by mistake, and she had him seized after planting a gauze scarf in his collar and accusing him of indecency.
• Ao Tu returned from the Imperial Garden with ten marriage candidates, and Wukong revealed that he, Bajie, and Sha Wujing were Tang Sanzang’s disciples and wanted to withdraw.
• Ao Tu offered the disciples wealth and urged them to stay; Bajie accepted the chance to marry the Princess despite Wukong and Sha Wujing’s objections.
• Ao Tu agreed to let the disciples remain until the Imperial Son-in-Law was chosen and planned to have Tang Sanzang recite auspicious scriptures afterward.
• Female officials reported that they had failed, and the disheveled, weeping Princess rushed into Ao Tu’s arms.

The Jade Rabbit Spirit framed Tang Sanzang for violating her chastity, then proposed marrying him to avoid conflict between India and the Great Tang. As the crowd turned against Tang Sanzang, Wukong and the others protected him.

• The Jade Rabbit Spirit accused Tang Sanzang of entering her chambers and ruining her chastity, and Ao Tu ordered him brought to judgment.
• Tang Sanzang admitted entering the princess's chambers by mistake, while the eunuch's testimony and the Jade Rabbit Spirit's scarf made him appear guilty.
• Ao Tu ordered Tang Sanzang beheaded, but the Jade Rabbit Spirit urged him to spare Tang Sanzang and proposed that she marry him instead.
• Tang Sanzang rejected the marriage and asked to leave, prompting the candidates to attack him as Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing stepped in to protect him.
• Bajie accused Tang Sanzang of secretly going to the palace to marry the princess while the disciples had stayed behind.