Recaps

Sun Wukong and Nezha bonded over Nezha’s title, Ou Ba, and agreed to stage a controlled fight so Nezha could report back to the Jade Emperor. They began battling with their Three Heads and Six Arms techniques, and their weapons clashed in midair.

• Nezha embraced Sun Wukong after Sun Wukong praised his title, and the two cursed the Jade Emperor for overlooking them.
• Nezha told Sun Wukong that he and Li Jing had been sent to arrest him, but he could no longer bring himself to take his new friend back.
• Sun Wukong proposed that they fight carefully and leave each other with injuries enough to satisfy the Jade Emperor.
• Nezha and Sun Wukong activated Three Heads and Six Arms and prepared to fight at full strength while controlling their injuries.
• Nezha hurled the Universe Ring at Sun Wukong, who sent it back before throwing a Jingu Bang, and their weapons battled in midair.

Sun Wukong and Nezha continued their battle, trading blows in the air while their summoned weapons fought separately. Nezha’s Universe Ring and Heaven-Chaos Sash attacked Sun Wukong, but he seized control of the ring and flung it back at Nezha.

• Nezha sent his Heaven-Chaos Sash against a conjured Jingu Bang, and the weapons fought while Sun Wukong and Nezha dismissed their Three Heads and Six Arms to conserve Law Power.
• Sun Wukong and Nezha charged at each other on their mounts and clashed with the Jingu Bang and Fire-Tipped Spear.
• Nezha’s skillful spearwork initially pressed Sun Wukong, but Sun Wukong’s powerful staff blows eventually forced Nezha to spring away.
• Nezha summoned his Universe Ring and Heaven-Chaos Sash to attack Sun Wukong from both sides.
• Sun Wukong dodged the Universe Ring, spun it around his Jingu Bang, and flung it back toward Nezha with tremendous force.

Nezha and Sun Wukong continued their battle, and Sun Wukong defeated Nezha after a single decisive exchange. Nezha accepted the loss and followed Sun Wukong to the Water Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain, though he could not see it through the trees.

• Nezha used his Fire Arrow Spear to dissipate the force of Sun Wukong’s Universe Ring, while Sun Wukong captured Nezha’s Heaven-Chaos Sash.
• Sun Wukong offered to let Nezha pretend to lose and invited him to the Water Curtain Cave, but Nezha insisted that their fight needed a clear winner.
• Nezha charged Sun Wukong with all his strength, but Sun Wukong blocked the spear and counterattacked, injuring Nezha’s right arm and winning the battle.
• Nezha admitted defeat and agreed to visit Sun Wukong’s home on Flower-Fruit Mountain.
• Sun Wukong and Nezha reached the woods near the Water Curtain Cave, where Nezha asked whether Sun Wukong lived underground.

Sun Wukong brought Nezha to Water Curtain Cave in disguise so the Heavenly Palace would not learn of his visit. Nezha found an opportunity there to break through his bottleneck, and Sun Wukong began introducing him to the monkeys.

• Sun Wukong explained why he had brought Nezha to secluded woods, and Nezha changed his appearance and hid his weapons and treasures.
• Sun Wukong carried Nezha through the waterfall to Water Curtain Cave, where Nezha admired the cave and sensed an opportunity to advance.
• Sun Wukong stood guard while Nezha meditated and broke through his bottleneck.
• Sun Wukong told Nezha they were friends and invited him to look around for more opportunities, while the monkeys quietly kept his presence secret.
• After Nezha toured the cave without finding another opportunity, Sun Wukong gathered the monkeys and began introducing him as a good friend.

Sun Wukong welcomed Nezha to Water Curtain Cave and told the monkeys to call him Ou Ba. Nezha enjoyed their wine, grilled fish, and fresh fruit while the monkeys treated him as an honored guest.

• Sun Wukong introduced Nezha to the little monkeys as his friend Ou Ba and instructed them to treat him well.
• The monkeys served Nezha their aged Hundred Fragrance Wine, and he happily drank several cups without paying attention to its story.
• When a monkey asked where he had lived, Nezha claimed he had lived in a city west of Flower-Fruit Mountain.
• Two monkeys served Nezha boneless grilled grass carp, and he praised their cooking.
• A group of little monkeys offered Nezha freshly picked fruit, and he thanked them while eating a peach.

Nezha enjoyed Sun Wukong’s hospitality in the Water Curtain Cave and broke through twice in one day, strengthening his bond with Sun Wukong and the monkeys. After realizing night had fallen, he thanked his hosts and prepared to return to the barracks.

• Sun Wukong told Nezha he had spent only about one shichen in the Water Curtain Cave, and Nezha decided to stay another shichen.
• Sun Wukong had the little monkeys bring Nezha treats and entertain him, and Nezha relaxed and enjoyed their company.
• Nezha sensed an opportunity to break through while playing, and Sun Wukong kept the monkeys from disturbing him as he meditated.
• After nearly a shichen, Nezha emerged from his breakthrough and thanked the monkeys, then embraced Sun Wukong and credited the visit with helping him break through twice.
• Nezha noticed the sun had set, thanked the monkeys for their hospitality, and prepared to leave.

Nezha left Water Curtain Cave and returned to Li Jing’s tent after losing to Sun Wukong, but he revealed that two breakthroughs had greatly increased his strength. He began explaining that his second breakthrough had followed his discovery and drinking of wine the little monkeys had buried.

• Nezha promised the little monkeys he would visit again, said goodbye, and left Water Curtain Cave.
• Nezha transformed back into Third Prince Nezha and hurried to Li Jing’s tent, noticing that his strength and speed had improved.
• Nezha told Li Jing that Sun Wukong had defeated him after a fierce fight, then demonstrated his greatly increased strength.
• Nezha explained that he had encountered two opportunities to break through while exploring after the fight.
• Nezha told Li Jing that he found jars of wine the little monkeys had dug up and that drinking two jars triggered his second breakthrough.

Nezha tried to conceal what had happened during his breakthroughs, but Li Jing saw through his lies and explained why Sun Wukong had spared the Giant Spirit God. Li Jing then began recounting the events surrounding Nezha’s death and their strained relationship, while Nezha had failed to listen to his warning.

• Nezha mixed truth with fabrications as he described his experiences and tried to leave Li Jing’s tent.
• Li Jing called Nezha a poor liar and recalled how Nezha had lied after killing the Dragon King of the East Sea’s third prince.
• Li Jing explained that Sun Wukong had spared the Giant Spirit God to deliver a message and warned that future challengers would not be allowed to return alive.
• Nezha admitted through his confused response that he had not paid attention to Li Jing’s explanation.
• Li Jing began recounting how he had handed Nezha over to the Dragon King of the East Sea to protect Chentang Pass, and how True Person Taiyi had saved him.

Nezha told Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing that he had befriended Sun Wukong, sparred with him, and broken through twice at Water Curtain Cave. After Li Jing reported Sun Wukong’s demand to the Jade Emperor, Taibai Chang Gengxin proposed granting him the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven without a salary.

• Nezha revealed that Sun Wukong had praised his title Oppa, and they had become friends after a friendly spar.
• Nezha said he had broken through twice while visiting Sun Wukong and his monkeys at Water Curtain Cave.
• Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing told Nezha they would return to the Heavenly Court and leave Sun Wukong’s demand to the Jade Emperor.
• Li Jing reported Sun Wukong’s victories and demand for the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven to the Jade Emperor.
• The Jade Emperor ordered Sun Wukong killed, but Taibai Chang Gengxin urged him to grant the title without a salary.

Taibai Changgengxing persuaded the Jade Emperor to issue an amnesty and recruit Sun Wukong as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. After the monkeys distrusted the envoy and Sun Wukong made him wait, Taibai Changgengxing delivered the offer and proposed a departure date.

• Taibai Changgengxing outlined his plan to keep Sun Wukong in Heaven and reduce his interference, and the Jade Emperor approved it.
• Taibai Changgengxing went to Flower-Fruit Mountain, where a little monkey recognized him from ten years earlier and refused to summon Sun Wukong.
• Taibai Changgengxing shouted that he had good news, but Sun Wukong chose to leave him waiting outside for nearly an hour.
• Sun Wukong apologized to Taibai Changgengxing and heard that the Jade Emperor had agreed to appoint him Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
• Taibai Changgengxing proposed waiting another month while Sun Wukong prepared the Water Curtain Cave before they traveled to the Heavenly Court.

Sun Wukong accepted the Jade Emperor’s appointment as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven and settled into his new residence. After Nezha asked for Flower-Fruit Mountain’s Hundred-Fragrance Wine, the two hurried back to the Water Curtain Cave together.

• Sun Wukong left Flower-Fruit Mountain after a month of preparing its affairs and traveled with Taibai Changgengxing to the Heavenly Court.
• The Jade Emperor appointed Sun Wukong the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, built him a residence beside the Peach Garden, and assigned the Five Dipper Star Lords to escort him there.
• Sun Wukong spent his first few days in his new residence relaxing and making friends with immortals.
• Nezha visited Sun Wukong, declined the Heavenly Court wine, and asked for some of Flower-Fruit Mountain’s Hundred-Fragrance Wine.
• Sun Wukong invited Nezha to drink at the Water Curtain Cave, and the two raced back to Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Sun Wukong returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain with Nezha, whom the little monkeys recognized as their friend Oppa. Nezha gave them immortal wine and received more than a hundred and twenty jars of their beloved Hundred-Fragrance Wine, while the monkeys quickly got drunk on their gifts.

• Sun Wukong returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain and reassured the old clan chief that his life in the Heavenly Court was comfortable.
• Nezha revealed his familiar appearance, and the little monkeys recognized and enthusiastically crowded around him.
• Sun Wukong calmed the monkeys and helped them welcome Nezha with Hundred-Fragrance Wine and a feast.
• Nezha gave each little monkey a bottle of immortal brew he had saved from the Heavenly Court.
• The monkeys offered Nezha more than a hundred and twenty jars of surplus Hundred-Fragrance Wine in thanks.
• The little monkeys drank the immortal brew and quickly fell asleep drunk.

After finding Sun Wukong drinking with Nezha among the unconscious monkeys, Taibai Changgengxing brought him the Jade Emperor’s assignment to manage the Peach Garden. Wukong learned about its immortal peaches and, after making the garden his new routine, decided to taste some once they ripened.

• Sun Wukong and Nezha drank together while the little monkeys lay unconscious after drinking Nezha’s brew.
• The Jade Emperor sent Taibai Changgengxing to find Sun Wukong and assign him to manage the Peach Garden.
• Sun Wukong asked Nezha to watch over the monkeys, then returned with Taibai Changgengxing to accept the Jade Emperor’s order.
• The land god explained that the Peach Garden held three thousand six hundred trees whose fruit ripened at different intervals and granted different benefits.
• Sun Wukong began visiting the garden every few days, and when many peaches ripened, he decided to taste the Heavenly Court’s fruit.

Sun Wukong stole the ripe peaches, disrupted Queen Mother Niangniang’s Peach Grand Assembly, and devoured nearly all the pills in Taishang Laojun’s Alchemy Chamber. Realizing the trouble he had caused, he fled the Heavenly Court and returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain.

• Sun Wukong repeatedly sneaked away from his attendants to eat the ripe peaches in the Peach Garden.
• The Seven Fairies arrived to pick peaches, and Sun Wukong woke and confronted them after they found the back orchard stripped of ripe fruit.
• After learning he had not been invited to the Peach Grand Assembly, Sun Wukong immobilized the Seven Fairies and set off for the banquet.
• Sun Wukong tricked the Barefoot Great Immortal, took his likeness, and went to Yaochi, where he put the guests to sleep and feasted.
• Sun Wukong wandered into Tushita Palace, ate nearly all the alchemy pills, then escaped through the Western Heavenly Gate and returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Sun Wukong returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain and confessed that he had stolen the Peach Banquet’s peaches and wine and eaten Taishang Laojun’s elixirs. After learning of his actions, the Jade Emperor sent 100,000 heavenly soldiers to surround the mountain and capture him, where the Nine Luminary Star Officials challenged him to surrender.

• Sun Wukong told the little monkeys he had stolen the immortal peaches and wine at Yaochi and eaten all the elixirs in Taishang Laojun’s palace, then shared immortal wine with them.
• The Seven Fairies reported to Queen Mother Niangniang that Sun Wukong had immobilized them and taken the 9,000-year peaches.
• Queen Mother Niangniang, the banquet officials, Taishang Laojun, and Barefoot Great Immortal informed the Jade Emperor of Sun Wukong’s misdeeds and deception.
• The Jade Emperor ordered 100,000 heavenly soldiers and generals to surround Flower-Fruit Mountain and capture Sun Wukong.
• The Nine Luminary Star Officials called on Sun Wukong to come out and surrender, and he accused them of refusing to fight him one-on-one.

Sun Wukong attacked the Nine Luminaries Star Lords after they threatened and mocked him, then faced their coordinated assault with hair clones armed with Jingu Bangs. The battle continued as his clones fought the star lords, with one pair of opponents still locked in a close exchange.

• The Nine Luminaries Star Lords threatened to destroy the Water Curtain Cave unless Sun Wukong surrendered, so he flew out to confront them.
• After one star lord mocked him, Sun Wukong swung an enlarged Jingu Bang at the group, forcing all nine to raise a protective barrier.
• Sun Wukong taunted the dust-covered star lords, and the Sun Star Lord and Supreme Yin Star Lord attacked while the others joined the battle or formed a formation.
• Sun Wukong made eight hair clones, each armed with a Jingu Bang; two disarmed and battered the Sun Star Lord and Supreme Yin Star Lord.
• Two other clones fought Jidu Star Lord and Luohou Star Lord, and one clone parried Jidu Star Lord’s precise sword strikes before counterattacking.

Sun Wukong’s doubles defeated the Jidu Star Lord in swordsmanship and overwhelmed the Luohou Star Lord with brute force. The Jidu Star Lord was left unable to fight, while the Luohou Star Lord narrowly evaded a crushing blow and remained under attack.

• Sun Wukong’s double outmatched the Jidu Star Lord’s renowned swordsmanship, leaving him wounded and humiliated.
• The Jidu Star Lord lost the will to continue fighting, and Sun Wukong’s double stayed alert in case he was pretending to be defeated.
• The Luohou Star Lord attacked Sun Wukong’s double with a heavy-looking sword strike, but the double blocked it without budging and swept him aside.
• The double chased the Luohou Star Lord with staff strikes as he rolled across the ground to evade them.
• The double anticipated where the Luohou Star Lord would roll and swung down at him, but the Star Lord stopped and launched himself away just in time.

Sun Wukong’s double defeated Luohou Star Lord by humiliating and injuring him, while the Jade Emperor asked Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er for news of the battle at Flower-Fruit Mountain. The chapter left the Jade Emperor hearing how the Nine Luminaries Star Lords had provoked Sun Wukong into charging out to fight.

• Sun Wukong’s double struck Luohou Star Lord with a shockwave, sending him crashing into an ancient tree.
• Luohou Star Lord attacked again, but Sun Wukong’s double deflected his sword and accidentally impaled him with the Jingu Bang.
• Sun Wukong’s true body prompted his double to kick and shake the staff whenever Luohou Star Lord cursed, until Luohou Star Lord collapsed.
• Sun Wukong’s double carried Luohou Star Lord toward a river to wash the Jingu Bang and keep watch over him.
• The Jade Emperor summoned Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er and demanded an account of the battle at Flower-Fruit Mountain.
• Qianliyan reported that the Nine Luminaries Star Lords had provoked Sun Wukong by threatening his mountain and its monkeys, and then mocked him as he charged out.

Shunfeng'er and Qianliyan reported how Sun Wukong’s fight against the Nine Luminaries Star Lords unfolded, leaving the Jade Emperor furious as the Star Lords struggled against Sun Wukong’s doubles.

• Shunfeng'er repeated the Nine Luminaries Star Lords’ curses about Sun Wukong, and the Jade Emperor praised them.
• Qianliyan described Sun Wukong smashing down his Jingu Bang and leaving the Nine Luminaries Star Lords dusty and bedraggled.
• Qianliyan reported that Sun Wukong created eight doubles, two of whom disarmed the Sun Star Lord and the Supreme Yin Star Lord and kept them chasing their swords.
• The Jade Emperor cursed the Sun Star Lord and the Supreme Yin Star Lord for repeating their old mistake of being led around by their opponents.
• Qianliyan said two more Sun Wukong doubles fought the Jidu Star Lord and the Luohou Star Lord, and one double deflected the Jidu Star Lord’s sword strikes and landed several heavy blows on him.

The Jade Emperor heard Qianliyan’s account of Jidu Star Lord and Luohou Star Lord being defeated by Sun Wukong’s double, then ordered Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er back to watch the battle. At Flower-Fruit Mountain, Sun Wukong shattered the formation of the five remaining Nine Luminaries Star Lords, sending them flying.

• Qianliyan reported that Jidu Star Lord lost a sword-speed contest to Sun Wukong’s double and was wounded.
• Qianliyan recounted how Sun Wukong’s double knocked Luohou Star Lord down, humiliated him, and struck him with the Jingu Bang before taking him to the riverbank.
• The Jade Emperor sent Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er back to Flower-Fruit Mountain to observe and report on the battle.
• Sun Wukong’s double tested the formation of Metal Virtue Star Lord, Wood Virtue Star Lord, Water Virtue Star Lord, Fire Virtue Star Lord, and Earth Virtue Star Lord.
• Sun Wukong struck the five Star Lords’ formation with the Jingu Bang, breaking it and scattering them without injuring them.

Sun Wukong defeated the Nine Luminaries Star Lords and let them leave unharmed after mocking their failed attempt to capture him. He returned to Water Curtain Cave, where his monkeys celebrated him, while the Star Lords prepared to report their defeat to the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King.

• Sun Wukong and his clones defeated the Metal, Wood, Earth, Fire, and Water Virtue Star Lords, subduing all nine Star Lords.
• Sun Wukong recalled his clones, taunted the defeated Star Lords, and refused to kill them, telling them to leave and not bother him again.
• Sun Wukong entered Water Curtain Cave, where the little monkeys cheered; he asked them to prepare food and complained that dealing with his excited followers had worn him out.
• The old patriarch explained that the monkeys were overenthusiastic because they had missed Sun Wukong for decades.
• Outside the cave, the Sun Star Lord and Jidu Star Lord urged the others to return and report their defeat, while one Star Lord vowed revenge.

After the Nine Luminaries Star Lords failed to capture Sun Wukong, Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing prepared to send the Four Heavenly Kings against him. Nezha admitted that he wanted to warn Sun Wukong how to escape, but Li Jing explained that the encirclement had no gaps and cautioned him that the Jade Emperor was monitoring everything.

• Luohou Star Lord argued with the other Star Lords after they mocked the beating he had suffered from Sun Wukong’s false body.
• The Nine Luminaries Star Lords reported their defeat to Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, who dismissed them and ordered the Four Heavenly Kings to attack Sun Wukong.
• Nezha stopped the messenger and volunteered to fight Sun Wukong, but Li Jing accused him of wanting to help Sun Wukong escape.
• Nezha confessed that he wanted to repay Sun Wukong for helping him grow stronger and treating him as a brother.
• Li Jing told Nezha that eighteen Heavenly Net and Earthly Web Grand Formations surrounded Water Curtain Cave and warned that the Jade Emperor was monitoring the battlefield through Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er.
• Li Jing warned that if Nezha tried to help Sun Wukong, the army would capture Nezha before dealing with Sun Wukong.

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing warned Nezha to avoid speaking with Sun Wukong, but Nezha went to Flower-Fruit Mountain and secretly explained that the Jade Emperor had sent them to capture him. Sun Wukong emerged to fight Nezha as the two immortals Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er watched and listened.

• Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing advised Nezha to avoid contact with Sun Wukong and warned him that they might never meet again.
• Nezha left Li Jing's tent and rode his Wind Fire Wheels to Sun Wukong's Water Curtain Cave, telling a little monkey to summon its king while disguising his purpose.
• Sun Wukong recognized Nezha from the little monkey's description and prepared to meet him.
• Nezha used the Sound Transmission Method to tell Sun Wukong to fight him for real and explained that Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er were observing them.
• Sun Wukong emerged from the waterfall, and Nezha told him that the Jade Emperor had sent them to capture him.

Nezha told Sun Wukong that the Heavenly Court had surrounded Flower-Fruit Mountain and offered to help him by revealing the weaknesses of their forces, though he could not openly betray the court because his family served it. They staged a fight for the Heavenly Court’s spies, ending with their weapons narrowly missing each other.

• Nezha explained that the Heavenly Court had sealed Flower-Fruit Mountain with eighteen Heavenly Net and Earthly Web Grand Formations and planned to capture Sun Wukong for the Jade Emperor.
• Nezha offered to reveal the weaknesses of the Heavenly Court’s fighters, while explaining that he could not rebel openly because his father and brothers depended on the court.
• Nezha warned Sun Wukong that Qianliyan and Shunfeng'er were watching them, and the two agreed to talk while fighting.
• Nezha sent his Universe Ring at Sun Wukong, who struck it away with his Jingu Bang.
• Sun Wukong and Nezha charged at each other and crossed weapons, then turned their attacks aside just before either could be hurt.

Nezha used the Heaven-Chaos Sash to retrieve his Universe Ring and send it flying into Li Jing’s tent, where it knocked Li Jing unconscious. After recovering the ring, Nezha prepared to show Sun Wukong another trick by tying the ring to his sash and swinging it like a lasso.

• Nezha stretched the Heaven-Chaos Sash to retrieve the Universe Ring and hurled it at Sun Wukong, who batted it toward Li Jing’s camp.
• The Universe Ring smashed through Li Jing’s tent and struck him unconscious, and two guards discovered him beside the bloodstained ring.
• Li Jing regained consciousness, found Nezha’s Universe Ring, and wondered whether Nezha or Sun Wukong had sent it flying at him.
• Nezha used the Heaven-Chaos Sash to snatch the ring from Li Jing and pull it back to the battlefield.
• Nezha tied the Universe Ring to the sash and began swinging it like a lasso, while Sun Wukong watched expectantly.