Chapter Summaries

Tang Xuanzang and his disciples stayed at a monastery in Jinping Prefecture for the Lantern Festival, where three monsters disguised as Buddhas carried Tang Xuanzang away. Sun Wukong identified the figures as monsters and told the monks what had happened.

• Tang Xuanzang asked the monks in Jinping Prefecture about the way to Spirit Mountain and agreed to stay for the Lantern Festival.
• Tang Xuanzang and Sha Wujing swept the monastery pagoda, then joined the monks to see the city lanterns.
• Sun Wukong questioned the monks about the fragrant oil offered in the lanterns, and they said the Buddha took it away.
• A strong wind scattered the lantern-watchers, and Tang Xuanzang went onto the bridge to bow to three Buddha figures in the sky.
• The figures carried Tang Xuanzang into the air, and Sun Wukong told Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the monks that three monsters had abducted him.

Sun Wukong followed the demons' trail to Azure Dragon Mountain, where the Four Duty Officers and the Land God revealed that three demons in Mysterious Radiance Cave had captured Tang Xuanzang. The demons learned who Tang Xuanzang's disciples were and, frightened by their reputations, locked him away while planning to capture them too.

• Sun Wukong sent Sha Wujing and Zhu Bajie back to guard the horses and luggage, then chased the demons' foul-smelling trail.
• Sun Wukong encountered the Four Duty Officers, who told him that three demons had taken Tang Xuanzang to Azure Dragon Mountain.
• The Land God explained that the demons lived in Mysterious Radiance Cave and had captured Tang Xuanzang to eat him.
• Sun Wukong reached the cave and demanded that the demons return his master.
• The demon kings questioned Tang Xuanzang, learned the names and histories of his three disciples, and ordered him locked away so they could deal with the disciples together.

Sun Wukong fought the three demons who had captured Tang Xuanzang, then returned to gather Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing for a nighttime rescue. He infiltrated the cave as a firefly and found Tang Xuanzang crying, but spoke aloud before revealing himself.

• Sun Wukong fought the three demons for hundreds of rounds, then retreated when they surrounded him.
• Sun Wukong told Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing that the demons had captured Tang Xuanzang and described the battle.
• Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing flew to Azure Dragon Mountain to rescue Tang Xuanzang.
• Sun Wukong transformed into a firefly and slipped into the cave, where he found Tang Xuanzang crying.
• Sun Wukong spoke aloud after hearing Tang Xuanzang lament his capture.

Sun Wukong found Tang Xuanzang and tried to rescue him, but the demons recaptured Tang Xuanzang and captured Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing as well. Sun Wukong escaped to the Auspicious Cloud Temple, where he lamented their defeat and looked up at the sky.

• Sun Wukong revealed himself to Tang Xuanzang and began unlocking the cell, but demons spotted them and raised the alarm.
• Sun Wukong fought his way out and reunited with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, while the demon king recaptured Tang Xuanzang.
• Zhu Bajie smashed the stone door, and the three brothers fought the three demon kings and their followers.
• The demons knocked Zhu Bajie down and captured him, then captured Sha Wujing as Sun Wukong escaped.
• Tang Xuanzang wept with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, who believed Sun Wukong had gone to find help.
• Sun Wukong returned to the Auspicious Cloud Temple and told the monks that Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing had been captured.

Sun Wukong sought the Jade Emperor’s help against the three rhinoceros spirits who had captured Tang Xuanzang and his companions. With the immortals’ help, he rescued them, then raced after the fleeing Demon Kings.

• Sun Wukong left the monks guarding the luggage and went to the Southern Heavenly Gate to ask Taibai Jinxing for help.
• Taibai Jinxing directed Sun Wukong to the Jade Emperor, who sent him to the Bullfighting Palace for reinforcements.
• Sun Wukong led the immortals to the monsters’ cave and lured out the three rhinoceros spirits.
• The Four Stars disarmed the three Demon Kings, while Sun Wukong defeated the lesser demons and the immortals pursued the fleeing kings.
• Sun Wukong entered the cave and rescued Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, then hurried after the Demon Kings.

Sun Wukong entered the ruined Bullfighting Palace and fought the Bull Devil King, who was holding Tang Xuanzang’s wife and child. The battle left Sun Wukong badly outmatched, with his hand knocked out of joint.

• An elderly monk in a yellow robe struck the demons with his Buddhist staff and promised Sun Wukong he would help save Tang Xuanzang.
• Sun Wukong reached the Bullfighting Palace, where he found ruins and corpses, and confronted the Bull Devil King, who tried to flee.
• The Bull Devil King attacked Sun Wukong with a spell, injuring him, then proposed settling their fight quickly so they could save Tang Xuanzang.
• Sun Wukong and the Bull Devil King battled deeper inside the palace, and the Bull Devil King taunted Sun Wukong about rescuing his master and protecting the demon’s wife and child.
• Sun Wukong struck back with the Dragon-Subduing Luo Han Fist Technique, but the Bull Devil King’s Buddhist staff overpowered him and knocked his hand out of joint.

Sun Wukong and the Bull Devil King fought fiercely, and the Bull Devil King’s black lightning entered Sun Wukong’s body and caused him severe pain. Sun Wukong healed himself and returned to the fight, ending the chapter by vowing revenge.

• Sun Wukong and the Bull Devil King exchanged blows, and Sun Wukong struck the Bull Devil King hard enough to send him flying and spit blood.
• The Bull Devil King attacked with black lightning, which injured Sun Wukong and burrowed through his meridians despite his Power of the Five Elements.
• The Bull Devil King changed form, appeared in front of Sun Wukong, and struck him with a claw, leaving him badly hurt.
• Sun Wukong forced himself to keep fighting, swallowed a pill, and used his Five Elements Spirit Pearl to mend his body.
• Sun Wukong faced the Bull Devil King again and vowed to torment him with the Power of the Five Elements.

Sun Wukong fought the Bull Devil King but was overwhelmed as his Five Elements power and Law Power dwindled. After threatening the Bull Devil King with retaliation from the Sun Household and Devil Realm, he gathered his remaining Law Power to resist the pressure of the Bull Devil King’s technique.

• The Bull Devil King struck Sun Wukong with his staff, breaking his ribs and forcing him to flee.
• Sun Wukong refused to admit defeat, but the Bull Devil King’s black lightning shattered his Five Elements power and drained his strength.
• Sun Wukong enlarged himself and swung the Jingu Bang, but the Bull Devil King knocked him onto a mountain and made him spit blood.
• Sun Wukong threatened the Bull Devil King with the destruction of the Devil Race and Devil Realm if he harmed his clan.
• The Bull Devil King unleashed a Law Technique that created overwhelming pressure, and Sun Wukong released his remaining Law Power to resist it.

Sun Wukong fought the Bull Devil King, whose black lotus wounded him and drained his blood, but he sealed the bleeding and turned the fight around. When the Bull Devil King summoned his Buddha phantom, Sun Wukong used Golden Cicada’s Nine Nines Return to One Footwork to evade it and appeared before him, striking at his head with a powerful punch.

• The Bull Devil King’s black staff attack was swallowed by a vortex, and his black lotus pierced Sun Wukong’s shoulder and began devouring his blood.
• Sun Wukong scattered thousands of Five Elements Origin Pearls over himself to stop the bleeding.
• The Bull Devil King attacked again, but Sun Wukong dodged and counterattacked, forcing him onto the defensive.
• The Bull Devil King recovered and summoned his Buddha phantom, the Great Sun Tathagata Palm Art, to suppress Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong used Golden Cicada’s Nine Nines Return to One Footwork to evade the phantom and reappear before the Bull Devil King.
• Sun Wukong brought down his right fist toward the Bull Devil King’s head with a ruthless, potentially fatal blow.

Sun Wukong defeated the Bull Devil King and pressed him to lend Princess Iron Fan’s Plantain Fan. The Bull Devil King agreed to lend it for one day, and Sun Wukong flew toward Tang Xuanzang and the others at Flaming Mountain.

• The Bull Devil King attacked Sun Wukong with a gory wind and a black Qi serpent, but Sun Wukong dodged both attacks.
• Sun Wukong struck the Bull Devil King down, and the Bull Devil King begged for mercy.
• Sun Wukong demanded to borrow the Plantain Fan, but the Bull Devil King refused because it belonged to Princess Iron Fan.
• Sun Wukong threatened to tell Princess Iron Fan about the Bull Devil King’s romantic history with wild bull spirits.
• The Bull Devil King stopped Sun Wukong from leaving and agreed to lend him the Plantain Fan for one day.
• Sun Wukong rode the clouds and mist toward Tang Xuanzang and the others, who were waiting at Flaming Mountain.

Sun Wukong returned with the Plantain Fan and told Tang Xuanzang that he had injured Zhenyuanzi and fought the Bull Devil King. Tang Xuanzang warned him not to act rashly as they prepared to eat before returning to put out the fire on Flaming Mountain.

• Zhu Bajie criticized Sun Wukong for humiliating the Bull Devil King, but Sun Wukong said Tang Xuanzang could protect himself.
• Sun Wukong returned to Tang Xuanzang and revealed that heavenly soldiers were searching for him after he injured Zhenyuanzi.
• Sun Wukong brought back the Plantain Fan, and Tang Xuanzang decided they would eat lunch before heading back to Flaming Mountain.
• Two disciples grew jealous of Sun Wukong and considered teaching him a lesson, expecting the Bull Devil King's powerful father to take revenge.
• Tang Xuanzang questioned Sun Wukong about his fight with the Bull Devil King and warned him not to act recklessly.
• Sun Wukong promised to return the Plantain Fan safely, and Zhu Bajie said Tang Xuanzang would surely reward him.

After leaving the Bull Devil King, Tang Xuanzang and Sun Wukong found themselves back in a strange city whose smiling residents and violent streets unsettled them. Meanwhile, Niu San killed a young man, ordered his followers to eliminate five more demons, and persuaded a woman to go with him to the imperial palace as he warned of an approaching demon army; Tang Xuanzang and Sun Wukong ended the day planning how to investigate the demons’ lair.

• Tang Xuanzang gave Sun Wukong the reward for retrieving the Plantain Fan, and the pilgrims thanked the Bull Devil King before continuing their journey.
• Sun Wukong and Tang Xuanzang realized they had returned to their starting point in a city of eerily smiling people, then saw a vehicle strike someone and flee.
• Niu San killed a young man, and three dark figures reported that they had dealt with Sun Wukong’s trouble and the other demons before he ordered them to kill five remaining demons.
• Niu San told a woman that demon soldiers were coming and offered to help; she agreed to accompany him to the imperial palace to verify his warning.
• After reaching an inn, Tang Xuanzang asked Sun Wukong whether they should explore the demons’ lair.

Sun Wukong devised a plan with Tang Xuanzang to lure a great monster to a secluded place by using the clouds as a signal. After Tang Xuanzang left, Sun Wukong spotted that no humans were nearby and disappeared into the sky.

• Sun Wukong spotted a mass of white clouds and told Tang Xuanzang he had found a way to lure the monsters over.
• Sun Wukong proposed pretending to be surrounded while Tang Xuanzang watched from a distance and warned them of approaching reinforcements.
• Tang Xuanzang agreed to the plan after Sun Wukong promised not to hurt the great monster.
• Sun Wukong and Tang Xuanzang traveled to the area outside the human settlement and waited for signs of the monster.
• As the clouds thinned, Sun Wukong sent Tang Xuanzang back, then leapt into the sky and vanished.

Sun Wukong visited Ao Changsheng’s cave and accepted a cultivation merit, unaware that it was part of a crisis. He then pursued a Dragon Carp through the mountains, and their battle continued after he struck it beneath the riverbed.

• Sun Wukong entered Ao Changsheng’s cave, where Ao Changsheng’s Dao-formed body granted him a cultivation merit.
• Old Ancestor Bodhi appeared after Sun Wukong left and said he would lend him a hand.
• Sun Wukong traveled toward West Ox Hezhou in the form of his golden ape clone and attacked a Dragon Carp with the Jingu Bang.
• Sun Wukong and the Dragon Carp fought as their cultivation rose, with the faster carp repeatedly evading his attacks.
• Sun Wukong struck the Dragon Carp with the Jingu Bang and drove it beneath the riverbed.

After killing the Carp King, Sun Wukong found and attacked the Jiaolong Fish King, but a more powerful Jiaolong intervened. Sun Wukong was sent flying and injured by the Late-Stage Sage, leaving him outmatched.

• Sun Wukong returned to the West Sea island to search for the Carp King's corpse after the Carp King died.
• Sun Wukong spotted the Jiaolong Fish King hiding in an ancient tree and attacked him.
• Sun Wukong battered the Jiaolong Fish King and raised his staff to deliver a killing blow.
• A Late-Stage Sage Jiaolong appeared and struck Sun Wukong before he could kill the Jiaolong Fish King.
• Sun Wukong fought the Jiaolong, but the Jiaolong knocked aside his staff and sent him flying, leaving blood at his mouth.

Sun Wukong fought the Jiaolong King to protect Patriarch Bodhi, but the powerful dragon repeatedly wounded him and shattered the Jingu Bang. As the Jiaolong King closed in to finish him, the Dragon Emperor stopped Patriarch Bodhi from intervening, confident Sun Wukong could survive.

• The Jiaolong King attacked Sun Wukong, and Bodhisattva Guanyin urged Sun Wukong to retreat while he refused.
• Sun Wukong and the Jiaolong King clashed, and the Jingu Bang gave Sun Wukong an advantage until the Jiaolong King shattered it with his spear.
• The Jiaolong King battered Sun Wukong and demanded that he surrender Patriarch Bodhi's Bodhi Tree and kowtow for mercy.
• Patriarch Bodhi rushed to save Sun Wukong, but the Dragon Emperor blocked him and assured him Sun Wukong would turn danger into safety.

Sun Wukong fought the Jiaolong King, whose attacks battered him even as he gained strength and struck back. He unleashed the Buddhist Order’s Jingu Bang and vanished amid the Jiaolong King’s golden light, while Patriarch Bodhi rushed after him to help.

• Sun Wukong smashed the Jiaolong King’s spears and struck him repeatedly, but the Jiaolong King’s burst of power sent Sun Wukong flying and left him badly wounded.
• Patriarch Bodhi urged Sun Wukong not to act rashly, but Sun Wukong prepared to face the Jiaolong King again as he charged at them.
• Sun Wukong summoned the great golden bell and used the Jingu Bang to attack the Jiaolong King, whose body erupted in golden light and overwhelmed him.
• The Jiaolong King’s golden light swallowed Sun Wukong, who vanished; the Jiaolong King believed Sun Wukong had used the attack to escape and departed with his shrimp soldiers and crab generals.
• Patriarch Bodhi hurried after Sun Wukong, warning him to be careful.

Ao Guang’s failed attempt against Sun Wukong drew a vengeful response from the Dragon Emperor Ao Guang, while Bodhisattva Puxian approached the East Sea crown prince with a plan to capture Sun Wukong and take his Karmic Luck. Puxian explained that the Western Sect wanted Ao Guang’s help, but the chapter ended before Ao Guang answered.

• The Dragon King reported his failed attack on Sun Wukong to the Dragon Emperor Ao Guang, who reassured him and privately vowed to destroy Sun Wukong beyond rebirth.
• Ao Changsheng and Hongjun discussed the events as part of Ao Changsheng’s plan, and Ao Changsheng later criticized Hongjun’s intentions.
• Patriarch Zhenyin and Bodhisattva Puxian entered the East Sea Dragon Palace to seek allies against Sun Wukong and seize his Karmic Luck.
• Bodhisattva Puxian met the crown prince Ao Guang and asked him to help eliminate Sun Wukong, warning that the monkeys were formidable opponents.

Ao Guang discussed Sun Wukong with Bodhisattva Puxian, concealing his own plans while promising to consider the Western Sect’s warning. He then proposed an alliance to the Western Queen Mother to capture Sun Wukong, leaving her to hear his plan for a joint ambush.

• Bodhisattva Puxian warned Ao Guang that the Western Sect’s leader could threaten their plan and urged him to consider the danger.
• Ao Guang told Puxian to capture Sun Wukong alive and bring him to the Dragon Palace, where Ao Guang intended to kill him himself.
• Ao Guang dismissed Puxian and told his subordinate he would enter seclusion, while privately resolving to suppress Sun Wukong when he appeared.
• Bodhisattva Puxian returned to the Western Sect, hoping to use Ao Guang’s apparent interest to persuade him and protect his crown prince.
• Ao Guang visited the Western Queen Mother and proposed that they cooperate against Sun Wukong.
• Ao Guang suggested each side send a Golden Immortal expert to block Sun Wukong’s escape and suppress him.

Ao Guang and the Western Queen Mother arranged to lure Sun Wukong into a trap, while Sun Wukong searched the seas and then emerged to confront them. The chapter ended with the Western Queen Mother demanding that Sun Wukong surrender.

• Ao Guang persuaded the Western Queen Mother to send five hundred Golden Immortal experts after Sun Wukong and agreed to support her from the shadows.
• Sun Wukong roamed the East Sea, sensed powerful beings, and vowed to kill Ao Guang as he continued seeking strength.
• Ao Guang traveled to the West Sea while the Western Queen Mother swore that Sun Wukong would die.
• Sun Wukong heard Ao Guang calling him from a great river and appeared on its bank, where Ao Guang and the Western Queen Mother confronted him.
• The Western Queen Mother warned Sun Wukong that he could not defeat the Golden Immortal Ao Guang and ordered him to surrender.