A spin-off novel inspired by Wu Cheng’en’s Journey to the West.
It tells the story of how the Tathagata Buddha of Thunderclap Monastery on Mount Sumeru in the Western Heaven sends Sandalwood Merit Buddha Chen Xuanzang, Victorious Fighting Buddha Sun Wukong, Altar Cleanser Envoy Zhu Wuneng, and Golden-Bodied Arhat Sha Wujing to the Great Tang in the Eastern Land to spread the scriptures and debate the Dao.
The Tathagata Buddha says, “I see that the Great Tang in the Eastern Land, in Jambudvipa, has lofty skies and fertile soil, vast territory and a dense population. Its people are greedy and murderous, lustful and deceitful, dishonest and treacherous, and do not follow the teachings of Buddha… They have committed boundless sins and brought calamity upon themselves, so they will remain forever in the netherworld.” “...All who remain there and cannot be reborn do so for this very reason.”
Yet as the four travel east to spread the scriptures, they are repeatedly shocked by what they witness and helpless to stop the various factions from fighting over their own interests.
This leads Sha Wujing to withdraw from the world, Zhu Wuneng to return to secular life, and Wukong to be imprisoned beneath Five Elements Mountain, also known as Two Realms Mountain. Only Chen Xuanzang is left to travel alone to the Tang…
With help from a certain faction, Sun Wukong breaks free. He then causes Havoc in Heaven, at Western Spirit Mountain, and in the ritual grounds of Mount Sumeru. The Jade Emperor confers on him the title of Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
