Bai Ze is a transmigrator born as a white bone spirit to the White Bone Lady in White Tiger Ridge after she drank from the Mother-Child River. He is only three days old but has the appearance of a five or six-year-old child. White Tiger Ridge is a desolate place filled with burial grounds and yin evil energy. Bai Ze practices the Corpse Raising technique, a skill innate to his demon race, in a mass burial ground. By emitting crimson light from his eyes and releasing Yin Evil Qi, he summons twenty skeleton soldiers from scattered bones. The soldiers arm themselves with rusted weapons and form a circle around him. Bai Ze then attempts to summon a Ghost General from the tomb of Nalan Xiaotian, a general from the Uji Kingdom. He channels his Yin Qi into the tomb, and Nalan Xiaotian emerges as a ghost general in armor, but Bai Ze fails to control it, and the general collapses. His mother, the White Bone Lady, comforts him, saying his Yin Qi is still too weak and that he should not attempt to control the remains of the White Tiger Emperor in the valley.The White Bone Lady receives a demon talisman from Biyou Palace, a communication tool for demons, reporting that Tang Sanzang, the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, is on his way to obtain scriptures from the Western Heaven. Eating a piece of his flesh grants immortality. She is determined to capture him, seeing this as a rare opportunity for eternal life. Bai Ze tries to persuade his mother that this is dangerous, warning that Tang Sanzang has disciples, specifically Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven who caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace. Bai Ze knows from his knowledge of Journey to the West that White Tiger Ridge is one of the eighty-one tribulations designed for Tang Sanzang, and that his mother and he are sacrifices meant to be killed. He suggests ignoring Tang Sanzang, but his mother is adamant, as the prospect of immortality is irresistible even with risks. Bai Ze realizes they cannot escape White Tiger Ridge, as it has been sealed off by heavenly forces.In his distress, Bai Ze hears an old man’s voice in his mind and enters a purgatory-like space within his own spiritual world. The sky is crimson, the earth cracked with magma, and an old man is chained by dozens of rune-covered chains extending from the clouds. The old man introduces himself as Old Man Ying, a powerful being of the corpse demon race imprisoned in the Hong Gou, which has become Bai Ze’s spiritual space. He offers to take Bai Ze as a disciple, citing their shared race and his interest in having his disciple compete with the disciples of his enemies. Bai Ze is skeptical, questioning whether the old man can truly help against Sun Wukong. Old Man Ying states that Sun Wukong during the pilgrimage is not as powerful as before, dulled by five hundred years under the Five Elements Mountain and restrained by the tightening fillet on his head. He also reveals that Sun Wukong now has concerns about demos with backgrounds, making him hold back.To provide Bai Ze and his mother with a deep background, Old Man Ying deduces that a woman of imperial nobility will soon descend to Dong Family Town in White Tiger Ridge. He explains that the Corpse Demon Clan has the Soul Seizing Technique, which allows them to seize a soul and replace the identity of the person, thereby taking over their karma and status. If Bai Ze’s mother seizes the soul of this noblewoman, they will gain a background that will make even Sun Wukong hesitant. Bai Ze formally bows to Old Man Ying as his master, and the old man imparts an immortal technique called the Corpse Emperor Vajra Fist into his mind. Bai Ze is amazed, as immortal techniques are rarely obtained by wild demons. The story progresses with Bai Ze training in this technique and planning with his mother to set a trap for the noblewoman. The goal is to survive the impending confrontation with Tang Sanzang and his disciples, using the new background to ensure Sun Wukong does not use his full strength. Bai Ze hopes that with Old Man Ying’s guidance and the seized identity, he and his mother can escape the destined tribulation of White Tiger Ridge.
