Journey to the West Reforged: All the Way West

After the pilgrimage for scriptures ended, the golden headband was removed, but Sun Wukong's demonic power waned daily. It wasn't until he uncovered an ancient scroll that he realized the journey west was an elaborate scheme—the Buddha intended to use him as a cauldron to refine ancient demon blood. The Great Sage Equal to Heaven smashed his headband in fury, turned against Buddhism, and led his demon army all the way to Lingshan. Yet when he raised his staff to strike Tathagata, the Buddha smiled compassionately, his golden body shattered, revealing a face identical to his own. It turned out that Tathagata was his sealed past life. Every shackle he sought to break ultimately pointed back to himself. The staff hovered three inches from Tathagata's forehead, all realms silent—to strike, or not to strike? — Description from novelcodex.org