In this chapter, the Destined One will encounter the Duskveil and the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master, both of whom are Yaoguai Kings. Additionally, we will explore the secrets behind the Webbed Hollow based on clues from the game.
The Duskveil is a significant and tragic character in the game. Originally a celestial being known as Dawnstar, like the previously mentioned Kang-Jin Star, he is also one of the Twenty-Eight Constellations. His mother is Bodhisattva Pilanpo. Dawnstar was the nemesis of various insect Guai. According to “Journey to the West”, at the Pipa Cave on Poison Enemy Mountain, Dawnstar’s crow at dawn helped Sun Wukong subdue the Mother Scorpion Guai. Later, at the Yellow Flower Temple, Bodhisattva Pilanpo used an embroidery needle refined from Dawnstar’s eyes to help Sun Wukong subdue the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master. However, Bodhisattva Pilanpo did not allow Sun Wukong to kill the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master. Instead, she took him back to Ziyun Mountain to guard the gate.
In the game, after Sun Wukong’s demise, many of his old friends set out to help, with Dawnstar likely among them. Based on the game’s narrative, the Queen Mother gifted the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master two Kunlun immortal eggs to plunder the spiritual essence of the lower realms and, incidentally, create puppets. To prevent any disruption of her plans, the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master targeted Dawnstar, planning to eliminate him preemptively. Given Dawnstar’s ability to counter Guai and his friendship with Sun Wukong, he would inevitably foil the Queen Mother’s schemes. The Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master used Dawnstar’s blood to incubate one of the eggs, creating the Elder Amourworm, while transforming Dawnstar into The Duskveil.
Dawnstar did not report to the Bullfighting Palace before descending to his mother, Bodhisattva Pilanpo’s ashram at Ziyun Mountain. Upon arrival, he discovered that Bodhisattva Pilanpo was missing, and the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master, along with a group of Guai, had occupied Ziyun Mountain. As a nemesis of the Guai, Dawnstar could have easily defeated them, but was unexpectedly overpowered within a few rounds. As the leading Guai drew a golden hairpin—a magical implement—to kill Dawnstar, he realized the truth, for in the entire Celestial Court, only the Queen Mother wielded a golden hairpin as her magical implement.
The Golden Hairpin is the Magical Implement used to part the Milky Way, and it is closely associated with the Queen Mother. The Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master forced The Duskveil to consume worm eggs from Kunlun, thus transforming Dawnstar into The Duskveil, a monstrous creature. Tragically, a noble Immortal from the Celestial Court was cruelly slain and altered into a grotesque figure resembling neither human nor ghost.
Having discussed The Duskveil, let us turn to the chief culprit behind Dawnstar’s murder, the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master. In the original *Journey to the West*, Zhu Bajie once harassed seven Spider Guai sisters who then fled to the Yellow Flower Temple to seek refuge with their fellow disciple, the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master. Although the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master shared a bond with the Spider Guai sisters, he ultimately chose the flesh of Tang Seng over them, revealing his shallow and selfish nature as depicted in the original text.
The Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master is renowned for two major skills: his art of poison crafting and the Thousand-Eyed Golden Light Magic Spell. He discovered and utilized the poison crafting facility within the Yellow Flower Temple to produce a toxin potent enough to incapacitate Immortals, highlighting his unique position and threat among evil forces. The Thousand-Eyed Golden Light is even more astonishing; it can create illusions to bewilder enemies and form physical attacks, making it his ace against the forces of good.
As a Yaoguai, why would the Immortals of the Celestial Court collaborate with a seemingly minor character like the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master? It all ties back to their desire for Immortality.
According to the game’s description, although Immortals and Yaoguai possess immortality, they still have lifespan limits and can age and die. To avoid death, Yaoguai constantly crave delicacies such as Tang Seng’s flesh. But what about the Immortals? Naturally, Immortals maintain a higher standard than Yaoguai. They often prolong their lives through various magical items, such as Elixirs and peaches of immortality.
However, under normal circumstances, the production of Elixirs and peaches is limited. Since the peach trees bear fruit at a fixed rate and not very quickly, the only option is to increase the production of Elixirs. To do so, the source of Alchemy materials must be expanded. So, what are these Alchemy materials? Typically, the ingredients for Alchemy include various precious natural treasures or the Inner Elixirs of Yaoguai. The more powerful the magical power of the Yaoguai, the better the quality of their Inner Elixir. This explains why Immortals from the heavens often descend to capture Yaoguai; after capturing them, they can collect Inner Elixirs and other useful materials for Alchemy.
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