This chapter opens with a soliloquy by the taoist, who tells his senior brother that he will seal his five senses and live in a city for a short while. He tells him that he should never forget his original wish to be a human being. He then tells him to remember that he is a waste, and that he needs to worship him so much that he spits out the food that he cooks in the future. The taoists then discuss the theft of the pure essence array. The dean tells them that someone has destroyed the array and stolen a great deal of the essences. The three of them pray that they will be able to catch the thief, but lajiao says that they have spent all their money on the bet, and now that they are all penniless, they should not forget the bet. The most important thing is to pass the exam safely, and taoism is the only way to do that.