The monster that stole the weapons of Yuan Hong and his two companions was a Yellow Lion Demon that resided in Tiger's Mouth Cave on Leopard Head Mountain. Its cultivation strength was not too strong; with Yuan Hong and his companions' abilities, they would have more than enough to deal with it. However, its great-grandfather was the Nine-Headed Lion Spirit, the mount of Taiyi Saves from Suffering, a Heavenly Venerate from the wondrous Yan Palace in the eastern extreme, also known as the Nine-Spirit Primordial Saint. Its divine skills were vast, and Sun Wukong estimated that it had at least the cultivation of a Quasi-Saint. Yuan Hong and the others would likely have a hard time overcoming it.
"You go retrieve your weapons; just defeating that demon will suffice. Do not harm its life; I, Old Sun, have my own plans for what follows!"