Realizing they have gone soft, the ninja search for a quest to reignite their Spinjitzu training; unfortunately, Ninjago City is enjoying a period of rare tranquility.
The ninja have found their quest. Now they just have to get there, which involves a road trip through the Desert of Doom, a region supposedly inhabited by a giant scarab beetle.
Lil' Nelson takes a job as a paperboy, which is more difficult than it sounds in a city overrun by scorching Pyro Vipers and an evil Serpentine sorceress.
The Serpentine attack on Ninjago City is seen from an unexpected perspective - entirely in the style of a live newscast delivered by Gayle Gossip and her cameraman.
Having learned Master Wu is the "Treacherous One," the ninja find themselves under siege at the Monastery, trying to protect Wu from the wrath of Aspheera.
The ninja must break into the Explorer's Club to obtain the Second Scroll of Forbidden Spinjitzu, running afoul of the club's manager and irate club-members.
Having learned Zane is not dead, Master Wu prepares to go after him, but Lloyd and the other ninja take matters into their own hands and defy their Master.
The ninja arrive in the Never-Realm, where they quickly find themselves overwhelmed; luckily, they are taken in by a tribe of Ice Fishers who tell them Zane has been imprisoned by the evil Ice Emperor.
Back in Ninjago City, three criminals learn of the ninja's absence and stage a breakout of Kryptarium Prison, telling tall tales of how they were captured as they go.