After Subodhi led the group in defeating the Thunder Demon God, they resumed their long journey on the Journey to the West.
Along the way, Nezha poured his heart out to Subodhi, recounting all the injustices and grievances he had suffered in the heavenly court. As it turned out, Nezha had long been subjected to the oppression and bullying of Pagoda-Bearer Li Tianwang, and the anger and sorrow in his heart had piled up like a mountain.
Hearing this, Subodhi let out a cold snort. "That Li Tianwang has truly gone too far! Let us ascend to the heavenly court together and demand justice for you!"
The others all chimed in agreement. Zulong carried them on his back, moving with the speed of a flash of lightning as they headed straight for the heavenly court.
Upon reaching the South Heavenly Gate, Subodhi didn't waste words; he struck out fiercely with a single palm. With a deafening crash, the South Heavenly Gate instantly turned to dust.
The guards were scared out of their wits, fleeing in terror to report the news. Hearing that Subodhi had arrived, Li Tianwang was startled, but he still braced himself and stepped out to greet him.
"I am unaware what brings the Exalted Patriarch here on such a grand visit?" Li Tianwang forced a calm facade, though his voice trembled uncontrollably.
Subodhi sneered. "Tianwang, the pagoda in your hand is quite exquisite. Lend it to this Patriarch for a look. Once I'm finished, I will naturally return it to you."
With that, a world-destroying pressure suddenly erupted from his entire body, surging like a colossal wave that felt as though it could crush the very heavens and earth. Under this immense pressure, Li Tianwang's face instantly turned as pale as paper, and cold sweat poured down like a waterfall. With no other choice, he tremblingly handed the pagoda over to Subodhi.
Seizing the opportunity, Nezha rushed forward and unleashed a ferocious beating on Li Jing, roaring angrily: "I already carved away my bones to return them to my father, yet you still smashed my lotus-flower golden body and drove my mother to her death!"
How dared Li Jing fight back? His body shook continuously, filled with sheer panic lest he anger the Taoist Subodhi—the very being who had wreaked havoc in Lingshan on Wukong's behalf.
All the immortals of the heavenly court watched secretly from the shadows, yet none dared to step forward and speak up for justice. Seeing Li Jing being beaten through the Heavenly Mechanism Mirror, the Jade Emperor couldn't help bursting into exuberant joy, quietly mocking to himself: "Nezha is truly filled with a bone-deep hatred for his father. Look at him beaten into such a state—right now, his father probably wouldn't even recognize himself in a mirror, haha!"
Up in Lingshan, Rulai opened his celestial eye to observe everything unfolding. Secretly delighted, he muttered softly, "Old man Subodhi, you should have stormed the heavenly court long ago." Gazing at the Great Leiyin Temple still under reconstruction, then looking at the battered Pagoda-Bearer Tianwang and the South Heavenly Gate shattered by Subodhi, Rulai finally felt a slight sense of balance restored in his heart.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the heavenly court was tense to the extreme. Subodhi watched Li Jing take a beating, his expression remaining completely detached as he stood by and observed coldly. Once Nezha finished thrashing him, the pent-up resentment in his heart had finally subsided a bit.
Subodhi spoke up: "Li Tianwang, if you ever dare to make things difficult for Nezha again in the future, I will certainly not spare you!"
Feeling as though he had been granted a reprieve from death, Li Tianwang nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"
Subodhi tossed the pagoda back to Li Jing, turned around with his companions, and prepared to leave.
Just at that moment, a sinister, wild laugh suddenly echoed through the sky. "Subodhi, do you really think you can just leave so easily?"
The group looked up to see a Black-Robed Demon God standing amidst the clouds. His entire body radiated a dense, malevolent aura that billowed like black smoke, sending chills down their spines.
"Who are you?" Subodhi frowned, a flash of vigilance in his eyes as a formidable aura burst from within him, making him look like a towering mountain peak. Brilliant Daoist spiritual light shimmered around his form, dazzling and bright.
The Black-Robed Demon God sneered. "I am a Chaos Demon God, and today I have come specifically to take Wukong's true spirit!"
Subodhi roared furiously, "You hiding, skulking wretch! You dare to act so presumptuous?"
With that, his hands moved with lightning speed to form hand seals as he chanted incantations. A dazzling Daoist radiance instantly emerged, blazing like a scorching, brilliant sun. Mysterious runes swirled within the light, brimming with boundless power.
The Black-Robed Demon God waved his hands, spewing billows of black smoke from his mouth. Dark energy surged forward, colliding fiercely with the Daoist light. In an instant, the heavens and earth shifted color, winds and clouds churned, and it felt as though the end of the world was approaching.
Subodhi let out a cold snort. "Moth-eaten tricks!"
He cast another spell, and as his hands danced, the radiance grew even more intense, turning into countless sharp swords that forced the Black-Robed Demon God to retreat step by step. Seeing this, a flash of ruthlessness crossed the Black-Robed Demon God's eyes. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of dark blood, and his power surged instantly, allowing him to fight Subodhi to a standstill.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, a mysterious figure quietly appeared at the edge of the battlefield. This person wore cyan robes and possessed an ethereal disposition, yet carried an indescribable pressure.
"Hmph, stop this at once!"
The cyan-robed man shouted in anger, his voice imbued with boundless majesty. The soundwaves rippled outward, shaking everyone's blood and vital energy into turmoil. Both Subodhi and the Black-Robed Demon God were startled, involuntarily halting their movements.
"I am the Emperor Qinghua. Today's affairs end here!" The Emperor Qinghua's gaze swept across everyone like lightning.
Subodhi's heart tightened slightly, as he knew very well that this Emperor Qinghua was also an extremely thorny figure to deal with. Yet, how could he easily back down? He said coldly, "A mere little emperor, this matter has nothing to do with you. This Black-Robed Demon God attempted to seize Wukong's true spirit, and I will certainly not let this rest!"
Emperor Qinghua nodded slightly. "Qinghua pays his respects, Grand Uncle-Master."
Subodhi cast a sideways glance at him. "It has been tens of thousands of years. Little brat Hongjun, how have you been?"
At that moment, a low rumble of thunder suddenly sounded across the sky. Subodhi looked up at the sky and cursed, "Old fellow, you still want to strike me with lightning? I haven't settled the score with you yet for stealing and eating my Bodhi seeds back in the day."
A dry cough echoed from the heavens.
"You old fellow, I guessed right—the rumor that Wukong is the Child of the Great Dao was leaked by you, wasn't it?" Subodhi said.
"I certainly did not, haha. Don't talk nonsense! As the Heavenly Dao, would I do such a thing?" Hongjun said guiltily.
Inwardly, he cursed: "Old Bodhi, why do you have to be so smart? Who told you to make this old Daoist lose face? Hehe."
Emperor Qinghua frowned slightly. "Grand Uncle-Master, do not be rash. Master is not that kind of person; everything regarding Wukong has its own destined course."
Just then, the Black-Robed Demon God seized the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, sending a beam of dark light straight toward Subodhi.
"Despicable!" Nezha roared angrily.
Subodhi, however, was already prepared. With a flick of his backhand, a burst of Daoist light shattered the dark light, which instantly dissipated like brilliant fireworks.
"In that case, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Subodhi was thoroughly enraged. Radiance surged massively around him, bright as a river of stars, too dazzling to look directly at. Just as he was about to unleash his full strength, a melodious chime suddenly rang out across the sky.
Everyone was startled. Following the sound, they saw a white-robed immortal riding upon auspicious clouds, surrounded by celestial light and a thousand strands of auspicious vapor.
"Yuanshi Tianzun has arrived!" the white-robed immortal announced in a loud voice.
Everyone hurriedly bowed in respect.
Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Subodhi and said slowly, "Daoist Subodhi, create no more murderous karma. Leave this demon god to me to deal with."
Though Subodhi felt a lingering reluctance in his heart, facing Yuanshi Tianzun, he had no choice but to exercise caution. After all, this old fellow had a pitch-black heart—he had even plotted against his own third brother. Now that Subodhi himself was burdened by Great Dao karmic injuries, he wouldn't gain any advantage if they truly fought.
"Since Tianzun has spoken, then we shall do as you say," Subodhi said.
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slightly, swept his long sleeve, and took the Black-Robed Demon God away.
"Daoist Subodhi, your Journey to the West will be fraught with trials and tribulations. You must be careful," Yuanshi Tianzun said before turning to leave.
Subodhi gazed in the direction where Yuanshi Tianzun had departed, pondered for a moment, and then led the group to continue their journey westward.
They hadn't traveled far before everyone suddenly felt an abnormal atmosphere in the surroundings, and an invisible pressure bore down upon them.
"Not good! It's a trap!" Wukong vigilantly raised the Ruyi Jingu Bang. The golden cudgel blazed with brilliant golden light, illuminating their surroundings.
They saw the space around them warping as a mysterious array slowly materialized.
"This is the ancient God-Trapping Array!" Bajie exclaimed in shock.
Subodhi's expression turned solemn. He formed hand seals, preparing to break the array as the mudras flickered with mysterious light.
At that moment, a sinister laughter echoed from within the array: "Subodhi, today you will not escape this array!"
Subodhi let out a cold snort. "Hiding, skulking cowards! If you have the guts, come out and fight!"
"Haha, don't be impatient. Taste the power of this array first!"
As the words fell, countless beams of light shot out from the array, assaulting the group. Wukong brandished the Ruyi Jingu Bang, swatting the beams of light away one after another as the wind howled around the spinning cudgel. Bajie and Shaseng also unleashed their respective magic spells to defend themselves.
Nezha stepped upon the Wind-Fire Wheels and danced his Fire-Tipped Spear, slashing out trails of blazing flames that burned fiercely with intense heat.
Subodhi chanted incantations, deploying Daoist protective shields to shelter everyone. Runes swirled across the shields, shining with brilliant light.
"Hmph, nothing special!" the voice from the array sounded once more.
Subodhi's gaze narrowed. "Moth-eaten tricks! Watch me break this array!"
His hands formed even more complex incantation seals, and a formidable power erupted from within him, surging like towering waves that hammered against the array. Yet, the array possessed incredible resilience, and it was difficult to breach it instantly.
Just as everyone was struggling to hold on, a crisp, commanding shout came from afar: "Stop your insolence!"
A stunningly beautiful woman was seen riding upon colorful clouds, holding a jade flute in her hand that radiated a gentle glow.
"Goddess Nuwa!" everyone cried out in pleasant surprise.
Goddess Nuwa gently played her jade flute, transforming notes of sound into powerful forces that battered the array. Wherever the soundwaves passed, the space itself trembled slightly.
Under the combined efforts of Goddess Nuwa and Subodhi, cracks finally appeared on the array.
"Now!" Subodhi roared, unleashing a full-strength strike. The array instantly shattered, scattering light in all directions.
"Damn it!" Seeing that the situation had turned sour, the person hidden in the array turned and attempted to flee.
How could Subodhi let him escape? He cast a spell that manifested like a giant net, trapping the culprit.
"So it was just a tiny little monster like you daring to cause trouble here!" Subodhi recognized the captive and roared angrily.
The monster fell to its knees and begged for mercy: "Exalted Patriarch, spare my life! This little one was only acting under someone else's instructions."
Subodhi frowned. "Under whose instructions?"
The monster trembled as it replied, "It was Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha of the Western Buddhist Sect. He told this little one to block your Journey to the West here."
Subodhi let out a cold snort. "The Western Buddhist Sect truly lingers like an unshakeable ghost!"
Goddess Nuwa spoke up, "It seems this Journey to the West is far more arduous than we imagined."
Subodhi said, "Even if it is arduous, I will walk it through to the end. Eliminating Buddhism and spreading the Dao is imperative!"