The fierce battle between Subodhi and the disciples against the fiends became increasingly thrilling.
The Golden-Winged Great Roc suddenly spread its wings, and a violent gale began to howl.
With claws sharp as hooks and carrying a fierce momentum, it lunged fiercely toward Subodhi.
Subodhi let out a cold snort. "A mere roc, and you dare to act so insolently!"
With a wave of his sleeve, his formidable magical power surged forward like a torrential flood, instantly enveloping the Golden-Winged Great Roc entirely.
Struggling desperately, the Golden-Winged Great Roc shrieked in rage, "Old man Subodhi, don't you dare be so arrogant! I am the maternal uncle of Buddha Tathagata of the West. How dare you show me such disrespect!"
Subodhi's expression remained completely unchanged as he sneered, "Hmph, I don't care whose uncle you are. Anyone who dares to block my Journey to the West will be captured just the same!"
As he chanted incantations, a brilliant flash of light swept past, and the Golden-Winged Great Roc was sucked into his miniature world, sealed away for good.
Inside the miniature world, the Golden-Winged Great Roc grumbled and cursed, "Old man Subodhi, you audacious wretch! Once I get out, I'll make you pay!"
Turning a deaf ear to its shouts, Subodhi led the others to press onward.
They had not walked far before they arrived at a deep, secluded valley.
Deep within the valley, an ancient cave dwelling radiated a strange glow, as if concealing endless secrets within.
The moment Subodhi stepped into the cave, an incomparably powerful restrictive force surged toward him like a tidal wave.
Circulating all his magical power to resist with difficulty, sweat rolling down his forehead in heavy beads, he gritted his teeth and said, "I want to see what kind of restriction this is, to be so powerful!"
Outside, Taotie and Gonggong were fighting valiantly against the surging fiends to prevent them from disturbing Subodhi.
However, the fiends were numerous and possessed formidable strength, plunging the group into a bitter battle for a time.
Inside the cave dwelling, Subodhi exerted his full strength to counter the restrictive force while carefully observing his surroundings.
The cave walls were covered in mysterious runes and patterns, as if silently recounting an ancient and mystical legend.
Deep within the cave dwelling, there was a Spirit Spring emanating powerful spiritual energy.
Approaching the Spirit Spring and feeling the boundless power contained within it, Subodhi could not help exclaiming in wonder, "This spring is truly rare in this world. If I can use it for myself, my strength will surely increase dramatically."
As he absorbed the power of the Spirit Spring, he thought to himself, "This must be the legendary chaotic spiritual fluid. In the original trajectory, this thing shouldn't have appeared. Could it be because of my transmigration?"
The more he thought about it, the more Subodhi felt that this Spirit Spring was extraordinarily mysterious.
Suddenly, an illusory figure emerged from within the Spirit Spring.
"Who goes there, daring to trespass in this place!" the figure demanded angrily.
Subodhi cupped his fists and said, "I am Daoist Subodhi, here on a Journey to the West to preach the Dao and save my disciple Wukong. I mean no offense. I hope Senior will be magnanimous."
The figure was silent for a moment before saying, "So it is Subodhi. If you can pass my test, this chaotic spiritual fluid will belong to you."
With that, the figure vanished, and the surrounding environment instantly shifted. Subodhi found himself plunged into an illusionary realm.
Within the illusion, countless demons bared their fangs and brandished their claws as they lunged at him.
Showing no trace of fear, Subodhi shouted, "You demons, stop your insolence!"
He immediately unleashed all his skills, engaging the demons in a fierce battle.
These demons varied in form. Some had bodies as huge as mountains, while others were ethereal and unpredictable like ghosts.
Subodhi circulated his magical power, his entire body radiating brilliant light, every strike carrying world-shattering might.
Yet the demons seemed endless, surging forward in wave after wave.
Subodhi thought to himself, "If this continues, even with my profound magical power, I fear it will eventually be exhausted."
Just as he was feeling extremely anxious, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he remembered the rune patterns he had just seen on the cave wall, which seemed to conceal a method for breaking the enemy.
Calming his mind, Subodhi carefully recalled those runes, formed hand seals, and chanted incantations.
As he cast his spell, a mysterious light burst forth from his body, and wherever it reached, the demons vanished one after another.
After a fierce and grueling battle, Subodhi finally broke through the illusionary realm.
At that moment, his clothes were tattered, but his gaze was as resolute as iron.
The figure appeared once again. "You have passed the test. The chaotic spiritual fluid is granted to you."
After expressing his thanks, Subodhi hurriedly absorbed the chaotic spiritual fluid.
The Dao Realm karmic injuries he had previously suffered due to his failed breakthrough began to heal at an astonishing speed under the nourishment of the chaotic spiritual fluid.
Feeling his meridians clear up completely and his magical power flow ever more smoothly, he rejoiced greatly. "With this assistance, why worry about failing to save Wukong!"
Leaving the cave dwelling, the group continued their Journey to the West.
They had not traveled far before they encountered a mysterious temple.
Inside the temple was enshrined an unknown statue of a deity, radiating a bizarre aura.
The moment Subodhi stepped into the temple, the statue burst into brilliant light, and a powerful divine will transmitted: "Subodhi, if you can solve the riddle I left behind, you may receive my inheritance."
Composing himself, Subodhi pondered deeply, thinking to himself, "This riddle must not be simple; I must handle it with caution."
The riddle turned out to be a complex astrological chart. Staring at the star map, Subodhi's mind raced at lightning speed.
Recalling records of astrology he had once seen in ancient books and combining them with his own cultivation insights, he analyzed it bit by bit.
After deep thought and deliberation, he finally found the answer.
The statue nodded in satisfaction, and a beam of light poured into Subodhi's body. He had acquired yet another powerful divine ability.
This ability was actually nurturing the weak true spirit of Wukong within the Subodhi Realm.
Feeling the new divine ability, Subodhi smiled and said, "Heaven truly aids me!"
However, before they had even time to rejoice, a group of mysterious figures dressed in black appeared ahead.
Without a word, the figures in black launched a direct attack.
Subodhi and his disciples rose up to resist.
Amidst the fierce combat, Subodhi discovered that these figures in black showed no fear of death, as if controlled by some evil force.
He shouted angrily, "What kind of monsters are you, daring to make trouble here!"
The opponents' moves were bizarre and their coordination impeccable, plunging Subodhi and the others into a difficult predicament for a time.
Fighting while observing, Subodhi finally discovered a flaw in the figures in black.
He shouted loudly, "Watch me break your evil arts!"
The magical light in his hand struck like lightning, hitting the crucial point within the formation of the figures in black.
After an arduous battle, Subodhi finally tracked down the mastermind behind the figures in black—an evil wizard hiding in the shadows.
This wizard radiated a dark aura, his eyes gleaming with venomous malice.
Unleashing a powerful spell, Subodhi defeated the evil wizard and freed the figures in black.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, the figures in black repeatedly expressed their willingness to follow Subodhi on the Journey to the West.
Subodhi readily agreed, leading the group to resume their Journey to the West, which was fraught with unknowns.
As they walked, a wide river appeared ahead, its turbulent waters surging and exuding a dangerous aura.
Just as Subodhi was pondering how to cross the river, a giant water prison suddenly rose from the river, trapping them inside.
Within the water prison, the current was swift, constantly battering everyone.
Subodhi frowned deeply, thinking to himself, "What kind of monster is making trouble this very moment?"
At that instant, a gloomy laughter echoed from within the water prison. "Old man Subodhi, today you won't escape the palm of my hand!"
A water demon slowly emerged from the water, massive in size and surrounded by swirling currents, exuding an aggressive momentum.
Subodhi let out a cold snort. "A mere water demon, and you dare to utter wild boasts!"
The water demon laughed heartily. "You have already walked into my trap, and you still dare to run your mouth!"
With that, he manipulated the currents to batter the group even more fiercely.
Taotie roared, "Master, I'll help you!"
As he spoke, he unleashed his swallowing power, attacking the water demon.
The water demon smiled contemptuously and flicked his sleeve, using a powerful force to beat Taotie back.
Gonggong sneered, "When it comes to playing with water, I am your ancestor." He mobilized the power of water to counter the water demon.
Yet within the water demon's domain, Gonggong's Water-Control Art clearly could not unleash its full power, and Gonggong gradually found himself at a disadvantage.
Subodhi's gaze sharpened. "It seems I have no choice but to use that move!"
Pressing his palms together, his entire body radiated a brilliant light as a mysterious power emerged.
Upon seeing this, the water demon's expression changed drastically. "This... what kind of power is this?"
Subodhi shouted sternly, "Chaotic Divine Art, break!"
The formidable power erupted instantly, shattering the water prison with a loud crash, and the water demon was sent flying backward by the shockwave.
With a wave of his hand, Subodhi instantly sealed the demon's magical powers, and with another wave, sent him off to the Great Tang.
He transmitted a message telling the demon that he needed to perform one hundred good deeds for mortals before the sealing restriction could be lifted, and for every bad deed committed, the sealing restriction would automatically be reinforced by a hundred years.
Finally breaking free from danger, the group continued on their way.
They had not gone far when an eerie ancient fortress came into view.
The fortress gates were tightly closed, and bizarre mist swirled all around.
The moment Subodhi approached, the gates slowly opened, and a powerful suction pulled them inward.
Entering the fortress, the group found it gloomy and terrifying, filled everywhere with skeletons and bizarre runes.
Suddenly, a swarm of ghosts attacked from all directions.
Subodhi and his companions plunged into crisis once again.
At that moment, Subodhi thought to himself, "This Journey to the West is truly fraught with hardships. Yet for Wukong's sake, even through a thousand perils and ten thousand dangers, I will surely push through!"
His gaze was like a torch, his magical power surging around his body as he prepared to engage in a life-or-death battle against this horde of ghosts.
Just then, an eerie voice suddenly echoed from within the ghost swarm: "Old man Subodhi, Heaven says your true form is a congenital spiritual root, and your strength can ha-ha absolutely achieve Buddhahood on the spot—oh no, wait, it's achieve divinity on the spot! Hahahaha!"
Subodhi said coldly, "You cowardly skulking wretch, show yourself and fight me if you have the guts! Those who wanted to eat me have already turned around and gone to reincarnation."
That voice no longer replied, and the attacks of the ghosts grew increasingly fierce.
Subodhi knew well that if they did not resolve the battle swiftly, everyone's lives might be in jeopardy.
With a loud shout, he unleashed an ultimate technique he had never shown before. Brilliant light erupted like falling stars, and wherever it reached, the ghosts vanished one after another.
Yet just as everyone thought the crisis had been averted, a low roar suddenly echoed from deep within the fortress, as if an even more powerful entity was about to awaken...