Subodhi and his companions continued their Journey to the West with Bai Jingjing, soon stepping into the treacherous and perilous Huangfeng Ridge.
Within Huangfeng Ridge, the Xunfeng howled unceasingly, sand and stones flew through the air, blocking out the sun and sky. It was a scene of utter chaos, resembling an apocalyptic realm.
"The wind here is treacherous, disciples must be extremely cautious!"
Subodhi's expression was stern, his gaze burning like a torch as he vigilantly scanned his surroundings and solemnly reminded the group.
Wukong gripped the Ruyi Jingu Bang, his eyes flashing with golden light, looking majestic as he shouted, "Humph, no matter what kind of demonic wind or evil spirit it is, this Old Sun will beat it until its soul scatters!"
Bajie grumbled, "This wind is blowing so hard this old pig can't even open his eyes. Could there be some extremely powerful demon making trouble?"
Shaseng tightly grasped the Monster-Subduing Staff, his expression grave and wordless, as he grew increasingly vigilant of the movements around them.
Tang Seng put his palms together, reciting incantations under his breath as he sincerely prayed for everyone's safety.
Suddenly, a sharp, ear-piercing scream echoed through the violent wind, and a huge black shadow darted out from the gale like a phantom, lunging straight at Wukong.
Wukong reacted with lightning speed, taking a step forward to meet it. He swung the Ruyi Jingu Bang fiercely and roared, "Halt, bold fiend! Taste this stick from my old Sun!"
The black shadow nimbly dodged, easily evading Wukong's attack.
"What kind of fiend dares to launch a sneak attack!" Wukong glared with wide eyes, shouting furiously.
The black shadow revealed its form—it was an ancient demon god known as the Xunfeng Demon God.
At that very moment, memories of the old Yellow-Wind King flashed through Wukong's mind.
The Yellow-Wind King's demonic wind had once given countless immortals massive headaches; although ultimately subdued by Wukong and Bajie working together, his ferocious demeanor remained vivid in his memory.
Wukong snapped back to reality, his gaze like lightning as he fixed it on the Xunfeng Demon God, sneering, "Humph, whether you are the Yellow-Wind King or the Xunfeng Demon God, today you won't escape my old Sun's Ruyi Jingu Bang!"
The Xunfeng Demon God laughed wildly, "Ha, ha! You arrogant fools, daring to trespass in my territory, you are simply courting death!"
Subodhi let out a cold snort, "A mere demon god, how dare you spout such nonsense here!"
With that, his hands moved with lightning speed to form hand seals, and a Daoist talisman glowing with mysterious light instantly shot forward.
Runes circulated across the talisman, radiating brilliance as it pressed straight toward the Xunfeng Demon God.
The Xunfeng Demon God remained unhurried, blowing out a surge of violent black wind from his mouth.
The gale, like a black dragon, instantly blew the talisman apart.
"This demon god certainly has some tricks!" Bajie couldn't help exclaiming.
The Xunfeng Demon God grew even more arrogant, "The power of my wind is boundless! It can blind your eyes, snap your bones, and leave you wishing neither life nor death!"
Hearing this, Wukong burned with fury, leaping forward to charge at the Xunfeng Demon God and engaging him in a fierce, life-or-death battle.
Relying on the formidable power of the fierce wind, the Xunfeng Demon God parried with Wukong, locked in an evenly matched struggle for a time.
The gale howled around them, kicking up waves of dust as if trying to tear heaven and earth apart.
Just as the battle reached a stalemate, the Xunfeng Demon God suddenly unleashed his ultimate technique, spitting out an even more ferocious and violent black wind from his mouth.
This wind instantly transformed into countless razor-sharp wind blades. Gleaming with an eerie light, the blades swept toward the group like a torrential downpour.
Seeing this, Subodhi shouted loudly, "Innate Eight Diagrams Array, rise!"
In a flash, a dazzlingly bright Eight Diagrams pattern appeared above everyone's heads.
The Eight Diagrams Array shone with dazzling light and pulsing runes, forming an impenetrable barrier that successfully blocked the assault of the wind blades.
"Very well, demon god, watch how I subdue you!" Subodhi glared, his hands continuously changing hand seals.
The light of the Eight Diagrams Array flared brilliantly, carrying boundless pressure as it bore down mercilessly upon the Xunfeng Demon God.
The light pierced toward the Xunfeng Demon God like ten thousand sharp swords.
Feeling this immense pressure, the Xunfeng Demon God's expression turned grave, yet he stubbornly sneered, "Humph, wanting to subdue me is not that easy!" With that, he struggled fiercely against the power of the Eight Diagrams Array.
At this moment, Bai Jingjing also decisively stepped in to help. Her hands danced, wielding a mysterious and powerful spell that transformed her into a snow-white radiance.
The light poured down like the Milky Way, shooting swiftly toward the Xunfeng Demon God.
Caught off guard, the Xunfeng Demon God was struck by the radiance and let out a miserable scream.
Seizing the opportunity, Wukong swung the Ruyi Jingu Bang and smashed it heavily onto his head.
With the Ruyi Jingu Bang's light bursting forth and carrying boundless power, the Xunfeng Demon God instantly collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.
"Ha, ha! We've finally subdued this demon god!" Bajie shouted excitedly at the top of his lungs.
However, before anyone could catch their breath, the Xunfeng Demon God's body suddenly transformed into a gloomy gust of black wind, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.
"Not good, the demon god has escaped!" Shaseng furrowed his brow, speaking urgently.
Subodhi frowned slightly, his expression grave, "I'm afraid an even greater conspiracy awaits us in this Huangfeng Ridge."
Daring not to slacken in the slightest, the group continued forward with extreme caution, searching everywhere for traces of the Xunfeng Demon God.
Meanwhile, hiding in a secluded spot in the shadows, the Xunfeng Demon God gnashed his teeth as he plotted an even more vicious scheme.
He swore inwardly: "I am going to eat that cheeky monkey, and the Great Dao Essence is mine. Just wait... I will return this tenfold, and make sure none of you make it back alive!"
Just as the group searched around, the surrounding wind suddenly grew even more desolate, and eerie black shadows loomed indistinctly within the gale.
"Not good, this is likely a trap set by the Xunfeng Demon God!" Subodhi's heart tightened.
At this, Bajie turned pale with fright, "What on earth should we do?"
Wukong, however, showed no trace of fear, proclaiming loudly, "What is there to fear? When soldiers come, we block them; when water comes, we earth it! This old Sun wants to see what tricks this demon god can possibly pull!"
Before his voice had even faded, the surrounding black shadows lunged toward the group one after another.
These shadows turned out to be a horde of malevolent spirits summoned by the Xunfeng Demon God.
They varied in shape: some resembled yakshas with blue faces and sharp fangs; others looked like evil ghosts with gaping, blood-red mouths, wildly brandishing their claws in a hideous and terrifying manner.
Wukong shouted, "You fiends, stop your rampaging!"
With that, he brandished the Ruyi Jingu Bang and charged into the horde of monsters. Like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, with every swing of his staff, evil spirits fell to the ground.
Wherever the Ruyi Jingu Bang reached, light radiated in all directions, turning the malevolent spirits to ashes.
Guding his courage, Bajie also brandished the Nine-Toothed Rake, shouting, "Check out this old pig's prowess!"
The Nine-Toothed Rake flashed with a cold glint, its every strike carrying astonishing power.
Meanwhile, Shaseng instinctively shielded Tang Seng, sweeping the Monster-Subduing Staff horizontally to keep the evil spirits at bay.
As the Monster-Subduing Staff swept through the air, the wind howled with an imposing momentum.
Unexpectedly, upon seeing the monsters, Tang Seng grew excited, instantly transforming into a six-winged golden cicada that flew into the demon horde and went on a frenzied slaughter.
Subodhi formed hand seals with both hands, chanting incantations. Streaks of Daoist light shot toward the evil spirits like falling shooting stars, unleashing terrifying power.
Bai Jingjing formed hand seals with her hands, chanting a mysterious incantation.
A powerful force erupted from within her. The energy rippled outward, successfully beating back the malevolent spirits wave after wave.
After a fierce battle, though the evil spirits suffered losses, they continued to pour in endlessly.
Just as the group began to feel overwhelmed, a clear phoenix cry suddenly rang out through the sky.
A giant phoenix descended from the heavens, its entire body wreathed in flames as it exuded a powerful aura.
The flames bloomed like red lotus flowers, scorching and intensely hot.
"I am the Phoenix God, come specially to help!" the phoenix spoke in human language.
With a sweep of the phoenix's wings, a sea of fire surged over the evil spirits. The roaring sea of flames instantly reduced numerous fiends to ashes.
The group breathed a sigh of relief.
However, before they could even catch their breath, the wild laughter of the Xunfeng Demon God echoed from afar once more:
"Ha, ha! This is only the beginning. Just wait to meet your deaths!"
Subodhi's expression turned gloomy, "It seems this demon god will not stop until he achieves his goal."
Exchanging glances, the group steeled their gazes, ready to face the even more difficult challenges ahead.
At that moment, the Xunfeng Demon God appeared once again. He danced his hands and chanted incantations, causing the surrounding gale to instantly form a massive tornado.
The tornado, like a giant black beast, swept toward the group.
"Humph, mere child's play!"
Subodhi waved both hands, and a Daoist barrier instantly materialized.
The barrier flashed with brilliance, acting like a protective shield that blocked the tornado's onslaught.
"Wukong, Bajie, Shaseng, follow me to shatter this demon god's sorcery!" Subodhi shouted loudly.
The group shouted in unison, unleashing their respective ultimate techniques.
Wukong's Ruyi Jingu Bang blazed with brilliant light, shining like the midday sun. Bajie's Nine-Toothed Rake shimmered with a cold glint, sharp as the pure light of a wintry moon.
Shaseng's Monster-Subduing Staff also emitted waves of oppressive might, heavy as mountains.
Bai Jingjing formed hand seals with her hands, chanting a mysterious incantation.
A powerful force erupted from within her. The energy surged like rolling waves, shaking heaven and earth.
Under their combined efforts, the tornado gradually dissipated.
Seeing this, the Xunfeng Demon God's expression grew even gloomier.
"Do you think you can defeat me just like this? How naive!" the Xunfeng Demon God roared.
He suddenly brought his palms together, spitting out a stream of black flames from his mouth. The flames resembled the hellish fires of purgatory, withers and parching all vegetation in their path.
"Not good, these flames are immensely powerful!" Tang Seng exclaimed.
Subodhi furrowed his brow, rapidly forming hand seals with both hands as he chanted, "Chaos Formula!"
A beam of azure light shot from his hands. Like a blue dragon bursting from the sea, the azure light collided with the black flames, producing a massive explosion.
Just as the group remained locked in a stalemate with the Xunfeng Demon God, the sound of a bell suddenly chimed through the air.
"This is..." Subodhi was startled.
They saw a mysterious immortal descending upon auspicious clouds.
"Ha, ha! So it's Big Brother Zhenyuan!" Wukong cried out in pleasant surprise.
Zhenyuan Daxian smiled and said, "Brother Wukong, it's been well! Today I have come specially to lend you a hand!"
Zhenyuan Daxian waved his large sleeve, sending forth a beam of immortal energy. Like a rainbow piercing the sun, the immortal energy instantly bound the Xunfeng Demon God.
"Many thanks to the Great Immortal for your assistance!" the group said in unison.
With the help of Zhenyuan Daxian, the group finally completely subdued the Xunfeng Demon God.
"This peril in Huangfeng Ridge is thanks to Big Brother stepping in," Wukong said.
Zhenyuan Daxian waved his hand, "Between brothers, no need for formalities."
With that, Zhenyuanzi nodded in farewell to Subodhi, "Ancestor, take care."
The group exchanged smiles and continued on their Journey to the West.