The Battle in Journey to the West
Chapter 208 - 203: Transforming the Heavenly Demon into the Buddha Kingdom

Chapter 208: Chapter 203: Transforming the Heavenly Demon into the Buddha Kingdom

The Daoist Equal to Heaven let go of his attachment and eliminated the Heart Demon, finally unaffected by the guile of the Heavenly Demons.

These Heavenly Demons aim to instigate all sorts of distracting thoughts in those cultivating. With an abundance of distracting thoughts, one’s spirit will waver, allowing the Demons to devour the cultivator’s spirit. If a person’s Primordial Spirit is like a great river dike, then such thoughts are like ant holes on the dike. A long dike will ultimately be destroyed by those ant holes.

Although these Heavenly Demons possess limitless transformations, the Daoist Equal to Heaven stood firm as a rock, his heart clear as crystal, unmoved by the eight winds. He had already attained the ability to become a Buddha on the spot.

In the eyes of an Enlightened One, all is emptiness. To him, these illusions of Heavenly Demons are nothing more than fleeting clouds or a mirage in a dream.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven brandished the Samsara Pen in his hand, touching the void and inscribing a large "卐" character. Buddha Light flickered, as if the entire world of Heavenly Demons transformed into a Sea of Thunder, emitting endless Buddha Light. Tens of thousands of Heavenly Demons screamed as they were annihilated into nothingness.

The number of Heavenly Demons in the World of Heavenly Demons seemed infinite, with tens of thousands more emerging from barren planets, charging at Daoist Equal to Heaven, howling and cackling, intending to devour him. However, the Samsara Pen in the hands of Daoist Equal to Heaven was too powerful; with a single stroke, swathes of Heavenly Demons were sliced to ash.

"These Heavenly Demons cannot be killed off, and I’ve been lured into a Heart Tribulation. Now that I have let go of my attachments and banished the Heart Demon, how can I leave this World of Heavenly Demons?" pondered the Daoist Equal to Heaven silently.

The origin of this World of Heavenly Demons is mysterious, hidden beyond the frontier, yet it seems to be a world of its own with no apparent way out.

The Daoist Equal to Heaven slaughtered wave after wave of Heavenly Demons, but this time, a formidable one appeared— a Heavenly Demon King!

The Heavenly Demon King, ruler over countless Heavenly Demons, possessed mana so powerful it shocked people. Standing tall at three zhang and seven feet wearing a red robe, ferocious as a specter, he was incredibly fierce. Seeing the Daoist Equal to Heaven, he could not help but laugh bizarrely, "What a powerful Primordial Spirit. If I devour you, I could occupy your physical body! Ha-ha! Then, this king could go create havoc in the Four Great Continents!"

If the Primordial Spirit of Daoist Equal to Heaven were killed by a Heavenly Demon from the World of Heavenly Demons, his body would also be occupied by them. Those low-level Heavenly Demons only knew brutish slaughter. Occasionally when a Demon Head appears in the world, it is because their Heart Tribulation erupted, and they were killed by a Heavenly Demon. Occupying the flesh, the Heavenly Demon would then wreak havoc and slaughter.

The Heavenly Demon King’s mana was terrifying, at the level of a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal. The Daoist Equal to Heaven was but in the Indestructible Realm himself, unlikely to gain much advantage in a fight. However, he had already realized the Supreme Right Enlightenment. This Demon Lord primarily attacks one’s spirit, but his resolve was as solid as a rock. Even the Great Freedom Demon from the Other-transforming Self at Ease couldn’t affect his state of mind. Once Enlightenment is achieved, one’s spiritual state would undergo a drastic transformation.

Naturally, such an Enlightened One has no trace of mediocrity. The Delighted Buddha of Fixed Light was a renegade disciple of the Sect of Interception; his Fruition Status was granted by Zhunti and Amitabha Buddha, so he cannot be considered a true Enlightened One.

An Enlightened One must endure myriad tribulations to achieve success. Even Siddhartha Gautama Buddha had to face calamities and reincarnate, enduring the suffering of life to become the Respectful Ruler of the World.

"Come to me!" bellowed the Heavenly Demon King, reaching out his hand to grasp at Daoist Equal to Heaven.

Daoist Equal to Heaven felt his solid spirit slighty tremble, but he quickly calmed down.

Daoist Equal to Heaven snorted coldly and clasped his hands into a Dharma Seal, declaring, "Thus I have heard!"

As each of the four words was spoken, his tongue releasing thunderous shocks, each word set off rumbling in heaven and earth. Behind him rose a great Buddha—Amitabha Buddha himself—who struck out with a palm. Although Buddha is compassionate, to save sentient beings, he can also manifest as a Wrathful Vajra. This palm, filled with great compassion yet unrivaled in power!

"Bang!"

Their palms met, shattering countless Heavenly Demons directly into dust, the terrifying shockwave scattering in all directions.

Daoist Equal to Heaven thought, "This Buddhist Cultivation Method focuses on cultivating one’s mind, while the Daoist Method focuses on cultivating one’s life. Having undergone this Heart Tribulation, my spiritual cultivation has reached Fruition Status, allowing me to become a Supreme Right Enlightenment Buddha Ancestor. Employing the Supernatural Daoist Method from the ’Sutra of the Other Shore,’ it is many times more powerful than before. Even if he is a Mixed Yuan Golden Immortal, I can defeat him!"

The supreme scripture of Buddhism, the painstaking work of Amitabha Buddha, how could it be mundane? Moreover, Buddhist Methods are highly effective at subjugating these demons.

The Heavenly Demon King was inwardly shocked, thinking, "What a strong spirit he has! Furthermore, the method he is cultivating seems to specifically counter my line of Heavenly Demons; he is not easy to deal with!"

The Heavenly Demon King, shifting into myriad forms, unleashed his Divine Skills in an onslaught toward Daoist Equal to Heaven! The Daoist Equal to Heaven, silently reciting the ’Sutra of the Other Shore,’ formed a Dharma Seal with a single hand, immovable as a mountain. With the Samsara Pen in his hand, he was like a Great Confucian, commanding the land with an imposing presence.

In the emptiness of space, Daoist Equal to Heaven wrote down a passage of the ’Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra.’ As the scripture was completed, a chorus of Sanskrit resounded, reminiscent of ancient temple bells tolling, their hums connecting together, the reverberations shattering desolate planets to pieces. The Heavenly Demon King suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, cursing, "Damn, he’s going to convert me?!"

Daoist Equal to Heaven discovered an even deeper mystery within the ’Sutra of the Other Shore.’ With the right state of mind, he could consolidate his thoughts into a vast, boundless Buddha Kingdom, housing countless temples and scriptures— all manifestations of his spirit, with each scripture one that he had read from the Buddhist canon.

Though Tathagata may be dangerous, undeniable is the immeasurable strength and profound mystery of Buddhist Law— a single scripture can occupy a mortal’s entire life in study.

"Turn this Heavenly Demon King and have him preside over the Buddha Kingdom within me, and my strength will reach new heights!" Daoist Equal to Heaven waved his hand again, composing the ’Diamond Sutra’ and the ’Avatamsaka Sutra.’

Many Buddhas have fashioned Buddha Kingdoms, where in every moment, billions of Buddhist Disciples offer them Incense Power and Wishes.

Daoist Equal to Heaven thought to himself, "These Heavenly Demons commit crimes and are unspeakably evil; forcibly converting them does not constitute a sin. It is Tathagata, that bastard, who turns people into pigs and dogs who truly deserves to be killed."

The Heavenly Demon King couldn’t help but roar loudly, clutching his head and rolling on the ground.

Daoist Equal to Heaven pointed to his own brow, revealing the Three Flowers. Atop the Three Flowers sat three Buddhas, all in his likeness—representing his past, present, and future selves from the Buddhist sect, embodying the Three Lifetimes. To fully cultivate these Three Lifetimes requires great fortitude and grand fate, indeed!

With the Three Lifetimes manifested, his past self held the "Sutra of the Other Shore," his present self the "Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra," and his future self the "Diamond Sutra." Daoist Equal to Heaven, on the other hand, held the "Avatamsaka Sutra." The four recited the scriptures together, and the Sanskrit sounds soared heavenward. He had almost reached the point in the "Sutra of the Other Shore" of instant manifestation of the Buddhist Law, where each recited passage turned into Sanskrit characters, densely arraying themselves throughout the void.

The Heavenly Demon King howled, "You actually seek to convert me? I am the mighty Heavenly Demon King; how could I possibly be converted by you?"

He transformed into a Divine Dragon, turned into a fierce tiger, then a Phoenix, and even a Kunpeng, constantly changing and striking at the space surrounded by Sanskrit.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The Heavenly Demon King’s mana was immense, causing the glow from the Sanskrit to begin to fade, but the sound of the scriptures became ever more majestic. Beams of golden light rose to the heavens, enveloping the Heavenly Demon King.

Daoist Equal to Heaven’s eyes glinted coldly as he said indifferently, "If I can’t convert you even with the simultaneous recitation of these four supreme scriptures, then what is the point?"

Fear gradually rose in the Heavenly Demon King’s heart. He had not expected this man to possess such powerful mana, such a firm and strong spirit, and to have studied the Buddhist scriptures to such an all-penetrating extent. If he were to preach, surely he could gather a vast following under his banner! This is an Enlightened One with great wisdom!

"No!" A thought of regret arose in the Heavenly Demon King’s heart. He regretted slaying countless creatures, his wicked deeds, and his fondness for slaughter. A notion of compassion emerged within him, along with the thought of conversion.

Daoist Equal to Heaven brought his palms together and said, "Amitabha Buddha! He who lays down the butcher’s knife may become a Buddha at once. Heavenly Demon King, your slaughter is excessive; if you do not abandon your evil thoughts, fear that karmic force will befall you and your countless years of cultivation will come to naught, doomed to an untimely death."

The Heavenly Demon King clutched his head and rolled on the ground. The Sanskrit characters slowly pressed down and turned into a kasaya that wrapped around him.

The frightful and ghastly aura on the Heavenly Demon King immediately became gentler, and he seemed much less fierce.

Daoist Equal to Heaven shouted, "Heavenly Demon King, if you do not convert now, when will you?!"

Clad in the kasaya, the Heavenly Demon King calmed down and knelt at the feet of Daoist Equal to Heaven, saying, "Buddha Ancestor, your disciple wishes to convert! I beg you to cleanse me of my sins!"

Daoist Equal to Heaven replied, "Your sins are boundless, you must redeem yourself; I cannot wash them away for you."

The Heavenly Demon King said, "Then I beg the Buddha Ancestor to impart the supreme scriptures, so that your disciple can cleanse his own sins."

Daoist Equal to Heaven imparted a portion of the "Sutra of the Other Shore" to him and said, "Follow me, and convert the endless Heavenly Demons in this world, and you will cleanse your own sins."

The Heavenly Demon King had by then been forcibly converted, appearing extremely devout with not a trace of resistance, respectfully responding, "Your disciple obeys your command!"

The number of Heavenly Demons in this Outer Domain Demon World was endless. If all were converted and placed into his own Buddha Kingdom, wouldn’t that be terrifying? The thought excited Daoist Equal to Heaven, who considered that just as Tathagata had his billion followers, his conversion of the boundless Heavenly Demons would not be inferior!

Familiar with everything about the World of Heavenly Demons, the Heavenly Demon King led Daoist Equal to Heaven to convert the demons.

"Buddha Ancestor! I wish to convert!"

"Amitabha Buddha! My sins are boundless; only by converting to Buddhism can I cleanse myself of sins!"

"With great compassion and mercy, Buddha Ancestor, I beg you to take in your disciple and teach me how to cleanse my sins."

One by one, the Heavenly Demons were converted by Daoist Equal to Heaven and the Heavenly Demon King. These were all demon heads; Daoist Equal to Heaven converted them without the slightest sentimentality. Better to convert them than let them harm others, providing him with incense power and wishes to suppress his Buddha Kingdom.

Before they knew it, Daoist Equal to Heaven and the Heavenly Demon King had jointly converted a million Heavenly Demons. The demons seemed infinite, and it was unknown how many there could be!

To find out what happens next, please stay tuned for the next installment.

PS: Last night I drank till two in the morning and got up with a headache. Only after listening to the chant of "Boundless Heavenly Immortal" several times did I calm down. It’s not easy~ (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please throw your recommendation and monthly tickets on Starting Point (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)