The Demon King, reborn in Japan as a monk

In front of him was his familiar computer screen, and an updated chapter that he had only half-finished writing. The QQ icon in the lower left corner was flashing, indicating that there were messages he needed to read.

"So, they brought me back again?" Ishihara Akira asked in astonishment.

"No, no, this must be an illusion! Just like the illusions I create when I invade someone else's consciousness to find weaknesses, it's a way to lower my guard so I can attack my mental vulnerabilities..."

Almost the instant his thought settled, the input method on the previously unchanged computer screen flashed and disappeared rapidly, as if someone were using it...

At the same time, various characters began to appear on the text documents he was using, forming words and sentences, paragraphs, and articles, appearing in Ishihara Akira's eyes.

Before he could read it carefully, the article was uploaded to his author backend and published as an update.

He didn't need to do anything throughout the entire process, which can be said to have taken the so-called automation to the extreme.

Then, a section for reader comments, previously only visible on mobile phones, popped up on the computer screen, displaying a series of reader comments—

"What utter garbage! It's trash, an eyesore! I really regret subscribing!"

"Extremely poisonous!"

"Has the author gone mad? How could they write something like this? Has their brain been filled with shit?"

"The book is broken, I'm not reading it anymore, I'm outta here."

"Trashy author, wasting your youth."

"You dog of an author, why don't you just die!"

In short, all sorts of foul language bombarded Ishihara Yu's mind like physical mental bombs, causing his previously relatively calm emotions to turn into agitation, making him want to put his hand on the keyboard and confront those guys.

"No, no! I can't fall into Mara's trap."

Realizing that these were all Mara's methods, Ishihara Sho decisively turned off the computer screen, got up, walked back to the bed, sat down, sat cross-legged, formed hand seals, and silently began to practice the Six-Syllable Great Light Mantra, following the method he had used to practice for half a year in the Bleach world.

"Om Mani Padme Hum!"

Suddenly, a phantom scream echoed from the distant void, and the room he was in once again transformed from his bedroom into another location—

It seems to be some kind of entertainment venue?

Various kinds of music kept entering his ears, along with women's voices and fragrances, and chaotic sensations, like external demons constantly hindering Ishihara Sho's state of mind and concentration during his training.

"Ishihara, come quick! Come see what surprise I've prepared for you."

It's Keiko Yamada's voice.

"Ishihara, didn't you want my sister Misako? Look, she's over there, aren't you going to go over there?"

It's Yumiko's voice.

“Ishihara-san…”

This looks like Yua Mikami?

Then, Ishihara Sho felt several hands pulling at his clothes, tearing them off piece by piece. After that, Ishihara Sho felt as if his anchor had fallen into a fiery mountain, making his body hot and making it increasingly difficult to practice the Six-Syllable Great Light Mantra.

"These are all temptations! These are all temptations!" Ishihara Akira tried hard to calm his mind and diligently practiced the Six-Syllable Great Illumination Mantra...

He believed that as long as he passed this test, even if he did not achieve the true Arhatship, he would definitely become a so-called truly virtuous and eminent monk, and would no longer have to worry about being troubled by the beast of Satan or Mara's alternative tricks in the real world.

"Ah Zhang...didn't you want me? Why aren't you coming over here? What are you still doing sitting there!"

Hanako-nee?

Mara, you're really getting better and better at playing games.

After that, more and more people began to tempt him, and they became increasingly detached from reality.

Female celebrities popular in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, and the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as various idols, internet celebrities, cosplayers, and even directly anime/manga characters, have started to emerge.

Characters like Rei Ayanami, Asuka Mami, Belldandy, Maya, Aya, Yuki Nagato, Utaha Kasumigaoka, and Megumi Kato—whether classic figures from the last century or goddesses of the new world—all joined the ranks of seduction. Sweet words and intimate physical contact made Ishihara Shou's heart increasingly waver…

"Or perhaps we should just give in to Mara?"

The next moment, the voice of a woman who had almost been forgotten in the corner of his memory suddenly rang out again, making Ishihara Akira's spirits jump. He almost opened his eyes completely and was defeated by Bo Xun's methods.

Chapter 193 Two

Because the owner of that voice was the same girl that Ishihara Shou had a crush on in his previous life when he was a Chinese!

He hadn't expected that Mara would even manifest her; he really knew how to exploit his psychological vulnerabilities.

Sho Ishihara suppressed the urge to open his eyes and look at the other person again, and continued to maintain his composure, practicing the Six-Syllable Great Light Mantra, which could block the temptation and harm of the Heavenly Demon.

Unfortunately, his cultivation was inadequate, and his mind wavered, so even now he hasn't been able to completely resist Mara's temptations. Otherwise, he wouldn't be suffering so much now...

Especially regarding the golden headband, he had to restrain himself from causing a volcanic eruption in order to avoid leaking his own essence and giving Mara a weakness to exploit.

That kind of pain was indescribably torturous.

It can be said that if he hadn't cultivated the Three Meridians and Seven Chakras, had a good control over his body, awakened his primordial spirit, and subdued his seven souls, he might have already revealed a weakness under the attack of that woman, Yua Mikami, and been captured by Mara.

Ishihara Sho tried his best to empty his mind, not to be tempted by the outside world, and diligently practiced his spiritual cultivation, striving to remain calm and composed, waiting for the final end of Mara's test...

……

"It seems your time as a monk hasn't been in vain; you've learned quite a few of the methods of Shakyamuni's disciples. But if you think this will allow you to withstand my test, you're sorely mistaken. Yes, we Heavenly Demons usually erode our targets by tempting them, arousing their desires, and thus strengthening ourselves. But when we encounter someone like you who isn't swayed by external temptations, it doesn't mean we Heavenly Demons are powerless. So, now, enjoy the attacks from those you love." Mara's voice rang in Ishihara Sho's ear.

The next moment, Keiko Yamada reappeared in front of Akira Ishihara, holding a short-bladed katana that resembled a wakizashi. She stood before Akira with a face full of resentment and said ferociously, "Since you no longer love me, then die, Akira Ishihara!"

After saying that, Keiko Yamada raised her knife and slashed at Ishihara Akira's neck.

Ishihara Sho instinctively issued a warning and, without hesitation, immediately opened his eyes. He then suddenly lay back, narrowly escaping Yamada Keiko's attack and avoiding an inexplicable death at her hands.

Then, Ishihara Akira kicked Yamada Keiko away with all his might.

"Ishihara Akira, how dare you hit me!? You weren't like this before!" Yamada Keiko sat down on the ground in pain, staring incredulously at Ishihara Akira, who had straightened up and was now sitting up again, and loudly questioned him.

“You never intended to kill me before,” Ishihara Akira said helplessly.

As expected of the Heavenly Demon Mara, even when taking action, he makes it such a test of one's willpower. If it were someone with a soft heart, they might actually be killed by the one they love.

"XX, what about me? Are you going to kill me too?" At this moment, Keiko Yamada's appearance changed, and she became the first love that Ishihara Sho longed for. She looked like she was about to cry, and she stood up from the ground while holding a knife, saying sadly.

Ishihara Akira remained silent for a long while before finally saying with a heavy heart, "You are all fake, you are all fake!"

Then, Ishihara Akira stopped playing defensively and appeared in front of his crush with a flash, snatched the short sword from his hand, and slashed off his crush's head with a backhand.

"puff!"

Blood spurted out, and the headless corpse of his unrequited love fell heavily to the ground, creating a pool of crimson blood...

After this incident, regardless of the future outcome, Ishihara Akira estimates that he will now have inner demons.

"Bo Xun! You're ruthless!"

Without thinking twice, he grabbed the knife and charged at the women around him.

Whether the opponent is a "Jade Girl" like Vivian Chow from the 1980s or 1990s, a classic "Xiaoqian" like Joey Wong, a "White Snake" like Angie Chiu, a late Japanese diva like Izumi Sakai, or anime characters like Rei Ayanami, Asuka Asuka, or Mari Makinami, as long as they appear in this space and do not have a certain level of skill, they will all be cut down to the ground by Akira Ishihara's swift sword strike.

They've turned this elegant Japanese garden, with its hot springs, rockeries, flowers, birds, and startled deer, into a living hell.

Blood flowed all over the ground, and even the hot spring water turned blood red, resembling a pool of blood.

"Clap clap clap..."

"Not bad, not bad. This ruthless nature, where one doesn't even recognize family ties, is what a qualified Heavenly Demon should possess. With your initial mindset, you won't be able to grasp the power of a Heavenly Demon." Accompanied by a series of crisp slaps, Bo Xun, still dressed and looking incredibly alluring, walked out of the void and praised Ishihara Sho, who was covered in blood and looked like a demon incarnate.

"Besides, it's just a woman. With the abilities of my Heavenly Demon Clan, what kind of woman isn't your plaything? What kind of charm can't you portray? Using real-world means to pursue her, don't you think that's putting the cart before the horse?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ishihara Akira once again used a flash step to rush in front of Bo Xun and swung his sword at her.

Bo Xun remained unmoved, or perhaps he had anticipated this. Almost at the same time that Ishihara Sho rushed forward, two more arms grew from his back, and with a swift movement, he grabbed the blade that Ishihara Sho was slashing at.

The blade pierced the skin, and bright red blood flowed down Bo Xun's arm.

"Still refusing to become a true demon? No problem, even if you want to become a Buddha, I also have a lineage to pass on." Mara said with a smile, looking at Ishihara Sho standing in front of her. "I have a path to Buddhahood called Pratyekabuddha. Do you want to inherit it?"

The so-called Pratyekabuddha, as the name suggests, is someone who, within the existing lineage of Buddhism, has opened up a new path of practice that leads to ultimate enlightenment.

It can be an alternative path to the original Buddhist practice, a new method completely different from the original fundamental method, or even a new lineage directly established within Buddhism. Therefore, Pratyekabuddha can be a separate lineage outside the main teachings or a hidden lineage within the main teachings. It all depends on how the Buddha of this lineage originally defined it.

Clearly, Mara, as the Buddha of this lineage, is unlikely to be a prominent or orthodox sect within Buddhism! He represents a heretical Buddhist path that is not accepted by the orthodox Buddhist system.

From this, one can imagine what the specific process of this Buddha's spiritual practice must have been like.

It is estimated to be even more exaggerated than the Tantric Yoga Tantra's practice of dual cultivation of great bliss. Instead, it involves fully indulging in the samadhi of greed, anger, and ignorance, controlling the three poisons of money, power, and lust, and then transcending them to achieve a state similar to the Supreme Being's detachment from emotions. In this way, one can escape the afflictions and predicaments of the realm of form and attain enlightenment.

As for whether one can ultimately attain Buddhahood, only the practitioner themselves can know and achieve that.

Chapter 194 Pure Land

Ishihara Sho had no interest in whether Mara was a Pratyekabuddha or not. His only thought was not to fall into Mara's rhythm, so he raised his foot and kicked Mara in the stomach.

Bo Xun remained unfazed, as if facing a blade, and smiled slightly. Her face transformed into the image of Ishihara Akira's mother from her previous life, and then Ishihara Akira's attack landed on her.

"Ouch."

Bo Xun, who was impersonating Ishihara Sho's mother from her previous life, plopped down on the ground.

But that wasn't all. Immediately afterward, the figure of Ishihara Akira's father from his previous life appeared beside his mother. While helping his mother up, he glared at Ishihara Akira and shouted, "You little rabbit, you've got some nerve, haven't you? You even dare to hit your own mother. What, now you want to kill this old hag too? Come on! You have a knife, don't you? Come and kill me!"

Ishihara was startled and looked down at the short sword in his hand, instinctively pulling his hand away.

Clang.

The blade struck the ground with a crisp sound, which also roused Ishihara Sho's consciousness...

"It's all fake, fake!"

That being said, it is absolutely impossible to expect Ishihara Sho to pick up the knife again and kill the parents that Mara had created!

Unlike his previous crushes, his parents were his blood relatives. His crushes were just that—crushes. If he killed them, he could kill them. Even if he developed inner demons afterward, they wouldn't be too strong. But if he could even kill his own parents, Ishihara Akira wasn't sure if he could still be considered a human being after this.

He then closed his eyes and began to softly recite the Amitabha Sutra, one of the five Pure Land sutras!

Because at that moment, the only one he could think of who could oppose Mara was Buddha…

As for Guanyin, although Buddhist scriptures say that Mara is just a king of a realm created by Guanyin, the effectiveness of the Six-Syllable Great Illumination Mantra, which was said to be able to shield against the damage of heavenly demons, was not good. Therefore, in comparison, Ishihara Sho would naturally subconsciously believe more in the Buddha than in the scriptures of the Guanyin lineage that he had been practicing since entering this world.

Thus have I heard: At one time, the Buddha was staying in the Jeta Grove of Anathapindika's Park in Shravasti, together with a great assembly of twelve hundred and fifty monks, all of whom were great Arhats, well-known to the assembly, including the elders Sariputra, Maha Moggallana, and Mahakasyapa…