Chapter 886: The reality of the desire world

Li Qi arrived at the outskirts of Mystic Radiance Mountain.

Here, Sariputra and the Demonic Prince were both present.

It was an astonishing sight.

Li Qi had not expected his arrival to attract both of them at once.

But since they were here, he simply extended his hand, and the surrounding scenery transformed.

Countless water pillars rose, then a faint light erupted, a soft sound, booming like striking a drum, and a light like a trailing rope.

Several tables and chairs were thus drawn out of the Void Realm, and the sound grew more frequent, then thunder rose from between the waves, the vibrating light became electricity, connecting with the clouds to form, and soon, a pavilion like an immortal realm appeared out of thin air.

“Please, have a seat, both of you.” Li Qi extended his hand, inviting Sariputra and the Demonic Prince to sit down.

The Demonic Prince was not polite; he walked straight over, leaning on his staff, and sat opposite Li Qi.

Sariputra, however, pressed his palms together, performed a Buddhistrite, then slowly walked over and sat next to the Demonic Prince.

Li Qi then began to brew tea, skillfully boiling spirit spring water, then refining the fire to heat the water, using the method of water and fire complementing each other to force the Qi from the tea leaves into the water, mixing it with the water vapor to form a brand new Dao Resonance, which Mortals could drink a single sip of to directly obtain a System, and from then on, their cultivation would advance a thousand miles a day.

Then, after pouring the mixed spirit spring water for his two guests, Li Qi finally spoke: “You two are truly rare guests; may I ask why you have come this time?”

“Thus have I heard—” Sariputra answered directly.

As soon as these four words were uttered, both Li Qi and the Demonic Prince were startled, then sat up straight.

“Thus have I heard” meant that… Sariputra was narrating matters concerning the Buddha.

This made the Demonic Prince frown and look at Sariputra.

This was truly…

But Sariputra paid no heed and continued: “The World Honored One said: All Dharma natures are not seen by the eye; all causally arisen Dharmas are without self-nature. All wise ones, if they know causal arising, then they know Dharma nature; if they know Dharma nature, then they know emptiness; if they know emptiness, then they see wisdom. All causally arisen are unborn, because they are entirely without self-nature; if one speaks of causal arising, one speaks of emptiness; one who knows emptiness is not negligent. Here, all non-emptiness theorists raise difficulties, saying, if all conditioned phenomena are posited as empty, then there is no form, like a single object arising from causes, manifesting immeasurable wisdom.”

These words were extremely convoluted, winding around and around.

However, they were not difficult for Li Qi and the Demonic Prince to understand.

How does self-nature exist? When falling into the realm of consciousness and causal arising, one will mistakenly believe that all Dharmas have independence. Thus, birth and death, being an independent entity, are an individual’s birth and death. This treats the individual as an independent existence. This so-called individual, not established by causal arising, since it does not rely on causal arising, one cannot see that it must be perfected by function. In this way, all Dharmas can be seen as having separate self-natures; the birth, abiding, change, and cessation of all Dharmas become phenomena with self-nature, that is, appearances with self-nature.

In other words, this also refers to the existence of ‘reality’.

The ‘self-nature’ in the mouth of the Buddha can actually be understood as the reality in Li Qi’s mouth. Although there are some differences between the two, they can fundamentally be regarded as the same existence that maintains itself.

And here the Buddha says, ‘all causally arisen Dharmas are without self-nature,’ which means that phenomena themselves have no reality.

For example, to a giant, they see the mountains of the Mortal world, but can step over them as if walking, with no mountain to climb, just as a person encountering a stone while walking steps over it. However, to an ant, this stone is like a giant mountain.

Everything happens naturally, in accordance with nature, each adapting to its own obstruction. One cannot take the appearance seen by humans as the appearance seen by ants, nor can one take the appearance seen by celestials as the appearance seen by humans; therefore, it is said that “appearances are without self-nature.”

The Tathagata has thirty-two auspicious marks, but if one does not see through this, one cannot truly perceive the ‘Tathagata’.

It sounds simple, but in practice, it’s not, because we don’t actually know the world through the eyes of others.

Li Qi didn’t know what the world looked like through the Demonic Prince’s eyes, so how could he know whether what he saw was a high mountain or a flat road?

Therefore, one who can achieve this can be called ‘Immeasurable Wisdom’.

The Buddha’s words mean that one must be aware of this difference, distinguish this difference clearly, and understand the relationship between ‘reality’ and ‘phenomenon’. As the saying goes, “The appearance of dependent self-nature is the nature of unborn self-nature, because it arises from causes and conditions, it is not self-born.”

Phenomena are derivatives, so phenomena have no reality; they are part of ‘emptiness’.

Moreover, at this moment, for the World Honored One Tathagata to speak these words to Li Qi, it was quite different.

Li Qi instantly realized that the Buddha was referring to the Desire Realm.

So, is the Desire Realm ‘self-nature’ or ‘phenomenon’?

According to the qualities and abilities of the Desire Realm, there is no doubt that the Desire Realm should possess reality.

But don’t forget!

The Desire Realm is ‘the sum of all sentient beings’ desires and reality’.

In other words, the Desire Realm is essentially a derivative of sentient beings, and according to the Buddha, ‘all causally arisen Dharmas are without self-nature’.

Phenomena have no self-nature.

The Desire Realm is a standard phenomenon.

So, the Buddha was telling Li Qi that the essence of the Desire Realm has no reality!

This made Li Qi recall a peculiar phenomenon, which might serve as evidence for this view, and that is the Nascent Heavenly Demon.

As an existence triggered by Heavenly Demons, similar to a natural phenomenon, the Nascent Heavenly Demon is at most Fourth Grade, because the Nascent Heavenly Demon cannot possess reality above Third Grade, so even things born from the thoughts of Heavenly Demons cannot achieve Third Grade.

In other words, the Nascent Heavenly Demon, as a ‘phenomenon’, is also ‘born from conditions, not self-born’.

So, what about the Desire Realm, a creation of Heavenly Demons?

This passage immediately made Li Qi gasp, and he instantly looked at the Demonic Prince beside him.

Sariputra also cast his gaze towards the Demonic Prince.

Li Qi knew that after reaching Third Grade, he would understand many, many things and come into contact with other Great Powers, but to be hit with such a weighty blow right at the start, he really wasn't prepared...

The Demonic Prince, however, completely ignored their gazes and continued speaking on his own: “Are you done? If you’re done, it’s my turn.”

“Yes, my words have been delivered. Please.” Sariputra nodded.

The Demonic Prince continued, looking at Li Qi and saying: “The matter you spoke of with Sariputra concerns you and the Heavenly Demons, and it has nothing to do with me. I have not brought any words from the Heavenly Demons this time, nor is it about them; it is only about you and me.”

“I understand. Please speak, Shang Fan.” Li Qi gestured, indicating for the Demonic Prince to continue.

“—Cough.” Hearing his name, the Demonic Prince seemed quite unaccustomed to it, but he merely raised a hand to his mouth and gave a dry cough.

He was wearing a mask, so it was unclear why he made that gesture.

“Then I’ll be direct, Li Qi. I will give you a chance to kill me, right here.” The Demonic Prince sat in front of Li Qi, removed his heavy mask, then picked up the teacup and gently sipped the tea.

The seamless black jade mask was placed on the table.

Then, he put down the teacup: “Now, with your ability, you should be able to kill me, right? If you don’t act here, there will be no other chance later.”

Sariputra looked at the Demonic Prince with some surprise.

Li Qi, however, suddenly realized something and said: “...Ah, Demon of Death, is it? The self-destructive tendency brought by the Demon of Death’s Dao Resonance. I’ve just begun researching this aspect recently.”

“Demon of Death’s Dao Resonance? So that’s it.” Sariputra nodded slightly and suddenly interjected: “Benefactor, if you have not achieved enlightenment, have not removed your attachment to self, have not seen your true nature, then all experiences in your mind are naturally real. You will still suffer when you should suffer. Buddha-Dharma is true Dharma, not just talk. Before attaining the Dao, no one can escape various vexations and sufferings. Pretending to be empty, pretending to have seen through things, will all be exposed.”

“Was I talking to you?” The Demonic Prince glanced at Sariputra.

Sariputra merely pressed his palms together and recited a Buddhist chant, not continuing to speak.

There was no need; the Demonic Prince had certainly understood.

Meanwhile, Li Qi said: “The impulse brought by the Demon of Death’s Dao Resonance… Hmm, and I really do want to kill you, but I always have a feeling that I shouldn’t act at this moment.”

“If you don’t act now, you will definitely regret it later,” the Demonic Prince said.

“Is that so? Will you harm my family and friends?” Li Qi retorted.

“No.” The Demonic Prince answered naturally.

Indeed, he wouldn't, because there was no need.

Since Li Qi wouldn't destroy him, then he would destroy Li Qi. The Demonic Prince never did anything superfluous. Since he began cultivating, his goal had been very clear: ‘become stronger’.

Unlike Li Qi, who wanted love, freedom, self-worth, to educate his daughter, build influence, seek answers, avoid Heavenly Demon pursuits, and so on—Li Qi was involved in so many things, too many things, too tiring.

But the Demonic Prince was different. He was alone, with no natural enemies and no burdens. Everything was for the sake of becoming stronger, almost no different from martial arts.

The only difference was that even martial arts required pondering the question of ‘what to fight for,’ but the Demonic Prince didn’t even need to consider that question.

He simply became stronger, implementing all his understandings as he pleased.

It could be said that the Demonic Prince was the purest person Li Qi had ever met, pure to a terrifying degree.

He wasn't the kind of hot-headed idiot or naive simpleton one might think of when ‘pure’ is mentioned, but rather an extremely frightening ‘single-threaded’ individual.

Only one understanding.

Only one goal.

No distracting thoughts, no interference of any kind.

Even though there were trillions of paths before him, he would always only walk the one beneath his feet, completely blind to any so-called ‘long roads’ or ‘shortcuts’.

So pure, and thus so ‘extreme’.

Just speaking of ‘Only I,’ it was displayed vividly in the Demonic Prince. He cared for nothing but himself, nothing else mattered except himself. In all things, he was the only one.

This was also the fundamental reason for the Demonic Prince’s strength; he was indeed a born Demonic Overlord.

Fortunately, the Demonic Prince’s personality wasn’t malicious. Although aloof, he wasn’t bloodthirsty, nor did he have any bad habits. What he did most often was pick fights with people; he was either fighting or on his way to a fight.

As an enemy of the Demonic Prince, one didn’t have to worry about schemes or tricks.

However… similarly, if the Demonic Prince chose to kill Li Qi, the best way was indeed to eliminate the Demonic Prince right now.

The simple Demonic Prince would not use schemes or tricks; he would only attack head-on.

Although, his head-on attacks truly hurt a lot.

But conveniently, Li Qi also hoped the Demonic Prince would make him his target. In this way, he would actually gain a powerful bodyguard.

That’s right, a bodyguard.

The Demonic Prince was too strong, and his potential was extraordinary. He was also single-minded. If he said he wanted to kill Li Qi, then Li Qi must, and could only, die by his hand.

Anyone else who dared to touch Li Qi, or even hinder Li Qi’s peak condition, would probably be hunted down and killed by the Demonic Prince.

Of course, it’s easy to say, but if someone really received a death declaration from the Demonic Prince, they probably wouldn’t be happy.

They would die, they really would die.

Even though Li Qi was already Third Grade, he knew that the Demonic Prince posed a huge threat to him. In the future, if the Demonic Prince ascended to Third Grade and Li Qi remained as he was, he would definitely have his head twisted off by the Demonic Prince.

But Li Qi considered it repeatedly and finally said: “So, leave.”

“Good, that is your choice. Then, I shall return your respect in kind. Please wait.” The Demonic Prince nodded and turned to leave the area.

“Please wait,” he said, waiting for the Demonic Prince’s supreme respect.

Li Qi had now become the Demonic Prince’s sole target.

A feeling of a thorn in his back emerged behind Li Qi. He twisted his body, dispelling the sensation.

It was fine; this was the best choice.

After he left, only Sariputra remained.

Sariputra merely watched everything that had just happened, then looked at Li Qi and said: “Benefactor Li Qi, this might have been your only chance to kill the Demonic Prince.”

“If I were to act, then the Heavenly Demons would definitely intervene. Before the Demonic Prince fully matures, the Heavenly Demons will not allow anyone to kill him, not even the Shaman God themselves,” Li Qi said.

This was indeed the most opportune moment to kill the Demonic Prince, but the Heavenly Demons would surely go mad.

“The World Honored One and the Shaman Gods would all intervene… However, that is not important. Since you, Li Qi, have already made your decision, the cause has been sown, so let it be.” Sariputra did not elaborate on this topic.

He looked at Li Qi and said: “Everything I just said, Li Qi, do you understand what it means?”

Hearing this, Li Qi nodded: “I think… I should understand. The World Honored One wants to tell me the reason why sentient beings can achieve Third Grade.”

The reason for achieving Third Grade—this was Li Qi’s summary of all the World Honored One Tathagata’s previous words.

Sariputra nodded heavily, then performed a Buddhist礼, closed his eyes, and solemnly said: “The World Honored One, under the Bodhi Tree, attained perfect enlightenment and realized the true nature and mysteries of the Universe.”

Li Qi listened intently; this was about the World Honored One Tathagata’s path to enlightenment.

Sariputra continued to narrate: “And then, the World Honored One’s first words were: ‘How wondrous! How wondrous! How is it that all these sentient beings possess the wisdom of the Tathagata, yet are deluded and confused, not knowing and not seeing?’”

How strange! All sentient beings originally possess Buddha-nature, possessing wisdom no less than his own, yet why are they deluded and confused, unable to attain it?

The underlying meaning of these words was that every being with high intelligence was, in fact, a ‘future Third Grade and above’.

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