In Buddhism, the division of the Three Realms into the Realm of Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Formless Realm had since ancient times served as a guiding lamp on believers' path of cultivation, leading them through the mist of the cycle of life and death.
Among these vast Three Realms, the Realm of Desire, as the lowest level, was filled with endless temptations and struggles. And Pāpīyān, foremost among the heavenly demons, lurked at the very summit of the Six Heavens of Desire—Tushita Heaven.
These four words, "Tushita Heaven," seemed to contain endless demonic power, calling to mind a supreme ability: effortlessly turning all the joys in the world into one's own pleasure.
Pāpīyān's existence was like a shadow over the Realm of Desire. Whenever living beings indulged in sensual pleasures, his power grew stronger, because every trace of joy in the Realm of Desire was a source that nourished his strength.
Against such a backdrop, the contest between Pāpīyān and the Buddha became the most profound opposition in the universe.
Pāpīyān possessed the Six Demon Hooks, which corresponded respectively to humanity's Six Senses—eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind—also known in Buddhism as the Six Dusts. Like invisible chains, they tightly bound all living beings, causing them to sink into the ocean of desire.
The Buddha, meanwhile, was the compassionate Sage whose mission was to guide living beings in breaking free from those shackles, leaving behind the bitter sea of desire, and attaining liberation on The Other Shore.
That was why Pāpīyān and the Buddha had become sworn enemies.
Upon hearing this, Chang Wei's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
He did not deny being Pāpīyān. Instead, he looked at Ji Dian with an even deeper gaze. "So what if I am Pāpīyān? I merely offered my