" Mara? You are that legendary demon? Yo-You are Mara?" Jia Hao was shocked when he heard that. " What are you doing in the Netherworld? And roaming free like this?"
" Of course, Although the legends are slightly distorted, I am indeed the one who obstructed Buddha from achieving enlightenment." The eerie voice spoke.
" But after that, I also ascended along with him but chose to remain in the Netherworld to reinforce the punishment of the afterlife."
" Only because of me, the Six Paths of Samsara and the Eighteen Layers of Punishment are working flawlessly."
" After all, A good person can give justice, but only a bad guy knows how to punish properly, no?"
Then, a gust of dark wind covered Jia Hao as he saw a demonic face emerge before him.
" Hmm, Not bad. You managed to get your hands on Golden Arhat Vajra Body Arts? To think someone would rip that geezer off."
" But it looks like you can't cultivate it, huh? Hahaha, After all, A body cultivation technique is nothing more than junk for a soul, no?"
" How about this…" Mara's voice became increasingly alluring. " I do have a technique that can help you."
" Oh?" Jia Hao looked at him with interest. " What is it?"
Suddenly, a dark scroll with a shiny obsidian outer layer materialized before Jia Hao, as it was bathing with a strange energy. Just looking at it, Jia Hao felt an irresistible urge to grab it.
But his mind snapped as he took a few steps back. " Wh-What the hell was that? It feels so…wicked."
" Wicked? Hoho, Not so. It's simply amplifying your desires." Mara laughed.
" Behold, My greatest creation. Six Desires Myriad Thoughts Arts."
" Rather than using a physical body, You can simply use energy or even emotions as the driving force, and do wonderful things."
" With just a thought, you can make a calm man lose control, a righteous man commit evil, a virtuous woman commit adultery."
" As long as thought remains in someone's heart, You will be able to manipulate them as you wish. Also, you can also draw strength from them, making your soul stronger and achieving a new realm."
" This…This feels…Good." Jia Hao pondered. After all, this is practically a tailor made technique for him as he was in his soul form.
However, Mara is practically the biggest demon who confronted Buddha. Is it really good to seek help from him?
What if King Yanluo took this chance to mark him as a sinner and threw him into the eighteen layers of hell?
" Haha, No worries. As long as you practice it, No one will be able to tell it."
" Still…No." Jia Hao spoke. " I can't accept this."
" Hoho, Is it because you think it's an evil technique and Golden Arhat Vajra Body Art is a righteous technique?"
Mara sneered. " You have read the entire technique of Golden Arhat Vajra Body, right?"
" Then tell me, What will happen if you reach the Heart Lotus stage?"
" I will attain enlightenment and my heart will become clear as glass." Jia Hao replied.
" Which means, you will transcend desires, right? Mara laughed.
?" Think child, Think! If you reach this stage, you will become like those stale and dull monks."
" Why do you think that old coot is helping you?" Mara laughed.
" Because you have the potential to attain enlightenment. And if you cultivate this, you might truly become an arhat, devoid of desires."
" But, do you want to be an arhat? Don't you want to enjoy riches? Don't you want to be the man of a thousand beauties? Don't you want to be a dragon among mortals? How can you do it if you have no desires?"
" Therefore, I am not stopping you from cultivating that geezer's technique. But merge it with mine and you will reach the pinnacle."
" If Khsitigarbha has his desires, What is yours?"
Jia Hao asked suddenly. " What will you accomplish by giving your technique to me?"
" Well, Two reasons." Mara shrugged. " First, I always wanted to fuse my technique with Khsitigarbha's. But he never let me do it."
" Secondly… Why would I give up the chance to spread chaos in the world?" Mara laughed loudly.
" Only three. Reincarnate three more times and you will finally be able to remember this entire technique even in the mortal world. So till then, practice a little here."
" Go ahead, Child. Unleash your desires upon the world. After all, The world is yours to play!"
.
.
.
.
Jia Hao remembered all the memories, along with the complete techniques of Golden Arhat Vajra Body Art and Six Desires Myriad Thought Art.
However, before he could use the Six Desires Myriad Thought Art after three more reincarnations, he was abandoned by King Yanluo, arriving here.
' But now, I think Golden Arhat Vajra Body Art is the one I should practice first.'
Feeling the building energy inside his body, Jia Hao started circulating the energy according to the Golden Arhat Vajra Body Art.
' A technique made of pure yang, hot as sun and pure as gold."
" To cultivate this technique, one must temper the body first. After all, only a powerful vessel can contain a vast amount of energy without leaking."
" First, Copper Skin then comes Blessed Flesh. After that comes Iron Tendons, Jade Bones, and Mercury Marrow. Then comes River Meridians and Earthen Organs."
The final two stages, the Energy Gathering and Complete Transformation."
The eight cycles of the first chapter of the Golden Arhat Vajra Body Arts. Cultivating it will make someone achieve the body of Alms Monk.
According to the scroll, one needs to temper their body in various ways and endure hardships. Just to reach the Wandering Monk stage will take a minimum of two years even for the blessed individuals.
However, Jia Hao used the energy of the Crimson Vigor Pill to forcefully temper his body.
Gritting his teeth, he could feel the fiery pain increasing in his body. Yet, at the same time, he could also feel the subtle transformations occurring inside his body.
It was unknown how much time had passed, but Jia Hao felt his body condition was improving as his pain was lessening.
Suddenly, a cracking sound in his body made him startled as if he was breaking a cocoon.
Jia Hao opened his eyes as he looked at his body. Closing his eyes, he thought he probably reached the pinnacle of the first chapter.
However, checking his body, Jia Hao's face turned weird.
' So, a pill like crimson vigor pill can only make me reach till Mercury Marrow stage?' Jia Hao mumbled.
However, he could feel his body more thoroughly, the subtle flow of energy through his meridians and veins. He could also feel a powerful strength surging in his muscles and bones.
However, the energy is still lacking to temper his organs. So, Jia Hao can only stop now.
But the moment he opened his eyes, he felt a disgusting stench assaulting his nostrils. Thanks to his technique, even his senses have become sharper, making him feel extra nauseating.
" Wh-What the fuck is this?" Jia Hao cursed when he saw a layer of black oily filth covering his body.
" Ahh, Could it be…It's the legendary Marrow Washing? I have expelled all my body impurities?" Jia Hao was startled. Hurriedly, he found a pot of water and dipped a cloth in it, scrubbing off his body thoroughly from the impurities.
However, as he was doing this, the door opened as a figure stepped into the room.
" You…You have woke up?"
Jia Hao was startled as he turned around and saw it was none other than his newly wedded wife, Cai Yixue.
However, Before Cai Yixue could say anything, his gaze fell on Jia Hao's perfectly sculpted nude body as his face turned crimson.
"Never mind, I will come back later. And... I will call a maid to help you."
Cai Yixue turned around and dashed out of the room, leaving Jia Hao stunned. Biting her lips, Cai Yixue calmed her thumping heart.
' En…It's kinda…Big.'