The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 222 Silence
Ding Lin looked inward again and saw the demonic energy flowing through his meridians. It was formless and shapeless. Although it had only completed the replacement and his power had not yet begun to increase, he already felt a sense of lightness.

Feeling elated.

Within the dantian, the inner core rotated gently, unhurriedly. Under the wash of demonic energy, it was gradually losing its original color, becoming as transparent as glass.

Only the central gold thread remains, encircling and embellishing the piece, highlighting its preciousness.

Ding Lin opened his eyes. It was dark all around. There was a pattering sound outside. It was the monthly spiritual tide in the Peach Garden. The Peach Garden was the Queen Mother's private property. Every month, the Rain Department would send a celestial god to administer spiritual rain, which was limited to the Peach Garden and was called the spiritual tide.

The rain was about to stop, and the clouds dispersed.

Ding Lin turned his head to face the window. Moisture rushed towards him, and he saw a half-moon hanging in the sky. Under the eaves, in the slightly damp air, a figure stood quietly, seemingly lost in thought for a while. His eyes were like autumn water, staring ahead as if intentionally or unintentionally, lost in thought.

They are the 'Seven Fairy Maidens'.

Ding Lin was stunned for a moment. For some reason, the scene felt somewhat familiar to him.

"Granddaughter," Ding Lin called out.

“Brother Jin, you’ve finished repairing it,” the Fifth Fairy said, turning around. “It’s raining.” As she stood under the eaves, her mind flashed back to the small shelter that Ding Lin had built for her on Snake-Entwined Peak, and her expression was somewhat inscrutable.

"Granddaughter, how long did it take me to switch to this cultivation technique?" Ding Lin asked.

"It's not even January yet, just the 20th of the month, much faster than expected. Brother Jin, it seems that not only is your magic power superior, but your wisdom and intelligence are also top-notch."

The Fifth Fairy said, stretching her hand out towards the eaves, where spiritual rain fell on the back of her hand, bringing a touch of coolness.

"The rain isn't heavy."

Ding Lin's eyes flashed, and he suddenly said that as time went on, his suspicions grew deeper. Although the two sisters were supposed to look somewhat alike, their expressions and movements were so similar every time they were not paying attention, which seemed abnormal. He didn't know much about the Seventh Fairy, but he had spent a considerable amount of time with the Fifth Fairy.

In recent days, the extraordinary concern shown has long exceeded the scope of normal courtship.

Ding Lin's eyes flickered, and a guess in his mind became clearer and clearer. Although there was no reason, it was just an intuition. If this idea were in Ding Lin's previous life, it could even be called absurd, but in this mythical world, it was reasonable.

"I once heard Fifth Sister say that when they were in the mortal realm, Brother Jin built a treehouse for him."

“We sisters had never descended to the mortal realm alone before, and we didn’t know that the mortal world was like this… For Brother Jin, that house might have been just a matter of pity and a small favor, but for Fifth Sister at that time, it was like sending charcoal in the snow… Severely injured, with her magic power stagnant, and not daring to disturb the heavens, it was truly the darkest moment of her life,” the Seventh Fairy said slowly.

"It was just a small favor," Ding Lin said.

“For Brother Jin, it might have been just a small favor, but for my Fifth Sister, it was a helping hand she received when she was at her weakest,” said the Fifth Fairy.

Ding Lin remained silent for a while, and he was almost certain of his guess.

"Granddaughter, you flatter me. Besides, you know how much I have gained since then. Whether it's the opportunity to cultivate in the Peach Garden or the 'Great Celestial Immortal Technique' I'm currently cultivating, none of them are anything less than invaluable," Ding Lin said slowly.

Now it was the Five Fairies' turn to fall silent.

The spiritual tide stopped, and the pattering outside also ceased. "That's for the best," the Fifth Fairy's eyes suddenly dimmed, but she forced herself to maintain a smile. "Brother Jin, actually, it was originally my fifth sister who should have come to this Peach Garden to cultivate, and I was the one who went to accompany that stone monkey to the Outer Heaven. I was worried about my fifth sister, so I spoke to Grandmother, and that's how we switched jobs. We even had a little argument because of it."

The five fairies paused, calming their voices.

"After all, I have already suffered myself, and I fear that Fifth Sister will repeat the same mistakes I made. After all, Brother Jin, you and Fifth Sister have spent a long time together in the mortal realm, and although you are of noble character, the heavenly rules are strict. If you and Fifth Sister... it would be fine if no one pursued the matter in the mortal realm, but in heaven, you cannot show any trace of it. I'm afraid you..."

"Now it seems that I was just being wishful and overthinking things," the Fifth Fairy said, pursing her lips. "Hearing you say that today is truly..." The Fifth Fairy suddenly turned around, looked up at the sky, and smiled, her lips curving into a radiant smile. "It really is... perfect!"

As dawn broke, a faint light pierced the sky, obscuring the crystalline brilliance in my eyes.

There was a faint glimmer of hope within its crystalline luster.

There was no response for a long time, and the five fairies lowered their heads again. The light and shadows covered half of their faces, and their hearts felt like they were being ripped apart. Blood and flesh were torn away, as vivid as flower petals.

Ding Lin appeared calm on the surface, but the joy he had felt from successfully switching cultivation techniques had vanished completely.

Although the pretense hasn't been fully revealed, this disguise is practically no different from having none at all. The girl's thoughts are almost laid bare, and even the last thin layer isn't out of pride, but rather out of fear of rejection, a preemptive self-denial.

It's so lowly.

Having come into this world and transformed from a human into a demon, Ding Lin first experienced loneliness and then was repeatedly tormented. He could feel himself becoming increasingly indifferent, his bottom line retreating again and again. The selfishness that emanated from his bones sometimes made him shudder. He thought that he should have already become completely cold-blooded, doing everything based solely on interests, weighing what was most advantageous, rarely acting on impulse, with absolute rationality dominating everything.

So, from a rational perspective, what is the most advantageous course of action?
Of course, I agreed immediately.

No.

There's not even a need to agree.

No promises, no initiative, no rejections.

All you need to learn is a little bit of the suave, sophisticated style of the middle-aged men in the entertainment industry from your previous life.

At most, expressing a little ambiguity is perfectly sufficient.

The five fairies are now like fish that have already been caught in the mouth, just waiting to be caught and brought into the bag.

And this fish is so plump and delicious.

In this world, the primordial era has long since ended, the Dao Ancestor has merged with the Dao, and no saints or great powers are appearing. The Jade Emperor is revered in the Three Realms, and the position on the Lingxiao Palace is the most supreme and noble. Having captured the Jade Emperor's granddaughter, the future is naturally bright.

It should be agreed to.

Ding Lin opened his mouth, but no sound came out; his throat felt as if it were stuffed with lead, completely blocked.

(End of this chapter)