The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 227 Eight Turns
“That child and you are practically identical,” the stone monkey grinned before the Seven Fairies could reply.

The seven fairies fell silent for a moment, not because they wanted to hide anything, but because they were surprised that the stone monkey had come to a conclusion so quickly. They suddenly realized that their impression of the stone monkey had been too subjective and one-sided.

The monkey was indeed as childish as a teenager.

But being naive is not the same as being stupid or easily fooled. In fact, the monkey is a top choice in terms of both insight and intelligence. So, did the monkey also notice my previous perfunctory attitude towards him and the unconscious contempt that adults showed towards teenagers?

“He is my child,” said the Seventh Fairy.

“No wonder you reacted so strongly,” the stone monkey said with an expression of certainty. “I stole the pill, and I imagine my nephew must have been severely punished. It was wrong of me to do this, Uncle.” The stone monkey flipped his hand, and a flash of spiritual light appeared in his palm as he took out the jade bottle containing the Soul-Stabilizing Pill and handed it to the Seven Fairies. “Here, take it back to you.”

The seven fairies did not immediately go to receive it; they looked at the stone monkey with a thoughtful expression in their eyes.

“After we leave, return the pill. If that doesn’t work, tell me how I took the pill. Then it shouldn’t be difficult for you,” the stone monkey continued.

The seven fairies looked closely at the stone monkey and discovered that what he said was actually true; he really did think that way.

"Why? Aren't you afraid?" the Seventh Fairy asked.

"Why should I be afraid? You might not believe it, but for some reason, ever since I mastered my skills, every deity I've encountered, as long as they have even a little bit of status..." The stone monkey paused, then said with perfect naturalness, "Let me put it this way, no matter how outrageous my actions are, they just tolerate them, yet they insist on making it seem reasonable, as if it's a natural progression of events. They think they're acting flawlessly, but in my intuition, they're full of flaws..."

"I'm not stupid. Even if we're friends, I wouldn't just reveal such a private matter without a reason. It's just that it's harmless, and there wouldn't be any consequences even if I did tell you. It's more suitable as something to talk about." The stone monkey smiled in a half-smile.

He must have noticed.

The seven fairies suddenly remembered that they had once overheard the Queen Mother mentioning the stone monkey. The Queen Mother said that the monkey was the "Spiritual Stone Monkey". With such a name, it seemed that his extraordinary intuition must be his innate talent.

But if the monkey knows all this, why can it still maintain this carefree and nonchalant demeanor?

“You…” The Seven Fairies’ expression became complicated.

"Take it, I've returned it to its rightful owner." The stone monkey chuckled as he placed the Soul-Stabilizing Pill into the hands of the Seven Fairies.
The seven fairies lowered their brows.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

……

Pantaoyuan.

Time flies like water, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

After half a year of cultivation, with the Five Fairy Maidens answering his questions and providing guidance, Ding Lin made extremely rapid progress. His cultivation level advanced rapidly every day until two months ago, when he successfully pushed the "Celestial Immortal Technique" to the seventh stage. At that point, he finally encountered an obstacle, and the cultivation of the technique could no longer be promoted.

"What are the five internal organs?" Ding Lin asked.

“Therefore, the gallbladder is the cloud, the lungs are the energy, the liver is the wind, the kidneys are the rain, and the spleen is the thunder, so as to interact with heaven and earth, and the heart is the master.” The five fairies recited.

"What do you mean by 'ears and eyes'?" Ding Lin asked again.

"...Therefore, the eyes and ears are like the sun and moon; blood and qi are like wind and rain. There is a three-legged crow in the sun and a toad in the moon. When the sun and moon lose their course, they are eclipsed and lose their light; when wind and rain are out of season, they cause destruction and disaster; when the five planets lose their course, the states and countries suffer calamity..."

“Everything matches up. I should understand the eighth level, so why do I always feel like something is missing when I'm circulating my qi? I can't fully concentrate my spirit, and I always fail at the last minute?” Ding Lin frowned in thought. “Brother Jin, it’s only been two months. There’s plenty of time. Think about it again. Where did you overlook something?” the Fifth Fairy said.

"Spirit..." Suddenly, a thought flashed through Ding Lin's mind. "What about spirit?" he asked.

"Before heaven and earth existed, there was only formlessness, deep and dark, boundless and indistinct, a vast and boundless void, its entrance unknown. Two gods were born together, traversing the heavens and earth; their end was unknown, their stillness unknowable; thus, they separated into yin and yang, and became the eight directions; hardness and softness complemented each other, and all things took shape; turbid qi became insects, and essence became humans..." The five fairy maidens recited.

"Not this, are there any other annotations?" Ding Lin seemed to have caught something.

There are countless classic texts in the world, and their interpretations vary. The five fairies have only memorized them all, but have not fully comprehended them. Ding Lin needs to make his own choices and judgments. Some texts that Ding Lin thought he had understood are actually only partially understood. He can only rethink them after each failure.

Back and forth, over and over again.

“The stillness and tranquility are the dwelling places of the divine; emptiness is the abode of the Dao. Therefore, those who seek it externally lose it internally; those who guard it internally lose it externally. It is like the root and the branches; if you follow the root, the trunk, branches, and leaves will all follow…” The Five Fairy Maidens then turned away.

“That’s not right either. Are there any other interpretations?” Ding Lin added, as if possessed, “Something more concrete, preferably one that reflects the human body.”

"...Therefore, the spirit belongs to Heaven, while the bones belong to Earth. When the spirit enters its gate, the bones return to their roots. What then shall I have? Therefore, the sage follows the ways of Heaven and conforms to human nature, not bound by customs, nor tempted by people; he takes Heaven as his father and Earth as his mother; Yin and Yang as the guiding principles, and the four seasons as the rules; Heaven is still and clear, Earth is stable and tranquil; all things that lose these principles die, and those that follow them live..." The five fairies continued in reverse.

"Those who follow the law are born..."

Ding Lin murmured, then suddenly seemed to have finally grasped what he wanted. His eyes lit up, and the next moment, he couldn't wait to close them.

In the fantasy, the spirit soars high, transforming into the sky, while the bones sink into the earth. The magical power, now as vast as a river, flows between heaven and earth. Suddenly, a wave rises and explodes, and the river merges into a vast lake...

……

Heaven and earth.

Next, the stone monkey tried to bring up a new topic.

But after the Seven Fairies made their guess, they became even quieter. They didn't know what kind of emotions they were feeling, but they could no longer go back to how they were when they were with the Stone Monkey.

Along with vigilance, there was also a touch of pity.

They chatted for a while, albeit casually.

The stone monkey also fell silent. He was quick-witted and had also noticed the changes in the seven fairies.

Nothing to say.

Or rather, I don't know where to begin.

At one moment, the mist in the secret realm suddenly and silently parted to both sides.

A mist of spiritual energy surged, and a passage appeared.

"You can leave now." The seven fairies looked towards the passage.

(End of this chapter)