The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 230 Drifting

Ding Lin was silent for a moment, as if he had just woken up from his cultivation and had not yet fully adapted to the outside world. In fact, he was hesitating and thinking to himself.

Things happened so suddenly. He opened his eyes to find himself in a different person. He was completely unprepared. How should he face the Seven Fairies? Should he pretend not to know, or tell the truth?
"Granddaughter."

After a period of silence, Ding Lin called out, offering only this one greeting, neither good nor bad, his voice flat and emotionless. This way, whatever happens next could be handled with tact.

“Brother Jin, congratulations on your breakthrough, but in my opinion, your realm is somewhat unstable. Don’t rush to speak; it’s best to consolidate your strength first,” said the Seventh Fairy.

Ding Lin's eyes flashed. With nine thousand years of cultivation, he had mastered the "Celestial Immortal Technique," possessing profound knowledge. After understanding the interpretation of the text, the first eight stages were almost effortless and accomplished in one fell swoop. With each stage completed, his cultivation naturally solidified, and the technique reached perfection. Although the Seven Fairy Maidens had cultivated the "Celestial Immortal Technique" for even longer, they were limited by their cultivation level and could not possibly discern his state. Therefore, the meaning of his words was worth pondering.

"Thank you for your understanding, granddaughter."

Ding Lin's mind raced, but he responded quickly. After speaking, he closed his eyes. It seemed that not only him, but the Seven Fairies also needed time to think.

Half a day later, Ding Lin opened his eyes again.

"Brother Jin, congratulations! You have completed the eighth level of the Celestial Immortal Technique. With this success, you have reached the pinnacle of the Celestial Immortal Technique. From here on out, it remains to be seen whether you will have the opportunity to break through to the Great Grade."

In half a day, by comparing the records of the cultivation manual with the aura that Ding Lin deliberately revealed, the Seven Fairies determined Ding Lin's progress in cultivation. With a flick of her sleeve, several rows of bookshelves appeared in the jade room, on which were arranged jade slips, bamboo carvings, and paper books, all sorted out in a dazzling array.

"These books are all records of the eighth to ninth stages of the 'Celestial Immortal Manual,' as well as those after the ninth stage. They contain everything that the Heavenly Palace Library has from ancient times to the present. Brother Jin, please take these books for your study. You can return them to me when you have achieved the Great Rank."

The Seven Fairy Maidens said that they did not conceal their identities or mention the past, and naturally connected with what they had said before, as if the blank of the past year had never existed.

"Thank you, granddaughter." Ding Lin said, bowing respectfully. He understood the Seventh Fairy's meaning. After thanking her, he waved his hand and put away all the books in the room. "I have troubled you for a long time, granddaughter. I will take my leave now. If I am fortunate enough to succeed one day, I will return the books to their rightful owner and come to express my gratitude."

Then, he withdrew, his figure leaping and disappearing into the thin mist in a few undulations.

The Seven Fairy Maidens watched Ding Lin leave. She withdrew her gaze and then fell on the futon where Ding Lin was sitting. With a flick of her sleeve, she swept the futon to a corner, and her eyes seemed to show a hint of melancholy.

"Fifth Sister..." the Seventh Fairy said softly.

……

Yaochi.

"Grandmother Stone Monkey has emerged from the secret realm, and her grandson has come to report back."

The Fifth Fairy said that she lowered her head and dared not look at the cloud bed high above. She accompanied the stone monkey to the outer heavens. Before going, she specially brought a magic tool to assist in cultivation. However, when she came out, her cultivation was not complete. This flaw could be seen even by ordinary people, let alone her grandmother.

All around was desolate and quiet.

No sound came from the cloud platform. The silence only increased the pressure. The five fairies lowered their heads even further, becoming more and more uneasy.

"Go ahead."

After a long while, the Queen Mother's voice finally rang out, seemingly neither happy nor sad, and unexpectedly, it was not a questioning.

"Grandson, take your leave."

The five fairies breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had been granted a pardon. Without thinking about the reason, they hurriedly straightened up and fled.

……

The sun blazed overhead, growing hotter and hotter with the passage of time.

On the cloud platform, the Queen Mother gently waved her hand, and a corner of the curtain in front of her was removed. She suddenly sighed softly, and with her slender hand outstretched, a miniature golden dragon, about the length of a finger, played and frolicked around the tip of her index finger.

The dragon scales, horns, whiskers, and claws were all incredibly lifelike, but the dragon's eyes were missing. "Jade Emperor, what exactly do you intend to do?"

The Queen Mother looked at the sun and spoke softly. Suddenly, she brought her thumb and forefinger together and pinched the little golden dragon between her fingertips. The little dragon immediately opened its eyes and twisted its body violently, kicking wildly with its four short claws, just like a kitten being pinched by the scruff of its neck.

Seeing that it couldn't break free, the golden dragon became increasingly panicked and began to cry out incoherently.

"The finishing touch is crucial, Haotian. Without this final step, no matter how realistic the performance or how rich the spirit, it is still just an inanimate object."

The Queen Mother tightened her fingers and gently pinched, causing the little golden dragon to freeze instantly. The next moment, specks of golden light rose up, shattering like a dream, like fireflies dancing in the sunlight.

This little golden dragon was actually just a wisp of energy.

"But even so... why did it have to come to this... Alas!" The Queen Mother sighed again, turning her gaze away from the sun, the emotion in her eyes fading, returning to indifference.

……

Ding Lin stepped into the pavilion. He hadn't been back for a long time. The futon on the ground was still there, just as he remembered when he left.

Even though nothing had changed, Ding Lin felt a slight sense of unfamiliarity.

What has changed is not the environment, but the people.

A year ago, Ding Lin only had the technique but had not yet started cultivating. A year later, he had already achieved the eighth level of cultivation. Although the total amount of demonic energy in his body was still the same, the quality was incomparable.

The difference between the "Black Water Scripture" and the "Celestial Immortal Manual" is like the difference between Ding Lin a year ago and now.

The distance between them is more than a hundred times.

Ding Lin exhaled, but did not feel complacent. As his cultivation improved and the books he read became more profound, he felt more and more that the path of cultivation was vast and his own insignificance was insignificant. His meager cultivation was like floating in the world compared to the Great Dao.

Something different.

Planktonic life can no longer grow; it can only ever be admired and looked up to in awe, never to be touched.

But his cultivation level can still improve.

Ding Lin looked around.

The pavilion is different from the jade house. The house has only one narrow window, which can shelter you but also blocks the way. The pavilion, on the other hand, is exposed to the wind from all directions and cannot keep out rain or snow, but it has a wide view and you can look into the distance.

As far as the eye can see, peach trees stand in all shapes and sizes, some with red flowers and green leaves, while many more are laden with abundant fruit. Once upon a time, they were just tiny seeds.

As Ding Lin looked at it, he suddenly felt a surge of pride and a sense of liberation. If he was a seed before, then now he could at least be considered to have sprouted.

Now that it has sprouted, how far away can it be from growing into a main stem?

One day, it will surely grow into a useful tree.

It's just a matter of how long it takes.

A sudden impulse welled up inside me.

It was quite intense.

(End of this chapter)