The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 232 Frustrated
Ding Lin recalled the time when he couldn't find any mistakes in cultivating the eighth stage of the "Celestial Immortal Technique." That time, he was stuck at the final hurdle for two whole months, but it didn't seem as difficult as it had been then.

He quietly recalled that perhaps it was because the time frame wasn't as long as this one, and secondly...

It's because of the Five Fairies.

One person is short-term, two people are long-term.

Even if you're still clueless, having someone by your side can ease your worries.

That's the reason.

Thinking about it carefully, this time it was only stuck for half a year, which is not a long time, only four months longer than last time.

Given that the ninth level of the "Celestial Immortal Technique" is at a certain level, it would be abnormal if it didn't have this level of difficulty.

Ding Lin recalled the lonely and desolate days when he first came into this world, and the danger of being imprisoned by Princess Wansheng after leaving Mount Hua, where every day felt like a year. He had survived those days, so what was this little setback compared to that?

Ultimately, it was the smooth sailing of the past few years that made him complacent. With beautiful women by his side and his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, he was truly complacent. Little did he know that the gentle embrace of women is a hero's grave. Trapped in it, he unknowingly forgot the path he had come from.

However, the path of immortality values ​​private matters.

Spiritual practice is inherently meant to be solitary.

Suddenly a gust of wind swept by, rustling through the peach grove, then brushed across the water's surface, creating ripples. A wave of moisture washed over us, bringing coolness that seeped into our hearts.

Ding Lin's heart calmed down again.

……

half a month later.

"The harmony of heaven and earth, the nurturing of all things by yin and yang, all rely on human energy. Therefore, when the upper and lower realms are separated, the energy rises... Heaven contains harmony but has not yet descended, earth holds energy but has not yet spread it; yin and yang store and give, breath permeates and envelops customs, considers all differences, and adapts to all circumstances..."

found it.

Ding Lin suddenly opened his eyes, suppressing his excitement. It was indeed a joyous occasion, but after gaining clarity of mind and understanding his true nature, he thought more deeply and was no longer as easily swayed by his arrogance as before. Thus, he had a feeling that things might not go so smoothly and that it might be too early to be happy now.

Ding Lin closed his eyes again and circulated his internal energy. After a moment, he opened his eyes again, and the intensity in his eyes had faded, leaving them somewhat dim.

Failed.

As expected, achieving the ninth level of the Celestial Immortal Technique is not so easy.

Ding Lin exhaled a sigh of frustration, thinking to himself.

Fortunately, I had a premonition, so although I still felt disappointed, it wasn't unacceptable.

……

One month.

"...Therefore, spring is solemn and autumn is flourishing, winter brings thunder and summer brings frost...From this perspective, heaven and earth, the universe, are all one person; within the six directions, there is only one system..."

After carefully correcting another error, Ding Lin paused for a moment, becoming even more cautious after his previous disappointment.

Once he calmed down, he realized that the changes he had made in his previous arrogant state were far from perfect. The errors he found were only superficial, and there were still many more. He calmed himself down and compared and pondered more carefully. In a month, he found three mistakes.

Ding Lin closed his eyes, and after a moment, he opened them again expressionlessly.

As expected, it failed again.

……

Three months later.

"...The vastness of heaven and earth can be discerned by measuring scales; the movements of the stars and moon can be calculated by calendrical calculations; the sound of thunder can be recorded by drums and bells..."

Ding Lin's eyes were bright. In the past three months, he had corrected seven errors and omissions, making the translation more and more complete. He even spent a whole month discovering the last error.

Perhaps this time it will work?

A thought flashed through Ding Lin's mind, and a hint of anticipation appeared in his eyes before he closed them.

A moment later, when he opened his eyes again, a hint of disappointment flashed in them.

failure.

...Three more months passed.

"...The changes in wind and rain can be discerned through musical notes. Therefore, what is clearly visible can be measured; what is clearly visible can be obscured..."

Ding Lin's furrowed brows relaxed, and he combed the hair back and forth again, concluding that there should be no problem.

This time, perhaps it will work.

A slight smile appeared on his lips, and then he closed his eyes.

Another moment.

Ding Lin opened his eyes, his gaze filled with disappointment.

It was still a failure.

Ding Lin closed his eyes, calmed himself down for a while, and then opened them again, managing to control his emotions.

next time.

Next time, it will definitely work.

……

Six months later.

"...Sounds that can be heard can be tuned; colors that can be observed can be distinguished. The greatest of all things cannot be contained by heaven and earth; the smallest of all things cannot be comprehended by the divine..."

Ding Lin looked somewhat haggard.

He was already a half-immortal, yet he appeared in this state, which showed that he had indeed exhausted his energy and spirit over the past six months. Fortunately, his efforts had finally paid off, and he had finally found the mistake.

Ding Lin did not start cultivating immediately. He closed his eyes and rested for a while before entering a meditative state.

But for some reason, just before entering meditation, images of the previous failure flashed through my mind, casting a shadow over the ending before it even began.

I'm no longer so confident.

Ding Lin opened his eyes, his gaze devoid of any expression. He clenched his fists, his teeth involuntarily tightening.

For a very long time, I didn't relax...

……

one year later.

"...Heaven loves its essence, Earth loves its balance, and man loves his emotions. The essence of Heaven is the sun, moon, stars, thunder, lightning, wind, and rain; the balance of Earth is water, fire, metal, wood, and earth; and man's emotions are thoughts, intelligence, joy, and anger..."

wrong!

I've already memorized this sentence, not this one.

"Therefore, closing the four gates and stopping the five escapes leads to being lost to the Dao. Thus, the spirit is hidden in the formless, and the essence returns to the ultimate truth. Then the eyes are bright but not for seeing, the ears are sharp but not for hearing, the mind is clear but not for thinking. One relinquishes oneself and does not act, one is harmonious but not arrogant, one understands the nature of life and destiny, and thus wisdom cannot be tainted..."

Still not right!

It's not this sentence either; this sentence has already been changed.

"...When essence is released into the eyes, vision becomes clear; when it is released into the ears, hearing becomes acute; when it is released into the mouth, speech becomes appropriate; when it is gathered in the heart, thought becomes unobstructed. Therefore, by closing the four gates, the body is free from illness, all joints are without disease, neither dead nor alive, neither empty nor full; this is called a true person..."

None of them are correct!

Ding Lin's eyes were bloodshot, and his breathing was heavy. Jade slips and ancient books were scattered all around him. He would pick up a jade slip one moment and drop a bamboo book the next.

The words flowed endlessly through my mind, over and over again, but I could never find a clue.

What's wrong?
Finally, Ding Lin fell backward to the ground, his right hand holding a jade slip and his left hand holding a book. His hands were relaxed, letting the things slip from his fingertips. His vision was a little blurry, as if golden sunlight was intertwining in front of his eyes, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't see clearly.

After a long while, his breathing began to calm down, and the scarlet in his eyes gradually faded.

Ding Lin looked clearly and saw that there was no sunlight at all. It was past dusk, the sun had set, and only the last ray of light remained between heaven and earth.

(End of this chapter)