The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 282 Xin Jia
My thoughts were wandering aimlessly.

That's how people are; the more troubled they are, the more confused they become, and the more confused they are, the more likely they are to have wild thoughts.

Before I knew it, I was back to where I started.

Xin Jia recalled how much Tianpeng had trusted Ding Lin in the past year or two, summoning him almost every month. As for his fall from favor again—this time, in addition to his own troops and fifty personal guards, Tianpeng had specially allowed Ding Lin to bring fifty more people. How could someone who was treated with such kindness be abandoned?
Yes.

There must be some hidden story that you don't know about.

At this moment, Xin Jia recalled Ding Lin's gaze as he looked at the silver ring from the clouds, and felt that it was quite meaningful.

Perhaps the general has other plans.

Xin Jia steadied himself.

……

Time flies.

Another twenty days have passed.

Ding Lin had no plans and focused solely on cultivation. It took three hours to refine a purple-veined peach, and each peach could increase his cultivation by two hundred years. If he cultivated without stopping, he could increase his cultivation by eight hundred years a day, and by more than twenty thousand years a month. After these twenty days, his cultivation had reached nearly eighty thousand years. According to the classification of cultivation strength, he was only one step away from the late stage of the Heavenly Immortal realm.

In the main hall, Ding Lin summoned Xin Jia once again.

Compared to their last meeting, Xin Jia was in a much worse mood, and his voice was somewhat low.

Ding Lin listened, seemingly unaware of Xin Jia's change, or rather, noticing it but not caring. His mind wasn't on this at all; in fact, if it weren't for the need to conceal his intentions, he would have refused Xin Jia's request to see him.

After the routine inquiry was completed.

Ding Lin immediately waved his hand, signaling Xin Jia to step down.

"General..."

Xin Jia looked up and met Ding Lin's gaze.

Indifferent and unmoved, yet exuding a dignified aura.

Xin Jia felt his mind reel, opened his mouth as if to speak but then stopped, and finally couldn't say anything. He bowed to Ding Lin again and then silently withdrew.

……

Outside the small building, Xin Jia's two trusted attendants had been waiting for a long time. When they saw Xin Jia come out, the two heavenly soldiers quickly followed. They stole glances and saw Xin Jia's gloomy face, so they dared not speak. After exchanging a glance, they silently followed.

Xin Jia was filled with melancholy.

If he still harbored some hope after being dismissed by Ding Lin last time, clinging to a sliver of chance, then Ding Lin's similar attitude this time undoubtedly extinguished any remaining illusions in his heart.

There is no doubt that if things continue to develop this way, it won't be long before they all have to descend to the mortal realm.

Their banishment to the mortal realm is a foregone conclusion.

Xin Jia suddenly stopped, and he thought of Yin Huan again.

Even if someone is demoted, there are differences.

The four continents have different cultures. The Eastern Continent and the Southern Continent are the traditional spheres of influence of the Heavenly Court. If one is only demoted to those places, although the hope is slim, there is still a chance to return to the Heavenly Court.

Many demon kings reside in Xiniu Hezhou. If one is banished there, one will mostly have to rely on the demons, but at least one's safety can still be guaranteed.

What I fear most is being banished to Beiju Luzhou, where demons roam and the Heavenly Court's decrees are hard to implement. It only has nominal rule, and going there means living in constant fear, not knowing when you might lose your life.

"Keep a close watch on the outside! No," Xin Jia ordered his attendants on both sides, his eyes flashing with a ruthless glint, "I'll personally lead you there!"

Even under such suppression from Yin Huan, Xin Jia was still able to maintain his position, not only firmly holding onto his post as a centurion, but also ensuring that his cultivation level did not decline. He was certainly not someone to be trifled with.

Moreover, those who can achieve immortality all have endured great hardships and difficulties. Even though he seems to have reached a dead end, Xin Jia still has no intention of giving up.

Punishment is inevitable, but we can try our best to make things better for ourselves.

Since Yin Huan is leading the army alone, we need to keep a close eye on him. As long as we find his weakness, we can shift more blame onto him when it comes to determining the guilt later. The more Yin Huan is burdened with, the less responsibility he and Ding Lin will bear.

Perhaps the place where one is demoted will not be so poor and desolate.

……

Outside the Peach Garden. A man in silver armor, his silver helmet gleaming in the sun, and a scarlet cloak trailing behind him, patrolled tirelessly. A thousand armored soldiers stood like a forest, surrounding the garden so tightly that not a drop of water could get in, as solid as an iron barrel.

"Commander." A soft voice came from beside him. It was one of the three immortals under Silver Ring's command. He had dark skin, sharp eyes, and a high nose that suddenly curved down, making him look like an eagle.

It's not just that it looks like one; its true form is an eagle.

It is difficult for beings of different races to become immortals. Although they are all human immortals, demons are always stronger. This eagle demon is no exception. He is the most powerful of the three human immortals under Silver Ring's command. Moreover, due to his racial characteristics and the special nature of his cultivation technique, he has made great achievements in perception and sensing, even surpassing Silver Ring.

Silver Ring looked at the Eagle Demon and saw the latter wink at a spot to his side without making a sound.

Silver Ring released its senses, and with a notification, he immediately sensed Xin Jia.

"He's been under my command for so many years, I never expected he would still have such a trick up his sleeve. Such a sophisticated method of concealment, if it weren't for Old Hei here, he might have really gotten away with it." Yin Huan's lips moved, and the words she spoke could only be heard by the three immortals beside her.

Old Black was naturally the eagle demon. His true form was a black eagle, and after gaining intelligence, he gave himself the surname 'Black'.

“Commander, Xin Jia is so audacious, should we…” Another burly immortal said, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Although he didn’t finish his sentence, he made his meaning clear: “Once we leave the Peach Garden, even if he has the identity of that personal guard captain, killing him will be in accordance with military regulations and procedures, and will not leave any evidence.”

"No need," Yin Huan said with a smirk. "After so long, nothing has happened between us. I thought he was very patient. But he still sent people to investigate. He wants to find out something about us so he can shirk responsibility later. If he wants to see, let him see. We are diligently patrolling, and our men are doing their duty. What is there to hide?"

"What I fear most is that someone is determined to find fault, for they will always find a pretext!" said the burly immortal.

"So what? Even if it's just nitpicking, it doesn't matter. We're guarding the outside of the garden, but the peaches were lost inside. In the end, even if all our hard work is wiped out, we'll only bear a tenth or a twelfth of the blame. The lion's share will still go to them."

"At this time, it is better to remain still than to make a move. Besides, I feel more at ease this way. I would be really worried if he really did nothing."

"He is just a newly promoted Golden Immortal, and he may not even be a match for me. Even if something unexpected happens, the four of us working together should be enough to calm things down."

He is referring to Ding Lin here.

"Even with the help of his thousands of men, he can only do so much despite holding the title of superior. He's just at his wit's end, unable to think of a solution, and unwilling to give up," Yin Huan said.

"The leader's insight is brilliant," all three immortals praised.

……

Ding Lin remained immersed in his cultivation, completely absorbed in it. His cultivation was advancing by leaps and bounds, making his soul feel as if it were floating on clouds.

It's addictive.

Another twenty days passed.

In the main hall, Ding Lin sat in the main seat. His cultivation had reached over 90,000 years. According to the classification of realms in the Immortal Realm, he had already reached the late stage of True Immortal. The speed at which he refined the peaches had not slowed down, and his cultivation growth had not been reduced. If he could maintain this, in the best-case scenario, he would be able to accumulate a lot of magical power in just over a month.

Xin Jia bowed to the lower seat and gave his routine audience, repeating his duties as before. Ding Lin waved once more, urging Xin Jia to leave quickly. His aura was so strong that even with the help of the Breath Concealing Technique, he couldn't completely suppress it immediately because his magical power had increased too rapidly.

With the qualities of a celestial being and over ninety thousand years of cultivation, it possesses a profound and majestic presence.

Xin Jia sensed it clearly. In the past, he would have been surprised and suspicious first, and then given Ding Lin enough emotional value. But now he had no such thoughts at all. Xin Jia did not back down, but gritted his teeth and knelt on one knee in front of Ding Lin.

"General! Your subordinate knows that you are of celestial quality and it is not easy for you to cultivate. It is natural that you feel resentful and bitter to have taken on this treacherous task. But since we have come to this, we should try to save ourselves. Moreover, we are far from being at our wits' end. Your subordinate begs you to cheer up, for your own sake, for your own sake, and for the sake of the hundred men under your command!"

Xin Jia said, bowing his head deeply, and changed his self-designation from "minor general" back to "subordinate" to show that he and Ding Lin were one.

Ding Lin paused for a moment, then looked at Xin Jia sitting below him.

"So, you think I've given up on myself?" Ding Lin's voice sounded strange.

“This subordinate dares not,” Xin Jia said, “but…”

“Alright,” Ding Lin interrupted Xin Jia. He didn’t want to explain and wanted Xin Jia to leave. But then he thought that Xin Jia might have done something on his own. If this angered Yin Huan and delayed his cultivation, it wouldn’t be good. So he patiently waited and continued, “If you have any ideas, feel free to tell me.”

“I believe that once the order has been given, it cannot be changed. That Great Sage Equaling Heaven,” Xin Jia said with a bitter smile, “unless a high-ranking deity personally intervenes, no one can change a monkey’s nature of eating peaches. I was just about to report to the general that he has already eaten all the large purple-striped peaches in the orchard and has started eating the medium-sized ones.”

"Then what other options do you have?" Ding Lin asked.

"Exoneration is impossible, so we can only try to reduce the sentence. Silver Ring Commander leads an army alone. Although nominally subordinate to the general, he actually has the power to make decisions on his own. Moreover, between him and us..."

Xin Jia glossed over the matter, but Ding Lin and he were well aware of the truth, as the two sides were already enemies.

"General, you might as well try to shift all the blame onto him. You are still a fifth-rank official, and if you submit a memorial, it can reach the Emperor directly. Moreover, the Peach Garden is an important location, and I believe it will not be overlooked in your memorial. You should strike first!"

(End of this chapter)