The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 309 Small Shura Field
The woman in green was expressionless, her voice icy. As soon as she spoke, the other three demons in the hall understood and, after a brief moment of surprise, made a unified movement, looking in the direction of the woman in green's eyes.

A fleeting look of schadenfreude crossed the face of the Nine-Headed Insect.

The Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints has lived for many years. Even though he has a thousand thoughts in his heart, he can keep his composure for the time being and not reveal the slightest bit of them.

On the bed, the pale and weak Princess Wansheng had the most complicated expression. At first, she was frightened, but after turning her head, her expression turned into extreme anxiety. She subconsciously moved her hands to a different position and placed them on her belly, as if she had found something to rely on, and temporarily calmed down.

Aside from Qingyi, perhaps only Princess Wansheng truly understood how terrifying Ding Lin was now.

When she first became pregnant with this child, she was filled with resentment and despair, feeling that it was the greatest humiliation she had ever experienced in her life. As a descendant of the true dragon, she was actually... If it weren't for her fear of Qingyi, she would have miscarried long ago.

Not long after, after hundreds of years, the spirituality of the unborn child suddenly increased.

Princess Wansheng herself was a celestial being, so she naturally understood that spirituality was innate and usually fixed at the moment of conception. It was extremely difficult to add anything later, unless... Now the child was still in her womb and had not yet been born, but without any major changes, the spirituality would not be altered. She knew that Ding Lin must have become an immortal, and to be able to benefit future generations to this extent, his immortal status must be extraordinary, and he was very likely a celestial being.

Princess Wansheng no longer rejected the child, though she couldn't say she liked him either, given that the child's arrival was not exactly honorable.

It was from that time onward that Princess Wansheng began to have some difficulty conceiving, as her original essence had been taken away by Ding Lin, even though she was also a celestial being.

The time it takes for a child to develop has changed from several decades to several hundred years, but once born, the child will probably immediately reach the primordial spirit realm.

Princess Wansheng told the Dragon King Wansheng about her discovery. After discussing it, the father and daughter decided to leave it to fate. Whether the pregnancy would continue or not depended on the child's own destiny.

But after a while, the child's spirituality increased again.

After being gestated for hundreds of years, the child had already taken on a general outline, and was born with the appearance of a dragon.

But on that day, a sudden tremor arose, and a trace of true dragon bloodline was born out of thin air. The gestation period was extended by several hundred years, but as soon as it was born, it would immediately possess the body of a true dragon, naturally extraordinary, and the path to immortality would be paved under its feet.

The father's blessings upon his descendants can reach this extent.

He, I'm afraid...

Princess Wansheng naturally told the Dragon King about her discovery. From that moment on, Princess Wansheng felt the pregnancy weaken. Given her current condition, carrying this celestial fetus was far too difficult. However, it was now absolutely impossible for her to abort the child. This child had transformed from an initially illegitimate fetus into her last resort when Ding Lin came knocking on her door later.

The entire Bibo Pool was on high alert. Countless elixirs and precious medicines were poured in, and although they had some effect, it was still a drop in the ocean. Princess Wansheng endured the ordeal, growing weaker day by day.

Finally, just when Princess Wansheng was about to give up, Qingyi came to the door again.

And then, we arrived at the present.

Ding Lin felt four gazes.

Four gazes, four different meanings.

Ding Lin felt a chill run down his spine. He sensed unease again, but before he could fully perceive it, the other three demons, apart from Qingyi, appeared bewildered.

Among the three demons, even the Nine-Headed Insect, the strongest in cultivation, had not reached the Golden Immortal realm. The difference in their cultivation levels meant that even with guidance, they couldn't detect Ding Lin. In fact, even Qingyi, if it weren't for the fact that Ding Lin's scent lingered in her body after she was healed that day, would probably not have been able to detect Ding Lin's presence either.

It was clear that they could no longer hide there.

Ding Lin stepped out from behind the coral. Although he hadn't yet clearly sensed anything, it didn't stop the unease in his heart from growing. He roughly understood, but until the very last moment, he still held onto a sliver of hope. After all, the woman in green was right in front of him.

With a flick of her sleeve, the palace doors swung open, and a gust of demonic wind swept through, clearing the fish spirits and clam maidens serving them out of the hall.

Ding Lin tried his best to appear open and honest as he entered the hall. The first thing he saw was Qingyi. He forced a smile and tried to pull the corners of his mouth up.

"I returned from Heaven, but I didn't see you in our cave. Little Turtle said you came to Bibo Pool, so I came looking for you," Ding Lin said, his voice growing increasingly hesitant. He looked at Qingyi, his eyes glancing at Princess Wansheng's face before settling on her stomach. Slowly, his gaze moved completely there, unable to look away.

Princess Wansheng's figure remained captivating, with only her waist slightly plump. This only added to her unique charm compared to her usual appearance. However, Ding Lin paid no attention to this. His entire focus was on the tiny, precarious life inside Princess Wansheng's womb. Being so close to her, a feeling of blood connection rose within him.

Can't go wrong.

It's his seed.

Finally, the last glimmer of hope in my heart was shattered.

“Qing…Qingyi…” Ding Lin’s voice was a little dry and stuttering. He couldn’t explain his emotions at the moment. There was excitement, but only a little, not much. He was more confused and guilty towards Qingyi.

He then looked at the woman in green, his eyes darting around.

The woman in green had already reverted to her female attire. She remained silent, her face expressionless, meeting his gaze with equal coldness.

"I...I..." Ding Lin wasn't afraid to admit what he had done, but even though he had a premonition about this incident, he was still overwhelmed when he was actually there. In an instant, he had prepared a thousand words, whether it was a reasonable explanation or a sweet promise, but he couldn't say any of them at this moment.

"Give it to me," said the man in green, and the surrounding pool water suddenly cooled several degrees.

Ding Lin knew what Qingyi was talking about. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he took out the peach. Fortunately, Yang Chan had only taken one peach, otherwise he really wouldn't know what to do now.

The woman in green reached out and took the peach.

Ding Lin breathed a slight sigh of relief. In any case, the fact that Qingyi had spoken meant there was still room for maneuver. After his initial shock, thoughts raced through his mind. He recalled that back in the West Sea Dragon Palace, he was under Qingyi's watchful eye...

For a moment, I felt both ashamed and distressed.

Ding Lin then thought that he had come to Bibo Pool to find Qingyi, and Qingyi probably already knew. Over the years, she should have developed some acceptance of him. Although thinking this way was a bit shameless, it was still easier to handle than if it were suddenly exposed.

The air seemed to freeze, cold and indifferent.

Qingyi took the peach from Ding Lin's hand. A flash of spiritual light appeared in her palm, and she used a water-based divine power to refine the purple-veined peach into a condensed liquid. She manipulated it and sent this celestial juice into Princess Wansheng's mouth, her expression cold and focused.

Princess Wansheng drank the peach juice and the effects were immediate. Her complexion became visibly rosy, and her weakness seemed to be completely dispelled. Nourished by the peach's immense medicinal power, she seemed to have restored her foundation.

"Thank you, Great Sage," Princess Wansheng actually stood up immediately, just like a concubine of a wealthy family paying respects to the head mistress. She straightened her back, bowed to the woman in green, and then looked at Ding Lin, "Greetings... Dragon Lord."

This is also a simple test.

Ding Lin didn't even glance at Princess Wansheng. His attention was solely focused on her abdomen and the woman in green's face. He could sense that the peach hadn't been used to remove the root of the problem. Princess Wansheng's injury was a fundamental one, difficult to completely heal. He was well aware of this, as it was his doing. Currently, the injury was merely masked by the peach's immense vitality. Once the peach's effects wore off, it would immediately revert to its original state. "Your pregnancy is only temporarily stabilized. While the peach is precious, it can only provide temporary relief, not a permanent cure. This pregnancy will take several hundred years to develop, and we need to devise another plan," the woman in green said.

"I beg the Great Sage... Dragon Lord to have mercy," Princess Wansheng said. She noticed that Ding Lin was looking at her belly, so she used both hands to support it. Her soft hands, set against her swollen waist, were dazzlingly white.

Beside Ding Lin, the Nine-Headed Insect's face showed a humiliated expression, but the situation was beyond his control, so he could only swallow his anger.

"Humph!"

Ding Lin showed no mercy and snorted coldly.

Princess Wansheng's face turned pale instantly.

"Dragon King, please calm your anger and consider the unborn child... I promise my daughter will not dare to do it again," the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints quickly bowed and pleaded.

Ding Lin, however, only stole a glance at Qingyi.

The woman in green remained cold and numb.

“Come with me,” the woman in green suddenly said.

"Yes!" Ding Lin quickly agreed.

……

In the courtyard, Qingyi stood beside a clump of coral. Even though she was the one who had summoned Ding Lin, she remained silent for a long time. Ding Lin was like a child who had made a mistake and had been caught by an adult. He dared not speak unless Qingyi opened her mouth, so he could only stand there and keep her company.

"Do you know what I wanted to do when I first saw her in the Western Sea?" Qingyi finally spoke. She turned to look at Ding Lin, her eyes flashing coldly. Her red lips parted slightly, revealing a set of snow-white teeth, and the words she spoke were extremely cruel, "I wanted to kill her, to snap her neck like killing a chick in the mortal world, and then to beat her soul to pieces, so that she could never be reincarnated!"

“But… she is pregnant with your child.” Qingyi gritted her teeth. “I have been looking for you for many years and have imagined countless times what it would be like to meet you again, but I never expected it to be under those circumstances.”

"I..." Ding Lin opened his mouth, but couldn't get the words of explanation out.

He was indeed wrong.

“I brought her back to Bibo Pool from the West Sea. Firstly, I was so happy that I made the dragon clans of the four seas look foolish. Secondly, she was pregnant with… your child.”

There was silence for a while.

"I'm sorry..." Ding Lin said softly. As soon as he said this apology, Qingyi could no longer hold back her strength. Her long eyelashes trembled and a tear suddenly fell from her bright eyes.

Only one drop.

The next moment, the tears merged into the pool water, and the water in her eyes evaporated.

Her face was taut, and even her momentary loss of composure was fleeting; she quickly regained her composure as the Great Sage Who Overturned the Seas.

Ding Lin felt a sudden jolt in his heart, as if a piece of it had been emptied out. An unprecedented panic spread through his mind. He knew he had seriously injured Qingyi.

"Qingyi, that was just an accident, I..." Ding Lin explained in a panic, his words incoherent. He raised his hand and hugged Qingyi tightly, as if he would lose her if he let go. But the body in his arms did not react at all, neither struggling nor yielding. He panicked even more.

"Qingyi, don't be like this. It was my fault. It really was just an accident." Ding Lin could only repeat.

“I know, otherwise do you think I could tolerate her living until now?” Qingyi finally made a move. She pushed Ding Lin away and glanced at him coldly. “You are now a Golden Immortal. Once you enter the Golden Immortal realm, it will be difficult for you to have children in the future. This child may be your only bloodline in this life. The pregnancy is unstable now, and you cannot be careless at all in the future.”

The matter seems to have been resolved.

But Ding Lin's heart was hanging in suspense, and he had no confidence at all.

"The peaches of immortality are not a long-term solution. Recently, while touring this country of Jisa, I saw a bright pearl in the imperial city. Just looking at it from afar, I could feel its abundant spiritual energy. It is the perfect remedy for this problem," the woman in green added.

Ding Lin's eyes flashed as he listened. In the original Journey to the West story, the Nine-Headed Insect stole this pearl to help Princess Wansheng with her pregnancy. Now, it had come full circle and ended up in his hands?
"You don't need to interfere in this matter. That pearl is a priceless treasure, and to leave it so conspicuously placed suggests something is amiss. I've already arranged for my junior brother to marry into this Bibo Pool under the guise of a son-in-law. Now that his wife is having a difficult childbirth, it's time for him, the husband, to step in and test the waters. If it works out, great. If there really is something involved, let that Nine-Headed Insect take the blame, and we'll think of another way..."

The woman in green calmly recounted her story.

But seeing this made Ding Lin feel even more heartbroken.

"Qingyi, I...it's all my fault." Ding Lin's lips trembled.

wrong?
What's the use of admitting your mistake?

Can it be changed?
The dragon maiden in the pool was just an accident.

But there's the one in the sky, and Yang Chan in another province...

Qingyi raised her head, refusing to look at Ding Lin. She felt a mix of love and hate, her heart filled with complex and indescribable emotions.

……

In the palace.

"Since everything is alright, I'll go back to cultivate."

Nine-Headed Insect said, his tone was not good, it could even be described as nasty. He had once tried so hard to get what he wanted, but it was all for someone else's benefit. In the end, he even got a title but no substance. Every time he thought about it, he felt so angry that his teeth ached. When Qingyi was there, he could pretend for a while, but now that only the three of them were left in the hall, the anger in his chest rose up again, and he felt so disgusted that he wanted to vomit.

“Cultivation is the most important thing. My nephew Nine Heads, you may go on your own. I will keep an eye on things here,” the Dragon King Wansheng forced a smile. At present, he and his daughter were the most vulnerable, and they could not afford to offend either of them.

"The matter is not yet resolved. Where do you think you are going?" A voice rang out from outside the hall.

"Teacher...senior sister..."

Nine-Headed Insect's face was ugly, but he still had to force a smile, looking somewhat embarrassed.

(End of this chapter)