The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 317 Rupture
The nine-headed worm breathed a sigh of relief, its body wreathed in poisonous light, and tried to escape.

Suddenly, a glimmer of light appeared in the distance, freezing him in place. Also frozen were the expressions of relief and smug joy on his face, as if he had survived a disaster.

The space also calmed down at this point, at least on the surface.

Silence reigned over the green pool.

A cool breeze brought relief, and the water returned to its calm state, seemingly no different from usual.

The only difference was the presence of a large, grotesque head on the water's surface that resembled neither a bird nor a snake.

Even though it had been severed, the strange head still emitted a terrifying aura, enough to move even a Golden Immortal and horrify the Immortal Realm.

The man in green waved his hand and collected Xiang Liu's head.

"Cough!" Qingyi couldn't help but cough. She glanced at Wansheng's parents beside her, her expression softening slightly, and ordered, "Return to the palace first." She then looked at Jiutouchong, her eyes turning cold and disgusted, "Take him with you too."

"Great Sage." Without Qingyi's instruction, Princess Wansheng carefully stepped forward and supported him. She had a slightly protruding belly and a humble smile on her face, just like a concubine serving the main wife.

Qingyi glanced at Princess Wansheng; she was indeed feeling lost, so she didn't refuse.

On the other side, the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints stepped forward and summoned a chain with a wave of his hand, binding the Nine-Headed Insect. Having experienced what had just happened, the two sides had now completely broken off relations.

With a fierce tug, the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints pulled the Nine-Headed Insect, whose magic power had been sealed by Ding Lin. It stumbled and was dragged into the water in a sorry state.

In the pool, the shrimp soldiers, crab generals, fish spirits, and clam maidens had already fainted on the ground. Under the pressure of the Taiyi realm, even staying conscious was a luxury for them.

"The Venerable One has gone to chase after Xiang Liu. He should be back soon. We will wait in the Dragon Palace for now. We will decide what to do when the Venerable One returns."

The woman in green said that Xiang Liu had only attacked her physically, and his heavy blows were mainly aimed at her physical body. He suppressed her with the laws of nature. Although her injuries looked serious, she did not suffer any Dao injuries. This was also the reason why Ding Lin went to hunt down Xiang Liu and did not leave her to heal.

From the moment Xiang Liu was beheaded, he had no strength left, and the law within Qingyi's body that had been suppressing her injuries and preventing her from recovering also vanished.

Now that the situation was stable, Qingyi was able to heal her injuries without any worries. As she spoke, she activated the life force law within her body, and her complexion improved moment by moment. Before long, her injuries were completely healed.

……

At the entrance of Banana Cave on Cuiyun Mountain.

"Realm?" Princess Iron Fan's voice was disdainful, then she suddenly paused, and after a while, she said with some suspicion, "I can't see through you anymore."

"Madam, feel it again." The Bull Demon King said smugly, releasing a wisp of his aura.

Immediately, the celestial phenomena changed, and a dark cloud pressed down on Mount Jilei.

"This is... Taiyi?"

Princess Iron Fan's voice was filled with surprise and doubt.

She was a princess of the Rakshasa clan. Although there were no Great Luo Immortals in her clan, there were still Taiyi Golden Immortals in charge. Naturally, she was not ignorant about the Taiyi realm. As for her husband's aptitude, she knew it very well after being together for many years. In terms of potential, perhaps in the distant future, the Bull Demon King might be able to attain Taiyi, but it should not be so soon.

Princess Iron Fan remembered that when the Bull Demon King returned to the mountain decades ago, he had only just broken through to the level of Golden Immortal. Just how precious must the treasures in the Fox King's private treasury be that this dead bull could cultivate from the initial Golden Immortal to the Taiyi level in just a few decades?

"That treasure is a stone tablet with cloud patterns on the back and the essential principles of the laws recorded on the front. I don't know which great power left it. I only managed to see some clues after I became a Golden Immortal. No wonder that old fox, Your Majesty, treated it as trash. He lacked the aptitude and never reached the Golden Immortal realm before he died. I plan to take that stone tablet back to Cuiyun Mountain and study it with my wife." The Bull Demon King said smugly, his voice revealing his satisfaction.

"..."

Princess Iron Fan remained silent. After thousands of years of marriage, she knew the Bull Demon King too well and had already guessed what he was going to say.

"But that treasure is too precious and cannot be stored in my storage space. Carrying it would be like a child passing away with gold, which is too ostentatious. After much thought, I decided that I should secretly cultivate myself first. I originally planned to bring it back immediately after I achieved success in my cultivation, but who would have thought that the stone tablet would shatter the moment I achieved Taiyi." The Bull Demon King's voice seemed to be full of regret.

Sure enough.

Behind the stone gate, Princess Iron Fan curled her lips into a sarcastic smile, whether at herself or the Bull Demon King, it was unclear. Her eyes lowered slightly, and the emotion in them dissipated.

I knew it would turn out this way.

I've long been used to disappointment after disappointment.

But just now I couldn't help but be expecting something.
Perhaps it's because the person outside the door is her husband.

"So?" Princess Iron Fan's voice was cold.

"Madam, could you please open the door and let me in?" the Bull Demon King asked cautiously.

“Madam, the celestial phenomenon just now seemed to indicate that someone was advancing to the Taiyi realm. I’m afraid things are not peaceful. Even if you resent me, at least let me into the cave first, otherwise I won’t feel at ease,” the Bull Demon King said again.

"..."

Princess Iron Fan didn't respond. Standing at the door, her expression was indifferent. This was her husband. He might love her; he was willing to solve problems and care for her and their child. But his love had its limits. Just like his handling of the stone tablet in the Fox King's treasury, he prioritized his own needs. He wanted his beloved to be well, but not better off than himself. Outside, the Bull Demon King waited for a long time, his timid expression gradually fading.

“You should leave. Since we came to Xiniu Hezhou, my widow and I have stayed at home. Even if someone outside advances to the Taiyi realm, we have no grudge against them and will not have anything to do with them,” Princess Iron Fan said.

"Iron Fan, do you know what kind of life Old Bull is living outside? Yet he insists on coming here to suffer with you and your daughter. Isn't it because he cares about you? There's a limit to how much trouble you're causing. Look outside, which capable man doesn't have three wives and four concubines? Old Bull has only taken one concubine so far. Are you really going to cause trouble with me to this extent? Think carefully, once Old Bull leaves, he'll never come back!" Bull Demon King gradually became impatient.

There was no sound coming from behind the door.

Do you think I resent you only because you took a concubine?

This is the most insignificant reason.

Princess Iron Fan walked back, went into her boudoir, leaned against the soft pillows, and closed her eyes.

"Oh!"

The Bull Demon King slammed his fist into a nearby rock, which was several feet wide, and shattered it into dust. He then flicked his cloak behind him, his face grim, and mounted the Water-Avoiding Golden Crystal Beast. White clouds rose, and he vanished in an instant, leaving without the slightest hesitation.

A little while.

"Crunch!"

Red Boy waved his hand to release the seal on the cave door, then turned the lever, and the stone door rose. His small figure walked out of the cave door, which was now empty. He then closed the cave door, restored the seal, and went back into the inner chamber.

“Mother, he’s gone,” Red Boy said.

"Ah."

Princess Iron Fan did not open her eyes, but simply nodded slightly at the child.

……

The Bull Demon King, riding the Water-Avoiding Golden Crystal Beast, was about to return to Accumulation Mountain. Just as Princess Iron Fan had said, other people's advancement was none of their business. He was only using this as an excuse to return to Emerald Cloud Mountain to ease the tension with Princess Iron Fan. However, his cultivation level was revealed, and he even accompanied her and expressed his concern, but his wife was completely ungrateful.

What else does she want?

While suspended in mid-air, the Bull Demon King felt extremely agitated. He removed his magical barrier and let the gale blow against his face until it reached him. After a while, he felt a little calmer.

Just then, the Bull Demon King suddenly sensed two auras of the Taiyi Realm rising not far away, seemingly from the direction of the Azure Wave Pool. His expression tightened, and he signaled the Water-Avoiding Golden Crystal Beast to stop temporarily. He sensed the aura from afar but showed no intention of going there. Although he had some acquaintance with the Myriad Saints Dragon King, this acquaintance was mostly based on mutual benefit. He was naturally happy to have drinks and engage in lively discussions on ordinary days.

But it's best to avoid things that involve taking risks.

Moreover, now that he has advanced to the Taiyi realm, it is foreseeable that the help that the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints can give him will only decrease.

A good while.

The fluctuations subsided.

The battle above the Azure Pool seemed to have a victor.

The Bull Demon King waited a while longer before urging the Water-Avoiding Golden Crystal Beast to slowly head towards the Azure Wave Pool.

If someone in the Taiyi realm intends to conceal their abilities, they are extremely difficult to detect, especially at such a great distance, where the perception becomes even more blurred.

The Bull Demon King didn't know who would win between Ding Lin and Xiang Liu, or whether the winner would stay temporarily or leave immediately. He went there with the attitude of acting according to the situation. If he saw that both sides were injured, and there was a real opportunity, he would not mind taking advantage of the situation.

It doesn't matter if there's no opportunity. If the Sheng family were still around, he could use his past relationship with the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints to make his way back without seeming out of place. He could even show his loyalty and righteousness and make a friend. Who knows, he might need that friend in the future.

There was nothing there.

Having another banquet at the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints' place makes it all worthwhile.

……

The Bull Demon King revealed his Golden Immortal realm, and to avoid misunderstanding, he did not conceal his aura.

Qingyi had already healed her injuries. Having just experienced a great upheaval, and with Ding Lin temporarily absent, she spread her senses throughout the entire Bibo Pool, not daring to let her guard down in the slightest. Therefore, as soon as the Water-Avoiding Golden Crystal Beast stepped into the sky above Bibo Pool, Qingyi noticed it.

Bull Demon King?
The woman in green suddenly transformed, her eyes flashing.

What is this old ox doing here at this time?
The Bull Demon King rode on the Azure Water Golden-Eyed Beast, his gaze seemingly casually falling on the surface of the Azure Wave Pool. With his level of cultivation, he could easily find the battlefield. Sensing the surroundings and the still-unsettled space, he flickered a few times, feeling the ferocity of the fierce battle just now.

“Fellow Daoist, I am the Mighty Bull Demon King. I have come here with no ill intentions. It is simply that the Dragon King of the Azure Wave Pool is a good friend of mine. I wonder if you would be willing to show yourself to meet him. If it is inconvenient, I will go into the pool myself to find the Dragon King and his daughter.”

The Bull Demon King's path revealed a slight trace of Taiyi aura.

(End of this chapter)