The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 319 Variables
As Qingyi was about to enter the Crystal Palace, she suddenly felt inexplicably uncomfortable, as if she had a thorn in her back. She turned her head and saw the Bull Demon King riding the Water-Avoiding Golden Crystal Beast into the water, looking over. As if noticing her gaze, the Bull Demon King smiled. Everything seemed normal, and there was nothing wrong.

The Bull Demon King subtly shifted his gaze, no longer staring at the woman in green.

The woman in green turned around, her eyes deep. After thinking for a moment, she made a water-repelling spell.

The group entered the Dragon Palace.

In the Azure Pool, Qingyi had already used her spiritual power to awaken the little demons after healing her injuries. Although the little demons still had some fear on their faces, the matter was over after all, and they hadn't witnessed much of it. They had been so frightened that they had fainted at the beginning of the incident. Following their usual habits, they each performed their duties and got busy, quickly forgetting about the turmoil.

Now that the Bull Demon King's level of power was clear, it was no longer appropriate to distinguish between host and guest in the main hall.

The Bull Demon King sat in the main seat.

The person in green robes and the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints were accompanying them.

Even Princess Wansheng, who was heavily pregnant, did not avoid the situation and sat down at the next lower seat.

The Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints was truly astute in assessing the situation. He waited until he received a look from the woman in green before instructing the lesser demons to prepare.

First, a crystal table was carried in.

Then, the Dragon King of Ten Thousand Saints ordered the little demon to take his token to the treasure vault and retrieve some fine wine.

Another moment passed.

One delicious dish after another was brought in, and the banquet began.

The Bull Demon King took the jade pot, poured himself a cup of wine as if no one else was around, and drank it all.

“Sister, I have known the Old Dragon King for many years, and we are very close. Although I have become somewhat lax in recent years, I remember that the last time I was invited by the Old Dragon King to a banquet at Bibo Pool was only ten years ago. The Venerable One you mentioned…”

“Brother, it’s been ten years since you last came. It’s understandable that you don’t know. I came to this Jade Pool with the Venerable One three years ago,” said the woman in green, stalling for time.

Although the Bull Demon King has not shown any malice until now, his arrival immediately after the great battle seems to indicate ill intent. However, whatever the Bull Demon King's intentions, all problems can be solved as long as Ding Lin returns.

“Sister, you’re just brushing me off,” the Bull Demon King’s smile slowly faded. “We are sworn brothers, and I want to open my heart to you, but you are so wary of me. It really makes me feel disheartened as your older brother.”

After advancing to the Taiyi realm, although the Bull Demon King still habitually presented a hypocritical facade in front of others, with his substantial cultivation as a foundation, he also became somewhat arrogant.

"This Azure Pool is only a thousand miles in circumference. Although it has some spiritual energy, it is at most suitable for cultivation in the Immortal Realm. It is not a place of outstanding natural beauty. Even if the dignified Venerable Taiyi were just passing by and taking a temporary rest, he should not have chosen this place, let alone a true spiritual mountain and blessed land."

"And..." The Bull Demon King suddenly waved his hand, and a surge of demonic energy swept in, causing a figure to stumble and fall into the palace from outside. "And this Nine-Headed Brother, the last time I saw him, he was the prince consort of this Jade Wave Pool. How did he become a prisoner now?"

"Great Sage, Great Sage, save me!" The Nine-Headed Insect, bound by chains, looked up at the Bull Demon King the moment he was thrown into the hall.

The sudden turn of events caused Qingyi's expression to change, and she felt a pang of regret. She should have killed the Nine-Headed Insect immediately.

Nine-Headed Insect is a true direct descendant of Bei Ming, born and raised here. Qingyi originally kept Nine-Headed Insect to try and get more information about Bei Ming from him, but the sudden arrival of the Bull Demon King disrupted the plan.

“Brother, your eyes are as sharp as lightning; you should be able to see that the restrictions on this nine-headed worm are beyond my power,” the man in green said, his eyes flashing. “It seems there is indeed such a venerable one,” the Bull Demon King said, his expression becoming more serious.

“Great Sage, don’t be fooled by her. Do you know her background? The Great Sage Who Overturns the Seas is famous throughout the Three Realms,” Nine-Headed Insect suddenly shouted with a glint in his eyes, “but she’s just a traitor to my Northern Underworld, isn’t she, Senior Sister?” Nine-Headed Insect then looked at Qingyi with a face full of resentment, “You’ve escaped this time, but you can’t escape every time. Next time, you will definitely be caught and taken back!”

"Nonsense!" A fierce glint flashed in the eyes of the man in green as he unleashed a burst of magical power at the nine-headed worm.

The Bull Demon King's eyes flashed, and with a single finger, he dissolved the blue-clothed man's magic power. Without making any other moves, the blue-clothed man suddenly felt a massive aura pressing down on him, making it impossible for him to move.

“Go on,” said the Bull Demon King.

"Great Sage, the fight just now was my ancestor's doing, on the orders of the Demon Master, to capture her and take her back. I didn't expect that her lover had also broken through to the Taiyi Realm at some point and fought a great battle with my ancestor. Although her lover barely managed to force my ancestor to retreat, she was also seriously injured and is now recuperating in the Crystal Palace." The Nine-Headed Insect spoke nonsense.

“Great Sage should know that as long as one does not want to be detected, one can conceal one’s traces by controlling one’s aura. Even those of the same realm would find it difficult to locate them. Coincidentally, they thought that Nine-Headed was already trapped, so they did not avoid Nine-Headed. Nine-Headed then knew where his lover was healing.”

"As long as the Great Sage saves me, I am willing to guide the Great Sage. He is a Taiyi, and his battle with my ancestor has already broken the logic of things. He still needs time to reorganize. At most, he only has the strength of a Golden Immortal. With the Great Sage's supernatural powers, he can be defeated in no time!"

"If the Great Sage is still worried, he can take down my senior sister, and..."

Nine-Headed Insect looked at Princess Wansheng with ill intent. The Bull Demon King's imposing aura not only intimidated Qingyi but also Princess Wansheng and her father, leaving them no choice but to listen to Nine-Headed Insect's explanation.

“Great Sage, I heard it too. The reason my senior sister’s lover is staying at this small Jade Pool is because…” The Nine-Headed Insect’s forehead veins bulged, and he gritted his teeth, “that slut is carrying his… child…”

“Great Sage, as long as we capture them, even if things don’t go smoothly, having hostages in our hands will give us room to maneuver.”

Although it was mostly nonsense, it was seven parts truth and one part falsehood.

Nine-Headed Insect no longer hoped to survive; he was filled with resentment. Just now, the Bull Demon King had revealed a trace of his aura. He had already entered the Golden Immortal realm. Although he was imprisoned, his sensory abilities were still intact, so he naturally knew the Bull Demon King's realm. He was also a Taiyi Immortal.

Once the Bull Demon King believed him, he inevitably found himself on the opposite side of Ding Lin.

So, after a while, Ding Lin returned...

“Great Sage, we cannot hesitate. Every moment that passes may worsen his injuries. This is the entirety of a Taiyi Realm expert…” the Nine-Headed Insect urged with all its might.

"Noisy!"

The Bull Demon King waved his hand to seal the Nine-Headed Insect's throat and tongue. Although he did not show any emotion on his face, he was actually somewhat tempted.

The entirety of a Taiyi Realm expert...

Heritage!
The Bull Demon King stood up and walked to Princess Wansheng. Her hands were still habitually resting on her lower abdomen. He leaned over and placed his palms on Princess Wansheng's lower abdomen, feeling the pulsating life within. This abundant vital energy was indeed nurturing the flesh and blood of a Taiyi.

Qingyi wanted to speak, but ninety-nine percent of the Bull Demon King's aura was directed at her. Although they were both at the Taiyi Realm, the Bull Demon King's displayed aura was at least comparable to Ding Lin's, and Xiang Liu was no match for him. He suppressed Qingyi completely with just his aura.

(End of this chapter)