The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 338 Prelude
The iron rod struck Ding Lin's arm.

It became.

The Bull Demon King was secretly delighted. According to his and the Centipede Demon's plan, the Centipede Demon's golden light was enough to offset Ding Lin's Taiyi Dao principles. However, although this golden light formation was strange and terrifying, the Centipede Demon was ultimately not a Taiyi and could not kill Ding Lin on his own with just the formation.

The real decisive blow came from the Bull Demon King's staff.

With this strike, as long as it causes some damage—not even a minor one—the centipede demon can immediately drive the golden light straight in.

Centipedes are one of the five poisonous creatures; surely no one is naive enough to think that centipedes cannot use poison.

Of course, a Taiyi Realm cultivator couldn't be poisoned from a distance, but the dignified Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord was no ordinary centipede demon. Rather than facing him head-on, he was more adept at poisoning and ambushing. Even the slightest wound could serve as a key to unlock him.

By the time the poison gas entered his body, it was too late, even if Ding Lin realized it.

The spider webs of the seven spider demons are usually useless, but at that time, they are the best means of binding. These spider silks are neither gold nor jade. Once you are bound, no matter what kind of escape technique you use, you will not be able to succeed. They contain poisonous energy, so it is difficult to break free.

This was the deadly trap that the Bull Demon King had set for Ding Lin.

The next moment, a tremendous force of recoil came.

Ding Lin kept his eyes closed, standing firmly and without moving an inch. This was not the first time he had used his arms to block the Bull Demon King's attack, but the result was very different from the last time. Last time, the Bull Demon King easily broke through Ding Lin's defense, shattering his scales and staining his flesh with blood. Although the injury healed in an instant, it was more than enough to allow the plan to proceed smoothly.

But this time, it was much harder to do.

Ding Lin's physical strength exceeded expectations. With the aid of demonic energy, the truth was that Ding Lin was able to confront the iron rod head-on with his bare hands and body, and was unharmed for a short time.

He was faking it just now.

The Bull Demon King immediately came to a conclusion, and a strong sense of unwillingness welled up in his heart. In order to achieve victory in one battle, he not only mustered all his strength for this strike, but also disregarded his injuries and forcefully used a secret technique to make the iron cudgel even more powerful.

Ding Lin's lips curled into a smile. Knowing his nature, though it sounded cruel, he truly couldn't bear it. But if it wasn't Qingyi or Yang Chan trapped in the golden light array, who in the entire Three Realms could he possibly risk everything, even his life, to save? He knew his own limitations, understanding that relying on his physical body and delaying things for a moment wouldn't be a big deal, which was why he was willing to take the risk.

He certainly wouldn't let Princess Jade Face die if he could.

Enraged, the Bull Demon King saw Ding Lin's smile as a mockery. The backlash of the secret technique struck at that moment, and most of the force on his iron cudgel was dissipated, causing a trickle of blood to spill from the corner of his mouth.

Just then, the seven spider silk threads arrived as promised.

"drink!"

Ding Lin channeled the dragon blood within him, sweeping his arms horizontally. His powerful physique was like that of a dragon—no, he was a dragon to begin with. Even the incredibly supple spider silk was brushed aside by his powerful energy. As for the Bull Demon King, he was directly thrown aside.

"Boom!"

A loud noise came from beside my ear.

Ding Lin's eyes were held back by the golden light, and he lost his five senses. He could not regain his composure. He stretched his arms back, grabbed one arm with his left hand, and squeezed a soft mass with his right hand. He quickly moved his hands away and locked his arms up to his shoulder.

At this moment, he didn't care who was who. Behind him, there was only Princess Jade Face and Princess Iron Fan. He couldn't mistake them. He would just take them away. A yellowish-brown light enveloped him. The next moment, he activated the Earth Escape Technique, grabbed the two women, and disappeared into the rocks, making a quick getaway.

……

in situ.

The centipede demon frowned deeply as he looked at the ground, at the rock where Ding Lin had just burrowed, his eyes filled with apprehension. He then put his clothes back on.

The golden light dissipated, revealing the figures of the Bull Demon King and the five spider demons.

"So close!" The Bull Demon King gritted his teeth, his face pale. He struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and his eyes were filled with deep resentment.

"Brother Niu," the centipede demon cupped its hands in greeting, "Things have come to this point, and we can do nothing to him now. This fiend's supernatural powers are beyond your expectations. You saved my life back then, and I have now incurred such a great enemy for your sake, which can be considered as repaying your life-saving grace. From now on, our grudges will be settled. Who knows where the Crimson Dragon's revenge will fall in the future? The old Taoist of Huanghua Temple has no intention of returning. He is about to take his seven junior sisters away from Xiniu Hezhou. Perhaps he will return if he attains the Taiyi realm in the future."

The seven spider demons were only slightly injured when Ding Lin flipped their spider silk. The centipede demon was their leader, and the presence of seven beautiful women standing behind him only made the scene seem more tragic.

"It's my fault for dragging you down, fellow Daoist." The Bull Demon King sighed, his eyes flashing with resentment, but he ultimately restrained his impulse with reason. "Since this attack failed, I will go to the outer sea to lay low for a while, recover from my injuries, and then plan my next move."

"This parting is long and uncertain, Brother Bull, take care." The centipede demon bowed to the Bull Demon King in farewell, then said nothing more. With a flick of his sleeve, he transformed into a golden streak of light and disappeared into the distance, heading north.

The Bull Demon King's expression changed several times. He suddenly remembered Princess Iron Fan and their millennia-long marriage. He closed his eyes.

……

The hemp pole beats the wolf and is afraid of both sides.

Ding Lin was unaware that the centipede demon and the bull demon king had exhausted their tricks. After emerging from the mountain rocks, he saw Chongfa Kingdom again. He changed directions repeatedly for more than ten days before he finally felt at ease. At this time, without realizing it, a large mountain had appeared in front of him.

Five mountain peaks stand tall, resembling a palm.

The mountain range seems to possess a spirit, undulating rhythmically.

But no matter how the mountains undulated, or how hard the creatures suppressed beneath struggled, they could not break free of these shackles. A golden Buddhist scroll was affixed to the very center of a mountain peak, enveloped in boundless Buddhist light, carrying an indescribable majesty that caused even the most powerful forces to only ripple slightly.

"Let me out! How dare you treat me like this!" A voice echoed from the mountains, mournful and deep.

As Ding Lin approached the mountain, he sensed through the official seal that heavenly soldiers were everywhere and divine generals were guarding every pass.

How could he not know that his rapid journey had unknowingly led him to the Five Elements Mountain?

Feel the presence of immortals and gods all over the mountains and plains.

Ding Lin's eyes flickered. With so many outside helpers here, it was indeed a good place to recover from his injuries.

"Let me go!" the stone monkey cried pitifully.

"I...I know I was wrong..."

The stone monkey couldn't understand. He had been quite tolerant of his previous misbehavior, so why was he being accused of "making havoc in the Heavenly Palace" this time, even though he hadn't done anything wrong? What a huge burden! Being suppressed here, he felt even more bewildered. ...

The Western Paradise, the Great Thunder Temple.

A blue phoenix flapped its wings, and not a single Buddha or Bodhisattva in the entire temple dared to stop it.

The Buddha sat upright on the lotus throne. He opened his eyes and saw the Azure Phoenix land in front of the steps. A flash of blue light appeared, and the Azure Phoenix transformed back into human form. She was a pretty girl dressed in blue with her hair tied in a bun, and her eyes revealed a hint of naivety.

"Fairy, is this the Holy Nuwa? What are your instructions?" Buddha asked, trying his best to show a smile on his solemn face.

"Greetings, Buddha!" ​​Qingluan bowed respectfully. "The Empress asked me to convey a message: Isn't a thousand years too long? Although that monkey is unruly and needs to be taught a lesson, he has already been suppressed in the Five-Colored Stone for so many eons. Now that he has just come out, he is going to be suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain again. Isn't it... Buddha, could you please reduce the time a bit?"

“Your Majesty is truly a compassionate mother,” said Buddha.

Qingluan listened without refuting, feeling it was only natural that the Empress treated them very well.

“Didn’t we already discuss this with the Empress? Wukong’s temperament needs to be tempered. Besides, he has already been given such a great reputation for causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace. If he is only punished for a few hundred years, I’m afraid the Great Heavenly Venerable will…” Buddha said.

“I’ll go talk to the Great Celestial Venerable later, Buddha, there’s no need to worry,” Qingluan said.

“Since that’s the case, then let’s do it this way,” the Buddha seemed to ponder for a moment, “The Queen has put in a lot of effort, ordering me to suppress Wukong with the Five Elements Mountain. Firstly, it’s to show the Three Realms, and secondly, it’s to prevent him from becoming complacent and wasting his great talent. So, once he comprehends the mutual generation and restraint of the Five Elements, I will immediately release him.”

"Perfect timing. I had already made an agreement with the Great Celestial Venerable to preach in the Southern Toad Continent. I will use this as an excuse to let Wukong join my Buddhist sect. With the reputation of causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace, he can travel from the Southern Toad Continent to the Thunderclap Temple in the Western Paradise and back. Afterwards, I will bestow upon him the title of Buddha, so that he can be considered to have a proper birth."

“Buddha’s consideration is very thoughtful,” Qingluan nodded. “I will convey Buddha’s words to Your Majesty.”

"Buddha, I must go to the Heavenly Court again to deliver a message," the Azure Phoenix flapped its wings and transformed back into its original form before flying away.

Inside the Great Thunderclap Temple, the Buddha's smile deepened.

……

Heavenly Court, Heavenly Prison.

The once mighty Marshal Tianpeng had fallen from grace. After the eight hundred battles of the immortals, his golden immortal body was broken and his bones were shattered. He lay utterly exhausted on the ground, no longer possessing any of the former majesty of Marshal Tianpeng. His eyes were lifeless. He looked up and saw that the heavenly prison was dark and gloomy. He was in a daze and didn't know how much time had passed.

Am I destined to rot into the soil here?

After days of sluggish thinking, a thought finally flashed through my mind.

Tianpeng's eyes moved slightly.

Always remember, there will be reverberations.

The next moment, a white-robed Taoist priest appeared in the prison.

Tianpeng's eyes moved, and he felt a little dizzy. It took him a long time to see the figure in front of him clearly. He immediately became excited, but his body was weak and his efforts were more like crawling on the ground.

"Senior Brother!" Tianpeng cried out, seemingly filled with grievances, "The Jade Emperor, he destroyed my entire foundation!"

The white-robed Taoist priest, Grand Master Xuandu, nodded indifferently: "I know."

"You and Master must stand up for me! Although Tianpeng is only a disciple of Master, he has worked diligently for many years. While he hasn't achieved great merit, he hasn't committed any major mistakes either. For a mere Chang'e, he has dealt me ​​such a heavy blow. Is he trying to purge me..."

"The Jade Emperor had already told me, and I agreed," Grand Master Xuandu said calmly.

Tianpeng's words caught in his throat.

"Why..." His mind seemed to freeze for a moment, a despair even deeper than when he was imprisoned swept over him, and Tianpeng's voice trembled, "Senior Brother, I am..."

“Although you are only a disciple of Master, I am the only one who has been personally taught by Master. I have always regarded you as my own junior brothers,” Xuandu looked at Tianpeng, his eyes slowly changing, his anger rising. “Over the years, I have done my best to guide you, but you have truly disappointed me. Think about it yourself, how many years have you been stuck at the Golden Immortal level, and how many years have you not comprehended even a single law?”

“I…” Tianpeng was speechless.

"The word 'love' is the hardest to fathom. My original intention was to uphold my master's principle of non-interference, hoping that with time, you would eventually come to your senses. But..." Grand Master Xuandu paused, "...how many cycles have passed, and you still remain hesitant, all for a widow left behind by a sorceress," Grand Master Xuandu said, furious at your lack of resolve, "It was one thing before, but now it has only gotten worse. If I don't take action soon, you..."

"Senior Brother, I..." Tianpeng was speechless, but hope rekindled in his eyes.

“I have already spoken with the Jade Emperor and will allow you to be reincarnated in the mortal realm. As the saying goes, there is no construction without destruction. You have been living in peace and tranquility for too long. If you do not undergo some trials and tribulations, when will you be able to break through to the Taiyi realm? This time, by forcibly intervening, I have also gone against my teacher’s original intention of non-action. After arranging things for you, I will return to the Tushita Palace to apologize to my teacher,” said Grand Master Xuandu.

"Senior brother, I don't know how to settle junior brother." Tianpeng said pitifully.

"During the last great battle in Heaven, the Great Celestial Venerable and the Buddha Tathagata reached an agreement allowing Tathagata to send people to Jambudvipa to spread the Dharma. I have discussed with the Great Celestial Venerable and the Buddha Tathagata the possibility of you joining them. With this journey of trials and tribulations, I hope you can make further progress."

"Once this is accomplished, if you can achieve the Taiyi level, with my influence, even the Buddha will grant you a matching position—a Bodhisattva position. I suppose that's assured. Don't disappoint me again!" Grand Master Xuandu was furious at his lack of ambition.

"Senior brother, can't I stay in the Heavenly Court any longer?" Tianpeng asked.

"You've really gone too far. With this incident before us, do you think you can still return to Heaven? Furthermore, do you think the reason the Great Heavenly Venerable came to the Tushita Palace to discuss this with me was actually to take back the 80,000 Heavenly River Navy troops under your command? How can we allow others to snore on our own bed? You're also an ignorant fool, eating the Jade Emperor's food but always trying to remain neutral, and you didn't even lift a finger during such a great battle!"

"You think you're clever, that you won't offend anyone and can please everyone, but little do you know you've backfired!" Grand Master Xuandu said with exasperation. "You still want to stay in the Heavenly Court? What, do you still have feelings for Chang'e? After this, you'd better stay in the Western Paradise. I've been too lenient with you all these years, and now you're even being picky. From now on, I will come to check your cultivation progress every Yuanhui!"

"I'll do whatever you say, Senior Brother." Tianpeng tried to shrink his neck, but couldn't move.

"Senior brother." He looked at Grand Master Xuandu pitifully.

"No destruction, no construction; after reincarnation, everything will return to normal."

Grand Master Xuandu had a stern face, but when he saw Marshal Tianpeng's eyes, he realized that although he was called the senior brother after so many years of teaching, the Supreme Sage had taken in so many disciples but left them to their own devices. He was like a teacher and a father to him, and he couldn't bear it. So he flicked his sleeve and unleashed a burst of magic power.

"After descending to the mortal realm, do not be surprised if you encounter anything. You must know that 'appearance is not the true form'."

(End of this chapter)