The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 340 Five Elements Mountain

Five Elements Mountain.

Ding Lin withdrew his senses from the mountains.

Outside the mountain, starting from the foot of the mountain, a dense mass of cultivators stretches for a hundred miles. Every few steps, a cultivator can be found living in a hut, each concealing their identity. A rough count reveals that there are more than a thousand of them. Apart from a very few whose spiritual light is obscure and whose strength is unknown, most of them are Golden Immortals, and even the weakest among them must be at least Earth Immortal level with perfect cultivation.

Those few powerful cultivators with obscure cultivation levels built huts at the foot of the mountain. No one knew which great deity they were, so naturally no one dared to provoke them. The Golden Immortals occupied the middle position and were the largest group.

A hundred miles away, the perceptible fluctuations of laws are extremely weak, barely better than nothing. This is the place where those immortal realms can settle down.

From beyond the heavens, a golden light flew in from afar.

Ding Lin could only sense an unfamiliar aura of a Golden Immortal.

At the foot of the mountain, two earth immortals immediately went to greet them.

Whether Ding Lin saw the hidden cultivation level of the Immortal Realm or not made little difference. He could tell the origins of these two Earth Immortals at a glance. The one on the left was wearing the standard armor of the Heavenly Court and had a sword at his waist, while the one on the right was bald and dressed in a moon-white monk's robe, so he was probably a Buddhist.

The unfamiliar Golden Immortal descended with a burst of light, raised his hand, and a touch of Buddhist light flowed from his fingertip. The two Earth Immortals, recognizing his allegiance, immediately stepped aside.

The monk on the right was even more respectful.

Ding Lin seemed to be deep in thought.

Another moment passed.

A dark, eerie wind descended.

"You monster, leave at once! This is not a place for you!" In the outermost part of the fairy realm, another person took their place. Not wanting to interrupt his comprehension, he didn't even lift his eyelids and scolded in a low voice.

"This is a divinely ordained opportunity. Though we are different, what can we do..."

The demon was a snake spirit. He looked surprised and suspicious. Although he wanted to continue forward, he was intimidated by the overwhelming aura of the mountain and only dared to murmur softly.

"brush!"

A flash of light appeared.

Before the earth immortal who had just spoken, a celestial immortal opened his eyes and glanced at the earth immortal with some displeasure:

"Why should we allow such a monster to make a racket? It is only because the great gods do not wish to be disturbed that we have the opportunity to remain on the outermost edge. Moreover, this secret realm was originally left by the Buddha. We are not immortals or Buddhas, but all belong to the Heavenly Court. How can this wild monster interfere? If we encounter it again, we should kill it directly. If we accidentally cause a disturbance and disturb the gods' enlightenment, it may cause you and me to lose our opportunity."

The earth immortal stammered, not daring to speak.

Ding Lin understood completely. In his previous life, when he read Journey to the West, it only mentioned that Buddha used the Five Elements Mountain to suppress Sun Wukong, but the inside story was not mentioned. Now it seems that the monkey really has a powerful background. This is not suppression at all, but a fake suppression to create a special environment for the monkey to comprehend the laws.

Even the countless immortals and Buddhas in the sky benefited from the light.

Ding Lin cultivated the Yin-Yang Law and mastered the Five Elements Mutual Generation. Since it was on this path, he could naturally sense the mystery of the Five Elements Mountain. The sixty-four laws of mutual generation and restraint pushed the Five Elements Law to its peak. Taiyi might be able to comprehend the wonders of the Five Elements Mutual Generation and Restraint, obtain a top-level law, and establish his position. Golden Immortals who cultivate here might also be able to comprehend several laws and make great progress in their cultivation.

As for why he hid his identity...

Whether in Heaven or the Western Paradise, there are rules, and it's best to avoid being too blatant. This way, even if you know the truth afterward, there's still room for maneuver.

Of course, those powerful beings who can truly disregard the rules don't need to hide their true colors.

Behind me, the hem of my clothes was tugged lightly twice.

Ding Lin turned around and saw Princess Jade Face. He understood what she meant. Although his magical power was not bad, there were immortals and Buddhas all over the mountains and fields, including many at the Taiyi realm. If he was really just a simple monster, it would be best to retreat as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, he is not.

Ding Lin waved his hand, summoning a cloud of mist that wove into a cloud robe to conceal his face and aura. He then intended to blend in with the world and enter the Five Finger Mountain region.

He is the dignified third-rank Yellow River Water Lord of the Heavenly Court. As long as he reveals his divine light, he will be qualified to enter the mountain.

Just then, another streak of light fell from the sky.

Two more celestial beings went to greet them.

A golden immortal emerged from the escaping light. He must have been familiar with the rules beforehand, as he moved with ease and concealed his identity. He then displayed a masterful fire technique with a wisp of divine light within, a skill possessed only by those of the fifth rank or higher.

The two fairies made way.

Ding Lin's eyes flashed; it was an acquaintance. He floated behind the man, moved his lips twice, and the Golden Immortal paused for a moment. Then a familiar voice rang out: "Truly, life is full of unexpected encounters. Fellow Daoist, you've also received the news and come here to comprehend the laws?"

“Isn’t it the same for you, fellow Daoist?” Ding Lin laughed. He went inside with the Golden Immortal and saw the two chatting and laughing, extremely familiar with each other. Even the Golden Immortal who had just revealed his divine light was subtly placing himself in a lower position. The two immortals dared not say much. Not only Ding Lin, but even the Jade Face and Iron Fan behind him, whose demonic aura was extremely obvious, relaxed and let him enter together. Many of the great gods who entered the mountain earlier had brought small animals with them. However, they had been kept in captivity for many years, and their demonic aura had been diluted. These two were newly acquired, and their demonic aura had not yet been completely concealed.

"Fellow Daoist, you are free and unrestrained in the lower realm. In this precious land, you can meditate for as long as you want. Perhaps you can even touch the Taiyi realm with this opportunity," the Golden Immortal said, his voice filled with envy. "Unlike me, this time I went down to the lower realm, not only did I waste a lot of favors, but I also got a job, which gave me an excuse. At most, I can meditate for thirty years and hope to gain something or two."

"Brother Wang has already been at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm for many years. With thirty years of time and the aura of laws here being so rich, he will surely be able to advance further and reach the late stage. After accumulating some merit, he might even be able to wear a purple robe in the future."

Ding Lin said that this Golden Immortal was Wang E. Ding Lin sensed him as soon as he revealed his aura.

"Brother Wang, you know I haven't achieved enlightenment yet and my knowledge and skills are limited. So... is there anything to say about this?" Ding Lin asked again, his eyes flashing.

"What else could it be? It's that one," Wang E pointed to the sky, his voice filled with envy, "Why wasn't I born under the goddess Nuwa? Now the Three Realms are abuzz with the news that the stone monkey shattered the Heavenly Palace, stormed the Heavenly Court, and wreaked havoc. Many of the Heavenly Gods couldn't subdue him, and the Great Heavenly Venerable ordered the Western Buddha to intervene, finally ending the chaos. This monkey has certainly gained a great reputation!"

"Actually, we all know his fate. What means could he possibly have? But he's already made his boast, so now we have to clean up the mess. The five elements flow endlessly, and the monkey is suppressed here as punishment, but isn't it just to make up for his lack of cultivation? The Taiyi realm is something we all desperately want, but for the monkey, it's being fed to him. When the monkey becomes a Taiyi, although he'll still be unworthy of the title, he'll have something to talk about. With such a great reputation, he'll at least be wearing a purple robe in the Heavenly Court, and he'll definitely get a Buddha's position in the Western Paradise," Wang E said.

Ding Lin listened, and it wasn't much different from what he had in mind.

While talking.

Ding Lin and Wang E walked forward.

About fifty miles from the foot of the mountain, Wang E stopped.

Not far away, a Golden Immortal, who must have just arrived, dared not use his magic power within this domain, lest he disturb others' cultivation and enlightenment. He was physically practicing, using his palm as a knife to chop down a few small trees, preparing to build a thatched hut. Ding Lin looked at the Golden Immortal's figure and felt that he looked somewhat familiar; he should have seen him in the Heavenly Court before.

"Old Wang!" Upon seeing Wang E, the Golden Immortal paused his actions and came over to greet him, "Want to keep each other company?"

“Alright.” Wang E agreed, then looked at Ding Lin. He hadn’t removed his disguise, but his voice revealed a hint of helplessness. “Brother Dao’s cultivation is superb, so you can go further. With my cultivation, according to our tacit agreement, I can only cultivate here.”

"Who is this deity?" the newly arrived Golden Immortal asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Why are you asking so many questions?” Wang E interrupted. “This is not the Heavenly Court. Everyone should just stay home. It’s fine if we already know each other, but we should be less curious about other things.”

Ding Lin felt the Jade-Faced Princess's fingers tighten around his clothes from behind, but she relaxed slightly after hearing Wang E's words.

“Brother Wang, would you like to come with me?” Ding Lin said, not minding doing a favor.

“Brother Dao is willing to propose a contract, so I, Wang E, will not refuse.” Wang E immediately agreed, his voice filled with surprise. What did face matter? “Brother Dao does not know, there is an unspoken agreement in this mountain that allows a maximum of three attendants. I can fill the third spot.”

"Old Wang, you..." The Golden Immortal's voice was full of envy.

"Let's go." Ding Lin didn't want to say more. He wasn't particularly familiar with the immortals in the Heavenly Court. Although Wang E's cultivation was average, he had served as an official in the Heavenly Court for many years and was very shrewd in dealing with people. Bringing him along might save a lot of trouble.

"Brother Dao lives a very comfortable life," Wang E said with some envy. Even with their appearances concealed, Princess Jade Face and Princess Iron Fan's graceful figures were still extraordinary. Even Wang E, who was used to seeing celestial maids, considered them to be top-quality beauties. "These two..." He stopped, after all, they were Ding Lin's beautiful maids, and it was not appropriate to comment too much.

They walked until they were about ten miles from the foot of the mountain.

The population has sparsed considerably; looking around for miles, there are only three or five thatched huts.

"Thanks to you, fellow Daoist, the laws are so abundant here. I am confident that I can comprehend another fire technique within thirty years."

Wang E took a deep breath. Although there was nothing different, he was completely intoxicated. The deeper he went, the closer he got to the Five Elements Mountain, and the sweeter the air seemed to become.

Ding Lin had already stopped speaking. His expression was serious. The closer he got to the Five Elements Mountain, the more he could feel the wonder of the Five Elements flowing. His gaze fell on the Buddhist scroll. The source of these many laws was there. The sixty-four laws intertwined and changed every moment, and were different every moment.

The principle of mutual generation and mutual restraint sounds simple.

It is actually extremely complicated.

“The foot of the Five Elements Mountain is just ahead,” Wang E said, his voice tinged with envy. “We can study it, but we cannot enter the mountain and disturb the flow of the Five Elements. Even a Taiyi Realm expert can only comprehend it at the foot of the mountain.”

"Only celestial soldiers and novices who have not yet achieved immortality are allowed to enter the mountains."

"This place is perfect."

Ding Lin paused for a moment and said that he noticed there were only two or three figures at the foot of the mountain. While he was meditating, a golden wheel of Buddha light appeared behind him. There was not a single celestial deity among them; they were all Buddhists.

Wang E had not yet reached the required level, and it was a pity that he could not advance any further.

Ding Lin could see that the heavy marks behind those two or three figures indicated that they were connected to the West.

The Buddha cultivates the law of cause and effect. By comprehending this Buddhist verse, one inevitably becomes connected with him. For such a great being, even a slight connection is enough to form a cause-and-effect relationship.

Ding Lin sensed it clearly. Even so, he already had a vague connection with the West, but in the end, he still hadn't reached the foot of the mountain. The Great Thunderclap Temple in the West was nominally under the Heavenly Court, so he could barely bear the karma. With his Taiyi Realm status, he could still suppress it.

But if he were here and comprehends the mutual generation and restraint of the five elements, then he would probably find it difficult to escape this cause and effect.

When he encountered the three tiger demons, he restrained himself and avoided creating any karmic ties with the Great Thunderclap Temple.

In the end, however, they still couldn't escape it.

So-called opportunities and serendipitous encounters simply do not exist.

The deeper one's spiritual practice, the clearer one's understanding of the price tags becomes. There is never a reason for nothing; if there is, it's because someone else has already paid for it for you.

Then it was like a stone monkey.

Ding Lin's eyes flickered, then he suddenly smiled with relief.

Even so, so what?

Should we give up eating altogether because of a minor setback?

Of course, he could easily sever this tiny connection with his Taiyi rank and remain free, but when would he have another chance to comprehend the birth and death of the Five Elements?
Cultivation is for the purpose of strengthening oneself.

The confusion in Ding Lin's eyes vanished, and another layer of mental barrier was broken through. The path of cultivation is fraught with thorns, allowing no room for hesitation. Only by forging ahead and making decisive moves can one have even the slightest chance to reach the pinnacle.

Moreover, he now possesses the tiger skin of the Heavenly Court.

Entering the mountains to cultivate oneself is a benefit granted to immortals and Buddhas by the sacred mountain and the Heavenly Court.

Sometimes, unspoken rules are also rules.

With this pretext, cause and effect become intertwined, providing an excuse for future shirking responsibility.

Once that thought was made, Ding Lin no longer hesitated.

On the other side, although Wang E did not know that Ding Lin had been promoted to Taiyi, the Heavenly Court had issued a decree that his title of Yellow River Water Lord had been removed and he was now a true third-rank official, wearing a purple robe, and his status had indeed widened the gap.

Normally, relying on past relationships, he could barely maintain a semblance of dignity. But now, Wang E was able to cultivate so close to Wuzhi Mountain thanks to Ding Lin, which made things different.

Wang E was an old man in the Heavenly Court, with many years of experience, shrewd and worldly-wise, and understood the key points. At this moment, he had completely lowered his posture in front of Ding Lin. Without Ding Lin's instructions, Wang E had already begun to collect materials to build the thatched huts. He felled a few trees and collected dry grass. As a powerful being at the Golden Immortal level, he was good at everything. In a short time, he skillfully wove the dry grass into mats and buried the trees in the ground as supports. He then skillfully laid the woven grass mats on the purlins and built two thatched huts, one large and one small.

The larger thatched hut in front was prepared for Ding Lin.

The smaller one was Wang E's own, and he deliberately made it look dilapidated and gloomy.

In the Heavenly Court, the hierarchy is ingrained in one's very being.

(End of this chapter)