The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 363 More Thoughts

Ding Lin looked up at the sky, his eyes deep and mysterious, but in an instant he looked away and focused his gaze on the bead in front of him.

Nine-curved pearl.

He had acquired it before and even refined one of its laws. As a result, although the bead still emitted a hazy precious light, the feeling of perfect harmony he had when he first saw it was no longer there. Nine is the ultimate number and represents a special meaning. Although the reduction from nine to eight is only the decay of one law, the drop in quality is more than one level. It has fallen directly from the Great Luo treasure to the Taiyi level. Even so, for the Taiyi realm, this is still a rare treasure, not to mention that Ding Lin is penniless.

The precious pearl was nearby, but it was clearly not the right time to ponder it closely. Countless eyes were watching from all sides. This battle was unlike the one with Xiang Liu and the Bull Demon King, which started suddenly and ended by the time the powerful beings of the Three Realms noticed the commotion. This one was beside the Five Finger Mountain, under the watchful eyes of everyone. There were countless Golden Immortals and even many Taiyi Realm cultivators watching. Even if the location had changed later, Golden Immortals might not have been able to catch up with their thinking, but Taiyi Realm cultivators could reach any place in the Three Realms in an instant with their divine sense. Just now, when the Ziwei Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West used their methods, everyone had no choice but to retreat slightly. Now, sensing that the pressure had disappeared, they all turned back to watch, under the watchful eyes of everyone.

Ding Lin waved his sleeve to put away the bead, then his figure flashed and he fled in a flash of light.

Seeing that the matter was over, the gods withdrew their divine thoughts.

After today, it will be impossible for Ding Lin to remain unknown as before. With the foundation of his Dao laid by the Yin-Yang Law, he is destined to be famous throughout the Three Realms.

……

On an unnamed, desolate mountain, feeling finally free from all restraint, Ding Lin descended into the light of his escape. He raised his hand, and with the flow of his magic power, he carved out a cave with a few vertical and vertical strokes. He flew inside and then set up a magic array with another wave of his hand, intending to settle down here temporarily.

At his waist, the divine seal suddenly flickered slightly.

Ding Lin immersed his thoughts, and a message quietly flowed through his mind: a divine decree. He still ruled the Yellow River, but he was no longer the Yellow River Water Lord. The word 'Lord' in the newly issued decree had been replaced with 'King'.

The Yellow River Water Lord was only ranked in the third rank, while the royal title conferred by the Heavenly Court was in the first rank.

Only the highest-ranking 'Emperor' rank remains above it.

Although it was still just a change of title to govern the Yellow River, this conferment seemed more like a perfunctory gesture.

But that's only on the surface.

One should not lend one's name or position to others.

Especially in this world of gods.

Currently, in terms of status and position within the Heavenly Court's official hierarchy, Ding Lin is already on par with the Four Dragon Kings of the Seas. And this is only the surface level; there are deeper implications. His inner world at the Taiyi realm is about to be formed, thus becoming unacceptable to Heaven and Earth. He must constantly restrain himself; if he inadvertently reveals his strength, he will suffer divine punishment. While those methods to avoid calamity are profound, they can only provide temporary relief. To achieve a permanent solution, he must receive an official appointment from the Heavenly Court of at least the third rank.

The third-rank Heavenly Duty can offset the Heavenly Dao's rejection of the Taiyi Realm.

But it only offsets the effect.

The divine decree dissipated, transforming into specks of purple light that merged with the divine seal.

Ding Lin immediately sensed a change in the thought he had entered. Although he lived in the Three Realms, he always felt there was a layer separating them; the world was the world, and he was himself. But at this moment, he suddenly felt a sense of intimacy, as if heaven and earth were rejoicing and leaning towards him. This was not an illusion, but a real experience.

Ding Lin sensed more carefully. He heard his own breathing, and with that sound, a faint current flowed through the mansion—the rhythm of the wind. The surrounding stone walls seemed to come alive, every speck of dust clearly visible. Everything that he used to need to meditate to perceive was now effortless. The very essence of heaven and earth was presented before his eyes without reservation.

These are the true powers of a first-rank immortal!

Within the inner grotto, the laws seemed to leap with joy, as if they wanted to burst forth and resonate with heaven and earth.

If one observes this way, one's own heart becomes the heart of Heaven.

The power of the laws governing the Three Realms will surely increase greatly!

Ding Lin was about to open the lumbar vertebrae subconsciously, the interior scene blending into the world, but at that moment his heart suddenly skipped a beat, a feeling as if a sudden impulse had occurred to him.

He instantly calmed down, his mind tensing. He pulled his thoughts away from the divine seal, abruptly opening his eyes, his gaze filled with surprise and uncertainty. Recalling the intoxicating feeling he had just experienced, he realized he had almost lost control. If he had truly succumbed to it… perhaps his strength could indeed rise to another level, but aside from that… Ding Lin's foundation was too shallow; he could only sense something was amiss, and it was all just speculation.
I thought about it again.

Ding Lin changed his mind. Originally, he planned to rest in the cave for a while before returning to the Yellow River, but now he decided to go back to Xiniu Hezhou first.

Princess Iron Fan comes from a family with a strong academic background, which might be able to answer his questions.

Ding Lin waved his hand again, and a divine light flashed. The Nine-Bend Pearl appeared in front of him. He suppressed all his emotions and focused his thoughts into the pearl. Eight ribbons of light hung down from the pearl, each representing a spatial law, a law from a different angle. Their innate spiritual energy intertwined with each other, elevating the quality of the Nine-Bend Pearl, which was originally just an ordinary spiritual pearl.

Because it was absorbed by Ding Lin, the bead is missing a strand of silk and is not complete. No, the bead was never perfect to begin with. A complete set of spatial laws is enough to support the Primordial Dao of Sainthood and to evolve a true world. When the Nine-Bend Bead was complete, it only formed a small world, which was worthy of being called a Great Luo Treasure. Now that it has fallen, the small world is also broken. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it a 'domain'. Its quality is only equivalent to the Taiyi Dao Fruit, which is just right for Ding Lin's current strength.

but……

Ding Lin pondered, his eyes deep and unfathomable. He withdrew his thoughts and focused on the inner world.

Within the grotto, the spatial law that had been refined remained quiet. As the Yin-Yang law matured, it was completely suppressed.

Ding Lin eventually put the bead away. Although the magic weapon was captivating, he did not intend to use it himself. Perhaps he could give it to his concubines, firstly to prevent it from being wasted and to give the magic weapon a purpose, and secondly to avoid potential risks.

The decision has been made.

Ding Lin stood up, waved his hand to dispel the formation, and walked out of the cave. He looked up at the sky; the blue sky and white clouds were vast, and the world was so boundless. Standing within it, he felt incredibly small. In the past, when he hadn't achieved anything, he dared to take risks and was extremely bold. But now, having reached the Taiyi realm and being the focus of everyone's attention, one would expect that the higher one's cultivation, the more carefree one should feel. However, things were not as one wished; he was bound by the rules. The closer he got to the Dao, the more insignificant he felt. Even the Ziwei Emperor and the Queen Mother, who were only at the Daluo level, could make him feel suffocated. He could only swallow the hatred for those who blocked his path. He knew when to yield...

Not wanting, but not dare.

Above the Great Luo is the Primordial Chaos.

When will I finally achieve true freedom and ease?
(End of this chapter)