Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

Chi Xiao left the Xuan Sha Dao Domain, his body transforming into fire, traversing the vast land, heading straight for the Southern Domain Heavenly Demon Blood Forest.

Deep within the Blood Forest, ten thousand demons howled. The Heavenly Demon Ancestor sat upon a throne of white bones, his two horns menacing and his vertical pupils crimson.

"Fellow Daoist Chixiao, a rare guest." The Heavenly Demon's voice was hoarse, like metal rubbing against stone.

The Crimson Sky Dharma Form receded and landed before the Blood Pool: "Heavenly Demon, the eight ancient beings have set up a forbidden realm, containing a great treasure, which may be related to Chaos. Would you be willing to join forces to explore it?"

The Heavenly Demon Dao Ancestor scoffed disdainfully, "Chaos? Fellow Daoist Chi, don't joke around. The Great Dao of Chaos is extremely rare in the world. In billions of years, only one person has attained it. My Dao of Blood Sacrifice requires the essence of billions of living beings to nourish it. No matter how profound the Chaos Source is, what use is it to me?"

The Crimson Sky Dao Ancestor reminded, "A great calamity is about to begin. Without the support of the ancient Great Dao, how can we survive? If we capture Gu Xi and his group, how could we lack the blood sacrifice needed at that time?"

The Heavenly Demon Ancestor pondered for a moment, his vertical pupils deep and unfathomable, and said with apprehension, "The Ancient Xi Gui Cang Dao is adept at sealing, Lei Yan's thunderous power is domineering, and Hao Tian Xing Yan's deductions are unparalleled... The Eight Ancestors Alliance is solid, and a direct attack would come at too high a cost. My eight hundred demon ancestors are currently refining the 'Ten Thousand Demons Slaying Immortals Formation' to prepare for the great calamity. To provoke a war at this time would be unwise!"

The Crimson Sky Dao Ancestor's face darkened, and he provoked, "Are you afraid?"

The Heavenly Demon Ancestor abruptly stood up, tearing off his mask and shouting, "You surnamed Chi, I survived a tribulation by assessing the situation. If you wish to explore the secrets, go ahead, but don't drag me into this!"

After a moment of silence, Dao Ancestor Chixiao rose and said, "In that case, I, Chixiao, will take my leave!"

"No need to see me off." The Heavenly Demon Dao Ancestor stared at the Crimson Sky Dao Ancestor and watched him leave without any politeness.

Frustrated, Dao Ancestor Chixiao left the Blood Forest. After leaving the Blood Forest, he changed his mind and fled deeper into the Eastern Region.

In the Eastern Sea of ​​Light, Dao Ancestor Chenguang was refining the "True Core of the Sun" when he suddenly sensed the aura of Dao Ancestor Chixiao. He opened his eyes and saw that Chixiao was approaching in flames.

"Fellow Daoist Chenguang, have you heard about the matter of the Ancient Xi Sealing Domain?" Dao Ancestor Chixiao met Dao Ancestor Chenguang's gaze and went straight to the point.

The Dao Ancestor Chenguang, as radiant as the sun and moon, nodded slightly and said calmly, "I have a slight feeling. The flow of the earth's veins is predetermined, and the anomalies will eventually subside."

"This matter is of great importance!" Dao Ancestor Chixiao said urgently, "That domain may very well contain the Chaos Dao Tree! Are you willing to give it to Gu Xi?"

"Fellow Daoist Chi, did you see this Chaos Dao Tree with your own eyes?" Dao Ancestor Chenguang asked with surprise and concern.

"This is most likely true! Although I haven't witnessed it myself, the earth's veins are so restless; only the ancient Great Dao could have caused this!" Dao Ancestor Chixiao said with slight embarrassment.

Chenguang Daozu gave Chixiao Daozu a meaningful look, understanding the purpose of his trip.

With a great calamity imminent, Dao Ancestor Chixiao is desperate and grasping at straws!
Ancestor Chenguang sighed softly and gestured, "Fellow Daoist Chixiao, we must safeguard the Dao domains we cultivate. The Star Evolution Forbidden Realm is already complete, and the Eight Ancestors have reached a pact. If we forcefully break through it now, it will inevitably lead to a Dao conflict. The tribulation period is less than two thousand years. If our Dao foundations are damaged, how will we survive the tribulation?"

“You, I…” Dao Ancestor Chixiao immediately became anxious.

"Fellow Daoist, please return! I, Chen, am preparing to go into seclusion for a period of time and will not easily emerge unless there is an urgent matter!" Dao Ancestor Chenguang said bluntly to Dao Ancestor Chixiao.

Dao Ancestor Chixiao glared at Dao Ancestor Chenguang, gritted his teeth, and headed to the Western Regions Plague Domain.

------

Plague Domain
Plague Ancestor appeared and greeted Crimson Sky Ancestor, "Fellow Daoist Crimson Sky, is this the Ancient Xi Sealed Domain?"

“Indeed! Fellow Daoist Wenhuang is unparalleled in the art of poison. If we were to join forces, our chances of breaking through the forbidden zone would increase by forty percent!” Dao Ancestor Chixiao’s spirits lifted, and he gestured:
"My path of plague requires me to diligently nurture the 'Nine Decays Poison Seed.' If we were to wage war against the Eight Ancestors now, and the poison seed were to be destroyed, all my ten thousand years of painstaking efforts would be in vain. The calamity is approaching, so let each of us mind our own business," the Plague Ancestor politely declined.

"You are all timid and hesitant! Wait until Gu Xi nurtures the Chaos Hub, and when the primordial energy of the calamity falls into his hands, let's see how you deal with it!" Dao Ancestor Chixiao said angrily.

The Plague Patriarch said coldly, "Fellow Daoist Chixiao, please have some self-respect."

Dao Ancestor Chixiao left in anger. He then visited several Dao Ancestors from other regions, visiting all the regions, but was politely refused each time.

In the end, Dao Ancestor Chixiao stood alone in the vast void, with nine blazing suns flickering behind him, his heart filled with unspeakable frustration.

"A bunch of short-sighted fools!"

The Crimson Sky Dao Ancestor stared intently at the direction of the Ancient Xi Dao Domain; the eight-colored Dao patterns of the Star Evolution Forbidden Realm flowed, like a curtain falling from the sky, sealing off that area completely.

Xuan Sha's words echoed in his ears: "At this time, the struggle for the Dao is causing calamities to arise... When the great calamity arrives in 2,500 years, how confident are you, fellow Daoist?"

Dao Ancestor Chixiao took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to break the restriction.

"Fine... let's see how long you can hide."

The Crimson Sky Dao Ancestor transformed into a stream of light and retreated back to the Crimson Flame Ancestral Domain, leaving a wisp of divine thought to linger on the outer edge, lurking in the vast land to continue spying.
-
Starry Sky Platform.

Suddenly, Dao Ancestor Haotian opened his eyes, his starry gaze reflecting the movements of the various realms. He then transmitted his thoughts to the other seven ancestors, saying, "Chixiao has retreated."

The ancient Dao Ancestor's clear light rippled slightly as he smiled and gestured, "As expected. With a great calamity looming, all the ancestors seek stability."

Lei Yan Daozu snorted coldly: "He knows what's good for him."

Qingyuan Daozu asked in a deep voice, "How long can our forbidden realm formation last?"

"Our Dao Sources are connected, and the Forbidden Realm is already as solid as a rock. Even if Chi Xiao joins forces with Xuan Sha and Tian Yao, we can still withstand them!" Dao Ancestor Haotian paused, then continued, "With the current growth of the Chaos Dao Tree, it should be fine for the next two thousand years. However, if the Chaos Dao Tree grows to the point that the Forbidden Realm can no longer conceal it, then a great battle will be difficult to avoid!"

Gu Xi looked towards the Chaos Dao Domain, a hint of worry appearing in the clear light. He sighed, "It is indeed a dilemma. If the Chaos Dao Tree cannot take shape and become the central hub two thousand years from now, it will be difficult to withstand the great calamity. If it does take shape completely, it will be coveted by the ancestors from beyond the domain, and a great war will be unavoidable. Alas!"

Upon hearing this, all the ancestors fell silent.

"Take it one step at a time! Just be prepared!" Dao Ancestor Haotian instructed telepathically.

Upon hearing this, all the ancestors fell silent, and the Star Evolution Platform was completely quiet.
-
Within the Chaos Dao Domain, in the Forbidden Realm.

Li Mu sat cross-legged under the roadside tree, completely unaware of the turmoil outside.

The Chaos Dao Tree has deep roots. Although the flow of Origin Qi has decreased by 70%, the foundation has been established and its growth has not stopped.

Three years later, the main trunk exceeded 400 million zhang.

Li Mu's aura was as deep and serene as an abyss, and all the external origins within the Chaos Dao Fruit were completely fused together. The purple lightning patterns were incorporated into the evolutionary cycle, the azure vitality was integrated into the foundation of creation, the ethereal white void was precipitated into the spacetime network, the dark nightmares were transformed into mental tempering, and the gray-black tribulation power... was firmly suppressed deep within the Dao Fruit by the strange source, and slowly refined.

A century has passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Li Mu suddenly opened his eyes, and the chaotic stars in his eyes swirled rapidly.

"Mid-stage Dao Integration... Breakthrough!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Chaos Dao Tree behind Li Mu trembled violently. The nine layers of the "Chaos Creation Diagram" on the main trunk were completed, with the differentiation of purity and turbidity, the rotation of the five elements, the arrangement of stars, and the formation of mountains and rivers... Layers of Dao rhyme surged like a tide, penetrating the Primordial Dao Fruit on the branches.

The gray light on the surface of the Dao Fruit shot into the sky, transforming into a pillar of light that shot straight into the forbidden realm's sky!

The eight patriarchs of Xingyan Daotai were all astonished.

The eyes of the Dao Ancestor Haotian suddenly lit up: "Fellow Daoist Li has broken through!"

Gu Xi shone brightly, and the Daoist Rhyme of Gui Cang was fully activated, forcibly suppressing the soaring Dao light back into the forbidden realm: "Quickly help me conceal it!"

Thunder and purple lightning surged wildly, and azure light swirled around them. Chao Yuan, Ying Hong, You Guang, and Ye Yan each unleashed their Dao Sources, and eight-colored Dao patterns intertwined like a net, sealing the Chaos Dao Tree's breakthrough phenomenon firmly within the forbidden realm.

Half a day later, the chaotic light gradually faded.

Li Mu stood up, his green robe fluttering without wind, his aura as deep as the sea, and he steadily stepped into the late stage of the Dao Integration Realm.

Li Mu raised his eyes to look at the forbidden realm's sky, sensing the blessing of the Eighth Ancestor's Daoist aura, and understood. "Thank you all for your protection."

As soon as the message was sent, Gu Xi replied with delight, "It is gratifying that Fellow Daoist Li has broken through to the next realm. However, the unusual phenomenon has already attracted the attention of those from other realms. For the next thousand years, we must try our best to suppress our chaotic aura!"

"Junior understands!"

Li Mu calmed his aura, sat cross-legged again, and continued to nurture his Dao foundation. The Chaos Dao Tree broke through, and its growth accelerated by another three points.

Three hundred years later, the Dao tree reached a height of 600 million feet.

New branches and leaves rolled like dark clouds, and more than fifty chaotic Dao leaves unfolded, containing the embryo of a new world.

Li Mu introduced his disciples who had come to understand their true nature during the cycle of reincarnation trials one by one, assigning each of them to oversee a realm.

Tie Tou, Lin Xiaolun, Da Niu, and other first-generation realm masters saw their cultivation levels rise along with the perfection of their realms, and they successively broke through to the realm of enlightenment.

Five hundred years later, the Dao tree grew to seven hundred million feet tall.

The branches, spanning over 150 realms, display a myriad of phenomena, nourishing the very essence of the Dao Tree. Li Mu's Great Dao of Chaos becomes increasingly harmonious, capable of manifesting myriad laws with a mere wave of his hand. He effortlessly wields the true meanings of Dao such as Gui Cang, Thunder, Vitality, Void, and Nightmare, all merging into the unified Chaos.

On this day, Li Mu suddenly had a thought and looked into the depths of the Dao Fruit.

The dark gray calamity force that had been suppressed by the mysterious source had been refined over hundreds of years, losing its ferocity and transforming into a wisp of pure "calamity-annihilation Daoist charm".

"The annihilation of calamity... is also a link in the Great Dao."

Li Mu drew upon the Chaos Dao Fire, slowly fusing this wisp of Dao essence into the evolutionary cycle. In an instant, a hole seemed to open deep within the Dao Fruit, and his understanding of the essence of calamity deepened dramatically.

Gu Xi suddenly transmitted a message to Li Mu, saying, "Fellow Daoist Li, are you refining the power of tribulation?"

"Indeed. What guidance do you have, senior?"

Gu Xi remained silent for a moment and sighed, "The Dao of Calamity Annihilation is profound and dangerous. Fellow Daoist, be careful of the backlash."

"I know what I'm doing."

Li Mu responded respectfully.

Subsequently, a century later, Li Mu continued to refine it, integrating that wisp of the Dao of Annihilation into the chaos.

……

Vast Lands Beyond the Realm, Crimson Flame Ancestral Domain.

Suddenly, Dao Ancestor Chixiao felt a jolt in his heart and looked toward the forbidden realm with his fiery eyes.

"That fluctuation just now... the aura of annihilation?"

When Dao Ancestor Chixiao probed with his divine sense again, he only sensed a chaotic and hazy area, with the Eight Ancestors' Forbidden Realm sealing everything off like an iron barrel.

"Gu Xi... what exactly are you hiding?"

Dao Ancestor Chixiao gritted his teeth, his heart pounding with restlessness, but he finally managed to suppress it.

Other Dao Ancestors from beyond the realm sensed this and sent their divine thoughts over. However, like Dao Ancestor Chixiao, they could not see the truth due to the existence of the Eight Ancestors Forbidden Realm Formation.

------

Within the Chaotic Dao Domain, time flies by.

In the eighth hundred years, the Chaos Dao Tree reached 750 million zhang in length.

Li Mu fused and refined all the origins of various heretical paths to perfection, solidifying his chaotic foundation as firmly as Mount Buzhou. With a slight thought, he stirred the roots of the Dao Tree, which quietly explored the depths of the vast earth.

This time, Li Mu avoided the ancient burial site and turned to another ancient layer of soil.

Wherever the roots touch, the source energy is as pure as syrup, containing the primordial chaos energy from the creation of the vast land.

Li Mu was overjoyed and absorbed the knowledge with all his might.

Over the course of a century, the Dao Tree grew wildly, approaching the 800 million zhang pass.

The number of realms on the branches has reached two hundred. The laws of the various realms complement each other and form a cycle. ... The cultivation of all the disciples, as well as Xue'er, Xiao Jin, and others, has grown together with the source of the realms.

Li Mu's cultivation had reached the peak of the mid-stage of the Dao Integration Realm, just a step away from the late stage.

……

In the Chaotic Dao Domain, a hundred years pass in the blink of an eye.

The majestic tree stood still at 780 million feet tall, its gray branches reaching into the sea of ​​light, its roots deeply embedded in the vast soil, yet it could no longer grow even a fraction taller.

Li Mu sat cross-legged under the tree. The roots of the Chaos Dao Tree devoured the source energy from billions of miles away, yet the main trunk of the Dao Tree remained completely still.

"The vast primordial energy... is no longer sufficient to support breaking through to the next realm?"

Li Mu opened his eyes and woke up, the chaotic star vortex in his eyes slowly turning; the threshold of the mid-stage of the Dao Integration Realm was like an insurmountable chasm, and even the massive amount of Origin Qi poured in was just a drop in the ocean, an insurmountable barrier to undergo transformation.

After a moment's thought, Li Mu stood up, took a step, and the forbidden realm of the Chaos Dao Domain rippled slightly as his figure arrived at the Star Evolution Dao Platform.

The Starry Dao Platform remains unchanged, with the nine star skeletons rotating and the myriad starry array patterns flickering.

Eight figures occupied their respective positions, their auras connected to the forbidden realm—Haotian, Guxi, Leiyan, Qingyuan, Chaoyuan, Yinghong, Youguang, and Yeyan were all present.

"Fellow Daoist Li, your sudden arrival suggests you may have encountered obstacles in your cultivation?" Dao Ancestor Haotian asked Li Mu with concern, his eyes gleaming with starlight.

Li Mu bowed respectfully and said frankly, "Fellow Daoists, you are all wise; the Chaos Dao Tree has reached its bottleneck, and ordinary source Qi from the Vast Land can hardly aid its transformation. If I wish to break through to the late stage of the Dao Integration Realm, I need the assistance of an external Dao source!"

The atmosphere at the Daotai (administrative platform) froze upon hearing Li Mu's words.

Gu Xi Daozu frowned slightly as he looked at Li Mu: "What does Fellow Daoist Li mean...?"

"The ancient tomb at the burial site," Li Mu said, getting straight to the point.

As soon as he finished speaking, Dao Ancestor Lei Yan suddenly stood up and glared angrily at Li Mu: "Are you crazy! The ancient tomb is full of remnants of ancient calamities, entangled with resentment and corroded by calamity power. Even a peak Dao Integration cultivator could have their Dao foundation destroyed if they were tainted. You, who have only just entered the mid-stage, dare to set your sights on the ancient tomb?"

The Qingyuan Dao Ancestor then advised, "Fellow Daoist Li, the ancient tomb is far more dangerous than usual. You were already lucky to have refined three remnants of the source hundreds of years ago. If you go any deeper, you might trigger the remains of the annihilation beneath the nine giant steles in the tomb. At that time, the resentment will erupt, and the calamity power will flow back... The forbidden formation may not be able to seal it off!"

Dao Ancestor You Guang appeared and said solemnly, "The Dao Ancestors from other realms, such as Chi Xiao, Xuan Sha, and Tian Yao, have long suspected the strange activity at the ancient tomb. If you investigate further and your aura is leaked, they will surely come together. At that time, the forbidden realm formation will be broken, the Chaos Dao Tree will be exposed, and a great battle will break out!"

Night-Scented Dao Ancestor glared at Li Mu and said angrily, "Fellow Daoist Li, your appetite is far too great. Why don't you obediently continue refining your Origin Qi..."

Li Mu's expression remained unchanged as he interrupted, "Ancient seniors once said that the remains of an ancient ancestral tree are buried in the Burial Dao Ancient Tomb. Its remnants are tainted by calamity, but its original source is pure and contains the true meaning of the Great Dao; the Chaos Dao encompasses everything, and the power of calamity can also be refined. The three remnants of the previous source have already helped solidify my Dao foundation by 30%, but even if I condense the source qi for ten thousand years, it will not be able to help me take that step..."

Upon hearing this, the faces of all the Dao Ancestors darkened.

Gu Xi remained silent for a long time, then looked at Li Mu and asked, "Fellow Daoist Li, do you know what is suppressed beneath those nine giant steles deep within the ancient tomb?" (End of Chapter)