Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

“The remains of nine peak ancestral trees that perished during the three ancient calamity cycles.” A trace of apprehension flashed in Gu Xiqinghui’s eyes as he looked at Li Mu and gestured, “In life, they each wielded a great Dao. After their fall, their resentment lingered, and after hundreds of thousands of years of calamity-induced corruption, they have become ‘calamity-destroying evil spirits.’ Ordinary remnants can still be refined, but if the evil spirits are disturbed… even those at the peak of the Dao Integration stage will find it difficult to escape their fate.”

Haotian Daozu looked at Li Mu and pondered, "Fellow Daoist Li, if you wish to break through to the late stage, you certainly need a massive amount of resources. However, the Ancient Burial Tomb is too dangerous. Why not seek another method? The Forest of Ten Thousand Ancestors is vast; there must be undiscovered ancient ruins and remnants of fallen realms..."

“It’s too late.” Li Mu shook his head and said, “The tribulation period is less than a thousand years; at the current pace, even with ordinary relics and resources, it will take at least three thousand years for the Chaos Dao Tree to reach a height of one billion feet and become a pivot.”

Lei Yan Dao Ancestor sneered, "Then we'll wait for you. As many as you have, it's better than going to the Burial Dao Ancient Tomb to die now and exposing our forbidden realm!"

“Fellow Daoist Lei Yan, you are mistaken,” Dao Ancestor Chao Yuan objected. “The great calamity waits for no one. If the Chaos Dao Tree cannot grow to a level sufficient to sustain all realms before the great calamity, then when the source energy dissipates and all realms collapse, what use will the forbidden realms be?”

Yinghong Daozu agreed, saying, "What Fellow Daoist Chaoyuan said makes sense; the dangers of the ancient burial tomb may not be a problem for Fellow Daoist Li; Fellow Daoist Li, how confident are you?"

After a moment's thought, Li Mu said in a deep voice, "If we only draw upon the remaining energy from the outer perimeter and avoid the nine giant steles, I am 70% confident that I can refine it without falling into ruin. If you fellow Daoists help us conceal it with the power of the forbidden realm, the leakage of the aura can be suppressed to the lowest level."

"Seventy percent?" Qingyuan Daozu's emerald eyes flickered as he asked with concern, "What will happen to the remaining thirty percent?"

“My foundation has been damaged, and my cultivation has regressed.” Li Mu said frankly, “The Great Dao of Chaos has the ability to repair itself. Even if it is damaged, it can be restored after hundreds of years of quiet recuperation.”

Suddenly, Daoist Youguang asked, "What if we disturb the evil spirits?"

Li Mu remained silent for a moment, then said solemnly, "Then I ask all fellow Daoists to be prepared at any time to remove the forbidden zone and sever the connection with the Chaos Dao Domain. I will bear the consequences myself and will not implicate the other domains."

Upon hearing this, the platform fell silent. The Dao Ancestors exchanged glances, caught in a dilemma.

A deathly silence spread across the platform.

The Great Dao Ancestor Haotian's eyes were slightly closed, starlight flowing from his fingertips, and the Myriad Manifestations Star Evolution Array silently began to operate. The nine star skeletons cast distorted light and shadow, weaving in mid-air into blurry and fragmented scenes of the future.
The Chaos Dao Tree stagnated at 800 million feet, its branches and leaves withered. The calamity tide swept in, overwhelming everything. Half of the realms of the Forest of Ten Thousand Ancestors were depleted of their source energy, mountains and rivers collapsed, and living beings cried out and turned to ashes. The Star Evolution Forbidden Realm flickered under the impact of the violent calamity force and finally shattered.

A towering, gray-haired Dao tree stands tall, its roots like dragons connecting all realms, its branches flowing through countless worlds, absorbing and transforming the scattered calamity into endless vitality that nourishes the forest.

……

Several streaks of light and shadow slowly dissipated, leaving only lingering starlight.

Haotian Daozu opened his eyes, looked at the other Daozus, and said, "All of you fellow Daoists have already seen the future paths; if Fellow Daoist Li does not go to the Ancient Tomb, under the great calamity, the survival rate of Lin Hai will be only half; if he succeeds... the chances of survival can be increased by 30%."

Gu Xi Daozu sighed and looked at Li Mu, saying, "Fellow Daoist Li has cultivated since humble beginnings, experiencing strange tribulations and dangers of Dao struggles. His willpower is unmatched. The Chaos Dao encompasses all origins into one. His previous refinement of external paths and melting of tribulations and destruction of remnants have already demonstrated its inclusiveness. With a 70% chance of success... it's worth a shot."

Lei Yan Dao Ancestor's eyes widened, and he roared, "You believe him so easily? That's the Ancient Burial Tomb! Once the nine evil spirits awaken, even a peak Dao Integration cultivator will perish; if he fails, the pivot will be lost; if he succeeds, his aura will be leaked, and those jackals from the outer realms will arrive in an instant; the Chaos Dao Tree will be exposed, and a great battle will break out. What's the point of undergoing tribulation then?"

Qingyuan Daozu continued, “Fellow Daoist Lei Yan’s concerns are valid; however, Fellow Daoist Haotian’s predictions are clear. If the Chaos Dao Tree cannot grow in time, it will face calamity and be doomed. Between two evils… perhaps, seeking survival in danger is the right path.”

Dao Ancestor You Guang agreed, saying, "Fellow Daoist Li previously absorbed the remnants of the ancient tomb with swift and skillful methods, without revealing his aura. If he proceeds cautiously from the outer perimeter this time, cooperating with the forbidden zone for cover, he might be able to deceive everyone. The key lies in those nine giant steles—they must not be approached lightly."

Chao Yuan Dao Ancestor agreed, saying, "I once used the Daoist Rhyme of the Tide to remotely explore the ancient tomb. Those nine evil spirits were in a deep slumber and could not be awakened without a fundamental level of tremor. If Fellow Daoist Li only takes the remnants on the edge and proceeds with caution, the chance of triggering them is not high."

Daoist Yinghong nodded and said, "Fellow Daoist Li is not a reckless person. Since you say you are 70% sure, you must have something to rely on."

Night-Scented Dao Ancestor frowned and said, “While that is true, we still need to agree on three rules. Fellow Daoist Li, if you venture deep into the Ancient Tomb, you must maintain a constant connection with our Forbidden Realm using the Chaos Dao Rhyme. If your aura becomes unstable or the evil spirits stir, you must immediately retreat. If an enemy discovers your presence and attacks… to protect the overall situation, you may need to sever your connection with the Forbidden Realm and lure the enemy away on your own.”

Upon hearing this, the ancestors were slightly taken aback, and their gazes turned to Li Mu, filled with anticipation.

After a moment's thought, Li Mu cupped his hands and said, "That's only right; if things become impossible, I will leave this domain and will not implicate any of you fellow Daoists."

Lei Yan Dao Ancestor's gaze swept over the other ancestors. Seeing that Hao Tian Dao Ancestor was silent, Gu Xi Dao Ancestor was deep in thought, and Qing Yuan, You Guang, and others all showed expressions of agreement, he knew that the situation was settled. He could only let out a heavy snort and look at Li Mu, saying, "You're smart! If something goes wrong, don't blame me for not warning you!"

Seeing this, Dao Ancestor Haotian solemnly said, "Since that's the case, then let's agree to this. Fellow Daoist Li, we agree to your trip. You must make a Great Dao Oath: This trip will only take the remnants of the ancient tomb's outer perimeter. If you encounter any evil spirits or external enemies, you must immediately retreat. If necessary, you will sever your connection with the forbidden realm and bear the consequences alone."

Li Mu nodded: "Okay."

At that moment, they joined their fingers and made a vow. A wisp of chaotic Daoist energy disappeared into the void, stirring the origin of the Great Dao, and the vow was established.

The Dao Ancestor Haotian continued, “The eight of us will fully activate the Forbidden Realm to conceal your aura. Fellow Daoist Gu Xi will use the Dao of Returning to the Source to seal, Fellow Daoist You Guang will use the Dao of Void to conceal, Fellow Daoist Qing Yuan will use the Dao of Life to harmonize the fluctuations… The rest of you will each guard the key points of the formation, striving for a flawless seal. Fellow Daoist Li, when will you depart?”

Li Mu said in a deep voice, "Three days later, at midnight. At that time, the tide of the vast earth's source energy will be at its lowest, and the resentment in the graveyard will also be subdued for a moment, making it the best time to sneak in."

"Good." Dao Ancestor Haotian looked around at the ancestors and arranged, "In the next three days, everyone will return to their respective Dao Domains to adjust their origins and ensure that the forbidden realm operates smoothly. At midnight three days later, we will meet at the Star Evolution Dao Platform to assist Fellow Daoist Li in his work."

Gu Xi looked at Li Mu and transmitted her voice to him, saying, "Fellow Daoist Li, you must guard your Dao heart for the next three days and get yourself into peak condition. In the Ancient Tomb, the resentment and tribulation power are everywhere. If there is even the slightest crack in your defenses, you may be doomed."

Li Mu nodded and said, "I will remember this."

The Dao Ancestors said no more, and their figures faded away one after another.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the Starry Sky Platform, eight figures took their places.

Haotian Daozu was in the center, Gu Xi was on the left, Lei Yan was on the right, ... The eight people's auras were faintly connected, resonating with the forbidden array that enveloped the Chaos Dao Domain.

Li Mu, dressed in a green robe, stepped into the void, nodded slightly to the Eighth Ancestor, and then walked straight to the edge of the platform, facing the deep and endless bottom of the vast earth below.

"Activate the formation," Dao Ancestor Haotian uttered in a low voice.

The eight patriarchs simultaneously formed hand seals, and their Daoist aura erupted from their bodies!
Starlight, clear radiance, purple lightning, azure light, tidal patterns, neon flames, ethereal white, and dark shadows—eight colors of Dao light soared into the sky, weaving together into a giant net above the Dao platform, wrapping Li Mu's body layer by layer, transforming into a hazy Dao robe with flowing eight-colored patterns, draped over his body.

"This is the 'Eight Transformations Heaven-Concealing Robe,' capable of concealing ninety-nine percent of your aura and isolating you from the intrusion of resentment; Fellow Daoist Li, remember, do not use any source power exceeding the late stage of the Dao Integration realm, otherwise the robe will surely break." The voice of the Vast Heaven Dao Ancestor directly entered Li Mu's mind, saying...
Sensing the vast and hidden protective power emanating from the Daoist robe, Li Mu cupped his hands and said, "Thank you all."

After saying this, Li Mu took a step forward, his body plummeting straight into the depths of the vast earth.

The deeper he went, the darker and colder the surroundings became. The primordial energy gradually became turbid and viscous, and fragments of ancient Daoist rhymes surged like undercurrents. With the Eight-Evolution Heaven-Covering Robe on his body, Li Mu's pressure was greatly reduced, and his figure moved silently like a fish swimming in deep water.

Soon, Li Mu locked onto a low stele three miles to his left. Half of the stele was broken off, and the illusory image beneath it was so faint as to be almost invisible, leaving only a wisp of pure "Ice Silent" Daoist aura flowing through it.

Li Mu quietly approached, sat cross-legged three zhang in front of the stele, and formed the Chaos Furnace Mudra with his hands.

A wisp of extremely fine gray root emerged from his sleeve, burrowing into the soil beneath the monument like a serpent, and gently resting on the remnant of the "Ice Silence".

The Chaos Dao Fire spread along the roots, enveloping and slowly refining the wisp of remnant source.

The entire process was completely silent; the Eight-Edge Heaven-Covering Robe firmly locked away all fluctuations, and even the monument itself did not tremble.

Time passed slowly. Li Mu's mind was divided, on one hand controlling the Chaos Dao Fire to refine it, and on the other hand being vigilant about the movements deep in the graveyard.

An hour later, the remnants of "Ice Silence" completely melted and merged into the Chaos Dao Tree.

The main trunk of the Chaos Dao Tree trembled slightly, its growth rate barely perceptible, and its understanding of the Great Dao gained a profound depth, as if solidified into marrow with a chilling aura.

Li Mu didn't stop, and turned to the next broken stele.

And so, the night passed. He refined seven strands of remnant source in succession, each with different attributes, including "burning away," "collapsed earth," "corrosive poison," and "soul-splitting"... All of them were integrated into the chaos, greatly increasing the accumulation speed of the Chaos Dao Tree's foundation.

As time passed, the tide of the primordial energy of the vast land began to rise; Li Mu decisively stopped, his figure disappearing into the shadows, preparing to retreat.

At that very moment, deep within the burial grounds, on the western side of one of the nine giant steles, a faint sound of chains scraping could be heard.

Li Mu's hair stood on end, and he froze on the spot, even his breathing stopped.

On the Eight-Edged Sky-Covering Robe, the dark patterns representing the Night-Sickness Dao Ancestor suddenly lit up, and a dreamlike misty power spread out, quickly smoothing out the Daoist ripples caused by the sound of the chains.

On the Starry Dao Platform, Dao Ancestor Ye Yan's face paled, and he said with apprehension, "That was close! That thing... turned the tables?"

Dao Ancestor Haotian stared intently at the array plate and said in a deep voice, "It's just a trace of unconscious disturbance in its slumber. Fellow Daoist Li, retreat immediately!"

Upon receiving the order, Li Mu transformed into an almost invisible gray line and retreated swiftly along the path he had come from.

Just ten breaths after Li Mu left the ancient tomb area, beneath the giant stele, a pair of enormous eyes, purely formed from pitch-black tribulation power, slowly opened a slit in the darkness, indifferently sweeping across the perimeter of the tomb, watching Li Mu leave, a dark glint flashing in their eyes.

Li Mu sped along, quickly returning to the forbidden realm of the Chaos Dao Domain, only then did he feel the terror that had been like a thorn in his back completely dissipate.

At the Starry Dao Platform, the eight Dao Ancestors all breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at the returning Li Mu, Gu Xi Dao Zu showed his approval: "Fellow Daoist Li acted decisively and cautiously. How was your harvest this time?"

Li Mu sensed the seven newly added strands of the Dao of Annihilation within the Chaos Dao Tree and nodded, saying, "A slight improvement. After a few more repetitions, the bottleneck can be broken."

Lei Yan Daozu said with a stern face, "Consider yourself lucky. Next time you go, shorten the time by three quarters of an hour, and don't be greedy."

Haotian Daozu concluded: "This test has proven that this method is feasible; there are unusual movements deep within the Burial Path Ancient Tomb. We must be more careful in future actions, and the intervals should not be too close to avoid attracting attention. Fellow Daoist Li, you should go back and consolidate what you have learned. We will re-analyze the timing for the next action."

Li Mu cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you all for your trouble."

The next moment, Li Mu transformed into a gentle breeze and disappeared from the Dao Platform.

As they watched Li Mu leave, the eight Dao Ancestors looked at each other in silence, seeing a glimmer of hope in each other's eyes.

The great cycle of annihilation is drawing ever closer. Li Mu's perilous search in the ancient burial tomb may offer him a glimmer of hope for survival during this great calamity.

Inside the Chaos Treasure Palace, Li Mu's figure solidified. He flicked his finger at the Chaos Dao Tree, and the gray Dao thought broke through the air, directly entering the origin of all realms.

"Xue'er, Xiao Jin, Mingyue, Xiao Lun... all those who rule a realm, quickly awaken yourselves and heed my decree."

As the Daoist thought spread, the Chaos Dao Tree caused tremors throughout more than five hundred realms.

Inside the ancestral hall of the Ice and Snow Fox Realm, Xue'er raised her nine tails and opened her icy blue eyes. Li Mu's solemn voice rang in her ears: "Within half a day, I will use the Chaos Dao Fruit to refine the remnant source of the external path; the remnant source is ferocious and may invade other realms. You must guard the realm seal, suppress the earth veins, and protect living beings. If there are any changes, draw the realm source back to nourish the Dao Tree. There must be no mistakes."

"Brother Li!" Xue'er's expression hardened, and she immediately revealed her Nine-Tailed True Form, preparing to go all out.

At the summit of the ancestral mountain of the Vajra Ape Realm, Little Golden Ape roared to the sky, its fighting spirit surging: "Master, rest assured, the entire Vajra Realm will be as stable as a rock!"

Within the data sea of ​​the Myriad Manifestations Puppet Realm, Mingyue's body was covered in puppet patterns, which responded actively: "Master, please proceed as you see fit. Mingyue has already devised 3,600 contingency plans to deal with the impact of the Dao at any time."

……

In an instant, the realm lords of more than five hundred realms under the Chaos Dao Tree responded to Li Mu, indicating their willingness to live and die together.

Having received responses from all realms, Li Mu said no more, and sat cross-legged beneath the Chaos Dao Tree, merging with its Dao Source. Upon the main trunk of the Chaos Dao Tree, the ninefold scene of the "Creation Diagram of Chaos" suddenly appeared.

"Chaos is the furnace, the Dao Fruit is the cauldron, and the Origin of Deception is the guide... Today, Nar and the others enter my Great Dao."

Li Mu made a hand seal and whispered, a burst of gray light shooting out from between his brows. The Primordial Dao Fruit descended from the branch of the Chaos Dao Tree and hung three zhang above his head.

On the surface of the Dao Fruit, the gray Dao light flowed endlessly, revealing various colors such as thunder, vitality, void, nightmare, and calamity, all blended together into one, as deep as an abyss.

At the same time, a wisp of eerie white Daoist aura rose from the Dao Fruit, wriggling like a living snake. This was the source of the eerie aura that had been completely refined and incorporated into the Chaos Phase, specifically designed to lure away the remnants of the heretical Daoist source.

With a flick of his finger, Li Mu forced out seven strands of external Dao remnants—Ice Silence, Burning Incineration, Earth Collapse, Corruption, and Soul Split—that he had refined and extracted from the ancient Burial Tomb, from the depths of the Chaos Dao Tree's root system, and they merged into the Chaos Dao Fruit. (End of Chapter)