Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

Time flies, and thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Chaos Treasure Palace, the gray Dao light rose and fell like the tide.

Li Mu sat cross-legged beneath the Dao Tree. The seven strands of ancient tomb remnants had been completely refined, and the various Daoist principles within the Chaos Dao Fruit blended seamlessly, emitting a sound that resonated with the Great Dao.

More than five hundred realms radiated the light of the Dao on the main trunk and branches of the Dao Tree; the sea of ​​flames surged in the Fire Heaven Realm, the vegetation in the Green Realm of Longevity grew wildly, and the mountains in the Vajra Ape Realm roared in unison... The origins of all realms fed back to the Dao Tree of Chaos, which grew wildly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

790 million zhang... 800 million zhang, 810 million zhang...

The vast and chaotic Daoist energy soared into the sky, but when it touched the forbidden realm's celestial curtain, it was dissolved layer by layer by the eight-colored Daoist patterns and returned to nothingness.

Li Mu suddenly opened his eyes, the chaotic star swirling within them gradually stopping, revealing a hint of composure before breaking through to a higher realm.

"The bottleneck in the late stage of Dao Integration... has been overcome!"

Li Mu sighed slightly with regret, sensing the immense power within the Dao Fruit that was about to burst forth. He only needed to refine three or five more strands of remnant source of the same level, and he would naturally achieve his goal and break through the threshold.

……

The Starry Dao Platform was silent and still. While the eight Dao Ancestors were in charge of the forbidden realm array, their minds were focused on the Chaos Dao Tree within the realm, watching its growth in preparation for the great calamity to come.

"wrong!"

Haotian Daozu suddenly opened his eyes, the light in his starry eyes trembling violently. He made hand seals and deduced the star map in front of him, which suddenly distorted.

The next moment, on the Starry Dao Platform, the light and shadow cast by the nine star skeletons shattered, revealing a chaotic mist; deep within the mist, a pair of ancient eyes seemed to slowly open, indifferently sweeping across the endless void.

"has a problem!"

Haotian Daozu's face turned pale. He formed hand seals, and the starlight Dao rhyme transformed into seven streams of light, which shot rapidly toward the Dao domains where the other seven Daozus were located.

In less than three breaths, the figures of the seven ancestors, including Gu Xi and Lei Yan, appeared one after another on the Starry Sky Platform.

"Fellow Daoist Haotian, what is the matter so urgent?" Gu Xiqinghui asked in a deep voice, his Daoist robes fluttering slightly.

The Dao Ancestor Haotian pointed to the chaotic star map and said solemnly, "Previously, I sensed an ancient will awakening deep within the Burial Dao Ancient Tomb, so I deduced the secrets of heaven to investigate this area. However, the secrets of heaven I obtained had a backlash, indicating that there must be an existence above the Dao Integration realm involved in this matter."

Upon hearing this, all the Dao Ancestors changed color.

"Beyond the Dao Integration Realm, how is this possible?" Dao Ancestor Lei Yan retorted in astonishment.

"Fellow Daoist Haotian! Don't joke around!" Dao Ancestor Qingyuan's expression darkened slightly, and he said in disbelief.

"Just now, while deducing the secrets of the ancient tomb, I touched upon... touched upon a 'gaze'," said Dao Ancestor Haotian directly.

"Watching? Those lingering evil spirits deep within the ancient burial tomb?" Gu Xi Daozu asked solemnly.

“No.” Dao Ancestor Haotian shook his head, a trace of fear rising deep in his starry eyes, indicating, “That gaze… surpasses even the Dao Integration stage.”

The Qingyuan Dao Ancestor said in a deep voice, "The Ancestor of the Dao Integration has reached the end of the Great Dao, controlling an ancestral tree and absorbing the origins of all worlds. What else could be above that?"

Dao Ancestor Youguang pondered, "Unless... the 'transcendence' of ancient legends?"

"Transcendence?" Dao Ancestor Yeyan sneered, "It's just nonsense from ancient books and fragments. In the billions of Yuanhui, is there even one person who has truly transcended? Even the peak ancestral trees that fell during the three ancient calamity cycles were only at the peak of the Dao Integration stage."

Daoist Chaoyuan gestured and said, "I have read the 'Return to the Void Dao Stele,' which does indeed say, 'The union with the Dao is not the end; there are still realms beyond it.' However, the inscription is vague and the truth is hard to find!"

Yinghong Daozu said gently, "Even if there are those in the upper realm, what do they have to do with us? What is important right now is Fellow Daoist Li's matter. A great calamity is imminent, and if there is any mistake, we will be in danger of perishing."

The Dao Ancestor Haotian solemnly said, "That gaze... is probably related to Fellow Daoist Li refining the remnants of the ancient tomb. Its power penetrated the forbidden realm's sky curtain and directly disturbed my Dao heart."

Gu Xiqinghui's eyes were filled with deep worry: "Fellow Daoist, do you mean that the being slumbering deep within the ancient tomb has been disturbed?"

"More than just alarmed." Dao Ancestor Haotian said with a focused expression, "That gaze... carried the meaning of 'scrutiny.' It was as if they were observing, as if they were waiting."

Lei Yan Daozu sneered, "Playing tricks! Even if there are beings of the upper realm, they have been slumbering in ancient tombs for hundreds of thousands of years. They should have turned to ashes long ago. Is a mere remnant of their will worth such panic?"

“Fellow Daoist Lei Yan.” Dao Ancestor Haotian raised his eyes to look at him and said, word by word, “When that gaze descended, I… felt like an ant.”

The ancestors remained silent.

At the peak of the Dao Integration Realm, one controls an ancestral tree and absorbs the source flow of countless realms. Even when facing powerful enemies of the same realm, one will not have the thought of being an "ant".

The Azure Origin Dao Ancestor's emerald eyes flickered, indicating, "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Li's refining of the remnant source has disturbed the balance of the graveyard?"

Dao Ancestor You Guang nodded and said, "It's very likely. The resentment in the ancient tomb is mutually restraining, and moving one part affects the whole. With the seven strands of remnant source being taken away, the resentment is out of balance, and the dormant will may be disturbed."

Night-Scented Dao Ancestor pondered and said, "If that's really the case, Fellow Daoist Li must never enter the Ancient Tomb again. If we disturb such beings, even the Eight-Evolution Heaven-Covering Robe will be insufficient to protect us."

Daoist Chaoyuan agreed, saying, "To be on the safe side, we should advise Fellow Daoist Li to postpone his actions and consolidate his Dao foundation. We can discuss this further once the ancient tomb has been pacified."

Daoist Yinghong gestured and said, "I second that opinion. Although the calamity is imminent, haste makes waste. If Fellow Daoist Li perishes in the Ancient Tomb, everything will be in vain."

Gu Xi remained silent for a long time before deciding to say, "I will now send a telepathic message to Fellow Daoist Li, inviting him to the Starry Sky Platform for a discussion."

The next moment, Gu Xi sent out the message by making a mental gesture with her fingers.

Before long, a gray light quickly gathered within the platform, and soon, Li Mu's figure slowly emerged.

"Fellow Daoists, I, Li, have come at your summons." Li Mu bowed respectfully, his gaze sweeping over the assembled ancestors, and asked with a hint of doubt, "What guidance do you all have for me?"

Haotian Daozu raised his hand and displayed the divination star map in front of Li Mu, indicating, "Fellow Daoist Li, please take a look. Just now, I divination sensed an ancient will awakening deep within the ancient tomb. Its pressure is so strong that it is probably an ancient evil spirit."

Li Mu stared at the astronomical image for a moment, his expression unchanged, and gestured, "Does Fellow Daoist mean for me to suspend my actions?"

“Exactly.” Gu Xi took over the conversation and said solemnly, “Fellow Daoist Li’s refining of seven strands of remnant source has already disturbed the balance of the graveyard. Entering now would be much riskier. It would be better to postpone it for a hundred years and wait for the ancient graveyard to calm down before making any further plans.”

Dao Ancestor Lei Yan warned, "Boy, don't be reckless. Those nine evil spirits were all peak ancestral trees in life. After their fall, their resentment and tribulation power have been intertwined for hundreds of thousands of years, making them far beyond what ordinary Dao Integration cultivators can contend with. What do you have to fight against them? If anything goes wrong, it will implicate us all...!"

Qingyuan Daozu then advised, "Fellow Daoist Li, you have refined the remnants of the heretical path and are only one step away from the later stage. You should know when to stop, proceed steadily, and rely on the feedback from the various realms. Sooner or later you will be able to break through this realm. Why take such a risk?"

Li Mu was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "It's been too long."

Li Mu raised his eyes and looked at the forbidden realm's sky, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of Dao patterns, directly staring at the impending calamity tide beyond the vast land.

"Fellow Daoists, when you deduce the tribulation period, you should know that the Chaos Dao Tree needs to reach one billion feet in length to be fit for its pivotal role. At the current pace, even with the support of all realms, it will still take two thousand years to break through the one billion foot barrier."

“However, the tribulation will last less than a thousand years.” Li Mu faced the ancestors and said firmly, “I, Li, cannot wait, and the billions of living beings in the vast land and forests cannot wait either.”

Dao Ancestor You Guang frowned and said, "But the ancient tomb is far more dangerous than usual. If we disturb the evil spirits, let alone break through to a higher realm, our lives will be in danger!"

Li Mu calmly said, "After refining the seven strands of remnant source last time, the Chaos Dao Tree's ability to contain the Dao of Calamity and Annihilation has been verified. Even if I encounter evil spirits, I have a way to escape."

Night-Scented Dao Ancestor chuckled, “Escape? Fellow Daoist Li, do you know the methods of those nine evil spirits? During the ancient calamity, three peak Dao Integration cultivators joined forces to enter the tomb, intending to retrieve the remnants of their source to forge a weapon. In the end… only one escaped, his Dao foundation was completely destroyed, and he died and his Dao dissipated in less than a hundred years.” Tide Origin Dao Ancestor sighed, “Fellow Daoist Li, do not act rashly.”

"If you perish in the ancient tomb, the Chaos Nexus will be left unattended, and the great calamity will bring even greater suffering to all living beings," Gu Xi sighed, indicating.

"I appreciate your kind intentions, fellow Daoists."

Li Mu pondered for a moment, then stepped forward and politely declined, saying, "However, there is no foolproof method on the path of cultivation. A 70% chance of success is worth the gamble. If I hesitate because of fear of danger, my Dao heart will be clouded, and even if I live for a thousand years, I will still find it difficult to comprehend the true meaning of the Great Dao."

The Dao Ancestor Haotian's starry eyes were deep as he questioned, "Fellow Daoist Li, are you so determined?"

"I insist on this." Li Mu cupped his hands and said, "I ask my fellow Daoists to help me one more time. This time, when we enter the tomb, we will only take the three remaining strands of the source from the outer perimeter and will not go too deep. If we encounter any unusual events, we will retreat immediately and will not linger."

Gu Xi and Hao Tian exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.

Enraged, Dao Ancestor Lei Yan laughed: "Fine! Fine! If you want to die, I won't stop you! But let me make this clear: if the evil spirit awakens, the Forbidden Realm Formation will prioritize protecting the Eight Great Dao Domains, and it won't make an exception for you alone!"

Li Mu nodded: "That's how it should be."

Qingyuan Daozu sighed, "Since Fellow Daoist Li has made up his mind... so be it. When shall we depart?"

"I, Li, will depart immediately. Farewell, fellow Daoists!"

Li Mu bowed to the crowd, then his figure transformed into a gray line and plummeted into the depths of the vast earth.

On the Starry Sky Platform, the ancestors stood silently, watching for a long time.

Gu Xi gazed in the direction where Li Mu had disappeared, a hint of worry appearing in Qinghui's eyes. He sighed, "This young man's willpower is unparalleled throughout history; however, excessive rigidity can lead to breakage..."

The Dao Ancestor Haotian silently deduced, the star map still a chaotic mess, and sighed, "The secrets of heaven are obscure, fortune and misfortune are unpredictable. I hope... he can succeed."

.........

The burial path and ancient tombs remain as silent and still as ever.

Li Mu stepped onto the gray-black earth, his Eight-Edge Heaven-Covering Robe shimmering with light, completely concealing his aura.

Li Mu's gaze quickly swept across the burial ground and soon locked onto three low tombstones standing side by side on the east side.

The stele is covered with cracks, and the illusory shadow beneath it is as faint as mist, emanating three distinct residual Daoist charms: "Shattered Void," "Soul Erosion," and "Withered Lifespan."

"I'll choose these three remnants!" Li Mu decided.

The next moment, Li Mu transformed into a gentle breeze and quietly arrived, sitting cross-legged in the void.

Before long, the illusory image of the Chaos Dao Tree appeared behind Li Mu. The illusory image of the Dao Tree extended gray roots, which split into three strands and attached themselves to the three steles.

Soon, the Chaos Dao Fire spread along the roots into the tombstone, probing inside and enveloping the three strands of external Dao remnants, beginning to absorb and refine them.

Time flowed silently, and the burial path and ancient tombs were completely still; suddenly, a gentle breeze swept through the depths of the cemetery!
The cold, biting wind whipped up gray-black dust, which quickly condensed into distorted faces in the air.

Its distorted face stared intently at Li Mu, letting out a silent roar, its resentment like needles piercing his soul.

Li Mu's Dao heart was firm and steady, and the Chaos Dao Fruit operated naturally, swallowing up all the invading resentment. The dark patterns of the Eight-Evolution Heaven-Covering Robe lit up, and the dreamlike mist spread, smoothing out the ripples of Dao rhyme around him...

Time passes bit by bit.

The two remnants of "Shattered Void" and "Soul Erosion" disintegrated one after another, were absorbed by the roots of the Chaos Dao Tree, and sealed into the Chaos Dao Fruit, awaiting complete refinement in the future.

Li Mu focused his mind on the last wisp of "withered life" remnant source, and used all his strength to urge the Chaos Dao Fire to refine it.

This source is the most stubborn, containing the true meaning of lifespan depletion and the end of time, and is subtly incompatible with the way of chaotic evolution; under the burning of the chaotic fire, this remnant source of the other way struggles violently, bursting out gray-white death energy, which invades other domains.

Having been tainted by this remnant of Dao power, Li Mu's jet-black hair gradually turned silver-white, and wrinkles of vicissitude appeared on his young face...

Li Mu remained calm and unconcerned about these 'external' manifestations of the Dao. Instead, he used his Chaotic Dao Domain to encompass and refine them.

However, as the deathly aura spread, it soon inevitably touched other broken tombstones. Nearby, the tombstone of a ruined road was attacked by this deathly aura, and the crack on the tombstone widened with a "crack".

Li Mu's expression changed slightly, and he immediately withdrew his Dao fire, intending to temporarily seal away the remnants of "Withered Life".

Deep within the ancient burial ground, at the center of the nine giant steles, a sudden, crisp sound of breaking chains rang out from the massive wall. A gray-black chain wrapped around the stele snapped and fell to the ground, turning into dust of calamity energy.

Beneath the giant monument, a pair of pitch-black eyes opened wide, their cold gaze sweeping across the entire graveyard as if it were a tangible force, quickly locking onto Li Mu's location.

Upon meeting those enormous eyes, Li Mu's body stiffened abruptly, and the eight-colored patterns on his Eight-Edge Heaven-Covering Robe trembled violently at the same time, quickly showing signs of cracking!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Oh no! The Central Evil Spirit... has awakened!"

The ancestors were all startled, realizing Li Mu's predicament.

Gu Xi Gui Cang Daoist energy recklessly poured into the forbidden realm array: "Quick! Reinforce the forbidden realm and isolate that gaze!"

Lei Yan's purple lightning exploded, and Qing Yuan's azure light soared into the sky. Chao Yuan, Ying Hong, You Guang, and Ye Yan each displayed their original essence, and the eight-colored Dao patterns intertwined wildly, thickening the forbidden realm's sky curtain by three layers.

However, that gaze was too terrifying, quickly penetrating through layers of restrictions and directly attacking Li Mu's true form.

In the graveyard, Li Mu's face showed a resolute expression, and the Chaos Dao Fruit shook violently.

"If you want to see... then you can see as much as you want!"

Li Mu no longer concealed himself, and the gray Dao light around him erupted completely; the illusory image of the Chaos Dao Tree appeared behind him, and more than five hundred realms on its branches simultaneously bloomed with clear light. The true meanings of evolution, order, inclusiveness, and return to the source surged out and collided fiercely with that ancient gaze.

A silent roar exploded at the level of Daoist thought.

The gray-black earth cracked, and hundreds of broken tombstones trembled in unison. Deep within the graveyard, the entities beneath the other eight giant tombstones seemed to awaken, the sound of chains grinding against each other echoing endlessly.

Blood trickled from the corner of Li Mu's mouth, and his eyes swirled with chaotic starlight at its maximum speed.

"The calamity-annihilating evil spirits... are nothing more than manifestations of calamity power."

Li Mu raised his hand and forcibly pulled the last wisp of "Withered Life" into the Chaos Dao Fruit. The Chaos Dao Fire transformed into a furnace, melting it together with the nine wisps of remnant life he had previously refined.

The drooping Chaos Dao Fruit suddenly blazed with intense gray light.

With a "crack," the bottleneck broke through!

In the later stages of attaining enlightenment, things will naturally fall into place.

Li Mu's aura surged, and the Chaos Dao Tree grew wildly, reaching 860 million zhang... 870 million zhang... 890 million zhang! (End of Chapter)