Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

The colossal, earthen-yellow body of the Myriad Source Sea trembled suddenly.

"This vile thing has actually managed to invade the source of the vital energy!"

The former master was filled with shock and rage, and his immense will had to be withdrawn from the vast land to suppress the strange source within the Source Sea.

In the boundless land, the will of the old master dissipated, and the terrifying calamity that ravaged the land subsided. Only the muffled rumbling from the depths of the earth's veins remained, like the low growl of a wounded beast.

In the middle layer of the vast land, the Dao Ancestors, who were struggling to maintain their position, suddenly felt the pressure ease. They looked at each other, puzzled.

"What's going on? The calamity tide has weakened?"

"Where did Fang Yizhi go?"

"What exactly happened?"

"You've really retired, Fellow Daoist Li?"

……

As that terrifying will faded, all the Dao Ancestors projected their images onto the Star Evolution Dao Platform, their gazes all focused on Li Mu, trying to find out the reason.

Gu Xi's expression was solemn as he said in a deep voice, "The former master's will has indeed been completely suppressed, but the restlessness deep within the vast land has not ceased. It seems to be suppressing something with all its might!"

“That’s right, its Dao Foundation – the Myriad Dao Source Sea – has been corrupted by the Strange Source transformed from my Chaos Origin, and it is suppressing it with all its might!” Li Mu nodded, confirming.

"How long can that strange source last?" Dao Ancestor Haotian asked with concern.

Li Mu pondered for a moment, then said solemnly, "It could take as little as three months, or as long as several years; the former master controls the source of all things in the vast land, and the source of the evil cannot completely erode its foundation. Once it removes the source of the evil, it will be able to free up its hands..."

At this point, Li Mu's gaze swept over the assembled Dao Ancestors, and he gestured, "When the tribulation tide rises again, its power will far surpass that of today. The Chaos Dao Tree will bear the brunt, and your Dao Domains will also find it difficult to escape!"

The Azure Origin Dao Ancestor's emerald eyes flashed as he said, "Fellow Daoist, do you mean that the former master must first eliminate the Chaos Dao?"

"Chaos encompasses all sources, which is like a thorn in the side for its former master!" Li Mu nodded and said, "The ancient Chaos Dao Ancestor collapsed because he fought against it. This time, I have defiled its earth veins with strange sources. How could it allow me to exist?"

The Heavenly Demon Dao Ancestor, with bloodshot eyes, said coldly, "What about us? Since it wants to harvest the origins of all ancestors, how could it let us go?"

“The harvest is for prolonging life, not for destroying the Dao!” Li Mu continued, “If the former master is enraged and does not hesitate to damage the foundation of the earth’s veins to cleanse the vast land… then all spirits will turn to ashes and all ancestors will perish!”

The Plague Patriarch's green mist surged as he hissed, "In the end, it's all a dead end! Fellow Daoist Li, now that you've glimpsed your former master's background, do you have a way to break this deadlock?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of all the Dao Ancestors continued to focus on Li Mu, as if they were grasping at a lifeline and refusing to let go.

Just now, the wrath of the former master unleashed a calamity several times greater than before, and all the remaining Dao-merging ancestral trees in the Forest of Ten Thousand Ancestors were reduced to ashes and annihilated under this calamity.

They survived the great calamity precisely because they relied on the Dao-evolving power of the Chaos Dao Tree to transform it into the Dao of Returning to the Source.

Now, facing such an existence, the Dao Ancestors are uncertain and their only hope rests on Li Mu.

Li Mu remained silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "There is still a sliver of hope."

"Fellow Daoist Li, tell me quickly!"

"real!"

"This is true!"

……

As soon as Li Mu finished speaking, all the Dao Ancestors perked up and looked at him with burning eyes, eager to know the answer.

“The former master is currently focused on suppressing the source of the evil and has no time to spare. This is an opening…” Li Mu looked at the Dao Ancestors, his eyes swirling with a gray, star-like light, and resolutely said, “I need to immediately attempt to break through to the Dao Transformation stage in order to have the power to fight them.”

Upon hearing this, the Starry Dao Platform fell silent. The Dao Ancestors exchanged uncertain glances, their eyes filled with apprehension.

Lei Yan Dao Ancestor's eyes flashed with lightning as he stared at Li Mu and questioned, "Transformation into the Dao? You make it sound so easy! To go from Dao Integration to Transformation into the Dao requires a massive amount of Origin and resources from all myriad Daos, and it requires opening that door to nothingness! To force your way in now is a nine-out-of-ten chance of death! If you fail..."

“Normally, it is like this!” Li Mu said firmly, his expression unchanged. “The former master is the remnant soul of the will of the Vast Earth. His body is the Vast Earth Dao Vein, and his source is the myriad Daos. If we can take advantage of the opportunity of suppressing the strange source and the earth vein tremors to draw the Vast Earth's original source back into the earth, we can forcibly open the gate to the Dao of Transformation!”

Gu Xi frowned and asked with concern, "How do you intend to lead them?"

"This matter requires the assistance of all fellow Daoists." Li Mu surveyed the assembled Dao Ancestors and gestured, "Please release the ley lines binding your Dao Domains, and use your ancestral tree roots as a bridge to draw the essence of the vast earth's ley lines into the Chaos Dao Tree. At the same time, please each of you relinquish three-tenths of your original essence to help me forge a flawless Dao Foundation!"

"Thirty percent?" Dao Ancestor Chixiao's eyes blazed with fury as he roared, "I've already given up thirty percent. If I give up another thirty percent, my Dao foundation will surely be severely damaged!"

The Heavenly Demon Dao Ancestor's face twisted into a ferocious expression, and he said in disbelief, "You've got a good plan! You're using the threat of your former master to force us to offer up our origins for you to break through to the next realm. If you turn your back on us after you achieve enlightenment, won't we be at your mercy?"

Li Mu looked directly at the Heavenly Demon Ancestor and promised, "I can make a Great Dao Oath—if I attain the Dao, I will jointly govern the vast land with all the ancestors, our source energy will flow together, and we will study the Dao together. If the old master is eliminated, the cycle of calamity will end from this point on, and all ancestors will no longer have to suffer the calamity of one cycle every 129,600 years."

Haotian Daozu's spirits lifted slightly: "Fellow Daoist, is what you say true?"

"Absolutely true!" Li Mu swore an oath with his fingers together, a wisp of gray Daoist energy disappearing into the void, stirring the origin of the Great Dao: "If I break this oath, my Dao foundation will be completely destroyed, my soul will fall into the deepest hell, and I will never be able to reincarnate!"

Once the Great Dao oath was fulfilled, thunder rumbled faintly from the Starry Dao Platform, confirming its promise.

Seeing this, the Dao Ancestors' expressions softened slightly. They exchanged glances, each lost in thought.

After a long silence, Dao Ancestor Chenguang looked at Li Mu and hesitated, saying, "Even with the Great Dao Oath, the danger of the Dao Transformation still exists; if you fail to break through the barrier, your Dao will collapse and you will perish, and the Chaos Dao Tree will surely be destroyed. At that time, the pivot will be lost, the Eight Extremes Formation will be broken, and under the counterattack of the old master... we will all have to be buried with you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Mu smiled calmly and nodded, saying, "That's right. This is a gamble, betting that I can achieve the Dao Transformation, and betting that my former master won't have time to eradicate the source of evil. If I win, the vast land will be reborn; if I lose, all spirits will perish."

Upon hearing this, the Dao Ancestors frowned again. They looked at each other, their faces full of helplessness. In the current situation, their fates were already tied with Li Mu's; they were all in the same boat.

The Dao Ancestor of the Nether Bone looked worried and asked with concern, "Is there any chance of victory?"

“It’s a fifty-fifty number,” Li Mu said. “When the old master suppressed the source of the evil, the earth’s veins were in turmoil. This opportunity is fleeting. Once it’s free to act, let alone reach the Dao, we’ll have a hard time even surviving!”

Upon hearing this, the Dao Ancestors fell silent once again.

Outside the Xingyan Dao Platform, the tide of calamity had slowed slightly, but the lingering power of the old master's raging waves remained. From time to time, the roar of the ancestral tree collapsing echoed from the distant land, and the sound of the Dao falling was mournful and tearful.

Jinxi Daozu looked at Li Mu and suddenly said, "I have another question."

"please say."

"If you were to transform into a Daoist, could you possibly defeat your former master?"

“The former master was a remnant soul of the will of the vast land, with a deep foundation. However, his Dao foundation was flawed, and he needed to use the cycle of annihilation to harvest his origin and prolong his life.” Li Mu nodded and said frankly, “If I transform into the Dao, the Great Dao of Chaos can absorb all origins into one. It may be difficult to win quickly in a head-on confrontation, but I can gradually erode his power over the earth’s veins and eventually refine him into chaos, thus restoring the order of the vast land.”

The Azure Origin Dao Ancestor's emerald eyes flickered: "In other words, after the Dao Transformation, a long-term struggle is necessary?"

“That’s right.” Li Mu nodded and said, “This struggle is different from the calamity and harvest. I can protect all the domains and maintain the flow of primordial energy, so that all living beings will not wither away. When the foundation of the old master is completely devoured, the will of the vast land may be restored to its integrity, and at that time the calamity cycle will resolve itself!”

Gu Xi sighed deeply, looked at the assembled Dao Ancestors, and gestured, "Everyone, it's time to make a decision. This matter should be handled sooner rather than later! Delay may lead to unforeseen changes!" Dao Ancestor Lei Yan's expression shifted uncertainly, but he finally gritted his teeth and decided, "I... I am willing to sacrifice another three-tenths of my original source!"

After pondering for a long time, Qingyuan Daozu sighed and nodded, saying, "Qingyu is also willing."

Chao Yuan, Ying Hong, You Guang, and Ye Yan responded in succession.

The Dao Ancestor Haotian's starry eyes swept over the ancestors from the outer realms, including Chixiao and Tianyao, and asked with concern, "What do you fellow Daoists think?"

The Crimson Sky Dao Ancestor stared intently at Li Mu with his fiery eyes for a long time before sighing resignedly, "So be it! This is the only way now, I accept it!"

The Heavenly Demon Ancestor's face was still contorted with rage. His divine sense perceived the devastating destruction that the former master's will had caused to the vast land and the Forest of Ten Thousand Ancestors. He looked at Li Mu and said hatefully, "I will trust you one more time. If you break your promise afterward, even if you achieve the Dao Transformation, I will perish with you!"

Xuan Sha, Wen Huang, Chen Guang, Ming Gu, and Jin Xi looked at each other and slowly nodded.

Li Mu cupped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you all for your assistance!"

Having said that, Li Mu suddenly collapsed from his spot, transforming into chaotic energy, and rapidly returned to the depths of the vast land - the ancient burial tomb.

Burial Road Ancient Tomb
Beneath the Chaos Dao Tree, Li Mu's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing his Chaos Dao Body, his aura as deep as an abyss.

Before Li Mu, the Chaos Dao Fruit was almost transparent, with myriad Daos flowing and transforming within it, gradually converging into a formless unity. The tree trunk was 68 billion feet tall, and the Dao light of over 30,000 realms soared into the sky from its branches, its generative force flowing like a rushing river.

Li Mu formed hand seals, and the billions of roots of the Chaos Dao Tree trembled in unison, spreading along the earth's vein network to various realms.

"Fellow Daoists, release the Dao Domain and draw in the Origin Qi!" In the eyes of Li Mu's Chaos Divine Sense, the roots of the Chaos Dao Tree instantly turned towards the hearts of all the Dao Ancestors.

Star Evolution Platform

Gu Xi Daozu was the first to make a hand seal and resolutely said, "Return to the source, open the earth's veins!"

As the clear light and Daoist aura receded like the tide, the restrictions sealing the earth's veins at the Eight Extremes Formation's core gradually dissipated.

In the Eastern Thunder Domain, Dao Ancestor Lei Yan gritted his teeth and swept his purple sleeve across the trunk of the Thunder Ancestral Tree: "Open the Thunder Pool, let the source flow!"

"Boom!" There was a loud noise.

In an instant, the vast Thunder Pool boiled, and the azure Thunder Source surged forth like a burst dam, rushing out along the roots of chaos.

In the Western Azure Domain, the Ancestral Tree of Ten Thousand Spirits shone brightly with azure light. The Azure Origin Dao Ancestor activated the boundary seal, and the source of life force descended like a celestial river.

The ancestral trees of the Southern Tide Domain, Northern Fire Domain, Southeast Wandering Domain, Southwest Night Domain, Northeast Ancient Domain, and Northwest Vast Domain—all released the earth veins' restraints, striving to absorb the vast earth's source energy. Along with their own Great Dao origins, they flowed in through the chaotic roots, like rivers returning to the sea, guiding the endless vast earth's source energy towards the ancient burial tomb.

At the same time, the seven Dao Ancestors from the Crimson Flame Ancestral Domain, the Heavenly Demon Blood Forest, the Weak Water Abyss, the Plague Ancestral Domain, the Chenguang Dojo, the Nether Bone Wasteland, and the Golden Dawn Sword Domain also gritted their teeth and cast spells, each sacrificing three-tenths of their original essence to pour into the Vast Earth Source Vein, and doing their best to absorb the source energy.

The primordial veins in the middle layer of the vast land trembled violently!
Countless thick, dragon-like streams of earthy yellow light surged from the depths of the earth, carrying the ancient, accumulated essence of the soil, flowing like rivers into the sea, towards the billions of roots of the Chaos Dao Tree.

A loud hum resounded.
The trunk of the Chaos Dao Tree trembled violently, and the tree grew taller at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Six hundred and ninety billion zhang... seven hundred billion zhang... seven hundred and thirty billion zhang...;
The branches expanded from 30,000 to 50,000, and the sound of newly sprouted leaves unfolding was like continuous spring thunder.

Beyond the Celestial Realm of Blazing Fire, a thousand smaller realms of crimson flames surround it; beside the Realm of Immortality, ten thousand acres of poisonous forests grow rampant; beyond the Realm of the Vajra Ape, the Wasteland of Nether Bone has been transformed into a battle domain…
Among all the realms, the realm lords, including Tie Tou, Lin Xiaolun, Xue'er, and Xiao Jin, roared in unison, their realm seals blazing with light as they received this vast power of new life. At the same time, they poured their realm source into the Chaos Dao Tree, nourishing it in return.

Li Mu sat cross-legged under the Chaos Dao Tree, his body surrounded by a hazy Dao light soaring into the sky. The Chaos Dao Fruit above his head was completely transparent, with all the Daos within it returning to one, transforming into a mass of primordial Qi that was not yet divided.

"The Gate of Transformation, open!"

Li Mu suddenly heard a chorus of voices, stared at the endless vast land, let out an angry shout, and pushed forward with both hands.

The next moment, the Chaos Dao Fruit burst forth with boundless light, and a gray pillar of light pierced through the vast land, reaching the depths of the sea of ​​light. Within the pillar of light, the phantom of an ancient and massive gate could be vaguely seen. The gate was tightly closed, and its surface was imprinted with countless Dao patterns.

Knock on the door!

Li Mu's Daoist thoughts materialized, and a figure in a gray robe ascended on light until he reached the door.

Raise your hand and press the door button.

"Dong!" A sound like a bell resounded throughout the boundless land.

The door trembled slightly, creating ripples.

"Knock again!"

Li Mu concentrated his Daoist thoughts and pushed hard again, causing the primordial chaos to surge against the door like a tidal wave.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!..."

Three sounds rang out in succession, and the door cracked open slightly, revealing a vast and ancient aura, as if countless sources were floating and sinking within it.

At this moment, a sudden change occurred!
Deep within the vast earth's veins, the old master's will suddenly awakened, startled by the Daoist voice of Li Mu knocking on the gate of transformation.

"You junior, how dare you steal the source!"

The ancient master's earthen-yellow giant body emerged from the depths of the Myriad Dao Source Sea, its turbid yellow giant eyes piercing through layers of earth veins, locking onto the Chaos Dao Tree.

The old master's body was still covered in eerie white threads, but most of them had already been suppressed.

At this moment, the former master was furious. He never expected that this boy would knock on the door of the Dao at this very moment.

The former master, enraged, attacked, causing the vast primordial energy to surge backward, attempting to forcibly sever the flow of primordial energy converging towards the Chaos Dao Tree.

In an instant, all the Dao Ancestors who were trying their best to absorb the source energy for Li Mu turned pale, all suffered injuries, and were filled with shock and anger, not knowing what to do!

"Fellow Daoists, help me stabilize my source veins! I have a way to break this predicament," Li Mu hurriedly transmitted in his mind.

Upon hearing this, the ancient Dao Ancestor's radiance surged, and the Daoist rhyme of Gui Cang spread out like a net, firmly locking the nodes of the eight domains' ley lines: "Guicang Suppresses the Veins, All Streams Return to Their Source!"

The brilliance of the Great Heaven Dao Ancestor surged forth, the purple lightning of the Thunder Evolution Dao Ancestor danced wildly, and the azure light of the Azure Origin swirled... The eight ancestors each displayed their supernatural powers, exerting their utmost efforts to stabilize the source vein.

The same was true for the seven ancestors from the outer realms, including Chixiao and Tianyao. They were already in a difficult situation and had no way out. They all exerted all their efforts to activate their origins and help the Chaos Dao Tree absorb the source flow of the earth veins.

The former master's giant hand reached out from the earth's veins, attempting to crush the roots of the Chaos Dao Tree.

Li Mu sneered and reminded him, "Former master, you dare to be distracted when your sinister origins are not yet cleared?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mu distracted himself and manipulated the strange source that had seeped into the core of the old master's source vein, launching a sudden counterattack!
Amidst the sizzling sound, the three illusory veins of the earth veins once again glowed with an eerie white light and rapidly spread outwards.

The former master's expression changed drastically, his giant hand paused, and his turbid yellow eyes burst forth with boundless rage.

"You vile creature! I will refine you, this chaotic brat, before I annihilate you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the former master's figure vanished. (End of Chapter)