Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

For a moment, the Star Evolution Platform fell silent.

After a long silence, Li Mu pondered and said, "A thousand years to complete 30% is indeed too slow. On this trip, deep within the ruins, I saw the source core of that vast land that perished."

Upon hearing this, all the Dao Ancestors were taken aback.

Gu Xi Dao Zu asked in surprise, "Dao Master, do you know the origin of that vast land?"

"Yes, the Dao-transformation will of that fallen land is named Qian Yuanzi. He lived for seventeen kalpas and his cultivation reached the perfection of the Dao-transformation stage..." Li Mu explained in detail.

Haotian Daozu gasped and asked in astonishment, "Qian Yuanzi... Dao Lord before the Cataclysmic Era, what caused that vast land to collapse?"
"In the end, it was greed that brought disaster upon him." Li Mu said indifferently, "This person's opportunity had not yet arrived. He wanted to break through to the next level of Dao Transformation, forcibly absorbing the foreign sources of the seven domains. His Dao foundation collapsed, and he died and his domain was destroyed... He left a bone slip on the altar as a warning of his own defeat. I touched it with the Dao intent of Chaos. Deep within the source core, the remnant consciousness of Qian Yuanzi has not yet dissipated..."

Upon hearing this, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Gu Xi Daozu's expression changed drastically: "Dao Master! That kind of Dao Collapse Obsession is extremely dangerous, you...!"

“He did not harm me.” Li Mu looked at Gu Xi and gestured, “My remaining consciousness only repeatedly recites one sentence: ‘All paths resonate in harmony, and the origin is united.’”

The ancestors looked at each other in bewilderment.

Li Mu pointed his finger, and a gray ripple appeared in the void. A vague thought emanated from the ripple, intermittent and like a candle flickering in the wind.

"Different paths...clashing...like ice and charcoal in the same furnace..."

"If we can be in sync, if we can be in sync..."

The thought abruptly ended there, leaving only a desolate sigh.

Gu Xi Daozu closed his eyes for a long time and sighed, "Qian Yuanzi swallowed the seven domains of the source, not because he did not know that different paths clash, but because he could not find the method of 'harmony,' and ultimately his path collapsed."

“That’s right!” Li Mu nodded. “However, he ultimately lost, but he did leave me a way out!”

The Dao Ancestor Haotian's starry eyes suddenly lit up: "The Dao Lord's intention?"

"The Dao of Decay and the Dao of Life are incompatible, like ice and charcoal." Li Mu raised his hand, and two thin streams appeared in his palm, one as green as spring and the other as gray as decay, indicating that "However, both of them originated from chaos and share the same origin."

Qingyuan Dao Ancestor seemed to understand something: "Does the Dao Master mean... to trace the source and return to the root?"

"Not just returning to the source." Two thin streams from Li Mu's palm slowly approached each other. The moment they touched, the green light dimmed and grayness spread, indicating that "forcing them to merge will inevitably result in one of them being injured."

“Qian Yuanzi was defeated here.” Li Mu’s eyes flashed with gray light as he said confidently, “He used force to drive away the alien sources of the seven regions, trying to make all the paths submit to his own. However, the paths were not in harmony, and he ultimately suffered a backlash.”

“If we don’t use force to drive them…” Ancestor Chenguang frowned, puzzled, “then how can we harmonize them?”

Li Mu smiled slightly and pointed again.

Three halos of light appeared in the void.

The left cluster glowed with a vibrant green light, teeming with life and spiritual energy, with glimpses of sprouting plants appearing; the right cluster was gray and gloomy, with a sense of decay and death surging, clearly showing the signs of all things withering away; the central cluster was a gray and chaotic mass, devoid of light and color, remaining only in its primordial, undefined state.

"Decline and life both originate from this." Li Mu explained: "Before the chaos was divided, there was neither birth nor death, neither prosperity nor decline."

A thoughtful look flashed in Gu Xi Dao Zu's eyes, and he asked in surprise, "Does Dao Zu mean... to return the two to chaos and create a new state?"

Li Mu shook his head and smiled, "It's about reversing its 'source'."

Haotian Daozu was taken aback and asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

"All things flow and circulate, each with its own rhythm. The rhythm of life is slow and resilient, while the rhythm of decay is swift and fierce. These two origins are contradictory and conflicting..."

Li Mu raised his finger and drew a line in the air. Two ripples collided in the void, instantly creating turbulent currents before both were annihilated. "If we could adjust the Dao sources of the two to the same rhythm..."

The next moment, the chaotic halo in Li Mu's palm trembled slightly, rippling out a circle of gray mist. His Dao intent was between gentle and rapid, steady and long.

The ripples of life and the ripples of decay merge within the chaotic source of the Dao, yet no conflict arises upon touching them.

Azure light and gray decay slowly intertwined, like two fish swimming together, entwining with each other, condensing into a strange Daoist charm of gray and green, where prosperity and decay coexist, and life and death are intertwined.

The Dao Ancestors stared wide-eyed at this strange scene, momentarily forgetting to breathe.

Qingyuan Daozu's emerald eyes widened in disbelief: "This... how is this possible?"

Li Mu smiled slightly and gestured, "I will use the Dao of Chaos as a bridge to adjust the rhythm of its Dao source. When the three are in sync, the collision will naturally disappear."

Gu Xi Daozu stared for a long time, then sighed, "I have cultivated the Dao of Returning to the Source for 300,000 years, and my sealing techniques have reached their peak, but I never thought... to use the Dao Source in this way!"

"The Dao Lord's method is beyond the scope of 'purification'." Dao Ancestor Haotian's starry eyes shone brightly as he exclaimed, "This is... a new path, a reinterpretation of the Dao principles!"

Ancestor Chenguang said in a deep voice: "However, such a 'change of origin' requires the Dao Transformation level to control the origin of chaos, and even more so, to accurately capture the rhythm of decay and life, without the slightest error!"

“Therefore, I need your help.” Li Mu looked at the Dao Ancestors, then landed on Dao Ancestor Qingyuan, and smiled as he gestured, “Qingyuan Daoist is most familiar with the rhythm of life.”

Qingyuan Daozu solemnly cupped his hands and respectfully said, "I will do my utmost."

“The rhythm of decay.” Li Mu looked at the two ancestors, Gu Xi and Hao Tian, ​​and continued, “By using the methods of Gu Cang Feng Zhen and Xing Yan Xuan, we can measure its flow trajectory and trace its source rhythm.”

Gu Xi and Hao Tian, ​​the two ancestors, responded in unison.

"I will build the Chaos Bridge myself." Li Mu looked around at the ancestors: "If this path is successful, eight-tenths of the original essence of the remains can be refined into the meridians, not just thirty percent."

Dao Ancestor Lei Yan exclaimed in delight, "Eighty percent? Dao Master, is this true?"

"We'll know once we try." Li Mu stood up and gestured, "Please, fellow Daoists, follow me to the Sea of ​​Myriad Dao Origins."

With a flick of his sleeve, Li Mu's figure transformed into chaotic energy and vanished in an instant.

Qingyuan Daozu exchanged a glance with Gu Xi and Haotian, nodded, and with a flash of green light, followed closely behind.

The source of all paths is the sea.

Li Mu sat cross-legged in the void, with the dark primordial energy floating in front of him. After a hundred years of purification, the black patterns on its surface had faded, leaving only the formless Daoist aura of decay lingering around it.

Qingyuan Daozu landed beside Li Mu, with the illusory image of the Myriad Spirits Ancestral Tree appearing behind him, shrouded in a hazy azure light.

“Fellow Daoist, release the life force and Dao essence; the purer the better,” Li Mu said.

Qingyuan Daozu nodded and pointed to his brow. A wisp of vibrant green life force detached from the illusory image of the ancestral tree and drifted toward Li Mu.

Li Mu raised his hand to catch it, letting the chaotic Dao intent seep into it, sensing it carefully.

Qingyuan Daozu stood quietly to one side, the illusory image of the Myriad Spirits Ancestral Tree swaying behind him, its branches and leaves emitting emerald light that echoed the life-giving energy in Li Mu's palm.

“Purify it by three points,” Li Mu said, looking at Qingyuan Daozu.

Qingyuan Daozu nodded, and Dao Yuan was activated. The illusory image of the Myriad Spirits Ancestral Tree trembled violently, and all the leaves on the branches darkened, except for a single tender green leaf that shone brightly in the center of the main trunk.

That leaf was the first Dao leaf that Qingyuan Dao Ancestor obtained when he attained Dao. It contained the essence of his life's vitality and Dao charm. A drop of emerald liquid, as clear as a tear, seeped from the tip of the leaf and floated into Li Mu's palm.

Qingyuan Daozu's face turned pale, and his Dao Source was being consumed at a visible rate.

Seeing this, Li Mu casually made a move, using his chaotic will to activate the Vast Earth Source Vein, injecting boundless source energy into the Azure Origin Dao Ancestor.

Qingyuan Daozu's spirits lifted as he sensed that his depleted source of energy was being rapidly replenished.

"Thank you very much, Dao Master!" Dao Ancestor Qingyuan looked at Li Mu and expressed his heartfelt gratitude.

"No need for formalities, let's continue!"

Li Mu waved his hand, and the chaotic will condensed in the emerald liquid. The vitality pulsed from the center of the liquid, resilient and enduring, like a silkworm gnawing on a mulberry tree, like a new bud breaking through the soil.

"This is the law!" Li Mu's eyes flashed with gray light, and with a flick of his finger, chaotic fire surged from his fingertip.

Between the ebb and flow of the Chaos Dao Fire, the life force was repeatedly stripped away and purified, gradually forming a wisp of emerald gold thread, its rhythm as precise as a pendulum.

The Qingyuan Dao Ancestor's face flushed slightly, his expression full of shock: "Dao Master, what a skillful method."

Li Mu smiled without saying a word, and with a flick of his wrist, the wisp of emerald gold thread flew into the Chaos Furnace.

The dark origin within the furnace was silent, and the Daoist essence of decay was formless and intangible. Only the chaotic Daoist intent could perceive its flow, which was swift and fierce, rapid and urgent, like ten thousand rivers collapsing or rotten wood crumbling.

Li Mu made a hand seal and manipulated two sources of Dao.

The fine thread touched the Daoist aura of decay, and the two sources of Dao suddenly clashed, causing the Chaos Daoist Furnace to tremble violently.

Ancient Dao Ancestor hurriedly formed the Returning to the Source Seal, and the clear radiance of Daoist energy descended like a veil, forcefully suppressing the furnace body.

Li Mu seemed oblivious, his mind sinking into the furnace.

The Chaos Dao acts as a bridge, drawing the rhythm of life on the left and the rhythm of decay on the right. These two Dao source rhythms are diametrically opposed, one slow and one fast, one resilient and one fierce, like ice and charcoal in a furnace, ready to explode upon contact. Li Mu did not forcefully suppress it.

The chaotic Dao intent flowed like water, overflowing along the edge of the rhythm of life, and then along the edge of the rhythm of decay.

Once.

Twice.

A hundred times.

Ten thousand times.

At some point, the flow of the chaotic Dao intent synchronized with the rhythm of life; and after an unknown period, the flow of the chaotic Dao intent gradually changed, eventually aligning with the rhythm of decay.

Inside the furnace, two different Daoist energies clashed fiercely, escalating the conflict.
However, the chaotic Dao intent moved freely between them, ... subtly perceiving the changes between the two.

Suddenly, Li Mu's mind stirred. The chaotic Dao intent expanded in an instant, transforming into a gray ripple, simultaneously covering it with the rhythms of life and decay.

The ripples shook violently.

The rhythm of life is rapid, while the rhythm of decay is slow.

The furnace fell silent.

On the surface of the dark origin, a glimmer of green light suddenly appeared, and a wisp of emerald emanated from the depths of the origin, like the first crack of spring ice, like withered trees coming back to life.

At the edge of the verdant green, the gray hue has not yet faded; prosperity and decay, life and death, coexist within the same source.

Qingyuan Daozu's eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed, "This..."

Li Mu's expression remained unchanged as he formed a hand seal.

The Chaos Fire rose from the bottom of the furnace, its flames rising steadily, like tea being slowly simmered.

The dark source within the furnace slowly rotated, the verdant green and the ashen gray intertwined like two fish, circling each other without encroaching upon each other.

One breath; ten breaths, ..., one hundred breaths.

The verdant green gradually intensifies, while the gray and withered colors gradually fade.

Li Mu put away the seal, and the furnace fire went out on its own.

Inside the furnace, a ball of primordial energy, the size of an infant's fist and translucent with a bright green color, floated quietly. It contained no trace of decaying Daoist energy, only pure life force, as deep and still as an abyss.

As if sensing something, Gu Xi Dao Zu asked with delight, "Dao Master, has it been accomplished?"

Upon hearing this, all the Dao Ancestors in the arena turned their gazes to Li Mu, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Li Mu smiled slightly, reached out and drew the ball of Dao source into his hand, then channeled his divine sense into it.

“Five percent of the original essence remains! The decay is gone!” Li Mu immersed himself in the sensation for a while, looked at the Dao Ancestors, nodded and smiled, “That should be enough! It’s fine.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mu reached out and beckoned.

With a loud "boom," the void of the Myriad Origin Sea suddenly cracked open, and the next moment, a main vein of the Vast Earth Origin Vein was exposed from the crack, with deep purple Origin Qi rising and flowing endlessly like mist.

Li Mu smiled slightly, used his Dao Source to catalyze the emerald green essence, and then pressed it into his meridians.

With a "hum," a long, resonant sound echoed from the depths of the vast land.

The emerald essence melts into the veins upon entering, transforming into billions of shimmering green light points that surge along the spiritual network of the source veins.

In the Eastern Thunder Pool, a sudden flash of purple lightning illuminated the area.

The Weak Water of the Western Regions surges with dark waves.

In the fiery hell of the southern lands, the crimson flames have reignited.

In the northern icy plains, frost crystallizes.

The ancient lands returned to their former glory, and the clear light shone brightly.

The vast expanse of stars stretches out, their brilliance soaring into the sky.

Crimson Flame Ancestral Domain, Heavenly Demon Blood Forest, Chenguang Dojo, Nether Bone Wasteland, ...

In the Forest of Ten Thousand Ancestors, a thousand ancestral trees trembled in unison, new leaves sprouted from their branches, and the fruits of their cultivation became glossy and lustrous.

The roots grew wildly, penetrating deep into the source vein network, breaking through layer after layer of earth vein crystals, and reaching the deep source marrow.

Lei Yan Daozu's spirits soared, and purple lightning surged around his body.

"The source vein... has thickened?"

Gu Xi Dao Zu Qing Hui's eyes were full of joy: "Not only has it increased in thickness. The origin of the vast land has also increased by half a percent."

Dao Ancestor Haotian quickly calculated with his fingers, overjoyed: "Half a batch... half a batch! This is only one batch!"

Ancestor Chenguang exclaimed excitedly, "If even eight-tenths of the original essence of the remains could be refined in this way..."

Before he could finish speaking, the ancestors understood his meaning and all turned their gazes to Li Mu, their eyes burning with intensity.

Li Mu smiled slightly, flipped his palm, and a fragment the size of a fingernail, as black as ink, appeared.

As soon as the fragment appeared, the void solidified.

The Daoist aura of decay surged like a tangible tide, causing the Chaotic Dao Fire to flicker erratically wherever it passed, and the crystal walls at the edge of the Myriad Dao Source Sea to crack inch by inch.

The expression on Qingyuan Daozu's face changed drastically. Behind him, the illusory image of the Myriad Spirits Ancestral Tree drooped its branches and leaves, and its vitality and Dao aura were forcibly suppressed.

"Master Dao, this is..."

“A fragment of the Dao Origin Core.” Li Mu held the fragment and said calmly, “It is something that condensed from the collapse of Qian Yuanzi’s Dao Foundation.”

Upon hearing this, Dao Ancestor Qingyuan gasped.

Li Mu said no more and looked up to survey the myriad origins of the sea.

The source sea is vast, its crystal walls riddled with holes, and fragments of laws float like stars.

Li Mu's gaze fell on the center of the Origin Sea—the Chaos Spirit-Nourishing Pool floated quietly, with Origin Essence flowing within and starlight twinkling.

"This pool is still too small!"

Li Mu muttered something in disgust.

The next instant, Li Mu formed a hand seal, and the Myriad Origin Sea trembled violently.

Billions of fragments of laws lit up simultaneously, and crimson flames, weak waters, thunder, vitality, deathly silence... all kinds of Daoist charms surged like a torrent, converging towards the center of the Origin Sea.

The Spirit-Nourishing Pool hummed, and the Dao patterns on its walls spread wildly, expanding in all directions.

Hundred feet.

Thousands of feet.

lofty.

One hundred thousand feet.

Wherever the pool wall passed, fragments of laws were completely absorbed, turning into gray-white crystals, flowing with the scene of creation and creation. The gray primordial slurry inside the pool surged, and the vortex expanded like a whirlpool. Deep within the whirlpool, the light of the Dao rose and fell, and the chaotic Dao source was more than a hundred times more concentrated than before.

"That's more like it!"

Li Mu smiled with satisfaction, and then threw the fragment of the Dao Fallen Origin Core in his palm into it.

The fragments fall into the pool, like ink into clear water.

The source of the gray mist suddenly darkened, and the decaying Daoist energy spread like a plague, extinguishing starlight and causing stagnation in its wake.

Li Mu remained calm and composed, using his magic to make a series of pinches.

The next moment, with a "whoosh", a thick chaotic fire rose from the bottom of the pool, its flames fierce, as if the blazing sun were close at hand.

The decaying Daoist aura, upon encountering the chaotic Daoist fire, not only did not collapse, but instead absorbed the fire's power and multiplied using it—an extremely bizarre phenomenon. (End of Chapter)