Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

After Li Mu put away the ancient bronze cauldron, the chaotic will spread rapidly like a tide, probing into the depths of the source vein.

Within the milky white light, countless obscure auras slumbered—the lingering resentment of the Netherworld Fiends, the Devouring Beasts curled up like balls, the Void Worms clustered together, and the Yin Fiend Ants densely covering the cracks… too numerous to count, densely packed.

Li Mu frowned slightly; the number of ferocious creatures contained in this source vein far exceeded his expectations.

Xue'er noticed that Li Mu's expression was different and asked with concern, "Brother Li, what's wrong?"

“Deep within the vein, there are lairs of ferocious creatures!” Li Mu pondered, “Netherworld Fiends, Devouring Source Beasts, Void Worms, Yin Fiend Ants… numbering in the hundreds of millions, coexisting with the source vein. It will take a lot of effort to completely refine this vein!”

Upon hearing this, Xue'er's almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise. "So many? What should we do!"

"If we force the refining, we will surely be attacked by all of them!" Li Mu pondered for a moment and then gestured, "Refine it step by step, set up an array to seal off the outer perimeter, and gradually erode it, refining one section at a time and clearing it out one section at a time!"

Xiao Jin stepped forward: "Master, I have led the War Ape tribe to set up defenses and be on guard against any sudden attacks from ferocious beasts."

"Hmm!" Li Mu nodded with pleasure, looked at Qingyue Zhenlong, Chi Lian or Fangfa, Xiao Wa, and Qingyu Shenwang, and gestured: "You will follow Xiao Jin, manipulate the Dao soldiers, set up the Five Elements Grand Array, and protect the outer realm!"

"Yes, sir!" all the beasts responded in unison.

"Evolve the array diagram and calculate the refining route," Li Mu said, looking at Mingyue.

"Understood!" Mingyue readily accepted the order, and the puppet patterns spread across the void, intertwining to form a light curtain. The source vein structure was revealed layer by layer, marking the distribution of the ferocious creatures, the nodes of the source vein, and the weak points.

“There are three routes. The eastern route has the fewest ferocious creatures and the fastest refining speed, but the tributaries of the source vein are dense, so the gains are limited; the western route has a robust source vein and a dense concentration of ferocious creatures, making refining dangerous; the central route is a compromise, allowing for a more cautious approach.” Mingyue consulted Li Mu.

Li Mu pointed to the middle lane, indicating, "Start from here."

Mingyue readily complied, and the puppet-patterned light screen contracted, condensing into a winding route map, which entered the brows of all the Dao Ancestors.

Xiao Jin stepped forward, his crimson-gold battle aura soaring into the sky: "War Ape Tribe, Western Golden Position!"

The Azure Moon Dragon roared, and its phantom coiled in the east: "Azure Dragon troops, Easternmost water level!"

Chi Lian Huo Feng rose with a smile, his body wreathed in crimson flames: "Fire Feather Tribe, Antarctic Fire Position!"

Xiao Wa roared, his Rock Lizard form suppressing the north: "Mysterious Armor Tribe, Arctic Earth Position!"

The roots of the Azure Jade Ginseng King spread out, and the central Earth position shimmered with azure light: "Wood Ancestor's retinue, Central Wood position!"

Five rays of light surged forth, intertwining to form a sky-covering array that enveloped the source vein.

Bright moon's silver eyes swirled, and puppet patterns spread across the void, transforming into a light curtain that reflected the structure of the source vein: "The central node has been marked. Refine it segment by segment from left to right."

Xue'er stood beneath the illusory image of the Ice Blue Ancestral Tree, her Taiyin True Eyes rotating, moonlight falling and enveloping the first segment of the Origin Vein.

Iron Head grinned, and the phantom of the Ancestral Tree of Fire appeared, its crimson flames transforming into a fire dragon that lunged at the surface of the source vein.

"Snap—"

As the stone shell peeled away, milky white light gushed out from the cracks, and the source energy was as rich as syrup, invigorating everyone's spirits.

Lin Xiaolun's spirits lifted: "Good stuff!"

……

Before the words were finished, a rustling sound came from the depths of the source vein.

A massive black tide surged from the crack, densely packed and overwhelming—Yin Sha Ants!

The Fiend Ants were pitch black, with mandibles like pincers. Wherever they passed, the void corroded, the source energy dissipated, and a black tide surged toward the crowd like a flood bursting its banks.

"court death!"

With a loud shout, the phantom of the Fire Ancestral Tree expanded rapidly, and the Crimson Flame Dragon turned and pounced on the ant swarm.

"boom!"

The crimson flames exploded, turning the ants to ashes in swarms, and the stench of burning filled the air.

However, the ant swarm was endless, one after another, burning wave after wave, and the black tide not only did not decrease but increased.

Seeing this, Xue'er's Taiyin True Eyes swirled between her brows, and moonlight swept across the ant swarm like a ribbon.

Three breaths later, Xue'er said coldly, "The queen ant has intelligence, hidden deep within the heart of the ant, controlling the ant colony."

Li Mu understood, took a step forward, and his figure disappeared into the Origin Meridian.

Deep within the heart, a void cave.

A colossal ant, its body covered in jet-black scales that shimmered with an eerie light, was coiled around. Its thousand legs writhed beneath its abdomen, and its mouthparts opened, emitting waves. As if sensing something, its compound eyes turned crimson, and it stared intently at Li Mu.

Li Mu raised his hand and pressed down lightly.

Chaotic Dao Fire surged from his palm, transforming into a gigantic gray hand that grabbed the queen ant.

The queen ant hissed, her thousand legs thrashed about, and jet-black venom gushed forth, corroding the void. Yet, the Chaos Fire did not die out; it burned ever brighter.

Three breaths.

The queen ant's struggle gradually weakened.

Five breaths.

The jet-black scales peeled off.

Ten breaths.

The queen ant turned into a cloud of black smoke and was completely annihilated.

Outside the source vein, the ant swarm froze instantly.

The next moment, the billions of ant-like creatures receded like a tide, disappearing back into the depths of the crack, never to be heard again.

Tie Tou put away the fire and wiped his sweat: "Damn it, it's finally quiet."

Little Gold grinned: "Master is so efficient."

Xue'er looked into the depths of the source vein, where Li Mu's figure stepped out from the crack, his Dao aura as usual.

"The queen ant is dead. Continue refining."

Li Mu looked at Mingyue and gestured, "Next section."

Mingyue nodded with pleasure, her silver eyes sparkling. The puppet-patterned light screen contracted, marking a new node: "Three million miles to the east, there are few ferocious creatures, so you can refine quickly."

Li Mu instructed the Dao Ancestors: "Xue'er, oversee the scene. Each Ancestor, guard your position and refine your Origin Meridians together!"

Everyone responded in unison.

Iron Head stepped forward, and the phantom of the Ancestral Tree of Fire surged, with the Crimson Flame Dragon rushing towards the Source Vein. Seeing this, the other ancestors poured out their Dao Yuan, released the Ancestral Tree Dharma Image, and frantically refined the Source Vein.

As the outer layers of the source vein peel away, milky white light emerges, and pure source energy permeates the air.

Li Mu stood with his hands behind his back, enveloped by a chaotic will.

One day.

two days.

Three days.

……

The source veins shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye, and milky white source crystals piled up like mountains.

Iron Head, panting heavily, his flames dimming, said, "Master, I can't hold on much longer."

Li Mu raised his hand and pointed, and the gray, chaotic primordial energy instantly poured into the bodies of all the Dao Ancestors.

Iron Head's spirits lifted, and the fire surged by 30%.

"continue."

Iron Head grinned: "Alright!"

……

Five days later, the first segment of the source vein was refined.

Mingyue was invigorated and calculated: "I have obtained 36,000 units of Source Vein Essence and 800 Source Qi Dao Crystals."

Xue'er looked down at the next section of the source vein: "That's only 30%." Li Mu's gaze fell into the depths of the source vein: "Continue."

With all their might, the Five Elements Grand Array was activated, and the Dao light intertwined, advancing to the next level.

Suddenly, deep within the source vein, crisscrossing fissures swirled with milky white light. From these fissures emerged large swarms of silvery-white specks—void worms, their bodies transparent, their mouthparts like needles, a swarm that blanketed the sky.

Iron Head grinned and cursed, as the phantom of the Fire Ancestral Tree surged, its crimson flames transforming into a sea of ​​fire that swept across the land.

The swarm of insects ignites upon contact with fire, hissing and emitting a pungent stench. Yet, the insect tide is endless, relentlessly advancing and retreating. The sea of ​​fire consumes wave after wave, but the silvery-white insect swarm only grows stronger.

"Annoying!" Xiao Jin roared, his crimson-gold battle aura transforming into thousands of golden blades that slashed into the swarm of insects. Wherever the golden blades passed, the insect bodies were severed in two, and dark green fluids splattered everywhere.

The severed worm struggled and writhed, and the wound healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, splitting into two new worms.

Xue'er's eyes narrowed: "Split and regenerate, not easy to deal with!"

Bright moon's silver eyes darted around, and the puppet-patterned light screen reflected the structure of the insect swarm: "Destroy their cores. Each insect has a source core inside; shatter the core and it will die!"

Li Mu understood. His chaotic will spread out, instantly enveloping the entire swarm of insects, reflecting the location of the source core within the billions of worms in his mind.

"cut!"

Li Mu waved his hand and made a virtual slash, and gray light surged out, transforming into thousands of fine threads that precisely pierced into the bodies of each worm.

The swarm of insects froze for a moment, and then, in the next instant, the silvery-white insect tide exploded, and billions of source cores shattered at the same time, turning into countless silver flakes that scattered across the sky.

……

One hundred days have passed.

The ferocious creatures on the outer layer of the source vein gradually disappeared, and there was no more sound in the milky white light. Mingyue calculated the harvest and said happily: "The outer layer was refined to 70%, and I obtained 700,000 cubic meters of source vein essence and 3,200 source qi crystals."

Li Mu led the ancestors to continue their journey into the depths of the source vein.

The fissures crisscrossed, and milky white light flowed around them. The deeper one went, the denser the source energy became, almost tangible. After traveling for three days, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

A dark pool blocked the way, its water as black as ink, steaming with an aura of death. The surface of the pool churned with deathly energy, and faint wails could be heard, making one's heart tremble.

Xue'er's Taiyin True Eyes spun between her brows, and moonlight, like a ribbon, fell down and entered the pool.

Xue'er withdrew her gaze, her expression grave, and said, "Brother Li, there are billions of Netherworld Fiends lurking at the bottom of the pool, still asleep."

Lin Xiaonan gasped: "Hundreds of millions?"

Iron Head grinned and said, "If this wakes us up, we'll be in big trouble."

Li Mu understood. His chaotic will probed into the pool. The bottom of the pool was as black as an abyss, with layers of evil spirits filling every inch of space. They were slumbering and breathing in death energy, with varying strengths. They inhaled and exhaled the evil energy in the pool and coexisted with the source vein.

Li Mu pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and pressed down lightly.

The gray, chaotic Dao fire surged from his palm, transforming into countless threads that, like living things, burrowed into the pool wall, weaving into a net, layer upon layer, covering the entire dark pool.

"seal up."

Li Mu uttered a single word, and in an instant, chaotic Dao patterns spread out, intertwining with each other, and condensing into a sealing array that completely severed the connection between the deathly aura of the Nether Pool and the outside world.

After sensing for a moment, Xue'er exclaimed in surprise, "The Deathly Fiend in the pool is sealed and cannot leak out, while the Netherworld Fiend remains dormant."

“Well, let’s not get entangled with it. We’ll deal with it when we have time.” Li Mu turned around and gestured, “Let’s continue on our way.”

The Dao Ancestors followed closely behind, bypassing the dark pool and continuing along the main vein of the source.

After traveling a hundred miles, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

A milky white radiance surged forth, brimming with vitality, a stark contrast to the deathly aura of the dark pool. Before everyone's eyes appeared a spiritual pool, ten thousand feet in diameter, suspended at the heart of the meridian. The source liquid within the pool was milky white as jade, the source energy was dense and liquid, and the Daoist rhyme flowed around it.

In the center of the pool, a phantom-like spirit was curled up, resembling a human, with a blurred face and surrounded by a faint white light. It sensed the arrival of the group, its body trembled slightly, and its blurred face emerged, staring at Li Mu.

Sensing the Dao Transformation Will on Li Mu's body, the spirit trembled violently, its blurred face revealing fear, as if it wanted to flee, but there was nowhere to escape, and it trembled.

Xue'er's Yin True Eyes flickered between her brows as she gazed at the spiritual image for a moment before softly saying, "Brother Li, it's so pure, without a trace of impurity."

Little Jin stared wide-eyed, puzzled, and asked, "Master, what is this?"

Iron Head grinned and said, "Such pure Dao source, refining it is equivalent to half a source vein."

As if it understood the meaning behind Tie Tou's words, the blurry spirit was so frightened that its blurry form almost collapsed, emitting a weak whimper, like a frightened young animal.

Xue'er, with a soft heart, looked at Li Mu and said, "Brother Li, could you please let it go?"

Li Mu stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the ethereal reflection in the pool.

The spirit seemed to understand human intentions, its blurred face turning towards Xue'er to convey gratitude, before turning to Li Mu, its fear lingering and now tinged with a hint of pleading.

Bright moon's silver eyes swirled, and the puppet-patterned light screen reflected the structure of the spirit's image: "This thing seems to be the spirit of the source vein, nurtured for billions of years, a thing whose intelligence has just begun to awaken!"

Li Mu looked the spirit up and down, and his chaotic will reached out to touch the spirit.

The spirit trembled violently, filled with fear, yet dared not refuse.

Li Mu's will was gentle, yet contained a powerful, chaotic essence. In its perception, it was like a mother's embrace, warm and peaceful.

"How long has this meridian been nurturing you?" Li Mu asked telepathically.

The spirit was bewildered, and after a long while, it conveyed a fragmented thought—a long, long time, so long that it couldn't remember.

"Do you know that there are countless lands and billions of living beings outside?" Li Mu asked again.

Lingying shook her head, her mind focused solely on this source vein, these source energies, and those slumbering ferocious creatures.

Li Mu raised his hand, and a phantom image appeared in his palm—the vast lands and the forest of myriad ancestors, where Dao soldiers drilled and living beings multiplied.

Lingying stared in astonishment, a sense of wonder appearing on her blurry face.

"If you wish to come with me, you may enter the Vast Earth Source Vein to continue your cultivation." Li Mu instructed telepathically, "On the day you take human form, you may observe the sun, moon, and stars, touch the mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees, and converse with all living beings."

Lingying stared blankly at the illusory image, and after a long while, she conveyed her thoughts—what will happen here…?

“I will refine this vein and incorporate it into the Vast Land,” Li Mu said truthfully. “If you stay, you will perish along with the vein.”

The ghostly figure trembled violently, and fear returned.

“Come with me, and you will live,” Li Mu said. “And your future cultivation will be far superior to this.”

The spirit huddled up, struggling. After a long while, it looked up at Xue'er.

Xue'er said softly, "Brother Li won't lie to you. Come with us, and we'll definitely treat you well!"

Upon hearing Xue'er's words, Lingying turned her blurry face towards her, conveying joy, then timidly looked at Li Mu, filled with unease.

"Choose quickly!" Li Mu continued to transmit his thoughts: "Enter my vast land, take control of a source vein, and in the future, you will take human form and attain enlightenment."

Xue'er chuckled softly, her Yin True Eye between her brows scattering moonlight, cool yet gentle, enveloping the spirit: "Come with us! I will teach you cultivation and protect you as you grow!"

The spirit sensed the moonlight enveloping it, like a gentle spring breeze, and its fear gradually dissipated, replaced by joy. It cautiously drifted towards Xue'er.

Xue'er raised her hand, and a ball of icy blue light condensed in her palm, supporting the spirit shadow.

The spirit touched its halo and trembled slightly in comfort, its blurred face revealing a look of contentment.

Xiao Jin grinned and said, "Xue'er is really something, she just kidnapped her!"

Li Mu looked at the Spirit Pool, where the source liquid was milky white like jade and the source energy was as thick as liquid. Even without the spirit image, it was still magnificent.

Li Mu raised his hand and gestured, causing the primordial essence in the pool to surge up, transforming into a long, milky-white river, which he then absorbed into his sleeve: "Collect."

Before long, the spirit pool dried up, leaving only the empty Pulse Heart Cave.

Li Mu looked around. He had extracted all the essence of the source veins and eliminated all the ferocious creatures. This trip could be considered a success.

Soon, Li Mu led his men out of the source vein, the milky white light behind them gradually dimmed, and the vein shrank by 30%.

"The rest can be left for later." Li Mu looked at the Dao Ancestors and gestured, "Let's go back."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mu casually made a gesture, and the Chaos Dao Yuan surged out, instantly transforming into a deep Chaos Passage leading to the Vast Land.

Everyone responded in unison, and followed Li Mu into the passage, disappearing without a trace. (End of Chapter)