Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

"How can it be so serious!"

Li Mu could not imagine the scene of the arrival of the Dharma Ending Age. His cultivation had always been improved by planting spiritual plants and absorbing the spiritual properties of the plants. If the Dharma Ending Age came, let alone cultivation, he would certainly not be able to plant spiritual plants.

His method of cultivation is closely related to the vitality of this vast spiritual world. The vigorous growth of each spiritual plant is the cornerstone of his fight against time and pursuit of immortality. If the Dharma Ending Age comes, all of this seems to be in vain, making Li Mu feel unprecedented powerlessness.

"The depletion of spiritual energy is not something that happens overnight. This has actually happened a long time ago, but it has only recently intensified!" Sword Master Feng had a dejected look on his face, as if he was born at the wrong time and sighed: "Thinking back to the past, the spiritual world was at its peak, with many Dao Lords emerging and thousands of Daos competing with each other, it was so glorious! But now, that brilliant era has become a thing of the past. Even ten thousand years ago, the spiritual world had no less than a hundred Dao Lords, but now, even our sect, the most powerful sect in the Zhongzhou Spiritual Domain, only has two Dao Lords. It is as difficult as ascending to heaven for us to make further progress, alas!"

Hearing this, Li Mu was speechless for a moment. He could feel Master Feng's sadness, but he didn't know how to comfort him.

Over the past thousand years, relying on the many sixth- and seventh-level spiritual plants planted in seven secret realms, Li Mu is confident that he can reach the realm of the Great Vehicle Lord. The Painting World Palace in his hand is like a moving secret realm, allowing him to temporarily avoid the limelight in troubled times and accumulate resources. During this thousand years, he has collected a large number of spiritual stones and spiritual veins, avoiding the arrival of the Dharma Ending Age, and it will not be a problem for him to survive for a while.

But this lingering survival is not a long-term solution after all.

The treasure house space cannot generate spiritual power out of thin air. Spiritual stones and spiritual veins will eventually be exhausted. Therefore, the ultimate goal is to completely solve the problem of spiritual power exhaustion.

The two were silent for a long time. Li Mu looked at Sword Master Feng and couldn't help asking, "Sword Master, after the spiritual energy is exhausted and the end of the law comes, will there really be a day when the spiritual energy will revive?"

Faced with such a grand change of the times, the power of an individual is extremely small. Even if he aspires to become the Taoist monarch a thousand years later, Li Mu does not have the confidence to face such problems.

Hearing this, Master Feng was slightly startled, thought deeply for a while, and responded: "The revival of spiritual energy cannot be easily predicted by human power. But according to ancient records, everything in the world has reincarnation. The rise and fall of spiritual energy also follows this law. In the past, the spiritual world has experienced several cycles of spiritual energy depletion and revival. Each revival was accompanied by strange phenomena in the world, the emergence of spiritual objects, and the prosperity of Taoism."

“Yes!” Sword Master Feng changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, and shook his head, saying, “If the Dharma Ending Age really arrives in full force, its duration and impact will far exceed those of the past. Whether or not we can see the day of recovery, and when we can recover, are all unknown.”

Hearing this, Li Mu's heart could not help but ripple. He was filled with fear of the unknown and desire for hope. Thinking of something, Li Mu looked at Sword Master Feng and proposed his idea: "Sword Master, facing such a predicament, can you consider finding another way? For example, take the initiative to open the seal of the passage between the two realms and look for an opportunity to go to the upper realm. Perhaps you can find a glimmer of hope there?"

Upon hearing this, Master Feng's lips curled up into a complex smile, a smile that showed both recognition of Li Mu's imagination and an awareness of the cruelty of reality.

"You mentioned opening the passage between the two worlds. It is indeed possible to ascend to the upper world, but the difficulties and obstacles involved are far beyond your and my imagination. The seal formation is set up to protect the spirit world and prevent the invasion of the Demon Abyss. If the seal is broken, we will face the invasion of the Demon Abyss immediately. What's more, even if the seal of the passage between the two worlds is broken, whether the upper world will accept it, and whether it really has the source of spiritual energy we need, all of this is unknown, and what's more!" Feng Jianzhu's words revealed a bit of helplessness, and added: "The affairs of the upper world are far more complicated and changeable than the spirit world. If you go there rashly, I am afraid that not only will you not be able to find a chance to survive, but you may fall into a deeper crisis."

Facing Master Feng's meaningful gaze, Li Mu nodded embarrassedly.

Master Feng smiled bitterly and continued, "Let's not talk about the seal of the passage between the two worlds being opened and the invasion of the Demon Abyss into this world. It is not easy for us to ascend to the upper world. The upper world has set many restrictions and tests for the ascenders from the spirit world. These restrictions are not only related to cultivation and strength."

"The upper realm has extremely high requirements for the cultivation of the ascenders. It is difficult for those who are not at the Great Perfection or have comprehended some supreme laws to be accepted by the upper realm. However, this is just the beginning, and the real test is still to come."

"Secondly, in order to maintain their own balance and order, the upper world forces have implemented a strict isolation and inspection system for the ascenders, and strictly guarded against every ascender. Few ascenders can be recognized and accepted by the upper world forces."

“What’s more, ever since the passage between the two worlds was sealed for ten thousand years, communication with the upper world has been cut off. Even if the passage between the two worlds is opened and we ascend to the upper world, we will probably be treated coldly and excluded, or even suppressed by hostile forces.” Sword Master Feng’s eyes became deep and he said in a deep voice.

Li Mu frowned. He was not surprised by the scene described by Master Feng. However, if the spiritual energy in the spiritual world was exhausted, ascending to the upper realm was undoubtedly a very good way.

As if seeing through Li Mu's thoughts, Sword Master Feng smiled and reminded him, "Elder Li, you have lofty ambitions! However, ascending to the upper realm is no joke. Not to mention that the passage between the two realms is sealed again, with the current spiritual energy level, it is extremely difficult to break through the last level of the Mahayana Daojun! Otherwise, the two Daojuns would not have risked going to the Nine Netherworlds."

“Besides, the passage between the two worlds has not been opened for a long time, and we have no idea what the situation is like in the upper world. If we go there rashly, not only may we not get the expected help, but we may fall into an even more dangerous situation. The fundamental solution right now is to find a solution to the problem of the depletion of spiritual energy in the spiritual world.” Sword Master Feng looked at Li Mu and consoled him.

In the eyes of Master Feng Jian, Li Mu practiced the five elements and yin and yang simultaneously and embarked on the ancient chaotic path. If it was in the ancient times when spiritual energy was abundant, there would be nothing wrong with practicing this method. However, now the spiritual energy in the spiritual world is becoming increasingly scarce and is in danger of depletion. Practicing this supreme path is simply a way to death, and the result is doomed. As for the delusion of becoming a Mahayana Taoist and ascending to the upper realm, that is wishful thinking!

Master Feng thought of this, looked at Li Mu, and gave a frank advice. "Elder Li, you are extremely talented, and the way you practice is unprecedented and will be difficult to surpass. But because of this, you need to be down-to-earth and move forward pragmatically. The method you practice is powerful, but it also consumes a lot of spiritual energy. The spiritual energy environment in the spiritual world is no longer comparable to the past. If you continue to blindly pursue this path, you may exhaust your limited vitality and end up with nothing."

Hearing this, Li Mu was slightly startled, and immediately understood what Master Feng meant. However, the technique he practiced had nothing to do with his own efforts and the way of practice that accumulated over time. Instead, it relied on planting high-level spiritual plants and obtaining plant spiritual light balls to improve his cultivation. There was no need to change other techniques.

Seeing Li Mu's thoughtful look, he thought he was convinced. "Elder Li, I'm not asking you to give up your pursuit of a higher realm!" Sword Master Feng continued, with a little more understanding in his tone, and continued to persuade: "I hope that you can find a way of cultivation that is in harmony with the current environment while pursuing it. Although the ancient method you practice is wonderful, it is not the only way. Perhaps, you can try to integrate other methods, or create your own cultivation system to adapt to the upcoming era of spiritual energy depletion."

Facing Sword Master Feng's concerned gaze, Li Mu could only smile and nod: "Thank you for your advice, Sword Master. I will think carefully and choose a suitable method of cultivation."

Hearing this, Master Feng Jian showed a gratified smile on his face, and then he introduced the situation outside the Jiuyou Territory to Li Mu.

"Elder Li, do you know that the spiritual world we live in is just a speck of dust in the vast starry universe? In the boundless outer space, there are many unknown and desolate corners." Sword Master Feng's voice became low and mysterious, as if it could penetrate the barriers of time and space and lead thoughts to the distant and mysterious outer world.

Hearing this, Li Mu was slightly startled. This was not surprising to him. He smiled and replied, "I have read a lot of ancient books before, so I have some understanding of it."

"Well, since you have already read some of this, I will describe to you in detail how those extraterritorial forces carve out a niche in this vast starry sky." Sword Master Feng nodded and continued.

"First of all, we have to mention Xuan Xiao Sect. They occupy the most fertile area in Tian Xuan Star Region. Xuan Xiao Sect, like our sect, is well-known for its swordsmanship. There are many sword practitioners in the sect."

"The Netherworld Sect is completely different from the Xuanxiao Sect. They occupy the Dark Star Region, close to the Nine Nethers, a place that never sees the sun and is shrouded in thick clouds. The Netherworld Sect practices the power of the Netherworld and is good at controlling the undead and shadows. Their skills are strange and unpredictable, making it difficult to guard against them. In this star region, the Netherworld Sect has built a huge Netherworld Array, which is the destination of the dead souls and provides one of their roots."

"In addition to these two major sects, there are many other forces distributed outside the domain. For example, the Yanyang Sect, which is good at refining weapons, occupies the star field near Huoyang Star. The stars there seem to be cast from molten lava, providing unique conditions for refining magic weapons. Another example is the Bixia Valley, which is proficient in pharmacology. They occupy the Muyuan Star Field with abundant spiritual herbs. The disciples in the valley are all masters of refining medicines and can refine elixirs that can bring people back to life."

"These sects, whether strong or weak, open or secret, have all established stable rule in their respective star regions, forming an intricate extraterritorial structure. The distribution of power in the extraterritorial world is far more complex than that in the spiritual world."

"However, the star regions where these extraterritorial forces are located are vastly different from the spiritual power concentration of Qi Ling Star where we are. Qi Ling Star, as a pearl of the spiritual world, benefits from its unique geographical location and geological structure, gathering the purest and richest spiritual energy in the world, making it a holy place for cultivation that countless cultivators dream of. In comparison, the star regions occupied by those extraterritorial forces, although each has its own characteristics, the spiritual power concentration in most places is far less than that of Qi Ling Star. In some places, the spiritual energy is so thin that it can be almost ignored."

"However, it is precisely this kind of environment that forces the outside forces to develop their own unique cultivation systems and ways of survival. The reason why the Xuanxiao Sect can stand firm in the Tianxuan Star Region is not only because of its powerful sword tradition, but also because they are good at using the special resources in the star region, such as the power of the stars, to enhance their own cultivation. The Netherworld Sect has brought the coldness and netherworld power of the Dark Star Region to the extreme and created a unique system of exercises."

"Yanyang Sect and Bixia Valley have brought their respective expertise to the extreme in refining equipment and pharmacology, not only meeting the needs within the sect, but also occupying a pivotal position in the foreign market. Although these sects are in different environments, they have all stood in this vast starry sky for tens of thousands of years in their own ways and should not be underestimated."

Master Feng introduced the distribution of forces outside the domain to Li Mu in a torrent of words. At the same time, as the two were talking, the Potian spirit ship penetrated the clouds, stepped out of the atmosphere of Qiling Star, and headed towards the depths of the vast universe.

Under the protection of the Potian spirit ship, the starry sky outside the deck came into view. The stars were like sand, the Milky Way was like a thread, so dazzling that it made people feel awe.

Li Mu stood on the observation deck of the spirit ship, looking at the strange yet magnificent cosmic scene outside the window, his heart surging with unprecedented shock and excitement.

As the spirit ship went deeper, the two began to feel the unique atmosphere of the world outside the domain.

"Elder Li, look, that's the interstellar route we're about to cross. It's also the bridge connecting the spiritual world to the outside world. Following this route, we'll arrive at Wuling Star in a few days, an extraterritorial resource star controlled by our sect." Sword Master Feng pointed to a faintly visible star track ahead and introduced it with a bit of pride in his tone.

Li Mu looked in the direction of Feng Jianzhu's finger, and saw a channel outlined by the faint light of the stars looming in the vast sea of ​​stars, like the finest silver line in the sky, connecting the unknown and hope. He took a deep breath, feeling the vastness and freedom from the depths of the universe, and couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and ambition in his heart.

"Wulingxing, as one of our sect's bases outside the domain, is not only rich in resources, but also an outpost for us to develop our power in the outer star domain." Feng Jianzhu continued to introduce and entrusted Li Mu to say, "All the spiritual materials for the formation are ready. I will trouble Elder Li when the time comes."

"Master Sword Master, you are too polite! I will do my best and live up to your trust." Li Mu smiled slightly and responded in a sonorous and powerful voice.

Time flies like a white horse. In the blink of an eye, several days have passed quietly as the spirit ship speeds along.

The driving array of the Sky-Breaking Spiritual Ship roared, consuming a large amount of top-grade spiritual stones, driving it like a meteor, cutting through the dark night sky, leaving behind a trail of dazzling light. As the distance gradually shortened, the vague and distant outline of the Wuling Star in front began to gradually become clear in the field of vision.

Li Mu stood on the observation deck on the deck. He no longer had the shock and excitement he had when he saw the starry sky up close. Instead, he was filled with anticipation for embarking on a new journey.

Master Feng Jian used his mind to control and adjust the course of the spirit ship, ensuring that it arrived at its destination accurately. (End of this chapter)