Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

Zhongzhou Spiritual Realm, Qixuan Sect,

On the square, colorful flags fluttered and the atmosphere was warm and solemn, interweaving an indescribable sense of ritual. At this moment, the Zhengzhi Sect's once-in-a-decade competition for true disciples was taking place.

The disciples of the Qixuan Sect were dressed in the uniform of the sect, with their sleeves fluttering in the wind, like a flowing painting. Their eyes were as sharp as torches, fixed tightly on the eighteen towering arenas, where one splendid battle after another was being staged.

The eighteen competition arenas are like stars adorning the night sky, each independent yet illuminating each other. They are inlaid with countless top-grade spirit crystals, each of which emits a soft and mysterious light, driving a powerful protective barrier and circulating dim light, which not only protects the disciples on the arena from accidental harm, but also adds a touch of mystery and solemnity.

At this moment, on each of the eighteen arenas, two Nascent Soul disciples were engaged in fierce battles. The duels were all massive, with magic and martial arts complementing each other, so spectacular that it was a feast for the eyes.

In the viewing seats above the square, the main seat of the sect master, Lin Maoshan sat upright like a pine tree, his eyes deep and wise, as if he could see through everything in the world; on both sides, several peak masters in the sect were arranged in order, they were all venerable gods, the aura they exuded was majestic and solemn, making the atmosphere of the whole venue even more solemn.

However, hidden in this solemn atmosphere are secret communications that are unknown to the public.

Sect leader Lin Maoshan wore a luxurious robe embroidered with the five elements totems. The robe was mainly gold, with occasional auspicious clouds of green, red, yellow and black, symbolizing the highest realm of cultivating the five elements. The cuffs and hem of the robe were outlined with delicate rune patterns with complex golden threads, and the faint light of the five elements' spiritual power flowed faintly, demonstrating his profound cultivation and extraordinary status as the leader of the sect.

His figure is as straight as a pine tree, with broad shoulders and thick back, revealing a kind of imposing aura without anger. His black hair is tied behind his head with a simple jade hairpin, which makes him look both solemn and free and easy. His face is well-defined, with a high nose bridge, and a faint but deep smile on the corner of his mouth, as if everything in the world is under his control.

At this moment, Lin Maoshan's eyes were fixed on the battle in the arena. However, his mind was not completely immersed in the fight between the disciples in front of him. Instead, he quietly separated a wisp of his divine consciousness and had a silent conversation with the elders of the sect.

The Seven God Peaks of the Qixuan Sect have all been replaced by a new generation of peak masters. The peak master of the Golden God Peak, Zhao Tianchen, is the first on the right side of Linmao Mountain. He is tall and wears a dark green suit that fits his body tightly, outlining his strong muscles, as steady as a mountain. His hair is like a waterfall, tied behind his head with a simple jade belt, and a few strands of hair on his forehead sway gently in the wind, adding a bit of unruly atmosphere to him.

Su Hongxiu, on the other hand, has a different style. She wears a fiery red dress, the hem of which is light and elegant, jumping like a flame, which complements her gentle yet resolute temperament. Su Hongxiu's skin is as white as snow, her eyebrows and eyes are picturesque, and she always has a gentle smile on her lips, but behind that smile is a tenacity and wisdom that should not be underestimated. She practices a fire-attributed technique, and her body exudes a warm and fiery aura from time to time.

Liu Yuqian, with a graceful figure, was wearing a light blue dress that swayed in the wind, like a fairy in the water, fresh and refined. Her long hair was like silk, gently tied up, and a few strands of hair fell by her ears, adding a bit of softness to her. Liu Yuqian's eyes were like autumn water, bright and deep, revealing a sense of gentleness and intelligence. As a spiritual cultivator, she had water-attributed spiritual power flowing in her body, making her move like flowing clouds and water, agile and elegant, and showing her elegance in every move.

Ji Hao is tall and strong with muscular body. His strong body is wrapped in a black tights, as if it is made of black iron, giving people an indescribable feeling of oppression. His face is stern and his eyes are firm. He practices earth-attributed exercises and exudes a heavy and steady aura from his body, like the earth, giving people a solid support.

Xiao Qingyun, on the other hand, was dressed in white clothes that was whiter than snow, and he looked elegant and ethereal, like a fairy above the clouds. He had a delicate face, eyes as clear as water, and a gentle smile always on his lips, giving people a feeling of being bathed in spring breeze.

……

Hundreds of years later, the Qi-refining cultivators at that time - Zhao Tianchen, Su Hongxiu, Liu Yuqian, Ji Hao, Xiao Qingyun, and Zhong Yuling - have now all become Spiritual Transformation cultivators.

Zhao Tianchen, who has the highest cultivation level, has already entered the late stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm and is only one step away from breaking through to the Void Refinement Realm. He sits slightly below the right side of Lin Maoshan, his brows revealing calmness and confidence. Occasionally, he looks up at the arena, his eyes flashing with a hint of nostalgia.

"Senior Brother Lin, we have all advanced to the Divine Transformation stage, but our respect and longing for our master is growing day by day. Our master is unwilling to show up in this competition? Have you asked him to come out?" Su Hongxiu asked softly with her divine sense. Her voice was gentle and concerned, revealing her deep longing for her master Li Mu.

"Yes! Senior Brother Lin, we haven't had the chance to see our master's true appearance for more than two hundred years, and we miss him very much." Liu Yuqian also echoed with her spiritual thoughts, with a barely perceptible sadness in her voice.

Everyone's eyes fell on Lin Maoshan's face, seeking answers.

After they were promoted to the Spiritual Transformation stage, they already knew that the 'Master' who had taught them one-on-one and seriously was actually the Spiritual Transformation avatar of Master Li Mu, and he did not teach them personally. However, the help that Master Li Mu gave them was undoubtedly the best.

Top-grade elixirs, exclusive skills, protective magic treasures, and spiritual weapons are all top-grade products. This kindness, like a gentle spring breeze and rain, nourishes the hearts of each of them and enables them to go further and further on the path of cultivation.

After hundreds of years, they could only receive the master's kindness but had no chance to meet him in person. This was like a huge rock, weighing heavily on everyone's heart.

Lin Maoshan looked at the expectant eyes of the crowd with mixed feelings in his heart. Compared with his senior brothers, junior brothers and sisters, he was fortunate to follow Li Mu and enter his cave to practice, and he also obtained his personal treasure - the Five Elements Spirit Ring, which he used to survive the thunder tribulation and advance to the realm of spiritual transformation. No one cherished this master-disciple relationship more than him.

“Master has always disliked being disturbed by others. I haven’t seen Master for a long time. I went to Master’s retreat to ask for instructions for this grand competition, but Master is in a critical moment of retreat and should not be disturbed.” Lin Maoshan’s spiritual thoughts gently rippled in everyone’s sea of ​​consciousness, and he explained with a hint of awe.

"Junior Brother Lin, is the master in seclusion? Is he in seclusion this time to break through to the fusion realm?" Zhao Tianchen was slightly stunned and asked with concern.

“That, I don’t know either!” Lin Maoshan frowned and replied to everyone through telepathy: “However, Master has been seeking an opportunity to break through the fusion realm. This retreat is extremely serious, so we should not pry too much!”

Everyone looked at each other, nodded, and continued to focus on the competition going on in front of them.

As the competition progressed, the battles on the eighteen arenas became more and more intense. In order to obtain the status of true disciples, the Yuanying disciples displayed what they had learned. Their magic and martial arts complemented each other, making the whole square seem to be shrouded in a thick layer of spiritual energy.

Below the stage, countless sect disciples were mesmerized by the performance, and bursts of cheers and exclamations occurred from time to time.

Soon, the competition reached the final stage.

During the finals, two particularly eye-catching figures stood on two adjacent arenas. They were the two most outstanding Nascent Soul disciples of the Qixuan Sect in recent years—Zhao Wuji and Qin Jingfeng.

Zhao Wuji, dressed in a black robe, with a figure as straight as a pine tree, deep eyes, holding a black heavy sword, exuding a heart-pounding pressure; he is good at heavy pressure sword technique, and his sword moves pull the gravity of heaven and earth, making it difficult for the opponent to move under the heavy pressure.

Qin Jingfeng, on the other hand, holds a slender magic sword named "Liuguang"; the sword body is crystal clear and as agile as flowing water, and his sword moves are like meteors streaking through the night sky, both beautiful and deadly; Qin Jingfeng is good at speed and agility, his swordsmanship is like dancing, light and elegant, but can release fatal blows inadvertently.

The two of them got into a fierce confrontation right from the start. Zhao Wuji's moves were full of force, making it difficult for Qin Jingfeng to counter. While Qin Jingfeng dodged, his sword moves sometimes released force, sometimes went straight to the vital points to put him on the defensive, and sometimes rushed straight to Zhao Wuji's flaws like a venomous snake.

The two men fought back and forth, swords flashed and the sound of swords hitting roared. The entire square seemed to be attracted by the two men's superb sword skills, watching them intently, afraid to miss any details.

However, amidst the hustle and bustle, an unusual atmosphere quietly spread; this atmosphere was ancient and profound, as if it contained some unknown power, which made the elders of the sect present feel a chill in their bones.

On the stage, the faces of all the sect leaders were stern, and their spiritual senses swept towards the sect's Golden God Peak, which was the sect master's residence and also the location of the sect's treasure house.

"Senior Brother Lin, what's going on over there? There seems to be an unusual fluctuation. Could it be..." Su Hongxiu's expression was solemn. Her spiritual sense also captured that ancient and profound aura, and she couldn't help but feel an inexplicable worry in her heart.

Lin Maoshan frowned, concentrating on sensing the source of that aura. As the sect leader, he knew the sect's treasury much better than anyone else. Not only did it store countless treasures of the sect, it was also the place where his master Li Mu went into seclusion.

"Don't worry, everyone. The treasure house wasn't stolen. That was the place where Master was in seclusion. Maybe Master would gain something from this seclusion!" Lin Maoshan's words were like a magic needle that stabilized the originally panicked atmosphere.

“But, Junior Brother Lin, how could there be such a strong fluctuation when Master is in seclusion? This aura is ancient and profound, and contains some kind of truth of heaven and earth. Our cultivation is still shallow and it is difficult to get a full picture of it. It is really too weird. I hope nothing unexpected will happen to Master!” Zhao Tianchen frowned slightly. Although he had entered the late stage of Spirit Transformation, he still felt an inexplicable palpitation when facing this unknown aura.

Before Lin Maoshan responded, that ancient and profound aura suddenly intensified, as if some ancient power between heaven and earth was awakened, making the entire Qixuan Sect shrouded in an indescribable pressure.

Zhao Wuji and Qin Jingfeng on the ring were forced to stop fighting because of the interference of this force. They each put away their swords and looked towards the direction of Jinshen Peak with solemn expressions, obviously also feeling the unusual aura.

"What happened?"

"It's the sect's treasury! No one would break into our sect's treasury!"

"How is this possible? Didn't you see that the Sect Master and the elders are all watching? If someone broke into our sect's treasure house, how could they not react?"

"That's right! The protective formation of our sect was set up by the Grand Master himself. Outsiders cannot break into the formation he set up, let alone the sect's treasury which is even more heavily guarded!"

"What's going on? This power is so strong! It seems to be coming from the treasure house!"

……

The disciples below the stage also stopped what they were doing and focused their gazes in the direction of Jinshen Peak, talking among themselves with puzzled expressions.

"My fellow disciples, there is no need to panic. This power is a phenomenon produced by the master's retreat. He is striving to reach a higher realm. We just need to wait patiently. I believe that the master will come out safely." Lin Maoshan's voice echoed over the square with an unquestionable firmness.

However, not everyone was as calm as Lin Maoshan. Some disciples with lower cultivation were frightened by the pressure of this power, and even their cultivation became unstable. They looked pale and their bodies trembled slightly, obviously unable to withstand the pressure of this power.

At this moment, a gentle force emanated from Lin Maoshan's body, covering the entire square. This force was like a spring breeze, making the disciples feel comfortable and at ease. They all looked at Lin Maoshan with their eyes full of gratitude and respect.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" the disciples said in unison, with a slight tremor in their voices.

Lin Maoshan nodded slightly and said, "Everyone, please don't be polite. The reason why our Qixuan Sect can stand firm is all thanks to the protection and teachings of our master. Now that our master is in seclusion to strive for a higher realm, we must unite as one and jointly protect the sect."

With Lin Maoshan's comfort, the disciples' emotions gradually stabilized and they sat back in their original seats.

"The winner has not been decided yet, so continue!" Lin Maoshan ordered as he looked at the two Nascent Soul disciples who had stopped fighting.

"Yes!"

Zhao Wuji and Qin Jingfeng nodded in response.

Following Lin Maoshan's signal, Zhao Wuji and Qin Jingfeng once again focused their attention on each other, and the atmosphere on the ring suddenly became tense.

The disciples around them also held their breath, their eyes fixed on these two outstanding disciples, looking forward to the more intense battle that was to follow.

Although the game was interrupted for a while due to the interference of this force, the disciples' enthusiasm has not diminished. They look forward to the next game to be even more exciting.

In the direction of Jinshen Peak, the ancient and profound aura still persisted, but as time went by, it gradually became softer and more stable, as if some kind of power between heaven and earth had been controlled by someone and was tending to ease.

Jinshen Peak, inside the sect’s treasury, and the mysterious space within the Five Elements Transfer Array.

Li Mu stood in mid-air, his Chaos Dao Body fully revealed.
This mysterious space seemed to be twisted by invisible hands, forming a series of dazzling illusions; the thick and indescribable fog blocked the sight, yet seemed to contain endless secrets; and the raging spiritual power storms were even more wild and unruly. Not only were they suffocatingly dense, they also carried a destructive force that was enough to destroy everything, just like the chaotic tide at the beginning of the universe, running wildly.

However, beneath the rage and chaos of this chaos, there is an indescribable order and harmony. Li Mu is the core of this hidden order and harmony. A huge amount of chaotic power has gathered. At this moment, in this chaotic space, he has become an isolated island. No matter how violent the storms from the outside world are, his state of mind is as calm as an ancient well, and he is unmoved. (End of this chapter)