Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

Zhongzhou Lingyu, Qixuan Sect.

Within the spiritual valley, fairy mists were thick and spiritual rains were like silk; the central hinterland guarded by seven sacred mountains, the most core and peaceful place of the Qixuan Sect, was now completely stirred by an overwhelming, yet mysterious and profound force.

The space is like a calm lake with a huge rock thrown into it, which creates ripples silently.

Then, a space vortex appeared out of thin air and then exploded. The violent spiritual power fluctuations were like thunder, shaking the entire spiritual valley. Then, a slender and tall figure stepped out from the chaotic vortex.

He was wearing a green robe, with the trail of stars looming in his fluttering sleeves; his black hair was blown by the wind, and his eyes were scanning the surroundings like lightning, as if he could see through the mysteries of heaven and earth.

boom--! ! !
Almost at the same moment when Li Mu's figure appeared!

In the Spirit Valley, a cave that had been sealed by the mysterious ice for thousands of years suddenly burst out with a blazing white light that pierced through the sky! It exuded an extremely cold Dao spirit like an icy soul.

Immediately afterwards, a graceful yet sharp figure rose into the sky from the depths of the cave, with nine snow-white jade fox tails stretching and swaying behind it, tearing through the sky and rolling up the wind and clouds!
Xue'er was wearing a white dress, her black hair was like a waterfall, there was a dot of icy silver lines between her eyebrows, and her eyes were like the moon reflected in a cold pond. Her coldness concealed an excitement and sadness that was difficult to conceal.

"Brother Li...is that you? It's your aura!"

Xue'er's voice was as clear as the first melting of frost and snow, with a tremor, and mixed with the longing and sadness that had been suppressed for a hundred years.

Before he finished his words, Xue'er had already broken through the air, her figure transformed into a stream of light, heading straight for the familiar figure in the center of the Spirit Valley.

Li Mu was standing in mid-air, coming back to his senses from the returning wave. He felt a familiar chill that had not been seen for a hundred years blowing towards him, and his heart was shocked.

"Xue'er..." Li Mu called softly, his voice hoarse, full of guilt and affection.

The two looked at each other, and the world seemed to stand still for a moment.

A hundred years of separation, a hundred years of longing, all in one glance.

"Brother Li, you're finally back..." Xue'er said softly, her voice choking with sobs, but she still looked at him stubbornly: "I've waited for you for a hundred years, a full hundred years... I thought you... would never come back."

Li Mu strode forward, stretched out his hand and gently stroked her cheek, his fingertips trembling slightly.

"I'm sorry, Xue'er." Li Mu said in a low voice, apologetically, "The strange will is too difficult to deal with. In order to refine it, I unknowingly spent a hundred years. I knew you would definitely wait for me..., but I wronged you."

Xue'er's tears finally fell, but she was not sad. She just whispered softly: "It's good that you are back... Even if I have to wait another hundred years, a thousand years, I am willing."

As she spoke, Xue'er leaned into Li Mu's arms, and her nine-tailed beast gently wrapped around them, enveloping them both in white.

Li Mu hugged her tightly, closed his eyes, and felt mixed emotions.

After a long time, Xue'er slowly raised her head. Although her tears had not yet dried, she had already put on a determined smile.

"Brother Li, why can't I sense your emotions? Tell me, how is your cultivation now? What have you experienced in the past hundred years?" Xue'er looked up at Li Mu, her eyes filled with both attachment and worry.

Li Mu looked down at her, a complex look flashed in his eyes, he sighed softly and said: "I have already stepped into the 'Zhongdao Realm' and have initially mastered the 'Self-Source Meaning'."

"The realm of seeding? What kind of realm is that of 'self-origin'? Is it above the extreme realm?" Xue'er was extremely surprised and asked with some speculation.

"Yes, above the extreme way!" Li Mu smiled and nodded, and explained the 'seed realm', 'meaning of self-source', the will to refine the strange way, the tree of three thousand worlds, the three hundred years' agreement and so on.

"So, Brother Li, after three hundred years, you will lift the seal and go to the Demon Abyss to refine the will of the evil way! Take me with you, I want to go with you!" Xue'er said seriously with a straight face. "This time, I will not stay here to wait for you."

Li Mu was shocked and blurted out: "No, this trip to the Demon Abyss will definitely be extremely dangerous. The will of the treacherous way is far beyond your ability to contend with. You must stay in this world and practice well, and wait for my return..."

"Wait for you to come back?"

Xue Er interrupted him, her eyes reddened, and she refused with extraordinary determination: "Brother Li, do you know that for the past hundred years, I have been waiting for you every day, waiting for you to come back, waiting for you to show up, waiting for you to even just send me a divine thought. But... you didn't."

Xue'er tightly grasped Li Mu's clothes, tears falling down her face. She refused to lower her head and said, "I am not afraid of death or danger. I am only afraid...if I wait any longer, after thousands of years, you still won't come back, and I can only guard an empty valley, listening to the wind and missing you."

Li Mu was shocked and speechless for a moment.

Xue Er continued, "You said that fate is a shackle that must be cut off by one's own hands. But why do you want to trap me in this cage of waiting? I am no longer the little fox that needed your protection. My nine tails have turned into snow blades; my heart fire has been refined into ice spirits. I am willing to go with you, even if the road ahead is the abyss of death, I am willing to fight side by side with you!"

Xue'er's voice was not loud, but every word was sonorous, like the cracking of ice and snow, revealing the fiery determination contained within.

Li Mu stared at her for a long time, finally smiled gently, reached out and held her in his arms.

"Okay!" Li Mu nodded solemnly: "This time, I promise you."

Xue'er was stunned, then her eyes became wet again, but she smiled.

"But the journey to the Demonic Abyss is extremely dangerous!" Li Mu continued, his tone turning serious: "You must promise me that you will follow my arrangements and not act recklessly. Do you understand?"

Xue'er nodded gently, leaned on Li Mu's chest and whispered: "As long as you live, I live. If you die, I will accompany you!"

Li Mu's heart trembled, but he stopped trying to dissuade her and just hugged her tighter.

In the following days, Linggu seemed to have become an isolated paradise. Li Mu and Xue'er enjoyed the rare tranquility and warmth in this fairyland.

In the following days, time seemed to become particularly long and slow in the Spirit Valley. They did not deliberately pursue anything, but just followed their hearts.

Sometimes, the two of them walked side by side on the mountain trails full of strange and magical plants. Xue'er would point to a certain "Cold Star Grass" that emitted an icy blue halo, and whispered how it broke through the ice and grew tenaciously in the first winter after Li Mu left, just like what she had in mind.

Li Mu stopped to listen, his fingertips brushing over the grass leaves, feeling the faint natural meaning contained therein.

It seems that he is twisting the grass leaves casually, but in fact an imperceptible "meaning from the source" is quietly exploring, analyzing the combination of the Taoist meaning of the origin of life and the great way of heaven and earth, and silently deducing in his mind how to integrate similar life resilience into his own self-defense method.

Sometimes, they would sit by the "Stardust Pond" deep in the spiritual valley. The water in the pond was crystal clear, reflecting the shadows of the seven sacred mountains and the starlight flowing in the sky. Li Mu casually laid out a star power formation with the trajectory of the stars, deducing the combination of the way of origin and the way of formation.

……

Li Mu would casually pick up a few spiritual leaves and brew a pot of tea containing the power of the stars. The fragrance of the tea, mixed with the cool and refreshing breath of ice and snow on Xue'er's body, was refreshing.

Xue'er held the cup and sipped it carefully, feeling the warmth and tranquility of the tea. Her eyes fell on Li Mu's hands, which seemed to be leisurely brewing tea. His slender fingers occasionally left extremely short and mysterious traces on the edge of the cup, causing the starlight in the pool to fluctuate slightly, as if performing some kind of imperceptible deduction.

Xue'er understood what was going on, but didn't point it out. She just stretched out her Nine-Tailed Fox, sweeping up the surrounding spiritual energy to form a natural, quiet area isolated from outside detection, allowing him to focus more.

Most of the time, it was silent companionship. In the warm spiritual courtyard, Xue'er was happily preparing spiritual food, while Li Mu was sitting cross-legged in meditation, seemingly resting.

However, in Li Mu's deep sea of ​​consciousness, the 'Chaos Dao Seed' in his body was slowly rotating. Guided by the "self-source intention", he carefully analyzed the polluted characteristics of the will of the treacherous Dao, simulating the process of confrontation and refining. Each simulation required a huge consumption of his mind, but his expression was calm, with only a slight solemnity occasionally passing through his brows.

"Brother Li," Xue'er asked softly as she leaned against Li Mu on a moonlit night, looking at the starlight outside the cave, "How mysterious is the 'self-source meaning'? Can it... really protect you in the Demonic Abyss?"

Li Mu opened his eyes, and there seemed to be stars in his eyes. He put his arm around Xue'er's shoulders and said softly, "'Self-source' means 'originating from oneself, without seeking outside'. It is the original power that I opened up in my own Dao seed after refining the will of the Weird Dao. This power can analyze the origin of all things, and can also resist the erosion of all things. It is the foundation of the 'Zong Dao Realm'."

Li Mu's fingertips moved slightly, and a breath of pure, almost nonexistent aura emerged. It had no attributes, but it seemed to contain the possibility of embracing and analyzing everything. "With it, and you, even if the Demon Abyss is treacherous, I am not without a chance of winning."

Xue'er gazed at the "meaning of the source", feeling the depth and vastness contained therein, and the worry in her heart was replaced by a strong confidence.

……

The two of them spent every day together without saying much. A hundred years of longing, the joy of reunion, and the determination for the future were all precipitated and fermented in this peaceful time in Linggu, turning into the most solid support in each other's hearts.

Time passed day by day, and Li Mu and Xue'er spent it peacefully in the Spirit Valley.

Occasionally, Li Mu would take Xue'er away from the Spirit Valley and set foot on the unknown area on the edge of the starry sea, looking for spiritual objects that inherit the Tao and refining ultimate treasures that can resist the will of the evil Tao.

The sea of ​​stars is vast, and the broken lights are like dust.

Li Mu stood at the front of the star ship with his hands behind his back. His green robe fluttering in the wind created a world of his own. Xue'er leaned beside him, watching the star ship draw a winding starlight trail in the void.

"Brother Li, the Chaos Star Ruins are ahead." Xue'er tapped the star array refined by Li Mu with her fingertips, and then a faint blue light pattern bloomed in the void, releasing a complex three-dimensional star map to remind him.

Li Mu's eyes moved slightly, and the Chaos Dao Seed in his Dantian trembled gently. Suddenly, he put his fingers together to form a sword, drawing a mysterious arc in the air.

A long humming sound came from the depths of the sea of ​​stars, as if some ancient existence was awakened, and the starry sky suddenly surged towards them like a tide.

Xue'er's nine tails suddenly tensed up, the silver lines of ice soul flickered between her eyebrows, and her eyes were full of tension. Li Mu quickly reached out to comfort her: "It's okay, it's the resonance of the star core."

Before he finished speaking, a spider web-like void pattern appeared in front of the starship, and the remains of a blue star slowly emerged from the crack. This star had long been dead, and its surface was covered with cracks, but at its core was beating a fist-sized star core, like a hot heart frozen in ice.

As the star's marrow beat, there was a faint rhythm like a heartbeat, as if the star was still alive and well, and was still continuing its life in another way. The azure light was mixed with a hint of icy air, which echoed the icy spirit in Xue'er's body.

"Such a rich star essence..." Xue'er exclaimed softly, with a hint of excitement in her eyes, "Brother Li, this is the remains of a ninth-order star crystal core! If you can extract its core star essence, you should refine it into your Chengdao treasure."

Li Mu nodded, his eyes deep as the abyss: "Yes, the remaining aura of this star is extremely unstable. I'm afraid it is caused by the aftermath of the Dao War in ancient times. We must be careful."

Ripples appeared on the deck of the star ship. Li Mu stabbed the void with his fingers like a sword. The Chaos Seed started to operate violently. The meaning of its source turned into millions of silver threads, which entangled the wreckage of the star layer by layer.

The star core trembled violently, and the azure light suddenly surged, as if struggling and resisting. The spider web-like cracks in the void spread rapidly, and the surrounding star fragments floated up one after another, like a swarm of startled bees, emitting a sharp and piercing buzzing sound.

"Here it comes!" Li Mu shouted in a low voice, and suddenly retracted his left hand. The silver thread exploded like thunder, firmly imprisoning the remains of the star in mid-air.

Xue'er stretched out her nine tails, cold air surged, and the silver patterns of ice soul bloomed with brilliant light. She formed seals with her hands, and a crystal clear ice ring emerged from her palms, slowly spinning and releasing extreme cold power, which intertwined with Li Mu's chaotic Taoism to form a blockade formation, covering the beating star core layer by layer.

"The star marrow is not stable yet, so don't take it by force." Li Mu reminded in a deep voice: "Xue'er, help me trigger the resonance of the star core and suppress its turbulence with the method of freezing."

Xue'er nodded, and the Ice Soul Mark on her brow suddenly lit up. The nine tails danced together, and the cold mist filled the air. Her figure was like an ice fairy, dancing in the sea of ​​stars. Every step she took stirred up layers of frost ripples, slowly calming the violent fluctuations of the star core.

Li Mu's eyes narrowed slightly, and the Chaos Seed started to move. He put his fingers together as a sword and drew out mysterious runes in the air. The runes fell on the surface of the star core and were faintly synchronized with its heartbeat frequency, gradually calming its frenzy.

"It's done!" Li Mu let out a light breath and tightened the silver thread in his hand. The star core finally stopped struggling, and a layer of light blue light film slowly emerged, wrapping the core like a cocoon.

Xue'er jumped lightly to Li Mu's side, her eyes full of joy: "Brother Li, the star core has stabilized, we can start collecting the star marrow."

Li Mu shook his head solemnly, "No hurry. Although this star core has been sealed, there are still remnants of the ancient spirit. If we rashly take the marrow, it may cause a backlash."

After saying that, Li Mu waved his sleeves, and an ancient bronze tripod appeared in his palm. The body of the tripod was engraved with obscure Taoist patterns. It was the Wanbao Tripod, the Taoist object that Wanbao Pavilion had used up a huge amount of resources to refine. (End of this chapter)