Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's golden vertical pupils suddenly shrank to pinpoints, and its ghostly blue fox flames silently surged, annihilating the surrounding chaotic energy waves and creating an absolute vacuum!
"You...you're courting death!" The chilling killing intent was like a tangible cold wave, freezing the space itself. Nine fox tails, like whips of destruction, wrapped in a ghostly blue flame that shattered the laws of nature, tore through chaos and slashed directly at Li Mu!
Li Mu sat cross-legged without moving. Facing the earth-shattering attack, he only raised his left hand, spread his five fingers, and pressed down gently on the nine raging flames of destruction.

hum-

The entire Chaos Treasure Palace trembled violently! The raging Chaos Sea instantly calmed down, and the surging waves of energy solidified like black jade.

An irresistible will, originating from the chaotic essence of the entire cave world, suddenly descended! The nine ghostly blue fox flames that tore through space seemed to crash into an invisible barrier, abruptly halting a hundred feet in front of Li Mu!

"Roar—!" The flames roared in defiance, and the azure energy surged wildly, shattering and collapsing space inch by inch, forming terrifying black cracks.

However, the invisible barrier was indestructible, remaining unmoved no matter how the flames struck it.

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's expression changed slightly, his eyes filled with even greater shock and anger. He sensed that what was binding the flames was the "rules" of this world itself, rejecting and repelling his power! This heaven-reaching world had completely obeyed this person's will, rejecting everything.

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint grunted, his figure swayed slightly, and the ghostly light at his fingertips was completely extinguished. His proud attack was actually "digested" by the opponent!
The chaotic sea surged once more. Li Mu lowered his left hand, calmly looking at the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Fellow Daoist, can we have a proper talk now?"

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint stared intently at Li Mu, a storm raging within his golden vertical pupils. Humiliation, horror, and killing intent intertwined within him. The eerie blue flames surrounding him slowly receded, their color growing ever deeper. Space around him was constantly being annihilated and reborn, silent and heavy as lead.

"What do you want to talk about?"

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint forcibly suppressed the violent aura surrounding him that nearly incinerated space. The ghostly blue fox tail flames completely contracted to a height of about a foot, their color as deep as the cold abyss of the underworld. He spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

"I'd like to ask you about the situation in this realm!" Li Mu went straight to the point, asking with a smile.

"You are not a being of this realm?" The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's golden pupils suddenly contracted as he stared intently at Li Mu, as if trying to penetrate the chaotic power swirling around him and see his true origin.

A few breaths later, the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's cold voice rang out again, carrying a condescending sense of detachment: "This is the Demon Spirit Realm, the ancestral court of all demons, and the place where all races vie for supremacy."

"This realm is vast and boundless, with twelve Great Saints of the Demon Clan, ruling over all demons and each ruling their own territory. Each of them has endured countless tribulations and possesses unparalleled supernatural powers. They can shatter stars with a flick of their palm and sever galaxies with a single thought. I am one of the direct descendants of the Nine Heavens Great Saint. You have provoked someone you shouldn't have!" The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint stared intently at Li Mu and proudly introduced himself.

"I see, it's an honor to meet you. However, it seems you provoked me for no reason! I have no intention of making trouble for you!" Li Mu smiled slightly, offered some flattery, and then reminded him.

"Stop talking nonsense and let me out now, or you'll regret it!" The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint snorted coldly and urged.

Li Mu's faint smile remained unchanged, his gaze calm as still water: "Fellow Daoist, please be patient. Answer a few more questions for me, and I will gladly see you off."

Ignoring the fury that was about to burst forth in the eyes of the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint, Li Mu asked directly, "First question: Is there any human power in this realm?"

"Humans..." The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's lips curled into a faint, contemptuous smile: "In this world, you are but one of the myriad races, living in a remote corner. There are still three major powers that you can rely on, which may provide some shelter for outsiders like you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint flicked his finger, and a point of golden light flew out from his fingertip, transforming into a pure stream of information that shot towards Li Mu.

The golden light entered the chaos in front of Li Mu, and the information was instantly read by his divine sense.

Li Mu closed his eyes briefly, absorbing the information into his mind. When he opened his eyes again, his deep eyes were filled with a chaotic flow, revealing no emotional fluctuations. He simply nodded slightly to the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint: "Thank you for telling me."

Li Mu looked at the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint and then asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you know about the 'Tree of Devious Path'? Do you know its origins and where it is hidden?"

The mere mention of the word "mysterious tree" seemed to trigger some kind of taboo!
The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's aura suddenly froze! His pure golden vertical pupils contracted sharply, a clear sense of apprehension, even...fear, flashing deep within them! The nine dark golden fox tails coiled behind him had their tips sputtered up with a "poof," violently shaking and scorching large black cracks in the surrounding space before quickly receding, as if trying to suppress some kind of instinctive fear.

The chaotic space seemed to freeze for a moment because of the Demon Saint's instantaneous reaction.

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint stared intently at Li Mu, his voice extremely low and filled with an unprecedented solemnity.

"You... dare to inquire about that thing?" The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint paused for a moment, seemingly weighing his options, before finally revealing an undisguised apprehension in his icy voice as he warned, "That is an extremely evil creature raised by the 'Shepherd Clan'! It is not a being of this realm, but a calamity from beyond!"

"The Shepherd Clan?" Li Mu's eyes flickered as he caught this crucial name.

"A group of madmen who roam beyond the three thousand main realms and feed on realms!" The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's voice was chilling: "They sowed the seeds of that strange tree in remote and weak realms, letting them take root and sprout, devouring the world's origin and nourishing their entire race! The realms they targeted lost their vitality, their laws collapsed, and they eventually turned into a desolate ruin, becoming nourishment for the Shepherd Realm Clan!"

In the pure golden vertical pupils of the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint, a terrifying scene was reflected: "This tree's whereabouts are mysterious and its movements unpredictable. Wherever its roots reach, space distorts and living beings are mutated—a calamity for all spirits! As for its whereabouts..."

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint coldly said, "This Saint does not know! Nor does he wish to know! Such calamities are best avoided at all costs! I advise you not to seek your own death!"

Li Mu listened quietly, his eyes swirling with a chaotic light, unfathomable. He nodded slightly, expressing his gratitude, "I see. Thank you for your explanation, fellow Daoist." Ignoring the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's warning, Li Mu's chaotic gaze remained calm as he continued, "My second question: Besides the three forces you mentioned earlier, are there any other human beings in this realm worth noting? For example… those connected to the 'Shepherd Realm Clan'?"

A hint of impatience flashed in the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's golden vertical pupils as he coldly said, "The human race is weak and confined to a corner of the world. Those three factions are already the best; the rest are not worth mentioning. As for the Shepherd Realm Clan..."

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's lips curled into a cold smile: "How could such extraterrestrial calamities, which feed on realms, associate with other ants? Humans are not even qualified to be kept by them!"

Li Mu's eyes flickered slightly, remaining noncommittal, and he asked with concern, "Oh! This Mu Realm clan... how many people are there? Have they ever set foot in this realm on a large scale?"

"Number?" A mocking glint flashed in the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's eyes, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world: "How could the number of these ancient ferocious races that roam the heavens and devour realms be counted? They are like ghosts from beyond the realms, appearing and disappearing like ghosts. Their core is hidden among the unknown Three Thousand Lords, making them difficult to find in ordinary times. As for this realm..."

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's pure golden vertical pupils flashed with a sharp light, carrying an indifferent air of scrutiny over all realms. He arrogantly declared, "The Demon Spirit Realm is the ancestral court of all demons, with profound foundations, incomparable to those weaker realms. Although the Shepherd Realm clan is ferocious, they dare not easily set foot in this realm, lest they incite the Twelve Demon Saints to launch a joint attack. Their activities are mostly found in the peripheral, desolate realms, sowing seeds of the Strange Tree and eroding those barren lands. A large-scale incursion? Hmph, unless they want to wage a full-scale war against my ancestral court of all demons!"

"Fellow Daoist is too confident. The Shepherd Clan is no ordinary clan, their foundation should not be so weak, and our realm is also in danger!" Li Mu smiled dismissively, neither confirming nor denying the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's one-sided statement. Having fought against the Tree of Devious Path, his understanding of it was far superior to that of the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint.

Upon hearing this, the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's pure golden vertical pupils suddenly froze. Li Mu's calm statement was like a thunderclap in his mind!
The other party wasn't simply asking around, but rather... having experienced it firsthand?

"You... come from the outside world, and yet you are so persistent in investigating the Shepherd Clan..." The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's pure golden vertical pupils were sharp as knives as he looked at Li Mu and tentatively asked, "Could it be... that your world has been corrupted by the Strange Tree?"

Faced with the Demon Saint's pointed and insightful question, Li Mu's faint smile vanished completely, his gaze becoming calm and unfathomable as he slowly nodded: "Indeed."

"The foundation of the Shepherd Clan should not be limited to this." A chaotic light flowed in Li Mu's eyes, unfathomable, as he said in a deep voice, "The calamity that befell my realm is not the whole story. Having fought that strange tree for hundreds of years, I am well aware of its foundation, which is far from the sparse and ordinary thing you described!"

"Ha!" The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint sneered at Li Mu's remarks, disdainfully saying, "You, a mere remnant of a small realm, dare to presume to discuss the foundation of my Demon Spirit Realm?"

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint, his face full of arrogance, launched into a long and detailed account of the realm's secrets to Li Mu: "The twelve Great Saints of the Demon Race, each one of them is an unparalleled being who has endured countless tribulations and shattered galaxies! The Golden Roc Great Saint's wingspan can split the heavenly gales! The Black Tortoise Great Saint's armor can bear the weight of an entire realm! My father, the Nine Heavens Great Saint, commands all demons, and with a single thought can shift the stars in the heavens! How can your dilapidated little realm, corrupted by a mere Strange Tree, compare?!"

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's pure golden vertical pupils were fixed on Li Mu's face, and he laughed mockingly: "No matter how fierce the Mu Realm Clan is, they can't act recklessly in this realm! The Demon Spirit Realm is not a weak place like yours! Your alarmist talk only makes you a laughing stock!"

Faced with the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's angry rebuttal and terrifying pressure that was like a real storm, Li Mu sat cross-legged in the Chaos Sea, his body as steady as a pillar, his face showing no anger. Instead, a familiar, enigmatic smile slowly appeared on his lips.

“What you say, fellow Daoist, is indeed reasonable.” Li Mu’s voice remained calm, even carrying a hint of agreement, as if the previous argument had been nothing more than a gentle breeze: “The Demon Spirit Realm has a profound foundation, and the twelve Great Saints possess unparalleled supernatural powers. I, Li… have learned a great deal.”

Before he finished speaking, Li Mu raised his right hand, spread his five fingers, and casually waved them outwards towards the direction where the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint was located!
hum!
The laws of the entire Chaos Treasure Palace moved in response to the command, flowing more smoothly and naturally than before. The violent demonic power and scorching foxfire surrounding the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint were forcibly smoothed and dispersed as if by an invisible giant hand. A "peaceful" passage leading directly to the void outside instantly took shape, and at the end of the passage, the scene of the devastated forest outside was clearly visible.

The passageway was wide open, and the order to leave was given swiftly and decisively.

The raging fury in the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's pure golden vertical pupils was abruptly choked back by this nonchalant wave! Humiliation, rage, and a trace of ferocious killing intent, thoroughly enraged by the other party's nonchalant attitude, exploded in his chest like venom! He stared intently at the faint smile on Li Mu's face, as if trying to imprint the other party into the depths of his soul.

"Fine, fine! I'll remember you!" The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint let out a low roar, suppressed to the extreme, like a wounded beast. His demonic power surged violently, and his figure in the black brocade robe was filled with boundless rage and resentment as he took a step forward!
The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's figure disappeared into the Chaos Passage in an instant.

As the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint departed, the turbulent sea of ​​chaos gradually returned to its usual surging rhythm.

Li Mu slowly withdrew his hand, his seated body remaining perfectly still. He gazed in the direction where the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint had disappeared, his deep eyes filled with a chaotic, unpredictable light, like an abyss.

Immediately, Li Mu manipulated the Chaos Treasure Palace, transforming it into a stream of light and disappearing from the spot in the blink of an eye.

Space distorted violently, and the majestic figure of the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint suddenly appeared. His violent demonic power overflowed out of control, instantly flattening the already ravaged land below for hundreds of feet. His nine dark gold and crimson fox tails danced wildly, their tips burning with blazing white flames.

The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint hovered in the void, staring intently at the "dust" that turned into a stream of light and disappeared. In his pure golden vertical pupils, the cold killing intent and humiliating rage almost materialized and burst forth.

After pausing for a few breaths, the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint wished he could chase after the dust particle and burn it completely. However, sensing the profoundness of the Chaos Dao on Li Mu's body, he was not entirely confident in defeating such an enemy.

The Demon Realm has a deep foundation, and the twelve Great Sages are awe-inspiring throughout the heavens; this is a belief imprinted in their blood.

But the "Shepherd Clan"... that was an ancient calamity that even my father, the Great Sage of the Nine Heavens, would recall with a hint of solemnity. Their methods were unpredictable and insidious, eroding without a trace.

This person's very existence is a huge variable. A powerful outsider who controls the Great Dao of Chaos and has apparently clashed with the Shepherd Clan suddenly descends upon the Demon Spirit Realm to investigate the Ghost Tree's intentions. What does the "danger" he speaks of point to?
The Nine-Tailed Demon Saint took a deep breath, the icy air piercing his lungs, suppressing the last embers of his impulsive urge. Pursue? He wasn't entirely confident.

A cultivator of the Chaos Dao, the shadow of the "Shepherd Clan," and the other party's doubts about the Demon Spirit Realm... This matter goes far beyond personal grudges!
The next moment, the Nine-Tailed Demon Saint's figure in his black robes suddenly became ethereal, transforming into a streak of dark blue light that tore through the sky, shooting straight into the heavens! He needed to immediately meet with the Great Sage of the Nine Heavens! He wanted to tell him everything about what had happened today and the events concerning the Shepherd Clan. (End of Chapter)