Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

On the main light screen of the bridge of the "Xuanjia" ship, Li Mu's figure was clearly captured.

On the captain's chair, Yuan Kun's face was as cold and hard as iron, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

"Scan results?"

"The target's energy response is abnormal, its structure is unknown, and it is preliminarily determined to be a creature not from this realm." The adjutant spoke rapidly. "Deep analysis of the protective energy barrier reveals a threat level... that cannot be assessed at this time."

Yuan Kun's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, piercing through the light barrier and locking onto the excessively calm figure in the void.

"Send a message," Yuan Kun ordered.

A cold, majestic, and undeniably authoritative surge of spiritual energy instantly traversed the void and precisely struck Li Mu's ears: "This is the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty - Azure Nether Immortal Domain. Who are you? From where did you cross the border? State your identities immediately and surrender!"

The sound was like a heavy hammer, striking Xue'er, Tie Tou and the others, making their blood boil and their faces turn slightly pale. Only Li Mu was as calm as a gentle breeze, not even the hem of his clothes moved.

Li Mu reached out and touched it, the movement light and casual, as if brushing away a speck of dust from his clothes. An invisible ripple, carrying a sense of vastness and chaos, quietly spread from his palm.

The majestic spiritual thought that crashed into Xue'er's and the others' consciousness, causing their blood and qi to surge, was instantly melted and disintegrated upon encountering this layer of chaotic ripples, like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun, without even causing a ripple.

Xue'er and the others immediately felt the pressure ease, and their turbulent blood and qi quickly calmed down.
Li Mu raised his eyes, his gaze calmly meeting that of the flagship, the Xuanjia, which was located at the core of the encirclement, several times larger in size, shaped like a ferocious black tortoise, and covered with thick dark gold psionic armor.

"I am Li Mu, from the Demon Realm!" Li Mu replied telepathically.

"The Demon Realm?" Yuan Kun's cold, hard voice came again through his spiritual senses, carrying a hint of barely perceptible solemnity. "I have never heard of this realm. Your transgressions have violated the Great Qian Immortal Law! Surrender and undergo investigation, and you may still be spared!"

Before the words were even finished, the bows and cannons of the dozen or so silver-white Sky Patrol ships surrounding them suddenly shone brightly! The blinding silver-white light rapidly gathered and compressed deep within the cannons, and a destructive energy fluctuation was clearly felt, firmly locking onto Li Mu and the people from Baofu behind him.

The void seemed to freeze, and an invisible killing intent, like a cold tide, completely submerged this area.

"Teacher!" Lin Xiaolun exclaimed. She could clearly sense the terrifying power contained in the cannon's muzzle, which was far beyond what their physical bodies could withstand.

"Brother Li!" Xue'er's almond-shaped eyes were filled with worry.

"You son of a bitch, you're being unreasonable!" Tie Tou cursed angrily, his muscles bulging and his blood surging like smoke.

Da Niu grunted, clenched his fists, and his knuckles cracked like popping beans, ready for a fight to the death.

Li Mu remained calm and reassured them with a smile, "It's alright, just follow their arrangements."

These words stunned Xue'er and the others. Tie Tou and Da Niu, who were poised to attack, deflated like punctured balloons, their fighting spirit instantly waning. They looked at Li Mu in bewilderment.

Lin Xiaolun keenly caught a hint of consideration deep in Li Mu's eyes.

"Brother Li?" Xue'er asked softly, her voice filled with doubt.

Li Mu shook his head slightly, indicating that everyone should remain calm. He looked at the Xuanjia again and said in a steady voice, "Now that we have entered the territory of your esteemed Immortal Dynasty, we should abide by the laws of the Immortal Dynasty. We are willing to cooperate with the investigation."

In the void, the destructive energy beam that was poised to unleash its power suddenly froze.

Inside the bridge, Yuan Kun's fingers, which had been tapping on the handrail, also paused. This sudden compliance from the other party was in stark contrast to the effortless dissipation of the spiritual impact he had just displayed, revealing an unfathomable and eerie quality.

"Commander?" The adjutant looked at Yuan Kun, awaiting instructions. The encirclement remained tight, and the energy in the cannons had not dissipated, only stopped accumulating further.

Yuan Kun stared at Li Mu's calm face on the screen. After a few breaths of silence, he coldly ordered, "Target surrender. Release the attack lock and maintain Level 1 alert. Send the 'Flying Lien' to escort the target onto the ship and into the isolation and interrogation area. Prepare the psionic chains."

"Yes, sir!" the adjutant immediately relayed the order.

Within the encirclement, a smaller, shuttle-shaped Sky Guardian ship with an unusually sharp bow broke away from the formation and silently glided towards Li Mu and his group. A portal opened in the ship's hull, extending a silver-white chain passage composed of flowing runes and exuding an aura of confinement.

"Board the ship." Li Mu took the lead, stepping onto the runic passage, his figure disappearing into the portal of light.

Xue'er, Tie Tou, Da Niu, and Lin Xiaolun followed closely behind, stepping onto this unfamiliar creation with a belly full of doubts. The spirit-patterned chains closed silently behind them, isolating them from the outside world.

The Feilian quickly returned to formation, guarding the Xuanjia, and transformed into a streak of light, heading towards the star sector deep within the star field where the fleet was most densely packed and where the spiritual light was most abundant.

Inside the bridge of the Xuanjia, the main light screen was divided into several sections. One section showed Li Mu sitting cross-legged in the isolation compartment of the Feilian, meditating with his eyes closed, while Xue'er and the others looked around at the cold metal walls with slight unease.

On another light screen, the phantom images of several elderly men dressed in dark green imperial robes, exuding profound auras, appeared, clearly an emergency think tank.

"Commander Yuan," an elderly man with white hair and beard in the center asked, "have the transgressors been detained?"

“Yes, temporarily detained in the quarantine area of ​​the Feilian.” Yuan Kun nodded. “The other party claims to be Li Mu, from the ‘Demon Spirit Realm,’ but his exact location is unknown, and his energy reaction is abnormal. His behavior… is quite strange.”

"The Demon Realm?" The old man frowned, exchanging glances with the other strategists, all of them bewildered: "Does the Celestial Crafts Hall's Star Chart Division have any records of this realm?"

Another illusory figure of a strategist shook his head: "Reporting to the Grand Councilor, the vast archives of the Star Chart Division contain no record of the 'Demon Spirit Realm.' This is a traveler from a completely new and unknown realm."

"Unknown territory..." the Grand Councilor pondered, "How did it cross that boundary?"

“He forcibly tore apart the boundary with his physical body. The method was unknown, and the remaining chaotic aura was extremely difficult to analyze,” Yuan Kun added. “But he then cooperated and took the initiative to request to follow the immortal laws.”

"Hiss! Crossing the boundary with his physical body, what level of cultivation does this person have!" a member of the think tank asked in shock.

"This is beyond the scope of the Spirit Mirror's assessment!" Yuan Kun said solemnly. A glint flashed in the Grand Councilor's eyes: "This is indeed rare. Commander Yuan, according to the laws of our Great Qian Immortal Realm, how should we deal with such a first-time, cooperative traveler from an unknown realm?"

A legal advisor immediately accessed the light screen and quickly read: "The Celestial Dynasty Starfield Security Law, Volume Seven, Chapter on Crossing to Other Realms. Any creature from an unknown realm that crosses the boundary for the first time, has no clear hostile behavior, and is willing to cooperate with the investigation, shall be detained in the 'Star-Suppressing Tower' for a period of three hundred days for in-depth tracing, risk assessment, and education. During this period, it shall be jointly managed by the Sky Patrol Guard, the Heavenly Crafts Hall, and the Education Department. If there is no evidence of harm to the Celestial Dynasty, upon completion of the education period, it may be assigned to the 'Pioneer Guard' or the 'Stardust Camp' to atone for its crimes and observe its future performance."

"The Star-Suppressing Tower... jointly managed by the three authorities..." Yuan Kun repeated in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over Li Mu's figure inside the isolation chamber: "This person's strength is unfathomable, and he is probably not someone that an ordinary Star-Suppressing Tower can imprison. Is his cooperation genuine, or is he plotting something else?"

“Extraordinary people require extraordinary measures.” The Grand Councilor said slowly, “The old precedent is the bottom line, not an ironclad rule. Commander Yuan, this person will be the first to be interrogated by your Sky Patrol Guard. Find out his background, ascertain the true nature of that ‘Demon Spirit Realm,’ and assess its real threat. If he truly has no malicious intent… he may be useful to our Immortal Dynasty. If there are any unusual movements, kill him without hesitation, without adhering to the old precedent. Grant him the necessary authority immediately.”

"Your subordinate obeys!" Yuan Kun replied in a deep voice, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. On the light screen, Li Mu seemed to sense something, slowly opening his eyes, his gaze calmly piercing through the void, as if meeting Yuan Kun's gaze again inside the bridge.

On the other side, inside the isolation compartment of the Flying Leopard.

"Teacher, are we really going to be locked up like this?" Lin Xiaolun asked in a low voice, her voice filled with resentment.

"That's right! Why should we be the ones to be bossed around!" Tie Tou grumbled, his fist slamming against the cold bulkhead with a dull thud.

Li Mu withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Since I'm new here, this is the proper etiquette. It's a good opportunity to see what kind of grandeur this Great Qian Immortal Dynasty truly is."

Xue'er looked at Li Mu, who was resting with his eyes closed, and then at the vast and cold starry sea and giant ship outside the cabin. She asked softly, "Brother Li, what will they do to us?"

Li Mu smiled and reassured them, "Just follow their logic, it'll be fine, I'm here!"

Inside the bridge of the Xuanjia, Yuan Kun stared at Li Mu's calm gaze on the light screen. That gaze seemed to pierce through the cold alloy and psionic barrier, reaching right in front of him.

“The Grand Councilor’s order has arrived,” Yuan Kun said, his voice deep and resolute as he withdrew his gaze. “This man will be the first to be interrogated by my Sky Patrol Guard. Prepare the ‘Star Hub’ isolation pod. I will go to see him personally.”

The adjutant's expression hardened: "Commander, this person's danger level is unknown, should we...?"

Yuan Kun raised his hand to stop him: "If he wanted to make a move, the Feilian would have been reduced to dust long ago. His 'cooperation' needs to be assessed in person." He stood up, the dark gold patterns on his black commander's armor flowing with a cold, hard light. "The fleet shall maintain level one combat readiness and lock onto the isolation chambers. If there is any unusual activity, the Xuanjia main guns shall prioritize destroying the target."

"As ordered!"

Deep within the Flying Lien, the isolation chamber was deathly silent. The cold metal walls glowed with a faint blue light, and fine array patterns flowed across their surface like living things, forming a powerful binding force field. The air was filled with pure psionic energy, yet carrying a sense of forced restraint.

Xue'er, Tie Tou, and the others felt an invisible pressure, as if they were in a viscous swamp, their spiritual energy sluggish. Tie Tou paced anxiously, while Da Niu leaned silently against the wall, his muscles tense. Lin Xiaolun sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, trying his best to sense the flow of the surrounding runes and restrictions.

The hatch slid open silently, and a sculpted yet imposing figure stepped inside.

Yuan Kun, clad in black armor with a cloak hanging down, had a cold and stern face, as if carved by a knife. His sharp gaze swept over everyone in the cabin, finally settling on Li Mu. Behind him followed two elite guards with imposing auras, each wielding a psionic shackle covered in runes.

An invisible aura instantly filled the entire space, causing the group to gasp for breath, feeling as if an invisible hand was gripping their hearts. Tie Tou and Da Niu instinctively tensed up, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Only Li Mu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze as calm as ever, like a bottomless ancient pool reflecting the figure of the person in front of him, and nodded slightly: "Commander Yuan".

Yuan Kun stopped three steps away from Li Mu, a distance that allowed for clear conversation while also placing him at a delicate juncture of offense and defense. The guards behind him stood like rocks, their shackles gleaming dangerously.

“Li Mu.” Yuan Kun spoke, his voice not loud, but with a metallic quality that pierced through the stagnant air in the cabin, “The name ‘Demon Spirit Realm’ is not recorded in the Great Qian Star Chart. You tore apart the boundary wall and entered the Immortal Realm without permission. According to the law, you should be imprisoned in the Star-Suppressing Tower for three hundred years.”

Yuan Kun spoke coldly, stating the facts while his gaze was fixed on Li Mu's face, capturing the most subtle changes in his expression.

Tie Tou and the others' hearts leaped into their throats. Three hundred years of imprisonment!

Li Mu's face remained expressionless, as if he had only heard ordinary news. He smiled and said, "The laws of the Immortal Dynasty are strict, and as a newcomer to your esteemed land, I am naturally aware of this. However, Commander Yuan's personal presence suggests that he has not come to deliver a verdict?"

Yuan Kun's eyes narrowed slightly. The other party's extraordinary composure deepened his apprehension. He said in a deep voice, "The Great Qian Immortal Dynasty is inclusive and values ​​talent. The strategists have suggested that if you have a clean background and are willing to serve the Immortal Dynasty, other arrangements may be made. The prerequisite is honesty."

Yuan Kun paused, then emphasized, "What level has your cultivation reached? What kind of world is the Demon Spirit Realm? What brings you here from across the boundary?"

Li Mu met Yuan Kun's hawk-like gaze, the corners of his mouth curving slightly, the curve extremely faint.

"Cultivation level?" Li Mu responded casually, saying, "The Seed Dao Realm. On the journey to seek the Dao, we happened to come from a weak point in the boundary wall. As for the Demon Spirit Realm... the world is vast, and it is not included in your dynasty's star map, which is quite normal. Our purpose in coming here is only to complete the Great Dao, and we have no other intentions."

"The Dao Cultivation Realm?" Yuan Kun's brows furrowed slightly. This term was completely unfamiliar to the cultivation system of the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty, and its meaning was obscure. The other party's casual mention of "borrowing power" to tear apart the boundary made it even more unpredictable.

"The Demon Realm? What's the situation there?" Yuan Kun couldn't help but ask curiously.

"The newly born Great World," Li Mu said truthfully, his gaze seemingly piercing through the cabin walls. "All races coexist, the Dao is just beginning to emerge, and it is still exploring the world. Compared to the Noble Immortal Dynasty, it is a desolate and remote place."

Yuan Kun's eyes were deep, and he made no move, only saying in a deep voice: "The Great Qian Immortal Dynasty has strict laws and values ​​real talent. If you have a clean background and are willing to serve the Immortal Dynasty, you may be able to find another way. The premise is that you are honest!"

“That is certainly the case.” Li Mu nodded, calmly looking back at Yuan Kun, and said, “Everything I have said is true. I came here by accident, and my only wish is to complete the Great Dao. As for cooperating with the Immortal Dynasty… I am new here and my understanding is still shallow. But if the Immortal Dynasty’s actions are in accordance with the Way of Heaven, I am not unable to assist.”

Yuan Kun remained silent for a few breaths, his cold and hard face revealing neither joy nor anger. He simply said, "The investigation will take time. Until the think tank and the Heavenly Crafts Hall complete the tracing and confirm that you are harmless, you will temporarily reside in the 'Star-Suppressing Tower'."

“Zhenxing Tower?” Li Mu read it aloud without objection and nodded, saying, “When in Rome, do as the host says. However, my companions are still in the shallow cultivation stage, so I hope Commander Yuan will take care of them and prevent the restrictions in the tower from damaging their foundation.”

“The Zhenxing Tower has its own regulations and is not a prison.” Yuan Kun’s voice remained cold and hard, but the tone softened slightly: “As long as you don’t harbor any disloyal thoughts, you will be safe.”

"In that case, thank you, Commander Yuan." Li Mu nodded slightly, indicating his approval of the arrangement.

Yuan Kun said no more, turned and left, followed closely by two shackled guards. The cabin door closed, isolating the inside from the outside. (End of Chapter)