Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

In the Silent Valley, the chaotic aura flows silently like an unchanging veil. Decades of time seem to pass in the blink of an eye here.

The scenery in the valley is not much different from what it was decades ago.

While Li Mu was cultivating in seclusion, Xue'er was meditating nearby, her nine tails unfurling and her aura becoming increasingly harmonious.

When Li Mu woke up and meditated, Xue'er quietly took care of him, cooked spiritual meals, and chose to keep him company in peace. Xiao Bai was the most lively link between the two.

Time loses its meaning here, leaving only the two of them to rely on each other in the lonely valley, while the turbulent times of the Great Qian Dynasty and the shadows of the Strange Clan become distant backgrounds.

Suddenly, a wisp of chaotic energy rippled out of the valley.

Li Mu slowly opened his tightly closed eyes, a fleeting look of chaos in them before returning to normal. He stood up, took a step forward, and his figure was already at the entrance of Jingyuan Valley.

Outside the valley, two figures stood frozen in the void, as still and imposing as mountains.

The person in the lead, dressed in imperial robes and with a dignified expression, was none other than Emperor Qian Yuan. Half a step behind him stood a man in a blue robe, who was none other than Ji Yu, the master of Tianxing Pavilion.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Li Mu said, bowing with his hands clasped in a calm voice.

Emperor Qian Yuan nodded slightly: "I apologize for disturbing Fellow Daoist Li's peaceful cultivation."

Li Mu withdrew his gaze, stepped to the side, and gestured with his hand: "Your Majesty has come from afar, please come into the valley and sit for a while."

Emperor Qian Yuan and Ji Yu exchanged a glance and nodded: "We are sorry to bother you."

In the valley, on a natural stone platform, Li Mu flicked his sleeve, and three stone benches appeared beside the platform. Without saying much, he lightly tapped his fingertip, and a set of simple stone tea set appeared, landing in the center of the platform.

The pot boiled without fire, and clear spring water gurgled. Li Mu took out a jade box, opened it, and a few bright green tea leaves, with wisps of mist around their edges, floated into the pot.

In an instant, a unique tea aroma filled the air. This aroma was neither floral nor fruity, but carried the freshness of the primordial chaos, and seemed to contain the principles of the growth of all things, refreshing the soul.

The tea soup is clear and bright, like jade.

Li Mu poured a cup for Emperor Qian Yuan and Ji Yu respectively, and only then did he add one for himself.

"Divine Tea, Your Majesty, Pavilion Master, please," Li Mu said with a smile, raising his cup.

Emperor Qian Yuan picked up the stone cup, its surface warm to the touch. The aroma of the tea stirred a subtle ripple in his heart, a heart long undisturbed by his imperial reign, as if touching some fundamental principle. A strange light flashed in his eyes as he raised the cup and took a small sip.

The tea soup was initially refreshing, but quickly transformed into a warm and gentle Daoist flavor that penetrated the Purple Palace, cleansing the mind and spirit. The invisible pressure brought by Li Mu's Chaotic Dao seemed to be subtly dissipated by the tea soup.

Ji Yu also took a sip, closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, his gaze toward Li Mu was even more solemn: "Excellent tea! Its Daoist charm is natural, cleansing the mind and calming the spirit. Fellow Daoist Li, this tea is truly a treasure of the Great Dao."

Emperor Qian Yuan put down the stone cup, tapping the bottom of the cup lightly against the stone platform. He looked directly at Li Mu and went straight to the point: "Fellow Daoist Li, I have come here today to ask you something."

Li Mu remained calm and waited for the next part to be told.

"Although the previous great calamity of the Ghost Clan was temporarily quelled thanks to your efforts, the source of its troubles has not been eradicated and it remains a deep-seated threat." Emperor Qian Yuan's voice was deep and solemn: "Instead of waiting for them to make a comeback, it is better to take the initiative to strike and eradicate them completely, thus eliminating future troubles."

Emperor Qian Yuan cut to the chase, asking Li Mu, "Fellow Daoist, do you think it's feasible to search for the origin of the Ghost Clan across realms?"

Li Mu pondered for a moment, then frowned and said, "The chaos is boundless, and the realms are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. The Ghost Clan is hiding so deeply that finding them is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"Indeed." Emperor Qian Yuan nodded, turning his gaze to Ji Yu beside him.

Ji Yu understood, stepped forward, and took out an object from his sleeve. This object was neither gold nor jade, its color was dark and dull, like an ancient bamboo slip that had been eroded by time, its surface covered with mysterious patterns, faintly exuding an aura of antiquity. He held the ancient bamboo slip in his palm, and slowly poured a wisp of pure true essence into it.

hum!
The ancient bamboo slip trembled slightly, its patterns lighting up one by one, a soft glow flowing through it. The light emanated from the slip, gathering and spreading above the stone platform. The interplay of light and shadow gradually became clearer, revealing a grand star map suspended in the air.

The image depicts a vast array of stars, with countless points of light, some bright, some dim, some large, some small. These points are connected by intricate, spiderweb-like veins that hint at hidden mysteries, forming a profound and ineffable structure.

“The Map of the Three Thousand Realms.” Ji Yu’s voice was low, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue. He gestured and said, “Found deep within the Great Qian Treasury, an ancient relic of the Desolate Dynasty. The map records the locations and boundaries of the three thousand known main realms within the chaos. Following this map, we may be able to find the lair where the Ghost Clan is hiding.”

The scroll floats, its light points flickering as if breathing. Each light point represents a realm, while the veins are relatively stable paths traversing the chaotic tides.

The value of this painting is immeasurable.

Emperor Qian Yuan stared intently at the boundary map, then looked at Li Mu and asked, "With this map in hand, the search for the Ghost Clan will no longer be a headless fly. What do you think, Fellow Daoist Li?"

Li Mu's gaze fell upon the Three Thousand Realms Map, his aura as deep and unfathomable. He did not immediately respond to the Emperor, but simply watched the light points flow and the veins extend. The scroll was vast, containing a wealth of information.

Searching for the Ghost Clan? Perhaps.

But what this map truly points to are the three thousand main realms themselves, those territories not yet incorporated into the Great Qian territory. Does the Emperor seek to hunt down the Ghost Clan, or does he use this as a pretext to illuminate every dim point of light within the map?

"The scroll is profound and indeed a rare treasure." Li Mu looked up at Emperor Qian Yuan, smiled slightly, and asked directly to his heart: "However, chaos is unpredictable, and realms possess spirits. Following the scroll is easy; stepping into another realm is difficult. Realms have their own laws, and outsiders may suffer a backlash. The Ghost Clan is ferocious, and their hiding place must be a perilous place. Whom does Your Majesty intend to send? What will the cost be? If they encounter a powerful enemy from another realm, will you fight or make peace?"

Li Mu's words were all reasonable, concerning the actual difficulties of searching for the Gui tribe, and also subtly pointing out the dangers of pioneering.

Emperor Qian Yuan met Li Mu's gaze. Deep within his eyes lay the profound composure and equanimity of a ruler of millennia. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips. There was no denial, no explanation, only the calm acceptance of being seen through.

"I can't hide it from Fellow Daoist Li." Emperor Qian Yuan smiled slightly and replied tactfully, "The threat of the Ghost Clan is an urgent matter that must be eliminated. This map is both a key and a guiding light. The ancient Desolate Dynasty relied on this map to flourish and rule over all realms. Now that the map has reappeared, how can we allow this pearl to be tarnished? Searching for the Ghost Clan is true, but opening up an unprecedented era for our Great Qian Immortal Dynasty is also true."

"In all the realms, the strong prey on the weak, and the destruction of the desolate dynasty serves as a warning. Those who remain entrenched in a corner will eventually fall. This map shows not only a perilous path, but also a path to survival. If the Great Qian Dynasty wishes to survive and become strong, it must take this path."

"By exploring all realms and absorbing the essence of all worlds, we can strengthen the foundation of our Immortal Dynasty and truly be fearless against the Strange Race, and even... fearless against all future calamities." Emperor Qian Yuan looked directly at Li Mu, his gaze sharp as a sword, and said frankly, "Fellow Daoist Li may be able to live a life of detachment and self-preservation, but the fate and destiny of the billions of living beings in the Immortal Dynasty rest on my shoulders. Exploration is not for ambition, but for survival, for... the future of the Great Qian Dynasty."

Emperor Qian Yuan's words were frank and direct, placing his intentions under the greater principles of survival and growth.

"Your Majesty has grand ambitions and lofty aspirations." Li Mu nodded, pondered for a moment, looked directly at Emperor Qian Yuan, and said frankly, "The Ghost Clan is a scourge to all paths and poisons all realms. If we can find its source, I, Li, am willing to take action to help the Immortal Dynasty eliminate this great scourge."

A glint flashed in Emperor Qian Yuan's eyes. This was the first time Li Mu had explicitly stated his willingness to intervene in this matter! He nodded slightly, awaiting further explanation. Li Mu's tone remained calm: "However, what I seek is only the extermination of the Ghost Clan. The Immortal Dynasty's expansion into various realms and its strategic maneuvering are matters of imperial authority, and it is inconvenient for me to intervene in the cause and effect."

Emperor Qian Yuan's smile faded slightly, seemingly unsurprised by the outcome. Li Mu's agreement to deal with the Gui Clan was already the greatest gain of this trip.

Emperor Qian Yuan's mind raced, and Li Mu himself was detached from worldly affairs and difficult to control, but his profound knowledge was not limited to just one person.
"Fellow Daoist's noble character and willingness to rid the world of evil greatly pleases me," Emperor Qian Yuan said sincerely. He then changed the subject, his gaze subtly probing as he inquired, "Your three thousand disciples are all exceptional individuals, each possessing even a fraction of your true teachings, and they have already achieved great things. Now that you have gone into seclusion, these talents are scattered throughout the world—is this not a pity? If you would be so kind, our Immortal Dynasty is willing to offer them vacant positions to attract talented individuals and jointly contribute to this grand undertaking. With their assistance, the search for the Ghost Clan will be much more efficient."

What Emperor Qian Yuan truly valued were Li Mu's three thousand seven disciples. Those disciples possessed the foundation of Mahayana cultivation and extraordinary strength. Each of them could potentially become a vanguard for the Immortal Dynasty in expanding its territory or a cornerstone for guarding a region.

Li Mu remained unmoved, as if he had anticipated the Emperor's question, and gestured, "My master-disciple relationship with them has ended. Whether they stay or leave, whether they hide or reveal themselves, is all up to them. If the Immortal Dynasty wishes to recruit them, the Emperor can do so through his own means."

There was no dissuasion, no support. Li Mu drew a clear line with the words, "The bond between master and disciple has ended"; with the words, "The Emperor will rely on his own methods," he completely returned the choice to Emperor Qian Yuan and his disciples. He would no longer endorse his disciples, nor would he interfere with their decisions.

"Very well!" Emperor Qian Yuan responded loudly, no longer dwelling on the matter of his disciple, and said with delight, "Fellow Daoist Li is straightforward. In that case, I will trouble you to lend your full support in the search for the Ghost Clan. The entire Immortal Dynasty will certainly clear away any worries you may have."

Emperor Qian Yuan looked at Ji Yu and gestured.

Ji Yu immediately took out a jade slip, pointed it at the illusory image of the Three Thousand Realms Map in the air, and poured a stream of light into the jade slip. The jade slip glowed slightly, then its brilliance subsided, turning into something ordinary.

Ji Yu respectfully placed the jade slip on the stone platform in front of Li Mu.

"If there is any progress in the clues about the Ghost Clan, I will inform you immediately." Emperor Qian Yuan stood up, the star patterns on his robes swirling. "I have troubled you for a long time today, farewell."

"Your Majesty, please wait." Li Mu also stood up.

Emperor Qian Yuan and Ji Yu's figures flickered, reaching the valley entrance. They stepped into the void and disappeared, with Ji Yu following closely behind.

Li Mu reached out and took the map jade slip. Chaotic energy swirled around his fingertips as he probed into the jade slip. In the blink of an eye, he completely memorized the map of the realm recorded within the jade slip into his sea of ​​consciousness.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the Three Thousand Realms Map slowly unfolded, with countless points of light and crisscrossing veins.

The vast chaos harbors the lurking, sinister race like a malignant tumor. Qian Yuan's pursuit is a complex interplay of expansion and eradication. Li Mu's decision to eliminate the sinister race is both a matter of cause and effect, and also a reflection of his own heart. If the Great Dao of Chaos wishes to advance further, it would be impossible to achieve even in ten thousand years without the assistance of the sinister race's very essence.

However, the great way is either to advance or to retreat!

Searching for the origins of the Ghost Clan is no easy task. Emperor Qian Yuan is ambitious and seeks to use this opportunity to expand his territory. This matter will affect the fate of all realms and is bound to cause turmoil.

With a slight thought, Li Mu sent out a wisp of invisible divine thought, carrying brief information about the Ghost Clan and the Three Thousand Realms Map, into the Great Dao of Chaos. Following the thread of cause and effect between master and disciple in the darkness, it silently spread to all directions of heaven and earth.

The message has been sent out. Whether the disciple is aware of it or not, and how to respond, is up to fate.

Li Mu withdrew his gaze, stepped into the quiet room, and the chaotic Dao intent rose up as he immersed himself in cultivation.

Xue'er's figure quietly appeared from inside the room, tidied up the tea set, watched Li Mu's back as he walked away, and sighed slightly.

Ten thousand miles outside the valley, the void rippled slightly, and Emperor Qian Yuan and Ji Yu appeared in the Great Qian Imperial Palace.

The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, looking back towards the valley, and said with delight, "It is already remarkable that Li Mu agreed to the matter of the Ghost Clan."

Ji Yu nodded and said, "His failure to obstruct his disciple's affairs means he tacitly approves. The resistance to the Immortal Dynasty recruiting his disciple has been greatly reduced."

A sharp glint flashed in Emperor Qian Yuan's eyes, and he decisively ordered, "Return to the capital immediately. Order the Ministry of Works and the Heavenly Mystery Institute to devote all their efforts and spare no expense to completing the core forging of the 'Boundary-Breaking Spirit Ship' as quickly as possible. With the Three Thousand Realms Map in hand, time waits for no one."

"Yes, sir!" Ji Yu solemnly replied.

Emperor Qian Yuan sat upright in the dragon court, while below him, the heads of the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, and the Heavenly Secrets Institute stood solemnly.

"The Boundary-Breaking Spirit Ship has a thirty-year term." The Emperor's voice was not loud, but each word was as firm as iron. "Resources are at your disposal. People are all allocated. Those who miss the deadline will be executed."

"Your subject obeys!" The three bowed, a chill running down their spines.

With the Qian Yuan Emperor's command issued, the massive machine of the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty began to operate at an unprecedented speed.

In the central government of the Celestial Dynasty, imperial edicts were transmitted like wildfire.

"Use the full strength of the nation to forge a world-breaking spirit ship!"

The imperial edict shook the entire land.

At the Ministry of Works' Heavenly Craft Workshop, the furnace fire burns day and night, eclipsing the stars and moon. The hundred-foot-long furnace spews forth chaotic true fire, melting the star core's rare gold into a torrent of crimson gold. The array master stands suspended in the void, guiding it with his fingertips, imprinting billions of runes within it. The torrent gradually condenses, transforming into the rudimentary shape of a ship's skeleton, humming and vibrating, faintly revealing ripples of boundary force.

In the Heavenly Mystery Academy, at the Array Pavilion, a thousand array masters sat cross-legged, their divine thoughts intertwined like a net. A massive, illusory array plate floated in the center, its intricate patterns layered upon each other, its core a deep, dark void, awaiting the Star-Setting Plate. Strands of spatial power slicing through the void.

Yunzhou, the Wanren Mountain Range.

A million strongmen, their muscles bulging, chanted their battle cries, their arrayed chains taut as they dragged the mountain-like dragon-bone components. The cultivators' swords flashed like rain, cutting with precision. With a deafening roar, the components returned to their positions, and the earth trembled.

Resources are abundant.

In Danxia Prefecture, the spiritual light of the thousand-year-old medicinal fields has been completely absorbed, and spiritual herbs are being stored in batches; in Hanhai Prefecture, the bottomless abyss has been split open, and a giant hand of array has seized the entire Xuanbing mineral vein; the warehouses of various prefectures have been opened, and spiritual stones and materials have converged into a torrent, surging into the Tiangong Workshop.

On the other hand, undercurrents were surging within the Immortal Dynasty.

The Heavenly Star Pavilion's spies spread throughout the Great Qian Dynasty and even the surrounding desolate regions. One after another, top-secret files were delivered to Ji Yu's desk. On the files, names were prominently listed, some rising to fame, others hiding for many years. Their lineages all pointed to that secluded valley.

“Find them.” Ji Yu tapped the dossier with his fingertips: “Offer a courteous invitation, show them the benefits, and explain the power. The Immortal Dynasty awaits you with open arms; let us expand into countless worlds together.”

"Yes!" someone responded from the shadows and silently retreated.

The Great Qian, this long-dormant war behemoth, has fully awakened, every bone and skeletal throbbing with the urge to conquer the other world. (End of Chapter)