Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

Li Mu stood at the bow of the Rift Universe, looking down at the celestial port born in the starry sky. He nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the distant starry sky, as if he had discovered something.

Meanwhile, deep within this vast realm of life, in an ancient cave nourished by endless earth vein essence, the atmosphere was as heavy as ancient ice.

This is the council hall of the Rang tribe, named "Hou Tu Dian" (Thick Earth Hall). The hall is cast in stone and metal, naturally formed from the essence of the soil accumulated over millions of years. The walls gleam with an earthy yellow luster, exuding a heavy yet powerful life force.

Inside the hall, several figures with auras as deep and vast as the sea sat or stood, their bodies covered in mysterious runes that shimmered, blending seamlessly with the hall as if they were the embodiment of the earth's power.

Seated in the main seat was an old man with a physique as imposing as a mountain. His body was covered in mottled rock armor, and his eyes were as deep as ancient wells, within which two blazing flames of the earth's core danced. He was the oldest and most powerful being of the Rang tribe—the Lord of the Rock King, whose lifespan had exceeded tens of thousands of years, and who had personally witnessed the rise and fall of countless eras.

Below him, on the left, was a woman with a form that was half human and half beast. She wore armor woven from emerald green vines, and her skin was as white as jade, yet she exuded a faint fragrance of earth. Her eyes were like two deep emeralds, containing endless vitality. She was the Emerald Queen, who ruled over all the mutated spirits among the Earth Clan and was known for her laws of life.

On the right is a gaunt old man whose body exudes an aura of decay and rebirth. He is like a withered tree, yet he can draw upon the deepest power of the swamp to devour all things. He is the master of the swamp and is skilled in the bizarre ways of devouring and regenerating.

However, even these few top experts who were powerful enough to shake the Xirang Realm had unprecedented shock and unease on their faces. In the void in front of them, a huge light screen formed by the essence of the earth veins was clearly playing everything that happened in the starry sky—from the arrival of the Immortal Dynasty fleet to the fearless beast tide, and then to Li Mu's casual press and words.

When the overwhelming tide of ferocious beasts in the light screen collapsed and disintegrated instantly at Li Mu's word, showing no signs of resurrection, a suppressed growl echoed within the Thick Earth Palace.

"This...!" The Lord of the Swamp gripped the Breath of Earth chair beneath him with his withered fingers, his nails digging deep into it. His voice was hoarse and trembling with disbelief as he said, "The Breath of Earth Law of our race is the origin of this world, endlessly regenerating and cycling! Even the extraterrestrial demons can only suppress it, but have never been able to... annihilate it!"

The Jade Queen's emerald eyes were also filled with shock as she exclaimed, "His power can directly cover and devour the primordial laws? This is beyond our understanding of the 'Dao'! It's not a simple supernatural power, it's... a tampering with the foundation of heaven and earth!"

The heavy breathing of the Lord of the Pan King echoed in the hall. His eyes, as deep as ancient wells, were fixed on the imposing figure of Li Mu in the light screen, as if trying to see right through him.

After a long silence, the Lord of the Pan King finally spoke, cautiously saying, "This person... this person has touched upon 'chaos.' Although the Law of the Breath of Earth is the source of creation, chaos is the beginning of all paths and the mother of all laws. He forcibly covered the Law of the Breath of Earth in this world with the power of the origin of chaos, causing it to temporarily lose its characteristic of 'endless life'... That is a higher level of 'returning to the source'!"

The words of the Lord of the Rock King struck the hearts of all the powerful members of the Earth Clan like a heavy hammer. Chaos! That was the supreme realm that existed only in ancient legends, the primordial power before the creation of heaven and earth, a power that even they, beings born and raised with the earth, could not imagine!

"Return to the source..." the Lord of the Swamp muttered to himself, his eyes filled with fear, "So, if he wants, he can change any law of this world at will? Then our proud 'immortality,' our connection with the earth, are nothing but empty words in front of him?"

“Not only is it useless!” The Jade Queen’s voice trembled. “He can even turn the tables and use the power of chaos to ‘devour’ our origins, turning us into a part of his power! This is more terrifying and more thorough than any direct killing!”

A deathly silence fell over the Thick Earth Palace. For generations, they had lived in this realm of the Breath of Earth, nourished by the land, resonating with its laws, considering themselves the darlings of heaven and earth, possessing immortal bodies. Even when invaded by powerful enemies from beyond the realm, they had never felt such despair.

Because as long as the Origin of the Realm remains, they have hope of making a comeback. But now, an existence capable of directly interfering with the fundamental laws of the earth has appeared, which undoubtedly shakes the very foundation of their existence.

At that moment, a roar that shook the mountains and forests came from outside the hall, accompanied by a violent tremor of the earth. A figure even larger than the Lord of the Rock King, surrounded by cracks and magma, slammed into the Thick Earth Hall. It had two horns on its head, carried mountains on its back, and its limbs were as thick as ancient trees. Every step it took caused the void to tremble.

The most ferocious and direct guardian of the Earth Clan—the Earth-Splitting Beast King!
The Earth-Splitting Beast King's crimson eyes swept across the light screen, taking in the cleared battlefield and the rapidly constructing floating celestial port in the starry sky. It roared in fury, "Barbarians from beyond the realm! How dare they build such filthy things on our land! They deserve to be killed! They deserve to be annihilated! Lord of the Rock King, no need for further words. We will immediately lead our people to charge forward and tear these invaders to shreds!"

The Earth-Splitting Beast King's voice was like thunder, filled with primal wildness and killing intent. However, the Lord of the Rock King slowly raised his hand, stopping his impulsive act.

"You didn't witness the earth-shattering event firsthand." The voice of the Lord of the Rock King carried a hint of weariness. "With a single word, that person severed the life force of billions of ferocious beasts, shattering their crystal cores and sending their souls to nothingness. That was not a simple crushing of power, but an absolute control at the level of laws."

The Earth-Splitting Beast King was taken aback. It was naturally rough and reckless, but it also knew how powerful it was. It could clearly feel the terrifying chaotic aura in the light screen, a supreme suppression that made it instinctively tremble.

"So what?" the Earth-Splitting Beast King said gruffly. "Our Rang Clan has protected this realm for generations. How can we allow outsiders to bully us? Even if he has extraordinary abilities, if we unite as one and draw upon the power deep within the earth's veins, we may still be able to fight him!"

"A war?" The Lord of the Swamp gave a bitter laugh. "Have you ever considered that if he can easily 'return' to our laws, then our manipulation of the earth's veins might be used by him instead, becoming nourishment for his own growth?"

Upon hearing this, the massive body of the Earth-Splitting Beast King stiffened abruptly, its rage replaced by deep apprehension. This possibility sent chills down its spine.

"This person is unfathomable; we must not act rashly." The Lord of the Rock King took a deep breath, and the fire in the earth's core pulsed even more intensely in his eyes: "They are not simply plunderers. That floating immortal port is less a war fortress and more like a... place for cultivation and enlightenment. They draw life force from the soil without damaging the earth's foundation; there must be a deeper meaning behind this."

The Jade Queen frowned slightly: "You mean...we should observe first?"

"Indeed," the Lord of the Rock King said in a deep voice. "We will first observe their actions and probe their strength. At the same time, we will secretly summon the powerful members of the Earth Clan scattered throughout the realm to awaken the ancient beings that are dormant. If they intend to cause trouble, we will drive them out even at the cost of the entire realm!"

Inside the Thick Earth Palace, as the powerful members of the Rang Clan were filled with endless worry and vigilance, Li Mu's gaze returned from the distance in the starry sky, a meaningful smile curving his lips slightly upward.

“No matter how deeply they hide, they cannot escape the gaze of the Chaos Eye.” Li Mu murmured to himself, his voice only audible to himself: “The creatures nurtured by the origin of the Breath of Earth… this world is quite interesting.” Inside the bridge of the Rift Universe, King Zhenhai, Valley Master of Burning Heaven, and others also noticed the direction of Li Mu’s gaze. Their divine senses spread out accordingly. Although they were not as profound as Li Mu’s Chaos Eye, they could still vaguely sense that in the far distance, several deep and powerful divine senses, which shared the same origin as the aura of this world but were even more refined and majestic, were subtly converging and probing.

“It seems that the master of this realm has been alarmed.” King Zhenhai’s expression was solemn. The Guixu Tide Disc in front of him rippled slightly, stirring up the surrounding water vapor.

The flames around the Valley Master of Burning Heaven flickered, and his fighting spirit rose faintly: "His aura is profound and connected to the earth's veins. He is no easy opponent. The beast tide just now was probably just a test."

The Buddha Master of the Dry Zen Temple chanted the Buddha's name in a low voice: "Observing his thoughts, although there was surprise and anger, there was no murderous intent to fight immediately. He seemed to be weighing his options."

The Sword Sect Ancestor stroked the spine of the sword and said coldly, "The strength and weakness are unclear, and friend and foe are not yet distinguished. We should send someone to inquire about their intentions and investigate their true strength, which will also demonstrate the grandeur of our Immortal Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, all the powerful figures nodded slightly. Rushing in with a large army would easily ignite war, and it would be extremely unwise to forge a deadly enmity with a powerful being from the origin of a realm due to a misunderstanding. Sending envoys to inquire about the situation was a timely and appropriate move, allowing them to probe the truth or, conversely, to maneuver and buffer the situation.

“That’s very well said.” King Zhenhai looked at Li Mu’s back and respectfully asked, “Senior Li, we are considering sending an envoy to that place where the auras converge to inquire about etiquette and communicate. What do you think, Senior?”

Li Mu glanced at the King of Zhenhai and said, "Agreed."

With the word decided, the selection of the person becomes crucial. The eyes of the powerful figures exchanged glances, and a plan was instantly devised.

This place is the realm of the Breath of Earth, and the native creatures must be well-versed in the laws of the land. It is most suitable to send someone who practices earth-based techniques or possesses related magical treasures and has a calm temperament.

Ultimately, everyone's attention settled on a middle-aged Taoist priest who had been standing quietly in a corner, dressed in a dark yellow robe. This man was known as "Illusory Spirit Immortal Venerable," the sect leader of the "Houtu Sect," a great world under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Dynasty. He was well-versed in the Dao of Houtu's ability to sustain all things, wielded the magic weapon "Nine Mountains Suppressing Yuan Ruler," was most skilled at sensing the earth's veins, possessed unparalleled defense, and had a temperament as calm and steady as a mountain.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Immortal Venerable Huanling did not refuse. He stepped forward and bowed to Li Mu and the other powerful figures, saying, "Immortal Venerable Huanling is willing to go."

"Thank you for your trouble, Immortal Lord." King Zhenhai said solemnly, "This trip is not for conquest, but to communicate and inquire about their attitude, to show that our Immortal Dynasty has no intention of immediately invading. However, the other world is dangerous, so you must be careful, True Lord. If things go wrong, self-preservation is the most important thing."

"I understand." Immortal Venerable Huanling nodded, the Nine Mountains Suppressing Ruler in his hand emitting a hazy yellow light, enveloping his entire body. His aura immediately resonated with the vast earth below, appearing both profound and approachable.

With a swift movement, the Illusionary Spirit Immortal transformed into a streak of light, departing from the Rift Universe and heading calmly and steadily towards the direction from which Li Mu had been looking—the direction from which those subtle divine thoughts had come.

The dark yellow Taoist robe fluttered in the starry sky, like a moving, steady mountain, exuding an air of openness and tranquility.

In the starry sky, the streak of dark yellow light slowly and steadily penetrated deeper into the void. Behind it, the powerful figures of the Immortal Dynasty all watched intently, the atmosphere slightly heavy. This exchange of greetings was crucial to whether the Immortal Dynasty could establish itself in this realm, and even to whether war or peace would follow.

Li Mu remained standing at the bow of the ship, his Chaotic Dharma Eyes fixed on the direction in which the Illusionary Spirit Immortal Venerable was heading. His gaze was profound, as if he could already see the ancient grotto-heaven nourished by the endless essence of the earth veins, and the several powerful figures within it as deep as the abyss.

The Illusionary Spirit Immortal transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the deep starry sky of the Breath of Earth Realm. His Xuanhuang Daoist robe fluttered in the wind, and the hazy yellow light emanating from the Nine Peaks Suppressing Ruler made him appear like a deity emerging from the ancient earth.

This realm is completely different from the star field seen by the Immortal Dynasty. It is not a simple combination of void and stars, but is composed of countless floating continental blocks of different sizes of Breath Soil. These continental blocks are connected by invisible threads of life force, forming a vast and complex web of life.

Occasionally, one can see giant plants floating in the starry sky, their roots penetrating the void, their branches and leaves stretching out like nebulae, exuding a rich fragrance of life. Wherever the Illusionary Spirit Immortal Venerable passes, one can clearly feel the pulse emanating from the depths of the earth, a unique rhythm of the resonance between the beings of this world and the fundamental laws, majestic and ancient, carrying the vicissitudes of eternity.

Following the powerful fluctuations of divine sense, the Illusionary Spirit Immortal Venerable traversed one floating continent after another, until finally, in the center of a continent shaped like a giant tortoise shell, he discovered the entrance to a grotto-heaven surrounded by rich earth vein essence. The grotto-heaven was hidden deep within the laws of nature, and even a Dao Lord of an Immortal Dynasty would have difficulty detecting it without guidance.

The Illusionary Spirit Immortal Venerable concealed his aura and slowly stepped into the cave. Before him suddenly opened up, revealing an ancient and imposing palace—the Thick Earth Palace, the council hall of the Rang Clan. The aura within the palace was like a vast, boundless sea. Several figures, some seated, some standing, all exuded a chilling pressure. Leading them was none other than the Lord of the Rock King, his figure like a mountain, his eyes flickering with earth-core fire, revealing endless antiquity and profundity.

Immortal Venerable Huanling, neither humble nor arrogant, stepped into the hall. His Xuanhuang Daoist robe fluttered without wind. He cupped his hands in a salute, his voice as steady as a rock: "Immortal Venerable Huanling of the Immortal Dynasty has been ordered to visit fellow Daoists of the Xirang Realm."

The Lord of the Pan King's eyes, as deep as ancient wells, narrowed slightly. The fire at the heart of the earth pulsed incessantly. His heavy voice echoed within the hall: "Barbarians from beyond the realm have trespassed into our territory and erected filthy structures. What right do they have to claim to be visiting?"

Before the Lord of the Rock King could finish speaking, the Jade Queen beside him snorted coldly and said displeasedly, "We are the original beings of this realm, born and raised with the earth. You have come uninvited, yet claim to be seeking greetings; this is blatant deception! That floating immortal port is draining the life force of our realm; it is clearly plunder! How is such behavior any different from that of the extraterrestrial demons?"

The Lord of the Swamp tapped his withered fingers lightly on the Earthen Seat, producing a hoarse voice as he said sinisterly, "If it weren't for your extraordinary strength, we would have suppressed you long ago. Now, you dare to send envoys here? Could it be that you wish to probe our strength and pave the way for a future invasion?"

Unable to contain himself, the Earth-Splitting Beast King took a sudden step forward, his massive body shaking the palace. His scarlet eyes were fixed on the Illusionary Spirit Immortal Venerable, and he roared like thunder: "Enough nonsense! Leave immediately, destroy that filthy immortal port, and get out of my realm! Otherwise, even if my Rang Clan mobilizes the entire realm, we will make you pay a terrible price!"

The atmosphere within the hall instantly became heavy, filled with killing intent. The powerful members of the Rang Clan exuded an imposing aura, connected to the power of the entire Thick Earth Hall and even the depths of the earth's veins. It seemed that with a single command, the entire Rang Realm would transform into a prehistoric behemoth, launching a most ferocious counterattack against the Immortal Dynasty's fleet. (End of Chapter)