Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

A century has passed, like a tamed stream flowing silently through the ruins of time.

The once shattered, chaotic, and murderous Time Ruins Realm has long since been transformed. Chaotic array patterns traversing the void descend like celestial locks, sealing off all the once rampant and violent time rifts, as if binding a primordial beast that has broken free of its shackles with black iron chains.

The Dao patterns, shimmering with a faint light, intertwined in the void, guiding and condensing the chaotic flow of time, drawing it all into the core of the realm—the towering "Time-Suppressing Giant Tower."

The giant tower is made of divine metal as its skeleton and time crystal minerals as its flesh. Its surface is engraved with billions of time and space Dao patterns, which are complex and profound, leading directly to the origin of the Great Dao.

Atop the tower hangs a crystal core formed from the condensation of endless time, its translucent surface slowly rotating, regulating the flow of time throughout the entire realm. Though ripples still occasionally appear, they no longer possess the former danger of mortals perishing upon touching them.

Within this realm, numerous celestial cities stand, each with its own unique grandeur. The cities are all forged from the divine iron of the Extinction Realm, incorporating the laws of time; shimmering light flows across their walls, as if whispering the secrets of time.

Cultivators came and went in an endless stream through the streets and alleys, their auras steady and their steps rhythmic, clearly in sync with the world. Numerous mining teams ventured deep into the former forbidden land, under heavy guard, to mine the Time Crystal, which contained the power of time. The crystals shimmered like stardust, and every ray of light could be refined into a magical treasure, turning into an opportunity to reverse the moment.

These crystal ores were transported to the workshops, where they were refined by master craftsmen using the Daoist essence emanating from the Chaos Dao Tree, ultimately transforming into various heaven-defying treasures. Some could cause a slight slowing of time around the wearer, giving them a crucial advantage in life-or-death battles; others could create small time barriers, stimulating the growth of spiritual herbs over a thousand years, helping cultivators to comprehend the secrets of heaven; still others were rumored to grant those who obtained such treasures glimpses of the future, though at a heavy price, it was akin to reversing one's destiny.

Chaos Ember City is even more magnificent than it was a hundred years ago, its size nearly doubling. Atop the city walls patrol rows of Chaos Ember Puppets. Their bodies are adorned with Ember Fire and Dao patterns, moving silently, with only the faint hum of time leaving its mark on their metal joints. Their eyes, like cold stars, exude a chilling aura and oppressive power forged in the crucible of war.

Deep within the city, in Li Mu's secluded cultivation place, the chaotic energy had long since condensed into liquid, resembling an inverted Milky Way, with a surging sea of ​​clouds. Inside the cave, the scene was breathtaking.

Li Mu sat upright in the void, with a illusory image of a Chaos Dao Tree standing majestically behind him. Its branches were like twisted dragons, and its leaves supported the illusory images of the heavens and the worlds. On the tree crown, several Dao Fruits shone brightly: the metal-type Dao Fruits were sheathed, their killing intent contained within; the fire-type Dao Fruits were dark red like blood, endlessly cycling between destruction and creation; ...
The newly born Time Dao Fruit is like an eternally beating crystal heart, with light and shadow flowing within, reflecting a miniature river of time. The auras of the Gold, Fire, Yin, and Yang Dao Fruits blend together, their Dao rhythms connected, making the entire Dao Tree a unified whole, as if it has already begun to possess the aura to support a real universe.

The bright moon stood quietly by his side, protecting him. The spirit of his puppet soul was as solid as glass, translucent and radiating a warm and enduring glow.

Having waited a century and been bathed in her master's chaotic Daoist essence, her foundation in the Puppet Dao is already indestructible, and her comprehension of the Chaotic Puppet Dao has reached a state of perfection.

During a break from his seclusion, his master bestowed upon him a wisp of pure time essence refined from the body of a beast that devoured time itself. For a hundred years, Mingyue devoted herself to refining it, finally integrating this power into her own body.

Although it is no longer possible to command the world and establish order like its master, it is now possible to slow down, accelerate, or even freeze time within its puppet domain on a small scale.

These techniques, when integrated into the Puppet Dao, enable the puppet army to be both offensive and defensive, unleashing power that is almost unpredictable.

On this day, the chaotic energy that had lingered in the cave for a hundred years suddenly condensed, and then, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, it all entered Li Mu's body.

Li Mu slowly opened his eyes, and a fleeting phantom of collapsing galaxies and changing eras seemed to flash in his eyes. His Daoist aura was restrained, yet it exuded an aura of power, as if the rise and fall of heaven and earth were all in his hands, and the cycle of eternity was all under his control.

Li Mu stood up without moving an inch, yet the surrounding light was already distorted, and time became blurred beside him. With a single thought, he could make an inch of land eternal in an instant; with a single thought, ten thousand years would pass in the blink of an eye.

"Bright Moon." Li Mu spoke, his voice like an ancient bell, calm yet containing an irresistible power.

“Master!” Mingyue stepped forward quickly, bowed deeply, and her golden eyes were filled with awe and joy.

“A century has passed, and the foundation has been laid.” Li Mu’s gaze pierced through layers of barriers, looking towards the colorful and distorted realm deep in the endless void. “The Illusionary Spirit Realm… the lair of the Lord of Nightmare, it’s time to make a trip there.”

Before he finished speaking, Li Mu appeared atop the Chaos City—on the terrace of the Town-Suppressing Hall. Mingyue followed closely behind.

Almost instantly, Xiao Jingtian, along with the Valley Master of Burning Heaven Valley, the King of Zhenhai, the Ancestor of the Sword Sect, and other important officials of the Immortal Dynasty, transformed into streaks of light and gathered before the hall, bowing in unison.

"Welcome back, Master (Senior)!"

The roar was like a tidal wave, shaking the heavens, filled with heartfelt reverence and excitement.

For a century, under the remaining power of Li Mu and the protection of Mingyue, the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty has expanded its territory to various realms and its foundation has grown exponentially; however, everyone knows that the true backbone of the Immortal Dynasty has always been this young man in blue robes.

Li Mu glanced at everyone and nodded slightly.

Xiao Jingtian's aura was as deep as an abyss, already touching the threshold of the Dao Realm; the Valley Master of Burning Heaven's fire intent was pure, burning away all distracting thoughts; the King of Sea Suppressing's water techniques were perfectly harmonious and flawless; the Sword Sect Ancestor's sword intent soared to the heavens, pointing directly to his true self. All of them lived up to expectations.

"You have all worked hard for a century." Li Mu looked at everyone and gestured, "The Ruins Realm has become a peaceful and orderly land, and the journey through the heavens has only just begun. The next step—the Illusionary Spirit Realm."

The moment the words "Illusory Realm" were uttered, everyone's expressions turned solemn. It was the birthplace of the Lord of Nightmares, a place of endless illusions and rampant inner demons. Those who ventured there risked their souls shattering, becoming slaves to illusions. Its dangers far surpassed those of the Golden Puppet Realm and the Profound Abyss Realm.

"I will obey your decree!" Xiao Jingtian clasped his hands, his eyes burning with fighting spirit: "This humble general will immediately prepare the army and refine the magic weapon to break the nightmare, and will surely help you, senior, to flatten this world!"

“The Golden Puppet Realm emphasizes matter and order; the Profound Abyss Realm governs destruction and creation; the Time Ruins Realm controls chaos and time. And the Illusionary Spirit Realm…” Li Mu’s tone deepened slightly as he indicated, “is a place where spirits converge, and its core principle is ‘illusion and reality.’”

"Illusion and reality?" Xiao Jingtian frowned slightly. In the battles of the Immortal Dynasty, brute force has always been used to overcome skill, and formations to overwhelm the enemy. A strong physical body and vast magical power are the true path to victory. This kind of spiritual path is formless and elusive, difficult to grasp, and is truly an unprecedented enemy.

Mingyue's eyes flickered slightly. The Puppet Path she cultivated was the ultimate pursuit of "existence" and "control." And spirit and soul were the pinnacle of "existence." This world was both a perilous place and an opportunity for her.

Li Mu continued, “In the Illusionary Realm, beings may not have strong physical bodies, nor may their magical power be astonishing. However, they can distort perception, lure people into illusions, and directly attack the source of the soul, killing people invisibly. Ordinary military formations and magical treasures are greatly reduced in effectiveness there, and may even be controlled by them.”

Xiao Jingtian's heart skipped a beat, realizing the situation was tricky. This couldn't be overcome by brute force; it was a battle of wits.

"What does Master mean?"

"Military tactics are ever-changing, just as water has no fixed shape." Li Mu turned his gaze to the bright moon: "The vanguard of this battle is none other than you."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Mingyue replied without hesitation.

“Your three thousand Chaos Ember Puppets have sturdy bodies, impervious to physical and energy impacts, but their souls are weak, making them unsuitable for deep penetration,” Li Mu said. “Hundreds of years ago, when I was suppressing the Golden Puppet Realm, I killed a ‘Nightmare Lord’ and seized his core essence. I used your Puppet Dao Law to fuse this core and forge a new army.”

After speaking, Li Mu lightly waved his sleeve.

The plaza shimmered with light, and five hundred dark purple shadows appeared out of thin air. The moment Xiao Jingtian saw them, a chill ran through him, as if countless invisible eyes were peering into his mind, locking onto even his thoughts.

Upon closer inspection, this army was not humanoid, but rather like flowing shadows, without a fixed form. At the core of the shadows, a "Nightmare Core" composed of twisted runes pulsated, emitting a chilling mental fluctuation. They were blind, yet seemed to see everything; silent, yet seemed to hear everything.

“This is the ‘Nightmare Puppet Guardian’,” Li Mu said. “It is not good at physical attacks, but only at devouring spirits and creating nightmares. It is a natural spirit hunter, specializing in illusions and soul attacks. Anyone who uses spirit magic on it will be tracked down and their soul essence will be devoured and turned into resources for its growth.”

Xiao Jingtian gasped.

This item was actually tailor-made for the Illusionary Spirit Realm. Master had laid out this plan long ago, and the depth of his strategy is chilling.

A fierce light ignited in Mingyue's eyes. With a slight thought, the five hundred Nightmare Puppet Guards moved with effortless grace, transforming into streams of purple-black light that surrounded her, moving with the agility of shadows and concealing a murderous intent.

"The Illusionary Realm is extremely unpredictable, and its power directly invades the soul and the heart of the Dao." Li Mu looked at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Ordinary magical treasures and armor are difficult to resist its corrosive power. We need to refine artifacts that can suppress the soul, calm the mind, and break through illusions."

"Rest assured, senior!" the Valley Master of Burning Heaven Valley replied loudly, "After a century of secluded cultivation, the Refining Hall has fused the power of the Ember Flame and the power of time and space, and has already produced the prototypes of the 'Pure Heart Glazed Lamp' and the 'Soul Suppressing Tower.' In another ten years, they will surely be complete!"

"Disciples of my Sword Sect can form the 'Heart-Slaying Sword Formation' to cleanse falsehoods with supreme sword intent!" the Sword Sect Ancestor solemnly declared.

"My Water Department's Xuan Yuan Heavy Water can also purify souls and exorcise demons, merging into the great formation," King Zhenhai added.

Li Mu nodded slightly: "Good. I will grant you ten years, with all available resources, to forge weapons and arrays, and select those of unwavering resolve to lead the vanguard. Bright Moon."

"Your subordinate is here!" Mingyue bowed in response.

"You have mastered the laws of time. You can set up the 'Time Refining Heart Array' in the army to accelerate your training, temper your Dao heart, and help it adapt to the Illusionary Spirit Realm," Li Mu instructed, looking at Mingyue beside him.

"Mingyue accepts the order!" Mingyue readily complied.

"Ten years later, the army will march forth and head straight for the Illusionary Realm!" Li Mu waved his sleeve, his mind already made up, and resolutely declared, "In this battle, we must not only win, but also seize its origin and perfect my Dao fruits of 'Spirit' and 'Illusion'!"

Once the order was given, the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty, like a primordial beast awakening, began to operate with a roar.

In the Chaos City of Ashes, among its many subordinate realms, the furnaces of the weapon-refining workshops burn eternally, with array masters and weapon refiners working day and night to deduce the power of the Nightmare and forge anti-Nightmare magical artifacts. One after another, "Illusory Heart Arrays" rise from the ground, simulating the myriad bizarre realms of the Illusory Spirit Realm to test the effectiveness of magical treasures.

Mingyue then designated a forbidden area within the military camp, unleashing the Chaotic Puppet Domain and drawing upon the power of time to set up the "Time-Refining Heart Array." Within the array, time and space distorted, illusions abounded, and inner demons whispered incessantly. Soldiers entering the array had to maintain their integrity amidst the illusions, each step fraught with peril. Though some perished, those who survived possessed hearts as indestructible as diamond.

Xiao Jingtian took overall command, deployed troops, selected elites, and trained a new army. A "Nightmare Breaker Legion" created specifically to conquer the Illusionary Spirit Realm gradually became an iron army. Everyone carried a mind-cleansing artifact, recited the mantra of guarding the spirit, and had clear and bright eyes.

Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, in the central square of Chaos City, a hundred million soldiers stood in formation, their swords and spears like a forest, their banners obscuring the sky. Ahead, the Nightmare-Breaking Legion stood solemnly like a mountain, their auras unified. Above, countless war fortresses, including the Rift Universe, floated, their hulls covered in gleaming arrays of runes designed to withstand the impact of divine souls.

Li Mu stood at the bow of the Rift Universe, his blue robe fluttering in the wind, his gaze calmly sweeping over the torrent of steel below. Beside him, the moon shone in silver armor, his long platinum hair danced in the wind, and the laws of time and the aura of the Puppet Dao intertwined around him, making him unfathomable.

Xiao Jingtian stepped forward, his voice resounding throughout the universe: "Reporting to Master! The three armies are ready, the magical weapons are in order, and we are ready to fight at any time!"

Li Mu nodded slightly and pointed to the void. In an instant, the space rippled like water, splitting open a colorful passage, within which were bizarre lights, phantoms, and whispers.

"The Phantom Realm is just over there."

"On this journey—to vanquish inner demons, shatter illusions, and seize the origin!"

"March!"

At a single command, ten thousand ships roared in unison!

The massive Immortal Dynasty fleet, like a primordial beast awakening, was particularly distinguished by its flagship, the "Rending Universe." This ship had once accompanied Li Mu in conquering the Xuan Yuan Jin Realm, and now it was once again ready for battle. Countless pillars of spiritual energy connected to its body, and the array patterns on its hull lit up one by one, accumulating terrifying power sufficient to tear apart the barrier between great realms.

With all troops ready, everything will be accomplished.

Xiao Jingtian, leading all the core generals of the Great Qian Dynasty, stood solemnly at the bow of the Lieyu. Below them, the fleet blotted out the sky, hovering silently in the void, its killing intent soaring to the heavens, as deep and unfathomable as a prison.

Li Mu appeared at the highest point of the ship's bow, dressed in a simple blue robe, his aura restrained, like that of an ordinary person. Yet, as his gaze swept over them, the hearts of the entire army were at ease, and the generals were calmed.

With him by my side, even if the road ahead leads to the deepest hell and eternal damnation, I have nothing to fear.

"set sail."

Xiao Jingtian suddenly waved his hand and issued a military order.

"Boom——"

The ramming horn of the Rift Universe gathered chaotic spiritual energy powerful enough to tear apart stars, and an incredibly thick dark beam of light burst forth, slamming violently into the void in front of it.

The colorful and distorted boundary barrier rippled violently like a lake surface tossed with a boulder, emitting a mournful cry of unbearable strain. Then, a massive rift spanning the heavens and earth was forcibly torn open, and from behind the rift, bizarre and colorful phenomena surged forth, accompanied by countless whispers that seemed both real and illusory, pouring directly into the depths of every soldier's soul.

"Bright Moon," Li Mu called out.

"Your subordinate is here!" Mingyue, clad in silver armor, stepped out from the bow of the ship. Behind him, five hundred Nightmare Puppet Guards followed like shadows, transforming into a dark purple tide that surged into the rift first. Immediately afterward, a steel torrent composed of three thousand Chaos Ember Puppets followed closely behind with synchronized steps that shook the very space.

Upon stepping into the Illusionary Realm, Mingyue's golden eyes narrowed slightly. (End of Chapter)