Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

"Want to leave? This realm is not a place where you can come and go as you please!"

With a sharp shout, Mingyue's silver hair fluttered wildly amidst the turbulent energy currents.

Mingyue's ten fingers moved like lotus blossoms, and the majestic Pool of Life and Death behind her responded. The black and white energies in the pool surged like a raging tide, instantly transforming into nine giant chains that stretched across the Milky Way—five of them were bright white, brimming with life as vast as the sea; the other four were deep and dark, their death intent devouring the heavens and the earth.

The nine chains emerged simultaneously, like nine divine dragons extending their claws, instantly entangling the fleeing fiery starfield.

The Cycle of Reincarnation clashed fiercely with the Law of Incineration, forcefully turning the spatial ripples caused by the "Flame Escape" secret technique into a chaotic torrent.

"Leave!"

Mingyue's fingertips changed their technique again, and the nine chains tightened suddenly.

Several slower Blazing Divine Ships were struck by the chain blades. One side of the ship's hull was covered with wild vegetation, bursting with vitality, and its structure twisted like a living thing; the other side rusted and disintegrated, turning into endless dust in an instant. The screams and explosions continued endlessly under the strangulation of the chains.

The Fiery Azure God General's eyes were bloodshot with rage. His escape route was blocked, and his remaining troops were being slaughtered by that strange chain of life and death.

A resolute look appeared in his eyes. He shattered the crimson-gold dragon-patterned divine armor on his chest with a single palm strike, revealing a violently beating heart beneath—the Heart of the Flame God. Its shape was like flame, and its quality was like that of a god, as if it had been condensed from ancient divine flames.

"With my soul as the guide, with my blood as the sacrifice, I respectfully welcome my lord—the Supreme Flame God—to descend upon this world and burn away all filth!"

The Blazing God General wept blood and roared, and the Heart of the Flame God suddenly left his body, hovering in the void, bursting forth with a blazing divine light that swallowed up the starry river. His divine blood, divinity, and remnant soul surged wildly into that heart like kindling.

"Not good! He's sacrificing himself to summon a powerful will! Interrupt him!" Xiao Jingtian transmitted his thoughts, ordering his generals to attack.

The main cannon of the Rift Universe, the "Annihilation Return Cannon," shone brightly, and the array patterns on the ship's hull operated beyond their capacity, humming like weeping. The sacrifice had to be interrupted before that being descended!
However, it was ultimately too late.

The Heart of the Flame God absorbed everything from the Blazing Azure God General and exploded with a deafening roar. An invisible will descended from the infinite heights, causing the laws of the Eastern Realm of the Netherworld Blood Realm to tremble and wail, as if a primordial behemoth had opened its eyes from an ancient slumber.

Like a stone thrown into water, dark red ripples spread from the point of explosion. Wherever they passed, the nine chains formed by the life and death energies of the bright moon crumbled inch by inch, turning into primordial spiritual energy and dissipating. The remaining divine ships, generals, and weapons were all silently annihilated as the ripples swept over them, as if they had never existed in the world.

An indescribably enormous, dark red phantom slowly coalesced at the center of the ripples.

Its shape was uncertain, seemingly formed from the piled-up remains of billions of burning stars, collapsing worlds, and wailing gods. Even a single phantom was enough to cause the core alarms of the million-strong puppet army to sound and their movements to become sluggish, with the puppet patterns flickering erratically. The combined shield of the Immortal Dynasty fleet trembled violently, like a candle flickering in the wind.

The will of the Flame God descends!
"Those who blaspheme the divine power, burn them!"

An ancient and grand idea, like a decree of heaven, penetrates the souls of all living beings. A fiery red phantom ripples, and a dark red stream of fire, seemingly slow but actually transcending time and space, falls silently towards the core of the bright moon and the puppet army, like a judgment of fate.

Before the flames even arrived, the chaotic puppet domain surrounding Mingyue emitted a piercing cracking sound, and golden-red cracks appeared on her silver armor.

Mingyue let out a muffled groan, and pale golden soul blood spilled from the corner of her lips. The cores of hundreds of reincarnation battle puppets behind her overloaded and were annihilated, and the forms of thousands of illusory puppet guards flickered between reality and illusion, almost collapsing.

"Nirvana Returns to Origin—Release!"

At the critical moment, Xiao Jingtian roared throughout the star field. From the bow of the Rift Universe, the gray pillar of light that gathered the Daoist essence of an entire realm of annihilation and drained the spiritual energy of ten thousand miles finally burst forth.

The beam of light was devoid of light and flame, yet it contained the true meaning of "returning to nothingness." It caused even the phantom of the Flame God to pause. Wherever it passed, the dark red flames seemed to encounter a natural enemy, their tips rapidly melting away as if swallowed by an invisible giant maw.

A gray pillar of light and a dark red stream of fire collided violently in the center of the star field!

Silent, without explosion, only an absolute void rapidly expanded from the point of collision, erasing all thoughts of existence—light, sound, spirit, law…

Looking into the distance, it's as if a piece of the star field has been cut away, leaving only the deepest "nothingness".

The aftershocks of destruction spread outwards in a ring, sweeping across three trillion miles at faster-than-light speed. Meteorites, seas of blood, dust, space... were all reduced to dust, and then even the dust ceased to exist, and time almost stood still.

The combined shield of the Immortal Dynasty shattered like paper, the thousands of ships on the perimeter vaporized silently, the Rift Universe trembled violently, its hull cracked, and its spiritual light dimmed.

Mingyue endured the excruciating pain of her soul being torn apart, shrinking her puppet domain to its limit to protect the remaining puppet core. Her silver armor was covered in cracks, like porcelain on the verge of shattering.

The phantom of the Flame God was also severely injured, its dark red light noticeably dimmed, and a trace of anger seemed to flash across its cold will. The phantom turned, its gaze falling on the giant ship that dared to challenge divine might.

Blood trickled from the corner of Xiao Jingtian's mouth. He gripped the control talisman tightly and hissed, "All troops, listen up! Retreat! Target—the 'Nine Netherworld Barrier' defensive line behind Zhenyouming City! Retreat immediately!"

Without hesitation, the remaining fleet tore through the scorching star field, crashed into the unstable void, and swiftly fled into the heart of the Blood Realm.

The Rift Universe unleashed its final beam of annihilation for cover, its stern thrusters burned out, and it merged into the surging current.

Mingyue glanced back, casting a deep look at the illusory figure of the Flame God, which stretched across the starry sky and exuded an oppressive aura. In her golden eyes, the data stream finally condensed into a cold numerical value. With a light wave of her jade hand, the remaining puppets transformed into streaks of light, closely following the fleet and disappearing into the void.

In an instant, the sound of battle ceased in the Eastern Starfield, leaving only a faintly dim phantom of the Flame God, and the desolate starry sky stretching for three trillion miles below, silent as a tomb.

The embers drifting in the void silently testified to the near-destructive clash that had just taken place.

The illusory figure of the Flame God indifferently "watched" the retreating Immortal Dynasty without pursuing it. That "Annihilation Return to Origin Cannon" finally caused its will to invade this world to collapse. The illusory figure rippled slightly, as if it were examining this world and sensing its laws, or as if it were brewing the next judgment.

……

In the eastern border of the Netherworld Blood Realm, scorched earth stretches for thousands of miles.

In the void, smoke dissipated, and the lingering heat of divine flames intertwined with the chill of the Dao of Annihilation, like frost and fire in a furnace, causing the laws of heaven and earth to tremble faintly.

The once surging crimson sea of ​​blood is now largely dried up and cracked, exposing the dark, inky earth below. Only the edges still have embers that haven't been extinguished, like a leech that gnaws at the laws of the realm, crackling and popping as if it were unwilling to accept its fate.

Above the void, the celestial dynasty's fleet was sparsely arrayed, its spiritual light dim.

Many warships were charred black, melted and collapsed, or riddled with cracks, all marks left by the burning of divine flames and the backlash of annihilation. The Rift Universe hung in the center of the formation, towering like a star fortress, but the runes on its hull were flickering. There was a huge dent on its bow, with twisted metal at the edges. The strange energy, a mixture of blazing white and gray-black, had not yet dissipated and was still groaning.

On the bridge, Xiao Jingtian was covered in black armor, the surface of which was covered with scratches and scorch marks. His eyes were like lightning, and his divine sense spread out like a net, taking in all the remnants of the battlefield. Only deep in his eyes was a trace of weariness that was hard to detect.

"All units, report your battle losses immediately!"

Xiao Jingtian's voice, amplified by the array, resounded throughout the entire fleet, leaving no room for hesitation.

In a short while, divine thoughts flooded in.

"The Heavenly Pivot Guard lost forty-seven immortal ships, severely damaged one hundred and thirty others, with over thirty thousand soldiers killed and more than one hundred thousand wounded..."

"The Yao Guang Army's puppet legion suffered nearly half its losses, the Blood-Breaking Divine Puppet destroyed eight thousand times, the Illusionary True Puppet Guards lost over a thousand times, and the Reincarnation War Puppet overloaded and collapsed over three hundred times..."

"The furnace in Burning Heaven Valley has been damaged and repairs will take some time..." "The list of Sword Sect disciples who lost their swords or died has been submitted..."

……

The cold, hard numbers struck like a heavy hammer, for although this battle forced back a powerful enemy, the price paid by the Immortal Dynasty's army was devastating.

The power of the Blazing God Realm far exceeded expectations, especially with the arrival of the Blazing God's will at the end of the world. If the Rift Universe had not made a desperate gamble and activated the Annihilation Return Cannon, the Eastern Border defense line would have collapsed and disappeared.

Xiao Jingtian lowered his gaze, landing on the area protected by the Life and Death Reincarnation Array.

At the heart of the formation, Mingyue's silver armor was covered in cracks, like broken porcelain pieced together. Her aura fluctuated, indicating that her injuries had not yet healed. Behind her, the remaining puppet army was orderly gathering, many of them with missing limbs, their spiritual light dimmed, and their steps hesitant.

"Lord Mingyue, are you well?" Xiao Jingtian asked with concern, transmitting his thoughts through divine sense.

Mingyue raised her head to look at Xiao Jingtian, the data stream in her golden eyes gradually fading, and said coldly, "It's alright, the Puppet Spirit Core is undamaged, it will recover in a few days. How are the battle losses?"

Xiao Jingtian delivered the battle report using his divine sense.

Mingyue remained silent for a long time, a slight ripple passing through the depths of her golden eyes—of the million puppets, nearly 30% had been lost in this battle, with even more seriously injured or killed; the Immortal Dynasty fleet had also suffered heavy losses, its combat power greatly reduced.

"Clean up the battlefield, gather the wreckage, and send all damaged artifacts to the Myriad Weapons Crafting Hall for emergency repair. Array masters, do your utmost to stabilize the cracks in the boundary wall and stop the erosion of the residual flames," Mingyue ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Xiao Jingtian replied in a deep voice and immediately dispatched his troops.

……

In the eastern border of the Netherworld Blood Realm, like a wounded behemoth, slowly licks its wounds. The wrecked ships are gradually returning to their positions under the guidance of beams of light, and engineering puppets shuttle through the ruins, picking up materials that can still be used.

The array masters gathered around the crack in the boundary wall and laid down layers of sealing arrays, attempting to mend this natural barrier.

Several days later, in the city of Zhenyouming, at the central tower.

Mingyue stood atop the tower, her brows still furrowed with weariness, her aura still unsteady. Without pausing, she took a step forward, her figure disappearing into the void, and in an instant, she arrived within the Chaos Treasure Palace.

Within the Chaos Treasure Palace - Spirit Garden, chaotic energy flows and swirls, unchanged through the ages, tranquil and peaceful, a world apart from the blood and fire outside.

Li Mu, dressed in a green robe, stood with his hands behind his back beneath the Chaos Dao Tree, seemingly undisturbed even if the world were to collapse.

Mingyue strode forward and knelt on one knee three zhang away, bowing her head to indicate, "Master, Mingyue reports back."

Li Mu turned around, his gaze falling on him, and he saw through the vulnerability that could not be concealed beneath the new armor at a glance: "Stand up and answer."

"Thank you, Master."

Mingyue stood up, hands clasped respectfully, and reported in detail: "The Blazing Flame God Realm has invaded this time, dispatching a main fleet of over a thousand men. Their general, Chi Cang, is nearing the threshold of the Dao Realm, and his army is elite, launching a relentless offensive. Our army, relying on the Life and Death Cycle Array and the puppet legion, initially successfully repelled the enemy and inflicted heavy losses. However, in the final moments, they used a secret technique, sacrificing themselves to summon a wisp of the Flame God's will..."

Mingyue recounted the entire battle, including the methods used by both sides, the power of the Flame God's will, and the dangers of the Annihilation Return to Origin Cannon, without any embellishment or exaggeration. Every word was as firm as iron, and every sentence was clear.

"...Although this battle repelled the enemy and secured the border, the eastern defense line was nearly destroyed, and the soldiers suffered heavy casualties. The puppet army lost nearly 30% of its strength, and the fleet's combat power was reduced by more than 40%. Although the cracks in the boundary wall have been temporarily sealed, the Flame God Dao within them is stubborn and difficult to remove. Complete purification will still take time."

After Mingyue finished speaking, a deep shadow appeared in the depths of her golden eyes: "After this battle, the Blazing Flame God Realm has seen through the true nature of our realm and even obtained the secret of reincarnation; their retreat is not the end. Given their way of doing things, when they come again, they will surely bring the force of thunder, and the enemies they subdue will probably be far beyond the power of will and illusion."

After a brief pause, Mingyue looked up at Li Mu and continued, "Master, the preparation period for war may be quite short."

The Spirit Garden was silent, except for the Chaos Dao Tree swaying gently, its branches and leaves rustling, as if responding to the secrets of heaven.

Li Mu listened quietly for a long time, his face expressionless, his eyes filled with a chaotic flow, as if he were deducing the cause and effect of countless ages.

After a moment, Li Mu nodded slightly, indicating, "Yes, I am aware of this matter."

"You have done your best." Li Mu's gaze fell on Mingyue, and he praised, "This battle has honed our military formations, tested the effectiveness of the cycle of life and death, and given us a glimpse into the power of higher levels. Although the losses were great, we have also gained something."

With a slight shift in tone, Li Mu reiterated, "The Blazing Flame Divine Realm is nothing more than a minor ailment. If they offend us again, we will simply kill them."

Mingyue was completely convinced that with her master's help, there would be no problem at all.

“Bright moon,” Li Mu continued.

"Your subordinate is here," Mingyue replied respectfully.

"The puppets damaged in this battle should be repaired first. The blazing remnants and fragments of Dao principles obtained from the battlefield should all be handed over to the Myriad Puppet Heavenly Craft Hall for analysis. Their essence should be integrated to develop a new type of fire-resistant puppet body. The core puppet pattern of the Reincarnation Battle Puppet needs further optimization to resist the extreme Yang Flame..." Li Mu indicated.

"I will obey my master's decree!" Mingyue respectfully replied.

"Reward Xiao Jingtian's troops for their merits, provide compensation for the wounded and injured, and order them to quickly repair their fleet, integrate resources from all four realms, and develop new battle formations based on the characteristics of the Blazing Flame. I will personally go to stabilize the cracks in the boundary wall," Li Mu continued.

"Yes!" Mingyue replied respectfully.

"Go then." Li Mu's gaze returned to the Dao Tree, indicating, "Rest well and strengthen your foundation. The great battle is just beginning."

"Mingyue takes her leave!" Mingyue bowed deeply, and her silver-armored figure quietly disappeared into the chaotic energy, vanishing without a trace.

After leaving the Chaos Treasure Palace, Mingyue returned directly to the central hub of Zhenyouming City and immediately issued a decree. After a brief respite, the Immortal Dynasty's war machines roared into operation once more.

The furnace of the Myriad Puppet Heavenly Craft Hall was rekindled, and craftsmen and array masters gathered around the blazing remnants and divine flame crystals, analyzing, experimenting, and deducing day and night; the remains of the Illusionary True Puppet Guards were put into the furnace to be reforged, and new diagrams were constantly being deduced by the Bright Moon Golden Eyes.

Upon receiving the order, Xiao Jingtian immediately summoned his generals to inventory the stock, allocate resources, and carry out relief, treatment of the wounded, recording of merits, and bestowing rewards in an orderly manner.

New battle formation drills also commenced immediately, specifically designed to counter the ferocity of the Blazing Divine Army.

At this moment, Li Mu's figure had already disappeared from under the Dao Tree in the Chaos Treasure Palace Spirit Garden.

The next instant, Li Mu stood before the crack in the eastern boundary wall. Deep within the crack, dark red flames flickered, and the remnant flame Dao principles eroded the boundary wall like venomous snakes.

Li Mu pointed his fingers like a sword and pointed in mid-air.

A stream of chaotic energy surged from his fingertips, pure and flawless, like the first ray of light after the creation of the world, silently disappearing into the crack.

In an instant, the restless flames melted and disintegrated like snow meeting the sun; the edges of the cracks began to heal tenfold, and the world fell silent in solemnity. (End of Chapter)