Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

Deep within the Chaos Treasure Palace, all was silent except for the faint murmur of the Daoist rhyme.

Li Mu sat cross-legged beneath the Chaos Dao Tree, his body almost merging with the towering trunk. Woody Dao marks were faintly visible between the lines of his skin. On the main trunk of the Chaos Dao Tree, the Chaos Dao Fruit hovered and rotated. Seven or eight out of ten of the cracks on its surface had faded. Inside, the three colors of crimson gold, dark blue, and purple lightning still appeared and disappeared like a trapped beast, restless and colliding, causing subtle ripples in the surrounding chaotic airflow.

Li Mu focused his mind and activated the origin of the Netherworld Blood Realm. In the distance, the reborn Pool of Life and Death responded with a roar. The chaotic vortex at the bottom of the pool accelerated its rotation, and the purest life and death energies and the Dao of Reincarnation were drawn across the void, like a waterfall of sweet rain, irrigating the Chaotic Dao Fruit.

At the same time, the sharp energy of Geng metal from the Golden Puppet Realm, the extinguishing embers of the Profound Abyss Realm, the flowing light and time sequence of the Time Ruins Realm, the illusory and real mental power of the Illusionary Spirit Realm... the primal power of all realms surged and converged along the complex root system of the Chaos Dao Tree, transforming into streams of laws of various colors, which entwined the Dao Fruit.

"Refining."

Li Mu's mind was like a hammer, drawing upon the immense power of all realms as a furnace, using the Dao of Reincarnation as fuel, and ruthlessly hammering down upon the three stubborn origins of the realm masters within the Dao Fruit.

"Hey!"

Inside the Dao Fruit, crimson-gold divine flames exploded wildly, threatening to incinerate everything; a deep blue chill swept across, attempting to freeze time and space; purple lightning danced wildly, roaring and tearing everything apart.

Li Mu's expression remained calm. The chaotic Dao principles surrounding him were like billions of chains probing into the Dao Fruit. The power of reincarnation washed over him, turning the savagery of fire into deathly stillness, guiding the bitter cold of ice towards life, and leading the destruction of lightning into nothingness. The origins of all realms continuously replenished the consumption, stabilizing the foundation of the Dao Fruit.

This is a slow and meticulous process, one that cannot be rushed or delayed. Like a seasoned craftsman, Li Mu patiently sculpted this piece of chaotic jade, determined to completely transform those three strange colors into his own and integrate them into the cycle of the Great Dao of Chaos.

……

The Blazing God Realm, at the deepest part of the molten sea, is filled with an oppressive and deathly atmosphere.

At the core of the molten sea, the majestic body of the Flame God sat cross-legged. The terrifying wound on his chest, cleaved open by the Chaos Giant Axe, remained ferocious. Grayish air currents clung to it like maggots clinging to a bone, constantly eroding the newly formed divine flame laws and preventing the wound from healing completely. The originally scorching and domineering world-burning divine flames around his body now appeared somewhat flickering.

"cough……"

A muffled cough came from deep within the divine body. The Flame God slowly opened his eyes, the crimson-gold divine light in his eyes dimmed, and his exhaustion and pain were hard to conceal.

The Flame God himself lowered his head and stared at the Dao wound on his chest, his face as gloomy as water. This Chaos Dao Mark was extremely stubborn. Even though he mobilized the origin of an entire realm to cleanse it day and night, he could only barely suppress it and prevent it from worsening. To eradicate it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

"Lord of Chaos..." the Flame God himself roared with deep-seated hatred, and there was also a trace of fear that he himself was unwilling to admit. The power of that axe not only severely injured his body, but also left a shadow on his Dao heart.

The Flame God himself, his gaze piercing through the endless void, seemed to see the Chaos Dao Tree rooted in the Netherworld and connecting all realms; the chaotic Dao aura emanating from it, like an invisible tide, constantly eroded the stability of the laws of the surrounding region.

"We can't wait any longer." A resolute glint flashed in the eyes of the Flame God: "Once he recovers from his injuries and his foundation is solidified, our doomsday will surely come!"

The void trembled. Deep within the molten sea of ​​origin, the Dao wound on the chest of the Flame God's true form emitted a bone-chilling cold. Grayish currents of energy writhed like living creatures, devouring the foundation of his eternally indestructible divine flames. A trace of pain flashed in his crimson-gold eyes, along with an uncontrollable fear. The power of that axe strike had not only cleaved his divine body but also planted a chaotic nightmare within his Dao heart.

With a wave of his hand, the Flame God summoned a world-burning furnace.

"With my divine blood as the catalyst, and the burning of the world's ways as the bridge, I will transcend realms and connect with spirits! Summon!"

The Flame God spat out a mouthful of essence blood, which merged into the World-Burning Flame Furnace. Suddenly, the heart of the furnace erupted with blazing divine light, and a dark red stream of light tore through the void, ignoring the barriers between realms, and charged fiercely toward the Frost God Realm and the Myriad Thunder God Realm.

The Realm of the Frozen Gods, the Temple of the Frozen Earth.

The Ice Skeleton Sovereign was nourishing herself with ten-thousand-year-old profound ice. Nine newborn skulls appeared, circling around her and absorbing the extreme cold source to repair the Dao wounds on her body. Suddenly, the void in front of her cracked open, and a dark red stream of light descended with the urgent will of the Flame God.

Almost simultaneously, in the depths of the Myriad Thunder God Realm, within the Myriad Thunder Sea Eye.

The remnant body of the Eternal Thunder God was immersed in the source of the Thunder Pool, surrounded by purple lightning, attempting to reshape the severed half of his body. A dark red stream of light broke through the lightning curtain, bringing the summons of the Flame God.

The three realm lords, separated by endless void, had their divine thoughts converge through the power of the World-Burning Furnace.

"Gentlemen, the power of the Chaos Dao Lord is beyond the reach of any single realm." The Flame God's true form conveyed his will first, weak yet carrying an undeniable urgency: "My Dao is wounded, entangled by chaotic energy, and will take a thousand years to heal. His Chaos Dao Domain devours all realms; if his Dao is fully realized, all heavens will become his resources. If we flee today, wounded, but he recovers completely, will he spare our three realms in the future?"

The Ice Bone Overlord's chilling aura faltered, and the newly formed skull emitted a faint cracking sound, coldly replying, "What do you wish to do?"

The Ice Skeleton Sovereign also felt that the chaotic sword intent within her body was difficult to dispel, like a maggot clinging to her bone, constantly eroding her extremely cold Dao foundation.

The eternal Thunder God roared, shaking the void: "Do you still want to go and die? That axe... that axe almost severed my power of thunder punishment!"

The Thunder God's body, crackling with purple lightning, clearly still trembled with fear.

"That's precisely why we can't just sit here and wait to die!" The Flame God's true form suddenly surged with power, and the World-Burning Furnace pulsated violently in his illusory hand: "With just the three realms, we might not be able to contend with them head-on. However, the myriad realms are vast and boundless, teeming with capable individuals. How could the Chaos Dao Lord's domineering ways not incur the wrath of the masses?"

"Our origins have all been eroded by chaos, and our foundations have been shaken. This hatred and resentment cannot be washed away even if the entire Milky Way is exhausted!" The voice of the Flame God was resounding like the friction of metal. Gray aura appeared from the wound on his chest, causing his divine body to tremble slightly. "However, given our current state, if we were to go to their door again, it would only increase their resources for the Chaos Dao Fruit."

The Ice Skeleton Ruler's body was enveloped in a chilling aura, as if frozen solid as ancient ice. He said in a deep voice, "The Chaos Dao Lord... his power is already established. That Dao Tree is rooted in the Netherworld, connecting all realms and absorbing the laws of nature. Given time, I fear it will be beyond the control of our three realms."

The Eternal Thunder God roared, his mangled body exploding with lightning, illuminating the surrounding void in a purple-white light: "Are we just going to let this go and watch him ascend to the summit and then settle scores with us one by one?"

"Give up? How can we give up!" The crimson-gold divine flames in the eyes of the Flame God's true form suddenly leaped: "It is precisely because he is so domineering, devouring the origins of all realms to nourish himself, that he has incurred the wrath of all! How can the myriad realms allow him to reign supreme alone? The Taiyu Immortal Realm, which claims to be the leader of the righteous path and controls the order of the universe; the Nine Heavens Spirit Realm, where all spirits flourish and whose foundation is unfathomable; the Starry Ancient Realm, which has been observing for a long time, where the old monsters are scheming deeply; and the Xuanhuang Ancient Realm, which is rumored to be a broken land of the primordial era, hiding many secrets... How can these forces sit idly by and watch chaos spread and endanger themselves?"

The Ice Skeleton Overlord's azure eyes flickered: "You mean, you want to unite with them?"

"Excellent!" The Flame God himself declared decisively, "Form the 'Chaos Conquest Alliance'! Gather the power of all realms to jointly punish this fiend! While his Dao Fruit is not yet fully realized and his injuries have not yet healed, let's crush the Netherworld Blood Realm in one fell swoop and burn his Dao Fruit!"

The Eternal Thunder God remained silent for a moment, purple lightning flashing in his single eye: "This plan... might be worth a try. However, those old fellows are all like hawks that won't act until they see a rabbit; they won't easily intervene unless there's a significant advantage." The Flame God activated the World-Burning Furnace, its flames blazing even brighter. "Advantage? The Chaos Dao Lord is the greatest advantage! Tell them that the Netherworld Blood Realm has become a Chaos outpost, its influence spreading throughout the heavens. Today, my Blazing Flame, Frost, and Thunder Punishment Realms suffer; tomorrow, that Chaos Giant Axe will hang over their realm! They surely understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'?"

“Good.” The Ice Skeleton Sovereign slowly uttered a single word, his surrounding cold aura receded, and the nine skulls stopped rotating, reaching a consensus.

"So be it! I want to see how long the Lord of Chaos can run rampant under the combined forces of all realms!" The Eternal Thunder God grinned, his thunderous voice booming.

"There is no time to lose!" the Flame God himself shouted. "Immediately dispatch messengers with our tokens and the jade slip of the alliance to carry out their respective tasks!"

……

In the Blazing Divine Realm, a streak of blazing white light tore through the sky, heading straight for the legendary "Taiyu Immortal Realm," a place rumored to be shrouded in immortal energy and possessing perfect laws. Within the streak of light was a solemn divine envoy clad in a crimson divine robe. The Taiyu Immortal Realm was known for its transcendence, and the success or failure of this persuasion was uncertain.

In the Frozen Realm, a faint blue star silently disappeared into the void, heading towards the "Nine Heavens Spirit Realm." Within the star, an envoy constructed of pure ice crystals sped along. The Nine Heavens Spirit Realm is home to countless races with complex and intertwined relationships, requiring both incentives and deterrence.

In the Thunder Punishment Divine Realm, a bolt of purple lightning, moving faster than time itself, pierced through layers of thunderclouds, its target the dazzling, mysterious "Ancient Star Realm."

Amidst the thunder, the Thunder God himself appeared, his face grim. Those ancient relics of the Starry Sky Realm were most skilled at divination, and it was unknown how much they had foreseen the Chaos Tribulation.

……

In the celestial realm of Taiyu, the Southern Heavenly Gate stands majestically, radiating countless rays of light.

The Blazing Envoy transformed into a humanoid flame and landed before the misty immortal steps. Before he could speak, an old man with a whisk in hand and an air of otherworldly grace appeared and blocked his path.

"Envoy of the Flame God, why do you set foot in my Taiyu Immortal Land when you are not enjoying blessings in the Blazing Flame God Realm?" The old man's voice was calm, but it carried a hint of refusal.

The divine messenger bowed and presented the jade slip condensed by the Flame God: "This junior has come to pay homage to the Immortal Emperor on the orders of the Supreme Flame God. The Chaos Demon Lord has gone mad, devouring all realms, and his power is perilous, already damaging the very foundation of our realm. Now, our three realms of Blazing Flame, Frost, and Thunder Punishment wish to unite with the righteous forces of all heavens to form the 'Alliance to Combat Chaos.' We hereby request the Taiyu Immortal Realm to take charge of the overall situation and turn the tide!"

The old man lightly swept his whisk, fully understanding the contents of the jade slip, but did not immediately express his opinion. "The matter of chaos has also been heard in our Immortal Realm. However, the workings of Heaven have their own reasons. This matter is of great importance and must be reported to the Immortal Emperor and discussed with the Heavenly Lords. Envoy, please go to the Welcoming Immortal Pavilion to rest and await good news."

The messenger's heart sank; he knew this was just an excuse, but he had no choice but to comply.

……

The Nine Heavens Spirit Realm, the Ancestral Hall of All Spirits.

As the Ice Messenger stepped into the hall, he instantly felt countless powerful intents sweep over him. Inside the hall, light and shadow shifted, with towering trees reaching for the sky, divine birds spreading their wings, ancient beasts roaring, and projections of powerful beings of various forms converging here.

"The messenger under the Ice Skeleton Sovereign greets all the Spirit Lords." The messenger's voice was cold as he presented the covenant: "Chaos has expanded, and the Dao has permeated all the heavens, making all spirits food. Now, the Three Realms are willing to take the lead and invite the Nine Heavens Spirit Realm to raise the banner of righteousness together, eradicate the root of chaos, and restore clarity to all realms."

An ancient voice came from a towering tree: "Chaos... is indeed an anomaly. However, its power is raging and its edge is hard to stop. It is not easy for our world to reproduce. If we rashly get involved in such a war between realms, I fear that all living beings will be killed."

Another sharp, eagle-like voice rang out: "Hmph! When chaos descends, how can any egg remain intact? The Three Realms are willing to offer this precious treasure, which shows their sincerity. I believe we should send troops to aid in the battle!"

Inside the hall, a lively discussion ensued, with some advocating for waiting and seeing, while others advocated for uniting to protect themselves. It was difficult to make a decision at the moment.

……

On the Stargazing Platform in the Ancient Realm of Stars.

The Thunder God descended on lightning, revealing an old man dressed in a star-patterned robe, his face shrouded in a hazy starlight, gazing up at the heavens, countless illusory stars appearing and disappearing at his fingertips.

"Thunder God Domain General Yu Lei greets Lord Star Sacrifice." Yu Lei bowed and presented the Realm Lord's jade slip: "Chaos is rampant and encroaching upon all realms. Lord Star Sacrifice, who controls the movement of stars and understands the secrets of heaven, should know that this calamity is no small matter. Our Three Realms wish to form the 'Alliance to Combat Chaos,' and hope that the Ancient Star Realm will join us to fight against this great enemy."

The old man of the Star Sacrifice slowly lowered his head, his eyes seemingly reflecting the rotation of a galaxy: "Chaos originated from the smallest thing, and it has gathered all laws into one body, thus disturbing the orbits of stars in all realms."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Star Sacrifice Elder lightly tapped his fingertip, and a star map unfolded. The area representing the Netherworld Blood Realm was shrouded in a gray, chaotic mist, which was slowly expanding. "This battle is inevitable. However, the time... has not yet come."

The Thunder God General cried out urgently, "Lord Star Priest! When the time comes, we may all become nourishment for chaos!"

The old man of the Star Sacrifice was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Go back and inform the three realm lords that the Star Ancient Realm is aware of this matter. The matter of the alliance can be discussed later. Perhaps... when the Chaos Dao Tree grows a bit more and touches the fundamental interests of certain beings, that will be the true opportunity for all realms to join forces."

……

The three realm lords sensed the messengers' plight through their divine senses, their hearts growing heavier. The Taiyu Immortal Realm's perfunctory attitude, the Nine Heavens Spirit Realm's disputes, the Starry Sky Ancient Realm's indifference, and the Xuanhuang Ancient Realm's silence... the path to forming the "Chaos Conquest Alliance" was destined to be fraught with thorns.

"It seems that words and a little bribery are not enough to persuade them." The voice of the Flame God himself was tinged with weariness and coldness.

"The Chaos Dao Lord needs to do something that will anger both Heaven and man," the Ice Skeleton Sovereign said quietly.

“Or, we need to show even greater ‘sincerity’ first…” A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of the Eternal Thunder God.

The thoughts of the three realm lords intertwined endlessly in the flames of the World-Burning Furnace, and various schemes quietly unfolded.

Inside the Chaos Treasure Palace, the Chaos Dao Fruit above Li Mu's head suddenly trembled. The remnant of the crimson-gold divine flame within it let out a mournful cry of unwillingness, completely dissipating and transforming into pure fire elemental essence, merging into the chaotic grayness. The color of the Dao Fruit seemed to deepen even further.

Li Mu's closed eyelids twitched slightly, as if sensing something, but quickly returned to silence. He continued to guide the waters of the Samsara Pool and the power of all realms, surging towards the next source of lightning. (End of Chapter)