Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

Within the Chaos Treasure Palace, a hundred years passed silently, like ripples on water.

Li Mu sat quietly beneath the Chaos Dao Tree, his figure seemingly having already merged with that majestic ancient tree. On his green robe, the chaotic Dao rhythm flowed endlessly, sharing the same origin and coexisting with the branches and leaves; with each breath, the Qi flow around him swirled, like a dragon coiling around a pillar, like the wind returning to the forest.

The fine cracks in the Chaos Dao Fruit condensed from the Chaos Dao Tree have been completely healed, leaving it smooth and round like jade, with a radiant and unfathomable inner glow.

Once upon a time, the three strange phenomena of crimson gold divine flames, dark blue cold tides, and purple lightning churned and struggled within it, their malevolent aura soaring to the heavens. Now, however, they have all fallen silent, transforming into the profound foundation of the universe's birth and death, and the cycle of all things deep within the Dao Fruit.

"Om-"

The Chaos Dao Fruit trembled without wind, and a deep, profound Dao sound quietly spread out.

In an instant, the origin of the Netherworld Blood Realm responded and moved. In the center of the realm, the vast and boundless Pool of Life and Death revolved with a loud bang. At the bottom of the pool, a point of chaotic energy vortex spun wildly at an unprecedented speed. The black and white energies intertwined and boiled, spewing out endless power of life and death and the true meaning of reincarnation.

This power was pure and boundless, like a primordial chaotic dragon awakening from its slumber. It surged upstream along the complex root system of the Chaos Dao Tree, which spanned countless worlds and was rooted in both the real and the illusory, and forcefully poured into Li Mu's limbs and bones, all of which flowed into the gradually perfecting Chaos Dao Fruit.

Nourished by this vast power, the countless branches and leaves of the Dao Tree rustled gently, and endless Dao patterns appeared on the leaves, shimmering with faint light, as if countless miniature worlds were being created, evolved, and endlessly born and destroyed within them. The powerful force of the realm flowed back from the Dao Tree, not only filling the Netherworld Blood Realm, but also using it as a bridge between heaven and earth, surging towards the Golden Puppet Realm, the Profound Abyss Ash Realm, the Time Ruins Realm, the Illusionary Spirit Realm, and other interconnected realms.

In the Golden Puppet Realm, the earth veins of the Myriad Machines Heavenly City roared, and the sharp energy of Geng metal accumulated over countless ages was drawn out, condensing into a platinum river of light, silently nourishing the countless divine weapon embryos hidden in the Immortal Dynasty, making their sharpness concealed and their spirituality secretly born.
Within the Xuan Yuan Jin Realm, the Jin Huo Refining Tower shone brightly into the sky, and the Yuan Yuan Sea connected at the bottom of the tower stirred up a monstrous wave. The flames of annihilation and the flames of creation merged into the furnaces of various realms, and the furnace fire of the Wan Kuai Tian Gong Hall suddenly intensified, and the speed of forging new puppets suddenly doubled.

The chaotic and disordered time currents in the Time Ruins Realm gradually became docile under the guidance of this force, transforming into clear time-series streams, subtly altering the flow of time within the secluded cultivation realm—a day outside might be several weeks inside.

The power of thought in the Illusionary Realm surged like a tide, nourishing the souls and consciousness of countless cultivators. Many who had long been stuck in bottlenecks suddenly felt their minds clear, and the previously obscure and difficult-to-understand illusionary techniques and supernatural powers suddenly became clear.

The interconnectedness of all realms is due to the initial formation of the Chaos Dao Fruit, which receives nourishment from the source of reincarnation in the Netherworld Blood Realm. The structure of the laws is becoming increasingly stable, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is becoming more abundant, resulting in a scene of renewal and burgeoning vitality.

Li Mu closed his eyes for a hundred years, and at this moment he opened them. His eyes were devoid of dazzling light, but only a deep chaos was visible. Within it, stars were born and died, and countless worlds rose and fell. The scene of the universe's reincarnation flashed by.

Li Mu gently raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly spread, and the Chaos Dao Fruit that had influenced all realms landed lightly in his palm like a weary bird returning to its forest, spinning endlessly, as gentle as ever.

"When chaos was first settled, the foundation of the Dao was established." Li Changfeng murmured softly, his words echoing quietly between heaven and earth, as if he possessed the supreme will to control the universe and determine life and death.

Before he finished speaking, the Chaos Dao Fruit completely merged into his body, and their energies were perfectly integrated.
With a loud "boom",
The entire Chaos Treasure Palace suddenly trembled violently, and the chaotic energy within the palace suddenly boiled and surged, like a stone thrown into a lake, creating waves of immense size. The dome of the treasure palace, the eternally unchanging gray void, was violently torn apart by an invisible force, revealing the vast starry sea outside; the roots of the Chaos Dao Tree in the three thousand realms continued to extend into the boundless void, with no end in sight.

Meanwhile, strange phenomena appeared in the sky above the Netherworld Blood Realm!

The radiance of the chaotic moon hanging high in the sky suddenly surged, its moonlight solidifying into a tangible substance, like the Milky Way falling from the heavens, sprinkling across the mountains and rivers of the Blood Realm. Dried riverbeds gushed forth with spiritual springs, and the scorched earth instantly sprouted new buds, which then grew into countless exotic flowers and herbs condensed from pure spiritual energy, swaying gracefully and exuding a soul-stirring fragrance.

The scorching flames, frozen ice caves, and lightning-struck scorched earth left behind by the great battle of the past are rapidly healed under the sweeping force of this majestic Daoist rhythm and boundless vitality, and even give birth to spiritual mineral veins containing special laws, just like the resilient bones that grow after the earth has healed its wounds.

At the edge of the realm, the remnants of stars shattered by war and floating in the void were also drawn by this vast vitality, re-condensing into faint light. Although they had not yet returned to their former glory, they were now as stable as a beaded chain, surrounding and protecting the newly born Blood Realm, shining brightly.

At the summit of the central tower of the Netherworld City.

Mingyue suddenly looked up, her silver armor covering her body. The Dao patterns, interwoven with white and dark, flowed like living things, their light flickering. In her golden eyes, she clearly saw the dramatic changes in the world and sensed that the giant city beneath her feet seemed to have been given a spirit, resonating with the pulse of the Blood Realm's origin.

Whether it's the newly forged Yin-Yang Revolving Puppet or the remnant and repaired Blood-Breaking Divine Puppet in the city, their core furnaces resonate spontaneously, radiating a bright spiritual light, and the puppet bodies faintly reveal the same Daoist charm.

"Master has emerged from seclusion!"

Mingyue's spirits lifted, and then her figure flashed and disappeared from the spot.

Outside the city, on the vast training ground, Xiao Jingtian was supervising the training of the new army, practicing combined attack formations. Suddenly, he sensed something and abruptly stopped. His black armor jingled without wind. He looked up at the endless, clear moon, its radiance imbued with the essence of the Dao, and felt the almost liquefied, pure spiritual energy in the world, which invigorated him.

The next moment, Xiao Jingtian disappeared from the spot.

Inside the Chaos Treasure Palace, Li Mu held a Perfect Dao Fruit in his hand and took a step out.

His movements were as swift as the wind and as fluid as water, disregarding spatial barriers. In the next instant, he stood atop the Netherworld Blood Realm. Clouds churned beneath his feet, starlight swirled above his head, his green robes fluttered in the wind, and Daoist principles emanated from him. He looked down upon the vast realm below, reborn from the ashes and brimming with life, his gaze calm as still water and profound as an abyss.

At this moment, Li Mu is the master of all realms, able to determine the fate of the world with a single thought and transform the laws with a single word.

Outside the Chaos Treasure Palace, countless rays of clear light shone, and spiritual energy surged like a tide.

Two streaks of light tore through the sky and suddenly fell onto the white jade square in front of the mansion, revealing the figure of Mingyue and Xiao Jingtian.

The moon shines through the silver armor covered in frost. On the streamlined armor, deep puppet patterns intertwine, adding a touch of coldness and killing intent. In the depths of his golden eyes, data flashes slightly. His aura resonates faintly with this transformed world, as if he has already merged into the rhythm of the realm's veins.

Xiao Jingtian, clad in dark armor, with an ancient sword at his waist, walked with the steadfastness of a mountain. His eyes, though open and closed, held a hidden glint of light. A century of military training and countless trials had honed his skills, and his murderous aura was so solid it seemed tangible, yet it caused the void to tremble slightly.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes burning with fighting spirit, and then stepped into the Chaos Treasure Palace side by side.

The chaotic energy within the mansion was gentle and smooth, parting itself to form a path. At the end of the path, Li Mu, dressed in a simple blue robe, stood with his hands behind his back beneath the swaying Chaotic Dao Tree, his silhouette blending seamlessly with the towering ancient tree that supported the sky and the earth.

"Mingyue (Xiao Jingtian) greets Master (Shizun)!"

The two bowed respectfully and asked in unison. Li Mu turned around, his eyes clear as an ancient pool, and looked at them: "Rise. A hundred years have passed, and you have worked hard."

"For the great cause of my master, I would gladly die ten thousand deaths!" Mingyue solemnly responded. Immediately, her golden eyes shone brightly, and a condensed divine thought surged from her sea of ​​consciousness, projecting a vast scene into the void.

On the vast territory of the Netherworld Blood Realm, tens of millions of "Yin-Yang Revolving Puppets" were arrayed in a solemn formation, covering the sky and the earth. They stretched to the horizon. Each puppet was over twenty feet tall, with Chaos Divine Metal as its bone. Its left arm was inlaid with a "Flame God Crystal Core," from which crimson gold flames flickered. Its right arm was wrapped with "Mysterious Ice Dao Patterns," from which a cold blue aura swirled. At the core of its chest cavity, the "Purple Lightning Puppet Heart" beat incessantly, with purple lightning snakes appearing and disappearing. The tens of millions of puppets were connected by their energy, and the two energies of life and death rotated endlessly. The three colors of light intertwined to form a chaotic force field covering the star field, with a murderous aura soaring into the sky, faintly resonating with the laws of the universe.

“Reporting to Master,” Mingyue’s voice was like metal and stone, clear and resonant: “After a hundred years of forging and the resources of all realms, we have obtained twelve million ‘Yin-Yang Revolving Puppets,’ each imprinted with brand-new puppet patterns, fusing the three elements of fire, ice, and lightning into one, forming its own Revolving Domain. This army is complete, its sharpness unmatched, capable of tearing apart boundary walls and shattering the divine realm!”

Xiao Jingtian followed closely behind, clasped his hands, and said in a deep voice, "Master, the joint defense army of the Immortal Dynasty and the various realms has also been fully prepared. The elite soldiers of the Golden Puppet Realm are now clad in gleaming armor and can form the 'Gengjin Breaking Evil Sword Formation'; the Xuanyuan Ash Realm has drawn upon its primordial Ash Fire to forge three thousand 'World-Burning Ash Cannons'; the Shixu Realm has enhanced the flow of time, and its 'Flowing Light Instant Strike' combat technique has reached perfection; the Huanling Realm has deployed the 'Ten Thousand Hearts Illusionary Domain' to specifically counter soul invasions; ... With the various realms linked together and resources shared, the strength of their forces far surpasses that of the Blood Realm War of the past!"

Xiao Jingtian, brimming with fighting spirit and burning with battle intent, volunteered: "Now that the army's morale is high and its fighting spirit is soaring, I beg Master's permission. This disciple is willing to join forces with Lord Mingyue, leading this mighty army of hundreds of millions to launch a preemptive strike, venturing into the three realms of Blazing Flame, Freezing Ice, and Thunder Punishment! While their foundations are still intact, we will wipe out their lair in one fell swoop, display the might of our Chaos Dao, and eliminate future troubles forever!"

Mingyue also raised her eyes, her golden pupils flashing with a cold light: "Please give the order, Master! Mingyue is willing to be the vanguard, using the puppet army as a blade, to cut down all enemies ahead for you!"

The two men's eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit as they looked at Li Mu, waiting for his command to unleash a massive military might and ignite a storm of conquest that would sweep across the three realms.

Faced with the two men's requests to fight, Li Mu remained completely unmoved. His gaze was as calm as a deep, still pool, reflecting the millions of puppet soldiers in the void, yet seemingly piercing through their imposing military might.

After pondering for a long time, Li Mu politely declined, saying, "The Way of Chaos encompasses all things and evolves the heavens. It is not about proving the Way through slaughter, nor is it about establishing authority through annihilation."

After a pause, a dark glint flashed in Li Mu's eyes as he continued, "While conquest may bring swift victory, excessive killing only accumulates boundless resentment and malevolence. Such resentment entangles cause and effect, erodes the source of the Dao, and is harmful rather than beneficial to my understanding of chaos and the unity of the Dao."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Mu raised his fingertips, and a wisp of chaotic energy swirled around his fingertips, evolving into myriad phenomena of birth and death: "You have forged this powerful army to strengthen the foundation and cultivate the source, and your intentions are commendable. However, weapons are ultimately not the best policy, and iron and blood cannot prove the Great Dao."

Upon hearing this, both Mingyue and Xiao Jingtian's expressions hardened.

Xiao Jingtian said urgently, "Master, the Lord of the Three Realms is a wolf in sheep's clothing. After his previous defeat, how could he possibly give up? They covet the secrets of our realm's reincarnation, and now that they have suffered Dao injuries, they will surely secretly collude to plot a counterattack. If we wait for them to recover their strength and unite with more realms to invade, we may find ourselves in a passive position!"

Mingyue's golden eyes flashed slightly as she calmly analyzed, "Master, the Three Realms' foundation remains intact. Although the Realm Lords are injured, they may still have hidden trump cards. Holding out and waiting for the enemy might mean losing the initiative. Moreover, our army is newly formed and its morale is high. We should seize the opportunity and destroy their foundation in one fell swoop!"

Li Mu gently shook his head, a faint smile appearing on his face. He gestured with his head and said, "Their conspiracy is nothing more than a minor ailment. Now that the Chaos Dao Tree is complete, its roots have quietly penetrated into the cracks of the myriad realms, absorbing the essence of the void, subtly influencing and nourishing everything. This is the work of water and millstones, slow yet steady. Instead of the drawbacks of endless warfare, it benefits from the nourishment of the myriad realms."

After speaking, Li Mu's gaze swept over the Netherworld Blood Realm below, which had been reborn after the calamity, and he said solemnly, "The three thousand main realms are vast and boundless. The source that the Chaos Dao Tree needs will naturally extend through its roots. Why rush into a fight? Your shift from offense to defense is not out of fear of battle, but rather the best strategy to consolidate your foundation and cultivate your Dao base."

Seeing the worry still lingering on their faces, Li Mu smiled slightly and gestured, "When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it. If they dare to come again, we'll show them what a true barrier of chaos is. At that time, we'll wait for them to tire themselves out and use stillness to control movement. The outcome will be uncertain."

Having said that, Li Mu said no more and turned to look at the majestic Dao Tree. Its shadow swayed, and its roots wriggled in the void, silently extending into the unknown distant realm, quietly drawing strands of otherworldly origin to nourish itself and also to feed back into this nascent chaotic Dao Domain.

Mingyue and Xiao Jingtian remained silent for a long time. Although they were unwilling, they could still sense the undeniable truth of the Great Dao and the profound strategy in Li Mu's words. Their burning fighting spirit gradually subsided in the face of this calm and serene Daoist aura.

"We will obey the master's (master's) decree!" The two responded in unison, their voices as firm as rocks, devoid of any impetuosity.

"Go." Li Mu turned his back to the two, his blue robe fluttering slightly, and gestured, "Strengthen defenses, practice battle formations, and observe the situation. In the Chaotic Dao Domain, we should remain steadfast in the face of all changes."

Mingyue and Xiao Jingtian bowed again, then transformed into two streaks of light and quietly withdrew from the Chaos Treasure Palace.

Li Mu's mind sank into the Chaos Dao Tree, stimulating its vast root system.

Countless roots, like living things, pierced through the barriers of the Netherworld Blood Realm, silently sinking into the deep void and spreading towards the many neighboring main realms. These roots showed no sign of forceful acquisition, but rather, like spring rain nourishing all things, they quietly permeated, making initial contact and resonating with the underlying laws of each realm, absorbing their distinct primal essences: the essence of plants, the power of the earth, the sharpness of metal…

As a result, the Chaos Dao Tree grew slowly at a rate imperceptible to the naked eye, its branches and leaves becoming increasingly verdant, and Li Mu's own Dao realm also improved in tandem.

The first main boundary into which the roots penetrate is called the "Evergreen Boundary".

This realm is filled with boundless vitality, with ancient trees reaching for the sky, vines like dragons, and the air filled with the fragrance of grass and trees. The chaotic roots touched the boundary membrane, but did not stir up the slightest ripple; they merely seeped into the earth like gossamer threads, gently touching the essence of the wood element flowing in the earth's veins.

Wisps of azure energy flowed back along the roots, carrying the vibrant essence of all things sprouting and nourishing the Chaos Dao Tree. A few new leaves quietly unfurled on the branches, their color becoming increasingly lush and vibrant, with shimmering light hidden between the veins, as if containing a miniature forest.

Li Mu closed his eyes and concentrated, his mind wandering with the roots in this vibrant world. He felt the years that had settled in the rings of the ancient trees, the resilience of the spiritual herbs as they sprouted from the soil, and the true meaning of the cycle of blooming and withering. These insights, like a gentle stream, flowed into his Dao realm, deepening his understanding of the law of "life."

The roots spread, reaching the second main realm—the "Ancient Realm of Xuanhuang".

This world is vast and desolate, with mountains winding like dragon spines, and a thick, primordial energy flowing between the soil and rocks. Chaotic roots, like serpents, burrow deep into the earth's crust, merging with the solidified and majestic source of the earth.

The abundant earth elemental energy surged into the roots, carrying the profound meaning of bearing all things and nourishing all spirits. The main trunk of the Chaos Dao Tree trembled slightly, and the color of its bark deepened, faintly shimmering with a mysterious yellow luster, as if it could bear the weight of the heavens. The root system also became more resilient, deeply rooted in the void, and extremely stable.

Li Mu's mind was immersed in this vast land, comprehending the true meaning of "Xuanhuang" (the universe). The silence of the mountains, the inclusiveness of the earth, the accumulation of sand and gravel... all these images settled in his heart, transforming into a new understanding of "bearing" and "foundation".

……

However, just as Li Mu was sensing the three thousand main realms through the Chaos Dao Tree, the Lord of the Three Realms, having failed to connect with the various realms for a century, devised another plan. (End of Chapter)