Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

Hao Yi Dao Zu stroked his beard, a hint of doubt flashing deep in his eyes: "This boy rose from humble beginnings, and has always acted ruthlessly, conquering and devouring his way to his current status. This subjugation is probably just a temporary expedient."

"The Dao Ancestor's concerns are not without merit." The Taiyu Immortal Lord sat upright on the nine-colored lotus platform, his face obscured by the clear light, his expression unreadable, only his voice carrying a calmness that understood the ways of the world, "Judging from his past, he is by no means one who is content to lie low. The current compromise is likely a delaying tactic. Once he has digested this shock and repaired the damage to the Dao Tree, it is hard to guarantee that he will not make a comeback. At that time... his counterattack will be even more fierce."

Starlight danced at Xingyan Daozun's fingertips, deducing countless causes and effects. He said slowly, "The way of chaos lies in evolution and devouring. Forcibly suppressing it is like blocking a flood, which is not a long-term solution. However, its origins are unfathomable, and its growth rate far exceeds our calculations. If we rashly engage in a life-or-death battle with it, even if we win, we will have to pay an unbearable price."

The ethereal figure, existing across countless dimensions of time and space, swayed gently, emitting overlapping echoes: "The tributaries of time remain chaotic, making it difficult to grasp the trajectory of this child's destiny. Forcing action would introduce too many variables."

"Should we just let him recuperate?" The Ancient Origin Realm Lord's divine flames blazed, clearly dissatisfied with this conclusion.

The Primordial Daoist's gaze swept over the Ancient Origin Realm Lord, his expression still icy: "Naturally, it's not about letting things go unchecked. A thousand years is enough time for us to lay out more contingency plans. By uniting the Xuanhuang, Wanmu, Xumi, and Jiuyou Realms, we can construct the prototype of the 'Myriad Realms Sealing Spirit Array.' Once it shows any unusual activity, we can activate the power of the Origin Network to suppress it with lightning speed."

"Good." The Immortal Lord Taiyu nodded slightly. "On the surface, keep him calm for now, but secretly work together to build up our strength. Once the great formation is complete, or when he touches the root of the source network again, that will be the time to completely resolve this problem."

After a moment of contemplation, Hao Yi Dao Zu added, "We still need to closely monitor the movements of his subordinate forces. After this battle, the Bright Moon Puppet and the Immortal Dynasty under Xiao Jingtian's command will surely expand wildly and gather resources to help him repair the Dao Tree. Perhaps we can restrain them in this regard."

The Lord of Eternal Silence let out a low, cold laugh: "This is easy. Later, I will order the various realms that are affiliated with the Netherworld Blood Realm to tighten the outflow of resources to the Netherworld Blood Realm and the linked realms, especially scarce divine materials and high-level spiritual veins, cutting off their foundational supply."

The divine senses of the seven beings intertwined once more, and invisible commands were transmitted outwards along with the ripples of the Dao principles, disappearing into the endless void and falling upon the vast territories under their control. An invisible net targeting the Chaos Dao Lord was quietly being woven even more intricately beneath the seemingly calm surface.

Xingyan Daozun finally looked at Taichu Daozun and asked, "Daozun, you clashed head-on with that Chaos Dao Lord. Judging from your aura, besides being powerful and domineering, is there anything else?"

The Primordial Daoist was silent for a moment, then his clear, cold voice seemed to carry a faint trace of solemnity: "His chaotic Dao principles... have already begun to show signs of 'bearing' and 'creating,' which is no ordinary devouring Dao. This child's ambitions are not small."

Upon hearing this, the secret realm fell silent once more. The eyes of the various realm lords gleamed, clearly digesting the astonishing information contained within those brief words.

"...Enough. As for the future, we'll see how things unfold. In the end, we'll have to make a decision." The Immortal Lord Taiyu finally concluded, his voice echoing throughout the secret realm, bringing this gathering to a close.

The seven figures faded away, and the void returned to eternal silence, except for the surging undercurrents.

Deep within the Chaos Treasure Palace, Li Mu stood with his hands behind his back beneath the Dao Tree, gazing up at the massive, slightly dim canopy. Among the branches and leaves, countless miniature worlds lay broken and dimly lit, yet the sluggish feeling emanating from the roots remained clearly visible.

A cold smile slowly curved the corners of Li Mu's lips.

"millennium……"

Whispers spread through the chaotic air currents, carrying a faint hint of mockery. With a slight ripple of his green robe, Li Mu's figure quietly disappeared into the trunk of the Dao Tree, as if sinking into a boundless sea of ​​chaos.

This is his origin, the root of his Great Dao. Yet, at this moment, this chaotic sea, which should move freely, is filled with a discordant "order".

Strands of invisible golden threads, like the most intricate net, spread throughout every inch of the Dao Tree, even penetrating the crystallization of his cultivation—the Chaos Dao Fruit.

This is the "Myriad Transformations Curse" left behind by the Primordial Daoist.

This incantation neither harms the body nor destroys the soul, yet it directly points to the fundamental principles of the Great Dao. It is like the most demanding painter attempting to use a brush called "Order" to forcibly modify a freehand, unrestrained chaotic painting into a meticulously detailed nine-square grid. It is reversing the Great Dao of Chaos, trying to return its all-encompassing chaos to a singular, initial, and orderly "primordial" state.

This is a struggle over principles, an obliteration of ideas.

For ordinary cultivators encountering this curse, the only solution is to patiently grind it down and gradually dispel it using their own Dao principles. However, this Myriad Transformations Curse originates from the Primordial Dao Venerable, and the refinement of its Dao principles far surpasses Li Mu's current Chaos Dao. Forcibly trying to dispel it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, only accelerating the collapse of one's own Dao foundation.

Li Mu's divine sense sank into his body, not touching the golden incantation power that occupied the main trunk of the Dao Tree. Instead, he carefully drew a wisp of myriad transformation incantation power from the surface of the Dao Fruit, which was countless times finer than a hair.

This is a crazy act, tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house and introducing a deadly poison into the heart.

That wisp of golden incantation power seemed to possess its own life; the moment it was introduced into the core of the Chaos Dao Fruit, it suddenly erupted with dazzling golden light. It was like a drop of boiling oil falling into boiling water, instantly triggering a violent reaction.

"Buzz!"

Li Mu's Dao Fruit trembled violently. The originally harmonious and flowing chaotic aura on it began to stagnate, and even tiny cracks spread from the surface of the Dao Fruit. A feeling of weakness, as if his Dao realm had fallen, accompanied by excruciating pain that tore at his soul, suddenly struck him.

Li Mu's face was pale, and veins bulged on his forehead, but his eyes were tightly closed, his divine sense locked onto the wisp of golden curse power rampaging within the Dao Fruit. He did not suppress it, nor did he fight against it, but rather, from a peculiar perspective, as an observer, he sensed and analyzed it.

In Li Mu's divine perception, this wisp of curse power was no longer a simple destroyer.

It is "regulated".

It dictates how the chaotic energy should flow, how earth, water, fire, and wind should be arranged, and how yin and yang, life and death should be clearly distinguished. It forcibly assigns an absolute, unique, and definite attribute to everything that is vague, possible, and uncertain.

This is an ultimate force of "order".

Li Mu endured the pain of his Dao Fruit cracking, yet his mind was clearer than ever before. He seemed to see an invisible hand measuring his world with the strictest rules, and anything that did not conform to those rules would be corrected, or... erased.

"I see……"

"The beginning of the Way is called 'establishment'. It establishes the beginning of all things and the order of all laws."

Li Mu murmured to himself, for within this ultimate order, he glimpsed another side of chaos.

All along, the chaos he cultivated was about devouring, merging, evolving, and moving towards infinite "disorder" and "possibilities." But the Myriad Transformations Curse of the Primordial Daoist represents moving towards ultimate "order" and "uniqueness."

The two are like water and fire, inherently opposed.

Therefore, his Chaos Tree could not contain this curse.

But... is this right?
A sudden flash of inspiration burst forth between Li Mu's brows, dispelling all his confusion.

wrong!

Chaos, if it is merely disorder, is not true chaos, but simply confusion!
True chaos is "Wuji" (the ultimate void), "Taiyi" (the supreme unity), the ultimate source from which all "order" and "disorder" can be born! It should contain both infinite possibilities and the most absolute order!
The Myriad Transformations Curse, as an ultimate "orderly" power, should itself be a part of chaos! The reason my Dao Tree is restrained by it is not because chaos is inferior to order, but because my chaos... is not "chaotic" enough! My Dao still has flaws and loopholes that cannot encompass "absolute order"!
Time flies, regardless of day or night.
"To break this spell, first introduce this spell..."

Suddenly, Li Mu, who was in the midst of a deep enlightenment, opened his eyes and woke up, a smile appearing on his stern face.

With a thought, Li Mu took the initiative to open the core of the Chaos Dao Fruit, allowing the power of the incantation to sink into its deepest part and merge with the origin of the Chaos Dao.

This process was extremely painful!
If before it was like being cut by a knife, now it's like Li Mu has been thrown into a millstone, his soul and the Great Dao being crushed and then reassembled!
Cracks instantly appeared all over the Chaos Dao Fruit, like a piece of porcelain about to shatter. Li Mu's aura declined at an alarming rate at this moment, falling all the way from the peak of the Dao Integration Realm, as if he was about to break through the barrier of the realm and return to dust.

The Dao Tree withered, and the miniature worlds on its countless branches collapsed, turning to ashes, their brilliance rapidly dimming. An aura of decay and decay permeated the entire Chaos Treasure Palace.

……

In a distant, unknown realm, the seven imposing figures opened their eyes almost simultaneously.

"Hmm?" The divine flames around the Ancient Origin Realm Lord flickered, and he let out a soft exclamation filled with pleasure. "That kid's aura... is weakening! And at an extremely fast pace!"

The starlight at Xingyan Daozun's fingertips flickered rapidly. After a moment of deduction, he said slowly, "His Dao foundation is shaking, his fortune is like the receding tide, and the Myriad Transformations Curse... has taken effect. Judging from this situation, the power of the Primordial Daozun's curse is disintegrating his Chaos Dao from within."

“It seems he has underestimated the Primordial Dao Venerable.” The Lord of Eternal Silence chuckled in a low voice: “Although the Chaos Dao is domineering, its foundation is still shallow. How can it contend with the Dao Venerable’s ‘Primordial Law Order’ which has been refined over countless eras? This child probably won’t even last a thousand years.”

Hao Yi Dao Zu stroked his beard, the doubt in his eyes fading slightly: "That's good. The weaker he is, the more secure we will be. Continue to carry out the original plan. The construction of the Myriad Realms Sealing Spirit Array must not be neglected in the slightest."

The face of the Immortal Lord Taiyu, shrouded in the clear light, revealed no emotion. He calmly said, "As expected."

Only the Primordial Dao Venerable's gaze remained cold, sensing that the power of the Myriad Transformations Curse was merging into the other's Dao in an unprecedented way. This feeling... was not like simple destruction, but rather like... a decomposition before being "digested".

The Primordial Daoist didn't say it aloud; it was just a vague feeling, perhaps the Chaos Daoist was making a final struggle.

……

Outside the Chaos Treasure Palace, above the Netherworld Blood Sea.

Xiao Jingtian, clad in golden armor, gripped his sword hilt, his brow furrowed with undisguised anxiety and worry. He could clearly sense that the pressure of the Great Dao emanating from the Chaos Treasure Palace, the foundation of the Immortal Dynasty, was rapidly dissipating.

The feeling was like a once glorious sun that shines for eternity, but is extinguishing at a visible speed.

“Mingyue, the Lord… his condition seems dire,” Xiao Jingtian said in a deep voice, his gaze falling on the motionless figure beside him.

Silver light flowed around the Moon Puppet, and for the first time, a kind of "worry" appeared on her exquisite face. The data stream in her eyes flickered wildly at an unprecedented speed.

“According to monitoring, the master’s vital signs are stable, but the ‘Dao Foundation Index’ is dropping at a rate of one ten-thousandth per breath… This is already a sign of damage to the Dao Foundation.” Her voice remained calm, but it lacked some of her usual indifference.

"His Dao foundation has been damaged!" Xiao Jingtian's expression changed. "It was the work of those seven old bastards! The Lord made a thousand-year agreement with them; he must have been ambushed!"

He paced back and forth anxiously: "No, I have to go in and take a look!"

"No." Mingyue reached out to stop him, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "Before the master went into seclusion, he gave orders that no one should disturb him. The only thing we can do right now is to guard the Immortal Dynasty and buy time for the master."

"But we can't even protect ourselves right now!" Xiao Jingtian slammed his fist into the void, sending ripples through the air. "The Hao Yi and Tai Yu realms have jointly issued an order to completely block the flow of resources to us and all our subordinate realms! Especially high-grade divine materials and innate spiritual veins, they've got them completely blocked! If this continues, forget about expansion, we'll even have trouble maintaining the current operation of our Immortal Dynasty! Without enough resources to offer as sacrifice, how can we help our lord repair the Dao Tree?"

This was what caused him the most anxiety. His lord had clearly suffered a severe blow and desperately needed massive resources to repair himself, but the enemy had cut off all their supply lines.

Mingyue fell silent. Even her vast computational core couldn't deduce a way to break the deadlock. This was an open conspiracy, a crushing defeat orchestrated by the combined forces of the seven supreme realms, which they were utterly powerless to resist with their current strength.

Just as the two were extremely anxious and the entire Immortal Dynasty was in a state of panic.

The Chaos Treasure Palace, whose aura had declined to the extreme and seemed on the verge of collapse at any moment, had a portal slowly opening on the trunk of the enormous Dao Tree deep within it.

A figure in a blue robe strolled out from there.

It was Li Mu. His face was still pale, and his aura was much weaker than before he went into seclusion. He looked as if he had just recovered from a serious illness, and even his figure seemed a little thin.

"Master!"

"Owner!"

Xiao Jingtian and Mingyue were overjoyed and quickly went to greet him.

"You...your injury?" Xiao Jingtian asked cautiously, sensing that Li Mu's condition was very abnormal.

Li Mu did not answer, but simply raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the endless void, seeing the invisible net that was tightening, and also seeing the seven cold gazes watching him from above the clouds.

Li Mu slowly extended his right hand, palm facing upward.

A wisp of chaotic energy condensed in his palm. Unlike before, within this wisp of hazy chaotic energy, there was an almost invisible... golden thread.

The silk threads exude the supreme meaning of "order" and "law," which, instead of conflicting with the chaotic meaning of "inclusivity" and "evolution," form a profound symbiosis and balance!
Chaos is no longer pure chaos. Order is no longer absolute order.

In Li Mu's palm, they transformed into a completely new and higher level of... Dao!

"Taichu Daozun... Thank you for your 'gift'."

Li Mu spoke softly, his voice devoid of emotion, and withdrew his hand. Beneath his weak aura lay a profound and resolute composure, as if he had undergone a complete transformation.

Li Mu's Dao realm did indeed decline, but his Dao itself became more complete. (End of Chapter)