Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

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

The moon shines through the silver armor covered in frost, and deep within the golden eyes, Dao patterns surge. In the void before him, a map of the Netherworld Blood Realm unfolds. In the map, the path that the Shadowless Duo had just invaded has been magnified to a standard size. Their escape techniques, energy bursts, and residual effects of laws have all been dissected into intricate Dao patterns that flow endlessly.

“The Shadow Fiend and the Shadowless Twin Fiends have suffered consecutive defeats. How could the Killing Dao Alliance let this go so easily?” Mingyue’s voice was like a cold spring. She lightly tapped a few folds in the boundary wall with her fingertips. “They are skilled in stealth in the void and are unpredictable. Commander Xiao, you should set up ‘Reincarnation Mirror Flames’ at the thirty-six void nodes.”

Xiao Jingtian, clad in black armor, stood to the side, his gaze sweeping over the node like a blade, and said in a deep voice, "Approved. Using the Ember Fire as a base, infuse it with the Dao of Reincarnation, and forge the Mirror Flame Barrier. Any soul without the imprint of my realm will be burned upon contact, directly scorching its very origin."

After speaking, Xiao Jingtian issued orders to his subordinates: "Order Xuan Yuan Jin Jie to quickly adjust the core of 'Purifying World Flame,' Jin Kui Jie to establish the mirror foundation with Geng Jin sharp energy, and Shi Xu Jie to stabilize the time order to prevent them from escaping using the technique of time and space."

……

One command token after another transformed into streams of light, flying towards all realms. The colossal war machines roared into operation once more, and the artisans and array cultivators rushed to the nodes, drawing upon the power of all realms to construct a formidable defensive line.

Outside the city, millions of Yin-Yang Reincarnation Puppets formed a battle array, their energies intertwined, expanding the domain of life and death reincarnation once more; the gray chaotic energy intertwined with the black and white energies, protecting the Netherworld City and its vast territory as if it were an impregnable fortress. Within the puppets' eyes, the essence of the scorching fire merged with the sharp energy of the Geng metal, intensifying their killing intent.

The Rift Soars high in the sky, its hull looking brand new, its radiance surpassing even its former glory.

The ship's hull is inlaid with "Peeping Eyes," imbued with the spiritual power of the Illusionary Realm, which rotate silently, monitoring the slightest ripples in the void. The Sky Patrol Fleet forms a profound battle formation, flowing like a river of stars, patrolling the borders day and night.

The Netherworld Blood Realm appears relaxed on the outside but is tense on the inside, like a primordial beast curling up and retracting its claws, waiting for the next storm.

……

Deep within the Chaos Treasure Palace, all was silent.

Li Mu sat cross-legged beneath the Chaos Dao Tree, his body almost merging with the tree trunk. His eyes were slightly closed, his face was pale, and his aura was extremely restrained, making him appear like an ordinary mortal.

However, within his sea of ​​consciousness, a battle of wits was raging, protracted and fraught with peril.

The "Myriad Transformations Curse" originating from the Primordial Dao Venerable is like a golden net rooted in the origin of the Great Dao, wrapping around every inch of the Dao Tree, seeping into the core of the Chaotic Dao Fruit, constantly reversing chaos, and trying to bring all things back to the primordial order.

Previously, Li Mu had forcibly absorbed a wisp of incantation power, nearly causing his Dao Fruit to shatter. Now, he no longer forced it in; instead, he focused his mind on deduction, meticulously peeling away the outer edges of the incantation power inch by inch, comprehending the principles of "order," "constraint," and "uniqueness" within it. The slightest carelessness would trigger a backlash, accelerating the decline of his Dao Foundation.

The Chaos Tree trembled slightly, its branches and leaves rustling, countless miniature worlds flickering with light, bearing the tremors of the clash between order and chaos. New leaves already showed signs of withering.

Li Mu was completely unaware, his mind completely absorbed in the vast laws of order.

"In the beginning there was order, and the primordial chaos was defined... but excessive rigidity leads to breakage, and in the end there is no life."

Within the ultimate order, he glimpsed stagnation and death. Absolute order, with no more variables and no more evolution, ultimately becomes stagnant water.

This path contradicts the concept of chaos. Chaos gives rise to all laws and encompasses all changes, seeking a glimmer of transcendence and embracing infinite possibilities.

"My chaos is not disorder, but the foundation that encompasses all things. Order should be contained within chaos, as one of its categories, not as its master."

A sudden enlightenment.

Li Mu invoked the origin of the Chaos Dao Tree, using his own understanding of chaos to simulate and evolve the principles of order within the "Myriad Transformations Curse".

At first, the chaotic energy flow and the golden pattern of order repelled each other, and the conflict within the Dao Tree was intense. Li Mu's face turned even paler, and a wisp of chaotic energy spilled from the corner of his mouth.

However, Li Mu's resolve remained steadfast, as immovable as a mountain.

Under its exquisite manipulation, the Chaos Dao transforms, mimicking the structure of golden patterns, and generates its own order within the chaos. This is not out of submission, but rather, through the inclusiveness of chaos, it actively absorbs the essence of order to complete the Great Dao.

This is an extremely dangerous path; a single misstep could lead to utter ruin.

Time flows silently by, and who knows how much it has passed?

Suddenly, the golden threads of the "Myriad Transformations Mantra" wrapped around the core of the Dao Fruit trembled slightly. Its power did not diminish, but a new pattern quietly emerged around it—slightly lighter in color, with the same meaning, yet naturally conceived from the chaotic Dao principles.

This pattern has less of the cold hardness of the primordial beginnings and more of the fluidity of chaos, as if order is born from the womb and is perfectly integrated with chaos without any repulsion.

"Om-"

The Chaos Dao Tree trembled suddenly, not in pain, not in joy, but as if relieved of a great burden.

The moment the newly formed Dao patterns of order appeared in the world, the ferocious aura of the "Myriad Transformations Curse" inexplicably weakened by a fraction. It was as if it had encountered a kindred spirit and no longer regarded it as an external enemy, and the reversal of the trend slowed down.

Li Mu's eyes snapped open, a chaotic surge emanating from them, a wisp of golden light like the primordial light of creation flashing and disappearing in an instant.

Li Mu lowered his eyes to his palm, and a wisp of chaotic energy naturally emerged. Within it, there were no strong binding golden threads, but countless micro-symbols were created, destroyed, and combined on their own, operating according to the inner laws—within the vastness and change, there was a beauty of order.

"So that's how it is... using chaos to generate order, and incorporating the primordial chaos into oneself."

Li Mu's lips curled slightly, his smile gentle. Although he had not fully unraveled the "Myriad Transformations Curse," he had already planted the seed of his own order and laws within the Great Dao of Chaos!

This originates from the beginning, emerges from chaos, and is in harmony with the Dao.

With a slight thought, a faint light quietly appeared at the tip of a slender branch of the Dao Tree behind him. Initially chaotic, it then condensed into a nascent Dao Fruit, about the size of a fingernail, interwoven with gray and gold.

This fruit is quite different from the fruits of Nirvana, Life and Death, and Time. The Daoist rhyme it exudes is only "order," "stability," and "theorem."

—The embryonic form of the Dao Fruit of Order!
Though weak and feeble, it subtly resonated with and balanced the "Myriad Transformations Curse." The corrosive force borne by the Dao Tree was reduced by more than ten percent. The withered branches and leaves gradually regained their vitality.

Li Mu let out a long sigh, his complexion returning slightly. He sensed the newly born Dao Fruit and the self-regulating laws of order within his body, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

“...How could you know that this incantation is not a calamity, but rather the sustenance for my path.”

Li Mu closed his eyes again, drawing upon the principles of chaos to nourish the fruits of order, and delved deeper into the "Myriad Transformations Curse," intending to transform this external power into a stepping stone to the Dao.

Inside and outside the Chaos Treasure Palace, silence returned. Only on the towering Dao Tree, a gray-gold Dao Fruit appeared and disappeared in the chaotic air currents, indicating the birth of new power.

Outside the mansion, Mingyue and Xiao Jingtian led the immortals to build an iron wall on the perilous frontier.
Inside the mansion, Li Mu comprehended the Dao in solitude and underwent a transformation amidst danger, quietly laying a new foundation for the Great Dao.

In the crevice of the void, deep within the Cave of Ten Thousand Shadows.

On the altar of bones, the ghostly green soul lamps of the Shadowless Duo extinguished almost simultaneously with two soft "poof" sounds. The lamps shattered, turning into two wisps of green smoke that dissipated. The surrounding shadows trembled in unison, and a chilling killing intent surged forth, freezing every inch of space. On the throne, the myriad afterimages swirling around the leader of the Slaughtering Dao Alliance suddenly froze. Two points of scarlet light blazed intensely, like a blood moon rising from the abyss.

“Even Wuying has fallen…” The Alliance Leader’s voice was low and hoarse, like metal scraping bone. The screen that appeared with a faint light in front of him was replaying the last moment of the Twin Fiends’ fall—a detached gaze was cast from the depths of the Chaos Treasure Palace, and the roots of the Chaos Dao Tree, like a group of dragons devouring the sky, crushed the Void Laws and the divine soul together.

Shadow Fiend and Shadowless Twin Fiends were both top assassins painstakingly cultivated by the Killing Dao Alliance. Now, they have both perished in the Netherworld Blood Realm, yet they have failed to uncover even a fraction of the Chaos Dao Lord's true nature.

"Such a price is difficult to bear in ordinary transactions." The alliance leader's gaze was fixed on the silent mansion in the screen, and his knuckles tapped lightly on the armrest of the throne, the dull sound echoing: "We can't wade into these muddy waters anymore."

With his mind made up, there was no more hesitation. The shadowy body straightened slightly, and an invisible wave spread from its core, causing the three boundary tokens of the altar—blazing flame, ice crystal, and lightning pattern—to be imprinted on it.

The boundary command lit up, piercing through the endless void and forcibly connecting the three broken yet magnificent origins of the realm.

"Fellow Daoists," the Alliance Leader's hoarse voice came through the runes, "The Netherworld Blood Realm is unfathomable, and the Chaos Dao Lord's true nature remains unclear. Our alliance has already lost Shadow Fiend and the Shadowless Twin Fiends, suffering heavy casualties. This agreement is hereby terminated. The deposit paid will not be refunded and will be considered as compensation."

The boundary order fell silent for a moment.

Immediately, three wills descended with a roar—the Wrath of Burning the World, the Cold of Eternal Freeze, and the Thunder of Myriad Calamities. Like ancient ferocious beasts awakening, they shook the shadows within the Myriad Shadow Cave, causing the laws to collapse and the bone altar to crack and nearly crumble.

"Give up?" The Flame God himself roared first, his crimson-gold divine flames almost igniting the entire cave: "Leader of the Slaughtering Dao Alliance, do you take our Three Realms as servants who come when summoned and leave when dismissed?"

The Ice Skeleton Overlord's voice was piercing: "You think you can just walk away after losing a few men? Alliance Leader, you have to explore this Netherworld Blood Realm whether you like it or not!"

The thunderous roar of the Eternal Thunder God shattered the void: "Trying to renege on your debt? First, ask the Thunder Hammer in my hand! If you have no explanation today, we will join forces to completely wipe your Myriad Shadow Cave from the shadows of the heavens!"

The will of the Three Realms pressed down, its power overwhelming. The shadow around the Alliance Leader surged violently, his crimson eyes flickering with barely concealed rage. He coldly said, "The three of you should not force yourselves. The Chaos Dao Lord is no ordinary person; his palace is heavily fortified, and his methods are unpredictable. If this continues, neither of us will escape unscathed!"

"Hmph!" The Flame God laughed in fury: "It's your Slaughtering Dao Alliance that's incompetent! You can't even test their strength, yet you dare to call yourself the number one assassin organization in the heavens? You've probably been hiding in the shadows for too long and lost all your courage!"

The Ice Skeleton Sovereign's tone was chilling: "Alliance Leader, do not make a mistake. To withdraw now would mean offending the Three Realms simultaneously. The Chaos Dao Lord may not let you off, but we will certainly wipe out your entire family first! Weigh the pros and cons carefully!"

Without another word, the Eternal Thunder God unleashed a burst of lightning and roared like thunder: "Enough with the nonsense! Add fifty more 'World-Burning Flame Marrows,' fifty 'Mysterious Nether Ice Souls,' and fifty 'Myriad Tribulations Thunder Cores'! You personally investigate the state of the Chaos Dao Lord. If you can take his life, the reward will double! This is a final ultimatum—if you do not agree, the Three Realms Allied Forces will raze the Myriad Shadow Cave to the ground immediately, until death do us part!"

Threats and lucrative rewards weighed down like two mountains. Refuse, and you'd be besieged; agree, and you'd face the Lord of Chaos...

The Cave of Ten Thousand Shadows fell into a deathly silence, with only the oppressive force of the will of the Three Realms rising layer by layer.

After a long silence, the Alliance Leader sighed from the depths of the Netherworld, his voice hoarse and low: "...So be it. Since the three of you insist on this, I will go myself."

The Alliance Leader raised his eyes and locked onto the three Realm Tokens: "One hundred and fifty pieces of Flame Marrow, one hundred and fifty Ice Souls, and one hundred and fifty Thunder Cores, half will be paid upfront. After the matter is completed, the remainder, along with double the reward, will be paid together. If I perish, the amount paid upfront will be considered as compensation, and I will have no further connection with the Three Realms."

"Alright!" came the Flame God's will, hinting at a sense of triumph.

Three fissures opened in the void, revealing seventy-five crystal pillars—one crimson like solidified lava, another a deep blue like ancient ice, and the last of seventy-five lightning beads wreathed in purple lightning—suspended before the altar.

The intertwining of three primal energies—scorching heat, extreme cold, and rage—caused the shadows of the Myriad Shadow Cave to surge wildly.

With a flick of his shadowy hand, the Alliance Leader collected all the supplies. The pure and powerful primordial energy of the Three Realms flowed into his body, and his crimson eyes flashed slightly—even if this journey ends in defeat, the foundation of the Myriad Shadow Cave will be greatly enhanced.

"Awaiting your reply."

He said no more and slowly rose from his throne. In an instant, billions of miles of shadows hummed and submitted as if they were alive, their forms still indistinct, their auras as deep as an abyss, as if they had become the very essence of the laws of shadow.

With one step, his figure vanished into the void, disappearing without a trace.

……

The Netherworld Blood Realm, the eastern border.

The newly established "Mirror Flame of Reincarnation" barrier burned silently, and the gray-white flames condensed in the void into a mirror-like Great Wall that stretched across the Milky Way.

Mingyue stood atop the city wall of Zhenyouming, his golden eyes scanning the eight directions; Xiao Jingtian sat atop the Lieyu, the fleet's formation imposing and fraught with hidden killing intent.

Suddenly, Mingyue's golden eyes narrowed!
At the folds of the boundary wall ahead, the void seemed to be smoothed by an invisible hand, and a figure quietly emerged—blurred and indistinct, as if formed from layers of the deepest shadows in the world, silent and still, yet making heaven and earth hold their breath.

The moment the Shadow Alliance Leader appeared, the "Mirror of Reincarnation Flame" barrier suddenly erupted with blinding white light, the mirror surface twisted violently, and the flames exploded like a tidal wave!

"Warning! The Supreme Shadow Law has invaded! The energy level is... immeasurable! It has been determined to be a threat at the World Lord level!" Mingyue's voice was tense, each word as sharp as iron.

Xiao Jingtian abruptly stood up: "All troops, listen to my command! Activate the Nine Nether Barriers at full power! Unleash the Samsara Mirror Flame to incinerate the enemy! Unleash the Annihilation Torrent!"

The Mirror of Ten Thousand Miles of Flames soared into the sky, and countless rays of scorching light poured down like a waterfall, rushing straight towards the shadow. The Rift Universe and thousands of immortal ships trembled together, and the light of annihilation gathered into a river, tearing apart the void.

The Shadow Alliance Leader simply raised his hand.

A "Myriad Shadows Devouring Heaven Curse Seal" rotated in his palm, deep and abyss-like. The approaching mirror flames and the annihilating torrent were all swallowed up by it, silently annihilated, without even a ripple.

His figure remained unchanged, completely unharmed.

The Shadow Alliance Leader turned to Zhenyouming City, his hoarse voice reaching directly into the minds of Guangyue and Xiao Jingtian: "Summon the Chaos Dao Lord. Otherwise, I will tear down your shell and go in to find him myself."

Before he could finish speaking, the Shadow Alliance Leader casually pressed down with his other hand.

"Crack——!"

The seemingly indestructible barrier of "Mirror Flame of Reincarnation" cracked with spiderweb-like fissures where the palm struck, and shattered with a deafening roar! Countless fragments of mirror flame scattered and vanished into nothingness in an instant.

The shockwave swept in all directions, causing the Netherworld City to tremble violently, and the thousands of Yin-Yang Rotation Puppet Dao patterns to dim and lose their luster.

The silver armor of the Bright Moon shimmered erratically, and Xiao Jingtian felt a sweet taste in his throat, letting out a muffled groan as the shield of the Rift Universe flickered erratically.

With the power of a single palm strike, the strongest defense line of the Immortal Dynasty crumbled!

The Shadow Alliance Leader took a step forward, officially entering the Netherworld Blood Realm. Shadowy Dao principles permeated his surroundings, distorting light, stagnating spiritual energy, as if the world were about to sink into eternal night.

"Lord of Chaos," the Shadow Alliance marched straight towards the Chaos Treasure Palace hidden in the void, their faces full of confidence: "I have come in person, how long are you going to hide?" (End of this chapter)