Gou Dao and Cultivation of Immortals, Start from Farming

The starry sea is boundless, and time flies like an arrow.

Li Mu, accompanied by Xue'er and Mingyue, traversed the chaos, passing through seventeen realms of varying sizes. He saw ruins being rebuilt, where the creatures were as weak as candles in the wind; he saw remnants of realms sealing themselves off, where the realm lords used tribulation fire to burn themselves in order to be reborn from the ashes...

On this day, the three traveled through a strange star field called "Phantom Galaxy," where the stars were like shards of glass, refracting billions of rays of light and weaving together a mesmerizing dreamscape.

Li Mu suddenly stopped, his blue robe swaying slightly, and the long-dormant chaotic star in his eyes trembled gently without warning.

A faint, ethereal aura, etched into the very soul, drifted from the endless distance, like a wisp of silk traversing countless ages, and stirred the Chaos Dao Tree.

That aura... came from the Qiling Realm, a small world where Li Mu had been rooted for hundreds of years and anchored the three thousand main realms with the Chaos Dao Seal!

Li Mu quickly released his divine sense, covering the entire realm. Soon, he discovered four blazing, arrogant demon saint auras—Xiao Jin, Xiao Wa, Qingyue True Dragon, and Chilian Fire Phoenix!

"Brother Li?" Xue'er sensed the subtle changes in Li Mu's emotions with her Nine-Tailed Fox's emotional perception talent, and asked with a puzzled look in her eyes.

Li Mu looked at Xue'er, a long-lost smile appearing on his face, and gestured, "Xue'er, I sensed it... the Spirit Awakening Realm."

Xue'er was taken aback at first, her pupils suddenly contracted, like ripples spreading out of a still lake after a stone was thrown in, full of surprise.

"The...the Spirit Realm?" Xue'er trembled with excitement as she asked urgently, "Which Spirit Realm...are Xiao Jin and the others in? Are they...still still here?"

"Hmm!" Li Mu nodded, a smile on his face. "Not only does it still exist, but the vitality within the realm is surging, far surpassing what it once was. Moreover..."

Li Mu's gaze seemed to pierce through the sea of ​​stars and fall upon his homeland. He laughed and said, "Those four guys, their auras are like the blazing sun suspended in the sky, violent like thunder exploding—they have all stepped into the tenth level of the ultimate path."

“The Ultimate Path…” Xue’er’s eyes instantly reddened. She grabbed Li Mu’s sleeve, her eyes brimming with tears, and urged urgently, “Brother Li! Take me there! Now! Immediately!”

Li Mu smiled slightly, gently grasped Xue'er's slightly cool hand, and said softly, "Okay."

Before he finished speaking, Li Mu casually made a gesture in the air in front of him with his right hand.

With a "rip!", space was torn apart like brocade, and a deep passage with chaotic air flowing along its edge suddenly took shape. At the other end of the passage, wild demonic energy filled the air, which was none other than the Spirit Awakening Realm!
"Walk."

Li Mu, with the two women in tow, stepped inside.

In an instant, light and shadow reversed, time and space shifted, and when the scene stabilized, the three of them were already standing above the vast and boundless mountain range shrouded in demonic clouds.

Below lies the Spirit Awakening Realm—the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains!
The Wan Yao Mountain Range has undergone a dramatic change in its weather. The mountain range has expanded more than tenfold, with giant peaks piercing the clouds and demonic clouds condensing into canopies at the summits: some are dazzling with golden light, some are raging with crimson flames, some are bathed in the cold moonlight, and some are churning with poisonous miasma.

Four immense demonic emperors, their oppressive auras like pillars of heaven, stood guard over their respective regions, commanding all demons to bow their heads.

With a slight thought, Li Mu grasped the entire situation in an instant.

In the east, atop a colossal peak seemingly cast entirely in gold, stands a majestic palace, its banners fluttering in the wind, bearing three ancient demonic characters—Golden Ape Mountain! At the mountain's summit plaza, a gigantic golden ape sits cross-legged in the main hall, regal and powerful—this is Little Golden Ape, its aura as solid as a mountain, having reached the tenth rank, ruling over tens of millions of miles of demonic territory in the east, known as the Golden Ape Demon Saint!

In the west, a dark and bottomless abyss lies shrouded in a chilling mist. At its depths, the might of a dragon looms, and silver light filters through the cracks, illuminating ancient dragon patterns on the walls. The Azure Moon Dragon resides at the heart of the abyss, absorbing the essence of Yin. Its scales are inscribed with moonlight patterns, exuding profound majesty—the lord of Dragon Abyss!

In the south, crimson flames blaze across the sky, stretching for thousands of miles. A phoenix tree, reborn from the ashes, takes root in lava, its crown ablaze with flames forming a phoenix nest. A crimson fire phoenix dwells within, its tail feathers trailing trails of fire, its breath stirring the earth's flames. Its gaze is like a sword, ruling over the fire-elemental demons of the south!
In the north, amidst the vast reddish-yellow mountain range, Xiaowa lies hidden, its shell like divine iron, radiating a reddish-yellow spiritual light... Four supreme demon saints, their fortunes intertwined, their power shakes the Spirit Realm, their fearsome reputations spread far and wide.

Xue'er's divine sense also sensed the four soaring demonic energies. Tears finally fell. The familiar fluctuations deep in her soul, even after thousands of years and even though they had reached the pinnacle of cultivation, had not diminished the affection between them.

"They...are really that amazing..." Xue'er was thrilled, feeling both proud and heartbroken.

Li Mu turned his gaze to Golden Ape Mountain, a smile on his face: "Since you're here, you should at least say hello. But showing yourself like this might frighten those little demons."

With a slight thought, Li Mu completely concealed the chaotic aura around him, and Xue'er and Mingyue also disappeared without a trace. The three of them seemed to vanish into nothingness, hovering silently above the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains.

Xue'er could no longer suppress her emotions. The aura of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox within her body was released like a flood bursting its banks. The noble aura of the Fox Clan royal blood, as dignified as the moonlight of the heavens, transformed into an invisible ripple and spread out with a roar!

The entire Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range seemed to be gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand, and suddenly it sank!
Throughout the mountains, countless demonic beasts, regardless of their strength, felt an ancient awe emanating from the depths of their bloodlines. Countless figures trembled and prostrated themselves on the ground, facing the source of the oppressive aura and emitting instinctive low growls.

In the east, atop Golden Ape Mountain.

Deep within that magnificent palace, as if cast in gold, on the throne, the golden-armored giant ape, who was closing his eyes to comprehend the laws of power, suddenly opened his eyes. From his golden pupils, a golden light, seemingly tangible, burst forth, piercing through the palace roof and soaring straight into the sky!

"This aura...it's...Sister Xue'er? Master! Master is back!"

Xiao Jin suddenly stood up, and the longing suppressed for thousands of years, the bewilderment of being forcibly broken, and the loneliness of cultivating to the level of a demon saint all exploded at this moment!
"Roar!"

With an excited howl, Little Gold soared into the sky from the summit of Golden Ape Mountain, transforming into a dazzling golden rainbow that tore through space, heading straight for the source of the aura!
In the west, deep within the dark Dragon Abyss.

The Azure Moon True Dragon, coiled at the bottom of the Taiyin Cold Pool, suddenly lit up its moon-like eyes the instant its nine-tailed aura spread out. An incredulous glint flashed in its clear, majestic eyes.

"Xue'er! Master's Daoist aura?"

The Azure Moon Dragon suddenly shuddered, causing the waters of the deep, icy pool to surge upwards. A clear, cold dragon roar resounded throughout the entire Dragon Abyss. Then, it transformed into a stream of moonlight that cleaved the sky and sped away.

In the south, at the heart of the infernal sea of ​​rebirth.

"Chirp!" The Crimson Fire Phoenix, perched atop the Flaming Phoenix Tree, suddenly raised its long neck, its crimson eyes blazing with flames, transforming into a red meteor flying in reverse, burning through layers of space, and shooting rapidly northward!

In the north, amidst the red and yellow mountain ranges.

The small tile, which was breathing in and out the primordial energy of the earth, suddenly stiffened its massive body. Its huge eyes, which always seemed somewhat simple and honest but now contained boundless ferocity, widened suddenly. The connection imprinted deep in its soul made it extremely excited!
"Ouch...ow!"

A giant lizard, as large as a mountain, crashed through the rock strata and soared into the sky! With a savage and domineering manner, it charged wildly toward the source that haunted its dreams!
Four figures, each radiating the overwhelming aura of a demon saint who had reached the pinnacle of this realm and whose power would make ordinary beings tremble, erupted from the four corners of the mountain range. Like four fallen stars, they trailed golden light, moonlight, crimson flames, and primordial energy, tearing through the sky and converging towards the same point in the sky!
Above the mountain range, Li Mu stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching four earth-shattering rainbows streak through the sky, a faint smile on his face.

Xue'er was already in tears, covering her lips, her body trembling slightly with excitement. The puppet spirit, Mingyue, stood quietly to the side, her eyes darting around, as if recording this scene of reunion.

The space trembled violently in succession, and the four figures stopped abruptly a hundred feet in front of Li Mu and his companions, almost simultaneously.

The golden light faded, revealing a nine-foot-tall, imposing man in golden armor, his face rugged and resolute, with a golden vertical line on his forehead. His eyes flashed with golden light as they opened and closed, filled with a violent sense of power and a mature majesty. His domineering golden eyes stared intently at Xue'er and Li Mu, slightly reddening.

As the moonlight faded, a handsome man dressed in a blue robe with dragon patterns and crystalline dragon horns stood in the air. He exuded a cool and noble aura, surrounded by a hazy moon halo. His eyes were deep and unfathomable, containing the vicissitudes of time and the pride of the dragon race. He was none other than the Azure Moon True Dragon.

The crimson flames subsided, transforming into a stunningly beautiful woman in red, clad in flowing robes. Her brows held a sharp edge that seemed capable of burning everything, and her crimson eyes burned silently like fire. Behind her, a phoenix phantom spread its wings, exuding natural majesty. It was none other than the Crimson Fire Phoenix. Her lips were tightly pressed together, as if she had a thousand words to say but could not utter them.

As the primordial energy settled, a burly man, over twelve feet tall with broad shoulders and a thick back, appeared. His face was honest and his gaze was deep and focused. Standing there, he exuded an unshakeable sense of solidity. It was Xiao Wa, who excitedly called out, "Master! Sister Xue'er!"

Time seemed to have completely frozen at this moment.

The mountain winds have ceased, the clouds have become stagnant, and only a few gazes, traversing thousands of years of time, witness the fierce collision and intertwining of life and death in this sky.

Xue'er's gaze fell on them, and she excitedly called out, "Brother Xiao Jin, Xiao Wa, Brother Qinglong, Sister Chi Lian... I'm so glad to see you all again!"

"Xue'er! Master!"

The golden-armored giant that Xiao Jin had transformed into suddenly erupted with the emotions that had been building up in his tiger eyes for hundreds of years. Hot tears rolled down his face, and he could no longer maintain his demon saintly demeanor. He took a step forward and knelt down on one knee in mid-air!

"Miss Xue'er!" The Azure Dragon Lord, who was actually the Azure Moon True Dragon, took a deep breath and solemnly said to Li Mu, "Azure Moon... greets Master!"

The woman in red, transformed from the Crimson Phoenix, with gentle flames in her crimson eyes, slightly bent her knees and performed an ancient wind tribe ritual, excitedly saying, "Crimson Phoenix, welcome back Master and Sister Xue'er."

The burly man that Xiao Wa had transformed into clumsily and forcefully kowtowed with a loud "thud," then looked up, tears streaming down his face, and cried out in a sobbing voice, "Master! Xue'er! Xiao Wa... Xiao Wa missed you so much! We... we never dared to forget! We've been cultivating desperately ever since!"

Seeing their barely suppressed excitement, Li Mu's smile deepened, and he gestured, "Get up. It's been thousands of years since we last met. You are all doing well."

With that, Li Mu waved his hand, and all four of them were lifted up by an invisible force.

The four people—no, the four supreme demon saints—exchanged glances, utterly shocked.

Xiao Jin and the others shakily stood up, staring intently at Li Mu, their burning gazes seemingly trying to pierce through thousands of years of time.

Li Mu, dressed in a simple blue robe, exuded an aura like a bottomless abyss. Though seemingly close at hand, he appeared to be one with the entire void, yet transcended it. That oppressive aura, almost akin to the very essence of the Dao, left the four who had already become Supreme Demon Saints speechless with shock.

When its master left, it was powerful and direct, yet still worthy of admiration; now, upon seeing it again, it is as if one is facing the vast cosmos, unfathomable.

"Master... what is your current realm..." Azure Moon True Dragon asked with suppressed excitement and awe.

Li Mu smiled slightly and did not answer directly, but humbly said: "On the path of cultivation, everyone has their own destiny. It is a great fortune for you to be able to step into the extreme path and gather the fortune of a demon realm."

Xue'er wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and stepped forward to carefully examine her four companions. She saw that Xiao Jin was covered in golden armor, and the golden vertical line on his forehead faintly flowed with the power of law; Qingyue Zhenlong's dragon horns were crystal clear, and the moon halo around his body was cold and noble; Chilian Huofeng's rainbow dress was like fire, and his red eyes were sharp and stern; Xiao Wa was as solid as a mountain, and his aura was deep and heavy.

Xue'er felt both proud and bittersweet, and said softly, "You've suffered all these years."

“It’s not bitter!” Little Gold shook its head, but a look of reminiscence appeared in its golden eyes. It sighed and said, “When our master left, we were released from our contract. At first, we were bewildered and uneasy, feeling lost and helpless. But when we remembered our master’s teachings, we knew that only self-improvement was the right path. So we each chose a place to cultivate in seclusion, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and the spiritual energy of the earth’s veins. We were separated by four directions, but we often used secret methods to communicate with each other and prove the Great Dao together.”

"Seven hundred years ago, we broke through to the tenth level one after another, united the four demon races, and established the foundation of the Demon Saint, all so that... when we could see Master and Sister Xue'er again one day, we would not be weak and shameful." Xiao Jin talked on and on. When she got to this point, she looked at Li Mu and Xue'er's face showed a blush.

The Azure Moon True Dragon chuckled and sighed, "However, I never expected that upon meeting my master again today, I would find that the distance between us has not only not narrowed, but I can no longer discern my master's cultivation level, and I am increasingly aware of the indescribable gap between us!"

"Yes! Yes!" Xiao Wa nodded repeatedly, expressing her feelings.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Xiao Jin asked inquiringly, "Master, how far have you progressed? When you left, although we were of low cultivation, we could vaguely sense your level; but now, seeing you again is like viewing a mountain through fog, we can only see the outline, not the whole picture!"

“Yes! The four of us have cultivated diligently for thousands of years and believe that we have reached the pinnacle of this world, the ultimate realm, where we can manipulate the laws of a region with a wave of our hand. However, in front of our master, we are like fireflies compared to the bright moon. We are really curious—the Great Dao is vast, and what is the scene above the ultimate realm?” The Crimson Fire Phoenix stared intently at Li Mu.

Li Mu smiled slightly and nodded to his four old friends who had reached the pinnacle of the Dao, introducing them as follows: "The realm of the pinnacle is where one condenses one's own Dao, touches the origin of the laws, and is considered the pinnacle within a realm. However, the heavens are vast and all the Daos are in contention, and the pinnacle is merely the starting point for truly questioning the Great Dao."

"After the ultimate path, there are four more barriers, each leading to a higher realm. They are, in order: the Dao Seeding Realm, the Dao Achieving Realm, the Dao Returning Realm, and... the Dao Merging Realm."

The four saints' eyes lit up, they held their breath and listened intently.

"The Seed of Dao Realm!" Li Mu pointed his fingers and drew a line in the air, a wisp of gray mist flowing from his fingertips, evolving into a scene in the air: "This realm requires one to use the Dao one has comprehended as a 'seed,' to find a real realm, or to open a 'virtual realm' within one's own spiritual platform, and to deeply plant the Dao seed within it. The Dao seed takes root, absorbs spiritual energy, shapes one's own Dao, and helps the Dao grow; ..., cultivators in this realm can already draw upon a portion of the primordial power of a realm with every move, their Dao techniques far surpassing the ultimate Dao, and they can glimpse the subtle principles of the workings of heaven and earth; however, the Dao seed is newly planted, fragile and unstable, requiring constant nurturing, and is wary of violent disturbances, as well as the erosion by the Dao of the same origin,..."

Li Mu used his magic to expound the Great Dao to them on the spot. (End of this chapter)