Immortal Mystery Sequence: I Establish a Divine Duty for Heaven and Earth

[Sequence Evolution Log]

[Year 28]

Swiss Land, New Apple City, year-end.

Undercurrents are swirling within the city.

Luo Jin has been in seclusion for over half a year, and the threshold of the seventh rank is within reach.

He sat cross-legged in his secluded abode, his aura flowing around him, almost merging with the earth's energy. His earth-遁法 (earth-遁法) no longer seemed to be a simple technique for traversing the earth; his perception was spreading deeper into the earth's veins, vaguely touching the invisible boundary of the gate...

But the door remained tightly shut, and no matter how much he knocked, it wouldn't budge.

He recalled the ancient immortals and Buddhas who cultivated great powers of creation, and how breaking through a realm could take ten or even a hundred years, a time when the world changed drastically, and success was not achieved in a short time.

Therefore, he remained calm and composed, staying true to himself.

Outside the door, Luo Dazhuang sat cross-legged, never leaving the door, his body like the roots of an old tree. Whenever someone approached, he would open his eyes and stare, only closing them again when the other person left. He didn't understand cultivation or the Great Dao. He only knew that the hall master was breaking through to the next level, and he couldn't let outsiders disturb him even if the sky fell.

Meanwhile, in a farmhouse outside, Li Shitou, who had temporarily taken over the management of the old farmers' hall, was sitting with three newly met farmers.

"After you return, pay close attention to the city's movements. Record how much grain the wealthy households have stockpiled, whether any outsiders have entered or left the Buddhist or Taoist temples recently, and any unusual activity... and report all of this to the central government!"

The three farmers nodded in agreement and quietly left.

Li Shitou blew out the oil lamp and sat in the darkness for a long time.

He knew very well what he was doing, and he also knew how Luo Jin and Luo Dazhuang would react if they knew he was contacting farmers.

But he knew even better that if the Old Farmers' Hall only stayed with the lowest-ranking slaves, it would never amount to anything.

Slaves had limited horizons and were ignorant of information, so they knew nothing about changes in the outside world. Farmers, on the other hand, had dealings with landlords, merchants, and even servants of Buddhist and Taoist monks with little spiritual cultivation left over from the old era.

Once this network is spread out, Lao Nong Tang will have its own eyes and ears, and its sources of information will be readily available.

This was a risky move, but he had no other choice!

He believed that with the wisdom of the sect leader, once he emerged from seclusion and saw the results, he would surely understand his painstaking efforts.

[Year 29]

Spring planting and autumn harvest, another year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Luo Jin remained in seclusion.

Li Shitou's layout in the city has begun to take shape, with more than a hundred farmers joining, including more than thirty ninth-rank "farmers".

The total number of cultivators in the Old Farmer's Hall has exceeded four hundred, and its influence has expanded from the slave population to many villages and towns inside and outside the city. The total number of good-quality plants has increased to thirty-five, and various exotic species are hidden in Shennong Valley... Some crops glow at night, and some herbs dissolve in water, with endless uses.

The influence of the Old Farmer's Hall is still limited to one city, but its reach has quietly extended deeper into the underground world, making it influential in both the legitimate and criminal worlds.

After that, Li Shitou further utilized high-quality crops to open up several small trade routes. Black markets, grain merchants, medicine dealers, and itinerant peddlers all became his informants. News of which landlords were hoarding grain and which Taoist temples had recently seen strangers flowed into the Old Farmer's Hall like streams into a mighty river.

He never shows his face; all instructions are relayed through intermediaries, and even those who work for him don't know who's behind him.

The old farmhouse has quietly changed its appearance and is now completely transformed.

[Year 30]

In late spring, Luo Dazhuang couldn't sit still any longer.

Luo Jin went into seclusion for two years without making any progress.

He originally didn't care what Li Shitou was doing outside, but recently even the servants sweeping the floor have been talking about it, saying that the Old Farmer's Hall is now quite powerful, with people both inside and outside the city, and even merchants are coming to give money and grain.

Luo Dazhuang sensed something was wrong and sent his trusted confidant to investigate.

three days later.

The news brought back by his trusted aide... infuriated him!

"Li Shitou is not only preaching among farmers, but he's even starting to pave trade routes! Several grain shop owners in the city are doing business with him, and some people say he even plans to plant people in the Buddhist and Taoist temples in Xinping City..."

Luo Dazhuang jumped to his feet: "Damn it! He's asking for it!"

That evening, Luo Dazhuang stormed into the council hall and, in front of all the members, pointed at Li Shitou and began to curse: "Behind my back, behind the hall master's back, you've been forming cliques outside! What are you trying to do? Are you going to sell out the foundation of my Old Farmer's Hall to outsiders?!"

Li Shitou said calmly, "Brother Dazhuang, listen to me—"

Bang!

"I won't listen!" Luo Dazhuang slammed his hand on the table. "What did the sect leader instruct before he went into seclusion? Stability is paramount! The slaves are the foundation! And you, you've already extended your reach into the hands of farmers and merchants! Are you going to go after the landlords next? Or those powerful figures, Buddhist monks, and Taoist priests?"

Li Shitou remained silent for a moment, then reassured him, "Brother Dazhuang, without farmers and merchants, we'd be blind and deaf!"

"We're always the last to know what's going on with those landlords and Buddhist/Taoist monks in the city; we can only find out when a knife is at our throats..."

"Bullshit!" Luo Dazhuang interrupted him. "You're just making excuses! The head of the hall said we can't trust outsiders! If you dare take a single step outside today, someone will sell out the Old Farmer's Hall tomorrow! Do you know how hard we've worked to get to where we are now? You're digging up the very foundation of my Old Farmer's Hall!"

"This is utterly outrageous!!"

The argument lasted for a full hour.

In the end, Luo Dazhuang, in his capacity as acting head of the hall, ordered Li Shitou to be imprisoned in a solitary confinement cell. At the same time, he began to expel all the farmers and merchants from the Old Farmers' Hall. The trade routes and informants that had been painstakingly built up were almost cut off overnight, forcing them to go underground.

Finally, he even publicly threatened that if Li Shitou continued to act recklessly and behind the leader's back, he would use his authority as acting leader to expel Li Shitou from the Old Farmer's Hall.

The flourishing growth of Lao Nong Tang was abruptly cut short and brought to an abrupt end.

[Year 31]

Summer, solitary confinement.

Li Shitou was sitting there listlessly, resting with his eyes closed.

dong dong dong-

There was a knock at the door; it was one of his trusted confidants.

"Brother Stone, the brothers want to get you out of here."

"No need."

"But Luo Dazhuang—"

"He did nothing wrong." Li Shitou opened his eyes, his voice calm and unhurried. "Before the Hall Master went into seclusion, he left instructions to prioritize stability and use slaves as the foundation. Brother Dazhuang was just following the Hall Master's rules."

"But your method is clearly correct! Our Old Farmer's Hall developed so well a couple of years ago... I think that Luo Dazhuang is clearly a hypocrite who is all talk and no action. He relies on his brotherhood with the Hall Master, on the Hall Master's trust and his loyalty to the Hall Master, so he acts recklessly and vigorously eliminates dissidents. If this continues, won't the Old Farmer's Hall be finished...?"

"I know it's right, and I believe I'm right, but the conflict between me and Brother Dazhuang is just a difference of approach, a difference of thinking, not a matter of right or wrong, nor a matter of ability." Li Shitou looked down at his hands, "...I can't fall out with the sect leader while he's in seclusion, otherwise we'll face complete disintegration."

"Once the Old Farmer's Hall splits up, it will fall apart... Once the hall master emerges from seclusion, he will make his own judgment."

The confidant remained silent for a long time before finally leaving.

In the months that followed, the development of Lao Nong Tang came to a complete standstill and even gradually declined.

Luo Dazhuang was extremely xenophobic, driving out farmers and merchants. News from the outside couldn't get in, and news from the inside couldn't get out. He still firmly believed that slaves were the foundation of the Old Farmers' Hall, so he continued to develop the slave community.

A storm is brewing.

[Year 32]

In winter, there is wind and snow.

Li Shitou was meditating in his solitary confinement room when the door was suddenly pushed open.

His three trusted men burst in, pale-faced and panting—

"Brother Stone! Something's happened!"

"explain."

"We've already sent our informants underground, and through the trade routes we established, we've intercepted a tip: several wealthy families and Buddhist and Taoist temples in the city... have taken notice of us because of the internal strife within the Old Farmer's Hall these past few days!"

"Although they don't know our background, they know there's a group in the city who's acting strangely and are preparing to take action against us!"

"What...?"

Li Shitou's pupils contracted.

He originally thought that the Old Farmer's Hall's scattered and secret operations could cover up for a long enough time, and that he could remain silent until Luo Jin broke through to the seventh rank and made a plan.

Unexpectedly, Luo Dazhuang's brutal xenophobia only aroused outside attention. The expelled farmers and merchants scattered throughout the city kept their mouths shut, and the news spread in twos and threes, which brought the existence of the Old Farmers' Hall out of the shadows.

Thanks to his previous efforts, he still has some spies hidden underground who have received advance notice.

How many people?

"At least five major families, plus dozens of former cultivators from the Buddhist and Taoist sects. Even if their cultivation is far inferior to that of the great cultivators of the past, we are not skilled in warfare... They have secretly conspired and are preparing to make their move in the next few days!"

Li Shitou suddenly stood up.

Although the Buddhist and Taoist cultivators have reached the end of their path and their cultivation is shallow, the foundation of the Old Farmer's Hall is still shallow and far inferior to the former. If they were to confront them head-on now, the Old Farmer's Hall would surely perish!

This is a catastrophe!

There's no time!

He immediately stepped through the wind and snow and strode outside.

"Big Zhuang!"

Luo Dazhuang was drinking hot wine when he saw him barge in. He put down his wine bowl and said, "You dare—"

"Shut up!" Li Shitou interrupted him for the first time. "The people outside are about to make their move! The bigwigs of the Buddhist and Taoist temples have all conspired! If we don't leave now, all the hundreds of cultivators in the Old Farmer's Hall will die here! Even our hidden Shennong Valley might not be safe!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"You've driven everyone away, cut off all communication, and you know nothing! But I trust my informants; I know they're coming soon!"

Luo Dazhuang opened his mouth, then paused.

"You...you're clearly causing chaos! How could anyone possibly notice us?! And you've gathered together and created such a huge mess?! Are you planning a rebellion?!"

Li Shitou stopped looking at him and turned to face the confidants and members of the hall gathered outside.

"Those who are willing to believe in me, step forward—!"

Many of the hall members had long suffered under Luo Dazhuang's influence, and Li Shitou's prestige was already even higher, so they all stepped forward upon seeing this.

Snapped!

Luo Dazhuang slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly. Just as he was about to say something, Li Shitou waved his hand, signaling for his men to tie him up and all his confidants.

"Quickly, take them to guard the Hall Master's secluded retreat and don't let them leave... I need to buy time for the Hall Master to divert the attention of those damned covetous eyes. We absolutely cannot expose the Old Farmer Hall headquarters and Shennong Valley!"

"My name is Li Shitou." He looked around and spoke abruptly, his voice echoing throughout the entire hall, "Once, I was just a slave."

"You are too, we all are."

"But the Catholic Church has told us that we can live standing up, we can fight! Sooner or later we will no longer be slaves! The time has come! Those who are willing to sacrifice themselves with me to protect the Old Farmers' Church, step forward!"

"Those who don't wish to stay are welcome to remain; I will not force them!"

quiet--

The hall was deathly silent.

Then, the first farmer stood up, followed by the second, the third, the fourth... Hundreds of ninth-rank "farmers" stood up in unison. Some gripped their hoes, some picked up their shovels, and some simply took a deep breath and clenched their fists.

Li Shitou looked at these faces—slaves, farmers, boys, and old men—their faces flickering in the firelight.

They are not ruthless people; they are just farmers who toil in the fields. But they also have a passion for life and are willing to fight for the survival of the old farmhouse and find a way out!

He suddenly laughed.

"Today, we, a group of peasants, will show those high and mighty Buddhist and Taoist cultivators that even the wrath of a slave can cause bloodshed!"

He turned and strode out the door.

Behind him, footsteps surged forth like a tide.

The momentous New Ping City, the site of the First Serf Revolution, thus began—