Li Mu closed his eyes and concentrated, immersing himself in the profound ocean of Chaos Dao, feeling the disorder within Chaos and the primitive, chaotic essence of power before the birth of all things.
Li Mu examined this Chaos Space from a completely new perspective, no longer viewing it as an obstacle, but rather integrating into it, feeling its pulse and rhythm, delving deep into its chaotic Law.
From the Qi Refinement Stage, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, and Void Refining, Li Mu relied very little on his own cultivation; for the vast majority of the time, he depended on his Heavenly Talent—Energy Absorption—to advance.
His understanding of cultivation was not profound.
It wasn't until he condensed the Void Refining Domain and elevated the Chaos Dao Scripture to Perfection, yet still couldn't Breakthrough to the next Realm—the Combined Body Realm—that Li Mu finally had no choice but to begin secluded cultivation to comprehend the Dao.
Through playing Go with Chen Daojun and Dao Lord Feng, receiving their guidance, and engaging in discussions with Qingyang Zi and Tianshang Honored One, Li Mu roughly understood the key to advancing to the Combined Body Realm.
The key to advancing from the Qi Refinement Stage to the Foundation Establishment Realm is the condensation of True Essence, the opening of the Sea of Consciousness, and the forging of the Dao Foundation.
The key to advancing from the Foundation Establishment Realm to the Golden Core Realm is the condensation of the Golden Core, where True Essence is compressed to its extreme, forming a tangible Golden Core; at the same time, the Sea of Consciousness is expanded, allowing spiritual sense to be nourished and grow, and gaining initial mastery of Divine Ability.
Entering the Nascent Soul Realm from the Golden Core Realm requires the Golden Core to shatter and the Nascent Soul to be born; this is a leap in life form, where the Nascent Soul not only carries the Cultivator's cultivation and memories but can also fight independently, possessing an initial form of immortality.
Advancing from the Nascent Soul Realm to the Soul Transformation Realm requires the Nascent Soul to resonate with heaven and earth, Divine Thought to become ethereal, communicating with Law, integrating one's will into the Law of heaven and earth, forming a unique Domain of power, thereby transcending to sainthood, capable of moving mountains and rivers with a single thought.
The key to advancing from the Soul Transformation Realm to the Refining Void Realm is the condensation of a Law Domain, deeply integrating one's will with the power of Law, creating a Small World unique to oneself, known as the Void Refining Domain. Within this Law Domain, the Cultivator is almost omnipotent, capable of summoning wind and rain, even distorting reality and manipulating space and time.
Therefore, the key to advancing from the Refining Void Realm to the Combined Body Realm is the adhesion of the Law Domain and the Dao, integrating the Void Refining Domain with a profound understanding of the Dao, achieving perfect unity of body, mind, and the Laws of heaven and earth; this process not only requires the Cultivator to possess an incredibly powerful cultivation as a foundation but also demands extraordinary wisdom and profound Comprehension Ability to glimpse the mysteries of the Body Integration Realm.
However, the Chaos Dao is infinitely profound.
It is the Fusion of the Three Thousand Minor Daos, Yin and Yang, Five Elements, space-time, Reincarnation, Years, Karma... these Great Daos are but a tiny fraction of it. To comprehend the complete Chaos Dao and merge it with one's own Chaos Law Domain is undoubtedly a vast and incredibly difficult task.
There is no shortcut on this path; only by one's own will, after an Epiphany, can the Chaos Dao and the Chaos Law Domain be fused together.
Li Mu gradually realized that the core of the Chaos Dao lies in "non-action" and "naturalness." Chaos is not pure disorder, but rather the source that contains all possibilities and order in the world. It is both the cradle of all things and the origin of all Laws and rules.
Li Mu attempted countless times to integrate the Chaos Law Domain with the Chaos Dao, making the Chaos Law Domain a vessel for the Chaos Dao and simultaneously making the Chaos Dao the source of the Law Domain; in this process, Li Mu felt the surge of Chaos Power, a new power generated from the mutual Fusion of the Chaos Dao and the Chaos Law Domain, which contained both the wildness and unrestraint of Chaos, and the order present within Chaos.
Gradually, Li Mu's eyes became miniature whirlpools, and demonic thoughts arose, a single moment spanning ten thousand Years; just as he was about to fully comprehend the Chaos Dao and achieve the Breakthrough to the Combined Body Realm, a force abruptly pulled him back from the profound Chaos World.
When Li Mu opened his eyes and awoke, he found himself as if he had experienced a long dream, in an environment both familiar and strange: the company office.
His colleagues were all sitting at their workstations, busy and focused on their computers.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, tall buildings stood tall, traffic flowed endlessly, and sunlight filtered through the clouds, dappling the office desks, adding a touch of warmth to the busy office.
"Brother Li, have you checked my document? If there are no problems, I'll give feedback to Manager Chen!" Zhao Haitao's voice came from beside him, interrupting Li Mu's thoughts.
"What document?"
Li Mu was momentarily stunned, his gaze retracting from the window to the computer in front of him.
At this moment, the computer screen displayed the detailed content of a new feature launch document, covered with his annotations and suggested revisions.
Li Mu suddenly awoke, feeling as if a lifetime had passed, like a dream that was almost real.
"You haven't seen it yet! Our smart city App this time is a big project, and Manager Chen is particularly concerned!" Zhao Haitao quickly walked up to Li Mu, a hint of anxiety in his voice: "Oh, that's what I meant, Brother Li, you scared me to death, didn't you annotate it? When will it be ready!"
"Uh, I've already looked at the document, but I still need to confirm a few minor issues. You can go out first! I'll give it to Manager Chen for you later." Li Mu was now fully awake, 'understanding roughly what had happened,' and smiled at Zhao Haitao, gesturing.
"Alright! Brother Li, you're truly amazing!" Zhao Haitao's face instantly broke into a bright smile upon hearing this, and the heavy stone in his heart lifted; he turned and quickly returned to his seat, re-immersing himself in work.
Soon, Li Mu also immersed himself in work, as if to finish the unfinished tasks.
As night fell, the office lights gradually came on, reflecting the neon lights outside the window; colleagues left one after another, the chatter gradually subsided, leaving only the crisp sound of keyboard tapping and Li Mu's steady breathing.
Time quietly slipped away, and the hands of the wall clock had silently pointed to half past nine; but Li Mu seemed unaware, completely engrossed in his work, forgetting the passage of time.
The city outside the window had gradually quieted down, with only the occasional roar of cars breaking the silence; inside the office, Li Mu's busy figure never stopped.
Finally, after countless revisions and confirmations, Li Mu nodded contentedly, closed his computer, and gently rubbed his temples, relieving the fatigue brought on by long hours of work.
By the time he emerged from the company's main entrance, it was late at night.
Li Mu drove his car slowly out of the company parking lot.
Soft music played gently from the car's stereo, the melody lingering, as if it could wash away a day's fatigue. Li Mu gently turned the steering wheel to the rhythm of the music, enjoying this rare tranquility and freedom.
His phone rang with a video call, interrupting the peace. Li Mu glanced at the screen; it was a call from his girlfriend, Huang Lingshan. The corners of his mouth unconsciously curved upwards, and a warm current surged in his heart.
"Hello, Lingshan, why aren't you asleep yet? Are you missing me?" Li Mu's voice held a hint of a smile as he asked gently.
"Of course! You busy bee, always working overtime so late. When will you be home? I'll make you something to eat?" Huang Lingshan smiled gently, asking with concern.
"I'll be there soon, don't work too hard, just make something simple." Li Mu felt a warmth in his heart, responding with a gentle smile.
Ordinary days passed swiftly like a white steed flashing by a crack; Li Mu and Huang Lingshan's love remained very strong amidst their busy and ordinary lives.
Two Years later, on a sun-drenched spring day, they walked hand in hand into the hall of marriage, with friends and family witnessing their sincere affection, and the air filled with happiness and sweetness.
Soon after, they welcomed a little angel into their lives—a lively and adorable daughter, named Li Xiaotong.
Li Xiaotong's arrival filled their home with endless laughter and warmth. Outside of work, Li Mu became a doting father, playing and reading with her, every moment precious beyond measure.
In his professional career, Li Mu, through unremitting effort and exceptional talent, gradually distinguished himself in the company, rising from a technical supervisor to a project manager, and then to technical director. He led his team to overcome one technical challenge after another, successfully launched multiple development projects, and earned widespread market acclaim, bringing unprecedented influence to the company.
Years passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, Li Mu entered middle age. On a rainy autumn day, he received news of his mother's serious illness. He and his wife immediately drove back to their hometown, took her to the hospital for treatment, and cared for her with all their might. But his mother still quietly passed away on a peaceful night, carrying her deep affection for her family.
His mother's passing was a huge blow to Li Mu; he knelt before her portrait, tears silently streaming down his face.
Not long after handling his mother's funeral, three Years later, Li Mu also saw off his father. However, the monthly mortgage weighed heavily on him, making him breathless; as the pillar of the family, his responsibilities became even greater.
To provide a better life for his wife and daughter, and to repay the loans incurred from buying a house and treating his parents' illnesses, Li Mu worked diligently at the company during the day. At night, he devoted himself to his own small projects, staying up late coding and designing products, hoping to earn an additional income through his efforts and repay his debts sooner.
The success of his startup not only greatly improved Li Mu's family's financial situation but also brought him a new sense of accomplishment and satisfaction outside of his career; he gradually developed his company into a considerably sized enterprise, specializing in developing innovative technical products.
...
Another dozen Years passed in a flash.
His daughter, Li Xiaotong, grew into a beautiful girl, inheriting her parents' virtues, intelligent, clever, kind, and sensible; and Huang Lingshan remained the gentle and virtuous wife, nurturing their small family with her love.
Finally, the day came for Li Mu's retirement; there was no grand farewell party, only the company of his family and a warm dinner.
At the dinner table, Li Xiaotong raised her glass to her father: "Dad, you've worked hard your whole life, and now you finally have time to enjoy life properly."
Tears shimmered in Huang Lingshan's eyes, filled with pride and happiness.
After retirement, Li Mu did not completely idle away; he began to learn photography, using his lens to record the beauty of life; Huang Lingshan and Li Xiaotong often accompanied him, and the family would either travel or stay at home enjoying domestic bliss, their life simple and happy.
However, happy times always pass quickly.
In the blink of an eye, Li Xiaotong reached the age for marriage, and if she didn't marry soon, she would become an older single woman. Li Mu busied himself arranging suitable matches for her.
Fortunately, she met a suitable young man through a blind date, and the two decided to spend the rest of their lives together.
At the wedding, Li Mu, dressed in a neat suit, watched with tear-filled eyes as his daughter put on her wedding dress, appearing like a Fairy descended from heaven; he seemed to see himself and Huang Lingshan in their youth, and his heart was filled with emotion and blessings.
Not long after the wedding, Li Xiaotong brought good news: she was pregnant.
Li Mu and Huang Lingshan eagerly awaited the arrival of the new life, adding another joy to their small family.
After his grandson was born, Li Mu transformed into a super-grandpa, constantly doting on the little one, teaching him to speak and walk, playing with him, and enjoying the joys of family life.
However, Years are unforgiving.
As they grew older, Li Mu and Huang Lingshan's bodies also began to experience various problems.
Huang Lingshan's condition worsened day by day, requiring long-term bed rest. Li Mu remained by her side day and night, never leaving, feeding her medicine, bathing her, and chatting with her to alleviate her boredom. Despite this, Huang Lingshan's body still weakened day by day.
On a cold winter night, Huang Lingshan held Li Mu's hand, her eyes shimmering with reluctance and affection, and whispered, "You must take good care of yourself and see this world for me. Also, you must take good care of Xiaotong and our grandson for me."
After speaking, Huang Lingshan slowly closed her eyes, leaving this world forever.
Years flew by like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, Li Mu also entered his twilight Years; his hair had turned white, and his face was covered with wrinkles, but his eyes remained bright. He often sat on the balcony, looking up at the starry sky, as if confirming and searching for something.
Life is a long journey, with a beginning and an end. At this moment, Li Mu, lying on his sickbed, was quietly awaiting his final destination, surrounded by his daughter and grandson.
Looking at his tear-filled relatives, Li Mu smiled gently and comforted them: "Be good, don't cry!"
Li Xiaotong tightly held her father's hand, tears streaming down like broken pearls, but she tried hard not to let her sobs disturb Li Mu.
His grandson's small hand gently caressed Li Mu's cheek, his clear eyes full of reluctance and attachment to his grandfather, and he asked in a tender voice: "Grandpa, where are you going? Can you still play with me later?"
Li Mu smiled at his grandson, his eyes full of love: "Grandpa is going to a very, very far place, where there are also many stars, very beautiful, but I will always watch over you and protect you. When you grow up, you will understand what Grandpa means."
As night deepened, Li Mu's breathing gradually weakened, and his dim old eyes suddenly brightened, as if he saw many things—the beautiful times he shared with Huang Lingshan, the bits and pieces of his daughter's growth, and his grandson's tender smiling face... All of this replayed in his mind like a movie.
When the first ray of morning light pierced through the curtains and into the hospital room, Li Mu gently closed his eyes, a satisfied smile on his lips.
However, with Li Mu's death, the people crying by the bedside, and even the entire hospital room and hospital, shattered and dispersed like foam, as if all of this was merely a fragment of a dream. With Li Mu's passing, that sense of reality also dissipated, and even the entire world became blurry and distant.
In the Chaos Space, Li Mu opened his eyes. His chaotic pupils held a hint of humanity, and a flicker of sadness crossed his otherwise calm face, as if he had undergone a journey of the heart, and a gap in his state of mind had been mended. (End of Chapter)
