"Fang Yuan, hand over the Spring and Autumn Cicada obediently, and I will grant you a swift and painless death!"
"Old Demon Fang, stop trying in vain to resist. Today, the various sects of the Righteous Path have united to shatter your demonic lair. A net has long been cast here to catch you, and this time you will surely be cut to pieces!"
"Fang Yuan, you damned demon! To refine the Spring and Autumn Cicada, you slaughtered thousands upon thousands of lives. Your crimes are monstrous, unforgivable, and too numerous to record!"
"Demon! Three hundred years ago, you humiliated me, stripped me of my purity, slaughtered my entire family, and executed my entire clan. From that moment on, I have hungered to eat your flesh and drink your blood! Today, I will make you wish you were dead!!"
...
Fang Yuan stood amidst the ring of enemies, clad in a tattered, emerald-green robe, his hair disheveled and his body drenched in blood.
The mountain wind whipped his blood-stained robes about, snapping like a battle flag.
Fresh blood gushed continuously from hundreds of wounds across his body. Having stood there for only a short while, he had already pooled a large puddle of crimson under his feet.
Surrounded by a horde of enemies, there was no longer any path to survival.
The grand outcome was sealed; today he would surely die.
Fang Yuan saw the situation with absolute clarity, yet even with death imminent, his expression remained completely unchanged and serene.
His gaze was deep, resembling an ancient, fathomless pool—as bottomless as it had always been.
The righteous heroes who surrounded him were either the noble leaders of prominent sects or renowned young heroes of all directions. At this moment, they firmly encircled Fang Yuan; some were roaring, some sneering, some squinting with wary glances, and others clutching their wounds as they looked on in terror.
They did not strike, all of them dreading Fang Yuan's final, desperate counterattack.
For three long hours they stood in this tense standoff, until the setting sun dipped low, its dying rays setting the evening clouds ablaze across the mountain horizon in a brilliant, fiery splendor.
Fang Yuan, who had remained as still as a statue, slowly turned around.
The crowd of heroes immediately stirred in a commotion, stepping back in unison by a wide margin.
By now, the grey-white mountain stones beneath Fang Yuan's feet had long been dyed a dark crimson. His face, already pale from excessive blood loss, caught the glow of the sunset and suddenly took on a brilliantly enchanting radiance.
Looking upon the green mountains and the setting sun, Fang Yuan gave a soft laugh: "Green mountains and setting sun, autumn moons and spring breezes. Truly, hair as dark as silk in the morning turns to snow by dusk; rights and wrongs, successes and failures, all turn to nothingness in the end."
As he spoke these words, scenes from his past life on Earth suddenly floated before his eyes.
He had originally been a scholar from Huaxia on Earth, who by a twist of fate had traversed into this world. Tossing and turning through hardships for three hundred years, roaming the world freely for over two hundred, more than five hundred years of time had drifted by in the blink of an eye.
Many memories buried deep within his heart came alive in this moment, vividly replaying before his eyes.
*In the end, I failed after all,* Fang Yuan sighed in his heart, feeling a trace of emotion, yet no regret.
He had long anticipated such an outcome. When he made his choice back then, he had already prepared himself mentally.
The so-called demonic path meant not cultivating good karma, but instead killing and setting fires. Untolerated by heaven and earth, with enemies across the entire world, one still lived and roamed with unrestrained passion.
*If the Spring and Autumn Cicada I just refined works, in my next life I shall still be a fiend!* Thinking this, Fang Yuan could not help but burst into hearty laughter.
"Old demon, what are you laughing at?"
"Everyone be careful! The demon is at death's door and about to make a desperate counterattack!"
"Hurry up and hand over the Spring and Autumn Cicada!"
The crowd of heroes closed in aggressively, and right at that moment, with a resounding crash, Fang Yuan fiercely detonated himself.
...
The spring rain drizzled on, silently nourishing Qingmao Mountain.
The night was already deep, and wisps of chilly wind brushed against the fine rain.
Yet Qingmao Mountain was not dark; from the mid-slope down to the foot of the mountain, numerous glowing lights flickered, looking as though the mountain were draped in a brilliant belt of radiance.
These lights originated from one stilt-supported hanging building after another. Though not quite numbering ten thousand households, there were still several thousand in scale.
It was precisely the Gu Yue Village, nestled within Qingmao Mountain, that added a rich, bustling atmosphere of human habitation to the vast and tranquil mountain ranges.
At the very center of Gu Yue Village stood a grand and magnificent multi-story pavilion. At this moment, a sacrificial grand ceremony was being held within, making it brightly lit and resplendent with brilliance.
"May our ancestors protect us! I pray that this Awakening Ceremony will bring forth many youths of outstanding aptitude to add new blood and hope to our clan!" The Gu Yue Clan Leader, a middle-aged man with frost at his temples, wore solemn, plain white sacrificial robes. He knelt upon the brownish-yellow wooden floor with his upper body held straight, his hands pressed together and his eyes tightly closed in devout prayer.
He faced a tall, black-lacquered table arranged in three tiers, upon which the spirit tablets of his ancestors were enshrined. On either side of the tablets stood red-bronze incense burners, from which wisps of smoke curled upward.
Behind him, over a dozen people knelt in the same manner. Wearing wide white sacrificial garments, they were all elders and power-holders of the clan, wielding authority in various domains.
After offering his prayers, the Gu Yue Clan Leader was the first to bend forward, his hands laid flat with his palms pressed tightly against the floor, and kowtowed. His forehead touched the brown wooden floor, producing a soft *thud*.
The elders behind him all wore solemn expressions and silently followed suit.
For a time, the ancestral hall was filled with the soft sounds of foreheads striking the floor.
When the ceremony concluded, the crowd slowly rose from the floor and quietly walked out of the solemn hall.
In the corridor, the elders collectively let out a quiet breath, and the atmosphere relaxed considerably.
Murmurs of discussion gradually arose.
"Time truly flies. In the blink of an eye, an entire year has passed."
"The last Awakening Ceremony feels as though it happened yesterday, still fresh in my mind."
"Tomorrow is the annual Awakening Ceremony. I wonder what kind of fresh blood will emerge for the clan this year?"
"Ah, I hope youths with Grade A aptitude appear. Our Gu Yue Clan has gone three years without such a genius showing up."
"Indeed, Bai Clan Village and the Xiong family have both had geniuses emerge in recent years. Especially Bai Ningbing of the Bai Clan—their natural talent is truly terrifying."
Whoever it was that mentioned the name Bai Ningbing caused a shadow of worry to surface across the faces of the elders.
This individual possessed exceptionally brilliant aptitude, and in the short span of two years, had already cultivated to a Rank Three Gu Master. Among the younger generation, they could be said to lead the pack entirely. Even the older generation felt the pressure of this rising star.
Given time, they would undoubtedly become the pillar of Bai Clan Village—at the very least, a powerhouse capable of standing alone. No one doubted this.
"However, among the youths participating in the Awakening Ceremony this year, we are not without hope."
"Quite right. A genius youth has appeared from the Fang lineage. He could speak at three months and walk at four. By age five he could compose poetry and recite verses, showing extraordinary cleverness and overflowing talent. It is only a pity his parents died young; he is now being raised by his aunt and uncle."
"Ah, this one showed intelligence from an early age, and moreover possesses great ambitions. In recent years, I have also heard of works he composed, such as *Invitation to Wine*, *Ode to the Plum Blossom*, and *River City Chronicle*. A true genius!"
The Gu Yue Clan Leader was the last to walk out of the ancestral hall. As he slowly closed the doors, he caught the murmurs of the elders in the corridor.
He instantly knew they were discussing a youth named Gu Yue Fangyuan.
As the leader of the clan, he naturally paid attention to those outstanding and prominent juniors. And Gu Yue Fangyuan was the most brilliant and dazzling among the younger generation.
Experience showed that those who displayed prodigious talents from a young age—such as photographic memory or the physical strength of an adult—almost always possessed excellent cultivation aptitude.
"If this child is measured to have Grade A aptitude and is properly nurtured, he may well be able to contend with Bai Ningbing. Even with Grade A—no, Grade B aptitude, he will surely be able to stand alone in the future and become a banner for the Gu Yue Clan. But with such precocity, the likelihood of Grade B aptitude is small; it is highly probable he is Grade A." As this thought arose, the corners of the Gu Yue Clan Leader's mouth involuntarily curled upward into a smile.
Immediately afterward, he gave a cough and said to the assembled elders: "Everyone, the hour is late. For the sake of tomorrow's Awakening Ceremony, please be sure to rest well tonight and preserve your spirits."
Upon hearing these words, the elders were all slightly startled. The glances they cast at one another concealed a trace of wariness.
Though the clan leader spoke with subtlety, everyone understood the implication all too well.
Every year, when it came to competing for these talented juniors, the elders would argue until their faces were red and their heads were bloodied.
It was indeed time to recuperate and build up strength, awaiting tomorrow so they could fight it out.
Especially for that Gu Yue Fangyuan, the possibility of Grade A aptitude was exceptionally high. Moreover, his parents had passed away, leaving him as one of the only two orphans remaining in the Fang lineage. If one could take him into their own lineage and nurture him properly, it would guarantee their branch prosperity and stability for a century to come!
"However, let ugly words be spoken first. The competition must be conducted in an honorable and upright manner; you are not to employ underhanded tactics that would damage the unity of the clan. Esteemed elders, please keep this firmly in mind!" the clan leader cautioned in a stern tone.
"We wouldn't dare."
"We will surely keep it in mind."
"I shall take my leave now. Clan Leader, please stay."
Pregnant with their own thoughts, the elders dispersed one by one.
Before long, the long corridor grew quiet. The spring rain and slanted wind blew in through the windows as the clan leader took a light step and walked over to the window ledge.
Instantly, his mouth was filled with the fresh, damp mountain air, refreshing his spirit.
This was the third floor of the pavilion; looking out, the clan leader could take in a panoramic view of more than half of Gu Yue Village.
At this late hour of the night, most households in the village still had their lights on, differing greatly from ordinary nights.
Tomorrow was the Awakening Ceremony, which concerned the vital interests of everyone. An atmosphere of excitement and tension enveloped the clan members, naturally leaving many unable to sleep in peace.
"These are the future hopes of the clan." With tiny specks of light reflecting in his eyes, the clan leader let out a long sigh.
Meanwhile, a pair of clear eyes was likewise quietly gazing at these flickering lights in the dead of night, brimming with complex emotions.
"Gu Yue Village... Is this five hundred years ago?! The Spring and Autumn Cicada truly worked..." Fang Yuan's gaze was deep as he stood by the window, letting the wind and rain beat against his body.
The function of the Spring and Autumn Cicada was to reverse time. Ranking seventh among the Ten Great Exotic Gu, it was naturally no trivial matter.
In short, it was rebirth.
"Reborn through the Spring and Autumn Cicada, returned to five hundred years ago!" Fang Yuan stretched out his hand, staring fixedly at his own young, tender, and somewhat pale palms, then slowly clenched them into fists, intently feeling this reality.
Beside his ear was the soft patter of the fine rain striking the window lattice. He slowly closed his eyes, and only after a long moment did he open them again, letting out a soft sigh: "Five hundred years of experience... it truly feels like a dream."
Yet he knew clearly that this was by no means a dream.