According to legend, there exists a river of time in this world that supports the flow of this world. By harnessing the power of the chirping cicadas, one can go upstream against the current and return to the past.
Regarding this rumor, there are various opinions among the public. Many people do not believe it, while some are half-convinced.
Almost no one truly believes it.
Because every time the chirping cicadas are used, one must pay with their life, sacrificing their entire body and all their cultivation as the driving force.
The cost is simply too high, and what makes it even more unacceptable is that—often after sacrificing one's life, the outcome is still unknown.
Even if someone obtained the Spring and Autumn Cicada, they wouldn't dare to use it recklessly.
What if the rumors are false, just a scam?
If it weren't for Fang Yuan being at a dead end, he wouldn't have used it so quickly.
However, now, Fang Yuan is completely convinced.
Because the ironclad fact is right in front of him, it cannot be refuted. He has indeed been reborn!
“It’s just a pity for this good Gu, it took a lot of effort to kill tens of thousands of people, provoking heaven’s wrath, and after much hardship, it was finally refined…” Fang Yuan sighed inwardly; although he had been reborn, the Spring and Autumn Cicada did not come with him.
Humans are the spirit of all things, and Gu is the essence of heaven and earth.
Gu are varied and numerous. Some Gu dissipate completely after one or two uses, while others can be reused as long as they are not overused.
Perhaps the Spring and Autumn Cicada is the kind of consumable Gu that can only be used once.
“But even if it’s gone, I can still refine another one. I was able to refine it in my previous life; can’t I do it in this life?” Unfortunately, afterward, Fang Yuan’s heart surged with ambition again.
Being able to be reborn, he can fully accept the loss of the Spring and Autumn Cicada.
Moreover, he possesses treasures and is not entirely without resources.
This treasure is his memory and experience accumulated over five hundred years.
His memories contain countless treasures, which have yet to be unlocked. There are major events that allow him to easily grasp the threads of history. There are countless figures, some are predecessors in seclusion, some are extraordinary talents, and some have yet to be born. There are also the heavy experiences of painstaking cultivation over these five hundred years and rich combat experience.
With these, he undoubtedly grasped the overall situation and opportunity. As long as he operates well, traversing the world and reviving the grandeur of the giant demon is not a problem at all; he might even take it a step further and challenge higher realms!
“So how should I operate…” Fang Yuan was very rational, quickly tidying up his emotions and contemplating the night rain outside.
Thinking of this made him feel overwhelmed.
After pondering for a moment, his brows furrowed deeper.
Five hundred years is indeed a long time. Not to mention those already blurred and forgotten memories, even the treasures and opportunities from his memories are plentiful, but most either require a distance of thousands of miles or can only be accessed at specific times.
“The key is still cultivation. I haven’t even opened my Yuan Sea yet, and I haven’t embarked on the path of Gu Master cultivation; I’m just an ordinary person! I must quickly cultivate and increase my level, racing against history to seize opportunities and gain benefits.”
Moreover, many secret treasures require sufficient cultivation level; even if obtained, they cannot be digested. Instead, they become a hot potato, a crime of holding a jewel.
The first problem in front of Fang Yuan is cultivation.
He must quickly improve his cultivation; if he were to dawdle like in his previous life, he'd be left behind.
“To quickly improve my cultivation, I must rely on the family’s resources. With my current situation, I have no ability to traverse the perilous mountains; even an ordinary wild boar could take my life. If I can reach the cultivation level of a third transition Gu Master, I would have the basic ability to protect myself in this world.”
From the perspective of a giant in the demonic path forged over five hundred years, this Qingmao Mountain is truly too small, and the Ancient Moon Village resembles a cage more than anything.
However, while the cage confines freedom, a solid cell often represents a form of safety.
“Hmph, for the time being, I’ll just struggle in this cage for a while. As long as I promote to a third transition Gu Master, I can leave this remote place. Fortunately, tomorrow is the enlightenment ceremony, and soon after I can officially begin my training as a Gu Master.”
Thinking of the enlightenment ceremony, the long-sealed memories in Fang Yuan's heart resurfaced.
“Talent, huh…” Looking out the window, he couldn't help but sneer three times.
At that moment, the door was gently pushed open, and a young boy walked in.
“Brother, why are you standing by the window in the rain?”
The boy was thin and slightly shorter than Fang Yuan, with a face strikingly similar to Fang Yuan's.
Fang Yuan turned to look at the young boy, a complex expression flashing across his face.
“It’s you, my twin brother.” He slightly raised his eyebrows, and his expression returned to its usual indifference.
Fang Zheng lowered his head, looking at his toes, which was his signature move: “I saw that my brother’s window was left open, so I wanted to quietly come in and close it. Tomorrow is the enlightenment ceremony, and brother, you’re still not resting so late. If Uncle and Aunt find out, they might worry.”
I’m not surprised by Fang Yuan’s indifference toward me, as he has always been like this since childhood.
Sometimes he thought, perhaps a genius is just someone extraordinarily different. Although he had a very similar appearance to his brother, he felt as ordinary as an ant.
Having been born from the same womb, why is heaven so unfair? It granted his brother diamond-like talent while he feels as ordinary as a pebble.
Everyone around him, when mentioning him, would say, “This is Fang Yuan’s younger brother.”
Uncle and Aunt often taught him to learn from his brother.
Sometimes, even when looking in the mirror and seeing his own face, he feels a bit of disgust!
These thoughts have accumulated over many years, piling up deep in his heart. Like a boulder pressing on his chest, over the years, Fang Zheng’s head has drooped lower and lower, and he has become increasingly silent.
“Worry…” Thinking of Uncle and Aunt, Fang Yuan let out a silent scoff in his heart.
He clearly remembers that the parents of this body fell during a family mission, and by the age of three, he and his brother had become orphans.
Uncle and Aunt, under the pretense of raising him, brazenly occupied his parents' inheritance and treated him and his brother harshly.
Originally, as a transmigrator, he had planned to keep a low profile. However, the hardships of life forced Fang Yuan to reveal his extraordinary 'talent'.
The so-called genius is merely the rationality of a mature soul and a few timeless Tang and Song poems on earth.
Even such a small display of skill could astound others, garnering widespread attention. Under the external pressure, the young Fang Yuan had no choice but to adopt a cold expression to disguise and protect himself, reducing the chances of exposure.
Over time, indifference has instead become his habitual expression.
Thus, Uncle and Aunt could no longer be harsh on him and his brother. As they grew older, their futures looked brighter, and their treatment improved accordingly.
However, this is not love, but rather an investment.
It’s ridiculous that this younger brother hasn’t seen the truth; not only has he been blinded by Uncle and Aunt, but he also harbors resentment against me. Don’t be fooled by how obedient and honest he seems now; after being tested and found to have top-level talent, he was heavily nurtured by the family, and the hidden hatred and jealousy were unleashed, targeting, troubling, and suppressing his own elder brother.
As for his own talent...
Hehe, the highest is just a third-rate one.
Fate always loves to joke.
Born as twins, the brother's talent is only third-rate, yet he alone enjoys the title of genius for over a decade. The younger brother, though obscured, possesses top-tier talent.
The results of his enlightenment left the clan members in shock. It completely reversed the treatment received by the two brothers.
The younger brother rises like a sleeping dragon into the sky, while the elder brother falls like a phoenix chick to the ground.
Afterward, there were numerous difficulties from his younger brother, the cold eyes of Uncle and Aunt, and the disdain of the clan members.
Do I hate it?
In his previous life, Fang Yuan felt hatred—hatred for his insufficient talent, hatred for the heartless family, hatred for the unfairness of fate.
However, now, with five hundred years of life experience, he reevaluated this journey, yet his heart was calm, without a trace of hatred.
What is there to be angry about?
Thinking from another perspective, he can understand his younger brother, Uncle, Aunt, and those righteous strong enemies who will attack him five hundred years later.
The survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle is the essence of this world.
Moreover, everyone has their aspirations, all vying for a sliver of heaven's secret; what is there to misunderstand in mutual suppression and killing?
Five hundred years of experience have long allowed him to see through it all, with only the path of longevity in his heart.
If anyone stands in the way of his pursuit, regardless of who it is, it’s simply a life-and-death struggle.
With such great ambitions, stepping onto this path is destined to make enemies all over the world, destined to be solitary, and destined to face numerous killings and tribulations.
This is the enlightenment distilled from five hundred years of life.
“Revenge is not what I intend, and there has never been a compromise on the path of evil.” Thinking of this, Fang Yuan couldn't help but chuckle. He turned to his younger brother, glanced at him lightly, and said, “You may leave.”
Fang Zheng couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart, feeling his brother's gaze as sharp as an ice blade, seemingly piercing to the very depths of his heart.
Under such gazes, he felt as if he were naked in the snow, with no secrets to speak of.
“Then see you tomorrow, brother.” He dared not say more and slowly closed the door, retreating quietly.