Chapter One: Leaping into the Abyss, No Regrets

"Fang Yuan, surrender the Spring Autumn Cicada peacefully, and I'll grant you a swift end!"

"Old Demon Fang, don't delude yourself into resisting. Today, the righteous factions have united to crush your den of evil. This time, you will meet your end!"

"Fang Yuan, you accursed fiend! To refine the Spring Autumn Cicada, you slaughtered millions. Your crimes are unforgivable and beyond redemption!"

"Demon, three hundred years ago, you violated me, stole my purity, annihilated my entire family, and exterminated my clan. From that moment, I've yearned to devour your flesh and drink your blood! Today, I shall make you wish for death!!"

Fang Yuan, clad in a tattered green robe, with disheveled hair and blood-soaked body, surveyed his surroundings.

The mountain wind made his bloodied robe flutter like a battle flag, producing a chilling sound.

Bright red blood gushed from hundreds of wounds on his body. In a short while, a large pool of blood had formed at his feet.

Surrounded by enemies, there was no way out.

The outcome was certain; today, he would surely die.

Fang Yuan comprehended the situation clearly, but even with death looming, his expression remained unchanged, his demeanor calm.

His gaze was profound and serene, like an ancient, unfathomable well.

The righteous heroes encircling him included venerable leaders of major factions and renowned young heroes. They surrounded Fang Yuan tightly; some roared, some sneered, some narrowed their eyes in vigilance, and some looked on in fear while clutching their wounds.

They dared not strike, wary of Fang Yuan's desperate counterattack.

For three tense hours, they stood in a standoff. As the sun set, its last rays ignited the mountain's evening clouds, turning the sky into a brilliant blaze.

Fang Yuan, who had stood motionless like a statue, slowly turned around.

The crowd stirred and retreated a step in unison.

At this moment, the gray-white stones beneath Fang Yuan's feet were stained dark red with blood. His face, pale from excessive blood loss, suddenly gained a rosy glow from the setting sun.

Gazing at the green mountains and the setting sun, Fang Yuan smiled faintly and said, "Green mountains and setting sun, autumn moon and spring breeze. Truly, morning hair like black silk turns to snow by dusk; right and wrong, success and failure, all turn to nothing."

As he spoke, memories of his past life on Earth surfaced before his eyes.

He was originally a student from China on Earth. By a stroke of fate, he had traveled to this world. After three hundred years of wandering and over two hundred years of dominating the world, five hundred years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Memories buried deep in his heart came alive at this moment, vividly replaying before his eyes.

"Ultimately, I failed," Fang Yuan sighed inwardly, feeling a bit melancholic but without regret.

He had anticipated this outcome and was mentally prepared when he made his choice.

The so-called demonic path means not cultivating good results, killing and committing arson. Heaven and Earth do not tolerate it, and the world is your enemy, yet you still indulge in it.

"If the newly refined Spring Autumn Cicada works, I would still choose to be a demon in my next life!" Thinking this, Fang Yuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Old demon, what are you laughing at?"

"Everyone be careful, the demon is about to retaliate!"

"Quickly hand over the Spring Autumn Cicada!!"

The crowd closed in. At this moment, with a loud bang, Fang Yuan self-destructed.

Gentle spring rain quietly nourished Qing Mao Mountain.

It was late at night, and a cool breeze blew through the fine rain.

Qing Mao Mountain was not dark. From the mountainside to the foot, numerous twinkling lights made it look like it was draped in a brilliant light belt.

These lights came from stilt houses. Though not as bright as ten thousand homes, there were thousands.

This was the Gu Yue Village on Qing Mao Mountain, adding a thick human atmosphere to the vast and quiet mountain range.

At the center of Gu Yue Village was a grand and splendid building. At this moment, it was hosting a sacrificial ceremony, making it even more brilliantly lit.

"Ancestors, please bless us. May many talented youths emerge from this Awakening Ceremony to bring new blood and hope to the family!" The middle-aged clan leader of the Gu Yue family, with gray at his temples, wore a solemn white sacrificial robe. Kneeling on the brown floor, he sat upright with hands clasped and eyes closed, praying earnestly.

He faced a tall black altar. The altar had three tiers, offering the ancestral tablets. Copper incense burners on either side wafted curling smoke.

Behind him, more than a dozen people also knelt. Wearing wide white sacrificial robes, they were the clan elders and leaders, holding authority in various areas.

After praying, the Gu Yue clan leader was the first to bow, spreading his hands flat on the floor and knocking his forehead lightly on the brown floor.

The elders behind him, with solemn expressions, silently followed suit.

For a while, the ancestral hall was filled with the soft sound of foreheads knocking on the floor.

After the ceremony, everyone slowly rose from the floor and quietly walked out of the solemn hall.

In the corridor, the elders silently breathed a sigh of relief, the atmosphere relaxing.

Discussions gradually arose.

"Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, another year has passed."

"Last year's Awakening Ceremony feels like it happened just yesterday, still vivid in my mind."

"Tomorrow is the annual Awakening Ceremony. I wonder what kind of new talents will emerge this year?"

"Sigh, I hope we have some with A-grade talent. Our Gu Yue family hasn't seen such a genius in three years."

"Indeed, the Bai family and the Xiong family have produced geniuses in recent years. Especially Bai Ning Bing from the Bai family, his talent is truly terrifying."

Upon hearing the name Bai Ning Bing, a layer of worry appeared on the faces of the elders.

His talent was outstanding, reaching the third rank of Gu Master in just two short years. Among the younger generation, he was unparalleled. Even the older generation felt the pressure from this rising star.

Given time, he would undoubtedly become the pillar of the Bai family, at least a strong individual in his own right. No one doubted this.

"But there's still hope among the youths participating in this year's Awakening Ceremony."

"That's right. From the Fang lineage, there's a talented boy. He spoke at three months, walked at four months. By five, he could compose poetry, exceptionally intelligent and talented. Unfortunately, he lost his parents early and is now raised by his uncle and aunt."

"Yes, he's precocious and ambitious. I've heard of his works like 'Toasting to the Moon,' 'Ode to the Plum,' and 'Song of the River City.' Truly a genius!"

The Gu Yue clan leader was the last to leave the ancestral hall. Closing the door slowly, he heard the elders discussing.

He immediately knew they were talking about a boy named Gu Yue Fang Yuan.

As the clan leader, he naturally paid attention to outstanding and prominent youths, and Gu Yue Fang Yuan was the most remarkable among the juniors.

Experience showed that those who were exceptionally intelligent or unusually strong from a young age often had excellent cultivation potential.

"If this boy is tested with A-grade talent and well cultivated, he could rival Bai Ning Bing. Even if it's B-grade, he could still become a pillar of the Gu Yue family. With such early wisdom, the possibility of B-grade is low; it's highly likely to be A-grade." This thought brought a smile to the clan leader's lips.

He then coughed lightly and said to the elders, "Everyone, it's getting late. Please rest well tonight and conserve your energy for tomorrow's Awakening Ceremony."

The elders were slightly taken aback, looking at each other with a hint of vigilance.

The clan leader's words were subtle, but everyone understood.

Every year, the elders fought fiercely for these talented juniors, often leaving with bruises and wounds.

It's time to rest well and prepare for tomorrow's competition.

Especially for Gu Yue Fang Yuan, the possibility of him having A-grade talent was very high. Additionally, his parents had passed away, leaving him and his brother as the only orphans of the Fang lineage. If they could bring him into their faction and cultivate him well, it could ensure their faction's prosperity for a hundred years!

"But let me be clear, the competition should be fair and aboveboard. No underhanded tactics that harm the family's unity. Please keep this in mind, elders!" The clan leader sternly warned.

"Of course, of course."

"We will keep it in mind."

"Then, I'll take my leave. Clan leader, please stay."

The elders, each with their own thoughts, dispersed one by one.

Soon, the long corridor became quiet. The spring rain and wind blew through the windows. The clan leader took a gentle step to the window.

Immediately, the fresh and moist mountain air filled his lungs, refreshing his mind.

From the third floor of the pavilion, the clan leader overlooked most of Gu Yue Village.

At this late hour, many houses still had lights on, different from usual.

Tomorrow was the Awakening Ceremony, concerning everyone's interests. An atmosphere of excitement and tension enveloped the villagers' hearts, making it hard for many to sleep.

"This is the hope of the family's future." Looking at the twinkling lights, the clan leader sighed deeply.

At the same time, another pair of bright eyes quietly watched the lights, filled with complex emotions.

"Gu Yue Village, this is five hundred years ago?! The Spring Autumn Cicada truly worked..." Fang Yuan's eyes were deep as he stood by the window, letting the wind and rain hit him.

The Spring Autumn Cicada's function was to reverse time. Ranked seventh among the ten great Gu, it was naturally extraordinary.

In short, it meant rebirth.

"I have been reborn using the Spring Autumn Cicada, back to five hundred years ago!" Fang Yuan extended his hand, gazing at his young and somewhat pale palm, then slowly clenched it, feeling the reality.

Listening to the sound of the rain hitting the window, he closed his eyes for a while before opening them again, sighing, "Five hundred years of experiences, it feels like a dream."

But he knew clearly that this was no dream.