Legend has it that a River of Time flows in this world, sustaining its very existence. By harnessing the power of the Spring Autumn Cicada, one could swim against its current and return to the past.
There were all kinds of rumors about this. Many people didn't believe it; some had their doubts.
Almost no one was truly convinced.
After all, using the Spring Autumn Cicada required the sacrifice of one's life—the entire body and all cultivation had to be offered up as the driving force.
The price was far too steep, and what was even harder to accept was that often, one would pay with their life and never know the outcome.
Even if someone obtained the Spring Autumn Cicada, they wouldn't dare to use it idly.
What if the legend was just a hoax?
If Fang Yuan hadn't been at the end of his rope and achieved the awakening of "Five Hundred Years Against Time," he wouldn't have used it so quickly.
But now, Fang Yuan was completely convinced.
The hard facts were right before his eyes, undeniable. He had truly been reborn!
"It's a pity about this fine Gu. Back then, it took a Herculean effort. I slaughtered hundreds of thousands, made heaven and man despise me, and endured countless hardships to refine it..." Fang Yuan lamented inwardly. Although he had been reborn, the Spring Autumn Cicada had not come with him.
Humans are the souls of all living things, while Gu are the essences of heaven and earth.
There are countless strange and unique Gu. Some disappear after one or two uses, while others can be used repeatedly as long as they aren't overused.
Perhaps the Spring Autumn Cicada was the kind of consumable Gu that could only be used once.
"But even if it's gone, I can just refine another one. I did it in my past life, so why not in this one?" After a moment of regret, Fang Yuan's heart couldn't help but surge with a heroic spirit.
He had been reborn. The loss of the Spring Autumn Cicada was completely acceptable.
Besides, he held a treasure; he wasn't empty-handed.
That treasure was his memories and experience from five hundred years.
His memories contained countless treasures from "Five Hundred Years Against Time" that had yet to be opened. They held great events, allowing him to easily grasp the flow of history. They held countless figures—some were reclusive seniors, some were heaven-defying prodigies, and some hadn't even been born yet. They also held the heavy weight of five hundred years of arduous training and rich combat experience.
With all this, he undoubtedly held the initiative and control over the bigger picture. As long as he played his cards right, roaming the human world and reclaiming the bearing of a demonic overlord was no problem at all. He could even go further and charge towards a higher realm!
"So, how should I go about this..." Fang Yuan was very rational. He quickly gathered his feelings and began to ponder, staring at the night rain outside the window.
The moment he started thinking, countless threads of thought tangled before him.
After thinking for a moment, his frown deepened.
Five hundred years was a long, long time. Not to mention the memories that had already faded or couldn't be recalled. Even the secret lands of treasure and immortal opportunities he remembered, while numerous, were mostly either tens of thousands of miles away or could only be opened at a specific time.
"The most critical thing is still my cultivation base. My aperture hasn't been opened yet, and I haven't even started my path as a Gu Master. I'm nothing but a mortal! I have to cultivate as quickly as possible, increase my strength, get ahead of history, and seize all the advantages I can."
Furthermore, even if he found many hidden treasures, without enough cultivation, he wouldn't be able to digest them. They would become hot potatoes, a crime to possess.
The first problem Fang Yuan faced was his cultivation.
He had to raise his cultivation as fast as possible. If he moved slowly like in his past life, everything would be cold by the time he got there.
"To raise my cultivation quickly, I have to rely on the family's resources. In my current state, I can't even travel through the dangerous mountains. An ordinary wild boar could kill me. If I reach the level of a Rank Three Gu Master, I'll have the basic ability to protect myself and travel the world."
From the perspective of a demonic overlord tempered by five hundred years, this Qing Mao Mountain was far too small, and Gu Yue Village was more like a prison.
However, while a prison restricts freedom, its sturdy walls often represent a certain kind of safety.
"Hmph, for now, I'll just have to make my moves within this cage. Once I advance to a Rank Three Gu Master, I'll leave this poor, remote place. Luckily, the Aperture Opening Ceremony is tomorrow, and soon after, I can officially begin my cultivation as a Gu Master."
At the thought of the Aperture Opening Ceremony, the long-dormant memories in Fang Yuan's heart began to surface.
"My aptitude..." He stared out the window and couldn't help but sneer coldly.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and a young boy walked in.
"Brother, why are you standing in the rain by the window?"
The boy was thin, a little shorter than Fang Yuan, and looked very much like him.
Fang Yuan turned and looked at the boy. A complex expression flickered across his face.
"It's you, my twin brother," he said, raising an eyebrow slightly, his expression returning to its usual coldness.
Fang Zheng hung his head, looking at his toes. It was his signature move. "I saw that your window was open, so I wanted to come in and close it quietly. Tomorrow is the Aperture Opening Ceremony, and if my uncle and aunt find out you're still awake this late, they'll be worried."
He wasn't surprised by Fang Yuan's coldness; it was how his brother had always been, since they were kids.