Chapter 616: Morning Mushrooms Do Not Know Dawn and Dusk, Cicadas Do Not Know Spring and Autumn

This action was not intended to elevate his standing. Instead, it was an act of preventing trouble in advance. Frankly, he had a good impression of Qingqing, but that didn't mean he would trust her word alone.

Regardless of any dangers in the Withered Glory Immortal Abode, or if she intended to plot against him, the news of the battle at Lesser Pole Palace would deter her. If there was a scheme, it would be stillborn; if there was no scheme and she was determined to continue inviting him, then the challenges in the Withered Glory Immortal Abode would most likely require a forceful approach based on strength. This would also indirectly prove that she had no murderous intentions. Otherwise, if Wang Yu retaliated and pushed the fight, she wouldn't be able to withstand it herself.

In short, waiting a few more days would give him clarity. He would decide whether to go or not then. He had many matters at hand: the cultivation of Nine Congealments and Nine Dispersals naturally took priority, followed by upgrading the Yama Emperor Sword and the Six Desires Demonic Diagram. The refinement process for the Devouring Love Beast and upgrading the demonic diagram were essentially the same task. Furthermore, repairing the World-Breaking Divine Skiff could be postponed; there was still time.

He needed to at least complete the final accumulation step for body refinement breakthrough — Heaven Devouring! This meant devouring and refining the Yin Five Elements rules, acquiring a rudimentary form of world-heaven power comparable to a Void Refinement blessed land, and integrating it into his five organs, only then would he consider ascension. If he couldn't break through immediately after ascending, what would be the point? That would be completely meaningless.

Thus, Wang Yu began to utilize his alchemy skills, using the Thirty-Six Grade Blood Lotus Furnace as his cauldron. He started refining all the high-quality God Transformation demon corpses obtained from the treasure exchange into potent tonics suitable for body refiners. To call these pills would be an overstatement; they were merely condensed essences. Therefore, they didn't follow the usual rules for pill creation. Typically, a single demon corpse could yield 100 to 150 of these tonics, depending on its size. Wang Yu simply consumed them like snacks. Each tonic contained the immense refined power of a demon beast, greatly aiding the cultivation of Nine Congealments and Nine Dispersals. Moreover, their small size allowed for quick assimilation when taken in small, frequent doses. When combined with a few herbs beneficial for body strengthening, they became sacred items for body cultivation.

After spending several days refining all the high-quality demon corpses into tonics, he had accumulated over a thousand, along with the benefits from other treasures. Accumulating enough to complete this process should not be an issue.

Just then, after Qingqing had inquired about the "Dead Silent Black Mountain" battle, which had spread throughout the Mountain Sea Realm, her understanding of Wang Yu visibly deepened. She was both shocked and fearful, yet also felt an inexpressible excitement and joy. He was like the protagonist in a novel, possessing a kingly, domineering aura. With a mere tremor of his mighty body, peerless beauties would throw themselves into his arms. His situation was quite similar; women naturally admire strength, and cultivators were paramount among them. To be able to subdue a powerful individual who had shocked the entire Mountain Sea Realm was quite a talking point.

At this point, Qingqing even felt that Wang Yu's invitation for dual cultivation was indeed a manifestation of his true nature. If he truly possessed battle strength comparable to an early Void Refinement stage cultivator, as rumored, then even if he wanted to use force, she wouldn't be able to resist. What a true immortal seedling, dedicated solely to cultivation! He was more to her liking than Zhao Mo or Lan Feng, and their close proximity fostered a sense of reality through interaction. To put it bluntly, what difference was there between her drought demon body and a beautiful corpse? Many people still felt disgusted by her. She hadn't expected Wang Yu to not mind it.

Getting back to the point, Empress Qingqing, having heard the entire account, had many emotions, but her favorability towards Wang Yu significantly increased. She immediately rushed to the Five Elements Corpse Workshop, hoping to offer a greater price to invite him to explore the Withered Glory Immortal Abode together.

Meanwhile, Wang Yu was pondering the Undying Nether Dragon Art. This art was closely related to the Corpse Demon Secret Art. Although he had deduced and created it himself, there were still mysteries regarding cultivation beyond the sixth stage. For instance, in the path of zombies, there were no more reference subjects beyond the 'Drought Demon' level. While the placement bar could help him deduce up to the sixth stage, he still needed to continue deducing beyond that. Only by doing so could he exploit loopholes and constantly innovate.

He suddenly recalled the Withered Glory secret technique that Qingqing had mentioned. "From death to life, from life to death. Wither and flourish, or rather, the true meanings of life and death, can even extend to the level of Dao. Perhaps this is the breakthrough point to transcend the zombie body-refinement path. If only Qingqing could dual cultivate with me... An intelligent drought demon is too rare; this is a rare opportunity. She would certainly help me solve many problems. I wonder what she's been thinking these past few days. This Withered Glory Immortal Abode might truly be worth a visit."

Wang Yu's mind raced with thoughts, and he again thought of Qingqing's body. He recalled that ever since he began cultivating, he had practiced a remnant of the *Corpse Demon Secret Art*, a demonic secret technique that transformed the body. In a sense, he was already half-zombie, though he was still alive. It wasn't until the Nascent Soul stage that he completely shed the 'corpse-like appearance'. Therefore, he had no discrimination or aversion towards the identity of a drought demon. One shouldn't judge another; as long as it was beneficial for cultivation, what harm was there in being a bit unconventional, as long as one's mind remained sound?

After thinking aimlessly in his cave dwelling for a moment, Wang Yu looked towards the horizon. "Why hasn't she arrived yet? If she doesn't come soon, I'll truly have to enter seclusion."

As time passed, at dusk, a fiery red streak of light, imbued with the aura of scorching calamity, landed in the Five Elements Corpse Workshop. Wang Yu was meditating and cultivating in his quiet room when he suddenly sensed this aura and immediately went to greet it. Before he could exchange pleasantries, the alluring beauty opposite him sighed softly. "Brother Wei, your divine abilities are truly unmatched; you've certainly kept this concubine in the dark for too long."

Her tone had changed. Previously, she always referred to herself as Qingqing. While her attitude was gentle and respectful, she fundamentally regarded them as being on the same 'level'. It was merely self-effacing. Now, however, she genuinely placed herself in a subordinate position, referring to herself as 'this concubine'. This was the benefit of revealing one's strength—the advantages outweighed the disadvantages.

"Friend Qingqing, what are you saying?" Wang Yu replied with a chuckle. "Now that you know the full truth, do you still wish to invite me to explore the Withered Glory Immortal Abode together?"

"Of course. Rather, the strength Brother Wei has displayed is enough to make this concubine bow before you." This blatant expression of admiration was truly made without any reservation. As a successor of the Demonic Star lineage, she did not value concepts like chastity as much as ordinary women. Given sufficient benefits, she would naturally not refuse a mutually beneficial arrangement.

As expected, before Wang Yu could respond, she continued on her own. "Regarding dual cultivation, this concubine accepts. I only hope Brother Wei will be gentle. After our trip to Withered Glory Mountain concludes, Brother Wei may do as he pleases~"

'What a vixen,' Wang Yu showed no change in expression, but inwardly, he felt the charm of such a peerless beauty. Not to mention a pleasure-seeking demonic cultivator like himself, even a disciplined Daoist with few desires might not be able to resist.

"Since that's the case, there's no time like the present. Let's depart."

"Very well."

After Wang Yu instructed Wei Shuyue on the future governance of Yunzhou and left her some contingencies, he departed with Qingqing to explore the mysterious place. It was quite an unusual experience.

The so-called Withered Glory Mountain Immortal Abode was not far. It was located in a vast ancient forest bordering Yunzhou and Leizhou, emanating an exceptionally strong aura of antiquity, as if it were a treasure trove preserved from ancient times. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was also extraordinarily abundant. Soon after arriving nearby, Wang Yu activated his Aura-Gazing Golden Eyes and discovered a clue.

"Interesting." Qingqing immediately turned her gaze upon hearing him. "We haven't even reached our destination, and Brother Wei has already discerned the mystery?"

"More or less." Wang Yu looked at the distinct Qi of the earth veins beneath his feet and explained, "The earth veins here are special. Though seemingly the purest earth Qi, they contain the birth of all things in early spring, the growth of all things in early summer, the withering of all things in early autumn, and the return to stillness in early winter. After a full cycle, the vitality becomes denser and purer, and the decay becomes more absolute and complete. Through continuous cycles of the four seasons, the Withered Glory concept grows stronger. If I'm not mistaken, the Withered Glory Mountain that Friend Qingqing spoke of, should be that one, correct?"

"—Incredible!" Seeing Wang Yu accurately point out the target mountain, Qingqing's eyes sparkled. She only knew that Wang Yu's combat power was exceptional and his spell-fighting unmatched, but she hadn't known he possessed the ability to gaze at Qi and locate dragon veins. The feng shui master tradition in the Mountain Sea Realm was not a systematic one. It was integrated with the path of formations and was far inferior to the *Wondrous Chapters on Observing Heaven and Earth Feng Shui* that Wang Yu possessed, not to mention his additional blessing from a rare ancestral token artifact of the feng shui path. Even claiming to be the foremost feng shui geomancer in the Mountain Sea Realm would be perfectly justifiable.

"Let's go. This place has been explored by this concubine multiple times. All ordinary troubles have long been resolved. Only one checkpoint remains that stumped me. We'll also need to pass through a hidden wonder formation later, so Brother Wei must follow closely."

"No problem, no problem." The Withered Glory Mountain Immortal Abode held extraordinary significance for Qingqing, and any solvable problems had naturally been resolved long ago. Wang Yu had already anticipated that this trip wouldn't take much time, which was why he gladly accepted.

As the two passed through a hidden wonder formation, an even vaster world appeared before their eyes, and Wang Yu was somewhat astonished. Because he hadn't expected the Withered Glory Mountain Qingqing spoke of to actually be an incredibly enormous ancient tree! Perhaps due to its ancient age, the giant tree's bark had formed a stone-like texture, indistinguishable from ordinary rocks. Standing at Withered Glory Mountain felt like looking up at the clouds. The trunk's diameter was unknown, perhaps several kilometers, and its sheer height was rare in the world.

"Legend says that in ancient times, there was a Great Chun tree, which regarded eight thousand years as spring and eight thousand years as autumn. Its lifespan was vast, and touching it could lead to enlightenment in the Dao of Time." Qingqing nodded. "I don't know if this giant tree is a Great Chun, but the Withered Glory concept, from the cycle of the four seasons, clarifies creation and destruction. Each withering and flourishing is infinitely profound. The Withered Glory Venerable being able to achieve such great fame might also be related to this giant tree. It's just a pity that this tree has completely perished, its very body turning into a stone mountain, utterly useless to us now."

Wang Yu nodded, saying nothing more. He seemed still immersed in his shocked emotions, unable to extricate himself for a long time. Qingqing waited politely for a while before speaking. "Brother Wei, let's go. The entrance to the immortal abode is on a stone sculpture resembling an insect at the foot of the mountain."

"Alright."

As the two moved again, the insect sculpture she had mentioned turned out to be a cicada (huigu). As the saying goes: "The morning mushroom knows not the dark and light of moon phases, nor does the cicada know spring and autumn!" Interpreted by human understanding, it means that those with less knowledge cannot compare to those with more, and those with short lifespans are not as experienced as those with long ones.

But if interpreted from a cultivation perspective, the morning mushroom refers to a type of fungus that sprouts in the morning and dies by evening; it can also be replaced by a mayfly. Both represent the profound concept of birth in the morning and death in the evening. The two characters 'hui' and 'shuo' need to be interpreted separately: 'hui' refers to the last day of the month, and 'shuo' refers to the first day of the month. Birth in the morning and death in the evening, the alternation of day and night, symbolize beginnings and endings, like a cycle of reincarnation. The huigu, also known as the cold cicada, hatches in late spring and dies in autumn, with a life cycle of only a few months. "Spring and autumn" more explicitly refer to the complete cycle of the four seasons.

He already had an idea of the challenge Qingqing had faced. It was truly a case of 'live and learn'; the more he knew, the more he felt his knowledge was insufficient. The last time he had read books was back in his time with the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect. At this moment, a realization dawned on him, and he felt a pang of shame for having wasted time.

"To set up such a trial, it seems this Withered Glory Venerable intentionally sought a perceptive junior to inherit his legacy. However... inheriting the legacy also means inheriting the karma. Friend Qingqing, are you prepared to face the past enemies of this Withered Glory Venerable?"

"What is there to fear? This concubine is backed by the Demonic Star lineage, which is a top-tier power even within the Demon Cultivation Realm. The Withered Glory Venerable was merely at the peak of God Transformation; it's uncertain if his enemies are even alive now."

The Demon Cultivation Realm, as its name suggests, was a paradise for human demonic cultivators. It adhered to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, even more brutal than the Sky Demon Realm, and it was also the realm where human powerhouses emerged most readily. They were also versatile grand demonic overlords, skilled in human relations, adept at schemes and intrigues, and unparalleled in combat, though their personalities tended to be eccentric and they preferred solitary travel. Legend had it that the Demon Cultivation Realm frequently captured beings from various races to serve as materials for honing their demon disciples. Naturally, their internal strife was also fierce, and they were very adept at exploiting rules. Among the nine upper realms controlled by the Nine Human Immortals, their average strength was enough to rank among the top three, though their numbers were somewhat small.

Faced with Qingqing's reply, Wang Yu shook his head. He said very seriously, "I believe they are still alive. This senior's strength during his lifetime was definitely not inferior to mine. The enemies he provoked, you might want to think a bit higher up, otherwise, he wouldn't have died here with regret."

Faced with Wang Yu's grave warning, Qingqing hesitated for only a moment before smiling and replying, "Brother Wei, don't underestimate this concubine. Zombies are born from the grievances of heaven and earth. When I turn fierce, even a million corpses laid low might not stop me. Otherwise, why would the Demonic Star lineage value me?"

With that reply, Wang Yu said nothing more. He raised an eyebrow and said, "In that case, it seems I was being overzealous."

"This concubine is determined to obtain the Withered Glory Reincarnation Secret Art. Brother Wei, please follow me in and try. This cicada stone sculpture is exceptionally sinister. Upon entering, one will experience the cycle of birth, old age, sickness, and death, just like the cycle of the four seasons. I suspect there's a supreme-grade spirit treasure at work. This concubine has tried various methods, but none have managed to break it. Whether we can pass this trial depends on you."

"—Alright!"

Having accepted the request, one should fulfill it diligently. Besides, such knowledge-based gains were meant to be shared. Instead of advising Qingqing against accepting karma rashly, he should consider that, according to their agreement, all gains from the Withered Glory Immortal Abode would belong to him. Qingqing only wanted the Withered Glory Reincarnation Secret Art. As for the karma, it was still unknown who would bear it. If he could pass this cicada trial, he might truly become the Withered Glory's successor. What seemed like a complete advantage also came with corresponding costs. Who could truly explain such karmic encounters?

'Oh well, no need to worry about more debts when you already have so many.' He already carried the karma of the Immortal Dynasty's Crown Prince, the Nine Tribulations Loose Cultivator, and the Ice Hell Realm. Adding another Withered Glory Venerable would merely be a scratch. Overthinking was useless.

"Let's go in."