Chapter 617: Four Seasons Wheel, One Axe Decides Life and Death

The moment they touched the cicada stone carving, a wisp of gray airflow enveloped the two. The next instant, they completely vanished from the foot of Mount Kurong.

Their vision shifted from black to white.

When he opened his eyes again, Wang Yu had become a newborn infant. In this life, he hadn't awakened his past-life wisdom at birth, so he was just like any ordinary child.

Though intelligent, he struggled to deeply utilize the unique system he had access to, merely using it to study the books his father arranged. As he grew older, memories from his past life surfaced more and more in his dreams.

It wasn't until he was sixteen that he fully awakened, like a Buddha achieving enlightenment or a swordsman comprehending the sword, with a shock akin to realizing, "only today do I truly know who I am."

At this point, revisiting his infancy in his mind, with all six senses and five perceptions clear, he surprisingly saw his deceased father and mother from this life.

The events in Stone Lake City back then had led him to leave the Wang Manor to seek refuge with his aunt in Qianqiu City, marking his last encounter with his family. By the time he emerged prominent from the Demonic Sect, his home had already undergone significant changes.

Now, influenced by the cicada stone carving, he suddenly saw them again.

Even the space of his mind, usually as still as an ancient well, rippled. It was neither excitement nor complete calm, but rather like the gentle warmth of a spring sun, slowly permeating the depths of his heart.

The birth at his first cries, and his parents' pure and undisguised joy, made him realize that perhaps his previous beliefs were mistaken. The so-called "severing of worldly ties" wasn't something one could simply achieve by wishing for it. Unilateral determination was merely a fool's fantasy, leaving only futile regrets. Yet, Wang Yu's will was incredibly firm, and his mental state immensely powerful.

Upon sensing that faint trace of reluctance hidden deep within his heart, he neither feared it like a viper nor worried that its presence would shatter his Lapis Lazuli Mindset. Instead, he opened his arms to embrace it.

Quietly comprehending the joy of life!

He realized that this so-called "birth, aging, sickness, and death" illusory trial was, in fact, a prerequisite specifically arranged by Venerable Kurong for people to comprehend the Kurong (Wither and Flourish) artistic conception.

Although he could have shattered it with brute force, Wang Yu did not. This was a rare opportunity for enlightenment. He didn't necessarily have to comprehend the Kurong artistic conception; he could, however, integrate its essence into the artistic conceptions he already mastered, significantly boosting the speed at which his artistic conception weapons materialized.

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death, perhaps they can be integrated into the Path of the Underworld Evil Spirits."

Thus, as time flowed on, and after an unknown period, when Wang Yu awoke from the long-lost warmth of his heart, the surrounding environment had changed without him realizing. He had become an old man with graying hair and a healthy body. This was something he had never experienced before. The experience was quite remarkable.

The scenery around him was still the Wang Manor in Stone Lake City. He had married twelve wives, fathered enough children to form a football team, and spent his days cheerfully, like an old man enjoying familial bliss.

However, this good fortune didn't last. As his children grew up, they gradually developed their own agendas, some instigated by their mothers, leading to disputes over the family's assets. This transformed the once harmonious household into less of a home and more of a battlefield.

It was a world of intrigue and deception.

Initially, they showed some restraint out of consideration for fraternal bonds, but as Wang Yu grew older and more infirm, and his body succumbed to illness, things spiraled out of control. All sorts of vile schemes emerged endlessly, from malicious framing to outright armed conflict. In the end, only he remained, lying solitary on his deathbed.

Only an old maid remained by his side.

Illness rendered him unable to leave his bed, and his life gradually drew to an end. Wang Yu's spiritual consciousness deliberately relaxed, completely immersing itself in the imagery, and tears quietly streamed from his eyes. These were the pangs of old age, the suffering of illness.

The ruin of his family and death of his loved ones surprisingly didn't shock him greatly. Frankly, after countless cleansings by the Boundless Mortal Realm Secret Arts, this level of "family drama" could hardly give him such profound insights anymore.

In the depths of his consciousness, Wang Yu grasped something. It was a celestial wheel.

From the sprouting branches of spring, the scorching sunlight of summer, the withering of all things in autumn, to the pure white of winter that buries everything, these elements collectively formed this celestial wheel.

If the previous description was an embodiment of imagery, then what followed was the true appearance of this celestial wheel: Brown branches intertwined, blooming with pink flowers, forming the uppermost quarter of the wheel with a woody structure. Below that was an intricate golden metal structure with sun patterns. Further down was a section of withered yellow, resembling autumn leaves, and finally, an icy, bone-chilling snowy white, with snowflakes constantly swirling around it.

Information descended into his consciousness.

Wang Yu murmured, "The Four Seasons Celestial Wheel, a top-grade Fifth-Tier spiritual treasure, just one step away from advancing to Sixth-Tier, comparable to a Void Refining stage cultivation artifact."

More importantly, this spiritual treasure was not Venerable Kurong's 'natal' artifact, which opened up greater possibilities for it. Perhaps when this celestial wheel was first formed countless years ago, it was only a low-grade Fifth-Tier artifact. However, nurtured by the unique Feng Shui layout of this place and tempered by the "birth, aging, sickness, and death" illusion, its spiritual essence had grown exceptionally powerful, making its transformation into a true artifact spirit no difficult task.

A true treasure!

It was even stronger than his Sun-Piercing Demonic Bow by half a tier. Wang Yu instinctively wanted to reach out but restrained himself. He continued with the final stage of the illusion.

—Death!

Death was certainly not his first experience. After his past-life memories awakened, he had a profound understanding of life's final moments. Now, experiencing death by illness was an entirely different kind of realization.

His extraordinary comprehension, coupled with the Bodhi seed crafted into a pendant that he constantly wore on his chest, and even the Seven-Heart Treasure Wheel Marvelous Tree planted in his mind's lake, all radiated holy light, aiding his comprehension.

If one could directly perceive Wang Yu's artistic conceptions, they would discover a black sword, born from the ghostly mist of the Underworld, forming with the concept of birth, aging, sickness, and death as its blade. It complemented the blood sword condensed from the Path of Slaughter. Together, they formed two unparalleled weapons of slaughter.

Artistic conception weapons belonged to the second stage of artistic conception cultivation, also known as Minor Accomplishment. The nascent souls of ordinary Spirit Transformation cultivators could simply not bear the burden of three artistic conception weapons. For normal individuals, manifesting one artistic conception weapon was enough to reach the peak of Spirit Transformation and prepare for breaking through to the Void Refining stage. Yet Wang Yu already possessed three: the Moon Disk, the Slaughter Sword, and the Death Sword.

Only the conceptual weapon corresponding to the Illusionary Light artistic conception was missing for him to achieve true perfection, thereby enabling him to begin the third stage of cultivation, unique to multi-artistic-conception cultivators:

—Artistic Conception Fusion!

By relaxing his mind and entering this illusion, Wang Yu gained an immense amount. At this point, there was no reason to continue. The Lunar Star Soul gently vibrated, and everything he saw and heard vanished like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in water.

The Four Seasons Celestial Wheel, the reward for passing the trial, also flew into his arms with joyous spiritual feedback. As his demonic energy circulated, it was instantly refined!

"What a great opportunity, what a fine treasure." Even with his composure, he couldn't hide his joy.

He closed his eyes and sensed for a moment, learning the treasure's function: it could transform the might of the four seasons into power, using the rotating wheel as a grinding mill to forcibly extinguish a cultivator's vitality. Especially that portion of its power that belonged to the heavens. It possessed both quantifiable power and specific mechanisms.

As for its specific effects, he would need to find someone to test its power, as perceiving its capabilities was far inferior to the feedback gained from personal use. He placed the Four Seasons Celestial Wheel into his Qi Sea for nurturing.

As soon as the illusion shattered, the world around them transformed.

Qing Qing, still somewhat dazed as a Drought Demon, immediately regained her clarity upon seeing Wang Yu appear, remarking somewhat helplessly, "Brother Wei, why didn't you break this illusion earlier? You wasted three months for nothing."

Wang Yu chuckled. "What's the rush? This illusion has boundless wonderful uses. I even wanted to experience it a few more times, but alas... once shattered, it can no longer form another heart array."

"I see," Qing Qing responded. Her beautiful eyes flickered as she realized Wang Yu had obtained the spiritual treasure behind the illusion, but she didn't ask further questions to avoid any misunderstanding. Instead, she began to survey their current surroundings.

This place was not much different from a regular immortal's cave. The "birth, aging, sickness, and death" illusion had been the final difficult hurdle, and Qing Qing had already cleared all other obstacles. Therefore, there was nothing left but rewards.

The two stood on a patch of white sand, surrounded by numerous stone pillars. Several yards away, the wall of the Great Chun Stone was visible, consistent with what they had seen outside. Behind them, there was no path, but in front stood a high platform. A jade-white skeleton sat cross-legged in the center of the platform, looking down upon the two intruders. This must have been Venerable Kurong, who had sat in meditation and passed away from severe injuries.

Wang Yu became much more cautious. He and Qing Qing approached the skeleton simultaneously, each step taken with extreme caution. Theoretically, Venerable Kurong had lived countless years ago, and even if a remnant soul had survived, it should have faded with time. However, Wang Yu always assumed the worst when it came to relics left by such powerful predecessors, believing that 'caution keeps the ship sailing for ten thousand years.' There was no harm in being careful.

And so, a short quarter of an hour later, the two finally reached the skeleton. Qing Qing extended her hand, and the storage ring on its finger bone was directly taken by her. Wang Yu could have stopped her, but he didn't.

A moment later.

"How is it?"

"It's here."

Qing Qing, the Drought Demoness, could barely conceal her excitement. She took out several spiritual jade slips, duplicated them in front of him, and soon tossed them over.

The highly valuable "Kurong Wheel Transformation Secret Art"!

The Sixth-Tier true cultivation method, "True Understanding of the Four Seasons' Wither and Flourish," included divine abilities, secret techniques, artifact refining diagrams, and specialized cultivation pill recipes—truly a complete set. What Wang Yu hadn't expected, however, was that it actually contained a method for condensing a 'Heaven-Earth Blessed Land.'

"'Thousand Autumn Changes, Wither and Flourish Reincarnation Blessed Land Refining True Method'?" Such a long name struck Wang Yu as odd for a moment, because this style was certainly not native to the Boundless Immortal Realm.

Speaking of which, this was his first time obtaining a method for refining a blessed land. Frankly, among the Sixth-Tier cultivation methods he had deduced, this aspect was entirely absent. Humans cannot imagine what they do not understand. Even the ancient demonic legacy only went as far as the Spirit Transformation stage, not involving methods for refining Heaven-Earth Blessed Lands. This reminded him of the World-Suppressing Turtle of the Void Heaven Sword Sect.

Now that he thought about it, he might have missed an opportunity. That innate divine ability, which allowed one to condense a minor Heaven-Earth realm at a low cultivation stage purely through talent, if he had obtained the World-Suppressing Turtle's vital blood, which contained all its lineage information, with the Demonic Heaven's myriad transformations, he could have effortlessly surpassed this hurdle. Recalling it now was of no use.

"What I gain is my fortune, what I lose is my destiny. There's no need to dwell on it too much. I still have a long way to go before the Void Refining stage, plenty of time to comprehend the mysteries of the Blessed Land."

He comforted himself inwardly and put away all his gains. Seeing Qing Qing still engrossed in the secret art of life and death transformation, which contained the mysteries of wither and flourish, Wang Yu began to observe the immortal's cave. Although not large, it was complete in every detail, like a sparrow with all its internal organs. From some small arrangements, it was evident that Venerable Kurong had been quite a refined individual in life. Finding nothing else, Wang Yu moved behind the skeleton.

Immediately, his expression tightened. There was a wound on its back that had vertically split the entire spine. This must have been Venerable Kurong's fatal injury, and even after countless years, the imagery of absolute death contained within it still persisted.

'How is that possible?!'

Shocked, Wang Yu couldn't help but draw a little closer. He extended his spiritual consciousness to try and perceive it. In that instant, the world changed color, as if transporting him to ancient times. A terrifying axe light, tearing through the heavens and severing the Dao, came from an immeasurable distance. It instantly struck down the unprepared Venerable Kurong.

'A single axe to sever life and death...' How exaggerated? How terrifying?!!

More importantly, Venerable Kurong had no other injuries before this. This meant he didn't fall severely wounded after defeating a powerful enemy; he was ambushed and killed by this axe light. Despite being capable of destroying the entire Mountain Sea Realm, it only killed Venerable Kurong. Such effortless control indicated that the attacker was either a Tribulation Transcending cultivator or a True Immortal.

The Tribulation Transcending stage, which is beyond the Mahayana stage, is not actually a distinct realm. Instead, it represents the Dao tribulations one faces to become an immortal. The name 'Tribulation Transcending' signifies that a cultivator has reached the limits of human potential. One could call them 'half-immortals.' By successfully overcoming nine Dao tribulations, one could achieve true immortality, living as long as heaven and earth, thereby truly obtaining the fruit of longevity.

Wang Yu had once inherited the legacy of the Nine Tribulations Rogue Cultivator precisely because this individual had an exceptional understanding of the nine Dao tribulations, having created a set of methods to respond to them, hidden within the Myriad Void Heavens Arts. However, he hadn't fully learned it all, only picking up methods that could immediately boost his strength, thus he hadn't received the complete inheritance.

What he witnessed now left him deeply shaken. He instinctively activated the first layer of the Jade Void Lapis Lazuli Wall, 'Karmic Tribulation Transference,' doing his best to shield his own heavenly secrets and karma.

A moment later, seeing no similar axe light traversing the boundless distance towards him, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"What's wrong?" Qing Qing, who had already given the secret art a preliminary read, saw Wang Yu standing motionless, cold sweat beading on his forehead, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Nothing... Since we've achieved what we came for, let's leave quickly. This place doesn't feel right."

"Well... alright then." With their objective achieved, Qing Qing deferred to Wang Yu's wishes.

The two departed Mount Kurong together, leaving the other arrangements untouched, and headed back towards the Five Elements Corpse Workshop. On the way, Wang Yu had regained his composure. He stopped thinking about the axe light that severed life and death.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Qing Qing, did that secret art prove useful?"

At this, the Drought Demoness Qing Qing wore a melancholic expression. "Although this secret art is remarkable, it's quite insufficient for truly reversing life and death. Especially for an existence like me, who became a spirit from a corpse, the further I advance on this path, the harder it becomes to reverse it. This seems to involve some fundamental Great Dao rule. However, it's not entirely useless; perhaps I can try it out later."

"I see. It's good that it's useful."

Qing Qing suddenly broke into a smile. "Brother Wei, don't worry, the promise we made before is still valid. Shall we... begin right away?"

Wang Yu paused, realizing she was referring to dual cultivation. But having just been intimidated by that axe light, he wasn't in the mood for such things. "Perhaps another time. Once I've finished my current tasks, I'll send a message to Fellow Daoist Qing Qing."

"...Alright." She said no more, and the two flew on. Their escape lights seemed to merge until they reached the Thousand-li Barren Land, where they separated. Wang Yu, with a complex mix of thoughts, returned to the loyal Wei clan.