Chapter 529: The Cycle of Time
Chapter 529: The Cycle of Time
【Primordial Dao: Time (Initial Form)】
【Experience: 3000 points】
Om!
As Chen Mu's thoughts stirred, he selected the option to enhance his abilities on the system panel. A golden light flashed across the interface, instantly clearing all accumulated experience points.
Chen Mu felt his entire being suddenly plunge into an endless darkness, losing all sense of his body. Only a faint consciousness drifted aimlessly, entering the depths of infinite darkness.
"Is this the same lifeless place as before?"
The thought flashed through Chen Mu's mind, but he soon paused, sensing something amiss.
Although the surroundings were dim, he couldn't feel any trace of Void energy. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't absolute darkness but rather like being inside a dimly lit house.
Furthermore, Chen Mu clearly felt his body.
However, this body was incredibly weak compared to his Indestructible Realm's demi-god physique, almost indistinguishable from an ordinary mortal. The energy within him was relatively feeble, devoid of any martial arts training.
Having experienced the previous enlightenment of the Void Dao and his foray into the lifeless void, Chen Mu remained composed. After adjusting to this frail body, he stood up, groped for a ray of light, and pushed open a door.
Beyond the door,
The dark sky above revealed a faint, elusive moon.
The dim moonlight filtered through the doorway, illuminating a messy interior with a crude bow hanging on the wall and a trident leaning beside it. Scattered animal hides were draped in various places.
It seemed like the dwelling of a hunter.
Chen Mu looked down at his body and noticed he was wearing a shabby sheepskin coat, as if he had arrived in this unknown world and become an ordinary hunter.
Chen Mu clenched his fist, feeling all his strength dissipate. The rules of this world seemed peculiar, restricting his ability to harness the power of heaven and earth.
"Interesting."
"Am I being stripped of all my abilities, forced to experience the path of time in the most ordinary state?"
Chen Mu quickly grasped the situation.
Time,
Compared to the Void and Creation, its power was even more ethereal and elusive, akin to a witness, and even harder to grasp.
The stronger one's own power, the more difficult it was to perceive the passage of time and comprehend the Time Dao. Therefore, the system panel had transported his consciousness to this world, where he couldn't sense the Void Dao, and the strict enforcement of heavenly rules prevented him from harnessing the power of heaven and earth. It forced him to return to the mundane, allowing him to experience the Time Dao.
"Oh well."
"Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it."
Chen Mu shook his head slightly, turned around, and re-entered the house, closing the door behind him.
The next day.
At dawn, the sun rose.
He stepped out of the room, found some firewood in the shed, and started a fire. Then, he unearthed some dried meat and added it to a pot with some wild vegetables, cooking a plain broth.
Previously, he had been a Martial Saint in the Great Proclamation World, his cultivation reaching the Creation Realm. He breathed in and out, manipulating the power of heaven and earth, capable of reshaping the world in an instant. Now, he had suddenly returned to the most ordinary times, even needing to use flint and tinder to start a fire, which took some effort. It was a significant adjustment within a short time.
Holding the pot of cooked broth,
Chen Mu tentatively took a sip, finding the taste strange and hard to swallow. However, the persistent hunger pangs from his stomach urged him to gulp down the broth quickly.
Chen Mu stared at the broth for a moment, then burst into laughter,
"Hahaha!"
This feeling of hunger evoked a sense of nostalgia. Ever since he had achieved success in his cultivation, reaching the Five Viscera Realm, he had never experienced hunger again. Later, he completely abandoned the need for food, dining on the wind and dew. Occasionally, he would taste exquisite delicacies and sip the finest spirit teas, indulging in the finest cuisine.
It had been years since he last cooked, and even then, his skills had been mediocre. Now, the broth he made was barely palatable.
After a bout of laughter,
Chen Mu shook his head, picked up the bowl, and gulped down the broth.
After satisfying his hunger, Chen Mu set up a training routine and tried a couple of martial arts sets. However, these routines only provided him with the benefits of a healthy body, unable to cultivate any blood energy.
Chen Mu maintained a calm demeanor, understanding that the inability to cultivate martial arts meant that the rules of this world not only restricted the manipulation of heavenly power but also prohibited any 'supernatural' possibilities.
He had come to this world solely to comprehend the Time Dao and wasn't concerned about anything else.
From being a Martial Saint to returning to the mundane, Chen Mu quickly adapted, setting aside all thoughts of the Great Proclamation World and the demon disaster. He focused intently on the present life as an ordinary mortal.
Chen Mu tidied up the house, finding some dried meat and a small amount of rice and flour, enough to last about ten days or half a month if used sparingly.
Chen Mu shook his head slightly.
After putting away the provisions, he sat down on a green stone slab in front of the door, closed his eyes, and began to meditate, attempting to comprehend the Time Dao.
However, this situation was indeed different from the lifeless void he had experienced before. In the previous void, he had felt immersed in the essence of the Void, directly perceiving its mysteries. But this time, no matter how hard he tried to sense it, he couldn't grasp the power of the Time Dao in this world.
Chen Mu sat on the green stone until dusk, gaining no further insights into the Time Dao.
As hunger pangs stirred in his stomach,
Chen Mu finally opened his eyes.
"Very well, I'll take it slow."
Based on his previous experience, no matter how long he stayed in this world, returning would only take an instant. Therefore, he had infinite time to comprehend the ways of time and need not rush.
The system panel must have brought him to this world for a unique purpose.
One day...
As an outsider, Chen Mu calmly assumed the identity of a hunter and settled on Qingcheng Mountain.
Every day, he rose with the sun and rested at dusk, trying to sense the passage of time, but with little success.
Half a month later...
His stored provisions were almost depleted.
To avoid starvation, Chen Mu finally picked up his simple longbow and iron fork, preparing to hunt in the mountains.
After making the remaining food into basic flatbreads and packing them, Chen Mu slung his longbow and held the iron fork as he ventured into the forest.
The woods were silent, with occasional gusts of wind rustling the leaves. Shadows loomed in the distance, and something would occasionally scurry by, but Chen Mu remained calm, unaffected by these sights.
Although he was physically weak and couldn't tap into any extraordinary power, he was still the Great Xuan Martial Saint! With the iron fork in hand, he had no fear of wolves or tigers. Only a certain level of demonic beasts could pose a threat, and even then, they had to be of a certain caliber.
In a world governed by the laws of heaven and earth, where the birth of the extraordinary was restricted, it was unlikely to encounter many demonic beasts.
Chen Mu ventured deeper into the forest.
Soon enough...
He slowed his pace, and in his line of sight, a gray rabbit crouched among the fallen leaves.
Gently, he took down the simple longbow from his back and pulled out a wooden arrow from his pocket. Aiming at the rabbit, he nocked the arrow and released it with a swift motion!
The crude arrow flew in an arc, precisely piercing the rabbit's head and killing it instantly. Chen Mu watched this scene with a calm expression and retrieved his longbow.
He didn't even need to check; he knew the arrow had hit its mark. After all, he was a peerless Martial Saint, and even without his supernatural powers, his control over force was unparalleled among mortals.
Chen Mu strode towards the rabbit, picked it up, and weighed it slightly before putting it into his bag.
Just then, he felt a slight movement in his ears, sensing an incoming attack. Without hesitation, he dove forward and rolled on the ground, evading the sudden assault.
Turning back, he saw a spotted beast—not a tiger, but a leopard! The leopard moved with incredible agility, and after missing its first pounce, it immediately leaped again, aiming for Chen Mu's neck. It had locked onto his vital spot, displaying extreme ferocity.
However, Chen Mu, who had just dodged the attack with a roll, remained unperturbed. As he rolled, he grabbed the iron fork and thrust it forward.
The inferior iron fork, under Chen Mu's skilled hands, pierced the leopard's chest!
Simultaneously, Chen Mu stood up, using the fork to hold off the leopard's body, and then with a mighty push, he sent the beast flying.
"Roar!"
The leopard snarled, its teeth bared, as it was propelled away by Chen Mu. It landed and immediately darted into the thicket, fleeing into the distance.
Chen Mu had accurately pierced its chest and vital spot with his previous thrust, and its current escape was merely its final death throes. Indeed, after a few steps, it collapsed and started convulsing.
Shaking his head, Chen Mu picked up the iron fork and approached the slowly dying leopard. He took out a relatively sharp dagger and began skinning the leopard, removing its pelt.
Although he had been living in the mountains for some time, he had previously seen the distant scenery, and there seemed to be a town hidden among the faraway mountains. A complete leopard pelt like this should be worth something and could be exchanged for provisions.
"Hey, it's Brother Qiu! You've got a great catch! Look at that leopard skin, it must've been a big one. You took it down alone, your skills are truly impressive!"
"Of course! When it comes to hunting, Brother Qiu is the best around here."
In the town, people seemed to know Chen Mu.
From their conversations, he learned that the hunter's name was Qiu Mu, and he had some reputation in the area as one of the few solo hunters. Most hunters dared not venture deep into Qingcheng Mountain alone, as it was home to not only leopards and tigers but also more dangerous creatures. Even experienced hunters in groups of two or three might face peril if they weren't careful.
Chen Mu responded to these 'acquaintances' with a relaxed demeanor. After exchanging his hunting spoils for provisions in town, he returned to his mountain dwelling and continued his daily routine of rising with the sun and contemplating the mysteries of time.
Time passed...
Before he knew it, nearly a decade had gone by.
In the town below Qingcheng Mountain, people's address for Chen Mu gradually changed from 'Brother Qiu' to 'Uncle Qiu.'
Uncle Qiu, a renowned hunter, was known throughout the region for his solo hunts in Qingcheng Mountain. He had single-handedly killed tigers, fought off black bears, and even encountered a wolf pack, dispersing a group of over twenty wild wolves and personally slaying eight of them!
"A man in a long robe, accompanied by two servants, arrives at the foot of the mountain where Chen Mu resides. He calls out to the house, "Master Qiu, I am Li Youde. I have come to purchase a high-quality tiger skin..."
The wooden door creaks open.
Chen Mu steps out from the doorway, his figure slender, but his eyes emanate a captivating light. "You want to buy a tiger skin? What's it for?"
"It's like this," Li Youde explains, "In half a month, Liu Siye from the city will be celebrating his 40th birthday. I plan to gift him a high-quality tiger skin as a birthday present... I heard that you have one here. If you're willing to part with it, I'll put in a good word for you with Liu Siye. Who knows, if he's pleased, he might even grant me an official position in the city. It's much better than staying up here in the mountains, isn't it?"
Li Youde grins as he speaks to Chen Mu.
"Liu Siye from the city?" Chen Mu mulls over the name, then hums lightly before slamming the door shut. "No sale!"
Although Chen Mu rarely ventures down the mountain, he has heard of this Liu Siye from the city. A notorious figure, Liu Siye bullies men and oppresses women, but Chen Mu has no interest in getting involved in such secular matters. However, with the tiger skin now in his possession, he can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
"..." Li Youde is left speechless, his face turning gloomy.
Chen Mu coldly hums and leaves with his servants, heading down the mountain. As he walks, his anger grows, and he mutters, "Master Qiu? Pfft, just a poor hunter. How dare he act so arrogantly before me and show disrespect to Liu Siye? He's asking for death!"
Half a month later, Chen Mu ventures into the mountains for a hunting trip, venturing deep into the forest.
That night, his small house catches fire, the flames raging. When he returns with a steel fork and a deer, all he finds is a pile of ruins. Everything inside has been burned, except for the missing tiger skin, which has vanished without a trace.
"..." Chen Mu's expression remains unchanged as he looks at the charred remains of his house.
He knows who is likely responsible, but he feels no anger; instead, he remains calm. His focus is solely on the Path of Time, and even after more than a decade, his understanding of it has not progressed much.
"Time, what is time?"
"Is it to transcend the world, detach from mortal affairs, follow one's heart's desire, or something else?"
Chen Mu shakes his head.
He picks up the steel fork and quietly leaves, abandoning the captured deer.
Several days later, a shocking incident occurs, and the news spreads to the town below, causing an uproar.
Master Qiu, the famous hunter from Qingcheng Mountain, armed with a steel fork, attends Liu Siye's birthday banquet in the city. During the banquet, he takes the tiger skin, and with his steel fork, he slaughters the entire banquet, personally stabbing Liu Siye. He kills over twenty servants and carves a bloody path to escape, his whereabouts unknown!
The city descends into chaos. Numerous officials and soldiers are dispatched, and a massive manhunt ensues. Not only does the Liu family mobilize the government, but they also offer a reward for information leading to Master Qiu's capture. Accurate information is worth twenty taels of silver, and his head is worth a hundred taels. Anyone who captures him alive can earn three hundred taels!
The town is in an uproar as well, although they despise Liu Siye and applaud Master Qiu's actions. Still, some people quietly spread the news, searching for Master Qiu's whereabouts.
Finally, someone finds him.
Master Qiu hasn't gone anywhere; instead, he sits in front of his burned-down house, wearing the tiger skin and holding the steel fork.
The person who finds him dares not approach, but quietly relays the information. Soon, within half an hour, a large group of soldiers and servants armed with weapons rush up the mountain. Hundreds of them surround Master Qiu, who sits amidst the ruins.
"You dare, Qiu Mu! How dare you defy your superiors and kill Liu Siye! The soldiers have arrived. Surrender now!"
One of the servants shouts, brandishing a club, but dares not take a step forward.
Master Qiu sits calmly amidst the ruins, unmoved by the shouts and threats. Even faced with hundreds of soldiers, he exudes an air of pressure. This is the man who dared to kill dozens of people with a steel fork—a rare sight in decades. Despite being surrounded, no one dares to make a move.
For a moment, the soldiers cautiously approach, weapons in hand.
Even when the soldiers' spears are almost upon him, Master Qiu remains seated, unmoving. Finally, one soldier dares to step forward and place a sword against his neck, but Master Qiu still doesn't react. Eventually, someone bravely approaches to test him, but the notorious killer, who had shocked the entire region, is already lifeless.
"Dead... He's dead?!"
The soldiers stare at each other in disbelief.
Master Qiu's story abruptly ends here, but it spreads throughout Qingcheng Mountain. Within a hundred li, everyone knows the tale, and it becomes a popular topic of conversation during tea breaks. The name 'Master Qiu' becomes widely known, and many years later, it is even adapted into a play called 'Master Qiu Kills Liu Siye.'
However, as dynasties change and the world evolves, this story eventually fades into silence.
What is time?
High above in the vault of heaven, Chen Mu's gaze overlooks everything. His mind remains focused on the same thought, and his vision shifts, his consciousness once again drawn into a new cycle.
This time, he is no longer a solitary hunter but is born into a wealthy family, awakening as an infant.
Chen Mu vaguely understands that the system panel has placed him in a state of constant reincarnation, requiring him to attain enlightenment and comprehend the true essence of the Path of Time through these secular cycles.
"Then let's continue."
Chen Mu pays no heed to the past and immerses himself in this new cycle, continuing to ponder the mysteries of the Path of Time.
(End of Chapter)
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