Chapter 545: A Single Step to Heaven!!

Chen Mu leapt to the highest point of the palace complex, standing with his hands behind his back, his Tiangong Realm spiritual sense fully unleashed, like an invisible tide, sweeping again and again over every inch of the secret realm, sensing every ripple of energy and every rhythm of law.

Once, twice, three times…

Initially, apart from the thick, unyielding energy and the clear seasonal Dao rhythms, he found nothing else.

But Chen Mu did not give up; his mind sank deep, activating the Great Luo Martial Scripture, his perception growing ever more refined.

Finally, on some unknown repetition of his scan, his spiritual sense caught a trace—extremely faint, extremely hidden, yet brimming with profound mystery.

That fluctuation seemed fused with heaven and earth, perfectly aligned with the rhythm of the four seasons.

Illusory yet real, true yet false.

Had Chen Mu not cultivated the Great Luo Martial Scripture, granting him spiritual awareness far beyond his peers, and had he not repeatedly sensed here, he would have barely noticed it.

"This is…"

Chen Mu's heart tightened; he immediately focused all his mental energy, locking onto that elusive fluctuation, probing deeply.

Slowly, the true nature of the fluctuation began to emerge.

It was neither a physical object nor pure energy.

It hovered between illusion and reality, like a translucent crystal shadow that condensed some supreme "principle," radiating a hazy four-colored aura.

This crystal shadow contained the Dao rhythms of spring's birth, summer's intensity, autumn's desolation, and winter's stillness.

"Wu Jing!"

In Chen Mu's mind, a thunderclap exploded—he instantly understood.

Wan Xiang Realm!

This was the martial core forged only by the strongest cultivators who had entered the Wan Xiang Realm, fusing their spiritual sense, will, true energy, and spiritual perception into one furnace after comprehending the Dao of heaven and earth and integrating it with their own martial path.

It was the crystallization of a Wan Xiang cultivator's entire cultivation, insight, and Dao attainment—called "Wan Xiang Wu Jing."

Only by forging a Wu Jing could one truly be called Wan Xiang, worthy of the title "Supreme!"

Only with a Wu Jing could one unfold one's own unique "Martial Domain."

Within the domain, one was invincible!

If a Wan Xiang cultivator perished, his Wu Jing might survive, preserving its Dao rhythms and power for ten thousand years without fading.

Of course, if it shattered outright in battle, that was another matter.

Later generations who obtained it could comprehend its mysteries, awaken the Dao, enhance their cultivation, and even gain partial inheritance!

The four-colored crystal shadow hovering between illusion and reality that Chen Mu sensed was none other than the Wu Jing left behind ten thousand years ago by the "Four Seasons Wu Zun!"

Within it lay his ultimate comprehension and source power of the seasonal cycle.

Comprehending this Four Seasons Wu Jing would not only deepen Chen Mu's understanding of the Tiangong Realm and advance his cultivation, but might also reveal a glimpse of the secrets of the Wan Xiang Realm!

This was the true treasure—far surpassing the spirit fruits and herbs within the palace.

Chen Mu was overjoyed.

But immediately after, he discovered something even more shocking.

The Wu Jing left behind by the Four Seasons Wu Zun had, after ten thousand years of erosion, completely lost the original owner's spiritual imprint and will mark.

What remained now was the purest essence of "seasonal" law comprehension, along with the most fundamental "domain force" naturally generated during the Wu Zun's own cultivation and crystallization of the Wu Jing!

And the most critical point—

Chen Mu realized he could attempt to merge with and devour this ownerless, pure, yet powerful seasonal law force and domain origin!

To absorb this power and make it his own.

If successful, Chen Mu would effectively seize the Four Seasons Wu Zun's martial achievements and directly obtain the embryonic form of the "Four Seasons Martial Domain."

This was truly a chance to ascend to heaven in a single step!

But after the initial thrill, Chen Mu immediately recognized the problem.

Devouring and merging this ownerless Four Seasons Wu Jing would not be smooth.

When he attempted to envelop and guide the force with his spiritual sense, he discovered that the seasonal law energy within the Wu Jing, as it flowed and released, triggered a peculiar effect involving time—

It accelerated the passage of time within the devourer's own space!

In simple terms, during the devouring of the Four Seasons Wu Jing, Chen Mu's own life would flow at a rate far exceeding normal.

The faster he devoured, the more lifespan he consumed!

And the duration of this process could not be predicted at all.

Six months ago, even if Chen Mu knew this was a heavenly opportunity, he would never have dared attempt it.

But now…

Chen Mu's lips curled into a smile.

He remembered the lifespan cards he had collected earlier and deemed useless.

This lifespan card could extend his life by over twelve hundred years!

"Lose lifespan? Bring it on!"

Chen Mu's spirit surged with boldness; he immediately activated the lifespan card.

A warmth and vastness of life force, indescribable, erupted out of nowhere, like sweet rain soaking into his limbs, organs, and even the tiniest cells and soul.

Chen Mu clearly felt his life essence strengthening, his lifespan rapidly increasing.

After a moment, the growth ceased.

Chen Mu estimated his original Tiangong Realm lifespan of about five hundred years had now soared to roughly seventeen hundred years!

He had gained over twelve hundred years out of thin air.

"Again!"

With no further hesitation, Chen Mu immediately sat cross-legged atop the Four Seasons Hall, his mind sinking fully into his dantian, unleashing his spiritual sense to envelop, draw, and devour the Four Seasons Wu Jing!

This time, he no longer held back—he increased the pressure, accelerating the devouring speed.

Indeed, as Chen Mu began to devour the pure seasonal rules and domain origins within the Wu Jing, an invisible, time-related strange force enveloped him.

Chen Mu could feel that the flow of time around his body was slowly but steadily accelerating.

Correspondingly, his lifespan was also steadily and perceptibly diminishing.

Yet, with a solid foundation of seventeen hundred years of lifespan, this consumption remained within his capacity to bear.

Time lost its meaning in this isolated secret repository.

Only Chen Mu, seated atop the hall, continuously shifted his aura—sometimes like a gentle spring breeze, sometimes like the scorching heat of summer, sometimes like the grim slaughter of autumn winds, sometimes like the biting cold of winter.

The four seasons' artistic intent rotated and emerged upon him, growing clearer and deeper.

Below, in the palace complex, Master Zhu Qing and Ning Zhixi had already harvested all the ripe spiritual fruits and herbs, reaping a bountiful yield.

They climbed to the hall's peak, saw Chen Mu's eyes tightly closed, his dao aura swirling, as if in deep meditation and insight, and knew he was at a critical juncture—daring not to disturb him.

Each found a corner rich in spiritual energy within the hall, swallowed spiritual fruits, and began cultivation, digesting their gains.

……

More than half a month slipped away silently.

On this day, Chen Mu, seated motionless atop the hall, suddenly opened his eyes.

In the instant he opened them, the previously shifting seasonal auras around him abruptly merged into one, yet seemed to contain the infinite transformations of all four seasons.

An invisible, profound force, seemingly capable of influencing surrounding rules, erupted outward from him with a thunderous rush.

Within his consciousness space, a strange crystal—intermediate between reality and illusion, composed of interwoven green, red, gold, and black hues, slowly rotating—had successfully coalesced into existence.

Though much smaller and far more ethereal than the phantom image of the "Four Seasons Wu Zun"'s Wu Dao Divine Crystal he had previously sensed.

But it was undeniably a Wu Dao Divine Crystal imbued with the profound principles of the four seasons.