Spring Autumn Cicada

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Lore & Background

The Spring Autumn Cicada operates under strict rules within the Gu World's power system. In this setting, cultivators gain strength not through direct training but by locating, refining, and nurturing sentient insects inside their apertures. The Cicada stands apart as a unique tool capable of manipulating time itself, contrasting with other examples like Moonlight Gu for attacks or Fate Gu for destiny manipulation. The world consists of five major regions—Southern Border, Northern Plains, Eastern Sea, Western Desert, and Central Continent—separated by regional walls where resources are finite. Cultivation is divided into nine ranks, with rank six marking the divide between mortal Gu Masters and immortal Gu Immortals. The Cicada's existence creates a high-stakes environment where users must survive activation to utilize its power, turning time travel into a weapon for strategic advantage rather than a simple reset button.

In Their Own Story

During a final battle against the Gu Immortals and most of the righteous factions, Fang Yuan activated the Spring Autumn Cicada. This moment marked a pivotal turning point in the narrative, reversing his soul five hundred years into the past. He returned to his fifteen-year-old body on Qing Mao Mountain, fully retaining the memories and centuries of experience from his original life. Armed with foreknowledge regarding heavenly tribulations, hidden inheritances, and the eventual convergence of the Five Regions, he immediately began a ruthless ascent. Unlike typical protagonists, Fang Yuan used this second chance to manipulate clans, orchestrate massacres, and betray allies when expedient. His singular objective remained reaching eternal life without moral constraints, utilizing the Cicada's power to bypass early obstacles and secure resources before his enemies even knew they were threatened.

Reader's Guide

The Spring Autumn Cicada is essential for navigating the specific mechanics of Reverend Insanity. It functions as a time reversal device that resets the user's physical form and soul exactly five hundred years into the past. Crucially, the external world remains unchanged; only the user retains memories of the previous timeline. This creates a scenario where history is fixed in its general trajectory, but individual actions can alter outcomes based on prior knowledge. The user must survive the activation process to benefit from the reversal. For cultivators seeking eternal life, this Gu offers a unique loophole: trading present safety for future dominance through foreknowledge. It requires no external magical energy beyond the user's survival, making it a self-contained tool for strategic manipulation within the nine-rank cultivation system.

Did You Know?

• The Spring Autumn Cicada reverses time by exactly five hundred years, returning the user to their fifteen-year-old body.
• Fang Yuan retained all memories from his previous life after activation, allowing him to use foreknowledge of inheritances and tribulations.
• The novel was banned in mainland China in April 2019 for promoting violence, cruelty, and extreme individualism.
• An official English translation on Webnovel was discontinued around chapter 1,000 in 2021 despite the source text having 2,333 chapters.
• In July 2025, an unofficial fan-supported manhua remake by Kodoku Studio began serialization.

The Protagonist and Core Narrative

Fang Yuan is the protagonist of Reverend Insanity, distinguished by his lack of conventional morality. The story begins with him activating the Spring Autumn Cicada during a final battle against Gu Immortals and righteous factions. This action reverses time, sending his soul five hundred years back to his fifteen-year-old body on Qing Mao Mountain. Retaining all memories of his previous life, he pursues eternal life without moral constraints. He manipulates clans, orchestrates massacres, and betrays allies when expedient. Using foreknowledge of inheritances, heavenly tribulations, and the convergence of the Five Regions, he rapidly ascends. His journey is defined by cold calculation as he navigates a world where resources are finite and conflict is constant.

The Mechanics of the Gu World

The setting revolves around Gu, sentient parasitic insects that grant exactly one unique ability each. Cultivators must locate, refine, nurture, and combine these inside their apertures to gain power. Examples include Moonlight Gu for projectile attacks, Fate Gu for destiny manipulation, and the Spring Autumn Cicada for time reversal. The world consists of five major regions: Southern Border, Northern Plains, Eastern Sea, Western Desert, and Central Continent, initially separated by regional walls. Cultivation is divided into nine ranks, with rank 6 marking the divide between mortal Gu Masters and immortal Gu Immortals. Resources are finite, leading to constant conflict among all inhabitants.

Publication History and Censorship

Reverend Insanity was serialized on Qidian from June 22, 2012, until its termination in May 2019, totaling 2,333 chapters plus an epilogue. In April 2019, the novel was banned in mainland China for allegedly promoting unhealthy values of violence, cruelty, and extreme individualism. It was removed from all major domestic platforms. No new official chapters have been released since the ban. An official English translation on Webnovel began in 2019 but was discontinued around chapter 1,000 in 2021. Unofficial fan translations covering all 2,333 chapters remain available online.

Adaptations and Ongoing Legacy

An official manhua adaptation was serialized from 2018 to 2020, totaling 96 chapters before being discontinued due to funding difficulties related to the novel's ban. In July 2025, an unofficial fan-supported manhua remake by Kodoku Studio began serialization and remains ongoing. The author has released no new chapters since the ban but has published other works.