Everyone holds the Ten Thousand Souls Banner? In our great nation of Yanhuang, everyone is a demon c

Zhao Lingge, a disciple of the White Deer Sect, had spent a century cultivating diligently in the Spirit Spring Valley, painstakingly comprehending the "Impermanence of the Heavenly Dao." Today, she stood before the flashing blades, her longsword tinged with golden light by the dawn, its blade like a shooting star. She silently recited, "I am the one who stands upholding the Heavenly Dao, shattering the old order and ushering in a new era." In an instant, the sword intent within her surged, piercing the night, intersecting with the first rays of dawn, transforming into a dazzling sword beam that slashed towards the surging enemy ranks. At that moment, she knew that her era had arrived—she was no longer merely a junior member of the sect, but a sword saint capable of controlling her own destiny.

Far out on the frozen northern plains, Su Mo, the vanguard of the Iron Cavalry, rode the wind for thousands of miles, his hooves shattering layers of ice crystals. He, who had once lost his way in the biting winds, now possessed a heart as still as water. He whispered to his comrades beside him, "Today I march through the snow to reach the pinnacle. Only by recognizing our own direction can we bring forth a new spring in this frozen world." With that, he let out a sharp cry, the banners before his saddle fluttering, and the ice and snow transformed into a rolling warm current by the energy emanating from his feet, engulfing his followers as they headed towards the storm's core at the center of the battlefield—there, sealed was the egg of an Ice Phoenix, a legend said to help the Iron Cavalry clan ascend to the throne of the frozen plains. Su Mo knew that if he could retrieve the egg and return to the battlefield now, it would be the best possible end for his entire lineage.

Deep within the azure waters of the South China Sea, Murong Lan, a dragon general of the Dragon Court, focused his mind on the heart of the waves. Under the moonlight, the waves surged, leaving behind hundreds of dragon-shaped ripples. He inhaled the salty sea breeze, his gaze clear as a mirror: "The surging sea is due to the shore within my heart; the leaping dragon reveals the true nature of my race." A dragon's roar resonated through heaven and earth, and the dragon tide, as if commanded, surged from the abyss, transforming the sea for miles around into a colossal, tumultuous wave. The dragon generals leaped into the crests of the waves, escorting Murong Lan straight to the "Sea Heart Starlight"—the key to cultivating to demigodhood. As the waves subsided, the starlight converged within his body, solidifying into his future heaven-slaying blade.

Beneath the auspicious light of the Heavenly Court, Immortal Venerable Yun Yao stood serenely on the clouds. She had once secluded herself in the Seven Luminaries Star Domain, countless starlight surging into her body, yet true breakthroughs seemed to only be achieved on the battlefield beneath her feet. She raised her hand, and countless stars overflowed from her fingertips: "The Great Dao is silent, only the will to fight is clear. Today's destruction and annihilation is the moment I become an immortal." The countless stars transformed into a galaxy, flowing into the "Seven Luminaries Star Core" in her palm, instantly erupting with myriad divine rays that shot straight into the sky. That divine radiance connected with the Heavenly Court's battle formation, sweeping away everything in its path, causing all the demonic soldiers who coveted the Immortal Realm to feel awe in an instant. Yun Yao murmured: "My era has been destined at this moment."

Zhaojun Yue, a sorcerer of the Jiuli Secret Sect, manipulated incantations in the night. Using the spirits of the dead as her bond and her own past as her guide, she summoned the souls of her ancestors to the battle array. Ghostly flames flickered, and thousands of spirits transformed into a sea of ​​crimson flowers, enveloping her completely. Deep within Zhaojun Yue's eyes lay a chilling insight into the future: she was no longer merely a guide for the dead, but would use the power of the souls to become the key to the "True Inheritance of the Underworld." She murmured, "Where there is life, there is death; only by understanding life and death can one stand at the pinnacle of all paths." With that, the spirits sang a hymn of life and death, converging the ghostly flames into a path through time and space leading to the heart of the underworld. Zhaojun Yue stepped into it, her figure instantly vanishing in the center of the sea of ​​fire.

The four battle formations resonated like a symphony, guiding each cultivator to their own peak—the most authentic and suitable future, the destiny they had always longed for but had never fully grasped. The war drums beat like heartbeats, shaking heaven and earth and invigorating the will of the people. Chen Xiu and the core guards were positioned in the center of the formation, using the "Great Dao Pivot" as the axis, converging everyone's thoughts and intentions into an invisible torrent, surging towards the towering volcanic valley entrance ahead.

Deep within the volcanic valley, sealed lies the "Crimson Flame Core," said to be able to forge a ten-thousand-foot-high sea of ​​fire in a single breath. If this core were to emerge, it would suppress the main force of the demon race, laying the foundation for humanity's millennia-long dominance. Chen Xiu's gaze was solemn: "The success or failure of this group rests on our shoulders. You are the spark carrying the power of the future." He pointed to the guard's longsword and casually responded: "Follow me, let our swords clash, shattering all demons; with our will, let us illuminate the Nine Provinces!"

The guards unleashed their unique skills: the Tai Chi Mystic Blade, the Wind and Thunder Technique, the Nine Heavens Feather Fan, the Starry Robe… Each weapon and each spell became a condensation and declaration of their "best state." Hundreds of people combined their strength to strike, condensing into a blazing sun-like blade of light that shattered the fourth volcanic seal pressing down on the valley entrance. Flames erupted forth, illuminating the sky, rolling like a giant crimson sun.

"The spark has appeared, the future has been determined!" Chen Xiu roared, hurling out the "Great Dao Pivot," which transformed into countless golden rays that scattered towards the center of the sea of ​​fire. The golden light leaped on the surface of the Crimson Flame Core, instantly sealing off the raging flames that stretched for thousands of feet, and slowly receded, drawing the core into his palm. In an instant, ten thousand rays of fire converged into one, blazing like a rainbow, as if the heavens and earth themselves were burning with intense heat.

"This is the 'best version of myself,' and 'my future'!" He laughed heartily, the fire core in his palm transforming into a dazzling crimson star, like the heart of a new era, proclaiming the imminent arrival of a new golden age for humanity. In an instant, all the cultivators looked up at the sky, as if to etch this crimson new star into their hearts: it was their shared victory, and the perfect snapshot of their individual destinies.

The battlefield erupted once more—the main force of the demon race surged forth from the earth, attempting a final desperate attempt to reverse their decline; the celestial soldiers and generals under the Immortal Venerable's command circled the sky, seeking to reclaim lost territory with divine might; the Netherworld Messenger, wielding the scythe of death, swept in, intending to end all living beings with their souls. But at this moment, the world was in the hands of all living beings: countless cultivators, each with their own "blueprint for the future," focused their minds and fused their individual will for success with the rhythm of the collective battle formation. Time and again, defense and counterattack, guided by the fire core, transformed into the most powerful offensive force.

Amidst the flames of war and the rain of blood, every charge was a crowning achievement for their era, and every defense a safeguard for their future. Though there were losers, almost none hesitated—for they had all come to a complete understanding: "What kind of self is truly the best candidate to achieve their future?" They were no longer bound by yesterday's gains and losses, but instead, with unwavering resolve and burning desire in the present, they swiftly marched toward the path to their destined peak.

The smoke and fire of war were finally swallowed by a sea of ​​crimson light, and the sky warmed like the rising sun. The banners of the human race flew high amidst the flames, and under their glow, countless cultivators looked up to the sky and chanted—a chant that was both a triumphant song and a cry for the future. The primordial land had been rewritten by their collective efforts: no longer bound by predetermined fate, only pathways to the heavens forged by the will and desires of all living beings, allowing every brave soul who dared to face challenges, to understand themselves, and to shape their future to create their own era.

—A new era dawns, and so begins. The days ahead are long, and countless legends await; but no matter the trials and tribulations, as long as hope and faith remain, everyone will write an immortal epic in this new era. (End of Chapter)