Under One Person: I Opened the Age of Mythology

Chapter 607

Just as the bear swatted away an out-of-control wolf cub with its paw, knocking it unconscious, a figure emanating from the shadows of the nearby ruins, crackling with fierce hatred and uncontrolled demonic power, suddenly pounced out!

It was a half-demon boy, about thirteen or fourteen years old in human form, but half of his face was covered with scales, and one eye was a strange vertical pupil. He held a poisoned bone dagger in his hand and moved with great speed, stabbing straight at the bear's back!
The venom in those eyes was something no ordinary, out-of-control cub could possess!
The bear's senses were incredibly sharp; it was too late to turn around and block. It could only roar, and its earth-yellow demonic power instantly condensed into a thick rock armor behind it.

Clang!
The bone dagger struck the armor, sparks flying, but failed to penetrate. The young half-demon was thrown back by the force of the impact and crashed to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Yet, he still glared at the bear, his eyes burning with deep-seated hatred.

In that instant, the bear's massive body trembled violently!

A tremor originating from the depths of his soul struck him like a thunderbolt!

The half-demon boy's face... the contours between his brows... the familiar feeling hidden deep in his resentful eyes... it was seven parts similar to the Lin family patriarch in his memory, whom he had personally torn apart and who had cursed him with the same look before his death!
Especially on the boy's neck, there was a faint flame-shaped mark that resembled a birthmark, which was exactly the same as the family mark of the direct line of the Lin family back then!
"You...you are...Lin Batian?!"

The bear's voice trembled with disbelief, its massive fist clenched unconsciously, and a violent killing intent rose uncontrollably!

The blood debt at Black Wind Ridge and the agonizing screams of his loved ones instantly overwhelmed his reason!

The flames of revenge nearly consumed him!

The enormous bear paw rose, its nails snapping out like blades, and with an aura of destruction, it was about to strike down on the half-demon boy who was struggling to get up, his eyes filled with hatred!

"Bear!"

A chilling shout, like a icy spring pouring down from the heavens, instantly pulled the bear back from the brink of rage!
Yang Jian's figure appeared in the sky above the battlefield at some unknown time. The silver light of the "Heart Scales" divine core between his brows shone like the sun, and an invisible shackle of law instantly wrapped around the giant paw that the bear had raised, preventing it from falling.

A huge, silver, phantom-like scale appeared between the bear and the half-demon boy.

On the left side of the scale: the bloody scene of the Lin family of Black Wind Ridge slaughtering their bear relatives appears, as well as the flame birthmark on the neck of the half-demon boy.

On the right side of the scale: the half-demon boy before us is shown being bewitched by the remnants of the immortal sects and joining the Blood Boiling Alliance, and his bewildered appearance at this moment, with only the incited hatred in his eyes and no memory of his past life.

The scale beam trembled violently, as if bearing an unbearable weight.

"Past blood feuds, present-day child. The one who seeks redemption, to whom should the butcher's blade be raised?" Yang Jian's voice, like a cold iron hammer, struck the depths of Xiong Pi's soul. "Has this child stained his hands with the blood of your kin in this life? Does he know of the grudges of the past? Is your revenge to settle old sins or to create new blood debts? The choice is yours to make!"

The bear's enormous body trembled violently, its huge, bell-like eyes fixed on the half-demon boy before painfully closing.

The desire for revenge and the belief in redemption tore him apart within him. He seemed to see the scales of his heart, one side showing his own descent into hell, and the other showing the innocent boy's soul being scattered.

The immense pain caused him to let out a suppressed, desperate roar, like that of a trapped beast.

Just as Xiong Pi was on the verge of a mental breakdown, a calm yet resounding voice echoed directly in his heart:

"Idiot."

Sun Wukong's figure appeared silently on the scorched earth, his dark gold Taoist robe spotless. He didn't look at the bear or the boy, his gaze sweeping across the chaotic and bloody battlefield, over the out-of-control cubs with bloodshot eyes and screaming in pain.

"Viciousness is not the nature of demons, but the evil consequence of imbalance, the fuel for resentment." Sun Wukong's voice carried a profound insight. "When reincarnation collapses, demonic power runs rampant like a wild horse; the remnants of the immortal sects, with their malicious incitement, add fuel to the fire. These young ones are not born bloodthirsty, but are sacrifices for the errors of heaven and earth and the treachery of human hearts. How is it any different that the butcher's knife is pointed at them, just as it was pointed at your own family by Lin Batian back then?"

These words were like a wake-up call, instantly extinguishing the raging fire of revenge in Xiong Pi's heart. His huge body trembled violently, the bloodshot in his eyes faded, and in their place came a deeper pain and... a hint of enlightenment.

Yes, his massacre of the Lin family was a blood debt that needed to be repaid in blood, but it also created new orphans and widows, and new seeds of hatred.

How similar is this half-demon boy before him to him?

He's just another pathetic creature manipulated by fate and consumed by hatred!

Sun Wukong turned his gaze to the edge of the battlefield, where Jin stood silently, the deep purple flame mark between his brows pulsating slightly, as if sensing the violent and chaotic demonic energy fluctuations in the battlefield.

"ember."

"Disciple is here!" Jin immediately bowed.

"Your chaotic affinity is the key to harmonizing all things. The raging demonic power here is also a manifestation of the imbalance of chaos. Can you guide it, transform the malevolent energy into a controllable force, and find a way to survive for these lost children?"

Sun Wukong's words were like a spark igniting the darkness.

A bright light flashed in Jin's eyes. He took a deep breath, as if sensing the pulse of the violent elements in the space: "Disciple... is willing to give it his all!"

With Sun Wukong's approval, Jin immediately took action. He no longer suppressed the mark between his eyebrows, but instead actively guided the deep purple chaotic affinity power to spread out.

This force is gentle and inclusive, like an invisible tide, slowly caressing the battlefield.

Something amazing happened.

Those cubs, the most ferocious ones, who were locked in combat with the redeemers, visibly faltered, a hint of confusion flashing in their crimson eyes.

The demonic power that raged and tore flesh within them seemed to encounter some kind of attraction and soothing, and its violent momentum visibly weakened, becoming slightly more "obedient".

"It works!" Nezha exclaimed in delight.

Yang Jian immediately ordered: "Heavenly soldiers, form ranks and cooperate with Jin to focus on binding and isolating them. Do not kill any more! Bear, lead the redeemers to take these calmed cubs away from the core of the battlefield!"

Taking advantage of the moment when the power of the Ember had calmed the most violent impact, Xiong Pi suppressed the complex emotions in his heart and directed his troops to carefully isolate and protect the cubs who had temporarily calmed down, using specially made vine nets and binding artifacts. When he looked at the half-demon boy who was temporarily imprisoned by Yang Jian's power of the Heart Scales and was still glaring at him angrily, Xiong Pi's eyes no longer held any killing intent, only heavy pity and guilt.

After the war, with Sun Wukong's approval and Yang Jian's support, Jin built the "Huali Academy" in a valley near Jingye Valley, which is a relatively independent area at the junction of Beiju Luzhou and Nanzhanbuzhou.

The academy's core mission is to guide and transform runaway demonic power. Jin himself serves as the academy's head priest, and invites great demons who have experienced the suffering of rampant demonic power, such as Xiongpi, to serve as instructors. Furthermore, cultivators from the Mingfa Academy teach methods of cultivating one's mind and character.

Those captured "Blood Boiling Alliance" cubs who could still be saved were sent to the academy. Jin used the power of Chaos Affinity as a guide to help them feel the violent energy within their bodies and learn how to channel it; Xiongpi, on the other hand, used his own experience to recount the evil consequences and pain of being driven by hatred and consumed by ferocity; the academy's cultivators taught them to distinguish right from wrong and to understand the principle of coexistence among the three realms.

The long and arduous road of education began.

The rifts within the demon race have not been healed, but at least a bridge of communication and transformation has been painstakingly built on the ruins of blood and fire.

The turmoil within the Blood Boiling Alliance had just been barely suppressed when, in front of the Ascension Platform, the Myriad Laws Stele suddenly erupted with dazzling golden light and purple aura, weaving together to form a terrifying projection!

In the video, a young Buddhist practitioner, dressed in a moon-white monk's robe, with a dignified appearance and who has just passed the test of Zen mind, is chanting the compassionate Buddhist mantra as he walks through the mountains.

He was surrounded by a radiant aura, attracting several bewildered little flower fairies to approach.

However, just as the little flower fairies were attracted by the Buddha's light and caught off guard, a hint of greed and cruelty flashed in the eyes of the Buddhist monk!

His hands, hidden beneath his monk's robe, moved with lightning speed. Several golden needles flicked from his fingers, instantly piercing the flower demon's brow!

Before the little demon could even let out a scream, its soul was scattered, leaving only a few demon cores radiating the essence of plants, which he then pocketed.

The scene shifts, and he is in a secluded cave, where he is fusing these demon cores into a vajra pestle that emits an eerie, blood-red light!

"You wicked creature!" A roar erupted from the crowd of onlookers!

"A false Buddha! A demon in a monk's robe!"

Guanyin's expression changed drastically, and she instantly appeared before the Buddhist cultivator. With a wave of her jade bottle and willow branch, nectar containing supreme purifying power poured down upon him: "You heretics, how dare you blaspheme against the Buddha! Show your true form and let your hearts be cleansed!"

However, something strange happened!

When the nectar, which contained great compassion and purification power, touched the body of the "Buddhist practitioner," it made a hissing, corrosive sound!

The "Buddhist cultivator" had a distorted face and let out a non-human scream. Dark, evil energy carrying the aura of immortal magic and incantations surged from beneath his skin!
This evil energy stubbornly resisted Guanyin's purifying power, and even showed signs of backfiring and eroding the clear light of the willow branch!
"This isn't a demonic possession within Buddhism! This is... an evil incantation of immortals!" A flicker of shock, anger, and understanding flashed in Guanyin's beautiful eyes. "Who are you?!"

"Hahaha!" The "Buddhist cultivator" let out a maniacal laugh amidst the excruciating pain and exposure. His face, revealed by the collapse of his immortal disguise, was that of a young man filled with deep-seated resentment. "Lin Xiao of the Lin family! Yang Jian killed my grandfather and destroyed my immortal sect! Don't you Buddhist sects preach compassion? Today, I'll let you taste the bitterness of being devoured by the hatred of the demon race! Alas… all your efforts have been in vain…"

Before he could finish speaking, the evil curse within him erupted completely, and amidst a shrill scream, he vanished into a wisp of foul-smelling black smoke, his soul scattered.

Mount Ling, Great Thunderclap Temple. On the lotus throne, the Buddha sighed softly, his words carrying a profound and sorrowful understanding of human nature, echoing throughout the heavens:
"Amitabha. The demon is not outside, but lies in the failure of the scales of the heart. This is not a calamity for the Buddha, but a warning that the mirrors of the hearts of all beings are clouded. The test of the Zen mind should be put into the scales of the heart and subject to the scrutiny of the law. True Lord Yang Jian, from this day forward, all disciples of my Buddhist sect who have ascended to immortality will have their Zen mind examined by the scales of the heart and subject to your judicial supervision."

The Buddha's words are tantamount to voluntarily handing over part of the power to select new blood for Buddhism to the Heavenly Court's legal system.

This is an acknowledgment of Yang Jian's Heart Scale, and even more so, a solemn endorsement of the new order in the Three Realms.

The undercurrent of conflict between Buddhism and Taoism was forcibly incorporated into the framework of law and sincerity through this bloody lesson and the Buddha's decision.

When the shadow of conflict between Buddha and demon was temporarily dispelled, another surge of madness in the mortal world began to shake the balance of the three realms in an even more violent way.

Southern Jambudvipa, Hengduan Mountains.

The deafening roar continued day and night, shaking the earth. Under the command of a young master craftsman named Mo Yan, the massive machinery belonging to the "Crafts Bureau" of the mortal dynasty was undertaking an unprecedented feat—"Opening Mountains and Diverting Rivers"!
"Use machinery to move mountains and fill seas! Use gunpowder to carve through rivers!" Mo Yan stood on the high command platform, full of vigor, and shouted to the sweating craftsmen and guards below, his eyes gleaming with almost fanatical confidence. "What can immortals and gods do to me? The laws of heaven and earth? Nothing but trifles! Once this river is completed, fertile fields stretching for thousands of miles will be just around the corner! This is a great feat of man conquering nature! Bomb it!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of deafening explosions rang out! Tons of gunpowder were crammed into pre-drilled holes in the mountain. Each explosion felt like a giant hammer striking the very fabric of the earth!
The hard mountain rocks shattered and collapsed like tofu under the terrifying shockwave, and huge plumes of smoke and dust rose into the air, blotting out the sun.

The shattered rocks were carried away by giant mechanical puppets, and a massive river channel that runs through the mountains and draws in the great river is being forcibly carved out!
However, this violent method of ignoring the direction of the earth's veins and forcibly changing the landscape has long caused the mountain gods and local deities along the way to be alarmed and have repeatedly petitioned the Heavenly Court, saying that the earth's veins have been shaken and that there may be a great disaster!

"The affairs of mortals have their own causes and effects." The celestial official in charge of this area, due to the newly erected Ten Thousand Laws Stele, did not wish to interfere too much with the "sincere" actions of mortals, but only strengthened the monitoring.

Disaster struck in the end.

Just as Mo Yan ordered the largest-scale blasting operation, attempting to break through the last and most solid section of the mountain ridge.

boom------! ! !
An unprecedented roar accompanied by a landslide! However, the expected river channel was not cleared. Instead, a strong, pungent smell of sulfur mixed with a scorching red glow suddenly shot into the sky from the depths of the blasted mountain fissure!

"Oh no! It's the Earth Lung Poison Fire!" The experienced cultivator turned pale.

The crack was like the gates of hell had been opened! The toxic fire and raging magma that had accumulated in the earth's veins for millions of years seemed to have found an outlet, roaring and gushing out along the channel that had been forcibly blasted open and twisted the direction of the earth's veins!

Even more terrifying, this terrifying energy flow did not flow along the expected river channel. Instead, it was forcibly diverted by the twisted rock layers underground, like a runaway fiery python, rushing towards Qinghe Village, a peaceful mortal village below the mountains that was nourished by the Jingye Valley water system!

The intense heat instantly ignited the forest, poisonous smoke filled the air, and the crimson lava, like a tide of death, was about to engulf the entire village!

The villagers fled in tears and despair.

(End of this chapter)