The Record of Exterminating Evil from Ashes

The ancient demonic roar shattered the heavens.

In the deepest part of the dark demon realm, the jade coffin, sealed for ten thousand years, shattered completely. A vast expanse of black mist, like a celestial river overturning, crushed layers of righteous clouds, pouring down upon the mortal world. The previously chaotic and turbulent Demon-Slaying Mountains were instantly enveloped by a supreme demonic might that crushed all paths. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth stagnated, and the sounds of wind, insects, and howls in the mountains all fell silent, plunging the entire world into a deathly, oppressive stillness.

On the high platform between good and evil, Cen Jin's body suddenly trembled.

He had just made up his mind to escape the deadlock of the game, to suppress evil blood with a righteous heart, and to bear the calamity with a mortal body, thus forging a new path never before trodden by anyone. But the moment the Nine Heavens Jade Coffin shattered completely, the rules of heaven and earth trembled in response, and the Dao heart that had just settled in his chest began to loosen slightly, as if all the predetermined fates of the world were forcibly pulling him back to the track preordained in the game.

The cracked, dark wooden box in his arms trembled violently.

The fine lines covering the box instantly cracked into large fissures, and tiny wood chips fell off in a flurry. The luster of the ancient yang seal completely dimmed and dissipated. Years of tireless protection day and night, and the trump card that had saved its master from countless desperate situations, had at this moment completely exhausted its power, leaving it utterly devoid of any remaining strength to suppress evil.

The girl in the box breathed softly, and faint demonic patterns quietly emerged from her clothes, with dark lines winding around her wrists and neck, carrying the primordial aura of an ancient demon lord. Yet, the pure, innocent tenderness in her eyes had not faded. The forces of humanity and evil were locked in a stalemate within her body, forming a fragile and eerie balance.

Cen Wantang slightly raised her eyes and, through the cracks in the broken wooden box, quietly looked at her brother standing on the high platform. There was no ferocity or indifference in her eyes, only complete dependence and peace.

That one glance completely steadied Cen Jin's wavering Dao heart.

No matter how the world changes, no matter how the game of history unfolds, his original aspiration has never wavered. He does not seek eternal fame, nor the glory of the righteous path, but only to protect his loved ones and safeguard the glimmer of light in the world.

"Without entering the game, one cannot defy fate."

Cen Jin shouted in a low voice, and a surge of righteous energy erupted from his palm, firmly protecting the wooden box in his arms. The pure Daoist aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator spread throughout his body, not using killing to suppress evil, nor using ruthlessness to establish righteousness, but only with a sincere heart, forcibly resisting the overwhelming demonic power.

Beyond the high platform, a sea of ​​clouds surged.

Xiao Yu, who had been standing guard and silently observing the situation, finally made a move.

His green robes fluttered in the wind, and his cool gaze pierced through the thick black mist, looking into the unfathomable darkness of the Nine Heavens Demon Realm. For the first time, his usually calm and composed eyes churned with extremely complex emotions. There was melancholy, regret, relief, and also a resolute determination that had been brewing for a hundred years.

For three hundred years, he guarded the Demon-Slaying Mountain Gate, overseeing trials, selecting disciples, and guarding the boundary between good and evil. He witnessed countless prodigies fall into the trap and their Dao hearts shattered, and he saw the game of chess repeat itself for a thousand years without anyone breaking the deadlock. Today, he finally witnessed someone break free from the shackles of fate that dictates good versus evil in the face of the final choice.

"Indeed, you are the only variable in a thousand years."

Xiao Yu murmured to himself, his voice carrying the weight of a century of history.

Previously, amidst the ancient demons of the desolate swamp and the heart-seeking of the cold abyss, Cen Jin treaded the edge of the chessboard step by step. Seemingly complying with the trials and nourishing the Demon Lord's seal, he had already subtly deviated from the predetermined path. Others cultivated the Dao seeking perfection to reach the pinnacle of the righteous path, while he guarded his flawless Dao heart to protect his true self and his loved ones. A single thought led to a world of difference, causing an irreparable flaw to appear in Xuan Ye Zun's millennia-long plan of nurturing the situation.

But it was precisely because of this one wrong thought that the balance of human society was completely shattered.

With the jade coffin fully opened, the Demon Lord's original essence returned to its rightful place, the ancient seal was completely broken, and the balance of good and evil in the world has begun to undergo a dramatic change.

Xiao Yu raised his hand and waved it lightly. The spiritual light of the protective array in front of him gradually faded, and the layers of golden barriers slowly dissipated. His originally upright figure seemed to have been relieved of the heavy burden of guarding the mountain gate for three hundred years in an instant. His aura suddenly relaxed, but it also had a touch of desolation at the end of an era.

He stopped observing and slowly stepped onto the platform between good and evil.

Bai Yutai's righteous spirit possesses the power to repel and suppress all evil spirits and heretics, yet it is as docile as flowing water in the face of Xiao Yu, automatically parting the path. Three hundred years of guarding the righteous path and suppressing evil with his own body have long since transcended the ordinary definition of good and evil, making him a silent cornerstone of the righteous path in the world.

"Senior." Cen Jin turned his head upon hearing the voice, his mind slightly focused.

He could clearly sense that Xiao Yu's aura was slowly dissipating. The originally thick, long, and stable aura of cultivation was gradually fading and collapsing, like a candle flame that had burned out, no longer as strong as before.

Xiao Yu stopped in front of him, his gaze sweeping gently over the cracked wooden box, over the faint light of good and evil in the girl's eyes, and finally back to Cen Jin's resolute and clear eyes.

"The game has changed, the tide has turned." Xiao Yu spoke slowly, his tone calm and even, as if recounting a predetermined ending. "The thousand-year trial of the Exorcism Division, the triple death trial, the choice between good and evil—all are null and void. From the moment the jade coffin shattered, the old rules of good and evil are utterly dead."

Cen Jin frowned slightly: "What is the meaning behind your words, Senior?"

  

"It means that the path I have followed has come to an end."

Xiao Yu smiled faintly, his usual coldness and solemnity fading, replaced by a sense of relief and ease. For three hundred years, he had steadfastly upheld his sect's dying wish, upheld the rules of the mortal world, and maintained the balance between good and evil. He had watched helplessly as Xuan Ye Zun's game of chess progressed step by step, yet he was powerless to stop it, and could only wait for the one and only person to break the deadlock to arrive.

Now, the situation has changed, the game has collapsed, the old ways have come to an end, and his mission has come to a close.

"I was originally a surviving guardian of the ancient war against demons, relying on the mountain gate formation and the righteous energy of the human world to survive. Now that the righteous energy has collapsed, the ancient seal has crumbled, and the old order has been broken, there is no longer any need for me to retain this power of guardianship."

As Xiao Yu finished speaking, he raised his hand and stroked his own sword sheath. The green steel longsword trembled slightly, as if reluctant to part with its master.

"I am about to leave the Demon-Slaying Mountains, dissipate my century-long cultivation, and retire from the world to completely break free from the conflicts and strife of the righteous path."

Cen Jin was deeply shaken.

Xiao Yu was his guide since he entered the Dao, the most solid backer of the Exorcising Evil Division, and one of the few top experts in the mortal world when chaos was imminent. If this person were to leave the mountain and go into seclusion, dispersing all his cultivation, it would be as if a pillar of the righteous path in the mortal world had been cut off. When the great calamity came, there would be no innate power to protect it.

"Why do you do this, senior?" Cen Jin asked in a deep voice. "A great calamity is coming, and the righteous path of humanity is in danger. This is precisely the time when you need to guard it."

Xiao Yu raised his eyes to look at the sky filled with demonic mist, his gaze deep and distant: "If I stay, the old rules will not be broken, the old situation will not perish, and Xuan Ye Zun's schemes will always have a way out. Only if I leave the mountain, relinquish my position, and abandon my post can the righteous path of humanity be completely broken through and reborn, and only then can you truly be free from any shackles and walk your own path to breaking the deadlock."

"If the old way does not perish, the new way will not arise."

These eight characters encapsulate the helplessness and resolve of a century of upholding the Way.

Cen Jin remained silent, his heart completely at peace. Xiao Yu's three hundred years of forbearance and perseverance were not due to a lack of ability to break the deadlock, but rather to waiting for him to grow, to take shape, and to break free from his destiny. Now the time had come, and this guardian of the Dao chose to end his own era, paving the way for him.

Xiao Yu looked at his solemn expression, nodded slightly, and then reached for his waist.

A pure white demon-slaying waist token, engraved with ancient and profound righteous patterns, slowly appeared in his palm. The token was warm and smooth, with a restrained golden light and ancient and weighty patterns. It was the symbol of the highest deacon of the Demon-Slaying Division, bearing the authority of the sect for three hundred years and the foundation of the righteous path for a thousand years.

"This talisman is called the Evil-Suppressing Decree."

Xiao Yu gently handed the waist token to Cen Jin, his tone extremely solemn, "The holder of this token can mobilize all the remaining array forces, the library, and the external deacons of the Exorcising Evil Sect. He can also judge cases of good and evil, determine the crimes of cultivators, and mobilize the righteous path's troops. In the past thousand years, there has only been one such token, which has never been passed on to outsiders and has never been taught to disciples."

"Today, I leave this plaque as proof that I am resigning from my post and entrusting you with a glimmer of hope for humanity."

Cen Jin raised his eyes, his gaze solemn: "Senior, do you know what it means to bestow this token upon me?"

"This means that from this moment on, you are no longer an initiation trial disciple of the Exorcism Division." Xiao Yu's gaze was firm, and his words were resounding. "You are the only variable in the righteous path of humanity, the player in the transition between the old and new eras, and the only hope to break the deadlock in this calamity. From now on, the merits and demerits of good and evil, the fortunes and misfortunes of humanity, and the victory and defeat of all ages will all depend on your single thought and your life."

There was no grand ceremony, no announcement at the mountain gate; only a dense fog of demons served as a curtain, and the high platform between good and evil as witnesses.

Cen Jin raised his hand and solemnly accepted the warm and heavy evil-suppressing waist token. It felt slightly cool to the touch, with weathered patterns, and its heavy weight pressed down on his palm. It wasn't the weight of the object itself, but the immense burden of three hundred years of upholding the Dao, the safety of millions of people, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.

The moment the waist token entered his palm, countless ancient scriptures, secrets of demon sealing, and hidden chess strategies, sealed for thousands of years, flooded into his mind like a tide. Countless ancient scenes flashed by: the ferocity of the ancient demon sealing war, the oath of the first Exorcising Bureau, the truth behind Xuan Ye Zun's sealing, and the hidden threads of the thousand-year-old chess game—all surfaced in his mind.

His perspective instantly shifted from personal grudges and sibling destiny to the eternal cycle of good and evil and the survival of humankind.

"After I leave the mountain, no one in the Exorcising Demons Division can keep the situation in check." Xiao Yu's voice grew increasingly indifferent, his figure becoming slightly ethereal, and his aura continuing to dissipate. "The elders of the mountain gate each have their own selfish motives, and the righteous factions are numerous. Some fear your demon sister's entanglement and want to eliminate you to prevent future troubles; others gamble on your breakthrough and rebirth, and are willing to secretly help you succeed. From now on, there will be no teacher to guide you, no mountain to rely on, and no rules to follow."

"You have to choose your own path, decide what is right and wrong, and bear the catastrophe on your own."

Cen Jin gripped the waist token tightly in his palm, his back straight as a mountain, and replied in a deep voice, "This disciple will remember. I will not fail the legacy, I will not fail the people, and I will not fail my own heart."

Looking at his resolute expression, Xiao Yu revealed a rare smile in his eyes. His illusory figure became increasingly transparent, and his figure in green robes gradually merged into the vast sea of ​​clouds.

"Focus on your own path. If one day you can truly reverse fate and break free from this predicament to find peace, you don't need to think of me. Just protect humanity and the things you hold dear in your heart."

The words faded away with the wind.

Above the sea of ​​clouds, there are no more figures in green robes standing in the snow, no more guardians for a hundred years. Three hundred years of slaying evil and guarding the town have come to an end.

The platform between good and evil was empty and desolate, with only Cen Jin standing alone. The wooden box in his arms was half broken, and the waist token in his palm glowed warmly. He wore only thin clothes and bore the weight of countless changes throughout the ages.

The demonic fog still blanketed the mortal realm, and the oppressive aura of the Nine Heavens Demon Realm descended layer by layer. But at this moment, Cen Jin's state of mind had undergone a complete transformation. He was no longer a boy struggling for his destiny, no longer a pawn caught in the game of chess, but a pathfinder who held the inheritance of righteousness, possessed a pure and sincere heart, and could defy fate.

He looked down at the wooden box in his arms. Wan Tang was sleeping peacefully. The demonic markings slowly subsided, as if sensing the righteous aura of the waist token and temporarily calming the restlessness in his blood.

But at that moment, the originally neat and peaceful righteous path patterns on the surface of the evil-suppressing waist token in his palm quietly turned into a very faint scarlet color.

The patterns of good and evil flowed silently, and the righteous heirloom, passed down for thousands of years, was quietly tainted with the aura of the demon lord's origin at this moment.

Deep within the Nine Heavens Demon Realm, that ethereal and indifferent ancient figure once again uttered a low, muttered murmur, gently descending to the mortal realm and settling into Cen Jin's heart.

"Xiao Yu resigned from the mountain, and the righteous path changed hands..."

"My game of chess has finally come to an end, and I have made... the most perfect move."