The Record of Exterminating Evil from Ashes

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A series of fine cracking sounds erupted silently from Cen Jin's body, crisp yet deadly, piercing through the remaining wind in the mountains and particularly jarring atop the silent, desolate peak of Luochen Mountain. The spiritual energy he had just cultivated against all odds, which had been circulating endlessly like the sun and moon, now had countless spiderweb-like lines spreading across its surface. The warm, black-and-white aura trembled violently, its brightness fluctuating, on the verge of collapse.

In his mind's eye, the lingering, innocent echo of his childhood dream had not yet faded when that timeless warning, like a morning bell and evening drum, sternly shattered all of Cen Jin's illusions.

"What He wants is never the foundation stone for mending the sky, but your seed of the Dao of the Heavenly Cycle."

With just a few words, Xuan Ye Zun's hypocritical scheming facade was completely torn off, revealing the deepest and most ruthless secrets of the eternal chess game.

Previously, Cen Jin had always believed that he was a chosen material for mending the heavens, a pawn used to balance the good and evil of the world and reshape the order of the heavenly way. But only now did he fully realize that from the moment he broke free from the shackles of good and evil for thousands of years, comprehended the unique Great Dao of Balance, and condensed the cycle of the heavens, he himself had become the most precious seed of the Dao in the world.

The foundation can be replaced, but the seed of the Dao is unparalleled.

Throughout countless ages, numerous prodigies have entered the game, and cultivators have attained enlightenment, yet none have been able to forge this new path that transcends good and evil. Only he has successfully condensed the Dao Seed of the Heavenly Cycle. This Dao Seed encompasses Yin and Yang, balances all energies, and transcends the rules of the game. It is Xuan Ye's only opportunity to reshape the universe and ascend to the true supreme Dao.

It turns out that all the hardships he endured on the lonely mountain for three months, his enlightenment through the dawn and dusk of the four seasons, and his defying the odds to refine his inner energy—all of his breakthroughs and growth—ultimately fell within the other party's calculations. Xuan Ye Zun never rushed to kill or plunder him, but patiently nurtured him and waited quietly until his Dao seed was perfected and his foundation was solid, before reaping the rewards in one fell swoop and enjoying the supreme Dao fruit that was hard to find even in eternity.

"Good patience, good calculation."

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Cen Jin muttered to himself, his deep, black-and-white eyes suddenly hardening, the composure he had shown when breaking the deadlock replaced by a cold and stern look.

He remained calm, and his resolve did not waver. Having experienced countless life-or-death situations, he had long been accustomed to the layers of destiny binding him. The more desperate the situation, the more steadfast his resolve became. His resolve was unshakeable, impervious to all laws. Even if his celestial body cracked and his Dao seed was spied upon, his resolve remained as unyielding as an ancient mountain.

With a slight movement of his fingertips, the remaining power of the universe instantly receded and was contained within.

The black and white aura that had been radiating outwards and sweeping across the mountains suddenly receded, shrinking entirely back into his meridians and dantian. The cracks in his dantian, which were on the verge of collapse, slowly stopped spreading under his extremely precise control of his Dao heart, and the previously chaotic righteous and evil energies returned to a stable and dormant state. He did not forcibly repair the cracks, but instead followed the natural course, completely sealing the entire dantian and hiding it deep within his dantian, without revealing the slightest abnormality.

Since the other party is aiming for the Dao Seed and is deliberately waiting patiently, he will conceal his strength and feign innocence, remaining unchanged in the face of all changes.

The somber wooden box beside her swayed gently. Cen Wantang, supporting herself on the edge of the box, cautiously peeked out. The girl's eyes were clear and bright, devoid of any malevolence, only filled with worry and unease. In the instant the universe cracked open, the symbiotic energy between the siblings fluctuated violently. She clearly sensed the danger her brother had encountered, and her heart tightened inexplicably.

"Brother," she called softly, her voice gentle and sweet.

Cen Jin lowered his eyes, all the sternness in them fading away, leaving only tenderness and warmth. He raised his hand and gently stroked the top of the girl's head, his fingertips gentle and long, steadily calming her restless mind.

"It's nothing."

He reassured her gently, his tone firm and calm, "It was just a minor setback, but it's already under control."

Wan Tang nodded as if she understood, then obediently retreated into the wooden box. However, her clear eyes remained fixed on Cen Jin, never leaving his side. Her remaining fragments of ancient memories and her extraordinary spiritual sense allowed her to vaguely glimpse the truth of the game, but she could not fully express it. She could only silently stay by her brother's side, using her meager power of restraint to quietly help him stabilize his energy.

Deep within the Nine Heavens Demon Realm, that ethereal and indifferent divine thought once again enveloped the mortal world, carefully sweeping over Luochen Lonely Mountain with a hint of doubt and scrutiny.

The flaw that had just appeared in the Zhou Tian was gone in an instant. At this moment, Cen Jin's aura was stable and his Daoist charm was restrained. He still seemed to be the same pawn who had cultivated the Great Dao of Balance and was ready to mend the heavens. There was no trace of his Dao Seed being exposed or his own understanding of the truth.

Xuan Ye Zun's probing attempt failed, his divine sense subsided slightly, and finally transformed into a cold sigh, dissipating into the world. The remaining torrent of demonic energy slowly receded and returned to its place, and the supreme pressure that had enveloped Lonely Mountain also gradually faded away.

The strange phenomena in the heavens and earth have all subsided, but the dangers of the game of life have already seeped into the marrow of one's bones.

Cen Jin raised his eyes and looked at the main peak of the Demon-Slaying Peak at the end of the sea of ​​clouds, his gaze calm and distant.

He secluded himself on a lonely mountain, practicing asceticism day and night, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Two years is enough time for the world to change completely. The chaotic situation of Xiao Yu leaving the mountain and the righteous path being without a leader has become increasingly unbalanced. The internal factions of the Exorcism Bureau have been completely divided. The pro-war faction holds most of the power in the mountain gate, submitting memorials to the emperor every day, determined to eliminate Cen Wantang and eradicate the root of the demonic calamity, regarding him and his sister as the greatest hidden danger to humankind; the conservative faction is weak and can only secretly endure and watch, barely managing to cover for and deal with the two.

After two years, his arduous cultivation was complete, his Dao heart was fulfilled, and his Great Dao was formed. There was no longer any need for him to remain in seclusion on Lonely Mountain. Blindly retreating and yielding would only increase the suspicion of the sect and make people more biased, ultimately forcing him into a passive situation and falling into the deadly trap set by the other side.

Now that the Heavenly Cycle is hidden and the Dao Seed is concealed, he has the resources to confront all conflicts and contend with the eternal chess game.

It's time to bid farewell to Cangshan and enter the world.

Cen Jin slowly rose, his posture as upright as a pine tree, standing atop the snow-covered peak. His aura was gentle yet sharp, shedding his youthful naiveté and gaining a more composed and dignified air of someone who had mastered the Great Dao.

He raised his hand and put away the shattered, dark wooden box. The ancient wood, weathered by years of wind and rain and countless near-death experiences, was now riddled with cracks and devoid of spiritual energy, no longer able to seal demonic power. Yet, it had become a testament to the brother and sister's unwavering companionship and shared hardships. Cen Jin carefully tucked the wooden box close to his body; it wasn't a sealing artifact, but rather the most precious bond of his life.

Then, he ran his fingertips over the talisman on his chest.

At this moment, the waist token, with its interplay of golden light and scarlet patterns, perfectly balanced the righteous and evil energies, no longer leaning solely towards either side. This token, which carried three hundred years of righteous inheritance and was imbued with the essence of the demon lord, now perfectly aligned with his Great Dao of Balance, becoming a symbol of his authority to govern the old and new righteous paths and to maintain the balance of the world.

After two years of arduous practice and four seasons of enlightenment, what he realized was never a way to escape the world, but rather a heart that engages with it.

True Daoist heart is never about hiding in the mountains, staying away from strife, or cultivating oneself in solitude. Rather, it is about facing the world in chaos, confronting people's hearts, and still upholding one's true nature. True breakthrough is never about escaping the game or avoiding scheming. Rather, it is about actively entering the game, breaking the game with one's own body, substituting one's own Dao for the Dao of Heaven, and breaking fate with one's true nature.

The wind and snow stopped, and a sliver of cloud appeared.

The snowstorm on Luochen Lonely Mountain has ended; after two years of secluded cultivation, this day marks the final chapter.

Cen Jin took a step and descended the mountain through the snow.

With each step he took, the snow beneath his feet melted silently, and the black and white Daoist aura flowed quietly, yet remained extremely restrained, not revealing the slightest bit of his power. He did not fly or make a fuss; his steps were steady and composed as he walked step by step over the withering and flourishing vegetation of the Lonely Mountain, over the bluestone where he had sat in meditation for two years, and over this serene place that bore witness to his newfound Dao.

The road down the mountain is also the road into the world.

The spiritual energy along the way grew increasingly chaotic, and the tumultuous scene of the Demon-Slaying Mountains could be seen from afar. The spiritual light of the mountain gate's protective array flickered and its operation was disordered. Countless cultivators darted through the air, their steps hurried, their expressions tense, and the atmosphere was filled with the oppressive tension of an impending storm.

In the span of two years, calamities and evil spirits have frequently struck the human world. The prefectures and counties are filled with yin energy and rampant with evil spirits, leaving the people displaced and suffering unspeakably. Yet, the dignified Exorcism Bureau, instead of thinking about suppressing evil and bringing peace to the people, has become mired in internal strife and disputes, obsessed with judging good and evil, and suspicious of its own disciples, completely abandoning its original intention of upholding the Dao for thousands of years.

Seeing this chaos, a hint of coldness flashed in Cen Jin's eyes.

For millennia, the rigid adherence to the righteous path, clinging to black-and-white rules, has ultimately trapped not evil, but the human heart. It is this stubbornness of the righteous path that gave Xuan Ye Zun the opportunity to exploit, allowing the ancient game to continue indefinitely and escalate.

Today, he bids farewell to Lonely Mountain to overturn these corrupt rules and reshape the righteous path of humanity.

Just as they entered the mountain gate, several sharp, piercing sounds suddenly came from above.

Five deacons dressed in orthodox Taoist robes of the Exorcising Evil Division blocked the way in mid-air. Their sword aura was chilling and their pressure was overwhelming. Their eyes were cold and sharp, and they were fixed on Cen Jin in front of them. Their attitude was tough and rude.

"Cen Jin, you have secluded yourself on Lonely Mountain for two years, remaining hidden and raising demonic siblings, concealing your demonic cultivation. Do you know your crime?" The head white-haired deacon rebuked in a deep voice, his sword energy pointing directly at Cen Jin's brow. "The sect's laws stipulate that good and evil cannot coexist. Human cultivators are forbidden from harboring demonic threats. You possess heretical cultivation and have protected demons, violating the millennia-old sect rules. Surrender immediately and come with us to the hall for trial!"

Two years later, the pro-war faction of the mountain gate had already gained an absolute advantage and completely disregarded this young man who held the inheritance and cultivated the heretical path, regarding him only as a sinner who had strayed onto the evil path and protected evil spirits.

Faced with the encirclement of five cultivators and the chilling sword energy pressing down on him, Cen Jin remained unmoved, his expression calm and undisturbed.

Now that his Dao heart is firmly established and his cosmic cycle is complete, his foundation far surpasses that of all the elders and deacons of the mountain sect. The pressure and sharpness of this group of cultivators are like fireflies trying to shake the moon to him, not worth mentioning.

"Sect rules?"

Cen Jin spoke softly, his tone calm yet carrying a penetrating power: "The old rules are corrupt, they trap people's hearts, disrupt the righteous path, and harm the common people. Two years ago, Senior Xiao Yu resigned from his post, already signaling the end of the old way. With the old rules broken, what crime have they committed?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he slightly raised his palm, and the black and white evil-repelling waist token slowly floated into the air, its warm and profound Daoist aura spreading out.

The immense pressure of the three-hundred-year-old sect's authority and the changing of the guard instantly enveloped the entire area. The five sharp sword energies suddenly froze, and the deacon standing in mid-air stiffened abruptly, his expression changing drastically. The toughness and arrogance in his eyes instantly turned into horror and fear.

"A...a talisman for warding off evil spirits?!"

The head steward exclaimed in shock, his face filled with disbelief, "The token of the sect that Xiao Yu has held for three hundred years is actually in your hands?"

"Our predecessors left the mountain, leaving us with the responsibility of preserving the righteous path."

Cen Jin's gaze was cold as he swept over the crowd, his words resounding: "Today I bid farewell to Cangshan and entered the world, not to vie for power, not to make enemies, but only to restore righteousness, quell chaos, and protect all living beings. From now on, good and evil will not be defined by old rules, nor judged by people's hearts, but only by one's own heart, by all living beings, and by the balance of heaven and earth."

"You have abandoned the safety of the common people, become deeply mired in factional infighting, and cling to outdated and corrupt rules. You have long lost your true nature and righteousness."

These few words encapsulate the true meaning of the transition between the old and new righteous paths.

The five deacons were pale and ashen-faced, caught in a dilemma. Holding their waist tokens signified the highest authority within the sect; they had no right to question or defy them. Yet, the orders from the pro-war faction behind them were like a mountain, preventing them from backing down. For a moment, they were completely locked in a stalemate.

Cen Jin had no intention of getting entangled with the lower-level deacons. He raised his hand and waved it lightly, and a gentle yet domineering Daoist aura spread out, directly repelling the sword energy in front of him and opening up a clear path ahead.

"Get out of the way."

Once a word is uttered, there is no room for argument.

The five deacons involuntarily retreated, and no one dared to stop them in the slightest.

Cen Jin retrieved his waist token, carefully concealing it on his person, and walked calmly towards the council hall of the Demon Extermination Peak. The crowd in front of him made way, and all the cultivators who saw his figure showed complex expressions, including awe, fear, expectation, and hostility.

After two years of seclusion, he emerges from obscurity, and the world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall landscape or格局, a concept encompassing both state and environment) will be completely rewritten from this point on.

But no one knew that at this moment before he entered the world, deep within the Nine Heavens Demon Realm, the long-silent, ethereal figure had quietly condensed a wisp of pitch-black Dao at its fingertips.

Xuan Ye Zun looked down upon the mortal realm, his gaze indifferent yet filled with extreme greed, his soft murmurs drifting away on the wind:

"Two years have passed, and the seed of the Dao has been successfully cultivated..."

"Being involved in worldly affairs is also good."

"Only by being at the center of the game can this unique Zhou Tian Dao Seed be perfectly harvested."

At the same time, deep within Cen Jin's Qi Sea, the previously stagnant and cracked spiritual energy circulation, in an instant unnoticed by anyone, saw fine lines quietly spread again, silently and steadily closing in.