The Record of Exterminating Evil from Ashes

The road before the gate of the mountain where evil is exorcised is deserted, the wind has ceased and all is quiet.

The five stewards stood rooted to the spot, their faces alternating between pale and ashen, all traces of their previous arrogance gone. The supreme authority carried by the Demon-Suppressing Token weighed heavily on their hearts, completely extinguishing their courage to even raise a hand to stop them. As stewards of the sect, they had upheld the sect's thousand-year-old rules for decades, always believing that good and evil were distinct, black and white. But now, with Cen Jin's words exposing the flaws of the corrupt righteous path, their long-held convictions began to falter.

But the shackles of factionalism and the orders of their sect bound them like chains. Even though they knew that the stalemate ahead was futile, they still dared not retreat an inch.

Cen Jin didn't even glance at the crowd.

The lower-level cultivators are merely pawns in factional disputes, bound by old rules and by those above them, powerless to act, and therefore pointless to criticize. His entry into the mortal world today is not to settle scores with those who blindly follow, but with the corrupt rules, the prejudiced human heart, and that cold chessboard that controls eternity.

He walked with ease and steadily stepped out of the mountain gate's protective barrier.

Originally, he only needed to ascend directly to the main peak's council hall to face the elders of the mountain gate, take control of the succession, and restore order to the righteous path. But the moment he stepped out of the mountain gate, he suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on the vast mountains and rivers beyond.

For two years, he secluded himself on a solitary mountain, focusing on comprehending the Dao, solidifying his Dao seed, and refining his breakthrough Dao, rarely concerning himself with worldly affairs. Now, freed from the protection of the mountain gate's array, all aspects of human life and the chaos of the world flooded into his senses, and the desolation that greeted him was far more tragic than he had imagined.

Within the Demon-Slaying Mountains, the residual warmth of the great formation still provides protection, spiritual energy remains, and order persists, seemingly still a place where the righteous path flourishes. But outside the mountain gates, the land is already ravaged and demonic influence runs rampant.

The blazing sun high in the sky was obscured by layers of demonic mist, its light dim and pale, offering no warmth to the earth. The plains stretched for miles, grass and trees withered, fertile fields lay barren, and villages that once smoldered with smoke were now ruins, a deathly silence enveloping the land. A thin, eerie aura permeated the air, mingled with a faint stench of blood and decay—the despair of a people displaced after the rampage of evil.

This is what two years have passed, and how much has changed in the world.

Inside the mountain gate, the elders vie for power and engage in factional infighting, rigidly adhering to the rules of right and wrong, and engaging in empty talk about the great cause of eliminating evil and bringing peace to the people; outside the mountain gate, the people are displaced and suffering is rampant, demons run rampant and evil spirits are protected in name only.

Cen Jin's gaze darkened slightly, and a chill ran through his heart.

For millennia, the righteous path has protected the common people and safeguarded humanity. But the Exorcising Bureau of today has long since reversed its priorities. They are fixated on judging a person's righteousness or evil, obsessed with bloodline and origin, and bound by outdated rules, while watching helplessly as vast territories fall and countless people suffer, discarding the original aspirations of the righteous path like worn-out shoes.

"Senior brother, why did you stop?"

A hesitant voice came from behind. It was a young disciple of the conservative faction who quietly chased after him outside the mountain gate. His expression was anxious. "The elders inside the hall have already gathered in the council hall and are waiting for you to come and confront them. If we turn back now, we may give them something to say and be accused by the pro-war faction of fleeing from justice."

Cen Jin did not turn around, his gaze still fixed on the vast mountains and rivers, his voice calm yet resounding: "I came into this world not for court confrontations, not for power struggles."

"The rise and fall of the righteous path does not depend on words spoken within the palace, but on the mountains, rivers, and the common people."

As soon as he finished speaking, he shifted slightly, abandoning the easy path leading directly to the main peak, and turned to step into the vast world below. Rather than being trapped in factional strife and verbal disputes within the mountain gate, he would rather go to the chaotic world, see with his own eyes the full extent of the collapse of the land over the past two years, and personally heal the wounds that have spread across the land.

Only by witnessing human suffering can one truly understand, uphold, and establish the Way.

The road ahead was rugged and dilapidated, and the further one went, the more desolate the scenery became.

  

Traveling over a hundred miles, the once bustling ancient cobblestone road is now riddled with cracks, overgrown with weeds, and abandoned oxcarts, tattered clothes, and scattered, dried, blackened bloodstains are everywhere, silently telling the tragic story of the past turmoil. Occasionally, a few scattered villages remain, but nine out of ten are empty, the streets and alleys desolate, devoid of the warmth and life of yesteryear.

The spiritual energy between heaven and earth became increasingly turbid, the positive yang energy became thin and weak, and the yin energy spread everywhere, firmly occupying the earth. Ordinary mortals were physically weak and could not resist the erosion of the yin energy. They were frail and sickly, displaced and homeless. If they made any unusual moves, they would be entangled by low-level demons and die in the chaos of the world.

Halfway there, a faint sobbing sound drifted to my ears on the wind.

Cen Jin looked in the direction of the sound and saw a ragged child huddled in a corner of the broken wall. The child looked to be only six or seven years old, covered in dust and grime, with abrasions and bruises on his calves. He clutched half a cracked coarse grain cake tightly in his arms, shivering and shrinking in the shadows, his eyes filled with terror as he stared at the empty and desolate street.

The surrounding area was shrouded in yin energy, and a faint wisp of low-level evil spirit hovered above the child's head, waiting for an opportunity to invade his soul and devour his life force.

In the past, any outer disciple of the Exorcising Demons Division could easily slay such a weak demon and protect the peace of the region. But now, in this chaotic world, righteous cultivators are all trapped in internal strife within their sects, with no one looking out for the suffering of humanity, allowing these tiny demons to devour the people and cause countless human tragedies.

Cen Jin stepped forward slowly, his body radiating a gentle, black-and-white Daoist aura.

He didn't use any killing power; a mere wisp of balancing Daoist energy flowed out, instantly cleansing the surrounding yin and evil energy. The little demon that had been lurking for evil vanished without a trace under the extremely peaceful Daoist energy.

Warmth enveloped the child, who had been tense and fearful, and he suddenly relaxed. He timidly looked up at the tall, gentle-looking boy in front of him, his eyes filled with confusion and hope.

"Don't be afraid." Cen Jin's voice was gentle as he slowly squatted down, condensing a wisp of pure yang spiritual energy at his fingertips and gently channeling it into the child's body, soothing the accumulated yin cold within him and healing his injuries. "It's alright now."

The child nodded blankly, looking at Cen Jin with eyes that seemed to see the only glimmer of light in a chaotic world.

At this moment, Cen Jin felt even more enlightened.

He cultivated the Great Way of Balance, neither favoring righteousness nor rejecting evil. People all thought he had deviated from the right path and gone astray. But the true right path in this world is never a rigid rule of black and white, nor is it the ruthless killing and extermination.

The path to the great way is one that can protect the common people, bring peace to their hearts, and quell chaos.

He raised his hand, took out some dry food, and gently placed it in front of the child. He then set up a simple protective barrier to isolate the surrounding yin energy and protect this small, peaceful place. Afterward, he got up and continued on his journey, traveling westward and traversing the ravaged mountains and rivers.

Everywhere I looked along the way was devastation.

Some villages and towns were razed to the ground by the demonic winds, with skeletons hidden beneath the weeds; some rivers were polluted by the yin energy, their waters murky and black, barren of all vegetation; some mountains and forests were shrouded in demonic mist, devoid of birds and beasts, becoming dens of evil spirits. Two years have passed, the black mist of the demonic realm continues to descend, the righteous energy of the human world continues to decline, and the vast land is no longer the peaceful place it once was.

Occasionally, one might encounter a few righteous cultivators wandering around, but most of them have no intention of eliminating evil and bringing peace to the people. They either wantonly plunder the remaining resources or coldly watch the suffering of the common people, with their only goal being to accumulate cultivation and compete for the power of the sect.

Even worse, some cling to outdated notions of right and wrong, and upon seeing cultivators in the common people using evil power for self-protection, they kill them without questioning the reasons or distinguishing right from wrong, thus unjustly murdering innocent people and completely tarnishing the name of the righteous path.

Cen Jin traveled, observed, and remained silent.

He never easily punished cultivators, nor did he wantonly kill demons and evil spirits. Instead, he used his own Daoist principles to balance the Dao, silently cleansing the turbid air along the way, comforting the displaced people, and suppressing the small evil spirits that caused trouble everywhere.

He witnessed firsthand how a thousand years of blind adherence to the righteous path had pushed humanity to such a desperate state.

As dusk fell, the setting sun, like blood, dyed the ravaged earth red.

Cen Jin traveled to the ruined city of Linjiang, a thousand miles away. The once bustling and prosperous ancient city of Linjiang now had collapsed city gates, crumbling buildings, and the dark, churning river, carrying fragments of wood and nameless corpses, flowing slowly eastward. Within the city walls, spiritual energy was deathly still, and a heavy, malevolent mist hung in the air. An aura far surpassing that of ordinary demons lingered in the city center, violent and ferocious, intimidating all around.

At the same time, several familiar beams of righteous spiritual light flashed and trembled violently in the center of the city, accompanied by the crisp sounds of clashing weapons and the muffled groans and cries of pain from cultivators.

They are disciples dispatched by the Exorcising Evil Division to suppress high-level demons here.

Cen Jin moved slightly, shattering the evening breeze, and instantly flew to the top of the city wall, overlooking the battle below.

In the center of the city, four disciples dressed in demon-slaying robes were covered in wounds, their breathing disordered, their sword formation on the verge of collapse, desperately holding on. Opposite them, a black water demon general, three zhang tall, trampled through the ruins of a building, his body surrounded by surging black mist, his sharp claws bringing with them a chilling wind. Every move he made was accompanied by overwhelming ferocity, forcing the four disciples to retreat step by step, their lives hanging by a thread.

"We can't hold on any longer! This demon general has already formed a demon core, and his strength is comparable to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. The four of us are simply powerless to resist him!" A disciple coughed up blood, his expression filled with despair.

"The sect headquarters is locked in internal strife, with no one to turn to for help! We guard the border city, risking our lives to protect the people, but in the end, we're nothing but cannon fodder!" Another person's voice was hoarse, full of resentment and sorrow.

The four warriors were on the verge of collapse, their sword formation riddled with cracks, and annihilation seemed imminent. Yet, even trapped in a deadly predicament, they clung to the dozens of surviving civilians, using their broken bodies to protect the last vestiges of life behind them.

They may be of mediocre talent and their hearts may not be fully developed, but they have upheld the most authentic original intention of the righteous path.

On the city wall, Cen Jin's eyes flickered slightly, and he stopped looking around.

He stepped into the air, his body swirling with black and white Daoist energy. He carried no murderous intent, nor any overwhelming pressure. With a single, calm step, he landed steadily in the center of the battle.

The Black Water Demon roared in fury, its black mist claws slamming down, its domineering demonic power sweeping in all directions, intending to crush this uninvited guest who had suddenly intruded.

Cen Jin raised his hand to block lightly, black and white energy flowing in his palm, and the perfectly balanced power of the Great Dao instantly spread out.

The fierce and violent demonic power, enveloped by the balancing Daoist aura, instantly shed its ferocity and returned to peace. The Black Water Demon's killing power was completely dissolved and dissolved, its massive body suddenly freezing in place, unable to move, its eyes filled with extreme fear and confusion.

No need for slaughter, no need for magic battles, the Great Dao suppresses all evil, and all evil is subdued.

This is the terrifying aspect of the New Balance Dao, and also the fundamental reason why Xuan Ye Zun desperately wanted to seize the Zhou Tian Dao Seed.

The pupils of the four seriously injured disciples shrank, and they stared at the young man in front of them in shock, momentarily forgetting their pain and their desperate situation.

Cen Jin lightly raised his fingertips, and gentle spiritual energy spread out, instantly healing the four people's severely injured bodies and calming their disordered internal energy. Then, he looked calmly at the frozen Blackwater Demon General, his voice serene and unwavering: "The people of this chaotic world have already suffered enough. Without evil, there is no killing."

As soon as he finished speaking, he pointed his fingertip, and a wisp of gentle Daoist energy flowed into the demon general's body, cleansing the violent and murderous thoughts in his mind and suppressing his wanton evil nature.

The Black Water Demon trembled violently, the fierce light in its eyes faded, and it gradually regained its clarity. Its massive body slowly prostrated itself on the ground, as if in submission or repentance.

The four disciples were completely stunned, their minds reeling.

Since ancient times, the irreconcilable conflict between good and evil, and the absolute necessity to slay demons, has been an ironclad rule etched into the very bones of all cultivators. Yet today, they have witnessed firsthand how someone can transform demons with the Dao and stop killing with virtue, quelling a deadly calamity without slaying a single demon or harming a single thing.

This scene, which transcended common sense, completely overturned their decades-long understanding of Taoist cultivation.

"The Tao has no inherent good or evil."

With his back to the crowd, Cen Jin gazed at the devastated ruins of Linjiang City and the deep night in the distance. He spoke softly, each word clear and distinct in everyone's ears: "Only with a heart that can distinguish between good and evil can one discern right from wrong. The old ways are biased, using blood to quell chaos, but the more they try to stop it, the more chaos ensues. From this day forward, I establish a new policy: **If demons do not harm the people, there will be peace; if cultivators protect the people, that is the righteous path.**

These simple sixteen characters shattered a thousand-year-old shackle and ushered in a new order of humankind.

The four disciples were shaken to their core, speechless for a long time. The barriers of rules they had held firmly in their hearts for many years collapsed, and a brand new path slowly unfolded before them.

But at this very moment, deep within the Nine Heavens Demon Realm, that long-silent, ethereal figure once again descended with divine thought, enveloping the thousand-mile-long ruined city by the river.

This time, His voice was no longer indifferent and greedy, but carried a hint of playful coldness, resounding throughout heaven and earth, and entering Cen Jin's sea of ​​consciousness:

"Use the Tao to subdue demons, and establish rules with the heart."

"Your path of balance is becoming more and more perfect and pure, and my Dao seed is becoming more and more flawless."

"But do you know—every time you use the power of the universe to establish your Dao, every time you soothe the wounds of humanity, you are repairing the cracks in the heavens and earth for me?"

Before he finished speaking, the originally subtle and spreading cracks in Cen Jin's Qi Sea suddenly expanded by several inches, and for the first time, the perfect Dao Foundation that flowed black and white showed an irreversible defect!