The Record of Exterminating Evil from Ashes

Crimson light pierced the sky, the Dao seed reversed its course.

A torrent of condensed demonic power pierced the sky, solidified like a crimson-gold longsword, carrying the primal might of an ancient demon lord. It tore through layers of black mist in the miasma forest, precisely targeting Cen Jin's vital heart. This attack showed no mercy, no restraint; it was the killing principle that had reached the pinnacle of all evil, enough to shatter mountains and annihilate golden cores. Ordinary cultivators who were struck by it would instantly have their souls and bodies destroyed, reduced to ashes.

Within the miasma forest, the remaining black mist was completely driven back by the demonic light, leaving only a resolute and icy scarlet blade in the world.

Cen Jin stood still, neither dodging nor avoiding.

He clearly sensed the terrifying power of this attack, and even more so, the violent chaos deep within his Qi Sea. The originally stable but incomplete Qi Circulation was completely disrupted by the reverse impact of the symbiotic bond. The black and white Dao patterns reversed and rotated, and the cracks that had just healed began to open again. The piercing Dao wounds swept over his entire body, his meridians ached and felt like they were about to burst, and his Dao foundation was on the verge of collapse.

The bond between siblings leads to mutual destruction.

Xuan Ye Zun's most ruthless scheme was finally realized at this moment. He did not need to take action himself. He only needed to borrow the power of Wan Tang's awakened demon lord and rely on the unsolvable symbiotic relationship between the two to make Cen Jin's Dao Seed collapse and his Dao Foundation destroy itself, resulting in the ending of his closest relatives killing each other and his own destruction.

"Brother, those who obstruct my path to enlightenment will perish."

In the heart of the miasma forest, the girl's cold and indifferent voice rang out once more, devoid of all human softness, leaving only the icy desolation of eternity. At this moment, Cen Wantang's soul was completely suppressed by the demon lord's essence, her memories remaining but her emotions sealed away, leaving only the destiny bestowed upon her by the chessboard—to cut through all obstacles in her path and ascend to the pinnacle of heaven and earth.

Yet, deep within those icy eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor still lingered.

That was the lingering resentment of Cen Wantang's original heart, which had not been completely extinguished. It struggled bitterly under the shackles of its violent demonic nature, unwilling to harm its loved ones or become enemies with strangers.

This faint fluctuation of his true nature went unnoticed by others, yet it clearly settled in Cen Jin's heart.

He felt a sharp pain in his chest, not only from the injury caused by the reversal of his Dao Seed, but also from the churning bitterness and torment in his heart. The perilous situation before him, with a sharp blade piercing his body, was a bloody battle between his closest relatives, a situation he had personally created through the Eternal Chess Game, the most difficult predicament he had ever faced on his journey.

To kill him would be to betray one's blood relatives and crush one's only bond; not to kill him would mean the collapse of one's own Dao seed, the destruction of the new Dao, the fall of the entire human realm, and all living beings becoming victims of the game.

  

A dilemma, a choice with no solution.

Beyond the miasma forest, the world was deathly silent.

Hundreds of newly initiated cultivators on the mountainside held their breath, their fists clenched, their eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness. They saw the situation clearly, but were powerless to do anything about it, and could only watch helplessly as their Dao Master was trapped in a life-or-death predicament where even his closest relatives had turned against him.

On the main peak, the elders all rose, their expressions solemn and pale, devoid of any trace of the narrow-mindedness of factional disputes. According to the old rules, the appearance of a demon lord must be met with the extermination of the entire nation, eradicating him completely. However, seeing the figure of that young man who silently endured the slaughter without retaliating, the righteous path of slaughter that they had upheld throughout their lives began to waver violently for the first time.

High above, deep within the black mist, Xuan Ye Zun silently surveyed the scene, a cold, triumphant smile playing on his lips.

What He was waiting for was not a battle, but the collapse of Cen Jin's Dao heart. As long as Cen Jin harbored resentment and retaliated, the bond between siblings would be completely broken, and his balanced Dao would be tainted by the flaw of bloodshed, making perfection impossible and ultimately turning into a deviant and evil path; if he surrendered and waited for death, his Dao seed would be destroyed, his body would perish and his Dao would be extinguished, and the eternal game would still come to a perfect end.

Whether we advance or retreat, it's a dead end.

The crimson demonic power arrived in an instant, its sharp edge approaching the heart. The chilling killing intent pierced through the flesh, and excruciating pain swept through the limbs and bones.

Just when everyone thought the outcome was decided and life and death were about to be decided, all the struggle in Cen Jin's eyes faded away, leaving only a clear and firm determination.

He didn't fight back, didn't block, and didn't dodge.

Instead, he stood with his arms slightly outstretched and his body steady, calmly accepting the demon lord's deadly attack, which was powerful enough to shatter the heavens and the earth, with his physical body.

puff--

Crimson demonic power instantly pierced through his chest, blood gushing out, warm blood staining his plain white robes. The domineering and violent demonic lord's essence surged wildly into his meridians, wantonly crashing into his Dao foundation, tearing apart his already cracked circadian rhythm. Countless fine Dao patterns shattered completely, and excruciating pain swept over his soul, almost crushing his consciousness entirely.

But Cen Jin's back remained straight, without bending in the slightest.

He raised his eyes and looked at the slender, cold-eyed girl in the center of the miasma forest. His voice was hoarse but unusually steady, carrying a gentleness and determination that pierced through the ages: "Wantang, you are not a calamity-bringing demon, but a pitiful person caught up in fate."

"I cultivate the Great Way of Balance, encompassing the light and darkness of the world, and embracing both the righteous and the evil, all for the purpose of protecting all living beings, helping them overcome suffering, and resolving their destiny."

"The common people must be protected, and even our closest relatives must be guarded. My way is not to kill the innocent, nor to destroy one's own heart."

As soon as he finished speaking, he endured the excruciating pain all over his body and urged the nearly shattered remnant of the Zhou Tian Seed to gather all the reversed Dao power and remaining Dao essence into the wound in his chest.

Instead of seeking healing or repelling demonic power, he used his own body as a cauldron, his innate Dao power as fuel, and his entire body's essence and blood as a catalyst to initiate the ultimate method of salvation through the Great Dao of Balance.

He sacrificed himself to save all evil, protect all living beings, and relieve his family's suffering.

The rampant crimson demonic power, originally a path of destruction and slaughter, was now being forcibly drawn and gently enveloped by Cen Jin's incomplete yet pure Dao heart. The violent origin of the demon lord was gradually soothed, tamed, and cleansed, and the murderous aura of the game, the ancient resentment, and the shackles of destiny contained within were all stripped away, dissolved, and purified by the balancing Dao rhythm.

At the cost of his own Dao foundation collapsing, he forcefully removed the murderous and ferocious nature of this attack, leaving only the pure source of demonic power to protect Wan Tang's soul from being completely eroded by the chess game.

At the same time, within a thousand miles of the miasma forest, countless hidden malevolent ghosts, remnants of evil spirits, turbid and malevolent energies, and evil thoughts, sensing the Dao Lord's sincere Dao heart of sacrificing himself to save evil, all ceased their agitation and prostrated themselves and sank down.

The previously inverted rules of heaven and earth quietly loosened at this moment.

The clear light of day, obscured by miasma, pierced through layers of black fog and scattered across the forest; the earth, eroded by turbid air, gradually stopped withering and began to show signs of life; the evil spirits manipulated by the chessboard shed their malevolent nature and returned to the origin of heaven and earth.

To sacrifice oneself to protect one's family is also to sacrifice oneself to protect the people.

He risked his own life and health to not only protect his beloved family members who were on the verge of collapse, but also stabilized the entire trial barrier with his own crippled body, protecting the millions of people in the vast land outside the barrier.

Beyond the miasma forest, the winds and clouds reversed, and the turbid air dissipated.

The pitch-black mist that had once oppressed the mountains and rivers dissipated at a visible speed, and the suppressed positive energy that had been flowing back into the human world for many days was stabilized once again.

The monks on the mountainside, seeing the light of day reappear, were moved to tears, bowing deeply in awe.

The elders of the main peak stared blankly at the blood-stained lone figure in the miasma forest, their expressions a mixture of despair and complexity. The old beliefs they had held onto for half their lives had completely collapsed. They had spent their lives slaying demons and eliminating evil, believing that killing all evil was the way to righteousness. But they never knew that the true righteous path was to sacrifice oneself to save others from evil, to protect life with one's heart, and to bear the calamity with one's life.

The ultimate difference between the old and new paths has never been the strength of their techniques or the level of their cultivation, but rather their overall perspective and their true nature.

Within the miasma forest, the power of salvation and transformation grows ever stronger.

Cen Jin's body was covered in black and white Dao aura stained with blood light. His incomplete Zhou Tian was on the verge of collapse, his Dao seed was dim and lacked luster, and his cultivation level dropped significantly. However, his Dao heart was clear, stable, perfect and flawless like never before.

Despite enduring countless hardships, he remained kind and protective of life; even when his loved ones pierced his heart with a sharp blade, he never betrayed his original aspirations.

This is the ultimate truth of the Great Way of Balance, the fundamental human nature that can never be calculated or erased in the eternal game of chess.

As the last trace of malevolent energy from the chess game was completely dispelled, the crimson demonic power piercing his heart slowly receded and dissipated.

The black fog that had shrouded the forest for thousands of miles was completely cleared away, the evil and turbidity dissipated, and the air became clear and fresh. What was originally an extremely dangerous trial zone was transformed into a pure mountain forest where spiritual energy was restored and life was rekindled.

The trials and tribulations of the mortal world have come to a complete end.

And the final outcome of this second round of the game was decided at this moment.

Between heaven and earth, a vast and boundless Daoist sound resounded, echoing throughout the eight directions and six realms, resounding throughout the ages.

[The Second Trial: The Trial of the Mortal World's Miasma, now concluded.]

[Trial Judgment: He took the blame for the dead, used his principles to redeem the wicked, sacrificed himself to protect the people, and had no regrets.]

[Merit Verification: He has purified the ancient miasma, quelled the chaos in the human world, stabilized the order of heaven and earth, and protected all living beings.]

[The initial achievements have been fully realized, recognized by Heaven and Earth, and inscribed upon the Great Dao.]

The majestic Daoist chants echoed in layers, carrying the most impartial judgment of heaven and earth, completely overshadowing the cold and treacherous schemes of the game.

Countless golden rays of merit scattered across the heavens and earth fell from the ninth heaven, all converging into Cen Jin's broken body and dimmed Dao Seed. The golden merit was warm and pure, gradually repairing his shattered meridians and damaged Dao foundation, and slowly nourishing his Dao Seed on the verge of collapse.

Although it could not completely heal the flaws in his Dao Seed, it laid an unparalleled foundation for his broken Dao that was recognized by Heaven and Earth, allowing his Dao of Balance to be truly accepted, engraved, and eternally preserved by this world.

In the center of the miasma forest, the scarlet eerie light surrounding Cen Wantang completely faded.

The ancient demon lord's cold and violent nature vanished completely, his frozen eyes slowly regained their clarity, and his innocent and bewildered expression returned. The remaining demonic power lay dormant within his body, no longer restless and rampant, leaving only a trace of weariness and bewilderment from years of experience.

She looked at her brother, who was covered in blood and had a weak but still upright posture. Seeing the bloody wound on his chest that had not yet healed, her eyes instantly filled with tears, and her young body trembled slightly.

"Brother...I...I just..."

Her voice choked with sobs, filled with guilt and fear. She couldn't recall the ruthless killing she had just committed, only the endless regret of hurting her own family.

Cen Jin slightly raised his eyes, a faint, gentle smile tugging at the corner of his blood-stained lips. He raised his hand to comfort the girl, but his body suddenly went limp, his blood surging, and he almost lost his balance.

Upon seeing this, Wan Tang immediately stepped forward and carefully supported his arm, her eyes filled with worry and self-reproach, all traces of her former fierceness gone.

The brother and sister stood side by side, their bodies covered in the marks of time and blood, yet they had completely broken free from the shackles of the second round of the chess game.

Beyond the miasma forest, the people watched with bated breath, the mountains trembled, and the new road's achievements resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

High in the black mist of the sky, Xuan Ye Zun's aura grew increasingly cold and somber. He gazed silently at the brother and sister standing together below, at the initial trial achievements recognized by heaven and earth, at the balanced Dao that had completely transcended calculation. For the first time, his eternally unchanging indifference gave rise to genuine anger and apprehension.

He lost both attempts, and the game became unbalanced.

His meticulously planned, perfect conclusion has been repeatedly shattered, overturned, and reshaped. Human destiny has spiraled completely out of control.

After a moment of silence, the chilling Daoist voice once again crushed the heavens and earth, carrying a chilling killing intent that signaled the impending end:

"Breaking through the impasse twice and gaining merit from heaven and earth, you have indeed exceeded my expectations."

"But the game of chess has never ended. The two trials are merely the prologue; the true **third trial, the judgment of all beings**, is about to begin."

"This time, I will let you see for yourself whether the people you are risking your life to protect are truly worth your utmost effort."

As soon as the words fell, the entire earth trembled violently. The patterns of mountains and rivers lit up, and the obsessions, good and evil of countless cities and villages were forcibly drawn by the chess game, hanging high in the sky, about to be laid bare before Cen Jin's eyes.