The Record of Exterminating Evil from Ashes

The earth roared, and all thoughts hung in the air.

As soon as Xuan Ye Zun finished speaking, the entire human world trembled violently. Beneath the vast earth, countless tiny, mottled points of light broke free from the soil and walls, soaring into the sky. They flew out from cities, villages, and sects across the land, layer upon layer, converging in the heavens to form a vast and boundless curtain of human hearts, hanging high atop the Demon-Slaying Mountains.

This is the foundation of the third trial: the judgment of all beings.

It is not a perilous battlefield of demons and monsters, nor a delusional illusion haunted by inner demons, but rather the most real and chilling depiction of the human condition. Within the screen of light, the selfish thoughts, choices between good and evil, gratitude and resentment, sincerity and deceit of countless people are etched. Every ray of light represents a vibrant human heart; every obsession is a karmic consequence in the human world.

Xuan Ye Zun's schemes were straightforward and ruthless.

He knew that Cen Jin's Dao heart was extremely virtuous, that protecting all living beings was the foundation of his Dao, and that guarding the human world was his fundamental principle. Therefore, He abandoned the trials of killing and instead peeled back the veil of hypocrisy in the human world, allowing him to see with his own eyes how many selfish, cold-hearted, treacherous, and self-serving dark hearts were hidden among the beings he was risking his life to protect.

A deadly trap can be broken, and an illusion can be dispelled, but the human heart is the hardest to cross and the most chilling.

Once Cen Jin's Dao heart is thwarted, questioning his original intention and shaking the balance of the Great Dao, the eternal chess game will be won without His intervention, the new Dao will collapse on its own, and the Dao seed will return to its rightful place.

Within the miasma-filled forest, a gentle breeze blows, and life is rekindled.

Cen Jin leaned on Cen Wantang's arm to steady himself. The bloody wound on his chest had not yet healed, his clothes were stained with blood, and his breath was still weak. Just now, he sacrificed himself to overcome evil and bear the calamity, which damaged his foundation and greatly reduced his cultivation. If it weren't for the merits of heaven and earth nourishing his remaining seed, he would have already perished.

Yet his eyes remained clear as water, without a trace of regret. He quietly raised his gaze to the light screen of human hearts hanging high in the sky, accepting this ultimate test with equanimity.

Wan Tang clutched his sleeve tightly, her eyes still filled with guilt, and whispered, "Brother, there are so many thoughts in heaven, so chaotic and so cold."

She possesses the essence of an ancient demon lord, and her perception of the good and evil in people's hearts far surpasses that of ordinary cultivators. At this moment, the overwhelming selfishness and evil thoughts rushing towards her cause her to instinctively feel conflicted and increasingly hate this ancient game of manipulating people's hearts.

Cen Jin nodded slightly and gently reassured, "What's in turmoil is people's hearts; what's at peace is one's own heart. It's alright."

His voice was calm and his aura was steady. He appeared weak and broken, but in reality, his Dao heart was as firm as an ancient green mountain. No matter how turbulent the outside world was or how unpredictable the world was, he maintained his own clarity.

Beyond the miasma forest, and throughout the mountains of the Demon-Slaying Sect, the atmosphere has subtly shifted.

Previously, the achievements of Heaven and Earth resounded throughout the mountains and rivers. The new cultivators on the mountainside were filled with awe and vowed to follow them to the death, while the elders on the main peak felt ashamed and their beliefs wavered. The order of the old and new Dao had been completely tilted. But when the light curtain of human hearts was raised high in the Nine Heavens, and all the true nature of all living beings was exposed, the dark selfishness hidden within the mountain gate could no longer be concealed.

The first to become agitated were the conservative cultivators and sect members on the main peak.

Previously, intimidated by Cen Jin's power of the Great Dao and his achievements in heaven and earth, they dared not utter a single word of criticism and could only endure and yield. But now that the third trial has begun, the game is aimed directly at people's hearts. Countless fragments of slander, jealousy, suspicion and obsession rise from the bottom of their hearts, merge into the light curtain of the nine heavens, and transform into dark and gloomy black patterns.

"He cultivates unorthodox methods to maintain balance, so he can't distinguish between good and evil. His achievements today are nothing more than luck in a game of chess."

"To protect the Demon Lord's loved ones, he didn't hesitate to shield them from death and condone evil spirits. With such a heart, how can he be worthy of being called the Lord of the Human Realm?"

"If the new path is established, the old rules will be abolished, and our thousand years of arduous cultivation and the power of the mountain gate will all vanish like bubbles."

Whispers spread quietly, tinged with deep resentment and cunning. No one appreciated his selflessness in protecting the people and stabilizing the world, no one remembered his two trials to break the deadlock and defy fate. Everyone was only concerned with their own power and position, their own interests and disadvantages, their selfishness leading them to distort the truth.

  

True indifference is never found among enemies in chaotic times, but among fellow disciples.

A gentle yet deceptive Daoist voice suddenly emanated from in front of the main peak's jade platform, clearly resounding throughout the mountains and instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"Junior Brother Cen sacrificed himself to save the evil and quell the chaos of the miasma. His achievements are truly remarkable, and we should wholeheartedly admire and follow him."

The speaker was Shen Qingyan, the chief disciple of the inner sect of the main peak. He wore a plain-colored Taoist robe, with an elegant figure and gentle features. He was always humble, polite, and pure in his righteousness. He was the most renowned prodigy of the old Taoist lineage and the next generation of successor to the Taoist tradition secretly favored by the elders.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, taking it as a genuine and open expression of admiration for Cen Jin's achievements.

But the next moment, Shen Qingyan's tone abruptly changed, adding a touch of sorrow and regret, each word piercing the heart: "It's just that although Junior Brother's heart is sincere, his path has ultimately gone astray. The Demon Lord has appeared in the world, and the root of the calamity has not been eradicated. Today you have converted the ferocity temporarily, but if the demonic nature relapses in the future, and another catastrophe befalls the human world, who can bear the responsibility for this sin for eternity?"

"The way of balance, seemingly encompassing all things, actually fails to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong. Tolerating evil is to condone the source of disaster. Junior brother's achievements today may become a great calamity for humanity tomorrow."

His words, seemingly fair and objective, and showing concern for the common people, were in fact full of deceit and provocation.

He deliberately stripped away Cen Jin's original intention to protect the common people, amplified the fatalistic hidden danger of the bond between the siblings, and used the future catastrophic disaster to deny the real achievements of the present, subtly guiding the hearts of the sect members and reversing the direction of public opinion.

The most insidious schemes are never openly hostile or confrontational, but rather the use of hypocrisy and righteousness to pursue selfish motives, subtly corrupting others' moral compass and subverting the emerging traditions.

As soon as the words were spoken, the dark patterns of selfishness on the Nine Heavens Light Screen suddenly surged.

Countless wavering disciples were swayed by these words, their initial awe vanishing and replaced by suspicion and apprehension. The previously clear-headed sentiments were instantly and subtly reversed, turning into a turbulent undercurrent.

"Senior Brother Shen is absolutely right! We must nip it in the bud; evil spirits have no kinship!"

"Protecting the people for a time is good, indulging evil and chaos is evil, and ultimately, the balance of justice cannot be tolerated in the world!"

A chorus of agreement rose and fell as more and more disciples of the old sects stepped forward, their words resounding. Under the guise of upholding the greater good of the people, they actually suppressed the new sects and clung to their own selfish interests.

The cultivators of the new path on the mountainside were furious and vehemently refuted them. The two mountain factions were instantly locked in a stalemate, with tensions running high and ready to erupt at any moment.

The wickedness of human nature and the treachery of fellow disciples are now on full display.

In the center of the miasma forest, Cen Jin stood quietly, taking in everything.

He could clearly see through the light screen of the human heart in the Nine Heavens that Shen Qingyan had the deepest true obsession in his heart—no sense of righteousness for the common people, no adherence to the right path, only extreme jealousy, greed and lust for power.

He was wary of Cen Jin's extraordinary talent and transcendent Dao heart, fearing the rise of a new Dao that would overthrow the old order, and dreading the loss of his own reputation as a prodigy and his position of succession. The so-called debate between good and evil, and the worries of the common people, were nothing more than hypocritical pretexts for him to eliminate dissidents and consolidate his power.

People are all deluded by appearances, but only the test of chess can expose the vanity of the human heart.

Wan Tang's eyes reddened with anger, and she muttered indignantly, "They are so hypocritical. My brother clearly saved everyone, and they still want to slander you."

Cen Jin gently pressed her shoulder, his gaze calm and unwavering, revealing only a cold and clear perspective.

"Human nature is inherently selfish; seeking advantage and avoiding harm are normal occurrences."

Having endured two trials, he saw through illusions and defied fate, gaining a profound understanding of the human condition. Where there is sincerity and goodness, there is selfishness and callousness; where there is self-sacrifice for righteousness, there is cunning and opportunism. Light and darkness are interdependent, good and evil coexist—this is the true nature of the mortal world, and the fundamental truth of his balanced approach to the Dao.

He never expects everyone to understand or follow him, and he never fantasizes about a world where everything is good or people are pure.

It is precisely because the world is full of treachery and endless darkness that his path of balance has meaning; it is precisely because his original intention of protecting the world has value.

If one becomes angry at evil and abandons oneself at the slightest provocation, easily wavering in one's mind and denying the path of cultivation, then one's Dao heart is no different from that of an ordinary, biased cultivator, and one is not worthy of being called a new Daoist in the human world.

Faced with rampant slander, treacherous fellow disciples, and cold-hearted people, Cen Jin remained calm, refrained from arguing, and did not fight back.

He merely observed coldly, quietly watching the intertwined good and evil of humanity on the screen, witnessing the hypocrisy and selfishness of his fellow disciples, and seeing the people wavering and drifting with the tide.

This calm and clear-headed state of mind caused the light curtain of human hearts hanging high in the sky to tremble violently.

Xuan Ye Zun set up the third test, intending to shatter Cen Jin's protective obsession with the coldness of the world and the treachery of his fellow disciples, causing him to lose heart, abandon his path, and give up on all living beings. But at this moment, Cen Jin's mind remained steadfast, observing the situation with cold eyes. He was not swayed by malice, nor was he moved by selfishness. Instead, he completely transcended the shackles of the game of human nature.

Deep within the black mist of the Nine Heavens, the aura of Xuan Ye Zun grew increasingly cold and oppressive.

He could calculate the selfishness of people's hearts and the treachery of his fellow disciples, but he could not fathom Cen Jin's transparent heart that embraced both light and darkness and accepted all kinds of people. People fear evil and resent wickedness, but he alone observed evil with a cold eye and calmly accepted all hearts, breaking the most insidious trap of human nature with the most peaceful state of mind.

On the main peak, atop the jade platform, Shen Qingyan saw that Cen Jin remained silent, assuming he was in the wrong, at a loss for words, and retreating out of guilt. A hint of secret smugness flashed in her eyes, and she spoke even louder, pressing him step by step:

"Junior Brother Cen's silence is tantamount to acquiescence! Today, in the name of eliminating evil and upholding the righteous path, I urge you to abandon your attempts to balance the evil path and suppress the root of the demon lord's calamity, restore the old rules, and bring peace to our land!"

As soon as the words fell, dozens of old-path cultivators stepped forward in unison, their spiritual power surging and their magical artifacts hovering high, forming a subtle encirclement. Seemingly offering advice, they were actually exerting pressure step by step, attempting to force Cen Jin to compromise and admit defeat, thus completely undermining the foundation of the new path.

The conflict between the old and new factions escalated completely and openly.

Seeing this, the cultivators of the new path on the mountainside all gathered their qi and prepared for battle. Their Dao aura surged, and they stood firmly against the old path camp in front of them. They would take action immediately to defend the dignity of the new path as long as Cen Jin gave the order.

The wind howled through the mountains, the standoff was tense, and a major battle was about to break out.

At this critical moment when people's hearts were in turmoil and the camps were deadlocked, Cen Jin, who had been silent and indifferent all along, finally slowly raised his eyes.

His gaze pierced through the layers of confrontation, looking directly at the hypocritical Shen Qingyan atop the main peak. His voice was calm yet resounded throughout the entire Demon-Slaying Mountain Range, penetrating the myriad thoughts and desires of the people:

"What you fear is not demonic calamity, nor evil paths, but the narrow righteous path you have upheld throughout your life, which is about to be replaced by the new world."

"What you argue about is not the common people, nor right and wrong, but the power of your sect and the empty fame of your pride that you cling to."

A single sentence exposes the deception and strikes at the heart of the treacherous.

The light curtain of human hearts in the Nine Heavens suddenly changed drastically. All the selfishness, jealousy, and scheming hidden in Shen Qingyan's heart were completely ignited by this sentence, turning into a dazzling black obsession, hanging high in the sky, nakedly exposed to everyone's eyes.

The entire room fell silent, then erupted in uproar.

Everyone could clearly see that the dark spot of light representing Shen Qingyan's true nature contained no trace of righteousness or sincerity, only extreme selfishness and cunning.

The mask of hypocrisy was torn off in an instant.

Shen Qingyan's face turned deathly pale, and she staggered. The gentle and humble look in her eyes shattered completely, replaced by panic and ruthlessness. She shouted angrily, "You're talking nonsense! You're spreading rumors and disturbing people's minds!"

Cen Jin's gaze remained indifferent, coldly surveying the myriad aspects of human nature. He spoke calmly, "The human heart is revealed through the chessboard; heaven and earth bear witness to truth and falsehood. Your selfishness, your use of righteousness for personal gain, your deceitful dealings with fellow disciples, and your distortion of right and wrong—what more do I need to say?"

Each word was powerful and resonant.

The old-fashioned disciples who had echoed their sentiments fell silent, their faces filled with shame, their wavering beliefs completely shattered. Just moments before, they had blindly followed the crowd and wantonly slandered others; now, their own selfish desires and impure thoughts were laid bare, with nowhere to hide.

The deceitful facade of their fellow disciples has been completely shattered.

But the situation did not calm down; a real, deadly crisis was quietly approaching.

High above, Xuan Ye Zun's icy laughter boomed, carrying the chill of impending doom: "What a cold-eyed observation, what a clear-headed understanding."

"You saw through the treachery of your fellow disciples and the selfishness of people's hearts, yet you still insisted on protecting this cold and indifferent world."

"Since you are so obsessed, then I will grant your wish and personally sever your path of life and death for all the people you protect."

As soon as the words fell, the light screen of millions of hearts hanging high in the sky suddenly reversed, and countless obsessions of good and evil frantically converged and reorganized, transforming into a great array of judgments covering all living beings, slowly locking onto Cen Jin in the miasma forest.

This time, it is no longer a trial or a spying session, but a concerted effort by millions of people to decide the fate of the Dao Lord and determine the life and death of the new Dao.