The Record of Exterminating Evil from Ashes

The mountain peaks have fallen silent, the wind has subsided and the clouds have settled.

The clamor of worship from the masses at the main peak of the Demon-Slaying Sect slowly dissipated, and the mountains and rivers returned to peace. Having endured three trials of purgatory, the unification of the two paths, and the righteous return of people's hearts, the entire mountain gate shed the hostility of a century of factional strife, gaining an unprecedented clarity and unity. But this peace was ultimately only superficial; the black mist hanging from the nine heavens had not yet dissipated, the demon lord's divine core lurking deep within the earth's veins was surging with undercurrents, and the shadow of the fourth trial silently loomed over the mortal realm.

Cen Jin stood atop the sacrificial altar on the main peak, the evening breeze ruffling his blood-stained robes, the unhealed wound in his heart still throbbing faintly. The merits of heaven and earth nourished his damaged Dao foundation, but could not completely fill the innate flaws in the Zhou Tian Seed Pattern. That imperfect crack, left by his own hand, remained rooted in his Dao heart, reminding him of the true meaning of balancing the Great Dao—not seeking perfection, but seeking a free and unfettered heart, embracing both light and darkness.

Wan Tang stood quietly beside him, her small hand still clutching his sleeve. The remote summoning by the divine core had exhausted her mind, and a hint of weariness lingered in her eyes, yet she still forced herself to stay awake, protecting her brother closely, fearing further unknown dangers. The demonic essence dormant within her had completely subsided, no longer agitated, as if it had returned to complete peace. But Cen Jin knew that this was merely a brief respite before the storm.

The thousands of cultivators at the foot of the mountain dispersed in an orderly fashion, each going about their assigned tasks. The old and new paths were completely integrated. Some stabilized the mountain gate's barrier, some cleaned up the post-war forests, and some comforted the people in the surrounding countryside. The mountain gate's order, which had been divided for a century, was completely rebuilt in just a few days.

The Grand Elder, accompanied by a group of elders, slowly ascended the stage, their expressions respectful and solemn, showing no trace of the stubbornness and bias of the old ways.

"Lord Dao, the third trial has ended, and the mortal realm is temporarily at peace. However, the game remains unresolved and the destiny unfulfilled." The Grand Elder bowed deeply, his voice deep and solemn. "Lord Xuan Ye is preparing for the fourth trial. The Earth Vein Divine Core harbors hidden dangers. Although we are now united in heart and our lineage is stable, we are still lacking in combat skills and practical experience, making it difficult to cope with the deadly situation of the future."

Every word he said is true.

The fusion of the old and new paths, while excelling in the sincerity of hearts and the purity of Dao, is weak in top-tier killing techniques and the tempering of combat in dire situations. Old-path cultivators cling to rigid sword techniques, their killing methods inflexible and lacking in adaptability; new-path cultivators focus on comprehending the Dao, neglecting the refinement of their weapons. They may be able to contend with ordinary demons and monsters, but when faced with the schemes of those in power, the awakened essence of a demon lord, or a world-shaking killing formation, they are ultimately no match.

The other elders echoed his sentiments, all their eyes fixed on Cen Jin, waiting for him to decide the future.

Cen Jin raised his eyes and looked towards the Sword Tomb Valley, the deepest part of the Zhuxie Mountains. It was the place where the sect's geniuses had secluded themselves to refine their swords over the ages. It contained the origin of the sword path passed down through the ages, and preserved the sword obsession and practical combat essence of countless predecessors. Over the centuries, very few people have been able to comprehend its true meaning.

His mind stirred slightly, and he instantly understood the way to break the deadlock.

The trials of chess never only test one's Dao heart, but also one's Dao cultivation, combat prowess, and perseverance. His Great Dao of Balance encompasses both light and darkness and redeems all evil, but without sufficient combat power to protect himself, his Dao, and all living beings, all his inclusiveness and perseverance are ultimately just castles in the air.

Even if one's heart is free from demons, a sharp blade is still needed to protect it.

"The sword is the edge of the Dao, and the heart is the root of the sword." Cen Jin spoke softly, his voice steady and resolute. "The three trials of tempering the heart have been completed. Today, we will refine the sword with a hundred moves, temper the Dao heart with the Dao of the sword, make up for the shortcomings of killing, and make the Great Dao of Balance both benevolent and sharp in eliminating evil."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and waved it lightly. A gentle Daoist aura spread out, instructing everyone to stay and guard the mountain gate, stabilize the barrier, and reassure people. He then took Wan Tang's small hand, turned around, and soared into the air, heading straight for the Sword Tomb Valley deep in the mountains.

The Sword Tomb Valley is secluded from the world, shrouded in mist year-round, with countless broken swords and remnants scattered across its bluestone grounds. Each broken sword carries the unwavering swordsmanship of a slayer of demons, and despite enduring a thousand years of wind and rain, it still exudes a pure and chilling aura of swordsmanship. This place is free from impurities, evil spirits, and the disturbances of human hearts; it is a natural place for tempering the heart and forging the sword.

The moment I stepped into the secluded valley, a chilling sword intent swept over me, washing away all worldly malice and bringing my restless mind to complete peace.

"Brother, there are so many sword auras here." Wan Tang looked up, her eyes clear. "They're very clean and very firm."

Cen Jin nodded and settled her down to sit and rest quietly by the blue stone in the secluded valley. He instructed her, "You should stay here and focus on regulating your breathing and stabilizing your spirit. I will practice my sword here for a hundred days. Once you have mastered a hundred moves, your Dao heart will be firm."

He said no more, stepped into the center of the valley, and raised his hand to grasp an unclaimed broken sword on the ground.

The sword was mottled and rusty, the blade was broken and incomplete, it lacked any spiritual light or high-level Daoist charm, it was just the most ordinary mountain sect standard longsword. But in Cen Jin's hands, this ordinary sword faintly resonated, as if the sword dao obsession that had been dormant for thousands of years had finally found a successor who matched his true heart.

Ordinary cultivators, when forging swords, pursue exquisite sword techniques, ruthless killing, and overwhelming power, fixated on defeating enemies in a single move and suppressing evil with a single sword strike. But Cen Jin, in forging his sword today, does not take shortcuts of killing, nor does he seek unpredictable moves; he only seeks to unify all moves and refine the mind through the sword path.

His path of balance requires a matching path of balance in swordsmanship. In moments of mercy, he can redeem all evil; in moments of ruthlessness, he can sever all falsehood. His heart follows his sword, and his sword is one with his heart.

hum-

The light sword rang out in the secluded valley, clear and resonant.

Cen Jin stood tall and straight, sword in hand. His first move was unremarkable, lacking any sharp edge or earth-shattering power; it was merely the most basic sword technique for slaying evil. The sword light flowed gently, its Daoist charm mild and restrained, perfectly aligned with his own heart, without bias or deviation.

The first principle is to stay true to yourself and abandon superficiality.

The second strategy is to embrace both light and darkness, and to accept both good and evil.

The third step is to quiet your mind and calm your spirit.

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He executed each move slowly and deliberately, abandoning all magical enhancements, merit aids, and the power of Dao seeds, refining his swordsmanship purely with his physical body, spirit, and true heart. Each move incorporated the true essence of the Great Dao of Balance, and each style honed his Dao heart through three trials.

As the number of sword moves increased, the wind and clouds in the secluded valley stirred slightly.

Suddenly, the broken swords scattered on the ground resonated in unison, and hundreds of pale golden sword spirits rose from them. These were the sword obsessions, lifelong sword hearts, and practical insights left behind by generations of predecessors, hidden in the sword tomb for thousands of years, never to be seen by anyone. Today, they were all awakened by Cen Jin's pure and clear original swordsmanship.

Countless spirit figures, each with a different form—some youthful and fierce, others aged and composed—some wielding swords to suppress evil, others guarding their hearts with swords, floated densely in the air above the secluded valley, quietly observing the young man below who was forging his sword.

If it were an ordinary cultivator, facing the sword spirits of hundreds of predecessors, their mind would have already trembled and their Dao heart would have been lost. They would either be eager to imitate them and lose themselves, or feel awe and be restrained.

But Cen Jin had a clear mind. Having experienced the illusory nature of the ancient chess game and the coldness of human hearts, he had long since achieved a state of mind free from hindrance and without bias.

He remained unhurried, advancing steadily with each move, his own swordplay blending and reinforcing with the swordsmanship of his predecessor, Lingying. His predecessor's sword was used to slay evil and protect the mountain gate; his swordsmanship was used to balance light and darkness and safeguard his true self.

The new and old kendo styles resonate perfectly, complementing and blending together.

The fiftieth move: the sword light solidifies, the Daoist charm is restrained, all distracting thoughts dissipate, and the mind and spirit completely merge with the world of the Sword Tomb, achieving oneness with the sword.

In the seventieth move, the broken sword shines, the rust disappears, and the ordinary sword is transformed into a clear spiritual sword. The blade flows with a balanced spiritual light that is interwoven with black and white. It can save the world with benevolence and cut down evil with sharpness.

In the ninetieth move, all the sword spirits in mid-air converged, swirling around Cen Jin's body. Countless insights into swordsmanship over thousands of years, practical experience, and unwavering commitment to the Dao flowed into his soul, making up for his shortcomings of insufficient training and lack of combat prowess.

With a clear mind, Cen Jin silently accepted all the sword traditions, neither greedy nor impatient. He used his true heart to select from thousands of sword techniques, taking their essence and discarding their biases, and integrating the sincerity of his predecessors in guarding the mountain gate into his own balanced path.

He finally understood that the old path was not entirely wrong, and that relentless killing was also a form of protection; the new path was not entirely right, and that blind tolerance also had its flaws. The true supreme way of the sword is to uphold both benevolence and sharpness, to guide evil while also vanquishing wickedness, to advance and retreat with moderation, and to maintain a balance between light and darkness.

The ninety-ninth move saw sword light pierce the sky, the clouds parted in the secluded valley, and the shackles of the thousand-year-old sword tomb were instantly shattered. The chilling sword path soared straight into the sky, shaking the entire Demon-Slaying Mountain Range.

Thousands of spirit figures bowed in unison, paying homage to the sword-wielding youth below.

After mastering a hundred techniques, one's mind is refined to perfection.

As the hundredth sword move slowly came to a close, all the sword light in the sky merged into the sword, and all the sword spirits transformed into specks of golden light, merging into Cen Jin's meridians and Dao seed. His Dao aura underwent a complete transformation, becoming gentle yet sharp, inclusive yet concealing a hidden edge. His incomplete Dao seed became increasingly stable, and his Dao heart completely reached the supreme realm of **a clear sword heart and a mind without doubts**.

Having undergone a hundred trials to refine his mind, he is no longer just a Dao Lord who embraces all things with his own heart, but a game-changer who wields the sharpness of the sword and can both defend and strike.

Wan Tang, who had been sitting quietly to the side, suddenly opened her eyes, a hint of demonic light flashing in them, and exclaimed softly, "Brother's sword is so gentle, yet so powerful."

Cen Jin sheathed his sword, a slight smile playing on his lips, his heart clear and pure. The hundred days of sword forging, seemingly about honing his combat skills, were in reality about perfecting his Dao heart, making up for any shortcomings in his Great Dao, and bringing the Dao of Balance to a truly complete and impeccable state.

The valley is quiet and the wind is gentle; the sound of a sword echoes long and deep.

The thousands of cultivators below the mountain all sensed the perfect and clear sword Dao rhythm deep within the mountains, and they all felt awe, knowing that the Dao Master's cultivation had made another breakthrough and the foundation of the new Dao was becoming more and more profound.

Unbeknownst to anyone, deep within the black mist of the Nine Heavens, Xuan Ye Zun always coldly overlooked everything in the Sword Tomb Valley.

He watched as Cen Jin refined his mind through a hundred moves, achieving clarity of sword intent and unifying the old and new sword styles. There was no surprise in His eyes; instead, He grew increasingly indifferent and cold. Having planned for millennia, He had long foreseen every step of the variable's growth. Cen Jin's breakthrough was entirely within His prediction.

"Having mastered a hundred techniques to refine the mind, and achieved clarity of sword intent, one's progress is indeed rapid."

The cold Daoist voice echoed faintly in the void, carrying a chilling aura: "It's a pity that no matter how strong one's swordsmanship or how steadfast one's Daoist heart, one can never escape the fate of returning to the rightful place of heaven and earth."

Before the words were even finished, the entire world suddenly changed.

The once stable ley lines began to stir again. Beneath the thousand-mile-long miasma forest, the quietly transforming demon lord's divine core suddenly erupted with an extreme demonic power, piercing through layers of seals and soaring straight into the heavens and the sky.

At the same time, endless gray-white light curtains rose from all directions, covering thousands of miles of mountains and rivers. The originally vibrant colors of the human world faded rapidly, and mountains, rivers, grass, trees, clouds, and living beings all began to turn gray and lifeless.

The fourth trial saw the return of Heaven and Earth to their rightful place, no longer quietly brewing, and officially descending upon the human world.

What made Cen Jin's heart tighten the most was that the first target locked by the power of the rules of the return of heaven and earth was not the mountains and rivers of the human world, nor his own Dao seed, but Wan Tang, who was sitting quietly to the side without any defense.