The Record of Exterminating Evil from Ashes

Twin closed loop, sacrifice to lock life.

A crimson pillar of light pierced the heavens and earth, perfectly resonating with the dark seed deep within Cen Jin's Qi Sea, linking them into a unified ring. A cold, domineering, and inescapable sacrificial law quietly settled, silently locking onto the fundamental destinies of Cen Jin and Wan Tang. The most secretive final move in the eternal game of chess had finally been unveiled, no longer a vain trial or a scheme of human hearts, but an ultimate sacrifice aimed directly at the very source of life.

Before the altar of sacrifice, thousands of cultivators felt a sudden chill rise in the air, their Dao hearts trembling slightly, yet none could see through this invisible shackle of destiny. Having experienced the Zheng Yang sermon, they had long since broken free from prejudices of good and evil, and solidified their true Dao hearts. At this moment, they still stood in order, their hearts filled with determination, wishing only to fight the calamity alongside the Dao Lord. Little did they know that an unsolvable sacrifice targeting the twin Dao Lords had quietly taken shape.

On the high platform, Cen Jin's eyes were deep and his mind was extremely calm.

He could clearly sense the sacrificial power that spanned countless ages, like fine, invisible threads, binding his own Dao Seed, connecting with Wan Tang's origin, slowly eroding and gradually tightening. This power was not as violent and fierce as killing techniques, but it was far more terrifying than any killing move. It bypassed the body's defenses, penetrated the barrier of the Dao Heart, ignored the blessing of merit, and directly took root in the destiny foundation of the twin origins, with no way to unravel it, no way to avoid it, and no way to escape it.

Xuan Ye Zun's whispers lingered deep within his soul, coldly mocking, each word piercing his heart. He had schemed for millennia, laying the groundwork layer by layer, from the sealing of the Demon Lord, the trial of human hearts, the restoration of heaven and earth, to the twin cycle closing today, all his plans ultimately culminating in this final sacrifice.

The game of chess never needs to destroy the human world; it only requires the sacrifice of the twin Dao Lords to complete the cycle perfectly, and the eternal destiny will be settled.

"You think sacrificing yourself to seal my fate means the end?"

Cen Jin murmured to himself, his eyes showing no fear, only an increasingly resolute sharpness. Having defied fate four times, established his principles and precepts, and won the hearts of all, he had long since ceased to believe in predetermined destiny or an unsolvable game. What did it matter if fate was a closed loop, or if his origin was sacrificed? His path of balance was inherently a path that defied all laws, shattered illusions, and resisted destiny.

The current situation is extremely dangerous, but it also hides an opportunity to improve and break through the impasse.

With the twin origins fully integrated, the light and dark Dao seeds resonated and coexisted. Although seemingly bound by the shackles of sacrifice, he was actually able to fully glimpse the flaws and true essence of his own Dao. Previously, his balanced Dao seed always had an innate crack, with an imbalance between light and darkness and an inability to reconcile good and evil. Now that the dark seed has appeared in the world and the twins have become one, it is the only opportunity to complete his Dao foundation and perfect his Dao.

To break free from the destiny of sacrifice, one must strive against the odds, perfect oneself, and allow the twin Dao seeds to completely merge and become one, thus transcending the sacrifice rules predetermined by the game.

With his mind made up, Cen Jin immediately raised his eyes and loudly commanded: "The undercurrents of destiny are surging in the heavens and earth. The sacrificial law has been completed. Everyone in the mountain gate must guard the mountains, maintain the barrier, and meditate on the Dao. No one is allowed to go out without permission."

"The Grand Elder sits atop the main peak, overseeing both internal and external affairs, ensuring the safety of the mountain gate and safeguarding the peace of people's hearts."

The instructions were clear and precise, implemented at every level. Thousands of disciples bowed in unison to receive the orders, strictly adhering to the rules of the sect and awaiting further instructions. Having undergone numerous trials, the entire sect had long since mastered the rules and achieved unity of purpose, without the slightest sign of panic or agitation.

After settling the affairs of the mountain gate, Cen Jin turned and leaped out of the main peak, returning to the back mountain and heading to the Canglan Secret Realm, the deepest part of the Demon-Slaying Mountains.

The Azure Realm is the ultimate place for enlightenment left behind by the ancient sect. Adjacent to the Dark Box, it contains the purest primordial Dao essence of heaven and earth, capable of absorbing all streams, mending deficiencies in the Dao, and solidifying the origin. Unlike the Sword Tomb, which is for sword forging through slaughter, or the Dark Box, which provides shelter from light, this place is the only secret realm that can accommodate the coexistence of the Dao of Light and Darkness and help complete incomplete Dao seeds.

More importantly, the Canglan Secret Realm is a small world of its own, isolated from the core rules of the game, and can temporarily shield itself from the erosion of the sacrificial power. It is currently the only quiet place suitable for seclusion to improve oneself, break through the game, and comprehend the Dao.

The moment one steps into the secret realm, the crimson pressure, the shackles of fate, and the deathly silence of the world outside are all shut out. Within the secret realm, flowing clouds stretch out, spiritual energy is vast, and Daoist rhythms run rampant. Black and white energies intertwine and flow, naturally matching Cen Jin's Great Dao of Balance.

Wan Tang remained peacefully asleep in his arms. The Demon Lord's essence was completely dormant, unaffected by the external divine core and sacrificial power, her face serene and pure. Cen Jin placed her on the spirit jade platform in the center of the secret realm, setting up multiple protective barriers to safeguard her divine soul essence. Then, he sat cross-legged alone and began his ultimate seclusion for cultivation.

He no longer deliberately suppressed the dark blood seed within his body, nor did he forcibly sever the bond between light and darkness.

The essence of the Great Dao of Balance lies in its inclusiveness and unity. He completely released the barriers of his Dao heart, allowing the black and white Dao patterns and the blood-red Dao seed to intermingle, nourish each other, and advance together. The pure white merit of the Dao warmed the hidden seed, while the blood-red origin of the demonic Dao filled the cracks in the seed. One bright and one dark, one righteous and one evil, flowed slowly in his Qi Sea, cycling and returning to one.

  

The vast primordial spiritual energy of the secret realm surged wildly into his meridians and Dao foundation, washing away the fatigue of his physical body, repairing the deficiencies of his Dao seed, and condensing the twin origins.

In his past cultivation, he focused on guarding and guiding others, restraining his dark side and upholding his pure whiteness. Today, he is advancing against the tide, accepting all his light and darkness, facing the twin foundations of destiny, neither avoiding evil nor clinging to righteousness, and achieving the ultimate form of perfect balance in the Great Dao.

As the Daoist energy flows, the physical body, meridians, soul, and Daoist seed undergo layer-by-layer transformation.

The previously broken Zhou Tian Seed Patterns were completely healed, and the innate defects were fully filled by the blood-red origin. The black and white Dao Patterns enveloped the blood-red glimmer, with light and shadow intertwined, forming a perfect whole. The Dao Heart became increasingly clear and stable, undisturbed by destiny, undeceived by illusion, and unshaken by sacrifice.

After an unknown amount of time, the Daoist aura of the secret realm suddenly trembled, and Cen Jin's aura underwent a complete transformation. His cultivation and Daoist practice steadily increased, his Dao foundation was perfected, and his original heart was flawless, truly reaching the ultimate peak that human cultivators could reach.

Through diligent practice, one can achieve perfect enlightenment.

He slowly opened his eyes, a flash of black and white light passing through them. His eyes were clear yet concealed a deep darkness, a coexistence of light and darkness, good and evil from the same source, yet without the slightest disorder or imbalance, revealing the supreme truth of the Great Dao of Balance.

At this moment, he finally has the confidence to face the eternal chess game, resist the ultimate sacrifice, and reverse the twin destiny.

Just as the Dao fruit was perfected and the progress was completed, a light and distant footstep sound suddenly came from the entrance of the secret realm.

His steps were light and slow, without dust or sound, without any murderous aura or the restless spiritual energy of ordinary cultivators. He was as calm as a mountain breeze or a cloud on a river, yet he possessed a transcendent and timeless aura.

Cen Jin's gaze narrowed slightly, and he instantly suppressed the Daoist aura around him, stood up, and turned to look.

Outside the light barrier of the secret realm stood a figure in a green robe.

The man appeared to be in his early twenties. His blue cloth robe was faded from washing, the edges worn, simple and unadorned, without any magical artifacts, accessories, or sect insignia. Yet, he stood tall and straight, like a solitary peak standing in the wilderness, or a cold river with rippling waves. His face was handsome and gentle, his brows and eyes calm and serene, his dark eyes as deep as the night, concealing a tranquility and vicissitude far beyond the years, as if he had witnessed the rise and fall of countless dynasties and seen the ups and downs of life.

He showed no trace of his formidable cultivation, appearing unremarkable, yet he could silently penetrate the isolation barrier of the Canglan Secret Realm and safely step into this forbidden area. His aura was perfectly integrated with the Dao of Heaven and Earth, revealing no sharpness or flaws.

This is a stranger who is completely detached from the perception of chess games, detached from human cultivation, and detached from the shackles of fate.

"Cen Jin, the Daoist Master of Zhuxie Mountain."

The man in the blue robe spoke first, his voice gentle and clear, without hostility or pressure, as calm as if meeting an old friend, "I have long heard of your great name. Today, at the Canglan Secret Realm, we meet for the first time. I am Shen Yanqiu."

Shen Yanqiu.

As the three words were spoken, Cen Jin's mind trembled slightly, and an extreme sense of vigilance and suspicion instantly arose in his heart.

He had scoured the ancient texts of the mountain sect, deciphered the intricacies of the ancient chess game, and was well-versed in the vicissitudes of destiny, yet he had never heard of this name. But the aura, vision, and perspective of the person before him far surpassed those of all cultivators in the mortal realm, and even seemed to subtly transcend the chess game's scope of Xuan Ye Zun.

This person is unlike a mountain sect cultivator, unlike a wandering cultivator in the world, unlike a chess piece in a game, and unlike a demon in the void. He seems to be an outsider who stands alone outside the ancient game of chess, coldly observing the entire game of destiny.

"Who are you?" Cen Jin's gaze was calm, neither humble nor arrogant. "The Canglan Secret Realm is a forbidden area of ​​the Demon Slayer Sect. Ordinary people cannot even set foot inside. How did you get here?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yanqiu smiled faintly, a gentle smile that concealed endless meaning and loneliness.

"I am neither a member of the mountain sect, nor a player in the game, nor a spirit of heaven and earth." He slowly stepped into the secret realm, a gentle breeze flowing around him, undisturbed by the Daoist aura of the secret realm, nor disturbing the spirit jade platform. "I am merely a passerby who has witnessed the cycle of the game and awaits the one who will break the game and achieve perfection."

"You have broken through the four trials, established your principles and precepts, and achieved perfect enlightenment. I have waited for you for eternity to reach this point today."

As soon as the words were spoken, the wind in the secret realm stopped abruptly, and the Daoist energy instantly froze.

Cen Jin was deeply shaken, countless questions surging within him. This person had waited for him for eternity, witnessing all his trials, all his breakthroughs, all his advancements, yet always remained hidden in the shadows, never revealing himself. Who exactly was he? Friend or foe? Beyond the game of chess, why was he waiting for him?

Before Cen Jin could ponder further and ask questions, Shen Yanqiu raised her eyes to the sky, her gaze piercing through the clouds of the secret realm, through the mountains and rivers, through the black mist of the void, directly looking at the hidden origin of Xuan Ye Zun's chess game, her tone calm yet resolute:

"Xuan Ye Zun's twin sacrifice, seemingly an unsolvable closed loop, has actually already missed the most fatal link."

"He calculated everything about human nature, destiny, and reincarnation, but he overlooked one thing—the eternal game of chess, which has more than one player."

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire world suddenly changed dramatically.

The originally stable and closed-loop Twin Sacrifice Chains suddenly trembled violently and became chaotic in light and darkness. The unsolvable law that spanned countless ages actually showed fine cracks the moment Shen Yanqiu revealed it.

What made Cen Jin even more anxious was that he clearly saw half a faded, ancient jade pendant peeking out from under the cuff of Shen Yanqiu's blue robe. The jade pendant's broken and ancient patterns were exactly the same as the original patterns of the twin dark seeds deep in his Qi Sea, completely of the same origin.