The Record of Exterminating Evil from Ashes

The ancient steps fall, the wind ceases, and the sword falls silent.

The first Twin Dao Lord's step that spanned countless ages did not trigger the earth-shattering battle that was expected.

Just as its form was about to leave the void rift and the power of eternal reincarnation was about to overturn the back mountain, the rules of the entire world suddenly froze. The divine core of the high-altitude miasma forest trembled incessantly, the crimson pressure that enveloped the mountains and rivers was forcibly retracted, and even the killing intent of the black shadow at the top of the divine core was suppressed by an invisible force of balancing heaven and earth.

The echoes of Xuan Ye Zun's cold whispers still lingered in my ears, but the final battle suddenly ceased.

At the summit of the back mountain, the three who had just sworn brotherhood were tense, their bodies filled with the rebellious power of the three colors, ready to face an ancient and powerful enemy. But suddenly, they were met with an eerie calm.

Cen Jin's eyes were deep and focused, and he instantly understood the changes in the chess game.

The perfect union of twins, the sworn brotherhood of the three shadows, and the unification of eternal rebellious thoughts have completely shattered the inherent balance of reincarnation. The chessboard of heaven and earth possesses an ultimate balance; if the final battle begins prematurely, the established rules of the closed loop of the chessboard will completely collapse, and Xuan Ye Zun's shrewd calculations spanning millennia will come to naught.

He dared not force a war when the situation was unstable and the rules were incomplete, so he could only temporarily restrain his killing moves and postpone the final showdown.

Simply put, a game of chess needs a period of "order" before it can be brought to a close. And this order rests on the hearts of all sects, cultivators, and people.

The void rift slowly contracted, and all the ancient, defeated soul phantoms floating in the sky retreated. The eyes of the first Twin Dao Lord Chaos gazed deeply at the three people on the back mountain one last time, and his ancient and desolate figure slowly disappeared into the depths of the rift, temporarily returning to silence.

The oppressive aura of death gradually faded away, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which had been suppressed for many days, slowly began to recover. A faint light shone through the gray sky, and the mountains and rivers finally broke free from the extreme oppression of fate.

Shen Yanqiu stood in the void and spoke calmly, revealing the deep calculations behind the game: "Xuan Ye temporarily withdrew his ancient killing intent not out of cowardice, but to wait for the world to return to order and for people's hearts to settle down. He wants to first let the cultivators of the present world distinguish themselves and establish the overall structure, and then restart the final sacrifice in the most perfect manner."

The gray aura around Jing Ye dissipated, and his tense body relaxed slightly, but his eyes were still full of vigilance: "Reincarnation is best at slowly boiling frogs in water. Brief calm is always the harbinger of a bigger storm."

The Bone Armor Lone Shadow slowly retracted the black-gold protective array, but remained vigilant, silently standing beside the two, its ancient protective power surrounding it without ever relaxing its guard.

Cen Jin raised his eyes and looked towards the stable main peak, sensing the increasingly firm Dao hearts of the thousands of disciples in the sect. He slowly spoke: "If the game of chess wants to regulate the order of the human world, then I will go with the flow, using the sect as the root and cultivators as the blade, to refine all the new talents in the human world and build a solid foundation for the new Dao."

"Only when the hearts of the people are united and the heroes hone their skills can we have the strength to fight and the ability to defend our country when the final battle comes."

Once he made up his mind, Cen Jin immediately issued an order to the entire Demon-Slaying Mountain, announcing it to all the mountains.

For days, the world has been in turmoil, the tribulations of lightning have tested our hearts, and fate has weighed heavily on us. Every disciple of the mountain gate has been on edge, living in constant fear, always in the shadow of the impending catastrophe. Now that the situation in the world has temporarily stabilized, it is the best time to temper our character, hone our skills, and boost morale.

Three days later, the Zhuxie Mountain Sect will open the **Sect Competition**, which is open to all cultivators regardless of seniority, cultivation level, or whether they are from the inner or outer sect. All cultivators from all over the world and fellow practitioners from all directions are welcome to attend and gather at the main peak arena to discuss the Dao, compete in martial arts, and hone their skills.

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the mountains and fields in an instant, and rapidly extending to all cultivation realms across the land.

In the past, the old and new paths were locked in a fierce struggle, and the world was plagued by endless calamities. Most sects in the world closed their doors to avoid disaster and cultivate themselves. Never before had there been such a grand and public gathering for swordsmanship. In addition, with the establishment of the new path of Zhuxie Mountain, the people's hearts were united, and the lineage was renewed, it had long become the core place where the eyes of cultivators from all over the world were focused.

In an instant, the winds of change were blowing in all directions, and heroes from all walks of life prepared to rush to the front lines.

Reclusive cultivators from near and far, hermit disciples, members of collateral sects, and powerful families from all directions set aside their secluded cultivation and sectarian barriers, traveling day and night to Zhuxie Mountain. Some came to witness the true nature of the new path, some to compete for fame, some to hone their skills, and some to glean insights into the future. Cultivators from all over the world gathered along the same route, heading towards the mountain gate in a grand and imposing manner.

In just three days, the official roads, post roads, and mountain passes at the foot of Zhuxie Mountain were bustling with people and carriages. The once quiet and secluded area of ​​the mountain gate became lively and bustling, sweeping away the deathly silence and gloom brought by the recent calamity.

The main arena was erected long ago. The wide and ancient bluestone arena spans the square, with tiered viewing platforms stretching for miles around it, capable of accommodating tens of thousands of cultivators to watch the competition. A stable barrier is set up around the arena, capable of withstanding collisions of high-level spells and blocking duels between peak cultivators, enough to support the fierce competition and all-out sparring among heroes.

  

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the competition arrived as scheduled.

As dawn broke and the morning mist dissipated, the rising sun bathed the mountains in its light, creating a clear and refreshing atmosphere. The oppressive gloom of the past few days vanished completely, and the entire Zhuxie Mountain was filled with spiritual energy and Taoist charm, presenting a prosperous and vibrant new scene.

Heroes from all directions gathered at the main peak plaza, with tens of thousands of cultivators lined up on the viewing platforms. The crowd was bustling yet orderly. Having undergone the baptism of the new path and the tempering of their hearts, the cultivators of the world had long since shed their former prejudices, narrow-mindedness, xenophobia, and violence, and had gained more clarity, composure, humility, and calmness.

On the viewing platform, the various factions were clearly seated. Elders from established sects were in charge, reclusive masters were present, and up-and-coming cultivators were ready to go. The mix of old and new faces and the blending of old and new Daoist styles fully demonstrated the great trend of cultivators from all over the world returning to the new Dao.

On the most prominent high platform of the main peak, three figures stood quietly in the center, their calm aura awe-inspiring and awe-inspiring.

Cen Jin, dressed in elegant white robes, stood tall and upright, exuding a righteous and peaceful aura of Daoist wisdom. Seated in the main seat, he surveyed the assembled heroes, his eyes gentle yet concealing a sharp edge. Beside him, Jing Ye, clad in coarse black cloth, stood to the left, his solitary and resolute demeanor a restrained, ancient, defiant aura, radiating an imposing presence. To the right, a solitary figure in bone armor stood silently, its greyish-white armor ancient and solemn, its black and gold patterns subtly concealed, its ancient protective aura steadily enveloping the entire area.

Shen Yanqiu, dressed in a blue robe, stood to the side of the high platform, accompanied by a gentle breeze, serene and detached, still an observer of the game, quietly overlooking the battles of heroes in the world.

Below the high platform, the Grand Elder and the other elders of the sect stood on either side, their expressions solemn and their demeanor orderly, overseeing the rules of the competition and maintaining order on the field. Under the eaves of the hall, Wan Tang had already awakened, dressed in a simple white dress, elegant and graceful, leaning quietly against a pillar, her gentle gaze falling on Cen Jin. The Demon Lord's essence was completely stable, pure and clear, untouched by any darkness.

Everyone gathered, and all the heroes took their places.

Cen Jin raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the entire area. His gentle and clear Daoist voice resounded throughout the square, reaching the ears and hearts of every cultivator.

"Today's sect competition is not for the sake of winning or distinguishing superiors from inferiors, but solely for honing one's skills, cultivating oneself, and seeking enlightenment."

"The old way determined superiority and inferiority through killing and violence, and judged good and evil based on strength and weakness; the new way determines the foundation through one's original heart, and determines the path of the Way through perseverance. Today, on this arena, regardless of the depth of one's cultivation or the level of one's background, as long as one has a sincere heart and upholds goodness and the Way, one can step onto the stage to compete, exchange ideas, and discuss the Way."

"To be neither arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat, to make progress and understand one's true nature, is the greatest gain from this journey."

His speech was frank and insightful, fully demonstrating the all-encompassing, peaceful, and upright grand vision of the new Dao. Tens of thousands of cultivators present bowed in unison, their resounding voices echoing through the mountains: "We humbly obey the Dao Master's decree!"

With the calls settled, the competition officially began.

In the first round of the competition, disciples from both the inner and outer sects took turns to the stage. The young cultivators were full of vigor and sharpness, their spells were agile and their swordsmanship was swift. Although their cultivation was not as profound as that of the older generation of cultivators, they dared to fight and were pure in heart. On the stage, they gave full play to what they had learned and honed their Dao heart.

Su Nian, the once timid and hesitant outer disciple, resolutely stepped onto the stage. Shedding his former fear and inferiority, he stood tall and his eyes were resolute. Despite his mediocre cultivation and immature techniques, he displayed remarkable composure in both offense and defense, facing formidable opponents with unwavering calm and confidence, steadily completing the entire match. Although he did not win, he earned rounds of applause from the entire audience, his Dao heart becoming increasingly steadfast through this ordeal.

Round after round of competitions took place, with various heroes taking turns on stage.

There were established disciples from powerful sects, steady and reliable, with solid skills and profound knowledge; there were reclusive upstarts, agile and cunning, with exquisite moves and innovative sword styles; and there were free-spirited cultivators, wild and decisive, unrestrained by rules and acting on impulse. The strengths and styles of each sect were fully displayed.

On the arena, there was no malicious fighting or underhanded tactics; everyone stopped short of killing each other and made friends through martial arts. The defeated were neither humble nor discouraged, bowing to express their gratitude and calmly reviewing their performance; the victors were neither arrogant nor impatient, offering their congratulations with humility and politeness.

The new path, like a gentle rain, has subtly and profoundly transformed the cultivation mindset of all cultivators, dispelling the chaos and violence of the world and making the path of cultivation in the human realm increasingly clear.

On the high platform, Cen Jin watched the competition quietly, a glint of light in his eyes. He looked at the ambitious young cultivators on the arena and the heroes from all directions discussing the Dao in a humble manner on the viewing platform, and his heart became more and more determined.

The so-called Great Dao is never about one person reaching the summit and dominating all ages, but about all beings advancing together and all spirits walking hand in hand. It is far from enough for one person to perfect the foundation of the Dao and see through destiny. Only when all cultivators in the world stabilize their Dao hearts, hone their skills, and have the heart to defy fate and protect the world, can they truly break through the ancient chess game and end the cycle of reincarnation.

As Jing Ye gazed upon the prosperous and peaceful scene of the human world, a complex emotion flickered in his eyes. Having experienced countless reincarnations, he had witnessed too many broken lands, withered cultivators, and corrupted hearts, but he had never seen such a harmonious and united community of heroes.

"If every cycle of reincarnation had such a spirit and character, the game would have been destroyed long ago," Jingye sighed softly.

The solitary figure in the bone armor trembled slightly, as if agreeing with these words. Even the ancient, silent mind was slightly touched by the human world before it.

The competition was in full swing, with the heroes vying for supremacy. But no one noticed that deep in the clouds above, a shadowy figure, temporarily suppressed, was coldly overlooking the bustling world through the layers of mist.

As He gazed upon the magnificent scene of the masses turning to His side and heroes honing their skills, He showed not the slightest panic, but rather an extreme indifference and mockery.

As the competition continued, the wins and losses of every cultivator on the stage, the fluctuations of their Dao heart, and the display of their sharpness were quietly transformed into invisible chessboard markings, all of which were collected, marked, and archived.

Shen Yanqiu's gaze suddenly darkened, and he warned softly, "Something's not right. This small competition isn't a trial by fire, but... a game of chess selecting the final sacrifice."

As soon as the words were spoken, a faint crimson pattern appeared on the bluestone ground in the center of the arena, vanishing in an instant. At that moment, the dozen or so up-and-coming cultivators with the highest cultivation, the purest Dao heart, and the most outstanding sharpness in the entire arena felt a slight burning sensation between their brows. An unnoticed shackle of destiny silently and quietly locked itself off.