The Record of Exterminating Evil from Ashes

The mountain wind howled, and the night was as dark as ink.

Inside the cave, there was an eerie silence.

Cen Jin sat upright on the bluestone ground, his body motionless, seemingly calm as ever, yet every inch of his senses was stretched to the limit. Months of tempering his body with spiritual energy had already made his five senses far beyond the ordinary; every breeze, every blade of grass, every breath, every movement in the mountains and forests outside the cave was clearly perceived. The chilling, malevolent energy that seeped into the cave was cold and sticky, carrying a decaying, deathly stillness unique to demons, completely different from the ordinary cold winds of the mountains. Like a slender black snake, it slowly slithered along the stone wall, its target precise and clear—directly aimed at the light-proof wooden box beside him.

The wooden box lay quietly beside him, the warm aura of the ancient, pure yang wood steadily spreading, completely sealing off Cen Wantang's demonic energy within, leaving not a trace. Yet it was precisely this faint wisp of righteous energy that became the only opportunity for the person who came in the dark to locate this place.

Cen Jin's mind was clear.

After the bloodshed in Qingzhu Village, the Cangshan Mountains were deathly silent for miles around. Ordinary mountain demons had long since fled to avoid the disaster and would never dare to linger here. The creature that was able to track down the remaining demonic energy here, and was not afraid of the suppression of the righteous energy, must be a malevolent being that had been tainted by the demonic energy of Xuan Ye Zun.

It didn't just happen to pass by; it made a special trip to spy on things.

The purpose was to find Cen Wantang, who possessed the original blood of the Demon Lord, inside the box.

The young man quietly gathered strength in his palm, and the vast spiritual energy within his body slowly circulated through his limbs and bones. Gentle and enduring righteous energy gathered in his palm, without leaking out in the slightest, silently accumulating power. He did not rashly rush out of the cave entrance; the night was deep, and the enemy's situation was unclear. A hasty attack would only expose his weakness. The wooden box was his only concern; once it was removed from its protection, Wan Tang would face the lurking demons directly. If she were even slightly harmed, he would be condemned to death.

Rather than being passively controlled, it's better to wait and see what happens.

The unusual activity outside the cave did not last long.

A moment later, the soft rustling of dry branches came again, this time not as a probing attack, but as a steady approach. The light, dragging footsteps crunched through the remaining snow, slow and stiff, unlike the footsteps of a living person, carrying an eerie sense of stagnation, pressing closer and closer to the cave entrance.

Immediately afterwards, a hunched, dark figure slowly blocked the only entrance and exit of the cave.

The night was deep, and the faint moonlight was obscured by the thick fog of the mountains and forests, making only a vague outline visible. The creature was hunched and emaciated, with thin and stiff limbs. It was covered in tattered and decaying coarse cloth, its skin was gray and withered, with many festering sores and peeling off. Faint black markings were wrapped around its neck, of the same origin as the demonic markings on Wan Tang's body, but even more murky and violent.

It is a low-level malevolent corpse.

Formed from the mutated corpses of mountain dwellers tainted by demonic blood, it has no independent consciousness and only pursues pure demonic energy based on instinct. It is bloodthirsty and evil-seeking, unaware of pain or fear. It is the most lowly yet most troublesome of the demonic and evil spirits in the world.

It is likely that after the massacre in Qingzhu Village, the lingering demonic aura permeated the mountains and fields, giving birth to this malevolent corpse. It followed the deepest and purest demonic aura, traversing mountains and tracking its way here.

  Updates take time and effort, so please remember to share 101kanshu.com.

Two eerie black wisps floated in the empty eye sockets of the malevolent corpse. Its head turned stiffly, slowly scanning the cave, and finally fixed firmly on the light-proof wooden box.

At that moment, a thick, putrid black aura suddenly surged from its body, and a chilling, malevolent energy swept through the cave, freezing the surrounding air instantly.

Roar--

A hoarse, low roar burst from its throat, unleashing its utterly ruthless ferocity. The vengeful corpse pushed off the ground with its limbs, its withered, stiff body suddenly lunging forward. Dark, malevolent energy condensed at its fingertips, its claws sharp as it gripped the wooden box, intending to tear apart its protection and devour the pure demonic blood hidden within.

It is unaware of the restraining power of the Supreme Yang Ancient Wood, nor does it understand the mysteries of the barrier seal; it only possesses the most primal and violent instinct to devour.

Just as the shadowy figure lunged at him, Cen Jin's eyes snapped open, a cold glint flashing in them.

"roll."

With a single word, the body moves.

His body, which had been sitting in meditation for so long, suddenly shot out. There were no fancy moves, no overwhelming momentum, only the refined muscles and bones honed over months of tempering and the pure Yang energy cultivated by the Canglan Heart Method. The spiritual energy in his palm burst forth, and the warm and gentle Yang power instantly dispersed the surrounding cold and evil aura. With an unstoppable determination, it slammed hard into the heart of the corpse.

puff--

Righteousness overcomes evil, naturally suppressing it.

The seemingly ordinary palm strike landed on the corpse, yet it caused a deafening explosion. The dark, malevolent energy surrounding it instantly dissipated, dissolved, and vanished. Its decaying, shriveled body trembled violently, the black energy in its empty eye sockets dimmed abruptly, and the entire body was sent flying, crashing heavily against the stone wall at the cave entrance, scattering rubble and snow across the ground.

The malevolent corpse let out a shrill scream, its body convulsing uncontrollably, and its demonic energy dissipating significantly.

Without the slightest hesitation, Cen Jin seized the opportunity, striking when the enemy was weak. His footsteps swiftly followed through the snow, his movements steady and agile, showing none of the awkwardness or clumsiness of a typical beginner. Months of arduous training, involving not only breathing exercises but also running through the mountains and climbing cliffs day and night, had already perfected his movement techniques and footwork, making his physical strength far surpass that of other cultivators of the same level.

He bent down and gripped the corpse's shoulder, continuously channeling righteous yang energy into it, forcefully suppressing its remaining demonic power. The Canglan Heart Sutra was long and steady, with righteous energy constantly washing away the foundation of evil, peeling away and purifying the remaining malevolent energy within its body layer by layer.

He used to be just a young herb gatherer, powerless and weak, always avoiding danger and fleeing from evil.

But the excruciating pain of losing his family, the relentless asceticism he practiced day and night, and the obsession with protecting his sister and ensuring her survival had completely reshaped him.

Faced with evil spirits, he showed no fear or hesitation whatsoever.

The ferocious corpse struggled wildly, its empty eye sockets surging with black energy, and its remaining malevolent energy coalesced into claws, viciously grabbing at Cen Jin's arm, attempting a desperate counterattack to tear the newcomer apart. However, all its ferocity was rendered useless before the supreme yang energy; the malevolent energy was dissolved and completely eradicated as it approached.

Cen Jin frowned slightly, his mind resolute, and he increased his strength by three points.

He clearly remembered Xiao Yu's teachings: Demons and evil spirits are neither good nor evil, but living beings are subject to life and death. The existence of malevolent forces will ultimately lead to the destruction of humanity and the world; tolerating them today will inevitably lead to tragedy tomorrow. The bloody lesson of Qingzhu Village was still vivid in his mind; he would never allow the same slaughter to fall upon any other land.

Click.

A faint, crisp sound rang out as the demonic veins around the corpse completely collapsed. The black aura surrounding its body dissipated like smoke, and its stiff body instantly went limp, showing no further movement. The lowest level of malevolent evil had been completely purified and annihilated.

The eerie wind at the cave entrance gradually subsided, the cold and malevolent aura dissipated, and the cave returned to its tranquility.

Cen Jin slowly withdrew his power, stood at the cave entrance, and gazed at the deep night, his chest rising and falling slightly. This was the first time since he embarked on the path of cultivation that he had personally slain a demon. There was no earth-shattering battle, no perilous situation, but it made him fully understand the true meaning of cultivation.

Spiritual energy is not for showing off and competing, and cultivation is not for seeking opportunities.

It is for protection, for redemption, for cutting through the darkness and protecting the warmth of human life.

He looked down at his palm; the surging righteous energy from before had already receded into his body, warm, gentle, and stable as ever. After months of arduous cultivation, he had finally achieved something. His mortal body had been tempered into a body for cultivation, and his mortal strength had been transformed into the power to vanquish evil. He finally possessed the meager means to fight against demons and protect his loved ones.

But he felt no relief whatsoever; on the contrary, he became even more serious.

Tonight's attacker was merely a mindless, low-ranking, malevolent corpse, which, guided only by instinct, tracked the demonic aura and silently found its hiding place. What if it were an intelligent demon? A Fiend under the command of Xuan Ye Zun? Or a true member of the Netherworld Demon Clan?

Even with his current level of cultivation, he is still no match for a true expert.

Cen Jin turned and returned to the cave, immediately bending down to check the light-proof wooden box. The box was intact, its yang energy filling the area and firmly sealing off the demonic energy within. Cen Wantang inside was still sleeping peacefully, her eyes gentle, undisturbed by the earlier fight. The black demonic markings beneath her skin remained dormant, showing no signs of agitation or rampage.

Only after confirming that his sister was safe and sound did he finally feel relieved.

He raised his hand to brush away the fine snow dust clinging to the surface of the wooden box, his fingertips gently stroking the cool box, his eyes filled with tenderness and determination.

not enough.

Their cultivation level is far from sufficient, their strength is far from sufficient, and their confidence in protecting others is far from sufficient.

The appearance of this malevolent corpse is not the end of the crisis, but the beginning of a warning. The lingering effects of the Xuan Ye demonic calamity have never dissipated, and the lurking in the shadows have never ceased. The place where he and Wan Tang are hiding has never been an absolutely safe haven.

From then on, Cen Jin completely adjusted his arduous cultivation rhythm.

In his past cultivation, he only sought to strengthen his foundation and steadily build up his energy, focusing on breathing exercises to nourish his vital energy. After this battle, he deeply realized that empty talk about cultivation was useless; actual combat, adaptability in the face of the enemy, and physical fighting were the fundamental ways to survive in chaotic times.

During the day, he still calmly practiced breathing exercises, perfecting the spiritual energy of the Canglan Zhou Tian, ​​refining his meridians and acupoints, and consolidating his foundation for cultivation, so as not to let himself lose his Dao heart due to restlessness.

As dusk fell, with the wind and snow still raging and the mountains and forests shrouded in darkness, he ventured alone into the desolate woods, facing wild beasts and lingering evil spirits as his opponents. He fought hand-to-hand, honing his skills and tempering his mind. Without any manuals of techniques, he learned through trial and error in countless life-or-death battles; without a master to guide him, he summarized his gains and losses in each actual combat.

The cold wind chills to the bone, frost and snow temper the heart, and the desolate forest hones the body.

His fighting became increasingly fierce, his reactions increasingly swift, and his composure in the face of enemies increasingly calm. He remained calm in the face of chaos, danger, and evil. The enduring righteousness of the Canglan Heart Sutra was gradually honed into a killing edge by him, making him both offensive and defensive, gentle yet firm. He shed the gentle and reserved nature of his initial cultivation and gained the chilling righteousness of the Great Dao of Exterminating Evil.

As the seasons change in the mountains, spring gives way to summer, vegetation flourishes, and the desolate mountains shed their winter barrenness, revealing lush greenery everywhere.

Several more months passed, with the changing seasons, and he continued his arduous training day and night.

Cen Jin had long since shed the naivety and frailty he had shown when he first entered the deep mountains. He was now tall and slender, with strong and firm muscles and bones. His aura was restrained and deep, neither ostentatious nor outwardly revealed. Standing among the grass and trees, he seemed like an ordinary mountain traveler. But once he concentrated his mind and gathered his strength, a faint flow of positive spiritual energy would appear in his palm, and a righteous aura of slaying evil would naturally arise.

His Canglan Breathing Technique was completely perfected, and the spiritual energy in his body circulated endlessly. His body tempering realm had reached the pinnacle of mortal cultivation, and he was only one step away from entering the true foundation-building realm of cultivation.

More importantly, after countless battles in the wilderness, he was no longer a novice cultivator who only knew how to breathe and exhale. He had already acquired the strength to slay low-level demons and resist the fierce monsters of the mountains and fields, which was enough to deal with the basic dangers of the introductory trial.

In the stillness of the night, Cen Jin would often open the wooden box and quietly watch his sleeping sister.

After spending more than half a year in seclusion and arduous cultivation, Cen Wantang rarely woke up. Each time she briefly opened her eyes, she would only look at him blankly, softly call out "brother," and then fall into a deep sleep again. Her demonic nature was always firmly suppressed, showing no signs of awakening.

However, Cen Jin still keenly sensed that deep within the wooden box, the original demonic power belonging to Xuan Ye Zun was slowly and stubbornly growing stronger, like a dark fire buried deep underground, silent and waiting for the right time to spread and break through the soil.

The two-year timeframe is already halfway through.

The trials ahead are fraught with peril, the three deadly trials of the Demon-Slaying Division have trapped countless talented disciples for centuries, resulting in countless deaths and eliminations. Even with his current strength, he is still not entirely confident of passing them.

But he had no other choice but to face the challenge head-on.

That night, the moon shone brightly, and the empty mountains were silent.

Cen Jin finished his arduous cultivation for the entire day and was about to close his eyes to regulate his breathing and solidify his perfected mental cultivation technique when suddenly, the night wind across the entire Cangshan Mountain abruptly stopped.

The once gentle mountain breeze instantly turned cold, all the vegetation froze, and the spiritual energy between heaven and earth suddenly became turbid and oppressive. A sinister pressure, a hundred times more terrifying and profound than the malevolent corpse of the previous night, slowly pressed down from the highest point of Cangshan Mountain.

This oppressive aura is cold, ancient, and domineering, carrying an indifference that looks down upon all living beings and disregards human life; it is by no means something that ordinary demons possess.

Cen Jin's muscles and bones tensed suddenly, a warning sounded in his heart, and an extreme chill instantly permeated his limbs and bones.

He stiffly raised his head and looked up at the dark mountain peak. In the distance, he saw the night sky filled with churning clouds, and a deep, dark figure standing silently on the top of the cliff, overlooking the entire heart of the Cangshan Mountains and the small stone cave where he was hiding.

The figure was blurry, and his face was indistinct, yet he possessed the overwhelming aura of a demon lord capable of overturning mountains and rivers, suppressing and freezing all the spiritual energy within a radius of ten thousand miles.

With just a glance from above, Cen Jin's righteous energy nearly collapsed, his chest ached unbearably, and his breathing became labored.

Is it Lord Xuan Ye?

impossible!

Why would the Demon Lord, who has been in hiding for a thousand years, suddenly come to this desolate mountain wilderness to spy on this nameless youth?

But that supreme pressure originating from the Demon Lord's very essence could not be wrong.

The dark figure on the cliff top stood silently for a moment, making no move, no killing, just gazing indifferently, as if scrutinizing, as if pondering, as if locking onto something.

The next instant, the dark shadow disappeared with the clouds, the overwhelming pressure vanished abruptly, the night wind began to flow again, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth returned to normal, as if the earth-shattering spying had never happened.

Only Cen Jin stood frozen in place, his body covered in cold sweat, a chill running through him.

He finally understood completely.

From the day of the bloodshed in Qingzhu Village, his and Wan Tang's fates were already firmly locked in by this thousand-year-old demon lord.

His asceticism, his vows, his redemption, and his revenge were never just a young man's solitary struggle, but a fateful game of chess quietly observed and wantonly manipulated by the supreme darkness.

The grand game of life and death that had shrouded half his life had already been quietly played, pressing forward step by step, leaving no way out.