The undead have descended upon the world? I possess a sword that can cleave the heavens once more!

Those who don't like this can skip it; it won't affect the reading of the subsequent plot.

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The New Calendar - The Chronicles of the Sword Ancestor - The Beginning of Calamity (End)

The Thousand-Faced Corpse Demon was inherently wicked and treacherous, insatiably greedy and cruel, having accumulated evil over time. Later, it colluded with the Lustful Corpse Clan; the two evils joined forces, acting in concert, and with overwhelming ferocity, launched a massive invasion of Lanhe. Corpse clouds blanketed the city, and malevolent energy permeated the air; wherever it reached, the people suffered. Within Lanhe, countless civilians died or were injured; the streets were in ruins, cries of sorrow echoed throughout the land, and the entire city's inhabitants teetered on the brink of destruction.

Sword Ancestor witnessed the carnage and was filled with sorrow, unable to bear the slaughter of all the people. Therefore, disregarding his own safety, he resolutely entered the fray, facing the raging flames alone, vowing to save the people of Lanhe from their suffering.

The details of that fierce battle are not fully recorded in the world; ancient and modern books all omit it. Only fragmentary passages briefly describe the strange phenomena: On that day, the heavens underwent a dramatic change, as if the heavens were unleashing a murderous intent. The stars shifted their orbits, the constellations changed their positions, and a chilling aura filled the land. In the blink of an eye, the invading Thousand Faces and the Corpse Demons of Desire were all annihilated, leaving no survivors. The overwhelming chaos was instantly quelled.

The calamity was far from over, and the Ancestor reappeared in the world. His once black hair had turned to frost and snow, and his appearance had changed drastically, his spirit and form weathered by time. Everyone knew the reason for this, saying that the Ancestor had sacrificed his own lifespan to activate the supreme sword technique, exhausting all his primordial power to annihilate the horde of corpses and save Lanhe from destruction.

The treatise states: The evil spirits wreaked havoc, causing the collapse of an entire city—a catastrophe indeed. The Sword Ancestor, entrusted with a perilous mission, sacrificed himself to save the people, shortening his lifespan to attain enlightenment, exchanging his own decline for the peace of countless others. His black hair turned white, but his unwavering loyalty protected the land. His achievements were renowned in his time, and his righteousness will endure for millennia; this is why the Sword Ancestor stands unparalleled throughout history.

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The New Calendar, The Chronicles of the Sword Ancestor, Part One: The Tribulation Responds

Since entering public service, the Sword Ancestor has been dedicated to vanquishing evil and protecting the world, his brilliance becoming increasingly apparent and his name resounding throughout the land. In the battle of Lanhe, the Ancestor suffered a loss of lifespan and energy, his body was severely injured, his vital essence was depleted, and he was exhausted in both body and spirit. People all believed that his swordsmanship cultivation would stagnate from then on and would be difficult to improve again.

The current political climate includes the Nine Li selection process, a crucial stepping stone for those seeking to eliminate the dead and uphold justice. Only the most outstanding talents in the region are eligible for the preliminary selection. Although Zu suffered a great calamity and severe injuries, his spirit remained unbroken and his cultivation undiminished. On the day of the selection, heroes rose up, and the pride of the world gathered, each displaying their unique talents and vying for supremacy. With his crippled body and enlightened sword heart, Zu overpowered all his peers, surpassing them all and being chosen as the chief candidate for that selection.

Zu Yangfeng, undeterred by his fame, diligently cultivated his skills. In just a few days, he achieved a sudden enlightenment in swordsmanship, reaching a new level of mastery and surpassing his previous abilities. He then calmly faced the test, fully understanding its purpose, and successfully passed, becoming a formal disciple of Jiuli.

From this point on, the Sword Ancestor was freed from his minor post and left his isolated domain. His name was known throughout the Nine Li Kingdom, and his fame spread across the four seas. He began to stand on the stage of the world, marking the beginning of his future dominance over the universe and his attainment of supreme enlightenment.

The treatise states: When the great calamity ravaged his body, ordinary people would succumb to despair, but the Sword Ancestor grew ever stronger with each setback. His crippled body suppressed even the most arrogant, and within days he made significant progress, neither letting physical hardship hinder his ambition nor letting the catastrophe distract him from his cultivation. His ascension to the Nine Li tribe was not merely an honor of good fortune, but a testament to his unparalleled swordsmanship and the opening of his own path. This marked the beginning of his rise to fame and his eternal dominance.

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The New Calendar, The Chronicles of the Sword Ancestor, Part Two: The Tribulation Responds

After the Sword Ancestor entered Jiuli and held a high position in the righteous path, he never relied on his fame to be complacent. He tempered his sword day and night, and made progress day and night without ever slacking off. His Dao heart became more and more solid.

Later, the ancestor was ordered to venture deep into the Dark Realm to patrol and exterminate the corpses and evil spirits. The Dark Realm was deep and mysterious, shrouded in thick fog, and teeming with corpses and evil spirits. On the way, he encountered two giant bird-like corpses, resembling roc or phoenix, exuding a terrifying aura. These two corpses possessed unparalleled ferocity and profound strength, far surpassing the evil spirits the ancestor had encountered before, and were beyond the reach of his sword power at that time.

Knowing the enemy's strength was formidable, Zu dared not confront them rashly. He calmly maneuvered, shifting his stance and changing his sword, doing everything in his power to slow the enemy's advance. However, the disparity in strength was too great, and his skill was inferior. A prolonged battle would leave him at a disadvantage, unable to withstand the enemy's might. Zu had no choice but to temporarily conceal his strength and retreat to avoid the enemy, hoping to save himself.

The two ferocious bird corpses relentlessly pursued the ancestor, their murderous intent undiminished, pressing him relentlessly and preventing any escape. With nowhere to retreat and nowhere to avoid, the ancestor was forced to turn back and fight again. In the midst of the fierce battle, danger lurked everywhere, and he was surrounded by deadly intent, repeatedly teetering on the brink of death and finding himself in dire straits.

Just when life and death hung in the balance, the ancestor broke through the illusions and gained clarity amidst the perilous situation. He was reborn from the brink of death, and in the midst of battle, he had an epiphany, fully comprehending the supreme true meaning of the sword. Heaven and earth entered his body, his sword heart became clear, and his realm suddenly broke through, transcending his previous state. He then raised his hand and plucked the stars of the sky as a blade, condensing the sword intent of heaven and earth into a single sword strike, which crashed down with a thunderous roar. The two giant bird corpses instantly collapsed, their forms and spirits vanished.

The treatise states: "Desperate situations are the end for ordinary people and the beginning for heroes." The Sword Ancestor, facing an absolute calamity in the Dark Realm, exhausted and powerless, caught between a rock and a hard place, yet remained steadfast in his resolve and unwavering in his will. In that instant of life and death, he attained enlightenment, plucked a star as his sword, and vanquished the calamity and the corpse. Thus, the Ancestor's supreme swordsmanship was not forged in comfort, but revealed through the trials of life and death.