Destiny is ashes

Chapter 1071 Depravity and Supreme Goodness (5700)

In order to eradicate all the depravity in the world, the Daoist court instead lifted the seal that had been placed on all the depravity in the world.

It sounds like a fateful arrangement, a coincidence so absurd it seems.

But actually, for some reason, An Jing didn't think so.

All of this... may not be a coincidence.

Moreover, An Jing keenly noticed the deeper meaning behind Fu Xie's words.

He slightly raised his eyes to look at the hazy sword shadow in front of him: "Fu Xie, do you mean... before this, the Heavenly Demon was always sealed?"

"Perhaps, we know very little about it."

The phantom of Fu Xie shook its head slightly and admitted frankly: "I am a sword that was born later, An Jing. This time it is not 'I don't remember,' but that I really don't know—that's what the records passed down from the Dao Court say."

An Jing nodded slightly and did not ask any further questions.

At this moment, the cause and effect were finally gradually clarified.

Daoting, an organization of immortals and gods originating from the distant past with an incredibly long and prosperous history, is a powerful and flourishing force.

The current Huaixu Dao Court is merely one of its many branches, created by the first Heavenly Emperor of the Dao Court, the 'Great Immortal Huaixu,' and the Jinyuantian is the platform used to connect the various Dao Courts.

In an ancient era, the pioneers of the Daoist court, while studying the nature of 'demons,' realized that 'demons' were not simply 'entities'.

This means that the essence of 'demon' is not a material thing, not a rock, not flesh and blood, not even energy. 'Demon' is a purely conceptual thing that exists independently of the universe. The very existence of 'demon' will naturally lead to a series of chaos and depravity.

Even more terrifying.

The 'demon' is the 'prototype' of all 'chaos and depravity', the origin and source of it all.

Thinking of this, An Jing frowned and said, "That's exactly what I want to ask."

"Can even such a pure prototype of an idea be sealed away?"

"Of course, Anjing."

Fu Xie patiently explained, "Let me explain it to you using the logic of our time."

"Let's imagine a world, whatever it may look like, and then imagine that intelligent beings exist in it, whatever their form may be. When they develop civilization and master extraordinary powers, what do you think their ultimate fate will be?"

This question hit the nail on the head, and An Jing was no ordinary person. He instantly understood Fu Xie's meaning, and pondered for a moment: "The ending... you mean, the very end?"

"I think it's nothing more than success or destruction."

Fu Xie's blade rang out, as if applauding joyfully: "That's right. An Jing, you're not just a born martial artist, you're practically a born god."

"A practitioner, a civilization, ultimately have only two fates: complete transcendence or complete annihilation."

"Because whether it is a cultivator or a civilization, as long as they embark on the path, their ultimate goal can be to reach the [infinity], and at the same time possess [eternal] life and [absolute] power."

"Since the destination is 'forever', all the detours and forks in the road can be ignored, and the outcome can be clearly categorized into two types."

“All individuals and wisdom have reached the end, completely transcending all cycles of reincarnation, trials and tribulations, which we call ‘transcendence’.”

“All individuals and wisdom are forgotten by time, completely disappear, and are not remembered or understood by future generations. We call this ‘extinction’.”

"Destruction is undoubtedly a bad ending. While transcendence may not be the absolute perfect 'end,' it is at least a process leading to 'something better.'"

“That’s true.” An Jing nodded slightly, agreeing wholeheartedly.

Infinity is such a power. If one can achieve immortality and possess infinite life, then theoretically, excluding all external interference, the immortal can accomplish anything. This is a kind of 'potential infinity,' which is precisely the realm in which the Celestial Venerables reside.

"The reason why Wu Dao Lingxiao cannot live forever is simply because of the limitations of the Huai Xu Realm itself. But precisely because of this, their growth rate is extremely fast. Once they can break free from the shackles of Huai Xu, each of them will probably have the opportunity to advance successfully and achieve the Dao Integration Realm."

“And I think I understand now.” An Jing murmured to himself, a hint of realization in his voice: “Fu Xie, you mean to say that the ‘essence of the Heavenly Demon’ is that kind of power…”

"Yes."

The phantom of Fu Xie nodded slightly: "Since this world allows us beings to attain immortality and pursue the infinite, it proves that we all possess the potential for transcendence—so here's the question."

"If, in theory, all things and beings in the world have the potential to 'transcend,' then why haven't all living beings in the world achieved transcendence to this day?"

How simple.

An Jing thought to herself.

Not to mention that the innate talent and comprehension of most living beings are simply insufficient for them to touch the threshold of immortality, even the infinite lifespan of the most basic 'Golden Core True Monarch' is far out of reach.

Looking at the world at large, there are far too many things that hinder and restrain each other.

The scarcity of resources, technological barriers, conflicts between people, sudden natural disasters, one's own biases, mistakes and confusion on the path of cultivation... If one were to think about it in detail, along this journey, before each hurdle, there were endless dangers and obstacles, all kinds of difficulties that hindered the path, and countless 'calamities' waiting.

Even those who cultivate to the highest realm of Dao Venerable will still fight each other for the 'Great Dao Contest,' with one side ousting the other, which is the 'Destruction of the Dao.'

Although the deposed Daoist will eventually return, it will be an unknown period of time later, and the 'path to transcendence' of the deposed side will be interrupted and need to start anew.

And all of this, all the factors that hinder living beings from achieving transcendence...

"We call the collection of all factors that hinder the mind and civilization from moving towards [transcendence] 'demons'."

Fu Xie's voice became extremely serious: "Forgetting, laziness, hedonism, infighting, limited thinking, lack of self-confidence, disbelief, giving up on oneself, the desire to become an 'ordinary person' and integrate into the 'masses'... all the negative thoughts that cause individuals or groups to stagnate, as well as all powerful external enemies and harsh environments, all of these are 'demons'."

"In contrast, the collection of all factors that support the mind and civilization toward transcendence is what we call 'the highest good'."

“An Jing, you asked why the ‘demon’ was sealed away? I think it’s because there is such a great being as ‘supreme goodness’.”

"Of course, 'supreme good' is not something or a principle that we can easily talk about. In short, because the seal was broken, the 'demon' reappeared in the world, or rather, it never left in the first place. The breaking of the seal is nothing more than a grand opening."

"Let's call the source of 'demons' the 'Primordial Demon Abyss' for now."

“In the past, the pioneers in the Dao Court who had the deepest understanding of the essence of ‘demons’ reached the place that sealed the ‘Primordial Demon Abyss’ with the supreme divine power of ‘Extreme Path’. It may be a location, a period of time, or even a place that transcends time and space and cannot be described in words. In short, even with my current level of understanding, I cannot describe that eternal nothingness.”

"There, something happened that we don't know how to describe now. In short, from our perspective in the future, the seal of the 'Primordial Demon Abyss' was broken. Since then, the [Heavenly Demons] have begun to appear. They have degenerated from pure concepts and become physical beings, spreading throughout the multiverse and hindering all living beings from achieving transcendence."

"Since then, our Dao Court has taken it upon itself to 'hunt down the Heavenly Demons,' exploring and searching along the way, battling the Heavenly Demons, until now."

"And the Dao of 'Devouring Evil and Realizing Truth' that you know is the sharpest weapon that the great 'Immortal Emperor of Reform' forged for all of us who came after us."

"Hmm?" An Jing frowned as he processed the massive amount of information. "Wait, Fu Xie, do you mean the seal was opened, but it wasn't closed again?"

"That 'Primordial Abyss'... is it still open?"

"For that being, time is merely a inferior concept. That event spans the past, present, and future, and is probably still 'happening' right now. Everything we do now is actually just 'converging its cause and effect'."

Fu Xie sighed: "This is the source of the Heavenly Demon... Our branch of the Daoist court fought against the Heavenly Demon all the way, leaving our homeland and the myriad worlds where our homeland was located, and came to the 'Pan-Infinite Multiverse Derivative Axis'. Under the guidance of the Great Immortal Huai Xu, we even came to the domain outside the axis... the 'Domain of Pictographs'."

The integration of "axis" and "pictograph" is essentially the totality of all things, similar to the Tai Chi symbol of Yin and Yang. "Axis" leans more towards order and supreme good, while "pictograph" is more incomprehensible. Most of the intelligent life we ​​usually recognize was born within "axis".

“In fact, including Zu Long and me, we who are ‘in harmony with the Dao’ are not, in a sense, people of the Daoist court in our homeland, but people born in the symbolic realm outside the axis.”

As he spoke, Fu Xie's phantom stood up, and An Jing followed suit, the phantom of a man and a sword walking through the Heavenly Punishment Realm.

After the restoration of clarity, Fu Xie's temperament became even more tranquil and serene, almost unlike a sword, but rather a quietly flowing spring or stream. Yet, An Jing could sense an extreme sharpness within it.

If one's downfall is due to "thoughts," then "tranquility" is the greatest "sharp edge." The Tranquil Sword View refines one's thoughts and intentions. Although it cannot compare to the most powerful Daoist scriptures that cultivate the soul, it is absolutely the most powerful in resisting the erosion of the Heavenly Demon.

An Jing is not an evil spirit and cannot achieve 'purity', but his heart is equally still... it is a kind of 'silence'.

It doesn't matter what the enemy thinks, does, or wants to achieve.

He didn't care about any of it, he was indifferent to it all.

All he wanted was for the enemy to be completely 'silent'.

Fu Xie could naturally sense the difference between An Jing and himself, but it didn't matter. The Dao is primordial, the 'first' that gave birth to all things, and everyone can comprehend the state of mind that best suits them.

So He chuckled and continued to explain the reason for everything to An Jing: "The status of the [Huai Xu Realm] is therefore very special. It is the first 'external base point' that was personally forged and established by the Great Immortal Huai Xu."

"Simply put, the [Huai Xu Realm] is the first bridgehead in our Daoist theory." "According to the Great Immortal's original plan, we will start with the Huai Xu Realm, gradually build order in this ineffable symbolic domain, and eventually completely eradicate this escaped Heavenly Demon."

"However, unexpectedly, the Heavenly Demons who fled all the way and broke away from the Primordial Demon Abyss were far more powerful outside the axis than inside it. They turned around and created the Demonic Calamity, almost defeating us completely."

Fu Xie's tone carried a hint of weariness: "Perhaps the Pictographic Realm outside the Axis is their lair? Or perhaps the existence of the Axis itself is a massive seal?"

"I am merely a Dao-Merging cultivator, and only temporarily promoted to Dao-Merging during the war. I do not know these fundamental secrets, but in short, it was indeed a bitter battle."

“But they ultimately did not win.” An Jing calmly replied, “You and Zu Long did indeed protect Huai Xu, and even more worlds.”

"They have been held back by you. Although on the surface the Heavenly Demons have the upper hand and have been on the offensive, there is no doubt that the Heavenly Demons have not achieved their goal."

"They fled from the seal to the outside of the axis, surely trying to accomplish something, but now they are still fighting us, which proves that they 'have not succeeded'."

At this point, An Jing raised his head, looking intently at Fu Xie: "Moreover, Fu Xie, you said you are 'merely at the Dao Integration stage'?"

"Indeed, to accomplish such a great feat means that there are still even more powerful realms beyond 'Dao Integration'..."

"At least the Great Immortal Huaixu is definitely not just someone who has attained the Dao."

"Yes."

Fu Xie's sword shadow trembled slightly, as if praising An Jing's keen insight: "Above the [Dao Integration] of [Returning to Emptiness, Supreme Dao Integration], there are two more realms."

"Its name is [Hongyuan], [the beginning of the Great Expansion, the opening of the heavens].

"And theoretically, the 'good ending' for all civilizations and minds."

"[Transcendence]".

"【Tranquility and freedom, fundamental transcendence】."

Fu Xie's voice was filled with respect: "Both the Great Immortal Huai Xu and the Immortal Emperor Ge Gu have long since entered the realm of 'Primordial Beginning'."

"The battle between them and the most powerful among the [Hundred Demon Lords] is the true battlefield that will determine the future of all things."

"If we Dao-merging beings can defeat all the Heavenly Demons of the Huai Xu Realm, we can join the eternal battlefield and try to become the new Hong Yuan."

Everything is now clear.

At that moment, An Jing fully understood the situation.

The Daoist court and the Heavenly Demons have been entangled since ancient times.

The Huai Xu Realm where he was located was one of the most crucial front lines in this great war that spanned countless ages.

Although it sounds like the Daoist court accidentally released the Heavenly Demon by breaking the seal due to a reckless test and expedition.

But after personally experiencing so many battles, An Jing had a completely different feeling.

All seals will eventually be broken, and all bonds will eventually be broken.

The breaking of the seal on the Primordial Demon Abyss was less an accident for the Dao Court and more a result of 'a greater will choosing the Dao Court to be the one to break the seal'.

Unsealing the seal ahead of schedule was unexpected not only by their own side but also by those who were sealed away.

An Jing even had a feeling that the reason why the 'Heavenly Demon' is a physical being that can be defeated, killed, and even refined into resources, rather than a pure concept that transcends all physical and mental entities, might be because it is a kind of 'degeneration of depravity'.

When the concept of 'degeneration' itself degenerates into an entity that can be understood by mortals and defeated by the strong, then for the struggling masses, it is truly a kind of 'goodness and love'.

The Huai Xu Realm is such a crucial 'bridgehead' and part of a larger battlefield that both the Dao Court and the Heavenly Demons regard it as a top priority.

Then the problem is coming.

Why has the Huai Xu Realm, such a crucial place, remained so 'peaceful' over the long years?
The answer is actually quite simple.

"Huai Xu... completely shut himself off."

An Jing murmured to himself, understanding dawning on him: "The Heavenly Dao of Huai Xu has bound all martial artists, and it has also bound itself."

"He not only prevented himself from touching the outside world, but also restricted all the demons from freely transmitting information between different worlds and timelines."

"He refuses anyone to join the Dao, and even seals off the far reaches of the heavens. In essence, this is also to protect this secret that concerns the entire war situation."

"But now, things are different."

Huai Xu Heavenly Dao began to communicate with Tian Yuan Heavenly Dao and even Da Huang Heavenly Dao—it was no longer completely closed off, but began to re-establish connections. Even the restrictions on martial artists were relaxed in this regard. Jin Yuan Heaven also began to upgrade again, seemingly to restart the long-sealed network of the Heavenly Dao Courts.

And all this...

It's all because of me.

It's all because of my existence.

An Jing suddenly understood.

He is different.

He seemed to come not from the Earth of Fuxie and Daoting, but from another Earth, a completely different, ordinary Earth without extraordinary powers.

He is special. Therefore, under the protection of Fu Xie, he can act as an unnoticed ambassador, representing the will of Heaven, communicating with various Heavenly Daos, briefly hiding behind the scenes, establishing cooperation and connections earlier than the Heavenly Demons, and gaining that precious advantage.

Huai Xu Tian Dao, because of its own arrival, began to awaken from its long silence. It became active and prepared to use An Jing, this 'miracle,' to gamble on a brand new future in this eternal war.

Everything seemed to be going very well—An Jing had completed all the tasks, even exceeding the Heavenly Dao's expectations. In the Heavenly Dao's original calculations, things could never have progressed so smoothly; An Jing could even have briefly awakened the Ancestral Dragon, giving it a valuable advantage in the battle to unite with the Supreme Heavenly Demon.

But here is the problem.

Why is Huaixu Heavenly Dao in such a hurry?
Why did Fu Xie return at this time?

A strong and dangerous premonition rose in An Jing's heart.

"Devil's Tribulation..."

He murmured to himself, "Fu Xie, is your return a sign of something?"

"Yes."

The phantom of Fu Xie sighed calmly, its voice carrying an unprecedented solemnity: "The demonic calamity is coming."

“From my other fragments, I sensed something extremely powerful, terrifying, and incredible, which is traversing the endless void and descending from that ineffable place, about to arrive at Huai Xu.”

"Therefore, I must heal myself, the Ancestral Dragon must defeat the Supreme Heavenly Demon, and the Heavenly Dao of Huaixu Realm cannot continue to be so muddled."

Fu Xie's gaze fell on An Jing, and the shattered blade and the figure became incredibly clear at that moment.

"Although it may sound a bit extreme, perhaps An Jing, you are the key to all of this. As the saying goes, 'Heaven bestows great responsibilities upon those who are capable,' and the hardships and struggles you have endured along the way may be due to these very things."

"It's not exactly a tough battle or a difficult situation; this is just the life I'm used to."

An Jing shook his head slightly. Although there were still many things he didn't quite understand, he had a complete grasp of the general situation.

In the Heavenly Punishment Realm, the world that had stopped turning due to his will began to rotate once again.

"The Heavenly Demon... fights against all elements of corruption?"

An Jing laughed, with an air of matter-of-factness and without the slightest fear: "Fu Xie, I can only tell you that this has nothing to do with destiny, nothing to do with the will of heaven... and nothing to do with the Heavenly Demon."

"Whether it is a human or a demon, a conceptual element or a fallen human being, as long as they are still imposing their will on others, and I have seen it... I am willing to be their enemy and completely annihilate them."

"It's not a responsibility, it's not a mission, subduing evil isn't such a noble thing."

"This is something I'm happy to do."

"My Way".

(End of this chapter)