The Meaning of Purification; Secret Scroll

Five thousand years ago, the land was in chaos and desolation, and at that time, foreign demons invaded, and the people of the five continents were in grave danger.

The Five Great Immortal Ancestors emerged out of nowhere. Instead of giving a man a fish, they taught him how to fish. The Immortal Ancestors not only resisted external demons, but also created the path to immortality for the human world.

They used the power of immortality to cultivate cultivators, hoping that future generations of cultivators could shoulder the responsibility of fighting against the extraterrestrial demons for the Five Continents.

But in the past five thousand years, the extraterrestrial demons have never been seen again. Instead, even more troublesome evil spirits have appeared and wreaked havoc on the human world.

You Su had also learned from his Mistress that the most mainstream view at present is that evil spirits are the remnants left by external demons, continuing to corrupt the land of the five continents.

Initially You Su thought there was some research to support this claim, but now he realizes that it's more likely just an excuse for the cultivators from the Five Continents to continue their cultivation.

"The Immortal Ancestor imparted the Dao to empower us to fight against external demons, not to grant us immortality. Immortality was merely a byproduct; the true purpose was to make us stronger. However, as time has passed, cultivators have abandoned the fundamentals, seeking only immortality and neglecting strength. More and more cultivators are hiding away to cultivate in seclusion, blindly pursuing higher realms. When it comes to actually fighting, they're probably afraid of even a chicken."

Lord Ash continued to explain her views, or rather, the doctrines of the Purification Sect.

"If the evil spirits originated from the cultivators' practice, then the cultivators would have no reason to continue cultivating. But how could cultivators give up this opportunity to transcend the mortal realm? Therefore, they would avoid the first two conjectures and classify the evil spirits as the remnants of external demons. Only in this way can their absorption of the Mystic Qi of heaven and earth be correct, because their purpose in cultivating follows the last wish of the Immortal Ancestor, which is to fight against evil spirits, that is, external demons, and certainly not themselves."

You Su was immersed in the shock of the other person's ideas, and his head was buzzing.

"But what does this have to do with saving me?"

You Su took a deep breath and asked a long question.

"You still don't understand?"

Lord Ash placed her two slender, white hands on the tea table, leaning forward. The eerie octopus on her veil seemed to come alive, its countless black tentacles waving.

"God is not our enemy, nor is evil. Our enemy is all the monks in the world!"

You Su gasped, remaining silent for a long time before finally processing his shock.

"But this is ultimately just your speculation. There are many theories about the origin of evil spirits, and there is still no conclusion. If evil spirits are truly the remnants of external demons, wouldn't the existence of your Purification Sect become a joke?"

"Do you think we've struggled to survive for a thousand years in the cracks? So that future generations will remember that it was our Purification Sect that saved them? Wrong!"

Lord Ash's voice became impassioned, the clear, melodious female voice suddenly transforming into a rapid, surging torrent:

"We are here so that the Five Continents may one day truly be cleansed! So what if it's a joke? If we are a joke, it means the Evil Warding Department is right, and the Five Continents will still usher in the light! So what does it matter who is the joke, us or the Evil Warding Department?"

Upon hearing this, You Su froze on the spot. Unlike Wangshu Fairy, who could see into people's hearts, he could still sense the truth or falsehood with the intuition of a blind man.

The Lord Ash never mentions ideals, yet every sentence revolves around them. In order to purify the world, they are willing to strive in a direction that no cultivator wants to pursue, and are even willing to be enemies with all the cultivators in the world.

What's even more awe-inspiring is that they themselves are cultivators, yet they are willing to sever their own futures for the sake of countless mortals.

"But how do you intend to sever the Path to Immortality? Does the True God also assist in severing the Path to Immortality? How can I guarantee that you won't discard me once you've used me? You are also cultivators; what impact would severing the Path to Immortality have on cultivators?"

You Su had too many questions in her mind, and she could only vent them all at once.

"You're not qualified to know the specifics of how to sever it," Lord Ash said calmly. "According to the theory of the origin of evil spirits, the true master is either an external demon, or a cultivator's inner demons or a collection of filth. If you are truly an external demon, then you are doomed. But if you are the latter, after cultivators disappear, the power of the true master will naturally dissipate. You are just You Su, why should we kill you?"

As for the impact... since the founding of the Immortal Path, no one has ascended to immortality. Though they are called immortals, none can be called true immortals. With the Path to Immortality severed, we are the last generation of cultivators. We will maintain order among mortals and quietly await our natural death."

"Therefore, the Purification Sect is not a self-comforting enthusiast's club used by those rejected by the Evil Warding Department. As you said, everything has two sides. The Purification Sect is the opposite of the Evil Warding Department. It is another truth that they dare not face, and it is up to you to face it."

You Su didn't know how to evaluate this organization. If what they said was true, he would find it hard not to feel some respect for them.

"You can certainly think of it that way. The Evil Warding Department is the clothing worn by the people of the Five Continents to cover their bodies, and our Purification Sect is the patch on that clothing, which has a tear. We are not trying to oppose the Evil Warding Department; we simply want to ensure that those who wear the clothing don't feel cold."

Lord Ash leaned back and sat back in her chair, regaining the relaxed posture she had when she first entered. She chuckled to herself:

"However, the Evil Warding Department's golden robe cannot bear to see us wearing these tattered patches."

You Su, however, did not relax at all because of the other party's joke; on the contrary, his brows furrowed even more deeply.

"I have a crucial question that I need you to answer. If you don't answer it, I won't cooperate, and I might even crush this Jade Bead."

As soon as he finished speaking, You Su raised his right hand, in which was the Jade Bead.

The atmosphere in the private room instantly became heavy and stagnant. Beneath the octopus veil, a pair of clear and bright eyes gazed at the boy.

"Ask."

"The history of the Evil Warding Department is more than a thousand years old. It can be called the most powerful organization in the five continents. Even they don't know about the True God. How did you know about the True God? You even searched for the True God for a thousand years."

"I have said that regarding Allah, I..."

Before Lord Ash could finish speaking, You Su ruthlessly interrupted him, his fingers already exerting subtle pressure, the Jade Bead on the verge of shattering.

"I've already said, I won't cooperate unless you answer."

You Su's tone was very firm, brooking no refusal.

He stared intently at Lord Ash's face, even though he couldn't see it at all. One was blind, the other veiled, yet their gazes met in an eerie tension, as if drawn swords.

In the end, Lord Ash made a concession:

"This is an apocalypse."

"Tianqi? What does it have to do with Tian Qi Divine Mountain?" You Su was ready to crush the Jade Bead at any moment.

"Those mystical Daoist priests at Tian Qi Divine Mountain claim their random divinations as divine revelation every day. Can you believe them? But what I'm talking about is the real divine revelation."

"Go on."

"It's not that no one in the Evil Warding Department knows, but rather that they have no way of knowing. At its inception, the Purification Sect was actually just one branch of the complex factions within the Evil Warding Department. When the first leader went to sea to search for the whereabouts of the Evil God, he inadvertently glimpsed the legendary Secret Scroll and learned the secret of God. Afterward, he decisively returned and secretly founded the Purification Sect. Everything about God was kept within the Purification Sect, and outsiders naturally had no way of knowing."

"What exactly is this Secret Scroll '?"

See? It's pointless to talk to you.

Lord Ash's sarcasm was unabashed, seemingly a retaliation for his earlier defeat in his confrontation with You Su.

You Su frowned, making a move to crush the jade Jade Bead, but fortunately Lord Ash spoke up in time, interrupting his action:

"The five great immortal ancestors joined forces to build a high wall beyond the heavens to block out the demons, but legend has it that they did not completely die, but left a trace of their will to observe the human world from the heavens. There was too much suffering and confusion in the human world, so they wrote a Secret Scroll that recorded the ultimate secret and circulated it among the human world. No one has ever read it completely. It will only appear briefly before those who are destined to see it, like a divine revelation to guide them through their confusion."

You Su listened, somewhat lost in thought. What was the meaning of this Secret Scroll?

Did the five immortal ancestors, disliking the stupidity of later generations, deliberately leave behind a strategy guide?

The more You Su delved into this world, the more she felt it was full of mysteries.

What was the world like five thousand years ago? Where did the evil spirits come from? Why hasn't anyone ascended to immortality in five thousand years? Is the path to immortality a myth?

If You Su were just a young man learning swordsmanship in Chuyun City, these things would have nothing to do with him; he would only need to cultivate and practice swordsmanship step by step.

But he has gradually risen to the center of the world, and these issues will all be closely related to him.

He desperately wanted to know the answers, whether it was to uncover the truth of the world or simply to survive.

"That's all I have to say, and we've talked long enough. The Evil Warding Department and the Purification Sect don't conflict; at least for now, you just need to honestly exorcise evil. One job, two jobs—isn't that wonderful? Alright, tell me your choice."

Lord Ash lay back against the chair with her arms crossed, her ample figure, hidden beneath her loose grey dress, was accentuated, and she still exuded her usual confidence.

"I refuse."

You Su's answer made Lord Ash freeze.

Lord Ash sat up straight again, emanating an invisible pressure that forced You Su to be on her guard.

"Reason."

Lord Ash spoke slowly and deliberately.

"The benefits you can offer me are too vague. The Evil Warding Department can train me to become one of the strongest people in the world, but what can you give me? A vow not to kill me? If you were in my shoes, would you dare to believe that?"

You Su retorted without any politeness.

"We will help you become the true God, and once you have fully comprehended the True Lord's Power, no one in this world will be able to kill you."

Lord Ash controlled the fluctuations in his tone.

"What if I don't want to become the true God? I've never thought about becoming the true God, that's the truth."

"Are you deliberately picking a fight?"

Lord Ash was genuinely angry at this point; this was the first time she had been angry since she entered the room.

She couldn't understand if this blind man was stubborn. Couldn't she reason with him properly? What harm would it do him to feign illness?

"That's not what I meant. I just hope both sides can be more honest." You Su his teacup; this was the first sip of water he had taken since entering the room.

"Be more honest?" Lord Ash didn't reveal his true face, but one could still hear his furious, mocking laughter. "If you don't cooperate, I have plenty of ways to let the world know that you possess evil, and that the people around you are accomplices who shelter this evil!"

"That's all?"

You Su acted as if he were completely unfazed, clearly knowing the Evil Warding Department wouldn't let him die. To the First Elder, as long as he could exorcise evil, he didn't care what kind of person they were.

Lord Ash's chest heaved; she was furious. She let out a long sigh, and her tone finally returned to calm:

"You came here actually to protect that spoiled brat outside, didn't you?"

You Su frowned.

"The reason you protected him is actually because he is your master's younger brother. You hope that your master can reconcile with his family, which is why you accepted his invitation."

You Su was secretly surprised. Just who was this person? How could they have dug up such deep information?

"If you don't cooperate, then it's his fault. If anything happens to him, it will be because of you. And your master will also know that you harmed her own brother."

Lord Ash raised his throat, his voice clear yet dangerous.

"Are you satisfied with this...?"

You Su nodded in agreement, "Next time, please make such threats earlier so I can weigh the pros and cons and avoid wasting my breath."

Lord Ash's pretty face, hidden beneath her veil, twitched slightly, utterly speechless at You Su's behavior.

This kid is convinced they're a cult, and he won't feel at ease unless he's threatened with some special methods, right?

Lord Ash sighed, then with swift movements of his jade fingers, he produced a jade token from his sleeve and placed it in front of You Su.

"This is the Xuanji Token. The Evil Warding Token has the ability to transmit messages, but it's only one-way. Our Xuanji Token is much more precious than the Evil Warding Token; it can transmit information in both directions. Thanks to this, our Purification Sect doesn't need to gather together to communicate with each other."

You Su picked up the jade pendant and rubbed it in his hand. Just the texture alone was indeed more advanced than the Evil Warding Token. However, the Evil Warding Department had a large number of people, and the production cost of a two-way Sound Transmission Token was too high. Even the Evil Warding Department could not afford such a large expense.

"You just gave it to me like that? No need for any Blood-Drip Recognition, signature, or anything like that?"

You Su remained skeptical of what Lord Ash said; what mattered was never what others said, but what they did.

"Should I chop off half of your hand?"

Lord Ash felt a sense of helplessness; perhaps this was what blindness was all about. If he could open his eyes and see clearly, he wouldn't have thought she was a member of a cult.

You Su raised the Jade Bead in his hand again, clearly not thinking the other party was joking.

"You must remember, you are merely the god of evil, not our god. If you don't want to suffer mutual destruction, don't be too arrogant."

Lord Ash sighed softly, rubbing his forehead. "If anything happens, I will contact you through the Xuanji Token. Let's leave it at that for today. To avoid suspicion, I'll leave first, and you can follow later."

After saying that, Lord Ash gracefully stood up and walked towards the door.

You Su sat there, his sword-like eyebrows slightly raised, thinking to himself that this was strange.

Does Lord Ash have something urgent? Logically, she's the hostess today, so why should she leave first and keep the guests waiting?

You Su waited a moment, finished the fragrant tea in her cup, and then opened the door.

"Brother You!"

He Kongyue greeted him warmly; he had indeed been waiting outside.

You Su quickly went to greet him, subtly gesturing with her nose.

He compared He Kongyue's height with his blurry vision and thought to himself:

Perhaps I'm just overthinking it...