"So this is what power feels like."
Surrounded by darkness and demonic energy, the Demon God stood on the battlefield like a star set ablaze. Her presence was overwhelming, so radiant that Song Wanníng could see no one else.
She shone as if she were born to stand above all things, like a blazing sun at its zenith, eclipsing every other light.
In her past life, Song Wanníng had taken the wrong path. For the sake of fleeting affection, she'd thrown away her chance at the Dao.
Even after being reborn, her goals had remained simple: revenge, and ascension.
As for strength, it had always felt like something she pursued out of necessity—driven by survival, or the need to protect her clan. She was pushed forward, step by step, by the demands of fate.
But right now… she wanted power for herself.
No obligations. No revenge. No legacy. Just pure desire.
She wanted to stand where the Demon God stood—above it all, beyond reach.
The hunger ignited in her chest, wild and electric. Her heart pounded so hard it drowned out every other sound. All she could see were the brilliant bursts of "fireworks" exploding in the sky.
She didn't know how long the battle lasted.
Eventually, both sides were exhausted.
Only three celestial gods remained alive, sprawled across the battlefield, barely clinging to life. The Demon God, though clearly spent, still stood tall at the mountain's peak—like a shattered but unbending sword plunged into the earth.
Then, lightning fell from the heavens.
Heavenly tribulation.
Song Wanníng didn't even have time to react. Everything went dark in an instant.
In that moment, she tasted death again.
That familiar shadow from her past life.
Who wasn't afraid to die?
She just wanted to live.
Truly, fully… live.
When her eyes opened again, the world was desolate.
The vast mountain around her was completely lifeless. No creatures. Not even a single blade of grass.
Song Wanníng's emotions twisted into something heavy and tangled.
"So this was how it ended."
The legendary figure hadn't died at the hands of the gods. She was struck down by the Heavenly Dao itself. And just to make sure, the heavens had even sent those so-called Children of Destiny to drain her strength before the final blow.
"Disgusting."
She clenched her fists without realizing it, her heart simmering with quiet rage on the Demon God's behalf.
Then, without warning, a hazy figure formed beside her. That same playful face. Familiar, almost mischievous. Her eyes sparkled like scattered fragments of stars.
"So I ran into someone like me after all," she said, curiosity dancing in her voice. "What a surprise."
"Junior Song Wanníng greets Senior," Song Wanníng said immediately, bowing with sincere gratitude.
If the Demon God hadn't intervened, dealing with that divine beast egg would've been far more difficult.
"No need to be so formal," the woman laughed, waving her hand. "We're family now, aren't we?"
Then she plopped down on the ground with casual ease, patting the earth beside her.
"Come on, sit!"
"Alright." Song Wanníng sat, though she blinked, feeling something wasn't quite right.
Compared to her battlefield presence, the Demon God now seemed completely different. Her aura was relaxed, even playful. It was hard to connect the two versions of her.
"Feels strange, doesn't it?" The Demon God tilted her head, smiling gently. "Don't overthink it. I'm just a remnant—a sliver of divine will torn from my soul right before I died. Not exactly the same as the real thing."
"A sliver of divine will. So she was the Demon God… and also not."
"She really died?" Song Wanníng asked, her chest tightening. Part of her had hoped the Demon God was still alive somewhere, merely sealed away, waiting. But the answer crushed that hope.
"She did." The spirit let out a soft sigh. "Who would've thought the Heavenly Dao would be so shameless? It created a horde of celestial gods just to take her down."
A cold glint flickered in her eyes. "But that damned Heavenly Dao didn't get off easy either. In her final moment, the Demon God self-destructed—tore through the sky and dragged the Heavenly Dao down with her.
The world you live in now? It's just a shattered fragment of the old Heavenly Dao. It paid dearly for its so-called justice."
If the Demon God hadn't moved fast enough, even this single sliver of will wouldn't have survived. But divine will was not a soul. It couldn't revive. It couldn't grow stronger. It could only weaken, bit by bit, fading away until nothing remained.
And yet, after millions of years… she still lingered.
Proof of just how powerful the Demon God once was.
"But why did the Heavenly Dao turn against her?" Song Wanníng asked.
"Could it be like my own case? Was the Demon God just someone else's 'antagonist'?"
The spirit let out a dry, bitter laugh. "It was because she found the Demon God's origin," she said slowly, her tone colder now. "Her dantian evolved into a new world. A complete, independent world—with its own Heavenly Dao."
"The Heavenly Dao saw it as a threat. It feared losing control. It couldn't allow another Dao to exist within its domain. It couldn't tolerate a living being that it couldn't bind or dominate."
So it broke its own laws. Created its own champions. Groomed its own gods. All to snuff her out. Then, under the guise of divine punishment, it unleashed tribulation upon her… claiming she had brought ruin upon the world.
But it underestimated her strength.
In the end, they perished together.
"I see," Song Wanníng murmured, brow furrowed.
Her feelings twisted again.
Like most people, she had once revered the Heavenly Dao, believing herself protected by its will. Grateful, even. But after dying once… she realized something.
Not all Heavenly Daos are created equal.
Some were benevolent, sure. But others only cared about their own survival, their own control. They enjoyed holding the strings.
And those who lived beneath them? Merely pawns.
If the Heavenly Dao wanted you dead by midnight, even the King of Hell wouldn't dare spare you till dawn. For someone like her—someone who got to live again—that was a sobering truth.
"In you, I sense something… familiar," the spirit said suddenly.
Her gaze turned thoughtful, almost nostalgic.
"As if I'm looking at who she used to be, once upon a time."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I can sense two forces inside you. Completely different. Are they giving you trouble?"
She had struck right at the heart of Song Wanníng's current struggle.
Inside her, both demonic energy and spiritual qi coexisted. For now, they were balanced. But how long would that last?
Even entering the Demon God's tomb had been partially driven by the demonic qi within her sea of consciousness. With it in her system, it was easier for her darker impulses to surface… to take control.
She had entered this place to protect the Song Clan. But without the demonic qi's influence, would she have taken such a reckless risk?
After all, there was no guarantee she could leave once she came in. If she was delayed too long, history might repeat itself.
Still, she had made her choice.
And now, she had to deal with the consequences.
Song Wanníng fell silent for a while. This imbalance was a hidden danger. One that couldn't be ignored for long. So she turned to the spirit, eyes steady.
"Senior… please help me."
The Demon God's remnant smiled gently.
Tell me what you've decided. Will you walk the path of the dao cultivator… or the path of the demonic?"
To her, the answer seemed obvious. With her nature, Song Wanníng was a perfect candidate for a demonic cultivator. Trying to cultivate as a dao one was a waste.
She waited with interest, curious to see the girl's decision.
Anyone with sense would know what path to pick, given where they stood.
But Song Wanníng looked back at her without hesitation.
In her eyes, a new light flickered—wild, bold, and full of boundless ambition.
"I want both."