If the Heavenly Dao truly lacked compassion like he said, then his soul would've vanished long ago. It had been hundreds of thousands of years, not mere thousands or tens of thousands. The fact that Heaven let him live and even grow stronger—wasn't that a kind of mercy in itself?
Besides, with countless living beings in this world, how could the Heavenly Dao possibly watch over every single one? Survival of the fittest had always been the law of nature, and it was an unshakable truth in the Cultivation Realm as well.
Maybe it was the first time he'd ever heard someone say that, because Xuan Yan actually froze. For a brief moment, doubt flickered in his eyes—but he quickly forced it away.
"You trying to brainwash me? Sorry, I'm not that stupid!" He sneered coldly. "I survived because of my own strength! And I'll destroy this world myself! Nothing you say will change that!"
That belief had kept him alive for hundreds of thousands of years. No way could Song Wanníng's few words shake it.
"Is that so?" She let out a mocking laugh. "You really think that little bit of power's enough to destroy the world? How ridiculous."
Her gaze hardened. "Then let me show you just how powerful this world truly is."
Song Wanníng reached into her sea of consciousness and pulled out fragments of memory. As spiritual energy surged, the surroundings began to twist and change until they were both standing within the memory itself.
Xuan Yan's heart jolted. He'd never expected her to still be able to channel energy. So she'd been pretending all along?
His eyes deepened. He'd truly underestimated this woman. Her cultivation was profound, but her mind ran even deeper. She was impressive—frighteningly so.
But soon, all his thoughts were swallowed by what he saw before him. Several figures stood atop a towering cliff, and in the next instant, they clashed in a battle so fierce it defied imagination.
Every strike shook heaven and earth. With just a wave of their hands, the entire world below quaked violently.
And then came the final explosion.
That impact pierced straight into the soul.
Even a demonic creature who'd lived for hundreds of thousands of years had never seen anything so devastating.
The colors seemed to drain from the world.
He watched as countless beings screamed in agony, as gods and devils alike fell one after another. He watched mountains crumble, seas overturn, the sun and moon collapse, and the world itself shatter into fragments.
Xuan Yan stood there, staring blankly at the sight before him, his mind completely numb with shock. Even when the memory fragments faded away, he couldn't move. He just stood there, dazed and wordless.
It was the same reaction Song Wanníng had the first time she saw it—overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of destruction. Even after seeing it multiple times, the memory still sent chills through her heart.
Time passed quietly before he finally found his voice. "That scene just now… what was it?"
"That was the great battle of the ancient era," she said softly. "Invaders from beyond the heavens attacked the demon gods. In the end, both sides perished, and the entire world was torn apart."
Song Wanníng sighed, regret filling her eyes.
"As you saw, the Heavenly Dao was gravely wounded in that war. It could barely sustain itself, let alone care for every living being. But even then, it risked breaking its own laws to save one of the demon gods.
The Heavenly Dao's always tried to protect its children. It's just that so many things in this world are already fated. Rather than rely on Heaven's mercy, I believe mortals can defy fate through their own will."
She smiled faintly. "You probably think I'm just saying that because I've never suffered. But the truth is, I've gone through the same kind of betrayal you did."
Then she projected another memory—her own past, the betrayal of her disciple and her fiancé—everything laid bare before Xuan Yan's eyes.
To her, he might be the key to restoring balance between the two worlds. After all, a demonic creature who'd survived hundreds of thousands of years was anything but ordinary. Yes, he'd led Song Jue astray, bred monsters, and harmed countless beings. His sins were heavy.
But if he could turn back to the right path and help her rebuild the Heavenly Dao, maybe his merit could outweigh his crimes. So rather than let them both perish, she hoped they could work together.
"Do you see now? I've felt the same pain you have. But I never gave up, because I believe my destiny's always been in my own hands.
The Heavenly Dao protects me not because of favoritism, but because of every step I fought for, every ounce of effort I gave. Through that, I earned Heaven's recognition, and now I walk further down the path of restoration."
Song Wanníng met his eyes, her expression burning with conviction. "As for your talk of destroying the world—don't you think that's laughable now?"
Even the ancient war between gods couldn't destroy this world. And Xuan Yan thought he could? What a joke. She shattered his delusion without mercy, forcing him to face the raw truth.
Xuan Yan stared at her blankly. Her words kept echoing in his mind. So he wasn't the only one who'd been betrayed.
But while she chose to stand tall and fight, he'd chosen to drown in self-pity. He'd given up on himself, which was why he'd grown so twisted, why he wanted to destroy everything.
He couldn't take his revenge on those who wronged him, so he turned his hatred toward the Heavenly Dao instead. Wasn't that just cowardice?
For the first time, Xuan Yan's faith wavered. But he still couldn't bring himself to admit defeat, so he stayed silent.
Until Song Wanníng spoke again—and her next words shook him to his core. "Xuan Yan, don't you want revenge?
Do you really want to stay trapped here forever, buried in darkness while those people live happily in the Immortal Realm? Are you really fine with that?"
Her voice struck straight at the obsession buried deep in his heart.
Of course he wanted revenge. He'd wanted it every moment of his existence.
"If you want revenge," she said, "then help me rebuild the world."
"Once it's done, I'll take you with me to ascend. We'll go to the Immortal Realm together. We'll find those people, and we'll cut them down with our own hands. How about it?"
Her eyes blazed, full of fierce determination and hope.
That light pierced right into his heart. "You… you mean it?"
His pulse quickened. Could he really ascend with her? Could he really have his revenge?
The thought alone sent his demonic energy surging wildly, his aura rippling out of control. His eyes turned blood-red, and heat pooled in their corners.
Seeing him like that, Song Wanníng couldn't help feeling a pang of sympathy. She nodded solemnly. "I'd never lie to you. As long as you help me, I swear I'll take you to ascend.
From now on, your enemies are my enemies. We'll get revenge together!"
From the very beginning, Song Wanníng had never lied to him.
And she never would.