The improved female villains regained their memories.

The followers looked at each other helplessly and could only join in the shouting.

"Song Panning, Song Panning, Song Panning!"

Ling Shuxin walked up to Shen Qingqing, who was lying in her mentor's arms, and said to her arrogantly, "Someone like you who can't even manage spiritual energy properly, what qualifications do you have to challenge my Pan Ning? Hehe, I'm really ashamed of you."

"you!"

"Don't yell." Ling Shuxin sneered and threw the handkerchief at Shen Qingqing's face, saying disdainfully, "Go back and practice your basic skills properly. Look at you, there's no beauty in you whatsoever."

After saying that, she turned and left, giving her a gesture before she went: "Weakling."

Shen Qingqing was so angry that she spat out another mouthful of blood.

In the courtyard, cheers from the boys and girls rose and fell. Yang Pingsheng opened the window and silently watched everything that was happening not far away.

Sleeping was his persona all along. He had been watching and witnessing the whole thing since Song Panning started gambling with someone.

Even just now, the system allowed him to use a spacetime-based immortal technique to pause and observe the dance battle arena between Song Panning and Shen Qingqing up close. Sure enough, Yang Pingsheng saw the array running beneath the arena.

“It’s a formation.” He said with some surprise, “Xiao Ning set up a formation in advance, which is why she was able to overcome her physical defects and hinder her opponent at the same time.”

“Not bad.” The system’s voice rang out. “Moreover, this is not a formation she set up specifically for Shen Qingqing. She set up this formation a long time ago to prevent anyone from challenging her to a dance battle.”

"...You've thought quite far ahead."

"Think about the definition of the Way of Heaven. How can someone who is good at intrigue and scheming not think far ahead?"

The system continued, "Ping Sheng, you must never be careless. Song Panning is extremely calculating. What she shows you on a daily basis may not be her true thoughts."

A cunning and treacherous messenger skilled in disguise will never reveal her true thoughts to others.

Amid cheers, a man pushed open the gate to the courtyard and slowly walked in. He was tall and imposing, standing at a full 1.9 meters, with powerful and muscular build that was intimidating. Yet, his face was very peaceful, giving off a warm and welcoming feeling.

He walked and stood still without saying a word, attracting everyone's attention, so much so that the cheers gradually faded away.

The crowd instinctively made way for him, and he silently stepped forward, standing in front of Song Panning. His tall figure was like a mountain, completely overshadowing Song Panning.

Song Panning looked up, not afraid, but calmly called out:

"Father."

----

study.

Song Xingtian stood behind the desk, his massive frame making the desk look pitifully small. He held a brush and wielded it with such force that the ink seeped deep into the desk.

Song Panning stood before Song Xingtian without uttering a word, her hands respectfully placed in front of her, awaiting her father's instruction.

Soon, Song Xingtian finished writing, looked at the characters on the Xuan paper, put down his pen with satisfaction, then raised his head, looked at Song Panning standing in front of him, and said, "You won today."

"Yes." Song Panning bowed her head, her tone respectful. "Your child has won."

"I'm afraid there's no way to win fair and square, is there?"

"Yes."

"You cheated?"

"Your son set up the formation in the academy beforehand. Father, you know that I am invincible within the formation."

“Nothing in this world is invincible,” Song Xingtian said. “Look at the sky, it is eternal and unchanging, it seems invincible, but in reality, it will eventually be destroyed one day.”

boom!

Song Panning immediately knelt down, kowtowed, and said, "Father is right. I no longer consider myself invincible."

"..."

Song Xingtian sighed, sat down in a chair, and looked at his daughter kneeling on the ground across the table.

After a long pause, he finally spoke: "Ning'er, you are my most outstanding daughter. Your talent in formations is unparalleled, perhaps only seen once in a century. However, in temples, in mountain cities, and in this place, it is difficult to achieve great things with formations, especially since you are a girl."

"Your mother's wish is for you to make up for her regret and become a goddess. Now, many people in the Song family are eyeing my position, and the Song family is also being suppressed by the Lin and Ling families because of its excessive brilliance. I used to talk to you about these things every day so that you would understand the current situation of our family and take on the responsibility as soon as possible. After all, you are my only daughter."

"I know you are precocious. You understand many things without me having to say them. Your vision, perspective, and breadth of mind have long surpassed those of your peers. That is why I have higher expectations for you."

"You won the dance battle against Shen Qingqing, and I am naturally happy. However, your victory was not achieved through the proper means, but through cheating and trickery. The reason you were able to win today by relying on the formation is because there were no professional formation masters present. Do you intend to use the same method to win the Goddess Selection four years from now?"

"Ning'er, do you understand what your father means?"

Many years ago.

Little Song Panning excitedly ran to her parents, holding up the array in her hand, and shouted:

"Father, Mother, look, I've found a new direction!"

She had thought that her parents would understand her as before, but in reality, they didn't.

Her father remained silent, her mother flew into a rage, and Song Panning learned to keep secrets as a result.

From that time on, she never mentioned the word "array" again, nor did she ever talk about it with her parents.

Today, her father's visit was beyond her expectations, and what he just said was even more unexpected.

Song Panning looked up and saw that Song Xingtian's eyes held a familiar peace and gentleness, as well as a deep, indescribable feeling.

She suddenly understood.

“Father,” she replied, “I understand what you mean, so I will not give up the formation.”

"And what about the dance of the goddess?"

“Father, I only need to do one thing well, right?”

Song Xingtian smiled with satisfaction.

He picked up the Xuan paper and unfolded it in front of Song Panning. Two striking characters were clearly written on it:

【persist in】

Chapter 225 Snake Demon

“Ning’er, you must remember that in this world, heroes and great men are as numerous as carp crossing the river. Although you have a talent for formations, if you do not persevere and work hard, you will inevitably fall behind others and become just another ordinary person.”

Song Xingtian smiled, carefully put away the words he had written, and handed them to her: "I am giving you the word 'persistence' because I hope you will not forget your original intention and will study and practice diligently."

“Father, you…” Song Panning took the Xuan paper, surprised and puzzled, but mostly happy. “Father, you don’t object to me practicing formations.”

“Why should I object? I just said that to test your self-awareness, whether you know what you are good at, and whether you can stick to it. If you are swayed by other people’s words, you might as well give in to the world,” Song Xingtian said.

"I see." Song Panning's eyes lit up. She knew she had guessed right. Her father did not object to her practicing formations; on the contrary, he was very supportive.

Although she appeared happy on the surface, her heart remained as pure as snow.

My father doesn't object to me.

He has been the High Priest for a long time, and both internally and externally, everyone is eyeing his position relentlessly. If I also become a goddess, then our Song family will surely stand alongside the Ling and Lin families, and my father's power will reach its peak.

However, my father's ambitions lay elsewhere. Though he didn't say it aloud, his intense interest in my study of formations suggested that he was plotting something else entirely.

With this in mind, Song Panning felt even more confident.

Although she didn't know what her father wanted, it didn't matter; at least for now, she and her father were on the same page.

Song Xingtian waved for her to sit down. Song Panning sat down, and Song Xingtian finally spoke: "Ning'er, you are so mature. There are some things that your father should tell you."

"Father, please speak."

"Ning'er, what I am about to say is extremely important. It concerns the lives of my entire Song family. You must listen carefully and keep it deep in your heart."

"it is good."

Song Xingtian took a deep breath, then waved his hand, activating the array that had been set up beforehand, which then surrounded the entire study.

Song Panning was taken aback and almost jumped off the stool. She had never imagined that her father was so skilled in array formations.

"Father, you..."

Song Xingtian smiled slightly: "Ning'er, don't be too surprised. Don't be fooled by how good this formation is. In fact, your research on formations is not as good as mine. Given time, you will definitely surpass me."

Suppressing her shock, Song Panning asked in a trembling voice, "Does Mother know?"

“She doesn’t know,” Song Xingtian said with a smile. “Ning’er, you’re not the only one who will keep things from her.”

Song Panning instinctively tried to stand up, but Song Xingtian stepped forward, pressed her shoulder, and made her sit down.

He then walked to the side, took out a teacup, and began to brew tea.

“Ning’er, what I am about to tell you is a piece of history.”

"The history of our Song family."

Song Panning wasn't the only one who would hide things.

That year, Song Xingtian's father lay in bed. Song Xingtian, tears streaming down his face, held his hand. The old man turned his head, stared with his cloudy eyes, and spoke in a trembling voice:

"My son, there is something I need to tell you."

"Father, speak," Song Xingtian said in a trembling voice, "I'm listening."

"Just listening... isn't enough. That's the duty of the Song family..."

"Father……"

That night, Song Xingtian matured a lot.

The next day, he personally presided over his father's funeral. When his pregnant wife came over to comfort him, he looked at the child in her belly and smiled serenely.

"Madam, I am fine."

Glug glug.

Hot tea poured into a teacup, which Song Xingtian handed to Song Panning before sitting down in a chair.

He slowly opened his mouth and began to recount the past of the Song family's ancestors.

------

The little boy sat on a rock, rolling around with a roasted chicken stuck in a twig.

A little girl in green peeked out from behind a big tree and stared intently at him.

The little boy saw her and waved to her, saying, "Hello."

The little girl put her hand to her lips, her gaze fixed on the roast chicken.