The improved female villains regained their memories.

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Protector of Heaven Sect

In the main hall, Du Wanli and Mu Xiaobai lay pale-faced, their eyes closed, each within a carefully arranged spirit array.

The spirit array emitted a verdant light. Granny Weaver stood beside it, scattering green five-pointed stars that continuously repaired their wounds.

Du Wanli was nearly cut in half at the waist, and stubborn Yin energy remained in his wounds, constantly eroding his body. Although Mu Xiaobai looked better than Du Wanli, she was actually in more serious condition. Luo Benmo's domineering lightning almost destroyed her entire spiritual veins. If it weren't for Tianbulan's timely rescue, which kept her alive, she would have died on the spot.

The rest of the protectors had arrived. The God of Wine looked solemn, Tian Bulian frowned, Guan Hongyi was absent-minded, Luo Benqing looked at Ling Tiandu with concern, and Gu Ziang gasped.

He never expected that this trip to Tianren Mountain would be so dangerous. Fortunately, when Ling Tiandu was about to give him the task of rescuing him, Du Wanli was sent over by the gate to take his place. Otherwise, he, Gu Ziang, would be the one lying inside now.

The female villains were renowned for their formidable abilities, each possessing remarkable skills. He had witnessed Ling Tiandu's deductive methods, which were incredibly profound. Yet, Ling Tiandu had actually suffered a loss on Tianren Mountain, which gave one an idea of ​​just how ferocious the female villains were.

“This time, my deductive abilities were insufficient, which led to a crushing defeat. The responsibility lies with me. I have let down the trust of the previous chosen ones and the two guardians.”

Ling Tiandu sighed and spoke softly. As she spoke, she appeared even more fragile, her skin growing paler and her body looking frail, as if she might be blown away at any moment.

"Sister Xiaoling, how can you blame yourself? You've done your best. The villains are just too strong, there's nothing we can do about it. We can always win next time."

"Yes, Xiaoling, you must take care of your health. The way of divination is extremely taxing on the soul. You have already put in a lot of effort in divination of Tianren Mountain this time, so you still need to rest."

Luo Benqing and the Weaver Girl Granny offered their words of comfort.

Ling Tiandu sighed and said, "I bear the destiny of a protagonist and the responsibility of the sages of the human race. Now is a time of crisis. How can I let personal matters interfere with public duty? There is no need for you to comfort me anymore. I will learn from my mistake. Even if it costs me my life, I will not let the villains succeed."

Ling Tian's attitude was resolute, and the other protectors could say nothing more.

After explaining some matters concerning cultivation and preparation for battle, Ling Tiandu dismissed the meeting. The protectors dispersed, and Granny Weaver Girl also took the two injured people down to recuperate. However, one person did not leave.

This man is none other than the god of wine.

Ling Tiandu looked at the God of Wine and smiled helplessly: "Uncle God of Wine, you really had to ask me."

Dionysus stood there, his expression solemn, neither dodging nor yielding: "Yes, Ling'er, I think you need to give me an explanation. The human chess piece contains the will of heaven, so why did it become the villain?"

Didn't they say that Heaven is on our side?

Isn't it said that the Heavenly Guardian Sect represents the Way of Heaven?

Isn't it said that only the righteous are favored by Heaven?

Then why is Yang Pingsheng, who embodies the will of Heaven, called a villain?

Ling Tiandu sighed, his eyes flashing, and finally, as if he had made up his mind, he said, "Uncle Wine God, if you want to know the answer so much, then come with me."

After saying that, she turned and walked deeper into the main hall.

Dionysus, naturally unafraid, immediately followed.

As Ling Tiandu walked, he raised his fingers and chanted an incantation. Instantly, clouds and mist surged, and the two of them unknowingly walked into a ditch.

This trench is intricate and extremely spacious; it could probably fit the entire capital of the Qian Kingdom inside without any problem. Compared to Ling Tiandu and the God of Wine, it is as small as an ant.

[A spatial-based killing move? Or is this place located beneath the main hall?]

The God of Wine, a true immortal, was quite surprised to find himself here without even realizing when he had left the main hall. He quickly released his spiritual energy to sense the situation, and then his expression changed drastically.

This is a super-large formation.

The formation encompassed the entire trench, its structure incredibly complex, tens of thousands of times more intricate than Song Panning's Tianren Mountain Formation!

Compared to the array that Song Panning set up using the secret realm of the Sword Soul Heart, it's like comparing a Rubik's Cube to Euler's formula—it's just a toy for children.

"Go this way, be careful, don't get lost."

As Ling Tiandu spoke, he turned into a dark tunnel. The God of Wine dared not wander off and quickly followed.

The deeper you go, the stronger the demonic aura becomes, as if some monster is being suppressed deep underground.

"What kind of monster is being imprisoned underground? The density of this demonic energy is almost exceeding my spiritual pressure!!" Dionysus was covered in cold sweat.

Even a seasoned True Immortal like him couldn't stand it, yet Ling Tiandu ignored it and continued walking down.

"Uncle Wine God, don't be afraid. This great formation is actually built with the help of some kind of secret realm. Therefore, as long as you grasp some kind of core, you can control everything within the formation, just like Song Panning."

Having said that, Ling Tiandu reached into his robes and pulled out something—it was actually—

—Nothing Flower!

The Goddess of Wine felt like her brain had shut down. The Wuhe Flower, one of the four great treasures of heaven and earth, was actually in Ling Tiandu's hands! During the meeting before, she pretended to be worried that the female villains would find the location of the door after collecting the four great treasures of heaven and earth. With the Wuhe Flower in her hands, how could the villains possibly collect all four great treasures of heaven and earth?! Isn't this just playing with people?

The pale blue Wuhe flower emitted a faint glow. In an instant, the God of Wine felt the terrifying demonic pressure disappear. However, the beings imprisoned below clearly sensed something and became even more agitated.

"Ahhhh!!!!"

An angry roar erupted, followed by a violent shaking of the entire ditch, especially the tunnel through which Ling Tiandu and the God of Wine were walking. In an instant, sand and stones flew, and dust rolled down, as if that being was shaking the entire ditch with its physical body.

Dionysus was incredulously experiencing all of this, but Ling Tiandu coldly commented, "After all these years, you still harbor such a deep resentment."

"Traitorous disciple!!!" This time, a clear, furious voice came from underground.

The sound was deafening. Ling Tiandu smiled helplessly and walked down with the God of Wine.

At the bottom, the space suddenly opened up, and there stood an enormous ancient tree. The tree was strangely shaped, and what was terrifying was that its trunk was covered with withered human faces. The aura emitted by the Wuhe Flower was closely connected with the ancient tree and was then continuously transmitted to the large array outside.

On the tree trunk was a human face with eyes that looked like they were about to burst, not yet completely dried up, and the terrifying demonic aura was emanating from it.

It was none other than the previous generation's protector, the Demon King!

He was originally the mentor of the protagonist designated by the previous Chosen One, but in the end, he was imprisoned here by Ling Tiandu. This was something that the mysterious Yang Luoyi had not discovered, so he did not pass it on to Song Qihao. Naturally, Song Panning did not know about this.

The suppressed system thought the Demon King was dead, and the other ancient beings thought the Demon King had completed his mission and merged with the Dao. No one expected that he would turn into this state.

"Teacher, save your energy. Doing this is just a waste of your strength. Why bother?" Ling Tiandu looked on calmly.

Upon hearing this, the Demon King stopped roaring and instead sneered: "Ling Tianxin, you rebellious disciple, I truly regret it! I regret teaching you the methods of divination, but I'm also so glad! I'm glad I taught you the methods of divination. Ha! The methods of divination are extremely taxing on mental energy. You were born with insufficient vital energy, and with such frequent divination, how long can you live? Hehe, I see your qi and blood are much weaker than last time; you're already a candle flickering in the wind. Ling Tianxin, someone like you should have died long ago!!"

Ling Tiandu smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "What you say is true, but I am now Ling Tiandu, not Ling Tianxin. If I die, who will stop the villains and protect the Heavenly Dao? Therefore, I would like to borrow something from you, teacher."

"You traitor, what do you want to do?!"

"Teacher, don't be nervous..."

Ling Tian laughed, but her smile was twisted.

"I do all this for the sake of the Way of Heaven."

Chapter 311 The Desire to Compete

As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying suction force burst forth from Ling Tiandu's body. To the astonishment of the God of Wine, with the help of the great formation, something seemed to be extending from the Demon King's mouth and entering Ling Tiandu's body.

The demon king screamed in agony as a large amount of white energy was released, causing his face to wither instantly.

It was an extremely pure energy, seemingly involving the origin of life... no, it involved a higher level of origin, which even Dionysus could not see through.

After receiving this energy, Ling Tiandu's originally pale face turned rosy and full of vitality. She was no longer as weak and feeble as before. She was radiant and seemed to have been reborn.

"This is the origin of the Heavenly Dao..."

Feeling the renewed vitality within her body, Ling Tiandu's cheeks flushed, and she murmured, "Pressing you down when you were assimilating back then was indeed the right choice."

The gentle words carried a chilling undertone.

The fragile body was no longer fragile; instead, it exuded a vastness that even a true immortal could not perceive.

Most noticeably, her eyes shimmered with light, as if they held the entire universe within them.

boom!

A terrifying vitality erupted within Ling Tiandu's body, shaking the underground cave and causing people to instinctively retreat.

Dionysus took a step back. He finally understood what that thing was. Looking at Ling Tiandu's body, a look of horror flashed in his eyes.

The demon king, whose essence had been drained, had completely withered away.

He spoke in a hoarse voice, almost as if he were dying: "You traitor, you have violated human ethics and usurped the way of heaven. Aren't you afraid of retribution?"

As he spoke, even his weakness couldn't conceal the anger deep within his voice.

Ling Tiandu clenched his fist, closed his eyes, and felt the power within his body. After a long while, he said, "Master, I did all this for the sake of the Heavenly Dao."

"Say such things to yourself. You killed your sister, your parents, and you even turned against me. And yet you keep saying it's for the sake of Heaven's will?" the Demon King questioned.

“Master, you don’t understand. If I don’t do this, my parents will definitely side with the villains in the future.” She smiled slightly and said, “No matter how much you insult or belittle me, I don’t care. Since ancient times, those who achieve great things must have the courage and will to surpass everything. This attack by the villains is a plan that Heaven has been brewing for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. Without someone like me to hold it in, the Heavenly Protection Sect cannot protect the Heavenly Dao.”

She stepped forward; though she was a delicate woman, her voice was strong and resonant, exuding an air of confidence.

"Only I can protect the Heavenly Dao, and only I can turn the tide in the most critical moment for humanity. Master, how can you not understand your disciple's good intentions? I am not so heartless as to disown my parents, nor am I repaying kindness with enmity. All I have done is simply because I must. I must do this. Only in this way can I protect the Heavenly Dao, eliminate those ambitious people, and overcome the greatest crisis in the history of humanity."

"As for my personal loves and hates, I've long since put them behind me."

She opened her arms, like a savior bathed in holy light, and said:

"As long as I help the Heavenly Dao overcome this crisis, I can embed my own ideals into the Heavenly Dao. At that time, I will determine the fate of everyone in the world. I will write the best script for the world and for humanity. Everyone will be happy. The millennia-long struggle between good and evil will end in my hands. And I will personally create a new world."

"A new world without oppression, war, or strife."

Ling Tiandu was laughing, a happy laugh that was also a laugh of being immersed in fantasy.

"Yes, that is a new world where everyone will be happy."

"Father, Mother, Sister, Master, you will all find your own happiness in the new world. Of course, you won't remember me. After all, I am the one who wrote the script, so you don't need to understand me, you don't need to approve of me, and you don't even need to remember me. You just need to live happily in the new world."

"The perfect man has no self, the divine man has no merit, the sage has no name, I am... the sage of the new world!"

"A new world? Engraved into the Heavenly Dao? Ling Tianxin, what do you want to do?!" the Demon King roared in terror.

But Ling Tiandu stopped explaining. She put away her smile, turned around, and left with the God of Wine.

Inside Ling Tiandu's main hall, a chilling atmosphere filled the air, and celestial mist permeated the space. She sat back on her bed, no longer displaying her previous excitement. Instead, at this moment, Ling Tiandu resembled a little girl who needed comfort, revealing a lonely expression.

"Uncle Dionysus, you also think I'm unreasonable, right?" She looked up and smiled helplessly at Dionysus, who was standing not far away.

Dionysus remained silent. Indeed, just from what he had witnessed, Ling Tiandu's behavior was almost like that of a madwoman. If it weren't for the fact that Ling Tiandu had done him a favor, he would have intervened to stop her from investigating what was going on when she attacked the Demon King.

However, he still trusted Ling Tiandu and still hoped to hear Ling Tiandu explain things to him personally.

“Ling’er, you have been kind to me. Putting everything else aside, I will never forget your kindness,” said the God of Wine. “Therefore, I hope you will tell me yourself. At the very least, I want to know what you are planning to do, and what you mean by the new world you speak of?”

“I will tell you, Uncle Dionysus.”

Ling Tiandu smiled slightly, seemingly unconcerned about being questioned by the God of Wine. His smile remained hidden behind the curtain, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

"I will not hide anything from you."