Unfortunately, Song Yunfeng died before he could expose the mastermind.

Song Yuanlang sighed.

’We didn’t catch the person pulling the strings. We’re safe for today, but what about the future?’

A persistent threat is far more dangerous than a single attack.

"Clan Leader, was Song Yunfeng a traitor?"

One of the disciples couldn’t help but ask.

They were all of the same clan, and Song Yunfeng had always seemed honest. It was truly unbelievable that he was a traitor.

Suppressing the rage in his heart, Song Qingyun gave a heavy nod.

"Song Yunfeng colluded with outsiders, attempting to guide the beast tide to besiege us and cripple the Song Family. Fortunately, his plot was discovered, and a disaster was averted."

He didn’t mention Song Yuanlang directly. Instead, he frowned and said, "Previously, Song Yunfeng came to me demanding a Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill and was refused. Because of this, he held a grudge against me and the Song Family and used this as an opportunity to retaliate."

"The Song Family raised him from birth, and he enjoyed many of the clan’s resources after embarking on the path of cultivation. Yet, he held a grudge just because he couldn’t get an Elixir Pill he wanted. This is proof enough of how narrow-minded and selfish he was!"

"His death now is a result of his own actions. He has no one to blame but himself!"

"Gasp... Was he insane? He actually wanted a Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill? Does he even know how precious that Elixir Pill is?"

"Exactly! It went for hundreds of thousands of Mid-grade Spirit Stones at the last auction. The nerve of Song Yunfeng to even ask!"

"How despicable! He wanted to get us all killed over something so small. How did we never see how vicious he was?"

The disciples gasped, all shocked by Song Yunfeng’s shamelessness.

To obtain such a precious Elixir Pill, one would either have to buy it for an exorbitant price or achieve great merit for the clan, and even then, the chance was minuscule. Moreover, the pill was priceless and rarely available. Even the Eldest Miss would find it difficult to refine one.

Song Yunfeng must have been mad to make such an outrageous demand.

And to even plot against them over it...

The group immediately burst into a cacophony of curses, spitting on Song Yunfeng’s corpse in disgust.

"Enough. We’ll drop this for now. Everyone, watch out for demon beasts!"

Song Qingyun’s gloominess began to dissipate. Even though they hadn’t caught the mastermind, the disciples were safe, which allowed him to relax slightly.

With that said, he tossed Song Yunfeng’s corpse toward the horde of demon beasts.

In the blink of an eye, the corpse was torn to shreds by the demon beasts. The sight of splattering blood made everyone’s heart clench as they were brutally reminded of the consequences of betraying the Song Family.

Meanwhile, without the lure of the Beast Attracting Powder, most of the demon beasts began to retreat back into the mountains. The situation was gradually improving.

The disciples quickly threw themselves back into the fight.

For this beast tide, the family had been exceptionally generous, distributing a large number of Elixir Pills and talismans to them each day.

They weren’t sure if it was just their imagination, but it felt as if the family had become much wealthier.

...

With the immediate danger averted, Song Qingyun continued to deal with the demon beasts as before.

He had just begun to relax when an overwhelmingly powerful pressure suddenly emanated from the mountains.

"BOOM—"

As the pressure washed over them, all the demon beasts dropped to the ground in terror, trembling uncontrollably.

The disciples collapsed with a thud, pinned to the ground and unable to move.

Even Song Qingyun and the other Nascent Soul Cultivators were forced out of the sky, and as they landed, their bodies trembled so violently it felt like their bones were rattling against each other.

"This is bad!"

’A Divinity Transformation cultivator?!!’

’No, it must be a Divinity Transformation Demon Cultivator!’

’There’s actually a Divinity Transformation demon beast in this place?’

Song Qingyun’s mind reeled. ’This is terrible!’ he thought.

At that moment, he recalled Song Wanning’s words.

’The Song Family disciples seemed to have died *before* the beast tide...’

’Could her intuition have been right?’

’The disciples didn’t die in the beast tide at all, but ran into a Divinity Transformation Demon Cultivator?’

"All elders, listen to my command! You must protect the disciples with your lives! If... if we are truly no match for it, you will take them and flee!"

Song Qingyun snarled in a low voice, already prepared to face death.

In his past life, his negligence had led the disciples to disaster. In this life, he would not allow history to repeat itself, no matter the cost!

’Facing a Divinity Transformation Demon Cultivator, the only way to stop it is to self-destruct...’

"Clan Leader!"

The elders were horrified and heartbroken, but they knew this was the only way. They nodded in silent, grim agreement.

At that moment, a figure appeared in mid-air before them.

The person wore a purple robe, their features so fine it was hard to tell if they were male or female. Their upturned, phoenix-like eyes held a hint of dangerous allure...

Song Qingyun clenched his fists.

’Just as I thought. A Divinity Transformation Demon that has taken human form.’

...

Inside the Demon God Tomb, Song Wanning was struggling to fuse her Demonic Qi and Spiritual Energy.

Above her, a screen of light displayed the unfolding scene at the Song Family’s encampment.

Song Wanning had been worried about the Song Family, so she had asked the Demon God’s Divine Thought to keep an eye on them for her.

But now the Song Family was in peril, and she was still in the middle of her breakthrough.

The Demon God’s Divine Thought glanced at Song Wanning and said softly, "Little one, your family is in danger."

Startled, Song Wanning, who had been focused on fusing her energies, snapped her eyes open.

The moment she saw the Divinity Transformation Demon toying with the members of the Song Family, rage erupted from the depths of her soul. A grim Evil Qi enveloped her, and terrifying killing intent billowed from her body.

The Demon God’s Divine Thought smiled faintly and murmured, "It seems that little demon intends to torture your family to death..."

’Song Wanning has been stuck on the verge of fusion,’ the Divine Thought mused. ’Even with my help in guiding her Demonic Qi, she’s still missing that final push.’

’Perhaps a little stimulus will produce an unexpected result.’

"The Song Family is doomed, alas—"

The instant the Demon God’s Divine Thought spoke those words, the aura around Song Wanning changed dramatically.

’I’ve already tried so hard to change the Song Family’s fate,’ she thought furiously. ’But something still went wrong! A Divinity Transformation Great Demon even showed up!’

’Is the Heavenly Dao really in such a rush to "correct" the timeline?’

’No! I won’t allow it!’

’My destiny is mine to control!’

’I refuse to lose!’

Endless fighting spirit erupted from the depths of her being. The Golden Small Sword once again transformed into a dragon, roaring as it coiled and circled within her Sea of Consciousness.

At that same moment, the Spiritual Energy and Demonic Qi that had been warring within her Dantian, just on the verge of that final step, suddenly shattered.

The two energies dispersed to every corner of her body, only to rush back toward her Dantian an instant later, coalescing at its very center in the blink of an eye.

"RUMBLE—" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The depths of her Dantian trembled violently. In the next instant, a Tai Chi Pattern appeared—one part black, one part white—coexisting in a strange but perfect harmony.

With Song Wanning at the center, rings of light resembling a Tai Chi Diagram radiated outward in waves.

"BOOM—"

The final, most difficult barrier between the Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation realms shattered.

Song Wanning’s advancement to the Divinity Transformation stage was complete—a natural, effortless success.

She slowly opened her eyes. A dense killing intent flashed within their depths, and her profound gaze was now so intimidating that one dared not meet it. Her aura had become completely unfathomable, its true depth impossible to perceive.

It was as if she had returned to a state of primal simplicity, her power perfectly contained.

She was clearly the same person, yet she seemed completely different.

The Demon God’s Divine Thought’s lips curved into a smile, a flicker of excitement in its eyes.

’As expected of the one I chose. She actually completed the challenge.’

’A Cultivator who can control both Demonic Qi and Spiritual Energy... Just the thought of it is thrilling!’

"Go."

"Go and embrace your brand-new future!"