Chapter 448: The Big Dipper

The Ling Hun Qi Yue soul contract binds souls together, and as long as the person who initiated it doesn't release it, even someone with incredible abilities cannot break it. It's like the case of Bu Si Di Jun and Xiao Huang Ji—before, he was just a Shen Wang, and even as a Di Jun, he couldn't resolve such an agreement. To prevent the other party from reneging and causing a backlash, the Ming Shi Da Lu had specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Tian Dao Zhi Ce, they still couldn't break free from the soul contract.

"Indeed, the Ling Hun Qi Yue cannot be separated from the sea of consciousness, but I have fused with a special gas that can even resolve the Tian Dao of Shen Jie. Dissolving this contract is not difficult... As long as I have enough power to bombard the location of the contract, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

The Ling Hun Qi Yue is built upon the foundation of the Tian Dao, and since this special power can resolve even the Shen Jie Tian Dao, what's so difficult about dissolving a soul contract, as long as it's handled properly?

"I see..." Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

"Telling you all this is my way of thanking you for bringing me to Shen Jie!"

After explaining, Hen Ren said no more. His aura grew even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further, clearly having absorbed an unknown amount of power during their conversation, using it to nourish himself.

"Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole swallows, the stronger his power becomes..."

Luo Ruoxi also noticed something was wrong and quickly sent a message through divine sense.

"Let's make our move!" With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, abruptly raised the long sword in his hand, and said, "In that case, let's settle this with our skills!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once again.

To live is to return, to die is to long for each other!

What could possibly stop him when life and death mean nothing?

Though this sword technique had not reached the level comprehended by a Di Jun, it contained all his inner obsessions, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation to its limits.

Whoosh!

With one sword strike, he split Hen Ren's attack in half.

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi made her move, her jade-like hand swirling as sword light flashed like snow.

Her swordsmanship was somewhat similar to that of the young man from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of aligning with the great dao.

"Your techniques are impressive, but compared to me, they still fall short..."

Hen Ren chuckled lightly and reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth, shattering space, and making it seem as though the sun, moon, and stars would be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were both sent flying backward, spitting blood wildly in mid-air.

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

Just what realm had this guy reached?

"Outrageous!" His clone strode forward, each step blooming with lotus flowers and echoing with the sound of flowing water in the void.

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, his clone's cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, sending power surging into the nine heavens.

But when it clashed with Hen Ren, he too was sent flying, unable to block even one move.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Now that he had become a Di Jun, his clone still hadn't given up its habit of showing off...

Such flashy displays would be better if the power was concentrated for greater impact!

"Let's all attack together, or we'll all die if they fall..."

Xiao Huang Ji roared, his crimson flames burning as if setting the sky ablaze.

The remaining six Di Jun also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Di Jun joined forces, capable of destroying heaven and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let his black hole expand as their attacks approached, swallowing everything in an instant before counterattacking.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The seven Di Jun, along with Zhang Xuan and the others, were all sent flying.

Even the ten Di Jun together couldn't block a single move from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

After defeating them with one strike, Hen Ren stepped forward and flipped his wrist to strike down again.

"How dare you, you vermin!"

Accompanied by a loud shout, the elder from Jian Shen Tian suddenly appeared, blocking the way with his long sword transforming into a river of stars.

"Di Jun? He's also at the Di Jun level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a follower, at most a Feng Hao Shen Wang, but now he realized he was also a Di Jun powerhouse!

If he was a Di Jun, then what about that young man?

"He's the Di Jun of Jian Shen Tian..."

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

"Then... what about the young man who taught me the sword technique?" Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back.

"He's..." Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when the space twisted, and they saw the Jian Shen Tian Di Jun sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater.

With Zhang Xuan's current strength and understanding of the sword dao, even he couldn't withstand Hen Ren, so despite this elder's formidable cultivation and sword skills, he was no match.

"Ha! Di Jun are nothing but a bunch of insignificant creatures! Today, I'll destroy the nine heavens, wipe out Shen Jie, and trample all rules!"

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Di Jun, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the space around him collapsing continuously, making him appear demonic and otherworldly.

"What do we do?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

He and his clone had already used their strongest attacks, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her most powerful techniques, yet none could block even one of his moves...

Was there truly no one in Shen Jie who could stop this man?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

"The only way is to return your Tian Dao You Que to the Tian Dao itself, letting it suppress him..."

Luo Ruoxi's delicate fists clenched, her eyes reddening.

"Return it to the Tian Dao itself?" Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

The library in his mind was part of the Tian Dao. Once returned, the Tian Dao would be complete, potentially fixing its flaws and expelling Hen Ren.

It was like the immune system of the body.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses, but if damaged, even a strong person could succumb to invasion.

But...

"He's too powerful. Even if the Tian Dao is restored, could it really suppress him?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Viruses could be killed by the immune system, but what about a fierce tiger?

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond Di Jun... he was no longer something the Tian Dao could handle.

"This..." Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. "You're right... It might not suppress him, but if the Tian Dao is complete, he can awaken and slay this one with ease!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to see him. He's in Zi Zai Tian..."

Taking a deep breath, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and flew forward.

"Thinking of escaping?" Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

"You..." Zhang Xuan unleashed his sword technique again, his sword intent blazing forth.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

"You all go quickly. I'll hold him off..."

Knowing they were trying to save Shen Jie, not flee, his clone and Bu Si Di Zun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her Jing Kong Zhu form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone blocking fearlessly, even facing death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, tore through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in the area of Zi Zai Tian.

Zi Zai Tian was no longer as carefree as before. Shen Jie was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is the person you mentioned?" Zhang Xuan asked the girl in his arms, ignoring the ordinary lives around them.

If this person could truly save Shen Jie, he was willing to sacrifice himself!

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his. Bu Si Di Jun was once his beast pet..."

Luo Ruoxi regulated her breath and explained.

"Father?" Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

No wonder he had always felt the blood in the pendant was similar to Luo Ruoxi's but different—it was her father's.

That also explained why Bu Si Di Jun's remnant will had recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also a Di Jun? Or does he have strength beyond Di Jun?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos had been calmed by the blood in the pendant, so was her father not only a Di Jun but even more powerful?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did it require the Tian Dao's flaws to awaken him?

"He's not a Di Jun. He's... the Tian Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"The Tian Dao? Your father... is the Tian Dao?" Zhang Xuan was shocked, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that massive hand and fell into a coma. The Tian Dao shattered into three parts: Tian Dao You Xu and Tian Dao You Que entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Tian Dao Zi Ran to maintain Shen Jie's balance. The only way to restore him is to gather the scattered parts... That's why I was so determined, why I couldn't fail! That's why I entered the Ming Shi Da Lu to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

Not long after they met on the Ming Shi Da Lu, this girl had told him her story—she needed to save a close relative. He hadn't realized then that it was her father, the Shen Jie Tian Dao!

Could the Tian Dao really take human form and have children?

"Acting as Tian Dao Zi Ran... you don't have a Tian Dao fragment in your body?" Suddenly realizing the inconsistency in her words, Zhang Xuan looked at her.

Acting as versus fusing with—it was a different concept.

"I only control it; I'm not part of the Tian Dao..."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief.

In that case, he only needed to separate his own Tian Dao You Que; she didn't have to die.

Though he was unwilling to accept this fate, he didn't want the girl in front of him to be harmed.

"If I separate the Tian Dao You Que from my body, your father can awaken and even slay Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"This... I'm not sure..."

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing Shen Jie.

Shen Jie was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awoke, could he truly defeat such a powerful Hen Ren?

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We have to find a way!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, plus the Jiu Tian Jiu Di—if we team up with Kong Shi, we might not lose!"

"Kong Shi? He's..." Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm guessing correctly, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Tian Dao... He's probably like Wei Chang Feng—a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Chang Feng had made him realize that Kong Shi's way of preserving his spirit was likely the same, as a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti.

It allowed one to remain clear even in the womb.

With his prior arrangements, revival was only a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, apparently not expecting this.

"We'll know once we check. If I'm right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have stayed away from Chao Xi Hai..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng and the others, were incredibly strong. Even without a Di Jun's help, they could enter Chao Xi Hai, yet none had appeared.

They must have something more important—helping Kong Shi recover.

"This..." Luo Ruoxi was shaken, suddenly understanding.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they returned to where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in mid-air, cross-legged. Seeing them arrive, he smiled slightly. "You've come!"

It was Kong Shi!

This teacher of ages hadn't disappointed him!

As guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was on Chao Xi Hai.

"You..." Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Di Jun could revive, as Bu Si Di Jun had, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly!

"I hid from the Tian Dao and prepared a backup in advance. The nameless giant in the You Hun Chi was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to escape the Tian Dao's bindings and reform my body. I've only just recovered now!"

Kong Shi smiled faintly.

He was a master of time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in Shen Jie, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

"Our combined strength is strong, but defeating Hen Ren won't be easy..."

Seeing that Kong Shi had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head.

It wasn't about boosting the enemy or undermining themselves—it was the truth.

So many had joined forces earlier and still couldn't block him. Adding one more Kong Shi wouldn't change the situation!

"If we fight individually or even together, we're no match for him, but... what if we fuse all our power into one person?"

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse it into one person?" Luo Ruoxi frowned.

This time, not just Luo Ruoxi, but Zhang Xuan was also full of doubt.

"That hand could tear apart Shen Jie and scatter the Tian Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and has been devouring Shen Jie's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all the Di Jun together, can't match him alone..."

Kong Shi said. "But if we concentrate everyone's power into one person... maybe then we could!"

"How do we concentrate it?" Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Di Jun stood at the peak of Shen Jie. If absorbing others' power was that easy, she wouldn't have been stagnant for so long.

"It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Di Jun constraints, he can save Shen Jie!"

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's and the Tian Dao's restrictions, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I guessed right, when he fought me, he even considered giving up and letting me kill him!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During their fight, he had indeed thought that way, so at the beginning, they had both held back, more like sparring than a life-or-death battle.

"Without transcendence, he can't unleash his full power. Even with more true qi, he couldn't impact that supreme realm! As for me..."

Kong Shi nodded. "I embrace all living beings and seek to save the world, but I'm too unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—too much mercy is a flaw! If I'd been more ruthless and wiped out the Yi Ling Clan, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had exterminated the Yi Ling Clan back then, Hen Ren couldn't have revived, and none of this would have happened.

"So, I'm not suitable! But Zhang Xuan's techniques are seamless, without flaws. He values living true to himself, and even in death, as long as he's lived without regret, his heart is at peace. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!"

Kong Shi continued.

To live is to return, to die is to long for each other!

If even death doesn't bother him, what else could hold him back?

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. "No need to decline—time is short. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I doubt anyone could do better than you! Ling Xi Di Zun has no Tian Dao fragment, but he's long controlled the Tian Dao and has his own understanding of it. I control Tian Dao You Xu. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Tian Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone's Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, you can stabilize the nine heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!" Seeing his decision was final, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in the blink of an eye, two vast powers surged into him from both sides.

Zhang Xuan's body stiffened, as if he had instantly become the Tian Dao, soaring above the nine heavens.

His soul, body, and true qi were all rapidly purified, growing stronger and more abundant.

...

"You all want to stop me? Fine, I'll kill you first, then go after Zhang Xuan..."

After slapping Luo Qi Qi and the others away, Hen Ren sneered coldly.

The combined power of the clone and the Di Jun was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak.

Chao Xi Hai had devoured nearly all of Shen Jie's spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the power to destroy the world, and these Di Jun and Shen Wang, despite representing Shen Jie's peak, were no match.

At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody Shen Jie itself, unstoppable.

"If Shen Jie falls, we'll have no reason to live. I'll go down with you..." Yun Chi Di Jun transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? You're not worthy!"

Hen Ren clenched his hand, and the golden dragon was trapped in his palm, struggling futilely to escape.

"My old friend, wait for me!"

Fu Meng Di Jun roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward.

Bu Si Di Jun revealed his undead fire phoenix true form, flames lighting up the sky.

Xuan Ming Di Jun's true form was a massive turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

The four divine beasts, guardians of Shen Jie's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing Shen Jie.

It was as if the universe had frozen in that instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hen Ren struck four times in succession, suppressing the four beasts, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. "Since you're all seeking death, I'll grant it..."

As he roared and prepared to finish them, he felt his raised arm tighten, frozen in mid-air.

"Want to kill them? Did you ask me first?"

In the shocked gazes of everyone, a figure stepped out from the air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

Now, the young man exuded surging power, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto himself.

"You've improved a lot..."

Hen Ren stopped, his gaze turning serious.

He couldn't understand how the young man's strength had changed so dramatically in just a few minutes.

"But so what? Even at its peak, Shen Jie couldn't withstand me. I don't believe you can..."

Hen Ren snorted coldly and struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, space tearing apart and energy raging everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In the Kong Shi residence in Zi Zai Tian, Luo Ruoxi watched worriedly.

She and Kong Shi had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, reducing their own cultivation to only Shen Wang level, no longer as glorious as before.

However, their foundation remained, and with enough power, they could recover someday.

"With his current strength, winning will be tough! Unless... he can comprehend a power that transcends Di Jun!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over a dozen Di Jun fused into him, defeating Hen Ren wouldn't be easy.

The reason they did this was to concentrate the power into one person, potentially touching the pinnacle and truly breaking limits.

"A power that transcends Di Jun?"

Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant.

Her father had said the same when he was awake, but... could the man she loved achieve it?

"He can... He has an unyielding heart and an arrogant defiance toward the world."

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several exchanges, Zhang Xuan's tiger's mouth split open, and a massive wound appeared on his chest, gruesome and terrifying.

As Kong Shi had said, even with the complete Tian Dao force in his body, he wasn't a match.

"Ha, I thought you'd be something special. Turns out you're just this!"

Hen Ren sneered.

"Since I'm no match anyway and will be killed eventually, I might as well die under your strongest attack..."

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and stopped attacking, instead looking at Hen Ren.

"Fine, I'll give you my strongest attack..."

Hearing this, Hen Ren paused, then snorted and raised his hand.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack, making all of Shen Jie rumble as if it couldn't bear the weight, creating a massive crater.

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Di Jun and the others stared wide-eyed, trembling.

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, who had seen this, were also stunned.

The plan was for him to break through the constraints and reach a realm beyond Di Jun. Why had he chosen to face death without resistance?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

"Wait, no—it's Bu Si Di Jun's undying method..."

As they puzzled over it, Kong Shi spoke up.

Everyone then saw that as Zhang Xuan's head exploded and his soul shattered, the pendant on his chest burst open. A drop of blood floated up, ignited, and formed a blazing flame. From the flame, an intact figure slowly emerged.

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Tian Dao You Que from his soul?"

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Tian Dao library in his body; he was free from the Tian Dao's interference and unbound.

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was full of disbelief.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and reform it in the You Hun Chi.

Yet Zhang Xuan had achieved it with just one death. What method had he used?

"I get it... He used Hen Ren's method to escape the Ling Hun Qi Yue..."

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The Ling Hun Qi Yue bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master released it... The Tian Dao library was like an enhanced version of that, binding the soul indissolubly.

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about the details earlier—probably planning this then.

He had deliberately let Hen Ren use his strongest attack on him.

With that power, he was reborn in the flames, and it had succeeded brilliantly!

"So that's the way to break through Di Jun..."

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if enlightened. He waved his hand, and his clone immediately turned back into a lotus flower and flew over.

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

In the blink of an eye, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan had become the nine heavens, and the nine heavens were him.

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic nine heavens stabilized immediately.

The Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, born with the nine heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian's cultivation, his already peak realm began to loosen, as if breakthrough was imminent.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student ties, parent-child affection, romantic love... Fused together, they are the essence of all things in the world. This is what it means to be human!"

Zhang Xuan murmured with a smile.

The moment the Tian Dao library left his soul, he understood.

Did the world exist first, and people come later to perceive it? Or was it the other way around?

Was it the wind moving, or the heart?

This ancient question had troubled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter.

Without life, without emotion, what meaning would the world have?

So, after breaking through romantic love, it was the affection for all beings—the interwoven emotions of the world.

All things in the world have emotions. With emotion, there is the world; with emotion, life endures.

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

"Ten thousand emotions, all for my use..."

With a low cry, the restraints in Zhang Xuan's body shattered instantly.

He had broken through the Di Jun constraints!

In that moment, it was as if he had touched a new world and gate. His soul was rapidly nourished.

Countless chaotic energies surged toward him, and his body advanced rapidly.

He could now absorb not just spiritual energy but spatial chaos, chaotic qi, even the opponent's green light—all became his, indistinguishable.

"You..."

Hen Ren hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail but to empower him, and he roared in fury, lunging again.

"You resent the lofty Di Jun for not saving you from the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humble and angry as my former servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy Shen Jie to vent your anger—that's emotion; you seek to grow stronger—that's emotion... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?"

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. He gently grasped his hand.

The once-unstoppable Hen Ren was bound by countless emotional threads, immobilized.

As long as there was emotion, he could be used and controlled!

"You..."

Hen Ren's eyes filled with panic. "Zhang Shi, I'm your servant. Don't kill me... I'll offer my soul..."

"It's too late for that now..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head with a smile.

Controlling the world's emotions, such servant bonds meant nothing to him.

He had killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi, and so many friends. How could he forgive that today?

"No..."

Sensing his resolve, Hen Ren's pupils contracted. Before he could finish, intense pain wracked his body.

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that poured into Shen Jie.

All the power that Chao Xi Hai had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the barren lands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Di Jun, Bu Si Di Jun, Ling Long Xian Zi, and the others stared in disbelief.

They had fought Hen Ren and knew his terror. For such a powerful being to be vanquished so easily, what realm had Zhang Xuan reached?

Was there truly a level beyond Di Jun?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

"This is part of the Tian Dao, so I'll return it now..."

Seeing the "Tian Dao You Que" that had been separated from his body still floating in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

The library that had accompanied him since rebirth embedded itself into Shen Jie's sky with a thunderous ring.

The crumbling Shen Jie visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energies gathered once more.

The collapsing world finally stopped, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Hen Ren's death.

"It seems Shen Jie is about to enter an era of spiritual energy revival..."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The hole in Chao Xi Hai had closed with the Tian Dao's completion, and Shen Jie's return to its former glory was only a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

As he finished, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan paused and stepped forward.

In that step, he didn't know how far he traveled, and soon he saw a young man standing before him.

It was the one who had taught him the sword technique.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now he realized the man was only a hair's breadth from his own level, at the absolute peak of Di Jun, far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

"Just call me by my name. I'm Nie Tong!"

The young man exuded an unstoppable sword intent and said lightly.

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow.

He had never heard this name.

"Come with me. I'll take you to see my brother!"

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely. After an unknown distance, they stopped at a mountain peak.

There, another young man stood.

He looked only slightly older than Nie Tong, with raised eyebrows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power surpassed his own. He had also broken through Di Jun's constraints, and his cultivation was even deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!" The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Or... Nie Ling Xi, the father of Luo Ruoxi in your words!"

"Luo Ruoxi's father?" Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're... the Shen Jie Tian Dao?"

Luo Ruoxi had said her father was the Tian Dao, but he never imagined it would be such a young man.

"I used One Qi Transforms Three Purities, and part of my soul became the Tian Dao! Besides, I created this world, so calling me the Tian Dao isn't wrong!"

Nie Yun smiled lightly.

Zhang Xuan was incredulous.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how powerful must he be?

"But if Shen Jie is your creation and you're the Tian Dao, why did you let Hen Ren rampage without intervening... even regarding your daughter's life?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

Nie Yun didn't answer directly but looked at him. "Do you think... beyond Shen Jie, there are even stronger beings?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan paused. "There probably are..."

Though he hadn't seen any, since this man could reach such a level, others might too, perhaps even stronger.

"I once suspected that beyond Shen Jie lay greater powers, so I tried to peer into it with all my might, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... a massive hand descended!"

Nie Yun continued. "If I'd dodged, Shen Jie might have been wiped out, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but my Tian Dao form shattered as a result."

"In that state, restoring myself would take just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shen Jie's limits, explore the hand's origin, and see what's beyond... I couldn't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through Di Jun's constraints and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Tian Dao intents to the lowest worlds... granting them to souls native to this world and one not belonging to it. And you didn't disappoint me!"

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not belonging to this world... so, my crossing over was because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart shook.

No wonder he could traverse; it was all this man's doing.

"Heh!" Nie Yun chuckled. "Natives have reverence for the world, making it harder to break its constraints. I just had a thought and didn't expect you to succeed..."

"I..." Zhang Xuan's face reddened. "Without Kong Shi, I couldn't have reached this level..."

Without Kong Shi's selflessness, it would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was his, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to back down, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his fearless drive. Facing those beyond us, without that spirit, how can one contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

He had watched their fight; Kong Shi had indeed lacked decisiveness.

He might not have wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"But if Kong Shi had won, Luo Ruoxi would have died..."

After a moment, Zhang Xuan looked over, his brows furrowed.

Was this man indifferent even to his daughter's life?

"With me here, she wouldn't have died..."

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "You're now almost at my level. In a life-or-death situation, could you save someone?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Di Jun was a different concept. If he wanted, he could save someone at the last moment without a scratch.

"Ling Xi is the son of my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, so she took the surname Luo... To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma until now."

Nie Yun sighed. "I'm quite the heartless father... You explain this to her. Her feelings have shifted to you now; she probably doesn't even think of me anymore... Ha, I'll stay hidden for a while. Otherwise, she might turn everything upside down."

Seeing how unreliable this father was, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he had no choice but to agree. "Alright..."

"The Tian Dao library was my intent, both a foundation and a constraint. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. My daughter with you... as a father, I'm content."

Nie Yun said.