Chapter 449: Wing Chun

The soul contract binds souls together. As long as the initiator doesn't dissolve it, it cannot be broken, even if the other party possesses abilities that reach to the heavens.

It's like Undying Dijun, Xiao Huangji. Back then, he was just a Shenwang, and even as a Dijun himself, he couldn't resolve such an agreement.

To prevent this fellow from going back on his word and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent had specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break free from the soul contract.

"The soul contract indeed cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with a special gas that can even resolve the Heavenly Dao. Dissolving this contract isn't difficult... As long as I have enough power to bombard the contract's location, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

The soul contract is built on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can resolve even the Shenjie Heavenly Dao, what's so hard 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 Shenjie!"

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 devoured an unknown amount of power during their conversation to nourish himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi also sensed something was wrong and hurriedly sent a message.

"Let's make our move!"

With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, 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 more.

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

What can stand in the way when life and death mean nothing?

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by a Dijun, it contained all his obsessions, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation to its limits.

Whoosh!

With one sword, he cleaved Hen Ren's attack in two.

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi struck out, her jade hand swirling as sword light fell like snow.

Her swordsmanship was somewhat similar to that of the youth from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the natural elegance of the Great Dao.

"Your moves are impressive, but compared to me, they're still lacking..."

Hen Ren chuckled lightly and reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth. Space shattered, and it seemed 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 in mid-air.

With their strength, they couldn't withstand it!

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.

Having refined the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, its power surging toward 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.

He had become a Dijun, yet his clone still couldn't resist its urge to show off...

Such flashy posturing would be better if the power were concentrated for greater impact!

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

Xiao Huangji roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The remaining six Dijun also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Dijun joined forces, capable of destroying the heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let his black hole expand, instantly devouring their attacks before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The seven Dijun, like Zhang Xuan and the others, were sent flying.

Even the ten Dijun 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 swung his hand down again.

"How dare you!"

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

"A Dijun? He's also at the Dijun level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a attendant, at most a Fenghao Shenwang, but now he realized he was also a Dijun powerhouse!

If he was a Dijun, then what about that youth?

"He's the Dijun of Jian Shen Tian..."

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

"Then... what about the youth who taught me the sword?"

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 Dijun sent flying, crashing into a pit not far away.

With Zhang Xuan's current strength and comprehension of the sword Dao, even he couldn't contend, so despite this elder's formidable cultivation and sword skills, he was no match.

"Ha! Dijun? Just a bunch of insignificant creatures! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, destroy Shenjie, and trample all rules!"

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Dijun, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the surrounding space collapsing as he appeared like a demon.

"What do we do?"

Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

He and his clone had already used their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her ultimate move, yet none could block a single strike from him...

Could no one in Shenjie stop this man?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

"The only way is to return your Heavenly Dao fragment to the Heavenly Dao itself, letting it suppress him..."

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

"Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?"

Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

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

It was like the human immune system.

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

But...

"He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao is restored, could it suppress him?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

The immune system might handle viruses, but what about a fierce tiger?

This man was just an ordinary Shenwang, yet even beyond a Dijun... far beyond what the Heavenly Dao could contend with.

"This..."

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. "You're right... It might not suppress him, but if the Heavenly 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 Zizai Tian..."

Luo Ruoxi took a deep breath, 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, the sword intent blazing forth.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save Shenjie, not flee, his clone and the Undying Emperor shouted, blocking the way as Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jingkong Pearl 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 and tore through space, appearing in Zizai Tian's range the next moment.

Zizai Tian was no longer as free as before. Shenjie was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is he, the one you mentioned?"

Zhang Xuan had no time to observe the ordinary lives around them and looked at the girl in his arms.

If this person could truly save Shenjie, he was willing to sacrifice himself.

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his. The Undying Dijun was once his beast pet..."

Luo Ruoxi steadied her breath and explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

So that explained why the Undying Dijun's remnant will recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

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

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos was calmed by the pendant's blood. Could it be that not only she, but her father was also a Dijun, or even stronger?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did he need the Heavenly Dao's flaw to awaken?

"He's not a Dijun, but... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father... is the Heavenly Dao?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that giant hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Heavenly Dao Orderly and Heavenly Dao Flawed entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain Shenjie'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 Master Teacher Continent to study the Spring and Autumn Annals 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 said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

Not long after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, this girl had told him her story—she needed to save a dear one. He hadn't understood then, but now it all made sense.

It was her father, and he was the Shenjie Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting as Heavenly Dao Natural... You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?"

Suddenly realizing the oddity in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

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

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

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief.

That meant he only needed to separate his own Heavenly Dao Flawed; she didn't have to die.

Though he didn't want to accept this fate, he couldn't bear to see the girl before him harmed.

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao Flawed 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 Shenjie.

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

It was hard to say!

"Since you're not certain, we'd better rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to count on!"

Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and even Kong Shi—if we team up, we might still win!"

"Kong Shi? He's..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm correct, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... He's probably like Wei Changfeng, with an Innate Fetal Soul Body!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng had made him realize that Kong Shi's way of preserving his spirit was likely the same—as an Innate Fetal Soul Body.

It allowed one to remain clear even in the womb.

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

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, apparently not expecting this.

"Let's go check. If I'm right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have stayed away from the Tidal Sea..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Ancient Saint and the others, were incredibly strong. Even without a Dijun's help, they could enter the Tidal Sea, yet none had shown up.

They must have something more important—reviving Kong Shi.

"This..."

Luo Ruoxi was shocked, suddenly understanding.

"Let's go!"

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

Who else could it be but Kong Shi?

This teacher of ages hadn't disappointed him!

As guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was on the Tidal Sea.

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Dijun could revive—the Undying Dijun had done it—but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

"I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. That nameless giant in the Youhun Pool was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to break free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints 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 Shenjie, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—years, even decades.

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

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

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

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

"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 into one person?"

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

"That hand could tear Shenjie apart and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and devoured Shenjie's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Dijun, can't match him alone..."

Kong Shi said. "But if we concentrate all our power into one person... maybe then."

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Dijun stood at Shenjie's peak. If absorbing others' power were that easy, she wouldn't have stagnated for so long.

"It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Dijun shackles, he can save Shenjie!"

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Lingxi Dijun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I didn't see wrong, during our fight, you once gave up and intended to let me kill you!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

In their battle, she had indeed considered that, so at the start, they had held back, more like sparring than a life-or-death fight.

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

Kong Shi nodded. "I care for all beings and want to save the world, but I'm too compassionate, which is a flaw! If I'd been ruthless and wiped out the Yiling Clan, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

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

"So, I'm not suitable either! 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 clear. 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 matter, what else can bind him?

"This..."

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when 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! Lingxi Dijun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her her own understanding. I control Heavenly Dao Orderly. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force! With your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine realms, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing his decision was final, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in an instant, two vast powers surged from both sides.

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

His soul, body, and true energy were all instantly 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 Qiqi and the others away, Hen Ren sneered coldly.

The combined power of the clone and the Dijun was indeed formidable, but still weaker than him.

The Tidal Sea had devoured nearly all of Shenjie's spiritual energy outside the cities, and now it all nurtured him. Every move he made carried world-ending might. These Dijun and Shenwang, representing Shenjie's peak, were no match.

At this moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody Shenjie itself, unstoppable.

"Even if Shenjie falls, living means nothing. I'll go down with you..."

Yun Chi Dijun transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? Not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

The Undying Dijun revealed his undying fire phoenix form, flames lighting up the sky.

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

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

The universe seemed to freeze in that instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive strikes, Hen Ren suppressed the four beasts, his eyes flashing with killing intent. "Since you seek death, I'll grant it..."

As he roared and prepared to finish them, he felt his raised arm lock in place.

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

In the shocked gazes of all, 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.

"He's made quite a leap..."

Hen Ren halted, his gaze serious.

He didn't understand how the young man's strength had changed so drastically in just minutes.

"But so what? Even at full strength, Shenjie 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 and energy raging everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In Zizai Tian, at Kong Shi's residence, Luo Ruoxi watched worriedly.

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

But their foundation remained; with enough power, they could recover.

"With his current strength, winning is tough! Unless... he comprehends a power beyond Dijun!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with all their power transferred, defeating Hen Ren wouldn't be easy for more than a dozen Dijun.

The reason was to concentrate the power into one person, potentially touching the peak and truly transcending limits.

"A power beyond Dijun?"

Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant.

Her father had said the same when he was awake, but she couldn't achieve it. Could her beloved do it?

"He can... He has an unyielding heart and pride 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 their fused power forming a complete Heavenly Dao, he wasn't a match.

"Ha! I thought you'd be something special. Turns out, you're not!"

Hen Ren sneered.

"Since I'm no match anyway, and I'll 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 Shenjie roar as if it couldn't bear it, 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 Qiqi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Dijun and the others stared in shock, trembling.

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, seeing this, were also stunned.

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach beyond Dijun. Why had he stopped resisting and chosen death?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

wait, no—it's the Undying Dijun's immortality technique..."

Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke.

Everyone saw the pendant on Zhang Xuan's chest shatter, a drop of blood floating up and igniting into a blazing flame. From the flame, an intact figure slowly emerged.

"He... used the opponent's power and the pendant's blood to separate the Heavenly Dao Flawed from his soul?"

Luo Ruoxi's pupils shrank.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body, free from its interference and the Heavenly Dao's bindings.

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was also incredulous.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and reform it in the Youhun Pool.

Yet Zhang Xuan had done it with just one strike. What method had he used?

"I get it... He used Hen Ren's method to escape the soul contract..."

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master dissolved it... The Heavenly Dao library was like an enhanced version, binding the soul indissolubly.

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about it in detail earlier—probably then he had the idea.

So, he deliberately let Hen Ren use his strongest attack.

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

"So, that's the way to break through Dijun..."

Zhang Xuan, emerging from the flames, smiled faintly, as if enlightened. He waved his hand, and his clone instantly turned into a lotus flower and flew over.

In a flash, it fused perfectly with him.

Everyone felt that Zhang Xuan now seemed to embody the Nine Heavens, and the Nine Heavens were him.

He lightly stomped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic Nine Heavens stabilized immediately.

The Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with the clone fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the lotus's cultivation merged, his already peak realm showed signs of breakthrough.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student ties, parent-child affection, romantic love... Fused together, they become all things in the world. That's what it means to be human!"

Zhang Xuan murmured with a smile.

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

Did the world create people, or people the world?

Is it the wind moving, or the heart?

This eternal question had puzzled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter.

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

So, beyond romantic love is the affection for all beings—the interwoven emotions of the world.

All things have emotion; with emotion, there's 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 soft cry, Zhang Xuan's sealed realm shattered in an instant.

He broke through the Dijun shackles!

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

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

He could now absorb not just spiritual energy, but spatial chaos, chaotic energy—even the opponent's green light—as his own, without distinction.

"You..."

Hen Ren hadn't expected his full attack to not only fail to kill him but empower him, and he raged. "Wah!" He shouted and attacked again.

"Your resentment toward the lofty Dijun for not saving you in the spatial chaos is emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant is emotion; wanting to destroy Shenjie to vent is emotion; desiring to grow stronger is also emotion... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, or escape my control?"

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..."

"Now it's too late to say that..."

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

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 Qiqi, and so many friends. Today, how could he forgive?

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded into countless spiritual energies, surging back to Shenjie.

All the power the Tidal Sea had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the barren lands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Dijun, Undying Dijun, Linglong Immortal, 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 level had Zhang Xuan reached?

Could there truly be a realm beyond Dijun?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

"This is part of the Heavenly Dao. I'll return it now..."

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao Flawed" 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 into Shenjie's sky with a thunderous ring.

The collapsing Shenjie visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energies gathered once more.

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

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

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The Tidal Sea's void had been mended with the Heavenly Dao's completion, and Shenjie'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 traveled an unknown distance and saw a youth standing before him.

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the absolute peak of Dijun, far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

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

The youth exuded an unstoppable sword intent and said lightly.

"Nie Tong?"

Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow; it was a name he'd never heard.

"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 youth stood.

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

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This youth's power surpassed even his, having broken through the Dijun shackles, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!"

The youth smiled faintly and looked over. "Also known as... Nie Lingxi, the one you call Luo Ruoxi's father!"

"If Xi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're... the Shenjie Heavenly Dao?"

Luo Ruoxi had said her father was the Heavenly Dao, but he never imagined it was this young man.

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

Nie Yun smiled faintly.

Zhang Xuan was in disbelief.

Shenjie was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"That's not right. If Shenjie is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why let Hen Ren rampage without intervening... Even your daughter's life?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If not for his breakthrough, Shenjie might have completely fallen. Why had this man done nothing? Not even care for his daughter?

Nie Yun didn't answer. Instead, he looked at Zhang Xuan. "Do you think... beyond Shenjie, there are even stronger beings?"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan paused. "There should be..."

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

"I once suspected that beyond Shenjie lay greater powers, so I peered with all my might, only to invite backlash from a higher world... A giant hand descended!"

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

"In that state, restoring myself is just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shenjie's limits, explore the hand's origin, and see what's beyond... I can't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through the Dijun shackles and reach my level!"

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

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not of this world... So, my crossing over was because of you?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked.

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

"Heh!"

Nie Yun chuckled. "Souls native to this world have reverence for it, making it harder to break free. I just had a whim 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, achieving this was impossible.

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

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"But if Kong Shi had won, If Xi 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 die..."

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "Your current strength is nearly mine. In a life-or-death situation, could you save someone?"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Beyond Dijun was a different concept. If this man had acted, he could have saved her without a scratch.

"Lingxi is from my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, so she uses 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... Ha, I'll stay hidden for a while. Otherwise, she might turn everything upside down..."

Seeing this unreliable father, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he had to agree. "Alright..."

He had no choice; who asked him to win over the man's daughter?

"The Heavenly Dao library was my intent, both foundation and shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. My daughter with you brings me comfort as a father."

With that, the text ends abruptly in the original, as it was cut off.