Chapter 450: Star

The Ling Hun Qi Yue, a soul contract, binds souls together. As long as the one who initiated it does not release it, even if the other party possesses unparalleled abilities, it cannot be broken.

It's like the case of Undying Emperor, Xiao Huang Ji. Back when he was just a Shen Wang, even as a Di Jun himself, he couldn't resolve such a binding.

To prevent this individual from going back on their 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 agreement between souls.

"While the Ling Hun Qi Yue indeed cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, I have merged with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Resolving this contract is not difficult... As long as I have enough power to strike at the location of the contract, it can be done!"

Ruthless One said.

The Ling Hun Qi Yue is established on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can dissolve even the God Realm's 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 the God Realm!"

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

"Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole absorbs, the stronger he 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, raised the long sword in his hand abruptly, and said, "If that's the 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 could stand in the way when life and death mean nothing?

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by a Di Jun, it contained all of his inner obsessions, pushing his Heavenly Emotionless Technique to its absolute limit.

Whoosh!

With one sword strike, he cleaved Ruthless One's attack in two.

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi struck out. Her jade-like hand swirled, and her sword light gleamed like snow.

Her swordsmanship bore some resemblance to that of the young man from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of the Great Dao.

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

Ruthless One 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 into the air as they went.

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 Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was no weaker than Zhang Xuan's.

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

But when he clashed with Ruthless One, he too was sent flying, unable to block even a single move.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

He had become a Di Jun, yet his clone still couldn't resist its habit of showing off...

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

"Let's all attack together, or we're all doomed if they die..."

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

The remaining six Di Juns also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Di Juns united, capable of destroying heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Ruthless One, 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 Juns, along with Zhang Xuan and the others, were all sent flying.

Even the ten Di Juns 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, Ruthless One stepped forward and flipped his wrist to strike down again.

"Insolent vermin!"

Accompanying 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 the man 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 elder also sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater.

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

"Ha! Di Juns are nothing but a bunch of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate this God Realm, and trample all rules!"

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian elder, Ruthless One laughed maniacally. The space around him collapsed 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 moves, yet none could block even one of his strikes...

Was there truly no one in the God Realm who could stop this man?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

"The only way... is to return your Heavenly Dao with flaws to its original state, letting the Heavenly Dao suppress him..."

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

"Return it to its original state?" 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 its flaws and expelling Ruthless One.

It was like the human immune system.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses, but if damaged, even a strong body couldn't resist invasion.

But...

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

The immune system could kill viruses, but what about a fierce tiger?

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond a Di Jun... he was no longer something the Heavenly 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 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 Zi Zai Tian..."

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

"Thinking of escaping?"

Ruthless One 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 Ruthless One once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save the God Realm, not flee, his clone and the Undying Emperor shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her original form as the Jing Kong Pearl.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone risking their lives to hold the line without fear of 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 peaceful as before. The God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is the person you mentioned?"

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

If this person could truly save the God Realm, he was willing to make the sacrifice.

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his, and the Undying Emperor was once his beast pet..."

Luo Ruoxi steadied 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 yet different—it was her father's.

"So, your father is also a Di Jun? Or does he possess strength beyond a Di Jun?"

He 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 a flawed Heavenly Dao to awaken him?

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

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fist.

"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 massive hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Heavenly Dao with Order and Heavenly Dao with Flaws entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain the God Realm'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 explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

Not long after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, this girl had told him her story about saving a dear one, and now he finally understood—it was her father, the God Realm's Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting as Heavenly Dao Natural... you don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in you?" Suddenly noticing the oddity in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"I'm just in control; I'm not part of the Heavenly Dao..."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

In that case, he only needed to separate his own Heavenly Dao with Flaws; she wouldn't have to die.

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

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao with Flaws from my body, your father can awaken and even slay Ruthless One, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing God Realm.

The God Realm was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he truly defeat that powerful Ruthless One?

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to count on!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, plus the Nine Heavens and Nine Emperors—if we team up with Kong Shi, we might still win!"

"Kong Shi? He..."

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 Heavenly Dao... He's probably like Wei Changfeng, with a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!"

Zhang Xuan said.

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

It allowed one to remain undeluded even in the womb.

Coupled 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 the Tidal Sea..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Ancient Saint and the others, were incredibly strong. Even without a Di Jun's help, they could enter the Tidal Sea, 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 arrived at the place where Kong Shi had resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly. "You've come!"

It was Kong Shi!

This teacher of all ages hadn't disappointed him!

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

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Di Juns could revive, like the Undying Emperor, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

"I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. The nameless giant in the You Hun 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 slightly.

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

"Our combined strength is strong, but defeating Ruthless One 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 morale—it was the truth.

So many had united 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?"

Both Luo Ruoxi and Zhang Xuan frowned in confusion.

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Ruthless One absorbed that power and has been devouring the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all the Di Juns combined, can't compare... "

Kong Shi explained. "But if we channel all our power into one person... maybe then we could!"

"How do we channel it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Di Juns stood at the pinnacle of the God Realm. If absorbing others' power were that easy, she wouldn't have been stuck for so long.

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

Kong Shi said.

"Me?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback. "Why me?"

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father and the Heavenly Dao's restrictions, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I guessed right, when he fought me, he once gave up, intending to let me kill him."

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

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

"Unable to transcend, 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 living beings and wish to save the world, but I'm too compassionate, which is a flaw! If I'd been ruthless and wiped out the Hetero Spirits, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had exterminated the Hetero Spirits back then, Ruthless One couldn't have revived, and none of this would have happened.

"So, I'm not suitable either! But Zhang Xuan's techniques follow his heart, without flaws. He values living true to himself—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 could bind him?

"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 Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao and has her own understanding of it; I control Heavenly Dao with Order. If we infuse our power into you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao strength! Combined 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!" Zhang Xuan nodded, seeing that further explanation was futile.

Boom!

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

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

His soul, body, and true energy 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, Ruthless One sneered coldly.

The combined power of the clone and the other Di Juns was indeed formidable, but it paled in comparison to his.

The Tidal Sea had devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy nourished him. Every move he made carried the power to destroy worlds. These Di Juns and Shen Wangs, despite representing the God Realm's peak, were no match.

At that moment, Ruthless One seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unstoppable.

"The God Realm is doomed; living means nothing. 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!"

Ruthless One clenched his hand, and the golden dragon was trapped in his palm, struggling futilely.

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

The Undying Emperor revealed his undead fire phoenix 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 the God Realm's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing realm.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ruthless One struck four times in succession, suppressing the four beasts, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. "Since you seek death, I'll grant it..."

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

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

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

The young man now exuded surging power, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"He's made significant progress..."

Ruthless One halted, 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, the God Realm couldn't withstand me. I don't believe you can!"

Ruthless One 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 Zi Zai 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 merely Shen Wang level, far from their former glory.

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

"With his current strength, winning is tough! Unless... he comprehends a power that transcends Di Jun!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with all their power transferred, defeating Ruthless One wouldn't be easy for one person.

The reason they did this was to concentrate the power, potentially touching the peak and breaking through 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 a proud defiance of 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 Heavenly Dao power in his body, he wasn't a match.

"Ha! I thought you'd be something special. Turns out you're nothing!"

Ruthless One sneered.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you and will be killed eventually. Since that's the case, I want to die under your strongest attack..."

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and stopped attacking, instead looking at Ruthless One.

"Very well, I'll give you my strongest attack..."

Hearing this, Ruthless One 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 the entire God Realm 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 saw 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?

Wasn't this a waste of their efforts?

"Wait, it's the Undying Emperor's immortality technique..."

Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

Everyone then saw that Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and soul shattered, had the pendant on his chest burst open. A drop of blood floated up, ignited into a blazing flame, and from within, an intact figure slowly emerged.

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

Luo Ruoxi's pupils shrank.

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

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was also incredulous.

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

This young man had achieved it with just one death—what method had he used?

"I get it... He used Ruthless One's method to escape the soul contract..."

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The Ling Hun Qi Yue bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master released it... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract binding the soul.

But Ruthless One had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about the details earlier—probably planning it then.

That's why he deliberately let himself be killed, forcing the strongest attack.

And it had succeeded brilliantly!

"So, this is the way to break through Di Jun..."

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

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

Everyone felt that the Zhang Xuan before them had become one with the Nine Heavens—the Nine Heavens were him.

He lightly stamped 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 his clone fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

Moreover, with the fusion and his cultivation at its peak, the barriers began to loosen, as if breakthrough was imminent.

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

Zhang Xuan murmured with a smile.

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

Is it the world that creates people, or people that perceive 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, after breaking through romantic love, it was the affection for all beings—the intertwined emotions of the world.

All things have emotion; 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 soft cry, the restraints in Zhang Xuan's body shattered instantly.

The Di Jun barrier was broken!

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 physical body advanced swiftly.

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

"You..."

Ruthless One hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, and he raged, "Wah!" before lunging again.

"You resent the lofty Di Juns for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humiliated as my servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy the God Realm to vent—that's emotion; you crave more power—that's 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 Ruthless One was bound by countless emotional threads, immobilized.

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

"You..."

Ruthless One'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 shook his head with a smile.

Controlling the world's emotions, such master-servant ties meant nothing to him now.

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

"No..."

Sensing his resolve, Ruthless One's pupils contracted, but before he could finish, intense pain wracked his body.

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that poured back into the God Realm.

All the power the Tidal Sea had devoured was returned, reviving the withered wastelands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Di Jun, the Undying Emperor, Ling Long Immortal, and the others stared in disbelief.

They had fought him 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 Heavenly Dao; I'll return it now..."

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao with Flaws" 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 the God Realm's sky with a thunderous ring.

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

The realm stopped crumbling, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Ruthless One's death.

"It seems the God Realm 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 the God Realm returning 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 young man 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 always felt this person was unfathomable, 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 the name.

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

Nie Tong smiled faintly and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, traveling an unknown distance before stopping at a mountain peak.

There, another young man stood.

He looked only slightly older, with upward-sweeping brows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

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

"I'm Nie Yun!"

The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Also... Nie Ling Xi, the one you know as Luo Ruoxi's father!"

"If Xi's father?" Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're... the God Realm's Heavenly Dao?"

Luo Ruoxi had said her father was the Heavenly Dao, but he never imagined it would be 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 lightly.

Zhang Xuan was incredulous.

The God Realm was created by this man?

Then how powerful was he?

"That's not right. If the God Realm is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why did you let Ruthless One rampage without intervening...?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If not for his breakthrough, the God Realm might have been utterly destroyed. Why hadn't this man acted? Not even for his daughter's life?

Nie Yun didn't answer the question directly but looked at him. "Do you think... beyond the God Realm, there are even more powerful beings?"

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

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

"I once suspected that beyond the God Realm lay greater powers, so I tried to peer further, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... A massive hand descended!"

Nie Yun continued, "If I'd dodged, the entire God Realm 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 would take just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend the God Realm'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 Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... one to a soul belonging to this world, and one to a soul not from here. And you didn't disappoint me in the end!"

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not from this world—so, my crossing over was because of you?"

Zhang Xuan was shaken.

He had wondered how he could traverse, and it turned out it was all this man's doing.

"Heh!" Nie Yun chuckled. "A soul native to this world has reverence for it, making it harder to break free. I just had a fleeting thought and didn't expect you to truly succeed..."

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

Without Kong Shi's selfless contribution, 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 retreat, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his fearless drive. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how could he contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

He had witnessed their fight; Kong Shi had indeed been hesitant.

Perhaps he didn't want 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 there, she wouldn't have died..."

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "At your current level, in a life-or-death situation, could you save someone? That's how it is."

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Di Jun was a different realm. If this man had wanted to act, he could have saved her at the last moment without a scratch.

"Ling Xi is the child 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... Anyway, you explain this to her. Her feelings have shifted to you now; she probably doesn't even think of me anymore... Ha ha, I'll stay hidden for a while. Otherwise, she might turn the world upside down... "

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

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

With that, the story ends here.