Chapter 451: The Martial Star Descends

The soul contract is a bond between souls; as long as the initiator doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party possesses unparalleled power, it cannot be broken. It's like the Undying Emperor, Xiao Huang Ji, who was only a God King at the time, yet even as an Emperor, he couldn't resolve such an agreement. To prevent others from reneging and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent had specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao's records, they still couldn't break free from the soul's pact.

"While the soul contract indeed cannot be separated from the sea of consciousness, I have 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 location of the contract, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

The soul contract is built upon the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can even resolve 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 gleamed.

"Telling you all this is my way of thanking you for bringing me to the God Realm!"

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 immense amount of power during their conversation, using it for nourishment.

"The more the black hole absorbs, 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, raised the long sword in his hand, and declared: "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 could stand in the way when life and death mean nothing?

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by Emperors, it contained all his inner obsessions, pushing his Heavenly Emotionless Technique to its limits.

Whoosh!

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

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

Her sword style resembled that of the young man from Sword God Heaven, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace 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 if the sun, moon, and stars were about to 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 it!

Just how far 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 clone's cultivation was no weaker than 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.

Even after becoming an Emperor, his clone hadn't changed 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'll all die if they fall..."

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

The other six Emperors also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperors united, capable of destroying 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, swallowing their attacks in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten Emperors 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 palm down again.

"You dare, you vermin!"

Accompanied by a loud shout, the elder from Sword God Heaven suddenly appeared, blocking the way with his long sword transforming into a river of stars.

"An Emperor? He's also at the Emperor level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a follower, at most a Titled God King, but now he realized he was also an Emperor powerhouse!

If he was an Emperor, then what about that young man?

"He's the Emperor of Sword God Heaven..."

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 Sword God Heaven's Emperor being 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 withstand Hen Ren, so despite this elder's high cultivation and masterful sword skills, he was no match.

"Ha! Emperors are nothing but a flock of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, annihilate the God Realm, and trample all rules!"

After defeating the Sword God Heaven's Emperor, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the space around him collapsing, making him seem like a demon incarnate.

"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 Hen Ren's strikes...

Could no one in the God Realm stop this man?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

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

Luo Ruoxi's delicate fists 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 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 couldn't resist invasion.

But...

"He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao is restored, could it 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 God King, yet even a Titled one like him surpassed Emperors... He was beyond what 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 man easily!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to see him. He's in Zizai Heaven..."

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 the God Realm, not flee, Zhang Xuan's clone and the Undying Emperor shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jingkong Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly holding the line, unafraid of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, tearing through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in Zizai Heaven's domain.

Zizai Heaven was no longer as peaceful as before; the God Realm 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 the God Realm, he was willing to sacrifice himself!

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

Luo Ruoxi regulated 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.

That also explained why the Undying Emperor's remnant will had recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also an Emperor? Or does he have strength beyond that?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

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

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did it require a flawed Heavenly Dao to awaken him?

"He's not an Emperor. He's... 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 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 collect 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—she needed to save a close relative. He hadn't understood then, but now it all made sense.

It was her father, and he was 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 only control it; I'm not part of the Heavenly Dao..."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

That meant he only needed to separate his own Heavenly Dao with Flaws; 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 with Flaws from my body, your father can awaken and even slay Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi glanced at the collapsing God Realm, hesitating.

The God Realm was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he defeat such a powerful Hen Ren?

It was hard to say!

"Since even you can't be certain, it's better to rely on ourselves... We have to find a way!" 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 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 undeluded even in the womb.

Combined 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 an Emperor'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 tore through space and returned to 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're here!"

It was 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 slightly.

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

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

Kong Shi smiled faintly.

He was proficient in time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in the God Realm, 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 Kong Shi had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head.

It wasn't about boasting for the enemy or diminishing her own 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 it into one person?" This time, not just Luo Ruoxi, but Zhang Xuan was also full of doubt.

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and devoured the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any one of us, or even all ten-plus Emperors, is no match alone..."

Kong Shi explained: "But if we unite and concentrate our power into one person... maybe then we could win!"

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

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperors stood at the pinnacle of the God Realm. If absorbing others' power were that easy, she wouldn't have stagnated for so many years.

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

Kong Shi said.

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

"Lingxi Emperor 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 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, she had indeed thought that way, 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 seek to embrace all living beings and save the world, but I'm too unwilling to let others sacrifice for me. Too much benevolence is a flaw! If I'd been more ruthless and wiped out the Hetero Spirits, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had exterminated the Hetero Spirits 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 follow his heart, without flaws. He values living true to himself—even if it means death, as long as he's unashamed, his heart is clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go higher and farther!"

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: "Don't refuse. There's no time to train someone else, and even if there were, I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Lingxi Emperor 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 channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!" Seeing the decision was made, Zhang Xuan nodded, knowing more words were useless.

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 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 Qiqi and the others away, Hen Ren sneered coldly.

The combined power of Zhang Xuan's clone and the Emperors was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak.

The Tidal Sea had devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy worlds. These Emperors and God Kings, despite representing the God Realm's peak, were no match.

At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unstoppable.

"The God Realm's destruction means we're doomed anyway. I'll go down with you, Yun Chi..."

Yun Chi Emperor 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 Emperor 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 Emperor's true form was a massive turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

The four divine beasts, guarding the God Realm's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing realm.

It was as if the universe had frozen in an 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 seeking death, I'll grant it..."

As he roared, about to deliver the fatal blow, he felt his raised arm tighten, frozen in mid-air.

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

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

Now, his power surged, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"You've improved a lot..."

Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

He couldn't understand how the other's strength had changed so drastically in just minutes.

"But so what? Even at its peak, the God Realm 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 air currents raging everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In Zizai Heaven, 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 God King level, no longer as glorious as before.

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

"With his current strength, winning will be difficult! Unless... he can comprehend a power that transcends the Emperor level!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over a dozen Emperors transferred to him, defeating Hen Ren wouldn't be easy.

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

"A power that transcends the Emperor level?"

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 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 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 coldly, raising his palm.

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 Qiqi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Emperor and the others widened their eyes, trembling uncontrollably.

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

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperors. Why had he given up and walked to his death?

Wasn't that wasting their efforts?

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

As they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

Everyone then saw that Zhang Xuan, with his head blown apart and soul shattered, had the pendant on his chest suddenly 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 Heavenly Dao with Flaws from his soul?"

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

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 bindings!

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was full of disbelief.

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

Yet Zhang Xuan had achieved 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 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 it then.

That's why he deliberately let himself be killed, forcing Hen Ren to use his strongest attack.

Leveraging that power, he was reborn in the flames, and it had succeeded spectacularly!

"So that's the way to break through the Emperor level..."

The Zhang Xuan emerging from the flames smiled faintly, as if enlightened. He waved a 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 Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone fused perfectly, it meant he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the lotus's cultivation integrated, 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. 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.

Did the world exist because people observed it, or did people come after the world?

Was it the wind moving or the heart?

This ancient question had puzzled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter!

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

So, after breaking through romantic love came 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 shackles in Zhang Xuan's body shattered instantly.

He had broken through the Emperor's barriers!

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 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 not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, and he raged, "Wah!" shouting as he attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Emperors for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humiliated as my servant, harboring inferiority and anger—that's emotion; you want to destroy the God Realm to vent your fury—that's emotion; you seek greater power—that's emotion too... 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'm willing to offer my soul..."

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

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

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

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

"No..."

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

Bang!

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

All the power the Tidal Sea had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the withered wilderness.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Emperor, the Undying Emperor, Linglong Immortal, and the others all widened their eyes 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 Emperors?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

"This is part of the Heavenly Dao, so 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 air currents gathered once more.

The realm's collapse halted, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Hen Ren'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 repaired 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 didn't know how far he traveled, and soon 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 felt this person was unfathomable before, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the absolute peak of the Emperor level—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 faintly 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 even his, having also broken through the Emperor's barriers, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!" The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Or... Nie Lingxi, 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 such a 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 strong was he?

"That's not right. If you created the God Realm and are the Heavenly Dao, why did you let Hen Ren rampage without intervening... Even your daughter's life was at risk?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If not for his breakthrough, the God Realm might have been completely destroyed. Why had this man done nothing? Not even caring about his daughter?

Nie Yun didn't answer directly and instead asked: "Do you think there's life beyond the God Realm, even stronger than here?"

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

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

Like the one before him.

"I've always suspected there are greater beings beyond the God Realm, so I tried to peer further, ultimately provoking a backlash from a higher world... That giant hand came crashing down!"

Nie Yun explained: "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 was scattered as a result."

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

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... granting them to souls that originally belonged here and one that didn't. 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 lightly. "Souls native to this world have reverence for it, making it harder to break its shackles. 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 selfless contribution, achieving his current state would have been 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 to advance fiercely. 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 that single hesitation cost him the chance to advance.

"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 die..."

Nie Yun smiled faintly: "Your current strength is almost on par with mine. In a life-or-death situation, do you think I could save someone?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled wryly.

Breaking through to beyond Emperor was a different concept. If he truly wanted to, he could save her at the last moment without a scratch.

"Lingxi is the child of my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, 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 bitterly: "I'm quite the heartless father... Anyway, you explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you now. I'm probably the last thing on her mind... Ha, I'll stay hidden for a while. I don't want her turning everything upside down... "

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

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

"The Heavenly Dao library was a manifestation of my intent—a foundation and a shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. The future is limitless. With my daughter by your side, as her father, I'm content."

Nie Yun said.