Chapter 455: Thirty Years

A soul contract links souls together; as long as the initiator doesn't break it, even if the other party possesses unparalleled abilities, they cannot be freed. It’s just like Bu Si Di Jun, the little yellow chicken; when he was merely a Shen Wang, he was already an emperor and couldn't annul such an agreement. To prevent that fellow from going back on his word and causing trouble, the Master Teacher Continent specifically decreed that even if one could escape the registry of the Heavenly Dao, they still couldn’t break free from a soul pact!

“Indeed, a soul contract is integrated into the sea of consciousness and cannot be separated, but I have fused with a special energy that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Disentangling this contract isn’t difficult… As long as I have enough power to strike the location of the contract, it can be done!”

Hen Ren declared.

The soul contract is built upon the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can even dissolve the Shen Jie’s Heavenly Dao, as long as the method is appropriate, what’s so challenging about dissolving a soul contract?

“I see…” Zhang Xuan’s eyes flickered.

“Telling you all this is my thanks for bringing me to the Shen Jie!”

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

“Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole swallows, the stronger he gets…”

Luo Ruoxi noticed something was wrong and quickly 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 proclaimed, “In that case, let’s decide this based on skill!”

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 meant nothing?

Though this sword technique had not reached the level of an emperor’s enlightenment, it contained all of his inner obsession, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation to its absolute limit.

Whoosh!

With a single strike, he cleaved Hen Ren’s attack in two.

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

Her swordsmanship resembled 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…”

Hen Ren chuckled lightly and reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping heaven and earth. Space shattered, and it seemed as if the sun, moon, and stars were about to be forcibly pulled down.

Thud! Thud!

Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were both sent flying back, spitting blood into the air as they went.

With their strength, they simply couldn’t withstand him!

Just what realm had this fellow reached?

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

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, his cultivation was no weaker than Zhang Xuan’s.

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

But when it collided with Hen Ren, he too was sent flying, unable to block even a single move.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming an emperor, his clone hadn't lost the habit of showing off...

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

“Let’s all attack together, or we’ll all die if they fall…”

Bu Si Di Jun roared, his crimson flames blazing as if igniting the sky.

The other six great emperors also unleashed their techniques.

The seven emperors united, their power enough to destroy heaven and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let his black hole expand as their attacks approached, swallowing everything in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even ten great emperors joining forces 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, vermin!”

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

“Another emperor? He’s also at the emperor level?”

Zhang Xuan’s pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just an attendant, at most a Feng Hao Shen Wang, but now he realized he was also an emperor-level expert!

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

“He is the emperor 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?”

Zhang Xuan couldn’t hold back.

“He’s…”

Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when space twisted, and they saw the Jian Shen Tian emperor being sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a huge crater.

With Zhang Xuan’s current strength and understanding of the sword dao, even he couldn’t hold his own, so this elder, despite his high cultivation and sword skills, was no match.

“Ha! Emperors are nothing but weaklings! Today, I’ll destroy the nine heavens, wipe out the Shen Jie, and trample all rules!”

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian emperor, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the space around him collapsing, making him seem like a demon.

“What do we do?” Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

He and his clone had already used their full power, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her strongest moves, yet none could block even one of his attacks…

Was there truly no one in the Shen Jie who could 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 fists tightened, 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 body's immune system.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses; 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.

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

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet beyond even emperors… 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 man easily!”

“He?” Zhang Xuan frowned.

“I’ll take you to see him. He’s in Zi Zai Tian…”

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

“Thinking of escaping?”

Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

“You…” Zhang Xuan unleashed his sword technique again, his sword intent shining brightly.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

But it was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

“You all go! I’ll hold him off…”

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

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 grabbed Luo Ruoxi and tore through space, appearing in Zi Zai Tian the next moment.

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

“Where is he, the one 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 Shen Jie, he was willing to sacrifice himself!

“He’s my father. The blood in your pendant is his, and Bu Si Di Jun was once his beast pet…”

Luo Ruoxi regulated her breath and explained.

“Father?” Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

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

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

“Is your father also an emperor? Or even stronger?”

He couldn’t help asking.

The library’s chaos had been calmed by the pendant’s blood. Was it possible that not only she, but her father was also an emperor, or 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 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 You Xu and Heavenly Dao You Que entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Zi Ran to maintain Shen Jie’s balance. The only way to restore him is to gather the scattered parts… That’s why I was so determined, why I couldn’t fail! I even went to the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! When I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this.”

Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan finally understood.

Not long after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, this girl had told him her story about saving a close relative, but he hadn’t grasped it then. Now he did.

It was her father, and he was the Shen Jie’s Heavenly Dao!

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

“I was acting on behalf of Heavenly Dao Zi Ran… I don’t have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in me,” Zhang Xuan suddenly realized the oddity in her words and looked over.

“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 You Que; she didn’t have to die.

Though he was reluctant to accept this fate, he didn’t want the girl before him to suffer.

“If I separate the Heavenly Dao You Que from me, your father can awaken and even slay Hen Ren, right?” Zhang Xuan asked.

“This… I’m not sure…”

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing Shen Jie.

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

It was hard to say!

“Since you can’t be certain, we’d better 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’s…”

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

“He’s dead, right? But he hasn’t truly died. If I’m guessing correctly, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the 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—as a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti.

It allowed one to remain clear even in the womb.

With the preparations he’d made in advance, 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 like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng wouldn’t have stayed away from Chao Xi Hai…”

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi’s students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng, were all incredibly strong. Even without an emperor’s help, they could enter Chao Xi Hai, yet none had shown up.

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 Kong Shi’s residence. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them, he smiled slightly, “You’re here!”

Who else could it be but Kong Shi?

This teacher of ages hadn’t disappointed him!

As he’d guessed, Kong Shi had revived while everyone’s attention was on Chao Xi Hai.

“You…”

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew emperors could revive—Bu Si Di Jun 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 You Hun Chi 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 the Shen Jie, he’d experienced who knows how long to restore his power—likely decades.

“Our combined strength is strong, but defeating Hen Ren won’t be easy…”

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

It wasn’t about boosting the enemy or undermining themselves; it was the truth.

So many had joined forces earlier and still couldn’t block him. Adding 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 the Shen Jie apart and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed it all and devoured Shen Jie’s spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus emperors, can’t stand against him alone…”

Kong Shi said. “But if we unite and concentrate our power into one person… maybe then we could!”

“How do we concentrate it?”

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperors stood at the Shen Jie’s peak. If it were that easy to absorb others’ power, she wouldn’t have stagnated for so long.

“It’s simple… We’ll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the emperor’s shackles, he can save the Shen Jie!”

Kong Shi said.

“Me? Why me?”

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

“Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father’s and the Heavenly Dao’s constraints, and his attachments, he’ll never truly transcend! If I guessed right, when he fought me, he even considered giving up and letting me kill him!”

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

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

“Without transcendence, he can’t unleash his full power. Even with more true energy, he couldn’t break through to the highest realm! As for me…”

Kong Shi nodded. “I care for all beings and want to save the world, but I hesitate to let others sacrifice for me—too much mercy is a flaw! If I’d been more ruthless and wiped out the Yi Ling clan, we wouldn’t be in this mess…”

If he’d exterminated the Yi Ling clan back then, Hen Ren couldn’t have revived, and none of this would have happened.

“So, I’m not suitable either! Zhang Xuan, on the other hand, follows his heart in cultivation, with no 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—he can go further!”

Kong Shi continued.

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

If even death didn’t bother him, what else could hold him back?

“This…” Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when Kong Shi looked at him intently, “No need to refuse. Time is short; training someone else isn’t feasible, and even if it were, 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 You Xu. If we channel our power to you, you’ll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone’s Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, you can stabilize the nine heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!”

“Alright!”

Seeing that the decision was made and further explanation was useless, Zhang Xuan nodded.

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, as if he had instantly become the Heavenly Dao, soaring through the nine heavens.

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

…

“You think you can stop me? Fine, I’ll kill you all first, then go after Zhang Xuan…”

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

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

Chao Xi Hai had devoured nearly all of Shen Jie’s spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the power to destroy the world. These emperors and Shen Wangs, despite representing Shen Jie’s pinnacle, were no match.

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

“Shen Jie is doomed; living means nothing. I’ll go down with you, Yun Chi…”

Yun Chi Da Di 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.

“My old friend, wait for me!”

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

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

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

The four divine beasts, guardians of Shen Jie’s four corners, 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 intense killing intent, “Since you’re all seeking death, I’ll grant it…”

As he roared and prepared to finish them off, he felt his raised arm seize up in mid-air.

“Want to kill them? Did you ask me first?”

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

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

“You’ve improved a lot…”

Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

He couldn’t fathom how the young man’s strength had changed so dramatically in just minutes.

“But so what? Even at its peak, Shen Jie couldn’t withstand me. I don’t believe you can…”

Hen Ren snorted coldly and struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, space tearing apart and energy surging wildly.

“Can Zhang Xuan win?”

Back at Kong Shi’s residence in Zi Zai Tian, Luo Ruoxi watched with worry.

She and Kong Shi had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, reducing their own cultivation to merely the Shen Wang level, far from their former glory.

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

“With his current strength, winning is tough! 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 approach was that only by concentrating the power in one person could there be a chance to touch the pinnacle and truly surpass 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 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 force in his body, he wasn’t a match.

“Ha, I thought you’d be something special. Turns out you’re just this!”

Hen Ren sneered.

“Since I’m no match anyway and will be killed eventually, I might as well die under your strongest attack…”

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

“Very well, 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; the entire Shen Jie rumbled 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 Da Di and the others stared in disbelief, trembling.

Even Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi were 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 this a waste of their efforts?

“… wait, it’s Bu Si Di Jun’s immortality technique…”

Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

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

“He… used the opponent’s power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Heavenly Dao You Que 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 unbound from the Heavenly Dao!

“How did he do that?”

Kong Shi was full of disbelief.

To escape, he’d had to let his soul scatter and reform in You Hun Chi.

Yet this young man had achieved it with just one blow—what method had he used?

“I get it… He used the same method Hen Ren used to break the soul contract…”

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant; without the master’s release, the servant was trapped… 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.

So, he’d deliberately let Hen Ren use his strongest attack on him.

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

“So, that’s the key to breaking through the emperor level…”

The Zhang Xuan emerging from the flames smiled faintly, as if he’d understood 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.

Suddenly, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan had become the nine heavens, and the nine heavens were him.

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic nine heavens stabilized immediately.

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

Not only that, with the fusion of the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian’s cultivation, his already peak realm began to loosen, as if ready to break through at any moment.

“Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student ties, parent-child affection, romantic love… Fused together, they become the essence of all things, the true nature of humanity!”

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?

These eternal questions had puzzled countless people.

But now… none of that mattered!

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

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

All things in the world have emotion; with emotion comes the world, and with emotion, life endures.

Love is emotion.

Hatred 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 shackles in Zhang Xuan’s body shattered.

He had broken through the emperor’s barriers!

In that instant, it was as if he’d touched a new world and gate. His soul was rapidly nourished, and vast chaotic energy surged toward him, rapidly enhancing his body.

Before, he could only progress by absorbing spiritual energy, but now, spatial chaos, chaotic energy, even the opponent’s green light—everything could be his, indistinguishable from himself.

“You…”

Hen Ren hadn’t expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him. Enraged, he roared and struck again.

“You resent the lofty emperors for not saving you from the spatial chaos—that’s emotion; you feel humble and angry as my former servant—that’s emotion; you want to destroy the Shen Jie to vent your anger—that’s emotion; you crave more power—that’s emotion too… Emotion controls you; how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?”

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

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

As long as one had emotion, they would be used by him, controlled by him!

“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 emotions of the world, something like a servant held no meaning for him.

After killing so many at the god level and harming his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi and so many friends, how could he forgive him today?

“No…”

Sensing his resolve, Hen Ren’s pupils contracted. Before he could finish, he felt intense pain throughout his body.

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged back to every corner of Shen Jie.

All the power that Chao Xi Hai had devoured was now returned, bringing life back to the withered wastelands.

“This…”

“Is that it? He’s gone?”

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

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

Was there truly a realm beyond emperors?

“He did it…”

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

“This is part of the Heavenly Dao; I’ll return it now…”

Seeing the “Heavenly Dao You Que” that had just separated from his body still floating in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

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

The crumbling Shen Jie visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energy regathered.

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

“It seems Shen Jie is about to enter an era of spiritual energy revival…”

Zhang Xuan smiled.

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

“Zhang Xuan, come here…”

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

In that step, he didn’t know how far he traveled, and soon 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 sensed this man’s unfathomable depth before, and now realized he was only a hair’s breadth from his own level, at the absolute peak of emperors, 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’d never heard that name.

“Come with me; I’ll take you to see my brother!”

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, not knowing how far they flew before stopping at a mountain peak.

There, another young man stood.

He looked only slightly older, 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. “Also known as… Nie Ling Xi, the father of Luo Ruoxi in your words!”

“Luo Ruoxi’s father?” Zhang Xuan was shocked. “You’re… Shen Jie’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.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

“That’s not right. If Shen Jie is your creation and you’re the Heavenly Dao, why did you let Hen Ren rampage without intervening… Even your daughter’s life was at risk?”

Zhang Xuan asked.

Nie Yun didn’t answer his question but looked at him, “Do you think there’s life beyond Shen Jie, even stronger than here?”

“This…” Zhang Xuan paused. “Probably, right?”

Though he hadn’t seen it, since this man could reach such a level, others might too, or even exceed it—just like him.

“I once suspected there was more beyond Shen Jie, so I tried to peer further, but it drew the backlash of a higher world… A giant hand came crashing down!”

Nie Yun said. “If I’d dodged, Shen Jie might have been wiped out completely, 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 Shen Jie’s limits and explore where that hand came from or what’s beyond, I couldn’t do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any life could break through the emperor’s barriers and reach my level!”

“That’s why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intent to the lowest worlds… granting it to souls that originally belonged here and one that didn’t. And you didn’t disappoint me!”

Nie Yun laughed.

“A soul not from this world… So, my crossing over was because of you?”

Zhang Xuan was shaken.

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 his current state 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 hold back, thinking he could retreat safely. In reality, he lost his drive and courage. Facing those who surpass us, without that spirit, how can we contend?”

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he hadn’t wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

“If Kong Shi had won, Luo Ruoxi would have died…”

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

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

“With me here, she wouldn’t die…”

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 to this realm was different from being an emperor. If he wanted to, he could save someone at the last moment without a scratch.

“Ling Xi is from 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 heart is with you now; she probably doesn’t even think of me anymore. Ha ha, I’ll stay hidden for a while; otherwise, she might turn everything upside down…”

Seeing how unreliable this father was, Zhang Xuan’s face twitched, and he had no choice but to agree, “Alright…”

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

“The Heavenly Dao library was my intent, both a foundation and a shackle. 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 text ends.