Chapter 456: White Paper Fan

The soul contract binds the souls together. As long as the one who initiated it doesn't revoke it, even if the other party has unparalleled means, it cannot be broken.

It's like the Undying Emperor Jun, who was once just a Shen Wang, yet even as an Emperor Jun, he couldn't resolve such an agreement.

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

"Soul contracts indeed cannot be separated from the sea of consciousness, but I have fused with a special gas that can even resolve the Heavenly Dao, so dissolving this contract is not difficult. As long as I have enough power to strike at the location of the contract, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

The soul contract is based on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can resolve even the God Realm's Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about resolving 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, Hen Ren said no more. His aura grew even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further, clearly having absorbed an unknown amount of power during their conversation to nourish himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi 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 said, "In that case, let's settle this with our skills!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

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

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

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

Whoosh!

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

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi made her move, her jade-like hand swirling as sword light fell 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 techniques 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 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 into the nine heavens.

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

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming an Emperor Jun, his clone hadn't changed its habit of showing off.

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

"Join forces, or we'll all die, including us!"

The small yellow chicken let out a roar, its crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The remaining six great Emperor Juns also unleashed their techniques.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even ten great Emperor 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, Hen Ren stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"You insolent fool!"

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.

"Emperor Jun? He's also at Emperor 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 an Emperor Jun powerhouse!

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

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

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet, gritting her teeth.

"Then... what about the young man who taught me the sword techniques?" 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 Emperor Jun 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 this opponent, so despite the elder's formidable cultivation and sword skills, he was no match.

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

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun, Hen Ren 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 combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her ultimate techniques, yet none could block even one of his moves.

Could it be that no one in the God Realm could stop this man?

And let him destroy the world?

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

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

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

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

It was like the immune system of the body.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses; 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 Shen Wang, yet even titled ones could be easily killed by the Heavenly Dao. Now, he was stronger than Emperor Juns, far 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 without difficulty!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to see him. He's in Zi You 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 techniques again, his sword intent blazing forth.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

But it was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save the God Realm, not flee, the clone and Undying Emperor Jun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into the essence of the Jing Kong Pearl.

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, tore through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in the area of Zi You Tian.

Zi You 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 sacrifice himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi regulated her breath and explained.

"Father?" Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

That also explained why the intent left by Undying Emperor Jun had immediately recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

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

He couldn't help asking.

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

If so, why was he in a coma?

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

"He's not an Emperor Jun, but... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"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 Defect 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 specifically entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly 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?

"I was acting as guardian of Heavenly Dao Natural. I don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in me?" Suddenly realizing the implication in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

Acting as guardian and fusing it within oneself were two different concepts.

"I only control it; 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 Defect; she didn'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 Defect from my body, your father can awaken and even slay Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing 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 Hen Ren?

It was hard to say!

"Since you're not 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 Nine Emperors, and even Kong Shi—if we work together, 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 his prior preparations, 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 Chao Xi Hai..."

Zhang Xuan said.

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

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

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

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they arrived at the place where Kong Shi 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 guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was on the Chao Xi Hai.

"You..." Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperor Juns could revive, and Undying Emperor Jun had done so, 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 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 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 joined forces earlier and still couldn't block him. Adding one more Kong Shi wouldn't change the situation.

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

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse into one person?"

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

"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 of us, or even all ten-plus Emperor Juns together, can't compare..."

Kong Shi said. "But if we concentrate all 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.

Emperor Juns stood at the peak of the God Realm. If it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have been stagnant for so many years.

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

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Ling Xi Emperor Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I didn't see wrong, when he fought me, he once gave up, intending to let me kill him!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

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

"Unable to transcend, he can't unleash his full power. Even with more true qi, he couldn't impact that supreme realm! As for me..."

Kong Shi nodded. "I have the heart to care for all beings and enlighten 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 Yi Ling Clan, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

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

"So, I'm not suitable! But Zhang Xuan's techniques are seamless, without flaws. He emphasizes living true to himself; even in death, as long as he lives 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 anew, to die is to long for each other!

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

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. "No need to refuse. Time is short. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Ling Xi Emperor 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 channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao strength 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 realms, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the decision was made, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Chao Xi Hai 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 the world. These Emperor Juns and Shen Wangs, representing the peak of the God Realm, were still no match.

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

"The God Realm is doomed; living means nothing. I'll go down with you..." Yun Chi Emperor Jun transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? Not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

Undying Emperor Jun revealed his undying fire phoenix form, flames lighting up the sky.

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

The four divine beasts, guarding the four corners of the God Realm, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing world.

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 seek 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!

The young man now exuded surging power, 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 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..."

Hen Ren snorted coldly and struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, tearing space apart and sending shockwaves everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In Zi You 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, no longer as glorious as before.

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 Emperor Jun!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over a dozen Emperor Juns 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 Emperor 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 pride toward this 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 strength in his body, he was still no match.

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

Hen Ren 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 Hen Ren.

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

Hearing this, Hen Ren paused, then snorted coldly, raising 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 Qiqi seemed to go mad.

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

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

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperor Jun. Why did he choose to face death?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

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

Just as they were puzzled, Kong Shi spoke up.

Everyone then saw that Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded 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 Defect from his soul?"

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body, free from its interference and detached from the Heavenly Dao!

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was full of disbelief.

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

This young man 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 revoked 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 faced death, letting Hen Ren use his strongest attack.

Using that power for rebirth, it had succeeded spectacularly!

"So that's the key to breaking through Emperor Jun..."

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

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

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

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic Nine Heavens stabilized immediately.

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

Not only that, with the fusion and his peak realm loosening, it seemed he could break through at any moment.

"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 detached from his soul, he understood.

Was it the world that created people, or people that perceived the world?

Was it the wind moving, or the heart?

These eternal questions had troubled countless people.

But now... none of that mattered!

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

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

All things in the world 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 shackles in Zhang Xuan's body shattered instantly.

He had broken through the Emperor Jun 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 rapidly.

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

"You..."

Hen Ren hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, and he raged, "Wah!" shouting as he attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor Juns for not saving you from the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humiliated as my servant, harboring卑微 and anger—that's emotion; you want to destroy the God Realm to vent your fury—that's emotion; you seek to grow stronger—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 reached out.

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 emotions of the world, such master-servant ties meant nothing to him.

After killing so many in the God Realm and harming his girlfriend Luo Qiqi and so many friends, how could he forgive today?

"No..."

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

Bang!

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

All the power devoured by the Chao Xi Hai was now returned, revitalizing the withered wilderness.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Emperor Jun, Undying Emperor Jun, Ling Long Xian Zi, and the others stared in disbelief.

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

Could there truly be a level beyond Emperor Jun?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao with Defect" 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 flows gathered once more.

The shattered world finally stopped, 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 gap in the Chao Xi Hai had closed 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 soon 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 techniques.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had always felt this person was unfathomable, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the absolute peak of Emperor 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 frowned.

He had never heard this name before.

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

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

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

There, another young man stood.

He looked only slightly older, 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 Emperor Jun's limits, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!"

The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "In other words... 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 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 faintly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

The God Realm was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"But if the God Realm 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 directly but looked at him. "Do you think... beyond the God Realm, there are even stronger beings?"

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

Though he hadn't seen any, since this man could reach such a level, others might too, or even exceed him—just like Nie Yun himself.

"I once suspected that beyond the God Realm, there might be stronger life forms, so I tried to peer further. In the end, I drew the backlash from a higher world. That massive hand came crashing down!"

Nie Yun said. "If I'd dodged, the entire God Realm might have been wiped out, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but my incarnated Heavenly Dao was scattered."

"In that state, restoring it would be just a thought for me. But... I realized that to truly transcend the God Realm's limits, explore where that hand came from, and see what's beyond... I couldn't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through Emperor Jun's shackles 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 to this world and one that didn't. And you didn't disappoint me in the end!"

Nie Yun laughed.

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

Zhang Xuan was shocked.

He had wondered how he crossed over, and it turned out 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 truly 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 fearless drive. Facing someone who transcends us, without that spirit, how can you contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

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 furrowing.

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 let out a bitter laugh.

Breaking through Emperor Jun was a different concept. If Nie Yun had acted, he could have saved her 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 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 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."