Chapter 457: The Strongest Strategist

Soul contracts bind souls together, and as long as the one who made it doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party has heaven-piercing means, it cannot be resolved.

It's like the Undying Emperor Jun Jun Xiaohuangji; he was once only a Shen Wang, and even as an Emperor Jun, he couldn't solve such an agreement. To prevent this guy from going back on his word and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break free from the soul agreement!

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

Ren Ren said.

Soul contracts are established on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao, and 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 flashed.

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

After explaining, Ren Ren said no more, and his aura grew even more ancient and profound. The black hole behind him expanded further, clearly having devoured an unknown amount of power during their conversation, using it to nourish himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi also noticed something was wrong and quickly sent a message.

"Let's prepare to fight!"

With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand abruptly, and said, "In that case, let's settle this with our skills!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent was unleashed once more.

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

What can stand in the way when life and death are of no concern?

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

Whoosh!

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

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

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

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

With a light smile, Ren Ren reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth, shattering space, 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 wildly in mid-air.

With their strength, they couldn't withstand it!

What realm had this guy reached?

"Outrageous!"

His clone strode forward, each step blooming with lotus flowers, accompanied by 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 in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

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

But when it clashed with Ren 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!

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

Jun Xiaohuangji roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The other 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 Ren Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let the black hole expand suddenly, devouring their attacks in the blink of an eye before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the 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 move, Ren Ren stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"How dare you, vermin!"

Accompanied by a loud shout, the elder from Jian Shen Tian appeared abruptly, blocking the way, 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 attendant, at most a Feng Hao Shen Wang, but now he realized he 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..."

Struggling to stand, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and said.

"Then... what about the young man who taught me the sword technique?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when the space twisted, and they saw the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun being sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a huge crater not far away.

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

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

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

"What do we do?"

Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

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

Could it be that no one in the God Realm could stop this person in front of them?

And let him destroy the world?

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

Luo Ruoxi's delicate fist clenched, her eyes turning red.

"Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?"

Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

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

Like the immune system of the human body.

A complete immune system can easily drive out viruses; if damaged, even a strong person can't resist invasion.

But...

"He's too powerful; even if the Heavenly Dao is restored, it might not suppress him!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This person was just an ordinary Shen Wang, and even a Feng Hao one could be easily killed by the Heavenly Dao, but he was stronger than Emperor Juns... 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 kill this person without difficulty!"

"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?"

Ren Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi fell from the air.

"You..."

Zhang Xuan unleashed his sword technique again, sword intent blazing forth.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Ren Ren once more.

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

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

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly blocking behind them, unafraid of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi and flashed through space, appearing in Zi Zai Tian's range the next moment.

Zi Zai Tian was no longer as carefree as before; the God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is the person you mentioned?"

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

If that 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 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 but different—it was her father's.

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

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

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos was calmed by the blood in the pendant, making him recover his senses. Could it be that not only she was an Emperor Jun, but her father was too, and even stronger?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did it require flaws in the Heavenly Dao to awaken him?

"He's not an Emperor Jun; he's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fist.

"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've been so determined, unable to 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 said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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 he did.

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 Heavenly Dao Natural... but I don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in me?"

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

Acting as it and fusing it into oneself were two different concepts.

"I was just controlling 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 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 in front of him harmed.

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao with Flaws from my body, your father can awaken and even kill Ren Ren, right?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, looking up at the collapsing God Realm.

The God Realm was her father's foundation, and now it was in this state. Even if he awakened, could he really defeat that powerful Ren Ren?

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to find a way!"

Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, united with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and even coordinating with Kong Shi—we might not lose!"

"Kong Shi? He..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm guessing correctly, being killed by you was just his way to escape the Heavenly Dao... Unexpectedly, he's probably like Wei Changfeng, a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng, he had figured it out. Kong Shi's so-called preservation of his spirit was likely because he was a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti.

He could avoid confusion in the womb.

With his prior arrangements, revival was just 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 extremely strong. Even without an Emperor Jun's help, they could enter the Chao Xi Hai, but none had shown up.

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

And they wanted to do it while all the Emperor Juns were occupied with the Chao Xi Hai.

"This..."

Luo Ruoxi was shocked, suddenly understanding.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they returned to where Kong Shi had resided. Sure enough, they saw an elder sitting cross-legged in the air. Seeing them arrive, he smiled slightly. "You've come!"

Who else could it be but Kong Shi?

This teacher of ten thousand ages hadn't disappointed him!

As guessed, he had taken advantage of everyone's focus on the Chao Xi Hai to revive.

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperor Juns could revive, and the Undying Emperor Jun had, 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 regroup 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 who knows how long to restore his power.

It had been decades in his time.

"Our individual strengths are strong, and together we're even more so, but defeating Ren Ren won't be easy..."

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

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

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

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

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse into one person?"

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

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao; its power is undeniable. Ren 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, aren't his match individually..."

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

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

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's 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 the 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 embrace all beings and save the world, but I'm unwilling to let others sacrifice for me. Too much benevolence is a flaw! If I had 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, Ren Ren couldn't have revived, and none of this would have happened.

"So, I'm not suitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation is seamless, without flaws. He values living true to himself; even if he dies, as long as he has no regrets, 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 concern him, how can other things bind him?

"This..."

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when he saw Kong Shi's gaze fixed on him. "Don't refuse; there's no time. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I don't think anyone could do better than you! Ling Xi Emperor Zun doesn't have a 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 power 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.

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 undergoing rapid purification, growing stronger and more vast.

...

"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, Ren Ren sneered coldly.

The combined power of the clone and the various 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, despite representing the God Realm's peak, were no match.

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

"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 through the air.

"You? You're not worthy!"

Ren 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 Jun roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward.

The Undying Emperor Jun revealed his immortal fire phoenix form, flames illuminating the sky.

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

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

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive strikes, Ren Ren suppressed 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 to wipe them out, he felt his raised arm tighten, stopping in mid-air.

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

Then, to everyone's shocked gaze, a figure stepped out of the air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

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

"You've improved a lot..."

Ren Ren stopped, his gaze turning serious.

He clearly didn'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!"

With a cold snort, Ren Ren struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, tearing space apart and sending energy scattering everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

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

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

However, their foundation remained; as long as they had enough power, they could recover eventually.

"With his current strength, winning... is difficult! Unless he can comprehend a power that transcends Emperor Jun!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over ten Emperor Juns transferred to him, defeating Ren Ren wouldn't be easy.

The reason they did this was to concentrate the power in one person, potentially touching the pinnacle and truly surpassing limits to break through.

"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 their fused power forming a complete Heavenly Dao in his body, he still wasn't a match.

"Ha, I thought you'd be something special, but you're just so-so!"

Ren Ren sneered.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you; I'll be killed sooner or later. Since that's the case, I want to die under your strongest attack..."

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

"Fine, I'll give you my strongest attack..."

Hearing this, Ren Ren paused, then snorted coldly, raising his hand.

Whoosh!

A beam of green light appeared in his palm and smashed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack; the entire God Realm 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 Qiqi seemed to go mad.

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

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, who saw this, were also stunned.

The intention was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperor Jun, so why didn't he resist and willingly go to his death?

Wasn't that wasting their efforts?

...wait, it's the Undying Emperor Jun's method of immortality..."

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 burst open. A drop of blood floated up, ignited, forming a blazing flame, from which an unharmed 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 the Heavenly Dao's interference and unbound.

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was also full of disbelief.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and use the You Hun Pool to regroup.

This young man had achieved it with just one killing blow—what method did he use?

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

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant; without the master's release, the servant was forever constrained... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract.

It bound the soul, unbreakable even in death.

But Ren 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 fought to the death, making Ren Ren use his strongest attack.

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

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

The Zhang Xuan emerging from the flames smiled faintly, as if he had understood something. He waved his hand, and his clone on the side 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 cultivation from the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus and his own peak realm showing signs of loosening, it seemed he could break through at any time.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student bonds, parent-child bonds, romantic love... Fused together, they are the essence of all things; that's what it means to be human!"

With a smile, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

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

Is it people who give meaning to the world, or does the world exist first and then people?

Is it the wind moving, or the heart?

This eternal question had troubled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter.

Without life, without emotions, what meaning does the world has?

So, after breaking through romantic love, it was the bond of all beings! The intertwined emotions of the world.

All things in the world have emotions; with emotions, there is the world; with emotions, life continues.

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 low cry, Zhang Xuan's suppressed realm shattered in an instant.

The Emperor Jun shackles were broken!

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

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

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

"You..."

Ren Ren hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, and he roared in fury. "Wah!" He charged again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor Juns for not saving you in the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humble and angry as my former servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy the God Realm to vent your anger—that's emotion; you crave to become stronger—that's also emotion... Emotions control you, so how can you defeat me, or escape my control?"

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder. He gently grasped his hand.

The once invincible Ren Ren was bound by countless emotional threads, immobilized.

As long as there are emotions, they can be used by him, controlled by him!

"You..."

Ren Ren's eyes filled with panic. "Zhang Shi, I'm your servant; don't kill me... I'm willing to offer my soul..."

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

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, such servant bonds meant nothing to him.

He had killed so many in the God Realm, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qiqi, and so many friends; how could he forgive that today?

"No..."

Sensing his resolve, Ren 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 part of the God Realm.

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

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Emperor Jun, Undying Emperor Jun, Ling Long Xian Zi, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief.

They had fought Ren Ren and knew how terrifying he was. For such a powerful being to be vanquished so easily, what level had Zhang Xuan reached?

Could there really be a realm beyond Emperor Jun?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao with Flaws" that had 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 the God Realm's sky with a thunderous sound.

The collapsing God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energies regathered.

The shattered God Realm finally stopped, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Ren Ren's death.

"It seems the God Realm is about to enter an era of spiritual energy revival..."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The hole in the Chao Xi Hai had closed with the Heavenly Dao's completion; 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 took a step 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 earlier.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was stunned.

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

"You can 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; it was a name he'd never heard.

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

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

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

There, he saw another young man.

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

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power surpassed his own; he had also broken through the Emperor Jun shackles, and his cultivation was even 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... 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 person?

Then how strong was he?

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

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If not for his breakthrough, the God Realm might have completely collapsed. Why had this person done nothing?

Not even caring about his daughter's life?

Without answering, Nie Yun looked at him. "Do you think... beyond the God Realm, there are even stronger beings?"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan paused. "There should be, right?"

Though he hadn't seen any, since this person could reach this level, others might too, or even exceed it—like the one before him.

"I once suspected that beyond the God Realm, there might be stronger beings, so I used all my effort to peer out, ultimately drawing backlash from a higher world... A giant hand descended!"

Nie Yun said, "If I had 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, but... I realized that to truly transcend the God Realm's shackles, 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 Jun shackles and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest world... granting them to a soul originally of this world and one not belonging to it. And you didn't disappoint me in the end!"

Nie Yun laughed.

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

Zhang Xuan was shocked.

No wonder he could cross over; it was all this person's doing.

"Heh!"

Nie Yun chuckled lightly. "Those belonging to this world have reverence for it; breaking its shackles is much harder. I just had a whim and didn't expect you to truly succeed..."

"I..."

Zhang Xuan's face reddened. "If not for Kong Shi, I couldn't have reached this level..."

Without Kong Shi's selflessness, achieving his current realm would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was given to him, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to back down, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his drive and courage. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how can he contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he didn't want to kill Luo Ruoxi.

But that single thought cost him the chance to advance.

"If Kong Shi had won, Luo Ruoxi would have died..."

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

Was this person indifferent even to his daughter's life?

"With me here, she wouldn't die..."

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "You and I are on the same level now; in a life-or-death situation, do you think I could save someone?"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Emperor Jun was a different concept; if he truly wanted to act, he could save her at the last moment without a scratch.

"Ling Xi is the child of my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, so she used the surname Luo as a disguise... 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. After all, her feelings have shifted to you; as her father, I'm probably forgotten... Ha, I'll stay hidden for now; I don't want her causing chaos. 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 choice; who asked him to win over the man's daughter?

"The Heavenly Dao library was a thought of mine; it's both the foundation and the shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. The future is boundless, and with my daughter by your side, as her father, I'm content."

Just as he was about to continue, the narrative ends here.