Chapter 460: Unspoken Rules

The soul contract, known as Linghun Qiyue, binds souls together. Unless the initiator dissolves it, even the most powerful methods cannot break it.

Take, for example, the case of the Undying Dijun, nicknamed Xiao Huangji. Back when he was just a Shenwang, even as a Dijun himself, he couldn't resolve such an agreement.

To prevent this individual from going back on their word and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent had specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't escape the bonds of the Linghun Qiyue.

"Indeed, the Linghun Qiyue cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I have fused with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Resolving this contract is not difficult... As long as I have enough power to strike at the contract's location, it can be done!"

Hen Ren explained.

The Linghun Qiyue is established on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can dissolve even the Shenjie Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about dissolving a Linghun Qiyue, 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 Shenjie!"

After explaining, Hen Ren said no more. His aura grew even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further, clearly having absorbed an immense amount of power in that short time for nourishment.

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

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

"Let's make our move!"

With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand, and declared:

"Since that's the case, let's settle this with our skills!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

In life, I shall return; in death, I shall long for you!

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

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by a Dijun, it contained all of his inner obsessions, pushing his Tian Ru You Qing cultivation to its limits.

Whoosh!

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

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi struck out. Her jade-like hand swirled, her sword light as pure as 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 the heavens 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 backward, spitting blood into the air as they tumbled.

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

Just how far had this guy advanced?

"Outrageous!"

His avatar 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, its power surging toward the nine heavens.

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

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming a Dijun, his avatar hadn't changed its 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're all doomed if they die..."

Xiao Huangji roared, his crimson flames igniting the sky as if it were on fire.

The other six Dijun also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Dijun joined forces, their power enough to destroy heavens and earth, overwhelming any realm. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let his black hole expand. In the blink of an eye, it devoured their attacks completely, then countered swiftly.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten Dijun together couldn't block a single strike from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

After defeating them with one move, Hen Ren stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"How dare you!"

A loud shout echoed as the elder from Jian Shen Tian suddenly appeared, blocking the way with his long sword transforming into a river of stars.

"A Dijun? He's also at the Dijun level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a attendant, at most a Feng Hao Shenwang, but now he realized the man was a Dijun powerhouse!

If he was a Dijun, then what about that young man?

"He's the Dijun of Jian Shen Tian..."

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

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

Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when the space twisted, and the Jian Shen Tian Dijun was sent flying, crashing into the ground and forming a massive crater.

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

"Ha! Dijun? Just a bunch of insignificant pests! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate Shenjie, and trample all rules!"

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

"What do we do?"

Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

He and his avatar had already used their full strength, and even Luo Ruoxi had deployed her most powerful moves, yet none could block even one of his strikes...

Was there truly no one in Shenjie who could stop this man?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

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

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

"Return it to its original state?"

Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

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

It was like the human immune system.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses, but if damaged, even a strong body 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.

The immune system might handle viruses, but what about a ferocious tiger?

Hen Ren was just an ordinary Shenwang, yet even beyond the Dijun level... He was no longer something the Heavenly Dao could contend with.

"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 defeat this man easily!"

"He?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

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

"Thinking of escaping?"

Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

"You..."

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

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 Shenjie, not flee, the avatar and the Undying Dijun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jing Kong Pearl 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, reappearing in the Zizai Tian area.

Zizai Tian was no longer as peaceful as before. Shenjie was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is he, the one you mentioned?"

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

If this person could truly save Shenjie, he was willing to sacrifice himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi steadied her breath and explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

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

"Is your father also a Dijun? Or even stronger?"

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos had been calmed by the blood in the pendant. Was it possible that not only she, but her father was also a Dijun, or even more powerful?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did he need the Heavenly Dao's flaw to awaken?

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

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father... is the Heavenly Dao?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned, in disbelief.

"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 Orderly and Heavenly Dao Flawed entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain Shenjie's balance. The only way to restore him is to gather those scattered parts... That's why I've been so determined, unable to fail! That's why I entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chunqiu Canon 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 finally understood.

Not long after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, this girl had shared her story with him—she needed to save a dear one. He hadn't grasped it then, but now it all made sense.

It was her father, and he was the Shenjie Heavenly Dao!

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

"You control Heavenly Dao Natural... but you don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in your body?"

Suddenly realizing the inconsistency in her words, Zhang Xuan looked at her.

Controlling it and fusing with it were two different concepts.

"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 Flawed; 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 Flawed from my body, your father can awaken and even defeat Hen Ren, right?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi glanced at the collapsing Shenjie, hesitating.

Shenjie was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he truly defeat such a 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 avatar, the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and even Kong Shi—if we team up, 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 must be like Wei Changfeng, 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 unconfused 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 like Zi Yuan Ancient Saint wouldn't have stayed away from the Tide Sea..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, such as Zi Yuan Ancient Saint, were all incredibly strong. Even without a Dijun's help, they could have entered the Tide Sea, yet none had appeared.

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

"This..."

Luo Ruoxi's heart shook as realization dawned.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan tore through space and returned to where Kong Shi had resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in mid-air, cross-legged. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly.

"Who else could it be but Kong Shi!"

This teacher of ages had not disappointed him!

Just as guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was on the Tide Sea.

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Dijun could revive, as the Undying Dijun had, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

"I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. That nameless giant in the You Hun Pool was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to break free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints and reform my body. I've only just recovered now!"

Kong Shi smiled faintly.

He was a master of time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in Shenjie, 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 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 confusion.

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

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

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Dijun stood at the peak of Shenjie. If absorbing others' power was that easy, she wouldn't have been stalled for so long.

"It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Dijun constraints, he can save Shenjie!"

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Lingxi Dijun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father and the Heavenly Dao's restrictions, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I guessed right, when he fought me, he 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 living beings and want to save the world, but I'm too compassionate, which is a flaw! If I'd been more ruthless and wiped out the Hetero Spirits, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

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

"So, I'm not suitable either! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation is seamless, without flaws. He lives true to himself—even in death, as long as he's lived without regret, his heart is clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!"

Kong Shi continued.

In life, I shall return; in death, I shall long for you!

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

"This..."

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. "No need to decline. Time is short. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Lingxi Dijun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao and has her own understanding of it. I control Heavenly Dao Orderly. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body. Combined with your avatar's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, command the universe, battle the nine realms, 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 an instant, 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 above the nine heavens.

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

...

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

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

The combined power of the avatar and the other Dijun was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak.

The Tide Sea had devoured nearly all of Shenjie's spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his sustenance. Every move he made carried the power to destroy worlds. These Dijun and Shenwang, representing Shenjie's peak, were still no match.

At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody Shenjie itself, unstoppable.

"If Shenjie falls, living on is meaningless. I'll go down with you..."

Yun Chi Dijun 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 to escape.

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

The Undying Dijun revealed his immortal fire phoenix form, flames lighting up the sky.

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

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

"You've improved a lot..."

Hen Ren halted, his expression 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, Shenjie 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 raging everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In the Zizai Tian where Kong Shi resided, Luo Ruoxi watched worriedly.

She and Kong Shi had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, reducing their own cultivation to merely Shenwang 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 beyond Dijun!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over ten Dijun fused into him, victory wasn't guaranteed.

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

"A power beyond Dijun?"

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 nothing!"

Hen Ren sneered.

"Since I'm no match anyway and will be killed eventually, I'd rather die under your strongest attack..."

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

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

Hearing this, Hen Ren paused, then snorted and raised his hand.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack, making all of Shenjie 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, his soul scattering.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Dijun and the others stared in shock, trembling.

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

The plan was for him to break through the constraints and reach beyond the Dijun realm. Why had he chosen to face death?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

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

Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

Everyone then saw that Zhang Xuan, with his head blown apart and soul shattered, had the pendant on his chest suddenly burst open. A drop of blood floated up, ignited, and formed a blazing flame. From the flame, an unharmed figure slowly emerged.

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

Luo Ruoxi's pupils shrank.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body, free from its interference and the Heavenly Dao's bindings.

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was full of disbelief.

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

Yet Zhang Xuan had achieved it with just one strike. What method had he used?

"I get it... He used the same method Hen Ren used to escape the Linghun Qiyue..."

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The Linghun Qiyue bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master released it... The Heavenly Dao library was like an enhanced version, binding the soul indissolubly.

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about the details earlier, likely planning this then.

He had deliberately let Hen Ren use his strongest attack to achieve rebirth through the flames.

And it had succeeded spectacularly!

"So that's the way to break through Dijun..."

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if he had understood something. With a wave of his hand, his avatar on the side 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 Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with the avatar fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

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

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

Zhang Xuan murmured with a smile.

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

Was it the world that existed first, or people who perceived it?

Was it the wind moving, or the heart?

These eternal questions had puzzled countless people.

But now... they didn't matter.

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

So, after breaking through romance, it was the bonds of all beings—the interwoven emotions of the world.

All things in the world have emotions. With emotion, there is the world; with emotion, life endures.

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

"Ten thousand emotions, all for my use..."

With a soft cry, the constraints in Zhang Xuan's body shattered instantly.

He had broken through the Dijun 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 rapidly strengthened.

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..."

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

"You resent the lofty Dijun for not saving you from the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy Shenjie to vent your anger—that's emotion; you crave more power—that's emotion... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, or escape my control?"

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. With a light grasp of his hand, countless emotional threads bound Hen Ren, rendering him immobile.

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'll offer my soul..."

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

Zhang Xuan shook his head with a smile.

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

He had killed so many in Shenjie, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qiqi, and so many friends. How could he forgive that 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 poured back into Shenjie.

All the power the Tide Sea had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the withered wastelands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's gone?"

Yun Chi Dijun, the Undying Dijun, Linglong Fairy, and the others stared in wide-eyed 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 Dijun?

"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 Flawed" 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 Shenjie's sky with a thunderous ring.

The crumbling Shenjie visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energies gathered once more.

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

"It seems Shenjie is entering a new era of spiritual revival..."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The Tide Sea's void had been filled with the Heavenly Dao's completion, and Shenjie'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 traveled an unknown distance and saw a young man standing before him.

It was the one who had taught him the sword technique.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had sensed this man's unfathomable depth before, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the absolute peak of Dijun, 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; it was a name he'd never heard.

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

Nie Tong smiled faintly and stepped forward.

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

There, another young man stood.

He looked only slightly older than Nie Tong, with upward-swept brows giving an inscrutable aura.

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power surpassed his own, also beyond Dijun, but deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!"

The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Or... Nie Lingxi, the father of Luo Ruoxi in your words!"

"Luo Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're... the Shenjie Heavenly Dao?"

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

"I used One Qi Transforms Three Purities; one part of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Besides, I created this world, so calling me the Heavenly Dao isn't wrong!"

Nie Yun smiled lightly.

Zhang Xuan was incredulous.

Shenjie was created by this man?

Then how powerful was he?

"But if Shenjie is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why let Hen Ren rampage without intervening...?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

Nie Yun didn't answer directly and looked at him. "Do you think there's life beyond Shenjie, even stronger?"

"This..."

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

Though he hadn't seen it, since this man had reached such a level, others might too, or even exceed him.

"I once suspected there was more beyond Shenjie, so I tried to peer further, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... That massive hand descended!"

Nie Yun continued, "If I'd dodged, Shenjie 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 is just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shenjie's limits and explore the hand's origin and what's beyond, I can't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any life could break through the Dijun barriers and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... 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's heart shook.

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 selfless contribution, it would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was his, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Lingxi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to hold back, thinking he could retreat safely. In reality, he lost his momentum. To face those beyond us, without that spirit, how can one contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"But if Kong Shi had won, Luo Ruoxi 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 have died..."

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "At your current level, in a life-or-death situation, could you save someone? Think about it."

"This..."

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Beyond Dijun was a different concept. If Nie Yun had acted, he could have saved her without a scratch.

"Lingxi is the child of my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, so she took the surname Luo... To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma until now."

Nie Yun sighed. "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 everything upside down..."

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

What else could he do? He had essentially taken the man's daughter.

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

With that, the story continued as Zhang Xuan prepared to explain everything to Luo Ruoxi, knowing the path ahead was full of possibilities.