Chapter 461: Strong Relay of the Strong

The soul contract, a binding of souls, cannot be dissolved unless the one who initiated it chooses to end it, no matter how powerful the other party might be.

It's like with the Immortal Emperor Monarch Xiao Huang Ji; even though he was once just a God King and now an Emperor Monarch, 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 records, they still couldn't break free from the soul contract.

"The soul contract indeed cannot be separated from the sea of consciousness, but I've integrated a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao, so resolving this contract isn't difficult... As long as I have enough power to strike at the contract's location, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

The soul contract is based on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao, and since this special power can dissolve even the God Realm's Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about dissolving a soul contract if 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 immense amount of power during their conversation, using it for nourishment.

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

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

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

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

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

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

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by an Emperor Monarch, it contained all his obsessions, pushing his Heavenly Dao Emotionless Art to its limits.

Whoosh!

One sword strike cleaved Hen Ren's attack in two.

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi struck out, her jade 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 moves are impressive, but compared to me, they're still lacking..."

With a light smile, Hen 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 into the air.

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

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 in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, its power surging toward the nine heavens.

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

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming an Emperor Monarch, his clone 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'll all die if they fall..."

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

The other six great Emperor Monarchs also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor Monarchs 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, swallowing their attacks in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten great Emperor Monarchs 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.

"How dare you!"

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

"Another Emperor Monarch? He's also at the Emperor Monarch level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

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

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

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

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and said through gritted teeth.

"Then... what about the young man who taught me the sword technique?" Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

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

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

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

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

"What do we do?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

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

Was there truly no one in the God Realm who could stop this man?

Would he be allowed to 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 fists clenched, her eyes reddening.

"Return it 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 human immune system.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses, but if damaged, even a strong body couldn't resist invasion.

But...

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

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary God King, yet even a Titled one like him surpassed Emperor Monarchs... He was beyond what the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..." Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. "You're right... It might not suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken and slay this man easily!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to see him; he's in Zi Zai Tian..."

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

"Thinking of escaping?" Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

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

Ding! Ding! Ding!

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 the Immortal Emperor Venerable shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into the core of the Jing Kong Pearl.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone risking their lives to block behind them without fear 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 range of Zi Zai Tian.

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

"Where is he?" Zhang Xuan asked the girl in his arms, ignoring the state of the ordinary people.

If this person could truly save the God Realm, he was willing to make the sacrifice!

"He's my father; the blood in your pendant is his. The Immortal Emperor Venerable 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 Immortal Emperor Venerable's remnant will had immediately recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

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

Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos had been calmed by the blood in the pendant, so was her father not only an Emperor Monarch but even more powerful?

If so, why was he in a coma?

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

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

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father is the Heavenly Dao?" Zhang Xuan was shocked, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that massive 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 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 Spring and Autumn Compendium 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 realized.

Not long after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, this girl had told him her story—she needed to save a close relative. He hadn't understood then, but now it all made sense.

It was her father, and he was the God Realm's Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting as Heavenly Dao Natural... You don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in your body?" Zhang Xuan suddenly noticed the oddity in her words.

Acting as versus fusing with—it was a different concept.

"I'm 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 was unwilling to accept this fate, he didn't want the girl in front of him to be harmed.

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao with Flaws from my body, your father can awaken and even slay Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing God Realm.

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

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to figure this out!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, plus the Nine Heavens and Nine Emperors—if we team up with Kong Shi, we might not lose!"

"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 should 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 undeluded even in the womb.

Combined with the preparations he had made in advance, 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 Tide Sea..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Ancient Saint and the others, were incredibly strong. Even without an Emperor Monarch's help, they could enter the Tide Sea, yet none had appeared.

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

"This..." Luo Ruoxi's heart shook as she suddenly understood.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they returned to where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air, cross-legged in meditation. 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 revived while everyone's attention was on the Tide Sea.

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperor Monarchs could revive, like the Immortal Emperor Venerable, 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 escape the Heavenly Dao's bindings and reform my body. I've only just recovered now!"

Kong Shi smiled faintly.

He was proficient in time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in the God Realm, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

"Our combined strength is strong, but defeating Hen Ren won't be easy..."

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

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

So many had united earlier and still couldn't block him; adding one more Kong Shi wouldn't change the situation!

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

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse it into one person?"

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

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and has been devouring the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us ten-plus Emperor Monarchs alone isn't his match..."

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

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperor Monarchs stood at the pinnacle of the God Realm; if it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have stagnated for so many years.

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

Kong Shi said.

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

"Ling Xi Emperor Venerable cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's 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, like sparring rather than a life-or-death battle.

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

Kong Shi nodded. "I 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 Yi Ling Race, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had exterminated the Yi Ling Race back then, Hen 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 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.

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

If even death doesn't matter, what else can bind him?

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when he saw Kong Shi's determined gaze: "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 better than you! Ling Xi Emperor Venerable 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! 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!" Zhang Xuan nodded, seeing that further explanation was useless.

Boom!

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

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

His soul, body, and true energy 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 Qi Qi and the others away, Hen Ren sneered coldly.

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

The Tide Sea had devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the power to destroy the world; these Emperor Monarchs and God Kings, despite representing the God Realm's peak, were no match.

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

"The God Realm's destruction means we'd have no reason to live. I'll go down with you, Yun Chi..."

Yun Chi Emperor Monarch transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him through the air.

"You? You're not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

The Immortal Emperor Venerable revealed his undead fire phoenix form, flames illuminating the sky.

Xuan Ming Emperor Monarch'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!

Hen Ren struck four times in succession, suppressing the four beasts, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent: "Since you're seeking death, I'll grant it..."

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

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

Then, to everyone's shock, 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 himself.

"He's made significant progress..."

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!"

With a cold snort, Hen Ren struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

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

"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 merely God King level, no longer as glorious as before.

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

"With his current strength, winning is tough! Unless... he can comprehend a power that transcends the Emperor Monarch level!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over a dozen Emperor Monarchs transferred to 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 that transcends the Emperor Monarch level?"

Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant.

Her father had said the same when he was awake, but... could the man she loved achieve it?

"He can... He has an unyielding heart and pride toward the world."

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several exchanges, Zhang Xuan's tiger's mouth split open, and a massive wound appeared on his chest, ghastly and terrifying.

As Kong Shi had said, even with the fused power forming a complete Heavenly Dao within him, he still wasn't a match.

"Ha! I thought you'd be something special, but you're nothing!"

Hen Ren sneered coldly.

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

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

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

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

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack; the entire 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, his soul scattering everywhere.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Emperor Monarch and the others stared wide-eyed, trembling uncontrollably.

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

The plan was for him to break through his limits and reach a realm beyond Emperor Monarch, not to surrender to death!

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

wait, no—it's the Immortal Emperor Venerable's undying method..."

As they puzzled over it, Kong Shi spoke up.

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

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

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body; he was free from the Heavenly Dao's interference and unbound.

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was also incredulous.

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

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

"I get it... He used the same method Hen Ren used to escape the soul contract..."

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master released 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 then he had the idea.

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

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

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

Zhang Xuan, emerging from the flames, smiled faintly, as if he had understood something. With a wave of his hand, 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 the clone fused perfectly, it meant he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus's cultivation, his already peak realm began to loosen, as if it could break through at any moment.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student bonds, parent-child bonds, romantic love... Fused together, they become all things in the world. That's what it means to be human!"

Zhang Xuan murmured with a smile.

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

Did the world exist first, and then people, or vice versa?

Was it the wind moving, or the heart?

This eternal question had puzzled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter!

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

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

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

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

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

With a low cry, the shackles in Zhang Xuan's body shattered instantly.

He had broken through the Emperor Monarch constraints!

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

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

He used to need spiritual energy to progress, but now, spatial chaos, chaotic energy—even the opponent's green light—could all be his, indistinguishable.

"You..."

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

"You resent the high-and-mighty Emperor Monarchs for not saving you from 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 emotion... Emotions control 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, the once-unstoppable Hen Ren was bound by countless emotional threads, immobilized.

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

"You..."

Hen Ren's eyes filled with panic: "Zhang Shi, I'm your servant; don't kill me... I'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, something like a servant meant nothing to him.

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

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged back to every corner of the God Realm.

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

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Emperor Monarch, the Immortal Emperor Venerable, Ling Long Immortal Zi, and the others all stared in disbelief.

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

Was there truly a realm beyond Emperor Monarch?

"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 gathered once more.

The shattered God Realm 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 hole in the Tide Sea 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 stepped forward.

In that step, he didn't know how far he traveled, and soon saw a young man standing before him.

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the absolute peak of Emperor Monarch, 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'd never heard the name.

"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 than Nie Tong, with raised eyebrows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power was even greater than his, also beyond Emperor Monarch, but deeper and more profound!

"I am 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?"

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

Nie Yun smiled lightly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

The God Realm was created by this man?

Then how powerful was he?

"That's not right—if the God Realm is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why didn't you act against Hen Ren's rampage...?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Not even caring about his daughter's life?

Nie Yun didn't answer directly and just looked at him: "Do you think... beyond the God Realm, there are even more powerful 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, perhaps even stronger.

"I once suspected that beyond the God Realm, there might be greater beings, so I tried to peer further, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... A massive hand descended!"

Nie Yun said. "If I'd dodged, the entire God Realm could 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 constraints, explore the hand's origin, and see what's beyond... I couldn't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through the Emperor Monarch level and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... one to a soul native to this world, and one to a soul not belonging here. And you didn't disappoint me!"

Nie Yun laughed.

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

Zhang Xuan's heart shook.

No wonder he could cross over—it was all this man's doing.

"Heh!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly. "Natives of this world have reverence for it, making it harder to break its constraints. I just had a thought and didn't expect you to succeed..."

"I..." Zhang Xuan's face reddened. "Without Kong Shi, I couldn't have reached this level..."

Without Kong Shi's selflessness, achieving his current realm 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 retreat, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his drive. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how could he contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"But 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 there, she wouldn't have died..."

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "You're now almost at my level. In a life-or-death situation, could you save someone?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Beyond Emperor Monarch was a different concept; if this man had acted, he could have saved her without a scratch.

"Ling Xi was born to 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... You explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you; as her father, I've probably been forgotten... Ha ha, I'll stay hidden for now to avoid 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 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 with you brings me comfort as a father."

As Nie Yun spoke, the text cuts off here.