Chapter 462: The Real Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse

The soul contract bound souls together. As long as the initiator didn't dissolve it, even if the other party possessed unparalleled methods, it couldn't be broken.

It was like Xiao Huang Ji, the Undying Emperor. When he was just a God King, and even when he became an Emperor, he couldn't break such an agreement.

To prevent the other party from reneging and causing trouble, the Master Teacher Continent specifically decreed that even if someone could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break free from soul-based agreements!

"Soul contracts indeed cannot be separated from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Resolving this contract isn't difficult... As long as I have enough power to strike the location of the contract, I can do it!"

Hen Ren said.

The soul contract was built upon the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power could even dissolve the Shen Jie Heavenly Dao, what was so difficult 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 Shen Jie!"

After explaining, Hen Ren said no more. His aura became even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further. Clearly, he had absorbed a huge amount of power during their conversation to nourish himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi noticed something was wrong and quickly sent a message through divine sense.

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

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

To live is to return; to die is to yearn!

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

Although this sword technique hadn't reached the realm comprehended by Emperors, it contained all his inner obsessions, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation to its limit.

Whoosh!

His sword cleaved Hen Ren's attack in two.

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi struck out. Her jade-like hand swirled, and her sword light was 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 the earth. Space shattered, and it seemed as if the sun, moon, and stars would be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were both sent flying backward, spitting blood into the air.

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

What realm had this guy reached?

"Insolent!" 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 clone's cultivation was no weaker than Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, his power surging towards 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.

Having reached Emperor status, his clone still hadn't given up his habit of showing off...

Such flashy displays would be better if the power were 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 Emperors also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperors united were capable of destroying heavens 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 Emperors, like Zhang Xuan and the others, were sent flying.

Even the ten Emperors combined couldn't block a single move from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

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

"How dare you, vermin!"

Accompanied by a roar, the elder from Jian Shen Tian suddenly appeared, blocking the way with his long sword transforming into a galaxy.

"Another Emperor? He's also at Emperor 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 an Emperor expert!

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

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

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

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

Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when space twisted, and the Jian Shen Tian Emperor was sent flying, crashing into a pit nearby.

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

"Ha! Emperors are nothing but a flock of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate Shen Jie, and trample all rules!"

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor, Hen Ren laughed maniacally. The surrounding space collapsed continuously, making him seem like a demon.

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

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

Could no one in Shen Jie stop this man? Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

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

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

"Return it to the Heavenly Dao?"

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 a body's immune system.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses; if damaged, even a strong body could succumb to invasion.

But...

"He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao is restored, could it suppress him?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary God King, yet even titled ones could be killed by the Heavenly Dao. He was stronger than Emperors... 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 one easily!"

"He?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

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

"Thinking of escaping?"

Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

"You..."

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

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 Shen Jie, not flee, his clone and the Undying Emperor roared, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her Jing Kong Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone selflessly blocking without fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, tearing through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in Zi Zai Tian's domain.

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

"Where is he?" Zhang Xuan asked the girl in his arms.

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

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

Luo Ruoxi regulated her breath and explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

No wonder 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's remnant will submitted to him upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also an Emperor? Or even stronger?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos was calmed by the pendant's blood. Was her father not only an Emperor but even more powerful?

If so, why was he in a coma? And why did it require a flawed Heavenly Dao to awaken him?

"He's not an Emperor—he's the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

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

Zhang Xuan was shocked.

"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 Orderly and Heavenly Dao Flawed entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain Shen Jie'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 entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Spring and Autumn Annals and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

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

It was her father—the Shen Jie Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting as Heavenly Dao Natural... You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in you?"

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

"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 own Heavenly Dao Flawed; she wouldn't have to die.

Though he didn't want to accept this fate, he couldn't bear to see her harmed.

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao Flawed from me, your father can awaken and even kill Hen Ren, right?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing Shen Jie.

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

It was hard to say!

"Since you can't be certain, it's better to rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to count on!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and even Kong Shi—if we work together, we might still win!"

"Kong Shi? He's..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm guessing correctly, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... He's probably like Wei Changfeng—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, able to avoid confusion in the womb. With his prior arrangements, 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 Gu Sheng wouldn't have stayed away from Chao Xi Hai..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng, were all powerful. Even without an Emperor's help, they could enter Chao Xi Hai, yet none had appeared. They must have something more important—reviving Kong Shi.

"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 resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them arrive, he smiled slightly. "You've come!"

It was Kong Shi!

This teacher of ages hadn't disappointed him!

As guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was on Chao Xi Hai.

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperors could revive, like the Undying Emperor, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. The nameless giant in 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 mastered time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in Shen Jie, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

"Our individual strengths are strong, and even together we're formidable, 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 Kong Shi wouldn't change the outcome.

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

Kong Shi looked over with a smile.

"Fuse into one person?"

Both Luo Ruoxi and Zhang Xuan frowned in confusion.

"That hand could tear Shen Jie apart and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and devoured Shen Jie's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all the Emperors together, can't compare..."

Kong Shi said. "But if we concentrate everyone's power into one person... it might be different!"

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but it was difficult. Emperors stood at Shen Jie's peak; if power could be absorbed so easily, she wouldn't have stagnated for so long.

"It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. If he can break through the Emperor's shackles, he can save Shen Jie!"

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I didn't misjudge, during our fight, you once gave up and intended to let me kill you, right?"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During the battle, she had indeed considered that, so at the start, they had held back, fighting like a spar rather than to the death.

"Unable to transcend means 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 seek to embrace all beings and save the world, but I'm too unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—too much mercy is a flaw! If I'd been ruthless and wiped out the Yi Ling clan back then, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If the Yi Ling had been exterminated earlier, Hen Ren couldn't have revived, and this situation wouldn't have arisen.

"So, I'm not suitable either! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation follows his heart, 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 yearn!

If even death didn't matter, what else could bind him?

"This..."

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when 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 better than you! Ling Xi Di Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao and has her own understanding of it; I control Heavenly Dao Orderly. If we infuse our power into you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao strength. Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine realms, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the decision was made, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in an instant, 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 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 Qi Qi and the others away, Hen Ren sneered coldly.

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

Chao Xi Hai had devoured nearly all of Shen Jie's spiritual energy outside the cities, and now it had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy worlds. These Emperors and God Kings, representing Shen Jie's pinnacle, were still no match.

At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody Shen Jie itself—unstoppable.

"Even if Shen Jie falls, living means nothing. I'll go down with you..."

Yun Chi Di Jun transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? You're not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

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

Xuan Ming Di Jun became a massive turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

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

The universe seemed to freeze in that instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

As he roared and prepared to deliver the fatal blow, he felt his raised arm lock in place.

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

In the shocked gazes of everyone, 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.

"He's made significant progress..."

Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

He couldn't fathom how the other's strength had changed so dramatically in just minutes.

"But so what? Even at its peak, Shen Jie couldn't withstand me. I don't believe you can..."

Hen Ren snorted coldly and struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, space tearing apart, energy raging 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 God King level, no longer as radiant as before.

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

"With his current strength, winning is tough! Unless... he comprehends a power beyond the Emperor level!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the Emperors' power transferred, defeating Hen Ren wouldn't be easy.

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

"A power beyond the Emperor level?"

Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant.

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

"He can... He has an unyielding heart and an arrogant defiance 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, gruesome and terrifying.

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

"Ha, I thought you'd be something special—turns out you're not!"

Hen Ren sneered.

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

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath 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 Shen Jie rumbled, as if it couldn't bear the weight, forming 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 Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

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

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

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach beyond the Emperor realm—why had he chosen to die?

Wasn't this a waste of their efforts?

"Wait, it's the Undying Emperor's immortality technique..."

As they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

Everyone then saw that as Zhang Xuan's head burst and his soul shattered, the pendant on his chest exploded, a drop of blood floating up and igniting into a blazing flame. From the flame, an intact figure slowly emerged.

"He... used the opponent's power and the pendant's blood 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 him, free from its interference and the Heavenly Dao's bindings.

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was equally incredulous.

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

This one had escaped with just one strike—what method had he used?

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

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant; without release, the servant was forever bound... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract tied to the soul, unbreakable in death.

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about it in detail earlier—probably planning this then.

That's why he deliberately let himself be killed, forcing the strongest attack.

And it had succeeded brilliantly!

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

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if understanding something. With a wave, his clone turned back into a lotus flower and flew over, merging perfectly with him.

In an instant, 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 merged seamlessly, he controlled that power.

Moreover, with the fusion of the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus's cultivation and his peak realm showing signs of loosening, it seemed he could break through at any moment.

"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 understood.

Did the world create people, or did people create the world?

Was it the wind moving or the heart?

This eternal question had puzzled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter.

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

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

All things in the world have emotions; with emotion comes the world, and with emotion comes the continuation of life.

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's barriers!

In that moment, it was as if he touched a new world and gate. His soul was rapidly nourished, and vast chaotic energy surged in. His body also advanced quickly.

He once needed to absorb spiritual energy to progress, but now, spatial chaos, chaotic energy, even the opponent's green light—anything could be his, indistinguishable.

"You..."

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

"You resent the lofty Emperors for not saving you in the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy Shen Jie to vent—that's emotion; you seek to grow stronger—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 gentle grasp, countless emotional threads bound the once-unstoppable 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'm willing to offer my soul..."

"Now it's too late..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head with a smile.

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

He had killed so many at the God level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi, and so many friends. How could he forgive today?

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged across Shen Jie.

All the power Chao Xi Hai had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the withered wastelands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

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

They had fought Hen Ren and knew his terror. For this man to vanquish him so easily—what realm had Zhang Xuan reached?

Could there truly be a level beyond Emperor?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao Flawed" that had been separated from him still floating in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

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

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

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

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

Zhang Xuan smiled.

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

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

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

In that step, he traveled an unknown distance and saw a young man standing before him.

It was the one who had taught him the sword.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had sensed this one's unfathomable depth before, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the Emperor's absolute peak—far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

"Just call me by my name. I'm Nie Tong!"

The young man exuded an unstoppable sword intent and said lightly.

"Nie Tong?"

Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow.

He had never heard this 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, with raised eyebrows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power surpassed even his own, having broken through the Emperor's barriers with even deeper, more profound cultivation!

"I'm Nie Yun!"

The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Also... Nie Ling Xi, the one you know as Luo Ruoxi's father!"

"If Xi's father?"

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

Luo Ruoxi had said her father was the Heavenly Dao, but he never imagined it was 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 faintly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how powerful must he be?

"But if Shen Jie is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why didn't you act against Hen Ren...?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

If not for his breakthrough, Shen Jie might have been utterly destroyed. Why had this man done nothing? Even his daughter's life seemed unimportant.

Nie Yun didn't answer directly but looked over. "Do you think there's life beyond Shen Jie, even stronger than here?"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan paused. "There probably is..."

Though he hadn't seen it, since this man had reached this level, others might too, or even exceed him—like Nie Yun himself.

"I once suspected there was more beyond Shen Jie, so I tried to peer further, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... That giant hand broke through!"

Nie Yun said. "If I'd dodged, Shen Jie might have been wiped out completely. 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 Shen Jie's limits, explore the hand's origin, and see what's beyond... I can't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if anyone could break through the Emperor's barriers and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intent to the lowest worlds... granting it to souls belonging to this world and one not from here. 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 had transmigrated—it was all this man's doing.

"Heh!"

Nie Yun chuckled. "Those native to this world have reverence for it, making it harder to break its shackles. I just had a whim and didn't expect you to succeed..."

"I..."

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

Without Kong Shi's selfless contribution, this would have been impossible.

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

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.

Did this man not care about his daughter's life?

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

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

"This..."

Zhang Xuan bitter-smiled.

Breaking through to beyond Emperor was a different realm. If Nie Yun had acted, he could have saved her without a scratch.

"Ling Xi is from my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, so she took the surname Luo... To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma until now."

Nie Yun sighed bitterly. "I'm quite the ruthless father... You explain this to her. After all, her heart is with you now; she probably doesn't even think of me anymore... Ha, I'll stay hidden for a while. I don't want her turning everything upside down... Deal with it, will you?"

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

"The Heavenly Dao library was my intent—a foundation and a shackle. You broke 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."