Chapter 463: Rules Changed

The soul contract, *Chi He Ling Hun*, binds the soul itself. As long as I don’t dissolve it, even if the other party has means that reach the heavens, it cannot be resolved.

It’s like the Undying Emperor Jun *Xiao Huang Ji*. He was only a *Shen Wang* before, but even as an Emperor Jun, he couldn’t solve such an agreement.

To prevent this guy from going back on his word and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent once specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao’s registry, they still couldn’t break free from the agreement between souls.

“The soul contract indeed cannot be split 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, I can bombard the location of the contract and achieve it!”

*Hen Ren* said.

The soul contract is built on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can dissolve even the *Shen Jie* Heavenly Dao, what’s so hard about resolving a soul contract, as long as it’s handled properly?

“I see…” *Zhang Xuan’s* eyes flashed.

“Telling you all this is my way of thanking you for bringing me to *Shen Jie*!”

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 devoured an unknown amount of power during their conversation, using it for nourishment.

“*Zhang Xuan*, the more the black hole swallows, the stronger his power becomes…”

*Luo Ruoxi* also sensed something was wrong and quickly sent a message through divine sense.

“Let’s make our move!” With his doubts cleared, *Zhang Xuan* took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand abruptly, 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 in glory, to die is to long for each other!

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

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

Whoosh!

With one sword strike, he cleaved *Hen Ren’s* attack in two.

At the same time, *Luo Ruoxi* struck out. Her jade hand flipped, and her sword light shimmered like snow.

Her swordsmanship bore some similarity to 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 though the sun, moon, and stars would be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

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

With their strength, they couldn’t withstand him!

Just what realm had this guy reached?

“Outrageous!” His clone strode forward, each step blooming with lotus flowers and echoing with the sound of flowing water in the void.

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Nine Heavens *Hun Dun Jin Lian*, his cultivation was in no way inferior to *Zhang Xuan’s*.

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

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

*Zhang Xuan* clutched his forehead.

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

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

“Let’s all attack together, or we’re all doomed if they die…”

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

The other six great Emperor Juns also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor Juns united, their power enough to destroy the 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 as their attacks approached, swallowing everything in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even ten great Emperor Juns together couldn’t block a single move from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

“You can all die now…”

After defeating them with one strike, *Hen Ren* stepped forward and flipped his wrist, slapping down again.

“You insolent rat!”

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

“Emperor Jun? He’s also at Emperor Jun level?”

*Zhang Xuan’s* pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a follower, at most a *Feng Hao Shen Wang*, but now he realized he was also an Emperor Jun powerhouse!

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

“He’s the Emperor Jun of *Jian Shen Tian*…”

*Luo Ruoxi* struggled to her feet, gritting 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 they saw the *Jian Shen Tian* Emperor Jun sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater.

With *Zhang Xuan’s* current strength and understanding of the sword dao, even he couldn’t contend, so despite this elder’s impressive cultivation and sword skills, he was no match.

“Ha! Emperor Juns are nothing but a bunch of weaklings! Today, I’ll destroy the Nine Heavens, destroy *Shen Jie*, and trample all rules!”

After defeating the *Jian Shen Tian* Emperor Jun, *Hen Ren* laughed wildly. The space around him collapsed continuously, making him seem like a demon.

“What do we do?” *Zhang Xuan* clenched his fists.

He and his clone had already used their full power, and even *Luo Ruoxi* had unleashed her strongest moves, yet none could block even one of his strikes…

Was there really no one in *Shen Jie* who could stop this man? Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

“The only way is to return your *Tian Dao You Que* to the Heavenly Dao itself, letting it suppress him…”

*Luo Ruoxi’s* delicate fists clenched, her eyes reddening.

“Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?” *Zhang Xuan* understood her meaning.

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

It was like the immune system of the body.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses, but if damaged, even a strong person 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? No matter how strong the system, what could it do?

This man was just an ordinary *Shen Wang*, yet even a *Feng Hao* one like him surpassed Emperor Juns… He was beyond what the Heavenly Dao could handle.

“This…” *Luo Ruoxi* paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. “You’re right… It might not suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken and slay this one with ease!”

“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 forth.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by *Hen Ren* once more.

“You all go quickly. I’ll hold him off…”

Knowing they were trying to save *Shen Jie*, not flee, his clone and the Undying Emperor Zun shouted, blocking the way, while *Luo Qi Qi* transformed back into the *Jing Kong* Pearl’s essence.

The surrounding space solidified.

“Go!”

Seeing everyone blocking fearlessly, even facing 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 the person you mentioned?”

With no time to observe the ordinary lives around them, *Zhang Xuan* looked at the girl in his arms.

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

“He’s my father. The blood in your pendant is his, and the Undying Emperor Jun was once his beast pet…”

*Luo Ruoxi* regulated her breath and explained.

“Father?”

*Zhang Xuan* suddenly understood.

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

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

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

He couldn’t help but ask.

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

If so, why was he in a coma? And why did it require the Heavenly Dao’s flaw to awaken him?

“He’s not an Emperor Jun, but… 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: *Tian Dao You Xu* and *Tian Dao You Que* entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of *Tian Dao Zi Ran* to maintain *Shen Jie’s* balance. The only way to restore him is to gather 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 *Chun Qiu Da Dian* and find a way to defeat *Kong Shi*! And when I fought *Kong Shi*, the favor I asked of him was for this.”

*Luo Ruoxi* explained.

*Zhang Xuan* suddenly realized.

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

It was her father, and he was the *Shen Jie* Heavenly Dao!

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

“Acting as *Tian Dao Zi Ran*… You don’t have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in your body?” Suddenly noticing the oddity in her words, *Zhang Xuan* looked over.

“I’m just controlling it, not a 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 *Tian Dao You Que*; she didn’t have to die.

Though he was reluctant to accept this fate, he didn’t want the girl before him to be harmed.

“I’ll separate the *Tian Dao You Que* from my body. Then 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 *Shen Jie*.

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

It was hard to say!

“It seems you can’t be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves… We only have ourselves to count on!” *Zhang Xuan* gritted his teeth. “You, me, my clone, plus the Nine Heavens and Nine Emperors, and even *Kong Shi*—if we work together, we might still win!”

“*Kong Shi*? He…” *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 Chang Feng*, with a *Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti*!”

*Zhang Xuan* said.

Seeing *Wei Chang Feng* had made him realize that *Kong Shi’s* way of preserving his spirit was likely the same—as a *Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti*.

It allowed one to remain clear-minded even in the womb.

With his prior arrangements, revival was only a matter of time.

*Luo Ruoxi* was stunned, apparently not expecting this.

“Let’s go check. If I’m right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students wouldn’t have stayed away from *Chao Xi Hai*…”

*Zhang Xuan* said.

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

They must have something more important—reviving *Kong Shi*.

“This…” *Luo Ruoxi* was shaken, suddenly understanding.

“Let’s go!”

Without further explanation, *Zhang Xuan* waved his hand, tearing space open and returning to where *Kong Shi* resided. Sure enough, they saw an elder sitting cross-legged in the air. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly. “You’ve come!”

Who else could it be but *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 Emperor Juns could revive, and the Undying Emperor Jun had done so, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

“I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a backup 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 a master of time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in *Shen Jie*, he had experienced an unknown amount of time 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.

This 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 into one person?”

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

“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 Emperor Juns together, can’t match him alone…”

*Kong Shi* said. “But if we concentrate everyone’s power into one person… maybe then we could.”

“How do we concentrate it?”

*Luo Ruoxi* asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperor Juns stood at *Shen Jie’s* peak. 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 Jun’s shackles, he can save *Shen Jie*!”

*Kong Shi* said.

“Me?” *Zhang Xuan* was stunned. “Why me?”

“*Ling Xi* Emperor Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father’s and the Heavenly Dao’s constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I guessed right, when he fought me, he once gave up, intending to let me kill him.”

*Kong Shi* said.

*Luo Ruoxi* fell silent.

During their fight, he had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, they had both held back, more like sparring 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 have the heart to embrace all beings and save the world, but I hesitate to let others sacrifice for me. Too much compassion is a flaw! If I’d been more ruthless and wiped out the *Yi Ling* Clan, we wouldn’t be in this mess…”

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

“So, I’m not suitable either! But *Zhang Xuan’s* techniques follow 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 in glory, to die is to long for each other!

If even death means nothing, what else could bind him?

“This…” *Zhang Xuan* frowned, about to say something, but *Kong Shi* looked at him intently. “No need to refuse. Time is short. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I doubt anyone could do better than you! *Ling Xi* Emperor Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she’s long controlled the Heavenly Dao and has her own understanding of it; I control *Tian Dao You Xu*. If we channel our power to you, you’ll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone’s Nine Heavens *Hun Dun Jin Lian*, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine realms, and destroy all things!”

“Alright!”

Seeing the decision was made, *Zhang Xuan* nodded.

Boom!

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

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

His soul, body, and true 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 other Emperor Juns was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak.

The *Chao Xi Hai* had devoured nearly all of *Shen Jie’s* spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy the world. These Emperor Juns and *Shen Wangs*, despite representing *Shen Jie’s* peak, were no match.

At that moment, *Hen Ren* seemed to embody *Shen Jie* itself, unbeatable.

“Even if *Shen Jie* falls, living means nothing. I’ll go down with you…”

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

“You? Not worthy!”

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

“My old friend, wait for me!”

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

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

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

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

It was as if the universe had frozen in that 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 and prepared to finish them off, he felt his raised arm 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*!

The young man now exuded surging power, 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 understand how the young man’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 and 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 merely *Shen Wang* 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 Emperor Jun!”

After a moment of silence, *Kong Shi* said.

Even with the power of over a dozen Emperor Juns transferred to him, defeating *Hen Ren* wouldn’t be easy.

The reason for this approach was that only by concentrating the power in one person could there be a chance to touch the pinnacle and truly break through limits.

“A power that transcends Emperor Jun?”

*Luo Ruoxi’s* eyes grew distant.

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

“He can… He has an unyielding heart and 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 complete Heavenly Dao force in his body, he wasn’t a match.

“Ha, I thought you’d be something special. Turns out you’re not!”

*Hen Ren* sneered.

“Anyway, I’m no match for you and will be killed eventually. Since that’s the case, I want to die under your strongest attack…”

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

“Fine, I’ll give you my strongest attack…”

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

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack, making the entire *Shen Jie* rumble as if it couldn’t bear the weight, creating a massive crater.

*Zhang Xuan* closed his eyes and didn’t dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered.

“*Zhang Xuan*…”

Everyone’s faces turned pale at the sight.

*Luo Qi Qi* seemed to go mad.

*Yun Chi* Emperor Jun and the others stared wide-eyed, trembling.

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

The intention was for him to break through his shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperor Jun, so why did he choose to face death?

Wasn’t this wasting their efforts?

“No… wait, no—it’s the Undying Emperor Jun’s immortality technique…”

Just as they were puzzled, *Kong Shi* spoke up.

Everyone then saw that *Zhang Xuan*, 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 *Tian Dao You Que* from his soul?”

*Luo Ruoxi’s* pupils contracted.

The reborn *Zhang Xuan* no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body, free from its interference and 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 this young man had freed himself with just one strike—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 dissolved 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 it in detail before. He must have been planning this.

That’s why he deliberately let himself be killed, forcing *Hen Ren* to use his strongest attack.

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

“So that’s the way to break through Emperor Jun…”

The *Zhang Xuan* emerging from the flames smiled faintly, as if enlightened. He waved his hand, and his clone immediately turned back into a lotus flower and flew over.

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

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

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic Nine Heavens stabilized immediately.

The Nine Heavens *Hun Dun Jin Lian*, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Nine Heavens *Hun Dun Jin Lian* and his peak realm showing signs of loosening, it seemed he could break through at any moment.

“Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student ties, parent-child affection, romantic love… Fused together, they become all things in the world. This is what it means to be human!”

*Zhang Xuan* murmured with a smile.

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

Did the world exist because people observed it, or did people come after the world?

Was it the wind moving, or the heart?

This ancient question had troubled countless people.

But now… it didn’t matter.

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

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

All things in the world have emotion. With emotion, there is the world; with emotion, 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 Jun’s barriers!

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

Countless strands of *Hun Dun* Qi surged toward him, and his body advanced swiftly.

Before, he could only progress by absorbing spiritual energy, but now, even spatial chaos, *Hun Dun* Qi, or the opponent’s green light could be his—indistinguishable from himself.

“You…”

*Hen Ren* hadn’t expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him. Enraged, he roared and struck again.

“You resent the lofty Emperor Juns for not saving you from the spatial chaos—that’s emotion; you feel humiliated as my servant, harboring *bei wei* and anger—that’s emotion; you want to destroy *Shen Jie* to vent your rage—that’s emotion; you crave greater power—that’s emotion too… Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, or escape my control?”

*Zhang Xuan* smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. He gently reached out and grasped.

The once-unstoppable *Hen Ren* was bound by countless emotional threads, rendered 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…”

“It’s too late for that now…”

*Zhang Xuan* smiled and shook his head.

With control over the world’s emotions, things like master-servant bonds meant nothing to him.

He had killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend *Luo Qi Qi*, 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 surged back to every corner of *Shen Jie*.

All the power that *Chao Xi Hai* had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the withered wilderness.

“This…”

“Is that it? He’s dead?”

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

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

Could there truly be a level beyond Emperor Jun?

“He succeeded…”

*Kong Shi* and *Luo Ruoxi* unclenched their fists.

“This is part of the Heavenly Dao, so I’ll return it now…”

Seeing the “*Tian Dao You Que*” 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 *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 about to enter an era of spiritual energy 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 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.

“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 Jun, far surpassing the previous *Luo Ruoxi*.

“Just call me by my name. I’m *Nie Tong*!”

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

“*Nie Tong*?” *Zhang Xuan* frowned.

He had never heard this name.

“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 a profound, inscrutable air.

“This strength…” *Zhang Xuan* trembled.

This young man’s power surpassed even his, having also broken through Emperor Jun’s barriers, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

“I’m *Nie Yun*!”

The young man smiled faintly and looked over. “Also known as… *Nie Ling Xi*, the father of *Luo Ruoxi* in your words!”

“*Luo Ruoxi’s* father?”

*Zhang Xuan* was shocked. “You’re… the *Shen Jie* Heavenly Dao?”

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

“I used *One Qi Transforms Three Purities*, turning part of my soul into the Heavenly Dao! Besides, I created this world, so calling me the Heavenly Dao isn’t wrong!”

*Nie Yun* smiled faintly.

*Zhang Xuan* was incredulous.

*Shen Jie* was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

“That’s not right. If *Shen Jie* is your creation and you’re the Heavenly Dao, why did you let *Hen Ren* rampage without intervening… Even your daughter’s life?”

*Zhang Xuan* looked over.

If it weren’t for his breakthrough, *Shen Jie* might have completely fallen. Why had this man done nothing? Not even caring about his daughter?

*Nie Yun* didn’t answer directly but looked at him. “Do you think… beyond *Shen Jie*, there are even stronger beings?”

“This…” *Zhang Xuan* paused. “There probably are…”

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 *Shen Jie*, there were greater powers, so I tried to peer into it with all my might, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world… A massive hand descended!”

*Nie Yun* said. “If I’d dodged, *Shen Jie* might have been wiped out entirely, 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 *Shen Jie’s* shackles, 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 Emperor Jun’s barriers and reach my level.”

“That’s why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intent to the lowest worlds… granting it to souls native to this world and one not belonging to it. And you didn’t disappoint me!”

*Nie Yun* laughed.

“A soul not belonging to this world? So, my crossing over was because of you?”

*Zhang Xuan* was shaken.

No wonder he could traverse—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 through 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 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 backup to escape unscathed. In reality, he lost his drive and courage. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how can you contend?”

*Nie Yun* said.

*Zhang Xuan* fell silent.

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

Perhaps he 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? If I wanted to, I could intervene at the last moment and ensure not a hair on her head is harmed.”

“This…” *Zhang Xuan* smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Emperor Jun was a different concept. If this man had acted, he could indeed save her completely.

“*Ling Xi* is the child of my other wife, *Luo Qing Cheng*, so she took the surname Luo… To make her believe and not act on emotion, I’ve let her think I’m still in a coma until now.”

*Nie Yun* sighed. “I’m quite the heartless father… Anyway, you explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you now. As her father, I’m probably forgotten… Ha, I’ll stay hidden for a while. Otherwise, she might turn the world upside down.”

Seeing how unreliable this father was, *Zhang Xuan’s* face twitched, but he had no choice. “Alright…”

“You’ve broken through the Heavenly Dao library’s shackles with your own ability, proving your talent and potential. Your future is boundless. As a father, I’m relieved my daughter is with you.”

*Nie Yun* said.