Chapter 468: First Clash

The soul contract binds souls together; as long as the initiator does not dissolve it, even if the other party has unparalleled means, it cannot be broken. It's like the Undying Emperor, Xiao Huang Ji—when he was just a Shen Wang, even as an Emperor, he couldn't resolve such an agreement.

To prevent this individual from reneging and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent had specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break free from the soul contract.

"Indeed, a soul contract cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with 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 bombard the location of the contract, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

The soul contract is based on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can dissolve even the God Realm's Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about dissolving a soul contract, as long as it's handled properly?

"I see..." Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

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

After explaining, 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 unknown amount of power during their conversation, using it to nourish himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi also 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, 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, to die is to long for each other!

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

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by an Emperor, it contained all of his obsessions, pushing his Tian Ru Qing Gong to its limits.

Whoosh!

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

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

Her swordsmanship was somewhat similar to that of the young man from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the 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, 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 as they tumbled.

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

Just what realm had this guy reached?

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

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was 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.

Now that he'd become an Emperor, his avatar still hadn't given up 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'll all die if they fall..."

Xiao Huang Ji roared, his crimson flames burning as if the sky itself were ignited.

The remaining six great Emperors also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperors united, 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 as their attacks approached, swallowing everything in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten great 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 shout, the elder from Jian Shen Tian suddenly appeared, blocking the way with his long sword transforming into a river of stars.

"An Emperor? He's also at the Emperor 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-level 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 techniques?" 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 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 despite this elder's formidable cultivation and sword skills, he was no match.

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

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the space around him collapsing as he appeared like a demon.

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

He and his avatar had already used their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her ultimate move, 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 defects 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 human immune system.

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

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond Emperors... he was no longer something 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 techniques again, his sword intent blazing forth.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

But it was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

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

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, 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 the person you mentioned?"

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

If this person could truly save the God Realm, his own sacrifice would be worth it!

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his, and the Undying Emperor 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 Undying Emperor's remnant will had recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

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

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, but her father was too, or even stronger?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did it require a flawed Heavenly Dao for him to awaken?

"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, 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 Defects 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 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—she needed to save a close relative. He hadn't understood then, but now he did.

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

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

"I've been acting as Heavenly Dao Natural... but I don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in me?" Suddenly realizing the inconsistency in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"I'm just in control, 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 Heavenly Dao with Defects; she wouldn't have to die.

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

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao with Defects 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 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 avatar, united with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and even coordinating with Kong Shi—we might not lose!"

"Kong Shi? He..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm guessing correctly, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... Unexpectedly, he's 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.

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

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, as if she hadn't considered 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 Chao Xi Hai..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng and the others, were all incredibly strong. 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 was shocked, suddenly understanding.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they returned to where Kong Shi had resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly. "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, and the Undying Emperor had done so, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly!

"I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. The nameless giant in the You Hun Pool was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to escape the Heavenly Dao's bindings and 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 an unknown length 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.

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 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 into one person?"

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

"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, or even all ten-plus Emperors, would be no match alone..."

Kong Shi said, "But if we unite and concentrate all our power into one person... then maybe not!"

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperors stood at the pinnacle of the God Realm. If it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have been stalled for so many years.

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

Kong Shi said.

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

"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 guessed right, when he fought me, he once gave up, intending to let me kill him!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During the fight, he had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, they had both held back, more like sparring than a life-or-death battle.

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

Kong Shi nodded. "I bear the weight of all beings and wish to save the world, but I'm unwilling to let others sacrifice for me. Too much benevolence is a flaw! If I'd been more ruthless and exterminated the Yi Ling Clan, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had wiped out 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 are seamless, without flaws. He values living true to himself—even in death, as long as he has no regrets, 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, how could other things bind him?

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. "No need to decline. Time is short. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I doubt anyone could do 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 with Order. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force within you! Combined with your avatar's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, command the universe, battle the nine firmaments, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!" Seeing his decision was final, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

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

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

His soul, body, and true qi were all rapidly refined, growing stronger and more abundant.

...

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

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

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

The Chao Xi Hai had devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy worlds. These Emperors and Shen Wangs, despite representing the God Realm's peak, were no match.

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

"The God Realm is doomed. There's no point in us living. I'll go down with you..."

Yun Chi Emperor 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 Emperor roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward.

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

Xuan Ming Emperor'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 realm.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive strikes, Hen Ren suppressed the four beasts, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. "Since you're seeking death, I'll grant it..."

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

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

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

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

"You've improved a lot..."

Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

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

"But so what? Even at its peak, the God Realm 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, tearing space apart and sending shockwaves 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. As long as they had 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 power of over a dozen Emperors transferred to him, 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 pride toward this world."

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

As Kong Shi had said, even with the complete Heavenly Dao force within him, 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.

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

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

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

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

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

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

The intention was for him to break through the shackles and reach beyond the Emperor realm. Why didn't he resist and choose death?

Wasn't that wasting their efforts?

wait, no—it's the Undying Emperor's method of immortality..."

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 Heavenly Dao with Defects 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 also in disbelief.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and reform it in the 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 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 inseparably.

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

That's why he deliberately let himself be struck with the full force.

And it had succeeded brilliantly!

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

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if enlightened. He waved his hand, and his avatar immediately turned back into a lotus flower and flew over.

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

Suddenly, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan had become the Nine Heavens, and the Nine Heavens were him.

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic Nine Heavens stabilized immediately.

The Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his avatar fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

Moreover, with the fusion and his cultivation at its peak, his realm showed signs of loosening, as if breakthrough was imminent.

"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 left his soul, he understood.

Was it people who created the world, or the world that birthed people?

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 beings—the intertwined emotions of the world.

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

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

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

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

He had broken through the Emperor's barriers!

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

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

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

"You..."

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

"You resent the lofty Emperors for not saving you from the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humiliation and anger as my servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy the God Realm to vent your fury—that's emotion; you crave more power—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. He gently reached out.

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 shook his head with a smile.

With control over the world's emotions, servant bonds meant nothing to him.

He had killed so many at the God level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qiqi, and so many friends. Today, there was no forgiveness!

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged across the God Realm.

All the power previously devoured by Chao Xi Hai was returned, revitalizing the withered wastelands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Emperor, 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 be vanquished so easily, what level had Zhang Xuan reached?

Could there truly be a realm beyond Emperor?

"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 Defects" that had been separated from his body still floating in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

The library that had accompanied him since rebirth embedded itself into the God Realm's sky with a thunderous ring.

The crumbling God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic flows regathered.

The collapse halted, 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 Chao Xi Hai had closed with the Heavenly Dao's completion, and the God Realm returning to its former glory was just 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 sword techniques.

"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 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 faintly and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, traveling an unknown distance before stopping 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, 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 father of Luo Ruoxi in your words!"

"Luo Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're... the God Realm's Heavenly Dao?"

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

The God Realm was created by this man?

Then how powerful was he?

"But if the God Realm is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why did you let Hen Ren rampage without intervening... even regarding your daughter's life?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

Nie Yun didn't answer his question directly but 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 this level, others might too, or even exceed him.

"I once suspected that beyond the God Realm, there might be stronger beings, so I tried to peer further, ultimately drawing backlash from a higher world... That hand came crashing down!"

Nie Yun continued, "If I'd dodged, the entire God Realm might have been wiped out, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but my incarnated Heavenly Dao was scattered."

"In that state, restoring it would be just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend the God Realm's limits, 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's barriers and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... granting them 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 shocked.

He had wondered how he could transmigrate, and now he knew—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 free. I just had a whim and didn't expect you to succeed..."

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

Without Kong Shi's selflessness, achieving this was 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 momentum. To face those beyond us, without that spirit, how can one contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he didn't want 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 die..."

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

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through to beyond Emperor was a different concept. If he truly acted, he could save her at the last moment without a scratch.

"Ling Xi is from 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 bitterly. "I'm quite the heartless father... How about you explain this to her? After all, her feelings have shifted to you. As her father, I'm probably forgotten... Ha, I'll stay hidden for now and show up later, or she might turn everything 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 foundation and shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. My daughter being with you brings me comfort as a father."

As Nie Yun spoke, the text cuts off.