Chapter 473: Madness

The soul contract, known as Ling Hun Qi Yue, binds souls together, and as long as the initiator doesn't release it, even if the other party possesses incredible abilities, it cannot be broken. It’s like the case of Bu Si Di Jun and Xiao Huang Ji; back when he was just a Shen Wang, even as a Di Jun himself, he couldn't resolve such an agreement. To prevent this individual from going back on their word and causing backlash, the Ming Shi Da Lu has specifically decreed that even if someone can escape the Heavenly Dao’s registry, they still cannot break free from the soul-level pact!

“Ling Hun Qi Yue indeed cannot be separated from the sea of consciousness, but I have merged with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Resolving this contract is not difficult... As long as I have enough power to strike at the location of the contract, it can be done!”

Hen Ren explained.

The Ling Hun Qi Yue is built on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao, and since this special power can dissolve even the Shen Jie 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 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 absorbed an unknown amount of power during their conversation, using it to nourish himself.

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

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

“Let’s make our move!”

With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand 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 can stand in the way when life and death mean nothing?

Though this sword technique had not reached the level comprehended by a Di Jun, it contained all of his inner obsessions, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation to its limits.

Whoosh!

With one sword strike, he split Hen Ren’s attack in half.

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi made her move, her jade-like 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 techniques are impressive, but compared to me, they still fall short...”

Hen Ren chuckled lightly and reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth, shattering space, and making it seem as though the sun, moon, and stars would be forcibly pulled down.

Thud! Thud!

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

With their strength, they couldn’t withstand it!

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 Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, his cultivation was no weaker than 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 a Di Jun, his clone hadn’t changed its habit of showing off...

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

“Let’s all attack together, or we’ll all die if they fall...”

Xiao Huang Ji roared, his crimson flames burning as the sky itself seemed to ignite.

The remaining six Di Juns also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Di Juns united, capable of destroying heaven and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let the black hole expand as their attacks approached, swallowing everything in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten Di 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 swung his hand down again.

“How dare you!”

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

“Another Di Jun? He’s also at the Di 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 a Di Jun powerhouse!

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

“He’s the Di Jun of Jian Shen Tian...”

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

“Then... what about the young man who taught me the sword technique?” Zhang Xuan couldn’t hold back.

“He’s...”

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

With Zhang Xuan’s current strength and understanding of the sword Dao, even he couldn’t hold out, so despite this elder’s high cultivation and masterful swordsmanship, he was no match.

“Ha! Di Juns are nothing but a bunch of weaklings! Today, I’ll destroy the nine heavens, wipe out Shen Jie, and trample all rules!”

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian elder, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the space around him collapsing, making him appear demonic and otherworldly.

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

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

Was there 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 it to the Heavenly Dao itself?” Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

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

It was like the 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?

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond the Di Juns... 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 You Tian...”

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

“Thinking of escaping?”

Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

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

Clang! Clang! Clang!

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 Bu Si Di Zun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her Jing Kong Zhu form.

The surrounding space solidified.

“Go!”

Seeing everyone risking their lives to hold the line without fear of death, Zhang Xuan’s eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn’t the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, breaking through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in Zi You Tian’s territory.

Zi You Tian was no longer as carefree 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 make the sacrifice!

“He’s my father. The blood in your pendant is his, and Bu Si Di Jun was once his beast pet...”

Luo Ruoxi steadied her breath and explained.

“Father?” Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

That also explained why the remnant will of Bu Si Di Jun had recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

“Is your father also a Di Jun? Or does he have power beyond that?”

Zhang Xuan couldn’t help asking.

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

If so, why was he in a coma?

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

“He’s not a Di Jun; 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 giant 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 Ming Shi Da Lu 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 in Ming Shi Da Lu, this girl had told him her story about saving a loved one, but he hadn’t understood then. 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 you?” Zhang Xuan suddenly noticed the oddity in her words.

Acting as its guardian and fusing with it were two different concepts.

“I only control it; I’m not part of the Heavenly Dao...”

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief.

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 in front of him to be harmed.

“If I separate the Tian Dao You Que 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 Shen Jie.

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

It was hard to say!

“It seems you can’t be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... The three of us—me, you, and my clone—along with the Jiu Tian Jiu Di, and even Kong Shi if we add him, might still win!”

Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth.

“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 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 even 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, such as Zi Yuan Gu Sheng, were all incredibly strong. Even without a Di Jun’s help, they could have entered 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 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 slightly. “You’ve come!”

It was Kong Shi!

This teacher of ages had not disappointed him!

As expected, he had revived while everyone’s attention was on Chao Xi Hai.

“You...”

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Di Juns could revive, as Bu Si Di Jun had, 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 You Hun Chi 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 much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

“Our combined strength is strong, but defeating Hen Ren won’t be easy...”

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

This wasn’t about boosting the enemy or undermining morale; it was the truth.

So many had united earlier and still couldn’t block him. Adding one more Kong Shi wouldn’t change the situation!

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

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

“Fuse it into one person?”

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 has absorbed that power and devoured Shen Jie’s spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Di Juns, can’t match him alone...”

Kong Shi explained. “But if we combine our forces and concentrate them in one person... maybe then.”

“How do we concentrate it?”

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Di Juns stood at Shen Jie’s peak; if absorbing others’ power was that easy, she wouldn’t have been stuck for so long.

“It’s simple... We’ll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Di Jun constraints, 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 restrictions, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I guessed right, when he fought me, he even considered giving up and letting me kill him!”

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During their fight, that thought had crossed her mind, so at the beginning, they had both held back, more like sparring than a life-or-death battle.

“Without transcendence, he can’t unleash his full power. Even with more true energy, he couldn’t break through to the highest realm! As for me...”

Kong Shi nodded. “I care for all living beings and want to save the world, but I hesitate to let others sacrifice for me. Too much mercy is a flaw! If I’d been 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! 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 long for each other!

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

“This...”

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. “No need to decline; time is short. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I doubt anyone could do it better than you! 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 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 Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, you can stabilize the nine heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!”

“Alright!”

Seeing the decision was made, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

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

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

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

The combined power of the clone and the Di Juns 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 that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the power to destroy the world; these Di Juns and Shen Wangs, despite representing Shen Jie’s peak, were no match.

At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody all of Shen Jie, unbeatable.

“Shen Jie is doomed; living means nothing. I’ll go down with you...”

Yun Chi Da Di 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 Di Jun roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward.

Bu Si Di Jun revealed his undying fire phoenix form, flames lighting up the sky.

Xuan Ming Da Di’s true form was a massive turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

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

The universe seemed to freeze 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 seek death, I’ll grant it...”

As he roared, about 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 the crowd, a figure stepped out of the air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

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

“He’s made quite the progress...”

Hen Ren halted, his expression turning serious.

He couldn’t understand how the other’s strength had changed so dramatically in just a few 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 You 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, with their foundation, as long as they had enough energy, they could recover eventually.

“With his current strength, winning will be tough! Unless... he comprehends a power beyond the Di Jun level!”

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over a dozen Di Juns transferred to him, victory wasn’t guaranteed.

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

“A power beyond the Di Jun 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 complete Heavenly Dao force in his body, he wasn’t a match.

“Ha, I thought you’d be something special. Turns out you’re just this!”

Hen Ren sneered.

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

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and stopped, no longer attacking, instead looking at Hen Ren.

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

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

Whoosh!

A beam of 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, creating a massive crater.

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn’t dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, his soul scattering.

“Zhang Xuan...”

Everyone’s faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

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

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

The plan was for him to break through his limits, not surrender to death!

Hadn’t that made their efforts pointless?

“Wait, it’s Bu Si Di Jun’s undying method...”

As they puzzled over it, 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 flames, an unharmed figure stepped out.

“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 shrank.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body; he was 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 let his soul scatter and reform in You Hun Chi.

Yet Zhang Xuan had achieved it with just one death—what method had he used?

“I get it... He used Hen Ren’s method to escape the Ling Hun Qi Yue...”

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The Ling Hun Qi Yue bound master and servant, unbreakable unless released... 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 it, and Zhang Xuan had asked about the details earlier—probably planning this then.

So, he had deliberately let himself be struck with the full force.

And it had succeeded brilliantly!

“So, that’s the way to break through the Di Jun level...”

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

In that 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 Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, born with the nine heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone merged seamlessly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion and his peak realm loosening, breakthrough seemed imminent.

“Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student ties, parent-child affection, 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.

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

Was it the wind moving, or the heart?

These eternal questions had puzzled countless people.

But now... none of that mattered!

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

So, after breaking through romantic love came compassion for all beings—the interwoven emotions of the world.

All things in the world have emotion; with emotion comes the world, and with emotion, life endures.

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

“Countless emotions, all for my use...”

With a soft cry, the restraints in Zhang Xuan’s body shattered.

He had broken through the Di Jun constraints!

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

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

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

“You...”

Hen Ren hadn’t expected his full attack to not only fail to kill him but also empower him, and he raged, “Wah!” shouting as he attacked again.

“You resent the lofty Di Juns for not saving you from spatial chaos— that’s emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant— that’s emotion; wanting to destroy Shen Jie to vent— that’s emotion; desiring to grow stronger— that’s emotion too... Emotion controls you; how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?”

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. He gently grasped his hand.

The once-unstoppable Hen Ren was bound by countless emotional threads, immobilized.

As long as there was emotion, it could be used against him, controlled by him!

“You...”

Hen Ren’s eyes filled with panic. “Zhang Shi, I’m your servant; don’t kill me... I’ll offer my soul...”

“Now it’s too late...”

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

Controlling the world’s emotions, a servant meant nothing to him.

He had killed so many in Shen Jie, 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, but before he could finish, intense pain wracked his body.

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that poured back into Shen Jie.

All the power Chao Xi Hai had devoured was returned, reviving the barren lands.

“This...”

“He’s really dead just like that?”

Yun Chi Da Di, Bu Si Di Jun, 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?

Was there truly a realm beyond Di Jun?

“He succeeded...”

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

“This is part of the Heavenly Dao; I’ll return it now...”

Seeing the “Tian Dao You Que” 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 Shen Jie’s sky with a thunderous ring.

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

The collapsing world finally stopped, 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; 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 he 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 he realized the man was only a hair’s breadth from his own level, at the absolute peak of Di 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 furrowed his brow.

He had never heard that name.

“Come with me; I’ll take you to see my brother!”

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, not knowing how far they went before stopping at a mountain peak.

There, another young man stood.

He looked only slightly older than Nie Tong, with raised eyebrows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

“This strength...”

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man’s power surpassed even his own; he had also broken through the Di Jun constraints, 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 this young man.

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

Nie Yun smiled lightly.

Zhang Xuan was in disbelief.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

“But if Shen Jie is your creation and you’re the Heavenly Dao, why let Hen Ren rampage without intervening... even regarding your daughter’s life?”

Zhang Xuan asked.

Nie Yun didn’t answer directly and instead looked at him. “Do you think there’s life beyond Shen Jie, even stronger than here?”

“This...”

Zhang Xuan paused. “There should be...”

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

“I once suspected there was more beyond Shen Jie, so I tried to peer further, ultimately drawing backlash from a higher world... A single hand broke through!”

Nie Yun continued. “If I’d dodged, Shen Jie might have been wiped out completely, with no life left... So, I blocked it, but my Heavenly Dao form shattered as a result.”

“In that state, restoring myself would take just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shen Jie’s limits, explore where that hand came from, and see what’s beyond... I can’t do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any life could break through the Di Jun constraints and reach my level!”

“That’s why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... granting them 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 was shaken.

No wonder he could traverse; it was all this man’s doing.

“Heh!”

Nie Yun chuckled. “Souls native to this world have reverence for it, making it harder to break free. I just had a whim and didn’t expect you to succeed...”

“I...”

Zhang Xuan’s face reddened. “Without Kong Shi, I couldn’t have reached this point...”

“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. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how could he contend?”

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Or 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 die...”

Nie Yun smiled faintly. “At your current level, in a life-or-death situation, could you save someone? That’s how it is.”

“This...”

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through to this level was different from being a Di Jun. If Nie Yun had wanted to, he could have saved her at the last moment 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. “I’m quite the heartless father... You explain this to her. Her feelings have shifted to you now; as her father, I’m probably forgotten... Ha, I’ll stay hidden for a while longer, or she might turn everything upside down.”

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

“The Heavenly Dao library was my intent, both a foundation and a constraint. You broke through it on your own, showing your ability and potential. Your future is boundless. With my daughter by your side, as her father, I’m content.”

Nie Yun said.