Chapter 475: Nuwa Can Do It

The soul contract, known as Linghun Qiyue, binds the soul itself, and as long as I don't release it, even if the other party has means that reach the heavens, it cannot be broken.

It's like the case of the Undying Emperor Jun, Xiao Huang Ji. Back then, he was only a Shen Wang, and even as an Emperor Jun himself, he couldn't resolve such an agreement.

To prevent this fellow from going back on his word 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 agreement between souls.

"The Linghun Qiyue indeed cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with a special gas that can even resolve the Heavenly Dao. Dissolving this contract isn't difficult... As long as I have enough power to strike at the contract's location, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

The Linghun Qiyue is built on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao, and since this special power can dissolve even the Shenjie 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 Shenjie!"

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 to nourish himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi also sensed something was wrong and hurriedly 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.

In life, I shall return triumphant; in death, I shall long for you!

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 of his inner obsessions, pushing his Tianruo Youqing cultivation 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-like hand swirling as sword light fell like snow.

Her swordsmanship bore some resemblance 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'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 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 it!

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 Jiutian Huntun Jinlian, 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 avatar hadn't changed its habit of showing off...

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

"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 great Emperor Juns also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor Juns united, capable of destroying heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed that special power, simply let his black hole expand as their attacks approached, swallowing the forces clean in the blink of an eye before counterattacking.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the 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!"

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

"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 the man 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..."

Struggling to stand, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and said.

"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 being sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a huge crater not far away.

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

"Ha! Emperor Juns are nothing but a bunch of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the nine heavens, obliterate Shenjie, and trample all rules!"

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the surrounding space 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 most powerful moves, yet none could block even one of his strikes...

Could it be that no one in Shenjie could stop this man and let him 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 fist 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, perhaps fixing the flaws and expelling Hen Ren.

It was like the human immune system.

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

But...

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

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even titled ones could be easily killed by the Heavenly Dao. He was stronger than Emperor Juns... far 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 Zizai Tian..."

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

"Thinking of escaping?"

Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

"You..."

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

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save Shenjie, not flee, the avatar and the Undying Emperor Zun roared, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jingkong Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone risk their lives without fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, his body flickering as he tore through space, appearing in Zizai Tian the next moment.

Zizai Tian was no longer as peaceful as before; Shenjie 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 Shenjie, he was willing to sacrifice himself.

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

After regulating her breath, Luo Ruoxi 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 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 asking.

The library's chaos had been calmed by the blood in the pendant, so was it possible that not only she, but her father as well, was an Emperor Jun—or 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 fist.

"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 Ziran to maintain Shenjie'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 specifically entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chunqiu Dadian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

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

It was her father, and he was the Shenjie Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting as Tian Dao Ziran... You don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in you?"

Suddenly realizing the implication in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

Acting as and fusing with were two different concepts.

"I only control it; I'm not part of the Heavenly Dao..."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

That meant 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.

"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 Shenjie.

Shenjie 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—you, me, and my avatar—along with the Jiutian Jiudi, and if we add Kong Shi, we 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 Changfeng, with 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—a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti.

It allowed one to remain undeluded even in the womb.

Combined 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 and the others, were all 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—helping Kong Shi recover.

"This..."

Luo Ruoxi's heart shook as realization dawned.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they arrived at the place 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're here!"

It was Kong Shi!

This teacher of ten thousand ages hadn't disappointed him!

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

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi's body trembled.

She knew Emperor Juns could revive, like the Undying Emperor Jun, 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 slightly.

He was a master of time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in Shenjie, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

"Our individual strengths are strong, and together we're even more so, 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 boasting of the enemy or belittling themselves; it was the truth.

So many had joined forces earlier and still couldn't block him. Adding one Kong Shi wouldn't change the outcome.

"If we fight individually or even united, we're no match for him, but... what if we fuse all our powers 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 Shenjie apart and scatter the Heavenly Dao, its power undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that force and devoured Shenjie's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Emperor Juns together, can't compare..."

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

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperor Juns stood at Shenjie'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 shackles, he can save Shenjie!"

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"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 didn't misjudge, 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, like sparring rather than a life-or-death battle.

"Without transcendence, he can't unleash his full power. Even with more true qi, he can't impact that supreme realm! As for me..."

Kong Shi nodded. "I bear the burdens of all living beings and wish to save the world, but I'm too compassionate, which is also 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! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation flows naturally without flaws. He values living true to himself, and 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.

In life, I shall return triumphant; in death, I shall long for you!

If even death doesn't bother him, what else could 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 Emperor Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment in her, 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! Combined with your avatar's Jiutian Huntun Jinlian, you can stabilize the nine heavens, command the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the decision was made and more words were useless, 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 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 Qiqi and the others away, Hen Ren sneered coldly.

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

Chao Xi Hai had devoured nearly all of Shenjie'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, and these Emperor Juns and Shen Wangs, despite representing Shenjie's peak, were no match.

At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody Shenjie itself, unstoppable.

"The destruction of Shenjie means we'd have no reason to live. I'll go down with you..."

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

"You? You're not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

The Undying Emperor Jun revealed his immortal 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 Shenjie's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing Shenjie.

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 tighten, frozen in mid-air.

"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, the young man's power surged, more than ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"He's made quite a leap..."

Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

He clearly didn't understand how the young man's strength had changed so dramatically in just a few minutes.

"But so what? Even at its peak, Shenjie 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 air currents raging everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In Zizai 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, far from their former glory.

However, their foundations remained, and with enough power, they could recover eventually.

"With his current strength, winning will be tough! Unless... he comprehends 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 pride toward the world."

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

As Kong Shi had said, even with their fused power forming a complete Heavenly Dao within him, he was still no match.

"Ha, I thought you were something special. Turns out you're not!"

Hen Ren sneered.

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

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

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

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

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack, making the entire Shenjie roar 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 Jun and the others widened their eyes, trembling uncontrollably.

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

The intention was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperor Jun, so why didn't he resist and chose death?

Wasn't that wasting their efforts?

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, whose head had exploded and soul shattered, had the pendant on his chest 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 in 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 Linghun Qiyue..."

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The Linghun Qiyue bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master released it... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced version of the contract.

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had likely asked about the details earlier, planting the idea then.

That's why he deliberately let himself be struck with the strongest attack.

Using that power for rebirth, and it had succeeded spectacularly!

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

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if he had understood something. With a wave of his hand, his avatar on the side immediately turned back into a lotus flower and flew over.

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

In the blink of an eye, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan had become the nine heavens, and the nine heavens were him.

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic nine heavens stabilized immediately.

The Jiutian Huntun Jinlian, born with the nine heavens, could stabilize them. Now that his avatar had fused perfectly with him, it meant he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Jiutian Huntun Jinlian and his already peak realm, there was a loosening, as if he could break through at any moment.

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

With a smile, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

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

Was it that people observe the world and thus create it, or that the world exists first and then people?

Is it the wind moving, or the heart?

These eternal questions had troubled countless people.

But now... none of that mattered!

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

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

All things in the world 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.

The Emperor Jun barrier was broken!

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

Countless strands of Huntun Qi surged over, and his physical body advanced swiftly.

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

"You..."

Hen Ren hadn't expected his full-powered strike not only to fail to kill him but to empower him, and he raged, "Wah!" screaming as he attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor Juns for not saving you from the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humiliation as my servant, harboring卑微 and anger—that's emotion; you want to destroy Shenjie to vent your fury—that's emotion; you crave greater power—that's emotion too... Emotions control you, so how can you defeat me, who controls them?"

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. With a light grasp of his hand, the once-unstoppable Hen Ren was bound by countless emotional threads, rendered immobile.

As long as one has emotions, they must 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..."

"Now it's too late to say that..."

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, something like a servant held no meaning for him.

He had killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qiqi, and so many friends. Today, how could he forgive?

"No..."

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

Bang!

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

All the power that Chao Xi Hai had devoured was now returned, and the barren wastelands regained their vitality.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Emperor Jun, the Undying Emperor Jun, Ling Long Xian Zi, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief.

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

Could there truly be a realm 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 Shenjie's sky with a thunderous boom.

The collapsing Shenjie visibly stabilized, and the chaotic air currents gathered once more.

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

"It seems Shenjie is about to enter an era of spiritual energy revival..."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

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

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

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

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

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was stunned.

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; it was a name he'd never heard.

"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 flew before stopping at a mountain peak.

There, another young man stood.

He looked only slightly older, with upward-swept brows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

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

"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 mouth!"

"Luo Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're... the Shenjie 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; 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 couldn't believe it.

Shenjie was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"That's not right. If Shenjie is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why let Hen Ren rampage without intervening... Even your daughter's life?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If it weren't for his breakthrough, Shenjie might have completely collapsed. Why had this man done nothing? Not even caring for his daughter?

Nie Yun didn't answer his question but looked over. "Do you think... beyond Shenjie, there are even stronger beings?"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan paused. "There should be, right?"

Though he hadn't seen any, since this man could reach such a level, others might too, or even exceed him.

"I once suspected that beyond Shenjie lay greater powers, so I used all my strength to peer out, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... A massive hand descended!"

Nie Yun said. "If I'd dodged, Shenjie 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 take just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shenjie'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 the Emperor Jun shackles and reach my level!"

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

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not from this world? So, my crossing over was because of you?"

Zhang Xuan's heart shook.

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

"Heh!"

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

"I..."

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

Without Kong Shi's selflessness, achieving his current state would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was his, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to retreat, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his drive to advance fiercely. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how can one contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

He had watched their fight, and Kong Shi had indeed been indecisive.

Or perhaps, he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

But that single thought had cost him the chance.

"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? Of course."

"This..."

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Emperor Jun was a different concept. If this man had wanted to act, he could have saved her at the last moment without a scratch.

"Ling Xi is the child of my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, 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... Anyway, you explain this to her. Her affections have shifted to you now; she probably doesn't even think of me anymore... 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, and he had no choice but to agree. "Alright..."

What else could he do? He had essentially taken the man's daughter.

"The Heavenly Dao library was my intent, both a foundation and a shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. The future is limitless, and my daughter being with you brings me comfort as a father."