Chapter 476: The Human Creation Plan

The soul contract binds souls together; as long as the one who initiates it does not release it, even if the other party has unparalleled means, it cannot be broken. For instance, the Undying Emperor Jun, Xiao Huang Ji, was only a Shen Wang before, yet as an Emperor Jun himself, he couldn't resolve such a pact. To prevent this individual from reneging and causing backlash, the Mingshi Dalu had specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao's records, they could not break free from the soul's agreement.

"Indeed, the soul contract cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I have fused with a special gas that can even resolve the Heavenly Dao. Dissolving this contract is not 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 built on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can resolve 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 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.

"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, "Since that's the case, let's settle this with our skills!"

Boom!

The most powerful sword intent was unleashed 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 are of no concern?

Although this sword technique had not reached the level comprehended by an Emperor Jun, it contained all of his inner obsessions, pushing his Tian Ru You Qing cultivation to its limit.

Whoosh!

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

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 youth from Jian Shen Tian, carrying a forward momentum and the effortless grace of the great dao.

"Your moves are impressive, but compared to me, they're still lacking..."

Hen Ren chuckled lightly and reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth. Space shattered, and it seemed as though the sun, moon, and stars would be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

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

With their strength, they couldn't withstand it!

What realm had this guy reached?

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

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Nine Heavens Hun Dun Jin Lian, his cultivation was 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.

Having achieved Emperor Jun status, his clone still 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 seemed to ignite.

The remaining six great Emperor Juns also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor 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 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 swung his hand down again.

"You insolent fool!"

Accompanying a loud shout, 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 he was also an Emperor Jun powerhouse!

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

"He is an Emperor Jun from Jian Shen Tian..."

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

"Then... what about the youth who taught me the sword technique?" Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back.

"He is..." 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 pit.

With Zhang Xuan's current strength and comprehension of the sword dao, far surpassing before, even he couldn't contend, so this elder, despite his high cultivation and sword skills, was no match.

"Ha! Emperor Juns are nothing but a bunch of insignificant creatures! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, destroy Shenjie, and trample all rules!"

Defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the surrounding space collapsing as he appeared demonic and otherworldly.

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

He and his clone had already used their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her ultimate move, yet none could block a single strike from him...

Could no one in Shenjie 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, possibly fixing the 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, 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 kill this one without difficulty!"

"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.

"Trying to escape?"

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 quickly. I'll hold him off..."

Knowing they were trying to save Shenjie, not flee, his clone and the Undying Emperor Zun shouted, blocking the way as Luo Qiqi transformed back into the Jing Kong Pearl's essence.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone risking their lives to block behind them without fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi and blurred through space, appearing in Zizai Tian's range 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 common folk's lives, 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 but different—it was her father's.

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

"Is your father also an Emperor Jun? Or does he have strength beyond that?"

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos had been calmed by the pendant's blood. Could it be that not only she, but her father was also an Emperor Jun, 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 Jun, but... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"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: Heavenly Dao with Order and Heavenly Dao with Defects entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain Shenjie's balance. The only way to restore him is to gather the scattered parts... That's why I was so determined, couldn't afford to fail! That's why I entered Mingshi Dalu 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 said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

Not long after they met on Mingshi Dalu, this girl had told him her story about saving a close relative. He hadn't understood then, but now he did.

It was her father, and he was Shenjie's Heavenly Dao!

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

"Taking control of Heavenly Dao Natural... You don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in your body?"

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

Taking control and fusing it into one's body, like he had, were two different concepts.

"I'm just in control; I'm not part of the Heavenly Dao..."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

In that case, he only needed to separate his Heavenly Dao with Defects; she didn't have to die.

Though he was unwilling to accept this fate, he didn't want the girl in front of him to be harmed.

"I'll separate the Heavenly Dao with Defects from my body. Then your father can awaken and even kill Hen Ren, right?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing Shenjie.

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

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to count on!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, plus the Nine Heavens and Nine Emperors—if we team up with Kong Shi, we might still win!"

"Kong Shi? He..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

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

He could remain undeluded in the womb.

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

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, seemingly not expecting this.

"We'll know once we check. If I'm right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng wouldn't have stayed away from Chao Xi Hai..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng, were all 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—clearly, helping Kong Shi recover.

"This..." Luo Ruoxi was shocked, suddenly understanding.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they arrived at where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air, cross-legged. Seeing them, he smiled slightly. "You've come!"

Who else could it be but Kong Shi?

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

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

"You..."

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

It wasn't about boasting for the enemy or diminishing her own 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 doubt.

"That hand could tear Shenjie apart and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and devoured Shenjie's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Emperor Juns, can't match him alone..."

Kong Shi said, "But if we unite and concentrate 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 absorbing others' power was that easy, she wouldn't have stagnated for so long.

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

"Ling Xi Emperor Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's and Heavenly Dao's constraints, 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 the fight, he had indeed thought that, so at the beginning, they had both held back, like sparring rather than a life-or-death battle.

"Unable to transcend, 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 seek to embrace all beings and save the world, but I don't want others to sacrifice for me. Too much benevolence is a flaw! If I had been more ruthless and exterminated the Yi Ling clan, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

Back then, if he had wiped out the Yi Ling clan, Hen Ren couldn't have revived, and this situation wouldn't 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 at peace. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go higher and farther!"

Kong Shi continued.

To live is to return, to die is to long for each other!

If even death is of no concern, how can other things bind him?

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. "Don't refuse. There's no time. Training someone else isn't feasible, and even if it were, I don't think anyone could do it better than you! Ling Xi Emperor Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao and has her own understanding of it; I control Heavenly Dao with Order. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Hun Dun Jin Lian, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the decision was made, Zhang Xuan nodded, knowing more explanations were useless.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in the blink of an eye, two vast powers surged 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 cleansed in that moment, 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 clone 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 ability to destroy the world. These Emperor Juns and Shen Wangs, despite representing Shenjie's peak, were no match.

At this moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody all of Shenjie, unstoppable.

"If Shenjie is destroyed, there's no point in us living. I'll go down with you..."

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

"You? 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 undying fire phoenix form, flames illuminating the sky.

Xuan Ming Emperor Jun's true form was a great turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

The four divine beasts, guarding 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 seek death, I'll grant it..."

As he roared, about to deliver the fatal blow and wipe them out, he felt his raised arm tighten, frozen in mid-air.

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

Then, to everyone's shocked gazes, a figure stepped out from the air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

The young man now exuded surging power, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"You've improved a lot..."

Hen Ren stopped, 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 as air currents raged 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 only Shen Wang level, no longer as glorious as before.

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

"With his current strength, winning... is tough! Unless... he comprehends a power that transcends Emperor Jun!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over ten Emperor Juns transferred to him, victory wasn't guaranteed.

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

"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 this world."

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

As Kong Shi had said, even with the fused power forming a complete Heavenly Dao in his body, he was still no 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 might as well die under your strongest attack..."

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and stopped, no longer attacking but 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 green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack; the entire Shenjie rumbled as if it couldn't bear the weight, creating a massive pit.

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, his soul scattering everywhere.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad.

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

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, seeing this, were also 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 choose death?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

"Wrong, it's the Undying Emperor Jun's undying method..."

Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke.

Everyone then saw that Zhang Xuan, with his head blown apart and soul shattered, had the pendant on his chest suddenly explode. A drop of blood floated up, igniting into a blazing flame, from which a intact figure slowly emerged.

"He... used the opponent's power and the pendant's blood 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; without the Heavenly Dao's interference, he was free from it!

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was full of disbelief.

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

This young man had freed himself 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; without release, the servant was forever bound... The Heavenly Dao library was like an enhanced version of that, binding the soul indissolubly.

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about the details before. He must have been planning it then.

That's why he deliberately fought to the death, provoking the strongest attack.

Using that power, he was reborn in the flames, and it had succeeded brilliantly!

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

Zhang Xuan, emerging from the flames, smiled faintly, as if he had understood something. With a wave of his hand, his clone 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 Nine Heavens Hun Dun Jin Lian, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone fused perfectly, it meant he controlled that power.

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

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student bonds, parent-child bonds, 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 left his soul, he understood.

Is it the world that creates people, or people that perceive the world?

Is it the wind moving, or the heart?

This eternal question had puzzled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter.

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

So, after breaking through romantic love, it was the bonds of all beings! The intertwined emotions of the world.

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

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

"Myriad emotions, all for my use..."

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

He had broken through the Emperor Jun barrier!

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

Countless strands of Hun Dun qi surged over, and his body advanced swiftly.

Before, he could only progress by absorbing spiritual energy, but now, spatial chaos, Hun Dun qi, even the opponent's green light—everything could be his, indistinguishable.

"You..."

Hen Ren hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, and he roared in fury. With a furious shout, he attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor Juns for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; wanting to destroy Shenjie to vent your anger—that's emotion; seeking to grow stronger—that's emotion... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, or escape my control?"

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

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

As long as there was emotion, he could be used and controlled!

"You..."

Hen Ren's eyes filled with panic. "Zhang Shi, I'm your servant. Don't kill me... I'll offer my soul..."

"It's too late for that now..."

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. How could he forgive today?

"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 across Shenjie.

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

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

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

They had fought Hen Ren and knew his terror. For this young man to defeat him so easily—what realm had he reached?

Could there truly be a level beyond Emperor Jun?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

"This is part of the Heavenly Dao. 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 Shenjie's sky with a thunderous boom.

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

The ruined Shenjie finally stopped, 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 closed 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 youth standing before him.

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now realized he was only a hair's breadth away, having reached the peak of Emperor Jun, far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

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

The youth exuded an unstoppable sword intent and said lightly.

"Nie Tong?"

Zhang Xuan frowned; he'd never heard the name.

"Come with me. I'll take you to see my brother!"

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely. After an unknown distance, they stopped at a mountain peak.

There, another youth stood.

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

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This youth's power surpassed even his, having broken through the Emperor Jun barrier, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I am Nie Yun!"

The youth 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... Shenjie'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 couldn't believe it.

Shenjie was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"Wait, if Shenjie is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why didn't you act while Hen Ren rampaged..."

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If not for his breakthrough, Shenjie might have been completely destroyed. Why had this man done nothing?

Not even caring about his daughter's life?

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

"This..." Zhang Xuan paused. "There should be..."

Though he hadn't seen them, since this man could reach this level, others might too, or even exceed it—like the one before him.

"I once suspected that beyond Shenjie, there might be stronger life forms, so I tried my utmost to peer out. In the end, I drew the backlash from a higher world... a hand descended from the void!"

Nie Yun looked over. "If I had 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 myself would be just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shenjie'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 life could break through the Emperor Jun barrier and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intent to the lowest worlds... granting it to souls originally of this world and one not belonging to it. And you didn't disappoint me in the end!"

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not belonging to 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 limits. I just had a thought 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 given to him, 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 fearless drive. Facing someone who transcends us, without that spirit, how can he 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.

"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. "You and I are on the same level now. In a life-or-death situation, could you save someone?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Emperor Jun was a different concept. If he truly wanted to, he could save someone 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. "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 a while. Otherwise, she might turn everything upside down..."

Seeing this unreliable father, 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 a thought of mine, 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."

With that, the text ends.