Chapter 477: Immortal

The soul contract binds souls together. As long as the initiator doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party has unparalleled means, it cannot be broken. It's like the Undying Emperor Jun, Xiao Huang Ji, who was once only a Shen Wang; even as an Emperor Jun, he couldn't resolve such an agreement. To prevent this individual from reneging and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao's records, they still couldn't break free from the soul's pact.

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

Ren Ren said.

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

"I see..."

Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

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

After explaining, Ren 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 noticed something was wrong and quickly sent a message.

"Let's prepare to fight!"

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!

The most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

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

What can stand in the way when life and death are of no concern?

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

Whoosh!

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

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

Her swordsmanship was somewhat similar to that of the young man from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of the great dao.

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

With a faint smile, Ren Ren reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth, shattering space as if the sun, moon, and stars were about to be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

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

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

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.

Having refined the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was no weaker than Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, its power surging to the nine heavens.

Clashing with Ren Ren, he too was sent flying, unable to block even one move.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Now an Emperor Jun, his clone still hadn't changed its habit of showing off...

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

"Let's all attack together, or we'll all die if they fall..."

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

The remaining six great 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 Ren Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let his black hole expand as their attacks approached, devouring the forces clean in the blink of an eye before countering.

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, Ren Ren stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"You dare, you vermin!"

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

"Emperor Jun? He's also an Emperor Jun level expert?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

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

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

"He's the Emperor Jun of Jian Shen Tian..."

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

"Then... what about the young man who taught me the sword?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when space twisted, and the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun was sent flying, crashing into a pit not far away.

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

"Ha ha, Emperor Juns are nothing but trifling birds! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate the God Realm, and trample all rules!"

Defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun, Ren Ren laughed wildly, the surrounding space collapsing as he appeared demonic and monstrous.

"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 moves, yet none could block even one of his strikes...

Could no one in the God Realm stop this man?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

"The only way... is to return your incomplete Heavenly Dao to its original state, letting the Heavenly Dao suppress him..."

Luo Ruoxi's delicate fists clenched, her eyes reddening.

"Return to its original state?"

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 repairing the flaws and expelling Ren Ren.

Like a body's immune system.

A complete immune system can easily drive out viruses; if damaged, even a strong person can succumb to invasion.

But...

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

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was beyond an ordinary Shen Wang; even titled ones, the Heavenly Dao could kill, but he surpassed Emperor Juns... He was no longer something the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..."

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. "Yes... It might not suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken and slay this one easily!"

"He?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to see him; he's in Zi Zai Tian..."

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

"Want to escape?"

Ren 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 Ren Ren once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save the God Realm, not flee, his clone and the Undying Emperor Zun shouted, blocking the way as Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her Jing Kong Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone blocking fearlessly, even facing death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, tore through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in Zi Zai Tian's domain.

Zi Zai Tian was no longer as peaceful as before; the God Realm was collapsing, everywhere in chaos.

"Where is he, the one you mentioned?"

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

If this person could truly save the God Realm, 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 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 recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

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

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos was 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 an incomplete Heavenly Dao to awaken him?

"He's not an Emperor Jun; he's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father... is the Heavenly Dao?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked, in disbelief.

"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 You Xu and Heavenly Dao You Que entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Zi Ran to maintain the God Realm's balance. The only way to restore him is to gather the scattered parts... That's why I was so determined, why I couldn't fail! That's why I entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi 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 God Realm's Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting as Heavenly Dao Zi Ran... You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?"

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

Acting as controller and fusing it into one's body 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 Heavenly Dao You Que; she didn't have to die.

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

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao You Que from my body, your father can awaken and even slay Ren Ren, right?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing God Realm.

The God Realm was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he truly defeat such a powerful Ren Ren?

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We have no choice but to find a way!"

Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, plus the Nine Heavens and Nine Emperors, and even Kong Shi—if we coordinate, we might not lose!"

"Kong Shi? He..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

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

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

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, apparently not expecting this.

"Let's go check; if I'm right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students 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 powerful; 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 she suddenly understood.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they returned to where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in meditation. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly. "You've come!"

Who else could it be but Kong Shi?

This teacher of ages hadn't disappointed him!

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

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperor Juns could revive—the Undying Emperor Jun had—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 a master of time; though only one or two days had passed in the God Realm, he had endured who knew how long to restore his power—perhaps decades.

"We three are strong, but defeating Ren Ren won't be easy..."

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

It wasn't about boosting the enemy or undermining morale; it was the truth.

So many had united earlier and still couldn't block him; adding one Kong Shi wouldn't change the outcome.

"Our individual strengths, even combined, aren't a match for him, but... what if we fuse all our powers into one person?"

Kong Shi looked over 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 apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Ren Ren absorbed it all and devoured the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. In terms of strength, we ten-plus Emperor Juns, taken individually, are no match... But if we unite and concentrate our power in one person... maybe not?"

Kong Shi said. "How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperor Juns stood at the God Realm's peak; if absorbing others' power were 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 the God Realm!"

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 guessed right, when he fought me, he once gave up, intending to be slain by me!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During the fight, he had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, they had 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 care for all living beings and wish to save the world, but I'm unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—too much benevolence is a flaw! If I'd been 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, Ren Ren couldn't have revived, and none of this would have happened.

"So, I'm not suitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation is seamless, without flaws. He values living true to himself; even in death, as long as he has no regrets, his heart is clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go higher and farther!"

Kong Shi continued.

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

If even death means nothing, how can other things bind him?

"This..."

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when he saw Kong Shi's determined gaze. "No need to decline; time is short. Training someone else isn't feasible, and even if it were, I doubt 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 You Xu. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing his decision was final, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

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

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 tempered, 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, Ren 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 the spiritual energy outside the God Realm's 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 the God Realm's pinnacle, were no match.

At this moment, Ren Ren seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unstoppable.

"The God Realm's destruction means we'd have no reason to live. I'll go down with you, Yun Chi..."

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

"You? You're not worthy!"

Ren 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 the God Realm's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing realm.

It was as if the universe froze in that instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive strikes, Ren Ren suppressed 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 tighten, frozen in mid-air.

"Want to kill them? Have you asked me?"

In the shocked gazes of the crowd, 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 himself.

"You've improved a lot..."

Ren Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

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

"But so what? Even at its peak, the God Realm couldn't withstand me. I don't believe you can!"

With a cold snort, Ren Ren 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 Zi Zai Tian's Kong Shi 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.

Still, their foundation remained; with enough power, they could recover someday.

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

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even ten-plus Emperor Juns couldn't defeat Ren Ren; transferring their power to one person made victory unlikely.

The reason for this was to concentrate the power, potentially touching the peak and truly surpassing limits to break through.

"A power beyond Emperor Jun?"

Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant.

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

"He can... He has an unyielding heart and an arrogant defiance toward the world."

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several exchanges, Zhang Xuan's tiger 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 in his body, he wasn't a match.

"Ha ha, I thought you'd be something special, but you're just so-so!"

Ren Ren sneered.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you; I'll be killed eventually. Since that's the case, I want to die under your strongest attack..."

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan stopped attacking and looked at Ren Ren.

"Fine, I'll oblige you with my strongest strike..."

Hearing this, Ren 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; the entire God Realm 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 Emperor Jun and the others widened their eyes, trembling.

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

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach beyond the Emperor Jun realm—why did he choose to face death?

Wasnt' this wasting their efforts?

wait, no—it's the Undying Emperor Jun's immortality technique..."

Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

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

"He... used the opponent's power and the pendant's blood to separate the Heavenly 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; 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 in You Hun Pool.

This one had escaped with just one strike—what method had he used?

"I get it... He used Ren Ren's method to break the soul contract..."

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant; without release, the servant was trapped... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract, binding the soul inseparably.

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

So, he deliberately let himself be struck with the strongest attack.

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

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

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

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

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

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic Nine Heavens stabilized immediately.

The Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with the clone fused seamlessly, it meant he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus's cultivation, his already peak realm began to loosen, as if ready to 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; that's 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 people who create the world, or the world that creates people?

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, beyond romantic love comes compassion for all beings—the interwoven 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!

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

With a low cry, Zhang Xuan's suppressed realm shattered in an instant.

The Emperor Jun shackles were broken!

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

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

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

"You..."

Ren Ren hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, and he raged, "Waah!" shouting as he attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor Juns for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humble and angry as my former servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy the God Realm to vent your anger—that's emotion; you seek to grow stronger—that's emotion too... Emotion controls you; how can you defeat me, or escape my control?"

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder. He gently grasped his hand.

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

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

"You..."

Ren Ren's eyes filled with panic. "Zhang Shi, I'm your servant; don't kill me... I'm willing to offer my soul..."

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

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

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

He had killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi, and so many friends; today, how could he forgive?

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded into countless strands of spiritual energy, surging back to every part of the God Realm.

All the power that Chao Xi Hai had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the barren wastelands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

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

They had fought Ren 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; I'll return it now..."

Seeing the "Heavenly 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 the God Realm's sky with a thunderous sound.

The collapsing God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic airflows regathered.

The shattered realm finally halted, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Ren Ren's death.

"It seems the God Realm is about to enter an era of spiritual energy revival..."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The hole in Chao Xi Hai had closed with the Heavenly Dao's completion; the God Realm returning 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, then saw a young man standing before him.

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

"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 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 furrowed his brow; it was his first time hearing this 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 flew before stopping at a mountain peak.

There, he saw another young man.

His appearance wasn't much older, with raised eyebrows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

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

"I am Nie Yun!"

The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Or... Nie Ling Xi, the one you know as Luo Ruoxi's father!"

"If Xi's father?"

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

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

The God Realm was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"That's not right—if the God Realm is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why did you let Ren Ren rampage without intervening...?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If not for his breakthrough, the God Realm might have been utterly destroyed. Why had this man done nothing?

Not even caring about his daughter's life?

Nie Yun didn't answer; instead, he looked over lightly. "Do you think... beyond the God Realm, there are even stronger beings?"

"This..."

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

Though he hadn't seen any, since this man could reach such a level, others might too, perhaps even stronger—like the one before him.

"I once suspected that beyond the God Realm lay greater powers, so I tried to peer into it with all my might, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... A giant hand descended!"

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

"In that state, restoring myself would take just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend the God Realm's limits, explore the hand's origin, and see what's beyond... I couldn't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through the Emperor Jun shackles and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intent to the lowest worlds... granting it to souls native to this world and one not belonging to it. And you didn't disappoint me 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 free. I just had a fleeting thought and didn't expect you to truly 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 hold back, thinking he could retreat safely. In reality, he lost his fearless drive. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how can one contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"If Kong Shi had won, If Xi 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're now almost at my level; in a life-or-death situation, could you save someone?"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan bitter-smiled.

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 the child of my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, so she took the surname Luo... To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma until now..."

Nie Yun sighed bitterly. "I'm quite the heartless father... Anyway, you explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you; as her old man, I'm probably forgotten... Ha ha, I'll stay hidden for now; I don't want her turning everything upside down. Otherwise, who knows what chaos she'd cause..."

Seeing how unreliable this father was, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he had no choice but to agree. "Alright..."

He had no option; who asked him to win over the man's daughter?

"The Heavenly Dao library was my intent, both foundation and shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. With my daughter by your side, as a father, I'm content."

As Nie Yun spoke, the text cuts off abruptly.