Chapter 479: A Reckless Team

The soul contract is a binding agreement between souls. As long as the initiator doesn't dissolve it, the contract cannot be broken, even if the other party possesses unparalleled abilities. It's like with Busi Dijun, also known as Xiao Huang Ji—even when he was just a Shen Wang and the other party was a Dijun, such an agreement couldn't be rescinded. To prevent someone from going back on their word and causing unforeseen consequences, the Ming Shi Dalu had specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break free from the soul contract.

"Indeed, a soul contract cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Resolving 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 soul contract is based on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can dissolve even the Shenjie Heavenly Dao, dissolving a soul contract should be relatively simple if 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 absorbed an immense amount of power during their conversation, using it to nourish himself.

"Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole absorbs, the stronger his power becomes..." Luo Ruoxi noticed something was wrong and quickly sent a message through divine sense.

"Let's make our move!" With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand, and declared, "Since that's the case, let's settle this with our skills!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

To live is to return anew, to die is to long for reunion!

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

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by a Dijun, it contained all his inner obsessions, pushing his Tian Ru You Qing cultivation to its limits.

Whoosh!

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

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi struck out. Her jade-like hand swirled, and her sword light gleamed like snow.

Her swordsmanship resembled that of the young man from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of aligning with 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.

Thud! Thud!

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

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

Just what realm had this guy reached?

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

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, his clone's 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, the clone was also sent flying, unable to block even one move.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming a Dijun, his clone hadn't changed its habit of showing off...

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

"Join forces, or we'll all die... including us!" Xiao Huang Ji roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The other six Dijun also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Dijun united, their power enough to destroy the heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let his black hole expand as their attacks approached, swallowing everything in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even ten Dijun together couldn't block a single move from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

After defeating them with one strike, Hen Ren stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"How dare you!"

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

"A Dijun? He's also at the Dijun 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 a Dijun powerhouse!

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

"He's the Dijun of Jian Shen Tian..." Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet, gritting her teeth.

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

"He's..."

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

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

"Ha! Dijun? Just a bunch of insignificant pests! Today, I'll destroy the nine heavens, destroy Shenjie, and trample all rules!"

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian elder, 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 clone had already used their strongest attacks, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her most powerful moves, yet none could block even one of his strikes...

Could no one in Shenjie 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 it 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, potentially fixing its flaws and expelling Hen Ren.

It was like the human immune system.

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

But...

"He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao is complete, could it suppress him?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond a Dijun... he was no longer something the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..." Luo Ruoxi hesitated, 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 man easily!"

"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, his sword intent blazing forth.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

But 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, his clone and Busi Dijun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jing Kong Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone risking their lives to hold the line without fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened. But he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, his body flickering as he tore through space, reappearing in the range of Zizai Tian.

Zizai Tian was no longer as carefree as before. Shenjie was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is he?" Zhang Xuan asked, not wasting time on the ordinary surroundings, looking 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. Busi Dijun was once his beast pet..." Luo Ruoxi regulated her breath and explained.

"Father?" Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

That also explained why Busi Dijun's remnant will had immediately recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also a Dijun? Or even stronger?" He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos had been calmed by the blood in the pendant. Could it be that not only was she a Dijun, but her father was too, and even more powerful?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did it require an incomplete Heavenly Dao for him to awaken?

"He's not a Dijun; he's... the Heavenly Dao!" Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father is the Heavenly Dao?" Zhang Xuan was shocked, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that giant hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Heavenly Dao Orderly and Heavenly Dao Incomplete 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 collect the scattered parts... That's why I was so determined, why I couldn't fail! That's why I entered Ming Shi 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 explained.

Zhang Xuan finally understood.

Not long after they met on Ming Shi Dalu, this girl had told him her story—she needed to save a dear one. He hadn't grasped it then, but now it all made sense.

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

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

"Controlling 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 at her.

Controlling it and fusing with it, like he had, 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 Heavenly Dao Incomplete; she didn't have to die.

Though he was reluctant to accept this fate, he didn't want this girl to suffer.

"I'll separate the Heavenly Dao Incomplete from my body. Then your father can awaken and even slay Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"This... I'm not sure..." Luo Ruoxi glanced at the collapsing Shenjie, hesitating.

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

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We have to find a way ourselves!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, plus the Jiu Tian Jiu Di—if we team up with Kong Shi, we might still win!"

"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—as a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti.

It allowed one 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.

"We'll know once we check. If I'm right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have stayed away from Chao Xi Hai..." Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng and the others, were incredibly strong. Even without a Dijun's help, they could enter Chao Xi Hai, yet none had shown up.

They must have something more important—helping Kong Shi recover.

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

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, tearing space open and returning to where Kong Shi had resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air, cross-legged 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 Zhang Xuan had guessed, while everyone focused on Chao Xi Hai, he had revived.

"You..." Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Dijun could revive—Busi Dijun had done it—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 my backup. 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 mastered time abilities, so while only a day or two had passed in Shenjie, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

"Our individual strengths are strong, and even together we're formidable, but defeating Hen Ren won't be easy..."

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

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

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

"If we fight alone or even united, we're no match for him, but... what if we fuse all our power into one person?" Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse it into one person?"

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 is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed it all and devoured Shenjie's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Dijun, would be no match individually..." 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.

Dijun 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 Dijun shackles, he can save Shenjie!" Kong Shi said.

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

"Ling Xi Dizun 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, during our fight, you once gave up, intending to let me kill you, right?" Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

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

"Without transcendence, he can't unleash his full power. Even with more true energy, he couldn't break through to the highest realm! As for me..." Kong Shi nodded. "I care for all beings and want to save the world, but I'm too compassionate, which is a flaw! If I'd been ruthless and wiped out the Yi Ling Clan, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had exterminated the Yi Ling Clan back then, Hen Ren couldn't have revived, and none of this would have happened.

"So, I'm not suitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation follows his heart, without flaws. He values living true to himself—even if it means death, as long as he's lived without regret, his heart is clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!" Kong Shi continued.

To live is to return anew, to die is to long for reunion!

If even death doesn't matter, 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. Training someone else isn't feasible, and even if it were, I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Ling Xi Dizun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao and has her own understanding of it. I control Heavenly Dao Orderly. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone's Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, you can stabilize the nine heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the decision was made, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in 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 energy were all rapidly refined, growing stronger and more abundant.

...

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

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

The combined power of the clone and the various Dijun was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak.

Chao Xi Hai had swallowed 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. These Dijun and Shen Wang, representing Shenjie's peak, were still no match.

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

"Shenjie is doomed; living means nothing. I'll go down with you..." Yun Chi Dijun transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? Not worthy!" Hen Ren clenched his hand, and the golden dragon was trapped in his palm, struggling futilely.

"My old friend, wait for me!" Fu Meng Dijun roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward.

Busi Dijun revealed his undying fire phoenix form, flames lighting up the sky.

Xuan Ming Dijun's true form was a massive turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

The four divine beasts, guardians of Shenjie's four corners, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing world.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hen Ren struck four times, 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, he felt his raised arm seize up in mid-air.

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

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

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

"You've improved a lot..." Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

He couldn't understand how the other's strength had changed so drastically in just 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 energy 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, no longer as glorious as before.

However, with their foundations intact, they could recover given enough power.

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

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with over ten Dijun channeling their power 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 surpass limits.

"A power that transcends Dijun?" Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant.

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

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

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

As Kong Shi had said, even with the complete Heavenly Dao force in his body, he wasn't a match.

"Ha, I thought you'd be something special. Turns out you're nothing!" 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, stopped attacking, and looked at Hen Ren.

"Very well, 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, making the entire Shenjie roar as if it couldn't bear the strain, 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 Dijun and the others stared wide-eyed, trembling.

Even Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi were stunned.

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Dijun. Why had he chosen to face death?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

But then, Kong Shi spoke. "Wait, it's Busi Dijun's undying method..."

Everyone saw the pendant on Zhang Xuan's chest shatter, a drop of blood floating up and igniting into a blazing flame. From the flame, an unharmed figure slowly emerged.

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Heavenly Dao Incomplete from his soul?" Luo Ruoxi's pupils shrank.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body; he was free from its interference and the Heavenly Dao's bindings.

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was full of disbelief.

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

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

"I get it... He used Hen Ren's method to escape the soul contract..." Luo Ruoxi realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master dissolved it... The Heavenly Dao library was like an enhanced version of that, binding his soul.

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

So, he had deliberately let Hen Ren use his strongest attack.

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

"So, this is the way to break through Dijun..."

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

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

Suddenly, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan had become the nine heavens, and the nine heavens were him.

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic nine heavens stabilized immediately.

The Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, born with the nine heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion and his peak realm loosening, it seemed 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. This is what it means to be human!" Zhang Xuan murmured with a smile.

The moment the Heavenly Dao library left his soul, he understood.

Did the world exist first, with people observing it, or did people come first?

Was it the wind moving, or the heart?

These eternal questions had puzzled countless people.

But now... none of that mattered!

Without life, without emotions, what meaning did 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 low cry, the shackles in Zhang Xuan's body shattered.

He had broken through the Dijun barriers!

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

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

He could now absorb spatial chaos, chaotic energy—even the opponent's green light—as his own, without distinction.

"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. "Wah!" He charged again.

"You resent the lofty Dijun for not saving you from the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humiliation and anger as my servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy Shenjie to vent your rage—that's emotion; you crave more power—that's emotion... Emotions control you, so how can you defeat me, or escape my control?"

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

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

As long as there were emotions, 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..."

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

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, such servant bonds meant nothing to him.

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

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged across Shenjie.

All the power Chao Xi Hai had swallowed was now returned, revitalizing the withered wastelands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Dijun, Busi Dijun, Ling Long Xianzi, and the others stared in disbelief.

They had fought Hen Ren and knew his terror. For this man to be vanquished so easily, what realm had Zhang Xuan reached?

Could there truly be a level beyond Dijun?

"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 Incomplete" 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 ring.

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

The ruined 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 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..."

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

In that step, he traveled an unknown distance, seeing a young man standing before him.

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had sensed this man's unfathomable depth before, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the absolute peak of Dijun, far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

"Just call me by my name. I'm Nie Tong!" The young man exuded an unstoppable sword intent and said lightly.

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow.

He had never heard this name.

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

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

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

There, another young man stood.

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

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power surpassed even his, having broken through Dijun's limits and reaching even greater depths!

"I'm Nie Yun!" The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Also known as... Nie Ling Xi, the one you call Luo Ruoxi's father!"

"Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're... Shenjie's Heavenly Dao?"

Luo Ruoxi had mentioned her father was the Heavenly Dao, but he never imagined it would be this young man.

"I used One Qi Transforms Three Purities; one part of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Besides, I created this world, so calling me the Heavenly Dao isn't wrong!" Nie Yun smiled lightly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

Shenjie was created by this man?

Then how powerful was he?

"But if Shenjie is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why didn't you act against Hen Ren...?" Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Not even caring for his daughter's life?

Nie Yun didn't answer directly but looked at him. "Do you think... beyond Shenjie, there are even more powerful beings?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan hesitated. "Probably, right?"

Though he hadn't seen any, since this man had reached this level, others might too, or even exceed him—like the one before him.

"I once suspected there were stronger beings beyond Shenjie, so I tried to peer further, only to provoke a backlash from a higher world... That giant hand broke through!" Nie Yun said. "If I'd dodged, Shenjie might have been wiped out completely. So, I blocked it, but my Heavenly Dao form shattered as a result."

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

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... granting them to souls native to this world and one not from here. And you didn't disappoint me!" Nie Yun laughed.

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

Zhang Xuan's heart shook.

No wonder he could traverse; 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 backup to escape unscathed. In reality, he lost his fearless drive. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how could he contend?" Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"But if Kong Shi had won, 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 there, she wouldn't have died..."

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

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

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

"Ling Xi is from my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, so she took the surname Luo... To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma until now." Nie Yun sighed bitterly. "I'm quite the heartless father... You explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you. As her father, I'm probably forgotten... Ha, I'll stay hidden for now. I don't want her causing chaos. Otherwise, who knows what she'd do..."

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

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