Chapter 480: A Thorough Plan?

A soul contract binds souls together. As long as the initiator does not dissolve it, even if the other party possesses unparalleled abilities, 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 someone from reneging and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break the agreement between souls.

"Indeed, a soul contract cannot be separated from the sea of consciousness, but I have fused with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Resolving this contract is not difficult... As long as I have enough power to strike at the 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 Shen Jie Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about dissolving a soul contract if handled properly?

"I see..." Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

"Telling you all this is my way of thanking you for bringing me to Shen Jie!"

After explaining, Hen Ren said no more. His aura grew even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further, clearly having absorbed an immense amount of power during their conversation to nourish himself.

"The more the black hole absorbs, the stronger his power becomes..."

Luo Ruoxi also noticed something was wrong and hurriedly sent a message through divine sense.

"Let's make our move!" With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand, and declared: "In that 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 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 his inner obsessions, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation to its limits.

Whoosh!

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

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

Her swordsmanship bore some resemblance to that of the youth 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..."

Hen Ren chuckled lightly and 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.

Thud! Thud!

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

With their strength, they couldn't withstand it!

Just what realm had this guy reached?

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

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

Having refined the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

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

But upon clashing with Hen Ren, he too was sent flying, unable to block even one strike.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming an Emperor Jun, his clone hadn't changed its habit of showboating...

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

"Join forces, or we'll all die if they fall..."

Xiao Huang Ji roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The remaining six great Emperor Juns also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor Juns united, their power enough to destroy heaven and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand it. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let his black hole expand suddenly, swallowing their attacks in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even ten great Emperor Juns together couldn't block a single strike from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

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

"How dare you, scum!"

Accompanied by a 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 at Emperor Jun level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just an attendant, 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's the Emperor Jun of Jian Shen Tian..."

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

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

"He's..." Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when the space twisted, and they saw the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun being sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a huge crater.

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! Emperor Juns are nothing but a bunch of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate Shen Jie, and trample all rules!"

Having defeated the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the surrounding space collapsing as he appeared like a demon.

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

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

Could it be that no one in Shen Jie could stop this man?

And let him destroy the world?

"The only way... is to return your Heavenly Dao fragment to the Heavenly Dao itself, letting it suppress him..."

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

"Return it to the Heavenly Dao itself?" Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

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

Like a body's immune system.

A complete immune system can easily drive out viruses; if damaged, even a strong body 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 just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond Emperor Jun... he was no longer something the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..." Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. "You're right... It might not suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken and slay this one with ease!"

"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.

"Thinking of escaping?" Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

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

Clang! Clang! Clang!

But it was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

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

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone selflessly blocking with no fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew it 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; Shen Jie was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is the person 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 Shen Jie, 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..."

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.

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

He couldn't help asking.

The blood in the pendant had helped him regain clarity amidst the library's chaos. 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; 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 You Xu and Heavenly Dao You Que entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Zi Ran to maintain Shen Jie's balance. The only way to restore him is to gather the scattered parts... That's why I 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 explained.

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 Shen Jie Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting on behalf of Heavenly Dao Zi Ran... You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?" Suddenly realizing the inconsistency in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"I only control it; 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 own Heavenly Dao You Que; she didn't have to die.

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

"I'll separate the Heavenly Dao You Que 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 Shen Jie, hesitating.

Shen Jie was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awoke, could he truly defeat such a 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 Nine Emperors, and even Kong Shi—if we work together, we might not lose!"

"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... No doubt, he's like Wei Chang Feng—a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Chang Feng had made him realize that Kong Shi's way of preserving his spirit was likely the same, as a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti.

He could remain undeluded in the womb.

Combined with the precautions he had set, 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 an Emperor Jun's help, they could enter Chao Xi Hai, yet none had appeared.

They must have something more important—reviving Kong Shi.

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

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they arrived at the place where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in mid-air in a meditative pose. Seeing them, he smiled faintly: "You've come!"

Who else could it be but Kong Shi?

This teacher of ages had not disappointed him!

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

"You..." Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperor Juns could revive, as 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 break free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints 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 Shen Jie, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

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

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

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

So many had joined forces earlier and still couldn't block him; adding Kong Shi wouldn't change the outcome!

"If we fight alone or even together, we're no match for him, but... what if we fuse all our powers into one person?"

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse into one person?"

This time, not just Luo Ruoxi, but Zhang Xuan was also full of confusion.

"That hand could tear apart Shen Jie and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and devoured Shen Jie's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Emperor Juns, would be no match individually..."

Kong Shi said, "But if we unite and concentrate our powers into one person... then maybe not!"

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperor Juns stood at Shen Jie's peak; if it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have been stagnant for so long.

"It's simple... We'll channel our powers into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Emperor Jun shackles, he can save Shen Jie!"

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I didn't see wrong, when he fought me, he once gave up, intending to let me kill him!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

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

"Unable to transcend, he can't unleash his full power. Even with more true qi, he couldn't impact that supreme realm! As for me..."

Kong Shi nodded. "I bear the burdens of all beings and wish to save the world, but I'm unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—too much mercy is a flaw! If I'd been more ruthless and wiped out the Yi Ling clan, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

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

"So, I'm not suitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation follows his heart, 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 further!"

Kong Shi continued.

To live is to return anew, 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: "No need to decline; time is short. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I doubt anyone could do better than you! Ling Xi Di Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her her own understanding of it; I control Heavenly Dao You Xu. If we channel our powers 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 realms, 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 qi were all undergoing rapid refinement, growing stronger and more abundant.

...

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

Hen Ren slapped Luo Qi Qi and the others away, sneering.

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 Shen Jie's spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the power to destroy the world; these Emperor Juns and Shen Wangs, despite representing Shen Jie's pinnacle, were no match.

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

"Even if Shen Jie falls, living means nothing. I, Yun Chi, will perish with you..."

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

"You? Not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

The Undying Emperor Jun revealed his undead fire phoenix form, flames lighting up the sky.

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

The four divine beasts, guarding Shen Jie's four corners, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing world.

The universe seemed to freeze in that instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive strikes, Hen Ren suppressed the four beasts, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent: "Since you're seeking death, I'll grant it..."

As he roared, about to deliver the fatal blow, 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, the young man exuded surging power, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"He's made significant progress..."

Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

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

"But so what? Even at its peak, Shen Jie couldn't withstand me. I don't believe you can..."

Hen Ren snorted coldly and struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, space tearing apart as energy scattered wildly.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In Zi Zai Tian, at Kong Shi's residence, Luo Ruoxi watched worriedly.

She and Kong Shi had transferred their powers to Zhang Xuan, reducing their own cultivations to only Shen Wang level, no longer as glorious as before.

However, their foundations 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 with all their powers transferred, making ten-plus Emperor Juns no match, victory wasn't guaranteed.

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

"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 pride toward the world."

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

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

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

Hen Ren sneered.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you and will be killed eventually. Since that's the case, I want to 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; the entire Shen Jie rumbled as if it couldn't bear the weight, creating a massive crater.

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

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

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

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

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

"Wait, it's the Undying Emperor Jun's immortality technique..."

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, ignited into a blazing flame, and from within, an unharmed figure slowly emerged.

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Heavenly Dao You Que from his soul?"

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

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

Yet this one had broken free with just one strike—what method had he used?

"I get it... He used the method Hen Ren used 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 similar, like an enhanced contract.

It bound the soul, unbreakable in death.

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 deliberately let Hen Ren use his strongest attack.

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

"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 perfectly, 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 become all things in the world. 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.

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

Is it the wind moving, or the heart?

This age-old 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 the affection for all beings—the intertwined emotions of the world.

All things have emotion; 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!

"Ten thousand 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 touched a new world and gate. His soul was rapidly nourished, and vast chaotic energy surged toward him, elevating his body swiftly.

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

"You..."

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

"You resent the lofty Emperor Juns for not saving you from spatial chaos— that's emotion; you feel humble and angry as my servant— that's emotion; you want to destroy Shen Jie to vent— that's emotion; you seek greater power— that's emotion... Emotion controls you; how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?"

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

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

As long as there was emotion, 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'm willing to offer my soul..."

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

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, a servant was meaningless to him.

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

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded into countless strands of spiritual energy, surging back to every corner of Shen Jie.

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

"This..."

"He's really dead?"

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

They had fought Hen Ren and knew his terror; for such a powerhouse 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 been separated from his body still floating in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

The library that had accompanied him since rebirth embedded itself into Shen Jie's sky with a thunderous sound.

The collapsing Shen Jie visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energy regathered.

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

"It seems Shen Jie 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; Shen Jie's return to its former glory was only a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

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

In that step, he didn't know how far he traveled, and soon 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 absolute 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 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, not knowing how far they flew before stopping 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 also broken through the Emperor Jun barrier, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!"

The youth smiled faintly and looked over. "In other words... Nie Ling Xi, the one you know as Luo Ruoxi's father!"

"Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're... the Shen Jie Heavenly Dao?"

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

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

Nie Yun smiled faintly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

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

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If it weren't for his breakthrough, Shen Jie might have completely fallen. Why had this man done nothing? Not even care about his daughter?

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

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

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

"I once suspected that beyond Shen Jie lay greater powers, so I tried to peer further, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... A single hand descended!"

Nie Yun continued, "If I'd dodged, Shen Jie 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 take just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shen Jie'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 barrier 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 belonging to it. And you didn't disappoint me!"

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not belonging to this world—so, my crossing over was because of you?"

Zhang Xuan was shaken.

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 whim and didn't expect you to truly 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 his, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to retreat, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his drive. Facing someone beyond 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 hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"If Kong Shi had won, Ruoxi would have died..."

After a moment, Zhang Xuan looked over, his brows furrowed.

Was this man indifferent even to his daughter's life?

"With me here, she wouldn't die..."

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "You, now at this level, could you save someone in a life-or-death situation?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan chuckled bitterly.

Breaking through Emperor Jun was a different concept; if he wanted, 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 bitterly. "I'm quite the heartless father... You explain this to her. Her feelings have shifted to you; as her father, I'm probably forgotten. Ha ha, I'll stay hidden for a while; otherwise, she might turn the world upside down..."

Seeing this unreliable father, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he had to agree: "Alright..."

He had no choice; 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 her father, I'm content."

As Nie Yun spoke, the narrative fades, concluding the tale.