Chapter 485: It Begins

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 with Bù Sǐ Dì Jūn and Xiǎo Huáng Jī; before, he was only a Shén Wáng, yet as a Dì Jūn, he couldn't resolve such an agreement either. To prevent this individual from reneging and causing backlash, the Míng Shī Dà Lù had specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao registry, they still couldn't break free from the soul contract.

"Indeed, the soul contract cannot be separated 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 bombard the location of the contract, it can be done!" Hēn Rén 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..." Zhāng Xuán's eyes flashed.

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

After explaining, Hēn Rén said no more. His aura grew even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further, clearly having devoured an unknown amount of power during their conversation, using it for nourishment.

"Zhāng Xuán, the more the black hole swallows, the stronger he becomes..." Luò Ruò Xī noticed something was wrong and quickly sent a telepathic message.

"Let's make our move!"

With his doubts cleared, Zhāng Xuán took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand abruptly, and said, "In that case, let's settle this with our skills!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

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

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

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by a Dì Jūn, it contained all his inner obsessions, pushing his Tiān Ruò Yǒu Qíng cultivation to its limit.

Whoosh!

With one sword strike, he cleaved Hēn Rén's attack in two.

At the same time, Luò Ruò Xī made her move, her jade hand swirling as sword light fell like snow.

Her swordsmanship resembled that of the young man from Jiàn Shén Tiān, 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 light smile, Hēn Rén reached down again.

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

Pfft! Pfft!

Zhāng Xuán and Luò Ruò Xī were both sent flying backward, blood spraying from their mouths in mid-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.

After refining the Jiǔ Tiān Hún Chàn Jīn Lián, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhāng Xuán's.

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

But when it clashed with Hēn Rén, he too was sent flying, unable to block even one strike.

Zhāng Xuán clutched his forehead.

Having become a Dì Jūn, his clone still hadn't changed its habit of showing off...

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

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

Xiǎo Huáng Jī roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The remaining six Dì Jūn also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Dì Jūn united, their power enough to destroy the heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hēn Rén, having absorbed the special power, simply let the black hole expand as their attacks approached, devouring everything in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The seven Dì Jūn, along with Zhāng Xuán and the others, were all sent flying.

Even the ten great Dì Jūn combined 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, Hēn Rén stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"How dare you!"

Accompanied by a loud shout, the elder from Jiàn Shén Tiān suddenly appeared, blocking the way with his long sword transforming into a galaxy.

"A Dì Jūn? He's also at the Dì Jūn level?"

Zhāng Xuán's pupils contracted.

This elder had followed the young man before, whom he thought was just an attendant, at most a Fēng Hào Shén Wáng. But now, he realized the elder was also a Dì Jūn powerhouse!

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

"He's the Dì Jūn of Jiàn Shén Tiān..."

Struggling to stand, Luò Ruò Xī gritted her teeth and said.

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

Zhāng Xuán couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

Luò Ruò Xī was about to answer when the space twisted, and the Jiàn Shén Tiān elder was sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater.

With Zhāng Xuán'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 ha, Dì Jūn? A bunch of insignificant creatures! Today, I'll destroy the nine heavens, destroy this God Realm, and trample all rules!"

After defeating the Jiàn Shén Tiān elder, Hēn Rén laughed maniacally, the surrounding space collapsing as he appeared demonic and otherworldly.

"What do we do?"

Zhāng Xuán clenched his fists.

He and his clone had already used their full power, and even Luò Ruò Xī had unleashed her strongest techniques, yet none could block a single strike from him...

Was there truly no one in the God Realm who could stop this man?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

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

Luò Ruò Xī clenched her fists, her eyes reddening.

"Return it to the Heavenly Dao itself?"

Zhāng Xuán understood her meaning.

The library in his mind was part of the Heavenly Dao. Once returned, the Heavenly Dao would be complete, potentially fixing the flaws and expelling Hēn Rén.

It was like the immune system of the body.

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

But...

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

Zhāng Xuán shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary Shén Wáng, yet even beyond Dì Jūn level... He was no longer something the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..."

Luò Ruò Xī 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 man without difficulty!"

"He?"

Zhāng Xuán frowned.

"I'll take you to see him. He's in Zì Zài Tiān..."

Taking a deep breath, Luò Ruò Xī gritted her teeth and flew forward.

"Thinking of escaping?"

Hēn Rén snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luò Ruò Xī plummeted from the air.

"You..."

Zhāng Xuán unleashed his sword technique again, his sword intent glorious.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hēn Rén once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save the God Realm, not flee, his clone and Bù Sǐ Dì Zūn shouted, blocking the way, while Luò Qī Qī transformed back into the Jìng Kōng Zhū.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone blocking fearlessly, even facing death, Zhāng Xuán's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luò Ruò Xī and vanished through space, reappearing in the Zì Zài Tiān area.

Zì Zài Tiān was no longer as peaceful as before; the God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is the person you mentioned?"

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

If this person could truly save the God Realm, his own sacrifice would be worth it.

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his, and Bù Sǐ Dì Jūn was once his beast pet..."

After regulating her breath, Luò Ruò Xī explained.

"Father?"

Zhāng Xuán suddenly realized.

No wonder he always felt the blood in the pendant was similar to Luò Ruò Xī's, yet different—it was her father's.

That also explained why Bù Sǐ Dì Jūn's remnant will recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also a Dì Jūn? Or does he possess strength beyond Dì Jūn?"

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos was calmed by the pendant's blood. Could it be that not only she was a Dì Jūn, but her father was too, and even stronger?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did he need the Heavenly Dao's flaw to awaken?

"He's not a Dì Jūn; he's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luò Ruò Xī clenched her fists.

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

Zhāng Xuán 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 Flawed entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain the God Realm's balance. The only way to restore him is to collect the scattered parts... That's why I've been so determined, unwilling to fail! That's why I entered the Míng Shī Dà Lù to study the Chūn Qiū Dà Diǎn and find a way to defeat Kǒng Shī! And when I fought Kǒng Shī, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luò Ruò Xī said.

Zhāng Xuán suddenly understood.

Not long after they met on the Míng Shī Dà Lù, this girl had told him her story about saving a close relative, but he hadn't grasped it then. Now, he realized—it was her father, and he was the God Realm's Heavenly Dao!

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

"You mentioned taking control of Heavenly Dao Natural... So, you don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?"

Suddenly noticing the oddity in her words, Zhāng Xuán looked at her.

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

Luò Ruò Xī said.

Zhāng Xuán breathed a sigh of relief.

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

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

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao Flawed from my body, your father can awaken and even slay Hēn Rén, right?"

Zhāng Xuán asked.

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

Luò Ruò Xī glanced at the collapsing God Realm, hesitating.

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

It was hard to say!

"Since even you can't be certain, it's better to rely on ourselves... We have to find a way!"

Zhāng Xuán gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, the nine great emperors, and even Kǒng Shī—if we work together, we might not lose!"

"Kǒng Shī? He..."

Luò Ruò Xī frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm guessing correctly, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... Unexpectedly, he's like Wèi Cháng Fēng—a Xiān Tiān Tāi Hún Tǐ!"

Zhāng Xuán said.

Seeing Wèi Cháng Fēng had made him realize that Kǒng Shī's way of preserving his spirit was the same—as a Xiān Tiān Tāi Hún Tǐ.

He could remain undeluded in the womb, and with his prior arrangements, revival was only a matter of time.

Luò Ruò Xī 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 the Cháoxī Hǎi..."

Zhāng Xuán said.

Kǒng Shī's students, like Zǐ Yuān Gǔ Shèng and the others, were all incredibly strong. Even without a Dì Jūn's help, they could enter the Cháoxī Hǎi, yet none had appeared.

They must have something more important—helping Kǒng Shī recover.

"This..."

Luò Ruò Xī's heart shook, suddenly understanding.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhāng Xuán waved his hand and returned to where Kǒng Shī resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them arrive, he smiled slightly. "You've come!"

It was no one other than Kǒng Shī!

This teacher of all ages hadn't disappointed him!

As guessed, while everyone's attention was on the Cháoxī Hǎi, he had revived.

"You..."

Luò Ruò Xī trembled.

She knew Dì Jūn could revive, as Bù Sǐ Dì Jūn 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 the Yōu Hún 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!"

Kǒng Shī smiled faintly.

He was proficient in time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in the God Realm, he had experienced an unknown amount of time to restore his power—perhaps decades.

"Even with the three of us, defeating Hēn Rén won't be easy..."

Seeing Kǒng Shī had indeed recovered, Luò Ruò Xī 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 Kǒng Shī wouldn't change the outcome.

"Individually, or even together, we're no match for him. But what if we fuse all our power into one person?"

Kǒng Shī looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse it into one person?"

This time, not just Luò Ruò Xī, but Zhāng Xuán was also full of confusion.

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hēn Rén has absorbed that power and devoured the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Dì Jūn, can't match him alone..."

Kǒng Shī said. "But if we unite and concentrate our power into one person... then maybe."

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luò Ruò Xī asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Dì Jūn stood at the peak of the God Realm; if it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have stagnated for so many years.

"It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhāng Xuán. Once he breaks through the Dì Jūn shackles, he can save the God Realm!"

Kǒng Shī said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhāng Xuán was stunned.

"Líng Xī Dì Zūn 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, during our fight, you once gave up and intended to let me kill you."

Kǒng Shī said.

Luò Ruò Xī fell silent.

In their battle, that thought had indeed crossed her mind, so at the beginning, they had both held back, fighting like a spar rather than to the death.

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

Kǒng Shī nodded. "I care for all living beings and wish to save the world, but I'm too unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—too much mercy is a flaw! If I'd been more ruthless and wiped out the Yì Líng Zú, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had exterminated the Yì Líng Zú back then, Hēn Rén couldn't have revived, and none of this would have happened.

"So, I'm not suitable either! But Zhāng Xuán's cultivation follows his heart, without flaws. He values living true to himself; even in death, as long as he's lived without regret, his heart is clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!"

Kǒng Shī continued.

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

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

"This..."

Zhāng Xuán frowned, about to say something, when Kǒng Shī looked at him intently. "Don't refuse; there's no time. Training someone else isn't feasible, and even if it were, I don't think anyone could do it better than you! Líng Xī Dì Zūn has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her 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 Jiǔ Tiān Hún Chàn Jīn Lián, you can stabilize the nine heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the decision was made, Zhāng Xuán nodded.

Boom!

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

Zhāng Xuán'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 purified, growing stronger and more abundant.

...

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

After slapping Luò Qī Qī and the others away, Hēn Rén sneered coldly.

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

The Cháoxī Hǎi had devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy the heavens and earth. These Dì Jūn and Shén Wáng, representing the God Realm's peak, were still no match.

At that moment, Hēn Rén seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unstoppable.

"The God Realm's destruction means our lives are meaningless too. I'll go down with you..."

Yún Chī Dà Dì transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? You're not worthy!"

Hēn Rén clenched his hand, and the golden dragon was trapped in his palm, struggling futilely.

"My old friend, wait for me!"

Fú Měng Dì Jūn roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward.

Bù Sǐ Dì Jūn revealed his undead fire phoenix form, flames illuminating the sky.

Xuán Míng Dà Dì's true form was a massive turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

The four divine beasts, guarding the God Realm's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing realm.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hēn Rén 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 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 Zhāng Xuán!

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..."

Hēn Rén halted, his gaze turning serious.

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

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

With a cold snort, Hēn Rén struck down again.

Zhāng Xuán raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, space tearing apart and energy raging everywhere.

"Can Zhāng Xuán win?"

In the Zì Zài Tiān residence of Kǒng Shī, Luò Ruò Xī watched worriedly.

She and Kǒng Shī had transferred their power to Zhāng Xuán, reducing their own cultivation to only Shén Wáng level, no longer as glorious as before.

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

"With his current strength, winning is tough! Unless... he can comprehend a power beyond Dì Jūn!"

After a moment of silence, Kǒng Shī said.

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

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

"A power beyond Dì Jūn?"

Luò Ruò Xī'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, Kǒng Shī smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

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

"Ha ha, I thought you'd be something special. Turns out you're just this!"

Hēn Rén sneered.

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

Taking a deep breath, Zhāng Xuán stopped attacking and looked at Hēn Rén.

"Fine, I'll give you my strongest attack..."

Hearing this, Hēn Rén 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.

Zhāng Xuán closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, his soul scattering.

"Zhāng Xuán..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luò Qī Qī seemed to go mad.

Yún Chī Dà Dì and the others stared in disbelief, trembling.

Kǒng Shī and Luò Ruò Xī were also stunned.

The intention was for him to break through the shackles and reach beyond the Dì Jūn realm. Why had he chosen to face death without resistance?

Wasn't this a waste of their efforts?

"Something's wrong—it's Bù Sǐ Dì Jūn's immortality technique..."

Just as they wondered, Kǒng Shī spoke.

Everyone saw that Zhāng Xuán, whose head had exploded and soul shattered, had the pendant on his chest 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 Flawed from his soul?"

Luò Ruò Xī's pupils shrank.

The reborn Zhāng Xuán no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body, free from its interference and the Heavenly Dao's bindings.

"How did he do that?"

Kǒng Shī was full of disbelief.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and reform it in the Yōu Hún Pool.

Yet this young man had freed himself with just one strike—what method had he used?

"I get it... He used Hēn Rén's method to escape the soul contract..."

Luò Ruò Xī realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant; without the master's release, the servant was forever bound... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract tied to the soul, indestructible unless dead.

But Hēn Rén had used that special power to escape, and Zhāng Xuán had asked about it in detail before, likely planning it then.

That's why he deliberately let Hēn Rén strike him with full force.

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

"So, this is the way to break through Dì Jūn..."

The Zhāng Xuán emerging from the flames smiled faintly, as if enlightened. He waved his hand, and his clone instantly turned back into a lotus flower and flew to him.

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

To everyone's eyes, Zhāng Xuán now seemed to 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 Jiǔ Tiān Hún Chàn Jīn Lián, 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 Jiǔ Tiān Hún Chàn Jīn Lián's cultivation, his already peak realm began to loosen, as if breakthrough was imminent.

"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!"

Smiling, Zhāng Xuán murmured to himself.

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

Did the world exist because people observed it, or did people come after the world?

Was 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 did the world have?

So, after breaking through romantic love came the bonds of all living 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!

"Ten thousand emotions, all for my use..."

With a low cry, the shackles in Zhāng Xuán's body shattered instantly.

The Dì Jūn barrier was broken!

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

Countless chaotic energies surged toward him, and his body rapidly strengthened.

He could now absorb not just spiritual energy, but spatial chaos, chaotic energy—even the opponent's green light—making it all his own.

"You..."

Hēn Rén hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, and he raged, "Wah wah!" before striking down again.

"You resent the lofty Dì Jūn for not saving you from the 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 crave more power—that's emotion... Emotion controls you; how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?"

With a faint smile, Zhāng Xuán's voice grew faster and louder. He gently reached out.

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

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

"You..."

Hēn Rén's eyes filled with panic. "Zhāng Shī, I'm your servant; don't kill me... I'll offer my soul..."

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

Zhāng Xuán smiled and shook his head.

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

He had killed so many in the God Realm, hurt his girlfriend Luò Qī Qī, and so many friends. How could he forgive that today?

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged back to the God Realm.

All the power the Cháoxī Hǎi had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the withered wastelands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yún Chī Dà Dì, Bù Sǐ Dì Jūn, Líng Lóng Xiān Zǐ, and the others stared in disbelief.

They had fought Hēn Rén and knew his terror. For this young man to extinguish him so easily—what realm had he reached?

Was there truly a level beyond Dì Jūn?

"He succeeded..."

Kǒng Shī and Luò Ruò Xī unclenched their fists.

"This is part of the Heavenly Dao; I'll return it now..."

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao Flawed" that had just separated from his body still floating in the air, Zhāng Xuán 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 ring.

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

The shattered realm finally stopped, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Hēn Rén's death.

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

Zhāng Xuán smiled.

The Cháoxī Hǎi gap had closed with the Heavenly Dao's completion, and the God Realm returning to its former glory was only a matter of time.

"Zhāng Xuán, come here..."

As he finished, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhāng Xuán paused and stepped forward.

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

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhāng Xuán was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the absolute peak of Dì Jūn, far surpassing the previous Luò Ruò Xī.

"Just call me by my name. I'm Niè Tóng!"

The young man exuded an unstoppable sword intent and said lightly.

"Niè Tóng?"

Zhāng Xuán frowned; he'd never heard the name.

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

Niè Tóng smiled and stepped forward.

Zhāng Xuán followed closely, flying an unknown distance before stopping at a mountain peak.

There, another young man stood.

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

"This strength..."

Zhāng Xuán trembled.

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

"I'm Niè Yún!"

The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Also... Niè Líng Xī, the one you know as Luò Ruò Xī's father!"

"Luò Ruò Xī's father?"

Zhāng Xuán was shocked. "You're the God Realm's Heavenly Dao?"

Luò Ruò Xī had said her father was the Heavenly Dao, but he never imagined it would be such a young man.

"I used the 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."

Niè Yún smiled faintly.

Zhāng Xuán 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 didn't you act against Hēn Rén's rampage... or even care about your daughter's life?"

Zhāng Xuán asked.

Niè Yún didn't answer directly but looked at him. "Do you think there's life beyond the God Realm that's even stronger?"

"This..."

Zhāng Xuán paused. "There probably is..."

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

"I once suspected there was life beyond the God Realm, so I tried my hardest to peer out, ultimately provoking a backlash from a higher world... A giant hand descended!"

Niè Yún continued, "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 scattered as a result."

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

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

Niè Yún laughed.

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

Zhāng Xuán's heart shook.

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

"Heh!"

Niè Yún chuckled lightly. "A soul native to this world has reverence for it, making it harder to break through its shackles. I just had a whim and didn't expect you to succeed..."

"I..."

Zhāng Xuán's face reddened. "Without Kǒng Shī, I couldn't have reached this level..."

Without Kǒng Shī's selflessness, it would have been impossible.

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

Niè Yún said.

Zhāng Xuán fell silent.

He had witnessed their fight; Kǒng Shī had indeed lacked decisiveness.

He might not have wanted to kill Luò Ruò Xī.

"But if Kǒng Shī had won, Líng Xī would have died..."

After a moment, Zhāng Xuán looked over, his brows furrowing.

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

"With me there, she wouldn't have died..."

Niè Yún smiled faintly. "Now that your strength is almost on par with mine, do you think, in a life-or-death situation, I could save someone without a scratch?"

"This..."

Zhāng Xuán smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Dì Jūn was a different concept; if he wanted to, he could indeed save someone at the last moment, ensuring no harm.

"Líng Xī is the child of my other wife, Luò Qīng Chéng, so she used the surname Luò as a disguise. To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma... I'm quite the heartless father, aren't I? Anyway, you explain this to her. Her feelings have shifted to you now; she probably doesn't even think of me anymore... Ha ha, I'll stay hidden for a while; otherwise, she might turn the world upside down. I'll show up later."

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

"The Heavenly Dao library was a manifestation of my intent—both a foundation and a shackle. That you broke through it with your own ability shows your potential. With my daughter by your side, as her father, I'm content."