Chapter 488: Blinded

The soul contract binds souls together, and as long as the initiator doesn't release it, even if the other party has unparalleled means, it cannot be broken. It's like the Undying Emperor Jun, Jun Xiao Huang Ji, who was only a Shen Wang before, yet even as an Emperor Jun, he couldn't resolve such an agreement. To prevent this individual from reneging and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent 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, the soul contract cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with a special gas that can even resolve the Heavenly Dao, so dissolving this contract isn't difficult… As long as I have enough power to bombard the location of the contract, it can be done!” Hen Ren said.

The soul contract is built on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao, and since this special power can resolve even the God Realm's Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about dissolving a soul contract with proper handling?

“I see…” Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

“Telling you all this is my way of thanking you for bringing me to the God Realm!” After explaining, Hen Ren said no more, his aura growing even more ancient and profound. The black hole behind him expanded further, clearly having devoured an unknown amount of power during their conversation, using it for nourishment.

“Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole swallows, the stronger his power becomes…” Luo Ruoxi noticed something was wrong and hurriedly sent a message.

“Let's prepare to fight!” With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand, and said, “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, 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 an Emperor Jun, it contained all his obsessions, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation to its limit.

Whoosh!

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

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi struck out, her jade hand swirling as sword light fell like snow. Her swordsmanship was somewhat similar to that of the 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…” With a light smile, Hen Ren reached down again.

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

Pfft! Pfft!

Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were both sent flying backward, spitting blood in mid-air. With their strength, they couldn't withstand it! Just what realm had this guy reached?

“Outrageous!” His clone stepped forward, each step blooming with lotus flowers and echoing with the sound of flowing water in the void. From afar, it looked incredibly imposing. After refining the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was no weaker than Zhang Xuan's. He raised a fist, sending power surging into the nine heavens.

But when it clashed with Hen Ren, he too was sent flying, unable to block even one move.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead. Even after becoming an Emperor Jun, his clone 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 if they die, we'll all die…” Xiao Huang Ji roared, his crimson flames burning as if the sky itself was ignited.

The other six great Emperor Juns also unleashed their techniques. The seven Emperor Juns united, capable of destroying heaven and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, swallowed their attacks with his black hole the moment they approached, then counterattacked.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The seven Emperor Juns, like Zhang Xuan and the others, were sent flying. Even the ten great Emperor Juns together couldn't block a single move from him! How could this guy be so powerful?

“You can all die now…” After defeating everyone with one strike, Hen Ren stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

“You insolent rat!” Accompanied by a loud shout, the elder from Jian Shen Tian suddenly appeared, blocking the way, his long sword transforming into a river of stars.

“An Emperor Jun? He's also an Emperor Jun level expert?” Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted. He had thought this elder was just a follower, at most a Feng Hao Shen Wang, but now he realized he was also an Emperor Jun powerhouse! If he was an Emperor Jun, then what about that youth?

“He is an Emperor Jun from 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 is…” Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when the space twisted, and they saw the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun also sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a huge pit.

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

“Ha ha, Emperor Juns are nothing but a bunch of insignificant creatures! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, destroy this God Realm, and trample all rules!” After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun, Hen Ren laughed wildly, the space around him collapsing, making him seem 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 ultimate move, yet none could block even one of his strikes… Could it be that no one in the God Realm could stop this person? And let him destroy the world?

“The only way… is to return your Heavenly Dao with defects to the Heavenly Dao itself, letting it suppress him…” Luo Ruoxi's delicate fists clenched, her eyes reddening.

“Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?” Zhang Xuan understood her meaning. The library in his mind was part of the Heavenly Dao. Once returned, the Heavenly Dao would be complete, 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 person can succumb to invasion.

But…

“He's too powerful; even if the Heavenly Dao is restored, it might not suppress him!” Zhang Xuan shook his head. Viruses can be killed by the immune system, but what about a fierce tiger? This person was just an ordinary Shen Wang, and even as a titled one, the Heavenly Dao could kill him easily. But now he was stronger than Emperor Juns… beyond what the Heavenly Dao could handle.

“This…” Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. “You're right… It might not suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken and kill this person without difficulty!”

“He?” Zhang Xuan frowned.

“I'll take you to see him; he's in Zi You Tian…” Taking a deep breath, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and flew forward.

“Trying to escape?” Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi fell from the air.

“You…” Zhang Xuan unleashed his sword technique again, his sword intent shining brightly.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

“You all go; I'll hold him off…” Knowing they were trying to save the God Realm, not flee, his clone and the Undying Emperor Zun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jing Kong Pearl form. The surrounding space solidified.

“Go!” Seeing everyone fearlessly blocking behind them, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew it wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi and flickered through space, appearing in Zi You Tian's range the next moment.

Zi You Tian was no longer as free as before; the God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

“Where is the person you mentioned?” Zhang Xuan had no time to observe ordinary lives and looked at the girl in his arms. If that person could truly save the God Realm, his own sacrifice would be worth it.

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

“Is your father also an Emperor Jun? Or does he have strength beyond that?” He couldn't help asking. The library's chaos was calmed by the blood in the pendant. Could it be that not only she was an Emperor Jun, but her father was too, or even stronger? If so, why was he in a coma? And why did he need the Heavenly Dao's defects to awaken?

“He isn't an Emperor Jun; he is… 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 with Order and Heavenly Dao with Defects 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 was so determined, why I couldn't fail! That's why I specifically entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chun Qiu Classic 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 he did. It was her father, and he was the God Realm's Heavenly Dao! Could the Heavenly Dao really take human form and have children?

“I was acting as Heavenly Dao Natural… but I don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in me.” Suddenly realizing the oddity in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

“I'm just controlling 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 Heavenly Dao with Defects; she didn't have to die. Though he was unwilling to accept this fate, he didn't want the girl in front of him to be harmed.

“If I separate the Heavenly Dao with Defects from my body, your father can awaken and even kill Hen Ren, right?” Zhang Xuan asked.

“This… I'm not sure…” Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing God Realm. The God Realm was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he really defeat that powerful Hen Ren? It was hard to say!

“It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves… We have to find a way ourselves!” 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…” Luo Ruoxi frowned.

“He's already 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 probably like Wei Changfeng, a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!” Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng had made him realize that Kong Shi's way of preserving his spirit was likely the same—as a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti. It allowed one to remain undeluded even in the womb. With his prior preparations, revival was only a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, seemingly not expecting this.

“We'll know once we check. If I'm right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have stayed away from the Tide Sea…” Zhang Xuan said. Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng and the others, were all powerful. Even without an Emperor Jun's help, they could enter the Tide Sea, yet none had appeared. They must have something more important—helping Kong Shi recover.

“This…” Luo Ruoxi's heart shook as she suddenly understood.

“Let's go!” Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, returning to where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in mid-air in a meditative pose. Seeing them arrive, he smiled slightly. “You've come!”

Who else could it be but Kong Shi? This teacher of ten thousand ages hadn't disappointed him! As guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was on the Tide Sea.

“You…” Luo Ruoxi's body trembled. She knew Emperor Juns could revive, like the Undying Emperor Jun, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

“I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a backup in advance. The nameless giant in the You Hun Pool was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to escape the Heavenly Dao's bindings and reform my body. I've only just recovered now!” Kong Shi smiled faintly. He was proficient in time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in the God Realm, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

“Our combined strength is strong, but defeating Hen Ren won't be easy…” Seeing Kong Shi had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head. It wasn't about boosting the enemy or discouraging ourselves; it was the truth. So many had joined forces earlier and still couldn't block him. Adding one more Kong Shi wouldn't change the situation!

“If we fight individually or even together, we're no match for him, but… what if we fuse all our power into one person?” Kong Shi looked over with a smile.

“Fuse into one person?” This time, not just Luo Ruoxi frowned—Zhang Xuan was full of doubt too.

“That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao; its strength is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and devoured the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. Individually, we ten-plus Emperor Juns are no match…” Kong Shi said, “But if we unite and concentrate our power into one person… maybe then we can!”

“How do we concentrate it?” Luo Ruoxi asked. It sounded simple, but doing it was hard. Emperor Juns stood at the God Realm's peak; if absorbing others' power was that easy, she wouldn't have stagnated for so long.

“It's simple… We'll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Emperor Jun's shackles, he can save the God Realm!” Kong Shi said.

“Me?” Zhang Xuan was stunned. “Why me?”

“Ling Xi Emperor Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I 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 their fight, he had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, they had held back, like sparring rather than a life-or-death battle.

“Unable to transcend, he can't unleash his full power. Even with more true energy, he couldn't impact that supreme realm! As for me…” Kong Shi nodded. “I have the heart to embrace all living beings and save the world, but I'm unwilling to let others sacrifice for me. Too much benevolence 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 is seamless, without flaws. He values living true to himself; even in death, as long as he has no regrets, his heart is clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!” Kong Shi 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…” 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 Emperor Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her her own understanding. I control Heavenly Dao with Order; if we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and extinguish 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 from both sides into him. Zhang Xuan's body stiffened, as if he had instantly become the Heavenly Dao, soaring above the nine heavens. His soul, body, and true energy were all rapidly cleansed, growing stronger and more abundant.

…

“You want to stop me too? Fine, I'll kill you all first, then go after Zhang Xuan…” After slapping Luo Qiqi and the others away, Hen Ren sneered coldly. The combined power of the clone and the various Emperor Juns was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak. The Tide Sea 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 power to destroy the world; these Emperor Juns and Shen Wangs, despite representing the God Realm's peak, were no match. At that moment, Hen Ren 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…” Yun Chi Emperor Jun transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

“You? You're not worthy!” Hen Ren clenched his hand, and the golden dragon was trapped in his palm, struggling futilely.

“My old friend, wait for me!” Fu Meng Emperor Jun roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward.

The Undying Emperor Jun revealed his Undying Fire Phoenix form, flames illuminating the sky.

Xuan Ming Emperor Jun's true form was a 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 was frozen in an 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 tighten, frozen in mid-air.

“Want to kill them? Did you ask me first?” Then, to everyone's shocked gaze, a figure slowly walked 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.

“You've improved a lot…” Hen Ren stopped, his gaze serious. He clearly didn't understand how the other'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, Hen Ren struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack. The two clashed, tearing space apart and sending energy surging everywhere.

“Can Zhang Xuan win?” In Zi You Tian, at Kong Shi's residence, Luo Ruoxi watched worriedly. She and Kong Shi had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, reducing their own cultivation to only Shen Wang level, no longer as glorious as before. However, their foundation remained; with enough power, they could recover someday.

“With his current strength, winning… is difficult! Unless… he can comprehend a power that transcends Emperor Jun!” After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said. Even with the power of over ten Emperor Juns transferred to him, defeating Hen Ren wouldn't be easy. The reason for this was to concentrate the power into one person, potentially touching the pinnacle and truly breaking limits.

“A power that transcends Emperor Jun?” Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant. Her father had said the same when he was awake, but… could the man she loved achieve it?

“He can… He has an unyielding heart and pride toward the world.” Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

…

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several exchanges, Zhang Xuan's tiger's mouth split open, and a huge gash appeared on his chest, ghastly and terrifying. As Kong Shi had said, even with the fused power forming a complete Heavenly Dao in his body, he was still no match.

“Ha ha, I thought you were 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 and stopped attacking, instead looking at Hen Ren.

“Fine, I'll grant you that—your strongest attack…” Hearing this, Hen Ren paused, then snorted coldly, raising his hand.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down. It was indeed his strongest attack; the entire God Realm rumbled, as if it couldn't bear the weight, creating a massive crater.

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered.

“Zhang Xuan…” Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Emperor Jun and the others widened their eyes, trembling nonstop.

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, seeing this, were both stunned. The intention was for him to break through the shackles and reach beyond the Emperor Jun realm. Why didn't he resist and choose death? Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

“Wrong—it's the Undying Emperor Jun's immortality method…” Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke.

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

“He… used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Heavenly Dao with Defects from his soul?” Luo Ruoxi's pupils shrank. The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body; without the Heavenly Dao's interference, he was free from it!

“How did he do that?” Kong Shi was full of disbelief. To escape, he had to scatter his soul and reform it in the You Hun Pool. Yet this one had broken free after just one strike—what method did he use?

“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 even in death. But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about the details earlier—probably then he had the idea. So, he deliberately let himself be struck with the strongest attack. Using that power for rebirth, it had succeeded brilliantly!

“So, that's the way to break through Emperor Jun…” The reborn Zhang Xuan 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 showed signs of loosening, as if it could break through at any moment.

“Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student bonds, parent-child bonds, romantic love… Fused together, they are the essence of all things; that's what it means to be human!” With a smile, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself. The moment the Heavenly Dao library left his soul, he understood.

Is it people who give meaning to the world, or does the world exist first for people?

Is it the wind that moves, or the heart?

This eternal question had puzzled countless people.

But now… none of that mattered! Without life, without emotions, what meaning does the world have? So, after breaking through love, it was the bonds of all living beings—the intertwined 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 instantly. He had broken through the Emperor Jun's barriers!

In that moment, 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 rapidly. He used to need spiritual energy to progress, but now spatial chaos, chaotic energy, even the opponent's green light—anything could be his, indistinguishable.

“You…” Hen Ren hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to help him instead. Enraged, he roared and attacked again.

“You resent the lofty Emperor Juns for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; wanting to destroy the God Realm to vent your anger—that's emotion; desiring to grow stronger—that's emotion… Emotions control you; how can you defeat me, who controls them?” With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder. He gently grasped his hand.

The once invincible Hen Ren was bound by countless emotional threads, immobilized. As long as there are emotions, they can be used by him, controlled by him!

“You…” Hen Ren's eyes filled with panic. “Zhang Shi, I'm your servant; don't kill me… I'll offer my soul…”

“It's too late for that now…” Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head. Controlling the emotions of the world, something like a servant meant nothing to him. He had killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qiqi, and so many friends. Today, how could he forgive?

“No…” Sensing his resolve, Hen Ren's pupils contracted. Before he could finish, he felt intense pain throughout his body.

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged back to the God Realm. All the power the Tide Sea had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the withered wilderness.

“This…”

“It's over just like that?” Yun Chi Emperor Jun, the Undying Emperor Jun, Ling Long Xian Zi, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief. They had fought Hen Ren and knew his terror. For such a powerful being to be vanquished so easily, what level had Zhang Xuan reached? Could there truly be a realm beyond Emperor Jun?

“He succeeded…” Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

“This is part of the Heavenly Dao; I'll return it now…” Seeing the “Heavenly Dao with Defects” that had just separated from his body still floating in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

The library that had accompanied him since rebirth embedded itself into the God Realm's sky with a thunderous ring. The crumbling God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energies gathered once more. The collapsing world finally stopped, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Hen Ren's death.

“It seems the God Realm is about to enter an era of spiritual energy revival…” Zhang Xuan smiled. The hole in the Tide Sea had closed with the Heavenly Dao's completion; the God Realm returning to its former glory was only a matter of time.

“Zhang Xuan, come here…” Just as he finished, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan paused and stepped forward. In that step, he didn't know how far he traveled, 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's body radiated an unstoppable sword intent as he 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 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 his own, having also broken through Emperor Jun's barriers, and his cultivation was even deeper and more profound!

“I am Nie Yun!” The youth smiled faintly and looked over. “Also… Nie Ling Xi, the one you know as Luo Ruoxi's father!”

“If Xi's father?” Zhang Xuan was shocked. “You… are the God Realm's Heavenly Dao?” Luo Ruoxi had said her father was the Heavenly Dao, but he never imagined it was this young man.

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

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it. The God Realm was created by this person? Then how strong was he?

“Wait, if the God Realm is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why did you let Hen Ren rampage without intervening… even regarding your daughter's life?” Zhang Xuan asked.

Nie Yun didn't answer the question directly but looked over. “Do you think… beyond the God Realm, there are even stronger beings?”

“This…” Zhang Xuan paused. “There should be…” Though he hadn't seen any, since this person could reach this level, others might too, or even exceed it—like the one before him.

“I once suspected that beyond the God Realm, there might be stronger life forms, so I tried to peer further, ultimately drawing a backlash from a higher world… a hand descended from the void!” Nie Yun said, “If I had dodged, the entire God Realm might have been wiped out, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but my incarnated Heavenly Dao was scattered.”

“In that state, restoring it would take just a thought, but… I realized that to truly transcend the God Realm's limits, explore where that hand came from, and see what's beyond… I can't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through Emperor Jun's barriers and reach my level!”

“That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds… granting them to souls originally of this world and one not belonging to it. And you didn't disappoint me in the end!” Nie Yun laughed.

“A soul not of this world—so, my crossing over was because of you?” Zhang Xuan's heart shook. No wonder he could cross over—it was all this person'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 fleeting thought 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 his current state would have been impossible.

“The opportunity was given to him, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to retreat, thinking he had a backup to escape unscathed. In reality, he lost his drive to advance fiercely. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how could he contend?” Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent. He had watched their fight; Kong Shi had indeed lacked decisiveness. Perhaps he didn't want to kill Luo Ruoxi.

“If Kong Shi had won, If Xi would have died…” After a moment, Zhang Xuan looked over, his brows furrowing. Was this person indifferent even to his daughter's life?

“With me here, she wouldn't die…” Nie Yun smiled faintly. “You and I are on similar levels now. In a life-or-death situation, do you think I could save someone?”

“This…” Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly. Breaking through Emperor Jun was a different concept; if he wanted to, he could save someone at the last moment without a scratch.

“Ling Xi is the child of my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, so she used the surname Luo as a disguise… To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma until now…” Nie Yun sighed. “I'm quite the heartless father… Anyway, you explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you; as her father, I'm probably forgotten… Ha ha, I'll stay hidden for now and reappear later, or she might turn everything upside down.”

Seeing how unreliable this father was, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he had no choice but to agree. “Alright…” He had no choice; who asked him to win over the man's daughter?

“The Heavenly Dao library was a thought of mine; it's both the foundation and the shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. With my daughter by your side, as her father, I'm relieved.” As Nie Yun spoke, the text cuts off here.