Chapter 491: The Performing Arts Family

The Linghun Qiyue binds souls together, and as long as the initiator doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party has unparalleled means, it cannot be broken. It's like the case of the Undying Emperor Monarch, Xiaohuangji, who was once only a God King; even as an Emperor Monarch himself, he couldn't resolve such a pact. 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-based agreement.

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

Ruthless Person said.

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

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

Ruthless Person continued, "I've told you all this as a way to thank you for bringing me to the God Realm!"

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

"Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole absorbs, the stronger he gets..."

Luo Ruoxi noticed something was wrong and hurriedly sent a telepathic message.

"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, to die is to long for each other!

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

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level of an Emperor Monarch's enlightenment, it contained all of his inner obsessions, pushing his Heavenly Path Emotionless Art to its limits.

Whoosh!

With one sword strike, he cleaved Ruthless Person's attack in two.

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

Her sword style resembled that of the young man from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of the Great Dao.

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

With a gentle laugh, he 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 were about to be forcibly pulled down.

Thud! Thud!

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

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

Just how far had this guy reached in his cultivation?

"Outrageous!" Zhang Xuan's 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 Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, 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 Ruthless Person, he too was sent flying, unable to block even one move.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming an Emperor Monarch, his clone hadn't lost its habit of showing off...

Such flashy displays might look good, but concentrating the power would make it even stronger!

"Let's all attack together, or we'll all die if they fall..." Xiaohuangji roared, his crimson flames blazing and setting the sky ablaze.

The other six great Emperor Monarchs also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor Monarchs united, their power enough to destroy the heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Ruthless Person, having absorbed the special power, simply let his black hole expand suddenly, swallowing their attacks in the blink of an eye before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten great Emperor Monarchs together couldn't block a single move from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

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

"How dare you!" 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 Monarch? He's also an Emperor Monarch?" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just an attendant, at most a titled God King, but now he realized he was also an Emperor Monarch powerhouse!

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

"He's the Emperor Monarch of Jian Shen Tian..." Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

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

"He's..." Before Luo Ruoxi could answer, the space twisted, and the Jian Shen Tian's Emperor Monarch was sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a huge crater.

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

"Ha! Emperor Monarchs are nothing but a bunch of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate the God Realm, and trample all rules!"

Defeating the Jian Shen Tian's Emperor Monarch, Ruthless Person laughed maniacally, the surrounding space collapsing as he appeared demonic and otherworldly.

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

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

Was there really 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 with Defect 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 Ruthless Person.

It was like the human immune system.

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, could it suppress him?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

Ruthless Person was just an ordinary God King, yet even titled ones could be easily killed by the Heavenly Dao. Now, he was stronger than Emperor Monarchs... far beyond what the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..." Luo Ruoxi paused, her fair face showing disappointment. "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 Zizaitian..." Taking a deep breath, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and flew forward.

"Thinking of escaping?" Ruthless Person 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!

It was blocked by Ruthless Person once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save the God Realm, not flee, Zhang Xuan's clone and the Undying Emperor Monarch shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jing Kong Zhu form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly holding the line, unafraid of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened. But he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, tore through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in Zizaitian's domain.

Zizaitian was no longer as peaceful as before. The God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is he?" Zhang Xuan asked the girl in his arms, ignoring the ordinary lives around them.

If this person could truly save the God Realm, what was his own sacrifice worth?

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his. The Undying Emperor Monarch 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.

"So, your father is also an Emperor Monarch? Or even stronger?"

He couldn't help asking.

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

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 Monarch. He's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father... is the Heavenly Dao?" Zhang Xuan was stunned, in disbelief.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that giant hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Heavenly Dao with Order and Heavenly Dao with Defect 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 gather those scattered parts... That's why I've been so determined, unable to fail! That's why I entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Master Kong! And when I fought Master Kong, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan finally understood.

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 grasped it then, but now he did.

It was her father, and he was the God Realm's Heavenly Dao!

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

"You mentioned taking control of Heavenly Dao Natural... So, you don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in you?" Zhang Xuan suddenly realized the inconsistency in her words.

Taking control and fusing with it, like he had, were two different things.

"I only control it; I'm not part of the Heavenly Dao..."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief.

That meant he only needed to separate his own Heavenly Dao with Defect; she didn't have to die.

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

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao with Defect from me, your father can awaken and even slay Ruthless Person, 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 defeat that powerful Ruthless Person?

It was hard to say!

"Since you can't be certain, it's better to rely on ourselves... We have to find a way!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and even Master Kong—if we work together, we might still win!"

"Master Kong? He's..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm guessing correctly, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... He's probably like Wei Changfeng, with an Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng had made him realize that Master Kong's way of preserving his spirit was likely the same—an Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti that could avoid confusion in the womb.

Add to that his prearranged backup, and revival was just a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, apparently not expecting this.

"Let's go check. If I'm right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have stayed away from the Chao Xi Hai..."

Zhang Xuan continued.

Master Kong's students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng and the others, were incredibly strong. Even without an Emperor Monarch's help, they could enter the Chao Xi Hai, yet none had appeared. They must have something more important—reviving Master Kong.

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

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they arrived at Master Kong's residence. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them, he smiled slightly. "You've come!"

Who else could it be but Master Kong?

This teacher of ten thousand ages hadn't disappointed him!

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

"You..." Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperor Monarchs could revive, like the Undying Emperor Monarch, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

Master Kong smiled faintly. "I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a backup in advance. The nameless giant in the Ming Hun Chi 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!"

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

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

It wasn't about boasting of the enemy or diminishing themselves; it was the truth.

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

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

Master Kong looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse into one person?"

Both Luo Ruoxi and Zhang Xuan frowned in confusion.

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Ruthless Person absorbed that power and devoured the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us ten-plus Emperor Monarchs alone is no match..."

Master Kong explained, "But if we combine our forces and concentrate them in one person... maybe then."

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but it was difficult.

Emperor Monarchs stood at the God Realm's peak. If it were that easy to absorb others' power, 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 Monarch's shackles, he can save the God Realm!"

Master Kong said.

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

"Lingxi Emperor Monarch cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with her father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and her attachments, she can never truly transcend! If I saw correctly, during our fight, you once gave up, intending to let me kill you."

Master Kong said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

In their battle, she had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, they had held back, fighting like it was a spar rather than a life-or-death struggle.

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

Master Kong nodded. "I bear the burdens of all living beings and wish to save the world, but I'm too compassionate, which is a flaw! If I'd been more ruthless and wiped out the Otherworldly Spirits, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had exterminated the Otherworldly Spirits back then, Ruthless Person couldn't have revived, and this situation wouldn't have arisen.

"So, I'm not suitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation is seamless, without flaws. He values living true to himself, and 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!"

Master Kong continued.

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

If even death doesn't matter, what else could bind him?

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Master Kong looked at him intently. "Don't refuse. There's no time to train someone else, and even if there was, I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Lingxi Emperor Monarch has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her her own understanding of it; I control Heavenly Dao with Order. If we infuse our power into you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force. Combined with your clone's Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded, seeing that further explanation was futile.

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, feeling 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 Zhang Xuan..."

Ruthless Person slapped away Luo Qiqi, the clone, and the others, sneering coldly.

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

The Chao Xi Hai had devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy had become his sustenance. Every move he made carried the power to destroy the world. These Emperor Monarchs and God Kings, despite representing the God Realm's pinnacle, were no match.

At that moment, Ruthless Person seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unbeatable.

"The God Realm's destruction means our lives are meaningless too. I'll go down with you..." Yun Chi Da Di transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? You're not worthy!"

Ruthless Person clenched his hand, and the golden dragon was trapped in his palm, struggling futilely.

"My old friend, wait for me!"

Fu Meng Emperor Monarch roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward.

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

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

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

The universe seemed to freeze in that instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ruthless Person 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, 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?"

In the shocked gazes of the crowd, a figure stepped out of 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 quite a leap..."

Ruthless Person paused, his gaze turning serious.

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

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

With a cold snort, Ruthless Person struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

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

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In Zizaitian, at Master Kong's residence, Luo Ruoxi watched worriedly.

She and Master Kong had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, reducing their own cultivation to mere God King level, no longer as glorious as before.

However, their foundation remained. As long as they had enough power, they could recover eventually.

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

After a moment of silence, Master Kong said.

Even with the power of over ten Emperor Monarchs infused into him, victory wasn't guaranteed.

The reason for this approach was that only by concentrating the power in one person could there be a chance to touch the pinnacle and truly surpass limits.

"A power beyond Emperor Monarch?"

Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant.

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

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

Master Kong smiled, seeing her doubts.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

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

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

Ruthless Person sneered.

"Since I'm no match anyway, and I'll be killed eventually, I might as well die under your strongest attack..."

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and stopped attacking, instead looking at Ruthless Person.

"Very well, I'll give you my strongest attack..."

Hearing this, Ruthless Person paused, then snorted coldly, raising his hand.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack, making the entire God Realm rumble 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 Da Di and the others widened their eyes, trembling.

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

The plan was for him to break through his limits and reach beyond Emperor Monarch, not to surrender to death!

Hadn't they sacrificed in vain?

"Wait, no—it's the Undying Emperor Monarch's immortality method..."

Just as they wondered, Master Kong spoke up.

Everyone saw that Zhang Xuan, 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 a intact figure slowly emerged.

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

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in him, free from its interference and the Heavenly Dao's bindings.

"How did he do that?"

Master Kong was equally incredulous.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and reform it in the Ming Hun Chi.

Yet Zhang Xuan had achieved it with just one strike. What method had he used?

"I get it... He used Ruthless Person's method to escape the soul contract..."

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The Linghun Qiyue bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master released it... The Heavenly Dao library was like an enhanced version, binding the soul indissolubly.

But Ruthless Person had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about it in detail before, probably planning it then.

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

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

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

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if enlightened. With a wave, his clone turned back into a lotus and flew over, merging perfectly with him.

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

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic Nine Heavens stabilized immediately.

The Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone merged seamlessly, he controlled that power.

Moreover, with the fusion and his peak cultivation loosening, it seemed he could break through at any moment.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student ties, parent-child affection, romantic love... Fused together, they become all things in the world. That's what it means to be human!"

Zhang Xuan murmured with a smile.

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

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

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 love, it was the affection of all beings—the intertwined emotions of the world.

All things in the world 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, Zhang Xuan's sealed realm shattered instantly.

He broke through the Emperor Monarch's shackles!

In that moment, it was as if he touched a new world and gate. His soul was rapidly nourished, and chaotic energy surged in, rapidly enhancing his body.

He could now absorb spatial chaos, chaotic energy, even the opponent's green light—all as his own, indistinguishable.

"You..."

Ruthless Person hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to aid his breakthrough, infuriating him to roar. With an angry shout, he attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor Monarchs for not saving you in the spatial chaos—that's emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; wanting to destroy the God Realm to vent your fury—that's emotion; desiring to grow stronger—that's emotion too... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?"

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. With a light grasp of his hand, countless emotional threads bound Ruthless Person, rendering him immobile.

As long as there was emotion, he could use and control it!

"You..."

Ruthless Person'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 world's emotions, such master-servant ties meant nothing to him.

After killing so many in the God Realm, hurting his girlfriend Luo Qiqi, and his friends, how could he forgive today?

"No..."

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

Bang!

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

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

"This..."

"Is he really dead just like that?"

Yun Chi Da Di, Undying Emperor Monarch, Linglong Xianzi, and the others stared in disbelief.

They had fought him and knew his terror. For such a powerful being to be vanquished so easily, what realm had Zhang Xuan reached?

Could there truly be a level beyond Emperor Monarch?

"He succeeded..."

Master Kong and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao with Defect" that had been separated from him 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 collapsing God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energy re-gathered.

The ruined realm finally stopped, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Ruthless Person's death.

"It seems the God Realm is entering a new era of spiritual revival..."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The Chao Xi Hai's void had been mended with the Heavenly Dao's completion, and 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 traveled an unknown distance, seeing a young man standing before him.

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

"Senior, you..."

Zhang Xuan was startled.

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

"Just call me by my name. I'm Nie Tong!"

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

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow.

He had never heard this name.

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

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, 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..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

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

"I'm Nie Yun!" The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Or rather... Nie Lingxi, the one you know as Luo Ruoxi's father!"

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

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

"I used Yi Qi Hua San Qing; 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 was in disbelief.

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 Ruthless Person... or even care about your daughter's life?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

Nie Yun didn't answer directly but looked at him. "Do you think there's life beyond the God Realm, even stronger than here?"

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

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

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

Nie Yun explained, "If I'd dodged, the entire God Realm might have been wiped out, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but my Heavenly Dao form shattered as a result."

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

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

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not belonging here? So, my crossing over was because of you?"

Zhang Xuan's heart shook.

No wonder he could traverse; it was all this man's doing.

"Heh!" Nie Yun chuckled. "Natives have reverence for the world, making it harder to break its shackles. I just had a whim and didn't expect you to succeed..."

"I..." Zhang Xuan's face reddened. "Without Master Kong, I couldn't have reached this level..."

Without Master Kong's selflessness, achieving his current state would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was his, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Lingxi 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 those beyond us, without that spirit, how can one contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

He had watched their fight; Master Kong had indeed lacked decisiveness.

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"But if Master Kong had won, Luo Ruoxi would have died..."

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

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

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

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "At your current level, in a life-or-death situation, could you save someone? That's the difference between Emperor Monarch and beyond."

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through to this realm was a different concept. If Nie Yun had acted, he could have saved her without a scratch.

"Lingxi is from my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, so she took the surname Luo... To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma. I'm quite the heartless father, aren't I? You explain it to her. Her feelings have shifted to you now; she probably doesn't even think of me anymore... 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 a foundation and a shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. With my daughter by your side, as a father, I'm content."

Just as he was about to continue, the text cuts off with a note about ongoing typing. Please wait a moment; the content will update after refreshing the page to get the latest version.