Chapter 492: Come Kill Me

The soul contract binds souls together, and as long as the initiator doesn't dissolve it, no means, no matter how powerful, can break it.

It's like Bu Si Di Jun, also known as Xiao Huang Ji, who was only a Shen Wang before becoming a Di Jun, and even he couldn't resolve such an agreement.

To prevent this individual from reneging and causing backlash, the Ming Shi Da Lu had specifically decreed that even if someone could escape the Heavenly Dao's records, they still couldn't break the agreement between souls.

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

Hen Ren said.

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

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

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

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

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

Luo Ruoxi also sensed something was wrong and quickly sent a message through sound transmission.

"Let's make our move!" With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan 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 can stand in the way when life and death mean nothing?

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

Whoosh!

One sword strike cleaved Hen Ren's attack in two.

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi made her move, her jade hand swirling as sword light fell like snow.

Her swordsmanship resembled that of the young man 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. Space shattered, and it seemed as if the sun, moon, and stars would be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

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 what realm had this guy reached?

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

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, his clone's cultivation was no weaker than Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, sending power surging into the nine heavens.

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

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

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

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

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

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

The other six Di Juns also unleashed their techniques.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

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

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

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

"You insolent rat!"

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

"Di Jun? He's also at Di Jun level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a follower, at most a Feng Hao Shen Wang, but now he realized he was also a Di Jun powerhouse!

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

"He's the Di Jun of Jian Shen Tian..."

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet, gritting her teeth.

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

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

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

"Ha! Di Juns are nothing but a bunch of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the nine heavens, destroy Shen Jie, and tramble all rules!"

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Di Jun, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the space around him collapsing, making him appear demonic.

"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 even one of Hen Ren's attacks...

Was there really no one in Shen Jie who could stop this man? Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

"The only way is to return your incomplete Heavenly Dao to its original state, letting the Heavenly Dao suppress him..."

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

"Return the Heavenly Dao to its original state?" Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

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

It was like the body's immune system.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses, but if damaged, even a strong body could succumb to 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? What could even the strongest immune system do?

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond Di Jun level... He was no longer something the Heavenly Dao could handle.

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

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to see him. He's in Zi Zai Tian..."

Taking a deep breath, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and flew forward.

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

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

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

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 Shen Jie, not flee, Zhang Xuan's clone and Bu Si Di Jun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her Jing Kong Zhu form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone risking their lives to hold the line without fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, tore through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in Zi Zai Tian's territory.

Zi Zai Tian was no longer as peaceful as before. Shen Jie 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 Shen Jie, he was willing to make the sacrifice.

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his, and Bu Si Di Jun was once his beast pet..."

Luo Ruoxi steadied 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 Bu Si Di Jun's remnant will had immediately recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also a Di Jun? Or even stronger?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

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

If so, why was he in a coma? And why did it require an incomplete Heavenly Dao to awaken him?

"He's not a Di Jun. He's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

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

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that massive hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Heavenly Dao You Xu and Heavenly Dao You Que entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Zi Ran to maintain Shen Jie's balance. The only way to restore him is to gather those scattered parts... That's why I've been so determined, why I couldn't fail! That's why I entered Ming Shi Da Lu to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

Not long after they met in Ming Shi Da Lu, this girl had told him her story about saving a dear one. He hadn't understood then, but now it all made sense.

It was her father, and he was the Shen Jie Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting as Heavenly Dao Zi Ran... You don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in you?" Zhang Xuan suddenly noticed the oddity in her words.

Acting as versus fusing with—it was a different concept.

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

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

That meant he only needed to separate his own Heavenly Dao You Que; she wouldn't have to die.

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

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao You Que from me, your father can awaken and even defeat Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi looked up at the collapsing Shen Jie, hesitating.

Shen Jie was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awoke, could he truly defeat 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 only have ourselves to count on!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, plus the Jiu Tian Jiu Di—if we team up with Kong Shi, we might still win!"

"Kong Shi? He's..." Luo Ruoxi frowned.

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

Zhang Xuan said.

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

It allowed one to remain clear even in the womb.

Plus, with the preparations he'd made in advance, revival was only a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, apparently not expecting this.

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

Zhang Xuan said.

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

They must have something more important—reviving Kong Shi.

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

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they arrived at Kong Shi's residence. There, they saw an elder floating in the air, cross-legged. Seeing them, he smiled slightly. "You've come!"

It was Kong Shi!

This teacher of ages hadn't disappointed him!

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

"You..." Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Di Juns could revive—Bu Si Di Jun had—but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

"I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. The nameless giant in You Hun Chi was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to break free and reform my body. I've only just recovered now!"

Kong Shi smiled faintly.

He was a master of time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in Shen Jie, he'd experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

"We three are 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 undermining themselves—it was the truth.

So many had united earlier and still couldn't block him. Adding one Kong Shi 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?"

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse into one person?"

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

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

Kong Shi said. "But if we unite and concentrate all our power into one person... maybe then."

"How do we concentrate it?" Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Di Juns stood at Shen Jie's peak. If absorbing others' power were 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 Di Jun shackles, he can save Shen Jie!"

Kong Shi said.

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

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with 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 and intended to let me kill you."

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

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

"Without transcendence, she can't unleash her full power. Even with more true qi, it won't help her break through to the highest realm! As for me..."

Kong Shi nodded. "I care for all beings and want to save the world, but I'm too compassionate, which is a flaw! If I'd been ruthless and wiped out the Yi Ling race, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

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

"So, I'm not suitable either! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation flows naturally, 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!"

Kong Shi continued.

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

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

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when 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 Di Zun doesn't have a Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her her own understanding of it. I control Heavenly Dao You Xu. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in you! 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 useless.

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 qi were all rapidly cleansed and strengthened, becoming more powerful and vast.

...

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

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

The combined power of Zhang Xuan's clone and the Di Juns was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak.

Chao Xi Hai had devoured nearly all of Shen Jie's spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy the world. These Di Juns and Shen Wangs, representing Shen Jie's peak, were still no match.

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

"Shen Jie is doomed, so living means nothing. 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!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

Bu Si Di Jun 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, guarding Shen Jie's four corners, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing world.

The universe seemed to freeze in that instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

As he roared and prepared to finish them, he felt his raised arm lock in place.

"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, his power surged, more than ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"He's made significant progress..."

Hen Ren stopped, his gaze turning serious.

He couldn't understand how the other's strength had changed so drastically in just a few minutes.

"But so what? Even at its peak, Shen Jie 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, space tearing apart and energy raging everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In Zi Zai 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 Shen Wang level, no longer as glorious as before.

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

"With his current strength, winning will be tough! Unless... he can comprehend a power beyond Di Jun."

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over ten Di 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 transcending limits.

"A power beyond Di Jun?" Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant.

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

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

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

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

"Ha! I thought you'd be something special. Turns out you're not!"

Hen Ren sneered.

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

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and stopped attacking, instead looking at Hen Ren.

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

Hearing this, Hen Ren paused, then snorted coldly, raising his hand.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and smashed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack, making the entire Shen Jie roar as if it couldn't bear the weight, creating a massive crater.

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

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

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

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

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

wait, no—it's Bu Si Di Jun's immortality technique..."

Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

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

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

Luo Ruoxi's pupils shrank.

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?"

Kong Shi was also incredulous.

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

This one had freed himself with just one strike—what method had he used?

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

Luo Ruoxi realized.

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

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about it in detail before. He'd likely been planning this and deliberately let Hen Ren strike with full force.

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

"So that's the way to break through Di Jun..."

The Zhang Xuan emerging from the flames smiled faintly, as if enlightened. He waved his hand, and his clone turned back into a lotus flower, flying over and fusing 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 fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion and his peak realm loosening, it seemed he could break through at any moment.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student ties, parent-child affection, romantic love... Fused together, they 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 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 affection for all beings—the interwoven emotions of the world.

All things in the world have emotions. With emotion, there is the world; with emotion, life continues.

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

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

With a low cry, the shackles in Zhang Xuan's body shattered.

He broke through the Di Jun barriers!

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

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

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..."

Hen Ren hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, and he raged. "Wah!" He shouted and attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Di Juns for not saving you from spatial chaos— that's emotion; you feel humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy Shen Jie to vent your anger—that's emotion; you crave more power—that's emotion... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me or escape my control?"

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder. He gently grasped his hand.

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

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

"You..."

Hen Ren's eyes filled with panic. "Zhang Shi, I'm your servant. Don't kill me... I'll offer my soul..."

"Saying that now is too late..."

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

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

He'd killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi, and so many friends. How could he forgive that today?

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded into countless spiritual energies, surging back to every part of Shen Jie.

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

"This..."

"He's really dead?"

Yun Chi Da Di, Bu Si Di Jun, Ling Long Xian Zi, and the others stared in disbelief.

They'd fought Hen Ren and knew his terror. For this man to defeat him so easily, what level had Zhang Xuan reached?

Was there truly a realm beyond Di Jun?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao You Que" that had been separated from 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 Shen Jie's sky with a thunderous ring.

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

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

"It seems Shen Jie is entering a new era of spiritual revival..."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The hole in Chao Xi Hai had closed with the Heavenly Dao's completion, and Shen Jie's return to its former glory was only a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

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

In that step, he 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 him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He'd felt this person was unfathomable before, and now he realized the man was only a hair's breadth from his own level, at the absolute peak of Di Jun, 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'd never heard that name.

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

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

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

There, another young man stood.

He looked only slightly older than Nie Tong, with upward-sweeping brows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power surpassed even his own. He'd also broken through Di Jun's barriers, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

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

"If Xi's father?" Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're the Shen Jie Heavenly Dao?"

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

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

Nie Yun smiled faintly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how powerful was he?

"That's not right. If Shen Jie is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why didn't you act against Hen Ren... or even care about your daughter's life?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

Nie Yun didn't answer. Instead, he looked at him. "Do you think there's life beyond Shen Jie, even stronger than here?"

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

Though he hadn't seen it, since this man had reached this level, others could too, perhaps even further.

Like the one before him.

"I once suspected there was more beyond Shen Jie, so I tried to peer further, but it drew the backlash of a higher world... A massive hand descended!"

Nie Yun said. "If I'd dodged, Shen Jie might have been wiped out completely. So, I blocked it, but my incarnated Heavenly Dao was shattered."

"In that state, restoring it would be just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shen Jie's limits and explore where that hand came from or what's beyond, I couldn't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through Di Jun's barriers 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 from here. And you didn't disappoint me!"

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not from this world... So, my crossing over was because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart shook.

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

"Heh!" Nie Yun chuckled. "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 Kong Shi, I couldn't have reached this level..."

Without Kong Shi's selflessness, it would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was his, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to retreat, thinking he had a 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'd seen their fight, and Kong Shi had indeed lacked resolve.

He might not have wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"But if Kong Shi had won, If Xi would have died..."

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

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

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

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

"This..." Zhang Xuan bitter-smiled.

Breaking through Di Jun was a different concept. If he wanted, he could save someone at the last moment without a scratch.

"Ling Xi is from my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, so she used the surname Luo as a disguise... To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma until now."

Nie Yun sighed. "I'm quite the heartless father... You explain this to her. Her feelings have shifted to you, so 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..."

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

He had no choice—who else could he blame for winning her heart?

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

Nie Yun said.