Chapter 499: The True Path to Survival

A soul contract binds souls together. As long as the one who initiated it doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party has unparalleled abilities, it cannot be broken.

This was the case for Bu Si Di Jun, the little yellow chicken. Even though he was only a Shen Wang before and later became an emperor, 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 the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break free from the soul contract.

"Soul contracts indeed cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with a special gas that can even resolve the Heavenly Dao itself, 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.

A soul contract is based on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can resolve even the Shen Jie Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about resolving 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 devoured an unknown amount of power during their conversation to nourish himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi also sensed 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 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 are of no concern?

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

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 was somewhat similar to 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, 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 wildly in mid-air.

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 cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

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

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

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Having achieved the status of emperor, his clone still 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 roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The remaining six great emperors also unleashed their techniques.

The seven emperors united, capable of destroying heaven and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let the black hole expand as the attacks approached, instantly devouring them clean before counterattacking.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten great emperors 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 palm down again.

"How dare you!"

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.

"Another emperor? He's also at the emperor 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 an emperor-level expert!

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

"He's the emperor of Jian Shen Tian..."

Struggling to stand, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and said.

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

Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when the space twisted, and the Jian Shen Tian emperor was sent flying, crashing into the distance 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 formidable cultivation and high sword skills, he was no match.

"Ha! Emperors are nothing but a bunch of insignificant creatures! Today, I'll destroy the nine heavens, destroy Shen Jie, and trample all rules!"

Defeating the Jian Shen Tian emperor, Hen Ren laughed wildly, the surrounding space collapsing continuously, making him appear demonic.

"What do we do?"

Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

He and his clone had already used their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her most powerful moves, yet none could block even one of his strikes...

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

And let him destroy the world?

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

Luo Ruoxi's delicate fist 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, perhaps fixing the flaws and expelling Hen Ren.

It was like the immune system of the body.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses; if damaged, even a strong person could die from invasion.

But...

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

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even titled ones could be easily killed by the Heavenly Dao, and he was stronger than emperors... He was beyond what the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..."

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. "Yes... it might not suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken and slay this one 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.

"Thinking of escaping?"

Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

"You..."

Zhang Xuan unleashed his sword techniques again, his sword intent blazing forth.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

But it was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save Shen Jie, not flee, the clone and Bu Si Di Zun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her Jing Kong Zhu form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly blocking behind them, unafraid of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi and vanished through the space, reappearing in Zi You Tian's range.

Zi You Tian was no longer as free as before; Shen Jie was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is the person you mentioned?"

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

If this person could truly save Shen Jie, he was willing to sacrifice himself!

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

After regulating her breath, Luo Ruoxi explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

No wonder he had always felt the blood in the pendant was similar to Luo Ruoxi's yet different—it was her father's.

That also explained why the remnant will of Bu Si Di Jun recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also an emperor? Or does he possess strength beyond emperors?"

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos was calmed by the blood in the pendant, so was it possible that not only she was an emperor, but her father was too, or even stronger?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did it require a flawed Heavenly Dao for him to awaken?

"He's not an emperor; he's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fist.

"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 collect the scattered parts... That's why I've been so determined, unable to fail! That's why I specifically entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

Not long after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, this girl had told him her story about saving a close relative, but he hadn't realized until now that it was her father—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 Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?"

Suddenly realizing the oddity in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

Acting as versus fusing within the body were two different concepts.

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

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief.

In that case, he only needed to separate his own Heavenly Dao You Que; 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 You Que from my body, can your father awaken and even slay Hen Ren?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing Shen Jie.

Shen Jie was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, 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 find a way!"

Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, united with the Jiu Tian Jiu Di, and even coordinating with Kong Shi—we might not lose!"

"Kong Shi? He's..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm guessing correctly, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... Unexpectedly, 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.

He could remain undeluded in the womb.

With prior arrangements, 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 others, were all powerful. Even without an emperor's help, they could enter Chao Xi Hai, yet none had appeared.

They must have something more important—clearly, 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, tearing through space and arriving at the place 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 all ages hadn't disappointed him!

As guessed, he had taken advantage of everyone's focus on Chao Xi Hai to revive.

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi's body trembled.

She knew emperors could revive, like Bu Si Di Jun, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly!

"I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared countermeasures in advance. That nameless giant in You Hun Chi was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to escape the Heavenly Dao's bindings and regroup my body. I've only just recovered now!"

Kong Shi smiled faintly.

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

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

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

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

So many had united earlier and still couldn't block him; adding one more Kong Shi wouldn't change the situation!

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

Kong Shi looked over with a smile.

"Fuse into one person?"

This time, not just Luo Ruoxi frowned—Zhang Xuan was full of confusion too.

"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. In terms of strength, we ten-plus emperors individually aren't his match..."

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

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperors stood at the peak of Shen Jie; if it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have stagnated for so many years.

"It's simple... We'll channel our powers into Zhang Xuan's body. Once he breaks through the emperor's 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 the constraints of your father and the Heavenly Dao, and people he cares about, he can never truly transcend! If I didn't see wrong, when he fought me, he once gave up, intending to let me kill him!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During the fight, he had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, both had held back, 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 beings and enlighten 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 either! But Zhang Xuan's techniques are seamless, without flaws. He emphasizes living true to himself; even in death, as long as he lives 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 means nothing, how can other things bind him?

"This..."

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. "No need to decline; time is short. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I doubt anyone could do better than you! Ling Xi Di Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, with her own understanding of it; I control Heavenly Dao You Xu. If we channel our powers to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao strength in your body! 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!"

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 purified, growing stronger and more abundant.

...

"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 the clone and the emperors was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak.

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

At this moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody all of Shen Jie, unbeatable.

"Even if Shen Jie falls, 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 through the air.

"You? Not worthy!"

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

"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 undying 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 Shen Jie.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive palms, 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 to wipe them out, he felt his raised arm tighten, frozen in mid-air.

"Want to kill them? Did you ask me first?"

Then, to everyone's shocked gazes, a figure slowly walked out of the air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

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

"But so what? Even at its peak, 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, 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 powers 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 tough! Unless he comprehends a power that transcends emperors!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the powers of over ten emperors 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 emperors?"

Luo Ruoxi's eyes grew distant.

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

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

Sensing her doubt, 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 fused powers forming a complete Heavenly Dao in his body, he still wasn't a match.

"Ha, I thought you'd be something special—turns out you're not!"

Hen Ren sneered.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you and will be killed eventually, so if that's the case, I want to die under your strongest attack..."

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan stopped attacking and looked at Hen Ren.

"Fine, I'll oblige you with my strongest strike..."

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

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

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

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Da Di 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 a realm beyond emperors—why did he choose to face death?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

"Wait, it's Bu Si Di Jun's undying method..."

As they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

Everyone then 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, ignited into a blazing flame, and from the flames, 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 contracted.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body, free from its interference and detached from the Heavenly Dao!

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was full of disbelief.

To escape, he had to let his soul scatter and regroup using You Hun Chi.

Yet this young man had freed himself with 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.

A soul contract bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master released it... The Heavenly Dao library was like an enhanced version, binding the soul without death.

But Hen Ren 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 for rebirth, it had succeeded spectacularly!

"So, that's the way to break through to beyond emperors..."

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if understanding something. With a wave, his clone on the side 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 Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, 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 Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian's cultivation integrated, his already peak realm began to loosen, as if ready to break through at any moment.

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

Smiling, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

The moment the Heavenly Dao library detached from 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 moving, or the heart?

These eternal questions had puzzled countless people.

But now... none of that mattered!

Without life, without emotion, what meaning does the world have?

So, after breaking through romantic love comes the bonds of all beings—the interwoven emotions of the world.

All things have emotion; with emotion, there is the world; with emotion, life endures.

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

"Countless emotions, all for my use..."

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

He had broken through the emperor's barriers!

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

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

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

"You..."

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

"You resent the lofty emperors for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; wanting to destroy Shen Jie to vent your anger—that's emotion; desiring to grow stronger—that's also emotion... Emotion controls you; how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?"

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'm willing to offer my soul..."

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

Smiling, Zhang Xuan 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 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 that Chao Xi Hai had devoured was now returned, reviving the withered wilderness.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Da Di, Bu Si Di Jun, Ling Long Xian Zi, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief.

They had fought Hen Ren and knew his terror; for this young man to extinguish him so casually, what realm had he reached?

Could there truly be a level beyond emperors?

"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 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 Shen Jie's sky with a thunderous sound.

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

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

"It seems Shen Jie is about to enter an era of spiritual energy revival..."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

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

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

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, then saw a young man standing before him.

It was the one who had taught him sword techniques earlier.

"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 step away, having reached the absolute peak of emperors—far stronger than 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 slightly and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, not knowing how far they flew 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, also beyond emperors, but deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!"

The young man 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're... the Shen Jie 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.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

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

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

"This..."

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

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

"I once suspected that beyond Shen Jie, there might be stronger beings, so I tried my hardest to peer out, ultimately drawing backlash from a higher world... a massive hand descended!"

Nie Yun looked over. "If I'd dodged, Shen Jie might have been completely wiped out, leaving no life... So, I blocked it, but my incarnated Heavenly Dao was scattered."

"In that state, restoring myself would be just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shen Jie's limits, explore where that hand came from, and see what's beyond... I couldn't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through the emperor's barriers and reach my level!"

Nie Yun said with a smile. "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 man's doing.

"Heh!"

Nie Yun chuckled lightly. "Souls native to this world have reverence for it, making it harder to break its shackles. I just had a whim and didn't expect you to truly succeed..."

"I..."

Zhang Xuan's face reddened. "Without 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 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—yet he lost his fearless drive. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how can he contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

He had witnessed their fight; Kong Shi had indeed lacked decisiveness.

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"If Kong Shi had won, If Xi 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 die..."

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

"This..."

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Beyond emperors was a different concept; if he were willing, he could save someone at the last moment without a scratch.

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

Nie Yun sighed bitterly. "I'm quite the heartless father... Anyway, you explain this 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 everything upside down... I'll show up later."

Seeing this unreliable father, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he had no choice but to agree. "Alright..."

What else could he do? He had essentially taken 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 her father, I'm content."

Nie Yun said.