Chapter 502: All Wrong

The Soul Contract, which binds souls together, can only be dissolved if the one who initiated it chooses to undo it. Even if the other party possesses unparalleled abilities, they cannot break free.

Just like the Undying Emperor, Xiao Huang Ji, who was only a God King at the time while the other was an Emperor, there was no way to resolve such an agreement.

To prevent this individual from reneging and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent had specifically decreed that even if the party could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't escape the pact between souls!

"The Soul Contract 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!" Hen Ren said.

The Soul Contract is based on the Heavenly Dao, and since this special power can dissolve even the God Realm's Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about dissolving a Soul Contract if handled properly?

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

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

After explaining, Hen Ren said no more. His aura 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 for nourishment.

"Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole absorbs, the stronger his power becomes..." Luo Ruoxi also noticed something was off and quickly sent a message through divine sense.

"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 anew, to die is to hold enduring thoughts!

What could possibly hinder one who cares not for life or death?

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

Whoosh!

With one sword strike, he 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 bore some resemblance to that of the youth from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of the Great Dao.

"Your moves are impressive, but compared to me, they're still lacking..." Hen Ren chuckled lightly and reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth. Space shattered, and it seemed as though 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 into the air as they went.

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 Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his clone's cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

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

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

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

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

Such flashy displays would be better if the power were concentrated for greater effect!

"Join forces, or we'll all die if they fall..." Xiao Huang Ji roared, his crimson flames burning as the sky itself seemed to ignite.

The other six Emperors also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperors united, their power enough to destroy heavens 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 their attacks approached, swallowing everything in an instant before counterattacking.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten Emperors 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 dare, you insolent fool!"

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.

"An Emperor? He's also at the Emperor level?" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

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

If he was an Emperor, then what about that youth?

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

"Then... what about the youth who taught me the sword?" 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 Emperor being sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater.

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

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

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the surrounding space collapsing as he appeared like a demon.

"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 techniques, yet none could block even one of his moves...

Could it be that no one in the God Realm could stop this man?

And let him destroy the world?

"The only way is to return your flawed Heavenly Dao to its original state, letting the Heavenly Dao suppress him..." Luo Ruoxi's delicate fists clenched, her eyes reddening.

"Return the flawed 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 the flaws and expelling Hen Ren.

It was like the human immune system.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses; if damaged, even a strong body could succumb to invasion.

But...

"He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao is restored, it might not suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary God King, yet even titled ones could be easily killed by the Heavenly Dao. He was stronger than Emperors... far beyond what the Heavenly Dao could handle.

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

"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 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 the God Realm, not flee, his clone and the Undying Emperor shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her original form as the Jing Kong Pearl.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone selflessly blocking with no 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 You Tian's domain.

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

"Where is he, the one you mentioned?"

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

If this person could truly save the God Realm, he was willing to sacrifice himself!

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his, and the Undying Emperor was once his beast pet..." Luo Ruoxi steadied her breath and 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 Undying Emperor's remnant will had immediately recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also an Emperor? Or does he possess strength beyond that?"

He 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 an Emperor, but her father was too, perhaps even stronger?

If so, why was he in a coma?

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

"He's not an Emperor; 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 Orderly and Heavenly Dao Flawed entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain the God Realm's balance. The only way to restore him is to gather those 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 Spring and Autumn Annals and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this." Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

Not long after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, this girl had told him her story—she needed to save a close relative. He hadn't understood then, but now it all made sense.

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

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

"Acting as Heavenly Dao Natural... You don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in you?" Suddenly realizing the inconsistency in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

Acting as guardian and being fused with it were two different concepts.

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

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

In that case, he only needed to separate his own Heavenly Dao Flawed; 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 Flawed from me, your father can awaken and even slay Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing God Realm.

The God Realm was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he 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 Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and even Kong Shi—if we combine forces, we might not lose!"

"Kong Shi? He..." 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, a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!" Zhang Xuan said.

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

It allowed one to remain undeluded even in the womb.

Add to that the preparations he made in advance, and 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 the Tidal Sea..." Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Ancient Saint and the others, were all incredibly strong. Even without an Emperor's help, they could enter the Tidal Sea, yet none had appeared.

They must have something more important—helping Kong Shi recover.

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

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, tearing space open and returning to where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in mid-air, cross-legged in meditation. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly. "You've come!"

It was Kong Shi!

This teacher of ages hadn't disappointed him!

As guessed, he had taken advantage of everyone's focus on the Tidal Sea to revive.

"You..." Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperors could revive, and the Undying Emperor had done so, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly!

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

He was a master of 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 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.

It wasn't about boosting the enemy or undermining themselves; it was the truth.

So many had joined forces earlier and still couldn't block him. Adding one more Kong Shi wouldn't change the situation!

"If we fight alone or even united, 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 apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao, its power undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that force and devoured the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. In terms of raw strength, we ten-plus Emperors aren't his equals individually..." Kong Shi said, "But if we unite and concentrate all that power into one person... maybe then!"

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

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperors 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's shackles, he can save the God Realm!" Kong Shi said.

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

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I saw correctly, during our fight, you also considered giving up and letting me kill you!" Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

In their battle, she had indeed thought of that, so at the beginning, both had held back, making it more like sparring than a life-or-death fight.

"Unable to transcend means 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 bear the weight of all beings and wish to save the world, but I'm unwilling to let others sacrifice for me. Too much mercy is a flaw! If I'd been ruthless and wiped out the Foreign Spirit Race, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had exterminated the Foreign Spirit 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 at peace. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!" Kong Shi continued.

To live is to return anew, to die is to hold enduring thoughts!

If even death means nothing, what else could bind him?

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when he saw Kong Shi's determined gaze. "Don't decline. There's no time to train someone else, and even if there were, I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Ling Xi Di Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment in her, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her her own understanding of it. I control Heavenly Dao Orderly. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force within you! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, command the universe, battle the nine realms, 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 into him from both sides.

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.

The Tidal Sea 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 worlds. These Emperors and God Kings, despite representing the God Realm's pinnacle, were no match.

At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unbeatable.

"The God Realm's destruction means we'd have no reason to live. I'll go down with you, Yun Chi..." Yun Chi Emperor transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

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

"My old friend, wait for me!" Fu Meng Emperor roared, shifting into his white tiger form and charging forward.

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

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

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

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hen Ren struck four times in succession, suppressing the four beasts, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. "Since you seek death, I'll grant it..."

As he roared, about to deliver the fatal blow, 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 from the air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

The young man now exuded surging power, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"You've improved a lot..." Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

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

"But so what? Even at its peak, the God Realm couldn't withstand me. I don't believe you can..." Hen Ren snorted coldly and struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, space tearing apart as energy raged everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

In Zi You Tian, at Kong Shi's residence, Luo Ruoxi watched worriedly.

She and Kong Shi had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, reducing their own cultivation to merely 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 will be tough! Unless... he can comprehend a power that transcends the Emperor level!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over ten Emperors transferred to him, defeating Hen Ren wouldn't be easy.

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 break through limits.

"A power that transcends the Emperor level?" 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 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 fused within him, he wasn't a match.

"Ha! I thought you'd be something special, but you're nothing!" Hen Ren sneered.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you and will be killed eventually. Since that's the case, I want to die under your strongest attack..." Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, stopped attacking, and looked at Hen Ren.

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

Hearing this, Hen Ren paused, then snorted and raised his hand.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

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

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

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

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, who saw this, were both stunned.

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperors. Why had he stopped resisting and chosen death?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

wait, no—it's the Undying Emperor's immortality technique..."

Just 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 within, an unharmed figure slowly emerged.

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Heavenly Dao Flawed 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 full of disbelief.

To escape, he had to let his soul scatter and reform using the You Hun Pool.

This young man had achieved it with just one strike—what method had he used?

"I get it... He used the same method Hen Ren used to escape the Soul Contract..." Luo Ruoxi realized.

The Soul Contract bound master and servant; without release, the servant was forever bound... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract tied to the soul, unbreakable in death.

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had likely asked about the details earlier, planting the idea then.

That's why he deliberately let himself be struck with the full force, using it to rebirth in the flames. And it had succeeded spectacularly!

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

The Zhang Xuan emerging from the flames smiled faintly, as if enlightened. He waved his hand, and his clone immediately turned back into a lotus flower and flew over.

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

Everyone felt that the Zhang Xuan before them had become one with the Nine Heavens—the Nine Heavens were him.

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic Nine Heavens stabilized immediately.

The Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone fused perfectly, it meant he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus and his peak realm, a breakthrough seemed imminent.

"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!"

Smiling, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

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

Did people create the world, or did the world create people?

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 had?

So, after breaking through romantic love came the affection for all beings—the interwoven emotions of the world.

All things in the world have emotions. With emotion comes the world; with emotion comes the continuation of life.

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 soft 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 had touched a new world and gate. His soul was rapidly nourished.

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

He once needed to absorb spiritual energy to progress, but now spatial chaos, chaotic energy, even the opponent's green light—everything could 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 raged. "Wah!" he shouted, lunging again.

"You resent the lofty Emperors for not saving you from spatial chaos— that's emotion; you feel humiliated as my servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy the God Realm to vent—that's emotion; you crave more power—that's emotion... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?"

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. He gently grasped his hand.

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

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

"You..."

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

"Now it's too late to say that..."

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, such master-servant ties meant nothing to him now.

He had killed so many at the God level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi, and so many friends. How could he forgive 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, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged across the God Realm.

All the power the Tidal Sea had devoured was now returned, bringing life back to the barren lands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Emperor, the Undying Emperor, Ling Long Immortal, and the others stared in disbelief.

They had fought Hen Ren and knew his terror. For such a powerhouse to be vanquished so easily, what realm had Zhang Xuan reached?

Could there truly be a level beyond Emperor?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao Flawed" that had just 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 crumbling God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energies gathered once more.

The collapse halted, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Hen Ren's death.

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

The Tidal Sea'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..."

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

In that step, he didn't know how far he traveled, and soon he saw a youth standing before him.

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now he realized the man was only a hair's breadth from his own level, at the Emperor's absolute peak—far stronger than the previous Luo Ruoxi.

"Just call me by my name. I'm Nie Tong!" The youth 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 chuckled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, not knowing how far they went before stopping at a mountain peak.

There, another youth stood.

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

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

This youth's power surpassed even his own. He had also broken through the Emperor's barriers, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!"

The youth smiled faintly and looked over. "In other words... Nie Ling Xi, the one you know as Luo Ruoxi's father!"

"If Xi'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 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 lightly.

Zhang Xuan was incredulous.

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 did you let Hen Ren rampage without intervening... Even your daughter's life was at risk?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If it weren't for his breakthrough, the God Realm might have been utterly destroyed. Why had this man done nothing? Not even care about his daughter?

Nie Yun didn't answer the question directly but looked at him. "Do you think... beyond the God Realm, there are even stronger beings?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan paused. "There should be, right?"

Though he hadn't seen any, since this man could reach such a level, others might too, perhaps even stronger—like the one before him.

"I once suspected that beyond the God Realm lay greater powers, so I tried to peer into it with all my might, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... A massive hand descended!"

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

"In that state, restoring it would be just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend the God Realm's limits, explore the hand's origin, 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!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... granting them to souls that originally belonged here and one that didn't. And you didn't disappoint me in the end!" Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul that doesn't belong here—so, my crossing over was because of you?" Zhang Xuan was shaken.

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

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

"I..." Zhang Xuan's face reddened. "If not for Kong Shi, I couldn't have reached this level..."

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

"The opportunity was given to him, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to back down, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his drive. When facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how can you 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.

But that single hesitation cost him the chance to advance.

"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 here, she wouldn't die..."

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

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

Breaking through to beyond Emperor was a different concept. If this man had wanted to act, he could have saved her at the last moment without a scratch.

"Ling Xi is the child of my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, 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 until now..."

Nie Yun sighed. "I'm quite the heartless father... Anyway, you explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you now. I'm probably the last thing on her mind... Ha, I'll stay hidden for a while. Otherwise, she might turn the world upside down. You handle it!"

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

He had no option; who asked him to win over the man's daughter?

"The Heavenly Dao library was a manifestation of my intent—both a foundation and a shackle. Your ability to break through it shows your talent and potential. With my daughter by your side, as her father, I'm content." Nie Yun said.