Chapter 504: The Pulsating Brain

The soul contract binds souls together. As long as the person who initiated it doesn't release it, even if the other party possesses unparalleled abilities, it cannot be broken. It's similar to how Bùsǐ Dìjūn Xiǎo Huángjī, who was already a Dìjūn when he was only a Shénwáng, couldn't dissolve such an agreement. To prevent this fellow from going back on his word and causing backlash, the Míngshī Dàlù 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's pact!

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

The ruthless one said.

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

"I see..." Zhāng Xuán's eyes flashed.

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

After explaining, the ruthless one 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.

"Zhāng Xuán, the more that black hole swallows, the stronger he gets..."

Luò Ruòxī also noticed something was wrong and hurriedly sent a message through divine sense.

"Let's make our move!" With his doubts cleared, Zhāng Xuán 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 long for each other!

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

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by Dìjūn, it contained all his inner obsessions, pushing his Tiānrù Yǒuqíng cultivation to its limit.

Whoosh!

With one sword, he cleaved the ruthless one's attack in half.

At the same time, Luò Ruòxī struck out. Her jade hand swirled, and her sword light gleamed like snow.

Her swordsmanship resembled that of the young man from Jiànshén Tiān, 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, the ruthless one 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!

Zhāng Xuán and Luò Ruòxī 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 Jiǔtiān Hùndùn Jīnlílian, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhāng Xuán's.

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

But when it clashed with the ruthless one, he too was sent flying, unable to block even a single move.

Zhāng Xuán clutched his forehead.

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

Such flashy displays would be better if the power was concentrated for greater impact!

"Let's all attack together, or we're all doomed if they die..."

Xiǎo Huángjī roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The remaining six Dìjūn also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Dìjūn united, their power enough to destroy heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But the ruthless one, having absorbed that special power, simply let his black hole expand as their attacks approached, swallowing everything in an instant before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The seven Dìjūn, along with Zhāng Xuán and the others, were all sent flying.

Even ten Dìjūn joining forces 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, the ruthless one stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"How dare you, vermin!"

Accompanied by a loud shout, the elder from Jiànshén Tiān suddenly appeared, blocking the way. His long sword transformed into a river of stars.

"Dìjūn? He's also at Dìjūn level?"

Zhāng Xuán's pupils contracted.

This elder had followed the young man before, and he had assumed he was just a attendant, at most a Fēnghào Shénwáng. But now, his power revealed he was a Dìjūn expert!

If he was Dìjūn, then what about that young man?

"He's the Dìjūn of Jiànshén Tiān..."

Struggling to stand, Luò Ruòxī gritted her teeth and said.

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

Zhāng Xuán couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

Luò Ruòxī was about to answer when space twisted, and they saw the Jiànshén Tiān Dìjūn sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater.

With Zhāng Xuán's current strength and sword comprehension, even he couldn't withstand the ruthless one, so despite this elder's formidable cultivation and sword skills, he was no match.

"Ha! Dìjūn are nothing but a flock of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate Shénjiè, and trample all rules!"

Defeating the Jiànshén Tiān Dìjūn, the ruthless one laughed maniacally, the space around him collapsing, making him seem like a demon.

"What do we do?" Zhāng Xuán clenched his fists.

He and his clone had already used their full power, and even Luò Ruòxī had unleashed her strongest moves, yet none could block even one of his strikes...

Was there truly no one in Shénjiè who could stop this man?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

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

Luò Ruòxī clenched her fists, her eyes reddening.

"Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?" Zhāng Xuán 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 the ruthless one.

Like the human immune system.

A complete immune system can easily drive out viruses; if damaged, even a strong body can't resist invasion.

But...

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

Zhāng Xuán shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary Shénwáng, yet even beyond Dìjūn... far beyond what the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..." Luò Ruòxī paused, her fair face showing disappointment. "You're right... It might not suppress him, but once the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken and slay this one with ease!"

"He?" Zhāng Xuán frowned.

"I'll take you to see him. He's in Zìzài Tiān..."

Taking a deep breath, Luò Ruòxī gritted her teeth and flew forward.

"Thinking of escaping?"

The ruthless one snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luò Ruòxī plummeted from the air.

"You..." Zhāng Xuán unleashed his sword technique again, his sword intent blazing.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by the ruthless one once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save Shénjiè, not flee, his clone and Bùsǐ Dìzūn shouted, blocking the way, while Luò Qīqī transformed back into her Jìngkōng Zhū form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly standing their ground, unafraid of death, Zhāng Xuán's eyes reddened. But he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luò Ruòxī along, tore through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in Zìzài Tiān's territory.

Zìzài Tiān was no longer as peaceful as before. Shénjiè was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is the one you mentioned?"

With no time to observe the common folk's lives, Zhāng Xuán looked at the girl in his arms.

If this person could truly save Shénjiè, his own sacrifice would be worth it!

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his. Bùsǐ Dìjūn was once his beast pet..."

Luò Ruòxī regulated her breath and explained.

"Father?" Zhāng Xuán suddenly realized.

No wonder the blood in the pendant felt similar to Luò Ruòxī's yet different—it was her father's.

That also explained why Bùsǐ Dìjūn's remnant will recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also a Dìjūn? Or does he have strength beyond Dìjūn?"

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos was calmed by the pendant's blood. Could it be that not only she, but her father was also Dìjūn, 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 Dìjūn. He's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luò Ruòxī clenched her fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father... is the Heavenly Dao?" Zhāng Xuán 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: Tiāndào Yǒuxù and Tiāndào Yǒuquē entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Tiāndào Zìrán to maintain Shénjiè's balance. The only way to restore him is to gather those scattered parts... That's why I was so determined, why I couldn't fail! That's why I entered Míngshī Dàlù to study the Chūnqiū Dàdiǎn and find a way to defeat Kǒng Shī! And when I fought Kǒng Shī, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luò Ruòxī explained.

Zhāng Xuán suddenly understood.

Not long after they met on Míngshī Dàlù, this girl had told him her story—she needed to save a dear one. He hadn't grasped it then, but now he did.

It was her father, and he was Shénjiè's Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting as Tiāndào Zìrán... You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in you?" Suddenly realizing the oddity in her words, Zhāng Xuán looked over.

"I'm just controlling it; I'm not part of the Heavenly Dao..."

Luò Ruòxī said.

Zhāng Xuán breathed a sigh of relief.

In that case, he only needed to separate his own Tiāndào Yǒuquē; she didn't have to die.

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

"I'll separate the Tiāndào Yǒuquē from my body. Then your father can awaken and even slay the ruthless one, right?" Zhāng Xuán asked.

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

Luò Ruòxī glanced at the collapsing Shénjiè, hesitating.

Shénjiè was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he truly defeat that powerful ruthless one?

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We have you, me, my clone, the Jiǔtiān Jiǔdì, and even Kǒng Shī if we add him—we might still win!"

Zhāng Xuán gritted his teeth.

"Kǒng Shī? He..."

Luò Ruòxī frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm guessing correctly, you killing him was just his way to escape the Heavenly Dao... He's probably like Wèi Chángfēng, with a Xiāntiān Tāi Hún Tǐ!"

Zhāng Xuán said.

Seeing Wèi Chángfēng had made him realize that Kǒng Shī's way of preserving his spirit was likely the same—as a Xiāntiān Tāi Hún Tǐ, able to remain undeluded even in the womb.

With his prior preparations, revival was only a matter of time.

Luò Ruòxī 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 like Zǐ Yuān Gǔshèng wouldn't have stayed away from Cháoxī Hǎi..."

Zhāng Xuán said.

Kǒng Shī's students were all powerful. Even without Dìjūn help, they could enter Cháoxī Hǎi, yet none had appeared. They must have something more important—like restoring Kǒng Shī.

"This..." Luò Ruòxī was shaken, suddenly understanding.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhāng Xuán waved his hand, and they returned to where Kǒng Shī resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air, cross-legged in meditation. Seeing them arrive, he smiled slightly. "You're here!"

Who else could it be but Kǒng Shī?

This teacher of ages hadn't disappointed him!

As guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was on Cháoxī Hǎi.

"You..." Luò Ruòxī trembled.

She knew Dìjūn could revive, as Bùsǐ Dìjūn 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 the Yōuhún 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!"

Kǒng Shī smiled faintly.

He was a master of time; to Shénjiè, only one or two days had passed, but for him to restore his power, it had taken much longer—decades, in fact.

"Our combined strength is strong, but defeating the ruthless one won't be easy..."

Seeing Kǒng Shī had indeed recovered, Luò Ruòxī 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 Kǒng Shī—would it change anything?

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

Kǒng Shī looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse into one person?"

This time, not just Luò Ruòxī, but Zhāng Xuán was full of confusion.

"That hand could tear Shénjiè apart and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. The ruthless one absorbed it all and devoured Shénjiè's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Dìjūn together, can't compare..."

Kǒng Shī said. "But if we concentrate all that power into one person... maybe then."

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luò Ruòxī asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Dìjūn stood at Shénjiè's peak; if absorbing others' power was that easy, she wouldn't have stagnated for so long.

"It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhāng Xuán. Once he breaks through the Dìjūn shackles, he can save Shénjiè!"

Kǒng Shī said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhāng Xuán was stunned.

"Língxī Dìzūn cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I didn't see wrong, during our fight, you once gave up, intending to let me kill you."

Kǒng Shī said.

Luò Ruòxī fell silent.

In their battle, she had indeed considered that, so at the start, they had both held back, like sparring rather than a life-or-death fight.

"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..."

Kǒng Shī nodded. "I care for all beings and want to save the world, but I'm too unwilling to let others sacrifice for me. Too much mercy is a flaw! If I'd been ruthless and wiped out the Yìlíng Zú back then, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had exterminated the Yìlíng Zú completely, the ruthless one couldn't have revived.

"So, I'm not suitable! But Zhāng Xuán—his cultivation follows his heart, 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!"

Kǒng Shī continued.

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

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

"This..." Zhāng Xuán frowned, about to say something, but Kǒng Shī 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! Língxī Dìzūn has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao and has her own understanding of it; I control Tiāndào Yǒuxù. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force within you! Combined with your clone's Jiǔtiān Hùndùn Jīnlílian, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the decision was made, Zhāng Xuán nodded, knowing more words were useless.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in the blink of an eye, two vast powers surged into him from both sides.

Zhāng Xuán'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 cleansed in that moment, growing stronger and more abundant.

...

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

After slapping Luò Qīqī and the others away, the ruthless one sneered coldly.

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

Cháoxī Hǎi had devoured nearly all of Shénjiè's spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his sustenance. Every move he made carried the power to destroy worlds. These Dìjūn and Shénwáng, representing Shénjiè's peak, were still no match.

At that moment, the ruthless one seemed to embody all of Shénjiè, unstoppable.

"If Shénjiè falls, living means nothing. I'll go down with you..." Yún Chī Dàdì transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? You're not worthy!"

The ruthless one clenched his hand, and the golden dragon was trapped in his palm, struggling futilely.

"My old friend, wait for me!"

Fú Měng Dìjūn roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward.

Bùsǐ Dìjūn revealed his undead fire phoenix form, flames lighting up the sky.

Xuánmíng Dàdì's true form was a massive turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

The four divine beasts, guardians of Shénjiè's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing world.

The universe seemed to freeze in that instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive strikes, the ruthless one suppressed 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 seize up in mid-air.

"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 Zhāng Xuán!

Now, his power surged, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"You've improved a lot..."

The ruthless one halted, his gaze turning serious.

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

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

With a cold snort, the ruthless one struck down again.

Zhāng Xuán raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, space tearing apart, energy raging everywhere.

"Can Zhāng Xuán win?"

In Zìzài Tiān's Kǒng Shī residence, Luò Ruòxī watched worriedly.

She and Kǒng Shī had transferred their power to Zhāng Xuán, reducing their own cultivation to merely Shénwáng level, no longer as glorious as before.

Still, their foundations remained; with enough power, they could recover eventually.

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

After a moment of silence, Kǒng Shī said.

Even with all their power transferred, defeating the ruthless one wasn't guaranteed.

The reason for this was to concentrate the force into one person, potentially touching the pinnacle and truly surpassing limits.

"A power beyond Dìjūn?"

Luò Ruòxī's eyes grew distant.

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

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

Sensing her doubt, Kǒng Shī smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

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

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

The ruthless one sneered.

"Since I'm not your match anyway, and I'll be killed eventually, I might as well die under your strongest attack..."

Taking a deep breath, Zhāng Xuán stopped attacking and looked at the ruthless one.

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

Hearing this, the ruthless one paused, then snorted coldly, raising his hand.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

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

Zhāng Xuán closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, his soul scattering.

"Zhāng Xuán..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luò Qīqī seemed to go mad.

Yún Chī Dàdì and the others stared in shock, trembling.

Kǒng Shī and Luò Ruòxī, seeing this, were also stunned.

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach beyond Dìjūn—why surrender to death?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

"Wait, it's Bùsǐ Dìjūn's immortality technique..."

Just as they wondered, Kǒng Shī spoke.

Everyone saw the pendant on Zhāng Xuán's chest shatter, a drop of blood floating up and igniting into a blazing flame. From the flame, an unharmed figure stepped out.

"He... used the ruthless one's power and the pendant's blood to separate the Tiāndào Yǒuquē from his soul?"

Luò Ruòxī's pupils shrank.

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

"How did he do that?"

Kǒng Shī was full of disbelief.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and reform it in the Yōuhún Pool.

This one had done it with just one strike—what method had he used?

"I get it... He used the ruthless one's method to escape the soul contract..."

Luò Ruòxī realized.

The Línghún Hétong 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 and unyielding.

But the ruthless one had used that special power to escape, and Zhāng Xuán had asked about the details earlier—probably planning it then.

That's why he deliberately let himself be struck with the full force.

And it had succeeded spectacularly!

"So that's the way to break through Dìjūn..."

The Zhāng Xuán emerging from the flames smiled faintly, as if enlightened. He waved a hand, and his clone turned back into a lotus flower, flying over and merging perfectly with him.

In an instant, everyone felt as if Zhāng Xuán 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 Jiǔtiān Hùndùn Jīnlílian, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with the clone merged seamlessly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the Jiǔtiān Hùndùn Jīnlílian's cultivation fused, his already peak realm began to loosen, as if breakthrough was imminent.

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

With a smile, Zhāng Xuán murmured to himself.

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

Is it people who give meaning to the world, or does the world exist first, then 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, it was the affection of all beings—the intertwined 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!

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

With a low cry, the shackles in Zhāng Xuán's body shattered instantly.

The Dìjūn barrier was broken!

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

Before, he needed spiritual energy to progress, but now, spatial chaos, chaotic energy, even the opponent's green light—everything could be his, indistinguishable.

"You..."

The ruthless one hadn't expected his full strike not only to fail but to empower him, and he roared in fury, lunging again.

"You resent the lofty Dìjūn for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; wanting to destroy Shénjiè to vent your rage—that's emotion; desiring to grow stronger—that's emotion too... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, or escape my control?"

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

The once-unstoppable ruthless one was bound by countless emotional threads, immobilized.

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

"You..."

Fear filled the ruthless one's eyes. "Zhāng Shī, I'm your servant. Don't kill me... I'll offer my soul..."

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

Zhāng Xuán smiled and shook his head.

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

He had killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend Luò Qīqī and so many friends—how could he forgive that today?

"No..."

Sensing his resolve, the ruthless one's pupils contracted. Before he could finish, intense pain wracked his body.

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that poured back into Shénjiè.

All the power Cháoxī Hǎi had swallowed was returned, revitalizing the barren lands.

"This..."

"It's over just like that?"

Yún Chī Dàdì, Bùsǐ Dìjūn, Línglóng Xiānzǐ, and the others stared in disbelief.

They had fought him and knew his terror. For this man to be vanquished so easily—what realm had Zhāng Xuán reached?

Could there truly be a level beyond Dìjūn?

"He succeeded..."

Kǒng Shī and Luò Ruòxī unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Tiāndào Yǒuquē" that had been separated from him still floating in the air, Zhāng Xuán smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

The library that had accompanied him since rebirth embedded itself into Shénjiè's sky with a thunderous ring.

The crumbling Shénjiè visibly stabilized, chaotic energy gathering once more.

The collapsing world finally halted, and the depleted spiritual energy, with the ruthless one's death, began to revive.

"It seems Shénjiè is entering an era of spiritual energy resurgence..."

Zhāng Xuán smiled.

Cháoxī Hǎi's void had been filled with the Heavenly Dao's completion; Shénjiè returning to its former glory was only a matter of time.

"Zhāng Xuán, come here..."

Just as he finished, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhāng Xuán 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 the sword earlier.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhāng Xuán was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now realized he was only a hair's breadth from surpassing him—already at Dìjūn's absolute peak, far stronger than the previous Luò Ruòxī.

"Just call me by my name. I'm Niè Tóng!"

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

"Niè Tóng?" Zhāng Xuán furrowed his brow.

He'd never heard that name.

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

Niè Tóng smiled slightly and stepped forward.

Zhāng Xuán 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..." Zhāng Xuán trembled.

This young man's power surpassed even his, having broken through Dìjūn's shackles, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Niè Yún!" The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Or... Niè Língxī, the one you know as Luò Ruòxī's father!"

"Língxī's father?" Zhāng Xuán was shocked. "You're... the Heavenly Dao of Shénjiè?"

Luò Ruòxī 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!"

Niè Yún smiled faintly.

Zhāng Xuán couldn't believe it.

Shénjiè was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"That's not right. If Shénjiè is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why let the ruthless one rampage without intervening... Even your daughter's life?"

Zhāng Xuán looked over.

If not for his breakthrough, Shénjiè might have been utterly destroyed. Why had this man done nothing? Not even care for his daughter?

Without answering directly, Niè Yún looked at him. "Do you think... beyond Shénjiè, there are even stronger beings?"

"This..." Zhāng Xuán paused. "There probably are..."

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

Like the one before him.

"I once suspected that beyond Shénjiè lay greater powers, so I peered with all my might, ultimately drawing backlash from a higher world... A massive hand descended!"

Niè Yún continued. "If I'd dodged, Shénjiè might have been wiped out completely, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but my Heavenly Dao form shattered as a result."

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

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

Niè Yún laughed.

"A soul not belonging to this world—so, my crossing over was because of you?"

Zhāng Xuán was shaken.

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

"Heh!" Niè Yún chuckled. "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..." Zhāng Xuán's face reddened. "Without Kǒng Shī, I couldn't have reached this level..."

Without Kǒng Shī's selfless contribution, it would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was his, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Língxī was his best chance to break through, but he chose to hold back, thinking he could retreat safely. In reality, he lost his fearless drive. Facing those beyond us, without that spirit, how can one contend?"

Niè Yún said.

Zhāng Xuán fell silent.

He had watched their fight; Kǒng Shī had indeed lacked decisiveness.

Perhaps he didn't want to kill Luò Ruòxī.

"But if Kǒng Shī had won, Língxī would have died..."

After a moment, Zhāng Xuán looked over, his brows furrowing.

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

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

Niè Yún smiled faintly. "At your current level, in a life-or-death situation, could you save someone? That's how it is."

"This..." Zhāng Xuán smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Dìjūn was a different realm; if he wanted, he could save someone at the last moment without a scratch.

"Língxī is from my other wife, Luò Qīngchéng, so she took the surname Luò... To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma until now."

Niè Yún sighed. "I'm quite the heartless father... How about you explain this to her? After all, her feelings have shifted to you; as her father, I'm probably forgotten. Ha, I'll stay hidden for now and show up later, or she might turn everything upside down..."

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

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

"The Heavenly Dao library was my intent, both foundation and shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. My daughter with you brings me comfort as a father."

Niè Yún said.