Chapter 505: Insight

The soul contract, an agreement between souls, cannot be dissolved unless the initiator chooses to end it, no matter how powerful the other party's methods may be.

It was just like the Undying Emperor Jun, Jun Xiao Huangji; he was once only a God King, and even as an Emperor Jun, 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 one could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they could not break free from the soul contract.

"The soul contract indeed cannot be separated 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!"

Ren Ren said.

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

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

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

After explaining, Ren 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 to nourish himself.

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

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

"Let's make our move!"

With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand abruptly, and said, "In that case, let's settle this with our skills!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

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

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

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level of an Emperor Jun's enlightenment, it contained all his obsessions, pushing his Tian Ru Qing Gong to its limits.

Whoosh!

One strike cleaved Ren Ren's attack in two.

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi attacked. Her jade hand swirled, her sword light like snow.

Her swordsmanship resembled that of the young man from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of the great dao.

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

With a light smile, Ren Ren 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 would be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were both sent flying backward, spitting blood in mid-air.

With their strength, they couldn't withstand it!

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 cultivation was no weaker than Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, its power surging to the nine heavens.

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

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Having become an Emperor Jun, his clone still hadn't lost 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'll all die if they fall..."

Xiao Huangji roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The other six Emperor Jun also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor Jun united, capable of destroying heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Ren Ren, having absorbed the 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 Emperor Jun, like Zhang Xuan and the others, were sent flying.

Even ten Emperor Jun 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, Ren Ren stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"How dare you!"

With a loud shout, the elder from Jian Shen Tian suddenly appeared, blocking the way. His long sword transformed into a galaxy.

"Emperor Jun? He's also an Emperor Jun?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

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

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

"He's the Emperor Jun 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 technique?" Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when the space twisted, and the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun was sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a huge pit.

With Zhang Xuan's current strength and understanding of the sword dao, even he couldn't hold out, so despite this elder's high cultivation and masterful swordsmanship, he was no match.

"Ha! Emperor Jun are nothing but a flock of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the nine heavens, obliterate the God Realm, and trample all rules!"

Defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun, Ren Ren laughed wildly. The space around him collapsed continuously, making him seem like a demon.

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

He and his clone had used their full power, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her strongest move, yet none could block even one of his attacks...

Could no one in the God Realm stop this man? Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

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

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

"Return it 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, possibly fixing its flaws and expelling Ren Ren.

Like a body's immune system.

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

But...

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

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Viruses can be killed by the immune system, but what about a fierce tiger? No matter how strong the system, what could it do?

This man was just an ordinary God King, yet even titled ones could be easily killed by the Heavenly Dao. But he was stronger than Emperor Jun... 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 easily!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

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

"Thinking of escaping?"

Ren Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

"You..."

Zhang Xuan unleashed his sword technique again, his sword intent blazing.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Ren 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 Zun shouted, blocking the way. Even Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jing Kong Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

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

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

"Where is he?" Zhang Xuan asked the girl in his arms.

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. The Undying Emperor Jun was once his beast pet..."

After regulating her breath, Luo Ruoxi explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

So that explained why the Undying Emperor Jun's remnant will had recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also an Emperor Jun? Or does he have power beyond that?"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

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

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

"He's not an Emperor Jun. He's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"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 giant hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Heavenly Dao Orderly and Heavenly Dao Incomplete 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 the scattered parts... That's why I've been so determined, unable to fail! That's why I entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, what I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan finally understood.

When they first met on the Master Teacher Continent, this girl had told him her story about saving a dear one. He hadn't realized then that it was her father, 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 Heavenly Dao fragment in you?"

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

Acting as and fusing with were two different concepts.

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

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief.

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

Though he didn't want to accept this fate, he couldn't bear to see the girl before him harmed.

"I'll separate the Heavenly Dao Incomplete from me. Then your father can awaken and even slay Ren Ren, right?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi glanced at the collapsing God Realm, hesitating.

The God Realm was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he truly defeat that powerful Ren 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, the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and even Kong Shi—if we team up, we might still win!"

"Kong Shi? He's..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

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

With his prior preparations, 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 like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng wouldn't have stayed away from the Tide Sea..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, such as Zi Yuan Gu Sheng, were all incredibly strong. Even without an Emperor Jun's help, they could enter the Tide Sea, yet none had appeared. They must have something more important—like 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, and they returned to where Kong Shi had resided. There, they saw an elder floating in mid-air, cross-legged. Seeing them arrive, he smiled slightly. "You've come!"

It was Kong Shi!

This teacher of ages hadn't disappointed him!

As expected, while everyone's attention was on the Tide Sea, he had revived.

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperor Jun could revive, as the Undying Emperor Jun had, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

"I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. The nameless giant in 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 Ren 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 morale—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 outcome!

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

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse it into one person?"

Both Luo Ruoxi and Zhang Xuan frowned in confusion.

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Ren Ren absorbed that power and has been devouring the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us ten-plus Emperor Jun alone aren't his equal..."

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

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperor Jun stood at the God Realm'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 Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Emperor Jun barrier, 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's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I saw correctly, during our fight, you once gave up, intending to let me kill you!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During the battle, she had indeed considered that, so at the start, they had both held back, 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..."

Kong Shi nodded. "I seek to embrace all beings and enlighten the world, but I'm too unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—too much mercy 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, Ren 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 values living true to himself; even in death, as long as he's lived without regret, his heart is clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!"

Kong Shi continued.

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

If even death means nothing, how could 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. Training someone else isn't feasible, and even if it were, I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Ling Xi Di Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her her own understanding. I control Heavenly Dao Orderly. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the nine heavens, command 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 an instant, 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 cleansed, 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 Qiqi and the others away, Ren Ren sneered coldly.

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

The Tide Sea had devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy worlds. These Emperor Jun and God Kings, representing the God Realm's peak, were still no match.

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

"The God Realm's destruction means our lives are meaningless too. I'll go down with you..."

Yun Chi Di Jun transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? You're not worthy!"

Ren 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.

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

Xuan Ming Di Jun's true form was a massive turtle, as if supporting 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!

With four consecutive strikes, Ren 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?"

In the shocked gazes of the crowd, a figure stepped out of the air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

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

"He's made significant progress..."

Ren Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

He clearly didn't understand how the other's strength had changed so dramatically in just minutes.

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

With a cold snort, Ren Ren struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

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

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

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

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

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

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

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over a dozen Emperor Jun transferred to him, victory wasn't guaranteed.

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

"A power beyond Emperor Jun?"

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 pride toward the world."

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

As Kong Shi had said, even with the fused power forming a complete Heavenly Dao within him, he wasn't a match.

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

Ren Ren sneered.

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

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

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

Hearing this, Ren Ren 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 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, his soul scattering everywhere.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad.

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

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

The plan was for him to break through the barriers, not surrender to death!

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

But then, Kong Shi spoke. "Wait, it's the Undying Emperor Jun's immortality technique..."

Everyone saw that Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and soul shattered, had the pendant on his chest burst open. A drop of blood floated up, ignited, forming a blazing flame. From the flame, an intact figure slowly emerged.

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Heavenly Dao Incomplete 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 scatter his soul and use the You Hun Pool to reform it.

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

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

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant; without release, the servant was forever controlled... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract binding the soul.

But Ren Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about it in detail before. He must have planned this then.

That's why he deliberately let himself be struck with the strongest attack.

And it had succeeded brilliantly!

"So this is the way to break through Emperor Jun..."

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.

Suddenly, 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 Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, born with the nine heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus's cultivation, his already peak realm began to loosen, as if ready to break through at any moment.

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

With a smile, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

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

Did the world exist because people observed it, or did people come after the world?

Was it the wind moving or the heart?

This ancient question had puzzled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter.

Without life, without emotions, what meaning did the world have?

So, after breaking through romance, it was the bonds of all beings! The intertwined emotions of the world.

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

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

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

With a low cry, Zhang Xuan's suppressed realm shattered in an instant.

He had broken through the Emperor Jun barrier!

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 could now absorb spatial chaos, chaotic energy—even the opponent's green light—as his own, without distinction.

"You..."

Ren Ren hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him. Enraged, he roared and struck again.

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

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

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

As long as there were emotions, he could be used and controlled!

"You..."

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

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

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, something like a servant held no meaning for him.

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

"No..."

Sensing his resolve, Ren 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 Tide Sea had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the withered wilderness.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Di Jun, the Undying Emperor Jun, Ling Long Xian Zi, and the others stared in disbelief.

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

Could there truly be a realm beyond Emperor Jun?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao Incomplete" that had been separated from him still floating in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

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

The crumbling God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energies regathered.

The collapsing realm finally halted, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Ren Ren's death.

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

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The hole in the Tide Sea had closed with the Heavenly Dao's completion. 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, then saw a young man standing before him.

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

"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 Emperor Jun, far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

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

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

"Nie Tong?"

Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow; he'd never heard the name.

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

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

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

There, another young man stood.

He looked only slightly older, with upward-swept brows, giving a profound and inscrutable air.

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power surpassed even his, having broken through the Emperor Jun barrier, with even deeper and more profound cultivation!

"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 God Realm's Heavenly Dao?"

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

"I used 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 was incredulous.

The God Realm was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"That's not right. If you created the God Realm and are the Heavenly Dao, why let Ren Ren rampage without intervening... Even your daughter's life?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

Without answering, Nie Yun looked at him. "Do you think... beyond the God Realm, 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, perhaps even stronger.

"I once suspected that beyond the God Realm, there might be greater life forms, 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 said. "If I'd dodged, the entire God Realm might have been wiped out, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but my Heavenly Dao form shattered as a result."

"In that state, restoring myself 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 Jun barrier 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 from here. And you didn't disappoint me!"

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not from this world? So, my crossing over was because of you?"

Zhang Xuan's heart shook.

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

"Heh!"

Nie Yun chuckled lightly. "Natives have reverence for the world, making it harder to break its limits. 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 selfless contribution, it would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was his; he just 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 fearless drive. Facing those beyond us, without that spirit, how can one contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

But that single thought had cost him the chance.

"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.

Breaking through Emperor Jun was a different realm. If he wanted to act, he could save someone at the last moment without a scratch.

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

Nie Yun sighed 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 ha, I'll stay hidden for a while. I don't want her turning everything upside down... Don't worry, the Heavenly Dao library was my intent—your foundation and shackle. You've broken through it with your own ability, showing your potential. With my daughter by your side, as her father, I'm content."

With that, the story continued, but as the text ends here, so does the translation.