Chapter 506: Resurrection

The soul contract binds souls together, and as long as the one who initiated it does not revoke it, even if the other party has unparalleled means, it cannot be broken. It's like the case of Bu Si Di Jun and Xiao Huang Ji—when Xiao Huang Ji was just a Shen Wang, Bu Si Di Jun was already a Di Jun, yet he couldn't resolve such an agreement. To prevent this individual from going back on their word and causing backlash, the Ming Shi Da Lu had specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break free from the soul contract.

"Indeed, the soul contract cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I have fused with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Resolving this contract is not difficult... As long as I have enough power to bombard the location of the contract, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

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

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

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

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

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

Luo Ruoxi also sensed something was wrong 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.

In life, we return anew; in death, we long for each other!

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

Though this sword technique had not reached the level comprehended by a Di Jun, 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-like hand swirling as sword light fell like snow.

Her swordsmanship bore some resemblance to that of the young man from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of the Great Dao.

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

Hen Ren chuckled lightly and reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth, shattering space, and making it seem as though the sun, moon, and stars would be forcibly pulled down.

Thud! Thud!

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!" Zhang Xuan's clone strode forward, each step blooming with lotus flowers and echoing with the sound of flowing water in the void.

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

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

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

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming a Di Jun, his clone 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 Huang Ji roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky.

The remaining six Di Juns also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Di Juns joined forces, capable of destroying heaven and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed the special power, simply let his black hole expand as their attacks approached, swallowing everything in an instant before counterattacking.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The seven Di Juns, along with Zhang Xuan and the others, were all sent flying.

Even the ten Di Juns united couldn't block a single strike from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

After defeating them with one move, Hen Ren stepped forward and flipped his wrist, slapping down again.

"How dare you!"

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

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

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

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

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

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

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

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

"He's..."

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

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

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

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian Di Jun, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the space around him collapsing continuously, making him seem like a demon.

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

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

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

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

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

Luo Ruoxi's delicate fists clenched, her eyes turning red.

"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, potentially fixing its flaws and expelling Hen Ren.

It was like the human immune system.

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

But...

"He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao is restored, could it suppress him?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond a Di Jun... he was no longer something the Heavenly Dao could contend with.

"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 man easily!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

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

"Thinking of escaping?"

Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

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

Clang! Clang! Clang!

But it was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save Shen Jie, not flee, Zhang Xuan's clone and Bu Si Di Zun shouted, stepping forward, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her Jing Kong Zhu form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone blocking the way fearlessly, even facing death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, his body flickering as he tore through space, appearing in Zi Zai Tian the next moment.

Zi Zai Tian was no longer as peaceful as before. Shen Jie was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is the person 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 Shen Jie, he was willing to sacrifice himself!

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

After regulating her breath, Luo Ruoxi explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

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

"Is your father also a Di Jun? Or does he possess strength beyond a Di Jun?"

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos had been calmed by the blood in the pendant. Was it possible that not only she was a Di Jun, but her father was as well, 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 a Di Jun. He's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

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

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

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

Not long after they met on Ming Shi Da Lu, 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 Shen Jie Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting as Heavenly Dao Zi Ran... you don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in your body?" Suddenly noticing the oddity in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"I'm just in control; 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 You Que; she didn't have to die.

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

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

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

Luo Ruoxi glanced at the collapsing Shen Jie, hesitating.

Shen Jie was her father's foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he truly defeat that powerful Hen Ren?

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to figure this out!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, the Jiu Tian Jiu Di—if we team up with Kong Shi, 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, with 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.

Coupled with the precautions he had set in advance, his revival was only a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, apparently not expecting this.

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

Zhang Xuan said.

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

They must have something more important—reviving Kong Shi.

"This..." Luo Ruoxi's heart shook as realization dawned.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they arrived at the place where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly. "You've come!"

Who else could it be but Kong Shi?

This master of all ages hadn't disappointed him!

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

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi's body trembled.

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

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

Kong Shi smiled faintly.

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

"We're strong individually, and even together, 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 power into one person?"

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse it into one person?"

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

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

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.

Di Juns stood at the peak of Shen Jie. If absorbing others' power was that easy, she wouldn't have been stuck for so many years.

"It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Di Jun shackles, he can save Shen Jie!"

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with her father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and her attachments, she can never truly transcend! If I saw correctly, during our fight, you once gave up, intending to let me kill you!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During the battle, she had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, they had both held back, making it more like a spar than a life-or-death fight.

"Without transcendence, she can't unleash her full power. Even with more true energy, she couldn't break through to that supreme realm! As for me..."

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

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

"So, I'm not suitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation is seamless, without flaws. He values living true to himself—even in death, as long as he has no regrets, his heart is clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!"

Kong Shi continued.

In life, we return anew; in death, we long for each other!

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

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. "No need to decline. Time is short. Even if we tried to cultivate someone else, it might not work, and I doubt anyone could do better than you! Ling Xi Di Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled Heavenly Dao Zi Ran and has her own understanding of it; I control Heavenly Dao You Xu. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone's Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, you can stabilize the nine heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing that the decision was made and further explanation was useless, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in the blink of an eye, two vast streams of power 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 undergoing rapid purification, 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 Zhang Xuan's clone and the other Di Juns was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak.

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

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

"Shen Jie is doomed, and we'll have no reason to live. I, Yun Chi, will perish with you..."

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

"You? You're not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

Bu Si Di Jun revealed his undead fire phoenix form, flames lighting up the sky.

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

The four divine beasts, guardians of Shen Jie's four corners, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing world.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive strikes, Hen Ren suppressed the four beasts, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. "Since you're 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, the young man exuded surging power, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto himself.

"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 dramatically in just a few minutes.

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

Hen Ren snorted coldly and struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, tearing space apart and sending shockwaves 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 Shen Wang level, far from their former glory.

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

"With his current strength, winning... is tough! Unless he comprehends a power that transcends Di Jun!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over a dozen Di Juns 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 surpass limits.

"A power that transcends Di 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 complete Heavenly Dao force in his body, he was still no match.

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

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 and stopped attacking, instead looking at Hen Ren.

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

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

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

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

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

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

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

The idea was for him to break through his limits and reach beyond the Di Jun realm. Why had he chosen to face death without resistance?

Wasn't that wasting their efforts?

"Wait, it's Bu Si Di Jun's immortality technique..."

Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

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

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

Luo Ruoxi's pupils shrank.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body, 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 You Hun Chi.

Yet Zhang Xuan had achieved it with just one strike—what method had he used?

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

Luo Ruoxi realized.

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

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about the details earlier—probably planning it then.

So, he had deliberately let Hen Ren strike him with his full power.

Using that force for rebirth, it had succeeded spectacularly!

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

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if understanding something. He waved his hand, and his clone on the side immediately turned back into a lotus flower and flew over.

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

In the blink of an eye, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan had become the nine heavens, and the nine heavens were him.

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic nine heavens stabilized immediately.

The Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, born with the nine heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone fused perfectly, it meant he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian'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, parent-child affection, romantic love... Fused together, they become all things in the world. That's what it means to be human!"

With a smile, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

The moment the Heavenly Dao library left his soul, he had 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 emotion, what meaning did the world have?

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

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

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

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

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

He had broken through the Di Jun 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 physical body advanced swiftly.

He could now absorb not just spiritual energy, but spatial chaos, chaotic energy—even the opponent's green light—making it all his own.

"You..."

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

"You resent the lofty Di Juns for not saving you in the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humiliated as my servant, harboring beìwēi and anger—that's emotion; you want to destroy Shen Jie to vent your rage—that's emotion; you crave more power—that's emotion too... 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, immobilized.

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

"You..."

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

"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 and harmed his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi and so many friends. How could he forgive that today?

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged across Shen Jie.

All the power that Chao Xi Hai had devoured was now returned, bringing life back to the withered wastelands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's gone?"

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

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

Was there truly a level beyond Di Jun?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

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

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

Buzz!

The library that had accompanied him since rebirth embedded itself into Shen Jie's sky with a thunderous sound.

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

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

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

Zhang Xuan smiled.

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

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

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

In that step, he didn't know how far he traveled, and soon he 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 always felt this man was unfathomable, and now he realized the man was only a hair's breadth from his own level, at the absolute peak of Di Jun, far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

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

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

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow.

He had never heard this name before.

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

Nie Tong smiled faintly 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 than Nie Tong, with upward-swept brows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

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

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

"Luo Xi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're... the Shen Jie Heavenly Dao?"

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

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

Nie Yun smiled faintly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how powerful was he?

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

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If not for his breakthrough, Shen Jie might have been utterly destroyed. Why had this man done nothing?

Not even caring about his daughter's life?

Nie Yun didn't answer. Instead, he looked at Zhang Xuan. "Do you think... beyond Shen Jie, there are even more powerful beings?"

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

Though he hadn't seen any, since this man could reach such a level, others might too, perhaps even stronger.

"I once suspected that beyond Shen Jie lay greater powers, so I tried to peer further, ultimately provoking a backlash from a higher world... A giant hand came crashing down!"

Nie Yun said, "If I'd dodged, Shen Jie might have been wiped out completely, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but that caused the Heavenly Dao I embodied to shatter."

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

Nie Yun laughed.

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

Zhang Xuan's heart shook.

No wonder he had been able to cross over—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 there for 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, and Kong Shi had indeed lacked decisiveness.

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"If Kong Shi had won, Luo 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 have died..."

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

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Di Jun 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. 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 causing chaos... Otherwise, it might flip the world upside down."

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

"The Heavenly Dao library was my intent, both a foundation and a shackle. You broke through it on your own, proving your ability and potential. Your future is limitless. With my daughter by your side, as her father, I'm content."

With that, the text ends.