Chapter 510: Qi Xia

A soul contract merges with the soul itself. As long as the one who initiated it doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party has unparalleled abilities, it cannot be undone.

It's like the case of the Undying Emperor Jun, Xiao Huang Ji. Back then, he was only a Shen Wang, and even as an Emperor Jun, he couldn't resolve such a pact. To prevent this individual from going back on their word and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent 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 binding agreement.

"Ling Hun Qi Yue is indeed impossible to separate from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused a special gas that can even resolve Tian Dao. Dissolving this contract isn't difficult... As long as I have enough power to strike at the contract's location, I can do it!"

Hen Ren said.

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

"Oh, 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 absorbed an immense amount of power during their conversation, using it to nourish himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi also sensed something was wrong and hurriedly 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, and declared, "Since that's the 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 possibly hinder one who cares not for life or death?

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by Emperor 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 struck out. Her jade-like hand swirled, and her sword light gleamed like snow.

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

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

Hen Ren chuckled lightly and reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth. Space shattered, and it seemed as though the sun, moon, and stars were about to be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

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

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

Just how far had this guy advanced?

"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.

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

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

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

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

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

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

"Let's all attack together, or we'll all die if they fall..."

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

The other six great Emperor Jun also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor Jun united, their power capable of destroying heaven and earth, overwhelming any realm. But Hen 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, along with Zhang Xuan and the others, were all sent flying.

Even the ten great Emperor Jun combined couldn't block a single move from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

After defeating them with one strike, Hen Ren stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"How dare you!"

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

"Emperor Jun? He's also at Emperor Jun level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

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

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

"He's an Emperor Jun from Jian Shen Tian..."

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

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

"He is..."

Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when the space twisted, and they saw the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun being sent flying, crashing into the ground and forming a massive crater.

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

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

Defeating the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun, Hen Ren laughed maniacally. The space around him collapsed continuously, making him appear demonic and otherworldly.

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

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

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

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

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

"Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?"

Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

The library in his mind was part of the Heavenly Dao. Once returned, the Heavenly Dao would be complete, potentially fixing its flaws and expelling Hen Ren.

It was like the body's immune system—if intact, it could easily fend off viruses; 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? No matter how strong the system, what could it do?

This man was beyond ordinary Shen Wang; he surpassed even Emperor Jun... He was no longer something the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..."

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

"He?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

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

"Trying to escape?"

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.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

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

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone blocking fearlessly, even facing death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened. But he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, tore through space, and in the next moment, they arrived in Zi You Tian's domain.

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

"Where is he, the one you mentioned?"

With no time to observe the ordinary lives below, 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. 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.

That also explained why the Undying Emperor Jun's remnant will had immediately recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

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

He couldn't help asking.

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

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

"He's not an Emperor Jun; he's... Tian Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"Tian Dao? Your father... is the Heavenly Dao?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that massive hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Tian Dao You Xu and Tian Dao You Que entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Tian 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 was so determined, why I couldn't fail! That's why I specifically entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

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

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

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

"Taking control of Tian Dao Zi Ran... You don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in you?"

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

Control and fusion were two different concepts.

"I'm just in control; 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 Tian 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 suffer.

"If I separate the Tian 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 such a powerful Hen Ren?

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to count on!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, plus the 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 correct, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... Unexpectedly, he's like Wei Chang Feng—a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Chang Feng had made him realize that Kong Shi's way of preserving his spirit was likely the same, as a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti, allowing him to remain clear-minded in the womb.

Coupled with his prior arrangements, revival was only a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, apparently not expecting this.

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

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng and the others, were incredibly strong. Even without an Emperor Jun's help, they could enter Chao Xi Hai, yet none had appeared. They must have something more important—clearly, helping Kong Shi recover.

"This..."

Luo Ruoxi was shaken, suddenly understanding.

"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 mid-air, cross-legged. Seeing them, he smiled faintly. "You've come!"

It was Kong Shi!

This teacher of ten thousand ages hadn't disappointed him!

As guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was on Chao Xi Hai.

"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 You Hun Chi was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to break free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints 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—perhaps decades—to restore his power.

"Our individual strengths are strong, and even together, we might not easily defeat Hen Ren..."

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

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

So many had 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 powers into one person?"

Kong Shi looked over with a smile.

"Fuse 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 has been devouring Shen Jie's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Emperor Jun, can't stand against him alone..."

Kong Shi said, "But if we combine our forces and channel them into one person... maybe then we could!"

"How do we channel it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperor Jun stood at the peak of Shen Jie. If absorbing others' power were that easy, she wouldn't have been stalled for so many years.

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

Kong Shi said.

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

"Ling Xi Emperor 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 guessed right, when he fought me, he even considered giving up and letting me kill him!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During their fight, he had indeed thought that way, so at the beginning, both had held back, making it more like a spar than a life-or-death battle.

"Unable to transcend, he can't unleash his full power. Even if we give him more true qi, it won't help him break through to the ultimate realm! As for me..."

Kong Shi nodded. "I care for all living beings and wish 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 either! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation flows naturally, without flaws. He values living true to himself; even in death, as long as he's lived without regret, his heart is at peace. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!"

Kong Shi continued.

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

If even death doesn't bother him, 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 Emperor Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled Tian Dao Zi Ran, giving her her own understanding of it. I control Tian 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 his determination, Zhang Xuan nodded, knowing further argument was useless.

Boom!

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

Zhang Xuan's body stiffened, as if he had instantly become the Heavenly Dao, soaring above the nine heavens.

His soul, body, and true qi were all rapidly tempered, growing stronger and more abundant.

...

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

After slapping Luo Qi Qi and the others away, Hen Ren sneered coldly.

The combined power of the clone and the various Emperor Jun 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 Emperor Jun and Shen Wang, despite representing Shen Jie's pinnacle, were no match.

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

"If Shen Jie falls, living on is meaningless. I'll go down with you..."

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

"You? You're not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

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

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

The four divine beasts, guarding Shen Jie's four poles, 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, he felt his raised arm seize up in mid-air.

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

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

Now, the young man's power surged, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"You've improved a lot..."

Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

He couldn't fathom 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, space tearing apart and energy raging everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

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

She and Kong Shi had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, reducing their own cultivation to only Shen Wang level, no longer as glorious as before.

However, their foundation remained. As long as they had enough power, they could recover eventually.

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

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over a dozen Emperor Jun channeled into him, defeating Hen Ren wouldn't be easy.

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

"A power that transcends 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 an arrogant spirit 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 wasn't a match.

"Ha! I thought you'd be something special, but you're just so-so!"

Hen Ren sneered.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you and will be killed eventually. Since that's the case, I'd rather die under your strongest attack..."

Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and stopped, no longer attacking, instead looking at Hen Ren.

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

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, forming a massive crater.

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

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

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

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperor Jun. Why had he chosen to face death?

Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

"Wrong, it's the Undying Emperor Jun's immortality technique..."

Just as they wondered, Kong Shi spoke.

Everyone then saw that Zhang Xuan, with his head blown apart and soul shattered, had the pendant on his chest suddenly 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 pendant's blood to separate the Tian 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; he was free from its interference and had escaped the Heavenly Dao!

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was full of disbelief.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and reform it using You Hun Chi.

This one had done 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.

Ling Hun Qi Yue bound master and servant; without the master's release, the servant was forever bound... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract tied to the soul, unbreakable in death.

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape his Ling Hun Qi Yue. Zhang Xuan had asked about the details earlier, probably planning it then.

That's why he deliberately let Hen Ren use his strongest attack.

Relying on that power, he was reborn in the flames, and it had succeeded brilliantly!

"So that's the key to breaking 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.

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, 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. This is what it means to be human!"

Zhang Xuan murmured with a smile.

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?

These eternal questions had puzzled countless people.

But now... none of that mattered!

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

So, after breaking through romantic love came the bonds of 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!

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

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

He broke through the Emperor Jun shackles!

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

Countless strands of Hun Dun Qi surged toward him, and his body advanced swiftly.

He could now absorb not just spiritual energy, but spatial chaos, Hun Dun Qi, even the opponent's green light—all became his, indistinguishable.

"You..."

Hen Ren hadn't expected his full-force attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, leaving him furious and roaring as he struck again.

"Your resentment toward the lofty Emperor Jun for not saving you from spatial chaos is emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant is emotion; wanting to destroy Shen Jie to vent your anger is emotion; desiring to grow stronger is also emotion... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, or escape my control?"

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.

After killing so many in Shen Jie and harming his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi and so many friends, how could he forgive him 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 poured back into Shen Jie.

All the power Chao Xi Hai had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the withered wastelands.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

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

They had fought Hen Ren and knew his terror. For such a powerhouse to be vanquished so easily, what 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, so I'll return it now..."

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

Buzz!

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

The crumbling Shen Jie visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energy regathered.

The collapsing world finally halted, 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..."

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 saw a youth 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 hair's breadth 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 youth exuded an unstoppable sword intent and said lightly.

"Nie Tong?"

Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow; he'd never heard this 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 youth stood.

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

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This youth's power surpassed his own, also beyond Emperor Jun, but deeper and more profound!

"I am Nie Yun!"

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

"If Xi's father?"

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

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

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

Nie Yun smiled lightly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how powerful was he?

"Wait, if Shen Jie is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why didn't you act against Hen Ren... or even care about your daughter's life?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

Nie Yun didn't answer directly but looked at him. "Do you think there's life beyond Shen Jie, even stronger than this?"

"This... Probably, right?"

Zhang Xuan hesitated. "There should be..."

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

"I once suspected there was a higher world, so I tried to peer into it with all my might, ultimately drawing a backlash... A massive hand descended!"

Nie Yun continued, "If I'd dodged, Shen Jie 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 take just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shen Jie's limits, explore where that hand came from, and see what's beyond... I can't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through the Emperor Jun shackles and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intent to the lowest world... granting it 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 was shaken.

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

"Heh!"

Nie Yun chuckled. "Those 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. "Without Kong Shi, I couldn't have reached this level..."

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

"The opportunity was his, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to retreat, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his drive. Facing someone beyond us, without that spirit, how could he contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"If Kong Shi had won, If Xi would have died..."

After a moment, Zhang Xuan looked over, his brows furrowed.

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

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

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "You and I are on the same level now. In a life-or-death situation, could you save someone? Could I not?"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Beyond Emperor Jun was a different concept. If he truly wanted to, he could save someone at the last moment without a scratch.

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

Nie Yun sighed. "I'm quite the heartless father... Anyway, you explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you; she probably doesn't even think of me anymore... Ha ha, I'll stay hidden for now. I don't want her causing chaos. Otherwise, things might turn 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 with your own ability, showing your potential. The future is boundless. With my daughter by your side, as her father, I'm content."

As Nie Yun spoke, the text cuts off.