Chapter 512: Sweet Choice

A soul contract binds souls. As long as it is not dissolved by one party, even if the other party possesses heaven-defying abilities, it cannot be broken.

Just like Bu Si Di Jun, previously known as Xiao Huang Ji, who was only a Shen Wang before becoming a Di Jun, he still couldn't break free from such an agreement.

To prevent that individual from going back on their word and causing trouble, the Ming Shi Continent had specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they couldn't break free from the soul contract!

"The soul contract cannot be severed from the sea of consciousness, but I have fused with a special essence that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Therefore, dissolving this contract isn't difficult... As long as I have enough power to strike the contract's location, it can be done!"

Hen Ren stated.

A soul contract is built upon the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can dissolve even the God Realm's Heavenly Dao, dissolving a soul contract with proper handling is absolutely no problem.

"I see..."

Zhang Xuan's eyes gleamed.

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

After explaining, Hen Ren said no more. His aura grew even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further. Clearly, he had absorbed an unknown amount of power in that short time 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.

"Let's make our move!"

With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand, and declared, "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 could stand in the way when life and death mean nothing?

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

Whoosh!

With a single sword strike, he cleaved Hen Ren's attack in two.

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi struck out. Her jade hand swirled, and her sword light gleamed 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 mine, they still fall short..."

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 would be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were both sent flying backward, spitting blood into the air.

With their strength, they couldn't withstand it!

What realm had this individual 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.

Having refined the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, his clone's cultivation was no weaker than Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, its power surging to 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.

Having achieved Di Jun status, his clone still hadn't given up 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 remaining six Di Jun also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Di Jun 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, instantly devouring their attacks before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten Di Jun united couldn't block a single move from him!

How could this individual 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 galaxy.

"Di Jun? He's also at Di 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 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..."

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 help but ask.

"He's..."

Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when the space twisted, and they saw the Jian Shen Tian elder also sent flying, crashing into a pit not far away.

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

"Ha! Di 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 elder, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the surrounding space collapsing as he appeared 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 the God Realm stop this individual?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

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

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

"Return it 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 the 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 couldn't resist invasion.

But...

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

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This individual was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond Di Jun... he was no longer something 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 individual 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.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save the God Realm, not flee, his clone and Bu Si Di Zun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her Jing Kong Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly blocking behind them, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew it 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 the person 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 the God Realm, he was willing to make the sacrifice!

"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 yet different—it was her father's.

That also explained why the remnant will of Bu Si Di Jun had immediately acknowledged him as master upon seeing the pendant.

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

He couldn't help but ask.

The library's chaos had been calmed by the blood in the pendant, so was it possible that not only she was a Di 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 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 the God Realm'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 Ming Shi 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 said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

Not long after they met on Ming Shi Continent, this girl had told him her story—she needed to save a close relative. He hadn't grasped it then, but now he did.

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

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

"Acting as guardian of Heavenly Dao Zi Ran... You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?"

Suddenly realizing the inconsistency in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

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

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan sighed in 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 hesitated, glancing at the collapsing God Realm.

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

It was hard to say!

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

Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth.

"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... No doubt, he's 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.

He could remain undeluded even in the womb.

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 all incredibly strong. Even without a Di 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's heart shook as understanding 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 slightly. "You've come!"

It was Kong Shi!

This master of all ages hadn't disappointed him!

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

"You..."

Luo Ruoxi's body trembled.

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

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. The nameless giant in You Hun Pool was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to break free from 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 the God Realm, he had experienced an unknown length of time to restore his power—potentially decades.

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

Seeing 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 Kong Shi wouldn't change the outcome!

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

Kong Shi looked at them with a smile.

"Fuse 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. Hen Ren absorbed that power and devoured the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. In terms of raw strength, the more than ten Di Jun among us can't match him individually..."

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

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Di Jun stood at the pinnacle of the God Realm; if absorbing others' power were 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 Di Jun shackles, he can save the God Realm!"

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I didn't misjudge, during our fight, you once gave up and intended to let me kill you, right?"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During the battle, she had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, they had both held back, fighting like it was a spar rather than a life-or-death struggle.

"Unable to transcend, he can't unleash his full power. Even with more true qi, he couldn't impact that supreme realm! As for me..."

Kong Shi nodded. "I bear the burdens of the masses and wish to save the world, but I'm unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—too much mercy is a flaw! If I had been more ruthless and wiped out the Yi Ling Clan, we wouldn't be in this situation now..."

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 follows his heart, without flaws. He values living true to himself; even in death, as long as he's lived without regret, his heart is at peace. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further and higher!"

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 now, and even if it were, I doubt anyone could do better than you! Ling Xi Di Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but he's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving him his 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 the decision was made, Zhang Xuan nodded, knowing more words were useless.

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 transformed into 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 Di Jun was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still lacking.

Chao Xi Hai had devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy had become his sustenance. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy the world; these Di Jun and Shen Wang, despite representing the God Realm's peak, were no match.

At that moment, Hen 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!"

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 undying fire phoenix form, flames illuminating the sky.

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

The four divine beasts, guardians of the God Realm's four poles, 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, 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? Have you asked me?"

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

Now, his power surged through his body, more than ten times stronger than before, descending like a world unto itself.

"You've improved a lot..."

Hen Ren halted, his expression turning serious.

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

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

With a cold snort, Hen Ren struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, tearing space apart and sending energy streams scattering 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 foundation remained; with enough power, they could recover eventually.

"With his current strength, winning is difficult! Unless... he can comprehend a power that transcends Di Jun!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with more than ten Di Jun channeling their power to him, victory wasn't guaranteed.

The reason for this approach was that only by concentrating the power in one person could they touch the pinnacle and potentially break through 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 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 was still no match.

"Ha! I thought you'd be more impressive, 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 want to die under your strongest attack..."

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

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

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

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

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

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered everywhere.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Di Jun and the others widened their eyes, trembling uncontrollably.

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

The intention was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Di Jun, so why didn't he resist and choose death?

Wasn't that wasting their efforts?

wait, no—it's Bu Si Di Jun's undying method..."

As they puzzled over it, Kong Shi spoke up.

Everyone then saw that Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and soul had 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 intact 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 contracted.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body; he was free from the Heavenly Dao's interference and unbound.

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was also incredulous.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and use You Hun Pool to reform it.

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

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

Luo Ruoxi realized.

A soul contract bound master and servant; without the master's release, the servant was forever constrained... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract binding the soul, unyielding even in death.

But Hen Ren had used that special power to escape, and Zhang Xuan had asked about the details before. He must have been planning this then.

That's why he deliberately let Hen Ren strike him with full force.

Using that power for rebirth, it had succeeded spectacularly!

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

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if he had understood something. With a wave of his hand, 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 the clone fused perfectly, it meant he controlled that power.

Not only that, but with the fusion of the Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian's cultivation, his already peak realm showed signs of loosening, as if it could 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!"

Smiling, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

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

Did the world exist first, and then people viewed it, or vice versa?

Was it the wind moving, or the heart?

This eternal question had troubled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter.

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

So, after breaking through romantic love, it was the affection of all beings—the interwoven 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!

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

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

The Di Jun shackles were broken!

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

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

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

"You..."

Hen Ren hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to empower him, and he raged, "Wah!" screaming as he attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Di Jun for not saving you from the spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humble and angry as my former servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy the God Realm to vent your anger—that's emotion; you seek to grow stronger—that's emotion too... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me or escape my control?"

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. With a light grasp of 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'm willing to 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 the God Realm, harming his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi, and so many friends, how could he forgive today?

"No..."

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged back to every corner of the God Realm.

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

"This..."

"Is that it? He's defeated?"

Yun Chi Di Jun, 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 level had Zhang Xuan reached?

Could there truly be a realm beyond Di Jun?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Heavenly 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 the God Realm's sky with a thunderous ring.

The crumbling God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energy gathered once more.

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

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

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The hole in Chao Xi Hai had closed with the Heavenly Dao's restoration; the God Realm returning to its former prosperity was only a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

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

That step covered an unknown distance, and 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 felt this person was unfathomable before, 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; it was a name he'd never heard.

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

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, and after flying an unknown distance, they stopped at a mountain peak.

There, another young man stood.

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

"This strength..."

Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power surpassed even his own; he had also broken through Di Jun's shackles, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!"

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

"If Xi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're the God Realm's Heavenly Dao?"

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

Zhang Xuan could hardly believe it.

The God Realm was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"That's not right—if the God Realm is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why didn't you act against Hen Ren's rampage... or even care about your daughter's life?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

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

"This..."

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

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

"I once suspected there was life beyond the God Realm, so I used all my effort to peer into it, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... a hand descended from the void!"

Nie Yun said. "If I had dodged, the entire God Realm might have been wiped out, 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 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 life could break through Di Jun's shackles and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... granting them to souls originally of 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 could 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 its shackles. I just had a thought and didn't expect you to truly succeed..."

"I..."

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

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

"The opportunity was given to him, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi was his best chance to break through, but he chose to retreat, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his fearless 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.

"But 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 have died..."

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "Your current strength is nearly mine. In a life-or-death situation, do you think I could save someone?"

"This..."

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Di 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... You should 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, and he had no choice but to agree. "Alright..."

"The Heavenly Dao library was a manifestation of my intent; it was both your foundation and your shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, proving your talent and potential. Your future is boundless, and as a father, I'm relieved my daughter is with you."