Chapter 517: The Sheep?

The soul contract binds souls together, and as long as the initiator doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party has unparalleled means, it cannot be broken. It's like the Undying Emperor Jun, Xiao Huang Ji—back when he was just a Shen Wang, even as an Emperor Jun himself, he couldn't resolve such an agreement. To prevent this individual from reneging and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent had specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break free from soul-based agreements.

“Indeed, a soul contract can't be split from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Resolving this contract isn't difficult... As long as I have enough power to bombard the contract's location, 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 God Realm's Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about dissolving a soul contract, as long as it's handled properly?

“I see...” Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

“Telling you all 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 having devoured an immense amount of power during their conversation to nourish himself.

“Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole swallows, 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 abruptly, and said, “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, to die is to long for each other! What could stand in the way when life and death are of no concern? Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by an Emperor Jun, it contained all 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 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 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 if 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 as they went. With their strength, they couldn't withstand him! Just what realm had this guy reached?

“Outrageous!” His clone strode forward, each step blooming with lotus flowers and echoing with the sound of flowing water in the void. From afar, it looked incredibly imposing. After refining the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his clone's cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's. He raised a fist, sending power surging into 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 an Emperor Jun, his clone hadn't changed its habit of showing off... Such flashy displays would be better if the power was concentrated for greater impact!

“Let's all attack together, or we're all doomed if they die...” Xiao Huang Ji roared, his crimson flames burning as if igniting the sky itself. The other six great Emperor Juns also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor Juns united, their power enough to destroy the heavens 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 Emperor Juns, along with Zhang Xuan and the others, were all sent flying. Even the ten great Emperor Juns 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 flipped his wrist, slapping down again.

“How dare you, vermin!” 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.

“An Emperor Jun? He's also an Emperor Jun level expert?” Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted. He had thought this elder was just a attendant, at most a Feng Hao Shen Wang, but now he realized the man was also an Emperor Jun powerhouse! If he was an Emperor Jun, then what about that youth?

“He's an Emperor Jun from Jian Shen Tian...” Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet, gritting her teeth as she spoke.

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

“He is...” Luo Ruoxi started to answer, but space twisted, and they saw the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun 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 contend, so despite this elder's formidable cultivation and sword skills, he was no match.

“Ha! Emperor Juns are nothing but a bunch of weaklings! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate the God Realm, and trample all rules!” Having defeated the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Jun, Hen Ren laughed maniacally. The space around him collapsed continuously, making him seem like a demon incarnate.

“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 man? 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 its flaws and expelling Hen Ren. It was like a 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. An immune system might handle viruses, but what about a tiger? This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even beyond Emperor 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 one without difficulty!”

“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 the God Realm, not flee, Zhang Xuan's clone and the Undying Emperor Jun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jing Kong Pearl 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 carefree as before. The God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

“Where is the person you mentioned?” With no time to observe the common folk, Zhang Xuan looked at the girl in his arms. If this person could truly save the God Realm, his own sacrifice would be worth it.

“He's my father—the blood in your pendant is his. The Undying Emperor Jun was once his beast pet...” Luo Ruoxi regulated her breath and 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 that?” 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 too, and 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 the Heavenly Dao!” Luo Ruoxi's fists clenched.

“He's 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 massive hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Heavenly Dao Orderly and Heavenly Dao Flawed entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain the God Realm's balance. The only way to restore him is to collect those scattered parts... That's why I've been so determined, unable to fail! That's why I entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Chun Qiu Canon 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 close relative. He hadn't understood then, but now it all made sense. It was her father, and he was the God Realm's Heavenly Dao! Could the Heavenly Dao truly take human form and have children?

“I only control Heavenly Dao Natural... I'm not a 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 Flawed; she didn't have to die. Though he was reluctant to accept this fate, he didn't want the girl before him to be harmed.

“If I separate the Heavenly Dao Flawed 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 have to find a way ourselves!” Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. “You, me, my clone, plus the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors—if we team up with Kong Shi, we might still win!”

“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, a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!” Zhang Xuan said. Seeing Wei Changfeng had made him realize that Kong Shi's way of preserving his spirit was likely the same—as a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti, able to remain undeluded in the womb. With his prior 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 the Tide Sea...” 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 the Tide Sea, yet none had appeared. They must have something more important—helping Kong Shi recover.

“This...” Luo Ruoxi was shocked, suddenly understanding.

“Let's go!” Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, tearing space open and returning to where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in mid-air, cross-legged in meditation. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly. “You've come!”

It was Kong Shi! This teacher of ages hadn't disappointed him! As guessed, while everyone's attention was on the Tide Sea, he had revived.

“You...” Luo Ruoxi trembled. She knew Emperor Juns could revive—the Undying Emperor Jun had done so—but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

“I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. The nameless giant in the You Hun Pool was left by me. When you killed me that day, I used it to escape the Heavenly Dao's bindings and reform my body. I've only just recovered now!” Kong Shi smiled faintly. He was a master of time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in the God Realm, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

“Our individual strengths are strong, and even together, we 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 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 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 at them with a smile.

“Fuse into one person?” Both Luo Ruoxi and Zhang Xuan frowned in confusion.

“That hand could tear the God Realm apart 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. Any of us, or even all ten-plus Emperor Juns together, aren't his equals...” Kong Shi said, “But if we concentrate all our power into one person... then maybe not!”

“How do we concentrate it?” Luo Ruoxi asked. It sounded simple, but doing it was hard. Emperor Juns stood at the God Realm's peak. If it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have stagnated for so long.

“It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Emperor Jun shackles, he can save the God Realm!” Kong Shi said.

“Me?” Zhang Xuan was stunned. “Why me?”

“Ling Xi Emperor Jun 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 once gave up, intending to let me kill him.” Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent. During their fight, he had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, they had both held back, more like sparring than a life-or-death battle.

“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 all living beings, seeking to save the world, but I'm unwilling to let others sacrifice for me. Too much mercy is a flaw! If I'd been more ruthless and wiped out the Yi Ling Clan, we wouldn't be in this mess...”

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

“So, I'm not suitable either! 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 clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!” Kong Shi continued. To live is to return, to die is to long for each other! If even death doesn't concern him, how could other things bind him?

“This...” Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. “Don't refuse—there's no time. Training someone else isn't feasible now, and even if it were, I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Ling Xi Emperor Jun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao and has her own understanding of it. I control Heavenly Dao Orderly. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, 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.

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 cleansed in that moment, growing stronger and more abundant.

...

“You think you can stop me? Fine, I'll kill you all first, then go after Zhang Xuan...” Having sent Luo Qiqi, the clone, and the others flying, Hen Ren sneered coldly. The clone and the other Emperor Juns' combined power was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still weak. The Tide Sea had devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy worlds. These Emperor Juns and Shen Wangs, despite representing the God Realm's pinnacle, were no match. At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unstoppable.

“The God Realm's destruction means we'd have no reason to live. I'll go down with you...” Yun Chi Emperor Jun 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 Emperor Jun roared, transforming into his white tiger form and charging forward. The Undying Emperor Jun revealed his immortal fire phoenix true form, its flames illuminating the sky. Xuan Ming Emperor 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!

Hen Ren struck four times in succession, suppressing 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 and 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 all, a figure stepped out from the air. It was Zhang Xuan! The young man now 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 clearly didn't understand how the young man'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...” 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 energy scattering 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 cultivations to merely Shen Wang level, no longer as glorious as before. Still, their foundations remained. As long as they had enough power, they could recover eventually.

“With his current strength, winning is tough! Unless... he can comprehend a power that transcends Emperor Jun!” After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said. Even with over ten Emperor Juns' power fused into him, victory wasn't guaranteed. The reason for this was to concentrate the power into one person, potentially touching the pinnacle and truly breaking 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 defiance 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, ghastly and severe. 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. Turns out you're not!” Hen Ren sneered.

“Since I'm no match anyway and will be killed eventually, I'd rather die under your strongest attack...” Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and stopped, no longer attacking. Instead, he looked at Hen Ren.

“Very well, I'll 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 God Realm 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 Qiqi seemed to go mad. Yun Chi Emperor Jun and the others widened their eyes, trembling uncontrollably. Even Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, who had seen it, were stunned. The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperor Jun. Why had he stopped resisting and accepted death? Wasn't this wasting their efforts?

“That's not right—it's the Undying Emperor Jun's immortality technique...” As they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up. Everyone then saw Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and soul shattered, with the pendant on his chest suddenly bursting open. A drop of blood floated up, igniting into 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 Heavenly Dao Flawed 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 the You Hun Pool. This one had escaped 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 dissolved it... The Heavenly Dao library was like an enhanced version, binding the 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. That's why he deliberately let himself be struck with the full force. And it had succeeded brilliantly!

“So that's the key to breaking through Emperor Jun...” The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if enlightened. With a wave, his clone on the side 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 Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with the clone fused perfectly, he controlled that power. Not only that, with the fusion and his peak realm loosening, it seemed he 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. That's 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? This eternal question had puzzled countless people. But now... it didn't matter. Without life, without emotion, what meaning would the world have? So, after breaking through romantic love came the affection for 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!

“Myriad emotions, all for my use...” With a soft cry, the shackles in Zhang Xuan's body shattered instantly. He had broken through the Emperor 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 body advanced swiftly. He could now absorb not just spiritual energy, but spatial chaos, chaotic qi—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 raged, “Wah!” screaming as he attacked again.

“Your resentment toward the lofty Emperor Juns for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; wanting to destroy the God Realm to vent your fury—that's emotion; desiring to grow stronger—that's also emotion... Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?” Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. With a light grasp of his hand, the invincible Hen Ren was bound by countless emotional threads, immobilized. As long as there was emotion, he could use it and control it!

“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 world's emotions, such servant bonds meant nothing to him. He had killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qiqi, and so many friends. Today, how could he forgive?

“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 the God Realm. All the power the Tide Sea 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 Immortal Zi, and the others all widened their eyes 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? Could there truly be a level 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 “Heavenly Dao Flawed” 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 the God Realm's sky with a thunderous boom. The collapsing God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic flows regathered. The ruined realm finally 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 Tide Sea's void had been mended with the Heavenly Dao's completion, and the God Realm returning to its former glory was only a matter of time.

“Zhang Xuan, come here...” As he finished, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan paused and stepped forward. In that step, he didn't know how far he traveled, 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 step away, having reached the absolute peak of Emperor Jun—far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

“Just call me by my name. I'm Nie Tong!” The youth said lightly, his body radiating an unstoppable sword intent.

“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. 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 even his, having broken through Emperor Jun's limits and reaching even greater depths!

“I am Nie Yun!” The youth smiled faintly and looked over. “Or rather... 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 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 faintly.

Zhang Xuan was incredulous. 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 directly but looked at him. “Do you think there's life beyond the God Realm that's even stronger?”

“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—like Nie Yun himself.

“I once suspected there was life beyond the God Realm, so I used all my effort to peer out, ultimately drawing backlash from a higher world... A massive hand descended!” Nie Yun continued, “If I'd dodged, the entire God Realm might have been wiped out, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but my incarnated Heavenly Dao was scattered as a result.”

“In that state, restoring it would be just a thought for me, 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 Emperor 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 native to this world and one not belonging to it. And you didn't disappoint me in the end!” 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 lightly. “Souls native to this world have reverence for it, making it harder to break its shackles. I just had a whim and didn't expect you to 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 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 fearless momentum. Facing those who surpass us, without that spirit, how can one contend?” Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent. He had watched their fight—Kong Shi had indeed lacked decisiveness. Or perhaps, he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

“Still, 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 here, she wouldn't die...” Nie Yun smiled faintly. “You, now at this level, could you save someone in a life-or-death situation?”

“This...” Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly. Breaking through to this realm was different from Emperor Jun. If Nie Yun had acted, 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 should explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you—I'm probably the last thing on her mind now... Ha, I'll stay hidden for a while. Otherwise, she might turn everything 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 my intent, both a foundation and a shackle. You've broken through it with your own ability, proving your talent and potential. My daughter being with you brings me comfort as a father.”

With that, the text ends.