Chapter 519: Tampering?

The soul contract, known as Linghun Qiyue, binds the souls together. As long as the initiator does not dissolve it, even if the other party has unparalleled abilities, it cannot be broken.

It’s like with Busi Dijun, also called Xiao Huang Ji. Back when he was just a Shenwang, even as a Dijun himself, he couldn’t resolve such an agreement.

To prevent this individual from going back on their word and causing backlash, the Ming Shi mainland had specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao registry, they still couldn’t break free from the soul contract.

“Linghun Qiyue indeed cannot 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 location of the contract, it can be done!”

Hen Ren explained.

Linghun Qiyue is built on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can dissolve even the Shenjie 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 Shenjie!”

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 unknown amount of power during their conversation to nourish himself.

“Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole absorbs, the stronger his power becomes…”

Luo Ruoxi noticed something was wrong and quickly sent a 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 in rebirth, to die is to long for each other!

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

Though this sword technique hadn’t reached the level comprehended by a Dijun, it contained all his obsessions, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation to its limits.

Whoosh!

One sword strike cleaved Hen Ren’s attack in half.

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

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

“Your moves are impressive, but compared to me, they’re still lacking…”

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.

With their strength, they couldn’t withstand it!

What realm had this guy reached?

“Outrageous!”

His clone strode forward, each step blooming with lotus flowers and echoing with the sound of flowing water in the void.

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Jiutian Huntun Jin Lian, his cultivation was no weaker than 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 a Dijun, 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’ll all die if they fall…”

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

The remaining six Dijun also unleashed their techniques.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even ten Dijun joining forces 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!”

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

“Another Dijun? He’s also at the Dijun level?”

Zhang Xuan’s pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a follower, at most a Feng Hao Shenwang, but now he realized he was also a Dijun powerhouse!

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

“He’s the Dijun of Jian Shen Tian…”

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

“Then… what about the young man who taught me the sword technique?”

Zhang Xuan couldn’t hold back.

“He’s…”

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

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

“Ha! Dijun? Just a bunch of insignificant creatures! Today, I’ll destroy the nine heavens, destroy Shenjie, and trample all rules!”

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian elder, Hen Ren laughed maniacally. The space around him collapsed continuously, making him appear demonic.

“What do we do?”

Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

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

Could no one in Shenjie 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, possibly 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, could it suppress him?”

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary Shenwang, yet even beyond Dijun… far beyond what the Heavenly Dao could handle.

“This…”

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. “You’re right… It might not suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken and defeat this one easily!”

“He?”

Zhang Xuan frowned.

“I’ll take you to see him. He’s in Zizhitian…”

Luo Ruoxi took a deep breath, 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.

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 Shenjie, not escape, his clone and Busi Dijun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into the Jing Kong Pearl’s true form.

The surrounding space solidified.

“Go!”

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

Zizhitian was no longer as free as before. Shenjie was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

“Where is the person you mentioned?”

Zhang Xuan had no time to observe the ordinary lives around them and looked at the girl in his arms.

If this person could truly save Shenjie, he was willing to sacrifice himself.

“He’s my father. The blood in your pendant is his. Busi Dijun 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 Busi Dijun’s remnant will had immediately recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

“Is your father also a Dijun? Or does he have strength beyond Dijun?”

Zhang Xuan couldn’t help asking.

The library’s chaos had been calmed by the pendant’s blood. Could it be that not only she was a Dijun, but her father was too, or even stronger?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did he need the Heavenly Dao’s flaw to awaken?

“He’s not a Dijun, but… 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 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 Shenjie’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 entered Ming Shi mainland to study the Chunqiu Dadian 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 Ming Shi mainland, this girl had told him her story—she needed to save a close relative. He hadn’t understood then, but now he did.

It was her father, and he was the Shenjie Heavenly Dao!

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

“Acting as Heavenly Dao Natural… You don’t have a Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?”

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

“I’m just controlling it, 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 Flawed; she didn’t have to die.

Though he was unwilling to accept this fate, he didn’t want the girl in front of him to be harmed.

“If I separate the Heavenly Dao Flawed from my body, your father can awaken and even defeat Hen Ren, right?”

Zhang Xuan asked.

“This… I’m not sure…”

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing Shenjie.

Shenjie was her father’s foundation, and now it was in ruins. Even if he awakened, could he really defeat that powerful Hen Ren?

It was hard to say!

“Since you can’t be certain, it’s better to rely on ourselves… We have to find a way!”

Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. “You, me, my clone, plus the nine heavens and nine emperors—if we team up with Kong Shi, we might still win!”

“Kong Shi? He’s…”

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

“He’s dead, right? But he hasn’t truly died. If I’m guessing correctly, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Heavenly Dao… Unexpectedly, 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 the same—as a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti.

It allowed one to 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 Chaoxi Hai…”

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi’s students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng and the others, were all incredibly strong. Even without a Dijun’s help, they could enter Chaoxi Hai, yet none had appeared.

They must have something more important—helping Kong Shi recover.

“This…”

Luo Ruoxi’s heart shook as she suddenly understood.

“Let’s go!”

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, tearing space open and returning to where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly. “You’ve come!”

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 Chaoxi Hai.

“You…”

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Dijun could revive—Busi Dijun had done it—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 proficient in time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in Shenjie, he had experienced much longer to restore his power—perhaps decades.

“Our individual strengths are strong, and even together we’re formidable, but defeating Hen Ren won’t be easy…”

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 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 doubt.

“That hand could tear Shenjie apart and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and has been devouring Shenjie’s spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us ten-plus Dijun alone aren’t his match…”

Kong Shi said, “But if we unite and concentrate our powers into one person… maybe then!”

“How do we concentrate it?”

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Dijun stood at Shenjie’s peak. If it were that easy to absorb others’ power, she wouldn’t have been stalled for so many years.

“It’s simple… We’ll channel our powers into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Dijun shackles, he can save Shenjie!”

Kong Shi said.

“Me? Why me?”

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

“Ling Xi Dizun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father and the Heavenly Dao’s constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I didn’t miss it, 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, like sparring rather than a life-or-death battle.

“Unable to transcend, he can’t unleash his full power. Even with more true energy, he couldn’t impact that supreme realm! As for me…”

Kong Shi nodded. “I bear the weight of all beings and wish to save the world, but I’m too compassionate, which 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! But Zhang Xuan’s techniques are seamless, without flaws. He values living true to himself—even facing death, as long as he has no regrets, his heart is clear. Such a person has greater tolerance and potential, allowing him to go further!”

Kong Shi continued.

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

If even death doesn’t bother him, what else could?

“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 Dizun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she’s long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her her own understanding. I control Heavenly Dao Orderly. If we channel our powers to you, you’ll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your clone’s Jiutian Huntun 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 the blink of an eye, two vast powers surged into him from both sides.

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

His soul, body, and true energy were all rapidly cleansed, growing stronger and more abundant.

…

“You all want to stop me? Fine, I’ll kill you first, then go after Zhang Xuan…”

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

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

Chaoxi Hai had devoured nearly all of Shenjie’s spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the power to destroy the world. These Dijun and Shenwang, representing Shenjie’s peak, were still no match.

At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody all of Shenjie, unstoppable.

“Even if Shenjie falls, living means nothing. I’ll go down with you…”

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

“You? Not worthy!”

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

“My old friend, wait for me!”

Fu Meng Dijun roared, transforming into his white tiger true form and charging forward.

Busi Dijun revealed his undying fire phoenix form, flames illuminating the sky.

Xuan Ming Dadi’s true form was a massive turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

The four divine beasts, guardians of Shenjie’s four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing Shenjie.

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 and prepared to finish them, he felt his raised arm tighten, stopping mid-air.

“Want to kill them? Did you ask me?”

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

Now, his 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 serious.

He couldn’t understand how the other’s strength had changed so dramatically in just minutes.

“But so what? Even at its peak, Shenjie 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, energy raging everywhere.

“Can Zhang Xuan win?”

In Zizhitian, at Kong Shi’s residence, Luo Ruoxi watched worriedly.

She and Kong Shi had transferred their powers to Zhang Xuan, reducing their own cultivations to only Shenwang level, no longer as glorious as before.

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

“With his current strength, winning is tough! Unless… he comprehends a power beyond Dijun!”

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the powers of over a dozen Dijun 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 surpassing limits.

“A power beyond Dijun?”

Luo Ruoxi’s eyes grew distant.

Her father had said the same when he was awake, but… could the man she loved achieve it?

“He can… He has an unyielding heart and pride toward the world.”

Sensing her doubt, Kong Shi smiled.

…

Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

As Kong Shi had said, even with the complete Heavenly Dao force in his body, he 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 I’ll be killed eventually, I want to die under your strongest attack…”

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

“Fine, I’ll give you my strongest attack…”

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

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down.

It was indeed his strongest attack, making all of Shenjie rumble as if it couldn’t bear the weight, creating a massive crater.

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn’t dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, his soul scattering everywhere.

“Zhang Xuan…”

Everyone’s faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Dadi 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 beyond the Dijun realm. Why had he given up and walked to his death?

Wasn’t that wasting their efforts?

“Something’s wrong—it’s Busi Dijun’s undying method…”

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 explode. 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 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 scatter his soul and reform it in 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.

Linghun Qiyue bound master and servant, unbreakable unless the master dissolved it… The Heavenly Dao library was like an enhanced version, binding the soul without death.

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

So, he deliberately let Hen Ren use his strongest attack.

With that power and the blood’s help, he was reborn, and it succeeded brilliantly!

“So, that’s the way to break through Dijun…”

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if understanding something. 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.

Jiutian Huntun 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 Jiutian Huntun Jin Lian’s cultivation, his already peak realm began to loosen, as if breakthrough was imminent.

“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 create people, or did people create 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 did the world had?

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

All things have emotion. With emotion, there is the world; with emotion, life continues.

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

“Ten thousand emotions, all for my use…”

With a low cry, Zhang Xuan’s sealed realm shattered instantly.

The Dijun shackles were broken!

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

Countless chaotic energies surged toward him, and his body rapidly strengthened.

He used to need spiritual energy to progress, but now spatial chaos, chaotic energy—even the opponent’s green light—could all be his, indistinguishable.

“You…”

Hen Ren hadn’t expected his full attack not only to fail but to empower him, and he raged, “Wah!” shouting as he attacked again.

“You resent the lofty Dijun for not saving you from spatial chaos—that’s emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant—that’s emotion; wanting to destroy Shenjie to vent your anger—that’s emotion; desiring to grow stronger—that’s emotion… Emotion controls you, so how can you beat me, who controls emotion?”

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. He gently reached out.

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…”

“Now it’s too late…”

Zhang Xuan shook his head with a smile.

Controlling the world’s emotions, a servant meant nothing to him.

After killing so many in Shenjie and harming his girlfriend Luo Qiqi and so many friends, how could he forgive today?

“No…”

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

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded into countless spiritual energies, surging back to Shenjie’s various places.

All the power Chaoxi Hai had devoured was returned, reviving the withered wilderness.

“This…”

“Is that it? He’s dead?”

Yun Chi Dadi, Busi Dijun, Ling Long Xianzi, and the others stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

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

Could there truly be a level beyond Dijun?

“He succeeded…”

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

“This is part of the Heavenly Dao. I’ll return it now…”

Seeing the “Heavenly Dao Flawed” 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 Shenjie’s sky with a thunderous ring.

The crumbling Shenjie visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energies regathered.

The collapsing world finally stopped, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Hen Ren’s death.

“It seems Shenjie is entering a new era of spiritual energy revival…”

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The hole in Chaoxi Hai had closed with the Heavenly Dao’s completion. Shenjie’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, then saw a young man standing before him.

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

“Senior, you…”

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the absolute peak of Dijun, 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 frowned, having never heard the name.

“Come with me. I’ll take you to see my brother!”

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, not knowing how far they flew before stopping 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, having broken through the Dijun shackles with even deeper, more profound cultivation!

“I’m Nie Yun!”

The young man smiled faintly and looked over. “Also… Nie Ling Xi, the one you know as Luo Ruoxi’s father!”

“Luo Ruoxi’s father?”

Zhang Xuan was shocked. “You’re… the Shenjie 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, turning part of my soul into the Heavenly Dao! Besides, I created this world, so calling me the Heavenly Dao isn’t wrong!”

Nie Yun smiled faintly.

Zhang Xuan couldn’t believe it.

Shenjie was created by this man?

How strong was he?

“That’s not right. If Shenjie is your creation and you’re the Heavenly Dao, why let Hen Ren rampage without intervening… Even your daughter’s life?”

Zhang Xuan asked.

Without answering, Nie Yun looked over. “Do you think… beyond Shenjie, there are even stronger beings?”

“This…”

Zhang Xuan paused. “There should be…”

Though he hadn’t seen any, since this man could reach this level, others might too, or even exceed him.

“I once suspected that beyond Shenjie lay greater powers, so I tried to peer further, ultimately drawing backlash from a higher world… A massive hand descended!”

Nie Yun said. “If I’d dodged, Shenjie might have been wiped out completely, leaving no life… So, I blocked it, but my Heavenly Dao form shattered as a result.”

“In that state, restoring myself is just a thought, but… I realized that to truly transcend Shenjie’s limits, explore the hand’s origin, and see what’s beyond… I can’t do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through the Dijun shackles and reach my level!”

“That’s why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intent to the lowest worlds… 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’s heart shook.

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

“Heh!”

Nie Yun chuckled. “Natives have reverence for the world, 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. “Without Kong Shi, I couldn’t have reached this level…”

Without Kong Shi’s selfless contribution, it would have been impossible.

“The opportunity was his, 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 watched their fight, and Kong Shi had indeed lacked decisiveness.

Perhaps he hadn’t wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

But that single thought had cost him the chance.

“If Kong Shi had won, Luo Ruoxi would have died…”

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

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

“With me there, she wouldn’t have died…”

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

“This…”

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

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

“Ling Xi is from my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, so she uses 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 explain this to her. Her feelings have shifted to you, so she probably doesn’t think of me much anymore. Ha ha, I’ll stay hidden for a while. Otherwise, she might turn everything upside down…”

Seeing this unreliable father, Zhang Xuan’s face twitched, and he had to agree. “Alright…”

He had no choice—who else could he blame for winning her heart?

“The Heavenly Dao library was my intent, both foundation and shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. My daughter with you brings me comfort as a father.”

With that, the text ends.