Chapter 525: Petty Actions

A soul contract is a bond between souls. As long as one party doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party possesses heaven-defying abilities, it cannot be broken.

Just like the Wú Sǐ Dì Jūn, Jūn Xiāo Huáng Jī, who was merely a Shén Wáng before. Even after becoming an Emperor Jūn, he couldn't break free from such an agreement.

To prevent the other party from going back on their word and causing trouble, the Zhí Shī Dà Lù had specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao's records, they still couldn't break free from a soul contract!

"A Líng Hún Qì Yuē indeed cannot be separated from the sea of consciousness, but I have absorbed a special kind of energy that can even disintegrate the Heavenly Dao. So, breaking this contract is not difficult... As long as I have enough power to bombard the location of the contract, it can be dissolved!"

Hèn Rén said.

The soul contract is based on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can even disintegrate the Shén Jiè Heavenly Dao, dissolving a soul contract with proper handling is certainly not a problem.

"I see..."

Zhāng Xuán's eyes flashed.

"Telling you all this is also my way of thanking you for bringing me to Shén Jiè!"

After explaining, Hèn Rén said no more. His aura became even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further. It was clear that during their conversation, he had absorbed an unknown amount of power, using it for nourishment.

"Zhāng Xuán, the more the black hole absorbs, the stronger his power becomes..."

Luò Ruò Xī also noticed something was wrong and quickly sent a message.

"Let's prepare for battle!"

With his doubts cleared, Zhāng Xuán took a deep breath. He suddenly raised the long sword in his hand and said, "In that case, let's settle this with our abilities!"

Boom!

The most powerful sword intent was unleashed once more.

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

When life and death are of no concern, what can stand in the way?

Although this sword technique had not reached the level of comprehension of an Emperor Jūn, it contained all of his inner obsessions, pushing his Tiān Rú Yǒu Qíng cultivation to its limits.

Whoosh!

With one sword, he cleaved Hèn Rén's attack in two.

At the same time, Luò Ruò Xī also made her move. Her jade hand swirled, and sword light fell like snow.

Her sword technique was somewhat similar to that of the young man from Jiàn Shén Tiān, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the natural ease of the great dao.

"Your moves are impressive, but compared to me, they still fall short..."

Hèn Rén smiled lightly and reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky, enveloping the heavens and earth, shattering space, as if the sun, moon, and stars were about to be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

Zhāng Xuán and Luò Ruò Xī were both sent flying backward, spitting blood into the air.

With their current strength, they couldn't withstand it!

What realm had this guy reached?

"Outrageous!"

His clone stepped forward, each step blooming with lotus flowers, accompanied by the sound of flowing water in the void.

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

After refining the Jiǔ Tiān Hùn Dùn Jīn Lián, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhāng Xuán's.

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

But when it clashed with Hèn Rén, he too was sent flying, unable to block even a single move.

Zhāng Xuán clutched his forehead.

Now that he had become an Emperor Jūn, his clone still hadn't changed its habit of showing off...

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

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

Xiāo Huáng Jī shouted, his crimson flames burning as the sky seemed to ignite.

The remaining six great Emperor Jūns also unleashed their techniques.

The seven Emperor Jūns united, capable of destroying heaven and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hèn Rén, having absorbed the special power, simply let the black hole expand suddenly, swallowing their attacks in the blink of an eye before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The seven Emperor Jūns, like Zhāng Xuán and the others, were sent flying.

Even the ten great Emperor Jūns together 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 move, Hèn Rén stepped forward and flipped his wrist, slapping down again.

"You insolent rat!"

Accompanied by a loud shout, the elder from Jiàn Shén Tiān suddenly appeared, blocking the way. His long sword transformed into a galaxy.

"Emperor Jūn? He's also an Emperor Jūn level expert?"

Zhāng Xuán's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a follower, at most a Fēng Hào Shén Wáng, but now he realized he was also an Emperor Jūn powerhouse!

If he was an Emperor Jūn, then what about that young man?

"He's the Emperor Jūn of Jiàn Shén Tiān..."

Luò Ruò Xī struggled to her feet and gritted her teeth.

"Then... what about the young man who taught me the sword technique?"

Zhāng Xuán couldn't hold back.

"He's..."

Luò Ruò Xī was about to answer when the space twisted, and they saw the Jiàn Shén Tiān Emperor Jūn being sent flying, crashing into the distance and creating a huge crater.

With Zhāng Xuán'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 ha, Emperor Jūns, a bunch of insignificant creatures! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, destroy Shén Jiè, and trample all rules!"

After defeating the Jiàn Shén Tiān Emperor Jūn, Hèn Rén laughed maniacally. The surrounding space collapsed continuously, making him appear like a demon.

"What do we do?"

Zhāng Xuán clenched his fists.

He and his clone had already used their strongest combat power, and even Luò Ruò Xī had unleashed her most powerful moves, yet none could block even one of his attacks...

Could it be that no one in Shén Jiè could stop this person?

And allow him to destroy the world?

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

Luò Ruò Xī's delicate fists clenched, her eyes reddening.

"Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?"

Zhāng Xuán understood her meaning.

The library in his mind was part of the Heavenly Dao. Once returned, the Heavenly Dao would be complete, perhaps repairing the flaws and expelling Hèn Rén.

Like the human immune system.

A complete immune system can easily drive out viruses; if damaged, even a strong person can't resist invasion.

But...

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

Zhāng Xuán shook his head.

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

This person was just an ordinary Shén Wáng, and even as a Fēng Hào, the Heavenly Dao could kill him easily. But now he was stronger than Emperor Jūns... far beyond what the Heavenly Dao could handle.

"This..."

Luò Ruò Xī paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. "Yes... it might not suppress him, but once the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken and kill this person without difficulty!"

"He?"

Zhāng Xuán frowned.

"I'll take you to see him; he's in Zì Zài Tiān..."

Taking a deep breath, Luò Ruò Xī gritted her teeth and flew forward.

"Thinking of escaping?"

Hèn Rén snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luò Ruò Xī fell from the air.

"You..."

Zhāng Xuán unleashed his sword technique again, sword intent blazing forth.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hèn Rén once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save Shén Jiè, not escape, his clone and the Wú Sǐ Dì Zūn shouted, blocking the way, while Luò Qī Qī transformed back into her Jìng Kōng Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly blocking behind them, unafraid of death, Zhāng Xuán's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luò Ruò Xī and blurred through space, appearing in Zì Zài Tiān's range the next moment.

Zì Zài Tiān was no longer as free as before. Shén Jiè was collapsing, and everywhere was in chaos.

"Where is the person you mentioned?"

With no time to observe the lives of ordinary people, Zhāng Xuán looked at the girl in his arms.

If this person could truly save Shén Jiè, he was willing to sacrifice himself!

"He's my father; the blood in your pendant is his. The Wú Sǐ Dì Jūn was once his beast pet..."

Luò Ruò Xī regulated her breath and explained.

"Father?"

Zhāng Xuán suddenly understood.

No wonder he had always felt the blood in the pendant was similar to Luò Ruò Xī's yet different—it was her father's.

So that explained why the Wú Sǐ Dì Jūn's remnant will recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

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

He couldn't help asking.

The library's chaos was calmed by the blood in the pendant, so was her father not only an Emperor Jūn but even more powerful?

If so, why was he in a coma?

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

"He's not an Emperor Jūn; he's... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luò Ruò Xī clenched her fists.

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

Zhāng Xuán 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 with Order and Heavenly Dao with a Flaw entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain Shén Jiè's balance. The only way to restore him is to collect the scattered parts... That's why I was so determined, unable to fail! That's why I specifically entered the Zhí Shī Dà Lù to study the Chūn Qiū Cè and find a way to defeat Kǒng Shī! And when I fought Kǒng Shī, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luò Ruò Xī explained.

Zhāng Xuán suddenly realized.

Not long after they met on the Zhí Shī Dà Lù, this girl had told him her story about saving a close relative, but he hadn't understood then. Now it all made sense.

It was her father, and he was the Shén Jiè Heavenly Dao!

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

"Acting on behalf of Heavenly Dao Natural... you don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?"

Suddenly realizing the oddity in her words, Zhāng Xuán looked over.

Acting on behalf means it's different from his own fusion.

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

Luò Ruò Xī said.

Zhāng Xuán breathed a sigh of relief.

In that case, he only needed to separate his own Heavenly Dao with a Flaw; 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 with a Flaw from my body, your father can awaken and even kill Hèn Rén, right?"

Zhāng Xuán asked.

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

Luò Ruò Xī hesitated, glancing at the collapsing Shén Jiè.

Shén Jiè was her father's foundation, and now it was in this state. Even if he awoke, could he really defeat that powerful Hèn Rén?

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain. In that case, it's better to rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to figure this out! You, me, my clone, united with the Nine Heavens and Nine Emperors, and even coordinating with Kǒng Shī—we might not lose!"

Zhāng Xuán gritted his teeth.

"Kǒng Shī? He..."

Luò Ruò Xī 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 Wèi Cháng Fēng, a Xiān Tiān Tài Hùn Tǐ!"

Zhāng Xuán said.

Seeing Wèi Cháng Fēng, he had figured it out. Kǒng Shī's so-called preservation of his spirit was likely the same—he was a Xiān Tiān Tài Hùn Tǐ.

He could remain undeluded in the womb.

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

Luò Ruò Xī was stunned, apparently not expecting this.

"Let's go check; if I'm right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students like Zǐ Yuán Gǔ Shèng and the others wouldn't have stayed away from Cháo Xī Hǎi..."

Zhāng Xuán said.

Kǒng Shī's students, such as Zǐ Yuán Gǔ Shèng, were all incredibly strong. Even without an Emperor Jūn's help, they could enter Cháo Xī Hǎi, yet none had appeared.

They must have something more important—likely helping Kǒng Shī recover.

"This..."

Luò Ruò Xī was shocked, suddenly understanding.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhāng Xuán waved his hand, and they arrived at the place where Kǒng Shī resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them arrive, he smiled slightly. "You've come!"

Who else could it be but Kǒng Shī?

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

As guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was on Cháo Xī Hǎi.

"You..."

Luò Ruò Xī's body trembled.

She knew Emperor Jūns could revive, and the Wú Sǐ Dì Jūn had done so, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly!

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a backup in advance. The nameless giant in Yōu Hún Chí 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!"

Kǒng Shī smiled faintly.

He was proficient in time abilities, so while only one or two days had passed in Shén Jiè, he had experienced an unknown amount of time to restore his power—potentially decades.

"Our combined strength is strong, but defeating Hèn Rén won't be easy..."

Seeing that Kǒng Shī had indeed recovered, Luò Ruò Xī still shook her head.

It wasn't about boosting the enemy's morale or diminishing her own; it was the truth.

So many had united earlier and still couldn't block him; adding one Kǒng Shī wouldn't change the situation!

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

Kǒng Shī looked over with a smile.

"Fuse into one person?"

This time, not just Luò Ruò Xī, but Zhāng Xuán was also full of doubt.

"That hand could tear Shén Jiè apart and scatter the Heavenly Dao; its strength is undeniable. Hèn Rén absorbed that power and devoured Shén Jiè's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us ten-plus Emperor Jūns alone is no match... but if we unite and concentrate our power into one person... maybe not!"

Kǒng Shī said.

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luò Ruò Xī asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperor Jūns stood at Shén Jiè's peak; if it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have stagnated for so many years.

"It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhāng Xuán's body. Once he breaks through the Emperor Jūn shackles, he can save Shén Jiè!"

Kǒng Shī said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhāng Xuán was stunned.

"Líng Xī Dì Zūn 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 see wrong, when he fought me, he once gave up, intending to be killed by me!"

Kǒng Shī said.

Luò Ruò Xī fell silent.

During the fight, he had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, they had both held back, like sparring rather than a life-and-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..."

Kǒng Shī nodded. "I have the heart to embrace all beings and save the world, but I don't want others to sacrifice for me; too much benevolence is a flaw! If I had been more ruthless and exterminated the Yì Líng Clan, we wouldn't be in this situation now..."

If he had wiped out the Yì Líng Clan back then, Hèn Rén couldn't have revived, and none of this would have happened.

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

Kǒng Shī continued.

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

If even death is of no concern, how can other things bind him?

"This..."

Zhāng Xuán frowned, about to say something, but saw Kǒng Shī looking 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! Líng Xī Dì Zūn has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but he's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, having his own understanding of it; I control Heavenly Dao with Order. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao power in your body! Combined with your clone's Jiǔ Tiān Hùn Dùn Jīn Lián, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and extinguish all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing that the decision was made and further explanation was useless, Zhāng Xuán nodded.

Boom!

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

Zhāng Xuán's entire body stiffened, as if he had instantly become the Heavenly Dao, soaring above the nine heavens.

His soul, body, and true qi were all rapidly purified, growing stronger and more vast.

...

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

After slapping Luò Qī Qī and the others away, Hèn Rén sneered coldly.

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

Cháo Xī Hǎi had nearly devoured all of Shén Jiè's spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy the world; these Emperor Jūns and Shén Wángs, despite representing Shén Jiè's peak, were no match.

At this moment, Hèn Rén seemed to embody all of Shén Jiè, unbeatable.

"Even if Shén Jiè is destroyed, living would be meaningless. I, Yún Chí, will perish with you..."

Yún Chí Dì Jūn transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him.

"You? Not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

Fú Mèng Dì Jūn roared, transforming into his white tiger true form and charging forward.

The Wú Sǐ Dì Jūn displayed his undead fire phoenix true form, flames illuminating the sky.

Xuán Míng Dì Jūn's true form was a massive turtle, as if upholding the heavens.

The four divine beasts, guarding Shén Jiè's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing Shén Jiè.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive strikes, Hèn Rén suppressed the four beasts, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. "Since you're seeking death, I'll grant it..."

As he roared, about to deliver the fatal blow to wipe them out, he felt his raised arm tighten, frozen in mid-air.

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

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

It was Zhāng Xuán!

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..."

Hèn Rén stopped, his gaze 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, Shén Jiè couldn't withstand me; I don't believe you can..."

Hèn Rén snorted coldly and slapped down again.

Zhāng Xuán raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, space tearing apart, energy surging wildly.

"Can Zhāng Xuán win?"

In Zì Zài Tiān's Kǒng Shī residence, Luò Ruò Xī watched worriedly.

She and Kǒng Shī had transferred their power to Zhāng Xuán, reducing their own cultivation to only Shén Wáng level, no longer as glorious as before.

However, their level remained; as long as they had enough power, they could recover eventually.

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

After a moment of silence, Kǒng Shī said.

Even with the power of over ten Emperor Jūns transferred to him, defeating Hèn Rén wouldn't be easy.

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

"A power that transcends Emperor Jūn?"

Luò Ruò Xī'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 this world."

Sensing her doubt, Kǒng Shī smiled.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several exchanges, Zhāng Xuán's tiger's mouth split open, and a huge scar appeared on his chest, ghastly and terrifying.

As Kǒng Shī had said, even with the fused power forming a complete Heavenly Dao in his body, he was still no match.

"Ha ha, I thought you were something special, but you're nothing!"

Hèn Rén sneered.

"Anyway, I'm not your match; I'll be killed eventually. Since that's the case, I want to die under your strongest attack..."

Zhāng Xuán took a deep breath and stopped attacking, instead looking at Hèn Rén.

"Very well, I'll fulfill your wish and give you my strongest attack..."

Hearing this, Hèn Rén paused, then snorted coldly, raising his hand.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and struck down fiercely.

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

Zhāng Xuán closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, his soul scattering.

"Zhāng Xuán..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luò Qī Qī seemed to go mad.

Yún Chí Dì Jūn and the others widened their eyes, trembling nonstop.

Kǒng Shī and Luò Ruò Xī, who saw this, were both stunned.

The intention was for him to break through the shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperor Jūn, so why didn't he resist and willingly go to his death?

Wasn't that wasting their efforts?

"Wait, it's the Wú Sǐ Dì Jūn's method of immortality..."

Just as they were puzzled, Kǒng Shī spoke up.

Everyone then saw that Zhāng Xuán, whose head had exploded and soul shattered, had the pendant on his chest suddenly burst open. A drop of blood floated up, igniting into a blazing flame, from which an intact figure slowly emerged.

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

Luò Ruò Xī's pupils contracted.

The Zhāng Xuán reborn from the flames 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?"

Kǒng Shī was also full of disbelief.

To escape, he had to scatter his soul and reform it using Yōu Hún Chí.

This one had completely freed himself with just one strike—what method did he use?

"I get it... He used Hèn Rén's method to escape the soul contract..."

Luò Ruò Xī reacted.

The 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.

Bound to the soul, it wouldn't separate even in death.

But Hèn Rén had used that special power to escape the soul contract, and Zhāng Xuán had asked about the details before, probably planning it then.

That's why he deliberately fought to the death, making him unleash his strongest attack.

Using that power, he was reborn in the flames, and it succeeded spectacularly!

"So that's the way to break through Emperor Jūn..."

The Zhāng Xuán emerging from the flames smiled faintly, as if he had understood 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 Zhāng Xuán 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 Jiǔ Tiān Hùn Dùn Jīn Lián, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now that his clone had fused perfectly with him, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Jiǔ Tiān Hùn Dùn Jīn Lián'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 bonds, parent-child bonds, romantic love... Fused together, they are the essence of all things; this is what it means to be human!"

With a smile, Zhāng Xuán murmured to himself.

The moment the Heavenly Dao library separated from his soul, he understood.

Is it people who give meaning to the world, or does the world exist first, then people?

Is it the wind moving, or the heart?

This ancient question had troubled countless people.

But now... none of that mattered!

Without life, without emotions, what meaning does the world have?

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

All things in the world have emotions; with emotions, there is a world; with emotions, life continues.

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

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

With a low cry, Zhāng Xuán's suppressed realm shattered in an instant.

He broke through the Emperor Jūn shackles!

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

Countless chaotic energies surged over, and his body advanced rapidly.

Before, he could only progress by absorbing spiritual energy, but now, spatial chaos, chaotic energy, even the opponent's green light—everything could be his, indistinguishable.

"You..."

Hèn Rén hadn't expected his full attack not only to fail in killing him but to help him instead, and he raged, "Waah!" shouting as he attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor Jūns for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; wanting to destroy Shén Jiè to vent your anger—that's emotion; desiring to become stronger—that's also emotion... Emotions control you; how can you defeat me, who controls them?"

Zhāng Xuán smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. He gently grasped his hand.

The once invincible Hèn Rén was bound by countless emotional threads, rendered immobile.

As long as there are emotions, they can be used by him, controlled by him!

"You..."

Hèn Rén's eyes filled with panic. "Zhāng Shī, I'm your servant; don't kill me... I'm willing to offer my soul..."

"Now it's too late to say that..."

Zhāng Xuán smiled and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, such servant bonds meant nothing to him.

He had killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend Luò Qī Qī, and so many friends; today, how could he forgive?

"No..."

Sensing his resolve, Hèn Rén's pupils contracted. Before he could finish, he felt intense pain all over.

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged back to every part of Shén Jiè.

All the power that Cháo Xī Hǎi had devoured was now returned, and the barren wilderness regained its vitality.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yún Chí Dì Jūn, Wú Sǐ Dì Jūn, Líng Lóng Xiān Zǐ, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief.

They had fought Hèn Rén and knew how terrifying he was; for such a powerful being to be effortlessly destroyed, what level had Zhāng Xuán reached?

Could there really be a realm beyond Emperor Jūn?

"He succeeded..."

Kǒng Shī and Luò Ruò Xī unclenched their fists.

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

Seeing the "Heavenly Dao with a Flaw" that had just separated from his body still floating in the air, Zhāng Xuán smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

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

The collapsing Shén Jiè visibly stabilized, and the chaotic energies gathered once more.

The crumbling world finally stopped, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Hèn Rén's death.

"It seems Shén Jiè is about to welcome an era of spiritual energy revival..."

Zhāng Xuán smiled.

The hole in Cháo Xī Hǎi had closed with the Heavenly Dao's completion; Shén Jiè's return to its former glory was only a matter of time.

"Zhāng Xuán, come here..."

Just as he finished, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhāng Xuán 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, Zhāng Xuán was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now realized he was only a step away, having reached the peak of Emperor Jūn, far surpassing the previous Luò Ruò Xī.

"Call me by my name; I'm Niè Tóng!"

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

"Niè Tóng?"

Zhāng Xuán frowned; it was his first time hearing this name.

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

Niè Tóng smiled and stepped forward.

Zhāng Xuán followed closely, not knowing how far they flew before stopping at a mountain peak.

There, he saw another young man.

His appearance wasn't much older, with raised eyebrows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength..."

Zhāng Xuán trembled.

This young man's power surpassed even his, having broken through the Emperor Jūn shackles, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Niè Yún!"

The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Also... Niè Líng Xī, the one you call Luò Ruò Xī's father!"

"Luo Xi's father?"

Zhāng Xuán was shocked. "You're... the Shén Jiè Heavenly Dao?"

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

"I used Yī Qì Huà Sān Qīng; one part of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Besides, this world is my creation, so calling me the Heavenly Dao isn't wrong!"

Niè Yún smiled faintly.

Zhāng Xuán couldn't believe it.

Shén Jiè was created by this person?

Then how strong was he?

"That's not right; if Shén Jiè is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why did you let Hèn Rén rampage without intervening... even regarding your daughter's life?"

Zhāng Xuán looked over.

If it weren't for his breakthrough, Shén Jiè might have completely collapsed. Why didn't this person act? Not even caring about his daughter's life?

Niè Yún didn't answer his question but looked over lightly. "Do you think... beyond Shén Jiè, there are even more powerful beings?"

"This..."

Zhāng Xuán paused. "There should be, right?"

Though he hadn't seen them, since this person could reach this level, others might too, perhaps even stronger.

Like the one before him.

"I once suspected that beyond Shén Jiè, there might be stronger beings, so I tried my best to peer out, ultimately drawing the backlash from a higher world... a hand descended from the void!"

Niè Yún looked over. "If I had dodged then, Shén Jiè might have been completely wiped out, leaving no life... So, I blocked it, but as a result, the Heavenly Dao I embodied was scattered."

"In that state, restoring it would be just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend Shén Jiè's shackles, explore the hand's origin, and see what's beyond Shén Jiè... I couldn't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through the Emperor Jūn 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 in the end!"

Niè Yún laughed.

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

Zhāng Xuán's heart shook.

No wonder he could cross over; it turned out it was all orchestrated by this person.

"Heh!"

Niè Yún chuckled lightly. "Souls native to this world have reverence for it, making it harder to break through its shackles. I just had a whim and didn't expect you to truly succeed..."

"I..."

Zhāng Xuán's face reddened. "If not for Kǒng Shī, I couldn't have reached this level..."

Without Kǒng Shī's selfless contribution, reaching his current state would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was given to him, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Líng Xī was his best chance to break through, but he chose to back down, thinking he had a way out. In reality, he lost his fearless drive. Facing someone who transcends us, without that spirit, how can he contend?"

Niè Yún said.

Zhāng Xuán fell silent.

He had watched their fight; Kǒng Shī had indeed lacked decisiveness.

Perhaps he didn't want to kill Luò Ruò Xī.

"If Kǒng Shī had won, Luo Xi would have died..."

After a moment, Zhāng Xuán looked over, his brows furrowing.

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

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

Niè Yún smiled faintly. "You, now at this level, in a life-and-death situation, could you save someone?"

"This..."

Zhāng Xuán smiled bitterly.

Breaking through to beyond Emperor Jūn was a different concept; if he wanted to act, he could save someone at the last moment without a scratch.

"Líng Xī is from my other wife, Luò Qīng Chéng, so she used the surname Luò as a disguise... To make her believe and not act on emotion, I've let her think I'm still in a coma until now..."

Niè Yún smiled bitterly. "I'm quite a heartless father... Anyway, you explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you; as her father, I'm probably forgotten... Ha ha, I won't show up for now; I'll hide for a while, or she might turn everything upside down..."

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

He had no choice; who asked him to win over the other's daughter?

"The Heavenly Dao library is a manifestation of my intent; it's both the foundation and the shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. With my daughter by your side, as a father, I'm relieved."

As Niè Yún spoke, the text cuts off here.