Chapter 527: Why Exist

The soul contract binds souls together. As long as the initiator doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party possesses unparalleled abilities, it cannot be broken. It's similar to Bu Si Di Jun and Xiao Huang Ji. Previously, Xiao Huang Ji was only a Shen Wang, while Bu Si Di Jun was an emperor, yet even he couldn't break such an agreement. To prevent this individual from going back on their word and causing backlash, Ming Shi Dalu 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.

"Indeed, a soul contract cannot be separated from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with a special gas that can even resolve the Heavenly Dao. Dissolving this contract isn't difficult… As long as I have enough power to strike at the contract's location, it can be done!" Hen Ren said.

The soul contract is based on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can even resolve the Shen Jie Heavenly Dao, what difficulty is there in dissolving a mere soul contract, as long as it's handled properly?

"I see…" Zhang Xuan's eyes flickered.

"Telling you all this is my way of thanking you for bringing me to Shen Jie!"

After explaining, Hen Ren spoke no further. His aura grew even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further, clearly having absorbed an immense amount of power during their conversation, using it to nourish himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi noticed something was wrong and quickly sent a message through divine sense.

"Let's prepare to fight!" With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand, and said, "If that's the case, let's settle this with our abilities!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

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

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

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level of an emperor's enlightenment, it contained all his inner obsessions, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation to its limit.

Whoosh!

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

At the same time, Luo Ruoxi made her move, her jade-like hand swirling as sword light fell like snow.

Her sword style was somewhat similar to 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, shattering space as if the sun, moon, and stars were about to be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

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

With their strength, they couldn't withstand it!

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 Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, his clone's 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 an emperor, his clone hadn't changed its habit of showboating…

Such flashy posturing 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, igniting crimson flames that set the sky ablaze.

The other six great emperors also unleashed their techniques.

The seven emperors united, their power enough to destroy the heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand it. 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 emperors, along with Zhang Xuan and the others, were all sent flying.

Even the ten great emperors 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 strike, Hen Ren stepped forward and swung his hand down again.

"How dare you!"

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

"Another emperor? He's also at the emperor level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a follower, at most a Feng Hao Shen Wang, but now he realized he was also an emperor-level expert!

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

"He's the emperor 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 emperor 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 hold his own, so this elder, despite his high cultivation and masterful sword skills, was no match.

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

After defeating the Jian Shen Tian emperor, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the space around him collapsing, making him seem like a demon.

"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 move, yet none could block even one of his attacks…

Was there really no one in Shen Jie who could stop this man?

Would he be allowed to destroy the world?

"The only way is to return your incomplete Heavenly Dao to its original state, letting the Heavenly Dao suppress him…"

Luo Ruoxi's delicate fists clenched, her eyes turning red.

"Return it to its original state?" Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

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

It was like the human immune system.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses, but if damaged, even a strong body couldn't resist invasion.

But…

"He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao is restored, could it suppress him?" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

The immune system might handle viruses, but what about a fierce tiger?

This man was just an ordinary Shen Wang, yet even a Feng Hao one like him surpassed emperors… He was 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 man easily!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

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

"Thinking of escaping?"

Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the air.

"You…" Zhang Xuan unleashed his sword technique again, his sword intent blazing.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

"You all go quickly. I'll hold him off…"

Knowing they were trying to save Shen Jie, not flee, Zhang Xuan's clone and Bu Si Di Zun shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qiqi transformed back into her Jing Kong Zhu form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone blocking fearlessly, even facing death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi and vanished through the space, reappearing in Zi Zai Tian's range.

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

"Where is he, the one you mentioned?"

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

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

"He's my father. The blood in your pendant is his. Bu Si Di 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 but different—it was her father's.

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

"Is your father also an emperor? Or does he have 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, but her father was too, or even stronger?

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did it require an incomplete Heavenly Dao to awaken him?

"He's not an emperor. He's… the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father is the Heavenly Dao?" Zhang Xuan was shocked, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that massive hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Heavenly Dao Orderly and Heavenly Dao Incomplete entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain Shen Jie's balance. The only way to restore him is to gather the scattered parts… That's why I've been so determined, why I couldn't fail! That's why I entered Ming Shi Dalu to study the Chun Qiu Da Dian and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

Not long after they met on Ming Shi Dalu, this girl had told him her story about saving a close relative. He hadn't understood then, but now it all made sense.

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

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

"You were acting as Heavenly Dao Natural… So, you don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao in you?" Suddenly noticing the oddity in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

Acting as custodian was different from having it fused within, like his own case.

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

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief.

That meant he only needed to separate his own Heavenly Dao Incomplete; she wouldn't have to die.

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

"If I separate the Heavenly Dao Incomplete from me, 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 Shen Jie.

Shen Jie 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!

"Since you can't be certain, it's better to rely on ourselves… We have to find a way ourselves!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, plus the Jiu Tian Jiu Di, and even Kong Shi—if we team up, we might still win!"

"Kong Shi? He's…"

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"He's dead, right? But he hasn't truly died. If I'm correct, you killing him was just a way for him to escape the Heavenly Dao… He's probably like Wei Chang Feng, with a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Chang Feng had made him realize that Kong Shi's way of preserving his spirit was likely the same—as a Xian Tian Tai Hun Ti.

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 Chao Xi Hai…"

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Gu Sheng and the others, were incredibly strong. Even without an emperor's help, they could enter Chao Xi Hai, yet none had shown up.

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 and arriving at Kong Shi's residence. Sure enough, an elder was floating in mid-air, meditating. Seeing them arrive, he smiled slightly. "You're here!"

It was Kong Shi!

This master of ages hadn't disappointed him!

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

"You…"

Luo Ruoxi trembled.

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

"I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared in advance. The nameless giant in You Hun 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, so while only a day or two had passed in Shen Jie, 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 themselves—it was the truth.

So many had united earlier and still couldn't block him. Adding Kong Shi wouldn't change the outcome!

"If we fight alone or even together, we're no match for him, but… what if we fuse all our power into one person?" Kong Shi looked over with a smile.

"Fuse it into one person?"

This time, not just Luo Ruoxi, but Zhang Xuan was also full of doubt.

"That hand could tear apart Shen Jie and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed it and devoured Shen Jie's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us emperors alone, or even all of us, can't compete…"

Kong Shi said. "But if we concentrate all our power into one person… maybe then we could."

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but it was difficult.

Emperors stood at Shen Jie's peak; if it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have been stuck for so long.

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

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with her father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and her attachments, she can never truly transcend! If I guessed right, when you fought me, you once considered giving up and letting me kill you, didn't you?"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During their fight, she had indeed thought that, so at the beginning, they had both held back, like sparring rather than a life-or-death battle.

"Without transcendence, she can't unleash her full power. Even with more true energy, she couldn't break through to the highest realm! As for me…"

Kong Shi nodded. "I care for all beings and want to save the world, but I'm too reluctant to let others sacrifice for me. Too much mercy is a flaw! If I'd been harsher and wiped out the Yi Ling Zu completely, we wouldn't be in this mess…"

If he had exterminated the Yi Ling Zu 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 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 in glory, to die is to long for each other!

If even death doesn't matter, what could bind him?

"This…" Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, but Kong Shi looked at him intently. "Don't refuse. There's no time to train someone else, and even if there was, I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Ling Xi Di Zun doesn't have a 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 infuse our power into you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force. Combined with your clone's Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, you can stabilize the nine heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the decision was made, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in an instant, two vast powers surged into him from both sides.

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

His soul, body, and true energy were all undergoing rapid purification, growing stronger and more abundant.

…

"You think you can stop me? Fine, I'll kill you all 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 emperors was indeed formidable, but it was still weaker than his.

Chao Xi Hai had devoured nearly all of Shen Jie's spiritual energy outside the cities, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the ability to destroy the world, making these emperors and Shen Wangs, despite representing Shen Jie's peak, no match for him.

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

"If Shen Jie falls, there's no point in us living. I'll go down with you, Yun Chi!"

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

"You? You're not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

Bu Si Di Jun revealed his undying fire phoenix form, flames lighting up the sky.

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

The four divine beasts, guardians of Shen Jie's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing world.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hen Ren struck four times, suppressing the four beasts, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. "Since you're all seeking death, I'll grant it…"

As he roared, about to deliver the fatal blow, he felt his raised arm seize up in mid-air.

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

In the shocked gazes of everyone, 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.

"He's made significant progress…"

Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

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

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

Hen Ren snorted coldly and struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, tearing space apart and sending shockwaves everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

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

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

However, their foundation remained, and with enough power, they could recover eventually.

"With his current strength, winning is tough! Unless… he can comprehend a power that transcends the emperor level!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with the power of over a dozen emperors transferred to 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 that transcends the emperor level?"

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 a proud defiance of 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 him, he wasn't a match.

"Ha! I thought you'd be something special. Turns out you're just this!"

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, stopped attacking, and looked 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 the entire Shen Jie 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, and his soul scattered.

"Zhang Xuan…"

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Da Di and the others stared in disbelief, trembling.

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, seeing this, were also stunned.

The plan was for him to break through the shackles and reach beyond the emperor level. Why had he given up and walked to his death?

Wasn't that wasting their efforts?

"Wait, it's Bu Si Di Jun's undying method…"

As they wondered, Kong Shi spoke up.

Everyone saw the pendant on Zhang Xuan's chest shatter, a drop of blood floating up and igniting into 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 Incomplete from his soul?"

Luo Ruoxi's pupils shrank.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in him; he was 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 You Hun Pool.

Yet Zhang Xuan had achieved it with just one lethal 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 of that, binding the soul inseparably.

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 killed, forcing Hen Ren to use his strongest attack.

With that power, he was reborn in the flames, and it had worked perfectly!

"So that's the key to breaking through the emperor level…"

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if understanding something. He waved his hand, and his clone turned back into a lotus flower, flying over and fusing perfectly with him.

In an instant, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan had become the nine heavens, and the nine heavens were him.

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic nine heavens stabilized immediately.

The Jiu Tian Hun Dun Jin Lian, born with the nine heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his clone fused seamlessly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion and his peak realm loosening, he seemed ready to break through at any moment.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student ties, parent-child affection, romantic love… Fused together, they become all things in the world. 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?

These eternal questions had puzzled countless people.

But now… none of that mattered!

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

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

All things have emotion; with emotion, there's a world; with emotion, life endures.

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, the barriers in Zhang Xuan's body shattered.

He had broken through the emperor's shackles!

In that instant, it was as if he had touched a new world and gate. His soul was rapidly nourished, and vast chaotic energy surged toward him, elevating his body swiftly.

He could now absorb spatial chaos, chaotic energy, even the opponent's green light—it was all his, without distinction.

"You…"

Hen Ren hadn't expected his full attack to not only fail to kill him but also empower him, and he raged, "Wah!" before lunging again.

"You resent the lofty emperors for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; feeling humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; wanting to destroy Shen Jie to vent your anger—that's emotion; desiring to grow stronger—that's emotion too… Emotion controls you, so how can you defeat me, who controls emotion?"

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his voice growing faster and louder. He gently grasped his hand.

The once-unstoppable Hen Ren was bound by countless emotional threads, immobilized.

As long as there was emotion, he could be used and controlled!

"You…"

Hen Ren's eyes filled with panic. "Zhang Shi, I'm your servant. Don't kill me… I'll offer my soul…"

"It's too late for that now…"

Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, something like a servant held no meaning for him.

He had killed so many at the god level, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qiqi, and so many friends. How could he forgive that today?

"No…"

Sensing his resolve, Hen Ren's pupils contracted, but before he could finish, intense pain wracked his body.

Bang!

In an instant, he exploded, turning into vast spiritual energy that surged across Shen Jie.

All the power Chao Xi Hai had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the barren lands.

"This…"

"He's really dead?"

Yun Chi Da Di, Bu Si Di Jun, Ling Long Xian Zi, and the others stared in disbelief.

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

Was there truly a realm beyond the emperor?

"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 Incomplete" that had been separated from him still floating in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Buzz!

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

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

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

"It seems Shen Jie is about to enter a new era of spiritual revival…"

Zhang Xuan smiled.

The hole in Chao Xi Hai had closed with the Heavenly Dao's restoration, and Shen Jie's return to its former glory was only a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, come here…"

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

In that step, he traveled an unknown distance and 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 always felt this person was unfathomable, and now he realized the man was only a step away from his own level, at the absolute peak of the emperor realm, far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

"Just call me by my name. I'm Nie Tong!"

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

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow.

He had never heard this name.

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

Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, traveling an unknown distance before stopping at a mountain peak.

There, he saw another young man.

His appearance was only slightly older, with raised eyebrows giving a profound, inscrutable air.

"This strength…" Zhang Xuan trembled.

This young man's power surpassed even his own. He had also broken through the emperor's shackles, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!"

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

"Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You're the Shen Jie 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 couldn't believe it.

Shen Jie was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"But if Shen Jie is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why didn't you act against Hen Ren…?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

If not for his breakthrough, Shen Jie might have been utterly destroyed. Why had this man done nothing?

Not even caring about his daughter's life?

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

"This…" Zhang Xuan paused. "There probably is…"

Though he hadn't seen it, since this man had reached this level, others might too, or even exceed it—just like Nie Yun.

"I once suspected there was more beyond Shen Jie, so I tried to peer into it with all my might, but it drew the backlash of a higher world… A massive hand descended!"

Nie Yun continued. "If I'd dodged, Shen Jie might have been wiped out completely, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but my incarnated Heavenly Dao was shattered."

"In that state, restoring it would be just a thought, but… I realized that to truly transcend Shen Jie'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 the emperor's shackles and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intent to the lowest world… granting it to a soul native to this world and one not from here. And you didn't disappoint me!"

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not from here—so, my crossing over was because of you?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

No wonder he had transmigrated; it was all this man's doing.

"Hehe!"

Nie Yun chuckled lightly. "A soul native to this world has reverence for it, making it harder to break free. I just had a whim and didn't expect you to succeed…"

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

Without Kong Shi's selflessness, it would have been impossible.

"The opportunity was there for him, but he didn't seize it. His duel with Ling Xi 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 beyond us, without that spirit, how could he compete?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

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

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

"But if Kong Shi had won, Ruoxi would have died…"

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

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

"With me there, she wouldn't have died…"

Nie Yun smiled faintly. "You're now almost at my level. In a life-or-death situation, could you save someone?"

"This…" Zhang Xuan bitter-smiled.

Breaking through to beyond emperor was different from being an emperor. If Nie Yun had acted, he could have saved her without a scratch.

"Ling Xi is from my other wife, Luo Qing Cheng, so she used the surname Luo 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…"

Nie Yun sighed. "I'm quite the heartless father… Anyway, you should explain this to her. Her feelings have shifted to you now; she probably doesn't even think of me anymore. 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 broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. My daughter with you brings me comfort as a father."

As Nie Yun spoke, the narrative continued, but with the story's end in the original text, so does the translation.