Chapter 454: Lian Zhen

The soul contract directly binds the soul; as long as the initiator doesn't dissolve it, even if the other party has extraordinary abilities, it cannot be broken.

It's like the Undying Emperor Monarch, Xiao Huangji; back when he was only a God King, and even after becoming an Emperor Monarch himself, he couldn't resolve such an agreement.

To prevent this individual from going back on their word and causing backlash, the Master Teacher Continent specifically decreed that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they still couldn't break free from the soul contract.

"Indeed, a soul contract cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao, so 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 said.

The soul contract is built on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao, and since this special power can dissolve even the God Realm's Heavenly Dao, what's so hard about dissolving a soul contract, as long as it's handled properly?

"I see..." Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

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

After explaining, Hen Ren said no more. The aura around him 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 also sensed something was wrong and quickly sent a message through divine sense.

"Let's make our move!" With his doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raised the long sword in his hand abruptly, and said, "In that case, let's settle this with our skills!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent erupted once more.

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

What could possibly stand in the way when life and death are of no concern?

Though this sword technique hadn't reached the level comprehended by an Emperor Monarch, it contained all of his inner obsessions, pushing his Tian Ruo You Qing cultivation technique to its limits.

Whoosh!

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

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

Her swordsmanship was somewhat similar to that of the youth from Jian Shen Tian, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of aligning with 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, and making it seem as though the sun, moon, and stars would be forcibly pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

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

With their strength, they couldn't withstand him!

Just what realm had this guy reached?

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

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

Having refined the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

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

But when it clashed with Hen Ren, he too was sent flying, unable to block even one move.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming an Emperor Monarch, his avatar 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, or we'll all die if they fall..."

Xiao Huangji roared, his crimson flames burning as if setting the sky ablaze.

The remaining six great Emperor Monarchs also unleashed their techniques.

With seven Emperor Monarchs joining forces, they could destroy heavens and earth, making even a realm unable to withstand them. But Hen Ren, having absorbed that special power, simply let his black hole expand, swallowing their attacks in the blink of an eye before countering.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even with ten great Emperor Monarchs united, they couldn't block a single move from him!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..."

After defeating them with one strike, Hen Ren stepped forward and flipped his wrist to strike down again.

"You insolent rat!"

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

"Another Emperor Monarch? He's also at the Emperor Monarch level?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

He had thought this elder was just a attendant, at most a titled God King, but now he realized he was also an Emperor Monarch powerhouse!

If he was an Emperor Monarch, then what about that youth?

"He's the Emperor Monarch of Jian Shen Tian..."

Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet, gritting her teeth.

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

"He's..." Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when space twisted, and they saw the Jian Shen Tian Emperor Monarch sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a massive crater not far away.

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

"Ha! Emperor Monarchs are nothing but a bunch of insignificant creatures! Today, I'll destroy the Nine Heavens, destroy this God Realm, and trample all rules underfoot!"

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

"What do we do?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

He and his avatar had already used their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had unleashed her most powerful techniques, yet none could block even one of his moves...

Was there truly no one in the God Realm who could stop this man in front of them?

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 fist clenched, her eyes reddening.

"Return it to the Heavenly Dao itself?" Zhang Xuan understood her meaning.

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

It was like the immune system of the body.

A complete immune system could easily drive out viruses; if damaged, even a strong person could succumb to invasion.

But...

"He's too powerful; even if the Heavenly Dao is restored, it might not suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

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

This man was just an ordinary God King, yet even titled ones could be easily killed by the Heavenly Dao, and he was stronger than Emperor Monarchs... 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 slay this one without difficulty!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to see him; he's in Zi Zai Tian..." 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, sword intent blazing forth.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

It was blocked by Hen Ren once more.

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

Knowing they were trying to save the God Realm, not flee, his avatar and the Undying Emperor Monarch shouted, blocking the way, while Luo Qi Qi transformed back into her Jing Kong Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone risking their lives to block behind them without fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he knew now wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi along, his body flickering as he tore through space and appeared in the range of Zi Zai Tian.

Zi Zai Tian was no longer as peaceful as before; the God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is the person you mentioned?"

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

If this person could truly save the God Realm, he was willing to make the sacrifice!

"He's my father; the blood in your pendant is his. The Undying Emperor Monarch was once his beast pet..."

Luo Ruoxi steadied her breath and explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

That also explained why the Undying Emperor Monarch's remnant will had immediately recognized him as master upon seeing the pendant.

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

He couldn't help but ask.

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

If so, why was he in a coma?

And why did it require a flawed Heavenly Dao to awaken him?

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

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fist.

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

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that massive hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts: Heavenly Dao Orderly and Heavenly Dao Flawed entered the spatial chaos, while I took control of Heavenly Dao Natural to maintain the God Realm's balance. The only way to restore him is to collect the scattered parts... That's why I've been so determined, unable to fail! That's why I specifically entered the Master Teacher Continent to study the Spring and Autumn Compendium and find a way to defeat Kong Shi! And when I fought Kong Shi, the favor I asked of him was for this."

Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

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

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

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

"Acting as Heavenly Dao Natural... You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?" Suddenly realizing the oddity in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

Acting as versus fusing with—it was two different concepts.

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

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of 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 slay Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

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

Luo Ruoxi hesitated, glancing at the collapsing God Realm.

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

It was hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain either. In that case, better to rely on ourselves... We only have ourselves to figure this out!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my avatar, plus the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and even coordinating with Kong Shi—we might not lose!"

"Kong Shi? He..."

Luo Ruoxi frowned.

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

Zhang Xuan said.

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

It allowed one to remain clear even in the womb.

Coupled with the precautions he had set in advance, 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 Shi Hai..."

Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students, like Zi Yuan Ancient Saint and the others, were all incredibly strong. Even without an Emperor Monarch's help, they could have entered Chao Shi Hai, yet none had shown up.

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

"This..." Luo Ruoxi was shocked, suddenly understanding.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan waved his hand, and they arrived at the place where Kong Shi resided. Sure enough, an elder was floating in the air in a meditative pose. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly. "You've come!"

Who else could it be but Kong Shi?

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

As guessed, he had taken advantage of everyone's focus on Chao Shi Hai to revive.

"You..." Luo Ruoxi trembled.

She knew Emperor Monarchs could revive, and the Undying Emperor Monarch had done so, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly!

"I hid from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a backup in advance. That 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 the God Realm, he had experienced who knows how long to restore his power—perhaps decades.

"Our combined strength is strong, 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 one more Kong Shi wouldn't change the situation!

"If we fight individually 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 confusion.

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao; its power is undeniable. Hen Ren absorbed that power and has been devouring the God Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. Any of us ten-plus Emperor Monarchs taken alone isn't his opponent..."

Kong Shi said, "But if we unite and concentrate all our power into one person... maybe not!"

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi asked.

It sounded simple, but doing it was hard.

Emperor Monarchs stood at the pinnacle of the God Realm; if it were that easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have been stagnant for so many years.

"It's simple... We'll channel our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Emperor Monarch shackles, he can save the God Realm!"

Kong Shi said.

"Me? Why me?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"Ling Xi Di Zun cultivates freedom and transcendence, but with his father's and the Heavenly Dao's constraints, and his attachments, he can never truly transcend! If I guessed right, when he fought me, he once gave up, intending to let me kill him!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi fell silent.

During their fight, he had indeed considered that, so at the beginning, both had held back, making it seem more like a spar 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 unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—too much mercy is a flaw! If I'd been more ruthless and exterminated the Yi Ling Clan, we wouldn't be in this mess..."

If he had wiped out 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 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!"

Kong Shi continued.

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

If even death means nothing, how could other things bind him?

"This..." Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when 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 Di Zun has no Heavenly Dao fragment, but she's long controlled the Heavenly Dao, giving her her own understanding of it; I control Heavenly Dao Orderly. If we channel our power to you, you'll have the complete Heavenly Dao force in your body! Combined with your avatar's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine skies, and exterminate all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the decision was made and further explanation was useless, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

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

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

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

...

"You all want to stop me? Fine, I'll kill you first, then go slay Zhang Xuan..."

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

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

The Chao Shi Hai had nearly devoured all the spiritual energy outside the cities in the God Realm, and now that energy had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the power to destroy heavens and earth; these Emperor Monarchs and God Kings, despite representing the God Realm's peak, were no match.

At that moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unstoppable.

"The God Realm's destruction means our lives are meaningless too. I'll go down with you..."

Yun Chi Great Emperor transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him through the air.

"You? You're not worthy!"

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

"My old friend, wait for me!"

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

The Undying Emperor Monarch revealed his undying fire phoenix true form, flames illuminating the sky.

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

The four divine beasts, guardians of the God Realm's four poles, transformed simultaneously, slowing the collapsing God Realm.

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

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

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

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

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

It was Zhang Xuan!

The young man now exuded surging power, at least ten times stronger than before, descending like an entire world.

"He's made quite a leap..."

Hen Ren halted, his gaze turning serious.

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

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

Hen Ren snorted coldly and struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two clashed, space tearing apart and air currents raging 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 God King level, no longer as glorious as before.

However, their foundations remained; with enough power, they could recover eventually.

"With his current strength, winning will be tough! Unless... he can comprehend a power that transcends Emperor Monarchs!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even with over ten Emperor Monarchs channeling their power to him, victory wasn't guaranteed.

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

"A power that transcends Emperor Monarchs?"

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 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 their power fused and forming a complete Heavenly Dao in his body, he still wasn't a match.

"Ha! I thought you'd be something special, but you're just this!"

Hen Ren sneered.

"Since I'm no match anyway and will be killed eventually, I might as well die under your strongest attack..."

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

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

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

Whoosh!

A beam of green light appeared in his palm and smashed down.

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

Zhang Xuan closed his eyes and didn't dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, and his soul scattered everywhere.

"Zhang Xuan..."

Everyone's faces turned pale at the sight.

Luo Qi Qi seemed to go mad.

Yun Chi Great Emperor and the others widened their eyes, trembling uncontrollably.

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, who had seen it all, were also stunned.

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

Wasn't that wasting their efforts?

"Something's wrong; it's the Undying Emperor Monarch's undying technique..."

As they puzzled over it, Kong Shi spoke up.

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 unharmed figure slowly emerged.

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

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

The reborn Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao library in his body; without the Heavenly Dao's interference, he was free from it!

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was also full of disbelief.

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

This young man had achieved it with just one killing blow—what method had he used?

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

Luo Ruoxi realized.

The soul contract bound master and servant; without the master's release, the servant was forever bound... The Heavenly Dao library was similar, like an enhanced contract.

It bound the soul, unbreakable even in death.

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 fought to the death, forcing Hen Ren to use his strongest attack.

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

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

The reborn Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, as if understanding something. He waved his hand, and his avatar immediately turned back into a lotus flower and flew over.

In an instant, it fused perfectly with him.

In the blink of an eye, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan had become the Nine Heavens, and the Nine Heavens were him.

He lightly stamped his foot on the ground.

The chaotic Nine Heavens stabilized immediately.

The Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, born with the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with his avatar fused perfectly, he controlled that power.

Not only that, with the fusion of the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus's cultivation and his own peak realm showing signs of loosening, it seemed he could break through at any moment.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student bonds, parent-child bonds, romantic love... Fused together, they become all things in the world; that's what it means to be human!"

Smiling, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

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

Did the world exist because people observed it, or did people come after the world?

Was it the wind moving or the heart?

This ancient question had troubled countless people.

But now... it didn't matter.

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

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

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

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Sorrow is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is emotion!

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

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

He had broken through the Emperor Monarch barriers!

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

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

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

"You..."

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

"You resent the lofty Emperor Monarchs for not saving you from spatial chaos—that's emotion; you feel humble and angry as my servant—that's emotion; you want to destroy the God Realm to vent your anger—that's emotion; you seek to grow stronger—that's emotion too... Emotions control you; how can you defeat me, who controls them?"

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, rendered immobile.

As long as there were emotions, he could be used and controlled!

"You..."

Hen Ren's eyes filled with panic. "Zhang Shi, I'm your servant; don't kill me... I'm willing to offer my soul..."

"It's too late for that now..." Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

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

After killing so many at the God level and harming his girlfriend Luo Qi Qi and so many friends, how could he forgive 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 back to every corner of the God Realm.

All the power that Chao Shi Hai had devoured was now returned, revitalizing the barren wilderness.

"This..."

"Is that it? He's dead?"

Yun Chi Great Emperor, the Undying Emperor Monarch, Ling Long Immortal Zi, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief.

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

Could there truly be a realm beyond Emperor Monarchs?

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

The collapsing God Realm visibly stabilized, and the chaotic air currents gathered once more.

The shattered God Realm finally halted, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Hen Ren's death.

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

Zhang Xuan smiled.

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

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

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

In that step, he didn't know how far he traveled, and soon saw a youth standing before him.

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was surprised.

He had felt this person was unfathomable before, and now realized he was only a hair's breadth away, having reached the absolute peak of Emperor Monarchs—far surpassing the previous Luo Ruoxi.

"You can just call me by my name; I'm Nie Tong!"

The youth 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 faintly and stepped forward.

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

There, they saw another youth.

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

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

This youth's power surpassed even his, having broken through the Emperor Monarch barriers, and his cultivation was deeper and more profound!

"I'm Nie Yun!" The youth smiled faintly and looked over. "Or rather... Nie Ling Xi, the one you know as Luo Ruoxi's father!"

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

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

"I used One Qi Transforms Three Purities; one part of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Besides, I created this world, so calling me the Heavenly Dao isn't wrong!"

Nie Yun smiled faintly.

Zhang Xuan was incredulous.

The God Realm was created by this man?

Then how strong was he?

"That's not right—if the God Realm is your creation and you're the Heavenly Dao, why did you let Hen Ren rampage without intervening... Even your daughter's life was at risk?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

If it weren't for his breakthrough, the God Realm might have completely collapsed. Why had this man done nothing? Not even caring about his daughter?

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

"This..." Zhang Xuan paused. "There should be..."

Though he hadn't seen it, since this man could reach such a level, others might too, perhaps even stronger—just like him.

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

Nie Yun looked over. "If I'd dodged, the entire God Realm might have been wiped out, leaving no life. So, I blocked it, but that caused the Heavenly Dao I embodied to shatter."

"In that state, restoring myself would be just a thought, but... I realized that to truly transcend the God Realm's limits, explore where that hand came from, and see what's beyond... I couldn't do it alone. So, I wanted to see if any life could break through the Emperor Monarch barriers and reach my level!"

"That's why I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao intents to the lowest worlds... granting them to souls that originally belonged to this world and one that didn't. And you didn't disappoint me in the end!"

Nie Yun laughed.

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

Zhang Xuan's heart shook.

He hadn't expected all of this to be orchestrated by this man.

"Ha!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly. "Souls native to this world have reverence for it, making it harder to break through its limits. I just had a thought and didn't expect you to truly succeed..."

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

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

"The opportunity was his, 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 those who surpass us, without that spirit, how can we contend?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan fell silent.

He had watched their fight; Kong Shi had indeed been indecisive.

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to kill Luo Ruoxi.

But that single hesitation cost him the chance to advance.

"If Kong Shi had won, 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. "You're now almost at my level; in a life-or-death situation, could you save someone?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

Breaking through Emperor Monarchs was a different concept; if he truly 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 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 bitterly. "I'm quite the heartless father... You should explain this to her. After all, her feelings have shifted to you; as her father, I'm probably forgotten... 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, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he had no choice but to agree. "Alright..."

He had no option; who asked him to win over the man's daughter?

"The Heavenly Dao library was a thought of mine; it's both a foundation and a shackle. You broke through it with your own ability, showing your potential. With my daughter by your side, as her father, I'm content."