Chapter 2288: Finale (Part 1)

Treasures like the Midnight Flower and Silent Iron were located deep within perilous areas, inaccessible to someone of Ao Feng's strength. No ordinary Conferred God could easily obtain them, apart from himself and his disciples.

He had thought one of them was responsible, but it turned out not to be the case.

Doesn't this mean there's another powerful expert secretly collecting treasures?

"Another expert?"

Zheng Yang was taken aback. "Now that you mention it, Teacher, it's quite possible. We also found several places with treasures, but someone had already gotten there first. We thought it was the Nine Heavens Conferred King... meaning you, Teacher. But now it seems it wasn't!"

"To find so many treasures, take them successfully, and leave so few traces, this person's strength is no weaker than any of yours..."

Zhang Xuan's confusion deepened.

According to Ao Feng, there were hardly any experts in the God Realm besides them. How did another one suddenly appear, and from where?

"I heard..." Lu Chong suddenly spoke, "that besides me, Monarch Qiankun also took in a disciple and specifically refined a body for them..."

"Refined body?" At his words, Zhang Xuan also remembered, having vaguely heard someone mention it before.

"Yes, this disciple seems to have arrived in the God Realm earlier than us. Born from the Netherworld Pool, their soul is extremely powerful, which is why they could successfully find so many treasures and take them away easily," Lu Chong continued.

In a place like the Tidal Sea, finding so many treasures successfully, while prior experience is certainly important, what's more crucial is a powerful soul and high sensitivity to treasures.

With these qualities, one can collect items more effectively and at a speed far surpassing others.

"Arrived in the God Realm earlier than us... so, they weren't originally from the God Realm. Then... who could it be?"

Zhang Xuan fell into deep thought.

Outside the Tidal Sea, Monarch Qiankun looked down at the communication jade tablet in his hand, his earlier gloom gone, replaced by a spirited demeanor. "So what if all those people are Zhang Xuan's students? I still have a secret pawn! I guarantee they'll bring back enough treasures!"

Although they couldn't project their divine sense into the Tidal Sea, people inside could still send out messages using special items.

Just like now... the backup he had prepared for a long time had sent a message, saying they had obtained countless treasures.

Hearing the names of these treasures, Monarch Qiankun's heart burned with excitement.

He knew without a doubt that once he brought them all out, his strength would advance by leaps and bounds. Even if he couldn't surpass Emperor Lingxi, he would certainly be among the top of the other eight emperors.

"How strong is this secret pawn of yours?" Emperor Yun Chi scoffed, seeing his boastful attitude.

"While their strength isn't as good as Lu Chong's, and certainly not comparable to Zhao Ya and the others, their soul is powerful, and they excel at stealth and concealment, making them perfectly suited for finding treasures!" Monarch Qiankun said with a confident expression.

"What good is being skilled then?" Fairy Linglong interjected, pouring cold water on his enthusiasm. "If the Nine Heavens Conferred King finds them and tries to seize the treasures, do you think they can escape?"

They were all annoyed at having worked for others' benefit, yet this fellow was so pleased with himself. If not him, then who should they deflate?

"Escape is definitely not an option, but I've already instructed them clearly not to go to crowded places and to hide themselves as much as possible," Monarch Qiankun said, full of pride. "It seems to be working well so far..."

Seeing that he had even anticipated this point, everyone shook their heads helplessly.

Preparing for all eventualities, this guy was indeed cunning enough.

It seemed Monarch Qiankun would be the biggest winner this time.

As they mused, they suddenly felt the Tidal Sea in front of them shake violently. The spiritual energy that had previously surged out now showed a tendency to flow back.

"What's happening?" Emperor Yun Chi frowned.

"It must be that a supreme treasure has emerged," Fairy Linglong said, frowning as she looked at the dark ocean before her, as if trying to see through it, but found she could see nothing. "The treasure is absorbing the spiritual energy from the Tidal Sea, causing the energy that had scattered into the God Realm to flow back."

"A supreme treasure? I wonder what it is..." Emperor Zhuo Yang's eyes burned with eagerness, but then he shook his head with a bitter smile.

Even if it was supreme, they couldn't enter, so it wouldn't be theirs.

It would surely be taken by the Nine Heavens Conferred God and his many disciples.

"It's simple to find out what it is," Monarch Qiankun chuckled, seeing everyone's dejected expressions. "I'll just have my secret pawn investigate. If it's there, they'll take it along too..."

Having a secret pawn was great!

Finally, he could gain prestige in front of the other emperors and make them envious.

He sent a message, and a moment later, received a reply.

"To avoid meeting others, they had originally hidden themselves. Now, having heard my command, they've gone to see what that ultimate treasure is..."

Monarch Qiankun smiled, calmly hovering in place. A moment later, he swiped his hand across the jade tablet again, and his eyes suddenly lit up. "It's... the Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus!"

"The Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus?"

Everyone trembled simultaneously.

Ordinary Conferred Gods hadn't heard of this item, but as emperors, they knew the power of this treasure.

A creation of heaven and earth, it was no weaker than any of them, the emperors.

"If the news is true, whoever among us obtains it can instantly reach the same level of power as Emperor Lingxi..." Emperor Xuanming, who had been silent, could no longer suppress his excitement.

The Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus was a divine object more ancient than all nine of them, the emperors.

Obtaining and refining it would cause one's cultivation to soar, effortlessly surpassing current limitations.

"Indeed..." everyone nodded in unison.

Although envious, with Zhang Xuan inside, they didn't believe their own Conferred Gods could snatch it.

Monarch Qiankun's eyes flashed with a gleam as he saw their expressions. "I'll have my secret pawn seize this item, no matter the cost..."

The Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus was simply irresistible!

With a flick of his finger, he transmitted the command via the communication jade talisman.

"None of you have a chance, but I still do. My secret pawn, although not as strong as Zhang Xuan and the others, is in no way inferior at collecting treasures. As soon as they succeed, they'll immediately return to the God Realm..."

Having done this, Monarch Qiankun clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze filled with excitement.

Success was best, but even if not, emerging with the previously acquired treasures would still be a huge gain for him.

In any case, this secret move was well-executed. There was no way this pawn would defect at a critical moment, unlike Lu Chong...

Just as he was filled with excitement, the communication jade talisman in his hand trembled. He quickly looked down. With just one glance, Monarch Qiankun's eyes immediately widened, his mind feeling as if it were about to explode.

"What's wrong?" several emperors asked, looking over.

"My secret pawn says..."

Monarch Qiankun wore an expression as if he were about to cry. "Zhang Xuan is their young master... and they've already presented all the treasures to him..."

"..." The numerous great emperors exchanged bewildered glances.

Just a moment ago, his head was held high with pride, but in the blink of an eye, this outcome was unacceptable not only to Monarch Qiankun but also to the other great emperors, who felt somewhat insane.

The many disciples they had cultivated were Zhang Xuan's disciples; even if they didn't want to accept it, they had to... After all, he had taken them as apprentices first, and he had explained it in detail when they were cultivating others.

They had to grudgingly accept it.

But the secret pawn you poured your heart and soul into cultivating... turned out to be his servant? What exactly happened?

"I don't know either..." Monarch Qiankun was also on the verge of madness.

This person was born from the Netherworld Pool and cultivated with countless efforts. How did they become Zhang Xuan's subordinate?

Is this my contingency plan, or yours?

For a moment, he couldn't even believe it himself.

"Serves you right..." Fairy Linglong chuckled softly.

You tried to show off, and now you can't, can you?

"Wei Changfeng?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned, looking at the middle-aged man kneeling before him and calling him "Young Master." Beside him, Wei Ruyan approached, her eyes reddened, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably. "Father..."

The person who suddenly appeared was none other than Wei Changfeng from the Master Teacher Continent, who had previously plundered treasures everywhere to cure his daughter's Innate Poison Body!

He had died, killed by a Sacred Beast for a single herb, and was thought to have long disintegrated. Unexpectedly, he had been resurrected and appeared here!

"How did you..." Filled with confusion, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but look at him.

"I don't know what happened either," Wei Changfeng said, unable to suppress his excitement upon seeing his daughter and young master unharmed and both having reached the Conferred God level. "I only know that as I was dying, I felt a massive gravitational pull engulf my soul. When I woke up again, I was in the Netherworld Pool in the God Realm! According to Monarch Qiankun, it seems... my constitution is somewhat special, which is why I was able to give birth to a child with an Innate Poison Body like Wei Ruyan."

"Special constitution?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

When he first met him, he had specifically investigated him using the Library of Heaven's Path and found no difference; he was just an ordinary person. Could it be that the Library of Heaven's Path also made mistakes sometimes?

"Did the Monarch say what kind of constitution it was?" he couldn't help but ask.

"It's an Innate Embryonic Soul Body," Wei Changfeng replied. "Possessing an embryonic soul ensures that one doesn't get lost in the womb, and even if one dies, they can be resurrected through the Netherworld Pool while retaining their original consciousness, without getting lost..."

"Innate Embryonic Soul Body?" Zhang Xuan's brows furrowed even tighter.

He had never even heard of this.

However, being able to ensure the soul doesn't get lost was already terrifying.

After all, even Emperor Undying hadn't achieved this.

An emperor couldn't do it, yet this person did. No wonder he could give birth to someone with heaven-defying talent like Wei Ruyan...

As for why the Library of Heaven's Path didn't detect it, perhaps at that time, the library had only integrated the Heaven's Path of the Master Teacher Continent, making its level too low. Or perhaps this ability was hidden within the soul and couldn't be activated without experiencing death firsthand, thus making it naturally undetectable.

It was certainly impossible to investigate now.

However, Wei Changfeng not dying was good news for both him and Wei Ruyan.

"Young Master, these are the treasures I collected since coming to the Tidal Sea..." After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wei Changfeng handed over the obtained treasures.

Zhang Xuan looked and saw the previously mysterious Midnight Flower and Silent Iron among them, immediately sighing in relief.

So, all this time, he was the one who had taken the items...

"Guard my surroundings. I plan to go into seclusion and attempt to reach the Emperor realm..."

Seeing that all the treasures were ready, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly. Just as he was about to give instructions and use this opportunity to try to break through to the Emperor realm, he felt the space beneath his feet shake violently, and a trembling aura suddenly emanated.

He hastily turned his head, and everyone immediately saw a huge crack appearing in the Tidal Sea before them, as if tearing the sky in two.

The power that had originally flowed out from the God Realm was now flowing back, and the entire Tidal Sea shook violently, threatening to collapse at any moment.

"What's happening?" God King Liuyan and the others all turned pale with fright, trembling.

"Teacher..." Zhao Ya and the others also looked over quickly, their eyes filled with worry.

"Those three Emperor Spirit Grasses... they've been taken!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed.

If he wasn't mistaken, it must have been the three Emperor Spirit Grasses that were taken by someone, which caused the already unstable Tidal Sea to finally give way.

He looked up to see the dark crack growing wider, spanning the entire sky. The floating continent where they had just seized the Earth Treasury Spirit Liquid had been split horizontally in two, and many areas were swallowed by the darkness, turning into countless specks of dust.

The barrier of Meteor Lake was torn apart by the chaotic currents, and the entire Tidal Sea was in turmoil, threatening to collapse at any moment.

"Teacher, what should we do?"

Seeing the situation before them, which was rapidly spreading towards the God Realm, Zhao Ya's face was filled with anxiety.

"We must find a way to stop it..." Zhang Xuan said.

The Tidal Sea was connected to the God Realm. If it shattered, the God Realm would inevitably suffer a backlash, and countless lives would be devastated.

This was precisely why he hadn't taken the Emperor Spirit Grasses earlier, even when he was right in front of them.

He glanced back at the dazzling Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus in the sky, knowing that it might still take some time for his clone to fully integrate its power. He immediately gritted his teeth, swayed his body, and flew straight towards where the crack had appeared.

"Follow me..."

With a low shout, Zhao Ya and the others quickly followed.

Before they even got close, a roar sounded. Zhang Xuan looked up and saw Emperor Jue Dan, whom he had chased in Meteor Lake earlier, now suspended in the air with a ferocious grin. "Haha... didn't you want to kill me? I'd like to see who kills whom today..."

At this moment, it had already consumed the three Emperor Spirit Pills, and its aura had advanced further, already comparable to a true emperor.

After escaping, this guy didn't hide but instead found the Emperor Spirit Grass and completely refined it!

It was precisely because of this that the seal was broken, causing the world of the Tidal Sea to completely tear apart.

"You're seeking death..."

Seeing that he hadn't killed it completely, leaving such a hidden danger, Zhang Xuan was so enraged he felt he might explode. With a furious roar, he swayed his body, a long sword appeared in his hand, and he charged straight towards Emperor Jue Dan.

If the Tidal Sea truly became uncontrollable, countless lives in the God Realm would perish, and all this... was caused by this guy!

How could one not be furious?

*Whoosh!*

The Sword of Unceasing Wind was unleashed, sending ripples through the air like waves.

"Do you really think you can still hurt me like this? Ridiculous!"

Seeing the sword technique, Emperor Jue Dan sneered, spreading his five fingers and pressing downwards fiercely.

Space seemed to freeze. Zhang Xuan was like amber frozen in time, immobilized in the air.

One move, and the outcome was decided!

Zhang Xuan was actually no match.

"Teacher..."

Zhao Ya and the others were about to rush over.

Before they could reach him, a voice rang in their ears: "Don't mind me, quickly go stop the crack from spreading..."

"Yes!"

Everyone gritted their teeth and rushed towards the crack. Before they reached it, they saw streaks of sword light violently erupting around their teacher's body.

*Swish!*

The confined space tore apart. Zhang Xuan leaped out and charged towards Emperor Jue Dan once more.

"Quickly find a way to stop the crack, otherwise a great disaster will surely befall the God Realm..." Seeing their teacher out of danger, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Ya looked back at the crack that was continuously consuming the Tidal Sea, her eyes narrowing.

The Tidal Sea itself consumed the spiritual energy of the God Realm, leaving even the Nine Heavens and Nine Emperors helpless. Now, if it were destroyed, it could very likely sweep across the Nine Heavens of the God Realm, plunging the already spiritually depleted God Realm into complete chaos.

"I'll do it..."

Luo Qiqi rushed forward first. Reaching the crack, her delicate body shimmered, transforming into the Quiet Sky Orb.

The crack, which had been spreading outwards, abruptly stopped under the Quiet Sky Orb's shroud.

However, the Quiet Sky Orb trembled incessantly, as if it could give way at any moment, being repelled by the vibrating space.

"Quick, help Qiqi!"

Zhao Ya approached and channeled her pure power into it.

Immediately after, Zheng Yang, Liu Yang, Yuan Tao, Wei Ruyan, and others also hurriedly poured their power into it.

The crack was held in check for a moment but then began to shake again. Following that, the entire Tidal Sea boiled continuously. The crack before them was like an abyss devouring everything; flying meteorites and spiritual energy in the air were all swallowed, disappearing without a trace.

A sound of spitting blood echoed. Luo Qiqi could no longer control herself, reverting to her girl form, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Zheng Yang, Zhao Ya, and the others also looked ghastly pale.

*Rip!*

Without the Quiet Sky Orb's restraint, the crack's tearing speed accelerated again. In the blink of an eye, it spanned the entire Tidal Sea, as if intent on ripping the place completely in two.

"We can't stop it..."

Luo Qiqi and Zhao Ya's faces darkened.

The Tidal Sea's spiritual energy tides were something even the Nine Emperors couldn't control. Now, with it forcibly breaking open, it was like a chain of falling dominoes. Even with the extraordinary strength of Luo Qiqi, Zhao Ya, and the others, they were equally helpless.

"Teacher, only Teacher can stop it..."

They quickly turned their heads and saw that Zhang Xuan and Emperor Jue Dan's battle had reached a fever pitch.

Having consumed the Emperor Spirit Grass, Emperor Jue Dan had already advanced to the true Emperor level. Although it hadn't yet received the Nine Heavens' acknowledgment, its strength was not much weaker than other emperors.

Although Zhang Xuan had broken through to the peak of the Conferred God realm, he was still lacking in power. In their one-on-one battle, he was continuously at a disadvantage.

"Haha, die!"

Feeling that the young man, who had been so helpless earlier, was now being suppressed by him, Emperor Jue Dan let out an excited shriek. His palm flipped again, and mighty power descended as if the heavens and earth were rending apart.

The Tidal Sea, already on the verge of collapsing from the tearing cracks, was now being destroyed even faster under its attack. The entire space became chaotic, spiritual energy drifted everywhere, and many ordinary God Kings, unable to resist, were instantly torn to shreds.

During previous spiritual energy tides, while God Kings would perish, at least some could survive. But now, under the agitated spiritual energy, God Kings fell one after another. In less than five minutes, almost half of them had died.

Even those at the Conferred God level began to die.

In just a short period, the number of deceased God Kings surprisingly surpassed that of the previous ten years!

"I must resolve this quickly, otherwise, everyone will die here..."

Seeing Emperor Jue Dan grow stronger with each passing moment, Zhang Xuan's face grew grim.

If the battle continued, not only would the people in the Tidal Sea die, but the God Realm would also be devastated. He had to deal with this guy as quickly as possible before thinking of other solutions.

"I've already unleashed my strongest power. Unless... I can go one step further!"

In battling it, he had already used his strongest sword techniques and combat skills, but Emperor Jue Dan, having consumed the Emperor Spirit Grass, had inexhaustible power and simply could not be resisted.

Unless... his cultivation advanced further, it would be almost impossible to defeat it.

"Then break through!"

Ignoring the palm print descending from the sky, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath. With a flick of his wrist, all the treasures previously given to him by his disciples appeared in his palm.

True Qi surged wildly within him. These treasures, effective even for emperors, instantly burst open.

*Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!*

Countless pure spiritual energies instantly poured into his Dantian and acupoints, nourishing his body.

"You want to break through now? Too late..."

Seeing that the person he was suppressing was still thinking of breaking through, Emperor Jue Dan snorted coldly and unleashed another attack.

"There's enough time..." With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan's mind instantly immersed itself in the Spring and Autumn Codex within the Library of Heaven's Path.

Cultivating here, time passed ten thousand times faster than the outside world.

One second outside equated to ten thousand seconds inside, which was 2.7 hours, almost an hour and a half.

This much time was enough for him to attempt to reach the Emperor realm.

With a steady mind, True Qi circulated rapidly within him, and the already suppressed Emperor barrier reappeared before his eyes.

"Break through!"

With a low cry, the power within him transformed into sword qi and surged out fiercely.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The barrier was as hard as steel. He struck it several times consecutively, but couldn't break through.

"As expected of the Emperor realm, even with the cultivation technique comprehended, breaking through isn't so easy..."

Before, on the moon, he had felt as if he could break through at any moment and thought he could truly shatter his limitations. But now it seemed it wasn't so easy at all.

The Emperor realm was the greatest barrier among the deities, a realm yearned for by countless lives in the God Realm. If it were truly that simple, Master Kong wouldn't be the only one to have achieved it in God Realm City over so many years.

"It's not just that the barrier is thick; more importantly, heaven and earth do not permit it..."

After several more attempts, Zhang Xuan understood.

The sturdy barrier was only one factor. The most crucial reason was a special force between heaven and earth suppressing him, preventing him from successfully breaking through.

It was as if he was being regulated by the Heavenly Dao; every time he tried to push forward, someone would be pulling him back, preventing him from advancing.

"Seal!"

Knowing it was likely the Library of Heaven's Path within him, Zhang Xuan's mind stirred, and he sealed it.

He continued to try and break through, but still felt his power couldn't reach perfection, still one final layer of membrane away from the Emperor realm.

"It's not enough power..."

His eyes flashed.

Breaking through to the Emperor realm required an immense amount of resources. Even consuming all the treasures collected by his disciples wouldn't be enough. To succeed, there was only one way...

Devour Emperor Jue Dan as well!

It had already reached the Emperor level. If he could devour it, combined with his previous accumulations, the so-called Emperor barrier would no longer be a problem; he could break it instantly!

But... he wasn't its match, so how could he devour it?

"Haha, if the Emperor realm was so easy to break through, I would have left this Tidal Sea long ago instead of being trapped here..."

As if seeing the problem he faced, Emperor Jue Dan in the air let out a cold laugh.

*Crack! Crack! Crack!*

The cracks in space, formed by the attack, spread towards Zhang Xuan. The Tidal Sea was now collapsing beyond recognition, threatening to completely shatter, annihilate, and cease to exist at any moment.

"Once the Tidal Sea completely collapses, and I haven't successfully broken through, returning to the God Realm will bring even greater pressure, making further breakthrough almost impossible..."

He was filled with urgency.

Back in the God Realm, with the suppression of the Nine Heavens, breaking through to the Emperor realm would be nearly impossible.

In other words, to break through, he had to complete it before the Tidal Sea collapsed. Otherwise... once he returned, it would be uncertain when he could achieve it.

The previous cracks had already completely torn the Tidal Sea, and with Emperor Jue Dan's attack, space was shattering. The Tidal Sea had only held on until now because of the spiritual energy reflux. Once the reflux completely ended, it would likely collapse instantly, unable to last even another second.

"One minute. That means I must successfully break through to the Emperor realm within one minute at most..."

According to his calculations, the Tidal Sea wouldn't be able to withstand it for more than sixty seconds.

In other words, he had to complete the breakthrough within this timeframe...

Even with the Spring and Autumn Codex, it would be extremely difficult, almost impossible to accomplish.

After all... he first had to defeat Emperor Jue Dan!

And to defeat it, he needed the strength of an Emperor...

It seemed like an unbreakable loop.

"Unless... unless I can comprehend an Emperor-level sword technique!"

A light flashed in his eyes.

To severely wound Emperor Jue Dan and absorb its medicinal power in a short time... he needed to possess the power to kill it. Besides reaching the Emperor realm, there was another way: comprehending a more advanced sword technique!

He had already comprehended the Emperor-level cultivation technique, which was love.

"Though Heaven and Earth may pass away, this sorrow will endlessly remain."

If he could derive it into a sword technique and unleash it with all his might, perhaps he could also slay Emperor Jue Dan before him.

But... cultivation techniques are cultivation techniques, and sword techniques are sword techniques. To deduce a sword technique when his cultivation technique hasn't even broken through, and furthermore, one that transcends the Heavenly Dao realm, was almost impossible.

The difficulty was countless times greater than breaking through to the Emperor realm.

The long sword in his hand trembled. He tried to execute sword moves according to the Emperor-level cultivation technique he had comprehended at the time, but found that each time he felt chest tightness and shortness of breath, and his power couldn't flow smoothly.

"Incorrect!"

"Incorrect!"

"Incorrect!"

"Still incorrect..."

He tried over a dozen ways to circulate his sword intent, all of them wrong. His entire body was also left in a state of chaotic qi and blood due to the haphazard true qi.

Time ticked by, second by second.

More than half of the minute passed in the blink of an eye. The Tidal Sea could no longer hold on, shaking even more violently. It looked like it might not even last another ten seconds!

"Let's see how many moves you can withstand. Die..."

Emperor Jue Dan also noticed this and let out an excited shriek. Its palm overturned, crushing down once more.

This attack's power was even stronger than before, as if breaking the Tidal Sea's last vestige of resistance. The shattered space carried an endless, crushing force.

A strike of life or death!

If Zhang Xuan couldn't block it, he would die.

If he could block it, Emperor Jue Dan would die.

"Teacher..." Zhao Ya and the others' eyes were red with urgency, wanting to rush over and help, but they were pushed away by the shattered space before they could get close.

The battlefield belonged to him and Emperor Jue Dan alone; no one could approach unless they had reached the Emperor realm.

"It seems I can't comprehend it..."

"Time is too short. An Emperor-level sword technique cannot be achieved in an instant..."

Seeing the attack approaching, and still having no clue in his mind, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had thought himself a genius, able to turn any danger into good fortune. But now it seemed it wasn't so easy.

Comprehending an Emperor-level sword technique in less than a minute was simply impossible.

Knowing he couldn't succeed, Zhang Xuan looked up again and saw the shattered space before him, falling slowly like fireworks.

It was as if time had suddenly slowed down.

He was transported back to the Master Teacher Continent, to the moment he ignited his Zhang Clan bloodline.

Over two years since his rebirth, countless memories surged through his mind, replaying in slow motion.

Striving to become a good teacher to avoid being expelled from the academy, then advancing step by step, for his family, for his beloved, for his friends, for his students...

He fought diligently, never stopping.

Now... perhaps he could truly stop.

He had thought he would eventually have to face Luo Ruoxi in battle to contend for the Heavenly Dao, but now it seemed that awkwardness could be avoided.

"If I die and can't be resurrected, she'll be sad, won't she..."

Luo Ruoxi's image suddenly appeared in his mind, and a sweet smile touched Zhang Xuan's lips.

"Perhaps, the moment she agreed to be my girlfriend, she already guessed this outcome, knowing that one of us would die..."

He had always felt that he had a difficult choice, but he had been ignorant for a long time.

As the only one who knew, Luo Ruoxi must have endured far greater torment.

Therefore, she suffered more than he did.

"The Emperor from Sword God Heaven said that my sword technique had too much lingering sentiment and too little protection... so it lacked resilient power! But... what if one can't protect?"

Protection could ensure the safety of loved ones, but if, like now, the God Realm was destroyed and the Heavenly Dao collapsed, what could one protect?

Master Kong, the teacher of a myriad generations, wished for everyone to be like dragons, yet... in the end, didn't he also perish?

Protection was right, but also not right.

"I am me. I do not seek ultimate freedom, but only a clear conscience."

"If we cannot be together in life, then let us share the same grave in death!"

"If I am destined to fall here, death is not the end."

"In life, one should return; in death, one should be long remembered!"

*Boom!*

A sudden enlightenment arose in his heart, and dazzling light shone in his eyes. Zhang Xuan immediately felt the surging sword intent within him coalesce in the blink of an eye, forming a brilliant and dazzling sword qi.

*Tear!*

The sword qi, unleashed through the Scarlet Heaven Sword, shot straight towards the sky, instantly cutting Emperor Jue Dan's descending attack in half.

"Ah, what kind of sword technique is this... H-how did you unleash it..."

With a shriek, Emperor Jue Dan's incredulous words rang out. Its immensely powerful body exploded. In an instant, the overwhelmingly dense spiritual energy transformed into a tornado, pouring frantically into Zhang Xuan.

The previously insurmountable restraints instantly broke, and his power surged upwards.

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan looked at the sky, and his soft voice, like a dragon's roar, resonated in the hearts of countless people.

"Today, I am an Emperor!"

The Emperor realm, the most challenging boundary to cross... was shattered!

The Tidal Sea exploded, like fireworks blossoming.