Chapter 536: Is the suspect not in this building?

A soul contract, binding souls; as long as one does not dissolve it, even if the other's methods are god‑like, it cannot be undone.

It's like the Undying Emperor Xiao Huangji, who was once only a God King; now he is an Emperor, yet he also cannot break such an agreement.

To prevent that guy from reneging and causing a backlash, the Mingshi Continent once specifically decreed that even if the other can detach from the Heavenly Dao Scripture, they still cannot escape the soul contract!

"A soul contract indeed cannot be split from the Sea of Consciousness, but I have merged a special gas that even the Dao of Heaven can dissolve; breaking this contract is not difficult… as long as I have enough power to bombard the spot where the contract resides, I can do it!"

Hen Ren said.

A soul contract is founded on the Dao of Heaven; the special power can even dissolve the divine realm's Dao, so unraveling a soul contract, if handled properly, is no trouble at all.

"I see…" Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

"Having told you all this, I also thank you for bringing me to the divine realm!"

After the explanation, Hen Ren said no more; his aura grew ever more ancient and distant, the black hole behind him expanded further, evidently the act of speaking had again devoured an unknown amount of power, serving as nourishment.

"Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole devours, the stronger it becomes…"

Luo Ruoxi also sensed something amiss and hurriedly sent a voice.

"Prepare to act!" With all doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan inhaled deeply, raised his long sword abruptly: "Since that's the case, let's see the true skill beneath our hands!"

Boom!

The most powerful sword intent surged forth again.

Life returns to its source, death lingers in endless longing!

If life and death matter not, what can stand in the way?

This sword technique, though not reaching the Emperor's comprehension, contains all the lingering obsessions in the heart, pushing the Heaven If Sentiment technique within to its limit.

Whoosh!

One sword split Hen Ren's attack in two.

At the same moment, Luo Ruoxi also struck, her jade hand swirling, sword light like snow.

Her sword style resembles that of the young man of Jian Shen Tian, bearing an unstoppable momentum and the natural elegance of the Dao.

"Your techniques are impressive, but compared to me, they're still lacking…"

With a light smile, Hen Ren lunged downward again.

In an instant, the sky was eclipsed, his palm enveloped heaven and earth, space shattered, and the sun, moon, and stars seemed about to be forcefully struck down.

Puff! Puff!

Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were flung backward simultaneously, blood spraying wildly in the air.

Even with their combined strength, they could not withstand it!

What realm has this guy actually attained?

"Audacious!" The clone strode forward, and with each step a lotus blossomed, the void echoing with the sound of flowing water.

From afar, it exuded undeniable swagger.

Refining the Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, his cultivation is by no means weaker than Zhang Xuan's.

A single punch rose, its force soaring to the Nine Heavens.

Clashing with Hen Ren, he too was flung backward, unable to block a single move.

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead.

Having become an Emperor, the clone still hasn't shed its show‑off nature…

Such flamboyant show‑off, yet it's better to concentrate the power; the force will be greater!

"Strike together, otherwise if they die, we'll all die…"

Xiao Huangji let out a roar, crimson flames blazing, the sky seemed set alight.

The remaining six great Emperors each deployed their methods.

The seven Emperors united, destroying heaven and earth; no realm could stand before them, yet the opponent was Hen Ren, who had absorbed the special power. As the attack approached, the black hole suddenly expanded, swallowing the force in the blink of an eye, then counterattacked.

Bang bang bang bang!

The seven Emperors, like Zhang Xuan and the others, were flung backward.

All ten Emperors combined, yet they still couldn't block a single move from the opponent!

How can this guy be so powerful?

"You may die…"

With one strike he shattered the crowd; Hen Ren stepped forward, flicked his wrist, and struck down again.

"You mouse‑whelp dare this!"

Accompanied by a roar, the elder of Jian Shen Tian who had appeared earlier suddenly materialized, blocking the way, his long sword turning into a galaxy.

"Emperor? He also possesses Emperor‑level power?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

That elder had originally followed the young man, thought to be merely an attendant, perhaps only worthy of the title God King; when he unleashed his power, it turned out he too was an Emperor‑strength strongman!

If he is an Emperor, then what is the young man?

"He himself is the Emperor of Jian Shen Tian…" Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth, struggling to stand.

"Then… the young man who taught me the sword method?" Zhang Xuan could no longer hold back.

"He is…" Luo Ruoxi began to answer when space twisted, and the Emperor of Jian Shen Tian was seen also flung backward, landing nearby and gouging a huge crater.

Zhang Xuan's current strength and his comprehension of sword Dao far surpass him; he cannot contend, even though his cultivation isn't weak and his swordsmanship is superb, he still isn't a match.

"Ha ha, Emperor, just a bunch of country chickens and mongrels! Today I'll annihilate the Nine Heavens, destroy this divine realm, and trample all rules!"

Having defeated the Emperor of Jian Shen Tian, Hen Ren laughed wildly, the surrounding space continuously collapsing, framing him like a demon.

"What now?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

Just now he and his clone had unleashed their utmost combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi before him had employed her strongest technique, yet none could block the opponent's single move…

Could it be that in the Divine Realm, no one can stop the one before us?

Let him destroy the world?

"The only way… is to return your flawed Heaven Dao to the Heaven Dao itself, so the Heaven Dao can suppress him…" Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists, her eyes reddening.

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

The Library in his mind is itself a part of the Heaven Dao; once it returns, the Heaven Dao becomes completely whole, perhaps able to mend the flaw and expel the ruthless one.

It's like the human immune system.

When the immune system is intact, a virus is easily driven away; when it's compromised, it can't resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person will die because of it.

But…

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

A virus, the immune system can eliminate, but… what about a ferocious tiger?

No matter how strong the immune system is, what can it do?

The one before us is merely an ordinary Divine King; even with a title, the Heaven Dao could easily kill him, and he's stronger than an Imperial Lord… already beyond the Heaven Dao's capacity to contend with.

"This…" Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of loss appearing on her flawless jade face: "Yes… we can't suppress him, but with the Heaven Dao complete, he can awaken, and slaying him wouldn't be difficult!"

"Him?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to meet him, he's in Free Heaven…" She inhaled deeply, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth, turned, and flew forward.

"Trying to escape?" the ruthless one sneered, pressing downward.

Boom!

Luo Ruoxi fell from the sky.

"You…" Zhang Xuan's sword technique manifested again, the sword aura shining brilliantly.

Ding—ding—ding!

Again blocked by the ruthless one.

"You all hurry away, I'll hold him…"

Knowing they still intend to save the Divine Realm rather than flee, the clone and the Undying Imperial Sovereign let out a roar, blocking the way; Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to the Silent Void Pearl's core.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing the others throw themselves fearlessly to block behind, unafraid of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he also knew this wasn't the time for more words; he grabbed Luo Ruoxi, his body flickered, tearing through space, and the next moment they were already within the bounds of Free Heaven.

Free Heaven has lost its former freedom; the Divine Realm has collapsed, and chaos reigns everywhere.

"Where is the 'him' you mentioned?"

Having no time to observe ordinary people's lives, Zhang Xuan looked at the girl in his arms.

If the person she speaks of can truly save the Divine Realm, sacrificing himself is no problem!

"He is my father; the blood in your pendant is his. The Undying Imperial Lord was once his beast companion…" Luo Ruoxi steadied her breath and explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

That also explains why the thought left by the Undying Imperial Lord, upon seeing the pendant, immediately recognized itself as the master.

"Your father is also an Imperial Lord? Or does he possess power beyond an Imperial Lord?"

He couldn't help but say.

The Library's chaos, caused by the blood in the pendant, awakened her; could it be that not only she is an Imperial Lord, but her father as well, perhaps even stronger?

If that's the case, why did he fall into a coma?

Does it also require a flawed Heaven Dao for him to awaken?

"He's not an Imperial Lord, but… the Heaven Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

"Heaven Dao? Your father… is the Heaven Dao?" Zhang Xuan shivered, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't resist that massive hand, fell into a coma, and the Heaven Dao shattered into three parts—the ordered Heaven Dao and the flawed Heaven Dao—entering spatial Turbulence. I took over the natural control of the Heaven Dao to maintain the Divine Realm's balance. To restore him, we must gather the scattered pieces… That's why I was so resolute, unable to fail! I specifically entered the Renowned Master Continent to study the Spring and Autumn Classics, seeking a way to defeat Master Kong! When battling Master Kong, pleading for his help was also about this."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan was enlightened.

Having only recently become acquainted with the Renowned Master Continent, the girl before him had recounted her story—she needed to save a close relative; at the time I didn't understand, but now I finally see.

It turned out to be her father, and he is the Heaven Dao of the Divine Realm!

Can the Heaven Dao truly take human form and bear children?

"You act as a proxy to control the natural order of the Heaven Dao… you have no Heaven Dao fragments in your body?" Suddenly noticing something off in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

Being a proxy controller and the kind of integration I have within my body are two different concepts.

"I only control it; I'm not a part of the Heaven Dao…" Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan let out a sigh of relief.

In that case, all that's needed is for me to separate the flawed Heaven Dao, without requiring her to die.

Although I am unwilling to accept such a fate, I also refuse to see the girl before me get hurt.

"If I strip the flawed Heaven Dao from my body, your father can revive, and perhaps even slay the ruthless one, right?" Zhang Xuan thought.

"This… I'm not sure either…"

She looked up at the already collapsed Divine Realm, Luo Ruoxi hesitated.

The Divine Realm is her father's foundation; now that the foundation is like this, even if he awakens, can he truly defeat that powerful ruthless one?

It's hard to say!

"It seems you can't be sure either. Since that's the case, seeking help from others is worse than relying on ourselves… we have only ourselves to figure it out!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth: "You, me, and my avatar, united with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, if we also cooperate with Master Kong, we might still win!"

"Master Kong? He…" Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"Master Kong is already dead, right! He didn't truly die; if my guess is correct, he was slain by you, merely using that as a method to break free from the Heavenly Dao… unexpectedly, he should be like Wei Changfeng, an 【Innate Fetal Soul Body】!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng, it became clear: Master Kong's so-called retaining spiritual awareness should be the same as his, an Innate Fetal Soul Body.

Capable of not being deluded in the womb.

Adding the precaution prepared beforehand, resurrection is merely a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi stared, seemingly not expecting this.

"Just go and see; if my guess is right, he should have already recovered, otherwise his disciples couldn't possibly not have gone to the Tide Sea…" Zhang Xuan said.

Master Kong's disciples, Ziyuan Gu Sheng and others, each possess formidable strength; even without the Emperor's aid, they would certainly find a way into the Tide Sea, yet not a single one has been seen.

There must be something more important awaiting, wanting to act while all the Emperors are preoccupied with the Tide Sea and have no time to attend to it!

And this important matter is clearly to let Master Kong recover.

"This…" Luo Ruoxi's heart jolted, suddenly enlightened.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, a single sweep of his hand, Zhang Xuan returned to where Master Kong resided, and indeed saw an old man sitting cross-legged, floating in midair; seeing them arrive, he gave a faint smile: "You've come!"

Not Master Kong, then who else!

This myriad‑ages teacher truly did not disappoint me!

As guessed, while everyone's attention was focused on the Tide Sea, he revived again.

"You…" Luo Ruoxi's delicate frame trembled.

She knew Emperors could be revived, the Undying Emperor had also come back to life, but… she didn't expect the speed to be this fast!

"I concealed the Heavenly Dao, prepared a backup in advance; that nameless giant in the Netherworld Pool was my doing; when you slew him that day, I seized the chance to free myself from the Heavenly Dao's bonds, recondensed my flesh, and have only just now recovered!"

Master Kong gave a faint smile.

He is versed in time abilities; it seems only a day or two have passed in the Divine Realm, but actually, to restore his power, he has undergone an unknown span of time.

Several decades' worth of time have elapsed.

"Our three's strength is considerable, but wanting to surpass the Ruthless One is also not so easy…"

Seeing Master Kong truly restored, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head.

Not to boost others' prestige and dampen our own resolve, but simply because it's the fact.

Just now, so many people united, yet they couldn't block the opponent; even adding one Master Kong, what could change?

Likewise, it cannot alter the situation!

"Our individual strength, even when combined, is indeed no match for the opponent, but… what if we merge everyone's power into a single person?"

Master Kong smiled and looked over.

"Merge into one person?"

This time not only Luo Ruoxi frowned, but Zhang Xuan also full of doubt.

"That palm can rend the Divine Realm, scatter the Heavenly Dao; its strength is undeniable. The Ruthless One absorbed this power entirely, and also devoured fifty years of spiritual energy from the Divine Realm; relying solely on strength, we dozen Emperors, each taking out a portion, are indeed no match…"

Master Kong said: "But if united, concentrating the power in one person… then perhaps not!"

"How to concentrate?"

Luo Ruoxi looked over.

Easy to say, hard to do.

The Emperors already stand at the pinnacle of the Divine Realm; if absorbing others' power were this easy, she wouldn't have stagnated for so many years.

"Very simple… we gather the power on our bodies onto Zhang Xuan; once he can break through the Emperor's shackles, he can save the Divine Realm!"

Master Kong said.

"Me?" Zhang Xuan startled: "Why me?"

"The Lingxi Emperor cultivates freedom and ease, transcending nature! But with the constraints of father and Heavenly Dao, and with people he cares for, he can never truly transcend! If I'm not mistaken, when we fought before, you also once gave up, planning to let me slay you!"

Master Kong said.

Luo Ruoxi couldn't speak.

During the battle, there had indeed been such an intention, so at the start of their clash, each held back, as if sparring, not a life‑and‑death fight.

"Unable to transcend, naturally one cannot unleash the utmost strength; even given abundant true qi, one cannot strike that supreme realm! As for me…"

Master Kong nodded: "Caring for all beings, wishing to save the world, yet unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—excessive compassion is also a flaw! If I were a bit more ruthless, exterminating the Foreign Spirit Clan, there would be no present situation…"

Had we been able to exterminate the Foreign Spirit Clan entirely, the Ruthless One could not have revived, nor would we be in this predicament.

"So I am also unsuitable! Whereas Zhang Xuan, his cultivation method flows smoothly, without defects. He emphasizes living true to himself; even if he dies, as long as he lives without guilt, his mind is at peace. Such a person possesses greater inclusiveness, greater room for development; only thus can he reach higher and farther!"

Master Kong continued.

Life demands return, death demands longing!

Unconcerned with death, how could he be bound by other matters?

"No need to decline; first say time is insufficient, go cultivate others—even if there's time, I also feel perhaps no one could surpass you! Though the Lingxi Emperor's body lacks Heavenly Dao fragments, he has long controlled the Heavenly Dao, possessing his own understanding of it; I govern the Heavenly Dao's order; if we pour our power into you, your body will then hold complete Heavenly Dao power! Combined with your avatar's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, we can indeed achieve fixing the Nine Heavens, grasping the Heaven and Earth, battling the Nine Heavens, destroying all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the other already decided, further explanation useless, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom—

Sitting cross‑legged, in the blink of an eye two massive surges of power poured in from both sides.

Zhang Xuan's whole body stiffened, as if in an instant he became an embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, soaring above the Nine Heavens.

Soul, flesh, true qi—instantly baptized, growing stronger and stronger, ever more massive.

……

"You also want to block me? Very well, I'll kill you, then go and slay Zhang Xuan…"

He sent Luo Qiqi and the clones flying, and the Ruthless One gave a cold smile.

The power unleashed by the clones together with numerous Emperor Lords was indeed formidable, but compared with him, it was still somewhat weaker.

The Tidal Sea has devoured almost all the spiritual energy outside the city of the Divine Realm, and now these forces have become his fostered power; with a wave of his hand he wields the ability to destroy heaven and earth. Even these Emperor Lords and Divine Kings, though they represent the pinnacle of the Divine Realm, remain no match.

At this moment, the Ruthless One seemed to embody the entire Divine Realm; no one could stand against him.

"The Divine Realm perishes, and our existence is meaningless. I, the Cloud Serpent Emperor, shall perish together with you…"

The Cloud Serpent Emperor transformed into his true form, a massive five‑clawed golden dragon, and swooped at him from the sky.

"You? Unworthy!"

The Ruthless One pinched his palm, and the golden dragon hung in his hand, unable to escape no matter how it struggled.

"Old friend, wait for me!"

Fu Meng, the Emperor Lord, let out a roar and transformed into the true form of a white tiger, soaring to his side.

The Undying Emperor and the Undying Fire Phoenix manifested, their flames lighting up the sky.

The Mysterious Dark Emperor revealed his true form: a colossal turtle, as if supporting the heavens.

The Four Great Divine Beasts, guardians of the four poles of the Divine Realm, also shifted into their true forms, causing the collapsing Divine Realm to slow down.

Heaven and Earth seemed to freeze in an instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

With four consecutive palm strikes, the Ruthless One suppressed the four beasts, a fierce murderous intent flashing in his eyes: "Since you seek death, I will grant it…"

Amid the roar, just as he was about to deliver a killing blow to erase everyone, his raised arm tightened and halted midair.

"Want to kill them? You haven't asked me…"

Then, under the shocked gazes of the crowd, a figure slowly stepped out from the sky.

It was Zhang Xuan!

At this moment, the young man's entire body surged with power, more than ten times stronger than before, descending from the heavens as if he himself were an entire world.

"You've improved a lot…"

The Ruthless One halted, his gaze heavy.

He clearly did not understand why, in just a few minutes, the opponent's strength had changed so dramatically.

"But even if it increased, what of it? Even the Divine Realm at its peak could not resist; I doubt you can withstand me…"

With a cold snort, the Ruthless One struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword, meeting the attack.

Both sides clashed, tearing the space with rifts, and the airflow surged chaotically.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

At the Free Sky Kong Shi Base, Luo Ruoxi watched with deep worry.

She and Kong Shi transmitted their power to Zhang Xuan; their own cultivation had already dropped to only the Divine King level, not as glorious as before.

However, rank matters little; as long as the power is sufficient, one day it can be restored.

"With the current strength, surpassing… is difficult! Unless… he can comprehend power beyond that of an Emperor Lord!"

After a moment of silence, Kong Shi said.

Even a coalition of a dozen Emperor Lords could not defeat the Ruthless One; even if they transferred all their power to the opponent, surpassing him would not be easy.

The reason for this is… only by concentrating the power in a single person can one reach the pinnacle, truly transcend limits, and break through oneself!

"Power beyond an Emperor Lord?"

Luo Ruoxi's gaze was distant.

When her father was still lucid, he once told her the same words, but… she could not achieve it; could the man she loves achieve it?

"He certainly can… he has an unyielding heart! And a proud stance toward this world."

Seeing the doubt in her heart, Kong Shi smiled.

……

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several consecutive strikes, Zhang Xuan's tiger mouth split open, a massive wound appearing on his chest, fierce and terrifying.

Just as Kong Shi said, even after merging their two powers and forming a complete Heavenly Dao within his body, he still was not a match.

"Ha ha, you thought it was impressive, but it's just so-so!" The Ruthless One gave a cold smile.

"Anyway, you're not my opponent; you'll be killed sooner or later. Since that's the case, I wish to die under your strongest attack…" Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan halted, ceased his assault, and instead looked at the Ruthless One before him.

"Fine, I will grant you that, giving you my strongest attack…"

Hearing this, the Ruthless One was momentarily stunned, then let out a cold snort and raised his palm.

Whoosh!

A streak of blue light appeared in his palm and slammed down fiercely.

Sure enough, it was the strongest attack; the entire Divine Realm roared, as if it could no longer bear it, and once again a massive crater was blasted out.

With his eyes tightly closed, Zhang Xuan did not dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, his soul scattering in all directions.

"Zhang Xuan…" Upon seeing this, everyone's face turned pale.

Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad.

The Cloud Serpent Emperor and the others widened their eyes, trembling continuously.

Master Kong and Luo Ruoxi, upon seeing this scene, were both stunned.

The original intention was to let him break his shackles and surge beyond the Emperor Realm, yet why does he not resist and willingly go to his death?

In doing so, wouldn't that betray their goodwill?

"No, it's the Immortal Emperor's method of immortality…"

Puzzled, Master Kong suddenly spoke.

Everyone then saw Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and even his soul shattered, his chest pendant suddenly burst open, a droplet of blood floated up, ignited into a scorching flame, and within the flame a perfectly intact figure stepped out calmly.

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

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

After being reborn through fire, Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heavenly Dao Library within him, no longer subject to the Heavenly Dao's interference, and had broken free from the Heavenly Dao!

"How did he do it?"

Master Kong was also full of disbelief.

The Heavenly Dao and the soul had merged, indistinguishable; to escape, he had to let his soul scatter and, using the Ghostly Soul Pool, reconsolidate his spirit.

The one before them, slain only once, completely broke free—what method did he use?

"I understand… he used the ruthless method to break the soul contract…" Luo Ruoxi realized.

A soul contract binds master and servant; if the master does not release it, the servant remains forever constrained… the Heavenly Dao Library works the same way, essentially an enhanced contract.

Once the soul is bound, the immortal cannot detach.

But… Hen Ren used that special power to break the soul contract; Zhang Xuan had previously inquired in detail about the method, perhaps already forming a plan then.

Thus he deliberately risked death, prompting the opponent to unleash his strongest power against him.

With this power, reborn through fire, unexpectedly, it indeed succeeded spectacularly!

"So that's it; this is the way to break through the Emperor Lord…"

Zhang Xuan, emerging from the flames, wore a faint smile as if he understood something; suddenly he gestured, and one of his duplicates instantly transformed back into a lotus flower and flew toward him.

In an instant, it merged perfectly with his own body.

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

His foot lightly pressed the ground.

The chaotic Nine Heavens instantly steadied.

The Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, which appears at the birth of the Nine Heavens and can stabilize them, now merged flawlessly with his duplicate, indistinguishable, meaning he now wielded that power.

Moreover, with his cultivation infused with the Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, his already peak state showed a looseness, as if he could break through at any moment.

"Master‑servant bond, brotherly bond, teacher‑student bond, parental bond, love… merged together—that is all of existence, that is humanity!"

Smiling, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

The instant the Heavenly Dao Library detached from his soul, he understood.

Did humans observe the world to create it, or did the world exist first, then humans?

Is it the wind that moves, or the heart?

This question has eternally plagued countless people.

Of course, now… these matters no longer matter!

Without life, without emotion, even if the world exists, what meaning does it have?

Thus, after transcending love, comes the sentiment of all beings! The emotions that interweave the world.

All things in the world possess emotion; with emotion there is a world, and with emotion life can continue.

Love is emotion.

Hatred is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Pain is emotion.

Separation is emotion.

Reunion, too, is emotion!

"Myriad feelings, for my use…"

With a low cry, the confinement within Zhang Xuan's body shattered instantly.

The Emperor Lord's shackles have been broken!

In an instant, it seemed he touched a brand‑new world and gateway, his soul rapidly nourished.

Countless chaotic qi surged in, and his mortal body accelerated upward.

Before, only by absorbing spiritual energy could he advance, but now space turbulence and chaotic qi, even the opponent's blue light, can all become his, indistinguishable.

"You…" Hen Ren hadn't expected that his full‑force attack, instead of slaying him, actually empowered him, causing him to howl "Wah‑wah!" wildly, then roar angrily and strike again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor Lord for not rescuing yourself in the space turbulence—that's emotion; you feel that you were once my servant, harboring humility and anger—that's emotion; you wish to destroy the Divine Realm to vent anger—that's emotion; you desire greater strength, likewise emotion… Emotion governs you; how can you defeat me without being controlled by me?"

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder, and his palm lightly grasped.

The once invincible Hen Ren was now bound by countless threads of emotion, immobilized and helpless.

As long as there is emotion, it will be used and controlled by him!

"You…"

Hen Ren's eyes filled with dread: "Master Zhang, I am your servant, do not kill me… I am willing to offer my soul…"

"It's too late to speak of that now…" he said with a slight smile, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, servants no longer held any meaning for him.

Having slain so many god‑tier beings, wounded his own girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and so many friends, today he could never forgive!

"No…"

Feeling his resolve, Hen Ren's pupils contracted; before his words finished, he immediately felt a wave of intense pain across his body.

Boom!

In an instant, it exploded, turning into countless spiritual energy that surged into every corner of the Divine Realm.

The powers that the Tide Sea had previously devoured now all flow back, reviving the once‑withered wasteland with new life.

"This..."

"So that's how you kill?"

The Cloud Dragon Great Emperor, the Immortal Emperor Lord, the Exquisite Fairy and others all widened their eyes in disbelief.

Just now they had sparred with Hen Ren and knew his terror; such a mighty figure being wiped out so effortlessly—what level has Zhang Xuan truly reached?

Could there really be another realm beyond the Emperor Lord?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi relaxed their clenched fists.

"This is a part of the Heaven's Dao, so I will now return it to the Heaven's Dao..."

Seeing the "deficient Heaven's Dao" that had just been separated from his own body still hovering in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and snapped his fingers.

Buzz!

The Library that has accompanied him since his rebirth thundered into place, embedding itself in the sky of the Divine Realm.

Like a great bell tolling, the constantly collapsing Divine Realm began a visibly slow recovery, and the chaotic currents reconverged.

The crumbling Divine Realm finally halted, and the withered spiritual energy, along with Hen Ren's death, slowly revived.

"It seems the Divine Realm is about to usher in a new era of spiritual resurgence..." Zhang Xuan smiled.

The void of the Tide Sea, now restored with the completion of the Heaven's Dao, means the Divine Realm will return to its former splendor—just a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, this way..."

Just after finishing that, a voice sounded in his mind; Zhang Xuan froze for a moment, then took a step forward.

He didn't know how far he had flown, but soon saw a young man standing before him.

It was the very one who had previously taught him his sword technique.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was startled.

He had always seemed unfathomable, but now Zhang Xuan realized that he was only a hair's breadth away from himself, having already reached the Emperor Lord's ultimate pinnacle—far surpassing Luo Ruoxi of before.

"Just call me by my name; I am... Nie Tong!" The youth exuded an unstoppable sword aura as he said lightly.

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

It was the first time he had heard that name.

"Come with me; I'll introduce you to my brother!" The youth named Nie Tong smiled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely behind, unsure how far they had flown, and stopped before a mountain peak.

Soon he saw another young man.

His appearance was not much older; his eyebrows arched, giving an impression of profound inscrutability.

"This power..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

The youth before him was even stronger, having also broken the Emperor Lord's shackles, and his cultivation was far deeper and more substantial!

"I am Nie Yun!" the youth smiled lightly and looked over: "In other words... Nie Lingxi, the father of Luo Ruoxi you mentioned!"

"Luo Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shocked: "You... are the Heaven's Dao of the Divine Realm?"

Luo Ruoxi had once said her father was the Heaven's Dao; she never imagined it would be a young man like this.

"I, in a breath, transformed into the Three Pure Ones; a part of my soul became the Heaven's Dao! Moreover, I created this world, so calling me the Heaven's Dao is not unreasonable!" Nie Yun smiled lightly.

Zhang Xuan could not believe it.

The Divine Realm was actually created by the man before him?

Then how powerful must his strength be?

"That's not right. If you created the Divine Realm and you are the Heaven's Dao, why did you let Hen Ren run rampant without intervening..." Zhang Xuan asked.

If he hadn't broken through himself, the Divine Realm might have collapsed entirely; why does this man ignore it?

He even cares about his daughter's life and death?

Without answering his question, Nie Yun looked on lightly: "Do you think... beyond the Divine Realm, there exists an even stronger life?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan paused: "There should be, I suppose..."

Although he had never seen one, since he could cultivate to this level, perhaps others could too, maybe even stronger.

Just like the one before him.

"I once doubted that beyond the Divine Realm there would be stronger beings, so I strained to peer beyond, which ultimately provoked a backlash from a higher world... a palm tearing through the void!"

Nie Yun looked on: "If I had dodged then, the entire Divine Realm might have been erased, leaving no life... So I blocked the attack, but as a result, my manifested Heaven's Dao was split apart."

"In this situation, I think restoration is just a thought, but... I understand that to truly transcend the Divine Realm's shackles and investigate the origin of that palm, and what lies beyond the Divine Realm, one person alone cannot achieve it. So I want to see if any being can break the Emperor Lord's shackles and reach a level equal to mine!"

"Therefore, I scattered the Heaven's Dao's intention to the lowest world... granting it separately to a soul originally belonging to this world and to a soul that does not belong to this world. And you, in the end, did not disappoint me!"

Nie Yun smiled.

"So the soul that doesn't belong to this world... does that mean my transmigration was because of you?" Zhang Xuan felt a shock in his heart.

No wonder he could transmigrate here; it was all because of the man before him.

"Hehe!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly, saying: "Being native to this world gives one reverence for it; trying to break the world's shackles is far more difficult. I acted on a whim and never expected you could truly succeed..."

"I..." Zhang Xuan's face flushed: "If it weren't for Kong Shi, I could never have reached this level..."

Without Kong Shi's selfless dedication, attaining his current realm would have been impossible.

"I gave him the chance; he just didn't grasp it. The duel with Lingxi was actually his best opportunity to breakthrough, but he chose to retreat, thinking he kept a fallback and could get away unscathed, when in fact he lost his vigor and progress. Facing someone who surpasses us, if we lack even that spirit, how can we contend with them?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan remained silent.

He had watched their battle then; Master Kong was indeed a bit indecisive in his resolve.

Perhaps he simply didn't want to slay Luo Ruoxi.

Unfortunately, in that very thought he missed the chance to advance.

"If Master Kong wins, Ruoxi will die…" After a moment, Zhang Xuan looked over, his eyebrows furrowed.

Could it be that this man before me doesn't even care about his daughter's life or death?

"She won't die as long as I'm here…" Nie Yun smiled lightly: "Your current strength isn't far from mine; when it comes to life‑or‑death, do you think the two of you could rescue someone?"

"This…" Zhang Xuan forced a bitter smile.

Breaking through the Emperor and the Emperor are two different concepts; if he truly is willing to act, he could indeed save the person at the last moment, and guarantee that not a single injury would be sustained.

"Lingxi is the daughter of my other wife Luo Qingcheng, so her false name bears the surname Luo… To make her believe I wasn't acting emotionally, she has thought I was still in a coma up to now…"

Nie Yun gave a wry smile: "I, as a father, have been cruel enough… Fine, let you explain this to her; after all, her thoughts have already shifted to you. This old dad probably can't even recall… Haha, I'll stay out of sight for a while, hide for some time; otherwise I'm afraid she'll cause a catastrophe…"

Seeing this unreliable old father, Zhang Xuan's face tightened, and he could only agree: "Alright…"

There's no way to refuse; after all, who forced me to kidnap someone else's daughter…

"Heavenly Dao Library is a manifestation of my will, both foundation and shackles; if you can break the shackles with your own ability, it shows your power and potential are boundless, and my daughter can be with you— as a father, I'm also relieved."

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