Chapter 537: Waiting by the Stump for the Rabbit

A Soul Contract binds 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 immortal Emperor Lord Xiao Huangji, who was once only a Divine King; now he is an Emperor Lord, yet he still cannot break such an agreement.

To prevent that bastard from reneging and causing backlash, the famed Master Dalu once decreed that even if the opponent can detach from the Heavenly Dao Book, the soul‑bound pact cannot be escaped!

"A Soul Contract truly cannot be split from the Sea of Consciousness, but I have merged a special gas that even the Heavenly Dao can dissolve; breaking such a contract is not hard… as long as one has enough power to bombard the contract's location, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

A Soul Contract is founded on the Heavenly Dao; a special power that can even dissolve the Divine Realm's Heavenly Dao can dissolve a Soul Contract—if handled properly, what difficulty remains?

"I see…" Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

"After telling you all this, I suppose I should 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 he becomes…"

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

"Prepare to act!" With all doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan inhaled deeply, raised his long sword abruptly, and declared, "Since it comes to this, let's see the true skill beneath my hand!"

Boom—!

The mightiest sword intent surged forth once more.

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

If life and death matter not, what can possibly impede us?

This sword technique, though not yet at Emperor Lord comprehension, contains all the lingering obsessions in his heart, pushing the Heavenly Sentiment Technique within his dantian to its limit.

Hoo!

A single slash cleaved Hen Ren's attack in two.

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

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

"Your moves 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 blotted out; 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 simultaneously flung backward, blood spraying wildly in the air.

Even with their combined strength, they could not hold it back!

What realm has this guy actually reached?

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

From afar, the aura exuded sheer grandeur.

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

A single punch rose, power surging up to the Nine Heavens.

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

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead.

Having attained Emperor Lord status, the clone still hasn't shed its pretentious nature…

Such flamboyant showoff, yet he should just concentrate his power for greater might!

"Let's strike together; otherwise, if they die, we'll all die…"

Xiao Huangji let out a thunderous roar, crimson flames blazing, the sky itself seemed ignited.

The remaining six Emperor Lords each deployed their own tactics.

Seven Emperor Lords united, destroying heaven and earth; a single realm before them could not withstand. Yet the opponent, Hen Ren who had absorbed the special power, advanced his attack; the black hole suddenly expanded, and in the blink of an eye it devoured all the power, then launched a counterattack.

Bang bang bang bang!

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

All ten Emperor Lords combined, yet none could block a single strike from the opponent!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You may die…"

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

"You vermin dare this!"

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

"Emperor Lord? He also possesses Emperor Lord strength?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

That elder had originally followed the youth, presumed merely a retainer who at most held the title Divine King; when he unleashed his power, it turned out he too was an Emperor Lord strongman!

If he is an Emperor Lord, then what is the youth?

"He himself is Jian Shen Tian's Emperor Lord…" Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth, standing shakily.

"Then… the youth who taught me the sword art?" Zhang Xuan could no longer hold back.

"He is…" Luo Ruoxi began to answer when space twisted; immediately, Jian Shen Tian's Emperor Lord was also flung outward, landing nearby and gouging a massive crater.

Zhang Xuan's current strength and his comprehension of the sword path far surpass his; even though his cultivation is not weak and his swordsmanship is superb, he still cannot match him.

"Ha ha, Emperor Lord, you're 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 Jian Shen Tian's Emperor Lord, Hen Ren laughed wildly, the surrounding space continuously collapsing, framing him like a demon and a monster.

"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 strike…

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

Let him destroy the world?

"The only way… is to return your flawed Heavenly Way to the Heavenly Way itself, so that the Heavenly Way can suppress him…" Luo Ruoxi clenched her elegant fist, her eyes reddening.

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

The Library in his mind is itself a part of the Heavenly Dao; once it returns, the Heavenly Dao becomes completely whole, perhaps able to repair 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 broken, it cannot resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person will die because of it.

But…

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

A virus, the immune system can slay, 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 Heavenly Dao could easily kill him, and he's stronger than an Emperor… now beyond what the Heavenly Dao can contend with.

"This…" Luo Ruoxi paused, her pure jade face showing a hint of loss: "Yes… we can't suppress him, but if the Heavenly Way is whole, he can awaken, and slaying him wouldn't be difficult!"

"Him?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

"Trying to escape?" Hen Ren snorted coldly, 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 Hen Ren.

"You all hurry away, I'll hold him back…"

Knowing they still intend to save the Divine Realm rather than flee, the clone and the Undying Emperor let out a roar to block ahead, and Luo QiQi also transformed, returning to the core of the Silent Void Pearl.

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 it wasn't time for words; he grabbed Luo Ruoxi, his body jolted, tearing through space, and the next moment he was already within Zizai Tian's bounds.

Zizai Tian 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, then his own sacrifice is nothing!

"He is my father; the blood in your pendant is his. The Undying Emperor 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 explains why the thought left by the Undying Emperor, upon seeing the pendant, immediately recognized it as its own.

"Your father is also an Emperor? Or possesses power surpassing an Emperor?"

He couldn't help but say.

The Library's chaos, caused by the blood in the pendant, restored his clarity; could it be that not only she is an Emperor, but her father too, perhaps even stronger?

If so, why did he fall into a coma?

Does it also require a flaw in the Heavenly Dao to awaken him?

"He's not an Emperor, but… the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her elegant fist.

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

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't resist that massive hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Way shattered into three parts—the ordered Heavenly Way and the flawed Heavenly Way—entering spatial Turbulence. I took on the role of managing the natural order of the Heavenly Way to maintain the Divine Realm's balance. To restore him, we must gather the scattered fragments… That's why I'm so resolute; I cannot fail! I specifically entered the Mingshi Continent to study the Spring and Autumn Classics, seeking a way to defeat Master Kong! When battling Master Kong, the request I made to him was also this."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan was enlightened.

Having only recently become acquainted with the Mingshi Continent, the girl before him had told him her story—to save a close relative. He hadn't understood then; now it finally clicked.

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

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

"You manage the natural order of the Heavenly Dao… you have no Heavenly Dao fragments within you?" Suddenly noticing something off in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

To manage on behalf is a different concept from my kind of integration within the body.

"I only manage it; I'm not a part of the Heavenly Way…" Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

In that case, all that's needed is for me to separate the flawed part of the Heavenly Dao; she doesn't need to die.

Even though he is unwilling to accept such a fate, he also refuses to see the girl before him harmed.

"If I separate the flawed portion of the Heavenly Dao within me, your father can revive, and perhaps even slay Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan seemed to think.

"This… I'm not sure either…"

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

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 Hen Ren?

It's hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain either; in that case, seeking others is less useful than seeking ourselves… we have only to find a way on our own!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth: "You, I, and the clone, united with the Nine Heavens and Nine Emperors—if we coordinate with Master Kong, we might actually win!"

"Master Kong? He…" Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"Master Kong is already dead, right! He hasn't truly died; if my guess is correct, you slew him as a way to break free from the Heavenly Way… unsurprisingly, he should be, like Wei Changfeng, a Primordial Fetal Soul Body!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng, he understood: the so‑called preservation of spiritual intellect by Master Kong must be the same as his—a Primordial Fetal Soul Body.

It allows one not to be lost within the womb.

Adding the pre‑set backup, resurrection is only a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned; she hadn't expected it to be like this.

"A look into the past would have shown it; your guess is right—he should have already recovered, otherwise his students wouldn't have even skipped the Tide Sea…" Zhang Xuan said.

Master Kong's students—Zi Yuan Gu Sheng and others—are all powerful; even without an Imperial Lord's aid they could certainly enter the Tide Sea, yet none have been seen.

There must be something more important awaiting, to be done while all the Imperial Lords are occupied in the Tide Sea!

And that important matter is clearly to restore Master Kong.

"This…" Luo Ruoxi felt a shock in her heart and suddenly understood.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, with a single hand sweep, Zhang Xuan returned to Master Kong's dwelling and indeed saw an elderly man seated in lotus, hovering in the air; upon their arrival he gave a faint smile: "You've come!"

"If not Master Kong, then who are you!"

"This teacher of ten thousand generations truly did not disappoint!"

As predicted, he revived while everyone's attention was fixed on the Tide Sea.

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

She knew an Imperial Lord could be resurrected, and the Undying Imperial Lord had returned, but… she hadn't expected it to be so swift!

"I concealed the Heavenly Dao and prepared a backup in advance; the nameless giant in the Ghostly Soul Pool is what I left behind. The day you slew him, I used the chance to break free from the Heavenly Dao's shackles, re‑condense my flesh, and now I've just recovered!"

Master Kong gave a faint smile.

He is adept at temporal abilities; it appears only one or two days have passed in the Divine Realm, but in reality, to restore his power, an unknown length of time has elapsed.

Tens of years have passed.

"The three of us are strong, but defeating the Ruthless One is not that easy…"

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

It's not about inflating others' prestige or crushing one's own will; it's the truth.

Even with so many united just now, they couldn't stop the opponent; adding another Master Kong, what difference would it make?

It still wouldn't change the situation!

"Our individual strength, even combined, is indeed no match for them, but… what if we fuse everyone's power into a single body?"

Master Kong smiled and looked over.

"Fuse into one person?"

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

"That palm can tear the Divine Realm, shatter the Heavenly Dao; its strength is indisputable. The Ruthless One absorbed all that power and devoured fifty years of the Divine Realm's spirit energy. Relying solely on strength, our ten‑plus Imperial Lords, each alone, are indeed no match…"

Master Kong said, "But uniting them, concentrating the power in one person… that may be different!"

"How to concentrate?"

Luo Ruoxi looked over.

Easy to say, hard to do.

The Imperial Lords already stand at the pinnacle of the Divine Realm; if absorbing others' power were that easy, she wouldn't have been stagnant for so many years.

"Very simple… we concentrate everyone's power onto Zhang Xuan; once he breaks the Imperial Lords' shackles, he can save the Divine Realm!"

Master Kong said.

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

"The Spirit-Heart Emperor cultivates freedom and transcendence of nature! Yet with a father's and the Heavenly Way's constraints, and with loved ones, true transcendence is impossible! If I'm not mistaken, when you first fought me, you also gave up, intending to be slain by me!"

Master Kong said.

Luo Ruoxi was speechless.

During the battle, that intention did exist, so at the start of their duel each kept a backup, like Sparring, not a life‑or‑death fight.

"Unable to transcend, one cannot unleash the utmost power; even with endless true Qi, the supreme realm remains out of reach! As for me…"

Master Kong nodded, "Having compassion for all beings and wishing to save the world, yet refusing others to sacrifice for me—excessive kindness is also a flaw! If one were harsher and exterminated the Yiling tribe, the current situation wouldn't exist…"

Had the Yiling tribe been completely eradicated back then, the Ruthless One could never have revived, and this predicament wouldn't have arisen.

"So I'm also unfit! As for Zhang Xuan, his cultivation method flows smoothly, without flaw. He insists on living authentically; even if he dies, as long as he lives without guilt, his heart remains unburdened. Such a person has greater tolerance and greater room for growth; only this way can one walk higher and farther!"

Master Kong continued.

"Life returns to its source, death forever longs!"

"If even death is indifferent, how could anything else bind you?"

"This…" Zhang Xuan frowned, about to speak, when Master Kong's eyes flashed: "No need to decline; time is short to train others, and even if we had time, I doubt anyone could do it better than you! Though the Spirit-Heart Emperor lacks Heavenly Way fragments in his body, he has long mastered the Heavenly Way and holds his own understanding; I orderly control the Heavenly Way. If we infuse you with that power, your body will possess the complete Heavenly Way! Combined with the clone's Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, we can set the Nine Heavens, command Heaven and Earth, battle the Nine Skies, and annihilate all things!"

"Alright!"

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

Boom!

Sitting cross‑legged, ready, in the blink of an eye, two massive currents of power surged in from both sides.

Zhang Xuan's body stiffened; in an instant he seemed to become the Heavenly Dao itself, soaring above the Nine Heavens.

Soul, flesh, and true Qi were instantly baptized, growing stronger and more mighty.

……

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

He flung Luo Qiqi, his clone, and the others into the air, and the Ruthless One gave a cold smile.

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

The Tide Sea has devoured almost all the spiritual energy outside the Divine Realm's cities, and now those forces have become his fostered power; with every move he wields the ability to destroy heaven and earth. Though these emperors and Divine Kings represent the pinnacle of the Divine Realm, they remain helpless.

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

"With the Divine Realm perished, our lives have no meaning. I, the Cloud Serpent Emperor, will fall 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 break free no matter how it struggled.

"Old friend, wait for me!"

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

The Undying Emperor and the Undying Fire Phoenix revealed their true forms, their flames lighting up the sky.

The Mysterious Dark Emperor's true form was a gigantic turtle, as if supporting the heavens.

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

Heaven and earth seemed to freeze in an instant.

Boom boom boom boom!

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 prepared to deliver the killing blow to everyone, his raised arm tightened and halted midair.

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

Then, amid 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 his whole being were a 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 what does the increase matter? Even the Divine Realm at its peak could not resist; I don't believe you can withstand me..."

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

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met him.

Both sides clashed, tearing the space with rifts, while currents of air surged chaotically.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

At Master Kong's residence in the Free Sky, Luo Ruoxi watched with deep worry.

She and Master Kong transmitted their power to Zhang Xuan; their own cultivation had dropped to only the Divine King level, no longer as splendid as before.

However, rank is irrelevant; 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 the emperor!"

After a moment of silence, Master Kong said.

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

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

"Power beyond the emperor?"

Luo Ruoxi's gaze was distant.

When her father was still lucid, he had told her the same words, but... she could not achieve it. Could the man she loves achieve it?

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

Seeing the doubt in her heart, Master Kong smiled.

…

Boom boom boom!

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

As Master Kong had 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 like this!" the Ruthless One sneered coldly.

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

"Fine, I'll grant you that, give you my strongest attack..."

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

Whoosh!

A blade 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 a massive crater was gouged again.

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

Boom!

His head exploded, his soul scattering in all directions.

"Zhang Xuan..." Upon seeing this, everyone's faces 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 purpose was to let him break the shackles and surge beyond the Imperial Realm, so why does he not resist and willingly march to death?

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

"No, it's the Undying Imperial Lord's method of immortality…"

Puzzled, Master Kong suddenly spoke.

The onlookers instantly saw Zhang Xuan, whose head had blown apart and even his soul was fragmented, the pendant at his chest suddenly detonated, a droplet of blood hovered upward, ignited into a blazing flame, and within that flame a perfectly intact figure emerged, stepping out slowly.

"He… used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the flawed Heaven Dao from the soul?"

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

After being reborn through fire, Zhang Xuan no longer had the Heaven Dao Library within him, no longer suffered Heaven Dao's interference, and had detached from Heaven Dao!

"How did he do it?"

Master Kong was also full of disbelief.

Heaven Dao and the soul had merged, indistinguishable; to break free, he had to let his soul scatter and, with the aid of the Ghostly Soul Pool, reconstitute his soul.

The one before them, after being cut just once, had completely broken free—what method did he use?

"I understand… he used the ruthless one's 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 bound… the Heaven Dao Library functions likewise, essentially an upgraded contract.

Once the soul is bound, the Undying cannot detach.

But… the ruthless one leveraged that special power to break the soul contract; Zhang Xuan had previously asked about the exact method in detail, so perhaps he had already been plotting then.

Only then did he deliberately risk death, allowing him to unleash his strongest power against him.

By harnessing this power, reborn through fire, he unexpectedly achieved great success!

"So that's it, this is the way to break through the Imperial Lord…"

Emerging from the flames, Zhang Xuan wore a faint smile, as if he had understood something; suddenly he gestured, and one of his side clones instantly reshaped into a lotus and flew toward him.

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

In the blink of an eye, everyone sensed that the Zhang Xuan before them seemed to 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 with his clone perfectly merged with himself, indistinguishable, means he has mastered this power.

Moreover, having fused his cultivation with the Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, his already peak realm showed a looseness, as if a breakthrough could occur at any moment.

"Master‑servant affection, brotherly affection, teacher‑student affection, parental affection, love… merged together, that is all of the world's myriad things, that is humanity!"

With a smile, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

At the moment the Heaven Dao Library detached from his soul, he understood.

Is it that humans observe the world, thereby creating the world, or does the world exist first, then humans?

Is it the wind that moves, or the heart that moves!

This question has eternally plagued countless people.

Of course, now… none of that matters!

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

Therefore, after breaking through love, there is the affection of all beings! The emotions that interweave the world.

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

Love is emotion.

Hate is emotion.

Joy is emotion.

Pain is emotion.

Parting is emotion.

Reunion is also emotion!

"Myriad affections, for my use…"

With a low cry, the realm sealed within Zhang Xuan instantly broke open.

The Imperial Lord's shackles have been broken!

In an instant, it seemed as if he touched a brand‑new world and a gate, and his soul received rapid nourishment.

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

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

"You…" The ruthless one hadn't expected that his full‑force attack, rather than slaying him, actually empowered him, letting out a chaotic "Wa‑wa!" shout, a roar, and then attacking again.

"You resent the lofty Imperial Lord for not rescuing yourself amid space turbulence—that's emotion; you feel that you were my servant, harboring humility and anger—that's emotion; you desire to destroy the Divine Realm, venting anger—that's emotion; you seek greater strength, likewise emotion… Emotions govern you, how can you overcome me without being controlled?"

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

The once invincible ruthless one was now bound by countless threads of emotion, shackled together, helpless, unable to move.

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

"You…"

The ruthless one's eyes were filled with terror: "Master Zhang, I am your servant, do not kill me… I am willing to offer my soul…"

"It's too late to say that now…" He gave a faint smile, and Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, servants are now meaningless to him.

Having slain so many god‑level beings, wounded his own girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and countless friends, today, how could he possibly forgive!

"No…"

Sensing his decisiveness, Henren's pupils contracted; before his words ended, he felt a sudden burst of intense pain.

Bang!

In an instant, the explosion erupted, turning into countless spiritual energy that surged throughout the Divine Realm.

Previously, all the power swallowed by the Tidal Sea now returned, reviving the once‑barren wilderness.

"This..."

"You killed him just like that?"

Emperor Yunchí, the Immortal Emperor, the exquisite fairy, and others all widened their eyes in disbelief.

Just moments ago they had crossed blows with Henren, knowing how fearsome he was; yet such a powerful figure was wiped out with a casual gesture—how far has this Zhang Xuan actually reached?

Could there truly be a realm above the Emperor?

"He succeeded..."

Master Kong and Luoruoxi loosened their clenched fists.

"This is part of the Heavenly Dao, so I will now return it to the Heavenly Dao..."

Seeing the "flawed Heavenly Dao" that had been separated from his body still hovering in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and flicked his finger.

Hum!

The Library that had accompanied him since his rebirth suddenly embedded itself in the sky of the Divine Realm.

With a deep bell-like toll, the continually collapsing Divine Realm slowly recovered visibly, and the chaotic currents also reconverged.

The collapsing Divine Realm finally halted, and the withered spiritual energy gradually revived alongside Henren's death.

"It seems the Divine Realm is about to welcome an era of renewed spiritual energy," Zhang Xuan chuckled.

The rift in the Tidal Sea, along with the completion of the Heavenly Dao, has already healed; the Divine Realm will return to its former glory—it's only a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

Having just finished these, a voice sounded in his mind; Zhang Xuan startled, then stepped forward.

That step carried him an unknown distance, and he immediately saw a youth standing before him.

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan blinked in surprise.

He had always sensed this person was unfathomable; now he realized the youth was only a hair's breadth behind him, having already reached the peak of Emperor level, far surpassing Luoruoxi's former strength.

"Just call me by my name—I am Nie Tong!" the youth declared, a fearless sword intent emanating from him, speaking lightly.

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

It was the first time he had heard that name.

"Come with me, I'll take you to see my brother!" the youth called Nie Tong chuckled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely behind, not knowing how far they had flown, until they stopped before a mountain peak.

Immediately he saw another youth.

His appearance was not much older, with raised brows that gave an inscrutable, profound air.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

The youth before him proved even stronger, having likewise broken the Emperor's shackles, with a cultivation far deeper and weightier!

"I am Nie Yun!" the youth smiled faintly, looking over: "That is… Nie Lingxi, the father of Luoruoxi you mentioned!"

"Luoruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan startled: "You… are the Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm?"

Luoruoxi had said her father was the Heavenly Dao; he never imagined it would be such a young person.

"I transformed one breath into the Three Pure Ones; a fragment of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Moreover, this world is my creation—calling me the Heavenly Dao is perfectly justified!" Nie Yun smiled faintly.

Zhang Xuan could not believe it.

The Divine Realm was actually created by this person before him?

Just how powerful must his strength be?

"Wrong—if the Divine Realm is your creation and you are the Heavenly Way, why let Henren rampage unchecked without intervening?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

Had I not broken through, the Divine Realm would likely have collapsed utterly; why does this person before me remain indifferent?

Does he not even care about his daughter's life or death?

Without answering his question, Nie Yun glanced over lightly: "Do you think… there exists an even greater being above the Divine Realm?"

"This…" Zhang Xuan paused: "There should be…"

Though I have never seen such a one, since he could cultivate to this level, perhaps others can as well—and perhaps even stronger.

Just like the youth before me.

"I once suspected a mightier being above the Divine Realm, so I strained my senses to the utmost, ultimately drawing a backlash from a higher world… a palm shattered the void and descended!"

Nie Yun looked over: "Had I dodged then, the entire Divine Realm would likely have been erased, leaving not a single life… so I blocked the strike, but consequently, my incarnate Heavenly Dao was split apart."

"I wish to restore this situation—it is merely a thought—but I understand that to truly transcend the Divine Realm's shackles, to explore where that palm came from and what lies beyond… doing it alone is nearly impossible. Thus I want to see if any life can break the Emperor's shackles and reach my level!"

"So I scattered the fragments of the Heavenly Dao's will to the lowest world, granting them respectively to souls native to this world and to souls foreign to it. And you, you have not disappointed me!"

Nie Yun laughed.

"A soul not of this world—so my transmigration was also because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart jolted.

No wonder I could transmigrate here—I never imagined it was all due to this person before me.

"Heh!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly: "Being native to this world brings a reverence for it; breaking its shackles is far harder. I merely had a thought, never expecting you to truly succeed…"

"I…" Zhang Xuan blushed: "Without Master Kong, I could never have reached this point…"

Without Master Kong's selfless sacrifice, attaining my present cultivation would be utterly impossible.

"I gave him the chance; he just didn't seize it. The duel with Lingxi was actually his best opportunity to breakthrough, but unfortunately he chose to retreat, thinking he kept a fallback and could withdraw unscathed. In reality he lost his bold vigor. When facing someone who surpasses us, if he lacks even that spirit, how can he contend with them?"

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan remained silent.

He had watched their battle, and Master Kong was indeed somewhat indecisive in his resolve.

Perhaps he was unwilling to slay Luo Ruoxi.

Unfortunately, in that fleeting thought, the chance to advance was missed.

"If Master Kong wins, Ruoxi will die…" A moment later, Zhang Xuan looked over, his eyebrows furrowing.

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

"As long as I'm here, she won't die…" Nie Yun smiled faintly: "Your current strength is not far from mine. Do you think, at the brink of life and death, with both of your powers, 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 even a single injury would be sustained.

"Lingxi is the child of my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, so she disguised her name with the surname Luo… to make her believe I wasn't acting emotionally; she has been thinking all this time that I am still in a coma…"

Nie Yun let out a bitter laugh: "I, as a father, have been cruel enough… Fine, you should explain this to her yourself. After all, her thoughts have already shifted to you. This old dad probably can't even recall… Haha, I won't appear for now; I'll stay hidden for a while, otherwise I'm afraid she'll cause a complete uproar…"

Seeing this utterly unreliable old dad, Mian Pi flinched, and Zhang Xuan could only agree: "Alright…"

I have no choice but to agree; after all, I abducted someone else's daughter…

"The Heaven's Way Library is a manifestation of my will; it is both foundation and shackles. If you can, by your own ability, break through those shackles, it proves your power and potential, and your future will be boundless. If my daughter can be with you, as a father I would be gratified."

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