Chapter 1031: Going with the Current

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 Divine King; he is an Emperor, yet he also cannot break such an agreement.

To prevent that guy from reneging and causing backlash, Master Dalu once decreed that even if the opponent can detach from the Heavenly Dao Book, he still cannot escape the soul contract!

"A soul contract truly cannot be split from the Sea of Consciousness, but I have merged a special ether that even the Heavenly Dao can dissolve; unraveling such a contract is not difficult… as long as one has enough power to bombard the spot where the contract resides, it can be done!"

Hen Ren said.

A soul contract is built upon the foundation of the Heavenly Dao; a special power that even the Divine Realm's Heavenly Dao can dissolve—so dissolving a soul contract, if handled properly, is no trouble at all.

"I see…" Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

"Having told you all this, I suppose it's also thanks 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 swelled even larger, evidently the act of speaking had once again devoured an unknown amount of power, serving as nourishment.

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

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

"Prepare to act!" With all doubts cleared, Zhang Xuan inhaled deeply, his long sword suddenly rose: "Since it is so, let's see the true skill beneath my hand!"

Boom—!

The mightiest sword intent surged forth once more.

Life returns to home, death lingers in longing!

Life and death matter not; what then can impede us?

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

Whoosh!

One sword cleaved Hen Ren's attack in two.

At the same moment, Luo Ruoxi also struck; her jade hand twirled, the sword's gleam like snow.

Her sword style resembled that of the youth under Jian Shen Tian, bearing an unstoppable momentum and the natural elegance of the 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 eclipsed, his palm enveloped heaven and earth, space shattered, and the sun, moon, and stars seemed about to be struck down forcibly.

Puff! Puff!

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

With their combined strength, they still could not resist!

What realm has this guy actually reached?

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

From afar, it 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, 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 pretentious nature…

Such a flamboyant show‑off is still better off concentrating its power for greater might!

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

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

The remaining six great Emperors each employed their own tactics.

The seven Emperors united, devastating heaven and earth; any realm before them could not withstand, yet the opponent—Hen Ren, who had absorbed a special power—had his attack approach, the black hole suddenly expanded, and in the blink of an eye devoured the power completely, then launched a counterattack.

Bang bang bang bang!

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

The ten Emperors, united, still failed to block a single move from the opponent!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You may die…"

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

"You rat‑type dare this!"

Accompanied by a loud shout, the elder from earlier who belonged to Jian Shen Tian suddenly appeared, blocking the way, his long sword turning into a galaxy.

"Emperor? Does he also possess Emperor‑level strength?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

That elder had originally followed the youth, thought to be merely an attendant, perhaps only a titled Divine King; when he unleashed his power, it turned out he too was an Emperor‑strength strongman!

If he is an Emperor, then what is that youth?

"He himself is Jian Shen Tian's Emperor…" Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth, saying while struggling to stand.

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

"He is…" Luo Ruoxi began to answer when space twisted; then they saw Jian Shen Tian's Emperor also flung outward, landing nearby and creating a huge crater.

Zhang Xuan's current power and his comprehension of the sword path far surpass his; they cannot contend. Even though his cultivation is not weak and his swordsmanship is superb, he still isn't a match.

"Ha ha, Emperor, just a bunch of lowly chickens and mutts! Today I'll annihilate the Nine Heavens, destroy this Divine Realm, and trample all rules!"

Defeating Jian Shen Tian's Emperor, Hen Ren laughed maniacally, the surrounding space continuously collapsing, framing him like a demon.

"What now?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

Just now he and his clone both unleashed their utmost combat power; even Luo Ruoxi before them employed her strongest technique, yet none could block a single move from the opponent...

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

Let him destroy the world?

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

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

The library in his mind is itself part of the Heavenly Dao; once returned, the Heavenly Dao would be completely whole, perhaps able to repair the rift and expel Hen Ren.

Just like the human immune system.

When the immune system is intact, viruses come and are easily driven off; when it fails, one cannot resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person will die as a result.

But……

"He is too strong; even if the Heavenly Dao recovers fully, it cannot suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Viruses, the immune system can kill them, but…… what about a fierce tiger?

Even the strongest immune system, what can it do?

This person before us is merely an ordinary God King; even with a title, the Heavenly Dao could easily kill him, yet he is stronger than an Emperor…… he is now beyond what the Heavenly Dao can contend with.

"This……" Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of loss appearing on her pure jade-like face: "Yeah…… there's no way to suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is whole, he can awaken and slay this person—it wouldn't be difficult!"

"Him?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to see him, in the Free and Easy Heaven……" Taking a deep breath, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth, turned, and flew forward.

"Trying to escape?" Hen Ren snorted coldly and pressed down.

Boom!

Luo Ruoxi fell from the air.

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

Ding ding ding!

Once again blocked by Hen Ren.

"You guys hurry and leave; I'll block him……"

Knowing they wanted to find a way to save the Divine Realm rather than flee, the clone and the Undying Emperor Sovereign, with a loud shout, blocked the front, while Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to the true form of the Still Void Pearl.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly throw themselves behind to block, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he also knew now was not the time for words; he grabbed Luo Ruoxi, his body flickered, he tore through space, and in the next moment appeared within the range of the Free and Easy Heaven.

The Free and Easy Heaven now lacks its former ease; the Divine Realm has collapsed, everywhere in chaos.

"Where is the person you spoke of?"

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

If the person she spoke of can truly save the Divine Realm, what harm is there in my sacrificing myself!

"He is my father; the blood in your pendant is his. The Undying Emperor was once his beast pet……" Luo Ruoxi adjusted her breath and explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

No wonder I always felt the blood in the pendant was similar to Luo Ruoxi's yet different; it turns out it's her father's.

This also explains why the thought left by the Undying Emperor, upon seeing the pendant, immediately recognized me as its master.

"Is your father also an Emperor? Or does he possess strength surpassing that of an Emperor?"

He couldn't help but say.

The library is in chaos; it's the blood in the pendant that has restored my clarity. Could it be that not only is she an Emperor, but her father is as well, and even stronger?

If that's the case, why would he be comatose?

And does it also require a flaw in the Heavenly Dao for him to awaken?

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

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

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

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father could not withstand that great hand, fell into a coma, and the Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts—the Ordered Heavenly Dao and the Flawed Heavenly Dao entered the space-time turbulence, while I acted as the steward of the Heavenly Dao's natural order, maintaining the Divine Realm's balance. To restore him, we must gather the scattered parts…… that is why I am so resolute, cannot fail! I therefore entered the Master Teacher Continent specifically, studying the Spring and Autumn Grand Canon, seeking a way to defeat Confucius! When battling Confucius, the favor I asked of him was also this."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

Not long after meeting the Master Teacher Continent, the girl before me had already told me her story of wanting to save a close relative; I didn't understand then, but now I suddenly comprehend.

It turns out to be her father, and moreover the Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm!

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

"Acting as the steward of the Heavenly Dao's natural order…… you don't have any fragments of the Heavenly Dao inside you?" Suddenly realizing something off in her speech, Zhang Xuan looked over.

Acting as a steward and this kind of fusion within oneself are two different concepts.

"I merely oversee it; I am not part of the Heavenly Dao……" Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan relaxed his breath.

In that case, I only need to separate the Flawed Heavenly Dao from myself; there's no need for her to die as well.

Although unwilling to accept this fate, I also do not wish for the girl before me to come to harm.

"If I separate the Flawed Heavenly Dao from within me, your father can come back to life, and even slay Hen Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan looked.

"This…… I'm not sure either……"

She lifted her gaze to the already-collapsed Divine Realm, Luo Ruoxi hesitated.

The Divine Realm is her father's foundation; now that foundation is like this—even if he awakens, can he truly defeat that mighty Hen Ren?

Really hard to say!

"Looks like you can't be sure either. In that case, relying on 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, joining forces with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, if we also coordinate with Master Kong, we might still be able to win!"

"Master Kong? He…" Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"Master Kong is dead, right? He hasn't truly died; if my guess is correct, he was slain by you, merely a method to escape the Heavenly Dao… No surprise, he should be like Wei Changfeng, possessing an【Innate Fetal Soul Body】!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng, it became clear; what Master Kong called maintaining spiritual wisdom should be the same as him—an Innate Fetal Soul Body.

One can remain unconfused in the womb.

Adding the backup plan prepared in advance, resurrection is merely a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi froze; it seemed she hadn't expected this to be the case.

"Just go and see, and you'll know; my guess is correct—he should have already recovered. Otherwise, his disciples couldn't possibly have avoided going to the Tide Sea…" Zhang Xuan said.

Master Kong's disciples—Ziyuan the Ancient Sage and others—are all formidable; even without the Emperor's aid, they would certainly have a way to enter the Tide Sea, yet not a single one has been seen.

There must be something more important awaiting them, something they intend to do 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, and she suddenly understood.

"Let's go!"

No further explanation—with a single hand gesture, Zhang Xuan returned to where Master Kong resided, and indeed saw an old man sitting cross-legged, hovering in midair. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly: "You've come!"

Not Master Kong—then who is it!?

This Teacher of Myriad Ages has indeed not disappointed me!

Just as guessed, taking advantage of everyone focusing their attention on the Tide Sea, he revived again.

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

She knew the Emperor could be revived, and the Undying Emperor had also come back to life, but… she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly!

"I concealed the Heavenly Dao, prepared a backup plan in advance—the nameless giant in the Phantom Soul Pool is what I left behind. The day you slew me, I seized the chance to break free of the Heavenly Dao's shackles, recondense my physical body, and have only just now fully recovered!"

Master Kong smiled faintly.

He is versed in time abilities; though it seems only a day or two have passed in the Divine Realm, in truth, to regain his strength he has undergone an unknown span of time.

Decades of time have passed.

"Our three combined strengths are strong, but overcoming the Ruthless Person isn't that easy…"

Seeing that Master Kong had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head.

It's not about boosting others' prestige or dampening our own morale—it's simply the fact.

Just now, even with so many of us united, we couldn't stop the opponent; even adding Master Kong, what difference would it make?

It would likewise not change the situation!

"Even individually, and even when united, our strength is certainly no match for the opponent… but what if we pooled everyone's power into a single person?"

Master Kong looked over, smiling.

"Merge into a single person?"

This time, not only did Luo Ruoxi frown, but Zhang Xuan was also full of doubt.

"That palm can tear apart the Divine Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its strength is undeniable. The Ruthless Person has absorbed all that power and even devoured fifty years of spiritual energy from the Divine Realm. Judging by strength alone, even if each of us over a dozen Emperors were to step forward individually, we'd certainly not be a match…"

Master Kong said: "But if we unite and concentrate our power into one person… perhaps it wouldn't be so hopeless!"

"How to concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi looked over.

Easy to say, hard to do.

The Emperor already stands at the pinnacle of the Divine Realm; if absorbing others' power were that easy, she wouldn't have stagnated for all these years.

"Quite simple… we will gather our power 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 Sovereign cultivates freedom and ease, transcending nature! But with the constraints of father and Heavenly Dao, and with people one cares about, one can never truly transcend! If I'm not mistaken, when we fought before, you also once considered giving up, intending to let me slay you!"

Master Kong said.

Luo Ruoxi couldn't utter a word.

During the fight, indeed there had been such an intention; thus their exchanges, at the start, each held back a backup plan, resembling sparring rather than a life‑and‑death battle.

"Unable to transcend, one naturally cannot exert one's strongest strength; even given more true qi, one still cannot strike that supreme realm! As for me…"

Master Kong nodded and said: "Caring for all beings, wishing to save the world, yet unwilling to let others sacrifice themselves for me—excessive compassion is also a flaw! If I were a bit more ruthless and exterminated the Foreign Spirit Clan, we wouldn't be in this situation…"

Had we been able to exterminate every member of the Foreign Spirit Clan back then, the Ruthless Person could not have revived, and we would not be in this predicament.

"So I'm not suited either! As for Zhang Xuan, his cultivation method flows naturally, without flaw. He focuses on living true to himself; even if he dies, as long as he lives without guilt, his heart is at peace. Such a person possesses greater inclusiveness and greater room for growth—only then can one reach higher and farther!"

Master Kong continued.

"In life, return to the origin; in death, cherish longing!"

"If even death is of no concern, how could anything else bind one?"

"This…" Zhang Xuan frowned, about to speak, when he saw Master Kong's gaze sharp as he said: "No need to decline—first, say there's not enough time to train others; even if there were, I doubt anyone could do better than you! Though the Lingxi Emperor Sovereign's body lacks Heavenly Dao fragments, he has long mastered the Heavenly Dao and has his own understanding of it; I govern the Heavenly Dao in order. If we pour our power into you, you will possess complete Heavenly Dao power within! Combined with your avatar's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, we can fully achieve stabilizing the Nine Heavens, controlling the universe, fighting the Nine Firmaments, and destroying all things!"

"All right!"

Seeing that the other party had already decided, further explanation would be useless, so Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom—

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

Zhang Xuan's whole body stiffened; his entire person seemed to instantly embody the Heavenly Dao, soaring above the Nine Heavens.

Soul, flesh, and true qi were instantly baptized, growing stronger and mightier by the moment.

……

"You also want to stop me? Fine, I'll kill you, then go 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 and the many Emperors joining forces was indeed strong, but compared to him, it was still somewhat weaker.

The Tide Sea devoured nearly all the spiritual energy outside the city of the Divine Realm; now this energy has become his sustenance, every gesture wielding the power to destroy heaven and earth. These Emperors and God Kings, though they represent the pinnacle of the Divine Realm, are still unable to withstand a single strike.

At this moment, the ruthless one seemed to embody the entire Divine Realm, and none could stand against him.

"If the Divine Realm falls, our lives have no meaning; I, Yunchi, will perish with you……"

Emperor Yunchi transformed into his true form, a gigantic five-clawed golden dragon, and lunged at him from the air.

"Just you? You're not worthy!"

The ruthless one clenched his palm, and the golden dragon hung in his grasp, unable to escape no matter how it struggled.

"Old friend, wait for me!"

Emperor Fumeng also let out a great roar, transforming into his true form, the White Tiger, and appeared before him in the air.

The Undying Emperor revealed his true form, the Undying Fire Phoenix, its flames illuminating the sky.

Emperor Xuanming's true form is a great tortoise, as if holding up the heavens.

The Four Divine Beasts, guardians of the four extremes of the Divine Realm, simultaneously transformed 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 palms, the ruthless one subdued the four beasts, a fierce killing intent flashing in his eyes: "Since you seek death, I will grant it……"

Amidst the roars, as he was about to strike a killing blow to wipe out everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten and halt in midair.

"You want to kill them, have you asked me……"

Immediately, amidst everyone's shocked gazes, a figure slowly walked down from the air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

At this moment, the youth's power surged throughout his body, more than ten times stronger than before, descending from the heavens as if his very being were a world.

"You've improved quite a bit……"

The ruthless one halted, his gaze solemn.

He obviously didn't understand why, in just a few short minutes, the opponent's strength had undergone such a tremendous change.

"But what does it matter if you've increased? Even at its peak, the Divine Realm couldn't withstand me; I don't believe you can block me……"

With a cold snort, the ruthless one struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and went to meet him.

The two clashed, space tearing in streaks, air currents scattering everywhere.

Can Zhang Xuan win?

At the residence of the Free Heaven Master, Luo Ruoxi looked over, full of worry.

She and Master Kong transferred their power to Zhang Xuan; their own cultivation had dropped to only the God King level, not as glorious as before.

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

"With the current strength, wanting to surpass…… is difficult! Unless…… he can comprehend power beyond the Emperors!"

After a moment of silence, Master Kong said.

Even a dozen Emperors united could not defeat the ruthless one; even if they transferred all their power to him, wanting to overcome him would still not be easy.

The reason we do this is because…… only by concentrating power in a single person can one possibly touch the pinnacle, truly surpass limits, and break through oneself!

"Power beyond the Emperors?"

Luo Ruoxi's gaze was distant.

When her father was still lucid, he had told her the same thing, but…… she could not do it; could her beloved man do it?

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

Seeing her doubt, Master Kong laughed and said.

……

Bang bang bang!

After several consecutive blows, Zhang Xuan's tiger mouth split open, and a huge wound appeared on his chest, gruesome and terrifying.

As Master Kong said, even after fusing their two powers and forming a complete Heavenly Dao within, he was still no match.

"Haha, I thought you were formidable, but that's all!" the ruthless one gave a cold laugh.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you; sooner or later I'll be killed. If so, I wish to die under your strongest attack……" Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan stopped advancing, not attacking but instead gazing at the ruthless one before him.

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

Hearing that, the ruthless one stared for a moment, then let out a cold snort and raised his palm.

Whoosh!

A cyan light appeared in his palm and came down violently.

Surely the strongest attack, the entire Divine Realm rumbled, as if it could barely endure, and was struck again with a huge pit.

His eyes tightly closed, Zhang Xuan did not dodge.

Boom!

His head exploded, his soul scattering in all directions.

"Zhang Xuan……" Seeing this, everyone's faces turned pale.

Luo Qiqi seemed to have gone mad.

Emperor Yunchi and the others also widened their eyes, trembling incessantly.

Seeing this scene, Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi were both stunned.

The original intention was to let him break through his shackles and charge beyond the Emperor realm; why didn't he resist, willingly facing death?

Wouldn't that be wasting their good intentions?

"No, it's the immortality method of the Undying Emperor..."

While they were puzzled, Kong Shi suddenly spoke.

Everyone then saw Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and even his soul shattered, the pendant on his chest suddenly burst open, a drop of blood floated up, burning and forming a scorching flame; within the flame, an unharmed figure slowly stepped out.

"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 from the fire, Zhang Xuan actually had no Heavenly Dao Library inside him, no interference from the Heavenly Dao, and had severed ties with it!

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was also full of disbelief.

The Heavenly Dao and his soul were fused together, indistinguishable; to break free, he had to have his soul scatter and then, with the help of the Netherworld Pool, recondense his soul.

This person before them, after being slashed just once, completely broke free—what method did he use?

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

The soul contract binds Master and servant; if the Master does not dissolve it, the servant remains forever bound... the Heavenly Dao Library is the same, essentially an enhanced version of the contract.

Once the soul is bound, even immortality won't free it.

But... the ruthless person used that special power to break the soul contract; the specific method, Zhang Xuan had inquired about in detail before, likely already forming an idea then.

That's why he deliberately fought to the death, letting the opponent unleash their strongest power against him.

Relying on this power, he was reborn from the fire; unexpectedly, it succeeded spectacularly!

"So that's it, this is the way to break through the Emperor..."

Zhang Xuan walking out of the flames showed a faint smile, as if he understood something; he suddenly gestured, and a clone on the side instantly turned back into a lotus flower, flying over.

In an instant, it perfectly merged with himself.

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

He lightly tapped the ground with his foot.

The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized.

The Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, which appeared when the Nine Heavens were born, can stabilize the Nine Heavens; at this moment, his clone and self perfectly merged, indistinguishable, meaning he now controlled this power.

Moreover, with his cultivation fused with the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, he had already reached the peak realm, now showing signs of loosening, as if he could break through at any moment.

"Master-servant affection, brotherly affection, teacher-student affection, parental affection, love... when combined, they are actually all things in the world; this is what it means to be human!"

Smiling, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

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

Is it that people see the world and thus the world exists, or did the world exist first and then people came?

Is it the wind moving, or the heart moving!

This question has troubled countless people since ancient times.

Of course, now... these don't matter anymore!

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

Therefore, after breaking through love, it is the affection of all beings! It is the emotions intertwining the world.

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

Love, is emotion.

Hatred, is emotion.

Joy, is emotion.

Pain, is emotion.

Separation, is emotion.

Reunion, is also emotion!

"Myriad feelings, for my use..."

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

The Emperor's shackles, broken through!

In an instant, it felt as if he touched a brand-new world and Da Men; his soul received rapid nourishment.

Countless chaotic qi surged in, and his fleshly body also rapidly rose.

Before, only absorbing spiritual power allowed progress; now, spatial turbulence and chaotic qi, even the opponent's azure light, can become mine, without distinction.

"You..." The ruthless person hadn't expected his full-force attack not only failed to slay him but instead fulfilled him; angry, he shouted "Wa—wa!" and roared, attacking again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor for not saving you in the spatial turbulence—that's emotion; feeling you were once my servant, containing humility and anger, that's emotion; wanting to destroy the divine realm to vent anger, that's emotion; wanting to become stronger, likewise emotion... emotions control you, how can you overcome me without being controlled by me?"

Smiling faintly, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder, his palm lightly grasping.

The originally invincible ruthless person was bound by countless threads of emotion, hands and feet tied, unable to move.

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

"You..."

The ruthless person's eyes filled with panic: "Master Zhang, I am your servant, don't kill me... I am willing to offer my soul as sacrifice..."

"Saying these now is too late..." Zhang Xuan gave a slight smile and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, servants and such are already meaningless to him.

Having killed so many god-level beings, hurt his girlfriend Luo Qiqi and so many friends, today how could he possibly forgive!

"No..."

Feeling his decisiveness, the Ruthless Person's pupils contracted; before his words ended, he suddenly felt a sharp pain all over.

Bang!

In an instant, the explosion burst forth, turning into countless spiritual energy that surged toward every corner of the Divine Realm.

Previously, all the power swallowed by the Tide Sea now flowed back, reviving the once‑barren wilderness.

"This..."

"You killed him just like that?"

Yun Chi Great Emperor, Immortal Emperor, Linglong Fairy and the others all widened their eyes, unable to believe it.

Just now they had clashed with the Ruthless Person and knew how terrifying he was; yet such a powerful figure was wiped out with a casual gesture—how far has this Zhang Xuan gone?

Could there truly be a higher realm above the Emperor?

"He succeeded..."

Master Kong and Luo Ruoxi loosened their clenched fists.

"This is part of the Heavenly Dao; then I will now return it to the Heavenly Dao..."

Seeing the "flawed Heavenly Dao" that had been separated from his own 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 bell‑like resonance, the continually collapsing Divine Realm slowly healed to the naked eye, and the chaotic currents also reconverged.

The collapsing Divine Realm finally halted, and the withered spiritual energy, together with the Ruthless Person's death, gradually revived.

"It seems the Divine Realm is about to usher in an era of spiritual energy renewal..." Zhang Xuan smiled.

The breach in the Tide Sea, accompanied by the completion of the Heavenly Dao, has already healed; the Divine Realm will return to its former prosperity—it's only a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, come here..."

Having just finished these, a voice sounded in his mind; Zhang Xuan staggered slightly and stepped forward.

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

This was the very person who had previously taught him swordsmanship.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing that it was him, Zhang Xuan froze.

He had always felt this person was unfathomable; now he realized that, aside from a hair's breadth, he had reached the very peak of the Emperor realm, far surpassing Luo Ruoxi's former strength.

"Just call me by my name—I am Nie Tong!" the youth said, his body emanating an unstoppable sword intent.

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

This was the first time he had heard that name.

"Come with me; I'll take you to see my brother!" said the youth named Nie Tong, smiling faintly as he 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, his eyebrows raised, giving an inscrutable, profound impression.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

The youth before him was actually stronger than him, having likewise broken through the Emperor's bottleneck, with a cultivation even deeper and more substantial!

"I am Nie Yun!" the youth said with a light smile, looking over: "That is… Nie Lingxi, the father of the Luo Ruoxi you mentioned!"

"Luo Ruoxi's father?"

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

Luo Ruoxi had said before that her father was the Heavenly Dao; who would have thought it would be such a young person.

"I transformed one part of my soul into the Heavenly Dao through the One Qi Transforms into Three Purities! Moreover, this world is my creation—calling me the Heavenly Dao is perfectly justified!" Nie Yun said with a light smile.

Zhang Xuan could not believe it.

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

Then just how powerful must his strength be?

"No, if the Divine Realm is your creation and you are the Heavenly Dao, why do you let the Ruthless Person run rampant without intervening?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

"If it weren't for my own breakthrough, the Divine Realm would likely have collapsed completely; why does this person before me remain indifferent?"

"Does he 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 more powerful life above the Divine Realm?"

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

Although I've never seen it, since he can cultivate to this level, perhaps others can as well—and perhaps even stronger.

Just like the youth before him.

"I once suspected that a mightier being existed above the Divine Realm, so I exerted all my power to peer upward—ultimately drawing a backlash from a higher world… a palm broke through the void and came down!"

Nie Yun looked over: "At the time, if I had dodged, the entire Divine Realm would likely have been obliterated, leaving no life at all… so I blocked the strike, but consequently, my embodied Heavenly Dao was split apart."

"I merely wish to restore this situation with a single thought, but… I understand that to truly transcend the Divine Realm's bottleneck, to explore where that palm came from and what lies beyond the Divine Realm… it is difficult for me alone. So I want to see whether any life can break through the Emperor's bottleneck and reach a level equal to mine."

"Therefore, I sent the scattered thoughts of the Heavenly Dao down to the lowest world, granting them respectively to the souls native to this world and to a soul foreign to it. And you have not disappointed me!"

Nie Yun smiled.

"A soul not belonging to this world, then—my transmigration is 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."

"Hehe!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly, saying: "Being native to this world, one naturally feels reverence for it; wanting to break its shackles is far harder, and I merely had a passing thought—I never expected you to actually succeed..."

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

Without Master Kong's selfless dedication, reaching the present realm would be utterly impossible.

I gave him the chance, but he failed to grasp it. The duel with Lingxi was actually his best opportunity to break through; sadly, he chose to retreat, thinking he had a fallback and could withdraw safely, but in fact he lost the courage to press forward. When facing someone superior to us, if he lacks even this spirit, how could he hope to stand against them?

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan remained silent.

At that time, he watched their battle; Master Kong was indeed somewhat lacking in decisiveness.

It's also possible he doesn't want to kill Luo Ruoxi.

Unfortunately, in that instant, he missed the chance to advance.

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

Could it be that he doesn't even care about his daughter's life or death?

"With me here, she won't die..." Nie Yun gave a faint smile: "Your strength is not much different from mine now; do you think, with their strength, at a life-or-death moment, wanting to save someone, you could actually do it?"

"..." Zhang Xuan gave a wry smile.

Breaking through to Emperor and being an Emperor are two different concepts; if he truly wished to intervene, he could indeed save the person at the critical moment, and guarantee that not a single injury would be sustained.

"Lingxi is the child of my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, so her false surname is Luo... In order to make her believe, not letting emotions interfere, she has always thought I was still in a coma..."

Nie Yun gave a bitter laugh: 'This father of mine has been pretty ruthless…… Well then, you should explain this to her; after all, her thoughts have now turned to you, and this old father of mine probably can't even remember…… Haha, I'll stay out of sight for a while; otherwise, I truly fear she'll cause an uproar.'

Seeing this unreliable old father before him, Zhang Xuan's cheek twitched, and he could only agree: 'Alright…'

He had no choice but to agree, after all, he was the one who eloped with someone's daughter…

"The Heavenly Dao Library is a manifestation of my will; it is both foundation and shackle. If you can rely on your own ability to break through the shackle, it shows your ability and potential, and your future is limitless. For my daughter to be with you, as a father, I would also feel relieved."

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