Chapter 1037
A soul contract binds the souls; as long as you do not dissolve it yourself, even if the other party possesses heavenly means, it cannot be undone.
No names.
Just like the Undying Emperor Sovereign Xiao Huangji, who was previously only a God King but is now an Emperor Sovereign, he likewise cannot resolve this kind of agreement.
The term refers to the title Undying Emperor Sovereign and the name Xiao Huangji.
The term God King appears.
To prevent this person from having a change of heart and suffering a backlash, the Master Teacher Continent had decreed that even if the other party could break free from the Heavenly Dao Record, they could not escape the soul contract between them.
Master Teacher Continent is a named place.
The soul contract indeed cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I have fused with a special gas capable of dissolving even the Heavenly Dao, making it easy to dissolve this contract—just strike the contract's location with enough force.
Soul contracts can't be split from the sea of consciousness, but I've fused a special gas that even the Heavenly Dao can dissolve, making it easy to undo this contract… All it takes is enough power to blast the contract's location, and it can be undone.
No names.
Henren's Dao.
Technique: "Henren Dao" or "Ruthless Person's Way". We'll translate: Ruthless Person's Way.
The soul contract is founded upon the Heavenly Dao; even powers that can dissolve the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm can dissolve a soul contract, so if handled properly, there is no difficulty.
No names.
"I see..." Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.
Zhang Xuan
"Saying all this to you also counts as thanks for bringing me to the God Realm."
God Realm
After finishing his explanation, Henren said no more; his aura grew ever more ancient and distant, the black hole behind him swelled, clearly having devoured an unknown amount of power while he spoke, replenishing himself.
Henren
"Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole consumes, the stronger his power becomes."
Zhang Xuan
Luo Ruoxi also sensed something was wrong and hurriedly sent a mental message.
Luo Ruoxi
"Let's get ready to fight!" With all doubts gone, Zhang Xuan inhaled deeply, raised his sword, and declared, "If that's the case, then let's see whose skill is superior!"
Zhang Xuan
Boom!
No.
The strongest sword intent was unleashed once again.
No.
In life I will return; in death I will forever long.
No.
Life and death are nothing to fear; what could possibly stand in our way?
No.
Although this sword technique has not reached Emperor Sovereign-level understanding, it embodies all my heart's obsessions, pushing the Heaven If Has Feeling Technique to its limit.
Emperor Sovereign and Heaven If Has Feeling Technique
Whoosh!
No.
With a single sword strike, Henren's attack was split in half.
Henren
At the same moment, Luo Ruoxi attacked, her jade hands rolling, her sword light like snow.
Luo Ruoxi
Her swordsmanship somewhat resembles that of the youth from Sword God Heaven, bearing an unstoppable momentum and the effortless grace of the natural Great Dao.
Sword God Heaven; the phrase translates to Great Dao Natural, but it is not a name.
"Your moves are impressive, but compared to me, they still fall short."
No.
Henren smiled lightly and reached down again.
Henren
In an instant, his hand covered the sky and earth, shattering space, as if the sun, moon, and stars were about to be slammed down.
No.
Pfft! Pfft!
No.
Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were both blown backward, blood spraying wildly in the air.
Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi
Despite their combined strength, they could not withstand it!
No.
Just what realm has this person reached?
No.
"Impudent!" The avatar strode forward, each step causing lotuses to bloom and the void to echo with the sound of flowing water.
It is a generic term, not a proper name.
From afar, it looks incredibly impressive.
No.
Having refined
Names: Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus -> Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus. Zhang Xuan -> Zhang Xuan.
He threw a punch, and his power surged up to the Nine Heavens.
Name: Nine Heavens -> Nine Heavens? Could be a place: Nine Heavens. Might be considered a named place? It's a generic term but often used as a realm. Might be considered a place name. However it's part of a phrase 'surging up to the Nine Heavens'. Might be considered a location. I'd include as Nine Heavens (translate). But we need to see if it's a proper name: 'Nine Heavens' often refers to the Nine Heavens as a cosmological concept. Not a specific named place. Might be excluded as generic. However the rule says: 'Exclude... bare generic genre words.' 'Nine Heavens' is a generic term for heavens. I'd exclude.
He collided with the Henren, also being blown back, unable to block even one strike.
Name: Henren -> Henren.
Zhang Xuan covered his forehead.
Name: Zhang Xuan -> Zhang Xuan.
He had attained the rank of Emperor Sovereign, yet his avatar remained unchanged in its pretentious nature...
Names: Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign.
All this flashy showmanship would be better replaced by focusing power for greater effect!
No.
"We must attack together, or else they'll die and we'll all perish."
No.
The little yellow chicken let out a loud roar, crimson flames blazed, and the sky looked as if it were set ablaze.
Name: Xiao Huangji -> Xiao Huangji.
The six remaining Emperor Sovereigns each used their own tactics.
Name: Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign (plural). "six Emperor Sovereigns" six Emperor Sovereigns.
The seven Emperor Sovereigns united, destroying heaven and earth; even a portion of heaven and earth could not withstand them before them, but the opponent was a Henren who had absorbed special power. As the attack drew near, the black hole suddenly expanded, swallowing all power in an instant before launching a counterattack.
Names: Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign. Henren -> Henren.
Boom boom boom boom!
No.
The seven Emperor Sovereigns, just like Zhang Xuan and the others, were blown backward.
Names: Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign. Zhang Xuan -> Zhang Xuan.
Even though the ten Emperor Sovereigns united, they couldn't block a single strike from the opponent!
Name: Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign.
How can this guy be so powerful?
No.
"You may die..."
No.
A single move defeated the crowd; the Henren stepped forward, flipped his wrist, and struck again.
Name: Henren -> Henren.
"How dare you, vermin!"
No.
With a loud shout, the old man from Sword God Heaven suddenly appeared, blocking the front, his long sword transforming into a galaxy.
Names: Sword God Heaven -> Sword God Heaven. Also "old man" not a name. "galaxy" generic.
"An Emperor Sovereign? Is his power also at the Emperor Sovereign level?"
Name: Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign.
Zhang Xuan's pupils narrowed.
Name: Zhang Xuan -> Zhang Xuan.
This old man had initially followed behind the youth; I thought he was merely a follower, at most a God King, but when he revealed his power, I discovered he was actually a formidable Emperor Sovereign as well.
Names: God King -> God King. Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign.
If he's an Emperor Sovereign, then what about that youth?
Name: Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign.
"He himself is the Emperor Sovereign of Sword God Heaven..." Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet, gritting her teeth.
Names: Sword God Heaven -> Sword God Heaven. Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign. Luo Ruoxi -> Luo Ruoxi.
"Then... where is the youth who taught me swordsmanship?" Zhang Xuan could no longer hold back.
Name: Zhang Xuan -> Zhang Xuan.
"He is..." Luo Ruoxi was about to reply when space twisted, and suddenly she saw this Sword God Heaven Emperor Sovereign also blown backward, landing nearby and blasting a large crater.
Names: Sword God Heaven -> Sword God Heaven. Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign.
Zhang Xuan's current strength and swordsmanship insight far surpass his, leaving him unable to resist; even with solid cultivation and superb swordsmanship, he is still no match.
Names: Zhang Xuan -> Zhang Xuan. Also Sword Way? Not a name.
"Hahaha, Emperor Sovereign, you're nothing but a bunch of worthless chickens and dogs! Today I will annihilate the Nine Heavens, obliterate this God Realm, and trample all rules underfoot!"
Names: Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign. Nine Heavens -> Nine Heavens? Might be considered a place. "God Realm" -> God Realm.
After defeating the Sword God Heaven Emperor Sovereign, the Henren laughed maniacally as the surrounding space continually collapsed, making him appear like a demon or monster.
Names: Sword God Heaven -> Sword God Heaven. Emperor Sovereign -> Emperor Sovereign. Henren -> Henren.
"What should we do?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.
Name: Zhang Xuan -> Zhang Xuan.
Just now he and his clone both exerted their utmost combat strength; even Luo Ruoxi before him used her strongest technique, yet they couldn't block a single move from the opponent...
Could it be that there's truly no one in the Divine Realm who can stop this person before us?
Just let him destroy the world?
"The only way…… is to return your defective Heavenly Dao to the Heavenly Dao itself, letting the Heavenly Dao suppress him……" Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists, her eye sockets 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 it returns, the Heavenly Dao becomes completely whole, perhaps able to repair the breach and expel the Ruthless One on its own.
Just like the human immune system.
When the immune system is whole, a virus comes and is easily driven off; when it fails, it cannot resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person will die because of it.
But……
"He is too strong; even if the Heavenly Dao recovers completely, it cannot suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.
A virus can be slain by the immune system, but…… what about a tiger?
No matter how strong the immune system, what can it do?
This person before us is merely an ordinary Divine 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—that's not 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 and turned to fly forward.
"Trying to escape?" the Ruthless One 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 the Ruthless One.
"You guys hurry and leave; I'll block him……"
Knowing they intended to find another 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 Still Void Pearl's true form.
The surrounding space solidified.
"Go!"
Seeing everyone fearlessly throwing themselves behind to block, Zhang Xuan's eye sockets reddened, but he also knew this was no time for words; he grabbed Luo Ruoxi, his body flickered, he tore through space, and in the next moment they 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 understood.
No wonder I always felt the blood in the pendant resembled Luo Ruoxi yet was different—it turns out it's her father's.
This also explains why the thought left behind by the Undying Emperor, upon seeing the pendant, immediately acknowledged me as its master.
"Is your father also an Emperor? Or does he possess strength surpassing an Emperor?"
He could not help but ask.
The library's chaos is due to the blood in the pendant awakening me; 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 defective Heavenly Dao to awaken him?
"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 orderly Heavenly Dao and the defective Heavenly Dao entered the spatial turbulence, while I acted as the steward of the Heavenly Dao's nature, 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 specially, studying the Spring and Autumn Canon, seeking a way to defeat Master Kong! When battling Master Kong, the favor I asked of him was also this."
Luo Ruoxi said.
Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.
Having only just met 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.
Turns out it's 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 nature…… 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 merging it 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 defective Heavenly Dao from within 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 defective Heavenly Dao from within me, your father can come back to life, and even slay the Ruthless One, right?" Zhang Xuan looked at her.
"This…… I'm not sure either……"
Looking 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?
Really hard to say!
Looks like you can't be sure either. In that case, seeking others is worse than seeking oneself—we have only ourselves to figure it out! Zhang Xuan clenched his teeth: "You, me, my avatar, united with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, if we also coordinate with Master Kong, we might still win!"
Master Kong? He... Luo Ruoxi frowned.
Master Kong is dead, right? He hasn't truly died; if my guess is correct, he was beheaded by you, merely a method to break free from the Heavenly Dao… No surprise, he should be like Wei Changfeng, an 【Innate Fetal Soul Body】!
Zhang Xuan said.
Seeing Wei Changfeng, it became clear; what Master Kong called maintaining spiritual awareness should be the same as him—an Innate Fetal Soul Body.
One can remain clear-minded in the womb.
Adding the backup plan prepared in advance, resurrection is just a matter of time.
Luo Ruoxi froze; it seemed she hadn't expected this.
"Just look into the past and you'll know; my guess is right—he should have already recovered. Otherwise, his students couldn't possibly have not gone to the Tide Sea..." Zhang Xuan said.
Master Kong's students, like Ziyuan Gu Sheng and others, are all strong; even without the Emperor's help, they would certainly have a way to enter the Tide Sea, yet not a single one was seen.
There must be something more important waiting; they want 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; she suddenly understood.
"Let's go!"
Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan flicked his hand and returned to Master Kong's dwelling; sure enough, he saw an old man sitting cross-legged, floating in midair. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly: "You've come!"
Not Master Kong—who else could it be!
This Teacher of Myriad Generations certainly didn't disappoint!
Just as guessed, taking advantage of everyone focusing their attention on the Tide Sea, he revived again.
"You..." Luo Ruoxi's delicate frame trembled.
She knew the Emperor could be resurrected, the Undying Emperor had come back to life, but… she hadn't expected it to happen so fast!
"I concealed the Heavenly Dao, prepared a backup plan in advance—the nameless giant in the Nether Spirit Pool was my doing; the day you beheaded me, I seized the chance to break free from the Heavenly Dao's bonds, reformed my flesh, and have only just now recovered!"
Master Kong smiled faintly.
He mastered time abilities; though it seemed only a day or two had passed in the Divine Realm, in reality he had undergone an unknown span of time to regain his strength.
He had even accumulated decades of time.
"Our three strengths are considerable, but overcoming the Ruthless is no easy feat..."
Seeing Master Kong truly recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head.
It's not about boosting others' prestige or dampening our own resolve—it's simply the fact.
Just now, so many of us joined forces and still couldn't block him; even adding Master Kong, what could that change?
It would likewise not change the situation!
"Our individual strength, even when combined, is indeed no match for him—but… what if we pooled 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 was full of doubt as well.
"That palm can tear apart the Divine Realm, scatter the Heavenly Dao—its strength is undeniable. The Ruthless has absorbed all that power and even devoured fifty years of spiritual energy from the Divine Realm; judging by strength alone, even if we each took out a dozen or so Emperors, individually we'd still be no match..."
Master Kong said: "But if we unite and concentrate our power into one person… it might not be so certain!"
"How to concentrate?"
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 Spirit Rhinoceros Sovereign cultivates freedom and transcendence of nature! But with the constraints of father and Heavenly Dao, and with beloved ones, one can never truly transcend! If I'm not mistaken, when we fought before, you also once considered giving up, planning to let me behead you!"
Master Kong said.
Luo Ruoxi couldn't speak.
During the fight, that intention had indeed arisen; thus their initial exchanges saw each holding back a backup plan, more like sparring than a life‑death battle.
"Unable to transcend, one cannot unleash one's greatest strength; even with abundant true qi, one cannot strike that highest realm! As for me…"
Master Kong nodded and said: "Holding all beings in heart, 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 and exterminated the Alien Spirit Tribe, we wouldn't be in this situation..."
"Had we been able to slaughter every Alien Spirit Tribe member back then, the Ruthless could not have revived, and we wouldn't be in this predicament."
"So I'm not suited either! But Zhang Xuan—his cultivation method flows naturally, without flaw. He seeks to live true to himself; even if he dies, as long as he lives without guilt, his mind is at peace. Such a person possesses greater tolerance and greater room to grow; only thus can he reach higher and farther!"
Master Kong continued.
"In life, return to the beginning; 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 piercing gaze: "No need to decline—first say there's no time, go train others; even if there were, I doubt anyone could do better than you! Though the Spirit Rhinoceros Sovereign lacks fragments of the Heavenly Dao within, he has long mastered the Heavenly Dao and has his own understanding of it; I govern the orderly Heavenly Dao. If we pour our power into you, you will possess complete Heavenly Dao power! Combined with your avatar's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, we can fully stabilize the Nine Heavens, grasp heaven and earth, fight the Nine Heavens, and annihilate all things!"
"Alright!"
Seeing the other party had decided, further explanation would be useless; Zhang Xuan nodded.
Boom—
Sitting cross-legged, in the blink of an eye two mighty torrents of power surged in from both sides.
Zhang Xuan's whole body stiffened; he seemed to instantly embody the Heavenly Dao, soaring above the Nine Heavens.
Soul, flesh, and true qi were instantly baptized, growing stronger and mightier.
……
You also want to stop me? Fine, I'll kill you, then go and slay Zhang Xuan.
He sent Luo Qiqi and the clones flying, Henren gave a cold smile.
The power unleashed by the clones and the many Emperors Sovereign together was indeed strong, but compared to him, it was still somewhat weaker.
The Tide Sea drained the spiritual energy outside the city of the Divine Realm, almost completely devouring it; now this power has become his nourishment, every move bringing the ability to destroy heaven and earth. These Emperors Sovereign and Divine Kings, though they represent the pinnacle of the Divine Realm, are still no match.
At this moment, Henren seemed to represent the entire Divine Realm, and none could withstand him.
"If the Divine Realm perishes, our lives have no meaning; I, Yun Chi, will perish with you…"
Yun Chi the Great Emperor transformed into his true form, a gigantic five-clawed golden dragon, and lunged at him from above.
"You? You're not worthy!"
Henren clenched his palm, and the golden dragon hung in his grasp, unable to escape no matter how it struggled.
"Old friend, wait for me!"
Fu Meng the Emperor also let out a loud roar, transforming into his true form, a white tiger, and appeared before him.
The Immortal Emperor, the Immortal Fire Phoenix's true form appeared, flames illuminating the sky.
Xuan Ming the Great Emperor's true form is a giant 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, and the collapsing Divine Realm slowed down.
Heaven and earth seemed to freeze in an instant.
Bang bang bang bang!
With four consecutive palms, Henren subdued the four beasts, a fierce killing intent flashing in his eyes: "Since you seek death, I will grant it…"
In the midst of the roar, as he was about to strike down and wipe out everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten and stop 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 was a world.
"You've improved quite a bit…"
Henren halted, his gaze solemn.
He clearly didn't understand how, in just a few short minutes, the opponent's strength had undergone such a huge 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, Henren struck down again.
Zhang Xuan raised his sword and went to meet him.
The two clashed, space tearing apart in streaks, air currents running wild everywhere.
"Can Zhang Xuan win?"
At the residence of Master Kong in Free Heaven, 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 Divine King level, not as glorious as before.
But the level is set; as long as the power is sufficient, one day it can be restored.
"With your current strength, wanting to surpass… is very difficult! Unless… he can comprehend power beyond the Emperors Sovereign!"
After a moment of silence, Master Kong said.
More than ten Emperors Sovereign united, yet they could not defeat Henren; 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 one person can one possibly touch the pinnacle, truly surpass the limits, and break through oneself!
"Power beyond the Emperors Sovereign?"
Luo Ruoxi's gaze was distant.
When her father was still lucid, he had once told her the same thing, but… she could not do it; could her beloved man do it?
"He definitely 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's mouth split open, his chest bearing a huge, hideous wound.
Just as Master Kong said, even after fusing their two powers and forming a complete heavenly way within, he was still no match.
"Hah, I thought you were formidable, but this is all!" Henren gave a cold smile.
"Anyway, you're not my opponent; sooner or later I'll be killed. If so, I want to die under your strongest attack…" Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan stopped advancing, instead gazing at Henren before him.
"Fine, I'll grant you that, give you my strongest attack…"
Hearing that, Henren froze for a moment, then let out a cold snort and raised his palm.
Whoosh!
A cyan light appeared in his palm and came crashing down.
Sure enough, it was the strongest attack; the entire Divine Realm rumbled, as if it could barely endure, and another huge pit was blasted out.
His eyes tightly closed, Zhang Xuan did not dodge.
Bang!
His skull burst open, his soul scattering in all directions.
"Zhang Xuan…" Seeing this, everyone's faces turned pale.
Luo Qiqi seemed to have gone mad.
Yun Chi the Great Emperor and the others also widened their eyes, trembling nonstop.
Seeing this scene, Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi were also stunned.
The original intention was for him to break through his shackles and surge past the Emperor Realm; why does he not resist and instead willingly face death?
This way, wouldn't it be wasting their good intentions?
"No, it is the Immortal Emperor's immortal method……"
While they were puzzled, Kong Shi suddenly spoke.
Everyone then saw Zhang Xuan's head exploding, even his soul shattering; the pendant on his chest suddenly burst open, a drop of blood floated up, ignited, forming a ball of scorching flame; within the flame, an unharmed figure slowly stepped out.
"He…… using the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant, separated the flaw in the Heavenly Dao from the soul?"
Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.
After being reborn through fire, Zhang Xuan actually had no Heavenly Dao Library inside him, no interference from the Heavenly Dao, and had broken free from the Heavenly Dao!
"How did he do that?"
Kong Shi was also full of disbelief.
Heavenly Dao and soul fused together, indistinguishable; to break free, he had to have his soul and spirit scatter, then with the Nether Soul Pool recondense his soul and spirit.
This person before me, after being slashed just once, completely broke free; what method did he use?
"I understand…… he used the Ruthless One's method to break the soul contract……" Luo Ruoxi realized.
The soul contract binds master and servant; if the master does not lift it, the servant remains forever controlled…… the Heavenly Dao Library is the same; it can be said to be an enhanced version of the contract.
Bound to the soul, immortality will not break free.
But…… the Ruthless One used that special power to break the soul contract; the specific method, Zhang Xuan had inquired about in detail before, likely he had already been thinking about it then.
That is why he deliberately fought to the death, letting it unleash its strongest power to attack him.
Using this power, he was reborn through fire; unexpectedly, it indeed succeeded greatly!
"So that's it, this is the method to break through the Emperor……"
Walking out of the flames, Zhang Xuan showed a faint smile, as if understanding something; he suddenly waved his hand, and the avatar on one 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 the Zhang Xuan before them seemed to have 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 appears at the birth of the Nine Heavens, can stabilize the Nine Heavens; at this moment, the avatar and self perfectly merge, indistinguishable, thus equating to his mastery of this power.
Moreover, with the cultivation fused with the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, he had already reached the peak realm; now it loosened, as if a breakthrough could happen 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 a person is!"
Smiling, Zhang Xuan muttered to himself.
At the moment the Heavenly Dao Library separated from the soul, he came to understand.
Is it that man sees the world and then the world exists, or that the world exists first and then man?
Is it the wind moving, or the heart moving!
This problem, an age-old trouble, has troubled countless people.
Of course, now…… these are no longer important!
Without life, without emotion, even if the world exists, what meaning does it have?
Therefore, after breaking through love, it is the sentiment of all beings! It is the emotions intertwining the world.
All things in the world have emotion; with emotion there is 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 emotions, 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 seemed as if touching a new world and the Great Door; the soul received rapid nourishment.
Countless chaotic qi surged over, and the physical body also rapidly increased.
Before, only by absorbing spiritual power could one progress; but now, spatial turbulence and chaotic qi, even the opponent's azure light, can be made mine, without distinction.
"You……" The Ruthless One never expected that his full-force attack would not only fail to slay him but instead fulfill him, making him cry out "wah-wah!" in anger, then with a furious shout he attacked again.
"You resent the lofty Emperor, not saving yourself in the spatial turbulence—that's emotion; feeling that you were once my servant, containing humility and anger—that's emotion; wanting to destroy the Divine Realm, venting anger—that's emotion; wanting to become stronger—also emotion…… Emotions control you; how can you overcome me, not be controlled by me?"
With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder, and he lightly grasped with his palm.
The originally invincible Ruthless One was bound by countless emotional threads, 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 One's eyes full of panic: "Teacher Zhang, I am your servant, don't kill me…… I am willing to offer my soul as sacrifice……"
"Saying these now is already too late……" With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan shook his head.
Controlling the world's emotions, servants and such already hold no meaning for him.
Killing so many god-level beings, hurting 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 immediately felt a sharp pain throughout his body.
Bang!
In an instant, the explosion burst forth, turning into countless streams of spiritual energy that surged toward every corner of the Divine Realm.
Previously, all the power swallowed by the Tidal Sea now flowed back, revitalizing 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 in disbelief.
Just moments ago 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... actually reached?
Could there truly be a realm above the Emperor?
"He succeeded..."
Master Kong and Luo Ruoxi loosened their clenched fists.
"This is part of the Heavenly Dao; now I will return it to the Heavenly Dao..."
Seeing the "Heavenly Dao's Defect" that had been separated from his own body still hovering in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and flicked his finger.
Hum!
The library that had accompanied him since his rebirth suddenly embedded itself in the sky of the Divine Realm.
The resonant toll of a great bell echoed as the continually collapsing Divine Realm slowly healed before the eyes, and the chaotic currents also reconverged.
The collapsing Divine Realm finally halted, and the withered spiritual energy gradually revived along with the ruthless person's death.
"It seems the Divine Realm is about to usher in an era of spiritual renewal..." Zhang Xuan chuckled.
The rift in the Tidal Sea, accompanied by 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 over here..."
Having just finished these, a voice sounded in his mind; Zhang Xuan startled, then took a step forward.
That step carried him an unknown distance, and immediately he saw a youth standing before him.
This was the very person who had previously taught him swordsmanship.
"Senior, you..."
Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan blinked in surprise.
He had always sensed this person was unfathomable; now he realized that, compared to himself, the difference was only a hair's breadth—he had already reached the very peak of the Emperor realm, far surpassing even Luo Ruoxi from before.
"Just call me by my name; I am Nie Tong!" the youth said lightly, an indomitable sword intent emanating from him.
"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!" 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 eyebrows that gave an inscrutable, profound impression.
"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.
The youth before him proved even stronger than himself, having likewise broken through the Emperor's shackles, and his cultivation was far deeper and more substantial!
"I am Nie Yun!" the youth said with a light smile, looking over: "That is… Nie Lingxi, the father of Luo Ruoxi you mentioned!"
"Luo Ruoxi's father?"
Zhang Xuan startled: "You… are the Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm?"
Luo Ruoxi had said before that her father was the Heavenly Dao; he never imagined it would be such a young person.
"I transformed one qi into the Three Purities, and a part of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! 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?
Just how powerful must he be?
"No, if the Divine Realm is your creation and you are the Heavenly Dao, why would 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?
Even the life and death of his daughter—does he care?
Without answering his question, Nie Yun glanced over lightly: "Do you think… there might be even greater beings above the Divine Realm?"
"Well…" Zhang Xuan paused: "I suppose there must be."
Although he had never seen such a level, since he could cultivate to this height, perhaps others could as well—and perhaps even surpass him.
Just like the youth before him.
"I once suspected that greater beings existed above the Divine Realm, so I exerted all my power to peer upward—ultimately drawing a backlash from a higher world… a palm shattered the void and descended!"
Nie Yun looked over: "At that time, if I had dodged, the entire Divine Realm would likely have been erased, leaving no life at all… 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 and explore where that palm came from, what lies beyond the Divine Realm… I cannot do it alone. So I want to see whether any life can break through the Emperor's shackles and reach a level equal to mine."
"Therefore, I sent the scattered thoughts of the Heavenly Dao down to the lowest world… bestowing them upon the souls originally belonging to this world and upon a soul not of this world. And you, you have not disappointed me!"
Nie Yun smiled.
"A soul not of this world—so my transmigration is also because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart shuddered.
No wonder I could transmigrate here—I never imagined it was all due to this person before me.
"Hehe!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly: "Being native to this world, one naturally feels reverence for it; breaking its shackles is far harder. I, too, merely had a thought, never expecting you to truly 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, achieving the present realm would be utterly impossible.
"I gave him the opportunity; he just didn't grasp it. The duel with the Spirit Rhinoceros was actually his best chance to break through; unfortunately, he chose to retreat, thinking he had a backup plan and could withdraw unscathed, but in fact he lost his brave and diligent spirit. When facing someone surpassing us, if he lacks even this spirit, how could he possibly stand against them?"
Nie Yun said.
Zhang Xuan remained silent.
At that time, he witnessed their battle; Master Kong indeed lacked decisiveness.
It's also possible he didn'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 furrowing.
Could it be that he doesn't care about his daughter's life or death?
"With me here, she won't die..." Nie Yun gave a faint smile: "Your strength is now not much different from mine; do you think, with their strength at a life-or-death moment, wanting to save someone, can you do it?"
"This..." Zhang Xuan gave a bitter smile.
Breaking through to Emperor and being an Emperor are two concepts; if he truly wishes to act, he can indeed save the person at the critical moment, and guarantee that not a single injury will be sustained.
"Lingxi is the daughter of my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, so her assumed surname is Luo... In order to make her believe, to keep her unemotional, she has always thought I was still in a coma..."
Nie Yun gave a wry 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'd cause an uproar."
Seeing this unreliable old father before him, Zhang Xuan's cheek twitched, and he could only agree: "Alright..."
There's no choice but to agree; who let him abduct someone's daughter...
"The Heavenly Dao Library is a manifestation of my thought; 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, your future is limitless; my daughter being with you, as a father, I would also feel relieved."
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End of Chapter
