Chapter 1061

A soul contract binds the souls; as long as one does not dissolve it oneself, even if the other party possesses heavenly means, it cannot be undone.

Just like the Undying Emperor Sovereign Xiao Huangji, who was merely a Divine King before, he is an Emperor Sovereign, yet likewise cannot resolve this agreement.

To prevent this guy from having a change of heart and causing a backlash, the Ming Shi Continent once specially stipulated that even if the other party can detach from the Heavenly Dao's Record, they cannot break free from the soul contract between them!

"A soul contract indeed cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I have fused a special gas that even the Heavenly Dao can dissolve, making dissolving this contract not difficult…… As long as there is sufficient power, bombarding the site of the contract will achieve it!"

Henren's Dao.

A soul contract is founded upon the Heavenly Dao; a special power capable of dissolving even the Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm can dissolve a soul contract—if handled properly, what difficulty is there?

"I see..." Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

"Saying all this to you also counts as thanks for bringing me to the Divine Realm!"

After finishing the explanation, Henren said no more; his aura became ever more ancient and distant, the black hole behind him grew larger—evidently, while speaking, he had swallowed an unknown amount of power, nourishing himself.

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

Luo Ruoxi also sensed something amiss, hurriedly sending a mental message.

"Get ready to act!" With doubts dispelled in his heart, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, his long sword suddenly raised: "Since that's the case, let's see the true skill beneath our hands!"

Boom—

The strongest sword intent, once again unleashed.

In life, I shall return; in death, I shall long for you!

Life and death are of no concern; what could possibly obstruct?

This sword move, although not reaching the Emperor Sovereign's comprehension, contains all the obsessions in my heart, pushing the inner Heaven If Has Feeling technique to its limit.

Whoosh—

One sword cut Henren's attack in half.

At the same moment, Luo Ruoxi also acted, her jade hands rolling, sword light like snow.

Her sword technique somewhat resembles that of the youth from Sword God Heaven, bearing an unstoppable momentum and the natural ease of the Great Dao.

"Your moves are formidable, but compared to me, they still fall short……

With a light smile, Henren reached down again to grab.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky and earth, shrouding heaven and earth; space shattered, the sun, moon, and stars seemed as if they would be forcibly struck down.

Pfft! Pfft!

Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi both flew backward, blood spurting wildly in midair.

With their combined strength, they actually couldn't block it!

Just what realm has this guy reached?

"Impudent!" The clone strode forward, each step causing lotus blossoms to bloom, the void echoing with the sound of flowing water.

From afar, it looked extremely imposing.

Having refined the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation is not the slightest bit weaker than Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, power surging to the Nine Heavens.

Clashing with Henren, he likewise flew backward, unable to withstand a single move.

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead.

Having attained Emperor Sovereign status, the clone still hasn't changed its pretentious nature……

Such flamboyant pretentiousness would be better replaced by concentrating power for greater might!

"Let's attack together, otherwise they'll die and we'll all die……

Xiao Huangji let out a loud shout, crimson-red flames blazed, the sky seemed ignited.

The remaining six Emperor Sovereigns also each employed their means.

Seven Emperor Sovereigns united, capable of destroying heaven and earth; a single heaven and earth before them could not be resisted, but the opposing party is Henren who has absorbed special power; as the attack approached, his black hole suddenly expanded, in the blink of an eye swallowing the power clean, then immediately counterattacked.

Bang bang bang bang!

The seven Emperor Sovereigns, like Zhang Xuan and the others, flew backward.

Ten Emperor Sovereigns united, yet they couldn't even block a single move from the opponent!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You may die……

With one move he defeated the crowd; Henren stepped forward, flipped his wrist, and struck down again.

"How dare you, rats!

Accompanied by a loud shout, the old man from Sword God Heaven previously appeared abruptly, blocking in front, his long sword transforming into a galaxy.

"Emperor Sovereign? He also has Emperor Sovereign strength?

Zhang Xuan's pupils constricted.

This old man originally followed behind the youth; I thought he was merely a retainer, at most titled Divine King, but upon displaying his power I discovered he is actually a powerful Emperor Sovereign!

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

"He himself is the Emperor Sovereign of Sword God Heaven……" Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth as she struggled to stand.

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

"He is……" Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when space twisted; immediately she saw this Emperor Sovereign of Sword God Heaven likewise flung backward, landing not far away, blasting a large crater.

Zhang Xuan's current strength and comprehension of the Sword Dao far surpass him, making him unable to resist; even if his cultivation is not weak and his swordsmanship exquisite, he is still no match.

"Hahaha, Emperor Sovereign, you're just a bunch of mud chickens and tile dogs! Today I will destroy the Nine Heavens, destroy this Divine Realm, and trample all rules flat!

Having defeated the Emperor Sovereign of Sword God Heaven, Henren laughed maniacally; the surrounding space continually collapsed, casting him as demonic or monstrous.

"What should we do?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists.

Just now he and his clone both exerted their utmost combat power; even Luo Ruoxi before him used her strongest technique, yet they could not block a single move of the opponent……

Could it be that no one in the Divine Realm 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 returned, the Heavenly Dao would be completely whole, perhaps able to repair the loophole and expel the Ruthless Person.

Just like the human immune system.

When the immune system is complete, viruses come and are easily driven off; when it is damaged, it cannot resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person will die from it.

Just……

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

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

Even with the strongest immune system, what can be done?

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 already beyond what the Heavenly Dao can contend with.

"This……" Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of loss appearing on her pure jade-like face: "Yeah…… we can't 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.

"Want to escape?" The Ruthless Person snorted coldly and pressed down.

Boom!

Luo Ruoxi fell from the air.

"You……" Zhang Xuan's sword technique was unleashed again, sword intent shining forth.

Ding ding ding!

Again blocked by the Ruthless Person.

"You guys go quickly, I'll hold him off……"

Knowing they wanted to find another way to save the Divine Realm rather than flee, the avatar 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 recklessly blocking the rear without fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eye sockets reddened, but he also knew now was not the time to talk; he grabbed Luo Ruoxi, his body flickered, he tore through space, and in the next moment they appeared within 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?"

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, 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 turned out to be her father's.

This also explains why the thought left by the Undying Emperor, upon seeing the pendant, immediately acknowledged him as 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 is the blood in the pendant that has restored my clarity—could it be that not only is she an Emperor, her father is too, and even stronger?

If that is the case, why would he be unconscious?

Also, it requires the defective Heavenly Dao to make him awake?

"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, the Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts—the orderly Heavenly Dao and the defective Heavenly Dao entered the spatial turbulence, while I acted as steward of the natural Heavenly Dao, 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, studied the Spring and Autumn Classic, seeking a way to defeat Master Kong! When fighting Master Kong, entrusting him with this matter was also the case."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

Not long after meeting the Master Teacher Continent, the girl before him had already told him her story—to save a close relative; he hadn't understood then, but now he suddenly comprehended.

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

Acting as steward and this kind of fusion within the body are two different concepts.

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

Zhang Xuan relaxed his breath.

Putting it that way, I only need to separate the defective 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 suffer harm.

"If I separate the defective Heavenly Dao from within me, your father can come back to life, and even slay the Ruthless Person, right?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

"This…… I'm not sure either……"

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

The Divine Realm is the foundation of her father; now that the foundation is like this, even if he awakens, can he truly defeat that powerful Ruthless Person?

Really hard to say!

"It seems you can't be certain either. In that case, seeking others is less effective than seeking oneself… we have only to find a way ourselves!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth: "You, I, and the clone, united with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, if we cooperate with Kong Shi, we might yet win!"

"Master Kong? He…" Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"Kong Shi is already dead, right! He hasn't truly died; if my guess is correct, you slew him, but it was a method to break free from Heaven's Dao… unsurprisingly, he should be, like Wei Changfeng, an Innate Fetal Soul Body!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng, he understood: the so‑called preservation of spiritual intelligence by Kong Shi must be the same as his, an Innate Fetal Soul Body.

He can remain unfazed within the fetal state.

Add the pre‑placed contingency, resurrection is only a matter of time.

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

"If we look back, we'd know. Your guess is right; he should have already recovered, otherwise his students wouldn't have missed even the Tide Sea…" Zhang Xuan said.

Kong Shi's students—Ziyuan Gusheng and others—are all powerful; even without Imperial Lords' aid they would surely find a way into the Tide Sea, yet none have been seen.

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

And that important matter is clearly to restore Kong Shi.

"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 Kong Shi's dwelling and indeed saw an old man sitting cross‑legged, hovering in the air. Seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly: "You've come!"

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

"This teacher of ten thousand generations truly has not disappointed me!"

Just as predicted, he revived while everyone's attention was focused on the Tide Sea.

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

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

"I concealed the Heaven's Dao and prepared a contingency in advance; the nameless giant in the Ghost Pool is what I left behind. When you slew it that day, I seized the chance to break free from Heaven's Dao's shackles, re‑condense my flesh, and have just now recovered!"

Kong Shi smiled faintly.

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

Decades of time have passed.

"Our three of us are strong, but defeating Hen Ren is not that easy…"

Seeing that Kong Shi 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 Kong Shi would change nothing.

It still wouldn't alter the situation!

"Our individual strength, even when combined, truly isn't a match for them, but… what if we fuse everyone's power into a single person?"

Kong Shi looked over with a smile.

"Fuse into one person's body?"

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

"That palm can tear the Divine Realm, shatter Heaven's Dao; its strength is indisputable. Hen Ren absorbed all that power and also devoured fifty years of the Divine Realm's spiritual energy. Relying solely on strength, our dozen‑plus Imperial Lords, each alone, are certainly no match…"

Kong Shi said, "But when united and concentrated in one person… perhaps not."

"How to concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi looked over.

It's easy to say, hard to do.

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

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

Kong Shi said.

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

"The Lingxi Emperor Venerable cultivates freedom and natural transcendence! Yet with a father and Heaven's Dao'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, right?"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi was speechless.

During the battle, that intention did exist, so at the start of their duel each kept a contingency, like a sparring session rather than a life‑or‑death fight.

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

Kong Shi 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 race, the current situation wouldn't exist…"

Had the Yiling race been completely eradicated back then, Hen Ren could not have revived, and this predicament wouldn't have arisen.

"So I'm also unsuitable! As for Zhang Xuan, his cultivation method aligns perfectly, without flaw. He values living true to himself; even if he dies, as long as he lives without regret, his heart is open. Such a person has greater tolerance and more room for growth; only then can he ascend higher and farther!"

Kong Shi continued.

"When alive, one should return; when dead, one should long forever!"

If one cares not even for death, how could anything else bind them?

"This…" Zhang Xuan frowned, about to speak, when Kong Shi's eyes flashed: "No need to decline; time is short, even if we trained others, I doubt anyone could surpass you! Though the Lingxi Emperor Venerable lacks Heaven's Dao fragments, he has long mastered Heaven's Dao and holds his own understanding; I orderly control Heaven's Dao. If we infuse you with that power, your body will possess the full strength of Heaven's Dao! Combined with the clone's Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, we can set the Nine Heavens, command the universe, battle the Nine Heavens, and annihilate all!"

"Alright!"

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

Boom!

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

Zhang Xuan's body stiffened; he seemed to instantaneously become Heaven's Dao itself, soaring above the Nine Heavens.

His soul, flesh, and true Qi were baptized in an instant, growing ever stronger and more mighty.

……

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

He sent Luo Qiqi, the clone, and the others flying, and Hen Ren gave a cold smile.

The power that the clone and the numerous emperors unleashed together was indeed strong, but compared to him, it was still somewhat weaker.

The Tide Sea extracted the spiritual energy from the Divine Realm outside the city, almost completely devouring it; now these energies have become his nourishment, every move wielding the power to destroy heaven and earth—these emperors and gods, though they represent the Divine Realm's pinnacle, are still unable to withstand a single blow.

At this moment, Hen Ren seemed to embody the entire Divine Realm, and none could withstand him.

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

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

"Just you? You're not worthy!"

Hen Ren 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 Emperor let out a loud roar, transforming into the White Tiger's true form and arriving before him.

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

Profound Darkness Great Emperor's true form is a great turtle, 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.

Heaven and earth seemed to freeze in an instant.

Bang bang bang bang!

With four consecutive palms, Hen Ren 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, just as he was about to strike down and kill everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten and stop in midair.

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

Immediately, amidst everyone's shocked gazes, a figure slowly walked out 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 a lot……"

Hen Ren halted, his gaze solemn.

He evidently also failed to understand how, 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 it; I don't believe you can block me……"

With a cold snort, Hen Ren struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his longsword and went to meet him.

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

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

At the Free Heaven Cave Master's station, Luo Ruoxi looked over, full of worry.

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

However, the level is what it is; 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!"

After a moment of silence, the Cave Master said.

More than ten emperors united could not defeat Hen Ren, even if they transferred all their power to him, wanting to win would still not be easy.

The reason they did this is because…… only by concentrating power in a single person could 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 once told her the same words, 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, the Cave Master laughed and said.

……

Bang bang bang!

After several consecutive strikes, Zhang Xuan's tiger's mouth split open, his chest bearing a huge, hideous wound.

Just as the Cave Master said, even if their combined power formed a complete heavenly way within him, he was still no match.

"Hah, I thought you were formidable, but that's all!" Hen Ren gave a cold smile.

"Anyway, you're not my opponent; you'll be killed sooner or later. Since that's the case, I want to die under your strongest attack……" Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan stopped advancing, instead gazing at Hen Ren before him.

"Fine, I'll grant it—I'll give you your strongest attack……"

Hearing that, Hen Ren froze for a moment, then let out a cold snort and raised his palm.

Whoosh!

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

Sure enough, it was the strongest attack; the entire Divine Realm rumbled, as if it could barely endure, and a huge pit was blasted out once again.

With his eyes tightly shut, 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 go mad.

Yun Chi Great Emperor and the others also widened their eyes, trembling incessantly.

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

The original intention was for him to break through his shackles and strike to surpass the Emperor Realm; why didn't he resist and instead willingly go to his death?

This would be wasting their good intentions.

No, it's the Undying Emperor's undead method.

While they were wondering, Kong Shi suddenly spoke.

Everyone immediately saw Zhang Xuan's head explode, even his soul shatter; 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 intact 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 the soul?

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

After being reborn from fire, Zhang Xuan actually had no Heavenly Dao Library within him, no interference from the Heavenly Dao, and had broken free from the Heavenly Dao!

How did he do it?

Kong Shi also couldn't believe it.

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

This person before us, having been slain only once, completely escaped; 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 lift it, the servant is forever bound... the Heavenly Dao Library is the same; it can be said to be an enhanced version of the contract.

Binding the soul, the undead cannot break free.

But... the Ruthless Person used that special power to break free of the soul contract; the specific method, Zhang Xuan had previously inquired about in detail; perhaps then he had already conceived the idea.

Therefore he deliberately risked death, letting the opponent unleash their strongest power to attack him.

By relying on this power, he was reborn from fire; unexpectedly, it indeed achieved great success!

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; suddenly he gestured, and an 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 is him.

He lightly stepped on 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, the avatar and self perfectly merged, indistinguishable, thus equivalent to him mastering this power.

Moreover, with the cultivation fused with the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, he had already reached the peak realm; now there is a loosening, as if he could break through at any moment.

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

With a smile on his face, Zhang Xuan muttered to himself.

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

Is it that people see the world and then the world exists, or is it that the world existed first and then people came?

Is it the wind moving, or the heart moving!

This problem has troubled countless people since ancient times.

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 affection of all beings! It is the intertwined emotions of 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 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 seemed to touch a brand-new world and the great door; the soul received rapid nourishment.

Countless chaotic qi surged over; the flesh 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 Person didn't expect that his full-force attack not only failed to slay him, but actually fulfilled him; angry, he cried "wah wah!" and shouted angrily, then attacked again.

You resent the lofty Emperor, not being saved in the spatial turbulence, is emotion; feeling that you were once my servant, containing humility and anger, is emotion; wanting to destroy the Divine Realm to vent anger, is emotion; wanting to become stronger, likewise is emotion... emotion controls you, how can you defeat me and not be controlled by me?

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

The originally invincible Ruthless Person was bound together 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 full of panic: 'Master Zhang, I am your servant, don't kill me... I am willing to offer my soul as sacrifice...'

Now saying these is already too late... He smiled slightly 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 own 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 finished, he immediately felt a sharp pain throughout his body.

Bang!

In an instant, the eruption turned into countless spiritual energy that surged toward every corner of the divine realm.

Previously, all the power swallowed by the Tidal Sea now returned, revitalizing the once‑exhausted wilderness.

"This..."

"You killed him just like that?"

Yun Chi the Great Emperor, the Immortal Emperor, the Exquisite Fairy, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief.

Just moments ago they had crossed blows with the ruthless one, knowing how terrifying he was; yet such a powerful figure was wiped out with a casual gesture—this Zhang Xuan… just what level has he reached?

Could there truly be a realm above the Emperor?

"He succeeded..."

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi 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 just been separated from his own body still hovering in the air, Zhang Xuan gave a light smile 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 deep bell‑like resonance continued as the collapsing divine realm slowly healed, visible 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 one's death, gradually revived.

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

The rift in the Tidal Sea, along with the completion of the Heavenly Dao, has already been restored; the divine realm will return to its former prosperity—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 was taken aback.

Earlier I had sensed his unfathomable depth; now I realized he was only a hair's breadth above me, having already reached the pinnacle of the Emperor realm—far stronger than Luo Ruoxi before.

"Just call me by my name; I am Nie Dong!" the youth declared, a fearless sword intent emanating from him as he spoke lightly.

"Nie Dong?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

It 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 Dong, 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, with raised brows that gave an inscrutable, profound impression.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

The youth before him proved even stronger, having likewise broken through the Emperor's shackles, and his cultivation was 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; who would have thought 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 said with a light smile.

Zhang Xuan could not believe it.

The divine realm was actually created by this person before him?

Just how strong must his power be?

"Wrong—if the divine realm is your creation and you are the Heavenly Dao, why let the ruthless one run rampant without intervening?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

"If I hadn't broken through, the divine realm would likely have collapsed utterly; 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 should be."

"Although I've never seen such a being, since he could cultivate to this level, perhaps others could as well—perhaps even stronger."

"Just like the one before me."

"I once suspected that greater beings existed 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: "At that 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 incarnate Heavenly Dao was split apart."

"Such a situation, I wish to restore—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 the divine realm… doing it alone is nearly impossible. 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 shook.

"No wonder I could transmigrate here; I never expected 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. I, too, merely had a thought, never imagining you could truly succeed..."

"I…" Zhang Xuan's face flushed: "If not for Master Kong, I could never have reached this level..."

"Without Master Kong's selfless dedication, achieving my present state would be utterly impossible."

I gave him the opportunity; he just didn't seize it. The duel with Lingxi was actually his best chance to break through, but unfortunately he chose to retreat, thinking he had a backup plan and could escape unscathed. In reality, he lost his brave and diligent spirit. When facing someone superior to us, if he lacks even this spirit, how could he possibly stand against them?

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan remained silent.

He had watched their battle back then, and Kong Shi indeed lacked decisiveness.

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

Unfortunately, in that moment of hesitation, he missed the chance to advance.

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

Could it be that he doesn't care at all 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, you could actually save someone?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan gave a bitter smile.

Breaking through to Emperor and being an Emperor are two different concepts; if he truly wished to act, he could indeed save someone at the critical moment, and guarantee they wouldn't suffer a single injury.

"Lingxi is the daughter of my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, so her assumed surname is Luo… To make her believe me, I've kept up the pretense of being unconscious, without letting emotions interfere."

Nie Yun let out a bitter laugh: "I guess I've been harsh enough as a father… Let's do this: you explain things to her, after all her thoughts have already turned toward you; 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 raise heaven and earth."

Seeing this unreliable father before him, Zhang Xuan's cheek twitched, and he had no choice but to agree: "All right…"

There was no way to refuse—after all, he had eloped with someone else'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. That my daughter can be with you also brings me, as a father, some comfort."

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