Chapter 1062: Prehistoric Beast

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

It's like the undying Emperor Xiao Huangji—he was once only a Divine King, now an Emperor, yet he also cannot resolve such an agreement.

To prevent that guy from reneging and causing backlash, Mingshi Dalu once specifically decreed that even if the other party can detach from the Heaven's Dao Scroll, the soul‑bound pact cannot be broken!

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

Henren Dao.

A soul contract is built upon the foundation of Heaven's Dao; a special power that even the divine realm's Dao can dissolve can dissolve a soul contract—if handled properly, what difficulty remains?

"I see…" Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

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

After the explanation, Henren 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 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 transmission.

"Prepare to act!" With all doubt gone, Zhang Xuan inhaled deeply, raised his long sword abruptly: "Since that's the case, let's see the true skill beneath my hand!"

Boom—!

The mightiest sword intent surged forth once more.

Life returns to its source, death lingers in longing!

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

This sword technique, though not yet at the Emperor's level of comprehension, contains all the practitioner's lingering obsessions and pushes the Heavenly Sentiment Technique within his body to its limit.

Whoosh!

One sword slash split Henren's attack in two.

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

Her sword style resembled that of the young man 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, Henren 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 violently.

Puff! Puff!

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

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

What realm has this guy actually reached?

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

From afar, it exuded undeniable grandeur.

Refining the Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, his cultivation is in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's.

A single punch rose, its force soaring to the nine heavens.

Clashing with Henren, he was likewise flung backward, unable to block a single move.

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead.

Having attained Emperor status, the clone still refuses to abandon its pretentious nature…

Such flamboyant show‑off is still no match for concentrating power, which yields greater might!

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

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

The remaining six great Emperors each deployed their own tactics.

The seven Emperors united, destroying heaven and earth; no realm could withstand them, yet the opponent was Henren who had absorbed the special power. As the attack drew near, the black hole suddenly expanded, devouring the force in the blink of an eye, then launching 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 can this guy be so powerful?

"You may die…"

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

"You rat‑brats dare!"

Accompanied by a thunderous shout, the elder who had once followed 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 trailed the young man, thought to be merely an attendant who could at most be titled Divine King; when his power manifested, it turned out he too was an Emperor‑strength strongman!

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

"He himself is Jian Shen Tian's Emperor…" Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth as she struggled to stand.

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

"He is…" Luo Ruoxi began to answer when space warped; immediately they saw Jian Shen Tian's Emperor also flung backward, landing nearby and gouging a huge crater.

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

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

Having defeated Jian Shen Tian's Emperor, Henren laughed wildly as the surrounding space continuously collapsed, framing him like a demon.

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

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

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

Let him destroy the world?

"The only way… is to return your flaw in the 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 mend the breach, and I will expel the Ruthless One.

Just like the human immune system.

When the immune system is whole, a virus comes and is easily driven off; when it is damaged, 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 is restored to wholeness, I doubt it can suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Viruses can be slain by the immune system, but… what about a tiger?

Even the strongest 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 already beyond what the Heavenly Dao can contend with.

"This…" Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of loss appearing on her pure jade-like face: "Yes… there is no way to suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is whole, he can awaken and slay this one, and that is not difficult!"

"Him?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I will take you to see him, in the Heaven of Ease…" Taking a deep breath, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth, turned, and flew forward.

"Trying to escape?" The Ruthless One snorted coldly and pressed down.

Bang!

Luo Ruoxi fell from the sky.

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

Ding ding ding!

Once again blocked by the Ruthless One.

"You hurry and leave; I will hold him off…"

Knowing they intended to find another way to save the Divine Realm rather than flee, the avatar and the Undying Emperor Venerable shouted loudly and stepped forward, while Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to her original form as the Tranquil Void Pearl.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone selflessly block the rear without fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes 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 Heaven of Ease.

The Heaven of Ease now lacks its former ease; the Divine Realm has collapsed, and everywhere is in chaos.

"Where is the one 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, and the Undying Emperor was once his beast companion…" 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 is 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 power surpassing that of an emperor?"

He could not 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 she is an emperor, but her father is as well, and even stronger?

If that is the case, why would he fall into a coma?

And does it require a flaw in the Heavenly Dao for him to regain consciousness?

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

Luo Ruoxi clenched her delicate fist.

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

"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 spatial turbulence, while I took charge of the Natural Heavenly Dao to maintain the Divine Realm's balance. To revive him, we must gather the scattered parts… that is why I am so resolute, cannot fail! I therefore entered the Great Master Continent, studied the Spring and Autumn Grand Canon, seeking a way to defeat Confucius! When I fought Confucius, the favor I asked of him was also this."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

Having only just met the Great Master Continent, the girl before me had already told me her story of wanting to save a close relative; I did not 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 steward of the Natural Heavenly Dao… you have no fragments of the Heavenly Dao within you?" Suddenly realizing something off in her words, Zhang Xuan looked over.

Acting as 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 breathed a sigh of relief.

In that case, I only need to separate the Flawed Heavenly Dao from within myself; her death is not required.

Although I am unwilling to accept such a 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 the Ruthless One, right?" Zhang Xuan looked at her.

"This… I am not certain either…"

Raising her head to gaze at 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 Ruthless One?

Really hard to say!

Looks like you can't be sure either. In that case, it's better to rely on oneself than to ask others… We have only ourselves to figure out a way! Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth: "You, me, and my clone, joining forces with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, if we also coordinate with Master Kong, we might not be unable to win!"

"Master Kong? He…" Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"Master Kong is already dead, right! He didn't truly die; if my guess is correct, he was slain by you, merely a method to escape 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 that Master Kong's so-called preserving consciousness should be the same as him, an Innate Fetal Soul Body.

One can remain undeluded in the womb.

Moreover, with the backup prepared in advance, resurrection is merely a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi stared, seemingly she hadn't expected it to be this way.

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

Master Kong's disciples, such as Ziyuan Gu Sheng and others, are all formidable; 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 awaiting, intending 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 obviously to let Master Kong recover.

"This…" Luo Ruoxi's heart jolted, and she suddenly understood.

"Let's go!"

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

Not Master Kong, then who is it!

This teacher of myriad generations truly did not disappoint!

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

"I concealed the Heavenly Dao, prepared a backup in advance; that nameless giant in the Nether Spirit Pool is what I left behind, slain by you that day—I seized the opportunity to break free from the Heavenly Dao's bonds, recondense my fleshly body, and have only just now recovered!"

Master Kong gave a faint smile.

He is proficient in time abilities; it seems only a day or two have passed in the Divine Realm, but in fact, to regain his strength, he has undergone an unknown length of time.

He has even accumulated several decades of time.

"Our three strengths are considerable, but wanting to surpass the Ruthless One is not that easy…"

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

It's not to boost others' prestige or dampen our own morale; it's simply the fact.

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

It likewise cannot change the situation!

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

Master Kong smiled and looked over.

"Merge into one person?"

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

"That palm can tear apart the Divine Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao; its strength is undeniable. The Ruthless One has absorbed all that power and also devoured the Divine Realm's spiritual energy for fifty years. Based solely on strength, even our dozen or so Emperors, taken individually, are certainly no match…"

Master Kong said: "But if we unite and concentrate the power into one person… perhaps it might not be so!"

"How to concentrate?"

Luo Ruoxi looked over.

Easy to say, hard to do.

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

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

Master Kong said.

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

"The Lingxi Emperor cultivates freedom and ease, transcending nature! But with the constraints of father and Heavenly Dao, and with beloved ones, one can never truly transcend! If I'm not mistaken, when we fought earlier, you also once gave up, intending to let me slay you!"

Master Kong said.

Luo Ruoxi was speechless.

During the battle, such an intention indeed existed; thus their exchanges, at the start, each held back, akin to sparring, not a life-and-death fight.

"Being unable to transcend, one naturally cannot exert their utmost strength; even with abundant True Qi, they cannot strike that supreme realm! As for me…"

Master Kong nodded and said: "Cherishing all beings, wishing to save the world, yet unwilling for others to sacrifice for me—excessive kindness is also a flaw! If one were a bit more ruthless, exterminating the Foreign Spirit Clan, the present situation would not have arisen…"

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

"So, I am also unsuitable! Zhang Xuan, however, cultivates a method that aligns with his heart, without flaw. He focuses on living true to himself; even if he dies, as long as he lives without guilt, his mind is at ease. Such a person possesses greater inclusiveness and greater room for development; only thus can one reach higher and farther!"

Master Kong continued.

"In life, one should return; in death, one should long for!"

"If even death is of no concern, how could one be bound by other matters?"

"This…" Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when he saw Master Kong's piercing gaze: "No need to decline; first say there's not enough time, go train others—even if there were time, I doubt anyone could do better than you! Though the Lingxi Emperor's body lacks fragments of the Heavenly Dao, he has long mastered the Heavenly Dao, possessing his own understanding of it; I govern the orderly Heavenly Dao. If we infuse our power into you, you will wield complete Heavenly Dao strength! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, we can indeed determine the Nine Heavens, grasp the universe, battle the nine skies, and annihilate all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing the other party had made a decision, further explanation would be useless; 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 body stiffened; his whole person seemed to instantaneously embody the Heavenly Dao, soaring above the Nine Heavens.

Soul, fleshly body, 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, and Henren gave a cold smile.

The power unleashed by the clones and the many Emperors combined was indeed strong, but compared to him, it was still somewhat weaker.

The Tide Sea drained the spiritual energy outside the city in the Divine Realm, almost completely devouring it; now this power has become his nourishment—every move he makes carries the ability to destroy heaven and earth. These Emperors and God Kings, though they represent the pinnacle of the Divine Realm, are still no match for him.

At this moment, Henren seemed to embody the entire Divine Realm, and none could stand against 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 huge five-clawed golden dragon, and lunged at him from the air.

"Just 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!"

Fumeng Emperor also let out a great roar, transforming into his true form, a white tiger, and appeared before him.

The Immortal Emperor revealed his true form, the Immortal Fire Phoenix, and flames blazed across the sky.

Xuanming Great Emperor's true form was a giant turtle, as if holding up the heavens.

The Four Divine Beasts, guardians of the four extremes of the Divine Realm, simultaneously revealed their true forms, and the collapsing Divine Realm slowed down.

Heaven and earth seemed to freeze in an instant.

Boom boom boom boom!

After 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 annihilate 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 stepped 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.

"He's improved a lot..."

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 massive 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 as chaotic currents surged everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

At the station of the Zaitian Kongshi, Luo Ruoxi looked over, full of worry.

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

However, as long as the power is sufficient, one day they can fully recover.

"With the current strength, wanting to surpass... is very 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 Henren, and even if they transferred all their power to him, overcoming him would still not be easy.

The reason we do this is because... only by concentrating power in a single individual 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 definitely can... he has an unyielding heart! And arrogance toward this world!"

Seeing her doubt, Master Kong chuckled.

……

Boom boom boom!

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

As Master Kong 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!" Henren gave a cold smile.

"Anyway, you're not my match; 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 and instead gazed at Henren before him.

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

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

Clatter!

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

Surely the strongest attack, the entire Divine Realm rumbled, as if it could barely endure, and another huge pit was blasted out.

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

Boom!

His skull burst open, and his soul scattered 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 intention was for them to break through the shackles and assault the realm beyond the Emperor level; why didn't they resist, willingly facing death?

In this way, wouldn't it be a waste of their good intentions?

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

While they were wondering, Kong Shi suddenly spoke.

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

"They... 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 in fire, Zhang Xuan actually had no Heavenly Dao Library inside, no interference from the Heavenly Dao, and had broken free from the Heavenly Dao!

"How did they do it?"

Kong Shi also couldn't believe it.

The Heavenly Dao and the soul fused together, indistinguishable; to break free, they had to have their soul scatter and, with the help of the Nether Soul Pool, recondense their soul.

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

"I understand... they used the method of the Ruthless Person to break the soul contract..." Luo Ruoxi realized.

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

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

But... the Ruthless Person, using that special power, broke free of the soul contract; the specific method, Zhang Xuan had inquired about in detail before, likely already had the idea then.

That's why they deliberately fought to the death, letting it unleash its strongest power to attack them.

With this power, they were reborn in fire; unexpectedly, it indeed succeeded greatly!

"Now I see, this is the method to break through the Emperor..."

Zhang Xuan, walking out of the flames, showed a faint smile, as if understanding something; suddenly gesturing, a side avatar instantly turned back into a lotus flower and flew over.

In an instant, it perfectly merged with itself.

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

They lightly tapped the ground with their foot.

The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized.

The Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, which appears when the Nine Heavens are born, can stabilize the Nine Heavens; at this moment, the avatar and self perfectly merge, indistinguishable, which equals them mastering this power.

Moreover, with the cultivation fused with the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, they had already reached the peak realm, now showing signs of loosening, as if they 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!"

Zhang Xuan murmured with a smile.

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

Is it that people see the world and thus the world exists, or does the world come first and then people?

Is it the wind moving, or the heart moving!

This question has troubled countless people since ancient times.

Of course, now... none of this matters 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 comes the 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 affections, for my use..."

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

The Emperor's shackles, broken through!

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

Countless chaotic qi surged in, and the flesh body also rapidly increased.

Before, only by absorbing spiritual power could one 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 that their full-force attack would not only fail to slay them but instead fulfill them; angry, they cried 'wah-wah!' and, with a furious shout, attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor, not saving yourself in the spatial turbulence, that is emotion; feeling that you were once my servant, containing humility and anger, that is emotion; wanting to destroy the divine realm to vent anger, that is emotion; wanting to become stronger, likewise emotion... emotion controls you, how could you overcome me and not be controlled by me?"

Zhang Xuan gave a faint smile, their voice growing faster and louder, palm lightly grasping.

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, they will be used by them, controlled by them!

"You..."

The Ruthless Person's eyes filled with panic: "Zhang Shi, I am your servant, don't kill me... I am willing to offer my soul as a sacrifice..."

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

Mastering the emotions of the world, servants and such meant nothing to them anymore.

Having killed so many god-level beings, hurt their own girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and so many friends—how could they possibly be forgiven today!

"No..."

Feeling his decisiveness, the ruthless person's pupils contracted; before his words ended, he immediately felt a sharp pain all over his body.

Bang!

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

Previously, the power swallowed by the Tide Sea now returned in full, reviving the once‑barren wilderness.

"This..."

"You killed him just like that?"

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

Just moments ago they had crossed blows 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 progressed?

Could there truly be a higher 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 "flaw in the Heavenly Dao" that had been split 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 toll, the continually collapsing Divine Realm slowly recovered visible to the naked eye, and the chaotic currents also reconverged.

The collapsing Divine Realm finally halted, and the withered spiritual energy, along with the ruthless person's death, gradually revived.

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

The rift 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, over here..."

Having just finished these, a voice sounded in his mind; Zhang Xuan startled, then 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 it was him, Zhang Xuan blinked in surprise.

He had always felt this person was unfathomable; now he realized that, aside from a hair's breadth, he had already reached the pinnacle of Emperor‑level power—far surpassing Luo Ruoxi's previous 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.

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 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.

He then saw another youth.

His appearance was not much older, his eyebrows lifted, giving an inscrutable, profound impression.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

The youth before him proved even stronger than he, having likewise broken through the Emperor's shackles, with a cultivation far deeper and more substantial!

"I am Nie Yun!" the youth said with a light smile, adding, "That is… Nie Lingxi, the father of the Luo Ruoxi you spoke of!"

"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; he never imagined it would be such a young man.

"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 hardly unreasonable!" Nie Yun said with a faint smile.

Zhang Xuan could not believe it.

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

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 at him.

"If it weren't for my own breakthrough, 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 at him lightly: "Do you think… there exists an even more powerful being above the Divine Realm?"

"Well…" Zhang Xuan paused: "I suppose there must be."

"Although I've never seen such a level, if he can cultivate to this height, perhaps others can as well—and perhaps even stronger."

Just like the youth before him.

"I once suspected that a mightier being lay above the Divine Realm, so I strained my senses to the limit—ultimately drawing a backlash from a higher world… a palm smashed down from the void!"

Nie Yun looked over: "Back then, if I had dodged, the entire Divine Realm would likely have been obliterated, leaving not a single living thing… so I blocked the strike, but in doing so, my incarnate Heavenly Dao was split apart."

"I merely wish to restore this with a single thought, but I understand that to truly transcend the Divine Realm's shackles and investigate where that palm came from—and what lies beyond it—I cannot do it alone. So I want to see whether any life can break through the Emperor's limits and reach my level."

"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—does that mean my transmigration is also because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart jolted.

"No wonder I could come over—I never imagined it was all due to this person before me."

"Hehe!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly, saying, "Since I belong to this world, I naturally hold reverence for it; breaking 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 devotion, attaining my present state would be utterly impossible.

I gave him the chance; he just didn't seize it. His duel with Lingxi was actually his best opportunity to break through, but he chose to retreat, thinking he had a fallback and could withdraw unscathed—in reality he lost his brave, diligent spirit. Facing someone who surpasses us, if he doesn't even have this spirit, how could he hope to stand against them?

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan remained silent.

He had seen their battle back then; Kong Shi was indeed somewhat lacking in decisiveness.

Maybe he just didn't want to kill Luo Ruoxi.

Unfortunately, in that instant, he missed the opportunity 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 even care about his daughter's life or death?

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

"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 the person at the critical moment, and guarantee they wouldn't suffer even a scratch.

"Lingxi is the child born from my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, so her assumed surname is Luo... In order to make her believe, not letting emotions interfere, she has continued to think I am still in a coma up to now."

Nie Yun gave a wry laugh: "My father really is ruthless... Well, let you explain this to her; after all, her thoughts have already turned to 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'll cause an uproar."

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

There's no choice but to agree; who let him elope with 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 able to be with you, as a father, I can also feel relieved."

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