Chapter 1068

Soul contract, matching souls; as long as one does not dissolve it, even if the other's methods reach the heavens, it cannot be undone.

Just like the Undying Emperor Xiao Huang Ji, who was merely a God King before and is now an Emperor, he likewise cannot resolve this agreement.

To prevent this guy from changing his mind and causing a backlash, the Famous Master Continent once specially stipulated that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao's records, they could not break free from the soul's agreement!

"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 this contract easy to undo…… As long as there is sufficient power, bombarding the location of the contract will achieve it!"

Ruthless Dao.

The soul contract is founded upon the Heavenly Dao; even special powers capable of dissolving the Divine Realm's Heavenly Dao 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, the Ruthless One said no more; his aura became ever more ancient and distant, the black hole behind him grew larger, obviously having devoured an unknown amount of power while speaking, nourishing himself.

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

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

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

Boom—

The strongest sword intent was unleashed once again.

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

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

This sword move, though not reaching the Emperor's comprehension, contains all the obsessions in my heart, pushing the Heavenly If Has Feeling technique within my body to its limit.

Whoosh!

One sword cut the Ruthless One's attack in half.

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

Her swordsmanship somewhat resembles that of the youth from Jian Shen Tian, bearing an unstoppable momentum and the natural ease of the Great Dao.

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

With a light smile, the Ruthless One reached down again.

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.

Pfft! Pfft!

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

Despite their strength, they could not withstand it!

Just what realm has this guy reached?

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

From afar, it looked incredibly imposing.

Having refined the Nine Heavens Chaotic 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 the Ruthless One, he too was blown backward, unable to block a single move.

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead.

Having become an Emperor, the clone still hasn't changed its pretentious nature……

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

"Attack together, otherwise they'll die and we'll all die……"

Xiao Huang Ji let out a loud shout, crimson flames blazing, the sky seeming to be set ablaze.

The remaining six Emperors also each employed their methods.

The seven Emperors united, capable of destroying heaven and earth; yet any world before them could not withstand it, but the opponent was the Ruthless One who had absorbed special power—when his attack approached, the black hole suddenly expanded, in the blink of an eye devouring all the power, then launching a counterattack.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

Even the ten Emperors united could not block a single move of the opponent!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You may die……"

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

"How dare you, rats!"

Accompanied by a loud shout, the old man from Jian Shen Tian previously appeared abruptly, blocking before him, his long sword transforming into a galaxy.

"An Emperor? Does he also possess Emperor-level strength?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils constricted.

This old man originally followed behind the youth; I thought he was merely an attendant, at most holding the title of God King, but upon displaying his power I discovered he is actually a powerful Emperor!

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

"He himself is the Emperor of Jian Shen Tian……" Luo Ruoxi said, gritting her teeth as she struggled to stand.

"And…… the youth who taught me swordsmanship?" Zhang Xuan could no longer hold back.

"He is……" Luo Ruoxi was about to answer when space twisted, and immediately they saw the Emperor of Jian Shen Tian likewise blown backward, landing not far away and blasting out a large crater.

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

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

Having defeated the Emperor of Jian Shen Tian, the Ruthless One laughed maniacally, the surrounding space continually collapsing, casting him as demonic and monstrous.

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

Just now he and his clone had exerted their utmost combat power, even Luo Ruoxi before them had used her strongest technique, yet none could block a single move of the opponent……

Could it be that no one in the divine realm can stop this person before us?

Are we just going to 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 eyes reddening.

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

The library in my mind is itself part of the Heavenly Dao; once it returns, the Heavenly Dao becomes completely whole, perhaps allowing us to repair the loophole and expel the Ruthless One ourselves.

Just like the body's immune system.

When the immune system is whole, a virus comes and is easily driven off; when it's 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 recovers completely, we cannot 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 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 becomes whole, he can awaken and slay this person—it'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, flying forward.

"Want 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 still wanted to find a way to save the divine realm rather than flee, the clone and the Undying Emperor Venerable, with a loud shout, blocked the front, and Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to the true form of the Silent Void Pearl.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone selflessly blocking the rear without fear of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened, but he also knew now was not the time for more words; 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?"

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 own sacrifice!

"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 was similar to Luo Ruoxi's yet different; it turns out it's her father's.

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

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

He couldn't help but ask.

The library in turmoil is due to the blood in the pendant, which restored my clarity; could it be that not only is she an emperor, but her father is as well, and even stronger?

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

And why does it require a defect in the Heavenly Dao for him to awaken?

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

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

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

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father could not withstand that great hand, fell into a coma, and the Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts—the ordered Heavenly Dao and the defective Heavenly Dao entered the spatial turbulence; I acted as the steward of the Heavenly Dao's natural order, maintaining 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 Master Teacher Continent specifically, studying the Spring and Autumn Classic, seeking a way to defeat Master Kong! When I fought 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.

It turns out to be her father, and moreover the Heavenly Dao of the divine realm!

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

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

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

"I merely steward 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 myself; there's no need for her to die as well.

Although unwilling to accept such a fate, I also do not wish for the girl before me to suffer harm.

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

"This…… I'm not sure either……"

Luo Ruoxi looked up at the already-collapsed divine realm and hesitated.

The divine realm is my father's foundation; now that foundation is like this, even if he awakens, can he truly defeat that powerful Ruthless One?

Really hard to say!

It seems you can't be sure either. In that case, relying on others is worse than relying on ourselves—we have to figure it out on our own! Zhang Xuan clenched his teeth: "You, me, and my avatar, united with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, if we also coordinate with Master Kong, we might still be able to win!"

"Master Kong? He…" Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"Master Kong is dead, right? He didn't truly die—if my guess is correct, you killed him, but that was just a method to escape the Heavenly Dao… No surprise, he should be like Wei Changfeng, possessing an Innate Fetal Soul Body!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng made it clear—Master Kong's so-called retaining consciousness must be the same as his, an Innate Fetal Soul Body.

One can remain unconfused even in the womb.

Plus the contingency prepared in advance, revival is only a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi froze, apparently she hadn't expected it to be this way.

"Just go check and you'll see—my guess is right, he should have already recovered; otherwise, his disciples couldn't possibly have missed the Tide Sea…" Zhang Xuan said.

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

There must be something more important waiting—they intend 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, Zhang Xuan flicked his hand and reappeared at Master Kong's residence, where he indeed saw an old man sitting cross-legged, floating in midair. Seeing them arrive, the old man gave a slight smile: "You've come!"

Not Master Kong—who else could it be!

This teacher of myriad generations certainly hasn't disappointed himself!

Just as guessed, taking advantage of everyone's focus on the Tide Sea, he revived again.

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

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

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao, prepared a contingency in advance—the nameless giant in the Nether Soul Pool is what I left behind; the day you slew it, I seized the chance to break free of the Heavenly Dao's shackles, reformed my flesh, and have only just now fully recovered!"

Master Kong gave a faint smile.

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

He has even accumulated tens of years.

"Our threefold strength is considerable, but overcoming the Ruthless Person is no easy feat…"

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

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

Even with so many of us united just now, we couldn't stop the opponent; adding Master Kong wouldn't change anything.

It would likewise fail to alter the situation!

"Our individual strength, even when combined, is certainly no match for the enemy—but… what if we pooled everyone's power into a single person?"

Master Kong smiled and looked over.

"Fuse 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 and scatter the Heavenly Dao—its strength is undeniable. The Ruthless Person has absorbed all that power and even devoured fifty years of spiritual energy from the Divine Realm; judging by strength alone, even if each of us dozen-odd Emperors stepped forward individually, we'd certainly not be a match…"

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

"How to concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi looked over.

Easy to say, hard to do.

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

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

Master Kong said.

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

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

Master Kong said.

Luo Ruoxi was speechless.

During the fight, that intention indeed existed, so their initial exchanges were each holding back, more like sparring than a life‑or‑death battle.

"Unable to transcend, one cannot unleash one's greatest strength; even with abundant true qi, one cannot strike that supreme realm! As for me…"

Master Kong nodded: "Holding the world in one's heart, wishing to save all beings, yet unwilling to let others sacrifice for me—excessive compassion is also a flaw! If one were a bit more ruthless and exterminated the Foreign Spirit Clan, the present situation would not have arisen……"

"Had we been able to wipe out the Foreign Spirit Clan entirely back then, the Ruthless Person could not have revived, and we would not be in this predicament."

"So I'm not suited either! But Zhang Xuan's technique 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 ease. Such a person possesses greater tolerance and greater room for growth—only then can one 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 Master Kong's sharp gaze fell on him: "No need to decline—first, say there's not enough time to train others; even if there were, I doubt anyone could do better than you! Though the Lingxi Emperor's body lacks fragments of the Heavenly Dao, he has long mastered it and has his own understanding of it; I govern the orderly Heavenly Dao. If we pour our power into you, you will wield the complete might of the Heavenly Dao within! Combined with your avatar's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, we can surely establish the Nine Heavens, command the cosmos, battle the nine firmaments, and annihilate all things!"

"Alright!"

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

Boom—

Seated cross-legged, in the blink of an eye two mighty torrents of power surged in from either side.

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

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

……

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

He sent Luo Qiqi and the clones flying, the Ruthless One gave a cold smile.

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

The Tide Sea swallowed nearly all the spiritual energy outside the city of the Divine Realm; now this power has become his nourishment, every move wielding 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.

At this moment, the Ruthless One seemed to embody the entire Divine Realm, unstoppable by anyone.

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

Yun Chi Great Emperor manifested his true form, a gigantic five-clawed golden dragon, lunging at him from the sky.

"Just you? You're not worthy!"

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

"Old friend, wait for me!"

Fuman Emperor also let out a great roar, manifesting his true form as a White Tiger, appearing before him in the sky.

Undying Emperor, the true form of the Undying Fire Phoenix manifested, flames illuminating the sky.

Xuan Ming Great Emperor, his true form is a giant tortoise, as if holding up the heavens.

The Four Sacred Beasts, guardians of the four extremes of the Divine Realm, simultaneously manifested their true forms; the collapsing Divine Realm slowed down.

Heaven and earth seemed to freeze in an instant.

Bang bang bang bang!

With four consecutive palms, the Ruthless One subdued the four beasts, a fierce killing intent flashing in his eyes: "Since you seek death, I shall grant it…"

In the midst of the roar, as he was about to strike down and annihilate everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten, stopping in midair.

"Do you think you can kill them without asking me?"

Immediately, amid the shocked gazes of the crowd, 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 quite a bit…"

The Ruthless One halted, his gaze solemn.

He clearly didn't 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 me; I don't believe you can block my attack…"

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

Zhang Xuan raised his sword and went to meet him.

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

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

At the abode of the Free-and-Easy Heavenly Master, Luo Ruoxi watched anxiously.

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

Nevertheless, rank is just a rank; as long as the power is sufficient, one day they can fully recover.

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

After a moment of silence, the Master said.

Even a dozen Emperors united could not defeat the Ruthless One; even if they transferred all their power to him, overcoming him would still not be easy.

The reason they 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 Emperor?"

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 herself; could her beloved man do it?

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

Seeing her doubt, the Master smiled and said.

……

Bang bang bang!

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

Just as the Master said, even after fusing their two powers and forming a complete heavenly way within, he was still no match.

"Hah, thought you were something, but that's all!" the Ruthless One coldly laughed.

"Anyway, you're not my match; sooner or later I'll be killed. If so, I wish to die beneath your strongest attack…" Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan halted, ceasing his offense and instead gazing at the Ruthless One before him.

"Very well, I'll grant you that—your strongest attack…"

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

Whoosh!

An azure light appeared in his palm, then came crashing down.

Indeed the strongest attack, the entire Divine Realm resonated with a roar, as if it could barely endure, once more blasted with a huge crater.

His eyes tightly shut, 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 was nearly driven mad.

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

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi, upon seeing this scene, were all stunned.

The original intention was for him to break through his shackles and impact the realm beyond Emperor; why didn't he resist, instead willingly go to his death?

In this way, wouldn't it be wasting their good intentions?

No, it is the immortal method of the Undying Emperor...

While they were puzzled, Kong Shi suddenly spoke.

Everyone then 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 unharmed figure slowly stepped out.

He…… used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the flaw in the Heavenly Dao from the soul?

Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted.

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

How did he do that?

Kong Shi also was full of disbelief.

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

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

"I understand…… he used the Ruthless Person's method to break the soul contract……" Luo Ruoxi realized.

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

Once the soul is bound, even immortality will not free it.

But…… the Ruthless Person used that special power to break the soul contract; the specific method, Zhang Xuan had inquired about in detail before, likely he had already been thinking about it then.

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

With this power, he was reborn from the fire; unexpectedly, it turned out to be a great success!

Now I understand; this is the method to break through the Emperor...

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

In an instant, it perfectly merged with himself.

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

He lightly tapped the ground with his foot.

The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized.

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

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

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

Smiling, Zhang Xuan muttered to himself.

At the moment the Heavenly Dao Library separated from the soul, he came to understand.

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

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 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 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 as if he touched a brand-new world and the Great Door; his soul received rapid nourishment.

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

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 hadn't expected that his all-out attack would not only fail to slay him, but instead fulfill him; angry, he shouted "Wa-wa!" and, with a furious roar, 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 even stronger—also emotion…… emotion controls you; how could you possibly overcome me, not be controlled by me?"

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

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

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

"You……"

"Master 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……" Zhang Xuan gave a slight smile and shook his head.

Controlling the emotions of the world, servants and such already hold no meaning for him.

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

"No……"

Feeling his decisiveness, Hen Ren's pupils contracted; before his words finished, he instantly felt a wave of intense pain across his body.

Bang!

In an instant it exploded, turning into countless spiritual energies that surged into every corner of the Divine Realm.

Earlier, all the power the Tide Sea had devoured now returned in full, reviving the once‑withered wasteland with fresh vigor.

"This…"

"So that's how you kill?"

Yun Chi the Great Emperor, Bu Si the Emperor Lord, Ling Long the Fairy and the others all widened their eyes, unable to believe it.

They had just sparred with Hen Ren and knew his terror; such a mighty figure being erased so effortlessly—what level has Zhang Xuan truly reached?

Could there truly be a realm beyond the Emperor Lord?

"He succeeded…"

Kong Shi and Luo Ruoxi relaxed their clenched fists.

"This is part of the Heaven's Dao, so I will now return it…"

Seeing the "incomplete Heaven's Dao" that had just been separated from his own body still hovering in the air, Zhang Xuan gave a faint smile and snapped his fingers.

Buzz!

The library that has accompanied him since rebirth thunderously embedded itself into the sky of the Divine Realm.

With a bell‑like toll, the constantly collapsing Divine Realm began a visibly slow recovery, and the chaotic currents reconvened.

The collapsing Divine Realm finally halted, and the desiccated spiritual energy, along with Hen Ren's death, slowly revived.

"It seems the Divine Realm is about to usher in a new era of spiritual resurgence…" Zhang Xuan smiled.

The void left by the Tide Sea, now restored with the completion of the Heaven's Dao, means the Divine Realm will return to its former splendor—just a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, this way…"

Just after finishing that, a voice rang in his mind; Zhang Xuan froze for a moment, then took a step forward.

That step carried him an unknown distance, and he soon saw a young man standing before him.

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

"Senior, you…"

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was startled.

He had always seemed unfathomable, but now realized that he was only a hair's breadth away from Zhang Xuan, already having reached the pinnacle of the Emperor Lord, far surpassing Luo Ruoxi of before.

"Just call me by my name; I am… Nie Tong!" The young man's aura radiated relentless sword qi as he said calmly.

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

It was the first time he had heard that name.

"Come with me; I'll introduce you to my brother!" The youth named Nie Tong smiled faintly and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely behind, unaware how far they had flown, and stopped before a mountain peak.

Soon he saw another young man.

His appearance was only slightly older than his own; his eyebrows were slightly raised, giving an impression of profound inscrutability.

"Such power…" Zhang Xuan trembled.

The young man's strength before him was even greater, having also broken the Emperor Lord's shackles, and his cultivation was far deeper and more weighty!

"I am Nie Yun!" the youth smiled faintly and looked over: "In other words… Nie Lingxi, the father of Luo Ruoxi you mentioned!"

"Luo Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan shivered: "You… are the Heaven's Dao of the Divine Realm?"

Luo Ruoxi had previously said her father was the Heaven's Dao; she never imagined it would be a young man like this.

"In a single breath I merged with the Three Pure Ones, a portion of my soul became the Heaven's Dao! Moreover, I created this world, so calling me the Heaven's Dao is not unreasonable!" Nie Yun smiled lightly.

Zhang Xuan could not believe it.

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

Then how powerful must his strength be?

"That's not right. If you created the Divine Realm and you are the Heaven's Dao, why let Hen Ren run rampant without intervening…" Zhang Xuan asked.

If he hadn't broken through himself, the Divine Realm might have completely collapsed; why does this man ignore it?

He even cares about his daughter's life and death?

Without answering his question, Nie Yun looked over calmly: "Do you think… there exists a life above the Divine Realm that is even stronger?"

"This…" Zhang Xuan paused: "There should be, I suppose…"

Although he hadn't seen it, since he could cultivate to this level, perhaps others could as well, maybe even stronger.

Just like the one before him.

"I once suspected that a stronger life existed above the Divine Realm, so I strained to glimpse it, which ultimately provoked a backlash from a higher world… a palm that shattered the void!"

Nie Yun looked over: "If I had dodged then, the entire Divine Realm would likely have been erased, leaving not a single life… So I blocked the attack, but in doing so, my manifested Heaven's Dao was split apart."

"In this situation, I think restoration is just a thought, but… I understand that to truly transcend the Divine Realm's shackles and explore the origin of that palm, and what lies beyond the Divine Realm… is impossible for me alone. So I wish to see if any life can break the Emperor Lord's shackles and reach a level equal to mine!"

"Thus, I sent the scattered Heaven's Dao intention to the lowest world… bestowing it respectively upon souls originally belonging to this world and a soul not belonging to this world. And you, in the end, did not disappoint me!"

Nie Yun smiled.

"So the soul not belonging to this world… does that mean my crossing over was because of you?" Zhang Xuan felt a shock in his heart.

No wonder he could traverse here; it was all the work of the person before him.

"Hehe!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly, saying: "Being native to this world gives one reverence for it; to break the world's shackles is far harder. I merely had a fleeting thought and never expected you could truly succeed…"

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

(No text provided for line 360; translation ends at line 359 as the source ends.)

I gave him the opportunity; he just didn't seize it. His match with Lingxi was actually his best chance to break through, but he chose to retreat, thinking he had a backup and could withdraw unscathed. In fact he lost his brave, aggressive spirit—when facing someone superior to us, if he lacks even this much spirit, how could he hope to stand against them?

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan remained silent.

He had watched their battle back then, and Master Kong indeed lacked a bit in decisiveness.

Perhaps he simply wasn't willing 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 even care about his daughter's life or death?

"With me here, she won't die..." Nie Yun gave a faint smile: "Your strength is about the same as mine now. Do you think, with their strength, at a life‑or‑death moment, you could actually save someone?"

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

Breaking through to Emperor and being an Emperor are two different concepts; if he truly wished to intervene, he could indeed save 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 name bears the Luo surname… In order to make her believe me, to keep emotions out of it, she has continued to think I am still unconscious."

Nie Yun gave a wry laugh: "My father sure is harsh… Let's do this: you explain things to her, after all her thoughts have turned to you now; this old man of mine probably won't even remember… Haha, I'll stay out of sight for a while, otherwise I truly fear she'll cause an uproar."

Seeing this unreliable old man before him, Zhang Xuan twitched the corner of his mouth and could only reply, "All right…"

He had no choice but to agree—after all, he was the one who had run off with someone else's daughter.

"The Heaven's Path Library is a manifestation of my will; it is both foundation and shackle. If you can rely on your own ability to break through that shackle, it shows your ability and potential—your future is limitless. That my daughter can be with you brings me, as a father, some comfort."

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