Chapter 1076: Boss Lin, We Meet Again

A soul contract binds souls; as long as one does not dissolve it, even if the other party wields heaven‑reaching means, it cannot be undone.

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

To prevent this fellow from going back on his word and causing a backlash, the Master Teacher Continent once specially stipulated that even if the other party could escape the Heavenly Dao's Record, they could not break free from the soul‑bound agreement!

"A soul contract indeed cannot be split from the sea of consciousness, but I have merged a special gas that even the Heavenly Dao can dissolve, making it easy to undo this contract…… As long as there is enough power, bombarding the place where the contract resides will do it!"

The Ruthless Person's Dao.

A soul contract is founded on 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 his explanation, the Ruthless Person said no more; his aura grew ever more ancient and distant, the black hole behind him swelling 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 power becomes……"

Luo Ruoxi also sensed something amiss and hurriedly sent a mental message.

"Let's get ready to fight!" With his doubts dispelled, Zhang Xuan drew a deep breath, his long sword suddenly rising: "Since that's the case, let's see the true skill beneath our hands!"

Boom—

The greatest sword intent was unleashed once again.

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

Life and death matter not—what could possibly stop us?

This sword move, though not yet reaching the Emperor's level of insight, contains all the obsessions of my heart, pushing the Heaven If Has Feeling Technique within my body to its limit.

Whoosh!

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

At the same moment, Luo Ruoxi struck as well, her jade hands rolling, her sword gleam like snow.

Her swordsmanship bears some resemblance to that of the young man from Sword God Heaven, carrying 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 Person reached down again.

In an instant, his hand blotted out the sky and sun, covering heaven 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 blown backward simultaneously, blood spraying wildly in midair.

With their combined strength, they could not even withstand it!

Just what realm has this fellow reached?

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

From afar, it looked incredibly 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, and his power surged up to the Nine Heavens.

Clashing with the Ruthless Person, he too was blown backward, unable to block a single move.

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead.

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

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

"We must attack together, otherwise they'll die and we'll all die……"

Xiao Huangji let out a loud shout; crimson flames blazed, making the sky seem ignited.

The remaining Six Great Emperors also each employed their methods.

The Seven Emperors united, capable of destroying heaven and earth—yet even a single world before them could not withstand it; but the opponent, the Ruthless Person who had absorbed special power, saw his attack approach, the black hole suddenly swelling, in the blink of an eye devouring the force cleanly and then launching a counterstrike.

Bang bang bang bang!

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

The Ten Emperors, united together, actually couldn't block a single move of the opponent!

How could this fellow be so powerful?

"You may die……"

With one move he crushed the crowd, the Ruthless Person stepped forward, flipped his wrist, and struck down again.

"How dare you, rats!"

With a loud shout, the old man from Sword God Heaven who had previously appeared suddenly emerged, blocking the front, his long sword transforming into a galaxy.

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

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

This old man had once followed the young man behind; I had thought he was merely a retainer, at most ennobled as a Divine King, but upon displaying his power I discovered he is actually a formidable Emperor!

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

"He himself is the Emperor of Sword God Heaven……" Luo Ruoxi struggled to her feet, gritting her teeth.

"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; instantly she saw the Emperor of Sword God Heaven likewise blown backward, landing not far away and smashing a large pit.

Zhang Xuan's current strength and his understanding of the sword far surpass his; even if his cultivation is not weak and his swordsmanship superb, he remains no match.

"Hahaha, Emperor, you're nothing but a bunch of clay chickens and tile dogs! Today I will destroy the Nine Heavens, raze this Divine Realm, and trample all rules underfoot!"

Having defeated the Emperor of Sword God Heaven, the Ruthless Person laughed maniacly as the surrounding space continually collapsed, casting him as a demonic monster.

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

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

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

Just let him destroy the world?

"The only way…… is to return your flawed Heavenly Dao to the Heavenly Dao itself, letting the Heavenly Dao suppress him……" Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists, her 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 breach and expel the Ruthless One.

Just like the body's immune system.

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

But……

"He's 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 tiger?

Even the strongest immune system, what can it do?

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

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

"Him?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

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

Boom!

Luo Ruoxi fell from the air.

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

Ding ding ding!

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 Sovereign, with a loud shout, blocked the front, and Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to her Tranquil Void Pearl form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

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

Free and Easy Heaven now lacked its former ease; the divine realm had 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 could truly save the divine realm, what harm would there be in my sacrificing myself!

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

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

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

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

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

He couldn't help but say.

The library's chaos 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 comatose?

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

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

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

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

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't withstand that big hand, fell into a coma, the Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts—the ordered Heavenly Dao and the flawed Heavenly Dao entered spatial turbulence; I acted as steward of the natural Heavenly Dao, maintaining the divine realm's balance. To let him recover, we must gather the scattered parts…… That's why I am so resolute, cannot fail! I specially went to the Master Continent, studied the Spring and Autumn Canon, seeking a way to defeat Master Kong! When battling Master Kong, entrusting him with this matter was also the same."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly realized.

Not long after meeting the Master Continent, the girl before me had already told me her story, 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 even bear children?

"Acting as steward of the natural Heavenly Dao…… 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.

Putting it that way, I only need to separate the flawed Heavenly Dao from myself; there's no need for her to die as well.

Although unwilling to accept this fate, I also don't want the girl before me to suffer harm.

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

"This…… I'm not sure either……"

She raised her head to look 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 powerful 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 no choice but to figure it out ourselves! Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth: "You, me, and my avatar, united with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, if we also coordinate with Master Kong, we might be able 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 break free from the Heavenly Dao… No surprise, he should be like Wei Changfeng, an 【Innate Fetal Soul Body】!

Zhang Xuan said.

Seeing Wei Changfeng, it became clear that Master Kong's so-called preservation of spiritual awareness should be the same as his—an Innate Fetal Soul Body.

One can remain undeluded in the womb.

Furthermore, with the contingency prepared in advance, resurrection is merely a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi froze, seemingly not expecting this to be the case.

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

Master Kong's students, like Ziyuan the Ancient Sage and others, are all immensely strong; even without the Emperors' 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 other matters!

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. Seeing them arrive, he gave a slight smile: "You've come!"

Not Master Kong, then who is he!

This teacher of myriad ages certainly 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 the Emperors could revive, and even the Undying Emperor had come back to life, but… she didn't expect the speed to be this fast!

I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao, prepared a contingency in advance—the nameless giant in the Netherworld Pool was my doing; when you slew him that day, I seized the opportunity to break free from the Heavenly Dao's bonds, recondensed my fleshly body, and have only just now recovered!

Master Kong gave a slight smile.

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

He has had 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 a 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 beyond doubt. 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 if we take out each of the dozen or so Emperors individually, they are certainly no match…

Master Kong said: "But if we unite and concentrate the power into one person… perhaps it might work!"

How to concentrate?

Luo Ruoxi looked over.

Easy to say, hard to do.

The 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, he can save the Divine Realm!

Master Kong said.

Me? Zhang Xuan startled: "Why me?"

The Spirit Rhinoceros Emperor Sovereign 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, there was indeed such an intention, so their exchange at the start each held back a contingency, resembling a sparring match rather than a life-and-death fight.

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

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

Had we been able to exterminate the Alien Spirit clan entirely back then, the Ruthless One could not have revived, nor would we be in this situation.

So, I'm also unsuitable! Zhang Xuan, however, cultivates a harmonious method, free of flaws. He focuses on living true to himself; even if he dies, as long as he lives without guilt, his heart is at ease. Such a person possesses greater inclusiveness and greater room for growth—only thus can he reach higher and farther!

Master Kong continued.

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

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

This… Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when he saw Master Kong's piercing gaze: "No need to decline—first say there's no time, go train others; even if there were time, I doubt anyone could do better than you! Although the Spirit Rhinoceros Emperor Sovereign's body lacks Heavenly Dao fragments, he has long mastered the Heavenly Dao and has his own understanding of it; I govern the orderly Heavenly Dao. If we pour our power into you, your body will possess complete Heavenly Dao power! Combined with your avatar's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, we can indeed stabilize the Nine Heavens, grasp the universe, battle the nine firmaments, and annihilate all things!"

Alright!

Seeing that the other party had made a decision, further explanation would be useless, so Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom—

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

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

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

"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 had devoured almost all the spiritual energy outside the city in the Divine Realm; now this power had become his nourishment. With every move he wielded the power to destroy heaven and earth. These Emperors and God Kings, though they represented the pinnacle of the Divine Realm, were still no match for him.

At this moment, Henren seemed to embody the entire Divine Realm; no one could withstand him.

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

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

Fu Meng the 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.

Xuan Ming the 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.

Bang bang bang bang!

After four consecutive strikes, 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, just as he was about to unleash a killing blow to wipe everyone out, 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 stepped out from the air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

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

"You've improved a lot……"

Henren 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 could not 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, currents running wild in all directions.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

At the Free Heaven Kongshi Station, Luo Ruoxi looked over, full of worry.

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

But rank is just a label; as long as the power is sufficient, one day it can be fully restored.

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

Kongshi was silent for a moment, then said.

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

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

"Power beyond the Emperors?"

Luo Ruoxi's gaze drifted far away.

"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 an arrogance toward this world!"

Seeing her doubt, Kongshi smiled and said.

……

Bang bang bang!

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

Just as Kongshi had said, even after fusing their two powers and forming a complete Heavenly Way within, he was still no match.

"Hah, I thought you were something, 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 halted his advance and instead gazed at Henren before him.

"Fine, I'll grant you that—— 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 down with a fierce slap.

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.

His eyes tightly shut, Zhang Xuan did not dodge.

Bang!

His skull exploded, his soul scattering in all directions.

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

Luo Qiqi seemed to have gone mad.

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

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

The original intention was to let him break through his shackles and assault a realm beyond the Emperor level—why didn't he resist, but willingly go to his death?

This would be wasting their good intentions.

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

While they were puzzled, Master Kong suddenly spoke.

Everyone then saw Zhang Xuan's head exploding, even his soul shattering; the pendant on his chest suddenly burst open, a drop of blood floated up, igniting into a scorching flame; within the flame, an unharmed figure slowly stepped out.

He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the flaw in the Heavenly Dao from 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 severed ties with the Heavenly Dao!

How did he do that?

Master Kong was also 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 aid of the Nether Soul Pool, recondense his soul.

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

I understand... he used the method of the Ruthless Person 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 won't free it.

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

That's 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!

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

Walking out of the flames, Zhang Xuan 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, and 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 means he now controls 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, parent-child affection, love... when combined, they are actually all things in the world—this is what it means to be human!

Smiling, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

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

Is it that people see the world and thus the world exists, or did 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 becomes the affection of all beings! It is the intertwining of emotions across the world.

All things in the world have emotion; with emotion comes the world, and with emotion, life can continue.

Love, is emotion.

Hatred, is emotion.

Joy, is emotion.

Pain, is emotion.

Separation, is emotion.

Reunion, is also emotion!

Myriad feelings, for my use...

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

The Emperor's shackles, broken through!

In an instant, it felt as if he had touched a brand-new world and Da Men, his soul receiving swift nourishment.

Countless chaotic qi surged in, and his fleshly 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 be made mine, with no distinction.

You... The Ruthless Person hadn't expected that his all-out attack would not only fail to slay him, but actually fulfill him; he shouted "wah-wah!" in anger, gave a furious roar, and attacked again.

You resent the lofty Emperor for not saving you in the spatial turbulence—that's emotion; feeling that you were once my servant, containing humility and anger—that's emotion; wanting to destroy the divine realm to vent anger—that's emotion; wanting to become stronger—also emotion... Emotion controls you; how could you possibly overcome me and 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, his 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 were full of panic: "Master Zhang, I am your servant, don't kill me... I am willing to offer my soul as a sacrifice..."

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

Having mastered the emotions of the world, things like servants are now meaningless to him.

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

No...

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

Bang!

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

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

"This..."

"You just killed him like that?"

Great Emperor Yun Chi, the Undying Emperor, and the Linglong Fairy all stared wide‑eyed, unable to believe it.

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—just how far has this Zhang Xuan gone?

Could there truly be a realm above the Emperor level?

"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 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 thunderously embedded itself in the sky of the divine realm.

With a deep, bell‑like resonance, the constantly collapsing divine realm slowly healed before the eyes, and the chaotic currents also gathered together again.

The collapsing divine realm finally came to a halt, and the withered spiritual energy, along with the death of the ruthless one, slowly 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, now healed together with the completion of the Heavenly Dao, has restored the divine realm to its former glory—it's only a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, come this way..."

Having just finished those things, a voice sounded in his mind; Zhang Xuan startled, then stepped forward.

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

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

"Senior, you..."

Seeing that it was him, Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Earlier I had sensed that he was unfathomable; now I realize he is only a hair's breadth above me, having already reached the pinnacle of Emperor level, far surpassing even Luo Ruoxi from before.

"Just call me by my name; I am Nie Tong!" The youth radiated an unstoppable sword intent as he spoke lightly.

"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.

Immediately he saw another youth.

His appearance was not much older, with raised eyebrows that gave an inscrutable, profound impression.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

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

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

"Luo Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan shuddered: "You... are the Heavenly Dao of the divine realm?"

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

"I transformed one 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?

"No, if the divine realm is your creation and you are the Heavenly Dao, why would you let the ruthless one run rampant without intervening?" Zhang Xuan looked at him.

"If it weren't for my 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 might be even greater beings above the divine realm?"

"This..." Zhang Xuan paused: "There probably are..."

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

"Just like the one before me."

"I once suspected that stronger beings existed above the divine realm, so I strained my senses to the limit, ultimately drawing a backlash from a higher world... a palm that shattered the void and descended!"

Nie Yun looked over: "At that time, if I had dodged, the entire divine realm would likely have been erased, leaving not a single life... so I blocked the strike, but consequently, 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, to explore where that palm came from and what lies beyond it, is difficult for me alone. So I want to see whether any life can break through the Emperor's shackles and reach a level equal to mine!"

"Thus 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, you have not disappointed me!"

Nie Yun smiled.

"A soul not belonging to this world—so my transmigration was also because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart shuddered.

"No wonder I could transmigrate here; I never expected it was all due to this person before me."

"Heh!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly: "Being native to this world, one naturally feels reverence for it; breaking its shackles is far harder, and I merely had a thought—I never imagined you could 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, achieving my current 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 he chose to retreat, thinking he had a backup plan to escape unharmed, yet in fact he lost the spirit of brave advancement; when facing someone surpassing us, if he lacks even this spirit, how could he possibly stand against them?

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan remained silent.

He witnessed their battle, and Master Kong indeed lacked decisiveness.

Perhaps he is unwilling to slay Luo Ruoxi.

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

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

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

"With me here, she won't die..." Nie Yun smiled faintly: "Your strength is not much different from mine now; do you think, with their strength at a life-and-death juncture, you could save them?"

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

Breaking through to Emperor Sovereign and being an Emperor Sovereign are two concepts; if he truly wishes to act, he can indeed save someone at the critical moment, and guarantee that he will not sustain any injury.

"Lingxi is the child born from my other wife Luo Qingcheng, so her false surname is Luo... In order to make her believe, without letting emotions interfere, she has always thought I was still in a coma..."

Nie Yun gave a wry laugh: "My father sure is ruthless... Well, you should explain this to her; after all, her thoughts have now 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, his cheek twitched, and Zhang Xuan could only agree: "Alright..."

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

"The Heavenly Dao Library is a manifestation of my thought; it is both foundation and shackle. If you can rely on your own ability to break through the shackles, 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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