Chapter 1081: Call Me Ji Yao

Soul Contract, it matches the soul; as long as one does not dissolve it oneself, even if the other party's methods reach the heavens, it cannot be resolved.

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

In order to prevent this guy from going back on his word and causing a backlash, the Master Teacher Continent once specifically stipulated that even if the other party could break free from the Heavenly Dao Record, they could not escape the soul's agreement!

"Soul Contract, it 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 dissolve this contract…… As long as there is enough power, bombarding the location of the contract will do it!"

Henren Dao.

Soul Contract, it is established on the foundation of the Heavenly Dao; special power can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm, dissolving 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 explaining, Henren said no more; his aura became ever more ancient and distant, the black hole behind him grew even larger—evidently, while speaking, he had swallowed an unknown amount of power, nourishing himself.

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

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

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

Boom—

The strongest sword intent was unleashed once again.

While alive, I will return; while dead, I will long for you endlessly!

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

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

Whoosh!

One sword cut Henren's attack in half.

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

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

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

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

In an instant, covering the sky and blocking the sun, his palm enveloped heaven and earth, space shattered, and the sun, moon, and stars seemed to be forcibly struck down.

Pfft! Pfft!

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

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

Just what realm has this guy reached?

"Impudent!" The avatar strode forward, each step causing lotuses to bloom, the void filled with the sound of flowing water.

From afar, it looked extremely imposing.

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

He raised a fist, and his power surged up to the Nine Heavens.

Clashing with Henren, he too was blown backward, unable to block a single move.

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead.

Having become an Emperor, the avatar still hasn't changed its nature of showing off……

Such flamboyant showing off is nowhere near as good as concentrating power for greater might!

"Let's attack together; otherwise, if they die, we will all die……"

Xiao Huangji let out a loud shout, crimson flames blazed, and the sky seemed to be set ablaze.

The remaining Six Great Emperors also each displayed their abilities.

The Seven Emperors united, capable of destroying heaven and erasing earth; yet a single world before them could not withstand it, but the opposing Henren, who had absorbed special power, saw his attack approach—the black hole suddenly expanded, in the blink of an eye devouring all the power, then immediately counterattacked.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

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

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

Just how could this guy be so powerful?

"You can die……"

With one move he defeated everyone; Henren stepped forward, turned his wrist, and struck down again.

"How dare you, rats!"

Accompanied by a loud shout, the old man from Sword God Heaven suddenly appeared, blocking in front, his long sword transforming into the Milky Way.

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

Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted.

This old man originally followed behind the youth, I thought he was merely a follower, at most entitled God King, but upon displaying his power I discovered he was actually a powerful Emperor!

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

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

"Then… what about 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 that Emperor of Sword God Heaven also blown backward, landing not far away, blasting out a large pit.

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

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

Having defeated the Emperor of Sword God Heaven, Henren laughed maniacally, the surrounding space continually collapsing, making him appear like a demon or a fiend.

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

Just now he and his avatar had both exerted their utmost combat power, even Luo Ruoxi before him had used her strongest technique, yet they still couldn't block a single move of the opponent……

Could it be that the Divine Realm truly has no one able to block this person before us?

Just let him destroy the world?

"The only way…… is to return your defective Heavenly Dao to the Heavenly Dao itself, letting the Heavenly Dao suppress him……" Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists, her eye sockets reddening.

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

The library in his mind is itself part of the Heavenly Dao; once returned, the Heavenly Dao becomes completely whole, perhaps able to repair the loophole and expel the Ruthless Person on its own.

Just like the human immune system.

If the immune system is intact, viruses come and are easily driven off; if it fails, one cannot resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person will die as a result.

But……

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

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

What can even the strongest immune system 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!"

"He?" 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 Person 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 Person.

"You guys go quickly, 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 shouted loudly, blocking the front, while Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to her Still Void Pearl true form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly blocking the rear without regard for 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 the Free and Easy Heaven.

The Free and Easy Heaven now lacks its former ease; the Divine Realm has collapsed, everywhere in chaos.

"Where is the person you spoke of?"

No time to observe ordinary people's lives; Zhang Xuan looked at the girl in his arms.

If the person she spoke of can truly save the Divine Realm, what harm is there in my 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 realized.

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

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

"Is your father also an Emperor? Or does he possess strength surpassing an Emperor?"

He couldn't help but say.

The library's chaos is due to the blood in the pendant awakening me; could it be that not only she is an Emperor, her father is too, and even stronger?

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

And also requires a defective Heavenly Dao for him to regain consciousness?

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

Luo Ruoxi clenched her fists.

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

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father could not withstand that great hand, fell into a coma, the Heavenly Dao shattered into three parts—the orderly Heavenly Dao and the defective Heavenly Dao entered the spatial turbulence, while I acted as steward of the natural Heavenly Dao, maintaining the Divine Realm's balance. To restore him, only by gathering the scattered parts…… that is why I am so resolute, cannot fail! I therefore entered the Master Teacher Continent expressly, studying the Spring and Autumn Grand Canon, seeking a way to defeat Master Kong! When battling Master Kong, entrusting him with this matter was also the case."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

The Master Teacher Continent had only just been acquainted; the girl before me had already told me her story, wanting to save a close relative—I hadn't understood then, but now I suddenly realized.

It turns out to be her father, and moreover the Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm!

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

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

"Acting as steward and this kind of fusion within oneself are two different concepts."

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

Zhang Xuan relaxed his breath.

This way, I only need to separate the defective Heavenly Dao from myself; there's no need for her to die as well.

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

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

"This…… I'm not sure either……

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

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 Person?

It's really hard to say!

"Looks like you can't be sure either. In that case, relying on others is worse than relying on ourselves… We have only ourselves to figure it out!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth: "You, me, and my clone, united with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, if we also coordinate with Kong Shi, we might still be able to win!"

"Kong Shi? He…" Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"Kong Shi 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 Kong Shi's so-called preserving spiritual awareness should be the same as him, an Innate Fetal Soul Body.

One can remain undeluded in the womb.

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

Luo Ruoxi froze, seemingly not expecting this.

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

Kong Shi's disciples, like Ziyuan Ancient Sage and others, are all strong; even without the Emperor Lords' 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 Emperor Lords are preoccupied with the Tide Sea and have no time to attend to it!

And this important matter is obviously to let Kong Shi recover.

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

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, he flicked his sleeve with one hand, and Zhang Xuan returned to where Kong Shi resided; indeed he saw an old man sitting cross-legged, floating in midair. Upon seeing them arrive, he gave a slight smile: "You've come!"

Not Kong Shi, then who is it!

This teacher of myriad ages certainly did not disappoint!

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 Emperor Lords could revive, and the Undying Emperor Lord had come back to life, but… she didn't expect it to happen so quickly!

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao, prepared a backup 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 from the Heavenly Dao's bonds, recondense my physical form, and have only just now fully recovered!"

Kong Shi gave a slight smile.

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

He has even accumulated tens of years of time.

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

Seeing Kong Shi 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 Kong Shi, what difference would it make?

It would likewise not change the situation!

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

Kong Shi smiled and looked over.

"Fused 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 fifty years of spiritual energy from the Divine Realm. Based solely on strength, even if we each take out our power from the dozen-odd Emperor Lords, we are certainly no match…"

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

"How to concentrate?"

Luo Ruoxi looked over.

Easy to say, hard to do.

The Emperor Lords 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.

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

Kong Shi said.

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

"The Lingxi Emperor Venerable cultivates freedom and ease, 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 earlier, you also once gave up, intending to let me slay you!"

Kong Shi said.

Luo Ruoxi could not speak.

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

Kong Shi nodded and said: "Holding the world in one's heart, wishing to save all beings, yet unwilling to let others sacrifice for oneself—excessive benevolence is also a flaw! If one were a bit more ruthless, exterminating the Alien Spirit clan, the present situation would not have arisen…"

"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 predicament."

"So I'm also unsuitable! Zhang Xuan, however, cultivates a method that flows 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 broader development space—only thus can one reach higher and farther!"

Kong Shi continued.

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

"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 Kong Shi's piercing gaze: "No need to decline—first say there's no time, go cultivate others; even if there were time, I doubt anyone could do better than you! Though the Lingxi Emperor Venerable lacks fragments of the Heavenly Dao within, he has long mastered the Heavenly Dao and has his own understanding of it; I govern the orderly Heavenly Dao. If we pour our power into you, you will possess complete Heavenly Dao power within! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, we can indeed fix the Nine Heavens, grasp the cosmos, battle the Nine Firmaments, and annihilate all things!"

"Alright!"

Seeing 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 both sides.

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

Soul, flesh, and true qi were instantly baptized, growing ever stronger and more mighty.

……

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

He sent Luo Qiqi and the clones flying, and Hengren 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 devoured almost all the spiritual energy outside the city in the divine realm; now this power has become his sustenance, every gesture carrying the power 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, Hengren seemed to embody the entire divine realm, and none could withstand him.

"If the divine realm perishes, our lives have no meaning; I, Yunchi, will perish with you……"

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

"Just you? You're not worthy!"

Hengren 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, manifesting his true form as a White Tiger, and appeared before him in the air.

The Undying Emperor revealed his true form as the Undying Fire Phoenix, flames blazing across the sky.

Great Emperor Xuanming's true form is a giant tortoise, as if upholding the heavens.

The Four Divine Beasts, guardians of the four extremes of the divine realm, simultaneously transformed into their true forms, and the collapsing divine realm slowed down.

Heaven and earth seemed to freeze in an instant.

Bang bang bang bang!

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

Amidst the roars, 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.

"You've improved a lot……"

Hengren halted, his gaze solemn.

He obviously 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 me……"

With a cold snort, Hengren struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his longsword and went to meet him.

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

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

At the residence of the Free-and-Easy Heaven Master, 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.

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 emperors!"

After a moment of silence, Master Kong said.

Even a dozen emperors united could not defeat Hengren, 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 person 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 an arrogance toward this world!"

Seeing her doubt, Master Kong smiled and said.

……

Bang bang bang!

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

As Master Kong 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!" Hengren gave a cold smile.

"Anyway, you're not my opponent; I'll be killed sooner or later, so I want to die under your strongest attack……" Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan halted, ceasing his offense and instead gazing at Hengren before him.

"Fine, I'll grant you that; I'll give you my strongest attack……"

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

Whoosh!

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

Sure enough, it was the strongest attack; the entire divine realm rumbled, as if it could barely endure, and another huge crater was blasted out.

His eyes tightly shut, Zhang Xuan did not dodge.

Bang!

His head exploded, his soul scattering in all directions.

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

Luo Qiqi seemed to have gone mad.

Great Emperor Yunchi and the others also widened their eyes, trembling uncontrollably.

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

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

Wouldn't this let down their good intentions?

"No, it is the Undying Emperor Sovereign's undying method..."

While they were puzzled, Kong Shi suddenly spoke.

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

"He... relied on 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 undergoing rebirth through fire, Zhang Xuan actually had no Heavenly Dao Library inside him, no interference from the Heavenly Dao, and had broken free from the Heavenly Dao!

"How did he do that?"

Kong Shi was also full of disbelief.

The Heavenly Dao and soul were fused together, indistinguishable; to break free, he had to have his soul scatter and, relying on the Netherworld 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 Henren's method of breaking free from 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.

Bound to the soul, the undying will not break free.

But... Henren relied on that special power to break free of the soul contract; the specific method, Zhang Xuan had inquired about in detail before—perhaps he had already been tempted then.

Thus he deliberately risked his life, letting it unleash its strongest power to attack him.

Relying on this power, he underwent rebirth through fire; unexpectedly, it was a great success!

"So that's it, this is the way to break through the Emperor Sovereign..."

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

In an instant, it perfectly merged with himself.

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

He lightly tapped the ground with his foot.

The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized.

The Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, which appeared when the Nine Heavens were born, can stabilize the Nine Heavens; at this moment, his clone and self perfectly merged, indistinguishable, meaning he now controlled this power.

Moreover, with his cultivation fused with the Nine Heavens Chaotic 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 muttered to himself.

At the moment the Heavenly Dao Library detached from the soul, he realized.

Is it that man sees the world and thus the world exists, or did the world come first and then man?

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, too, is emotion!

"Myriad feelings, for my use..."

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

The Emperor Sovereign's shackles, broken through!

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

Countless chaotic qi surged over, and his fleshly body also rapidly increased.

Before, only by absorbing spiritual power could one progress; but now, spatial turbulence and chaotic qi, even the opponent's azure light, can become mine, with no distinction.

"You...!" Henren never expected that his all-out attack would not only fail to slay him, but instead fulfill him; angry, he shouted "wah-wah!", let out an angry roar, and attacked again.

"You resent the lofty Emperor Sovereign 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 overcome me and not be controlled by me?"

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder; he lightly grasped with his palm.

The originally invincible Henren was bound together 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..."

Henren'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 these now is already too late..." Zhang Xuan gave a slight smile and shook his head.

Having mastered the world's emotions, 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 finished, he immediately felt a sharp pain surge through his body.

Bang!

In an instant, the eruption turned into countless streams of spiritual energy that surged toward every corner of the Divine Realm.

Previously, all the power swallowed by the Tide Sea now flowed back, reviving the already exhausted wilderness.

"This..."

"You just killed him like that?"

Emperor Yunchi, the Immortal Emperor, the exquisite fairy, and the others all widened their eyes, unable to believe.

Just moments ago they had crossed blows with the ruthless one, knowing how terrifying he was; yet such a powerful figure was obliterated 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 "flawed Heavenly Dao" that had been separated 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 boomed into place, embedded in the sky of the Divine Realm.

The deep bell‑like resonance continued as the continually collapsing Divine Realm slowly healed to the naked eye, and the chaotic currents also gathered back together.

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

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

The rift in the Tide Sea, along with the completion of the Heavenly Dao, has already been restored; the Divine Realm will return to its former glory—it's only a matter of time.

"Zhang Xuan, come over here..."

Having just finished these, a voice sounded in his mind; Zhang Xuan startled, then took a step forward.

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

This was precisely the person who had previously taught him his sword technique.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan froze.

Earlier I had sensed his unfathomable depth; now I realize he is only a hair's breadth above me, having already reached the peak of the Emperor realm, far surpassing even Luo Ruoxi before.

"Just call me by my name—I am Nie Tong!" the youth said lightly, a fearless sword intent emanating from him.

"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!" the youth called Nie Tong chuckled and stepped forward.

Zhang Xuan followed closely behind, not knowing how far they had flown, until they stopped before a mountain peak.

Immediately he saw another youth.

His appearance was not much older, his eyebrows raised, giving an impression of profound inscrutability.

"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 spoke of!"

"Luo Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan startled: "You… are the Heavenly Dao of the Divine Realm?"

Luo Ruoxi had said before that her father was the Heavenly Dao; he never imagined it would be such a young person.

"I transformed one part of my soul into the Heavenly Dao through the One Qi becoming Three Purities! Moreover, this world is my creation, so 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?

"That's not right—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 over.

"If it weren't for my own breakthrough, the Divine Realm would likely have collapsed completely; why does this person before me remain indifferent?"

"Even the life and death of his daughter—does he care about that?"

Without answering his question, Nie Yun glanced over lightly: "Do you think… there might be even greater beings above the Divine Realm?"

"This…" Zhang Xuan paused: "There probably is…"

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

Just like the one before us.

"I once suspected that greater beings existed above the Divine Realm, so I exerted all my power to peer into them, ultimately drawing a backlash from a higher world… a palm that shattered the void and descended!"

Nie Yun looked over: "At the 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 situation 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… I cannot do it alone. So I want to see if any life can break through the Emperor's shackles and reach a level equal to mine!"

"So 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 jolted.

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

"Hehe!" Nie Yun chuckled lightly: "Being native to this world, one naturally feels reverence for it; breaking its shackles is far harder. I merely had a thought, never expecting you to actually succeed..."

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

Without Kong Shi's selfless sacrifice, reaching my current state would be utterly impossible.

"Opportunity I gave him, he just didn't seize it. The duel with Lingxi was actually his best chance to break through; unfortunately, he chose to retreat, thinking he had a backup plan and could withdraw unscathed, but in fact he lost his brave and diligent spirit. When facing someone surpassing us, if he lacks even this spirit, how could he possibly contend with them?" Nie Yun said.

Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan remained silent.

At that time, their battle, he saw it all; Kong Shi indeed lacked decisiveness.

Perhaps he is unwilling to slay Luo Ruoxi.

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

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

Could it be that this person before us doesn't care about his daughter's life or death?

"With me here, she won't die..." Nie Yun gave a faint smile: "Your current strength is not much different from mine; you think the two of them's strength, at a life-and-death juncture, wanting to save someone, can you do it?"

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

Breaking through Emperor Sovereign, and Emperor Sovereign, are two concepts; if he really is willing to act, he can indeed save the person at the critical moment, and guarantee, not even a scratch will be suffered.

"Lingxi is the child born from my other wife Luo Qingcheng, so her false surname is Luo... In order to make her believe, not letting emotions get involved, up to now she has always thought I am still in a coma..."

Nie Yun gave a wry laugh: "My dad also counts as being quite ruthless... Well, this matter you should explain to her yourself; after all, her thoughts have now turned to you, this old dad of mine probably can't even remember... Haha, I'll temporarily not appear, avoid for a period of time before speaking again; otherwise, truly fear she would cause an uproar."

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

Not agreeing is also no option; who let me elope with someone's daughter...

"The Heavenly Dao Library is a manifestation of my thought; it is the foundation and also the shackles. You can rely on your own ability to break through the shackles, demonstrating ability and potential; future prospects are limitless, my daughter being able to be with you—as a father, I also feel relieved."

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