Chapter 724: True Immortal Without a Name or Surname

Soul contracts are intrinsically tied to the soul; they cannot be undone by any means, no matter how powerful, unless the signer themselves dissolves them. For instance, the Undying Emperor, Little Yellow Chicken, was just a God King before, and even as an Emperor, he couldn't break such a pact. To prevent this guy from changing his mind and causing a backlash, the Master Teacher Continent specifically stipulated that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao records, they still couldn't break a soul-bound agreement.

"Indeed, a soul contract cannot be separated from one's sea of consciousness," the Ruthless One said. "However, I've absorbed a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao, so dissolving this contract isn't difficult... As long as there's enough power to strike the contract's location, it can be done!"

A soul contract is based on the Heavenly Dao. If this special power can dissolve the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm itself, what difficulty would there be in dissolving a mere soul contract, as long as it's handled correctly?

"So that's how it is..." Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

"Explaining all this to you is my way of thanking you for bringing me to the God Realm!"

After explaining, the Ruthless One said no more. His aura became increasingly ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him grew larger. Clearly, while he was speaking, he had devoured an unknown amount of power for nourishment.

"Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole devours, the stronger he becomes..." Luo Ruoxi also noticed something was amiss and quickly sent a telepathic message.

"Let's get ready to fight!" With his doubts dispelled, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, and his longsword suddenly rose. "Since that's the case, let's see who's truly stronger!"

*Boom!*

The most powerful sword intent was unleashed once more.

"To live is to return, to die is to remember forever!"

If life and death hold no concern, what could possibly stand in the way? Although this sword technique had not yet reached the comprehension level of an Emperor, it contained all of his inner obsession, pushing the Heavenly Dao of Emotion cultivation technique within him to its limit.

With one sword stroke, he sliced the Ruthless One's attack in half. At the same moment, Luo Ruoxi also made her move, her jade hands swirling, her sword gleam like snow. Her sword technique was somewhat similar to that of the young man from Sword God Heaven, carrying an indomitable momentum and the natural grace of the Great Dao.

"Your techniques are impressive, but compared to mine, they still fall short..."

With a soft chuckle, the Ruthless One lunged downward again. In an instant, his hand covered the sky and obscured the sun, enveloping heaven and earth. Space shattered, and even the sun, moon, and stars seemed about to be forcibly struck down.

*Puff! Puff!*

Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were simultaneously sent flying backward, spitting out mouthfuls of blood in mid-air. With their combined strength, they couldn't even withstand it! What level had this guy truly reached?

"Presumptuous!" The clone strode forward, lotus flowers blooming with each step, and the sound of flowing water echoing in the void. From a distance, he exuded an overwhelming aura of prestige. Having refined the Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's. He raised a fist, and power surged into the Nine Heavens. When he clashed with the Ruthless One, he was also sent flying back, unable to withstand a single move.

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead. Even after becoming an Emperor, the clone still hadn't changed his pretentious nature... Such a flashy display of pretense would be better if he concentrated his power for greater impact!

"Attack together, otherwise, if they die, we'll all die..." Little Yellow Chicken roared, scarlet flames burning so intensely they seemed to ignite the sky. The remaining six Emperors also unleashed their techniques.

The combined forces of the seven Emperors were enough to destroy heaven and earth; even a segment of space couldn't withstand them. However, their opponent was the Ruthless One, who had absorbed special power. As their attacks approached, the black hole suddenly expanded, devouring their power in the blink of an eye, then counterattacking immediately.

*Bang, bang, bang, bang!*

The seven Emperors, like Zhang Xuan and the others, were sent flying backward. Ten Emperors, united, couldn't even block a single one of his moves! How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..." Having defeated everyone with one move, the Ruthless One took a step forward, flipped his wrist, and struck down again.

"How dare you, rat!" Accompanied by a furious roar, the old man from Sword God Heaven suddenly appeared, blocking their path, his longsword transforming into a galaxy.

"An Emperor? He's also an Emperor-level expert?" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted. This old man had followed behind the young man previously, and Zhang Xuan had assumed he was just an attendant, at most a Conferred God King. Only upon seeing his power did he realize that he too was a powerful Emperor! If he was an Emperor, what then was that young man?

"He is, in fact, the Emperor of Sword God Heaven himself..." Luo Ruoxi struggled to stand, gritting her teeth.

"Then... what about the young man who taught me swordsmanship?" Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back anymore.

"He is..." Just as Luo Ruoxi was about to answer, space twisted, and then they saw the Sword God Heaven Emperor also sent flying backward, landing nearby and creating a large crater. Zhang Xuan's current strength and comprehension of the sword dao far surpassed his, yet Zhang Xuan couldn't withstand it. So, even though the old man's cultivation was strong and his swordsmanship profound, he was still no match.

"Hahaha, Emperors are just a bunch of weaklings! Today, I shall destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate this God Realm, and flatten all its rules!" After defeating the Sword God Heaven Emperor, the Ruthless One burst into maniacal laughter. The surrounding space continuously collapsed, making him appear demonic.

"What do we do?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists. A moment ago, he and his clone had unleashed their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had used her most powerful techniques, yet they couldn't block a single move from their opponent... Could it be that no one in the God Realm could truly stop this being before them? Would they just let him destroy the world?

"The only way... is to return your Flaw of Heavenly Dao to the Heavenly Dao itself, allowing the Heavenly Dao to suppress him..." Luo Ruoxi clenched her delicate fists, her eyes reddening.

"Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?" Zhang Xuan understood what she meant. The Library of Heaven's Path in his mind was originally a part of the Heavenly Dao. Once it returned, the Heavenly Dao would be completely whole, perhaps able to mend its flaws and expel the Ruthless One by itself. It would be like the human body's immune system. If the immune system is complete, it can easily expel viruses. If it's damaged, it cannot resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person will die.

But...

"He's too powerful; even if the Heavenly Dao becomes complete again, it still won't be able to suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. The immune system can kill viruses, but... what about a fierce tiger? What could even the strongest immune system do against that? This being before them was far stronger than even an Emperor, not just an ordinary God King or even a Conferred God King whom the Heavenly Dao could easily kill... it was already beyond what the Heavenly Dao could contend with.

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair, jade-like face. "Yes... it can't suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, *he* can wake up, and killing this one won't be difficult!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to see him, he's in Zizaitian..." Taking a deep breath, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and turned to fly forward.

"Trying to escape?" The Ruthless One scoffed, pressing his hand downwards. Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the sky. Zhang Xuan's sword technique was unleashed again, his sword intent radiating brilliantly.

*Ding, ding, ding!*

It was blocked by the Ruthless One once more.

"You two go quickly, I'll hold him off..." Knowing that they were seeking a way to save the God Realm, not to escape, the clone and the Undying Emperor roared and stood in front. Luo Qiqi also transformed, reverting to her Jinkong Orb true form. The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly blocking the enemy from behind, risking their lives, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened. However, he knew this wasn't the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi, his body flickered, tearing through space, and in the next moment, they appeared within the borders of Zizaitian.

Zizaitian had lost its former tranquility. The God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is this 'he' you spoke of?" Having no time to observe the lives of ordinary people, Zhang Xuan looked at the girl in his arms. If the person she spoke of could truly save the God Realm, what did his own sacrifice matter?

"He is my father. The blood in your pendant is his, and the Undying Emperor used to be his beast pet..." Luo Ruoxi regulated her breathing and explained.

"Father?" Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. No wonder he had always felt the blood in the pendant was similar to Luo Ruoxi's, yet different—it was her father's. This also explained why the remnant will of the Undying Emperor immediately acknowledged him as its master after seeing the pendant.

"Your father is also an Emperor? Or does he possess strength beyond an Emperor?" He couldn't help but ask. The chaos in the library and the blood in the pendant had helped him regain clarity. Could it be that not only was she an Emperor, but her father was too, or even more powerful? If that were the case, why would he be in a coma? And why would the Flaw of Heavenly Dao be needed to awaken him?

"He is not an Emperor, but... the Heavenly Dao!" Luo Ruoxi clenched her delicate fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father... is the Heavenly Dao?" Zhang Xuan was shocked, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, Father couldn't withstand that colossal hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao fragmented into three parts: the Orderly Heavenly Dao and the Flaw of Heavenly Dao entered the spatial turbulence, while I took control of the Natural Heavenly Dao to maintain the balance of the God Realm. To restore him, I had to gather the scattered parts... That's why I was so resolute; I couldn't fail! That's why I specifically entered the Master Teacher Continent, studied the Spring and Autumn Codex, and tried to defeat Master Teacher Kong! What I asked him to do during our fight was also related to this."

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. He had only recently met the girl on the Master Teacher Continent, and she had told him her story about wanting to save a beloved family member. He hadn't understood then, but now it all clicked. It was actually her father, and he was the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm! Could the Heavenly Dao really take human form and have children?

"Took control of the Natural Heavenly Dao... You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment in your body?" Suddenly realizing something odd in her words, Zhang Xuan looked at her. "Taking control" and "merging into one's body" were two different concepts.

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

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. This meant he only needed to separate the Flaw of Heavenly Dao from himself; she wouldn't have to die. Although he was unwilling to accept such a fate for himself, he also didn't want the girl before him to be harmed.

"If I separate the Flaw of Heavenly Dao from my body, your father can live again, and even kill the Ruthless One, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"This... I'm not sure either..." Looking up at the already collapsing God Realm, Luo Ruoxi hesitated. The God Realm was her father's foundation. With the foundation in such a state, even if he woke up, could he truly defeat that powerful Ruthless One? It was truly hard to say!

"It seems you're not sure either. In that case, it's better to rely on ourselves than on others... We'll just have to figure something out!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, along with the Nine Heavens and Nine Emperors, and if Master Teacher Kong joins us, we might not be unable to win!"

"Master Teacher Kong? He..." Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"Master Teacher Kong is dead, right? He didn't truly die. If I'm not mistaken, your killing him was merely a method for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... Unless there's an accident, he should be a Congenital Fetal Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng!" Zhang Xuan said. Upon seeing Wei Changfeng, he understood that Master Teacher Kong's claim of retaining his spiritual wisdom likely meant he was also a Congenital Fetal Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng. Able to remain lucid even in the fetal stage. Coupled with the preparations he had made beforehand, resurrection was merely a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, apparently not having expected this.

"We'll know if we go take a look. If my guess is right, he should have recovered. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have even gone to the Tidal Sea..." Zhang Xuan said. Master Teacher Kong's students, such as Ancient Sage Ziyuan and others, were all very strong. Even without the help of Emperors, they would certainly have a way to enter the Tidal Sea, yet none of them were seen there. There must have been something more important awaiting them, which they intended to do while all the Emperors were preoccupied at the Tidal Sea. And this important matter was clearly Master Teacher Kong's recovery.

Luo Ruoxi's heart trembled, and she suddenly realized.

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan swiped his hand and reappeared at Master Teacher Kong's residence. Indeed, he saw an old man floating cross-legged in the air. Upon seeing them, the old man smiled slightly and said, "You've arrived!"

Who else could it be but Master Teacher Kong! This teacher of myriad ages truly didn't disappoint him! Just as he had guessed, he had resurrected while everyone's attention was focused on the Tidal Sea.

Luo Ruoxi's delicate body trembled. She knew Emperors could resurrect, and the Undying Emperor had also revived, but... she hadn't expected it to be so fast!

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a contingency beforehand. The nameless giant in the Nether Soul Pool was my creation. When you killed it that day, I took the opportunity to break free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints and rematerialize my physical body. I've only just recovered now!" Master Teacher Kong smiled slightly. He was proficient in temporal abilities. It appeared as though only a day or two had passed in the God Realm, but in reality, he had experienced an unknown amount of time to restore his strength. Decades had passed for him.

"The three of us are strong, but defeating the Ruthless One won't be easy..." Seeing that Master Teacher Kong had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head. She wasn't boosting others' prestige and dampening their own morale; it was simply the truth. Earlier, so many people combined couldn't stop him. Even with the addition of Master Teacher Kong, what difference would it make? It still wouldn't change the situation!

"Individually, and even united, we are indeed no match for him, but... what if we concentrate everyone's power into one person?" Master Teacher Kong looked over with a smile.

"Concentrate it into one person?" This time, not only Luo Ruoxi frowned, but Zhang Xuan was also full of doubt.

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao; its power is beyond doubt. The Ruthless One absorbed all that power and then consumed fifty years of the God Realm's spiritual energy. In terms of individual strength, none of us, a dozen Emperors, are truly his match..." Master Teacher Kong continued, "But if we unite and concentrate all our power into one person... it might be a different story!"

"How do we concentrate it?" Luo Ruoxi looked at him. It was easier said than done. Emperors were already at the pinnacle of the God Realm. If absorbing others' power were so easy, she wouldn't have stagnated for so many years.

"It's simple... We will concentrate our power into Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Emperor's shackles, he can save the God Realm!" Master Teacher Kong said.

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

"Emperor Lingxi cultivates freedom and transcendence of nature! But with the constraints of her father and the Heavenly Dao, and people she cares about, she can never truly transcend! If I'm not mistaken, when you fought me, you also gave up at one point, intending to be slain by me, didn't you?" Luo Ruoxi was speechless. During their fight, she indeed had such an intention. That's why, at the beginning of their confrontation, both had held back, making it seem more like sparring than a life-or-death battle.

"If one cannot transcend, they naturally cannot unleash their strongest power. Even with immense true qi, they cannot impact that supreme realm! As for me..." Master Teacher Kong nodded. "My heart is for the common people, wanting to save the world, but I am unwilling for others to sacrifice for me. Too much benevolence is also a flaw! If I had been a bit more ruthless and exterminated the Spirit Tribe, we wouldn't be in this situation now..." If he had been able to exterminate all the Spirit Tribe members back then, the Ruthless One could not have resurrected, and this current situation would not have arisen.

"Therefore, I am also unsuitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation technique aligns with his heart, without flaws. He believes in living authentically; even if he dies, as long as he lives without regrets, his heart is clear. Such a person possesses greater tolerance and greater potential for growth. Only in this way can one go higher and further!" Master Teacher Kong continued. "To live is to return, to die is to remember forever!" If he doesn't even care about death, how could he be entangled by other matters?

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when he saw Master Teacher Kong look at him with piercing eyes. "No need to decline. First, there's no time to cultivate someone else. Even if there were, I don't think anyone could do better than you! Although Emperor Lingxi doesn't have a Heavenly Dao fragment within her, she has controlled the Heavenly Dao for many years and has her own understanding of it. I control the Orderly Heavenly Dao. If we infuse our power into you, you will possess the power of the complete Heavenly Dao! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus, you can absolutely stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the cosmos, battle the Nine Firmaments, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!" Seeing that the other party had already made his decision, and further explanations from him would be futile, Zhang Xuan nodded.

*Boom!*

He sat down cross-legged, and in the blink of an eye, two powerful streams of energy poured into him from both sides. Zhang Xuan's entire body stiffened. In an instant, he seemed to transform into the Heavenly Dao itself, soaring above the Nine Heavens. His soul, physical body, and true qi were all instantly baptized, becoming stronger and more profound.

"You want to stop me too? Fine, I'll kill you all, then go slay Zhang Xuan..." After sending Luo Qiqi and the clone flying, the Ruthless One sneered. The combined power unleashed by the clone and the various Emperors was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still a bit weaker. The Tidal Sea had almost completely devoured the spiritual energy outside the cities of the God Realm. Now, all that power had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the power to destroy heaven and earth. These Emperors and God Kings, despite representing the pinnacle of the God Realm, were still no match. At this moment, the Ruthless One seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unstoppable by anyone.

"If the God Realm perishes, our lives will be meaningless. I, Emperor Yunchi, will perish with you!" Emperor Yunchi transformed into his true form, a colossal five-clawed golden dragon, and soared through the air, pouncing toward him.

"Just you? You're not worthy!" The Ruthless One clenched his hand, and the golden dragon was trapped within his palm, unable to escape no matter how much it struggled.

"Old friend, wait for me!" Emperor Fumen also roared, transforming into his White Tiger true form, and appeared in mid-air. The Undying Emperor's true form, the Undying Fire Phoenix, manifested, its flames illuminating the sky. Emperor Xuanming's true form was a massive tortoise, as if supporting all heavens.

The Four Divine Beasts, guardians of the God Realm's four poles, simultaneously transformed into their true forms. The collapsing God Realm seemed to slow down. Heaven and Earth seemed to stabilize in an instant.

*Bang, bang, bang, bang!*

With four consecutive palms, the Ruthless One suppressed the four beasts, a fierce killing intent flashing in his eyes. "Since you seek death, I shall grant it to you..." Amidst his roaring, just as he was about to deliver a killing blow to obliterate everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten, stopping in mid-air.

"You want to kill them? Have you asked me first?" Then, to everyone's stunned gaze, a figure slowly walked out from mid-air. It was Zhang Xuan!

At this moment, the young man's entire body surged with power, more than ten times stronger than before. He descended as if from heaven, his entire being like a world unto itself.

"Quite a lot of improvement..." The Ruthless One stopped, his gaze solemn. He clearly didn't understand why, in just a few minutes, the other party's strength had undergone such a tremendous change. "However, what if it has increased? The God Realm in its prime couldn't withstand me. I don't believe you can stop me..."

With a cold snort, the Ruthless One struck down again. Zhang Xuan raised his longsword and met the attack. The two fought, tearing apart space, with chaotic air currents scattering everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?" At Master Teacher Kong's residence in Zizaitian, Luo Ruoxi looked on with deep worry. She and Master Teacher Kong had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, and their own cultivation had been reduced to only the God King level, no longer as glorious as before. However, their inherent cultivation level remained; as long as they had enough power, they could eventually recover.

"With his current strength, winning... will be very difficult!" After a moment of silence, Master Teacher Kong said, "Unless... he can comprehend power beyond that of an Emperor!" Over a dozen Emperors combined couldn't defeat the Ruthless One. Even if they transferred all their power to Zhang Xuan, winning wouldn't be easy. The reason for doing this was because... only by concentrating power into one person could one possibly reach the pinnacle, truly transcend limits, and break through oneself!

"Power beyond an Emperor?" Luo Ruoxi's gaze became distant. When her father was still conscious, he had told her the same thing, but... she couldn't do it. Could the man she loved achieve it?

"He definitely can... He possesses an unyielding heart! And a profound pride towards this world." Seeing the doubt in her heart, Master Teacher Kong smiled.

*Bang, bang, bang!*

After a few consecutive moves, the web between Zhang Xuan's thumb and forefinger split, and a massive, gruesome wound appeared on his chest. As Master Teacher Kong had said, even after absorbing their combined power and forming a complete Heavenly Dao within him, he was still no match.

"Haha, I thought you were more impressive, but this is all you amount to!" The Ruthless One sneered.

"I'm no match for you anyway; I'll be killed sooner or later. In that case, I want to die by your strongest attack..." Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan stopped, no longer attacking, but instead looked at the Ruthless One before him.

"Good, I'll grant your wish and give you my strongest attack..." Hearing him say this, the Ruthless One was momentarily stunned, then scoffed coldly and raised his palm.

*Whoosh!*

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down fiercely. It was indeed his strongest attack. The entire God Realm rumbled, as if barely able to withstand it, and another massive crater was formed.

Zhang Xuan's eyes were tightly shut; he didn't dodge. His head exploded, and his soul scattered in all directions.

"Zhang Xuan..." Seeing this scene, everyone's faces turned pale. Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad. Emperor Yunchi and the others also widened their eyes, trembling uncontrollably. Master Teacher Kong and Luo Ruoxi, who witnessed this, were also stunned. The original intention was for him to break through his shackles and strive for a realm beyond the Emperor. Why did he not resist and willingly embrace death? Wouldn't that betray their good intentions?

"No, that's the Undying Emperor's method of immortality..." Just as they were wondering, Master Teacher Kong suddenly spoke.

Everyone then saw Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and even whose soul had shattered, his chest pendant suddenly burst open. A drop of blood floated up and ignited, forming a scorching flame. From within the flame, a completely unharmed figure slowly walked out.

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Flaw of Heavenly Dao from his soul?" Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted. After being reborn from the flames, Zhang Xuan's body no longer contained the Library of Heaven's Path; he was free from the Heavenly Dao's interference, having completely detached from the Heavenly Dao!

"How did he do it?" Master Teacher Kong was also full of disbelief. The Heavenly Dao and soul were integrated, inseparable. To break free, he had to scatter his soul and use the Nether Soul Pool to reform it. This person before them was merely "slain" once and completely broke free. What method did he use?

"I know now... He used the Ruthless One's method for breaking a soul contract..." Luo Ruoxi realized. A soul contract binds master and servant; if the master doesn't release it, the servant is forever bound... The Library of Heaven's Path was similar, arguably an enhanced version of such a contract. Once bound to the soul, it wouldn't detach unless one died. But... the Ruthless One had used that special power to break free from his soul contract. Zhang Xuan had inquired about the specific method in detail earlier; it was likely then that he had started considering this. That's why he deliberately fought to the death, allowing the Ruthless One to unleash his strongest attack on him. Using this power, he was reborn from the ashes, and unexpectedly, it was a great success!

"So that's it, this is the way to break through the Emperor realm..." Zhang Xuan, who walked out of the flames, displayed a faint smile on his face, as if he had understood something. He suddenly beckoned, and the clone on the side immediately transformed back into a lotus flower and flew towards him. In an instant, it perfectly merged with his body. In the blink of an eye, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan, before their eyes, had become the Nine Heavens, and the Nine Heavens were him.

He gently stepped his foot on the ground. The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized. The Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus appeared at the birth of the Nine Heavens and could stabilize them. Now that the clone and Zhang Xuan had perfectly merged, indistinguishable from one another, it meant he had gained control of this power. Not only that, with the cultivation of the Nine Heavens Chaotic Golden Lotus merged, his already peak realm loosened, seeming ready to break through at any moment.

"Master-servant affection, brotherhood, teacher-student bond, parental love, romantic love... when merged, these are truly all things in the world; this is what it means to be human!" With a smile, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself. The moment the Library of Heaven's Path detached from his soul, he understood. Did humans create the world by observing it, or did the world exist first, and then humans? Was it the wind moving, or the heart moving! This question had eternally plagued countless individuals. Of course, now... none of that mattered! Without life, without emotion, even if the world existed, what meaning would it have? Therefore, after breaking through romantic love, comes the love for all beings! It is the interwoven emotions that span the world. All things in the world have emotions. Only with emotion can there be a world, and only with emotion can life continue. Love is emotion. Hatred is emotion. Joy is emotion. Pain is emotion. Separation is emotion. Reunion is also emotion!

"Ten thousand emotions, at my command..." With a low cry, the realm that had been confined within Zhang Xuan instantly broke open. The Emperor's shackles, broken! In an instant, it was as if he had touched a brand new world and a grand gate, and his soul was rapidly nourished. Countless chaotic energies surged towards him, and his physical body rapidly improved. Previously, he could only advance by absorbing spiritual energy, but now spatial turbulence, chaotic energy, and even the opponent's green light could all be assimilated by him, indistinguishable from his own.

The Ruthless One hadn't expected his full-force attack, instead of killing him, to actually complete him. He shrieked in rage and, with a furious roar, attacked again.

"Your resentment towards the high and mighty Emperors for not saving you in the spatial turbulence is emotion; your feeling of once being my servant, containing humility and anger, is emotion; your desire to destroy the God Realm and vent your fury is emotion; your wish to become even stronger is also emotion... Emotion controls you. How then can you defeat me, how can you not be controlled by me?"

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder, and he gently grasped with his palm. The previously invincible Ruthless One was bound by countless threads of emotion, restrained and unable to move. As long as there was emotion, it would be used by him, controlled by him!

The Ruthless One's eyes were filled with terror. "Master Zhang, I am your servant, please don't kill me... I am willing to sacrifice my soul..."

"It's too late to say that now..." With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan shook his head. Controlling all the emotions in the world, things like servants no longer held any meaning for him. He had killed so many divine beings, injured his girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and so many friends; how could he possibly forgive him today?!

"No..." Feeling his resolve, the Ruthless One's pupils contracted. Before he could finish his sentence, he immediately felt an intense pain throughout his body. In an instant, he exploded, transforming into countless streams of spiritual energy that poured into every corner of the God Realm. All the power that the Tidal Sea had previously devoured now flowed back, and the depleted wildernesses were revitalized.

"He was just... killed like that?" Emperor Yunchi, the Undying Emperor, Fairy Linglong, and others all widened their eyes in disbelief. They had just fought the Ruthless One and knew how terrifying he was. For such a powerful being to be casually annihilated, just what level had Zhang Xuan... truly reached? Could there truly be another realm above that of an Emperor?

"He succeeded..." Master Teacher Kong and Luo Ruoxi relaxed their clenched fists.

"This is a part of the Heavenly Dao, so I shall now return it to the Heavenly Dao..." Seeing the "Flaw of Heavenly Dao" that had just been separated from his body still hovering in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and flicked his finger. The Library, which had accompanied him since his rebirth, thundered as it embedded itself into the sky of the God Realm. Like the ringing of a great bell, the continuously collapsing God Realm visibly began to slowly recover, and the chaotic air currents gathered once more. The collapsing God Realm finally ceased its descent, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with the Ruthless One's death.

"It seems the God Realm is about to welcome an era of spiritual energy recovery once more..." Zhang Xuan smiled. The breach in the Tidal Sea had been repaired with the completion of the Heavenly Dao. It was only a matter of time before the God Realm returned to its former glory.

"Zhang Xuan, come this way..." As soon as he finished these actions, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan was startled for a moment, then took a step forward. This step carried him an unknown distance, and then he saw a young man standing before him. It was precisely the one who had previously taught him swordsmanship.

"Senior, you..." Seeing that it was him, Zhang Xuan was momentarily stunned. He had previously felt this person was unfathomable, but only now did he realize that he was only slightly weaker than himself, having already reached the absolute peak of the Emperor realm, immeasurably stronger than Luo Ruoxi had been.

"Just call me by my name. I am... Nie Tong!" The young man, exuding an indomitable sword intent, said calmly.

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan frowned. He had never heard that name before.

"Come with me, I'll take you to see my elder brother!" The young man named Nie Tong smiled faintly and stepped forward. Zhang Xuan followed closely behind, flying an unknown distance before stopping in front of a mountain peak. He then saw another young man. His appearance wasn't much older than Zhang Xuan's, with raised eyebrows that gave him an air of unfathomable depth.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled. The strength of the young man before him was actually greater than his own; he had also broken through the Emperor's shackles, and his cultivation was even more profound and weighty!

"I am Nie Yun!" The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "Which means... Nie Lingxi, the father of Luo Ruoxi, as you know her!"

"Ruoxi's father?" Zhang Xuan was startled. "You... are the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm?" Luo Ruoxi had said earlier that her father was the Heavenly Dao, but he never imagined it would be such a young man.

"I divided myself into three pure ones; a portion of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Furthermore, this world was created by me, so it's not wrong to say I am the Heavenly Dao!" Nie Yun smiled faintly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it. The God Realm was created by this person before him? How strong must he be then?

"Wait, if the God Realm was created by you, and you are the Heavenly Dao, why did you allow the Ruthless One to rampage without intervening?" Zhang Xuan looked at him. If he hadn't broken through, the God Realm could have completely collapsed. Why had this person before them remained indifferent? Even his daughter's life and death?

Without answering his question, Nie Yun looked at him calmly. "Do you think... there are even stronger beings above the God Realm?"

Zhang Xuan paused. "There should be..." Although he hadn't seen them, since Nie Yun could cultivate to this realm, perhaps others could too, or even be stronger. Just like the one before him.

"I once suspected there were stronger beings above the God Realm, so I used all my might to peer into it. This ultimately provoked a backlash from a higher world... A hand tore through space and descended!" Nie Yun looked at him. "At that time, if I had dodged, it was highly likely that the entire God Realm would have been wiped clean, with no life remaining... So, I blocked that attack, but as a result, the Heavenly Dao, which was my incarnation, was split apart."

"In that situation, if I wanted to recover, it would have been a mere thought. But... I realized that to truly transcend the God Realm's shackles, to explore where that hand came from, and what lies beyond the God Realm... it would be very difficult for me alone. So, I wanted to see if any life form could break through the Emperor's shackles and reach a level equal to mine!" Nie Yun smiled. "Therefore, I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao consciousness to the lowest-tier world... bestowing it upon a soul originally belonging to that world and a soul not belonging to this world. And you, ultimately, did not disappoint me!"

"A soul not belonging to this world... So, my transmigration was also because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart trembled. No wonder he could transmigrate; he hadn't expected it was all orchestrated by this person before him.

"Heh heh!" Nie Yun chuckled softly and said, "A soul originally belonging to this world inherently holds reverence for it, making it much harder to break through its shackles. I merely had a thought, and I didn't expect you would actually succeed..."

"I..." Zhang Xuan's face flushed. "If it weren't for Master Teacher Kong, I would never have reached this stage..." Without Master Teacher Kong's selfless dedication, reaching his current realm would have been impossible.

"I gave him the chance; he just didn't seize it. His battle with Lingxi was actually his best opportunity for a breakthrough. Unfortunately, he chose to retreat, thinking he had a contingency to escape unscathed, but in reality, he lost the spirit of courageous advancement. When facing someone beyond us, if one doesn't even possess that spirit, how can they contend?" Nie Yun said.

Zhang Xuan remained silent. He had witnessed their battle, and Master Teacher Kong indeed lacked some decisiveness. It was also possible that he was unwilling to kill Luo Ruoxi. Unfortunately, that single hesitation cost him the opportunity to advance.

"If Master Teacher Kong had won, Ruoxi would have died..." A moment later, Zhang Xuan looked over, his eyebrows furrowed. Could it be that this person before him didn't even care about his daughter's life or death?

"With me here, she wouldn't die..." Nie Yun smiled faintly. "Your current strength isn't much different from mine. Do you think, with two people of our strength, we could save someone at a critical life-or-death moment?"

Zhang Xuan gave a wry smile. Breaking through to Emperor and being an Emperor were two different concepts. If he had truly been willing to act, he could indeed have saved them at the last moment, ensuring they suffered no injuries whatsoever.

"Lingxi was born to my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, which is why she uses the surname Luo for her disguised name... To make her believe and not act on emotion, she has thought I was in a coma until now..." Nie Yun gave a bitter laugh. "I suppose I've been quite ruthless as a father... How about this: you explain this to her. After all, her heart has already turned to you now. I, her old dad, probably won't even cross her mind anymore... Haha, I won't appear for now. I'll hide for a while longer. Otherwise, I truly fear she'll turn heaven and earth upside down..."

Seeing this incredibly unreliable father figure before him, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he could only agree, "Alright..." There was no other option but to agree; after all, he had taken their daughter away...

"The Library of Heaven's Path was formed from a wisp of my consciousness; it was both a foundation and a limitation. Your ability to break through those shackles on your own demonstrates your capability and potential. Your future is limitless, and as a father, I am truly comforted that my daughter can be with you."