Chapter 726: Star Dan Ring Sword Qi

A soul contract perfectly binds to the soul. As long as it's not voluntarily dissolved, even if the other party possesses immense power, they cannot break it. For example, the Undying Emperor Little Yellow Chicken, who was only a God King before, could not dissolve such a pact even when he became an Emperor. To prevent anyone from reneging on the contract and causing a backlash, the Master Teacher Continent specifically stipulated that even if someone could escape the Heavenly Dao Scroll, they could not break free from the agreement between souls!

"A soul contract truly cannot be separated from the Sea of Consciousness," said Leng Ru. "However, I've integrated a special gas that can dissolve even the Heavenly Dao. Breaking this contract is not difficult... as long as there's enough power to strike the contract's location, it can be done!"

Soul contracts are based on the Heavenly Dao. Since this special power can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm, dissolving a soul contract, if handled properly, poses no challenge. "So that's how it is..." Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

"I've told you all this as thanks for bringing me to the God Realm!" After explaining, Leng Ru said no more. Her aura grew increasingly ancient and profound, and the black hole behind her expanded further. Clearly, while she spoke, she had absorbed an unknown amount of power for nourishment.

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

"Prepare to fight!" All doubts vanished from Zhang Xuan's mind. He took a deep breath, and his long sword suddenly rose. "In that case, let's see who truly stands victorious!" Boom! The most powerful sword intent was unleashed once more. "Life, return when it should; death, long to remember!" Caring neither for life nor death, what could possibly stop him? Although this sword art had not reached the level of an Emperor's comprehension, it contained all his deepest convictions, pushing his Heavenly Tears Art to its limits. With a single strike, he cleaved Leng Ru's attack in two.

At the same moment, Luo Ruoxi also made her move. Her jade-like hands twirled, and sword qi bloomed like snow. Her sword art bore some resemblance to that of the young man from Sword God Heaven, carrying an indomitable momentum and the natural grace of the Grand Dao.

"Your techniques are impressive, but compared to me, they still fall short..." With a soft chuckle, Leng Ru struck downwards again. In an instant, her palm obscured the sky and covered the entire world. Space shattered, and it seemed as though the sun, moon, and stars themselves would be torn down. Pfft! Pfft! Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were simultaneously sent flying backward, spitting blood in mid-air. With their combined strength, they were actually unable to resist! What realm had this person truly reached?

"How dare you!" The clone strode forward. With each step, lotuses bloomed, and the sound of flowing water echoed in the void. From a distance, it looked incredibly imposing. Having refined the Nine Heavens Primordial Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's. He raised a fist, and power surged into the heavens. When he clashed with Leng Ru, he was also sent flying backward, unable to withstand a single move. Zhang Xuan covered his forehead. Even after becoming an Emperor, the clone still hadn't changed its ostentatious nature... Such flashy displays of power would be much more effective if the energy were concentrated!

"Let's attack together, otherwise, if they die, we'll all die..." Little Yellow Chicken roared, and crimson flames blazed, as if igniting the sky. The remaining six Emperors also unleashed their techniques. The seven Emperors, uniting their power, could destroy heaven and earth; not even a realm could withstand them. However, their opponent was Leng Ru, who had absorbed special powers. When their attacks reached her, the black hole suddenly expanded, devouring their strength 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 withstand a single one of her moves! How could this person be so powerful?

"You can all die now..." Having defeated everyone with a single move, Leng Ru took a step forward, flipped her wrist, and struck down again.

"How dare you, vermin!" Accompanied by a loud shout, the old man from Sword God Heaven suddenly appeared, blocking their path. The long sword in his hand transformed into a galaxy. "An Emperor? He's also an Emperor?" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted. This old man had been following the young man, and Zhang Xuan had assumed he was merely a subordinate, at most a Conferred God King. Only when he unleashed his power did Zhang Xuan realize he was also a powerful Emperor! If he was an Emperor, then what was that young man?

"He is an Emperor from Sword God Heaven himself..." Struggling to stand, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth. "Then... what about the young man who taught me sword art?" Zhang Xuan could no longer hold back his question.

"He is..." Just as Luo Ruoxi was about to answer, space twisted, and then they saw the Sword God Heaven Emperor also sent flying, landing not far away and creating a large crater. Zhang Xuan's current strength and comprehension of the Sword Dao far surpassed his, yet even he couldn't resist. Despite his impressive cultivation and skillful swordsmanship, the old man was still no match.

"Haha, Emperors are nothing but a bunch of pathetic wretches! Today, I shall annihilate the Nine Heavens, destroy this God Realm, and flatten all its rules!" Having defeated the Sword God Heaven Emperor, Leng Ru laughed maniacally. The surrounding space continuously collapsed, making her appear monstrous and demonic.

"What should we do?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists. Just now, he and his clone had unleashed their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had used her most powerful techniques, yet none could withstand a single move from the opponent... Was there truly no one in the God Realm who could stop this person? Would they just let him destroy the world?

"The only way... is for your Deficient Heavenly Dao to return 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 her meaning. The Library of Heaven's Path in his mind was a part of the Heavenly Dao. Once it returned, the Heavenly Dao would be completely whole, perhaps allowing it to fix its flaws and expel Leng Ru on its own. It was like the human immune system. If the immune system was intact, viruses could be easily expelled; if it was damaged, it couldn't resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person could die.

Only... "He is too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao is fully restored, it might not be able to suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. The immune system could kill viruses, but what about a tiger? What could even the strongest immune system do against that? This person, who was merely an ordinary God King, or even a Conferred God King, could easily be killed by the Heavenly Dao. But this opponent was stronger than an Emperor... the Heavenly Dao could no longer contend with her.

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair, jade-like face. "Yes... it can't suppress her. However, if the Heavenly Dao is complete, *he* can awaken, and then killing this one won't be difficult!" "He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to him, he's in Free Heaven..." Taking a deep breath, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and turned to fly forward. "Trying to escape?" Leng Ru scoffed coldly and pressed downwards. Luo Ruoxi fell from the sky. Zhang Xuan once again unleashed his sword art, and brilliant sword intent burst forth. Clang, clang, clang! He was blocked by Leng Ru again.

"You two, go quickly, I'll hold him back..." Knowing they were seeking a way to save the God Realm rather than escaping, the clone and the Undying Emperor roared and stood in front. Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to her true form as the Quiet Space Orb. The surrounding space solidified. "Go!" Seeing everyone fearlessly block their path, unafraid of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened. However, he knew this was not the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi, and with a flicker of his body, he tore through space, appearing within the boundaries of Free Heaven in the next instant.

Free Heaven no longer possessed its previous tranquility. The God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere. "Where is the 'he' you spoke of?" With no time to observe the lives of ordinary people, Zhang Xuan looked at the girl in his arms. If the person she mentioned could truly save the God Realm, what did his own sacrifice matter?

"He is my father. The blood in your pendant is his. The Undying Emperor was once his beast pet..." Luo Ruoxi took a moment to compose herself before explaining. "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 recognized him as master after seeing the pendant.

"Your father is also an Emperor? Or possesses strength beyond an Emperor?" He couldn't help but ask. The Library's chaos had been quelled by the blood in the pendant, which had restored his 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 Deficient Heavenly Dao be needed to awaken him?

"He isn't an Emperor, he is... the Heavenly Dao!" Luo Ruoxi clenched her delicate fists.

"The Heavenly Dao? Your father... is the Heavenly Dao?" Zhang Xuan trembled, unable to believe it. "Yes! Fifty years ago, Father couldn't withstand that massive hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao fragmented into three parts: the Ordered Heavenly Dao and the Deficient Heavenly Dao entered the spatial turbulence, and I took control of the Natural Heavenly Dao to maintain balance in the God Realm. To restore him, I had to gather the scattered parts... That's why I was so resolute, unable to fail! That's why I specifically went to the Master Teacher Continent, studied the Spring and Autumn Codex, and sought a way to defeat Master Kong! The favor I asked of him during our battle was also this." Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. Shortly after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, the girl in front of him had told him her story about wanting to save a beloved relative. He hadn't understood then, but now it all became clear. It was her father, and he was the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm! Could the Heavenly Dao truly take human form and have children?

"Controlling the Natural Heavenly Dao on his behalf... You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment within you?" Suddenly realizing the oddity in her words, Zhang Xuan looked at her. Controlling on behalf of someone was a different concept from having it integrated into one's body, like his own situation. "I merely control it; I am not a part of the Heavenly Dao..." Luo Ruoxi replied. Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. This meant he only needed to extract the Deficient Heavenly Dao from himself; she wouldn't have to die. Although he was unwilling to accept such a fate for himself, he was even more unwilling for the girl in front of him to be harmed.

"If I extract the Deficient Heavenly Dao from my body, your father will revive, and might even kill Leng Ru, right?" Zhang Xuan asked. "This... I'm not sure..." Luo Ruoxi hesitated, looking up at the collapsing God Realm. The God Realm was her father's foundation. Now that the foundation was in such a state, even if he awoke, could he truly defeat that powerful Leng Ru? It was truly hard to say!

"It seems even you aren't certain. In that case, relying on others is not as good as relying on ourselves... We must find a way on our own!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, the clone, united with the Nine Heavens' Nine Emperors, and if Master Kong joins us, we might just win!" "Master Kong? He..." Luo Ruoxi frowned.

"Master 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 something unexpected happened, he should be like Wei Changfeng, a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body!" Zhang Xuan explained. Upon seeing Wei Changfeng, he realized that Master Kong's ability to retain his consciousness must have been due to being a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng. This allowed him to remain lucid even in the embryonic state. Combined with the preparations he made beforehand, his resurrection was merely a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, as if she hadn't expected this to be the case. "We'll know if we go take a look. If my guess is correct, he should have already recovered. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have even gone to the Tidal Sea..." Zhang Xuan said. Master Kong's students, such as Ancient Sage Ziyuan and others, were all very powerful. Even without the help of an Emperor, they would surely have found a way to enter the Tidal Sea, yet none of them were seen there. There must have been something more important awaiting them, something they wanted to do while all the Emperors were preoccupied with the Tidal Sea! And this important matter was clearly Master Kong's recovery.

Luo Ruoxi's heart trembled, and she suddenly understood. "Let's go!" Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan swiped his hand and reappeared at Master Kong's residence. Indeed, he saw an old man floating cross-legged in the air. Upon seeing them arrive, the old man smiled slightly and said, "You've come!" Who else could it be but Master Kong! This eternal teacher had certainly not disappointed 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; 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 countermeasures in advance. The nameless giant in the Nether Soul Pool was left by me. On that day, when you killed me, I used the opportunity to break free from the Heavenly Dao's restraints and re-coagulate my physical body. I've only just recovered!" Master Kong smiled faintly. He was proficient in time abilities. While it seemed only a day or two had passed in the God Realm, in reality, he had undergone an unknown period of time to recover his strength, perhaps decades.

"The three of us are strong, but defeating Leng Ru won't be easy..." Seeing Master Kong had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head. This wasn't about boosting someone else's prestige and diminishing their own morale; it was simply the truth. So many people united just now couldn't withstand the opponent. Even adding Master Kong, what difference would it make? It still wouldn't change the situation!

"Individually, and even united, we are indeed no match for the opponent. But... what if all our power were merged into one person?" Master Kong looked at them, smiling. "Merged 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 strength is beyond doubt. Leng Ru absorbed all that power and then devoured fifty years' worth of spiritual energy from the God Realm. Individually, none of us dozens of Emperors are truly a match for her..." Master Kong said, "But if we unite and concentrate our power on one person... that might be a different story!"

"How do we concentrate it?" Luo Ruoxi looked at him. It sounded simple, but it was difficult to execute. Emperors were already at the peak of the God Realm. If absorbing others' power were that easy, she wouldn't have remained stagnant for so many years.

"It's simple... We will concentrate our power on Zhang Xuan. Once he breaks through the Emperor's shackles, he can save the God Realm!" Master Kong said. "Me?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback. "Why me?"

"Emperor Lingxi cultivates freedom and transcendence from 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, during our battle, you also gave up at one point, intending to be killed by me, didn't you?" Master Kong said. Luo Ruoxi was speechless. During the battle, she had indeed considered that, which was why their initial exchanges felt more like sparring matches, with each holding back, rather than life-and-death struggles.

"Unable to transcend, she naturally cannot unleash her strongest power. Even with more true qi, she still cannot break through to that supreme realm! As for me..." Master Kong nodded. "My heart is filled with concern for the common people, wishing to bring salvation to all, yet I am unwilling for others to sacrifice for me. Too much benevolence is also a flaw! If I had been a little more ruthless and wiped out the Spirit Tribe, we wouldn't be in this situation now..." If he had eradicated all the Spirit Tribe members back then, Leng Ru would not have been able to resurrect, and the current situation would not exist.

"Therefore, I am also unsuitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation method flows smoothly, without flaws. He believes in living authentically, and even if he dies, as long as he lives without regret, his heart is clear. Such a person possesses greater capacity for acceptance and more room for development. Only this way can he go higher and further!" Master Kong continued. "Life, return when it should; death, long to remember!" If he doesn't even care about death, how could he be constrained by anything else?

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when Master Kong looked at him with bright eyes. "No need to refuse. Firstly, there isn't enough 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 Heavenly Dao fragments within her, she has controlled the Heavenly Dao for many years and possesses her own understanding of it. I control the Ordered Heavenly Dao. If we imbue you with our power, you will possess the complete power of the Heavenly Dao within you! Combined with your clone's Nine Heavens Primordial Chaos Golden Lotus, you can absolutely stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle through the heavens, and destroy all things!" "Alright!" Seeing that the other party had already made a decision, and knowing further explanation was futile, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom! He sat cross-legged, and in the blink of an eye, two powerful forces surged into him from both sides. Zhang Xuan's entire body stiffened. In that instant, he felt as if he had transformed 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? Very well. I'll kill you all, then go kill Zhang Xuan..." Having sent Luo Qiqi and the clone flying, Leng Ru gave a cold smile. The combined power unleashed by the clone and the various Emperors was indeed very strong, but compared to her, it was still somewhat weaker. The Tidal Sea had almost completely devoured the spiritual energy outside the cities of the God Realm, and now all that power had become her sustenance. Every move she made carried the ability to destroy heaven and earth. These Emperors and God Kings, despite representing the peak of the God Realm, were still no match for her. At this moment, Leng Ru seemed to embody the entire God Realm itself; no one could stop her.

"If the God Realm perishes, our lives will be meaningless. I, Emperor Yunchi, will take you down with me..." Emperor Yunchi transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, and lunged at Leng Ru from mid-air. "You? Unworthy!" Leng Ru squeezed her hand, and the golden dragon was caught in her palm, unable to escape no matter how it struggled.

"Old friend, wait for me!" Emperor Fumen also roared, transforming into his true form as a White Tiger, and appeared in mid-air. The Undying Emperor revealed her true form as an Undying Fire Phoenix, her flames illuminating the sky. Emperor Xuanming, whose true form was a massive turtle, appeared as if supporting the heavens. The four Divine Beasts, who guarded the four extremes of the God Realm, simultaneously transformed into their true forms. The collapsing God Realm seemed to slow down. The universe itself seemed to freeze for an instant. Bang, bang, bang, bang! With four consecutive palms, Leng Ru suppressed the four beasts, a fierce killing intent flashing in her eyes. "Since you seek death, I shall grant it to you..."

Amidst her roar, just as she was about to deliver a fatal blow to annihilate everyone, she felt her raised arm tighten and stop in mid-air. "Want to kill them? Have you asked me?" Immediately, to everyone's shocked gazes, a figure slowly walked out of the 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 seemed to come from the heavens, as if he himself were an entire world.

"Quite a lot of improvement..." Leng Ru stopped, her gaze serious. She clearly didn't understand why the other party's strength had changed so dramatically in just a few minutes. "But what if it has increased? Even the God Realm at its peak couldn't resist me. I don't believe you can stop me..." With a cold snort, Leng Ru struck down again. Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack. The two fought, tearing space apart and sending chaotic air currents spiraling everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?" In the Free Heaven's Master Kong's residence, Luo Ruoxi watched, filled with worry. She and Master Kong had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, and their own cultivation had dropped to only the God King level, no longer as glorious as before. However, their foundational level remained; as long as they had enough power, they could eventually recover.

"With his current strength, winning... will be very difficult! Unless... he can comprehend power beyond that of an Emperor!" After a moment of silence, Master Kong said. More than a dozen Emperors united couldn't defeat Leng Ru. Even if they transferred all their power to him, winning wouldn't be easy. The reason they did this was because... only by concentrating power into one person was it possible to reach the peak, to truly transcend limits, and to break through oneself!

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

"He certainly can... He possesses an unyielding heart! And a pride for this world." Seeing the doubt in her heart, Master Kong smiled.

Bang, bang, bang! After several consecutive moves, Zhang Xuan's tiger's mouth split open, and a huge, ghastly wound appeared on his chest. Just as Master Kong had said, even after integrating their combined power and forming a complete Heavenly Dao within him, he was still no match.

"Haha, I thought you were more impressive. You're nothing special!" Leng Ru sneered. "I'm no match for you anyway, and I'll be killed sooner or later. In that case, I want to die under your strongest attack..." Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan stopped attacking and instead looked at Leng Ru.

"Very well, I'll grant your wish and give you my strongest attack..." Hearing him say this, Leng Ru paused, then scoffed coldly and raised her palm. Whoosh! A green light appeared in her palm and slammed downwards. It was indeed her strongest attack; the entire God Realm roared as if on the verge of collapse, and another massive crater was blasted open. With eyes tightly shut, Zhang Xuan did not dodge. His head exploded, and his soul scattered in all directions.

"Zhang Xuan..." Seeing this scene, everyone's faces turned pale. Luo Qiqi looked as if she had gone mad. Emperor Yunchi and the others' eyes widened, and they trembled uncontrollably. Master Kong and Luo Ruoxi, witnessing this, were also stunned. Their original intention was for him to break through his shackles and strive for a realm beyond Emperorhood. Why did he not resist and instead willingly embrace death? Wouldn't this betray their good intentions?

"No, that's the Undying Emperor's method of immortality..." Just as they wondered, Master Kong suddenly spoke. Everyone then saw that Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and even whose soul had shattered, had the pendant on his chest suddenly burst open. A drop of blood floated up, ignited, forming a scorching flame. From within the flame, a perfectly intact figure slowly emerged.

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Deficient Heavenly Dao from his soul?" Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted. Zhang Xuan, reborn from the flames, no longer had the Library of Heaven's Path within him. He was free from the Heavenly Dao's interference, having completely detached from it!

"How did he do that?" Master Kong was also filled with disbelief. The Heavenly Dao and the soul were intertwined, inseparable. To break free, he had to shatter his soul and then re-form it using the Nether Soul Pool. This person, however, was only struck once and completely broke free. What method did he use?

"I know... He used Leng Ru's method for breaking free from a soul contract..." Luo Ruoxi realized. A soul contract binds master and servant; if the master doesn't dissolve it, the servant remains bound forever... The Library of Heaven's Path was similar, an enhanced version of a contract, one could say. Once bound to the soul, it wouldn't separate unless one died. But... Leng Ru had used that special power to break free from her soul contract. Zhang Xuan had inquired about the specific method in detail before, and he likely conceived this plan at that very moment. That's why he deliberately fought to the death, allowing her to unleash her strongest attack on him. By using this power, he was reborn from the ashes, and unexpectedly, it was a resounding success!

"So that's it, this is the method to break through to Emperorhood..." Zhang Xuan, emerging from the flames, wore a faint smile, as if he had understood something. He suddenly beckoned, and the clone on one 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 as if the Zhang Xuan before them had become the Nine Heavens, and the Nine Heavens was him. He gently stamped his foot on the ground. The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized. The Nine Heavens Primordial Chaos Golden Lotus, which appeared at the birth of the Nine Heavens, could stabilize them. Now, with the clone and his true self perfectly merged, inseparable, it meant he controlled this power. Not only that, with the cultivation of the Nine Heavens Primordial Chaos Golden Lotus integrated, his already peak realm loosened further, seeming ready to break through at any moment.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student relationships, filial 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 separated from his soul, he understood. Did the world exist because humans perceived it, or did the world exist first, and then humans? Was it the wind moving, or the heart moving? This question had perplexed countless people throughout eternity. Of course, now... none of that mattered! Without life, without emotion, even if the world existed, what meaning would it have? Therefore, beyond romantic love, there was the love for all beings! The emotions that intertwined throughout the world. All things in the world possess 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!

"A myriad of emotions, to be used by me..." With a soft cry, the confined realm within Zhang Xuan's body instantly shattered. The Emperor's shackles were broken! In an instant, it was as if he had touched a brand new world and a grand gate. His soul rapidly received nourishment. Countless streams of primordial chaos qi surged towards him, and his physical body also rapidly improved. Previously, he could only progress by absorbing spiritual energy, but now, spatial turbulence, primordial chaos qi, even the opponent's green light, could all be claimed by him, without distinction.

Leng Ru hadn't expected that her full-strength attack, instead of killing him, had instead completed him. She screamed in rage, letting out a furious roar, and attacked again. "Your resentment towards the aloof Emperors who didn't save you from 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 to vent your rage is emotion; your desire to become stronger is also emotion... Emotions control you. How can you defeat me, how can you not be controlled by me?" With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder. He lightly grasped his hand. The once invincible Leng Ru was now bound by countless fine threads of emotion, restrained and unable to move. As long as she possessed emotions, she would be used and controlled by him!

Leng Ru'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 these things now..." With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan shook his head. Controlling the emotions of the world, concepts like 'servant' held no meaning for him anymore. Having killed so many people in the God Realm, and injured his girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and so many friends, how could he possibly show mercy today!

"No..." Sensing his decisiveness, Leng Ru's pupils contracted. Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a violent pain throughout her body. In an instant, she exploded, transforming into countless streams of spiritual energy that surged throughout the God Realm. All the power that the Tidal Sea had previously devoured now flowed back, and the withered wilderness revitalized with new life.

"She was just killed like that?" Emperor Yunchi, the Undying Emperor, Exquisite Fairy, and the others all stared wide-eyed, unable to believe it. They had just fought Leng Ru and knew how terrifying she was. Such a powerful being was casually obliterated. To what extent had this Zhang Xuan truly reached? Could there really be another realm above that of an Emperor?

"He succeeded..." Master Kong and Luo Ruoxi unclenched their fists.

"This is a part of the Heavenly Dao, so I shall return it to the Heavenly Dao now..." Seeing the "Deficient 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, embedded itself grandly in the sky of the God Realm. With a bell-like resonance, the continuously collapsing God Realm visibly began to recover slowly. The chaotic air currents also reconverged. The collapsing God Realm finally halted, and the depleted spiritual energy, along with Leng Ru's demise, slowly revitalized. "It seems the God Realm is about to welcome an era of spiritual energy resurgence..." Zhang Xuan smiled. The hole in the Tidal Sea had recovered with the completion of the Heavenly Dao, and it was only a matter of time before the God Realm returned to its former glory.

"Zhang Xuan, come this way..." Just as he finished these tasks, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan paused, then took a step. This step carried him an unknown distance. He then saw a young man standing before him. It was precisely the one who had previously taught him sword art. "Senior, you..." Seeing him, Zhang Xuan was startled. He had always felt this person was unfathomable, but now he realized that he was only slightly weaker than himself, having already reached the peak of Emperorhood, far 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 faintly. "Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan frowned. This was the first time he had heard that name.

"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. After flying an unknown distance, they stopped before a mountain peak. There, he saw another young man. His appearance wasn't much older, and his raised eyebrows gave him a profound, unfathomable presence. "This power..." 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. "That is to say... Nie Lingxi, the father of Luo Ruoxi, as you know her!" "Ruoxi's father?" Zhang Xuan was shocked. "You... are the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm?" Luo Ruoxi had said her father was the Heavenly Dao, but he never imagined it would be such a young man.

"I transformed into the Three Pure Ones, and a portion of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Moreover, this world was created by me, so it's not incorrect to say I am the Heavenly Dao!" Nie Yun smiled faintly. Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it. The God Realm was actually created by this person? How strong must he be then?

"Wait, if the God Realm was created by you, and you are the Heavenly Dao, why did you let Leng Ru rampage without intervening...?" Zhang Xuan looked at him. If he hadn't broken through, the God Realm could very likely have completely collapsed. Why had this person in front of him remained unconcerned? Did he even care about his daughter's life or death?

Without answering his question, Nie Yun looked at him calmly. "Do you think... there are even more powerful beings above the God Realm?" Zhang Xuan paused. "There should be, right..." Although he hadn't seen them, since Nie Yun could cultivate to such a realm, perhaps others could as well, or even be stronger. Just like the person before him.

"I once suspected there might be more powerful beings above the God Realm, so I used all my strength to peek, which ultimately provoked a backlash from a higher world... A hand tore through the void and descended!" Nie Yun looked over. "If I had dodged then, it's highly probable that the entire God Realm would have been wiped clean, leaving not a single life... So, I blocked that attack. But as a result, the Heavenly Dao, which I had incarnated into, was split apart."

"In that situation, I could have recovered with just a thought, but... I understood that truly transcending the God Realm's shackles to explore where that hand came from, and what lay beyond the God Realm... would be very difficult for me alone. So, I wanted to see if any life could break through the Emperor's shackles and reach a level comparable to mine!" "Therefore, I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao consciousness to the lowest realm... granting them respectively to a soul originally belonging to that world, and a soul not belonging to that world. And you, ultimately, did not disappoint me!" Nie Yun said with a smile.

"A soul not belonging to this world... In other words, my transmigration was also because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart trembled. No wonder he was able to transmigrate; he hadn't expected it was all due to the person before him.

"Heh heh!" Nie Yun chuckled softly and said, "A soul naturally belonging to this world possesses reverence for it, making it much harder to break through its shackles. I merely had a thought and never expected you would actually succeed..." "I..." Zhang Xuan's face flushed. "If it weren't for Master Kong, I wouldn't have been able to reach this level at all..." Without Master Kong's selfless dedication, reaching his current realm would have been impossible.

"I gave him the chance, but he didn't seize it. The battle with Lingxi was actually his best opportunity for a breakthrough. Unfortunately, he chose to retreat, thinking he had a fallback plan to escape unscathed. In reality, he lost the spirit of courageous advancement. When facing someone beyond us, if one doesn't even have that much spirit, how can they contend?" Nie Yun said. Zhang Xuan remained silent. He had witnessed their battle at the time and acknowledged that Master Kong had indeed been somewhat lacking in decisiveness. It was also possible that he was unwilling to kill Luo Ruoxi. Alas, in that single moment of hesitation, he missed his chance to advance.

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

"With me here, she wouldn't have died..." Nie Yun smiled faintly. "Your current strength is not far from mine. Do you think that with the strength of two people, in a life-or-death situation, saving someone is possible?" Zhang Xuan gave a wry smile. Breaking through to Emperorhood and merely being an Emperor were two different concepts. If Nie Yun had truly been willing to act, he could indeed have saved them at the last moment, ensuring they suffered not even a scratch.

"Lingxi was born to my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, which is why she uses the surname Luo as a disguise... To make her believe and not act on emotion, she still thinks I'm in a coma even now..." Nie Yun gave a wry smile. "I suppose I've been quite a cruel father... How about this, you explain it to her. After all, her attention has now shifted to you; 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'm genuinely afraid she'll turn everything upside down..." Seeing this highly unreliable father before him, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he could only agree, "Alright..." There was no other choice; after all, he had "abducted" someone's daughter...

"The Library of Heaven's Path was born from a single thought of mine. It was both a foundation and a limitation. Your ability to break through that limitation on your own demonstrates your capacity and potential. Your future is boundless. As a father, I am content that my daughter can be with you."