Chapter 730: Iterative Dissociation Disk

A soul contract, intrinsically bound to the soul, cannot be undone unless the individual who initiated it releases it, no matter how powerful the other party may be. For instance, even the Undying Emperor, Little Yellow Chicken, who was merely a Divine King before becoming an Emperor, couldn't break such an agreement. To prevent a backlash or betrayal, the Master Teacher Continent specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Registry of Heavenly Dao, they could not break free from a soul contract!

"A soul contract indeed cannot be separated from the Sea of Consciousness," said the Ruthless One. "However, I've integrated a unique gas that can dissolve even the Heavenly Dao. Breaking this contract isn't difficult... I can achieve it by simply concentrating enough power and striking the location of the contract!" Since soul contracts are based on the Heavenly Dao, and his special power can dismantle even the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm, dissolving a soul contract, if handled properly, would be no challenge.

"I see..." Zhang Xuan's eyes flashed.

"I've told you all this as a thank you for bringing me to the God Realm!" After explaining, the Ruthless One said no more. His aura grew even more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further. Clearly, even while speaking, he had devoured an immense amount of energy to nourish himself.

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

"Prepare to attack!" With his doubts dispelled, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raising his long sword abruptly. "Since that's the case, let's see what you've got!" *Boom!* His most powerful sword intent burst forth once more. "Life, I shall return; Death, I shall forever yearn!" With no regard for life or death, what could possibly stop him? Although this sword technique hadn't reached the level of an Emperor's comprehension, it encapsulated all his deepest convictions, pushing his 'Heavenly Affection Art' to its absolute limit. With a single strike, he cleaved the Ruthless One's attack in two.

At the same moment, Luo Ruoxi also made her move, her elegant hands swirling, sword light flashing like snow. Her swordplay bore some resemblance to that of the young man from Sword God Heaven, carrying an unstoppable momentum and the unconstrained grace of the Grand Dao.

"Your techniques are impressive, but compared to mine, they still fall short..." With a soft chuckle, the Ruthless One clawed downwards again. In an instant, his palm blotted out the sky, enveloping heaven and earth. Space shattered, and the sun, moon, and stars seemed as if they would be torn from the sky. *Puff! Puff!* Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxi were simultaneously sent flying backward, spitting blood in mid-air. With their combined strength, they couldn't even resist! What realm had this person reached?

"Impudence!" The clone strode forward, lotuses blooming with each step, and the sound of flowing water echoing in the void. From a distance, he exuded an overwhelming aura. Having refined the Nine Heavens Primordial 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 too was sent flying backward, unable to withstand a single blow. Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead. Even after becoming an Emperor, the clone still retained his show-off nature... Such a flashy display would be more impactful if the power were concentrated!

"Attack together, or if they die, we all die..." Little Yellow Chicken roared, crimson flames burning as if the sky itself was set ablaze. The remaining six Emperors also unleashed their techniques. The seven Emperors united, capable of destroying heaven and earth, with even a fragment of the world unable to resist them. However, their opponent was the Ruthless One, who had absorbed special power. As their attacks approached, the black hole suddenly expanded, devouring their energy 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 attacks! How could this person be so strong?

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

"How dare you, you rat!" With a loud shout, the old man from Sword God Heaven suddenly appeared, blocking the path, his long sword transforming into a milky way. "An Emperor? He's an Emperor too?" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted. This old man, who had been following the young man, was initially thought to be just a retainer, at most a Conferred Divine King. Only upon unleashing his power did Zhang Xuan realize he was also a powerful Emperor! If he was an Emperor, what about that young man?

"He is the Emperor of Sword God Heaven himself..." Struggling to stand, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth.

"Then... what about the young man who taught me swordsmanship?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

"He is..." Just as Luo Ruoxi was about to answer, space twisted, and then the Emperor from Sword God Heaven was also sent flying backward, landing a short distance away, creating a large crater. Zhang Xuan's current strength and comprehension of the sword path far surpassed his, yet Zhang Xuan couldn't resist. Even if the Emperor's cultivation wasn't weak and his swordsmanship was superb, he was still no match.

"Hahaha, Emperors are just a bunch of weaklings!" The Ruthless One laughed maniacally after defeating the Emperor of Sword God Heaven. Space continuously collapsed around him, making him appear like a demon or fiend. "Today, I will annihilate the Nine Heavens, destroy this God Realm, and flatten all its rules!"

"What do 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 block a single attack from the opponent... Was there truly no one in the God Realm who could stop him? Would they just let him destroy the world?

"The only way... is for your Flawed 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 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 complete, perhaps allowing it to patch vulnerabilities and expel the Ruthless One on its own. It would be like the human immune system. A complete immune system easily repels viruses, but if it's compromised, even the strongest person can succumb to a viral invasion. However... "He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao is fully restored, it might not be able to suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. An immune system could kill a virus, but what about a fierce tiger? What could even the strongest immune system do against that? The person before them, though merely a Divine King by title, was more powerful than even an Emperor... He was already beyond what the Heavenly Dao could contend with.

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of despair appearing on her pristine face. "Yes... it can't suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, *he* can awaken. Killing this one won't be difficult then!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"I'll take you to him. He's in the Self-Contained Heaven..." Taking a deep breath, Luo Ruoxi gritted her teeth and turned to fly forward.

"Trying to escape?" The Ruthless One sneered, pressing downwards. Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the sky. Zhang Xuan unleashed his swordsmanship again, and a magnificent sword intent erupted. *Ding ding ding!* He was once again blocked by the Ruthless One.

"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 stepped forward to block. Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to her true form as the Quiet Space Pearl. The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!" Seeing everyone fearlessly sacrificing themselves to block the opponent, 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 Self-Contained Heaven the next instant.

The Self-Contained Heaven had lost its former serenity; the God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere. "Where is this 'he' you speak 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 companion..." Luo Ruoxi took a moment to adjust her breathing 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 upon seeing the pendant. "Is your father also an Emperor? Or does he possess power beyond an Emperor's?" He couldn't help but ask. The pendant's blood had allowed him to regain clarity when the Library of Heaven's Path was in chaos. Could it be that not only was she an Emperor, but her father was too, and perhaps even stronger? If so, why would he be in a coma? And why would he need the Flawed Heavenly Dao to awaken?

"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 trembled, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, my father couldn't resist that immense hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao fragmented into three parts: the Orderly Heavenly Dao and the Flawed Heavenly Dao entered the spatial currents, and I temporarily controlled the Natural Heavenly Dao to maintain the balance of the God Realm. To restore him, all the scattered parts must be collected... That's why I was so resolute, unable to fail! That's why I specifically entered the Master Teacher Continent, studied the Spring and Autumn Codex, and sought to defeat Master Kong! The favor I asked of him during our battle was also related to this." Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan understood with a start. Not long after they first met on the Master Teacher Continent, the girl before him had told him her story about wanting to save a close relative. He hadn't understood then, but now it all clicked. 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?

"Temporarily controlling the Natural Heavenly Dao... Do you not have a Heavenly Dao fragment within you?" Suddenly realizing something off in her words, Zhang Xuan looked at her. Temporarily controlling and having it integrated within one's body were two different concepts. "I only control it; I am not a part of the Heavenly Dao itself..." Luo Ruoxi replied.

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. This meant he only needed to extract the Flawed 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 extract the Flawed Heavenly Dao from my body, your father will revive, and even be able to kill the Ruthless One, right?" Zhang Xuan asked, looking at her. "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 formidable Ruthless One? It was hard to say!

"It seems you're not certain either. In that case, it's better to rely on ourselves than on others... We must find a way ourselves!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, I, the clone, united with the Nine Emperors of the Nine Heavens, and with Master Kong's cooperation, 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... Barring any accidents, he should be a Congenital Fetal Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng!" Zhang Xuan stated. Seeing Wei Changfeng, he understood that Master Kong's claim of retaining his consciousness likely meant he was also a Congenital Fetal Soul Body, capable of maintaining lucidity even in the womb. Combined with the preparations he made beforehand, his resurrection was merely a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned, apparently not having expected this.

"We'll know if we go check. If my guess is right, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have neglected to even visit 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 Emperors, 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 waiting for them, something they wanted to accomplish while all the Emperors were preoccupied with the Tidal Sea. And that important matter was clearly Master 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 Kong's residence. Indeed, he saw an old man floating cross-legged in the air. Upon seeing them arrive, the old man smiled slightly. "You're here!" Who else could it be but Master Kong! This teacher of a myriad generations had indeed not disappointed him! As he had guessed, Master Kong had revived, taking advantage of everyone's attention being focused on the Tidal Sea.

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

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a contingency long ago. The nameless giant in the Nether Soul Pool was left by me. On that day, when you killed it, I seized the opportunity to break free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints and remold my physical body. I've only just recovered now!" Master Kong smiled faintly. He was skilled in temporal abilities. Though it seemed only a day or two had passed in the God Realm, he had actually endured an unknown duration to recover his strength, possibly decades.

"The three of us are strong, but defeating the Ruthless One won't be easy..." Seeing that Master Kong had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head. She wasn't trying to diminish their morale; it was simply the truth. Just now, so many people combined couldn't block the opponent. What difference would adding one more Master Kong make? It still wouldn't change the situation!

"Individually, and even united, we are indeed no match for him," Master Kong said, smiling as he looked at them. "But... what if all our powers were concentrated into one person?"

"Concentrated into one person?" This time, not only Luo Ruoxi but also Zhang Xuan frowned in confusion.

"That palm could tear through the God Realm and shatter the Heavenly Dao; its power is undeniable. The Ruthless One absorbed all that power and then devoured fifty years' worth of spiritual energy from the God Realm. Individually, our dozen or so Emperors are indeed no match..." Master Kong said. "But united, with all our power concentrated into one person... that might be different!"

"How would we concentrate it?" Luo Ruoxi asked. It sounded simple but was difficult to achieve. Emperors were already at the peak of the God Realm. If it were so easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have stagnated for so many years.

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

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

"Emperor Lingxi cultivates freedom and transcendence from nature!" Master Kong said. "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, you once considered giving up and letting me kill you during our battle, didn't you?"

Luo Ruoxi was speechless. During the battle, she had indeed considered that, which was why their initial exchange felt more like a sparring match, with both holding back, rather than a life-or-death struggle.

"If one cannot transcend, they naturally cannot unleash their full power. Even with abundant *zhenqi*, they cannot reach that supreme realm! As for me..." Master Kong nodded. "My heart is filled with compassion for all beings, wishing to enlighten the world, 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 exterminated the Qingtian Race, we wouldn't be in this situation now..." If he had completely annihilated the Qingtian Race back then, the Ruthless One would not have been able to revive, and the current circumstances 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 remains unburdened. Such a person possesses greater capacity for inclusion and greater room for growth. Only in this way can one reach higher and go further!" Master Kong continued. "Life, I shall return; Death, I shall forever yearn!" If he doesn't even care about death, how could he be constrained by other things?

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when Master Kong looked at him with piercing eyes. "No need to refuse. First, there isn't enough time to cultivate anyone else. Even if there were, I don't believe 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 possesses her own understanding of it. I control the Orderly Heavenly Dao. If we imbue you with our power, you will possess the complete power of the Heavenly Dao! Coupled with your clone's Nine Heavens Primordial Golden Lotus, you could truly stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle through the nine firmaments, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!" Seeing that the decision had been made and further explanations would be futile, Zhang Xuan nodded.

*Boom!* As he sat down cross-legged, in the blink of an eye, two vast streams of power surged in from either side. Zhang Xuan's entire body stiffened, and in an instant, he felt as if he had transformed into the Heavenly Dao itself, soaring above the Nine Heavens. His soul, physical body, and *zhenqi* were all instantly purified, growing stronger and more formidable.

"You want to stop me too? Very well, I'll kill you all, then go and slay Zhang Xuan..." The Ruthless One sneered, swatting Luo Qiqi and the clone aside. The combined power of the clone and the numerous Emperors was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still somewhat weaker. The Tidal Sea had consumed nearly all the spiritual energy of the God Realm outside the cities. Now, all that power served as his nourishment. With every movement, he wielded the ability to destroy heaven and earth. These Emperors and Divine Kings, though representing the pinnacle of the God Realm, were still no match. At this moment, the Ruthless One seemed to embody the entire God Realm; no one could stop him.

"If the God Realm perishes, our lives will be meaningless. I, Emperor Yun Chi, will perish with you!" Emperor Yun Chi transformed into his true form, a massive five-clawed golden dragon, and soared through the air, lunging towards him. "Just you? You're not worthy!" The Ruthless One squeezed his hand, and the golden dragon was trapped in his 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 flew forward. The Undying Emperor displayed his true form, the Undying Fire Phoenix, its flames illuminating the sky. Emperor Xuanming, whose true form was a colossal turtle, appeared as if supporting the 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 appeared to freeze in an instant.

*Bang bang bang bang!* With four consecutive palm strikes, the Ruthless One suppressed the four beasts. A strong killing intent flashed in his eyes. "Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish..." Amidst his roar, just as he was about to unleash a fatal blow to annihilate everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten and stop in mid-air.

"Do you really think you can kill them without asking me first...?" Immediately, to the astonished gazes of everyone, a figure slowly walked out from 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 descended from the heavens, as if he himself was an entire world.

"Quite a lot of improvement..." The Ruthless One stopped, his gaze solemn. He clearly didn't understand how the other's strength had undergone such a massive change in just a few minutes. "But what does a little improvement matter? Even the God Realm at its peak couldn't resist me; I don't believe you can stop me..." With a cold snort, the Ruthless One struck down again. Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack. The two clashed, tearing space apart as energy currents swirled wildly.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?" At Master Kong's residence in Self-Contained Heaven, Luo Ruoxi watched, filled with worry. She and Master Kong had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, and their own cultivations had fallen to only the Divine 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!" Master Kong said after a moment of silence. A dozen or so Emperors united couldn't defeat the Ruthless One. Even if they transferred all their power to Zhang Xuan, victory wouldn't be easy. The reason they did this was because... only by concentrating power into one person could they potentially reach the absolute peak, truly transcend limits, and break through themselves!

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

"He definitely can... He possesses an unyielding heart! And a profound sense of pride in this world." Seeing her doubts, 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 powers and forming a complete Heavenly Dao within him, he was still no match.

"Haha, I thought you were more impressive. You're nothing special!" The Ruthless One sneered.

"I'm no match for you anyway, and I'll be killed sooner or later. In that case, I'd like to die by your strongest attack..." Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan stopped his assault and looked at the Ruthless One.

"Alright, I'll grant your wish. I'll give you my strongest attack..." Hearing this, the Ruthless One was momentarily stunned, then scoffed coldly, raising his palm. *Whoosh!* A green light appeared in his palm and slammed downwards. It was indeed his strongest attack; the entire God Realm rumbled as if it could no longer bear the force, and another massive crater was blasted open.

With eyes tightly shut, Zhang Xuan made no attempt to dodge. His head exploded, and his soul scattered in all directions. "Zhang Xuan..." Seeing this scene, everyone's faces turned ashen. Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad. Emperor Yun Chi and the others stared with wide eyes, trembling uncontrollably. Master Kong and Luo Ruoxi, witnessing this, were also stunned. Their intention was for him to break through his shackles and strive for a realm beyond the Emperor, so why didn't he resist and instead willingly embraced death? Wouldn't that betray their good intentions?

"No, it's the Undying Emperor's method of immortality..." Just as they wondered, Master Kong suddenly spoke. Everyone then saw Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and soul shattered, his chest pendant suddenly burst open. A drop of blood floated up, ignited, forming a scorching flame. From within the flame, an intact figure slowly emerged. "He... used the opponent's power and the blood from the pendant to separate the Flawed 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. Free from the Heavenly Dao's interference, he had broken away from the Heavenly Dao! "How did he do that?" Master Kong was also filled with disbelief. The Heavenly Dao and his soul had been merged, indistinguishable. To break free, he had to scatter his soul and then re-form it using the Nether Soul Pool. Yet, this person before them had only been struck once and completely broke free. What method did he use?

"I understand... 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 remains bound forever. 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 the soul died. However... the Ruthless One had used a special power to break free from his soul contract, and Zhang Xuan had previously inquired about the specific method in detail. He must have conceived this plan back then. That's why he deliberately risked his life, allowing the Ruthless One to unleash his strongest attack on him. By using this power, he was reborn from the flames, and unexpectedly, it was a complete success!

"So that's it. This is the method to break through to Emperor!" Zhang Xuan, emerging from the flames, wore a faint smile on his face, as if he had understood something profound. He suddenly beckoned, and his clone, which had been standing to one side, immediately transformed back into a lotus and flew towards him. In an instant, it perfectly merged with his body. In the blink of an eye, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan had become the Nine Heavens, and the Nine Heavens was him. He lightly stomped his foot on the ground. The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized. The Nine Heavens Primordial Golden Lotus, which appeared at the birth of the Nine Heavens, was capable of stabilizing them. Now, with his clone perfectly merged with him, indistinguishable, it meant he controlled this power. Furthermore, having integrated the cultivation of the Nine Heavens Primordial Golden Lotus, his already peak realm loosened, seeming ready to break through at any moment.

"Master-servant bond, brotherhood, teacher-student relationship, parental love, romantic love... when all these merge, they form everything 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 saw it, or did the world exist first, and then humans? Was it the wind moving, or the heart moving? This question had plagued countless people throughout eternity. Of course, now... none of that mattered! Without life, without emotions, what meaning would the world have even if it existed? Therefore, after transcending romantic love, comes the love for all beings! It is the interwoven emotions of the entire 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. Farewell is emotion. Reunion is also emotion!

"A myriad of emotions, all for my use..." With a low cry, the confined realm within Zhang Xuan instantly broke open. The Emperor's shackles were shattered! In that instant, he seemed to touch a brand new world and a grand gate, his soul rapidly nourished. Countless streams of primordial chaos surged toward him, and his physical body rapidly improved. Before, he could only advance by absorbing spiritual energy, but now, spatial turbulence, primordial chaos, and even the opponent's green light could all be his, becoming indistinguishable from himself.

The Ruthless One hadn't expected his full-force attack to not only fail to kill Zhang Xuan but instead aid his breakthrough. He screamed in frustration, then roared in fury, attacking again.

"Your resentment towards the high and mighty Emperors for not saving you in the spatial turbulence is emotion; your feeling of having been my servant, imbued with humility and rage, is emotion; your desire to destroy the God Realm and vent your fury is emotion; your wish to become even stronger is also emotion... Emotions control you, so how can you defeat me, or avoid being controlled by me?" With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder. He lightly grabbed with his palm. The Ruthless One, who had been unparalleled, was bound by countless threads of emotion, restrained and unable to move. As long as he possessed emotion, he would be used and controlled by Zhang Xuan!

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. With control over all emotions in the world, concepts like servants held no meaning for him. Having killed so many God-level beings, and harmed his girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and so many friends, how could he possibly forgive him today?

"No..." Feeling Zhang Xuan's decisiveness, the Ruthless One's pupils contracted. Before he could finish speaking, he felt an intense pain throughout his body. In an instant, he exploded, transforming into countless streams of spiritual energy that surged throughout the God Realm. All the power that the Tidal Sea had previously consumed was now returned, and the depleted wildernesses burst back to life.

"He just killed him like that?" Emperor Yun Chi, the Undying Emperor, Fairy Linglong, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief. They had just fought the Ruthless One and knew how terrifying he was. To think such a powerful being was casually obliterated—what level had this Zhang Xuan reached? Was there truly another realm beyond Emperor?

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

"This is a part of the Heavenly Dao. I shall return it now to the Heavenly Dao..." Seeing the "Flawed Heavenly Dao," which had just been separated from his body, still suspended in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and flicked his finger. The Library of Heaven's Path, which had accompanied him since his rebirth, thundered as it embedded itself in the sky of the God Realm. With a bell-like resonance, the continuously collapsing God Realm visibly began to slowly recover, and the chaotic air currents regathered. The collapsing God Realm finally stopped, and the depleted spiritual energy, following the Ruthless One's demise, slowly revitalized. "It seems the God Realm is about to welcome an era of spiritual energy resurgence again..." Zhang Xuan smiled. The void in the Tidal Sea had also been restored 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 here..." Just as he finished these tasks, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan was startled and took a step. This single step traversed an unknown distance, and then he saw a young man standing before him. It was precisely the one who had taught him swordsmanship before.

"Senior, you..." Seeing him, Zhang Xuan was momentarily stunned. He had always felt this person was unfathomable, but now he realized that he was only slightly less powerful than himself, having already reached the pinnacle of an Emperor's strength, far surpassing Luo Ruoxi's previous power.

"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. This was the first time he had heard that name.

"Come with me, I'll take you to see my brother!" The young man named Nie Tong smiled faintly and stepped forward. Zhang Xuan followed closely behind him, traveling an unknown distance before stopping in front of a mountain peak. He then saw another young man. His appearance wasn't much older, and his raised eyebrows gave him a profound, unfathomable aura. "This power..." Zhang Xuan trembled. The strength of this young man before him was even greater than his own. He had also broken through the Emperor's shackles, and his cultivation was even more profound and substantial!

"I am Nie Yun!" The young man smiled faintly and looked over. "That is to say... Nie Lingxi, the father of Luo Ruoxi, whom you speak of!"

"Ruoxi's father?" Zhang Xuan was startled. "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 manifested three pure ones from one energy, and a portion of my soul transformed into the Heavenly Dao! Furthermore, I created this world, 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 you created the God Realm and you are the Heavenly Dao, why did you allow the Ruthless One to wreak havoc 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 him remained indifferent, not even caring 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 beyond 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 now.

"I once suspected there might be more powerful beings beyond the God Realm, so I used all my strength to peer beyond, which ultimately provoked a backlash from a higher world... A hand tore through space and descended!" Nie Yun looked at him. "If I had dodged then, it's highly likely the entire God Realm would have been obliterated, leaving no life behind... So, I blocked that attack, but as a result, the Heavenly Dao, which was my incarnation, was fragmented. In this situation, while I could recover with just a thought, I understood that truly transcending the God Realm's shackles, and exploring where that hand came from, and what lies beyond the God Realm... would be difficult for me alone. So, I wanted to see if any being could break through the Emperor's shackles and reach a level equal to mine!" "Therefore, I sent fragmented Heavenly Dao intentions to the lowest world... bestowing them upon a soul that belonged to that world, and a soul that did not. And you, ultimately, did not disappoint me!" Nie Yun smiled.

"A soul not belonging to this world... So, my transmigration was also because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart trembled. No wonder he had been able to transmigrate; he never expected it was all this person's doing.

"Heh heh!" Nie Yun chuckled softly. "A soul inherently belonging to this world carries an awe for it, making it much harder to break through its shackles. It was just a thought of mine, and I hadn't expected you would truly 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 devotion, reaching his current realm would have been utterly impossible.

"I gave him the opportunity; he just didn't seize it. His battle with Lingxi was actually his best chance for a breakthrough. Unfortunately, he chose to retreat, believing he had a contingency to escape unscathed. In reality, he lost his 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 firsthand, and Master Kong had indeed been somewhat lacking in decisiveness. It was also possible that he was unwilling to kill Luo Ruoxi. Unfortunately, in that single moment of hesitation, he missed the opportunity to advance.

"If Master 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 have died..." Nie Yun smiled faintly. "Your current strength is not much different from mine. Do you think, at a critical moment of life and death, with the strength of two individuals, saving someone can be achieved?"

Zhang Xuan gave a bitter smile. Breaking through to Emperor and being an Emperor were two different concepts. If Nie Yun had truly been willing to act, he could indeed have saved her at the last moment and ensured she suffered no injuries whatsoever.

"Lingxi was born to my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, which is why her disguised name uses the surname Luo... To make her believe and not act on emotion, she has thought until now that I was still in a coma..." Nie Yun gave a wry smile. "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. She probably won't even remember me, her old dad... Haha, I won't appear for a while, I'll hide for some time. Otherwise, I'm genuinely afraid she'll turn the world upside down..."

Seeing such an unreliable father before him, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he could only agree, "Alright..." There was no choice but to agree; after all, he was the one who had "taken" the man's daughter.

"The Library of Heaven's Path was a manifestation of a thought of mine; it was both a foundation and a limitation. Your ability to break through that limitation on your own demonstrates your capability and potential. Your future is boundless, and as a father, I am content that my daughter can be with you."