Chapter 733: Heard the Way Without Breaking the Wall

Soul contracts are profoundly binding; once formed, they cannot be dissolved by the other party, no matter how powerful their methods, unless the one who initiated it releases it. For instance, even the Undying Emperor, Little Yellow Chicken, who was merely a God King before, couldn't break such an agreement once he became an Emperor. To prevent betrayals and backlashes, the Master Teacher Continent specifically decreed that even if one could escape the Heavenly Dao Scroll, they could not break a soul-binding agreement.

"While a soul contract truly cannot be detached from one's sea of consciousness, I've integrated a unique energy capable of dissolving even the Heavenly Dao," the Ruthless One stated. "Breaking this contract isn't hard, as long as I can unleash enough power to strike where the contract resides."

Soul contracts are fundamentally tied to the Heavenly Dao. If this unique power can dissolve even the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm, then dissolving a mere soul contract, with proper execution, presents no challenge.

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

"I've told you this much as a thank you for bringing me to the God Realm!" Having explained, the Ruthless One fell silent. His aura became increasingly ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him grew even larger. Evidently, while speaking, he had absorbed an immense amount of power to replenish himself.

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

"Let's prepare to fight!" With his doubts gone, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath and raised his long sword. "If that's the case, then let's settle this with our skills!"

*Boom!*

His most formidable sword intent erupted once more. "Live, and return; die, and be remembered forever!" Disregarding both life and death, what could possibly stop him? Although this sword technique hadn't reached the level of an Emperor's mastery, it channeled all the unwavering determination in his heart, pushing the Heavenly Empathy Art within him to its absolute limit. With a single strike, he cleaved the Ruthless One's attack in two.

Simultaneously, Luo Ruoxi also made her move. Her delicate hands twirled, and sword light shimmered like snow. Her sword technique bore a resemblance to that of the young man from Sword God Heaven, exuding an unyielding momentum combined with the elegant spontaneity of the Great Dao.

"Your techniques are formidable, but they still pale in comparison to mine…" With a soft chuckle, the Ruthless One swept his hand downwards once more. In an instant, his palm eclipsed the sky and veiled the earth. Space fractured, and the sun, moon, and stars seemed on the verge of being violently torn from their positions.

*Poof! Poof!*

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

"Insolent!" The clone stepped forward with long strides. With each step, lotuses bloomed, and the sound of flowing water echoed through the void. From afar, he projected an incredibly grand presence. Having refined the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's. He raised a fist, and power surged upwards to the nine heavens. Yet, when he clashed with the Ruthless One, he too was sent flying backward, unable to withstand even one attack.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead. Even after achieving Emperor status, the clone hadn't shed his showy nature... Such a dazzling display of power would have been more effective if he had just concentrated it for a greater impact!

"We must attack together, or if they die, we all perish..." Little Yellow Chicken roared, and crimson flames blazed, seemingly igniting the sky. The six remaining Emperors also unleashed their respective abilities. The combined might of the seven Emperors was earth-shattering; even a segment of the world couldn't withstand them. However, against the Ruthless One, who had absorbed the unique power, as their attacks drew near, the black hole abruptly expanded, devouring their energy in the blink of an eye before launching a counter-attack.

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The seven Emperors, along with Zhang Xuan and the others, were sent flying backward. The ten Emperors, united, couldn't even withstand a single attack from him! How could this person be so incredibly powerful?

"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!" Accompanied by a loud shout, the old man from Sword God Heaven suddenly appeared, blocking their way, his long sword transforming into a galaxy.

"An Emperor? He's also an Emperor?" Zhang Xuan's pupils constricted. This old man had followed behind the young man, and Zhang Xuan had initially thought he was merely a retainer, at most a titled God King. But upon seeing him exert his power, Zhang Xuan realized he was also a powerful Emperor! If he was an Emperor, what was that young man?

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

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

"He is..." Luo Ruoxi began to answer, but then space warped. Immediately, the Emperor from Sword God Heaven was also sent hurtling backward, crashing into the ground nearby and leaving a large crater. Zhang Xuan's current power and understanding of the Sword Dao far exceeded the old man's, yet even he couldn't withstand the Ruthless One. So, despite the old man's formidable cultivation and exquisite swordsmanship, he was still no match.

"Hahaha, Emperors, you're just a bunch of weaklings! Today, I will destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate the God Realm, and flatten all its rules!" Having defeated the Emperor of Sword God Heaven, the Ruthless One laughed maniacally. The surrounding space continuously collapsed, making him appear like a demon or devil.

"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 in front of him had used her most powerful techniques, yet none could withstand a single blow 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 to return your Incomplete 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 her meaning. The Library of Heaven's Path in his mind was inherently a part of the Heavenly Dao. If it returned, the Heavenly Dao would be completely restored, perhaps allowing it to mend its vulnerabilities and naturally expel the Ruthless One. It was akin to the human immune system: A complete immune system easily repels viruses; if compromised, it cannot withstand viral invasion, and even the strongest individual might succumb. However…

"He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao were fully restored, it probably couldn't suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. An immune system can eliminate a virus, but what about a ferocious tiger? What could even the strongest immune system do against that? This individual, who was once merely an ordinary God King, or even a titled one, could have been easily vanquished by the Heavenly Dao. Yet now he is stronger than an Emperor... The Heavenly Dao is no longer capable of resisting him.

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of despair surfacing on her pristine face. "Yes… there's no way to suppress him. But if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he will awaken, and then defeating him 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 snorted coldly and pressed downwards. Luo Ruoxi fell from the sky. Zhang Xuan's sword technique was unleashed again, and brilliant sword intent burst forth.

*Clang clang clang!*

It was blocked by the Ruthless One once more.

"You two, go quickly! I'll hold him off…" Understanding that they sought a way to save the God Realm rather than escape, the clone and the Undying Emperor roared, positioning themselves in front. Luo Qiqi also transformed, reverting to her true form as the Quiet Void Pearl. The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!" Seeing everyone bravely blocking him from behind, fearless of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened. However, he knew this wasn't the time for more words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi, and with a flicker of his body, he tore through space, appearing within the vicinity of Zizaitian in the next instant.

Zizaitian had lost its former tranquility; the God Realm was collapsing, and chaos was everywhere. "Where is he, the one you spoke of?" Without 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 took a moment to compose herself and explained.

"Father?" Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. No wonder he always felt that the blood in the pendant was similar to Luo Ruoxi's but also different; it turned out to be her father's. This also explained why the remnant will left by the Undying Emperor immediately acknowledged him as its master after seeing the pendant.

"Is your father also an Emperor? Or does he possess strength beyond an Emperor?" he couldn't help but ask. The Library's chaotic state was due to the blood in the pendant, which had helped him regain clarity. Could it be that not only was she an Emperor, but her father was too, and perhaps even more powerful? If so, why would he be in a coma? And why would the Incomplete Heavenly Dao be required 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 trembled, unable to believe it.

"Yes! Fifty years ago, Father couldn't withstand that colossal hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao then fragmented into three parts: the Orderly Heavenly Dao and the Incomplete Heavenly Dao entered the spatial turbulence, while I took control of the Natural Heavenly Dao to maintain the God Realm's balance. To restore him, I had to gather these scattered fragments… That's why I was so determined, unable to afford failure! That's why I specifically ventured to the Master Teacher Continent, studied the Spring and Autumn Codex, and sought to defeat Master Teacher Kong! And the favor I asked of him during our battle was precisely this." Luo Ruoxi explained.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. Not long after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, the girl in front of him had told him her story about saving a loved one. He hadn't understood then, but now it all became clear. It turned out to be her father, and he was the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm! Could the Heavenly Dao really take human form and have children?

"Controlling the Natural Heavenly Dao on his behalf… You don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment within you?" Zhang Xuan suddenly noticed a discrepancy in her words and looked at her. Controlling something on another's behalf and having it integrated into one's own body were two entirely different concepts.

"I only 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 Incomplete 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 in front of him to be harmed.

"If I separate the Incomplete Heavenly Dao from my body, your father will come back to life, and he might even kill the Ruthless One, right?" Zhang Xuan asked.

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

"It seems even you aren't sure. In that case, it's better to rely on ourselves than others... We'll have to figure something out!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth: "You, I, the clone, united with the Nine Heavens' Nine Emperors, and with Master Teacher Kong, we might just win!"

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

"Master Teacher Kong is dead, isn't he? He didn't truly die. If I'm not mistaken, your defeating him was merely a method for him to break free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints… barring any unforeseen circumstances, he should be a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng!" Zhang Xuan stated. Seeing Wei Changfeng made him realize that Master Teacher Kong's claim of retaining his consciousness meant he was a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body, capable of maintaining awareness even in an embryonic state. With the preparations he had 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 correct, he should have recovered by now. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have neglected to even go to the Tide Sea..." Zhang Xuan said. Master Teacher Kong's students, like Ancient Sage Ziyuan and others, were all incredibly powerful. Even without the help of an Emperor, they would surely have found a way to enter the Tide Sea, yet none were seen. There must have been something more important awaiting them, something they wanted to do while all the Emperors were preoccupied with the Tide Sea! And that important matter was clearly the recovery of Master Teacher Kong.

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

"Let's go!" Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan swiped his hand and reappeared where Master Teacher Kong resided. Sure enough, he saw an old man floating cross-legged in the air. Upon seeing them, the old man smiled slightly: "You're here!" Who else could it be but Master Teacher Kong! This Master for Ten Thousand Generations truly didn't disappoint him! Just as he had guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was focused on the Tide Sea.

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

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a contingency in advance. The nameless giant in the Nether Soul Pool was something I left behind. When you slew it that day, I seized the opportunity to break free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints and remold my physical body. I've only just now recovered!" Master Teacher Kong smiled faintly. He was proficient in temporal abilities. While it seemed only a day or two had passed in the God Realm, in reality, he had undergone an unknown passage of time to regain his strength. Decades had, in fact, passed.

"The three of us are powerful, but it won't be easy to defeat the Ruthless One..." Seeing that Master Teacher Kong had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head. This wasn't about boosting the opponent's morale and lowering their own, but simply stating the facts. Just now, so many people combined couldn't stop the opponent; what difference would adding Master Teacher Kong make? It still wouldn't change the situation!

"Individually, and even united, we are indeed no match for him. But... what if all our power were merged into one person?" Master Teacher Kong smiled as he looked over.

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

"That palm could tear apart the God Realm and shatter the Heavenly Dao; its power is undeniable. The Ruthless One absorbed all that power and then devoured fifty years of the God Realm's spiritual energy. In terms of individual strength, none of us, a dozen or so Emperors, are a match..." Master Teacher Kong said, "But united, concentrating our power onto one person... that might be different!"

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

"It's simple... We will concentrate our power onto 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 boundless freedom and transcendence. However, with the constraints of her father and the Heavenly Dao, and with people she cares about, she can never truly transcend! If I'm not mistaken, during our battle, you once gave up, intending to be slain by me, didn't you?" Master Teacher Kong stated.

Luo Ruoxi was speechless. During their battle, she indeed had such intentions, which was why their initial exchanges were like sparring, with both holding back, unlike a life-or-death struggle.

"Without transcendence, one naturally cannot unleash their ultimate power. Even with vast amounts of true qi, they cannot breach that supreme realm! As for me…" Master Teacher Kong nodded, saying, "I harbor compassion for all beings, wishing to enlighten the world, yet I am unwilling for others to sacrifice for me. Excessive benevolence is also a flaw! If I had been a bit more ruthless and wiped out the Spirit Race, we wouldn't be in this current predicament…"

If he could have exterminated all the Spirit Tribe members back then, the Ruthless One would not have been able to revive, and they wouldn't be in this situation now.

"Therefore, I am also unsuitable! Zhang Xuan, however, cultivates with a clear conscience and has no flaws. He believes in living authentically; even if he dies, as long as he lives without regret, his heart is open and unburdened. Such a person possesses greater inclusiveness and broader potential for growth. Only this way can one ascend higher and go further!" Master Teacher Kong continued.

"Live, and return; die, and be remembered forever!" If one doesn't even care about death, how could they be bound by other things?

Zhang Xuan frowned, just about to say something, when he saw Master Teacher Kong look at him with piercing eyes: "There's 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 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 infuse our power into you, you will possess the complete power of the Heavenly Dao! Coupled with the clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can truly stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, battle the nine heavens, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!" Seeing that the other party had already made a decision, and knowing that further explanations would be useless, Zhang Xuan nodded.

*Boom!*

He sat cross-legged, and in the blink of an eye, two massive streams of power surged in from both sides. Zhang Xuan's entire body stiffened, and in that instant, he seemed to transform into the Heavenly Dao, soaring above the nine heavens. His soul, physical body, and true qi were all instantly purified, growing stronger and more profound.

"You wish to stop me too? Very well, I'll kill you all, then go kill 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 somewhat weaker. The Tide Sea had devoured almost all the spiritual energy of the God Realm outside the cities. Now, all that power had become his nourishment. Every movement of his carried the ability 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.

"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 colossal five-clawed golden dragon, and soared towards the Ruthless One.

"You? You're not worthy!" The Ruthless One clenched 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, appearing in mid-air before him. The Undying Emperor, in his true form as an Undying Fire Phoenix, illuminated the sky with flames. Emperor Xuanming, whose true form was a massive tortoise, seemed to be supporting the heavens. The Four Divine Beasts, guardians of the God Realm's four cardinal directions, simultaneously revealed their true forms. The collapsing God Realm seemed to slow down. Heaven and earth seemed to freeze in an instant.

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*

With four consecutive palm strikes, the Ruthless One suppressed the four beasts, a strong murderous intent flashing in his eyes: "Since you seek death, I shall grant it to you..."

In his roar, just as he was about to deliver a killing blow and obliterate everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten and stop in mid-air.

"You want to kill them? Did you ask for my permission first..." Then, to everyone's shocked gaze, 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 descended from the heavens, as if he himself were an entire world.

"You've improved quite a bit..." The Ruthless One stopped, his gaze solemn. He clearly didn't understand why the other party's strength had changed so dramatically in just a few minutes.

"But what if you've grown stronger? Even the God Realm at its peak 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 long sword and met the attack. The two began to fight, tearing space apart and sending air currents swirling in all directions.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?" At Master Teacher Kong's residence in Zizaitian, Luo Ruoxi watched with deep concern. She and Master Teacher 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 foundation remained; as long as they had enough power, they could eventually recover.

"With his current strength, it will be very difficult to win... Unless... he can comprehend power beyond an Emperor!" After a moment of silence, Master Teacher Kong said. A dozen or so Emperors united could not defeat the Ruthless One. Even if they transferred all their power to him, winning would not be easy. The reason they did this was because... only by concentrating power into one person could it potentially reach its peak, truly transcend limits, and break through the self!

"Power beyond an Emperor?" Luo Ruoxi's eyes looked 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 certainly can... He possesses an unyielding heart! And a proud disdain for this world." Seeing the doubt in her heart, Master Teacher Kong smiled.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

After several consecutive moves, the web of Zhang Xuan's thumb and index finger cracked, and a massive, hideous wound appeared on his chest. Just as Master Teacher Kong had said, even after integrating their powers and forming a complete Heavenly Dao within him, he was still no match.

"Hahaha, I thought you were something, but you're just this!" The Ruthless One sneered.

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

"Good, I'll grant your wish and give you my strongest attack..." Hearing him say this, the Ruthless One paused for a moment, then snorted coldly and raised his palm.

*Whoosh!*

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed downwards fiercely. It was indeed his strongest attack. The entire God Realm rumbled as if on the verge of collapse, and another massive crater was created.

With his 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 seemed to go mad. Emperor Yun Chi and the others also widened their eyes, trembling continuously. Master Teacher Kong and Luo Ruoxi, who witnessed this, were also stunned. Their original intention was for him to break through his shackles and reach a realm beyond Emperorhood. Why did he not resist and instead willingly embrace death? Wouldn't this betray their good intentions?

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

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Incomplete Heavenly Dao from his soul?" Luo Ruoxi's pupils constricted. After being reborn from the flames, Zhang Xuan no longer had the Library of Heaven's Path within him. Free from the Heavenly Dao's interference, he had detached from it!

"How did he do that?" Master Teacher Kong was also filled with disbelief. The Heavenly Dao and the soul were merged, indistinguishable from each other. To break free, he had to scatter his soul and then reform it using the Nether Soul Pool. Yet this person in front of them, after only being struck once, completely broke free. What method did he use?

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

"So that's it, this is the method to break through Emperorhood..." Zhang Xuan, emerging from the flames, revealed a faint smile on his face, as if he had understood something. He suddenly beckoned, and the clone on one side immediately transformed back into a lotus flower and flew over. In an instant, it perfectly merged with his body. In the blink of an eye, everyone felt that the Zhang Xuan before them seemed to have become the Nine Heavens, and the Nine Heavens was him. He lightly stepped on the ground. The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized. The Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, which appeared at the birth of the Nine Heavens, could stabilize it. Now that the clone and his true self were perfectly merged, indistinguishable from each other, it meant he had controlled this power. Furthermore, with the cultivation of the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus integrated, his already peak realm loosened, seeming ready to break through at any moment.

"Master-servant bonds, brotherhood, teacher-student affection, parental love, romantic love… when merged, these embody 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 the world exist because humans perceived it, or did humans exist after the world? Was it the wind that moved, or the heart? This question had plagued countless individuals throughout eternity. Of course, now… none of that mattered! Without life, without emotion, what meaning would the world hold, even if it existed? Thus, beyond romantic love lies the affection for all beings! The intertwined emotions of the world. All things in the world possess emotion; only with emotion can there be a world, and only with emotion can life endure. Love is an emotion. Hatred is an emotion. Joy is an emotion. Pain is an emotion. Separation is an emotion. Reunion is also an emotion!

"Thousands of emotions, all at my command…" With a soft cry, the confines of Zhang Xuan's cultivation realm instantly shattered. The Emperor's shackles were broken! In an instant, it was as if he had reached a brand new world and a grand gateway. His soul was rapidly nourished. Countless streams of chaotic qi surged towards him, and his physical body also rapidly ascended. Previously, he could only progress by absorbing spiritual energy. But now, spatial turbulence, chaotic qi, even the opponent's green light—all could be used by him, without distinction.

The Ruthless One hadn't expected that his full-strength attack, far from killing him, had instead perfected him. He roared in frustration, a furious cry, and attacked again.

"Your resentment towards the high and mighty Emperors for not saving you in the spatial turbulence is an emotion; your feeling that you were once my servant, filled with humility and anger, is an emotion; your desire to destroy the God Realm to vent your fury is an emotion; your wish to become even more powerful is also an 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 originally unrivaled Ruthless One was bound by countless threads of emotion, restrained and unable to move. As long as there was emotion, he would be used and controlled by Zhang Xuan!

Fear filled the Ruthless One's eyes: "Master Zhang, I am your servant, please don't kill me... I am willing to offer my soul as a sacrifice..."

"It's too late to say that now..." With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan shook his head. Having control over all emotions in the world, the concept of servants held no meaning for him anymore. After killing so many people in the God Realm, harming his girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and so many friends, how could he possibly grant forgiveness today?

"No..." Feeling Zhang Xuan's resolve, the Ruthless One's pupils constricted. 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 Tide Sea had previously devoured now flowed back, and the depleted wildernesses were once again vibrant with life.

"He just... killed him just like that?" Emperor Yun Chi, the Undying Emperor, Fairy Linglong, and others all stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. They had just fought the Ruthless One and knew how terrifying he was. Such a powerful being was casually obliterated. What level had this Zhang Xuan truly reached? Was there truly another realm above that of an Emperor?

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

"This is a part of the Heavenly Dao, so I will now return it to the Heavenly Dao..." Seeing the "Incomplete Heavenly Dao" that had just been separated from his body still floating in the air, Zhang Xuan smiled gently and flicked his finger. The Library of Heaven's Path, which had accompanied him since his rebirth, powerfully embedded itself in the sky of the God Realm. With bell-like reverberations, the continuously collapsing God Realm visibly began to recover slowly, and the chaotic air currents also reconverged. The collapsing God Realm finally halted, and the depleted spiritual energy, along with the Ruthless One's demise, slowly began to revive.

"It seems the God Realm is about to welcome an era of spiritual energy resurgence again..." Zhang Xuan smiled. The hole in the Tide 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 all this, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan was startled for a moment, then took a step. This step carried him an unknown distance. Immediately after, he saw a young man standing before him. It was precisely the one who had taught him sword techniques earlier.

"Senior, you..." Seeing who it was, Zhang Xuan was momentarily stunned. He had always perceived this individual as unfathomable, but only now did he realize that the man was just a hair's breadth from his own power, having already reached the pinnacle of Emperorhood and being immeasurably more powerful than Luo Ruoxi had been.

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

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan frowned. This was the first time he had heard this name.

"Follow 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, flying an unknown distance before stopping in front of a mountain peak. There, he saw another young man. He didn't look much older, with raised eyebrows that gave him an air of profound inscrutability.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled. The young man in front of him was actually stronger than himself, having 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... Nie Lingxi, or Luo Ruoxi's father, as you know him!"

"Ruoxi's father?" Zhang Xuan trembled: "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 transformed into three pure forms, and a part of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Besides, I created this world, so it's not wrong to say I am the Heavenly Dao!" Nie Yun explained with a faint smile.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it. The God Realm was actually created by this person in front of him? How powerful must he be then?

"No, wait. If you created the God Realm and you are the Heavenly Dao, why did you let the Ruthless One run rampant without intervening..." Zhang Xuan looked at him. If he hadn't broken through, the God Realm would very likely have completely collapsed. Why did this person in front of him do nothing? Did he not even care about his daughter's life or death?

Without answering his question, Nie Yun looked at him faintly: "Do you think... there are even more powerful beings beyond the God Realm?"

Zhang Xuan paused: "Probably..." Although he hadn't seen them, since he could cultivate to this realm, perhaps others could too, or even be stronger. Just like the person in front of him.

"I once suspected there might be even more powerful beings above the God Realm, so I used all my might to peer into it, which ultimately drew a backlash from a higher world... A palm broke through the void and descended!" Nie Yun looked over: "At that time, if I had dodged, it was highly likely that the entire God Realm would have been wiped clean, with not a single life remaining... So, I blocked the attack, but as a result, the Heavenly Dao that I had incarnated was split apart."

"In that situation, I could have recovered with just a thought. But… I understood that truly transcending the God Realm's limitations—to discover the origin of that hand and what lies beyond the God Realm—would be exceedingly difficult for me alone. So, I wanted to see if there was any being capable of breaking through the Emperor's shackles and reaching a level equivalent to mine!" "Thus, I sent the fragmented Heavenly Dao consciousness to the lowest realm… bestowing it upon a soul that originally belonged to this world, and a soul that did not. And you, ultimately, did not disappoint me!" Nie Yun smiled.

"A soul not of this world? So, 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 this person's doing.

"Haha!" Nie Yun chuckled softly. "A soul that inherently belongs to this world possesses a reverence for it, making it far more challenging to break through its limitations. It was just a notion of mine; I hadn't truly expected you would succeed…"

"I..." Zhang Xuan's face flushed: "If it weren't for Master Teacher Kong, I would