Chapter 735

## The Traitor Born of Heaven's Mystery

Soul contracts, entwined with the soul, could not be undone by anyone, no matter how powerful, unless the contracting party released them.

For instance, even the Undying Emperor, Little Yellow Chicken, previously just a God King but now an Emperor, was unable to resolve such an agreement.

To prevent this guy from reneging and causing a backlash, the Master Teacher Continent specifically stipulated that even if someone could escape the Heavenly Dao's registry, they couldn't break free from soul-bound agreements!

"It's true that a soul contract cannot be separated from the Sea of Consciousness," Ren said, "but I've fused with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Dissolving this contract isn't difficult... I just need enough power to strike the contract's location!"

Soul contracts are based on the Heavenly Dao. If a special power can dissolve even the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm, then dissolving a mere soul contract, if handled properly, is no problem at all.

"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, Ren said no more. His aura grew increasingly ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further. Clearly, while speaking, he had devoured an unknown amount of power for nourishment.

"Zhang Xuan, the more the black hole devours, the stronger he becomes..."

Luo Ruoxi also noticed something amiss and hastily sent a telepathic message.

"Prepare to act!" With his doubts dispelled, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raising the long sword in his hand abruptly. "In that case, let's see who's truly stronger!"

Boom!

The most powerful sword intent was unleashed once more.

Live to return, die to yearn forever!

If life and death hold no concern, what could possibly stand in the way?

Although this sword technique hadn't reached the comprehension level of an Emperor, it contained all the obsessions in his heart, pushing his 'Heaven's Sentiment Art' to its limit.

With a single sword stroke, he cut Ren's attack in half.

At the same moment, Luo Ruoxi also made her move, her jade hands swirling, sword light like snow.

Her swordplay was somewhat similar to that of the young man from Sword God Heaven, possessing a relentless momentum and the carefree elegance of the Grand Dao.

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

With a faint smile, Ren reached down again.

In an instant, his hand covered the sky and obscured the sun, enveloping heaven and earth. Space shattered, and even the sun, moon, and stars seemed about to be forcibly plucked from the sky.

Pfft! Pfft!

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 level had this guy truly reached?

"Presumptuous!" The clone strode forward, lotus flowers blossoming with each step, accompanied by the sound of flowing water in the void.

From a distance, it looked incredibly imposing.

Having refined the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was no weaker than Zhang Xuan's.

He raised a fist, and power surged into the heavens.

When he clashed with Ren, he was also sent flying backward, unable to withstand a single move.

Zhang Xuan clutched his forehead.

Even after becoming an Emperor, the clone still hadn't changed his showy nature...

Such flashy grandstanding was less effective than simply concentrating his power for greater impact!

"Let's attack together, otherwise, if they die, we'll all die..."

Little Yellow Chicken roared, and crimson flames burned, as if the sky itself had been ignited.

The remaining six Great Emperors also unleashed their techniques.

The combined forces of the seven Emperors could shatter heaven and earth; not even a world could withstand them. However, their opponent was Ren, who had absorbed a special power. When their attacks approached him, the black hole behind him suddenly expanded, instantly devouring their power, then counter-attacking.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The seven Emperors were sent flying backward, just like Zhang Xuan and the others.

Ten Emperors, united, couldn't even block a single move from their opponent!

How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can die now..."

Having crushed everyone with one move, Ren took a step forward, flipped his wrist, and struck down again.

"How dare you, scoundrel!"

With a loud cry, 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-level expert?"

Zhang Xuan's pupils constricted.

The old man had been following the young man before, and Zhang Xuan had assumed he was just a retainer, at most a titled God King. Only upon witnessing his power did he realize that he, too, was an Emperor-level expert!

If he was an Emperor, then what was that young man?

"He is an Emperor of Sword God Heaven himself..." Luo Ruoxi said, gritting her teeth as she struggled to stand.

"Then... what about the young man who taught me the sword art?" Zhang Xuan couldn't hold back any longer.

"He is..." Just as Luo Ruoxi was about to answer, space twisted, and then they saw the Sword God Heaven's Emperor also sent flying, landing in a large crater nearby.

Zhang Xuan's current strength and comprehension of the sword path far surpassed his, yet Zhang Xuan couldn't resist. Even if this Emperor's cultivation was not weak and his swordsmanship excellent, he was still no match.

"Hahaha, Emperors, nothing but a bunch of pathetic chickens and dogs! Today, I will destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate this God Realm, and trample all its rules!"

After defeating the Sword God Heaven's Emperor, Ren laughed wildly, space continuously collapsing around him, making him appear like a demon.

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

A moment ago, he and his clone had unleashed their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had used her most powerful techniques, yet none of them could withstand a single move from their 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 knew 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 fix vulnerabilities and spontaneously expel Ren.

Just like the human body's immune system.

If the immune system is intact, viruses are easily repelled; if it's compromised, it can't resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person can die.

It's just that...

"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.

The immune system can kill viruses, but... what about a fierce tiger?

What could even the strongest immune system do against that?

This person, who could easily kill even ordinary God Kings, or even titled ones, was more powerful than an Emperor... already beyond what the Heavenly Dao could contend with.

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair face. "You're right... it might not be able to suppress him. However, if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken, and then defeating this one won't be difficult!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

"Trying to escape?" Ren snorted coldly and pressed downwards.

Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the sky.

Zhang Xuan unleashed his sword technique again, and a glorious sword intent burst forth.

Clang, clang, clang!

It was blocked by Ren again.

"You two, go quickly, I'll hold him off..."

Knowing they were seeking a way to save the God Realm, not flee, the clone and the Undying Emperor roared and blocked the front. Luo Qiqi also transformed, reverting to her Jinkong Pearl true form.

The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone fearlessly blocking their pursuer without regard for their lives, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened. However, knowing it wasn't the time for words, he pulled Luo Ruoxi, and with a flicker of his body, tore through space, appearing the next moment within the confines of Zizaitian.

Zizaitian had lost its former tranquility. 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 spoke of could truly save the God Realm, then 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, then explained.

"Father?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

No wonder he had always felt that the blood in the pendant was similar to Luo Ruoxi's, yet different; it turned out to be her father's.

This also explained why the remnant will of the Undying Emperor immediately recognized him as its master after seeing the pendant.

"Your father is also an Emperor? Or does he possess strength beyond an Emperor?"

He couldn't help but ask.

The Library of Heaven's Path's chaos had been settled by the blood in the pendant, allowing him to regain clarity. Could it be that not only was she an Emperor, but her father was too, or even stronger?

If that were the case, why would he be in a coma?

And why would he need the incomplete Heavenly Dao to awaken?

"He's not an Emperor, but... the Heavenly Dao!"

Luo Ruoxi clenched her delicate fists.

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

"Yes! Fifty years ago, Father couldn't resist that enormous hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao fragmented into three parts: the Ordered Heavenly Dao and the Imperfect Heavenly Dao entered the spatial turbulence. I took over control of the Natural Heavenly Dao to maintain the balance of the God Realm. To restore him, all the dispersed parts must be gathered... That's why I was so resolute, I couldn't fail! That's why I specifically went to the Master Teacher Continent, studied the Spring and Autumn Annals, and tried to find a way to defeat Master Teacher Kong! The favor I asked of him during our battle was also this."

Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

Not long after they first met in the Master Teacher Continent, the girl before him had told him her story about saving a loved one. He hadn't understood then, but now it all made sense.

It turned out to be her father, and the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm no less!

Could the Heavenly Dao really take human form and have children?

"Took over control of the Natural Heavenly Dao... you don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment within you?" Suddenly realizing something was off in her words, Zhang Xuan looked at her.

Taking over control and having it fused within oneself were two different concepts.

"I only control it; I'm 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 Imperfect Heavenly Dao from himself; she didn't need to die as well.

Although he was unwilling to accept such a fate, he also didn't want the girl before him to be harmed.

"If I separate the Imperfect Heavenly Dao from my body, your father will awaken and even kill Ren, right?" Zhang Xuan looked at her.

"This... I'm not sure either..."

Looking up at the already collapsing God Realm, Luo Ruoxi hesitated.

The God Realm was her father's foundation. Now that the foundation was in such a state, even if he woke up, could he truly defeat that powerful Ren?

It was hard to say!

"It seems even you aren't sure. In that case, relying on others is worse than relying on ourselves... We must find a way ourselves!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, the clone, united with the Nine Heavens Nine Emperors, and if Master Teacher Kong cooperates, we might not be unable to win!"

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

"Master Teacher Kong is dead, right? He didn't truly die. If I'm not mistaken, your killing him was just a method for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he should be a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng!"

Zhang Xuan said.

Upon seeing Wei Changfeng, he understood that Master Teacher Kong's supposed ability to retain his consciousness was likely due to him also being a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body.

Able to avoid confusion even in the womb.

Coupled with preparations made beforehand, his resurrection was only a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi froze, seemingly not expecting this.

"We'll know by going to see. My guess is he's already recovered. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have avoided even the Tidal Sea..." Zhang Xuan said.

Master Teacher Kong's students, such as Ancient Sage Ziyuan and the others, were all incredibly 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 must have been something more important waiting for them to do, something they wanted to accomplish while all the Emperors were preoccupied with the Tidal Sea!

And this important matter was clearly the restoration of Master Teacher Kong.

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

"Let's go!"

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

Who else could it be but Master Teacher Kong!

This Teacher of Ten Thousand Generations truly hadn't disappointed him!

Just as he had guessed, he had revived while everyone's attention was focused on the Tidal Sea.

Luo Ruoxi's delicate body trembled.

She knew Emperors could revive, and the Undying Emperor had revived, but... she hadn't expected it to be so fast!

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a contingency beforehand. The nameless giant in the Nether Soul Pond was left by me. When you killed it that day, I used the opportunity to break free from the Heavenly Dao's restraints and re-condense my physical body. I've only just recovered!"

Master Teacher 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 experienced an unknown amount of time to recover his power.

Decades had passed.

"The three of us are strong, but defeating Ren won't be easy..."

Seeing that Master Teacher Kong had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head.

It wasn't about boosting the enemy's morale and lowering their own, but simply the truth.

Earlier, so many people combined couldn't stop him. Even with Master Teacher Kong added, what difference would it make?

It still wouldn't change the situation!

"Our individual strengths, and even our combined forces, are indeed no match for him. But... what if we fused everyone's power into a single person?"

Master Teacher Kong looked at them with a smile.

"Fused into a single person?"

This time, not only Luo Ruoxi frowned, but Zhang Xuan was also filled with doubt.

"That hand could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao; its power is beyond doubt. Ren absorbed all that power and also devoured fifty years' worth of spiritual energy from the God Realm. Individually, none of us dozen-plus Emperors are his match..."

Master Teacher Kong continued, "But if we unite and focus our power on one person... that might be different!"

"How do we concentrate it?"

Luo Ruoxi looked at him.

Easier said than done.

Emperors were already at the pinnacle of the God Realm. If it were so easy to absorb others' power, she wouldn't have been stagnant for so many years.

"It's simple... We will concentrate all our power on 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 'Free and Unfettered, Transcending Nature'! But with the Heavenly Dao and her father's constraints, and with people she cares about, she can never truly transcend! If I'm not mistaken, when we fought back then, you even gave up, intending to be slain by me, didn't you?"

Master Teacher Kong said.

Luo Ruoxi was speechless.

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

"Unable to transcend, she naturally cannot unleash her full power. Even if given abundant true qi, she cannot break through to that supreme realm! As for me..."

Master Teacher Kong nodded. "My heart holds all living beings, and I wish to save the world, but I am unwilling for others to sacrifice for me. Too much benevolence is also a flaw! If I had been a bit more ruthless and exterminated the Qingtian Clan, we wouldn't be in this situation now..."

If he had been able to kill all the Qingtian tribesmen back then, Ren wouldn't have been able to revive, and this situation wouldn't have occurred.

"So, I am also unsuitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation art follows his heart and has no flaws. He believes in living true to himself; even if he dies, as long as he lives without regrets, his heart is clear. Such a person possesses greater capacity and more room for growth. Only in this way can one go higher and further!"

Master Teacher Kong continued.

Live to return, die to yearn!

If he doesn't even care about death, how could he be constrained by other matters?

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when Master Teacher Kong looked at him with bright eyes. "No need to decline. Firstly, there isn't enough time to train someone else, and even if there were, I don't think anyone could do better than you! Although Emperor Lingxi doesn't have Heavenly Dao fragments in her body, she has controlled the Heavenly Dao for many years and has her own understanding of it. I control the Ordered Heavenly Dao. If we infuse our power into you, you will possess the power of the complete Heavenly Dao! Coupled with your clone's Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, you can absolutely stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, fight through the nine layers of heaven, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!"

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

Boom!

He sat cross-legged. In the blink of an eye, two vast streams of power surged into him from both sides.

Zhang Xuan's entire body stiffened. 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 true qi were all instantly baptized, becoming stronger and more profound.

"You want to stop me too? Fine, I'll kill you all, then go kill Zhang Xuan..."

After swatting away Luo Qiqi and the clone, Ren sneered.

The combined power unleashed by the clone and the numerous Emperors was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still somewhat weaker.

The Tidal Sea had devoured almost all the spiritual energy of the God Realm outside the cities. Now, all that power had become his nourishment. Every move he 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.

At this moment, Ren seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unstoppable by anyone.

"If the God Realm perishes, our lives have no meaning. 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, pouncing towards him.

"You? Unworthy!"

Ren 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 Fu Meng also roared, transforming into his White Tiger true form, and appeared before him in the air.

The Undying Emperor displayed his Undying Fire Phoenix true form, its flames illuminating the sky.

Emperor Xuan Ming's true form was a massive turtle, seemingly holding up the heavens.

The Four Great Divine Beasts, guardians of the God Realm's four poles, simultaneously transformed into their true forms. The collapsing God Realm even seemed to slow down.

The universe seemed to freeze in an instant.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

With four consecutive palms, Ren suppressed the four beasts, a fierce killing intent flashing in his eyes. "Since you seek death, I shall grant it to you..."

Amidst his roar, just as he was about to unleash a fatal strike and obliterate everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten and stop in mid-air.

"Want to kill them? Have you asked me first...?"

Then, to everyone's stunned gaze, a figure slowly walked out from mid-air.

It was Zhang Xuan!

At this moment, the young man's entire body surged with power, more than ten times stronger than before. He descended from the heavens, as if he himself were an entire world.

"You've improved quite a bit..."

Ren stopped, his gaze solemn.

He clearly didn't understand why, in just a few minutes, the other party's strength had undergone such an enormous change.

"But what if it has increased? The God Realm in its prime couldn't resist me; I don't believe you can stop me..."

With a cold snort, Ren struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack.

The two fought, space tearing open in streaks, and air currents scattering everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?"

At Master Teacher Kong's residence in Zizaitian, Luo Ruoxi watched, filled with worry.

After she and Master Teacher Kong transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, their own cultivation had fallen to only the God King level, no longer as formidable as before.

However, their foundation was still there; given enough power, they could eventually recover.

"With his current strength, winning... is very difficult! Unless... he can comprehend power beyond that of an Emperor!"

After a moment of silence, Master Teacher Kong said.

A dozen or so Emperors combined couldn't defeat Ren. Even if they transferred all their power to him, winning wouldn't be easy.

The reason they did this was because... only when power is concentrated on one person is it possible to reach the peak, to truly surpass limits, and break through oneself!

"Power beyond an Emperor?"

Luo Ruoxi's gaze was 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 pride toward this world."

Seeing the doubt in her heart, Master Teacher Kong smiled.

Bang, bang, bang!

After several consecutive moves, Zhang Xuan's tiger's mouth (webbing between thumb and forefinger) split open, and a huge, grotesque wound appeared on his chest.

Just as Master Teacher Kong had said, even after fusing with their combined power and forming a complete Heavenly Dao within him, he was still no match.

"Haha, I thought you were more impressive, but you're nothing special!" Ren sneered.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you, 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 attacking and looked at Ren.

"Very well, I shall grant your wish and give you my strongest attack..."

Hearing him say this, Ren was momentarily stunned, then scoffed coldly and raised his palm.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down fiercely.

Indeed, it was his strongest attack. The entire God Realm boomed, seemingly unable to bear it, and another massive crater was blasted open.

With his eyes closed, Zhang Xuan did not dodge.

His head exploded, and his soul scattered everywhere.

"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 both stunned.

The original intention was for him to break through his shackles and strive for a realm beyond Emperorhood. Why did he not resist, but willingly embrace death?

Wouldn't that betray their good intentions?

"No, that's the Undying Emperor's immortal technique..."

Just as they wondered, Master Teacher 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, an intact figure slowly walked out.

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the Imperfect 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 the Heavenly Dao!

"How did he do it?"

Master Teacher Kong was also filled with disbelief.

The Heavenly Dao and soul were fused, indistinguishable from each other. To break free, he had to scatter his soul and then re-condense it with the help of the Nether Soul Pond.

Yet this person, with just one strike, completely broke free. What method did he use?

"I know now... He used the method Ren used to break free from the soul contract..." Luo Ruoxi realized.

A soul contract binds master and servant; if the master doesn't release it, the servant is forever bound... The Library of Heaven's Path was similar, an enhanced version of such a contract.

Once bound to the soul, it wouldn't separate unless one died.

But... Ren used that special power to break free from the soul contract. Zhang Xuan had inquired about the specific method in detail before, likely having conceived this plan then.

That was why he deliberately risked death, prompting Ren to use his strongest attack on him.

He used this power to be reborn from the flames. Unexpectedly, it was a great success!

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

Zhang Xuan, who walked out of the flames, displayed a faint smile on his face, as if he had understood something. Suddenly, he waved his hand, and the clone on the side immediately transformed back into a lotus flower and flew over.

In an instant, it perfectly fused with his true self.

In the blink of an eye, everyone felt that Zhang Xuan before them had become the Nine Heavens, and the Nine Heavens were him.

He lightly tapped his foot 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 them. Now that the clone and his true self were perfectly fused, indistinguishable, it meant he had gained control of this power.

Not only that, but with the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus fused into his cultivation, his already peak realm became unstable, as if he could break through at any moment.

"Master-servant affection, brotherly affection, teacher-student affection, parental affection, romantic love... fused together, this is all that exists in the world, this is what it means to be human!"

With a smile, Zhang Xuan murmured to himself.

The moment the Library of Heaven's Path detached from his soul, he understood.

Did humans perceive the world, and thus the world came into being, or did the world exist first, and then humans?

Was it the wind moving, or the heart moving!

This question had troubled countless people since ancient times.

Of course, now... none of that mattered anymore!

Without life, without emotion, what meaning would the world have, even if it existed?

Therefore, beyond romantic love, there was the love for all beings! The emotions interwoven 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.

Suffering is emotion.

Farewell is emotion.

Reunion is also emotion!

"Thousands of sentiments, for my use..."

With a low cry, the realm that had been confined within Zhang Xuan instantly broke open.

The Emperor's shackles were broken!

In an instant, it was as if he had touched a brand new world and its gate. His soul rapidly nourished itself.

Countless streams of chaotic energy surged towards him, and his physical body rapidly improved.

Before, he could only advance by absorbing spiritual energy. But now, spatial turbulence, chaotic energy, even the opponent's green light, could all be used by him, indistinguishable from his own.

Ren never expected that his full-power attack, instead of killing him, had instead perfected him. Enraged, he let out a "wah-wah!" scream, then roared and attacked again.

"Your resentment towards the high and mighty Emperors for not saving you in the spatial turbulence is emotion; your feeling of having once been my servant, imbued with humility and anger, is emotion; your desire to destroy the God Realm to 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, and he gently grasped with his palm.

Ren, who was originally invincible, was instantly bound by countless fine emotional threads, his movements restricted, unable to budge.

As long as there was emotion, he could use it, control it!

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

"It's too late for that now..." Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and shook his head.

Having mastered all emotions in the world, concepts like servants held no meaning for him anymore.

Having killed so many God-level beings, harmed his girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and so many of his friends, how could he possibly forgive him today!

"No..."

Feeling his decisiveness, Ren's pupils constricted. Before he could finish speaking, he immediately 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 the Tidal Sea had devoured earlier now flowed back, and the depleted wildernesses were revitalized.

"Killed just like that?"

Emperor Yun Chi, the Undying Emperor, Exquisite Fairy, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief.

They had just fought Ren and knew how terrifying he was. To see such a powerful being obliterated with a casual gesture... just what level had this Zhang Xuan reached?

Could there truly be another realm beyond Emperor?

"He succeeded..."

Master Teacher Kong and Luo Ruoxi released their clenched fists.

"This is a part of the Heavenly Dao, so I will now return it to the Heavenly Dao..."

Seeing the "Imperfect Heavenly Dao" that had just been separated from his body still floating 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.

Like the ringing of a great bell, the continuously collapsing God Realm visibly began to slowly recover, and the chaotic air currents regathered.

The collapsing God Realm finally halted, and the depleted spiritual energy slowly revived with Ren's death.

"It seems the God Realm is about to welcome an era of spiritual energy recovery once more..." Zhang Xuan smiled.

The void in the Tidal Sea had 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 this, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan paused, then took a step forward.

This single step, he didn't know how far it took him, brought him before a young man.

It was precisely the one who had taught him swordsmanship before.

"Senior, you..."

Seeing him, Zhang Xuan was startled.

He had always felt this person was unfathomable, but now he realized that he was only a tiny bit weaker than himself, having already reached the absolute peak of Emperorhood, far stronger than Luo Ruoxi had been.

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

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

This was the first time he had heard that 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. After flying for an unknown distance, they stopped before a mountain peak.

Then he saw another young man.

His appearance wasn't much older than his, with raised eyebrows that gave him a profound, unfathomable aura.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled.

The young man before him was actually even 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, looking at him. "Which means... Nie Lingxi, or Luo Ruoxi's father, as you know him!"

"Ruoxi's father?"

Zhang Xuan was shaken. "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 divided myself into three pure ones; a part of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Furthermore, this world was created by me, so calling me the Heavenly Dao is not incorrect!" Nie Yun smiled faintly.

Zhang Xuan couldn't believe it.

The God Realm was created by this person before him?

How strong must he be then?

"Wait, if the God Realm was created by you and you are the Heavenly Dao, why did you allow Ren to 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 before him not cared or intervened, even 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, I suppose..."

Although he hadn't seen them, since Nie Yun could cultivate to this realm, perhaps others could too, or even be stronger.

Just like the one before him.

"I once suspected that there might be even more powerful beings above the God Realm, so I used all my might to peer into it. This ultimately provoked a backlash from a higher world... a single hand tore through space and descended!"

Nie Yun looked at him. "At that time, if I had dodged, it was highly likely that the entire God Realm would have been flattened, leaving not a single life behind... So, I blocked that attack, but as a result, the Heavenly Dao, which was my incarnation, was split apart."

"In that situation, if I wanted to recover, it would have just been a thought. But... I understood that to truly transcend the God Realm's shackles, to explore where that hand came from, and what lies beyond the God Realm... it would be very difficult for me alone. So, I wanted to see if there was any being capable of breaking through the Emperor's shackles and reaching a level equivalent to mine!"

"Therefore, I sent the dispersed Heavenly Dao wills to the lowest world... 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 smiled.

"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 never expected it was all due to this person before him.

"Heh heh!" Nie Yun chuckled softly and said, "A soul originally belonging to this world possesses reverence for it, making it much harder to break through the world's shackles. It was just a thought of mine, and I didn't truly expect you to succeed..."

"I..." Zhang Xuan's face flushed. "If it weren't for Master Teacher Kong, I couldn't have possibly reached this level..."

Without Master Teacher Kong's selfless dedication, reaching his current realm would have been impossible.

"I gave him the chance, he just didn't seize it. The battle with Lingxi was actually his best opportunity to break through. Unfortunately, he chose to retreat, thinking he had a contingency to escape unscathed, but in reality, he lost the spirit of courageous advancement. 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, and Master Teacher 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 his chance to advance.

"If Master Teacher Kong had won, Ruoxi would have died..." A moment later, Zhang Xuan looked at him, his brows 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, with the combined strength of two individuals like us, in a life-or-death situation, saving someone is achievable?"

Zhang Xuan gave a bitter smile.

Breaking through beyond Emperorhood 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, ensuring she wouldn't suffer even a single injury.

"Lingxi was born to my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, which is why her disguised name is Luo... To make her believe me and not act on emotion, she has thought I was still in a coma all this time..."

Nie Yun gave a wry smile. "I've been quite a ruthless father... How about this, you explain this matter to her. After all, her heart is with you now. She probably won't even think of me, her old dad... 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 incredibly unreliable father, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he could only agree. "Alright..."

There was no other option but to agree; after all, he had "taken" his daughter...

"The Library of Heaven's Path was formed from a thought of mine. It was a foundation, but also a restriction. The fact that you could break through this restriction with your own ability demonstrates your talent and potential. Your future is boundless, and as a father, I'm truly relieved that my daughter can be with you."