Chapter 736

The Treasured Mirror Finally Ascends

Soul contracts are inherently linked to the soul. As long as one does not dissolve it, even if the other party possesses immense power, they cannot undo it. For example, even the Undying Emperor Little Yellow Chick, who was only a God-King before becoming an Emperor, couldn't dissolve such an agreement. To prevent betrayal and potential backlash, the Master Teacher Continent had specifically stipulated that even if someone could escape the records of the Heavenly Dao, they could not break free from a soul agreement!

"A soul contract cannot be directly separated from one's sea of consciousness," replied the ruthless man. "However, I've integrated a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Using it to dissolve this contract isn't difficult... as long as I have enough power to strike the contract's location, it can be done!"

Soul contracts are founded on the Heavenly Dao. If this special power can dissolve even the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm, dissolving a soul contract, when handled properly, is no challenge at all.

"So that's how it is..." Zhang Xuan's eyes gleamed with understanding.

"Telling you all this is my way of thanking you for bringing me to the God Realm!" After explaining, the ruthless man said no more. His aura grew more ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him expanded further. Clearly, while he was speaking, he had devoured an immense amount of power for sustenance.

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

"Prepare to fight!" With his doubts dispelled, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, raising his long sword abruptly. "Since that's the case, let's settle this with our strength!"

Boom!

His most powerful sword intent was unleashed once more: "If I live, I shall return; if I die, I shall be longed for forever!" With no regard for life or death, what could possibly stop him? This sword move, though not yet reaching the comprehension level of an Emperor, contained all the obsessions in his heart, pushing the Heavenly Dao of Emotion cultivation technique within him to its limits. With a single sword stroke, he bisected the ruthless man's attack.

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

"Your techniques are impressive, but compared to mine, they still fall short..." With a faint smile, the ruthless man clawed downwards again. In an instant, his palm covered the sky and obscured the sun, enveloping heaven and earth. Space shattered, and it seemed as if the sun, moon, and stars themselves were about to be forcefully pulled down.

Pfft! Pfft!

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

"Impudent!" The clone strode forward, lotus flowers blossoming with each step, and the sound of flowing water echoing in the void. From a distance, he exuded an imposing aura. Having refined the Nine Heavens Primordial Golden Lotus, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's. He raised his fist, and power surged towards the Nine Heavens. Clashing with the ruthless man, he too was sent flying backward, unable to withstand a single move.

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead. Even after becoming an Emperor, his clone still hadn't changed its show-off nature... Such a flamboyant display was less effective than simply concentrating his power for greater might!

"Let's attack together! Otherwise, if they die, we'll all die too..." Little Yellow Chick roared, scarlet flames blazing, as if setting the sky alight. The remaining six Great Emperors also unleashed their respective techniques.

The combined might of the seven Emperors was earth-shattering; even a whole world would struggle to withstand them. However, their opponent was the ruthless man who had absorbed a special power. As their attacks approached, the black hole behind him suddenly expanded, instantly devouring their energy before counter-attacking.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The seven Emperors, like Zhang Xuan and the others, were sent flying backward. All ten Emperors, united, couldn't even block a single move from their opponent! How could this guy be so powerful?

"You can all die now..." After defeating everyone with one move, the ruthless man stepped forward, flipped his wrist, and struck down again.

"How dare you, vermin!" Along with a thunderous roar, the old man from Sword God Heaven suddenly appeared, blocking the ruthless man's path, his long sword transforming into a river of stars.

"An Emperor? He's also an Emperor?" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted. This old man had previously followed the young man; Zhang Xuan had assumed he was just a retainer, at most a Conferred God-King. Only when he unleashed his power did Zhang Xuan realize he was also a mighty Emperor! If he was an Emperor, then what was that young man?

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

"Then... what about the young man who taught me swordplay?" 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 nearby and creating a large crater. Zhang Xuan's current strength and comprehension of the Sword Dao far surpassed the old man's, yet even he couldn't resist. The old man, despite his considerable cultivation and masterful swordsmanship, was still no match.

"Hahaha, Emperors are 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!" Having defeated the Emperor of Sword God Heaven, the ruthless man laughed maniacally. The surrounding space continuously collapsed, making him appear like a demon or a fiend.

"What do we do?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists. Just now, both he and his clone had unleashed their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had used her most powerful technique, yet none could block a single move from their opponent... Could it be that no one in the God Realm could truly stand against this person? Would they simply let him destroy the world?

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

"Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?" Zhang Xuan understood what she meant. The Library of Heaven's Path in his mind was originally a part of the Heavenly Dao. Once it returned, the Heavenly Dao would be completely whole, perhaps allowing it to fix its flaws and naturally expel the ruthless man. It would be like the human body's immune system. If the immune system is intact, it easily repels viruses; if it's damaged, it can't resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person can die as a result.

Only... "He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao were fully restored, it probably couldn't suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. Viruses can be eliminated by the immune system, but... what about a fierce tiger? What could even the strongest immune system do against that? This person before them, merely an ordinary God-King, or even a Conferred God-King, could be easily killed by the Heavenly Dao. But this ruthless man was stronger than an Emperor... the Heavenly Dao could no longer contend with him.

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of loss appearing on her fair, jade-like face. "Yes... it can't suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao is complete, he can awaken. Then, defeating this one won't be difficult!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

"Trying to escape?" The ruthless man snorted coldly and pressed downwards. Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the sky. Zhang Xuan unleashed his swordplay once more, his sword intent shining brilliantly.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

It was blocked by the ruthless man again.

"You two, go quickly! I'll hold him off..." Knowing they were trying to find a way to save the God Realm, not escape, the clone and Undying Emperor roared and blocked the ruthless man's path. Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to her original form as the Serene Empty Orb. The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone selflessly blocking the ruthless man, unafraid of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened. However, he knew this was not the time for words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi, and with a flicker, he tore through space, appearing in the vicinity of the Heaven of Freedom the next moment.

The Heaven of Freedom had lost its former peace; the God Realm was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

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

"He is my father. The blood in your pendant is his. The Undying Emperor was once his beast pet..." Luo Ruoxi took a moment to compose herself and explained.

"Father?" Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. No wonder he had always felt the blood in the pendant was similar to Luo Ruoxi's, yet different. It turned out to be her father's. This also explained why the remnant will left by the Undying Emperor immediately recognized him as its master upon seeing the pendant.

"Your father is also an Emperor? Or possesses strength beyond an Emperor?" He couldn't help but ask. The library's chaos had been resolved by the blood in the pendant, which restored his clarity. Could it be that not only was she an Emperor, but her father was too, or even more powerful? If so, why would he have fallen into a coma? And why would the Imperfect Heavenly Dao be needed to awaken him?

"He's not an Emperor; he is... the Heavenly Dao!" Luo Ruoxi clenched her delicate fists.

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

"Yes! Fifty years ago, Father couldn't withstand that colossal hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao scattered into three parts: the Orderly Heavenly Dao and the Imperfect Heavenly Dao entered the spatial turbulence, while I took control of the Natural Heavenly Dao to maintain the balance of the God Realm. To restore him, I had to gather the scattered parts... That's why I was so resolute, I couldn't fail! That's why I specifically went to the Master Teacher Continent, studied the Spring and Autumn Canon, and sought a way to defeat Master Kong! What I asked of him during my battle with Master Kong was also about this."

Zhang Xuan understood. Soon after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, the girl had told him her story about wanting to save a beloved family member. At the time, he hadn't fully understood, but now it all clicked. It turned out to be her father, and he was even the Heavenly Dao of the God Realm! Could the Heavenly Dao truly take human form and have children?

"'Took control of the Natural Heavenly Dao'... You don't have a fragment of the Heavenly Dao inside you?" Suddenly, realizing something off in her words, Zhang Xuan looked at her. "Taking control" was different from having it integrated within one's body.

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

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

"If I separate the Imperfect Heavenly Dao from my body, your father will recover, and he might even kill the ruthless man, right?" Zhang Xuan asked, looking at her.

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

"It seems even you aren't certain. In that case, relying on others is not as good as relying on ourselves... We must find a solution on our own!" Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. "You, me, my clone, united with the Nine Heavens' Nine Emperors, and with Master Kong's cooperation, we might just win!"

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

"Master Kong is dead, you say! He didn't truly die. If I'm not mistaken, your killing him was merely a method for him to escape the Heavenly Dao's constraints... Most likely, he's a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng!" Zhang Xuan stated. Upon seeing Wei Changfeng, he realized that Master Kong's claim of retaining consciousness must have meant he was also a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng. Such a body could prevent one from losing their sentience even in the womb. Coupled with the contingencies he had prepared in advance, resurrection was merely a matter of time.

Luo Ruoxi was stunned; it seemed she hadn't anticipated this.

"We'll know if we go check. If my guess is right, he should have recovered. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have failed to go to the Tidal Sea..." Zhang Xuan said. Master Kong's students, like 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 were seen there. There must have been something more important waiting for them, something they intended to do while all the Emperors were preoccupied with the Tidal Sea! And this important matter was clearly the restoration of Master Kong.

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

"Let's go!"

Without further explanation, Zhang Xuan swiped a hand and reappeared at Master Kong's residence. Indeed, he saw an old man floating cross-legged in the air. Seeing their arrival, the old man smiled faintly, "You've arrived!" Who else could it be but Master Kong! This teacher for all ages had indeed not disappointed him! As guessed, he had resurrected while everyone's attention was focused on the Tidal Sea.

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

"I concealed myself from the Heavenly Dao and prepared a contingency beforehand. The nameless giant in the Nether Soul Pool was my remnant. When you killed it that day, I seized the opportunity to break free from the Heavenly Dao's constraints and rematerialize my body. I've only just recovered now!" Master Kong smiled faintly. He was proficient in temporal abilities. Though it seemed only a day or two had passed in the God Realm, in reality, he had experienced an unknown span of time to recover his strength. Decades could have passed.

"The three of us are indeed strong, but defeating the ruthless man won't be easy..." Seeing that Master Kong had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head. She wasn't boosting someone else's prestige or undermining her own morale; it was simply the truth. Just now, so many people combined their strength and still couldn't block their opponent. Even adding Master Kong, what difference would it make? It still wouldn't change the situation!

"Individually, and even united, we are indeed no match for our opponent. But... what if we converge everyone's power into a single person?" Master Kong smiled, looking at them.

"Converge into one person?" This time, not only did Luo Ruoxi frown, but Zhang Xuan was also full of doubt.

"That palm could tear apart the God Realm and scatter the Heavenly Dao; its power is beyond doubt. The ruthless man absorbed all of that power and then consumed fifty years of the God Realm's spiritual energy. Based on individual strength alone, none of our dozen or so Emperors are a match..." Master Kong continued, "But united, concentrating all our power onto one person... that might be different!"

"How do we concentrate it?" Luo Ruoxi looked over. It was easier said than done. Emperors already stood at the pinnacle 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 Kong said.

"Me?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback. "Why me?"

"Emperor Lingxi cultivates freedom and transcendence! But with the constraints of her father and the Heavenly Dao, with people she cares about, she can never truly transcend! If I'm not mistaken, during our battle, you also gave up and intended to be killed by me, didn't you?" Master Kong said.

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

"Unable to transcend, she naturally cannot unleash her strongest power. Even with immense true qi, she cannot break through to that supreme realm! As for me..." Master Kong nodded. "My heart is for the common people; I wish to save all beneath the heavens, but I'm unwilling for others to sacrifice for me. Too much benevolence is also a flaw! If I had been more ruthless and exterminated the Qingtian lineage, we wouldn't be in this situation now..." If he had managed to annihilate all members of the Qingtian lineage back then, the ruthless man couldn't have resurrected, and this situation wouldn't exist.

"Therefore, I am also unsuitable! Zhang Xuan, however, has a cultivation technique that aligns with his heart and is without flaws. He believes in living authentically, and even if he dies, as long as he lives without regret, his heart is clear. Such a person possesses greater capacity and more room for growth. Only in this way can one ascend higher and venture further!" Master Kong continued. "Live to return; die to long for eternity!" If one doesn't even care about death, how could they be shackled by other matters?

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when Master Kong looked at him with piercing eyes. "No need to refuse. First, there's no time to cultivate someone 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 unique 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 your clone's Nine Heavens Primordial Golden Lotus, you will be able to stabilize the Nine Heavens, control the universe, fight through the Nine Firmaments, and destroy all creation!"

"Alright!" Seeing that the decision had been made and further explanation was futile, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in the blink of an eye, two powerful streams of energy surged into him from both sides. Zhang Xuan's body stiffened; it felt as if he had instantly transformed into the Heavenly Dao, soaring above the Nine Heavens. His soul, physical body, and true qi were all instantly baptized, growing stronger and more profound.

"You wish to stop me too? Very well, I'll kill you all, then go and slay Zhang Xuan..." Having sent Luo Qiqi and the clone flying, the ruthless man smiled coldly. The combined power unleashed by the clone and the various Emperors was indeed immense, but compared to him, it was still a bit weaker. The Tidal Sea had devoured almost all the spiritual energy outside the cities of the God Realm. Now, all that power had become his sustenance. Every move he made carried the power to destroy heaven and earth. These Emperors and God-Kings, despite representing the pinnacle of the God Realm, were still no match. At this moment, the ruthless man seemed to embody the entire God Realm, unstoppable by anyone.

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

"Just you? You're not worthy!" The ruthless man squeezed his palm, and the golden dragon was caught within it, unable to escape no matter how it struggled.

"Old friend, wait for me!" Emperor Fuming also roared, transforming into his White Tiger true form, and appeared before the ruthless man in mid-air. The Undying Emperor displayed his true form, the Undying Fire Phoenix, its flames illuminating the sky. Emperor Xuanming, whose true form was a colossal tortoise, seemed to be holding up the heavens. The Four Divine Beasts, guardians of the God Realm's four cardinal points, simultaneously transformed into their true forms, and 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 man suppressed the four beasts. A strong murderous intent flashed in his eyes. "Since you're seeking death, I shall grant your wish..." Amidst his roar, just as he was about to unleash a fatal blow and wipe out everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten and stop in mid-air.

"You want to kill them? Did you ask me first...?" Then, to everyone's stunned gaze, a figure slowly walked out from the air. It was Zhang Xuan! At this moment, the young man's entire being 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 man stopped, his gaze grave. He clearly didn't understand why the other party's strength had undergone such a tremendous change in just a few minutes. "But what if it has increased? Even the God Realm at its peak couldn't resist me. I don't believe you can stop me..." With a cold snort, the ruthless man struck down again.

Zhang Xuan raised his long sword and met the attack. The two fought, tearing space apart as chaotic currents surged everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?" At Master Kong's residence in the Heaven of Freedom, Luo Ruoxi watched, filled with worry. She and Master Kong had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, and their own cultivation had fallen to merely the God-King level, no longer as glorious as before. However, their foundation remained, and with enough power, they could eventually recover.

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

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

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

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several consecutive moves, the web between Zhang Xuan's thumb and forefinger split open, and a huge, ghastly wound appeared on his chest. As Master Kong had said, even with their combined power and a complete Heavenly Dao forming within him, he was still no match.

"Hahaha, I thought you were impressive, but you're nothing special!" The ruthless man 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 man before him.

"Fine, I'll grant your wish and give you my strongest attack..." Hearing this, the ruthless man paused, then snorted coldly and raised his palm.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed downwards forcefully. 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 Yunchi and the others also widened their eyes, trembling continuously. Master Kong and Luo Ruoxi, witnessing this, were both stunned. Their original intention was for him to break through his shackles and strive for a realm beyond the Emperor. Why did he not resist, but willingly embrace death? Wouldn't that betray their good intentions?

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

Everyone then saw Zhang Xuan, whose head had exploded and whose soul had shattered, his pendant suddenly bursting open. A drop of blood floated up and ignited, forming a scorching flame. From within the flame, an unharmed figure slowly emerged.

"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. 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 detached himself from the Heavenly Dao!

"How did he do it?" Master Kong was also filled with disbelief. The Heavenly Dao and the soul were intertwined, inseparable. To break free, he had to allow his soul to scatter, then reform it using the Nether Soul Pool. This person before them, merely slain once, had completely broken free. What method did he use?

"I know... He used the ruthless man's method for breaking free from a soul contract..." Luo Ruoxi realized. A soul contract binds master and servant; if the master doesn't dissolve it, the servant remains eternally bound... The Library of Heaven's Path was similar, an enhanced version of such a contract. Once bound to the soul, it wouldn't detach unless one died. But... the ruthless man had used that special power to break free from his soul contract. Zhang Xuan had questioned him about the specific method in detail before, likely already forming a plan then. That's why he deliberately risked his life, allowing the ruthless man to attack him with his strongest power. He used this power to be reborn from the flames, and unexpectedly, it was a great success!

"So that's it; this is the way to break through the Emperor's realm..." Zhang Xuan, emerging from the flames, wore a faint smile, as if he had understood something profound. He suddenly waved his hand, and his clone, currently at his side, immediately transformed back into a lotus flower and flew towards him. In an instant, it perfectly merged with him. In the blink of an eye, everyone felt as though Zhang Xuan had become the Nine Heavens, and the Nine Heavens was him.

He lightly stepped his foot on the ground. The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized. The Nine Heavens Primordial Golden Lotus appeared at the birth of the Nine Heavens and could stabilize it. Now that his clone and himself were perfectly integrated, indistinguishable from each other, it meant he had gained control of this power. Not only that, with the cultivation of the Nine Heavens Primordial Golden Lotus integrated, his already peak realm loosened, seeming ready to break through at any moment.

"The affection between master and servant, brotherhood, the bond between teacher and student, parental love, romantic love... when merged, these are truly all things in the world; this is what it means to be human!" With a smile on his face, 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 the world exist first, and then humans? Was it the wind that moved, or the heart? This question had eternally plagued countless individuals. Of course, now... none of that mattered! Without life, without emotion, what meaning would the world hold, even if it existed?

Therefore, after transcending romantic love, came the love for all living beings! It was 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. Parting is emotion. Reunion is also emotion!

"A myriad of emotions, for my use..." With a low cry, the confined realm within Zhang Xuan's body instantly shattered. The Emperor's shackles were broken! In an instant, it was as if he had touched a new world and a grand gate, and his soul was rapidly nourished. Countless streams of primordial chaos surged towards him, and his physical body rapidly ascended. Previously, he could only advance by absorbing spiritual energy. But now, spatial turbulence, primordial chaos, and even the opponent's green light could all be assimilated by him, without distinction.

The ruthless man hadn't expected that his full-strength attack, far from killing Zhang Xuan, had instead helped him achieve his breakthrough. He shrieked with rage, then roared and attacked again.

"Your resentment towards the high and mighty Emperors for not saving you in the spatial turbulence is an emotion; your feeling of having been my servant, imbued with humility and anger, is an emotion; your desire to destroy the God Realm to vent your rage is an emotion; your wish to become more powerful is also an emotion... Since emotions control you, how can you defeat me and not be controlled by me?" With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice grew faster and louder. He lightly grabbed with his palm.

The ruthless man, who had been invincible and domineering, was instantly bound by countless delicate threads of emotion, his limbs restrained, unable to move. As long as there were emotions, he could use them, control them!

The ruthless man'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..." Zhang Xuan smiled faintly and shook his head. Having mastered all emotions in the world, concepts like "servant" held no meaning for him anymore. Having killed so many God-level beings, and harmed his girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and so many of his friends, how could he possibly forgive him today?

"No..." Sensing Zhang Xuan's resolve, the ruthless man'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 previously devoured by the Tidal Sea was now returned, and the desolate wilderness, once withered, regained its vitality.

"He just... killed him like that?" Emperor Yunchi, the Undying Emperor, Fairy Linglong, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief. They had just fought the ruthless man and knew how terrifying he was. Such a powerful being was casually obliterated. Just what level had Zhang Xuan... reached? Could there truly be another realm beyond the Emperor?

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

"This is a part of the Heavenly Dao, so I shall 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 into the sky of the God Realm. With a resounding bell-like chime, the continuously collapsing God Realm visibly began to slowly recover, and the chaotic currents also re-coalesced. The collapsing God Realm finally halted, and the withered spiritual energy gradually recovered with the ruthless man's demise.

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

"Zhang Xuan, come this way..." No sooner had he finished these tasks than a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan paused, then took a step forward. This single step covered an unknown distance, and then he saw a young man standing before him. It was the very person who had taught him swordplay earlier.

"Senior, you..." Seeing him, Zhang Xuan was startled. He had always felt this person was unfathomable, but now he realized he was only a sliver away from Zhang Xuan's own power, having reached the absolute peak of the Emperor realm, incomparably stronger than Luo Ruoxi had been.

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

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

"Come with me, I'll take you to see my elder brother!" The young man named Nie Tong smiled faintly and stepped forward. Zhang Xuan followed closely, flying for an unknown distance before stopping before a mountain peak. Then he saw another young man. He didn't look much older than Nie Tong. His eyebrows arched upwards, giving him a profound and inscrutable air.

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

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

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

"I separated my energy into three pure ones, and a part of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Moreover, this world was created by me, so there's no harm in saying I am the Heavenly Dao!" Nie Yun smiled faintly.

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

"Wait, if the God Realm was created by you, and you are the Heavenly Dao, why did you allow the ruthless man to rampage without intervening...?" Zhang Xuan looked at him. If he hadn't broken through, the God Realm might have completely collapsed. Why had this person before him remained indifferent? Did he even care about his daughter's life or death?

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

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

"I once suspected there were more powerful beings above the God Realm, so I used all my strength to peek into it, which ultimately drew retaliation from a higher world... a palm tore through space and descended!" Nie Yun looked at him. "At that time, if I had dodged, it was highly probable that the entire God Realm would have been wiped clean, leaving no life... So, I blocked that move, but because of it, the Heavenly Dao, which was my incarnation, was split apart."

"In that state, I could have recovered with just a thought, but... I understood that to truly transcend the God Realm's shackles, to explore where that palm came from, and what lay 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 comparable to mine!"

"Therefore, I sent the scattered Heavenly Dao fragments to the lowest world... granting them respectively to a soul originally belonging to that world, and a soul that did not belong to that world. And you, ultimately, did not disappoint me!" Nie Yun smiled.

"A soul that didn't belong to this world... In other words, my transmigration was also because of you?" Zhang Xuan's heart trembled. No wonder he could transmigrate; he hadn't expected it was all thanks to this person before him.

"Heh heh!" Nie Yun chuckled softly and said, "A soul that inherently belongs 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 actually expect you would succeed..."

"I..." Zhang Xuan's face flushed. "If it weren't for Master Kong, I wouldn't have been able to reach this level at all..." Without Master Kong's selfless dedication, reaching his current realm would have been utterly impossible.

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

Zhang Xuan remained silent. He had witnessed their battle back then, and Master Kong had indeed been somewhat lacking in decisiveness. It was also possible that he was unwilling to kill Luo Ruoxi. Unfortunately, that single thought cost him the chance to advance.

"If Master Kong had won, Ruoxi would have died..." After a moment, Zhang Xuan looked over, his brows furrowed. Could it be that this person 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 your combined strength, you could save someone at a critical life-or-death moment?"

Zhang Xuan gave a bitter smile. Breaking through to Emperor and being an Emperor were two different concepts. If Nie Yun truly wished to act, he could indeed save someone at the last moment and ensure they suffered not even a scratch.

"Lingxi was born to another of my wives, Luo Qingcheng, which is why she used the surname Luo when she disguised herself... To make her believe and not act on emotion, she has always thought I was still in a coma until now..." Nie Yun gave a wry smile. "I've been quite a ruthless father... Alright, you can explain this to her. After all, her thoughts are with you now; she probably won't even remember her old dad... Hahaha, I'll disappear for a while, otherwise, I'm genuinely afraid she'll turn heaven and earth upside down..."

Seeing such an unreliable father before him, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he could only agree. "Alright..." He had no choice but to agree; after all, he had taken their daughter away...

"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 its shackles on your own demonstrates your power and potential. Your future is limitless, and as a father, I am truly relieved that my daughter can be with you."