Chapter 737

The continuous battles commenced.

A soul contract, perfectly aligned with the soul, cannot be dissolved by any means, no matter how extraordinary the other party's abilities, unless one chooses to break it oneself. Just like the Undying Emperor, Little Yellow Chick—though he was only a Divine King before becoming an Emperor, he still had no way to resolve this kind of agreement. To prevent such a person from reneging and causing a backlash, the Master Teacher Continent had specifically stipulated that even if one could escape the records of the Heavenly Dao, they still could not break free from an agreement made between souls.

"Indeed, soul contracts cannot be separated from the Sea of Consciousness, but I have fused with a special gas that can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao. Dissolving this contract isn't difficult… as long as there's enough power to strike where the contract resides, it can be done!" the Ruthless One said.

Soul contracts are based on the Heavenly Dao. If a special power can even dissolve the Heavenly Dao of the Divine World, then dissolving a soul contract, if handled properly, is no big deal.

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

"Telling you all this is my way of thanking you for bringing me to the Divine World!"

After explaining, the Ruthless One said no more. The aura around him became increasingly ancient and profound, and the black hole behind him grew even larger. Clearly, while speaking, he had absorbed an unknown amount of power for sustenance.

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

"Prepare to fight!" His doubts gone, Zhang Xuan took a deep breath, and his longsword suddenly rose: "If that's the case, then let's see who's truly capable in battle!"

Boom!

The most powerful sword intent was unleashed once more.

"If I live, I shall return; if I die, my love will endure forever!"

With no regard for life or death, what could possibly stop him? Although this sword technique had not reached the level understood by an Emperor, it contained all his deepest convictions, pushing the 'Heaven Has Love' cultivation method within him to its limit. With a single sword stroke, he cut the Ruthless One'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, carrying an indomitable momentum and the carefree elegance of the Great Dao.

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

With a soft chuckle, the Ruthless One lunged downward again. In an instant, his palm blotted out the sky and earth, enveloping everything. Space shattered, and the sun, moon, and stars seemed about to be forcibly struck down.

Puff! Puff!

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

"Presumptuous!" The clone strode forward, lotus flowers blooming 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 Chaos Golden Lotus, his cultivation was in no way inferior to Zhang Xuan's. He raised a fist, and power surged into the heavens. When he clashed with the Ruthless One, he was also sent flying backward, unable to withstand a single move.

Zhang Xuan covered his forehead. Even after becoming an Emperor, the clone still hadn't changed his show-off nature... Such flamboyant showmanship! It would be better to concentrate his power for greater impact!

"Let's attack together, otherwise, if they die, we'll all die..." Little Yellow Chick roared, and crimson flames blazed, as if setting the sky alight. The remaining six Emperors also unleashed their respective techniques.

The seven Emperors, united, possessed world-destroying power; even an entire region couldn't withstand them. But the opponent was the Ruthless One, who had absorbed special power. When their attacks reached him, the black hole suddenly expanded, devouring all the energy in the blink of an eye, then counterattacking immediately.

Bang bang bang bang!

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

"You can all die now..."

Defeating everyone with a single move, the Ruthless One took a step forward, flipped his wrist, and struck down again.

"You lowly wretch, how dare you!"

Along with a roar, the elder from Sword God Heaven suddenly appeared, blocking their path, his longsword transforming into a galaxy.

"An Emperor? He's also at the Emperor level?" Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted. This elder had been behind the young man before; Zhang Xuan had thought he was just a subordinate, at most a Titled Divine King. Only upon seeing his unleashed power did he realize he was also a powerful Emperor! If he was an Emperor, then what was that young man?

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

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

"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 some distance away, creating a large crater. Zhang Xuan's current strength and comprehension of the Sword Dao far surpassed his, yet even he couldn't withstand it. So even if this elder's cultivation wasn't weak and his swordsmanship was superb, he was still no match.

"Haha, Emperors, just a bunch of weaklings! Today I shall destroy the Nine Heavens, obliterate this Divine World, and flatten all its rules!" After defeating the Emperor of Sword God Heaven, the Ruthless One laughed maniacally. The surrounding space continuously collapsed, making him appear demonic.

"What do we do?" Zhang Xuan clenched his fists. Just now, he and his clone had both unleashed their strongest combat power, and even Luo Ruoxi had used her most powerful techniques, yet none could withstand a single move from the opponent... Could it be that no one in the Divine World could stop this person before them? Would they just let him destroy the world?

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

"Return to the Heavenly Dao itself?" Zhang Xuan understood her meaning. The Library of Heaven's Path in his mind was 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 One. It was like the human body's immune system. If the immune system is complete, viruses are easily expelled; if it breaks down, it can't resist viral invasion, and even the strongest person can die.

"But..."

"He's too powerful. Even if the Heavenly Dao becomes complete again, it probably can't suppress him!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. Viruses can be killed by the immune system, but... what about a tiger? What could even the strongest immune system do against that? The person before them was no ordinary Divine King, or even a Titled one, whom the Heavenly Dao could easily kill. He was even stronger than an Emperor... already beyond what the Heavenly Dao could contend with.

Luo Ruoxi paused, a look of disappointment on her fair, jade-like face: "Yes... it can't suppress him, but if the Heavenly Dao becomes complete, *he* will wake up, and killing this one won't be difficult!"

"He?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

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

"Trying to escape?" The Ruthless One sneered, pressing downward. Luo Ruoxi plummeted from the sky. Zhang Xuan's sword technique was unleashed again, brilliant sword intent bursting forth.

Clang clang clang!

Again blocked by the Ruthless One.

"You two go quickly, I'll hold him off..." Knowing they were seeking a way to save the Divine World, not escape, the clone and Undying Emperor roared and blocked the front. Luo Qiqi also transformed, returning to her true form as the Quiet Void Pearl. The surrounding space solidified.

"Go!"

Seeing everyone selflessly blocking him from behind, fearless of death, Zhang Xuan's eyes reddened. However, he also knew this wasn't the time for more words. He pulled Luo Ruoxi, his body blurred, tearing through space, and in the next moment, they appeared within the Free Heaven's domain.

Free Heaven was no longer as free as before; the Divine World was collapsing, and chaos reigned everywhere.

"Where is this 'he' you spoke of?" With no time to observe the lives of ordinary people, Zhang Xuan looked at the girl in his arms. If the person she spoke of could truly save the Divine World, 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 breath and explained.

"Father?" Zhang Xuan suddenly realized. No wonder he had always felt the blood in the pendant was similar yet different from Luo Ruoxi's; 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 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's chaos was due to the blood in the pendant, which helped him regain clarity. Could it be that not only was she an Emperor, but her father was too, and perhaps even stronger? If so, why would he be in a coma? And why would he need the 'Flaw of 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 giant hand and fell into a coma. The Heavenly Dao fragmented into three parts: the 'Order of Heavenly Dao' and the 'Flaw of Heavenly Dao' entered the spatial turbulence, while I took control of the 'Nature of Heavenly Dao' to maintain the balance of the Divine World. To restore him, we had to collect the scattered parts... That's why I was so resolute, unable to fail! That's why I specifically entered the Master Teacher Continent, studied the Spring and Autumn Canon, and tried to defeat Master Kong! The favor I asked of him during our fight was also this." Luo Ruoxi said.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood. Not long after they met on the Master Teacher Continent, the girl before him had told him her story, that she wanted to save a close relative. He hadn't understood then, but now it all made sense. It turned out to be her father, and the Heavenly Dao of the Divine World at that! Could the Heavenly Dao really take human form and have children?

"Took control of the Nature of Heavenly Dao... you don't have a Heavenly Dao fragment within you?" Suddenly realizing something odd in her words, Zhang Xuan looked at her. 'Taking control' and 'merging within oneself' were two 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. In that case, he only needed to separate the 'Flaw of Heavenly Dao' from himself; she wouldn't have to die as well. Although he didn't want to accept such a fate for himself, he also didn't want the girl before him to be harmed.

"If I separate the 'Flaw of Heavenly Dao' from my body, your father will live again, and might even kill the Ruthless One, right?" Zhang Xuan looked at her.

"This... I'm not sure either..." Looking up at the already collapsing Divine World, Luo Ruoxi hesitated. The Divine World 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 really hard to say!

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

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

"Master Kong is dead, right? He isn't truly dead. If I'm not mistaken, your killing him was just a method for him to escape the Heavenly Dao... Unless something unexpected happened, he should be a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng!" Zhang Xuan said. Seeing Wei Changfeng, he understood that Master Kong's supposed ability to maintain his consciousness was likely due to being a Congenital Embryonic Soul Body, just like Wei Changfeng, able to remain conscious even in the womb. Coupled with preparations made in advance, resurrection was only a matter of time.

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

"Let's go see, we'll know. If my guess is right, he should have recovered. Otherwise, his students wouldn't have even gone to the Tidal Sea..." Zhang Xuan said. Master Kong's students, like Ancient Sage Ziyuan and others, were all powerful. Even without the help of Emperors, they would certainly have a way to enter the Tidal Sea, yet none of them were seen. There must have been something more important waiting, something they wanted to do while all the Emperors were preoccupied with the Tidal Sea! And this important matter was clearly to help Master Kong recover.

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

"Let's go!" Without further explanation, with a wave of his hand, Zhang Xuan returned to Master Kong's residence. Indeed, he saw an old man floating cross-legged in the air. Upon seeing them arrive, he smiled faintly: "You've arrived!" Who else could it be but Master Kong! This Master of Ten Thousand Generations truly hadn't disappointed him! Just as he had guessed, he had resurrected while everyone's attention was focused on the Tidal Sea.

Luo Ruoxi's delicate body trembled. She knew Emperors could resurrect; the Undying Emperor had also 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 beforehand. The nameless giant in the Nether Soul Pond was left by me. When you killed me that day, I took the opportunity to break free from the Heavenly Dao's restraints and re-condense my physical body. I've only just recovered now!" Master Kong smiled faintly. He was skilled in temporal abilities. It might have seemed only a day or two had passed in the Divine World, but in reality, to recover his strength, decades had passed.

"Our combined strength is indeed formidable, but defeating the Ruthless One won't be that easy..." Seeing Master Kong had indeed recovered, Luo Ruoxi still shook her head. It wasn't about boosting the enemy's morale or dampening their own spirits; it was simply the truth. So many people had united just now and couldn't stop the opponent; what difference would adding Master Kong make? It still wouldn't change the situation!

"Individually, and even united, we are indeed no match for the opponent, but... what if all our powers were merged into one person?" Master Kong looked over, smiling.

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

"That palm could tear through the Divine World and shatter the Heavenly Dao; its strength is beyond doubt. The Ruthless One absorbed all that power and then devoured fifty years' worth of spiritual energy from the Divine World. By sheer strength, any one of us, a dozen or so Emperors, is indeed no match..." Master Kong said, "But if we unite and concentrate all our power on one person... that might not be the case!"

"How do we concentrate it?" Luo Ruoxi looked at him. Easier said than done. Emperors were already at the peak of the Divine World. If absorbing others' power were that easy, she wouldn't have been stagnant for so many years.

"It's simple... We concentrate our power on Zhang Xuan. Once he can break through the Emperor's shackles, he can save the Divine World!" Master Kong said.

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

"Emperor Lingxi cultivates 'Freedom and Detachment from Nature'! But with the constraints of her father and the Heavenly Dao, and people she cares about, she can never truly achieve detachment! If I'm not mistaken, during our battle, you also considered giving up and letting me kill you!" Master Kong said.

Luo Ruoxi was speechless. During the battle, she had indeed considered this, which was why their initial exchanges were more like sparring, each holding back, unlike a life-or-death struggle.

"Unable to detach, one naturally cannot unleash their full power. Even if given more true qi, it's still impossible to break through to that supreme realm! As for me..." Master Kong nodded: "I care for all living beings and wish to enlighten the world, 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 Race, we wouldn't be in this situation now..." If he had been able to kill all the Qingtian Race members back then, the Ruthless One couldn't have revived, and the current situation wouldn't exist.

"Therefore, I am also unsuitable! But Zhang Xuan's cultivation method flows smoothly, without flaws. He lives for himself, and even if he dies, as long as he lives without regret, his heart is clear. Such a person possesses greater capacity and greater room for development. Only in this way can one go higher and further!" Master Kong continued. "If I live, I shall return; if I die, my love will endure forever!" If he didn't even care about death, how could he be hindered by other matters?

Zhang Xuan frowned, about to say something, when Master Kong looked at him with shining eyes: "No need to refuse. First, there's no 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 has her own understanding of it; I control the 'Order of 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 sky, and destroy all things!"

"Alright!" Seeing that the other party had already made their decision, and knowing further explanation was useless, Zhang Xuan nodded.

Boom!

He sat cross-legged, and in the blink of an eye, two vast streams of power surged in from both sides. Zhang Xuan's entire body stiffened; in an instant, he seemed to transform 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..." Knocking Luo Qiqi and the clone aside, the Ruthless One sneered coldly. The combined power unleashed by the clone and the numerous Emperors was indeed formidable, but compared to him, it was still a bit weaker. The Tidal Sea had devoured almost all the spiritual energy of the Divine World outside the cities. Now, all this power had become his nourishment. Every move he made carried the power to destroy heaven and earth. These Emperors and Divine Kings, though representing the pinnacle of the Divine World, were still no match. At this moment, the Ruthless One seemed to represent the entire Divine World; no one could stop him.

"If the Divine World perishes, there's no meaning in us living. 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.

"Just you? You're not worthy!" The Ruthless One squeezed his hand, and the golden dragon was caught 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 in mid-air. The Undying Emperor's true form, the Undying Fire Phoenix, appeared, its flames illuminating the sky. Emperor Xuan Ming, whose true form was a massive turtle, appeared as if supporting all heavens. The Four Divine Beasts, guardians of the Divine World's four poles, simultaneously transformed into their true forms. The collapsing Divine World's destruction seemed to slow down. Heaven and earth seemed to freeze in an instant.

Bang bang bang bang!

With four consecutive palms, the Ruthless One suppressed the four beasts. A strong murderous intent flashed in his eyes: "Since you're seeking death, I shall grant it to you..." As he roared, about to deliver a killing blow to obliterate everyone, he felt his raised arm tighten and stop in mid-air.

"You want to kill them? Have you asked me first..." Then, under the stunned gazes of everyone, 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, in just a few minutes, the opponent's strength had changed so dramatically.

"But what if it's increased? Even the Divine World at its peak couldn't resist me; I don't believe you can stop me..." With a cold snort, the Ruthless One struck down again. Zhang Xuan raised his longsword and met the attack. The two battled, space tearing open in streaks, and currents of energy swirling everywhere.

"Can Zhang Xuan win?" At Master Kong's residence in Free Heaven, Luo Ruoxi looked on, full of worry. She and Master Kong had transferred their power to Zhang Xuan, and their own cultivation had dropped to the Divine King level, no longer as glorious as before. However, their inherent cultivation levels were still there; as long as they had enough power, they could eventually recover.

"With his current strength, winning... will be very difficult! Unless... he can comprehend power beyond that of an Emperor!" After a moment of silence, Master Kong said. Over a dozen Emperors combined couldn't defeat the Ruthless One. 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 apex, to truly surpass limits, and to break through oneself!

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

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

Bang bang bang!

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

"Haha, I thought you were so powerful, but you're nothing special!" The Ruthless One sneered.

"Anyway, I'm no match for you, and I'll be killed sooner or later. In that case, I want to die by your strongest attack..." Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan stopped, no longer attacking, but instead looked at the Ruthless One before him.

"Alright, I'll grant your wish and give you my strongest attack..." Hearing him say this, the Ruthless One was startled for a moment, then let out a cold snort and raised his palm.

Whoosh!

A green light appeared in his palm and slammed down fiercely. It was indeed his strongest attack. The entire Divine World roared, as if on the verge of collapse, and another massive crater was blasted open. With his eyes tightly closed, Zhang Xuan did not dodge. His head exploded, and his soul scattered everywhere.

"Zhang Xuan..." Seeing this scene, everyone's face turned pale. Luo Qiqi seemed to go mad. Emperor Yun Chi and the others also widened their eyes, trembling continuously. Master Kong and Luo Ruoxi, who saw this scene, were also stunned. Their original intention was for him to break through his shackles and charge towards a realm beyond Emperorhood. Why did he not resist, but willingly embrace death? Wouldn't that betray their good intentions?

"No, that's not right, 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 even whose soul had shattered. The pendant on his chest suddenly burst open, a drop of blood floated up, ignited, forming a scorching flame. From within the flame, a perfectly intact figure slowly walked out.

"He... used the opponent's power and the blood in the pendant to separate the 'Flaw of Heavenly Dao' from his soul?" Luo Ruoxi's pupils contracted. After being reborn from the flames, Zhang Xuan's body no longer contained the Library of Heaven's Path; without the interference of the Heavenly Dao, he had broken free from it!

"How did he do it?" Master Kong was also full of disbelief. The Heavenly Dao and soul were merged, inseparable. To break free, he had to shatter his soul and re-condense it using the Nether Soul Pond. This person before them, only being killed once, completely broke free. What method did he use?

"I know... He used the method the Ruthless One used to break free from the soul contract..." Luo Ruoxi realized. Soul contracts bind 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 a contract. Once bound to the soul, it wouldn't be separated unless one died. But... the Ruthless One had used that special power to break free from the soul contract. Zhang Xuan had inquired about the specific method in detail before, and he probably conceived of this plan at that time. That's why he deliberately risked his life, making the Ruthless One unleash his strongest attack on him. Using this power, he was reborn from the flames. Unexpectedly, it was a great success!

"So that's how it is, this is the method to break through Emperorhood..." Zhang Xuan, emerging from the flames, wore a faint smile on his face, as if he had understood something. He suddenly waved his hand, and his clone to the 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 Zhang Xuan before them had become the Nine Heavens; the Nine Heavens *was* him.

He lightly stomped his foot on the ground. The chaotic Nine Heavens immediately stabilized. The Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, which appeared when the Nine Heavens were born, could stabilize them. Now that the clone and his true self were perfectly merged, inseparable, it meant he controlled this power. Not only that, but with the cultivation integrated from the Nine Heavens Chaos Golden Lotus, his already peak realm loosened, seeming ready to break through at any moment.

"Master-servant bond, brotherhood, teacher-student relationship, parental love, romantic love... when merged, these are all things in the world. This is what it means to be human!" With a smile on his face, Zhang Xuan muttered to himself. The moment the Library of Heaven's Path separated from his soul, he understood. Did people see the world and thus the world existed, or did the world exist first, and then people? Was it the wind that moved, or the heart? This question had troubled countless people since ancient times. Of course, now... none of that mattered! Without life, without emotion, what meaning did the world have even if it existed? Therefore, after breaking through romantic love, came the love for all living beings! It was the emotion that interwoven the entire world. All things in the world have emotions; only with emotion can there be a world, and only with emotion can life continue. Love is emotion. Hate is emotion. Joy is emotion. Pain is emotion. Farewell is emotion. Reunion is also emotion!

"Ten thousand emotions, all 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 felt as if he had touched a new world and a grand gate. His soul rapidly received nourishment. Countless chaotic qi surged towards him, and his physical body rapidly improved. Before, 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, inseparable.

The Ruthless One hadn't expected his full-force attack to not only fail to kill him but instead help him achieve something. He yelled furiously, then roared and attacked again.

"Your resentment towards the high and mighty Emperors who didn't save you in the spatial turbulence is an emotion; your feeling that you were once my servant, filled with humility and rage, is an emotion; your desire to destroy the Divine World and vent your anger is an emotion; your desire to become even stronger is also an emotion... Emotions control you, so how can you defeat me, how can you not be controlled by me?" With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan's voice became faster and louder. He lightly grabbed with his palm. The formerly invincible Ruthless One was restrained by countless threads of emotion, bound hand and foot, unable to move. As long as there were emotions, he would use them, control them!

The Ruthless One's eyes were full of terror: "Master Zhang, I am your servant, don't kill me... I am willing to sacrifice my soul..."

"It's too late to say that now..." With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan shook his head. For someone who controlled the emotions of the world, servants no longer held any meaning. After killing so many Divine realm experts, harming his girlfriend, Luo Qiqi, and so many friends, how could he possibly forgive him today!

"No..." Sensing his decisiveness, the Ruthless One's pupils contracted. Before he could finish his sentence, he immediately felt an intense pain throughout his body. In an instant, he exploded, transforming into countless streams of spiritual energy that poured throughout the Divine World. All the power previously devoured by the Tidal Sea was now fed back, and the withered wilderness revitalized.

"Killed just like that?" Emperor Yun Chi, the Undying Emperor, Fairy Linglong, and the others all widened their eyes in disbelief. They had fought the Ruthless One just now and knew how terrifying he was. Such a powerful person was casually annihilated. To what extent had Zhang Xuan... reached? Was there truly another realm above Emperors?

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

"This is a part of the Heavenly Dao, so I shall now return it to the Heavenly Dao..." Seeing the "Flaw of 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, which had accompanied him since his rebirth, thundered as it embedded itself in the sky of the Divine World. With a bell-like resonance, the continuously collapsing Divine World visibly began to slowly recover, and the chaotic currents of energy reformed. The collapsing Divine World finally halted, and the withered spiritual energy slowly revived with the Ruthless One's death.

"It seems the Divine World is about to welcome an era of spiritual energy revival once more..." Zhang Xuan smiled. The hole in the Tidal Sea had healed with the completion of the Heavenly Dao. It was only a matter of time before the Divine World returned to its former glory.

"Zhang Xuan, come here..." Just as he finished these tasks, a voice echoed in his mind. Zhang Xuan was startled, then stepped forward. This single step carried him an unknown distance. He then saw a young man standing before him. It was precisely the one who had taught him swordsmanship before.

"Senior, you..." Seeing it was him, Zhang Xuan was stunned. He had always felt this person was unfathomable, but now he realized he was only slightly weaker than himself, having already reached the pinnacle of Emperorhood, far stronger than Luo Ruoxi had been.

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

"Nie Tong?" Zhang Xuan frowned slightly. He had never heard this name before.

"Come with me, I'll take you to meet my brother!" The young man named Nie Tong smiled faintly and stepped forward. Zhang Xuan followed closely behind. After flying an unknown distance, they stopped before a mountain peak. He then saw another young man. His appearance was not much older than Nie Tong's, with upward-slanting eyebrows that gave him an air of profound inscrutability.

"This strength..." Zhang Xuan trembled. The strength of this young man before him was actually greater than his own. He had also broken through the Emperor's shackles, and his cultivation was even more profound and substantial!

"I am Nie Yun!" The young man smiled faintly and looked over: "Which means... I am Nie Lingxi, the father of Luo Ruoxi, as you call her!"

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

"I split into three pure essences, and a part of my soul became the Heavenly Dao! Moreover, this world was created by me, so there's nothing wrong with calling me the Heavenly Dao!" Nie Yun smiled faintly.

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

"Wait, if the Divine World was created by you, and you are the Heavenly Dao, why did you let the Ruthless One wreak havoc without intervening..." Zhang Xuan looked at him. If he hadn't broken through, the Divine World was very likely to completely collapse. Why did this person before him not care? And even his daughter's life and death, did he not care about those?

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

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 one before him.

"I once suspected there were stronger beings above the Divine World, so I used all my strength to peek, which ultimately drew a backlash from a higher world... A palm tore through space and descended!" Nie Yun looked over: "If I had dodged then, it was highly likely the entire Divine World would have been wiped clean, leaving not a single life... So, I blocked that attack, but because of it, the Heavenly Dao, which I had manifested as, was fragmented."

"In that situation, I could have recovered with just a thought, but... I understood that to truly transcend the Divine World's shackles, to explore where that palm came from, and what lies beyond the Divine World... it would be very difficult for me alone. So, I wanted to see if there was any life that could break through the Emperor's shackles and reach a level comparable to mine!"

"Therefore, I sent the fragmented Heavenly Dao consciousness to the lowest realm... bestowing it upon a soul originally from that world, and a soul not from this world. And you, ultimately, did not disappoint me!" Nie Yun smiled.

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

"Heh heh!" Nie Yun smiled lightly and said, "A soul originally from this world has an inherent reverence for it, making it much harder to break through the world's shackles. It was just a thought of mine; I didn't actually expect you to succeed..."

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

"I gave him the chance, but he didn't seize it. His fight with Lingxi was actually his best opportunity for a breakthrough. Unfortunately, he chose to retreat, thinking he had a contingency to escape unscathed, but in reality, he lost the spirit of courageous advancement. When facing someone beyond 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 at the time and indeed, Master Kong had been somewhat lacking in decisiveness. It was also possible that he was unwilling to kill Luo Ruoxi. Unfortunately, in that single thought, he missed the chance to advance.

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

"With me here, she wouldn't die..." Nie Yun smiled faintly: "Your current strength isn't far from mine. Do you think, at a critical moment of life and death for two people, you could save someone?" Zhang Xuan gave a wry smile. Breaking through to the realm beyond Emperor and simply being an Emperor were two different concepts. If Nie Yun truly wished to intervene, he could indeed save someone at the last moment, ensuring they suffered not even a scratch.

"Lingxi was born to my other wife, Luo Qingcheng, which is why her disguised name is Luo... 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 laugh: "I suppose I've been quite ruthless as a father... How about this, you explain it to her. After all, her thoughts have shifted to you now; she probably won't even remember her old dad... Haha, I won't show myself for now; I'll hide for a while. Otherwise, I'm genuinely afraid she'll turn the world upside down..."

Seeing this unreliable father before him, Zhang Xuan's face twitched, and he could only agree: "Alright..." There was no other choice but to agree; after all, he had "abducted" someone's daughter...

"The Library of Heaven's Path was formed from a wisp of my consciousness; it was both a foundation and a restriction. Your ability to break through that restriction on your own shows immense capability and potential. Your future is limitless. As a father, I am truly comforted that my daughter can be with you."