Library of Heaven's Path Chapter 2264 - Finale 3

Unless he revoked the Soul Contract himself, Vicious ought to have had no means to break free from its hold.

It paralleled the Deathless Monarch's plight, who, despite his status as a God Monarch, couldn't escape a Soul Contract by his own power.

To guard against any betrayal from Vicious, he had forged a Soul Contract with him back on the Master Teacher Continent. Thus, even if Vicious somehow slipped away from the Book of Heaven’s Path, the unbreakable laws of the Soul Contract would still chain him down.

“Ah, the Soul Contract? It troubled me for some time, yet I found my fears baseless. The malignant energy within me can defy even the heavens! With enough power at my disposal, shattering that pathetic Soul Contract proves no great challenge!” Vicious sneered.

A Soul Contract bound one soul to another's will, yet the malignant energy could counter celestial forces themselves. Properly harnessed, its ability to dissolve a Soul Contract came as no shock.

“Is that so?” A sharp gleam flickered in Zhang Xuan's eyes as he whispered.

“Does that quench your thirst for answers? Consider it my thanks for delivering me to the Firmament! Now, you may meet your end without regrets!” Vicious sneered mockingly.

An archaic, profound aura emanated from Vicious as the abyss below him expanded further. During their exchange, he had devoured even more energy, bolstering his cultivation realm substantially.

Luo Ruoxin sensed the danger too and urgently transmitted a telepathic warning. “Zhang Xuan, the deeper the black hole feeds, the stronger he grows...”

“Then it's time to strike!”

With his questions cleared, Zhang Xuan drew his sword and declared, “Very well, let's clash to the death!”

Hong long!

Mighty Sword Intent erupted from his form as he unleashed his God Monarch realm sword technique.

This strike embodied his unyielding resolve, driving his Pathos of Heaven cultivation method to its utmost peak.

Hu!

One swift cut aimed to cleave Vicious cleanly in two.

Luo Ruoxin joined the assault simultaneously, flicking her wrist to surge forward sword in hand.

Her swordsmanship closely resembled the God Monarch of the Sword Hut's style, surging with unstoppable force like charging cavalry, yet fluid and unbound in its grace.

“Impressive! Your strikes pack real punch. But against me, they fall just short...” Vicious laughed as he thrust his palm downward.

Instantly, his hand blotted out the entire sky. Space around them cracked under the immense pressure, as if sun, moon, and stars might tumble from his devastating blow.

Pu! Pu!

The palm's force hurled Zhang Xuan and Luo Ruoxin backward together, crimson blood spraying from their lips.

Even united, the pair couldn't stand against Vicious!

To what heights had that monster ascended?

“Insolent fool!”

Zhang Xuan’s clone roared fiercely, striding forward. Each step bloomed a lotus, and a faint stream's murmur echoed from the void.

From a distance, he truly exuded the bearing of a supreme master.

Having fused with the Primordial Golden Lotus of the Nine Skies, his strength matched Zhang Xuan's present level.

He clenched his fist, channeling colossal power into his arm, and hammered at Vicious.

Vicious swatted casually, flinging the clone away.

Even he couldn't rival Vicious's raw power.

Witnessing this, Zhang Xuan slapped his forehead in exasperation.

Post-God Monarch ascension, his clone hadn't shed its flashy habits. Wasting energy on mere spectacles would've been better spent fully powering that strike!

What an idiot...

“We must act too! If they drop, we're doomed next!” Little Chick roared, spreading black wings that ignited the heavens in dark flames.

The remaining six God Monarchs unleashed their assaults without delay.

Their collective force could annihilate any Sky outright, yet their foe was Vicious, swollen with all the malignant energy. As their blows neared, his black hole ballooned, swallowing them whole.

Seconds later, the attacks boomeranged back fiercer than before.

Peng peng peng!

The seven God Monarchs, plus Zhang Xuan, his clone, and Luo Ruoxin, all flew back from the counterstrike.

Not even their unified might endured one round against Vicious!

How could that villain wield such terrifying power?

“Enough games. Time to perish!”

Having repelled the ten God Monarchs, Vicious advanced, hoisting his fist to smash down upon them.

“Audacious demon!”

A thunderous shout rang out, and the Sky of Heavenly Sword's elder materialized ahead. His sword slashed, weaving a silvery sword qi river as a shield for all.

“A God Monarch? He's one too?” Zhang Xuan's eyes narrowed in astonishment.

He'd pegged the elder, trailing the supposed Sword Hut God Monarch, as a Conferred God King at best. But the elder's aura revealed his true God Monarch stature!

If the elder was a God Monarch... who was the youth?

“He's the God Monarch of the Sky of Heavenly Sword,” Luo Ruoxin clarified, forcing herself upright.

“Hold on... then who was that young man I encountered before?” Zhang Xuan asked, stunned.

“He is...”

Luo Ruoxin began to reply when space ahead warped violently, twisting the sword qi river aside. Then, the Sky of Heavenly Sword God Monarch soared back, cratering the ground deeply.

Even Zhang Xuan, superior in cultivation and sword mastery, couldn't best Vicious long; the elder stood no chance.

“Hahaha! God Monarchs? Mere relics frozen in obsolescence! Today, I'll shatter the Nine Skies, crumble the Firmament, and reset all to nothingness!”

After crushing the Sky of Heavenly Sword God Monarch, Vicious cackled maniacally. Collapsing space heralded the Firmament's doom.

“What now?” Zhang Xuan gripped his fists hard.

He could throw his life at Vicious again, but repeating failed tactics in vain hope was madness.

He and his clone had unleashed full power; Luo Ruoxin her aces. Still, Vicious advanced unchecked.

Was he unbeatable here?

Must they witness the Firmament's ruin powerless?

“Only path left: return your Heavens’ Imperfection to the heavens for them to subdue him,” Luo Ruoxin urged, fists balled.

“Return my Heavens’ Imperfection to the heavens...”

Zhang Xuan grasped her intent.

His Library of Heaven’s Path was a heavenly shard; yielding it would restore the heavens. Whole once more, heavenly laws might seal the fissure and banish Vicious.

Yet a flaw loomed...

“Vicious is far too mighty now. If we can't contain him together, can perfected heavens truly overpower him?” Zhang Xuan doubted, shaking his head.

Heavenly laws held immense sway, but weren't invincible—God Monarchs rent dimension rifts freely.

Against Vicious's might, could they enforce judgment?

“This...” Luo Ruoxin pondered, her expression darkening. “You're correct. Heavens alone can't suppress him. But wholeness might rouse him. His power could slay Vicious effortlessly!”

“Him?” Zhang Xuan creased his brow.

“I'll take you to him. He's in the Sky of Freedom...”

Breathing deep, Luo Ruoxin seized Zhang Xuan's hand and ripped a dimension rift.

“Fleeing under my nose?” Vicious snorted coldly, slamming his palm down.

Peng!

Luo Ruoxin plummeted from the sky.

“You scum!”

Furious at the strike, Zhang Xuan swung his sword anew at Vicious.

Ding ding ding!

Vicious's power deflected it effortlessly once more.

“You two, go now! We'll stall him!” Little Chick cried.

Realizing their flight aimed to salvage the Firmament, the God Monarchs surged to bind Vicious. Luo Qiqi transformed into the Dimension Silencer, locking space around.

“Move!”

Touched by their fearless sacrifice, Zhang Xuan's eyes burned. Time pressed, so he encircled Luo Ruoxin's waist, tore a rift, and plunged through with her.

They emerged in the Sky of Freedom.

The Sky of Freedom had lost its idyllic splendor. Firmament's breakdown wrought havoc everywhere, sparing not its core.

Zhang Xuan eyed the woman in his arms. “Where's this person you mentioned?”

If he could truly rescue the Firmament, sacrificing himself was worthwhile.

“He's my father.” Luo Ruoxin circulated zhenqi to heal as she revealed, “The pendant's blood you hold is his, and the Deathless Monarch was once his beast...”

“Your father?” Zhang Xuan's eyes bulged in comprehension.

It explained the pendant blood's close yet distinct resemblance to hers.

Likely why the Deathless Monarch's lingering will bowed to the pendant's owner instantly.

“Is your father a God Monarch, or beyond?” Zhang Xuan inquired.

The blood soothed his Library of Heaven’s Path, clearing his mind—an feat beyond his current grasp. From Luo Ruoxin's tales, he outstripped her vastly.

So why the coma?

How would heavenly wholeness revive him?

Luo Ruoxin clenched her fists, answering reluctantly. “Not a God Monarch... but the heavens!”

“The heavens? Your father embodies the heavens?” Zhang Xuan struggled to accept it.

“Yes. Fifty years back, that colossal hand overwhelmed him, plunging him into coma. Heavens fractured into three: Heavens’ Order and Imperfection lost to chaos. I oversee Heavens’ Nature, safeguarding Firmament's stability.

“Gathering all shards awakens him. That's why I couldn't falter. I descended to Master Teacher Continent for Great Codex of Spring and Autumn, seeking victory over Kong shi. Pre-battle, I tasked him with Father's rescue should I perish,” Luo Ruoxin detailed.

Zhang Xuan nodded, enlightened.

Soon after meeting on Master Teacher Continent, she'd mentioned saving kin, but it faded from memory.

Evidently, it was her father—the Firmament's heavens.

Could heavens truly humanize and sire offspring?

Spotting inconsistency, Zhang Xuan probed, “You oversee Heavens’ Nature... so no heavenly fragment resides in you?”

Overseeing differed from possessing.

“I'm just its temporary guardian. It isn't mine,” Luo Ruoxin affirmed.

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief.

Extracting his Heavens’ Imperfection would suffice then—no need for her demise.

He loathed dying too, but refused her further suffering.

“Extracting Heavens’ Imperfection revives your father to end this?” Zhang Xuan pressed.

“This... uncertain,” Luo Ruoxin hesitated, eyeing crumbling Firmament.

As Firmament's heavens' daughter, Firmament's ruin cast doubt on Father's awakening. Even revived, could he fell mighty Vicious?

Her top hope, yet unconfirmed.

“Not guaranteed, then. Better save it as final gambit. Self-reliance trumps chance. Let's scheme together!” Zhang Xuan urged. “You, me, clone, Nine God Monarchs, Kong shi—we can triumph!”

“Kong shi? But he...” Luo Ruoxin furrowed brows.

“Dead, you mean? Not truly. Your duel 'death' freed him from heavenly bonds. Like Wei Changfeng, he likely holds Innate Soul Embryo,” Zhang Xuan explained.

Post-Wei Changfeng encounter, he grasped Kong shi's consciousness safeguard. Innate Soul Embryo preserved self beyond death.

Kong shi's preparations promised swift revival.

Luo Ruoxin blinked, stunned—unforeseen ploy.

“Check and see. If right, he's restored. Else, his disciples would've rushed Flooding Sea.”

Amid catastrophe, despite lesser might, Ancient Sage Zi Yuan et al. would've aided.

Absence signaled priority: likely Kong shi's return!

“This...” Luo Ruoxin gaped, logic impeccable.

“To him!”

Flicking fingers, Zhang Xuan opened rift to Kong shi's departure spot. Emerging, he spotted an elder hovering.

Sensing them, the elder smiled. “You've arrived.”

None but Kong shi!

The World’s Teacher returned!

As predicted, he'd revived stealthily amid Flooding Sea distractions.

“You...” Luo Ruoxin stared, amazed.

She anticipated revival means, not this swift!

“I've hidden aces from heavens,” Kong shi grinned. “Decades ago, Soul Imprint in Netherworld Pool gathered Anima of Yearning for now. Battle death shed heavenly chains, but ravaged body and soul. Recovered these past days.”

Master of time laws, Firmament's days equaled his decades.

After recover