TL Note: I am changing Tier to order for the human race, for example, fifth tier sacred body will be fifth order sacred body
"I wonder… this time, will anyone be able to last ten breaths?"
"Hard to say. It's already been three hundred years since anyone managed it."
"But in this century, geniuses have emerged in droves. Our Imperial River Realm has seen quite a few heaven-defying figures appear out of nowhere. Maybe—just maybe—someone really can pull it off!"
…
Inside a mountain valley, a sea of people had gathered.
Tens of thousands of figures stood atop cliffs or sat cross-legged, all gazing toward the same place.
At the center of the valley stood an ancient altar, no more than a thousand meters in length and width.
It was called an altar—
but it looked far more like a battle arena.
"Where is this place?"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong stood among the crowd, completely confused.
Earlier, he'd just wandered off for a walk, and somehow, without realizing it, he'd ended up here.
It was eerie as hell.
But at that moment, hearing the excited shouts of many human cultivators around him, Indomitable Bear Is Strong followed their gaze.
"The time has come!"
Many people instantly grew excited.
"Rumble—!"
A deep roar echoed from the altar. Above it, a phantom stone stele appeared, and the massive stone needles upon it aligned, as if marking the arrival of a critical moment.
Then—
a figure slowly manifested upon the altar.
A boy who looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old.
His clothes were tattered, his face bore small wounds, yet his entire presence radiated a sharp, cutting aura.
"He's here! It's Lord Immortal Emperor Zhenwu's projection!"
"Finally, this moment has arrived!"
"That's right. Even though this is only Immortal Emperor Zhenwu in his youth—how many people can actually endure ten breaths?"
…
The surrounding human cultivators burst into excited discussion.
After listening for a while, Indomitable Bear Is Strong finally understood.
This altar had been left behind by Immortal Emperor Zhenwu, who had once ascended to immortality within the Imperial River Realm.
Inside the altar was recorded a projection of Zhenwu during his youth!
This projection possessed Immortal Emperor Zhenwu's youthful talent, strength, combat instincts—
even all of his methods!
Of course, Zhenwu in his youth was far from comparable to his later self who ascended to immortality and eventually became an Immortal Emperor.
And so, the purpose of this altar was clear:
It allowed later generations of the Imperial River Realm to challenge Immortal Emperor Zhenwu in his youth, tempering their strength and comprehending themselves through battle!
"I'll go first!"
A young man leapt into the air, crossing hundreds of meters in a single bound, landing squarely atop the altar.
"It's him! A natural Sacred Physique bearer, possessing a Fifth-Order Sacred Body, terrifyingly strong, known as—"
Someone immediately began loudly introducing him, though it was really just shameless hype.
However—
before the hype even finished, before the name was fully spoken—
"PUFF!"
The young man was blasted away by a single punch, flying even faster than he'd arrived, crashing to the ground and unable to rise for a long time.
Forget ten breaths—
he hadn't even survived one move.
"As expected of Immortal Emperor Zhenwu—too strong!"
"That punch didn't look fast, yet it was completely unstoppable!"
"No wonder Immortal Emperor Zhenwu is revered as the True Martial Emperor. They say every single move of his has been refined to perfection—no flaws, no openings, absolutely flawless!"
…
Gasps of amazement rang out everywhere.
Soon, another young man charged onto the altar. With a low roar, his flesh transformed into something like diamond!
"It's an expert from the Stone Race! That should be one of the Eighty-Eight Sacred Bodies—the Diamond Sacred Body! Said to be incomparably hard, impossible to shake!" someone exclaimed.
"BOOM!"
The next instant, the youth-version Immortal Emperor Zhenwu kicked him straight in the face.
The diamond-like skin shattered instantly, and the man was sent flying, utterly miserable.
"Against a young Immortal Emperor, defense is useless! Speed is king!"
Another young man leapt onto the altar. Every step he took carried the sound of rushing wind.
He was clearly an expert of the Wind Race!
The moment he stepped onto the altar, he launched an immediate assault—no hesitation.
He raised his leg and kicked!
A violent gale surged forth as his entire body merged with the wind, charging straight toward the young Immortal Emperor Zhenwu!
"PFF!"
But in the very next instant, the raging storm swept through—
and struck nothing!
The young Immortal Emperor descended from midair, stepped down, and planted one foot squarely on the young man's face, crushing him with a single move once again.
From that moment on, challengers continued to step forward—
yet not a single one could withstand even one strike.
Every single fight ended in an instant defeat!
Soon, despite the presence of over a hundred thousand talented youths, everyone looked at one another in silence.
No one dared to step up.
"I'll do it."
Before long, a middle-aged man descended from the air and landed steadily upon the arena.
"A Sixth-Order Sacred Body! I've heard this man's father is a Human Emperor!"
"So he's the Human Emperor's son—no wonder he's this strong!"
"I wonder… can he last ten breaths?"
…
The crowd was generally optimistic.
After all, within the Imperial River Realm, those who could reach the Sixth Order of a Sacred Body were rare indeed.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
This middle-aged man truly was formidable. He exchanged blows with the young Immortal Emperor back and forth, and in just moments—
they had already fought for three breaths!
However—
"True Martial Leg!"
For the first time, the young Immortal Emperor spoke.
And for the first time, he unleashed a martial technique!
The young Immortal Emperor spun in midair and swept out with a single leg!
"I'll block it!!!"
The middle-aged man reacted as if facing a mortal enemy. He hastily crossed his arms in front of his body, the power of his Sixth-Order Sacred Body erupting in full as he tried to withstand the strike!
Yet—
that kick passed through his crossed arms like mist, striking directly into his chest!
"PUFF!!!"
His chest caved in instantly. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he was blasted away by a single kick!
Three breaths!
The son of a Human Emperor, bearer of a Sixth-Order Sacred Body—
yet even he could only last three breaths!
"What just happened? Why did that kick pass through his arms?"
"Was it an afterimage? That didn't look like one!"
"This is insane! Immortal Emperor Zhenwu is way too strong—
and this is only in his youth!"
…
Shock rippled through the crowd.
But at that very moment—
another figure descended from the sky and landed steadily upon the arena.
"After Morisa, I finally get to face another challenge this thrilling!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong's eyes burned with blazing excitement and battle intent!
"Hmm? Who's that?"
"Never seen him before. His qi and blood is incredibly weak—can't tell what race he's from, or what kind of Sacred Body he has."
"Probably a newcomer. What a pity—he won't even survive the first strike."
…
Many shook their heads, immediately dismissing Indomitable Bear Is Strong as some clueless newbie.
"BOOM!"
In the next instant, the young Immortal Emperor threw a punch straight toward Indomitable Bear Is Strong's brow!
But right then—
"One-Second World!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong murmured softly.
Not only did he evade the blow—
he counterattacked!
"BOOM!"
Spinning around, Indomitable Bear Is Strong kicked out and sent the young Immortal Emperor flying backward!
"!!!"
At that sight, the crowd of over a hundred thousand exploded in uproar, every single face changing color!
"H-He actually… hit the young Immortal Emperor Zhenwu?!"
All spectators were completely dumbfounded.
The last person who had managed to last more than ten breaths—
had been three hundred years ago.
And even that genius had merely endured ten breaths, desperately dodging and retreating, barely hanging on!
Counterattacking?
That had been unthinkable!
Yet—
this suddenly appearing youth not only dodged the Immortal Emperor's punch, but struck him back in a single exchange!
The last person who had managed to land a hit on the young Immortal Emperor in a single clash—
came from a time so ancient it was beyond memory.
And so, almost everyone present blurted out at the same time—
"Just who… is this guy?"