"That punch was terrifying…"
At this moment, Indomitable Bear Is Strong couldn't help but feel awed from the depths of his heart.
This young Immortal Emperor looked about the same age as him—perhaps in his early twenties at most.
Yet that earlier punch had been utterly plain, without the slightest flourish—
and yet flawless to perfection.
Even after activating Insight into All Things, Indomitable Bear Is Strong clearly sensed that the opponent's speed was actually slower than his own—
and yet, he still could not dodge it.
Without hesitation, Indomitable Bear Is Strong directly activated his Intent Domain!
By borrowing the extra one second he possessed compared to the young Immortal Emperor, he finally managed to evade the attack—
and counterstrike at the same time!
"..."
The young Immortal Emperor remained silent.
Then he stomped heavily and attacked once more!
Indomitable Bear Is Strong dodged the Immortal Emperor's attacks three times in a row, and each time, he countered with pinpoint precision, striking the Immortal Emperor's body and forcing him back!
In the blink of an eye—
three breaths had passed.
"This guy is insane!"
"My heavens! He's landed hits on the young Immortal Emperor Zhenwu four times already—four times!"
"Who is he? Does anyone know where he comes from?!"
…
Many in the crowd began turning their heads, asking around in shock.
Yet not a single person recognized him.
Such a heaven-defying genius—
and yet completely unknown.
"Here it comes."
At this moment, Indomitable Bear Is Strong's eyes suddenly lit up.
It was obvious now— those first three breaths had merely been a warm-up, casual and ordinary attacks meant to test the challenger.
Only now…
was the real battle beginning!
"True Martial Leg!!!"
The young Immortal Emperor leapt into the air and delivered a sweeping kick!
"This kick can't be blocked—only dodged!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong didn't hesitate. He activated both intent at once and retreated smoothly!
Yet—something shocking happened.
Indomitable Bear Is Strong activated One-Second World and clearly avoided the kick by a hair's breadth—
But the kick transformed like mist and cloud, slid sideways through space, and struck his body anyway!
"PUFF!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong was sent flying by a single kick, crashing outside the altar and losing on the spot!
"What… just happened?"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong was completely baffled.
If the earlier True Martial Leg could pass through defensive arms like a phantom, that was at least understandable—
but this time, he had clearly dodged.
So why did the strike suddenly shift through empty space and hit him anyway, completely violating common sense?
"What a pity…"
"Yeah… he lost too."
"That True Martial Leg—over the past three hundred years, only a handful of geniuses have managed to overcome it. You could count them on one hand!"
…
Many sighed as they watched Indomitable Bear Is Strong fall.
Even someone this monstrously talented still lost.
As expected of an Immortal Emperor—even in youth, still invincible!
But just then—
"BOOM!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong descended from the air once more, landing firmly back on the altar!
"???"
All the human spectators were dumbfounded.
"H-He's… challenging again?!"
"Wasn't he injured by that kick? Even from a young Immortal Emperor, getting hit like that—he shouldn't be able to stand up for half a day!"
"How did he recover so fast? Could his Sacred Body have terrifying regeneration?"
…
The crowd was stunned.
After all, countless powerful challengers had failed before.
Even the Human Emperor's son with a Sixth-Order Sacred Body was still barely sitting with help from others.
Without at least half a day of recovery, a second challenge was unthinkable.
"Again!!!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong grinned, excitement blazing in his eyes.
That True Martial Leg—he truly hadn't understood it yet.
But the more unknown it was, the more excited he became!
Once, Indomitable Bear Is Strong had believed he had already reached his limit.
No matter how much stronger he became, he couldn't awaken brand-new powers like King Lufei, nor could he wield terrifying sword intent like Emperor Zoro.
As for spending money— there was no way he could compete with whales like Super Vegeta or If You Don't Show Off at the Beginning, You Lose Half the Game.
And as for That Old Senju Hashirama—don't even ask.
That guy was clearly abusing version balance; Wood Style just happened to be broken this patch!
But now—on the young Immortal Emperor Zhenwu…
Indomitable Bear Is Strong saw a completely new path!
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Three breaths passed in an instant as the Immortal Emperor unleashed the familiar True Martial Leg once again!
"PUFF!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong was kicked away once more, exactly as expected.
But very soon…
he stood back upon the altar yet again.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
His third intent —Indomitable Will—began to surge violently!
The more he failed.
The more impossible it seemed.
The more overwhelming the challenge.
The stronger this intent became, and the closer it came to creating miracles!
"I'm starting to see it… just a little more!"
"Give me a few more times, and I'll understand completely!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong's eyes gleamed sharply as Insight into All Things was pushed to its absolute limit!
After several failures—he finally saw it clearly.
When the young Immortal Emperor lifted his leg and executed the True Martial Leg,
Indomitable Bear Is Strong had indeed avoided the real, physical leg.
However—
The killing intent and momentum formed from the young Immortal Emperor's will transformed into a phantom leg, sweeping across the void and striking him head-on!
"PUAH!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong spat out a mouthful of blood—
but for the first time, he was not kicked flying!
Because this was—the Illusory Strike!
Indomitable Bear Is Strong saw it.
And he raised his arms to block!
Most of the power was stopped by his crossed arms.
Only a small portion of the phantom leg pierced through his defense and struck his chest, causing him to cough up blood.
"He—he didn't get sent flying?!"
"How is that possible?! How did he block the Illusory Strike?!"
"The True Martial Leg… was actually blocked?!"
…
The entire human crowd erupted into uproar!
To block the young Immortal Emperor's True Martial Leg—
This meant that although this man's raw strength was still far inferior to the young Immortal Emperor—
his realm of understanding had already stepped onto the same level!
"Based on this feat alone—within a thousand years, this man will surely become a Human Emperor!"
"More than that! He may even ascend and become an Immortal!"
"If there truly exists someone in this world capable of becoming an Immortal Emperor—he will surely have a place among them!"
…
Every human present now looked at Indomitable Bear Is Strong with awe and deep respect.
Because everyone had seen it clearly—
At first, he truly failed.
His strength really was inferior to the young Immortal Emperor.
But—
Through relentless challenges, he grew stronger with every defeat.
Until now—
he had actually blocked one of the young Immortal Emperor's attacks!
At this moment, four full breaths had already passed!
"True Martial Leg!"
"True Martial Leg!"
"True Martial Leg!"
…
From then on, the young Immortal Emperor did not change his technique at all—
he continued using only the True Martial Leg!
Indomitable Bear Is Strong teetered on the brink of danger again and again, coughing blood, bones breaking.
Yet he endured it all with Indomitable resolve!
Until—
nine breaths had passed!
The tenth breath arrived!
Suddenly, the young Immortal Emperor stood still and assumed a starting stance!
"!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong instantly felt a mortal threat and retreated at full speed!
In that instant, he vaguely sensed a flashing word in his mind—
Danger!
"True Martial Fist!"
In the next moment, the young Immortal Emperor struck through empty space!
"PUFF!!!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong was over a hundred meters away—yet he was still hit by the attack, sent flying backward, and smashed heavily into the ground.
Defeat.
And yet—
"Clap clap clap clap clap—!"
More than a hundred thousand human cultivators—
whether Fifth-Order or Sixth-Order Sacred Bodies—
all burst into applause at the same time!
This applause—was for Indomitable Bear Is Strong!
"I want to fight again!!!"
As if infected by Indomitable Bear Is Strong's spirit, the previously defeated Sixth-Order Sacred Body middle-aged man wiped the blood from his mouth, swallowed a Sixth-Grade Sacred Pill, and—despite only recovering halfway—leapt back onto the altar without hesitation!
Even though he was once again defeated by a single True Martial Leg!
"I'll fight again too!"
"My turn!"
"I'm going next!"
…
Whether previously defeated or too afraid to challenge—
everyone who witnessed Indomitable Bear Is Strong's indomitable will was inspired.
One after another, they stepped forward to challenge!
"Hu… hu… hu…"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong quietly treated his injuries while watching from the side, reflecting deeply.
"I thought that in this era, this young Immortal Emperor had no mastery of Intent—only pure martial skill."
"I was wrong."
"He doesn't need to activate Intent at all."
"He has already reached unity between heaven and man."
"Every move, every strike—perfect, flawless, carrying the Dao of Heaven and Earth!"
"My Intent… in front of him, is riddled with gaps."
"Hahahaha!"
…
The more Indomitable Bear Is Strong observed, the more he understood—
until he finally laughed out loud.
"Then when I finally defeat the young Immortal Emperor Zhenwu one day…"
"I will be completely reborn!!!"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong grinned, swayed unsteadily—
yet stood up once more.
As long as life continues, the challenge never ends!
Soulslike players—never surrender!