The Heavenly Palace hovered high above endless clouds, its golden pillars towering like ancient mountains. Faint glimmers of ancient runes traced the floor, casting a soft glow. The air itself felt heavy, thick with a pressure that no ordinary being could bear.
At the heart of the grand hall, seven figures knelt quietly in a straight line.
Three young girls. Four young men.
Each draped in noble robes, each carrying the weight of royal blood. None dared to lift their heads.
At the far end, seated on a throne carved from celestial jade, was the Immortal Emperor.
His presence warped the very space around him. His gaze alone could crush souls.
The hall was deathly silent.
No one dared to speak. Even the elders standing to the sides held their breath.
But among the seven kneeling figures, one was different.
Tian Long. Fifteen years old. The eldest.
His back was straight, his breathing steady.
Slowly, he lifted his head.
His eyes met the emperor's.
A sharp pressure crashed down.
The air trembled.
Several elders frowned.
But Tian Long did not look away.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"So this is the emperor's pressure," he thought. "Not bad."
A flicker of surprise flashed in the emperor's eyes—and then it was gone.
Beside Tian Long, Xing Chen's heart tightened.
He was fourteen. His hands trembled slightly as he kept his head bowed.
"Why is he looking up?" Xing Chen thought, panic rising. "Doesn't he feel it?"
Xing Chen had followed Tian Long since childhood—training, fighting, losing. Over and over.
He had never won.But he stayed.
Because Tian Long never pushed him away.
A few steps away, Shen Han clenched her fists so tightly her nails bit into her palms.
She felt it again—that impossible gap.
Even under the emperor's crushing pressure, Tian Long stood firm.
"I will surpass you," she vowed silently. "No matter what it takes."
Her cultivation surged as her will hardened, but she kept her head down. For now, she knew the difference.
Lei Jue's lips curved into a faint smile.
His fox-like eyes stayed hidden beneath lowered lashes. Interesting. Very interesting.
"Tian Long… you always stand out," he thought. "That makes you easy to target."
Chaos excited him. Schemes thrilled him. The throne called to him—and he would take it. Feng Zhan shifted restlessly, her body burning with energy.
"This pressure…" she thought with a grin, "I want to punch something."
She glanced sideways at Tian Long—her favorite opponent. Even after countless defeats, she never lost interest.
Fighting him made her feel alive.
Shi Huang remained perfectly still.
Her aura was cold and calm, like frozen water. She felt the emperor's pressure, but her mind stayed clear—detached
.
"I will become stronger," she thought.
Nothing else mattered.
At the end of the line, Yong Heng stood quietly—the youngest at eleven.
A small phoenix perched on his shoulder, its flames dim under the pressure.
Yong Heng gently touched its feathers.
His eyes were calm, but inside, something burned fiercely.
"I will not lose," he thought.
The hall remained silent for a long moment.Then
"You have been called here," the Immortal Emperor's voice broke the stillness.
Calm, but echoing like thunder in every mind.
The seven heirs straightened slightly.
"You will compete for the throne." The words hit deep. No one spoke. No one questioned.
This day had been expected. But then—
"You will not fight each other."
A ripple of surprise passed through the elders.
Even the seven heirs reacted. Not fight?
Tian Long's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's new," he thought.
A figure stepped forward from the side—the Chancellor of the Heavenly Palace.
He bowed respectfully before speaking.
"You will enter different worlds."
Silence.
Whispers spread among the elders.
"Different worlds?"
"Why?"
The chancellor continued.
"You must learn to lead."
"You will build your own forces."
"A sect. A kingdom. An empire."
"Your achievements will determine your worth."
"Time flows differently across the Great Void; two winters in the mortal realms shall be but one breath in this Heavenly Palace."
"Seven elders will observe and evaluate you."
The hall grew tense. Each heir processed the weight of these words. Different worlds. No direct combat. Leadership.
This was no simple test of strength.
Shen Han's eyes sharpened.
"A chance to surpass him without direct battle," she thought.
Lei Jue smiled.
"A perfect stage for me."
Feng Zhan cracked her knuckles quietly.
"As long as there's fighting, I'm in."
Shi Huang closed her eyes briefly.
"I will build something absolute."
Yong Heng looked at his phoenix.
"We will rise together."
Xing Chen leaned slightly toward Tian Long.
"What do we even do there…" he whispered, barely audible.
Tian Long didn't respond. His gaze stayed fixed forward. But inside, excitement surged.
"A new world," he thought.
"New people. New fights."
"This is better."
The emperor raised his hand.
"Prepare."
The command silenced all whispers.
Outside the hall, a massive formation array activated. Runes lit up across the ground.
Ten elders took their positions around it.
Heavenly qi gathered.
The air vibrated.
"Step forward."
The seven heirs rose.
One by one, they walked out of the grand hall. None hesitated. None showed fear.
They stepped into the formation.
Light surrounded them.
Energy surged from the ten elders into the array.
The space began to twist. Before the teleportation activated, Tian Long glanced back. For a brief moment—
His eyes met the emperor's again. Cold Deep. Unreadable. Then
Light swallowed everything.
The seven heirs vanished. The hall fell silent.
The Immortal Emperor remained seated.
Watching.
Waiting.
"The true battle begins now."