"Huh? How did I end up here?"
Emperor Zoro scratched his head, completely baffled.
He had been walking along absentmindedly, and before he realized it, he had somehow wandered into this place.
"Whoooosh—!"
Soon, the sound of rushing water reached his ears. Curious, Emperor Zoro followed the sound forward.
"This…"
What came into view left him stunned.
Before him stood an enormous and breathtaking waterfall!
Three thousand meters high and over ten thousand meters wide—
a colossal torrent like a falling galaxy thundered down from a height so great that one had to crane their neck just to glimpse its source!
The crashing waters exploded with terrifying momentum and overwhelming force!
"That's… one hell of a waterfall,"
Emperor Zoro muttered, momentarily dazed. It was the first time he had ever seen something so vast.
"Heh, another country bumpkin from who-knows-where."
"Tsk tsk, his physical body looks ridiculously weak."
"With that build, he wants to temper his body here? He probably couldn't even endure the First Ravine of the Heavenly Waterfall, right?"
...
Several nearby human cultivators glanced at Emperor Zoro and immediately revealed looks of disdain.
"Heavenly Waterfall… Nine Ravines?"
Emperor Zoro froze.
"Heh. This waterfall is one of the most famous natural wonders of our Imperial River Domain—the Heavenly Waterfall."
"See the edges of the waterfall?"
"From top to bottom, there are nine platforms. The highest platform bears the weakest impact of the water, while the lowest suffers the most terrifying force."
"These nine platforms are known as the Nine Ravines of the Heavenly Waterfall."
"The topmost one is the First Ravine, and the lowest is the Ninth Ravine."
"Our human race tempers the body and achieves sanctification through the flesh itself. Aside from consuming vast amounts of heavenly materials and treasures, we also need extreme environments like this to constantly refine our bodies!"
"The First Ravine—most humans can enter it."
"But the Ninth Ravine?"
"Without a Sacred Body level physique, entering it is nothing but suicide."
"Judging by your frail body, don't even think about going to the Ninth Ravine to seek death."
...
After explaining, the cultivator and his companions headed toward the waterfall. Soon, they reached the Second Ravine.
Waiting for the right moment, they removed their upper garments and stepped onto the platform, allowing the raging torrent to crash against their bodies as they refined their flesh.
"So that's how it is…"
Emperor Zoro nodded in understanding.
He did not step into the Nine Ravines to temper his body.
Instead, he stood there silently, staring at the massive waterfall.
Gradually, a memory resurfaced in his mind.
During that strange state of Sudden Enlightenment, he had unleashed No-Sword Style.
His Sword intent transformed into formless sword qi—
More terrifying in power,
fluid like clouds and flowing water,
illusory and elusive,
capable of infinite division and free transformation!
In the end, he had forcibly slain the Plague Calamity, a disaster with no physical form, using nothing but sword intent!
However…
Once he exited that enlightened state—
No matter how hard he tried, he could no longer reproduce that cloud-like, water-flowing sword qi.
But then—
"If I… could sever this massive Heavenly Waterfall…"
"Then maybe I could once again comprehend that flowing, ever-changing No-sword Style!"
...
A sharp light flashed in Emperor Zoro's eyes as excitement surged through him.
Without hesitation, he rushed toward the edge of the Heavenly Waterfall's Nine Ravines.
"Aaaah—! I can't take it anymore!"
"The impact of this waterfall is insane!"
"Pfft—no, no, I'm done! I'm backing out!"
...
Emperor Zoro arrived at the First Ravine, near the top of the Heavenly Waterfall.
This platform lay roughly three hundred meters below the waterfall's source.
Yet the water cascading down was Heavenly River Water—
It was said that its source stretched endlessly, crossing countless domains,
with rumors claiming its origin lay in the Immortal Realm itself!
Among all known domains, the Heavenly River spanned the greatest area within the domain where Emperor Zoro resided, which was why this place was named the Imperial River Domain.
And because of that—
The weight of the Heavenly River's waters was terrifying beyond measure.
Emperor Zoro watched as one physically powerful human cultivator after another endured the crushing impact of the three-hundred-meter waterfall.
Some of them couldn't last long—blood spewed from their mouths, their injuries severe, and they were forced to retreat.
And yet—
Emperor Zoro didn't even spare a glance at the platform of the First Ravine.
He leapt into the air and landed on the Second Ravine!
Before he had even stabilized his footing, he continued downward—
jumping again!
"?"
This reckless act immediately drew the attention of many human cultivators.
"Who is that guy?"
"Hmph, he doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth! Anyone who comes here proceeds step by step, slowly adapting before daring to go deeper!"
"Could he be a naturally born Sacred Body? But even a Sacred Body shouldn't be this arrogant!"
...
Many humans cast disdainful and regretful looks his way, already convinced that another miserable corpse would soon be added beneath the Heavenly Waterfall.
"BOOM!!!"
In the next instant, Emperor Zoro leapt through the air and landed on the Ninth Ravine.
The platform of the Ninth Ravine was the largest—
yet it held the fewest people.
At a glance, there were only six or seven individuals present.
Every single one of them possessed strong qi and blood, their physical bodies brimming with terrifying power!
As the Heavenly River water plummeted from three thousand meters above and crashed onto their bodies, it produced thunderous roars like rolling lightning.
"Hm?"
All six or seven immediately noticed Emperor Zoro.
"About the level of a fifth-tier Sacred Body, minor completion… heh. With that level of strength, coming here is just courting death."
At a glance, they discerned Emperor Zoro's physical cultivation.
"Young man, this is not a place you should be."
"For the sake of your life, you'd best leave at once."
One middle-aged man stepped forward, faintly emanating physical might comparable to a Nascent Soul peak-level cultivator, and spoke to Emperor Zoro.
Without a sixth-tier Sacred Body, it was impossible to withstand the impact of the three-thousand-meter Heavenly Waterfall at the Ninth Ravine.
At best—severe injuries.
At worst—instant death.
That was why the middle-aged man issued this warning.
"I didn't come here to temper my physical body,"
Emperor Zoro said calmly.
"Oh? Then you're just here to take a look…"
The six or seven men nodded in understanding.
But Emperor Zoro's next words left them completely dumbfounded.
"I came here—to sever this Heavenly Waterfall."
The middle-aged man stared at him in shock.
"Sever the Heavenly Waterfall? With what?"
"With my bare hands."
Emperor Zoro slowly raised both hands, a trace of unwavering resolve burning in his eyes.
He had once experienced the flowing, cloud-like power of No-sword Style while in a state of enlightenment.
If he wished to grow stronger, he had to unleash that power once more.
Back then—
he had even forcibly slain a plague calamity with no physical form!
If that was possible…
Then at the very least, he had to be able to sever this Heavenly Waterfall!
If he couldn't even do that—
how could he continue to grow stronger?
"Foolish!"
"Sever the Heavenly Waterfall with bare hands? In my entire life, I've never heard a more insane idea!"
"This vast waterfall is formed from Heavenly River water originating from the Immortal Realm!"
"A single drop weighs ten thousand times that of ordinary water!"
"Your physical body can't even withstand the impact of this torrent, yet you dare talk about severing it?"
"You're utterly delusional!"
...
The middle-aged man spared no effort in his scolding.
Though he admired Emperor Zoro's courage, attempting such a challenge was nothing short of suicide.
That was why he cursed so harshly—hoping Emperor Zoro would retreat in the face of reality.
"The more impossible it seems—the more I must try!"
"The path I walk is the Asura Path!"
"If I can't repeatedly cross mountains named 'impossible,'
then how can I ever become stronger?!"
...
Without another word, Emperor Zoro took a decisive step—
and walked straight into the raging waters of the Heavenly Waterfall.