Perfect World: Dream of the Immortal Era

Ancient Invincible stood motionless, engulfed in silence, as he replayed the entire sequence of events in his mind.

The matter of the Celestial Seed within the Wang Family was known to many. He had used it as a means to step into the realm of cultivation, inevitably intertwining his fate with the Wang Family. But there had been no other option at the time; it was the only flawless seed available to him.

He had assumed that without any news of Wang Gen’s fall, the great powers and ancient sects of the Primal Ancient Realm would be wary and wouldn’t dare to harm him.

But he had overlooked the Wang Family's enemies and traitors.

Like Xunyang’s avatar, which intercepted him shortly after he used the Celestial Seed in a battle at the Great Scarlet Heaven. If things proceeded this way, it wouldn't be long before ruin caught up to him.

Xunyang’s recent question was worthy of deep contemplation.

“Don't you know your father’s adversaries? Who held grudges against him? Young Master Heng.”

This query revealed the core reason why Xunyang’s avatar had come to deliver a lethal strike. He was acting on someone else’s orders, which explained his vicious attack.

“The people my father offended? Who could they be?” Ancient Invincible pondered swiftly.

Within the Primal Ancient Realm, only a few Immortal King-level powerhouses were at odds with his father. Moreover, none had reached the point of taking ruthless advantages to his detriment. Otherwise, they couldn't coexist within the same realm.

Therefore, it could only be from other ancient realms.

“The Immortal Domain, perhaps? There are quite a few Immortal Kings in that domain hostile towards my father. Most likely, it's Ao Sheng. He and my grandfather, the Boundless Immortal King, are arch-enemies, sworn to an irreconcilable vendetta.” Ancient Invincible speculated.

When it came to seizing opportunities and adding insult to injury, Ao Sheng could claim first place without anyone daring to claim second.

“Back when the Daoist of Immortal Gold arrived at the Wang Family, attempts were made to capture Xunyang, but he had already been taken away by a mysterious Immortal King. All traces related to him were erased, making it impossible to track his whereabouts. It seems highly probable that the being responsible was Ao Sheng.” Ancient Invincible mused internally.

Having broadly determined the mastermind behind this ambush, the next step was to consider how to counteract it.

Although his true identity had been exposed by Xunyang's avatar, the avatar had since perished, vanishing in the Immortal King’s realm into dust and nothing more. Given Xunyang's current power, he could not relay any information out of that realm.

Thus far, the only information known to the remaining Xunyang and the Immortal King who took him away was of “the Celestial Seed Integrator,” “Qing Yue Flame,” and “Chaos Great Halberd,” along with the appearances of Ancient Invincible and Qing Yue. Everything else remained a mystery to them.

If it were the former Ancient Invincible, he would truly stand helpless, forced to develop in obscurity somewhere. But now, with his body as a seed, he could merge multiple seeds, the more the better, with no necessity to solely rely on the Celestial Seed.

As for his appearance, it was easily managed. By reconfiguring the microscopic elemental seeds that composed his facial features, he could change it at will. To the ordinary observer, Ancient Invincible had long surpassed conventional understanding. There was no concept of a true face; any single particle could be his real body, and any visage could be his actual appearance.

In contrast, other beings' appearances, no matter how altered, could be traced back to their primordial order.

He had no issues here, able to flawlessly mask his true identity. Qing Yue, however, was different. This meant they had to part ways; staying together would reveal his identity.

As Gu Wu Di pondered with a furrowed brow, Qing Yue stood quietly beside him, not disturbing his thoughts. The silence was palpable.

Truth be told, her mind was brimming with questions about Gu Wu Di's identity and the origins of the mysterious powerful being. She longed to delve into these mysteries and get answers directly from him.

Yet, Qing Yue understood that Gu Wu Di had his reasons for withholding such information, and pressing him would only trouble him further. So, in her wisdom and astuteness, she kept silent, behaving demurely.

After a long while, Gu Wu Di sighed deeply and addressed Qing Yue behind him, "Let's go. It's not safe to linger here. His avatar has fallen, but he'll likely return soon. When that happens, we'll be in danger."

Qing Yue was slightly taken aback by his words.

"An avatar?"

"Yes, his true form is a Quasi-Immortal King, not easy to kill," Gu Wu Di nodded.

"What? This was an avatar of a Quasi-Immortal King?" Qing Yue felt a shiver run down her spine.

What could possibly drive a Quasi-Immortal King to send an avatar to kill a low-tier human being?

She gazed thoughtfully at Gu Wu Di's back, surprisingly calm instead of overwhelmed with shock. Instinctually, it felt as it should be.

Defeating the successor of the Supreme Hall wasn't something an ordinary person could accomplish—Gu Wu Di's background was far from simple.

"I guess my identity's already exposed," she murmured as she followed behind Gu Wu Di.

"Yes, moving forward, we must go our separate ways. Staying together only risks exposing my information," he nodded lightly.

"However, before we part, I'll ensure you have a strong protector to face any future crisis."

Qing Yue said nothing, but a warmth stirred within her heart.

Being targeted by an Immortal being meant that without a powerful protector, disaster was imminent.

Gu Wu Di's actions were clearly meant to save her life.

"Thank you," she said softly, biting her lip.

Gu Wu Di shook his head, "Everything started because of me. Why thank me? It was you who got caught up in this massive whirlpool against your will."

The two of them fell silent, pressing on with their journey. They traveled through a teleportation array established by powerful factions, crossing the celestial realm, and soon arrived at the Great Dao Heaven.

Following the grand celebration of crowning kings, Great Dao Heaven was far more bustling and prosperous than before. Countless cultivators had poured in from the thirty-three heavenly domains just to pay homage to the Immortal King and partake in the evolutionary feast—a grand opportunity beyond imagination.

The reality was indeed as they envisioned; divine glory descended from the heavens, Immortal Kings gathered, and many who attended the ceremony at the border imperial pass broke through their original limits.

After the king’s crowning ceremony concluded, most beings returned to their homelands, though some remained, infusing the land with vibrant energy.

Along their journey, Gu Wu Di and Qing Yue saw nothing but flourishing scenes.

The border tribes stationed at the frontier had clashed numerous times, for countless years, with invading forces from other realms in the Great Dao Heaven. They knew well the significance of manpower in war. Thus, the major powers here were extremely supportive of talented individuals, hoping more would rise to defend this land.

Walking upon this vast and fertile ground, Gu Wu Di and Qing Yue felt a lightness, as if coming to a second home.

If not for the realm battles, this place could truly be called a land of extraordinary talent—mystical areas and ancient Immortal remnants awaited the deserving to discover them.

"My intuition was right; Great Dao Heaven is perfectly suited for me. This will become my place to achieve enlightenment," Qing Yue declared.

"Then let me congratulate you in advance for achieving the Grand Dao," Gu Wu Di replied with a smile. "I will be waiting for the day you transform into Immortal Fairy Qing Yue."

"Thank you for your well wishes. But where are we heading now?"

"To a life-forbidden zone." Gu Wu Di pointed ahead.

Qing Yue muttered to herself as she followed the direction of Gu Wu Di's finger.

In the far-off sky, a magnificent scene unfolded. Two indescribable heavenly rivers hung in the void—one was pitch-black like ink, emanating heavy yin energy as though from the netherworld, while the other was golden and radiant, sacred and blazing as if originating from a divine kingdom.

These two completely opposite rivers met in the void, forming an immense cross, an awe-inspiring sight.

Although they were still countless miles away, Qing Yue already felt the terrifying pressure emanating from this divine phenomenon. "Is this… the Yin-Yang Cross-Shaped Forbidden Zone within the Great Dao Heaven?" she wondered aloud, uncertain.

"Indeed it is," Gu Wu Di confirmed.

Ancient Invincible nodded.

"You're saying that your backing... is a restricted area?" Qing Yue was very surprised.

What is a restricted area? It is a forbidden zone feared even by Immortal Kings, home to beings not inferior to them. These beings carve out their own territories, living in seclusion, away from worldly affairs.

In the thirty-three vast domains of the Primordial Ancient Realm, the number of forbidden areas is not small, and each one is spoken of with fear, as delving too deep might tangle with taboo.

And now, Ancient Invincible intended to lead her into a renowned life forbidden zone, something she found hard to imagine.

Qing Yue's heart was pounding, finding her current experiences a bit surreal, like a novice unexpectedly in a high-stakes arena.

"Don't worry, a restricted area doesn't eat people," Ancient Invincible smiled.

"But a restricted area does kill. Anyone who approaches recklessly will be mercilessly slaughtered. Do you know any beings inside the Yin-Yang Crossroads?" Qing Yue asked.

"No."

Ancient Invincible replied truthfully.

"If you don't know anyone there, how can you approach at will? Isn't that seeking death?" Qing Yue's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Rest assured, I know what I'm doing. However, to forge an alliance here, one must possess extraordinary talent, something that catches the eye of Immortal Kings. Otherwise, no one can lend a hand."

Seeing that he was serious, Qing Yue gradually calmed. She nodded and said, "If in the end, I fail due to my own reasons, I can only blame my lack of potential."

"Let's go. The sooner we enter, the sooner the danger recedes," Ancient Invincible called, then flew toward the Yin-Yang Crossroads.

Qing Yue followed closely, facing the Immortal King's trial, feeling a bit nervous, but her ability to adjust quickly brought her back to normal.

After crossing endless mountains and rivers, they finally approached.

The closer they got, the more awe-inspiring the great cross-shaped river in the sky became. Meanwhile, the unique terrifying aura of the life forbidden zone spread out, imposing and chilling.

"Are you sure we'll be unharmed?" Qing Yue felt a chill.

"I'm sure. I know some things about the Yin-Yang Crossroads. Don't worry," Ancient Invincible nodded.

Hearing this, Qing Yue felt much more at ease.

Before long, they neared the outskirts of the Forbidden Yin-Yang Crossroads.

“Beyond this point, we truly enter the domain of the Forbidden Yin-Yang Crossroads. I’ve read in ancient texts about cultivators who set foot in its territory, only to be obliterated instantaneously. Only those bearing a token of passage can escape such a fate,” Qing Yue softly reminded Ancient Invincible.

“I don’t have a token, but today, we must enter,” Ancient Invincible declared with an unwavering resolve after a moment of contemplation.

He knew he could not delay any longer. He had to find backing for Qing Yue. With her identity exposed, having no backing meant they'd be helpless when Xunyang came looking.

“Buzz!”

A radiant ancient tower suddenly appeared, cradled in Ancient Invincible’s right hand, emitting a soft celestial glow, brimming with a mysterious aura. In his left hand, an ancient bell appeared, also exuding a celestial presence.

“We have no other choice now,” Ancient Invincible said, urging Qing Yue to follow closely behind him.

Thus, the two ventured into a forbidden life zone.

Ahead was no barren land; it was lush and verdant, teeming with various creatures, alive and thriving. However, these creatures lacked high intelligence, which enabled their existence here.

They traveled for dozens of miles, meeting no disturbances along the way. Qing Yue almost thought the ancient texts were exaggerated, until a pitch-black whirlwind swept by, filled with a sinister chill, numbing even from a distance.

One could only imagine the outcome for anyone caught in the cyclone. Thankfully, Ancient Invincible had preemptively taken out a one-time-use celestial artifact, able to ward off the sinister wind even without being activated.

As they proceeded, sinister winds and scorching sun winds ceaselessly emerged, their destructive power immense. Without supreme status, resistance was futile.

Suddenly, the continuous vegetation broke off, and a vast black river stretched before them, blocking their path. While smaller than the grand heavenly river above, it was still wide, its distant end unseen.

“The true Forbidden Yin-Yang Crossroads lies above, where core members reside. Below, in the periphery, live the outer members. It would be good if we could go directly above, but that’s not possible,” Ancient Invincible sighed, extracting a slightly decayed piece of wood from his storage artifact and placing it in the black river, stepping onto it.

“Come, the outer members’ residence is where the Lunar Grand River meets the Solar Grand River, downstream. By using this wood to float, we’ll save considerable time.”

Qing Yue said nothing, eyeing the buoyant wood beneath Ancient Invincible’s feet with suspicion. Wouldn’t it suddenly sink while floating? This was the Lunar Grand River, falling into it would mean certain death.

Sensing her concern, Ancient Invincible explained, “This is the trunk of a divine tree, capable of resisting the erosion of lunar energy, thus able to float on the Lunar Grand River.”