Perfect World: Dream of the Immortal Era

The anticipated sky-shattering clash and sparks did not appear.

"Swish!"

Only a crisp sound echoed, like a piece of tofu being sliced by a sharp knife.

Wang Heng's figure emerged several feet behind Taihao without facing him, calmly sheathing his sword with absolute confidence. His strike seemed to merge a hundred styles into one, a powerful ultimate attack few beings of the same level could escape unscathed. Even descendants of the Immortal King would suffer greatly.

"Thud!"

Taihao fell to the ground, a bloody hole between his brows, endlessly bleeding. Observers noticed Wang Heng was merciful; he could have completely destroyed Taihao's soul, reducing him to a mindless shell.

Creatures on the platform exchanged glances, too shocked by the outcome to speak. That was Taihao, a top ten ranker on the Immortal King Stele's Creation List, a prodigy in name, yet against Wang Heng, he was effortlessly crushed. After the battle, Wang Heng remained unharmed, showing no sign of threat from Taihao's bloodline gift. Such power is why he could forcefully outshine one of the ten great domains of the Immortal Realm at their golden age.

"I lost," Taihao's eyes were unfocused and hollow. This defeat meant his unceremonious abandonment by his family as the face of an Immortal King line cannot afford failures, for it would tarnish the Immortal King's dignity.

Aside from Taihao, the most tormented was the young master from the Ao family. He and Taihao had been the main force in targeting Wang Heng, with others merely being a support.

Now, one of the main forces had fallen, failing even to wound Wang Heng, a result hard to swallow. Before he could lament fate's unfairness or the world's cruelty, a black sword hilt pointed at him from across the space.

"How long do you plan to spectate from below, or have you already lost your nerve?" Wang Heng mocked with a sneer.

Previously, when Taihao stepped up, this young master from the Ao family warned not to let Wang Heng close. Later, it proved that distance made little difference; Wang Heng's spirit path attack techniques alone could crush an Immortal King descendant head-on.

Now, Wang Heng was curious to see what true skills this Ao family young master possessed to dare instruct others on how to rival him.

“Whoa!”

The young master from the Ao family exhaled lightly, realizing that it was now his turn. Since there was no escaping it, he could only brace himself and confront it head-on.

Regrettably, Wang Heng didn't give him the chance. He directly called out Taihao and himself for the duel, otherwise, he could have arranged for young talents to go through a battle of attrition against Wang Heng, exhausting him as much as possible.

But now, it's too late.

He stood up slowly, in just a few breaths, his heart had undergone several struggles.

It wasn't that he lacked confidence; it was just that his capabilities were on par with Taihao, and even Taihao was crushed by Wang Heng. If it were him, it would likely be the same result, with no change.

On this point, he had a very clear self-awareness.

Amidst the gaze of the crowd, just as the young master of the Ao family was about to step onto the platform, a blurred figure approached him quietly, whispering something into his ear.

Seeing this, the crowd speculated in their hearts, knowing this being might be an important figure from the Ao family.

When the blurred figure departed, the aura of the young master from the Ao family had completely transformed. If earlier he was compelled, stepping onto the platform even knowing he couldn't win, now he was full of confidence, seeming to have found a way to counter Wang Heng.

Undoubtedly, the appearance of an important figure from the Ao family had changed everything. He might have disclosed to the young master a fatal weakness of Wang Heng, or provided him with a weapon to deal with Wang Heng.

Relatively speaking, the latter possibility was higher. After all, Wang Heng's combat strength was astonishing, and in the face of overwhelming power, there weren't any weaknesses to exploit.

From the platform, Wang Heng naturally witnessed all of this. His expression remained unchanged, his gaze deep and calm, unaffected by what just transpired.

If the important figure from the Ao family had given the young master some powerful weapon, surpassing the limits of their current abilities to kill him, Wang Heng believed the True Immortal of the Pan family wouldn't ignore it.

When the Ao family descendant passed by the True Immortal of the Pan family, the immortal merely glanced thoughtfully at the young being, without intervening.

Seeing this, Wang Heng was assured. Even if that figure had provided a weapon specifically against him, it wouldn't be too outrageous.

The descendant from the Ao family leaped onto the platform, standing opposite Wang Heng, not immediately launching an attack like Taihao did.

“Wang Heng, if I'm not mistaken, your father's time must be running out, right?

Sending you to the Immortal Realm is probably just a diversionary tactic, deliberately misleading all the kings, showing that he's not in dire straits. In fact, the more he acts like this, the more it proves his guilty conscience, all bark and no bite.

If he were truly unscathed and could protect you, why would he instruct Wu Zhong Immortal King to shelter you?” The young being from the Ao family sneered.

Wang Heng snorted, “You're about to perish soon, following in the footsteps of that Taihei family's descendant. Yet you still have the mind to disparage the Immortal King? I truly wonder if you're optimistic or have just given up trying.”

"To suffer such a defeat at the Pantao Feast, could I still be considered a successor of the Ao family? I’d probably be discarded mercilessly, like rubbish."

"Heh, victory is not yet decided. You’re too conceited. The foundations of our Celestial Domain are deep and rich, full of talents beyond what you from the lower realms can match." The heir of the Ao family was calm, seemingly confident.

"Indeed, the Celestial Domain has many outstanding individuals, but you are certainly not one of them. If you were truly confident, would you only be stepping up now?

Enough talk; let's prove ourselves with actions. I want to see what your elders have given you to make you so confident to face me directly." Wang Heng no longer wished to speak further, and was ready to strike.

"You will see it, and it will be your last sight." The Ao family’s successor sneered. Clearly, he had great faith in what his elders had bestowed upon him.

Before his words finished, Wang Heng had already moved, aiming for a swift victory.

The ultimate mystery of the unity of man and sword reappeared, the Eternal Light blossomed, time seemed to halt, no longer flowing.

The peerless sword energy burst forth, piercing through everything.

The Ao family's heir showed a surprised expression. Was this the method that defeated Taihao? Watching from the sidelines and facing it directly were two different sensations, only facing it truly revealed its terrifying nature.

"Roar!"

He let out a roar, a chaotic immortal light emanating from his body, between his fingers was divine radiance, the sound of sutras filled the air.

This was the Ao family's Immortal King's Sutra, profound and mysterious, one of the famous forbidden texts of the Celestial Domain.

"Radiant Sword Wings…"

The Ao family successor murmured, executing a powerful secret skill recorded in the Immortal King's Sutra, while simultaneously activating the Immortal King’s bloodline within him, releasing an extremely powerful aura.

Immortal mist surged forth, terrifying sword energy spewed from every pore of his body, transforming into feather-like sword wings, resplendent and sacred.

In the next moment, the Radiant Sword Wings on him flared, transforming him into a stream of light, charging forward.

"Boom!"

The battle stage shook violently as the successor of the Ao family faced a great calamity in this strike, defeated by Wang Heng's sword hilt, crushed like Taihao.

"Cough!"

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his Radiant Sword Wings entirely shattered and stained with fresh blood.

"Truly worthy of being one of the top ten, the pioneer of the Cavern Realm, your reputation is indeed well-deserved. Even with my power, it's hard to even injure you." The Ao family’s heir couldn’t help but exclaim. Ever since embarking on the path of cultivation, this was the first time he had been suppressed by a peer of the same realm.

"I have to admit, you're far stronger than the useless folk from your mother's side of the family." He sneered, shaking his head.

"In my eyes, you're no different from waste." Wang Heng spoke coldly.

The Ao family successor chuckled coldly, "Indeed, I'm not your match. However, I will outlive you because you're about to die and become the shortest-lived member of the top ten in Immortal Domain history."

With those words, he unfurled his Radiant Sword Wings, mending any damage with mystical mist before launching another attack at Wang Heng.

Noticing the change in the Ao successor's eyes, Wang Heng anticipated that he would use an item bestowed by his elders during this strike. Although confident in his ability to withstand it, Wang Heng remained vigilant.

"Boom!"

The sword embryo slashed, unstoppable, shattering the Radiant Sword Wings layer by layer.

Strangely, the Ao successor smiled. In his hand appeared a nightmarish creature, like a black insect with mysterious patterns all over its body—there were ten in total.

In the next instant, a brilliant, crystalline object fell upon these ten sinister insects, bringing them to life. They took off from the successor's palm, eyes locked on the nearby Wang Heng with malicious intent.

Oddly, as soon as these creatures emerged, Wang Heng felt a chill run through him, as if he had encountered a natural enemy, something that suppressed him profoundly.

His brow slightly furrowed, though he remained unruffled. Facing these ten creatures, he gripped his black sword embryo, ready to unleash a devastating strike at any moment.

"These are... Soul Devouring Insects... legendary creatures that feed on souls and primordial spirits, dwelling deep within vast uninhabited regions. It is said, true immortals were nearly felled by such creatures in their travels."

However, those Soul Devouring Insects that imperil true immortals are mature ones, fearless even of immortal beings. If these ten are larvae, they're still formidable foes that beings of the Creation Realm cannot withstand.

"He's in danger. Just one is enough to devour his primordial spirit entirely, let alone ten." A descendant of a true immortal revealed the origins of these menacing insects.

"Soul Devouring Insects... the Ao family has certainly gone all out to acquire such things and bring them out into the open," someone remarked.

Knowing these terrifying creatures, notorious for targeting primordial spirits, the onlookers at the Immortal Domain assembly looked down on Wang Heng, thinking him too arrogant to rely solely on his primordial spirit, without bringing his physical body. Now facing a nemesis to his spirit, he's due for a hard lesson.

While his life might be spared, thanks to the presence of the Pan family's true immortal at the Pantao Feast, his undefeated reputation might meet its end.

"Haha, this is a grand gift we've prepared just for you." The Ao heir laughed heartily.

With the ten Soul Devouring Insects present, Wang Heng, with only his spirit body, stood no chance of sustaining against them. Victory thus seemed assured for the Ao successor; even an unearned one was a victory nonetheless, safeguarding his position as the heir should not pose a problem.

With the Pan family's true immortal guardian present, Wang Heng's life was not in peril. The Ao successor's aim wasn't Wang Heng's life but his soul light. Even a bite of his soul light by a Soul Devouring Insect would suffice to report back to his family, fulfilling orders from their Immortal King. More crucially, it meant acquiring the Pantao Immortal Medicine from the Pan family's true immortal—a masterstroke achieving threefold outcomes.

As for Wang Heng, losing a thread of soul light would mean there are countless ways to kill him.

A smile appeared on the face of Ao family's successor.

However, his smile didn't last long before it froze as he stood there stunned.

He couldn't help but rub his eyes, thinking he was seeing things.

Yet the inevitable truth was right before him, astonishing him greatly.

What did he witness? Ten Soul Devouring Insects, fearsome to primal spirits and called the nemesis of souls, were trapped by a glowing full moon. No matter how they struggled, they couldn't move an inch, as if they were stuck in a quagmire, unable to extricate themselves.

"How is this possible?"

The Ao family's successor spoke in disbelief. He could tell that the radiant moon enveloping Wang Heng's body was essentially a soul-related phenomenon, something Wang Heng had conjured, not some supreme treasure.

How could it halt the advance of the Soul Devouring Insects?

"Could this be the legendary heavenly grotto he developed?"

A prodigy from the Immortal Domain realized something, revealing the origin of the full moon.

"Is this the heavenly grotto? Truly extraordinary, giving an unfathomable feeling. However, why does it seem that this heavenly grotto isn’t the original one?" Pan family’s True Immortal pondered silently.

If this moon-like heavenly grotto were the original, this new realm would undeniably be too powerful.

True Immortals have extraordinary discernment. Indeed, Wang Heng's soul-based heavenly grotto wasn’t the original one, but the sole grotto formed by the fusion of twelve heavenly grottos.

At this moment, he calmly watched the ten Soul Devouring Insects confined by the sole grotto, his mind involuntarily recalling the scene not long ago when these peculiar bugs braved the Suppression Decision to strike near him.

If not for the uniqueness of the sole grotto, perhaps these peculiar bugs would have already climbed onto his primal spirit body and begun devouring it.

Wang Heng wasn't surprised by this, as the vast Immortal Domain is filled with wonders, and the existence of such bizarre bugs that fear not soul attacks was not unusual.

Fortunately, he had the sole grotto, so even these creatures known as “soul nemesis” couldn't do him any harm, instead becoming his captives.

Wang Heng paid no mind to the intensely struggling ten peculiar bugs. Instead, he wielded his sword embryo and advanced to attack the astonished Ao family successor.

This time, without suspense, the Ao family successor was utterly defeated, his so-called brilliant sword wings shattered, stained entirely in bright red.