Perfect World: Dream of the Immortal Era

He sighed inwardly, marveling at the dangers and complexities of the Immortal Realm. Aligning with the wrong faction or making too many enemies could lead to great risks, drawing the killing intent of Immortal Kings.

Fortunately, he maintained a neutral stance, with amicable relations with various Immortal Kings.

...

In a universe far from the Immortal Realm ruled by Pan Wang, Wu Zhong halted his flight and drifted towards a vibrant ancient star.

From the outside, the ancient star appeared green, indicating the surface was covered in endless vegetation with a rich aura of life, almost like an ocean.

However, compared to most life stars in the Immortal Realm, this life star was utterly ordinary. The highest cultivation among its beings did not even reach the first stage of transcending, and it was located in such a remote area that hardly any creatures of great power from the Immortal Realm would come here.

Trailing behind Wu Zhong, the Black King was puzzled, not understanding why the Wu Zhong Immortal King would choose to land in such a place, knowing that a figure of his stature wouldn't act arbitrarily without purpose.

“My Lord Wu Zhong, is there something special about this place?” the Black King couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

Walking ahead, Wu Zhong only presented his back to Wang Heng and the Black King, tall and grand, instilling a sense of reassurance.

“You should know, both Six Paths and I have been investigating reincarnation, trying to determine whether reincarnation truly exists in this world or if it's merely events that reincarnate.”

“Among the Immortal Kings, there's a legend of a place known as the Mysterious Land, said to connect to the heavens, the spirits, the past and future. In this place, one can experience endless ages and glimpse the future. Some even say it harbors living reincarnations.”

“Six Paths and I have long yearned to explore this place, but for various reasons, we have never been able to fulfill this wish.

“This time is different. We have clues to that place, and the hope is strong,” Wu Zhong replied.

Hearing this, the Black King contemplated and then understood.

“I see. You previously ventured into the forbidden zones, explored many secret places, visited the Mountain of Heaven, and attended the Peach Blossom Festival at Pan Wang City—all for this cause.

“Your path is that of time, while Six Paths pursues the path of reincarnation. If you could reach that Mysterious Land, you might unravel great secrets and see the path ahead. Some in the Immortal Realm do not wish to see the two of you become too formidable, and thus, they have been secretly thwarting you. It is truly despicable,” it said indignantly.

Wang Heng, standing nearby, was astonished—Mysterious Land? Could it be the ancient cave and stone chamber that took Shi Hao back to the downfall of the Supreme Emperor?

“There's nothing to be done about it. One who roams the Immortal Realm is bound to make enemies,” Wu Zhong sighed.

"According to the information provided by Hun Yuan and Pan Wang, there are important clues on this star. Therefore, we will need to stay here for a period of time," he continued to say.

Hearing this, Wang Heng hesitated. If it weren't for the coordinates of that mysterious place, they could have visited the Lord of the Forbidden Zone to obtain them. However, as he deliberated, he recalled the Black King's earlier mention that Wu Zhong and Six Paths were hindered from reaching that strange place due to interference from enemies in the Immortal Domain.

Moreover, the relationship between Wu Zhong, Six Paths, and the Lord of the Forbidden Zone was unknown. Although they all resided in the Primeval Ancient World, establishing one's own forbidden zone was an act of transcending worldly attachments and avoiding interaction with the outside. Perhaps only those Immortal Kings with longstanding friendships with the Lord of the Forbidden Zone would occasionally visit.

Consequently, the words that had welled up in Wang Heng's throat were swallowed back down. From historical records, it seemed Wu Zhong should have been able to find that mysterious place, or else the later Little Cub wouldn't have been able to carry Wu Zhong Immortal King's final essence blood to that ancient cave.

Given this, there was no need for him to say more; what if Wu Zhong and the Lord of the Forbidden Zone were not on good terms? After all, the Lord of the Forbidden Zone had explored the Realm Sea at his peak, battling over countless epochs, only returning severely wounded near the end of the Immortal Ancient Epoch, a time separate from Wu Zhong’s rise and glory, making it plausible for them to be strangers.

"Kid, what are you thinking about? Did your father mention something about the mysterious place?"

Suddenly, the Black King's voice pierced through, bringing Wang Heng back to the present.

He shook his head, indicating his scant knowledge about it, at the very least, he didn’t know the specific location of the coordinates.

"Many Immortal Kings have been there, but that doesn’t mean everyone knows its location. At the very least, Hun Yuan, Pan Wang, and Fellow Daoist Wang, none of them have been there, only hearing rumors. In these epochs, no Immortal King has been rumored to have found it.

Even if they did, there’s also the possibility of not being able to enter," Wu Zhong said.

Hearing this, the Black King looked visibly disappointed, hoping Wang Heng might know something.

"This ancient star is not as simple as it appears. It looks primitive and has not produced any powerful figures, but in reality, there are traces left behind by Immortal Kings," Wu Zhong's eyes were profound, like a river of time flowing within them.

With that, he led the Black King and Wang Heng to land on this ancient star of life.

……

In a different region, far from the dominion of Luomo, the ancient vast territory spread out, where the undying Gu Mo traveled with Heng Jin, moving through remnants of ancient times.

Their destination was a mysterious and ancient secret land, famous alongside other extraordinary secret realms of the alternate domain, an indispensable key location within it.

In the cultivation systems of alternate realms, there is a stage known as the "Cloud Swallowing." The essence of this stage for cultivators is the "cloud," a crucial element needed to advance. A sliver of cloud light must be consumed and absorbed within one's body to aid in cultivation.

The potency of the cloud light directly influences a cultivator's achievements at this stage and significantly impacts their future progress. Thus, all ambitious beings place great importance on this stage. To walk the path of the strongest, they must choose only the finest cloud light, preferably the naturally born innate cloud light. If one uses acquired cloud light bestowed by the powerful, it might bind them with the principles contained within, becoming a shackle on their path to evolution, limiting their accomplishments.

However, how rare is innate cloud light, especially the highest quality? Most beings in alternate realms can only consume regular acquired cloud light. Fortunately, these realms greatly value the development of the young generation, and some places that frequently burst forth with cloud light are not monopolized but are open to the public for cultivators to compete for, relying on their own skills.

The place Gu Mo and Heng Jin aim to visit is the most mysterious and extraordinary among these secret realms.

It regularly erupts with the finest innate cloud light, making it a favorite destination for young prodigies of the alternate realm. If one were to ask, aside from the ancestral lands of the Imperial clan, where one could most likely encounter beings of the Imperial clan, it would undoubtedly be this extraordinary secret realm.

Whether they are young imperial or royal clan members, all prefer to come here just as they are about to enter the Cloud Swallowing stage to test their luck and see if they might obtain a sliver of exceptional cloud light.

This time, Heng Jin had demonstrated extraordinary talent at the War God Academy, comparable to the prodigies of the Imperial clan, shocking the academy's senior members who have decided to invest heavily in nurturing him. To not waste Heng Jin's talent, they appointed the immortal Gu Mo as his guardian, taking him away for solitary cultivation.

Considering Heng Jin has already reached the peak of the Boiling Blood stage and is about to enter the Cloud Swallowing stage, Gu Mo led him from the War God Academy, across countless miles, to the renowned "Cloud Abyss" to see if they could obtain a sliver of top-tier innate cloud light there.

Such things are indeed available in the War God Academy, but they suffice only for use by the royal clan; for a prodigy of the Imperial clan's stature, it's somewhat inadequate.

Looking back, Gu Mo understood Heng Jin's thoughts, and with a smile, he replied, "Indeed, throughout the vast expanse of our realm, of all the secret realms that can burst forth with cloud light, the Cloud Abyss is the most mysterious.

Imperial clan prodigies all have high aspirations and naturally won't settle for ordinary innate cloud light, not even temporarily. They seek the strongest path, aiming to affirm immortality or even become an Immortal King, so they only use the most top-tier innate cloud light.

And the Cloud Abyss is the best place to obtain such top-tier innate cloud light, hence there are often young Imperial clan members here, trying to acquire the cloud light that suits them.

However, encountering it requires a bit of luck. Even if you don't come across it, with your talent, you will eventually face it directly in the future, so there's no need to worry."

Gu Mo knew that Heng Jin, unbeaten at the War God Academy, had even defeated the eight-armed youth with a quarter of the Luomo bloodline. To find worthy opponents, he had no choice but to turn his attention to the young of the Imperial clan.

Later, he challenged the War God Tower, earning the title of unmatched War God, but an Imperial clan prodigy had reached the eighth level, so Heng Jin's focus on them was perfectly normal; after all, young people are always filled with enthusiasm.

"I understand," Heng Jin acknowledged.

As they spoke, they traversed the void, passing ancient relics, heading towards the Cloud Abyss.

Although Gu Mo was an immortal with extraordinary speed, the Cloud Abyss was unique. The closer they got, the more eerie the celestial paths in the void became. Even immortals had to tread carefully, for one misstep could lead to disaster.

According to Gu Mo, the formation of the Cloud Abyss could be traced back to a time before the creation of the exotic realms, an age so ancient that it involved the secret origins of these realms, a topic even immortal kings avoided discussing in depth.

Therefore, the innate cloud light erupting from the Cloud Abyss was so revered and sought after by countless prodigies that, despite its dangers, they still ventured here.

"What is that..."

Heng Jin looked towards the distant sky with a hint of shock.

There, a thick mist hung in the air, dim and sunless—distinctive of the Cloud Abyss, eternally shrouded in chaotic mist, a realm of obscurity.

Yet now, the gray mist transformed into dazzling colors, constantly shifting and changing.

Gu Mo also noticed the spectacle. Rather than fear, he was pleased, turning to Heng Jin, "We are just in time. This is the heralding sign of a major eruption in the Cloud Abyss.

Normally, it only spews a small amount of cloud light.

During such times, obtaining top-grade innate cloud light is extremely difficult, requiring extraordinary fortune.

However, every few epochs, the Cloud Abyss undergoes a minor eruption, a grand event for evolvers at the boiling blood realm, widely believed to bring forth top-grade cloud light. But a major eruption like now is a once-in-ten-thousand-year event.

Moreover, such eruptions come with no warning, except the colorful mist serves as a clue.

The appearance of colorful mist suggests a major eruption is imminent. We must hurry, or we'll miss it."

Hearing this, Heng Jin's spirit was invigorated.

The major eruption of the Cloud Abyss meant a great opportunity, perhaps offering him that elusive cloud light.

With Gu Mo's full speed as an immortal, they quickly reached their destination—the Cloud Abyss.

The vast chaotic mist enveloped the area. Arriving here felt as if they had reached the world's end.

A massive chasm, indescribable in its vastness, lay stretched out before them, embedded in the earth like a bottomless maw devouring all.

Originally, this abyss was pitch black and deep, with only occasional bursts of luminescence shooting up from the depths as rare sources of light. But now, the innermost darkness within the abyss had changed; it seemed to have faded to a gray-black, as if something was about to erupt forth.

Most strikingly, the mist capping the abyss glowed with vibrant colors, creating a breathtaking spectacle—a true wonder across the ages.

"This Radiant Abyss eruption occurs only once every several tens of thousands of years; encountering it is indeed a great fortune," an excited young talent from another realm exclaimed.

"Such opportunities arise without any warning and vanish in an instant. By the time outsiders set out, it will be too late to seize it."

"There have been instances where an unknown prodigy stumbled upon a Radiant Abyss eruption, acquired a strand of transcendent innate radiance, and thus rose to prominence, eventually ascending to a nearly immortal king’s realm and founding an indelible royal lineage."

Stories abound linking historical events to the Radiant Abyss eruptions, reaching a feverish pitch among the present young talents, each more excited than the last.

Already powerful prodigies hoped to acquire the pinnacle of radiance, achieving a perfect Devouring Light state, while those of lesser innate ability saw a chance to defy fate.

The elders accompanying them smiled, knowing they had arrived at an opportune moment for potential ascension.

Subsequently, some beings discreetly glanced towards a specific direction, an area reserved for young talents seeking to capture the radiant light.

Such places were numerous and publicly accessible, with no spot belonging exclusively to anyone. Yet, when particularly distinguished figures arrived, others tactfully kept their distance.

Presently, a young man garbed in black was seated alone there, eyes slightly closed, occupying a vast swath of the area with no one daring to approach lightly.

Likewise, the formidable figure who brought him, also dressed in black, sat alone in a waiting zone, waiting silently with an unapproachable demeanor.

"An imperial lineage!"

Gu Mo remarked, informing Heng Jin that the young man in black and the formidable figure originated from an ancient and mighty imperial clan.

Besides this pair of a young and old, there were even more people from imperial lineages on other platforms. They were easily distinguished, each monopolizing a large area. Under such a hierarchical system, even the prodigies of royal families dared not encroach lightly.