Perfect World: Dream of the Immortal Era

After discussing the details, Pang Ren began narrating his experiences in the Immortal King's ruins.

“The first trial tests the strength of one's physical body. A towering ladder reaches up into the skies, comprising thirty-three steps, symbolizing the thirty-three heavens of our world. With each step upward, the pressure on the body increases exponentially.

I reached only the thirteenth step before I could go no further. It felt as though countless mighty mountains weighed upon me, my bones on the verge of shattering, and I was unable to move. With no other option, I had to retreat.

However, as soon as I took a step back, a terrifying force surged from every direction, smashing me to pieces and ejecting me from the ruins. Had I not possessed a life-saving artifact, I would have perished then and there.”

Gu Wu Di and Qing Yue were left speechless; Pang Ren hadn’t even passed the first trial. It seemed unlikely that they could acquire more information from him.

However, Pang Ren’s candidness improved their perception of him significantly, revealing a hidden danger on the ladder that they wouldn’t have known otherwise.

“Pang Daoist, your life-saving artifact must be extraordinary to escape the prohibitions of the Immortal King's ruins.” Qing Yue smiled, revealing her pearly white teeth as she offered praise.

Pang Ren, catching the exploratory tone, shyly responded, “Haha, Fairy Qing, you jest. My talent may be lacking, but I’m quite lucky to possess some decent treasures.”

Gu Wu Di wholeheartedly agreed, having personally witnessed Pang Ren deceive the champions of major powers with an ancient mirror capable of concealing one’s form, laying in wait to reap the fruits of their turmoil.

In terms of its ability to render one invisible, the ancient mirror certainly qualifies as a divine artifact, perfect for exploiting chaos and snatching opportunities.

“Luck is also a form of talent. Pang Daoist, your future looks promising,” Qing Yue praised.

Pang Ren, wishing to deflect the focus from himself, merely smiled in silence.

Later, the three of them discussed further and decided that Gu Wu Di would venture alone into the Immortal King's ruins.

The reason was simple. The ruins harbored terrifying prohibitions, allowing only progression with no retreat. Even the first trial’s thirty-three steps were daunting. Currently, Qing Yue had just entered the Dao Nurturing Realm and had little proficiency in physical body refinement. Forcing her way through could mean death without burial.

“We agreed to explore the ruins together, yet now only you must take the risk. Before you depart, let me divine your fortune one more time,” Qing Yue looked at Gu Wu Di with a complicated expression.

Fate had led her to Gu Wu Di, a youth named 'Gu Wu Di,' who helped her defy destiny and claim the Azure Moon Flame among many rivals, enabling her to successfully nurture the Dao. This was a great karmic bond, one that she had no way to repay.

Now, watching Gu Wu Di prepare to face the perilous Immortal King's ruins alone, she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of guilt.

Gu Wu Di merely smiled gently.

“Alright,” he replied.

Qing Yue saw the situation and hesitated no longer. She started chanting incantations, and a vague pattern appeared on her body, exuding a mysterious aura. Then, she took out five turtle shells and tossed them high into the air.

This sight surprised Gu Wu Di briefly. Usually, she used three turtle shells, but this time she used five, clearly indicating Qing Yue's emphasis on this divination.

“Heavens, could these turtle shells be Immortal Dao Tortoise Shells?” Pang Ren's eyes lit up with astonishment.

“Immortal Dao Tortoise Shells?”

Gu Wu Di raised an eyebrow. To be honest, he hadn't realized it since the turtle shells didn’t emanate any Immortal Dao aura; he just thought these shells were extraordinary, containing heavenly mysteries.

“Yes, they were once Immortal Dao Tortoise Shells, now returned to simplicity, soaked in heavenly mysteries, and thus even more astonishing. It seems Fairy Qing is no ordinary figure.” Pang Ren mused thoughtfully.

As they spoke, the five turtle shells landed haphazardly on the ground, presenting a chaotic divination pattern.

Qing Yue observed them for a long while, her expression never relaxing.

“What is it? Does the divination suggest I'm doomed to perish in the ruins of the Immortal King?” Gu Wu Di joked.

“It doesn't look good. I’ve learned a little of this type of divination, and the reading Qing Fairy has cast foretells great danger for you on this journey. As of now, I see no signs of survival. It seems I've underestimated the threat of the Immortal King's ruins. Ancient Brother, perhaps we should let it go this time—better to live to fight another day.” Pang Ren's face shifted, suggesting seriously.

Despite having information on the King of Ten Thousand Tribulations’ ruins, if Gu Wu Di perished, it would be a great loss for Pang Ren. However, lives were at stake—a prodigy capable of defeating the heir of the Supreme Shrine, with unprecedented future potential, someone worth befriending. He couldn't let Gu Wu Di walk to his demise.

Of course, he voiced this, knowing Qing Yue would also express it.

“Gu Wu Di, heed the advice of Daoist Pang. This reading has no resolution, ten deaths with no survival. At least, I see no path to safety. A cultivation at the Root Establishment Realm attempting the Immortal King’s ruins—it’s unimaginable. Daoist Pang’s guesses about the ruins are merely that—guesses. Who knows the true reason the King of Ten Thousand Tribulations left these ruins. In my view, it’s better to wait until we’ve grown stronger to explore these ruins, no need to rush.” Qing Yue also came to her senses, cautioning Gu Wu Di against the expedition.

“Yesterday’s divination showed significant gains for this journey, which may apply elsewhere, or perhaps the reading was wrong. My skills are shallow; errors are normal when dealing with matters related to the Immortal King. In any case, the Five Tortoise Divination is far more accurate than the Three Tortoise.” She added.

Gu Wu Di didn’t respond immediately, reflecting on his situation. At the late Root Establishment Realm, he was just a step away from the Great Perfection.

After reaching the Great Perfection, he had to make choices concerning his future path. Yet, Gu Wu Di found himself at a loss; the Path Seed Method offered him little time to deliberate, barely at the third stage, and already at a crossroads.

Missing out on this Immortal King's ruins, what great fortune could possibly await him in the near future? Almost none.

Moreover, from the first physical trial at the entrance to the ruins, Pang Ren's speculation isn't unfounded. Otherwise, why would the King of Ten Thousand Tribulations push himself to test the entrants' physical strength? If there truly is a world-shaking inheritance within, it could certainly provide some reference for cultivating at the Dao Origin realm, potentially a serendipitous opportunity.

He closed his eyes, emptying his surroundings, and asked his own heart. In the end, he received an answer, and his gaze became determined.

“There's no need for persuasion anymore; my mind is made up," Gu Wu Di spoke.

One cannot step onto the transcendent path and stand out in the river of time without weathering any storms.

“A path with ten deaths and no life, are you sure you want to go?” Qing Yue found it somewhat difficult to understand.

In her view, the five turtle shells' divination was a true preview of the future, and if Gu Wu Di forced his way into the Immortal King's ruins, the outcome would only be death.

Knowing certain death, why stubbornly take the plunge?

Pang Ren also couldn't fathom why Gu Wu Di made such a decision.

“The concept of fate does not apply to me because my fate lies in these fists, in this great halberd,” Gu Wu Di said, gripping the chaotic great halberd, striding toward the two towering stone statues facing one another.

Pang Ren had already explained the method to enter the ruins; one simply needed to drip their blood onto the altar between the two statues.

Watching Gu Wu Di's departing figure, Pang Ren was bewildered—if it were him, he'd never knowingly walk into the tiger's den.

Qing Yue sighed.

“Gu Wu Di possesses a strong aptitude no less than that of an Immortal King descendant, having merged with the renowned Perfect Ancient Seed, the Celestial Seed. The future is bright for him. If he follows the conventional path, becoming a True Immortal is a certainty.

Yet he is dissatisfied with stopping here; he wants to become a king, he wants to become...”

Pausing, she continued, “About to enter the Dao Origin realm, he longs to break through the shackles and pioneer new heavens. So, even if it means ten deaths and no life, he must take the gamble.”

Pang Ren realized after hearing this.

“Brother Gu is truly courageous and admirable, but defying fate is not easy.”

Qing Yue glanced at the turtle shells scattered on the ground unsuccessfully seeking a glimmer of hope.

At this moment, Gu Wu Di had already reached the altar.

In the midst of the overgrown weeds and vines, the ancient altar lay entombed by dust and time. Gu Wu Di lifted his massive halberd with a swift, sweeping motion to clear the vines, revealing the altar's original form.

The intricate carvings displayed a style from seven eras past, enveloping onlookers in an aura of everlasting mystery.

Without hesitation, Gu Wu Di lightly bit his tongue and let a drop of blood fall onto the altar's grooves.

A simple drop, yet brimming with enormous power, transformed instantaneously into a rushing stream, akin to molten iron, flowing through every groove.

“Buzz!”

Symbols rose one by one, suspended in mid-air, swirling around Gu Wu Di.

“Boom!”

In the next instant, brilliant light emanated from the hands of two colossal statues, revealing secret movements full of profound mysteries.

Two rays of light shot forth, striking Gu Wu Di, and abruptly, he vanished from the sight of Qing Yue and Pang Ren.

“He has entered. There's no retreat now. Without sufficiently powerful substitutes…”

Pang Ren sighed deeply.

Qing Yue remained silent, simply watching the imposing statues with unwavering attention.

Both were restless at heart, questioning whether they could match Gu Wu Di's fearless spirit and carefree resolve.

Gu Wu Di's vision blurred as he found himself in a strange new space.

It felt like chaos, with endless mists swirling everywhere, making it impossible to discern up from down, east from west.

Before him stood an ancient, towering celestial stairway, embedded amidst the chaos, leading straight into the clouds and the immortal domains.

Gu Wu Di looked up, counting intently; indeed, there were thirty-three steps.

Each step was extraordinarily wide, almost like a grand square, making it far too large for human proportions.

Standing at the base of the thirty-three steps, gazing at the sky, one might be mistaken into thinking these steps weren't meant for humans, but for giants. However, the steps decreased in height progressively, as each subsequent one became increasingly difficult to surmount.

Gu Wu Di took a deep breath, lifted his foot, and jumped sharply, landing on the first step.

In an instant, a suffocating pressure surged from all directions, closing in on Gu Wu Di's very being.

For Gu Wu Di, this level of strain was hardly a concern. Without pausing, he leaped onto the second step...

One after another, he vaulted over more than ten levels until he arrived at the place where Pang Ren had once halted— the thirteenth level.

Upon reaching this height, the oppressive force became overwhelmingly terrifying, as Pang Ren had once described, feeling as though he bore the weight of numerous towering mountains on his back, unbearably heavy.

Under such circumstances, attempting to lift his feet off the ground and ascend several yards to the next step was akin to ascending the heavens.

However, given the resilience of Gu Wu Di's physique, a mere thirteen levels could not hinder his progress.

He passed the thirteenth level, continuing to climb upward, and with each step, the burden on his back intensified.

When he finally reached the twenty-seventh level, even someone as formidable as Gu Wu Di began to breathe heavily. His legs felt fearsomely weighed down, and each forward step required an enormous expenditure of energy.

He gasped for air, painstakingly lifting his head to look upwards, with just six more levels remaining to pass through.

By the twenty-seventh level, the step heights had regressed to nearly normal levels, for otherwise, under such terrifying pressure, it would be impossible to lift both legs simultaneously.

Gu Wu Di paused there, taking a brief rest before setting off again.

Upon arduously reaching the thirtieth level, a faint red mist enveloped his entire body.

This was Gu Wu Di's life force, erupting from every pore under the extreme pressure, manifesting as a pale red mist.

Agonizing pain radiated from every fiber of his being, constantly stimulating his nerves.

At this point, Gu Wu Di found it nearly impossible to move forward. His complexion was ashen, sweat covered his forehead, and his once straight back had bent, as if carrying the weight of an eternal sky.

Even breathing became a struggle, his bones creaking ominously, on the verge of shattering at any moment.

Who would have thought the thirtieth layer would be so daunting? Climbing just three more levels seemed as challenging as reaching the celestial realm.

Initially, he believed that with his supreme talent as the Immortal King, traversing thirty-three levels should be achievable without much issue. But now, it appeared that barring unforeseen circumstances, the thirtieth level was his limit. Every step beyond was a brush with death itself, and at any second, the overwhelming pressure might crush him into pulp.

Yet, Gu Wu Di had no retreat, for stepping back meant certain death; only moving forward held the possibility of survival.

He dared not linger any longer, for each moment of delay drained him immensely. Once his strength was exhausted, death would be imminent.

The sound of bones cracking and particles of blood and flesh exploding enveloped Gu Wu Di, the blood-red mist around him growing denser, indicating that his injuries were worsening.

With a low growl, he stepped onto the thirty-first step.