Perfect World: Dream of the Immortal Era

"Ah!" Wang Heng couldn't help but let out a blood-curdling scream, chilling to the bone, like an ancient ghost wailing in agony from eons past. It reflected the immense pain he was experiencing at this moment.

As the ominous dark symbols emerged, his entire body felt as if it were burning and being consumed. Massive amounts of life force drained away, all flowing inexorably into the symbols, as if they were insatiable bottomless pits, gaping voids with no end.

Wang Mian's first instinct was to rush forward to assist, for his duty was to protect Wang Heng. If anything happened to Wang Heng, his own fate would be sealed as well.

However, the Chaos Immortal Vine held him back.

“This inexplicable curse originates from that violent, warlike world, deeply entwined with darkness. It bursts forth from the power within the bloodline, something you cannot halt.

The root of it all lies with the Immortal King, who has been cursed, spreading through his blood as the medium.

Once, I was on the brink of withering away, revived only by the Immortal King's blood. Now it seems, that very blood has become a harbinger of death for me."

As it spoke, the few remaining withered leaves on the vine dropped with a "whoosh," their scant vitality consumed by the obsidian curse.

Once immensely powerful, able to contend with the Immortal King, the Immortal Vine now appeared fragile and powerless.

Its life force was rapidly fading away, its body's decay accelerating before Wang Mian's anxious eyes, filling him with dread.

"Senior Immortal Vine, what should I do?"

Wang Mian called out loudly, his heart heavy with unease, because Wang Heng's life was withering away, and as his guardian, he was helpless.

"Go, take these tokens and summon the Immortal King." The Chaos Immortal Vine waved its last remaining tendril, scattering four or five items.

Among them were a dragon horn, a phoenix feather, a small golden bull forged from celestial gold, and a replica of a Qiankun pouch...

These were all given to the Immortal Vine by the Wang Family's Immortal King when he went to the frontier, entrusted for safekeeping should a need arise, which now, unexpectedly, had.

Though this wasn't a substantial favor, it was enough to request the corresponding Immortal King's assistance. While it was unlikely they'd go to war against formidable enemies, saving Wang Heng's life was well within reach.

Wang Mian took these things, immediately sensing an aura of the Immortal King from them, vast and mysterious. His spirits lifted, feeling a glimmer of hope for Wang Heng. If an Immortal King intervened, they might be able to suppress the mysterious curse permeating and devouring everything.

"Hurry!"

The usually gentle Chaos Immortal Vine let out a thunderous roar, reverberating endlessly next to Wang Mian's ears. His face paled slightly, and he dared not delay, grabbing the items in his hand and leaving immediately.

Within the Chaos Secret Realm, only the dwindling Chaos Immortal Vine and the struggling Wang Heng remained.

“Do not give up. You are the sliver of hope, carrying the future of the Wang family. You must survive.” The words of the Immortal Vine echoed in Wang Heng's ears, granting him the courage and strength to resist.

“Roar!” Wang Heng snarled, his face twisted in agony, eyes bloodshot. His once ebony hair had turned ashen with the rapid depletion of his life force, and his robust physique was now reduced to skin and bones.

Yet, he continued to fight back. The longevity nectar he had consumed, the divine fruits he had eaten, all amassed a substantial amount of life force within his body, becoming a latent potential hidden within his flesh and bone.

Now, these became Wang Heng's lifeline, surging forth like a spring, granting him a moment to breathe.

At the same time, the great fortune bestowed by the Immortal Vine began to take effect, a series of divine rings slowly rising, mysterious and intricate, engraved with the ultimate truths of the universe, connecting to the world that housed the Wang family.

A million years of fortune coalesced here, safeguarding Wang Heng from destruction.

Of course, Wang Heng's relatively low cultivation played a part too. For someone like the Immortal Vine, a quasi-Immortal King, the curse was unimaginably terrifying, leaving no room for resistance, only the choice to be overpowered.

……

At the Wang Family Estate, within the branch lineage.

Wang Yue, who had already merged with the nascent seed of the ancient cosmos, stared in horror at the humanoid black stain on the ground not far away.

This was once a True Immortal of the branch line, a being of profound cultivation. Although not on par with a quasi-Immortal King, he was nevertheless a formidable figure in the realm of True Immortals, and the ancestor of Wang Yue's lineage, having lived through countless ages.

Yet who would have thought that such a powerful being could perish in such a short span of time, devoured by a terrifying black symbol? His immortal body and soul were all reduced to ashes.

Not only did this happen to the True Immortal, but other beings of the branch line also fell prey to the black symbols, which emerged from their very blood without warning.

In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, three great True Immortals, numerous supreme beings, and many other powerful entities of the branch line all met their demise, with not a single one left unscathed.

Wang Yue survived only because he was merely at the Dao Initiation level; the curse's power he encountered was not as terrifying, and he had merged with a perfect ancient seed full of vitality, which could protect him for a while.

Nevertheless, he could not escape death; it was only a matter of time before he too would fall.

“How could this happen?”

Wang Yue did not understand. This was indeed the Wang Family, guarded by a supreme Celestial King. Who would dare to strike here? Where did these bizarre black symbols come from?

Just when he was utterly perplexed, a voice sounded by his ear, letting out a heartfelt sigh. "Is it an ancient curse from the Immortal King of the Otherworld? Or perhaps there's an even more terrifying source. In any case, it's unsolvable."

A figure appeared in the branch family's territory, tall and imposing, like a majestic mountain standing firm. His long, jet-black hair casually draped over his shoulders, exuding an intimidating aura, commanding respect without anger. Perched on his left shoulder was a three-legged golden crow, enveloped in flames.

Wang Yue recognized him at once; this was Sun Yang, the first general under the command of the Wang Family's Celestial King, a quasi-Immortal King.

His eyes showed a glimmer of hope as he struggled to crawl toward Sun Yang, continuously crying out for help, "Senior Sun Yang, save me!"

Sun Yang looked at him, his gaze lacking the warmth and kindness of the past, filled only with coldness and indifference.

Wang Yue perceived the subtle change and felt an ominous foreboding rising in his heart.

"Senior..."

"I've been with your branch for many years," Sun Yang said, his tone detached. "To claim there's no bond would be false. But alas, the Celestial King has decreed your death, and die you must."

"This curse has indeed saved me a lot of trouble, sparing me from showing my cold-blooded side."

Wang Yue listened, bewildered. A curse from another realm? And the Wang Family's Immortal King had intentions of exterminating their branch all along?

"Your talent is commendable, and you had the potential to reach the peak. How unfortunate that your branch, unaware of the bigger picture, continually associated with the Celestial Domain—seeking conflicts with the Immortal Scion. Your downfall was inevitable."