Perfect World: Dream of the Immortal Era

In the next moment, he realized it was the voice of his Immortal King father from those past memories.

In other words, his Immortal King father had returned from the borderlands!

Wang Heng was jolted awake, instantly shedding all traces of drowsiness.

Presently, he was in his soul form, just waking up from a deep sleep.

A tiny figure, identical to his real body and lifelike, hovered in the void. Its entire form was pitch-black, mysterious symbols faintly appearing on its surface, giving it an air of profoundness, completely different from before.

Without pausing to ponder the changes in his soul body or physical condition, he turned his gaze toward the direction of his Immortal King father's voice.

A majestic figure came into view, standing before the remnants of the immortal vine, with his back to Wang Heng, motionless, as if in mourning or remembrance. Who knows how long he had stood there?

His strong physique and broad shoulders loomed like a massive mountain, bringing an instinctual sense of security.

It felt as though hiding behind him, one would remain unharmed, unafraid of mighty tempests or storms.

Having regained those ten years of memory, Wang Heng looked at this back, feeling an indescribable emotion in his heart.

He knew exactly what it was: the feelings a son has toward a father, an innate desire to rely on him, to communicate, with a hint of respect and admiration.

It's essential to realize this man was an undefeated Immortal King, the creator of one of the three supreme sword arts, the "Peace Fracturing Art," who single-handedly repelled the army from another realm, securing victory in the war.

Regardless of who his son would be, they would likely admire and aspire to be like him.

"Father!"

Filled with deep-seated filial emotions, Wang Heng called out to Wang Geng.

It's often said that Immortal Kings are cold and indifferent, having lived too long, seeing through the world's ups and downs, becoming numb to everything.

But that's not entirely true; some Immortal Kings retain their original spirit, living with blood and flesh.

That single word "Father" held a multitude of emotions, stirring deep memories within Wang Geng's heart.

From the ten months of pregnancy, to the first cries at birth, followed by ten years establishing a foundation and embarking on the path of cultivation.

For Wang Geng, who had already achieved kingship, this child was like a miracle, seen as a gift from the heavens.

Therefore, he cherished him greatly, paving a path early on with great herbs, foundational building, and supreme soul seeds...

He had thought his son would smoothly develop under his protection, joining the ranks of top-tier beings of the ancient realm, possibly even creating the legend of dual Immortal Kings in the family, elevating them to new heights.

Who would have thought, facing an invasion from another realm, complying with Stone King's agreement to repay karma, he journeyed to the border to deter the invaders.

Ultimately, he fell victim to their treachery, ensnared by the dark curse, bringing calamity to the Wang family.

Anyone in this realm related by blood or who absorbed his blood was tainted by the curse.

Including his own child.

During the battles, Wang Geng had no spare energy to care for the cursed Wang Heng, but his internal anxiety was ever-present.

Thankfully, in the end, with the contingency he left with the immortal vine, he managed to summon an Immortal King to safeguard his child's life.

However, upon his return, Wang Geng learned of Wang Heng’s awakening of the divine soul talent, which resulted in memory loss.

Due to the interference of his own soul sword embryo, which became one with Wang Heng's spirit to combat the dark curse, he couldn't fathom the internal changes Wang Heng had undergone.

As for directly manipulating Wang Heng's soul to forcibly recover his memories, or showing him past scenes, those were not the outcomes Wang Geng desired. Father and son, even with lost memories, are still bound by blood ties that cannot be severed.

Now, Wang Heng's reaction affirmed this bond. In his voice, one could discern no trace of unfamiliarity or estrangement when he faced his father.

Wang Geng felt deeply gratified and gestured for Wang Heng to come to his side.

Upon seeing this, Wang Heng was both nervous and excited, as this was the first time since arriving in this world that he had been so close to his Immortal King father.

He crossed the void with his soul form to stand beside Wang Geng.

Yet, the warmth he imagined did not manifest; instead, Wang Heng felt a chilling sensation, as if pricked by thorns, like cold piercing to the bone.

His eyes widened, noticing for the first time that one of his father's legs was as dark as ink, filled with a sinister aura with countless dark symbols swirling within.

The sight was terrifying, making Wang Heng recall the desperate situation he once faced, cornered by this curse, forcing him to abandon his physical form and fight with only his soul.

Little did he expect, compared to the curse power on Wang Geng, his own was negligible, a mere drop in the ocean.

"Father, your leg..."

Wang Geng shook his head, choosing not to discuss the dark curse enveloping his leg.

"Has your memory returned?"

He gazed into Wang Heng's soul, asking.

Meeting his eyes, Wang Heng felt them to be unfathomably deep, as if they encompassed the heavens, worlds, sun, moon, and stars, filled with boundless wisdom, as though they could see through all secrets.

"Yes, it's returned," Wang Heng nodded.

Wang Geng asked no further and turned his gaze to the withered immortal vine, speaking with a tone of melancholy.

"The immortal vine fought alongside me for countless years, from my youth to when I achieved Oneness, becoming a True Immortal, a quasi-Immortal King, and finally an Immortal King. It was not only my comrade but also your elder.

Yet, fate is unpredictable; the ancient Immortal King's blood doomed it, turning it into a death sentence, leading to its demise."

Wang Heng felt equally sorrowful; the immortal vine had always treated him kindly and without reservation.

"The elder once said it came from chaos, and after death, it wanted to return to chaos as a part of the cycle, perhaps that was its only wish."

"Born in chaos, buried in chaos?"

Wang Geng's emotions were complex as he extended his hand, instantly turning the remaining piece of the immortal vine into ashes, piling in his palm.

He then made another move, tearing through layers of void, directly opening a path to chaos.

Everything here was chaotic, disordered, and directionless, yet it was also mysterious, hiding endless riddles and treasures.

The immortal vine was born in such an environment. Now, it had died, its body turned to ash. Wang Heng vowed to honor its last wish by burying it in the chaos.

A gust of wind blew by, and all the ashes rose into the air, drifting into the endless chaos, soon disappearing without a trace.

Thus, a quasi-Immortal King departed thoroughly, leaving no mark, no lingering thoughts.

“Perhaps one day, I too will leave this world, leaving you alone,” Wang Geng suddenly broke the silence. “When that time comes, everything will depend on you. If you live on, the Wang family will not be considered extinct.”

Wang Heng knew his father’s situation must be critical to force a supreme being into such a state. The power of the dark curse was truly formidable.

He wanted to change the fate of his Immortal King father, but he was too weak, powerless against issues that even Immortal Kings found insurmountable.

At that moment, Wang Heng found yet another reason to grow stronger. To save Wang Geng, he must evolve swiftly and obtain the power to break the dark curse before the end of the Ancient Immortal Era, or else the tragedy of Wang Geng's demise would unfold inexorably.

“Father, invincible beneath the heavens and eternal through time—how could he possibly die?”

Wang Heng spoke with disbelief, incredulity written all over his face.

“What is invincible in this world? What is eternal?”

Wang Geng replied bluntly. “Even the greatest of beings will one day perish, myself included.

Though it may seem harsh on a mere ten-year-old like you, you must see it clearly and accept reality.”

He wasn’t sure if he could withstand the backlash of the dark curse, so he had to mentally prepare his son and had already planned a path for Wang Heng.

“Your primordial spirit has merged with the remnants of a supreme soul seed and fragments of a sword art legacy, significantly enhancing both your potential and cultivation.

If your primordial spirit reverts to its rightful place at this moment, you would easily surpass your peers, unmatched by any.

Even if you do nothing else but cultivate in seclusion every day, you would become a true Immortal.

I quelled the turmoil in the ancient realm during the border conflict, a grand achievement. In respect of this, those immortal Kings would ensure your safety.

You could secure a smooth path to true immortality just by quietly staying in the ancient realm and cultivating step by step.”

Wang Geng spoke calmly, painting a picture of Wang Heng’s future path to immortality.

However, Wang Heng heard the underlying message: this path could lead to a calm and peaceful becoming of a true Immortal, but it would make further advancement to a quasi-Immortal King, or even Immortal King, extremely difficult.

Bluntly put, it would be a life of idleness and stagnation.

To ordinary people, reaching true immortality means endless life, having attained longevity—what worries are left?

One could lay back and be at ease, but to Wang Heng, aware of future events, true immortality wasn’t enough.

The coming realm invasions, chaotic eras, and great reckonings—each was unfriendly to true immortals.

Even Immortal Kings couldn’t guarantee passage through them unscathed.

So the idea of mere idle survival after becoming a true Immortal was utterly unacceptable.

Instead of leaving fate in the hands of destiny, he preferred to grasp it firmly himself.

Perhaps the path Wang Heng chose was to methodically become a true Immortal during peaceful times, leaving the dark erosion within his body unsolved, which led to his descendants carrying dark substances in their bodies.

This might be why the dark beings targeted Wang Changsheng during his infancy, causing his calamity for longevity.

This time, Wang Heng was not "Wang Heng".

He couldn’t walk that path of being at others' mercy.

So, he voiced his doubt.

“Is it possible to become an Immortal King?”

Wang Geng’s eyes were as calm as still water, and he gently shook his head.

“The essence of your original body has been tainted by darkness. Advancing in Immortal Dao is doable, but becoming an Immortal King isn’t possible unless you fall into darkness and become a prized dark seed in the alien realm's focus."

"Like the immortal king Yu Tuo from a foreign land," Wang Geng revealed an ancient secret.

Upon hearing this, Wang Heng looked steadfastly at his immortal king father and rejected this path. "I want to prove my path as an immortal king in this era; I refuse to stop at being a true immortal."

His words were strong and clear, demonstrating Wang Heng's determination. "Are you serious? Becoming a true immortal, without having to endure life-and-death hardships, living peacefully—what's wrong with that?" he questioned.

"Father has quelled this unrest, driven away the foreign armies, but the alien realm hasn't achieved its goals and won't give up easily. There's no telling when they will come back.

At that time, it won't be as simple as attacking the frontier. The ancient passes where the ancient world borders the alien realm are more than just one.

When the foreign iron hooves invade this scattered world where everyone fights on their own, even being a true immortal offers no safety.

Therefore, I must prove my path as an immortal king and emerge in this era, to control my own destiny."

Wang Heng's eyes shone brightly, revealing ambition in front of Wang Geng. "Do you know how difficult and arduous the road to becoming an immortal king is? Without my influence to deter others, your path to becoming an immortal king will be even more challenging.

At that time, the losses could be more significant, and you might fall halfway before reaching the end," Wang Geng continued to clarify the stakes, trying to probe Wang Heng's true thoughts.

"I am unafraid. If I can't stand at the pinnacle of the immortal path, what peace can there be? What protection? Just like the dark curse on your leg now, the weak me is powerless, only the strong me can think of solutions.

This feeling of powerlessness, I abhor it, and even if I die on the path to becoming an immortal king, I will press forward without hesitation."

Wang Heng's words moved Wang Geng and surprised him.

Because from his understanding of his son, there was a high probability he would choose the stable path of becoming a true immortal.

Since birth, "Wang Heng" has enjoyed the treatment of an immortal prince, being unparalleled in terms of status and resources. Whatever path to take was prearranged by his father and elders. How to build the foundation and strengthen it were all according to Wang Geng's planning.

He was like a puppet, passively growing stronger.

Indeed, the foundation of the immortal prince was extraordinary and heaven-defying, but "Wang Heng" lost creativity, the essence of a cultivator's spirit, and became somewhat incapable of independence.

Wang Geng saw this and knew his previous spoiling had misled this extraordinarily talented child, turning him into a flower in a greenhouse.

Unexpectedly, a gift awakening and a memory loss brought great growth to this child, granting him the ability to step out of the swaddling clothes and face the winds and waves.

Cultivation begins with cultivating the heart. To prove the path as an immortal king, one must first possess the ambition of an immortal king. In this aspect, Wang Heng made the cut.

Wang Geng couldn't help but feel gratified and breathed a long sigh of relief.

Every father hopes for his son to become a dragon; who would want their child to be a lazy eater and loafer?

After calming his emotions a bit, Wang Geng's expression and gaze turned severe. He stared intently at Wang Heng and spoke of a second path he had long prepared.

"As previously mentioned, your original physical form has been tainted by a dark curse. If your primordial spirit returns and follows the path of the Dao Seed Method, it would inevitably bring a devastating impact when you aim to become an Immortal King. It might deliver a fatal blow at a crucial moment, causing you to fail at the final stretch. Solving this problem is actually quite simple."

At this point, Wang Geng paused for a moment, then spoke words that shocked Wang Heng.

"You just need to let this body succumb to the darkness, and you can perfectly avoid the contamination of the origin. In fact, the origin eroded by the dark curse might even become nourishment for your evolution."

"What? Father wants me to fall into darkness?" Wang Heng was truly shocked. For a moment, he doubted whether his Immortal King father had changed his stance, but he quickly shook his head. That was impossible.

Wang Geng sternly looked into his eyes and corrected his misunderstanding.

"It's the physical body falling into darkness, not the whole of you."

"This..." Wang Heng was puzzled. How could the physical body alone falling into darkness still remain with him in the end? He voiced his doubt.

"Don't rush. This relates to a technique I’m about to teach you," explained Wang Geng.

Afterward, he began to describe a mysterious method to Wang Heng.

"Essentially, this is a method of creating a clone. Everyone knows that the clone method is not mainstream in the cultivation world, but this technique has many enticing advantages. Despite its drawbacks, numerous cultivators still pursue it unreservedly. The most common method is the division into two parts.

Many powerful beings have mastered this, yet none have used it as their main technique because, at a certain level, the distinction between primary and secondary becomes meaningless.

This doesn't imply that such a path isn’t viable; it's just that the level of the techniques they’ve mastered isn’t sufficient. Some supreme beings have divided their bodies into six parts, each sealed in a different longevity drug, wandering across worlds, experiencing countless paths without anyone daring to touch their avatars.

As long as the technique is advanced enough, it can be feasible. Once, when I was traveling through worlds, I encountered a truly stunning being who blazed a new trail and created an unprecedented method of cloning.

This being was truly exceptional. By using the essence, spirit, and vitality of the human body as boundaries, he divided himself into three parts. Each part cultivated the Dao separately, and when they all reached the pinnacle, they would merge to achieve an ultimate sublimation, ascending to unimaginable heights.

However, this method differs from the ancient world's clone techniques. One entails death for one body and strengthening for another, allowing for further divisions to push the limits, while the other forfeits the path if one body dies, as essence, spirit, and vitality are indispensable to the human form. The method I intend to pass on to you is this second type, focusing on essence, spirit, and vitality.”

"What happened to that being in the end?"

"He died. One of his clones perished accidentally, severing his path to the summit, and eventually, the other two bodies also perished," Wang Geng stated plainly.

Upon hearing this, Wang Heng remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, he resolutely spoke, "Father, I want to learn this method."