Perfect World: Dream of the Immortal Era

Time surged forward like a mighty river, and from the black fog emerged an immense silhouette. It stood atop a massive tomb, gazing in the direction of the Border Imperial City.

This humanoid creature belonged to the burial lineage. Through long evolution and journeys, it had reached a frightening existence at the level of a Burial King.

Its eyes were a deep, scarlet darkness; its face slightly decayed; its arms pale, emerging and disappearing in the magical fog, an eerie sight. Its body was swollen and blistered, as if soaked in water.

Its gaze was cold and devoid of any emotion, fixated on the Primordial Imperial City, unmoving as if petrified.

Suddenly, this eerie, fog-shrouded Burial King, filled with death and ominous presence, squinted his eyes and looked elsewhere.

With a cold snort, he wrapped himself in the black mist and slowly submerged into the tomb, returning to slumber once more.

In the direction of his last gaze appeared two towering figures. They too were Burial Kings, but unlike the one from the tomb, they bore no aura of death or ominousness. They were more sacred than the Immortal Kings of the celestial realm.

The two stood tall, majestic as mountain peaks, enveloped in a shrouded mist, rendering them indistinct.

They first watched the tomb from which the dark breath emanated.

“It's the creature from the branch lineage, awakened by the Immortal King's ripple,” one remarked.

“No need to bother with him. Different paths, different ambitions,” the other replied.

The burial grounds were not like the vast, deathly tombs as imagined by outsiders. Some areas were even more sacred and brilliant than the secret lands of the celestial family. Burials weren't all decayed or terrifying; the higher the cultivation realm, the more sanctified the appearance.

However, some supreme burials preferred the sinister, living in perilous lands cloaked in demonic fog.

Relations between the two types of burials were not good, sometimes subtly hostile. Sacred and darkness, eternal adversaries.

Over the ages, friction and wars erupted between the two sides, but restraint was always exercised, avoiding total annihilation.

The gaze shifted back to the Border Imperial City.

“Surprising, that city still stands,” a Burial King of holy appearance remarked in awe. He had slept for an extremely long time. Last he awakened, the Border Clans had only four Immortal King ancestors; now there were seven.

In other words, during his slumber, three Immortal Kings had emerged from the Primordial World, spanning at least three epochs in sleep.

During times of peace, the Border Imperial City remains dormant, buried beneath layers of seals that isolate them from the world. Even when Wang Geng vanquished an immortal king, they did not stir from their slumber.

But this time was different. The Border Imperial City gathered dozens of immortal king-level beings, and the aura they collectively exuded was something not even those seals could suppress. Such intense force awakened the two great Burial Kings, including the branch’s supreme Burial King who revered darkness.

“It seems a battle involving immortal kings just occurred there. The Origin Ancient Realm triumphed, slaying an immortal king from the alien realm," one of the Burial Kings murmured, a river of time flowing within his eyes. Clearly, he had already perceived the major events happening lately at the border.

"The King of the Disk personally arrived, and other immortal kings sent key family members to offer congratulations. Immortal kings from across the Origin Ancient Realm gathered for this grand kingly affair—it’s one of the epoch's most memorable events." Another Burial King spoke, casually noting this event in an ancient Burial Book.

"Having finally awakened and coinciding with such a grand occasion, perhaps we should observe in secret," they suggested.

"Agreed, but we must remain undetected to avoid unnecessary trouble," they concurred. Having reached an agreement, the two Burial Kings concealed themselves, crossing the borders and approaching the city. However, they dared not get too close to the city, brimming with immortal kings, choosing instead to observe from a distance and discreetly gather information from passing beings.

Some immortal kings had already noticed these conditions, including the likes of Wuzhong and other prominent leaders. However, their consensus was to ignore the Burial Kings as long as they did not cause trouble.

Within the city, Wang Heng and other young prodigies exited the True Immortal Courtyard, alerted that the king bestowing ceremony was about to commence.

The streets and mountains within the ancient city were densely packed with cultivators, all gazing up to the sky.

Above, the World Tree’s branches stretched across the sky, shrouded in chaotic energy. A single leaf supported a star, embodying supreme power. Countless leaves rained the rules of the Great Dao down upon the city, resembling a dense shower of rain.

Beyond doubt, it was another evolutionary feast, guiding numerous cultivators into the enlightenment realm. Although many had already broken through earlier due to the King of the Disk’s presence, further progress was unlikely. However, the abundant raining Dao principles still enriched them, deepening their insights into their paths and the Tenets of Heaven and Earth.

Wang Heng witnessed this spectacular scene—first the blessings from the immortal kings, and now the World Tree bestowing a rain of principles, prompting countless cultivators to advance.

Such an event seldom occurs even in an epoch, explaining why cultivators from the Thirty-Three Heavens rushed here desperately.

Simultaneously, such scenes seemed unimaginable to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths of the Perfectly Chaotic Epoch. Opportunities deemed impossible by them fell like a gentle drizzle here.

Suddenly, a gentle voice reached Wang Heng’s ears, hailing from Shi King of the Seven Kings, inviting him to join the gathering place of the immortal kings.

“Buzz!”

A radiant path unfurled, stretching out beneath Wang Heng's feet.

Nearby, Li Daoge, Zi Shiqing, and many other prodigies from the ancient world witnessed this scene with envious expressions.

This was an invitation from an Immortal King, a summons to join their exclusive circle. For young people of their generation, Wang Heng was the only one qualified to converse with such an exalted group.

“It's no surprise it's Wang Zu. Although he always mingles with us, fundamentally, his status and position are far above ours,” a descendant of an Immortal King sighed.

“That's why we must work hard to cultivate, to strive to close the gap.”

“Easier said than done! Even when Wang Zu's Dao essence shattered, and he lost all his cultivation, his name remains atop the ancient monument. We can only look up to him in awe.”

“Enough of that, the prodigies from the Immortal Domain are here. They always act so high and mighty, which is truly annoying. This time, with all our prodigies gathered, we cannot let them behave as arrogantly as before.”

Saying this, the group of young prodigies headed towards the direction of the visitors from the Immortal Domain, intent on engaging in a fierce competition with the legendary youngsters from the land of immortals.

Meanwhile, Wang Heng had already stepped onto the path laid by the Stone King. With a flash of light, Wang Heng blinked and found himself standing before a grand palace.

Looking ahead, the palace was majestic and exuded an overwhelming aura of immortal energy, giving it a grand and imposing presence.

Huge beasts, as terrifying as small mountains, lounged on the ground with their eyes half-closed, seemingly napping.

Creatures like the Fearless Lion from Mount Sumeru, the White Jade Dragon Elephant, and the Blue-Gold Marten were known for their fierce reputations. Even after joining the ranks of ancient monks and gaining some Buddhist virtue, their inherent ferocity was hard to suppress.

Wang Heng's arrival immediately caught the attention of these true immortal creatures, for this was a place where immortal beings congregated, and no mere mortal was allowed.

However, upon seeing that it was Wang Heng, they were no longer surprised.

One after another, they approached with smiles and greeted Wang Heng.

“Greetings, Wang Zu!”

The gathered immortals all hailed him as "Wang Ancestor," leading others to mistakenly believe Wang Heng was an Immortal King.

Internally, Wang Heng chuckled at such an honorific, knowing it was not his power but his background that earned it. However, he firmly believed that one day he would possess the strength befitting the title "Wang Ancestor."

After warmly greeting the assembled immortals, Wang Heng excused himself, stating he was going to meet the Stone King.

As they watched Wang Heng stride towards the grand palace where the Immortal Kings held council, the other immortals could not help but feel a pang of envy.

It was a sacred ground one could only tread with the prowess of an Immortal King; otherwise, only the quasi-Immortal Kings, representatives of the Immortal Domain, could enter. Those who didn't meet these criteria had to wait outside the palace gates.

Yet now, Wang Heng, a mere mortal being, was able to enter, a fact that truly astounded all.

As he was about to cross the threshold into the domain of the grand palace, Wang Heng felt somewhat relieved, though he was well aware of the immense pressure from the stares of quasi-Immortal Kings and True Immortals upon him.

Just as he was about to step through the palace doorway, Wang Heng noticed a large shadow had strangely enveloped his own. Chills ran down his spine as if some ferocious beast had fixed its gaze upon him.

Whipping around, he truly did see a giant beast standing behind him. This black beast was enormous, with legs as stout and thick as the palace columns. Its fur, sleek and glossy, was utterly pitch-black and pristine.

Clearly, it was a monstrous creature of pure black.

When Wang Heng looked up, he met eyes with a great pair of beastly eyes and two massive nostrils. "Black Dog? Black Sovereign?"

Wang Heng mused to himself, recognizing the giant black dog for what it was. Given the time and the importance of this event, the only enormous black dog permitted near the Immortal King's grand palace could be none other than the one accompanying Immortal King Wuzhong.

Before Wang Heng could say anything, the black dog spoke first, its nostrils gently twitching, fixing a penetrating stare on Wang Heng's head. Now and then, saliva dribbled from the corner of its mouth, as if it intended to swallow Wang Heng's head whole. "Boy, this king's instincts tell me there's something good inside your head. Swallowing it might just make me a king and an ancestor."

Undaunted, Wang Heng smiled and replied, "If you were to swallow my head, I don't know if you'd become a king and ancestor, but I'm certain you'd have no place to be laid to rest."

Startled, the black dog was taken aback. Wang Heng was the first mortal being to speak to it with such audacity.

Its eyes were deep and emitted a fierce light, an aura spreading from its entire body like a prehistoric beast unchained.

However, Wang Heng remained unmoved, looking at the black dog with a calm gaze.

After a long time, the black dog finally withdrew its aura, scrutinizing Wang Heng from head to toe.

"Interesting," it remarked, "It seems there's a reason why you dominate the ancient tablet's realm of Dao. It's not easy being the child of that person, an ordinary life is almost impossible."

"You're too kind," Wang Heng replied humbly, "You must be the legendary Black Dog True Immortal under Lord Wuzhong the Immortal King. I've heard tales of you."

"What? Black Dog True Immortal? Is that what you people call me now?" The black dog frowned, seemingly displeased with the title.

"Indeed, senior, your true form was a black dog. Naturally, after becoming a True Immortal, you are known as Black Dog True Immortal," Wang Heng nodded seriously.

"How insolent," the black dog grumbled, "I don't know which scoundrel coined that title, but if I catch them, they'll regret it."

Then it told Wang Heng he could call it Black King and extended an olive branch to him.

"Kid, others might call you Ancestor Wang, but I won’t. In the cultivation world, strength is paramount. You're not even an immortal being. Can you bear the title of 'Ancestor'?

However, if you choose the right path and rise swiftly to true power, then you'll be different. Are you interested in exploring the Immortal Domain with me? With my reputation, no one would dare challenge you there."

Wang Heng’s lips twitched subtly—clearly empty boasting. He shook his head without surprise. Despite feeling a familiar affection for this character from stories past, upon truly meeting, he realized he couldn’t indulge in nostalgia too deeply or he'd suffer the consequences himself.

After declining the black dog's offer, Wang Heng bid farewell, stepping into the grand doors of the Immortal Palace. Invited by the Stone King, how could he delay long?

Watching Wang Heng's departing figure, the black dog appeared thoughtful and murmured to itself, "This lad's primordial spirit... is unusually strong. His other talents are rare gems, a real prodigy for cultivation."

The Great Palace was vast, suffused with ethereal aura everywhere, permeated by the laws and presence of the Immortal King.

Wang Heng walked slowly into a broad hall, and what he saw there startled him.

In the vast hall, all the assembled Immortal Kings sat cross-legged. Each one was seated on a divine wooden cushion, enveloped in dense chaotic energy. They exuded an aura of profound mystery, their eyes reflecting indifference, as if they had seen through the vicissitudes of life and the ever-changing world, emanating an imposing majesty.