The Verdant Vine: A Mortal's Ascension

When bandits destroy his village, young Zhang Ling flees into the mountains—only to be parasitized by a mutated vine that rewrites his very flesh. Cast into the hidden world of immortal cultivation with nothing but a mysterious bead and his symbiotic curse, he must master the vine's power to survive. From Qi Condensation to Golden Core and beyond, Zhang Ling carves his path through a realm of demonic beasts, ancient sects, and forbidden arts. In a world where mortals are prey and immortals wage eternal war, one question burns: can a parasitized outcast challenge the heavens themselves?