Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

In the deepest part of the valley, near a small waterfall and pool, he created a simple cave dwelling by combining illusion arrays and contractual restrictions. The cave dwelling was not large, with only two stone chambers, but its advantage lay in its seclusion, and it could draw upon the water flow of the waterfall and the water vapor from the pool to form a natural circulation and barrier of spiritual energy.

After settling in, Fu Shaoping did not immediately begin his deep seclusion.

He first spent half a month further refining the defenses and concealment arrangements around the cave. In addition to the usual illusion arrays and early warning systems, he also combined the concept of contract arrays recorded in the "General Outline of Contract Origins" with the sealing aura of the Demon Sealing Stele to set up a unique "Contract Maze Array." This array does not focus on killing, but it can disrupt the intruder's sense of direction and spiritual positioning, causing them to unknowingly bypass the core area of ​​the cave and be marked with a barely perceptible contract mark, making it easier for Fu Shaoping to track them down later.

Only then did he begin to process the proceeds from the trip.

The first thing to do, naturally, was to deal with the "Soul-Nourishing Jade." He suspended it in the center of the quiet room, slowly stimulating its effects of nourishing the soul and stabilizing the spirit with his own contractual true essence. A milky-white, warm radiance spread out, not only nourishing his soul, which was still somewhat fragile after the repeated battles and the backlash from purification, but also enveloping the dormant source core and the fragment of the "Contract Order" like a warm current, gently assisting them in recovery and reconciliation.

He could sense that the source core was recovering slightly faster in this environment than before. And that cold, iron-gray fragment no longer seemed so aloof, occasionally revealing a faint yet clearer rhythm of the contract.

Every day, he spends two hours meditating under the glow of the Soul-Nourishing Jade, nurturing his soul and consolidating his mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation, while slowly refining the Demon-Sealing Stele to deepen his connection with it.

The remaining time was spent comprehending the fragment of the "Contract".

This is no easy task. The contractual information contained in the fragments is too ancient and fragmented, and carries a strong aura of battlefield slaughter and destruction. To venture into it rashly would be extremely risky and could even be corrupted by the negative will remaining within.

Fu Shaoping adopted an extremely cautious, meticulous approach.

Instead of directly deciphering the fragmented memories, he began by examining the worn marks on the surface of the fragments. These marks were remnants of the contract runes of the "Contract Order." He compared and deduced these remnants with various contract runes he had seen in the "Ancient Rune Chronicles," the Ancient Contract Valley, and even the core ruins of the Xuan Yuan Contract Sect, attempting to reconstruct some of their original structures.

At the same time, he used the resonance of the source core and his increasingly profound understanding of the "General Principles of the Origin" to feel the faint contract rhythm inside the fragment, trying to understand the "rhythm" and "rules" of its power.

It was a tedious, slow, yet surprising process.

He discovered that the contract runes contained within these remnants were of extremely high level, far surpassing the Foundation Establishment chapter of the "General Outline of Contract Origins". They seemed to involve more macroscopic "group contracts", "war contracts", "guardian contracts" and... some kind of "purification contracts" or "repulsion contracts" to resist "erosion" and "devouring" forces.

This perfectly matches Xuan Shuzi's mention of the "extraterrestrial demon" invasion and the scenes he saw in his fragmented memories. This "contract token" is very likely the core token used by the Xuan Yuan Contract Sect to govern its members, fight against external enemies, and even construct some kind of large-scale defensive or counterattack contract!
As his understanding of the rune structure deepened, he began to try to simulate and outline the "meaning" of these fragmented runes using his own contractual true essence. Not to fully unleash them, but to simulate their "form" and "spirit," and to feel the way their power flowed.

This process gave him a completely new understanding of the power of contracts. In the past, his contract techniques were mostly focused on "binding," "interference," and "protection" between individuals. But the fragments of the "Contract Order" revealed a more grand, systematic way of contracts that could mobilize and integrate collective power and even resonate with the laws of heaven and earth!

He vaguely touched upon the thresholds of higher levels such as "contract array", "contract resonance", and "law attraction".

At the same time, the tragic will of killing and protection coexisting within the fragment was subtly influencing him. It was not simple rage or resentment, but a resolute determination to protect a certain belief, even at the cost of shattering oneself and others. This will was in line with the tragic spirit of Xuan Shuzi who sacrificed himself to suppress the demon.

Through this contemplation, Fu Shaoping's mindset became more focused and resilient, and he also gained a greater sense of responsibility. A contract is not merely a tool, but a promise, a safeguard, and a bond connecting the individual to the group, and even to heaven and earth.

Spring comes and autumn goes, and the sacred bamboo in Youhuang Valley withers and flourishes in a single season.

Fu Shaoping has been in seclusion in his cave for nearly a year.

That year, he underwent tremendous changes.

With the help of the Soul-Nourishing Jade and his own arduous cultivation, his cultivation level was completely stabilized at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and steadily progressing towards the late stage. His Contract True Essence became increasingly pure and refined, carrying a unique aura of both killing intent and protection, originating from the fragments of the "Contract Order".

Not only was his soul fully restored, but it also became exceptionally resilient and powerful due to the long-term nourishment of the warm jade and the baptism of the fragmented will. His spiritual awareness now covered an area of ​​five miles in radius, and his insight was astonishing.

His understanding of the "General Outline of the Origin of Contracts," especially the "Human Contract" section, has been thoroughly grasped, and he has begun to explore the basics of the "Earth Contract" (establishing a deeper temporary contractual relationship with the earth veins of Youhuang Valley to aid in cultivation and concealment).

The Demon-Sealing Stele has been partially refined and can exert some of its sealing and suppressing power, becoming a powerful trump card in his hands.

The greatest gain, however, was the understanding gained from comprehending that fragment of the "contract".

Although he is still far from fully understanding and mastering the secrets of the contract contained within, he has already been able to initially mobilize a trace of extremely weak yet highly potent contract power from the fragment! This power can greatly enhance the power of his own contract magic, especially when fighting against evil, corrosive, and curse-like forces, with remarkable effects.

He even tried to combine this trace of "contract power" with the primal aura of the source core and the sealing power of the Demon Sealing Stele to create a new defensive spell prototype containing the triple meanings of "purification", "protection" and "contract resonance" - which he called "Three Elements Protective Contract Light".

Once mastered, this technique not only boasts astonishing defensive capabilities but also inflicts contract backlash and purification effects on attackers, making it far more powerful than the "Mysterious Origin Heavy Water Shield".

On this day, Fu Shaoping was in his quiet room, trying to integrate the newly comprehended fragments of "contract" talisman structures into the "True Word Contract Lock" when suddenly, an extremely hidden warning contract he had left in the "Contract Maze Array" outside his cave was triggered!

It wasn't a wild beast, nor was it an ordinary cultivator who had stumbled upon it. The way it was touched was cautious and tentative, and there were no further unusual movements afterward, as if it had simply brushed against the edge of the formation while passing by.

But Fu Shaoping immediately became alert. Deep within the secluded bamboo valley, few people ventured. This seemingly casual disturbance often signified a purposeful investigation!

He immediately stopped cultivating, concealed all his aura, and maximized his "Spell-Breaking Spiritual Eye" and Contractual Spiritual Sense, quietly extending them towards the direction from which the warning had come. The cave was located behind the waterfall, the roaring water providing natural cover. His spiritual sense, like invisible tentacles, swept outwards through the water curtain.

A moment later, he "saw" three people on a hillside covered with lush silver bamboo, about three miles away from the cave.

All three were men, dressed plainly, like common low-level rogue cultivators. Their cultivation levels were also low, two at the sixth level of Qi Refining and one at the seventh level. They were pretending to be gathering bamboo shoots and a type of valley specialty called "Silver Glow Moss," but their eyes kept glancing in the general direction of the waterfall and the cave, their movements carrying a subtle hint of deliberate tension.

What chilled Fu Shaoping even more was that, under the vision of his "Spiritual Eye of Breaking the Law," he could see that the soul fluctuations of these three individuals did not entirely match their external cultivation levels. They appeared more solid and...possessing a well-trained uniformity. Moreover, they all carried an extremely faint yet incongruous, cold and sharp aura—somewhat similar to the aura of the young man in brocade robes from the Poison Dragon Gang in the alley of Lingxi Market! But it was more subtle, more...professional.

“They’re spies. And, most likely, spies sent by the Poison Dragon Gang, or… the Shadow Pavilion!” Fu Shaoping’s eyes turned icy. It seemed that although he had left Lingxi County, he hadn’t completely escaped trouble. The fact that they could find his way to this remote Youhuang Valley meant they had been tracking him for quite some time, and their tracking methods were quite sophisticated.

Was it exposed at the previous auction? Or did the street fighting in Lingxi Village leave behind some undiscovered tracking marks? Or perhaps, Youyinglou has a wider network of informants and deductive abilities?
In any case, this place is no longer safe.

Fu Shaoping didn't immediately alert the three spies. He quickly began tidying up everything in the cave. He put away the Soul-Nourishing Jade, carefully hid the contract fragments and source core close to his body, and put the Demon-Sealing Stele and other important items into his storage bag. He carefully checked everything again, erasing any traces that might reveal his identity and personal information.

Then, he waited quietly.

The three scouts "collected" on the hillside for about half an hour, but seemed to find nothing more unusual. They exchanged glances, put away their things, and walked out of the valley as if nothing had happened.

Fu Shaoping's spiritual sense, like the most patient hunter, attached itself to the "causal entanglement contract" mark on the Qi Refining seventh level cultivator, who had the highest cultivation level, from afar and in an extremely concealed manner. The mark was so faint that it was almost impossible to detect.

This mark is not aggressive and has no real-time monitoring capabilities, but as long as the other party is within a certain range, or performs certain specific actions related to Fu Shaoping (such as reporting or transmitting information about him), Fu Shaoping can vaguely perceive its location and status.

He's playing the long game, trying to catch a big fish. He needs to at least know who's looking for him and to what extent they've found him.

After watching the three scouts leave Youhuang Valley, Fu Shaoping sat quietly in his cave for two more hours until night fell.

Night is the best cover.

He left the cave silently, like a shadow blending into the night, without disturbing any living creature in the valley. Before leaving, he activated several hidden contract runes, completely concealing the entrance to the cave and leaving behind several misleading energy traces pointing in other directions.

Instead of chasing the scout in the direction he had left, he chose the opposite direction and stealthily ventured deeper into the mountains.

Now that Youhuang Valley has been exposed, he will continue to venture deeper into this treacherous, rarely visited place. At the same time, he also needs to find out which force is tracking him and what their purpose is.

The night wind was biting, and the mountains and forests were silent.

Fu Shaoping's figure rose and fell among the mountains, quickly disappearing into the vast night.

A new escape and counter-pursuit begins. But this time, he is no longer the panicked, severely injured, and weakened fugitive he once was.

With a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation level, profound mastery of contracts, a Source Core, a Demon Sealing Stele, fragments of the Contract Token, and that wisp of causal mark quietly attached to the spy...

The roles of hunter and prey may have already been quietly shifting.

Seven days.

Fu Shaoping traveled stealthily through the mountains and forests for seven days. He did not deliberately conceal his presence, nor did he use his full speed. He simply moved towards the "Ten Thousand Poison Swamp," a region known for its treacherous terrain and complexity, at the southwestern border of the Zhao Kingdom with the caution and speed expected of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He needs validation, and he also needs a "stage".

On the third day, he deliberately "inadvertently" left half a blurry footprint by a stream, along with a faint but deliberately amplified trace of the true essence of the contract—imitating a certain contract fluctuation he had used in the alleyway battle of Lingxi Village.

On the evening of the fifth day, while taking a short rest on a mountain ridge with a wide view, he used his "Spell-Breaking Spiritual Eyes" to perceive far beyond his peers and vaguely caught several extremely faint energy fluctuations in the far distance behind him, almost blending into the environment, like ghosts.

The other party was very careful and maintained an excellent distance. If Fu Shaoping hadn't been prepared and had exceptional perception, he would have had a hard time detecting them.

"They really did follow." Fu Shaoping sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm, as if he hadn't noticed anything, and continued heading towards the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp.

As they approached the edge of the swamp, the humidity in the air grew heavier, the vegetation became shorter and more grotesque, and a faint, pungent odor, a mixture of humus and some kind of sweet, poisonous miasma, began to permeate the air. The ground gradually became muddy, and visibility was obscured by an increasingly thick, multicolored fog.

The Swamp of Ten Thousand Poisons, as its name suggests, is a paradise for poisonous insects, miasma, poisonous plants, and all sorts of bizarre creatures. Deeper within, it is said to hide the ruins of ancient poison cultivators or evil sects, making it fraught with danger. However, its complex and harsh environment also provides excellent conditions for escaping pursuit and turning the tables.

On the morning of the seventh day, Fu Shaoping stepped into the edge of the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp. The ground beneath his feet was soft, slippery mud; each step required careful avoidance of brightly colored fungi and vines entwined with poisonous thorns. The multicolored poisonous miasma flowed through the forest as if alive, sometimes thin, sometimes thick, reducing visibility to less than ten feet. (End of Chapter)