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

"Hahaha!" The leader of the men in black suddenly burst into wild laughter. "It's too late now! The Blood Corpse is about to be born, and none of you can save him!"

He suddenly waved his hand, and the remaining two men in black immediately pounced on him, brandishing short knives that gleamed with black light.

Shen Qingshan's eyes turned cold, and with a flick of his wrist, the sword light shone once more.

“Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!”

After a few crisp clangs of metal clashing, the two men in black had their daggers knocked away, and each had a thin line of blood on their throats. They clutched their necks and fell to the ground, their faces filled with disbelief.

"Shaoping, save them!" Shen Qingshan gave the order, and then drew his sword and charged toward the leader of the men in black.

"Yes!" Fu Shaoping immediately responded and rushed to Afu's side in the center of the blood array.

He crouched down, carefully examining the blood array beneath his feet. The array patterns were complex, the runes bizarre, and it emitted a nauseating stench.

"The Heart-Cleansing Mantra... Yes, first stabilize his heart meridian." Fu Shaoping took a deep breath, clearing all distracting thoughts from his mind. He sat cross-legged, formed hand seals, and began chanting the Heart-Cleansing Mantra taught by his sect.

As the incantation was chanted, a gentle surge of true energy flowed from his body and slowly entered Afu's body. Afu's previously empty eyes seemed to regain a glimmer of life, but it was immediately suppressed by the surging crimson light within the formation.

"No, we must break the array's core first!" Fu Shaoping frowned. He saw the seven corners of the blood array, where the seven black candles were the key to maintaining the array's operation.

He drew his longsword, and with a light touch of the tip, accurately stabbed the nearest black candle.

"Fuck-"

The moment the sword tip touched the candle, a plume of black smoke shot into the sky, emitting a piercing scream, as if something was struggling painfully within it.

Fu Shaoping dared not be careless. With a flick of his wrist, the sword flashed and quickly extinguished the other two candles.

The light of the blood array dimmed slightly.

"You're courting death!" The leader of the men in black roared when he saw Fu Shaoping destroy the magic array. He pulled out a blood-red talisman from his pocket and slammed it against his chest.

"Blood Corpse, awaken!"

His voice was like a summons from hell, and the entire earth god temple trembled.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the ground in the center of the blood array suddenly cracked open, and a thick, blood-like black liquid gushed out from the crack, gathering in the air to form a blurry human shape.

Its body was composed of blood and rotting flesh, emitting a suffocating stench. Its blood-red eyes were devoid of any emotion, displaying only a pure lust for slaughter.

"Shaoping, be careful!" Shen Qingshan's voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry.

The blood-soaked corpse let out a deafening roar and pounced on Fu Shaoping. Its speed was astonishing; its two razor-sharp claws whistled through the air as it aimed straight for Fu Shaoping's head.

Fu Shaoping's pupils contracted sharply, and he almost instinctively swung his sword to defend himself.

"clang!"

With a loud bang, sparks flew everywhere. Fu Shaoping felt a tremendous force coming from the sword, his hand instantly split open, blood gushing out, and the sword almost slipped from his grasp.

He was jolted backward by the force, his chest heaving with blood and qi.

Chapter Six: Unity of Heart and Sword
Having landed a successful blow, the blood corpse roared and pounced again, its attacks like a tidal wave, giving Fu Shaoping no chance to catch his breath.

Fu Shaoping's mind went blank; the shadow of death had never loomed over him so vividly.

At this critical moment, Shen Qingshan's voice, and all the details of their journey, flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern:
"In all matters, first examine your own heart, then examine the sword in your hand."

"On the path of cultivation, life and death hang by a thread. Only by remaining calm in the face of danger can one live longer."

"Swords are for slaying demons and monsters, not for fighting and killing mortals."

"Your sword is meant for protection."

These words were like a clear spring, instantly washing away the fear and panic in his heart.

Fu Shaoping took a deep breath, his eyes gradually clearing. He stopped thinking about whether he could defeat the monster before him, and instead focused all his attention on every step he took and every sword stroke in his hand.

He began to observe the blood corpse's attack rhythm—after each pounce, it would pause for an extremely short time, the moment when its old strength was exhausted and its new strength had not yet been generated!

"It's now!"

Taking advantage of a moment when the blood zombie missed its attack, Fu Shaoping moved nimbly to the side, narrowly avoiding the blood zombie's claws.

At the same time, he poured all his true energy into the tip of the sword without reservation, and every meridian in his body was activated at this moment, emitting a slight hum.

"The Three Styles of Sunset Glow - Rising Sun Glow!"

Fu Shaoping let out a low shout, and his longsword transformed into a dazzling ray of light, carrying an indomitable momentum, precisely piercing the most vulnerable spot between the blood corpse's eyebrows.

"Pfft!"

The sound of the sword tip piercing flesh was clearly audible.

The blood corpse's body stiffened abruptly, its movements freezing instantly. A flicker of disbelief flashed in its blood-red eyes, before the light quickly dimmed.

"Roar--!"

A scream more piercing than ever before emanated from the blood corpse's mouth, and its body began to convulse and swell violently, as if it were about to explode at any moment.

Fu Shaoping abruptly withdrew his longsword, and without hesitation, pulled Afu aside and retreated hastily.

"boom!"

The next moment, the blood corpse's body exploded, turning into a pool of foul-smelling blood that splashed onto the ground, instantly corroding small holes in the ground.

The leader of the men in black froze when he saw the blood corpse destroyed. He knew the situation was hopeless and turned to flee.

"Trying to leave?" Shen Qingshan sneered, and with a flash of sword light, the black-clad man's head rolled to the ground with a "thud".

The battle ended, and the temple returned to silence, broken only by the crackling of the burning candles. Fu Shaoping then realized that his back was soaked with cold sweat, and his hand gripping the sword hilt was still trembling slightly.

He went to Afu's side, checked his condition, and found that although he was weak, his life was no longer in danger. He breathed a sigh of relief, gently helped Afu up, and leaned him against the wall.

Shen Qingshan walked over and looked at Fu Shaoping. The sternness in her eyes was gone, replaced by a deep sense of relief.

“You’ve grown up.” He patted Fu Shaoping on the shoulder, his voice gentle yet firm.

Fu Shaoping raised his head and looked at his senior brother, his eyes showing a hint of weariness, but even more so an unprecedented determination.

“Senior brother, I understand.” He said solemnly, “The sword is not only a weapon of killing, but also a protective barrier. If the mind is not calm, the sword will not be steady; if the sword is not steady, how can it protect?”

Shen Qingshan smiled and nodded: "Very good. Remember how you felt today; it will become one of the most precious parts of your sword heart."

He looked up at the window and saw that the blood moon's light was gradually fading, and a faint white light was beginning to appear on the horizon.

"Let's go, it's dawn."

The two men, supporting the frail Afu, walked out of the dilapidated earth god temple and into the new day. Shen Qingshan's gaze lingered on Fu Shaoping for a moment, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if piercing through the morning mist and the passage of time. In the end, he said nothing, only nodded slightly, and turned to walk out of the temple first. Fu Shaoping, supporting Afu, followed closely behind.

Outside the temple, the first light of dawn washed away the eeriness of the night, leaving only the fresh scent of grass and trees in the mountains and the faint crowing of roosters in the distance. Though weak, Afu was still lucid, and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you so much, two immortals, for saving me..."

"Go back and rest well. Avoid going to gloomy places these days." Shen Qingshan said calmly, handing over a small amulet tied with a red string. "Wear it close to your body; it will calm your soul and stabilize your spirit."

Afu accepted it with profuse thanks.

The three walked in silence along the mountain path, leaving the earth god temple, still reeking of blood, far behind. Fu Shaoping's inner turmoil gradually subsided, but a deeper thought began to surge. He recalled the life-or-death struggle of the previous night, the thrust that seemed to merge his heart and sword into one, shining as brightly as the sunset, and his senior brother's words, "You've grown up." A complex mix of emotions welled up within him.

Suddenly, Shen Qingshan, who was walking ahead, stopped in her tracks. Without turning around, her clear, cold voice drifted on the wind:
What are your thoughts on what happened last night?

Fu Shaoping pondered for a moment before cautiously replying, "Junior brother is dull-witted. In the past, he only knew how to practice swordsmanship for speed and strength. After this battle, he realized that only with a pure mind can one unleash the true essence of sword intent. When facing an enemy, if fear arises, the sword will be delayed by even a fraction."

"Hmm." Shen Qingshan remained noncommittal and continued walking. "Anything else?"

Looking at his senior brother's tall yet somewhat lonely back, and recalling his decisiveness in slaying the leader of the men in black last night, as well as his seemingly strict but actually protective manner towards him, Fu Shaoping felt a surge of emotion and blurted out, "I understand now even more the painstaking efforts of my senior brother's teachings. Slaying demons and monsters is not for showing off courage, but for protection. If the heart is without rules, the sword becomes a demon."

This time, Shen Qingshan stopped. He turned around, the morning light outlining the contours of his profile, his eyes sharp as swords, piercing straight into Fu Shaoping's heart.

“Well said.” His tone remained calm, yet carried a subtle hint of gravity. “But you must remember, last night’s blood corpse was merely the lowest level of the evil corpse-refining techniques. The true danger is far beyond your imagination. Your ability to grasp the basics of ‘Mind and Sword as One’ today is both an opportunity and a stroke of luck. You must not become complacent because of it.”

His gaze swept over Fu Shaoping's still slightly trembling hand, where the blood had dried.

"The path to immortality is long and arduous. What you have seen today is but the tip of the iceberg. From now on..." He paused, as if thinking of something, a faint shadow of gloom flashed across his eyes, then disappeared, "...you must be more diligent and hold fast to your original intentions."

Fu Shaoping's mind sharpened, and all the slight pride that had arisen from his recent breakthrough vanished instantly. He solemnly replied, "I will follow your teachings, Senior Brother!"

Shen Qingshan said no more and turned to continue walking.

After safely escorting Afu home, the two did not linger in the village and immediately set off to return to their sect.

On the way back up the mountain, the atmosphere seemed no different from when they came; one walked silently, the other followed intently. But Fu Shaoping could sense that something was different. The sword in his hand seemed lighter, yet heavier; the mountain path ahead seemed clearer, yet more unpredictable.

By the time we arrived at the mountain gate, the sun was already high in the sky. Among the misty peaks, pavilions and towers appeared and disappeared, cranes cried out, and bells rang out in the distance, creating an atmosphere of otherworldly beauty, a stark contrast to the bloody and eerie scene at the local temple the night before.

The gatekeeper disciple greeted Shen Qingshan respectfully, saying, "Senior Brother Shen."

Shen Qingshan nodded slightly and went straight inside. Fu Shaoping followed behind him, and could feel the gazes cast by the surrounding disciples. Some showed the usual awe towards Shen Qingshan, while others looked at him with a hint of curiosity and inquiry.

After passing through several palaces, Shen Qingshan did not go to the Hall of Affairs to report back, but instead led Fu Shaoping straight to a secluded bamboo forest in the back mountain.

Deep within the bamboo forest, there is a simple bamboo hut, with a clear spring and a few blue stones in front of it. This is where Shen Qingshan usually meditates, and ordinary disciples are not allowed to enter without permission.

Shen Qingshan sat down on a blue stone by the spring and gestured for Fu Shaoping to sit down as well.

"Senior brother?" Fu Shaoping was a little puzzled. Since the mission was completed, why didn't he return to the hall to report, but instead came here?

With a flick of his sleeve, Shen Qingshan revealed a crystal the size of a pigeon egg, dark in color and with faint blood-like veins, in his palm. It was the very crystal he had obtained from the leading man in black. Under the sunlight, the crystal subtly emitted a chilling aura, completely out of place in the surrounding serene bamboo forest.

"Do you know what this is?" Shen Qingshan asked.

Fu Shaoping observed carefully and shook his head: "Junior brother doesn't know. But it feels... very strange."

“This is ‘Blood Soul Crystal,’ which cannot be condensed by ordinary demons.” Shen Qingshan exerted a little force with his fingertips, and the blood threads on the surface of the crystal seemed to wriggle as if they were alive. “It is fed with the flesh and blood of living souls. After the evil corpse is killed, its core resentment and some of its remaining essence can be condensed into this thing by chance. What that man in black did was probably more than just refining blood corpses.”

Fu Shaoping's heart sank: "What does Senior Brother mean..."

"Although the technique of refining blood corpses is vicious, its effectiveness is limited and it is extremely easy to backfire. The fact that such a complicated process was undertaken, even using a medium like 'blood essence crystal,' suggests that the intentions behind it must be much greater." Shen Qingshan's gaze turned slightly cold. "This matter is probably not isolated and may have far-reaching implications. I have already used a secret method to report this matter directly to the Discipline Elder, and it is not advisable to make it public for the time being."

He looked at Fu Shaoping and said solemnly, "You fought the Blood Corpse last night, and you were there firsthand, so what you saw and felt is the most real. When you report back today, just say that it was an ordinary evil cultivator who was causing trouble, and that it has been eliminated and Afu has been rescued. There is no need to mention this 'Blood Soul Crystal' and my guess to outsiders."

Fu Shaoping immediately understood that this matter was of great importance and might even conceal a larger storm. His senior brother was protecting him discreetly, while also keeping him out of the potential vortex of conflict. He immediately replied, "Yes, junior brother understands."

Shen Qingshan put away the Blood Soul Crystal, his expression softening slightly, and asked again, "Your last sword strike last night, 'The Dawn Rises,' was pure in its energy, and your intent and spirit were in harmony, already possessing some of the true meaning of 'Heart Sword.' What was the scene in your mind when you drew the sword?"

Fu Shaoping carefully recalled the feeling at that moment, organizing his thoughts: "At that time... I had no distracting thoughts, I only felt that I had to use that sword. The true energy in my body flowed naturally, as if I was not driving the sword, but the sword was guiding me, pointing to that one weakness. In my mind, there was only... a clear light, like the light of dawn."

A genuine hint of appreciation flashed in Shen Qingshan's eyes: "Excellent. If the mind is like a clear mirror, reflecting even the smallest details, then the sword can be drawn without hindrance, naturally forming its own rules. You have already begun to grasp the basics. In the future, diligently practice the 'Heart Sword Technique,' and one day you will naturally achieve mastery."

He paused, then added, "However, the 'Three Forms of Sunset Glow' is a sect's ultimate technique, with endless variations. You have only just grasped the initial form, 'Rising Sun Glow,' and are far from perfect. Only when your cultivation advances further and your true energy is abundant can you attempt to learn 'Thousands of Flowing Clouds' and 'Blood-Red Sunset.' Do not be greedy for quick results and rush ahead."

"Yes!" Fu Shaoping felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He knew that this meant his senior brother had officially recognized his qualification to learn more advanced sword techniques.

"Go." Shen Qingshan waved his hand, closed his eyes again, as if to enter a meditative state, "Go to the Hall of Affairs to hand over the mission first. Keep in mind what you said today."

Fu Shaoping stood up, bowed respectfully, and slowly withdrew from the bamboo forest.

Leaving the bamboo forest and walking on the stone path back to the Hall of Affairs, Fu Shaoping's state of mind was different. He was no longer just a naive and cautious outer disciple. The life-and-death battle of the night and his senior brother's profound guidance had been like a tempering process, forging him and shedding his naivety.

He looked up at the sect's main peak, shrouded in clouds and mist. It was a sacred place of cultivation that countless disciples yearned for, and it must also hide more secrets and storms.

The sword in his hand hummed softly, as if responding to the belief that was gradually becoming clearer in his heart. (End of this chapter)