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

Fu Shaoping's heart sank, but having experienced the brush with death at the Earth God Temple, he forced himself to remain calm in the face of extreme crisis. Fear was useless; only a desperate fight offered a glimmer of hope!
He gripped his sword hilt tightly, his gaze sweeping over the three enemies as his mind raced. Their strength far surpassed his own; a direct confrontation offered no chance of victory. He had to utilize the environment and find an opportunity!

The scarred-faced cultivator sneered, "Boy, blame yourself for offending the wrong person! Be more careful in your next life!"

Before he could finish speaking, the two Qi Refining Level 5 cultivators beside him had already made their move! One of them swung his sword and unleashed a sharp blade of energy, while the other released several poison darts that emitted a foul stench, sealing off Fu Shaoping's escape routes from all directions!

Before the attack even arrived, the chilling killing intent and the stench of poisoned darts already assaulted our senses!

At the critical moment of life and death, Fu Shaoping's mind entered a strange state of clarity. He no longer thought about whether he could resist or escape; all his spirit was focused on sensing the trajectory of the incoming attack.

The sharpness of the blade and the arc of the poisoned dart became clearly visible in his "mind mirror"-like perception.

It's now!

He shifted his feet strangely, his body leaning back as if boneless, narrowly avoiding the sweeping blade energy. At the same time, he drew his longsword, the tip of which flashed with a few cold stars!
"Ding Ding Ding!"

With a few crisp sounds, he accurately struck down those poisoned darts with his sword!
However, the scarred-faced cultivator seemed to have anticipated this. The instant Fu Shaoping's old strength was exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated, he suddenly lunged forward and threw a punch! The fist was fierce and powerful, carrying the sound of tearing through the air, and aimed directly at Fu Shaoping's face! If this punch landed, it would be enough to shatter stone tablets!
There is no way to avoid it!

Fu Shaoping's pupils shrank sharply, and his internal energy circulated wildly at an unprecedented speed, all of which was poured into his left arm. He held his sword horizontally in front of him and took the punch head-on!
"Oh!"

With a muffled thud, Fu Shaoping felt an immense force surge towards him like a tidal wave. His tiger's mouth split open, his longsword trembled violently, and he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the rock wall behind him. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The power of the peak sixth level of Qi Refining is far beyond what he can currently withstand.

"Huh? He's not dead?" The scarred-faced cultivator showed a hint of surprise, then his ferocity deepened. "He does have some skill, but unfortunately, it ends here!"

He stepped forward again, ready to deliver the fatal blow.

The other two cultivators also gathered around to prevent Fu Shaoping from escaping.

Fu Shaoping leaned against the cold rock wall, his whole body wracked with pain, his blood churning, and his vision blurring. Despair washed over him like a cold tide.

Are you really going to die here?

Do not!
He bit his tongue sharply, the sharp pain jolting him awake. The desperate situation he faced with the blood-soaked corpse in the earth god temple flashed through his mind again, as did the profound gaze of his senior brother Shen, and the days and nights of relentless arduous cultivation he had endured these past few days!

"A sword is for protection!"

"If the mind is not calm, the sword will not be steady!"

Protect? What he needs to protect right now is his own life!

Calm mind? Even in death, draw your sword with a calm mind!
An unprecedented sense of determination erupted from the depths of his heart! He no longer cared about his injuries, no longer worried about life or death, and poured all his spirit, will, and even burning life force into the sword in his hand!

The panic and fear in his eyes faded away, leaving only a calm like a deep well, and beneath that calm, a surging sword intent!

Just as the scarred monk's fatal punch was about to land—

Fu Shaoping made a move!
He neither parried nor dodged, but moved with the sword, lunging forward! The sword tip trembled, emitting a clear and melodious hum, and a dazzling light, condensed to its extreme and almost tangible, suddenly shone brightly. It was not a defense, but an attack against an attack, directly piercing the weakest point in the scarred cultivator's fist!
The first rays of dawn!

This sword strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless! It also carried a fierce and indomitable spirit, a willingness to perish with the enemy!

The scarred-faced cultivator's expression changed drastically! He never expected that a mere Qi Refining Level 4 youth, despite being severely injured, could unleash such a sharp, precise, and... powerful sword strike! The sword light actually made him feel a deadly threat!

He wanted to change his tactics, but it was too late!

"Pfft!"

A flash of light, and blood splattered!
The scarred-faced cultivator let out a shrill scream as his fist was pierced through by the sword! The sword energy then surged upwards, shattering his wrist bones!

Fu Shaoping was also sent flying by the remaining immense force of the opponent's fist, crashing into the rock wall and sliding to the ground. His aura was extremely weak, and he could barely hold his sword.

However, he ultimately broke through the seemingly inescapable trap and severely injured his strongest enemy!

"Big Brother!" The other two cultivators were horrified and quickly supported the scarred man who was screaming in pain.

Scarface clutched his wrist, his face deathly pale, his gaze towards Fu Shaoping filled with shock, rage, and venom: "Kill...kill him! Kill him now!"

The two Qi Refining Level 5 cultivators exchanged a glance, their eyes blazing with killing intent. At the same time, they brandished their weapons and pounced on Fu Shaoping, who was lying on the ground!

Fu Shaoping looked at the approaching cold light, a bitter smile appearing on his lips. He was too weak to fight any longer.

At this critical moment——

"Huh! You're so brave!"

A cold, angry shout resounded like thunder in the mine!
A sharp and unparalleled sword aura arrived first, sweeping across like a crescent moon!

"Cang! Cang!"

With two crisp sounds, the weapons of the two Qi Refining Level 5 cultivators snapped in two, and they were sent flying backward, coughing up blood, by the shockwave of the sword energy!

A figure appeared before Fu Shaoping like a ghost, dressed in green robes and carrying a sword, with a cold and stern expression. Who else could it be but Shen Qingshan?!

His gaze, as cold as ice, swept over the three terrified enemies before finally settling on Fu Shaoping, who was barely holding on. A subtle, complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

"Senior Brother..." Fu Shaoping saw that familiar figure, his heart relaxed, and he could no longer hold on. His vision went black, and he fainted. His consciousness sank into a chaotic darkness, with only excruciating pain crashing against his nerves like waves. He didn't know how much time had passed when a gentle yet resilient warm current flowed into his back, slowly calming his turbulent blood and repairing his damaged meridians. He struggled to open his eyes, his blurred vision gradually focusing.

The first thing that catches the eye is the simple bamboo roof, and a faint medicinal fragrance permeates the air. He is lying on a bamboo bed, covered with a thin blanket. With the slightest movement, he feels as if his whole body is falling apart, especially his left arm and chest, but the burning pain in his internal organs has lessened considerably.

"woke up?"

A cool voice sounded from the side. Fu Shaoping turned his head and saw Shen Qingshan sitting at the table, placing a pill into a jade bottle. Several vibrant herbs were also on the table, clearly indicating that she had just finished healing him.

"Senior brother..." Fu Shaoping struggled to sit up, but was held down by a gentle force.

"Don't move. Your meridians are badly damaged. You need to rest for a few days." Shen Qingshan's tone was calm, revealing no emotion. He walked to the bedside, his gaze falling on Fu Shaoping's bandaged left arm and still pale face. "How are you feeling?"

"Thank you for saving my life, Senior Brother." Fu Shaoping's voice was hoarse. "This disciple... can still hold on."

Shen Qingshan scrutinized him for a long time before saying, "Tell me, what happened at the Xishan Mine?"

Fu Shaoping composed himself and recounted in detail how he received the mission, how he sensed something amiss but still decided to go, and the ambush he encountered in the mine, including his final desperate sword strike. He didn't embellish anything, nor did he conceal his suspicions and ultimate helplessness.

Shen Qingshan listened quietly, her face expressionless. Only when she heard Fu Shaoping describe how that desperate sword strike had severely injured the scarred man at the peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining, did a very subtle ripple flash in the depths of her eyes.

"What about the other three?" Fu Shaoping couldn't help but ask after he finished speaking.

"Dead." Shen Qingshan's answer was concise and cold. "Trying to resist was pointless."

Fu Shaoping's heart skipped a beat. After a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "This disciple is incompetent. I will trouble my senior brother to take action."

“It’s not your fault.” Shen Qingshan turned around, picked up the mission jade slip from the table, and with a slight pressure from his fingertips, several twisted, almost imperceptible black lines appeared on the surface of the jade slip. “The mission itself is correct, but this jade slip has been tampered with. An extremely hidden ‘evil-attracting curse’ has been added to it, which can subtly attract the surrounding yin and filth energy, amplify your own blood and qi fluctuations, making you more susceptible to the influence of those lurking vengeful spirits in the mine, and even… become their primary target.”

Fu Shaoping gasped! It turned out that not only were there ambushes, but even the environment had been tampered with! If his will had not been tempered and he had not begun to comprehend the tranquility of the "Heart Sword," he would probably have been entangled by those evil spirits long before he encountered the ambush!
“They are plotting to kill you.” Shen Qingshan said in a chilling tone, “Those three are rogue cultivators from the ‘Black Wind Stronghold’ under the sect’s jurisdiction. They have been doing shady things for years. Under the soul search, they only know that they are employed by a masked man and are paid well, but they know nothing about the identity of their employer.”

The clue seems to have been broken again.

Fu Shaoping felt a chill. He had no deep-seated hatred within the sect, except for the likes of Zhao Gan. But could they possibly command the Black Wind Stronghold's desperados and obtain such sinister curses?

“I have already informed Elder Liu of the Discipline Hall about this matter,” Shen Qingshan continued. “It is likely that some villains have infiltrated the sect. You have been gaining some attention recently and have been getting close to me, so you may have been targeted because of this.”

He looked at Fu Shaoping with a deep gaze: "After this battle, you should understand that on the path of cultivation, it is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but difficult to guard against a hidden arrow."

Fu Shaoping nodded heavily. This time, he truly felt the malice from his fellow disciples, and perhaps even from within the sect itself, which was far more chilling than when he faced the Blood Corpse Evil Cultivator.

“However,” Shen Qingshan changed the subject, his tone carrying a faint hint of admiration, “your breakthrough in the face of danger, your near-perfect sword strike ‘Rising Sun’ in the midst of a desperate situation, severely injuring a powerful enemy, your resilience and the purity of your sword intent far exceeded my expectations. It seems that the pressure between life and death is indeed your best whetstone.”

He paused, then said, "Once you recover, I will teach you the second move of the 'Three Styles of Sunset Glow'—'Thousands of Flowing Clouds'—a method for circulating qi."

Upon hearing this, Fu Shaoping felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and even the pain in his body seemed to lessen somewhat: "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

"No need to thank me." Shen Qingshan waved his hand. "This is the qualification you earned with your life. Remember the pain of today, remember the enemy lurking in the shadows. Your sword must not only be fast, accurate, and possess 'momentum,' but you must also always be vigilant."

He walked to the window, looked out at the deep night, and said in a low voice, "The storm is brewing... You may not have much time left."

Fu Shaoping looked at his senior brother's tall but lonely back, pondering the profound meaning of those words, and silently clenched his fist.

For the next few days, Fu Shaoping recuperated in Shen Qingshan's bamboo hut. Although Shen Qingshan's expression was indifferent, the pills and spiritual energy he provided were extremely effective. Fu Shaoping also took this opportunity to calm his mind and repeatedly comprehend the sword strike he had made on the brink of life and death in the mine, deeply imprinting that feeling of unity between mind and sword, intention and energy, into his soul.

Although his cultivation level has not broken through, his understanding of swordsmanship, especially his grasp of "momentum," has made a qualitative leap.

After recovering from his injuries, Shen Qingshan taught him the basic energy cultivation method of "Thousands of Flowing Clouds" as promised. This method emphasizes that true energy is as unpredictable as flowing clouds, gathering and dispersing at will, with continuous and intricate moves. It is completely different from the concentrated strike of "Rising Sun" and requires a higher level of control over true energy.

Fu Shaoping was overjoyed and trained even harder. He knew that only by improving his strength as quickly as possible could he protect himself in this turbulent situation.

On this day, he was practicing the "Thousands of Flowing Clouds" breathing technique on the back mountain, trying to divide his true energy into threads to simulate the ever-changing state of flowing clouds, when suddenly he heard a series of urgent bell tolling from Zizhu Peak!

"When-when-when-"

The bell tolled nine times in a row, its sound resounding through the heavens!
Fu Shaoping's expression changed drastically! This was the sect's highest-level warning signal—the Nine-Sound Gathering Immortal Bell! It would only be rung when a major event concerning the sect's survival occurred!
All disciples, regardless of whether they are from the inner or outer sect, must immediately proceed to the main peak square to assemble!

What a big deal!

Without hesitation, Fu Shaoping immediately used his movement technique, transforming into a streak of light and speeding towards the main peak plaza. The uneasy premonition in his heart reached its peak at this moment.

When he arrived at the huge white marble square, it was already packed with people. All the disciples had solemn expressions and were whispering among themselves; the air was thick with tension and unease.

On the high platform, the sect leader and elders from all the peaks were present, their faces solemn. Shen Qingshan also stood beside Elder Liu of the Discipline Hall, his expression cold and stern.

The sect leader's gaze swept over the dense crowd below, his deep yet clear voice resounding throughout the entire plaza:
"I have just received confirmation that the 'Crimson Cloud Sect,' which is adjacent to our sect, was wiped out late last night."

The sect leader's voice was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploding in the ears of every disciple.

The Crimson Cloud Sect has been wiped out!
The plaza was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop. Almost every disciple's face was etched with shock and disbelief. While the Crimson Cloud Sect wasn't a top-tier sect, it was still a sect with a history spanning hundreds of years, its strength not to be underestimated. To have been uprooted overnight? What terrifying power!

Fu Shaoping was deeply shaken, a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. The Crimson Cloud Sect… He suddenly remembered reading in the Scripture Pavilion that the Crimson Cloud Mountain Range, where the Crimson Cloud Sect was located, seemed to be a place where earth fire was active and yin and yang converged! Could this be related to the Yin veins converging at the Earth God Temple and the Qingrong Town Ancestral Hall?
On the high platform, the sect leader's voice continued, tinged with sorrow and a chilling tone: "The remaining traces at the scene indicate that the murderer's methods were extremely cruel, and it was not the work of a single person. No one in the Crimson Cloud Sect, including the Supreme Elder who was in seclusion, survived. Even more disturbing is the discovery of an eerie aura at the scene that shares the same origin as the 'Soul-Eating Blood-Transforming Array' that recently appeared within our sect's territory!" (End of Chapter)