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

Senior Brother Shen's final roar echoed in his mind. Moon Gazing Cliff was a dangerous place behind the main peak, normally a forbidden area; no wonder the evil formation could be set up there so silently!

quick! Faster!
Just as he was about to rush out of the back mountain area and saw the faint lights of the Discipline Hall ahead, a cold, sharp shout suddenly came from the side:

"stop!"

Three dark figures darted out of the woods like ghosts, blocking their path! They were dressed in ordinary inner disciple robes, but their eyes were fierce, and the spiritual energy around them fluctuated coldly and eerily, sharing the same aura as Liu Yunyi! Clearly, they were other spies lurking within the sect!
"Take him down! We can't let him go to the Discipline Hall!" the leader roared. The three of them attacked simultaneously, their blades flashing and carrying a stench, blocking all of Fu Shaoping's escape routes.

Blocked in front and pursued behind! Fu Shaoping's heart sank to the bottom. These three people were all at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining. Under normal circumstances, he might have been able to hold his own, but at this moment he was at his limit, seriously injured, and his true energy was on the verge of being exhausted!

Is it really going to fail at the last moment?
No! no way!

A fierce glint flashed in Fu Shaoping's eyes! He remembered the desperate situation in the Xishan mine, and the image of Senior Brother Shen fighting valiantly!
"Anyone who stands in my way will die!"

He let out a hoarse roar, advancing instead of retreating, his longsword bursting forth with a final, unrestrained light! He no longer used complicated techniques, but concentrated all his will and all his power into this simplest, most direct thrust!

The first rays of dawn! No, this was no longer dawn, but the final burning of a dying man! The sword light, carrying a tragic resolve, aimed straight for the heart of the leading accomplice!
The inside man hadn't expected Fu Shaoping to be so fearless, nor had he anticipated that this seemingly exhausted sword strike would be so fast and so ruthless! He hurriedly swung his knife to block.

"clang!"

Swords clashed, sparks flew! Fu Shaoping's longsword snapped in two! But his momentum didn't stop, and the broken sword, propelled by inertia, still pierced his opponent's shoulder blade!

"Ah!" The accomplice screamed, his attack halting.

The attacks from the other two were already upon him! Fu Shaoping was powerless to dodge and could only barely twist his body to avoid vital points.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

A sharp pain shot through his left leg and right ribs simultaneously, as a deep, bone-revealing gash was slashed open by a sharp blade! Blood instantly stained his clothes.

Fu Shaoping grunted and, using the force of the attack, rolled forward like a rag doll, managing to break through the encirclement of the three!
Ignoring his injuries and broken sword, he used his last bit of strength to lunge towards the Discipline Hall, which was right in front of him!

"Stop him!" A furious roar and the whooshing sound of pursuing vehicles came from behind.

With the gates of the Discipline Hall right before him, and even the astonished faces of the guards standing there, Fu Shaoping mustered all his strength and screamed, his voice broken yet carrying a chilling piercing tone that seemed to penetrate the night:

"Enemy attack!! Moon Gazing Cliff at the back mountain!! Liu Yunyi is the traitor!!!"

The sound echoed through the night sky!

At the same time, a sharp sword aura had already caught up with him from behind!
At this critical moment of life and death—

"Buzz!"

A thick, earthen-yellow light shield instantly rose from the Discipline Hall, protecting Fu Shaoping within it! The pursuing sword energy collided with the light shield and dissipated with a bang!
"You audacious madman! How dare you commit violence in front of the Discipline Hall!"

A furious roar exploded like thunder! A figure rushed out of the Discipline Hall with lightning speed—it was Elder Liu of the Discipline Hall! His face was ashen, and his eyes were like lightning. He instantly locked onto the three pursuers and the soaring evil energy and intense battle fluctuations from the direction of the back mountain in the distance!

"Take them down!" Elder Liu waved his sleeve, and several elite disciples of the Discipline Hall pounced on the three accomplices like wolves.

Elder Liu didn't even glance at Fu Shaoping, who was covered in blood and lying unconscious on the ground. His figure transformed into a streak of light, carrying boundless rage, and shot straight towards Wangyue Cliff in the back mountain! Immediately afterward, several powerful auras lit up from all over the sect, rushing to the back mountain!

The highest level of alarm bells rang out once again, a deafening roar! This time, it was no longer a warning, but the clarion call of war!
The entire Qingxuan Sect was in an uproar!
When Fu Shaoping regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a soft bed, enveloped in a rich medicinal fragrance. The excruciating pain in his body had lessened considerably, and his wounds had been carefully bandaged.

"You're awake?" a gentle voice rang out. Fu Shaoping turned his head and saw a female disciple from the pharmacy preparing medicine.

"Where...where am I? Where is Senior Brother Shen? How is the sect?" Fu Shaoping struggled to sit up, his voice hoarse and urgent.

The female disciple quickly pressed him down: "Don't move, your injuries are severe. This is the medicine hall. You've been unconscious for a day and a night." She paused, a mixture of fear and reverence on her face, "As for Senior Brother Shen and the sect... thanks to your desperate report, Elder Liu and the peak masters arrived at Wangyue Cliff in time, destroyed the core of the evil formation, and killed that black-robed evil cultivator. Liu Yunyi escaped with serious injuries... the sect has been temporarily saved."

Fu Shaoping breathed a long sigh of relief, his tense nerves finally relaxing, and he immediately felt a wave of exhaustion. Senior Brother Shen is alright, the sect has been saved... That's great.

"However," the female disciple lowered her voice, "I heard that although the evil formation was broken, some of its power was still activated, as if... as if it communicated with some extremely distant and terrifying being, leaving behind a hidden danger. Moreover, Liu Yunyi's escape is ultimately a big problem. The entire sect is still under martial law and doing its best to track down the remaining forces."

Fu Shaoping listened silently, feeling little joy. The hidden dangers remained, the formidable enemy was still present, and this storm was far from over.

At that moment, the door was pushed open, and Elder Liu walked in. He waved his hand, signaling the female disciple to go out first.

Elder Liu walked to the bedside, looked at Fu Shaoping, his gaze complex, containing admiration, concern, and a hint of solemnity.

"Young man, this time... you have done a great service." Elder Liu's voice was still steady, but with a hint of gentleness that was hard to detect. "If you hadn't risked your life to report the news, the consequences would have been unimaginable. The sect will not mistreat those who have made contributions."

Fu Shaoping shook his head: "This disciple only did his duty. Senior Brother Shen, he..."

"Qingshan suffered some injuries and is currently in seclusion to heal. His life is not in danger." Elder Liu knew what he wanted to ask and answered directly, "He asked me to tell you to take good care of your injuries and not to worry too much." Fu Shaoping nodded.

Elder Liu pondered for a moment and said, "After this incident, you can no longer cultivate like an ordinary outer disciple. Once you recover, the sect will make other arrangements for you. Perhaps... we will make an exception and allow you to participate in the next 'inner disciple assessment'."

The inner sect assessment! Fu Shaoping's heart skipped a beat. This was an opportunity that countless outer sect disciples dreamed of!

“But you must remember,” Elder Liu’s tone turned serious, “the power behind Liu Yunyi is unfathomable, and they will never let this go. You are now a thorn in their side. The road ahead will only be more difficult and fraught with danger. Improving your strength is your only way to survive.”

"Disciple understands." Fu Shaoping clenched his fist, his eyes resolute.

Elder Liu nodded, left some pills, and departed.

Fu Shaoping lay alone on the bed, gazing at the ceiling. Having survived several brushes with death, his face had lost some of its childishness and gained more determination and composure.

The inner sect assessment... an even stronger enemy... unknown hidden dangers...

The road ahead remains shrouded in mist and fraught with danger.

But the sword in his heart was clearer and more resolute than ever before.

He gently closed his eyes and began to guide his inner energy to heal his injuries. Each breath seemed to gather strength.

The storm has only subsided temporarily, and he must quickly grow into a sharp sword capable of cutting through the waves amidst this massive, sweeping tide.

His path of cultivation truly began from this moment. The quiet recuperation time in the medicine hall did not last long. Fu Shaoping's physique had already been tempered, and with the sect sparing no expense in providing elixirs, his injuries healed extremely quickly. Half a month later, he was able to walk, and his internal energy even benefited from the misfortune, becoming more condensed under the pressure of being on the verge of life and death, faintly touching the barrier of the fifth level of Qi Refining.

During this period, the atmosphere within the sect remained tense. The protective array of the mountain remained in operation at a high intensity, and the number of patrolling disciples increased exponentially. Details of the battle on the back mountain that night were kept strictly confidential, but the news of Liu Yunyi's betrayal of the sect and collusion with external enemies still hung like a dark cloud over the minds of every disciple. Some disciples who had previously been on good terms with Liu Yunyi were subjected to rigorous questioning, and everyone lived in fear.

As a key figure and "hero" in the incident, Fu Shaoping received extra "protection," with his movements restricted to the vicinity of the medicine hall. Apart from Elder Liu and the regular disciples of the medicine hall, he rarely saw outsiders. He knew that this was the sect protecting him, but also observing him.

On this day, Elder Liu came again, his expression even more solemn than before.

"Your injuries are no longer serious," Elder Liu said bluntly. "The sect has made arrangements for you. The inner sect assessment will be held in three days."

Fu Shaoping's heart skipped a beat. So fast?
"This assessment is different from previous ones," Elder Liu said in a deep voice. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. The assessment will place greater emphasis on practical combat skills and mental fortitude, and the danger will be far greater than before. If you are unwilling, you may give up, and the sect will still ensure your safety, but your cultivation path will likely make it difficult to make any further progress."

Fu Shaoping answered without hesitation, "This disciple will participate!"

Giving up? Finding peace? From the moment he entered the Earth Temple, his life was destined to be devoid of peace. He yearned for power, for the ability to control his own destiny, for the chance to fight alongside Senior Brother Shen, instead of always being the one to be protected and sacrificed.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Elder Liu's eyes: "Good. The assessment will take place in the 'Illusory Heart Cave'."

Illusionary Heart Cave? Fu Shaoping had seen this name in the miscellaneous notes of the Scripture Pavilion. It was a peculiar secret realm of the sect, said to reflect the deepest fears and obsessions of those who entered, creating near-realistic illusions to temper the disciples' Dao hearts. It was extremely dangerous inside; the slightest carelessness could damage one's mind or even lead to one's demise within.

"The Illusionary Heart Cave tests not only your cultivation, but also your will and your true nature." Elder Liu looked at him meaningfully. "Remember the reason you wield the sword, and guard your sword heart. No matter what you see or experience, you must understand that it is both illusion and reality. Only by breaking through illusion and preserving truth can you attain clarity."

Three days later, at the entrance to the Illusionary Heart Cave.

The cave entrance was deep and dark, shrouded in milky-white mist that emitted an unsettling aura. Several elders stood solemnly outside the cave, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Only a dozen or so disciples were participating in this assessment, all top performers from the outer sect, their faces grave. Fu Shaoping recognized several familiar faces, including Zhao Gan, who had once mocked him. Zhao Gan's gaze was complex, a mixture of jealousy, fear, and a barely perceptible hint of approval. After this major upheaval within the sect, past squabbles seemed insignificant.

"Once inside the cave, each person must rely on their own abilities. Those who can withstand the illusions for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn without being forced out, or who successfully reach the end of the cave, will pass." The presiding elder's voice was icy. "If you feel you cannot continue, crush the jade talisman in your hand to save your life. Begin!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the disciples took a deep breath and resolutely stepped into the misty cave entrance.

Fu Shaoping felt a blur before his eyes, and the surrounding scenery instantly changed. The medicine hall, the elders, and the other disciples all vanished, replaced by a sinister yet familiar scene—the Earth God Temple!

A blood moon hung in the sky, and the stench of blood filled the air. The blood array beneath their feet emitted a blinding red light, and in its center, Afu's eyes were vacant, emitting painful groans. At the temple entrance, the blood-soaked corpse whose head he had blasted off with his sword roared and reformed, charging forward with an even more ferocious aura!
"Here again?" Fu Shaoping's heart tightened, but having experienced real bloody battles, he knew this was no real. He focused his mind and tried to circulate the Heart Sword Technique, but found that his internal energy was stagnant, as weak as when he was at the third level of Qi Refining!
The blood-soaked corpse's claws were already upon them, and a stench filled the air! The fear of death was so real!
"Illusion!" Fu Shaoping bit his tongue hard, the sharp pain clearing his mind. He forcibly suppressed his fear and used his meager inner energy to perform a footwork technique, narrowly avoiding the illusion. He knew that this illusion was amplifying his inner fear, trying to make him relive the feeling of helplessness he had felt before.

He stopped fighting head-on and instead relied on his memory and agility to dodge and weave through the blood corpse's attacks while carefully observing. He discovered that although the illusion was real, it always had subtle flaws, such as the blood corpse's shadow being in the wrong direction and Afu's groans being too monotonous.

"If the mind is like a clear mirror, it reflects even the smallest details..." He silently recited the mantra, his mind highly focused, no longer dominated by fear, but calmly searching for the "structure" of the illusion.

Finally, he seized an opportunity, not to attack the blood corpse, but to stab a constantly twisting rune node in the blood array with his sword!

"Crack!" Like the sound of shattering glass, the scene of the earth god temple collapsed instantly.

But the next moment, he found himself in the West Mountain Mine! His escape route was blocked, and the scarred-faced cultivator grinned as he threw a punch, while the swords of the other two cultivators sealed off all escape routes! That feeling of despair surged into his heart once again.

"Protect!" This time, Fu Shaoping didn't recall the desperate sword strike, but instead remembered Senior Brother Shen's words. What he wanted to protect was his own belief, his determination to seek the Dao! His eyes sharpened, and he no longer retreated, actively meeting the scarred man's fist, the tip of his sword aimed directly at his weakness! Although his true energy was still weak, his sword intent was even purer! (End of Chapter)