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

Without turning his head, Fu Shaoping slapped a Swiftness Talisman (a one-time speed-up talisman purchased at great expense) that he had prepared beforehand onto his body, and at the same time frantically poured the remaining true energy into the Wind Control Technique and the Swiftness Boots!
"Whoosh!"

His speed surged again in an instant, almost turning into a blur as he fled desperately in the direction he had come from! Behind him came the python king's furious roar and the earth-shaking sound of pursuit.

Instead of fleeing in a straight line, he used the swamp's complex terrain and some narrow passages and poisonous pools he had scouted beforehand to constantly change direction. The python king, being enormous, was limited in speed by the complex terrain and seemed hesitant to leave the clean water pool area. After chasing for a distance, its unwilling hissing gradually faded into the distance.

Fu Shaoping dared not linger and ran for dozens more miles until he could no longer sense the python king's presence. Only then did he stop behind a relatively dry rock. His face was pale, his body was soaked in cold sweat, his true energy was almost exhausted, the Xuan Turtle Shield's spiritual light was dim and needed to be nurtured, and both the Vajra Talisman and the Swiftness Talisman had been consumed.

But when he opened the jade box and saw the three intact, vibrant blood jade lotuses inside, all the fatigue and danger turned into worthwhile experiences.

He quickly took Qi-restoring pills and healing pills, and after half an hour of recuperation, he immediately set off, taking a detour to leave the Blood Python Swamp.

Back in Cloud Mist Market, the handover of the mission went exceptionally smoothly. When Fu Shaoping placed the three Blood Jade Lotuses before Deacon Wang, the latter's eyes were filled with shock and admiration. The enormous reward of nine hundred low-grade spirit stones was quickly secured, and the mysterious person who issued the mission (who did not show themselves) also fulfilled their promise through Deacon Wang.

Deacon Wang handed Fu Shaoping a specially made communication jade talisman and whispered, "Fellow Daoist Mo, the senior who issued the mission asked me to tell you that the secret information about the Burial Dragon Abyss has been stored in this talisman. In addition, the senior asked me to remind you that the real danger of that ancient cave in Ghost Cry Forest does not come from the demonic beasts or the remaining restrictions, but rather... the human heart, and the ancient contracts or curses that may exist deep within the cave. I hope you will be extremely cautious."

Fu Shaoping's heart skipped a beat, and he solemnly accepted the jade talisman. This reminder was more important than any specific information!
Back in his meditation room, he eagerly read the information within the jade talisman. It contained a more detailed and precise map of the Ghost Cry Forest's safe routes than any map he had ever seen before, marking several hidden resting spots and sources of danger. More importantly, the information indicated that the ancient cultivator's cave was suspected to be related to an ancient sect skilled in manipulating souls and establishing contracts. The cave's depths might contain trials or traps closely related to the soul and "trust," and one should not easily swear oaths or touch certain ancient runes.

"An ancient contract? A curse? A test of the soul?" Fu Shaoping fell into deep thought. This cave was indeed extraordinary; the dangers went beyond mere physical force.

He looked at the nine hundred spirit stones in his hand, at the Xuan Turtle Shield he was nurturing beside him, felt his solid cultivation at the seventh level of Qi Refining, and recalled his brush with death in the Blood Python Swamp.

All the preparations seemed to have met the standards he had set. He even received more crucial information.

Should we continue to wait and seek a more foolproof option? Or should we set off now to seize that sliver of opportunity that might change our course?

In the quiet room, Fu Shaoping's gaze finally became incredibly firm.

The path of cultivation is inherently a struggle against fate. He has already prepared himself to this extent; if he continues to be timid and hesitant, where will his Dao heart remain?
He packed up all his belongings and returned the quiet room he had rented for several years.

This time, he didn't accept any more missions. He needed to get himself into peak condition, and then, alone, head towards that place full of unknowns and dangers—

Ghost Cry Forest, the ancient cultivator's cave!
The real challenge is only just beginning. His third incarnation on the path of cultivation is about to reach its most crucial turning point.

The Ghost Weeping Forest truly lives up to its name. Even before entering the forest, one can hear the wailing sounds carried on the wind, like crying and howling, disturbing the mind. Ancient trees tower within, their branches twisted and gnarled, their leaves as black as ink, almost completely blocking out the light. A faint gray miasma and an indescribable chill permeate the air, the spiritual energy chaotic and mixed, severely suppressing divine sense; even extending a few feet outside the body feels sluggish and difficult to move.

Fu Shaoping had already taken the Cleansing Pill and the Mind-Stabilizing Pill. Holding the detailed map he had obtained from the Blood Python Swamp mission, he proceeded with extreme caution. The safe route marked on the map was not an easy path; it merely avoided several known perilous areas and powerful monster lairs. Along the way, he still encountered many troubles.

A nocturnal demonic bird called the "Soul-Stealing Owl" can emit silent sound waves in the darkness, directly attacking the soul. If Fu Shaoping's divine sense hadn't been tempered through countless trials and tribulations, and if he hadn't been protected by elixirs, he probably would have already been struck. There is also an invisible "Bone-Corroding Yin Wind" that blows silently, eroding his protective true energy and bones. He has to constantly maintain a protective shield of true energy, which consumes a great deal of energy.

Even more bizarre were the illusions in the forest. Sometimes the faces of long-deceased relatives would suddenly appear before him (awakening his deep-seated memories of past lives), and sometimes he would hear the most terrifying voices whispering in his ear. These were not physical attacks, yet they directly targeted his Dao heart. Fu Shaoping guarded his spiritual platform, silently practicing the methods of stabilizing his mind from the "Azure Profound Breathing Technique," and with his unwavering Dao heart tempered by reincarnation, he extinguished these illusions one by one.

“No wonder this place is called the Ghost Weeping Forest; it can indeed arouse the heart demons.” Fu Shaoping became increasingly vigilant. Following the map, he traveled through the treacherous forest for two days before finally arriving at his destination—an ancient stone gate located in a forest clearing, half-hidden by vines and moss.

The stone door was half-open, and several long-faded seal characters were carved on the lintel, with the characters "玄" (xuan) and "契" (qi) vaguely discernible. The interior was pitch black; probing with one's divine sense was like throwing a stone into the sea. Scattered on the ground near the stone door were signs of fighting, some fresh and some old, along with dried, blackened bloodstains, indicating that many people had indeed come to explore this place, and that conflicts had occurred.

Fu Shaoping did not enter immediately. He first carefully observed the perimeter to confirm that there were no signs of ambush or recent activity. Then, he took out the Xuan Turtle Shield, activated it to protect himself, held a Vajra Talisman and several attack talismans in one hand, and a moonstone in the other, before stepping through the stone gate.

Behind the door was a sloping stone passageway, its walls smooth and covered with runes long since lost their luster. The air was cold and dry, carrying the musty smell of dust. The passageway wasn't long; after about a hundred paces, the space suddenly opened up into a huge natural cave.

The cave ceiling was inlaid with some faintly glowing fluorite, providing dim lighting. In the center of the cave, there was a simple stone platform, on which sat a skeleton, clad in a tattered Taoist robe, long since reduced to bones. In front of the skeleton were a faded jade slip, a palm-sized black wooden box, and an ancient-looking incense burner with cracked surfaces.

Apart from these, there was nothing else in the cave, making it seem unusually empty. This was completely different from the "ancient cultivator's cave" that Fu Shaoping had imagined. There were no dazzling treasures, no piles of spirit stones, only a kind of almost deathly simplicity.

However, Fu Shaoping's spiritual senses were frantically warning him! He sensed that the entire cave, especially around the high platform, was permeated with an extremely subtle yet profoundly deep soul power fluctuation! This perfectly matched the "Ancient Contract" and "Soul Test" mentioned in the Blood Python Swamp mission information!
He dared not approach the platform rashly. His gaze swept around, noticing faint carvings on the stone wall. He peered closer and saw several lines of text written in an extremely ancient script, barely legible: “I am the last guardian of the Xuanqi Sect… The sect has collapsed, the spirits of the covenant scattered… I leave behind a fragment of the *True Explanation of the Xuanqi* here, awaiting a destined person… To obtain the true explanation, one must swear an oath of heart and soul, bearing the responsibility of ‘guarding the covenant’ of our sect… Those who are not sincere should not disturb; those who break the covenant will have their souls destroyed!”

The text ends abruptly here, conveying a sense of sorrow and resolute determination. Beside it are several more lines of even more hastily written characters, seemingly left by someone later:

"A scam! The oath is toxic!"

"Do not touch the wooden box!"

"The incense burner is the key... what a pity..."

The messages left by those who came after were filled with fear, regret, and remorse.

Fu Shaoping's heart sank. Sure enough, the greatest danger wasn't the demonic beasts or the restrictions, but the oath and the potential curse!
He retreated to the vicinity of the cave entrance and carefully examined the remains and the three items on the platform. The jade slip was most likely a fragment of the "True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract," possibly involving ancient contracts and methods of manipulating the divine soul, its value immeasurable. The purpose of the wooden box and incense burner was unknown.

Those warning lines are still vivid in my mind. "Oath of the Heart and Soul," "Responsibility to Keep the Contract," "The Soul of Those Who Break the Contract"—they all sound incredibly dangerous. "A Deception," "The Oath is Poisonous," "Do Not Touch the Wooden Box"—these are even more alarming. Only the sentence "The Incense Burner is the Key" seems to leave room for leniency.

What to do? Give up? After going through so much hardship to find this place, it would be too much to return empty-handed. Moreover, the "True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract" might be of unimaginable help to his understanding of the soul and even his foundation building.

Taking a risky gamble? The so-called "oath of the soul" sounds closely connected to the spirit and soul. Once made, one may find oneself unable to control one's own destiny, or even meet a tragic end like those who left the message.

Fu Shaoping faced a difficult choice. He turned his gaze back to the incense burner. The incense burner was covered in cracks and looked unremarkable. He tried to touch the incense burner with his divine sense extremely slowly and cautiously.

The moment the divine sense touched the incense burner, a sudden change occurred!
Inside the incense burner, a faint, almost extinguished, dark red spark suddenly flickered! At the same time, a vast, desolate, and ancient power of contractual intent surged into his consciousness like a tidal wave!
"Later... finally... someone else has touched the 'Heart-Questioning Furnace'..."

A weak yet incredibly majestic voice resounded directly deep within Fu Shaoping's soul!
"I am a wisp of the remnant spirit of the Guardian of the Pact of the Xuanqi Sect... I wait here, hoping that a destined person will inherit the sect's legacy and continue the tradition of the 'Pact'..."

"To obtain the True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract... one must swear an oath of the heart and soul: having obtained my true explanation, one shall bear my responsibility, and in walking the world, if one encounters any 'loss of contract,' 'betrayal of contract,' or 'evil contract,' one shall, to the best of one's ability, rectify the disorder and maintain the fairness and balance of the contract... If this oath is made, the true explanation will be obtained; if this oath is broken, one's soul will be scattered!"

The voice was like a resounding bell, shaking Fu Shaoping's soul. At the same time, a vast power containing the laws of the oath began to envelop his soul, seemingly trying to forcibly imprint the oath upon it!

This is the "Oath of the Soul"! Once sworn, it is bound to the soul and one is bound by it for life!
Fu Shaoping was horrified and desperately resisted the power of the brand. His soul was strong and his Dao heart was firm, and for a time he managed to withstand the erosion of this power.

"Huh? Your spiritual foundation is so solid? And your Dao heart is also exceptionally resilient..." The lingering thought seemed somewhat surprised, then its voice became stern, "However, this is the foundation for entering the Xuanqi Sect. Without an oath, there is no faith; without faith, the contract cannot be formed! If you do not take an oath, you are not a destined person. Leave!"

Retreat? Fu Shaoping's mind raced. This lingering spirit seemed to follow some fixed rules, not entirely uncommunicable. He forcibly calmed his mind and responded with divine thought:

“Senior! I deeply admire the Great Dao of the Xuanqi Sect and wish to uphold the fairness of the ‘contract.’ However, the scope of this oath is too broad, the boundaries of ‘within one’s power’ are vague, and there are no clear definitions of ‘breaking the contract,’ ‘betraying the contract,’ or ‘evil contract.’ If I were to make this oath without understanding its implications, and were to break it in the future due to ignorance, wouldn’t that be a great injustice? As the spirit who upholds the contract, you should know that the essence of the ‘contract’ lies in the mutual consent and clear rights and responsibilities of both parties!”

He countered with his own understanding of the word "contract," attempting to secure more favorable terms.

The lingering spirit seemed to pause for a moment, as if processing Fu Shaoping's words. After a long while, the voice rang out again, less rigid and more tinged with a sense of vicissitude and感慨: "Informed consent... clear rights and responsibilities... what you say actually aligns with the 'clear contract' principle of our sect's heyday... Unfortunately, now I am but a lingering spirit, powerless to establish a 'clear contract'..."

It paused, seemingly weighing its options: "Your soul is extraordinary, your foundation profound... Fine, considering the reasoning behind your words, I can make a slight concession. The oath remains unchanged, but I can link the definition of 'within my power' to your current cultivation level, and impart to you the basic methods of 'distinguishing and observing oaths' from the 'True Explanation of Profound Oaths,' to help you discern the flow of oath power. As your cultivation improves and your soul strengthens, the scope of the oath's constraints will naturally expand clearly... This is the greatest concession I can make. Take the oath, or leave?"

Fu Shaoping's mind raced with calculations. Linking "what he could do" to his own cultivation level and providing him with the basic methods to recognize contracts undoubtedly reduced the risk significantly. This meant that when his cultivation was low, the responsibility of "keeping the contract" he needed to fulfill was very limited, and with the ability to recognize it, he could avoid unintentionally violating it. As his cultivation improved, the responsibility increased, but at that time his ability to cope was also stronger, and his understanding of the "contract" was deeper.

This seems... acceptable? It's better than going home empty-handed, or making a completely vague, potentially fatal vow.

More importantly, he vaguely sensed that this "True Explanation of the Profound Contract" might have immeasurable benefits for him in integrating his memories from two lifetimes, tempering his divine soul, and even for his future foundation building and core formation. The methods involving the use of the divine soul and the power of contracts were probably unique in this world. (End of Chapter)