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

"This junior...is willing to make this vow!" Fu Shaoping finally made his decision. Guided by his lingering will, he clearly expressed his vow to uphold the responsibility of "keeping the contract," within a scope commensurate with his own cultivation level.

As the oath was completed, the vast power of the contract ceased its forceful imprinting, instead transforming into a golden rune that gently landed at the edge of the core of his soul, acting as both a supervisor and a coordinate. Simultaneously, the jade slip flashed, transforming into a stream of light that entered Fu Shaoping's brow, unleashing a deluge of information—the fragment of the *Mysterious Contract True Explanation* was in his possession!
The last spark in the incense burner, having completed its transmission, finally extinguished and dissipated completely. The lingering remnant of the covenant also let out a long sigh, returning to eternal silence.

The cave returned to deathly silence, with only the remains and the black wooden box remaining on the platform.

Fu Shaoping did not touch the wooden box. He kept the warning "Do not touch the wooden box" in mind; it was likely a "trap" or other test left for those who had taken the oath.

He bowed three times respectfully before the remains, expressing his gratitude for the transmission of the Dharma. Then, he quickly left the cave and carefully made his way back to the Ghost Cry Forest.

When he finally emerged from the Ghost Cry Forest and breathed in the relatively fresh air again, he was filled with mixed emotions. Although he had not obtained any spirit stones or magical treasures on this trip, he had acquired an ancient inheritance that directly pointed to the path of the soul and contracts. More importantly, he had avoided the greatest risk and reached a relatively fair "contract" with the mysterious remnant of the contract-guarding spirit.

Within his soul, the golden contract rune floated silently, serving as both a constraint and the beginning of an opportunity.

The profound mysteries of "The True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract" were slowly unfolding in his mind, and a brand new world involving the essence of the soul and the rules of heaven and earth was waiting for him to explore.

His third incarnation on the path of cultivation, after the life-or-death struggle in the Blood Python Swamp and the test of the contract in the Ghost Cry Forest, has embarked on a more profound and peculiar fork in the road. Whether what lies ahead is fortune or misfortune, a smooth path or thorns, he must spend the years to come practicing and verifying it step by step.

Fu Shaoping did not linger outside the Ghost Cry Forest and immediately set off back to Cloud Mist Market. Along the way, he kept a portion of his mind on guard, but most of his mind was already immersed in the vast information of the fragment of the "Mysterious Contract True Explanation" that he had just obtained.

This *Mysterious Contract True Explanation* truly lives up to its reputation as the core inheritance of an ancient sect specializing in spiritual cultivation and the Way of Contracts. Its content is profound and mysterious, far surpassing any cultivation knowledge he currently knows. The fragment mainly consists of three parts:

1. Methods of Soul Refinement and Application (Basic Chapter): This is far more systematic and sophisticated than the application of divine sense included in the "Azure Profound Breathing Technique." Besides basic perception and exploration, it includes techniques such as "Condensing the Soul Like a Needle," "Soul Power Transforming into a Shield," and "Divine Thought Splitting" (an extremely rudimentary form), even touching upon how to more effectively resist inner demons and stabilize the spiritual platform. Among these, the methods of "Internal Vision of the Soul Core" and "Refining the Soul Fire" directly address the origin of the soul, allowing Fu Shaoping, for the first time, a clearer understanding of his exceptionally powerful soul, forged through reincarnation, and a direction for proactive refinement.

2. Understanding and Foundations of the Contractual Way: This section elucidates the essence of "contract"—an invisible bond and agreement between all things in heaven and earth, woven from rules, will, and power. It is not limited to vows between people, but also includes the potential connections between people and objects (such as magical artifacts and spirit pets), people and land (spiritual veins and blessed lands), and even people and the Dao (cultivation techniques and the Dao of Heaven). The true explanation teaches the basic techniques of "contract identification" and "contract pattern observation," enabling one to perceive the flow of contractual power, strong or weak, in the surrounding environment, and to identify whether certain objects are imbued with special contracts or curses.

3. Summary of the Duty to Uphold Contracts: This section clarifies the basic definitions of "failure to fulfill a contract" (the contract failing to be completed due to external forces or accidents), "breach of contract" (unilateral breach of contract), and "evil contract" (contracts entered into or used to harm others through fraud, coercion, or other improper means). It also mentions that Xuanqi Sect cultivators must, within their capabilities, maintain the fair operation of contracts, and have a particular responsibility to rectify "evil contracts." This also confirms the content of the oath Fu Shaoping made.

Upon returning to the market town, Fu Shaoping immediately renewed his lease on the Spirit Gathering Quiet Room and began his seclusion. This seclusion was different from any of his previous ones, as he focused entirely on comprehending his spiritual essence and the "True Explanation of the Profound Contract."

He first tried to activate the "Soul Fire Tempering" method from the True Explanation. When he introspected his sea of ​​consciousness and guided his soul power according to the method, he was astonished to discover that the "soul core" deep within his sea of ​​consciousness, which had undergone countless reincarnations and accumulated countless memories and insights, was far more solid and massive than the soul core of an ordinary cultivator described in the True Explanation! Previously, however, he was unaware of the method, like guarding a treasure mountain without being able to enter. Now, guided by the True Explanation's method, the soul core slowly rotated, and strands of pure soul power were refined, gradually gathering like sparks, and actually faintly forming a small cluster of weak yet incredibly condensed pale golden soul fire within his sea of ​​consciousness!
The moment the soul fire took shape, Fu Shaoping felt an unprecedented clarity in his mind. His thinking speed, sensory acuity, and even control over his own true energy all improved to a new level! Previously, he needed to carefully deduce spell variations, but now he understood them with a mere thought. His perception of the surrounding spiritual energy also became more refined, allowing him to discern even more subtle differences in attributes.

"This 'True Explanation of the Profound Contract' is truly wondrous!" Fu Shaoping was invigorated. Such effects were already achieved from merely refining his soul fire. He continued to cultivate techniques such as "Condensing the Soul Like a Needle," which, combined with his soul fire, greatly enhanced the penetrating power, cohesion, and precision of his divine sense. Previously, his divine sense projected outwards like mist or gauze; now, it could condense into fine needles, probing farther and more hidden corners, or forming a more resilient shield of divine sense to protect his spiritual platform.

At the same time, he also began to practice the "Art of Divination". At first, the world appeared the same to him. But as the method was activated, his soul power flowed through his eyes and senses in a specific way, and he gradually "saw" different things.

On the wall of the quiet room, he "saw" a faint white light forming an extremely faint, almost negligible "temporary residence contract" between himself and the inn, created by the payment of rent.

On his usual calligraphy brush, he "saw" a faint gray thread, formed by long-term use and the infusion of true energy, a tacit understanding between man and brush.

When he took out the "Good Faith Talisman" from the Cloud Mist Pavilion, a slightly more obvious light blue contract connecting him to the Cloud Mist Pavilion could be seen, which contained simple information such as his need to abide by the rules of the market and the Cloud Mist Pavilion providing a task platform.

"So, there really are so many invisible 'contracts' in all things in the world..." Fu Shaoping was shocked, as if a new window had been opened to observe the essence of the world.

In terms of cultivation, he hadn't fallen behind either. The cultivation of the Azure Profound Breathing Technique was more efficient due to his powerful soul, and his true energy became increasingly refined. He tried to integrate a trace of soul fire power into his Gengjin Finger, making the finger wind not only sharp but also carrying a slight deterrent force that directly struck the soul, thus multiplying its power.

After three months of seclusion, Fu Shaoping made tremendous gains. Although his cultivation level did not break through, his combat strength, especially his spiritual power, underwent a qualitative leap. He also began to grasp the basics of the "Mysterious Contract True Explanation".

However, just as he finished his seclusion and was preparing to take on a mission to test his strength and also try out the practical application of the "Identification Technique," a new challenge, or rather a new "connection," arrived unexpectedly.

On this day, he had just stepped out of Yunwu Pavilion, preparing to go to "Baiweiju" to settle the recent accounts of pills with Manager Hu, when he saw a scene on the street that made him frown.

A richly dressed, arrogant young cultivator (Qi Refining Level 6), accompanied by two guards (Qi Refining Level 5), blocked an elderly cultivator (Qi Refining Level 4) who was selling low-grade talismans at a stall. The young cultivator held a fireball talisman in his hand and shouted angrily, "Old man! Your talisman is clearly inferior, lacking in spiritual power! Yesterday, it almost caused me to fail while hunting a demonic beast! If you don't compensate me tenfold today, don't blame me for being impolite!"

The old cultivator, pale-faced, bowed repeatedly, "Young master, please understand! My talismans may not be of high grade, but they are absolutely genuine! You examined them yesterday when you bought them..." "Still trying to argue!" The young cultivator kicked over the old cultivator's stall, talismans scattering all over the ground. "Looks like you're going to have to suffer the consequences!"

There were cultivators watching from the sidelines, but most of them looked wary and no one dared to step forward. Fu Shaoping recognized the young cultivator; he seemed to be a member of a small cultivation family in the market, and he was usually quite arrogant.

Fu Shaoping didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but he subconsciously activated the "Art of Contract Interpretation".

The next moment, the sight before his eyes made his gaze freeze! Between the young and old cultivators, besides the immediate conflict, there was an extremely subtle, ominous dark red contractual light! This light didn't originate from a talisman transaction (normal transaction contracts are white or pale gold), but rather seemed to... originate from some kind of one-sided coercion or fraud!

At the same time, he could also see that the young cultivator had several similar dark red contract threads with a negative aura wrapped around his body, while the old cultivator was clean.

"This is... the aura of an 'evil contract'?" Fu Shaoping's heart stirred as he recalled the description of "evil contracts" in "The True Explanation of Mysterious Contracts"—contracts that are forced into existence through coercion and deception often carry a distorted and obscure power.

This young cultivator is likely using fabricated charges to forcibly demand compensation, intending to establish an unequal "compensation contract," which falls under the category of "evil contract"!
Meanwhile, the golden rune representing the oath of "keeping the contract" in Fu Shaoping's soul was slightly warm, as if reminding him that what was happening before him might be within the scope of his responsibility to "keep the contract" within his "powerful" capabilities.

Should we turn a blind eye and protect ourselves? Or should we follow our vows and our hearts and intervene?

Fu Shaoping looked at the old cultivator's helpless eyes, then at the young cultivator's arrogant face, and at the dazzling dark red contract light.

He took a deep breath and walked over.

Fu Shaoping walked unhurriedly, pushing through the crowd to the center of the conflict. He didn't immediately pay attention to the young cultivator, but instead bent down to help the old cultivator pick up the scattered talismans one by one, his movements natural, as if he were just a kind passerby.

"Huh? Who came from, you blind fool? Get out of the way!" The young cultivator was even angrier when he saw someone interfering, and it was a rogue cultivator who looked to be only at the seventh level of Qi Refining (Fu Shaoping had not fully revealed his aura). He shouted angrily.

Fu Shaoping placed the last stack of talismans into the old cultivator's trembling hands before slowly straightening up to face the young cultivator. His expression was calm, but his gaze was like a deep well, carrying an inexplicable penetrating power that made the young cultivator's heart skip a beat for no reason.

“Fellow Daoist,” Fu Shaoping began, his voice calm yet clear, “from what you just said, it seems this old man’s talisman had a problem, almost causing you to fail?”

"Exactly!" The young cultivator puffed out his chest. "Such inferior talismans are nothing short of harmful! We must get an explanation today!"

Fu Shaoping nodded and extended his hand: "May I have a look at that problem talisman?"

The young cultivator glanced at him suspiciously, handed over the fireball talisman, and warned, "Look all you want, but don't try anything funny! This is irrefutable evidence!"

Fu Shaoping took the talisman and did not test it by inputting true qi like ordinary cultivators. Instead, he held the talisman paper between two fingers and flipped it over casually to examine it. In fact, he had already pushed the "Identification Technique" to its limit, and his eyes focused on scanning every line of the talisman paper.

Under the "Contract Identification Technique," the flow of spiritual energy in this fireball talisman was clearly visible—although it was only a low-grade first-tier talisman with relatively abundant spiritual energy, the patterns were clear, the structure was stable, and the energy pathways were unobstructed, with absolutely no possibility of it being "inferior" or "lacking in spiritual energy" and thus failing. There was also only a faint contractual light representing the "creation relationship" between the talisman itself and its creator (the old cultivator), with nothing unusual.

However, Fu Shaoping frowned slightly. He had detected an extremely faint, almost imperceptible, dark gray contract residue at the edge of the talisman! This residue wasn't inherent to the talisman itself, but rather seemed to have been added artificially, carrying a hint of interference and delay. At the crucial moment of activation, this residue might indeed disrupt the talisman's spiritual energy flow, causing a reduction in its power or a slower activation!
"I see..." Fu Shaoping understood. This young cultivator had probably tampered with the talisman after buying it, adding this interference contract to extort money!

He handed the talisman back to the young cultivator, a half-smile on his face: "Fellow Daoist, I have examined this talisman. There is nothing wrong with the talisman itself; it is neatly drawn, and although its spiritual power is not abundant, it is sufficient to activate a qualified fireball spell."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" The young cultivator's expression changed. "I've tried it myself, and there's definitely a problem!"

"Oh?" Fu Shaoping's eyes turned slightly cold, and he stopped beating around the bush. "Then perhaps the problem wasn't when the talisman was drawn, but rather... after it changed hands?"

He spoke subtly, but the words "after the change of ownership," coupled with his all-knowing gaze, made the young cultivator's heart skip a beat, and his face instantly turned ugly.

"You... what do you mean? Are you trying to slander me?" The young cultivator's words were fierce but his heart was weak, while he secretly gave a wink to the two guards behind him. (End of Chapter)