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

Leaving the Forest of Rotting Bones, one enters the even more desolate and lifeless Wasteland of White Bones.

The ground here was covered with grayish-white gravel, scattered among countless skeletons, some intact, some broken, some humanoid, some animaloid, and many more strange, unrecognizable bones, their surfaces gleaming coldly in the dim light. A faint stench of decay and a chilling, deathly stillness permeated the air; spiritual energy was thin and life was utterly scarce, as if even the wind carried a desolate, withered scent.

From the perspective of "contract identification," the network of "contracts" in this wasteland shows a tendency towards rupture, depletion, and annihilation. Most of the existing contract patterns have faded and disappeared, leaving only a few remaining "marks of death" and "traces of decay."

Fu Shaoping dared not be careless in the slightest. The Bone Wasteland appeared peaceful, but in reality, it harbored hidden dangers. In addition to the possible existence of strange creatures adapted to the deathly environment (such as bone demons and carrion-eating spirits), the naturally formed spiritually isolated areas and spatial folds were even more dangerous.

He proceeded strictly according to the pre-planned, relatively safe route, proceeding with extreme caution at every step. When encountering scattered piles of bones, he would detour far away to avoid disturbing any beings that might be slumbering within. He kept his divine sense constantly extended, but limited its range to within thirty feet to avoid touching anything indescribable or being swallowed by the spirit-suppressing zone.

By day, he traveled by the faint light; by night, he sought shelter from the wind in massive skeletons or rock crevices, setting up simple warning barriers before fully activating the "Soul Gathering Technique" and the "Azure Profound Breathing Technique" to slowly replenish the true energy he had consumed during the day. Here, even cultivation became exceptionally difficult, and spirit stones and elixirs became even more precious.

He encountered several dangers along the way.

On one occasion, he accidentally stumbled into a seemingly flat area of ​​quicksand and bones, which was actually a huge hollow below. If he hadn't used the "Contract Identification Technique" to sense the unusually weak "load-bearing contract" on the ground in advance, he would have almost fallen in.

On another occasion, while resting at night, he was discovered by a group of wandering skeletal soldiers formed from obsession and death energy. These soldiers had no physical form and were largely ineffective against physical attacks, but they could erode the soul and emit disturbing howls. Fu Shaoping decisively protected his spiritual platform with his soul fire and simultaneously used "Soul Condensation Like a Needle" to counterattack, along with several fire-attribute talismans (which were effective against vengeful spirits) to create chaos, barely managing to escape their clutches.

The most dangerous time was when he saw a gigantic, mountain-like beast skeleton deep in the wasteland, above which lurked a constantly twisting, shifting gray-black mist. Just a glimpse from afar sent chills down his spine, as if he were being frozen and sucked away. He immediately ducked, concealing all his presence, and took a long detour to avoid it. That thing was probably a terrifying undead or demon of at least the third rank!

After nearly a month of arduous travel, when Fu Shaoping finally saw a pale green symbolizing life on the distant horizon, and a turbid river winding like a ribbon, he knew—the end of the White Bone Wasteland, Cold Crow Crossing, had arrived!
Built along the river, Cold Crow Ferry is slightly larger than Cloud Mist Market, but its architecture is more rugged and rudimentary, mostly constructed of massive stones and timber. Several strangely shaped bone boats or rafts, engraved with protective runes, are moored at the ferry crossing. The air is thick with the stench of river water, the smell of sweat, and the mixed odors of various crude elixirs and materials.

The aura of cultivators here was far more diverse and fierce than in the Cloud Mist Market. Besides human cultivators, Fu Shaoping also saw several half-demons with scales covering their skin or beast ears and tails, as well as a few suspected ghost cultivators or corpse cultivators shrouded in black robes, exuding a chilling aura. Their cultivation levels ranged from the mid-stage of Qi Refining to the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and each of them had sharp eyes and a worldly, bloodthirsty air about them.

Fu Shaoping did not immediately enter the ferry crossing. Instead, he observed the perimeter for half a day. After confirming that he had not found any suspicious pursuers or wanted posters, he changed into an inconspicuous gray robe, pulled his straw hat down, and blended into the crowd.

The trade in Hanya Ferry is more direct and crude. There are no elegant shops, mostly open-air stalls or temporary shops enclosed by animal skin tents. The items traded are also diverse: various bones from the wasteland, yin-attribute materials, magical artifacts and talismans to resist death energy, and some pills and magical artifacts of unknown origin, stained with blood.

Fu Shaoping cautiously sold some of the less conspicuous materials he had obtained in the Rotten Bone Forest (such as Rotten Poison Iron and ordinary scorpion shells) in exchange for more than fifty low-grade spirit stones and some rough maps and information about the area.

He learned from several well-informed brokers that the safest way to reach Tianque City was to take a regularly operating inter-domain merchant ship. These ships were jointly operated by several powerful merchant guilds, were enormous, and possessed strong defensive formations and escorts, sufficient to handle most dangers during long voyages. However, tickets were expensive; even a low-level "casual seat" ticket cost two hundred low-grade spirit stones, and one would have to wait for the next departure, approximately half a month later.

Fu Shaoping was short of money; even with the spirit stones from selling materials, it was far from enough. He needed to raise the fare as quickly as possible within the next two weeks.

He rented the cheapest stone house outside the ferry crossing, one without any protective formations, for only half a spirit stone a day. Then, he began looking for opportunities to earn spirit stones.

The most common task in Cold Crow Crossing is to form teams to explore the depths of the Bone Wasteland, collect rare bone materials and Yin Soul Crystals, or hunt specific undead creatures. The rewards are generous, but the risks are extremely high.

Fu Shaoping did not choose to team up; people's hearts are unpredictable, especially in a place like this. Relying on his "Identification Technique" to keenly perceive the desolate environment and the energy fluctuations of undead creatures, as well as his own considerable combat strength, he began to take on tasks alone, such as exploring the distribution of undead creatures in specific areas, collecting designated Yin-attribute herbs, or clearing out low-level bone beasts wandering near the ferry.

These tasks offered relatively low rewards, but were safe and controllable. He acted cautiously and efficiently, and occasionally sold some of his own concocted potent miasma-clearing pills and bone-corroding detoxifying powders (which were quite popular in the area). Finally, three days before the merchant ship set sail, he had gathered two hundred and thirty low-grade spirit stones.

He immediately went to the merchant guild's headquarters and bought a single-seat ship ticket to Tianque City. With the remaining thirty spirit stones, he purchased some dry food, water, and basic necessities for the voyage.

After a two-week waiting period, the massive merchant ship "Breaking Waves," a hundred feet long, made entirely of dark ironwood and covered with defensive runes, slowly docked at the simple wharf of Han Ya Ferry.

Fu Shaoping followed the flow of people, had his ticket checked, and boarded the ship. The seats were located at the lowest level of the cabin, in a cramped and crowded space with stuffy air; only simple meditation cushions were available. Most of the other cultivators in the cabin looked tired or wary, and they rarely interacted with each other.

"Ugh——!"

A deep horn sounded, the boat shuddered slightly, and slowly left the dock, heading northeast against the murky river. Fu Shaoping sat on a futon in the corner, closing his eyes to rest, but his heart was far from calm.

The days of the Crow's Crossing are over, and the harrowing journey through the Bone Wasteland are now just memories. Ahead lies an unknown voyage, tens of thousands of miles of waves and dangers, and above all, the colossal city that symbolizes both opportunity and challenge—Heavenly City.

His journey, like this merchant ship sailing through the waves, has officially departed from the familiar shore and headed towards a more vast and unpredictable ocean.

Outside the cabin, the water murmured softly, and the sky gradually brightened. A new chapter quietly turned its page in the first rays of dawn during the voyage.

The Broken Wave merchant ship churned heavily through the murky river, slowly departing from the desolate and lifeless Crow Crossing. The lower deck cabins were dimly lit, the air thick with the mingled smells of sweat, damp wood, and a faint fishy odor. Dozens of cultivators sat or lay down, mostly silent, their eyes reflecting either the weariness of a long journey or a wariness of the unknown future.

Fu Shaoping sat cross-legged on a futon in a corner near the cabin wall, his straw hat hanging low and his aura concealed. Unlike the others, he did not immediately fall into a state of meditation or feign sleep, but instead quietly activated the "Contract Identification Technique," using extremely faint fluctuations of his divine sense to perceive the contract patterns inside and outside the cabin.

The merchant ship itself is a complex network woven from countless "contracts": the "contract of buoyancy" between the hull and the river, the "contract of resistance" between defensive formations and external threats, the "contract of transport" between the ship owner and passengers, the "contract of cooperation" among the crew... In fact, Fu Shaoping could vaguely sense that deep within this ship, there seemed to be the aura of a more powerful and ancient "guardian contract," perhaps something that the ship's owners had worshipped or offered sacrifices to throughout the ages.

Among the passengers, there also existed temporary and weak interpersonal contracts: cabin camaraderie (indifference), shared interests (subtle), and potential competition (obscure). Fu Shaoping could feel several malicious divine senses sweeping over him and several other passengers who seemed "poorly endowed" or "weak in aura," like tentacles under the cover of darkness.

"It seems this voyage is not without its challenges." Fu Shaoping understood this and became even more cautious in maintaining the "Soul Concealing Technique," making himself appear as an inconspicuous reef in the cabin.

The initial voyage was relatively smooth. The merchant ship sailed upstream along a wide but swift-flowing river called the "Burial Dragon River." The mountains on both banks gradually rose higher, covered with lush forests, and the occasional cries of monkeys and roars of beasts could be heard. The concentration of spiritual energy was much higher than in the Bone Wasteland, but it was also mixed with a wild and untamed atmosphere.

According to the rudimentary route map attached to the boat ticket, the journey to Tianque City would first require sailing along the Zanglong River for about two months to reach the "Longmen Gorge" upstream, then turning onto another tributary, the "Tongtian River," and sailing for another month or so to reach the outskirts of the Central Plains core area where Tianque City is located. The entire journey would take nearly four months, during which time the boat would stop at several transit docks along the way to replenish supplies, but there was also the possibility of encountering attacks from river bandits, monsters, or even severe weather.

On the fifth day of the voyage, Fu Shaoping was pondering the deeper combinations and changes of "signatures" in the "True Explanation of the Mysterious Signature" when he suddenly felt the ship shake violently. He heard urgent shouts and the screeching sound of metal scraping outside the cabin!
"Enemy attack! It's pirates! The 'Black Dragon Gang's' banner!" A crew member's terrified shout pierced the bulkhead.

The cabin erupted in commotion! Many cultivators abruptly stood up, their faces filled with panic, and hastily took out their magical artifacts, rushing towards the cabin door. Others, their eyes gleaming, took the opportunity to reach out to the seemingly flustered and helpless passengers around them.

Fu Shaoping did not move. Through his "Contract Identification Technique," he could sense that the "defense contracts" surrounding the ship were being frantically attacked by several "attack contracts" filled with violence and plunder, but they did not break immediately. The ship's guarding forces (several streams of contract light from late-stage Qi Refining to early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators) had also reacted quickly and engaged the attackers in battle.

The battle mainly took place on the deck and outside the ship, intense but brief. The sounds of clashing swords, booming spells, and screams filled the air. After about an incense stick's time, the sounds of fighting outside gradually subsided, and the ship regained its stability.

"The Black Dragon Gang scum has been driven back! Passengers in all cabins, please stay in your positions and do not move around!" A fierce-looking captain with blood on his face pushed open the bottom cabin door and shouted sharply. His eyes swept over the people in the cabin like a hawk, especially lingering on a few cultivators who had been making a move earlier.

The cabin fell silent again, but the atmosphere was even more oppressive. The attack felt like a rehearsal, a reminder of the dangers of the voyage ahead.

Fu Shaoping noticed that the short, thin man who had tried to attack a female cultivator sitting next to him during the chaos had shrunk back after being given a cold look by the guard captain. As for the seemingly frail female cultivator, a faint spiritual light seemed to flash in her sleeve when the short, thin man approached, and there was no panic in the depths of her eyes.

"This ship is also teeming with hidden talents." Fu Shaoping became even more vigilant.

During the remainder of the voyage, similar attacks occurred two or three more times, sometimes by river pirates, and sometimes by hordes of low-level monsters in the river (such as iron-toothed arrowfish and venomous water pythons). The merchant ship, with its sturdy hull and strong escort, repelled them one by one, but at a cost: some damage to the hull and casualties among the guards. Several passengers in the lower decks were even injured in the violent tilting caused by one of the monster attacks.

Fu Shaoping remained low-key, rarely leaving his cabin except for necessary meals and urination. He used this time to continue studying the "True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract," consolidating his Qi Refining Level 8 cultivation, and silently observing the various passengers and crew members on the ship using the "Contract Identification Technique," analyzing their behavior patterns, strength levels, and the subtle contractual relationships between them.

He "saw" several seemingly ordinary passengers with a shimmering aura of a secret "contract of interest" with a certain manager or guard on the ship; he also "saw" a lone traveler with a "cursed contract" item emanating an ominous aura hidden in his sleeve; and he also "saw" the female cultivator he had noticed before, who seemed to have some faint "blood contract" connection with the ship's accountant.

These observations, while not directly improving his strength, greatly enriched his understanding of interpersonal relationships in the cultivation world and gave him a deeper appreciation of the omnipresent influence of "contracts".

At the beginning of the third month of their voyage, the merchant ship finally arrived at the most treacherous section of the upper reaches of the Zanglong River—the Longmen Gorge. (End of Chapter)