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

Fu Shaoping didn't rush to accept the mission, but instead carefully studied the contents of the jade disc. The mission system of Tianque City was far more complex and extensive than that of Yunwu Market. It ranged from tending an acre of spirit land for a cultivation family (requiring knowledge of basic spirit plant techniques) to escorting a caravan to a dangerous place thousands of miles away; from collecting materials from a rare third-tier demonic beast to testing medicine for a master alchemist (extremely risky); there were even long-term recruitment drives for scholars proficient in ancient texts or formations…

The rewards also vary drastically, ranging from tens of spirit stones to thousands or even tens of thousands of spirit stones.

Fu Shaoping analyzed his own advantages: Qi Refining Level 8 (belonging to the middle to lower level in this place), combat strength is decent (especially soul attack), proficient in alchemy (first-level high-grade level), and mastery of the "Mysterious Contract True Explanation" (cannot be exposed, but the "Identification of Contract Techniques" and other skills in it may be useful in specific missions).

He first accepted several simple, short-term tasks with decent pay:

• Collect fifty scales of the "Earth Fire Lizard" (Location: Lava Hills, 300 miles west of the city, mid-grade first-tier monster, reward: sixty spirit stones).

• Sorting a batch of newly arrived ores for “Jinshige”, identifying their types and grades (Requirements: some knowledge of common ores, Reward: forty spirit stones, plus one spirit meal).

• Assist a talisman master in making a batch of low-level "cleansing talisman" semi-finished talisman paper (Requirements: stable true qi, patience and meticulousness, reward: thirty spirit stones).

These tasks are not technically demanding, but they allow him to quickly familiarize himself with the surrounding environment of Tianque City, earn a living, and meet cultivators from different industries, thus expanding his information channels.

After receiving the mission token, Fu Shaoping did not leave the city immediately. Instead, he went to the "Gold and Stone Pavilion" to complete the task of sorting ores. This task was tedious, but it allowed him to have direct contact with various basic refining materials circulating in Tianque City, broadening his horizons and earning him his first reward.

In the following days, he went out during the day to complete collection tasks or look for other opportunities, and returned to the "pigeon coop" at night to meditate and cultivate, study the "Mysterious Treatise on True Understanding", or try to refine more Qi-nourishing pills (he bought a simple alchemy furnace and medicinal materials and carefully refined them in the stone house).

He kept a low profile, avoided trouble, and completed tasks cleanly and efficiently. Gradually, he gained a vague impression in the small circle outside the Wanmeng Hall as "reliable, not talkative, and efficient".

However, living in Tianque City is not easy. The monthly rent of thirty spirit stones, plus the expenses of cultivation and alchemy, means that by completing these low-level tasks, one can barely maintain a balance between income and expenditure, and cannot save much spirit stone, let alone buy better cultivation techniques, pills or magic tools.

He knew he had to find a more lucrative path as soon as possible, or... seize an even bigger opportunity.

On this day, he saw a task on the Jade Wall of the Myriad Alliance Hall that caught his attention:
[Recruitment Mission]: We are seeking cultivators with some research ability in ancient runes and incomplete restrictions to assist in deciphering the outer array of a newly discovered ancient cultivation site. Location: "Ghost Swamp," two thousand miles north of the city.

[Requirements]: At least late-stage Qi Refining realm, with a resilient spirit and some basic knowledge of formations or runes. Must pass a preliminary test.

[Reward]: One hundred low-grade spirit stones per day; additional rewards for solving key milestones. Proceeds within the ruins will be distributed according to contribution.

[Note]: The mission will take approximately one month and carries certain risks (the Ghost Swamp environment is harsh, and there may be unknown restrictions causing backlash). Jointly released by "Xuanji Pavilion" and "Chiyan Sect".

One hundred spirit stones per day! Ancient cultivation ruins! Array runes!
Fu Shaoping's gaze sharpened slightly. The reward was extremely tempting, and the task was also related to his currently hidden "specialty" (his understanding of the essence of contracts, runes, and restrictions in "The True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract"). While risks certainly existed, compared to struggling at the bottom, this was undoubtedly a springboard for quickly accumulating capital, accessing higher-level circles, and even potentially gaining opportunities.

"Xuanji Pavilion" appears to be a well-known research institution for formations and runes in Tianque City, while "Chiyan Sect" is a local sect with considerable strength. Their joint announcement lends it a high degree of credibility.

Fu Shaoping was intrigued. He decided to try the "preliminary test".

His life in Tianque City may take its first major turn because of this decision.

The cloud-piercing boat descended and landed on a relatively dry, hard patch of ground at the edge of the swamp. The dark gray mist churned like a living thing, reducing visibility to less than a hundred feet, and the chilling, soul-corroding aura in the air became even more pronounced. Occasionally, a few mournful, inanimate cries echoed from afar, sending chills down one's spine.

Zhao Yan, the steward of Xuanji Pavilion, took out a fist-sized Soul-Stabilizing Pearl, activated it, and hung it above everyone's heads, casting a soft, clear light that kept out the disturbing, chilling aura.

"The power of the Yin spirits here is dense, and there are natural illusions. Stay close and don't fall behind." Deacon Zhao's voice was steady as he led the way. Deacon Liu Yun brought up the rear, with Zhou Yan and two other disciples from the Crimson Flame Sect in the middle, while Fu Shaoping and his two recruited rogue cultivators were positioned in the middle of the group.

Fu Shaoping silently activated the "Soul Gathering Technique," suppressing his own soul fire aura to the extreme, while simultaneously activating the "Contract Identification Technique." In his vision, the swamp's network of "contracts" presented an extremely distorted, chaotic, and resentful state, filled with death. The ground, withered trees, mist, and puddles were all entangled with various broken contract remnants filled with negative emotions, as if this place had once been an ancient battlefield or a place of mass death.

The group trudged through the mud and miasma. Occasionally, low-level Yin spirits (semi-transparent, faceless aggregates of resentment) or corpse puppets (rotting corpses driven by Yin energy) would leap from the mist, but they were easily dealt with by Deacon Zhao Yan and the disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect who were clearing the way at the front. The methods of Foundation Establishment cultivators were indeed extraordinary; often, a single lightning strike or sword beam could clear an entire area.

Fu Shaoping carefully observed the methods of the Crimson Flame Sect disciples. Zhou Yan and the others mostly used fire-based spells, which were effective against evil spirits. Their coordination was excellent, indicating they had received rigorous training. The two rogue cultivator companions, the middle-aged rune cultivator, mainly relied on several specially made "Soul-Suppressing Talismans" and a protective jade pendant, while the young female array master held a constantly rotating array plate, seemingly constantly analyzing the changes in the surrounding environment.

The group advanced for about two hours when the fog ahead suddenly thickened, resembling a gray-black wall. Regular paths made of broken black stone slabs began to appear on the ground, covered with indistinct runes.

"We've arrived, the outer perimeter of the ruins." Deacon Liu Yun stopped and took out an old map for reference. "According to previous explorations and map markings, the area ahead is the remnant of the outer defensive formation of the ancient cultivation ruins. The main body of the formation has been destroyed, but there are still a large number of incomplete restrictions, traps, and powerful wandering spirits. Our task is to clear a relatively safe passage and analyze the ancient restriction structures we encounter along the way as much as possible to collect data."

Deacon Zhao nodded and looked at Fu Shaoping and the other two: "Each of you has your own strengths. Now, it's time for you to put them to use. Fellow Daoist Li (middle-aged rune cultivator), you'll be responsible for recording and preliminary analysis of the ancient runes you encounter. Fairy Lin (young female array master), you'll assist in deducing possible nodes and weaknesses in the restrictions. Fellow Daoist Mo (Fu Shaoping), with your keen senses, you'll be responsible for vigilance and assisting in locating abnormal energy fluctuations." With the assignments complete, the team cautiously began to advance deeper into the fog.

As Deacon Liu said, the area surrounding the ruins is filled with various broken ancient restrictions. Some are traps that, when triggered, spew out corrosive Yin Sha poisonous water; some are remnants of illusion arrays that can make people see scenes that evoke their inner fears; and many more are fragments of offensive restrictions hidden under the mist or stone slabs, which will trigger broken lightning, wind blades, or Yin fire once one steps into their range.

The disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect and two Foundation Establishment deacons were responsible for using force to clear away the triggered restrictions and the Yin Spirit Corpse Puppets that had come upon hearing the news. Fu Shaoping and the other two were also busy with their respective tasks.

Whenever Li Yan, a middle-aged rune cultivator, encountered a stone slab or a broken array base engraved with runes, he would quickly make a copy and record it, and then whisper to Deacon Liu Yun to exchange his preliminary judgment.

The young female array master, Lin Xue, kept adjusting the array plate in her hand, calculating the potential structure and safe path of the restriction network based on the subtle changes in the flow of energy around her. Sweat quickly beaded on her forehead, indicating that she had expended a great deal of energy.

Fu Shaoping's task seemed the "easiest," requiring only vigilance and "sensing anomalies." However, he knew that from the perspective of "Contract Identification Technique," he could see things that others couldn't. He not only had to point out obvious energy fluctuations (equivalent to "abnormally active nodes" in the contract network), but also distinguish which were simply remnants of restrictions and which might conceal more dangerous and bizarre entities such as "cursed contracts," "trap contracts," or "enslavement contracts."

He walked slowly, his sharp gaze sweeping over every inch of the ground, the mist, and even the invisible contractual patterns in the air.

"Three steps to the left front, there are faint remnants of a 'binding' contract under the stone slab, which may trigger a trap," he whispered a warning.

Deacon Zhao Yan unleashed a bolt of lightning, which indeed blasted out a thick, black swamp that swallowed the stone slabs that passed by.

"Behind the withered tree on the right, there's an unusual 'link' contract in the mist, possibly connecting to a vengeful spirit's lair," Fu Shaoping added.

Deacon Liu Yun waved her hand and unleashed several ice spikes, freezing and shattering the mist. Sure enough, several shrieks came from within, and a few stronger Yin spirits were forced out, only to be annihilated by the disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect.

As they delved deeper, Fu Shaoping's "Art of Contract Interpretation" played an increasingly important role. He repeatedly issued early warnings, preventing the team from getting into trouble. The gazes of the two Foundation Establishment deacons towards him gradually shifted from initial scrutiny to a greater sense of approval.

As Fu Shaoping observed these ancient restrictions, his understanding of the *Xuanqi Zhenjie* deepened. These ancient restrictions were essentially products of the ancients solidifying the rules of heaven and earth and the application of energy through "contract runes." While their "contract principles" differed from the *Xuanqi Zhenjie*, they shared many similarities, particularly in the setting of energy nodes (contract nodes) and the use of spiritual interference (contract hints).

He even "saw" the nearly complete "miniature contract structure" contained within several relatively well-preserved cores of the restrictions, which gave him a more intuitive understanding of the composition of the "contract seal".

The team advanced slowly but steadily. Three days later, they cleared a relatively safe passage about five miles long and arrived at the core area of ​​the ruins marked on the map—the ruins of a half-collapsed ancient temple built of huge black stones.

Most of the ruins had been swallowed by the swamp, leaving only the broken roof and a few broken pillars exposed. At the entrance to the ruins, a faceless stone statue covered in cracks stood crookedly, its hands holding a dried-up, bowl-shaped depression.

The ruins were shrouded in an extremely dark, viscous gray mist, completely different from the surrounding fog. Within the mist, countless distorted human faces and arm outlines struggled and emerged, emanating an intense aura of resentment and despair. Even the clear light of the Foundation Establishment Deacon's Soul-Stabilizing Pearl was suppressed, only able to cover three feet around his body.

"This... what a powerful barrier of resentment!" Deacon Liu Yun's expression turned grave. "This place was probably a site from ancient times where some kind of large-scale blood sacrifice or imprisonment of the dead was performed. This barrier of resentment is even more dangerous than all the remaining incomplete restrictions combined; it can directly erode the soul and trigger inner demons!"

Deacon Zhao Yan frowned deeply: "The map only mentions a powerful restriction here, but it doesn't mention such intense resentment. It seems the situation at the ruins is more complicated than expected. Forcing a breakthrough might lead to unforeseen consequences."

Everyone hesitated for a moment.

Fu Shaoping stared at the barrier of resentment. Under the vision of the "Contract Identification Technique," it was almost a "contract quagmire" full of destruction and chaos, woven from countless broken soul contracts filled with pain, resentment, and hatred! Forcibly breaking in would be tantamount to throwing one's own soul into a meat grinder.

But as he observed closely, he suddenly noticed that at the bottom of the bowl-shaped depression held by the faceless stone statue, there seemed to be a faint, yet exceptionally pure, peaceful, and comforting golden contract light! This light was completely out of place with the surrounding violent resentment contracts, like a pearl fallen into the mud, which could be submerged at any moment, yet stubbornly persisted.

“That stone statue’s bowl…” Fu Shaoping’s heart stirred, and he pointed to the faceless stone statue, “It seems… somewhat different.”

All eyes turned to it. Deacon Zhao Yan carefully sensed it, then shook his head: "The stone statue has lost its spirit, and the bowl is empty; there's nothing special about it."

Lin Xue also used the array plate to probe, and shook her head in the same way: "No energy nodes or array connections were found."

Fu Shaoping knew that the peculiar contract light was extremely faint; if not for the "Contract Identification Technique's" keen perception of the contract's essence, ordinary divine sense would be completely unable to detect it. He couldn't reveal the "Contract Identification Technique," but he could guide it in another way.

“I’ve read some miscellaneous notes,” Fu Shaoping said carefully, “which mention that some ancient sacrificial sites would have ‘soul-purifying vessels’ or ‘soul-suppressing objects’ to appease the departed souls and maintain the balance of the ritual. This place is filled with resentment, yet this stone statue stands at the entrance, holding a bowl in both hands, its posture more like offering than suppression. Perhaps… this bowl wasn’t originally empty? If an item containing the power of ‘purification’ or ‘transcendence’ were placed inside, would it trigger some kind of change?” (End of Chapter)