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

But what's even more troublesome is the "deceived karma"! According to the message, once you take the "Netherworld Contract" (the black jade slip), you will have to bear the karma incurred by the Netherworld Child when he made the "deceived blood contract"! This is no joke. It involves the karma of ancient sects and the concealment of heavenly secrets, which is enough to make any cultivator doomed forever!

For a moment, the stone chamber fell into a deathly silence. An immense temptation and a deadly danger, intertwined like ice and fire, were laid out before them.

Zhou Yan and the others from the Crimson Flame Sect had gleaming eyes, clearly coveting the Netherworld Contract and the Sky-Covering Tortoise Shell, but also filled with apprehension about the "Deceitful Cause and Effect."

Li Yan and Lin Xue also had complex expressions, both eager to study the ancient heritage and fearful of the unknown curse.

Fu Shaoping's heart was in turmoil! The Xuanqi Sect! The Netherworld Contract Book! This was actually an ancient sect's inheritance from the same source as the True Explanation of the Xuanqi! Moreover, judging from the comments, this fragment of the Netherworld Contract Book seemed to focus on the content of "Netherworld", "soul", and "contract backlash", which might be the missing or weak parts of the fragment of the True Explanation of the Xuanqi!

As for "concealing the cause and effect of heaven"... the risks are certainly enormous, but the path of cultivation is inherently about defying the heavens and fighting against fate. Moreover, he possesses the "True Explanation of the Profound Contract," and his understanding of the cause and effect of contracts far surpasses that of ordinary people. Perhaps he can find a way to deal with or even resolve it? He would be unwilling to give up at this point.

Just as everyone hesitated, Fu Shaoping suddenly spoke, his voice calm: "Seniors and fellow Daoists, since this place is the hiding place of a disgraced disciple of the Xuanqi Sect, the items left behind are likely all tainted with great karma. I know my fortune is shallow, and I dare not covet the treasures. I am only interested in studying the ancient runes and restrictions. If you do not mind, I am willing to assist in making rubbings of the visible runes on the black jade slip and tortoise shell for research purposes. The originals will be left to you to handle."

His words, seemingly a concession, were actually a strategic retreat. By voluntarily relinquishing "ownership" and only requesting "research materials," he could lower the guard of others and secure an opportunity to access the core content of the inheritance. Moreover, by throwing away the original document—a "hot potato"—and letting others bear the consequences of the deception, he remained relatively safe.

Zhao Yan and Liu Yun exchanged a glance. Fu Shaoping's suggestion was undoubtedly the safest option. Their main purpose for this trip was to obtain information on ancient restrictions and runes, not to get involved in ancient karma. As for the two hot commodities, they could be brought back to the sect for the higher-ups to decide.

“Fellow Daoist Mo is very insightful and his proposal is very good.” Liu Yun nodded. “Fellow Daoist Mo and Fellow Daoist Li will then make copies of the runes on the jade slip and tortoise shell. Once the copying is complete, we will leave this place immediately and return to Tianque City to report back.”

Although Zhou Yan and the others were somewhat unwilling, they dared not say anything more after seeing that the two Foundation Establishment deacons had made their decision.

At that moment, Fu Shaoping and Li Yan carefully began the tracing process. Fu Shaoping was mainly "in charge" of the black jade slip. He took out a specially made blank jade plate and, pretending to guide it with his divine sense, traced the visible runes on the surface of the jade slip. At the same time, he secretly activated the "Contract Identification Technique," imprinting the deeper contract structure and core inheritance intent within the jade slip—which resonated with the "True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract"—deeply into his soul like a brand! This process was extremely secretive, and even Li Yan, who was standing nearby, was completely unaware.

As for the tortoise shell that blots out the sky, he also devoted some of his attention to imprinting the divination contract patterns remaining on its surface, and used the "contract identification technique" to analyze its core meaning of "concealing heavenly secrets".

About an hour later, the rubbing was "completed." The black jade slip and the Sky-Covering Tortoise Shell were solemnly placed into a specially made sealed jade box by Deacon Zhao Yan. The earthenware Blood Soul Bowl, however, remained untouched on the stone platform, untouched by anyone.

"Mission accomplished, retreat immediately!" Zhao Yan gave the order, and the group dared not linger. They quickly exited the secret chamber along the original route, passed through the weakened barrier of resentment, and left the ancient temple ruins.

On the way back to the Cloud Piercing Boat, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle. Everyone remained silent, processing the tremendous discoveries and lingering concerns of this trip.

Fu Shaoping closed his eyes to rest, but his heart was in turmoil.

He had quietly obtained the core inheritance of the fragments of the "Netherworld Contract Book." Although it was only a fragment, and focused on contracts with the Netherworld and curses, it perfectly made up for the shortcomings of the "Mysterious Contract True Explanation" in areas such as "Soul Contract," "Evil Contract," and "Causal Contract," instantly elevating his understanding of the Great Dao of "Contract" to a new level! He even vaguely touched upon the threshold of how to use the power of contracts to perform more sophisticated attacks, defenses, and even influence the trajectory of fate!

The "Concealing Heavenly Secrets" contract remaining on the fragments of the Heaven-Covering Tortoise Shell also provided him with ideas on how to better conceal his own destiny and avoid being calculated by high-level cultivators.

On the surface, his trip to the Ghost Swamp was just that of a support character with "keen senses" and "some luck." His biggest gain was nothing more than the generous mission rewards and the extra bonuses that the Mysterious Pavilion might give him.

But in reality, he obtained a precious inheritance that pointed directly to the core of the ancient contract Dao, as well as an insight into a strange artifact involving the veil of destiny! Its value far exceeds any spirit stone or ordinary resource!
This is his greatest takeaway from this trip, and one of the crucial cornerstones for his future path.

The cloud-piercing boat cut through the gray mist and sped towards Tianque City. Fu Shaoping opened his eyes, gazing at the scenery rushing past the window, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

The stage of Tianque City seems to have become broader and more full of possibilities because of the gains he made from this "unremarkable" mission. Next, he needs time to digest this inheritance and transform it into a real increase in strength.

How will the Xuanji Pavilion and the Chiyan Sect handle those two hot potato treasures? What kind of follow-up will the "deceived cause and effect" cause? These are all irrelevant to him for the time being.

His path, because of this trip to the Ghost Swamp, had quietly turned onto a more hidden and mysterious side road. The fog ahead remained, but the "lamp" in his hand shone even brighter.

The Cloud Piercing Boat silently passed through the protective array of light that enveloped Tianque City and landed on the Xuanji Pavilion's designated landing pad. The eight members of the Ghost Swamp mission, besides the tension of completing the mission itself, were also preoccupied with their own thoughts due to the unexpected and astonishing discovery.

Deacons Zhao Yan and Liu Yun immediately took the jade box containing the sealed fragments of the "Netherworld Contract" and the Heaven-Covering Tortoise Shell to report to the higher-ups of the Xuanji Pavilion. Before leaving, Liu Yun gave Fu Shaoping an extra small bag containing two hundred low-grade spirit stones and a "Merit Token" engraved with the special mark of the Xuanji Pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist Mo's performance this time was outstanding, his perception was keen, and he played a crucial role in breaking the resentment barrier. This is an extra reward. This token can be used to enjoy certain discounts in the shops under the Xuanji Pavilion, and it can also give you priority in accepting certain tasks issued by our pavilion." Liu Yun's tone was much gentler than before, and her gaze towards Fu Shaoping was clearly one of appreciation and attempts to win him over. Zhou Yan and the other disciples of the Crimson Flame Sect also received corresponding rewards, but judging from their expressions, they seemed to still harbor some resentment at not being able to directly obtain those two supreme treasures, yet they were helpless about it.

The middle-aged rune cultivator Li Yan and the female array master Lin Xue also received generous rewards and the goodwill of the Xuanji Pavilion. Li Yan was especially excited, as he had made copies of a lot of precious ancient rune materials, enough for him to study for a long time.

Fu Shaoping accepted the spirit stones and merit tokens, thanked them calmly, and said nothing more. He knew that his true gains far exceeded these external things.

Back in his cramped "pigeon coop" on the edge of the outer city, Fu Shaoping immediately activated all the early warning and concealment measures. He didn't rush to count the spirit stones or study the merit tokens, but instead sat down cross-legged and sank his mind into his sea of ​​consciousness.

Deep within his sea of ​​consciousness, the golden rune representing the oath of "keeping the contract," obtained from the ancient cave dwelling in Ghost Cry Forest, floated silently. Beside it, there was a black contract rune light that constantly swirled and exuded a deep and mysterious aura, as well as a tortoise shell phantom that was incomplete but carried obscure fluctuations of heavenly secrets.

This is precisely the core inheritance of the fragment of the Netherworld Contract Book that he imprinted in the secret chamber of the Ghost Swamp using the "Contract Identification Technique," as well as the contract analysis of the fragment of the Sky-Covering Tortoise Shell!

He carefully spared a sliver of his attention to touch the ball of black contract runes.

In an instant, a torrent of profound knowledge and methods about the Netherworld Contract, Soul Shackles, Curse Backlash, and Karmic Entanglement flooded into his consciousness! Its content was far more bizarre and profound than the basic chapter of "The True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract," focusing more on the application and countermeasures of the contract in the dark, negative, and secretive realms.

He saw how to establish more secretive and imperceptible "hidden contracts," how to use the power of contracts to bind, torture, or even devour the souls of enemies, how to combine curses with contracts to form unbreakable "cursed contracts," and how to use the causal relationships between contracts to track, counter, or even frame others!

Among them, a technique called "Soul Pact Chains" caught his special attention. This technique is not a direct attack, but rather uses one's own soul power combined with contract runes to condense into an invisible "chain," which can bind the opponent's soul, interfere with their spellcasting and thinking, and even temporarily seal some of their abilities. It is extremely insidious and difficult to defend against.

Another type of "mystical contract mark" can leave an extremely secret contract mark on the objects or creatures he has come into contact with. As long as the other party is within a certain range, he can vaguely sense their location, just like a passive tracker.

Of course, most of these methods require strong soul power and a deep understanding of the way of contracts, and most of them are sinister and unorthodox, which is different from the peaceful tone of "The True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract". However, they undoubtedly greatly enrich his repertoire of methods, especially in situations where concealment, surprise attack or self-protection is required.

The insights gained from the fragments of the Heaven-Covering Tortoise Shell were more abstract. They concerned how to utilize the power of contracts to obscure one's own projection within the River of Heavenly Secrets, thereby evading certain high-level divination, deduction, and even probing into the realm of destiny. Though incomplete, it pointed him in the right direction. Combined with the methods in the *True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract* for concealing one's own "contractual characteristics," he might be able to better conceal his secrets, including the very existence of the *True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract* itself.

Fu Shaoping devoured these newly acquired inheritances with great eagerness. During the day, he continued to go out, taking on ordinary tasks from the Myriad Alliance Hall to earn spirit stones to cover his expenses. Occasionally, he would visit shops under the Xuanji Pavilion, using his merit tokens to purchase jade slips containing information on basic formations, runes, and even common knowledge about the cultivation world (to conceal his true source of knowledge). At night, he would immerse himself in his sea of ​​consciousness, analyzing the Netherworld Contract, refining his soul fire, and attempting to integrate the old and new inheritances.

In terms of cultivation, he was not in a hurry to break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining. The foundation of the eighth level of Qi Refining needed time to be honed, and the newly acquired inheritance also needed to be digested and absorbed. He focused on tempering his soul power and using the contract.

He attempted to follow the "Netherworld Fire Tempering Soul" method recorded in the *Netherworld Contract* (a method of tempering soul fire using yin-attribute soul power or a special environment). In the dead of night, he carefully drew upon the faint yin energy of the "pigeon coop" area (a place teeming with yin energy and resentment), mixing it with his own soul fire for slow tempering. The process was painful and slow, but it made his soul fire more solid and profound, even acquiring a faint, eerie chill, and greatly enhancing his perception and resistance to yin spirits.

He also began practicing "Soul Contract Chains" and "Nether Contract Marks." The former was extremely energy-consuming; he could currently only condense a maximum of three illusory chains, with limited range and strength, but more than enough to interfere with cultivators of the same level. The latter was relatively easier; he could already leave stable marks on his commonly used alchemy furnace, futon, and other items.

A month later, Fu Shaoping felt that his strength had improved significantly. Although he was still at the eighth level of Qi Refining, the strength of his soul power and his skills in using it were probably no less than those of an ordinary ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator. With the various unpredictable methods brought by the "Mysterious Contract True Explanation" and the "Netherworld Contract Book", as well as external forces such as the Xuan Turtle Shield, he was confident that he was rarely matched during the Qi Refining stage. Even when facing a Foundation Establishment early stage cultivator, he might not be without a chance to fight back or escape.

However, in Tianque City, the Qi Refining stage is ultimately the bottom level. To obtain more resources, improve faster, and even prepare for Foundation Establishment, he needs to connect with higher-level circles or seize greater opportunities.

On this day, while strolling around the Hall of Ten Thousand Alliances, he noticed a long-term recruitment notice prominently displayed in gold runes hanging at the very top of the mission jade wall:

[Recruitment of Assistants for the "Ascension Ceremony" in Tianque City]

[Organizer]: Jointly organized by the City Lord's Mansion of Tianque City, the four major sects (Xuantian Sect, Chiyan Sect, Bibo Pavilion, and Shenji Sect), and the three major chambers of commerce (Wanbaolou, Danding Pavilion, and Tiangongfang).

[Content]: Assist in maintaining order in various areas during the conference, guide participating monks, handle emergencies, and assist with testing sessions, etc.

[Requirements]: Qi Refining Level 7 or above, clean background (must pass basic review), obedient to instructions, and strong adaptability. Those with special skills (such as alchemy, weapon crafting, formations, spiritual plants, etc.) will be given priority.

[Compensation]: The term is three months, with a monthly salary of 500 low-grade spirit stones, and room and board provided (a unified quiet room is provided). Those who perform well will receive additional rewards and may even have the opportunity to gain the attention and recruitment of the four major sects or the three major merchant guilds.

[Note]: The "Ascension Ceremony" is a grand event held once every ten years in Tianque City, gathering talents from all directions. A massive influx of cultivators will occur, making the event a diverse and challenging affair. The coordination work is demanding and carries a certain degree of risk; please be prepared. (End of Chapter)