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

He didn't immediately use the Azure Leaf Boat; that magical artifact was considered mid-to-high grade among rogue cultivators and would easily attract attention. He chose to combine walking with short-range wind manipulation, proceeding leisurely southeastward along the trade route. Occasionally, he would pass through small gatherings of cultivators or villages of ordinary people, stopping to rest, inquire about news, and replenish supplies.

A month later, Fu Shaoping arrived at the outer edge of the Qingyue Mountains, weary from his journey. The mountains stretched endlessly, lush and verdant, and the concentration of spiritual energy was indeed much higher than that of the Gobi Desert. He did not venture into the markets deep within the mountains, but instead temporarily settled in a simple gathering place set up by independent cultivators on the outskirts.

This settlement was built against the mountain, with buildings scattered about. Most of the cultivators there were at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, with the occasional late-stage Qi Refining cultivator appearing. Fu Shaoping, with his eighth-level Qi Refining cultivation (he didn't hide it; at this moment, the eighth level of Qi Refining wasn't particularly outstanding or weak among rogue cultivators), checked in without attracting much attention.

He rented a stone house halfway up the mountain, and after settling in, he went to the only small trading area in the settlement, which was maintained by a few rogue cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining.

The trading area was small, with only a few dozen stalls, mostly selling spirit herbs, low-grade ores, monster materials, and some crude magical artifacts and talismans, all special products of the Qingyue Mountains. Fu Shaoping strolled around but didn't find anything particularly special, but that wasn't his intention anyway.

He walked up to an old cultivator's stall that sold various groceries and also offered information services. The old cultivator looked to be nearly seventy years old and only had the fifth level of Qi Refining, but he had sharp eyes and was a well-known "know-it-all" in the area.

"What would you like to know, fellow Daoist?" The old cultivator squinted as he sized up Fu Shaoping.

Fu Shaoping lowered his voice and handed over five low-grade spirit stones: "I wanted to ask about the auction at Liuyunjian Market. Also, has anything new or... unusual been happening in the Qingyue Mountains lately?"

The old cultivator skillfully put away the spirit stones and smiled, "Fellow Daoist, you're here for the auction, right? The autumn auction at Liuyunjian's 'Hundred Treasures Pavilion' is indeed on the eighth day of next month, less than twenty days away. I heard there are many good items this time, and the grand finale is said to be several top-tier magic artifacts and a 'Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill' that can help break through the Foundation Establishment bottleneck. Although it's not a Foundation Establishment Pill, it's still very precious."

Purple Heart Breakthrough Pill? Fu Shaoping's heart stirred. This pill was indeed of great help in breaking through the bottleneck of Foundation Establishment.

"As for the unusual commotion..." The old cultivator stroked his sparse beard and lowered his voice, "A few days ago, things seemed a bit unsettled in the 'Soul-Falling Valley' deep in the mountains. Some people heard eerie crying and the sound of chains dragging on the ground coming from the valley at night, and they also saw several shadowy figures going in and out. Some brave souls went in to investigate, but none of them came out again. Now, everyone avoids that area."

Fallen Soul Valley? Fu Shaoping memorized the name.

"And another thing," the old cultivator continued, "I've heard that the 'Azure Wood Sect' and the 'Golden Saber Sect' have been clashing recently, apparently over a newly discovered small spirit stone mine. Both of them are local strongmen in our Azure Mountain Range, each with a Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge. If they start fighting, we rogue cultivators have to be careful not to get caught in the crossfire."

Fu Shaoping nodded, asked some more trivial questions about the distribution of power in the Qingyue Mountains, safe routes, and entry qualifications for the auction, and then left the stall.

Back in the stone house, Fu Shaoping began to plan. The auction was still nearly twenty days away, and this time couldn't be wasted. The anomalies in Fallen Soul Valley reminded him of "Netherworld" and "Soul Chain"—could they be related to his inheritance? It was worth investigating, but he needed to be extremely careful. As for the conflict between the Green Wood Sect and the Golden Saber Sect, it was irrelevant to him; he could simply avoid it.

He decided to spend a few days thoroughly digesting what he had gained from the Black Wind Gobi Desert, especially the operational concepts of those "military oaths," to see if he could initially integrate them into his own combat system. Then, he would explore the outskirts of Fallen Soul Valley.

In the days that followed, Fu Shaoping remained secluded. He repeatedly pondered the essence of the "Military Oath" regarding the resonance of collective will, the transmission of power, and the binding of forces. This was not a simple formation, but rather a temporary, small-scale "contract force field" constructed using contract runes as a link. Within this force field, the individuals who participated in the contract could share and amplify their power (true qi, soul power, or even certain characteristics) to a limited extent, or form coordinated defenses and attacks.

Of course, he alone cannot achieve the true effect of a "military oath." But could he try to simulate this "contract force field" using himself as a base to enhance the power of his spells or interfere with the energy flow of his opponent?

He attempted to combine the concept of "military oath contracts" with the "soul contract chains" in the *Netherworld Contract Book* and his own "contract identification techniques." After countless failed attempts and minor adjustments, he barely managed to develop a crude method of application:

When he casts "Soul Pact Chains," he can pre-construct an extremely small, temporary, one-way "contract channel" between the "source" of the chains (his own soul power) and the "target" using specific contract runes (simulating the connection runes in military oath inscriptions). This does not share power, but it makes his soul power more concentrated and penetrating when passing through this "channel," increasing the interference and binding effect on the target's soul by 10% to 20%! At the same time, the consumption will also increase slightly.

He called this improved version of the technique "Military Soul Lock." Although it was only a preliminary improvement with limited effects, it showed him the possibility of integrating and innovating different contractual inheritances.

In addition, he also tried to incorporate the concept of "protective resonance" from the "Military Oath" into the control of the Xuan Turtle Shield. Although it could not double the defensive power of the Xuan Turtle Shield, it could make the mental connection between him and the shield closer and the control more agile. When subjected to strong impacts, the shield could more "intelligently" disperse and dissipate the force, which was equivalent to indirectly improving the defensive efficiency.

These advancements may seem minor, but in actual combat, they often mean the difference between life and death.

Ten days later, Fu Shaoping felt that he was in peak condition and had gained some experience in controlling the "Military Soul Lock" and the new version of the Xuan Turtle Shield. He decided to set off to explore the Fallen Soul Valley.

Located in the southwest of the Qingyue Mountains, Fallen Soul Valley is a deep and narrow valley. It is named for the yin energy that surrounds it all year round and the occasional appearance of low-level yin spirits. Usually, only some cultivators who practice yin attribute techniques or need specific yin attribute materials will occasionally go there.

When Fu Shaoping arrived at the valley entrance, it was already afternoon. The valley was dimly lit, with steep cliffs on both sides, sparse vegetation, and a faint smell of humus and a chilly atmosphere in the air. He activated his "Identification Technique" and carefully sensed the surroundings.

There was nothing unusual near the valley entrance, except for some weak wandering spirits, which screamed and dissipated when they were hit by the soul power aura on his body that had been tempered by "Netherfire".

He ventured deep into the valley, about a mile away, where the yin energy intensified, and naturally formed yin-evil places began to appear. At the same time, he also discovered traces of human activity—several deliberately cleared areas, still bearing the lingering fluctuations of simple formations, and… a faint, distinctly different style from the cursed contract runes in the Black Wind Gobi, yet equally eerie and binding—a contractual aura!
"This isn't the Xuanqi Sect's method...it seems more like some kind of unorthodox, evil contract that uses the souls or flesh of living beings as sacrifices?" Fu Shaoping frowned deeply. This reminded him of the dark aura he sensed in the "pigeon coop" outside Tianque City. He became even more cautious, pushing his concealment technique to its limit while attaching a wisp of his divine sense to the "Military Soul Lock," like an invisible tentacle probing ahead.

After turning a corner, the sight before him made Fu Shaoping's pupils shrink!
In a relatively open depression ahead stood three simple altars constructed of bones and black wood! The altars were covered with twisted, sinister, dark red runes, emanating a thick stench of blood and resentment. At the center of each altar sat a container resembling a clay blood-soul bowl, but rougher and more grotesque, filled with a dark red, viscous liquid from which faint, mournful wails of souls emanated.

Around the altar, scattered pieces of clothing and human bones lay strewn about. Further away, the entrance to a cave, concealed by a simple protective barrier, gave the faint sound of human voices.

"As expected, there are heretical cultivators operating here!" Fu Shaoping's heart sank. Judging from the scale and aura, this group of heretical cultivators is probably quite powerful, with at least a late-stage Qi Refining leader, and possibly even some Foundation Establishment cultivators!

As he hesitated whether to retreat immediately or get closer to investigate, a series of urgent bell rings and shouts suddenly came from the cave!
"Quick! The 'Soul Guide' is reacting! A living person has entered the valley, and their aura is not weak! Go out and check!" A hoarse, unpleasant voice rang out.

Immediately afterwards, the cave's protective barrier opened, and four cultivators dressed in black cloaks, exuding a chilling aura, filed out. Their cultivation levels were all at the late stage of Qi Refining, with two of them at the ninth level of Qi Refining! They held evil magical artifacts such as bone banners and soul-summoning bells in their hands, and their eyes warily scanned their surroundings.

Fu Shaoping had a bad feeling. He might have triggered some kind of warning device set up by the other side when he was probing! Without hesitation, he turned around and rushed out of the valley!
"There! Chase after him!" The leader of the ninth-level Qi Refining evil cultivators waved his bone banner, and several gray ghostly figures shrieked as they pounced on Fu Shaoping at an extremely fast speed!

At the same time, another evil cultivator shook the soul-summoning bell. The piercing sound echoed through the valley, and Fu Shaoping felt a slight dizziness. His soul was even shaken! These evil cultivators were indeed skilled in soul attacks!

Fu Shaoping suppressed his discomfort and unleashed the full power of his "Shadow Step" while simultaneously striking out with his "Military Soul Lock"! The invisible chains arrived first, wrapping around the ghostly figures.

The improved "Military Soul Lock" seems to be more effective against ghostly beings. Once the chains entangled the ghostly figures, they let out even more shrill screams, and their movements became noticeably sluggish and disorganized.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Fu Shaoping had already rushed dozens of feet away. But behind him, four evil cultivators were in hot pursuit, and various insidious spells and magical artifacts attacked him relentlessly.

"We can't let them chase us out of the valley!" Fu Shaoping's mind raced. If they got entangled and attracted more evil cultivators or that possible Foundation Establishment evil cultivator, it would be troublesome.

He gritted his teeth, took out two "Yang Thunder Talismans" from the Tianque City market that he had obtained from his storage bag. These talismans were specifically designed to suppress evil spirits and demons. He infused them with his true energy and threw them behind him without looking back!

"Boom! Boom!"

Two loud bangs and blinding lightning burst forth in the narrow valley. The pure and fierce aura swept through, instantly dispelling most of the pursuing ghostly spells and forcing the four evil cultivators to stop their pursuit and cast spells to resist the aftershocks of the lightning.

Taking advantage of the gap, Fu Shaoping increased his speed again, and in a few leaps, he rushed out of Fallen Soul Valley and disappeared into the dense forest without looking back. Only when he was sure that no one was chasing him did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"That was close!" Fu Shaoping wiped away a cold sweat. This group of evil cultivators was quite powerful, and since they were entrenched in Fallen Soul Valley, their ambitions were probably far-reaching. Those bone altars and blood-soul containers were clearly part of some kind of evil ritual or the creation of evil artifacts.

"This matter is of utmost importance," Fu Shaoping frowned. Evil cultivators slaughter living beings and forge evil weapons; they are the common enemy of the cultivation world. But he alone cannot eradicate them. Should he report it to the forces of the Qingyue Mountains? The Qingmu Sect or the Golden Saber Sect? They are busy with internal strife and might not care; in fact, it might alert them.

"It's not advisable to interfere for now," Fu Shaoping decided. His immediate priorities were the auction and his own Foundation Establishment. These evil cultivators could be ignored for the time being as long as they didn't provoke him. However, the anomalies at Fallen Soul Valley were still intelligence that might come in handy at some point.

Instead of returning to their previous gathering place, he changed direction and headed towards the area where Liuyunjian Market was located. In the days to come, he would prepare for the auction—collecting spirit stones and figuring out how to obtain an entry qualification.

Located on the eastern side of the Qingyue Mountains, Liuyunjian Market is built along a medium-sized spiritual vein. It is smaller than the southern market of Tianque City, but much more organized than the gathering place of independent cultivators. It is jointly managed by several cultivation families and chambers of commerce.

Fu Shaoping rented a temporary cave dwelling on the outskirts of the market. After settling in, he began to inquire about the specific information of the auction.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion Autumn Auction requires verification of funds for entry; participants must have at least 1,000 low-grade spirit stones or possess a VIP token issued by the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Fu Shaoping still has nearly 4,000 spirit stones on him (including rewards from the Ascension Conference and previous savings), so the verification is not a problem. However, he needs more spirit stones to bid on the "Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill" or other possible Foundation Establishment related items.

"I need to find a way to earn some spirit stones," Fu Shaoping pondered. His greatest strength was alchemy, but he was unfamiliar with the area, and rashly revealing his alchemy skills might attract trouble. Perhaps he could take on some tasks posted in the market? Or, sell some items he didn't need?
He checked his storage bag. Besides the essential magical artifacts, pills, and materials, there were also some miscellaneous items obtained from ancient temple ruins, the Black Wind Gobi Desert, and daily collections. Among them were several low-grade Yin-attribute ores obtained from the Ghost Swamp, several common spiritual herbs collected on the outskirts of the Qingyue Mountains, and... several disposable array plates inscribed with simplified versions of "early warning array" and "concealment array".

These array plates were created by him, combining his understanding of energy nodes and basic array knowledge from the "True Explanation of the Mysterious Contract." While their effects weren't as good as standard array plates, their low cost made them more appealing, potentially attracting some low-level independent cultivators. (End of Chapter)