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

A longsword blocked the descending blade, sparks flying everywhere!

The scarred-faced man was stunned for a moment, but when he saw who it was, his eyes flashed with shock and rage: "It's you?! That brat Mu Yunji! You're asking for death!"

Fu Shaoping remained expressionless. With a flick of his wrist, his longsword deflected the opponent's knife. At the same time, his left hand formed a sword-like shape with his fingers together, and a wisp of contract power, infused with his new insights (mimicking the "breaking the law" meaning in the "human contract"), silently targeted the meridian node on the scarred man's wrist that was gripping the knife!
This seemingly ordinary action contained a profound understanding of energy flow. The scarred man felt a numbness in his wrist, his internal energy circulation suddenly stalled, and his sword strike involuntarily slowed down.

Taking this opportunity, Fu Shaoping shouted to the two caravan guards, "Attack!" At the same time, a "Military Soul Lock" was already thrown at another member of the Wild Wolf Gang who was preparing to attack the girl at the eighth level of Qi Refining!
The two guards, who had already resolved to die, were greatly encouraged by the arrival of help and immediately roared as they charged at the nearest enemy.

The battle resumed instantly, but the situation had changed.

Fu Shaoping fought alone against the scarred-faced giant. Although his cultivation was slightly inferior, his "Contract Identification Technique" allowed him to predict the opponent's attack trajectory in advance. His "Shadow Steps" were agile and unpredictable, and his "Military Soul Lock" would interfere from time to time. In addition, with the newly learned contract-breaking techniques, he was able to fight the scarred-faced giant to a standstill, and even occasionally forced the opponent to be flustered.

On the other side, two guards desperately held off two enemies at the seventh level of Qi Refining. Fu Shaoping's "Military Soul Lock" focused on the enemy at the eighth level of Qi Refining, preventing him from attacking the old man and the young man with full force. The remaining two enemies at the seventh level of Qi Refining and one enemy at the sixth level of Qi Refining were barely restrained by the old man, who had recovered, using the remaining array flags and talismans.

The battle was extremely fierce. Fu Shaoping quickly sustained several wounds, but the scarred-faced giant was also in a bad way, becoming increasingly irritated by Fu Shaoping's tricky swordsmanship and strange soul power interference.

"Boy! Who exactly are you? How dare you go against our Wild Wolf Gang!" the scarred-faced man roared.

Fu Shaoping didn't answer, his eyes cold. He knew he had to act quickly; dragging it out would be detrimental to him.

He suddenly feinted with his sword, forcing his opponent back half a step. At the same time, the insights he gained from the black stone fragment in his sea of ​​consciousness instantly combined with a technique called "Curse Power Grafting" from the "Netherworld Contract Book"! He used the power of the contract as a guide to quietly "mark" and "graft" a trace of the violent killing intent contained in the opponent's swordsmanship (which was also a variant of a negative emotion contract) back to the opponent's own soul connection!

This was not a powerful attack, but rather an extremely subtle form of "interference" and "provocation." The scarred-faced man felt an inexplicable surge of irritability and rage, his breathing became slightly disordered, and his previously fluid swordsmanship experienced an unnatural pause.

Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Fu Shaoping unleashed the full power of his "Shadow Step," his figure closing in like a phantom, his longsword piercing straight at the opponent's exposed chest opening caused by a slight disturbance in his breathing!

Scarface was terrified and hurriedly parried with his knife, but he was already a beat too late!
"Hey!"

The sword tip sliced ​​through the leather armor on his chest, leaving a trail of blood! Although the wound wasn't deep, it terrified Scarface.

"Retreat!" The scarred-faced man finally decided to retreat. He couldn't figure out Fu Shaoping's strength, he was injured, and his men hadn't been able to defeat their opponent. Continuing to fight would probably be bad.

He feinted with his knife, forcing Fu Shaoping back, and at the same time shouted and threw out several smoke bombs.

Thick smoke billowed, obscuring visibility. Seeing this, the members of the Wild Wolf Gang quickly broke free of their opponents and retreated into the smoke.

Fu Shaoping did not pursue, as he was not in good condition and did not know if his opponent had any other tricks up their sleeve.

As the smoke cleared, the members of the Wild Wolf Gang had vanished into the twilight wasteland, leaving only a few corpses behind.

The two caravan guards, covered in blood, collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The old man lay limp, barely breathing. The young woman, clutching the iron box, supported the old man, tears streaming down her face.

Fu Shaoping quickly checked his injuries, took some medicine, and then walked towards the old man and the young man.

The old man struggled to get up to express his gratitude, but Fu Shaoping held him down.

"Thank you... thank you for saving my life, fellow Daoist!" The old man's voice was weak. "I am Zhou Huai'an, and this is my granddaughter, Zhou Ling. If it weren't for your righteous intervention, my granddaughter and I would have met a terrible end today..."

"No need for formalities." Fu Shaoping waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the iron box in Zhou Ling's arms. "Why is the Wild Wolf Gang so relentlessly pursuing you? Is it because of this?"

Zhou Huai'an's expression changed, while Zhou Ling instinctively hugged the iron box even tighter.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Huai'an sighed and said in a low voice, "To be honest, my benefactor, this box contains... a family heirloom jade, which is said to be related to an ancient sect that specializes in 'sealing' and 'contracts.' I don't know its specific purpose, only that it was passed down from my ancestors and they strictly ordered it to be guarded. Unfortunately, the news leaked and it caught the eye of the Wild Wolf Gang..."

An ancient sect? A seal and a contract? Fu Shaoping's heart stirred. He said calmly, "I see. Although the Wild Wolf Gang has retreated, they may not have given up. This place is not safe to stay any longer. What are your plans next?"

Zhou Huai'an smiled bitterly: "We originally went to Yunmeng Great Swamp to seek refuge with relatives, but now our guards have been almost entirely killed or wounded... The road ahead is uncertain."

Fu Shaoping pondered for a moment, then said, "I am also heading to the Yunmeng Great Swamp. If you trust me, you can travel with me for a while, so we can look out for each other." He wasn't a pushover; his offer of help stemmed from both his dislike of the Wild Wolf Gang and his curiosity about the iron box. Traveling together would allow for further observation, and if the iron box was indeed related to the contract, they might be able to glean some clues or benefits from it.

Zhou Huai'an and his grandson exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with gratitude. They were currently isolated and helpless, and having a strong ally like Fu Shaoping by their side was something they could never have asked for.

"Thank you so much, my benefactor! I will never forget your kindness!" Zhou Huai'an quickly expressed his gratitude. "Just call me Mo Chen," Fu Shaoping said, this being his alias.

After quickly treating their wounds and collecting their companions' bodies, the group left the bloody place under the cover of night.

Fu Shaoping was unaware that this seemingly accidental action had connected him to an iron box containing ancient secrets and the forces that might be involved behind it. Ahead, in the vast Yunmeng Marsh, awaited him not only new opportunities but also a deeper vortex.

The four (Fu Shaoping, Zhou Huai'an and his grandson, and two surviving caravan guards—Wang Hu and Li Bao) hurried through the darkness of the desolate wilderness. Fu Shaoping led the way, activating his "Contractual Skill" to avoid any potential dangers. Zhou Huai'an was seriously injured and was supported by Zhou Ling, while Wang Hu and Li Bao brought up the rear. Although exhausted, they were jubilant from their near-death experience and encouraged by Fu Shaoping's demonstrated strength.

During the journey, Fu Shaoping briefly inquired about the Wild Wolf Gang. Zhou Huai'an didn't know much, only that the Wild Wolf Gang was based in Muyun Village, and that its leader, "One-Eyed Wolf" He Kun, possessed early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, was ruthless, and had gathered a group of desperados under his command. They not only bullied and monopolized the market in Muyun Village but also frequently engaged in robbing merchants, murdering and plundering in the wasteland. This time, the Wild Wolf Gang was determined to obtain the Iron Box and would likely not give up easily.

“He Kun…” Fu Shaoping memorized the name. At the early stage of Foundation Establishment, with his current strength, he had no chance of winning in a direct confrontation and could only try to avoid it.

After traveling all night, as dawn broke, the four found a secluded, dry riverbed to rest. Fu Shaoping distributed some dry rations and water, and then took the time to recuperate.

Zhou Ling carefully placed the iron box beside her, her gaze occasionally drifting to Fu Shaoping, who was meditating with his eyes closed, her eyes filled with curiosity and gratitude. This young cultivator looked only a few years older than her, yet his cultivation was unfathomable, and his attacks were decisive and ruthless. In particular, she had never heard of any strange methods that could slow down an enemy's movements.

Fu Shaoping could feel the girl's gaze, but he ignored it, his mind focused on recovering and processing his insights from the newly acquired black stone fragment. The concept of the "Man, Earth, Heaven" triad opened a completely new door for him. Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, it led to a qualitative leap in his understanding of the Way of Contracts. He began to try to re-examine and optimize all the contract-related techniques he had mastered using this higher-level concept.

After resting for about two hours, the four set off again. The deeper they went into the wasteland, the harsher the environment became. The sandstorms intensified, and occasionally, strange, colorful auroras could be seen flashing at the horizon (a phenomenon of chaotic spiritual energy unique to the wasteland). The presence of demonic beasts also increased, but fortunately, Fu Shaoping was always able to provide early warnings, either detouring or quickly eliminating them.

During this time, Fu Shaoping attempted to communicate with Zhou Huai'an and his grandson, subtly inquiring about the origin of the iron box. Zhou Huai'an was cautious in his speech, only saying that his ancestors had obtained it by chance, passed it down through several generations, and its exact origin was unknown. The iron box itself was exceptionally sturdy and could not be opened, seemingly sealed with some ancient seal. Their trip to the Yunmeng Great Swamp was not only to visit relatives but also to seek authentication from a master at the "Thousand Machine Pavilion" in the swamp, hoping to break the seal and uncover its secrets.

Fu Shaoping didn't press further, but silently memorized the name "Qianji Pavilion." It was one of the largest merchant guilds in the Yunmeng Great Swamp, renowned for appraising, repairing, and selling all sorts of strange objects, mechanisms, and formations.

After several days of trekking, the Wild Wolf Gang had not caught up; perhaps they had given up, or perhaps they had been delayed by other matters. But Fu Shaoping dared not let his guard down.

As the four of them passed through a hilly area with jagged rocks at dusk, Fu Shaoping suddenly stopped, his brows furrowed.

"Brother Mo, what's wrong?" Zhou Ling asked softly.

Fu Shaoping raised his hand to signal silence. His "Contract Identification Technique" detected a strong stench of blood and... a familiar, eerie contract fluctuation several miles ahead! It was five or six parts similar to the aura of the evil cultivators' altars in Fallen Soul Valley, but even colder and more violent!
"There's something up ahead, it might be some evil cultivators," Fu Shaoping said in a low voice. "Take a detour."

Everyone felt a chill and immediately changed direction, preparing to bypass the hills from the side.

However, they hadn't gone far when a sharp laugh, like the cry of an owl, suddenly came from behind a boulder in front of them!

"Hehehe... Taking a detour? Now that you're here, you're not leaving!"

Three figures emerged from behind the boulder. The leader was an old man with a hunched back, wearing a tattered black robe. His face was covered with strange black patterns, and his eyes flashed with scarlet light. His aura had clearly reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining! Behind him were two cultivators, also dressed in black robes, with numb eyes, both at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

The eeriness, bloodlust, and twisted contractual aura emanating from these three individuals were several times stronger than those of the evil cultivators from Fallen Soul Valley! Especially the hunched old man, who gave Fu Shaoping an extremely dangerous feeling!
"The Blood Shadow Cult is handling matters; bystanders must stay away! Or... leave your essence and soul behind!" The hunched old man stretched out his withered, claw-like hand, licked his lips, and greedily swept his gaze over Fu Shaoping and the others.

Blood Shadow Cult? Fu Shaoping's heart sank. He had heard of this heretical organization, active in the southwest of Zhao Kingdom, known for its secretive and cruel methods, its expertise in blood sacrifices and soul-binding sorcery, and its status as a wanted criminal by various sects and city lords. He never expected to encounter it deep in this desolate wilderness!

“Senior, we are just passing by and have no intention of offending you,” Fu Shaoping said in a deep voice, suppressing the chill in his heart.

"Just passing by?" The hunchbacked old man chuckled. "I've set up the 'Nine Sons Mother Blood Soul Array,' and I'm just short of a few living souls as catalysts. You've delivered yourselves to my doorstep, how can I let you go? Especially you..." His scarlet eyes stared at Fu Shaoping, "Your soul is condensed, and your aura is special. You're an excellent 'main soul' material!"

Before the words were even finished, the two black-robed cultivators behind the hunchbacked old man had already made their move! They formed hand seals and chanted obscure incantations. Two dark red beams of light shot out from their palms, transforming into two menacing, blood-red ghost claws in mid-air, accompanied by a pungent, foul stench and mournful howls, as they grabbed at Fu Shaoping and Zhou Huai'an respectively!
At the same time, the hunchbacked old man moved! His figure flickered, and he floated towards Fu Shaoping like a ghost. His withered fingers were bent like hooks, and the tips of his fingers were surrounded by a dark, evil aura. He thrust straight into Fu Shaoping's crown! This attack was not only fast, but also carried an evil force that shook the very soul!

"Watch out!" Fu Shaoping shouted sharply, warning the people behind him, while he himself had already pushed himself to the limit!

Facing the blood-red ghost claw that was grabbing at him, he dared not be careless. With a flick of his left hand, the two Yang Thunder Talismans that he had been holding in his hand were activated at the same time! Boom! Pure Yang Thunder exploded and collided with the blood-red ghost claw, bursting out with a hissing sound of dissolving. The ghost claw twisted and dimmed a little, but it did not completely dissipate!
What powerful evil magic! The Yang Thunder Talisman has limited effectiveness in countering it!
At the same time, the hunchbacked old man's attack was already upon them! Even before the dark claws arrived, a chilling and sinister aura, seemingly capable of freezing the soul, already swept over them!

Fu Shaoping's pupils contracted slightly, and he used the "Shadow Step" to turn sharply, narrowly avoiding the frontal attack of the claws. At the same time, he channeled all his true energy into his right longsword and slashed horizontally at the old man's wrist!
"A mere trick!" The hunchbacked old man scoffed disdainfully, twisting his wrist in a bizarre way, managing to bypass the sword's edge at an unbelievable angle, while his fingers and claws remained in the same direction, still grabbing at Fu Shaoping's face!

Fu Shaoping remained calm under pressure, the insights gained from the black stone fragment in his sea of ​​consciousness instantly flooding his mind! The power of a contract could also "break evil" and "establish order"! He no longer tried to completely dodge, but instead concentrated some of his soul power and true energy between his brows, simulating an extremely weak contract barrier that carried the intent of "breaking the contract" and "establishing order." At the same time, he pointed his left hand like a sword, using his newly comprehended "contract-breaking technique" to strike the old man's elbow. (End of Chapter)