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

Fourth, Qianji Pavilion has a branch in Linze Town, where you can appraise items, post quests, and buy intelligence, but the fees are quite high.

After gathering the information, Fu Shaoping made up his mind. His immediate priority was to allow Zhou Huai'an to recover from his injuries, while he himself needed time to restore his soul power and process the insights gained from the battle with the Blood Shadow Sect and the shockwaves caused by the iron box. Furthermore, the secret of the iron box and the appraisal by the Thousand Machine Pavilion also needed to be addressed.

Back at the inn, Fu Shaoping gave Wang Hu and Li Bao some spirit stones, allowing them to roam freely in town while keeping an eye out for anything unusual, and arranged to meet again in three days. He himself stayed indoors, focusing on recuperating.

In the quiet room, Fu Shaoping took out the black stone fragment from Muyunji and placed it in his palm. Although his sea of ​​consciousness still ached faintly, the resonance with the stone fragment was clearer than before. He tried to use extremely slow and gentle soul power to once again contact the deep primordial contract intention within the stone fragment.

This time, instead of a torrent of information, a gentle stream of "insights" flowed in. He seemed to "see" more subcategories of "human contracts": there were "trade contracts" of equal exchange, "master-servant contracts" of master-servant bondage, "alliance contracts" of mutual assistance, and "oath contracts" containing punishment... Each had its unique rune structure and power operation.

"So this is what 'human contract' is all about..." Fu Shaoping was completely absorbed in it, eagerly absorbing the knowledge. Although these were not specific cultivation methods, they provided him with a clear theoretical framework, giving all the contract techniques he had learned before a place to belong and a direction for improvement.

At the same time, he began to reflect on his desperate attack. In his haste, he forcibly combined the true meanings of various contracts, which, though dangerous, allowed him to touch upon the possibility of combining different contractual powers. In particular, the combination of "causal attraction" and "oath backlash," if perfected, might become a powerful means of attack or defense.

Three days later, Fu Shaoping's soul power had recovered to 70-80%, the hidden pain in his sea of ​​consciousness had basically disappeared, and his understanding of the Dao of Contracts had also advanced further. After he came out of seclusion, seeing that Zhou Huai'an's complexion was slightly better, Zhou Ling was also relieved.

He summoned Wang Hu and Li Bao. The two had not found any obvious traces of the Wild Wolf Gang or the Blood Shadow Cult in the town in the past few days, but they had heard some scattered rumors that things were not peaceful in the wasteland recently and that a small group of cultivators had gone missing.

“It seems they haven’t caught up with us here yet, or they’ve been held up by other things.” Fu Shaoping breathed a slight sigh of relief. “But we can’t let our guard down. Wang Hu and Li Bao, you two continue to keep an eye on things in town, especially news about the Blood Shadow Sect and the Thousand Machine Pavilion. I’ll go to the Thousand Machine Pavilion branch today to scout things out.”

The Linze Town branch of Qianji Pavilion is located on the most bustling street in the town center. It is a three-story wooden and stone structure with flying eaves and arched brackets, quite imposing. Two guards at the late stage of Qi Refining stand at the entrance, their expressions solemn.

Fu Shaoping paid an entrance fee of ten spirit stones before he was allowed to enter. The first-floor hall was spacious and bright, displaying many exquisite mechanical puppets, array plate models, and strange artifact samples. Many cultivators were consulting or trading at the counters.

He walked directly to the counter marked "Appraisal and Valuation." Behind the counter stood a middle-aged cultivator with a refined appearance, wearing crystal glasses; his cultivation level was clearly at the early stage of Foundation Establishment!

"What does the fellow cultivator wish to appraise?" The middle-aged cultivator's voice was calm, but his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.

Fu Shaoping pondered for a moment, then took out a decent-quality but unremarkable high-grade magic weapon short sword from his storage bag, which he had obtained from a disciple of the Wild Wolf Gang, and placed it on the counter. "Could you please help me assess the value of this item, senior, and whether there are any hidden secrets?"

He was testing the waters, wanting to see the appraisal standards and rules of Qianji Pavilion.

The middle-aged cultivator picked up the short sword, a faint light gleaming from his fingertips. He slowly ran his fingers over the blade, then examined it for a moment through his crystal glasses. He said, "Refined steel mixed with a small amount of 'cold iron sand,' the forging technique is acceptable. It's a high-grade magic weapon, with a 'frost' rune array that can slightly slow down an opponent's movements. There are no other secrets. Its market price is approximately between two hundred and two hundred and fifty spirit stones. Appraisal fee: twenty spirit stones."

Fu Shaoping nodded, paid the appraisal fee, and retrieved the short sword. The appraisal results largely matched his own assessment, and the process was swift and efficient.

"Senior, may your esteemed establishment be able to appraise some... ancient items that may be related to ancient sects? Perhaps they even bear special seals?" Fu Shaoping asked tentatively.

The middle-aged cultivator glanced at him, his eyes flickering slightly: "Of course. Our pavilion has a dedicated 'Antique Appraisal Room,' staffed by senior experts specializing in this field. However, the appraisal fee is considerable, depending on the item's value and the difficulty of the appraisal, starting at at least five hundred spirit stones. If special seals or restrictions are involved, the fee will be even higher, and our pavilion does not guarantee that they can be broken, nor is it responsible for any accidents that may occur during the appraisal process (such as seal breakage or item damage)."

Five hundred spirit stones as the starting price! Fu Shaoping was secretly shocked. This was just the appraisal fee; to break the seal, the price would probably be astronomical.

"Thank you for informing me, senior." Fu Shaoping cupped his hands in thanks, asked no further questions, and turned to leave Qianji Pavilion.

Back at the inn, Fu Shaoping told Zhou Huai'an and his grandson about the situation. Zhou Huai'an smiled bitterly upon hearing this: "Five hundred spirit stones… I couldn't afford that even if I sold everything I own. Besides, this item is so hot to handle; what if word gets out during the appraisal at the Thousand Machine Pavilion…"

“Old Master Zhou is absolutely right.” Fu Shaoping nodded. “The matter of the iron box needs to be discussed carefully. The most urgent thing is for you to recover from your injuries. I plan to stay in Linze Town for a while longer, firstly to help you heal, and secondly because I also need time to consolidate my cultivation and investigate the details of the Great Swamp. As for the iron box, keep it safe for now and do not show it to anyone easily.”

Zhou Huai'an quickly replied, "I will leave everything to Master Mo's arrangements."

In the days that followed, Fu Shaoping settled down in Linze Town. During the day, he would either go to the docks and teahouses to gather information, or go to secluded places outside the town to practice his newly acquired contract skills. At night, he would continue to nurture his soul power and comprehend the black stone tablet.

Wang Hu and Li Bao were assigned to take turns looking after Zhou Huai'an at the inn, while the other person continued to scout outside.

Several days later, Fu Shaoping gained a clearer understanding of the Yunmeng Great Swamp. The swamp was vast, dotted with numerous islands, teeming with aquatic creatures and monsters, rich in resources but also fraught with danger. Among the three major forces, the Azure Wave Water Mansion was the most mysterious, rumored to be a powerful demon at the Golden Core stage; the Canal Gang controlled the waterways, possessing a large and powerful force, but its internal factions were complex; the Thousand Machine Pavilion, on the other hand, remained aloof, primarily focusing on commerce and intelligence, with an unfathomable background.

More and more news is circulating about the ancient cultivator's cave. It is said that powerful restrictive fluctuations and ancient cultivator relics have been discovered near the Misty Ghost Swamp, attracting the covetousness of many cultivators, including the three major forces, and the conflict is becoming increasingly fierce.

Fu Shaoping wasn't very interested in the ancient cultivation cave. He was more concerned about whether there were any clues related to the contract inheritance in the Great Swamp, or an opportunity to safely sell the iron box in exchange for Foundation Establishment resources.

On this day, Fu Shaoping was practicing manipulating water with the power of contracts (combined with the concept of "land deeds") by a reed marsh outside the town when he suddenly sensed intense spiritual energy fluctuations and sounds of fighting coming from the water in the distance!
He immediately concealed his aura and stealthily approached. Several hundred feet away on the water, two small spirit boats were locked in fierce combat! On one spirit boat stood three cultivators, judging by their attire, they were disciples of the Canal Gang, all at the late Qi Refining stage, unleashing water arrows, ice spikes, and other magical attacks. On the other spirit boat was only one person, a young female cultivator dressed in a light blue outfit, wielding a water-splitting dagger. At the ninth level of Qi Refining, her movements were agile, gliding across the water as if on flat ground, and she was engaged in a fierce battle with the three Canal Gang members.

However, the three members of the Canal Gang cooperated seamlessly and had the advantage in numbers and the spirit boat. The female cultivator was gradually falling into a disadvantageous position, suffering multiple injuries, and the spirit boat was being beaten and swaying unsteadily. Fu Shaoping originally didn't want to meddle, but when his gaze swept over the female cultivator's spirit boat, he slightly froze. On the gunwale of the female cultivator's spirit boat hung a small triangular flag embroidered with strange water patterns. The rhythmic ripples of those water patterns had a faint resemblance to the protective runes flowing on the surface of the iron box when the "Evil-Sealing Seal" in his sea of ​​consciousness erupted!
"Could this female cultivator, or the force behind her, be related to the Iron Box?" Fu Shaoping wondered.

Just as he hesitated, a disciple of the Cao Gang at the eighth level of Qi Refining seized the opportunity and unleashed a massive waterspout that slammed into the female cultivator's spirit boat! The female cultivator barely managed to block with her Water Splitting Spikes, but was so shaken that she coughed up blood, and the spirit boat was nearly capsized!

Another member of the Cao Gang grinned maliciously and unleashed a fishing net-shaped magical artifact, which he then used to cover the female cultivator's head!
Seeing that the female cultivator was about to be captured alive, Fu Shaoping no longer hesitated. His figure shot out like lightning, and at the same time, a "Military Soul Lock" silently wrapped around the Cao Gang disciple who had used the fishing net magic weapon!
The disciples of the Canal Gang felt their senses falter, and their control over the fishing net suddenly slowed down by half a beat.

Fu Shaoping had already arrived on the water, his long sword flashing a sharp light as it slashed at the edge of the fishing net! His sword strike contained a precise judgment of the energy node, which was the application of his newly comprehended "Contract Breaking" technique in water combat.

"Swoosh!" The magical fishing net artifact dimmed, and a gash was cut in it!
Taking advantage of the opening, the female cultivator glanced gratefully at Fu Shaoping and quickly used her Water-Splitting Dagger to force back another Cao Gang disciple who rushed up.

"Who goes there? How dare you meddle in the affairs of my Canal Gang!" the leader of the Canal Gang, a junior leader at the ninth level of Qi Refining, shouted sternly.

Fu Shaoping didn't answer, standing back-to-back with the female cultivator, facing the three members of the Canal Gang. He transmitted his voice to the female cultivator: "Get out of here first!"

The female cultivator understood and nodded.

The leader of the canal gang was wary of Fu Shaoping, who was also at the ninth level of Qi Refining and whose methods were strange (he was shocked by the way Fu Shaoping had just cut through the fishing net). However, he was unwilling to let go of his prey, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Attack them together and take them down!"

The three spirit boats clashed once more. Fu Shaoping took the lead, using his swordsmanship in conjunction with the "Military Soul Lock" to disrupt the enemy, engaging in a fierce and evenly matched battle with the minor leader of the Canal Gang. The female cultivator, on the other hand, was responsible for restraining the other two. Her movements were exquisite, and she was also skilled in the water. Although she was seriously injured, she was barely holding on.

After fighting for dozens of rounds, Fu Shaoping seized an opportunity when his opponent made a mistake in their coordination, and suddenly exerted his strength, knocking back the leader with a single sword strike. At the same time, he shouted to the female cultivator, "Go!"

The two simultaneously propelled the spirit boat, speeding towards the depths of the reed marshes!

The three members of the Canal Gang gave chase, but the waterways in the reed marshes were complicated, and Fu Shaoping and the female cultivator deliberately took detours, quickly shaking off their pursuers.

After confirming that it was safe, the two stopped at a secluded bend in the river.

The female cultivator, pale-faced and panting, clasped her hands in thanks to Fu Shaoping and said, "Thank you for your righteous rescue, fellow Daoist! I am Qingyi, an outer sect steward of the Azure Wave Water Palace. May I ask your esteemed name, benefactor?"

Bibo Water Mansion? Fu Shaoping felt a slight chill in his heart; it was indeed one of the three major powers.

"Mo Chen, a mere rogue cultivator." Fu Shaoping returned the greeting, his gaze falling on the triangular flag on the side of her ship. "Fellow Daoist Qingyi, if I may ask, the patterns on your flag are quite peculiar. May I inquire as to what their significance is?"

Upon hearing this, Qingyi's eyes flashed with a hint of wariness, but remembering that the other party had just saved her, she softened her expression and said, "This is the mark of the 'Water Patrol Envoy' of my Azure Wave Water Mansion. The patterns on it are a kind of 'Water Spirit Pattern' inherited by my Water Mansion, which has the effect of identifying identity and gathering water spirit. Fellow Daoist Mo, are you interested in this pattern?"

Water-themed spirit patterns? Fu Shaoping sensed them carefully. The patterns did indeed primarily gather water spirit energy, but a slight resemblance to the protective runes of the iron box remained. Perhaps it was due to the evolution of ancient runes, manifesting in different forms in different sects?

"It just looks familiar; I seem to have seen similar patterns in some ancient books," Fu Shaoping casually brushed off, changing the subject. "Why did Fellow Daoist Qingyi clash with the Canal Gang?"

Qingyi's face showed anger: "The Cao Gang is going too far! They have recently set up checkpoints near 'Chensha Bay' without authorization, forcibly collecting 'passage fees' from passing cultivators, and even robbing lone cultivators. I was ordered by the Water Mansion to secretly investigate and collect evidence, but I was discovered and that's why they are chasing me."

Fu Shaoping nodded, this was consistent with the way the canal gang operated as he had learned about it.

"I will always remember Fellow Daoist Mo's life-saving grace. If you ever need the help of the Azure Wave Water Mansion, you can come to my place in Linze Town's 'Azure Wave Pavilion' with this token." Qingyi took out a light blue jade token and handed it to Fu Shaoping.

Fu Shaoping took the token; it felt warm and smooth to the touch. The front was engraved with water ripples, and the back had the character "巡" (patrol). This might be an opportunity to establish a connection with the Azure Wave Water Mansion.

"Fellow Daoist Qingyi, you are too kind. Your injuries are quite serious, so you should go back and heal as soon as possible."

Qingyi didn't stand on ceremony. After thanking them again, she steered the spirit boat and quickly disappeared into the depths of the reeds.

Fu Shaoping looked at the token in his hand, then gazed thoughtfully towards the direction of the Azure Wave Water Mansion, where it was located.

Iron Box, Azure Wave Water Mansion, Thousand Machine Pavilion, Ancient Cultivator's Cave, Blood Shadow Sect, Wild Wolf Gang... The waters of the Cloud Dream Swamp are deeper than he imagined. And he, carrying Iron Box and Zhou Huai'an and his grandson, is like carrying a gleaming gold brick, walking in the dark night surrounded by wolves.

What should be done next? Should we rely on the power of the Azure Wave Water Mansion? Or risk going to the Thousand Machine Pavilion to appraise the iron box? Or perhaps, amidst this chaotic situation, find another, more hidden breakthrough?

He put away the token, his figure disappearing into the vast, misty waters. The path ahead remained shrouded in fog, but the chips in his hand and the direction in his heart were clearer than before. In this boundless swamp, his path of contracts might be about to enter a new chapter. (End of Chapter)