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

He found the largest floating island and circled around to its shady side. Here, the light was even dimmer, and the water shimmered with a deep, dark green. Fu Shaoping took a deep breath, swallowed a Turtle Breathing Pill, activated the Water-Repelling Talisman and the Mystic Water Shield, and silently submerged into the water.

The underwater world was shrouded in darkness, with extremely low visibility. The water pressure was considerable, and the cold was biting; even with water-repelling talismans and a mysterious water shield, the chill was still palpable. Fu Shaoping activated his "Signage Detection Technique," sensing the subtle changes in the water flow and energy fluctuations, and carefully descended.

After diving down for about twenty feet, a sloping underwater chasm, partially obscured by aquatic plants and silt, appeared ahead. It should be the entrance to that hidden waterway.

The interior of the rift valley was even darker, with narrow and winding waterways. Fu Shaoping hadn't gone far when he felt a dense, chilling aura of resentment wash over him! At the same time, in the dark water ahead, specks of pale green phosphorescence appeared—the eyes of vengeful spirits!
Several semi-transparent figures, dressed in tattered ancient costumes and with blurred faces, emitted silent shrieks and rushed towards Fu Shaoping! They had no physical form, but their attacks were aimed directly at his soul, carrying intense resentment, fear, and a chilling deathly intent!

Fu Shaoping was prepared. The Netherworld Contract circulated within his sea of ​​consciousness, and a cold, solid soul force surged forth, mixed with a trace of the protective intent of the "Evil-Sealing Contract" (comprehended from the explosion of the iron box), forming a thin protective layer around him against Yin spirits. At the same time, he made a fist with his right hand, and a more solid "Military Soul Lock" with the effects of "soul force absorption" and "deterrence" quietly condensed.

The vengeful spirits crashed into the protective barrier, letting out mournful howls. Burned by the restraining soul power, their movements faltered. Fu Shaoping's "Military Soul Lock" then shot out like a venomous snake, coiling around the two leading vengeful spirits!

The "Soul Power Absorption" effect of the "Soul Lock" activated, albeit weakly, causing the two vengeful spirits to writhe in even greater agony, their forms dimming. The other vengeful spirits seemed to be intimidated, their attacks slowing slightly.

Fu Shaoping dared not linger in the fight, and seized the opportunity to speed up, stealthily moving forward along the waterway. While using the "Military Soul Lock" to clear a path and deter the vengeful spirits, he constantly adjusted his defenses to resist the corrosive chill of the resentful energy.

The waterway branched off in numerous directions, resembling a maze. Relying on his "Discerning Contract Technique" to perceive the flow of energy, Fu Shaoping chose a path where the resentment was relatively thin and the water flow relatively calm. Along the way, he encountered several waves of vengeful spirits, but they were all driven away by his use of the "Netherworld Contract Book" to restrain them and the harassment from his "Military Soul Lock."

After submerging for about half an hour, the waterway ahead seemed to have come to an end, revealing a relatively open underwater space. In the center of the space stood a half-collapsed stone gate ruin made of huge blue stones! Most of the stone gate was covered by silt and aquatic plants, but the exposed parts were engraved with ancient runes related to water flow, exuding an aura of vicissitude and solemnity.

What made Fu Shaoping's heart race the most was that the iron box in his arms was now emitting an unprecedentedly clear vibration and warmth! The resonance of the black stone slab had also reached its peak!
Beyond the stone gate, an even stronger contractual energy, originating from the same source as the iron box and the black stone fragment, seemed to emanate! Although still faint, it was incredibly pure!
"This is it!" Fu Shaoping suppressed his excitement and swam to the stone door. The stone door was tightly closed, with a recess in the center, the shape of which... seemed to be similar in size to the iron box?

Could the iron box be the key to opening this stone door?

Fu Shaoping carefully took the iron box from his pocket. The warm white light on the surface of the iron box flowed faintly again, echoing the ancient runes on the stone door. He tried to put the iron box into the groove.

Perfect fit!

The next moment, the iron box shone brightly with white light, and the runes on the stone door lit up one by one, emitting a deep hum! The heavy stone door, amidst the sound of the mechanism turning, slowly slid open to both sides, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through!
An even more ancient, pure, and richly spiritual energy, imbued with the essence of water and the aura of contracts, surged out from behind the door!

Without hesitation, Fu Shaoping took the iron box (the stone door was not closed) and slipped inside.

Behind the door was not the cave or palace one had imagined, but a downward-facing passage paved with white jade. The walls on either side of the passage were inlaid with luminous pearls, emitting a soft glow. The walls were also covered with intricate runes, bearing traces of both water-based restrictions and contractual seals.

Fu Shaoping cautiously walked along the passage. After walking about a hundred feet, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a semi-circular stone chamber.

In the center of the stone chamber was a crystal-clear, icy pool, its water a pale blue, radiating an astonishing spiritual energy and contractual fluctuations. In the center of the pool was a small stone platform, upon which were placed three items:

On the left is a jade slip bound with an unknown silver thread, its surface rippled with water-like patterns.

On the right is a strange magical artifact, about the size of a palm, entirely blue, and shaped like a conch shell.

In the very center is a strange crystal the size of a fist, entirely black, with a smooth, mirror-like surface and an interior that seems to contain the movement of stars!
The moment Fu Shaoping's black stone fragment saw the jet-black crystal, it almost burst out of his body! It was an aura of the same origin, the aura of the contract's original substance! It was purer and more powerful than the black stone fragment!
The iron box trembled slightly in his hand, pointing towards the crystal.

Fu Shaoping's gaze was immediately drawn to the jet-black crystal. He could sense that if he could absorb the essence of contracts contained within it, his understanding of the Dao of Contracts would undergo a qualitative change! Perhaps, he could lay the foundation for Foundation Establishment in one fell swoop, and even obtain some unique contract-based divine power!
But he did not step forward immediately. Inside the stone chamber, everything seemed calm, but the "Contract Identification Technique" sensed that the cold pool, the stone platform, and even the entire stone chamber were shrouded in an extremely complex and exquisite ancient restriction that was closely integrated with the power of the contract! To touch it rashly would surely result in a backlash.

He observed carefully. The core of the restriction seemed to revolve around the three items, forming a balance. To take any of them, one would have to break the corresponding restriction, or... pay the corresponding "price."

Fu Shaoping's gaze finally settled on the silver jade slip. The jade slip emanated a relatively gentle aura, seemingly recording something. Perhaps it contained clues about the restrictions, inheritances, or methods to leave this place?
He tried to touch the jade scroll with his divine sense with extreme care.

The jade slip flashed with light, but instead of activating the restriction, a peaceful and aged divine thought entered Fu Shaoping's mind:

"Those destined to come to this place in future generations, and who possess the 'Origin of the Contract' token (referring to the black stone fragment or iron box), are destined to be connected with my 'Water Element Sect.' I am 'Cangmingzi,' the last elder of the Water Element Sect who guards the pool. During the great calamity of antiquity, the sect collapsed, and the Origin of the Contract Star Core shattered. I took this fragment of the star core, a copy of the sect's 'Water Element Contract Canon,' and my natal magic weapon, the 'Tide-Calling Conch,' and sought refuge here, setting up the 'Three Talents Contract Sealing Array' to await those destined to be here."

"To acquire treasures, one must bear the consequences. To acquire the 'Water Element Contract Codex,' one must swear to pass on the Water Element Sect's contractual water techniques, ensuring their extinction. To acquire the 'Tide-Calling Conch,' one must refine it with one's own essence and soul power, and promise not to commit evil deeds or disrupt the waters. To acquire the 'Fragment of the Origin Star Core'..." The aged voice paused, tinged with heaviness, "one must bear the ancient karma inherent in the 'Star Core,' as well as... the risk of attracting sworn enemies who covet this item. Of the three treasures, one may choose one, or attempt to acquire them all, but the backlash from the restrictions and the karmic consequences must be borne by oneself."

"Choose. Whatever you take, the stone chamber will self-destruct in three hours, along with this hidden waterway, utterly annihilated in the Ghost Swamp. Be careful, be careful." The divine message ended.

Fu Shaoping fell silent. All three treasures were extraordinary. The *Water Element Contract Codex* was clearly the core inheritance of the Water Element Sect (an ancient sect possibly related to the Profound Contract Sect, or belonging to the same branch of the Contract Dao), focusing on water-based contracts. The "Tide-Calling Conch" was a Golden Core cultivator's natal magic weapon, its power unimaginable. The "Contract Origin Star Core Fragment," however, was the key to his further advancement in the Contract Dao, but it carried the greatest risk.

Can I only take one item? Or should I risk taking them all?

He looked at the iron box in his hand and the black stone fragment in his bosom. The vibration of the iron box pointed to the star core fragment. The resonance of the black stone fragment was also the strongest.

"My foundation is the Way of Contracts, and the Star Core Fragment is the most important thing to me." Fu Shaoping quickly made his decision. As for the other two, he might try them if the opportunity arose, but he would not force it. His primary goal was the Star Core Fragment.

He examined the restriction carefully again. The restriction was structured around the power of the contract, incorporating water-elemental spiritual energy, with each element interconnected. Forcibly breaking it, given his current cultivation level and mastery of contracts, was virtually impossible.

"Perhaps... I could try 'breaking the contract with a contract'?" Fu Shaoping's heart stirred. He used the contract's original aura from the black stone fragment to simulate a "high-level" intention, slowly approaching the restrictive node protecting the star core fragment. At the same time, he added the protective and orderly essence of the "Evil-Sealing Contract Seal" (essentially also a high-level contract) that he had gleaned from the iron box's explosion to his own soul power, forming a thin "contract barrier" in an attempt to "communicate" with and "appease" that restriction.

This was an extremely risky and delicate attempt, like trying to open an ancient lock with a rusty key.

Time ticked by. Cold sweat beaded on Fu Shaoping's forehead; his soul power was severely depleted. He could feel the resistance of the restriction, but he also sensed that the restriction didn't completely reject the aura of the black stone and the true meaning of the "Evil-Sealing Contract," and perhaps even showed a faint "acceptance"?
Just as his soul power was about to be exhausted, the most core rune of the restriction protecting the star core fragment flickered slightly, and then, like ice and snow melting, silently opened a small opening that could only be passed through with a finger!
opportunity!

Without hesitation, Fu Shaoping made a lightning-fast move, inserting two fingers through the small opening and gently pinching the dark and smooth "Qiyuan Star Core Fragment"!
As soon as he obtained the fragment, an indescribable, vast, and profound power of the contract's origin surged into his body like a warm tide! It wasn't a frenzied infusion of power, but rather a kind of primal "completion" and "enlightenment"! In his sea of ​​consciousness, the black stone fragment trembled violently, emitting a joyful resonance, as if a wanderer had returned home!

Almost the instant the fragment left the platform, the restrictions on the entire stone chamber suddenly fluctuated! The restrictions around the other two treasures shone brightly, and at the same time, a cold countdown echoed in the stone chamber: "Treasures retrieved, stone chamber self-destructing, countdown begins..."

Fu Shaoping didn't have time to examine the star core fragment closely, nor did he have time to covet the other two treasures. He carefully put the fragment and the black stone piece close to his body, turned around and rushed out of the stone chamber!
He knew that the three-hour countdown had begun and this place was about to be annihilated!

The white jade passage that rushed out of the stone chamber had begun to slowly close behind it, and a deep rumble and an aura of surging energy emanated from within.

Fu Shaoping didn't look back and floated upwards at full speed along the hidden waterway! The vengeful spirits along the way seemed to sense the impending doom and became restless, running around in all directions, leaving them no time to attack him.

As he finally broke through the water and returned to the shaded side of the floating island, a muffled, earth-shattering roar came from underwater behind him! The entire body of water trembled violently, and towering waves surged on the surface!
Fu Shaoping piloted the levitation disc, desperately flying away into the distance! It wasn't until he had flown dozens of miles away that the loud noises and strange phenomena behind him gradually subsided.

He looked back, and the waters where the floating islands were located seemed unchanged, still shrouded in thick fog. But he knew that the hidden waterway and the deep stone chamber had vanished forever into the depths of the Ghost Swamp.

He landed on a secluded floating island, set up a restriction, and only then dared to take out the "Qiyuan Star Core Fragment".

The fragment lay quietly in his palm, pitch black and deep, its interior seemingly containing the birth and death of countless stars, emanating an intoxicating aura of the origin of contracts. Simply by holding it, Fu Shaoping felt his understanding of the Dao of Contracts rapidly improving; many previously obscure points suddenly became clear, and the light from the black stone fragment in his sea of ​​consciousness became brighter and more solid.

"With this aid, Foundation Establishment is within reach! In fact, my Dao of Contracts will far surpass those of others at the same level!" Fu Shaoping was filled with excitement and anticipation.

However, Cangmingzi's final warning also echoed in his ears: he would have to bear the ancient karma that the star core itself was tainted with, as well as the risk of attracting sworn enemies who coveted it.

"When soldiers come, we'll meet them head-on; when water comes, we'll dam it." Fu Shaoping's gaze was resolute. The path of cultivation is inherently about defying fate and fighting against destiny; how could he abandon opportunities out of fear of risk?
He carefully collected the star core fragments and began planning his next move.

There's no need to go to the core area of ​​the ancient cultivator's cave for now. He's already gained the greatest reward of this trip. His immediate priority is to find a completely safe place to absorb the power of the star core fragments and break through to the Foundation Establishment stage!
Although the Yunmeng Marsh is vast, it is teeming with eyes and ears from various factions, making it far from an ideal place for seclusion. Perhaps it's time to leave the marsh and return to a more familiar area, or find a more secluded location.

Just as he was pondering, suddenly, violent fluctuations of spiritual energy and sounds of fighting came from the distant horizon! Several streaks of light chased and fought in the air, and the light of magic illuminated the thick fog.

One of the streaks of light looked quite familiar; it was none other than Qingyi from the Azure Wave Water Mansion! She was being chased by three cultivators dressed in the attire of the Canal Gang, and the leader's aura was clearly that of someone in the early Foundation Establishment stage!
"The Canal Gang actually dared to openly hunt down the steward of the Azure Wave Water Mansion in the Ghost Swamp?" Fu Shaoping frowned. It seemed that the conflict between the three major forces had already come to the surface.

Qingyi's escape light was crooked and erratic, clearly indicating that she was injured, and she was fleeing in the direction where Fu Shaoping was.

Fu Shaoping's eyes flickered. To save him, or not to save him? (End of Chapter)