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

The large spirit ship struggled to navigate the raging sea like a stubborn fallen leaf. The once azure waters now displayed an eerie mix of dark green, crimson, and even grayish-white hues. Enormous whirlpools were everywhere, tearing at everything in their path. The sky was shrouded in thick, leaden clouds, with occasional, deathly white lightning bolts silently striking down, casting a chilling reflection on the sea. The air was thick with chaotic spiritual energy and a sharp, jarring sense of space tearing apart, severely suppressing even the spiritual senses of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

This is the Turbulent Sea, one of the most dangerous and chaotic areas of the Yunmeng Great Swamp. Natural spatial rifts and violent water elemental power intertwine here, forming countless perilous zones.

Fu Shaoping stood at the bow of the ship, his "Spell-Breaking Spiritual Eyes" quietly activating. His pale golden spiritual sense transformed into invisible tentacles, cautiously probing ahead. In his "vision," the world was filled with countless violent energy flows, distorted spatial folds, and hidden currents and fissures beneath the sea's surface. Without this unique insight, navigating in such an environment with only ordinary spiritual sense would be akin to a blind man riding a blind horse.

The mid-Foundation Establishment stage steward of the escort team, surnamed Han, was a rugged-looking, experienced old cultivator. Standing beside Fu Shaoping, he said with a solemn expression, "Elder Mo, ahead lies the 'Vortex Corridor,' the most troublesome section of the outer edge of the turbulent sea. Countless whirlpools of all sizes are constantly churning, and there are also occasional spatial fragments flowing through the air. We must be extremely careful. Only after passing through the corridor can we reach our temporary base at the front line, 'Rock Island.'"

Fu Shaoping nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the endlessly swirling whirlpools on the sea ahead, resembling countless giant beasts spreading their wings, and the unnatural black fissures faintly visible between the whirlpools. "Deacon Han, follow the planned route. I will keep an eye out for abnormal energy nodes and spatial folds."

Deacon Han nodded, having already heard a little about Fu Shaoping's "special abilities," and now was the time to rely on them. He loudly commanded the helmsman and the array control disciples, and a thick blue light shield lit up on the surface of the spirit boat as it carefully sailed into the vortex corridor.

The spirit boat struggled through the raging eddies and chaotic energy, frequently needing to make emergency maneuvers to avoid sudden spatial rifts or erupting underwater currents. Each narrow escape drew gasps from the Qi Refining disciples on board. Fu Shaoping, like the most accurate radar, continuously alerted Deacon Han to the detected dangers, allowing him to react in advance.

"Thirty feet to port, seven feet underwater, a spatial fold is about to erupt, fifteen degrees to the right!"

"The energy turbulence at the edge of the main vortex ahead is abnormal, and there are hidden cracks. Detour!"

With his assistance, the spirit boat, though violently rocked, never encountered any real danger. Deacon Han's gaze towards Fu Shaoping shifted from initial scrutiny to genuine admiration. Such a keen perception of energy and space was practically a life-saving skill in the turbulent seas.

After sailing for most of the day, the sea suddenly opened up ahead, and a black island, as if cleaved by a giant axe and riddled with jagged rocks, came into view. Simple buildings and the faint glow of array formations could be seen on the island; it was the forward base of the allied forces of the Azure Wave Water Mansion and the Thousand Machine Pavilion—Rock Island.

The spirit boat docked, where island-based cultivators were already waiting to meet it. Deacon Han handed over the supplies, while Fu Shaoping was led to the island's temporary command post.

The command post was located in a stone hall carved into the interior of a black rock, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Master Luo Chuan and Liu Hanyan were present, along with Jiang Muyun and Chen Xuan, as well as several Foundation Establishment cultivators whom Fu Shaoping did not recognize; their attire suggested they were from the Azure Wave Water Mansion or the Thousand Machine Pavilion. All of them wore expressions of weariness and solemnity.

Upon seeing Fu Shaoping enter, Master Luochuan's eyes flashed with approval: "Young friend Mo has arrived. You must be tired from your journey. Deacon Han has already sent word that thanks to your help, the supplies were able to arrive safely."

"It's my duty." Fu Shaoping cupped his hands in greeting, his gaze sweeping across the hall. "The situation at the front seems far from optimistic?"

Master Luochuan gestured for him to sit down and said in a deep voice, "The remnants of the Cao Gang and the Blood Shadow Cult are holed up in a dangerous place called 'Poison Dragon Island' deep in the turbulent sea. This island is not only surrounded by natural poisonous miasma and ferocious sea beasts, but it has also been cultivated by them for many years, with many evil formations laid out, especially a 'Blood Fiend Maze Formation' that combines the secret techniques of the Blood Shadow Cult with the spatial characteristics of the turbulent sea, which is extremely difficult to deal with. Our army has launched several strong attacks, but has suffered heavy losses and failed to break through the core."

A Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Thousand Machines Pavilion chimed in, "What's even more troublesome is that, according to our investigation and the confessions of our prisoners, there is indeed a dilapidated ancient teleportation array deep within Poison Dragon Island! Although it is severely damaged, the Blood Shadow Sect seems to possess some kind of secret technique that can barely activate some of its functions, and it seems... to be trying to bring something over, or to teleport away some important person or item."

Fu Shaoping's heart stirred slightly. A teleportation array? A summoning device? This reminded him of the Blood Demon projection that the Blood Soul Altar had attempted to summon. The Blood Shadow Cult's ambitions were probably larger than he had imagined.

"Young friend Mo has a deep understanding of formations and the power of contracts, especially in countering evil and filth." Master Luo Chuan looked at Fu Shaoping. "I have discussed with fellow Daoists from the Thousand Machines Pavilion the possibility of forming an elite squad to infiltrate the outer perimeter of Poison Dragon Island and seize the opportunity to destroy the key nodes of the 'Blood Fiend Maze Array,' thus creating conditions for our army's subsequent general offensive. At the same time, if possible, it would be best to ascertain the specific details of the teleportation array. I wonder if you would be willing to join this team?"

An elite squad infiltrating behind enemy lines to sabotage the core formation... this was undoubtedly an extremely dangerous mission. But Fu Shaoping also understood that such missions were often the fastest way to gain merit and opportunities. Moreover, he developed a strong interest in the ancient teleportation array and what the Blood Shadow Cult might be guiding or teleporting.

“I am willing to go.” Fu Shaoping replied without hesitation.

Master Luochuan nodded: "Alright! The team will be led by Junior Sister Liu, and the members include Junior Nephew Jiang Muyun, Fellow Daoist Ouyang Ming of Qianji Pavilion (who is skilled in formations and mechanisms), and Young Friend Mo. Junior Nephew Chen Xuan will be in charge of the outer perimeter support. We will depart in three days. Take this time to prepare well and familiarize yourselves with each other's methods."

Over the next three days, Fu Shaoping and the rest of the team underwent a brief period of adjustment. Liu Hanyan was a woman of few words but efficient in her actions, her double-hook technique being exceptionally skillful. Jiang Muyun was mature and composed, with mastery of water magic. Ouyang Ming from the Thousand Machines Pavilion was a middle-aged cultivator with a fair complexion and bright eyes, possessing profound knowledge of formations and mechanisms, and carrying many strange puppets and detection tools.

Fu Shaoping also demonstrated his "Spell-Breaking Eyes" ability to perceive energy nodes and abnormal fluctuations, as well as the restraining effect of contract magic on evil forces, which impressed Liu Hanyan and Ouyang Ming.

Three days later, under the cover of night, the five-member team quietly departed from Rock Island aboard a specially made, small, shuttle-shaped magical artifact called the "Ink Scale Submerged Boat," which possessed extremely strong stealth capabilities, and disappeared into the dark waves of the turbulent sea.

Poison Dragon Island is located deep in the turbulent sea, hundreds of miles away from Rock Island. Under Ouyang Ming's control, the submarine moved like a real fish, skillfully avoiding the raging currents and patrolling sea beasts (some of which had been tamed by the Canal Gang). Fu Shaoping, on the other hand, fully activated his "Spell-Breaking Spiritual Eye" to guide the submarine along the safest and most stable energy path.

After a full night and a day of stealthy travel, by evening the following day, faint, colorful miasma with a sweet, fishy smell began to appear on the sea ahead. Within the miasma, the outline of a grotesque, jagged black island, resembling a venomous dragon raising its head, could be vaguely seen—Dragon Island had arrived.

"We're entering a poisonous miasma zone ahead, which is also the outer perimeter of the 'Blood Fiend Maze Array'," Liu Hanyan whispered. "Fellow Daoist Ouyang, it's up to you." Ouyang Ming nodded, took out a compass-shaped magic artifact, and tapped his fingers repeatedly. The compass needle spun rapidly, projecting a faint light screen that displayed the complex energy veins and array nodes ahead. "The Blood Fiend Maze Array relies on the natural poisonous miasma and the spatial disorder of the turbulent sea to create a mixture of illusion and reality. It can confuse people's minds, reverse their orientation, and concentrate blood fiend energy to attack those who enter the array. We need to find and destroy at least three 'array eyes'—usually located where the poisonous miasma is densest and where it connects with the earth's veins or spatial nodes—to significantly weaken the array's power."

He pointed to three flashing red dots on the screen: "Based on previous investigations and calculations, these three locations are the most likely. But we need to get closer to confirm and then seize the opportunity to sabotage them."

"Take action," Liu Hanyan said succinctly.

Qianzhou withdrew all his spiritual light and glided into the colorful poisonous miasma like a ghost. The miasma not only obscured vision but also eroded the protective spiritual light. Everyone took poison-avoidance pills and erected even tighter defenses.

Upon entering the poisonous miasma, Fu Shaoping immediately felt a chaotic, chilling, and blood-smelling will attempting to invade his spiritual consciousness. At the same time, the surrounding scenery began to distort and change; although he was moving forward, he felt as if he were moving backward, and his sense of direction became blurred. This was the effect of the maze formation.

"Stay close to me, and don't be fooled by illusions." Liu Hanyan's voice was cold and clear. She seemed to have cultivated a special method to break through illusions. Her eyes were covered with a layer of blue light, and she was not greatly affected by the illusions of the array.

Fu Shaoping activated his "Spell-Breaking Spiritual Eyes," and in his pale golden vision, the alluring illusions, like a clumsy curtain, revealed the true flow of energy behind them. He could clearly see streaks of blood-red energy, imbued with the meaning of an evil contract, spreading like blood vessels through the poisonous miasma, forming the framework of the maze.

"Fifty feet to the left front, the concentration of poisonous miasma is abnormal, and there is a surge of yin energy from the earth's veins, which may be a key point of an array," Fu Shaoping transmitted his voice.

The compass in Ouyang Ming's hand flickered with light, confirming, "That's right! It's the 'Earth Yin Blood Eye' that I calculated! Be careful, there must be guards or traps near the array's core."

The submersible approached silently. Sure enough, beneath the reef where the poisonous miasma was exceptionally dense and faintly shimmered with blood-red runes, two jet-black "poisonous blood pythons" with single horns on their heads and crimson eyes were coiled up—both were early-stage second-tier demonic beasts! What was even more troublesome was that the waters surrounding the reef were covered with fine, almost invisible blood-red threads; touching them would likely immediately alert the entire formation.

“I’ll deal with the two venomous blood pythons.” A cold glint flashed in Liu Hanyan’s eyes. “Junior Brother Jiang, Friend Mo, you two are responsible for clearing those blood lines. Be careful not to trigger the alarm. Fellow Daoist Ouyang, prepare to destroy the array’s core.”

The division of labor was clear. The submarine quietly surfaced and stopped thirty feet from the reef.

Liu Hanyan's figure flashed, and she silently darted out of the submerged boat. Her twin hooks were like two streaks of azure lightning, aiming straight for the vital spot of the two venomous blood pythons! The speed was so fast that the two pythons had just raised their heads in alarm when the hooks arrived!
"Pfft! Pfft!"

Two soft sounds, and blood splattered! The two venomous pythons didn't even have time to roar before they were pinned to the rocks with pinpoint accuracy!
Almost simultaneously, Fu Shaoping and Jiang Muyun also moved. Jiang Muyun pressed her hands down, and a gentle yet resilient stream of water spread out, like an invisible hand, carefully parting and fixing the blood-red threads one by one. Fu Shaoping, on the other hand, focused the insight of his "Spell-Breaking Eye" and a trace of the true meaning of breaking the spell on the contract at his fingertips. He gently touched the weak points connecting the threads to the array's energy, and the threads drooped limply as if they had lost their vitality, without triggering any alarms.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ouyang Ming rushed to the front of the reef, took out a silver array-breaking cone engraved with complex array patterns, and accurately pierced the center of the densest blood-red runes!
"break!"

The silver cone shone brightly, and the crimson runes on the reef flickered violently. Then, like a burst bubble, it exploded, turning into a cloud of foul blood, emitting a pungent stench. The dense poisonous miasma around them noticeably thinned, and the confusing array power also weakened considerably.

"Break the first key point!" Ouyang Ming shouted, quickly retracting the silver cone.

"Let's go, to the next place!" Liu Hanyan didn't linger and returned to the submarine first.

Following the same method, the team successfully destroyed two more key points of the formation, thanks to Fu Shaoping's precise positioning, Liu Hanyan's swift kill, Jiang Muyun and Fu Shaoping's tacit cooperation, and Ouyang Ming's professional formation-breaking skills.

With the destruction of the three main array points, the power of the "Blood Fiend Maze Array" covering Poison Dragon Island was greatly reduced. Although the poisonous miasma was still there, the intense sense of disorientation and mental disturbance was weakened by 70-80%.

"The formation is mostly broken, and our whereabouts have probably been exposed," Liu Hanyan said calmly. "Speed ​​up, head straight for the core of the island, investigate the teleportation array, and then retreat immediately!"

The submarine, no longer concealed, sped up, piercing through the thin poisonous miasma like an arrow, and rushed towards the center of Poison Dragon Island!

In the center of the island was a relatively flat depression. At this moment, chaos reigned there. The cultivators of the Canal Gang and the Blood Shadow Sect had clearly noticed the formation had been broken and were surging in from all directions, attempting to intercept them.

At the deepest part of the depression stood an ancient, circular platform, constructed of an unknown black metal, covered in patina and cracks! The platform was about ten zhang in diameter, its surface engraved with complex, dizzying spatial runes and contract marks, unlike any rune style Fu Shaoping had ever seen, exuding an aura of ancient desolation. In the center of the platform were several grooves, one of which seemed to still retain a dim spiritual light, and the entire platform faintly emanated unstable spatial fluctuations!

It was that ancient teleportation array!

Around the teleportation array, several powerful Blood Shadow Cult cultivators, under the command of a "Golden-Masked Blood Sacrifice Envoy" wearing a golden mask and possessing an aura at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage (only half a step away from the Golden Core stage), were frantically filling the slots and cracks of the teleportation array with large amounts of blood-red crystals (Blood Soul Crystals?) and unknown black materials, seemingly performing emergency repairs or activation! (End of Chapter)