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

He decided to first digest what he had gained from this battle, and take advantage of his entry into the Myriad Scrolls Pavilion to find as much information as possible about the ancient contracts, teleportation arrays, and the possible forces behind the Blood Shadow Cult.

Several days later, after his body and soul power had fully recovered, Fu Shaoping asked Master Luochuan if he could use his access to the Myriad Scrolls Pavilion.

Master Luochuan personally led him to an inconspicuous black stone tower deep within Panshi Island. The stone tower appeared ordinary, but Fu Shaoping's "Spell-Breaking Spiritual Eye" could sense that the tower's interior and exterior were covered with layers upon layers of exquisite arrays and contractual restrictions, far exceeding the complexity of Bibo Pavilion.

"Young friend Mo, this tower is the Linze branch of the 'Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion.' Although its collection is not as extensive as the core of the Water Mansion, it is still quite remarkable. With this token, you may peruse the first floor for three days. Remember, do not make copies, do not damage it, and do not go to the second floor. After three days, the token will expire and take you out of the tower." Master Luochuan handed over a purple-gold token engraved with water ripples and scroll patterns, solemnly instructing him.

"This junior understands, thank you senior." Fu Shaoping took the token, took a deep breath, and walked towards the tightly closed gate of the stone tower.

The token touched the stone door, a flash of purple-gold light appeared, and the heavy stone door slid open silently. A unique aura, a mixture of ink fragrance, spiritual energy, and the dust of time, wafted out.

The first floor inside the tower is far more spacious than it appears from the outside. Towering bookshelves stand in rows, neatly displaying countless jade slips, books, silk scrolls, and even strange artifacts such as animal bones and tortoise shells. Soft light streams down from the dome, illuminating every corner.

Fu Shaoping didn't waste time marveling; he immediately began searching for his target. He first found the categories related to "Ancient Ruins" and "Teleportation Array Research."

The ancient texts here were indeed extraordinary. He saw records of known or legendary ancient ruins in the Yunmeng Great Swamp and even the surrounding countries. Some of them mentioned traces of sects that seemed to be related to "contracts" and "arrays," but most of them were vague.

The records regarding teleportation arrays are even more professional and profound. From an ancient book titled "A Preliminary Exploration of the Void Teleportation Restriction," he learned that ancient teleportation arrays were divided into various types, the most common being "random teleportation arrays" and "directional teleportation arrays." Directional teleportation arrays are further divided into "earth vein anchoring," "star position anchoring," and the most esoteric "contract origin anchoring," depending on their "contract anchor point." The last type is said to be able to ignore distance and conventional spatial coordinates, directly connecting to a location that resonates with a specific contract origin, but the method of crafting it has long been lost, and it has extremely high requirements for the "contract source material."

"Contract Origin Anchored!" Fu Shaoping's heart raced. The teleportation array on Poison Dragon Island was very likely this kind! Where did the Blood Shadow Cult intend to connect it to? Did they also possess a "contract origin object" similar to a star core fragment as an anchor point or key?

He continued reading. In a tattered animal-skin scroll titled "A Brief Study of the Origins of Heretical Cults in Southern Xinjiang," he found scattered records about the Blood Shadow Cult. This cult had a long history, acted in secrecy, worshipped the "Ancestor of the Blood Sea," and was skilled in evil arts such as blood sacrifice, soul refining, and curses. Its roots could be traced back to the remnants of an ancient heretical sect associated with "Netherworld" and "curse" contracts. The scroll's ending mentioned that the Blood Shadow Cult seemed to have been secretly searching for ancient relics related to "contracts" and "seals," but their specific purpose remained unclear.

"Related to the Netherworld and cursed contracts... Searching for contract relics..." Fu Shaoping connected this information with the inheritance of the *Netherworld Contract Book*. Could the Blood Shadow Cult be a remnant of some ancient evil sect based on contracts? Are they searching for contract relics to revive their lineage, or do they have other motives?
He also found some fragments about "contract origins," mostly existing in legends. They describe them as objects condensed from the origin of the Great Dao of Contracts, containing infinite mysteries. Obtaining them can reveal the true meaning of contracts, but may also be tainted by ancient karma, bringing disaster.

Three days flew by as he devoured the reading and contemplation. As the token began to flash, signaling the approaching end, Fu Shaoping rubbed his throbbing temples. He had a clearer understanding of the relationship between the ancient contract inheritance, the teleportation array, and the Blood Shadow Cult, but also more questions arose in his mind.

The last section he browsed was a collection of miscellaneous notes on cultivation experiences during the Foundation Establishment stage. At the end of an unassuming cultivator's travelogue, he saw a few warnings about "inner demon tribulations" and "external tribulations":

"...A solid foundation is not the end. To advance to the Golden Core stage, one must overcome the 'Inner Demon Tribulation' and the 'External Tribulation.' The Inner Demon arises internally, formed from obsessions, karma, and causality; the External Tribulation manifests externally, whether as heavenly thunder and earthly fire, an enemy obstructing the path, or... the pull of ancient karma, or a sworn enemy seeking trouble... Be careful, be careful..."

"Ancient karma pulls us together, sworn enemies seek revenge..." Fu Shaoping murmured these words, a chill running through him. Did he, bearing fragments of the Xuanqi Sect's inheritance and star core, already become tainted by ancient karma? Was the Blood Shadow Sect's covetousness a manifestation of this "external calamity"?
The token's light faded, and a gentle spatial force enveloped Fu Shaoping. The next moment, he appeared outside the stone tower.

Master Luochuan was not present; only one disciple remained on duty. Fu Shaoping thanked him and returned to his meditation room.

The trip to Wan Juan Lou was incredibly informative. He needs time to process it all and re-plan his next steps.

Clearly, remaining in the Yunmeng Marsh presents both risks and opportunities. The Azure Wave Water Mansion can offer temporary refuge and resources, but as he reveals more and more of his abilities, especially with the possibility of his "contractual artifact" being exposed, the attitude within the mansion may change. Moreover, the Blood Shadow Sect, his enemy, has clearly set its sights on him.

"Perhaps it's time to consider leaving," Fu Shaoping pondered. But where could he go after leaving the Yunmeng Great Swamp? The Zhao Kingdom was vast, but the Blood Shadow Sect seemed to be quite powerful as well. Should he seek refuge with a stronger sect? Or perhaps, search for the ancient covenant site that the teleportation array might connect to, a place that resonated with him?

The latter carries immense risk and countless unknowns, but the allure is equally immense. If one could find the ruins of the ancient contract lineage, perhaps one could unlock more secrets of one's own heritage and gain further opportunities.

Just as he was weighing his options, a message suddenly came through the guest elder token: Jiang Muyun was inviting him for a chat.

Upon arriving at Jiang Muyun's temporary residence on the island, they found Chen Xuan there as well. Both of them had somewhat solemn expressions.

"Elder Mo, please sit down." Jiang Muyun gestured for Fu Shaoping to sit down, waved his hand to set up a soundproof barrier, and then said in a low voice, "A secret report just came from the core of the Water Mansion. It is of great importance and needs to be informed to Elder Mo."

Fu Shaoping's heart tightened: "Deacon Jiang, please speak."

"After the Golden-Faced Blood Sacrifice Envoy of the Blood Shadow Cult fled back to his headquarters, he was furious and issued a 'Blood Shadow Kill Order' targeting you, Mo Keqing!" Jiang Muyun said in a deep voice. "Once this order is issued, all the forces of the Blood Shadow Cult throughout the Southern Frontier will list you as a must-kill target. They seem to believe that you possess a 'Contract Treasure' that is of vital importance to them."

As expected! Fu Shaoping's eyes turned cold. The Blood Shadow Hunt Order—this trouble came even faster than anticipated.

“Furthermore,” Chen Xuan interjected, his tone tinged with a strangeness, “the informant planted by the Water Mansion in the Thousand Machines Pavilion has sent word that the higher-ups of the Thousand Machines Pavilion seem to have developed an unusual interest in you, Ink Guest Minister. They appear to be secretly investigating your background and all your previous movements, paying particular attention to your activities in Tianque City and the Black Wind Gobi.”

Thousand Machine Pavilion? Fu Shaoping frowned even more deeply. Why would this force, renowned for its commerce and intelligence, be targeting him? Was it because of the contractual abilities he displayed when he destroyed the teleportation array on Poison Dragon Island? Or… had they also sensed something?
"Uncle-Master Luo Chuan asked me to tell Guest Elder Mo," Jiang Muyun said, looking at Fu Shaoping, "The Water Mansion will be grateful for your service and will do its best to provide protection. However, the Blood Shadow Sect is powerful, and the Thousand Machine Pavilion's intentions are unpredictable. You will need to be more careful in your future actions. If needed, you can always ask the Water Mansion for help. Also..." He paused, "Uncle-Master suggests that you consider temporarily leaving the Yunmeng Great Swamp to avoid trouble. The Water Mansion has a secret stronghold in 'Cold Jade City' in the northern border of Zhao Kingdom, which is quite safe. If you are interested, you can go there to stay temporarily." Suggesting him leave? Fu Shaoping understood the implication. Although the Azure Wave Water Mansion was willing to provide some protection, it clearly did not want to completely break ties with the Blood Shadow Sect and the potentially ambiguous Thousand Machine Pavilion for the sake of a guest elder like him, and get caught up in endless trouble. Suggesting him go to the northern stronghold was both protection and a subtle way of "sending him off."

Fu Shaoping didn't harbor much resentment; it was driven by self-interest, a natural human reaction. The Azure Wave Water Mansion had already provided him with considerable help and resources.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Luo Chuan and Deacon Jiang." Fu Shaoping said calmly, "I am aware of this matter and will consider it carefully."

Having left Jiang Muyun's residence, Fu Shaoping's mind was made up. The Yunmeng Marshland was no longer a suitable place to linger.

Back in his quiet room, he began to plan. Before leaving, he needed to convert as many merit points as possible into useful resources. Also, he couldn't shake the lingering question about the other end of the directional teleportation array. If he could find even the slightest clue about its exact location…

He once again took out the black material fragments and blood-red crystal remnants he had brought back from Poison Dragon Island, as well as the notes about teleportation arrays and ancient contracts from the Myriad Scrolls Pavilion, attempting to conduct deeper research and deduction.

A few days later, Fu Shaoping used most of his merit points to exchange for a large number of high-level talismans, pills, blank array plates, and an extremely detailed jade slip containing a map of the entire territory of Zhao and several surrounding countries (marking many hidden paths and dangerous places). He kept only a small number of merit points for later use.

Meanwhile, through repeated study of those materials and the intuition of the contract, combined with the clues in the Wan Juan Lou's classic texts, he vaguely gained a sense of direction—the "contract origin anchor point" that the teleportation array pointed to seemed to be located in the northwest of the Zhao Kingdom, deep within a vast area called the "Vast Ancient Plains." There, it was said, was once an ancient battlefield where hundreds of races clashed and sects stood in great numbers, with numerous ruins, but also extreme danger.

The vast ancient plains... Fu Shaoping kept this name in his heart.

He did not bid farewell to the Azure Wave Water Palace, but left only a short letter and a guest token in the quiet room, thanking the Water Palace for its shelter and help, and stating that he wanted to travel and that his return date was uncertain.

On a moonless night, Fu Shaoping quietly left Rock Island. He didn't use any of the magical artifacts or boats of the Azure Wave Water Mansion, but instead used the "Azure Leaf Boat" he had purchased earliest. After being refined and modified many times, its speed and stealth capabilities had been greatly improved.

He activated the concealment function of the "Mysterious Origin Heavy Water Shield" (which also has this effect), minimizing the aura of the Azure Leaf Boat, and quietly sailed towards the northwest, which was completely opposite to Hanyu City, skimming the surface of the sea.

Target – the vast ancient plains.

He was going to explore the secrets of the directional teleportation array and find the ancient covenant site that might resonate with his own heritage. At the same time, he also wanted to avoid the Blood Shadow Cult's kill order and the possible spying of the Thousand Machine Pavilion.

In the vast darkness of night, a lone boat carries Foundation Establishment cultivators, each carrying a precious treasure and facing an uncertain future, as they sail towards an even more expansive and perilous unknown world.

The sea breeze whipped at Fu Shaoping's robes. He glanced back at the receding silhouettes of Rock Island and Yunmeng Marsh, his eyes filled not with lingering affection, but with unwavering determination and a spirit of exploration.

The path to foundation building is long and arduous. The way of contracts is infinitely profound.

The road ahead may be full of thorns and may hide deadly traps, but it may also contain opportunities and truths beyond imagination.

His journey is far from over. The vast ancient plains will be his new starting point, and also the testing ground where he will unveil the ancient covenant, confront his own karma and his nemesis.

The story has turned a new page.

The Azure Leaf Boat drifted alone on the dark sea like a rootless duckweed. Fu Shaoping used no illumination spells, relying entirely on his "Spell-Breaking Spiritual Eye" to navigate in the darkness. The Star Core fragments in his arms emitted a warm, comforting warmth; they were both a source of power and a potential beacon of disaster.

He needed to get away from the Yunmeng Marsh and the Blood Shadow Sect's sphere of influence as soon as possible. The vast ancient plains in the northwest of Zhao Kingdom were more than ten thousand miles away, requiring him to cross several mortal kingdoms and large sparsely populated wilderness areas. This was destined to be a long and arduous journey.

He did not choose to cross the inland border directly, as that would be too conspicuous and would easily attract the attention of sects and families. His route was to travel north along the long coastline of Zhao, reaching the northernmost "Frost and Snow Strait," and then turn west to enter the outer edge of the vast ancient plains.

Although the sea routes are not peaceful, often haunted by monsters and pirates, their vastness makes it easy to conceal one's whereabouts.

For seven consecutive days, Fu Shaoping traveled day and night, only stopping briefly at a few deserted islands along the way to rest and replenish his fresh water. He encountered several groups of low-level sea beasts along the way, but he dealt with them quickly without causing much of a commotion. He also kept a safe distance from large merchant ships and islands where cultivators gathered.

On this day, Qingyezhou was sailing on a relatively calm sea when the sky suddenly darkened. Lead-gray clouds pressed down on the sea like a thick quilt, and a gale whipped up towering waves several meters high, turning the sky into night in an instant.

"A storm?" Fu Shaoping frowned. While a natural storm of this magnitude wouldn't be fatal to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was still quite troublesome. Just as he was about to look for the nearest shelter, suddenly, his "Spell-Breaking Eyes" detected a very subtle yet malicious energy fluctuation deep within the storm clouds!
It wasn't a natural storm! It was man-made, or... some being used the storm to conceal its presence! (End of Chapter)