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

After determining his direction, he headed southeast across the vast ancient plains. According to his senses, the contract site at the other end of the directional teleportation array was roughly in that direction.

The icy plains were not entirely desolate. Occasionally, massive, snow-white "Icefield Giant Bears" could be seen roaming in the distance, their aura fierce, comparable to early Foundation Establishment cultivators. Furthermore, some strange ice-attribute spiritual plants bloomed with magnificent blue or silver light amidst the extreme cold. Fu Shaoping proceeded cautiously, using his "Contractual Spiritual Sense" and "Spell-Breaking Spiritual Eyes" to avoid danger in advance, only collecting a few rare "Ice Soul Orchids," which were exceptionally effective in nourishing the soul.

Three days later, he walked out of the Ten Thousand Years of Mysterious Ice Ridge and suddenly found himself in a bright and clear place.

The vast, ancient plains presented a desolate, yellowish-brown hue. The earth was cracked, and fierce winds whipped up dust, forming yellow tornadoes that seemed to connect heaven and earth. In the distance, one could vaguely see towering peaks and jagged rocks, interspersed with vast stretches of Gobi desert, swamps, and forests, creating an extremely complex terrain. The air was thin and turbulent, thick with an ancient, heavy aura, as if it had been steeped in countless years of blood and fire.

This is the true, desolate ancient plain. An ancient battlefield, a graveyard of a hundred races, a place where ruins and dangers coexist.

Fu Shaoping checked the map and determined his location: the "Wind-Eroded Wasteland" on the northwestern edge of the Ancient Plains. To reach the place of the contract he sensed, he needed to traverse this wasteland, cross the "Crimson Blood River," and enter the vicinity of the "Meteor Basin" in the heart of the Ancient Plains.

He didn't rush on his journey, but instead found a huge, weathered rock pillar sheltered from the wind and rested temporarily in its shade. The environment of the vast ancient plain was even harsher than he had expected. Not only was the spiritual energy scarce and difficult to replenish, but the omnipresent ancient malevolent energy and fragments of chaotic laws were constantly eroding his protective aura and interfering with his divine sense. If it weren't for the special nature of his contracted true essence and the resilience of his spiritual sense, he would probably have been even more exhausted.

“We need a more effective way to utilize this environment, or rather, to ‘coexist’ with it,” Fu Shaoping pondered. He tried to activate the advanced “Earth Vein Spirit Borrowing” method recorded in the “General Outline of the Origin of Contracts”—“Contractual Spirit Fusion.” This method is not simply borrowing power, but rather attempting to establish a deeper, more equal, temporary contractual relationship with the “Earth Vein Contract” or “Environment Contract” of a region, thereby gaining the region’s “recognition,” reducing environmental rejection, and even slightly mobilizing the power of the environment.

He sat down cross-legged, and his contracted spiritual consciousness slowly reached into the dry, hard earth beneath his feet, which was covered with the marks of wind erosion and time. He no longer forcibly drew upon the earth's power, but instead tried to understand and communicate with the silent yet tenacious "will" of this wasteland.

It was an extremely abstract feeling. He seemed to "hear" the mournful cries of the wind and sand over millions of years, feel the thirsty cracks in the earth, and touch the embers of ancient blood and fire, long since cooled and solidified, hidden deep underground. This was the "historical contract" of the wasteland, recording the past battles, destruction, and long silence.

Fu Shaoping carefully blended his own contractual aura into the rhythm of this "historical contract," adopting a peaceful posture as a "witness" and "passerby." There were no demands, only understanding and respect.

Gradually, he felt the omnipresent sense of repulsion and the corrosive aura surrounding him weaken considerably. With each breath, wisps of earth-elemental spiritual energy, though thin, were exceptionally pure and ancient, spontaneously seeping into his meridians and being slowly absorbed and transformed by his contracted true essence. He could even vaguely sense the subtle changes in the flow of earth energy within a radius of several miles, as well as some dangerous auras lurking underground or in the sandstorms.

"Contractual Spirit Fusion, a glimpse into the basics." Fu Shaoping opened his eyes, a hint of satisfaction in his expression. Although this method couldn't directly increase his combat power, it greatly enhanced his adaptability, recovery ability, and perception in harsh environments, making it a life-saving technique.

After resting, he continued on his way. This time, his steps seemed lighter, and he seemed to have a subtle sense of harmony with the wilderness.

The wind-eroded wasteland stretched endlessly. Fu Shaoping traveled by day and hid by night, avoiding several "Quicksand Demon Eyes" and "Evil Qi Fountains" marked on the map. Along the way, he encountered several attacks from monsters unique to the ancient plains, such as the "Crypt Sand Scorpions" that could spray poisonous sand, and swarms of incredibly fast "Wind Blade Vultures," all of which he swiftly dealt with using ruthless methods. His newly cultivated "Words Become Law (Prototype)" proved quite effective in actual combat; a single incantation of "Slow Down" could cause a swooping Wind Blade Vulture to pause, creating an excellent opportunity for his sword to strike.

Ten days later, on the horizon ahead, appeared a vast, incomparably wide river, its waters murky and dark red—the Crimson Blood River. The river roared and surged, its waves crashing, and faint echoes of clashing metal and shouts of battle could be heard. A persistent crimson mist hung above the river, its malevolent aura soaring to the heavens. Legend has it that this river was formed from the blood of countless lives lost in an ancient war, and that even after countless ages, its malevolent energy remained, its waters teeming with ferocious aquatic beasts and malevolent spirits.

Crossing the river is a major challenge. Flying is impossible on the river (the air above is filled with malevolent energy and spatial chaos), and the water below is fraught with danger. Cultivators usually seek out sections of the river that are relatively narrow or have ancient stone bridges (most of which are now in ruins) to cross.

Fu Shaoping walked downstream along the riverbank for two days before finally finding a place where the river narrowed slightly and a series of huge black reefs emerged from the water. These reefs were arranged in a vaguely orderly manner, resembling some kind of broken formation or naturally formed stepping stones.

After observing for a long time, he confirmed that although the evil energy here was strong, the energy flow was relatively stable and the distance between the rocks was acceptable.

"Let's go this way." Fu Shaoping took a deep breath, adjusted himself to his best condition, and stepped onto the first black reef.

The reef was icy cold, its surface slippery and covered in dark red moss. The moment his foot touched the ground, a violent, chaotic aura surged up from the sole, attempting to disrupt his true energy and erode his mind. Fu Shaoping channeled his contracted true energy, easily dissolving and absorbing this aura (the *General Principles of Contract Origin* has a certain ability to transform and absorb negative energy). Simultaneously, his "Contract Fusion" quietly activated, attempting to establish a connection with the reef beneath his feet—a connection forged through the blood and water that still stood firm—to make himself more stable.

He moved with lightning speed, leaping and bounding among the jagged rocks. The roar of the Crimson Blood River echoed in his ears, and crimson mist rushed towards him, with occasionally a hideous shadow flashing across the water.

As they reached the widest part of the river, the rocks beneath their feet suddenly trembled violently! The water ahead burst open, and a gigantic python, as thick as a bucket, covered in dark red scales and with a single horn on its head, leaped out, opening its foul-smelling maw to bite at Fu Shaoping! Its aura had clearly reached the mid-stage of the second tier (equivalent to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment)!

"Bloodhorn Python!" Fu Shaoping recognized the beast as a notorious monster from the Crimson Blood River, possessing immense strength, sturdy scales, and a talent for spewing corrosive blood-fiend venom.

He was prepared and retreated swiftly, simultaneously raising his "Mysterious Origin Heavy Water Shield" in front of him. The monstrous python bit down on the shield, producing a teeth-grinding scraping sound, and the shield's surface flashed with spiritual light. At the same time, the python's tail whipped up blood-red river water and lashed out fiercely!

Fu Shaoping's eyes narrowed. Instead of retreating, he advanced, his feet using the "Shadow Step" to follow a mysterious path, narrowly avoiding the python's tail and getting close to its body. He didn't use his sword, but instead spread his right hand, and pale golden contract essence instantly condensed in his palm into a complex and profound "Origin Contract Seal," which he pressed down hard on the python's vital spot!
"town!"

The seal penetrated the scales, causing no external injury, but it acted like an invisible contractual shackle, instantly affecting the chaotic and violent core of the monstrous python's demonic soul! The monstrous python trembled violently, a trace of confusion and pain flashing in its scarlet vertical pupils. Its frenzied attack suddenly stopped, and the surging bloodthirsty energy around it became disordered.

Taking this opportunity, Fu Shaoping drew his longsword from its sheath in his left hand. The sword light was as dazzling as a startled swan. It contained the true meaning of "breaking the law" and pierced the eye of the monster python with unparalleled precision, where the scales were relatively thin due to the snake's soul being restrained!

"Thud!" The sword pierced its brain! The monstrous python let out a deafening scream, its massive body writhing wildly, smashing the surrounding rocks to pieces, staining the river with blood. After struggling for a moment, it finally sank helplessly into the river, leaving behind only a pool of spreading blood.

Fu Shaoping, slightly out of breath, quickly sheathed his longsword and shield (the shield's surface was corroded with several shallow pits), and, not daring to linger, continued his rapid journey towards the opposite bank. The smell of blood would soon bring more trouble.

Sure enough, the river behind them began to churn, and several menacing auras rapidly approached.

Fu Shaoping pushed his speed to the limit, finally using the last few rocks as leverage to leap up and land steadily on the solid ground on the south bank of the Chixue River.

Looking back, the blood-red river still roared, and several huge black shadows lingered at the site of the battle, but did not chase after them ashore.

"Finally, we made it through." Fu Shaoping breathed a sigh of relief, took a pill, and rested for a while. The battle just now, though brief, had been quite taxing, especially the condensation of the "Origin Seal," which required a high level of soul power.

After crossing the Crimson Blood River, one officially enters the heart of the vast ancient plains. The malevolent energy is even more intense, and there are more fragments of various chaotic laws remaining in the world. Occasionally, one can see strange aurora lights flashing in the distant sky, or the ground suddenly cracking open and spewing out scorching subterranean fire.

Following his senses, Fu Shaoping headed towards the "meteorite basin." Several days later, the landscape changed again, revealing vast expanses of scorched earth, vitrified craters, and bizarrely shaped, enormous metal debris scattered everywhere. A faint scent, like dust from burnt stars, filled the air.

This is the edge of the meteorite basin. Legend has it that in ancient times, extraterrestrial stars fell here, causing a catastrophe and forming this unique landscape, which also left behind many strange substances and dangers from outer space.

Fu Shaoping's target, the sense of the contracted land, pointed to the depths of the basin.

He became even more cautious. The meteorite basin was not only a harsh environment, but also fraught with danger because the extraterrestrial debris might contain strange energies or residual restrictions.

As they walked, from a patch of scorched earth ahead, they suddenly heard the sounds of fierce fighting and roars!
Fu Shaoping concealed himself and quietly approached. Not far away, he saw five cultivators—three men and two women—fighting fiercely around a strange monster that resembled a giant lizard but was covered in dark silver metallic scales, had bone spurs on its back, and a hammer-like head! This monster possessed a powerful aura, having reached the late stage of the second tier (close to the late stage of Foundation Establishment). It moved swiftly, possessed immense strength, and could spew out scorching silver molten streams from its mouth, burning deep pits into the ground.

The five cultivators, the most powerful of whom was a burly, red-faced man wielding a flaming longsword, at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. The other four were at the early Foundation Establishment stage and the great perfection of Qi Refining stage, respectively. They were clearly a well-coordinated team, but facing this "Molten Iron Lizard Dragon," they were still struggling and in grave danger, with two already injured.

"Brother! This beast's hide is too tough! My magic weapon can't cut it!" A burly man in the early Foundation Establishment stage, wielding two axes, roared. His axe blades struck the lizard dragon's scales, only scattering a trail of sparks.

"Attack its eyes and abdomen! Watch out for its molten flow!" the red-faced giant shouted, his long sword unleashing a fiery blade aura several feet long as he slashed fiercely at the lizard's head, only to be shattered by the lizard's head with a flick of its wrist and a hard hammerhead.

The lizard dragon seemed to be enraged. Its giant tail swept across, sending a female cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining who couldn't dodge in time flying. She spat out blood in mid-air and her fate after landing was unknown.

"Little sister!" another female cultivator wielding a long whip cried out in sorrow. Her whip flashed like a snake as it coiled around the lizard dragon's hind legs, but the dragon easily broke free.

Seeing the team on the verge of collapse, Fu Shaoping's gaze swept over the Molten Iron Lizard Dragon. Under the "Spell-Breaking Spiritual Eye," the flow of energy within this demonic beast was clearly visible. Its core demonic power converged behind a palm-sized, faintly glowing dark silver bone armor on its chest, which seemed to be its source of power, but also its relatively vulnerable vital point. Furthermore, its spiritual fluctuations were violent and simplistic, easily interfered with by powerful mental forces.

He hesitated for a moment, then decided to take action. It wasn't purely out of kindness; he needed to understand the situation within the basin, and this team might be able to provide some information. Moreover, the silver scales and demon core of the molten iron lizard seemed to be excellent materials for crafting dual-attribute earth and metal magical artifacts.

Just as the lizard dragon opened its mouth again, about to spew scorching molten liquid at the female cultivator wielding the long whip, Fu Shaoping made his move.

Instead of revealing himself directly, he concealed himself and raised his hand to unleash a "True Word Contract Lock" that was invisible and intangible, yet embodied the true meaning of the three contracts: "intimidation," "binding," and "weakening." It silently wrapped around the lizard dragon's soul!

At the same time, he transmitted his voice to the red-faced giant: "Attack the dark silver bone armor behind his chest!"

The burly, red-faced man was anxious when he suddenly heard a telepathic message. He also saw the ferocious lizard dragon abruptly freeze, its savagery replaced by pain and confusion, and the molten liquid it spewed veered to the side. Though surprised, his rich combat experience allowed him to seize this fleeting opportunity. With a roar, he channeled all his true energy into his longsword, transforming it into a blazing blade of energy several meters long, which he fiercely slashed towards the lizard dragon's chest, the spot Fu Shaoping had pointed to!

The other two cultivators who still had fighting power also reacted and desperately attacked the lizard dragon's eyes and abdomen!

"Roar--!"

The lizard dragon roared in pain and rage. Under the combined assault of the blazing blades and concentrated attacks, cracks finally appeared in its dark silver bone armor, which then shattered! A surge of scorching silver energy erupted from it, instantly weakening the lizard dragon's aura and making its movements even slower and more chaotic. (End of Chapter)