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

His clone was completely absorbed in the study, learning with an insatiable thirst. From the most basic analysis of rune structures to the construction of complex composite runes, and then to the application of runes in formations, weapon crafting, alchemy, and even the creation of supernatural powers... the Xuan Yuan Qi Sect's research on contract runes reached an astonishing level.

Time loses its meaning in the ancient Qi Valley.

When Fu Shaoping's main body had initially refined the source core (about 10%), and his cultivation had been completely stabilized at the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage, and he was faintly touching the threshold of the middle stage; when his clone had digested 70-80% of the knowledge in the "True Explanation Pavilion of Contract Runes" that was suitable for Foundation Establishment stage comprehension, he felt that his contract foundation had undergone earth-shattering changes.

If before he was a contract cultivator who was feeling his way across the river by relying on star core fragments and inheritance, now he has a relatively complete "map" and "toolbox" leading to the depths of the contract path.

He has emerged from quarantine.

Standing on the altar, holding the Source Core, he felt that the entire Ancient Qi Valley was within his perception. With a thought, the restrictions at the valley entrance could be strengthened or weakened; with a thought, he could mobilize some of the contract power accumulated in the valley.

He looked towards the valley entrance. He wondered how much time had passed outside, and whether the Blood Shadow Cult and the Shadow Tower were still searching for him.
"This place is not safe to stay for long. Although it is safe for the time being, it is still a fixed place and easy to be found. Moreover, the source core needs more 'nourishment' (contract-related treasures or special environment) to slowly recover. The Heavenly Meteor Forbidden Zone... I may have to go there."

Fu Shaoping carefully put away the source core (he had been able to initially suppress its fluctuations), and then checked the remaining valuable items in the valley (mainly materials, pills, and fragments of ancient treasures that were useful to the Foundation Establishment stage and were left in several secret realms), and put them all into his pocket.

Finally, he arrived before the slumbering ancient beasts. These beasts, mutated by the power of the contract, were, in a sense, guardians of the Ancient Valley. Fu Shaoping, through his source core, conveyed a gentle message to them, releasing some of their restraints and allowing them freedom of movement within a certain range. The ancient beasts responded with low growls, their crimson eyes less ferocious and more intelligent.

Having done all this, Fu Shaoping had no more lingering thoughts. He went to the valley entrance and, using his Source Core authority, temporarily opened a more secretive "temporary contract passage" that led directly to a safe location dozens of miles outside the Ancient Qi Valley.

With a single step, his figure vanished into the golden mist of the Ancient Qi Valley.

The next moment, he appeared in a rocky forest on the edge of the meteorite basin.

Looking back, the mountains where the Ancient Qi Valley is located are faintly visible in the dark golden twilight, still mysterious.

After determining the direction, Fu Shaoping embarked on his journey once again towards the "Heavenly Meteor Forbidden Domain" deeper within the vast ancient plains.

This time, he possessed the Source Core, greatly increasing his foundation and making his goals even clearer.

The road ahead is a perilous place, even more dangerous than the meteorite basin, a place where even Golden Core cultivators are said to perish. But there, too, may lie the true core inheritance of the Xuan Yuan Qi Sect, as well as an opportunity to revive the Source Core and make rapid progress in one's contract path.

Alone, I once again ventured into the vast wilderness.

The road to contracts is long and arduous, but I will go forth.

The edge of the Heavenly Meteor Forbidden Zone was unlike anything Fu Shaoping had imagined.

There was no soaring malevolent aura, no scorched earth and ruins everywhere, not even a suffocating oppressive force. On the contrary, the place was eerily quiet.

He stood on a gray, white, gravelly plain, seemingly forgotten by time. Beneath his feet lay fine, powdery ash, making no sound as he stepped on it. The sky was a somber, leaden gray, devoid of sun, moon, or stars, only a uniform, oppressive light emanating from an unknown source.

The air was still, there was no wind, and not even a trace of spiritual energy could be felt. It was as if sound, light, and even life itself had been drawn away and frozen by some invisible force.

The ultimate in "stillness" and "emptiness".

Fu Shaoping could even hear the faint sound of his blood flowing through his veins and the steady, powerful beating of his heart. This was not a good thing; it indicated that the emptiness of the external environment was strongly contrasting with his own existence, giving rise to a sense of incongruity and alienation.

With the "Spellbreaker Eye" operating at full power, the world appeared in a completely different light. The grayish-white gravel plain was not a solid entity, but rather composed of countless fine, almost annihilated energy dust particles. These particles undulated slightly at an extremely slow, almost stagnant pace, like ripples on the surface of a dead ocean. The leaden-gray light in the sky was actually a strange, pervasive spatial distortion field that isolated the inside from the outside and suppressed all energy activity.

This place is less a region and more a vast realm of laws that is slowly "dying" or "sleeping." The ancient cataclysm that caused stars to fall seems to have left an eternal scar here, distorting the most fundamental laws of heaven and earth.

The "General Outline of the Origin" contains scattered records of similar forbidden zones, referring to them as "graveyards of laws" or "lands of Dao demise." In such places, the normal flow of spiritual energy becomes extremely difficult, divine consciousness is severely suppressed, and the power of most supernatural abilities and spells is greatly reduced, or even rendered ineffective. Conversely, some laws or powers related to "annihilation," "ending," "sealing," and "curse" may be strangely amplified.

Fu Shaoping tried to circulate his contractual true essence, and indeed it felt sluggish and heavy, like paddling through a sticky swamp, consuming several times more energy than the outside world. The range of his spiritual sense was compressed to less than fifty feet, and it was as if he were looking through frosted glass, blurry and unclear.

He immediately activated "Contract Fusion," attempting to establish a connection with the eerie "silence" and "emptiness" of this place. However, what returned was a cold, numb, and deathly "rejection." The "law contract" of this area seemed to have been distorted and broken to the point that normal communication was impossible.

"Indeed troublesome." Fu Shaoping's expression was solemn. But he did not panic. With the Source Core in hand, his control over the power of the contract was far greater than before. With a slight thought, a wisp of gentle and pure contract essence flowed out from the Source Core, forming a faint, almost invisible golden halo around him.

This halo wasn't defensive; rather, it simulated a contractual domain of "existential exemption" and "law harmony," attempting to neutralize the influence of the extreme "emptiness" of the outside world on itself. The effect was immediate: the sluggishness in the circulation of true essence was reduced by about 30%, and the probing of spiritual sense became clearer.

He strode forward, his footsteps still barely audible. Grayish-white dust rose beneath his feet, then slowly settled, making no sound.

Following the simplified location map within the source core, the core ruins of the Xuan Yuan Qi Sect's mountain gate were located in the "southern center" region of the Heavenly Meteor Forbidden Zone. He needed to traverse this "silent plain" and enter the deeper "twisted hills" area.

After traveling about a hundred miles, the surrounding scenery remained unchanged, only endless grayness and deathly silence. The sense of time became blurred here, as if walking through an eternal, silent painting. Suddenly, Fu Shaoping stopped in his tracks.

About thirty feet ahead, the "Spellbreaker Eye" detected an extremely faint energy fluctuation that seemed completely out of place in the surrounding deathly silence. The fluctuation was hidden beneath the grayish-white dust, carrying a cold, viscous malice that seemed capable of corrupting the soul.

"Something's there." Fu Shaoping instantly became alert, stopped in his tracks, and simultaneously contracted the Harmony Domain of the Source Core to a close-range area to minimize his presence.

He observed intently. The fluctuations were like lurking venomous snakes, motionless, seemingly waiting for their prey to approach.

Fu Shaoping neither rushed forward nor tried to avoid it—in such a vast and desolate environment, any movement could become a target. He slowly raised his right hand, a point of pale golden contract essence condensed at his fingertips, and flicked it gently.

The true essence left the body, transforming into a palm-sized, exquisitely structured golden rune bird. It flapped its wings and silently flew towards the source of the fluctuation. This was a detection spell recorded in the "General Outline of Contractual Origins"—the "Spirit Contract Bird," constructed with the power of a contract, possessing the abilities of detection, warning, and even subtle interference.

The Spirit Bird landed lightly on the dust above the fluctuation point.

The moment they made contact, something unexpected happened!

"puff!"

A soft sound, like a bubble bursting, rang out. The grayish-white dust beneath the Spirit Pact Bird suddenly exploded! A gigantic, grayish-white, semi-transparent creature, resembling a giant worm, shot out, opened its mouthful of spiraling, black teeth, and swallowed the Spirit Pact Bird whole!
The Spirit Bird was instantly annihilated by the darkness within the vessel, and its connection with Fu Shaoping was severed.

The "worm," not satisfied after swallowing the Spirit Bird, writhed violently, its grayish-white, semi-transparent body turning its head towards Fu Shaoping. It had no eyes, but Fu Shaoping could clearly feel a greedy, hungry, and chilling intent locking onto him.

"The Annihilation Worm..." A name flashed through Fu Shaoping's mind. This was a strange creature mentioned in the Miscellaneous Notes section of the "General Outline of the Origin," which could only be born in extreme "Lands of Dao Demise." They feed on fragments of remaining laws, energy dust, and even the "presence" and "life force" of creatures that stray into their territory. They are almost immune to conventional spiritual energy attacks, move silently, and are among the most dangerous lurkers in such perilous places.

The aura of this Annihilation Worm is around the late stage of the second tier (close to the late stage of Foundation Establishment), and given its environment, its strength is likely even greater.

Fu Shaoping dared not be negligent and acted the moment the opponent launched the attack.

Instead of attempting to use spells that required a large amount of true essence and whose power was limited in this place, he directly communicated with the source core and mobilized a trace of true "contractual authority".

He pointed at the swarming, annihilating worm and uttered a single, chilling word:

"seal up!"

What you say is what the law says!

It was not a violent energy surge, but an invisible "prohibition" originating from the level of contracts that descended instantly! This "prohibition" directly acted on the "existence contract" and "predatory instinct contract" of the Annihilation Worm, which existed between the real and the illusory.

The annihilation worm that was pouncing suddenly froze! Several pale golden, chain-like illusory runes appeared on its translucent body surface. These runes did not bind its body, but forcibly "froze" its killing intent and attack movements!
That brief pause was enough for Fu Shaoping.

He used his full power to step out with the "Shadow Step," his figure turning into a blurry afterimage. Instead of retreating, he advanced, instantly closing in on the body of the Annihilation Worm, which was slightly stiff due to its mind being "sealed"!

The "Mysterious Origin Heavy Water Shield" in his left hand suddenly enlarged, carrying heavy water elemental power, and slammed hard into the middle of the worm's body!

A dull thud shattered the deathly silence of the plain. The worm's tough, translucent body caved inward, emitting a silent hiss (a wave of pain on a mental level). The immense force sent it flying sideways.

Fu Shaoping's right hand was already clenched into a sword shape, and a wisp of pale golden sword energy, which had been condensed to the extreme and incorporated the true meaning of the three contracts of "breaking the law", "sealing evil" and "severing cause and effect", pierced the node in the worm's body where the core "fragment of the law of annihilation" was exposed due to the shield strike, just like a venomous snake spitting its tongue!

laugh--!
There was no blood, only a cloud of grayish-black mist, seemingly condensed from endless nothingness, gushing out from the wound! The worm let out an even more violent wail of will, its enormous body twisting and convulsing wildly. Its grayish-white body rapidly turned dull and transparent, and finally, like a bursting bubble, it completely dissipated on the spot with a "pop," leaving only a small clump of purer gray dust and a "fragment of the law of annihilation" the size of a fingernail, constantly shifting in ethereal colors.

Fu Shaoping was slightly out of breath. The attack just now seemed simple, but in reality, it consumed a great deal of energy. The "Seal" technique, which made words come true, directly mobilized the primal power of the source core, which consumed a lot of soul power. And the last sword strike brought his understanding of the way of breaking contracts to its extreme, which was why he was able to destroy the core of this strange creature in one fell swoop.

He stepped forward and carefully put away the "fragment of the law of annihilation". This item contains a distorted law of annihilation, which is extremely dangerous, but if used properly, it may be able to be used to refine special magic-breaking and sealing treasures, or to comprehend "ending" type contracts.

Through this battle, Fu Shaoping gained a more direct understanding of the dangers of the Heavenly Meteor Forbidden Zone. The environment itself is the greatest enemy. And the strange creatures born here are even more troublesome.

He became more cautious and slowed down considerably, relying on his "Spell-Breaking Eyes" and contracted spiritual awareness to avoid several similar dangerous energy points in advance.

After traveling for an unknown amount of time, the gray-white plain finally came to an end. Ahead, undulating hills appeared, their color deepening. These hills possessed a bizarre, twisted shape, as if kneaded by a tremendous force, their surfaces covered with spiral patterns and cracks. The leaden-gray light in the sky dimmed here, and a faint, multicolored, aurora-like mist drifted among the hills. Yet, even within this mist, there was no trace of life, only an even stronger sense of spatial distortion and disordered laws.

"Twisted Hills..." Fu Shaoping checked the location map, confirming that he had entered a deeper area of ​​the Heavenly Meteor Forbidden Domain. According to the source core information, only by passing through these hills could he possibly approach the core ruins. (End of Chapter)