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

Fu Shaojie's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal.

"Senior Brother Fu is too kind. We are from the same clan and should look after each other. Besides, the clan head is in a coma, and you have been acting as the clan head, which is a great service. It is only natural that I should do my part."

Fu Shaoping nodded: "That makes sense. How about this—you hand over the accounts of the fourth branch of the family that they have embezzled over the years, and that will be considered as doing your best."

Fu Shaojie's expression changed slightly.

"Senior Brother Fu, what makes you say that? The Fourth Branch has always been honest and upright, how could they embezzle?"

Fu Shaoping took out an account book from his pocket and threw it in front of him.

"This is what I've compiled over the past few days. I've completed about 70-80% of the accounts for the third branch of the family. The fourth branch's accounts are still incomplete. If you're honest, why don't you help me finish them?"

Fu Shaojie looked down at the ledger, his expression growing increasingly grim.

The ledgers were filled with detailed records of the various businesses that the fourth branch of the family had handled over the years. Although most of it was just speculation, there were a few entries that were remarkably close to the facts he knew.

He raised his head, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Fu Shaoping was completely different.

"How...how did you know?"

Fu Shaoping didn't answer, he just looked at him.

Fu Shaojie took a deep breath, stood up, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Senior Brother Fu, I apologize for being so intrusive today. I will come to seek your guidance another day."

He turned and left, walking much faster than when he came.

Fu Shaoping watched his retreating figure, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

He knew that the fourth branch of the family would not make any rash moves for the time being.
-
Three more days passed.

On this day, Fu Shaoping was cultivating in the stone chamber when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

He opened his eyes, his brows furrowed slightly.

The footsteps were neither as furtive as those from the third branch of the family, nor as deliberately composed as those from the fourth branch. Instead... they sounded somewhat flustered.

He got up and opened the stone door.

Outside the door stood an unexpected person.

Fu Shaoyun.

The fourth son of the main branch, a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the Great Perfection stage, is the most favored grandson of the fourth branch elder, Fu Qingyun, and was also one of the most popular candidates to compete for the position of family head.

His face was pale and his eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept all night.

Fu Shaoping looked at him calmly.

"Fu Shaoyun, what are you doing here?"

Fu Shaoyun did not answer immediately, but went into the stone chamber and closed the door behind him.

Then, he did something that Fu Shaoping didn't expect.

He knelt down.

"Senior Brother Fu, save me!"

Fu Shaoping raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not help him up. He simply said, "Get up and talk."

Fu Shaoyun remained kneeling, gritting his teeth as he said, "Senior Brother Fu, I know I was disrespectful to you before and called you a piece of trash. But I'm desperate now and have no other choice but to beg you!"

Fu Shaoping looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and finally reached out to help him up.

"Sit down and talk."

Fu Shaoyun sat down on the futon, took a deep breath, and began to speak.

It turns out that the fourth elder, Fu Qingyun, his own grandfather, was planning to harm Fu Shaoping.

But it wasn't an assassination; it was a far more ruthless scheme—colluding with outsiders.

Fu Qingyun secretly contacted Wang Zhenshan, the head of another powerful family in Qingyang City—the Wang family—and agreed to join forces to eliminate Fu Shaoping and divide the Fu family's assets. In exchange, Fu Qingyun promised that after the deed was done, he would hand over half of the Fu family's spirit mines and market towns.

“My grandfather thought I didn’t know, but I overheard it.” Fu Shaoyun’s face was pale. “They plan to make their move in three days. First, they’ll lure you to the main hall under the guise of a clan meeting, and then have experts sent by the Wang family ambush you and kill you in one fell swoop!”

Fu Shaoping remained calm, as if listening to something that had nothing to do with him.

Why are you telling me this?

Fu Shaoyun lowered his head, remained silent for a long time, and then said:

"Because my grandfather was wrong."

He looked up, his eyes filled with pain.

“I know he’s done a lot of shady things over the years. Embezzlement, exclusion, suppression of dissidents. I’ve always pretended not to know because he’s my grandfather. But this time… this time is different.”

"Colluding with outsiders and betraying the family is treason! It's a cardinal sin in the Fu family! Once this is exposed, not a single member of the four branches will survive!"

He looked at Fu Shaoping with pleading in his eyes.

"Senior Brother Fu, I don't want to see the Fourth Branch destroyed by him. I don't want to see the Fu family fall apart. You...you can..."

Fu Shaoping looked at him and remained silent for a long time.

Then, he reached out and patted Fu Shaoyun on the shoulder.

"The fact that you came to tell me shows that you still have a conscience."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Fu Shaoyun's eyes.

Fu Shaoping continued, "But conscience alone is not enough. I need evidence. Evidence that your grandfather colluded with the Wang family."

Fu Shaoyun was taken aback, then gritted his teeth and said, "I have it!"

He took out a jade slip from his pocket and handed it to Fu Shaoping.

"This is a copy of their secret letter. I secretly recorded it."

Fu Shaoping took it and probed it with his divine sense.

The jade slip contained a detailed record of the details, time, location, and agreed-upon conditions of Fu Qingyun and Wang Zhenshan's conspiracy. The evidence was irrefutable.

Fu Shaoping put away the jade slip and looked at Fu Shaoyun.

"Okay. I'll accept this evidence."

Fu Shaoyun breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak when Fu Shaoping raised his hand to stop him.

"Fu Shaoyun, I'm very grateful that you're willing to help me. But I have a question for you—if one day you had to choose between your grandfather and the Fu family, which would you choose?"

Fu Shaoyun trembled and remained speechless for a long time.

Fu Shaoping didn't press him, he simply said:

"Go back and think it over carefully. You will know the answer at the clan meeting in three days."

Fu Shaoyun stood up and left the stone chamber, looking utterly dejected.

Fu Shaoping stared intently at his retreating figure.

He knew that the real storm was coming.

In this storm, which side Fu Shaoyun chooses to stand on will determine his fate.

It also determines the future of the Fu family.
-
Three days later, the clan meeting was held as scheduled.

This time, the location was not the main hall, but the largest council hall in the Fu family.

The hall was packed with people. Almost all the prominent figures from the third and fourth branches of the family and various collateral branches were present.

Fu Shaoping sat in the main seat, his expression calm.

Standing to his left and right were several old, weak, sick and disabled people—the last remaining force he had gathered over the past six months, loyal to the lineage of the family head.

Opposite them, the Third Elder, Fu Qingfeng, sat upright, his gaze sinister. The Fourth Elder, Fu Qingyun, also sat upright, his expression unchanged, though a hint of smugness occasionally flashed in his eyes.

Fu Shaoyun stood behind Fu Qingyun, head down, seemingly lost in thought.

“Fu Shaoping,” Fu Qingfeng spoke first, “Today’s clan meeting is to discuss your position as acting head of the family.”

Fu Shaoping said calmly, "Please speak."

Fu Qingfeng sneered: "You've been acting as the head of the family for half a year, what have you accomplished? The head of the family is still in a coma, the family's industries have shown no improvement, and the cultivation resources for the younger generation have actually been reduced by 30%! Is this all you've got?"

Upon hearing this, everyone echoed his sentiments.

"Yes! Nothing has changed in the past six months!"

"It would be better to let someone capable take over as head of the family!"

"Both the third and fourth wives are more qualified than him!"

Fu Shaoping listened to these discussions without changing his expression.

He waited until everyone quieted down before slowly speaking:
"The Third Elder says I've accomplished nothing, so let me ask you—how much has the output of the spirit mines under the Third Branch decreased in the past six months compared to previous years?"

Fu Qingfeng was taken aback, then angrily asked, "What do you mean?"

Fu Shaoping took out an account book from his pocket and threw it in front of him.

"These are the accounts of the third branch for the past six months. On the surface, the output is the same as in previous years. But I had someone secretly investigate, and the actual output is 30% higher than what's on the books. Where did that extra 30% go?" Fu Qingfeng's expression changed drastically.

Fu Shaoping continued, "Furthermore, the profits from the markets under the fourth branch of the family have been 40% less than what's recorded in the books over the past six months. Where did that 40% go?"

He took out another ledger and threw it to Fu Qingyun.

Fu Qingyun's face turned ashen, and he abruptly stood up: "Nonsense! These accounts are clearly forged by you!"

Fu Shaoping looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Fourth Elder, don't worry. I have one more thing here."

He took the jade slip from his bosom and held it high.

"This is a secret letter between you and Wang Zhenshan, the head of the Wang family. The letter details your entire scheme to collude with outsiders, plot to assassinate the acting head of the family, and divide up the Fu family's assets!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar!
Fu Qingyun's face turned deathly pale, and he swayed, almost losing his balance.

"Where...where did you come from...?"

He suddenly turned his head and looked at Fu Shaoyun.

Fu Shaoyun lowered his head, trembling all over, but remained silent.

Despair flashed in Fu Qingyun's eyes, then turned into madness!

"Fine! Fine! Now that you've found out, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

He shouted sharply, "Attack!"

Suddenly, shouts of battle erupted outside the hall!
Dozens of cultivators dressed in black rushed into the council hall from all directions! The one in the lead was none other than Wang Zhenshan, the patriarch of the Wang family, a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator!

"Hahaha! Fu Shaoping, you think you can turn the tables with evidence?" Wang Zhenshan laughed wildly. "Today, none of you from the Fu family will escape!"

Fu Qingyun also dropped his pretense and said sternly, "Third Elder, if we join forces and kill this little beast, half of the Fu family's assets will be yours!"

Fu Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth and nodded: "Okay!"

He stood up, his body surging with spiritual energy, and stood with Fu Qingyun and Wang Zhenshan.

Three Golden Core cultivators and dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounded Fu Shaoping and the few elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people around him.

The situation is extremely precarious.

Fu Shaoping remained seated, his expression calm.

He looked at the three people opposite him and suddenly smiled.

"You think you're the only ones who were prepared?"

He raised his hand and snapped his fingers lightly.

In an instant, contract runes lit up on the walls surrounding the council hall!

Those runes were far more complex and profound than the ones he had carved in the stone chamber! Their dazzling light illuminated the entire hall as if it were daytime!
Wang Zhenshan's expression changed drastically: "This is... an array?!"

Fu Shaoping stood up and slowly walked towards him.

"This is the 'Heavenly Contract Demon-Trapping Array,' which I personally carved over three months. Anyone below the Golden Core stage will be trapped upon entering. Even those above the Golden Core stage will need to put in some effort to escape."

He looked at Wang Zhenshan with a calm, still gaze.

"Wang Zhenshan, do you want to give it a try?"

Wang Zhenshan's face turned ashen as he frantically channeled his spiritual power to attack the formation, but the formation's light remained unmoved, instead repelling him and forcing him to retreat repeatedly!

Fu Qingyun and Fu Qingfeng also tried to make a move, but they were also trapped by the formation and could not move!
Those dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators collapsed to the ground, their spiritual power completely gone!

Fu Shaoping walked up to Wang Zhenshan and looked down at him.

"Wang Zhenshan, you colluded with Fu Qingyun, intending to seize my Fu family's assets. What is your crime?"

Wang Zhenshan's face was deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he was unable to speak.

Fu Shaoping turned around and looked at Fu Qingyun and Fu Qingfeng.

"Elders, as members of the Fu family, you have colluded with foreign enemies and betrayed your family. What is your punishment?"

Fu Qingyun collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

Fu Qingfeng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but only let out a desperate sigh.

Fu Shaoping's gaze swept across the entire room, finally settling on Fu Shaoyun.

Fu Shaoyun kept his head down, his whole body trembling.

Fu Shaoping walked up to him.

"Fu Shaoyun".

Fu Shaoyun raised his head, his eyes filled with tears.

"You did very well."

Fu Shaoyun was taken aback.

Fu Shaoping patted him on the shoulder, turned around, and addressed the entire audience, saying loudly:

"Fu Shaoyun deserves credit for today's events. If he hadn't informed me of the Fourth Elder's plot beforehand, I wouldn't have been able to set up this formation in advance."

"From today onwards, Fu Shaoyun is promoted to Acting Elder of the Fourth Branch, and will be in full charge of handling the affairs of the Fourth Branch."

The entire venue was deathly silent.

Immediately, a deafening cheer erupted!

Those who had been hesitant before now knelt down and shouted:

"The master is wise!"

"Long live the patriarch!"

Fu Shaoping remained calm and raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

He looked at Fu Qingyun and Fu Qingfeng kneeling on the ground and said calmly:

“You two elders colluded with foreign enemies. According to clan rules, you should be executed. However, considering your many years of service to the Fu family, we will spare your lives. Your cultivation will be abolished, you will be expelled from the clan, and you will never be allowed to set foot in Qingyang City again.”

Fu Qingyun and Fu Qingfeng trembled, but ultimately did not resist.

They knew that this was the best possible outcome.

As for Wang Zhenshan...

Fu Shaoping looked at him, his gaze icy.

"Wang Zhenshan, you killed members of the Fu family and plotted to seize our property. You deserve to die. Today, I will use your life to pay tribute to those who have died."

He raised his hand, and a contract rune shot out, striking Wang Zhenshan squarely between the eyebrows!

Wang Zhenshan screamed and collapsed to the ground, dead.

The entire stadium erupted in thunderous cheers once again!
Fu Shaoping stood in the hall, watching all of this with a calm expression.

But a faint sense of emotion welled up in his heart.

In this life, he spent half a year finally stabilizing the Fu family.

But the real challenge is yet to come.

He looked up at the sky outside the hall.

There, someone was waiting for him.

The news that Fu Qingyun and Fu Qingfeng had their cultivation crippled and were expelled from their families was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating a huge uproar in Qingyang City.

The remaining followers of the third and fourth branches of the family scattered overnight. Some fled Qingyang City, some surrendered to Fu Shaoping, and others tried to resist, but were all captured by Fu Shaoyun and his guards who were loyal to the family head's lineage.

Fu Shaoping did not go on a killing spree.

He knew that most of these people were just pawns being manipulated, and the real masterminds were only Fu Qingyun and Fu Qingfeng. As for the accomplices, he showed leniency, confiscating only a portion of their family property, demoting them to a branch family, and allowing them to remain in the Fu family.

This combination of kindness and severity completely dispelled the suspicions of his clansmen who had previously harbored doubts about him.

"The patriarch is merciful!"

"The master is wise!"

Such voices rose and fell throughout the Fu residence.

Fu Shaoping listened to these praises with a calm expression.

He never considered himself kind.

He simply knew that killing was easy, but winning over hearts was difficult. The Fu family had suffered a severe blow after this calamity and could not withstand further internal strife. Rather than wiping them out completely, it was better to bring them under his control.

Of course, he never hesitated to punish those who truly deserved to die.

Wang Zhenshan's body was hung at the gate of Qingyang City for three days as a public display. The Wang family's power collapsed overnight, and the Fu family took the opportunity to acquire most of the Wang family's assets. Their strength was not weakened, but rather became stronger than before.

The landscape of Qingyang City was thus rewritten.

The Fu family became the sole dominant force in this small town. (End of Chapter)