Chapter 897
Chapter 897
Fu Shaoping studied the text carefully, his gaze finally settling on the description of "ancient battlefield ruins":
"Located in the central part of the Northern Territory, spanning tens of thousands of miles, it is the site of the ancient battle between cultivators and beings from other worlds. The space is chaotic, and the restrictions remain, where opportunities and dangers coexist. Cultivators often enter to search for treasures, but only three out of ten survive. In recent years, strange lights have been seen shooting into the sky from the depths of the ruins, suggesting that a great treasure may have been unearthed or that an ancient seal may have loosened."
The direction in which the source core and the fragment of the "contract" sensed each other pointed precisely to the location of the ancient battlefield ruins.
"A coincidence? Or..."
Fu Shaoping put away the jade slip and then purchased a batch of pills and talismans for disguise, breath control, and concealing his aura in the market. He decided to enter the Northern Territory as a rogue cultivator and first explore the outer perimeter of the ancient battlefield ruins.
On the seventh day after leaving the border of Zhao, Fu Shaoping stepped into the northern territory.
The concentration of spiritual energy here is significantly higher than in Zhao Kingdom, and a rugged, wild atmosphere permeates the air. The sky is higher and more distant, the mountains and rivers are more precipitous, and even the cultivators encountered on the road are mostly wary, carrying a faint scent of blood.
The rules in the North seem even more blatant—survival of the fittest, and strength reigns supreme.
Fu Shaoping concealed his aura, suppressed his cultivation to the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and disguised himself as an ordinary rogue cultivator traveling and searching for treasures. He followed the relatively safe route marked on the map and headed towards the ancient battlefield ruins.
Half a month later, a huge city built against the mountain came into view.
Ironrock City, a transportation hub in the southeastern region of the North, is also an important supply point for those heading to the ancient battlefield ruins. The city walls, constructed of black iron rock, rise over a hundred feet high and are covered with defensive runes that gleam with a cold, hard sheen in the setting sun.
At the city gate, two teams of cultivators clad in black armor were inspecting those entering the city; all were at the Foundation Establishment stage. Leading them was a burly man with a thick beard, at the early Golden Core stage, exuding a fierce aura.
Fu Shaoping joined the crowd to enter the city, his gaze sweeping over a huge jade plaque hanging beside the city gate. Various messages scrolled across the plaque: bounty missions, requests for materials, announcements of secret realm openings… and several wanted posters.
His gaze lingered for a moment on one of the wanted posters.
The image was a blurry portrait; the person in the painting wore a bamboo hat, obscuring their face, but their silhouette... bore a six or seven-tenths resemblance to himself. The reward was a whopping five thousand high-grade spirit stones, with an additional one thousand high-grade spirit stones for providing clues. The poster was identified as the Shadow Merchant Guild.
"Shadow Merchant Guild..." Fu Shaoping sneered inwardly. Sure enough, it's just a different name; it's still an outer force of that "Dark Contract Organization."
Fortunately, the portrait on the wanted poster was not clear, and the description was rather vague: skilled in contract-based magic, and his body was suspected to be an ancient contract treasure. There are many cultivation schools in the Northern Territory, and while contract-based magic is rare, it is not unique to this one.
After paying an entrance fee of ten low-grade spirit stones, Fu Shaoping successfully entered Iron Rock City.
The city streets were wide, lined with shops, and teeming with people. There were sect disciples in uniform, as well as wandering cultivators in strange attire, and even some half-demons and barbarians. The air was filled with a mixture of smells: the fragrance of elixirs, the pungent odor of demon beast materials, the aroma of wine wafting from taverns, and a faint, almost imperceptible, scent of blood.
Fu Shaoping found a medium-sized inn to stay in, set up a simple restriction, and took out the jade slip that recorded the general situation of the northern border. He then carefully studied the part about the "ancient battlefield ruins".
"The outer perimeter of the ruins is relatively safe and has been explored for many years, forming several fixed routes. However, the core area is extremely unstable, with frequent spatial rifts, ancient remnants of arrays erupting, and unknown ferocious beasts and evil spirits lurking there... In the past three years, every few months, a seven-colored light has shot into the sky from the direction of the 'Valley of Burial Gods' in the core area, lasting for half an hour before disappearing. Some cultivators have risked going to investigate, but all have come up empty-handed. All five major forces have sent scouts, but there is still no clear conclusion..."
“Seven-colored light…” Fu Shaoping tapped the table lightly with his fingers. The connection between the Source Core and the fragment of the “Contract” became increasingly clear after entering the Northern Territory, pointing directly to the direction of the “Valley of Burial Gods”.
"It seems that I have to go no matter what."
Over the next three days, Fu Shaoping gathered information from various sources within Tieyan City.
He went to "Baobao Street," the largest free market in the city, and bought the latest version of the outer map of the ruins and precautions from several stalls selling information; he also replenished his supplies of elixirs, talismans, and several magical artifacts for dealing with special situations from several reputable shops.
On the morning of the fourth day, Fu Shaoping was preparing to leave Tieyan City for the ruins when he overheard some news in the inn lobby:
"Have you heard? In three days, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is organizing a treasure-hunting team to the outskirts of the Burial God Valley! It's said that Master Mo of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion will personally lead the team, recruiting ten cultivators at the late Foundation Establishment stage or above, with generous rewards!"
"Master Mo? That mid-stage Golden Core cultivator who is proficient in formations and ancient restrictions? He's also interested in the strange phenomena of Burial God Valley?"
"More than just interested! It's said that the higher-ups at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion attach great importance to that strange light, suspecting it might be related to some ancient treasure. This treasure-hunting team is going to conduct an on-site investigation to pave the way for subsequent actions."
"Late stage of Foundation Establishment... Sigh, I'm only in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, it's hopeless."
"Forget about the late Foundation Establishment stage, I heard there are already over fifty people who have signed up! Master Mo will personally select them, the requirements are very high!"
Fu Shaoping's heart stirred.
The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion... a neutral force renowned for its ability to deduce celestial secrets and master array formations and restrictions. If one could infiltrate this group and leverage the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's power to enter the outer perimeter of the Burial God Valley, it would undoubtedly be much safer and would also allow for the acquisition of more intelligence.
The only risk is whether Tianji Pavilion is connected with the "Dark Pact Organization"?
He recalled the description of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion in the jade slip: established for over three thousand years, its leaders throughout the ages have all been Nascent Soul stage cultivators, acting neutrally and maintaining good relations with all major powers, yet keeping their distance. There has never been any evidence that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has participated in any power struggles.
“Worth a try,” Fu Shaoping decided. His cultivation had now reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, and his methods were unique, so passing the screening shouldn't be difficult. As for his identity, he had prepared an impeccable background as a “rogue cultivator.”
The recruitment point for the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is located in the city center square.
When Fu Shaoping arrived, nearly a hundred cultivators had already gathered in the square, all of them at the late Foundation Establishment stage, with even a few early Golden Core stage cultivators among them. A simple awning stood in the center of the square, under which sat three cultivators dressed in the blue robes of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. The leader was an elderly man with white hair and beard, his face gaunt, and his eyes gleaming with a sharp light—it was Master Mo.
The screening process is simple: step forward to register your name and background, and then Master Mo will use a special magic tool to test your bone age and the authenticity of your cultivation, and ask you a few questions.
When it was Fu Shaoping's turn, he gave the alias "Lu Ping," explaining that he was a rogue cultivator from the border region of Zhao who had obtained a fragmented contract by chance and was traveling in the northern border in search of opportunities.
Master Mo's bronze mirror reflected on Fu Shaoping, showing his bone age as thirty-seven, cultivation level as late Foundation Establishment, and solidified true essence.
“Contractual inheritance? That’s rare.” Master Mo glanced at Fu Shaoping. “Demonstrate your contractual techniques. You don’t need to go all out; just show their characteristics.”
Fu Shaoping was prepared. He extended his right index finger, a faint golden light appearing at the tip, quickly outlining a simple "binding" character. The rune flew out and landed on a nearby testing stone, instantly revealing faint golden patterns on its surface, as if bound by invisible chains. "Oh? Pure contract power, not some unorthodox method." A hint of surprise flashed in Master Mo's eyes. "Your contract power seems to also possess a trace of...suppressive properties?"
Fu Shaoping felt a slight chill in his heart, but outwardly he said respectfully, "Senior has insightful eyes. The inheritance I received is incomplete. I only know that this method can bind and suppress, but I do not know its specific source."
Master Mo nodded, not delving into the matter: "The power of the contract can sometimes be surprisingly effective when exploring ancient ruins. You have been accepted. Meet here at Chenshi (7-9 AM) in three days."
"Thank you, senior!"
Fu Shaoping breathed a sigh of relief, took a temporary identity jade token engraved with the words "Heavenly Secrets," and stepped aside.
Ultimately, Master Mo selected nine people from nearly a hundred cultivators, adding them to the five disciples of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion itself to form a treasure-hunting team of fourteen. Among them were ten late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, three early-stage Golden Core cultivators (including Master Mo), and a woman who always wore a veil and exuded a cold aura; her cultivation was clearly at the mid-stage Golden Core realm!
After the team assembled, Master Mo briefly explained the itinerary and rules:
"Our destination is 'Soul-Severing Ridge' on the outskirts of Burial Valley. According to previous intelligence, the seven-colored light most often appears in that area. Our mission is to survey the terrain, record the characteristics of the anomalies, and attempt to break some of the outer restrictions. We are not allowed to venture into the core area without authorization."
"Follow orders throughout the journey. Anyone who leaves the group without permission will bear the consequences. The spoils will be distributed according to contribution. In case of danger, survival is the priority."
"Do you understand everything?"
"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.
Three days later, the group of fourteen people left Iron Rock City and boarded a blue flying boat released by Master Mo, heading towards the depths of the ancient battlefield ruins.
The airship was extremely fast, yet remarkably stable. Its hull was covered in concealment and defensive formations, allowing it to fly low over the perimeter of the ruins, avoiding obvious danger zones.
Fu Shaoping stood at the stern of the boat, looking down.
The ancient battlefield ruins truly lived up to their name. The earth was crisscrossed with ravines, some bottomless, with faint glimmers of shimmering, restrictive light visible below. Huge skeletons lay half-buried in the earth, some belonging to demonic beasts, others strangely shaped, unlike any creature of this world. A faint aura of malevolence permeated the air; the deeper one went, the more chaotic the spiritual energy became.
The airship flew for three days, encountering several attacks along the way: a group of "fierce crows" whose minds were confused due to the corruption of evil energy; a spatial rift that suddenly erupted; and once, a huge tentacle covered with suction cups suddenly emerged from the ground, almost pulling the airship down. Fortunately, the veiled woman in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm intervened and severed the tentacle with a sword, thus averting disaster.
Fu Shaoping secretly observed the team members.
Master Mo was skilled in formations and broke through many remaining restrictions along the way; the veiled woman's swordsmanship was fierce and her strength was unfathomable; the other two elders of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, who were at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, were proficient in talismans and skilled in beast taming, respectively.
Of the nine recruited cultivators, three caught Fu Shaoping's attention:
A burly man carrying a giant sword, who calls himself "Sword Maniac," has a peak Foundation Establishment cultivation level and fierce sword energy. He is suspected to be an outer disciple of the Xuan Tian Sword Sect.
An elderly man holding a compass, always silently calculating, is named "Zhou Suanzi" and is an expert in feng shui and geomancy;
There was also a seemingly harmless young man who always had a smile on his face, named "Smiling Fox," but Fu Shaoping sensed a deeply hidden, sinister aura emanating from him.
On the seventh day, the airship stopped in front of a continuous black mountain range.
"Soul-Severing Ridge is just ahead," Master Mo pointed ahead. "The malevolent energy here is dense, and spiritual senses are limited. Stay close and don't get separated."
The group stowed their flying boats and began hiking into the mountains.
The name "Soul-Severing Ridge" is truly fitting. The mountain is pitch black, barren of all vegetation, and littered with broken weapons and skeletons. Dense malevolent energy forms a thin gray mist, reducing visibility to less than a hundred feet, and even divine sense is suppressed to one-tenth of its normal level.
Master Mo walked at the front, holding a Bagua compass in his hands, constantly adjusting its direction. The fortune teller Zhou also took out his compass, and the two exchanged a few words from time to time.
After traveling for about two hours, a shrill scream suddenly came from ahead!
"What's going on?" Master Mo's face darkened.
A disciple from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion who had been scouting ahead staggered back, his face deathly pale: "Uncle-Master! There's an altar ahead... and the altar is covered in mummified corpses! Senior Brother Wang accidentally triggered a restriction and was instantly drained of his life force!"
When the group arrived, they saw an ancient altar made of massive black stones standing in a relatively flat mountain valley. The altar was circular, about ten zhang in diameter, with a stone pillar covered in strange runes standing in the center. Around the altar lay dozens of mummified corpses, some of whom, judging from their clothing, were cultivators who had perished in recent decades, and others were ancient people from who-knows-how-many years ago.
At the top of the stone pillar is a fist-sized, dull black crystal.
"This is... the 'Soul-Sucking Altar'!" Zhou Suanzi gasped. "An ancient evil cultivator's forbidden array used to absorb the souls of living beings and forge evil artifacts! This altar is still operating, and that 'soul crystal' is the array's core!"
Master Mo's expression was solemn: "Everyone, step back! This altar is at least thirty feet in size. Once you step into it, your soul will be drained! Junior Nephew Wang triggered the outer warning barrier and was instantly drained."
"Then what do we do? Go around it?" Jian Kuang frowned.
Master Mo shook his head: "There's no way around it. The space around this altar has been distorted, forming a ring-shaped barrier. We either break through it or forcibly destroy the array's core."
How to crack it?
Master Mo pondered for a moment, then looked at Fu Shaoping: "Young friend Lu, could you try to briefly communicate with or interfere with the 'rules' of this altar using your power of contract? There's no need to break the entire formation; just open a gap at the formation's core so I can insert a 'formation-breaking talisman' into the soul crystal."
All eyes were on Fu Shaoping.
Fu Shaoping's mind raced. The rules of this Soul-Sucking Altar were essentially a kind of "contract"—an evil contract that used the souls of living beings as sacrifices in exchange for some kind of power or to achieve some kind of goal. With his current understanding of the power of contracts, coupled with the dual cores of the "Contract Command," he might indeed be able to interfere briefly.
But too much exposure also carries great risks. (End of Chapter)