Chapter 910
Chapter 910
More importantly, he needs the power of the Origin Stone to purify the "Spirit of the Origin." But the Origin Stone is here, while the "Spirit of the Origin" is sealed in the Valley of Burial Gods, and the two places are far apart. How can he make use of it?
"Perhaps... we could try using the 'Contract Order' fragments as a medium to establish a stable contractual link, forming a remote 'purification resonance field'?" An idea flashed through Fu Shaoping's mind. This would require him to have an extremely deep grasp of the contract rules and to design an ingenious contract formation. It was extremely difficult, but not impossible.
"First, we need to stabilize this space to prevent outsiders from barging in." Fu Shaoping decided to take the first step. He walked to the base of the Contract Stone, sat down cross-legged, and took out two fragments of the Contract Order, placing them in front of him.
Within the Source Flow Space, the dark gold and pitch-black fragments emitted a softer glow, and the repulsion between them seemed to lessen. Fu Shaoping attempted to use his own Contract Origin as a bridge to guide the power of the two fragments, inscribing Contract Runes around the Contract Source Stone.
This is neither an offensive nor a defensive formation, but a contractual restriction that combines "spatial anchoring" and "contract authentication." He used the Contract Source Stone as the core of his power, the fragment of the "Contract Order" as the control hub, and combined it with the spatial contractual secrets in the "Frost Soul Contract Codex" to begin its construction.
The process was exceptionally slow and meticulous. Each rune needed to perfectly align with the primal fluctuations of the Origin Stone, and each contract link needed to be stable and concealed. Fu Shaoping was completely focused, daring not to be distracted in the slightest.
After an unknown amount of time, when the last contract rune lit up, the entire Origin Flow Space trembled slightly. A very thin, almost invisible, seven-colored light membrane appeared in the void surrounding the Contract Origin Stone. On the light membrane, there flowed marks that shared the same origin as Fu Shaoping's contract.
"It's done." Fu Shaoping breathed a sigh of relief. This restriction only allows those who possess the same source contract power as him (or have his permission) to enter. Anyone else who forcibly enters will trigger the backlash of the source contract stone, and unless they possess power beyond the level of the source contract stone, they will find it difficult to break through. Furthermore, the evil contract power of the Myriad Contracts Alliance will be directly rejected and purified.
“Next, we need to establish a remote link with the ‘Spirit of Contract’ seal.” Fu Shaoping took a moment to adjust his breathing and began to attempt the second step. He took out the “Fragment of the Purification Heavenly Stele” that he had obtained from Venerable Frost Soul, as well as the methods of “Origin Purification Technique” and “Resonance Contract Array” recorded in the Frost Soul Contract Codex.
He placed the fragment of the Purification Stele beneath the Source Stone, using it as a "purification beacon." Then, he once again used the fragment of the "Contract Order" as a guide to attempt to communicate with the "Contract Pivot" seal, which was far away in the Valley of Burial Gods.
This is an attempt at a contractual resonance that transcends space. The distance is vast, and the sealing of the Valley of Burial Gods and spatial disorder further complicate the process, making it extremely difficult.
Fu Shaoping concentrated all his attention, and his contracted spiritual sense carefully extended outwards, following the subtle resonance between the fragments of the "Contract Order" and the "Contract Pivot." He was not trying to forcefully penetrate the seal, but rather attempting to establish an extremely weak yet continuous "purification resonance" link on the "outer layer" of the seal.
Time passed little by little.
Within the Source Stream Space, only the faint sound of the Contract Source Stream slowly rotating could be heard.
Suddenly, Fu Shaoping's body trembled! He sensed that the "Qi Shu" seal, far away in the Burial God Valley, seemed to be sending an extremely faint, pure response! It was the unpolluted pure source within the core of the "Qi Shu" inside the seal, which, after sensing the resonance between the "Purification Heavenly Stele Fragment" and the Qi Yuan Stone, produced a trace of "desire"!
"There's a response!" Fu Shaoping's spirits lifted, and he immediately guided a trace of the "purifying" source flow within the Origin Stone, slowly transmitting it through this faint resonance link.
This wisp of power was extremely weak, like a trickle of water, a drop in the ocean compared to the vast and murky "Qi Shu". But it represented a beginning, a possibility.
Fu Shaoping knew that this was only the initial establishment of an extremely fragile "purification channel." To truly purify the "Spiritual Pivot," a stronger and more stable connection was needed, requiring his own cultivation to reach a higher level (at least the Nascent Soul stage), and possibly other auxiliary methods as well.
But at least he found his direction and took the crucial first step.
"This matter is settled, it's time to go back." Fu Shaoping put away the fragment of the "Contract Order" (the purifying fragment of the Heavenly Stele was left under the Contract Source Stone as a beacon), took one last look at this magical source space and the Contract Source Stone, and then began to look for a way to leave.
He was sucked in by the out-of-control passage, and the exit was closed. But now he has gained initial recognition from the Source Stone and has a deeper understanding of the spatial contract, so he can try to open a temporary passage on his own.
He walked to the edge of the space, sensing the spatial coordinates of the Heavenly Abyss Rift outside. Then, he made a sweeping gesture with his hands, and the power of the contract outlined a temporary "spatial contract gate" in the void. This gate was extremely unstable, could only be maintained for a very short time, and its positioning might be slightly off, but it was enough for him to leave.
"open!"
A flash of light appeared at the Contract Gate, and Fu Shaoping stepped inside.
The familiar chaotic, tearing sensation returned, but it was much weaker than when he entered. After a few breaths, he felt his feet settle, and he was back in the underground space of the Heavenly Abyss Rift, near the ancient Qixiu Temple.
The temple doors were tightly shut, and the surroundings were deathly silent, with only traces of battle and two already cold corpses.
Fu Shaoping quickly cleaned up the scene, erased his traces, then identified the direction and flew towards the top of the rift valley.
Leaving the Heavenly Abyss Rift was much smoother than descending. His cultivation had improved, making him more sensitive to spatial fluctuations, and he quickly found a relatively stable path, returning to the edge of the rift.
It was still polar night outside, but it was nearing its end, and a faint glimmer of dawn was beginning to appear on the horizon.
Fu Shaoping did not linger and went straight back to the observatory.
When he reappeared at the observatory, nearly a year had passed since he set off for the Heavenly Abyss Rift.
"Fellow Daoist Lu!" Xingyanzi and the others sensed his aura and came out to greet him. They were both surprised and delighted to see that he had not only returned safely but also possessed an unfathomable aura.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, your cultivation... seems to have improved again? Did you have another fortuitous encounter during your trip to the Abyss Rift Valley?" Liu Rushuang's beautiful eyes sparkled with interest.
Fu Shaoping briefly recounted his journey to the Heavenly Abyss Rift Valley, omitting the specific details of the "Origin Stone" and the "Source Space" (only stating that he entered an ancient contract space, killed a Nascent Soul cultivator and several Golden Core cultivators from the Myriad Contracts Alliance, and gained some insights), focusing on his fierce battle with Elder Ying and the result of successfully preventing the Myriad Contracts Alliance from seizing the "Origin Stone".
Upon hearing that Fu Shaoping had actually killed a Nascent Soul early stage elder of the Wanqi Alliance in the late Golden Core stage (although he had relied on environmental advantages and the power of the Qiyuan Stone), everyone gasped in shock, their gazes towards him filled with awe and reverence.
"Fellow Daoist Lu is truly a genius! To slay a Nascent Soul cultivator while only achieving a Golden Core is a feat worthy of being recorded in the annals of the Northern Territory!" Xingyanzi exclaimed with deep emotion.
Fu Shaoping waved his hand: "It was just luck. If it weren't for the special circumstances, I would be no match for a Nascent Soul cultivator. Moreover, the Myriad Alliance will not let this loss of a Nascent Soul elder go unpunished. We need to be even more vigilant."
Wen Xin nodded: "Fellow Daoist Lu is absolutely right. According to the latest intelligence, the Myriad Contracts Alliance was shaken after learning that Elder Ying's soul lamp had been extinguished, and has now gone into complete secrecy. But they will never give up on the 'Contract Pivot' and the 'Contract Source Stone'. Their next move will probably be even more ferocious."
Fu Shaoping asked, "How is the seal on 'Qi Shu'?" Xing Yanzi's expression softened slightly: "Thanks to the purification theory and 'Qi Yuan Stone' clues brought back by Fellow Daoist Lu, we have improved the sealing formation and are attempting to continuously nourish the pure origin of 'Qi Shu' with a weak purifying power. Currently, the seal is stable, and the rate of erosion by evil energy is slower than expected. We are confident that we can maintain the hundred-year agreement at least."
"That's good." Fu Shaoping felt a little relieved. The remote purification resonance channel he had established was extremely weak and could not significantly improve the condition of "Qi Shu" for the time being, but as long as the channel existed, it could continuously provide a trace of purification power to slow the spread of evil energy.
"What are your plans next, Fellow Daoist Lu?" Chu Hongxiu asked.
Fu Shaoping's gaze was far-reaching: "I need to go into seclusion for a while to thoroughly consolidate my cultivation and digest what I've gained this time. Then... I may have to leave the Northern Territory for a while."
"Leave the North?" Everyone was taken aback.
“Hmm.” Fu Shaoping nodded. “I feel that my path of contracts has reached a bottleneck. Simply traveling in the Northern Territory and studying ancient texts will probably not be enough to break through. I need a wider world to find deeper secrets of contracts, to find an opportunity to completely purify the ‘Contract Pivot,’ and also to find… the opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.”
He paused for a moment, then continued, "Moreover, the influence of the Myriad Contracts Alliance may not be limited to the Northern Territory. I want to go to the Central Divine Continent, or even further afield, to perhaps discover more clues about this organization and the ancient war of contracts."
Xing Yanzi pondered for a moment: "Fellow Daoist Lu has lofty aspirations, which we understand. The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion also has a branch in the Central Divine Continent. I will prepare a token and a map for you. If you need anything, you can seek help at any time."
Liu Rushuang, Chu Hongxiu, Bai Wuyai, and others also expressed that they would provide Fu Shaoping with convenience through their respective channels.
"Thank you all." Fu Shaoping cupped his hands in thanks. "Before I leave, I will leave behind some ideas and methods regarding the purification of the 'Qi Shu' and the Qi Yuan Stone space, hoping they will be of some help to you all."
Over the next few months, Fu Shaoping secluded himself to consolidate his knowledge while also engaging in in-depth research with Xing Yanzi, Wen Xin, and others, leaving behind detailed theoretical deductions on purification and conceptual designs for contract formations. He also took the time to copy and gift to disciples of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion sections of the "Frost Soul Contract Codex" containing ice-based contracts and purification methods suitable for their study.
Six months later, Fu Shaoping emerged from seclusion.
At this moment, his aura was completely concealed, returning to its original simplicity. If he did not actively reveal it, he would be almost indistinguishable from an ordinary person. However, cultivators in the late Golden Core stage, such as Xing Yanzi, could vaguely sense the terrifying power contained beneath his calm exterior.
“It’s time.” Fu Shaoping looked south, towards the Central Plains.
People saw them off in front of the observatory.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, take care!" Xing Yanzi said solemnly. "Our Heavenly Mystery Pavilion will surely safeguard the seal of the hundred-year agreement and await your return."
"Junior Brother Lu, take care on your journey." Liu Rushuang's eyes held a hint of reluctance.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, once you arrive in the Central Plains, if anyone bullies you, just mention my name, Chu Hongxiu!" Chu Hongxiu was as forthright as ever.
Fu Shaoping returned the gifts one by one, feeling warm inside. Over the years in the Northern Frontier, he had gained precious friendships and allies.
"Gentlemen, until we meet again. The day I return will be the day 'Qi Shu' is purified!"
Having said that, he no longer lingered. His figure transformed into a faint stream of light, soaring into the sky and quickly disappearing into the horizon.
Everyone watched him leave, their hearts filled with emotion.
A legend of the Way of Contract is about to unfold a new chapter in the Central Plains.
The century-long pact in the North has entered a new phase due to Fu Shaoping's departure—accumulating strength and awaiting the return of the king.
Fu Shaoping's figure disappeared into the sea of clouds.
Before him lay the vast and boundless Central Plains, even more powerful adversaries, and the more profound mysteries of the contract, but also... the opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, and even higher realms.
The path of contracts is endless.
His story is far from over.
After leaving the Northern Observatory, Fu Shaoping headed south, traversing the vast Gobi Desert, continuous mountain ranges, and expansive plains.
There is no clear border between the Northern Territory and the Central Divine Continent, but the further south one goes, the denser and purer the spiritual energy becomes, and the laws of heaven and earth seem more stable and clear. The number of cultivators encountered along the way gradually increases, and the scale and grandeur of sects, families, and cities far surpass those of the Northern Territory. Streams of light from flying swords crisscross the sky, and occasionally, enormous and magnificent flying boats and ships can be seen soaring overhead, showcasing the prosperity and strength of the Central Divine Continent.
Fu Shaoping concealed his aura and suppressed his cultivation to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm (so as not to be conspicuous, yet still to provide some self-protection), disguising himself as a wandering cultivator seeking the Dao.
Two months later, he finally arrived at Qinglan City, the first major city in the southeastern region of the Central Plains.
Nestled against the Azure Mist Mountains and facing the vast, azure "Cloud Dream Marsh," this city, where land and water meet, is rich in spiritual energy and one of the most prosperous gathering places for cultivators within tens of thousands of miles. The city walls, hundreds of feet high, are forged from a mixture of azure spirit jade and refined iron, their array runes shimmering with light, subtly exuding an aura of power. The city gates are teeming with people, their attire varied, their auras differing, ranging from Qi Refining to Golden Core, and occasionally, one can even sense an unfathomable aura, resembling that of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
After paying the entrance fee of twenty mid-grade spirit stones (prices in the Central Plains were indeed higher), Fu Shaoping entered the city. The wide streets were paved with bluestone slabs, lined with rows of buildings and shops, their eaves and brackets exquisitely carved and painted. The air was filled with the fragrance of elixirs, the aroma of spiritual herbs, the spiritual light of magical artifacts, and the various mixed auras emanating from the cultivators. The cries of vendors, the sounds of bargaining, and the conversations among cultivators blended into a bustling yet vibrant symphony of the marketplace.
Fu Shaoping first found a medium-sized inn called "Yunlaiju" and settled in, requesting a superior room with a quiet chamber, costing five mid-grade spirit stones per day. After settling in, he began to wander around the city, familiarizing himself with the surroundings and gathering information. (End of Chapter)