Chapter 922
Chapter 922
"Is it over...?" In his hazy consciousness, Fu Shaoping saw that the giant black hand was already close at hand. Wherever it passed, even the light of purification and the contract cycle field were forcibly suppressed and distorted!
At this critical moment!
The newly purified "Qi Shu" crystal suddenly burst forth with an unprecedentedly dazzling golden light! An ancient, majestic will, seemingly representing the most primal and just contractual order in the world, awakened from the crystal!
That was not evil consciousness, but the original will of "Qi Shu" itself, which had been dormant for countless years and was revitalized by being thoroughly purified and replenished by the Qi Yuan Stone!
"presumptuous!"
A majestic, cold, and unquestionable voice resounded throughout the heavens and earth! It was as if a deity from the highest heavens was proclaiming a law!
The "Qi Shu" crystal shone brightly, transforming into a pure, golden pillar of light that seemed capable of judging all things and defining order. It shot into the sky and crashed head-on into the giant black hand!
"boom--!!!!!"
A terrifying collision beyond words! The entire Burial Abyss, no, the entire Burial Valley, and even the land within a radius of hundreds of miles, were violently shaking! Space cracked like glass, and violent energy turbulence swept everything away!
The gigantic black hand trembled violently under the impact of the golden beam of light, countless cracks appearing on its surface. Finally, with a muffled groan of resentment, it exploded! The remaining dark will swept venomously across the area below: "Qi Shu... consider yourself lucky! And that brat... I'll remember you!"
The sound quickly faded into the distance and disappeared without a trace.
Clearly, the mysterious leader of the Myriad Alliance seemed extremely wary of the fully revived "Qi Shu" entity's will and chose to retreat temporarily.
The golden pillar of light slowly receded, transforming back into a crystal-clear "Contractual Pivot" crystal. The crystal seemed smaller than before, and its light was slightly dimmer, clearly indicating that the previous attack had consumed a great deal of energy. However, the pure contractual energy it emitted was even more stable and vast.
The crystal rotated slightly, and a gentle golden light shone on Fu Shaoping, who was almost unconscious.
Fu Shaoping felt a pure and warm power of the contract's origin surge into his body, rapidly repairing his damaged meridians, nascent soul, and spirit. The power of the contract's cyclical field that had assimilated him also softened, no longer forcibly absorbing him, but instead beginning to nourish him in return.
His consciousness gradually returned, and his injuries healed at an astonishing speed.
"Young contractor... thank you... for helping me escape the filth... and return to purity..." A gentle yet vast thought entered Fu Shaoping's mind; it was the will of the "Qi Shu" entity itself.
“Senior…no need to be so polite,” Fu Shaoping replied with a forced smile.
"Your contract is pure and unwavering, and you possess the affinity of the 'Contract Order' and the 'Contract Source'... Excellent." The will of "Contract Pivot" continued, "The evil leader of the Myriad Contracts Alliance has retreated, but its foundation has not been eradicated, and its evil intentions have not been extinguished. The way of the contract still needs to be protected."
"I understand."
"I have exhausted myself and need to sleep for a long time to recover. There is no need to seal this place anymore. I will gather my essence and hide in the depths of the void until I am fully recovered. With my last strength, I will cleanse the evil and filth of this Burial Valley of Gods."
As soon as he finished speaking, the "Qi Shu" crystal once again shone with golden light. However, this time, the golden light spread out gently like ripples on water, sweeping across the entire Burial God Abyss, Burial God Valley, and even more distant areas.
Wherever the golden light passed, the remaining evil, filth, and resentment melted away like ice and snow, completely purified and dispelled. The land polluted by the evil energy was revitalized. The plants and monsters twisted by the evil energy gradually returned to normal.
In a short while, the entire Burial Valley of Gods transformed from a desolate wasteland that inspired fear into a normal valley brimming with spiritual energy, still desolate but no longer gloomy.
Having done all this, the light of the "Contractual Pivot" crystal dimmed completely, transforming into a barely perceptible golden ray that vanished into the depths of the void. Only a faint, pure Daoist aura of the contract remained, lingering in the valley.
Fu Shaoping knew that "Qi Shu" had left and gone to a place unknown to anyone to sleep and recover.
He slowly stood up. Thanks to the final gift from "Qi Shu," most of his internal injuries had healed, and his cultivation had even benefited from the misfortune, advancing even further and not far from the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage.
The pillars of light from the purification array had already automatically disconnected when "Qi Shu" awakened. On the other side of Zhenhun Plain, the battle also seemed to have ended.
Fu Shaoping determined the direction and flew towards the valley entrance.
When he flew out of the Valley of the Burial Gods, he saw a sea of cheers.
Xingyanzi, Zhenyuanzi, Liu Rushuang, Chu Hongxiu, Bai Wuyai, Shopkeeper Zhou... all the surviving cultivators gathered at the valley entrance. Seeing that Young Master Fu had returned safely and that the evil aura of Burial God Valley had dissipated, leaving the world clear and bright, they were all extremely excited.
"Junior Brother Lu!"
"Fellow Daoist Lu!"
The crowd gathered around, their concern and joy evident in their expressions.
Fu Shaoping briefly recounted what happened at the bottom of the abyss (omitting the details of the conversation between the Qiyuan Stone and the will of "Qishu"). Everyone listened with trepidation, especially when the pitch-black giant hand of the late Nascent Soul stage (or even higher) appeared at the end, which made everyone feel extremely fearful.
"The leader of the Myriad Alliance... is so terrifying!" Xing Yanzi's expression was extremely solemn. "Although we were fortunate enough to force him back this time, if this villain is not eliminated, the cultivation world will never have peace."
Fu Shaoping nodded: "Although we have won this battle, it is only a temporary victory. The foundation of the Wanqi Alliance remains intact, and its leader is unfathomable. We need to plan for the long term."
Looking at the tired yet excited faces of the crowd, and the cultivators around him who were clearing the battlefield and treating the wounded, a complex emotion welled up in his heart.
The century-long pact has now been fulfilled. He successfully purified the "Pillar of Contracts," thwarted the conspiracy of the Myriad Contracts Alliance, and also put his own principles of contracts into practice.
But this is not the end. The threat from the Myriad Contracts Alliance still exists, and the inheritance and protection of the Way of Contracts is far from over.
"Next, we need to reorganize our forces, strengthen our defenses, and find a way to track down the Wanqi Alliance, especially their leader," Fu Shaoping said in a deep voice. "In addition, the specific details of today's battle, especially the final whereabouts of 'Qi Shu' and information about the Wanqi Alliance leader, must be kept strictly confidential to avoid causing unnecessary panic or being exploited by those with ulterior motives."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Three days later, at the Zhenhun Plains camp.
After a period of rest, the leaders of all factions gathered together to summarize the great battle and discuss the follow-up matters.
Although the battle was won, the cost was not small. The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the Listening Rain Pavilion, the Cold Moon Hermit faction, and other supporting forces from the Northern Territory all suffered heavy losses, with more than twenty Golden Core cultivators and even more Foundation Establishment cultivators killed.
On the Wanqi Alliance side, apart from the two Nascent Soul cultivators killed by Fu Shaoping, their forces deployed around the Burial God Valley were basically eradicated, and their Golden Core cultivators suffered heavy casualties. They are unlikely to pose a significant threat in the Northern Territory in the short term. "After this battle, the Wanqi Alliance's power in the Northern Territory has been severely damaged. However, according to Fellow Daoist Lu, their leader's strength is unfathomable, and they may have branches in the Central Plains and even other regions. We must be on guard," Xing Yanzi said. "I suggest that we establish the 'Northern Territory Alliance,' with the Northern Territory branch of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion as the core, uniting the Listening Rain Pavilion, the Cold Moon Hermit, and various righteous forces in the Northern Territory, to jointly address the threat posed by the Wanqi Alliance and other evil forces, and strengthen intelligence sharing and coordinated defense."
The proposal was unanimously approved. The framework of the new "Northern Alliance" was quickly finalized, with Xing Yanzi temporarily serving as the alliance leader, Liu Rushuang, Chu Hongxiu, Bai Wuyai and others as elders, and Fu Shaoping being honored as the "Contract Venerable," holding a transcendent position, not participating in specific affairs, but possessing the highest decision-making and advisory authority.
Fu Shaoping had no objection to this. He was focused on cultivation and upholding the Great Dao of Contracts, and did not want to be entangled in worldly affairs.
"Junior Brother Lu, what are your plans next?" Xing Yanzi asked privately after the meeting.
Fu Shaoping gazed into the distance: "The matter in the Northern Border is settled, and I should continue my path of cultivation. Perhaps I will return to the Central Plains, or perhaps I will travel to more distant places. I will continue to investigate the threat posed by the Myriad Alliance in secret. If you need anything, feel free to contact me."
Xing Yanzi nodded: "Now that you are a Nascent Soul Venerable, the world is vast and you can roam freely. The Northern Alliance and the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion will always be your support."
A month later, the Valley of the Gods was completely restored to peace, and the Northern Alliance began to operate.
Fu Shaoping bid farewell to his old friends, including Liu Rushuang, Chu Hongxiu, and Bai Wuyai.
"Junior Brother Lu, take care! Remember to come back and visit often!" Liu Rushuang said with reluctance in her eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, if you ever need me, Tingyu Tower will go through fire and water without hesitation!" Chu Hongxiu said as generously as ever.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, the path to enlightenment is long and arduous, take care." Bai Wuyai stroked his beard and smiled.
Fu Shaoping returned the gifts one by one, feeling warm inside.
Finally, he looked at the land he had once fought and protected, then turned around, transformed into a streak of light, and disappeared into the northern horizon.
His code of contracts began in the North, but it will not end there.
Ahead lies a wider world, deeper mysteries, greater challenges, and... a nemesis hidden in the depths of darkness, known as the Myriad Alliance.
But Fu Shaoping was not afraid.
Because he knew that no matter where he went, the order of the contract needed to be protected, and the principles in his heart remained unchanged.
After leaving the northern border, Fu Shaoping did not immediately return to the Central Plains.
Having achieved Nascent Soul, his understanding of the Dao of Contracts has reached a new level. He needs time to reflect and clarify his future path. Although the shadow of the Myriad Contracts Alliance has temporarily receded, the terrifying strength and unfathomable ambition displayed by its leader remain a thorn in his side.
He decided to first head to the "Source Space" deep within the endless ice plains.
There lies the Origin Stone, one of the sources of his contract power and a sacred place for him to understand the essence of contracts. Moreover, his previous trans-realm activation of the Origin Stone's power, while helping him purify the "Contract Pivot," also established a deeper, yet not fully stable, connection between him and the Origin Stone. He needs to solidify this connection and further comprehend the mysteries of the Origin Stone.
He navigated the icy maze with practiced ease, arriving once again at the Ice Soul Spring protected by the contractual restriction. Fu Shaoping was now at the Nascent Soul stage and possessed partial recognition from the Contract Source Stone, so the restriction posed virtually no obstacle to him.
Upon entering the Source Space, familiar scenes come into view.
A vibrant, multicolored river of contract origin flows gently, with nine contract source streams encircling the central, crystal-clear contract source stone, its interior seemingly containing countless galaxies in motion. This place remains as tranquil and vast as ever, filled with the most primal and pure aura of contract rules.
However, as soon as Fu Shaoping entered, he noticed something different.
The Origin Stone seemed more "active" than before. The nine source streams rotated faster, and the primal fluctuations they emitted were clearer and more welcoming, as if welcoming his return. In particular, the four source streams he had previously activated—"Order," "Guardian," "Purification," and "Vitality"—actively lowered wisps of seven-colored light, swirling around him.
"Is it because I purified the 'Spirit of Contract,' fulfilled some kind of 'contract,' and gained a deeper recognition from the rules of this place?" Fu Shaoping realized. The way of the contract lies in fulfilling and protecting it. He completed the almost impossible task of purifying the "Spirit of Contract," thus unconsciously aligning himself with a certain deep will of the origin of the contract.
He sat cross-legged beneath the Origin Stone, not in a hurry to cultivate, but first used his contracted spiritual sense to carefully sense the changes in this space, as well as the invisible link between himself and the Origin Stone.
The link still exists, and it is more stable and wider than before. Like an invisible bridge, it continuously draws the faint primordial aura emitted by the Contract Source Stone into his body, subtly nourishing his Contract Golden Core (now transformed into the foundation of his Nascent Soul) and Contract Origin.
“Perhaps I can try to solidify this link, or even… use it as a foundation to build a temporary contract training ground here, so that I can comprehend it in the future.” An idea sprouted in Fu Shaoping’s mind.
We did it right away.
Using his own contract origin as a guide and the dual cores of the "Contract Command" as a hub, he began to attempt to construct a simplified version of the "Contract Resonance Array" around the Contract Source Stone, exclusively for him. This array has no offensive or defensive capabilities; its sole function is to amplify his resonance with the Contract Source Stone, allowing him to perceive and understand the rules of the contract origin more clearly and deeply.
This was a meticulous and lengthy process. Fortunately, the flow of time within the Source Stream Space differed from that outside, and with the assistance of the Origin Stone's essence, Fu Shaoping made smooth progress.
After an unknown amount of time, as the last resonance rune disappeared into the void, the entire small array quietly began to operate. Fu Shaoping felt as if his consciousness had achieved a deeper level of synchronization with the Contract Source Stone and this Source Flow Space. The ocean of Contract Origin was like a door that had been completely opened to him, and countless mysteries about the rules of the contract flowed into his sea of consciousness like clear streams.
He was immersed in this profound realization.
The cultivation of the Nascent Soul realm emphasizes "enlightenment." The accumulation of true essence is no longer the primary goal; the depth of understanding of the rules of heaven and earth and one's own path is the key to determining future heights. The Dao of Contracts is profound and complex. Although Fu Shaoping has mastered the five core truths and successfully purified the "Contract Pivot," he still has a long way to go in applying, combining, and transforming the rules of contracts, as well as exploring the mysteries of higher-level contracts.
With the help of the Origin Stone, his understanding of contracts improved rapidly.
He saw how contractual rules evolved from the most basic "connection" and "feedback" into countless variations; he saw how "fairness" and "order" mutually constrained and complemented each other in a complex world; he saw how "protection" and "adjudication" became the two ends of the contractual scales, maintaining a delicate balance; and he saw the power of "purification," which was not only about removing external evils, but also about maintaining the "purity" and "correctness" of the contractual rules themselves.
His nascent soul slowly absorbed the essence of the contract within his dantian, his form becoming increasingly solid, with faint phantoms of contract runes flickering between his brows. His aura grew deeper and more restrained, yet possessed an inviolable, awe-inspiring contractual authority. (End of Chapter)