Chapter 928
Chapter 928
The old man's phantom (not a physical entity, but a projection of some residual powerful will) held a staff condensed from pure golden light of the contract. His gaze was like lightning, sweeping over the "seed of evil contract" that had been blasted away, as well as Fu Shaoping, who was hiding in the distance (although he was well hidden, he had nowhere to hide in front of such an existence).
"Young man, come out." The old man spoke, his voice gentle yet authoritative.
Knowing he could no longer hide, Fu Shaoping stepped out of his hiding place and respectfully bowed to the old man: "Junior Fu Shaoping greets senior."
The old man scrutinized him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "The primordial aura of the Origin Stone... and the fluctuations of the 'Origin Token' fragment... You gained the Origin Stone's approval? And you participated in the purification of the 'Origin Stone'?"
Fu Shaoping was startled. This old man had actually seen through his secret at a glance, and even knew about the "Qi Shu"? He dared not hide anything and respectfully replied, "Senior has insightful eyes. This junior did indeed help the 'Qi Shu' purify the evil energy, and was also recognized by the Qi Yuan Stone."
The old man nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: "Not bad. After all these years, we've finally seen another contract cultivator who has embarked on the right path."
He turned to the heavily injured "Seed of Evil Contract" struggling to its feet, his eyes flashing with disgust: "This filthy thing dares to covet the 'Darkness of the Primordial Beginning'? I guarded this place for thousands of years to prevent such wicked creatures from disturbing the slumber of the Primordial Beginning. Now that you're here, don't leave."
With a wave of his staff, countless golden chains of contracts appeared out of thin air, forming a net that enveloped the "seed of evil contracts"!
"No—!" The Seed of Evil Contract roared in despair, struggling desperately, but the chains seemed to be specifically designed to restrain it, easily binding and binding it, rendering it unable to move.
The phantom of "Primordial Darkness" silently observed everything, neither helping the "Seed of Evil Pact" nor stopping the old man. It simply floated quietly, like an eternal, unchanging existence.
The old man subdued the "seed of evil contract" before turning to Fu Shaoping: "My Daoist name is 'Zhenyuan.' I am a contract cultivator from ancient times, ordered to guard this place and protect the slumbering primordial source. The darkness of the primordial source is the chaotic aspect that arose with the birth of the Dao of Contracts. It is neither good nor evil, it simply exists. Back then, the ancient powerful beings separated it from the Contract Source Stone. The Contract Source Stone governs the order of light, while the darkness of the primordial source was sealed here and fell into slumber. I, with my remnant soul, have guarded it for tens of thousands of years."
Fu Shaoping was deeply shocked. So the "Origin Stone" and the "Primordial Darkness" were actually two sides of the same coin, Yin and Yang? The order of light and the unknown chaos?
The old man Zhenyuan continued, "This little wretch is an evil aura formed from a trace of filthy blood that flowed from the Primordial Chaos during the ancient War of the Contract. It took countless years and countless years of devouring filth to barely take shape. Its desire to merge with the Primordial Chaos is nothing but wishful thinking. The Primordial Chaos is asleep and instinctively rejects all external filth. If it tries to get close, it will only be assimilated and absorbed by the Primordial Chaos, becoming nourishment for its awakening."
"Then... senior, what should we do with it?" Fu Shaoping asked.
The old man Zhenyuan looked at the bound "Seed of Evil Contract" and a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes: "This kind of evil thing will only cause trouble if it is left alive. I originally wanted to purify it directly, but... my remnant soul body has limited power. That attack just now has already consumed most of my remaining power. If I forcibly purify it, I'm afraid I will not be able to do it and may even awaken Yuan Chu."
He looked at Fu Shaoping: "Young man, you possess the essence of the Contract Source Stone and a fragment of the 'Contract Token,' so your foundation in the Dao of Contracts is solid. I ask you, are you willing to take on the task of completely purifying this fiend?"
Fu Shaoping replied without hesitation, "This junior is willing!"
"Good!" Elder Zhenyuan nodded with satisfaction. "I will bestow my last bit of power upon you. Use the origin of the Qiyuan Stone as your foundation and the 'Qi Command' as your medium to perform the purification technique. I will stabilize the Origin and ensure that it remains undisturbed."
"Yes!"
Fu Shaoping took a deep breath and walked to the bound "Seed of Evil Contract".
The creature's eyes were filled with fear and resentment as it struggled frantically, but it was firmly bound by the golden chains.
“You…cannot…kill me…I…am…the…descendant of…the Primordial…” the “Seed of Evil Contract” roared.
Fu Shaoping's eyes were icy: "You are merely an evil entity formed from a trace of filthy blood that flowed from the Primordial Beginning, and have no relation to the Primordial Beginning itself. Today is the day you will completely dissipate."
He formed hand seals, drawing upon the essence of the Contract Stone within his body, creating an unprecedentedly strong resonance with the two fragments of the "Contract Order"! The power of the primordial contract, shrouded in chaotic grayness and adorned with seven-colored light spots, condensed in his palms, transforming into a pure and pristine sphere of purifying light!
At the same time, Elder Zhenyuan also made his move, transforming his last bit of power into a golden pillar of light and injecting it into Fu Shaoping's body!
"net!"
A sphere of light enveloped the "Seed of Evil Contract"!
"Roar--!!!"
A piercing scream echoed throughout the underground world. The body of the "Seed of Evil Pact" trembled, twisted, and disintegrated violently in the light of purification! The dark evil energy evaporated and dissipated in large swaths, like snow exposed to the scorching sun! It struggled frantically, but under the dual restraint of the golden chains and the light of purification, all its efforts were in vain.
Fifteen minutes later.
The screams completely disappeared.
The body of the "Seed of Evil Pact" transformed into a final wisp of black smoke, utterly annihilated in the light of purification. In its place, only a fist-sized, pitch-black crystal remained, no longer radiating any evil energy...
"What is this?" Fu Shaoping looked at the old man from Zhenyuan.
The old man's face grew even paler, and his remnant soul was almost transparent, but his eyes were full of relief: "This is the 'pure evil contract origin' left behind after the 'seed of evil contract' was completely purified. It is neither good nor evil in itself, but merely a form of rule. If you can refine and absorb it, it can complete your understanding of the way of contract, and truly reach the realm of 'unity of yin and yang' and 'balance between order and chaos'. This is the complete way of contract."
He paused for a moment: "Back then, when the Origin Stone and the Primordial Darkness separated, the Way of Contract had two aspects: 'light' and 'darkness.' The Origin Stone represents order, protection, and fairness; the Primordial Darkness represents the unknown, chaos, and change. Only by embracing both without bias can the ultimate Way of Contract be achieved."
Fu Shaoping respectfully accepted the crystal and put it into his storage space.
He looked at the old man from Zhenyuan and bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, senior. Thank you for your help."
The old man Zhenyuan waved his hand: "No need to thank me. I have been guarding for tens of thousands of years and am already exhausted. Today, I have witnessed this wicked creature being brought to justice and a junior who has embarked on the right path. My wish has been fulfilled. Yuan Chu is still sleeping peacefully, and I should... completely disappear."
His remnant soul began to slowly become transparent.
"Young one, remember: the way of the contract lies in balance. Order and chaos, light and darkness, are both aspects of the Way. Do not be biased, do not be extreme. The Origin Stone and the Primordial Darkness will one day need to... merge... then... will the contract... truly... be complete..."
The sound grew weaker and weaker, and finally, the remnant soul of the old man Zhenyuan turned into specks of golden light and dissipated into the eternally dark underground world.
Fu Shaoping stood calmly for a long time, then bowed deeply in the direction where the old man had disappeared.
Behind him, the phantom of "Primordial Darkness" remained silent from beginning to end. At this moment, it swayed slightly, as if it were glancing at Fu Shaoping again, before slowly disappearing into the depths of the main hall and falling back into slumber.
The underground world has returned to its eternal silence.
Fu Shaoping suppressed his grief, took one last look at the ancient temple that sealed the "Primordial Darkness" and the eternal darkness, then turned and left in the direction he had come from.
The "Seed of Evil Contract" has been destroyed. Although the leader of the Myriad Contracts Alliance has fled, he has lost his greatest trump card and is no longer a threat.
He obtained the "Pure Evil Contract Origin," and his understanding of the Way of Contract will enter a completely new realm. The journey through the Eternal Night Ice Abyss has thus come to a perfect end.
But the old man from Zhenyuan's last words left a deep impression on him:
The Origin Stone and the Primordial Darkness must eventually merge for the Way of the Contract to be truly complete.
That day may still be a long way off.
But Fu Shaoping knew that his path in the world of contracts still had a long way to go.
After leaving the Eternal Night Ice Abyss, he will refine the crystal to consolidate his realm and continue his travels, seeking the opportunity to finally merge "light" and "darkness".
And the contractual order of the cultivation world will eventually achieve true completeness and balance because of him.
After leaving the Eternal Night Ice Abyss, Fu Shaoping did not immediately return to the Central Plains. Instead, he found a secluded place on the Endless Ice Plains and began his seclusion.
The crystal of "Pure Evil Contract Origin" lay quietly in his storage space, emitting a faint yet pure light. The dying words of the old man Zhenyuan constantly lingered in his mind—the way of the contract lies in balance; order and chaos are both aspects of the Dao.
The seclusion lasted for a full three years.
Three years later, when Fu Shaoping opened his eyes again, the aura flowing around him was completely different from before. It was no longer a single pale gold, nor was it a chaotic gray, but an indescribable, profound and harmonious color—sometimes pale gold, sometimes dark, sometimes flowing with seven colors, and sometimes returning to nothingness.
Reaching the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm is a natural progression.
But more important than his breakthrough in cultivation was his understanding of the Way of Contracts, which truly entered a completely new realm.
He refined the crystal, fusing the "pure evil contract essence" contained within it with his own contract path. It was not a simple absorption of power, but a deeper understanding of the rules of the contract—he understood why "evil contracts" arise, how loopholes in the contract rules are exploited, and that order and chaos, light and darkness, are two sides of the same coin in the contract path.
“The true way of the contract is not to reject darkness, but to balance light and darkness, so that the two can coexist harmoniously within the framework of the rules.” Fu Shaoping murmured to himself, “The reason why the Wanqi Alliance went astray is because they only pursued the power of the dark side and abandoned the constraints of order and fairness. On the other hand, simply pursuing the order of light may also lead to rigidity and extremism. Only by balancing the two can the contract be a complete one.”
He stood up and looked into the distance.
The world of cultivation is still vast, and his path is still long. But at this moment, he is no longer confused.
After leaving the pass, Fu Shaoping first returned to the northern border and met with old friends such as Xing Yanzi and Liu Rushuang.
Before the ruins of the Ice Soul Palace, Fu Shaoping stood solemnly for a long time, briefly informing everyone of the deeds of the Old Man of Zhenyuan and the final fate of the "Seed of Evil Contract".
"So, the biggest threat has been eliminated?" A look of surprise flashed in Liu Rushuang's eyes.
Fu Shaoping nodded, but then shook his head: "'The Seed of Evil Contract' has been destroyed. Although the leader of the Myriad Contracts Alliance has escaped, he has lost his core strength and will not be able to gain any real power in the short term. However, he is still a hidden danger and needs to be investigated. In addition, although I have refined the 'Pure Evil Contract Origin' that I obtained, the mysteries of the contract rules contained within it still need time to be digested. The way of contracts is endless."
Xing Yanzi sighed, "Junior Brother Lu, no, now I should call you Venerable Lu. It has not been easy for you to get to this point. The Northern Alliance will always be your support."
"Thank you." Fu Shaoping smiled and looked at Liu Rushuang. "Senior Sister Liu, you are now at the half-step Nascent Soul stage, and the time for you to form your Nascent Soul is not far off. If you need anything, please feel free to contact me."
Liu Rushuang nodded, a hint of gratitude and a complex emotion that was barely perceptible flashing in her eyes.
After bidding farewell to his old friends in the North, Fu Shaoping returned to the Central Plains.
He first went to the main branch of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, where he recounted his experiences in the Eternal Night Ice Abyss to Guan Xingzi and the others, and shared the existence of the "Primordial Darkness" and the entrustment of the Old Man of Zhenyuan with the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. This relates to the ultimate mystery of the Way of Contracts, and the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's deductions and intelligence network may play a crucial role in the future.
Afterwards, he visited old acquaintances such as Meng Qingyuan and Luo Bingyun. Upon seeing each other, they were all filled with emotion. Since their parting at the ancient battlefield of the contract, their fates had diverged, but all were steadily progressing on their cultivation paths.
Meng Qingyuan has taken over as the head of the "Contract Lineage" of the Tianyan Sect, and his cultivation has reached the peak of the early stage of the Nascent Soul stage; Luo Bingyun's sword intent is even stronger, and it is said that she has touched the higher realm of the "Heart Sword Contract"; Lei Dong has also emerged from the shadow of the battlefield's inner demon tribulation, and his Thunder Contract is even more domineering; Huo Ling'er has even surpassed others and has broken through to the Golden Core Perfection stage, not far from the Nascent Soul stage.
"Brother Lu, you are now a legendary figure in the cultivation world," Meng Qingyuan said with a smile. "Who doesn't know the name 'Contract Venerable'?"
Fu Shaoping shook his head: "It's just an empty reputation. The way of a contract lies in its practice, not in empty fame."
Luo Bingyun rarely spoke up: "Brother Lu, if you have any questions about the contract in the future, I hope you will not hesitate to give me your guidance."
"Learn from each other and make progress together."
After spending several days together, Fu Shaoping embarked on his journey again.
This time, he had no specific destination. He simply wandered around, sometimes venturing into dangerous places to hone his skills, sometimes experiencing the myriad aspects of life in mortal towns, and sometimes exchanging insights on contracts with reclusive cultivators.
He would occasionally inquire about the whereabouts of the leader of the Wanqi Alliance, but the man seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace.
"Perhaps he's really scared and has gone into hiding," Fu Shaoping thought to himself. "Or perhaps he's secretly gathering strength, waiting for his chance. But in any case, I'm ready."
Time flies, a century has passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, Fu Shaoping was meditating cross-legged atop an unnamed green mountain in the Donghua Domain. A gentle breeze blew, the pines rustled, and the world was filled with peace.
Suddenly, he sensed something and opened his eyes.
In the void ahead, a faint yet incredibly familiar contractual fluctuation slowly emerged. It was a pure golden ray of light, descending from the distant horizon, swirling around him like a greeting from an old friend. (End of Chapter)