AWB Chapter 958
Chapter 958
Fu Shaoping thought for a moment and said, “My way is the ‘Way of Contracts.’ Contracts are constraints and balances. All things in the universe have contracts. Between people, between people and the universe, and even between people and themselves, there are invisible contracts that bind each other. My way is to make these contracts more fair and more orderly.”
A hint of surprise flashed in Yuehua's eyes.
"The Way of Contracts... that's an ancient tradition, lost for many years. Where... did you learn it?"
Fu Shaoping did not answer, but said, "Senior Sister, there are some things I cannot say right now."
Yuehua looked at him for a long time before finally nodding.
"Fine, if you don't tell me, I won't ask." She stood up, dusted herself off, and said, "Let's go, I'll show you around the sect."
The two walked along the mountain path, one in front of the other.
Yuehua walked slowly, stopping every now and then to point to distant mountains or buildings and introduce them to Fu Shaoping.
"That's the Scripture Pavilion over there, where all the sect's cultivation techniques and scriptures are kept. With your master's token, you can borrow them at will."
"That's the alchemy room. All the sect's pills are refined there. If you're interested in alchemy, you can go and observe and learn."
"That's the Weapon Hall over there. The forging and repair of magical artifacts are all done there. You have the Moonflower Sword, so you don't need any other magical artifacts for now. But if you want to improve the quality of your sword in the future, you can go there and find the elders of the Weapon Hall."
"That's the Hall of Merit over there. Sect missions are all posted there. Completing missions earns you contribution points, which can be used to exchange for various resources."
Fu Shaoping wrote everything down, gaining a preliminary understanding of the overall layout of the Qingyun Sect.
The two reached a fork in the road, and Yuehua stopped.
"To the left is the outer disciple area. To the right is the inner disciple area. Although you are only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, you are Master's personal disciple and can directly enter the inner disciple area. However... I suggest you don't go there for now."
Fu Shaoping looked at her: "Why?"
Yuehua said, "Because most of the inner disciples are arrogant and proud. If you, a 'good-for-nothing' at the fourth level of Qi Refining, were to appear in front of them, you would inevitably be ridiculed. Even if you don't care, why go looking for trouble?"
Fu Shaoping nodded: "Senior sister is right."
Yuehua looked at him and suddenly smiled.
That smile was like the first melting of ice and snow, cool yet warm.
“Fu Shaoping, you are unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”
Fu Shaoping was taken aback: "How is it different?"
Yuehua said, “You’re not in a hurry. You’re not in a hurry to prove yourself, not in a hurry to please others, not in a hurry to compete. You’re like a deep pool of water, calm on the surface, but with undercurrents surging inside. Such a person is either truly mediocre or truly extraordinary.”
She looked into his eyes and said, word by word:
I think you are the latter.
Fu Shaoping remained silent for a moment, then smiled slightly.
"Senior sister, you flatter me."
Yuehua shook her head: "It's not an overstatement. It's intuition."
She turned around and continued walking forward.
Fu Shaoping followed behind her, watching her back, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.
Like Yuehua on page four, the senior sister in this life is a person who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
Chapter Twenty-One: The First Seclusion
After familiarizing himself with the sect's environment, Fu Shaoping began his first seclusion at Yuehua Peak.
He locked himself in his meditation room and didn't go out for a whole month.
The "Primordial Unity Technique" was more profound than he had imagined. This technique did not emphasize meridian pathways, but only "using intention to control qi"—that is, the practitioner needs to use their mind to perceive spiritual energy, guide it to flow freely within the body, and ultimately reach the state of "qi moving with intention, and intention arising from the mind."
This requires an extremely high level of spiritual awareness.
Fu Shaoping's divine sense, tempered through a hundred lifetimes, was far stronger than that of other cultivators of the same level. Even so, he still encountered many difficulties when cultivating the "Primordial Unity Technique".
The biggest challenge is coordinating "intention" and "qi".
His willpower was so strong that every time he guided spiritual energy, he would unconsciously "press" it towards a fixed meridian route—a habit he had developed over many years of cultivation, and an imprint left on his body by the Meridian Connection Technique.
This habit is an advantage when practicing ordinary techniques, but it becomes the biggest obstacle when practicing the "Primordial Unity Technique".
“I need to let go,” Fu Shaoping told himself. “Let go of the experiences from my past lives, let go of my dependence on the meridians, let go of my obsession with ‘control.’ Let the spiritual energy flow freely, and let my will guide, not force.”
It took him a full ten days to find that feeling of "letting go".
It was a very strange experience.
He no longer deliberately guided the spiritual energy, but instead transformed his intention into a void "field," allowing the spiritual energy to flow freely within it. When the spiritual energy encountered blocked meridians, it would automatically bypass them; when it encountered unobstructed meridians, it would flow through them more rapidly. All he needed to do was sense this flow and fine-tune its direction as necessary.
A month later, when he opened his eyes, the spiritual energy in his body was 30% more concentrated than before he went into seclusion.
His cultivation level broke through from the fourth level of Qi Refining to the fifth level.
The speed is still not fast, but the foundation is more solid than before.
More importantly, he has already grasped the basics of the "Primordial Unity Technique".
Chapter Twenty-Two: The First Alchemy Refinement
After his cultivation breakthrough, Fu Shaoping began to try alchemy.
In this life, he lacked the abundant alchemy resources of his previous lives, and he also lacked a suitable alchemy furnace. However, he possessed the alchemy experience accumulated in his previous lives, a profound understanding of medicinal properties and the control of heat, and also... the way of contracts.
He found a secluded cave on the back mountain of Moonflower Peak. The cave was small, but it was quiet and had a small earth fire vein, which could be used for alchemy.
He spent a month setting up a simple "Fire Gathering Pact" formation in the cave to stabilize the temperature of the earth fire vein within a controllable range. Then, using the spiritual herbs he brought from his family, he began to try to refine the simplest "Qi Gathering Powder".
The first time, the oven exploded.
The second time, it exploded again.
The third time, the fourth time, the fifth time...
With each failure, he would carefully analyze the reasons: was it due to unstable heat, incorrect proportions of medicinal materials, or errors in the inscription of the contract runes?
Like a rigorous scholar, he recorded every piece of data from each failure, repeatedly analyzed and revised it.
On his tenth attempt, he finally succeeded.
When a faint fragrance of elixir wafted from the earthenware jar, Fu Shaoping lifted the lid, revealing three grayish-white pills inside—Qi-gathering powder.
Its quality was average, and its medicinal potency was only moderate. But this was the first batch of pills he had refined in this life.
He took one out and put it in his mouth.
As the pill entered his stomach, a gentle medicinal power slowly spread, merging into his dantian and meridians. Although it couldn't compare to the top-grade pills he had refined in his previous lives, it was sufficient for him now. "Next, I can try refining the Qi-Nourishing Pill," he thought to himself.
The Qi Cultivation Pill is one of the most commonly used pills in the Qi Refining stage. Its medicinal power is several times stronger than the Qi Gathering Powder, but it is also much more difficult to refine. He needs more spiritual herbs, more practice, and... a better alchemy furnace.
"It seems I should go and take a look at the Hall of Merit."
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Hall of Merit
The Hall of Merit is located in the core area of the outer gate of the Qingyun Sect. It is a three-story pavilion. The entire pavilion is built of bluestone, which is simple and solemn. The three characters "Hall of Merit" are engraved on the lintel.
Fu Shaoping entered the main hall and was greeted by a huge jade disc. On the jade disc, various tasks were scrolling in dense numbers: daily tasks, bounty tasks, sect tasks... Each task was marked with the number of contribution points to be awarded.
The main hall was bustling with people, mostly outer sect disciples. They all cast curious glances at Fu Shaoping, a stranger. Some recognized his Moonflower Peak Daoist robe, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.
"Is that Master Yuehua's newly accepted personal disciple?"
"Is that him? The one at the fourth level of Qi Refining?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, don't let him hear you..."
Fu Shaoping remained calm as he walked to the task list and carefully reviewed it.
Daily tasks: Clean the Scripture Pavilion (10 points); tend to the Spirit Fields (20 points); feed the Spirit Beasts (15 points)...
Bounty Missions: Collect ten century-old Ganoderma lucidum mushrooms, reward 100 points; Hunt down an Ironbacked Wolf, a demonic beast in the early Foundation Establishment stage, and obtain its inner core, reward 200 points; Explore a certain secret realm and bring back a specific item, reward 500 points...
Sect Missions: Assist the alchemy room in refining Qi-Nourishing Pills (requires alchemist status), 50 points reward per batch; assist the weapon-making hall in forging magical artifacts (requires weapon-refiner status), 100 points reward per artifact…
Fu Shaoping's gaze fell on the item "assisting the alchemy room in refining the Qi-Nourishing Pill".
"The identity of an alchemist..." he murmured, "I don't have that identity now. But if I can prove my alchemy skills, perhaps I can get it specially approved."
After thinking for a moment, he decided not to accept the mission for now, but instead to go find the steward elder of the Hall of Merit.
The elder in charge of the Merit Hall was a stern-faced old man with a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. He frowned slightly upon hearing Fu Shaoping's purpose for coming.
"You want to apply for the status of an alchemist? Do you know that the alchemist examination requires at least the seventh level of Qi Refining cultivation, and you need to pass three tests: identification of medicinal properties, control of fire temperature, and understanding of pill formulas. You're only at the fifth level of Qi Refining..."
Fu Shaoping took out a jade bottle from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"Elder, this is the Qi Gathering Powder I refined. Please take a look."
The elder in charge picked up the jade bottle, poured out a pill, and examined it carefully.
A moment later, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"This Qi-gathering powder... its appearance is average, but its medicinal properties are pure, and the heat control is quite precise. Are you sure you made this yourself?"
Fu Shaoping nodded.
The elder in charge was silent for a moment, then said, "I can test you directly on identifying medicinal properties and understanding pill formulas. But controlling the heat requires practical experience. If you can refine a batch of qualified Qi Gathering Powder in front of me, I will make an exception and grant you the status of an alchemist."
Fu Shaoping nodded: "Okay."
The elder in charge led him to a pill-making room in the backyard of the Merit Hall. Inside the room was a small pill furnace, with the earth fire vein already lit.
"Let's begin."
Fu Shaoping walked to the alchemy furnace and took a deep breath.
He took out several medicinal herbs from his bosom—Azure Spirit Grass, Spirit Gathering Root, and Dew Gathering Grass—and put them into the alchemy furnace one by one, following the recipe for Qi Gathering Powder.
His movements were unhurried and deliberate, each step precise and accurate. His control over the heat was fluid and effortless, without a single superfluous movement.
The elder in charge stood aside, his eyes fixed on his every move, and surprise gradually appeared in his eyes.
"This kid... is not simple."
After an incense stick had burned for a while, a faint fragrance of elixir wafted from the alchemy furnace.
Fu Shaoping lifted the furnace lid, revealing four grayish-white pills inside—two more than the ones he had refined in the stone cave before, and of even better quality.
The elder in charge picked up a pill, examined it carefully, and after a long while, nodded and said:
"You've passed. From this day forward, you are a junior alchemist of the Qingyun Sect."
He took out a bronze token from his pocket and handed it to Fu Shaoping.
"With this token, you can accept alchemy-related tasks in the Hall of Merit, and you can also borrow an alchemy furnace in the alchemy room."
Fu Shaoping accepted the token and bowed in thanks.
The elder deacon looked at him and suddenly asked:
"The heat control technique you used just now looks familiar. Who taught you that?"
Fu Shaoping was silent for a moment, then said, "It's a family heirloom."
The elder in charge did not press further, but simply said:
"Your talent for alchemy is no less than your talent for swordsmanship. Cherish it."
Fu Shaoping nodded and turned to leave.
Chapter Twenty-Four: The First Mission
After becoming a junior alchemist, Fu Shaoping accepted his first task: to assist the alchemy room in refining the Qi-Nourishing Pill, with a reward of 50 contribution points for each batch.
The alchemy room is located in the inner sect area of the Qingyun Sect. It is a three-story pavilion built entirely of volcanic rock, and is perpetually filled with heat. Inside the pavilion, there are dozens of independent alchemy rooms, each equipped with a high-grade alchemy furnace and a stable earth fire vein.
Fu Shaoping entered the alchemy room, showed his alchemist token, and was assigned to an alchemy room in a corner.
The alchemy room was small, but fully equipped. The alchemy furnace was a high-grade magic artifact, its body engraved with fire-gathering runes; the temperature of the earth fire vein could be precisely regulated through arrays; and several introductory alchemy manuals hung on the wall for beginners to refer to.
Fu Shaoping didn't rush to begin. Instead, he carefully checked the condition of the alchemy furnace and the earth fire vein. Only after confirming that everything was in order did he take out the spiritual herbs needed for the mission from his storage bag.
The formula for Peiyuan Dan is far more complex than that for Juqi San. The main ingredients are century-old Ganoderma lucidum and purple-leaf orchid, and there are as many as seven auxiliary ingredients, each of which needs to be added to the furnace at a specific time and in a specific order. Controlling the heat is also extremely crucial; the slightest mistake will cause the furnace to explode.
Fu Shaoping closed his eyes and mentally rehearsed the entire refining process.
Then, he began to take action.
He adjusted the temperature of the earth fire vein to 70% and preheated the alchemy furnace. After the furnace temperature stabilized, he first put in the century-old Ganoderma lucidum and slowly refined it over a low flame to gradually extract the medicinal power from the Ganoderma lucidum.
Fifteen minutes later, add the purple orchid and simultaneously increase the heat to 80%.
Half an hour later, the first adjuvant was added.
Another quarter of an hour later, the second method was introduced...
His movements were unhurried and deliberate, each step precise and accurate. His divine sense constantly enveloped the alchemy furnace, perceiving the changes in the medicinal power within. If he detected anything amiss, he would immediately adjust the heat or the timing of adding the herbs.
An hour later, a rich aroma of elixir wafted from the alchemy furnace.
Fu Shaoping lifted the furnace lid, revealing five translucent white pills inside—the Peiyuan Pills.
Excellent quality, potent medicinal properties. (End of Chapter)