novelraw Chapter 968
Chapter 968
First round, victory.
In the second round, his opponent was Fu Shaohua from the fourth branch of the family—his friend who was secretly in love.
Fu Shaohua stood on the ring, looked at Fu Shaoping, and said with a wry smile, "Shaoping, I admit defeat."
"Why don't you give it a try?" Fu Shaoping asked.
Fu Shaohua shook his head: "I'm at the seventh level of Qi Refining, and you're at the ninth level. I can't beat you. Rather than being beaten to a pulp, I'd rather admit defeat gracefully."
Fu Shaoping smiled and said, "Okay."
In the third round, his opponent was Fu Shaojie from the second wife's side—another friend of his.
Fu Shaojie refused to admit defeat. He drew his longsword and said earnestly, "Shaoping, I know I can't beat you, but I want to try."
"Alright." Fu Shaoping also drew his Qingfeng sword.
After exchanging twenty blows, Fu Shaojie voluntarily conceded defeat.
"You are indeed stronger than me." He sheathed his sword, his eyes filled with admiration, not frustration.
“You are very strong too,” Fu Shaoping said sincerely. “If I train for another year, I may not be able to beat you.”
Fu Shaojie knew it was just a polite remark, but he still smiled.
In the fourth round, his opponent was Fu Shaoyun from the fourth branch of the family—his best friend.
Fu Shaoyun walked onto the stage, looked at Fu Shaoping, and said helplessly, "We really did get drawn into the same group."
Fu Shaoping smiled: "Yes, it's fate."
"I will not admit defeat." Fu Shaoyun drew his long sword. "Even if I can't win, I will still fight."
"it is good."
After exchanging fifty moves, Fu Shaoyun was defeated.
"I'm impressed." He sheathed his sword, panting heavily. "You little rascal, you've been hiding your true strength."
Fu Shaoping patted him on the shoulder without saying a word.
The fifth round, the sixth round, the seventh round...
Fu Shaoping fought his way through the competition and finally made it into the top ten.
When the referee announced the result, the father was so excited that he stood up from his seat.
"Top ten! Top ten!" he murmured, "My son made it into the top ten!"
His mother held his hand, her eyes also filled with excitement.
Fu Shaoping stood on the stage, looked at his parents below, and smiled slightly.
In this life, he can finally make his parents proud.
Chapter Nineteen: Magical Artifacts
After the competition, the father kept his promise and officially gave the Qingfeng sword to Fu Shaoping.
"This sword is the one your father used when he was young." His father handed the sword to him, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. "Although it's not of high rank, it's been with me for many years, and I've grown attached to it. Use it well."
Fu Shaoping took the sword and solemnly said, "Father, don't worry, I will definitely cherish it."
The father nodded and took out a jade slip from his bosom, handing it to him.
"This is the 'Azure Edge Sword Manual,' a sword technique that I created based on the characteristics of this sword. Although it is not as exquisite as the sect's sword techniques, it is simple and practical, making it suitable for you to use now."
Fu Shaoping took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.
The sword technique recorded in the jade slip was indeed simple and practical. There were nine moves in total, each one concise and clear, without any fancy moves, only the most direct and effective attacks.
"Thank you, Father." He put away the jade slip, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.
His father patted him on the shoulder: "Practice hard. Next year, you'll be going to the sect."
Fu Shaoping was taken aback: "Sect?"
The father nodded: "The Fu family of Qingyang City, though not small, is ultimately just a small family. Your talent shouldn't be confined here. Next year, the Qingyun Sect will come to Qingyang City to recruit disciples. If you can pass the assessment, you can go to the Qingyun Sect to cultivate."
Qingyun Sect.
Fu Shaoping's heart stirred.
That was a place he had visited on both page four and page five.
Unexpectedly, he was going there again in this life.
"Father, don't worry, I will definitely pass the test," he said earnestly.
The father smiled: "Good! I believe in you."
Chapter Twenty: Qingyun Sect
Qingyun Sect is one of the three major sects in the Eastern Region.
Its mountain gate is located on the main peak of the Qingyun Mountains, shrouded in mist and ethereal beauty year-round. The sect boasts a late-stage Nascent Soul patriarch, dozens of Golden Core elders, and thousands of disciples, making it one of the most coveted cultivation holy lands for cultivators in the Eastern Region.
Every year, the Qingyun Sect sends people to various places to recruit disciples. The assessment includes bone age, spiritual root, cultivation level, and temperament. Only those who pass all the assessments can become disciples of the Qingyun Sect.
The day Fu Shaoping registered, the Fu family ancestral hall in Qingyang City was packed with people.
Those participating in the assessment included not only members of the Fu family, but also members from several other families, as well as some children of independent cultivators. There were over a hundred people in total.
The first step in the assessment is to measure bone age.
Fu Shaoping walked to the testing stone tablet and placed his hand on it. The tablet lit up, displaying the words: "Bone age thirteen, qualified."
The second test is to assess one's spiritual root.
This is the most crucial hurdle. The quality of a cultivator's spiritual root determines their future potential. The Qingyun Sect only accepts disciples with spiritual roots of "medium" or higher.
Fu Shaoping placed his hand on another stone tablet. The tablet lit up, displaying a line of text: "Five Elements Chaotic Spiritual Root, Top Grade, Qualified."
There was an uproar.
"A chaotic spiritual root of the five elements?!"
"Isn't that the legendary top-grade spiritual root?"
"The Fu family has actually produced such a genius!"
There was much discussion and exclamations of amazement.
Fu Shaoping remained calm, as if none of this concerned him.
The third test is to assess one's cultivation level.
Fu Shaoping channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into the stone tablet. The tablet lit up, displaying: "Ninth level of Qi Refining, qualified."
The fourth test is to assess one's character.
This test was conducted personally by an examiner from the Qingyun Sect. The examiner was a stern-faced middle-aged female cultivator with a late-stage Golden Core cultivation level. She had Fu Shaoping sit on a futon, then took out a bronze mirror and reflected it on his face.
"This is a 'heart-reflecting mirror,' which can reveal the obsessions and distractions in a person's heart," the examiner explained. "You just need to relax and not resist."
Fu Shaoping closed his eyes, letting the light from the bronze mirror shine on him.
A moment later, the examiner put away the bronze mirror, looked at the result on it, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
“His temperament… is superb.” She murmured, “This child is extraordinary.”
Fu Shaoping opened his eyes but did not speak.
The examiner looked at him and suddenly asked, "What's your name?"
"Fu Shaoping."
“Fu Shaoping…” The examiner repeated the name, then nodded. “You’ve passed. Three days from now, come back to Qingyun Sect with me.”
Chapter Twenty-One: Farewell
Three days later, the Qingyun Sect's flying boat stopped above Qingyang City.
Fu Shaoping stood beneath the flying boat, surrounded by his parents and several friends.
His mother held his hand, her eyes red, but she held back her tears.
"Shaoping, once you get to the Qingyun Sect, you must cultivate diligently, listen to your master, and don't fight with anyone." She nagged on and on, "Wear more clothes when it gets cold, don't catch a cold. Eat your meals on time, don't go hungry..."
"Mother, I understand," Fu Shaoping said softly. "Don't worry, I will take good care of myself."
The father stood silently to the side. He looked at Fu Shaoping, his eyes filled with reluctance, but he said nothing.
Fu Shaoyun, Fu Shaojie, and Fu Shaohua also arrived. They stood not far away, looking at Fu Shaoping with envy and reluctance in their eyes.
"Shaoping, when you get to Qingyun Sect, don't forget about us," Fu Shaoyun said loudly.
"No, that won't happen." Fu Shaoping smiled. "Shaoping, you will definitely become the strongest disciple of the Qingyun Sect." Fu Shaojie said earnestly.
"Thank you for your kind words." Fu Shaoping nodded.
Fu Shaohua didn't speak, but his eyes were red as he waved his hand forcefully.
On the flying boat, the examiner urged, "Fu Shaoping, it's time to go."
Fu Shaoping took a deep breath, turned around, and stepped onto the flying boat.
The flying boat slowly ascended into the air, and Qingyang City grew smaller and smaller, farther and farther away.
He stood at the bow of the ship, watching his homeland gradually blur, and his parents and friends still waving goodbye, a wave of sorrow washing over him.
In this life, he experienced the taste of parting for the first time.
"Let's go." The examiner walked to his side and said softly, "Ahead lies a wider world."
Fu Shaoping nodded, turned around, and looked ahead.
The mountains are shrouded in mist and clouds, appearing as dark as ink.
The Qingyun Sect is just ahead.
Chapter Twenty-Two: The New World
The Qingyun Sect was even more magnificent than Fu Shaoping had imagined.
The flying boat pierced through layers of clouds and landed on the plaza in front of the mountain gate. The plaza was enormous, large enough to hold tens of thousands of people. It was surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, their summits hidden in the clouds, with palaces and pavilions faintly visible, exuding an ethereal aura.
"This is the Qingyun Sect," the examiner introduced. "The sect is divided into three levels: outer sect, inner sect, and true disciple. You've just entered and are an outer sect disciple. You can only enter the inner sect after you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."
Fu Shaoping nodded and followed the examiner into the mountain gate.
Inside the mountain gate, there is a long stone staircase. Ancient trees reach for the sky on both sides of the staircase, and spirit birds fly about. Every hundred steps, there is a pavilion for disciples to rest.
"This is the 'Azure Cloud Steps,' which have a total of 9,999 steps," the examiner said. "Every newly initiated disciple must walk up them on their own. They cannot use magical artifacts or spiritual power; they can only rely on their own two feet."
Fu Shaoping looked at the seemingly endless stone steps, took a deep breath, and stepped up.
One step, two steps, three steps...
He walked slowly but steadily. Every step was firm and unhurried.
The examiner followed behind him, watching his steady steps and nodding in approval.
"This child is indeed extraordinary."
After walking for about an hour, Fu Shaoping finally reached the summit.
At the summit is a wide open platform. In the center of the platform stands a huge stone tablet with the three large characters "Qingyun Sect" engraved on it.
Several people were standing in front of the stone tablet.
Leading the group was an elderly woman with white hair, a kind face, and an unfathomable aura. She looked at Fu Shaoping and smiled slightly.
"You're Fu Shaoping?"
Fu Shaoping cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Disciple Fu Shaoping greets Senior."
The old woman nodded: "I am True Person Yuehua, an elder of the Qingyun Sect. From today onwards, you are my disciple."
Fu Shaoping's heart stirred.
Moonflower Immortal.
The master on pages four and five.
Unexpectedly, in this life, she is his master again.
"Disciple greets Master." He knelt down and respectfully kowtowed three times.
Master Yuehua helped him up, her eyes filled with relief.
"Good child, get up."
She turned to a woman in white behind her and said, "Yuehua, take your junior brother to his residence."
The woman in white stepped out, her face aloof and her demeanor frosty. She looked at Fu Shaoping and nodded slightly.
"Come with me."
Fu Shaoping followed her into Yuehua Peak.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Moonlit Peak
Moonflower Peak is one of the seventy-two peaks of the Qingyun Sect.
The mountain peak is not high, but it is serene and elegant. Green bamboo grows all over the mountainside, rustling in the wind like celestial music. At the summit stands a refined cave dwelling, the residence of the Moonflower Immortal. Halfway up the mountain are several small courtyards, the living quarters of his disciples.
Yuehua led Fu Shaoping to a small courtyard.
“This is your courtyard.” She pushed open the courtyard gate. “Inside there is a cultivation room, a bedroom, a study, and a small garden. The spiritual spring is at the back of the courtyard; you can go and fetch it yourself when you need it.”
Fu Shaoping walked into the courtyard and looked around.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy. Several green bamboos grew in the corner, their leaves rustling in the wind. In the center of the courtyard was a stone table and several stone benches, with a pot of tea on the table.
"Thank you, Senior Sister." He turned around and cupped his hands in thanks to Yuehua.
Yuehua nodded: "No need to thank me. If you need anything, you can come to me. I live in the courtyard next door."
She turned and left, her white robes fluttering, like a fairy under the moon.
Fu Shaoping stood in the courtyard, watching her back as a complex emotion welled up inside him.
The Yuehua Senior Sister in this life is exactly the same as her on pages four and five.
She is aloof and reserved, yet kind-hearted.
He entered the meditation room and sat down cross-legged.
A new life has begun.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Outer Disciples
The outer disciples of the Qingyun Sect lead very regular lives.
Every morning, I rise at dawn and go to the martial arts arena to train. In the morning, I attend classes at the academy, learning the basics of martial arts techniques, formations, and alchemy. In the afternoon, I have free time to train; I can go to the alchemy room to refine pills, to the weapon-forging hall to forge weapons, to the scripture library to read books, or to the merit hall to accept missions. In the evening, I return to my courtyard to continue training until 9 PM before resting.
Fu Shaoping quickly adapted to this lifestyle.
His cultivation speed was considered above average among outer sect disciples. He deliberately suppressed his cultivation level, not wanting to attract too much attention. After all, a thirteen-year-old at the ninth level of Qi Refining was good in the Qingyun Sect, but not exactly astonishing.
What he truly cares about is the principle of contracts.
In this life, he didn't want to be as impatient for quick success as he had in his previous lives. He wanted to take it slow, step by step, steadily and surely. The foundation of the Way of Contracts lay in understanding and comprehending the rules of heaven and earth. This required time, patience, and time for reflection.
He would set aside two hours each day to study the contract runes.
Sometimes it was in the courtyard, sometimes in the back mountain, sometimes by the spiritual spring. He sat quietly, closed his eyes, and immersed his mind in his sea of consciousness, conversing with those ancient runes.
Gradually, his understanding of the principles of contracts deepened.
In this life, he truly "understands" the runes that he had only "known" in previous lives.
He knew the origin, evolution, and meaning of each rune, how they interacted with the rules of heaven and earth, how they influenced cultivators' cultivation, and how they played a role in battle.
This kind of understanding is not gained through rote memorization, but through perception and experience.
"The way of contracts lies not in control, but in harmony." He often told himself, "Harmony with heaven and earth, harmony with others, harmony with one's own heart."
Chapter Twenty-Five: The First Mission
Three months after starting his training, Fu Shaoping took on his first task.
The task is simple: collect ten century-old Ganoderma lucidum mushrooms from the back mountain, and you will be rewarded with fifty contribution points.
The back mountain is a medicinal herb cultivation area of the Qingyun Sect. The mountain is full of various medicinal herbs, which are guarded by dedicated people, but there are also some wild medicinal herbs that grow in places rarely visited by people.
Fu Shaoping carried a bamboo basket and went up the back mountain alone.
The mountain behind was vast, stretching endlessly. He walked along the mountain path for half an hour until he arrived at a dense forest.
In the dense forest, there was a faint scent of medicinal herbs.
He went into the dense forest and searched carefully.
Soon, he discovered a century-old Ganoderma lucidum. The Ganoderma lucidum grew at the base of an ancient tree, its cap was reddish-brown, and it emitted a faint medicinal fragrance.
He squatted down and carefully picked the Ganoderma lucidum, placing it into a bamboo basket.
Continue the search.
The second one, the third one, the fourth one... (End of this chapter)