Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 108 Rescuing Xuan Jing

In the days that followed, he cultivated his skills while protecting Lanruo Temple and the people living at the foot of the mountain.

The villagers of Baihe Village have settled down at the foot of Qingyun Mountain, clearing land for farming and building houses. Although life is hard, it is at least stable.

Every few days, Li Laoshuan would come up the mountain to bring Zhou Ning some fresh vegetables and eggs.

Zhou Ning always declined, but Li Laoshuan would always say, "Brother Zhou, you saved the lives of our whole village, what's a little something like this?"

Zhou Ning had no choice but to accept it, and then helped the villagers draw some talismans to paste at the village entrance and the door of each house to prevent evil spirits from disturbing them.

On this day, Zhou Ning was cultivating in the back mountain when he suddenly felt the communication jade talisman in his arms getting slightly warm.

He took out the jade talisman and infused it with a wisp of true essence.

Yan Chixia's voice echoed in his mind.

"Zhou Ning, I found a Buddhist ritual artifact on Mount Putuo in the south. It will take several days to refine it. How is everything at the temple?"

Zhou Ning responded with his divine sense: "Master, rest assured, everything is fine at the temple. This disciple has mastered the basic operation of the formation, and the people at the foot of the mountain have also settled down."

"Yes. Continue your training, don't slack off."

"Disciple understands."

The jade talisman's light dimmed, and Yan Chixia's voice disappeared.

Zhou Ning put away the jade talisman and continued his cultivation.

A few days later, one evening, Zhou Ning was meditating in the main hall when he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps coming from down the mountain.

He got up and walked to the mountain gate, where he saw a young Taoist priest in a gray robe running up the mountain path, panting and pale.

"Young Master Zhou! Young Master Zhou! Something terrible has happened!"

Zhou Ning hurried down the mountain to meet him.

He recognized the young Taoist priest; he was a disciple of Qingfeng Temple named Mingxin.

"Master Mingxin, what happened?"

Mingxin gasped for breath, stammering, "The remnants of Black Mountain...they...they kidnapped Senior Sister Xuanjing!"

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "What? Miss Xuanjing has been arrested? Where is she?"

Mingxin said, "They're...they're at Qingfeng Mountain in the north. They...they say they want to use Senior Sister Xuanjing's blood to refine an evil artifact. My senior brother sent me to ask you for help!"

Zhou Ning clenched his fists, a surge of anger rising within him.

Although the Black Mountain Demon is dead, his remaining forces are still struggling to survive.

"Wait here, I'm coming right now."

He returned to his residence, retrieved the Qingfeng Sword, the Bixie Sword, and the Hanshuang Sword, carefully packaged the talismans, and also took the life-saving jade talisman given to him by Yan Chixia.

With everything prepared, he followed Mingxin and rode at full speed to Qingfeng Mountain.

Qingfeng Mountain is several hundred miles away from Qingyun Mountain. The two traveled day and night and arrived in less than two days.

At the foot of the mountain, the people of Qingfeng Temple are waiting.

Xuanzhenzi's expression was solemn. Upon seeing Zhou Ning, he quickly went to greet him.

"Young Master Zhou, you've arrived."

Zhou Ning asked, "Master Xuanzhen, how is the situation now?"

Xuanzhenzi pointed to the mountaintop.

"The remnants of Black Mountain's forces have occupied an abandoned Taoist temple on the mountaintop. There are more than twenty men in black robes, as well as a sorcerer and a demon general."

"They captured Xuanjing and imprisoned him in a Taoist temple. I sent people to investigate, and the temple is protected by a formation; it's impossible to break in by force."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "A heretical Taoist? I'll go. I have an invisibility talisman; I can sneak in quietly."

Xuanzhenzi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Be careful."

Zhou Ning took out an invisibility talisman from his bag and stuck it to his chest.

His figure gradually blurred and disappeared into the night.

He quietly made his way up the mountain along the mountain path.

The Taoist temple on the mountaintop was small, but heavily guarded.

Two men in black robes stood at the entrance, holding black spears and looking wary.

Several men in black robes were patrolling the courtyard.

Zhou Ning quietly climbed over the wall and hid behind a large tree, observing the layout of the Taoist temple.

The main hall of the Taoist temple was brightly lit.

A burly demon general and a white-bearded Taoist priest in a black robe were sitting in chairs. The demon general held a large black sword in his hand, while the Taoist priest held a black talisman.

Several men in black robes stood beside them.

In a corner of the main hall, Xuan Jing was bound hand and foot, her mouth gagged with a strip of cloth, her eyes filled with rage.

Zhou Ning held his breath and quietly approached the main hall.

Just as he was about to climb in through the window, the demon suddenly turned his head and looked in the direction where he was hiding.

"Who's there?"

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine, knowing he could no longer hide. He tore off the invisibility talisman, drew his Qingfeng sword, and slashed at the demon general.

A golden sword aura shot out and headed straight for the demon general's chest!

The demon general snorted coldly, swung his broadsword, and a black blade of energy rushed forward.

"boom!"

The two forces collided, producing a deafening explosion.

The windows of the main hall were shattered, and wood chips flew everywhere.

The demon general was forced back a step, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Are you Zhou Ning?"

Zhou Ning did not answer, and instead unleashed another sword strike.

The demon general parried with his sword, and the two figures clashed in the main hall, their swords flashing and sparks flying.

The demon general's cultivation was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, a whole realm lower than Zhou Ning's, making him no match for him.

In less than ten rounds, Zhou Ning pierced his shoulder with a sword, and black blood gushed out.

"ah--!"

The demon general let out a miserable cry and staggered backward.

"Master Wang, kill him quickly! He is the culprit who killed our master."

Upon hearing this, the demon was furious. The talisman in his hand flashed with black light as he rushed straight towards Zhou Ning.

"Is he the Taoist priest Wang that Xin Shisi Niang is looking for?"

Zhou Ning also took out a talisman, and the two forces clashed, neither gaining the upper hand. However, Master Wang was still injured by Zhou Ning's manipulation of objects and died.

Zhou Ning was also somewhat dazed; this Taoist priest Wang was so easily defeated.

Upon seeing this, the other men in black robes scattered and fled in terror.

Zhou Ning did not chase after her, but walked to Xuan Jing's side and helped her untie the ropes.

"Miss Xuanjing, are you alright?"

Xuan Jing shook her head, took the cloth strip out of her mouth, and exhaled a long breath of stale air.

"Young Master Zhou, thank you."

Zhou Ning said, "No need to thank me. Let's go quickly."

The two left the Taoist temple and went down the mountain to meet up with Xuanzhenzi.

When Xuanzhenzi saw Xuanjing return safely, tears streamed down his face.

"Jing'er, I'm so glad you're alright."

Xuanjing said, "Master, I'm fine. It's all thanks to Young Master Zhou."

Xuanzhenzi bowed deeply to Zhou Ning: "Young Master Zhou, your kindness and virtue are beyond my wildest dreams."

Zhou Ning helped him up: "Master Xuanzhen, you're too kind. Slaying demons and eliminating evil is simply our duty."

He paused, then continued, "The remnants of Black Mountain's forces are still wreaking havoc everywhere, and we must wipe them out as soon as possible."

Xuanzhenzi nodded: "I have already contacted other righteous sects, and they have agreed to send people to help. In a few days, we will be able to launch the general offensive."

Zhou Ning said, "Alright. I'll go back to Lanruo Temple first. Contact me when you're ready."

He bid farewell to Xuanzhenzi and Xuanjing and returned to Lanruo Temple.

When they returned to the temple, it was three days later.

Yan Chixia has not returned yet.

Zhou Ning reported the matter of Qingfeng Mountain to him using a communication jade talisman, and Yan Chixia only replied with one sentence.

"Well done. Keep practicing."

Zhou Ning sat cross-legged on a huge rock on the back mountain, gazing at the distant mountains, his heart unable to find peace for a long time.

Although the Black Mountain Demon is dead, his remaining forces are still struggling to survive.

The shadow of the extraterrestrial demons still lurks in the void.

His path of spiritual practice is still very long.

But he wasn't afraid.

Because he knew that behind him were his master, his friends, and countless people who needed protection.

And the sword in his hand will continue to protect him.