Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 163 Core of the Array

The moment he leaped out of the crack, the sunlight stung Zhou Ning's eyes.

He had been in the darkness for so long that he had almost forgotten what light looked like.

Outside the rift, the sky remained gloomy with low-hanging dark clouds, but compared to the boundless darkness within the rift, this place was already paradise.

He landed on the wasteland, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.

Although the illusory image of his primordial spirit in his dantian had become much more solid after the trial, the continuous battles and exhaustion had left his body extremely tired.

"Young Master Zhou!" Han Wei's voice came from afar.

Zhou Ning looked up and saw Han Wei leading a group of guards running towards him.

Their faces were filled with anxiety and worry; they had clearly been waiting outside the crack for a long time.

Han Wei ran to his side, put his arm around his shoulder, looked him up and down, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that he was not injured.

"You're finally back! Master Yan said you'd been inside for a whole day and night. We all thought you..."

Han Wei's voice choked with emotion, and he didn't continue.

Zhou Ning felt a warmth in her heart and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Lord Han, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired."

He looked up towards the direction of Qingfeng City.

On the city wall, the golden light still enveloped the entire city, and the runes shimmered with a soft glow.

On the city wall, Yan Chixia stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through the wasteland and landing on him.

Although they were far apart, Zhou Ning could feel the concern in his master's eyes.

"Let's go back," Zhou Ning said.

Han Wei helped him walk back to Qingfeng City.

At the city gate, people spontaneously gathered on both sides of the street and cheered when they saw Zhou Ning return.

Some bowed, some kowtowed, and some brought eggs and fruit.

A little girl ran out from the crowd, stuffed a wildflower into Zhou Ning's hand, and said timidly, "Young Master Zhou, thank you for protecting us."

Zhou Ning squatted down, took the wildflowers, and gently patted the little girl's head.

"You're welcome. It's what I should do."

The little girl smiled, revealing two missing front teeth, and turned to run back to her mother.

Zhou Ning stood up, looked at the wildflower in her hand, and felt a warm current welling up in her heart.

This wildflower was more precious than any treasure he had ever received.

Because it represents the people's trust and gratitude, and it means that his protection is meaningful.

Upon entering the Demon Suppression Division's headquarters, Yan Chixia was already waiting in the courtyard.

His face was still pale, but much better than yesterday.

The longsword lay horizontally on his lap, most of the cracks on its blade had been repaired, leaving only a few shallow marks.

"You're back?"

Yan Chixia's voice was calm, but Zhou Ning detected a hint of relief in it.

Zhou Ning nodded, sat down opposite him, and recounted his experience in the crack in detail.

Endless darkness, the approaching shadows, the trial of the primordial spirit of "another self," and the final process of overcoming oneself.

After listening, Yan Chixia remained silent for a moment, then said:

"The Nascent Soul Trial is a necessary hurdle for cultivators in the Nascent Soul stage. The fact that you were able to complete the trial in the rift shows that your Dao heart is firm enough. This is a good thing."

Yan Chixia then asked, "Did you discover any weaknesses in the Heavenly Demon within the crack?"

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said:

"At the deepest part of the rift, this disciple sensed the aura of the Heavenly Demon's true form."

"That aura was powerful, but also very unstable. It seemed to be injured, or perhaps dormant."

"Most of its power is used to maintain the cracks; only about 30% is actually usable in combat."

A glint flashed in Yan Chixia's eyes.

"Mitsunari... If we can sever its connection with the rift, its power will be further weakened."

Zhou Ning nodded: "That's what I think too. But I still don't have a clue how to sever its connection with the crack."

Yan Chixia stood up, paced back and forth, pondered for a moment, and said, "The Zhou Tian Star Array might be able to do it."

"A grand formation?" Zhou Ning was taken aback.

Yan Chixia said, "The Zhou Tian Star Array is an ancient formation used by immortals and gods to fight against extraterrestrial demons."

"Its core function is not defense, but sealing. If the power of the great array can be extended into the rift, the connection between the Heavenly Demon and the rift can be severed, sealing it in the void."

He turned around and looked at Zhou Ning.

"But this requires enormous energy. The spirit stones from Qingfeng City alone are far from enough."

Zhou Ning asked, "What do we need?"

Yan Chixia said, "It requires the true essence of cultivators. A large amount of true essence. Moreover, it requires at least three Nascent Soul stage cultivators to cast the spell simultaneously."

Three Nascent Soul stage cultivators...

Zhou Ning's heart sank.

Currently, he and Yan Chixia are the only two cultivators in the entire human realm whose cultivation levels are above the Nascent Soul stage.

Where do we find the third one?

"Master, is there any other way?"

Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes. Use your primordial spirit as the array's core."

Zhou Ning was taken aback: "My disciple's primordial spirit?"

Yan Chixia nodded.

"Your primordial spirit power is pure and powerful, and has a natural restraining effect on celestial demons."

"If you are willing to merge your primordial spirit with the great formation, you can become the core of the formation and guide its power to seal the cracks."

"But doing this is very risky. If your primordial spirit cannot withstand the power of the great formation, you will be completely destroyed."

Zhou Ning remained silent for a long time.

Soul scattered and spirit dispersed...

This means that there is no chance of reincarnation.

But he remembered the little girl who gave him wildflowers at the city gate, the people in the city who trusted and relied on him, his master's teachings and care over the years, and the bravery of Han Wei and his guards in defending the city to the death...

"This disciple is willing."

Zhou Ning raised his head, his gaze resolute.

Yan Chixia looked at him, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

There was relief, worry, and a touch of reluctance.

"Alright. Let's take a gamble then."

Over the next few days, Zhou Ning and Yan Chixia began preparations for sealing the rift.

Yan Chixia added new runes to the existing formation, extending its power towards the crack.

Zhou Ning meditated in the quiet room every day to nourish his primordial spirit in preparation for the fusion formation.

He studied the jade slip containing the "He Dao Chapter" repeatedly, engraving every word in his mind.

He knew this would be the biggest challenge he had faced since he began his spiritual practice.

Han Wei led his guards on patrols day and night to reinforce the city's defenses.

The people also spontaneously organized themselves to deliver water and food to the guards defending the city.

The entire Qingfeng City is preparing for the upcoming decisive battle.

On this day, the sky was overcast and dark clouds hung low.

The black fog in the north thickened again, churning and rolling like boiling ink.

In the mist, countless dark figures writhe and utter low growls.

They were denser and more frantic than before, as if waiting for something.

On the city wall, the guards stood ready.

Han Wei stood at the front, holding a long sword in his hand, his face solemn.

Behind him were eight hundred guards from the Demon Suppression Division and three hundred righteous disciples.

Everyone gripped their weapons tightly, their gazes fixed firmly on the north.

"They're coming," Han Wei said solemnly.

Zhou Ning stood on the city wall, holding the Qingfeng sword in his hand, his gaze piercing through the wasteland and landing on the crack in the distance.

The crack is bigger than before.