Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 105 Even Greater Hidden Dangers

The content of the Nascent Soul chapter is more profound than that of the Golden Core chapter.

It tells the story of how to nurture a golden core into a nascent soul, how to allow the nascent soul to break free from the body, and how to use the nascent soul to perceive the laws of heaven and earth.

Each step requires extremely deep accumulation and opportunity.

"Don't rush."

Zhou Ning closed the jade slip.

"First, stabilize your Golden Core stage cultivation before considering the Nascent Soul stage."

In the days that followed, Zhou Ning cultivated in the back mountain every day to solidify his Golden Core stage realm.

He practiced the "Demon-Slaying Technique" hundreds of times until each sword strike could unleash its maximum power.

He had mastered the art of sword control to perfection. Both the Qingfeng Sword and the Bixie Sword could fly freely in the air at lightning speed, driven by his divine will.

He could even control five swords simultaneously with his divine sense, although it was still very difficult, but it was already taking shape.

His cultivation level is also steadily improving.

The initial stage of the Golden Core realm has been completely stabilized, and the bottleneck in the middle stage of the Golden Core realm has begun to loosen.

He knew that if he had more time, he could break through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.

But he wasn't in a hurry.

The path of spiritual practice is not something that can be accomplished overnight.

He needs time, experience, and insight.

One day, he was practicing his sword on the back mountain when he suddenly heard footsteps coming from down the mountain.

Zhou Ning walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down. He saw a young woman dressed in a white Taoist robe walking up the mountain path. It was Xuan Jing.

"Miss Xuanjing?" Zhou Ning hurried down the mountain to greet her.

Xuan Jing smiled slightly when she saw him: "Young Master Zhou, has your injury healed?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "Alright. Miss Xuanjing, what brings you here? Is there something you need from Daoist Xuanzhen?"

Xuan Jing took out a letter from her bosom and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"My senior brother asked me to tell you that the remaining forces of Black Mountain have been basically wiped out. The people of the North are rebuilding their homes, and everything is moving in a positive direction. My senior brother hopes you can visit Qingfeng Temple; he wants to thank you in person."

Zhou Ning took the letter, unfolded it, and read it.

The contents of the letter were consistent with what Xuan Jing had said, and a sentence was added at the end.

"Young Master Zhou, you are the most outstanding young cultivator I have ever seen. I look forward to the day you reach the Nascent Soul stage."

Zhou Ning carefully put away the letter, cupped his hands to Xuan Jing, and said, "Thank you for sending the message, Miss Xuan Jing. Please tell Master Xuanzhen that I will go there in a few days."

Xuan Jing nodded and turned to go down the mountain.

Zhou Ning watched her leave, then returned to the back mountain to continue practicing his swordsmanship.

As evening fell, he arrived at the main hall and informed Yan Chixia of Xuanzhenzi's invitation.

Yan Chixia said, "Go. Xuanzhenzi is a senior of the righteous path. It will be beneficial for you to communicate with him more."

Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."

The next morning, Zhou Ning left Lanruo Temple and headed to Qingfeng Temple.

Qingfeng Temple is located on Qingfeng Mountain, which is several hundred miles away from Qingyun Mountain.

Zhou Ning did not ride a horse, but chose to walk.

Firstly, it allows them to cultivate along the way, and secondly, it allows them to observe the situation of the people in the north rebuilding their homes.

After walking for three days, he arrived at the foot of Qingfeng Mountain.

Unlike the last time I visited, Qingfeng Mountain was no longer shrouded in dark clouds. Sunlight shone through the forests, and everything seemed vibrant and full of life.

On the mountain path, several woodcutters were chopping wood. When they saw Zhou Ning, they all cast kind glances at him.

"Young man, are you here to offer incense at Qingfeng Temple?" an old man asked.

Zhou Ning nodded: "Yes."

The old man chuckled, "Master Xuanzhen of Qingfeng Temple is a good man. When the Black Mountain Demon caused trouble some time ago, he and his disciples protected the people in this area. Go find him, you won't regret it."

Zhou Ning smiled and continued climbing the mountain.

Qingfeng Temple still stands on the mountaintop, its green bricks and gray tiles nestled among the evergreen pines and cypresses.

Zhou Ning stepped forward and knocked on the door. A young Taoist priest opened the door; it was the same one he had seen before.

"Young Master Zhou, you've arrived. Your master has been waiting for you for a long time." The young Taoist priest led Zhou Ning into the Taoist temple.

Xuanzhenzi was meditating under a pine tree in the backyard when he heard footsteps and opened his eyes.

"Young Master Zhou, please have a seat."

Zhou Ning sat down opposite him and asked with concern, "Master Xuanzhen, your injury...?"

Xuanzhenzi waved his hand: "It's all better now. I'm getting old, so recovery is slower, but thankfully there haven't been any lasting effects."

He took a map from his sleeve and spread it on the table.

"This is a new map of the North. The Black Mountain Demon's forces have been completely wiped out, and the people are rebuilding their homes. However, there are still some places where the Black Mountain's demonic energy and resentment remain, which need to be slowly purified."

Looking at the map, Zhou Ning felt a surge of relief.

"Master Xuanzhen, you summoned me here just to tell me this?"

Xuanzhenzi shook his head: "No. I called you here to tell you something."

"What is it?"

Xuanzhenzi was silent for a moment, then said, "Although the Black Mountain Demon is dead, his master is still alive."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Master?"

Xuanzhenzi nodded: "The Black Mountain Demon is merely a pawn. Behind him lies an even more powerful being, the 'Extraterrestrial Demon'."

Extraterrestrial demons.

Zhou Ning recalled what Yan Chixia had once said.

Extraterrestrial demons are evil spirits from beyond the heavens that feed on the negative emotions of living beings.

In ancient times, they invaded the human world on a massive scale, causing countless immortals and gods to perish and countless civilizations to be destroyed.

After that battle, the spiritual energy in the human world greatly diminished, and the path of cultivation became increasingly difficult.

"Master Xuanzhen, are you saying that the extraterrestrial demons will return?"

Xuanzhenzi nodded: "It's not 'it will come again,' but 'it has always been there.' It has never left. It hides in the void, waiting for its opportunity. The Black Mountain Demon's actions are all aimed at accumulating power for it."

He paused, then continued, "The Black Mountain Demon is dead, but the resentment and blood he accumulated have been absorbed by the extraterrestrial demons. Its power is stronger than before."

Zhou Ning clenched his fist: "Then what should we do?"

Xuanzhenzi said, "Improve ourselves. Only by becoming stronger can we protect our home when they come."

He looked at Zhou Ning, his eyes full of expectation:

"Young Master Zhou, you are Yan Chixia's disciple, the most outstanding young cultivator I have ever seen. I hope you can continue your cultivation and break through to the Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation stages as soon as possible, becoming a powerful figure capable of fighting against the extraterrestrial demons."

Zhou Ning solemnly replied, "I will."

He stayed at Qingfeng Temple for a few days, exchanged cultivation insights with Xuanzhenzi, helped handle some follow-up matters, and then bid farewell to Xuanzhenzi and returned to Lanruo Temple.

When they returned to Lanruo Temple, it was already half a month later.

Yan Chixia was practicing his sword on the back mountain. When he saw him return, he sheathed his sword.

"You're back?"

Zhou Ning nodded and reported Xuanzhenzi's words to his master.

Yan Chixia remained silent for a long time before saying:

"I already knew about the extraterrestrial demons. The reason I didn't tell you was because your cultivation level was too low; knowing too much would be detrimental."

He paused, then continued, "But now that you've formed your Golden Core, you should know that."

He took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"This is the cultivation method for the 'Transformation of the Divine Realm'. Take it back and study it. Once you break through to the Nascent Soul stage, you can begin cultivating this."

Zhou Ning accepted the jade slip and solemnly said, "Thank you, Master."

Yan Chixia nodded and turned to walk towards the main hall.

"The path of cultivation is still long. Don't rush, take it one step at a time."

Zhou Ning stood there, gazing at his master's retreating figure, a firm belief welling up in his heart.

Extraterrestrial demons, no matter how strong you are, I will not back down.

Because behind me are people who need protection.