Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 16 Three Steps to Controlling Objects

It was already afternoon when we returned to Lanruo Temple.

Yan Chixia remained seated in the main hall. Upon hearing footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes.

"You're back?"

"Disciple has returned." Zhou Ning bowed respectfully.

Yan Chixia's gaze fell on him, sizing him up and down, and he nodded slightly:

"Not bad, no limbs missing."

Zhou Ning smiled bitterly: "Master, I almost didn't make it back."

"Oh?" Yan Chixia raised an eyebrow.

Tell me about it.

Zhou Ning recounted the entire story of his trip to Black Wind Stronghold in detail.

This includes the mandrill's illusions, sonic attacks, and methods of controlling skeletons, as well as how he dealt with them.

When Yan Chixia recounted the final sword strike piercing the mountain demon's chest, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

"It's not easy to stay clear-headed under those circumstances," Yan Chixia said.

"Although that mountain demon only has a hundred years of cultivation, her talent for illusion is extremely high. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators have fallen into her hands. The fact that you came back alive shows that your willpower is stronger than I thought."

Zhou Ning quickly said, "It was Master's 'Purifying Heart Talisman' that saved me. If it weren't for that cool aura, I'm afraid I would have been lost in the illusion long ago."

Yan Chixia shook his head:

"Talismans are just an aid; what truly saves you is your own will."

"Remember, on the path of cultivation, external forces are ultimately unreliable; only your own heart is the most solid support."

Zhou Ning seemed to be deep in thought, and solemnly said:

"This disciple has remembered."

-

Over the next few days, Zhou Ning rested and recuperated while consolidating his cultivation progress.

He showed Yan Chixia the jade tablet he had found in the mandrill's nest.

Yan Chixia scrutinized him for a long time, his brows furrowing slightly.

"This jade pendant...it has quite a history." He returned the jade pendant to Zhou Ning.

"The patterns on it are the mark of an ancient sect. I can't tell which sect it is. Keep it for now; it might come in handy later."

As for the mandrill's inner core, Yan Chixia told him to keep it for himself.

"The inner core contains the essence of that mountain demon's entire life, which will benefit your cultivation of internal energy," Yan Chixia said.

"You can hold it in your hand while meditating and slowly absorb its energy. But remember, don't be greedy, otherwise you will easily be eroded by the cold and damp energy."

Zhou Ning nodded and began trying it that very night.

He held the black inner core in his left hand, closed his eyes, and slowly circulated his inner energy.

A cool energy flowed out from the inner core, along the meridians of the arm, and slowly flowed into the dantian.

That energy was gentle, intertwining with the warmth of the protective aura to form a wonderful balance.

Zhou Ning felt completely relaxed and his mind was more focused than ever before.

That night, he meditated until dawn, yet he did not feel tired at all.

-

On this day, Yan Chixia summoned him to the back mountain.

"You've mastered the basics of internal energy cultivation, and you can barely use talismans," Yan Chixia said.

"Next, I'll teach you something new."

Zhou Ning's eyes lit up:

"Please give me your guidance, Master."

Yan Chixia took out a short sword from his sleeve. It was about 1.2 feet long and the blade was bluish-gray with faint cloud patterns flowing on it.

He handed the short sword to Zhou Ning.

"This sword is called 'Qingfeng,' and it's a magical weapon I used in my early years. Although it's not a divine weapon, it's lightweight and agile, making it perfect for beginners."

Zhou Ning took the Qingfeng Sword. It felt heavy in his hand, the blade was cold, and he could vaguely sense the spiritual power contained within it.

"From this day forward, you shall use this instead of the wooden sword," Yan Chixia said.

"But what I'm going to teach you isn't ordinary swordsmanship, but the art of manipulating objects."

The art of manipulating objects?

Zhou Ning was taken aback:

"You mean... the kind where the sword flies up on its own?"

Yan Chixia nodded:

"Indeed. The art of manipulating objects is one of the basic skills of a cultivator. It involves using the spirit to control qi, and using qi to control objects. Not only can one control swords, but also knives, needles, and all kinds of magical artifacts."

He paused, then continued:

"The core of the art of manipulating objects lies in 'divine will.' Divine will is your spiritual power. Only when your divine will is strong enough can you establish a connection with the magical artifact and make it as easy as your own arm."

Zhou Ning listened intently, nodding repeatedly.

"You try it first," Yan Chixia said.

"Place the Qingfeng Sword on the ground, then close your eyes and use your divine sense to feel it."

Zhou Ning placed the Qingfeng sword on the stone slab in front of him as instructed, closed his eyes, and focused his attention on the sword.

He could sense the sword's presence and the faint spiritual energy flowing within it, but he couldn't establish any connection with it.

The sword was like a cold stone, completely unresponsive to his divine sense.

"Don't rush," Yan Chixia's voice came from the side.

"Cultivating spiritual power is not something that can be done overnight. You need to practice day after day to gradually enhance your spiritual strength."

He walked behind Zhou Ning and placed his palm on the top of his head:

"Let me guide you first, so you can feel the operation of divine thought."

A gentle force surged into Zhou Ning's head, and he felt his consciousness magnified many times over, as if he had stepped from a narrow room into a vast world.

He focused his attention on the Green Edge Sword again.

This time, he felt something different.

That wasn't the sword itself, but rather the "marks" left on it by Yan Chixia after years of use.

It was a faint, thread-like light that connected the sword to his divine sense.

"That's the feeling." Yan Chixia withdrew his hand.

"Remember this feeling, and then try to make the connection yourself."

Zhou Ning took a deep breath and slowly extended his divine sense along the "silk thread," attempting to establish a deeper connection with the sword.

One, two, three...

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly felt his mind lighten, as if something had been "connected".

The Qingfeng sword on the ground trembled slightly.

Although it was only once, and only a slight tremor, Zhou Ning clearly felt it.

It wasn't the wind blowing, nor was it the ground shaking; rather, it was the resonance between his divine sense and the sword.

"It's done." He opened his eyes and looked at Yan Chixia excitedly.

Yan Chixia nodded slightly:

"Not bad, you were able to get the sword to react on the first try, which shows that your foundation in spiritual power is not bad. But you are still far from being a true 'object controller'."

He walked to the Qingfeng sword, squatted down, and gently flicked the blade with his finger.

"Buzz!!!"

The sword emitted a clear, melodious hum, then flew up on its own, circled in the air, and landed steadily in Yan Chixia's hand.

Zhou Ning was dumbfounded.

"The art of manipulating objects is divided into three stages." Yan Chixia handed the sword back to him:

"First stage: lift the ritual implement off the ground. Second stage: keep the ritual implement flying stably in the air. Third stage: make the ritual implement attack the target according to your will."

He looked at Zhou Ning:

"You haven't even grasped the first stage yet. Keep practicing."

Zhou Ning took the sword and solemnly said:

"Disciple understands."

-

In the days that followed, Zhou Ning had an additional task besides meditating, practicing qi cultivation, and making talismans.

Practice the art of manipulating objects.

He placed the Qingfeng Sword on the stone slab in front of him, closed his eyes, and used his divine sense to feel it, trying to lift it off the ground.

One day, two days, three days...

On the fifth day, the Qingfeng Sword finally wobbled an inch off the ground, driven by his divine sense.

Although it was only an inch long and lasted for less than two breaths, Zhou Ning was so excited he almost jumped up.

"Master, Master, look."

Yan Chixia was meditating not far away. Upon hearing this, he opened his eyes, glanced at the person, and said calmly:

"Good. Continue."

Zhou Ning: "..."

The Master is always so stingy with praise.

But he didn't care.

He knew the road ahead was long, and he had only just taken the first step.

His goal was not just to lift the sword off the ground.

His goal is to be like his master, flying on a sword, slaying demons and protecting everything he wants to protect.