owlsbooks Chapter 114 A Second Trip to Qingqiu
Chapter 114 A Second Trip to Qingqiu
Black mist seeped out from the edge of the crack, carrying with it a chilling cold and a nauseating stench.
Deep within the crack, countless black shadows could be vaguely seen writhing and emitting low growls, as if they might burst forth from the crack at any moment.
Yan Chixia sat cross-legged in front of the crack, his hands forming a mudra, channeling his true essence into the seal at the edge of the crack.
The seal glowed with a golden light, but the light was weak and it seemed about to collapse.
His face was pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, indicating that he had clearly exhausted a large amount of his true energy.
"Master!" Zhou Ning rushed to his side.
Yan Chixia opened her eyes, glanced at him, and said, "Help me."
Zhou Ning nodded, sat down cross-legged beside him, placed his hands on the seal, and poured his true essence into it.
With his mid-stage Golden Core cultivation fully activated, his abundant true essence surged into the seal like a raging river.
The golden light on the seal gradually brightened, and the cracks began to slowly close.
But just then, a sharp hiss came from deep within the crack.
Countless black shadows surged out from the cracks and rushed towards Zhou Ning and Yan Chixia.
"Be careful!"
Xuanzhenzi waved his whisk, and a beam of silvery-white light shot out, shattering several dark figures.
Yu Lingzi also drew her peach wood sword and fought with the shadowy figure.
But there were too many shadows, constantly pouring out of the cracks.
Zhou Ning gritted his teeth, continuing to inject true essence while drawing his Qingfeng sword and slashing out.
The golden sword energy sliced a group of dark figures in two.
He maintained the seal with his left hand and swung his sword with his right, multitasking with remarkable ease.
Yan Chixia glanced at him, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
"good."
The two worked together and finally sealed the crack.
The crack slowly contracted, eventually becoming a tiny gap that disappeared into the air.
Zhou Ning withdrew his hands and exhaled a long breath.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Nearly 70% of his internal energy had been depleted, but a sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.
"It's a success," he said.
Yan Chixia shook his head: "It's only temporary. The crack will open again, and it might be even bigger next time."
He stood up, walked to where the crack had disappeared, and reached out to touch the air.
His fingers touched an invisible barrier, from which a faint vibration emanated.
"The power of the extraterrestrial demons is stronger than I imagined."
He turned around and looked at Zhou Ning.
"You did well just now. Your mid-stage Golden Core cultivation level is already enough to be of help."
Zhou Ning said, "Master, I wish to break through to the late stage of the Golden Core realm as soon as possible."
Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, then said:
"No rush. The path of cultivation cannot be rushed. First, consolidate your current cultivation level, and when the time is right, you will naturally break through."
He took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning:
"This is my research on extraterrestrial demons over the years. Take it back and study it; it might be helpful to you."
Zhou Ning accepted the jade slip and solemnly said, "Thank you, Master."
Yan Chixia nodded, then turned to Xuanzhenzi and said:
"Master Xuanzhen, continue to send people to guard this place. If anything unusual happens, notify me again."
Xuanzhenzi nodded: "This humble Taoist understands."
Yan Chixia then looked at Yu Lingzi: "Are you a disciple of Qingcheng Mountain?"
Yu Lingzi quickly bowed and said, "This humble Taoist, Yu Lingzi, greets Immortal Master Yan."
Yan Chixia nodded: "Go back and tell your master that I will handle the matter in the Southern Frontier. Tell him not to worry."
Yu Lingzi replied, "Yes."
Everyone dispersed.
Zhou Ning followed Yan Chixia back to Lanruo Temple.
He was thinking the whole way.
The threat of the extraterrestrial demons is getting closer, and his cultivation level is still far from sufficient.
He must become stronger in order to protect those he wants to protect.
"Master, I wish to continue my seclusion," he said.
Yan Chixia glanced at him: "Are you sure?"
Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple is certain that I will break through before leaving seclusion this time."
Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright. After you return, you will go into seclusion. I will protect you."
Upon returning to Lanruo Temple, Zhou Ning immediately began his seclusion.
He locked himself in a stone chamber in the back mountain, spending his days meditating and studying the jade slips that Yan Chixia had given him.
The jade slip contains detailed records of the habits and weaknesses of the extraterrestrial demons, as well as methods to combat them.
"The extraterrestrial demons feed on negative emotions. To fight them, one must maintain inner peace and steadfastness. The stronger one's resolve, the greater one's resistance to them."
Zhou Ning pondered the sentence repeatedly, as if he had gained some insight.
He closed his eyes and let his true energy flow naturally.
Within the dantian, the golden elixir slowly rotated, radiating a warm golden light.
His heart was at peace.
Zhou Ning secluded himself in the stone chamber, and half a month had passed without him realizing it.
For the past two weeks, he has barely slept or rested. Every day, besides meditating and regulating his breathing, he has been studying the jade slip that Yan Chixia gave him.
The records about extraterrestrial demons in the jade slip gave him a clearer understanding of his future enemy.
Extraterrestrial demons feed on negative emotions; war, slaughter, hatred, and fear are their nourishment.
To fight them, one must maintain inner peace and steadfastness.
The stronger one's resolve, the greater one's resistance to them.
"The Dao Heart..." Zhou Ning murmured to himself.
He recalled every detail of his spiritual practice.
From becoming an apprentice at Lanruo Temple, to eliminating the Painted Skin Demon in Qingshan Town, to defeating the Corpse King in Baihe Village, to slaying the Mountain Demon in Heifeng Village, to fighting Lu Pan in Guobei County, to battling the Black Mountain Demon in the North...
Every battle is a test of his Dao heart.
He never backed down, never wavered.
Because he knew that behind him were people who needed protection.
"This is my way."
Zhou Ning made a silent vow in his heart.
"To protect all living beings and vanquish demons. No matter what happens, our resolve will never change."
He closed his eyes and let his true energy flow naturally.
Within the dantian, the golden elixir slowly rotated, radiating a warm golden light.
He could feel the power within the Golden Core growing stronger day by day, slowly but steadily.
The bottleneck in the late stage of the Golden Core realm is already showing signs of loosening.
One day, he was meditating in the stone chamber when he suddenly heard a light footstep outside.
Zhou Ning opened his eyes and stepped out of the stone chamber.
Beside the pine forest on the back mountain, Xin Shisi Niang stood there, wearing a white dress, with long hair flowing down her shoulders, a delicate face, and picturesque features.
In her hand, she carried a bamboo basket containing some fruit and snacks.
"Miss Xin?"
Zhou Ning was somewhat surprised.
"Why are you here?"
Xin Shisi Niang smiled slightly:
"Young Master Zhou, you are in seclusion, and I shouldn't disturb you. But something has happened at Qingqiu Mountain, and I would like to ask for your help."
Zhou Ning asked, "What is it?"
Xin Shisi Niang said, "The seal on our Qingqiu Fox Clan's secret realm has loosened again. The elder said that if it's not reinforced, the treasures within the realm might be stolen by demons. He wants to ask you to go to Qingqiu Mountain again to help reinforce the seal; the reward will be substantial."
Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "You're too kind, I'll go with you."
He returned to the stone chamber, packed his belongings, took the Qingfeng Sword, the Bixie Sword, and the Hanshuang Sword with him, and also wrapped up the talismans.
With everything prepared, he followed Xin Shisi Niang and left Lanruo Temple for Qingqiu Mountain.
Qingqiu Mountain is a thousand miles away from Qingyun Mountain. The two traveled day and night and it took them three days to arrive.
Qingqiu Mountain remains as beautiful as ever, with lush forests and mist swirling around it, making it seem like a fairyland.
At the foot of the mountain, the peach blossoms are in full bloom, and the falling petals create a breathtaking scene.
Xin Shisi Niang led Zhou Ning through the peach grove to the cave in the back mountain.