Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 42 Thunder Magic Deterrence

Zhou Ning frowned.

The people of Montenegro are incredibly arrogant.

"Don't worry, I'll go and report to Master right away."

He strode into the main hall and reported the situation to Yan Chixia.

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

"The Black Mountain in the North is the lair of the Black Mountain Demon. It's heavily guarded, and with your current cultivation level, going there would be tantamount to suicide."

Zhou Ning said, "This disciple knows. But Xin Shiyi Niang is Xin Shisi Niang's older sister, I cannot stand by and watch her die."

Yan Chixia glanced at him and sighed:

"Alright. Go then. But remember, only save people, don't linger in battle. If you encounter the Black Mountain Demon, flee immediately and don't look back."

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

"This jade talisman contains a full-force sword aura of mine. In a moment of crisis, it can save your life."

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

He returned to his lodgings, packed his bags, took the Qingfeng Sword and the Bixie Sword, wrapped the talismans, and then left Lanruo Temple with Xiaoyu.

Black Mountain in the North is a thousand miles away from Lanruo Temple. Last time, I was supposed to go to the North to provide support, but I had to turn back halfway. I didn't expect that I would have to go again this time.

Zhou Ning and Xiao Yu rode their horses at breakneck speed, traveling day and night, and it took them five days to reach the foot of Black Mountain.

Black Mountain truly lives up to its reputation.

The mountain peaks soar into the clouds, their summits shrouded in black mist year-round, never seeing the sun.

At the foot of the mountain lies a barren plain, devoid of any vegetation, dotted with black rocks and dried-up riverbeds.

The air was filled with a pungent sulfur smell, making it difficult to breathe.

"That's it." Xiaoyu pointed to a black building at the foot of the mountain:

"My sister is locked up there."

Zhou Ning carefully observed the building.

It was a fortress built of black stone, tall and sturdy, surrounded by high walls.

Several men in black robes stood on the wall, holding black flags, patrolling back and forth.

The fortress gates were tightly shut, and two burly men in black robes stood at the entrance, each holding a black spear.

"How many people are inside?" Zhou Ning asked.

Xiaoyu said, "I've inquired, there are probably more than twenty. The leader is a demon general called 'Black Wind,' whose cultivation is at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage."

Mid-stage of foundation building.

Zhou Ning's heart sank.

With his current cultivation level, he already struggles to deal with a demon general in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, let alone one in the middle stage.

But Xin Shiyi Niang's life was hanging by a thread, and he could not back down.

"You wait here, I'll go in and take a look," Zhou Ning said.

Xiaoyu quickly replied, "I'll go with you."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "No. Your cultivation level is too low; going in will only lead to your death. You wait here. If I haven't come out in an hour, go back to Lanruo Temple and tell my master."

Xiaoyu gritted her teeth and nodded, saying, "Alright. Young Master Zhou, please be very careful."

Zhou Ning took out an invisibility talisman from his bag, stuck it to his chest, and quietly approached the fortress.

The invisibility talisman worked very well; the black-robed figures on the wall were completely unaware of it.

Using the shadow of the corner of the wall, Zhou Ning climbed over the wall and landed inside the fortress.

The inside of the fortress was even more gloomy than the outside.

Black flags hung on the wall, embroidered with hideous demon heads.

The ground was covered with black stone slabs, which were engraved with strange runes.

Zhou Ning walked quietly deeper into the corridor.

At the end of the corridor was a huge stone chamber.

In the center of the stone chamber, there was a huge iron cage containing more than a dozen young women, all of whom looked like foxes.

They huddled together, their faces pale, their eyes filled with terror.

Beside the iron cage stood a burly man with a ferocious face.

He was dressed in black armor, holding a large black sword in his hand, and exuded a strong, chilling aura.

This is Black Wind.

Zhou Ning held his breath and quietly approached the iron cage.

Just as he was about to make a move, Black Wind suddenly turned his head and looked in the direction where he was hiding.

"Who's there?"

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat, knowing he could no longer hide. He tore off the invisibility talisman, drew his Qingfeng sword, and slashed at Hei Feng.

A streak of cyan sword energy shot out from the sky, heading straight for Black Wind's chest.

Black Wind snorted coldly, swung his broadsword, and a black blade of energy rushed forward.

"boom!"

The two forces collided, producing a deafening explosion.

Zhou Ning was forced back several steps, his hands and feet going numb.

Black Wind remained unmoved, and grinned maliciously:

"Kid, you've got some nerve. Daring to trespass on my territory all by yourself?"

Without wasting words, Zhou Ning drew three "evil-repelling talismans" from his waist and threw them out at the same time.

Three golden beams of light, arranged in a triangular shape, shot towards the black wind.

Black Wind flashed past two arrows, but the third grazed his shoulder, leaving a charred wound.

"what!"

Black Wind let out a miserable scream, its eyes filled with resentment:

"Kid, you're asking for it."

He formed a mudra with his hands and chanted incantations.

The ground began to shake, and countless black chains surged from underground, wrapping around Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning, already experienced, used his lightness technique to weave and dodge among the chains.

At the same time, he concentrated his inner energy at the tip of the sword and unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Slash".

A streak of cyan sword energy slashed out, severing several chains.

But there were too many chains, and they kept pouring out, quickly blocking his escape route.

"Oh no!"

A chain wrapped around his left foot, then a second, a third... Zhou Ning was dragged to the ground and slid towards the direction of the black wind.

Black Wind raised his broadsword and slashed down at Zhou Ning's head.

At the critical moment of life and death, Zhou Ning suddenly remembered a move his master had taught him.

Thunder Magic.

He had seen a talisman called "Five Thunder Orthodox Method" in the book "True Explanation of Talismans", which could summon heavenly thunder and suppress all evil spirits.

But with his current level of cultivation, he is not yet capable of drawing such a talisman.

However, he could try to simulate the form of lightning with his inner energy.

Zhou Ning gritted his teeth, gathered all the remaining internal energy in his palm, and then pushed it forcefully towards the black wind.

"thunder!"

A beam of silvery-white light shot out from his palm and struck Black Wind in the chest like lightning.

"what!"

Black Wind let out a miserable cry, its entire body enveloped in a silvery-white light, and its black armor began to crack, emitting wisps of black smoke.

He staggered backward, his eyes filled with terror: "This...this is...lightning magic?"

Zhou Ning, panting heavily, thrust out another palm strike.

The second silver-white light struck Black Wind's head.

"boom!"

Black Wind's head exploded, and black blood gushed out.

His body swayed a few times before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Zhou Ning slumped to the ground, panting heavily.

His internal energy was almost completely drained, leaving him feeling weak and sore all over.

But he didn't stop. He struggled to his feet, walked to the iron cage, used his Qingfeng sword to cut the chains, and released the fox women.

"Hurry, run down the mountain!"

The women panicked and scattered in all directions.

Zhou Ning followed behind them, escorting them away from the fortress.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Xiaoyu came to greet them.

"Young Master Zhou, are you alright?"

Zhou Ning shook his head: "It's nothing. Where's your sister?"

Xiaoyu pointed to a young woman in the crowd:

"That's my sister."

Xin Shiyi Niang stepped forward and bowed deeply to Zhou Ning: "Thank you for saving my life, young master."

Zhou Ning helped her up: "No need to thank me. You should leave here quickly; the people from Black Mountain could come at any time."

Xiaoyu nodded and led the women south.

Zhou Ning watched them leave, then turned and set the fortress ablaze.

The raging fire reduced the evil lair to ashes.

He dragged his weary body and embarked on the journey back to Lanruo Temple.