Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 83 Reinforcement of the Seal

Deep within the temple, overgrown weeds and withered vines entwine.

Zhou Ning walked along a cobblestone path half-hidden by weeds towards the innermost part of the temple.

On both sides of the road were collapsed monks' quarters, with ivy climbing all over the ruins, casting mottled shadows in the twilight.

The air was filled with a damp, musty smell, mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible stench of blood.

His divine sense had already spread out, covering an area of ​​a hundred feet in radius.

He could sense a dense, chilling aura slowly flowing about fifty feet ahead.

The aura was deep and ancient, carrying an indescribable sense of oppression, unlike any demon he had ever encountered before.

"It's not an ordinary ghost."

Zhou Ning gripped the Qingfeng Sword tightly, channeling his true essence into it, causing the sword to glow with a faint golden light.

He quickened his pace and walked towards the direction of that aura.

After passing through a moon gate, a small courtyard appeared ahead.

In the center of the courtyard, there is an ancient well, the wellhead covered by a thick stone slab, which is covered with densely engraved runes.

The runes were deeply engraved, as if carved with a sharp blade. The edges were weathered and blurred, but one could still feel the sealing power contained within them.

Beside the ancient well stands a stone tablet. Two lines of characters are engraved on the tablet, the handwriting vigorous and powerful.

"Qingshan Temple was built during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty. A malevolent spirit called 'Blood Butcher' was suppressed in the well. It was a bloodthirsty demon from a thousand years ago. Eminent monks of all generations suppressed it with Buddhist teachings, preventing it from being born."

"Disciples of the future, remember this well, never dig a well."

After reading the inscription, Zhou Ning frowned.

Bloodbath?

A Thousand-Year Madman?

Suppressed in a well by eminent monks throughout history?

He walked to the well, squatted down, and carefully examined the runes on the stone slab.

He had never seen those runes before; they were neither Taoist talismans nor Buddhist incantations, but some kind of ancient and obscure script.

However, he could sense that the runes contained a powerful sealing force, somewhat similar to the Corpse King's seal he had seen in the cave in Baihe Village, but purer and more vast.

"The seal is still there, but it has loosened."

Zhou Ning reached out and touched the stone slab; it was icy cold to the touch.

There are several fine cracks on the surface of the stone slab, from which black mist seeps out.

He recalled the words of the two men: in recent years, every night, the sound of bells and chanting could be heard from the temple.

That wasn't someone performing a ritual; it was a sign that the seal was loosening.

Blood Butcher, imprisoned in the well, is trying to break the seal.

"The seal must be reinforced."

Zhou Ning stood up, took out cinnabar, yellow paper and pen from his bag, and began to draw an "evil-suppressing talisman".

He drew the talismans very quickly, but he was extremely careful with every stroke.

True essence flowed from the fingertips into the tip of the brush, and as the brush moved across the yellow paper, it outlined golden runes.

One, two, three... He drew nine in one go, each one radiating a faint golden light.

Zhou Ning placed nine "evil-suppressing talismans" on the ground around the stone slab according to the nine palaces.

Then, he sat cross-legged by the well, formed hand seals, and poured his true energy into the talisman array.

"The profound origin of Heaven and Earth, the root of all Qi. Through countless eons of cultivation, I have attained divine powers. Within and beyond the Three Realms, only the Dao is supreme. My body is enveloped in golden light..."

He chanted the "Golden Light Divine Mantra," and the nine talismans in the talisman array lit up simultaneously, their golden light intertwining to form a huge light shield that enveloped the ancient well.

The runes on the stone slab began to shimmer in the golden light, and the previously dim strokes lit up again.

The black mist was forced back into the well by the golden light, and the cracks on the stone slab slowly healed.

The seal has been reinforced.

Zhou Ning exhaled a long breath, finished his practice, and stood up.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He had consumed nearly 30% of his true energy, but a sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.

"It should last for a while."

Just as he was about to leave, a low roar suddenly came from the well.

The voice was hoarse and shrill, like a broken bellows, or a wail coming from the deepest hell.

The sound wasn't loud, but it pierced straight to the soul, causing Zhou Ning's divine sense to tremble.

"Who...who is reinforcing the seal?"

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine, gripped his Qingfeng sword tightly, and stared warily at the ancient well.

The runes on the stone slab flickered a few times, and the roaring sound from the well gradually subsided.

But Zhou Ning knew that the suppressed Blood Butcher had already sensed his presence.

"This is no place to linger." He turned and quickly left the courtyard.

Back at the temple, the two men were still there, though their faces remained pale.

"Hey bro, you're back so soon!" The short, chubby guy's eyes were full of surprise when he saw him.

The tall, thin man hurriedly asked, "What did you find out, sir?"

Zhou Ning nodded.

"We've found out. A thousand-year-old evil spirit is being suppressed in the well of this ancient temple. The seal was loosened, which is why those strange things happened. I've reinforced the seal, so there shouldn't be any problems for now."

The two men's expressions changed drastically.

"A thousand-year-old evil spirit? Then... then let's hurry up and leave!"

Zhou Ning said, "You go down the mountain first. I need to check it again to make sure there are no problems with the seal."

The two men exchanged a glance, nodded hastily, and scrambled away from the temple.

Zhou Ning walked around Qingshan Temple again to make sure there were no other abnormalities before leaving.

When we stepped out of the temple gate, it was already dark.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the dilapidated temple, bathing everything in a dark red glow.

From the distant mountains and forests came a few birdsongs, mournful and lingering.

Standing at the mountain gate, Zhou Ning glanced back at the ancient temple, a feeling of indescribable emotion welling up inside him.

"A thousand-year-old evil... the Black Mountain Demon... how many unknown dangers still lurk in this world?"

He shook his head and turned to go down the mountain.

It was already late at night when we returned to Qingshi Town.

Instead of going to the inn, Zhou Ning lit a bonfire in an open space outside the town, sat cross-legged by the fire, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

The true energy within the body circulated slowly, bringing a warm and comforting sensation.

He took out the communication jade talisman and reported the matter of Longquan Temple to Yan Chixia.

"Master, I have discovered a thousand-year-old evil spirit called 'Blood Slaughter' that has been suppressed in Qingshan Temple, north of Qingshi Town. The seal has loosened, and I have reinforced it. However, I am worried that the seal may loosen again in the future."

Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, then said, "Blood Slaughter... I've heard of that name. A thousand years ago, it was a bloodthirsty demon that slaughtered several villages before being suppressed by the high monks of Qingshan Temple. I never expected that its seal would be broken."

He paused, then continued, "You did the right thing. Strengthening the seal has temporarily prevented it from emerging. But this is not a long-term solution. To completely eliminate Blood Butcher, we need to find its weakness. I will investigate this matter. You go to the North first, don't delay."

Zhou Ning replied, "This disciple understands."

"And..." Yan Chixia continued:

"On your journey north, you may encounter the Black Mountain Demon's subordinates. They might exploit the weakening of Blood Butcher's seal to create chaos. Be careful."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "This disciple understands."

The jade talisman's light dimmed, and Yan Chixia's voice disappeared.

Zhou Ning put away the jade talisman, leaned against a tree, and closed his eyes to rest.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, he left Qingshi Town and continued northward.