Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 33 Northern Calamity

In the days that followed, Zhou Ning's life became even busier.

I get up at dawn every day, practice the "Demon-Slaying Sword Technique" for an hour, then meditate to cultivate the "Innate Qi". In the afternoon, I draw talismans, practice controlling objects in the evening, and continue to study the sword technique and classics at dusk.

Day after day, rain or shine.

The "Demon-Slaying Sword Technique" was much more difficult than he had imagined.

This sword technique is less a sword art and more a skill of concentrating one's inner energy into the sword and using the sword as a medium to cast spells.

Each move requires extremely precise control of spiritual energy and strong divine will support.

Zhou Ning practiced for half a month before he could barely grasp the basics of the first move, "Demon-Slaying Slash".

This move involves condensing one's inner energy at the tip of the sword and then unleashing it to form a condensed sword aura that can pierce through the protective inner energy of demons and evil spirits.

However, using this move requires consuming most of his internal energy.

After one move, he would become weak and need a long time to recover.

"Still too weak."

Zhou Ning shook his head and continued practicing.

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

He sheathed his sword, turned around, walked to the edge of the cliff, and looked down. He saw a group of people walking along the mountain path towards Lanruo Temple.

The leader was a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe, riding a tall horse, followed by a dozen or so burly men who looked like servants.

It is Master Wang.

The last time he came, it was about the Black Wind Village mountain demon.

They've come again this time; I wonder what's happened this time?

Zhou Ning hurried down the mountain to meet him.

"Master Wang, what brings you here?"

Master Wang dismounted, his face grave.

"Brother Zhou, something terrible has happened."

"What is it?"

Master Wang took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"This was sent by the Demon Suppression Division. They said that a large number of demons have appeared on the northern border and are approaching the Central Plains. All the major sects are gathering manpower to go to the north to provide support."

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

The contents of the letter were very simple.

A calamity has struck the northern lands, endangering all living beings. All cultivators are urged to rush to their aid.

"The Demon Suppression Division?" Zhou Ning frowned.

"What is that?"

Master Wang said, "It's an agency established by the imperial court specifically to deal with demons and evil spirits. The people inside are all cultivators. They heard that Immortal Yan has great supernatural powers, so they specially sent someone to invite him."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "I need to report this to my master. Master Wang, you should go back first. I will let you know if there is any news."

Master Wang nodded and led his servants down the mountain.

Zhou Ning took the letter and strode into the main hall.

Yan Chixia was meditating when he heard footsteps and opened his eyes.

"What is it?"

Zhou Ning handed over the letter and relayed what Master Wang had said.

After reading the letter, Yan Chixia remained silent for a moment, then said:

"I've heard about what's happening in the North. The Black Mountain Demon's influence is infiltrating the Central Plains. It's no surprise that the major sects are gathering their forces."

He stood up, hands behind his back, and paced back and forth:

"However, you cannot go to the North right now."

Zhou Ning was taken aback: "Why?"

Yan Chixia said, "Your cultivation is not high enough. Going to the North will only lead to your death."

Zhou Ning fell silent.

He knew his master was right.

With his current strength, he can barely defeat even a small fry in Black Mountain, let alone go to the North to fight the Black Mountain Demon.

"What should the disciple do?" he asked.

Yan Chixia said, "Continue your cultivation. Once you have mastered the 'Demon-Slaying Sword Technique' and your cultivation has broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, then we can consider going to the Northern Lands."

He paused, then continued:

"In addition, I have carefully read the records about Black Mountain in that book of local landscape records. It mentions that the weakness of the Black Mountain Demon may be related to his 'origin'."

"The origin?" Zhou Ning asked.

Yan Chixia nodded: "Every great demon has its own origin. If the origin is destroyed, the demon will die. The Black Mountain Demon's origin is very likely in his lair, 'Black Mountain'."

He turned around and looked at Zhou Ning:

"Therefore, if we want to completely eliminate the Black Mountain Demon, we must find its origin and destroy it."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Then what is his origin?"

Yan Chixia shook his head: "I don't know. You'll have to look it up yourself."

He walked to the window, put his hands behind his back, and gazed at the distant mountains:

"Remember this: on the path of cultivation, if you don't advance, you fall behind. The matter of the Black Mountain Demon can't be resolved in a day or two. What you need to do is continuously improve yourself and wait for the right opportunity."

Zhou Ning solemnly replied, "This disciple understands."

Yan Chixia nodded: "Go ahead. Continue practicing your swordsmanship."

Zhou Ning bowed respectfully and withdrew from the main hall.

Back in the back mountain, he gripped the Green Edge Sword and continued practicing the "Demon-Slaying Sword Technique".

One sword, two swords, three swords...

Sweat soaked through his clothes, and his arms ached so much he could barely lift them, but he didn't stop.

Because he knew that only by becoming stronger could he one day face the Black Mountain Demon and end it all.

He practices swordsmanship at dawn, meditates at dusk, draws talismans at noon, practices controlling objects at 1-3 pm, studies the "Demon-Slaying Sword Manual" at 5 pm, and continues meditating at 7 pm.

Day after day, rain or shine.

But unlike before, his master Yan Chixia had become much stricter with him.

He had been practicing the first move of the "Demon-Slaying Sword Technique," the "Demon-Breaking Slash," for almost a month.

This move involves condensing one's internal energy at the tip of the sword and then unleashing it to form a condensed sword aura that can pierce through the protective energy of demons and evil spirits.

It sounds simple, but it's incredibly difficult to do.

The problem lies in the speed at which the Qi condenses and the timing of its eruption.

Too fast, the sword energy disperses and doesn't condense, resulting in insufficient power.

Too slow, the enemy has already dodged, and it's impossible to hit them.

Only by compressing one's inner energy to its maximum extent within an extremely short period of time and then releasing it the instant it touches the enemy can one unleash its greatest power.

"Again."

Yan Chixia stood not far away, watching him expressionlessly.

Zhou Ning took a deep breath, held the Qingfeng Sword horizontally in front of him, closed his eyes, and felt the flow of internal energy within his body.

The vital energy flowed like a stream, starting from the dantian, along the meridians, all the way upward, converging in the right arm, and pouring into the sword.

He could clearly feel the spiritual energy on the sword gradually condensing, becoming denser and more concentrated.

"Now."

He suddenly opened his eyes and swung his Qingfeng sword forward.

A streak of cyan sword energy shot out from the tip of the sword, like a crescent moon, piercing through the air.

"boom!"

The sword energy struck a boulder ten steps away, causing it to tremble violently and a deep crack to appear on its surface.

Zhou Ning, panting heavily, looked at Yan Chixia.

Yan Chixia walked to the boulder, reached out and touched the crack, and nodded slightly.

"It's three inches deeper than last time. That's progress."

Zhou Ning was overjoyed: "Disciple has finally found a bit of the knack."

"How do you feel?" Yan Chixia turned around and looked at him:

"Spiritual practice is not about feeling, but about accumulation. You might be able to feel something today, but you might forget it tomorrow. Only through daily practice, turning that feeling into muscle memory, can you truly master it."

Zhou Ning solemnly replied, "This disciple understands."

"Continue." Yan Chixia stepped aside:

"Today's goal is to split this boulder. No food until it's split."