Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 187: Doomed to Fail

The land on the wasteland was ripped up, stones flew everywhere, and dust filled the air.

A huge crater appeared on the ground, its walls charred black and still steaming.

The light shield trembled violently, and countless cracks appeared.

The demon was forced back more than ten steps, each step leaving a deep footprint on the ground from which black blood seeped.

But it still stood there.

"Zhou Ning, you've angered me."

The Heavenly Demon's voice was deep and hoarse, filled with boundless anger and killing intent.

"I'll make you pay!"

It raised its greatsword, and the runes on the blade shone with a blinding black light.

The black light was so real that it transformed into countless black chains that wrapped around Zhou Ning.

The chains were thicker and stronger than before, covered with sharp barbs, and exuded a strong aura of death.

Wherever the chains passed, the air seemed to freeze, and even time seemed to slow down.

Zhou Ning was prepared, his figure moving like a ghost as he weaved and dodged among the chains.

At the same time, he slashed out with his sword, and the blue-gold sword energy severed several chains.

But there were too many chains, and they kept coming in endlessly, as if there were no end in sight. When one broke, ten more would come to replace it.

"Heavenly Fox Demon-Slaying Technique!"

Zhou Ning concentrated all his Dao-merging power at the tip of his sword and unleashed the "Heavenly Fox Demon-Slaying Technique" once more.

A dazzling blue-gold light shone on the Heavenly Fox Sword.

The light grew stronger and brighter, dispelling all the surrounding darkness.

The celestial fox spirit within the sword let out a long howl, merging with him.

He could feel the power of the Heavenly Fox Soul perfectly merging with his Dao-Merging Power, and the realm of man and sword as one reached its peak at this moment.

"cut!"

A massive blue-gold sword aura shot out from the sword tip, heading straight for the Heavenly Demon's head.

This time, the sword energy was no longer a straight line, but drew a strange arc in the air, bypassing the Heavenly Demon's light shield and striking its head from the side.

"Pfft!"

The sword energy pierced through the Heavenly Demon's head, and black blood gushed out.

The demon let out a desperate roar, staggered backward, and a huge hole appeared in its head, from which black mist poured out continuously.

But the Heavenly Demon did not fall.

Its head, enveloped in black mist, began to slowly heal.

"You can't kill me," the Heavenly Demon grinned maliciously.

"I am the end of all things, eternal annihilation. As long as there are negative emotions in the world, I will not die."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

He recalled what Yan Chixia had said.

The Heavenly Demon feeds on negative emotions; war, slaughter, hatred, and fear are all its nourishment.

The more chaotic the world becomes, the stronger it becomes.

As long as these emotions remain, they will not be completely eradicated.

"Then we'll make sure you have no negative emotions to eat," Yan Chixia's voice came from behind.

Zhou Ning turned around and saw Yan Chixia struggling to stand up, holding the broken longsword in his hand.

His face was as pale as paper, and there was still blood at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained firm.

Han Wei also led his guards forward. Although they were all wounded, each of them gripped their weapons tightly and stared at the Heavenly Demon with unwavering eyes.

The people also emerged from their dilapidated houses, stood on the ruins, and gazed at the Heavenly Demon.

They had no weapons, but they had courage.

"We're not afraid of you!"

An old man shakily raised his cane and waved it at the Heavenly Demon.

"Yes! We're not afraid of you!"

More people joined in the chanting.

"We, the people of Qingfeng City, are not afraid of death!"

"Young Master Zhou will protect us!"

"Master Yan will protect us!"

The voices of the people converged into a torrent, echoing across the wasteland.

Zhou Ning could sense the power contained in those voices.

It is not true essence, nor magical power, but the human heart, faith, and hope.

That power resonated with his righteous spirit, transforming into a warm light that flowed into his body.

At this moment, his cultivation level broke through the early stage of Dao Integration and reached the middle stage of Dao Integration.

The blue light on the Heavenly Fox Sword became even more dazzling, and the Heavenly Fox Soul within the sword let out a joyful long howl.

Zhou Ning felt an even closer connection with heaven and earth, as if the entire world was under his control.

He could feel the heartbeats of the people of Qingfeng City, the fear in their hearts being replaced by courage, and the despair in their eyes being illuminated by hope.

"Heavenly Demon, your end has come."

Zhou Ning raised the Heavenly Fox Sword, and the runes on the sword shone with a dazzling blue-gold light.

A flicker of fear flashed in the eyes of the Heavenly Demon.

"You...you can't possibly..."

Zhou Ning didn't give it a chance to finish speaking and slashed out with his sword.

Blue-gold sword energy shot out from the sword tip, heading straight for the core of the Heavenly Demon.

This time, the sword energy was no longer a destructive force, but a purifying force imbued with righteous energy.

Wherever the sword energy passed, the black mist dissipated, and the runes on the edge of the crack began to light up again.

"No--!"

The Heavenly Demon let out a desperate roar, its body beginning to crumble under the impact of the blue-gold sword energy.

"Impossible, impossible! Ten thousand years ago, I was defeated by Roger, and ten thousand years later, I've been defeated again! Why? Why? Why is this happening?"

"I'm not reconciled! I'm not reconciled, Roger—!"

Its body turned into countless black fragments, scattered all over the ground.

Before it dissipated, a scene seemed to appear in my mind, accompanied by a sentence that slowly emerged.

"Heavenly Demon, in our world there is an old saying: evil can never prevail over good, so your defeat is destined."

This scene, these words, were spoken to it by someone it had only ever admired ten thousand years ago, but it hadn't paid attention to them at the time.

That man was named Roger. He also wielded the Heavenly Fox Sword and was also a human cultivator with a strong sense of righteousness.

A person who yearned for peace and tranquility, and with a burning passion to rid the world of evil, once fought fiercely against it beyond the Three Realms in that era of abundant spiritual energy.

Ten thousand years ago, it was defeated, but the man named Roger did not kill it; instead, he sealed it away.

Time has passed, and it has failed again, this time to the same people.

It's as if a cycle is repeating itself over and over in it.

Under the illumination of righteous energy, the fragments of the Heavenly Demon gradually became transparent, and finally turned into wisps of green smoke, dissipating into the air.

The cracks quickly closed and disappeared.

Silence returned to the wasteland.

Zhou Ning sheathed his sword, slumped to the ground, and gasped for breath.

Large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his internal energy was almost exhausted, and his arms were trembling slightly.

But a sense of satisfaction welled up inside me.

"It's a success," he murmured.

Yan Chixia walked to his side and extended her hand.

Get up.

Zhou Ning grasped his hand and struggled to stand up.

His legs felt a little weak, but his heart was full of strength.

"Master, is the Heavenly Demon dead?"

Yan Chixia shook his head.

"Probably not. It has only been temporarily purified. As long as negative emotions still exist in the world, it may be reborn."

He paused, then continued, "But as long as the righteous spirit in people's hearts remains, it cannot truly grow stronger."

"Your righteous spirit is its nemesis. As long as you are still here, it will not dare to descend upon you easily."

Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands. This disciple will continue to cultivate and protect the mortal realm."

Yan Chixia patted him on the shoulder, his eyes full of satisfaction.

The black fog over the wasteland completely dissipated, and the sunlight shone on the earth again, gilding the ravaged Qingfeng City with a warm golden hue.

Standing on the collapsed city wall, Zhou Ning gazed at the gradually subsiding cracks in the distance, a feeling of indescribable weariness and relief welling up inside him.

The demon's body transformed into countless black fragments, which turned into wisps of smoke under the illumination of righteous energy and dissipated into the void.

But its last words still echoed in his mind, as if they belonged to ancient times.

"It will come back."

Yan Chixia's voice came from behind.

Zhou Ning turned around and saw his master leaning on the broken longsword, walking towards him step by step.

The master's face was as pale as paper, and his robes were covered with tears and bloodstains, but his eyes remained firm.

Han Wei also led the surviving guards over. They were all wounded, some still bleeding, but their faces were filled with the joy of surviving a disaster.

Yan Chixia patted him on the shoulder.

"You've done a great job. Now, let's help the people rebuild their homes."