Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 172 Reinforcing the Seal

The two continued their stroll through the peach grove.

Xin Shisi Niang told him many stories about the Qingqiu fox clan.

About their ancestors, about their legends, about their rise and fall.

Zhou Ning listened intently, nodding from time to time.

"Young Master Zhou, do you know anything about the 'Heavenly Fox Secret Realm' that you helped us seal last time?" Xin Shisi Niang suddenly asked.

Zhou Ning was taken aback.

"The Celestial Fox Realm? What other secrets does it hold?"

Xin Shisi Niang nodded.

"That's right, that's the greatest secret realm of our Qingqiu Fox Clan. It's hidden, but besides the treasures and techniques, the real secret is the Heavenly Fox Transformation. Didn't I show it to Young Master Zhou? It was an incomplete version. The real, complete version is inside. That's the greatest secret treasure of our Qingqiu Fox Clan."

"But the entrance to the secret realm is very strange. Last time, Young Master Zhou sealed the strange thing for us, but he also indirectly strengthened the seal of the entrance. Our fox clan cultivators have tried many times, but they have not been able to bypass the strange seal and open the entrance completely."

She paused, then continued:

"Recently, we discovered that the strange seal has shown signs of loosening again."

"If the seal completely collapses, my Qingqiu Fox Clan will likely face another catastrophe. Therefore, we would like to ask Young Master Zhou for help in reinforcing the seal. Is that alright?"

Zhou Ning thought for a moment. Although he was skilled in the sealing technique last time, it was obviously not very effective.

"I can give it a try. But I don't know much about sealing techniques."

Xin Shisi Niang said, "Young Master Zhou, there's no need to worry. Our fox clan has an elder who is proficient in sealing techniques. He will guide you, but he will need Young Master Zhou's righteous spirit."

Zhou Ning nodded: "Okay. I'll do my best."

Xin Shisi Niang was overjoyed and led him to the back mountain.

There is a cave in the back mountain, and deep inside the cave is a huge stone door.

The stone gate was covered with intricate runes, emitting a faint golden light.

In front of the stone gate stood an elderly man with white hair, wearing a white robe and holding a cane. He was an elder of the Qingqiu Fox Clan.

"Elder, Young Master Zhou has arrived," said Xin Shisi Niang.

The elder looked Zhou Ning up and down and nodded slightly: "Young Master Zhou, we meet again. Please."

He led Zhou Ning to the stone gate.

"This seal was set up by our ancestors of the Qingqiu Fox Clan. It requires pure true essence and a righteous spirit formed from a firm Dao heart to be strengthened."

"Although our fox clan cultivators are not weak in cultivation, their Dao hearts are not firm enough to resonate with the righteous energy seal. Young Master Zhou is Yan Chixia's disciple, so his Dao heart must be firm, and he will definitely be able to do it."

Zhou Ning took a deep breath, placed his hands on the stone door, and poured his primordial spirit power into it.

He activated his Nascent Soul stage cultivation to its fullest extent, and a purple-gold light enveloped the stone gate.

The runes on the stone gate lit up with a dazzling golden light, resonating with his primordial spirit power.

The seal has begun to be reinforced.

Zhou Ning could sense a powerful force contained within the stone gate, the will left behind by the ancestors of the Qingqiu Fox Clan.

That will resonated with his righteous spirit, giving him a sense of warmth.

"Hold on!" The elder's voice rang in his ears.

Zhou Ning gritted his teeth and poured more of his primordial spirit power into the stone gate.

The runes on the stone gate grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the entire cave as if it were daytime.

Finally, the runes on the stone gate stabilized, and the seal was reinforced.

Zhou Ning withdrew his hands and exhaled a long breath.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Nearly 60% of his primordial spirit power had been consumed, but a sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.

"It's a success."

The elder nodded with satisfaction: "Young Master Zhou, thank you."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "Elder, you're too kind."

The elder smiled and said, "The peach blossoms of Qingqiu Mountain are a rare sight in the world. Please do me the honor of letting our Qingqiu Fox Clan stay a few more days so that I can have Fourteen Sister show you the beauty of Qingqiu Mountain's Peach Blossom Paradise."

Young Master Zhou clasped his hands in agreement.

He then stayed in Qingqiu Mountain for a few more days, exchanging cultivation insights with Xin Shisi Niang and the fox clan cultivators, and then strolled around Peach Blossom Spring with Xin Shisi Niang for a few days.

The peach blossoms on Qingqiu Mountain were still in full bloom when Zhou Ning left.

He stood at the mountain gate and looked back. The pink sea of ​​flowers covering the mountains swayed in the morning light, like a pink cloud.

Xin Shisi Niang stood in the peach grove, waving goodbye to him. Her white dress fluttered in the wind, like a white crane about to take flight.

Several white foxes peeked out from the flower bushes, looked at him curiously, and then quickly scurried back inside.

"Take care of yourself."

Zhou Ning said something softly, then turned and went down the mountain.

The mountain road winds its way, and peach petals fall in the wind, carpeting the ground.

Zhou Ning stepped on the flower petals and walked down the mountain step by step.

A faint sense of melancholy welled up in his heart.

The scenery of Qingqiu Mountain was beautiful, and Xin Shisi Niang's hospitality was very warm, but he eventually had to go back.

Lanruo Temple is his true home; his master is still waiting for him there.

Instead of transforming into a rainbow, he walked down the mountain, and after about an hour, he arrived at the foot of the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, there is a small river with crystal-clear water. A few peach petals float on the surface of the river, slowly drifting away with the current.

Zhou Ning squatted down, scooped up a handful of water, and washed her face.

The cool river water dispelled some of his fatigue and invigorated him.

"It's time to go back."

He continued on his way.

Along the way, Zhou Ning still did not fly through the air like a rainbow, nor did he fly at low altitude on his sword. Instead, he walked step by step toward Lanruo Temple.

As Zhou Ning walked, he recalled the hardships he had endured along the way, the bitterness, the difficulties, and the joy.

From becoming Yan Chixia's apprentice to eliminating evil for the people, and then fighting against the Black Mountain Demon, he faced countless life-threatening situations, yet his heart remained devoted to the well-being of the people.

Then came the danger of extraterrestrial demons, with spatial rifts appearing repeatedly. Despite repeated efforts to resist, there were some successes, but all the hard work only resulted in sealing them away. The threat remained, and it was still a potential threat.

"The Heavenly Demon is ultimately a scourge, having once turned the Three Realms upside down. Even though its strength is not what it used to be, it is still enough to sweep across the Three Realms."

"Back then, even with my Nascent Soul stage cultivation, I could only barely find its weakness and seal it again. I wonder if I'll be so lucky next time."

"Perhaps next time, it will be on guard."

Zhou Ning rubbed his temples, a sudden pressure surging into his heart. He was at a loss, not knowing where to start, and completely bewildered.

Zhou Ning washed his face, then got up, stretched, took a deep breath, and started walking towards Lanruo Temple.

Instead of sightseeing, Zhou Ning cleared roads through mountains and filled bridges over rivers, dealing with some demons and monsters along the way.