Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 100 The Final Battle of the Demon Palace

The stone door slowly opened, emitting a heavy rumble.

Inside the stone chamber, the Black Mountain Demon sat cross-legged on a black stone bed, surrounded by thick black mist.

His eyes were closed, and his face was calm, as if he were asleep.

But he exuded a suffocating pressure, the terrifying aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Zhou Ning gripped the Qingfeng Sword tightly and poured his true essence into it.

With his Golden Core stage cultivation fully activated, golden light flowed across the sword, creating a striking contrast with the black mist in the room.

"The Black Mountain Demon," he said in a deep voice.

"Your death is near."

The Black Mountain Demon slowly opened his eyes, his blood-red pupils gleaming eerily in the darkness.

He looked at Zhou Ning, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"Zhou Ning, do you think that just because you've formed your Golden Core, you can fight me?"

He stood up, and black mist surged around him, condensing into a black suit of armor.

The armor was covered with eerie runes, emanating a chilling aura.

"Early stage of Golden Core, Grade One Golden Core, indeed impressive. But before the Nascent Soul stage, it's nothing but an ant."

Zhou Ning ignored his taunts and unleashed a sword strike.

Golden sword energy shot out and headed straight for the Black Mountain Demon's chest.

The Black Mountain Demon snorted coldly and raised his hand, sending a black beam of light to meet the attack.

"boom!"

The two forces collided, producing a deafening explosion.

The stone chamber shook violently, and the runes on the walls began to flicker.

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

The Black Mountain Demon remained unmoved, only his contempt deepened.

"Is that all you've got?"

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 used his lightness technique to weave and dodge among the chains.

At the same time, he pulled out three "evil-repelling talismans" from his waist and threw them at the Black Mountain Demon.

Three golden rays shot straight towards the Black Mountain Demon's chest.

The Black Mountain Demon raised his hand, and a black beam of light shattered the golden light.

But Zhou Ning had already seized the opportunity and rushed in front of him.

The Qingfeng sword, carrying a sharp sword aura, pierced straight towards the Black Mountain Demon's throat.

The Black Mountain Demon dodged the sword's edge with a swift movement.

At the same time, he struck out with a palm, the black palm wind carrying destructive power, heading towards Zhou Ning's chest.

Zhou Ning raised his sword to parry.

"Bang!"

The palm strike hit the sword, sending Zhou Ning flying. He crashed into the wall and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"The gap is too big." He gritted his teeth and struggled to stand up.

The Black Mountain Demon walked up to him and looked down at him.

"I told you, you are no match for me. Surrender, and I might spare your life."

Zhou Ning raised his head, his eyes filled with determination.

"impossible."

He concentrated all the remaining true energy in his body at the tip of the sword and unleashed the "Demon Slayer Technique".

That was a sword move he created by fusing "Demon-Slaying Slash" and "Sky-Splitting Slash".

A dazzling golden light shone from the Qingfeng Sword.

The light grew stronger and brighter, illuminating the entire stone chamber as if it were daytime.

"This sword strike is for you."

Zhou Ning unleashed a sword strike.

A massive golden sword aura shot out from the tip of the sword, like a golden dragon, carrying a world-destroying power, heading straight for the Black Mountain Demon.

The Black Mountain Demon's expression changed, and he formed a hand seal, condensing a black light shield in front of him.

"boom--!"

The golden sword energy struck the black light shield, unleashing a deafening roar.

The light shield trembled violently, and countless cracks appeared.

The Black Mountain Demon was forced back several steps, a trickle of black blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"You... how is this possible?" His eyes were filled with shock.

Zhou Ning was panting heavily, his true energy completely depleted.

But he did not fall; he gritted his teeth and stared intently at the Black Mountain Demon.

"This sword is for the people you killed."

He raised the Green Edge Sword again, and golden light shone on its blade once more.

Although much weaker than before, it is still sharp.

A hint of apprehension flashed in the eyes of the Black Mountain Demon.

"Are you crazy? If this continues, your cultivation will be ruined!"

Zhou Ning did not answer, but instead unleashed a sword strike.

The second golden sword energy headed straight for the Black Mountain Demon.

The Black Mountain Demon dared not take the sword energy head-on, and dodged it with a flash.

The sword energy struck the stone bed behind him, causing it to shatter instantly, sending fragments flying everywhere.

Zhou Ning stumbled and almost fell.

His vision began to blur, and he felt waves of intense pain emanating from his meridians.

"Again!"

He bit his tongue, and the sharp pain brought him back to his senses.

He raised the Green Edge Sword again, and golden light shone on its blade once more.

This time, the light was very weak, like a candle flickering in the wind.

The Black Mountain Demon looked at him, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

"You are a worthy opponent," he said slowly.

"But today, you must die."

He raised his hand, and a black vortex appeared in his palm.

The vortex grew larger and stronger, emitting a terrifying suction force.

Zhou Ning felt his body begin to fly uncontrollably toward the Black Mountain Demon. He desperately tried to circulate the last bit of true energy in his body to stabilize himself, but the suction force was too strong and he couldn't resist it at all.

"Oh no!"

Just as he was about to be sucked into the vortex, a golden sword light descended from the sky, slashing straight at the Black Mountain Demon.

The Black Mountain Demon's expression changed drastically, and he quickly retracted the vortex to dodge the sword light.

The sword flashed past his body, leaving a deep trench in the ground.

"Yan Chixia!" roared the Black Mountain Demon.

At the entrance of the stone chamber, Yan Chixia stood with his hands behind his back, holding an ancient longsword.

His body emanated a sharp sword aura, which contrasted sharply with the black aura of the Black Mountain Demon.

"Black Mountain Demon, your opponent is me."

He flashed and charged towards the Black Mountain Demon.

The two figures clashed in the stone chamber, their sword light colliding with the black mist, producing a deafening explosion.

Yan Chixia's swordsmanship is fierce, and each strike carries pure righteousness, suppressing evil.

The Black Mountain Demon's magic is bizarre, and every move carries a strong aura of death.

The two fought for dozens of rounds without a clear winner.

Zhou Ning slumped to the ground, watching his master fight the Black Mountain Demon, a sense of powerlessness welling up in his heart.

"I'm still too weak." He clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm.

Yan Chixia's voice echoed in his mind.

"Zhou Ning, leave. You're no match for him; staying will only be a burden to me."

Zhou Ning gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet.

"Master, I..."

"Let's go!" Yan Chixia's voice left no room for argument.

Zhou Ning took a deep breath, turned around, and staggered out of the stone chamber.

When I stepped out of the palace, it was already dawn.

The morning light shone on Black Mountain, bathing everything in a golden glow.

Zhou Ning glanced back at the demonic mountain, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

"Master, you must come back alive."

He turned around and walked quickly down the mountain.

When they returned to Qingfeng Temple, it was already evening of the next day.

Xuanzhenzi and Han Wei were waiting for him in the main hall. They both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw him return.

"Young Master Zhou, are you alright?" Xuanzhenzi asked with concern.

Zhou Ning shook his head: "I'm fine. But Master is still fighting fiercely with the Black Mountain Demon."

Xuanzhenzi's expression changed.

"Is Yan Xianzhang alone?"

Zhou Ning nodded.

Han Wei said, "I'll take some men to provide support!"

Zhou Ning stopped him: "No. The Black Mountain Demon is too powerful; you'll only be throwing your lives away."

He was silent for a moment, then said, "Wait! Wait for Master to return."

Everyone fell silent and waited quietly.