Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 85 Xuanzhen's Letter

Zhou Ning did not pursue them. He walked to the iron cage, used his Qingfeng sword to cut the chains, and released the people.

"Hurry, run towards the cave entrance!"

The people panicked and ran towards the cave entrance.

Zhou Ning followed behind, escorting them out of the mine.

When we emerged from the mine, it was already dawn.

The morning light shone on the wasteland, bathing everything in a golden glow.

Zhou Ning counted the number of people; there were sixteen in total, not one missing.

"You are safe."

"Go south, and you'll reach Luoxia City. Once you're in the city, find the people from the Demon Suppression Division; they will protect you."

The people knelt down and kowtowed, expressing their deepest gratitude.

Zhou Ning helped them up and watched them leave.

Then he turned around and set the mine on fire.

The raging fire reduced the evil lair to ashes.

Zhou Ning dragged his weary body back to Luoxia City.

Han Wei was waiting for him at the city gate. He was overjoyed to see him return safely.

"Young Master Zhou, you've succeeded!"

Zhou Ning nodded: "The mining base has been destroyed, and the people have all been rescued."

Han Wei held his hand tightly, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Young Master Zhou, you are a great benefactor of our Demon Suppression Division."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "Lord Han, you are too kind. Slaying demons and eliminating evil is simply the duty of us cultivators."

He paused, then continued, "Lord Han, the situation in the north is more severe than I imagined. I need more intelligence."

Han Wei nodded: "Of course, please follow me."

The two entered the Demon Suppression Division's headquarters, and Han Wei took out a thick stack of files from a cabinet and handed them to Zhou Ning.

"This is the intelligence we've gathered about Black Mountain over the years. It includes the distribution of Black Mountain Demon's power, a list of demon generals, the location of its strongholds, and... some speculations about the Black Mountain Demon's true form."

Zhou Ning took the file and turned to the first page.

Four large characters were written on it.

Black Mountain Demon.

Below is a line of smaller text.

He has cultivated for a thousand years, but his true form remains unknown.

It is suspected to be an ancient demonic beast, or a demonic cultivator.

His strength is unfathomable, possibly exceeding the Nascent Soul stage.

Nascent Soul stage...

Zhou Ning gasped.

He is only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, a far cry from the Nascent Soul stage.

"Lord Han, may I take this intelligence with me?"

Han Wei nodded: "Okay, I have a backup here. Young Master Zhou, please be very careful. The Black Mountain Demon is not someone one person can deal with."

Zhou Ning carefully put away the dossier and said solemnly, "Thank you, Lord Han."

He left the Demon Suppression Division's headquarters and returned to the inn.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he took out the file and carefully studied it page by page.

The Black Mountain Demon's power was far greater than he had imagined.

Most of the northern region has been taken over by Montenegro.

There were dozens of demon generals, hundreds of men in black robes, and countless demon soldiers.

The true form of the Black Mountain Demon is said to be a black tiger, a black dragon, or an ancient tree.

But no one has ever seen it with their own eyes.

"A Nascent Soul stage cultivator... could kill me with just a glance."

Zhou Ning closed the file and fell into deep thought.

But he couldn't not go.

The people of the North are suffering.

If he backs down, how is he any different from those upright and righteous families who stand idly by?

"We have to go."

He opened his eyes, his gaze resolute.

The next morning, Zhou Ning left Luoxia City and continued north.

North of Luoxia City lies a vast, desolate wasteland.

The vegetation is sparse, the land is dry and cracked, and sandstorms rage.

Zhou Ning wrapped his robes tighter and circulated his true energy throughout his body to resist the severe cold.

The further north you go, the lower the temperature gets, and an indescribable sense of oppression permeates the air.

In the distance, the outline of Black Mountain loomed in and out of sight, like a sleeping giant lying prostrate on the horizon.

After walking for two whole days, Zhou Ning arrived at an abandoned post station.

The post station was small, consisting of only a few dilapidated mud-brick houses, and most of the courtyard wall had collapsed.

The yard was overgrown with weeds, and a well had long since dried up, its opening half-covered by wind and sand.

Zhou Ning entered the post station, intending to spend the night there.

He lit a campfire, took out some dry food and water from his bag, and ate silently.

The firelight flickered in the wind, casting a long shadow of him.

All around was silent, except for the sound of the wind and the crackling of the fire.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.

Zhou Ning put down the dry rations, gripped his Qingfeng sword, stood up, and looked warily in the direction from which the sound came.

The sound of horses' hooves grew closer.

Under the moonlight, a black steed galloped by, and the rider on it was a young woman dressed in a white Taoist robe.

She had delicate features, beautiful eyebrows and eyes, long hair flying in the wind, and a whisk in her hand, giving her a somewhat otherworldly and ethereal air.

The woman pulled on the reins and dismounted.

She was slightly taken aback when she saw Zhou Ning, but then a look of delight appeared on her face.

"Young Master Zhou? What are you doing here?"

Zhou Ning was also taken aback: "You are...?"

The woman smiled and said, "I am a disciple of Qingfeng Temple, with the Dharma name 'Xuanjing'. Master Xuanzhenzi is my senior brother. He asked me to pass on a message to you."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Master Xuanzhen? What does he want?"

Xuan Jing took out a letter from her bosom and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"My senior brother said that the Black Mountain Demon is currently gathering people to prepare for a grand blood sacrifice on the night of the full moon in half a month."

"At that time, hundreds of civilians will be killed. My senior brother said that if Young Master Zhou has time, he should hurry to Black Mountain to stop this blood sacrifice together."

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

The handwriting on the letter was vigorous and powerful, and it was indeed the work of Xuanzhenzi.

The content was consistent with what Xuan Jing had said, and a map of the outskirts of Black Mountain was attached at the end, marking the location of the blood sacrifice.

"Why doesn't Master Xuanzhen go by himself?" Zhou Ning asked.

Xuan Jing sighed: "My senior brother was injured by the people from Black Mountain and is currently recuperating at Qingfeng Temple. He sent me to find you, saying that perhaps only you can stop this blood sacrifice."

Zhou Ning remained silent for a moment before carefully putting the letter away.

"I understand. Go back and tell Master Xuanzhen that I will do my best."

Xuan Jing nodded, then took out another jade talisman and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"This is the communication jade talisman of my Qingfeng Temple. If you need to contact us when you arrive at Black Mountain, you can use it."

Zhou Ning accepted the jade talisman and said solemnly, "Thank you, young lady."

Xuan Jing mounted her horse, bowed to him, and galloped away.

Zhou Ning watched her leave, then returned to the campfire and unfolded the map to study it carefully.

The blood sacrifice took place in a valley at the foot of Black Mountain, called "Blood Valley".

The valley is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and there is only one narrow passage to enter.

The Black Mountain Demon would build an altar there and use the blood of hundreds of people to refine an evil artifact.

"The full moon night in half a month... there are still thirteen days left."

Zhou Ning calculated the time; it would take at least ten days to get from his current location to Blood Valley.

Time was of the essence, and he had to set off as soon as possible.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Zhou Ning left the post station and continued his journey north.

He quickened his pace, traveling day and night.

He traveled during the day and meditated at night, only taking a nap when he could no longer stay awake.

After traveling for five days, he arrived at a small town called "Black Rock Town".