Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 81 Mind Concentration Technique

When Zhou Ning returned to Lanruo Temple, it was already afternoon.

Sunlight filters through the gaps in the pine forest, casting dappled patterns on the flagstone mountain path.

A mountain breeze caresses the face, carrying the fresh scent of pine resin and the delicate fragrance of distant wildflowers.

Standing at the mountain gate, Zhou Ning looked at the familiar temple and felt a long-lost sense of peace welling up in his heart.

All the toil, battles, and illusory trials of the past few days seemed to settle down at this moment, transforming into a clear mind deep within the heart of Dao.

He entered the main hall.

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

His gaze lingered on Zhou Ning for a moment, and he nodded slightly.

"You're back?"

"Disciple has returned." Zhou Ning bowed respectfully and reported everything that had happened in Qingshan Town—exposing the fraudster Xuanzhenzi, discussing the law with Xuanqingzi, exposing Xuanlingzi's conspiracy at the Dharma assembly, tracking Xuanlingzi to the dilapidated Taoist temple, falling into the Illusionary Heart Array, breaking out of the array with his Dao Heart, and bringing Xuanlingzi to justice.

After listening, Yan Chixia remained silent for a moment.

His face was expressionless, but Zhou Ning noticed a hint of approval flashing in his master's eyes.

"The Illusionary Heart Array and the Illusionary Demon Array originate from the same source and are not much different. Their effects can directly influence divine sense. No matter how high one's cultivation level is, if one's Dao heart is not firm, one will be trapped in them and unable to extricate oneself."

Yan Chixia stood up and paced back and forth.

"You were able to break through the formation using your own Dao heart, which shows that your mind is mature enough."

Zhou Ning lowered his head.

"This disciple dares not be complacent. The trials in that illusion were indeed perilous. If it weren't for Master's daily guidance, this disciple fears I would not have been able to escape."

Yan Chixia waved his hand: "No need to be modest. Your ability to get through this is your own skill."

He walked to the window, put his hands behind his back, and looked out at the distant mountains.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his back, gilding his blue robe with a warm gold.

After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, his voice softer than usual.

"Do you know why practitioners must first cultivate their minds before practicing the methods?"

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "Because if the heart is not upright, then the Dharma will not be upright. If the Dharma is not upright, then it is easy to fall into the demonic path."

Yan Chixia nodded.

"That's right. Spells are tools; the Dao heart is the foundation."

"With a firm Dao heart, even the weakest magic can defeat the enemy; with a weak Dao heart, even the strongest magic will backfire."

He turned around and looked at Zhou Ning, his gaze as deep as an ancient well.

"Along your journey, you have encountered the Painted Skin Demon, the Mountain Demon, the Corpse King, the Fox Demon, the Black Mountain Guardian... Each time, you have been able to guard your true self and not be tempted by external things. This shows that your Dao heart has already taken root."

A warm feeling welled up in Zhou Ning's heart.

The Master is usually serious and rarely praises anyone.

These few words are already extremely high praise.

"But..." Yan Chixia's tone shifted, becoming stern again:

"The cultivation of the Dao heart is endless. Just because you can guard your true heart now doesn't mean you can in the future. The temptations will become greater and the trials will become more and more difficult. If you are not careful, you will be doomed."

Zhou Ning solemnly replied, "This disciple understands. This disciple will remain vigilant at all times and dare not slacken."

Yan Chixia nodded, took out a jade slip from his sleeve, and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"This is the 'Mind Concentration Technique,' a method specifically for cultivating spiritual power. The stronger one's spiritual power, the less susceptible one is to illusions. Take this back and study it, practicing it once each morning and evening without interruption."

Zhou Ning accepted the jade slip and solemnly said, "Thank you, Master."

He left the main hall and returned to his residence.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he probed the jade slip with his divine sense and studied it carefully.

The content of the Concentration Technique is more profound than that of the Innate Qi.

It tells how to condense one's divine thoughts, how to materialize them, how to use them to perceive the surrounding environment, and how to use them to resist external interference.

Every step requires extreme focus and daily accumulation.

Following the method in the jade slip, Zhou Ning closed his eyes, concentrated his mind, and focused his attention on the space between his eyebrows.

At first, I didn't feel anything.

His mind was blank, with only the sound of the wind outside the window and the birdsong in the distance.

He wasn't in a hurry and continued to persist.

One day, two days, three days...

On the seventh day, he finally felt a faint throbbing between his eyebrows.

The movement was very light and subtle, like a butterfly flapping its wings; you could easily miss it if you weren't paying attention.

But Zhou Ning clearly sensed that it was the rudimentary form of divine thought.

He was delighted, but he didn't get distracted and continued refining his technique.

His divine sense grew stronger and stronger, transforming from a slight pulsation into a thin stream that flowed from his brow to his entire body.

He could feel the movement of the air around him, the falling leaves outside the window, and the sound of flowing water in the distant mountain stream...

Everything was perfectly clear in his perception.

"Is this the power of divine sense?" Zhou Ning opened his eyes, his heart filled with shock.

He tried to use his divine sense to perceive the situation on the back mountain.

The divine sense, like invisible tentacles, extended in all directions, passing through walls and forests, taking in everything on the back mountain.

Yan Chixia was practicing his swordplay, the sword light was like a rainbow, and each strike carried a sharp sword aura.

Squirrels leap among the branches in the pine forest, a pine cone in their mouths.

The mountain stream flows gently, and the pebbles at the bottom are clearly visible...

Zhou Ning withdrew his divine sense and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

"The Mind Concentration Technique is truly miraculous."

He continued his practice, day after day.

Half a month later, his divine sense was able to cover an area of ​​a hundred feet in radius.

Although he is still far from being as good as Yan Chixia, he is now worlds apart from before.

On this day, Zhou Ning was practicing the art of controlling objects in the back mountain when he suddenly felt the communication jade talisman in his arms getting slightly warm.

He took out the jade talisman and infused it with a wisp of true essence.

Yan Chixia's voice echoed in his mind.

"Zhou Ning, come to the main hall."

Zhou Ning sheathed his sword and strode into the main hall.

Yan Chixia was standing in front of the incense table, holding a letter in his hand, his face solemn.

"Master, what happened?" Zhou Ning asked.

Yan Chixia handed him the letter.

"Sent by the Demon Suppression Bureau. The demonic calamity in the North is escalating, with several cities already breached by demons and countless civilians killed or injured. Major sects are gathering manpower to go to the North to provide support."

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

"The North is in dire need of help. Demons are rampaging. All cultivators are urged to rush to the North and join us in this national crisis."

The inscription was signed by the Demon Suppression Division Headquarters, and was stamped with a large, bright red seal.

"Master, this disciple wishes to go again." Zhou Ning raised his head, his gaze resolute.

Yan Chixia looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and said, "Have you thought it through? You've seen the dangers of the North and the strength of the Black Mountain Demon. This journey is fraught with peril, with nine out of ten chances of survival."

Zhou Ning said, "This disciple has made up his mind. The purpose of this disciple's cultivation is to protect the innocent. The people of the North are suffering, and this disciple cannot stand idly by."

A complex look flashed in Yan Chixia's eyes, a mixture of relief and worry.

"Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you."

He took out a jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"This jade talisman contains a full-force sword aura of mine. In a moment of crisis, it can save your life."

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

"And..." Yan Chixia continued:

"On your journey north, you may encounter the Black Mountain Demon again. His strength far surpasses yours. If you meet him again, do not fight him head-on; run. Run as far away as you can."

Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."