Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 57 The Dharma Assembly in the South of the City

He walked for about an hour, and then a pine forest appeared ahead.

The forest was dimly lit, and the ground was covered with a thick layer of pine needles.

As Zhou Ning was walking, he suddenly heard the sounds of fighting ahead.

He quickened his pace and followed the sound.

Deep in the pine forest, a young Taoist priest was fighting a huge black wolf.

The young Taoist priest was Xuan Qingzi's disciple. He held a long sword and his swordsmanship was somewhat disciplined, but his cultivation was clearly insufficient. He was forced to retreat repeatedly by the black wolf.

The black wolf opened its blood-red maw and pounced on him.

The young Taoist priest was unable to dodge in time and was tackled to the ground.

At the critical moment, Zhou Ning hurriedly pulled out an "evil-repelling talisman" from his waist and threw it at the black wolf.

"disease!"

The talisman transformed into a golden light and struck the black wolf on the forehead.

The black wolf let out a miserable howl, its whole body bursting into golden flames. It rolled on the ground a few times and then fell silent.

The young Taoist priest got up, saw Zhou Ning, was startled at first, and then lowered his head.

"Young Master Zhou..."

Zhou Ning walked up to him and looked at him:

"Your master asked me to look after you. Come back with me."

The young Taoist priest shook his head: "I'm not going back. I'm going to the North to prove to everyone that the disciples of Laoshan are not useless."

Zhou Ning sighed:

There are many ways to prove yourself. Sending yourself to your death is the stupidest one.

The young Taoist priest raised his head, his eyes filled with stubbornness:

"I am not afraid of death."

Zhou Ning looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then said:

"You're not afraid of death, but your master is. He chased you all night but couldn't catch you, and then asked me to look after you. Do you think you're doing this to him?"

The young Taoist priest's eyes reddened.

"Master...Master, he..."

Zhou Ning nodded:

"He's gone back to the mountains. Come back with me, I'll take you to a safe place, and then I'll go to the north myself."

"When I get back, I'll teach you a few more tricks, and then you can prove yourself. It's not too late."

The young Taoist priest hesitated for a long time before finally nodding.

Zhou Ning took him back to Ping'an Town.

After settling him in, Zhou Ning set off again, heading north alone.

North of Ping'an Town lies an endless wasteland.

The vegetation was sparse, the soil was dry and cracked, and occasionally a few crooked trees stood alone by the roadside, like dying old men.

The wind was strong, whipping up yellow sand that stung my face.

Zhou Ning covered his mouth and nose with a cloth and hurried on his way with his head down.

After walking for about two hours, a relatively large town appeared ahead.

Looking into the distance, the city walls were towering and the buildings were numerous, making it much more prosperous than Ping'an Town, which we had passed through before.

People came and went at the city gate, and the cries of vendors rose and fell.

Three large characters are engraved on the city gate tower.

Qingyun City.

Zhou Ning entered the city gate and walked along the main street.

The streets are lined with shops, including restaurants, teahouses, cloth shops, and pharmacies.

The streets were bustling with people.

But Zhou Ning noticed a strange phenomenon.

Many people looked unwell, pale, listless, with sunken eyes, as if they hadn't slept well for a long time.

Some people walk unsteadily, as if they might fall at any moment.

"Excuse me, sir." Zhou Ning stopped a middle-aged man who was passing by.

"Has something happened in town? Everyone looks so pale."

The middle-aged man looked him up and down, then lowered his voice and said:

"You must be from out of town. Recently, a Taoist priest from Laoshan came to the city and set up a ritual platform in the south of the city, saying he wants to hold a ritual to pray for the people."

"Those who went there all came back saying they felt refreshed, but after a few days, they became listless. I suspect there's something wrong with that ritual."

Zhou Ning frowned: "A Dharma assembly in the south of the city?"

The middle-aged man nodded:

"It's on an open space south of the city, starting at noon and ending in the late afternoon every day. Do you want to go take a look?"

Zhou Ning said, "Let's go take a look."

The middle-aged man quickly grabbed him:

"Young man, I advise you not to go. That ceremony is extremely evil. Everyone who goes is bewitched by the Taoist priest and donates all their savings. My neighbor, Old Li, donated his life savings, and now he can't even afford to eat."

Zhou Ning said, "Don't worry, brother, I know what I'm doing."

He bid farewell to the middle-aged man and headed south of the city.

There was an open space in the south of the city, and a tall altar was erected on it.

The altar was wrapped in red cloth, and apricot-yellow flags with talismans drawn on them were planted all around, fluttering in the wind.

In the center of the altar, there is an incense table with statues of the Three Pure Ones on it, and incense smoke curls upwards.

Below the altar, hundreds of people sat in a dense crowd.

They closed their eyes, clasped their hands together, and muttered incantations, their expressions devout and dazed.

On the altar stood a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a purple robe.

He was tall and imposing, with a dignified face and three long wisps of beard. He held a peach wood sword and was performing a ritual.

"By the Supreme Decree, your lonely soul is liberated from suffering and reborn as a human..."

The Taoist priest chanted incantations as he waved his peach wood sword in the air, sparks occasionally flying from the tip.

Zhou Ning stood at the back of the crowd, watching quietly.

His spiritual eyes had been activated, and he could clearly see that a thin layer of black mist was attached to the Taoist's peach wood sword.

That mist wasn't spiritual energy, but... demonic energy.

"There's something wrong with this Taoist priest," Zhou Ning thought to himself.

He did not rush to take action, but continued to observe.

After the Taoist priest finished his ritual, he sheathed his peach wood sword and shouted loudly:

"Dear devotees, today's Dharma assembly has come to an end. Tomorrow at noon, I will continue to pray for you. After you return home, please remember the teachings I have taught you and recite them once each morning and evening to ensure peace and safety for your home and to protect you from all illnesses."

The crowd rose, bowed to the Taoist priest, and then dispersed.

Zhou Ning noticed that those who left looked even paler and walked with more unsteady steps than when they arrived.

A faint wisp of black mist could be seen rising from their heads and slowly drifting toward the altar.

"They are having their life essence drained." Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

Instead of immediately exposing him, he followed the crowd and left the Dharma assembly.

When everyone had left and only the Taoist priest remained on the altar, Zhou Ning quietly returned.

The Taoist priest was tidying up the incense table when he suddenly sensed someone behind him and turned around abruptly.

"Who are you?"

Zhou Ning stepped out of the shadows and said calmly, "Just someone passing by."

The Taoist priest sized him up, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes:

"Are you also a practitioner?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "Qingyun Mountain, Yan Chixia's disciple."

The Taoist priest's expression changed slightly:

"Yan Chixia? What are you doing here?"

Zhou Ning said, "I was just passing by. I saw that the Taoist priest was holding a ritual, so I came to observe. The Taoist priest's magic is indeed superb."

A hint of smugness flashed in the Taoist priest's eyes:

"That's natural. I am a disciple of Qingxu Temple in Laoshan, with the Dharma name 'Xuanzhenzi'. This blessing ritual is my own creation, and it is remarkably effective. If Young Master Zhou is interested, I can teach you."

Zhou Ning shook his head with a wry smile: "No need. I just want to ask the elder a question."

"What's the problem?"

"Is the Taoist priest's ritual truly helping people pray for blessings, or is it draining their vital energy?"