Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 22 Corpse King's Inner Core

Zhou Ning let out a long breath and slumped onto the boulder.

His internal energy was almost completely drained, and his whole body ached.

But a sense of indescribable satisfaction welled up within him.

He saved another person.

Although it was just a soul that had been dead for many years.

Yan Chixia walked to his side and said calmly, "Well done."

Zhou Ning raised his head, looked at his master, and grinned:

"This disciple... has fortunately fulfilled his mission."

"Rest now." Yan Chixia turned and left.

"I still have things to do tomorrow."

"What is it?" Zhou Ning asked.

Yan Chixia said without turning his head:

"The matter of Baihe Village is not over yet. Although the Corpse King has left, its inner core is still underground. If it is not retrieved, problems will arise sooner or later."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine:

"Disciple understands."

The next morning, Zhou Ning went to Baihe Village again.

This time, he brought with him the Qingfeng Sword and plenty of talismans.

It was already afternoon when we arrived at Baihe Village.

He didn't disturb the villagers, but went directly to the cave in the back mountain.

The cave remained cold and damp.

Zhou Ning entered the stone chamber and came to the stone coffin.

The stone coffin was empty.

He closed his eyes and used his divine sense to perceive the atmosphere underground.

Soon, he sensed a dense mass of cold, yin energy three feet underground.

That is the Corpse King's inner core.

Zhou Ning drew his Qingfeng sword, infused it with his inner energy, and thrust it into the ground.

"Bang!"

A crack appeared in the ground, revealing a fist-sized bead that emitted a ghostly green light.

Zhou Ning bent down and picked up the bead; it was icy cold to the touch.

This is the Corpse King's inner core.

He wrapped the inner elixir in talisman paper, put it in his bag, and was just about to leave when...

"stop."

A chilling voice came from the cave entrance.

Zhou Ning turned around abruptly and saw a middle-aged man dressed in a black robe with a pale face standing at the cave entrance, looking at him coldly.

He exuded a strong, chilling aura.

"Who are you?" Zhou Ning asked warily.

The man in black robes sneered:

"You took something you shouldn't have. Hand it over, and I might spare your life."

Zhou Ning gripped the Qingfeng sword tightly:

"Did you create this?"

The man in black robes did not deny it, but simply extended his hand:

"Hand it over."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "Impossible."

The man in black robes' face darkened.

"If you refuse a toast, you'll have to drink a penalty cup."

He raised his hand, and a black mist shot out from his sleeve, transforming into a venomous snake that lunged at Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning was prepared. With a swing of his Qingfeng sword, a streak of azure sword energy slashed out, cutting the venomous snake in two.

A hint of surprise flashed in the black-robed man's eyes:

"You've got some skills."

He formed a mudra with his hands and chanted incantations.

The ground began to tremble, and countless black mists surged from the ground, converging into a gigantic ghostly figure that opened its blood-red maw and lunged at Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning gritted his teeth, pulled out an "evil-repelling talisman" from his waist, and threw it at the ghostly figure.

"disease!"

The talisman transformed into a golden ray of light, striking the ghostly figure.

"what!"

The ghostly figure let out a scream, its body trembling violently, but it did not dissipate.

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

The black-robed man was much stronger than the mountain demon.

Without further hesitation, he drew out two more "evil-repelling talismans" and threw them out at the same time.

Two golden beams of light struck the ghostly figure, one from the left and one from the right.

"boom!"

The ghostly figure finally couldn't hold on any longer and exploded with a bang, turning into countless black wisps of mist that dissipated into the air.

The man in black robes' expression changed; he clearly hadn't expected Zhou Ning to have so many talismans.

"You little brat, you're asking for it!"

He suddenly raised his hand, and a black beam of light shot out from his palm, heading straight for Zhou Ning's chest.

The speed was astonishing; Zhou Ning had no time to dodge.

At the critical moment, he suddenly pulled out the jade talisman containing his master's sword energy from his bosom and pushed it forward.

"boom!"

A dazzling golden sword light burst forth from the jade talisman, colliding with the black pillar of light.

The two forces were locked in a stalemate for a moment, but the golden sword light gradually gained the upper hand, forcing back the black pillar of light and heading straight for the man in black robes.

The man in black robes was terrified and hurriedly used a secret technique to dodge, but the sword light was too fast and still grazed his shoulder.

"what!"

The man in black robes let out a scream as his entire left arm was severed by the sword light, and blood gushed out.

He clutched his wound, glared venomously at Zhou Ning, then suddenly crushed a black token, which turned into a wisp of black mist and vanished into thin air.

escaped.

Zhou Ning didn't chase after him, but collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Another of Master's jade talismans has been used up.

Next time, he can no longer rely on external things.

He must become stronger.

Zhou Ning dragged his tired body back to Lanruo Temple.

Yan Chixia was meditating in the main hall. Upon seeing him return, he opened his eyes and said calmly:

"Are you injured?"

Zhou Ning shook his head: "No. But I've already used up the jade talisman that Master gave me."

Yan Chixia did not blame him, but simply asked:

"Did you get the inner core?"

Zhou Ning nodded, took out the Corpse King's inner core wrapped in talisman paper from his bag, and handed it to his master.

Yan Chixia took the inner core, examined it for a moment, and said:

"This inner core contains the resentment and corpse energy of that Corpse King throughout his life. If left unattended, it will inevitably bring disaster again sooner or later."

He paused, then continued:

"However, if the resentment within can be purified, this inner core is quite a treasure. It can be used to refine magical artifacts or to aid in cultivation."

Zhou Ning said, "Please give me your guidance, Master."

Yan Chixia returned the inner core to him:

"Keep it for now. Once your cultivation level advances further, I'll teach you how to purify it."

Zhou Ning nodded and carefully put away the inner core.

"Master, that man in black robes..." he asked.

Yan Chixia said, "They are from Black Mountain."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Black Mountain again?"

Yan Chixia nodded:

"The power of Montenegro is far greater than you imagine. They operate not only in the human world, but also in the underworld and overseas."

He stood up, hands behind his back, and paced back and forth:

"You were lucky to come back alive this time. You might not be so lucky next time."

Zhou Ning bowed his head: "This disciple understands."

"However..." Yan Chixia changed the subject:

"Your performance this time was quite good. Being able to remain calm and composed in that situation shows that your mental fortitude has been sufficiently honed."

He turned around and looked at Zhou Ning:

"Starting tomorrow, I will teach you a new technique."

Zhou Ning's eyes lit up:

"What kind of technique?"

"Soul Condensation Technique," Yan Chixia said.

"This technique can enhance your spiritual sense, allowing you to better perceive and control your divine thoughts. It will greatly benefit your cultivation of the art of manipulating objects."

Zhou Ning was overjoyed: "Thank you, Master."

Yan Chixia waved his hand:

"Go and rest. See you at dawn tomorrow at the back of the mountain."

Zhou Ning bowed respectfully and withdrew from the main hall.

Back at his residence, he placed the Corpse King's inner core and the jade pendant on the table and examined them carefully.

The cracks on the jade pendant are now clearly visible.

After the princess's soul departed, the jade pendant's spiritual power greatly diminished, and it turned into an ordinary stone.

But Zhou Ning didn't throw it away; instead, he carefully put it away.

This is the sentiment of the villagers of Baihe Village, and also a testament to that past event.

He closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing.

The internal energy circulated slowly, bringing a warm feeling.

These experiences have given him a deeper understanding of the word "spiritual practice".

Cultivation is not just about sitting in meditation, practicing breathing exercises, drawing talismans, or wielding swords.

More importantly, one must temper one's character in the mortal world and strengthen one's resolve in the face of life and death.

He remembered the question his master had once asked him:

Why do you seek the Way?

His answer was:

"To distinguish right from wrong, and to seek peace of mind."

He never forgot those words.

I will never forget it.