Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 65 Establishing the True Essence

It took Zhou Ning and Xuan Zhenzi seven whole days to return to Lanruo Temple from the Black Mountain Wilderness.

On the way, Zhou Ning's injuries gradually healed, but the internal energy within him had not yet fully recovered.

The Black Mountain Demon's palm strike not only absorbed a large amount of his internal energy but also damaged his meridians.

If it weren't for the Qingling Pill protecting him, he would probably have become a cripple long ago.

Xuanzhenzi's injuries were more severe.

He was sent flying by a casual blow from the Black Mountain Demon, breaking three of his ribs and causing internal injuries.

Zhou Ning supported him throughout the journey, walking and stopping frequently.

"Master, how are your injuries?" Zhou Ning asked.

Xuanzhenzi smiled bitterly.

"We won't die. It's just that we didn't expect the Black Mountain Demon's strength to be so terrifying. We couldn't even withstand a single move from him."

Zhou Ning remained silent.

Yes, one move.

The Black Mountain Demon didn't even make a serious move; with just a casual strike, he rendered them utterly powerless to retaliate.

This gap in strength is like an insurmountable chasm.

"Young Master Zhou, what do you plan to do?" Xuanzhenzi asked.

Zhou Ning said, "Let's return to Lanruo Temple first and report to my master. Then we can make further plans."

Xuanzhenzi nodded: "Immortal Yan's Taoist magic is profound; perhaps he has a way to deal with the Black Mountain Demon."

The two continued on their journey.

On the evening of the seventh day, they finally returned to Lanruo Temple.

As the sun sets, its afterglow spills onto the temple rooftops, bathing everything in a warm golden light.

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.

"Master, your disciple has returned."

He helped Xuanzhenzi into the main hall.

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

Seeing Zhou Ning's disheveled appearance, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Are you injured?"

Zhou Ning nodded and gave a detailed account of his trip to Black Mountain.

When Yan Chixia heard that the Black Mountain Demon wanted to absorb Zhou Ning's righteous energy, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"He's got a good plan."

He stood up, walked to Zhou Ning, reached out and placed his hand on Zhou Ning's wrist, closing his eyes to sense it for a moment.

"His meridians are damaged, and his vital energy is depleted. He needs at least a month to recuperate."

Yan Chixia released his grip, took out a pill from his sleeve, and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"Take this 'Pulse-Regenerating Pill' and meditate and regulate your breathing daily without interruption."

Zhou Ning took the pill and swallowed it.

A warm medicinal power spread throughout the body, and the damaged meridians began to slowly repair themselves.

"Thank you, Master."

Yan Chixia waved his hand and looked at Xuanzhenzi.

"Are you from Qingfeng Temple?"

Xuanzhenzi quickly bowed and said, "This humble Taoist, Xuanzhen, greets Immortal Master Yan. Thank you for your hospitality, Immortal Master Yan."

Yan Chixia nodded: "Your injuries are not light either. Stay at the temple for now, and leave after you've recovered."

Xuanzhenzi thanked him.

Yan Chixia then looked at Zhou Ning: "Come with me."

Zhou Ning followed Yan Chixia to the back of the mountain.

The pine forest remains the same, the wind still blows.

Yan Chixia stood with his hands behind his back on the boulder, gazing at the distant mountains, and remained silent for a long time.

"What did you learn on your trip to Montenegro?" he finally asked.

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "This disciple has learned his lesson. Strength is fundamental. Without strength, one cannot protect anything."

Yan Chixia turned around and looked at him: "Anything else?"

Zhou Ning then said:

"I have also learned that I must not underestimate my opponent. The Black Mountain Demon's strength far exceeds my expectations; I was too confident before."

Yan Chixia nodded: "The fact that you can recognize these things means that this trip wasn't in vain."

He paused, then continued:

"The Black Mountain Demon's strength is far beyond what you've seen. He has cultivated for over a thousand years and possesses profound knowledge. Your current cultivation level is like an ant before him."

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

"But don't be discouraged." Yan Chixia's tone softened somewhat:

"The path of cultivation is inherently long. Just because you can't defeat him now doesn't mean you won't be able to in the future. As long as your resolve is firm, one day you will surpass him."

Zhou Ning raised his head, his eyes filled with determination: "This disciple will not give up."

Yan Chixia nodded: "Starting tomorrow, you will go into seclusion to cultivate. You can emerge from seclusion whenever you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

He took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"This is the foundational chapter of 'Innate Qi.' Take it and study it. If you have any questions during your seclusion, feel free to ask me."

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

In the days that followed, Zhou Ning went into seclusion.

Besides meditating and regulating his breathing to repair his meridians, he also studied the foundational chapter of "Innate Qi" every day.

The Foundation Building chapter is much more profound than the Introductory chapter.

It describes how to condense the body's internal energy into a liquid state, how to open the dantian and purple palace, and how to transform true energy into true essence.

Each step requires extremely precise control and a large accumulation of spiritual energy.

Zhou Ning studied the texts while simultaneously attempting to cultivate them.

At first, progress was slow.

His meridians have not been fully repaired, and his Qi circulation is often obstructed.

But he did not lose heart and persisted day after day.

Xuanzhenzi's injuries gradually improved under Yan Chixia's treatment.

Two weeks later, he was able to get out of bed and walk around.

"Young Master Zhou, how is your seclusion going?" Xuanzhenzi asked.

Zhou Ning said, "I'm still figuring it out. Foundation Establishment is more difficult than I imagined."

Xuanzhenzi said, "No rush. On the path of cultivation, haste makes waste."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Young Master Zhou, I will be returning to Qingfeng Temple tomorrow."

Zhou Ning was taken aback: "So fast? Your injuries haven't fully healed yet."

Xuanzhenzi smiled and said, "I'm almost fully recovered. I have other matters to attend to at the temple, so I can't stay any longer."

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

"This is my contact jade talisman. If you need help in the future, you can contact me anytime."

Zhou Ning accepted the jade talisman and solemnly said, "Thank you, Daoist Master. Take care on your journey."

Xuanzhenzi nodded, bid farewell to Yan Chixia, and then left Lanruo Temple.

Zhou Ning escorted him to the mountain gate and watched him leave until his figure disappeared into the morning mist.

Back in the mountains, Zhou Ning continued his seclusion.

A month later, his meridians were finally fully repaired, and his internal energy returned to its peak state.

He began to try to condense his inner energy into a liquid state.

This is an extremely difficult process.

The Qi is gaseous, and compressing it into a liquid state requires enormous pressure and precise control.

Zhou Ning sat cross-legged on a boulder on the back mountain, closed his eyes and concentrated, compressing the internal energy in his dantian little by little.

One day, two days, three days...

On the seventh day, a drop of liquid true essence finally appeared in his dantian.

That drop of true essence was crystal clear, emitting a faint golden light.

Although it was only a single drop, the power it contained was far greater than all the previous protective energy.

"It's a success!"

Zhou Ning opened his eyes, overjoyed.

But he didn't stop; he continued to compress.

More and more internal energy was transformed into true essence, one drop, two drops, three drops...

Gradually, a small mass of liquid true essence accumulated in his dantian.

Zhou Ning felt that his strength had made a qualitative leap.

He attempted to unleash the "Demon-Slaying Slash," unleashing a cyan sword aura several times more powerful than before.

"Not bad." Yan Chixia's voice came from behind.

Zhou Ning turned around and saw his master standing by the pine forest, looking at him.

"Early Foundation Establishment stage, barely qualifying as entry-level," Yan Chixia said.

"But this is just the beginning. True foundation building requires opening up the dantian and condensing true essence into a pill. You are still far from that point."

Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."

Yan Chixia walked up to him, took out a jade talisman from his sleeve, and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"This is the recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Go and collect the materials, refine one Foundation Establishment Pill yourself, and it will help you condense your true essence faster."

Zhou Ning took the prescription and read it carefully.

The prescription lists more than a dozen ingredients, some common and some rare.

Several of the main ingredients, such as "Thousand-Year-Old Lingzhi", "Dragon Saliva Grass", and "Earth Core Fire Lotus", are not easily obtained.

"Master, these materials..."

Yan Chixia said, "Find your own way. On the path of cultivation, you can't rely on others for everything."

Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."

He carefully put away the prescription, returned to his residence, and packed his bags.

This time, he was going to find the materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

His first stop was Yunmengze in the south.

It is said that "dragon's saliva grass" grows there, which is one of the key materials for refining the Foundation Building Pill.