Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 38 Qingqiu Jade Pendant

When Zhou Ning left Lanruo Temple in Guobei County, it was already broad daylight.

Morning light filters through the gaps in the pine forest, scattering across the ancient path and bathing everything in a golden glow.

The air was filled with the scent of grass and earth, and the occasional bird song drifted from afar, making it exceptionally peaceful.

But Zhou Ning's heart was not at peace.

The experiences of the Liu sisters gave him a deeper understanding of the evil deeds of the Black Mountain forces.

Capturing foxes, concocting elixirs, harming the innocent...

These men in black robes are utterly wicked.

Behind them lies an even more mysterious and powerful "Black Mountain Demon".

"We must improve our strength as soon as possible."

Zhou Ning made up his mind in his heart.

He quickened his pace and walked along the ancient path towards Qingyun Mountain.

After walking for about an hour, a dense pine forest appeared ahead.

The forest was dimly lit, and the ground was covered with a thick layer of pine needles that felt soft and rustling underfoot.

As Zhou Ning was walking, he suddenly heard a faint groan coming from ahead.

He stopped, gripped his sword tightly, and cautiously approached.

He parted a clump of bushes and saw a person huddled beside a tree root.

The man was wearing a gray Taoist robe, with gray hair and beard, a sallow complexion, and chapped lips, looking as if he hadn't eaten in a long time.

His Taoist robe was covered in mud and blood, and the sleeve of his left arm was torn, revealing bruises underneath.

What surprised Zhou Ning even more was that this person had a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy.

He is a practitioner of spiritual cultivation.

"Taoist Master?" Zhou Ning squatted down and called softly.

The old Taoist priest opened his eyes with difficulty, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"You...you are..."

Zhou Ning said, "I am Zhou Ning, a cultivator from Qingyun Mountain. Daoist Master, what brings you here? Are you injured?"

The old Taoist priest, panting, said haltingly, "I...I am Master Lin from Qingfeng Temple. I...I was being chased by the people of Black Mountain..."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

Qingfeng Temple?

Isn't that the Taoist temple of Master Lin in Guobei County?

Last time in Guobei County, he met with Master Lin and his apprentice to investigate the missing persons case together.

"Master Lin, don't you recognize me?" Zhou Ning asked.

"I am Zhou Ning. We investigated a missing person case together in Guobei County last time."

Master Lin looked at Zhou Ning carefully, a look of realization flashing in his eyes.

"It's you... Brother Zhou..." He grabbed Zhou Ning's hand with surprising strength.

"You...you need to be careful of the people from Black Mountain, they...they're looking for something..."

"What is it?" Zhou Ning asked.

Master Lin's voice grew weaker and weaker:

"A...a jade pendant, engraved with...engraved with a fox, it's...it's a token of the Qingqiu Fox Clan..."

Zhou Ning's heart sank.

A token of the Qingqiu Fox Clan?

Isn't that the jade pendant in Liu Niang's hands?

"Master, how did you know about this?"

Master Lin, panting, said intermittently:

"I...I investigated for three years and finally found out...that Taoist priest Wang. He joined forces with Black Mountain, and the Black Mountain Demon wanted that jade pendant because...because..."

Before he could finish speaking, his hand fell to his sides, his head tilted to the side, and he closed his eyes.

Zhou Ning quickly checked his breathing; he was still breathing, but very weakly.

"Master Daoist! Master Daoist!"

Master Lin did not respond and had fallen into a deep coma.

Zhou Ning gritted his teeth, carried him on his back, quickened his pace, and hurried towards Qingyun Mountain.

It was already afternoon when we returned to Lanruo Temple.

Yan Chixia was meditating in the main hall when he heard footsteps and opened his eyes.

"Why did you bring another one back?"

Zhou Ning placed Master Lin on the prayer mat and briefly recounted what had happened.

Yan Chixia walked up to Master Lin, reached out and placed his hand on his wrist, then closed his eyes and sensed for a moment.

"His internal injuries were severe, and his vital energy was greatly depleted. It's a miracle that he's still alive."

He took out a pill from his sleeve and put it into Master Lin's mouth:

Whether he can wake up after taking this "life-extending pill" depends on his fate.

He turned around and looked at Zhou Ning:

"You just said that the people of Black Mountain are looking for a jade pendant? A token of the Qingqiu Fox Clan?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "That's what Master Lin said."

Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, then said, "I've seen that jade pendant before."

Zhou Ning was taken aback: "Have you met Master before?"

Yan Chixia nodded: "It's the one that Liu Niang has. It has a fox engraved on it, and the fox's eyes are red."

Zhou Ning was startled.

Isn't that the jade pendant that Xiao Cui showed him last time in Guobei County?

"Master, what's so special about that jade pendant?"

Yan Chixia paced back and forth, slowly saying:

"That jade pendant is a token of the royal family of the Qingqiu Fox Clan. Legend has it that it can not only ward off evil spirits, but also unlock a secret realm of the Qingqiu Fox Clan."

"A secret realm?" Zhou Ning asked.

Yan Chixia nodded: "The Qingqiu Fox Clan was once very powerful in ancient times. They have a secret realm containing treasures and cultivation techniques accumulated by the Fox Clan over thousands of years."

"Later, the fox clan declined, and the secret realm was sealed off. It is said that only those who possess royal tokens can open the secret realm."

He paused, then continued, "The Black Mountain Demon probably wants that jade pendant in order to enter the secret realm and seize the fox clan's treasures."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Wouldn't Liu Niang and the others be in great danger?"

Yan Chixia nodded: "The people from Black Mountain will definitely not let this go. You'd better inform them as soon as possible and warn them to be careful."

Zhou Ning said, "I just returned from Guo Bei County. Liu Niang and the others are safe for now, but the people from Black Mountain will find them sooner or later."

Yan Chixia thought for a moment and said, "How about this, you rest for the night, and tomorrow morning, go to Guobei County again. Tell Liu Niang about this and tell her to hide the jade pendant. If possible, it would be best to bring them to Lanruo Temple."

Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."

He looked at the unconscious Master Lin: "Master, Master Lin, he..."

Yan Chixia said, "He is too badly injured and needs to rest. Let him stay here for a few days, and we'll talk about other things after he wakes up."

Zhou Ning nodded and left the main hall.

The following morning, Zhou Ning left Lanruo Temple again and headed to Guobei County.

This time, he knew the way well and arrived at Lanruo Temple in Guobei County in less than half a day.

Liu Niang and Xin Shisi Niang were talking in the cave behind the temple when they were both surprised to see Zhou Ning return.

"Young Master Zhou? Why are you back again?" Liu Niang asked.

Zhou Ning told them everything that Master Lin had said and his own speculations.

Liu Niang's expression changed.

"Are the people of Black Mountain looking for this jade pendant?" She took out the bluish-white jade pendant from her bosom and examined it carefully.

Zhou Ning nodded: "Master Lin said that the Black Mountain Demon wants this jade pendant in order to open the secret realm of the Qingqiu Fox Clan and seize the treasures inside."

A flicker of fear crossed Liu Niang's eyes:

"Then... what should we do?"

Zhou Ning said, "My master said that if you wish, you can move to Lanruo Temple. With him there, the people from Black Mountain won't dare to approach easily."

Liu Niang hesitated for a moment and looked at Xin Shisi Niang.

Xin Shisi Niang said, "Sister, Young Master Zhou is right. If we stay here, the Black Mountain people will find us sooner or later. We should go to Lanruo Temple, where Immortal Yan will protect us; at least we'll be safer."

After a moment of silence, Liu Niang finally nodded.

"Okay. We'll go with you."

The sisters packed their bags and followed Zhou Ning, leaving Lanruo Temple in Guobei County.

Along the way, Liu Niang told Zhou Ning in detail about the jade pendant.

"This jade pendant is a token of our Qingqiu Fox Clan royal family," she said.

"It's been passed down for over a thousand years to my grandfather's generation. It's said that the jade pendant holds a huge secret, but I don't know what it is."

Zhou Ning asked, "Did your grandfather ever tell you how to open the secret realm?"

Liu Niang shook her head: "No. Grandpa only said that the jade pendant must not fall into the hands of bad people. Otherwise, not only will the fox clan be wiped out, but the entire human world may also suffer."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

It seems that the importance of this jade pendant far exceeds his imagination.

It was already evening when we returned to Lanruo Temple.

Yan Chixia was meditating in the main hall when he saw Zhou Ning return with Liu Niang and her sisters, and he nodded slightly.

"You're here? There are a few empty rooms in the back hill. You can stay here for now. We can talk about it tomorrow."

The Liu sisters bowed respectfully and followed Zhou Ning to their residence on the back mountain.

After settling the two sisters in, Zhou Ning returned to the main hall and reported the situation to Yan Chixia.

"Master, that jade pendant..."

Yan Chixia waved his hand, interrupting him:

"Don't ask about the jade pendant anymore. The more you know, the more dangerous it will be."

He paused, then continued, "What you need to do now is focus on cultivation. Only when you have mastered the 'Demon-Slaying Sword Technique' and broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage will you be qualified to face the Black Mountain Demon."

Zhou Ning solemnly replied, "This disciple understands."

"Go ahead." Yan Chixia waved his hand.

"Tomorrow at 5 AM, practice swordsmanship as usual."