Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 56 Visiting the Door to Discuss the Law

As the mine fortress was burned to ashes, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

Zhou Ning stood on the hillside, gazing at the ruins, and exhaled a long breath.

He had used up most of his internal energy, and his arms were still trembling slightly, but he felt an indescribable sense of relief.

Those people who had been imprisoned were finally rescued.

He dragged his weary body back to Ping'an Town.

The townspeople were buzzing with discussion, and when they saw Zhou Ning return, they all gathered around him.

"Young Master Zhou, I heard you've taken down Black Mountain's stronghold?"

"Young Master Zhou, what about those who were arrested?"

Zhou Ning waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet:

"Fellow villagers, those who were arrested have been rescued and are on their way to town. Everyone, please prepare some food and drink, and make sure they are settled in properly when they arrive."

The people cheered and rushed to make preparations.

Zhou Ning returned to the inn, sat cross-legged on the bed, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

The internal energy within him slowly recovered, and the feeling of fatigue gradually subsided.

About two hours later, there was a knock on the door.

"Young Master Zhou, a few people have arrived at the town entrance and say they wish to see you."

Zhou Ning got up and walked out of the inn.

Three people were standing at the entrance to the town.

The leader was an old Taoist priest with gray hair and beard, wearing a blue robe, a thin face, and sharp eyes.

Two young Taoist priests followed behind him, one holding a whisk and the other carrying a long sword.

The old Taoist priest looked Zhou Ning up and down, then cupped his hands and said:

"This humble Taoist is Xuanqingzi from Qingxu Temple in Laoshan. May I ask if you are Zhou Ning, the young master of Qingyun Mountain, a disciple of Yan Chixia?"

Zhou Ning returned the greeting: "It is indeed I. What business does the Daoist Master have with me?"

Xuan Qingzi said, "I heard that someone was impersonating a disciple of my Qingxu Temple in Ping'an Town yesterday, swindling and deceiving people. I came here to investigate. I also heard that it was Young Master Zhou who exposed his trick. I came here to express my gratitude."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "You're too kind, Daoist. It was nothing, not worth mentioning."

Xuanqingzi then said, "This humble Taoist has another matter to ask you."

"Please speak, Taoist priest."

"Young Master Zhou, do you know the whereabouts of that fraudster who impersonated a disciple of my Qingxu Temple?"

Zhou Ning said, "He ran away. I didn't chase after him."

Xuan Qingzi frowned, seemingly somewhat displeased, but quickly regained her composure.

"Young Master Zhou, I have a word of advice to offer."

"Please speak."

Xuan Qingzi said, "Although Young Master Zhou exposed the swindler, his methods were somewhat inappropriate. Although the swindler is despicable, he has still damaged the reputation of our Qingxu Temple. Young Master Zhou should have captured him and handed him over to us for processing, instead of letting him escape."

Zhou Ning glanced at him and said calmly:

"Master, in that situation, I had to protect the deceived people and prevent the swindlers from resorting to desperate measures and harming them."

Exposing him was already quite an achievement. As for arresting him, that's not my responsibility.

Xuan Qingzi's face darkened:

"What do you mean by this, Young Master Zhou? Is the reputation of my Qingxu Temple less important than that of a few common people?"

Zhou Ning said, "The lives of the people are more important than any reputation."

Xuan Qingzi snorted coldly:

"Young Master Zhou, you're so young, yet you speak with such arrogance. Do you think that just because you're Yan Chixia's disciple, you can look down on everyone?"

Zhou Ning calmly said, "Daoist, you misunderstand. I am not being arrogant; I am simply stating the facts."

The atmosphere was somewhat tense.

The two young Taoist priests behind Xuan Qingzi both showed expressions of dissatisfaction.

Xuan Qingzi was silent for a moment, then said:

"Young Master Zhou, I have heard that your Taoist skills are profound, and even a Foundation Establishment stage demon general is no match for you. I am not very talented and would like to ask you for some guidance."

Zhou Ning knew that this was a test for him.

"How would you like to ask me for guidance, Daoist Master?"

Xuan Qingzi took out a copper coin from his sleeve and placed it in his palm.

"Let's have a contest of skill in manipulating objects. Whoever's copper coin flies the farthest and the most steadily wins."

Zhou Ning nodded: "Okay."

The two walked to an open space outside the town.

Xuan Qingzi took a deep breath, held the copper coin in his palm, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

The copper coin trembled slightly, then slowly rose and hovered about a foot away from the palm of the hand.

It rose higher and higher, flew farther and farther, drawing a beautiful arc in the air, and finally landed thirty paces away.

"good!"

The two young Taoist priests behind Xuan Qingzi applauded and cheered.

Xuan Qingzi smiled slightly and looked at Zhou Ning:

"Young Master Zhou, it's your turn."

Zhou Ning took out a copper coin from his pocket and placed it in his palm.

He closed his eyes, concentrated his inner energy in his palm, let the energy envelop the copper coin, and then used his divine sense to guide the flow of the energy.

The copper coin slowly rose and hovered three inches from the palm of the hand.

Unlike Xuan Qingzi's copper coin, it didn't fly very high; instead, it flew quickly forward, skimming the ground.

Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps, forty steps...

The copper coin flew fifty paces before landing on the ground.

Moreover, it didn't fly straight out, but instead took a detour, drew a circle, and finally landed steadily in the designated spot.

Xuan Qingzi's expression changed.

Although his copper coins flew far, their trajectory was singular, and their spiritual energy fluctuations were unstable.

Zhou Ning's copper coins not only flew farther but could also change direction in mid-air, demonstrating that his mastery of the art of manipulating objects far surpassed that of his own.

"Young Master Zhou, you have quite the skill," Xuan Qingzi said with a forced smile.

"I humbly admit defeat."

Zhou Ning cupped his hands in greeting: "You flatter me, Daoist Master."

Xuan Qingzi was silent for a moment, then said, "Young Master Zhou, I have a request to make."

"Please speak, Taoist priest."

"My journey north is to investigate the movements of the Black Mountain Demon. I've heard that Young Master Zhou is also going to the north; would you be willing to accompany me?"

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "Daoist Master, the North is dangerous. It is already very risky for me to go alone. If you wish to go, you can go by yourself. You don't need to come with me."

Xuan Qingzi's expression turned even more unpleasant:

"Does Young Master Zhou look down on my low cultivation level?"

Zhou Ning shook his head: "It's not that I'm looking down on you, it's just the truth. Daoist, your cultivation is at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, which is about the same as mine. But your manipulation of objects still has a lot of room for improvement."

"The monsters in the north are far more powerful than you imagine. If you go there, I'm afraid your chances of survival are slim."

Xuan Qingzi snorted coldly:

"Young Master Zhou underestimates me. I have cultivated for thirty years, what storms haven't I weathered? No matter how dangerous the North is, I am not afraid."

Zhou Ning sighed:

"Since you insist on going, I won't stop you. But please remember, if you encounter danger, don't fight it head-on; preserving your life is the most important thing."

Xuan Qingzi did not answer and turned to leave.

Two young Taoist priests followed behind him. After walking a distance, they turned back to look at Zhou Ning, their eyes filled with resentment.

Zhou Ning shook his head with a wry smile and returned to the inn.

He didn't want to make enemies, but some things had to be made clear.

His journey to the north was fraught with peril, and he didn't want anyone to lose their life due to blind confidence.

The following morning, Zhou Ning left Ping'an Town and continued north.

Not long after he left the town, he saw a person sitting by the roadside ahead.

It is Xuan Qingzi.

He sat alone on a roadside stone, looking exhausted with bloodshot eyes.

Seeing Zhou Ning approach, he stood up, cupped his hands, and said:

"Young Master Zhou, this humble Taoist priest is waiting for you here."

Zhou Ning was taken aback: "What are you waiting for me for, Daoist Master?"

Xuan Qingzi smiled bitterly:

"I've thought about it all night and I think you're right. My cultivation is indeed not enough. Going to the North rashly would only be suicide."

He paused, then continued, "This humble Taoist would like to ask Young Master Zhou for a favor."

"What kind of help?"

"My disciple secretly left last night. He said he was going to the north alone to prove something to Young Master Zhou. I chased after him all night but couldn't catch up. Young Master Zhou, if you encounter him on the road, please look after him for me."

Zhou Ning frowned: "Which direction did he go?"

Xuan Qingzi pointed north: "That's the direction."

Zhou Ning sighed: "Don't worry, Daoist Master, if I encounter him, I will do my best to protect him."

Xuan Qingzi bowed deeply: "Thank you, Young Master Zhou."

Zhou Ning helped him up: "Daoist, you don't need to be so polite. You should go back; it's not safe here."

Xuan Qingzi nodded and turned to walk south.

Zhou Ning watched his figure disappear into the morning mist, shook his head, and continued north.