sinovels Chapter 90 More Bad News
Chapter 90 More Bad News
Zhou Ning used his lightness technique to weave and dodge among the axe shadows.
His movements were light and agile, like a butterfly flitting among flowers. Although the black-robed strongman's axe was fierce, it could never touch the hem of his clothes.
"Is all you can do is hide?" the burly man in black robes roared.
Zhou Ning ignored him and continued to stall for time.
He was waiting for an opportunity.
While Berserk can boost strength in a short period of time, its side effects are also quite obvious.
When a cultivator goes berserk, their mind becomes clouded, their judgment declines, and they make numerous mistakes.
Sure enough, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the burly man in the black robe began to move slowly and his breathing became rapid.
Right now.
Zhou Ning seized an opening and thrust his sword toward the throat of the burly man in black robes!
The burly man in black robes was shocked and tried to dodge, but his body was no longer under his control.
"Pfft!"
The sword tip pierced his throat, and black blood gushed out.
The burly man in black robes stared wide-eyed at Zhou Ning in disbelief before collapsing to the ground with a thud.
Upon seeing this, the other men in black robes scattered and fled in terror.
Zhou Ning didn't chase after them. Instead, he walked over to the villagers and helped them untie their ropes.
"It's alright. You're safe now."
The villagers knelt down and kowtowed, expressing their deepest gratitude.
Li Laoshuan stepped forward, grasped Zhou Ning's hand tightly, and tears streamed down his face.
"Brother Zhou, you've saved us again."
Zhou Ning shook his head: "Village head, you're too kind. However, Baihe Village is no longer safe. The people from Heishan could come back at any time. I'll say it again: you'd better move somewhere else."
Li Laoshuan sighed, "Young Master Zhou, we appreciate your kindness, but we really can't bear to part with you."
Zhou Ning thought for a moment. How could he easily give up the land where his ancestors had lived for generations? However, the Black Mountain forces were so fickle, it was ultimately not a good thing.
"As a mere scholar, I cannot dissuade you. I will draw some more talismans for you, just as I did last time. You can paste them at the village entrance and at the door of each house as before."
Li Laoshuan could only nod helplessly.
Zhou Ning immediately drew more than thirty "evil-suppressing talismans" and handed them to Li Laoshuan.
"These talismans should be pasted at the village entrance and on the door of each house. Remember to replace them every month."
Li Laoshuan accepted the talisman with profuse thanks.
Zhou Ning then walked over to the group of rogue cultivators and checked their injuries.
The seriously injured old Taoist priest, thanks to the effects of the life-extending pill, was out of danger and his complexion had recovered somewhat.
"Taoist Master, where did you come from?" Zhou Ning asked.
The old Taoist priest said, "I come from Qingcheng Mountain in the south. I heard that demons are rampant in the north, so I came to help. I didn't expect to encounter the people of Black Mountain so soon after passing through this place."
Zhou Ning nodded: "Daoist, you are very kind. However, this place is just as dangerous as the North. With your cultivation level, I'm afraid you will not be able to handle it. Why don't you go back first and come back when your cultivation level has improved?"
The old Taoist priest smiled bitterly: "Young Master Zhou is right. I have been cultivating for more than thirty years and thought I had achieved something, but I never expected that I would be so vulnerable in the face of real demons."
He struggled to his feet and bowed deeply to Zhou Ning.
"Young Master Zhou, I will never forget your life-saving grace. If you ever need my help in the future, I will do my utmost."
Zhou Ning helped him up: "Daoist, there's no need to be so polite. You should go back and recover first, and we can talk again when you're healed."
The old Taoist priest nodded and left Baihe Village with a few independent cultivators.
Zhou Ning walked around the village again to make sure there was nothing else amiss before mounting his horse and returning to Lanruo Temple.
When we returned to the temple, it was already dark.
Yan Chixia was meditating in the main hall when he heard footsteps and opened his eyes.
"Resolved?"
Zhou Ning nodded and briefly recounted what had happened.
Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, then said, "The people of Black Mountain are becoming increasingly arrogant. It seems they are preparing something."
He stood up, hands behind his back, and paced back and forth: "Your strength has improved, but it's not enough. You need to continue cultivating."
Zhou Ning replied, "This disciple understands."
Yan Chixia nodded: "Go. Rest for the night, and continue practicing your sword tomorrow."
Zhou Ning bowed respectfully and withdrew from the main hall.
The next morning, Zhou Ning practiced his sword as usual on the back mountain.
After yesterday's battle, he gained new insights into the use of "Demon-Slaying Slash".
The true essence condenses faster, and the sword energy becomes more powerful.
He attempted to combine the "Demon-Slaying Slash" with the art of manipulating objects, allowing the sword energy to change direction in mid-air and attack the enemy from behind.
Initially, the results were not ideal.
Once the sword energy leaves the sword, it becomes very difficult to control.
But Zhou Ning did not give up. He practiced hundreds of times and finally managed to make the sword energy make a slight bend in the air.
"Although it's still very rough, at least it has taken shape," Zhou Ning thought to himself.
He was about to continue practicing when he suddenly heard footsteps coming from down the mountain.
Zhou Ning walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down. He saw a young woman dressed in a white Taoist robe walking up the mountain path.
She had delicate features and exquisite eyebrows, and held a whisk in her hand. She was none other than Xuan Jing, whom she had met outside Blackstone Town before.
"Miss Xuanjing?" Zhou Ning hurried down the mountain to greet her.
Xuan Jing smiled slightly when she saw him: "Young Master Zhou, we meet again."
Zhou Ning asked, "Miss Xuanjing, what brings you here? Is there something you need from Daoist Xuanzhen?"
Xuan Jing nodded, took out a letter from his pocket, and handed it to Zhou Ning.
"My senior brother asked me to tell you that although the Black Mountain Demon's blood sacrifice has been disrupted, he is preparing a new plan."
"This time, he will hold an even bigger blood sacrifice on Qingfeng Mountain in the north, using the blood of a thousand people to forge an even more powerful evil weapon."
Zhou Ning took the letter, unfolded it, and read it.
The handwriting on the letter was vigorous and powerful, and it was indeed the work of Xuanzhenzi.
The content was consistent with what Xuan Jing had said, and a map of Qingfeng Mountain was attached at the end, marking the location of the blood sacrifice.
"Qingfeng Mountain...isn't that a city that has already been breached by demons?" Zhou Ning frowned.
Xuan Jing nodded: "That's right. After Qingfeng City was captured, the people of Heishan occupied it and turned the entire city into their stronghold."
"The people in the city were either killed or captured to be sacrificed. My senior brother said that if this blood sacrifice is successful, the Black Mountain Demon's strength will increase greatly, and at that time, probably no one in the human world will be able to stop him."
Zhou Ning clenched his fists, a surge of anger rising within him.
"Miss Xuanjing, please go back and tell Master Xuanzhen that I will do my best to cooperate and stop this blood sacrifice."
Xuan Jing nodded, then took out a jade talisman from his bosom and handed it to Zhou Ning.
"This is the communication jade talisman of my Qingfeng Temple. If you need to contact us when you arrive at Qingfeng Mountain, you can use it."
Zhou Ning took the jade talisman and put it away.
"Miss Xuanjing, did you come alone? Did you not encounter any people from Black Mountain on the way?"
Xuan Jing shook her head: "No. The path I took was very safe."
Zhou Ning said, "That's good. You go back first, and be careful on the road."
Xuan Jing nodded and turned to go down the mountain.
Zhou Ning watched her leave, then returned to the back mountain to continue practicing his swordsmanship.
As evening fell, he arrived at the main hall and reported the matter of Qingfeng Mountain to Yan Chixia.
After listening, Yan Chixia remained silent for a long time.
"Qingfeng Mountain... that's a major town in the north. Tens of thousands of people live there; if the Black Mountain Demon were to use them for a blood sacrifice..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Zhou Ning said, "Master, this disciple wants to stop this blood sacrifice."
Yan Chixia looked at him, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.
"Do you know how many people from Black Mountain are on Qingfeng Mountain? Do you know that the Black Mountain Demon himself will be in charge? If you go, you'll just be throwing your life away."
Zhou Ning said, "This disciple understands. But this disciple cannot stand by and watch those people be harmed."
Yan Chixia remained silent for a moment, then sighed.
"Go. But remember, if things are hopeless, don't fight. Come back alive."
He took out a jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning.
"This jade talisman contains a full-force sword aura of mine. In a moment of crisis, it can save your life."
Zhou Ning accepted the jade talisman and solemnly said, "Thank you, Master."
He returned to his lodgings and packed his belongings. He carefully packed everything: the Green Edge Sword, the Evil-Repelling Sword, talismans, cinnabar, yellow paper, elixirs, Buddhist relics, and the jade slip containing the Mind-Concentrating Technique.
With everything ready, he stepped out of the room.
When he reached the mountain gate, he looked back.
Yan Chixia stood at the entrance of the main hall, hands behind his back, watching him leave.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on him, bathing his blue robe in a warm golden hue.
Zhou Ning took a deep breath, turned around, and strode away.
Behind me, the bell of Lanruo Temple rang out softly, echoing through the valley and lingering for a long time.