Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 97 Grade 1 Golden Core

This time, the lightning was no longer a single bolt of lightning, but a chaotic force composed of various elements such as lightning, fire, frost, hurricane, and boulders.

That is the ultimate form of the Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation.

Chaotic lightning tribulation.

Zhou Ning raised the Buddha relic, and golden light transformed into a shield above his head.

"boom--!"

The chaotic lightning struck the light shield, producing a deafening explosion.

The light shield trembled violently, and countless cracks appeared. The cracks on the surface of the Buddha relic also increased and deepened.

"Hold on!" Zhou Ning gritted his teeth, squeezing out the last bit of potential from his body and pouring it into the Buddha relic.

The light shield finally shattered under the impact of the chaotic lightning tribulation.

The Buddha's relics also exploded, turning into countless golden fragments that scattered all over the ground.

However, most of the power of the Chaos Tribulation was also consumed.

The remaining lightning struck Zhou Ning's body, sending him flying.

Zhou Ning crashed heavily to the ground, his body charred black and his breath faint.

His consciousness began to blur, and everything before his eyes became hazy.

"Am I... going to die?"

He struggled to open his eyes and saw the dark clouds in the sky disperse and the sun shining on the earth again.

The tribulation clouds disappeared, and the heavenly tribulation ended.

Within his dantian, a round golden elixir was slowly rotating, radiating dazzling golden light.

The Golden Elixir has been formed.

Zhou Ning lay amidst the rubble and scorched earth, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"It's a success..."

He closed his eyes and fell into a coma.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Ning felt a warm power surge into his body, repairing his damaged meridians and internal organs.

He struggled to open his eyes and saw Yan Chixia sitting beside him, his palms pressing against his back as he channeled his true energy into his body.

"Master..." Zhou Ning's voice was weak and feeble.

"Don't speak."

Yan Chixia's voice remained calm, but Zhou Ning detected a hint of concern in it.

"Your injuries are severe, and you need to rest. You survived the Golden Core Tribulation, but now is not the time to be happy."

Zhou Ning nodded, closed his eyes, and let his master heal him.

After an unknown amount of time, Yan Chixia withdrew his hand and stood up.

"Alright. The internal injuries are healed, but you still need to rest for a few days. During these days, do not use your true energy and rest well."

Zhou Ning struggled to sit up and bowed deeply to Yan Chixia.

"Thank you, Master."

Yan Chixia waved his hand, looking at the mess on the ground and the scattered fragments of the Buddha's relics, and frowned slightly.

"The Buddha's relics are broken. What a pity, they were a rare treasure."

Zhou Ning looked down at the golden fragments, feeling a pang of regret.

The Buddha's relics saved his life several times; without them, he might have died at the hands of the Black Mountain Demon long ago.

"Master, can the Buddha relics be restored?"

Yan Chixia shook his head: "It's broken, it's broken, it can't be repaired. But the fact that you're alive is more important than anything else."

He took out a pill from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"This is the 'Primordial Essence Pill,' which can help you restore your vitality. After taking it, get some rest."

Zhou Ning took the pill and swallowed it.

A warm medicinal effect spread through my body, and the fatigue and pain gradually subsided.

He stood up and stretched his limbs.

Although still a little weak, she can already walk normally.

"Master, your disciple has formed the Golden Core!" he said excitedly.

Yan Chixia nodded: "I know. Your golden core is of good quality; it's a first-grade golden core."

First-grade Golden Elixir.

Zhou Ning was overjoyed.

Golden Elixir is divided into nine grades, with grade one being the highest and grade nine the lowest.

A first-grade Golden Elixir signifies an extremely solid foundation and limitless potential for the future.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master." He bowed deeply again.

Yan Chixia waved his hand: "It's all thanks to your own efforts. I just pointed you in the right direction."

He paused, then continued, "The Golden Core is now complete. The next step is to nurture it and await the opportunity to reach the Nascent Soul stage. This process may take several years, or even decades. Don't rush, take it one step at a time."

Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."

He returned to his residence, sat cross-legged on the bed, and focused his inner energy on his dantian.

The golden elixir was slowly rotating, emitting a dazzling golden light.

On the surface of the Golden Core, one can vaguely see some fine lines, which are the imprints of the laws of Heaven.

He could sense that the Golden Core contained extremely powerful energy, far exceeding the true essence of the Foundation Establishment stage.

"This is the power of the Golden Core stage."

Zhou Ning clenched his fist, a surge of unprecedented confidence welling up inside him.

In the days that followed, he recuperated while consolidating his Golden Core stage cultivation.

He practiced "Demon-Slaying Slash" and "Sky-Splitting Slash" hundreds of times, and the power of his sword energy after reaching the Golden Core stage was several times stronger than that of the Foundation Establishment stage.

He attempted to combine the two sword techniques to create a new sword move.

He called it the "Demon-Slaying Technique".

The art of manipulating objects has also made a qualitative leap.

Under his divine will, the Qingfeng Sword could now fly freely in the air at an extremely fast speed, like lightning.

He could even control three swords simultaneously with his divine sense, although it was still very difficult, but it was already taking shape.

"With a little more practice, I should be able to use sword control techniques to attack," Zhou Ning thought to himself.

One day, he was practicing sword control on the back mountain 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. It was Xuan Jing.

"Miss Xuanjing?" Zhou Ning hurried down the mountain to greet her.

Xuan Jing smiled slightly when she saw him: "Young Master Zhou, congratulations on forming your Golden Core."

Zhou Ning was taken aback: "How did you know?"

Xuan Jing said, "My senior brother predicted it. He said that on the day you underwent the Golden Core Tribulation, the celestial phenomena changed, and all the cultivators within a hundred miles sensed it. He also said that you are a first-grade Golden Core cultivator, and your future is limitless."

Zhou Ning smiled wryly: "Master Xuanzhen, you flatter me."

Xuan Jing took out a letter from her bosom and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"My senior brother asked me to tell you that the Black Mountain Demon has emerged from seclusion. His injuries have healed, and his strength has greatly increased. He is gathering his forces, preparing for a major southward campaign."

"Your senior brother hopes you can get to the North as soon as possible to join him and fight against the Black Mountain Demon together."

Zhou Ning looked at the letter and saw that the contents matched what Xuan Jing had said, with an additional sentence at the end.

"Young Master Zhou, you are now qualified to fight the Black Mountain Demon. Do not back down."

Zhou Ning carefully put away the letter, cupped his hands to Xuan Jing, and said, "Thank you for delivering the message, Miss Xuan Jing. Please tell Daoist Xuanzhen that I will depart tomorrow."

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 situation in the north to Yan Chixia.

After listening, Yan Chixia remained silent for a long time.

"Have you made up your mind?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple has made up his mind. As long as the Black Mountain Demon is not eliminated, the people of the North will not have peace. This disciple cannot sit idly by."

Yan Chixia looked at him, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

"Go. But remember, come back alive."

He took out a jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning: "This jade talisman still contains a full-force sword aura of mine. In a critical moment, 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 bags.

The Qingfeng sword, the Bixie sword, talismans, cinnabar, yellow paper, elixirs... were all packed away one by one.

With everything ready, he stepped out of the room.