Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 62 Black Mountain Wasteland

"Late stage of Foundation Establishment," Xuanzhenzi said in a low voice. "Not easy to deal with."

Zhou Ning said, "I'll distract him, you go and save the people."

Xuanzhenzi nodded: "Be careful."

Zhou Ning emerged from the shadows, tore off the invisibility talisman, drew his Qingfeng sword, and slashed at the demon general.

A streak of cyan sword energy shot out from the sky, heading straight for the demon general.

The demon general snorted coldly, swung his broadsword, and a black blade of energy rushed forward.

"boom!"

The two forces collided, producing a deafening explosion.

Zhou Ning was forced back several steps, his hands and feet going numb.

The demon general remained motionless, grinning maliciously:

"Boy, you're Zhou Ning? I heard you killed several of our demon generals. Today I'll see what you're capable of."

He swung his broadsword and slashed at Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning used his lightness technique to fight the demon general.

He kept throwing out "evil-expelling talismans" to distract the demon general and search for his weaknesses.

Xuanzhenzi seized the opportunity to circle around to the iron cage, used his whisk to cut the chains, and rescued the people.

"Hurry, run towards the cave entrance!"

The people panicked and ran towards the cave entrance.

The demon general was furious upon seeing this: "Trying to run away?"

He formed a mudra with his hands and chanted incantations.

The ground began to shake, and countless black chains surged from underground, wrapping around the people.

Zhou Ning gritted his teeth, concentrated his inner energy at the tip of his sword, and unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Slash".

A streak of cyan sword energy slashed out, severing several chains.

But there are too many chains to cut them all.

Just as several chains were about to entangle a child, Xuanzhenzi suddenly swung his whisk, and a silver-white light shot out, shattering the chains.

"Young Master Zhou, you deal with the demon general, I'll protect the people."

Zhou Ning nodded, focusing all his attention on the demon general.

The demon general's strength far surpasses that of those encountered before.

His swordsmanship was fierce, each strike carrying a thick black aura that could corrode the skin upon contact.

Zhou Ning fought and retreated, constantly depleting the demon general's stamina.

Finally, the demon general's offensive slowed down.

"Now."

Zhou Ning concentrated all the remaining internal energy into the tip of his sword and unleashed his strongest "Demon-Slaying Slash".

A dazzling azure sword aura, like a dragon emerging from the sea, rushed straight towards the demon general's chest.

The demon general tried to dodge, but the sword energy was too fast, and there was no time to react.

"Pfft!"

The sword energy pierced through his chest, and black blood gushed out.

The demon general stared wide-eyed at the hole in his chest in disbelief before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Zhou Ning, panting heavily, sheathed his sword.

Xuanzhenzi walked over, looked at him, and his eyes were full of admiration.

"Young Master Zhou, impressive skills."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "You flatter me, Daoist. Are the people all safe?"

Xuanzhenzi nodded: "Everyone is safe now. Let's leave here quickly."

The two men led the people out of the cave.

By the time we left Cangwu Mountain, it was already dark.

Zhou Ning and Xuanzhenzi found a safe place, settled the people in, lit a bonfire, and sat together.

"Master Xuanzhen, how much do you know about the Black Mountain Demon?" Zhou Ning asked.

Xuanzhenzi was silent for a moment, then said:

"The Black Mountain Demon has cultivated for over a thousand years, possessing immense magical power. No one knows what his true form is. But his influence is indeed widespread throughout the northern lands."

He paused, then continued:

"Young Master Zhou must have heard about it as well. The Black Mountain Demon is cultivating a very strange and evil art. Once it succeeds, the world will likely be plunged into chaos."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "I have heard of it, but I wonder if you know exactly what kind of evil technique it is, and how to break it?"

Xuanzhenzi shook his head:

"I don't know. All I know is that it requires a large amount of the essence of living people and the souls of those with special destinies. He's been arresting people everywhere for this purpose."

He looked at Zhou Ning, his eyes filled with worry:

"Young Master Zhou, it's too dangerous for you to go to Black Mountain alone. Why don't you come back to Qingfeng Temple with me and we can discuss this further?"

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said:

"Master, I promised some people that I would find out the truth about the Black Mountain Demon. I can't give up halfway."

Xuanzhenzi sighed, "Then I will accompany you."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "Daoist Master, although your cultivation is not weak, Black Mountain is too dangerous. I don't want to implicate you."

Xuanzhenzi said, "What's this talk of being implicated? Slaying demons and eliminating evil is our duty. Young Master Zhou, please don't refuse."

Seeing his resolute attitude, Zhou Ning had no choice but to nod: "Then thank you very much, Daoist Master."

After discussing their plans, the two went to rest.

The next morning, Zhou Ning and Xuanzhenzi continued north, heading towards the Black Mountain Wasteland.

North of Cangwu Mountain lies the Black Mountain Wasteland.

Zhou Ning and Xuan Zhenzi stood on the mountain ridge, looking at the endless black plain in front of them, and a feeling of indescribable oppression welled up in their hearts.

The wasteland was barren, the land a deep black, as if it had been scorched by a fire.

The sky was overcast, indistinguishable between clouds and fog, and even sunlight couldn't penetrate it.

"This is the Black Mountain Wasteland," Xuanzhenzi said softly.

"The Black Mountain Demon's lair is at the edge of this wasteland."

Zhou Ning gripped his Qingfeng sword tightly, his gaze resolute: "Let's go."

The two traveled north along an ancient road in the wilderness.

After walking for about two hours, an abandoned village appeared ahead.

Houses collapsed, courtyard walls crumbled, and ruins were everywhere.

At the entrance of the village stands a stone tablet with the three characters "Shihe Village" engraved on it, but the characters have been blurred by wind and sand.

"Did anyone ever live here?" Zhou Ning asked.

Xuanzhenzi nodded:

"Decades ago, there were still many villages in this area. Later, the Black Mountain Demon's power expanded, and the people either died or fled, and the villages were abandoned."

He pointed to a black mountain peak in the distance: "That's the main peak of Black Mountain."

Zhou Ning looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a black mountain in the distance, towering into the clouds. The mountaintop was shrouded in black mist and could not be seen clearly.

Around the mountain peak, some buildings can be vaguely seen, resembling a huge castle.

"The Black Mountain Demon is right there."

Zhou Ning took a deep breath and continued on his way.

After walking for about an hour, it gradually got dark.

The nights in the wilderness are more terrifying than the days.

The wind was strong, whipping up black sand that stung my face.

There were no stars or moon in the sky, only a deathly darkness.

"Let's find a place to spend the night," Xuanzhenzi said.

The two found a sheltered mountain hollow and lit a campfire.

The campfire dispelled the surrounding chill and brought a glimmer of light.

Zhou Ning sat cross-legged by the fire, closing his eyes and regulating his breathing.

Xuanzhenzi sat to the side, vigilantly observing his surroundings.

"Young Master Zhou, have you sensed that someone is following us?" Xuanzhenzi suddenly asked.

Zhou Ning opened his eyes and nodded:

"I sensed it. Ever since we entered the wasteland, there has been a gaze watching us."

"Are they from Montenegro?"

"I don't know. But whoever it is, they'll show themselves sooner or later."

The two stopped talking and went to rest.

late at night.

A gust of cold wind blew by, and the campfire flickered violently a few times.

Zhou Ning opened his eyes and gripped the Qingfeng sword tightly.

A figure emerged from the darkness.

It was a person wearing a black cloak, whose face was obscured, only a pair of blood-red eyes that gleamed eerily in the darkness.