Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 94 Black Tiger Demon General

He paused, then continued, "The Golden Core Tribulation is not only a test of cultivation, but also a test of one's state of mind. If you can let go of your attachments and face everything with a calm mind, the tribulation will naturally come. If you cannot let go, forcing it will be useless."

Zhou Ning remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Master, how can I let go of my obsession?"

Yan Chixia said, "It's not about letting go, but about taking things lightly. You need to understand that there are many things in this world that you can't change on your own. You've done your best, and that's enough. The outcome is not something you can control."

He looked at Zhou Ning, his tone unusually gentle.

"You've done so much along the way. You've saved so many people and killed so many demons. You have a clear conscience, and that's enough."

"As for the Black Mountain Demon, you can't deal with him alone. You need to learn to trust others, trust those who are working hard just like you."

Zhou Ning lowered his head and pondered for a long time.

Master is right.

He was indeed too fixated on "himself".

He always felt a responsibility to protect everyone and that he had to become strong enough to fight the Black Mountain Demon.

But this persistence became a burden for him.

"Disciple understands." He raised his head, his eyes much clearer.

Yan Chixia nodded: "Good. Continue cultivating, don't rush. The Golden Core Tribulation will come naturally when it's time."

He turned and walked towards the main hall.

Zhou Ning watched him leave, then sat cross-legged on the boulder again, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing.

This time, he did not deliberately try to break through to the Golden Core stage, but instead let his true essence flow naturally, sensing the changes in the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

The wind blew past my ears, carrying the fresh scent of pine resin. The sunlight fell on my face, warm and gentle. In the distance, the stream babbled and flowed, making a pleasant sound.

Everything was peaceful and natural.

Zhou Ning's heart gradually calmed down.

In the days that followed, he no longer focused on breaking through to the Golden Core stage, but instead devoted more time to comprehending the world and cultivating his mind.

He meditates on the back mountain every day, listening to the wind, watching the clouds, appreciating the moon, and observing the flowers bloom and fade.

He combined the "Concentration Technique" and the "Innate Qi" to integrate his divine thoughts and true essence, allowing him to feel the righteous energy of heaven and earth.

Although his cultivation level did not break through, his state of mind underwent a qualitative leap.

One day, he was meditating on the back mountain when he suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats coming from below.

Zhou Ning opened his eyes, walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down. He saw a fast horse galloping along the mountain road. The rider on the horse was Li Laoshuan, the village head of Baihe Village.

"Brother Zhou! Brother Zhou! Something terrible has happened!"

Zhou Ning hurried down the mountain to meet him.

"Village head, what happened?"

Li Laoshuan dismounted, panting heavily, his face pale.

"The people from Black Mountain are here again. They... they've brought a lot of people this time, over a hundred. They say... they're going to raze Baihe Village to the ground and take everyone away."

Zhou Ning frowned: "Over a hundred?"

Li Laoshuan nodded: "And... there's another one riding a black tiger. They look very powerful. The village's talismans can't stop them at all."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat.

Riding a black tiger?

Could it be one of the demon kings under the command of the Black Mountain Demon?

He thought for a moment and said, "Village head, you go back first and tell the villagers not to panic. I'll go right away."

He returned to his residence, retrieved the Qingfeng Sword and the Bixie Sword, carefully packaged the talismans, and also took the Buddha relic and the life-saving jade talisman given to him by Yan Chixia.

With everything ready, he followed Li Laoshuan and rode at full speed to Baihe Village.

The scene in Baihe Village was even worse than Zhou Ning had anticipated.

At the village entrance, hundreds of men in black robes stood in formation, holding black weapons and exuding a chilling aura.

The leader was a burly man with a ferocious face, riding a huge black tiger.

The tiger was the size of a calf, its eyes burning with eerie green flames, drool dripping from its mouth, and it let out a low growl.

In the man's hand, he held a black spear with strange runes engraved on its tip, emitting a faint black light.

He was wearing black armor, inlaid with several dark green gems, which were clearly not ordinary.

"You're Zhou Ning?" The man looked him up and down, his eyes full of contempt.

Zhou Ning gripped his Qingfeng sword tightly: "Who are you?"

The man sneered, "Black Tiger, a demon general under the Black Mountain Demon. Today, I've come to take your life."

He leaped off the black tiger's back, pointed his spear, and a black spear aura shot out, heading straight for Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning was prepared and dodged the gunfire with a swift movement.

At the same time, he slashed out with his sword, the golden sword energy heading straight for the black tiger's chest.

Black Tiger snorted coldly and swung his spear, shattering the sword energy.

"He has some skill. However, it's not enough."

He formed a mudra with his hands and chanted incantations.

The ground began to tremble, and countless black vines surged from the ground, wrapping around Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning used his lightness technique to weave and dodge among the vines, while simultaneously drawing three "evil-repelling talismans" from his waist and throwing them at the black tiger.

Three golden rays shot straight towards the black tiger's chest.

Black Tiger swung his spear to block, shattering the two golden beams, but the third beam grazed his shoulder, leaving a charred wound.

"ah--!"

Black Tiger let out a miserable cry, clutching his shoulder, his eyes filled with resentment and venom.

"You...you actually managed to hurt me?"

Zhou Ning did not answer, and instead unleashed another sword strike.

This time, he used "Sky-Splitting Slash".

The golden sword energy split in two in the air, then into four, transforming into four sword energies that attacked Black Tiger simultaneously from four directions.

Black Tiger's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly swung his spear to block, but there were too many sword energies, and he couldn't block them at all.

A sword aura struck his back, leaving a deep wound from which black blood gushed out.

"ah--!"

Black Tiger let out a miserable cry and staggered to the ground.

Upon seeing this, his mount, the Black Tiger, opened its blood-red maw and pounced on Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning dodged to the side and thrust his sword into Black Tiger's throat.

"Pfft!"

The sword tip pierced the black tiger's throat, and black blood gushed out.

Black Tiger let out a desperate roar and collapsed to the ground.

The Black Tiger Demon General struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with terror.

"You...you actually..."

Zhou Ning walked up to him and looked down at him.

"Go back and tell the Black Mountain Demon that I've protected Baihe Village. If he sends anyone else, kill them all."

The Black Tiger Demon General gritted his teeth, took out a black token from his bosom, crushed it, and it turned into a wisp of black mist that disappeared into the air.

Upon seeing this, the other men in black robes scattered and fled in terror.

Zhou Ning did not pursue, and sheathed his sword.

Li Laoshuan and the villagers all gathered around, kneeling down and kowtowing.

"Brother Zhou, you've saved us again."

Zhou Ning helped Li Laoshuan up and said, "Village head, Baihe Village is no longer safe to live in. The people of Heishan will not let this go easily; you must move out."

Old Li, tears streaming down his face, cried, "Move? Where to? Our ancestors have lived here for generations..."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to the foot of Qingyun Mountain. My master is there, and the people from Black Mountain wouldn't dare go there."

Li Laoshuan hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

Zhou Ning helped the villagers pack their bags and escorted them away from Baihe Village to Qingyun Mountain.

Along the way, he glanced back at the village he had defended many times, and a feeling of indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.

Baihe Village is finally going to be empty.

But he knew it was to protect them.