Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 157 The Bottleneck of Nascent Soul Transformation

A dark figure emerged from the crevice, its blood-red eyes fixed on Zhou Ning and Yan Chixia.

Its lips curled up slightly, revealing a strange smile.

"Yan Chixia, Zhou Ning. My master said you are my strongest opponents. Today, I will kill you both."

It raised its giant axe and cleaved it down.

A black axe aura shot out from the axe blade, like a black dragon, heading straight for Zhou Ning and Yan Chixia.

Yan Chixia snorted coldly and slashed out with his sword.

The golden sword energy collided with the black axe energy, producing a deafening explosion.

The two forces remained locked in a stalemate for a moment before dissipating simultaneously.

"You've got some skill." A hint of surprise flashed in the shadowy figure's eyes.

It gripped the axe handle with both hands, channeling all its strength into the axe.

The runes on the axe glowed with an eerie black light, and an even more powerful force surged from the axe.

"Prepare to die!"

It cleaved down with an axe.

This time, the black axe energy was several times thicker than before, carrying a world-destroying force as it headed straight for Yan Chixia.

Yan Chixia's expression changed, and he quickly raised his sword to block.

"boom!"

The axe energy struck the sword, sending Yan Chixia flying. He crashed into the rocks at the edge of the crack, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Master!" Zhou Ning exclaimed in shock and rushed over to help him up.

Yan Chixia wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and shook his head, saying, "I'm fine. Be careful, it's very strong."

The shadowy figure sneered, "Yan Chixia, you're old. You're no match for me."

It raised its giant axe and chopped down again.

Zhou Ning gritted his teeth, concentrated all his Nascent Soul power at the tip of his sword, and unleashed the ultimate move of the "Demon Slaying Technique".

A dazzling purple-gold light shone on the Qingfeng Sword.

The light grew stronger and brighter, like a small sun, dispelling all the surrounding darkness.

"cut!"

A massive purple-gold sword aura shot out from the sword tip and collided with the black axe aura.

"boom--!"

The two forces collided, unleashing a deafening roar.

The land on the wasteland was ripped up, stones flew everywhere, and dust filled the air.

Zhou Ning was forced back several steps, his hands went numb, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

The shadowy figure was also forced back a step, a hint of surprise flashing in its eyes.

"Your strength is greater than I imagined."

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

He still combined the "Demon Slayer Technique" and the "Sky-Splitting Slash" together, and the sword energy split into two in the air, then into four, transforming into four sword energies that attacked the black shadow from four directions simultaneously.

The dark figure swung its axe to parry, shattering the three sword energies, but the fourth sword energy grazed its shoulder, leaving a deep wound from which black blood gushed out.

"ah--!"

The dark figure let out a scream and staggered backward. It stared intently at Zhou Ning.

"Zhou Ning, you deserve to die."

Zhou Ning gave it no chance to breathe, concentrating all his Nascent Soul power at the tip of the sword and unleashing the ultimate move of the "Demon Slaying Technique" once again.

"cut!"

A massive purple-gold sword aura shot out from the tip of the sword, heading straight for the head of the dark figure.

The shadowy figure tried to dodge, but the sword energy was too fast; there was no time to react.

"Pfft!"

The sword energy pierced through the shadowy figure's head, and black blood gushed out.

The dark figure stared wide-eyed at Zhou Ning in disbelief before collapsing to the ground, turning into countless black fragments that dissipated into the air.

Zhou Ning sheathed his sword, panting heavily, and slumped to the ground.

Large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his nascent soul power was almost exhausted, and his arms were trembling slightly.

Yan Chixia came over and helped him up.

"You did a great job."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "This disciple only did what he was supposed to do."

The two walked to the crack, stretched out their hands, and poured their true energy into the edge of the crack.

Golden and purple-gold light intertwined, enveloping the crack.

Immediately, the crack closed.

Zhou Ning and Yan Chixia exchanged a glance and both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go back," Yan Chixia said.

The two turned around and walked back to Qingfeng City.

The shadows vanished, the cracks closed, and silence returned to the wasteland.

Zhou Ning and Yan Chixia walked back to Qingfeng City side by side, with black fragments and dried black bloodstains scattered on the ground behind them.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds, casting long shadows on them.

Zhou Ning staggered, his nascent soul power almost exhausted, and the nascent soul in his dantian was dim and lifeless, its purple-gold light as weak as a candle flame.

But he gritted his teeth and refused to give up.

Yan Chixia walked beside him, her steps steady, but her face was equally pale, and there was still blood at the corner of her mouth.

At the city gate, Han Wei and his guards were waiting anxiously.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the two return safely.

People also came out of their homes and stood on both sides of the street, watching them silently.

No one spoke, but everyone's eyes were filled with gratitude and respect.

"Master Yan, Young Master Zhou, are you alright?" Han Wei greeted them, his voice trembling slightly.

Yan Chixia waved his hand:

"It's nothing. We were just too exhausted. Lord Han, let everyone go back and rest. They probably won't be coming again tonight."

Han Wei nodded and ordered the guards to return to camp.

He helped Zhou Ning into the headquarters of the Demon Suppression Division.

The guards prepared hot water and clean clothes. Zhou Ning took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and ate a bowl of hot porridge before he felt he had regained some strength.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, regulated his breathing, and focused his mind on his dantian.

Within the dantian, the nascent soul sat cross-legged in the center, its hands forming a mudra, emitting a faint light.

Although the light was dim, one could sense the vitality it contained.

The nascent soul is gradually absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to repair its damaged parts.

Zhou Ning took the "Rejuvenation Pill" given to him by Yan Chixia. The medicinal power transformed into a warm current that surged into his dantian, and his nascent soul began to recover at an accelerated pace.

"A Nascent Soul stage clone is indeed powerful," Zhou Ning thought to himself.

"If it weren't for Master's presence, I probably wouldn't be a match for him on my own."

He opened his eyes and saw Yan Chixia sitting to the side, meditating with his eyes closed.

Master's complexion was better than before, but it was still pale.

Zhou Ning did not disturb him and continued to meditate with her eyes closed.

In the following days, Qingfeng City entered a state of intense preparation for war.

Yan Chixia continued to inscribe runes on the city wall, perfecting the grand formation.

Zhou Ning led his guards to patrol the city walls, train in combat, and reinforce the defenses.

The whispers of the demons come every night, but Zhou Ning has grown accustomed to them.

No matter what the Heavenly Demon said, he remained unmoved.

His resolve to follow the Dao grew stronger with each trial.

On this day, the sky was clear and the sunlight shone on the city wall, dispelling some of the gloom.

Zhou Ning was patrolling the city wall when he suddenly felt his nascent soul in his dantian throb violently.

He stopped and closed his eyes to look inward.

The nascent soul sat cross-legged in the center, its hands forming a mudra, radiating a dazzling purple-gold light.

The light grew stronger and brighter, illuminating the entire dantian as if it were daytime.

He could feel the power contained within the nascent soul rapidly expanding, as if something was about to break free.

"The bottleneck of the Nascent Soul stage..." Zhou Ning's heart stirred.

He quickly sat down cross-legged, focused his mind on his dantian, and guided that power to circulate within his body.

The nascent soul began to expand under the impact of the force, and with each expansion came excruciating pain.

Large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his muscles were trembling all over, but he gritted his teeth and did not utter a groan.