UGB Chapter 109 The Real Threat
Chapter 109 The Real Threat
Zhou Ning returned to Lanruo Temple three days later.
The mountain gate remains the same, the pine trees still rustle in the wind, and the afterglow of the setting sun shines on the bluestone-paved mountain path, gilding everything with a warm golden hue.
He stood at the mountain gate, gazing at the familiar temple, and a long-lost sense of peace welled up in his heart.
All the toil and fighting of the past few days seemed to settle down at this moment, transforming into a clear mind deep within.
Yan Chixia has not returned yet.
The main hall was empty except for the wafting sandalwood incense, and the Buddha statues remained silent.
Zhou Ning sat down on the futon, closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, waiting for his master to return.
Two days later, Yan Chixia finally returned.
His complexion was much better than when he left, and his breathing was much more stable. He was carrying a black wooden box with several golden talismans pasted on it.
"Master." Zhou Ning stood up and bowed.
Yan Chixia placed the wooden box on the incense table, sat down on the futon, and gestured for Zhou Ning to sit as well.
"Has anything happened at the temple these past few days?"
Zhou Ning recounted in detail how the remaining forces of Qingfeng Mountain and Heishan Mountain captured Xuan Jing, how he went to rescue her, how he fought with the demon general, and how he finally rescued Xuan Jing.
Yan Chixia nodded slightly after listening.
"Well done. Although the Black Mountain Demon is dead, his remaining forces are still struggling in their death throes. If these people are not eliminated, there will never be peace in the North."
He took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning.
"This is the method for refining the Vajra, a Buddhist ritual implement I found on Mount Putuo. Take it back and study it. Once you break through to the Nascent Soul stage, you can try refining it."
Zhou Ning accepted the jade slip and solemnly said, "Thank you, Master."
Yan Chixia waved his hand and said, "Bring me that book, 'Local Landscape Records,' so I can take a look."
Zhou Ning was taken aback, and quickly took out the tattered booklet from his bag and handed it to his master with both hands.
Yan Chixia took the booklet, turned to the page that recorded "Black Mountain," and began to read it carefully.
His brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze deepened, as if he were recalling something from the past.
After a long while, he closed the booklet and sighed.
"Most of the records in this book are true. The Black Mountain Demon did indeed reside in the northern lands, cultivating for a thousand years and possessing extraordinary magical power. But what the book doesn't mention is that there is an even more powerful being behind him."
Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Master is talking about... the extraterrestrial demons?"
Yan Chixia nodded.
"The extraterrestrial demons are the real threat. The Black Mountain Demon was merely a pawn in its game. It used the Black Mountain Demon to collect resentment and blood to accumulate power for itself. The Black Mountain Demon is dead, but that resentment and blood has already been absorbed by it."
He stood up and looked towards the distant mountains outside the hall.
"Thirty years ago, I fought the Black Mountain Demon and we were both badly injured. At that time, I sensed that the power within him was not entirely demonic power, but also contained a demonic energy from beyond the heavens."
"I traced the source of that demonic energy, only to find that it came from the depths of the void, which was completely untouchable."
Zhou Ning asked, "Master, just how powerful are the extraterrestrial demons?"
Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, then said:
"In ancient times, extraterrestrial demons launched a massive invasion of the human world. In that battle, countless immortals and gods perished, and countless civilizations were destroyed. In the end, the human race and the demon race joined forces to repel the demons. But after that battle, the spiritual energy in the human world greatly diminished, and the path of cultivation became increasingly difficult."
He looked at Zhou Ning, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
"The power of the extraterrestrial demons far surpasses that of the Black Mountain Demon. It has no physical form and feeds on the negative emotions of living beings. War, slaughter, hatred, and fear are all its nourishment. The more chaotic the human world becomes, the stronger it grows."
Zhou Ning clenched his fist: "Then what should we do?"
Yan Chixia said:
"Improve yourself. Only by becoming stronger can we protect our home when it comes. What you need to do now is consolidate your Golden Core stage cultivation and prepare for breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage. Once you break through to the Nascent Soul stage, I will tell you what to do next."
He took out a jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning.
"This jade talisman contains some of my insights into Golden Core cultivation. Take it back and study it; it might be helpful to you."
Zhou Ning accepted the jade talisman and solemnly said, "Thank you, Master."
He left the main hall and returned to his residence.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he probed the jade talisman with his divine sense and studied it carefully.
Yan Chixia's insights are presented in a clear and concise manner, analyzing the key points of cultivation at the Golden Core stage one by one.
From the circulation of true essence to the condensation of divine thoughts to the tempering of the Dao heart, each step is explained in detail.
Zhou Ning absorbed this knowledge with great eagerness, and before he knew it, it was already broad daylight.
In the days that followed, he cultivated his skills while protecting Lanruo Temple and the people living at the foot of the mountain.
Yan Chixia would occasionally travel far away to search for more Buddhist artifacts and ancient relics.
Zhou Ning stayed in the temple, cultivating himself day after day.
He practiced the "Demon-Slaying Technique" hundreds of times until each sword strike could unleash its maximum power.
He had mastered the art of sword control to perfection; all three flying swords could fly freely in the air at lightning speed, driven by his divine sense.
He could even control five swords simultaneously with his divine sense, setting up a simple sword formation.
His cultivation level is also steadily improving.
The initial stage of the Golden Core realm has been completely stabilized, and the bottleneck in the middle stage of the Golden Core realm has begun to loosen.
He knew that if he had more time, he could break through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.
One day, he was practicing his sword 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, your cultivation has improved again."
Zhou Ning cupped his hands in greeting: "Miss Xuanjing, you flatter me. What brings you here? Is there something you need from Daoist Xuanzhen?"
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 remaining forces of Black Mountain have been basically wiped out. The people of the North are rebuilding their homes, and everything is moving in a positive direction. My senior brother hopes you can visit Qingfeng Temple; he wants to thank you in person."
Zhou Ning took the letter, unfolded it, and read it.
The contents of the letter were consistent with what Xuan Jing had said, and it ended with a sentence:
"Young Master Zhou, you are the most outstanding young cultivator I have ever seen. I look forward to the day you reach the Nascent Soul stage."
Zhou Ning carefully put away the letter and bowed to Xuan Jing, saying:
"Thank you for sending the message, Miss Xuanjing. Please tell Master Xuanzhen that I will go there in a few days."
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 informed Yan Chixia of Xuanzhenzi's invitation.
Yan Chixia said, "Go. Xuanzhenzi is a senior of the righteous path. It will be beneficial for you to communicate with him more."
Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."