Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 111 The Protector of the Nation

Zhou Ning stood at the entrance of the main hall, watching his master's departing figure, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

The shadow of the extraterrestrial demons is drawing ever closer, and his cultivation level is still far from sufficient.

"I must break through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm as soon as possible," he secretly resolved in his heart.

In the days that followed, Zhou Ning devoted all his energy to cultivation.

Aside from meals and necessary rest, he spent almost all his time meditating and practicing swordsmanship on the back mountain.

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.

However, the bottleneck at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm has never been broken.

Zhou Ning was getting a little anxious.

He knew that the path of cultivation could not be rushed, but with the threat of the extraterrestrial demons drawing ever closer, he could not help but feel anxious.

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 rift in the Southern Frontier has been temporarily sealed by Immortal Yan."

"But Immortal Master Yan said that it was only temporary, and the rift could open again at any time. Senior Brother hopes that you can improve your cultivation as soon as possible and make preparations."

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 hope of our righteous path. Do not let everyone down."

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 definitely work hard in my cultivation."

Xuan Jing nodded and turned to go down the mountain.

Zhou Ning watched her leave, then returned to the back mountain to continue his cultivation.

As evening fell, he came to the main hall, sat down on the prayer mat, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

He had been pondering a question for a long time.

Why is he unable to break through the bottleneck of the mid-stage Golden Core realm?

His cultivation was already sufficient, his true essence was sufficiently abundant, his divine sense was sufficiently powerful, and his Dao heart was sufficiently firm.

What exactly is missing?

He thought for a long time and suddenly remembered a sentence his master had once said.

"The path of cultivation lies not in the golden elixir, but in the heart. If the Dao is in your heart, the Dao is everywhere. If the Dao is not in your heart, the golden elixir is just an empty shell."

"I have a principle in my heart..." Zhou Ning murmured to himself.

He suddenly understood.

He was obsessed with "breaking through" and "becoming stronger," but he neglected the essence of cultivation.

The purpose of cultivation is not to break through realms, but to protect those he wants to protect.

A state of being is merely a means, not an end.

"I see."

Zhou Ning opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

He no longer deliberately tried to break through to the middle stage of the Golden Core realm, but instead focused his attention on the "Dao".

His path is to protect.

His sword is wielded for the sake of all living beings.

As long as you have the Way in your heart, a higher realm will naturally come.

He closed his eyes and let his true energy flow naturally.

Within his dantian, the golden elixir began to spin rapidly, emitting a dazzling golden light.

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

"boom!"

Zhou Ning felt a boom in his mind, as if something had been shattered.

The bottleneck of the mid-stage Golden Core realm collapsed at this moment.

Mid-stage Golden Core, achieved!

Zhou Ning opened his eyes, his eyes filled with joy.

He stood up and stretched his limbs.

His bones crackled and popped, his muscles became incredibly elastic, and the true energy within his body was several times stronger than before.

"Is this the power of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator?"

He walked to the back mountain, drew his Qingfeng sword, and poured his true essence into it.

The sword shone with a dazzling golden light, several times stronger than before.

He took a deep breath and slashed out with his sword.

"Demon-Slaying Technique!"

A massive golden sword aura shot out from the tip of the sword, like a golden dragon, heading straight for a giant rock in the distance.

"boom!"

The sword energy struck the boulder, causing it to explode instantly, sending fragments flying and dust billowing everywhere.

Zhou Ning gasped.

The power of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator is at least three times stronger than that of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator.

He sheathed his sword, overjoyed.

But he knew this was just the beginning.

Above the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, there are the late-stage Golden Core realm, the Nascent Soul realm, and the Deity Transformation realm.

The path of spiritual practice is still very long.

In the days that followed, Zhou Ning continued his cultivation, consolidating his mid-stage Golden Core cultivation.

He practiced the "Demon-Slaying Technique" hundreds of times to adapt to the new power.

He mastered sword control to a higher level, and all five flying swords could be arranged into complex sword formations in the air under the control of his divine sense.

His divine sense could already cover an area of ​​a thousand feet in radius.

He could sense what the people down the mountain were doing, he could sense the birds and beasts flying in the distance, and he could sense the flow of spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

"If I continue cultivating like this, I'll soon be able to break through to the late stage of the Golden Core realm," Zhou Ning thought to himself.

One day, he was meditating on the back mountain when he suddenly heard a commotion coming from below.

Zhou Ning walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down. He saw a group of people walking up the mountain path.

The leader was a middle-aged man dressed in black with a resolute face; it was Han Wei.

Behind him followed a dozen or so guards from the Demon Suppression Division, as well as several cultivators dressed in various colored Taoist robes.

"Lord Han?" Zhou Ning hurried down the mountain to greet him.

Han Wei saw him and laughed heartily: "Young Master Zhou, we meet again."

Zhou Ning cupped his hands in greeting: "Lord Han, what brings you here? Has something happened again in the North?"

Han Wei shook his head: "The North is very peaceful now. I came here for another matter."

"What is it?"

Han Wei took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"The imperial court has issued an edict to bestow upon you the title of 'Guardian of the Nation'. This is the imperial edict; please keep it safe."

Zhou Ning took the letter, unfolded it, and read it.

The letter was stamped with a bright red seal and contained a commendation for his slaying of demons and protection of the people. It also bestowed upon him the title of "Guardian of the Nation" and granted him a thousand taels of gold and a hundred acres of fertile land.

Zhou Ning carefully put away the letter and said, "Lord Han, I cannot accept these rewards."

Han Wei was taken aback.

Why?

Zhou Ning said, "I cultivate not for rewards. Please, Lord Han, help me distribute this gold and fertile land to the people of the North. They need it more than I do."

Han Wei was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Okay. I'll pass it on to you.

He paused, then continued, "Young Master Zhou, the imperial court has another request."

"What request?"

Han Wei said, "The imperial court hopes that you can serve as a guest advisor to the Demon Suppression Division, helping to train the guards of the Demon Suppression Division and teaching them the skills to slay demons and monsters."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment. It was obvious that his master, Yan Chixia, would not personally teach him. The imperial court was clearly aware of this, so they placed this task on him.

"I can try. But I can't stay away from Lanruo Temple for too long."

Han Wei was overjoyed: "Then it's settled."

The two chatted for a while longer before Han Wei led his men down the mountain.

Standing at the mountain gate, Zhou Ning watched their departing figures, a sense of responsibility welling up in his heart.

Protector of the Nation.

This title is not just an honor, but also a responsibility.

He must become stronger to live up to that title.