Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 86 Blood Valley Altar

Blackrock Town is the last inhabited place in the North. Further north lies the territory of the Black Mountain Demon.

The town is small, with only a few dozen households, but the atmosphere is unusually tense.

There were few pedestrians on the street, and most shops were closed.

A faint smell of blood permeated the air.

Zhou Ning found an inn in the town to stay in, intending to replenish his food and water before continuing his journey.

The innkeeper was an elderly man in his fifties surnamed Ma. He had a kind face, but there was a deep fear in his eyes.

"Sir, are you heading north?" Manager Ma asked as he packed some dry rations for him.

Zhou Ning nodded: "I need to take care of something."

Manager Ma sighed and lowered his voice, saying, "You can't go north. A few days ago, a group of people from the Demon Suppression Division went there, but none of them came back. I heard they were all captured by the Black Mountain people and used as sacrifices."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

"Offerings? What offerings?"

Manager Ma shook his head.

"I don't know. I only heard that it's some kind of ritual that requires the blood of living people. Those who were captured are probably in grave danger."

Zhou Ning clenched his fists, a surge of anger rising within him.

"Manager Ma, do you know where those Demon Suppression Division people were taken?"

Manager Ma thought for a moment and said, "I heard it's in a valley to the north. Nobody knows the exact location."

Zhou Ning thanked Manager Ma, packed up the dry food and water, and left the inn.

He had just stepped out of the town when he suddenly saw a person standing by the roadside ahead.

The man was dressed in black, with a resolute face and a long sword hanging at his waist; he was none other than Han Wei of the Demon Suppression Division.

"Lord Han? What are you doing here?" Zhou Ning walked over quickly.

Han Wei turned around, his expression grave.

"Young Master Zhou, I was just looking for you."

"What happened?"

Han Wei said, "The entire team we sent to Black Mountain to scout has disappeared."

"I suspect they've been captured by the Montenegrins. I plan to go and rescue them myself, and I'd like to ask for your help."

Zhou Ning said, "Lord Han, I'm on my way to find the people from Black Mountain. They're going to hold a blood sacrifice on the night of the full moon, using the blood of hundreds of civilians to forge an evil weapon. We must stop them."

Han Wei's expression changed drastically: "A blood sacrifice? Hundreds of civilians?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "The information is reliable. Time is running out; we must get to Blood Valley as soon as possible."

Han Wei gritted his teeth: "These beasts!"

He took out a map from his pocket, spread it out, and pointed to a location marked on it.

"This is the location of Blood Valley. It's surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only one passage. The Black Mountain people have deployed heavy troops there, so getting in won't be easy."

Zhou Ning glanced at the map and asked, "Lord Han, how many men are you bringing?"

Han Wei said, "It's just me. Everyone else is on a mission and can't get away."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "Two people are too few. Going in would be suicide."

Han Wei sighed, "I know. But there's no other way. We can't just stand by and watch those people be harmed."

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "Lord Han, I have a plan."

"What plan?"

Zhou Ning pointed to Blood Valley on the map and said, "Blood Valley is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only one passage. The people of Black Mountain will definitely have heavily fortified that passage. We can climb over the mountain and get behind them."

Han Wei's eyes lit up: "That's a good idea. But the mountain is steep, can we climb it?"

Zhou Ning said, "I have a way."

The two discussed their plan and made their own preparations.

Night falls.

Zhou Ning and Han Wei left Blackstone Town and headed towards Blood Valley in the dark.

After walking for about two hours, a steep mountain peak appeared ahead.

The mountain peaks soar into the clouds, and the terrain is so steep that even monkeys would find it difficult to climb.

Zhou Ning used his lightness technique to grab onto the cracks in the rocks and climb upwards.

Although Han Wei's cultivation level was not as high as his, he was agile and followed closely behind.

It took the two of them a full hour to climb to the top of the mountain.

At the mountaintop, the biting wind was so strong that it was almost impossible for people to stand.

Zhou Ning lay down behind a boulder and looked down.

The valley was brightly lit.

A massive altar stood in the center of the valley, constructed of black stone and covered with eerie runes.

Dozens of men in black robes stood around the altar, each holding a black banner.

On the altar were several iron cages, each containing dozens of people, men and women, young and old, their faces pale and their eyes filled with fear.

Beside the altar stood a burly man with a ferocious face.

He was dressed in black armor, holding a large black sword in his hand, and exuded a strong, chilling aura.

Several men in black robes stood beside him, all of whom exuded considerable power.

"Is that the one who presided over the blood sacrifice?" Han Wei asked in a low voice.

Zhou Ning nodded: "It should be. His cultivation level is at least at the late Foundation Establishment stage."

Han Wei gasped, "Late Foundation Establishment stage? Then we..."

Zhou Ning said, "Lord Han, you wait here. I'll go down and rescue them."

Han Wei quickly said, "You're alone? That's too dangerous!"

Zhou Ning shook his head: "Having too many people would only make us more exposed. It's easier for me to move around alone."

He took out an invisibility talisman from his bag and stuck it to his chest.

His figure gradually blurred and disappeared into the night.

Han Wei looked ahead at the empty space and secretly admired him.

Zhou Ning quietly slipped down the mountain and approached the altar.

The invisibility talisman worked very well; the black-robed man in the valley was completely unaware of it.

Using the rocks and bushes as cover, Zhou Ning approached the altar step by step.

Closer, closer.

He was less than ten feet away from the altar.

Just as he was about to rush out to save the people, suddenly, the leader of the black-robed men on the altar turned his head sharply and looked in the direction where he was hiding.

"Who's there?"

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat, knowing he could no longer hide. He tore off the invisibility talisman, drew his Qingfeng sword, and slashed at the leader of the black-robed men.

A golden sword aura shot out, heading straight for the chest of the black-robed leader.

The leader of the black-robed men snorted coldly, swung his broadsword, and a black blade of energy rushed forward.

"boom!"

The two forces collided, producing a deafening explosion.

The black-robed figures in the valley surrounded Zhou Ning.

The leader of the black-robed men grinned maliciously: "So you're Zhou Ning? I've long heard of your audacity, and it's true what they say. But now that you're here, you're not leaving!"

With a wave of his hand, dozens of men in black robes attacked simultaneously.

Black beams of light, mist, and chains attacked Zhou Ning from all directions.

Zhou Ning was prepared and used his lightness technique to dodge and weave through the attacks.

At the same time, he pulled out three "evil-repelling talismans" from his waist and threw them at the three men in black robes.

Three golden beams struck the three men in black robes.

"what!"

The three men in black robes screamed, their bodies engulfed in golden flames, rolled a few times on the ground, and then fell silent.

The leader of the black-robed men's expressions changed: "Kid, you've got some skills."

He brandished his broadsword and charged towards Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning raised his sword to meet him.

The two figures clashed before the altar, swords flashing and sparks flying.

The black-robed leader's swordsmanship was fierce, each strike carrying a dense black aura that could corrode the skin upon contact.

Zhou Ning's swordsmanship was steady, and each strike carried pure true energy, which could suppress evil.

The two fought for dozens of rounds without a clear winner.