Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 77 The Old Taoist Xuanqing

Zhou Ning stood at the back of the crowd, watching quietly.

His spiritual eyes had been activated, and he could clearly see that the paper crane and the copper coin were attached with an extremely faint trace of spiritual power.

The spiritual energy was very faint; it was almost imperceptible unless you looked closely.

"This Xuanzhenzi is a bit better than that previous swindler."

Zhou Ning thought to himself.

"At least they have real cultivation, and it's not just a mere illusion."

However, he also noticed that when Xuanzhenzi performed his magic, his eyes flickered and a hint of smugness appeared on his lips.

That's not how a true practitioner should behave.

"Perhaps, he wasn't a good person either."

Zhou Ning did not rush to expose him, but continued to observe.

Xuanzhenzi then performed several more spells.

Retrieving objects from a distance, turning stones into gold, and summoning wind and rain.

Each one drew cheers from the audience, but the more Zhou Ning looked, the more something seemed off.

Retrieving objects from a distance uses the technique of controlling objects, but the method is crude and the spiritual energy fluctuations are unstable.

Turning stone into gold is a trick that uses brass to impersonate gold, and it might fool the common people.

Commanding the wind and rain is just a simple smokescreen.

"This person, although he has some cultivation, is wicked."

Zhou Ning immediately made a judgment in his mind.

He squeezed through the crowd and walked to the front of the platform.

"Master, I have a question to ask you."

Xuanzhenzi sized him up and down, noticing his simple clothes and lack of wealth, and his attitude became somewhat perfunctory: "Please speak."

Zhou Ning said, "The Taoist priest said that the feng shui of your town is unusual. Could you take me to see it? I would like to see it for myself."

Xuanzhenzi's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his smile:

"Young man, feng shui is no joke. You're just an ordinary person; you might get bad luck if you go. Let me go alone."

Zhou Ning smiled and said, "Don't worry, Daoist Master, I'm not an ordinary person."

He raised his hand, and a golden light shone from his palm.

That was the light condensed from true essence.

Xuanzhenzi's expression changed completely.

"You...you are a cultivator?"

Zhou Ning withdrew his true energy and said calmly, "I am Zhou Ning, a disciple of Yan Chixia of Qingyun Mountain."

"Master, I've seen through all your magic. The paper crane flying is an illusion, the copper coin's power is unstable, the telekinesis is just hiding things in your sleeve, and the turning of stones into gold is a substitution. These tricks might fool ordinary people, but they won't fool me."

A commotion broke out in the crowd.

Cold sweat beaded on Xuanzhenzi's forehead.

"You...you're talking nonsense! I am a disciple of Qingxu Temple in Laoshan, a respectable practitioner. What right do you have to slander me?"

Zhou Ning wasn't angry. He used the same tactic again, calmly saying, "Then please answer a few questions for me, Daoist Master. Who is the head of Qingxu Temple in Laoshan? How many disciples does Qingxu Temple have? Which deity is enshrined in the temple?"

Xuanzhenzi opened his mouth, but couldn't answer.

Zhou Ning continued, "You said there's something strange about the feng shui of your town. I'll take you to see. If it is, I'll help you dispel it. If not..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Xuanzhenzi's face flushed red and then turned pale. Finally, he flung his sleeves, jumped off the platform, squeezed through the crowd, and fled in panic.

A burst of laughter and curses erupted from the crowd.

"Liar, give us our money back!"

"Chase him! Don't let him get away!"

Several burly men chased after him, but Xuanzhenzi ran extremely fast and disappeared around the street corner in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Ning did not pursue.

He stood on the high platform and cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd.

"Fellow villagers, that Taoist priest is a fraud. His magic is all an illusion; don't be fooled. In the future, when you encounter someone like this, be sure to keep your eyes open."

In the crowd, an old man stepped forward and bowed deeply to him.

"Thank you so much, sir. If it weren't for you, we would have all been scammed."

Zhou Ning helped the old man up, saying, "Sir, you're too kind. It was nothing."

The old man nodded, took out a few taels of silver from his pocket, and handed it to Zhou Ning:

"Young man, this is just a small token of our appreciation. Please accept it."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "Old folks, I don't want any money. If you really want to thank me, please do me a favor."

The old man said, "Please speak, young man."

Zhou Ning said, "I'm looking for clues about the Black Mountain Demon. Have you heard that people from the Black Mountain have been spotted around here?"

The old man's expression changed.

He lowered his voice and said, "Brother, why are you asking about Black Mountain? That's a matter of life and death."

Zhou Ning said, "I have something important to discuss. If the old man knows anything, please tell me."

The old man hesitated for a moment and said:

"I heard that there's an abandoned mine fifty miles to the north. Men dressed in black often appear there, acting suspiciously, and I don't know what they're up to. Some people say it's a stronghold of the Black Mountain."

Zhou Ning's eyes lit up: "Thank you, sir."

He bowed to the old man, then turned and left.

After exposing the fraudster Xuanzhenzi, Zhou Ning did not leave Qingshan Town immediately.

He had a vague feeling that this Taoist priest, who claimed to be a disciple of Laoshan, might have someone behind him.

A cultivator in the Qi Refining stage who dares to openly swindle people in the market must have powerful backers.

Moreover, that powerful backer is likely also near Qingshan Town.

Zhou Ning found an inn in town and stayed there, intending to observe secretly for a few days.

Sure enough, a carriage arrived at the inn the following evening.

Three people got out of the car. The one in the lead was an old Taoist priest with gray hair and beard, wearing a blue Taoist robe. He had a thin face and sharp eyes.

Two young Taoist priests followed behind him, one holding a whisk and the other carrying a long sword.

The old Taoist priest walked into the inn, glanced around the lobby, and his gaze fell on Zhou Ning.

"You are Zhou Ning?" The old Taoist's voice was deep and carried a hint of authority.

Zhou Ning stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I am indeed you. And you are, Daoist Master…"

The old Taoist priest snorted coldly: "I am Xuanqingzi from Qingxu Temple in Laoshan. The Xuanzhenzi you exposed yesterday is my disciple."

Zhou Ning understood.

Sure enough, the person in question arrived.

"Is the Taoist priest here to stand up for his disciple?" he asked.

Xuan Qingzi sat down opposite him and said calmly, "I am not here to stand up for others, but to reason with them."

He paused, then continued:

"Although Xuanzhenzi's skills are not proficient, he is still a disciple of my Qingxu Temple. You exposed him in front of everyone, causing him to lose face. Where does this leave the reputation of my Qingxu Temple?"

Zhou Ning said:

"Master, your disciple's magic is nothing but a smokescreen. He uses these tricks to swindle money from the people, which is unjust. I exposed him to protect the people. If you think I've done wrong, then I have nothing more to say."

Xuan Qingzi's face darkened: "You, a junior, dare to lecture this humble Taoist?"

Zhou Ning calmly said, "I'm not lecturing the Taoist priest, I'm just stating the facts."

Xuan Qingzi was silent for a moment, then said:

"Zhou Ning, I have heard that your Taoist skills are profound, and even a Foundation Establishment stage demon general is no match for you. I am not very talented and would like to ask you for some guidance."

Zhou Ning knew that this was a test for him.

"How would you like to ask me for guidance, Daoist Master?"

Xuan Qingzi took out a copper coin from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"Let's have a contest of skill in manipulating objects. Whoever's copper coin flies the farthest and the most steadily wins."

Zhou Ning nodded: "Okay."