bookbashuk Chapter 115 Getting More Serious
Chapter 115 Getting More Serious
Deep inside the cave, the enormous stone door still stands.
The stone gate was covered with intricate runes, emitting a faint golden light.
In front of the stone gate, the elder of the Qingqiu Fox Clan was sitting cross-legged, closing his eyes and regulating his breathing.
His face looked older than before, and his breathing was weaker.
"Elder, Young Master Zhou has arrived," Xin Shisi Niang said softly.
The elder opened his eyes, saw Zhou Ning, and a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.
"Young Master Zhou, you've arrived. I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Zhou Ning sat down opposite him and asked with concern, "Elder, your health..."
The elder waved his hand: "I'm old and useless now. But I can still hold on for a while."
He pointed to the stone gate and said, "The seal has loosened again. This time it's more serious than last time. If it's not reinforced, the treasures in the secret realm might be taken away by demons. I would like to ask Young Master Zhou for help in reinforcing the seal once more."
Zhou Ning nodded: "I'll do my best."
He walked to the stone gate, placed his hands on it, and poured his true energy into it.
With his mid-stage Golden Core cultivation fully activated, his abundant true essence surged into the stone gate like a surging river.
The runes on the stone door lit up with a dazzling golden light, illuminating the entire cave as if it were daytime.
The seal has begun to be reinforced.
But just then, a low roar came from deep within the stone gate.
The voice was hoarse and shrill, like a broken bellows, or a wail coming from the deepest hell.
The sound wasn't loud, but it pierced straight to the soul, causing Zhou Ning's divine sense to tremble.
"What is it?" Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat.
The elder's expression changed: "This is bad! What's inside the seal has awakened!"
"What is it?" Zhou Ning asked.
The elder said, "It's a demonic beast that our Qingqiu Fox Clan's ancestors suppressed. It had been dormant for over a thousand years, but unexpectedly, the seal loosened, and it awakened."
He struggled to his feet, took out a jade talisman from his robes, and handed it to Zhou Ning.
"Young Master Zhou, this is the core of the seal. Stick it on the stone gate and activate it with your true essence to completely seal that demonic beast."
Zhou Ning took the jade talisman and poured his true essence into it.
The jade talisman emitted a golden light, and he affixed it to the stone door.
The runes on the stone gate grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the entire cave as if it were daytime.
The roars from deep within the stone gate grew weaker and weaker, fading into the distance, until they finally disappeared completely.
The seal has been thoroughly reinforced.
Zhou Ning withdrew his hands and exhaled a long breath.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Nearly half of his internal energy had been depleted, but a sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.
"It's a success," he said.
The elder nodded with satisfaction.
"Young Master Zhou, thank you. You have saved our Qingqiu Fox Clan once again."
Zhou Ning shook his head: "Elder, you are too kind. By the way, Miss Xin, I have found the Taoist priest Wang that you often mentioned. However, he was a great menace to the people and was killed by me and the Demon Suppression Division. I forgot to tell you before."
Xin Shisi Niang was overjoyed and said, "Actually, after I returned to the clan, I also thought about taking action myself, but I was busy with clan affairs and it was delayed. With that guy dead, it can be considered a comfort to the ancestors of this branch of the Qingqiu Fox Clan."
"Young Master Zhou's great kindness to my Qingqiu Fox Clan will never be forgotten. Since Young Master Zhou has come all this way, why not spend a few days relaxing and enjoying the scenery of my Qingqiu Mountain?"
Zhou Ning did not refuse. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth here was extremely pure, making it quite suitable for cultivators.
"This would cause a great deal of disturbance."
After Zhou Ning finished speaking, Xin Shisi Niang smiled.
So Zhou Ning stayed at Qingqiu Mountain for a few days, exchanging cultivation experiences with Xin Shisi Niang and the fox clan cultivators, helping to deal with some minor troubles, and then bid them farewell and returned to Lanruo Temple.
Five days later, they returned to Lanruo Temple.
Yan Chixia was practicing his sword on the back mountain. When he saw him return, he sheathed his sword.
"You're back?"
Zhou Ning nodded and briefly recounted the events at Qingqiu Mountain.
After listening, Yan Chixia remained silent for a moment, then said:
"Qingqiu Mountain is indeed a suitable place for cultivators to live. Staying there for a period of time will greatly benefit your cultivation."
He paused, then continued, "However, now is not the time. It's not too late to explore after you break through to the late Golden Core stage."
Zhou Ning nodded: "This disciple understands."
He returned to his residence and continued his cultivation.
The days passed by.
Yan Chixia once again rushed to the southern border to participate in sealing the spatial rift.
Meanwhile, Zhou Ning's cultivation level was also steadily improving.
The mid-stage Golden Core realm has been completely stabilized, and the bottleneck in the late-stage Golden Core realm is becoming increasingly loose.
He knew that if he had more time, he could break through to the late stage of the Golden Core realm.
But he didn't have time.
On this day, he was meditating on the back mountain when he suddenly felt the communication jade talisman in his arms become intensely hot.
He took out the jade talisman and infused it with a wisp of true essence.
Xuanzhenzi's voice rang in his mind, tinged with anxiety.
"Young Master Zhou, please proceed to the Southern Frontier immediately."
Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine, put away the jade talisman, and rushed out of the back mountain.
He took the Green Edge Sword, the Evil-Repelling Sword, and the Frost Sword, packed the talismans, used his Lightness Technique, and sped off towards the Southern Frontier.
Zhou Ning had traveled the roads of southern Xinjiang many times, but this time, the feeling was exceptionally different.
An indescribable sense of oppression filled the air, as if an invisible giant hand was pressing down on one's chest, making it hard to breathe.
The sky was overcast, indistinguishable between clouds and fog, and even sunlight couldn't penetrate it.
The roadside plants were withered and yellow, as if something had drained their life force.
Occasionally, a few birds would fly overhead, but they seemed to be in a panic, as if they were fleeing something terrible.
Zhou Ning channeled his true energy into his legs, his body moving like an arrow as he sped along the official road.
At the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, the cultivation speed was several times faster than when he was in the Foundation Establishment stage.
The wind whistled in his ears, and the trees on both sides rushed past him. He had only one thought in his mind.
Faster, faster.
Master has passed away.
The cracks reappeared, and they were even bigger than before.
Extraterrestrial demons are attempting to descend upon the mortal realm.
He must get there as soon as possible.
After walking for two days, he arrived at a small town called "Crimson Flame Town".
This is the closest town to the Flaming Mountains, with only a few dozen households, mostly miners and woodcutters.
The atmosphere in the town was unusually tense, with few pedestrians on the streets and most shops closed.
The air was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur. Unlike the demonic aura of the Black Mountain Demon, this aura was more ancient and profound, carrying an indescribable eeriness.
Zhou Ning encountered Xuan Jing at the entrance of the town.
Her face was pale, and her eyes were full of exhaustion; she had clearly not rested for a long time.
"Young Master Zhou, you've finally arrived." Xuan Jing breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him.
Zhou Ning asked, "Miss Xuanjing, how is the situation this time?"
Xuan Jing shook her head: "It's not good. The crack is several times larger than the previous ones, and it's still widening. Immortal Master Yan is continuing to seal it at the mountaintop, but I'm afraid he won't be able to hold on for long. My senior brother told me to wait for you here and guide you."
Zhou Ning nodded and followed Xuan Jing, heading towards the summit of Flaming Mountain once again.
The scenery of the Flaming Mountains is even more terrifying than when I last visited.
The mountain was no longer dark red, but had turned deep black, as if it had been burned by a fire, or as if it had been corroded from the inside by something.
The air was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur and decay, making people nauseous.
The riverbed at the foot of the mountain was completely dry, and the ground was covered with cracks from which black mist constantly rose.
The mist carried a bone-chilling cold; even through his protective aura, Zhou Ning could feel the chill that penetrated to his very bones.
"The crack is at the top of the mountain," Xuan Jing pointed upwards.
The two quickened their pace and reached the mountaintop in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
The view from the mountaintop was even more terrifying than before.