Daqin arrests alchemists, what does it matter to me as a qi refiner?

"Heroes, the real test begins now." The black-robed man's words echoed in the night wind, carrying an indescribable eeriness. His appearance was like a biting winter wind, instantly freezing the joy in the air.

The three men abruptly stood up, looking warily toward the source of the voice. Ying Zheng gripped his sword tightly and demanded in a deep voice, "Who goes there? Why have you chosen this moment to show yourself?" His voice, like the clash of metal, pierced through the deep night.

The figure in black robes slowly emerged from the shadows, his wide cloak gleaming eerily in the moonlight, and the icy eyes behind his mask seemed to pierce through the heart. He chuckled softly, a hint of mockery in his voice: "I am the Shadow Messenger, from a mysterious force of ancient times. The power you acquired at Mount Ling has attracted attention, and I have come to verify whether you are worthy of this gift."

Xu Fu frowned, keenly sensing the hostility emanating from the other party. He steadied himself and said loudly, "We have obtained our power through trials in a fair and just manner. In what capacity have you come to test us?"

Pangu brandished his battle axe, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit: "No matter where you come from, we are never afraid of challenges! If you want to test us, then come at us!" His voice was like thunder, shaking the surrounding area.

The man in black robes chuckled and vanished into the night, his voice lingering: "Courage is commendable, but bravery is not everything. The trial that follows will show you true fear." Before his words had even finished, an eerie power instantly enveloped the entire village.

Suddenly, dark clouds obscured the moon, thunder roared, and a violent hurricane swept across the land. This was no ordinary natural disaster, but a calamity controlled by dark forces. The villagers fled in panic, their cries echoing throughout the land.

Despite the danger, the three remained calm and immediately organized the evacuation of the people. Ying Zheng strategized and commanded with composure, Xu Fu skillfully treated the wounded, and Pangu wielded his axe to fight off the lightning in the storm. Through their combined efforts, order was gradually restored, and fear slowly dissipated.

The black-robed figure hidden in the shadows witnessed everything, a flicker of surprise and admiration crossing his eyes. He understood that this trial no longer needed to continue—these three heroes had proven through their actions that they were worthy of the power of Mount Ling.

The figure in black robes blended into the night like ink, vanishing in an instant. As he left, the storm subsided, the dark clouds dispersed, and the bright moonlight once again bathed the world in its light.

The villagers, survivors of the ordeal, rushed towards the three heroes. An old woman said tremblingly, "You saved our home!"

Ying Zheng waved his hand gently: "This is our duty, how can we sit idly by?"

Xu Fu added with a smile: "We were able to survive this calamity entirely thanks to everyone's concerted efforts."

Pangu gazed at the village that had returned to peace and sighed deeply: "Only after this battle have I realized that the real threat is not natural disasters, but the forces lurking in the shadows with ill intentions."

Just as everyone was discussing rebuilding their homes, a holy pillar of light descended from the sky. Within the radiance appeared an envoy dressed in white robes and wearing a crown, holding a scepter with solemn majesty.

"A messenger from the heavens!" gasped in surprise from the crowd.

The messenger's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the three heroes: "Your courage and wisdom displayed during the trials at Mount Ling, as well as your heroic act of protecting the village, have earned the approval of the Heavenly Realm."

Ying Zheng stepped forward and bowed: "It is my duty to be loyal to my post, and I am truly honored to be favored by the Heavenly Court."

The messenger nodded and continued, "Now I bestow upon you even greater power, hoping you will use it to protect all living beings and uphold justice." With a gentle wave of the scepter, three orbs of light entered the heroes' bodies, and pure energy surged through their meridians.

The villagers who witnessed the miracle were all deeply moved and filled with hope. "Remember," the messenger earnestly admonished before his departure, "strength must go hand in hand with wisdom and responsibility. May the light forever illuminate your path." With that, his figure gradually disappeared into the starry sky.

The three heroes looked at each other and smiled, knowing that the responsibility on their shoulders was getting heavier, but they were even more convinced that as long as they had love and justice in their hearts, there was nothing they could not do.

That night they swore once again to use their newfound power to protect this land and ensure that peace would forever reign on earth.

After the messenger left, Ying Zheng looked around at the villagers and said loudly, "My dear fellow villagers, although everything that happened tonight seems like a dream, the mission we bear is real and heavy. We vow to use this strength to protect our homeland and protect every life."

Xu Fu continued, “The recognition from the heavens is certainly precious, but I hope you all understand that each person has a unique power within them—that stems from love for family and friends, and affection for one’s homeland.”

Pangu gripped his battle axe tightly and said resolutely, "We will never back down in the face of future challenges, and we hope that everyone can take control of their destiny and face the storms of life head-on."

The villagers were all moved by what they heard. Although they did not have the power to move mountains or overturn seas, they were all determined to do their best to contribute.

The village elder stepped forward, leaning on his cane. Though old, his eyes were sharp: "You are the pride of the village. Tonight's deeds will be remembered for eternity. But remember, true power lies not in how many enemies you slay, but in how many lives you save and how much hope you sow."

The three heroes respectfully accepted the instruction.

Ying Zheng took a deep breath and declared, "We will certainly live up to your trust! Tonight, let us set aside our worries and celebrate our new life. Though the road ahead is long, as long as we hold the light in our hearts, there will be no obstacles!"

Joyful songs rose again, and people joined hands to dance around the bonfire, their laughter soothing their frightened souls.

As night deepened, the embers of the campfire flickered like stars. The villagers had long since gone to bed, but the three heroes still stood at the village entrance, gazing at the bright moon. The moonlight caressed their faces, and through each other's eyes, they understood the surging emotions within them.

The words of the celestial messengers still echoed in their ears; indeed, this world holds countless unsolved mysteries. They yearned to explore those hidden realms, to unveil the secrets of heaven and earth, and to bring more wisdom and enlightenment to humankind. Under the witness of the bright moonlight, three pure hearts, dedicated to protecting all living beings, beat with renewed vigor in anticipation of a new legend.

As night deepened, the stars in the sky twinkled with a hazy light, like distant souls whispering in the underworld. This faint light could hardly penetrate the heavy darkness above the ancient castle, whose thick shadows were like a giant demonic hand, firmly gripping the entire castle in its palm.

The massive silhouette of the ancient castle stood tall, like a lurking beast opening its bloodthirsty maw, ready to devour all light and hope in the world. Standing in this shadow, Ying Zheng, Xu Fu, and Pan Gu felt the oppressive aura surging from all directions, their hearts heavy with unease. Even so, a burning flame still blazed in their eyes—an expectation of victory, and a steadfast commitment to justice.

They were acutely aware that their actions now concerned not only their personal honor but also the immense responsibility of saving all living beings. Dark energy surged and raged within the castle, a force like a monstrous flood, cruelly destroying everything beautiful. If allowed to spread, the entire kingdom and even its vast territories would be plunged into eternal darkness, with boundless darkness enveloping every inch of land. Such a future was one they absolutely could not allow to happen.

Ying Zheng took a deep breath, calming the turmoil within him. He turned to his companions, his gaze as resolute as a rock: "My dear friends, this may be our most severe test yet. The forces of darkness are powerful and cunning, seemingly omnipresent, constantly eroding our will. But we must not retreat, we must not allow the innocent lives on this land to suffer. We must fight for those who are powerless to resist!" (End of Chapter)