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

Yang Ling wasn't idle either; he took out a handful of talismans and tossed them into the air. The talismans burst into flames, transforming into golden chains that tightly bound the charging mechanical beasts.

Working together, the three finally cleared away all the mechanical beasts in the palace. They were exhausted and drenched in sweat, but their faces were filled with the joy of victory.

"It seems we underestimated the traps within the Immortal Abode," Ying Zheng sighed. "We must be even more careful from now on."

Pangu nodded in agreement: "Indeed, the mechanisms in this immortal mansion are as good as they seem. But with this experience, I believe we will be able to pass the remaining challenges smoothly."

Yang Ling also said, "We have already obtained so many treasures and ancient books, it would be worthwhile to leave now. But since we are already here, we might as well continue to explore further, perhaps there are even greater opportunities waiting for us."

After resting for a while, the three continued their exploration deeper into the immortal abode. They traversed palaces and caves, collecting numerous treasures and ancient texts. Whenever they encountered traps or mechanisms, they relied on immortal array diagrams and their own wisdom to overcome them. In this way, the three spent a fulfilling and exciting time in the immortal abode.

However, just as they were about to leave the last palace of the Immortal Abode, an unexpected event occurred. They triggered a hidden mechanism, and a huge crack suddenly appeared in the palace floor. A powerful suction force surged out from the crack, instantly pulling the three of them into it.

"Ah! What's going on?" Pangu exclaimed in shock.

Ying Zheng and Yang Ling were also panicked. They held each other's hands tightly, afraid of being separated in the chaos.

After an unknown amount of time, the three felt themselves fall heavily to the ground. Opening their eyes, they found themselves in an unfamiliar space. This space was filled with rich spiritual energy and mysterious runes, clearly no longer within the immortal abode.

"Where have we been teleported to?" Yang Ling asked, puzzled.

After carefully observing the surroundings, Ying Zheng said, "This seems to be another independent space. We may have triggered a teleportation mechanism in the Immortal Abode, which is why we were sent here."

Pangu stood up from the ground and brushed the dust off his body: "Now that we've come this far, let's continue exploring. Perhaps some unexpected opportunities await us here."

Ying Zheng and Yang Ling both nodded in agreement. They understood that the most important thing now was to remain calm and united. Only in this way could they find a way out of this unknown space and continue their adventure.

So the three began exploring this mysterious space. They moved forward cautiously, constantly wary of the dangers around them. Whenever they encountered a difficult problem, they would discuss and cooperate to find a solution. In this way, they left behind footprints of their courageous exploration in this mysterious space.

As the guardian's voice faded, the three heroes gazed at the crystal ball, lost in deep thought. They understood that the puzzle before them not only tested their wisdom but also determined their fate—whether they could continue their journey.

As a powerful ruler, Ying Zheng meticulously analyzed every word in the riddle. He keenly sensed that the answer lay hidden within these seemingly ordinary phrases. Pangu and Xu Fu were equally diligent, proposing various possibilities based on their extensive knowledge, but Ying Zheng rejected each and every one of these guesses.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and the three grew increasingly tense. They knew that if they couldn't solve the mystery in time, they might be trapped in this strange space forever.

Just as hope was about to fade, Xu Fu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he excitedly shouted, "I understand! The answer must be 'fire'!"

Ying Zheng and Pan Gu were taken aback, then asked in unison, "How do you know?"

Xu Fu explained in detail: "The riddle says 'I was born of fire, and I die of fire,' implying that this thing is related to fire. And 'I can create, and I can destroy' indicates that it has a dual nature. Combining these clues, only 'fire seed' fits the entire description." After hearing this explanation, Ying Zheng and Pan Gu both felt it made sense. They gazed at the words on the crystal ball, silently praying that the answer was correct.

Ying Zheng took a deep breath and declared loudly towards the crystal ball: "Fire!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the crystal ball suddenly burst into dazzling light. Immediately afterwards, a beam of light shot out from the sphere, pointing directly to the other end of the passage. In the blink of an eye, a new passage appeared in the light, leading to the next trial.

The three were overjoyed and embraced each other to celebrate this important victory. They then followed the passage to a brand new area.

The environment here was completely different from before; the air was thick with scorching heat. The surrounding rock walls were a dark red, as if they had been scorched by flames. Directly in front of them stood a huge furnace, with flames roaring and emitting a "whooshing" sound.

"It seems we've entered the second trial," Ying Zheng said, observing his surroundings. "This trial should be related to fire."

Pangu nodded in agreement: "Indeed, we must proceed with extreme caution. This furnace may hold hidden dangers; we must find a safe way to pass through."

Xu Fu approached the furnace and carefully observed the pattern of the flames' movement. After studying it, he discovered that the flames seemed to follow a specific rhythm. He then shared his discovery with his companions.

"This rhythm is crucial; it may be the key to passing the test," Xu Fu said, pointing to the flames. "We need to act according to this rhythm to pass safely."

Both Ying Zheng and Pan Gu agreed with the analysis. They decided that Xu Fu would lead the way to try and pass the test. Xu Fu took a deep breath and steadily moved forward according to the observed rhythm.

Under his guidance, the three of them safely passed through the raging furnace without sustaining any injury. When they reached the other side of the furnace, a brand new passage appeared before them once again.

"We did it!" Pangu shouted excitedly, waving his arms. "This test was a little easier than we expected."

However, Ying Zheng shook his head and warned, "Do not let your guard down; this is only the beginning. The trials to come will surely become increasingly difficult."

Just as Ying Zheng had predicted, the surrounding environment changed drastically once again after they stepped into the new passage. The air here was filled with rich spiritual energy, and strange plants and crystals shimmered with light all around. Unlike before, these plants and crystals all exuded a powerful and chilling aura.

"This place is filled with mysterious power," Ying Zheng sighed. "We must approach each challenge with caution."

The three continued on their way and soon arrived at a huge stone gate. The surface of the stone gate was carved with intricate patterns and runes, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

"This should be the final test," Pangu said, examining the stone door. "We must find a way to open this door to leave this place."

However, the three of them studied the stone gate for a long time without finding any clues. The runes and patterns on the stone gate seemed to hide profound secrets that were difficult to decipher.

Just as he was in dire straits, Xu Fu suddenly noticed something unusual. He observed that whenever he approached the stone gate, the shimmering plants and crystals emitted peculiar fluctuations, as if they were communicating with the stone gate in some way. (End of Chapter)