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

During their ascent, they traversed layers of misty illusions and crossed numerous treacherous abysses, finally reaching the summit. There, they saw a magnificent palace shrouded in pure spiritual energy, with a dignified old man seated in the center.

"Welcome to the summit of Mount Buzhou! I am the guardian, the Heavenly Emperor." The old man's voice boomed like a bell. "Now that you have ascended to this place, you must accept the final trial."

"May I ask the Heavenly Emperor, what kind of trial is this?" Ying Zheng asked respectfully.

The Heavenly Emperor smiled calmly: "Simple. If you can withstand three of my moves without defeat, I will bestow upon you an unparalleled opportunity."

Upon hearing this, although everyone knew that the test would be anything but simple, they were all fearless and ready to meet the challenge.

Standing atop Mount Buzhou, Ying Zheng and his entourage faced the trial set by the Heavenly Emperor, an unprecedentedly powerful pressure enveloping them. Yet, they showed no sign of retreat, exchanging resolute glances that revealed their determination to meet the challenge.

"Your Majesty, we are willing to accept your test," Ying Zheng declared in a deep voice, his upright figure standing firm against the howling mountain wind, like a sturdy pine tree on a cliff.

The Heavenly Emperor solemnly nodded. In a flash, he transformed into a golden ray and arrived in an instant, raising his palm to unleash a tidal wave of energy.

Ying Zheng was prepared. He took a deep breath and circulated the divine power in his dantian. Instantly, seven-colored light condensed into a sword. He gripped the hilt tightly and unleashed a fierce sword strike to meet the attack.

"Zheng——!"

Two immense forces collided in mid-air, unleashing a deafening clang of metal against metal. Ying Zheng felt his arm go numb, but he gritted his teeth and steadily caught the thunderous blow.

"What formidable power!" Xu Fu, who was observing, couldn't help but exclaim. "Ying Zheng, please be extremely careful!"

"Rest assured, I will handle this with caution." Ying Zheng's eyes were piercing, and his whole body was filled with fighting spirit.

Seeing this, the Heavenly Emperor did not press his advantage. Standing with his hands behind his back, he calmly said, "Your cultivation is decent, but to pass the trial, brute force alone is far from enough. You must employ strategy and wisdom."

These words made Ying Zheng's mind race. He immediately realized that this assessment focused on evaluating comprehensive qualities, and promptly adjusted his battle strategy to prepare for the subsequent offensive.

As expected, the Heavenly Emperor quickly launched a second attack. He formed hand seals and chanted incantations, conjuring a blazing phoenix that flapped its wings and cried out, spewing scorching flames that swept across the land.

"Fire magic!" Li Si cried out urgently, "Ying Zheng, dodge immediately!"

However, Ying Zheng did not dodge. He knew that running away was not a good strategy, and only by facing the crisis head-on could he resolve it. He immediately activated the water element within his body, and with a flick of his palms, he created a magnificent water curtain.

Water and fire clashed, creating a cloud of white mist. Under Ying Zheng's skillful control, the water curtain perfectly blocked the flames, protecting him completely unharmed. This brilliant response drew cheers from Yang Ling and the others.

Approval flashed across the Heavenly Emperor's eyes, but his attacks grew even fiercer. The third move arrived like a thunderclap; he transformed into a golden rainbow, wielding a lightning halberd, and attacked with overwhelming force.

"This is the Heavenly Emperor's ultimate technique, the Lightning Halberd!" Xu Fu exclaimed in alarm. "Be extremely careful!"

Completely focused, Ying Zheng felt unprecedented pressure, but he did not panic. He concentrated his mind and brought his divine illusion power to its peak, instantly conjuring up a majestic white tiger to fight alongside him.

“Ouch!”

The white tiger roared, transforming into a white rainbow that met the lightning halberd head-on. The two terrifying forces collided once more, unleashing blinding light and a deafening roar.

At this critical moment, a sudden change occurred—the Heavenly Emperor's figure transformed into a stream of light that pierced through the tiger's body, yet it did not harm Ying Zheng in the slightest.

This unexpected turn of events left everyone stunned. Ying Zheng looked at the Heavenly Emperor, puzzled and unable to understand the mystery. The Heavenly Emperor gracefully landed, smiling as he gazed at Ying Zheng: "Very good, you have passed the trial. You have not only demonstrated your strength, but also revealed extraordinary wisdom and resourcefulness."

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng and his companions breathed a sigh of relief. They had never expected the test to end in this way, and their hearts were filled with joy and pride.

"Your Majesty, may we be able to obtain some kind of opportunity?" Li Si asked impatiently, his eyes filled with anticipation.

The Heavenly Emperor smiled slightly and took out a delicate jade bottle from his sleeve, handing it to Ying Zheng: "This is a spiritual liquid refined from the essence of heaven and earth. It can help you cleanse your marrow and improve your cultivation. If you make good use of this and cultivate diligently, you will surely achieve great things."

Ying Zheng accepted the jade bottle with both hands, sensing the immense vitality it contained. He solemnly bowed and said, "Thank you for the Heavenly Emperor's grace! I will certainly not fail your trust!"

The Heavenly Emperor nodded in satisfaction, then transformed into a golden ray of light that shot into the sky and disappeared into the cloud-shrouded mountain peak.

After confirming that the Heavenly Emperor had departed, everyone exchanged smiles. "Great! We successfully passed the test!" Yang Ling excitedly pumped his fist. "This experience was truly thrilling and exciting!"

"Indeed! The Heavenly Emperor's cultivation is unfathomable," Xu Fu remarked. "Fortunately, Ying Zheng handled the situation well; otherwise, we probably wouldn't have been able to pass."

"This is the result of everyone's concerted efforts," Ying Zheng said humbly. "Without your strong support, I could not have done it alone. Now, let us share this hard-won opportunity."

He carefully opened the jade bottle. As soon as the stopper was removed, a refreshing and invigorating fragrance immediately filled the air, as if it were the essence of heaven and earth. This fragrance was invigorating, seemingly capable of cleansing the soul and dispelling weariness. Ying Zheng distributed the elixir equally to Xu Fu, Li Si, Yang Ling, and the others, saying, "This is a treasure bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor; you must all make good use of it!"

Everyone received the spiritual liquid with gratitude. They knew this opportunity was rare and understood that many more challenges lay ahead. Therefore, they all pledged to cultivate diligently and continuously improve their strength to meet the trials of the future.

Ying Zheng and his entourage, who had just left Buzhou Mountain, were filled with curiosity and anticipation for the spiritual elixir bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor. Unexpectedly, an urgent call interrupted their journey.

"Heroes, please wait!" An old Taoist priest, holding a peach wood sword, came panting as he chased after them.

Ying Zheng paused to return the greeting: "What guidance do you have, Daoist Master?"

The old Taoist priest, panting, replied, "I am Xuanzhenzi, the guardian of this place. I just witnessed you all undergoing the Heavenly Emperor's trial through the Heavenly Mirror, and I am deeply impressed. I have a request to make, and I hope you will lend a hand."

Yang Ling raised an eyebrow and asked, "Daoist Xuanzhenzi, please speak freely. If it is within my ability, I will certainly do my best."

Xuanzhenzi's face showed worry: "Recently, an evil sect called the 'Netherworld Cult' has appeared in this area. In their search for the forbidden 'Ghost Flower,' they have indiscriminately killed innocent people, causing great chaos."

Xu Fu frowned and said, "The Ghost Flower? The Classic of Mountains and Seas records that this thing can communicate between the living and the dead, and even control life and death."

“Indeed!” Xuanzhenzi nodded. “The Ghost Flower is extremely rare, and its habitat is fraught with danger. If it falls into the hands of a heretical cult, the consequences would be unimaginable. I am powerless to help alone, and thus I have come to seek your assistance.”

Ying Zheng exchanged glances with his companions, knowing full well the daunting task ahead, yet unable to bear witnessing the rampant evil. He resolutely agreed.

"Master Xuanzhenzi, we are willing to help you eradicate the Netherworld Cult and protect the peace of this place," Ying Zheng solemnly promised.

Xuanzhenzi bowed deeply in excitement: "Many thanks to all the heroes! This humble Taoist is willing to use the secret techniques of Taoism to assist us in fighting against the evil cult."

After a moment's thought, Li Si asked, "Where should we begin? Where is the Netherworld Cult's stronghold?"

Xuanzhenzi sighed, "Their stronghold is located in Black Wind Canyon, a place of fierce winds and dense fog, easy to enter but difficult to leave, extremely dangerous. Their leader, Heisha, possesses profound cultivation, and his subordinates are numerous and formidable." (End of Chapter)