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

"It's actually a Taoist secret technique! Xuanzhenzi, you've already reached such a level!" Hei Sha's expression changed drastically, clearly deeply shocked.

Xuanzhenzi smiled calmly: "Black Fiend, the evil deeds of the Netherworld Sect have angered Heaven, and it is fitting that they be destroyed today!"

With everyone's combined efforts, the battle situation gradually became clear. Although the Netherworld Cult members were all highly skilled, they began to show signs of defeat under the combined offensive of Ying Zheng and others. Their formation collapsed, each charge was repelled, and each counterattack proved futile.

Ying Zheng was like a war god descending to earth, his swordsmanship was fierce and unparalleled, and every move he made resulted in the death of his enemies; Xuan Zhenzi was like a banished immortal, his movements were agile and his sword was like a swimming dragon, always delivering a fatal blow at the crucial moment.

As the leader of the Netherworld Cult, Hei Sha was naturally not someone to be trifled with. He was constantly looking for an opportunity to turn the tide of the battle, but Ying Zheng and Xuan Zhenzi cooperated seamlessly, not only unafraid of his attacks, but also repeatedly counterattacking, putting him in a difficult situation.

Finally, in a fierce exchange, Hei Sha revealed an opening. Ying Zheng reacted swiftly, thrusting his sword straight at a vital point without hesitation. The sword strike was as fast as thunder; Hei Sha could not dodge in time and could only watch helplessly as the blade pierced through his body.

Black Fiend's body stiffened, his eyes filled with resentment and astonishment. He looked down at the sword piercing his body, then looked up at Ying Zheng's resolute gaze, finally realizing that all was lost.

With the defeat of the Black Fiend, the entire Netherworld Palace seemed to lose its soul. The palace trembled, walls collapsed, and the ground cracked. This evil place, feared by all, finally met its end.

"Retreat immediately!" Li Si shouted a warning, and everyone immediately composed themselves and quickly evacuated the Netherworld Palace, which was on the verge of collapse.

After escaping danger, the group rested briefly in a safe place, reflecting on the thrilling battle they had just fought.

Yang Ling sighed, patting his chest, "This battle was truly fraught with danger. Fortunately, everyone worked together to defeat the Black Fiend."

Xu Fu nodded in agreement: "However, the secrets behind the Netherworld Sect have not yet been fully revealed, so it seems the road ahead is still long."

Ying Zheng gazed at the sunset on the horizon, his eyes resolute: "No matter how difficult the road ahead, we will face it together. As long as we are united, we will surely overcome all difficulties."

Xuanzhenzi said gently, "Ying Zheng, your performance today is gratifying. Not only are you exceptionally strong, but you also possess a righteous heart. I am willing to continue accompanying you on your journey ahead, together uncovering the truth about the Netherworld Sect."

The crowd responded in unison. Although they had won the battle, they knew this was only the beginning of an adventure. The secrets of the Netherworld Cult, the legends of ancient powerful beings, and the mysteries of the Ghost Flower all awaited further exploration.

After a brief rest, Ying Zheng and his companions set off again, filled with curiosity and enthusiasm for exploring the unknown world. They firmly believed that as long as they worked together, they could solve all the mysteries and safeguard world peace.

After leaving the ruins of the Netherworld Palace, the group decided to travel to the ancient Spirit Mountain to seek more clues about the Ghost Flower and the ancient powerful beings. As the cultivation ground of ancient immortals, Spirit Mountain is filled with rare treasures and unsolved mysteries.

“Mount Ling is a blessed land of immortals, where great opportunities must be found,” Xuanzhenzi said to the crowd as he pointed out the direction.

Yang Ling rubbed his hands excitedly: "I've long heard of the legends of Mount Ling; to see it today is truly an honor beyond measure!"

"But remember, though Mount Ling is beautiful, it is fraught with danger." Li Si remained calm throughout, reminding everyone even in his excitement.

After several days of trekking, the majestic mountain range came into view. The cloud-shrouded peaks resembled a fairyland; this was indeed Mount Ling. Just as they were preparing to venture deeper, a clear voice suddenly rang out: "Visitors from afar, are you familiar with the rules of Mount Ling?"

The source of the voice was a woman dressed in a light purple fairy robe, holding a peach wood fairy staff, standing on the mountain path surrounded by ethereal aura. Her bright eyes were like mirrors, seemingly able to see through people's hearts.

Ying Zheng stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Junior Ying Zheng greets the fairy. We are newcomers and are indeed unfamiliar with the rules of Mount Ling; we hope you will guide us."

The woman in purple smiled faintly: "Mount Ling is a sacred land of the immortal realm, where every step contains both opportunity and trial. To delve deeper, one must first pass three trials. Only those with pure hearts and unwavering will can gain the approval of Mount Ling."

The group exchanged glances, their hearts filled with both anticipation and trepidation. "May I ask what the three trials are?" Xu Fu inquired curiously.

The woman in purple pointed ahead: "The first trial is the Trial of the Spirit. You will enter an illusion to confront your inner fears and desires. Only by conquering yourself can you pass this test."

Seeing that everyone understood, she continued, "The second trial is the spiritual power trial. There is a spiritual spring on Mount Ling, whose water contains immense spiritual power. You must cultivate in the spring day and night. If you can withstand the baptism of spiritual power, you will pass."

"The third trial of spiritual intelligence is the most crucial. Deep within the sacred mountain lies a heaven-reaching divine tree, whose spiritual fruits can stimulate potential and enlighten wisdom. However, to obtain these fruits, one must solve the riddles set by the divine tree."

After speaking, the woman in purple waved her sleeve, and a celestial light enveloped everyone. When the light dissipated, they found themselves in a misty, illusory realm.

"It seems we've entered the first trial." Ying Zheng clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination.

Upon entering the illusion, immense mental pressure immediately overwhelms you, with a series of hallucinations appearing one after another: the calls of loved ones, the mockery of enemies, and the deepest desires and fears within your heart.

Faced with this, everyone engaged in psychological warfare. Ying Zheng saw his parents, who had died in his childhood, and they waved and smiled. But he knew this was an illusion, and taking a deep breath, he firmly said, "My parents' spirits in heaven, I will forever remember their teachings. But at this moment, I cannot be deceived."

As the words were spoken, the illusion gradually dissipated, and a cool sensation filled his heart. Ying Zheng knew that he had passed the trial.

Li Si, Yang Ling, and Xu Fu also underwent spiritual baptism, overcoming their inner demons with strong willpower and successively passing the spiritual trials.

When the four reunited, they found themselves in a tranquil valley. A clear spring gurgled within the valley; this was the very place for spiritual trials—the Spirit Spring.

"Next, we need to cultivate in the spring day and night." Ying Zheng looked at his companions, his gaze resolute.

Without hesitation, the four stepped into the spiritual spring. The spring water was clear and icy cold, and the spiritual energy within it felt like fine needles pricking their bodies, constantly challenging their will.

"Hold on, this spiritual energy is both a trial and an opportunity." Li Si gritted his teeth and circulated his magic power to resist the impact of the spiritual energy.

As day turned to night, the sky began to lighten. When the first rays of dawn shone into the valley, the four of them opened their eyes at the same time, feeling light and agile all over, and their cultivation had greatly improved.

"I've passed the second trial!" Yang Ling cheered excitedly.

They then ventured deeper into the sacred mountain, finally finding the Heavenly Tree deep within the dense forest. This tree was a hundred feet tall, with a canopy like clouds, its branches and leaves laden with glistening spiritual fruits.

"This is the Heavenly Tree! Judging from those spiritual fruits, they are indeed extraordinary." Xu Fu exclaimed in admiration.

Just as they were about to pick the spiritual fruit, the divine tree suddenly shone with light, and a voice said, "Those who wish to obtain the spiritual fruit must first solve my riddle."

Ancient totems emerged from the light, with a complex array in the center and strange symbols and characters surrounding them.

"This is... an ancient immortal formation?" Li Si stared at the totem, his brows furrowed.

"It seems we must break this formation to obtain the spiritual fruit," Ying Zheng pondered.

The crowd gathered around the totem, attempting to decipher its meaning. Li Si used the art of divination and strategy to try various combinations; Xu Fu analyzed the symbols based on his knowledge of runes; Yang Ling and Ying Zheng offered advice from a tactical and strategic perspective. (End of Chapter)