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

When the mysterious figure in black appeared in the Dragon Vein Land, the guardians quickly assembled, preparing to meet this unexpected challenge. As dusk deepened, the bright moonlight, like mercury spilling across the ground, shrouded the tense atmosphere in mystery.

“These men in black exude a powerful aura; they are no ordinary people.” Li Si gripped his sword hilt tightly, his eyes blazing.

"What are they trying to do? Could it be that they covet the power of the dragon vein?" Zhao Gao frowned, his expression wary.

Xu Fu stroked his long beard and pondered, "Dragon veins have always contained immense power, attracting countless greedy eyes. These men in black are probably acting under orders, intending to seize the secrets of the dragon veins."

"Whatever their purpose, we must not let them succeed," Ying Zheng said resolutely.

Just as everyone was preparing to attack, Xuanzhenzi suddenly advised, "Wait, we must be even more cautious. A rash confrontation might not be wise. We know very little about their true nature, and acting rashly could bring even greater danger to the dragon vein."

The battle erupted instantly. Ying Zheng stepped forward, the power of the Heavenly Dragon Pearl surging like a tide, golden light surrounding his body like a dragon protecting him. The leader of the black-clad men sneered, the black light of the magic weapon in his hand suddenly flared, and the swirling demonic shadows emitted a terrifying aura that sent chills down one's spine.

The leader of the men in black launched the first attack, sending a black beam of light straight at Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng remained unmoved, and with a flick of his sleeve, golden energy surged upwards to meet the attack. The two forces collided violently in mid-air, unleashing a deafening roar.

Li Si and the others immediately joined the battle. They surrounded the men in black, engaging in a fierce melee. Each guardian fought with all their might, using the extraordinary power granted by the Heavenly Dragon Pearl to contend with the enemy.

Energy surged like a tidal wave on the battlefield. Each clash left deep marks on the ground. Although the men in black outnumbered the guardians, they gradually began to falter before the powerful Heavenly Dragon Pearls of the guardians.

A man in black brandished a magical weapon, unleashing a dense barrage of black arrows in an attempt to disrupt the guardians' formation. However, these attacks were completely dissipated by the defenses of Li Si and the others.

"Beware! Their attacks contain dark attributes; beware of corruption!" Xu Fu shouted a warning.

The guardians became increasingly cautious, using the pure energy of the Heavenly Dragon Pearl to resist the approaching dark forces and ensure they were not corrupted by evil.

The battle between Ying Zheng and the leader of the men in black was the most intense. Each exchange between the two triggered violent energy fluctuations. The leader of the men in black was clearly no ordinary opponent; his magical artifacts could absorb the surrounding dark energy, making his attacks even more ferocious.

But Ying Zheng was not to be outdone. The power of the Heavenly Dragon Pearl transformed into a golden dragon that soared in the air, fiercely clashing with the shadowy figure of the black-clad leader.

"Your strength is indeed extraordinary, but you are still far from destroying the dragon vein!" Ying Zheng said coldly, and with his palms clasped together, an even more powerful golden energy burst forth, directly approaching the black-clad leader.

The black-clad leader's expression changed drastically, and he staggered back several steps, struggling to regain his footing. The golden energy pressed down like a mountain, forcing him to defend himself with all his might.

"Who are you? Why are you our enemies?" the leader in black roared.

"We are the guardians of the dragon vein, and we will never allow anyone to defile this sacred land!" Ying Zheng replied solemnly.

Fear flashed in the black-clad leader's eyes as he realized the mission was likely doomed. But he didn't give up, brandishing his magical weapon and charging at Ying Zheng once more.

Meanwhile, the other men in black launched a frantic counterattack. They knew that if their leader fell, the mission would be a complete failure.

But the guardians did not give them an opening. Led by Ying Zheng, Li Si, and Xu Fu, the group repeatedly repelled the attacks of the men in black with the power of the Heavenly Dragon Pearl.

"Form ranks and trap the enemy!" Xu Fu shouted.

The guardians swiftly shifted positions, forming a massive magic circle. Golden light swirled, enveloping all the men in black within it.

Seeing this, the leader in black knew that the situation was hopeless, but he was still unwilling to give up. He struggled to swing his magical weapon, trying to break through the golden cage, but no matter how hard he struggled, it was all in vain.

"You think you've won by trapping us? The power of the Dragon Vein is beyond your imagination!" the black-clad leader roared. "Then let us witness the true power of the Dragon Vein!" Ying Zheng responded coldly, then activated the magic array. The golden light grew even brighter, as if it were about to completely purify the black-clad men.

The leader of the men in black and the others began to panic. They realized that not only had their mission failed, but they might also be trapped in this golden cage forever.

Ultimately, under immense pressure from the guardians, the leader in black surrendered. He laid down his magical artifact, indicating his willingness to withdraw and never repeat the offense.

Ying Zheng and the others did not make things difficult for him, and opened a gap in the magic array to let him leave. The leader in black gave Ying Zheng a deep look, then turned and disappeared into the night.

Seeing the men in black begin to retreat, the guardians did not pursue them. They knew that protecting the dragon vein was their top priority.

After the fighting subsided, the group returned to the dragon vein to inspect it. Fortunately, the dragon vein was not severely damaged, and everything was still under control.

"This incident serves as a wake-up call; we must strengthen the defenses of the dragon veins to prevent future troubles," Ying Zheng said in a deep voice.

“Exactly. We still need to cultivate diligently and improve our strength so that we can better protect the Holy Land.” Xu Fu nodded in agreement.

Everyone agreed and decided to strengthen patrols and guards in the future to ensure the safety of the dragon vein.

Although this matter has temporarily come to an end, everyone understands that the outside world's covetousness of the dragon vein will not cease. They must remain vigilant at all times to prevent the dragon vein from facing another crisis.

In the days that followed, the land of the dragon veins returned to its former tranquility and peace. Cultivators continued to flock there, hoping to improve their cultivation through this magical land.

The guardians also continuously impart their experience and wisdom, guiding these practitioners who yearn for progress and helping them to go far and steady on their spiritual path.

Although the guardians of the dragon veins successfully averted a crisis, they knew that the peace of this sacred land could not last long. During a gathering, Ying Zheng proposed a bold idea.

"Gentlemen, although we have successfully repelled the foreign enemy this time, we cannot remain passively defensive forever." Ying Zheng stood among the crowd, his tone firm.

"What are your thoughts?" Li Si asked curiously.

"I believe we should seek a more fundamental method of protection, rather than relying solely on our own strength," Ying Zheng said slowly.

"What plan do you have?" Xu Fu asked with great interest.

“Ancient texts record a divine artifact called the ‘Kunlun Mirror,’ which is said to be able to reveal past and future scenes, and even foresee crises,” Ying Zheng said in a mysterious tone.

"The Kunlun Mirror? Isn't that a legendary object? Does it really exist?" Zhao Gao looked incredulous.

“Legends often have their origins. I think it’s worth a try.” Ying Zheng said seriously.

“Even if the Kunlun Mirror truly exists, finding it will not be easy,” Ziya expressed his concern.

"I understand that this journey is fraught with unknown dangers, but for the safety of the dragon vein, this risk is worth taking." Ying Zheng's gaze was resolute.

After heated discussions, the group finally decided to form an expedition team to search for the legendary Kunlun Mountains and the Treasure Mirror. Ying Zheng, Li Si, Xu Fu, Zhao Gao, and Jiang Ziya were selected as team members. (End of Chapter)