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

After carefully observing the water dragon's attack patterns, Ying Zheng gradually formed a strategy in his mind. "We can try to use the environment of this lake to deal with it," he said in a deep voice. "Xu Fu, Yang Ling, try to guide the lake water to form a huge whirlpool and see if we can restrict its movement."

Upon receiving the order, Xu Fu and Yang Ling immediately took action. They worked together, casting spells in perfect harmony, and gradually created a massive vortex around the water dragon. Under the vortex's suction force, the water dragon's movements were indeed greatly restricted.

Seizing this precious opportunity, Li Si and Ziya launched a fierce offensive. Through their combined efforts, the water dragon was finally defeated. With a mournful cry, the water dragon's body gradually dissipated, eventually transforming into a crystal-clear droplet that silently fell into the lake with a "drip."

After the battle, everyone was panting, but their faces were filled with the joy of victory. "Every battle makes us stronger," Li Si remarked.

"Indeed, no matter what difficulties and challenges we encounter, as long as we work together, nothing is impossible," Ying Zheng said firmly, his eyes filled with confidence and expectation for the future.

After numerous challenges and battles, the group finally returned to the Dragon Vein. Though exhausted, they were filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride. They understood that this adventure not only brought back the precious Kunlun Mirror, but more importantly, through their shared struggle, they had elevated their friendship and teamwork to new heights.

In the days that followed, they placed the Kunlun Mirror in the center of the dragon vein, using its mysterious power to strengthen the protection of this magical land.

"The Kunlun Mirror is indeed a mysterious treasure, but our understanding of it is far from complete." Ying Zheng's gaze was calm as he broke the brief silence. "We need to find more clues to better harness its power."

“Indeed. I once read in an ancient book that the Kunlun Secret Realm holds countless mysteries. Perhaps we should explore it further, and we might discover the deeper secrets of the Kunlun Mirror.” Xu Fu gently lifted the mirror frame, his tone revealing a thirst for true knowledge.

Ziya stroked the arrow in his hand, pondering, "The Kunlun region is vast and boundless, filled with unknown dangers; we must proceed with caution. However, I believe that as long as our hearts are in sync, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome."

“That’s exactly right. We should continue exploring Kunlun, but we need to be fully prepared,” Li Si said solemnly, his eyes flashing with determination.

The following day, the group packed their bags and embarked on a new journey. They traversed dense jungles and climbed treacherous peaks, overcoming various natural and mysterious challenges along the way. They encountered all sorts of strange creatures along the way, some with bizarre shapes and others with immense strength, but through their concerted efforts, they always managed to turn danger into safety.

After several days of arduous trekking, they arrived at the mysterious Nine Dragon Pool, a place shrouded in ancient legends. It is said to be the abode of nine divine dragons, its waters unfathomably deep, concealing countless secrets.

"The legendary Nine Dragon Pool... it seems our journey will face another test." Xu Fu gazed at the azure pool, his eyes revealing a longing for the unknown.

"Be very careful, this area may be fraught with danger," Yang Ling warned, looking around warily.

Just as they were about to circle around the pool, the water suddenly surged, and a powerful suction pulled them all into the water. They struggled in panic, but could not resist this mysterious force.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a bizarre underwater world. It was filled with colorful corals and teeming with strangely shaped aquatic creatures. Surprisingly, they could breathe freely there.

"What's going on? How did we end up underwater?" Li Si looked around in confusion.

At this moment, a colossal dragon shadow slowly swam in from afar, its body majestic, its scales shimmering with dazzling light—a true dragon had appeared in the world! "Welcome to my domain, mortals," the dragon's roar echoed underwater, both majestic and mysterious. "I am one of the nine dragons, the guardian of this land."

Ying Zheng stepped forward and respectfully said, "By the Dragon God, we have come to explore the mysteries of Kunlun, and have no intention of offending you."

The Dragon God scrutinized the group, as if searching for something: "The mysteries of Kunlun are the goal pursued by all heroes. But not everyone is qualified to master them. You must pass my trial to prove your courage and wisdom."

The group exchanged nods, understanding that another test was about to begin. But they were prepared to face whatever challenges they might encounter together.

The Dragon God's trial was quite unique, requiring everyone to find three spiritual pearls in the underwater world, each symbolizing courage, wisdom, and friendship, which were scattered throughout the pool.

"The first Spirit Pearl symbolizes courage and is hidden in the deep sea abyss, where many ferocious aquatic creatures dwell. You must show fearlessness in order to snatch the Spirit Pearl from their hands," the Dragon God slowly said.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately split up and set off. Ying Zheng and Li Si ventured deep into the abyss together, displaying astonishing courage and combat skills in the face of various dangers along the way. After a fierce battle, they finally managed to snatch the Spirit Pearl, a symbol of courage, from the mouth of a giant sea serpent.

"This second spirit pearl symbolizes wisdom and is hidden within an ingenious mechanism. Only by solving the mechanism can it be obtained," the Dragon God continued.

This time, Xu Fu and Yang Ling accepted the challenge. They arrived at a maze filled with traps and mechanisms, and through their wisdom and teamwork, they solved many complex puzzles, finally finding the Spirit Pearl, a symbol of wisdom, at the center of the maze.

From the very beginning of this trial, the companions understood that it was not only a test of their strength, but also a test of their friendship. Hand in hand, they dived into the deep sea to find the spirit pearl sealed within the crystal.

The underwater world is breathtakingly beautiful, yet fraught with unknown dangers. With raging currents and hidden reefs, they must rely closely on each other to face the challenges together. Whenever someone is swept away by the current and loses their balance, a companion is always there to lend a helping hand.

Upon finding the enormous crystal emitting a faint blue light, they knew that they needed to work together to break the seal. So they formed a circle, placed their palms on the crystal, closed their eyes, and focused on feeling each other's presence.

At that moment, they seemed to hear each other's heartbeats and sense each other's breaths. Their hearts gradually connected, and their trust and understanding grew stronger day by day. In this silent exchange, they felt a shared power—the power of affection.

This power coalesced into a warm current, slowly flowing into the crystal. Gradually, the crystal began to tremble, and the sealing power gradually dissipated. Finally, faced with their sincere affection, the crystal slowly cracked, revealing the spiritual pearl symbolizing their bond.

They cheered and embraced tightly. The three spirit orbs finally converged, bursting forth with dazzling light that illuminated the entire underwater world. The voice of the Dragon God echoed in the air: "You broke the seal with your sincere friendship and completed this trial. I am deeply gratified by this."

"You have proven your courage, wisdom, and camaraderie. Now, I will bestow upon you a clue to guide you closer to the core of Kunlun's mysteries." As the dragon god's voice faded, he spat out a sphere of light, which slowly floated towards Ying Zheng and merged into his palm. (End of Chapter)