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

"This is... a spatial rift?" Ziya frowned, gripping his bow and arrow tightly, ready to deal with any danger at any moment.

The group cautiously approached the vortex, when suddenly a giant arm emerged from the crack, followed by a massive body struggling to its way out. It was a ferocious beast, its body covered in thick scales, its eyes gleaming with an eerie green light.

"Be careful, this is an ancient demon from the mountains!" Li Si shouted a warning, his sword gleaming brightly.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!" Ying Zheng commanded, brandishing his sword, and the group immediately entered battle mode.

The battle was extremely fierce, and the monster was incredibly powerful, but through everyone's united efforts, they finally managed to defeat it. The moment the monster fell, it transformed into a streak of green light and vanished into thin air.

"The appearance of this monstrous beast does not seem to be accidental," Xu Fu pondered. "It may be a sign that we are getting closer to solving the mystery of Kunlun."

Everyone nodded in agreement and continued on their way, but remained wary of the challenges that lay ahead.

Soon after, they arrived at a valley shrouded in mist, from which came the mysterious sound of a zither, melodious and profound, captivating all who heard it.

"This music," Ziya listened intently, "seems to possess a kind of magic, captivating and enchanting."

“We must be careful; this could be a temptation,” Yang Ling cautioned.

Just as everyone was captivated by the melodious music, a scene resembling a fairyland unfolded before their eyes. From the swirling mist, a woman in white gracefully emerged, her figure as light and ethereal as a fairy dancing on water. She wore a simple white dress, the hem of which swayed gently with her steps, seemingly an integral part of the mist itself. Her face was refined and ethereal, as pure as a mountain spring, her eyes sparkling with wisdom and serenity.

The guqin she held in her hands was the very source of this melodious music. In her hands, the guqin seemed to possess a life of its own; each string danced with her fingertips, flowing with a beautiful melody. This melody was as clear as a mountain stream and as melodious as a forest breeze, transporting everyone to a secluded paradise far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world. Her presence was like the soul of this musical extravaganza, leading the hearts of all the listeners to a higher realm.

"Welcome, guests from afar, to this mysterious valley." The woman's voice was clear and melodious, like the sound of a spring.

"And who are you?" Ying Zheng stepped forward and asked politely.

"I am the guardian of this place; you may call me Ni Chang," the woman smiled gently. "I know you are searching for the mysteries of Kunlun, but before that, you must pass a test."

"A test? What kind of test?" Li Si asked.

Ni Chang lightly plucked the strings, and the music began again. "This test requires you to feel it with your heart and answer it with your wisdom. Now, please listen to this piece."

As the music flowed, the group found themselves in a dreamlike world, where fantastical scenes unfolded before their eyes. They needed to follow the music to find hidden clues within the illusion.

"Look over there, that huge sycamore tree seems quite different from others," Xu Fu said, pointing into the distance.

Following the directions, the group walked towards the portal of light beneath the sycamore tree. This portal seemed to be woven from light, through which one could vaguely glimpse the strange scenery of another world.

Ying Zheng gazed at the portal of light and said in a deep voice, "Behind this portal may lie the answer we are seeking." His voice was filled with determination and anticipation. To unravel the mystery within the music, everyone contributed their wisdom. They circled the portal, observing and pondering carefully. Some said the hidden melody in the music might be the key to opening the portal; others believed that finding historical allusions related to the guqin was necessary to solve the mystery.

After a heated discussion, they decided to try matching specific tones of the guqin with symbols on the light gate. They tried striking the same melody on the light gate while recalling previous guqin playing. Initially, their attempts failed; the light gate did not respond.

But they didn't give up. After many attempts, they finally found the right combination of notes. As the last note fell, the gate suddenly burst into a dazzling light and slowly opened.

Passing through the portal of light, they arrived at a picturesque fairyland. Clear streams flowed gently, their surfaces shimmering with golden light; verdant mountains rose and fell, shrouded in mist; in the sky, ethereal cranes soared, their melodious calls echoing through the air. Everything here seemed mysterious and harmonious, as if they had truly entered another world.

Ying Zheng and the others were all stunned by the beautiful scenery before them. They realized that they had found the mysterious world hidden in the music.

"Welcome, brave explorers." A distant voice echoed in the air, and an elder dressed in Taoist robes slowly stepped forward. "I am the guardian immortal of this place. You have passed the test; now you may ask me questions."

"Immortal, we wish to know clues about the mystery of Kunlun," Ying Zheng asked respectfully.

The immortal smiled and nodded. "The mystery of Kunlun concerns the secrets of heaven and earth, and also the exploration of the soul. You have already demonstrated courage and wisdom; now I will give you a clue."

Having said that, the immortal produced a shimmering pearl in his hand and handed it to Ying Zheng, saying, "This pearl contains a portion of the power of the Kunlun mystery; it will guide you to your next destination."

The group accepted the precious pearl, their hearts filled with gratitude and respect. After bidding farewell to the immortals, they continued their journey to uncover the mysteries of Kunlun.

"The Kunlun region is vast and boundless, containing ancient and unsolved mysteries. We must proceed with extreme caution on this journey," Xu Fu said earnestly, stroking the yellowed ancient book in his hand.

"That's true. Kunlun is not only a legendary sacred mountain, but also a place where countless secrets converge. We may encounter unprecedented dangers." Yang Ling nodded solemnly.

The group rested briefly at the foot of the mountain, carefully packing their belongings. Ziya adjusted his bowstring and meticulously inspected each arrow. "No matter how difficult the road ahead, we must persevere to the end, solely to uncover the mysteries of Kunlun."

As dusk settled, the group shared a simple meal around the campfire. The flickering firelight illuminated their resolute faces, each lost in thought about the challenges that lay ahead.

"The mystery of Kunlun not only concerns us, but also the lives of all people under heaven. We must not slacken our efforts in the slightest," Ying Zheng said in a deep voice, his eyes blazing.

Li Si unfolded an ancient map. "According to the map, deep within the Kunlun Mountains lies an ancient temple. Perhaps the key to solving the mystery is hidden there."

"An ancient temple?" Ziya frowned. "It must be fraught with danger."

"It is precisely because of the numerous dangers that such a vital secret can be protected." Xu Fu gently pushed up his glasses, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

At dawn the next day, the group set off, fully prepared. They traversed dense jungles and climbed towering peaks, facing numerous trials along the way. At one point, they were nearly surrounded by a group of mythical beasts with dragon heads and horse bodies, their deafening roars chilling to the bone. But through their combined wisdom and courage, they ultimately escaped danger. (End of Chapter)