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

The old man nodded: "Kunlun has been a sacred place for cultivation since ancient times. Here, one must not only undergo external trials, but also confront inner challenges."

"An inner challenge?" Li Si asked, puzzled.

"True strength comes not only from external forces, but also from inner steadfastness and wisdom," the old man said gently. "Only with a strong and resilient mind can one truly harness the power of the Heart of Kunlun."

Everyone fell into deep thought, realizing that what they had gained from this trip was not only an increase in strength, but also spiritual growth.

"This junior is foolish and ignorant, and I hope the old sir will enlighten me." Ying Zheng respectfully asked for guidance.

The old man smiled calmly: "Let me tell you a story."

The old man then recounted the ancient legends of Kunlun: This mountain was originally the abode of the gods, hiding endless treasures. Only those with pure hearts and unwavering wills could fathom its mysteries and obtain true power. The story mentions mythical creatures such as the phoenix, the dragon, and the qilin, who are both guardians of Kunlun and test-takers for cultivators.

After hearing the legend, everyone gained a deeper understanding of Kunlun and a new understanding of their own journey.

"We will always remember your teachings, Elder Xie," Ying Zheng said on behalf of everyone.

The old man nodded slightly, then turned into a ray of light and disappeared into the mountains.

As they continued their journey, the group was filled with anticipation for the future and a thirst for wisdom. They understood that even if the journey ended, the practice and exploration would never cease.

As they were about to leave the Kunlun region, the sky suddenly darkened, and a powerful pressure enveloped the valley.

"What happened?" Ziya asked warily, looking up at the sky.

A thunderclap ripped through the sky, and a golden-armored thunder god appeared, wielding a hammer, his fighting spirit soaring.

"Though mortals may pass the trials of the Kunlun God, they still need to be tested by me if they wish to truly take control of the heart of Kunlun," the Thunder God's voice boomed.

The group showed no fear; the hardships they had endured had made them even stronger.

"How will the God of Thunder test me?" Ying Zheng asked seriously.

"It's simple, survive my thunderous strikes." As soon as the Thunder God finished speaking, he swung his divine hammer, unleashing a deafening thunderstorm.

The group immediately formed a battle formation to meet the challenge. They understood that this was not only a test of strength, but also a test of their willpower.

Ying Zheng used his sword to create a screen to ward off the lightning strike, Li Si used his exquisite swordsmanship to cut through the lightning, Jiang Ziya used his arrow to pierce the clouds and find a way to survive, and Xu Fu and Yang Ling each used their supernatural powers to neutralize the lightning's power. Just as everyone was gaining the upper hand, the Thunder God unleashed his divine power, and the lightning became even more violent. Faced with unprecedented pressure, everyone was undeterred and worked together to resist the wrath of heaven.

Eventually, the thunderstorm subsided, and Thor disappeared into the clouds.

"We did it!" Everyone cheered, having once again proven their strength.

Just as they were about to leave, the Heart of Kunlun suddenly emitted a strange light, guiding them to a secret realm.

This place is like a fairyland, with exotic flowers blooming everywhere and strange beasts roaming freely, and a faint spiritual charm flowing in the air.

"Where is this?" Li Si asked in surprise.

A fairy maiden arrived gracefully, her figure ethereal and untouched by the mortal world.

"Welcome to Kunlun Wonderland, the most mysterious place in Kunlun," the fairy said softly.

Everyone was immediately curious. "What can we do here?" Yang Ling asked curiously.

The fairy smiled gently: "Here you can cultivate and improve your cultivation, and also seek out the secret treasures of Kunlun."

Everyone showed joy, realizing that they could achieve a greater breakthrough in this fairyland.

Guided by the fairy, the group began their cultivation and exploration in the Kunlun Wonderland. Each person gained something different, whether it was an improvement in strength or a sublimation of their state of mind.

As they prepared to depart upon completion of their cultivation, the fairy earnestly advised them: "The Heart of Kunlun possesses boundless power, but even more important is the conviction within one's heart. Only by embracing benevolence and justice can its divine power be truly unleashed."

Everyone bowed deeply to express their sincere gratitude.

Then, carrying the heart of Kunlun and a wealth of gains, they left the fairyland and embarked on a new journey.

As everyone bid farewell to the Kunlun Wonderland and embarked on a new journey, the Heart of Kunlun suddenly emitted a peculiar tremor, as if guiding them to some unknown distant place. The clouds in the sky suddenly turned colorful, and a mysterious rainbow bridge unfolded before their eyes, leading to the distant mountain peaks.

"Look at that rainbow bridge! It's clearly the Heart of Kunlun guiding us forward," Li Si said excitedly, pointing ahead.

"This rainbow bridge seems to lead to the summit of a mountain called 'Zhu Zi Peak,' which, according to ancient records, was once the place where ancient immortals cultivated themselves," Xu Fu added, flipping through the bamboo slips in his hand.

“Zhu Zifeng?” Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow slightly. “It is said that a mysterious plant called ‘Tianji Grass’ grows there, which can foresee the future.”

"Can we foresee the future?" Ziya asked curiously. "Does this mean we can see future dangers and thus prepare in advance?"

“That’s right.” Yang Ling nodded in agreement. “If we can obtain the Heavenly Mystery Grass, we might be able to better utilize the power of the Heart of Kunlun to protect our mortal world.”

Having reached an agreement, the group set off along the Rainbow Bridge towards Zhu Zi Peak. The scenery along the way was picturesque, yet danger lurked beneath the surface. They not only encountered ferocious mountain spirits but also a group of celestial foxes renowned for their illusionary arts.

"Who dares to trespass on my territory?" A roar that shook the valley echoed out. The leader of the mountain demons, a massive, three-eyed wolf-like monster, arrogantly blocked the way for Ying Zheng and his entourage.

Ying Zheng showed no fear. He gripped his longsword tightly and stepped forward steadily. "We are travelers who have come to search for the Heavenly Secret Grass. We have no hostility toward your territory. Please grant us passage."

The mountain demon leader's three eyes gleamed coldly as he sneered, "No malice? Hmph, you humans are always so self-righteous. Stepping into my territory is an insult to my race." With that, he raised his head and roared, and instantly, numerous mountain demons emerged from all around, each with a ferocious face.

The battle was about to begin. Ziya's eyes were sharp. He swiftly drew his longbow from his back, nocked an arrow, and released it, striking the mountain demon charging at the forefront squarely in the chest. The mountain demon screamed and collapsed to the ground.

"Protect the Heart of Kunlun!" Xu Fu shouted to his companions, while simultaneously forming hand seals and chanting incantations. In an instant, a fierce wind arose, sand and stones flew, and a storm swept a group of mountain spirits into the air, leaving them dizzy and disoriented.

Yang Ling calmly observed the battle situation. He raised his hand and pointed, and the surrounding water quickly gathered and condensed into countless sharp ice spikes, which shot towards the approaching mountain demon.

The battle intensified. Although the mountain demon was fierce, it gradually showed signs of defeat with the help of the group. Just then, the Heart of Kunlun suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, and a mysterious power spread out from it, like an invisible barrier that firmly protected everyone within it.

Upon seeing this, the mountain spirit leader roared repeatedly in anger, but he was unable to break through the protection of this mysterious power.

"The power of the Heart of Kunlun is truly unfathomable," Li Si exclaimed, having forced back a mountain spirit with his sword.

"The power of the Heart of Kunlun is truly incredible," Li Si exclaimed again, cleaving a path with his sword.

Having broken through the encirclement, they rallied their spirits and continued their valiant advance. Soon, they entered a mysterious forest, a paradise for celestial foxes. Celestial foxes, those wondrous creatures, were renowned for their unique illusionary arts. Unwittingly, the group seemed to be enveloped by a mysterious power, falling into endless illusions. These illusions were dreamlike and surreal, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. (End of Chapter)