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

As the Spirit Deer Dragon finished speaking, a light shone again from the depths of the cave, as if indicating a new path to them.

Guided by the spirit deer dragon, the group entered a new path shimmering with light. Along the way, points of light, like guiding beacons, flickered and illuminated the path ahead. A faint floral fragrance filled the air, seemingly from unknown celestial flowers, soothing the soul.

Ying Zheng walked at the forefront, his steps steady and firm, each step solid and powerful. His eyes revealed a yearning for the unknown and a contemplation of the future. He looked back at his companions, nodded encouragingly, and spoke with the authority and gentleness of a leader: "The road ahead may be uncertain, but as long as we have sincerity and courage, there is nothing to fear."

Ziya gently patted Ying Zheng's shoulder and replied with a smile, "Your Majesty is right. As long as there is light in one's heart, darkness is nothing to worry about." His eyes shone with wisdom, as if he had already seen through the fog ahead.

Li Si followed closely behind, his eyes sharp, constantly observing the changes in the surrounding environment. He suddenly stopped and pointed to a rock that was shimmering with strange light: "Look there, the patterns on that rock seem to be ancient spirit guiding talismans, which can be used to guide the surrounding spiritual energy and enhance our power."

Xu Fu walked over excitedly and examined the rock carefully. He gently stroked the patterns, feeling the mystery contained within: "This is indeed an extremely precious spirit guiding talisman. We can try using it to enhance the flow of spiritual energy within our bodies." He began to fiddle with his medicine bottles and herbs, preparing to concoct a simple spirit energy guiding agent.

Yang Ling stood guard vigilantly to the side, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, constantly scanning the surroundings for any potential danger. His hand unconsciously caressed the hilt of his sword at his waist, his expression solemn, as if ready to respond to any unexpected situation at any moment.

While Xu Fu was busy, a melodious tune suddenly rose in the cave, its ethereal quality seemingly emanating from the heavens. The music carried a strange power, calming the mind and purifying the soul.

Li Si nervously searched around for the source of the sound and whispered, "This music is extraordinary. We should be careful. This may be a test from Mount Ling."

Ziya listened intently, a thoughtful expression on his face: "This music contains a profound and dynamic power, seemingly guiding us to a specific place." He began to walk slowly forward in accordance with the rhythm of the music, each step perfectly matching the beat.

Seeing Ziya's actions, Ying Zheng began to imitate him. The group gradually formed a line and, guided by the music, slowly entered the cave. As they progressed, the light in the cave grew brighter, and the music became clearer, as if some mysterious entity was calling to them.

Suddenly, a dazzling light appeared ahead, and a magnificent crystal palace came into view. The crystal palace shone with dazzling brilliance, and in front of it was a bridge made of light, spanning a shimmering lake.

Ziya excitedly pointed to the Crystal Palace: "Look there, that must be the core of Mount Ling. We might be able to find the secret to the depths of Mount Ling there."

Ying Zheng nodded in agreement, his face resolute: "Let's go and find out." He took the lead and stepped onto the bridge of light, each step he took appearing exceptionally steady.

The group followed closely behind, gradually walking onto the bridge of light. In the lake below, tiny points of light occasionally flickered, like spirit fish frolicking in the water, a scene both tranquil and mysterious. When they reached the middle of the bridge, a gigantic dragon of light suddenly leaped from the lake, its eyes emitting a blinding gleam. The dragon circled around them, its mouth open as if to devour everything.

Li Si swiftly drew his sword, preparing to fight. His voice was deep and firm: "Be careful, this light dragon may be a spirit beast guarding Mount Ling. We must prove our resolve." His sword light, like a shooting star, pierced the air and slashed towards the light dragon with a sharp sound.

Ziya raised his hand to stop Li Si, his eyes revealing understanding and peace: "Wait a moment, Li Si, this light dragon is no ordinary creature. Perhaps it is just testing us. Let me try to communicate with it." He slowly extended his palm, showing a friendly gesture to the light dragon, and softly chanted ancient incantations.

The dragon's movements gradually slowed, the light in its eyes softened, and it finally retreated slowly back into the lake and disappeared. Ziya turned to the group and explained with a smile, "It was merely testing our character and will, to see if we were worthy of approaching the core of Mount Ling."

Ying Zheng looked at Ziya approvingly and nodded in agreement. His voice was calm: "Very good, Ziya, your wisdom has once again helped us overcome difficulties. We should continue to move forward and explore the mysteries of this Palace of Light."

Guided by Ziya, the group stepped onto the bridge of light once more and continued their journey toward the Palace of Light. Each step was solemn and sacred, as if with each step they took, they drew closer to the soul of Mount Ling.

As they finally stepped into the palace, a powerful spiritual energy greeted them, filling everyone with an unprecedented sense of abundance and clarity. The palace was ornately decorated, with walls inlaid with various rare gems, each shimmering with a vibrant light, as if telling ancient stories.

Xu Fu walked towards a wall inlaid with sapphires. He gently touched the surface of the gems and felt a strange coolness: "These gems are not only beautiful, but they also contain powerful healing energy. We can learn how to use these gems to enhance our spiritual practice."

Yang Ling was drawn to a mural depicting an ancient battlefield. He carefully observed the formations and tactics in the painting, as if searching for the modern application of those ancient tactics. "The layout of these ancient battlefields is extremely ingenious. I must memorize this knowledge, as it may play an important role in our battles in the future."

Ying Zheng stood in the center of the palace, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the spiritual energy emanating from the palace. His body was gradually enveloped by a thin halo of light, and he felt his inner strength constantly increasing, which brought him great comfort and clarity of mind.

Ziya and Li Si found a radiant pedestal in the center of the palace. On the pedestal sat a transparent crystal ball, its interior shimmering with light, like miniature stars. Ziya said softly, "This crystal ball might help us see more of the secrets of Mount Ling. Let us try to watch the images within."

Li Si nodded, his eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. They both placed their hands on the crystal ball, gently stroking its surface. Suddenly, the crystal ball shone brightly, filling everyone's vision with dazzling light. (End of Chapter)