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

Bathed in light, Ying Zheng broke the silence first, his voice echoing in the palace, filled with determination and deep affection: "Mount Ling is not only a treasure trove of material wealth, but also a testing ground for the souls of us cultivators. Every cultivator who sets foot here must undergo layers of challenges to prove their will and ability in order to gain the true recognition of Mount Ling."

Ziya nodded slightly and continued, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Mount Ling is more like a mirror, reflecting the inner world of each of us. Every challenge is a profound examination of ourselves, allowing us to see our weaknesses and discover our potential."

“Indeed,” Li Si exclaimed. “This trip to Mount Ling was not only a test of my physical strength, but more importantly, a baptism of my soul. I feel that my cultivation and understanding of the world have been greatly enhanced.”

Yang Ling also expressed her opinion: "Me too. This experience made me realize my own limitations and inspired me to keep moving forward."

Xu Fu said excitedly, "Lingshan is truly a magical place. I gained a lot of new inspiration from those herbs and gems. After returning home, I will definitely integrate this new knowledge into my medical skills to bring health to more people."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Ying Zheng spoke again: "We have all gained a great deal from this trip. It's not just a treasure trove of material wealth, but even more so a treasure of the soul. We should cherish this experience and transform it into motivation for our future endeavors."

Ziya suggested, "Now that we have received the blessing of Mount Ling, why not meditate here to conclude this spiritual journey and pray for more wisdom and strength for our future path?"

“Good idea,” Ying Zheng agreed. “Let us enter into meditation together and have a deeper exchange with Mount Ling.”

So everyone found a comfortable spot, sat down, and began to meditate. The light in the palace seemed to soften, as if to aid their meditation.

Ying Zheng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to empty his mind to establish a deeper connection with Mount Ling. He felt as if his body had merged with the surrounding environment, and each breath was in sync with the rhythm of Mount Ling.

After the meditation, everyone felt a great sense of peace and clarity. Their eyes shone with a new light, as if they were ready to meet the challenges of the future.

“Thank you, Lingshan,” Ying Zheng said softly. “This experience will be the most precious treasure of our lives.”

As they continued their discussion, another light shone from the depths of the palace, this time gentle and persistent, unlike the previous intense light. It seemed to guide them onward, to explore more unknown secrets.

Ying Zheng was the first to stand up and walk towards the light, with the others following closely behind.

As the light intensified, Ying Zheng, Ziya, Li Si, Yang Ling, and Xu Fu stepped deeper into the palace. The path beneath their feet became rugged, as if sculpted by nature, each stone bearing the marks of time. An ancient and mysterious aura permeated the air, as if each breath carried the passage of time.

“The air here seems to be full of stories,” Ziya said softly, his fingers gently touching the cave wall.

Li Si took a deep breath and replied, "Indeed, this place is filled with the weight of history."

Xu Fu, however, focused more on the surrounding plants and minerals, his eyes sparkling with the light of discovering new knowledge: "The moss and microorganisms on these cave walls may contain unknown medicinal value."

Yang Ling looked around warily and reminded him, "Although this place is full of mystery, we still can't let our guard down."

Ying Zheng nodded in agreement: "Yang Ling is right, we must remain vigilant at all times." The five continued deeper into the cave, where occasional flashes of light on the walls caught their attention. These lights, like stars lost in the night sky, flickered on and off, offering a sense of guidance.

Ziya stopped and carefully observed the points of light: "These points of light seem to be guiding us. Each point of light is like a living cell of Mount Ling, pulsating and breathing."

Li Si curiously reached out and gently touched a point of light. A warm current instantly surged into his body, causing him to exclaim softly, "These points of light... they are not just guiding signs, they also contain some kind of energy!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu immediately took out a small bottle and tried to collect the essence of these points of light: "These spiritual lights will definitely be of great help to medical research."

Ying Zheng, however, was more concerned with the meaning behind these points of light: "They may be some kind of trial bestowed upon us by Mount Ling, or perhaps some kind of blessing."

Yang Ling remained vigilant: "No matter what, we must proceed with caution."

Just as the five were immersed in the mystery of the light spots, a huge halo suddenly appeared in front of them. Within the halo, a blurry figure was slowly moving.

Li Si gripped his weapon tightly, tensely: "What is that?"

Ziya stared wide-eyed, trying to make out the figure in the halo: "Could this be the legendary guardian beast of Mount Ling?"

As they approached, the figure within the halo gradually became clearer. It was a strangely shaped spirit beast—a dragon's head and a deer's body, radiating a soft light, its eyes like dazzling stars.

Ying Zheng took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to the spirit beast: "We are cultivators from afar, hoping to receive your guidance to pass the test of Mount Ling."

The spirit beast spoke slowly, its voice deep and magnetic: "Brave cultivators, are you ready to meet the challenge?"

The five responded in unison: "We are ready."

The halo surrounding the spirit beast began to rotate, each ring emitting a different color of light. It began to scrutinize each person before it.

Xu Fu was first enveloped in a ring of green light. He felt a refreshing energy flow into his body, cleansing his soul: "This light... it is healing me, making me feel more relaxed than ever before."

Next was Yang Ling, who was surrounded by blue light. His eyes gradually deepened, as if he had seen through the mists of time: "This light has given me an unprecedented sense of peace and clarity."

Ziya and Li Si each underwent their own trials. Each person received different insights and strength from the light.

Finally, Ying Zheng stepped forward, enveloped in golden light. He felt as if he had merged with the entire world, experiencing unprecedented power and determination: "I feel the blessing of Mount Ling, and I understand my mission." (End of Chapter)