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

Under Yang Ling's guidance, the group gradually delved deeper into the profound mysteries of cultivation. The wind in the valley seemed to celebrate their breakthrough, carrying with it wafts of delicate fragrance—the scent of spiritual flowers blooming deep within the valley, each fragrance possessing unique cultivation benefits.
Ziya was the first to open his eyes, which seemed to gleam with light. "I sense it. There seems to be a clear current flowing within my body. Is this the power of the dragon vein?"

Yang Ling nodded, his gaze sweeping over Ziya's body as if he could see into his very being. "Indeed, the power of the dragon vein is extremely gentle yet full of vitality. You should feel much more relaxed right now."

Li Si also spoke slowly, his voice filled with disbelief, "I...I seem to be able to sense the breath of the earth, is this real?"

Yang Ling smiled slightly, “This is because your connection with the earth is becoming increasingly close. In cultivation, harmony with the natural elements is of paramount importance.”

Xu Fu joined the conversation, his expression more serious than ever before. "Brother Yang, how long can this dragon vein power last? Can we take it out of Mount Ling?"

Yang Ling pondered for a moment, then slowly replied, "The power of the dragon vein can be carried with you, but you need to contact the dragon vein regularly to maintain its purity and activity. As long as we continue to cultivate, this power will not dissipate."

Ying Zheng listened attentively, then suddenly rose, walked to the side of the stone platform, and gently stroked the dragon-shaped totem on it. His movements were gentle, yet every detail revealed his respect for and longing for this power.

“Brother Yang,” Ying Zheng turned to face Yang Ling, his gaze resolute, “I wish to understand this dragon vein more deeply. Is it possible for us to directly enter the core of the dragon vein?”

Yang Ling looked into Ying Zheng's eyes and saw an extraordinary determination within them. He nodded slightly, "It's possible, but more preparation is needed. The core of the dragon vein is extremely sacred, but also extremely dangerous. We must ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Li Si and Ziya exchanged a glance, both sensing each other's excitement. Ziya spoke first, "I support this plan. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to delve into the core of the dragon vein and uncover all its secrets."

Xu Fu nodded in agreement, "I also support it. This exploration is not only to improve our cultivation, but also to seek unknown truths."

Yang Ling looked around and saw that everyone was extremely happy and determined. He took a deep breath and then slowly stated the next step of the plan, "Alright, since everyone is so determined, let's begin preparations. First, we need to consolidate our cultivation here, and at the same time study the 'Heavenly Dragon True Scripture' to find a way to connect with the core of the dragon vein."

In the following days, they immersed themselves around the stone platform, deepening their understanding and application of the dragon vein's power with the guidance of the "Heavenly Dragon Scripture." Yang Ling was not only their guide but also a wise man, teaching them how to adjust their mindset and cultivation methods in various situations.

Under Yang Ling's guidance, they gradually learned how to perceive the breaths and movements of nature, the ebb and flow of the wind and clouds. Their mindset was also significantly elevated in the process, no longer showing the naivety and impatience they had when they first arrived.

Led by Yang Ling, they ventured deeper into the sacred mountain, their sense of the earth's energy growing stronger with each step. This feeling filled each of them with an indescribable excitement and awe.

At night, they sat around the campfire, discussing their respective experiences in spiritual practice. Yang Ling always spoke last, and his words contained profound philosophical insights and a deep reverence for nature.

“The path of cultivation is endless.” Yang Ling gazed at the raging flames and said slowly, “Every step is a deepening of self-awareness, and every enlightenment is a sublimation of the soul. What we do now will affect the entire cultivation journey.”

As dawn broke and the first light appeared on the horizon, Yang Ling gently woke everyone. They had been cultivating in this valley for seven days, and each of them had become more profound, as if they had merged with the wind, wood, and stone of the valley.

“It’s time to head to the core of the dragon vein.” Yang Ling stood before each of them, his voice deep and firm, as unbreakable as the rocks of Mount Ling. Ying Zheng was the first to stand up, his eyes burning with barely suppressed passion. “I am ready. No matter what difficulties and dangers lie ahead, I will have no fear.”

Ziya and Li Si nodded in agreement, their expressions resolute, their eyes gleaming with expectation and determination. Xu Fu patted his sleeve and pulled out several yellow talismans. "These are protective talismans I recently made. They can protect us in times of crisis."

"Thank you, Brother Xu." Li Si took the talisman and carefully put it into his robe.

Yang Ling led the group out of the valley and deeper into the sacred mountain. Along the way, the scenery gradually became strange, with the surrounding trees twisting and intertwining to form natural archways, seemingly guiding them forward.

Soon, they arrived at a dense bamboo forest. The bamboo towered into the clouds, each stalk emitting a faint blue light. Yang Ling stopped, a hint of solemnity in his eyes. "This is the 'Spirit Bamboo Forest,' where the bamboo can sense the thoughts of those who pass by. We must use our minds to sense them in order to find the path to the core of the dragon vein."

The group followed Yang Ling into the bamboo forest. Yang Ling gently stroked a bamboo stalk beside him, closed his eyes, and concentrated, as if communicating with the bamboo on a spiritual level. After a moment, he opened his eyes and pointed to a path, saying, "This path is passable."

Walking through the bamboo forest, they felt a strange tranquility, and occasionally heard the soft rustling of bamboo leaves, as if they were telling ancient stories.

Suddenly, Li Si stopped in his tracks and whispered, "Something seems off here."

Yang Ling and the others cautiously surveyed their surroundings. From the bamboo forest ahead, they saw a gigantic spirit fox slowly emerge. Its body was semi-transparent, and its eyes gleamed with intelligence. The spirit fox looked at them, a slight smile playing on its lips.

“No need to be nervous,” Yang Ling said calmly. “The spirit fox is the guardian spirit beast of Mount Ling, and it can sense our arrival.”

The fox nodded gently, and then its body gradually blurred, turning into a wisp of smoke and disappearing into the air.

“It has acknowledged our arrival,” Yang Ling explained, then continued to lead everyone forward.

After passing through the bamboo forest, they came to a wide mountain range. In the center of the mountain range was a huge natural cave with dragon totems carved on the side of the cave entrance, exuding an awe-inspiring aura.

"That is the entrance to the dragon vein." Yang Ling pointed to the cave entrance, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity. "Once we enter, we will face even greater trials."

Everyone nodded in unison, their expressions filled with determination and anticipation. Yang Ling took the lead and stepped into the cave. The cave was dimly lit, and they could only rely on the spiritual light in their hands for illumination.

The cave's interior was intricate and complex, its walls covered in ancient runes, each step fraught with uncertainty. Yang Ling cautiously led everyone through the narrow passages, pausing at each fork in the road to carefully sense and determine the direction forward. (End of Chapter)