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

"Don't panic, everyone! Stay calm!" Yang Ling shouted, his eyes filled with determination and trust. "We must trust each other. Only by uniting as one can we defeat this demon!"

Their gazes met in that instant, and they seemed to see determination and courage in each other's eyes. Just then, the spiritual energy within the formation suddenly erupted, forming a massive shield of light, like an indestructible barrier, forcefully blocking the violent lightning bolt.

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed across the sky, but the atmosphere inside the temple grew even more tense. Seeing this, the old man's expression darkened further. The dark clouds behind him began to churn, gradually coalescing into a massive black vortex, as if threatening to devour everything.

"Oh no, he's about to unleash his ultimate move!" Xu Fu exclaimed nervously.

Ziya gritted his teeth and swung his whip even faster. "We can't give up like this! Think of our homes, think of our relatives and friends! They are all waiting for us to go back!"

Yang Ling also felt unprecedented pressure, but he knew he couldn't back down now. He pulled out the "Heart of Heaven" that shimmered with a mysterious light from his robes. "We need even greater power to fight him!"

Li Si and Ying Zheng immediately understood Yang Ling's intention. They both pointed their swords at the "Heart of Heaven" and began to pour their power into it. The light emitted by the Heart of Heaven grew increasingly dazzling, as if it contained endless ancient wisdom and power.

"Now!" Yang Ling shouted, tossing the Heart of Heaven high into the air. The sphere of light burst forth with unparalleled brilliance, illuminating the entire dark sky. A dazzling beam of light shot straight out from the sphere, piercing through the center of the black vortex.

The old man watched in horror as he tried to fight back with all his might, but it was too late. Under the impact of the beam of light, his body began to disintegrate, eventually turning into countless specks of light that vanished into the air.

The dark clouds gradually dispersed, and the bright sunshine once again bathed the earth, bringing warmth to everyone. After a thrilling battle, although they were physically exhausted, each of them wore a relieved smile, as if a huge weight had been lifted from their hearts.

Ziya loosened his grip on the whip, a relaxed smile appearing on his face, and said to Yang Ling, "Brother Yang, it seems we have truly faced death nine times out of ten today."

Yang Ling nodded, a hint of emotion in his deep eyes. "Indeed, today's battle was truly thrilling. However, I feel deeply honored to have fought alongside everyone."

Li Si patted Xu Fu on the shoulder, a victor's smile on his face. "Brother Xu Fu, you see, sometimes even in the darkest moments, hope has never left us."

Xu Fu smiled in response and exclaimed, "Yes, Brother Li, we really owe a great deal to your support and help this time."

Yang Ling gazed into the distance, taking a deep breath of fresh air, the worry on his face still lingering. "Is it really over? Or is it just the calm before the storm?" he murmured to himself. Yet, at this moment, he chose to believe in the future, to believe in his companions. "Let's go," Yang Ling turned and walked towards the temple's imposing gates. "We still have a long way to go."

The group followed closely behind, embarking on their journey home. Behind them, the ancient temple appeared even more mysterious and enigmatic in the sunlight, as if telling an unknown ancient legend.

The procession moved slowly through the temple's solemn corridors, their footsteps echoing on the ancient stone slabs. Yang Ling's gaze was resolute as he cautiously surveyed his surroundings while toying with the "Heart of the Celestial Realm" in his hand. The corridors were carved with dragon and phoenix patterns, intertwined with vine textures, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and mystery.

Xu Fu walked with a slightly relaxed pace. He looked around at his surroundings and said to Yang Ling with a smile, "Brother Yang, it seems that no one has been here for a long time. The dust is so thick that you could write on it." As he spoke, he ran his finger along the railing, leaving several clear marks.

Ziya, however, focused more on observing the details of his surroundings. He suddenly stopped and pointed to a mural on the wall. “Look at this mural, this is clearly not an ordinary place. These patterns seem to be telling some ancient and forgotten history.”

Li Si approached the murals, gently stroking the weathered images with his hand, his face revealing reverence for the ancients. "These heroes, their eyes still seem to hold an indomitable fighting spirit. We may be living in an ancient legend right now."

Ying Zheng nodded, his voice steady and powerful: "We are indeed living in ancient stories. These legends are closely related to our experiences today. We are not only witnesses to history, but also participants in it."

Yang Ling looked up and saw a massive stone door at the end of the corridor, covered in dense runes that exuded a mysterious and ancient aura. "It seems this door might be the entrance to the main hall," he murmured to himself, then turned to face his teammates with a serious expression. "Everyone be careful; we don't know what's behind that door."

Li Si drew his short sword and gently tapped the stone door a few times, trying to find the mechanism to open it. However, the stone door remained unmoved, appearing exceptionally sturdy. "It seems this cannot be opened by ordinary means," he said, frowning.

Curiosity and excitement gleamed in Ziya's eyes. After observing it closely, he said, "Let me try." He then stretched out his hand and drew several complex symbols in the air, chanting an incantation. As the incantation ended, the symbols seemed to come alive, slowly flying towards the stone gate and merging with the runes on it.

Immediately afterward, the runes on the stone door began to glow, intertwining into dazzling rays of light. Finally, with a soft creak, the mysterious stone door slowly opened, revealing an even more spacious and enigmatic hall. In the center of the hall stood a massive jade celestial palace, exquisitely carved with scenes of celestial maidens descending to earth. Every detail was lifelike and breathtaking.

Ying Zheng slowly walked into the hall, his gaze deeply drawn to the murals and decorations around him. "Everything here exudes the aura of cultivators. Every stone we see, every painting, is very likely a treasure left behind by ancient cultivators." His voice was filled with awe and curiosity.

Xu Fu walked straight to the jade pavilion in the center of the hall. He carefully reached out to touch the cool surface of the jade, feeling the vast immortal power contained within. "This jade pavilion is not only a work of art, but also a powerful magical artifact. I can feel its connection to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, guiding endless immortal power." His voice revealed deep awe and reverence. (End of Chapter)