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

As night fell, the mysterious room, illuminated by the flickering lamplight, appeared even more ancient and solemn. The faces of the people were partially visible in the dappled light, their eyes gleaming with curiosity about the unknown and a thirst for power.

Yang Ling stood before the mural, his fingertips lightly tracing the intricate patterns. He turned to the crowd and said, “Look at this mural. It seems to depict an ancient formation. I can sense the powerful force contained within it. If we can master it, it will be a great help to our cultivation journey.”

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng approached the mural, his gaze fixed intently on the ancient symbols. "This formation is indeed extraordinary," he said in a deep voice. "Each symbol seems to carry some profound meaning. It requires careful study to unravel its mysteries."

Xu Fu also approached with great interest, gently touching the mural as if communicating with ancient wisdom. "This mural is not only an illustration of the formation, but also a kind of inheritance," he said with emotion. "To be able to encounter it here shows that we are destined to be connected with this ancient power."

Li Si stood to the side, his brow furrowed as he intently analyzed every detail of the mural. "The layout of this formation is extremely ingenious," he pointed out. "Look here, the way these symbols are connected seems to guide the flow of some kind of energy. If we can grasp this flow pattern, we can better utilize this formation."

Ziya joined the discussion, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I'm very interested in the use of these ancient formations," he said excitedly. "Look at these symbols; they represent different elemental forces. Is it possible to activate them through specific incantations and gestures, thereby controlling these forces?"

The group engaged in a lively discussion around the mural, with each person offering their own insights and conjectures. They began to attempt to simulate the formations depicted in the mural, using different hand gestures and incantations to sense the ancient power.

After several attempts, although they did not immediately activate the formation, everyone could sense the latent power gradually awakening. A determined look appeared on their faces, as if they could already see the dawn of victory.

"We will definitely master this formation," Ying Zheng said resolutely. "This is not only to improve our own cultivation, but also to protect our homeland and friends."

Yang Ling listened to everyone's suggestions and gradually formulated a meticulous plan. He looked around and said to everyone, "We need to divide the work and cooperate to master this formation more quickly. Li Si and Xu Fu, you two are good at deciphering ancient texts and symbols, so you will be responsible for deciphering the symbols and patterns on the murals and finding the core elements of the formation. Ziya and Ying Zheng, you will try to activate these elements through different incantations and hand gestures. I will be responsible for coordinating everyone's work to ensure that our magic power can be effectively injected into the formation."

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison, and then they all threw themselves into their work.

Time slipped by quietly, the small room brightly lit, illuminating everyone's focused faces. Li Si and Xu Fu huddled together, studying the murals, occasionally discussing in hushed tones. Ziya and Ying Zheng, meanwhile, experimented repeatedly, their fingers tracing complex paths in the air while muttering incantations.

“Li Si, look at this symbol. Does it represent a convergence point of some kind of energy?” Xu Fu asked, pointing to a special symbol on the mural.

Li Si leaned closer for a closer look. "That's right, this symbol appears in multiple places, so it must be a key node in the formation. We must remember its location and shape."

Meanwhile, Ziya and Ying Zheng were also testing the spell with great tension. Ziya frowned and said to Ying Zheng, "This incantation seems to be off. I can sense the magic power flowing, but it just can't be stabilized."

Ying Zheng nodded. "Indeed, we need to study the combination of these incantations and gestures more carefully. Perhaps we can try adjusting the order of the incantations or the movement of the fingers."

Under Yang Ling's coordination, everyone's efforts gradually began to bear fruit. During the final attempt, the symbols on the mural suddenly flashed with dazzling light, emanating a powerful energy surge. "Success!" Yang Ling shouted excitedly, "We've successfully activated the formation!"

"Yang Ling!" Ying Zheng's exclamation shattered the silence of the small room. He swiftly grabbed Yang Ling's sleeve, who was about to be sucked into the mural. Li Si, Xu Fu, and Jiang Ziya also quickly surrounded them, their faces filled with worry.

"Be careful!" Ying Zheng said nervously, his hand still tightly gripping Yang Ling's sleeve, as if afraid that if he let go, Yang Ling would disappear into the mural.

Yang Ling turned around and saw the concerned looks in his companions' eyes, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. He gently patted Ying Zheng's hand and smiled, "Don't worry, I'll be fine. This might be an opportunity for me to gain a deeper understanding of the wisdom and power of the ancient immortals."

Having said that, he took a deep breath, gently pushed away Ying Zheng's hand, and bravely stepped into the mural. Just as he was about to be completely absorbed, he heard his companions calling his name in unison, their voices filled with worry and blessings.

After a dizzying spin, Yang Ling found himself in a completely unfamiliar space. The place was filled with ancient runes, and mysterious energy fluctuations flowed in the air, as if it were a fantastical world hidden behind murals.

"Welcome to the Ancient Immortal's Trial Grounds." A majestic and mysterious voice suddenly rang in Yang Ling's ears, making his eardrums ache. "You have successfully mastered the ancient formation, which is the first step towards a higher realm. But if you want to truly obtain the Ancient Immortal's inheritance, you still need to prove your courage and wisdom."

Yang Ling looked around, trying to find the source of the sound, but all he could see were swirling immortal energy and shimmering runes. He took a deep breath and said loudly, "I am ready. I will give it my all, no matter what the trial may be!"

“Very good,” the mysterious voice spoke again, “I have seen your determination. Now, the trial shall begin.”

As the words fell, Yang Ling felt a powerful energy surging in from all directions. He quickly circulated his internal magic power, forming a faint golden light shield, while silently reciting the incantation he had previously mastered, preparing to face the impending challenge.

Sure enough, the mysterious voice echoed in my ears again, like a resounding echo from ancient times, deep and full of majesty: "Very good, you have successfully withstood the first round of attacks. But the trials to come will be even more difficult, so be prepared."

Yang Ling took a deep breath, staring ahead as if trying to see through this mysterious space. "No matter what kind of trial it is, I will do my best."

The mysterious voice seemed quite satisfied with his determination and chuckled, "Then, let's continue."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Ling felt the space around him distort, as if being pulled by an invisible force. He closed his eyes tightly, and when he opened them again, he found himself in an endless desert. The sun was high in the sky, the desert heat was intense, and the sand under his feet was as hot as burning coals.

"This is the second trial—the Trial of the Desert," the mysterious voice explained. "In this desert, you must rely on your own wisdom and courage to find a way out. Otherwise, you will be lost here forever." (End of Chapter)