Crossing to Douqi Continent and walking sideways

After passing the test of the mysterious old man, Xiao Muchen slowly returned to the sect exhausted physically and mentally. His steps were heavy, as if he had used up all his strength in every step. His clothes were ragged and bloodstained, and his wounds were still oozing blood from time to time, and he was aching. But there was a firm light flashing in his eyes, which was hope and determination for the future.

Back in the room, Xiao Muchen fell headfirst onto the bed like a puddle of mud, the mattress sank deeply due to his weight. He gasped for air, his thoughts like leaves falling in the wind, chaotic and disordered. The difficulty of this test far exceeded his expectations, and every moment was like struggling on the edge of hell, on the line between life and death. However, it was this thrilling test that made him deeply aware of his own shortcomings and defects, and also made him full of expectations and caution for the upcoming journey to find the Zi Lan You Lian Huo.

The next morning, soft sunlight shone through the mottled windows, gently sprinkled on his haggard and resolute face like golden silk threads. Xiao Muchen slowly opened his eyes, and the warm light made his pupils shrink slightly. He lay in bed for a long time, feeling every soreness in his body and the stinging of his wounds, then gritted his teeth and sat up with difficulty.

After a simple wash, Xiao Muchen first came to the alchemy room. The alchemy room was filled with the rich aroma of herbs. Herbs of various colors and shapes were neatly placed on the shelves, and large and small alchemy furnaces exuded a warm breath. Mo Lao was busy in front of a huge alchemy furnace, waving the fan in his hand gently to control the flame in the furnace. Hearing Xiao Muchen's footsteps, Mo Lao turned around and saw his embarrassed appearance. He couldn't help but frowned, his eyes full of heartache.

"Kid, how did you get yourself into this state?" Old Mo put down the fan in his hand, walked quickly to Xiao Muchen, and asked with concern.

Xiao Muchen showed a tired smile and said, "Mr. Mo, I have gone through an extremely difficult test. Now I urgently need some elixir formulas that can quickly restore my physical strength and fighting spirit. Please give me some advice."

Without any hesitation, Mr. Mo turned around and walked to an old wooden cabinet, and took out a yellowed book from it. The edges of the book were worn, exuding the breath of time.

"This is the recipe for the elixir that I have treasured for many years. You can take a look at it. But remember, refining the elixir is not an easy task. It requires patience and carefulness." Old Mo solemnly handed the scroll to Xiao Muchen.

Xiao Muchen took the scroll with both hands, as if he was holding the most precious treasure in the world. He opened the scroll and read it carefully. The handwriting on the recipe was ancient and obscure, recording the methods of refining various precious elixirs and the rare materials required. As he read, he asked Mr. Mo about the key points and difficulties. Mr. Mo patiently answered his questions and passed on his many years of experience and insights in alchemy to him without reservation.

Under the guidance of Master Mo, Xiao Muchen began to prepare for the alchemy. He carefully collected the various herbs required according to the requirements of the recipe. He carefully identified and selected each herb to ensure its high quality. Then, he put the herbs into the alchemy furnace one by one, lit the fire, and concentrated on controlling the temperature.

The flame in the furnace was burning fiercely, and the color kept changing from red to blue, and then to purple. Xiao Muchen's forehead was covered with sweat, and his eyes were fixed on the furnace, not daring to be negligent. As time passed, the first batch of pills finally came out. Xiao Muchen opened the furnace with great expectations, but the quality of the pills was not ideal, the color was dull, and the fragrance was thin.

He was not discouraged, but calmly analyzed the reasons for the failure and summed up the experience and lessons. After many attempts and adjustments, Xiao Muchen finally succeeded in refining a batch of high-quality pills. The pills were round and full, exuding a rich aroma, and the color was as crystal as gemstones. He couldn't wait to take one, and immediately felt a cool and powerful airflow spreading in his body. Wherever the airflow went, the pain quickly eased, and the fighting spirit began to slowly recover. He could feel his strength gradually returning.

Then, Xiao Muchen went to the Sutra Library without stopping. The Sutra Library was quiet and solemn, with tall bookshelves neatly arranged, like a fortress of knowledge. The bookshelves were filled with densely packed ancient books, each carrying the wisdom and experience of the predecessors. Xiao Muchen shuttled between the bookshelves, eagerly searching for books related to the Purple Lotus Fire.

Finally, in a remote corner, he found a dusty ancient book with the words "Purple Flame Secret Record" faintly written on the cover. Xiao Muchen gently blew away the dust and carefully turned the pages, as if opening a door to a mysterious world.

The book detailed the characteristics of the Purple Lotus Fire, the special environment of its birthplace, and the various dangers that might be hidden. Xiao Muchen read eagerly, taking notes as he read, his pen rustling on the paper. He was afraid of missing any important information, and every word was like a precious gem that he carefully kept in his heart.

While reading, Xiao Muchen also discovered some valuable experiences and insights left by his predecessors about taming strange fire. These words seemed like a beacon of light, illuminating the way forward for him. He was immersed in the ocean of knowledge, forgetting the passage of time, and completely immersed in the exploration of the Purple Lotus Fire.

At the same time, Xiao Muchen did not forget to practice his fighting skills. He came to the martial arts training ground, where many disciples were already practicing hard. Some were practicing boxing, with the wind whistling; some were practicing swordsmanship, with the sword light flashing. Xiao Muchen took a deep breath, calmed his excitement, and then walked to an open place and began to practice his moves.

His figure moved quickly on the martial arts training ground, like a flash of lightning. His boxing was fierce and powerful, and each punch was accompanied by a whirring sound, as if it could break the void; his kicks were as sharp as the wind, and each kick raised a cloud of dust, as if it could kick the mountains to pieces. Every move and every style contained a strong fighting spirit, causing the surrounding air to whistle, as if cheering for his powerful strength.

However, Xiao Muchen was not satisfied with his current level. He constantly reflected on his movements, looking for deficiencies. Whenever he found a slight mistake or imperfection, he would stop, close his eyes, and ponder over it in his mind, thinking about how to improve it. Then, he started practicing again, over and over again, without getting tired of it.

Seeing how hardworking and focused Xiao Muchen was, other disciples in the sect were all inspired by his spirit. Everyone worked harder to practice, and for a moment, the entire martial arts training ground was filled with a strong atmosphere of practice. Shouts, shouts, and the sound of weapons colliding intertwined to form an exciting song of practice.

A few days passed quickly, and Xiao Muchen felt that his condition had returned to its peak. He was full of energy, his eyes were bright, and his fighting spirit was flowing in his body, as if it could burst out at any time.

He gathered several trusted fellow disciples in a quiet room to discuss the next plan of action.

In the room, Xiao Muchen sat at the head of the table, with a detailed map and his densely packed notes spread out on the table in front of him. Several fellow apprentices sat around him, looking serious and focused, with a determined light in their eyes.

Xiao Muchen cleared his throat and began to describe in detail his encounter with the mysterious old man and the thrilling process of passing the test. After listening to him, everyone couldn't help but take a deep breath and admired Xiao Muchen's tenacity and courage.

"This test has made me realize that the difficulties we are about to face may be far beyond our imagination. But I believe that as long as we unite and move forward courageously, we will have a chance to succeed." Xiao Muchen's voice was firm and powerful, full of inspiring power.

Then, he pointed to a mark on the map and continued, "According to the clues I got, the Purple Lotus Fire is likely to be in this mysterious and dangerous mountain range. But the terrain there is complex, the climate is changeable, and there are countless unknown dangers hidden. We must be fully prepared and not have the slightest fluke mentality."

One of the brothers frowned and said, "Brother Xiao, should we prepare more healing pills and detoxifying herbs? After all, in such an unknown environment, the possibility of injury and poisoning is very high."

Xiao Muchen nodded and said, "Yes, this is necessary. Moreover, we also need to prepare pills of different types and effects to deal with various possible situations."

Another fellow disciple continued, "What about weapons and armor? Do we need to update them as well? With our current equipment, I'm afraid it will be difficult to cope with powerful enemies and harsh environments."

Xiao Muchen thought for a moment and said, "Weapons and armor must be inspected and repaired. If there are any damaged or unsuitable ones, go to the warehouse to get new ones. We must ensure that everyone has sufficient means of protection and attack."

Another fellow disciple said, "What about food and water? These are also crucial."

Xiao Muchen replied: "Food and water must be prepared in sufficient quantities and must be easy to store and carry. We don't know how long we will stay in the mountains, so we cannot run short of them."

Everyone nodded and offered their own suggestions and ideas. Some suggested bringing more ropes and tools to use when climbing and crossing steep terrain; some suggested studying some formations and traps in advance to prevent enemy attacks; and some suggested developing several emergency plans to deal with emergencies.

After a heated and in-depth discussion, a detailed plan and division of labor were finally determined. Everyone was clear about their tasks and responsibilities, and everyone was full of confidence and expectations.

Everything was ready. Xiao Muchen stood in the square of the sect, looking at the rolling mountains in the distance, and swore in his heart: "No matter how many difficulties and obstacles there are ahead, I must obtain the Purple Lanyou Lotus Fire and bring glory and hope to the sect."

The breeze gently brushed his face and blew the corners of his clothes. His figure appeared particularly firm and tall under the sunlight. Behind him were his fellow apprentices, and everyone's eyes were filled with the same determination and courage.

They are about to embark on a journey full of challenges and unknowns, heading towards the direction of the Purple Lan Youlian Fire.