Shen Jingqi clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, a strong determination ignited in his heart: "Senior, no matter how many challenges lie ahead, we must not back down. We must find a way to master the Pure Power, strengthen ourselves, and protect this world."

Xu An nodded, a firm light flickering in his eyes: "That's right, we can't let the dark forces succeed. But where should we start?"

Li Baiyu pondered for a moment and said, "Let's head back to Professor Zhang first. He is knowledgeable and might be able to provide us with some useful advice. Also, we need time to regain our strength and study the Pure Power."

Everyone agreed, and they quickly gathered their belongings and headed towards Professor Zhang's laboratory. Along the way, the atmosphere was particularly oppressive, each person lost in their own thoughts, filled with fear of the unknown and confusion about the future.

When they arrived at the lab, Professor Zhang was anxiously pacing in the room. Seeing them return safely, he let out a long sigh of relief but immediately furrowed his brows.

"Did you encounter the shadow?" Professor Zhang asked urgently, his eyes filled with concern.

Shen Jingqi nodded and detailed the battle to Professor Zhang. After listening, Professor Zhang fell into deep thought.

"From your description, this shadow is just a vanguard of the dark forces. The dark forces are eager to seize the Pure Power, likely to carry out a massive conspiracy," Professor Zhang said slowly, his voice deep and serious, "This world interconnected might be part of an elaborate plan by the dark forces, intended to break the current balance and bring chaos."

Shen Jingqi felt a tightness in his heart, a foreboding sense rising: "Professor, what should we do? Can we really stop them?"

Professor Zhang looked at Shen Jingqi, his gaze full of encouragement and trust: "Do not be afraid. Though the dark forces are strong, we also have hope. The Pure Power contained within you is the nemesis of evil; as long as you can fully master it, there is a chance to defeat the darkness."

"But how can we fully master the Pure Power?" Xu An asked eagerly, his eyes filled with longing.

Professor Zhang walked over to a massive machine, pointing at the screen on the machine: "Through research during this time, I found that the Pure Power is closely linked to our mental strength. When your mental strength becomes strong enough, you can better guide and control the Pure Power."

"Then how do we enhance our mental strength?" Lin Yu asked curiously, his eyes fixed on the screen.

Professor Zhang smiled slightly and said, "This requires you to undergo special training. I will design a training program for you that simulates various dangers and challenging scenarios to stimulate your potential and enhance your mental strength."

Hearing this, a glimmer of hope ignited in everyone's hearts. They knew this was their only chance to enhance their strength, and they must give it their all.

In the following days, Shen Jingqi and the others began rigorous training. In the laboratory, various advanced instruments hummed, the simulated danger scenes making them feel as if they were in a real battlefield.

During a simulation of a dark abyss, Shen Jingqi found himself alone in endless darkness. The cold aura surrounding him felt as if numerous eyes were watching him in the dark. He could sense a formidable dark force lingering nearby, ready to attack at any moment.

"I can't be afraid, I must overcome it." Shen Jingqi silently encouraged himself, striving to concentrate and sense the Pure Power within him. However, that dark force continuously interfered, making his mind chaotic.

"Ah!" Shen Jingqi let out a roar of anger, feeling as if his head would explode. Just when he was about to collapse, he suddenly remembered Professor Zhang's words: "Mental strength is the key to mastering Pure Power; only unwavering belief can overcome all difficulties."

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He closed his eyes, eliminating all distractions, with only one thought in mind: "I must master the Pure Power and protect this world."

Gradually, he could feel the Pure Power within him beginning to flow like a babbling brook, nourishing his body. The dark force seemed to notice Shen Jingqi's change, let out an angry roar, and launched a fierce attack on him.

Shen Jingqi opened his eyes, revealing determination and resolve. He mobilized the Pure Power and engaged in an intense battle with the dark force. During the fight, he continually adjusted his mental state, fortifying his mental strength.

"I will definitely defeat you!" Shen Jingqi shouted loudly, his voice echoing in the darkness. Finally, after a burst of intense light, the dark force was repelled by Shen Jingqi.

Shen Jingqi collapsed to the ground exhausted, but a joyful smile spread across his face. He knew he had made significant progress in this training, one step closer to mastering the Pure Power.

Meanwhile, Xu An and Lin Yu also faced difficulties and challenges in their respective training scenes, but they did not give up. With strong will and steadfast belief, they overcame the difficulties time and again.

However, just as they made progress in their training, even more startling news arrived. Li Baiyu's Illusion of Cong Nanxue not only became increasingly real, but also started showing strange images.

"I saw a massive castle, shrouded in darkness, with an evil aura pervading it. Deep within the castle, there was a gigantic energy source, emitting a strange glow." Li Baiyu's face was pale, her voice trembling, "I suspect this is the lair of the dark forces, where they are plotting even more dreadful schemes."

Shen Jingqi's heart sank; he knew this news meant they were about to face an even greater challenge. "Senior, can you determine the location of that castle?" Shen Jingqi asked urgently.

Li Baiyu shook her head, her eyes full of frustration: "I can only see some blurry images, unable to determine the exact location. But I can feel that place is extremely dangerous; once we approach, it's very likely we'll fall into dire straits."

"No matter how dangerous it is, we must go. We cannot let the dark forces' plot succeed," Xu An said firmly, the light of fearlessness in his eyes.

Shen Jingqi nodded: "That's right, we can't back down. But how do we find that castle?"

Professor Zhang pondered for a moment and said, "We can combine Li Baiyu's Illusion with some ancient literature records to try to find the approximate location of that castle. Meanwhile, you must continue training to enhance your strength and prepare for the impending danger."