Chapter 716 An uninhabited ancient city?
The mysterious man smiled slightly and took off his hood, revealing a young and handsome face.
His eyes shone with wisdom, as if he could understand everything.
"I'm just a casual cultivator. Come here to see if there is any opportunity to obtain it."
There was a calm and unhurried confidence in the mysterious man's words, which made Luo Chen and Qing Shuang couldn't help but become curious about him.
They know that people who can move freely in such an underground world are by no means ordinary people.
"You seem to be familiar with this place." Qingshuang asked tentatively.
"Familiar? Maybe." The mysterious man answered lightly, but his eyes wandered over Luo Chen and Qing Shuang, as if assessing their strength. “But this place, even if it’s familiar, is full of unknowns.”
Luochen looked around. The walls of the hall were covered with ancient runes, which seemed to tell an ancient story. "Do you recognize these runes?" he asked, pointing to the patterns on the wall.
The mysterious man followed Luo Chen's hand, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
"These are the words of the ancient swamp civilization, recording the past glory and secrets of this land."
Qingshuang's heart moved, and she remembered some contents in the "Swamp Secret Book", which seemed to have some connection with these runes.
"Can you decipher these runes?"
The mysterious man smiled slightly and did not answer directly. Instead, he turned towards the stone platform and gently brushed his fingers over the rotating gems.
"Interpreting these runes requires not only knowledge, but also respect for the land."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang looked at each other and realized that this mysterious man might be even more unfathomable than they imagined.
Luochen stepped forward and decided to ask directly. "Who are you anyway? What's the purpose of coming here?"
The mysterious man turned around with a deep look in his eyes.
"My name is not important. What is important is that I came here to find a legendary treasure, the 'Heart of the Swamp'."
"Heart of the Swamp?" Qingshuang repeated the name, feeling an inexplicable excitement in her heart.
This treasure seems to be mentioned in the "Swamp Codex", and it is considered to be the source of the power of the swamp.
"Yes, Heart of the Swamp." The mysterious man nodded, with a hint of solemnity in his voice. "It contains the purest power of this swamp and can help those who are destined to gain unimaginable power."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang were shocked. They didn't expect such an important secret to be hidden in this empty city.
They knew that the appearance of this mysterious man might be a link in their destiny.
"So, have you found it?" Luo Chen asked.
The mysterious man shook his head, a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes.
"Not yet. This hall is just an entrance to the Heart of the Swamp. The real test is yet to come."
Qingshuang's heart moved, and she remembered Ze Ling's words in the cave.
"Zeling once said that only those with pure souls, powerful strength, and extraordinary wisdom can obtain the secrets of the swamp. Could it be that... the test of the 'Heart of the Swamp' is also the same?"
A flash of appreciation flashed in the mysterious man's eyes.
"You are right. The test of 'Heart of the Swamp' is a test of soul, strength and wisdom. Only those who truly meet the conditions can be recognized by it."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang looked at each other, knowing that this would be an unprecedented challenge.
But they also understand that only by passing such a test can they gain greater strength and better protect this swamp and everything they hold dear.
The mysterious man looked at their firm eyes and smiled slightly.
"So, are you ready?"
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang nodded, their hearts filled with determination and expectation.
They know that the next journey will be full of unknowns and dangers, but they also believe that as long as they work together, nothing is impossible.
The mysterious man turned around again and walked towards the stone platform. At some point, he had an ancient key in his hand.
He inserted the key into a groove in the center of the stone platform, turned it slightly, and the whole hall shook again.
With a roar, the ground in the center of the hall slowly cracked, revealing a staircase leading underground.
The mysterious man looked back at Luo Chen and Qing Shuang, and then stepped onto the stairs without hesitation.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang followed closely behind. They knew that this was not only an adventure, but also a baptism of the soul.
What they will face is not only external tests, but also inner challenges.
As they went deeper underground, the surrounding air became more and more humid, and the runes on the walls became more and more complex.
Their hearts beat faster, but their steps are unusually firm.
Finally, they came to the end of the stairs, and a huge underground lake appeared in front of them.
The water of the lake is crystal clear, and in the center of the lake floats a softly glowing crystal ball, the "Heart of the Swamp."
The mysterious man stopped, turned around and said to Luo Chen and Qing Shuang: "This is the 'Heart of the Swamp', you are ready to accept the test."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang took a deep breath. They knew that this would be a test related to their fate.
What they will face is not only a challenge of strength, but also a test of wisdom and soul.
They walked towards the lake step by step, full of expectation and determination.
They know that no matter what the outcome, this will be an unforgettable experience and a spiritual growth.
...
"Are you nervous?"
Luo Chen looked at Qing Shuang beside him and asked in a low voice.
Qingshuang smiled slightly, with a firm light shining in her eyes. "Nervousness is inevitable, but more importantly, excitement. We have come so far and there is no reason to stop here." Her words revealed a fearless courage.
Luochen nodded and took a deep breath, trying to calm down the fluctuations in his heart.
The two of them stood by the lake, staring at the softly glowing crystal ball.
The mysterious man stood aside with a hint of expectation and seriousness in his eyes.
"The test is divided into three parts." The mysterious man began to explain: "The first is the test of the soul. You must prove your purity and firmness. The second is the test of strength. You need to show abilities beyond ordinary people. The last is the test of wisdom. , you must solve a puzzle to truly access the 'Heart of the Swamp'."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang looked at each other. They knew that this would be a comprehensive challenge, but they also understood that only through such a test can they truly grow.
The test of the soul begins first.
The mysterious man took out a crystal clear crystal from his sleeve and handed it to Luo Chen.
"Hold this crystal and it will reflect your innermost secrets. If your heart is not pure, the crystal will not shine."
Luochen took the crystal, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to bring his mind to the calmest state.
He felt a gentle energy coming from the crystal, which seemed to be communicating with his heart.
After a while, the crystal began to glow softly, proving the purity of Luochen's soul.
Qingshuang took the crystal, she also closed her eyes and concentrated.
Her heart is also pure, without any distracting thoughts.
The crystal also glowed in her hand, passing the spiritual test.
The mysterious man nodded, expressing satisfaction.
"Very good. Your hearts are pure enough. Next is the test of strength."
The test of strength requires Luochen and Qingshuang to show their fighting abilities.
The mysterious man took out two ancient weapons from the corner of the hall and handed them to them respectively.
"These weapons are relics of ancient swamp warriors. They contain powerful power. You must use them to defeat the phantom enemies I set."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang each clenched their weapons, feeling an ancient power surge within their bodies.
The mysterious man took a few steps back, waved his hand gently, and several phantom enemies made of energy suddenly appeared in the hall.
The battle begins.
Luochen and Qingshuang brandished their weapons and launched a fierce battle with the phantom enemies.
Their movements were quick and precise, and every attack hit the target accurately.
After a fierce battle, all the phantom enemies were defeated.
The mysterious man nodded again in approval.
"Your strength has exceeded my expectations. Now only the test of wisdom remains."
The test of wisdom is to solve a puzzle.
The mysterious man took out an ancient parchment from his arms, with complex patterns and symbols drawn on it.
"This is the mystery of swamp civilization. Only those who truly understand swamp culture can solve it."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang carefully studied the contents on the parchment, and they found that these symbols were similar to the runes on the walls of the hall.
They began to try to decipher these symbols, trying to find the rules.
Time passed by minute by minute, and beads of sweat began to appear on the foreheads of Luo Chen and Qing Shuang.
They know that this puzzle is related to whether they can access the "Heart of the Swamp".
Finally, after countless attempts and failures, Qingshuang had an idea and found the connection between the symbols.
She rearranged the symbols in a certain order, and the pattern on the parchment began to change.
As the last symbol returned to its place, the entire parchment emitted a dazzling light.
After the light dissipated, a clear pattern appeared in front of them, which was a path leading to the "Heart of the Swamp" in the middle of the lake.
The mysterious man looked at them with approval in his eyes.
"You did it, you passed all the tests, and now you can contact the 'Swamp Heart'."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang looked at each other, their hearts filled with excitement and anticipation.
They walked towards the center of the lake step by step, each step appearing extremely determined.
When they came to the "Heart of the Swamp", the crystal ball emitted an even more dazzling light.
Luochen stretched out his hand and gently touched the crystal ball.
A warm energy flowed through his body and he felt his strength rapidly increasing.
Qingshuang also touched the crystal ball, and she felt that her wisdom and perception were constantly improving.
The hearts, strength, and wisdom of both of them have been enhanced like never before.
The mysterious man stood aside and watched everything with a smile.
“Congratulations, you have been recognized by ‘Swamp Heart’.”
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang turned around, their hearts filled with joy.
Following the guidance of the mysterious man, they left the underground lake and returned to the hall.
The mysterious man activated the mechanism again, the stairs in the center of the hall slowly closed, and everything returned to calm.
Luochen and Qingshuang stood in the hall, their hearts filled with gratitude and determination.
They know that there is still a long way to go, but as long as they work together, nothing is impossible.
The mysterious man looked at them with a glimmer of expectation in his eyes.
"The matter is over, it's time to withdraw."
"You two, see you again when we are destined."
As the mysterious man finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to become much more relaxed.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang looked at each other. They knew that although this test was over, what they had gained was not only an increase in strength, but also a baptism of the soul.
"Let's go." Luo Chen suggested.
Qingshuang nodded, and the two walked out of the hall together.
The world outside is still quiet, as if everything just now was a dream.
But they knew that it was not a dream, but something that really happened, and it was an indelible part of their lives.
They followed the way they came, through dense forests, over rugged hills, and left the swamp.
Afterwards, it took about three to five days.
They came to a city with human habitation closest to the swamp.
【Jinmu City! 】
These three words are the name of this city.
The name seems quite special.
It probably has its own meaning.
“Let’s go in and have a look!”
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang stepped into Golden Wood City and were immediately attracted by the lively atmosphere here.
Both sides of the street are lined with various stalls, the sounds of hawking are coming and going, and the crowds are bustling and lively.
They walked through the crowd, looking at everything around them curiously.
"This place seems different from the towns we have been to before." Qingshuang whispered.
Luochen nodded, noticing some details on the street.
"You see, the architectural style and decoration here have strong natural elements, perhaps related to the swamp."
They continued walking and came to a rather quaint-looking tavern.
The signboard of the tavern reads "Green Shade House", and a string of vines is hung at the door, which is particularly eye-catching.
"Let's go in and take a rest." Luo Chen suggested.
Qingshuang agreed, and the two walked into the tavern.
The space inside is more spacious than expected. Various paintings depicting swamp scenery are hung on the walls, and there is a vibrant plant in the corner, which adds a bit of vitality to the pub.
They found a seat by the window and ordered a few local specialties and a bottle of sake.
The food was served quickly, and it was delicious and delicious, which greatly increased your appetite.
"The taste here is really good." Qingshuang took a sip and nodded with satisfaction.
Luochen also thought it tasted good, but he was more concerned about the people in the tavern.
He noticed that the guests in the tavern seemed to be talking in low voices, and occasionally some people would cast curious glances.
"It seems that we are quite eye-catching." Luo Chen said softly to Qingshuang.
