Immortality Cultivation: I Can increase My Stats Using Clansmen's Qi-Blood
Chapter 1456 - 715: The Uninhabited Ancient City?_2

Chapter 1456: Chapter 715: The Uninhabited Ancient City?_2

Qing Shuang smiled slightly, her eyes flashing with steadfast light. "Nervousness is inevitable, but more than that, it’s excitement. We’ve come so far, there’s no reason to stop here." Her words revealed an unflinching courage.

Luo Chen nodded, taking a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil within himself.

They stood by the lake, gazing at the Crystal Ball that emitted a gentle glow.

The mysterious figure stood to the side, with a hint of anticipation and seriousness in his gaze.

"The challenge is divided into three parts," the mysterious figure began to explain. "First is the test of spirit, you must prove your purity and determination; second is the test of strength, you need to showcase abilities beyond ordinary people; finally is the test of wisdom, you must solve a puzzle to truly access the ’Heart of Swamp’."

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang exchanged a glance, understanding that this would be a comprehensive challenge, but they also knew that only through such tests could they truly grow.

The test of spirit began first.

The mysterious figure took out a crystalline crystal from his sleeve and handed it to Luo Chen.

"Hold this crystal, it will reflect the deepest secrets of your heart. If your spirit is not pure enough, the crystal will not shine."

Luo Chen took the crystal, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, trying to bring his spirit to the most tranquil state.

He felt a gentle energy emanate from the crystal, seemingly communicating with his inner self.

Moments later, the crystal started to emit a gentle glow, proving the purity of Luo Chen’s spirit.

Qing Shuang took the crystal, similarly closing her eyes, concentrating her mind.

Her spirit was equally pure, without a single stray thought.

The crystal in her hand also emitted light, passing the test of spirit.

The mysterious figure nodded, expressing satisfaction.

"Very good, your spirits are both pure enough. Next is the test of strength."

The test of strength required Luo Chen and Qing Shuang to demonstrate their combat abilities.

The mysterious figure took out two ancient weapons from the corner of the hall and handed them over.

"These weapons are relics of ancient swamp warriors, imbued with great power. You must use them to defeat the phantom enemies I’ve set up."

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang tightly gripped the weapons, feeling an ancient power surge within their bodies.

The mysterious figure stepped back a few steps, gently waving his hand, and suddenly several phantom enemies composed of energy appeared in the hall.

The battle began.

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang wielded their weapons, engaging in intense combat with the phantom enemies.

Their movements were swift and precise, with each attack hitting the target accurately.

After a fierce battle, all the phantom enemies were defeated.

The mysterious figure nodded once more, expressing approval.

"Your strength exceeded my expectations. Now, only the test of wisdom remains."

The test of wisdom involved solving a puzzle.

The mysterious figure took out an ancient parchment from his bosom, with complex patterns and symbols drawn on it.

"This is a puzzle of swamp civilization. Only those who truly understand swamp culture can solve it."

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang carefully studied the contents of the parchment, discovering that these symbols were similar to the runes on the hall walls.

They began attempting to decipher these symbols, striving to find the underlying patterns.

Time ticked away, and beads of sweat started to form on Luo Chen and Qing Shuang’s foreheads.

They knew this puzzle was crucial to accessing the "Heart of Swamp."

Finally, after countless attempts and failures, Qing Shuang had a sudden flash of insight, finding the connection between the symbols.

Following a specific sequence, she rearranged the symbols, and the patterns on the parchment began to change.

With the final symbol in place, the entire parchment emitted a dazzling light.

Once the light had dissipated, a clear pattern appeared before them, revealing a path leading to the center of the lake, the "Heart of Swamp."

The mysterious figure looked at them with a glow of approval in his eyes.

"You did it. You passed all the tests. Now you can access the ’Heart of Swamp’."

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with excitement and anticipation.

They walked step by step toward the center of the lake, each step more determined than the last.

As they approached the "Heart of Swamp," the Crystal Ball emitted an even more dazzling light.

Luo Chen reached out, gently touching the Crystal Ball.

A warm energy flowed through his body, and he felt his strength rapidly increase.

Qing Shuang likewise touched the Crystal Ball, feeling her wisdom and perception continually enhance.

Their spirit, strength, and wisdom had all received unprecedented enhancement.

The mysterious figure stood aside, smiling as he watched.

"Congratulations, you have been acknowledged by the ’Heart of Swamp’."

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang turned around, their hearts brimming with joy.

Following the mysterious figure’s guidance, they left the underground lake and returned to the hall.

The mysterious figure activated the mechanism once more, and the central stairway of the hall slowly closed, everything returning to calm.

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang stood in the hall, filled with gratitude and determination.

They knew there was a long road ahead, but as long as they worked together, nothing was impossible.

The mysterious figure looked at them, a hint of expectation flashing in his eyes.

"With everything concluded, it’s time to leave."

"Farewell, you two, until we meet again."

As the mysterious figure’s words fell, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to lighten significantly.

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang exchanged a glance, understanding that although this test was over, the real gains were not just in strength but also a cleansing of the spirit.

"Let’s go." Luo Chen suggested.

Qing Shuang nodded, and the two walked out of the hall together.

The world outside was still tranquil, as if everything that just happened was a dream.

But they knew it was not a dream; it was something that truly happened, an indelible part of their lives.

They followed the path they had come, through the dense forest, across rugged hills, leaving the swamp.

Afterward, they took approximately three to five days.

They arrived at a city, the nearest human settlement to the swamp.

[Jinmu City!]

These three words were the name of this city.

The name appeared quite unique.

Surely, it holds some significance.

"Let’s go in and take a look!"

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang stepped into Jinmu City, immediately drawn by the bustling atmosphere.

The streets were lined with various stalls, hawkers’ cries rang out uninterruptedly, the crowd was bustling—what a lively scene.

They threaded through the crowd, curiously observing everything around them.

"This seems quite different from the towns we’ve been to before," Qing Shuang whispered.

Luo Chen nodded, noticing some details on the street.

"Look, the architectural style and decorations here have strong natural elements, perhaps related to the swamp."

They continued forward, arriving at a rather quaint-looking tavern.

The tavern’s sign read "Green Shade Inn," with vine decorations hanging at the entrance, drawing particular attention.

"Let’s go inside and rest for a bit," Luo Chen suggested.

Qing Shuang agreed, and they walked into the tavern.

The interior space was more spacious than imagined, with various paintings depicting swamp landscapes on the walls, and a pot of thriving plants in the corner, adding vibrancy to the tavern.

They found a seat by the window, ordering a few local specialties and a pot of sake.

The food was served quickly, exquisite in color, aroma, and taste, whetting the appetite.

"This tastes really good," Qing Shuang remarked after tasting a bite, nodding in satisfaction.

Luo Chen also felt the flavor was good, but he was more curious about the people in the tavern.

He noticed that the patrons seemed to be whispering about something, occasionally casting curious glances their way.

"Looks like we’re quite the attraction," Luo Chen softly said to Qing Shuang.