Immortality Cultivation: I can use my clansmen’s energy and blood to add points.

The mysterious man smiled slightly, took off his hood, revealing a young and handsome face.

There was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes, as if he could see through everything.

"I am just a casual cultivator. I came here to see if there is any opportunity I can obtain."

There was a calm confidence in the mysterious man's words, which made Luo Chen and Qing Shuang curious about him.

They knew that anyone who could move freely in such an underground world was definitely not an ordinary person.

"You seem to be very familiar with this place." Qingshuang asked tentatively.

"Familiar? Maybe." The mysterious man answered lightly, but his eyes wandered between Luo Chen and Qing Shuang, as if assessing their strength. "But this place, even if it is familiar, is full of unknowns."

Luo Chen looked around. The walls of the hall were covered with ancient runes, which seemed to be telling a long-lost story. "Do you recognize these runes?" he asked, pointing at the patterns on the wall.

The mysterious man looked in the direction where Luo Chen's finger was pointing, and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

"These are the writings of the ancient swamp civilization, recording the former glory and secrets of this land."

Qingshuang's heart moved, and she remembered some contents in the "Secret Book of the Swamp", 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 and walked towards the stone platform, his fingers gently brushing over the rotating gems.

"To interpret these runes, one needs not only knowledge, but also respect for this land."

Luo Chen and Qingshuang looked at each other, and they realized that this mysterious man might be even more unfathomable than they had imagined.

Luo Chen walked forward and decided to ask directly. "Who are you? What is your purpose 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 his heart.

This treasure seems to be mentioned in the "Secret Book of the Swamp", and it is considered to be the source of the power of the swamp.

"Yes, the Heart of the Swamp." The mysterious man nodded, his voice solemn. "It contains the purest power of this swamp, and can help those who are destined to receive it gain unimaginable power."

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang were shocked. They didn't expect that such an important secret was hidden in this empty city.

They knew that the appearance of this mysterious man might be a part of their destiny.

"So, did you find it?" Luo Chen asked.

The mysterious man shook his head, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"Not yet. This hall is just a gateway to the 'Heart of the Swamp'. The real test is yet to come."

Qingshuang's heart moved, and she remembered what Ze Ling said in the cave before.

"Zeling once said that only those with pure hearts, great power, and extraordinary wisdom can obtain the secrets of the swamp. Does this mean that the test of the 'Heart of the Swamp' is also the same?"

There was a glimmer of admiration in the mysterious man's eyes.

"You are right. The test of 'Swamp Heart' is a test of the heart, strength and wisdom. Only those who truly meet the requirements can be recognized by it."

Luo Chen and Qingshuang looked at each other. They knew that this would be an unprecedented challenge.

But they also understand that only by passing such tests can they gain greater strength and better protect the swamp and everything they cherish.

The mysterious man looked at their determined eyes and smiled slightly.

"So, are you ready?"

Luo Chen and Qingshuang nodded, their hearts filled with determination and expectation.

They knew that the next journey would be full of unknowns and dangers, but they also believed that as long as they worked together, nothing was impossible.

The mysterious man turned around again and walked towards the stone platform. An ancient key appeared in his hand.

He inserted the key into a groove in the center of the stone platform and turned it slightly, and the entire 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, then stepped onto the stairs without hesitation.

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang followed closely behind. They knew that this was not just an adventure, but also a baptism of the soul.

What they will face are not only external tests, but also challenges deep within their hearts.

As they went deeper and deeper underground, the air around them became more and more humid, and the runes on the walls became more and more complex.

Their hearts beat faster, but their steps were extremely firm.

Finally, they reached the end of the stairs and saw a huge underground lake before them.

The lake water is so clear that you can see the bottom. In the center of the lake floats a crystal ball emitting a soft light, 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 that would determine 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, their hearts full of anticipation and determination.

They know that no matter what the outcome, it will be an unforgettable experience and a spiritual growth.

"nervous?"

Luo Chen looked at Qingshuang beside him and asked in a low voice.

Qingshuang smiled slightly, with a determined light in her eyes. "It's inevitable to be nervous, but it's more exciting. We have come so far, there is no reason to stop here." Her words revealed a fearless courage.

Luo Chen nodded, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his inner turmoil.

The two of them stood by the lake, gazing at the crystal ball that emitted a soft light.

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 heart. You must prove your purity and determination. 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 before you can truly touch the 'heart of the swamp'."

Luo Chen and Qingshuang looked at each other. They knew that this would be a comprehensive challenge, but they also understood that only by passing such a test could they truly grow.

The test of the soul begins first.

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

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

Luo Chen took the crystal, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to make his mind reach the calmest state.

He felt a gentle energy coming from the crystal, as if it was communicating with his inner self.

After a moment, the crystal began to emit a soft light, proving the purity of Luo Chen's heart.

Qingshuang took the crystal and also closed her eyes and concentrated.

Her heart is also pure, without any distractions.

The crystal also glowed in her hand, passing the test of the soul.

The mysterious man nodded in satisfaction.

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

The test of strength requires Luo Chen and Qing Shuang to demonstrate their fighting abilities.

The mysterious man took out two ancient weapons from the corner of the hall and handed them to them. "These weapons are relics of the ancient swamp warriors. They contain powerful power. You must use them to defeat the phantom enemies I set up."

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang each gripped their weapons tightly, and they felt an ancient power surging in their bodies.

The mysterious man took a few steps back and waved his hand gently. Suddenly, several phantom enemies made of energy appeared in the hall.

The battle begins.

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang brandished their weapons and engaged in a fierce battle with the phantom enemies.

Their movements were swift 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 is beyond my expectations. Now all that remains is a test of your wisdom."

The test of wisdom is to solve a puzzle.

The mysterious man took out an ancient parchment from his arms, which was covered with complex patterns and symbols.

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

Luo Chen and Qingshuang 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 patterns in them.

As time passed, beads of sweat began to appear on Luo Chen and Qing Shuang's foreheads.

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 epiphany and she 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 fell into place, the entire parchment emitted a dazzling light.

After the light dissipated, a clear pattern appeared in front of them. It was a path leading to the "Heart of the Swamp" in the center 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 touch the 'heart of the swamp'."

Luo Chen and Qingshuang looked at each other, their hearts filled with excitement and anticipation.

They walked towards the center of the lake step by step, and every step seemed extremely firm.

When they came to the "Heart of the Swamp", the crystal ball emitted an even brighter light.

Luo Chen stretched out his hand and gently touched the crystal ball.

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

Qingshuang also touched the crystal ball. She felt that her wisdom and perception were constantly improving.

The minds, strengths and wisdom of both of them have been enhanced to an unprecedented level.

The mysterious man stood aside, watching all this 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 mysterious man's guidance, 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.

Luo Chen and Qingshuang stood in the hall, their hearts filled with gratitude and determination.

They know that the road ahead is still long, but as long as they work together, nothing is impossible.

The mysterious man looked at them with a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.

"It's over, it's time to withdraw."

"You two, see you again if we are lucky."

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 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 was still peaceful, as if everything that had just happened was just a dream.

But they knew that it was not a dream, but something that really happened and was an indelible part of their lives.

They followed the same path they had taken, through dense forests, over rugged hills, and out of the swamp.

After that, it took about another three to five days.

They came to a city that was closest to the swamp and was inhabited by humans.

【Kaneki Castle! 】

These three words are the name of this city.

The name seems quite special.

I guess it has its significance.

"Let's go in and have a look!"

Luo Chen and Qing Shuang stepped into Jinmu City and were immediately attracted by the lively atmosphere here.

The streets are lined with all kinds of stalls, the sounds of hawking can be heard one after another, and the crowds are bustling, making it very lively.

They walked through the crowd, looking around curiously.

"This place seems to be different from the towns we have been to before." Qingshuang said in a low voice.

Luo Chen nodded, and he noticed some details on the street.

“You see, the architectural style and decoration here are full of natural elements, perhaps related to the swamp.”

They continued walking and came to a tavern that looked quite quaint.

The sign of the pub reads "Green Shade House", and there are strings of vine decorations hanging at the door, making it particularly eye-catching.

"Let's go in and take a rest." Luo Chen suggested.

Qingshuang agreed, and the two of them 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 pot of vibrant plants in the corner, adding a bit of vitality to the tavern.

They found a seat by the window and ordered some local specialties and a pot of sake.

The food was served quickly, and it was delicious and appetizing.

"The food here tastes really good." Qingshuang took a bite and nodded with satisfaction.

Luo Chen 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 someone would cast a curious look at him.

"It seems that we are still quite eye-catching." Luo Chen said softly to Qing Shuang. (End of this chapter)