Other Explorers

Chapter 12: Other Explorers. After defeating the Guardian Spirit on the sixth floor of the Spiritual Power Tower, Mu Chen and his companions gathered around the spiritual power altar, preparing to delve deeper into the clues to the Map Fragments and the Key hidden within it. Just then, however, a clatter of footsteps came from the gateway leading to this floor. They turned warily and saw several teams in different attire appear one after another. These teams had clearly come to explore the Ruins as well. Their eyes held all manner of expressions: wariness, curiosity, greed, and friendliness. Mu Chen and his companions immediately tightened their grips on their weapons, ready for whatever might happen, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense. One team consisted of seven or eight people, all wearing matching silver armor engraved with exquisite spiritual power patterns that spoke of its exceptional quality. Their leader was a middle-aged man with a resolute face and a gaze as sharp as lightning. At the sight of Mu Chen and his companions, he paused briefly before offering a friendly smile. "Friends, we mean you no harm. We are an expedition from the Silver Armor Family. We heard that precious treasures lay within these Ruins and came to investigate. Have you come for the treasures as well?" the middle-aged man asked in a clear, resonant voice that echoed through the spacious sixth floor. Mu Chen studied him and, sensing no obvious hostility, replied, "We came to thwart the Dark Forces' plot. To do that, we need to find certain crucial items. The safety of the entire Spirit Road World is at stake." A trace of respect flashed in the Silver Armor Family leader's eyes. "I see. It seems our goals overlap to some extent. We don't want the Dark Forces to