A setback

Mu Chen and the others followed the clues and continued their investigation, but their actions had not escaped the eyes of the Dark Forces. Like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, the Dark Forces quietly prepared to deliver a fatal strike and stop them from lifting the veil of the conspiracy any further. They reached an ancient swamp where, according to the clues found earlier in the ruined village, an important Divine Artifact collected by the Dark Forces might be hidden. A pungent stench filled the swamp. Bubbles rose constantly from the black sludge, releasing wisps of dark spiritual power as they burst and corroding everything around them. "Everyone, be careful. The dark spiritual power here is extremely dense. The Divine Artifact may be nearby, but danger is everywhere," Mu Chen warned. He formed a thin protective film of star power over his body to resist the corrosion of the dark spiritual power. Luo Li followed close behind him, the glow of her Spiritual Power Sword illuminating a small patch around them. She surveyed their surroundings warily. "There seems to be some kind of interference in this swamp. Even my spiritual energy perception is being affected." The experts of the Silver Armor Family were also on full alert. They advanced slowly in pairs, watching out for one another. The spiritual energy patterns on their armor flickered as they struggled against the surrounding dark spiritual power. Just as they reached the heart of the swamp, the black sludge around them suddenly began churning violently, and enormous tentacles of dark spiritual power thrust out of it. Sharp spikes covered the tentacles, each glimmering with black light that held powerful dark energy. "Dark Swamp Beasts! Watch out for their tentacles!" shouted a Silver Armor Family expert familiar with these creatures. The Dark Swamp