Gu Yuan narrowed his eyes, feeling a bit puzzled.

When he first stepped onto the Dragon Tooth Treasure Boat, this person looked indifferent, but how did he suddenly become so hostile?

It seemed as though he wanted to eliminate him quickly?

But Gu Yuan didn’t even know this person.

And that tall and thin Senior Brother Yangg had an expression of realization upon hearing the words "solve the mystery of death."

Seeing Gu Yuan’s confused expression, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a bitter smile, and transmitted a message to him:

"Don’t blame me, Senior Brother Gu."

"Senior Brother Kuang Mingsheng’s father was once a cultivator of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, but due to lacking a Foundation Establishment Spirit Object, he was unable to advance, just as Elder Fox announced a reward: Anyone who could solve the mystery of the death of his disciple Yu Linglong would receive a promise of Golden Core."

"Senior Brother Kuang’s father aimed to use this reward to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Spirit Object, so he left the mountain to search for clues but unexpectedly encountered a Demon Beast and died on the spot."

"Senior Brother Kuang has always harbored a grudge about this. Now, knowing you entered the mountain because of this matter, he feels quite bitter. Please don’t be offended, Senior Brother Gu."

Yangg Yue explained to Gu Yuan with a bitter smile, secretly regretting it.

He had originally thought that Gu Yuan had connections with the Golden Core Ascendant and wanted to build a relationship to gain more benefit in the Shell Field, but unexpectedly, Gu Yuan had entered the mountain because of that reward.

No wonder several months had passed, yet he was still cultivating in the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute and hadn’t left.

Not only did he fail to establish a relationship, but he also offended Senior Brother Kuang, which truly wasn’t worth it.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

And Kuang Mingsheng looked at Gu Yuan with intense resentment in his eyes.

A lucky boy from a destroyed small sect could solve the mystery of death and receive the reward, while his father perished because of it, causing the Kuang Family to wane for over a decade.

He didn’t dare blame the Golden Core, so he could only vent his anger on Gu Yuan.

"Senior Brother Yangg, if you still want to be my companion, it’s best to stay far away from this person!"

But since they were still within the Daoist School’s boundaries, even with his resentment, he dared not express too much and could only coldly shout to Yangg Yue.

The several young people behind Kuang Mingsheng also looked over.

Although Kuang Mingsheng’s father died, he was once a cultivator of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, leaving some foundation behind, allowing Kuang Mingsheng to cultivate smoothly and become a notable figure in the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute with companions by his side.

During this trip to the Cloud Cliff Shell Field, three cultivators of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer were led by him.

As soon as he spoke, the other cultivators showed their attitude and pressure.

"It’s just greeting for courtesy!"

Yangg Yue smiled awkwardly, giving an apologetic look to Gu Yuan, then stood behind Kuang Mingsheng.

If Gu Yuan had the special favor of a Golden Core Ascendant, he would naturally choose to follow Gu Yuan.

But if he had entered the mountain merely because of that reward, Gu Yuan’s value surely wouldn’t surpass Kuang Mingsheng’s.

Golden Core Ascendants frequently offer rewards, and those who complete it receive rewards, which is deserved.

The Daoist School often has such occurrences.

After all, Ascendants are busy cultivating and don’t want to be bothered by trivial matters, hence the frequent rewards.

But wanting to use this to build a connection with the Ascendant is greatly mistaken.

Merely a messenger bought with money, where goods and payment are both satisfied; does one expect the guest to owe them something?

"I just regret being underinformed, not knowing his roots, thus making misunderstandings!"

Yangg Yue regretted in his heart and naturally didn’t talk further with Gu Yuan.

Watching the performance of the people, Gu Yuan understood the cause of the situation.

For this, he merely shook his head slightly.

Unexpectedly, as he invoked the authority of the Golden Core for benefits, today he acquired an enemy inexplicably.

Fate truly is a double-edged sword.

Looking at Kuang Mingsheng’s cold eyes, Gu Yuan wasn’t unsettled; instead, he had a slight smile:

"Perhaps this person can lend me a hand."

Thinking of this, his heart suddenly moved, and he silently mouthed two words towards Kuang Mingsheng.

Kuang Mingsheng couldn’t understand the meaning of those two words but knew from Gu Yuan’s expression that it wasn’t anything good, his face becoming instantly sullen.

"Gathering Spirit!"

"Set sail!"

At this moment, a Daoist child below the Dragon Tooth Treasure Boat started shouting.

Then, the Celestial Craft Pavilion’s service disciples activated the Array Disc, invoking the Array Pattern. Invisible forces surged under the Treasure Boat, like flowing water lifting it to hover in the air.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The drums sounded thrice, and nine Treasure Boats one by one sailed out of the mountain gate.

After the nine Treasure Boats sailed out of the mountain gate, an even more luxurious, jewel-encrusted boat, seemingly circled by stars, slowly sailed out towards the direction of the Red Moon River.

...

...

The mountains converged, like a coiled dragon spiraling.

Countless towering peaks rose from the ground, piercing the sky, amidst verdant giant trees where countless creatures frolicked and played, accompanied by roars and the sounds of fighting beasts.

"Swoosh!"

And in the center of these mountains, flowed a long and wide Great River that never ceased, roaring with water sounds, crashing like a thousand layers of snow.

As the Great River crossed the mountains, it merged into the Great Marsh; the surface should be wide and boundless, but a peculiar cliff suddenly rose at the junction of the Great River and the Great Marsh, blocking the path.

This was a solitary peak shaped like a Treasure Tower.

The water surged, submerging half of the peak.

Upon closer inspection, the solitary peak was incredibly miraculous, seemingly divided into nine segments, each resembling a coiled Flood Dragon, its surface covered with cave openings from which countless streams rushed in and flowed out continuously, washing over the place.

But the upper four segments were above the water surface, occasionally splashing water flowers, while starting from the fifth segment, the cave openings gradually submerged.

At this time, above the sky, the drum sound abruptly burst, as nine Treasure Boats crossed over the Great Marsh, arriving at the solitary peak.

"We’ve arrived!"

"This is the Cloud Cliff Shell Field!"

"This Cloud Cliff Mountain, like a nine-layer Treasure Tower, nourished by the Water Vein; each layer is a natural Shell Field with natural creation powers, occupied by the Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape for a millennium, uncertain how many demons it has nurtured."

Someone on the Treasure Boat where Gu Yuan was located couldn’t help but praise upon seeing this miraculous scene.

Upon seeing this, Gu Yuan felt a sense of awe.

The solitary peak standing tall, nine layers of ten thousand caves, eternal water veins; such a strange sight truly befits the world of cultivation.

"The Cloud Cliff Shell Field is here; I hope you do not fail the prestige of our Daoist School!"

"Go ahead!"

No one knew which Treasure Boat the grand voice came from, following which countless Escape Lights bounded up from the boat(s).

From the first Treasure Boat, nervous new disciples shakingly maneuvered their Dharma Artifacts, cautiously landing on the first layer, watching those little frogs that only spewed Water Arrows, revealing a look of delight.

From the ninth Treasure Boat, Escape Light(s) like a rainbow instantly plunged into the ninth layer of the Water Cave, dispersing the Water Vein, seeking the Shell King that could assist in breaking through Foundation Establishment.

Nine layers of the Shell Field, with each relying on different methods according to cultivation, sharing the bounty.

There could not be a better trial ground than this.

On the fifth Treasure Boat, Kuang Mingsheng gave Gu Yuan a cold smile, then led four companions, landing on the fifth layer ahead, finding a cave and disappearing from sight.

But Gu Yuan’s thoughts were not focused on this person.

He looked at the deepest parts of the Water Cave heavily covered by the Water Vein, showing deep helplessness on his face.

His gaze moved upwards, looking at the closer cave mouths, and his expression improved somewhat.

After a moment of contemplation, Gu Yuan stopped hesitating, raised the Cloud-Stepping Shuttle, and dropped into the solitary peak, casually finding a cave mouth entering the fifth layer of the Cloud Cliff Shell Field.