"Boom!"

The thunderous roar of water was deafening. Just as Gu Yuan descended into the Fifth-Layer Shell Field, a massive white wave crashed down towards him.

Gu Yuan stood still, yet a blue light shimmered on his Daoist Robe, as if a transparent barrier appeared in front of him, dissipating the force of the wave.

Not only that, but a force field seemed to spread out from beneath his feet, revealing a dry patch of ground, ensuring cleanliness underfoot.

"The Middle-grade Daoist Robe is indeed useful; the water cave on the fifth layer has not been completely isolated by the Water Vein. Although the waves are raging, maintaining it for three days should not be a problem."

Gu Yuan looked at the pristine Daoist Robe on his body, pondering slightly.

In the Fifth Layer of the Cloud Cliff Shell Field, not yet fully covered by the Great River, the water only reached knee height, and the occasional towering wave would just surpass a person’s height.

Gu Yuan glanced around, noticing the cave entrance was around two people tall, and about three zhang across. The stone walls were covered with cracks as the waves surged, yet a sweltering heat persisted from within the cliff depths.

"In such a thick area of Water Vein, there’s still cliff fire growing. The balance of Yin and Yang explains the birth of Shell Jade."

Gu Yuan touched the cliff wall, feeling the dry aura, and couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

Though the cliff walls were constantly splashed by waves, they did not drip. Once the waves receded, the cliff walls were dry again.

This truly was a place of wonder.

However, thinking about the depth of this cliff, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh heavily inwardly.

"The Golden Opportunity lies deep within the Water Vein, perhaps beyond even the ninth layer of the water cave. With my current strength, encountering a possible Demon Beast is out of the question, as the water pressure alone could crush me."

"Even that sliver of Silver Opportunity is in the sixth layer of the water cave. With my current capabilities, there’s still some danger. The current plan is to search through the fifth layer first and enhance my strength quickly."

The Cloud Cliff Shell Field consists of nine layers, each being a Shell Field that produces Shell Jades capable of enhancing Qi Cultivation from the first to the ninth layer.

The Shell King within can even help a cultivator break through their current realm directly.

But only one Shell King can be consumed; even those with extraordinary talent cannot break through the Nine Realms overnight from the first layer and reach Qi Refining Perfection Realm directly.

Therefore, this place is most suited for late-stage Qi cultivators to visit.

However, with the opportunity ahead, many considerations must be put aside. Breaking through one realm is a realm broken through.

Although a Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivator can descend to the sixth layer of the water cave, the Great River thoroughly shrouds the sixth, with the Water Vein so thick that cultivators must constantly use mana to isolate the water currents, or they would be crushed by the water pressure.

The mana of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer can barely cope, but at the fifth layer, it becomes quite strenuous.

Moreover, there are dangers within the Shell Field.

So, aiming to enter the sixth layer of the Water Cave, it’s best to first break through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

For others, this may be quite difficult, but for Gu Yuan, he has already seized the advantage.

He has already probed the area with Stone Liquid and knows the locations of the Shell Jade and Shell King like the back of his hand. Barring any accidents, by collecting Shell Jades and seizing the Shell King, he can quickly advance to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Then, he can explore the sixth layer of the water cave.

No matter what, securing that sliver of Silver Opportunity is a priority.

The previous Four Spirits Jade Pillar not only helped Gu Yuan break through the Top-Grade Spiritual Sense Pass but also gave him great potential for the Foundation Establishment Stage.

This half-silvery light, second only to the Four Spirits Jade Pillar, surely is no ordinary object.

With this thought, Gu Yuan did not hesitate any longer and stepped forward towards the depths of the water cave.

With every step he took, the cave water parted automatically underfoot, and despite the towering waves around him, his Daoist Robe remained dry, his demeanor serene as a celestial being.

...

...

The Cloud Cliff Shell Field, known as the Nine Layers of Ten Thousand Caves, the entire isolated peak is like a beehive, densely packed with countless cave entrances.

The internal structure is extraordinarily complex, with thousands of passages; dozens or even hundreds of people scattered within would not make a sound.

At this moment, from a hidden cave entrance, came intense sounds of struggle.

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

A monkey, about a zhang tall and ink-colored all over with a long red tail, clung to the cliff wall, staring intently at the Daoist with its blood-red eyes.

Waves surged, falling between the Daoist and the ink monkey as if creating a strange barrier dividing them.

"Bang!"

But just then, the Demon Ape let out a piercing cry, its red tail thrashed through the waves like a steel whip, and whipped fiercely towards the Daoist’s head.

Not only that, peculiar markings lit up on its chest like a ghostly face, suddenly opening to shoot a black beam full of foul odor towards the Daoist’s forehead.

This black beam flew rapidly, reaching the space just an inch away from the Daoist’s forehead with surprising speed.

"Hush!"

But the sound of water echoed in the void, and an ink-colored Turtle Shell floated up just in time to block the black beam in front.

"Clang!"

Sounding like metal clashing, sizzles continuously erupted.

The two forces were stuck in place, neither advancing.

But the red tail came vicious and heavy, already nearing ten thousand catties, far exceeding the power of Qi Refining Fifth Layer mana.

"Lock!"

The Daoist merely whispered a word.

"Hush!"

An ice-blue Dharma Seal emerged suddenly, drawing on Spiritual Qi, transforming into ice chains as thick as a fist, brimming with piercing cold, appearing behind the ink monkey, tightly grabbing hold of its red tail, locking it into place, immobile.

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

The icy aura froze the Demon Ape’s body, yet the savagery in its eyes grew only fiercer. Its belly swelled as if something ferocious was brewing.

But before it could unleash it, a fair and balanced hand wielding a cyan Dharma Sword pierced through its throat.

"Uh uh uh!"

The ink monkey clutched at its wound, letting out helpless sounds before it perished completely.

"The Red-tailed Ape is a spiritual demon beast, shouldn’t go to fight death so fearlessly. Could this be the work of the Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape tribe?"

The Daoist pondered over the savage demeanor and undying gaze of the beast.

The Daoist, of course, was Gu Yuan.

He knew the whereabouts of the Shell Jade and Shell King, so he did not delay, finding a convenient path along, prepared to take the Shell Jade along the way.

But just the first Shell Jade encountered a Red-tailed Ape.

"The Red-tailed Ape, a demon beast of the Great River Spirit Water, naturally intelligent and adept at avoiding harm, often serving as the Shell Field’s demon."

This is South Mountain Domain Chronicles’ record of this beast.

However, the one Gu Yuan encountered bore a fierce visage, charged fearlessly into battle, with none of the characteristics of a harm-avoiding Spirit Beast, but just brutality.

Hence, Gu Yuan pondered whether it might be a scheme of the Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape tribe.

After all, just abandoning the Shell Field, the other party certainly would not resign to it. Even if they dare not contest the Daoist School, they’d definitely play small tricks.

"But with the strength of a Red-tailed Ape, so what if it fights recklessly? It’s merely a low-grade Demon Beast!"

Gu Yuan shook his head.

Low-grade Demon Beasts, at most, do not surpass the Qi Refining Fifth Layer in strength.

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

"Chirp chirp chirp!"

But just then, sharp cries echoed from all directions in the water cave.

Gu Yuan looked up to see four or five ink-colored monkeys dragging their red tails, glaring with their blood-red eyes, madly rushing towards Gu Yuan’s location.