"Splash!"

The dark water cave gradually became lively.

Various fish cautiously surged into this "virgin land that has been sealed for years."

After realizing there was no danger in this water, they immediately became active, swimming freely and eating water plants on the cave walls, their eyes full of delight.

However, some overly lively little fish desperately swam towards a "dry land."

There, an invisible force was released in the center of the water flow, parting the water to reveal a dry area. This should have been a forbidden zone for aquatic creatures, but some small fish bypassed the forbidden zone and jumped in forcefully.

Without the support of the water flow, the fish fell straight towards a handsome face.

Yet, just as it was about to land on that face, a pair of sharp eyes suddenly opened.

"Boom!"

The surging mana flowed ceaselessly, forming a barrier in front.

The fish instantly bounced several meters away, yet thereby returning to the water flow. It shook its tail and swam swiftly, no longer daring to approach this area.

The pair of stern eyes swept around, spiritual sense stirring, as if searching for something, but ultimately finding nothing, a relaxed look emerging in its eyes.

"I’m still alive..."

Gu Yuan lowered his head, discovering the wound on his fingertip had long healed. Although still somewhat weak, overall he was unharmed.

Both the Jade Snake and Golden Seal were nowhere to be found.

In the vast water cave, only some daring fish swam back and forth.

"The Jade Snake didn’t kill me?"

"Fortune’s Pinnacle Seal?"

Gu Yuan recalled the Dao Pattern seen before fainting, his face instantly shifting between expressions.

"Was it the Stone Liquid pointing to opportunity? Or did the Fortune’s Pinnacle Seal discover the Stone Liquid, leading me here?"

Thinking of this, Gu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, immediately checking himself to find the Stone Liquid still present, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Fortune’s Pinnacle Seal, a terrifying Life Seal capable of raising a person’s luck to extraordinary levels.

Even sitting at home, cultivators might unwittingly show up, die miserably, enabling the Seal Master to exploit the opportunity and gain heaven-defying chance.

Reflecting on his reckless entrance into the cave, Gu Yuan wondered if it was a setup?

Had the Seal Master noticed the Stone Liquid’s wonder, deliberately baiting him here to kill him and seize the Stone Liquid?

But now it seemed not the case.

The Stone Liquid was still there; meaning the Seal Master hadn’t discovered it, possibly indicating the Stone Liquid’s position was higher than Fortune’s Pinnacle Seal.

"But... maybe I’ve still been influenced by that seal, recklessly entering the cave, with the purpose of... providing blood for the Jade Snake?"

Gu Yuan had a guess, but in a flash, he shook his head, dismissing the notion.

He was merely at Qi Refining Sixth Layer, weak in strength; what wonder could his blood contain?

Yet seeing the "suddenly lively" cave and previously silently hatching Jade Snake, Gu Yuan realized these weren’t coincidences; Fortune’s Pinnacle’s influence was undoubtedly present.

The seal here seemed to have always concealed this cave, leading none to discover it over the years.

The Shell Field was under the Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape’s watch, yet it hadn’t discovered the seal, certainly odd.

But having seen the seal, why didn’t the Jade Snake kill him?

What was the reason?

"Phew!"

"Forget it; thinking too much is pointless. Escaping this ordeal is already lucky!"

Pondering a moment, unable to make sense of it, Gu Yuan gave up.

He understood that the Jade Snake possessing Fortune’s Pinnacle Seal surely had an extraordinary identity, far beyond what his level could fathom; thinking too much was just a waste of energy.

"I can’t stay here for long; better to leave first!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Gu Yuan took a glance at the water cave, let out a long sigh, and then quickly ascended.

...

...

The Daoist School didn’t give much time for this Shell Field "campaign."

At most four days before the Dragon Tooth Treasure Boat would return to the Daoist School.

Originally, Gu Yuan delayed only half a day in the Shell Field, but this time his unconsciousness lasted two and a half days.

Leaving him puzzled, even suspecting a time anomaly within the water cave.

After this incident, Gu Yuan no longer wanted to remain in the Shell Field to collect Shell Pearls; the available ones had been collected, even the Shell King was defeated.

So he directly returned to the Treasure Boat, planning to rest a day, then return to the Daoist School.

Gu Yuan’s arrival shocked many cultivators aboard the Treasure Boat.

For Gu Yuan had reached Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

This meant he had defeated the Shell King of the Five-Layer Shell Field.

Being a previously unknown new disciple, the Treasure Boat housed many seasoned Daoist School disciples, including strong figures.

Yet, in the end, the victor was Gu Yuan.

Immediately, some approached to talk, but Gu Yuan only responded politely, then sat cross-legged in a corner, silent.

"Alas, this Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape is tricky, surely casting a sinister influence in the Shell Field, leading the Red-tailed Ape to change character, fearless in battle, much stronger. Originally, I could have snatched four Shell Pearls, but instead got only two this time, better off cultivating at the Daoist School."

Unwilling to converse, a few could only abandon attempts, then on the deck, familiar ones complained together.

"Be content; it’s been ages since a collective campaign, deceitful hearts all around, look at the Treasure Boat; nearly ten fellow Daoists haven’t returned; do you think they all died to the Red-tailed Ape?"

Someone sneered, gaze subtly landing on Gu Yuan.

"Watch your words!"

A companion hurriedly grabbed the person’s sleeve, silencing him.

The person, seemingly frightened, glanced at Gu Yuan, saying no more.

"Heh, what’s a few deaths? Perhaps you don’t know, Sunset Sect has invaded Thundering Mountain Range; in just a few days, over ten Foundation Establishment cultivators are dead, not to mention countless Qi Refining disciples."

"What? Sunset Sect actually acted against Purple Gold Six-Winged Carving?"

Someone exclaimed on the deck in shock.

Gu Yuan also glanced over.

Sunset Sect, a Major Sect within South Mountain Domain, reportedly housing a Daoist Embryo, strong and well-established.

While the Purple Gold Six-Winged Carving of Thundering Mountain Range, an exotic species, naturally possessing Qi Refining Seventh Layer strength, barely growing into a Foundation Establishment Demon Beast, roaming Thundering Mountain Range for millennia, undisputed as a Demon King power.

If these two clashed, surely it’d be earth-shattering.

"Not surprising they fight!"

"The Five Thunders Dao Pattern on the Purple Gold Six-Winged Carving is a necessary spiritual material for crafting Sunset Sect’s ’Five Thunders Divine Light Seal,’ the two have had underlying conflicts for centuries, previously held back by rules, but now..."

Someone gestured to the sky, chuckling.

Supreme Venerable’s fall, loss of suppression, all sorts of undercurrents began to surge.

"Don’t overthink it, focus on cultivating well."

"What the Daoist School seeks, is definitely more than just a Shell Field!"

Someone sighed on the deck.

"Although Sunset Sect suffered many casualties, within days, three new disciples have broken through to Foundation Establishment, lifespan extended by three hundred."