In the midst of everyone’s conversations, time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, four days had arrived.

The Dragon Tooth Treasure Boat no longer waited for those who had not returned, and the warriors and servile disciples directly sounded the big drum, gathered the spirit patterns, and began controlling the treasure boat to return.

Soon, the treasure boat returned to the Daoist school.

Afterward, the disciples one after another rode their escape lights back to their respective cave mansions.

The trip to the Shell Field was merely a "trial run" by the Daoist school, but for many disciples, it was a life-and-death ordeal.

Some broke through realms and returned full of gains, while others died and disappeared without a trace.

Even with a cursory count, dozens of disciples died at the Shell Field.

However, the Daoist school did not investigate deeply, seeming not to care.

According to some disciples at the Daoist school, "If there are grudges and grievances, resolve them at a lower realm stage. Avoid causing disruptions when the realm is higher and needing reckoning. Besides, if one’s skills are inferior, it’s just a lack of destiny. Why stir up trouble for it?"

This statement might be unreasonable, but indeed, the death of several Qi Refining disciples did not cause any stir in the Daoist school.

Even if a noble son died, there was no commotion; the family mourned briefly, and then it was over, replaced by new disciples.

Gu Yuan also returned to his cave mansion.

Seeing the familiar environment and the sparkling array patterns within the cave mansion, he finally sighed with relief.

Afterward, he bathed and washed up, then went to the Spirit Food Hall, had a filling meal, and finally sat cross-legged in a quiet chamber, beginning to sort and digest his gains from this expedition.

"The greatest benefits from this Shell Field trip are naturally the Shell King, Star Spirit, and Seed Body Seal."

"Having consumed the Shell King and broken through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, the next steps are refining the Star Spirit and crafting the Seed Body Seal."

Gu Yuan looked at the miniature "elephant" and the green jade scroll in front of him, feeling slightly joyful.

The Star Spirit has immense potential and vast power, evident from Lan Tianlu’s performance, surely not an ordinary entity.

Although the Seed Body Seal is not a true Body Seal, once successfully crafted, it can double the cultivation speed, enough to bridge the gap between Gu Yuan and the Seven-Aperture disciples.

Moreover, the Seed Body Seal can give rise to a "Dharma Seal," adding further strength.

As long as he digests these two items, Gu Yuan’s strength will certainly increase significantly.

"To bind the Star Spirit, one must have the ’Soul Signing Technique.’ Only through this technique can one command the Star Spirit like an arm, have Star Spirit power at the command of a thought."

"But Lan Tianlu’s storage bag did not contain this technique. He seems to have temporarily bound the Star Spirit using the spiritual beast contract method. Otherwise, during our magical combat, he would not have needed to touch the spirit beast bag; with a thought, he could have borrowed the Star Spirit’s power."

The Star Spirit is extremely mystical; only the ’Soul Signing Technique’ can bind one’s soul with the Star Spirit, making them one. Otherwise, the Star Spirit will always be external.

But this technique is extremely rare and expensive. Gu Yuan originally thought Lan Tianlu had it, assuming he possessed the Star Spirit. Seeing now, he realized he overestimated.

Lan Tianlu is destitute too!

Without the Lan Family’s support, he had no way to find the ’Soul Signing Technique.’

Everything still depends on oneself.

"With my current ability, there are only two ways to acquire the ’Soul Signing Technique’; the first is to request from the Daoist school, enter the Transmission Hall." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"However, the technique isn’t easily passed on. Even a Daoist school disciple must have contribution points or carry a Golden Core token to enter the Transmission Hall."

"Besides, there’s buying in the market. The world is vast; some cultivators will have it."

Gu Yuan slightly pondered these two methods.

However, there was really nothing to think about.

His storage bag’s dirty goods need to be disposed of, and purchasing the heaven-earth exotic species and various spiritual materials needed for crafting the Seed Body Seal will certainly require a trip to the market.

And contribution points require completing Fate Hall tasks, which are time-consuming and laborious, with no end in sight.

With this in mind, Gu Yuan did not hesitate anymore, took out a "Cold Honey Date," fed the Star Spirit to soothe its emotions, then stored it in the Spirit Beast Bag, set up the Cloud-Stepping Shuttle, and headed north.

...

...

Gu Yuan did not visit the Silver Moon Bay market or enter the Celestial Star Dark Market.

What kind of fool disposes of newly acquired goods at his sect’s market after killing fellow disciples!

Even if the Celestial Star Dark Market obscures faces, the styles of those Dharma Artifacts don’t change; anyone familiar can recognize them at a glance.

Moreover, the elders at the Daoist school had already discovered better places for disposal to meet everybody’s needs.

Gu Yuan left the mountain gate, set up the Jade Flood Dragon Shuttle, flying at great speed for several hours, finally landing on a secluded island.

The island was quite expansive, with a mountain, and within the mountain was a basin. In the basin, flowers bloomed in abundance, forests surged, waterfalls hung, and one by one, buildings sprawled over the cliffs, abundant in spiritual energy, occasionally with immortal cranes flying, presenting quite a lovely scene.

This was the largest market around the Daoist school, the Moon Bamboo Market.

This market was established by Master Moon Bamboo on the Nine Rivers Marsh, where the Cyan Peak Daoist School, Nine Rivers Water Race, Sunset Glow Sect, and nearby sects, big and small, came to trade. Over time, the market grew more prosperous.

Not only Qi Refining cultivators but occasionally even Foundation Establishment cultivators came.

Being created by a Golden Core Ascendant, hardly any tribulation cultivators dared to act recklessly, and due to the proximity to the Cyan Peak Daoist School mountain gate, it became a must-visit place for disciples before and after each "expedition."

The items here surpass those at the Celestial Star Dark Market in quantity and diversity, while also being more bustling.

On the hidden bamboo buildings, there are Kun Cultivators practicing charm techniques, with exquisite appearances, slender and graceful figures, capable of meeting all the needs of cultivators.

Even male cultivators are available.

Kun Cultivators here enjoy their time as well.

In this world of cultivation, there is no gender divide, only the presence of Spirit Stones!

Not just humans, even the Demon Race can come and have fun!

However, Gu Yuan certainly wouldn’t engage in those activities.

Although there is no Demon Sect under the governance of the Celestial Palace, practitioners of charm techniques are rarely good characters.

Gu Yuan wouldn’t commit to things like making lips passed around by thousands.

If he wanted to vent desires, he could purchase Shell Maidens, Mermaids, and other Spirit Maidens. Such women are long-lived, yet low in cultivation, loyal and dependable, all beautiful as flowers, ideal for maidservants or concubines.

The noble families generally choose such types.

If there was an appealing Spirit Maiden, Gu Yuan wouldn’t mind buying one or two, keeping them in the cave mansion to do laundry, cook meals, warm the bed, and serve in the bedroom.

Let’s not bother with those charm practitioners.

With such thoughts in mind, Gu Yuan arrived at the market.

A green screen like a huge "bamboo shadow" sheltered the entire basin, with only a goat-path for entry and exit.

On both sides of the path stood two tall, verdant green bamboo.

Seeing Gu Yuan approach, a blurred human face emerged from the bamboo, shouting towards him:

"Moon Bamboo Market, entrance fee is six Spirit Stones, no credit allowed!"

Six Spirit Stones?

Gu Yuan furrowed his brow; it’s even more expensive than the Celestial Star Dark Market.

Gazing at the multitude of indistinct figures within the bamboo shadow, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

"Indeed, making money as a platform is the way."

Producing six Spirit Stones, Gu Yuan passed through the grand array, stepping inside.

Upon entering, a fragrant wind greeted him right away.